The leaves are turning but they are also dropping fast.
The weather is really starting to turn now, and as I mentioned a few weeks ago, the leaves are changing to a wonderful golden colour. One good windy day and it will see the wind strip the leaves from the trees like in the photograph above. The first chance I get, if we have the right light, I need to get and capture it before its too late.
I took a walk into town today and already many pavements (sidewalks) are covered with golden leaves and some trees are looking remarkably bare. I hope I have not left it too long. An early morning trip to Hartsholme Park might be required on Saturday morning.
This morning while everyone was waiting for the expected announcement of Apple’s iPad mini. I sat down and wrote the first half of this blog post, with what I though would be announced and my thoughts.
I have a full sized iPad so the mini does not interest me, I was more interested to see if the new iTunes would be announced, it is more then due a rewrite. Originally just a program to manage your music, its grown into a media manager to look after your songs, music videos, movies, books and even games. An extensive shop and lets not forget podcasts,radio, and iTunes U.
The other thing I was hoping for was an announcement of the 13″ Retina MacBook, while also a product I am not interested in, the smaller retina screen and whatever graphics hardware is needed to drive it, is something I would like to see in the smaller 11″ Air.
So tonight I fired up the iPad and watched the live stream of the event.
First up was the new iBooks, this was not a surprise as the new ePub standard was announced earlier in the week.
Then the new 13″ MacBook; tempting for travel but for now I am going to hold out for a MacBook Air. No updates to the Air though, hope there going to get the retina screen soon. Even if I don’t buy that it will mean I might get the current version cheaper.
A bit of a surprise was the new iMac, lots of improvements but the lack of a DVD drive may put some off.
Then the big surprise of the night an updated iPad, basically the hardware from the iPhone5 but with even more Graphics performance.
Then the main event the iPad Mini. Not as cheap as people were expecting but then Apple do not do cheap they try and do quality!
No announcement yet of the new iTunes but it is expected this month.
After our adventures earlier in the week where Andrew took me climbing, it was time to return the favour. Instead of climbing we went Kayaking at Outdoor Activities who are based at a gravel pit in South Hykeham, just a few miles outside Lincoln.
I had been Kayaking for the first time just a few weeks ago, so everything was fairly fresh in my mind but Andrew had not done anything like this for many years.
We met up in the car park and walked over to the office, where we was introduced to our instructor for the day Katie. We had a quick briefing and then we where quickly issues with our wetsuits.
Once suitably dressed it was time get into our Buoyancy aids and select our boats and paddles.
One thing I found with the previous Kayaking day, is that getting in is the second hardest part of Kayaking. The hardest part is getting out again!
We were a little tentative at first, the boats were shorter and a little more white water biased then the kayak I had tried out in a few weeks again, so tracking in a straight line was a little tricker.
It was not before we started to really enjoy ourselves, our instructor kept giving us instructions and advice, and we quickly improved by leaps and bounds. It took Andrew a little longer to get the feel of it, so the instructor arranged a swop and Andrew took the instructors slightly large boat out. This was much better and more stable out on the water.
It was a great time and we really enjoyed ourselves. At the end of the session the instructor gave us the option of trying out a practice capsize. As we were in wetsuits it seemed an idea time to give it a try.
It all sounded fairly simple. Tip over, reach forward and bang on the bottom of the boat three times to attract attention, then exit the boat and swim to shore or wait holding onto your boat until help arrives.
Andrew went first, and then it was my turn. It seemed to take forever but it was just a few seconds in total. On exiting the boat I somehow managed to take in a mouthful of water which was most unpleasant. As you can see in the shots above, I don’t look to happy after swimming back to the surface, but it was not as bad as it looked, though the water was cold!
We both swam back to shore, towing the boats back with us. Hauling them back onto the bank we emptied the boats but as we were having such a good time, despite now being very wet we headed back out for another paddle. The wetsuits kept us warm despite the cold water.
Despite the wet, the cold water, we had a great time; we are luckly in having two places locally to try out Kayaking and Canoeing, Outdoor Activities and Lincoln Canoe Club. If your serious about paddling regularly then Lincoln Canoe Club is the best option but if you only want to go occasionally then Outdoor Activities are the better choice.
Over the last few years we have been slowly visiting each of the main habitable islands that make up the British Isle’s and photographing them.
Last year we visited the Isle of Skye again (one of our favourite Islands) but also spent a week exploring the Isle of Lewis and Harris.
When shooting film, sometimes you are very pleased with the results, other times less so. I find whether shooting digital or film, its often worth revisiting a photograph months later, when the emotional side of taking the photograph can no longer influence you.
Sometimes you want to like a photograph because of the effort it took to take it. The above shots are a little like this.
There was quite an effort to get down to the coast and setup for 4:30 in the morning to be ready for the dawn. When the results came back I was a little disappointed, all that effort for not a very good result.
I reviewed these shots again, and this time I liked them.
Its interesting what time can do to your opinions on photography and on life.
This week I got try something new, indoor climbing. The idea of roping up and climbing, taking the risk of having a fall; the physical challenge and the mental challenge was not something I had thought of trying.
A good friend wanted to give it a try and ideally you need a climbing partner for safety, so I volunteered to go with him for the two 90 minute training sessions.
Andrew booked us both on two sessions, Tuesday and Wednesday night this week at ‘The Show Room‘ on Tritton Road in Lincoln, the climbing centre there has the largest climbing wall in Lincolnshire.
Tuesday night was very safety focussed, learning the basic knots we would need, the figure of eight used to tie us in, and the stopper knot, but I am getting a head of myself.
Firstly we filled in the evaluation forms stating we had no health issues that would cause any problems, then it was time to get into our harnesses. The loan harness was not as sophisticated as most modern harnesses but while basic it would do the job. Next the safety helmet, and finally it was time to learn how to tie the first knot we would use.
If your interested there are some great videos on youtube but remember that watching a video is no subsitute for proper training.
The first knot we learnt was the figure eight, it was a quick and easy knot to learn but judging the length of the tail was the tricky part. With the figure eight tied, you then threaded the tail through the harness and then threaded the end again back thought the figure eight. The loose end is tied off with a stopper knot.
We both practiced this several times and then learnt to check each others knots.
The next part was the Belay. This is a simple device designed to add friction to the rope, thus if someone fell, then the person holding the end of the robe had a chance to stop your descent before you hit the ground. The belay device was attached to the climber staying on the ground via a screw locking carabiner.
Once we had practiced all of this it was time for the first proper climb. I went up first and I have to admit I found it fairly easy. Though the truth was I was using any handhold I could reach instead of following a particular colour coded route.
Coming back down again was more interesting, its certainly an exercise in trust. Checking that Andrew at the bottom was ready with both hands on the dead side of the rope it was time grab hold of the rope and lean back and as Andrew let out the rope I could simply walk down the wall.
It was then Andrews turn to climb. I found keeping the rope tight harder then the climbing, but I managed.
We practiced several times and the 90 minutes soon past.
Last night we had the second session, this time everything was done by us, while the instructor just watched. We put on our harnesses and safety hats, then tied in and I climbed first while Andrew handled the belaying. Then we swopped.
Our instructor happy with the way we were climbing then went on to explain about routes and we had a go at a class 4 then a class 5. It was then that climbing switched from being a physical challenge to a mental challenge, trying to figure out how to get up.
After 90 minutes we were both exhausted but satisfied, possibly a little high on adrenalin but feeling good about ourselves. The instructor announced himself happy and signed us off to climb together on our own, so it was two very tied beginner climbers who headed home.
Generally I shoot colour for clients, with a little Black & White. For myself its a mix, sometimes mainly colour, other times its all Black & White.
Often Black & White images for clients are now more of what I call, selective colour. Its a Black & White Image but some colour has been left in.
Its proving very popular exspecially for Weddings and if it sells then you do it.
I am in a very mixed mind set; not sure if I like it or not
If you click on the above two images you will be able to judge for yourself.
I shot these with my Leica M4 film camera with a Leica Summicron 35mm f/2. I used a colour film, and scanned the results. I suspected at the time that the image might look good in Black & White with a slight sepia tint, but the green bottles would also look good in colour.
Once I had the scans in Adobe Lightroom I produced a Black & White version and then decided to go the desaturated route, while taking out most of the colour, the green stayed fairly strong in the bottles, so I decided to make a feature of it.
Now I cannot decide what I like most. What do you think?
Now that I finally have a Leica M camera, it was time to see what the lens could do. They say that Leica M lens control the light well, even shooting into direct sunlight they handle the contrast and flare extremely well.
I currently own two Leica Lens, Leica 35mm Summicron f/2 and a Leica 24mm Elmar f/3.8.
This set was shot with the 35mm Summicron. Shots into the light work very well, and while it does desaturate the image, flare and contrast is controlled exceptionally well.
While the lens is a good performer stopped down, with the right subject, shooting wide open at f/2 is where you get that lovely dreamy Leica look that everyone wants.
I also took a few sports shots. The other weekend was the Saxilby 5k, and while most people were photographing the event with either Camera Phones, Compacts or SLR’s; I tried the unthinkable, the Leica M4 and a wide Angle lens. Not only that, I picked a shutter speed what would not freeze the movement, but would leave some image blur to the image.
I think they work extremely well. Using a camera that many consider much more restrictive then the 35mm DSLR certainly makes you think more about the photograph, and any mistakes or successes are certainly my own and not due to the electronics in the camera.
With Digital SLR’s now reaching 36 Mega Pixels, even phones over 10 MP, and Medium Format Backs reaching 80 MP, the question is often asked, how many MP do you need.
Picture of the Boat House by an early iPhone
Recently someone asked me if a 10 MP camera would be sufficient for taking pictures for a web site. Well I try and keep my images down to a 100kb for web use, to help keep the page loading fast, so any modern camera would do the job.
Thom Hogan recently published a stunning Landscape picture taken with the Nikon D1X, this was a 5.4 MP camera. While a little lacking in the dynamic range compared to modern cameras it did and still does do a tremendous job.
The question is what will be the end result be used for. Many fashion editors want good looking images for the web but then will also want the same image blown up to suit a billboard, in their situation, only Medium Format is good enough to give the detail, the dynamic range and the Mega Pixels to print big.
Hutton le Hole Church via a basic 6 MP Digital Compact
For home use, or people who never want to print bigger then A4, six Mega Pixels is enough.
After purchasing my Leica M4, I wanted a quality camera strap to go with it. I was torn between a wrist strap and a neck strap. Finally I went for a neck strap, but I may get a wrist strap later.
Looking around on the internet, the prices ranged from expensive to ridiculous. Did you know you can pay over £250 for a camera strap that has the Leica name on it!
I went for one of the cheaper straps I could find, still expensive but of very high quality. Its mentioned on a number of review sites and seemed well liked.
It arrived and was quickly fitted to my Leica M4. Its a quirky looking strap but very nice, and I think it looks great. I’ll be giving it a good test of the next few weeks as I intend to put through a number of rolls of film through my new Leica learning its quirks and follies. Its going to be fun.
Commuting into work this morning, ones hands really start to notice the coming of Winter. The chill of Autumn is now definitely here, and even with the hand protectors on the BMW R1200GS my hands are starting to notice the coming colder weather.
I have already started using the heated grips and soon i’ll be digging out my silk glove liners for added warmth.
Crossing the Ford
The other thing that is becoming more noticeable, is the change in colour coming to the deciduous trees. The blend of colours, from green, to yellow, and brilliant red is really giving the photographer in me lots of ideas. I feel a trip out to Hartsholme Park coming. I have a few ideas that I would like to try out.
The weather is really starting to turn now, and as I mentioned a few weeks ago, the leaves are changing to a wonderful golden colour. One good windy day and it will see the wind strip the leaves from the trees like in the photograph above. The first chance I get, if we have the right light, I need to get and capture it before its too late.
