Some good action shots there, particularly the head-on view of the peloton in #2. For me #6 is interesting, the girl racer seen hemmed in by the barriers works well.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Entwined - my No. 2 of 5



Another one from the Edinburgh Fringe, but in a completely different style.




A Taiwanese group demonstrating a ritual for the love of earthenware.

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Thank you for your comments Dave and Alan. I think when Ken launched this theme he hoped for more members to respond but thanks to those who have commented so far.
Perhaps the idea will catch in time.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Of course there isn't. Photography at this level is not about cameras - its about artistic talent.
I was there on Saturday while visiting the Fringe, with a colleague from Durham Photographic Society who had two acceptances in the exhibition, one of which was an award winner.
It was good to see the work of at least one leading PUF member included, Tim Pile (Timbo) who had two colour and two mono prints in the salon.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

For a start I'd say you made the correct decision to use a long lens (300mm). I suspect you didn't have to do much heavy cropping so this means you have a better image quality. In many amateur sporting photographs the subject matter is too small in the frame, too far away. Here you've captured the drama of the action in a series of sharp, colourful images. In particular The Top Bend freezes the action at the most acute point of the lean into the curve. Perhaps its a little tight against the left edge of the frame but that's being picky.
The head-on shots of the precise moment the winners cross the line are very good. You couldn't do this without using a long lens.
Because cycle racing is such a colourful sport I prefer the colour images to the mono versions but the whole set is excellent.
I'm surprised that you used low ISO settings ranging from 200-800, especially with a 300mm lens. In a similar event in Durham earlier this summer I was using 1000-1600 for the K3+200mm lens if I recall correctly. Admittedly that was an evening event and light levels had dropped.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

What a beautiful cat Gary and it makes a wonderful set of street photos. Many years ago in Stanley Co. Durham there was a guy who had a short-lived local zoo and he took a puma on a chain to the bank to collect staff wages.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Thanks for that Ken; now for my five, not a running theme but five of my favourite subjects starting with Street Photography. This is from Saturday when I was at the Edinburgh Fringe, which is more street performance than pure street photography. However I snatched this 'moment' early in the day.

Who said I was bored?


I look forward to your comments, particularly on the various opinions about what is street photography and what is not.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I really like kitchen utensil abstract shots, you have to work on the composition with care to achieve a satisfying image. The blown highlights on the colander detract from the image. On the positive side I think the dark area underneath with different intensities of light coming through the holes is very effective.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I've always felt that a white camera would be ideal for a wedding photographer's kit.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

This sounds like a good idea. As for your first post Ken I would say it has good colour and lighting. Although I'm no expert at photographing flowers, it seems technically sound apart from the slight cropping mentioned by Alan.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout