Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 AF for Nikon Z Mount - Review with Real World Concert/Gig Photographs
In this video, I look at the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 autofocus lens for Nikon Z mount. Over the last few weeks, I've had this lens attached to my Nikon Z7 and I've been using it to capture images of the concerts/gigs I've been photographing. I'm missing a fast prime from my gig photography kit bag so will this fill the gap?
And Now for Something Completely Different
Last year I picked up two Viltrox lenses, a 23mm f/1.4 and a 24mm f/1.8. As you can see from my review of those lenses I was rather impressed by the quality and features given their relatively low price point.
So, when Viltrox reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try their Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 for Nikon Z mount I said no. Well, initially anyway. After all, 85mm isn’t exactly the go to focal length for landscape photography. Then I had a rethink.
Perhaps this lens would be a good option for me for when I’m shooting live music and gigs. I’ve been shooting concerts and gigs for many years now, but I don’t often talk about it here or on my YouTube channel. You can, however, see my work in this area of photography here.
The global pandemic had prevented me from capturing images of live music and gigs for the last year or two, but with the restrictions on concerts gradually lifting, I was starting to get back into this dynamic area of photography.
My kit bag for this type of photography is dominated by fixed aperture zoom lenses, but I’ve been missing a fast prime since I moved to the Nikon Z system. The opportunity to Viltrox’s fast 85mm prime came just at the right time.
In the video below I’ll share with you my thoughts on this lens, how it’s performed while photographing concerts and of course, I will share some of the photographs I’ve been capturing with this lens.
Live Music Photographs Shot with the Viltrox 85mm
Other Photographs Shot with the Viltrox 85mm
Photographing Dartmoor - West Mill Tor
In this 5 Minute Photo Adventure I head out to photograph West Mill Tor on Dartmoor. Not even the forecast of a clear blue sky was enough to stop me grabbing my Nikon Z7 and going on a mini landscape photography adventure.
Back to West Mill Tor
It was back in January of 2020 that I first photographed West Mill Tor on Dartmoor. That adventure was all about going somewhere new and you can watch the video I made right here. The photographs I captured that morning were inspirational enough for me to want to go back. For reasons that escape me, it’s taken 2 years to make a return visit!
The weather over the festive period and January had not been what you might call inspirational, so by the time the end of January came around, I was so desperate to get out with the camera I might have gone anywhere in any weather conditions. Fortunately for me, I remembered that I was overdue for a visit to West Mill Tor, and with the smallest chance that there were going to be suitable weather conditions, I packed my bag and set off to see what I could photograph.
So, join me on a 5 Minute Photo Adventure as I photograph Dartmoor and West Mill Tor!
Dartmoor Photographs - West Mill Tor
Vallerret Milford Photography Gloves - A Landscape Photographers Review
Landscape photography can be a miserable activity if your hands are wet and cold. In this video, I head out to the wilds of Dartmoor to capture some landscape photographs and to share with you my thoughts on the new Milford gloves from Vallerret. Are these photography gloves the perfect balance between warmth and waterproofing?
The Importance of Photography Gloves
I’ve learnt the hard way that having appropriate clothing for landscape photography is as important as the camera gear that I use. Everything from socks, boots, trousers, base layers, jackets, hats and gloves are as important as which camera and lens I take with me. Nothing crushes your creativity like being cold or wet. I recently purchased an expensive down jacket for a photography trip to Iceland. It seemed a lot of money to spend at the time, but never once did I regret my purchase standing on a beach taking photographs of icebergs in a howling wind!
As there is no such thing as one combination of camera and lens to suit all landscape photography scenarios, nor is there such thing as one pair of gloves that fits all weather conditions. Last year I told you about the Vallerret Skadi Mitts I use for winter photography. These are perfect gloves for deep winter photography, and they were another item I did not regret taking to Iceland.
I’ve mentioned Iceland a couple of times, but most of my photography is from Dartmoor. The weather up there can be varied, to say the least. That is why I need different clothing to suit the weather, and the right glove is no different.
In the video below I look at a new pair of gloves from Vallerret (which they kindly sent to me) called Milford. These gloves are designed for mild winter conditions, but they also come with a waterproof shell. This should make them ideal for when the conditions are a bit wetter up on Dartmoor (a regular occurrence). So, join me up on Dartmoor for some landscape photography and I’ll tell you what I think about these new gloves.
If you'd like to purchase a pair of these gloves, or any from the Vallerret range you can do so here - https://photographygloves.com/products/milford-photography-glove?rfsn=5248745.df014f
Photographing Dartmoor - Rippon Tor
PHOTOGRAPHING ICELAND Vol 1 & 2 - A fotoVUE Guidebook by James Rushforth - On My Bookshelf S05E01
Are you planning a photography trip to Iceland? Have you photographed Iceland? Or are you simply interested in learning more about the landscape and locations of Iceland? In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I look at Photographing Iceland Volume 1 and 2 by James Rushforth and published by fotoVUE. It claims to be the most comprehensive and detailed guidebook of Iceland ever published. But as you'll find out in this video, this title is so much more than a guidebook.
So Much More Than a Guidebook
fotoVUE has a solid reputation for producing detailed photography location guidebooks. I know they are detailed because I own many of their guidebooks. The guidebooks for Scotland, The Lake District and Devon & Cornwall have received the most use!
You may remember a few years ago that I filmed a special episode of On My Bookshelf where I joined Nick Livesey on location in Wales to talk about his fotoVUE book, Photographing the Snowdonia Mountains. You can watch that episode here.
The fotoVUE series of guidebooks consumes at least one shelf on my bookshelf and I often find myself reaching for one of the titles to get some inspiration. So, when fotoVUE reached out to me and asked if I’d like to look at their latest title, Photographing Iceland by James Rushforth, I jumped at the chance. I had just returned from my own photographic adventure to Iceland, and I knew that I had barely scratched the surface with my short exploration. I was keen to see what else Iceland had to offer, and possibly where I’d like to go should I return.
Looking through both volumes of Photographing Iceland one thing became apparent. These books are more than just photography location guidebooks. See what I’m talking about in this episode of On My Bookshelf.
Buy Photographing Iceland
*** Use the discount code JULIAN to get 20% off all books at fotovue.com ***
If you want to add Photographing Iceland to your bookshelf, you can purchase the fotoVUE Iceland Collection Bundle, which includes Volume 1 & 2 and the Iceland Adventure & Travel Map, here - https://www.fotovue.com/shop/books/photographing-iceland-volume-1-2-plus-map/
And you can get the limited edition hardcover bundle here - https://www.fotovue.com/shop/uncategorized/limited-edition-of-100-hard-backs-signed-photographing-iceland-volume-1-2-plus-two-maps-and-signed-james-rushforth-iceberg-arch-greenland-print/
Or you can purchase the individual titles here:
Photographing Iceland Volume 1 plus Map - https://www.fotovue.com/shop/books/photographing-iceland-volume-1-map/
Photographing Iceland Volume 2 plus Map - https://www.fotovue.com/shop/books/photographing-iceland-volume-2-map/
Iceland Adventure & Travel Map - Iceland Adventure & Travel Map - https://www.fotovue.com/shop/books/iceland-adventure-and-travel-map/
There are lots of other great guidebooks published by fotoVUE. See their other titles here - fotovue.com
Seascapes by Neil Burnell - On My Bookshelf S04E05
In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I look at Seascapes by Neil Burnell, a collection of long exposure and fine art coastal photographs.
From Woodlands to Coastlines
Last year I published an episode of On My Bookshelf in which I talked about Neil Burnell’s previous book, Mystical. I thought it was a stunning collection of woodland photographs. So, when Neil announced that he was producing a book focusing on his coastal photography, I jumped straight in and pre-ordered a copy.
That was a little while ago now, but this has allowed me to spend some quality time looking through Seascapes before bringing you this latest episode of On My Bookshelf.
If you’d like to pick up a copy of Seascapes, you can do so directly from Neil’s website here.
Beyond Landscape by Hans Strand - Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S04E04
In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I look at Beyond Landscape by Hans Strand and published by Kozu Books. Is this retrospective collection of Hans Strand photographs a book for your bookshelf?
I feel like I need to take up carpentry Why? Because I’m going to need a bigger bookshelf! Despite my desire to acquire fewer photography books this year, the last couple of months have seen an influx of new titles. To be fair, they’ve all been titles worth getting. They have all in some way, added something or influenced my photography. Plus, I’ve enjoyed a few lazy Sunday mornings with coffee just enjoying the printed photography of others. One of life's simple pleasures.
When Beyond Landscape arrived in the post, I had high hopes for this retrospective collection of photographs by Hans Strand. In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I look at Beyond Landscape to see if it is indeed a masterclass in composition.
Sand by Anthony Lamb and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S04E03
In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I look at Sand by Anthony Lamb and published by Kozu Books. Is this photographic depiction of the Arabian desert a book for your bookshelf?
Finding Room for Another Book
I love photography books. Aside from going out and taking photographs, reading a good photography book is one of the most enjoyable things I do in my photography life. However, books take up valuable space and they cost money, so I’ve been trying to cut back on how many I acquire each year.
Now and again though, a book gets published that I can’t ignore, and Sand by Anthony Lamb is one of them His distinctive style and subject choice mean his photography stands out in a busy social feed. His photographs deserve close inspection. Viewing photographs on a social feed is one thing, so when I heard that Kozu Books were publishing a book of his photographs, I knew I wanted it.
But now that I have it, what is it like? Let’s find out in this episode of On My Bookshelf!
The Simple Pleasure of Landscape Photography - Great Staple Tor - Dartmoor
In this 5 minute photo adventure I promise not to talk about photography gear! This video is all about the simple pleasure of heading out with your camera on a Saturday morning to practice the art of landscape photography.
No Chat About Photography Gear
Over the last year, I’ve added, replaced, and evaluated a lot of new landscape photography gear. There’s no real reason for this other than most of this gear change has happened in a shorter than normal period. As people often ask me about what gear I’m using and what I think about it, I will try and make a video about that item or gear, or at least feature that item in a video about landscape photography.
It isn’t my intention to turn my YouTube channel into a channel that focuses on photography gear. Far from it. However, I am aware that my channel has featured a lot of gear this year, so I decided to produce a short video that has no mention of gear in it at all. It’s all about the simple pleasure of being out with your camera. So please enjoy this 5 minute photo adventure from Great Staple Tor.
Great Staple Tor - Dartmoor - Landscape Photographs
Misty Great Staple Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 21mm, f/11, 5 secs at ISO 64.
Misty Great Staple Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 21mm, f/11, 0.5 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters Double Graduated Filter (3 stop soft edge).
Misty Great Staple Tor #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 22mm, f/11, 0.8 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters Double Graduated Filter (3 stop soft edge).
Misty Great Staple Tor #4, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 14mm, f/11, 1/8 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters Double Graduated Filter (3 stop soft edge).
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
Landscape Photography with the Viltrox 23mm and 24mm Lenses for Nikon Z Mount (Review)
In this two for one blog post, I share with you my video reviews of the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 and 24mm f/1.8 lenses for Nikon Z mount by heading out on location to capture some landscape photographs.
From No Choice to Lots of Choices
I’ve loved my Nikon Z7 from the moment I got it but the one minor gripe I did have at the time of purchase was the lack of native Z mount lenses. Two years on and the landscape of Z mount lenses is quite different. Nikon has flushed out their lens line up and several 3rd party lens manufacturers have started producing Z mount lenses. I’m almost spoilt for choice now!
For the most part, I prefer the convenience of zoom lenses for my landscape photography. For me, they are a good balance between flexibility in focal length and aperture. Many of my landscape photographs are captured between f/8 and f/13 so I didn’t have a need for fast aperture lenses. Since purchasing the Nikon Z fc though, I now need a fast prime for my video work and capturing family photographs.
While I could have purchased some of Nikon’s excellent prime lenses for Z mount, I wanted something that was a bit more budget friendly. How much you choose to spend on a lens will be based on several factors, but I decided to look at the Viltrox lenses as I felt they represented a good balance between price, quality and how often I was going to use them.
In the videos below I explain why I have the 23mm f/1.4 for Nikon DX (crop) lens and the 24mm f/1.8 for Nikon full frame, what I think of these lenses, and I’ll do the most important thing with any bit of gear and that is head out on location to capture some landscape photographs!
Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 for Nikon Z Mount DX (Crop)
Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 Sample Image Gallery
Viltrox 24mm f/1.8 for Nikon Z Mount Full Frame
Viltrox 24mm f/1.8 Sample Image Gallery
Add Precision to Your Landscape Photography Compositions
In this blog post and video, I tell you the reasons why I love using a geared head when composing my landscape photographs. I also share my thoughts on my latest tripod head, the SunwayFoto GH-PRO II geared head. Is this the best geared head available?
My Preference for Geared Heads
My first “proper” tripod was a Manfrotto and it came with a ball head. This was back in 2008 so I can’t exactly remember what I thought about it, but I do know that I had soon replaced it with a Manfrotto “joystick” grip ball head.
When I started taking my landscape photography more seriously, I also decided to have 1-2-1 sessions with a professional. He was using a geared head and I soon became convinced that I needed one as well. So, in 2014 I purchased my first geared head and I’ve never looked back.
Here we are in 2021, and I’m now on my third geared head, the SunwayFoto GH-PRO II. It’s not that my previous 2 geared heads have failed in any way, but each successive geared head has been smaller, lighter and had better features.
I’d heard good things about the SunwayFoto geared head, so I was eager to get one and put it to good use. The question is, how good is it? Let’s find out in my video review below. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll be capturing some landscape photographs as well (which you can see below).
Dartmoor Landscape Photographs
Belstone Tor at Sunset #1, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at
Belstone Tor at Sunset #2, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at
Belstone Tor at Sunset #3, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at
Belstone Tor at Sunset #4, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at
A Question of Preservation
Should I share the location of the photographs in this blog post? Let’s discuss!
Sharing is Caring
I’ve always been happy to share the locations of where my photographs have been taken. There’s been no need for secrecy as most of the spots I have photographed have already been visited by photographers many times before. That’s not to say that I don’t think they are worth photographing. Far from in fact. While the location may have been photographed, my photograph will be unique to me and the conditions I experienced. (If you are interested in hearing more of my thoughts on this topic, why not check out this blog post here.)
At the start of 2021, I even went as far as to create a free locations map on which I plotted all the locations that featured photographs from this blog. Since creating the map I’ve been keeping it up to date so you can easily see the locations I visit and the photographs I’ve captured there. Just click on Free Locations Map in the menu above or click on this link here.
Woodland - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR at 16mm, f/7.1, 1/80th sec at ISO 3200, handheld.
To Tell or Not to Tell
While I will continue to share my locations and update my map, I photographed a location the other morning which has made me question if I should share the location. Some photographers like to guard their locations. I do sometimes find this amusing. It can be rather presumptuous that they assume that their photograph is so amazing that people will be so inspired that they just must go there. Or it could be because they are worried that someone will take a better photo? Or that they believe photographers must discover a location through hard work?
Woodland - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR at 16mm, f/5.6, 1/80th sec at ISO 6400, handheld.
None of those reasons apply to this situation. For me, this is a question of preservation. These ancient woodlands are precious and beautiful. As has been seen with Wistman’s Wood, an increase in footfall (from both photographers and tourists alike) has led to the woodland being damaged. I don’t want to see this happen to this woodland. While I’m not suggesting that my photographs will inspire a legion of people to visit this location, I’d still rather not put a GPS pointer on it.
The location of this woodland isn’t a big secret though. It’s on the OS maps for all to discover. I just happened to discover it when I was out walking my dog one day. Even if I did publicise the location, the effort required to get there would put most people off anyway. Perhaps it won’t matter if I tell you all where it is?
Woodland - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR at 26mm, f/5.6, 1/80th sec at ISO 6400, handheld.
I’m also fully aware of the impact my visit had on the location. I recently published a video called “Is My Photography Impacting the Environment?”, and through the production of that video, I have become a lot more aware of the potential impact my photography has on the places I love. As I walked through the woodland I found myself carefully considering where I was stepping and what I was putting my hand on. I was very aware of the sensitivity of my environment.
If in Doubt, Ask the Internet for an Opinion!
I also thought this topic would make for a good video as well. I thought it would be interesting to see what comments people would leave.
So, the question is, am I right to hold back on sharing the location? As I’ve explained in this blog post, it’s not because of some selfish photography-related reason, I just don’t want to be, even partially, responsible for an increase in footfall. What are your thoughts? Please let me know in the comments below.
Woodland - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR at 16mm, f/5.6, 1/80th sec at ISO 6400, handheld.
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.
Nikon Z fc Landscape Photographs
Here are the photographs you saw in my video. I’m really impressed by the quality of the still images captured with the Nikon Z fc.
Wheal Coates with the Nikon Z fc
Wheal Coates, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Wheal Coates, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Bowerman’s Nose with the Nikon Z fc
Bowerman’s Nose, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Bowerman’s Nose, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Dawlish Warren with the Nikon Z fc
Dawlish Warren, South West Coast Path, Devon - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Dawlish Warren, South West Coast Path, Devon - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Dawlish Warren, South West Coast Path, Devon - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Holne Bridge with the Nikon Z fc
Holne Bridge, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Holne Bridge, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
And finally…Monty!
Monty at Haytor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Stowe's Hill - Bodmin Moor - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure
Sit back and grab a cup of coffee because it's time for another 5 Minute Photo Adventure! In this episode I head to Stowe's Hill on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall for a spot of landscape photography. With some of the most unique rock formations and tors I've ever seen, I wonder why I've never been there before.
The Photographers Guide to Cornwall
I first read about Stowe’s Hill when I got a book called The Photographers Guide to Cornwall. In fact, I picked up the entire series of The Photographers Guide books and filmed a special episode of On My Bookshelf all about them. You can see that episode right here.
From the Cornwall book, I selected to go to Rough Tor for the episode of On My Bookshelf, but I made a note that I must try and photograph Stowe’s Hill at some point. Unfortunately, Stowe’s Hill fell down the priority list and I eventually forgot about it. That was until I got my copy of The Photographers Guide to The Norfolk Coast and Broads.
As well as being inspired to go to Norfolk, I remembered the Cornwall book and that I had yet to visit Stowe’s Hill. Given that the long summer days were giving me plenty of opportunities to travel a little further afield I decided to jump in the car and make (the very pleasant) journey to Bodmin Moor to film one of my 5 Minute Photo Adventures!
You can see how I got on below.
Stowe’s Hill Landscape Photographs
It was a bit of a shame that the light was a bit flat. I can see how this location might come to life in the right light. I want to return to Stowe’s Hill soon and I hope these photographs will inspire you to visit Bodmin Moor. I think I’ve been missing out!
I hope you enjoyed the video and photographs. Let me know in the comments below what your favourite Bodmin Moor locations.
Stowe's Hill #1, Bodmin, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 18mm, f/11, 0.6 secs at ISO 64.
Stowe's Hill #2, Bodmin, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 14mm, f/11, 1 sec at ISO 64.
Cheesewring - Stowe's Hill, Bodmin, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 19mm, f/11, 0.6 secs at ISO 64.
Why I Won't Buy Another Sony Camera
There are few things more frustrating than poor customer service and support. Unfortunately, that's exactly what I got when I contacted Sony camera support recently for an issue with my ZV-1.
Updating My Sony ZV-1 Review
Last year I published a video review of the Sony ZV-1, a camera that I was very impressed with. It has helped me make some of my favourite videos over the last twelve or so months. However, a good product isn’t just the sum of its specifications and components. For me, knowing that the item is backed by great customer support is also part of the buying decision.
Unfortunately, a recent experience with Sony camera support has left me with a poor opinion of Sony cameras. So much so that I wouldn’t buy another Sony camera. Given that I published a positive review of the ZV-1, and that I expect that some people that watch that review will also want to take into account customer support as part of that buying decision, I have decided to publish this video.
I hope some of you find it useful.
Is My Photography Impacting the Environment?
Access to Daymark Tower has been closed off because of the environmental impact from visitors. In my latest video, I look at the reasons why, consider the impact my photography has on the environment, and capture some landscape photographs of this iconic Devon location along the South West Coast Path.
Daymark Tower - Closed to Visitors
It was a few months ago that people started to mention to me that one of my favourite locations along the South West Coast Path, Daymark Tower, was closed to the public. As I got more information it appeared that the short path that leads from the track to the tower had been locked shut by the farmer due to the damage that was being done to his crops by visitors. This didn’t exactly come as a surprise to me.
As I know the location well, I knew that it was still possible to get good shots of the tower from the track side of the fence. Experience has also taught me that the crops start to look their best (photographically speaking) around June and July, so I thought it was time to visit the tower to take some photographs and look at the access restrictions myself.
Here’s how I got on and what I saw.
While it’s easy for me to criticise other people, making this video has made me think about the impact my photography has on the environment. Issues such are carbon emissions are easy to identify, but what I need to start thinking about is the damage my feet (including those on my tripod) are doing to the ground around me. Over the years I’m sure I’ve been careless so the best thing I can do is to learn from those mistakes and improve my behaviours.
I hope by reading this and by watching the video that a few of you will also consider how you impact your local environment when you are taking photographs. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Daymark Tower Photographs
Aspen by Adam Gibbs and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S04E02
On My Bookshelf is back and in this episode, I'm looking at Aspen, a photozine by Adam Gibbs and published by Kozubooks. Is this collection of autumnal landscape photographs from Abraham Lake and the Kootenay Plains a book for your bookshelf?
OMBS Is Back!
After a break of a few months, I’m pleased to say that On My Bookshelf is back! To celebrate the start of a new season of On My Bookshelf I’m looking at a photozine by Adam Gibbs called Aspen, It’s published by Kozubooks, who have been building up an amazing line of photography books including Tides and Tempests by Rachael Talibart (which featured on OMBS last year).
I’ve been following the work of Adam Gibbs for a few years now. I first became aware of his work when he won the International Landscape Photographer of the Year competition 2018. This then led me onto his YouTube channel where I found his photography compelling, and I enjoyed his style of presentation. In particular, Adam was photographing areas of the world that I had not seen before.
When Adam published his video of a recent trip to Aspen, I knew that I needed to look at the photozine he later published of that trip. Now that I’ve got my copy, I wanted to share my thoughts about the zine so you too can decide if it should be a title for your bookshelf. Enjoy!
Sharing the Joy of Printing
What's the best way to show someone the benefits of printing their landscape photographs? Simple. Take your Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-300 and some Fotospeed papers to Boscastle in Cornwall, meet a friend, take some photos, and then print them from your car!
From Discovery to Sharing
I first started printing my landscape photographs back in 2017. Since discovering the joy of printing, I have been sharing my passion for printing photographs at home on my blog, YouTube channel, and by talking about it at The Photography Show. I’ve even got this handy “playlist” of blog posts of my printing-related content here.
Over the years, I have been rather evangelical about printing but sometimes the only way to really get the message across is with a practical demonstration. Even better than that, why not take a printer on location with you, capture some photographs, and then print them! What could be more satisfying and exciting than capturing a photograph and then making a print all before breakfast?
This is exactly what I do in the video below. I’m joined by friend and fellow photographer Chris Sale as we both attempt to battle the thick fog of Boscastle harbour to capture a photograph that we can take back to the car and print.
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I hope you enjoyed this video. Chris might not be rushing out to buy his own printer, but he certainly appreciated the quality of the print and the experience of making one. It was a real pleasure being able to share my passion for printing in such a beautiful location and with such a good mate. It’s mornings like that one that makes photography such a rewarding thing to do.
Boscastle Coastline Photographs
The Nick Livesey Experience - A Documentary About Snowdonia’s Leading Mountain Photographer
Nick Livesey is a writer, photographer, mountain leader, and composer living in Snowdonia National Park in Wales. He is also a very grumpy man. But Nick’s life is changing, and for the better. In this new documentary, Nick shares his day and the stories of his life in the only way he knows how, with wit, honesty, and passion. Find out how and why Nick is changing in The Nick Livesey Experience.
Who is Nick Livesey?
The world of photography is full of personalities but when you think of Snowdonia the name that most people think of is Nick Livesey. Known as a mountain man and photographer, he is also infamous as the grumpy waiter from the Moel Siabod Café in Capel Curig.
During lockdown, Nick decided to make some fundamental changes to his life. He left behind the world of the café to focus on a life that would make him happy and allow him to establish an even deeper connection to Eryri.
But what motivates a person to give themselves so completely to just one place? I wanted to find out, so I decided to make a documentary about this legend of Snowdonia. In the film, you’ll discover that there is so much more to this person than just his photography. He’s a writer, a composer, and a mountain guide to name just a few of his talents. Most of all though, you’ll see that while he might still be a little grumpy, he is a person of great positivity, passion, and wit.
Welcome to The Nick Livesey Experience.
Landscape Photography with the K&F Concept SA255C1 Carbon Fibre Tripod
Don’t be me, get a decent tripod! I wish I’d got the @kfconceptglobal SA255C1 carbon fibre tripod sooner and I might have saved myself from an expensive camera repair bill. In my latest video, I head to Beardown Tors on Dartmoor National Park to capture landscape photographs and to share my thoughts on my new lightweight tripod.
Some Accidents Are More Preventable Than Others
I’d known for a while that I needed to replace one of my tripods. It had served me well for many years, but it was a little too lightweight for what I wanted to use it for, and it had a broken foot. My continued use of this tripod was an accident waiting to happen.
Sure enough, I left the replacement of that tripod a little too long and I had an inevitable accident. Some careless placement of the tripod legs and a gust of wind was all that was needed to send my ZV-1 crashing to the ground. Cameras smashing on rocks never results in a cheap repair bill.
While the ZV-1 was being repaired by Sony I decided that it was past the time to get a replacement tripod. Fortunately for me, K&F Concept had just released a new carbon fibre tripod and they wanted me to try it out (with no strings attached).
Though I’m a little ashamed I let such a preventable accident happen, I thought by sharing my experience I might be able to prevent someone else from having an expensive accident. In the video below I head to Beardown Tors on Dartmoor for a spot of landscape photography and tell you all about my new K&F Concept SA255C1 Carbon Fibre Tripod.
If you'd like to pick up one of these tripods, the kind folks at K&F Concept have shared the following discounts with me:
Website - K&F carbon tripod: https://bit.ly/3fVcaHl Coupon code: KF10UK (10% discount, valid until 31/12/2021）
Amazon - K&F carbon tripod: https://amzn.to/3wSD5dU Coupon code: KFCUK007 (10% discount, valid until 30/06/2021）
Beardown Tors Landscape Photographs
Here are the landscape photographs of Beardown Tors on Dartmoor that you saw me capture in the video.
Beardown Tors #1 - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 26mm, f/13, 0.5 secs at ISO 64.
Beardown Tors #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 26mm, f/13, 0.4 secs at ISO 64.
Beardown Tors #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 24mm, f/11, 1/5th secs at ISO 64.
Beardown Tors #4, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 24mm, f/11, 0.5 secs at ISO 64.