the links do not seem to have worked. Lets try again:

Thanks guys, Lightroom looks like a solid product. Anyone know if you can still get the stand alone (and how)? Or am i stuck paying $10 a month to Adobe.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html

Scroll all the way to the bottom. It's on the bottom right. It's $150 so it's a bit of a savings if they have new versions every two years but you only get bug fixes and new lens/camera profiles.

Pros don't have to use photoshop.. For many pros, Lightroom is all they'll ever need.

My very amateur feedback:

The light is still crappy, but it doesn't matter as much in this shot. Subject is mildly interesting and I like how you have put things together. Might have waited for the clouds to outline the main building there to make it stand out a bit more.

thanks for the feedback. Is the light something which could be optimized in lightroom?

Regarding the motives:
1: That is a dragon fly
3: Thought it looked interesting how the girl is disappearing in the jungle.
4. Though there is some atmosphere to it. The big tree and the path which leads up to it.

Light can be manipulated or enhanced in Lightroom, but you need to start out with something good, I.e. You can't polish a turd.

Harsh afternoon light is going to be harsh afternoon light no matter what you do, compared to the soft glow of early mornings and early evenings.

all right. Guess I should pay more attention to the light in the future.
Seems to be a problem in all of my pictures. :/

Went to Maui on my honeymoon and managed to take a few pics. 3 of them I liked.

cool pictures! Like the second one the most!

I finally went on my first dedicated photo trip since I went to Alaska 3.5 years ago - my first solo backpacking excursion - in Death Valley. Lessons learned: 1) study routes better - I had planned on hiking out of Ashford Canyon up to the Desert Hound mine but couldn't find a way up, 2) my version on iOS the GPS app (Gaia GPS) doesn't work in airplane mode, 3) don't camp in sand, 4) anchor your tent better - had to chase it bounding down a slope in a sandstorm.

But I still had a blast. They got a ton of rain this winter and the flowers are going crazy right now.



My campsite the first night after failing to scale my way out of Ashford Canyon. It had been overcast - total dumb luck the ravine I was in was pointing at a nice sunset.


Sunset from my ravine in Ashford Canyon


Desert Gold is everywhere in the southern part of Death Valley right now


Desert Sand Verbana


Desert Gold


My tent which turned into a wind tunnel/sandstorm right after the sun went down


Waiting for a big purple sunset like the previous two nights, which never really came, but I liked the sunstar pics I got beforehand


I can't decide if I like this one better w/o the big sun ring


Or this one with the big ring


Photographers at Zabreiske point just after dawn


I took a side trip to Mohave Preserve for sunset


Sunset over Mohave Preserve

Have you done any post in these or are they SOOC? I think I like #2 and #12 but would like the shadows pulled out.

Yeah #2 and the last one I worked on in photoshop. #2 is a blend of two pics. The others I fiddled with in picasa.

nice work. I liked #10 the best (Zabrieske Point)
The last one, you defintely want to raise the shadows.. some of your shots are a bit crooked, I would fix that too.

WORLD PRESS PHOTO winners announced

Winning photo:



A man passes a baby through the fence at the Hungarian-Serbian border in Röszke, Hungary, 28 August 2015.

If someone had posted that on dpreviews, they would have mercilessly berated its technical aspect- not sharp enough, too much noise at 100%, low contrast..

OK need some help. I want to buy a camera to capture lots of action shots with my pooches and general pics on hikes. MY iphone does OK but not the best
Any suggestions?

Budget?

less than $500

I'm no equipment expert, but I'd take a look at Nikon d3300 or its predecessor d3200. That is if you are thinking you want a dslr. An entry dslr will probably give you the greatest flexibility and give you a little room to grow if you decide you want to get more into photography. The camera with kit lens 18-55mm is probably your best bet to start with, and you might decide you want to add a telephoto lens next at some point if you want to take longer range pics. D3300 and 18-55mm lens is $450 on Amazon right now. I'd also try out Adobe Lightroom. You'll be amazed how much a few minutes editing can improve pics. YouTube is a great resource for learning.

I'd get either a used Nikon D7000 or 7100. Reason being with any Nikon's D5xxx and below you can't use autofocus on older D lenses(which you can get used on Fleabay for cheap, some are better or just as good than newer G glass) and with the D7000/7100 you have a front and back command wheel which enables you to change ISO/Aperature/shutter really fast and they both have a top LCD screen.

What are your goals? Do you want a hobby where you eventually have lots of equipment and get into processing your photos with Photoshop or Lightroom? Or do you just want something that does a better job than your phone creating pictures to share with your friends?

I want to do exactly what you said second something that does a better job. I have been told going to a DSLR may not be my best choice.

So not sure if I should go with a point and shoot or something with changable lenses unless that is a DSLR

You could go with a Micro 4/3 like this http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCGM5B.html or this http://www.adorama.com/IOMEPL6B1.html .

Or an APS-C like this http://www.adorama.com/ISOA5000BA.html

Those have interchangeable lenses. M4/3 will be smaller but both will more portable than a DSLR.

If you want a compact that has a fixed zoom lens then this http://www.adorama.com/ISODSCRX100.html or this http://www.adorama.com/ICASX710B.html would be good choices.