Category: Photography

Back in the days of film, the system camera was a big thing. The camera was basically a box, you attached a back to it holding the film, and a lens and a viewfinder.

Ricoh made an attempt to make a modular digital camera, basically a body which you could then mount different sensor and lens combinations.

Now we have this from Sigma. For the basic body, it really is basic, a tiny small body.

Available is a viewfinder, two sizes of bolt on handgrips and other accessories. Its a fascinating concept.

Shot taken with my V System Hasselblad.

This camera seems focus for video but is an interesting solution for those needing stills too.

Once we had Shutter speed and aperture.

Now with modern digital cameras we have a never ending list of modes, buttons, switches and different screen interface designs.

Now I think I have become a real Leica fan boy. Over the years Leica have refined their interface to something quite simple and easy to use. When every I come back to the Leica M its like a breath of fresh air.

We modern cameras all being so good, I often recommend people that ask me what camera to buy, to buy the camera that feels the best in the hand.

Thats one reason why I maintain a good relationship with a local camera shop and enjoy visiting camera shows. The feel of the camera can be inspiring to shoot.

With the current COVID-19 lock down I am not getting out or doing photography but I look forward to this all being over and getting out and shooting again and visiting camera shops to try out the latest gear.

I have a couple of favourite models that I always seem to go to when I want to experiment with an idea.

This was part of a recent shoot where I used a lot of red, and Jessica was perfect for this with her lovely red hair.

Apart from the challenge with the heavy use of red, it was also a challenge in using just Lightroom V9 and delicate use of the texture and clarity slider to soften the skin and sharpen the eyes, lips and teeth.

For a quick edit I think it worked out quite well.

As COVID19 the disease caused by the Coronavirus spreads through Europe; the organisers of the show have decided to cancel.

I was due to visit this weekend but as this week as gone on its become inevitable that events need to be cancelled.

The key in controlling this is to slow the spread so the emergency services can cope. Currently there is no vaccine and its unlikely that there will be one wildly available until next year.

It’s a difficult and complex thing to manage and we can only hope that the governments of our countries are getting the very best advice that is available.

Follow the latest advice from health officials and ignore the rumours, and please do not panic buy or hoard.

Sometimes I hit the studio with a major plan, detailed and organised. Other times like the glasses idea with the delight fully Miss B (who has now retired and I am delighted to say is expecting), its just a simple idea that I work through.

This time in the studio, the idea was just a simple one; it was tweed. It can be fun to see what images you can come up with.

I took a selection of tweed jackets to the studio and worked them with the model.

Shots using just jeans and tee shirt

To underwear and finally topless.

A simple progression and one that I thinks shows promise.