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.

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.

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.

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.