Dee Dee,
oh good, a technical question . I hand-hold 99% of my indoor stuff because the flash duration is so short there is little chance of camera motion. That gives me the ability to move around into the perfect location to get the best angle on the dogs I'm shooting. Most of the time it's easier for me to move than have the dog/handler reset the dog.

I agree with you about the learning process. My issues are with creative "rules of thumb" that sometimes just don't apply to a particular situation but are used like spanking paddles in critiques. Certainly there are compositional and creative guidelines for how to photograph certain subjects. But that's all they are -- guidelines. If you have a better creative vision and want to violate every rule to get the image you want, then who am I to criticize. I'll tell you whether or not the image works for me but I won't tell you that you've violated the rule of thirds or whatever.

Now, granted, you are not an artistic neophyte. You may be relatively new to photography but you are more of an artist than 95% of the people on this or any other photographic forum. When I look at your paintings, I see a kinetic energy that I'd love to be able to capture in my camera. But I don't think it's possible. Your vision takes elements from the images you photograph and enhances them to match what's in your mind. As I said, you are an artist.

I also love the fact that you experiment with different lighting and effects. After 30 years as a professional, I'm sometimes "locked" into my own comfort zone. I think it's time for me to try some new tricks too. Just to open up my mind and my vision a bit.

Thank you for challenging my thinking. I always appreciate your work for that.

Jim