thanks, all, for your responses. i noted at the outset that i had my own position about the issue, and i suppose susan stated it as well as i could hope. still, i would add another element that i feel is a necessary requirement for anyone who proposes to take pictures of a particular genre: what we call "people pictures". that element is courage. from time to time i find myself with camera in hand, cruising my environment like a hawk floating over a broomsage field, when i see an image form right in front of me that i just *know* would be wonderful for one or more reasons. but instead of lifting the box to my face, i flinch. why? maybe i waited too long, got greedy hoping for perfection, and the magic was lost; but more likely than not, i just was afraid to anger or embarrass the people i was shooting. i believe that a truly great photographer of people must be fearless, intellectually and physically.(posted 8522 days ago)maybe that's why so many who fit that description are females...