Thanks all. I swear I posted before but I must are started writing it but not posted it.

Yes I dare say it was the ugliest photo in the comp!

I was lucky enough to get Highly commended in the British Wildlife Photography Awards this year with this 29 image stack of a broad bodied chaser dragonfly nymph in a photo aquarium

Broad bodied chaser nymph in photo aquarium - 29 image stack by Neil Phillips, on Flickr

Sadly once again (as in 2014) it was the only photo featured in the exhibition or book taken with a Pentax, I as far as I aware there has not been anyone in between

Not so much (being a mod I mean, he is a good chap to do reviews!) anymore, he left funnily enough after reviewing the K-3 after the response on this forum from one or two members and lack of support by the main moderator when it happened. My own response to these posters resulted in aggressive PM and again no action from Moderator, although I didn't leave completely like Daniel, I certainly cut back on posting as a result

Nice set.

Not sure if you want IDs, but the beetle is a nettle weevil and the yellow fly is a yellow dung fly. The spider is a wolf spider of some kind (possibly Pardosa sp.)

Agreed, especially when mentioning specifics against Pentax or pro another brand, comments/post seem to get deleted...

Lovely images, and well done on keeping your distance with them, there has been a lot of problems with 'photographers' (i.e.e people with cameras) getting too close and harassing them at this vital time of year whenh they need to bask to get into breeding condition.

Its not a bad lens, can be hit or miss wide open in terms of sharpness. Not quite as sharp as the DA*300mm, but equals it with the 1.4x tele I reckon. The biggest issues I've had photographing wildlife is the Bokeh effect/out of focus areas are not as clean/nice as with the DA*300mm, and of course the sluggish Pentax AF which still isnt up to scratch on moving targets, even sometimes those not moving fast, but that is the body more than anything I reckon and the AF spots are too large and try to lock on to the background around a head small in the frame or the head around the eyes etc.

As some of you know I take photos of pond and river life with a photographic aquarium. Well in September I tried it with some rock pool finds with some OK results (though with more time I would have used cleaner water and rocks!)


Common hermit crab on West Looe in photo aquarium-3 by Neil Phillips, on Flickr


Shore crab on West Looe in photo aquarium by Neil Phillips, on Flickr


Five-Bearded Rockling on West Looe in photo aquarium-58 by Neil Phillips, on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ukwildlife/29966743510/in/dateposted/" title="Worm pipefish on West Looe in photo aquarium-5">https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8659/29966743510_cc40dc939f_z.jpg" width="640" height="415" alt="Worm pipefish on West Looe in photo aquarium-5">

Lovely set, I hope they make it down to Essex this year!

Thanks for your reply. Reassuring Im not doing anything wrong, but not so good that the flashes are not working as they should, I guess that's another limitation to add to my Pentax gear!

I tried using my cheap ebay manual triggers to great effect yesterday with the aquarium set up, its just a shame that using wireless pentax flash I cant photograph badgers.