Checking Out The Menu

[Barbara Ponder]

Grahame, sounds like it could be fun. I will need to read up on it and try

[NorthernFocus]

...Honestly when I first started my feelings were a little hurt. I had thought my work was good but now realize I had and continue to have so much to learn! steadily I am learning and really enjoying the process...

Photography can really be humbling. Those who don't experience a bit of humility aren't likely to improve much. Or at least not as rapidly. Those of us predestined to live our lives handicapped with testosterone poisoning struggle in that regard. Luckily for some of us humility increases with age so there's hope...

While taking photos in Galveston I met a lady shrimper. I asked if she would consider taking me out on one of her shrimping trips to take photos. She agreed to take me so I am super excited about that. When they come in she has no less than 20 pelicans sitting on the boat and another 20 following it, not to mention egrets and herons. Plan on going after Spring Break and can not wait!

That is awesome. You'll have a blast on multiple levels. And it will provide a whole new set of challenges. I can't wait to see what you do with it.

[Rebel]

I love the sequence of shots together here, the last one being my favourite.

[IzzieK]

You know...you keep posting these pelicans and I should (normally that is...) would have got tired of these shots easily but I am not...I want more!!! You had excelled in showing their different poses and the challenges that you put yourself into is just amazing. All beautiful and with one at the start forms the story of the whole shot, the whole theme. You have gone a long way, short way really from the time we hurt your feelings here at first...I wish I could say the same for myself but sometimes I am still in the defensive mood instead of taking it on the chin and improving through the tips and comments I get from some of my images. But you! didn't offer any excuse and just went along with the critiques and improved yourself so well...congratulations on a job well done each time and the improvements along the way.

[Barbara Ponder]

I love the sequence of shots together here, the last one being my favourite.

Thanks Matt!

[Barbara Ponder]

You know...you keep posting these pelicans and I should (normally that is...) would have got tired of these shots easily but I am not...I want more!!! You had excelled in showing their different poses and the challenges that you put yourself into is just amazing. All beautiful and with one at the start forms the story of the whole shot, the whole theme. You have gone a long way, short way really from the time we hurt your feelings here at first...I wish I could say the same for myself but sometimes I am still in the defensive mood instead of taking it on the chin and improving through the tips and comments I get from some of my images. But you! didn't offer any excuse and just went along with the critiques and improved yourself so well...congratulations on a job well done each time and the improvements along the way.

Izzie, thank you! Pelicans are kinda like chocolate or potato chips it's hard to have just one I love to study them because they are just so fascinating to watch. I think perhaps that is what makes me more successful at shooting them. I have learned their behavior and can almost anticipate their movements. Maybe I should study all my subjects more

I still have a long way to go but I have come so much further because of all the help I get here. I think that when I started with CC forum the putting myself out there for critique was the most difficult part. I soon realized that I was asking for the comments so I needed to put my big girl panties on and really listen to what was being written instead of taking it personally. It was not about me being good or bad it was about what I could do to make the photo better. As the shooter I am more inclined to look at what I saw when taking the shot and will tend to miss the imperfections that hamper it from being a stellar shot. Believe me I still feel the sting from time to time but it goes away quickly and just makes me more determined to get it right.

Once the weather gets better I expect lots of photos from you!

[NorthernFocus]

...As the shooter I am more inclined to look at what I saw when taking the shot and will tend to miss the imperfections that hamper it from being a stellar shot...

You're way ahead of the game. Recognizing what you describe here is key if you have any intent of producing images that are interesting to anyone other than yourself. Many people NEVER figure this out. Then again, there are those of us who understand it intellectually but still struggle to apply it...