rabster

That looks a beautiful location FF. I love to see old bridges like that. BM, that crab is a little cracker, I hope you put him back after he posed so nicely for you? It was cold, grey & windy here yesterday AM, I think I can see Steve Randles waving to us from the snow capped South Lakeland fells in the background.

Well done Paul & to the other finalists. Pauls fine shot shot got my vote, although I think his other entry Gas Axe was even better.

Spooky, it must be a hemisphere thing as we did the back last year & have the front to do this year. I didn't get to drive one of those Bobcats though, a whacker & cement mixer were all I got to play with. I agree about the hard work though, it's certainly back breaking, but looking at the fine results you've achieved it's been well worth it - it looks mint. Back to members photos, I quite liked my granddaughters expression on this one, she's maybe thinking "Right, I've caught the pesky alien, now what do I do with it?"

Some terrific photos added on here since I last looked in - there's too many to comment on them all, but here's my thoughts on a few of 'em. I see Blue Marlin is still trying to make us all jealous with his photos of idyllic locations, beautiful deserted bays, clear blue sea & not a cloud in the sky Hmmm, well it's working BM. Bikerian - that black swan is a rare sight indeed, where did you see that? The bike shot is a real beauty, a great action pic. Alnaths toothpaste shot is very inventive, why don't I ever think of doing a shot like that? bob, that frog peering out of the plant pot is superb, nice one! Den, your Grebes head doesn't look like its attached to the body, it's a great shot though. Love the one of Newt racing around the track. & medwaygreens flower shot is a beauty, roll on summer.

tempts you to pick up the camera, I thought you never put it down? Cracking sunset shots Jaybee.

I think you've made an excellent choice buying the 20D Sam. I would've gone for one if I could've afforded it when I bought my DSLR in December. I'm looking forward to seeing some of your photos now Sam.

Cheers all for your kind words. I was using a Konica Minolta 5D (DSLR) together with a 400mm fixed focal length lens, so I couldn't zoom out to fit any more of the swans in. The lens has a closest focusing distance of 2.5 metres, I was in a bird hide & the two swans kept coming closer than that & I had to hangon for them to move a bit further away before I could lock onto them.

An impressive looking bird Bob.

Snapped a couple of swan close ups today, he/she was that close i couldn't fit him all in. Hope you like 'em.

Hidden behind the trees By Cliff Exif data Camera make: KONICA MINOLTA Camera model: DYNAX 5D Date/Time: 2006:04:01 09:36:51 Resolution: 700 x 465 Flash used: No Focal length: 400.0mm (35mm equivalent: 600mm) Exposure time: 0.0025 s (1/400) Aperture: f/20.0 ISO equiv.: 200

Blot on the Landscape By Cliff Exif data Camera make: KONICA MINOLTA Camera model: DYNAX 5D Date/Time: 2006:04:01 09:35:19 Resolution: 700 x 466 Flash used: No Focal length: 70.0mm (35mm equivalent: 105mm) Exposure time: 0.0025 s (1/400) Aperture: f/14.0 ISO equiv.: 200

Nice one Den, Mallards do seem to be looking particularly colourfull at the moment. I photo'd one t'other day that seem to have a purple rather than green head, they (the wise ones) tell me that the colour of the head changes depending on the angle & level of the light. As you say, it's an often overlooked bird. I was more than lucky capturing my POTD, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, I just wish the right place I was in was that little bit closer.

Hey Mat, you've got two very sharp & well exposed photo's of your strapping lads there. Re the "technical stuff", the composition of the photos is slightly spoilt by the distracting items in the background. I would either try & crop these shots a bit more tightly to your subject, or when taking the shot try & zoom in on your subjects, which will reduce depth of field & throw the background slightly out of focus, making any objects in the background less distracting. Blue Marlin & Finepix - 'triffic cat shots there, I love the ones in the basket BM. Cameraman, smashing shot , my granddaughter looked just the same when we had her on sunday & her Great-grandma gave her a Jaffa cake. TB, love all the B&W shots, you've got a very photogenic family. Do you shoot in B&W? Or convert it afterwards?? I really must give it a try sometime. Nice family shot Wirral, I take it that's you bottom right, I'm not brave enough to post my piccy. Is "The old girl" trapped down the back of the cushion? My contribution, Granddaughter Morgan, refuelling at her Great-Grandparents.

Congrats & well done Judy! A cracking photo & worthy winner, that's quite a collection of mousemats & coasters you're amassing there! Well done also to Ollie Jay & Chippy for their entries, shame Chippy's was out of time as it was a beauty.

I know jaybee from a Fauna/Flora website he hosts, so have seen a lot of his photos already & I'm fast running out of superlatives to describe the quality of his work, but I never tire of seeing his photos, in fact I've even got a disc full of them that I use as a screensaver. Jaybees shots certainly make you aspire to oneday take photos of the quality he does. Great shots. (BTW - they've got better smileys here than you've got ) Den, I made the switch & decided to take a break from fishing 6 months ago to pursue wildlife photography & I'm loving it. Problem is that I've spent that much money on camera gear that I'm having to flog my fishing tackle to fund it.

Steve, I agree 100% with what you've said above. I've checked out Chippy's images on his website & they're stunning, so as you say this challenge is clearly well within his capabilities & if the image was taken outside the qualifying window I'm sure, as you think, that it's just an oversight. It's a great shot, whenever it was taken & I'm looking forward to seeing more of Chippys pics.

No photos for me today, but I did snap this chap as he was making quite a racket yesterday.

Cheers PTB, I thought is was going to be something like that, or that the sun was picking out the catkins & not the branches. They're both terrific shots & I'm looking forward to seeing more. I wish I had your vision.

There goes the neighborhood. Now this guy (who happens to be one of my birding/wildlife mentors ) can take photos! Welcome to the photography forum Jaybee, although it looks like you've put the mockers on the weather, bloody Jonah.

My thoughts on this challenge. There are a few missing links now & I can't properly remember what's gone, but my favourites from what's left & I'll put them in order of preference: - 1) Ayjay - Waxing Crescent 2) Pass the biscuits - Hubby with his habit (very close to 1st with Ayjays) 3) Pass the biscuits - Catkins (if that's not been photoshopped (& I'm not suggesting it has) it's terrific!) 4) Chippy - No title (** see note below) 5) Cameraman - Going up 6) Hellbelly - Looking Up at Tommy OK, I know it's all subjective & I've chosen six, not three, but those are my favourites. Right, so from the top three Gillies has selected, I was on the point of voting for Chippy's, which has been given the title "Tree Tops" (presumably by Steve?) until I read this: - So I thought I'd check the exif, none available, I note Chippy resides in Jersey, so doubt the trees won't be anymore in leaf there than where Poledark is. I also note the filename of the image is So my guess is that Chippy has missed the bit in the rules about the shot has to be taken during the comp open window & in the absence of exif no one has picked up on this. But maybe i'm wrong???? If you're looking in Chippy, can you please clarify so I can cast my vote. Cheers Cliff

Not managed to get on AN for a few days, so there's a few piccies I'd like to comment on. Gillies - Stunning series of beach shots, All terrific but No.1 is my fave, a combination of the effect on the water running over that lovely white sand, the incredible clouds & that rock in foreground all adds up to a very well composed shot. Medwaygreen, whereabouts in France was that taken, judging by the boats in the background it's somewhere with a decent marina, Cannes maybe? Makes me long for my hols in France later this year. Blue Marlin, any idea what that critter is you've posted? Ollie Jay, can you lend me twenty quid? Bikerian - the swan shots are all excellent, the 1st is my fave, but have you cropped a bit of it's head off, or is it out of the camera like that? If it's the latter I did the same with the breast of the one in my avatar. Finepix - I'm with tony & reckon Spoonbill.

£120,000, I reckon it's a baaa-gain! I see many more great shots have been added - Alnath's shots keep on impressing me, love the starling & paul mc, that cutting thingy shot is awesome! I've been birding again, I got a few shots I was pleased with, this is probably my fave. in fact, here's another I also liked.

Bill, I've gotta say, each time i read your Oi Oi intro it makes me chuckle. It looks like you had plenty of snow there, I hope it wasn't wheely bin day. Blue Marlin - re 'Coin de Mir' is that French for Whitley Bay, maybe not I've just seen the catch of the day, I blame global warming. Both great shots mate, was the Coin de Mir shot panoramic or cropped? Finepix, love the crocuses/croci?? & bobj's orchid also. Alnath - I've seen two of your shots now & they're both, from a technical side of things, terrific. Just a quick edit to add my POTD - I think it's a Bank vole & would be greatful if anyone can confirm one way or t'other?

Cliff - I was on that boat with you as I read that, beautifully written my friend. Kindest regards from your namesake. Cliff BTW - keep the piccies coming & after writing that I hope the reality isn't a half submerged Ford Anglia & a shopping trolley.

Jesus Alnath, that shot is very impressive! Den, I'd love to see some of those insect macro shots, any chance you can post some? Cheers Cliff