Fiona, I too did not like the sky but having rolled it up the screen to "crop it out" I found that it did not work as you lose the angle formed by the top of the containers, so although I see your point of view I do not think it is possible to crop this image and still retain it's appeal. The rag is another matter and I think I would have tried to remove but it is Paul's shot and if that is how he wishes to present it then that is how we must view it.

Yes George I was sure too that he would know, but since you seem to have a thing about people offering lens that are or were produced for film I mentioned it hoping to avoid your picking me up again. Just trying to remind the OP that it needs to be considered when buying a lens.

I have a Pentax 28-80mm that I may consider selling, it is one from my Z1 days but I do still use it, in fact it is on my K7 now, I am trying to sort my lens collection so I will try to find out it's value and then may be we can be of mutual help always providing it is within your budget and the sort of thing you want. You need to bear in mind that few lens will give you the range you expect as the length quoted is for 35mm cameras and not digital sensors. This 28-80mm will give you aprox. 46-132mm on a Pentax DSLR

Thanks Huw, it is tempting, not sure about buying from an agent in the USA and having it shipped from China, may be my age showing. Yes I would like but I am not sure if I will go with this or perhaps buy another brand.

For me it is capturing the view of the subject you have at that moment, the looking for the different angle, capturing them and showing your personal view for yourself and to any who are interested.

You only really get a particular view of a particular subject once as everything will change, particular light, you can't ever repeat a shot exactly so every shot you do take may be special and even for us who are not as technically proficient as perhaps we should be, will at times take a very special shot not only to them but something that appeals to others too.

One always hopes that others will like your work but it does not really matter as if you like it, if you have captured what you intended then the opinion of other may be helpful or interesting but critiques do not hurt as you are happy in what you did and if you can understand what your criticizer is saying you know next time the shot will be better.

Is this T/C still available, quick glance at the SRS lists did not bring it up?

I have never taken a shot of water I really like, do not like the usual milk look preferring to shoot faster and to try to catch the droplets but wonder if I should try the middle route. Any tips would be welcome.

My favourite from above is Timk's shot of rocks and tiny pools.

Did you find that the TC fitted lens performed any differently to the Bigma?

Not surprised that the MCC took some of the shots I think the first in particular is shouting cricket at you. Don't know how you avoid the compression it would be worse taken in line with the wicket but that is more interesting that a side on shot, think perhaps your learning curve, as you put it, may have served you well, these are different and interesting the normal journalistic shots are in the most part a bore.

Never, IMO you do what you want and it will work sometimes and not others but life would be a bore if we all followed rules. I take each shot as it comes sometimes other like the result sometimes they do not, who cares if I am happy I have taken the shot I wanted.

Different if you have been commissioned but I try to avoid that.

In your two examples the first focuses attention on the boarder the second on the spectators - if that is what you intended you have succeeded.

Not sure if you are wanting comment but here goes for me it is not that interesting a composition, the idea is good but the flat on look does nothing for me or the subject. May be the can on an angle and partially sunk would have worked better but I so not know, like the title.