My personal choice is Photoshop, although saying that I have only used CS3 & CS4 so not sure how it compares to Elements 7

Paul

Hello Dogpaws and welcome

I wouldn't worry about using the ist D, it still is a very good camera and very well built

Paul

Hi Kate and welcome

What camera did you have previously if you miss the live view?

I use my live view for 2 main reasons;

1. to do macro shots that I cannot physically get down to, I'm very tall ya see

2. Some people may cringe when I say this but, when I do children's portraits I find that if a child is upset they calm down if they take a picture of mummy and daddy. The camera is mounted on my tripod and I set it to live view. The child the looks at the image and takes the picture. They love it, I get the shot that I need.


Paul

Ditto to the above, maybe convert to B&W and up the contrast

Paul

When I look at this photo, I am not drawn to the out of focus of the chin, I am drawn to the person, the hard and weathered lines on his face and the pin sharp eyes that could tell a tale of two.

Paul, I understand the angle that you are intending to capture and I like all your shots, and if I could I would love to come and see the exhibition that you are holding.
Your shots are very different from what is seen on this site, they are hard hitting, that's what I think people are struggling with - or it's purely that they don't understand.

Keep up the good work and I hope that the exhibition is a great success.

Paul

All are fantastic and excellently cropped and all have their own uniqueness.

Althogh the B&W one doesn't have the same oomph as the other 2, it doesn't mean that it doesn't work.

I'll PM you tomorrow morning

Paul

I didn't say that everyone looks down at me, and I didn't generalise that all Canon or Nikon users do the same. I did say that some people have these views. I am only using C & N as examples as this is what I have noticed.


I attend BIPP meetings and lectures to learn, to keep abreast of new techniques. Yes I know how to use a camera, but I also go to learn. Believe it or not, I do actually learn alot from Pentax User as well.

I do not go out of my way to pick fights with users of other camera makes, but if push came to shove then I will stand up for Pentax and allow others to have a play with my cameras and to see for themselves.

My two posts do not contradict each other, I don't get bothered by what people say, I don't give two hoots what they say. I just find people amusing when they compare photographic equipment and have no idea what they are talking about. I just used my second post as an example of what SOME people are like.


The other point is, you don't have to be a Pentax user to be a photographer who knows their onions, it's generalising again to say otherwise...
Not sure where you got this from and no idea what you mean so I ma not commenting on this.

Just to clarify:

For me the Pentax system works both for my business and my personal work. It isn't the best camera system out there but it is not the worst. There are things that I wish I had on my camera, a mug holder and cd rack would be great.
I think Nikon are great cameras, well built - built to last a nuclear attack! Features are amazing.

I don't like Canon at all, that's a personal choice..nothing else to say on that.
Some users get on my pip but (believe it or not) it doesn't get to me.

I know my way round a camera, I know how to use the functions, but I have openly said this on the forum, I am still learning...as everyone will agree that they are to.

I respect all photographers as they have a great imagination to record a memory that happens only once.

Tooks, I am not arguing with you on anything...but what I have shared are experiences that I have dealt with. That's it.

I need a cuppa

Paul

Gonna say one more thing....

I was at a dinner not long ago and I was doing my usual shots of the guests arriving and posing them against the background, having a laugh as you do.

This guy and his partner come up and want their portraits done. Now I have this sixth sense where I can tell if they dabble in photography, I was right about this guy. He comes up and poses his partner....errrr no, that's my job...So I pose them how I want it done, having a laugh as I do it.
"Are you taking a flash meter reading before you take it?"
No as I have already done it at the start.
"Oh ok"

Then I take the shot(s).
He has a look at the shot on the laptop

"Oh that is great, fantastic, when can I buy it?"
"At the end of the evening, it will be printed and mounted for you" I reply.

"Could I see that camera"

I show it to him...."Oh so you use Pentax....I would have thought you use Canon or Nikon"

"No I have always used Pentax" (Yes I have used Nikon but not in my business).

I asked the gentleman what he does for a living, we were chatting camera at this point.

He says that he is in uni studying animation. Asking what camera he uses, he replies:
"Oh I'm Canon through and through, and they give the best results compared to the inferior makes"
The gentleman in question had 1 years experience in photography and was 22 years old. I would like to know who he had been chatting to to work out that canon were the superior cameras!

He didn't buy the photograph in the end, I wonder why!


So here is what I have to deal with, silly little oiks...
I don't care, it really does not bother me... I am more than happy with my Pentax equipment.

Even more than that, I am even more happy with the person that composes the shots, who has that sense of humour with clients, who gets the job done, who clicks that shutter at the right time....ME!!!

I like my last paragraph, my little motivational speech.

Right, just have to fit my head through the door now!


Paul

Edited: Spelling

I would just like to clear something up as my views may have been taken the wrong way.

I do not like Canon, period...that's all I am saying on that...oh and 1 last thing, I said on my last message, I would never buy a Canon!

I like Nikon, alot. If I had the money I would go out and buy a Nikon D3x right now, but keep my Pentax's as my main cameras.
I learnt photography on a Nikon F3 and I loved the camera, oustanding build. I changed to Pentax because I was a student and couldn't afford the lenses and other equipment, it's purely that reason that I switched to Pentax all those years ago.

I have not knocked Nikon or Canon cameras, only certain users who do look down and doubt the photographer who is using Pentax.
When I attend BIPP courses, I am the only one there with a camera that is not N or C. The comments I get now and again are downright rude...Some saying things like "How can you be a professional Photographer if you do not use N or C.

That is what I was getting at....
If you think I am making that up....well tough!
Not wanting to sound rude there but not every N or C user is a nice person. Nor may I say, any other camera users who use other makes including Pentax

Whoever wrote this comment:

"The more people concentrate on photography, instead of kit, the better it will be"

This person, well I take my hat off to them, I fully agree with this. I consider my camera as a tool, just that. It is me and my eye and imagination that make my images and it is I who makes my business thrive.

I'm getting off my soap box now...This reply is not meant to offend anyone or their comments, just wanted to get my point across.

Paul

Edited: Added to a paragraph, sorry I'm slightly dyslexic and this shows now and again

I'm sure you all know about this Limited Edition K20 link I do like the matching grip, but as there are only 1000 being made, the chances of me getting my mits on it is anorexic!

Paul