F-Stop Junkie

Nope, this was nothing to do with me, Rugbyman put the poll up.

I didn't start this topic because of Danny. I started it because what Martyn had written struck a chord with me based on what I've seen on a number of trials, over a number of years. I'm also happy to say that Danny is getting better, and at Tech04 I remember Dave Butler telling a few riders to watch their language, so he's obviously concious of this too. I can understand riders being upset or angry when they fail a section or take a silly dab or two. I don't think anyone could not understand that. Riders in all classes are competitive and want to do well. They set high standards for themselves and get angry/frustrated when they don't meet them.

If it was working before, then it's likely something is dishing out incorrect network addresses with DHCP. On both PCs, click Start -> Run then type command, and press enter. When the DOS window opens type IPCONFIG /all and press enter. If you cut and paste these details into a post here, then we'll be able to look a bit closer and give better ideas as to what's going wrong.

Trials magazine? You know he means Section7 the website? The thinking man's forum?

Can you see how immature actions could affect other people around you? How your immature having fun at a campsite might affect other people in nearby tents who just want a good night's sleep? How it could put organisers and other riders off future competitions making that central element of the sport in decline? This is not aimed at you, just wondering what your thoughts are.

Who else could write a column which forces people in high places in trials to look at this and see how they can combat it, if they think they should. That will provoke more talk and action than any post on here could.

See? This is the problem. It's the 'why can't I do what I want?' mentality. You want to swear in front of small kids, and joke about f**king him/her/it at the top of your voice? Fine. But do you accept that some people find swearing and lewd language offensive? Are you happy to know that what you do offends other people at an event which is supposed to be a good family day out? This is what it comes down to, being considerate of those around you so everyone can enjoy the competitions that a lot of people put a lot of time and effort into. This is not a veiled reference to one person or group of people. Over the past few years I've seen a number of people do it. This is my point. It's not a question of "I think this person is ruining trials", quite the opposite. It's about everyone being considerate and thinking about what they do and how it affects other people. It's not just people swearing and shouting, it's people who put on loud music after a comp blaring out their car full of questionable lyrics, it's about everyone getting on, and everyone having a good day.

Having finally picked up the new MBUK, I was surprised to read the candour of Martyn Ashton's column regarding the behaviour of some riders at competition. Ok, so this is nothing new, but I certainly agree with Martyn that the problem exists, and in my opinion is worse now than it has been for many, many years. I can only remember one occasion where someone was asked to tone down their language by an official. Once, in 11 years. Is this because it's often dealt with behind closed doors? Because a lot of people won't confront someone who is swearing, acting aggressively and being loud? What amazes me is that trials competitions are full of young children who are out to ride their bikes for the day, yet some people do not take this into consideration. If you're just having a ride with your mates, then do what you want, but at an event, is it really so tough to keep it clean? There have always been groups who have been loud, often groups where someone has just learnt to drive and they're out the parental gaze for the first time, but it really is getting bad, and I can imagine some parents not wishing their little ones to be subjected to this on a regular basis. This is not good for the sport. I'm not suggesting that swearing and crude innuendo (and sometimes not so innuendo) should be a hangable offence, and have swarms of profanity police roving the sections, but just that riders have some consideration for those around them, young and old, and keep things civil and polite. I do strongly believe though that no aggression, swearing or arguing towards observers should be tolerated under any circumstances. Without observers, we would not have a sport, and organisers have enough problems finding volunteers to fulfil this role without them being subject to abuse or intimidation. If there is a problem with a judgement, then it should be raised with the organisers, not argued with the observer at the section. I'm sure other people wil disagree, and say they're just having fun or mucking about. They'll say "What next? Should we hold trials in silence?" All I'm saying is that we should all have some consideration for others at events, and help promote a good atmosphere which encourages friends and parents to attend more, rather than put them off coming again.

It's a fair point, but a specific example. How do you get a job doing webdesign in the first place? If you've dropped out of college, who would employ you to do webdesign then? Do websites for mates, and then present those to an employer? Couldn't (wouldn't) you do that at Uni to get the same experience? I was offered web design work for a multinational bank based largely on my University background. Big employers look for safe candidates with proven qualifications. It may be different if you're looking for a Soho Web 2.0 media enterprise to employ you.

Many, many years at university learning what should and shouldn't be cut?

I think that what you want to do as a career should dominate your decision here. If you want to work in IT, management, almost any 'professional' job, you will need a degree. Doesn't matter what, but you will need a degree. For other vocational jobs, experience will count more than qualifications. If you want to, say, get into IT and you don't have a degree then you can start at the bottom and work up. It'll be tough to find a way in, and you'll spend many years working your way up the ladder. A degree will jump five or six years of ladder climbing. I also knew people when I was at University who had gone straight to work from A-levels, and had reached a wall in their career. They went back to University in order to reach those higher paid jobs. Once they'd graduated, a combination of experience, professional qualifications and a degree meant they were sorted when they left. On a personal note, I learnt a lot about life, living away from home, and finding my way in a foreign city. Being surrounded by other people in the same situation and having plenty of guidance (and decent supplies of cash!) mean that you learn how to be an adult in safe way. I also learnt about working methods, research, how to structure my work and my writing. I also got to specialise in something I was deeply interested in, without having to do other subjects I didn't want to. Oh, on a sidenote, I read in the papers at the weekend that there are more students currently studying media studies than there are in the whole media industry in the UK. Wonder how many will get that dream job in media at the end of it...? Please never become a surgeon!

Nick, how do you fancy us both finding a group ride or setting something up with a couple of riders and comparing shots afterwards? I don't think it's quite as simple as that Danny/Nick. It's not a question of saturation being too high, but also WB being off, colour balance being off... The red channel is especially strong in a lot of shots. Try and couple, see how they look. Just out of interest, out of the 300 or so shots that you took, how many were test shots or had the wrong settings? I'm curious, as I only take maybe 2 or 3 test shots in a day when I'm shooting.

Oh, and I'm happy that the Fuji cams of this world may not contain the best light metering algorithms in the world, but you're using a good camera now. Please, leave the manual setting alone, try out have and Tv. You can not balance flash, ISO, shutter speed and aperture unless you have a lot of time and experience. I know most people arn't happy with full auto, and I don't blame you, but try leaving the flash on TTL, set an ISO to get a good shutter speed, and then try have or Tv, you'll spend a lot less time worrying about camera settings, and a lot more time looking through the viewfinder which can only be a good thing. You wouldn't have blown out Ali's crash picture either.... Manual mode is not for heros, it's for studio work and people way more experienced than myself! Stick with have or Tv, keep control, let the camera do the work and take a lot less test shots. BTW, which AF points do you use?

Right, time to be unpopular again. The photos are in places good, some not so good, a couple have very good composition. However... A lot of them have very strong saturation, with a heavy emphasis on the reds. Ali has come out crimson in a few shots! A load also have a strong magenta cast where the WB is set wrong. I do think though that many of these would be improved with a burst of flash. The first natural pic you put up is potentially a great shot, but the big rock slab to his left is brighter than Ali is, detracting attention away from the rider. A flash put in any one of about 5 places could really have made that a great shot, but instead it's only good. The couple where you have used the flash, it's a stop or two too bright. You were certainly in the right place for the evening light, and that looks good. Overall, I'd have probably not posted a third of the shots you did, and used a bit of fill flash on most of the others. Cracking riding though! Ali is crazy.

Cracking geometry though. The B26 was one of the best bikes I've ever ridden.

Wow, you must have a great bag of glass to go with that. Why did you chose that over the 1D MkII? Well I'm no lawyer (or Drazic...) but I think even you would have problems blocking someone off the net. The days of Mitnick are well behind us...

Which camera? 1D? 1Ds? That's not a pun.

If I won a reasonable amount, and depending on if my other half was interested, I'd do one of two things: 1) Travel around Asia. Start in Singapore, head through Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, then spend a month or two in Japan. Asia really has such a distinct culture all it's own. Chewing gum is banned in Singapore. In Japan men get off the train and urinate against a wall, but will give you dirty looks if you blow your nose on the train while it's going. I think Asia would really give a wealth of new experiences, and really change the way you see things. 2) Travel around America with my bikes. Trials in central park, ride across the Slick Rock at Moab, visit Durango, ride Whistler, Woodward... Hit a load of places, meet a heap of new people, would be very cool.

I think there is a feeling of "I can't do something, so I won't try" which grows and grows as you get older. Lines become more dangerous, risks become more evident, and the thought of ringing work on a Monday morning and confessing to loonying about on silly bikes and injuring yourself, so you can't do that important stuff they wanted you to fills you with dread. However, I also think there's a damn good reason for trying anything. Heck, I can't play the saxaphone, but I wouldn't mind giving it a bash until I could play the intro to Baker Street. The great thing about trials is that you don't need a trials bike to start doing it. You just need any old mountain bike with a low saddle and good brakes. Starting off with basics like trackstands and endo turns will give you a starting point, and once you're comfortable with those, you can then progress in private, or with a few other riders. Trials is good that you don't have to ride in front of lots of other people if you don't want to. If you've got a bike, then why not give it a try. The first time you do a pedal kick feels great, as does realising you're in control when the bike is on the backwheel. From tiny acorns...

Both the 350D and D50 are good. Try both and see which you find most comfortable to hold, logical to use, etc... Basically, you can't go wrong either way. Don't buy from Pixmania, warehouseexpress.com are good. Even Jessops can be competive on price, and will match some prices if pushed. Keep an eye out for 'free memory card' or cashback offers.

Welcome to the most critical photography forum on the internet... I think the shots are technically ok. The first shot is from a really dull vantage point, and could do with a higher shutter speed. The sillouette one is ok, but he looks like he's falling out the tree onto the pointy spire. The second looks like he's falling out the sky onto his head... The third is the best, but again, it's just bland. If you'd moved around to your right so you could see his face, the effort, where he's looking for his landing, it would be so much better. I think even getting in closer would improve the shots. The bottom three though, it's always wide with the guy bang in the middle. Ok, not great.

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Pretty good there. A few too many from behind the rider still, and some could have done with a burst of flash too. Generally though a good use of a wide angle lens, and nice and sharp too. Nikon 10.5mm fisheye? 8mm Sigma fisheye? What body were you using? Nice flash thingy on your gallery webpage too.

I hope she's a tall, it's a 20" frame...