Bob, I have admired your low key work for some time now and this is another one of your 'masterpieces'. To find today that you have provided those of us of lesser skills with a route map to attempt to achieve what you have accomplished leaves me feeling very grateful for your generosity. It is because of people like you that this is such a good website, gifted people who strive for a different look or effect and when they achieve their goal are generous enough to share your methodology with the rest of us. I salute you as a gentleman.

Although I don't have all the various software pieces you refer to, I look forward to giving it a try with the tools I have at hand. There aren't many 'chateaux' where I live, but I'll be happy if I can achieve the same look with any old shack.

My thanks again, and keep your excellent images coming.

I shoot hockey games regularly with a Canon 5D MII and a 70-200 2.8 and after all kinds of settings and shooting locations my favourite methodology is as follows: Set the camera on Manual and shoot RAW. I tend to favour 1/1000 at f2.8 with the ISO set as high as the camera allows - (in my case 6400). The downside is noise but you can minimize that in post-processing but you will be able to freeze the action at 1/1000. Shooting RAW you can deal with WB in post.

With regard to location, I like to be close to the action and shooting from ice level and therefore pick my spots right up against the glass with the camera actually in contact with the glass, (with a lens hood on -for protection). That way you minimize the marks that will inevitably be on the glass, although you can try to pick as clean a spot as possible. Favoured locations are in the end zone half way between the back of the net and the corner - that way you can cover both the action on the wings and around the net itself. The other location I like to use is positioned between the blue line and the goal line - from here you can get a different perspective on the net action and also get players coming around the back of the net.

Hope this helps and good luck.

It would have to be Chris Rea, "Dancing With Strangers"

The very best of luck to you Russ and congratulations on making the final list.

Maestro, Meister, Maitre - choose any language you wish, but you are, in my book, a real master of the black and white portrait, Russ. You have an enviable touch and have truly mastered the ability to draw real character from a portrait and emphasize that 'lived in' look which adds so much to the final image.

I am truly impressed. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your next image.

Thanks for the feedback, Graham. I appreciate it and I can only say that you do wonderful work both behind the camera and in front of your computer .... waiting for your next masterpiece!

Thanks again ... you give me the incentive to work harder!

Absolutely beautiful shot, Al. It belongs as a poster on the wall of a wine shop!

Now you have me thinking of a nice glass of red with my feet up while I read outside in the shade!

Please keep them coming. You make me want to work harder!

Wonderful photo, Graham. The combination of that old lens and yourself makes for very impressive images. Keep up the good work!

Would you care to comment on your post-processing of this image?

Lovely shots of what looks like an interesting course.

Here's a couple of shots of my neighbourhood course in New Brunswick taken last fall.

18th Green


1st Tee

Seamus, don't cancel your order at all. If you like landscape photography, wide-angle is the way to go. My 10-22 is one of my favourite lenses and I'd never part with it. Below are three shots taken with it, two of which are taken in Ireland - (don't know which part of it you left, but maybe these will bring back memories!). Just learn to get down low and use the foreground.

How's the Guinness in your French hovel? Better than what I get in Canada, I hope.

Donegal


Glenariffe Graveyard - Antrim


Hotel des Invalides - Paris

Magnificent scene, great photo. You did a wonderful job capturing the dying light. The only other thing I can say is that I wish I had your legs, or at least your knees!

Well done!

Thank you Adrian for the advice about the banksia fuzz - I think you have scared me off from turning any more of it, not that I'm likely to find many nuts - (of the banksia variety) - in the Canadian woods.

I know that I should be wearing a facemask but too often I don't bother.

Thanks also for your kind comments regarding my work.

Sorry to hear about your health issues, Frank, and that they keep you from continuing to work in your shop. I know a little how you feel as some days the rheumatism in my hands keep me from working, but, like you, it still is comforting to just sit in the workshop and think.

Unlike you though, I don't often move too much around on the workbench, and some times I can barely find it, so if you feel like helping out, I'd welcome a pair of hands just to 'move things around' as you put it.

Take care.

Thank you Photofile - I appreciate the comment.

Adrian, You have done some beautiful work with the Banksia nuts. How do you cope with the 'purple fuzz'? I've turned banksia before but spent the rest of the day scratching my nose from the fuzz I inhaled.

I'm delighted to find a fellow photographer/woodturner on UHH - don't know if there are many of us around, but it's a real pleasure to find another one out there, even if you are around the world in Australia. I look forward to watching out for further examples of both your photographic and turning endeavours.

I attach three of my own efforts. Feel free to contact me sometime if you would like to talk turning. In the meantime, keep up the good work.

Mick.

Fiddleback Maple Dish


Cocobolo Candlestick


Honduras Rosewood Earring Stand