Sorry for the delay folks.


GlynM

Thanks for kicking it off Glyn, Very Christmassy image but a little busy and lacking any real focal point.

Tony-O
I'm not a big fan of PhotoShoppy images but something about this did evoke fond memories of winter dinners in front of a wood fire. unfortunately the image lacks any of the classic compositional elements so apart from the obvious vapour from the warm liquor drawing the eye, I wanted more perspective and to be lead into the picture preferably towards that stove.

Lilly
Beautiful balls! gorgeously christmassy, but I'm afraid the photo left me cold. I may be missing something clever, but again it seemed to lack any compositional strength. Just a very competent record of some baubles.

Malo1961
Seems like a bit more effort has gone into this shot. Cute scene, I would have preferred to be lead into the scene rather than having it cutting across the image. What are the curious black noiseless blobs around each star?

Hyram
Good idea to have one dominant ball with the potential of a christmassy reflection, but I afraid this one doesn't do anything for me, sorry. I don't like the over-processed effect or the cold blue.

Father Ted
Nice scene, I would have tried to light it more delicately with some back lighting and soft shadows. It would be fun to see how atmospheric you could make it with a couple of torches and a few mirrors.

hefty1
Beautiful delicate image, needed the description to get the Christmas idea across. shame about all the foliage crossing the flower.

Yelvertoft
I like this. Nicely done - simple, well controlled and effective. Maybe the pin line in the frame could be thinner.

R o b
Brilliant! Ha ha. well done.

mikew
Good idea, very well done, nice lighting and DOF but possibly a touch over-exposed at the top?

The winners:
1. R o b - had to be
2. mikew
3. Yelvertoft/Malo1961 can't decide

lizz'n you lot, is Chrizzmas day now, and I'm as full as a gun and pissed as a fart all over again, OK? I bloody luv you I do...
(laptop in the Kitchen next to box of wine...)
Just been testin' Claire's new W60... - Images indoors seem bloody awful! but at least she can take pictures from INSIDE a glass of beer. always useful that.
I promise I'll be back soon

Right! I guess that's it. It's Christmas Eve and I'm in the kitchen as pissed as a fart so don't hold your breath, I may be ome time. ha ha.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Thanks, you're welcome, but remember... you'll need three hands if you want to hold a flash at arm's length as well as focussing...

Bloody gorgeous lens! I have two. One permanently attached to extension tubes for macro and one for low light family shots and portraits.
some examples:

Happy Christmas Ben and everyone.
I am a web designer and I think your site is great fun, inspirational, eye-catching, memorable and the photography is superb! I happened to turn the music off because there was a mute button and I was listening to the radio.
I must learn to write copy like that - a load of ol' tosh and nonsense, but clearly means you can quadruple your prices

I am still waiting for half my clients to pay so my Happy New Year is on hold...
.
.

Persactly, hence the trail bike. Even my old VW Combi was so bad on fuel it was cheaper to drive a small car and get B&B!
2 years exploring the world tho'... stopping for extended periods to soak up the locality, camping, motorcycling, hiking - bliss! and always the van parked up somewhere not using any fuel. Bollocks to Christmas, bollocks to a house full of 'precious' possessions, bollocks to the stupid, hysterical British media... rant

I think it would have to be a VW transporter 2.5 TDI kitted out at home. So maybe I have just narrowed down the type of woman prepared to share it with me

It's just a dream you know... just .. a ....dreeaamm.

BTW, Nice caterpillars Mike - I liked number 3 - like a pattern of nastiness!

Do you want to swap wives Mike? that sounds like a proper plan to me. Would have to have a trail bike on the back tho'.
'Dream on Marky boy - you've got another 16 years yet...'

the top one has beautiful rich tones and colours - very attractive.
The title 'Macbeth' is in an optimum position compositionally, but it is out of focus. The symmetrical composition gives a feeling of calm and peace, I don't know if that's what you wanted but it would be ideal for a Bible.
The second one is potentially a more striking composition but the depth of field is a little too narrow I think.

Nice tho', lots of potential. Nice lighting, I quite like the shadow down the page but others might find it distracting I suspect. Maybe you could make more of this and use it to highlight the title or something. How about a goblet out of shot casting a shadow across the book.

Don't start me!
Seriously tho' a lot of people love this lens. It's a big, imposing, good looking lens, you get respect from the hoy polloy (how do you spell that?) and it's light and very good value(*), but bloody 'ell! am I not impressed with the images from mine.
It's also noisy (Wildlife - forget it) and the purple fringing (on mine particularly) is diabolical.

*if you value a piece of cr***

rant rant