Family, Photography and other misc news
For the later part of this winter, between the recent snows we now are seeing the odd warm sunny day.
Being able to walk in the sunshine and take a few pictures has been extremely pleasant.
So far as we are still in lockdown, so the walks have been just myself and Ted the Greyhound. Hopefully when lock down ends the Lincolnshire Greyhound Walks group will be able to restart and we can have some nice walks through the countryside of Lincolnshire.
Its not something I do often, but with software advances, it can sometimes be interesting to take old photographs; the original raw images, and re-edit them in the latest software.
Lightroom has come a long way since I last edited this black and white set of Candy, that I took at Worksop Studio back in 2007.
Most of these were processed in an early Adobe Camera RAW. Fourteen years is a long time in software development and the improvements were considerable. It was also interesting to see how I have developed as a photographer. I feel my work now is of a considerable higher standard.
With the COVID-19 lockdown version 3 here in the UK, the only photography I have been doing is when taking the hound for a walk.
My little Leica M10 is a great walk around camera, small and light.
According to the governments new schedule we are coming out of lock down and will be able to shoot again in the studio from the middle of April, so I have started to book some models. These are shoots that I cancelled from the end of year shoots.
Leica M10
Leica Summilux-M 1:1.4/50 Asph 50mm f/1.4
50mm, 1/250 Sec at f/4, ISO200
Post Processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic V10
Being able to correct perspective is not not new. Its been a feature in programs like Adobe’s Lightroom for a while, which I have blogged about before.
Leica are not always thought of as being the most high tech of camera companies. People forget that they invented 35mm photography, autofocus and the first full frame mirrorless professional mirrorless camera the SL (I know Sony users are going to argue that one).
The latest firmware update brought about perspective control in camera, when in live view can preview what its doing. If you shoot jpeg then its baked into the file, but RAW shooters will find the correction added into the DNG data fields that you can choose to use or not in Lightroom.
Unfortunately the original Leica M10 does not support this feature as its missing a key piece of hardware the horizontal level sensor, but if you have a M10P or the new Monochrom its available now as a firmware update.
For people like me there is always post production in Lightroom so no hardship.
While reading up on the new L mount 28mm lens from Leica, and its quite a lens, I saw that Leica had released a new update for my camera the M10.
As I have frequently mentioned smaller companies like Leica and Fuji are very good at supporting their old cameras. Remember to keep checking for updates.
While I shoot professionally, mainly corporate and events plus model portfolios and the odd wedding I also try to have a walk around Lincoln at least a couple of times a week.
Its a very photogenic little city.
I often have a number of projects on the go, my main ones are drinks and doors at the moment, plus people on the on the phone, but I also have a lamp post and signs project. Simple little projects like this give you a focus when you are lacking in direction.
Its an easy thing to do and can lead to some interesting future ideas and keeps your interest when you need some inspiration.
Leica M10
Leica Summilux-M 1:1.4/50 Asph 50mm f/1.4
50mm, 1/90 Sec at f/16, ISO1600
Post Processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic V10
With us back in lockdown due to COVID-19 my studio shoots are all cancelled again. This was a quick snap of one of our house plants.
So last month I started to book photography shoots for January, only a few as things were not looking good on the COVID-19 infection rate.
As expected after Christmas Day we had a full lock down. I had not anything booked for the first week of January but was hoping to start working after that. Instead I spent last week canceling shoots again.
I’ll be doing some initial planning for February and I do support the lock down but I feel sorry for the small businesses and self employed, for them this is very hard.
There are few iconic camera shops left and I saw in AP (Amateur Photographer) today that we are losing another one.
Richard Caplan has now closed the specialist Leica and Hasselblad dealer. I’ll be sad to seem them go.
I was worried about Robert White’s but following his death the shop has kept going and remains a wonderful Aladdin’s cave of items.
With the internet one can fine difficult items but often only if you know what you are looking for. These older specialist shops had staff who knew their craft and could really help you out. Its going to be tough for shops like this in the future but I hope they can keep going.