Inspirational Landscapes

What inspires a creative person ?

Speaking as a photographer, there are many things that move me to take a photo. Light, shapes, human interactions and landscapes. Sometimes, a change of scenery will excite me to want to capture moments which is ultimately what we do as photographers.

My partner and I came back yesterday from a weeks break in Anglesey, North Wales. I was brought up holidaying in the Lake District primarily and only venturing into Wales once or twice. We never visited Anglesey in my memory although I’m told I went with my parents as a very young child. Snowdonia was not on our radar for some reason. My partner on the other hand is far more familiar with Wales and since we met 9 years ago, we’ve been there several times. Anglesey is an enchanting island with fabulous beaches, awe inspiring cliffs and amazing lighthouses on rocky promontories. The interior of the island is generally flat agricultural land but it’s the coast that brings the island to life. Its proximity to Snowdonia is very handy too. The image above is of Carnedd Llewelyn, a substantial mountain in the Ogwen Valley. The light changed every few seconds, bringing its own drama to the majesty of the mountain.

South Stack Lighthouse on the north west coast of Anglesey is a jaw dropping location for photographers. The 91ft high tower is dwarfed by the 300ft cliffs next to it. We have visited this place before but you get a greater sense of scale from this angle at Ellin’s Tower, a 19th century folly built as a summer house for the wealthy Stanley family from Penrhos.

All the while we were staying on the island and at our AirBnb, I struggled with my existing camera gear and what I should do. The minute I began taking photos wherever we went, those dilemmas vanished. My Nikon Z7ii behaved superbly, rendered some great photos and never once got in the way of my getting the best shot. I have two Nikon bodies and a few lenses plus the magical Ricoh GRIII X. I kept thinking, should I switch systems and have one mirrorless interchangeable lens body and a small selection of lenses instead of two. Sony would be the only move for me as they have a greater selection of lenses but then I edited the images from the Nikon and this dilemma diminished. I realised whilst out taking photos, I didn’t once consider the gear and concentrated on the composition and the moment. The camera didn’t get in the way of the creative process. It was a machine doing what I wanted it to, efficiently and with very little fuss.

The photographer and YouTuber James Popsys, describes his Sony A7RV as boring, because it does the job without any drama or complications. It is a very good camera in the same way as my Nikon Z7ii, more megapixels than either of us would ever need, top notch lenses and the ability to execute any action without a hint of difficulty.

Most artists, creators choose their tools on the basis of how well they perform not how they look. Photography is strewn with fashionable, highly priced, vintage inspired gear. We are fed the line that having a cool looking camera or one with great history and caché matters. There are those who buy into a system and then spend at least 50% of the time convincing you their choice is the right one. I arrived at where I am now by falling for the look a camera, the label rather than the ability to help me create really good images. I am not a Nikon fanboy but they do the job really well. I am sure equally, Sony would be great as would Canon but this is the system I’ve invested in and it helps me do what I need.

The takeaway from last week was an appreciation of some beautiful landscapes, amazing sunrises and a real feeling of relaxation. I enjoyed taking my photos because the location and the company were the main inspirations not how retro or fashionable my camera looked. I can shoot with the Nikon or Ricoh bodies and no one gives me a second look. They are like assassins, stealthy and effective. They allow me to love what’s in front of the lens and not fixate over what’s attached to it. I don’t doubt Leica or Hasselblad cameras are capable of producing brilliant photos but they aren’t so far advanced of mine purely based on the their street cred. I’m sure if Hasselblad came a knocking and offered me and X1D II and a couple of lenses, I would be more than happy but in the mean time, I’ll stick with enjoying the landscape, the street scene, the moment. They are what matters, not the gear.

Eureka Moment

I had a frustrating walkabout two days ago.

I took a Pentax DSLR and some lenses into Halifax and went to the market to take some shots. I found myself chopping and changing lenses, not content with any of them.

This contrasts with the day before in Manchester. We visited the David Hockney exhibition at the Aviva studios and my main lens of choice was the Nikon Z 40mm f/2 SE. Limiting myself to shooting mostly with that was quite liberating. I zoomed with my feet, worked harder to get the right shot but enjoyed the experience much more. Following my photo walkabout in Halifax and after reviewing my images, I ended up deleting half the photo because I didn’t like either the composition or the fact I had had to work so hard to get them.

I sat and thought about the experience and came upon a realisation. Why am I burdening myself with an excess of choices? The obvious answer to this is to only use a zoom lens. A zoom will allow me to cover all the standard focal lengths and I wouldn't have to move about so much in order to get the shot. I have a beautiful Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens which does an excellent job. For landscapes, it’s pretty much all I would need as it gives me a broad focal length reach when sometimes you are restricted by your environment. I am however, not just a landscape photographer. Often I will rock up in a location and look for the human interest in a ‘landscape’ setting. I also love architecture, people and documentary photography. For these more urban or street settings, a small prime lens is much better. My cameras aren’t massive and a small prime will make for a relatively discreet set up.

I then did a review of my edited images on Lightroom and went by focal length. It turns out that one of my favourite focal lengths just happens to be 40mm. The images at 40mm weren’t just on primes and often on a standard zoom lens. Now I have two small cheap Nikon primes (the 40mm f/2 se and 28mm f/2.8 se). I use the 40mm far more than the 28mm purely because I seem to like the field of view you get with a 40mm. When I shot with Canon full frame, my favourite lens was the 40mm f2.8. Yesterday, we went into Leeds and I took a quick stroll around the market area using only the 40mm. It was a hugely liberating experience to not have to think about zooming or changing lenses. The less you change the less likely you are to risk getting dust on the sensor. Some of the most iconic photographers of all time only used one or two prime lenses. They moved and worked for their shots, restricted themselves in order to free up their creativity.

So why 40mm? For me, it is wide but not too wide. It allows me to get a degree of background separation without distorting the subject. There is the long ranging debate as to what focal length does the human eye perceive the world. It is generally thought that we see between 40 and 50mm. Pentax do a 43mm f/1.9 which is seen as the optimal real world view we experience. Leica recently released a 43mm version of the Q3. So, using a 40mm is slightly wider than our normal view but not too wide as to distort. I’m not a great proponent of this whole real world focal length thing but what I do know is that just before I put the viewfinder to my eye, I see a composition. If that composition is there in my viewfinder, It makes my life a little easier. The Nikon lens is a relatively cheap lens but it is really well made considering its price point. it is very light and compact, autofocuses quickly and quietly. It renders colours and images with an almost nostalgic look (they worked some weird magic) and most importantly, is an uncomplicated lens. No buttons, options , just a lens. Your photography became much less about what kit you have and more about what you’re doing. Landscape photography is generally a much slower process than street or documentary. You can use a zoom to get just the right composition and take your time. I do like doing this but by nature, I am impatient. I see an image and take it. I often don’t prepare, hardly ever use a tripod and almost never bracket or focus stack. I should probably try doing it more but do I want to miss the moment setting up? I admire so many landscape photographers for their skill, preparation and attention to detail.

The upshot of this is that I will be using my 40mm lens far more than before. I also carry the 28 for when I want a wide angle shot but generally, I’ll stick to 40mm. I still have the 24-120 and the superb Z 50mm f/1.8 S as a portrait lens which will not be neglected. I shall be offloading a bunch of gear as having too many options is not good for me. I now have to work on making sure I have the correct settings for every scenario. There are so many conflicting opinions as to how you set up your camera for street photography but I will just have to do more research. I hope you like my 40mm gallery of photos on this blog post.

Winter in Calderdale

Winter has truly arrived in Calderdale.

Admittedly, this cold snap isn’t likely to last more than four or five days but it has certainly given us the true experience of a cold winter. It is for me, a blessing and a curse. I’ve managed to take some great snowy photos but given my rehabilitation following my ankle break last summer, it is also a challenge. This is both a physical and mental challenge, in that I’m more cautious about stepping out in snow and ice. I wish it were otherwise and I’m sure I’ll gain confidence the more I push myself.

Photographically, I’ve enjoyed shooting snow, mist and spectacular light. I have used my Nikon Z7ii and also my Pentax K3, which is made for cold, inclement weather. Often, some of my best shots have been from my street or at least, the top of it. The hillside with the tree lines have given me ice old woodland sometimes topped or partially obscured by mist. The sun hits the valley and deep patches of golden light reflect off the snow covered hillside.

The contrast between pure white snow and bright sunlight can be challenging for photographers. There’s always a chance that your images will either come out as very blue or highlights will be blown. Also, snow has a habit of smoothing the details of a landscape. You have to work a little harder to get a decent shot. I try to add features whether they natural or man made to break up the whiteness of the scene. Luckily I live in an area that has both woodland and rocky moorland. I like to use features such as roads or pylons to give a focal point.

The sunrises have also been spectacular with pinks and oranges bursting over the hillsides. I find myself scuttling up to the top of our street, trying to catch the brief moments of intense light. They contrast with the grey/white of the shadows, woods and buildings. I’m trying to embrace this cold winter with all its challenges. I like to see the opportunities and grasp these brief moments in time. I hope you like these photographs as much as I enjoyed taking and editing them.

Night Walk.

I’m not a habitual night time photographer.

I enjoy taking photos any time of the day or night. It’s just that I tend to be out predominantly during daylight hours. Some of my favourite images by other photographers are cities at night. The glow of neon signs, car headlights glinting off wet roads, the silhouettes of people in lit doorways.

The other day, we stayed over in the spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire. It’s a very smart town with grand buildings and large areas of open land in its centre. My partner and I have got into the habit of having a night or two away just prior to the Christmas festivities.

After dinner, I went out for a walk around the area of the hotel. It was raining, not enough to dissuade me from venturing out however. I attached my 50mm f1.8 s Nikon lens to the Nikon Z7ii and set forth.

The Christmas lights were strung across the roads, lighting up shops and surrounding doorways. I wanted to capture the town, quiet, in preparation for the busy holiday period. It had a strange beauty in the rain, a stillness.

I also wanted to give the camera a run out in low light to see how it performed. The images came back as noise free and sharp. I usually shoot in highlight metered mode but switched to standard to see if that worked.

I have learned how to meter, how to use my iso range, shutter speed and aperture for different lighting and conditions but still there is a niggling doubt in my mind that I’ve done it correctly. I have a certain level of ability and increasing experience but you can never be certain it will be right. I also wonder whether I am editing images with too much ‘gloom’. A few of my images that have been printed have been lightened up to improve the printed image. I know night photography has inherent levels of darkness because they are taken at night (duh!) but its the contrast between light and dark that makes them so interesting.

I have a certain style and am known for that style. I like dark and moody but I ask myself, am I overdoing the dark and moody vibe? Please feel free to comment on this issue as well as any other aspects of my photography. My style has changed over the years as I have improved my editing and use of light but I also recognise my art is an evolving process. I would like to take brighter images or at least try editing them in a lighter fashion. This photo session however was all about the dark and the contrast of sparkly Christmas lights. Towns and cities feel different at this time of the year, more hopeful, more optimistic. There is a point in January when all the festive decorations come down and the streets at night become a little bit less fun. We are left with shop windows, late night takeaways and lit doorways. We have to be more creative and search for the light in the darkness.

So what will 2025 bring? For me, it is about building my portfolio, my business and getting more visible as a professional photographer. I have a joint exhibition at the end of February 2025 in Hebden Bridge, with my good friend and fellow photographer, Will Lake. Several of my new prints on show will be based by the sea. They are not centred around Calderdale and focus more on the interaction between nature and the human impact on those spaces. I hope you all have a very peaceful and happy Christmas. Spread the word and please leave comments below as they help me with my photographic journey.

Eating My Words

Ok, I was wrong.

I made the decision a week ago, in order for me to trade a load of gear in for me to buy a Nikon Z7II, a 45.7mp high resolution beast. The big brother of my Z6II. I’m loving the output of the Nikon mirrorless system and having done extensive research, I thought I’d be the total hypocrite you now see before you.

There are several reasons as to why but they will just sound like me justifying this decision.

We have had fairly inconsistent weather in the last few days and I have been getting over a cold, so the opportunities for me to give the camera a good run out, have been limited. So these really are first impressions. Form and function, it is identical to the Z6II. It is very hard to tell one from the other apart from the writing on the front. They behave very much alike so it isn’t a steep learning curve to operate or indeed set up. Where the magic begins is the moment you start producing images. The clarity, the detail you can get from this camera is for me, off the scale. You are presented with a machine that can produce whatever you want it to/or are able to, and the choices in composition are limitless. The ability to crop an image and not lose printable resolution is really handy.

All the reasons I didn’t go for this model seem a bit far off the mark. Yes, my 24mp Z6II is probably cleaner in low light and it has a faster burst rate than its big brother but they are different tools in that sense. As a landscape camera and for general street photography, I think the Z7II should be a winner. The image above was taken at sunrise a couple of days ago. On editing the raw file, I noticed this dot in the sky. At first I thought it was a bird or a bit of debris on the lens. When I magnified it , it was a clear shot of an airplane carrying passengers to or from their holidays. It is tiny but very clear, which I found astonishing. The tree-line is sharp against the pink sky. I’ve shot with some nice cameras in my time but none have come close to capturing detail quite like this.

The black and white images in this post are taken with the Nikon z 24-70 f/4 s lens, a kit lens that is by far the best I’ve ever used. It balances beautifully on both my Nikon bodies and produces super sharp images every time. Some higher megapixel cameras have too much resolving power for some lenses but the Nikon ones pair very comfortably with the Nikon bodies. Have I been here before with previous cameras? sort of. I have used some great gear in my time but none come close to this new one.

I have sold all my Pentax gear and a couple of other pieces to fund this new body. I don’t have to wonder if I’ve made the right decision because I already know the answer to that. Yes, you can produce stunning photos on a 15 year old 12mp camera but this gives me so much space to create and does the hard work effortlessly. I fully admit I was wrong.

The Right Tool.

• The search for the ideal camera or system, has been an ongoing challenge for me. I have worked my way through many systems, only to find there’s that almost undefinable part that’s missing in most. About 9 months ago, I switched to Nikon. I used the D810, D750 and D700 for many months. I loved how they rendered colours, the ease of operation and the feel of the cameras in hand. They were heavy, the lenses were bulky but I managed just fine. Then four months ago, I broke my ankle. The road back to mobility has been a slow and arduous one at times but it had its photographic casualties. The kit I used was too heavy to manage with restricted movement. I decided to switch to their mirrorless versions and it has been a revelation. The bodies are light, well built, rugged and comfortable. The z mount lenses are stellar and balance beautifully on the bodies. The menu systems and button layout, virtually identical to the DSLR predecessors.

I have an old Pentax K70 and a few lenses just to keep my DSLR hand in but my main work is done with the Nikon bodies. They are a great mix of many makes I have tried in the past and afford me the comfort of reliability. They do what I want them to without over complicating things. I have a feeling Nikon was kind of dragged into the world of mirrorless rather like their main competitor, Canon. Sony, Panasonic, Olympus and Fujifilm were years ahead in mirrorless technology but Nikon rather dragged its feet. Now, they stand as equals to the top brands and have produced some awesome products. They allowed the transition of Nikon devotees to be relatively smooth. I have stuck with the 24mp bodies as I prefer to have better low light performance than more megapixels.

I did a blog post previously about megapixels and the upward movement to higher and higher numbers. The more megapixels you cram on a sensor, the less space there is and this can affect the noise levels in shots. I can crop with a 24mp camera and still produce decent sized prints. I have considered switching from the z6 to the 45mp z7 but I’m not sure I need to. The only real reason I would go for a larger number would be if I moved over to medium format and that’s not about to happen anytime soon.

The important thing a professional photographer should realise is that a camera body is a tool. It is designed to enable you to create images whether they be commercial and or artistic. I enjoyed using the DSLR Nikon bodies but unfortunately I can’t carry that weight around with me at present. The only downsides to mirrorless is having electronic viewfinders as I prefer optical ones and the reduced battery life. I tell myself I was used to mirrorless long before I started using DSLR bodies and rarely suffered with flat batteries. Tell yourself that the camera and lens are a means to an end and not what makes you a good photographer. I could shoot with a 100mp Hasselblad and not produce images better than my Nikon or even Pentax cameras. Yes, they would give me lots of scope and incredible detail but they won’t improve my composition or subject choice. If someone gave me a Hasselblad and a couple of lenses, I would be over the moon but I’m not at the stage of camera manufacturers giving me gear.

I am content to work with my full frame Nikon and APSC Pentax cameras. I can do photo shoots, street photography and landscape photography. They allow me to work in inclement weather without worrying about damaging my gear. They are light enough to carry whilst walking and reliable enough to use in all cases. They are the right tools for the job at this moment in my burgeoning career.

The accident and recovery have been a setback and I can’t pretend I have much catching up to do but I’m slowly getting back to normal. I just have to build my rugged side up to match the gear I use. My body is as much of a tool as the equipment I use to work. At least I know I can depend on my cameras to turn up even if I take a while longer to regain full mobility.

Gibson Mill.

Gibson Mill near Hebden Bridge is like a film set. It is much photographed, in all weathers, at all times of the day and evening. It sits below Hardcastle Crags, next to Hebden Beck which would have originally been the source of power for the mill. The estate including the mill, was donated to the National Trust by Lord Saville in 1950.

It is a regular spot for me and my partner to visit. Given my current situation, it also has limited disabled parking spots which enabled us to actually get there! Autumn is probably my favourite time of the year for photography and the estate and mill look fabulous, particularly on a sunny autumnal day. I travelled light, taking my Nikon Z6 II, two Viltrox primes and an adapted Pentax 100mm f2.8 vintage lens. The three primes covered the focal range from 20mm to 100mm and still I had to work for the shots.

I could have taken the 24-120 with the FTZ II adapter but weight was important. Even though I have become accustomed to shooting with large DSLRs, I am still taking it steadily using a single crutch so excessive weight unbalances me. The Z6 II and a small prime is roughly half the weight of my D700 and 24-120 lens. It makes you wonder if going fully mirrorless is the long term goal but I love shooting with DSLR cameras.

You go all in with a camera manufacturer and it has many benefits. Batteries, menu systems, lenses (even if adapted) all sync and you choose the camera for the look it produces. The D810 has more megapixels but also a different look to it than the Z6 II. The D700 is like no other camera I have ever used but the operational essentials are Nikon. I know my restriction is temporary and I’ll be back shooting with the heavier gear soon but until then, I am more than happy using the mirrorless camera. I went from film to mirrorless, only discovering the joys of it a couple of years ago.

Ultimately, It doesn’t matter what gear you use, It is down to the landscape/subject/location you are shooting. Gibson Mill is a joy to shoot at. Combine that with great company, excellent weather and decent accessibility, It proved to be worth the visit.

Return.

It’s been a while. In relation to my normal shooting schedule, it has been a positive lifetime. Many photographers will plan shoots and maybe go once a fortnight to do a specific shoot. I’m not that guy. My normal is 3 times a week in different locations. As I’m lucky enough to live in a spectacular part of the world, there is plenty of opportunities on my doorstep.

This was the case up and till the 2nd August this year. My accident and subsequent recovery has taken its natural course for a broken ankle. I’m now two weeks into using a boot and can now drive. This has opened up a whole heap of possibilities for me as a working photographer. I’m still a few weeks off returning to regular shoots and a couple of months walks and shoots.

The photo above was taken at my favourite lay by above Hebden Bridge. I’ve captured this view of Stoodley Pike so many times but this one felt special. I was able to drive myself up to the spot and take a photo standing unaided.

I’ve posted a couple of times about my recent experience, the frustrations I have had and ways of working around those. To be able to go out and take photos of the valley, moorland and towns is immensely satisfying. You know a complex fracture isn’t the easiest thing to deal with and part of that is working out how. The health professionals give you loads of support but you don’t always know if you’re on track with a full recovery. There isn’t really a timeline as every fracture is different and we all respond differently. I have never broken a bone before so have no frame of reference.

What is great is that I can start to think as a photographer again rather than a patient. I am still a way off a full recovery but I’m getting there. I can stand and hold my cameras again and use them in a way I am comfortable with. I can look at a landscape or building and see how light or cloud interacts with it. I was interviewed this morning for a magazine feature and it felt really good to talk about my photography rather than my ankle. I am loving using the Nikon d810. It’s such an intuitive machine and does exactly what I want it to. My images will improve as my mobility returns but I’m capable of doing this wonderful camera more justice than I have in the last couple of months. I want to take my d700 out and play with that as it is truly a one off in the world of digital cameras. All these monochrome images are taken with the d810 as I prefer to shoot the d700 in colour ; mainly because the sensor renders colours so beautifully, it would be a shame to deny it the chance to shine.

It feels like a return but not a full blown one. That is good enough for me right now and to not have to talk ankles or using crutches will be a relief. I can’t recall how many times I have had to explain how it happened and to have to relive a moment I really don’t want to. For the first few weeks, I experienced a sort of ptsd every time I thought about my accident. I am better now and don’t have the same reaction but you meet so many people who don’t know how it happened so you have to recount the story. I’m much happier to talk about photography and cameras with people.

Does Size Matter?

The image above was taken with a 36.3mp camera. That is as big a sensor I have ever owned. By modern standards, that’s a middle of the road sized sensor, given that many top end full frame cameras are at 61mp and medium format cameras at 100mp. I bought the camera partly on reputation and also that it was a very good deal. The 36.3 mega pixels, allow me to crop my image quite considerably and still retain a decent file size. The question is though, does it make for better quality images than say a 12.8mp camera from the same manufacturer?

I have Nikon cameras ranging in sensor size from 12 to 36 and I’m not entirely sure that the number of pixels, determines the quality of image. There doesn’t seem to be an exponential growth in quality, the more mega pixels my camera has. I have more scope to crop with a bigger sensor but do I lose anything at the same time. My Nikon d700 (that took this image above) is a very interesting camera in the Nikon pantheon of cameras. Nearly every modern digital sensor is made by Sony by way back when Nikon designed the d700 and d3 cameras, they went to Matsushita (a branch of Panasonic) to supply the sensors. This resulted in two models that render light and colour very differently to most other digital cameras. It’s a big heavy camera that is a professional grade camera and a joy to use.

The image above is from a Nikon d750. This is a 24mp DSLR and 24 is often described as the sweet spot of pixels and full frame sensor format. It has more in common with my 36mp Nikon d810 but is smaller and marginally lighter. It handles low light as well as both of the others and is rugged and a pleasure to use. The delight of these Nikon cameras, is that they are all very reasonable and professional grade gear. They do create slightly different looks but none have a particular edge over the other. The lack of megapixels in the d700 is made up for with an extraordinary filmic quality of its images. The d810 produces highly detailed images that allow the photographer to crop at pleasure. I like to use a 5:4 crop (pretending it’s a medium format image I subconsciously assume ?) .

I like to have several bodies that I can use for different purposes. I like the option rather than doing everything on one body. I’ve recently sold all my Panasonic gear and got a very cheap Nikon z6, to use mainly for street photography. For my photo shoots, I’ll probably use the d810 and d750 as they are good for portraits and in low light. The d700 is my indulgence. I love it because it does something the others don’t.

Does size matter then? Not really is my conclusion obtained from not very exhaustive research. I’m happy using Nikon cameras, lenses and that seems to be the common denominator. I can share batteries among 3 cameras, lenses over all 4 and a menu system common to all. It makes life simpler and easier to switch from model to model. How many megapixels is not my primary thought but having a range does help.

Keep On Keeping On

Week three of my enforced quarantine.

I have spent the last 6 years going out taking photographs at least once if not twice a week. Everywhere I go, my camera bag is in the car or on my back. It feels alien to not be going out, to not be able to go out but I understand the situation I’m in. This time has allowed me to revisit images both recent and some from my archive of photographs. I’ve edited them with darker, more dramatic effects. I’ve gone for softer dreamlike styles. Because the limit of my world at the moment is the garden and that has been only achieved today; I recognise my creative limitations.

I go through a whole gamut of emotions each day. Mostly, these moments are fleeting and I quickly talk myself out of feelings of despair, regret, a sense of foolishness for getting injured in the first place. We all get injured at some point in our lives but it’s how we adapt that helps us keep going. I feel a wave of disillusion coming over me and straight away, I tell myself this is temporary, this won’t be forever. I feel frustration and take a moment to stop and think, I can overcome these obstacles. I am grateful for the little victories I achieve, thanks to the help of my partner and my family. I can’t allow myself to feel self pity because that helps no one especially me.

As a photographer, I look for new opportunities, new angles, how to work within the confines of my current state. How can I create when I can’t just walk out the door and go and taking photos. I hope to do some still life studies, some domestic photos that document my lived experience. Making the most of what is around me should be the best I can do.

My forthcoming exhibition with fellow photographer Will Lake has been postponed until such time that I can hang my prints on the walls of our exhibition space and spend the weekend in that space. It was hugely disappointing to reach the decision to postpone but it’s the right one. I need to concentrate on recovering and regaining my mobility.

Now is not the time for giving up, resigning my career as a photographer. I have spent the whole of my adult life doing jobs, gaining qualifications that didn’t really sit easily with me. I was good at them (or so I’m told) but they didn’t light a fire in me. Picking up a camera and capturing moments in time does that. It is what I am not just what I do. Why would I turn my back on the thing that partially defines me? I have much to learn, many techniques, creative ideas to discover.

Using my Nikon cameras is a joy. Both my D700 and D750, bring the joy out in my work. Yes, they are just tools but they make me want to take photos, to explore what is possible. I still have my Panasonic S5II which I use for photo shoots but I will introduce the Nikons to that part of my job. I have jobs lined up with very patient clients for autumn and winter. My artist studio shoots are great fun and I love working with other creatives, capturing them doing what they love doing.

I believe in what is yet to come. I love my work and want to carry on for many years to come. It’s taken me 40 years to find the creative purpose and I’m not about to leave it be. Watch this space because there’s more to come!

In Awe

I recently did a post about unpopular camera brands where I made the case for those that went under the radar of some photographers. The big beasts of camera technology these days are Sony, Canon and Nikon. They dominate the professional world, making gear that is used the world over to produce much of our photographic content. They have all focused their attentions on mirrorless camera systems and are gradually leaving the DSLR behind. It is amazing to see how technology has moved on in the 10 years since the camera I am focusing on was introduced.

The Nikon D750 is a 24.3mp full frame DSLR introduced in 2014. It was seen as the prosumer model below the flagship D4 and D810. A good friend of mine and professional photographer Andrew Fowler, is a long time Nikon user. He owns this model and always rated it.

I have used pretty much every major camera brand apart from Nikon over the years. In the last 2 years, I have grown to enjoy using the ‘older’ technology of the DSLR . The optical viewfinder, the better ergonomics, the lightning fast start up time and of course, what some are capable of. This camera however has blown me away. It is the most comfortable, reliable, rugged camera I’ve ever used. It produces some of the nicest files I’ve ever seen. The detail it retains is amazing. The battery life is the best of any camera I have owned. The native lenses are superb and not expensive. It isn’t overly big and bulky. The grip is deep and moulds to my hand.

I bet you think you’ve heard this from me before. In fairness , I do tend to say this sort of thing ; but ‘sort of’ is the operative phrase as I’m trying to convince myself a purchase has been worth it! This Nikon was comparatively inexpensive and isn’t all sparkling new.

I have heard and read that camera technology has in some ways, advanced dramatically in the last 15 years and in many ways it hasn’t. A top of the line camera in 2010 is still a great camera if it takes great pictures and is reliable. It is around the edges that cameras have advanced. They make your life slightly easier as a technician but don’t dismiss the older models as they have something to offer. If I had been with Nikon for the long haul , maybe I would have seen how newer models improved the shooting experience and image quality. I had a moment the other week whilst using the D750. I was taking a few sunset photos , last of the light shots up at a reservoir high up on the top of the moors. I finished and put my camera back in the bag and said to myself “I really love using this” . That is a first for me.

I’ve come to realise that camera body aesthetics don’t really count for much. I owned a Leica once and felt conscious that if I was out taking photos, people were looking at my camera rather than what I was looking at. That didn’t make my photography better, it just drew attention to the gear I was carrying. No one looks at a 10 year old DSLR because they think it’s yesterday’s technology. Taking thousands of images and learning from that experience, makes me a better photographer. Practice and time improves your photography. Having a camera that can realise my expectations is important but having one that exceeds them is a gift.

I am doing more photo shoots using my Panasonic S5II but I will also be using the Nikon as it may offer a little of the magic I’ve discovered in my general landscape and documentary work. I am told, combined with the 85mm f1.8 g lens, it is a great camera for portrait work. I know it’s excellent in low light and its colours are great. In conclusion, don’t write off older technology. They knew a thing or two about making professional equipment back in the day. Would I recommend a D750 ? Yes of course I would. Would I try the D780 or D850? Yes I would but do I need more bells and whistles ? Not really no. I am though, in a state of awe.