I personally saw nothing wrong with the old site anyway!

Right, I've now read all 13 pages of this and I have mixed feelings about the new forum. Yes, I understand that improvements needed to be made (although I'm still not sure exactly what they were). And yes, integration with the website is a good idea, but why such a massive design change? Did anyone (apart from the new designers) absolutely hate the old one?

I completely agree that the community makes the forum, but for me it was the ease of use and layout of the old forum that welcomed me in and wrapped me in a blanket. It was the "feel" of the forum, the people and the home, that made me feel like one of the family.

It just doesn't feel like home anymore.

I have not posted about the new forum until now because I've been trying to read about all of it! It's only now, when someone wants to leave that I feel I have to comment. I feel sorry that in response to a valued forum member wanting to go elsewhere that the beta testing is brought up yet again! Yes, you asked for beta testers (frankly I didn't quite understand what that was until now), and yes, you didn't get much of a response, but surely you must have guessed that such a massive change to the looks & use of the forum was not going to be received well?

Anyway, I'm off to rant in the other thread.

Chirpy, you will be missed.

Fiona

The ugly face of a derelict building

I love your second shot. It really shows the wonderful markings and shades of grey on that bird that most people wouldn't notice.

Fiona

Hi, I really like the first shot. The focus is spot on and the water droplets are lovely.

I don't really like how the light (or flash) has caused white spots on number 2, number 3 isn't really in focus so my eyes are just wandering all over the place.

Number 4 is an unusual composition but I like how you've captured different stages of the flowering plant on the same head! Open flowers, buds and a flower just about to unfurl. I think you've used a good angle to show all of these stages.

Number 5 is an unusual angle to take a rose bud, and I like it. I think it would have been better if the focus was in the centre of the bud and slightly more DOF to show the whole bud in focus and the background still out of focus. I would have removed the spider's web from going across the bud before shooting or cloned out afterwards as it's a bit of a distraction.

All in all a good selection of different subjects and different angles (which clearly shows you considered your subject before shooting). I hope you find my comments useful and not offensive, I've only just started doing plant and flower macros myself so I'm not an expert, just offering my opinions. This is definitely a learning curve!

Fiona

Oops! Must have been having a blonde moment! Sorry!

Fiona

Hi, my screen was changed to the Matte LL-80 after Danny (other half) tried to clean my original one and scratched it! Replacing is much easier than cleaning that's for sure.

I find the LL-80 much better to use. There is more indication of verticals being vertical and horizontals... well I'm sure you can guess. I much prefer it and the extra lines in no way detract from what you're actually viewing. We bought mine from SRS where Chris fitted it for me. It's a fairly simple process and the little tweezers are provided with the screen.

Fiona

I've actually had a bit of a play with a Benbo and I love it! talk about put it in any position you like! I love the idea of independent legs especially considering the position of some of the plants I've photographed. My funds don't really allow for the Benbo at the moment (currently short-term unemployed) so I'll make do with Danny's Manfrotto 055 thingy. As soon as I can afford a Benbo I'll definitely invest in one.

Fiona

Funnily enough I did compose number 1 centrally and cropped it slightly off-centre. The original shot didn't look interesting to me, tried to crop it so it was in the corner but looked a little too much like a placemat or an advert missing text. I guess composition is all down to trial and error. I have a background in graphic design so always try to compose or crop differently to the norm. Not always a good idea, I know.

Fiona