Mike, thanks a lot for your comments, very useful and I enjoyed reading them. I was particularly interested to read what you said about "recording the scene". For me, I confess that that's always been the essential purpose. Would love to know how to inject structure or energy, but I'm sure there's no simple answer suited to a post in a messageboard forum.

Sure, please go ahead.

To be sure it's not a remarkable photo, but I took a few shots at Nottingham University this morning, and I like this one.




K100D Super + Pentax-A 35-70mm F3.5-4.5. Hadn't used this lens for about 10 years, nice and compact but the 'push pull' zoom is a bit awkward.

Is £112 a typical price for a PKA 28mm f2.8 in good condition .. ?

eBay link here

I did email you about this Mike, wondering if my messages have come a cropper in your junk filter. Anyway - let me know if PayPal works for you, or where to send a cheque if you'd be so kind.

Thanks,
James

Apart from the conspicuously grey horizon, that image actually does evoke the atmosphere I wanted to capture! And Tim, thanks for your comments too - I see what you mean about the hedge, especially after seeing Ken's image. Unfortunately it wasn't possible to climb over it. The best I could possibly have done would have been to climb on top of the wife's Polo, and shoot over it

Thanks for the comments; useful to hear. Yes, it was taken at ISO200, f13, 1/499 sec according to the EXIF data. In fact I'll post all the EXIF data in case anything I've not mentioned is significant or of interest.

The shot definitely doesn't capture the scene that I saw, for me. Just from looking at the pic I think it would be hard to imagine whey I wanted to take the photo, but there's something really beautiful about the view there for me, in that afternoon light. It feels so open and spacious. One problem with the pic is that I don't get a sense of distance. I mean - I realise it's a 2D medium, but it looks 'compressed'. Another is that it was taken in hazy sunshine, but the scenery looks as though it was overcast. Gloomy, almost.

Manufacturer |PENTAX Corporation
Model |PENTAX K100D Super
Orientation |top - left
x-Resolution |72.00
y-Resolution |72.00
Resolution Unit |Inch
Software |K100D Super Ver 1.00
Date and Time |2009:11:15 13:58:10
YCbCr Positioning |co-sited
Unknown |
Compression |JPEG compression
x-Resolution |72.00
y-Resolution |72.00
Resolution Unit |Inch
Exposure Time |1/499 sec.
FNumber |f/13.0
ExposureProgram |Landscape
ISO Speed Ratings |200
Exif Version |Exif Version 2.21
Date and Time (origi|2009:11:15 13:58:10
Date and Time (digit|2009:11:15 13:58:10
ComponentsConfigurat|Y Cb Cr -
Exposure Bias |0.00 EV
Metering Mode |Pattern
Flash |Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
Focal Length |50.0 mm
Maker Note |51200 bytes unknown data
FlashPixVersion |FlashPix Version 1.0
Colour Space |sRGB
PixelXDimension |3008
PixelYDimension |2000
Sensing Method |One-chip colour area sensor
File Source |DSC
Scene Type |1
Custom Rendered |Normal process
Exposure Mode |Auto exposure
White Balance |Auto white balance
Focal Length In 35mm|75
Scene Capture Type |Landscape
Contrast |Normal
Saturation |Normal
Sharpness |Normal
Subject Distance Ran|Distant view
InteroperabilityInde|R98
InteroperabilityVers|0100

This was taken late one afternoon in Leicestershire, about 90 mins before sunset, earlier this month. I hoped to capture the sense of space, and the sense of the landscape dissolving into gentle haze in the distance, and something of the light. It was quite a lovely scene to the naked eye, but the image I captured looks dismal. So I'd welcome any tips for landscape photography. Is it because I was shooting toward the sun, perhaps?

I'd love to do this scene justice sometime.

This was taken with a K100D Super with a Pentax-F 28-80 attached. 'AUTOPICT' mode. Image quality set to highest JPEG.




Grateful for any suggestions or comments.

Hi Steve,

I have tried it! And thanks for an excuse for a gratuitous pic, taken on its first outing on a visit to my home town, Hartlepool.




It may be compact for what it is, but I'd be happier with a smaller lens. I actually have an old 35-70mm on it at the moment, a fair bit smaller than the 18-55, but I'd still prefer something a bit more compact.

Agreed 28mm isn't particularly wide on my DSLR, but I was usually happy enough with a 50mm lens on my ME Super, and I think the FOV will be similar.

Thanks, Mike, and thanks for the PM. I've sent you an email.