.............if only my PP skills could stretch that far 
Well Phil, I really like both! I haven't a scooby what they are but I think they're fantastic abstract shots. Definitely hanging material for meespecially the first.
Is it some sort of a lid - like a saucepan lid or something? Or an urn from above?
..........Edit - Ignore the two bits of ivy branches sticking in on the left 
Hi Phil
Smooth - liking #2 for the theme as it is the smoother of the two. Good idea and well set up. Ticks all the boxes
...Edit - Ignore the two bits of ivy branches sticking in on the left
I took it because I have the bike up for sale and was asked for a couple more photos. I noticed the flares off the mirror before I took the picture so they were intentional and really pleased with the outcome.
this mirror is attached to the handlebars 
The bike is a little too central in the frame for my liking, but I love the sunburst effects from the mirrors and the hint of a reflection of a tree.
Oh, I'm quite disappointed by your explanation of the theme reference, because when I saw it on the main thread I assumed it was down to your emotional attachment to your bike, so I felt a bit let down to read that it was up for sale
I do agree, too central in the frame
I too assumed you were attached the the bike.
It's a belting bike. Pity about the cluttered surroundings but the flare on the mirror is great.
Cheers.
Wow Phil, where was that thing when sparkle came out as a theme. Super clean bike. Looks awesome in the late afternoon (?) sunlight
Glad you seem determined to get to the end, (by whatever means necessary).
Good man.
To remove the flare... I'd probably make a selection of the lower part of that section, flip it vertically, move it over the flare and then use a layer mask to paint out the unaffected parts.
was more appropriate Hi Phil, the mirror is certainly attached to the handlebaras you mention the surroundings could be better, excellent flare from the mirror
Love the starbursts on the mirror 
with d00d there Phil .... nice natural shot, and that is a really super sparkle
Hi Phil
Smooth....very original take ( note to self...NEVER upset this man! ) of the 2 , I prefer the 2nd one....very abstract & incredibly smooth.....I'd be tempted to print & frame that one
Attached.....nooooo....how could you sell her.... I'm incredibly attached to my bike & my car , they're family members , to the point I cover the bike with a duvet in it's own cover & regularly talk to both of them
......errrrrr and yes, I sometimes talk to it too ...........
Hiya Phil, that's a good shot. My thoughts:
Starbursts are lovely. They complement each other and just simply work. Top, top notch on those. Also a very shiny bike, lovely paintwork and really clean - as you'd expect for a "for sale" ad!
You've mentioned the road etc. I think a nice open field and this photo would start to sing. This is the biggest thing for me stopping it being a truly wonderful shot... as it is, it's a very good shot.
Shadow - I really like this and my only crit here is that I'd like the whole shadow in frame and enough space to the right to satisfy myself it's all in frame! As it is, I'm left wondering.
Composition - I really like the fact it's pointing away from you... kind of ready to drive off already. Which works given them description. The only other composition apart from a grass field which springs to mind is to find a very very quiet road and park the bike up in the middle of it... with the road stretching away into the distance. Wow
Good shot though and some really nice technicals - and we're all guilty of needing to check the rest of the frame before pressing the shutter!
Hi Phil
Smooth - NOW then you really had me puzzled on this, i really didn't have a clue and was a surprised at the barrels, a real good effect... I'm liking the first shot where you can see a bit more of the detail
Attached - I too thought it was something YOU were attached too lol... agree about the fussy background, but don't mind the flare at all, love the big starburst and theme wise Ha haaaa why not
....... a tad underexposed maybe? The histogram looks ok I've counted 3 times and got 3 different amounts each time 
might be half that amount, 
) I really like the POV with the pylons disappearing into the very far distance.....an excellent choice for the theme.
Hi Phil, 21 pylons
a nice idea and a perfect location for them, did think about it myself, glad I didn't can't compete with pylon city there, exposure looks fine to me,
they blend in fine don't they
Nowt wrong with exposure for me, all pylons standing straight, foreground is in shadow which helps your eye get pulled down the lovely sweep of the cables through to the lovely light on the hills beyond,
Good job.
.......it could be yours Hi, I like pylons
It's a good angle, decent light/time of day and nice detail.
It does look a little under exposed to me, maybe mainly in the shadows. I had a quick edit and increased the shadows and warmed it up a bit and liked it even better.
Cheers.
Hi Phil ....couldn't resist counting ...there's 20 I think
I do agree they're a blot on the landscape (although I do like wind turbines
Hiya Phil. Great idea for the theme: difficult to imagine a shot which is any more on theme
I love the composition with the cables sweeping in from the corner and pylons over on the right balancing it nicely.
My only comment would be the sky is quite dominant and not as exciting as it could be. It's one of those shots where if you were able to get it at sunrise/sunset, it would be an absolute belter. As it is, it's still a good shot which is well thought out!
Hi Phil
Yeah liking this, The cables/pylons coming in from the top left decreasing in size rapidly really sets off the scale of the valley, a bit more contrast in the clouds and sky would finish it off nicely for me, exposure wise I think it's fine, good uprights too, perfect for the theme
...a bit tight maybe?I couldn't decide. Shot in raw with the usual adjustments to sliders and as mentioned, a bit of poor cloning.
, super comp with enough house, creeper and hills in the b/g. A very good idea and well handled. nice Pennines house you have there.
you have done a fine job removing the tripod, I can't even see a hint as to where it was.
Hi Phil
Attached - I like the way that it faces away from the camera and some lovely colours in the bike. I note your comment that the mirror is attached to the handlebars and I would have been tempted to a very tight crop of just the bars and the tank, including the speedo to see the effect.
Energy - I am on the side of 'a bit underexposed' so that there is a loss of pop to the shot. Nice composition with the sweep of the pylons around to the left. i would not know what to do until i did it (!) so I would play around with the shadows/contrast sliders.
Round - don't be so hard on yourself - yes there may be a few glitches but the only one that is at all outstanding for me is the flare in the windows 0- but that just emphasises the beautiful day. Otherwise, lovely colours
Nothing wrong with that Alan.. Often I will whack them to either end to see what happens and in the case of shadows / highlights, to see just how much info is there. How much of it to use is the next step.
Phil this ones a cracker.
Great effect and credit to you for making it in camera. You can do fisheye distortion in PS which would have given a similar effect. For the shot here the crop is just right, the other alternative would be to go really wide and have some context around the mirror. Either works I would imagine.
Hi Phil
Energy....please , if you take another shot with lots of things in it , don't ever ask " how many"....I can't look at the shot without counting :banghead: 25 was my last tally !!!!!!
But I do like the image , the 1st pylon draws you in to the frame & then you get pulled from one pylon to another to another ( counting as you go of course ! ) , good blue sky nice lit on the distant hill & a road snaking through it as well
Round.....ok , I'll admit , I'm feeling dimmer than normal...fisheye lens ? whatever , it's a good shot & you are being hard on yourself , can't see any tell tale signs of cloning at all
Lynne, thanks I'm sure the pylons are breeding, my last count came up with 26
Hey Phil
Round - What a cracker that is mate !!! I can't quite make out what you used for this (Not read any text or comments) but it's a great idea/effect, the dark background and square crop frame it nicely too