Julian Baird 23/02/2024 Julian Baird 23/02/2024

Real World Review of Viltrox Pro AF 27mm for Nikon Z

In this video I head out into the REAL WORLD to capture landscape photographs and shoot video with the new Viltrox PRO AF 27mm f/1.2 for Nikon Z mount. Can you really get a pro lens for a budget price?

A Pro Lens for a Budget Price

Is it possible to get a pro spec lens for a budget price? It’s an interesting question and it’s also a question fraught with problems. Both the “pro” and “budget” terms are highly subjective. Ask two different photographers what features they expect in a professional lens, and you’ll get two different answers. The term “budget” has even more scope for varying definitions!

However, in this case, I believe using those terms is justified. Ignoring the fact that the lens does have the word “pro” in the product name, it does have many (but not all) the professional grade features I personally look for in a lens. And given the price, it’s hard to argue it doesn’t fit into the budget category.

While defining terms is useful, the thing that’s really important is how the lens performs and for me the only way to do that is to put it to use in the real world. And that’s exactly what I’ve done in my video review of the Viltrox Pro AF 27mm. I head out to Dartmoor to capture some landscape photographs and I also use the lens to film large parts of the review to test its video capabilities.

The goal of my video isn’t to necessarily convince you to buy this lens. I just want to share my personal experience of using this lens which will hopefully give you enough information to make your own personal purchasing decision.

Even if you aren’t considering buying this lens, I hope you enjoy the video anyway! So, enjoy!

Buy the Viltrox Pro AF 27 Lens

If you’d like to purchase this lens you can do so directly from Viltrox (affiliate link).

Viltrox Pro AF 27mm Gallery

Landscape Photographs

**Beardown Tors #1, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 at f/13, 1/13 sec at ISO 100.

**Beardown Tors #2, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 at f/11, 1/30 sec at ISO 100.

**Beardown Tors #3, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 at f/11, 0.5 sec at ISO 100.

People and Dogs

Nikon Z8, Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 at f/2.2, 1/250 sec at ISO 2000.

Nikon Z8, Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 at f/1.2, 1/250 sec at ISO 640.

Nikon Z8, Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 at f/1.2, 1/500 sec at ISO 250.

Julian Baird 29/04/2023 Julian Baird 29/04/2023

Walking Up One of Scotland's Finest Mountains with Monty and a Camera

I always look forward to returning to Scotland, but my latest visit to the homeland was made even more special as Monty joined me. Being a cocker spaniel, he is full of energy, but could he summit Ben Cruachan? And could I capture some landscape photographs from the summit?

What a Legend!

I try to bring a variety of content to my blog. Some of it might be educational, I hope most of it is inspiring but most of all I want it to be fun. This blog post and video definately falls into the fun category.

As many of you will know that I have a cocker spaniel called Monty. He has been my constant companion for nearly 4 years as I wander the hills of Dartmoor. He has limitless energy and there is nothing better he likes than a long walk.

I’ve seen plenty of dogs being walked on the British mountains, so I was keen to give Monty the same experience. Last month I finally got the chance to see if Monty could scale a Munro (a Scottish mountain over 3000ft). He’d driven all the way up from Devon with me to Argyll, and after a few days acclimatisation I thought he was ready for some bigger walks.

We started with a walk up the banks of Loch Etive. That turned out to be a 22km walk and he managed that without issue. So, a few days later I decided it was time to take him up my home mountain of Ben Cruachan.

As this was such a special occasion in Monty’s life, I decided to make a video of our adventure and share it with you all. You might not learn anything or be impressed by the photography, but hopefully you’ll enjoy it and be inspired as well. Enjoy!

On the summit of Ben Cruachan

On the summit of Beinn Chochuill

On the summit of Beinn Eunaich

Looking East - Nikon Z fc

Looking West - Nikon Z fc

Looking West - Pixel 6 Pro

A hint of rainbow - Pixel 6 Pro

Julian Baird 28/06/2022 Julian Baird 28/06/2022

A Slightly Random Collection of Photos from Devon

It’s a shame to have captured a photograph and not to publish it, so I’ve gathered up a few orphan photographs to share with you on this blog post.

Here and There

I try to get out with my camera as much as possible. More often than not I go out with purpose. What I mean by that is that I’m hoping to capture a specific image or create a video. Sometimes though I just go out because I want to. I just go for a wander, with my camera, to see what I can see.

Normally these wonderings do end up forming the basis of a blog post as there is a story to tell about that photography adventure. Now and again, I come away with nothing much more than a photograph. Without a story to share on a blog post or video to produce, these photographs are processed but are then left in Lightroom.

This to me seems a real shame. If I’ve gone to the effort of capturing a photograph, and then processed it, why not share it with the world. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you a few of those orphaned images that I’ve found in my Lightroom catalogue recently.

Higher Tor

I captured this image of Higher Tor after originally photographing the location for a project that I’m working on. Despite Higher Tor just being a short distance away from Belstone Tor (a location I photograph a lot), I’d never made the effort to photograph until recently.

Bowerman’s Nose

Bowerman’s Nose needs no introduction being one of Dartmoor’s most unique tors. When I captured this photograph, I was out for a dog walk. I had my Nikon Z fc and kit lens, but the light was too good not to try and capture an image.

Dawlish Warren

I have photographed Dawlish Warren more times than I can remember, but it can still throw something unique at you. On this occasion it was fog. Something in all my years visiting Dawlish Warren beach I’d never seen before. I completely changed the feeling of the place, and I was able to capture some unique images of the beach.

I hope you enjoyed this slightly random collection of photographs. I must have another look through my Lightroom catalogue to see if there are any other hidden gems in there.

Julian Baird 16/06/2022 Julian Baird 16/06/2022

Viltrox Ultra-Wide 13mm f/1.4 Auto-Focus for Nikon Z Review

There's only one way to review a lens like the new Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 Auto-Focus lens for Nikon Z mount crop (DX / APS-C) cameras and that is to take it out in the real world. In this video, I will be using this lens with my Nikon Z fc to capture landscape photographs from Dartmoor National Park. I've also filmed this video using the lens, so I'll also share my thoughts on how it performs with the Nikon Z fc for video capture.

Filling a Gap in My Lens Collection

I’m lucky enough to own all the lenses that I need for my Nikon Z7 for landscape photography (like the excellent Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S). Anything else that I need to do something specific I will just rent. The lens line up for Nikon’s Z crop sensor family of cameras is a different matter though.

I love my Nikon Z fc, but the range of Nikon Z DX lenses is sparse, to say the least. Fortunately, companies like Viltrox have stepped up and are producing some excellent budget prime lenses for the Nikon Z mount. A firm favourite of mine is the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 for the Nikon Z fc. I have used this lens extensively, both for creating my videos and for capturing family photographs.

However, I’ve always wanted a wide-angle version of the Viltrox 23mm. So still fast aperture, but a little wider so that video creation on location is a little easier. It would also make for a great lens for those times when I only take the Z fc out to capture landscape photographs.

When Viltrox told me about the 13mm f/1.4 AF lens for Nikon Z fc (and Z50), and they asked if I wanted to review it, I jumped at the chance. And now I’m ready to share my video review with you.

I hope you found this video useful and if you want to see the photos from the video again, you’ll find them just below.

Landscape Photographs with the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF

Trevose Head, Cornwall

A photograph of the coastline around Trevose Head with a lighthouse and crashing waves. — **Trevose Head Lighthouse at Sunset #1, Cornwall** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1.6 sec at ISO 320.

Belstone Tor and Common, Dartmoor

A landscape photography of Belstone on Dartmoor at sunset. — **Belstone Sunset #1, Dartmoor** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/25 sec at ISO 100.

Bowerman’s Nose, Dartmoor

A landscape photograph of Bowerman's Nose on Dartmoor at sunrise. — **Bowerman’s Nose Sunrise #1,** **Dartmoor** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/3 sec at ISO 100.

A landscape photograph of Bowerman's Nose on Dartmoor. — **Bowerman’s Nose #1,** **Dartmoor** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/100 sec at ISO 100.

Julian Baird 14/06/2022 Julian Baird 14/06/2022

Combining Landscape Photography with Wild Camping on Dartmoor

While most landscape photography locations on Dartmoor can be accessed during the day by those who don't mind a long walk, being at those locations for sunrise or sunset can be more of a challenge. Sometimes the only way to be at these remote locations for the golden hours is to wild camp.

Better Options, More Locations

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been exploring new areas on Dartmoor so that I have a wide range of locations to photograph. As I discover these locations for myself, I am finding that I need to go deeper into Dartmoor and even further away from the roads. It’s been an eye-opening experience and I have walked areas of Dartmoor which have taken my breath away.

However, accessing some of these locations now requires me to walk at least an hour, and sometimes an hour and a half or more. The distance and time to walk to these locations isn’t an issue, but to photograph them at sunrise or sunset is a little trickier. Often the best light can be found from around 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. Add that to the time taken to walk in or out of these locations and it all becomes a little more challenging. I love Dartmoor, but not even I’m that keen to spend 90 minutes walking over the moor in the dark.

A new approach would therefore be needed if I’m going to access these locations during the golden hours. For me, wild camping is a natural choice. I’m not what you would call a “tent person,” but needs must, and I’ve finally taken the plunge and bought a tent.

Before I headed out into the wilds with my tent and sleeping bag, I thought it was a good idea to try a solo wild camp at a location I know very well.

I hope you enjoyed watching my first solo wild camp. It was an enjoyable experience and a horrible reminder of how badly I sleep in a tent, but to me, the benefits outweigh and negatives. Expect to see a few more wild camping videos from me in the future!

As I said in the video, if you’ve got any wild camping tips, equipment suggestions or good locations on Dartmoor, do let me know in the comments below.

Landscape Photographs from Belstone Tor on Dartmoor

A lansdscape photograph of Belstone Tor on Dartmoor at sunset. — **Belstone Sunset #1, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/25 at ISO 100.

A landscape photograph Irishman's Wall near Belstone Tor on Dartmoor at sunset. — **Irishman’s Wall #1, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/8 at ISO 100, 16:9 crop.

A lansdscape photograph Irishman's Wall near Belstone Tor on Dartmoor at sunset. — **Irishman’s Wall #1, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/8 at ISO 100, 16:9 crop.

A lansdscape photograph of Belstone Tor on Dartmoor at sunrise. — **Belstone Sunrise #1, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/3 at ISO 100.

Julian Baird 20/04/2022 Julian Baird 20/04/2022

300th Blog Post - My Landscape Photography Adventure in Iceland

The world is full of amazing places to photograph, but few countries have captured the heart and imagination of photographers like Iceland has. In this blog post and short video, I'll show you some of the locations I visited on my trip to Iceland and the landscape photographs I was lucky enough to capture.

Iceland - Vignettes of Landscape Photography

If you are super keen to see some video and photographs from my photographic adventure to Iceland, then I’ve produced this short video. I decided not to produce and film a full video as I wanted to focus on the experience of being there and capturing landscape photographs. However, as you’ll see, the landscape was just too stunning not to capture any video!

If that has whetted your appetite for Iceland, then read on and I’ll tell you all about my photography adventure to Iceland!

Iceland Wasn’t My First Choice

Saying that Iceland wasn’t my first choice may seem an odd way to start this Icelandic photography blog post. Iceland is well known for being high up on a lot of landscape photographers' bucket lists so why wouldn’t it be on mine? Of course, Iceland is on my bucket list, it just wasn’t as high up as another location.

Every year I like to go on a big photography trip. These trips are an opportunity to completely immerse myself in landscape photography. They aren’t always in far-flung locations. They don’t need to be. For me, it’s about being able to dedicate myself to the art of landscape photography and the experience of spending extended amounts of time outdoors.

While I am more than happy to photograph the many locations across the UK, the Faroe Islands has long been at the top of my list of international locations to photograph. I had decided that 2021 was going to be the year that I was going to make that dream come true. However, the world had different plans and things were turned upside down with the pandemic. The Faroe Islands would have to wait.

As one opportunity passes you by, another one comes along. Without the Faroe Islands, what would I do for my big photo trip in 2021? Iceland of course! An epic country for landscape photography, and number 2 on my international photography bucket list. It might not be my first choice, but I would have nothing to complain about if I spent a week photographing Iceland. If I could get away to Iceland for a week, I could still count myself very, very fortunate.

Workshop or Go Solo?

I’m no stranger to a bit of international travel. I even had a “gap year” back in the early 2000s in which I independently travelled across parts of Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. The point I’m making is that I’m no stranger to arriving in a country and sorting my own travel plans and itinerary out.

So, it may seem surprising that I chose the option of going on a dedicated landscape photography workshop in Iceland. I went down this route for several reasons. This was not only my first international landscape photography trip, but it was also my first time in Iceland. More importantly though, I only had a week. If I’d had several weeks to play with, I would have felt a lot more confident as I would have had the time to get to know the country and how things work there.

I wanted to maximise my limited time there and going on a workshop would remove the pressure of decision making, route planning and scheduling. Yes, you don’t get the freedom that you would do by travelling solo, but for my first visit, going on a workshop would be an excellent introduction to Iceland.

A large part of that decision to go on a workshop was driven by the workshop company I chose. I opted to go on a Dawn to Dusk Photography workshop. I’ve been on several Dawn to Dusk workshops, and I know Ross and Mark would make their Icelandic workshop something special. I don’t think I would have had as much confidence with any other workshop provider. I know the itinerary would maximise our time there, I’d be guided to some of Iceland’s photographic highlights, and the travel, accommodation, and food would be excellent.

So, I booked the workshop, bought a new winter jacket, a new flight friendly camera bag (the Shimoda Designs Explore v2 30) and booked a flight from Bristol to Reykjavík. I just needed to keep my fingers crossed so that I didn’t catch COVID or that the travel rules got tighter!

My Icelandic Photography Adventure

Day 0 and 1 - Arrival and The Big Drive

My Icelandic journey started like any other international trip and that is with a very early morning flight. I was a little nervous as this was the first time travelling with my camera gear and even though I knew my bag was within limits I was worried someone was going to ask me to put it in the hold. I needn’t have worried, and nor should I have worried about all the additional checks and paperwork put in place because of the pandemic. I arrived in Iceland a few hours later and cleared security with no stress.

Starting my adventure in Iceland the right way. Coffee and Bushmills at Reykjavík airport .

Despite having a window seat on the plane, I didn’t see any of the Icelandic landscape because of the very low cloud. This grey and overcast weather continued for the rest of the day so I met up with some of the workshop attendees and we went out for pizza. We went to the most excellent Antons Mamma Mia. This place comes highly recommended.

The next day, the first official day of the workshop, was a day of travel. We were going to drive from Reykjavík to Höfn on the southeast coast of Iceland. It would be from there that we would snake our way back along to coast back to our start point over the next few days.

I’d like to tell you all about the beautiful scenery I saw on this long drive, but the weather had remained grey and overcast and I saw very little. What I did see looked amazing though, so I was still excited about getting started with the photography.

Just before we reached our hotel in Höfn we had time to stop at Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon to capture the first images of the trip.

**Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 at 28mm, f/11, 4 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

Day 2 - Vestrahorn and Eystrahorn

What can you say about Vestrahorn? It’s one of Iceland's most iconic views. A black sand beach with golden dune grass, the ocean, and an epic mountain range. It’s simply stunning to look at but I have to admit, I did struggle a little with picking out a composition. Perhaps I was overwhelmed by the view. Did I mention how amazing it looked?

Capturing images of Vestrahorn. Simply stunning.

I just needed to take my time. Fortunately for me, I was on holiday and had lots of time to just stand there and soak up the view. And sometimes that’s just what you need to do. Take it all in and wander about. Don’t bother with the camera straight away. Keep it in your bag for a bit. Sure enough, after a short while, I started seeing compositions and then, only when I was sure I had something to photograph, did I get my camera out. After the first shot was taken the creative floodgates opened and I was in my happy place.

After a couple of hours of happy photography, it was off to the cafe at the entrance to Vestrahorn for a hot chocolate and rum! What a morning.

**Vestrahorn #2, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 15mm, f/11, 0.6 sec at ISO 64.

**Vestrahorn #5, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 30mm, f/8, 1/20th sec at ISO 400, 7 image panoramic, 6:17 crop.

**Vestrahorn #9, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 14mm, f/11, 1/4 sec at ISO 64, 6:17 crop.

**Vestrahorn #10, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 16mm, f/11, 1/4 sec at ISO 64.

After some refreshments, we drove onto Eystrahorn. The weather had taken a turn for the worse and the interesting dawn skies had been replaced with a grey overcast sky. While the mountain range was impressive, the flat conditions meant I wasn’t connecting with the view like I had been at Vestrahorn.

It’s times like this that it’s good to think a little differently, so I took a walk over to the beach. The beach was made up of millions of jet-black pebbles which moved under the impressive white-water waves that were crashing along the beach. I wondered what this all looked like from above, so I got the drone out of my bag and sent it up. What I saw just blew me away.

**The Black Sands of Eystrahorn #2, Iceland** - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/100th sec.

**The Black Sands of Eystrahorn #5, Iceland** - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/100th sec.

From just a relatively low height the whole scene was transformed. I could see all these wonderful patterns being created by the waves and the contrast between the black beach and the white water was striking. Not only did it look great on video, but the still images I was capturing looked even better. I had let go of my preconceived idea of what I was going to photograph at Eystrahorn and found something much more rewarding!

**The Black Sands of Eystrahorn #4, Iceland** - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/100th sec.

**The Black Sands of Eystrahorn #1, Iceland** - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/100th sec.

After returning to the hotel for dinner we headed back out to Vestrahorn to see if we could capture the Northern Lights but unfortunately for us the northern lights activity level was low that evening. It wasn’t a wasted trip though as we were able to get some practice in and get some nighttime shots of Vestrahorn.

**Vestrahorn at Night, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Laowa 15mm f/2, 15 secs at ISO 800.

Day 3 - A Little More Vestrahorn and The Diamond Ice Beach

That’s me photographing Vestrahorn. Photograph courtesy of Ross Hoddinott.

The following day the weather forecast for dawn was looking like it might favour another trip to Vestrahorn. One of the wonderful things about visiting Iceland in November is how late sunrise is, and how long it lasts. Sunrise is about 10 am and because the sun's ascent from the horizon is relatively slow, you get more time to make the most of the morning light compared to how it is in the UK.

We returned to Vestrahorn on what was mostly a cloudless morning but the warm glow from the rising sun illuminated the mountain range beautifully. What you can’t tell from the photographs is the strength of the wind. You had to be very careful with your camera and tripod. Not holding onto your gear was a sure-fire way to ruin your holiday. It was the gusts that could really catch you. You could see them travelling across the water. All you could do is hold your tripod and take a wide stance. It was incredibly good fun though!

**Vestrahorn #14, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 14mm, f/11, 1/8 sec at ISO 64, 6:17 crop.

**Vestrahorn #13, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 16mm, f/11, 1/8 sec at ISO 64, 16:9 crop.

After stopping at the Viking Cafe at the entrance of Vestrahorn for another hot chocolate and rum (another advantage of being driven around Iceland), we drove westward to the Diamond Ice Beach at Breiðamerkursandur. This beach is famous for the icebergs that float down from the Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon and then break up into chunks of ice that then get washed up onto the beach.

It was late in the day by the time we got there but I still managed to get a few shots to whet my appetite for the following day.

**Diamond Ice Beach #1, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 20mm, f/13, 1.3 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND Grad and CPL.

**Diamond Ice Beach #3, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 15mm, f/13, 2 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND Grad and CPL.

Our hotel for the night was the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon which was very wonderufl. I admit a campervan gives you more flexibility, but a bar and restaurant after a hard day of photography are very welcome!

Day 4 - The Diamond Ice Beach and Svínafellsjökull Glacier

Dancing with waves and ice! Photograph courtesy of Ross Hoddinott.

After a great night's sleep, lots of breakfast and even more coffee I was excited about returning to the Diamond Ice Beach. There was still a limited amount of ice on the beach but sometimes you can have too much choice, so it didn’t take long to identify some of the more interesting mini-icebergs.

The principal difficulty with shooting the ice is timing. To get the composition I wanted I needed to be close to the ice, but this approach also meant dealing with the incoming waves. It was a matter of waiting for a wave to recede, running out and sticking the tripod in the sand, firing off a couple of shots, and then running back before your feet got wet (or worse). An advantage of being in a group was that we could act as spotters for each other. You don’t always see the waves coming if you are focusing on your camera and so it was good to have someone shout “WAVE”! It was an exciting experience for sure.

**Diamond Ice Beach #8, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 16mm, f/11, 1.6 sec at ISO 100, Kase Filters CPL.

**Diamond Ice Beach #5, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 16mm, f/11, 2.0 sec at ISO 100, Kase Filters CPL.

**Diamond Ice Beach #4, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 16mm, f/11, 2.0 sec at ISO 100, Kase Filters CPL.

You often see photographs from this location coupled with glorious light, but for me, the dark moody skies work just as well. My main problem when I got home was editing. I captured a lot of frames from this location. Each one had a slightly different water pattern but trying to select just a few for final processing was a challenge.

**Diamond Ice Beach #13, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 20mm, f/11, 1.0 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

**Diamond Ice Beach #14, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 21mm, f/11, 1.0 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

**Diamond Ice Beach #11, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 18mm, f/13, 1.0 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

Doughnut, hot chocolate with rum and a view of some icebergs. Happy days.

After a hot chocolate and rum at the cafe, we drove on to Svínafellsjökull Glacier. It was another location with awe-inspiring views. As with Vestrahorn, I struggled initially with finding a composition. Another benefit of being on a workshop is that you can not only get inspiration from your fellow workshop attendees, but you can also lean on the expertise of your instructors. Sometimes you can’t see the compositions because the views are so big, so a little direction can be very welcome.

My favourite photographs from Svínafellsjökull Glacier, as with Eystrahorn, came from the drone. The ability to place the camera wherever I wanted provided me with compositions that simply wouldn’t have been impossible with a camera on a tripod. It's not just the ability to photograph a wider view of the glacier, but for me, it was about photographing the surface of the glacier. The drone gives you a unique viewpoint of the glacier face, and what the surface looks like. Despite these photographs being abstract, they are some of my favourites from Iceland.

**Svínafellsjökull Glacier Surface #2, Iceland** - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/200 sec.

**Svínafellsjökull Glacier Surface #3, Iceland** - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/190 sec.

**The Face of Svínafellsjökull Glacier #1, Iceland** - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/105 sec.

**Svínafellsjökull Glacier #1, Iceland** - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/560 sec.

**The Mountains of Svínafellsjökull Glacier, Iceland** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR at 54mm, f/8.0, 1/60 sec at ISO 100.

Day 5 - Fjallsárlón Glacier and Reynisdrangar Beach

Taking photographs of Fjallsárlón Glacier with noctilucent clouds in the sky. Photograph courtesy of Ross Hoddinott.

Before coming to Iceland, I hadn’t considered how windy it might be. I knew it would be cold, snowy, icy, and rainy, but I didn’t realise how windy it could get there until I arrived. That first experience of the fierce winds at Vestrahorn had certainly opened my eyes as to how strong the wind could be, but the morning we went to Fjallsárlón Glacier was something else!

It was a bitterly cold morning, and I was glad to have my new down jacket on and my gloves with hand warmers inside, but nothing could protect you from the wind. It was going to make photography extremely challenging. Unlike the previous days when it had been windy, the challenge of battling with the wind had been exciting. Here it was just plain hard work.

**Fjallsárlón Glacier #1, Iceland** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor Z DX 16-50 f/3.5-6.3 VR at 39mm, f/9, 1/125 sec at ISO 320, 7 image panoramic, 6:17 crop, handheld.

**Fjallsárlón Glacier #1, Iceland** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 at 39mm, f/11, 1/60 sec at ISO 250, Kase Filters CPL.

It was almost a relief to be back on the bus to start our journey towards Vik. Though the photography was incredibly challenging, it’s always important to remember the experience of being at these locations. Places like Fjallsárlón Glacier are amazing, and I felt extremely fortunate to have seen it.

On the way to Vik, we stopped off at Fossalar Waterfalls. The conditions weren’t ideal for photography but it’s hard to drive by this roadside location and not take some photographs.

**Fjallsárlón Glacier #1, Iceland** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 30mm, f/11, 0.6 sec at ISO 250, Kase Filters CPL.

We arrived in Vik and headed down to Reynisdrangar Beach for sunset. The Reynisdrangar rock stacks are iconic in Iceland but as I found with some of the other famous locations in Iceland, I initially struggled to find a balanced composition. Fortunately, time was on my side so I had the opportunity to figure out where I might place the beach, waves, rock stacks and headland before the sun went down.

**Reynisdrangar Beach #1, Iceland** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR at 18mm, f/7.1, 1/160 sec at ISO 100.

**Reynisdrangar Beach #3, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 at 61mm, f/11, 30 sec at ISO 64.

After dinner, we headed out to see if we could capture images of the Northern Lights. It was forecast to be a clear night but with limited aurora activity. Sure enough, we didn’t see any aurora, but I did manage to capture this image of the milky way. Time was running out to capture photographs of the Northern Lights

**Night Sky, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Laowa 15mm f/2, 20 sec at ISO 3200.

Day 6 - Reynisfjara Beach and Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

The next day was grey and overcast, and the sky was almost devoid of colour. Our first location of the day was Reynisfjara Beach where we could photograph the Reynisdrangar stacks from the west. With low light, an overcast sky and a black sandy beach, the only colour to be seen was on my fellow photographer's jackets.

**Reynisfjara Beach #5, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 at 42mm, f/11, 25 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

**Reynisfjara Beach #4, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 at 42mm, f/11, 25 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

There is something about the contrast of the white water against the black beaches of Iceland that really inspires my photography. Despite the flat sky conditions, I had immense fun capturing images of the beach in both an easterly and westerly direction. The simplicity of the scene captured my imagination in a way that a morning with a glorious sky can’t.

**Reynisfjara Beach #8, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 at 39mm, f/11, 30 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND.

**Reynisfjara Beach #6, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 at 39mm, f/13, 2.5 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

After a rewarding morning at the beach, we moved onto another iconic Iceland location, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. Photographing this mighty waterfall was challenging in a way that I had not yet experienced in Iceland. The conditions underfoot were extremely icy. Just as well I had purchased the recommended ice spikes for my boots as some of the viewpoints were thick with ice. Watching the other visitors dance about on the ice while wearing trainers was almost entertainment in its own right.

**Seljalandsfoss Waterfall #1, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 16mm, f/11, 1/6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

**Seljalandsfoss Waterfall #4, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 24mm, f/13, 0.5 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.

At Seljalandsfoss Waterfall with Ross Hoddinott and Mark Bauer of Dawn 2 Dusk Photography. Their Icelandic workshop did not disappoint.

One visitor did catch my attention. He was trying to balance his camera on a fence post so that he could take a long exposure of the waterfall. It was difficult to watch as I was sure his attempts at using the post as a tripod were going to end in tears. I couldn’t watch anymore, and I asked if he’d like to borrow my Gorillapod. I’m glad he did, both for the benefit of his photography and the lifespan of his camera.

Returning to our hotel in Vik, we had dinner and prepared to head out with the cameras again for the last chance to capture photographs of the Northern Lights. Did we succeed….

**Night Sky, Iceland** - Nikon Z7, Laowa 15mm f/2, 20 secs at ISO 3200.

As you can see, it was another evening of very low aurora activity. You can see a little in the photograph, but it was barely visible. So, after a week in Iceland, I didn’t see the aurora borealis. I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed but not seeing the Northern Lights was not going to define my Icelandic trip. Seeing the aurora borealis was only one part of a much bigger Icelandic experience. Besides, not seeing them has given me a great excuse to come back.

Day 7 - Home and a Memory Card Full of Icelandic Memories

Our vehicle for the week. I saw many amazing sights through those windows.

We all had flights to catch the following morning, so it was an early departure from Vik. Much of the journey was in the dark so there wasn’t an opportunity to see much more of Iceland. Unlike the first days journey where I saw nothing, the remaining time spent on the bus had been wonderful. I spent most of my time with my face planted to the window, looking at the landscape and saying things like “that’s bonkers”. Because that is what the Icelandic landscape is like. It’s bonkers! I’d never seen anything like it.

As we drove back to the airport I reflected on my week in Iceland. There was no doubt that the photography had been challenging, but I consider that a good thing. Sometimes you need to pull yourself away from what you know and photograph something completely different. And there aren’t many places more different than Iceland!

More than that though, Iceland was a holiday. A chance to get away from it all. Meet new people, try different foods, visit unique locations. Iceland will be a trip that I will never forget. And thanks to a memory card full of photographs, I’ll have some amazing images to treasure.

I’d like to say this was a once in a lifetime trip, but I barely scratched the surface of Iceland. The itch that I had to go to Iceland hasn’t gone away, it just got worse. I can’t wait to go back.

It’s been great for me to write down my experience. Along with the photos, this text will help me remember what an amazing time I had in Iceland. I hope you enjoyed reading about it and seeing my photographs.

On My Bookshelf - Photographing Iceland

If you’d like to learn more about Iceland and the locations to photograph, then check out this video review, I did of Photographing Iceland by James Rushforth. It’s an essential purchase for anyone going to Iceland and also for anyone who just enjoys a good photography book!

Julian Baird 17/02/2022 Julian Baird 17/02/2022

One Man and His Dog Plus Camera on Dartmoor

My plan was just to head out for a nice walk on Dartmoor with Monty. I didn't plan to make a 5 Minute Photo Adventure video, but sometimes the conditions are too good to ignore. Join me and Monty as we photograph East Mill Tor and explore what is beyond.

An Unexpected 5 Minute Photo Adventure

I spend a lot of time planning my trips out with the camera. It’s not so much about looking for epic conditions and locations, but more to do with matching the conditions to the right location. A grey overcast day can work just as well as a great sunrise if you are photographing the right subject.

Then there are the times that I don’t care much about what the weather forecast is. Sometimes I just want to head out for a walk with my dog Monty. I'll always take a camera with me, but not for the purpose of creating “serious” landscape photographs. To be honest, Monty is an active dog, and he doesn’t have the patience to hang about as I faff about with filters and tripods!

Now and again though, the conditions can surprise you and it doesn’t matter that you have an impatient dog with you. You are just glad you brought your camera with you. A recent walk that took me past East Mill Tor on Dartmoor at sunrise was one such time. As soon as I got out of my car and started walking, I knew I was going to be taking photos. As I had the Nikon Z fc with me, and I had the foresight to bring a tripod, I had all the gear I needed to capture stills and video.

So, why don’t you join me and Monty on a classic 5 Minute Photo Adventure from the wilds of Dartmoor? Sometimes the best times out with your camera and the most unexpected.

East Mill Tor - Dartmoor Landscape Photography

**East Mill Tor Sunrise #1, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 at 19mm, f/8, 1/5 sec at ISO 100. No filters.

**East Mill Tor Sunrise #2, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 at 28mm, f/9, 1/5 sec at ISO 100. No filters.

**East Mill Tor Sunrise #3, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 at 16mm, f/9, 1/5 sec at ISO 100. No filters, 4:5 crop.

**East Mill Tor Sunrise #4, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 at 16mm, f/9, 1/5 sec at ISO 100. No filters.

**Near East Mill Tor, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 at 28mm, f/8, 1/160 sec at ISO 100. No filters.

**The Long Winding Road, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 at 23mm, f/6.3, 1/125 sec at ISO 100. No filters.

Julian Baird 19/10/2021 Julian Baird 19/10/2021

Lightweight Landscape Photography

In this video, I decided to trim a little weight from my landscape photography kit bag. On a recent trip to the Scottish Highlands, I decided to put my kit bag on a diet so that I can make a faster, easier ascent of Beinn Dubh. Watch to discover what I've changed and to see the landscape photographs I captured.

Back to the Homeland

After a two year absence, I’ve finally made it back to my homeland. Back to Scotland! It’s been one thing not to do any international travel because of COVID, but another entirely for it not be safe to travel to Scotland. Though I live in the south-west of England, my heart is still Scottish, and I still have family who lives up there. It’s been hard not being able to visit.

So, I was over the moon when I was able to make plans to return to Scotland. The primary purpose of my trip was to visit family but there was no way I wasn’t going to make an ascent of a hill or mountain when I was there. A quick review of OS maps revealed Beinn Dubh on the shoreline of Loch Lomond. It’s a hill I’ve driven by many times but never walked up. As it was enroute it was the ideal candidate for a quick walk.

To make a quick ascent it was necessary to cut down on some of the weight of my normal photography gear. I needed a lightweight setup. In this video, I not only share with you the photographs from my ascent of Beinn Dubh, but I also share with you my lightweight kit bag. Let me know in the comments below what your lightweight kit bag is.

Landscape Photography of Loch Lomond and Beinn Dubh

Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh

Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm at 16mm, f/11, 1/80th at ISO 200, Kase Filters K9 CPL and double sided grad.

Beinn Dubh

Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm at 18mm, f/11, 1/125th at ISO 200, Kase Filters K9 CPL

Storm Clouds over Loch Lomond

Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm at 16mm, f/8, 1/80th at ISO 200, Kase Filters K9 CPL.

Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond from Beinn Dubh

Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 16-50mm at 17mm, f/11, 1/15th at ISO 250, Kase Filters K9 CPL and double sided grad.

Storm Clouds over Beinn Dubh

Nikon Z fc, Nikkor 24-200mm at 24mm, f/13, 1/4th at ISO 200, Kase Filters K9 CPL and double sided grad.

Julian Baird 10/08/2021 Julian Baird 10/08/2021

Nikon Z fc - Landscape Photography and Video Review

Is the Nikon Zfc all style and no substance? Is it just a camera for hipsters or for those with penchant for retro styled products? Would you really use this camera for landscape photography and for video or vlogging? In this blog post I tell you why I purchased the Nikon Z fc and why I LOVE it so much.

I’ve Finally Gone All Nikon

Ever since I purchased my first DSLR, the Nikon D80, I’ve stuck with Nikon cameras for my landscape photography. I’ve tested a couple of other cameras like the Panasonic S1R and even the mighty Fujifilm GFX100S, but I’ve never found a compelling reason to move away from Nikon. The Nikon Z7 remains the best camera I have used for landscape photography, and you can read why here.

The camera I use for my video work is a different story. I’ve changed the camera I use for YouTube content creation many times over the years! However, I’ve never used a Nikon as my primary camera for video work. Even though the quality of the video has been superior to my other cameras, they were never easy to use when you are a one-man camera crew and in front of the camera. A lack of a flippy out screen and reliable AF (and more recently face and eye AF) have always relegated Nikon cameras to landscape photography only.

With the release of the Nikon Z fc all that changed. With a flippy out screen and the AF system from the Nikon Z 6/7 II cameras, it appeared that the last of the blockers I had for using Nikon cameras for video had finally gone. I would also have the bonus of being able to use my ever-expanding collection of Nikon Z mount lenses.

Those changes were enough for me to pre-order the Nikon Z fc as soon as it was announced. The more I looked at the specifications of this camera though, I started to see how it could be used for more than just video. I could easily end up using this camera as an additional body for landscape photography, and thanks to features such as animal AF, I could lift the quality of my family photography and video.

So, on paper, this camera was ticking a lot of boxes for me. But now that I have it, how does it stack up? Let’s find out in the video below.