I am very impressed, not only with your entry but also with the fact that you still have some Dinky and Corgi model cars.

Mine went many decades ago, courtesy of a clearout by my parents

Unfortunately no.

The photograph has to have been taken between the time the judge sets the competition and the closing date.

Discussion as per the thread title

Thank you all for entering – only four entries but I guess that everyone has been rather busy relaxing themselves, rather than taking photographs of others relaxing !

First – the usual disclaimer that what follows are just my personal thoughts and I hope that nobody will be upset and perhaps a few might agree with some of what I have said !

It has been interesting to see the various interpretations of “Relaxation”. With the first two entries I came to the conclusion that only children can relax, but then the other entries came in to show that adults have not forgotten the technique.

RPLSF –"While visions of sugar plums danced in her head"

A very impressive first entry. I don't know if the photograph is posed or if you just got lucky. A charming image that works very well in black and white, giving it a timeless quality. I always struggle with b & w conversions, so I am always impressed when others get it right. Not much more for me to say because I just like everything about this photograph, including the 'lightening' vignette.

Taken using an FA31 lens ?

Definitely one to keep in the family album.

GlynM – Relaxing in the Kitchen Sink Jacuzzi

I was half expecting a photograph of Hipperty relaxing in a chair with his party hat on and a glass of something in his paw, but perhaps he is away on his skiing holiday.

(For anyone not familiar with Hipperty, he lives in or more probably is in charge of the GlynM household).

Back to the actual entry, another delightful image made all the more unusual by the fact that you don't expect to find babies in the kitchen sink in 2011. A very appealing warm colour tone to the image and a fantastic expression, which seems to suggest that he is both enjoying himself and aware of having his photograph taken.

I find the yellow blob in the bottom left hand corner slightly distracting, probably because it is only partly in the photograph and I don't know what it is – a shoe or maybe a bathtime toy ?

Definitely another one to keep for the family album, although whether your grandson will be pleased when you produce this photograph in twenty year's time is debatable !

sandinista – Relaxation for some

When I first saw this entry, I thought "what has that got to do with relaxation" but as you say although it requires a lot of physical effort, it is a way of unwinding and forgetting the stresses of everyday life.

I am surprised by the ISO 1600 used in daylight, albeit fairly dull daylight but perhaps you had the camera in full auto mode ? I think that the IQ has suffered as a result. It is a good action shot but I think it would be better if there was less grass / mud behind the riders and a lot more in front, so that they appear to have space to move into.

milamber – untitled

A very good 'grab shot' of someone who has definitely decided that it is time to stop and relax !

As you took it on the move and have not carried out any post processing it seems a little churlish to nitpick. But I think it could benefit from some tweaking such as a fair amount of cropping to remove some of the distracting background clutter and tweaking of light and shadow.

Not one for the family album but very well observed and a good entry for the 'city life' album.


So now for the results :

RPLSF’s entry came in first, immediately grabbed my attention and remained my favourite to the end and therefore :-

1st Place – RPLSF – "While visions of sugar plums danced in her head"
(The Greatly Coveted) 2nd Place - GlynM – Relaxing in the Kitchen Sink Jacuzzi

I am not very keen on photographs of children but RPLSF and GlynM have clearly won me over. Nonetheless, congratulations to all who entered.

So, over to RPLSF for the next Fortnightly Competition

Competition now closed.

Results in shortly

.............most of the lenses owned by mayday

With Amazon marketplace, you are largely on your own, since Amazon just acts as payment conduit.

If you end up being sent something that bears no resemblance to what you think you ordered or if nothing turns up, then you have to do all the legwork rather than Amazon.

Agreed.

Make no assumptions about Amazon marketplace companies, but carefully check them out.

Is that the one by by Fil Hunter, Paul Fuqua and Steven Biver :

Just want to make sure that I get the right one.

Thanks Chris.

I should have known that but always manually set it, normally on centre point.