er, 3, which disappeared while I was flying home...

First time at this event. Splendid atmosphere (not particularly captured by man with camera) and worth the effort should the chance arise...


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There are no sweeping landscapes when a rally is contained within the relatively tight confines of a racetrack, but this was a very good event with a pleasingly high concentration of competitive antiques... All taken with Sigma 100-300mm f4.


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3 - "Hmm. I don't reacll Mk2 Escorts having sequential transmission in period..."


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I've been to look at the TC and it's in lovely condition. Thanks, too, to Kevin for excellent comms. Still available because it wouldn't talk to my Sigma 100-300mm f4, which I suspect is lens-specific because it worked perfectly with my FA 50mm f1.4.

I'm up for that in principle, Andrew, pending clashing nonsense such as work.

Tremendous stuff, Alan.

My favourite is probably January-December inclusive...

Great stuff, David. You need to apologise only for failing to post a few more...

My motorsport season began at Wimbledon Stadium on January 1 and ended 363 days later in the vaguely similar surroundings of Stoke. I've just calculated that I covered 52 events in 2013, including eight grands prix, several hillclimbs, a few rallies, the Le Mans 24 Hours, assorted mid-week test sessions and various other race meetings on two, three and four wheels. It all starts again in a couple of days, at Wimbledon Stadium...


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3 - preparation methods you won't see in Formula One, #1


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6 - preparation methods you won't see in Formula One, #2


7 - "I'm with Direct Line. You?"

Nice idea, Ralph. Not sure I can conjure parallel diversity, but I'll have a go while the rest of the clan watches TV...

Favourite motor sport shot



Probably this one, from a cast of thousands, although the event was tinged with sadness. It's a 1/100 pan of ERA driver David Morria at Snetterton, Moments after this was taken, the practice session was red-flagged when another driver crashed fatally - the third time in five months that I'd attended an event thus affected. In the previous 40-odd years, I'd been present at countless meetings - certainly into four figures - and had experienced the same tragic outcome only seven times. It has been a particularly difficult season for my sport.

Best purchase
Like Ralph I bought the Photoshop & Premier Elements 12 double-pack for £35, but winner has to be a Pentax FA 28-70 f4 lens acquired from eBay for £36 (purchased late December 2012, but not pressed into service until this year). It was used for the ERA shot, above.

Most surprisingly good location






Singapore zoo. I know some zoos are a bit rubbish, but Singapore is almost free of wire or mesh and benefits from free-range orang-utans. While grabbing a short break in the shade, you could also pick up a very nice chicken curry for about £3. These were both taken with the Sigma 100-300mm f4.

Best lesson
No idea. I haven't opened a manual since I resumed photography in 2008 (after a 24-year break) and seem to discover fresh functions almost every time the camera is switched on. Some are likely to remain forever untouched, but I appreciate the infinitely experimental possibilities.

Best bit of newly discovered fun






Mucking around with a tripod in city centres (well, London and Sheffield). These were both taken with the DA 17-70mm f4.

Favourite portrait



Didn't take very many, but I quite liked this: grid girl at the Australian Grand Prix, taken with Sigma 100-300 f4.

Favourite slice of local nature



Torn between assorted robins, foxes and parakeets, but I'd probably go for this tulip, isolated from its mates with a splash of PS Elements subterfuge. Taken with Sigma 150-500.

Favourite F1 image



Didn't take as many as usual this year, but still attended a few grands prix. I have a soft spot for this shot of Mark Webber in Monaco, not so much for the final image but because it was taken with a Sigma 10-20... and hasn't been significantly cropped. To the inside of the circuit's hairpin, there's a small wall upon which accredited media are allowed to stand. It's no more than a metre from the cars and there are no barriers - a proper, old-school vantage point that health and safety will doubtless cull. I stood slightly farther back, to accommodate a few palm leaves, but not much... Taken at 1/60.

A recent cocktail from Kelsey Park (Beckenham), Whipsnade Zoo and WWT Barnes. All taken with K-5 IIs and Sigma 100-300mm f4.


1 - proof that red pandas have a wider repertoire than sleep


2 - ring-necked parakeet: looks like a captive, but is nowadays native


3 - Egyptian goose: once captive, but now increasingly common on lakes and nature reserves in the South-East


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5 - red panda responds to accusations that it doesn't do anything but sleep


6 - defence of the realm


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