I've always understood the Gallery was a place for photo critique. Isn't that why there's a box for comments? If the more critical of our members feel the need to express opinions its up to them to do so. There seems to be some sort of exclusive clique involved in commenting in the more difficult to access Forum which certain people consider to be in some way superior to the Gallery. I'm sorry Mike says he's deleted his images, which I enjoy, from the Gllery.
david.

Winners get an automatic PM a soon as they are selected.
david
PS that was John Riley's 4999th post. Go for the 5,000th John.

First class achievement Ken.
david

The EXIF info in my case is always inaccurate. It invariably states that my pictures are shot in shutter priority mode whereas I always shoot aperture priority. The shutter speed often indicates some obscure mathematical concoction such as 8000th of a millionth of a second or some other mystical figure.
Since I started shooting everything in RAW and then converting to TIFF for the final image much of the data is missing in the published EXIF.
When I posted a picture which was scanned from a slide the EXIF said the camera used was a Nikon. In fact it was a Nikon scanner.
david

No. 2 for me, its very artistic. I'm not generally a fan of HDR as many photographers get carried away and produce OTT results but your No.2 is restrained yet goes far enough to achieve the right result.
david

Although you've improved the detail Ted I'm not convinced this is better, the first shot had more 'bite' with the darker blue giving it drama.
david

All three pictures are stunning but the rhino is my No.1 too Emily. It must be just about the best rhino pic I've seen.
Like Terry says, I never use the multiple focus selection points and shoot only on centre spot focusing. Its easy to snap into focus with it and, holding the botton down half way to lock, recompose the picture before snapping. It becomes second nature after a while, especially as that's what I used to do when I worked with manual focus cameras.
If you were shooting through wire mesh fences would that account for the amount of hunting your lens did on auto?
david
PS I said I focussed this way with manual focus cameras. Should have said with auto focus film camera, the Z1 which I used before I got digitalised.

I see a couple of members entered their own faces (you look good Emily). My entry is positively not a self portrait.
david

All this confirms my opinion that the best way to post photos is in the Gallery. Friends can comment on them there if they wish. Its so easy, no fuss.
david

I had a new MX which I bought in the early 1980s soon after they were introduced. It was a lovely little camera and for it's time very technically advanced. It never let me down. I still regard it as a classic.
david