tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55582446565003631372024-03-18T19:32:40.071+00:00George W Evans PhotographyThe blog of George Evans. A Wirral based photographer selling pictorial style photographic prints.George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-22061823482458024392024-01-02T11:32:00.000+00:002024-01-02T11:32:07.994+00:00Bangor on Dee Racecourse<p> As a former photo club member, the subject matter for my photography was wide ranging to fit the monthly competition titles of Landscape, People, Man Made, Pictorial and Illustrative. For club competition purposes Illustrative includes sports and I've occasionally taken the opportunity to visit <a href="https://www.bangorondeeraces.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bangor on Dee Racecourse</a> near Wrexham in North Wales to capture some horse racing action. I'm not a betting man so my visits are concentrated solely on photography. </p><p>Bangor on Dee is a lovely picturesque race course in the middle of the Welsh countryside with no ugly distractions intruding on your backgrounds. It's very visitor friendly and the entry fee to the open course is cheap whether you're a punter or enjoying the racing for your photography. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS9C8qBd784tBjuGuo3TTzG_vx0q3Dy0fJp0NyRBDWMpVK3XxDBxT6s_aeX45AwOjn1HPSkmHMbVSrAT-pQqZHixdWAiaYF_sT8yvHXygJyB-4SsySHojJdq-o4J3-Cqxk2K18a6jj6_lOAo4_S-hxksvsDyqon7QgPTTGPeYCipiWbtviWdy1Uj-CSY/s1400/DSC00287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS9C8qBd784tBjuGuo3TTzG_vx0q3Dy0fJp0NyRBDWMpVK3XxDBxT6s_aeX45AwOjn1HPSkmHMbVSrAT-pQqZHixdWAiaYF_sT8yvHXygJyB-4SsySHojJdq-o4J3-Cqxk2K18a6jj6_lOAo4_S-hxksvsDyqon7QgPTTGPeYCipiWbtviWdy1Uj-CSY/w640-h426/DSC00287.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnicing on the open course</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Car parking is on a wide grassy bank above the open course and you park on the course for free and picnic while enjoying the action with views of the final fence and final hurdle, the finishing post and the first two fences of the course. Entrance to the paddock and parade ring is extra. For views of the furthest action with race commentary a large screen is provided on the inner course opposite the finishing post and the car parks. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4tOUBB2VCCfiDTxkzu803fz8qC8FbVmrXuCFQbbvo6TN7Qeo4C5by0JelUPTw-LxjZveCN7DynNidSjCfUv18ub3ij9bPeNjRtJJ69eJBAwHNW4BotadSSZjtuyYKbCnre4nk9ORGkyfcgKqzkyVWs2bDPa3eu7Hos-5cLln1nD0qc49dIkdFsOKuew/s1400/DSC00247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4tOUBB2VCCfiDTxkzu803fz8qC8FbVmrXuCFQbbvo6TN7Qeo4C5by0JelUPTw-LxjZveCN7DynNidSjCfUv18ub3ij9bPeNjRtJJ69eJBAwHNW4BotadSSZjtuyYKbCnre4nk9ORGkyfcgKqzkyVWs2bDPa3eu7Hos-5cLln1nD0qc49dIkdFsOKuew/w640-h426/DSC00247.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TV screen to follow the race action </td></tr></tbody></table><p>On my first visit to the course a few years ago the stewards on the course allowed me access to the final fence and final hurdle through to the finishing post and beyond to the first two fences covering around 15% of the course and there were plenty of amateur photographers on the course. This gave me the opportunity to capture some nice close up action but on my most recent visit in October 2023 for some unknown reason I was restricted to the first fence which was disappointing. I was the only photographer on the open course so I took some fill in shots using a long lens. The photographs are a mixture from both visits.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO7usNKVyyVN6j2BXFRNPKmrAEYpVlzer4DFUbVx5A9d2zTiKDQxGHQoa-6jLjJc6GYP92RgfTv7NtUuF9qaFW7ewtjfwA0X3SnLYV5ONJx85PnubQPCcFwcjBJo_8P7jxYRnsZ83fn8zH6JnXw3OuxJV-C1cUJrR3vl0AGPubtn4R7L2vKdPdZeqm-k/s1400/DSC00241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO7usNKVyyVN6j2BXFRNPKmrAEYpVlzer4DFUbVx5A9d2zTiKDQxGHQoa-6jLjJc6GYP92RgfTv7NtUuF9qaFW7ewtjfwA0X3SnLYV5ONJx85PnubQPCcFwcjBJo_8P7jxYRnsZ83fn8zH6JnXw3OuxJV-C1cUJrR3vl0AGPubtn4R7L2vKdPdZeqm-k/w640-h426/DSC00241.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Report on the "going" by Sky Sports</td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkeiLQJC1_Lv-qsSUrzE7tJDL2H0Te-a0flvrmLYhLos3nCieCoK5d0al1yV5pP9SSrWNxk20Aozse-paDNrTVLnYLFpDlNWdlfAR0PEawaIa7n98mvt-fGNLBdMVsMhWXKbWlKNu60ynrtSNlfZ5v3ojAtBPQztrNiRSKbwsZgOAgd5IGtFudeOBMY8/s1400/DSC04427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkeiLQJC1_Lv-qsSUrzE7tJDL2H0Te-a0flvrmLYhLos3nCieCoK5d0al1yV5pP9SSrWNxk20Aozse-paDNrTVLnYLFpDlNWdlfAR0PEawaIa7n98mvt-fGNLBdMVsMhWXKbWlKNu60ynrtSNlfZ5v3ojAtBPQztrNiRSKbwsZgOAgd5IGtFudeOBMY8/w426-h640/DSC04427.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On course "bookie"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rqGEHwkX8c-0FecL9Zl3L0fInr__q_gCNXOwFXF1Yw09pWOGVlvo7rOA36yQTuia4oEpYafrxC23A3oDG42TseQ6sG6svPlxhXz-2MHZ89JmZ4ZBU7ITStmnRmlxzGwy-yty0GHaxWAGZUabPsdR451YB_QDnhb2O_JU0EctV9o4s9vs5h8Vx-Jebqk/s1400/DSC04434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rqGEHwkX8c-0FecL9Zl3L0fInr__q_gCNXOwFXF1Yw09pWOGVlvo7rOA36yQTuia4oEpYafrxC23A3oDG42TseQ6sG6svPlxhXz-2MHZ89JmZ4ZBU7ITStmnRmlxzGwy-yty0GHaxWAGZUabPsdR451YB_QDnhb2O_JU0EctV9o4s9vs5h8Vx-Jebqk/w426-h640/DSC04434.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A horse racing fan</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0RzGxHLbe1jsfGXFsA4fd7E-SuMcQ31xx04_SUsADkH5jKcMnGUfqoMXsUJACJe-x1Nfhyphenhyphenczq-aMGI8mV2faB3U76YAVPjxqViYLWYDHys8mOrPu2Ic2frGhZ445vw25-4Z9xXz2bVDzfOxSHCFHLixj4FiQTTQZIQXbZLmHH2GrDJhbvulQDNywISU/s1400/DSC00251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1018" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0RzGxHLbe1jsfGXFsA4fd7E-SuMcQ31xx04_SUsADkH5jKcMnGUfqoMXsUJACJe-x1Nfhyphenhyphenczq-aMGI8mV2faB3U76YAVPjxqViYLWYDHys8mOrPu2Ic2frGhZ445vw25-4Z9xXz2bVDzfOxSHCFHLixj4FiQTTQZIQXbZLmHH2GrDJhbvulQDNywISU/w466-h640/DSC00251.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the parade ring to the course</td></tr></tbody></table><p>On my first visit I was able to get very close, some 4 feet from the final fence and first two fences and the shots were taken using a Zeiss 12mm f2.8 Touit and a Samyang 8mm fisheye lens. The long shots of the hurdling on the inside track were taken with the Sony 70-200mm f4 lens and heavily cropped.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVt6wy8io9Co6Jbax1xtaQUQTAJ7uHXrpCmm8roWrOWHLnvO5ZHwacm-AxwGc8hwmz-yCeCAMcS8SpWDeCi4sRArZUsCODqdAyeMFf7PdKZUjBxEEn7ECvscS2bASeM0-q5VXe8op6y9i4PGOzo-87N54loIXYNjj6igdUI4NjkUg8LZQe8wbwL0krLQo/s1400/bangor8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1400" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVt6wy8io9Co6Jbax1xtaQUQTAJ7uHXrpCmm8roWrOWHLnvO5ZHwacm-AxwGc8hwmz-yCeCAMcS8SpWDeCi4sRArZUsCODqdAyeMFf7PdKZUjBxEEn7ECvscS2bASeM0-q5VXe8op6y9i4PGOzo-87N54loIXYNjj6igdUI4NjkUg8LZQe8wbwL0krLQo/w640-h386/bangor8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final fence</td></tr></tbody></table><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfkAaw2x5w1exa84q6cXtyzTYPzXunGBhLtlgOfAop2OMfDWurg2wUtQz9fddE7813zwbWAwzNJ2MsKD5Bvb-Aez0jgDdL5zRPp8LdluFb26i1a3fkxjuFPlEWz4l8ohaZaDmSkClE82CvDkux9_FTD9aIZeK31a9zKDAKV-UycShUZuzFjlMmgqXQa4/s1400/bangor22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfkAaw2x5w1exa84q6cXtyzTYPzXunGBhLtlgOfAop2OMfDWurg2wUtQz9fddE7813zwbWAwzNJ2MsKD5Bvb-Aez0jgDdL5zRPp8LdluFb26i1a3fkxjuFPlEWz4l8ohaZaDmSkClE82CvDkux9_FTD9aIZeK31a9zKDAKV-UycShUZuzFjlMmgqXQa4/w640-h426/bangor22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first fence</td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjNYuaWEJ8Cnsf8RbhDAsb0P0pLRWYwXz3GW3NcrHViLlwUbXKS3vWdtTjupYevrEm7tEv4VQnkWUhyphenhyphens5u01HpALcDRLwgDIY-zoM8NbvmyPssFPHhoWo1lLKNmAkO3DF3vd7E3UIdoyXeLCMAjzCioQx1bj10aQEdzzlpBFiedy1XR3zxLXWf6HGvZY/s1400/bangor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1400" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjNYuaWEJ8Cnsf8RbhDAsb0P0pLRWYwXz3GW3NcrHViLlwUbXKS3vWdtTjupYevrEm7tEv4VQnkWUhyphenhyphens5u01HpALcDRLwgDIY-zoM8NbvmyPssFPHhoWo1lLKNmAkO3DF3vd7E3UIdoyXeLCMAjzCioQx1bj10aQEdzzlpBFiedy1XR3zxLXWf6HGvZY/w640-h404/bangor1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final hurdle</td></tr></tbody></table><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oevRm_l4-rt_7m58yC6EI-eKjCM5kt6L_ov8PLt-pdnFjm9_CpS2suaV02rTZsf_TrMTS-nPiDFKnpzyfnT8VIuW8BEJq0Bk_stY8IUXrxN8HzFT6fO8dVjObHAYylxCXbZwPDtKlDI4JQ6CSapBYOqWlLyNG4kMZ6C9pwTBzucpKTSfpyuQZEE4Eic/s1400/bangor7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1400" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oevRm_l4-rt_7m58yC6EI-eKjCM5kt6L_ov8PLt-pdnFjm9_CpS2suaV02rTZsf_TrMTS-nPiDFKnpzyfnT8VIuW8BEJq0Bk_stY8IUXrxN8HzFT6fO8dVjObHAYylxCXbZwPDtKlDI4JQ6CSapBYOqWlLyNG4kMZ6C9pwTBzucpKTSfpyuQZEE4Eic/w640-h416/bangor7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurdle race to the finishing post</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>By the time of my recent visit in 2023 my camera gear had changed to the Sony A6700, Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 and the Sony 70-350mm f4.5-6.3. The A6700 has animal eye auto focus and I was using the new camera for the first time to capture action. No matter which camera you use the best settings are Aperture priority and a high enough ISO to freeze the action and this last image was taken with the A6700 and Sony 70-350mm lens. </p><p>It would be a shame if photography on the course was now restricted so check with the course before visiting.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMSvXbj4F7l5l3IxsH0sKI2nUU83JxGHGuKXZySJFP-JcxE_O-XpaKtG3Q-YGe36oEk_fZv-vix9eeC7WiqGz0VGA7-ONJxNcJnKETXdPp_msOgH94DuguW7imumgay6tKAhM8uBq75R9xJ1FwHaE7kxpZ-39WAtMIRyfQDmfDHzPemKzLaAlft612nk/s1400/DSC00301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMSvXbj4F7l5l3IxsH0sKI2nUU83JxGHGuKXZySJFP-JcxE_O-XpaKtG3Q-YGe36oEk_fZv-vix9eeC7WiqGz0VGA7-ONJxNcJnKETXdPp_msOgH94DuguW7imumgay6tKAhM8uBq75R9xJ1FwHaE7kxpZ-39WAtMIRyfQDmfDHzPemKzLaAlft612nk/w640-h426/DSC00301.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gallop to the first fence</td></tr></tbody></table>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-48471789794111178902023-09-11T19:25:00.006+01:002023-09-12T19:39:13.739+01:00Sony A6700 and Sony 75-350mm f4.5-6.3 G OSS Lens<p> I've been a Sony camera user ever since the company bought Minolta and the A mount system about 15 years ago. In fact my first camera was the Sony F717 some 2 years earlier and the decision to upgrade to the Minolta 5D (my first DSLR) was due to their camera's in body stabilisation. It seemed innovative at the time and it made sense. Instead of purchasing lenses with in body stabilisation at a premium price, every lens that you mounted onto the Minolta was stabilised and Sony were very clever when they bought the A mount and that technology.</p><p>Since buying the Minolta 5D it's been Sony all of the way for me because they are innovators and I've gone through a number of camera upgrades over the years from the Sony A700 A mount camera to the Sony A7mk2 E mount camera to the Sony A6400 E mount camera which I've owned since 2018. </p><p>The Sony A6400 has been a very capable camera but there have been a few features from my previous cameras that I've missed such as the in body stabilisation and a fully articulated screen which is needed for low level shooting as I get older. I currently own three very good lenses which aren't stabilised and low light shooting can mean either boosting the ISO with the resulting additional noise or using a tripod. </p><p>In recent years I've passed on the opportunity to purchase the A6500 and A6600 cameras, both of which had in camera stabilisation, because I wanted a leap forward in technology to make upgrading from the A6400 worth the money and such a camera was launched in August 2023 with the Sony A6700.</p><p>I bought the Sony A6700 online from Park Cameras and there was a 33% discount offered on a selection of Sony lenses when bought with the camera. I've tried a number of long lenses during the Covid years and found them either too big and heavy for the compact APSC E mount cameras or the image quality wasn't quite good enough and I sent them back. </p><p>On offer was the Sony 75-350mm f4.5-6.3 G OSS. It was released several years ago but all of the Youtube reviews give it high praise for its sharpness, fast and quiet autofocus, compact size and low weight so I bought it with the camera for a little over £500. </p><p>What a great combination this camera and lens are. Without going through the camera's specs which are excellent my main decision to buy came down to the 5 axis in camera stabilisation, a fully articulated screen, and the dedicated AI chip for help with the autofocus. Artificial intelligence is working it's way into all aspects of our lives and it's now in the A6700. The AI chip allows the user to choose a subject for the autofocus to prioritise such as a Human, Animal / Bird, Bird, Insect and it immediately focuses on and tracks the eye, plus Car / Train and Airplane. Focus is immediate and accurate and the tracking of moving subjects is impressive. It's a huge help. No more focus hunting when the subject is surrounded by a busy background.</p><p>The Sony 75-300mm also focuses at the 350mm length as close as 4' 9" distance from the subject and combined with the A6700 I'm now able to focus on and track moving insects on flowers without scaring them away. Very handy for my flower photography. </p><p>The test images below were all taken with the Sony A6700 and Sony 75-350 lens at the 350mm focal length at f6.3 with the subject chosen on the AI chip. They are straight out of camera with a small crop for compositional purposes. All were shot in JPEG as my software won't yet recognise the cameras RAW images and the insects were shot at around 5 feet distance from the camera. I expect even better results from the RAW files when DXO Photolab is updated.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bZ-fgwM4JgpVR314B4ojwAE1wubuM9vCBIDlctmBx4iMiAduSvxi2S5u2eS7fBYALR9-QcFAJihf8xj8X4-0tOxRO2CcFix9yYIknEiWi0wAgm0xO2QyoNzsNCXkKM2y99DOscJhEklNRFavDHjJC_c99VyYGy0E0UtA4QS7Uus2odSHDmV8GC6M0fc/s1400/DSC00008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bZ-fgwM4JgpVR314B4ojwAE1wubuM9vCBIDlctmBx4iMiAduSvxi2S5u2eS7fBYALR9-QcFAJihf8xj8X4-0tOxRO2CcFix9yYIknEiWi0wAgm0xO2QyoNzsNCXkKM2y99DOscJhEklNRFavDHjJC_c99VyYGy0E0UtA4QS7Uus2odSHDmV8GC6M0fc/w640-h426/DSC00008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocIzHOVN4IIGs_2cgFDUg9r-RD2FkFWAivtUilOWLCZlDC1ZGx9GqkkbNDlAk5L_jT3Y1GsPPxExmgunRH4Y4qhKv_1mvCQFsJFkD1jTac_nTdHGzY6P6ImtF0NCaHkI_HeShOd4Q2OHZhJFiSGjHICWlJWG-J77fDGSvDQe5Ld3EyN6u34PswQ4ibuk/s1400/DSC00010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocIzHOVN4IIGs_2cgFDUg9r-RD2FkFWAivtUilOWLCZlDC1ZGx9GqkkbNDlAk5L_jT3Y1GsPPxExmgunRH4Y4qhKv_1mvCQFsJFkD1jTac_nTdHGzY6P6ImtF0NCaHkI_HeShOd4Q2OHZhJFiSGjHICWlJWG-J77fDGSvDQe5Ld3EyN6u34PswQ4ibuk/w640-h426/DSC00010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZPM2mHGC09U_cM1rJhpJLOBkZ_wBn4uek6NeDKAkY8GyAz5s_78epr3wneh_Z6pwWG6TUeIuBxAH1lHaB4wPtCrVgt5fAXtYdAfoyYZqLdkDOxb5tcczgPkpBsUxtBQmLOnYg2-8FK3DzQr5kfFFYoKMkP4HAx2siQENvjU9IVVjLqfNKPLDxxyHQoo/s1400/DSC00161.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZPM2mHGC09U_cM1rJhpJLOBkZ_wBn4uek6NeDKAkY8GyAz5s_78epr3wneh_Z6pwWG6TUeIuBxAH1lHaB4wPtCrVgt5fAXtYdAfoyYZqLdkDOxb5tcczgPkpBsUxtBQmLOnYg2-8FK3DzQr5kfFFYoKMkP4HAx2siQENvjU9IVVjLqfNKPLDxxyHQoo/w640-h426/DSC00161.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs8tmK2F_eQesSM12PONZDj1dXsnKxSOzNybMR9vldC7c1IBxRmW1iiCXzIcZNk3IWtjfrcBTNS9mczc08MJc_Lm8TQ-E_P5aMRuNUCudkSP24B58M0OfrhMniEAIO5WaO1edgsTNli8BDDPo8hObBWQnQ2hOu22U89aVEzzQzbZeJ9OJ_-ioidg2rFs/s1400/DSC00172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs8tmK2F_eQesSM12PONZDj1dXsnKxSOzNybMR9vldC7c1IBxRmW1iiCXzIcZNk3IWtjfrcBTNS9mczc08MJc_Lm8TQ-E_P5aMRuNUCudkSP24B58M0OfrhMniEAIO5WaO1edgsTNli8BDDPo8hObBWQnQ2hOu22U89aVEzzQzbZeJ9OJ_-ioidg2rFs/w640-h426/DSC00172.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKWDvWLYVzdnyarOlFvuzNqZzxhg3veiukuaD5OKBh5a6ft8oWn6sG33JZh6mr725zMk4GvyWj3VEbvj9hfRqu8UazmYc2Y-JFPAOuZmVPmSydqRFs4Zv427P1J1J3jLanFkovpskx8b5R5CxSNi9a_3e8tvamS1rdYV2rKR5SNXJO7u4AGg5pL7FhsQ/s1400/DSC00179.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKWDvWLYVzdnyarOlFvuzNqZzxhg3veiukuaD5OKBh5a6ft8oWn6sG33JZh6mr725zMk4GvyWj3VEbvj9hfRqu8UazmYc2Y-JFPAOuZmVPmSydqRFs4Zv427P1J1J3jLanFkovpskx8b5R5CxSNi9a_3e8tvamS1rdYV2rKR5SNXJO7u4AGg5pL7FhsQ/w640-h426/DSC00179.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKweZlzwrYgLk4akiISCpkntki220Gn2vGY1WAoI-sqwjdYtevO586Xl4iXu6SL5bJjXK1_9Rc9D_51s0jnX0Hjn2JCfERRhatI3GD5yOJNVtbX1CmbU_SAQvqALlaKgK1ICORonnAeFvKKSfTYNq-3JO8Bubw7ATCf2PaMMYI8rT2ltUwwifNzagT30/s1400/DSC00185.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKweZlzwrYgLk4akiISCpkntki220Gn2vGY1WAoI-sqwjdYtevO586Xl4iXu6SL5bJjXK1_9Rc9D_51s0jnX0Hjn2JCfERRhatI3GD5yOJNVtbX1CmbU_SAQvqALlaKgK1ICORonnAeFvKKSfTYNq-3JO8Bubw7ATCf2PaMMYI8rT2ltUwwifNzagT30/w640-h426/DSC00185.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj48IeZHLwPgbfHC9GUbEqRTpmtDusroY2WwzWpa2gVBbwuwvz1Y2-BwvFso2wgslPT6tQ9vwTGVXmRoQ3yrECAZM4_LrHs-cenh7I5-zuFIA6TyAbxVSYBp-OCJcCVnc0zsiIc4D8YB9auHTnQKYqrMndbvoxTRD4hvJdoULvjTsEQjIhfbAdqA9JuF4/s1400/DSC00194.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj48IeZHLwPgbfHC9GUbEqRTpmtDusroY2WwzWpa2gVBbwuwvz1Y2-BwvFso2wgslPT6tQ9vwTGVXmRoQ3yrECAZM4_LrHs-cenh7I5-zuFIA6TyAbxVSYBp-OCJcCVnc0zsiIc4D8YB9auHTnQKYqrMndbvoxTRD4hvJdoULvjTsEQjIhfbAdqA9JuF4/w640-h426/DSC00194.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmRuoZrFVc4j-TrvIpMFLgEPMwafYZJlClRCXm1TaU06BuRGCqNFUqUU3MbfO21LvmIpdDRek7mbZM0hlvWIq46iFNi66iIRPsGsbE929Jay0N4Hn8CjzfFoME8UJuMqPYI1b2AYxyh4er3fAZVfDn9wHsrcGFeOcVmEUqpmO3hE2VwJfRh4UXw0_G6Y/s1400/DSC00202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmRuoZrFVc4j-TrvIpMFLgEPMwafYZJlClRCXm1TaU06BuRGCqNFUqUU3MbfO21LvmIpdDRek7mbZM0hlvWIq46iFNi66iIRPsGsbE929Jay0N4Hn8CjzfFoME8UJuMqPYI1b2AYxyh4er3fAZVfDn9wHsrcGFeOcVmEUqpmO3hE2VwJfRh4UXw0_G6Y/w640-h426/DSC00202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LyfWNUEqVvoVhneVJYuqlQuConW10YP0Ayb5P1cXf7M1PIXKdAgcw1borgykfh46ADGtVBLnCyF_48XRquZooGDkTKbecita0zq6WxnOZbqI41rerP7Bn0WDc2gU78g4RLq6i0YjQICNR4Nua65OF76L2G6yBsrIKLrKV7jQ9KJKFCirOrRJLUmbaHA/s1400/DSC00207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LyfWNUEqVvoVhneVJYuqlQuConW10YP0Ayb5P1cXf7M1PIXKdAgcw1borgykfh46ADGtVBLnCyF_48XRquZooGDkTKbecita0zq6WxnOZbqI41rerP7Bn0WDc2gU78g4RLq6i0YjQICNR4Nua65OF76L2G6yBsrIKLrKV7jQ9KJKFCirOrRJLUmbaHA/w640-h426/DSC00207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>To say I'm delighted with this camera and lens combination is an understatement. I've only had them for two weeks but I've now got a camera that will keep me shooting for many years ahead. In fact due to my age it's likely to be my last camera. Happy shooting everyone.</p>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-74168032379648460862023-04-11T14:01:00.002+01:002023-04-12T16:55:37.484+01:00Wirral Open Studio Tour 2023<p> I've been a supporter of the <a href="https://wirralarts.com/" target="_blank">Wirral Open Studio Tour (WOST)</a> for several years as it's an important showcase for artistic talent on the Wirral Peninsula. I took part in my first two tours by opening my studio at home in Saughall Massie and did the next five WOST from the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum in Oxton. </p><p>Following a brief pause due to Covid I'm back on the tour again and I'll be opening up my beautiful garden in Girtrell Road, Saughall Massie to the public where you will have the opportunity to view and purchase my prints or to just talk photography with me.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbN7Lra-UETlleT0NKFvJqALS_C6jjpenCpMvzIdqBaUqBK9mp3weIm8CObs6IUHxAgEnHqKXEnXFgUHftNr5JcG6AesHr7s7BLjXBG-ssV8w9ucDxjg2vnvrnoi8kHa5ua5MaIS_jjVPcJiXZjek-qbkprLyHhO6-ZgCfeUzmsCsXys2oyWJKDsAA/s1024/George-Evans-Light-Painting.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1024" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbN7Lra-UETlleT0NKFvJqALS_C6jjpenCpMvzIdqBaUqBK9mp3weIm8CObs6IUHxAgEnHqKXEnXFgUHftNr5JcG6AesHr7s7BLjXBG-ssV8w9ucDxjg2vnvrnoi8kHa5ua5MaIS_jjVPcJiXZjek-qbkprLyHhO6-ZgCfeUzmsCsXys2oyWJKDsAA/w400-h350/George-Evans-Light-Painting.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fibre Optic Light Painting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Accompanying me this year will be internationally renowned artist <a href="https://wirralarts.com/portfolio/daniel-meakin/">Daniel Meakin</a> who is taking part in his first open tour having recently moved to the Wirral from Spain. In 1999 Daniel was awarded an MA in European Fine Art in Barcelona. Check out his profile and those of the other 80 artists taking part from this link to the <a href="https://wirralarts.com/" target="_blank">WOST 2023</a>. </p><p>Our Studio in Girtrell Road will be open from 6pm - 9pm on Friday 9th June, 10am - 5pm on Saturday and Sunday 10 - 11th June. Thousands of tour brochures will be available to pick up throughout the Wirral or you can download your own brochure from the WOST website and start planning your tour of artists. </p>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-9070716669339993242023-04-10T20:33:00.000+01:002023-04-10T20:33:36.919+01:00Milk, Oil and Paint<p>During the Winter months I've been experimenting with photography at home. When the nights get shorter I do light painting in the dark evenings in my spare bedroom and shoot macro during the day time. I'm a great fan of Youtube for inspiration and there are quite a few tutorials on macro photography using milk, oil and paint. </p><p>The technique is quite simple and the abstract results are unpredictable and fascinating. A macro lens on a tripod is needed with a remote cable or trigger for the best results. Place a centimeter of full fat milk in a small glass dish. Add a small amount of olive oil or sunflower oil to a cup and mix up some colours of acrylic paint individually with some water to make a solution. Pour two or three colours of paint into the oil, give the cup a little swirl, then gently pour over the milk and watch the results form.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0_qXVpeRnNT91BEwd3TH_Ur2lwZG4I_Pu9sekfPsrb9qxEgpPVEjdWZiYmT2vYiE37FpuRmL6AABbS240zJwS0XjwGW0LWZQuuvjYXQ0E5c8zZKwRwMmM9AddsMq2x5jzoisAJmuMcvch9LftcymK-LxbiWyi5dV1dTUtgTZD6c2WzbRzxANf3DR/s1400/337700976_736933738068342_901714543352767050_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0_qXVpeRnNT91BEwd3TH_Ur2lwZG4I_Pu9sekfPsrb9qxEgpPVEjdWZiYmT2vYiE37FpuRmL6AABbS240zJwS0XjwGW0LWZQuuvjYXQ0E5c8zZKwRwMmM9AddsMq2x5jzoisAJmuMcvch9LftcymK-LxbiWyi5dV1dTUtgTZD6c2WzbRzxANf3DR/w640-h640/337700976_736933738068342_901714543352767050_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The mixture of milk, oil and watery paint forms a universe of coloured swirls and macro planets. Using a tooth pick you can move the bubbles of paint around to create different abstract patterns and swirls. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKCIPfSCVRdioQP_Vt0anjg6ncty4re11MvWwamzYmSVbfjPFoGybsdVYtX7hZz3iDXdOHaP1KAnCtbau7elWdGnor38XGm52vTFLw6uAAGUokme8iPp3Z8s8zsICppDJs8wj-x1Bzx7zp2YSdTmBx_YFtzquCxUQl6Cru4WdHF1jz13d_axd4JJe/s1400/337872852_234085199094841_1314544911507454543_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKCIPfSCVRdioQP_Vt0anjg6ncty4re11MvWwamzYmSVbfjPFoGybsdVYtX7hZz3iDXdOHaP1KAnCtbau7elWdGnor38XGm52vTFLw6uAAGUokme8iPp3Z8s8zsICppDJs8wj-x1Bzx7zp2YSdTmBx_YFtzquCxUQl6Cru4WdHF1jz13d_axd4JJe/w640-h426/337872852_234085199094841_1314544911507454543_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>For a different result get in closer to capture the picture within the picture using extension tubes if necessary. There are micro worlds to discover within the macro world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_50rDCvnxb5YUy8Bz5Jph7VgUjWsocOQb49XTof-kGNmTaiiByKu_RfeZBKXeK8CITkYrEunIKxht5uo2aMsVtC-NyBBSObv_J96meLpWRUtXVMjG6dh0pfLM-NvNy7bp8jU57qBfydqpjzjed0O_KKKsnchiDFQ6kKFdFLaXIrjld4ZPpzhdyHI5/s1400/337676359_148460044814990_8103590694464531305_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_50rDCvnxb5YUy8Bz5Jph7VgUjWsocOQb49XTof-kGNmTaiiByKu_RfeZBKXeK8CITkYrEunIKxht5uo2aMsVtC-NyBBSObv_J96meLpWRUtXVMjG6dh0pfLM-NvNy7bp8jU57qBfydqpjzjed0O_KKKsnchiDFQ6kKFdFLaXIrjld4ZPpzhdyHI5/w640-h426/337676359_148460044814990_8103590694464531305_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMpYPH1GBpbmdTr-vUSz6nV2syRdeyohnGf22JoPZ0iv2JRFmZZ_QEff3nKYIXNRdPjw3elJKxLV6DulPY2SoITA4eelVyYqWWSAas33BoLZ0r3hQT1A-84GzyvrAN1EO9jlj4CzMpF1Yi_Rwca49QZAqQ-1E_PXENusUh2cRcOtVi18OaGfVAhz_/s1400/339755276_6509676142384699_664006608118612199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMpYPH1GBpbmdTr-vUSz6nV2syRdeyohnGf22JoPZ0iv2JRFmZZ_QEff3nKYIXNRdPjw3elJKxLV6DulPY2SoITA4eelVyYqWWSAas33BoLZ0r3hQT1A-84GzyvrAN1EO9jlj4CzMpF1Yi_Rwca49QZAqQ-1E_PXENusUh2cRcOtVi18OaGfVAhz_/w640-h426/339755276_6509676142384699_664006608118612199_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Change your colour combinations to achieve different results. Experiment with different oil and paint solutions. Olive oil is heavier and thicker than sunflower oil and adding more water to the acrylic paint offers a different result. To stir things up a little add a dab of watery washing up liquid using a cotton bud and watch the coloured world explode and shoot the resulting chaos. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC5J8rRXaGnMNdi9Iva7X2djXF2pvSjtOzh1wX1FtLK9Nav45Cs9FSPsdTvsLuke2PqQS9jSVKlsyTcGCOW6-sQznmapjou06FCN1dsLkn_InDK6KM_yUK2lJ5fqQRmJ3C6HSZPpuIuEpRgqIlzut8tsFBgpAlV3HO5xFZmFpL11XI8XBdXYz-y-H/s1400/337709745_501731968653776_4083689597825692421_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC5J8rRXaGnMNdi9Iva7X2djXF2pvSjtOzh1wX1FtLK9Nav45Cs9FSPsdTvsLuke2PqQS9jSVKlsyTcGCOW6-sQznmapjou06FCN1dsLkn_InDK6KM_yUK2lJ5fqQRmJ3C6HSZPpuIuEpRgqIlzut8tsFBgpAlV3HO5xFZmFpL11XI8XBdXYz-y-H/w640-h426/337709745_501731968653776_4083689597825692421_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuWIIKZi72chJ64Tkghm45by9ktltdXxkQdbViZGSQDUTP46j6Cb4NsPa6qdYadDJwk91fbCx4L41IPWhn-IZhfHGuVPZ4WXqx3FKalenx6C6fPypymz-hYmGzZBnF0Z2_Mm5buimT7NYSJpTZI2S1cjQfw840oXaYrC-D7MhPkotHCxY3h7vahN7/s1400/339851661_792073465621067_4158120266236019643_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuWIIKZi72chJ64Tkghm45by9ktltdXxkQdbViZGSQDUTP46j6Cb4NsPa6qdYadDJwk91fbCx4L41IPWhn-IZhfHGuVPZ4WXqx3FKalenx6C6fPypymz-hYmGzZBnF0Z2_Mm5buimT7NYSJpTZI2S1cjQfw840oXaYrC-D7MhPkotHCxY3h7vahN7/w640-h426/339851661_792073465621067_4158120266236019643_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R58CoxP25pE2urPb2xnyir8ya4x8xC4iUrADVQgGfa-__6etDK8UQs1XzktEs3Z9Ln360XAo7u6BuUuAJQbwTLzzGw5B5SsHDTNXIcQJMZfM6pc00So1ozSV8o9w0QoSDqFPyQNF8FIzOZzR2-1qJpqA-mowK1dZZcc6R-J0nt3MRnK3w2lXp5z_/s1400/339430668_172207292362181_9187612376353854237_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R58CoxP25pE2urPb2xnyir8ya4x8xC4iUrADVQgGfa-__6etDK8UQs1XzktEs3Z9Ln360XAo7u6BuUuAJQbwTLzzGw5B5SsHDTNXIcQJMZfM6pc00So1ozSV8o9w0QoSDqFPyQNF8FIzOZzR2-1qJpqA-mowK1dZZcc6R-J0nt3MRnK3w2lXp5z_/w640-h426/339430668_172207292362181_9187612376353854237_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>As a project for a wet Winters day shooting milk, oil, and paint in a petri dish is fun and the results would test the painting skills of the very best artist. Now that Spring has finally arrived my focus is back to the outdoors again. </p>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-62735602044736996802023-01-27T22:42:00.001+00:002023-01-27T22:44:11.156+00:00Photographing Flowers in Milk<p>Youtube, what a great source of knowledge. Whenever I'm stuck for inspiration for photography at home during the Winter months I turn to Youtube. I put in some search words and up pops videos containing wonderful ideas that I've never seen before. </p><p>One such tutorial was on photographing flowers in milk. Not to be confused with photographing pregnant women or babies bathing in milk with flower floating on top, this sole video that sprung up from a totally irrelevant search term concentrated on photographing the flowers and not the models. </p><p>The technique was to mix together a 2cm solution of water and milk so that its slightly translucent in a shallow glass dish. Placing flowers in the milky solution gives the impression that the flowers are emerging from the solution. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11BNZqGcK-ta-1cUW-dnyzkS1z93S6eGTyvCbfGTuywtggCj614Y4IkeTEmWqbz47GUDHOSTETLocFWAJo5S-W97wdRj7QTtJySCARbiDxEIaZq8csAy2SsLD7o-1IyEb5kUJUTxAmxrZA5k3jdlolakjJCWInVcsub2M8QnnCfm2xLq-uFg_XsM6/s1000/FM1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11BNZqGcK-ta-1cUW-dnyzkS1z93S6eGTyvCbfGTuywtggCj614Y4IkeTEmWqbz47GUDHOSTETLocFWAJo5S-W97wdRj7QTtJySCARbiDxEIaZq8csAy2SsLD7o-1IyEb5kUJUTxAmxrZA5k3jdlolakjJCWInVcsub2M8QnnCfm2xLq-uFg_XsM6/w640-h640/FM1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I initially tried placing the dish over a light pad but the bottom light produced an ugly yellow cast in the solution so I used a white sheet of paper below instead. With the camera on a tripod directly above, a simple flashlight was used off center in the natural light of my bedroom as a fill light so as not to produce a reflection in the cameras lens. I took a series of shots changing the exposure with each shot and later chose the best image to process. The small square dish dictated the square format of the finished shot. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhELUJjIehY8qCKPD6yrzvDftxLxq9wFKILYPxfxkHADphmvq1VqYMbEjM1vnGjC-7f-aw-fJTPlXSfLfzoEEhDzEjdPUl7dZPQIjhW6wiQAWJT0Hx3wphyz7Nv4mrr5254JCiLdv7Cd8DUIx5Lwp_LMHKgmVdk69PExq2AbzSwRmfTCHpktXsLuc/s1000/Rose%20in%20Milk1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhELUJjIehY8qCKPD6yrzvDftxLxq9wFKILYPxfxkHADphmvq1VqYMbEjM1vnGjC-7f-aw-fJTPlXSfLfzoEEhDzEjdPUl7dZPQIjhW6wiQAWJT0Hx3wphyz7Nv4mrr5254JCiLdv7Cd8DUIx5Lwp_LMHKgmVdk69PExq2AbzSwRmfTCHpktXsLuc/w640-h640/Rose%20in%20Milk1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I like the simplicity of the first image above but given the plain background I experimented with adding a texture and a border using Topaz Texture Effects 2. The right choice of texture gives the impression that the flowers are frozen in an ice block. <p></p><p>Another example of flowers in milk without and with the same texture treatment are below. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9sM5ZX4H9S_KfQtFUJrt9ceqpB-qHUyU6IRgMhAY8aYQsqT6Pe0gAgKraFdcyFxRwDMaC4p7ol2NgQj_wzDQlEPQLTpcnEhwlzEi6Ke-4w9BnIqyx5aooG6Nv_NZOCF0wUBr7rV0xGfI5U6nANIIW_4q_BvtOelR9IDilaIuqwYp0NuIix6aplK7/s1000/FM2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9sM5ZX4H9S_KfQtFUJrt9ceqpB-qHUyU6IRgMhAY8aYQsqT6Pe0gAgKraFdcyFxRwDMaC4p7ol2NgQj_wzDQlEPQLTpcnEhwlzEi6Ke-4w9BnIqyx5aooG6Nv_NZOCF0wUBr7rV0xGfI5U6nANIIW_4q_BvtOelR9IDilaIuqwYp0NuIix6aplK7/w640-h640/FM2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSVYW0eWC1-MniJzxXLwwpDbHWPXaCMuD8_0RG8vAGBwVAeMzQ85eH6lOavA9nYVO2MnVtBSFTSq172H0-dbjm11F869oyow2Y3xuFT13IlHb6fQ6C-Y9hFa67ECX5Wkma0fhcgOSsBzIANccNMStou42_u0YsCfhu549qUmgsXbbxmaOc1VLP3Zi/s1000/Rose%20in%20Milk2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSVYW0eWC1-MniJzxXLwwpDbHWPXaCMuD8_0RG8vAGBwVAeMzQ85eH6lOavA9nYVO2MnVtBSFTSq172H0-dbjm11F869oyow2Y3xuFT13IlHb6fQ6C-Y9hFa67ECX5Wkma0fhcgOSsBzIANccNMStou42_u0YsCfhu549qUmgsXbbxmaOc1VLP3Zi/w640-h640/Rose%20in%20Milk2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I later played around with adding food colouring but it just resulted in a mess. A watery acrylic paint just sank to the bottom. There must be some way of adding a splash of colour to the surface of the milky solution.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The dilemma now is which image is the best for printing to hang on a wall? It's 50/50 for me but as an experiment I think both images work. I'm now looking for some flowers with a good structure and a larger dish to shoot in portrait and landscape mode to take the technique further. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-39625963916825479012021-12-16T22:08:00.005+00:002021-12-18T14:50:55.487+00:00Light Painting<p>I don't photograph very often during the Winter months due to the cold shortened days and family commitments. Last Winter I discovered light painting and I enjoyed spending evenings in the comfort of a darkened dining room with a camera, tripod and cable release creating images using cheap torches and a small collection of specialist light painting tools. My first attempts at light painting were at first very frustrating as I got used to the technique whilst fumbling around in the dark for the tools and accidently kicking the tripod but I ended the Winter months with some photographs that I'm proud to have taken. You can read about my first foray into light painting <a href="https://www.gwevansphotography.com/2020/12/painting-with-light.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIVUqlDLEzasGAsFCTKPx7NQdrCOG9yvMWL6ojk58j9_Q1uVKvvQkvFzgYmbNegpq8JxwrzDTOEUh-7ajZTxd4bY41PRgyNM__acNpaZ-F-PXcCZQ7801SWU6weiFlk_h2KJ6h8z6iuj42ouQGNSPOIBU6NIMqlRFbOmBxHhGJD2L1_a34zEgd0I-Z=s1600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1354" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIVUqlDLEzasGAsFCTKPx7NQdrCOG9yvMWL6ojk58j9_Q1uVKvvQkvFzgYmbNegpq8JxwrzDTOEUh-7ajZTxd4bY41PRgyNM__acNpaZ-F-PXcCZQ7801SWU6weiFlk_h2KJ6h8z6iuj42ouQGNSPOIBU6NIMqlRFbOmBxHhGJD2L1_a34zEgd0I-Z=w542-h640" width="542" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hot Stuff" - Black Fibre Optic brush and yellow gel</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This Winter is the second chapter of my light painting journey. I've invested in some extra tools to expand the possibilities and also to make life more efficient. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7t9rBjg1csRpBeqM1rpkoHIg7RvV1gQguWYYcjXnpNhtEhFMVxDjBvxetmDC5nubj5qXxme_z3TzZ4dNppjGAwUsvUrvqp8EslpCWXz0lWQQkESKlEBZX-IGdX85SsUvfPBtgQmdKJy5ZxK7yU1BsHRO9hvx4AI9ANOQV_iZrR2RBz6_F83jvKAh6=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1000" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7t9rBjg1csRpBeqM1rpkoHIg7RvV1gQguWYYcjXnpNhtEhFMVxDjBvxetmDC5nubj5qXxme_z3TzZ4dNppjGAwUsvUrvqp8EslpCWXz0lWQQkESKlEBZX-IGdX85SsUvfPBtgQmdKJy5ZxK7yU1BsHRO9hvx4AI9ANOQV_iZrR2RBz6_F83jvKAh6=w640-h378" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My light painting tools</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I've added a set of colour hoods, screw on colour gels, an extendable white sword all from <a href="https://lightpaintingbrushes.com/" target="_blank">Light Painting Brushes</a> and liquid chalk. This Winter has been frustrating because my only model, granddaughter Bess has moved across town so I've had to be content with still life setups so far using a guitar and a violin against a black sheet.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqpfYMSNR8ezjVmDJdIp_aXtMvRBjWreD4n9QXiBEr_doCl79-oOHLH1Ex5eU6YJsVvedk0hNrEQFi05vSkV_bWi2NwCxgSzRB_WvIzV4MAM-6RzR7wesi8RAlqyWCiGS4OcAabFi38F7WNY9CV-9WTjJC6eBoxXcpoHsFliXzkoycbYPnjMfhvLAc=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqpfYMSNR8ezjVmDJdIp_aXtMvRBjWreD4n9QXiBEr_doCl79-oOHLH1Ex5eU6YJsVvedk0hNrEQFi05vSkV_bWi2NwCxgSzRB_WvIzV4MAM-6RzR7wesi8RAlqyWCiGS4OcAabFi38F7WNY9CV-9WTjJC6eBoxXcpoHsFliXzkoycbYPnjMfhvLAc=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>The colour hoods have proven to be a very good investment. They simply push onto a rubber universal connector which holds any cheap torch and colour is directed towards a subject without light spillage hitting the camera sensor. </p><p>In this case (above) several colours were used on sections of the guitar in short bursts and a white fibre optic brush with a blue screw on gel attached was used to frame the guitar. Completed in a single 90 sec exposure in a dark bedroom. No photoshopping has been done to any of the images. They're all straight out of camera with basic noise reduction, contrast and vibrancy added.</p><p>Once I'd worked out the technique, strength and timing of the torches it was a simple case of varying the composition and finish of the image using different tools and colours.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXaLpAqvyTnBTVHXF1En-d5X1HaFxEZDwdas-6FkZm7FKXG63vQ0gHnSgeU8kc5A-bwXsO9MVXHqjKRLsm8a_WGQD5KrkFtTx-i7ADwUu_r6JS5pa6lAAeC_0q7WMqPJ8ewMCFJoFYWhMjKJbS0StsMgRrKM63-8RNQ_EPu1FwgEEeoe4TjwtFvf-N=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXaLpAqvyTnBTVHXF1En-d5X1HaFxEZDwdas-6FkZm7FKXG63vQ0gHnSgeU8kc5A-bwXsO9MVXHqjKRLsm8a_WGQD5KrkFtTx-i7ADwUu_r6JS5pa6lAAeC_0q7WMqPJ8ewMCFJoFYWhMjKJbS0StsMgRrKM63-8RNQ_EPu1FwgEEeoe4TjwtFvf-N=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNciQ1gMQJriDgujuh8-uuietoGzozWQAehPwjiuqCsVlr2nhrN22gSDDpvjQSi4O9MJlJFoF8paeXeFmIRMTMgMmZT3KTFfQZ-TCvIMZD_Jm6sUnI1elMFkKizeCT6PINjdLMWfG7VlXrDJFvBEjE0ReRUM3Uh7kXMsDuL980vKMk0D3XDVqGw2bp=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNciQ1gMQJriDgujuh8-uuietoGzozWQAehPwjiuqCsVlr2nhrN22gSDDpvjQSi4O9MJlJFoF8paeXeFmIRMTMgMmZT3KTFfQZ-TCvIMZD_Jm6sUnI1elMFkKizeCT6PINjdLMWfG7VlXrDJFvBEjE0ReRUM3Uh7kXMsDuL980vKMk0D3XDVqGw2bp=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdTFgPZkuwv9kkmoLgcLBpS-8Vurb1hRi81dVJIo0LdxquFPpgKPQmeKFOjxKbie6JQClGCV_2EUsvKXFbuQlHvr1kVjQr_74y2gtoqN-ceeujFCl7ZiAklpU2ZdfUTAL00DdtYT49gAOIBepOccRuWNqigauvBygM3tursrLoE4AzamLQHdB_sfBr=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="1000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdTFgPZkuwv9kkmoLgcLBpS-8Vurb1hRi81dVJIo0LdxquFPpgKPQmeKFOjxKbie6JQClGCV_2EUsvKXFbuQlHvr1kVjQr_74y2gtoqN-ceeujFCl7ZiAklpU2ZdfUTAL00DdtYT49gAOIBepOccRuWNqigauvBygM3tursrLoE4AzamLQHdB_sfBr=w640-h384" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRo-n0HzwymWNhSmbfTVIpq6qB0e6hTRY9EdgONkY8kczxI7nS6y23CGGqRpXCn-CceeYKxtKeadSAPP2OsUAMSB7-ABF8FV6qlMUmPGm3Nm0hzGdX7N71KsutfsxKmMqdimV3pK_orLimAU3eubY5GvJK5M3SPt477YFortLVsmu9zPpnpTxDkyU9=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRo-n0HzwymWNhSmbfTVIpq6qB0e6hTRY9EdgONkY8kczxI7nS6y23CGGqRpXCn-CceeYKxtKeadSAPP2OsUAMSB7-ABF8FV6qlMUmPGm3Nm0hzGdX7N71KsutfsxKmMqdimV3pK_orLimAU3eubY5GvJK5M3SPt477YFortLVsmu9zPpnpTxDkyU9=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>One thing that I discovered was that the guitar was constructed from a light coloured wood which took the coloured light well, whereas the violin was made from a darker wood which didn't take the colour from the hoods at all.</p><p>I'm very happy with the results using the new tools and with the Christmas holiday fast approaching I'll take a rest and work out my next light painting project for the new year. </p><p>In the meantime I've put together a short audio / visual display entitled "An Introduction to Light Painting" with a selection of light painting photographs taken over the last 12 months. You can find it on <a href="https://vimeo.com/654302061" target="_blank">Vimeo</a> or from the <a href="https://www.gwevansphotography.com/p/audio-visual-presentations.html">Audio Visual Presentation</a> page on this blog. </p>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-23859848879635665252021-10-17T21:36:00.000+01:002021-10-17T21:36:24.121+01:00Metamorphosis<p> I've recently created an audio visual presentation on Vimeo entitled <a href="https://vimeo.com/634392258" target="_blank">"Metamorphosis"</a> which shows that adding texture layers to flower photographs can create results with an ethereal or painterly look. Adding textures to flowers can turn a straight record shot into a piece of artwork. It also allows you to hide distracting backgrounds or objects which draws the eye to the main subject. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy40E1xgC0TrEOfksdfRgMBz-3jFNSjWL5DTh3YKMcJSVwJOcixUqahGKKy044zC4NOu3tILYmWEukhZ7daXXtxJwQAbd3CVo6gP9SSn7ZqHfm70kwHAPd85PpZZIVlFTvDPMQJ3WHlHc0IPMM6GyqN1IE_XrY9RZ0jQ57k1RTcwYwQbtz9J9rButJ=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy40E1xgC0TrEOfksdfRgMBz-3jFNSjWL5DTh3YKMcJSVwJOcixUqahGKKy044zC4NOu3tILYmWEukhZ7daXXtxJwQAbd3CVo6gP9SSn7ZqHfm70kwHAPd85PpZZIVlFTvDPMQJ3WHlHc0IPMM6GyqN1IE_XrY9RZ0jQ57k1RTcwYwQbtz9J9rButJ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aster "Small Ness"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJd5R7mzZPeLT1k-TG4rWdIMsN2bSQ3AHcCrPn2JSnstNabiyhzUzoAN_9p7WpjR6S78nEGRzICWupymLSzT0LDMU3QjZa-hDoRhm_jYO1_k47wAz5Cdw5Nt02QsvTru8rfONbJ2XJPOjG7gDaNO4ynnTa9bk6DG0_sAvhUU2nSSMaU6_-ZwfibixZ=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJd5R7mzZPeLT1k-TG4rWdIMsN2bSQ3AHcCrPn2JSnstNabiyhzUzoAN_9p7WpjR6S78nEGRzICWupymLSzT0LDMU3QjZa-hDoRhm_jYO1_k47wAz5Cdw5Nt02QsvTru8rfONbJ2XJPOjG7gDaNO4ynnTa9bk6DG0_sAvhUU2nSSMaU6_-ZwfibixZ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured Flower</td></tr></tbody></table>The video which is set to copyright free music shows in real time the metamorphosis from basic image to finished textured flower. Some of the finished flowers have been created using textures purchased from Kathleen Clemons website, while others have been created using my own textures. <div><br /></div><div>You will also find the video on the <a href="https://www.gwevansphotography.com/p/audio-visual-presentations.html" target="_blank">Audio Visual Presentations</a> page of this blog.</div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-87555879309320120622021-08-05T18:02:00.004+01:002021-08-08T23:24:17.337+01:00Macro Flowers - An Old Dog With New Tricks<p> I've had a long standing love of macro flower photography. Indeed one of the first lenses I owned when I bought my first DSLR was a Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro lens. The lens got a lot of use in 15 yrs until I sold it in exchange for the stabilised Sony FE 90mm f2.8 macro lens.</p><p>The old Tamron had no image stabilisation, and neither have any of the Sony mirrorless cameras that I've owned including the A6400 that I use today and that dictated my macro workflow when shooting flowers forcing me to use a tripod. Hand holding the camera was out of the question without greatly bumping up the ISO to get a fast enough shutter speed to get a sharp image. </p><p>My technique was always to use a tripod with manual focus and the camera set to "Manual" mode. There was a slow process of identifying the composition that I wanted, framing the shot by moving the tripod centimeter by centimeter back and forth while at the same time adjusting the tripod ball head, manually focusing then waiting for the wind to die down or for an insect to land on the flower before shooting. </p><p>With the f-stop chosen to get the correct depth of field and some background bokeh, when the light changed I'd adjust the shutter speed to compensate. Sometimes I'd shoot with the tripod ball head loosened off to give me some freedom when shooting. </p><p>Because photographing flowers is best carried out in soft diffused light without harsh shadows, I bought a Lastolite Trigrip 75cm Difflector which would be held between the Sun and the flower to soften the light on bright days. With the camera on a tripod I had a free hand to hold the diffuser above the flower.</p><p>The difflector uniquely is a 1 f-stop diffuser on one side with a reflector on the other and the large plastic grip makes holding with one hand a doddle. The difflector folds up into a small round bag for carrying.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXsmI4oAiDc/YQv3HjLSNfI/AAAAAAAAAn8/ydG_-M9M2zonhNJBni3TTlJRHh_78oSuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s666/DSC01553.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="666" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXsmI4oAiDc/YQv3HjLSNfI/AAAAAAAAAn8/ydG_-M9M2zonhNJBni3TTlJRHh_78oSuQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/DSC01553.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lastolite Trigrip 75cm Difflector</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This technique has given me some great results over the years but the flowers, such as the Agapanthus and Rhodochiton below, were more like record shots of flowers and there was something missing. There was no artistic merit or ethereal mood in the photographs.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SH4nk5Tqc4/YQqdcSKegMI/AAAAAAAAAls/cq8bjPIcE442_qYWvxyNFeAL-OZNKacHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/flower65.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SH4nk5Tqc4/YQqdcSKegMI/AAAAAAAAAls/cq8bjPIcE442_qYWvxyNFeAL-OZNKacHwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/flower65.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agapanthus</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usTOfGDDqHk/YQvx_6wK8xI/AAAAAAAAAnk/7k1SViHf3tAFjA_H393FuxW4EZZU9B4EACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Rhodochiton1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usTOfGDDqHk/YQvx_6wK8xI/AAAAAAAAAnk/7k1SViHf3tAFjA_H393FuxW4EZZU9B4EACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/Rhodochiton1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhodochiton</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>Two years ago I discovered <a href="https://www.kathleenclemonsphotography.com/" target="_blank">Kathleen Clemons</a>, a wonderful flower photographer in the United States. Kathleen is a Lensbaby ambassador. She uses their lenses extensively to create an ethereal mood in camera, but she also adds textured layers to her flower photographs during post processing to create flowers with a painterly feel. </p><p>I'm not fond of Lensbaby lenses but I purchased her E-book tutorial and some of her textures and started to recreate my own macro flower art using the back catalogue of flower record shots that I've taken for years.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51arksoYdiw/YQrDdY1E9OI/AAAAAAAAAmE/nTEHmkUuIUsNfZxtAlCjj24amhkvUOBZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Echinops%2Band%2BBee.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51arksoYdiw/YQrDdY1E9OI/AAAAAAAAAmE/nTEHmkUuIUsNfZxtAlCjj24amhkvUOBZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Echinops%2Band%2BBee.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Echinops</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhwXbBvz-zg/YQqgnRKrhlI/AAAAAAAAAl0/T_TM_sTorxkZZyRfQ0HcpPcQZ4sJb2rjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Globethistle%2BTexture1-gigapixel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhwXbBvz-zg/YQqgnRKrhlI/AAAAAAAAAl0/T_TM_sTorxkZZyRfQ0HcpPcQZ4sJb2rjACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Globethistle%2BTexture1-gigapixel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Echinops with Texture</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RqTh51T6IHw/YQv0anyi6QI/AAAAAAAAAns/-4amvwEfS5khSSe6QbWrR3MajlH2qAmoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Nectaroscordum%2Bsiculum%2BTexture1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RqTh51T6IHw/YQv0anyi6QI/AAAAAAAAAns/-4amvwEfS5khSSe6QbWrR3MajlH2qAmoQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Nectaroscordum%2Bsiculum%2BTexture1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nectaroscordum with Texture</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OlodO3AHIok/YQwYoDiufmI/AAAAAAAAAoE/HiEE8UDULRAyONMmssomlFqcYukOJOjdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Autumn%2BCrocus%2BTexture1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OlodO3AHIok/YQwYoDiufmI/AAAAAAAAAoE/HiEE8UDULRAyONMmssomlFqcYukOJOjdQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/Autumn%2BCrocus%2BTexture1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn Crocus with Texture</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>This has given my old photographs a new lease of life. I've been taking macro photographs and adding textures ever since, but I've not been able to produce ethereal looking flower images straight out of camera until I discovered <a href="https://www.kathleenclemonsphotography.com/" target="_blank">Dirk Ercken</a> last month. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Dirk is able to achieve a beautiful dreamy ethereal look to his flower photography by shooting wide open and giving the backgrounds as much importance as the main flower of interest. I purchased his online video tutorials and I have now totally changed my macro flower shooting technique. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm now shooting hand held with manual focusing in "Aperture Priority"which gives me the freedom to move around, to get in close amongst the flowers and I'm very excited by the results below. The purchase of the Sony FE 90mm f2.8 macro lens this Spring with its built in image stabilisation now gives me the opportunity to follow his technique and to shoot handheld. My photographs are no longer straight record shots and my post processing by adding textures is vastly reduced. Interesting background textures are created in camera. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awn-JBFW4nw/YQsIkXpUVMI/AAAAAAAAAmM/OX-g-7AAVL00GAGR_oPhInR11msDopLlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Ammi1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awn-JBFW4nw/YQsIkXpUVMI/AAAAAAAAAmM/OX-g-7AAVL00GAGR_oPhInR11msDopLlACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Ammi1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3KMr8Tu0w0/YQsIvlZ-YMI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/D6UU9Ydt8msR9jEIodynetqN62rYq_TkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/flower98.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3KMr8Tu0w0/YQsIvlZ-YMI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/D6UU9Ydt8msR9jEIodynetqN62rYq_TkwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/flower98.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Astrantia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeSWzrMw6CY/YQsJWt4TMUI/AAAAAAAAAmc/OMqc2Xr86PMr2zk4Zb-QxFfJPgs9Cej5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Cornflower1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeSWzrMw6CY/YQsJWt4TMUI/AAAAAAAAAmc/OMqc2Xr86PMr2zk4Zb-QxFfJPgs9Cej5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/Cornflower1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornflower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsY3MHHVfGo/YQsJiqrDBgI/AAAAAAAAAmg/0KUx6Ee3kdkb3oeY63NgIzB0fC-8vGIcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Nigella2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsY3MHHVfGo/YQsJiqrDBgI/AAAAAAAAAmg/0KUx6Ee3kdkb3oeY63NgIzB0fC-8vGIcgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Nigella2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nigella</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bTHTQGmPPCA/YQvwZOLIA8I/AAAAAAAAAnM/0GSZqNhupfM9fw1l0UlCF32j1H_Ej2LCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Eschscholzia%2Bcalifornica1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bTHTQGmPPCA/YQvwZOLIA8I/AAAAAAAAAnM/0GSZqNhupfM9fw1l0UlCF32j1H_Ej2LCACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Eschscholzia%2Bcalifornica1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eshscholzia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>All of the above photographs are straight out of camera with minimal post processing using Dirk Echern's flower photography technique but it's left me with a problem. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dirk recommends using a diffuser to soften the light but when hand holding a camera and manually focusing how could I possibly hold the Lastolite Trigrip Diffuser?</div><div><br /></div><div>After a bit of research on the internet I found the Manfrotto Super Clamp (£26 from Amazon) The Super Clamp is designed to be attached to a tripod ball head with a camera and be clamped on to a wall or rail for hands free shooting but I've adapted it to do the opposite.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hO8_-t5t3Uk/YQvqrsoMWHI/AAAAAAAAAms/ixzDtGoCGhA4hOkKRzowrvL7Yo4gTWwugCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC01582.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hO8_-t5t3Uk/YQvqrsoMWHI/AAAAAAAAAms/ixzDtGoCGhA4hOkKRzowrvL7Yo4gTWwugCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/DSC01582.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manfrotto Super Clamp mounted to a tripod ball head</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The Super Clamp is available to buy with an optional pin which allows a ball head to be screwed to the flat top of the clamp but the top also has a 1/1.4" threaded hole allowing a tripod quick release plate to be fitted. This allows me to fit the clamp upside down onto the ball head so that the clamp can hold the Lastolite Trigrip Diffuser. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gUuyztbotY/YQvsDX4vsuI/AAAAAAAAAm0/q4OWHYQIvrA7ZgzfT-WgC-R9nNSQc_UKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC01556.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gUuyztbotY/YQvsDX4vsuI/AAAAAAAAAm0/q4OWHYQIvrA7ZgzfT-WgC-R9nNSQc_UKwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC01556.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manfrotto Super Clamp holding the Lastolite Trigrip 75cm Diffuser</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>This works well only because of this model of diffuser's unique large plastic handle and the ball head can now be used to hold the diffuser in whatever angled position that I want, including with the center stem of the tripod in the horizontal position for extra reach with the tripod legs splayed for stability.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEiXIOx2Uoc/YQvuzx8X79I/AAAAAAAAAnE/CfwIDXBxbZY2ngB9-H24TOSTM4LjEPo-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/IMG_20210804_140441.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEiXIOx2Uoc/YQvuzx8X79I/AAAAAAAAAnE/CfwIDXBxbZY2ngB9-H24TOSTM4LjEPo-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_20210804_140441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hands free light diffusion on the cheap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>They say that the more you shoot, the better you get at photography but you must also be open to learning and change. I've been lucky recently to find two photographers who I can learn from and I'm proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks.</div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comWirral, UK53.3727181 -3.07375425.062484263821155 -38.230004 81.682951936178853 32.082496tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-12176010781638836262021-06-26T10:44:00.011+01:002021-06-26T19:14:39.935+01:00Sony FE 90mm f2.8 Macro LensSince taking up photography in 2004 my two main interests have always been photographing flowers and digital infrared but I'll also shoot landscapes, architecture and sports when I get the chance. <div><br /></div><div>When out shooting for the day, I found myself constantly conflicted between capturing the colour spectrum with the Sony A6400 or invisible light with the A6000 infrared camera and I eventually realised that my colour photography was suffering. A question I often ask myself is, "What kind of photographer am I?" </div><div><br /></div><div>Being a club photographer I've often believed that I fell into the category of being a "Jack of all trades, but a master of none" I know a lot of very good photographers and they're very good because they specialise and put all of their efforts into perfecting their chosen subject be that wildlife, landscape, wedding, street photography etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>With fewer opportunities to photograph because of Covid restrictions my camera gear wasn't getting as much use as I'd liked, so a month ago I reluctantly sold the Sony A6000 infrared converted camera, my 15 yr old Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro lens and some other camera gear and purchased the Sony FE 90mm f2.8 macro lens to specialise in my other passion of flower photography. What kind of photographer am I? I guess I'm now a flower photographer and looking to improve my skills in the subject.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3esI43iTEo/YNbluPrZ7HI/AAAAAAAAAkY/FFBqLqAOL5oN4fLEcO482jkvAlnMdrfQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Circium1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3esI43iTEo/YNbluPrZ7HI/AAAAAAAAAkY/FFBqLqAOL5oN4fLEcO482jkvAlnMdrfQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Circium1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cirsium- Sony 90mm Macro</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>The change over from the 15yr old Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro (A mount) lens used with the LA-EA4 adapter to the Sony FE 90mm f2.8 E mount lens on my Sony A6400 camera has made a huge difference to the way that I now capture flowers. Previously my method was very rigid and constrained with little room for creativity.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o0Xg4yYQ_xI/YNbnD1ZgvNI/AAAAAAAAAkg/bgXaAdROnK0djDqmwBthKJIyUQs8QesCACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Astrantia%2Bmaxima4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o0Xg4yYQ_xI/YNbnD1ZgvNI/AAAAAAAAAkg/bgXaAdROnK0djDqmwBthKJIyUQs8QesCACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Astrantia%2Bmaxima4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Astrantia maxima and a Hoverfly - Sony 90mm Macro hand held</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Neither the Tamron lens or the Sony A6400 have built in stabilisation so all of my macro work was done on a tripod. That's generally good practice for any macro work and it produced good results but it was a slow and frustrating workflow. </div><div><br /></div><div>Carrying a heavy tripod around all day. Positioning the tripod legs at the correct height. Moving it back and forth to frame the shot because you're using a prime lens was a slow process.</div><div> </div><div>I'd often place the camera on the tripod with the ballhead slackened off and use the tripod like a gimbel to prevent me from swaying back and forth whilst manually focusing. This gave me some degree of freedom to switch from flower to flower or to frame a shot.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Tamron was always notorious for having an autofocus system that was prone to hunting. It was accurate and very sharp once it found it's subject but it was best used in manual focus, recommended again for macro work. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXN7Q9eicPw/YNbpQSruGII/AAAAAAAAAko/VzdnZYcudgIEcgc2wE6tDgFNbBp296a5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Tradescantia%2BOsprey2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXN7Q9eicPw/YNbpQSruGII/AAAAAAAAAko/VzdnZYcudgIEcgc2wE6tDgFNbBp296a5wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Tradescantia%2BOsprey2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tradescantia "Osprey" - Sony 90mm Macro on a tripod</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm still getting to know the Sony FE 90mm macro lens with it's fast responsive autofocus and image stabilisation. I've used it a couple of times without using a tripod and the freedom to move around, compose a shot and shoot quickly has been very enjoyable compared to my previous workflow with the Tamron although I do miss focus at times when autofocusing given the very shallow depths of field involved.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tbkEC0SQCg8/YNbz3xEQ1TI/AAAAAAAAAk4/-fohTJv1JTUZcyfJljBbtM89YhH1tgr1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Primula%2Bcandelabra1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tbkEC0SQCg8/YNbz3xEQ1TI/AAAAAAAAAk4/-fohTJv1JTUZcyfJljBbtM89YhH1tgr1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/Primula%2Bcandelabra1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candelabra Primula - Sony 90mm Macro hand held</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Using a tripod and manual focus is still the recommended method for shooting macro and the images in this post have been captured using either this method or shooting handheld with autofocus. Which method I use in the future will depend on the available light, the F-stop used and the resulting shutter speed but the Sony lens does give me the freedom to be more creative.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecSo43Q5y4M/YNbs4RX5zdI/AAAAAAAAAkw/kwZZ3IQ-bOAa52-rnjzGkv1eVM87xTVIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Iris%2Bsibirica1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecSo43Q5y4M/YNbs4RX5zdI/AAAAAAAAAkw/kwZZ3IQ-bOAa52-rnjzGkv1eVM87xTVIwCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/Iris%2Bsibirica1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris sibirica - Sony 90mm Macro hand held</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Why did I choose the Sony FE 90mm macro over the other brand of lenses available for the Sony E mount? The other lenses are cheaper and all have their good points but some were manual focus only while none had any stabilisation. The Sony lens was the most expensive but the build quality, sharpness, fast accurate autofocus and most importantly the image stabilisation on my A6400 won the day. </div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-56502632270257647352021-05-24T04:45:00.002+01:002021-05-24T04:49:21.039+01:00A Change of Focus<p>I read a newspaper story recently reporting that in a survey a large percentage of the public had admitted that the Covid pandemic had made them reflect on life and make life changing decisions. That's something that I can relate to. Being restricted to our homes and having our normal activities curtailed for many months, we've all had time to reflect on our lives and for many to make permanent changes. Whilst for me that hasn't resulted in anything as drastic as a new job, a divorce, a new diet or more exercise, Covid has had an impact on my photography and it's future direction.</p><p>Fifteen months of Covid restrictions with no outlet for my photography, with art fairs and galleries cancelled or closed has seriously impacted my ability to earn money. I haven't attended an art fair in 18 months and not sold a print in that time. Of course everyone is in the same boat, but the small amount of money raised through selling prints was just enough to buy the occasional new lens or upgrade my camera.</p><p>Travel restrictions have also had an impact on my photography and during the pandemic my photography has mainly entailed photographing flowers in my garden or home studio. As a result I've only used my Sony A6000 infrared camera once in two years and after 17 years I've sadly fallen out of love with infrared. I was the only members of my photographic society to shoot infrared and was known as "the infrared man" but that is no more.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zdTddAQPJJU/YKsXtkcqJpI/AAAAAAAAAjY/p_1y6tLfFVIlH_28bYyKoi_3qTE0lX-4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Pulsatilla1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zdTddAQPJJU/YKsXtkcqJpI/AAAAAAAAAjY/p_1y6tLfFVIlH_28bYyKoi_3qTE0lX-4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/Pulsatilla1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulsatilla</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Covid restrictions have been slowly lifting in the UK and life is starting to return to some sort of normality. My local Ness Botanic Gardens has re-opened which gave me the chance to photograph Spring flowers last week using my tired 15 yr old Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro A mount lens using the LA-EA4 adapter. It was really enjoyable to photograph flowers outside of my home once again. </p><p>In contrast I took the infrared camera out for the afternoon photographing the sand dunes on our local coast and I haven't processed an image. There was just no excitement when looking at the results. The "wow" factor which I've always felt when shooting infrared, was gone. </p><p>With no income from print sales and the need for a new E mount macro lens I've reluctantly sold the Sony A6000 infrared camera, Sony Zeiss 12mm f2.8 Touit lens, Tamron 90mm macro and adapter and bought the excellent Sony FE 90mm f2.8 macro lens. </p><p>There will no doubt be a time in the future when I'll look at a scene and think, "That would look great in infrared" but I hate having camera gear that's not earning its keep and the new Sony macro lens will get plenty of use and produce some stunning results. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mOpUFlCjZmM/YKsYRrX_L4I/AAAAAAAAAjg/IEXktjiUOjMOhcUAvSL2vhpFRLCjCkE8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/fern2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mOpUFlCjZmM/YKsYRrX_L4I/AAAAAAAAAjg/IEXktjiUOjMOhcUAvSL2vhpFRLCjCkE8wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/fern2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fern </td></tr></tbody></table><p>Photography will now become less complicated. I often carried two cameras around (one colour, the other infrared) with three lenses and be torn about which one to use on a particular scene. Constantly changing lenses over from one camera to the other was a pain and slowed me down. As a result I eventually opted for going out on dedicated infrared days. Now I can be content with carrying one camera and a couple of lenses and concentrate on spotting "the shot" There is such a wide range of photographic opportunities available with a colour camera such as portrait, street, sports, wildlife, architecture, monochrome, video that I'm sure I won't miss infrared.</p><p>I started this blog during the Covid restrictions to talk about my photography whilst my opportunities to photograph were curtailed and to keep my spirits up. If you're a follower, you will notice that nearly all of the blog posts discuss my past work. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rH-RZhklxTM/YKsYhMl3XYI/AAAAAAAAAjo/BZEuDU9Rwn4i3JX8G1lEN6G8FHUfA6SwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Wood%2BAnenome1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rH-RZhklxTM/YKsYhMl3XYI/AAAAAAAAAjo/BZEuDU9Rwn4i3JX8G1lEN6G8FHUfA6SwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/Wood%2BAnenome1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Anemone</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />The fast vaccine rollout in the UK is resulting in a promised unlocking of all Government restrictions and a return to normality on 21st June. In future I'll be able to talk about my latest photography and I've already booked a four night solo camping trip with my camera gear to North Wales for early June. In the meantime I hope you enjoy these latest and final photographs taken with the old first generation Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro lens. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-h7Nx_HKdQ/YKsYsHV03pI/AAAAAAAAAjs/A0kKJUnyjrAaBGjmgMRfZtJCTHiT2TcjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Erythronium1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-h7Nx_HKdQ/YKsYsHV03pI/AAAAAAAAAjs/A0kKJUnyjrAaBGjmgMRfZtJCTHiT2TcjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/Erythronium1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erythronium</td></tr></tbody></table>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-8638137100626416192021-04-11T12:39:00.002+01:002024-01-08T16:23:36.882+00:00Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)<p> There are times when photographers get stuck in a creative rut and they don't feel the urge to take their camera out and use it. It happens to me quite often and my gear can be in the cupboard for months usually during the Winter. My cure for those moments is a search of Youtube for inspiration and to get my mojo back. It worked last Autumn when I discovered "painting with light" and it also introduced me to "ICM" or "Intentional Camera Movement"</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wAHKtyna3k/YGn4sRZ5D6I/AAAAAAAAAh0/rpqJdTUgTFYCRLH8kCnXkPqAeiNAvDqdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC02122.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wAHKtyna3k/YGn4sRZ5D6I/AAAAAAAAAh0/rpqJdTUgTFYCRLH8kCnXkPqAeiNAvDqdQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02122.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panning for blur at 1/400 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We use ICM every time we photograph fast moving sports. The technique is to track the bike using a slowish shutter speed, in this case 1/400 sec to capture the bike sharp and in focus while adding blur to the wheels and the background to enhance the feeling of movement and speed. </p><p>The creative alternative is to move the camera during a slow shutter actuation to intentionally blur the whole image and hopefully create something artistic. Of course shooting hand held is a must and before starting I'd ensure that your camera sensor is clean of dust because shooting at f16 - f22 will result in a dust spots.</p><span style="text-align: center;"><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogNAUJqdu-o/YHLbijLX5zI/AAAAAAAAAi8/8k_kDxCj3LkNSD69nXqD91HXThLOW3sHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC07206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogNAUJqdu-o/YHLbijLX5zI/AAAAAAAAAi8/8k_kDxCj3LkNSD69nXqD91HXThLOW3sHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/DSC07206.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand Dunes - f20, 0.8 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /></span><div><span style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJlwU7ZIMhw/YGn72MmGR5I/AAAAAAAAAiI/lfwktt9uisofQ3TRUaMvzXFtSiGwecTMwCPcBGAYYCw/s1000/ICM3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJlwU7ZIMhw/YGn72MmGR5I/AAAAAAAAAiI/lfwktt9uisofQ3TRUaMvzXFtSiGwecTMwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h360/ICM3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dee Estuary, Wirral - f20, 0.4 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The results are very hit and miss and it can take a lot of practice with shutter timings and camera movements to get something that you like but digital images are free and the poor shots are easily deleted. The unpredictability can be fun though. In bright conditions I'm usually shooting at around f16 - f22 at ISO 100 with an NDx8 filter on the lens to get the shutter speed slow enough to blur the image. How fast or slow you move the camera and the direction of travel gives you different results. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLVJFVYNna4/YHLToWentJI/AAAAAAAAAiU/Dxiv68As-xozgpYrsFQshH0dHjFkXTc5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ICM1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLVJFVYNna4/YHLToWentJI/AAAAAAAAAiU/Dxiv68As-xozgpYrsFQshH0dHjFkXTc5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/ICM1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dodging the Surf - f22, 0.6 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;">As a general rule of thumb, move the camera in a vertical direction for trees and horizontally for horizons but the rules are there to be broken. Twisting the camera or small zig zag motions will often result in something interesting. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpE6NxIsuEg/YHLU3AQEGlI/AAAAAAAAAic/fQgnw9JNsQI8re_RwD-hNdbV4eZuZVG0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC07191.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1000" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpE6NxIsuEg/YHLU3AQEGlI/AAAAAAAAAic/fQgnw9JNsQI8re_RwD-hNdbV4eZuZVG0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h428/DSC07191.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal Grasses - f20, 0.8 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbpEh5VCAgM/YHLVRRPKM1I/AAAAAAAAAik/VHWf5CDZnuMnknvpFuRHtrQiCW4nqL2AwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC08507.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="659" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbpEh5VCAgM/YHLVRRPKM1I/AAAAAAAAAik/VHWf5CDZnuMnknvpFuRHtrQiCW4nqL2AwCLcBGAsYHQ/w422-h640/DSC08507.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine Trees - f16, 0.8 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;">As well as vertical, horizontal, circular and zig zag motions, manually zooming in or out while pressing the shutter will give you a star burst effect. I've found that having a focal point in the center of the image worked best for me here. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BB2YamN5sI/YHLWNIHumTI/AAAAAAAAAis/wqDH1uacJxIGDHkJuCHStx6W6OMSPDDtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC08557.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BB2YamN5sI/YHLWNIHumTI/AAAAAAAAAis/wqDH1uacJxIGDHkJuCHStx6W6OMSPDDtwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC08557.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Walk - f22, 0.5 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Add and extra movement and get a different result. By zooming in or out whilst turning the camera in a circular motion you get a star burst with a twist.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVCw_qcP5Y8/YHLYEMEiHbI/AAAAAAAAAi0/k0_aFxU-ZNwfN8VEEBi7DI-0QUELP99_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC08558.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVCw_qcP5Y8/YHLYEMEiHbI/AAAAAAAAAi0/k0_aFxU-ZNwfN8VEEBi7DI-0QUELP99_QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC08558.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Burst with a Twist - f22, 0.3 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;">ICM isn't for everyone and my first images are not the best but if you're stuck in a creative rut then check out the work of <a href="https://www.markreevesphotography.co.uk/landscapes-impressionist" target="_blank">Mark Reeves ARPS</a> who uses double exposures and ICM to great effect in creating his Impressionist Landscapes. Have fun.</span></div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-34756578623524106102021-02-01T22:51:00.004+00:002021-02-13T11:32:56.364+00:00Frozen Flower Photography<p>Here we are in a new year which should offer us hope of a new beginning and we're back in another Covid lockdown. Nowhere is open to photograph. We can't travel outside our immediate area and the border with beautiful Wales just four miles away is closed. This lock down in the dead of Winter is likely to last for several weeks making it doubly hard but there is truly hope on the horizon. The Covid vaccine roll out is offering us hope so it's important that we keep our minds busy until it's delivered and we get our freedom back.</p><p>I love photographing flowers because of their patience. In a garden they'll sit there and pose for you without complaint until you get the shot that you want. During the Winter months they'll do the same as still life subjects indoors. A form of still life that I've seen and have always wanted to try is photographing frozen flowers. The combination of Covid restrictions and the cold weather has put me into hibernation mode so this is another photography project to keep myself warm indoors and my brain ticking over until the Spring.</p><p>To practice, I collected a variety of leaves, grass heads and dead flower heads in order to create a composition to signify Autumn. Apart from the composition, the most important part of creating frozen flowers is the type of water used and its quality. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-geni4VRUOz0/YBhqOA0uF3I/AAAAAAAAAeY/5q_EOk4hSNAu_pyl3X3xJqldVk0XnUvjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ice%2Bflowers8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="673" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-geni4VRUOz0/YBhqOA0uF3I/AAAAAAAAAeY/5q_EOk4hSNAu_pyl3X3xJqldVk0XnUvjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w430-h640/ice%2Bflowers8.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Autumn" - tap water boiled once</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Common tap water when it freezes is cloudy white due to impurities which makes it almost impossible to make out any detail in the subject matter or the ice. The tap water above was boiled once to get rid of impurities and air and when cold a small amount of water (approx 1cm) was poured into a plastic sandwich tub. The leaves and seed heads were then arranged in the bottom of the tub and put in a freezer to glue the composition in place to prevent them from floating. Once solid, more water was added in 1cm stages to prevent the bottom layer from thawing. When you have your preferred thickness, give the ice a polish with a warm wet cloth and try to photograph it with a back light. As you can see there are so many tiny bubbles in the ice that the finished image is far "too busy" and there's no opacity.</p><p>Before making my second attempt I sought out advice from Youtube. The most common advice received was to use de-ionised water (used to top up car batteries) boiled twice. I tested this technique using de-ionised water from Halfords costing £3.90 for 5 lts against tap water. Both were boiled twice and frozen in identical plastic tubs. The tap water remained cloudy white and impossible to see through while the de-ionised water was much clearer. I was now ready for a second attempt. </p><p>I realised that to make an impact I needed to buy flowers with a strong structural form and colour. These came in the form of some yellow Roses with a red edge and a mixture of Spray Chrysanthemums. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgb4JrHo_Ok/YBhvko32TuI/AAAAAAAAAek/-h5gDBgHKmkTNU_gUPKtRk0yWLOGDwlpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ice%2Bflowers2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgb4JrHo_Ok/YBhvko32TuI/AAAAAAAAAek/-h5gDBgHKmkTNU_gUPKtRk0yWLOGDwlpgCLcBGAsYHQ/w472-h640/ice%2Bflowers2.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Roses in de-ionised water boiled twice</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The de-ionised water worked far better as there are fewer small bubbles of impurity in the ice. The strings of bubbles is air pushed out of the Roses as the water freezes. The opacity of the ice is far greater. </div><div><br /></div><div>To photograph this second session I placed the ice on a sheet of glass raised up on plastic flower pots with a sheet of white paper underneath the glass as a background. LED lights were shone beneath the glass from two sides. The photographs were taken with a macro lens on a tripod. You soon find out that melting water is your enemy so have a towel on standby to mop up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0WWdGM6QOg/YBh1sJKRz6I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/kS6BYcXZklUDh_976T0tQhojqhBTOY_rwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ice%2Bflowers72.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="657" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0WWdGM6QOg/YBh1sJKRz6I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/kS6BYcXZklUDh_976T0tQhojqhBTOY_rwCLcBGAsYHQ/w420-h640/ice%2Bflowers72.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spray Chrysanthemum with added food dye</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As an experiment I froze some blue and yellow Spray Chrysanthemums and added a few drops of blue food dye on top of the frozen base layer of water and placed it back into the freezer. To my surprise it didn't freeze so when I added the second layer of water it spread. On another block of flowers I added too much yellow dye and it spread throughout the whole block of ice making it unusable. If you're going to try this then use the neat food dye very sparingly.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AUK5GCwRSMw/YBh3O2MSCHI/AAAAAAAAAfc/MVksDk9nX8UP3vCDaQUCvYR_n8Ubkz_TgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ice%2Bflowers3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AUK5GCwRSMw/YBh3O2MSCHI/AAAAAAAAAfc/MVksDk9nX8UP3vCDaQUCvYR_n8Ubkz_TgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/ice%2Bflowers3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Spray Chrysanthemum and blue food dye</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDT11Ie4-Gc/YBh3vCOYnyI/AAAAAAAAAfk/1Blz8Z6lukQtwy0nMUUHOFU3-rl9BmHRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ice%2Bflowers6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="657" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDT11Ie4-Gc/YBh3vCOYnyI/AAAAAAAAAfk/1Blz8Z6lukQtwy0nMUUHOFU3-rl9BmHRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w420-h640/ice%2Bflowers6.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Spray Chrysanthemum and blue food dye</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Using a macro lens and getting in close to picking out detail can be fun and give you some creative results and those results can be very unpredictable. You don't have to use real flowers. My final creation used a pink plastic Dahlia flower frozen in a deep plastic tub of double boiled de-ionised water. The patterns of air in the ice block were the best of the batch. The block was photographed in the same way as before on a sheet of glass raised off the ground on plastic flower pots with blue paper underneath the glass as a background. LED lights were shone underneath from two sides. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0zQIDGSV5Co/YBh5WizMaRI/AAAAAAAAAfw/3YEmVmNbi7U0qx3dxJJD3SjZEx_Wyab6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ice%2Bflowers4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0zQIDGSV5Co/YBh5WizMaRI/AAAAAAAAAfw/3YEmVmNbi7U0qx3dxJJD3SjZEx_Wyab6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/ice%2Bflowers4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink plastic Dahlia flower in de-ionised water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFJBtUjkuHw/YBh5pIDinoI/AAAAAAAAAf4/CeErFzmIoKE-AMMdRM5c0pBNOwgDXIW_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ice%2Bflowers5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFJBtUjkuHw/YBh5pIDinoI/AAAAAAAAAf4/CeErFzmIoKE-AMMdRM5c0pBNOwgDXIW_gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/ice%2Bflowers5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink plastic Dahlia flower in de-ionised water</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It can take a bit of effort creating the blocks of frozen flowers. Boiling a small pan of de-ionised water, letting it cool and boiling it again doesn't take long, but freezing the water in stages to the end result can take 48 hrs. My biggest problem was getting enough backlight to bring out the detail in the ice. Hold a block up to the sky and the detail can be wonderful but how do you do that and use a camera at the same time. Holding a melting ice block is like holding a bar of wet soap. I imagine a lightbox with a sheet of glass on top would be ideal. <div><br /></div><div>After a short break I'm planning another attempt at photographing frozen flowers. It's creative, unpredictable and can keep you photographing from the warmth of your home during the coldest weeks of Covid lock down.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>12th February Update</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>After photographing the ice blocks I placed them back into the freezer until I had time to photograph them a second time under different lighting conditions. A few days ago in an attempt to get more backlight through the blocks I tried to use the fluorescent strip lighting underneath the kitchen wall cupboards as the light source and shot with a macro lens with the ice blocks stood up against a white and black cloth. The results below are dramatically different. I had to use an LED torch shone in front to balance the light in the bottom half of the blocks. The same ice blocks but with a different result.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uL0dR5al-es/YCat052P59I/AAAAAAAAAgg/F1eEzNmAdvQCg2oUnIGmpaHTZis982jxACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/ice%2Bflower11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uL0dR5al-es/YCat052P59I/AAAAAAAAAgg/F1eEzNmAdvQCg2oUnIGmpaHTZis982jxACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/ice%2Bflower11.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iced Roses</td></tr></tbody></table> <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RdXWGeB5Bkg/YCauD67jhcI/AAAAAAAAAgk/g9C0EWeyE2McZflJFAo_q7BSyLEYhecdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/ice%2Bflower9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="623" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RdXWGeB5Bkg/YCauD67jhcI/AAAAAAAAAgk/g9C0EWeyE2McZflJFAo_q7BSyLEYhecdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w498-h640/ice%2Bflower9.jpg" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastic Chrysanthemum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLhpvgtb0a0/YCauRkcUXPI/AAAAAAAAAgs/auBxeG3fsA4YUQnkwLvuFxr7VB99i15WACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/ice%2Bflower10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLhpvgtb0a0/YCauRkcUXPI/AAAAAAAAAgs/auBxeG3fsA4YUQnkwLvuFxr7VB99i15WACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/ice%2Bflower10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastic Chrysanthemum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2QjFs7oh7A/YCeS-c-L5PI/AAAAAAAAAg8/O4K2yTMZ9BQs_ff14n5rDRkX0ofXeRQJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/ice%2Bflowers12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="800" height="470" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2QjFs7oh7A/YCeS-c-L5PI/AAAAAAAAAg8/O4K2yTMZ9BQs_ff14n5rDRkX0ofXeRQJgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h470/ice%2Bflowers12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice Rose Detail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76QX5lHWtGE/YCe4t5KzWVI/AAAAAAAAAhI/kFGll3GcLosNBozeXd1sJz00-vY-W_fVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/ice%2Bflower14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="800" height="386" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76QX5lHWtGE/YCe4t5KzWVI/AAAAAAAAAhI/kFGll3GcLosNBozeXd1sJz00-vY-W_fVQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h386/ice%2Bflower14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice Rose Detail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>To conclude, to get the best result from any photograph the most important task is getting the lighting right. That's just as important whether it's a portrait or photographing frozen flowers.</div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-1128425247183284952020-12-21T16:32:00.002+00:002020-12-21T16:37:43.437+00:00Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year<p> 2020 has been a very difficult year for everyone. Some of you, like myself, will have lost a loved one during the year and little bits of encouragement can help in keeping your spirits up until better times return. I'm an amateur photographer and Covid-19 has restricted my ability at local fairs and exhibitions to get my photography viewed in print on the Wirral Peninsula so I rely on this blog to talk about my photography instead.</p><p>This small blog has been a lifeline during Covid-19 and the visitor stats showing the very healthy numbers of monthly visitors reading about my photography has provided me with that little bit of encouragement to keep going as we approach 2021. </p><p>2021 offers us hope for a better year than 2020 and I'm a positive person by nature, so I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a .....</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-size: large;">🎅 Happy Christmas And A Healthy New Year 🎅</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you all for supporting my blog. </p>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-45317795229270473502020-12-06T00:00:00.013+00:002020-12-06T11:45:54.881+00:00Painting With Light<p>Covid-19 has curtailed the photographic opportunities of most photographers, as movement has been restricted, venues have been closed to the public and events have been cancelled. Luckily here in the UK we were blessed with an unusually dry and sunny Spring followed by a long, warm Summer to ease the pain of lock down and I've enjoyed my time spent working and relaxing in my garden with much of the time spent photographing flowers. </p><p>Autumn came along with the prospect of shorter, wetter days as the night's drew in and here we are still in lock down as we come into Winter. To cope with the gloom of Covid and Winter together I was looking to improve my still life skills at home by viewing some Youtube tutorials on photographing flowers and I stumbled across a video on <a href="https://youtu.be/28tEO9aC7jA" target="_blank">light painting some orchids with a simple torch</a>. The result was really beautiful and I'd found myself a new project for the long dark Winter months.</p><p>Now I must admit that I'm not entirely new to painting with light. In 2017 I was on a photo club long weekend in Blencathra in the Lake District during October when we were given a light painting tutorial by a member of the club. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--TttgfwBRzU/X8paSYzfdsI/AAAAAAAAAbY/kGsCjJD3S1IfMibgjWPKr3yXtZaCjAbnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC01987.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1000" height="390" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--TttgfwBRzU/X8paSYzfdsI/AAAAAAAAAbY/kGsCjJD3S1IfMibgjWPKr3yXtZaCjAbnwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h390/DSC01987.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoylake Photographic Society - Light Painting Tutorial</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As you can imagine, trying to get everyone on the same page with camera setting and the technique when using different camera brands and menus in total darkness wasn't easy. People shining a torch at crucial moments because they'd either lost their remote cable release or had accidently kicked their tripod in the darkness resulted in some chaos. Still we managed to get a few shots of the burning wire wool twirled around on a rope with our brave host peppered with burning embers inside the light sphere. Don't try this at home without the proper precautions. At the time I marked it down as something else in photography that I'd tried and which I probably wouldn't do again.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbRy81prJuU/X8pbtwPot1I/AAAAAAAAAbk/QEQKI-V0dXAk44x8A7OInJ4i1cBxIVlrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC06003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbRy81prJuU/X8pbtwPot1I/AAAAAAAAAbk/QEQKI-V0dXAk44x8A7OInJ4i1cBxIVlrwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC06003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burning wire wool on a rope</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Back now to the present and the light painting of flowers in the warmth of my dining room. By chance we had an arrangement of plastic orchids that were gifted to us which were perfect for me to practice the Youtube single torch technique, but first I invested in a portable clothes rail from Ikea for £7 to use as a background stand to hang some black cloth. The clothes rail is the perfect size for still life or head and shoulder portraits.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L6MTlxrv-2o/X8pgc_5a55I/AAAAAAAAAbw/a43O1HvUhSkZSGjsB0pwlOm3FVWnFw97wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/light%2Bpainting1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L6MTlxrv-2o/X8pgc_5a55I/AAAAAAAAAbw/a43O1HvUhSkZSGjsB0pwlOm3FVWnFw97wCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/light%2Bpainting1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastic Orchids - torch lit, f16, 15 sec, ISO 100</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>With the camera set on a tripod, pre focused then switched over to manual focus in a dark room it was a simple case of keeping the small torch moving on the subject where you wanted the most light to fall taking care to keep the light source of the torch pointing away from the lens. Trial and error with the total time spent lighting the flowers and vase gave me this photograph which I'm pleased with.</div><div><br /></div><div>I started searching Youtube for more light painting tutorials and it opened up a whole new World of fibre optic brushes, perspex blades, light swords, Katas, electroluminescent string, coloured gels, strobing torches and empty plastic drinks bottles that I never knew existed. Starting with a few cheap torches bought in supermarkets, some rescued plastic drink bottles and battery operated Christmas lights, I soon discovered that there were certain specialist tools available on the internet to make the art of light painting much easier.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MQE1Ncp564/X8uUzOAW1ZI/AAAAAAAAAcA/dlpPGGDDIrUHVLHyeHGng4Ey96W28QDBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC07757.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1000" height="514" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MQE1Ncp564/X8uUzOAW1ZI/AAAAAAAAAcA/dlpPGGDDIrUHVLHyeHGng4Ey96W28QDBACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h514/DSC07757.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My basic light painting kit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xrh0CVDmBvo/X8uVGuuaG_I/AAAAAAAAAcI/9up8YAy8V3ASQ8BIvn973pShd_L9NLVBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC07758.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="1000" height="186" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xrh0CVDmBvo/X8uVGuuaG_I/AAAAAAAAAcI/9up8YAy8V3ASQ8BIvn973pShd_L9NLVBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h186/DSC07758.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torch, rubber universal connector and black fibre optic brush</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-X9jI0uMtM/X8uWg-MegJI/AAAAAAAAAcU/sD-4CYmtmMAJlKpm_XyUutuFgdsnpG6IQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC07762.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="1000" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-X9jI0uMtM/X8uWg-MegJI/AAAAAAAAAcU/sD-4CYmtmMAJlKpm_XyUutuFgdsnpG6IQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h310/DSC07762.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torch, rubber universal connector and perspex blade</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yls8L8lwCCE/X8uWwKExMNI/AAAAAAAAAcY/mdrj1v0V11A0ExOUxx8-kFESm4FTFVp7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC07760.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="1000" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yls8L8lwCCE/X8uWwKExMNI/AAAAAAAAAcY/mdrj1v0V11A0ExOUxx8-kFESm4FTFVp7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h216/DSC07760.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torch, rubber universal connector and plastic drinks bottle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>You can use the cheapest torch available from a supermarket for light painting but a piece of kit that I'd highly recommend buying is a rubber universal connector to connect your torch to your chosen tool. Push a piece of coloured gel inside the universal connector and you change the colour of the light emitted from the torch. It also makes changing tools very quick as they just push on and it's cleverly designed to fit a standard plastic drinks bottle. A clear plastic bottle can either be filled with coloured gels or lightly spray painted in different colours. </div><div><br /></div><div>Torches with the on/off button on the base are most useful and a strobe effect makes things interesting. My basic supermarket torches costing £3 are 80 lumens in power which is good enough for close work and portraits. Grease proof paper makes a great light diffuser on the end of a torch. I've now purchased two specialist torches of 150 lumens and 300 lumens with variable power settings and strobe effect for outdoor use and more flexibility.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what can you get up to indoors on a cold Winter evening of light painting. My first attempt was using a book, a glass sphere and a willing model. A cheap torch was used to illuminate my granddaughter Bess and the book. I finished off using the black fibre optic brush and red gel on her hands and arms. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-565mVCFr4-4/X8u7s-q_AeI/AAAAAAAAAco/ygDQ3H_h8s8TvThCQkPyFRCVuxwDDeAdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/LP1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-565mVCFr4-4/X8u7s-q_AeI/AAAAAAAAAco/ygDQ3H_h8s8TvThCQkPyFRCVuxwDDeAdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/LP1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magic Hands</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My second attempt was another concept. Southern Comfort, a glass of cold tea and a plastic firefighters helmet. A torch was used to quickly illuminate the bottle, glass and helmet for a few seconds. The black fibre optic brush with a red gel was then used to create the hot sparks and a torch shone through some blue Christmas tinsel created the background. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D7npQB5Fx4w/X8u8sz3rbDI/AAAAAAAAAcw/45MhL6xMrOMWbiC0rjCD-udrr0VLpJnSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/LP2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="846" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D7npQB5Fx4w/X8u8sz3rbDI/AAAAAAAAAcw/45MhL6xMrOMWbiC0rjCD-udrr0VLpJnSACLcBGAsYHQ/w542-h640/LP2.jpg" width="542" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Stuff</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Balancing the brightness of your light sources is the most difficult task added to the fact that you're working in darkness. It's hard to remember where on your canvass you've already painted. With the shutter set to "Bulb" mode the best way of adjusting the brightness is to adjust the aperture. A good starting point is f8 at ISO 100, then open or close the aperture if your image is too dark or too bright. Once the shutter is open on Bulb mode you have plenty of time in the dark to paint your subject. If you're wearing black clothing and keep moving you won't be recorded in the final image. Trial and error and patience is the way, and it will take a few efforts to get the image that you want. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've lost count of the times I've lost a tool in the dark half way through a shot. Putting a tea light next to them on a small table is a help. I initially used an IR remote to start /stop the shot but I constantly lost it when I put it down so I've switched to a cable release with a single button taped to the tripod leg.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGygBcalSjg/X8vABlNm3iI/AAAAAAAAAc8/Z19G4o1DAnQ0a93c5nG1tVwup48cvsO2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/LP4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="989" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGygBcalSjg/X8vABlNm3iI/AAAAAAAAAc8/Z19G4o1DAnQ0a93c5nG1tVwup48cvsO2QCLcBGAsYHQ/w632-h640/LP4.jpg" width="632" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crying Light</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My next session used the black fibre optic brush on it's own without any colour. The black fibre optic brush only emits light at the tips of the fibres and you can create some interesting portraits using that tool alone. Both portraits of my granddaughter were taken at f8 for 6 seconds. That was just enough time for one pass of the brush across the face and body. The results are very unpredictable, hence the tears of light which were unplanned. A white light was used below but the torch used was made of blue plastic and the fibre optics have picked up the blue light pollution. Something to consider. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXxt_yYb5mE/X8vBCytPowI/AAAAAAAAAdE/KRyTiKT435UqB29S8rAulMpKLfhhe5tUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/LP8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1000" height="560" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXxt_yYb5mE/X8vBCytPowI/AAAAAAAAAdE/KRyTiKT435UqB29S8rAulMpKLfhhe5tUACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h560/LP8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Fibre Optic Brush.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My most recent light painting session was another concept and far more adventurous. I found a toy Darth Vader mask in the loft and placed it on a hair styling head which was clamped to the dining table. Two rolled up bath towels made up the shoulders with black cloth used as a makeshift cloak. Two torches, one blue, the other red were used to illuminate either side of the head. The black fibre optic brush with a red gel was used to create the background and blue electroluminescent string moved quickly in the foreground to create a blue mist.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3cqJqCJzTc/X8vCiHwemWI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/KPvXll9mKEoI6Sa_8faGWp-N9Sl0GWmYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/LP11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3cqJqCJzTc/X8vCiHwemWI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/KPvXll9mKEoI6Sa_8faGWp-N9Sl0GWmYQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/LP11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"May the light be with you"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I became more confident with the results I switched the red fibre optic brush for the perspex blade and red gel with the torch set to strobe mode. This is my favourite photograph from the session.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8THGc2BTJY/X8wLITFs6bI/AAAAAAAAAdc/Iso546Sl3HMEsUoR-VoPoZTOQLEVL8BnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC07752.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8THGc2BTJY/X8wLITFs6bI/AAAAAAAAAdc/Iso546Sl3HMEsUoR-VoPoZTOQLEVL8BnQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/DSC07752.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darth Vader</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I've viewed a lot of Youtube videos from excellent light painters between these sessions. There's a lot of resources on the platform about light painting. My recommendation is to watch <a href="https://www.patrickthelightpainter.com/" target="_blank">Patrick Rochon's 8hrs of free tutorials</a> where he will take you from the basics through to light painting portraits. <a href="https://www.denissmith.com.au/">Denis Smith</a> has his "School of Light" channel on Youtube with dozens of tutorials and interviews with professional light painters. <a href="https://twentycentlight.com/">Twenty Cent Light</a> has the most amazing artwork for inspiration and it's hard to believe he's only been light painting for two years. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've only been light painting for two months this Winter and it will get harder to find the time as the days lighten into Summer but you don't need 100% darkness to paint with light. You can use the blue hour before dusk and include the landscape and the stars in your images. <a href="https://ericpare.com/light-painting" target="_blank">Eric Pare</a>' is an expert in this type of painting and his work is also on Youtube to view. </div><div><br /></div><div>The only limits to your creativity are in your mind. There are countless ways to use light sources indoors and out. Have fun.</div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-20492701729684371572020-11-12T06:54:00.001+00:002020-11-12T08:02:48.703+00:00Wirral Festival of Firsts<p>I really enjoy photographing people. Although I've photographed a couple of weddings for family members I'm not cut out to be professional wedding or portrait photographer. The bride and groom were always delighted with my results and so was I but I always told myself afterwards that I'd got away with it as so much could have gone wrong on the day. Wedding and portrait photography is an art form in it's own right and difficult to do well. It's also very stressful so I've never been tempted to go down that route with my photography. </p><p>Everyone though has the opportunity to shoot street photography, but I have this uncanny ability to draw the subjects attention whenever I raise the camera to my eye no matter how long or short the lens is that I'm using or my distance away from the subject. I always feel as though I'm intruding in people's lives when I'm targeting some-one in the street. I'm a magnet for attention on the street with a camera in my hands and find it impossible to blend into the background. </p><p>Strangely enough I have the opposite effect on Zoo animals who turn their backs on me whenever I raise my camera to shoot. My wife thinks it's hilarious. My own beautiful Blue Merle Border Collie "Luna" drops her head, turns and skulks away to her bed whenever I try and photograph her. She acts as though I'm going to euthanize her. "Don't shoot me", she's thinking. Only the temptation of a treat will provide the chance of a portrait.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6vt1Xq6Ygg/X6rwqhCqvHI/AAAAAAAAAW8/lCDf-C96rzEmBpOnMlIMlf_jHaEBYqYWACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/luna11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6vt1Xq6Ygg/X6rwqhCqvHI/AAAAAAAAAW8/lCDf-C96rzEmBpOnMlIMlf_jHaEBYqYWACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/luna11.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Luna - A rare portrait success</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Being a club photographer, the lack of people shots in my portfolio was a constant problem when it came to the "People" category in the monthly competition held each season. </p><p>By chance in 2012 two members of the club were volunteer organisers of a new local Wirral arts festival, the <a href="https://wirralfestivaloffirsts.org.uk/about-wirral-festival-of-firsts/" target="_blank">"Wirral Festival of Firsts"</a> with local celebrity John Gorman as its patron and leader. John was a member of the 60's group The Scaffold and the TISWAS TV show and through his contacts a number of celebrities, musicians, poets and bands mixed with local Wirral talent took part annually in the tiny Hoylake based arts festival taking place over 9 days. Proceeds from ticket sales went to the Claire House Children's Hospice on the Wirral Peninsula and it continued until Covid struck in 2020.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7SrX4iOcOI/X6r0PuOvHXI/AAAAAAAAAXI/_vvKoaaec0wLaPyGrObiB5iHFactnZLNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/infusion72013%2BJohn%2BGorman.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1400" height="476" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7SrX4iOcOI/X6r0PuOvHXI/AAAAAAAAAXI/_vvKoaaec0wLaPyGrObiB5iHFactnZLNACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h476/infusion72013%2BJohn%2BGorman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Gorman and Sue Boardman</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Members of my photo club were asked to be volunteer photographers and I jumped at the chance to photograph live performances, poetry evenings, music day in the bars and cafes of Market Street, art exhibitions, street performances, parades and family galas. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now I'd never photographed a live stage performance before and all of the action was taking place in the local churches and village halls. This provided me with some challenges. </div><div><br /></div><div>As you can imagine the Churches relied on standard lighting plus some natural light streaming through stained glass windows with often cluttered untidy backgrounds. A high camera ISO and fast lenses were a priority and most of the early shots were taken with the Sony A77, Sigma 70-200 f2.8, Sony 35mm f1.8 and the Samyang 8mm f3.5.</div><div><br /></div><div>The village halls had a standard small stage, simple cloth background and some stage lighting which helped to keep the image noise lower but no opportunity to move around and shoot anything creative.</div><div><br /></div><div>The brief was to photograph the acts and the audience to show people enjoying the festival. I had access to all areas but obviously a flashgun was not allowed and I needed to be as discreet as possible so as not to disrupt the performance. </div><div><br /></div><div>Miraculously, wearing an official festival T-shirt and with a camera in my hand people would suddenly stop and smile at the camera for a photograph instead of glaring at me. I had suddenly become acceptable as a street photographer.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_f83KR9Yroo/X6r7o3i7CUI/AAAAAAAAAXU/-p_-AcwcLM8FL8ZT5xR_uej22bfse9MWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/speeches62012%2BSpeeches.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_f83KR9Yroo/X6r7o3i7CUI/AAAAAAAAAXU/-p_-AcwcLM8FL8ZT5xR_uej22bfse9MWQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/speeches62012%2BSpeeches.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Speeches" at Melrose Hall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>"Access all areas" during many of the performances in tightly filled halls sometimes limited me to shooting from the back of the hall. In slightly bigger venues I was able to tiptoe down the sides and photograph from the side of the stage. To capture the performance and audience together I found the Samyang 8mm f3.5 fisheye lens useful and very forgiving of the poor light.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7ojSDfwqtc/X6r86BgZf5I/AAAAAAAAAXg/BV2_vZGnvLkuVo-zfAjQUtuw6EdqY1TUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/eukalele12012%2BWirral%2BUkulele.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7ojSDfwqtc/X6r86BgZf5I/AAAAAAAAAXg/BV2_vZGnvLkuVo-zfAjQUtuw6EdqY1TUACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/eukalele12012%2BWirral%2BUkulele.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wirral Ukulele Orchestra</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-rSkiCBdkQ/X6r9SOfjZzI/AAAAAAAAAXw/99FzIsBw3Pgl2tz8iLFYtjV2MZAdQVc0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/wirral%2Bukulele72013%2BUkulele.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1400" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-rSkiCBdkQ/X6r9SOfjZzI/AAAAAAAAAXw/99FzIsBw3Pgl2tz8iLFYtjV2MZAdQVc0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h464/wirral%2Bukulele72013%2BUkulele.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wirral Ukulele Orchestra</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The local Churches provided the best opportunity to move around and gain a different viewpoint but care was needed when shooting because of the low light. Using the Sony A77 I daren't shoot any higher than ISO 1600 and it was important to know the limitations of my gear and how far I could push it. Camera low light performance has improved so much since 2012.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1hKndgN7Kck/X6sAoxTiT8I/AAAAAAAAAX8/xPqTQ4UuqYsmNGqoltl64ymwss8PEYzlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/choir-barbara%2Bruzsics2012%2BBarbara%2BRuzsics.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1400" height="472" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1hKndgN7Kck/X6sAoxTiT8I/AAAAAAAAAX8/xPqTQ4UuqYsmNGqoltl64ymwss8PEYzlQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h472/choir-barbara%2Bruzsics2012%2BBarbara%2BRuzsics.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soprano Barbara Ruzsics</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Photographing a performance in the large poorly lit Hope Church in Hoylake can be demanding but I was fortunate with the natural light from a window falling on Barabara Ruzsics during her performance. I was equally fortunate with the natural light from the same church window falling on Ned Evett and grateful for the space to move to the side of the stage.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oB5ShSRvZHA/X6sCK4TF5II/AAAAAAAAAYI/dNJqVeQFc38O67hVW-QN2Tjn_8K21GZCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/ned%2Bevett32012%2BNed%2BEvett.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="959" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oB5ShSRvZHA/X6sCK4TF5II/AAAAAAAAAYI/dNJqVeQFc38O67hVW-QN2Tjn_8K21GZCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w438-h640/ned%2Bevett32012%2BNed%2BEvett.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ned Evett and his fretless steel guitar</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Hope Church was the main venue for the bigger acts during the festival and I was delighted to be present to record memorable performances from the very funny comic and poet Ian McMillan and the renowned classical guitarist Craig Ogden. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DcCxDtn_kqg/X6sEv8wk2xI/AAAAAAAAAYU/CR048QolTRgD15JAnNK1hmcdFw9_wAR-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/mcmillan42013%2BIan%2BMacmillan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1112" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DcCxDtn_kqg/X6sEv8wk2xI/AAAAAAAAAYU/CR048QolTRgD15JAnNK1hmcdFw9_wAR-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w508-h640/mcmillan42013%2BIan%2BMacmillan.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comic and Poet Ian McMillan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ7nsNHuT7A/X6sFBvc6qCI/AAAAAAAAAYc/46MkgTjX5jYRwO4X_-uPNnjKLYDzs3mlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/DSC014062017%2BCraig%2BOgden.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ7nsNHuT7A/X6sFBvc6qCI/AAAAAAAAAYc/46MkgTjX5jYRwO4X_-uPNnjKLYDzs3mlgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC014062017%2BCraig%2BOgden.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classical Guitarist Craig Ogden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My aim when photographing the performances was to try and capture the performers expressions, to show emotion and I think that's come out in my festival shots. One memorable evening at a local village hall featured the TISWAS team getting back together again to reminisce. Host John Gorman, Bob Carolgees and Chris Tarrant in front of a full house in the village hall talking about old times. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc8l2LHJ-yw/X6wWFEcoXJI/AAAAAAAAAYo/umPitGZeZVUDyoqmW6xusBXcZ72Aq2iTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/Bob%2BCarolgees%2B12013%2BBob%2BCarolgees.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc8l2LHJ-yw/X6wWFEcoXJI/AAAAAAAAAYo/umPitGZeZVUDyoqmW6xusBXcZ72Aq2iTgCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/Bob%2BCarolgees%2B12013%2BBob%2BCarolgees.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Carolgees and Spit the dog</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCSsrgmTy0Q/X6wWRUx0AuI/AAAAAAAAAYs/qCgNDjlWp1cyFIFOJo4_p_R8rJStkq-6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/Chris%2BTarrant12013%2BChris%2BTarrant.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCSsrgmTy0Q/X6wWRUx0AuI/AAAAAAAAAYs/qCgNDjlWp1cyFIFOJo4_p_R8rJStkq-6QCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/Chris%2BTarrant12013%2BChris%2BTarrant.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chis Tarrant</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4U6znukGWM/X6wWsqqq2TI/AAAAAAAAAY4/O9JrEVyEXpUfPgdatl5D-YuOFsmVNa3nACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/Chris%2BTarrant52013%2BTiswas.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4U6znukGWM/X6wWsqqq2TI/AAAAAAAAAY4/O9JrEVyEXpUfPgdatl5D-YuOFsmVNa3nACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/Chris%2BTarrant52013%2BTiswas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The TISWAS Team - John Gorman, Chris Tarrant and Bob Carolgees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I've had the privilege over the six years that I volunteered at the festival to be present during some quiet intimate "Audience With" moments when celebrities are talking about their lives and careers to an entranced audience. On those occasions it was especially important to be as discreet as possible, get a few shots in the bag then sit back and enjoy the rest of the evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>One such event was "An Audience with Andy McClusky" in a hotel lounge in Hoylake along with 50 paying guests. The front man of the band OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) is a proud Wirral man and had his small audience spellbound. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pgi0i_0SqnM/X6wiAIKcq5I/AAAAAAAAAZE/5rTOFXQQPlUfzbf8r6YHGtGStmYP2wQVACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/andy22012%2BAndy%2BMcCluskey.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1400" height="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pgi0i_0SqnM/X6wiAIKcq5I/AAAAAAAAAZE/5rTOFXQQPlUfzbf8r6YHGtGStmYP2wQVACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h468/andy22012%2BAndy%2BMcCluskey.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy McClusky of OMD</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Mike (McGeer) McCartney gave a similarly small audience a fascinating talk about life growing up with his brother Paul in Liverpool, to his early career with the 60's band The Scaffold and his work now as a photographer. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDZatBok83U/X6wttyaS0vI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/UAe-jcffhmETt2e15oTFNfJVxzN8KAr1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/mcgear42013%2BMike%2BMcCartney.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1400" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDZatBok83U/X6wttyaS0vI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/UAe-jcffhmETt2e15oTFNfJVxzN8KAr1QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h478/mcgear42013%2BMike%2BMcCartney.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike McCartney</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Mike, who is a local resident turned up to show his support for comic and presenter Harry Hill when he previewed his artwork which hadn't been seen in public before. This was another coup for the Wirral Festival of Firsts and I was lucky to have been invited to photograph the unveiling of his exhibition.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpHazlyutIo/X6wujeCo2lI/AAAAAAAAAZY/ellcSnegruItcWOI27r2jXzUtZBRFx2IACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/harry%2Bhill42013%2BMcCartney%2BHill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpHazlyutIo/X6wujeCo2lI/AAAAAAAAAZY/ellcSnegruItcWOI27r2jXzUtZBRFx2IACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/harry%2Bhill42013%2BMcCartney%2BHill.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike McCartney and Harry Hill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9lOetexY84/X6wuy9Vr8wI/AAAAAAAAAZk/1U9Zrenn2uYZEW5sgG6mjp02tX5gXDW4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/harry%2Bhill22013%2BHarry%2BHill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9lOetexY84/X6wuy9Vr8wI/AAAAAAAAAZk/1U9Zrenn2uYZEW5sgG6mjp02tX5gXDW4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/harry%2Bhill22013%2BHarry%2BHill.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry Hill and his art</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Over the years John Gorman has been able to persuade a number of top celebrities to give their time in aid of the Claire House Children's Hospice and "An Audience With Willie Russell" was a sellout at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Hoylake in 2013. It was a difficult venue to photograph as the host John Gorman and Willie Russell were backlit by a large window with blue voile curtains on a bright Summer evening and there was little opportunity to move around a packed room. Still I was able to grab a shot of Willie Russell in a pensive mood when reflecting on his career as a dramatist, lyricist and composer.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9n4Bq12YrI/X6wyPsdEZwI/AAAAAAAAAZw/95xu_PaIwM09JVWBikBWPujYMw35r47QwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/willy%2Brussell32013%2BWillie%2BRussell.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="1400" height="466" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9n4Bq12YrI/X6wyPsdEZwI/AAAAAAAAAZw/95xu_PaIwM09JVWBikBWPujYMw35r47QwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h466/willy%2Brussell32013%2BWillie%2BRussell.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willie Russell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My association with the Wirral Festival of Firsts ended in 2018. The headline act of that year were the brilliant jazz duo Jacqui Dankworth and Charlie Wood. In that year they gave a heaving West Kirby village hall three hours of wonderful music. By this time my camera gear had moved on to the Sony A6300 mirrorless with far better low light performance and auto focus making photographing live performance much easier.<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VrMP_8OW52g/X6w0OJUej0I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/dGZNBxuv7k0pYAM5HNH94sYK8kIClhkSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/DSC092092017%2BDankworth%2Band%2Bwood.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VrMP_8OW52g/X6w0OJUej0I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/dGZNBxuv7k0pYAM5HNH94sYK8kIClhkSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC092092017%2BDankworth%2Band%2Bwood.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie Wood and Jacqui Dankworth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CutcQiu7qcc/X6w0ZpKnrQI/AAAAAAAAAaA/ECYaGrsx9q0hMlxU38gXdpSbVp7O4BcCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/DSC092002017%2BDankworth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CutcQiu7qcc/X6w0ZpKnrQI/AAAAAAAAAaA/ECYaGrsx9q0hMlxU38gXdpSbVp7O4BcCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/DSC092002017%2BDankworth.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacqui Dankworth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>I've done a lot of name dropping in this blog post so far because volunteering as an amateur event photographer has given me some great opportunities to get up close to celebrities but my most successful and enjoyable photographs in the "People" category of my club's monthly competition have been of ordinary members of the public and the local talent who have taken part in the Wirral Festival of Firsts over the years. Without them there would be no festival.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjRyfpn8SsU/X6xu_aegJZI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/mQ0hoEeqHYkat0iIFqrAFFqIlQGXGPmRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/smooth4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1400" height="488" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjRyfpn8SsU/X6xu_aegJZI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/mQ0hoEeqHYkat0iIFqrAFFqIlQGXGPmRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h488/smooth4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Day in Smooth Cafe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJwdb06eybc/X6xvosasAwI/AAAAAAAAAaY/iZqrVc7C7I4P0NbJCx1wrEAUqNF5iPRYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/smooth5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJwdb06eybc/X6xvosasAwI/AAAAAAAAAaY/iZqrVc7C7I4P0NbJCx1wrEAUqNF5iPRYgCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/smooth5.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Day in Smooth Cafe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nREVfipRMck/X6xwD8kzApI/AAAAAAAAAag/OSqNOdjVBosHI_u7YZFvewBEfdrjo0THwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/musician4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1400" height="438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nREVfipRMck/X6xwD8kzApI/AAAAAAAAAag/OSqNOdjVBosHI_u7YZFvewBEfdrjo0THwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h438/musician4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Day in Market Street</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWO-KytFRJg/X6xxAp15e4I/AAAAAAAAAao/iHHCqv77DoctdvD0djmO5TcP5p-C5YSnACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/ukulele%2Bworkshop3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="1400" height="632" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWO-KytFRJg/X6xxAp15e4I/AAAAAAAAAao/iHHCqv77DoctdvD0djmO5TcP5p-C5YSnACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h632/ukulele%2Bworkshop3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ukulele Workshop for Beginners</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The final Saturday of the festival was traditionally music day with buskers, local musicians and bands occupying the bars and cafes along Market Street in Hoylake well into the evening. A Jazz Band marching through Hoylake one year brought the traffic to a stop bringing a feeling of New Orleans to the small town. Luckily, we were blessed by good weather that week.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zd46KwB0nuo/X6xyquEmVBI/AAAAAAAAAa0/STm8n5xtUO8o3In_HPgTM1dzn2rnnaI1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/jazz%2Bparade12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zd46KwB0nuo/X6xyquEmVBI/AAAAAAAAAa0/STm8n5xtUO8o3In_HPgTM1dzn2rnnaI1QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/jazz%2Bparade12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Orleans Jazz Band in Market Street</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8X9bD7pjcgk/X6xy7PeXVII/AAAAAAAAAa8/6h8LGWvjDDIgWUoQL1ccIdP4KoE45tQnACLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/festi-velo27.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="1400" height="628" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8X9bD7pjcgk/X6xy7PeXVII/AAAAAAAAAa8/6h8LGWvjDDIgWUoQL1ccIdP4KoE45tQnACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h628/festi-velo27.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>And finally a reminder of why the Wirral Festival of Firsts was created in 2012. It was to draw the arts to Hoylake, encourage local residents to take part, to have fun and at the same time raise funds for Claire House Children's Hospice and I've had a lot of fun photographing the live performances and people over the six years that I volunteered.</div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-61446023979288869222020-10-15T21:59:00.000+01:002020-10-15T21:59:36.676+01:00High Dynamic Range Photography<p>Camera sensor technology has come a long way in recent years but the one thing a camera can't do is to record what the human eye sees. In terms of light's dynamic range, sensors fall short in their ability to record detail in both the whites and blacks of an image at the same time unlike the human eye. Estimates suggest that the human eye can see anywhere between 10-14 f-stops of dynamic range whereas a camera sensor is about 8-11 f-stops. Each yearly improvement in sensor technology brings the camera's dynamic range closer to human sight albeit very slowly.</p><p>It's for this reason that in high contrasting landscape shots depending on which exposure mode the camera is set to and where in the image you have the horizon, the result will be either a blown out white sky with no detail and a well exposed foreground or visa versa.<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HvRFAZV9WPk/X4h-X216PiI/AAAAAAAAAUc/MQKVBCSNJAgmeBi046RqCOLP3EGn3HnqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/_DSC3329raw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-doJEeUTxERU/X4h-PsOW3yI/AAAAAAAAAUg/0brReEjDec0T6SvavyVnto8eYSvnzcB1QCPcBGAYYCw/s1000/_DSC3331raw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="429" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-doJEeUTxERU/X4h-PsOW3yI/AAAAAAAAAUg/0brReEjDec0T6SvavyVnto8eYSvnzcB1QCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h429/_DSC3331raw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exposed for the foreground - blown out sky</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HvRFAZV9WPk/X4h-X216PiI/AAAAAAAAAUk/Gy4O5MjnspwjHzygYenSHVz5K7oCPEJ-ACPcBGAYYCw/s1000/_DSC3329raw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HvRFAZV9WPk/X4h-X216PiI/AAAAAAAAAUk/Gy4O5MjnspwjHzygYenSHVz5K7oCPEJ-ACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h428/_DSC3329raw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exposed for the sky - under exposed foreground<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Always shooting in RAW for the best image quality, once the highlights in a sky have been blown out there's no chance of recovering any detail but there is the possibility of recovering detail from the foreground of an under exposed RAW image to create an acceptable single shot image. The solution that I prefer while the camera is already on a sturdy tripod is to simply take an extra shot and create a three shot HDR (high dynamic range) photograph. </p><p>The first two photographs above are unprocessed RAW images out of camera while the finished photograph of Llyn Dinas in Snowdonia (below) is a three shot HDR with the exposure "averaged" out in HDR software. The result is dramatic with detail in both the sky and the shadows. The photograph has punch. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSlrHAAKgbQ/XYYlI-sgMNI/AAAAAAAAACE/MsNoErQXHBgRlGMM8Ctemn8zrplRDJgXwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/daybreak%2Bon%2Bllyn%2Bdinas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSlrHAAKgbQ/XYYlI-sgMNI/AAAAAAAAACE/MsNoErQXHBgRlGMM8Ctemn8zrplRDJgXwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/daybreak%2Bon%2Bllyn%2Bdinas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three shot HDR of Llyn Dinas in Snowdonia</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The other way of overcoming these restrictions in dynamic range is by using a graduated neutral density filter on a filter holder screwed onto your lens. The "Grad ND" is darker on the top half of the glass filter with the lower half clear and it's designed to balance out the exposure in landscape photography but there is a drawback. They're fine for straight horizons but what about when you're photographing a horizon which are undulating such as mountains, trees or a cityscape full of buildings?</p><p>I gave up on "Grad ND" filters many years ago for landscape photography because they're expensive, cumbersome and slow to use and I find the technique of taking multiple exposures and blending them together to be more convenient when shooting and flexible when post processing. If I take five or seven bracketed shots of a scene with the cameras multi metering set to 0 in the viewfinder I can choose in post processing to use a single image to process or any number of them together as a HDR photograph. Shooting a series in burst mode takes a split second and card storage is cheap. Any unwanted shots can be deleted when on the computer.</p><p>The biggest drawback to capturing multiple exposures for creating HDR images is movement within the image. Modern HDR software is very adept at correcting "ghosting" in post processing. Often a five shot series of bracketed images in burst mode will be over in a split second and the software can handle minor movement well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nm18yNPZWU/X4idIewZyFI/AAAAAAAAAUs/r0lOmbI0J9IGHMTlq-lDF4nmgIbfJBBPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/aber1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nm18yNPZWU/X4idIewZyFI/AAAAAAAAAUs/r0lOmbI0J9IGHMTlq-lDF4nmgIbfJBBPQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/aber1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pseudo HDR - Below Aber Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sometimes the movement between shots will be too much for software to handle. In that case a method that I sometimes use to overcome movement is to create a "pseudo" HDR from a single image.</p><p>Shooting in RAW, take a shot with a well balanced exposure. You can adjust the exposure slider in your RAW converter to overexpose the shot by 2 stops and save, underexpose by 2 stops and save, then blend the three images together as a pseudo HDR. This technique was used on Below Aber Falls (above) one of my first HDR photos and it's brought out detail in both the moving water and the rocks many of which were in shadow. </p><p>The modern technique is tone mapping a single image in HDR software. Tone mapping is a technique used to map one set of colours to another to approximate the appearance of HDR images.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8gtwrBJiAY/X4ihsaz5b7I/AAAAAAAAAU4/-NbYVwvuQXAv5ktbDIGBHBN_9OUzcMQpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/london6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1000" height="498" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8gtwrBJiAY/X4ihsaz5b7I/AAAAAAAAAU4/-NbYVwvuQXAv5ktbDIGBHBN_9OUzcMQpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h498/london6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three shot HDR - Tower of London</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Creating a HDR image is an ideal way of dealing with difficult lighting in any setting. The photograph of London Tower (above) was taken in a very dark room lit only by the window. It was impossible to capture detail in the shadows of the furniture and the sun filled window in a single shot. This was achieved with a three shot burst bracketed at +-2EV either side of 0EV and processed in Photomatix Pro HDR software. The camera was hand held and braced against a wall for stability.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YBAaA1SkKE/X4imh5QPw9I/AAAAAAAAAVE/3mW7-nDr_TgPgRatQy4vdWR8rWFO756UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/dunham%2Bmassey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YBAaA1SkKE/X4imh5QPw9I/AAAAAAAAAVE/3mW7-nDr_TgPgRatQy4vdWR8rWFO756UQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/dunham%2Bmassey3.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three shot HDR - Dunham Massey</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The same technique and settings were used to capture this photograph of Dunham Massey (above) with light streaming through a window. In fact I've used HDR photography to capture more interior scenes than landscapes due to them only being lit by natural light with a flashgun being barred from use or the building being too vast for flashgun light.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMGs0ZzrCWs/X4iopJT2wZI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/DjgAgcnIku0blz8bOEHjL3K0ltvI6JKhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/lever1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMGs0ZzrCWs/X4iopJT2wZI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/DjgAgcnIku0blz8bOEHjL3K0ltvI6JKhQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/lever1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three shot HDR - Lady Lever Art Gallery<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BEpAJ1ge0h0/X4ipoqtmF_I/AAAAAAAAAVY/ohzZGAb6U6I9Ih-gHjE_hzbvDRm-R6_DQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/liverpool46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1000" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BEpAJ1ge0h0/X4ipoqtmF_I/AAAAAAAAAVY/ohzZGAb6U6I9Ih-gHjE_hzbvDRm-R6_DQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h432/liverpool46.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three shot HDR - Lady Chapel, Anglican Cathedral Liverpool</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>When you have the ability to use a tripod as in the shots of Lady Lever Art Gallery, Wirral and the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool then shooting in HDR is the way to go but how many bracketed shots do you need to produce a good HDR image?</div><div><br /></div><div>I've read articles claiming that three shots bracketed at +-2EV is sufficient and this is the method that I've mostly used and that I'm satisfied with. I've also read articles that claim that the more bracketed shots you take the greater the detail in the finished photograph and I've shot HDR images using five, seven and nine bracketed images on occasion. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V63d9nogj2I/X4isMwxnAII/AAAAAAAAAVk/kFcmAFyj4mIWYv8JwRY6g2xtVpirqobkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/dee14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V63d9nogj2I/X4isMwxnAII/AAAAAAAAAVk/kFcmAFyj4mIWYv8JwRY6g2xtVpirqobkgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/dee14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five shot HDR - One Careful Owner</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The photograph of One Careful Owner (above) taken on the Dee Estuary at Lower Heswall is a five shot HDR bracketed at +-1EV. Is there any more detail compared to a three shot image producing the same dynamic range? It's very hard to tell.</p><p>So what software do I use to produce HDR photographs. In my early days I used Photomatix Pro which is available to try and purchase. My software of choice for several years has been Aurora HDR by Luminar. It's very powerful with a huge range of sliders to produce the HDR look that you prefer. </p><p>Photographs produced as HDR's have a certain "look" which doesn't appeal to everyone. At worst they can look grungy, but at their best they will have punch and a wow factor but care is needed in toning down a processed image to make it look more natural as the colours can often be overpowering. Every camera has the settings to produce HDR photos. Some even have the ability to do it "in camera" All you need is a tripod or steady hand and the software. Have fun.</p></div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-57032128167180269202020-09-27T14:45:00.003+01:002020-09-27T14:49:20.117+01:00Brimham Rocks<p>I've been photographing in infrared for 15 years starting off with the Sony F717 bridge camera with an R72 filter attached and experience has taught me that the best infrared photographs are a combination of foliage and hard landscaping in the form of water, rocks, buildings, fences etc. to prevent the problem of wall to wall whiteness where there's no contrast and no focal point for the eye to rest on. Hard landscaping as a stage set to show off the white foliage of infrared is in my opinion the best look for landscapes.</p><p>With that philosophy in mind I enjoyed an afternoon at the <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks" target="_blank">National Trusts Brimham Rocks</a> in October 2018. Brimham Rocks, is a 184 hectare biological site of Special Scientific Interest on Brimham Moor in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 8 mls north west of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QsdGyrPeuoo/X2-skr-qPDI/AAAAAAAAASo/SkhBBltJwpocQV_FA2GW5XvHkm0JFI4TwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/brimham%2Brocks1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QsdGyrPeuoo/X2-skr-qPDI/AAAAAAAAASo/SkhBBltJwpocQV_FA2GW5XvHkm0JFI4TwCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/brimham%2Brocks1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lone Tree at Brimham Rocks - 720nm channel swapped</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Brimham Rocks have been sculptured by the ice, wind and rain of nature for thousands of years but many of the formations could easily be mistaken for Henry Moore art work occasionally peppered with lone trees rooted in shallow crags. This makes them a wonderful subject for photography whether it's infrared or traditional colour photography. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoGRwG_55Rk/X2-wW5SkRjI/AAAAAAAAAS4/ssetspQ2MA4YsjOC09OIfv5qxPeFDrB0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/brimham%2Brocks12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoGRwG_55Rk/X2-wW5SkRjI/AAAAAAAAAS4/ssetspQ2MA4YsjOC09OIfv5qxPeFDrB0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/brimham%2Brocks12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">720nm infrared - channel swapped</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6nh0uMTiyI/X2-zAKOpWaI/AAAAAAAAATU/NFVylwqBKpc5nAD-GnbHwnLWTbDotusDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/brimham%2Brocks7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">720nm infrared - channel swapped</td></tr></tbody></table><p>During this visit all of my shooting was done with a Sony A6000 which has been permanently converted to the 720nm standard wavelength of infrared. The 720nm wavelength produces weak colour in the red and blue channels only. With the correct white balance set to green grass, the colours straight out of camera have a brown sky. Some of these images have been channel swapped to produce a blue sky as above, one has been processed with the colours straight out of camera with a brown sky and many were processed as traditional monochrome images. My go to lens for these infrared photographs was the excellent Zeiss 12mm f2.8 Touit which captures very sharp images without any hotspots.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5sNjCdy7Tk/X2-yKZZVFII/AAAAAAAAATI/8dPhZ7wNQF0ARKx7CnCrb9aG6-VQ8U6MQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/brimham%2Brocks4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5sNjCdy7Tk/X2-yKZZVFII/AAAAAAAAATI/8dPhZ7wNQF0ARKx7CnCrb9aG6-VQ8U6MQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/brimham%2Brocks4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">720nm infrared - out of camera colour</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Traditional "fine art" infrared photography has always been in monochrome. Producing infrared images has alway been a creative post processing exercise and there are 101 ways to process any Raw image but I've been slowly moving away from false colour towards the more traditional monochrome since this visit to Brimham Rocks. Does monochrome work better? That's subjective and a matter for your personal taste. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rcIo9acL9SI/X3COnuLZTLI/AAAAAAAAATg/acfeOLdshGkjtVxLEx7WSLhCys6hrk7dACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/brimham%2Brocks2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rcIo9acL9SI/X3COnuLZTLI/AAAAAAAAATg/acfeOLdshGkjtVxLEx7WSLhCys6hrk7dACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/brimham%2Brocks2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">720nm infrared </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nm6dsK0HVHs/X3CO4MOETCI/AAAAAAAAATo/YEnn6_hGVl0uidW4Sho91WawPrZ_W1exACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/brimham%2Brocks9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nm6dsK0HVHs/X3CO4MOETCI/AAAAAAAAATo/YEnn6_hGVl0uidW4Sho91WawPrZ_W1exACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/brimham%2Brocks9.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">720nm infrared </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmCDOOzN43Y/X3CQ8sQpP3I/AAAAAAAAAT0/dkrZhp9qHmU0q24xbGPD2wSk3ZAUh0ciACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/brimham%2Brocks6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmCDOOzN43Y/X3CQ8sQpP3I/AAAAAAAAAT0/dkrZhp9qHmU0q24xbGPD2wSk3ZAUh0ciACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/brimham%2Brocks6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">720nm infrared</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The weak Autumn light wasn't perfect for infrared and I've had to do some dodging of the highlights as a result to brighten and enhance the white foliage but the bonus was there were very few visitors to the site on the day which gave me free reign to shoot without being disturbed. I'd love to return during the Summer months when I expect the results and the atmosphere captured in the images will be very different.</p>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-15958490858090967282020-08-23T17:27:00.004+01:002020-08-23T17:29:37.933+01:00Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum, Cumbria<p>The Lake District National Park in Cumbria is well known for its beautiful landscapes, picturesque lakes and green mountains. It's a year round draw for photographers from across the UK. In fact there seems to be more photographers in the National Park during the Winter months attempting to capture moody landscapes than during any other season but there's more to photography in the Lake District than landscapes.</p><p>In May 2017 I visited the Lake District with thirteen other members of <a href="http://hoylakephoto.org/" target="_blank">Hoylake Photographic Society</a> for a long weekend staying at the Field Study Center at Blencathra outside Keswick. On our first day at Blencathra the weather was grey with no interest at all in the sky making it unsuitable for good landscape photography. The best advice I've received from top landscape photographers over the years is, "If the sky isn't adding anything to the image then leave it out and shoot detail instead" and that's what I did.</p><p>Our group had made a list of interesting places to visit during our long weekend as each had their own photographic interests and on the list was the <a href="https://www.threlkeldquarryandminingmuseum.co.uk/" target="_blank">Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum</a> which was only a few miles from our base just off the main A66 road into Keswick so a group of us decided to spend a few hours there before moving on and it proved to be a good decision. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rhu5-6PXbVs/X0JtHlYRDnI/AAAAAAAAAPg/vWyCiYaMnRkTPqHngktkdHebLs7CSf_mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/threlkeld4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rhu5-6PXbVs/X0JtHlYRDnI/AAAAAAAAAPg/vWyCiYaMnRkTPqHngktkdHebLs7CSf_mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/threlkeld4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Opened in the 1870's to provide ballast to the railway industry the Threlkeld Quarry was closed in 1992 and it's become a museum largely run by volunteers. The extensive grounds are a home to vintage mining machinery, there's a narrow gauge steam railway, tours underground and a small museum. </p><p>If there's one thing photographers love it's rot and decay whether it's in buildings, boats or vehicles and Threlkeld had plenty of detail to capture on a grey sky day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHOIopigy4s/X0JwJnizUqI/AAAAAAAAAP0/c8cSNn6cXEw7D-lDr_o_A2ZNy0mp83KdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/threlkeld2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHOIopigy4s/X0JwJnizUqI/AAAAAAAAAP0/c8cSNn6cXEw7D-lDr_o_A2ZNy0mp83KdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/threlkeld2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgZLEQaRyyE/X0JwZyRAzcI/AAAAAAAAAQA/8xLB98gGPuYM8MbA7pnhlgQwfrRUb8MIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/threlkeld1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="832" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgZLEQaRyyE/X0JwZyRAzcI/AAAAAAAAAQA/8xLB98gGPuYM8MbA7pnhlgQwfrRUb8MIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/threlkeld1.jpg" /></a></div><p>It was a good test of your photographers "eye" wandering around the derelict cranes and trucks picking out good compositions of flaking paint, cogs and rust. Two hours went by in a flash. When you're on a trip with a group who are car sharing there's always a compromise to be made and you have to move on to another location agreed by the group so time was limited. Another disadvantage of travelling as a group from the same photo society is that you're all taking the same photographs unless like me you're the only infrared photographer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDESDwjZEY4/X0Jy4ia71TI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/7L2QbFmiXpMrJSb097QiqORP_MEh1RmkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/threlkeld3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDESDwjZEY4/X0Jy4ia71TI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/7L2QbFmiXpMrJSb097QiqORP_MEh1RmkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/threlkeld3.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> <b> "Why capture what everyone else is shooting when you can shoot in infrared"</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0XZgT6MUbU/X0J03VyTXrI/AAAAAAAAAQc/5jaroSLz51YTanJ4_258uwEUxeKCqcBCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/mining%2Bmuseum7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0XZgT6MUbU/X0J03VyTXrI/AAAAAAAAAQc/5jaroSLz51YTanJ4_258uwEUxeKCqcBCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mining%2Bmuseum7.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Having spent two hours photographing in colour I was told that the group were leaving in 15 minutes. I always take two cameras on a trip and I was using a Sony A6300 mirrorless and a Sony A6000 infrared converted camera. The A6000 had been permanently converted to the 590nm "Super Colour" wavelength of infrared and these shots taken at Threlkeld were captured with a B+W 0.93 infrared filter on the lens converting it to 830nm pure monochrome only infrared.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTZR2s7yxlI/X0J3IVu6W2I/AAAAAAAAAQo/g4bsJBXLUN4JW7qrF8bs0E7TPLJspyx5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC01939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="654" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTZR2s7yxlI/X0J3IVu6W2I/AAAAAAAAAQo/g4bsJBXLUN4JW7qrF8bs0E7TPLJspyx5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC01939.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuEF3ENZ9oI/X0J3OtoCBmI/AAAAAAAAAQs/q6h1eVStSNcv8d8XTiNsR_V8Bz3WPWhvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/DSC01962.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuEF3ENZ9oI/X0J3OtoCBmI/AAAAAAAAAQs/q6h1eVStSNcv8d8XTiNsR_V8Bz3WPWhvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC01962.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HbuxypeIpg/X0J3U1KiKwI/AAAAAAAAAQw/QTDlD6YyAO8IF5LPHRLRvmvLjpKX-WIzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/mining%2Bmuseum3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HbuxypeIpg/X0J3U1KiKwI/AAAAAAAAAQw/QTDlD6YyAO8IF5LPHRLRvmvLjpKX-WIzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mining%2Bmuseum3.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On the day the light was bright but with an overcast sky giving soft even light with no harsh shadows which was ideal for these infrared photographs. There are times when you want to highlight the strong colours in an image and there are times when the simplicity of monochrome infrared is best. Nature reclaiming these derelict machines would have been lost in a colour photograph.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gI6uAPp4yPs/X0J5DFWW7rI/AAAAAAAAARE/SK6sOF1eYC8L0uDi6zTjNXtMwQLDC2yjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/mining%2Bmuseum6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gI6uAPp4yPs/X0J5DFWW7rI/AAAAAAAAARE/SK6sOF1eYC8L0uDi6zTjNXtMwQLDC2yjACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mining%2Bmuseum6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vtrubN_gJo/X0KSExjeS2I/AAAAAAAAAR0/C1waGDtudngVVVqkwOghhCg2cGkB9NQ7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/mining%2Bmuseum1%2560.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vtrubN_gJo/X0KSExjeS2I/AAAAAAAAAR0/C1waGDtudngVVVqkwOghhCg2cGkB9NQ7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mining%2Bmuseum1%2560.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When people think of infrared they envisage rolling landscapes with fluffy clouds and white foliage on trees but infrared is best when there's hard landscaping, bodies of water or inanimate objects to give contrast to the white otherwise the image can be a total white out with no focal point. Threlkeld was the perfect subject for infrared.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POdY-sgMRbQ/X0J7Eff2_XI/AAAAAAAAARY/3F4P8Ew8Z7IstKrBYi1zALyZUfKZo3AbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/mining%2Bmuseum5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="734" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POdY-sgMRbQ/X0J7Eff2_XI/AAAAAAAAARY/3F4P8Ew8Z7IstKrBYi1zALyZUfKZo3AbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mining%2Bmuseum5.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqbX_pga0sk/X0J7KUmhtBI/AAAAAAAAARc/qP7PvovUoIcVuyUZLSyDfhqQIqPkprkmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/mining%2Bmuseum2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="887" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqbX_pga0sk/X0J7KUmhtBI/AAAAAAAAARc/qP7PvovUoIcVuyUZLSyDfhqQIqPkprkmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mining%2Bmuseum2.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1o-wqzY6cDg/X0J7Qvz8kCI/AAAAAAAAARg/7pPfB3PWqHoumBMNdHRpEMdQ6IE2F4GlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/mining%2Bmuseum4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1o-wqzY6cDg/X0J7Qvz8kCI/AAAAAAAAARg/7pPfB3PWqHoumBMNdHRpEMdQ6IE2F4GlACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mining%2Bmuseum4.jpg" /></a></div><p>Shooting infrared in 830nm wavelength of light results in slow shutter speeds and a tripod is recommended but I didn't have much time so these were all taken hand held. Neither the A6000 or the lens had stabilisation and luckily there was no wind at all so a steady hand and controlled breathing helped to get theses sharp images. As I'd already been around the site shooting in colour I already knew the shots to get in infrared and I was able to achieve what I wanted in the 15 minutes before we moved on. It was a good start to an enjoyable weekend.</p>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-20172668864197645662020-07-21T22:54:00.000+01:002020-07-21T22:58:05.973+01:00RSPB Burton Mere WetlandsA month ago I bought myself a long lens (the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary) with the intention of broadening my photography in to wildlife and sports. I'm lucky in that the Wirral Peninsula with a coastline on three sides is a haven for wildlife and there are some important protected habitats around the coast for anyone interested in bird photography. One such habitat is the <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/dee-estuary-burton-mere-wetlands/" target="_blank">RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands</a> at Burton in South Wirral.<br />
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The wetlands are about four miles from my home and it has been a favourite location for my infrared landscape photography in the past but I've never had a lens long enough to capture the wildlife there until now so today I took the Sigma 150-600mm lens out for the day to put it through its paces. During the visit to the wetlands I also took the opportunity to sign up as a member of the RSPB.<br />
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I was warned before joining that it was the quietest time of the year for the wetlands as most of the feathered visitors arrived during the Winter months and they were true to their word. There were wild flowers, butterflies and dragonflies galore but I had the wrong lens with me for those subjects and the few ducks and geese on the water were too far away for even a 600mm lens. With the hides and some paths closed due to Covid-19 restrictions there were no real opportunities to get up close enough for photography. I met a group of twitchers who were watching a Peregrine Falcon circling around a group of geese on water in the distance but they were too small to photograph.<br />
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That's wildlife photography in a nutshell. Wildlife rarely comes out and poses for you. You have to research its behavior, be patient and have a little luck but I'm not deterred. My next visit as a new RSPB member will be with an infrared camera to capture the beauty of this site as I wait for opportunities to shoot with the long lens.<br />
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As I've no wildlife to show you from today's visit, I'll leave you with some infrared photographs that I've taken at Burton Mere Wetlands over the years. I'm lucky to have two reasons to visit in the future.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony A200, 720nm wavelength of infrared</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQrO43FGBbA/Xxdfclo-7cI/AAAAAAAAAOk/wqZrQnjVJ7oFa38-8QUorAHvBcH1JJ4GwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/burton%2Bmere5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQrO43FGBbA/Xxdfclo-7cI/AAAAAAAAAOk/wqZrQnjVJ7oFa38-8QUorAHvBcH1JJ4GwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/burton%2Bmere5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony A200, 720nm wavelength of infrared</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_kmQkyhZFM/XxdftgTA-sI/AAAAAAAAAOw/9WsL4N3L2WkpH1r2HU8-J3NmL_LUpSrFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/burton%2Bmere2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="800" height="476" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_kmQkyhZFM/XxdftgTA-sI/AAAAAAAAAOw/9WsL4N3L2WkpH1r2HU8-J3NmL_LUpSrFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/burton%2Bmere2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony A6000, 720nm wavelength of infrared</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBMFIp-o7OQ/Xxdf9AUVQfI/AAAAAAAAAO0/uXEyKWbZKP8fIKOIkxLh1J5RC_0L3rrsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/burton%2Bmere%2Bwetlands5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBMFIp-o7OQ/Xxdf9AUVQfI/AAAAAAAAAO0/uXEyKWbZKP8fIKOIkxLh1J5RC_0L3rrsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/burton%2Bmere%2Bwetlands5.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony A6000, 590nm "super colour" wavelength of infrared</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCBVNvWQXFs/XxdgNiS8nuI/AAAAAAAAAPA/PpO4Rzl8CIMeAxFnpkXRsS3jHit__8xlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/burton%2Bmere%2Bwetlands2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="800" height="302" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCBVNvWQXFs/XxdgNiS8nuI/AAAAAAAAAPA/PpO4Rzl8CIMeAxFnpkXRsS3jHit__8xlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/burton%2Bmere%2Bwetlands2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony A6000, 590nm "super colour" wavelength of infrared</td></tr>
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<br />George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-20019993083073904412020-07-14T20:41:00.008+01:002020-07-14T21:37:57.997+01:00Going Long AgainI've been an amateur photographer for 17 years starting off with a Sony F717 bridge camera before buying my first DSLR, the Minolta5D with in body stabilisation. When I upgraded to my first Sony DSLR (Sony A700) I purchased a Sigma 170-500 f5-6.3 super zoom lens. It had no stabilisation which wasn't a problem as the A700 was stabilised and the performance was average but I wasn't a competitive club photographer in those days and used it to capture air shows and some wildlife simply for my own pleasure. <div><br /></div><div>The big drawback was the size and weight of the lens as it wouldn't fit in my camera bag so after a year I sold it and bought the more practical Sony 70-300 f4.5-5.6 SSM. I was heavily into macro flower photography at that time and this new lens was wonderfully sharp with fast auto focus and the minimum focus distance of around 3 feet made it ideal for flower photography and indeed some of my best flower photographs have been taken with this lens.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFHiDqf03X4/Xw3ZFu0hJdI/AAAAAAAAANc/__wcTFLMyU4FTnjScuW1nFhCVx9GBBVYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/comma%2Bbutterfly1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1000" height="354" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFHiDqf03X4/Xw3ZFu0hJdI/AAAAAAAAANc/__wcTFLMyU4FTnjScuW1nFhCVx9GBBVYgCLcBGAsYHQ/w500-h354/comma%2Bbutterfly1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony 70-300 f4.5-5.6 SSM</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Switching camera systems is always stressful and expensive. Sony started putting all of their R&D into their new E mount mirrorless system and their A mount was being neglected so I made the difficult decision and switched to the E mount mirrorless system to be future proof. I sold the A700 and all of my A mount lenses bar the Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro and purchased a Sony A7mk2 and 70-200mm f4 lens. It's a terrific lens but the focal length of my photography was getting shorter every year and I missed the longer length in my lens line up. The problem was there was nothing longer in the E mount for years.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Covid-19 lock down has given me the chance to think about my photography and it's future direction. I've only been photographing flowers in my garden for the past three months and I felt that I needed to broaden my range of photography to wildlife, nature and sport once the virus has receded and life has got back to some sort of normality. That meant purchasing another super zoom lens.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's taken a long time for Sony and third party lens makers Sigma and Tamron to supply a good range of lenses for the Sony E mount. Wide angle primes and mid range zooms dominate the lens line up. Sony had brought out the Sony 100-400 (£2,300) but the super zoom range was sadly missing. </div><div><br /></div><div>This Spring Sony released the Sony 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G lens (£1,700) to fantastic reviews but when searching Youtube for reviews I stumbled across videos testing the Sigma 150-600 f5.6-6.3 Contemporary lens with the Sigma MC11 (Canon EF - E mount) adapter on E mount mirrorless cameras. My camera is the Sony A6400 APSC mirrorless camera.</div><div><br /></div><div>The reviews on the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens were excellent for a lens priced at only £749. The MC11 adapter brought the package to £970 and my choice of super zoom lens to buy was made. Is the Sony 200-600 mm a better lens? Yes it is, but for an occasional wildlife photographer like myself the financial saving is significant. </div><div><br /></div><div>During testing I've found the Sigma 150-600mm auto focus to be quick and accurate and the images to be sharp if you understand the limits of shooting hand held at 600mm (900mm on my APSC crop sensor camera) There are also two custom mode settings for the auto focus and stabilisation. These can be set to your preferences depending on your type of shooting using the Sigma USB dock which I've also purchased.</div><div><br /></div><div>Below are my first test shots using my new lens. They were all taken hand held from 150 - 600mm and have had minimal processing. When you consider that the 600mm range is a whopping 900mm on my APSC camera, I'm extremely happy with the image quality and I have a few candidates for club competition through testing alone. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zILqe375vQY/Xw383_FCGVI/AAAAAAAAANo/Y89KJVjXn3Q2bGvngqn3P7YJikpFawu8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s767/Robin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="512" height="781" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zILqe375vQY/Xw383_FCGVI/AAAAAAAAANo/Y89KJVjXn3Q2bGvngqn3P7YJikpFawu8ACLcBGAsYHQ/w524-h781/Robin.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand Held 600mm, ISO400, f6.3, 1/1600 sec<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MK6yqPnF0sY/Xw3948wvBzI/AAAAAAAAANw/fGRcCHnRFQMaymnhxfK3pk0MAtMHBLdjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/heron1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MK6yqPnF0sY/Xw3948wvBzI/AAAAAAAAANw/fGRcCHnRFQMaymnhxfK3pk0MAtMHBLdjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h416/heron1.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand Held, 172mm, ISO1600, f6.3, 1/1600 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7yg0eOp_sM/Xw3__00aRBI/AAAAAAAAAN8/0_qGpQM7zjwfXhFgONK4p5-YziCreJg_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Luna.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7yg0eOp_sM/Xw3__00aRBI/AAAAAAAAAN8/0_qGpQM7zjwfXhFgONK4p5-YziCreJg_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h416/Luna.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand Held, 150mm, ISO400, f8, 1/2000 sec<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fd7bBOhvcNI/Xw4A8Ya_SsI/AAAAAAAAAOE/YRoJHSNPC7UMNIF00OV-b0YL3o-hgOxNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Bess.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fd7bBOhvcNI/Xw4A8Ya_SsI/AAAAAAAAAOE/YRoJHSNPC7UMNIF00OV-b0YL3o-hgOxNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h416/Bess.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand Held, 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/2000 sec</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>At the moment we're still in semi lock down. Sports are only just re-starting again while many nature reserves are still closed. I'm looking forward to the challenge of wildlife and sports photography that I've been neglecting over the years. It should be fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>Adendum: Two weeks after purchasing a Canon version of the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary, Sigma released their first zoom lens for the Sony E mount system and not before time. The Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 (£899) is getting excellent reviews on Youtube. Tamron are sure to follow soon.</div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-59305534143686728282020-06-26T20:47:00.004+01:002020-06-26T20:51:33.997+01:00Lock Down FlowersIt's been a very frustrating 2020 for many Wirral photographers. The New Year brought a constant string of Atlantic storms which hit the coastline hard where I live testing only the bravest of photographers resolve. As soon as Spring arrived, the storms receded and we were hit with a virus from the Far East in the form of Covid-19. <div><br /></div><div>Of course the virus has caused the closure of every public garden, sporting and social event and has restricted our movements to essential travel only which has been equally frustrating. Wales has closed it's border preventing any landscape photography in the Snowdonia National Park which is only a 2 hours drive away.<div><br /></div><div>As I'm in a vulnerable category for Covid-19 infection due to my age, I've taken the UK Government's lock down advise seriously and diligently to protect the NHS and only ventured out briefly to walk our dog and to shop. For that reason I've had to be content with photographing flowers in my garden as they've emerged in the warm Spring weather.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh2G-qJpnNU/XvZF5kzMIxI/AAAAAAAAAL4/T7rMtfuU0skOEyj16ZOLfUvpPgDDSd2LgCK4BGAsYHg/s1000/Tradescantia%2BTexture1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tradescantia" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh2G-qJpnNU/XvZF5kzMIxI/AAAAAAAAAL4/T7rMtfuU0skOEyj16ZOLfUvpPgDDSd2LgCK4BGAsYHg/w416-h625/Tradescantia%2BTexture1.jpg" title="Tradescantia" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tradescantia</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>My garden has been given a major makeover which starting last Autumn with the division of established perennials. The work has continued this year with the felling of an ailing tree at the bottom of the garden to let in more light to give existing plants a chance to grow. With more ground water and food available this area has been extensively re-planted with shrubs and woodland plants giving me more subjects to photograph during the year. With nowhere to go the work has taken up most of my free lock down time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sqirV022Dqk/XvZGxzIy_KI/AAAAAAAAAMM/_mPZYQKoYuQNYy155Tp-JDLJB47w7A3EwCK4BGAsYHg/s1000/Iris%2BTexture3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Iris" border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sqirV022Dqk/XvZGxzIy_KI/AAAAAAAAAMM/_mPZYQKoYuQNYy155Tp-JDLJB47w7A3EwCK4BGAsYHg/w625-h416/Iris%2BTexture3.jpg" title="Iris" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I spent the Winter months creating my own textures to use in the post processing of the flowers and I use them whenever one fits the subject as in the Iris above but there are times when I have to resort to using the excellent textures of <a href="http://kathleenclemonsphotography.com/" target="_blank">Kathleen Clemons</a> to get the painterly effect that I love and which is a feature of her beautiful photography. Putting the right texture and flower subject together is the most difficult part of creating textured flowers. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkVXMYNhv9E/XvZHwzeq3nI/AAAAAAAAAMk/mItMpmz4VLwIWW1GThslAY9-dTerNQhwACK4BGAsYHg/s1000/Arum%2BLily%2BTexture7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkVXMYNhv9E/XvZHwzeq3nI/AAAAAAAAAMk/mItMpmz4VLwIWW1GThslAY9-dTerNQhwACK4BGAsYHg/w416-h625/Arum%2BLily%2BTexture7.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arum Lily<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>As Spring changes into Summer I'm finding new subjects to photograph in the garden almost every day but I'm impatient for the re-opening of my local gardens at Ness Botanic Gardens on the Wirral Peninsula and Bodnant Gardens in Conwy, Wales in July. The seasons are brief and flowers need to be photographed in their peak condition. Miss a week and flowers can quickly go over resulting in a missed opportunity for another 12 months. My aim during the second half of 2020 when released from Covid lock down will be to capture enough quality flower images to keep me busy post processing during the long dark Winter months.</div></div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-46183645293744362312020-06-03T20:04:00.005+01:002020-06-03T21:14:09.757+01:00Journey Through My Garden In InfraredI've been a digital infrared photographer for 15 years and for most of those years the cameras that I've had converted have had the ability to record infrared video but the record button has never been touched. It's not that I'm adverse to shooting video, it's just that I concentrated all of my time to learning how to get the best results from infrared stills.<div><br /></div><div>Before taking up photography 15 years ago my family had to get used to having a Canon camcorder following them around on family days out, holidays and during Christmas. We look back on those short presentations of my two girls growing up from 5 yrs old to teenagers and wonder where the time has gone. Shot on Hi8 tape on "Auto" with wind noise from the built in "Mic" and the background click, click of the auto focus, those short cheesy presentation always bring a smile to our faces no matter how many times they've been viewed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Photography records a split second moment in time and the results when done well can be very powerful, whereas video records a persons personality and character, the way they walked, spoke and laughed, their interactions with others as well as the clothes they wore and their surroundings.</div><div><br /></div><div>For Christmas 2019 I bought myself a DJI Ronin SC gimbal to steady my Sony A6400 colour camera with the intention of shooting family videos again of my grandchildren growing up, but this time in 1080p HD and 4k video. For audio I bought a Rode external mic and a dead cat remembering how the wind noise and auto focus noise of old would ruin the finished masterpiece. The full days footage of our extended family's Christmas Day was reduced down to a 10 minute cheesy presentation in HD and is preserved for posterity for my grandchildren to look back on when they're adults.</div><div><br /></div><div>For a few years I've been thinking of trying some short videos shot in infrared spurred on by watching some excellent footage on Vimeo. The purchase of the gimbal coupled with the right weather conditions this Spring gave me the opportunity to experiment with the 1080p HD video quality of my Sony A6000 720nm wavelength converted camera. Wanting to shoot video in pure monochrome I added a B+W 0.93 filter to the lens allowing me to record in the 830nm wavelength of pure monochrome infrared. </div><div><br /></div><div>The finished test video "<a href="https://vimeo.com/421904754" target="_blank">Journey Through My Garden In Infrared</a>" was shot during the Coronavirus lock down and is available to view on <a href="https://vimeo.com/421904754" target="_blank">Vimeo</a>. The video is just over 2 minutes long. I'm certainly not a talented videographer and it's difficult to make a trip through my garden look interesting but I'm very pleased with this test of image quality and sharpness of 830nm video. </div><div><br /></div><div>The captured footage was processed using Corel Videostudio Ultimate 2020 and the naff music came bundled with the software. The footage in the finished video was recorded at 50fps allowing me to slow down the speed to 25fps and the contrast has been enhanced. Apart from those simple adjustments it was a case of cutting and pasting footage together with transitions linking them together. I'm encouraged enough by the results to find a more interesting and challenging project, perhaps street video, once the Coronavirus crisis is over and Great Britain starts to get back to normal. </div>George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-51951481670495182172020-02-19T17:55:00.002+00:002020-02-19T17:55:51.386+00:00Faux Colour Infrared Using Nik VivezaI've been photographing in digital infrared for 14 years starting with the Sony F717 and an R72 filter progressing to permanently modified Sony A6000 mirrorless cameras in the 720nm standard and 590nm super colour wavelengths of light.<br />
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The 720nm standard wavelength of light (being on the edge of the colour spectrum of light visible to the human eye) captures some weak colour in the red and blue colour channels which you can use for faux colour infrared images. The standard practice for faux colour infrared photography has always been to swap the red and blue colours using the "channel mixer" to give your image a blue sky.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avcGkAeaa6E/Xk1pK612RhI/AAAAAAAAAJA/4b0NzBcDAgcPcZpKYPiwZabUAOkX6fWFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/wirral79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avcGkAeaa6E/Xk1pK612RhI/AAAAAAAAAJA/4b0NzBcDAgcPcZpKYPiwZabUAOkX6fWFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/wirral79.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birkenhead Park Boathouse - 720nm infrared channel swapped</td></tr>
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The 590nm super colour wavelength of light is closer to the colour spectrum giving you a mix of the colour spectrum and infrared light. As an infrared photographer this gives you more creative options for coloured infrared as you now have some colour in the Red, Yellow, Blue and Cyan channels. You can swap colour channels as before and adjust the hue and saturation of each colour individually to produce a psychedelic world of faux colour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PB3xm5MEZVw/Xk1piee1BGI/AAAAAAAAAJI/NuA96y6EfvsHF0RdXR3ZmTPiEWvEaikDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bodnant16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PB3xm5MEZVw/Xk1piee1BGI/AAAAAAAAAJI/NuA96y6EfvsHF0RdXR3ZmTPiEWvEaikDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/bodnant16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bodnant Hall, Wales - 590nm infrared channel swapped</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f612m6ymHxY/Xk1rb5IdEaI/AAAAAAAAAJU/U3U8C1jt5scXBdd2Dh4dQMdluQFp-Y1HwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bodnant5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f612m6ymHxY/Xk1rb5IdEaI/AAAAAAAAAJU/U3U8C1jt5scXBdd2Dh4dQMdluQFp-Y1HwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/bodnant5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bodnant Gardens Terrace - 590nm super colour infrared</td></tr>
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As you can see from the images above taken with a Sony A6000 720nm standard infrared camera and a Sony A6000 590nm super colour infrared, the latter captures more colour to play with in post production. Can you go further? Yes you can.<br />
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<b><u>Nik Viveza</u></b><br />
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Last year I stumbled on a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_dQJDZ7CKs" target="_blank">Youtube tutorial</a> hosted by the Master of infrared photography <a href="https://markhilliardatelier-blog.com/about/" target="_blank">Mark Hilliard</a> in the United States on creating faux colour infrared images using Nik Viveza 2. The technique allows you to use the software's U-point technology to selectively colour foliage. Place a control point on the foliage of a tree and you can change the hue, saturation, warmth, brightness to colour the foliage in pastel shades. It works with all wavelengths of infrared except 830nm pure infrared which has no colour recorded in the image to be used by Viveza.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birkenhead Park Boathouse - 720nm infrared processed using Nik Vivessa2</td></tr>
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The photograph above is a standard 720nm infrared image, channel swapped to produce a blue sky and finished using Nik Viveza 2 to selectively colour the foliage. This technique gives the photographer far more options in this wavelength. However, the 590nm super colour wavelength produces far more dramatic results as it has more colour recorded in the infrared image and you can be as bold or as subtle as you wish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biddulph Grange - 590nm infrared processed using Nik Vivessa 2</td></tr>
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I've only just got started in post processing infrared images using Nik Vivessa 2. The reason I love infrared photography is that it challenges you to push the boundaries and be creative from faux colour to monochrome fine art photography in 830nm pure infrared.George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-23851148408746734002019-12-29T18:07:00.002+00:002019-12-29T18:07:38.654+00:00VideographyBefore taking up photography I always had a consumer camcorder in my hand recording my family growing up. Christmas, birthdays, Summer day's out and family holidays the camcorder was always in my hand. As young children my two daughters didn't mind having a camcorder pointed at them and sometimes they used it themselves but as they grew into teenager's they naturally started to rebel and the recording became less frequent and eventually stopped altogether.<br />
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Looking back now at those short grainy home movies shot in a homely often cheesy style brings a lump to the throat and they are enjoyed and cherished by all of the family. A photograph captures a fleeting moment in time but video captures the personality of those being filmed, how they talked, moved, their sense of humour and their character. As well as recording the innocence and fun of my daughters growing up, older family members who are sadly no longer with us are now on disc. Those recordings are an important family record to show to my grandchildren as they grow up.<br />
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The video stopped at about the same time that my interest in photography started. Most of the digital cameras that I've owned during the last 14 years have had the ability to record video but incredibly I've never used it. Cameras nowadays are designed to produce terrific video footage as well as photographs. I've owned cameras producing 1080p HD video and my main camera, the Sony A6400 records excellent 4k video footage as well as 1080p HD in super slow motion. My infrared camera records video in 1080p HD and I can't wait to get arty with infrared video.<br />
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I recently received the good news that my fourth grandchild is due in May 2020. By taking photographs of my grandchildren and family and ignoring the video capabilities of these excellent cameras I'm missing out on something important and enjoyable.<br />
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My cameras don't have image stabilisation built in and neither do my prime lenses. Camera shake really is a video killer so I took the decision before Christmas to purchase a gimbal to shoot good quality smooth video instead of buying myself another lens.<br />
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The DJI Ronin SC gimbal is perfect for the Sony mirrorless system. It was delivered two weeks before Christmas giving me some time to learn how to set it up and use it, balance the camera and shoot some test footage before the big day.<br />
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With a cheap Rode external mic on the camera hot shoe I shot video all Christmas Day with my whole family present for dinner. The 4k footage was flawless with the camera in P auto mode and family members old and young are now immortalised in the way they walked, talked, laughed and showed off their personality. The challenge now is to learn again how use new software to put that footage together into a short record of the day. It's going to be fun learning the video side of the camera during 2020.<br />
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Photography is still very important and it isn't being put to one side. I'm just adding new skills to my bow and getting more bang for bucks out of the other 50% my cameras. George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558244656500363137.post-41924790538873682022019-12-08T17:12:00.000+00:002019-12-09T07:02:39.229+00:00Samyang 8mm f3.5 Fisheye LensI'm always looking for ways in which to help me to be more creative with my photography straight out of camera. This can be done by using a different perspective, using slow shutter speeds, voluntary camera movements, creative blurring, etc. Another way is to use lenses to aid creativity such as the Lensbaby range of "art" lenses.<br />
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A lens in my bag that I've used creatively for a number of years now is the Sony "A mount" Samyang 8mm f3.5 fisheye lens. The lens gives a 180-degree field of view and the edges of the frame are distorted, which is handy where exaggerated perspective and an extreme field of view is needed.<br />
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The lens is extremely easy to use. There are no electronics in the body so aperture and focus is manual only. Simply set the aperture to f3.5, set the focus distance to 1 meter and everything from two foot to infinity is in sharp focus leaving you free to compose your image and shoot away. A bonus of a fisheye is the ability to capture good images in low light at slow shutter speeds hand held if you are careful. It's a very forgiving lens and a lot of fun to use. Because there are no electronics the lens is cheap and can be bought for around £250 depending on the mount. All of the photographs in this post were taken with the lens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porters Cottage - National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrow Boat - National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port</td></tr>
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At the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port, Wirral I had no room to step back to widen the view but the 180-degree view of the fisheye lens allowed me to get a shot and capture something different at the same time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chester Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloisters - Chester Cathedral</td></tr>
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A fisheye lens lends itself well to architecture where space is tight but also where you want to display the majesty of a building. I've used it to great effect inside a number of impressive buildings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liverpool Central Library</td></tr>
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Use the camera in portrait mode as with the above photograph of Liverpool Central Library you can capture an 180-degree view of the floor and ceiling in the same shot. Likewise the shot below of the central spiral staircase of the Museum of Liverpool life is accentuated by the distortion created at the edges of the images.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staircase - Museum of Liverpool Life</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rudbeckia - Ness Botanic Gardens</td></tr>
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The extreme field of view pushes detail and points of interest into the far distance so getting up extremely close to foreground interest and letting the middle ground fall away into the distance can be effective. Fortunately the minimum shooting distance of this lens is 12 inches which was used in the above photograph. The biggest problem with a fisheye lens is keeping your feet or your shadow out of the shot.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London From St Pauls Cathedral Dome</td></tr>
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When you do want to show the majesty of a scene then get up high and use the fisheye lens distortion to your advantage as in the above photograph taken from the dome of St Pauls Cathedral in London.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flaybrick Cemetery in Bidston, Wirral (720nm Infrared)</td></tr>
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For me the bonus of the Samyang fisheye lenses are their suitability for infrared photography. They produce sharp images with no hotspots. The only problem of course with a lens this wide is keeping flare out of your shot.<br />
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The fisheye effect doesn't suit every situation or every photographer but the Samyang fisheye lens is a cheap creative lens to have in your bag. I've now switched from Sony A mount to an E mount mirrorless camera and the first lens I bought was the Samyang 8mm f2.8 fisheye 11 which is even sharper and smaller than the early A mount version used to capture these images.<br />
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<br />George W Evans Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17223470787650068434noreply@blogger.com