couple more I dont mind

[bblaze]

Taken at dip falls
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/05/120.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/05/121.jpg

cheers
blaze

[Cap]

Blaze - another set of good shots, your getting into it seriously now :) Did you use a flash on the second one? I ask cos it looks slightly too bright for the ambient light. Personally I hate flash...

[bblaze]

Used a flash, pretty dark under the canapy without it
cheers
blaze
ps
I dont like flashes either

[Chucaro]

Nice images Blaze, if you have PS try to pass the unsharp mask filter on the firts photo just before you save it for the web.
Cheers

[dmdigital]

What have you got against flash? Once I learned what I could do with it, it opened my eyes to a hole new world of lighting.
A really good video is A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting by Bob Krist. I don't think it's available in Australia but a search on the www will usually generate something you can download or watch. It's produced with Nikon Speedlights but the principles apply to everything.

As for the USM Arthur mentions a good starting point is 55%, 5, 5 for the settings. I can't remember where I got this advice from but whilst not always ideal in general terms it works,

[Chucaro]

What have you got against flash? Once I learned what I could do with it, it opened my eyes to a hole new world of lighting.
A really good video is A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting by Bob Krist. I don't think it's available in Australia but a search on the www will usually generate something you can download or watch. It's produced with Nikon Speedlights but the principles apply to everything.

As for the USM Arthur mentions a good starting point is 55%, 5, 5 for the settings. I can't remember where I got this advice from but whilst not always ideal in general terms it works,

I think that both of them are refering to the inbuilt flash in the camera which is is good enough for the "happy shots" during family parties.
It is almost impossible to use the in-camera flash for macro photography without loosing details in the eyes of the insects as an example.

Regarding USM HERE (http://www.naturescapes.net/122004/tg1204.htm) is a good tutorial by a very good photographer ;)

[dmdigital]

I think that both of them are refering to the inbuilt flash in the camera which is is good enough for the "happy shots" during family parties.
It is almost impossible to use the in-camera flash for macro photography without loosing details in the eyes of the insects as an example.

Regarding USM HERE (http://www.naturescapes.net/122004/tg1204.htm) is a good tutorial by a very good photographer ;)

The best thing to do with the on camera flash is to make a flash diffuser that sits in front. Do a search on "DIY flash diffuser" and it will turn up a number of sites. You can make these from plastic milk or juice bottles but the best material I found is a Low-Density Polyethylene Nalgene laboratory bottle cut down. You can also make a soft box for a built in flash. The output of a D80 flash is on par with that of a closeup flash unit and it can be stepped up/down in power making it very usable.