Good ideas here .... I find No 3 the most effective, with its brightness and shiny sharp drops catching attention, plus there's a good gradation between the green and red areas of the background.

No 4 is technically challenged, with noise and rampant fringing ....Could you have got away with a smaller aperture and a lower ISO? Perhaps without a tripod things were on the edge!

Thanks Derek . I think the Macro Bugs section might have to be left to you, including links to B & Q's website !!

Some very effective processing Philip! No one would know about the stitching if you hadn't mentioned it

Yes, the D FA28-105 is very useful on APS-C .... its my most used lens now!

I'm wondering if I detect a little distortion effect on your image there .... I sense that there is a sort of barrel effect, turning slightly outwards at both the left and right edges, at least I get the that impression. No doubt an easy fix with distortion correction.

"Supplement to the 2nd Edition of the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System "

And now I am pleased to tell you that my 'Flash Guide' has been updated again, this time with a new "Supplement" PDF.....

(Example images)







This Supplement contains 40 more pages of Pentax flash related material ...... Here are the key new sections :

1) New Camera Models (K1, K3ii, K70, KP) Flash Features and New Choices
2) The AF 160FC ('Circular Ringflash') & AF 201FG
3) Automatic Flash Photography Technques, AE Modes/AutoISO
4) Off-Camera Control Technologies (Optical / Wireless / Radio / TTL & Manual Systems)
5) Pentax Optical Slave Modes
6) Extension Cord (Wired Off-Camera) Operations


I hope this new material will prove helpful and useful for members! This Guide resource is an ongoing project, and with this update I am bringing things up to date and adding more coverage to areas that were not dealt with previously, with the aim of making this Guide resource an accurate and detailed account of working with flash and our Pentax cameras. As always I value all feedback, comment, corrections and ideas for improvements or additions! I depend on the input and enthusiasm of forum members committed to flash

The new "Supplement" PDF is available for download now from this direct link ....
link

Please enjoy the Supplement, and feedback any responses here, ideas for corrections and improvements most welcome, or just any Pentax Flash Talk!

Nigel McGregor

That backdrop is very complementary, yes. A good exposure too.

You have really got the blues covered there ...a lot of interest and variety in a quite narrow colour range. The composition is very good too with those two balancing rock shapes on each side.

An experimental session messing around in the Coombe Woods near Croydon, I make no apology for the 'not natural' elements of the lighting here .... its a mix of natural and artifical light for effect. What do you think?

(Clicking on the photo might open up a better version in your browser).

Pentax K7, Samyang 14mm F2.8, Cactus Rf60 flash / V6 Tx, 60x60cm Softbox
ISO 100, F13, 1/4sec

No Stu, they get an extra star if it's NOT available for Pentax !

In terms of equipment you were clearly the most Weather Resistant there! That zoom has got you right into the thick of it, good clarity, exposure and you've framed tightly, presumably to remove distractions. Nice job!

(I wouldn't have the gall to point my lens at a mans bottom though )...

I hope you've got a decent rug for the dogs to sit on in that car Peter! Some nice bokeh and enticing glimpses there ...almost like being teased by not being able to see the car properly! No 1 and. No 5 are the most effective for me.

Now, here I am with time to kill while the baby sleeps, sitting in the Asda carpark in the Ford Galaxy ('tribe transporter ') ....hmmm, need to get creative ..... Maybe a closeup of the wing mirror with the out of focus blurred Asda sign in behind ? ...... But no camera!