Anyone know if there is a difference between makes and nominal power, when it comes to the duration of the actual flash exposure?
I am finding my Metz is not stopping moving objects even on very low power.
Are powerful flashes slower even when set to low power?
Is the Metz a 'slow' flash?
is the Canon Speedlight so called because of the duration of the flash, or the cycle times?

few! well I think I may just be crawling out of a big ditch there! I need to be much more careful how I phrase things don't I?

By the way aquadan005, that's a great image! and you should have no concerns about entering again, as clearly you are able to capture more than just what's in front of you.

Hey Glyn! sorry, I certainly wasn't having a pop at you and I absolutely want everyone to have a go.
Nothing I have said should preclude anybody, I just wanted people to think about what they were doing.

In the past, I have seen exact representations of artwork, 2-dimensional, neutral lighting and in photographers portfolios (often from abroad, Brazil, Cuba etc.) They are literally taking the credit for the beautiful colours they have copied.
As an illustrator this really winds me up ... have you noticed

If I had found myself in a position to do what Tony-o did here I might have joined in this competition, but I wasn't going to go out of my way to find an appropriate scene like: let's say a couple kissing in front of a Klimpt or something. So in the end, I didn't join in.

Thanks Mike, That's exactly right -
Sorry if I have caused offence.
I have either misrepresented myself or people are misinterpreting my comment.
I have an opinion and all I said was SOME people have just pointed their camera...
This is absolute fact.
I am no snob hefty1 (that was unnecessary) but I have two particular views when it comes to this site.

The gallery should not be scrap book...
and competitions are places where you make a real effort to do your best and are judged accordingly.
I often enter these competitions and I was one of the founding contributors on this fortnightly comp.

Right at the top of this thread I expressed my view, and only when asked by Hyram, did I speak out further. It was clear that my first point had been missed or ignored and I didn't want to get into a cat fight over my opinion. I chose to bow out this time.

I stand by my point that simply pointing your camera at someone else's artwork for personal gain is nothing short of plagiarism. I could be wrong, but a sensible adult debate was all I expected.

Lilly's entry was a deserving winner IMO. She went the extra mile and represented the vibrant, cheerful artwork very well. It looked great on my new Mac! ha ha.
Some of the others were just a case of pointing the camera at someone else's creation and recording it like a photocopier, so I my thoughts on those are predictable enough.

Great shot 08tiger! (nice bike! ...ah...if only...)
What's going on with his antennae?
he's definitely a proper 'bug' - I think that eye arrangement is one of the hallmarks of the sort of creature we're aiming for.
Is he a different colour in the spring?

Optio W60. He loves it. He's 4 so he's pretty easily pleased and quite likely to drop it in a puddle
It's actually his Mum's.

frayed knot Mike
I'll be sitting this one out.
When I do get away from this computer, I'd rather be rummaging around in the undergrowth with my li'l boy and 'his' W60.

I guess we can open it up to other bugs. The thing with these bugs is they have very small eyes, pretty much invisible to the naked eye. (well... mine at least).

But it's just a bit of fun so fire away!

Here's a common shield bug and below are two images of his eyes.
I'm sure you guys can do better than this!
Have a go!
If you're up for it, go and find a shield bug (they're everywhere) and submit it here.
There's no time limit and the winner is simply the biggest, clearest eye - taken WITHOUT CROPPING.
Straight out of the camera, clean it up, resize the entire frame to 800px, sharpen etc.
feel free to leave comments and cast your informal vote in this thread.
m 50mm 1:7 mounted normally on 65mm ext. f11


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28mm, reversed onto 65mm ext, f8.


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same again


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Have fun!