ahh i hope you get it for your birthday and congrats on winning the colllar. Your pics look great! I am not a flash fan either so i don't use one. Can you try 800 sp film or are you shooting with a digi? YOUr sepia tint really sets off her coat and eyes!
Thanks
Digi - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5.
I am teaching myself basically - all my shots are a learning curve and an experiment. Bodhi is my guinea pig, because she is an EXCELLENT model (she was lying down - I asked her too - she loves to pose). I don't have a manual (well - we will have somewhere, but where who knows), and I am gradually figuring out how to adjust settings.
At the mo I am working with shutter speed and aperture, figuring out which settings do what... My dad is a great photographer, but I like to figure stuff out myself... I do ask for the odd hint now and then, but I really enjoy just sitting there for awhile snapping away and seeing what happens!! It's theraputic.