I hear those voices that will not be drowned
Back from a wonderful weekend photographing in Suffolk. The light was sublime and my camera was spoiled for choice. This is Maggi Hambling’s stunning sculpture The Scallop on the beach at Aldeburgh. Some love it; some loathe it. I find it very moving. Raised in tribute to Benjamin Britten, to whom this wild seascape was … Read more
Scared of Dogs
My dear friend, Alex Bennis, published his first book the other week. He has been nervous of dogs since childhood. But, remarkably, he decided to become a volunteer dog walker at Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare, a rehoming kennels which takes in greyhound who have retired from racing and finds them homes and a new life after … Read more
Drip, drip, drip (or how to take photographs of water droplets)
Despite appearances this is actually one of the easiest techniques to master. Equipment needed – flashgun (built in will do at a pinch), tripod, kitchen tap … that’s it! Fill the kitchen sink till the water is nearly overflowing (so that you can mount your camera at near water level). Use a long lens (the … Read more
Nifty fifty
Took out one of my old prime lenses the other day to give it a quick once over on my new D700. I am so glad I did. My nifty fifty always felt cramped and uncomfortable on my old DX cameras. Too short for portraits, too long for everyday. Pretty limited in fact. On the new FX … Read more
For the friend who has everything
I help out where I can at my local greyhound rescue kennels and have just been given an assignment by them to do some photos for a gift card set. You know the kind of thing – Stumped for Gift Ideas? What do you buy the man who has everything? The idea is that you … Read more
Suddenly the world looks different
Got me a Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 lens for Christmas. As a die-hard telephoto junkie, I’m finding this lens feels very strange and still working out how to make it sing like a canary. Ken Rockwell says, these ultra-wide angle lenses are emphatically not about “getting it all in” - unless of course you like boring … Read more
