Friday, 13 June 2008
On tranquility
One of the many highlights of my Falklands trip was sitting on the cliff-top near the Rookery on Saunders Island watching the albatross. Before I went to the Falklands I must admit I thought that albatross were 'just big gulls' - and I'm not a huge fan of gulls. But these birds I found absolutely captivating. They seem so gentle and serene compared to other sea-birds. My abiding memory is twenty or more albatross gliding over my head so quietly that the only sound I could hear was the gentle woosh of air flowing over their wings. It was so peaceful I could have stayed there forever.
A few days later, on West Point Island I saw my first albtross chick.
Apologies for taking so long getting these pictures up. A bout of ill health, followed by my computer failing have all served to delay my editting process. Hopefully more images will follow soon!
Sunday, 20 April 2008
On the cost of amateur photography
These days everyone owns a digital camera. Modern cameras are so good it is easy to take a decent photograph. And that's great - it means that everyone can capture family events. Get memorable shots which make good enlargements to grace the mantelpiece. Yet some photographers fear that it is killing the photography business. Micro-stock sites are now overloaded with shots taken by just about anyone, selling for a fraction of what they should be worth. Many people don't even realise they are underselling themselves. When you shoot as a hobby the cost of your time is free.
It also means that photography retailers are offering more and more gift products directly to the consumer. Anyone can now make a mug, a cushion or a calendar with their own photographs. For the professional or anyone trying to break into the business this makes life harder. With so many consumer products it has become difficult to find suppliers who will offer significant discounts for bulk production. As a result the retail margins for the professional get smaller and smaller.
Yet there there are still photographers making money. People are prepared to pay for quality. Few are prepared to take a risk with weddings. My guess is that things will settle down. Technology is always redefining markets, but in the end there is always a niche for the professional or serious amateur. And if anyone is tempted to despair then there is always the encouragement of seeing just how many dreadful photos are posted on Facebook!
It also means that photography retailers are offering more and more gift products directly to the consumer. Anyone can now make a mug, a cushion or a calendar with their own photographs. For the professional or anyone trying to break into the business this makes life harder. With so many consumer products it has become difficult to find suppliers who will offer significant discounts for bulk production. As a result the retail margins for the professional get smaller and smaller.
Yet there there are still photographers making money. People are prepared to pay for quality. Few are prepared to take a risk with weddings. My guess is that things will settle down. Technology is always redefining markets, but in the end there is always a niche for the professional or serious amateur. And if anyone is tempted to despair then there is always the encouragement of seeing just how many dreadful photos are posted on Facebook!
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Where are all the penguins?
January is almost gone and, sadly, I have not updated my website after my Falklands trip. It's not that there aren't any pictures to go up! Actually there are so many I'm still working through them. Add in the fact that I have had a nasty virus and the result is no website update. At least my disappointment has faded. There are plenty of shots I am extremely happy with.
Since returning I have hardly even picked up my camera. The other day I spotted a pair of male teal on a local pond in beautiful lighting. It would have made a wonderful image. But lack of energy meant my camera had stayed at home and I had to content myself with just watching them through binoculars...
Since returning I have hardly even picked up my camera. The other day I spotted a pair of male teal on a local pond in beautiful lighting. It would have made a wonderful image. But lack of energy meant my camera had stayed at home and I had to content myself with just watching them through binoculars...
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
On the benefits of slowing down
Well, I'm back from the Falkland Islands. The wildlife there is so prolific and tame that I excitedly shot well over 4,000 photographs. After an initial scan through I must confess to be slightly disappointed. There are several good shots in there that I am very happy with - but there are vast numbers which are just not quite good enough. I can't help wondering if I'd taken less photos, but spent a little longer setting them up whether I'd have more shots that I'm happy with. Anyway. Live and learn!
In the meantime here are a couple of highlights. Maybe not the best shots - but the two which meant the most at the time.
This was the first king penguin I saw. It turned up, unexpectedly, on Sealion Island on my second morning there. There is no king penguin colony on Sealion, so this one was probably a bit lost.
Chinstrap Penguins don't breed on the Falklands and are only rarely seen there. From the outset I had declared my intent to see one, but to be honest I wasn't really expecting to. I came across this Chinstrap penguin on Volunteer Beach whilst I was attempting to photograph a group of king penguins taking to the water. At first I thought it was a magellanic chick - but as it walked towards me I realised it was a chinstrap. I was so excited I'm amazed I managed to hold the camera steady...
In the meantime here are a couple of highlights. Maybe not the best shots - but the two which meant the most at the time.
This was the first king penguin I saw. It turned up, unexpectedly, on Sealion Island on my second morning there. There is no king penguin colony on Sealion, so this one was probably a bit lost.
Chinstrap Penguins don't breed on the Falklands and are only rarely seen there. From the outset I had declared my intent to see one, but to be honest I wasn't really expecting to. I came across this Chinstrap penguin on Volunteer Beach whilst I was attempting to photograph a group of king penguins taking to the water. At first I thought it was a magellanic chick - but as it walked towards me I realised it was a chinstrap. I was so excited I'm amazed I managed to hold the camera steady...
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
On wildlife photography in the Falklands
One word. Wow!
This place is amazing. Six(!) species of penguin all seen and photographed. Albatross in huge quantities. Elephant Seals and Sealions. Night Herons and Caracara. All competing for your attention and for the most part so tame a long lens is not really required. The weather has been kind too - some warm days and a lot of really great light.
Pictures will follow - but internet access is not great here...
This place is amazing. Six(!) species of penguin all seen and photographed. Albatross in huge quantities. Elephant Seals and Sealions. Night Herons and Caracara. All competing for your attention and for the most part so tame a long lens is not really required. The weather has been kind too - some warm days and a lot of really great light.
Pictures will follow - but internet access is not great here...
Friday, 7 December 2007
On security and the photographer
Having a large white lens on one´s camera always seems to attract attention. Usually the wrong kind. Security guards really don´t like them for some reason. So I was a tad nervous about getting through Heathrow airport with two in my hand luggage. They were more concerned that I was also carring a tiny plastic bag which broke the "one bag rule". Fortunely this was easily resolved by putting the apple it contained in one coat pocket and the danish pastry in the other!
Charles de Gaule was a different story. Security there was a bit belligerent. The opening gambit was "You have a knife!" which of course I didn´t. That was before they´d even scanned annything. As soon I revealed I was carrying camera gear my rucksack had to be completely unpacked and each item passed through individually. I also had to remove my shoes and my belt. After scanning it all they stood and watched me carefully repack the rucksack before escorting me to a desk not five paces away.Here they made me unpack the rucksack again. Each item was checked by hand. There was a long debate in French which I took from the body language to be about whether or not the plates I have on my lenses constitute a lethal weapon. These, by the way, are beautifully-machined pieces of metal used to slide the lens quickly on and off a tripod head. They are blunter than the average baguette.
After that, without as much as a "by your leave", one of them picked up the rucksack - with my camera now back in it - and walked off with it. Naturally I was bit bothered by this. It turned out they just wanted to rescan it, because the hand search had not shown up everything they thought they´d seen on the x-ray. They just didn´t feel the need to tell me that.
After another long debate between themselves, I was finally allowed through. I still can´t decide whether they were genuinely concerned or whether it was just a slow evening and they were a bit bored.
The flight was uneventful. If I had been so inclined I could have inflicted serious bodily harm with the stale in-flight bread rolls. There was a beautiful sunrise over Brazil, and some stunning views of the Andes, and I´m now safely at my hotel in Chile. Tomorrow morning I fly on to the Falklands. Hurrah!
Charles de Gaule was a different story. Security there was a bit belligerent. The opening gambit was "You have a knife!" which of course I didn´t. That was before they´d even scanned annything. As soon I revealed I was carrying camera gear my rucksack had to be completely unpacked and each item passed through individually. I also had to remove my shoes and my belt. After scanning it all they stood and watched me carefully repack the rucksack before escorting me to a desk not five paces away.Here they made me unpack the rucksack again. Each item was checked by hand. There was a long debate in French which I took from the body language to be about whether or not the plates I have on my lenses constitute a lethal weapon. These, by the way, are beautifully-machined pieces of metal used to slide the lens quickly on and off a tripod head. They are blunter than the average baguette.
After that, without as much as a "by your leave", one of them picked up the rucksack - with my camera now back in it - and walked off with it. Naturally I was bit bothered by this. It turned out they just wanted to rescan it, because the hand search had not shown up everything they thought they´d seen on the x-ray. They just didn´t feel the need to tell me that.
After another long debate between themselves, I was finally allowed through. I still can´t decide whether they were genuinely concerned or whether it was just a slow evening and they were a bit bored.
The flight was uneventful. If I had been so inclined I could have inflicted serious bodily harm with the stale in-flight bread rolls. There was a beautiful sunrise over Brazil, and some stunning views of the Andes, and I´m now safely at my hotel in Chile. Tomorrow morning I fly on to the Falklands. Hurrah!
Sunday, 2 December 2007
On almost being there...
Well the last couple of months have been a bit of a wash out from a wildlife photography point of view. Too little free time and not enough weather. But never mind. The Falklands trip is all but upon me. I depart on Thursday and arrive in Stanley on Saturday. Not sure if I'm more excited than nervous! It all seems a bit surreal.
Not sure what the internet access will be like when I get there, but I will try and pop up a blog post once I get there. We shall see...
Not sure what the internet access will be like when I get there, but I will try and pop up a blog post once I get there. We shall see...
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