tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473707113414372002024-03-05T11:03:55.550+00:00charlwood photographyWedding photography based in South East EnglandDavid Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-82904518659485979372010-02-11T09:41:00.003+00:002010-02-11T09:42:12.278+00:00Moving home!Charlwood Photography's blog is on the move.<br />
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It can now be found at...<br />
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<a href="http://charlwoodphotography.wordpress.com/">http://charlwoodphotography.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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Please update your readers accordingly.David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-62465647633272071532010-02-10T09:58:00.001+00:002010-02-10T09:58:00.236+00:00First things to do with a new camera..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_i6SlktPlN1Ce8lzfttpvv0ZewT4VpL-ZrS_MwqbhHvl2489cBJp53SAwOcNehapd7r5ydtSzCPYKBDlhf62zt0EZZ_vqAIgPiMoisPqet6hQB6aKiTzJsqUiWIj5drYDDDT_NaLoZY/s1600-h/Front-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_i6SlktPlN1Ce8lzfttpvv0ZewT4VpL-ZrS_MwqbhHvl2489cBJp53SAwOcNehapd7r5ydtSzCPYKBDlhf62zt0EZZ_vqAIgPiMoisPqet6hQB6aKiTzJsqUiWIj5drYDDDT_NaLoZY/s320/Front-001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(image of NIkon D5000 courtesy of DPReview.com)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is probably true to say that boys do not grow up, their toys just get more expensive. Cameras are toys really - albeit fairly expensive ones that you can end up playing with everyday and calling it 'work'. Unpacking a new toy is still exciting, perhaps I have changed little from the six year old who eagerly opened and began assembling lego on his birthday. A new camera requires a few things done to it first, before it will work. The first is charging the battery, something that usually takes several hours, and adds to the anticipation. The keen can look inside at the camera at the mirror and shutter to keep themselves occupied. Then, when the battery is charged, comes the moment of truth...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first thing I do with any new camera is go into the menu and turn off two things: the focus 'beep' and the autofocus assist light. The focus light is meant to help the camera find focus in the dark. In practice I find them a waste of time as all they do is let your subject know you're there, and the speed of focus depends so much on your lens that it hardly matters. I turn the beep off for similar reasons. As the photographer you would eventually not notice it, but everyone else will. In the veiwfinder is a light that confirms focus anyway. Only after that do I put the camera to my eye and take a photo, and it's usually of myself in a mirror taking a picture of me taking a picture...</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-880621725740055632010-02-09T10:05:00.000+00:002010-02-09T10:05:27.908+00:00Spring<div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, it's early, I know! However, Friday was wonderfully sunny and I quite enjoyed standing waiting for a train. Looking forward to Spring made me dig out one of my favourite photos.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This shot was taken at a Christian retreat centre in Sussex. My family know some of the people who run it, and for much of my childhood our one holiday of the year was spent in the stunning grounds of the old house at Ashburnham place. Here's a photo that always reminds me of the tranquility of that place, and of Spring...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNQPr-gG5uPwGaq6ESKogsslmFVTrZKHrjndybHvepZ88tx9mRoAOdMUrjufZb2k5ovXrfJLN7HoAhV00CzpI-8QFhnPy1sm4uxiTftcaHMy0RNCfOfHe1Z1OXoQxFTUYemiPpeCeQaI/s1600-h/3398645046_98f340202c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNQPr-gG5uPwGaq6ESKogsslmFVTrZKHrjndybHvepZ88tx9mRoAOdMUrjufZb2k5ovXrfJLN7HoAhV00CzpI-8QFhnPy1sm4uxiTftcaHMy0RNCfOfHe1Z1OXoQxFTUYemiPpeCeQaI/s400/3398645046_98f340202c_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-44349636883992222312010-02-08T10:34:00.001+00:002010-02-08T10:34:00.532+00:00Taking time out...<div style="text-align: justify;">I frequently work for a local franchise that does music and movement with young children aged a few months to four years. I work a bit differently to the average nursery photographer as I use solely natural light and work around whatever the kids are up to. It's great fun, and I usually get adopted by one or two who are fascinated by the camera. Due to preserving client's privacy I can't share many photos, but here's one of my favourites...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZBYJoC9CM0oXcuypb59SaDHvhw15mvG7cq_jptL0M_ewnxtD_OhWS5dEOv1O9LsgmzsbOTr7s8Zaj10tOikyPMdsIwv5Nc9OVX_eJKpKdzpP_fur6TyNEYFzAz43XddAuhUdQjusR8w/s1600-h/2141767258f2288a220ab0607a10f58dc6eef65c38790ca5a61eb827df2c4ad340a016ea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZBYJoC9CM0oXcuypb59SaDHvhw15mvG7cq_jptL0M_ewnxtD_OhWS5dEOv1O9LsgmzsbOTr7s8Zaj10tOikyPMdsIwv5Nc9OVX_eJKpKdzpP_fur6TyNEYFzAz43XddAuhUdQjusR8w/s400/2141767258f2288a220ab0607a10f58dc6eef65c38790ca5a61eb827df2c4ad340a016ea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-57327070062836305392010-02-06T10:30:00.004+00:002010-02-06T10:30:00.968+00:00Product shots<div style="text-align: justify;">Taking product shots is all about light and photoshop. It's not my skill set, I love photography that is fast paced. However, one saturday I was bored and starting experimenting taking pictures of my own mobile phone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">With product shots the light is always directional. It captures the shape and form of the image and adds a sharpness makes the eye catch the detail. Here's my haphazard effort...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0XmGu74-GZyeX51joHUXQulBY2bnByISncyZBVuxvvX7rD-kaGf99G-O4ttFagdDvN37UXMH04YJcblT9W9Iuvj7rAcjePpMLQmxwDFMVerFAoPhiOpYEO6bCV4cew3UugyQoJfQqfU/s1600-h/4040985046_ff419aca2a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0XmGu74-GZyeX51joHUXQulBY2bnByISncyZBVuxvvX7rD-kaGf99G-O4ttFagdDvN37UXMH04YJcblT9W9Iuvj7rAcjePpMLQmxwDFMVerFAoPhiOpYEO6bCV4cew3UugyQoJfQqfU/s320/4040985046_ff419aca2a_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
A reflective surface adds to the shot - so often on billboards and adverts there will be a slight reflection of the object itself. At home you can do that with a mirror...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUvopoTQOnjUhPNLvZYOSaqksirl9z9tVqhM4bGnWVTvz4sffrCV9aX9WD-VH6KfZpXSd0ILb1ln24lbw0N7EzcGK7My5Z83-c9iy7nUDc_FzBTfoxkCWVSG06IJKuW13roqSkB8-d54/s1600-h/4040988212_d2a3662423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUvopoTQOnjUhPNLvZYOSaqksirl9z9tVqhM4bGnWVTvz4sffrCV9aX9WD-VH6KfZpXSd0ILb1ln24lbw0N7EzcGK7My5Z83-c9iy7nUDc_FzBTfoxkCWVSG06IJKuW13roqSkB8-d54/s400/4040988212_d2a3662423.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you've got an off camera light source shots like this can be done very easily. The best part? You don't even need a good camera. All the shots above were taken on my Canon G11 compact. The G11 is only expensive because of the build quality, any compact camera could produce the results above if the light was right. Any of my readers do product shots?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vh3dn0N4fCKN1EBqvj6zzdWWFETVVYwcW6Hdjr10AY9foYs2qjG1F_l-kh4yIl92ZBBKBZNnHj43Gw0SRNZPy6xocV2UW_Ip_FK7qq8l6Vvs5Q1hWRI8xVCJmqXuSvk4z0J1uuDGU1U/s1600-h/Intro-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vh3dn0N4fCKN1EBqvj6zzdWWFETVVYwcW6Hdjr10AY9foYs2qjG1F_l-kh4yIl92ZBBKBZNnHj43Gw0SRNZPy6xocV2UW_Ip_FK7qq8l6Vvs5Q1hWRI8xVCJmqXuSvk4z0J1uuDGU1U/s320/Intro-001.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(photo courtesy of DPreview.com)</span></div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-90504598373598704912010-02-05T11:25:00.000+00:002010-02-05T11:25:00.215+00:00Portraits 6Here's a photo of my little niece. She's a lot bigger now, but still has the capacity to make most people want to take her home with them...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-c-MIJCGoHAjgoaBmb-g9jQqFemHcU4Sn6zx8eUy9FZ4CFf-fZ8HzW_573Sd9tOLkw64sNeNHRgTfofJMlqDB8DiGiigkgWCPkeCf-0ZacpxJ3YLyvr0fGmo2DZ21DiUK_E2xoeeM7Lg/s1600-h/3429159440_a2a2c887de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-c-MIJCGoHAjgoaBmb-g9jQqFemHcU4Sn6zx8eUy9FZ4CFf-fZ8HzW_573Sd9tOLkw64sNeNHRgTfofJMlqDB8DiGiigkgWCPkeCf-0ZacpxJ3YLyvr0fGmo2DZ21DiUK_E2xoeeM7Lg/s320/3429159440_a2a2c887de.jpg" /></a></div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-67050005867473675442010-02-04T10:10:00.003+00:002010-02-04T11:55:54.259+00:00Embarrassing moments...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAHmn9TpUGXvJ6EPqvXLUArvKQ3NC1FvaThtg9pAll13n0fCumHbDJeDRiD4FIhMCWPrHVEM711ZfjykHTpw2rqnh7tewIkgQ-yaFr2i8f7D__rEPNglnZV4u2Egm93KPKPLs_vGNAkQ/s1600-h/NikonLensCap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAHmn9TpUGXvJ6EPqvXLUArvKQ3NC1FvaThtg9pAll13n0fCumHbDJeDRiD4FIhMCWPrHVEM711ZfjykHTpw2rqnh7tewIkgQ-yaFr2i8f7D__rEPNglnZV4u2Egm93KPKPLs_vGNAkQ/s200/NikonLensCap.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Every photographer has probably got some embarrassing moments, they normally just choose not to remember them! I was photographing a wedding with a friend last summer and we'd taken five minutes out, having been on our feet for about 7 hours. We put the cameras away in the bags, got out the chocolate and chatted for a bit.<br />
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Someone ran out to tell us that the speeches were going to be starting early and they'd thought we'd like to know. We quickly put out kit away, grabbed our cameras and headed inside again. As we went in, we both put our cameras to our eyes and realised the same thing: we'd both not taken our lens caps off. Any embarrassing photography moments readers?</div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(image courtesy of http://diglloyd.com)</span>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-60619050039202767382010-02-03T09:49:00.001+00:002010-02-03T09:49:00.503+00:00Street Photography'Street photography' is documentary photography in public places. Some of the so-called founding fathers of photography made their name by just taking pictures of everyday life and people. In the 21st Century street photography is more difficult - you can no longer take a picture of most people without them wanting to know exactly when it will be on facebook and how they 'un-tag' themselves. <br />
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One of the negatives of professional SLRs is that they are large, and quite visible, so it's only on a very rare occasion that I find myself doing any street photography. The following image was shot whilst I was in the middle of a engagement couple-shoot at Somerset House in London. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRkf8Tp96At-2fUi45tHp0oLWj1IWcw14dBFiSJlKLbAkysMCY8rrpef0P_g6qZHAryd_ZI2w1niu3dwiv46KGt5N4ZU2ZqUZsBgLhYuZ1ikDXp9exYcmTe3ItWH5F9Hb3p9N-qsdtgo/s1600-h/3479675652_035ccd9c23_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRkf8Tp96At-2fUi45tHp0oLWj1IWcw14dBFiSJlKLbAkysMCY8rrpef0P_g6qZHAryd_ZI2w1niu3dwiv46KGt5N4ZU2ZqUZsBgLhYuZ1ikDXp9exYcmTe3ItWH5F9Hb3p9N-qsdtgo/s400/3479675652_035ccd9c23_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-44158497879932312142010-02-02T09:24:00.002+00:002010-02-02T09:44:57.365+00:00NIkon D5000 review<div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, it happened! Jessops - a high street camera shop for my American readers - got themselves sorted and finally got my camera from head office. Having promised a review a long time ago I decided it would be nice to let you have my impressions. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13cuxtTV0HhetcrIa9RSbmCglNaulEp4mRQdD1B5rKPrpg8vqIPReiA1cy-5BE5SvAl222BpaJ0pHgL656e6aFfnSy4-KXOTjqz8FFtEIaaydRjQVf5cYlMMJzvALfR6a8YqcalheSus/s1600-h/Front-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13cuxtTV0HhetcrIa9RSbmCglNaulEp4mRQdD1B5rKPrpg8vqIPReiA1cy-5BE5SvAl222BpaJ0pHgL656e6aFfnSy4-KXOTjqz8FFtEIaaydRjQVf5cYlMMJzvALfR6a8YqcalheSus/s320/Front-001.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(photo courtesy of dpreview.com)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a pretty little thing. Small by DSLR standards, it's not too small to handle as its buttons are placed sensibly far enough apart from each other. So what do I think? Well, I'm going to divide this mini-review into two parts: handing and image quality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Handling</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For a camera costing less than £500 it handles very well. Build quality is good. The plastic doesn't feel cheap and there is a thoughtfully placed rubber grip for your thumb on the back panel. My only immediate handling complaint would be that my thumb - I have long fingers - sits very close to the Live View button, and I've accidentally pressed it when shooting with gloves. Other than that it has a familiar feel, much like a smaller version of my D700. Interestingly Nikon has only included one scrolling wheel, at the rear of the body. On my D700 there is one at the rear, nicely placed for your thumb, but another on the front of the body, just above the red stripe. As that is the primary control wheel set up on my D700 it took a few moments to get used to the difference. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The flip out screen is theoretically a nice feature, but it flips out below the camera. This makes it impossible to use with a tripod. You can't use it to take pictures of yourself and friends for example, which is, in my opinion, quite an oversight. There is a noticable loss of resolution with the smaller screen, although I never felt that I couldn't tell if a photo was sharp enough. A flip out screen is great if you shoot in live view mode, however the contrast autofocus is very slow, un-usably so in my opinion. In practice then the flip out screen is a gimmick to attract people from compact cameras to DSLRs. Its one saving grace is that the screen can be flipped inwards to protect itself. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The fact that the D5000 is aimed at compact camera converts with a bit more cash to burn also shows in its controls. It only has one customisable button, every other menu option has to be accessed via the info screen on the back of the camera. The camera doesn't have a mini-screen next to the shutter, which I thought would bother me, but actually I tend to check my camera settings through the viewfinder, so it's not much of a problem. There are two options for the info screen, the default is actually quite pretty. It displays all the information you need, as well as a useful aperture graphic that shows what the inside of the lens is doing at different f-stops. Not necessary, but a really nice feature for explaining how that part of photography works. On the top of the body the primary control wheel is jammed with different scene modes. Useful for the amateur, but if I was training someone I would prefer that they learnt how and what makes a good portrait photo, rather than how to select the portrait scene mode. Other than the single customisable button, the D5000 does well for handling generally. I haven't felt frustrated that I haven't been able to get to my settings fast enough when shooting. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It should be mentioned that the D5000 doesn't have an in-built autofocus motor. To get autofocus you have to use Nikon AF-S lenses, that have their own motors. It's not the end of the world, as I'm happy to use manual focus, and all but one of my lenses are AF-S. However if Canon can fit motors into camera bodies equally as small there seems no reason for Nikon not to include one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Image quality</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the reason I purchased the D5000 as a professional back up. It has the same image sensor as the Nikon D90, which matches the low light performance of the D300 (A camera costing £1200). I will properly review its low light performance at a later date, but the D5000 should punch well above its weight. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In reviewing image quality its only fair to include a few shots. These are not designed for you to judge the camera - they are all too processed for that - but hopefully they give you an idea of how easy it is to take good pictures with the D5000. I challenge anyone to tell low ISO results apart from my D700 images.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsidUcmiLe85TESxDd_UUiR8z1cmPV0GUnhu45pIgzfUHmEZbuzgnjHwnOT_aQi39HLuZbNp7atJ8IeDdoqhF3a1nmW3FMBHMFXN8JVpBMtRlLHVLETgzSgTLXO81uSJtpAvUbI-hyNDs/s1600-h/_DSC0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsidUcmiLe85TESxDd_UUiR8z1cmPV0GUnhu45pIgzfUHmEZbuzgnjHwnOT_aQi39HLuZbNp7atJ8IeDdoqhF3a1nmW3FMBHMFXN8JVpBMtRlLHVLETgzSgTLXO81uSJtpAvUbI-hyNDs/s320/_DSC0031.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA6Qhcax4-OE8nMb4_Pb-yhh8T4TzcCrlMLACHkLhNPfgHCxQcBeDo8CvABXNhx_EMictdf2wlPShHwOZA-PS1Y5fdk1ah95-mgcGVJsr2IOI4UNZMynu0dV1KWyHUZqL6GMyotpyuwo/s1600-h/_DSC0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA6Qhcax4-OE8nMb4_Pb-yhh8T4TzcCrlMLACHkLhNPfgHCxQcBeDo8CvABXNhx_EMictdf2wlPShHwOZA-PS1Y5fdk1ah95-mgcGVJsr2IOI4UNZMynu0dV1KWyHUZqL6GMyotpyuwo/s320/_DSC0043.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vqCE-CPGD1kEjMy4WS-200Pawmir6UEERr6ikj7Ey2I_mh8ew20XuaxOL2ApzKzcp86AzwzmztRr2lgs1m0ZrsgRwIGFVlIhIevQJvNjw7Js0L40bCByhUae1GtwpmTQ0oyeXVbEm7w/s1600-h/_DSC0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vqCE-CPGD1kEjMy4WS-200Pawmir6UEERr6ikj7Ey2I_mh8ew20XuaxOL2ApzKzcp86AzwzmztRr2lgs1m0ZrsgRwIGFVlIhIevQJvNjw7Js0L40bCByhUae1GtwpmTQ0oyeXVbEm7w/s320/_DSC0053.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For a £500 camera to produce these results is stunning, and shows how far DSLRs have come in the last few years. I'm incredibly impressed with the D5000, having shot with it a little. The real test will be my next wedding when it will get pushed to 3200 ISO, then it will fall short of the magnificent D700. However, for its size, portability and price tag the D5000 is an excellent little camera. </div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-55647703362965478602010-02-01T10:52:00.002+00:002010-02-01T16:13:10.002+00:00Black & White<div style="text-align: justify;">Last blog I talked a bit about black and white photographs. I thought I'd elaborate on it a bit, and explain how I 'see' in black and white. For a black and white shot to be good, it must have contrast and form. All the results of light. Shot number one is of the Sage in Newcastle, it's a good example of a photograph that is made by the form of the subject...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnEShfestoyDDHg6KkFmzgeb8t0Qh-rjSaqJnB8Y6IJBMT7IHxbOM1yaVafjtvAPzAq1AIBzqXAJR0UjpsNVKTUAfr4Z_JM1-KKuRUqOdI3p2FzI1LBEddSxLtbbHhhmY5sMKI4wKzyQ/s1600-h/2477259917_a2f729ee6b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnEShfestoyDDHg6KkFmzgeb8t0Qh-rjSaqJnB8Y6IJBMT7IHxbOM1yaVafjtvAPzAq1AIBzqXAJR0UjpsNVKTUAfr4Z_JM1-KKuRUqOdI3p2FzI1LBEddSxLtbbHhhmY5sMKI4wKzyQ/s320/2477259917_a2f729ee6b_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The architectural design, and the way the curves have caught the light makes this shot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shot number two is a classic black and white portrait, and one of my personal favourites. The photo is made by the light that catches the jazz player's features, combined with the contrast of the painted wall and the paintings of famous artists above. It is a photograph of great character and wonderfully tells a story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsrIuDNbpGybpC9DOGAboQEDu3yTumYipM8D9MCliCapIVBDWw1hjOhDIngPZzXA5uzFStsDEiNv_YEN9xTBgomR3qMkBJPmFExEbWRl_xzkk0Ksaf_4mHdOE8FcRa67Y4-i6OdqawZg/s1600-h/3493708456_a3747175c3_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsrIuDNbpGybpC9DOGAboQEDu3yTumYipM8D9MCliCapIVBDWw1hjOhDIngPZzXA5uzFStsDEiNv_YEN9xTBgomR3qMkBJPmFExEbWRl_xzkk0Ksaf_4mHdOE8FcRa67Y4-i6OdqawZg/s320/3493708456_a3747175c3_b.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally I wanted to include an image that is, quite literally, 'painting' with light. The powerful sunlight behind the jet skier silhouettes him against the sea. The result is contrast and a sense of atmosphere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSR-VZawn1yorIk7ZxNASuOytopNSbE-SDoGLuDrzBENGBi633Za3Bk3oAWkMHgQgiliHgm7gfih3nAS1NUh0BkE-9-0lGStV_nH77NzRXWuu_y05gYpVRNIo99Fyk2CUAkzKxOuw5JM/s1600-h/3138729050_53057f9944_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSR-VZawn1yorIk7ZxNASuOytopNSbE-SDoGLuDrzBENGBi633Za3Bk3oAWkMHgQgiliHgm7gfih3nAS1NUh0BkE-9-0lGStV_nH77NzRXWuu_y05gYpVRNIo99Fyk2CUAkzKxOuw5JM/s320/3138729050_53057f9944_b.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Black and white for me is about capturing light itself. In that sense it is the purest form of photography. Colour cannot distract, the image must be created by the use of light and good composition.</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-71835167593408309592010-01-30T10:42:00.001+00:002010-01-30T10:42:00.535+00:00Purple!<div style="text-align: justify;">I generally avoid colour tinting photographs. It can often look like the photographer has recently discovered that 'you can do this' in Photoshop, rather than adding to the image. The one exception to the rule is tinting snow blue, when the photo is black and white. Normally you tint a black and white image with a slight sepia tone to make it look warmer, but with snow, you want the viewer to feel the cold. A blue tint on snow looks like this...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4gDKzM78ueunIPBBhH3WvHDWHrxJfwn6nLZ3wnyObvhawHxbwl5bh0023y-eIvMlrz0b-CU0EjyC9Qg0X3ocQDtirTDwvlMbcp3oMxEx1YBPjAI9uc3c6-iX5xNLZlS9PK0CS5YiGeg/s1600-h/4287787381_15dd2a520c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4gDKzM78ueunIPBBhH3WvHDWHrxJfwn6nLZ3wnyObvhawHxbwl5bh0023y-eIvMlrz0b-CU0EjyC9Qg0X3ocQDtirTDwvlMbcp3oMxEx1YBPjAI9uc3c6-iX5xNLZlS9PK0CS5YiGeg/s320/4287787381_15dd2a520c_b.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">I've only got one tinted portrait, which I thought I'd share with you. The following shot is my other half's sister, looking very <i>chic</i> last summer.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Any tinted shots my readers would like to share?<br />
</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-78314828325427297592010-01-29T10:33:00.004+00:002010-01-29T10:33:00.285+00:00Colour or Black & White?<div style="text-align: justify;">It's always an interesting conundrum when editing. Some images are a very obviously one or the other. If there is vibrant colour that makes the image then I'll leave it that way. If the image is all about composition and form, and has good contrast, I'll often turn it black&white. I think the following shot looks good in both.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the colour version it is the vibrancy of the green that grabs your attention, draws you to the subject, and then you notice the purple buds on the stem of the flower. In the b&w the form of the flower, and the contrast of the subject against the soft background gives a very different atmosphere to the same photograph. Which do you prefer?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD2EvQ8Dn0jVdcJleyrAm2NcdvofGTLpggJ_6DnvP0Jy35NO9lkL4CiPKMRdYBnEdyUaBVdXLdLCXoK8BJEhj7Jurd9wWr0K9dXKSTfdw3be3iFd6dNIW9FH3ZJ6OHtwD_K50fHUU2kU/s1600-h/4295670520_e3f3104da6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD2EvQ8Dn0jVdcJleyrAm2NcdvofGTLpggJ_6DnvP0Jy35NO9lkL4CiPKMRdYBnEdyUaBVdXLdLCXoK8BJEhj7Jurd9wWr0K9dXKSTfdw3be3iFd6dNIW9FH3ZJ6OHtwD_K50fHUU2kU/s320/4295670520_e3f3104da6.jpg" width="233" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjxRkf8ARFBpvoVILlUsCELp7rKf-PQUHPd1UjK0HIHAtjEQfNtB6qyyN_UC-eNtx8AJC6cLiIYaj8gATcNyAQHQCfBAhyphenhyphen0g9arwrBcfRKxnNevDt6mvzYtUs1qIT2WC-jmdIjSVKeDg/s1600-h/4294836627_6ed50f6c01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjxRkf8ARFBpvoVILlUsCELp7rKf-PQUHPd1UjK0HIHAtjEQfNtB6qyyN_UC-eNtx8AJC6cLiIYaj8gATcNyAQHQCfBAhyphenhyphen0g9arwrBcfRKxnNevDt6mvzYtUs1qIT2WC-jmdIjSVKeDg/s320/4294836627_6ed50f6c01.jpg" width="234" /></a><br />
</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-7538908203878792252010-01-28T09:59:00.001+00:002010-01-28T09:59:00.918+00:00Fixed lenses and creativity.<div style="text-align: justify;">I learnt photography from my Dad. 'Back in the day' that was fixed lenses, usually a 50mm. The advantage of a fixed lens is they normally let more light in, meaning you can shoot in less light, and blur backgrounds away. The disadvantage is that you often can't fit everything you want in the photo, or you can't get close enough to your subject. The result of that is that you either have to move your feet and find somewhere else to shoot from, or be creative with your framing. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've seen some pros tell aspiring photographers that they should get a fixed lens as it would 'make them more creative' - that's not true, you can't force creativity. It's either there or it's not. I would much rather pros advised aspiring photographers to watch light, the way it falls, how it effects images and to just work with the kit they have. I fear the ability to use light is not as common as it once was, but that is another blog for another day.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the meantime I thought I'd share a couple of photos which, as my 94 year old Grandma says, "aren't straight"...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhAYsaFSmcv4eaEePXI27iiFg7fG8vfcp2fGUeF1uZETregkcjkOfczT0z71eYjxsk0VPdSj3yoEsy4TNnE0R1PorOam_wvekxqSNuVk9VFOpbfm0g7aU2fd8o1SHmxUlk1RmMqNelPw/s1600-h/2478097872_156cc02d25_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhAYsaFSmcv4eaEePXI27iiFg7fG8vfcp2fGUeF1uZETregkcjkOfczT0z71eYjxsk0VPdSj3yoEsy4TNnE0R1PorOam_wvekxqSNuVk9VFOpbfm0g7aU2fd8o1SHmxUlk1RmMqNelPw/s400/2478097872_156cc02d25_b.jpg" width="267" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i75cEwZb1H8IUdNNLmeaZEapq8lBzfKqdKb9Aq10XsbBDXcqFCouM7onk7k6XU1xrIS5ydfNWMpj4yKn2EbegszLqXLZM2pJdzelaJrtvRCZavEJirnGdlgTHiTUzGNHpqxV-0wmmmQ/s1600-h/3427983163_72ba80a4ca_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i75cEwZb1H8IUdNNLmeaZEapq8lBzfKqdKb9Aq10XsbBDXcqFCouM7onk7k6XU1xrIS5ydfNWMpj4yKn2EbegszLqXLZM2pJdzelaJrtvRCZavEJirnGdlgTHiTUzGNHpqxV-0wmmmQ/s400/3427983163_72ba80a4ca_b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-12696174243383435202010-01-27T08:03:00.000+00:002010-01-27T08:03:00.330+00:00First shots...It's always an exciting moment to unpack a new lens. I then usually spend half a day thoroughly testing it. The test for my telephoto involved a walk to the park, and after 40 minutes I managed to find the deer.<br />
My favourite photo from the afternoon is one of a doe jumping across a stream, with her fawn watching on. The fawn then got up the courage to follow its mother.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK7n8MKH8myX8PGR1Yrp_YlMnLlPsoeeYDeTjJ-cZDIJ7F0hINh6t67rQP9QOr7m0Y7IYTCqT6SQRQtvEiq6FwjpwSJwZ2NBZk7S4ROJ13pH4JMCf5aQ6PfygRYLoUEO2cqLIK-8tgEI/s1600-h/4297858316_0f410f84b5_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK7n8MKH8myX8PGR1Yrp_YlMnLlPsoeeYDeTjJ-cZDIJ7F0hINh6t67rQP9QOr7m0Y7IYTCqT6SQRQtvEiq6FwjpwSJwZ2NBZk7S4ROJ13pH4JMCf5aQ6PfygRYLoUEO2cqLIK-8tgEI/s400/4297858316_0f410f84b5_b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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My second favourite shot was of two stags. I'd been creeping along by a stream, hidden by the trees, but finally got spotted...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE6Vm05tovbRNyFmTPowKbgcMYN5ofMrB2yJCEkyzoRQTSPLHat56T9NjvMs5jFw2K9bNc3_jZ8-6ogxKPUC3_4xBDKdX8bfZn0U80BKfkdRB16IZnCohEeL7hMqZ1W7Z2Vw32Ahcdg8/s1600-h/4297114159_545a6a9a0e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE6Vm05tovbRNyFmTPowKbgcMYN5ofMrB2yJCEkyzoRQTSPLHat56T9NjvMs5jFw2K9bNc3_jZ8-6ogxKPUC3_4xBDKdX8bfZn0U80BKfkdRB16IZnCohEeL7hMqZ1W7Z2Vw32Ahcdg8/s400/4297114159_545a6a9a0e_b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I'm not a wildlife photographer in any way - as my miserable attempts at photographing birds in flight showed - much practice needed there I think! However, I do love nature, and it's a joy to be able to remember the moments.David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-61706946491724335802010-01-26T10:51:00.003+00:002010-01-26T11:30:20.235+00:00Photography and freedom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDiEdc4axcb3BY-JMe3lmiRHe9cy1RD67IKKSR2CyVT2ORXyhJEvn-ewU2LxX-hWFYLfwXTmaINWhXIs9-9DG221TYc7oqOwoWErxkXC3XUDM9WuZzKY-gijyUXgobsssd2Ugy9YeMes/s1600-h/Mass+Photography+Demonstration+Against+Police+fLd5M3hGqpKl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDiEdc4axcb3BY-JMe3lmiRHe9cy1RD67IKKSR2CyVT2ORXyhJEvn-ewU2LxX-hWFYLfwXTmaINWhXIs9-9DG221TYc7oqOwoWErxkXC3XUDM9WuZzKY-gijyUXgobsssd2Ugy9YeMes/s400/Mass+Photography+Demonstration+Against+Police+fLd5M3hGqpKl.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial, verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px;">(</span><span style="font-family: arial, verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">January 22, 2010 - Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images Europe)</span></span><br />
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Over the weekend there was a demonstration in Trafalgar Square at the the use of stop and search powers under the terrorism act. I briefly blogged about the problem a few weeks ago, when looking at <a href="http://charlwoodphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/power-of-still-image.html">the power of the still image.</a> Hopefully public pressure will result in a more sensible use of the powers the police have at their disposal, which were never intended to stop people taking photos.<br />
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Since my last blog the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Section 44 of the 2000 Terrorism Act (the relevant bit of legislation) is illegal, as it is indiscriminate. The government is appealing. Obviously.<br />
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Congratulations have to go to Oli Scarff, from Getty, for the photo above. In a square mile more densely packed with cameras and photographers than probably anywhere in history, it was his shot that made it to the front pages!David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-60198972970519802592010-01-25T12:34:00.001+00:002010-01-25T12:34:00.939+00:00Cold Weather<div style="text-align: justify;">Cold weather usually equals fun photographs. Sometimes the cold can prove less fun though. Last year I returned to my house after having Christmas with my parents to find it flooded, and four inches deep in water downstairs. After wading through the mess to extract my stuff, and pack it into a car to move home to my other half's sofa, I just couldn't leave without getting my camera out. In the midst of the arrival of my landlady, whilst my house was ankle deep in water, I was busy taking photographs. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The water that had literally flowed out of the windows of the upstairs had run down over the garden plants. In the cold temperatures it had frozen. This hydrangea was literally suspended in ice...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU3z5WpzLKp4iXQ-n5uZML3YQTaOxwBDivbfyWnjOXovc9obcHfzz3sWAgMnuELiqIkspSkJFXK4ZEaMSNHXfeTkAMoEQefB-jEmdB3URUVAQAZagfIsrl-W5jxrbvwdvkNAlwqAGbr0/s1600-h/3186125578_2d603258cf_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU3z5WpzLKp4iXQ-n5uZML3YQTaOxwBDivbfyWnjOXovc9obcHfzz3sWAgMnuELiqIkspSkJFXK4ZEaMSNHXfeTkAMoEQefB-jEmdB3URUVAQAZagfIsrl-W5jxrbvwdvkNAlwqAGbr0/s400/3186125578_2d603258cf_b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-66860903009541705722010-01-23T14:37:00.002+00:002010-01-23T15:41:55.131+00:00Squared²<div style="text-align: justify;">Having a compact camera has brought me a lot of joy. It would be too melodramatic to say I've 'rediscovered photography', but it is a great pleasure to be able to take photos of those little things that catch my eye.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Compact cameras don't have anything like the quality of an SLR, but they've always been able to take good close-up ("macro") shots. The photos from my Canon G11 do require a bit more editing than shots from my top pro. kit, but I quite enjoy the extra work, it means I think about each image more. In the process I've found that I quite like cropping images to a square. The following are<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> two </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">square</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">d</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">² photos.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezr9pRdi93GrS-eeVv-Y5xkKjf3iXIVIguQBXAf1valfhY8ee8AehBXmUsCWKDDIp-Pj29xcsqQDNYOt5SKpYyLsH9_uG6op3asG9bLhyd8eDchL2dsnKn2QcEcs-75jcRdmAq66_gAQ/s1600-h/4292831031_7449c7d98d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezr9pRdi93GrS-eeVv-Y5xkKjf3iXIVIguQBXAf1valfhY8ee8AehBXmUsCWKDDIp-Pj29xcsqQDNYOt5SKpYyLsH9_uG6op3asG9bLhyd8eDchL2dsnKn2QcEcs-75jcRdmAq66_gAQ/s320/4292831031_7449c7d98d_b.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pZa9YdBSjj5M7Uw9Wr_t9j6ZuYcGlvnNsvkKjlkoDDPWkjs51ealBkHisMbn9mlAY3o7qIADZnAZCmi_Fy1n6I-xbnQ7Fd6SqGhziDSES8fBYkOWgrVzPYOHyeQaLWA-ljJjLBShDqI/s1600-h/4244766230_60ce0f4e24_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pZa9YdBSjj5M7Uw9Wr_t9j6ZuYcGlvnNsvkKjlkoDDPWkjs51ealBkHisMbn9mlAY3o7qIADZnAZCmi_Fy1n6I-xbnQ7Fd6SqGhziDSES8fBYkOWgrVzPYOHyeQaLWA-ljJjLBShDqI/s320/4244766230_60ce0f4e24_b.jpg" /></a><br />
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</span></span>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-38877260571725997752010-01-22T10:12:00.000+00:002010-01-22T10:12:00.090+00:00Portraits 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5E911T674ENXPmj7BLLTBx09SgtyJwphdwicFvtq6o2LGhwdOcP25asfK2gb45ICgPvEYZ5nTkGe3Lq1_P4v4UbXFUJ9sYMA-GuXUEVU8_4xUlDdrXnNbIO32wn8NyWW0dBF1WNXBXOc/s1600-h/3691538970_13676a2e60_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5E911T674ENXPmj7BLLTBx09SgtyJwphdwicFvtq6o2LGhwdOcP25asfK2gb45ICgPvEYZ5nTkGe3Lq1_P4v4UbXFUJ9sYMA-GuXUEVU8_4xUlDdrXnNbIO32wn8NyWW0dBF1WNXBXOc/s400/3691538970_13676a2e60_b.jpg" width="273" /></a><br />
</div>This is a photo of my bro about to go off to a wedding as an usher. Yes, he really should have shaved...<br />
He is, however, modeling the family hair well.David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-81980455095218620462010-01-21T21:21:00.002+00:002010-01-21T22:27:47.130+00:00Filling up the camera bag again...<div style="text-align: justify;">I'm currently in the strange position of having only one lens in my camera bag. My 50mm is being returned in the hope that I'll get a better focusing second copy, and all my Canon kit has gone off to be sold. Feeling obviously insecure, the natural solution is to lens hunt. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One advantage of starting over with camera equipment is that you really know what you want in the bag. I've gone for a fixed wide angle lens and one fixed 50mm lens. The fixed 50mm on my back up camera is equivalent to an 80mm and with those two lenses I'll happily photograph any wedding. The one area I've always been lacking is a long lens for wildlife photos. Years ago I had a 70-200, but that's not really long enough. So yesterday, after much hunting, I ordered the third lens for my camera bag, a Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJDTIUmlrrWBsfC6PI4humVgP5F909Kfot-2iUu3m3iyBaOMzv_8MTh4YOOvfPFmrrhRT-pKpAIzuszaTaDQbCqOWqlDY8uR9YB7O5fULvUmWdFm1AgeMsRBgLEUNyxPs2Fcuy83ilEM/s1600-h/nikonafs70-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJDTIUmlrrWBsfC6PI4humVgP5F909Kfot-2iUu3m3iyBaOMzv_8MTh4YOOvfPFmrrhRT-pKpAIzuszaTaDQbCqOWqlDY8uR9YB7O5fULvUmWdFm1AgeMsRBgLEUNyxPs2Fcuy83ilEM/s320/nikonafs70-300.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(thanks to DPReview for the image)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It will be lovely to have a long focal length lens back again. I've always enjoyed watching wildlife, and now I'll hopefully be able to get some images too! To round off this blog I've included one of the first decent photos I ever took. These two swans were total posers, and it was when I showed this shot to my parents that they perhaps got an inkling of what I might end up doing to earn a living.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFuC_CheeVhPq2pE70f_f-RP540IaiiBSmHUPByAci3u1xDb4fMj8Rnhow_KL3qSlfbmTZ34x4XTQ_cuOB1csH_IWpwfvc1AtbY4ZDdCnGT9W96aqcjIhST_lP_OH1fb0ObJ988k53Vo/s1600-h/3551329984_42cdcdeac1_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFuC_CheeVhPq2pE70f_f-RP540IaiiBSmHUPByAci3u1xDb4fMj8Rnhow_KL3qSlfbmTZ34x4XTQ_cuOB1csH_IWpwfvc1AtbY4ZDdCnGT9W96aqcjIhST_lP_OH1fb0ObJ988k53Vo/s400/3551329984_42cdcdeac1_b.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-72656937429597858312010-01-20T23:28:00.000+00:002010-01-20T23:28:00.554+00:00Rule breaking...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt7UUP9yJogFoLkpBEyLW04Bf3GLDwjKwSXm5-n_twCCbNwqHtLx7MMiVouYDNnGeqkc3n81luY5BdOnKOMwqMFR_R5N3wy_3BvwuREZrHA2oAXBtQnUNBhrHR552_mga2EvOKH7hB0w/s1600-h/Storybook-Wolf-by-Jose-Lu-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt7UUP9yJogFoLkpBEyLW04Bf3GLDwjKwSXm5-n_twCCbNwqHtLx7MMiVouYDNnGeqkc3n81luY5BdOnKOMwqMFR_R5N3wy_3BvwuREZrHA2oAXBtQnUNBhrHR552_mga2EvOKH7hB0w/s320/Storybook-Wolf-by-Jose-Lu-001.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photo courtesy of Guardian.co.uk)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2009 Veolia Wildlife Photographer Of The Year award was given for the above photograph back at the end of 2009. This week however the photographer who took the image was stripped of his award, and the £10,000 prize that went with it. The reason? His photo is said to have broken the rules. The wolf jumping over the fence is, it now appears, a tame one, who was encouraged to jump to trigger the remote camera and flash. Using tame animals or 'models' is against the rules of the category and so the Spanish photographer lost the title.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I first saw the photo last year I was struck by the 'so perfect' capture of the moment, in what appeared to be studio like conditions. The claim was that infrared beams were set up, along with the camera and flash, meat was left out and one day it all just happened. I wasn't impressed. To me a wireless flash set up is not wildlife photography. Wildlife photography is about carrying an insanely heavy lens on your back and having the exceptional patience and technical ability to hit the shutter at the perfect moment to capture wildlife at its most glorious or intimate.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What do you think makes a good wildlife image, have you got a favourite?<br />
</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-43233210474019177612010-01-19T15:08:00.001+00:002010-01-19T15:10:45.818+00:00The power of the still image.Photographers are facing tougher working conditions. For example there are several spots in London - unmarked on maps - where police have the power to remove cameras from members of the public, merely because they are using them near somewhere deemed at risk from a terror attack. (It is interesting to note that neither the 9/11 attackers, or the 7/7 London tube bombers photographed their targets prior to the attacks.) The integrity of work is also under threat. The phrase 'photoshopped' has now come to mean something artificial or fake in common parlance.<br />
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A few weeks ago a French rugby player was convicted of eye-gouging an opponent, a nasty practice that still goes on. He appealed on the basis that the video evidence did not conclusively show the incident and questioned the authenticity of one photograph that did, as it was taken by a photographer working for the other team.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAuMrhe-JUJe5ZyndH4pCM0nHit_U_jdO2VT2kbaii5hG18RrunOoWlsAq6i8B_6GqGX5JVSnlvdbp8_7EzF2HUjA8McBl8SUEOhQT9JVybWBDBs6LAvhRTlEExa7IYOZzxHtpLOL2Js/s1600-h/_46913475_stephen_ferris_gouge466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAuMrhe-JUJe5ZyndH4pCM0nHit_U_jdO2VT2kbaii5hG18RrunOoWlsAq6i8B_6GqGX5JVSnlvdbp8_7EzF2HUjA8McBl8SUEOhQT9JVybWBDBs6LAvhRTlEExa7IYOZzxHtpLOL2Js/s400/_46913475_stephen_ferris_gouge466.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(photo courtesy of BBC Sport)</span><br />
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A panel of experts reviewed the photograph to see if it had been edited or manipulated and concluded that it had not. The player's ban was upheld and the photographer's reputation intact. As a photographer I found it re-assuring that that, sometimes, it is still true to say 'the camera doesn't lie'.David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-27071238412449129592010-01-18T11:08:00.004+00:002010-01-28T12:04:08.584+00:00Nikon D700<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hongkongphooey.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/d700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://hongkongphooey.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/d700.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(image courtesy of Digital Photography Review)</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Having decided to switch to Nikon I set about planning it. Since I've had a Canon 5D I've grown to love the image quality and low noise of full-frame digital cameras, so the D700 was the model that caught my attention. With world beating lowlight performance, in a more compact and cheaper body than the Nikon D3 it was an obvious choice. I found an excellent deal online and now have an as new D700 in my camera bag! Here's a shot to show off its low light performance.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is a centre crop of a shot at 6400 ISO. Very impressive! I'll keep you updated how my change over goes over the next few weeks. In the meantime the D700 is coming to work for the first time today.<br />
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</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-67472879243145976082010-01-17T10:11:00.000+00:002010-01-17T10:11:00.159+00:00How pop-up flash can create great light!<div style="text-align: justify;">Using pop-up flash should only ever be a last resort. It creates nasty light that ruins photos and wastes a decent camera and lens. I've been showing friends how to bounce their on camera flash using a business card for years, but finally someone has made a product that does it a lot better. Bouncing your flash off a ceiling or wall softens it, and will turn that nasty pop-up flash into a useful tool that can create better pictures.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Check out www.lightscoop.com for some more info!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZfJbEJCqNPXlQFlznSI8FBZJCaD3tnQNEC-OiCzQAPyrQAwdPM3LSw6qMbpqRJQU4N3NmWC2_JjfRT0lFTVbFRLdjliy0fJ-djv4Y-DduFRMGmSOPO8iZR92fnN46BkdXq2RWEQjUZE/s1600-h/camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZfJbEJCqNPXlQFlznSI8FBZJCaD3tnQNEC-OiCzQAPyrQAwdPM3LSw6qMbpqRJQU4N3NmWC2_JjfRT0lFTVbFRLdjliy0fJ-djv4Y-DduFRMGmSOPO8iZR92fnN46BkdXq2RWEQjUZE/s400/camera.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(photo courtesy of lightscoop.com)</span><br />
</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-3685030542814020942010-01-16T09:06:00.000+00:002010-01-16T09:06:00.251+00:00Portraits 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3628124141_3e3866b881_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3628124141_3e3866b881_b.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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A photo taken at my favourite focal length - 85mm. Shot on my old Canon 40D.David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47370711341437200.post-4636064262735056822010-01-15T10:44:00.000+00:002010-01-15T10:44:00.745+00:00Nerves and wedding photography.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-5FxUu8nhRLNp8be55NT1ya7ROCGnUxxsxLJVBa3-QpSVnkxX4YMccpvCtgAwWYI-QiV2kSG9l8j9YQPVnV3RQbQvJTtRymrhoXbLsxsJUPbR2TZ2uoo3ppgUqUMK6DkCw-6ZsBR_5E/s1600-h/_MG_1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-5FxUu8nhRLNp8be55NT1ya7ROCGnUxxsxLJVBa3-QpSVnkxX4YMccpvCtgAwWYI-QiV2kSG9l8j9YQPVnV3RQbQvJTtRymrhoXbLsxsJUPbR2TZ2uoo3ppgUqUMK6DkCw-6ZsBR_5E/s400/_MG_1938.jpg" /></a><br />
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One of the most common questions I get asked as a wedding photographer is whether I get nervous. A wedding is full of one-off moments: the first kiss, cutting of the cake, first dance, the groom seeing his wife to be for the first time. People often want to know if the pressure to capture all of these gets to me. I honestly have to say no. I absolutely love being a wedding photographer, and don't ever feel pressured. I just enjoy it. The only time I get nervous is when I have 500 images on my memory cards not backed up yet - I'll only sleep easy when they're on my laptop and external hard-drive. <br />
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There aren't many photos of me at work, but I've included the two I have. The first was taken by my second shooter at my last wedding, the second by my Dad at the wedding of a close family friend as I helped the bride and groom get in the wedding car, before going to the beach for the couple shoot. I seem to be enjoying myself!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckZHyN_VS5iihQ9ocsIS4Dlvxa7VmzYu0o9ZDdEeLK6oE55iugqdm_-1IBRmhFas7_vq6c0JrO6_8uQXLTHimQb3CGZVGcg9P4MwL_vK0tPoB-ZdlxK4dPe45hu7_TyoJgWSP-7kZAOE/s1600-h/_MG_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckZHyN_VS5iihQ9ocsIS4Dlvxa7VmzYu0o9ZDdEeLK6oE55iugqdm_-1IBRmhFas7_vq6c0JrO6_8uQXLTHimQb3CGZVGcg9P4MwL_vK0tPoB-ZdlxK4dPe45hu7_TyoJgWSP-7kZAOE/s320/_MG_0218.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>David Charlwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12817548377962367736noreply@blogger.com0