Let's move on to another subject now.

I think by now ratpatch must be totally put off from visiting the UK...

The summary of all this is that, like all big cities, London has its fair share of muggers and pickpockets, so exercise the normal care that you would at home. Try not to look like a Lost Tourist, which must attract unwanted attention.

With normal care you should have a fine time, so ebjoy the sights and enjoy your photography. There are no particular problems for amateur photographers as long as you don't start doing suspicious things like photographing the seciruty systems on sensitive buildings!

Don't forget to post us some pictures.

Please take into account that whilst all the above may be correct in The netherlands, in the UK the position can be very different.

Here there is no law of privacy as such and we are free to photograph and publish images that show recognisable people. Of course, if we ridiculed them by so doing, or misrepresented what they were doing, that would perhaps give rise to some sort of legal action.

The details of what is and is not premissable have been widely published on the web, but in the main in the UK whatever you can see from publically accessible land is OK.

Common sense is always a good thing to carry along with the camera kit...

Well there's still time to get in some practice and I'm sure that your new DSLR will be more versatile than a P&S. I would say there is no point having it and not using it to the full.

A decent bag to hold it and keep it out of sight would be a good idea and some insurance just in case it does get stolen or damaged.

There is always risk in big cities and some care and attention will be needed, but I wouldn't let it stop you enjoying your camera.

Hope that helps. Have a great time on your visit, and welcome to the forum!

I use a Manfrotto 055 with a #115 head. Solid and reliable.

I had this problem in the Eden Project Biomes. The only answer was to wait until the fogging evaporated and just hope that the K10D was weather sealed enough to take it. No harm seems to have been done.

Depending on the temperature and humidity you might have to wait a while. In the meantime I took some misty pictures anyway...

Are you not supposed to do that?

Most competition definitions state that there must be an original that starts with the use of light on a light sensitive surface. That would cover film or a sensor.

I think it just goes to show that the more we try to define something, the more there is to define.

Almost 100% of the time I think we can identify what is a photograph. At some point it may become Graphic Art, but I ain't losing any sleep over it!

The real question will be "is it a good image?". How we got there doesn't bother me...

However, if being entered for a competition then it should be all our own work.

I hope somebody isn't going to ask now, "What about trade processed prints and slides?"

The camera's format does not necessarily suit either the subject or the composition, and I always encourage people to crop to achieve the best result.

Diogital frees us from many constraints, although these are largely imaginary. Before digital I printed whatever shape I wanted and trimmed the paper.

Before I did my own processing and printing I ordered 7"x5" prints instead of the usual 6"x4" and used a pair of scissors...

The example of a square format is a good one as the square is a very powerful format that is often neglected. I don't see why it would only be right for people with quare format cameras to make square format prints.