No real post tonight, but please check out the picture of the month Categories as I have been playing catch up and posted a few of my older photos from last year. Have a look and enjoy.
Weather Protection
I would not class the BMW R1200GS as a tourer but it does make a very good one, in fact better then most so called tourers. I also have not really considered the weather protection it offers. The standard GS has that large screen and slightly bulbous tank but thats hardly a full fairing.
Today I dropped off the GS at the local BMW dealer for its 18000 mile service and a new rear tire. In return they have lent me the F800GS, a baby GS if you will, which has a bikini faring. The difference in the weather protection on the two bikes was like night and day.
I had felt warm and cosseted on the big GS, but wind and cold soon had be shivering on the ride home on the little GS.
It really has re-enforced for me what a truly great bike the big R1200GS is. Comfort is right up there with the best, and for someone like me who rides nearly every day no matter what the weather this is important.
If your after a small fun motorcycle give the F800GS a try, its a fun bike but not one for winter!
Photo of the Month – January
http://www.brown-family.org.uk/photo/index.htm
Nikon D200 SLR
Nikor 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5
29mm, 1/80 Sec at f/8, ISO100
Processed in Adobe Lightroom V3.3
On a Mac MacBook Pro, OS-X 10.6.6
Birthdays
Congratulations to Sofia on her fourth birthday. We had a little party and family get together. Oh and lots of cake, jelly and trifle.
A final day in North Yorkshire
Well today Friday was our last day.
On the Wednesday, we took a trip up to a region of North Yorkshire popular with a number of famous Landscape Photographers, near Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale. I have to admit whilst not travelling too far I managed to get a number of pictures I am pleased with. We also visited the oldest sweet shop in England.
Thursday was a trip to Scarborough, I got some good shots of Scarborough Castle.
Today, Friday, was our final day, so we decided on one more castle to visit. The morning was spent walking around Helmsley Castle. With the low winter sun, illuminating the castle it was well worthwhile carrying around the medium format kit, tripod and Digital SLR.
Carrying all of this around really makes me think about getting a high quality large sensor compact camera. Then when I want to haul around medium or large format equipment, i’ll just use the compact for reference shots with potential.
Afterwards we treated ourselves to a cafe latte and a slice of quiche, wow the slice of quiche was huge. If you ever in Helmsley try the Castlegate Cafe.
Of course did we get any good pictures in this week? Well I certainly found some great locations, well worth going back to, but you will have to wait for my picture of the month.
I would say that the light improved as the week went on and as the light improved so did the pictures.
a Saturday Photo Shoot
Well instead of work or a commercial shoot, today was a shoot for personal pleasure.
I had a new location to test, and a few ideas, and lighting experiments to try.
Ashleigh was my nominated victim. A local model who was willing to put up with my tests, these involved various shoots indoors and some outdoor shots. She put up with everything wonderfully, including getting soaking wet and having to pose outdoors in a cold January morning.
Tip to other photographers, if your using a light weight light-stand, even if there is no wind, use a sand bag. It does not take much to whip a brolly away! Also size matters, use the biggest brolly or soft-box you can, it really makes a big difference.
I certainly learned a lot, and am glad I pushed my lighting limits a little further. Pushing myself meant I got some bad images too, but I also got some great images, thanks Ashleigh, hope to shoot with you again, but this time when its a little warmer.
Preparation
Tomorrow I have a half day’s shoot, a mix of location and studio.
The Studio is booked and so is the model, I now have less then 24 hours left. What should I be doing, what should you do to prepare for your shoots.
Well, for a paid shoot, my preparation starts at least a month in hand, for weddings sometimes over a year in advanced.
Tomorrow is just a simple test shoot but still preparation is key. Obviously at this point the studio is all booked, location checked out and the model booked, what else should you consider.
Well, communication with the studio and model, all should continue. I generally drop the studio and the model(s) an email a week before and the day before. Just to ensure everything is clear. Times, addresses, shot list, themes, clothes list. Also contact details. My email and phone number, the studio’s / location’s address, meeting points etc.
Equipment is important, and should start at least week in advance. Check and clean everything, decide on what lens, what format’s. For this shoot I will be shooting APS-C cropped DSLR and medium format. The Digital SLR’s will be a pair of Nikon D200, perfectly adequate for this. A wide angle zoom, a fast f/1.4 standard lens, a 105mm portrait lens and a standard fast f/2.8 zoom and telephoto zoom. The medium format will be a Hassleblad, with standard lens and two backs.
The lens I have chosen with the shot list in mind. I will also be taking two light meters, a heavy tripod, light stand and brolly with infrared trigger.
A week before the equipment was all checked, batteries all charged. It was at this point I realised one of the batteries for Nikon D200 was starting to not hold its charge, so a trip to the local camera shop was planned, and I purchased a replacement.
The shot list was all written down as was the clothes list, and provided to the model, there is also a few items I will be providing, so tonight as well as packing the camera bags, and lighting bag, a prop bag was also packed. Things like fans, glasses, hats, etc.
For the IT geeks like me there are computer applications to assist. I use the simple PhotoAssist. This is a useful little app for the iPhone and iPad that enables you to create equipment lists, prop lists etc. I have custom lists for things like Nature, Portrait, Weddings and Travel. This list the common things I need for things like these.
If there is any advice I can offer it is just this. Communicate, ensure all parties know exactly what is required of them and when. Have your equipment ready; cleaned, checked and know how to use it.
If you do not know your equipment, then you cannot focus on the picture. Remember your equipment and how to use it, should all be second nature to you. All your attention should be focused on getting the image and keeping your model engaged, and happy to work hard with you to get the image.
Studio Flash with a Hotshoe Flashgun
Using your hotshoe flash in your camera hotshoe is about the worst way of using it. Getting off camera is the best way, but how to do that. Well if you happen to have a light-stand you can use the method I use.
I recently purchased a Lastolite Tilthead with hotshoe. Its a way of getting studio quality light thats easy and portable.
This on top of a light-stand enables you to attach a normal camera flash gun. It also allows you to attach a standard brolly. With this simple setup you can get studio quality light with very little cost. It certainly does not have the power of studio flash but can produce great results.
A weekend Photo shoot – final planning
I was hoping to get out for a landscape and wildlife shoot this weekend but the weather was not really up to it.
Next Saturday I have a location shoot planned. The goal is to test a new location and try a few lighting ideas I have that involve in-door and out-door lighting.
I have emailed the model with details and a list of clothes required, the few outfits she does not have she is going to try and get this week, which is very nice of her. Now I am just completing the prop list and finalising the shot list.
Heres hoping for good weather, as it is intended to be a mix of indoor and outdoor work. The indoor work will be using full studio flash. For the outdoor work I will be using fill-in flash.
Later in the week i’ll clean and check over my equipment, ensure the batteries are charged and ensure the location and model are still ready to go.
I am really looking forward to it. If all goes well with the test, I have a number of plans for the location this summer, but I need a good summers day and may need also to practise my high speed fill in flash techniques.
Thinking of the next bike holiday
Well thats the first full week of work over for the new year.
Work was very busy as usual, and the weather much warmer, it made the commute on the bike quite a delight. Almost too warm for our winter biking clothes.
We have not planned any bike holiday’s yet this year. For the last two years our major holidays have been on the bike but this year were planning something a little different. A week on a remote Scottish Island, we cannot wait. So over the last few days we have been thinking about long weekend bike breaks. A nice full days ride, a day of sightseeing and then a ride home.
So where to go? Well currently thinking of Wales, but North Yorkshire and Northumbria are also on the shortlist.