Tag: Landscape

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Revisiting an old Camera

Plants by the river bank in closeup, and an old Norman church can be seen in the background.

Sunday morning saw me walking Ted the Greyhound around a local village.

A typical english scene, a field and village in the background.

I decided to dig into the back of my photo cupboard in my office and dig out one of my older mirrorless cameras.

Country tree lined lane leading back to a traditional english village.

I picked up my old Nikon V1 a tiny mirrorless camera from 2011, and popped on a telephoto lens. This tiny combination gave me a reach from 90 to 300mm.

A white village cottage for sale and behind can be seen the old norman village church

The tiny 10 megapixel camera was not a big success for Nikon its tiny CX 1 inch format was considered two small, but for a small everyday carry, its quite a capable little camera.

Too many people people feel you have to have 35mm full frame, and look down on the smaller formats. As a photographer I have large format 5×4 inch camera, full frame medium format, full frame 35mm, and DX and this little CX. I am also considering adding a small MicroFourThirds kit. All have there place and each has an advantage and disadvantage.

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Brackets

Red haired model in studio, holding a greycard for the photographer to get a white balance reading

Many photographers with smaller cameras use brackets on them to assist. I have an L bracket on my Nikon Z7 all the time, that pairs with an arca swiss head. Making it easy to use when shooting landscapes and working in the studio on a tripod.

Southwold Pier. A dark blue sky and white buildings gleaming in the bright sunlight

I also have a Small Rig on my Nikon Zf which as well as adding a Araca support improves handing.

Screen capture from Kickstarter of the Field Brackets by Peak Design.

I now see we have a kick starter event from Peak Designs. This is a adaptable design for several cameras.

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The Nikon Zf – my perspective

Ella a dark haired model wearing red bra and pants. See is reclined and looking directly into the camera

The Nikon Z9 is ergonomically one of the best cameras out there. Followed by the Z8, Z7, and Z6, in the Nikon Z range.

I can dial in a shot, change settings etc incredibly quickly on my Z7.

The Zf is very much a compromise. Old school, takes time to change settings in comparison. So by have I bought one?

Winter scene. Old church to the right, snow on the road and the sun can be seen coming though the trees on the left.

Recently I had the chance to use both in the studio, and with its better ergonomics the Z7 is clearly the better camera, so again why. Well I enjoy using it. It’s not a camera I will be using professionally, though it will be in the bag as a backup. It will be a camera to use for pleasure and with its traditional controls it like my Leica, just an enjoyable experience to use if slower. I have also been using it with other manual focus lenses, which is a delight.

So would I recommend the Zf. No the Z6 III is a better choice for you. Do I love it and enjoy using it, oh yes.

It’s one of those cameras you need to try.

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Photo Trip to Hartshome Park

Well as I reported from my iPhone the trip went ahead, more of a scouting trip then an actual picture taking trip, but I got the feeling that my picture will work.


View Larger Map
The low sun and dramatic contrast made metering the scene some what challenging but I got some good snaps and hopefully I can go back when the sun is in the right place and the weather provides a little more dramatic interest!

Note the squirrel, I was all setup slow shutter speed to shoot the landscape when behind me on the bridge a squirrel ran across, I just managed to grab a shot.

Photo’s here taken with my D200 and a Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.

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Planning a Photo – Landscape

My photography breaks down into two main topics.

  • Studio
  • Landscape

My studio work is very planned. A studio is like a painters blank canvas. When I plan a studio shoot, there is so much to think about.

  • Selecting the model, her shape, size, experience, colour of hair and eyes
  • Clothes
  • The poses
  • The studio set, whether a plain back ground or coloured, or a more complex set
  • Props
  • and of course the lighting, some times just a single light and reflector, other times I have used up to seven flash heads to light a scene.

A studio shoot for me its the ultimate in photography. Everything can be pre-visualised and planned to the nth degree.

Single Light

Complex Lighting Setup

I would like to be able to say my landscape and architectural shoots are planned to the same degree but I am afraid not. Generally these type of shoots are taken on holidays, and I just happen upon these views and try to make the best of them.

This is something I would like to change, and the photography course I am booked on in December I hope will bring more planning and pre-visualisation to this part of my photography.

Isle of Syle

To this end tomorrow, subject of course to the British weather, i’ll be heading out to try and capture an Autumn scene. I have the image in my head, and with good planing, and of course local knowledge and the internet I hope to get the image I want.

So Saturday morning will see the chief photographer of RBPhotograpic heading out with his medium format camera gear and hoping to get the image in his head commited.

Equipment List

  • Hasselblad 503CW Body
  • Hasselblad 80mm f/2.8 Planar CFi
  • Manfrotto 055 Tripod
  • Sekonic L-758D Digital Master Light Meter

Sekonic L 758 Light Meter

I may also take a digital compact, or my iPhone to snap a few reference shots to post tomorrow, to show you what I had in mind.

In case your wondering it involves, a lake, low winter sun, and lots of trees. Heres hoping for good weather.