Time for a change?

I’ve been shooting landscape photos for 20 years, and I’ve been happy doing it. But, on my recent trip to Northumberland I really liked the photos I took that were more of a documentary/street style. I felt that had more life in them, and more interest (for me) than just a landscape. It was this photo that did it for me.

Bamburgh Castle is probably one of the most photographed castles on the planet. Most of the photos will be at sunrise/sunset, from the beach or the sand dunes and will be amazing and look like something from a movie. But, they’re not reality. Most people won’t see that view. Most people will see view from the road, and there’s a challenge in making that view interesting, but also keeping it based in reality as most people see it. I really liked that, and that’s what I tried to do above. The path, the fence and the road create great leading lines to the castle, as well as a foreground. The houses are there, no point pretending and trying to hide them. There’s life in it, and real life is interesting.

So, I’m changing things up. I want more ‘real life’ photos. Every day things, but making them technically good photos. It opens up a lot more possibilities than looking for landscapes at sunlight and sunset. I’m excited about it.

A New Lens

This week I bought myself a new lens. I was feeling a bit miserable after having eye injections last Friday, and decided to treat myself to a Leica 15mm f1.7. It had £150 off as the lens cap was missing (how much are lens caps worth!) and was a return. So, an absolute bargain. It goes great on my GM1 and GX80. A perfect take anywhere lens, and I love that the f/stop is controlled on the lens (freeing up the one dial on my GM1 for shutter speed). I can’t wait to get out and use it now my eye is back to normal.

I also got myself a smaller Peak Design Sling. I love my 10l one, but it’s too big for taking everywhere – so I got the 3l version too. Again, perfect for taking my GM1 and GX80 out.

A Week in the Last Kingdom

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.

Summer Days

I’m not one of those Golden Hour man maniacs that thinks you can only take a good photo at sunset or sunrise, life’s too short and I’m too lazy. So, I continue to take my GM1 or GX85 with me to anywhere a good photo might present itself. I’m not getting anything that I would put in a portfolio, but I am finding more local locations that are worth returning to with my G9 and a tripod when I get time.

These were taken on the GM1, which I love – but in harsh daylight it’s hard to compose a photo without a viewfinder. And, they’re blurry. Having the dogs running around isn’t really conducive to taking good photos!

Next week is Northumberland and the summer solstice. Fingers crossed.

Out and About with my GM1

Recently I’ve felt like I’ve over complicated the activity of photography. Too much gear, too many options. I’ve spent more time thinking about what to take out than actually being out, and I think I put myself off taking photos.

So, I really enjoyed going out around back lanes of my village with just my GM1, and one lens (Panny 12-32) and getting back to just taking photos.

The photos’ aren’t anything spectacular (although I really like the one on the right), but I enjoyed the process. Again, the GM1 does a great job, and it’s so nice to use.

Goodbye G100

As I wrote in my last blog, I’ve felt overwhelmed with too much gear. My walk around with the GM1 convinced me that I didn’t need so many cameras, so when I got back I decided to sell my G100, my older GM1, a 25mm lens, and my 7Artisans fisheye (I couldn’t get they hang of that one). It’s money in the bank for when there’s something I actually need. It was quite cathartic, and I feel like a weight lifted. One camera for serious work, and one that I can take anywhere, and less stress deciding on what will be going with me.

Fun in the Dales

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…

How do you choose what gear to take on a trip?

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?

See, it’s too hard. Too many choices.

Maybe I will decide tomorrow….

Too much of a good thing…

Sometimes too much of something we enjoy can stop our enjoyment. Whilst I haven’t lost my love of photography I have enjoyed a break from it and some time doing other things. My wife and I have been doing a lot of walking to try and raise some money for Stand Up to Cancer. The challenge was to walk 60 miles in a month, but with two dogs it was always going to be a bit of a breeze, and with two weeks to go we’ve already completed about 50 miles. But, it’s been nice to just go out and walk and not put myself under pressure to try and get ‘good’ photographs, and I’ve seen a couple of spots that I will go back to with a camera at some point.

A New lens

I bought a 7Artisans 7.5mm Ultra Wise (that’s fisheye to you and me) lens a few weeks ago. I have to admit, it’s a challenge to use. Manual focus and poor eyesight don’t mix well, and I keep getting my fingers/thumb in the shot.

I do like the f/stop being on the lens rather than the camera, and when in focus it does a good job. I was hoping to use it with the GM1 for some street photography, but I think it might struggle without IBIS. One to keep practicing at.

Not long now until my first photography trip for 2023!

What I See Vs the Photos’ I Take

Do you ever find something really interesting that would make a great photo, but when you try and compose a photograph you just can’t get it right? This was my whole day yesterday. I spent hours out with my camera, and everything I found that was interesting couldn’t be turned into an interesting photo. I took 66 photographs, and I didn’t find one of them worthy of sharing. These are the closest I came (I won’t be adding them to my portfolio page though).

Maybe I need to use a focal length closer to 35mm rather than using this lens at its widest, which is equivalent to 24mm. Does 10mm make that much difference? Whatever it is, there are a few things I need to iron out before our next trip at the end of April. Our time away is limited and I’d hate to waste it. My biggest problem is rushing. I need to slow everything down and take more care.

I think we all need to slow down a bit.

It Pays to Keep Going Back

During the week I was desperate to get to somewhere different than Hatfield Moors, but unfortunately it just wasn’t possible. Neither was getting up early to get Golden Hour. This is the life as an amateur photographer, fitting time to go out and takes photos around work and life.

So, reluctantly I found myself at Hatfield Moors at midday on a Friday. A place I think I know well, so my aim was to find new places to photograph under better conditions. In the middle of the Moor is a memorial to a Polish air crew whose bomber crashed coming into land after a raid during the Second World War. I’d never been to it, so when I came across the path I decided to go and take a look. I’m so glad I did as it took my into the middle of the moor and the wetlands and to places I didn’t think were accessible.

I loved this. The sun ket coming out and casting my shadow over it though. Another one to come back to.

I’ve been here so many times, and I just forget how big the moors are. If you look on a map it doesn’t actually look that big, but there are full days of walks here and I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface. There is so much here that I haven’t taken a serious photo of yet. The conditions weren’t great. Midday, very windy bright sun. But, I can see the potential of going at sunrise with a tripod.

So much potential here. When the heather is purple and at sun rise this would be a great photo.

Whilst I didn’t get any great photos’ I did enjoy finding new possibilities. And, in all honesty it was just nice to get out and get some fresh air again.

I’ll stop meaning about not getting anywhere decent to photograph and just focus on working here. There are trips going later in the year, I just need to be patient.