Apologies for the delay this month but here's the poll for the July Competition.

The subject was 'Decay' and there were 29 entries altogether. Unfortunately 6 of them were entered under one user-name and that's against the rules (clearly stated here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=365667)). This month that makes the difference between fitting everything into one vote or needing heats and final so I'm afraid those 6 entries have been scratched from the vote.

You can see the entries here (http://gallery.sunset-studio.co.uk/v/Jul08/?g2). Click on a thumbnail pic to see it enlarged, and don't forget the thumbnails are spread over three pages! Alternatively try the 'View Slideshow' link to see them all without having to return to the gallery page every time.

Some great entries this month - was quite hard to decide between my top three :thumbsup:

Some great entries this month - was quite hard to decide between my top three :thumbsup:

Yep, agreed. I'd say the best month so far for quality.

You can see the entries here (http://gallery.sunset-studio.co.uk/v/Jul08/?g2). Click on a thumbnail pic to see it enlarged, and don't forget the thumbnails are spread over three pages!
It's worth mentioning that clicking on the slideshow is the best way to view them, for anyone not familiar, or thinks they can't be bothered to click through 3 pages of thumbnails. :)

Some great entries this month - was quite hard to decide between my top three :thumbsup:

I still can't make up my mind :help: wish I could choose 3! (or more :D )

C'mon then guys - tell us which are your top three - and maybe why.

It's tricky isn't it. I had chosen one of the disalloweds, and now have to reconsider.

Would it be possible in future to name pictures by the photographer's choice rather than the file name? Or maybe make it clear that when you upload a photy your file name will be displayed in the poll rather than your choice of title? Just that it would help remembering which one you like rather than dsk__012.Jpeg or whatnot.

Sorry, don't mean to moan, it's a great part of the forum :thumbsup:

Hurrah I got a vote! :)
Though I'm the only one to vote for the one I voted for :( (no, I didn't vote for my own, I'm a good boy :hihi:)

Would it be possible in future to name pictures by the photographer's choice rather than the file name? Or maybe make it clear that when you upload a photy your file name will be displayed in the poll rather than your choice of title? Just that it would help remembering which one you like rather than dsk__012.Jpeg or whatnot.

When you upload a pic the gallery asks for the filename and a description. Many people seem to put in a very wordy description that's even less practical than the filename as a title. The filename is the most obvious piece of text associated with each pic when you look at them so I decided to use that in the first competition and I've stuck with it since. I kinda hoped peops would be getting the idea by now. Where there are a lot of numeric or otherwise unmemorable filenames I've tried to include something of the description as a hint as well. I do try - really! :)

Ignore me. I'm just mardy cos I liked my title, not my filename.

I'll know for next time. Not that it seems likely I'll enter August - how can I look for happiness when nobody loves my July photo :(

Ignore me. I'm just mardy cos I liked my title, not my filename.

I'll know for next time. Not that it seems likely I'll enter August - how can I look for happiness when nobody loves my July photo :(
Don't worry about things like that Galbraith, nobody has ever loved any of my submissions, I have Yet to get a single vote.:(
The most upsetting thing for me, is that out of all the submitted photos, the one I choose/vote for for never wins.
So looks like 'that I don't have the eye' to tell a good photo from a not so good one.
m&p :)

So looks like 'that I don't have the eye' to tell a good photo from a not so good one.

Either that or you do and the rest of us haven't a clue! :D

Ignore me. I'm just mardy cos I liked my title, not my filename.

I'll know for next time. Not that it seems likely I'll enter August - how can I look for happiness when nobody loves my July photo :(

There's no way I can take a 'happy' photo now I've got dust on my sensor and it's just ruined my trip around the bay of islands! :( Going to have to go that cloning brush out now!

There's no way I can take a 'happy' photo now I've got dust on my sensor and it's just ruined my trip around the bay of islands! :( Going to have to go that cloning brush out now!

Where's the Bay of Islands?

Sorry to hear about the sensor dust, must be a major bummer if it spoilt all your photos. Afraid I don't even know where a sensor would be - I'll need to learn, no doubt, once I get a digital camera. I have a feeling there will be a lot of things I'll need to learn....

Where's the Bay of Islands?

Sorry to hear about the sensor dust, must be a major bummer if it spoilt all your photos. Afraid I don't even know where a sensor would be - I'll need to learn, no doubt, once I get a digital camera. I have a feeling there will be a lot of things I'll need to learn....

In New Zealand... which is where I am at the moment!

I'm not quite sure what the sensor is either... I just know that's what's causing the dark spots on my photos... bit gutting really!

A quick fix that might just help - if your camera has a cleaning setting somewhere in the menu it will open the shutter without powering up the sensor. Remove the lens, set the cleaning mode and with the lens opening pointing downwards just blow over the sensor (taking care not to gob on it!) That might dislodge the biggest lumps of dust.

If you can't find a cleaning mode then you could use the B shutter speed setting which holds the shutter open while you keep your finger on the shutter button. It's effectively the same thing BUT... the sensor will be powered up so you might get some new dust due to electrical charge on the sensor.

I often use a very soft lens brush on the sensor to good effect but if you poke anything thru the shutter while it's open make sure your batteries are fully charged - you don't want it to close while your brush is in the way!!

.... make sure your batteries are fully charged - you don't want it to close while your brush is in the way!!
So that's why the camera manuals insist on telling you to be sure to have a full battery before cleaning! :hihi:

Nothing worse than the sickening crunching shattering sound of your mirror flipping down on a solid object :(

The worst kind of sensor spot is one that moves - heard once of someone with a spider or some kind of bug inside their camera. Took a while for them to work out why the sensor spot kept moving between pictures :P

This article explains how digital cameras work and what a sensor does : http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/digital-camera.htm/printable

this article explains Canon sensors in technical detail (you may wanna skip this one for now) : http://web.canon.jp/imaging/cmos/index-e.html

and this explains what causes the spots : http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/sensorclean.html

Now back to the voting :)

Some really good pics on there. My favourite (aside from mine of course!) is the one of Morecambe. The "Jug of Tea" sign is just superb and really sums up the faded glory of the British seaside. (Paul Theroux's book "The Kingdom by the Sea" is a great read as he travels round Britain in the 80's).

I'm new here and want to enter the August competition so it only seemed polite to vote in the July comp. Some excellent photos were entered so I can see the standard of the comps here are high. I voted for CRW_1861 because it was an excellent composition which held my interest the most and screamed "decay".

I look forward to taking part in August.

Voting has closed now and we have a winner: 'Faded Rose'...
http://gallery.sunset-studio.co.uk/d/559-1/Faded-Rose.jpg

In 2nd place: 'Caravan HDR2'...
http://gallery.sunset-studio.co.uk/d/371-1/Caravan_HDR2_lowres.jpg

and third: 'Urban Decay'...
http://gallery.sunset-studio.co.uk/d/444-1/urban+decay.jpg

If the photographers would like to own up they can be duly showered with praise and no doubt lots of advice about how to do even better next time!

Hello Beetroot here, Faded Rose is mine. Thank you everyone who voted.

I'll own up to Urban Decay, thanks for your votes :thumbsup:

Hi Hockeybear,

Well done and Congratulations :-)

Hi Hockeybear,

Well done and Congratulations :-)


Well done to you, placed last month, winner this month :thumbsup:

So I guess we will never know who HDR Caravan belongs to........ Shame :-(

Its not too late if you wanna come forward

HDR Caravan was uploaded by neoquaid.

I have his real name too, but don't want to post it in public. I'm not sure if the username on the gallery bears any resemblance to their SF username.

:)