CJBS - what make/model of camera body did you get? Same question for the lens.
Those are really nice photos! - and I tend to be very picky before paying such a compliment.
Shorty - the same compliment goes to you too.
Nothing beats a sharp image with a narrow depth-of-focus to emphasize details.
It's the newest release by Nikon, the D5100. I was trained on the D3000 but they are very similar. So far I love the thing. I got the basic kit lens with it, a standard 18-55mm lens. The lens I used for these photos was the 55-300mm lens. It's really amazing... With the vibration reduction technology, it can all be done hand held even with high f stops. I've researched the heck out photography stuff the last couple months, so anyone interested in maybe dropping the cash on a higher end camera and may want advice, I'll give you my amateur advice.
