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NEC Photography Show – 2019

I enjoy visiting the local photography shows but the main show of the year is at the NEC. Most of the major players are there and I get the chance to handle the latest gear.

As I often say, most cameras today are more then good enough, its just a matter of choosing one that suits the way you work and your hand.

As always Sony are pushing the envelope and their stand was very busy.

The best thing with the show is that the smaller players are there, and all the accessories you might need.

There was also some demonstrations and I went to two very good presentations from Joe McNally and Moose Peterson.

It was from last years show that I got the idea for using different sunglasses in a shoot.

A good idea as you can see.

While most people come away with new cameras and lens from such shows I tend to come away with ideas, and sometimes with a few memory cards and batteries if on offer. Last year I managed to get a good deal on paper.

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Lack of Posts

Coffee – Leica M10

As you will have seen there has been a lack of posts over the last few months. The reasons are several; one I wanted a bit of a break from blogging. I was intending to write something at least once a week, but once you get out of the habit, weeks can go by and you realise you have not posted anything.

Secondly Timmy the Greyhound who died in March was ill for about a year. This made a big impact on my free time.

Lastly I am really getting behind with my Adobe Lightroom edits. My laptop no longer supports Lightroom.

The next few months are going to be quiet, but i’ll try to keep up with the picture of them month as post something at least once or twice a month.

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Last Shoot of the Year

Get the Light Close – edit completed

Tomorrow is my last shoot of the year and is a studio shoot with three lovely ladies.

I am hoping to push my photography more this coming year, I have been playing it safe and the images are a little similar.

I am already start to short list ideas and models for the first three months and I look forward if not producing great images at least learning more and getting my skill up to the next level.

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Merry Christmas

Leica Summicron 35mm

Once again Christmas come round again. Its been a very light year on the photography front. A bit of street photography and some corporate shoots, as well as a few studio shoots including my farewell shoot with the delightful Mrs B.

We had quite a day experimenting with different glasses, looks and lighting. I think a glasses project may be a focus for 2019.

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The Night Before Christmas

On the Biking Blog “Ride it like you stole it!” which is sadly no more by Dave Dragon, there was a poem “The Biker’s Night Before Christmas”.

Crossing the Ford

I have posted this before but as this is my last post before Christmas I thought it was worth posting again.

“Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the pad,

There was nada happenin’, now that’s pretty bad.

The woodstove was hung up in that stocking routine,

In hopes that the Fat Boy would soon make the scene.

With our stomachs packed with tacos and beer,

My girl and I crashed on the couch for some cheer.

When out in the yard there arose such a racket,

I ran for the door and pulled on my jacket.

I saw a large bro’ on a ’56 Pan

Wearin’ black leathers, a cap, and boots (cool biker, man).

He hauled up the bars on that bikeful of sacks,

And that Pan hit the roof like it was running on tracks.

I couldn’t help gawking, the old guy had class.

But I had to go in — I was freezing my ass.

Down through the stovepipe he fell with a crash,

And out of the stove he came dragging his stash.

With a smile and some glee he passed out the loot,

A new jacket for her and some parts for my scoot.

He patted her fanny and shook my right hand,

Spun on his heel and up the stovepipe he ran.

From up on the roof came a great deal of thunder,

As that massive V-twin ripped the silence asunder.

With beard in the wind, he roared off in the night,

Shouting, “Have a cool Yule, and to all a good ride!”


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Leica Fotos App

Most of Leica’s current crop of cameras can be linked to your mobile device of choice via wifi.

While I do not make use of the remote control features, being able to quickly download the photographs from my Leica M without having to take it out of its case, removing the bottom place etc, is useful.

We used to have an app for each camera but now Leica have released Fotos. A general gallery and remote control app that works with all their cameras.  With the latest firmware release for the Leica M, even creating an adhoc network became easier, as the camera just shows a QR on the back, which the app sees using the camera in your mobile device and your all paired and setup.  The app supports multiple cameras and is easy to use.

There is however an issue.  I could not get the app to download my photographs.  It turns out that the app has to create a custom album on you mobile device which must be called Leica.  I already had a album called Leica on my phone.  This the app did not like and kept crashing until I deleted my album.