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,

[ramseybuckeye]

Yesterday we were deluged with rain, last week's 8 inches of snow started melting on Thursday, and Saturday was a festival of rain. This is an example of awfully poor planning by our local village. Four years ago they completely to the street up to put new storm sewers in to get rid of this problem. The new sewers they put in were not much bigger that what they replced (if at all), and then they connected another several hundred yards of sewers that on that were not on it originally. Doing this they also cut down nearly all of the beautiful trees which is why is looks so stark.
This was at 4:40AM this morning:


Still some waters lingering at about 10:10 this morning:

[SpecialK]

Just some shots from across the street after a cemetery hunt.









This guy got closer than the 70's MFD.

[ramseybuckeye]

Just some shots from across the street after a cemetery hunt.

Kyle, good stuff with some variety, but I love these photos that ask questions. Question one, what's the number 2 for?

The bigger question, does that girl really need a helmet to walk that beam? Is 12 inches really a dizzying height?

[SpecialK]

...I love these photos that ask questions. Question one, what's the number 2 for? The bigger question, does that girl really need a helmet to walk that beam?

Every once in a while I see a number, possibly in a different color. I think it may have something to to with distance markings for running events around the park. The woman on the beam had a bicycle parked just off to the left. There are a few exercise things along the pathway.

[smf]

A Sakar 500mm on a handheld K-x was used for the squirrel photo, and I shot through a sliding glass door. (The lens is approximately 14 inches long, not the compact model I've seen online.) If anyone has experience with the 14-inch lens, I would welcome a PM (personal message). Thanks very much.
The snowy evergreen branches were captured with an SMC Pentax-F 1:4.5-5.6 35-80mm on the K-x.

[jmschrei]

Thanks for hosting again Tom. I thought I would stop by a share a couple of shots from a walk yesterday in search of Single in December shots. Outdoor ornament are really popular in my neighbourhood it eems.

[noelcmn]

Hello, Mr Diabolical here.

Thanks Tom for hosting again, I think it's official now, you have hosted the most number of times. Lovely opening shots-and if you had not told me that was Ohio, I would have sworn it was Suburban Johannesburg, as we have the same problem, our drainage system is atrocious. And between where I live and the city center, they have just built a rapid transit system, and it has made matters even worse. Terrible to drive on that route.

SpecialK, I agree with Tom- those do ask a lot of questions, adn you have answered them, though that lady with the helmet is hilarious. I like also the old man-lovely contemplative shot.

SMF, usual good stuff from you. As you'll probably know by now, I am envious of all these beautiful snow shots.

Same applies to yours Joe- WOW, those are crisp- not just the snow , but the baubles. Beautiful colors, Comp and DOF.

Well, it is busy busy time around here, with only a few moments t o get the finger clicking. I posted some moon shots in last weeks POTW, well it was still around a few day later, but with a lot of cloud around, which I tried to capture. Here is one I liked.


And I got some flare too, with the passing railway line near where I live


And here's the evidence of the little time-what to photograph with a few moments- a broad leaf with some backlighting will do! From the garden.


Hopefully once Christmas is over, I will have some more time. Probably a visit to the Botanical Gardens is on the cards.

Here's wishing everyone here on PF, a very merry Christmas, with special times with loved ones.

[ramseybuckeye]

A Sakar 500mm on a handheld K-x was used for the squirrel photo, and I shot through a sliding glass door. (The lens is approximately 14 inches long, not the compact model I've seen online.) If anyone has experience with the 14-inch lens, I would welcome a PM (personal message). Thanks very much.
The snowy evergreen branches were captured with an SMC Pentax-F 1:4.5-5.6 35-80mm on the K-x.

That's impressive with that 14 inch monster. You still have that much snow? Ours is gone except for the ugly plowed piles.

Thanks for hosting again Tom. I thought I would stop by a share a couple of shots from a walk yesterday in search of Single in December shots. Outdoor ornament are really popular in my neighbourhood it eems.

I would have to say that's not a bad thing in the neighborhood, very cool looking, that first photo is really good, something so simple but it al;l comes together.

Hello, Mr Diabolical here.

Thanks Tom for hosting again, I think it's official now, you have hosted the most number of times.
.

Did you actually count them or something? I thought you did something like 30 weeks in a row a while back. Those are some really good pics, but that third with the leaf is really cool, I like it a lot.

[ramseybuckeye]

Actually daacon (Dave) has hosted POTW 23 times for the record. Noel you've hosted 12 times, I'm only at 9.

[Jessesdad]

In a small town in the hills near Adelaide there is a major 'Christmas Lights' event each year. Went with some of the family last night. K-r and f 1.7 struggled in the very low light so the images are soft but I like these ones and it was a wonderful community night. My eight year old son brought his friend along and my wife and daughter both fell asleep in the car before the young ones! Nice to see shepherds that really look like Aussie farmers too!

[ramseybuckeye]

In a small town in the hills near Adelaide there is a major 'Christmas Lights' event each year. Went with some of the family last night. K-r and f 1.7 struggled in the very low light so the images are soft but I like these ones and it was a wonderful community night. My eight year old son brought his friend along and my wife and daughter both fell asleep in the car before the young ones! Nice to see shepherds that really look like Aussie farmers too!

Looks like a good time, not bad for handheld in that light. That first photo is a really good candid portrait, that's a definite framer.

[Clou]

The last snow is long gone, new hasn't arrived yet and it is relatively warm and sunny.
Just enjoying it...



Trees against sky



Monopteros - Detail



Monopteros - Decke



Monopteros - Kapitell



Wintersonne

[ramseybuckeye]

The last snow is long gone, new hasn't arrived yet and it is relatively warm and sunny.
Just enjoying it...

Good stuff Michael, The detail on the columns is excellent, I really like the simple composition of the first photo, very well done.

[Clou]

Tom - thanks.

Here are three more from the same day:



Geländerdetail



Diana


Beginning of golden hour, hence the colours:


Drei Farben


Two from today:


Zwei Glocken


This was taken looking into the sun - thus the hard contrast:


Schliersee - 24.12.2013