Paul (mera),

does the original EXIF say something about the shake reduction? I noticed that you used 200 ISO. Is that your standard setting?

I use 200 ISO and this dynamic range enhancing thingy as a standard and had the problems, as it seems, only when using shake reduction but not waiting long enough for it to lock on. (Though I have to admit that I haven't really followed up on it.)

Prieni

Room for discussions that I will only see after judging.

Your eyes only!

This theme I thought of a while ago (you have to be prepared to win a competition sooner or later, otherwise you'll never win ).
I like the ambiguity of the theme, lots of room for different takes. I hope it will be inspiring a variety of different but good takes!

The competition will close at 1800 GMT on Wednesday 22. January 2009.

Prieni

Thanks Rob for awarding me first place. I had Galoot's entry in front I have to admit...

I didn't look in the forum yesterday evening (sometimes life gets in the way of things). Now I wonder if I would have come first if I had looked? Is this the internet "Schroedinger cat"?

I'll set a new theme for the next round shortly.

Prieni

If you are looking for sample photos with a lens that isn't that new, it's always worth having a look at the Pentax Photo Gallery (after all that is probably one reason for Pentax to have this site). For the 55-300 take a look here.

Prieni

You always can try to bribe him with a generous donation

John,

I do understand this confusion. I think the reasoning behind having the competition end on Wednesdays was to not interfere with the end of the weekly competition.
In this case Christmas was in the way of a swift judging of the last and start of the current competition and as a consequence this time round we will have a "very short fortnight" competition.
So better get out tonight if you haven't got a useful shot from the period since 27. December.
I don't know how the judge will look on shots slightly earlier than the official start date. One could argue that the new competition period starts when the old one ends. But then you have to nail the theme without knowing what it will be.

Oh, now I got it! I looked at your NYC pic's EXIF data (#3, of course) and it falls exactly in the period between 6 p.m. GMT on Wednesday the 24. December (I'm guessing here that you kept the camera on GMT) and setting the task.
In this case we have to disqualify it, it is just too good

No, seriously, you should give it a shot or p.m. Rob how he sees the rules. As far as I'm concerned it should be eligible and I wouldn't cry foul (at least not very loud).

Good luck,
Prieni

P.S.: Just had another look and the image I was referring to was shot before the previous competition ended...
So my assumption was probably a bit too hasty.

Come on, you know how you can find out, don't you. Go to the competition thread and have a look when it was posted. (Ok, I did that, it was 21:54 on the 27. December (this competition is soooo last year)).
From the first post in this thread you will also learn There you are,
Prieni

Here it says:
This is different from the weekly competition where any date would be acceptable.

Hope this helps,
Prieni

Well, houses in Hampshire didn't strike me as cheap exactly when I lived there...
That was before the prices came down, though. If prices continue to fall at this rate then houses may become affordable for first time buyers in one or two decades
If, and that's a big IF, stamp duty rises do not compensate the price drops...

Prieni