XEntity asked if someone else would post up a thread and I thought it would help to draw a line under the last one so here we go.

Brief: "Lettering"

To directly quote Sam "interesting signs, whatever"

so pretty open but the main subject must be some sort of lettering  (Sam feel free to correct or add to this if Ive misinterpreted you)

Entries to be received by end of day 28th October
Voting starts on the 29th and closes end of day 4th November


Monthly Competition Rules:

The aim of this is to get people out and to use their cameras in different ways to what they might normally do so, to achieve this the rules state that the photograph must be taken in the submission period of the competition and relate to the theme in some way.

Each month a different thread will be created and at the end of the submission period a poll will be added including all entries that are deemed valid. Non valid entries will be automatically excluded. The named winner then copies over the text of this post and replaces the theme with one of their choice.

Include a description of a few words as to why you feel your picture fills the theme.

Once the thread has been started peoples entries have to be posted in that thread. Each entrant is only allowed ONE POST in the thread to cover ONE IMAGE that he has entered. The last image posted is the one that will be used, all others will be removed when a Mod/admin has a spare moment ...

The submission will last 4 weeks and voting will last 1 week

Thats correct. Im thinking signs, livery, wording on gravestones, letter engraving, etc.

My entry:

IMG_0046 by Rusty_CallyT2007, on Flickr

I was quite intrigued by the lettering on a coin micro/macro thing Mongoose posted a while back where the challenge was to see who could get the closest. Im meant to be getting trained up on a scanning electron microscope (SEM) - when it works. I might see if I can use it to get a shot though I doubt itll be in time for the compo

Well we got the SEM fixed and I got to have a quick play with some old half crowns on Friday afternoon. This is "weak" magnification at only 35x, when I was focusing it was at a moderate magnification of about x2500 magnification  

The image is pretty pants as I was literally on my own for my first ever attempt at the SEM yesterday and this was the 4th image Ive ever taken. Itll take a bit of getting used to!


SEM Coin Test 35x Magnification by Chris_Moody, on Flickr

Its one of the few things keeping me from quitting my job now I think, getting to play with stuff like this.

Bah with such specialist equipment we dont stand a chance

Depends on what you do with it and the fickle tastes of the voters rather than anything else.

in my experience SEM is a bit of a black art. Theres a guy in our department who is a wizard with it, its like watching Mr Sulu pilot the Enterprise.

The first and (so far) only time Ive tried to use an electron microscope I managed to melt the sample! (it was only a micron or so thick).

Yeah, Im struggling to get anything over x2000 magnification, even though I should be able to reach x20 000 mag on the machine I think. Partly this is because I think youre meant to leave it running overnight with the sample in as it needs to warm up etc. Its great fun, though Ive already gained a reputation in the team for it being my new toy. This has pissed me off a little, only reason Ive been spending so much time on it is to learn how to use it so there is someone there who CAN use it when they have students who need to run samples.

Hello all, Dan from Iowa/US here.. Sam told me about this forum and thought Id enter the contest.

Where did you take the picture dan ?

Out hiking today on a trail in Iowa.. Was the floor of one of the monumental trail towers.

Welcome to the forums Dan, thats an excellent photo

Thanks!  

who won