When the PPG packed up a few weeks ago to reorganise for its October relaunch I had 11 photos waiting in the queue for selection. After receiving this latest email I asked them if the queued pictures would need to be uploaed again and they quickly replied to say no, they would automatically go back into the selection process.
David

Amazing pictures, both of them. The first has scientific as well as aesthetic appeal. The second one suggests some terrifying global event taking place. I don't care for the word 'awesome' because it's over worked but in this case it seems appropriate.
Keep these airborne images coming Jon, they really are awesome.
David

I hate the word 'cheating' when it is used against someone who is being creative. Many years ago in my colour slide days a work colleague accused me of cheating when I told him I used a polarizing filter to improve the sky.
Nowadays I get quite annoyed with dyehard amateur photographers who say they don't believe in any PS manipulation because its 'cheating.'
Since when was being creative cheating?
From the earliest days of photography there has been photo manipulation. It used to be done in the darkroom with dodging, burning and cropping. Its now done on a computer.
Centuries before before photography was invented the great masters of art manipulated their images to create landscapes with more romantic appeal and to flatter rich patrons with attractive portaits.
Getting back to Steve's sandcastle, is it cheating? Of course its not, especially when he's made clear the alterations. Its a better picture of the sandscastle because of the treatment but you could argue the original is better because it showed the context of the image by placing the castle in its environment.
But like Dodge says, its his picture, he can do what the hell he likes with it.
David

Good set Barrie. I wish I could have been there on Saturday.
The motor bike shot is breathtaking.
David

Lovely set Gary. This is all very familiar territory for Doik and me.
Pity you can't make it to Whitby this year.
David

Simon they're very good, especially as it was your first shot of a train. Was it going very fast?.
You used the same seetings I use on my K5 and K10 for fast moving trains although I tend to use a wider aperture to get a faster shutter speed. The top ranking locos like Tornado are allowed to go up to 75mph on the mainline and they often run at that speed.
That uksteaminfo website is very good for tracking down steam train movements on the mainlines.
David

I have a K10 and a K5 along with a couple of Pentax weather resistant lenses. They've been used in heavy rain several times without any problems.
Never tried them out in the bath though.
David

Nice to be named on your list Jeff but there are dozens of photographers on here with a huge variety of talents, and I imagine many of them are professional, or like Gareth semi-pro.
Me, I am not a professional photographer and have never had any ambitions to be one. Now I'm retired this is a great hobby for me. End of.
However I used to work alongside professional photographers on evening and morning newspapers where I was at various times reporter, news editor and even picture editor (desk job), but never as a press photographer.
David

Def 16mm Adrian. At the time I wished I'd taken the Sigma 10-20mm with me but the 16-50 worked fine.
David

Thanks Glyn, it was a good competition and I'm delighted to get 2nd place. It seems ages since I last entered a fortnightly competition and I shot this in Newcastle just yesterday for the competition. I'm pleased you picked up on the Film Noir style.
My congratulations to Northgrain and Dr Orloff, I'm proud to get onto the podium next to them.