Thanks for the reply, An "Oxbridge" blue is priceless, but you have to feel sorry for the losers.

This small Island of ours has many great traditions,including one of the worlds oldest sporting competitions the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.This annual contest between the two rowing crews from these universities, first contested in 1829,it involves a four and quarter mile race on the river Thames.
The results are seventy seven wins for Oxford and eighty one to Cambridge with one draw. Oxford won this years race after a Cambridge crew mamber almost fell out of his boat
The rowers who come from all over the world but must be students a either university, train for th ree hours a day in addition to their normal studies and there is NO silver medal the losers get nothing.
This event whilst I am sure is unknown to many hoggers, It will be known by some and I am sure a few have seen it live or even taken part.
P.s I have been unable to find a proper video link to yesterdays Boat Race you can open the following link if you cut and paste to give you a better understanding of the event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub-GMijQ08I

Thanks for your advice, I'm off to a pro cleaner today.

I have a Canon 400 DO prime lens,today it fell into a muddy stream, I dried it out and the auto focus is not working when I manually focus it sounds as if it is filled with grit, Can I clean/lubricate it myself with WD 40 or does it need to be professionally cleaned.
Many thanks for any advice

Went to a local wetlands centre called Slimbridge, yesterday, bright sunshine, Surprised that a couple had pink patches on them any ideas, attachment is in original Raw size, settings are as follows.
Canon 7d 400 DO prime 1. 1/4 converter . AV setting, Evualutive metering, al servo, manual select spot af , picture style neutral, iso 400 f6.3 - also happened on 200 iso.
NOT all photo’s are affected in this way can, anything be done to remove pink glow and to stop it happening again
only editing is a crop using Picasa

Pink Swan

Great photo

I have just returned from a fantastic cruise to North America and Canada, I wanted to photograph towns and houses.I was dismayed the a lot of my photo's are dominated by electric power cables,to remove some of these I have turned to the spot healing brush in Photoshop Elements 10.
Sometimes it works like magic, other times it removes part of the building as well, is their a trick to using this tool, for example should the healing stroke be done slowly or fast.? any tips would be appreciated I am sure there are those who say the cables should be left as they are an integral part of the street scenes of The Americas and The Caribbean

Still amazing to see such a high number of excellent photo's. Thanks for sharing and keep posting,
Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to all.
Forest Squirrel

A great set, that any photographer would be proud of, Thanks for sharing

I am overwhelmed by the response to my post, and I am greatful to all those who replied, a pity that I cannot use all of the offers made.
I am especially indebted to DebAnn for permission to use her photo's I shall use her photo titled Jersey Herd and I am sure we will both make an old lady very happy,I am sure it will give her a great deal of pleasure and bring back many many happy memories.
Thank You everyone

I have seen an image that fits what I need on Shutterstock. com. I haves read their terms and conditions, and it appears that I could not frame this image and give it as a gift.
Have I read this correctly ?

I did Google Jersey cows, but came up with nothing, I did a cut and paste on cockney greg's links and came up with the goods. Many thanks to all who replied

hi It has to be Jersey cows as this is the breed that she had on her childhood farm, if not a photo a artist print would be OK,
does anyone know of any artist who paints them?

I am looking for a photograph of Jersey cows to frame as a gift for an old lady, now living in a nursing home, the woman used to milk them in her younger days.
I would of course be willing to pay for a suitable photo.

Hi Watersedge,
Don't know if they sell what you want but check out www.7dayshop.com based in the UK
Regards Forest Squirrel