Posts

Posted on

Backup, Backup and Backup

Some people think I have a rather ridiculous Photography backup routine.

When out on site if away for more then a day I back up to the iPad, then backup to the computer when back to the office/home.  Files then get backed up to time machine (very useful if you have a Mac), then eventually moved off to an external hard disk, and also backed up to a Drobo and to a disk that is kept off site.

No matter what there should always be three copies of my files.

Well I don’t know how but last night I managed to delete my 2012 photograph directory off my main external hard drive while doing some extensive testing of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom V4.

Tonight to my horror, I discovered the fact.  I had also been efficient and deleted the early 2012 photographs of my Laptop to make some room and emptied the trash.

I had a copy off site and on the Drobo, but I still had that moment of panic!  I decided to not revert to the Drobo but try and recover the photographs from my Time Machine Backup.

Time Machine is an automatic backup program included with all Macs. Using this I was quickly able to recover all photographs except two shoots,  these had to be recovered from the Drobo.

So I can say my backup routine works, but I must remember to keep to my strict routine.  One of my backups did not have all the photographs on it, but luckily my routine ensures I always have more then one backup.

Remember; Backup, Backup and Backup.

Posted on

Recall for Nikon EN-EL15 Batteries

Nikon have issued a service recall for the EN-EL15 Batteries, this is the battery found in the new D800, D800e, D7000 and the Nikon 1 V1.

More details here on how to identify if your battery is affected.

Posted on

Photo Tip – Filters for Digital

One of the huge advantages with digital is that we can leave most of our filters at home and when we are safely back at home or at the office we can apply the effects we want in post processing.

Put there are a number of filters we should consider as still essential for digital work.

  • Polariser
  • Graduated Filter (but you can use HDR and digital blending)
  • Neutral Density Filter

Don’t leave home without them.

Posted on

Volkswagen buy Ducati

I have always been more of a Moto Guzzi then a Ducati fan, but most of the guys (and some women) ride Ducati’s at work.

There were rumours flying last week that Ducati was about to be bought and this week it came true when Volkswagen announced they had purchased the iconic motorcycle brand.

They said that it would be a subsidiary of their Audi brand.

If I had to have any Ducati it would either be a Monster or an air cooled 900SS.  So many bikes so little garage space!

Posted on

Nikon announce D3200 – 24MP’s of digital goodness

It was not long ago when if you wanted a 24MP camera you had to go medium format.  Then along came the D3X a seriously high resolution full frame digital SLR.

Well today Nikon brought that kind of resolution to the masses, with the new D3200.

Nikon D3200

Have to admit, not sure about 24MP for most casual users.  6MP is the most thats needed for most people but the megapixel race continues.  The D700 and D3(s) models showed you can get amazing results with lower pixel counts, but technology continues forward.

They also announced a new lens, the 28mm f/1.8, and its full frame.  Now to me wide angle for 35mm photography starts at 24mm, so Nikon if your listening can I have a D800 with your 24mm f/1.4 to test, pretty please?

Posted on

Austin 7 – 90th Birthday

Austin 7

On Sunday I had a trip to Hartsholme Park, the main reason was a couple of Landscape shots I wanted to get (report to come once I have developed the film)!

When I arrive I was surprised to see lots of Austin 7’s arriving.  After I took my landscape shots I headed over to the cars to take a few shots.

I took one on my Ebony 5×4 Large Format Camera, possibly not the best choice! Also a few with my old trust Nikon FM2 which had some Black & White film loaded.  I also took the shot above with my trust Nikon V1, shot in RAW and then processed in Lightroom V3 and converted to Black & White.  I really seem to be in a Black & White mood at the moment.

It turned out they were all having a drive out and meet up to celebrate the Austin 7’s 90th Birthday.  A lovely old car and very photogenic.

Posted on

Weather and Biking

Being a small group of islands with the Atlantic on one side and the North Sea on the other, the weather is hard to predict and often very varied.  Recently we had record temperatures for the time of year, then last week it was cold and wet.

This morning looking out the window we saw some light snow coming down!  On with the thermals under the biker gear before jumping onto the bike for our morning commute.  Then tonight on the way home, lovely warm sunshine illuminating the fields of bright yellow oil sea rape filling the fields.

Its it difficult to know what to wear on the bike.  Luckily my Rallye Motorcycle suite more then copes with whatever we encounter.

Posted on

a Good Run – but a Wicked Reward

After the ill health of last year, both of us are trying hard to get fit again this year.  Tonight marked a small milestone in that we managed a good long run and a personal best for Caroline.  Not very impressive for any real runners but for none runners like us getting started again a good and well achieved milestone.

After the run to celebrate we dropped into the fish and chip shop for a treat.  Well a little now again does you no harm.  Once home we had a shower and a cold beer.

Yes I know we probably added back all the calories we had just run off, but for now we are still in training to get to the level where we can seriously run some distance, three times a week and really get the calories burnt off.

Posted on

Film Processing – a New Semi Automatic Home Unit

For film users it’s been a lean few years on the film and print developing front. High street shops that develop and print film are becoming few and far between, and those that still exist only process 35mm print film.

Nikon V1

A few specialist mail order companies still offer E6, and Black & White for 35mm, Medium Format and Large Format, but these are cutting there services. The local one I use has just stopped processing Black & White for Large Format 10 x 8.

I like many old film users have the equipment for manual processing of 35mm Black & White film, but I do not have the means for Colour or Medium and Large Format.

It’s been over twenty years since a new home processing unit was release and in 2010 the last unit available was discontinued.

I would like to shoot more Black & White film for Medium and Large Format but good quality processing is getting harder and harder to find, so in the last two weeks I have been researching my options.

Manual processing is still an option and you can still pick up Patterson, Jobo processing tanks as well as solutions like BTZS but I would prefer a temperature controlled semi automatic system that can handle colour too.

There have been rumours recently that Jobo may be about to go into production with a new model this year.  The prices of old second hand units has been climbing in the last twelve months, and they now cost more then they did new.  Checking out their website, I looked up their UK distributed and dropped them an email. Their reply was prompt and promising; I was please to find out that Jobo are currently gauging interest and are looking at putting a new model into production this summer for an autumn release.  Its unlikely to be cheap but it should mean that secondhand prices should drop and new spares are also soon to be coming.

Jobo Semi Auto Film & Print Processor

Its interesting that Fuji has been releasing new films and new film medium format cameras yet companies like Kodak have been cutting back.  Let’s hope films revival continues and more film related products get released.