Lessons Learned

Yesterday were the last really large tides of 2008, so I dragged my carcass out of bed at an ungodly hour and headed to Cleethorpes seafront to expose some film with the sunrise coinciding with high tide.

I set up my tripod on Brighton Slipway and then I struggled to attach my recently purchased Zone VI lightweight camera, to the tripod in the dim predawn light. My perseverance paid off and I completed the task, only to reach into my backpack for a suitable lens, to discover my backpack contained no lenses. Oh #!/* some idiot had not checked his camera gear before setting off.

I had to fallback on to using my DSLR and the image above is one of a sequence I took of the sunrise. As you can see it was an exceptional sunrise and I’m annoyed that I didn’t get to expose the 10x8 colour negative film I had earmarked for the occasion.

Lessons have been learned and I will check in advance of future shoots that my camera backpack is not missing any key items, and I will also be adding a small torch to my bag.

New Tools

Above are my 2008 eBay photographic equipment purchases. These cameras and lenses along with my existing large format equipment have reinforced my commitment to analogue photography. Although I still have my DSLR I only use it for snapshots. At times I struggle with the limited dynamic range of digital. I also dislike my DSLR’s small and inaccurate viewfinder. I much prefer the sumptuous view you get while under the darkcloth, looking at the groundglass of a large format camera.

Perhaps it’s very 19th century, but I enjoy the slow process of large format photography. I feel more involved and in control of what I photograph, than when I have a DSLR to my eye. Maybe I should mount my DSLR a tripod which would slow down my picture taking, but it wouldn’t take away the act of looking through the dark tunnel of its viewfinder. Perhaps it’s time to upgrade my camera or just abandon DSLR’s until there is a camera that meets my needs and my not to well padded wallet.

I'm back :)

Self Portrait September 2008

So far in 2008 my blog has been dormant. This will be my first posting in over 9 months. Okay 9 months is the gestation period for a baby and every time I write it’s as painful as giving birth. I know I’m a mere man so how can I understand the pain involved in child birth!

In future there will be little writing but hopefully plenty of photos from myself, but I would also like to share the work of other photographers who have caught my attention. This will be done ad hoc though it could become a weekly feature, we will see how it develops and how disciplined I can stay as regards this blog. From past experience the omens are not promising.

A short update is perhaps required for the last 9 months. My daytime job continues to be very busy and eventful, following the joint raid by the OFT and European Commission, arrests by the FBI, and investigation by the DOJ 18 months ago. Although former work colleagues are now serving prison sentences, the fallout from their actions continues to envelop my work place and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. It can certainly make my working day eventful and unpredictable at times.

Butterfly Stitches

I have a scar on my forehead following a confrontation with a swinging gate in a gale force wind early in the year. I had to have butterfly stitches to knit the wound together and stop the bleeding. Oh the gate is okay and undamaged.

My health has generally been good and my weight constant, though I have suffered the occasional bad back. It’s either down to old age or a lifetime of poor posture. Perhaps I should use my works gym more often and build up muscle as well as do more jogging which I have neglected since I acquired a bad back.