Very, very impressive, both architecturally and photographically. I'm always amazed at how those fancy, elaborate and seemingly flimsy ceilings have stayed up for so long - no stress analysis in those days! And the geometrical complexity is stunning.

I've looked at the whole set several times, it's that good . The original (darker) versions of 6 and 7 for me, please. My only niggle with those two is not the dark bits but the brightest bits - bottom of wall behind people in 6, far window in 7. The colour is lost in the brightness. I wouldn't have mentioned it if there hadn't been a comment on the dark bits. But life would be boring if people didn't have different opinions .

Steve

The buzzard and oyster catcher are nicely done. However, the water rail is the highlight for me - so difficult to see in the open but you've gone and got it! Never mind the OOF twig, that sort of thing makes it all the more real. Just as long as you're not submitting it for a competition...

Steve

A stunning set, almost too much to take in at one viewing. I particularly like the tree pictures - the straight trunk turning into twisting branches and the sunburst through the tree with backlit cloud above and patch of light below with shadows as subtle leading lines. Really nice .

The astro shots are interesting. It's the starburst that makes the Betelgeuse image work for me. Take it away and it's just a lot of bright dots on a black background. Well done for getting a stunning picture from an optical effect rather than insisting on reality. And the moon - was it really rotating between shots? Better tell NASA before they send a man to it only to find that it's not where they thought it would be .

Steve

Thanks.

I must admit that No. 3 is my favourite. It reminds me of a dancer, head held high, skirt swirling. Getting it involved a bit of luck. The angle was what I wanted but the background was whatever happened when I manoeuvred the plant while the look of the petals was just what came out of the software. And the picture as taken was actually the other way up!

Steve

Within the rules of the game, and given the state of panic I'd be in, it would be the K3 and DA300mm (with 1.4TC attached) because they are always at the front of the camera cupboard so quickest to find and remove. They are also always attached and ready to go, so stretching the rules a bit I'd count them as one grab and go for the permitted second grab which would be the next easiest to grab - probably the Q-S1 with 02 attached.

Of course, the really sensible thing to do would be for first grab to be the network storage disk because that's got all Mrs L's - and coincidentally my - digital photos on it (plus a lot else!). The second grab would be one of Mrs L's collection of photo albums with some of her pre-digital pictures of happy days with young kids many years ago. Mrs L would be sooooo grateful and I would get the credit .

Steve

Thanks.
My secret is out - the flower is No. 12 on the menu of the Chinese takeaway up the road .

Steve

Playing around with one of Mrs L's begonias, trying to get something a bit beyond the 'detailed record shot of a flower' type of macro. Not enough natural light at the time so continuous artificial light used. All taken with the flower attached to the plant, which was quite a challenge since (a) the flower stems are quite fragile; and (b) the flowers wobble with the slightest vibration. Then, while moving the plant for a change of view, the flower stem broke . Thankfully, the plant is throwing out lots of flowrs so Mrs L won't notice...

K3 + Sigma 70mm macro for all, on bellows for the last one. Stacks (of course :wink. The first and second pictures are from the same set of images, the second one omitting about half the images to get the rear flower out of focus. The third picture needed a lot of tidying up, mainly to get rid of lots of viscious green fringes. Presumably the Sigma 70mm macro wasn't designed to be put on the end of bellows - I doubt if I'll be doing it again!

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as always.

1.



2.



3.



Steve

Excellent, definitely something to be proud of.

In view of the umbrella in one of the shots and mention in the first page about rain lashing down, were you making good use of the WR properties of Pentax equipment?

Steve

Photographic minimalism at its best. Wonderful!

Steve

Tho' the way be long, let your heart be strong, Keep right on round the bend.

And please drink the contents of the can before kicking it. As established above, beer can be very messy if it explodes.

Steve