Hobbies and Pastimes

I love the action and spirit in this photograph. You've captured the feeling here so well. The sense of fun and freedom is infectious. The movement in the composition is circular and this tends to lead my eye around and around and keep looking at different aspects of the photograph. It's a shame that the main girl in the image is not in focus, but I am very pleased to see that you have not over applied any digital sharpening when you edited this picture.

What a classic steam train photograph. You have captured it well. The timing and composition is lovely. The line of the coast intersecting the funnel(I hope that's what it's called) of the steam train and the base of the smoke starting at the horizon creates an interesting effect because the horizontal line of the hills and buildings is not broken.

Potters working are so much fun to photograph. You've captured the man and his work very nicely. The concentration on his face and the fact that you can't see his hands add a little bit of mystery to the image. Your lighting setup and exposure is bang on.

You have composed and timed this image wonderfully. I love the lighting too. You have captured his intensity and dedication to the task he is involved in so well. Photographing other artists at work is a great pleasure because they are so focused on what they are creating. You have captured the essence of this in your image. I also appreciate the need to do some other creative activity that does not involve a computer or other electronic technology. I spend a lot of time with a camera in my hands or sitting in front of my computer. I start wood carving about two years ago and find that it's a very enjoyable creative pass time that involves no tech!

Lovely, fun action photograph that captures the atmosphere and enjoyment of the dancers so well. I like your composition and your sense of timing is spot on. I think it works well in black and white. I know with this type of situation you have no control, but I think it could have been a stronger image if there was a bit more separation between the couples.

You've captured the mood of this kite surfer on a stormy looking see so well. Indeed, your choice of slow shutter speed has made this image what it is. You have managed it well to keep the guy reasonably sharp. The action and motion in the water is superb.

I love the atmosphere you've captured in this photograph. They are both obviously having so much fun. The movement in the image is great in both the dog and the rider. You have timed it well (I wonder how many times you had to try to get this just right?) so the composition is strong. It's nicely exposed and I love the touches of pink along with the mute country colours.

Great rally action. I appreciate that you've chosen a good spot and framed the image to capture the car 'off road'. It's nice and sharp on the car and the drivers. I love the expression of the two guys as it totally adds to the excitement!

You have captured the atmosphere so well and the paragraph you've added provides very special context (I had not read your text until now when I came to comment on the photo.) I love your composition and the angle you have chosen to make the portrait from. The window light is just right for this image. I appreciate the timelessness that converting to black and white has helped to enhance.

This is a really spectacular caving photograph. Your use of natural and added light is balanced beautifully well. I appreciate how challenging it is to photograph in these conditions because the light is always super challenging ... or the lack of light is! Your composition is well-formed showing the location and people with a clear sense of scale. I've not done a lot of cave photography myself, but have a good friend who does and also a film cameraman who had a career as a caving expert back in the days before video, so I have an appreciation from their accounts of how difficult it is. This is a wonderful image.

This is so creative and different than most of the photos entered for this theme. Good on you for not falling off! I love the blur and colors that contrast so well with your shadow. The warped shape of you and your bike add a sense of fun to the image.

Great timing and composition. The light is so rich and the exposure is bang on. I love the colors and tones in this image. I think if the boat was orange or bright blue or another color the harmony of the image would be broken. It looks and feels dangerous. I'm sure that it was! Your perspective with the rocks in the foreground adds to the drama.

I had to laugh at this photo. It's a great capture of the interaction by a photographer and his chosen subject. I wish I could see the images he took. This makes it a compelling photo. Is it really a 150mm? Or a zoom? It could still be a nice picture of the horse's eye with a 150mm if it would focus that close. :)

This is an interesting subject with nice colors and textures. But I think you could have made more of the composition if we could actually see what the person was doing. You have exposed the backlit situation very nicely and captured some atmosphere well.