Davex, I shoot RAW + Jpeg. I have the pentax raw software and CS5. To be honest I havent spent too much time refining the raw images I have taken but they are there if i need them. The main reason for this is I do not fully understand the best way to work on an image. I know that all images are different and will require differing amounts of work but at the moment I'm not sure what represents a default way of working if you like. For instance is sharpening done first or last, and similarly with contrast and all the other tweaks available. At the moment I am trying to get the image right at the camera so that it needs very little post processing. After all I would prefer to be out taking pictures than sat in front of my computer (although i login here most nights )
I also read an article by some well respected photographer who's name escapes me who never bothers with raw at all and just edits the jpgs produced from camera. His images are stunning. I can however see the benefits of raw.
This forum helps, I gain lots of useful advice.
Incidentaly waiting for the next article in John's series in the Mag.
I will have a go at a little sharpening on the image.

Again At 200mm with sigma 55-200. The DOF is not perfect what do others think. No processing done on this either JPG straight from the camera.
[IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z307/50crates/IMGP0675.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks Dave, no2 I can re crop to include the right leg.
No3 DOF I agree isn't there.

1st one taken in the garden at Greenway.
2nd and 3rd Slapton Ley nature reserve.
Taken with a Sigma 55-200, all at the 200 end.
C & C welcome.
[IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z307/50crates/Dragonfly.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z307/50crates/Dragonfly4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z307/50crates/Dragonfly3.jpg[/IMG]

Having read the correct bit in the manual this setting does expand the dynamic range. It also states that this makes it more difficult for bright areas to occur in an image. So should this setting be the default? or should the auto setting be the default? What conditions would dictate that switching to "expanded dynamic range" would be preferable.
I'm struggling to get a grasp of this, so any help advice would be very welcome.

I have the ISO set to auto on my K200D (range 100-800). While fiddling with the settindgs I noticed that by using FN key another iso range is selected 200 - 800 200%. Does anyone know what this is/means because I cannot find reference to it in the manual (unless iv'e overlooked it)

Have a look at this thread there are several solutions for this problem.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistamigration/thread/3483...

Thing to be wary of would be the increase in pressure the deeper you go. Even at 2 meters you would be at 200g/cm Squared.

The brown streak in the background is a Honeysuckle stem/trunk. Now you mention it, it is a bit distracting. Guess i'll have to wait another year to photograph them now with a better backdrop.

Taken from the Garden, only lasts a few days then thats it for a year. Anyway how could this be improved, so far only a few tweaks with the Pentax (silkypix) raw software.
[IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z307/50crates/IMGP0546_1.jpg[/IMG]