Photographer's Ephemeris

I'm a big fan of the Photographer's Ephemeris. I've come across some youTube videos for it which should hopefully give you some ideas of why I think this program is of value.  You can get this program from Stephen's web site or if you have an iPhone or iPad, then I strongly urge you to get the app he's written for it. It works very nicely on the iPad and I hope to give you all some more insight to my use of it on my travels in the future.

As photographers, there's little point in just going some place and hoping for good light. It can often be that the light is in the wrong place and you've spent a whole day getting some place.

I'm going to Ethiopia later this year to shoot around the rock hewn churches of Lalibela, so I aim to give Stephen's app a bit of a work out on this trip and perhaps a few others around Scotland.

Gitzo

Tonight, I've spent a few hours stripping down my tripods - 1348 and 1228 Gitzo tripods, that I've owned for close on a decade now. What has struck me, is that each time I come home and feel inclined to strip these items down and remove all the sand and grit from them, just how long I've had them and where they've been with me.

Isn't that fantastic? To realise that a tripod you've had for 10 years has been to Cambodia, Cuba, Patagonia, Iceland, Nepal, India, Easter Island and all over Scotland, and with a little care and attention, it is still going strong?

I think so.

My preference, if I were to buy a new tripod, would be for a Manfrotto - I like the clips for the legs, rather than the threaded screws you need to adjust for the Gitzo's, but having stripped down a 10 year old tripod tonight and marvelled that it is still going strong, I doubt that I'll be getting a new tripod for a while.

Now, I'm off to buy that plane ticket for Ethiopia!

New eBook - Visual Sense Released

I'm just back from the isle of Harris. I must say, it's been all go this week...... But I'm pleased to now tell you all that my new eBook, which covers 'visualisation' is now available for purchase on my store.

Please note, you may need to refresh your browser!

It has been an interesting project working on this one, as I feel 'visualisation' is a much more abstract subject to discuss than say, composition. Once I found my thread though, things just seemed to take on a life of their own. Anyway, the subjects discussed in the eBook include:

* Converting a scene from 3D to 2D * Visualising in the aspect ratio of your camera * Understanding lens characteristics and their role in visualisation * Translation of a moving scene into a static one * Visualisation is tightly coupled to Style * Automation and lack of engagement encountered * Reasons that visualisation may fail

This is part 1 of an intended set of 2 eBooks about visualisation. Part 2, will discuss the printing techniques I use in the digital darkroom to realise the final image. But that's a long way off at the moment, so I hope you'll be happy with Part 1.

You can buy The Visual Sense here while I'm off now to have a cup of tea and a well earned rest :-)

Signature Prints now available

Oh, and I also forgot to let you all know about this one! I'm pleased to announce the release of 28 prints which have been categorised into four sections : Scotland, World, People and Black & White.

I chose some of my personal favourites, and also some obvious ones which I'm sure people would love to own.

Each image is strictly limited to an edition of 45. As you can see form the screen shot below, they are printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper and come with a stamp of authenticity on the back. There are details on the site about prices as these start low and will rise as each edition sells out.

You can find the Prints on sale in my store here.

Right, definitely off for that cuppa now, and to watch the telly.