Shame about the price, 5 grand (UK price) . Man I would love one of these Leica M9’s. Leica were quoted for a while saying it wasn’t possible to do this, but I always knew they could the lying buggers. I want this to be my next camera purchase.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I’ve just started shooting music photography like this week for the first time. I got into it for a friend who asked me to photograph her charity event. Her friend recently died of cancer at a young age and she organised a fund raiser to help those affected. I was the photographer for the night and for my first gig I thought I did pretty well if I may say so. I only used Canon’s 24-70mm f2.8 L and a 1Dsmk2. All the images shot are at 3200, flash was with a EX 430mk2 for those interested.
I also shot with a polaroid camera.
The images can be found here:
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: car, culture, photography, street, Swansea, Wales
At some point I’ll get myself a proper website, for now, I’ve created another blog (I have 4 as of now) as it enables me to share my images to those I photograph, and to those who stumble across it. This blog is about car culture, at the moment I am photographing a group who meet up in Swansea city center. The idea behind the project is to create an awareness, there being different sub-cultures within car culture. It isn’t just about Boy Racers and making loud noises, though you would think it was with all the media attention focused on them, because that is all we’re presented with. My aim is to show something else.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: London, photography, police, stupid, terrorism
Again the police in the UK are doing stupid things with the aim of ‘preventing terrorism.’ I’ve included this choice quote, from the Guardian article:
“I will be raising it with the commissioner. I have already written to him about the police taking away cameras and stopping people taking photographs and made the point that if it was not for people taking photos, we would not know about the death of Ian Tomlinson or the woman who was hit by a police officer.”
I wouldn’t put this forward as a good argument from trying to dissuade police officers either. I’m sure the police don’t want these incidents being recorded either. What needs to happen is the removal of that particular law, otherwise officers are going to keep abusing it.
Please note, that under UK law, a police officer will need a court order that would legally enable them to delete a person’s images from their camera, it is classed as assault otherwise. In any case if it is seen as incriminating evidence in the first place, then it shouldn’t be deleted should it?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: photographers, photography, police, rights, Train spotters, UK
Various links regarding the state of affairs in the UK.
An article from the Telegraph, the police using stop and search powers against Train spotters.
A collection of pdf’s informing those in the UK of their rights. I have also updated the main page regarding photographers rights.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 12-60mm Olympus, Canon, E420, ebay, Olympus, photography, selling
When I started this website I was using an Olympus setup for my photography. I use to own Canon before that and now with the photography I do, I don’t feel Olympus is right for me, so I’m moving back to Canon. I’m unhappy to say I’m moving back to Canon. I’ve enjoyed my Olympus gear while I had it, but I can’t put up with the low f stop and lack of DOF. The gear I own has been great to use but with my line of photography it just doesn’t give me that buzz as my 5D did. So I’m going back. On my blog is the review for the Leica lens and I’ll be keeping it up online since it gives me so many hits but other than that I’m waiting for the 5D to plunge in price.
Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything terribly wrong with Olympus, when I bought my E420 with 25mm Leica lens + 12-60mm, I came out on top because the gear was cheaper than the Canon alternatives. But now the Olympus gear is going on ebay.
Having got to use the Olympus system I found that the size of the system was a bonus and I enjoyed that, though sometimes the E420 was too light when attached to a heavy lens and had a flash mounted on the top (hence the grip). The speed and menu layout of Olympus’s cameras are great and intuitive as well, the only downside was the lack of DOF, poor iso performance (I never used the E420 past iso 200) and the inability of lenses offered by Olympus to go higher than F2.8 (yes the Leica was f1.4 but in 35mm terms it was equal to f2.8).
One thing I really liked about the Olympus is the wireless flash, it works so well, much better to me than the 5D with the 580 mk2. I’ve been having issues with it in open spaces which wouldn’t faze the FL-36. Shame pity I can’t carry that over with me! I’ve put my gear on ebay for those interested. The links are here for the E420 and the 12-60mm Zuiko.
I was going to keep the 12-60mm because it is a really good piece of glass, I bought it for the 12mm focal length and once I get my hands on the canon 24mm f1.4 L, I won’t ever use it which is a shame.
Not having bought into Olympus I wouldn’t have learned this and I have made some great photos while using it and I have no regrets. As I said, the E420 with grip, FL-36 and 12-60mm will be on ebay later at some point.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Castle Square, culture, Swansea, Wales, youth
Another blog entry from my current project about youth culture.
Filed under: Photography Links, photography | Tags: 5D mark II, Canon, Jacob Aue Sobol, Simon Norfolk, Simon Roberts, Vision, We English
I went to the Vision Conference on Friday 7th. I wanted to see Simon Norfolk talk about his latest project. I like the fact he is being so abstract about his take on War Photography. At Vision there was also Simon Roberts who talked about Motherland and he also talked about his latest project; We English.
I recorded Jacob Aue Sobol’s talk and Simon Norfolk’s as well. Both are small file sizes and can be found here. Sorry for the poor audio quality with Jacob’s, I haven’t got such software to clean it up.
The 5D mark II also made an appearance at Vision. Canon were an attendee and had on display 1 of only 3 5D mark II’s in the country. I was lucky enough to touch it 
, but seriously while it holds nicely (prefer it with a battery grip), it has been remodeled slightly so the body isn’t a reuse from the first generation. Canon again were happy to confirm it is going to be released at the end of the month.
The Vision conference itself was promoted by the BJP and for £10 (£15) if you want your portfolio reviewed. It is excellent value for money, I’ll be going next year without a doubt.
I’ve decided to sell the very lens I’ve reviewed; the 25mm, f1.4, 4/3rds mount. If you’re in the UK I’m prepared to sell it for £400 without factoring in delivery but I can’t see it being too much, but I would insure it for those interested. Any takers, just give me an email.
I’ve haven’t used it much, its still in mint condition with box and leather case, as I’ve found my 12-60mm to be than enough and I found I only used my Leica for those special portraits. Anyway, I’m offering it for those interested.
