Textures - you either like them or loath them. I like them, they can add mood to what would be a rather drab or so-so image.

Textures are freely available on the net, and Flickr is a good source for free textures - see the "Textures for Layers" and "NinianLif's texture addicts" as good starting points. You can always photograph or create your own textures.

Adding textures to images is easy if using Photoshop CS5 or CS6. I use the Photoshp Panel by Russell Brown - he has a great Texture Panel for adding textures to images. It will only work in CS5 and CS6. Follow this link: russellbrown.com/scripts.html

Seagull in flight off Long Reef with texture added

Cat with texture (don't ask what he is doing with his tongue).

Rowboat in Pittwater with added texture.

Ettamogah pub with texture

Long Reef beach with texture.