I loved touring around the Blue Ridge on the couple of occasions when I’ve holidayed in the USA whilst working in North Carolina.

The photograph is a perfect representation of the view along the Skyline drive and as I remember it was very difficult to image successfully.

The photographs that I took there were all film and regardless of what I used film wise or filter wise the mist and the haze was always there and the colours always muted somewhat.

Both the edits have helped lift the image in PP

Maybe an ND Grad filter to darken the sky just a little would have helped at the time of the shoot or in PP but that’s just my opinion.

Thanks for the memory jog!!

Cheerz MZ

I love #2

The sky is fantastic and the subject - well it's breathtakingly beautiful.

I need to get out more!!

Cheerz MZ

Aiki,

I love the shot as it is in B&W. I can understand the argument for a tighter crop but I love the effect of the light on the water so if you do crop then keep some of the water!

Personally I like B&W flower shots ever since I went to a Mapplethorpe Exhibition in London in the 80's

Cheerz MZ

Thordell, I agree.

Which is why I am unsure of correcting as there are certainly times when the distortion (perspective) adds to the image and creates great impact. But I think there are times when the distortion diminishes the impact of the subject and makes the subject less imposing that it should be.

[IMG]http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/manix_zero/IMGP2158-Edit.jpg[/IMG]
In this shot of the tower the impact remains (I believe) but in the other the tower was beginning to loose that impact it has in real life as it was receding just a little too much for me. Even then I am not sure if I have over done the correction!

Anyway thanks to all for the comments

Cheerz MZ

I used perspective correction for the Tower. I'm not sure if I like it or even how much to use. I have never used anything as wide as this and the perspective when pointing upwards is a little extreme so I tried a bit of correction - still not sure if I like it.

I haven't got a polariser for it yet but did hand hold my Cokin A121 in fron of the lens to try to stop the sky bleaching out when shooting some of the photos.

Anyway here's the shot without perspective correction!

[IMG]http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/manix_zero/IMGP2153-2.jpg[/IMG]

Still not sure - I've never used correction before. Prior to this lens the widest I used was 24mm on film and then there was no easy correction so i only used the perspective distortion deliberately/artistically if the shot worked with it.

So in some ways I posted the corrected one deliberately to get feedback. It was also used in the shot of the train and it seems to work better here, to my eyes anyway.

Cheerz MZ

And to RR

Yeah some,

Taken as RAW then-

Crop, levels, Clarity, Vibrance and spot removal in Lightroom.

Is this cheating? I hope not!!!

Correct - K100D

Cracking 1st DSLR!

I sometimes wish I could afford a K20D or K7 but then I feel a little unfaithful to my K100D.

I don't like the "Upgrade" world - never have

I have only upgraded cameras as they have been stolen or broken but this is another topic all together!

Cheerz MZ

Recently dropped my SMC F 28-80 and now the zoom is really stiff. I thought the cost of repair would exceed the cost of replacement - I am now waiting for my 28-70 f4 AL to arrive. I'll be more careful in future.

Cheerz MZ

I finally bought the Tamron 10-24 and I love it. It has given me a new perspective on the world and has virtually not left my camera since day 1.

Anyway here's a selection of the pics I've taken so far.

Comments are, of course, welcome.

[IMG]http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/manix_zero/IMGP2153-Edit-3.jpg[/IMG]
Broadway Tower In the Cotswolds

[IMG]http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/manix_zero/IMGP2290.jpg[/IMG]
My kids playing in the sea at Sampire Hoe Dover

[IMG]http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/manix_zero/IMGP2329.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/manix_zero/IMGP2523.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/manix_zero/IMGP2161.jpg[/IMG]
The Cotswolds

[IMG]http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/manix_zero/IMGP2109-Edit.jpg[/IMG]
Formarke Hall at Toddington Stn.

Hope you like them....

My partner uses a Panasonic TZ3 Compact (a great little camera) running on a pair of Li-ion cells and it wasn't long before I envied the Li-Ion Cell performance over the NiMH cells.

That is until I bought a set of Eneloop cells.

They have been a revelation in performance! I have now supplemented them with a set of Duracell Active Charge (similar claims)

I have yet to try them but for all those standard NiMH cell users out there - Your frustrations have been addressed!

These latest cells are much better both it terms of shots per charge and charge retention that i can't recommend them strongly enough!

Cheers MZ