Photo printing rated in Which?

Always a bit dubious about Which?, especially when they talk about more technical stuff like cameras...they're digicam reviews are usually hilariously dumbed down. However, they're quite good at testing things which just involve trying out lots of different, but largely identical service.

Latest issue has photo printing services rated.

Bonus Print and Snapfish come out top at 65 per cent and 62 per cent respectively. Tesco and Photobox rated "Don't Buy".

Guardian Camera Club

Just stumbled across this in the Guardian.

Quite interesting, although I was not stunned by many of the photos. That said, I think she did a better job of the recession-type images than we did. I liked the removed Woolworths sign. The "sold" signs on the new apartments were also nice. Probably more up your street Kevin. (I noticed she was holding a Canon so some lack of quality was to be expected.)

Also, a bit confused by the title, it says you are invited to submit images on the topic (and gives a flickr stream) but no more information. I doubt, I'd ever submit one anyway; I never have for the competition at on the back page of the Saturday magazine.

Talking of competitions, isn't it about time you set a challenge, Kev?

Don't all rush

Amazing the recession bargains you can pick up

Sunsets, revisited

Not much going on around here at the moment,  so here goes. You were both very nice about a photo I put on Facebook a while back. This one, I think.

As a number of others liked it, I'm thinking of getting it enlarged for the wall. So a couple of questions.

1. Have either of you tried larger than A4 prints (obviously done via Photobox or similar). Any do's and don'ts? What about canvas prints?

2. Secondly, is this the best shot I took at the time (I took loads).  I think it is, compositionally, at least, but few more can be found in this gallery.

What do you think? (I have included 2 similar ones - xxx95 and 97 - not because I think they might be the best, but because I liked the contrast between using flash and not using a flash in this situation.

Sorry that they all include people. I took a few without, but I found that they didn't do anything for me. My taste, I guess; I know some are of the opinion that figures shouldn't be included in these shots. 

Alamy update

Celebrating my first sale on Alamy. A whole £50 - so not quite ready to retire and become a stock photographer for the rest of my life. It's also a picture taken at a National Trust property and NT has just ordered Alamy to delete all non-authorised images taken at their properties - so likely to be the first and last money I earn from that image!

Search for B407D9 at www.alamy.co.uk to see my new favourite picture! (and taken with the D70)

Some colour for Kevin

I still prefer it b/w, but then again I'm chromatically challenged, so tend to see b/w and contrast better anyway!

Polarizer definitely would have been good to have to help boost the sky, if you look at the mirror shot (post below), you can see how the sky has been improved by the polarizing effect of the mirror.

Cardiff selection

A few of the more "photographic" attempts from Cardiff - although don't think Kev is in any danger of losing the King of the Architectural Abstract crown. (And is the 100th post?). Once Alice has had a chance for first viewing, rest of the weekend should appear somewhere on Facebook soon.