Sunday, May 19, 2013

Who let the animals in?


"An MP for the ultra-right Golden Dawn party was ejected from Parliament today he shouted Heil Hitler during session.

Panayiotis Iliopoulos condemned fellow MPs as ‘wretched sell-outs’ and ‘goats’, swearing as other Golden Dawn MPs also walked out."

Neo-Nazism is no laughing matter but, "goats"? 

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Summer in London

I don't often shoot anything other than portraits and its even rarer that I shoot colour. But its almost summer in London again (my strawberry plant started flowering today) and I thought this might be a good time to post this 2011 photograph from one of my favourite places in London. Greenwich park is just a short walk across the Thames from my house and great for walking, cycling or just shooting the crap with friends. Click for a larger view.


Tech details: Nikon FM2/Velvia 100/F11/60

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Speaking of cycling trips

Here are two photos from a trip back in 2008 across Bhutan. I love these pictures and the memories they bring - memories of being just so relaxed. The big issues facing me were: where do we stay the night; and will my tires survive? Imagine two weeks where you started each day with only these thoughts (and, at times, will the thukpa be any good today?). There's always a temptation to look back at the past with rose tinted glasses but I don't remember feeling relaxed in the same way since. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Just saying.



Saturday, March 23, 2013

What's in the bag?

I am going on a cycling trip shortly. My first one for many years. Well, I call it a cycling trip but given its on the Alsace wine route, it more like five days of eating baguettes and sipping the local produce rather than cycling. Funny thing though, having not cycled long distance for a while, I have forgotten what exactly goes in a bag for this sort of trip. Here's where I am up to:

1. Puncture kit
2. Books to read - Something from the Oscar Wilde/Conan Doyle mysteries.
3. Camera(s) -Nikon FM2 and Olympus RC35 (I know I told a few people that I was getting the RC35 so that I could have a small camera for holidays, but I can't bring myself to leave the FM2 behind). 
4. Film - Velvia for the RC35 and HP5 for the FM2
5. Map - Michelin has a good 1:200,000 map of the area.
6. Compass
7. Clothes - Raincoat, a spare t-shirt and underwear. 

Am I missing anything? I have had a friend take everything ranging from hair oil to the London Stock Exchange rules on trips and I am wary of over packing. However, I sometimes fall prey to my own minimalism. So, any suggestions? Really, even if they are obvious misses. 

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Naked Development

Funny bunch, these film photographers. Sample the post below, regarding a question on the best way to develop black and white film. Found on this forum.

When I get in the shower, the light still spills in over the curtain. Will this make a difference. Also, will it help if I get naked?

These and other questions have bothered me for some time. 

OTOH, I have an empty shop that is 1000 square feet and no windows, but hot and cold running water. It seems to be pitch black when I close the door, whether naked or not.

Will this work? Will this work and what will develop in these conditions?


Update: In my haste I forgot to read the replies to this question. It appears that this may have been a semi-serious question after all. See the reply below:

"naked or not naked? that depends on if you have hard water or soft water. If hard water, the Ca and Mg will react with the oil based polyesters in some clothing and help reduce the overall developing time by 20%."

Thursday, February 21, 2013

New Camera Review

I got a new camera the other day. Someone told me it took good pictures and was willing to sell it to me for a good price. It had a great retro look for a micro 4/3rd and I jumped at the chance to buy it.  A short review below.


Camera Name: Olympus Trip 35
Dimensions (inches): 5 x 2 x 2

Lens: The lens performance leaves a lot to desired. First of all, no zoom! How is one supposed to take those natural street shots of the homeless without getting too close? A major drawback. Second, no intelligent auto focus or focus peaking. This makes it very difficult to get shallow depth of field and lovely bokeh. Might as well be shooting with one of those thumbnail sensor cameras. Third, its a fixed lens. I was hoping to try out my Olympus EPL-5 lenses on it but the only way you can take the lens off is with a screwdriver and the EPL-5 lenses don't screw on to the same mount.  On the plus side, I have heard that the lens is super sharp and does have normal auto focus (praise the lord!).

ISO Range: It took me quite a while to figure out how to set the ISO on this one. I usually like shooting at 1600 ISO, applying noise reduction in Photoshop. This lets me shoot at my favourite places like the Mahiki nightclub in London, which is so dim that the sensor often has to record what the naked eye can't see. After a bit of looking I found that the ISO is set on the lens (and its called ASA instead of ISO, whats up with that?). Then it struck me - the sensor on this camera cannot record above 400 ISO. 400! I don't think any self respecting party starts in London (or Paris or New York) when 400 ISO may be of use. I certainly have never shot at 400 ISO.

Sensor: Having been disappointed by the lens and the ISO range I was hoping that the sensor would be crackerjack. After all, many people had told me it was a very good camera. Looking through the lens I couldn't see a sensor and the body didn't say how many megapixels it was. I took it to a friend who knows a thing or two about cameras and he explained to me that this camera uses the latest technology - interchangeable sensors. Wow! Even the Leica's doesn't have that. And these interchangeable sensors are super cheap - as little as £3 per sensor, even the ones which are monochrome only (like the Leica M). There's a little door at the back which opens up to insert the sensors. I haven't tested these sensors as yet but my friend said he will get me a few. Not too many I said, I think one or two sensors will be enough.  

Memory: Another major disappointment - the camera comes with no internal memory and apparently uses only WOM (Write Only Memory), which can be bought with the interchangeable sensor. Apparently the memory card it uses has very little capacity and can hold only 36 pictures. I mean even my iPhone has more capacity. Worse, apparently the WOM has to be scanned using these high tech machines you only find in a few shops (although my friend said he had set up this machine in his toilet). This is really not very user friendly, is it? Up your game Olympus.

Other features: Nothing but a let down I am afraid. I am all for minimalism but who can live without 'live view'? You are thinking, well if there was a good EVF... Think again. The viewfinder is a piece of glass. That's it. You look through a window and make sure your subject is in the box painted on the window. No histogram either and forget about wireless connectivity. All in all, not wise to part with the £20 that I spent on this. Those interchangeable sensors better be good.           

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Meerkat Mug

Late night coffee in the office. Better with a meerkat mug.