Tim,
I saw that in voting (and voted for it). It seems that the rules regarding PP have loosened a bit, also they have introduced the HDR section. With HDR halos are not uncommon.
And one thing we shouldn't forget: It is not technical excellence alone that makes for a great photo. And there are many technically excellent shots that are not great photos...

So, well done and deserving!

Prieni

Wow Gareth, great shot!

Prieni

I think I have a usable entry. Can someone remind me please if that 800 pixel width limit had been scrapped. I seem to have a vague recollection to that effect...

I won't submit straight away as there is another idea I would like to try out.

JudithAnn's entry is quite colourful, I like it. I'm not so sure about the background, though, it could have been a bit more plain.

Prieni

When was the last time your drive was "big enough"?
My last time was with my first drive (a whopping 20 MB!) for the Atari ST. Since then they have never been big enough...

Prieni

Sorry Vic,

hadn't read the whole thread. If the K7 DNGs are smaller than there is no reason not to shoot in DNG.
Incidentally, I convert all my PEFs into DNGs for storage and working on them as the DNGs from the DNG converter are smaller than the PEFs.

The ACR 5.5 is only for CS4, the DNGs from the DNG converter (that should support the K7) should be readable by older versions of ACR.

Prieni

No flaming here.
It is worth the extra size and effort for me. It might not for you. As with so many things in life, it depends.

Prieni

Vic,

I fairly recently downloaded the Adobe Digital Negative Converter (DNG-Converter v. 5.5.0.97) from the Adobe site. That should be able to convert the K7 PEF's to DNGs that your 'old' CS3 ACR should be able to read.
The in-camera DNG's are quite big (at least on the K20D).

Prieni

Stefan, that first image is a stunner! The second one on closer inspection shows that you didn't use a tripod (you should, really), but both b&w shots are good. I do prefer the second b&w over the first for composition but like the colour of the first one better.

If you do #2 and 3 again with a tripod you could use a smaller aperture and the lamps would most probably look much nicer.

Looking a bit closer at the big versions one can see that some noise reduction has been applied but I think you struck a very good balance and retained the details well.

Good work!

Prieni

Can't remember looking at those, so thanks to Stefan for bringing these back to our attention.

The horizontal frames work well for me and here they do emphasize the autumn colours.
My favourite shot is the last one, looks at first as if the red leaf is missing some parts and then you realize that it is the OOF leaf in front of it.

Some of them could do with a little S-curve boost but I think that is a matter of taste (and they are fine as they are, I just think they would have higher impact with a little boost).

Composition-wise I do like all of them, in the last horizontal one I find the burnt out reflection on the right a bit too distracting.

Would be interesting to see your 2008 and 2009 autumn shots next to these from 2007...

Prieni

Well done Rob,

have seen those in voting. I think the one with the arrows flying towards you is the stronger of the two. But both are certainly deserving entries in the PPG.

Prieni