Retired academic archaeologist. Now spend most of my days writing. But while working in the field I got interested in taking photographs and since I got a digital SLR I have been very energetic. I still need to learn how to manage my camera, but they are very forgiving. So much is about composition and having an eye for what will look good extracted from its context. A friend told me that there are only three things that are important in a photograph: 1) the light; 2) the light; and 3) the light. I am learning to appreciate that. He may have been right, but I get very tired of looking at sunsets (and dawns) and pics where the only thing is the light. I try not to put pics of people onto Flickr.

I thought it was time to define some of my choices about the photos by me and my fellow Flickrites that I regard as favourites. There are always exceptions to these rules.

I will generally not like photos that are

1) Just of religious buildings

2) Just attractive because of the poverty

3) HDR

4) Too modified by Photoshop or other

5) People, especially when it seems likely their permission was not sought

6) Sunsets or dawns where the only thing is the colour

That is a start.

Do not think of using my copyright photos without permission. Happy to be asked.