Category: Family

The Shetland Islands are some of the most beautiful islands in the British Isles. The easy way of getting there is to fly and to hire a car. We did it the hard way, a long drive up on day one, stopping at Kinross.

Day two was and easy drive to Aberdeen where we caught the over night ferry to Lerwick, the modern capital of the Shetlands.

Once on board we found some comfy recliner arm chairs and made ourselves at home.

The ferry was due to depart at 19.00 that night. Just before we set sail I headed up on deck with the Leica M8 and the 35mm Summicron.

I photographed a few structural items on deck and also took a few shots of Aberdeen with my iPhone which I tweeted (@r1chardbwrn).

As the ship started to sail we had quite a crowed join us on the top deck, as well as photographing the city, disappearing into the distance and setting sun, I photographed some of my fellow passengers as we watched the city disappear over the horizon.

I thought the people on board made more interesting subjects then the scenery.

When we took the ferry from the Isle of Skye to the Outer Hebrides I took the SLR, long lens and monopod, this time with it being an overnight ferry to the Shetlands, the big lens and SLR’s were safely tucked away in the boot (trunk to our American Friends) of the car. I spent the crossing trying to photograph the puffins. So this time my subjects were the ship, crew and passengers.

That evening I once again backed up my shots to my iPad and added keyword and metadata information to them using the PhotoSmith App. Time to sleep and rest ready for our arrival on the Island.

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.

Once 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.

Here at the Brown Household we are starting to get ready for our Spring Holidays/Landscape Photography Trips.

We have two Spring Holidays planned, one to the Forest of Dean and one to the Shetland Islands.

Part holiday but also part photography trip, so we will be taking the car and not the motorcycle, so we will not be to limited with regard to what equipment we can take.

The primary shooting is going to be Landscape so i’ll be taking the Large Format Ebony.

The secondary shooting will be be wildlife, so DSLR’s with lens up to 300mm will be needed.

Ferrys and hotels are now all booked so now its just a matter of research to try and locate some likely spots to visit to see if they are suitable.

Always exciting and certainly as far as the Shetland Islands, its the first time we have been there so should prove a new experience.

After the Sunday at Boutham Park shooting wildlife, I have spent the last week in bed with a rather bad chest infection.  Not only did the boss send me home on the Monday but even the Doctor sent me to Hospital to get checked out further.

So most of last weeks Blog entries were all pre-written posts as I have spent the time asleep in bed.

This Monday I am now starting to feel better and i’ll be heading back to work on Tuesday now that I can face staring at a computer screen without my head exploding.

I am going to be thinking hard about what I am going to photography this year.  With this I’ll be considering my lens and where I have gaps in my current selection.

I have two trips planned so far, both landscape and wildlife focussed.  The first is a trip to the Forrest of Dean, the second which we will be planning over the next few weeks is a trip to the Shetland Islands.

For the Landscape I have the gear and equipment I need but will lookout for mild large format telephoto, possibly 200-300mm range.  For the SLR, I am going to keep my eye out for something a little longer then my 70-200mm f/2.8 and possibly add another teleconverter.

So here as I finishing writing this with one last coughing fit over the keyboard, i’ll also add one more lens into the mix, possibly a Leica 90mm.

 

Lens to consider this year.

Large format:

210mm or 300mm f/5.6

Digital SLR:

300mm f/2.8 or f/4

200mm /f2

Range Finder:

50mm f/2

90mm f/2