Welcome to another round of Picture of the Week. This is edition #294 covering 15th December - 29th December 2013
I was a little lax in finding a host this week so I'll do it again.

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, 291 wolfiegirl, 292 wolfegirl, 293 ramseybuckeye,

[noelcmn]

What! No Wolfiepup????? 2014 is looking very bleak!

Tom, I am so envious of that broken ice shot. Never get s that cold here.
SMF- I certainly don't mind more winter shots
Clou, love Nymphenburg. My kind of shot! as are the snow one of course.
And as for Derelict-Arch enemy
Special K- Oh I like that first one, another one of those kinds of shots that evokes memories and desires. It has been years since I last played some pool.
Joe, just lovely, beautiful comp on that reindeer.

[wolfiegirl]

bwahahaha. so distressed you posted twice, noelcmn? *snarf*

am editing and uploading as i type. there'll be some in a sec. hold your horses!

ok here we go.

here is one at christmas with her new toys



this one's blurry but her expression between the wolfies is just too precious not to share



Another adorable expression with a caption begging to be added



Poor Elsie getting mauled



Whoa, Freddie boy!



and i just love her expression here.



Tom - I forgot to say, thank you for your lovely comments re Elsie. She is an absolute sweetie. We got her from the local pound. She was left inside one of the outside pens covered in fleas and skinny as a rake. Poor thing. The minute she was available for adoption (I was on their email list) she was outta there. So all's well that ends well, at least she didn't have to stay in the pound for too long and has been with us ever since. That was close to 3 years ago. And as you can see by the photos, she's wonderful with wolfiepup. Absolute sweetie. Pound dogs are the best

[ramseybuckeye]

Thanks for hosting Tom. A few from the Tar River and backwater during a visit to our son in eastern NC during the holidays.

I always love to see your photos of this area, good photos make you feel like you are there. That second shot looks as though you're standing in it, were you on that small boardwalk that shows in the first one? Is that moss covering that tree in the first pic?

bwahahaha. so distressed you posted twice, noelcmn? *snarf*
am editing and uploading as i type. there'll be some in a sec. hold your horses!
ok here we go.

Looks like Christmas is continuing in the wolfie den. That's what little kids do, they make Christmas last longer. I hope you've got some digital frames around the house so you can keep her photos rotating, because you've go too many to frame individually.

Noel, here's some more ice for you:

[rushabhbheda]

the photograph is taken from mumbai india during the evening

Attached Images

 

[derelict]

And as for Derelict-Arch enemy

I have never had an arch enemy before.

[mecrox]

Many thanks for hosting, ramseybuckeye. And I hope everyone had a very happy Christmas and is looking forward to New Year. Amazing painting with light this week from all over the world. And of course squirrels. They've been jumping around on the lawn outside today. Where would we be without them. Various pics from places I've been over the past week.


















--

[noelcmn]

bwahahaha. so distressed you posted twice, noelcmn? *snarf*

and i just love her expression here.

OK, 2014 has taken a turn for the better Love that expression too! Uhm, good thing we are miles apart, otherwise i'd be doing what I do with the babies in the church here (and there are many) take them in the arms and tell Mom and dad they can go home now, baby has been kidnapped So besides being known as the crazy pastor, I'm also known as the cradle snatching pastor!

I always love to see your photos of this area, good photos make you feel like you are there. That second shot looks as though you're standing in it, were you on that small boardwalk that shows in the first one? Is that moss covering that tree in the first pic?


Looks like Christmas is continuing in the wolfie den. That's what little kids do, they make Christmas last longer. I hope you've got some digital frames around the house so you can keep her photos rotating, because you've go too many to frame individually.

Noel, here's some more ice for you:

OK, we're friends again Btw, the only ice we ever get is in the form of hailstones. One year it was knee high in our garden. Thanks for posting that one.

the photograph is taken from mumbai india during the evening

Rushabhbheda, Welcome to POTW, hope we see a lot more of you here, and of India too- one of the best places I have visited, but did not get to Mumbai. India is a photographers paradise in my opinion.

I have never had an arch enemy before.

Many thanks for hosting, ramseybuckeye. And I hope everyone had a very happy Christmas and is looking forward to New Year. Amazing painting with light this week from all over the world. And of course squirrels. They've been jumping around on the lawn outside today. Where would we be without them. Various pics from places I've been over the past week.


















--

Another stunning set from you Mecrox, No 2 is superb, and reminds me of Leeds Castle which I visited, but also Oxford, which I also visited. amazing green for this time of the year? And I like the play on the light and shadows, and seemingly reflected in that leopard skin dress.

A few more from me, from yesterday. Very happy to see this blackheaded Heron when I visited a friend. Usually much more shy than its cousin, the grey Heron. I have seen it a few times over the years, but usually far away, and quick to take off if you get to close.




This is probably its hunting ground, a huge swamp, with lots of birds, which I would love to visit.


A local mosque that I saw


a remnant of the 2010 soccer world Cup


Tent top- a huge gambling place called Carnival City.


The entrance- presumably to tell you you may meet with your lucky stars there.


Ok, so I posted a few more than usual- but, what with the renewed friendship with Tom and pics of Wolfiepup- the world is a happy place at the moment Have a great weekend. everyone.

[wolfiegirl]

I hope you've got some digital frames around the house so you can keep her photos rotating, because you've go too many to frame individually.

I currently have the side of the fridge plastered with highlights taken from the last year. I printed them up for her birthday party so that people could see how she'd grown. Wolfieboy thought I was nuts and a touch obsessive about it. "My grandmother would have been appalled." Whatever. Yet every once in a while I spot him looking at her pictures. *snarf* I know what I'm doing

OK, 2014 has taken a turn for the better Love that expression too! Uhm, good thing we are miles apart, otherwise i'd be doing what I do with the babies in the church here (and there are many) take them in the arms and tell Mom and dad they can go home now, baby has been kidnapped So besides being known as the crazy pastor, I'm also known as the cradle snatching pastor!

fyi in Australia, cradle snatching is usually referred to those who marry/date people who are *significantly* younger than you (i.e, snatching them from the cradle). My father in law is guilty of this, with an 18 year age difference between himself and his second wife . Wolfieboy and I in comparison only have 12 years between us...

I really liked those heron shots, noel. What lens did you use?

Speaking of birds, here is one from this morning. This is a silvereye. Only about 10cm tall. Shot with my 200mm Hanimar at f8





And a cockatoo shot with the same lens on Christmas Eve



My father in law's dog, Max



And a black and white from the coast, shot from my mother in law's verandah



And because I know I can't get away with it, here are a few more of the wolfiepup shot with the Q.



Eyeing my photo gear



And with a demented look on her face.



Ok, all done now.

[jcdoss]

More ice... from our evening walk. I really hate the short days (or long commutes).

[Paleo Pete]

Thanks for hosting again Tom

Been out shooting birds again, should be no surprise...tried to get a few shots in their favorite perches the past few days. Tufted Titmouse and Chickadee grab a sunflower seed and fly off to munch, I caught some of the others sitting there watching, not sure if they wanted to chance getting too close to me. Tree is above the feeder and about 10 feet behind it.

This one is on the feeder, I'm not sure if it's a Goldfinch or Pine Warbler. coloring can vary a lot and I can't see enough to tell if it has streaks on the breast, I think Pine Warbler though.



Tufted Titmouse pecking at a sunflower seed



Definitely a Pine Warbler



Female Cardinal, watching me close...



Male Cardinal good enough for a close up crop



All taken with Lentar 135mm M42 lens at f8, not the T mount I was using a few days ago. I think this one may be just a tad sharper. Still need to get a few more comparison shots though...This lens is a f2.8, the T mount is f3.5.

[ramseybuckeye]

the photograph is taken from mumbai india during the evening

Welcome to the forum and what a wonderful photo! I love "road photos", here you have colorful buses and interesting background. A lot to see in the photo. Again, welcome!

I have never had an arch enemy before.

Just humor him and don't make eye contact.

Many thanks for hosting, ramseybuckeye. And I hope everyone had a very happy Christmas and is looking forward to New Year. Amazing painting with light this week from all over the world. And of course squirrels. They've been jumping around on the lawn outside today. Where would we be without them. Various pics from places I've been over the past week.
-

Looks as though you've been on the go this week, nice collection of places, but I've got to say that last photo is very intriguing with that shadow, fatastic street shot.

OK, 2014 has taken a turn for the better Love that expression too! Uhm, good thing we are miles apart, otherwise i'd be doing what I do with the babies in the church here (and there are many) take them in the arms and tell Mom and dad they can go home now, baby has been kidnapped So besides being known as the crazy pastor, I'm also known as the cradle snatching pastor!

Ok, so I posted a few more than usual- but, what with the renewed friendship with Tom and pics of Wolfiepup- the world is a happy place at the moment Have a great weekend. everyone.

LOL, we've got the same meaning of cradle snatching over here as the wolfie's do. The heron is fantastic Noel, and that hunting ground looks beautiful, I hope you an get in some day. But I've got to say Carnival City looks like a great place to avoid!

I currently have the side of the fridge plastered with highlights taken from the last year. I printed them up for her birthday party so that people could see how she'd grown. Wolfieboy thought I was nuts and a touch obsessive about it. "My grandmother would have been appalled." Whatever. Yet every once in a while I spot him looking at her pictures. *snarf* I know what I'm doing

The silvereye is amazing, what a beautiful bird and sharp photo! Wow, she really looks tired there, but has a real eye on your gear. I think she could use the Q right now. I want to see what she can do! Make it happen Mama!

More ice... from our evening walk. I really hate the short days (or long commutes).

Awesome water shot, wow it looks cold!

Been out shooting birds again, should be no surprise...tried to get a few shots in their favorite perches the past few days. Tufted Titmouse and Chickadee grab a sunflower seed and fly off to munch, I caught some of the others sitting there watching, not sure if they wanted to chance getting too close to me. Tree is above the feeder and about 10 feet behind it.
All taken with Lentar 135mm M42 lens at f8, not the T mount I was using a few days ago. I think this one may be just a tad sharper. Still need to get a few more comparison shots though...This lens is a f2.8, the T mount is f3.5.

I would say that is a female pine warbler, it's so sharp those feathers would cut you. Wow. Good group of photos, but that one is really special! Well done Billy-Pete!

[wolfiegirl]

The silvereye is amazing, what a beautiful bird and sharp photo! Wow, she really looks tired there, but has a real eye on your gear. I think she could use the Q right now. I want to see what she can do! Make it happen Mama!

[Clou]

Tom, thanks for hosting (I forgot previously).
Yesterday was a productive day, here are a few architecture shots.

Underground:


OEZ - Rolltreppen


Sticking out:


Individualism


Olympiapark, Munich:


Konvergenz



Zum Stadion - näher


BMW:


Schüssel und Vierzylinder

[Clou]

Two more - no architecture, but just for the light:


Baum-abends



Olympiaberg-abends

[noelcmn]

I currently have the side of the fridge plastered with highlights taken from the last year. I printed them up for her birthday party so that people could see how she'd grown. Wolfieboy thought I was nuts and a touch obsessive about it. "My grandmother would have been appalled." Whatever. Yet every once in a while I spot him looking at her pictures. *snarf* I know what I'm doing



fyi in Australia, cradle snatching is usually referred to those who marry/date people who are *significantly* younger than you (i.e, snatching them from the cradle). My father in law is guilty of this, with an 18 year age difference between himself and his second wife . Wolfieboy and I in comparison only have 12 years between us...

I really liked those heron shots, noel. What lens did you use?

Speaking of birds, here is one from this morning. This is a silvereye. Only about 10cm tall. Shot with my 200mm Hanimar at f8




My father in law's dog, Max

And because I know I can't get away with it, here are a few more of the wolfiepup shot with the Q.

Ok, all done now.

Woowoo, I like that silvereye shot- here we have a similar one called Cape White- Here's what ours looks like.


Max looks highly suspicious! Oh and thanks for the extra dose of Wolfiepup. At that stage where everything gets explored!

Lenses used would the 50-200mm Kit lens (really a super lens-hugely underestimated IMHO) for the first one, and only when I think I am not close enough with the 200mm, I will use the Sigma 70-300DG Macro, in this case coupled with a x2 converter. I wanted to physically get closer, but as mentioned the bird is quick to take off. Here's one where I was the closest and I could see it was getting ready for take-off.


Btw- the same meaning of "Cradle snatching" applies here-except when it is applied to a baby-loving dude, by parents who simply love the opportunity to hand baby over to someone who will Coo and ahhh for a long time! Imagine my pleasure when I get to baptise them!