Well Don, in that case we should be very grateful we've got you on the forum then, eh?

Yep, the 2nd is a teenth sharper. I make lots of use of live view - more accurate AF and easier manual focussing, and of course there's no chance of mirror vibration. It also allows you to exploit more interesting angles.

Is a pec pad really what I think it is?

And why in God's name would you want 3 of them!!?

Looks like a lot of rain must have fallen on Bleaklow recently!

+1

The brightness is uneven, brighter towards the top. The light is also a bit directional. You'd probably get better results simply bouncing the flash off the ceiling!

I think the first one could be made interesting with a careful mono conversion, and maybe a square crop to echo the cubic shapes of the balconies?

The rest are a bit drab and feel a bit awkward, although the awkwardness of shot 4 might actually work to your benefit if you tweak the levels a bit.

Don't let RioRico hear you say that Don!

(And isn't that a bit racist? :twisted

For some it's about the winning, for others it's the taking part, Don. I don't know how instrumental comments in the gallery are on people's photographic improvement. The people who are going to benefit from constructive criticism the most, and have the desire to raise their game, usually manage to solicit the right sort of comments when they post in the 'Your Photos' section and request a more in depth analysis.

Quite right Doug, all members should be free to comment on photos in whatever way they wish. If people want in depth criticism they can and often do request it.

It doesn't help anyone to debate the comments given by other people. We've been there before and it wasn't pretty. Focus on the content of your own comments if you want to contribute more positively to raising the standards of photography. Other people are quite entitled to share the enjoyment of taking and sharing pictures however they see fit!

I think a trip to Jessops is probably needed!