A very enjoyable portfolio of excellent photos. I particularly liked the image of the paddle steamer Waverley, it brought back childhood memories of summer holidays at Rothsay and steamer trips up and down the Clyde on vessels such as Waverley, Jeanie Deans etc.
The website is easy to negotiate. Well done.
David

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

Thanks for your comments Vanzelst, Andrew, QC, Derek and Gary, much appreciated. Newcastle is indeed a wonderful place to explore with your camera but I believe any big city, especially one with a mix of historic and modern architecture, can be rewarding.
David

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

Terrific and vibrant shots. The focussing is spot on.
David

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

Love these, its like graffiti art in giving photographers vibrant colours to focus on. Also it saves artists the expense of buying canvas.
David

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

A couple of hours to spare while Irene goes shopping...the K30 and DA*16-50 lens.... I wander the streets of central Newcastle on Tyne (yet again).
The K30 is a wonderfully light carry-around camera and to be honest I reckon it equals the K3 or K5 in image quality.
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Waiting for the mail





Café society




Coffee for two



Window shopping



Spring selection

I'm not a lens expert and have never suffered from LBA (fortunately). But I can distinguish between the relative qualities of a Pentax SMC series 70-210 lens (bought in the early 1990s with a Z1) and the current DA*50-135mm lens which replaced it in every day use around 2007/8.
There is no comparison; the modern DA* is streets ahead on image quality, particularly in sharpness.
Likewise I also bought a F series 28-80 zoom with the Z1 and it certainly can not match the modern successor in my camera bag - the DA*16-50.
David

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

Like Screwdriver says use the telephoto zoom, wide angle lenses are not best suited to this type of action photography. I wouldn't shoot it wide open but fairly wide.
Shoot in auto focus and burst mode (high) and with the camera set to continuous. Start shooting slightly before they hit the spot where you want to capture them and leave your finger on the button until after they've gone through.
If this is a race and they are doing laps you'll get plenty of time to practice as they come round each time. Unless you are panning, and that's a different skill, keep the shutter speed high and that will mean stepping up the ISO. Don't be too disappointed if the first pictures don't satisfy you - action photography only gets better with constant practice.
David

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

Well done Danny, the RPS doesn't lightly award an Associateship. I'm still trying to get my head round a panel for an 'A' after gaining an 'L' at Bath. I must say when I did that no one was in the least concerned about what gear I used.
David

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

Amazing views, wonderful colour and I like the fact you've given these pictures context by including some ground level features.
David

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

A very interesting and varied set QC. As well as the action you've documented some of the background scenes.
Why is there a strange green cast in #1 and #10?
Congratulations on the imminent addition to your family.
David

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