Jeez .

I never said it was news Stefan. I was merely agreeing with Ben.

Yawn.
The annual rip-off Britain moan.

Try living in the Netherlands for a while, paying full Dutch taxes .

The United States has always been cheaper than Europe for most things. It's what the market will bear.

I still wouldn't want to live there.

I know that feeling .

Totally lacking inspiration at the moment. There's only so many autumnal pictures one can take (which wasn't many as the weather was so diabolical).

However my plan is to spend more time taking photos indoors. Still lifes, close ups, that sort of thing. I don't have lights or anything to help apart from my single AF 360FGZ, but it will, hopefully, be fun trying.

I have a couple of outings I hope to make if the weather is up to it too.

I also hope to get my family to sit for a series of portraits. But I don't hold out much hope .

There is a sort of workshop/course (an "Atelier") being run at our AE centre, with the theme of See Colour. I am toying with giving that a try. I gave up on the last one I tried as I couldn't couldn't relate to the theme. Not sure I can relate to this one either tbh.

Cogitating is good. You have the time to think about it and plan it.

Don't feel embarrassed about asking a neighbour or friend to sit for you, nor about taking lots of photos when they do sit.

Zoom in on the preview photo and check the eyes are in focus. They are the most important part of the portrait.

Check the histogram to see how you are doing light wise and decide then whether fill flash or a reflector is needed, - your sitter can hold the reflector themselves if you are doing just a head and shoulders or head shot.

Promise your sitter a print of the finished photo too .

Having a reserve photo is also good.

Maybe a neighbour will sit for you? You could try a portrait if them in their home working on a hobby maybe? Or sat near a window, on a cloudy day, so you have that lovely soft light to work with.
Or someone from church? Self portraits aren't easy but you may enjoy the challenge of that too.

You can make a reflector from a piece of card and some crumpled up aluminium foil. Stick the (slightly) crumpled foil to the card, or even just fold it over it. Or use a car sunscreen thingy - you know those ones designed to sit inside the windscreen and keep the car cool. Even a cool bag like you can get at supermarkets to carry your frozen stuff home in will work. Anything as long as it is a little bit reflective.
White card will work too if you are really desperate.
But you may not need it. You could always use a little fill flash to help out if you need to.

Some websites which may help;

http://photo.net/learn/portraits/

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-portraits-19-portrait-phot...

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/04/how-to-take-excellent-portrait-photos/

And there are lots lots more out there.

Relax, have fun - that is the best way to get a great portrait .

I think Ben is right - a photo of a woman with her bits tastefully covered and, as in his second photo, with maybe just a hint of nipple is far more sensuous than the full on sexuality you see everywhere today.

It gets embarrassing at times to walk past some posters, not to mention the music videos nowadays .

Signed (not so) Old Fuddyduddy, the Netherlands.

Who you calling old?

Congratulations Paul, welcome to the club.

The wind has finally dropped here, after wind speeds of up to 80kmph, and the rain has stopped. More tomorrow though, and the percentage of sunshine for the next two days is 0% here . More 80kmph winds expected tomorrow. My son is due to get 110+ kmph winds .

Got soaked walking the dogs, and it is like a quagmire underfoot after all the rain the last umpteen weeks. I nearly lost a shoe in a particularly boggy bit. At least I didn't get any bits of tree on my head.

Seriously fed up with it all, and it's not even winter yet .

Maybe he used Save for Web in Photoshop/Elements, that strips the Exif.

I like them too.

I don't think Crumpler make a shoulder bag big enough for that lot.

As Stefan says they over estimate what will fit in their bags big time.
I have a Pretty Bella 7500, and it would hold the K20D with the 17-70 on it, the 50-135 and a flash at a squeeze. The 60-250 was too big for it.

It is now sat upstairs gathering dust, which is a shame as it is nice looking bag.
Haven't tried it with the smaller K-5 yet.