Yes, I agree with this. On the few occasions when I have had stuff published the editors seldom use my favourite images. It is more a question of what fits best on the page or can be overprinted with text without losing the key elements of the shot.

If you want 2.8 at the long end then the Tamron seems a good bet. I have the Sigma 24-70 and it is a big lump and prone to purple fringing. However I suspect that you will find 28mm at the wide end frustrating and would be happier with the Sigma 17-70 which is a really good lens, albeit f4 at the long end. Or, if you are going to be carrying your 18-55 anyway, you might consider the Pentax DA 70mm. A quality portrait lens that is so tiny you will hardly know you are carrying it. You should be able to pick up the non HD version within your budget.

Lovely!

Excellent! The captions deserve a special mention too

I did tweak the contrast a little as the light was so flat but I think it might be the high pass filter that is making them a bit strident. Without it they looked soft but I may have set it too strong.

I am posting these because they show the race in an urban setting - a little different from the images posted so far.

I had no clue what to expect and opted for the wrong lens. I put on a 17-70 when my 50-150 would have been a better choice. As a consequence these have all been cropped quite heavily. Rain started to fall just as the riders went through.

The grimy setting is Plaistow High Street and though the spectators were well behaved the local cyclists were not. The marshals had a tough time dealing with those insisting on their right to use the highway, even attempting to ride into the path of oncoming support vehicles travelling at speed.

Anyhow, the first image shows the race leaders



Followed by the peleton




This one is picking out race favourite Chris Froome (assuming I have identified him correctly)- 3rd Team Sky rider ,in the centre of the shot




I was not surprised that Sky TV coverage of the event inserted a commercial break when the riders exited the Olympic park to avoid the viewers being subjected to sweeping views of the delights of Plaistow

I like your image as it is. The colours and composition make for an attractive piece of wall art. You have chosen to defuse the image and it works for me. Painters do not feel the need for sharpness after all. I was in a gallery the other day and much of the photography they had for sale was also defused.

Evidently not to everyone's taste but I find it interesting.

TBH unless you are knowledgeable enough to recognise the riders one photo of a cyclist looks much the same as any other to me. Nevertheless as the tour passes within walking distance of my house I shall no doubt wander down and take a snap or two

I notice that SRS is now showing the 18-35 as 'in stock'. I am very tempted by this lens. Has anyone here received one yet? What do you think of it so far?

I have the Epson XP600 and I am happy with it. Make sure you get an additional set of inks at time of purchase. The trial size cartridges supplied with the printer are very small indeed and do not last long at all. I do not do a lot of printing so I prefer to use Epson inks and Epson paper.