I love a trip to the coast on a cold sunny day. There’s no better way to blow the cobwebs off. A nice walk from North Bay in Scarborough through to the Spa at Southbay. Fish and Chips. Ice Cream. Perfect. Scarborough is much nice than I remembered too.
As it turned out this was my last trip with the GX80. I have never really clicked with that camera. It was too big to be actually portable, not much smaller than my G9. It wasn’t;’t my GM1…. So, it’s gone back to MPB for not much less than I bought it. I got a couple of nice shots with it before it went though.
I could have spent hours looking at these rainbows.
So, now the GX80 has gone what’s next? Obviously, I love my GM1. Its only downside is no viewfinder. As someone with limited vision I find it easier to work with a viewfinder. So, I’m looking for a GM5, at a reasonable price. There’s currently one on eBay for £800 – which is mad. I’ve set up an alert for any that come up on the listings. Fingers crossed.
Time to get my eyes stabbed. Hopefully I’ll get out next weekend when I can see again.
Four UK breaks this year, and only one of them wasn’t ruined (photography wise) by the weather. Anglesey over this last week was the latest trip ruined by a storm and we arrived smack bang in another record breaking bout of rain. So, it was a grab ’em while you can kind of week.
There’s nothing front page (of this site) worthy, but they capture the feel of Anglesey in November.
Anglesey, by the way – absolutely lovely place. Even in biting winds and ice cold rain we had a great time. We were smack bang in the middle of the island and everything in all directions was only 20 minute drive away. We liked it so much we’ve booked for next November, and are considering a trip in summer too.
I think I prefer places when they’re quiet.
I took all of these photos on my GM1 using the Leica 15mm. Again, that little camera and lens continue to be my favourite bits of kit. My G9 never made it out of the bag,
Our five days in the Lake District had to be cut short to just two. Sometimes, life gets in the way, plus the weather wasn’t kind. I didn’t really get any photo’s I would print, or put in a portfolio. But, I had time with my wife and my dogs, and right now, or always, that is the most important thing. Whatever you love in life, squeeze it for every bit of love and joy you can, while you can.
What a stunning place Northumbria is. It’s my family home on both sides, and I always love going back to the coast up there. We’ve had a fantastic week in Seahouses and Bamburgh and visits to Holy Island, Alnwick and Berwick. I’m going to let the photo’s speak for themselves. I’m holding a couple back for next years Landscape Photographer of the Year entries.
As I write this I find myself seriously considering selling some of my cameras and some lenses. There are a couple of reasons; firstly, it would make deciding what cameras to take on a trip a lot easier. Secondly, and more surprisingly – I found my iPhone actually did a great job on the times I was just out and about rather than intentionally going out to take photos. It actually had me considering if I actually needs all of this camera gear. Do I need to be carrying all of this stuff around when I can just use my phone? Is it easy to tell which of these photos are taken on an iPhone and what are taken on a camera? I genuinely can’t tell (it’s the one on the left).
60 Miles Makes a Difference
As photography trips go, this was a bit disappointing. Here in my part of Yorkshire everything has regrown and the tress are covered in leaves, the flowers are out in bloom with lots of colour back in the landscape. A mere 60 miles away it still looks like winter in most parts. Not great conditions for landscape photography. But, we still had an amazing time with our friends which is what we really went for.
We’re only a month away from our next trip, which is up in Northumberland. Maybe I’ll just take my iPhone…
Only a few days until we head to the Dales for our first break of the year and I can’t decide what camera gear to take with me. I can’t even decide which bag to take. The first thing this tells me is that I probably have too much gear to start with.
Maybe if I write this all out it will help me come to a decision.
I like to travel light, but practical. Some things you can get by without, but are nice to have, some things are must haves. Let’s start with those. It makes sense to take my best camera body and lens. So, my G9 and Leica 12-60 are definitely going. The 45-150 is a no brainer. It’s small, stabilised, and a decent zoom – so, a practical choice. Tripod, has to be the Peak Design Tripod, again small, practical, and very good. I could probably manage with just those. These are all the things I want to use for actual landscape photography though, and not things I would want to carry around all day. So, do I take a smaller camera?
My GM1 (I now own two…) is a great camera unless you’re outside, then it’s hard to see the screen in bright conditions. Also, it isn’t weather sealed and there’s no stabilisation.
The G100 (right) has the same sensor as my G9, it also has the viewfinder the GM1 is missing, and a flip screen. It’s smaller and lighter than my G9, but it unlike the G9 it isn’t weather sealed. Not a problem if it’s dry. Also, no stabilisation, but if I use a 12-32 that’s stabilised. Problems solved?
So, we’re at two cameras and four lenses. Easy, right?
Not, if you’re me…
So, we have a G9 body, a G100 body. Four lenses, and a tripod. What about lights? ‘Lights for landscape photography’ I hear you say. Well, I’m thinking of maybe doing a bit of astro stuff if the weather is right. I thought the lights my be good if there’s an interesting subject such as a tree… over thinking? Me? Maybe just one. And, a gorillapod to stand it on.
I’m already thinking this getting out of hand….I’m not even half way through.
MacBook Pro? Can’t decide. Handy for other stuff, but am I actually going to have time for editing, or the other stuff? Is it dead weight?
Video cameras. I’ve never tried the Insta360 One-R’s star lapse mode, I’d like to, and it’s handy for other things too. I think that’s in. The Insta360 Go2 is so small art may as well go, and it’s fun to use and discrete.
The more I type, the less I want to take. That’s good thing right?
That just leaves, cables, filters. batteries – can’t do it without them – and last of all a bag. This is a nightmare.
During the day we’ll be hiking, and we’ll have the dogs, so a hiking backpack will take car of that. The G100 can go in a case in that bag through the day. Early morning I will be going our with the big camera, tripod etc. Makes sense to take a camera backpack, right? Or, do I go lighter and take a sling bag?
Four days in Amsterdam. Not the relaxing time I was hoping for. It’s a manic city with cars, bikes, buses and trams coming at you from all sides at breakneck speeds, so for someone with limited vision it’s not the best place to visit. As it was a boozy trip and my luggage space was limited I didn’t take an actual camera, so I did what I could with my iPhone when I was sober enough.
Shaun Madill Photography 