Inspiration

Are you looking for something to do this Autumn? Have you considered macro photography? Macro photography is essentially extreme close-up photography, and while you may think you need fancy cameras and specific lenses to achieve great macro images, this is not true!

In this article, we’ve put together nine macro projects for you to try this Autumn. Don’t forget – this month’s theme for our Digital Splash Photography competition is Macro, so why not try some of these projects and enter some of your images to be in with a chance of winning up to £500 in Wilkinson Cameras vouchers? We’d love to see what you create.

Lens choice

There are specific macro lenses that you can invest in – these allow you to focus closely on an object and also give you a greater magnification factor than a standard lens, allowing you to capture more detail. They come in different focal lengths, just like any other lens. The focal length you choose will depend on the subjects you most like to photograph. For example, a 100mm macro lens will allow you to be further away from your subject. This is great for subjects that you can’t get as close to, such as insects or things low down to the ground. But for jewellery, you may find you only need a 60mm macro lens, for instance.

However, you don’t need a specific macro lens if you’re just starting out. You can still try macro-style photography with your existing lens. You can even get macro lenses that attach to your smart phone to allow you to zoom in a little closer!

Outdoors

Autumn is an incredible season for macro photography opportunities. The gorgeous colours of the leaves, the abundance of insects and wildlife, and the generally dry weather conditions. Here are a couple of outdoor macro projects to try this Autumn…

Leaves

Of course, we had to start with leaves, didn’t we? Given that this article is all about Autumn projects, it’s a no-brainer. Autumn leaves showcase some of the most amazing colours: bright reds, mustard yellows, burnt oranges. As an added bonus, they are much easier to get up close and personal to, being on the ground… no tree climbing required! When you get up close, you’ll be surprised at just how detailed leaves actually are – they definitely make for fascinating macro subjects.

Dew

The cooler autumn mornings mean it’s a perfect time of year for dew or outdoor water droplet photos. Get down low to the ground and capture the fine beads of water clinging on to blades of grass or resting on top of the last of the summer flowers.

Insects/Wildlife

Insects are quite a difficult subject to photograph in macro, as they are very quick and very small. However, with some patience and perseverance, you could get some amazing images. Dragonflies are one of the most commonly photographed insects in macro due to their bright colours and detailed wings, however you will probably struggle to spot any during Autumn. Instead, you may be able to capture furry caterpillars, tiny ladybirds, patterned moths or detailed snail shells.

Rust/Dirt

A subject that can provide some unusual shapes, old rusted metal gates, padlocks, fences or cars can be great opportunities for unique macro images. Alternatively, rusted tools, for example a pair of old pliers, can also work well for an option a little closer to home. In a similar vein, dirt can also make for some interesting images. Get your hands dirty (or rope a friend in to model) and then photograph your/their hands – not only will you get dirt patterns, you’ll also capture the fine details of a hand: knuckles, indents, wrinkles, veins, fingerprints. Another option is to go out after a rainy day in search of wet, squelchy mud… there’s the possibility for indents, footprints or puddles of water, or mud splatters against all kinds of objects. Splatter some mud against a rusted object and get the best of both worlds!

Wood

Another Autumn classic, wood is the last outdoor macro project on our list for you to try this Autumn. Again, think trees. Tree trunks in particular have unique, twirling patterns that are perfect for macro photography. Take a trip to a nearby forest or woodland, where you’ll likely find an assortment of tree species that will add some variety to your shots. There’s also other wooden options, for example fence slats, benches or picnic tables. Remember to get close to look for hidden details.

Indoors

Of course, there’s likely to be days where it’s dark and dull outside, or pouring with rain, and going outside doesn’t seem very appealing. So, with that in mind, here are some of the best indoor macro projects to try this Autumn!

Cutlery

Cutlery can make for attractive macro photographs. Experiment with different layouts, symmetrical and contrasting lines. You can also play with the lighting and work with the colours, reflections and shadows to produce some unique images.

Water droplets

The perfect macro project choice for a rainy day! You can get some captivating and detailed shots here, focusing on one particular droplet or encompassing a section of window with multiple water trails and droplets. If it happens to be a dry day, you can turn on the tap and get some creative shots of the water flow. Experiment between having a trickle of water and having the tap full blast. You can also use household objects, which leads us on nicely to our next project…

Glassware/Jewellery

Close-ups of glassware can result in striking abstract images composed of curves and reflections. Use multiple glasses for additional lines and focus on the overlap. Furthermore, you can add water droplets to link in with the above project, or fill the glasses full of water, juice (try different flavours for some colour variation), or any other liquid of your choice, to produce some creative, impressive images.

Similarly, you can get some great macro shots with jewellery pieces. Anything from top end diamond earrings, pearl necklaces and ruby brooches, to bottom end braided cotton or plastic beaded bracelets. With metal based or gemstone jewellery, focus on the shine and experiment with lighting to really make the colours pop.

Fruit and veg

The final Autumn macro project on our list is fruit and vegetables. Autumn brings with it a delicious selection of fruit and veg, all of which, apart from being super tasty, are the perfect macro subjects. Blackberries can be found wild or in shops and have an intriguing pattern and texture that will make for a juicy looking abstract. Pumpkins, corn and peppers all have distinct textures both on the inside and the outside. Combine a few together to get the perfect autumnal-coloured shot.

Feeling Inspired?

Enter your macro images into September’s Digital Splash Awards for the chance to win £100 in Wilkinson Cameras vouchers, plus the chance to be entered into the final to win a further £500 worth of vouchers!

 

 

The UK is packed full of great locations to shoot impressive architecture and buildings, but they can sometimes be very easy to miss.

 

Architectural photography is an extremely popular genre of photography. To help you get started we have complied a post full of the best UK locations to take stunning architecture photos.

 

The Digital Splash Awards 2019 photography competition theme for June is Architectural photography! Enter your images for the chance to win up to £500 in Wilkinson Cameras vouchers.

 

Manchester, North West, England

Manchester is a very vibrant city with incredible photo opportunities around every single corner. There are several locations around Manchester for you to take stunning architectural images and new and exciting buildings are popping up every week, but here are some of of favourite locations to get you started.

Manchester Central Library has an ornate and grand design throughout. With a Roman architectural theme, it is an excellent place to start your photography in Manchester.

The next place we want to recommend is the Northern Quarter. It is packed full of superb buildings and vibrant street art. This is an excellent place to test out your street photography as well as capturing some of the vibrant and varied buildings.

Finally, head over to Ancoats, full of industrial heritage, where the old mill buildings transport you back in time to Manchester’s industrial past. Another excellent place for stunning architectural images.

Location: Manchester Central Library. Photographer: Michael D. Beckwith

 

Liverpool, North West, England

Liverpool is a city with over 2,500 listed building as well as brand new buildings. It is also regarded as one of the best cities for grandiose buildings. It is safe to say this is a wonderful location for architectural photography.

The Royal Liver Building dominates the city’s waterfront sky. The two Liver birds upon the building’s two clock towers make for perfect focal point in your images.

The Albert Dock was primarily built as a warehouse and docking system for ships, but it is now a tourist hotspot. It is also the first building in Britain to be built without wood. You can always capture stunning images here, day and night. The water allows you to play around with reflections and long exposures.

The Mann Island buildings are an excellent example of modern architecture in Liverpool. Their sharp lines and contrasting colours and textures make a great subject for photographers.

Location: Mann Island Buildings. Photographer: James Pinder.

 

Preston, North West, England

We may be a little bit biased, being based in Preston for over 30 years, but it certainly isn’t short of architectural beauty!

The Grade II listed Preston Bus Station is arguably Preston’s most debated about building. Its brutalist design is either loved or hated, but either way the building stands out in the city and makes for unique images.

The Grade I listed Harris Museum is brimming with neoclassical architecture. This building is stunning from all angles with excellent photography options inside as well as outside.

The last location we want to highlight in Preston is Brockholes Nature Reserve. It is based on the site of an old quarry and is the home of the floating visitor village, which is the first of its kind in the UK. The visitor village offers many opportunities for architectural photography, but also gives you the chance to shoot landscape and wildlife too.

Location: Preston Bus Station. Photographer: James Pinder.

 

York, North East, England

York is a walled city that was founded by ancient Romans. It is packed full of architectural beauties that are well worth photographing.

The York Minister dates back to medieval times and features stained glass, stonework and elaborate tombs. You can photograph the beautiful architecture inside and out and will always get excellent results.

The Shambles is a small street in the centre of York with an interesting past. With its leaning building and stunning architecture, this is a must-see photography location. Some of the buildings date back as far as the 14th century. Harry Potter fans will feel right at home here as it is widely reported that the Shambles was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the films.

Finally, heading slightly north of York, we recommend a trip to Castle Howard. The Castle Howard Estate features over 200 listed buildings and monuments! The crowning glory is definitely Castle Howard istself. Though not actually a castle, this stately home is impressive inside and out with plenty to photograph. Many people will recognise it as the backdrop to the film (and earlier TV series) Brideshead Revisited.

Location: York Minster. Photographer: Andy Falconer.

 

Newcastle, North East, England

Newcastle is a centre of arts, business and science and is full of different architectural photography locations.

Located just outside of Newcastle is Belsay Hall. This is the host of two historical buildings, a tower house and neoclassical house. It is the perfect location if you are looking to take some unique images.

Newcastle cathedral is the location that holds the story of the entire city. With medieval architecture throughout this is an excellent location for dome stunning architectural images.

The last location to point out in Newcastle is the Angel of the North. Standing 20 metres tall and with unique architecture this is an excellent thing to photography in all kinds of weather.

Location: Angel of the North. Photographer: Bons YUE.

 

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is a city full of architecture that you cannot help but stop and admire. If your taste is in gothic, modernist or medieval architecture, this is the location for you,

Edinburgh Castle is perched upon the volcanic Castle Rock. You can admire the building from afar, but it is even more impressive up close. This location is one not to be missed when it comes to shooting architectural photographs.

Holyrood Palace is both grand and large and is surrounded by landscaped gardens. With towers, spired and medieval architecture this is a location well worth a visit.

The final location we want to suggest visiting in Edinburgh is the Scottish Parliament building. It is designed to mirror the surrounding landscape of hills and crags. It has extremely different architectural than the buildings surrounding it. It is perfect for geometrical architectural images.

Location: Scottish Parliament Building. Photographer: Chris Flexen

 

London, Southern England

London, the capital of the UK is world-renowned for its architecture. With styles from new to old, gothic to art deco, traditional to contemporary and everything in between.

The Shard is one of London’s most famous skyscrapers. It is said to be inspired by London’s railway lines. You can take some stunning images of this magnificent piece of architecture, both day and night, from many angles.

The British Library has a brutalist architecture style and is a grade I listed building. With many angles to shoot from and a large courtyard to roam, the British Library offers many different architectural photography opportunities.

One final location that we want to talk about in London is St Paul’s Cathedral. It is one of London’s top attractions and is recognised worldwide for its design. Both inside and out, you will never be short of architectural photography chances. Did you know that St. Paul’s is the focal point of several “protected views” within London. These views have strict rules to prevent the view of the cathedral being blocked by new buildings and vegetation is maintained to ensure a clean line of sight at all times. One view from King Henry VIII’s Mound in Richmond Park has a clear view of St. Paul’s Cathedral… over 10 miles away! (We’d recommend a really long lens for this one!)

Location: St Paul’s Cathedral. Photographer: Dave Reed.

 

Oxford, Southern England

Oxford is a city that contains examples of every major architectural style in England. It has many examples of how the old can harmonise with the new. This is the perfect location to visit for unique architectural photography.

Magdalen College Tower is an excellent example of English Gothic architecture. With large pointed windows, detailed carvings and spires, you are sure to leave here with many detailed photographs.

Queen’s College is a stunning example of neoclassical architecture. It features symmetrical pediments that adorn the high street entrance to the college and the dome that caps the entrance. This is another location where you can capture detailed images up close.

Radcliffe Camera Library (sadly, not a library dedicated to cameras!) displays Palladian architecture beautifully. It has pillars and domes that repeat in symmetrical patterns. This location gives you yet another opportunity for detailed images whilst visiting Oxford.

Location: Queen’s College. Photographer: Delfi de la Rua.

 

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Belfast is a vibrant and buzzing city, with a unique history. This all resonates in it’s many architectural styles seen throughout the city.

The Titanic Belfast is a modern and iconic building. It is shaped like the ship’s bow and is deemed to be the height of the original Titanic. This is the perfect location to go if you are looking to take modern architectural images.

The Stormont Parliament Building is neoclassical in design and is a historical building. It is surrounded by tranquil regal lawns and beautiful flower beds. This building offers simple yet beautiful photography opportunities.

The Grand Opera House is beautiful both inside and out. It is designed with a cream cast stone and red brick exterior and curved balconies and turban-themed canopies inside. If you are looking for beautiful, detailed architecture this is the place to go.

Location: Titanic Belfast. Photographer: Christian Holzinger.

 

Cardiff, Wales

Cardiff, the capital city of Wales has a number of Architecture styles. It dates from Norman times to present day with its urban fabric largely being of Victorian design. This city offers you a number of photography opportunities.

The Wales Millennium Centre is the first location we want to highlight here. It comprises of one large theatre and two smaller halls with shops, bars and restaurants. It is home to the national orchestra and dance, opera, theatre and literature companies. One feature that is widely recognised is inscribed on the front of the dome. It is two poetic lines, by poet Gwyneth Lewis, written in both Welsh and English. This is a location not to miss.

The Senedd, also known as the National Assembly Building, is the home of the debating chamber and three committee rooms for the National Assembly for Wales. This building stand outs on the waters edge and is dominated by a steel roof and wood ceiling. It makes for some unique images.

The last location we want to highlight in Cardiff is the Cardiff Arcades. It is known as Cardiff’s finest asset, with a Victorian design. It is full of Victorian shop fronts, majestic windows and unique features. You won’t want to miss visiting this location.

Location: Wales Millennium Centre. Photographer: Simon Lewis

 

Local to You

Sometimes when shooting architectural photography, we look at locations far away from us even though we have beautiful architecture on our doorsteps. Your local architecture should never be overlooked.

Take a trip to your local pub and see what architecture that has to offer. A lot of pubs are housed within old Victorian buildings which means they have many architectural features to photograph.

Your local town centre is a place of many different architectural styles, wherever you are. Look around your city centre for details and architecture that stands out and take some images.

Don’t forget to visit your local train station for some architectural wonders. Train stations are quite often the oldest building in your local area and are full of different kinds of architectural beauty. Take you camera there and have a look!

Location: King’s Cross Station. Photographer: Michal Parzuchowski.

 

Wherever you are going to shoot your architectural photography, be careful and make sure you aren’t trespassing on any locations you shouldn’t be. Make sure you ask people in the locations if you are ok to shoot photographs there or not!

 

Feeling Inspired?

Enter your architectural images into June’s Digital Splash Awards, where you could win £100 in Wilkinson Cameras vouchers and the chance to enter The Final to win a further £500!

We are surrounded by architecture every single day. Everywhere you go there will be a lot of Architecture to see and even photography.

 

Architectural photography is a very popular genre of photography. Sometimes it can be very difficult to know what or how to shoot Architecture though. Here are some of our best tips for when it comes to shooting architectural photography.

 

The Digital Splash Awards 2019 photography theme for June in Architectural photography! Enter your images for the chance to win up to £500 in Wilkinson Cameras Vouchers.

 

Shoot at Different Times of the Day and in Different Weather Conditions

When it comes to shooting architecture, people tend to seek out the most dramatic lighting. One lighting style being the sunset hour when the shadows are long, and colours are bright. This can result in extremely atmospheric images. But, it only captures the atmosphere at one specific point in the day.

Our tip is to take a series of images at different times throughout the day, or even in a variety of weather conditions. It’s tempting to wait for the perfect sunny day or a great sunset – which can give amazing results, but sometimes it’s the cloudy days which can make for a much more dramatic image and the chance of harsh lighting or glare is reduced as well.

Photographer: Domagoj Ćosić

 

Watch your lines

One extremely important element behind all architectural photography is making sure your lines are where they are meant to be. Horizontal lines should be horizontal and vertical lines, vertical. This can be challenging, especially if you need to tilt your camera to get all the architecture in the frame. Getting this right can really make an image… getting it wrong can really throw the perspective and fail to do your subject justice.

Parallel lines can start to converge, which is also known as keystoning. This can make the building look as though it is falling backwards. If you are shooting with a wide-angle lens, you may also have some distortion in your images.

Try to put some distance between you and the building or try a higher point of view to combat keystoning. A tilt-shift lens can also fix any problems. If you have any lens distortion, we recommend rectifying this in post-production.

Photographer: Samuel Zeller

 

Don’t Miss the Details

A lot of people focus on capturing a buidling as a whole. Buildings contain hundreds of little details that get lost when entire building or rooms are shot in one frame.

Keep your eye out for all the small details and geometric patterns. By exploring just that little bit more, not only will it result in fantastic shots, but you will also learn more about the building’s construction and history. This allows you to add more story to your shots. Framing is key here, think about the composition of the shot when focussing on a particular detail.

Photographer: Frances Gunn

 

Take a Unique Angle

Some photographers are looking to recreate iconic images, but many are looking for something unique. This means finding a unique angle. Look at the architecture in a way you haven’t done before. This may be as simple as moving your camera a few inches another way.

Explore every side of a building that you are shooting, from close and far away as well. Why not try to shoot from rooftops or balconies to give your pictures an even more unique angle? Or, get down low and look up. For the ultimate change in perspective, drone photography now allows you to take pictures of buildings from angles rarely captured before (just remember to fly legally and safely, of course!)

Photographer: Julien Borean

 

Remember the Human Element

Architecture was designed for people, by people! So, by including them in your images it can bring more dimension and interest to your images. It also give a story of those working and living in the building and also gives perspective and scale to your image. We do understand that sometimes people can get in the way though, so see our next tip below to find out how to get rid of them!

Photographer: Veit Hammer

 

Play With Exposure Times

The best thing about a suject which stays still, is that you can experiment with exposure times. Using Neutral Density filters will allow you to increase your exposure time and bring some movement into the sky or foreground of the image. If there are people walking around, a slightly longer exposure will add some movement to the image, whilst softening the distraction of the people allowing the building to be the main focus.

Alternatively, a long exposure will add movement to the sky, adding a little bit of drama. This may be particularly useful if the weather wasn’t what you were hoping for!

A photographer who we work with once described a 10-stop neutral density filter as as his “go away filter” (although he maybe didn’t put it quite as politely as we have for the blog!). Because, you can actually use a very, very long exposure to completely remove people from an image. Imagine you wanted to take a picture of a popular tourist spot. You’d never be able to find a time where not one person would get in your shot. Using a very long exposure and a 10-stop ND, any moving people will simply vanish from your final shot, leaving just the building you want to capture. Just be sure to have a very good tripod for this type of photography and make sure it’s not too windy!

Photographer: James Padolsey

 

Don’t Forget Post-Production

There’s a lot to be said about getting it right in-camera. Post-production can make a good image better, it’s not a magic wand. But, certain tools in most good editing software will allow you to tweak your architecture photography, whether fixing perspective problems or bringing back an overeposed sky or simply adding some contrast to help your image “pop” a little bit more. Remember to shoot in RAW (we like to shoot RAW & Jpeg so we have one to edit and one ready-to-go) so that you have the most information in the image to work with.

Photographer: John T

 

Do your Research

Be sure to research the places you plan on shooting before you go. By learning the history and context of an architectural site, you can focus your photography on the aspects that you want to. This could be a relevant story or idea that captures the essence of the architecture. You may also need permission to take photographs and it’s best to know this and get it in advance, than to be disappointed on the day you plan to shoot.

Do a “recce” – plan in a couple of trips to find the best time of day, the best lighting, the best positions to take your photographs. Spending some time at the location and getting to know it will enable you to get the best images.

Photographer: Joshua Fuller

 

Feeling Inspired?

Enter your architectural images into June’s Digital Splash Awards, where you could win £100 in Wilkinson Cameras vouchers and the chance to enter The Final to win a further £500!

 

As the 2019 Digital Splash Awards are in full swing, we thought you might like a little more inspiration from another of our past winners.  So if you’re looking for a little encouragement to enter this year’s competition, read on!

 

 

Mike Martin won the Portrait award in our monthly competitions, plus went on to secure 3^rd place in the overall Digital Splash Photographer of the Year awards.

 

 

We caught up with Mike to find out more about is photography, what drives him, his creativity and his prolific competition spirit!

 

How did you first get into photography?

I’ve had a camera since I was a kid for holidays and the like.  Whilst at University I relied upon photography to share my then love of potholing; it was the only means of sharing the experience with my parents.  Fast forward to 1991 on relocating to Bristol, I joined a camera club and that started me on my photographic journey.

 

 

What was your first camera and what were you first interests in photography?

My first camera was a Boots Beiretta, followed by a Fuji SLR.  This was soon followed by a succession of Pentax cameras until I switched to Olympus in 2016. Photography started with the usual holiday snaps, then a bit of cave photography followed by the obligatory family shots when the kids came along.  However, my first serious interest came when I joined a local camera club and started entering competitions.  About the same time I had the opportunity to photograph farms, farm animals and equipment for an agricultural agency and that covered some of my costs as far as buying gear and film.

 

 

How have your photographic interests & style developed over time?

From my first contact with camera clubs I’ve been exposed to a wide variety of image subjects and styles; this encouraged me to experiment with different approaches and techniques.  From the early days I used Photoshop creatively, scanning 35mm slides.

I’ll give anything a go really, or as I say “if it moves, shoot it, if it doesn’t, shoot it anyway”.

I love wildlife, though struggle with that genre (other than macro insects) and enjoy fantastic landscapes – though I lack the patience to wait for the right light.  I’m not a fan of travelling to a specific location on the off chance that the light may be OK.  Photographing people is much easier in that respect as they come to you or vice versa. Additionally, I used to do a lot of street photography; commuting to London frequently, I always carried a camera (even if just a simple compact) and would often take photos walking between the station and the office.  This also spurred my interest in architecture and night photography.

Whilst I take and make images for myself, I do enjoy entering competitions and find they are a great way to gauge how good you are and provide the impetus to think and try something new. Similarly, workshops are a great way to develop your skills.

 

 

You won the Portraits category of DSA and obviously celebrating 3rd in the overall DSA annual awards – with a fabulous portrait image – are portraits your main interest these days?

My main interest: photography!  Whilst many specialise in a particular style or genre, I enjoy looking at most subjects and even those that I don’t particularly like, I can appreciate the skill demonstrated by the photographer.

I do take a lot of people photos – but I’d say the key driver for me is the creativity…. my portraits provide an opportunity to shape an image.  When I’m lecturing, I say to people, every time you press the shutter, there must have been something that motivated you to do so.  Sometimes you have to work harder to “find” the picture, the mood, the concept, that inspired you to take it and that’s where my creativity comes in.

 

 

There’s a strong creative/art theme in your work – how does this manifest itself – do you visualise what you want to create, so you have a theme, or how to you start your projects/shoots?

There’s no single answer to this.  Sometimes I have an idea or concept in mind, either my own or that of the make-up artist or model, and although that is a start point, all of my images are a collaboration by everyone involved.  Some are very elaborate requiring planning outfits, location, accessories, though these still rely upon me to interpret and capture the mood, others are entirely freestyle, winging it on the day so to speak and relying upon a bit of luck to be successful.  Because I shoot for myself rather than clients, I’m not afraid to fail so don’t have to play it safe and am free to experiment.  That said, I do believe in stacking the odds in my favour, so regularly take a random selection of bits and pieces in case they may be useful.

 

 

Your ‘created images’ gallery has some really interesting images and themes – what do you use to create these?  In camera features, photoshop, a particular App?  Always a camera, or phone too?

I always use the best camera I can – the one I have with me!  Then, I’ll use any or all the tools available to me whether in camera features (image stacking, intentional camera movement, long exposure), specific lenses, natural and/or artificial lighting, etc.  I’ll then play with the images, using Lightroom, Photoshop, OnOne perfect suite, Nik Silver Efex depending upon what I’m trying to achieve, be it to simplify the image, make the most of what you’ve got or adding bits from my vast library of images (over 90 thousand images in my main catalogue).

 

 

How did your winning image come to be?  It’s technically excellent and beautifully lit.  Tell us more!!  Did you have this image in your mind and make it happen?

Paul (the model) and I have worked together many times – I’m not sure really where the idea came from.  He asked Bridget (the make-up artist) and we got together with the studio owner and two other models and just messed about with some ideas; loads of ideas.  For the shoot, Paul was painted black and the girls painted white. We took it in turn shooting them individually, in groups, etc – not sure where the idea of the white hand-print came from – but the “wreath” was a simple Christmas decoration lying in the studio that we just wrapped around him, look carefully and you’ll see the LEDs too.   For those interested, its lit with a single beauty dish above then processed in Lightroom / Photoshop / Silver Efex. Kit wise it was shot on: Olympus EM1 Mark II, 40-150mm f/2.8pro, at 55mm (110mm equiv) 1/200^th sec at f/13.

 

 

What do you find as your biggest challenges?  What are the most difficult aspects of photography for you?

The biggest challenge…. people – they are busy, they have lives and finding time can be difficult.  The most difficult… trying to photograph birds in flight – I rarely get them in the viewfinder let alone in focus!

What would be your next ‘dream’ shoot (any genre, any location!)

Something monumental like an extravagant over the top designer fashion shoot with top models across a number of epic locations in Iceland… Miss Aniela hosted one three or four years ago and I still get fired up every time I see the behind the scenes video.  Going to have to keep fingers crossed for the EuroMillions win for that one though!

 

 

How did you hear about the Digital Splash Awards and what made you enter?  

A friend suggested I give it a try.  Why did I enter, because I thought I could win!

Competitions & awards are obviously a big interest for you (See this page on Mike Martin’s website)! Does this kind of recognition drive you – does it inspire you to do more?  Tell us more, as you’re quite prolific!

Competitions are a big part of my photography, I am competitive and I like winning.  But it’s also about stretching myself, trying something new, trying to be better. The best way of learning is to surround yourself with people who are better than you.  And, it’s about giving back too – sharing how you did something and trying to encourage others to give it a go, trying to inspire others.

 

 

Learning is a big part of the Wilki ethos – is there anything new you’d like to try – kit, genre, technique etc?  

Given the chance – I’d like to have a go at underwater fashion shots.  Somewhat more realistically, I’d like to finally nail bird photography!

If you could shoot with any other photographer for a day, who would you spend your day with & why?

Von Wong… he does so much over the top photography!   Everything is 100% adrenaline fuelled.    In total contrast, perhaps a day with Tesni Ward photographing hares?  Or, a day with Lindsay Adler on a high fashion shoot (she was inspirational with her global Creative photo challenges in 2016 – it was awesome to be shortlisted in seven of the eight challenges and to win one!)

 

 

You have recently retired, which must allow you much more time to enjoy photography?

After graduating I joined Lloyds Bank… after 34 years, 30+ commuting to/from London I thought it was time to give it a break when offered early retirement.  Yes it does give me more time for photography, and more time for the family too (although grown up).  Photographing people is still constrained by their availability too. And, the reduced pension has diminished my spending capability.

However, it has given me time to join and get involved in another camera club, give time to volunteering assisting photographer with disabilities, do a spot of judging and top of the list, time to give some photography talks to camera clubs….

I’ve already visited quite a number of clubs, approaching 20 bookings for 2019-20.  I get a real buzz from these, inspiring people to have a go and sharing how easy it is to create some of the images.  (See link below if you’re interested in booking Mike for a camera club talk)

 

 

Any big plans going forward?  

Big plans – to have my own studio – but got to keep buying the Euromillions tickets and crossing my fingers for that one!

Slightly smaller plans – see how the summer workshops go!

I’ve still got some dates available for camera club (or other group) talks on creative portraiture so it would be good to fill those slots.

 

 

Thank you Mike for your time and for allowing us such a fascinating peek behind the scenes!

 

Find out more:

Mike has a huge collection of very inspirational mages, a selection of which can be seen (together with contact details) on his website Mike Martin Photography, or you can follow Mike on Photocrowd (community members only) or on Instagram @mikemartin247!

 

Could you be next years Digital Splash Awards winner? Visit the Digital Splash Awards website to find more information and enter the monthly competitions!

 

All images featured Copyright Mike Martin Photography.

As the Digital Splash Awards 2019 are now in full swing, the Wilki team have been finding out more about last year’s winners. 

 

Scooping a well deserved (and very close) second place, was Richard Adams with his enchanting picture of a harvest mouse, enjoying a rain shower amongst the autumn blackberries. A difficult image to capture, and one, which got us all wondering ‘how did he do that?’

 

We spoke to Richard, to find out more about his photography and how he managed to capture that mysterious ‘rearing’ mouse!

 

Let’s get started with how did you get into photography?

I bought my first Camera approximately 4-5 years ago after deciding I needed a hobby/distraction to help take control of my PTSD.

 

 

Your winning photograph – tell us a bit more about the story behind it and how you managed to capture such a great image. Those are some pretty good mouse stalking skills!

 

I was told of a nest/re-population program, so decided to get there before sunrise and set up my hide.  I was there around 6-8 hours and encountered every form of weather in that time.

 

The Harvest Mouse is a British born rodent that has near enough become extinct in the wild. Now there are small dedicated teams up and down the country breeding them to release once they reach a certain age.

 

Due to the Harvest Mouse being very small, the trick is to frame the image and then patiently wait for them to come into shot. I now believe that the mouse reared up because of my hearing aids whistling due to the damp air.

 

 

Is wildlife your main photographic interest?

I seem to have fallen into wildlife as it allows me to escaped from the daily grind. That said, I’m always up for trying any genre of photography.

 

What’s your dream photographic location/bucket list trip?

 

Now, that is a very easy question to answer!

 

I served 19 years of a 22 year contract in the RAF, but I was medically discharged after being diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome and Pelligrini Steida Syndrom, I was later diagnosed with PTSD from my Cat 6 repair work (recovering and repairing crashed aircrafts). I also have binaural hearing loss.

 

Some may find it surprising, but I would dearly love to return to the Falkland Islands.  Unfortunately I wasn’t interested in photography when I was posted there, but it has everything a photographer would want to shoot and I’d love to go back.

 

To put it simply, it’s such a beautiful, peaceful place (if you overlook the large airbase!). Wildlife comes up close to you without any sign of fear (though it is wise to give the Elephant Seals a wide berth!) and you soon forget the madness of the UK. These days, photography also helps to calm my mind as I sometimes get very anxious when I’m around people.

 

 

How did you hear about Digital Splash Awards?

 

It was an off-chance Facebook advert that took me to the Digital Splash Awards, I entered without any though of such an amazing result. Thank goodness I did!

 

 

Thank you Richard for your time and allowing us such a fascinating peak behind the scenes.

 

Find out more:

Richard has a huge collection of inspirational images that you can see by following Richard on Instagram @captured_moments_photographyuk!

 

Could you be next years Digital Splash Awards winner? Visit the Digital Splash Awards website to find more information and enter the monthly competitions!

 

All images featured Copyright Richard Adams Photography.

Last year saw a fabulous selection of photography entered into our Digital Splash Awards, with the quality of images higher then ever, both technically and in terms of overall inspiration!

 

We thought it would be interesting to find out a bit more about our 2018 award winners, starting with the overall Digital Splash Photographer of the Year winner, James Rushforth.

 

Splitting his time between the UK and the Italian Dolomites (and often spotted in his converted Fiat Ducato, called Max), we managed to catch up with James between adventures, to find out more background on his amazing images, his adventures and the challenges faced by an award winning adventure photographer, author and tutor.

 

How did you first get into photography, was it through your love of extreme sports? What was the journey?

It all happened very much by accident, I left university not really knowing what I wanted to do and ended up climbing in the Alps. I wrote several articles on my experiences and was contacted by a publisher who was looking to produce a guidebook to the region. Without really knowing what I was getting myself into I began work on my first book – a climbing guide to the Italian Dolomites.

As I began putting it together I wanted to convey how the region had captivated me not only with its exceptional climbing but also the stunning nature of the surrounding scenery. I bought a camera (a little Canon G12 – I recall shuddering at the thought of spending £380, were photographers all mad?) and never looked back. Since then I’ve published books about skiing, mountaineering, climbing, via ferrata and photography. I now divide my time between writing guidebooks and running workshops all over the world.

 

 

Tell us a bit more about your sporting background – as an accomplished skier, climber & mountaineer, this must be a huge advantage?

Learning to rock climb was a natural progression from an enjoyable childhood spent exploring North Wales and the Lake District with my family. I worked at several indoor climbing walls whilst at university which stood me in good stead for the big walls of the Dolomites. Rapid progression was quickly slowed by the yearly snowfall and this naturally lead to a ski touring apprenticeship, first on gentle slopes and then ever more serious terrain. The next decade was spent in search of the perfect line, both in ascent and descent.

The climbing and mountaineering provided an excellent springboard into the photography world, allowing me to tap into a smaller niche market to get established. Not only were there some unique opportunities for extreme sports shoots, the climbing and mountaineering also allowed me to access some very remote landscape locations that were inaccessible to most photographers.

 

 

Travel is obviously in your blood and with four books on the Dolomites under your belt – why the particular interest in that specific area?

I fell in love with the Dolomites when I first visited shortly after finishing university. I’ve seen many of the world’s mountain ranges and they are still by far my favourite. The Dolomite rock forms impossibly steep faces that rise like precipitous monoliths (if you’ll excuse the melodrama) straight out of the alpine meadows. You can walk through the flowers and go and put your hands straight on a rock face that then rises up for a vertical kilometre. There’s a lifetime’s worth of climbing, skiing and photography to be done. One project led into another as I explored the region more and more, alternating between working for outdoor companies and living out of a van. I made some great friends and loved the local culture (and pizza).

I’m currently hoping to buy a house in Lienz (Brexit pending) which is perfectly situated between the Austrian Alps and the Dolomites.

 

 

Tell us about the lifestyle, is it all as good as it sounds?

I quite frequently get emails telling me I ‘live the dream’ and how envious people are of the lifestyle. But like any job where you only see the finished product, it’s easy to overly romanticise the work. I quite frequently spend six months away on my own in the van for a particular project and it can get quite lonely. I’ve just spent the last year exploring some of the remotest parts of Iceland and Greenland and it’s not unusual to go a couple of weeks without seeing another person. I’ve found audio books are the key, it’s nice to hear another voice!

For every successful photo that makes it into the book, there are three or four failed attempts that do not. People looking at the finished images don’t see all the times you got up at 3am, ascended 800m up a mountain in the dark with 5 kilos of camera kit, got nothing and came back down.

But, all that said, it is lovely work and I wouldn’t change it. You just have to accept there are some sacrifices that have to be made.

 

 

What are the biggest challenges you face shooting this kind of photography? Particularly in capturing your breathtaking adventure images.

With adventure photography, the greatest challenge is invariably one of logistics. For example, the winning image of Lynne traversing on Via Myriam required some careful planning and forethought. We had to climb with an extra rope, additional gear for anchors and abseiling as well as camera equipment. I had to climb this particular pitch first and then abseil back down for the photo. I really wanted some background light which required the right weather, but I didn’t want the scene backlit which necessitated a late start. If the light doesn’t play ball you have to come back and do it all again. Not to mention you have to find a sportsperson up to the task as well as having a third member to belay.

The same applies for ski mountaineering when you often have a very narrow window of opportunity with regards to suitable conditions for skiing the steeper lines. It requires a lot of patience and persistence.

 

 

What’s ‘the shot’ you’d most love to bag?

I’m not sure if there’s a particular shot that stands out, but I love chasing all things ephemeral; be it a receding ice cave, a particularly impressive showing of the northern lights, wolves in the Dolomites (they’re so hard to find) or that breaching Humpback Whale shot I’ve been after for so long. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), as with climbing and skiing as soon as you accomplish one goal you instantly go in search of another.

How did you hear about the Digital Splash Awards and what made you enter?

I actually didn’t know about the Digital Splash awards until a friend made the finals of last year’s competition. I made a mental note to check back the following year and enter some images.  I was already aware of Wilkinson Cameras, having purchased several lenses in the past.

 

 

Your workshops:  Iceland, Greenland, Dolomites. These are some of the most popular photography locations worldwide, what do you offer clients – what are you aims for these trips and your guests?

I work closely with a small family run company, ‘Wild Photography Holidays’, to offer small and personalised workshops. Everyone who works for the company knows the areas intricately, has written guidebooks or lives in the area themselves, giving the staff excellent local knowledge. The aim is to ensure guests get a good strong set of diverse images, learn something new and ultimately have a great holiday.

 

 

Where/what’s next?

I’ve spent the last few years exploring and photographing Iceland which has been a fantastic experience from start to finish. I’m currently in the process of assembling an Icelandic photography guide for publisher fotoVUE, which we hope to have on the shelves by the end of this year. The content is largely finished which unfortunately means the next nine months are going to be largely office based.

 

 

What advice would you give to someone just getting into photography – and what’s been your biggest ‘learn’?

My usual advice is just ‘relax and enjoy it’.

So many people make photography far more complicated than it needs to be, or have very strict ideas on how something should be achieved. If it works for you and you like it, then keep doing it; don’t be afraid to experiment and ignore the ‘rules’.

I often recommend photography as a hobby as it gets people out of the house, makes people look much more closely at the world around them and also provides them with something tangible to show for their efforts.

I think my own personal breakthrough came when I discovered how little you actually need to use a tripod with modern cameras. This gave me a lot more freedom both in terms of weight saving and logistics, allowing me to shoot from a variety of different vantage points much faster.

 

 

The one photographer or extreme sports person – dead or alive – you’d like to meet and why?

I’ve always had a fascination with Emilio Comici (Nicknamed the ‘Angel of the Dolomites’), an Italian climber from the Val Gardena who put up many new climbing routes throughout the Dolomites during the early 1900s. He was famous for promoting ‘direttissima’ routes, or as he described it, following the route a drop of water would take down the mountain. Having cursed my way up many of his routes with modern climbing shoes, ropes and equipment I can only imagine what it was like with a hemp rope and hobnailed boots, not knowing if the climb they’d set out on was even possible.

 

 

And finally, what’s your favourite/must have piece of kit or photo accessory?

It sounds like brand advertising (and I guess it is) but I’m currently in love with the new Circular Magnetic Filters from Breakthrough Photography. No light leakage and they just snap on and off making them wonderfully convenient, especially in the Arctic when you’ve always got cold hands.

What gear do you use?  (We also asked to take a peek inside James’s camera bag, as we’re nosey like that!!)

Cameras:  

• Nikon D810 with Kirk BL-D800 L-Bracket
• Nikon D850 with Kirk BL-D850 L-Bracket

Lenses:

• Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 G AF-S ED Lens
• Nikon 20mm f1.8 G AF-S ED Lens
• Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 G AF-S ED Lens
• Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 II AF-S VR ED G Lens
• Nikon 300mm f2.8 G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Lens

Converters:

• Nikon TC-14E AF-S Teleconverter III
• Nikon TC-20E AF-S Teleconverter III

Tripod:         

• Gitzo GT3542LS Series 3 6X Systematic Tripod
• Induro BHL1 Ball Head

Filters:     

• Breakthrough Photography 77mm Magnetic Adapter Wheel
• Breakthrough Photography X4 ND Filter (6 stop)
• Breakthrough Photography X4 ND Filter (10 stop)
• Breakthrough Photography X4 UV Filter (x3)

 

 

Thank you James for your time and for allowing us such a fascinating peek behind the scenes!

 

Enjoyed this feature?  To find out more about James, his work, books and workshops then why not pop along to:

 

Website:      www.JamesRushforth.com

Facebook:      @JamesRushforthPhotography 

Instagram:    @james.rushforth

 

Could you be next years Digital Splash Awards winner? Visit the Digital Splash Awards website to find more information and enter the monthly competitions!

 

All images featured Copyright James Rushforth Photography.

Sports photography can give some of the most dramatic shots in your portfolio, and can be mastered with practice, the right choice of kit and techniques. Of course, you won’t start off by shooting the Olympics with full press accreditation that gets you right next to the track, but there are lots of smaller sporting events where you can get access to the action. Here are Adam’s top tips to getting some creative shots of sports or action in general.

Adam Duckworth is an award-winning professional photographer and videographer with over 25 years experience and clients including Red Bull, Honda, Kawasaki, Manfrotto and Lastolite, to name but a few.

See more of his photography at www.adamduckworth.com or for more of Adam’s writing including how-to’s, reviews and more visit www.hashtagflash.com

Here are Adam’s top tips to getting some creative shots of sports or action in general.

 

1. USE THE RIGHT KIT

A DSLR is the tool of choice for the vast majority of action photographers, although you can get great photos with mirrorless or even compacts. You can take action shots with a compact, but the snappy autofocus, fast motordrive and the ability to use a whole range of lenses make DSLRs and modern mirrorless cameras ideal.

For successful action pics, a range of lenses will make a big difference to your shots. If you can get in close to your subject, a wide-angle lens will add drama and give a sense of location. Look for different and unique angles.

A telephoto zoom means you can fill the frame with your subject for more impact. Super-fast pro-spec lenses with fast f/2.8 apertures are expensive and heavy but allow you to keep shooting when light levels fall.

A monopod can be useful, too, for taking the strain out of holding a heavy lens all day and for giving shake-free shots.

2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT VIEWPOINT

There’s no substitute for getting to the venue early so you can check it out for viewpoints which will give your pictures dramatic composition. Like a mountain biker framed against the sky or a footballer against a packed grandstand of cheering fans.

One of the biggest problems with sports images is messy, confusing backgrounds. Look for clean, uncluttered backgrounds or try to blur them with a shallow depth of field by using a wide aperture.

 

3. GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF MOVEMENT

Sports photography is often about making something that’s moving actually appear like it’s moving in a still frame. The easiest way to fool the brain into thinking something is moving is to use some blur. So a runner at full speed with blurred legs or a racing car zooming past a blurred grandstand at a circuit gives the clear message of speed and it helps the subject pop out from the background.

To do this, choose a slow shutter speed and, ideally, a long focal length lens. As your subject comes into view, try to lock focus on. Then as it passes you, keep it as still as you can in your frame by smoothly panning with the subject.

Alternatively you can freeze the action with the subject doing something that your brain knows can happen naturally, so quickly works out that the subject is in motion. Like a hurdler mid-leap, for example. Or a motorbike leaned right over in a corner. Your brain knows the bike would fall over unless it was in motion!

 

4. CHOOSE THE CORRECT SHUTTER SPEED

There’s no hard and fast rule for choosing the right speed, as freezing or blurring the action depends on how fast the subject is moving, how far away you are, whether the subject is coming towards you or across your field of view, how big the subject is in the frame and the focal length of the lens. Having said that, a speed quicker than 1/1000th second is quick enough to freeze most subjects at most focal lengths. And anything slower than 1/250th can usually result in some blur, though you can go as low as 1/30th if you have a steady hand. You have to experiment! Image stabilisation can work in some circumstances, but it’s not a cure-all the camera manufacturers may claim. Experiment and see what works for you.

If you are using fast shutter speeds, you may have to increase your ISO to get the right exposure. In general, the lower the ISO the better the quality of the final photo.

 

5. SELECT THE CORRECT EXPOSURE MODE

Shutter priority – sometimes called Tv or Sv – lets you select the shutter speed you want and the camera works out the right aperture for you. You may want a high shuter speed – like 1/1000th sec or faster – to freeze the action. Or a slow speed to give blur.

However, light or dark subjects can easily fool your meter. If you’re shooting a car race and a black car comes round the corner, followed by a white car, the camera meter can be all over the place. So sometimes it can be better to set the exposure manually. Try metering off a neutral tone – like light-coloured tarmac or grass – then set that exposure. Take a test shot and check your exposure using the histogram.

If you’re a real beginner and your camera has it, a dedicated Sport mode may be easiest until you’re feeling confident enough to take more control.

6. GET IT IN FOCUS!

Getting your subject in pin-sharp focus is the goal of the action photographer. And if you’re using a long lens which gives a shallow depth of field, it’s even more critical and tricky to get right.

Set your camera’s autofocus to Servo or Continuous, then try to track the subject in the viewfinder before you trip the shutter at the right moment. If your camera has intelligent autofocus tracking, give it a try. Alternatively, you can manually pre-focus if you know where the action will take place – like a pole vaulter at the peak of his leap – then fire the shutter at the right time.

 

7. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TIMING…

The age-old theory of The Decisive Moment is never more apt than in action photography. It’s all about timing your photo at the peak of the action, like at the apex of a corner or a footballer scoring the winning goal. The best sports photographers know their subjects well and can predict the peak of the action. Like when a BMX rider pulls of a high jump or judo pro throws his opponent to the floor.

 

8. CONSIDER USING FLASH

Many sports allow you to use flash – just be sure to check first! Flash can be used to provide a burst of light to freeze the action if the sport is indoor, or can fill in the shadows and reduce contrast outdoors. Many skateboard and BMX photographers use it all the time – sometimes strobing to get a sequence shot. You can also use your motordrive to do this, if you’re not using flash.

 

9. DON’T JUST SHOOT THE ACTION

Lots of photographers take lots of tightly-cropped action shots but don’t include anything else. The crowd celebrating, a fisheye shot showing an impressive stadium, tight detail shots of sporting equipment and portraits of competitors can really build up a more complete coverage of a sporting event.

 

10. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

There are plenty of local or amateur sports that welcome photographers, and it’s great practice! Nobody starts out as a sports photography master, but the more you do it, the better you get. You really get a feeling for how your camera works and how to control it, improve your timing and really get to know the sport you’re shooting so you can predict when things might happen. And it’s fun!

 

See more of Adam’s photography at www.adamduckworth.com or for more of Adam’s writing including how-to’s, reviews and more visit www.hashtagflash.com

 

FEELING INSPIRED?

June 2018’s Digital Splash Awards Photography Competition theme is Action and Sport Enter now for your chance to win £100 in Wilkinson Cameras vouchers every month.

When it comes to spectacular winter photography few photographers spring to mind faster than our friend and Aspect2i founder, Paul Gallagher. His ‘Digital Darkroom’ talks at Splash, were an inspiration for many.

For the first in our series of Guest blog spots this year, we caught up with Paul to explore a snow-packed winter trip with a difference – Japan!

Not the first location associated with snowy images, but as Paul explains, Hokkaido ticked all the boxes, delivered an exquisite collection of images and has become one of his favourite workshop locations.

 

‘I love winter photography and in good snow conditions it explores the simplistic and minimalist nature of a landscape in the depths of the winter. The landscape is transformed and essentially simplified by the deep snow leaving a very elemental canvas with which to work. This provides both advantages and challenges. The extreme cold temperatures can be challenging but the rewards are immeasurable. I had been to many countries during the winter including Iceland, Norway and Scotland, but ‘true’ snow conditions were never really guaranteed so I had to travel further afield.

‘One location that I knew ticked all of the boxes was the island of Hokkaido in Japan and in February 2017 I headed out there for the first time. I had intended to travel here for many years because of the perfect winter snow and I decided to one day run a photography workshop – this was to be the research trip.

‘The best way to make efficient use of my time was to employ local guide/ driver who knew all the best locations and how to get there. This proved to be an excellent decision. The main challenges were the temperatures – and keeping your kit dry during blizzards. The cold temperatures did not hinder the kit at all but your fingers gradually stop working when it reaches minus 18 degrees! It goes without saying that snow boots and a down jacket are essential in conditions like this.

‘A body of work is normally built up over a period of time and often takes several visits to a location to achieve. Hokkaido on the other hand was entirely different. During my ten days, there I had every conceivable type of winter condition, blizzards, snow with no wind, sunlight and black storm skies, it was perfect. I worked flat out and seized every opportunity I could and could hardly believe how lucky I was!

 

 

Winter Exposures

‘As with all landscape photography, you must check to see if your exposure right. Don’t forget that shooting in snow will fool your camera exposure meter to underexpose and I normally over expose by 1.5 to 2 stops.

‘I had seen photographs from Hokkaido and other deep winter landscapes from all over the world so I pretty much knew what I wanted to get when I was out there. The problem with other locations I had been to, was that the conditions I was hoping for, sometimes did not materialise. Simplicity and negative space was my aim and I was surrounded by this every day.

 

 

‘In most landscapes, the photographer is trying to distil the composition to make the photograph less cluttered and confusing. In Hokkaido, the snow did this for me. As excited as you may get the tip is to take your time. It is all too easy to get excited and carried away and before you know it you have a series of images were the exposure is wrong or you have had a rain spot on your lens which has ruined a lot of your files. Also, take the time to inspect every exposure on the back of your camera. I use a Hoodman Loupe which I place on the back screen of the camera. It cuts out all of the peripheral light and magnifies the camera screen. This enables me to take a closer look at my focus and also my histogram. This only takes a few seconds but ensures that when I get back to my computer, I am not going to be disappointed.’

 

Winter Photography: What’s In the Bag

‘The kit I used for the trip was a Nikon D800e with the 24-70mm and 24mm PC-E tilt and shift lens, 16-53mm. But the real workhorse was my new 80-400mm! ‘The quality of the files from the D800e is exceptional (I now use the D850 and they are even better!), but the 80-400mm lens almost never left the camera.

 

‘Given the depth of the snow, it was incredibly difficult to walk across the landscape without being waist deep in it. The long focal length of the 80-400mm lens enabled me in many situations to get tight into the subject. Whilst using this lens I cannot stress the importance of a sturdy tripod – at the 400mm extension any movement will be magnified and will soften your image, particularly if there is wind about. Also, if you have tripod spikes, fit them! Rubber feet on frozen ground do not work and I have actually seen photographers delving into their bags whilst their tripod graciously slides down the slope! My current tripod of choice is the Gitzo GT3543XLS with long spikes and Manfrotto 405 geared head.

 

‘The solitude and pristine nature of the landscape and fresh snow every day made this trip a winter landscape photographers dream. During my time there I was hardly ever stuck for subjects to photograph, in fact, the challenge was moving on to new locations during the day!’

 

For more information:

www.aspect2i.co.uk

www.paulgallagher.co.uk