@kairospix: Thanks kairospix - I love b&w shots too but get the impression that not everyone feels the same way about them so it was great to get your positive reaction!

@Lorraine: Thanks again for taking the time to leave such encouraging words Lorraine!

Being in b&w this photo is a little different from the other travel shots I've been posting so I'm really pleased that you liked it too!

@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine - I found the revised shot under your archive page - I felt famous for the first time in my life :-)!!!
For myself it would be great if you return the 'favour' and provide some constructive criticism of my photos whenever you feel the urge :-)
I started taking photos at Easter and the ones posted whilst i was on holiday are from this time - more recently however I felt like my photos had become formulaic and boring but it is proving immensly difficult to make any kind of real improvement and is frustrating as ***!!!
I need to be more adventurous I guess or else I am have to go and book myself into the talent hospital for an injection of imagination and artistic ability :-)
All the best, Ian

@Brian: Thanks for the great comments Brian - I tend to push the contrast a lot when doing a b&w conversion so it was nice to know that I hadn't gone too far with it!

@Laurie: Just goes to show how blind we can be to things that look weird in our own photos - I hadn't even noticed the spiky 'hair' until you mentioned it! :-)

@eureka: thanks very much Eureka!

@ChaCha: Thanks for the very encouraging words ChaCha!

@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine - as ever you are very encouraging and kind! I guess what I was trying to get at with my earlier comments re my feelings of frustration with my lack of progress in photography is this : taking good landscape or urban photos like these is pretty easy when you have a scene in front of you that is so beautiful it catches your breath - all you need to do is press a shutter button and the scene in front of you does all the work!!
What I have grown to admire is those photographers who bring their own style and imagination into their art (for thats what photography is at its best). I love Aminus for the fantastic variety of photos on show - the ones that make me the most envious are those that show imagination, wit and flair above and beyond what is needed to merely record a moment that presented itself.
I have in fact (amazingly enough) taken photos of which i am proud and excited (such as 'Street Surfing' and 'Poppies' on my archive page (and tomorrows shot I like too!) but these tend to be as rare as hen's teeth and more often than not appear on the PC screen as a nice surprise rather than as something planned!
Anyway - I've rambled on enough for one evening.
Take care,
Ian

@See The Light: Thanks again Mary!