Welcome to another round of Picture of the Week. This is edition #291 covering 24 November to 8 December 2013

POTW is a great spot to show off any shots you take in the upcoming week, or last week that you haven't processed until now. In other words, you can post your shots from this week AND last week.

Some rules:
1) No theme, just post your favorite pix.
2) 5 or less images per post just so the thread doesn't get too big.
3) Any Pentax or Samsung camera, film or digital.

The current host will invite a new host via Private Message (PM). If possible, the new thread will be linked to the previous one and the new thread will start between Noon EDT and 5PM EDT on Sunday. If the thread doesn't start, please contact bluestringer, Moderator via PM. Here are the records of previous POTW threads: 1 Peter Zack, 2 Eaglerapids, 3 rmtagg, 4 Peter Zack, 5 daacon, 6 Bramela, 7 mtnbearhug, 8 dantuyhoa, 9 gawan,10 roentarre, 11 daacon, 12 Kris, 13 mtnbearhug, 14 SCGushue, 15 daacon, 16 maxwell1295, 17 dantuyhoa, 18 daacon, 19 maxwell1295, 19(2) daacon, 20 Bramela, 21 Syb, 22 maxwell1295, 23 maxwell1295, 24 dantuyhoa, 25 Gawan, 26 Peter Zack, 27 borno, 28 daacon, 29 gawan, 30 Damn Brit, 31 maxwell1295, 32 maxwell1295, 33 dantuyhoa, 34 daacon, 35 Peter Zack, 36 Damn Brit, 37 Borno, 38 Kevint, 39 Peter Zack, 40 Timbo13, 41 daacon, 42 daacon, 43 gawan, 44 dantuyhoa, 45 daacon, 46 Rense, 47 daacon, 48 Rense, 49 borno, 50 Rense, 51 daacon, 52 Peter Zack, 53 Peter Zack, 54 dadipentax, 55 David Whiteley, 56 planedriver, 57 daacon,58 Bramela, 59 daacon, 60 gawan, 61 virgilr, 62 daacon, 63 RickL, 64 Peter Zack, 65 Peter Zack, 66 Causey, 67 daacon, 68 Bramela, 69 georgeweb, 70 daacon,71 seacapt, 72 daacon, 73 AOski, 74 Rense, 75 eccs19, 76 daacon, 77 xs400, 78 daacon, 79 Bramela, 80 Borno, 81 legacyb4, 82 daacon, 83 gawan, 84 Rense, 85 Peter Zack, 86 davef, 87 davef, 88 xjjohnno, 89 Bramela, 90 Peter Zack, 91 daacon, 92 stevebrot, 93 reeftool, 94 jezza323, 95 oldschool, 96 Iris, 97 Rense, 98 planedriver, 99 xs400, 100 Peter Zack, 101 Netuser, 102 Photolady, 103 Tamia, 104 Irishwhite, 105 Ramseybuckeye, 106 xjjohnno, 107 Bumbibop, 108 JeffJS, 109 Tpeace, 110 Nomad, 111 Photolady, 112 rparmar, 113 Peter Zack, 114 casil403, 115 Tamia , 116 JeffJS, 117 bbluesman, 118 Clou, 119 ruggiex, 120 Jimbow007, 121 jmschrie, 122 VaughnA , 123 pop4, 124 casil403, 125 woof, 126 twitch, 127 stevebrot, 128 ohce, 129 jmschrei, 130 photolady, 131 photolady, 132 bbluesman, 133 rparmar, 134 reeftool, 135 reeftool, 136 Oldschool, 137 xjjohonno, 138 KarenH , 139 Rense, 140 daacon, 141 Tamia, 142 JeffJS, 143 bbluesman, 144 fotaki, 145 fotaki, 146 Woof, 147 Bramela, 148 Bramela, 149 Tamia, 150 Nomad, 151 Clou, 152 drugal, 153 rparmar, 154 Nomad, 155 jmschrei, 156 noelcmn, 157 noelcmn, 158 rwfarnell, 159 ramseybuckeye, 160 christophleipzig, 161 JeremytheIndian, 162 SpecialK, 163 emetcalf, 164 emetcalf, 165 stevebrot, 166 rparmar, 167 Mattt, 168 JeffJS, 169 jmschrei, 170 fotaki, 171 xs400, 172 TOUGEFC, 173 TOUGEFC, 174 Warped, 175 MaryAD, 176 Davidw0815, 177 baro-nite, 178 baro-nite, 179 pentaximus, 180 lukulele, 181 lukulele, 182 rob 1234, 183 lukulele, 184 lukulele, 185 pentaximus, 186 ramseybuckeye, 187 ramseybuckeye, 188 StDevious, 189 Free Soul, 190 Clou, 191 brvnara, 192 pentaximus, 193 Noelcmn, 194 Noelcmn 195 GmcarsMAN, 196 jmschreii,197 wolfiegirl, 198 xjjohnno, 199 Arn , 200 Peter Zack, 201 bluestringer, 202 cif, 203 Rollsup, 204 noelcm, 205 Davidw0815, 206 Davidw0815, 207 cif, 208 ramseybuckeye, 209 paulh, 210 Oldschool, 211 SpecialK, 212 mecrox, 213 pentaximus, 215 bramela, 216 jmschrei, 217 Exandr, 218 Noelcmn, 219 Noelcmn, 220 sergiu, 221 sergiu, 222 sergiu, 223 sergiu, 224 sergiu, 225 sergiu, 226 sergiu, 227 sergiu, 228 Davidw08, 229 reeftool, 230 reeftool, 231 cif, 232 mecrox, 233 mecrox, 234 glennbp, 235 glennbp, 236 pentaximus, 237 pentaximus, 238 pentaximus,239 Paul, 240 Nick Nero, 241 Arnold, 242 Arnold, 243 Arnold, 244 Arnold, 245 Nick Nero, 246 ramseybuckeye, 247 ramseybuckeye, 248 Douge, 249 Douge 250 Douge, 251 Dr Orloff, 252 lukulele, 253 lukulele, 254 nosliwmit, 255 nosliwmit, 256 nosliwmit, 257 casil403, 258 casil403, 259 Davidw0815, 260 Davidw0815, 261 ruggiex, 262 ruggiex, 263 mecrox, 264 pentaximus, 265 pentaximus, 266 SpecialK, 267 SpecialK, 268 filoxophy, 269 mecrox, 270 mecrox, 271 mecrox, 272 Paleo Pete, 273 Paleo Pete, 274 geomez, 275 geomez, 276 geomez, 277 mecrox, 278 mecrox, 279 mecrox, 280 Noelcmn, 281 Noelcmn, 282 Noelcmn, 283 Noelcmn, 284 Noelcmn, 285Alkazalsir, 286 StephenHampshire, 287 StephenHampshire, 288 wolfiegirl, 289 Bucfan1234, 290 nosliwmit,

Ok, I'll step up and host this week seeing as nothing's up yet. I have a slew of wolfiepup pics and I'm dying to share them. See? I'm only doing this for *my* benefit...

Last week's thread can be found here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/129-weekly-photo-challenges/243691-pictur...-december.html

[tessfully]

one more… Old Dreamer today

[noelcmn]

What? Only 1 More- Come'n now, that is not fair. As you know I enjoy, thoroughly, the snow pics-and yours are just plain fabulous. More please- and don't go entering that first one in the mundane challenge--the rest of us don't stand a chance, and I have'nt even submitted one yet. Old dreamer looks ... well like a dreamer!

Wolfiegirl, thanks for hosting, I failed to do so on my earlier post, too excited to see Wolfiepup. That's the problem with children, they take all the attention away from the parents.
We've had lots of rain this week, and clouds cleared a bit this afternoon, so I thought I'd try some water drops macro. Here are two I like.




And the clouds were just fantastic- doubted if I could capture it properly-I was in awe of them today.


One with a bit more PP.


Some from last week- the fly is on the other side of the leaf- this is its shadow.


And a tiny bee, that for once, stopped a moment for me to take a shot.


And some to get back at Tess for making me so green with envy


Was hoping that with all the rain, we will have a an abundance of mushrooms- well, this lonesome one was all that made an appearance. mmmm maybe I should scatter some compost.



Ok so I have overstepped the mark of 6 pics- Tess is squarely to blame

[mattb123]

Beautiful collection of photos here!

I've been out playing in the snow as much as possible lately.
Frost on tree branches, from a XC ski outing
K-3 & DA 15



Making snow at the ski area
K-3 & DA 18-135



Powder skiing in the backcountry
K-3 & DA 18-135



Up close and personal with the powder
K-3 & DA 18-135



Moonrise with Saturn
K-3 & DA* 60-250

[Paleo Pete]

wolfie - Thanks a lot

Tom - Thanks a lot. I guess they're getting used to me being there, I've had a feeder set up for a year now and I can sit no more than 10-12 feet away and still get visitors. That means good shots, close enough to see the focus really well.

Tess - it's only getting started. Last winter I had Cardinals, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadee, Sparrows (2 or 3 different ones), Goldfinches, Inca Doves, Pine Siskins, Pine Warblers, and the neighbor's damn chickens too...I gotta get some suet, Woodpeckers are all over the place...

[wolfiegirl]

That's what I love about this thread. I go to sleep and when I wake up I am greeted with some amazing photos! Everyone gets a star!!!

Ramseybuckeye, it's nice to see some downtown pictures. I hardly ever see any urban stuff these days now that I'm not working. It's all nature, nature, nature


Tess, your puppy is the sweetest thing. And that batch of plants in the snow....

Noel, I don't blame you for overloading!


I know what you mean re the kiddies. But the sad thing about being parents is that we love our kids getting all the attention. In some weird twisted way we take it as a compliment and start to live all their achievements as if they were our own

Great set of macros too! Really like the second last one. The mushroom also seemed very shrivelled, especially considering you said it was after the rain. Such vibrant greens you got there!

What lens did you use on the two water droplet macros? Interesting choice to focus on the stem rather than the water drop on that second one. The water drop looks all pixelated, although I wonder if that's my computer/internet connection talking.

Matt, those are awesome snow shots. I assume the k-3 is weathersealed as well? I'm starting to get some LBA hankering for a WR lens. I would then have another reason to go to the snow (a very expensive enterprise in Australia), just so I could grab amazing shots like that. Mind you, I'm such a novice that I'd be terrified of falling and rolling on my camera anyway. Last time I went I just took a p&s with me.

Here are some rejects from yesterday's Singles In





Here's one of Fred coz he's starting to feel unloved



And one more of the wolfiepup.

This is after she figured out how to open the linen cupboard (hence the ajar angle on the left). My attempts of capturing her actually opening it were a blurry mess.



Am working on getting a decent one of her crawling in the hallway. She's a fast mover, and spinning the focus ring in time is a tricky thing.

[mattb123]

Matt, those are awesome snow shots. I assume the k-3 is weathersealed as well? I'm starting to get some <acronym title="Lens Buying Addiction">LBA</acronym> hankering for a WR lens. I would then have another reason to go to the snow (a very expensive enterprise in Australia), just so I could grab amazing shots like that. Mind you, I'm such a novice that I'd be terrified of falling and rolling on my camera anyway. Last time I went I just took a p&s with me.

Yes, it is sealed. I typically take the 18-135 WR along with it in such inhospitable conditions since it's also sealed, although I love to get my limiteds out as much as I can as well. So if it's reasonably nice and I don't think I'll need to do much zooming I bring the 15 and 40 combo instead.
I wouldn't worry too much about falling on it if I were you either. Well, not for the camera's sake anyway. I fell hard skiing (fast) on my K-5 last year. It cracked the hood but the camera seemed to be fine from it. My ribs on the other hand were sore for weeks!
Lovely photos of your girl!

[wolfiegirl]

Yes, it is sealed. I typically take the 18-135 WR along with it in such inhospitable conditions since it's also sealed, although I love to get my limiteds out as much as I can as well. So if it's reasonably nice and I don't think I'll need to do much zooming I bring the 15 and 40 combo instead.
I wouldn't worry too much about falling on it if I were you either. Well, not for the camera's sake anyway. I fell hard skiing (fast) on my K-5 last year. It cracked the hood but the camera seemed to be fine from it. My ribs on the other hand were sore for weeks!
Lovely photos of your girl!

Thanks Matt.



I tend to fall quite often. Two years ago I fell off the T bar and landed on my ski pole. owwwwwwwwwwie is all I can say. I take it you bring your dslr in a backpack?

[flynnstone]

Its hard to get a bad photo of her.

[wolfiegirl]

Its hard to get a bad photo of her.

She's a sweetie, flynnstone. beautiful eyes!

[gifthorse]

She who must be obeyed.

I see a whole lot of enviable images here. Y'all need to stop making my inferiority complex worse than it already is.

Wadebridge Diverted is Great!
The meercats are irresistible.
Noel's clouds are wonderful!
Matt's Frost on Tree Branches Is terrific, Up close and personal with the powder is exactly why I stick to safe sports like skydiving and demolition derby, and Moonrise with Saturn is the sort of shot I hope for. (With luck, the skies will clear here tomorrow. An Iridium flare will appear between the Moon and Venus. Wish me luck ability.

[wolfiegirl]

She who must be obeyed.

Those eyes are minty green, gifthorse! Reminds me of the reflection off a pair of sunglasses!

[ramseybuckeye]

Cool pictures of Neil Armstrong's home town! I particularly like the blue sky in #3.

Only one was of Wapakoneta, but I made it back tonight and here are two more:
The sidewalks are already rolled up at twilight



Here's what I really went to shoot:

[mattb123]

Thanks Matt.

I tend to fall quite often. Two years ago I fell off the T bar and landed on my ski pole. owwwwwwwwwwie is all I can say. I take it you bring your dslr in a backpack?

I have a few options including a backpack, front pack, Black Rapid strap, and the one I use the most is just the big front pockets of my jacket. Just big enough for the K-3 and 18-135. Very convenient to pull it out for a photo but it hurts to fall on it on hard snow. So I try to stay off the hard snow! Keeping falling to a minimum helps too. Comes with practice.

[noelcmn]

What lens did you use on the two water droplet macros? Interesting choice to focus on the stem rather than the water drop on that second one. The water drop looks all pixelated, although I wonder if that's my computer/internet connection talking.

Used my Sigma 28-80mm Macro Aspherical coupled with a X2 converter, plus a magnifying glass attached. You are right, they are pixelated, and those were processed using Lightroom 3, which I have had for about 2 years, but seldom utilize, still learning the ropes on that program- so probably done a bit too much processing on those. I usually use Gimp, and will probably redo those when I have some more time.
Not sure about the mushroom- probably too much sun the day before- in any event, I was limited by the angle I could take it-no way I was gong to get myself wet just for a photo of a mushroom! I do a lot for PF , but that is asking too much

Its hard to get a bad photo of her.

Cutie Flynnstone. And I see you are still new to PF- a hearty welcome to PF and POTW. Great shot that.

Speaking of great shots, we have had an excellent dose (again) on this POTW. Must be Wolfiepup (there I go again giving more credit to the kids than the parents )

Stephen- awesome shots especially that last one. Better go see a doc, if these trains keep jumping in front when you have the camera in hand .
PP, as a bird lover, I am well satisfied-love that first Blue Jay. I am looking for a suitable feeder myself, though I think I might have to make one myself. And though they will attract mostly Weavers and Sparrows, I'l give it a try.
Tom, wholeheartedly agree with Wolfiegirl- so nice to see some urban shots. Intrigued by that Drexel shot- does it say "twelve years kill your darlings"? Whatever does that mean?
Dave- lovely and we do have a name for such obese animals- Fatty Bombom- not Fatty Bolger from Lord of the Rings. They are course much leaner in the wild. Zoo Diets???
Mattb- you are making enemies not friends What a lovely set- any minute now I will burst form excessive amounts of green envy.
Gifthorse, that cat looks like it has got you wrapped around its finger- an expression used to explain the emotional control that it has over you- it looks smugly content with the way things are. Great shot too-especially capturing those eyes.
Like that minimalist firs shot of your second batch Wolfiegirl.
OK Wolfiepup- Bring it on!

[tessfully]

Very beautiful shots Noel! Love the diversity of your images. Seriously dramatic sky well captured! And the bee shot is amazing. The last two macros are gorgeous too. Great series.

Matt, you have mastered the art of shooting snow!! Excellent set, gorgeous scenery, love the shot of the moon and Saturn. I was wondering what planet that was so bright in my sky of late.

Lovely "rejects" wolfiegirl and as always, sweet pup and child.

flynstone, your daughter is incredibly sweet!!! An awesome portrait!

gifthorse, your kitty posed for you! Terrific shot

Tom, it was worth going back… the night shots are magical.