Howdy All!
While I've had a gallery here at Bytephoto for a while now, I don't think I've ever posted here on the forums before, so first let me say greetings to all! I've been into graphic arts for a number of years now (primarily computer based) and have worked with photography at one level or another for many many years (since high school...I'm 38 now) and I have a couple of questions for the "pros" out there. I have breifly looked thru the forum here for these answers, but didn't readilly see them so if I'm being redundant with anything, please forgive me. What I would like to do (or try at least) is start taking my efforts to "the next level" and see if theres any kind of potential for myself making any kind of living at this....btw...I'm a musician so I'm used to "hardships" LOL!!!

Ok, to keep this first quetsion short and blunt, how does one going about "selling" their work? I'm particularly interested in the area of graphics. Take the piece I did for my "Guitar Art" collection called "Natural Wood" (it's posted in my gallery). If want to get this sold either as a poster or at places that sell prints (local art shops for instance), how would one go about doing this? The same would apply to my photography efforts as well (although I certainly don't think that my work is up to par with proffesional yet)...I guess what I'm asking here is how does one go about making money as a free lance graphic and photography artist? I'm a reasonably artistically inclined individual (or at least so I've been told), but I've never had much business sense if you will. In a nut shell, I'd like to find more information on how I could go about transforming my "hobby" here into a way of possibly making money (every artists dream I guess).

Second question...
In regards again to a picture that was done a computer such as "Natural Wood" how and where would a person go about having a poster size blow up of that picture done? I have a number of images that I've created that I would like to have blown up to a poster size for my music studio (again, I'm a musician as well). Also, any idea of how much something like this would cost? Suggestions and internet refferences are welcome!

Now this next question is more in reference to the techinical side of photography and probably can't be "easily" explained, but I'm going to ask anyways. How does one go about getting really vivid colors in ones photographs in regards to digital photography (with out having to go gung ho with Photoshop)? What I'm talking about here...and I'll try to make this make sense...pictures that just jump out at you color wise. We've all seen them...something like a picture of hot air balloons or a flower where the color of the pic just seems much more vivid then real life. I know with 35mm there are a number of factors that come into play...film, filters, lighting etc.. but what I'm concerned with here is digital photography...is there any way to do this type of thing with a basic point and shoot digital camera without having to do too much "adjusting" in Photoshop or is that simply how pictures like that are done? Here's a couple of examples that I found here on Bytephoto of what I'm kind of talking about...

http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/s...cat=503&page=2

http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/s...cat=503&page=3

http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/s...sort=1&cat=500

http://gallery.bytephoto.com/showphoto.php?photo=3822

btw...please don't anyone take offence to my using these pics to illustrate what I'm trying to ask :-) I admire this work and these are just a couple that caught my eye.

I'm sure that a good part of it is simply being able to recognise a photo opportunity (and have your camera ready to go at that moment) and again I realize that lighting is a big factor with much of this (something I'm still wrestling with), but is there something else I'm missing here? What is the source (beyond the artist of course) of this wonderful magic if you will? I hope that made sense to everyone :-)

Lastly, I'm considering buying a new digital camera. Sometime in the future I do plan to get something like a Canon Digital SLR for my astrophotography efforts...if for no other reason then that most of my current 35mm equipment is Canon and most of the stuff should be interchangable (save me the cost of buying new lenses and adapters and such). I've been looking at the D10's but simply put I don't have $1000 to work with right now (or anywhere in the near or foreseeable future). I am currently using a Polaroid PDC 700 for my digital efforts and I feel the camera has reached the limits of it's usefulness (beyond shooting vacations pics). Can anyone recommend something under $150 thats going to be at least superiour to the Polaroid I now own? I'm really trying to get away from 35mm as it's simply gotten too expensive for me to pursue. Sorry...I know this is asking for a nice bottle of wine on a beer budget, but I would be greatful for some opinions here :-)

I thank you all for your collective wisdom, experience and opinions here...I'm truly grateful! I really enjoy BytePhoto and there seems to be many talented people here that I can learn from.

I wish you all Bright Blessings & Gentle Breezes,
Jim