I only have a couple of day's experience of using a Mac as I have just acquired a Mini Mac that arrived on Monday. However I do have some experience of using several operating systems right back to CP/M .

However now, I guess, I have a Windows mind-set so was keen to put some virus protection on the Mac. I found iAntiVirus which looks like it might do the job. It does though only look for Mac type infections and ignores, and can therefore forward, Windows viruses.

Ok, so I've only had a couple of days with the Mac but a few things have been driving me mad, like how to find a # on a UK Mac keyboard, but its coming together. (This is Snow Leopard and it does feel a bit like RiscOs )

Glyn

I did try separate lighting onto the front of the paperweight but because it has lots of bubbles in it I got loads of point reflections that messed up the shot. Just using the rotating torch created good illumination as it passed behind the paperweight although it did produce a line reflection on the front. I guess that if I had a much bigger room I could have used some hidden static illumination from behind but otherwise it seemed to work well.

Glyn

Many thanks for third place and special mention for creativity.

Thanks also for such an interesting subject. I thought that this subject was amongst a few in these competitions that provoke doing some research to find out what can be achieved. The Abstract competition had a similar impact.

On how-it-was-done the shot was achieved by hanging a small LED camping torch from a microphone stand. The torch had conical reflector for sideways illumination and I did mask off some of this and the end of the torch. The bright lines are the point on the conical reflector. The paperweight was standing on a black tube on & against a black cloth but I had to tweak the shadows in Photoshop Elements to hide the stand.

Originally I wanted to produce a spiral by puling the string as the torch rotated. While I managed to achieve this the results did not seem to have as much impact as I expected. So I introduced the paperweight. Then I had problems with the start & end of the spirals and slowly worked toward just doing rings. You can see the last spiral attempt here.

The torch not only had to produce the rings but also illuminate the paper weight so it took a little bit of experimentation.

Congrats to Hyram who has proved that the first submission can win & every one else for some fantastic shots.

Glyn

Me too

Glyn

Light Rings Around a Paperweight

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Misc/IMGP3662c1s-small.jpg[/IMG]

K-7 with the Samsung version of the DFA100mm Macro
F2.8, 8sec & ISO 100

Taken on 23/01/2010

Glyn

Many thanks for your well thought out set of comments and what must have been some difficult judging.

Congratulations to everyone for such a good collection of submissions.

Glyn

Railway Footbridge in Snow

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Misc/IMGP3357-c1-small.jpg[/IMG]

It looks like I'm kicking this one off.
The novelty of the snow has worn off. Now it just feels bleak.

K-7 with DA*16-50 @ 22mm
F7.1, 1/30sec & ISO 200

Taken at 08:56 on 13/01/2010

Glyn

From my direction I think No.3 is the best. I do prefer the more reflective lighting of No.2 but unfortunately it does not have a drip

I would love to join this craze but while we have some icicles they were formed yesterday and today we have not been above freezing so no drips

However yours look great

Glyn

I'm not sure it helps but we have been around this before here.

My K20D has had similar lock-ups but they never happened very often and removing & refitting the battery fixed the problem. I think the manual mentions this, see John's comment in the linked thread.

Glyn

Many thanks for your excellent comments, committed judging and for choosing such an interesting and diverse subject.

Congratulations all round.

Glyn