Nikon D200
Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8
120mm, 1/90 Sec at f/8, ISO100
Processed in Adobe Lightroom V4.2
On a Mac MacBook Pro, OS-X 10.8.2
Creating a Mountain Lion Install Disk
It was with some degree of controversy that Apple released OS X 10.6 and a download only. Many people wanted the physical media, something I well understand.
With Snow Leopard and then Mountain Lion, I never got round to creating a bootable install disk, but I am thinking of upgrading my hard disk and putting in a solid state disk to replace my current traditional hard disk.
Creating a disk is not hard but does require a degree of patience.
The first job is to get hold of the install files. Not as hard as you might think. If your have not bought it yet then just purchase it from the App Store. If like me you purchased it sometime ago, you will find the install will have deleted itself after use. Just Option-Click in the Store to re-download it. It will download into your Applications folder. I suggest you save this file into a safe location.
To make the re-install faster, I am creating an bootable external hard drive. Launch Disk Utility and create a 10 GB partition.
Make sure you make it a GUID Partition, via the Options button, on my disk above, I have a small 10 GB partition for the Mountain Lion Install, a small Window partition and then a native OS X partition.
Right click on the downloaded Mountain Lion Install file and select show package contents.
Browse to ./Contents/SharedSupport/ and Open InstallESD.dmg, this will mount the image.
Now go back to Disk Utility and select Restore;
Now drag the newly mounted image into the Source box and then drag your destination Disk Partition into Destination, then just click restore, depending on the speed of your disk you will have a bootable disk within a few minutes in which to use for rebuilding your Mac.
Finally to test your disk, go into System Preferences, and select Startup Disk, then select your new Disk Partition to boot from.
Easy, when you know how.
Autumn in Hartsholme Park
It was a busy weekend. First off, an early start and I got to Hartsholme Park shortly after dawn. We had a very slight snow fall overnight, and the morning was looking good. I had high hopes for some good images.
I shot a few leaves and trees, the colour was a little limited, I had wanted some good reds but they were a bit lacking.
After shooting a few landscape shots, I headed to the lake and setup with the tripod to shoot some of the wildlife. Just as I was setting up a Heron flew past, typically I was not ready. It was the closest I had seen a Heron for over a year, it would have made a fantastic shot.
I then saw a Cormorant fly past, this time I thought I was ready, unfortunately I was still thinking about landscapes and had left the camera in aperture priority set to f/8, thus as you can see in the picture above the picture is a little blurred due to the shutter speed being too low.
The morning was fun if very cold, and it was a reminder to me how difficult wildlife photography is. I had not done any for several month, and I missed many good shots.
A good morning, which I enjoyed, but I was a little disappointed with the final results. Still next time I will do better, as they say practice makes perfect.
Nikon Series 1 V2 now announced
The Nikon Series 1 V1 was a very good camera if somewhat limited in a few areas. If you were willing to put up with those limitations it was an excellent camera. One of its limitations was the user interface.
Now Nikon have announced the Nikon V2 and in someways it addresses the issues of control.
But while is addresses a key limitation on the original, I have to admit, its not a pretty camera. We have a local camera show soon and I hope to get my hands on one to test, i’ll also be looking forward to testing the new Sony NEX-6 and I hope the Fuji X-Pro1 and X-E1. It really is a case of digital photographers have never had it so good.
The Leaves are Turning
The leaves are turning but they are also dropping fast.
The weather is really starting to turn now, and as I mentioned a few weeks ago, the leaves are changing to a wonderful golden colour. One good windy day and it will see the wind strip the leaves from the trees like in the photograph above. The first chance I get, if we have the right light, I need to get and capture it before its too late.
I took a walk into town today and already many pavements (sidewalks) are covered with golden leaves and some trees are looking remarkably bare. I hope I have not left it too long. An early morning trip to Hartsholme Park might be required on Saturday morning.
Apple’s Announcement
This morning while everyone was waiting for the expected announcement of Apple’s iPad mini. I sat down and wrote the first half of this blog post, with what I though would be announced and my thoughts.
I have a full sized iPad so the mini does not interest me, I was more interested to see if the new iTunes would be announced, it is more then due a rewrite. Originally just a program to manage your music, its grown into a media manager to look after your songs, music videos, movies, books and even games. An extensive shop and lets not forget podcasts,radio, and iTunes U.
The other thing I was hoping for was an announcement of the 13″ Retina MacBook, while also a product I am not interested in, the smaller retina screen and whatever graphics hardware is needed to drive it, is something I would like to see in the smaller 11″ Air.
So tonight I fired up the iPad and watched the live stream of the event.
First up was the new iBooks, this was not a surprise as the new ePub standard was announced earlier in the week.
Then the new 13″ MacBook; tempting for travel but for now I am going to hold out for a MacBook Air. No updates to the Air though, hope there going to get the retina screen soon. Even if I don’t buy that it will mean I might get the current version cheaper.
A bit of a surprise was the new iMac, lots of improvements but the lack of a DVD drive may put some off.
Then the big surprise of the night an updated iPad, basically the hardware from the iPhone5 but with even more Graphics performance.
Then the main event the iPad Mini. Not as cheap as people were expecting but then Apple do not do cheap they try and do quality!
No announcement yet of the new iTunes but it is expected this month.
So did Apple deliver what you expected?
Kayaking Day in South Hykeham
After our adventures earlier in the week where Andrew took me climbing, it was time to return the favour. Instead of climbing we went Kayaking at Outdoor Activities who are based at a gravel pit in South Hykeham, just a few miles outside Lincoln.
I had been Kayaking for the first time just a few weeks ago, so everything was fairly fresh in my mind but Andrew had not done anything like this for many years.
We met up in the car park and walked over to the office, where we was introduced to our instructor for the day Katie. We had a quick briefing and then we where quickly issues with our wetsuits.
Once suitably dressed it was time get into our Buoyancy aids and select our boats and paddles.
One thing I found with the previous Kayaking day, is that getting in is the second hardest part of Kayaking. The hardest part is getting out again!
We were a little tentative at first, the boats were shorter and a little more white water biased then the kayak I had tried out in a few weeks again, so tracking in a straight line was a little tricker.
It was not before we started to really enjoy ourselves, our instructor kept giving us instructions and advice, and we quickly improved by leaps and bounds. It took Andrew a little longer to get the feel of it, so the instructor arranged a swop and Andrew took the instructors slightly large boat out. This was much better and more stable out on the water.
It was a great time and we really enjoyed ourselves. At the end of the session the instructor gave us the option of trying out a practice capsize. As we were in wetsuits it seemed an idea time to give it a try.
It all sounded fairly simple. Tip over, reach forward and bang on the bottom of the boat three times to attract attention, then exit the boat and swim to shore or wait holding onto your boat until help arrives.
Andrew went first, and then it was my turn. It seemed to take forever but it was just a few seconds in total. On exiting the boat I somehow managed to take in a mouthful of water which was most unpleasant. As you can see in the shots above, I don’t look to happy after swimming back to the surface, but it was not as bad as it looked, though the water was cold!
We both swam back to shore, towing the boats back with us. Hauling them back onto the bank we emptied the boats but as we were having such a good time, despite now being very wet we headed back out for another paddle. The wetsuits kept us warm despite the cold water.
Despite the wet, the cold water, we had a great time; we are luckly in having two places locally to try out Kayaking and Canoeing, Outdoor Activities and Lincoln Canoe Club. If your serious about paddling regularly then Lincoln Canoe Club is the best option but if you only want to go occasionally then Outdoor Activities are the better choice.
Film Friday – Sunrise on Lewis
Over the last few years we have been slowly visiting each of the main habitable islands that make up the British Isle’s and photographing them.
Last year we visited the Isle of Skye again (one of our favourite Islands) but also spent a week exploring the Isle of Lewis and Harris.
When shooting film, sometimes you are very pleased with the results, other times less so. I find whether shooting digital or film, its often worth revisiting a photograph months later, when the emotional side of taking the photograph can no longer influence you.
Sometimes you want to like a photograph because of the effort it took to take it. The above shots are a little like this.
There was quite an effort to get down to the coast and setup for 4:30 in the morning to be ready for the dawn. When the results came back I was a little disappointed, all that effort for not a very good result.
I reviewed these shots again, and this time I liked them.
Its interesting what time can do to your opinions on photography and on life.
Indoor Sport Climbing @climb_showroom
This week I got try something new, indoor climbing. The idea of roping up and climbing, taking the risk of having a fall; the physical challenge and the mental challenge was not something I had thought of trying.
A good friend wanted to give it a try and ideally you need a climbing partner for safety, so I volunteered to go with him for the two 90 minute training sessions.
Andrew booked us both on two sessions, Tuesday and Wednesday night this week at ‘The Show Room‘ on Tritton Road in Lincoln, the climbing centre there has the largest climbing wall in Lincolnshire.
Tuesday night was very safety focussed, learning the basic knots we would need, the figure of eight used to tie us in, and the stopper knot, but I am getting a head of myself.
Firstly we filled in the evaluation forms stating we had no health issues that would cause any problems, then it was time to get into our harnesses. The loan harness was not as sophisticated as most modern harnesses but while basic it would do the job. Next the safety helmet, and finally it was time to learn how to tie the first knot we would use.
If your interested there are some great videos on youtube but remember that watching a video is no subsitute for proper training.
The first knot we learnt was the figure eight, it was a quick and easy knot to learn but judging the length of the tail was the tricky part. With the figure eight tied, you then threaded the tail through the harness and then threaded the end again back thought the figure eight. The loose end is tied off with a stopper knot.
We both practiced this several times and then learnt to check each others knots.
The next part was the Belay. This is a simple device designed to add friction to the rope, thus if someone fell, then the person holding the end of the robe had a chance to stop your descent before you hit the ground. The belay device was attached to the climber staying on the ground via a screw locking carabiner.
Once we had practiced all of this it was time for the first proper climb. I went up first and I have to admit I found it fairly easy. Though the truth was I was using any handhold I could reach instead of following a particular colour coded route.
Coming back down again was more interesting, its certainly an exercise in trust. Checking that Andrew at the bottom was ready with both hands on the dead side of the rope it was time grab hold of the rope and lean back and as Andrew let out the rope I could simply walk down the wall.
It was then Andrews turn to climb. I found keeping the rope tight harder then the climbing, but I managed.
We practiced several times and the 90 minutes soon past.
Last night we had the second session, this time everything was done by us, while the instructor just watched. We put on our harnesses and safety hats, then tied in and I climbed first while Andrew handled the belaying. Then we swopped.
Our instructor happy with the way we were climbing then went on to explain about routes and we had a go at a class 4 then a class 5. It was then that climbing switched from being a physical challenge to a mental challenge, trying to figure out how to get up.
After 90 minutes we were both exhausted but satisfied, possibly a little high on adrenalin but feeling good about ourselves. The instructor announced himself happy and signed us off to climb together on our own, so it was two very tied beginner climbers who headed home.
Selective Colour – Yes or No
Generally I shoot colour for clients, with a little Black & White. For myself its a mix, sometimes mainly colour, other times its all Black & White.
Often Black & White images for clients are now more of what I call, selective colour. Its a Black & White Image but some colour has been left in.
Its proving very popular exspecially for Weddings and if it sells then you do it.
I am in a very mixed mind set; not sure if I like it or not
If you click on the above two images you will be able to judge for yourself.
I shot these with my Leica M4 film camera with a Leica Summicron 35mm f/2. I used a colour film, and scanned the results. I suspected at the time that the image might look good in Black & White with a slight sepia tint, but the green bottles would also look good in colour.
Once I had the scans in Adobe Lightroom I produced a Black & White version and then decided to go the desaturated route, while taking out most of the colour, the green stayed fairly strong in the bottles, so I decided to make a feature of it.
Now I cannot decide what I like most. What do you think?