Just given all mine another look over, the problem is definately movement of the moon, unless there's elongated stars up there

On another note, I did get a nice sunset on the way home from the east coast

Seems you have the same problem as me Gwyn, I bought the Velbon CF630 and that doesn't like the bigma either (or maybe its the head)

I didn't bother with the "eclipse" shots, I just waited for the blood moon ones, despite using the remote release on 3sec delay with mirror lock up I still got nothing but fuzzy shots, guess I wasn't expecting such low shutter speeds either.

Peetles problem is caused by movement, this is clearly evident in the stars.

Mine were all the same. All part of the learning curve, I'll be ready next time.

Davem posted a topic a few weeks ago;

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3616

Maybe your two guys were the same breed of "Birders", or perhaps they were old enough to remember being called "Twitchers" with the emphasis on Twit

I wonder what they would have said about someone carrying a scope?

Nice shot Pete, from 20feet away with letches in the way? well done.

Nice girl too, had my own planned visit to focus come off I would probably have been one of the letches

I'm going to go one step further than John tho' and ask "why did you bother sharpening it?" maybe a bit of selective sharpening to the eyes would have helped but I think the image was OK as it was.

One other thought, have you tried simply reducing the shadow with a bit of selective lightning, or contrast /brightness control, maybe try tweaking it a bit with levels etc?

Isn't that a bit like saying, do I buy fish fingers or the smoked salmon?

I'll second John's advice and also Mannesty's, having never actually used Velvia or an MX I cant really comment, (I used Elitechrome in my latter days of transparency and never got around to Velvia )

I can thoroughly recomend the lakes tho'

PS quick edit.....all this talk of going to the lakes made me think of you as Kirby Stephen!

Yippeeeee!

All that gold trim, they'll match my Sigma

Alas, they're going to be way out of my budget for some considerable time

We wouldn't be facing this problem if the British judicial system wasn't a joke, paedolphiles let back out onto the streets, and housholders jailed for protecting thier property etc, plus innocent photographers both verbally and physically abused because some zealous orifice had been wound up by an idiot Lord Mayor.

Leeds hosts a big Fair every year (St Valentines Day Fair) and its an excelent opprtunity for photographers, did I go this year? not on you nelly!
There is no way I am subjecting myself to the risk of both verbal or physical abuse from the aformentioned zealous orifices, especially when the police would fail to do anything about it because their current standpoint seems to be "he thought you was photographing his kids so acted accordingly" or "he didnt know he was commiting assault by ripping the film from your camera"

Well excuse me mr policeman but if I get stopped in the car and one of my tyres is below the legal limit I cant claim "I didn't know" Under UK law IGNORANCE is no excuse.

Sorry for the rant, but this subject really gets me wound up.

PS I also signed the petition.
PPS I dunno, but maybe the paperwork for dodgy tyres is easier than the paperwork for assaults?
PPPS No offence Pete, I know not all Coppers are the same.

Credit where credits due, for a newcomer to macro it is a very good shot most of the beast is in focus and youv'e captured a lot of detail. I suppose I'm a bit envious as I have yet to capture a decent wasp shot, little varmits wont stay still long enough.

It would have been nice to see it in a natural setting as opposed to sat on your...wall? but beggars cant be choosers.

Now lets see you get that clost to a Hornets nest

Chris

I have only one word for you.....tremendous!

...but wheres the evil glint?