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CES 2016

D5The Nikon D5 was expected this year but I was surprised to see it announced at CES and not a more photo focused show.

Nikon DX users of the D200/D300 range will be pleased to see the D500. The D200 turned things round for Nikon and they followed it with the stunning. D3, D700 and D300. While we have see replacements for the D3 and full frame D700 the D300 had no replacement till now and Nikon were loosing customers to the Canon 7D.

Another pleasing announcement was the Phase One XF 100MP a True 100MP Medium Format Camera For just $48,990 ;).

Medium format was being caught by cameras such as the Nikon D800 and latest Canon 5D. When you saw high megapixel figures quoted it was usually via pixel shifting rather then genuine megapixels.

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a Christmas Walk

Stream Side WalkAs I mentioned yesterday, last week saw us having the first walk in about four months.

We enjoying walking and Lincolnshire is often overlooked as a walking county but has lots to recommend it.  From flat fenland and marsh, to woodland and the rolling Wolds.  We also have one of the great long distance footpaths running through the county, the Viking Way.  It was the Viking way that we made a central feature to this walk.

Orkney Explore-2

Light rain was forecast for the start of the walk ending with heavy rain, so equipped my best walking Gore-Tex trousers and full walking gear I felt well ready to face the elements.  With this winter being so mild I dressed slightly lighter then usual but did have an extra fleece in my ruck sack.

We started at Woodhall Spa and first dropped into a rather nice little tea room for a hot soup and bread roll to start is off in the right mood.

The light rain arrived as expected but then cleared up so the bulk of the walk was done in the dry.  Heading out of Woodall Spa we joined the Viking Way and a brisk walk ensued.  After a few miles we detoured away from the  Viking Way and looped back before joining back on the Way after a nice walk by some local woodland.  This led us back into Woodhall Spa from the other side.  In total about a six and a half mile walk, so nice and easy but having not done any serious walking in the last few months, with the fast pace we really felt the last mile and a half.

Heres hoping to a great 2016 of walking.

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a New Year

The Ring of BrodgarIts been an odd and occasionally stressful 2015.  The lows were my mum, Christine Brown admitted to hospital and having to have an operation to remove her gaul bladder.  There was also my father-in-law Alan Turner having to spend time in hospital having a couple of operations starting with his new knee which has left him far less mobile this year.

With all of this we still managed to accomplish a few goals.  Photography was very light, a few working shoots; weddings and studio work, and we also finally finished the end room.

At the start of 2015 we stripped the end room down to bare plaster and the concrete floor.  We then re-plastered, re-decorated and finished the room with book cases and our piano plus hi-fi.  This end room captures the sun and has french doors out to the garden so is a lovely room to relax in.  This is now our ‘sun room’, music room, library and has the space to be my studio.

We also had solar panels fitted to the house so my goal to be energy independent within ten years is on track.  The final step is to get battery storage sorted and a replacement to our oil fired boiler but that will not be for a few years.

The highlight of the year was our second honeymoon on the Orkney Islands, with my wonderful wife.  This year was our tenth anniversary and we took the opportunity to re-visit these lovely Islands.

Orkney Sea Scape

For 2016 the plans are for a lot more photography, I did very little wildlife or landscape so I intend to get out there at least once a month.

I shot a couple of rolls of film in 2015 and want to increase that, also develop more myself.

On a fitness note, we cancelled the gym to give us more time and certainly my shoulders are telling me I got a good strength workout this last week with all the gardening we did but we do need to do more cardio.  Last year we went for a few walks on some of the Orkney Islands but not much else, so we must do better.  So far in the last week we did a 6.5 mile hike along the stretch of the Viking Way and on Sunday did our first bike ride in over a year.  In 2014 we commuted to work in the summer twice a week but in 2015 did not go on the bikes at all.  This year we also intend to correct that.

Around the house and garden the next projects are to put up all new garden fences round the property and also get rid of some of the more thorny bushes we have growing and replace them with climbing roses, blackberry bushes and clematis.  In the house the main project will be to decorate the kitchen.

Here is wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

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Last Studio Shoot of 2015

Four Models One Photographer

Tuesday was my last studio shoot of the year.  Its been a quiet shooting year, some studio work and weddings but not a lot of personal project work.  Unfortunately family life sometimes gets in the way.

Shooting four models at the same time is a bit of a challenge in the studio, it really challenges your composition and your ability to direct.  Not something I would advice your try until you have mastered the basics of lighting and basic direction of one then two models.

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Christmas has now passed but we still have the New Year to look forward to.

Christmas day was a quite day for us, just myself and Caroline with our respective parents at our place for the day.

Boxing day was a little busier and loader.  Including Tilly the Dog we had thirteen with us for the day, so with a dog and young children around is was noisy and fun Boxing Day.

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a Biker’s 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”.

I have posted this before but as it is Christmas Eve I thought I 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 firmware – Leica Q Typ 116 firmware update version 1.1-2

Leica QLeica being a small company are not always the fastest at releasing updates and bug fixes to their camera firmware but recently we have seen quite a few updates.

This week it was the turn of the Leica Q.

The smaller camera manufactures such as Olympus, Fuji and Leica are very good at releasing new functionality for their older cameras and its something that the bigger manufactures could learn from.

Leica Q Typ 116 firmware update version 1.1-2

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Christmas Party Season is well underway

Last Friday was the official works Christmas party, good food and good company.  We have also had a few more small team meals and get togethers over the last week and some of us also went to see old work colleagues from previous companies we used to work for.

We are all now on a final countdown for the big Christmas holiday.  Last year I had to work but this year I have Christmas to the new year off but will be squeezing in one Christmas theme photoshoot.