Colin Woods

Hi everyone Much as I don't like it, I have to accept that my beloved iMac 27" has to be replaced. Its 13 yrs old and getting very slow now and I can't update most of my software as I can't put on the latest version of the OS. Who can tell me about these new chips - M1, M2, M2 Pro, M3. I see 8 core or 10 core CPU, 10 core 16 core GPU, unified memory - can you run me through these terms? I am looking at the Mac Mini - does anyone have experience with this? Its base model looks cheap but when you get to the M2 Pro chip it is still pretty expensive, especially as you have to add a screen. As usual Apple charge exorbitant fees for the upgrades - can I get the into level 256GB SSD and add my own SSD to get more storage? My use is relatively light weight - photo editing in PS and general web browsing, occasional word/Excel documents. No video rendering, no music creation. Would the Mini be OK? When I look at the Mini M2 Pro with 32GB Memory it comes in at $2200 - at that point am I better springing the extra $400 and going for the Mac Studio base model which is $2600? So, over to you our computing genii, can you get me up to speed on the latest Mac terminology and guide me in my purchase now that the 27 inch iMac no longer exists. Colin

Hi everyone Apologies to all for my absence from the forum. With all the excitement around the eclipse and other big events going on in my life, I had totally forgotten the challenge. Thanks to Paulette who emailed me today asking where I was. The total eclipse was absolutely magic, an event like no other. We are already considering being in Spain for the 2027 eclipse. Ad the beauty of the eclipse leads me to the subject for the April challenge Sun and Shade. As ever, here are a few examples to get the ball rolling. Three entries per person, the photos must be from your Alamy portfolio and the closing is at midnight my time (EST) on the 30th April. Lets see some goodies.

Thanks. It was moored right next to the harbour wall and it was very impressive. Its not that big a ship compared to the giant oil carriers but still its pretty big. I was not alone This photo isn't an entry in the challenge - just to show another view of the ship

Bulk carrier in Toronto harbour. Canada coastguard on the St Lawrence. It was quite cold that day - I seem to remember my photo-motivation fading away quite quickly. Boats approaching each other on Lake Titicaca (Peruvian side)

He certainly is - he'll do what Mum asks him but you should see the way my daughter gets him to do her bidding - its a one girl masterclass in people management.

Does nodding off on the sofa count as "doing something". My dad conked out after playing with the grandchildren. A grab shot of my parents at the pub. A half-stop over flashed, but I just had the grab the camera and shoot before they realised that I had my camera out. My dad performing hair-clip adjustments on my daughter.

Hi Bruce, you have to look at each image at 100% and check it thoroughly for dust spots, marks, and sharpness. Take a photo of an everyday object in bright light with your lens at f8. Look at the detail in that image at 100% - that's how every file should look. If your image is not as sharp as that bright light reference photo don't submit it. And also, before yo go much further you really need to look at your captions and keywords. Titles like Bus tell the buyer nothing and they will give your image no attention at all. Captions should answer the question: Who is doing what - how, why, where and when. Keywords the same, plus any descriptions such as predominant colours and any emotional words like funy, sad, power, etc.

My three Family admiring the jellyfish Family sledging Half the family - my ex and my fantastic boy admiring the Alps

Three from me My boy playing in the snow It doesn't always go your way Brother and kid sister sledging

You could also email Contributor services (contributors@alamy.com) and ask them if they can be any more specific than the dreaded Soft/Lacking Definnition. In my experience the Alamy team are always very helpful and they may be able to give you a valuable insight into what they are seeing. We have all gone through these turbulent waters, don't worry.

My three, squeaked in at the last minute Autumn light reflected in a stream Black and white photography of moving water - who am I to resist? My daughter (pink swimsuit on the left), my son (totally engulfed) and a friend playing in a water park here in Quebec. I got splashed of that water on my legs and it was cold.

The payments are handled by a computer. There is no-one individually checking the accounts and holding out on paying. If you were on $49.99 you would still not get paid. A penny more and you would. It just works like that.

I have missed the last few challenges, but have managed to get myself sorted out for this one. Fatbiking at Mont Ste Anne not far from Quebec The school run in Agra in India. My son showing us how its done.

You have to do your job properly. Alamy do theirs very well. You absolutely are the selector - all alamy ask is that your images are technically proficient. Its is standard QC practice in most industries to check a percentage of the submitted products and if they find an error in that batch then the batch is rejected.

Nice, I love bridges. Three pictures from me Montreal's Pont Jacques Cartier silhouetted against a firework display. The Pont du Quebec and the frozen St Lawrence. It was cold that day. Really cold. Eilean Donan in Scotland. I love this castle - its a horror when there are 10 coaches parked there and the ice-cream-wrapper droppers are out in force, but as soon as the crowds go this is a magical location. And, like much of the Scottish highlands, it loses none of its magic when the weather is poor.