I continued to explore the Canon's website and here is another piece of valuable information - a deep look into technologies of Canon Digital SLRs. You can learn there about how the camera focuses, the light is metered and exposure is taken. And a few extras: articles on infrared-cut low-pass filter, 16.7 megapixels full frame 35mm CMOS sensor and high performance digital imaging (DIGIC II processor).

Sometimes we overlook the obvious. For instance, how many of us explored the websites of the camera manufacturers? I admit, only now I looked closer at Canon's website. And here is what I found - Canon Science Lab. Even if you are pretty confident about your knowledge about the light, its physics, qualities and applications, you still may find something new among the articles of the Lab.

Yesterday I had problem with tethering the Canon 1D Mark II and Mac PowerBook. I've installed all the latest software and updates. And when I tried to control the caemra from the laptop, I could do almost everything (change the exposure settings, ISO and exposure correction), but I could not make to relase the shutter. It took me a couple of hours to try all imaginable choices, looking through the manuals and searching on the web. It seemed that everyone else was able to do it without problems.
My EOS Capture window looked as in the screenshot to the left. I pressed the spacebar or the shutter button in the window, but nothing happened. The only thing that changed is that small message in the status bar. It is saying "Quiet, delayed shutter". The message appears for a few seconds and then it is gone. So finally I gave up, I could not find the solution to this problem.
My last resort was the Rob Galbraith Forum on Canon 1D cameras. After a few hours I was relieved to get a hint on the problem. Actually I got the solution - This message was about one of the personal functions set to make the shutter sound quiter. So, first the shutter opens up, closes and only when you relase the shutter button the mirror goes back to its place. And after changing the personal function back everything started working as it suppose to. I am very grateful for the help I got from the guys at the forum. And for those who may encounter similar problem I post this message.

Many photographers use flash as the main source of light or to fill-in and add special effects. This post started with the look at Neil Turner's website, who does a lot of portrait work using flash. There you can see a series of techniques on how to use flash in such work.
If you are interested to know more about the flash and how it works, I suggest to take a look at a great article about Canon Flash. Nikonians can read more about almost the same subject in another articles: "Flash Photography with Nikon F4, Nikon F5 and/or other Nikon AF SLR models" and "Notes on using Nikon TTL flash".
You may be interested in more flash techniques, which are described by John Lehmann. He explains very interesting effects that you can do with flash. For those who just wants to start with basics I recommend the article "Greap Pictures with Flash" at About.com or "Flash Basics" by Guy Parson.
And here are several more links, which cover various flash usage:

• Controlling the Background Exposure
• Flash in Nature and Landscape Photography
• Smart Flash Outdoors
• Flash in Wedding Photography
• Bird Photography Tip #16
• Wildlife Photography and Fill-in Flash
• Another article on Wildlife photography with Flash
• What is the best flash for macro photography?
• Cross-Polarization Flash Macro Photography
• Novoflex Macro Flash Lighting System

In the post at RobGalbraith.com forums I read a wonderful information posted by Chuck Westfall:

The EOS-1D and 1Ds are weather-resistant in conditions equivalent to rainfall at a rate of 10 inches per hour, which would be very heavy rain. Several L-series lenses including the EF 16-35mm L lens have the same degree of weather resistance, but be sure to mount a protective clear filter and the supplied lens hood for best results. We also suggest cleaning the equipment as soon as possible after exposure to rain, and of course the lens mount, the CF card slot cover and the interface ports should be closed at all times during exposure to rain or other precipitation.

The whole post is originated by a photographer accidently submerged in a cold water with his photo gear (fortunately survived) and is wondering about the damage his cameras actually took. And one of the answers that somebody has already experienced similar thing and it turned out OK. Even one of guys (hearsay) had his gear washed under tap water. What a news.
Well, from my experience, I used my camera on the sea shore and some salt water splashed sometimes the camera. And some other day I was under a rain (under an umbrella) and the camera stopped working - the main dial (under you index finger) could not be turned. Canon fixed it without any problems. So I would say it's case-to-case basis, or either the salt water damaged the camera. It could be that my camera wasn't that tought after the assembly line. Who knows. But it seems there are good news