Confused me a bit there, nearly had to go back for a second look.

Dan

Yes, I did wonder about that...

Dan

Well here goes, sorry to those that put lots of effort in and didn't win, it was, as I said, really hard to judge.

Probably more so as portraits are not my favourite subject. But I wanted to pick something that I wasn't necessarily going to compare to my own efforts, and that I thought would make you think a bit differently, as I rightly guessed lots of you wouldn't want a straight shot of your face.

Read on, and apologies again, but it's obviously nothing personal...


Don: Beautifully controlled lighting (3 lights?), and a great look about it, very much like a still/promo from a gangster film. Feel a bit wary saying anything negative, but appreciate we're on opposite sides of the Atlantic. (Just hope you don't have 'friends' over here...). I find the blue light on the background a little overpowering, and the look on yourface, through the smoke, not quite right (sorry can't explain it more than that, but I reckon he might be concentrating on his macbook...). Other than that, I think it's a superb image - technically the best, but it's my Second Place!

Amoringello: Really well done composite (please tell me it's not a straight shot ) - I like the idea, and the execution, slightly disconcerting that you've got two left ears, but nice none-the-less. Only thing I don't like about it is the photoshop filter (brushstrokes? Poster?) I think that detracts rather than enhances. Great effort though. Highly Commended.

Dirk1000: Another well thought out idea, and I prefer the amended version to the original. I now see it as a morning, noon and night shot (whether that's your intention or not), before it looked as though all shots were supposed to be the same. However, the main image doesn't look sharp enough on your face to me.

ChrisA: I like this, not from a technical point of view, but because it looks as though you're smiling. I find the double reflection in the LCD screen detracts from what could have been a better looking overall image (makes the 'subject' seem out of focus, even though I don't think it is), but again, a good idea well done.

Prieni: This could have been the winner, if it hadn't been for that reflection which I think isn't needed. I know it's the Pentax User logo, but we all know where we are, and I think it would have been a great image without it. The coloured logo is at odds with the sepia tone of the rest of the pic. Third Place.

Zach Abubeker: Sorry Zach, but that's just too small an image to base an opinion on - can't tell whether that's a shadow, or a composite or what...

Clarky (or should I call you Mr. Oddie?): Getting bored of myself saying 'nice idea', but here I go again. Nice idea, but could be sharper, and white balance needs sorting. And the lighting. But I liked it - it made me smile.

Justgetoutandride: Well done for entering! Nicely concieved (as a change from 'nice idea'), perhaps not as technically proficient as Don's... But, it shows something of the man, not just an image - he's drinking water and eating a healthy snack, so he take's care of himself (Don, take note ). Pose could be better though - do you always have a snack pressed to your cheek?

Galoot: Really well done. Not a nice idea - a great idea! If I'd done it, I would have been tempted to do more with the photoshop work to get the newspaper part looking less 'stuck on', but I don't think that would have necessarily made it better. At the risk of a flood of complaints from furious members, it's my Winner of the Week! Amusing, with eye contact!

Lenscape: I hope you weren't riding over the speed limit and taking pics of yourself at the same time...? Like Justgetoutandride, you've given us a image that shows us what you do, or what you enjoy. Well executed with a mix of lighting to balance, and timed well to have the 'slow down' sign showing. Wondering now why that's blurred... Highly commended (but I don't condone speeding!)

Kcmadr: A nicely exposed (bearing in mind the areas in shadow and sunlight), that has a slightly abstract feel to it. However my eyes get drawn to the black and yellow shape on the right hand side, and also to the dust-spot top left, and I don't think I see enough of you for it to really engage me.

Pschlute: I like the pose, I like the lighting, but I don't like the 'filter' applied. Makes it look as though you've got really dirty hands. And neck. And ears. I feel it would have been a lot better without it, but the lack of eye contact would have prevented it being in the top three anyway.

Lilly: Again a nice looking image that I feel is spoilt by the filter - nice touch with the green eyes, but I can't help thinking your avatar looks better composed, and the eye contact (with slightly more controlled hair, I do find it a bit distracting) improves it.

Legasso: I think this would have looked a lot better with different lighting. Using the lights above the mirror with more subtle fill-in would have improved it, I feel. Was a little confused as the subject seems a little at odds with your entry in the previous ('flight') competition, but I'm guessing that was just a mis-typing. I'm a little put off by the angle of the reflection, I'm just picky like this, but if this were a true reflection, the angles would be different, if you see what I mean.

Tyr: Now this is really nicely done too, good range of tones, nice lighting, strong eye contact, what more could I ask for? Not sure really, and looking back I find it hard to justify why I would pick Galoot's entry over this (or any of the others), but I like the humour in Galoot's, and I'm not so keen on the look of this. One thing that stands out as being 'wrong' is that the nearest eye (your left) is out of focus, the right eye's sharp. This gives the immediate impression to me that the shot is out of focus, and for a technically good image like this I think that jars a bit, and may explain why I'm not so keen. It might be the hat though . Highly Commended.

HowardJ: I like the diagonal composition, but feel the exposure could have been better. Cloning top right is a little obvious too.


Well there you go, sorry Tyr (especially), as I think you might have thought you'd do better (and with a different judge you probably would), but I've judged it as I've seen them and now it's Galoot's turn.

Glad I'm not doing this again! Almost enough to stop me entering.

Dan

Nearly ready.

Dan

This is HARD!

Just to let you all know I haven't forgotten, but haven't been in from work long and am cooking tea.

Will post my 'Judgement' as soon as I can, but it's tricky weighing up the pros and cons, especially the balance between the emotional and technical aspects...

Be back soon.
Dan

I saw this a long time ago (http://www.leongoodman.com/d70focus.html), and although it refers to the Nikion D70, the same 'cams' can be seen in the K10D (and the *ist series beforehand - probably just about any SLR). Presumably these cams can be incorrectly set and the focus would then be 'off', although it would look right in the viewfinder, and protentially to the AF sensors too.

However, there's no obvious way for the cams in the K10D to be adjusted (not that I'd advise you to anyway), so I guess it would be a 'back to Pentax' job.

Whether these cams could move over time and throw the focus out, is another question altogether.

Dan

It all depends on whether you have a night bus in your area. Our buses stop running at 7pm, so the hedgehogs will only go as far as their little legs will carry them.

Dan

(Actually, the lady at the wildlife hospital said that they need a square kilometre to roam around in to find their food.)

Pretty much just a message for Pentax Users in Essex, but obviously if you have a thing for hedgehogs it might appeal.

Today we collected two hedgehogs from the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, and these have been released in our garden. Prior to release we needed to ensure they had a nice, waterproof home (a chamber at the bottom of our logpile) and a way out of the garden so that they can roam about and get their food. They may just wander off and never be seen again, but hopefully they'll stick around.

Hedgehogs are in trouble due to loss of habitat, poisoning from slug pellets, getting run over etc. The South Essex Wildlife Hospital currently have around 200 needing rehoming. If your garden and surrounding area is suitable, they'll be only too grateful of your help to provide a release site - give Sue there a call! If you want to donate to this charity too, please do, they do an amazing job. If you can give them some of your time, even better!

This is the male, before we got him out of the box and ushered him into his new home.




Hopefully we'll have success with these two, and some of you will provide some others with places to go.

Dan

I use to use this set-up: https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2531&postdays=0&postord...

but have since got one of these as it's quicker to set up and looks a little more professional.

Good results from both though, so if you're on a really tight budget the first is fine.

Dan

Thanks Clarky. That was with my Sigma 105mm macro on my *istD. There's an outline of the technique on my blog here.

Dan