Well,

the dinner gong has just sounded here at Spital Towers , so it must be 6-00pm.

I have viewed and chewed and construed and here are the comments and results of Competition # 37 - Hobbies.

Gareth : Well done Sir,excellent entry and the stunning black of the head of the guitar contrasting with the white of the machine heads and the nylon/wire wound strings.
For some reason my eye drawn down to the body disturbs me and I feel a touch unstisfied as it blurs and seems to lean ever so slightly to the left.With my poor old
Fender Jumbo stuck in the loft these days I appreciated the slight trace of dust on the head ! Well done also on the Photo Answers inclusion .

Alec : Really nice shot , I love the colours and the depth of the photograph , and the fisheye lens gives it an almost 3D effect. The subject must have been travelling apace and he is captured exactly.I have reservations about the distracting orange light which is a shame and the shadowy area to the right of the picture with the people
watching also detracts a little for me.

Hyram : Great photo and a great hobby - along with Gareth you have caught two of my loves over the years.Beautiful loco and livery and , as I never saw the Mallard myself , great to see the class preserved.Great framing and a frisson of emotion to see the driver in a proper engine in its original livery - a bit more steam would have
been the icing on the proverbial cake.

David : What a tranquil shot of surely a very exhausting hobby ! Lots of effort showng on the faces of the rowers and peace,quiet and beautiful light and colour all around.
The mist gives the shot an almost ethereal feel.

i-Berg : another "steam engine" ! This time I`m not sure of the hobby portrayed , but I will assume drinking the nectar rather than collecting these fearsome engines of liquid-creation.I can alsmost smell the coffee and the reflections on the polished chrome are brilliant - I think I can see a face in one of the measure holders !
Reminds me of student days in Liverpool in the early 60s at the El Cabala coffee shop with its Gaggia machine and rather brusque barista (especially if you nursed a cappucino for over an hour ! )

Darlene : Moody clouds , millpond water , and people messing in boats. I would have liked a little more shadowing in the clouds for the shot to grab me but the foreground interest of the three guys and the catamaran is very striking.

Jo : What a really great shot - when it came in I called "my" Jo to see it as I was so taken with the composition and the framing of the boots.The point of view is also very well chosen as the landscape behind is just calling for someone to don those boots and start trekking.Depth of focus is cleverly used and the light and shadows on the texture of the leather is really good.

Mike : Just as I was settling down to consider my judging thus far , in came this really great shot , and blew me away...............Fantastic feeling of energy and power in the front and rear wheels.The rider`s boot and the frame of the bike are spot on , and the colours and detail are arresting. Really great shot.

Dr Mhuni : I suppose if you take " playing chicken on the tracks " as a hobby it would count ! Nevertheless it is a most beautiful photograph and rather reminiscent
of the pictures I remember in early geographical books my late uncle used to collect.It almost has the feeling of a pen and ink drawing or a woodcut.I am blown away
by the sheer technical brilliance of the photograph whilst at the same time terrified by the "wobbly" lines of the railway track ! It really is a brilliant photograph and I thank you for sharing it with us.

Tim : My wife and I have been arguing since your photo arrived - beautifully lit and well thought out and balanced shot.The colour of the bucket against the black background coupled with the texture of the glove and the clay soil on the trowel are just delightful - it could hang on my wall any day !



I judge my winners on how pleased I would be to have taken the photos and would I hang the photo on the wall, so it is with great pleasure I award


First Place.....................Jo - These Boots are Made for Walking

Second Place...............Mikew - for the cracking bike shot

Third Place.................Tim - for that tranquil gardeners photo.

Honorable mention for Dr Mhuni for a most evocative shot if ever so slightly "off the lines " of the comp as specified.

Special mention to Martin & Stefan for assisting a new member ( Jo ) to upload her photo.


Thanks to you other entrants for contributing and over to Jo for her new competition ...................# 38 ????????

Sssssssh !

We won`t say anything Tim - honest Tim - Tim...................

Tony

Tim

My daughter said if I took any more she would think pops had a lens on the front of his face !!

Tony

I`m very jealous - all the photos of my grand daughter must stay very private as she is adopted and I would not be prepared to compromise her or her new parents for anything.

Still - after nearly 2 visits and 800 pics I`m sure she`ll appreciate them herself one day...........................

Tony

Got the *istD - got the K20D - do I NEED a K7 ---------Nah !

As stated previously - get a good K20 from fleabay with lens for under £450 and enjoy.

Tony

Hi David - welcome - good luck with the hunt

Tony

tap does it for me too

tony

No known cure for LBA over here on Merseyside/Cheshire/Wirral

Enjoy the site and welcome though

Tony

Hi Jill from sunny Wirral - welcome to our little enclave.

Tony

Crikey !! That`s impressive - I can "almost" see my favourite restaurant near the Cathedrale de Notre Dame !!

Tony