Staged this for SJ a few mins ago.

This is my very first proper photo from my new Olympus 40-150mm (80-300mm 35mm equiv) f/2.8 PRO lens. Have to admit that bokeh is outstanding. This is direct from the camera with no PP at all. The photo popped without any extra work.

^^^ Outta likes Ty....Nice shot.

This is another little coffee shop in my village.

Sorry, Chonburiram, no percolator.

I go there when my g/f is not with me.

The coffee has no taste at all and I don't usually drink it.

BUT the owner is very tasty indeed

A Buddha statue at the shrine next to the Ubonrat Dam.

Just chillin with on the sidewalk

From Wat phra bat phu pan kham.

The Buddha of Plenty.

The 7 day of the week Buddha.

Again from Wat phra bat phu pan kham.

The reclining Buddha.

Sorry, couldn't get a picture without the pillars

From Wat phra bat phu pan kham.

Why does this reminds me of Queen Victoria?

Or, it's only my imagination?

The entrance to the grounds of Wat phra bat phu pan kham.

Jurassic Park, style.

She wouldn't stop giggling all the way back home.

Gotta hand it to the Thai, they sure like their realism!

Another Buddha statue from Wat phra bat phu pan kham.

Just to say,

For all the likes you've given me up to now.

THANK YOU.

Impressive work of art made mainly with vehicle mechanical parts

Indoor/outdoor Buddhas

Game of tails

You too can lose kilos fast on the new Buddha-Belly-Bustin diet plan.

I know there's a sub-forum for discussions but I prefer to share it here.

Thank you to the photographers who choose to stay here on the forum. You certainly showed me from here to look a things differently with-out asking for something in return. Except for one(who asked) who I will need give something back

I'm aware it takes a certain degree of tolerance and understanding for you to stay and keep posting so I'm gratefull for that. It's interesting to look at the differences in style, developement and technique between one member and another. I hope Mr. Hitchens and Klauskunkel stay and Kanwin(even if it's only landscapes) becomes more active.

Perhaps if we could discuss Fimgirls, Fracturedrabbit's, Oilinky's, Sunshine's and Fiddlestick's motivation to stay and share we could attract more photographers using this information.

For me the attraction is we have amateurs, happy snapper's and Pro's in one place together. I like that a lot.

Just a thought.

I just started to take photography more seriously when I secretly followed this guy with my new serious pocketcam around the Doy Suthep temple to observe his behaviour. This guy was prepared! It seemed he saw a shot in everthing and was very enthousiastic like a kid, which I liked. But couldn't see myself like that in the future....

Back then I couldn't help but feeling a little under-armed though.. I bought my first extra battery for my cam after that. Now I start feeling uncomfortable when I forget to bring the spare, charged batteries. Same goes for the hat.

Thanks to Fiddlesticks who chose the right cam for me and who taught me a lot about PP in just one afternoon. Fracturedrabbit's guide is still like a bible to me.

Thank you.

Thank you DAL for asking and I'll tell you why I will always stay...

I have no objections doing my best to try and help someone improve their photography;

all they have to do is ask. Oh yeah...you asked, I ofered & you have improved...that's

good enough a reason to hang around for me.

There's always gonna be squabbles on a forum between members & I hate to put mods

on the spot but it's their job to take action when this happens. It's ours not to let personal

feelings be made public in an offensive manner.

It's the rest of us members job, us who are still here, to keep doing our bit right here &

keep this part of TVF great.. At least that's what I reckon.

I know Shaggy will probably freak out over us having a discussion in a photo thread but here goes. Sorry Shaggy!!!

Let's be honest with ourselves folks, WE ARE ALL AMATEURS! Sure some may have lots more equipment, some may have more expensive equipment, some may have more experience in post processing images and know cool photo processes, but we're ALL (yes ALL) still amateurs. If we were more than that we likely would not be posting our images here, we would be posting to Getty, Nat Geo, 500x and the like. Instead, we are amateurs who enjoy taking photographs, sharing them with our fellow amateurs, encouraging each other with digital pats on the back and having a good time doing it.

That said, it is OK to suggest ways to help our mates improve by encouraging and demonstrating through examples or giving advice in a constructive fashion. We all benefit and gain more enjoyment from this forum when we encourage each other. We will also see images improve because encouragement is motivates us to improve.

I personally took a hiatus from this forum for a spell, not because I was disillusioned or angry but because I was in a creative funk. Some of you know that my real joy is landscape photography. I enjoy the unspoiled beauty of nature and desire to capture it. However I was finding it very difficult to be inspired by the jungles and rice fields that dominate Northern Thailand. It wasn't until recently that I made a semi-peace with this and started to focus more on simple travel photography. Once I started getting out again and producing some images I again returned to share them with you all. They're OK, but i'm fine with that, cause I'm an amateur like the rest of us. Do I hope to get better? Yes! Do I work at getting better? Sure! But I'm having fun doing it and that's important. The fun has returned.

Enough ranting!

Hope you all also have fun!

Stix

All i can add with Due Respect for the Pro Members. If i want to see Contrived Pics i wait to Visit the Dentist and read a Glossy Mag. I love, but wont name em cause we all know whos Happy Snapper Pics work, They brighten you Cafe each Morn.

All i can add with Due Respect for the Pro Members. If i want to see Contrived Pics i wait to Visit the Dentist and read a Glossy Mag. I love, but wont name em cause we all know whos Happy Snapper Pics work, They brighten you Cafe each Morn.

Totally unrelated:.. Did you read about about that copyright/name mix-up last week, Ace? I'm still laughing. You had me going there for awhile. Funny stuff

It's time to share a statue to cover-up this sunday-rant, guys.^^

All i can add with Due Respect for the Pro Members. If i want to see Contrived Pics i wait to Visit the Dentist and read a Glossy Mag. I love, but wont name em cause we all know whos Happy Snapper Pics work, They brighten you Cafe each Morn.

Ace,I don't get your point.Are you saying that you don't want to see any 'Pro' work on the forum?

I spend hours and hours a week trying to improve my 'photography' skills,are you suggesting that all that is in vain,and that I should stop

trying to better my skills? I would love it if one day just one of my pics made it in to a 'glossy magazine'!

Are you even interested in photography,or do you just come on here to moan at those that are skilled and have trained very hard to reach

the level that they are at now?,

Well Shaggy,I'm happy with my 2 likes.