Category: Photography

As is traditional with Adobe Lightroom, a Beta version of the about to be released Version 4 has been released.

The big news is a new books module and a map module, to join the existing Library, Develop, Web and Print.

Major updates to the Develop module have been made as well as the Print Module.  The printing in Lightroom has always been better then just about any other product and now its few deficiencies has been addressed.

I have not had enough time to really test it yet or to get to grips with the new features and options but the updated RAW processing engine does seem to produce good results.

Here is a quick test shot of Dani that I took during a recent lighting test, taken with my Nikon D200, and processed with the latest Beta.  No work in Photoshop just the options available in the Develop module in Lightroom V4, a little spotting, some softening and a little extra sharpening on the eyes, then a vignette.  For a quick one minute edit it looks pretty good.

I have a number of Photography Projects planned this year, and what many people may find surprising is that some will involve film.

Digital is extremely useful and convenient, and offers many advantages over film, but if your shooting Medium or Large format then the cost of shooting digital is prohibitive for most of us.

A second hand 16MP back for Medium format will set you back at least £2000.  While prices are falling, for now I have to shoot film for Medium and Large format.  Film also has a look that for many is preferable to digital, and I do enjoy the challenge of film.

My long term Landscape Project is not a new idea, and many people have done it before, but I am going to document a particular scene over the next twelfth months to record how it changes as the seasons change.  This last weekend was my first chance to start work on it but unfortunately the weather was too poor.  Hopefully I will get out next weekend to this location and try again.

Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4 Beta

One thing Landscape Photographers have plenty of, is patience.

I cannot quite believe how lucky we Photographers are at the moment.

The new Panasonic GX1, Olympus Pen 3, my Lovely little Nikon V1 and let’s not forget the Sony Nex-7 with its stunning EVF.

Well following on the steps of the great Fuji X1, then the X100, we now have the Fuji X-Pro 1. Another large sensor mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens.

From what I have seen so far it looks good.

What’s truly interesting about this camera is its weak anti aliasing filter and custom bayer filter may make it one of the highest resolution camera since the Nikon D3x and Leica M9.

If your after a small interchangeable lens camera things have never looked so good.

So Nikon finally announced the D4 last week.

The comments from people are pretty much as I expected.  Professionals like it, a good blend of compromises to produce a good all round professional SLR.

Many negative comments as well.  Most being about the low megapixel count.  Only 16MP people cry, well many award winning photographs have been taken with old 2MP cameras!

Large sensor (full frame 35mm) and smaller number of photo sites brings many advantages.  Cleaner pixels, better low light performance.

For those bemoaning the low pixel count, how big do you want to print?

If your after printing bigger, or possibly more dynamic range then the 35mm SLR may not be the tool for you.  Most professional fashion photographers shoot Medium Format.  Landscape Photographers shoot Medium or Large Format.

The 35mm SLR is all about compromise, and this camera looks to be a great blend of compromises.  Once again with the excellent low light performance, this looks like a great camera for Sports, Wildlife, News and for Wedding Photographers who need to shoot indoors in buildings where flash is not allowed.  Also the new silent mode looks interesting.

My only only concern is the XQD slot.  I like Compact Flash.  Big cards when shooting outdoors in the cold with gloves on are a major advantage to those small easy to lose SD cards.  Will XQD take off, and how easy is it to handle with gloves on.

Will I be getting one?  No I don’t think so, I do not shoot  enough professionally to justify the cost, but I might be tempted to pick up a reduced price D3.

At the big family get together today, I was asked for recommendations on what camera to buy for a complete beginner.

A very difficult question. They had pretty much already decided on a Canon SRL as that a ‘real’ camera.

I asked what they wanted to take pictures of but they had not really thought about that.

Choosing a camera should fit the purpose of what they want to photograph, but also needs to be a model that suits them.

I pointed them at the low end Canon and Nikon SLR’s but also suggested they take a look micro four thirds and the Sony Alpha Range.

I often see very expensive top of the range Leica’s, Hasselblad’s and Ebony Cameras for sale that have hardly been used. I sometimes think, someone walked into the shop and asked for ‘Best’ Camera money could buy, rather the the best camera that suits the sort of Photography they want to do, at a level they are currently competent in.

Unable to produce a half decent shot that even a Casio compact could excel at, they give up in disgust.

Back and White?

Colour?

I am always surprised by the strong views some people have.  Digital verses Film, Print verses Slide, Back & White verses colour.

Now that last one is a weird one to me.

To me an image either suits colour or suits Black & White.

I shoot a lot of Black & White, in fact once I shot nothing but Black & White for two whole years!

Now in the digital world its a lot easier for us, we can pick colour or black and white, and afterwards if we feel we have made the wrong decision then just switch (at least for us RAW shooters).

Often I ask myself, is colour adding anything to the picture, if not then take it out.

At this time of year, with the dreary weather we sometimes have then I often resort to black and white, as colour would add no interest.

Try some Black & White yourself, you might surprise yourself.