rapyke

<p>Thanks Howard!</p>

<p>Great job and fabulous example images too! Thanks for posting this!</p>

<p>Wow Antoni! Both shots are great, but the macro portrait is a real stunner.</p>

<p>And number two from me, a straight-up street shot from Örebro, Sweden</p>

<p><em>Elegance has nothing to do with jewellery</em></p><div></div>

<p>No worries Howard, they are all worth seeing again! I especially like the portrait - lovely soft feel - I keep coming back to it.</p>

<p>I will post two this week, starting with an abstract detail from a large wall covered with graffiti.</p>

<p><em>Graffiti Detail 5 -- Layers</em></p><div></div>

<p>And there is a lovely place to take a break just a few meters up the road...</p>

<div></div>

<p>I'll try that again...</p><div></div>

<p>Thankfully, winter seems to be retreating a bit here in central Sweden - enough so I could go for a walk at the local manor hose with my kids yesterday.</p>

<p>And what self-respecting manor hose would be without horses?</p>

<p>And, a second one... 'Light 4'</p><div></div>

<p>Hello to, well, everyone - this is my first post in the Pentax POW... I couldn't be happier!</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>It came! I got my camera and 2 lens kit via UPS from Amazon yesterday. There is much joy!</p>

<p>I will be out with the camera today and hope to post a picture or two later this evening.</p>

<p>Now, if only the DA 40mm f2.8 limited would get here... I need no encouragement to buy 'limiteds' - just more budget.</p>

<p>I am now a Pentaxian (again).</p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>Kari: Only Cyberphoto and Amazon seem to have the 2 lens kit in stock. No one has the battery grip. I had a problem using a non-nordic card with Cyberphoto - they cannot accept them for on-line purchases. Amazon UK accepted the card with a bit of a run around about confirming the card - they want a faxed copy of the monthly statement (last 4 numbers only NO PIN number - just to confirm.)</p>

<p>This is a problem with North American banks - they are so 'security conscious' that they often will not allow over-seas payments in either direction. I can't use my Swedish kontokort to order prints through Kodak in Canada or the USA as one example.</p>

<p>Personally, I expect it is partly simple foolishness on the part of the North American banking system (<em>"500 million people... over there? Don't you lie to me!"</em>) and partly really stupid security - I might be laundering money!</p>

<p>So, once I do this little barn dance for Amazon UK once, I won't have to worry about it again until my North American card expires.</p>

<p>OK... I did it... I ordered my K-5 today from UK Amazon (I live in Sweden)... I have to wait 5 - 9 days for delivery they tell me. Will it help if I stare at the clock...?</p>

<p>Anyone want to buy an Olympus outfit?</p>

<p>Anthony, I agree that people often buy equipment they don't 'need', but, having bought all that expensive gear you came to the correct conclusion anyway: It is not 'stuff' that makes great pictures, it is a photographer who makes great pictures.</p>

<p>There is a place for those expensive, fast lenses, but until someone has learned 'the basics' the difference (outside of price) will be lost on them.</p>

<p>Keep shooting and enjoying your gear!</p>

<p>Thanks Vick and Maury... I will likely do so as well this time.</p>

<p>John A - thanks very much indeed for your answer... it kind of helped me 'snap' my thinking into focus... I will be showing alternate views of one small city and I think the combination is necessary in this case. Time and critical judgement will tell me if I made the right choice for my photos and audience.</p>

<p>I am looking for a very quick 'straw poll'... is it OK to hang B&W and colour prints together (side by side, 2 of one sort followed by one of the other, etc) in a show?</p>

<p>Any opinions will be most appreciated.</p>

<p>I like mine too!</p>

<p>That caption should read: OM mount Kennex 35mm, f 2.8</p>

<p>Turtle Mountain, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada</p><div></div>

<p>It's cold in southwestern Alberta, Canada.</p><div></div>

<p>Sometimes the news is good! The story for a found memory card... <a href="http://www.thelocal.se/31324/20110109/">http://www.thelocal.se/31324/20110109/</a></p>

<p>Sweden is suffering its worst winter in recorded history - a disaster for photography I am afraid. So, I offer a <em>photoshopped </em>image this time - without some help, everything is 18% grey...</p>

<p>It is called, <em>The Joys of Winter</em></p><div></div>

<p>If your camera has dual card slots... shoot a couple of average snap shots on one card, then flip over to the other and take the pictures you want... anyone presses you, give them the few snaps and take the rest home to work on at your leisure.</p>

<p>NY Times photo blog, Lens, on the end of Kodachrome including the last three shots on the last roll taken by Steve McCurry. <br>

<a href="http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/29/a-color-saturated-sun-sets-on-kodachrome/">http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/29/a-color-saturated-sun-sets-on-kodachrome/</a></p>

<p>Same lens, same aperture much further away...</p><div></div>