I much prefer this version of NUmber 1

I've PM'd you, save hijacking this further, but yes; small world.

Oops, my misunderstanding

Certainly have.
He doesn't live in Eastham does he?

Macro always gives a very short DoF.
I think if you want to get the whole whisk you'd be very lucky.
I've only tried this sort of thing a few times, but I'm always amazed at how small the DoF actually is.

Try in manual, on a tripod, with small aperture and long exposure. Oh, and focus 1/3 up the whisk.
That might work

Gee thanks

Now I just need to remember to put it into practice myself

Hi Monty. As you say C&C is very helpful.
I'll give you my opinion on these, take it or leave it

It is difficult to get the exposure correct on images like this. You either expose for the foreground and the background highlights blow. Or you expose for the background and the foreground has no detail.
The way around this is either HDR ( of which I know very little) or use a graduated ND filter. This darkens the top of the image to narrow the gap in light entering the lens. That way, exposing for the now darker background matches the exposure required for the foreground. ( did that make any sense?)

But, keep them coming You should see some of my early photos

I do too many of the former.
And Mrs Ted would say to little of the later.

I saw the step ladders and remembered a news report from a year or so back. It was about a man arrested for erm....getting frisky, with the cattle.
The chuckle in the news presenter's voice when he said, "and he even brought his own step ladder!".

You guys have obviously never sprayed yourselves in the eyes...by accident, early in the morning, when half asleep.
I speak from bitter experience when I say that it isn't nice