Storm Desmond brought havoc to the beautiful Eden Valley in Cumbria. I was in two locations just east of Penrith, at Temple Sowerby and Appleby. My K3 and DA*50-135mm zoom got their biggest ever drenching but Pentax weather sealing worked perfectly. Pity my shoes didn't. Focussing was difficult- water on the front element hindered the auto focus and I could hardly see to to focus manually.

#1 Temple Sowerby



#2 Appleby



#3 Appleby



#4 Rescue for Appleby flood victims



#5 Temple Sowerby



#6 Temple Sowerby



#7 Temple Sowerby

I was there today in the Eden Valley, and go flood pictures at Appleby and Temple Sowerby which I'll post over this weekend. Wrong side of Cumbria though for you family. Got exceeding t.
David

I prefer the K3 over the K5 for heavy cropping (I don't have a K5ii or K5iis) because of its 24mp sensor. I sometimes need to do this because my longest lens is the DA*200mm.
I've done some massive blow ups which would easily withstand printing at A3.
I don't have the K5ll or 11s but I do have the K5 and a K30 which also get a lot of use and in many situations there's not much to chose between any of them in image quality. But when I might need to heavily crop I always turn to the K3
The biggest improvement in image quality I've ever noticed when changing cameras was when I went from the K10d to the K5.
Saturation and slight differences in tones, such as skin tones of the Benidorm or burnt pensioner variety, are really down to personal preference and are adjustable to your own taste in PS.
David

I tend to agree with Smeggy and Tim on this. I would only use minimum ISO on my K3 on the very rare occasions when a very slow shutter speed and wide aperture were called for. When any sort of action is involved, or very low light, mine goes up to 1000 or 1600 quite often.
As for the monopod. I haven't used mine in years because in any sort of action photography I found it an encumbrance.

The set as a whole make a very interesting and attractive panel. They would look good as a set of prints on a gallery wall but if pressed to identify my individual favourites they would be #6 and #10, #6 for its clear cut lines and #10 for similar reasons but with the added attraction of a very light touch.
David

He don't 'arf bang on. What a tedious read. He'd be better off spending more time out in the street taking photographs.
David

I'd would make a few points Ted.
1: Who has asked you to do pictures for the company website? If its the management then your colleagues can hardly object to you snapping them.
2: Its plain silly to take offence at your choice of title. This is a photo site and its obvious what you meant.
3: Some good advice has already been given by previous posters, for instance keep up a dialogue with the subjects and try to avoid flash. If your's is a modern office it will probably have great big windows so light should not be a problem. Up the ISO a bit if needed. Colour cast may be a problem, offices tend to have fluorescent or tungsten lights. I would leave colour cast corrections till later in Photoshop and not worry about it in camera.
4: Enjoy it, joke on with your colleagues as you work and keep chatting. It will put them at ease as well as you.
David

Barrie, I frequently see in black and white even before I press the shutter button but I still make the mono decision post processing.
David

I totally agree with Nigel. I would never set the camera to take in mono, that's a decision which should be taken later in Photoshop. That way you also retain the original colour version should you change your mind.
Not so sure about the squinting bit though.
David

Love these Gary, right on my doorstep. If you'd been to Sunderland on Saturday and popped into the National Glass Centre you might have bumped into Barrie and me, we were there on a camera club assignment.
David