Author: Richard

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Office Planning

With the house move now complete, though we still have stuff in storage, I have started to think about planning my office.

Gulls over Ice

While having breakfast yesterday morning, I was enjoying the view of the Blackbirds darting into the Yew Bushes. It made me think about the Photographer Moose Peterson. He has a long lens mounted on the side of his desk and a view straight out into his garden.

With the right desk positioning I may be able to set up something similar. I’ll certainly be get my office and desk straight before even thinking about the studio space.

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Is Film Over?

Kings Cross, Leica M4, Film HP5Plus
Kings Cross, Leica M4, Film HP5Plus

People are often surprised to find out that I still use film.

I sometimes shoot 35mm film on my Nikon FM2 and my Leica M4 for fun.

I shoot landscapes on my medium format Hasselblad and my Large Format 4 x 5 Ebony, both of which I still use film.

Its a bit like an artist using watercolour or oils to paint with, some artists use one, some the other and still some, both. As a photographer I mainly shoot digital but film for me has a place too.

While the selection of films is gradually reducing, film use is growing, and some film manufactures are increasing their production.

Today Kodak came out of Chapter 11, they are back in business. Film users are worried but I think there is still hope. We have to admit film now is always going to a small niche product and I am not hopeful for colour but I think Black & White has a bright future.

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Make your own Coffee

Inventors Blend

 

I have to admit to being a bit of a coffee geek.  In the office I make good coffee with an aeropress, I hand grind all my coffee fresh each morning.  At home I tend to use a Chemex but also sometimes a Kalita pourover, and when the mood takes me even a Turkish Hob Coffee pot.

I like to support the local coffee roaster but also buy coffee mail order from great online shops like Hasbean.

Recently Hasbean have being doing monthly specials, coffee blends that are a bit risky, a bit different, some you will love some you will hate but always different and educational to the palette.

This month they are being different again and offering you the chance to make your own blend, four very different beans, which you can mix to produce your own, looks like I am going to have a fun month!

 

 

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PhotoRaw

Macbook Air -topRAW processing has always been the preserve of the standard computer not the modern tablet which is viewed as a consumption device and not a device for actual work.  I have for a while wanted a RAW processor for the iPad but have always been disappointed with what is available, even Apple’s own iPhoto for the iPad can not handle RAW files.

iPad Mini

The best solution has been SnapSeed but now I have discovered PhotoRaw. SnapSeed, while it claims to be a RAW processor is not, it actually allows you to edit the imbedded JPeg used for imaging previewing, which is how most apps like Apple’s own iPhoto for the iPad works.  Now for many this is not an issue, and for many of todays top cameras one can configure the size and nature of the jpeg.

While many of these are not a bad solution, I wanted the real deal for when I am away on photography trips traveling light with the iPad.  I also wanted a solution that did not impact too much on my normal work flow.

When shooting in certain situations I shoot RAW + JPG with the jpeg set to Black & White. When I import these into Adobe Lightroom I thus get the full colour RAW plus a Black & White image. I can then quickly compare and decide if I want a colour or Black & White final image and edit the RAW accordingly.

The problem is working like this is not an option on the iPad as it only sees the imbedded jpg.  Thus I only get to work with the Black & White image.  So if I want to work on the iPad I either needed to change my work flow and camera settings or find a better iPad app.

With the release of Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe demonstrated Lightroom running on an iPad and syncing back to your normal Lightroom database via the Cloud.

While this looks good, it’s still early days and there is yet no release date. Well now I have PhotoRaw and for once this does exactly what it states, real RAW processing.  The initial import can be slow but once that is complete and the RAW has been rendered one can then do basic editing, export a jpeg of the size, quality and crop you want and at that point take it into, the iPad’s iPhoto, Snapseed or Photoshop Touch (insert your favourite editing software here), and do the final editing.  Like many iPad apps its not a single solution but requires other apps, and once back home you will have to re-import the RAW and re-edit potentially.

I’ll give it good test on my next major photo trip and post more on what I thought.  Long term I think if Adobe can pull off Lightroom on the iPad and seamless syncing back to the desktop with the Creative Cloud, then for professional travel photographers that will be the solution to go for if you can put up with Adobe’s monthly fees.

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Tintern Abbey

I have photographed Tintern Abbey on two previous occasions. The first was on a major motorcycle tour where we visited each of the major points of the Island that is Great Britain. The first time I took a few snaps on a dull day. The second time was bright midday sun. Neither was conductive to great photography but I managed some pleasing reference shots.

Today the goal was to try and a get a good shot with the large format Ebony. I thought the best option was from the English side of the river. Yesterday I had tried to find a spot with the car but that proved impossible.

Tintern Abbey

So today we had a long walk. We parked up at the Abbey and walked to the nearest bridge. On crossing I had hoped to be able to photograph the Abbey from the East bank but the bank was private property so the only option was to climb the tree lined valley side.

We kept on climbing but the trees kept obscuring the view back to the Abbey.

We knew from a previous visit and asking local people that some fine views could be had from a viewpoint called the Devils Pulpit but were unsure as to what it looked down on and exactly how far it was.

We kept on climbing and despite the difficult terrain and having to carry the large format camera equipment an a big heavy series five Gitzo tripod we eventual found ourselves at the viewpoint called the devils pulpit.

It did in deed have fine views of the river and of the Abbey so I set up to photograph it. It would have been better with a telephoto lens but the longest lens I current own for the Ebony is a standard 150mm. Still with the rocks that made up the Devils Pulpit I had a bit of foreground interest.

Once I get the film developed I’ll blog about this shoot some more but the climb was worth while.

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Enjoying Hay-on-Wye

Our first major trip out on our Photography tour of the South West saw us heading out to Hay-on-Wye. First stop was to the North East, English side of the River Wye. I was trying to find a clear view point towards Tintern Abbey. There was a road that according to the map had possibility. We eventually found it but the road quickly deteriorated to the point that only a four wheel drive vehicle could continue so we had too head back.

Books BoughtOnce back on the main road we headed to Hay-on-Wye. A small town in Wales but quite a capital of books. We explored its streets where nearly every other shop sells books.

Books are quite a vice for the both of us and far to often indulge our passion. I managed to accomplish quite a coup and managed to purchase a first Edition 1935 Leica Manual. Not the typical manual but a hard back book nearly 500 pages detailing all aspects of the Leica system.

I also managed to find in one particular fine and beautiful book shop two books from a set of three I have been after for a long time.

The master of Black & White Ansel Adams wrote three books, one called ‘The Camera’, one called ‘The Negative’ and one called ‘The Print’. One of the shops had the first two. The staff in the shop were extremely knowledgable and one of them was also a Leica M user so we had a good talk about the Leica System. He had the M9 and was thinking about purchasing a M7.

Being the owner myself of a Leica M4 and a Leica M8 I find them quite complimentary. In fact I would love to add a film MP and. Leica Monochrom.

Walking the streets of Hay-on-Wye I enjoyed immensely exploring its shops and taking snaps of the scenes that emerged before me.

As a portable travel camera the Leica is ideal. If you like the range finder experience and manual focus the enjoyment if using such a precision instrument is truly a joy and makes photography a true artistic passion and pursuit.

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Whisky – other brands

I love Whisky and I think there is a Whisky for everyone, from delicate drinks like Dalwhinnie to heavy peaty drinks like Lagavulin.

Last Monday I visited the Whisky Shop in Lincoln. I had a few questions about English spirits, particularly English vodka which is getting a quite a following.

I have to say the staff are extremely knowledgable and also very quick to offer samples if your interested in a particular drink.

If your into spirits and not just Whisky the I recommend you give them a try.

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a ‘New’ Razor

Shaving Kits
My Mercer 34C Shaving Kit

I was having to work on Saturday so Caroline went shopping on her own. I was surprised and pleased to find she had bought me a present.

In its original case a DE Razor made in England. That evening I started my research to find out more about it.

The razor came in three parts, the head and open comb was soon identified as a Long Open Comb and Twin Pin. The bottom plate was soon identified as a Raised Flat Bottom.

The raised flat bottom was available from 1933 to 1945. The Twin Pin plate was dated to 1933 to 1939.  The handle was a Ball end hollow end cap, which dates from 1930 to 1939, which means the kit can be dated from 1933 to 1939.

A little more research on the case that it all came in, finally identified it as a British Service issue set number 44 circa 1933 and the razor itself is a Gillette New Long Open Comb, Made in England.

Its amazing the quality of information available on some sites and the detail some collectors go to.

Gillette New, Long Open Comb - made in England
Gillette New, Long Open Comb – made in England

After switching last year from a ‘normal’ cartridge shaver to an old fashioned DE (Double Edged) Razor, I have found the condition of my skin improving and I am enjoying the ritual of old fashion shaving.

We are going on holiday soon and I did wonder whether or not to buy a small travel razor, well thanks to my lovely wife I now have a wonderful 1930’s DE razor perfect for travel.

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Only One Camera

Recently on Twitter there has been a discussion running about which camera, more particularly if you were limited to just one camera for the next ten years. No changing and no upgrading, what camera would you pick.

Because a lot of photographers in the discussion were Landscape Photographers there was a lot of bias towards the Larger formats and using film, but I though it an interesting question.
Hasselblad in the Bag
Because my Photography a mixture of genrers it’s difficult to pick a single camera. I would either have to pick a compromise or give up some genre of photography.

I found it very interesting that the top choices were for cameras like the old Bronica and Hassleblad and also for the brave the Ebony 10 x 8.

Certainly very good choices for the Landscape Photographers and the Bronica and Hassleblad also make good choices for studio photographers but for most of us not every day cameras.