Moved to the appropriate forum section.

Shutter button every time - why make two button presses when one will do?

OK, but I don't see how that's a problem. As mentioned, I upload 1000 pixel images to the gallery. The reason is that these are the same size as my EPZ images, which is very convenient.

Apart from the observation that a larger image will of course have more pixels and better detail than a smaller one, I don't see any difference in practical terms on my monitor. That applies to both your and my images. They look perfectly satisfacory.

I understand that the smaller display image is resized from the larger image, but I don't see that as a case for having a lower resolution image (600px) and giving up the possibility of having the larger one.

If we do that because we assume the judge can't be bothered then everything is settling towards the lowest common denominator. That can't be a good way to go, surely?

It's actually quite moody. I'm not that distressed by any noise in the image, I actually quite like it.

1966...wasn't that the year Patrick Troughton took over the role of Doctor Who?

True. To make sure quality is maintained, my order would be: Levels and/or curves, straightening (if needed), cropping, sharpening.

As an aside, and this is an excellent learning process, the actual competition rules ask for 1400x1050 pixels exactly. I take your point about the ppi being irrelevant, but in the absence of wanting to get a real migraine I have always used 72ppi anyway. Why struggle when it's so easy to do it that way?

Where the image shape is not suitable for 1400x1050, it needs placing on a 1400x1050 black canvas. This means vertical shots are relatively small, which unfortunately can reduce their impact.

Lots of reasons really. We might want to crop, straighten, sharpen...all these things need to be done. It's much better to make the print ready in Photoshop, which will do the best job without loss of quality.

I print whatever size and shape I need within the bounds of an A3 piece of paper. Any trimming is done afterwards, as necessary.

Thanks Geoff, that's an excellent lesson is simply following submission requirements!

Part of the problem at the long end is that lenses tend to fall out of the operational range of the AF system. I'm not sure offhand what the critical aperture is, but small apertures will make AF less predictable.

Given that we need high shutter speeds and high ISO to make up for the often atrocious light, it would seem a wider aperture lens might be the answer.

I've done wildlife with the 60-250mm f4 and that was excellent.