http://www.finchphotography.co.uk en-gb finchphotography.co.uk 2012-3-9T00:00:00Z finchphotography.co.uk http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#113024 So the battle lines have been drawn and like two peacocks proudly posturing Canon and Nikon have both announced the latest additions to their flagship DSLR lines. It was last October when Canon heralded the imminent arrival of the 1DX and Nikon tried to trump them with the D4 in December. Both are high end digital single lens reflex cameras and perhaps its no surprise that with the London Olympics on the horizon both cameras are aimed squarely at the action photographer. There is one advantage to that though. Given the amount of relatively uninteresting TV that we get bombarded with during the Olympics it can often make for far better sport judging the ratio of Canon to Nikon shooters amongst the photographers present. I wont be the first to say that both of these cameras appear to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Both have full frame 1618 mega pixel sensors high ISO capability and better AF systems. Along with the usual lashings of HD video capabil... 2012-2-22 11:50:39 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#111978 In the late eighties when my Father gifted me my first SLR and I started reading every photography magazine and gear catalogue that I could get my hands on it seemed pretty apparent that the quickest way to superb photos was to select and buy appropriate lenses and accessories for each and every situation. I honestly thought that the only choice I had to make was which system I was going to commit to and given that the SLR Dad had given me was a Fuji that decision was already made. So I saved very hard and eventually I bought stuff. I had a prioritised hit list of gear and accessories to buy that would undoubtedly be enough to crown me as young photographer of the year. Every time I had a shiny new often second hand but new to me piece of kit in my hands I set of into the wilderness with renewed vigour and enthusiasm that this was it this was the thing that was going to be the turning point for me on my path to greatness. Even better than that though what did I blame when things st... 2012-2-7 12:06:13 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#107025 If I had a pound for every time I heard something along the lines of If only I lived in the Lake District or I must book a holiday on the Northumberland coast there must be great photos to be had there I would have been retired a long time ago. True there are undoubtedly great images to be had in these locations so if all you want to do is trot of an endless precession of the same clich233d images that weve all seen a thousand times over go ahead. The thing is though great images can happen anywhere you and your camera happen to be and excuses like those above are a sure fire way to ensure that your eyes are closed to the creative possibilities wherever you may be. Closed eyes will certainly lead to dull photos even in the most inspiring of locations but opening your eyes even in what are perceived to be the worst of locations can lead to brilliant work ask any documentary photographer or photo journalist. Open your eyes. Be aware of the possibilities we all overlook what we ... 2011-11-17 10:02:39 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#105898 Get the composition right and regardless of the subject a more compelling image will almost certainly be the result. If you get it right in camera to start with your time spent in front of the computer editing will be reduced which means more time out there capturing great images which in the end is where we all want to be. Its an obvious and fundamental rule and is as old as the hills. The Rule of Thirds. Split your image into thirds both horizontally and vertically like placing a noughts and crosses grid over your image. Align your horizon with one of the horizontal lines and places focal points on one of the intersections and the result will be a more dynamically composed image. Lead in lines. Use something in the landscape to guide your viewers eye through the image roads rivers rocks and waves are all good examples. Just be careful that your leading lines dont lead your viewer off the edge of the image. Foreground interest. Why doesnt your image ever l... 2011-11-1 14:49:23 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#103316 Can you keep track of all the latest camera releases from the major manufacturers I certainly cant. In some cases new releases are being replaced within months. Take the Panasonic GF2 for example 4 months is all it lasted before being replaced by the GF3. I can only assume that Panasonic knew theyd dropped the ball with the GF2 almost as soon as it was released. Most photographers realised that the GF2 was in a lot of ways a downgrade from the GF1. The GF1 was superb and moved mirrorless cameras forward a giant leap unlike Nikons latest offerings the J1 and V1 which I am still trying to fathom. Anyway Im wandering from my point. Once youve decided on your camera system and whose stable to buy from whether that be Leica Nikon Canon Sony Lumix or even Sigma the main thing to spend that spare cash on thats burning a hole in your pocket is lenses. This isnt a secret and most of you already know this but the temptation to buy the new camera body for that new feature tha... 2011-9-26 18:33:04 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#102833 Theres an app for everything right Well almost everything. To save you the bother of sifting through all the rubbish and there is some real rubbish out there Ive done the research for you and found the diamonds in the rough. What follows is a list of what I believe to be the 5 most valuable iPhoneiTouchiPad apps for landscape photographers. The Photographers Ephemeris 1635.49 Crookneck Consulting LLC Absolutely without question the most useful five quid you can spend. It gives you the direction and time of the sun and moon rise and set wherever you are in the world in an easy to use map format that will be instantly familiar to most people. Its superbly designed and easy to use and importantly allows you to plan your shoots before you set foot out the door. Dont bother with similar apps that are available get this one you wont regret it if youre serious about landscape photography. World Tides 2011 1631.19 Brainware When undertak... 2011-9-19 18:30:42 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#101668 In no particular order these are my top 10 tips for better landscape photography. 1 Get up early and stay out late. Make use of the golden hour just before and after sunrise or sunset. This is the best time for landscape photography the low angle of the sun picks out shapes and reveals textures in the landscape. 2 There are three golden rules that help when composing an image. Use the rule of thirds to aid the placement of major focal points or the horizon in an image. If possible include some foreground interest to give a sense of scale and depth. Look for leading lines that will guide your viewer through the image. 3 Dont be bound by the above three rules and dont be afraid to break them A clich233d foreground rock or lines leading in the wrong direction or even worse out of the frame are best avoided. 4 Use a tripod. It will slow down your pace of working but thats a good thing because it will ultimately lead to more considered and fewer shots. Only ... 2011-9-2 16:56:19 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#101001 I think its fair to say that the weather has been somewhat indifferent of late but as the forecast for Monday morning suggested clear skies and mist I thought it would be worth a shot. So at 0430am I dragged myself out of bed and peeked bleary eyed through the curtains to be greeted with twinking stars and some very thin whisps of high level cloud game on As I headed for the hills for once the forecast was correct there was certainly mist a little too much of it. Still beggars cant be choosers so by 0530 I could be found scrambling up the side of the Mendip Hills in the foggy darkness. I often wonder what I would actually do if I bumped into somebody else at this time in the morning in these light levels on the side of a pretty inhospitable hillside. Would I greet them with a cheery hello and carry on my way or would I do my best to avoid them possibly even diving into the nearest bush to remain undetected because after all what sort of weirdo goes hill walking at this time in the mo... 2011-8-23 08:35:36 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#100491 Those that know me are aware that I honestly believe that good landscape images can be found within a short trip of anyones front door regardless of where you live. Its sometimes just a case of looking at the smaller details or adapting your thinking a little. However when an opportunity to take in the sites of the North York Moors arose I certainly wasnt going to pass up on it. I have been there before but not since I was very young so in a lot of ways it was all very new to me. Stunning just about sums it up. I could base myself there for eternity and never run out of fantastic locations. Im very pleased with some of the results and have even decided to launch a UK based gallery on the site for those images that are taken a little further afield I hope you enjoy the results. 2011-8-15 06:26:48 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#99766 It was the first clear evening in what seemed like weeks so I took a walk up on the Mendip Hills towards the high point at Beacon Batch to catch the views towards Blagdon and Chew Valley Lake. To start with everything looked great the sun was sinking slowly lighting up the purple heather beautifully and casting lovely raking shadows down the valley. Then just as a found my spot and set up the sun dropped below a heavy bank of approaching cloud and all was grey again once more. Still on the bright side at least I got home at a reasonable hour..... 2011-8-4 06:56:28 http://www.finchphotography.co.uk/page12.htm#99630 To escape the Monday night TV scheduling nightmare that is back to back episodes of Coronation Street and Eastenders I took a quick trip up the road to Clevedon. The results of the trip can be viewed in the Somerset Gallery under Clevedon Pier . For the most part it was uneventful trip but was brightened by the approach of a well meaning old gent whose arrival I could anticipate by the crunch crunch of his feet on the rocks and pebbles on the beach behind me. He had stopped to ask me a question about the pier apparently because I was taking a photo of it I should also be the font of all knowledge pertaining to it. His arrival was timed to coincide with the mid point of a 50 second exposure and he chose to stand so close to my tripod that the resulting mini landslide of stones and pebbles opended up a small hole on the beach into which one of the legs of my tripod then slowly descended just stopping short of keeling over completely. Still he was hugely apologetic and we could both see t... 2011-8-2 10:41:41