Richard

November 29, 2011December 7, 2011

Motorcycle Commute in Cold Weather

There was definitely a chill in the air yesterday morning on the commute in. Luckily the commute is fairly short. Just long enough to enjoy without getting to cold.

Today with modern motorcycling clothing we are very lucky in that cold weather is not to much of an issue as long as the roads are clear and ice free. For longer journeys electrical assistance may be required. Since my first ever winter on a bike I have had heated grips fitted on all my bikes.

Here is hoping for mild winter but as long as the roads remain clear we will be commuting by Motorcycle.

Keep it rubber side down.

November 28, 2011August 31, 2012

Film Day

Today 35mm film is just about dead. I shoot a roll of 35mm in my Nikon FM2n about once a year, but even most die-hard film users will admit digital has replaced film for 35mm users.

Most of my pictures are taken with my trusty Nikon Digital SLR’s, but when I shoot Medium Format or Large Format I still use film.

In the medium format and large format worlds, things are still a little more film centric. With full frame digital SLR’s getting so good now, many medium format users moved down a format to full frame digital 35mm SLR. Some stayed with film or bought the still very expensive digital backs. For others they moved up a format, to large format, where today film is still king.

Its great to hear that over the last couple of years, film sales have stopped decreasing and have actually increased, especially for black and white users. Even 35mm black and white sales are increasing.

Many new photographers are enjoying the experience of developing film for the first time. I have to admit it is quite good fun, though I have not developed my own film now for nearly ten years.

While developing film is experiencing a resurgence, printing still seems to be in decline. While developing a film is relatively easy, and no dark room is required thanks to tools like my own trusty Paterson Development Tanks, printing in the dark room is much harder, and can takes years to master to produce consistent high quality prints.

Today, once you have got your negative then once again digital takes over. Negatives are scanned and then the modern computer printer produces the final print.

This month I shot two rolls of Medium Format 120 Fuji Velva, and on Saturday I got the results back. I have to admit, its a bit like Christmas opening the packages.

I was extremely pleased with the results, and my metering skills are certainly improving. I look forward to my next film day with some anticipation.

November 25, 2011

Autumn Watch Comes to an End

Tonight was the last episode of Autumn Watch. If your a wildlife photographer, BBC’s Spring Watch.& Autumn Watch is well worth watching. Lots of tips about wildlife, lots of inspiration and lots of great imagery.

Looking forward Spring Watch next year.

November 24, 2011

Family News – Parents update

Just a quick note to update the family.

Richard’s Mum is on another Holiday. A Turkey and Tinsal affair, much fun and amusement.

Caroline’s Father is out of hospital and back home after his knee operation.

After week, of Landscape Photography, its been great this week to be on the bike again. Apart from a bit of fog in the mornings, its been great to have a ride every morning and night.

I have also managed a studio shoot this week. I have only managed to give them a quick look so far, as I have some wedding photographs to finish up and the shots from last week to process.

Its very busy but at least the wedding season is now over so no more weddings to photograph.

November 22, 2011November 23, 2011

Nikon 1 Lens Firmware Update

I see Nikon has released new firmware for their lens in the Nikon 1 range, I will be waiting a few more days before I update.

Nikon say the updates correct incorrect aperture reporting and an issue with VR on the 10-100mm Power Zoom.

November 21, 2011

Back to Normal

Today saw us back to the usual daily commute. I had missed the bike, its definitely my favourite form of transport. With the previous week concentrating on Landscape Photography, we had to use car, its just not practical to take Landscape photographs without a tripod, and I have yet to work out how to carry safely a large heavy tripod on a motorcycle.

November 18, 2011November 20, 2011

At the sea side

We spent today on the beach, photographing details by the sea.

It became quite a challenge, the light was changing fast, and we had a rapidly rising high tide. There were a number photographs that I had pre-visualised; and today we had the potential combination of weather and tide to try and capture them.

The weapon of choice, my lovely old Hasselblad, 80mm f/2.8 lens and Lee Polariser.

Setting up with the camera on my heavy tripod, I had very little time to meter the scene, determine the black point, white point, work out the dynamic range and set my exposure. I took a quick shot and had to retreat rapidly as the water started to lap at the tripod legs.

Sometimes the light and situation can last for just a few seconds, you have to have your camera technique and metering down pat, practice, practice and practice.

With any form of photography, a compact, SLR, Medium or Large Format, you need to practice and know your equipment well.

Many people blame their equipment, and use that as an excuse to buy a new camera, often it’s just that we’re not fully conversant with our equipment.

November 17, 2011November 17, 2011

People, Birds and Boats

Yesterday and today was quite a mix photographically.

We first headed off to Southwold Harbour to catch the early light.

Here I undertook a number of studies of the old fishermen’s boats and huts. I used a mix of medium format and small format shots using my Medium Format Hasselblad and my Small Format Nikon 1.

Later in the day we headed to another small coastal town of Aldburgh and after a sausage, bacon and egg sandwich we headed to the beach to photograph the boats and some of the more interesting buildings and people in the town.

We ended the day at the RSPB Reserve, Minsmere, SLR’s and long lens were a must. A much more speedy form of photography then the medium format landscapes and architecture shots we had been taking earlier.

November 15, 2011November 15, 2011

A cracking day out

Did you get the Wallace & Gromit quote, now I will admit this is a very tenuous link but we are about to go out to the local village pub and we are are both looking forward to a fine cheese board.

Now what has that to do with photography. Well nothing really, but I am in a silly mood, and it has been a cracking day out.

The early part of the morning was spent photographing Blythburgh Church, in the glorious autumn sunshine. I hope to have captured a number of rather nice medium format images. There were one or two shots that would have been ideal for either a large format technical camera with full movements, or a Nikon D3x with the tilt & shift wide angle. Unfortunately I only had my medium format Hasselblad and Nikon 1 to hand.

The afternoon saw us visiting Wickham Market, they have a nice tea-shop, but far more importantly they have a quilt shop, where Caroline was able to indulge in some fabric buying.

To finish the day, we headed back to Southwold where we photographed the Pier as the sun quickly set. It was quite challenging, the meter readings were changing by about a stop a minute, and shooting medium format, with filters and a handheld spot meter is not the fastest form of photography. Under the rapidly changing conditions I only had time for one shot before the best of the light disappeared.

November 13, 2011November 13, 2011

Medium Format – a Pier Study

I enjoy photography in all it’s forms, but the man made landscape and model photography are definitely my favourite two.

Today we spent the day in the lovely sea side town of Southwold. I seemed to be in a black and white mood, and spent time looking for shots that would suit.

Most of these shots were taken with the Nikon 1.

In the late afternoon as the sun started to sink we headed over to the Pier and the big tripod and Hasselblad came out.

The shot I really wanted was not possible due to some building alterations that had taken place, but I am going to re-think it and try a slightly different version at low tide, but I got a number of what I hope will be good shots once developed.

The best shot of the day was taken by Caroline, I’ll leave you with that.