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!
A GREAT Landscape Photograph Deserves a GREAT Print
I love printing my landscape photographs from Dartmoor almost as much as I love taking them! In this video, I capture images of the iconic Great Links Tor, and then I’ll make prints of them using my new Hahnemuehle fine art papers that I got from Fotospeed.
The Wind - Friend or Foe?
Windy. It’s a word that I am using a lot recently to describe the conditions I’ve been experiencing while out photographing Dartmoor. The wind can make landscape photography challenging with fear that your camera will get blown over or that you’ll end up taking blurry photographs. As for shooting video, leaving my camera on a tripod (even with spikes) on its own while I go off and talk somewhere always makes me nervous!
The wind can also be an asset. Strong winds often mean fast moving cloud, providing me with the hope that any gaps in the cloud, while short lived, will shortly be followed by another gap.
The Journey to Great Links Tor
Looking at the weather forecast before I set out for Great Links Tor, I was hoping that the strong winds that evening would be my friend. There was lots of low cloud forecast, but some gaps were also predicted. I was hoping the wind would make sure those gaps kept coming and provide me with a few breaks in the cloud.
As I started my ascent to Great Links Tor; things didn’t look brilliant. There was a lot of cloud, and it was very low down. So low down that Arms Tor (around 130 lower down) was barely visible. As I ascended further, the cloud level did appear to rise, and I could just about now see Great Links Tor.
Patience is the Key to Landscape Photography on Dartmoor
Arriving at Great Links Tor, the full brunt of the wind hit me! The wind was fierce, which made it cold, and as I now was above the base of the cloud layer, it was also eerily dark. So, I did what every landscape photographer should do and that’s wait. And wait some more. And get cold. T hen frustrated. Then I considered going home.
However, patience is key and in true Dartmoor fashion I could see breaks starting to appear in the cloud, and patches of light formed on the landscape. I filmed a few pieces to camera to pass the time and then it clouded over again. I waited some more and then…. well, you’ll just have to watch my video to find out what happened!
Landscape Photographs of Great Links Tor on Dartmoor
Here are the Dartmoor landscape photographs I captured in the video. Let me know which is your favourite.
Great Links Tor at Sunset #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/11, 1/5 sec at ISO 64.
Links and Other Videos
I mentioned a lot of videos, playlists, and products in the video, so I’ve decided to list them here as well:
💰💰💰 Special offer from Fotospeed - Hahnemuehle Test Packs are half price until end of April at Fotospeed.com 💰💰💰
🛒 Get your Hahnemühle test pack here - https://fotospeed.com/papers/hahnemuhle.html?paper_test_pack=1
The paper I used to make the prints are
🛒Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta 325 - https://fotospeed.com/papers/hahnemuhle/fine-art-baryta-325.html
🛒Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308 - https://fotospeed.com/papers/fine-art-paper/photo-rag-308.html
🔗 Check out Fotospeed's free ebook, Art of Printing, at https://fotospeed.com/ebook/artofprinting
🎞️ The printer I used in this video is the Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-300. 🎥 Watch my video review of this printer here - https://youtu.be/QF3_JXuu_Ag
🛒 Purchase the Pro-300 here - https://fotospeed.com/canon-pro-300.html
🛒 Finally, I purchased my matt board from Picture Frames Express - https://www.pictureframesexpress.co.uk/
🎞️ You can see how I use Picture Frames Express designer software here - https://youtu.be/FJYOckTLbyA?t=443 🎥
🎞️ See more of my printing videos in this handy playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJU6FMi6Tvo_kuUIioDAagRJ6zsvo1X3P
🎞️ See how I manage and process my photographs in Lightroom in this playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJU6FMi6Tvo97OcghsCsBlKGLXY2BcMdx
Capture and Print - Landscape Photography from Dartmoor
Is social media the final destination for your photographs? In this video, you can join me in the experience of capturing a landscape photograph from Dartmoor, and then doing the most important part of the photographic process, making a print!
Photographing Dartmoor - East to West
In my last blog post, Why I Love Dartmoor 2, I shared with you the experience of capturing a landscape photograph of East Mill Tor on Dartmoor. Thanks to some planning and a little fortune (always a requirement), I managed to capture a photograph of East Mill Tor with which I was incredibly happy.
Looking west from East Mill Tor you can see the appropriately named West Mill Tor. It’s not a location I photographed very often so with the excitement of my East Mill Tor visit still inspiring me I made plans to go west!
The Last of Those Early Alarm Calls (For Now)
While the weather forecast wasn’t as promising as my visit to East Mill Tor, it still had enough potential for me to set a 04:30 alarm call. It would be the last of those very early alarm calls as the clocks would be going forward in a few days. This would be only a temporary reprieve from the early alarm calls. Some of my favourite Dartmoor photography locations are best shot at dawn in the summer. It’s not unusual for the alarm to be set at 03:30 for those locations! (I’ll be doing more wild camping this year which will hopefully negate the need for some of those alarm calls).
Photographing Dartmoor Requires Patience
Though my alarm call for West Mill Tor might be early, you can at least park close by. It’s not much more than a 15-minute steady walk up to the summit, however, upon reaching the summit I was greeted with what can only be described as a strong and constant wind. This would make the photography hard and shooting video even harder!
And it’s at this point you pick up the story in the video below…
Links and Other Videos
I mentioned a lot of videos, playlists, and products in the video, so I’ve decided to list them here as well:
🎥 Watch my editing and printing session at Fotospeed here - https://youtu.be/1prQocy-GoI
🎥 The printer I used in this video is the Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-300. 🎥 Watch my video review of this printer here - https://youtu.be/QF3_JXuu_Ag
💳 Purchase the Pro-300 here - https://fotospeed.com/canon-pro-300.html
Use the discount code Julian15 and get 15% off Fotospeed papers at Fotospeed.com
💳 The paper I used to make the print is @FotospeedUK NST BW 315 And you can purchase the paper here - https://fotospeed.com/nst-bright-white-315.html
💳 Finally, I purchased my matt board from Picture Frames Express - https://www.pictureframesexpress.co.uk/
🎥 You can see how I use Picture Frames Express designer software here - https://youtu.be/FJYOckTLbyA?t=443
🎥 See more of my printing videos in this handy playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJU6FMi6Tvo_kuUIioDAagRJ6zsvo1X3P
🎥 See how I manage and process my photographs in Lightroom in this playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJU6FMi6Tvo97OcghsCsBlKGLXY2BcMdx
Landscape Photographs of West Mill Tor on Dartmoor
Here are the three photographs I captured in the video. Let me know which is your favourite.
A Wild West Mill Tor Sunrise #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm S f/4 at 14mm, f/13, 1/2 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL
A Wild West Mill Tor Sunrise #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm S f/4 at 14mm, f/13, 1/2 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL
A Wild West Mill Tor Sunrise #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm S f/4 at 16mm, f/13, 1/3 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL
Photographing & Discovering East Mill Tor on Dartmoor
Knowing more about the locations you photograph will give your images more meaning and connection. In this video, I photograph one of my favourite Dartmoor viewpoints and I also take the time to discover what really makes that location so special.
Motivated to Photograph Dartmoor at Its Best
How often do you set your alarm for 04:45 on a Sunday morning? Not very often I bet! But setting very early alarm calls is part of the course for landscape photographers if you want to capture photographs in the best light.
If I’d been sensible, I would have scheduled my dawn shoot of Dartmoor to the following week. The clocks would have slipped into British Summer Time and sunrise would have been a much more socially acceptable 07:30, and as a result I could have woken up an hour later.
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee the weather forecast would be as favourable the following week. The conditions I like to photograph Dartmoor in are rare, but they are also infrequent enough that when they are forecast, I make sure I do my best to be out with my camera. Even if that does mean a 04:45 alarm call. Watching the sunrise over Dartmoor is all the motivation I need.
Photographing East Mill Tor on Dartmoor
On Dartmoor, there is a distinct difference between the forecasted weather and the actual weather. You can check all the weather forecasts for the following morning, only to turn up at your chosen spot and the weather is doing something completely different. The not knowing exactly what the weather is going to be like is part of the magic of photographing Dartmoor though.
After getting over the shock of my alarm call, I made a cup of coffee and jumped in the car with a sense of optimism. Arriving at the car park just short of East Mill Tor, I looked up at the sky and I could see lots of broken cloud. This could mean the ideal conditions I wanted for my photograph.
It had already rained the previous few days so I knew the pool that would form my foreground had water in it. I also needed the soft, warm light from the rising sun to illuminate the grass surrounding the pool and the tor itself. I didn’t want it to be too clear in the sky though as having some cloud in the sky is just as important as an interesting foreground. It’s a very specific set of conditions I was looking for!
As it got closer to sunrise, I could see a bank of cloud on the horizon which would block the light from the rising sun. I tried not to worry too much as the cloud was moving fast across the sky. It was going to be a game of patience and it would test my nerves!
Sure enough, my nerves were tested! Just as I thought the sun would break through, it would be covered by another bank of cloud. Sometimes the light would break through and cast beautiful light on the surrounding landscape, but never quite where I needed it!
The later it got the more difficult it would be to get the shot I wanted. The higher the sun gets in the sky, the harsher the light is. You can’t beat that early light just as the sun rises above the horizon. The cloud above East Mill Tor was also starting to clear, possibly leaving me with clear blue skies.
At one point, I honestly thought it was going to be another one of those mornings where I come very close to capturing the photograph I had envisaged, but ultimately gone home disappointed (but never disappointed that I’d spent time on Dartmoor).
Just as I was about to give up and go home in a grump, things started to change. Did I get the photograph? Well, you can find out by picking up the story in the video below. The video is much more than just the story of the photograph, it’s all about all the other things that make Dartmoor so special. Enjoy!
Dawn at East Mill Tor on Dartmoor - A Special Landscape Photograph
Here’s the photograph I captured in the video. I’m incredibly happy with the way it has turned out, particularly as at one point I was ready to give up. For me though, that is the magic of Dartmoor. It’s a rugged and raw landscape, but also a beautiful landscape. With all its micro-climates it can be difficult to predict the weather, but when you get those magical conditions, there is no other place I’d rather be photographing.
A Perfect Dawn at East Mill Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/20th sec at ISO 125, Kase Filters K9 CPL.
There’s More to Dartmoor Than Beautiful Viewpoints
I do have a specific set of conditions I prefer to capture my landscape photographs of Dartmoor in, but that doesn’t mean they are the only conditions I will venture out into Dartmoor. Far from it! You’ll find me wandering Dartmoor (often with my dog Monty) in all sorts of weather conditions.
Monty - my constant companion on my long adventures around Dartmoor.
Over the last few years, I’ve been trying to learn more about Dartmoor. While my photography is at the heart of what I love about Dartmoor, I’m also aware there is so much more to Dartmoor than just beautiful viewpoints. The more I learn about Dartmoor, the deeper the connection I have to it.
This is why in the video you have just watched, I took the time to explore the area around East Mill Tor. I’ve photographed East Mill Tor many times before, but this was the first time I took the time to find out more about the area and what I discovered was fascinating!
The exploration of Dartmoor, while fulfilling in its own right, has also led me to become a better Dartmoor photographer. I might not feel compelled to photograph all the things I discover on Dartmoor, but through the process of exploration I have found new locations and areas that I might never have been to before.
Now when I’m standing at a viewpoint waiting for the light, I feel I have a much better understanding of the area, and as result I have a better connection to the photographs I capture.
I am by no means an expert on Dartmoor. I have only just scratched the surface. Dartmoor offers a lifetime of discovery, but that’s a good thing!
APOLLO Remastered by Andy Saunders - On My Bookshelf S06E01
Many of us will be familiar with the photography of the Apollo missions but thanks to some painstaking work by Andy Saunders we can now see the highest quality Apollo photographs ever produced. In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I look at Apollo Remastered to see if this is the definitive record of the Apollo missions.
History Restored
I’ve always had a fascination with space, particularly with the Apollo missions. Despite the advances in technology since those early lunar missions, in my lifetime no one has been back to the moon. Most of my understanding of the Apollo missions comes from movies such as First Man or Apollo 13.
One of the best Apollo films I’ve seen though is a documentary called Apollo 11, directed by Todd Douglas Miller. Despite using the original film footage from that mission, this film when viewed in 4K Ultra HD simply looks (and sounds) stunning. It blows me away every time I watch it. The clarity of the footage must be seen to be believed.
In Apollo Remastered, Andy Saunders has taken the latest high-resolution scans of the original film stocks and painstakingly remastered them to create the highest quality Apollo photographs ever produced. Like the documentary footage from Apollo 11, it looks like some of these photographs were captured just a few years ago.
But Apollo Remastered is more than just a collection of photographs. It has pages of text which describe all the missions, from Mercury, Gemini, and all the way to the final lunar mission, Apollo 17. It also tells you about the importance photography had for Apollo, the equipment used, and how Andy used the latest techniques to restore these wonderful, and historically important photographs.
In this episode of On My Bookshelf I look at Apollo Remastered to see if this is now the definitive record of the Apollo missions.
✔️ You can purchase of a copy of Apollo Remastered by Andy Saunders here - https://amzn.to/3xR940D
✔️ You can purchase of a copy of Apollo 11 on 4k Ultra HD/Blu-Ray/DVD here - https://amzn.to/3KF6KRL
🎥 Apollo Remastered - An interview with Andy Saunders by Mc2 Photography - https://youtu.be/HgYSdOi4u5A
No Tripod Head Photography - Kingjoy C85 Tripod & RB-40 Review
Most landscape photographers use a tripod. But what if I suggested you don't need a tripod head? In this video, I head out on location to capture landscape photographs with the Kingjoy SolidRock C85 Carbon Fibre Tripod and RB-40 Compact Head. Is it really practical to capture landscape photographs with no tripod head?
Have You Lost Your Head?
The idea of using a tripod without a ball or geared head for landscape photography sounds a bit odd doesn’t it. But the suggestion of leaving a bulky or heavy tripod head behind is exactly what tripod manufacturer Kingjoy is now giving you as an option. You may remember the name Kingjoy as I reviewed their C83 carbon fibre tripod recently.
The RB-40 Compact Head (yes, I know it’s still a head) isn’t like any other tripod head I’ve seen before. It’s small, flat, and light. The reason it can be this small is that aside from have an arca-Swiss style slot, and the ability pan, it does nothing else. It can’t tilt or tip. So, with the head locked flat, and therefore the camera as well, how do you adjust your composition?
This is where the Kingjoy C85 tripod comes in. The C85 has a levelling bowl as standard, allowing free movement of the surface area where the RB-40 attaches. To tilt or tip the camera, you simply do so by adjusting the levelling bowl (plate). But is this system any better than a traditional head? Will the limitations on the amount of tilt and tip be, well, too limiting for landscape photography?
To find out I head out on location to review and put to the test the Kingjoy SolidRock C85 Carbon Fibre Tripod and RB-40 Compact Head.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
If you’d like to purchase either or both items, you can do so using the links below:
💳 You can purchase the Kingjoy SolidRock C85 Carbon Fibre Tripod HERE.
💳And you can purchase the Kingjoy RB-40 Compact Head HERE.
🎥 And you can watch a video review of the Kingjoy SolidRock C83 Carbon Fibre Tripod HERE.
Use the code kjbaird5 and you'll get a 5% discount.
Dartmoor Landscape Photographs - Belstone Common
Here are the photographs you saw me capture in the video.
Belstone Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/15 sec at ISO 64.
Belstone Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/30 sec at ISO 64.
Irishman’s Wall, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 26mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 64.
A Dartmoor View #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 15mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 64.
A Dartmoor View #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 1/20 sec at ISO 64.
Why I Love Dartmoor
DARTMOOR is home to some of Britain's great viewpoints for landscape photography, but if you dig a little deeper, you'll discover so much more. In my latest video, I’ll show you one of those viewpoints and some of things that make Dartmoor such a special place.
Dartmoor - More Than a Great Landscape Photography Location
I’ve been photographing Dartmoor for over a decade, and I love the grand vistas of the open moorland. As a landscape photographer, I am truly fortunate to have a National Park with such a varied landscape on my doorstep.
For much of that decade, I was capturing photographs of Dartmoor without knowing or understanding what I was photographing. I would turn up to a location, photograph it, and then head home. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with that approach. When I go on photography trips to other places it’s an approach I often have to adopt.
As time went on though, I felt that I should know more about my local landscape and visit more locations on Dartmoor. If I was going to claim my love for Dartmoor, I needed to know and understand it. I’ll never know everything thing there is to know about Dartmoor, so my learning journey would be a journey that takes a lifetime.
You must start somewhere though. And started I have. To give you an example of how I’ve been expanding my knowledge of Dartmoor I’ve created a short video. In the video below I head to one of my favourite Dartmoor viewpoints, Rippon Tor. As far as Dartmoor tors go, it’s on the small side, but as I found, there is so much to discover. There’s a granite cross, granite mill stones, stone reaves, cairns, and 360-degree views.
I might not want to photograph all those things, but just knowing they are there makes the location more interesting. Suddenly you aren’t just looking at some magnificent views of Dartmoor, but you are standing on a place steeped in history. Even if I don’t photograph everything, looking for these items of Dartmoor history introduces me to compositions that I might not have seen or considered before.
Knowing more about Dartmoor has undoubtably enriched my photography and I hope this short video shows you why.
Rippon Tor - Dartmoor Landscape Photographs
Rippon Tor #1. Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/13, 1/10 sec at ISO 64.
Rippon Tor #2. Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/11, 2.5 sec at ISO 64.
Rippon Tor #3. Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 15mm, f/11, 1 sec at ISO 400.
Rippon Tor #4. Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 22mm, f/11, 2.5 sec at ISO 64.
The Best Day for Landscape Photography on Dartmoor?
With a late sunrise, an early sunset, and a sun that stays low in the sky, the winter solstice is one of the best days for landscape photography on Dartmoor. However, as I find out, trying to do too much on the shortest day can lead to problems.
A Dartmoor Photography Adventure on the Winter Solstice
I learnt a few years ago that on or around the winter solstice is one of the best times to photograph Dartmoor. Sunrise isn’t too early, sunset isn’t too late, and the sun remains relatively low along the horizon during the day. This means that for the roughly 8 hours of daylight that you get, it is possible to shoot all day and still have a relatively short day out.
Another advantage of such a short day is that it is possible to reach some of Dartmoor’s more remote locations for sunrise and not have to set an alarm for 3am! This winter solstice I decided to take advantage of this by walking to Wild Tor for sunrise. It takes me an hour to drive to the car park, and then it’s another 1hr 15 min walk to Wild Tor. I was certainly glad that sunrise wasn’t until 08:10.
My plan was to photograph Wild Tor for sunrise, then walk back to the car and take in some other locations, hopefully benefiting from sun remaining low on the horizon. Then after my mornings work, I would get a late breakfast or lunch, and find somewhere else to photograph sunset.
A great plan for sure. However, I decided to try and squeeze in something else between my morning locations and afternoon locations. This led to a few problems. You can find out what and watch me capture the photographs you see below in this video.
I hope you enjoyed the video. Despite the challenges I had with finishing the video on location, there were still many more positives than negatives to take away from my day out with the camera.
Links Mentioned in the Video
Here are some of the links I mentioned in the video.
💳 Fotospeed Platinum Gloss Art Fibre 300 - https://fotospeed.com/platinum-gloss-art-fibre-300.html
💳 Fotospeed Platinum Etching 285 - https://fotospeed.com/platinum-etching-285.html
💳 Print mounts from https://pictureframesexpress.co.uk
💳 Ikea Mosslanda Picture Ledge - https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/mosslanda-picture-ledge-white-40291766/
🎥 My video on the Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-300 - https://youtu.be/QF3_JXuu_Ag
🎥 All my videos on printing - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJU6FMi6Tvo_kuUIioDAagRJ6zsvo1X3P
Landscape Photographs from Dartmoor
Wild Tor
Wild Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 0.4 sec at ISO 64.
Wild Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 14mm, f/11, 1/5 sec at ISO 64.
Wild Tor #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 64.
Wild Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 64.
Oke Tor
Oke Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 1/30 sec at ISO 64.
Yes Tor
Yes Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/11, 1/3 sec at ISO 64.
Yes Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 14mm, f/13, 1/3 sec at ISO 64.
Landscape Photography Audiobook - Ross Hoddinott & Daniel Lezano - On My Bookshelf S03E12
Have you just got a CAMERA? Are you new to LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY? Are you looking to gain a better understanding of landscape photography TECHNIQUE? If so, then "Landscape Photography: For Mirrorless and Digital SLR Users" by Ross Hoddinott and Daniel Lezano could be for you. In this special audiobook edition of On My Bookshelf, I tell you all about this unique title.
Learning Landscape Photography While on the Move
I spend a lot of time in the car travelling to locations for my landscape photography. Even though I’ve spent most of 2022 photographing my local area (i.e., Dartmoor), I still spend anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes just getting to a location. That’s not to mention how long it takes to walk to the spot I want to photograph after I’ve parked!
I’m not complaining. I’m just highlighting how much time I spend on the move. To make those car journeys pass a little quicker I love to listen to audiobooks. If you’ve ever been put off by the size of the Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones books, then the audiobook could be the perfect option.
However, I’d never considered listening to an audiobook to learn landscape photography. Sure, I listen to a lot of photography podcasts, but can you teach landscape photography from an audiobook. After all, photography is such a visual medium how can you teach landscape photography without seeing anything?
Ross Hoddinott and Daniel Lezano believe they can and they sent me a copy of their audiobook “Landscape Photography: For Mirrorless and Digital SLR Users” to try out. I must admit that I was rather curious, so I put it to the test, and I share my thoughts on this audiobook title in this episode of On My Bookshelf.
If you like to pick up a copy of “Landscape Photography: For Mirrorless and Digital SLR Users” by Ross Hoddinott and Daniel Lezano, you can do so here - https://amzn.to/3YVL1tR
We May As Well Dance by Valda Bailey and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S05E11
In this episode of On My Bookshelf I look at We May as Well Dance by Valda Bailey. Is book of abstract and expressionist images, by one of the leading photographers in this genre, a book for your bookshelf?
The Art of Photography
Photography is a wonderful medium, and whether you believe it to be art or not, the sheer variety of genres and styles is enough to give any lover of photographs a lifetime of images to enjoy.
While my own bookshelf is dominated by books on landscape photography, there are also books on people, locations, wildlife and even a TV show. I enjoy them all, but they all have one thing in common. Everyone will identify the images in those books as photographs.
The images in We May As Well Dance are very different. They are still photographs (captured using a camera), but the use of ICM and multiple exposures that Valda has expertly adopted produce images that take on an abstract, expressionist style. At first glance, they could be mistaken for paintings or some other form of art.
With We May As Well Dance being such a big departure from the types of photograph I enjoy, would I still be able to enjoy it? Let’s find out in the latest episode of On My Bookshelf.
You can purchase a copy of We May As Well Dance by Valda Bailey directly from Kozu Books - https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/we-may-as-well-dance-by-valda-bailey
The BEST View of Glencoe
Anyone who has driven through Glencoe will know what the view of Buachaille Etive Mor looks like. It's probably Glencoe's most iconic mountain. But what is the view like from the summit? In my latest video, I head to the summit to find out and take some landscape photographs.
Photography from the Summit of Buachaille Etive Mor
I’ve photographed Buachaille Etive More (Stob Dearg) many times before. So have a lot of other photographers. It’s probably one of Glencoe’s most iconic and striking mountains. You can’t help but admire it as you drive along the A82.
I did walk up to the summit way back in 2006 but that was just for fun and ever since then I’ve always wanted to go back to the summit with my camera. Finally, after gap of just over 16 years I’m given another opportunity to make it to the roof of Glencoe.
The day I was in Glencoe the conditions were looking great for an ascent, and despite having already walked up Beinn a'Chrulaiste for sunrise that morning, I knew I had enough energy (mental and physical) to get up there. So carrying a bag with (probably) too much camera gear and wearing my new walking boots I set off and made a video of my adventure.
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Photographs from the Summit of Buachaille Etive Mor
Panoramic View from Stob Dearg (Buachaille Etive Mòr), Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 71mm, f/8, 1/50 sec at ISO 64.
Altnafeadh and Beyond, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 48mm, f/11, 1/160 sec at ISO 320.
Stob a Ghlais Choire from Stob Dearg, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 76mm, f/8, 1/250 sec at ISO 500.
The Mountains of Glencoe #1, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/8, 1/60 sec at ISO 64.
The Mountains of Glencoe #2, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 45mm, f/8, 1/50 sec at ISO 64.
Coire na Tulaich, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1/15 sec at ISO 64.
View Down Coire na Tulaich, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 320.
Sea Signatures by Marianthi Lainas and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S05E10
In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I discover not all photographs are created using cameras. Sea Signatures is a collection of cyanotype photographs created by Marianthi Lainas as she explored the littoral zone of her local coastline. Reading this book has opened my eyes to a whole new type of photography and art, but is it a book for your bookshelf?
Cameraless Photography
Photography comes in many forms, styles, and genres. Even though my own photography journey is leading me towards the development of a particular style of landscape photography, I like to expose myself to a wide range of photographers and styles. I’ve always found that by digesting the images contained in books by photographers that have a vastly different style to me, I can normally learn something about my own photography.
However, Sea Signatures by Marianthi Lainas is something quite different. The images contained in this book aren’t even taken with a camera. Marianthi has used the cyanotype process coupled with her use of mixed media to create a body of work that is unique. They are images created by the sea, but they aren’t seascape images as I would imagine them.
Have I bitten off more than I can chew with this book? Are the images in this book to artistic and abstract? Join me in the latest episode of On My Bookshelf to find out.
You can purchase a copy of Sea Signatures by Marianthi Lainas directly from Kozu Books - https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/seasignatures
On Location Review of the Kingjoy C83 Carbon Fibre Tripod
All tripods are the same right? Not exactly. While they all have three legs, some are better than others. When it comes to landscape photography you need something that is lightweight, stable and easy to use. In this video I review the Kingjoy SolidRock C83 Carbon Fibre Tripod out to Dartmoor to see if it can fit my needs as an outdoor photographer!
The New King of Tripods?
It’s very easy to assume that all tripods are the same. They all have three legs, and they support your camera. However, if you are a landscape photographer a tripod is an essential item and your tripod needs to be lightweight, stable, and easy to use.
I’ve had the same two tripods for years and it’s only recently that I’ve been looking about for something new. Why two tripods I hear you ask? One for stills photography, and the other for video. And yes, I need to do both at the same time otherwise I couldn’t make my YouTube videos. The reason I’m looking for something new is that as my cameras and lenses change, so do my requirements for tripods.
For my current setup of cameras and lenses I needed something robust, stable, and well built, but not at Gitzo level prices. I had heard some good reports about Kingjoy tripods but it’s not a brand I immediately think of when considering a new tripod. But when they reached out to me and asked if I wanted a loan of their C83 carbon fibre tripod I said yes. I’ve got nothing to lose and I might find myself pleasantly surprised.
With my loan C83 in hand, I head off to Dartmoor for some landscape photography to see if this is a tripod that I would buy.
If you’d like to buy a Kingjoy SolidRock C83 Carbon Fibre Tripod, you do so direct from Kingjoy UK here - https://kingjoyuk.com/products/kingjoy-solidrock-c83-carbon-fibre-tripod?sca_ref=2948686.NWDrPIWIBg
*** Use the code kjbaird5 and you'll get a 5% discount ***
Landscape Photographs of Beardown Tors
Beardown Tors Sunset #5, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 1/25 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Beardown Tors Sunset #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 1/8 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Beardown Tors Sunset #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 17mm, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Beardown Tors Sunset #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/13, 0.6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL, 4:5 crop..
Beardown Tors Sunset #4, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 15mm, f/13, 1.6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Kingdom by Norman McCloskey - On My Bookshelf S05E09
What makes a great photography book? Is it the inspiring photographs? Is it the layout and sequencing? Is it the print quality and how it feels in the hand? Or is the feeling you get when you read it? Every now and again a book comes along that ticks all those boxes. Find out why Kingdom by Norman McCloskey is one such book in the latest episode of On My Bookshelf.
A Book That Truly Inspires
I have now made thirty five episodes of On My Bookshelf. That’s a lot of books and that doesn’t even take into account all the books I haven’t made episodes for. The point is, I love photography books. One of the things I try and do though is look at photograph books that don’t always align with the style of photographs I aspire to take. These books could still be on the genre of landscape photography or sometimes something completely different such as street or documentary photography.
Every now and again a book comes along that delivers exactly the style of photography that I aspire to take. One such book was Beara by Norman McCloskey. It rapidly became one of, if not my favourite landscape photography books. I loved it for both for its photographs and for the layout and sequencing of the photographs.
Nearly three years after the release of that book, Norman has just published his third book, Kingdom. Is Norman’s latest body of work still the book I reach for when I want to be inspired? Is it a book for your bookshelf? Let’s find out.
You can purchase a copy of Kingdom by Norman McCloskey directly from Norman at - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/books/kingdom/
The Story of Scotland's Mountains - A Documentary
Murray Wilkie (AKA Scotland's Mountains) has been documenting his adventures in the Scottish mountains for over a decade. In this special documentary, I join Murray on one of his world-famous walks as he takes on a new route to discover one of Glencoe's finest viewpoints. Along the way I ask Murray about his passion for hillwalking, his photography, his life on YouTube, and most importantly, what his favourite mountain snack is!
A Journey to Glencoe's Finest Viewpoint with Murray Wilkie
The primary goal of the video content I produce is to share my passion for landscape photography. By sharing my adventures, I hope that my films inspire more photographers to head outdoors with their cameras to capture beautiful landscapes.
As well as providing inspiration, I also gain inspiration from other photographers and YouTube content creators. One of my favourite channels is Scotland’s Mountains. On the channel you’ll find Murray Wilkie hill walking and climbing the hills and mountains of Scotland. Not only is his content inspiring, but more sentimentally than that, it reminds me of home.
One of the things I like to do on my channel is to share the stories of the people that inspire me by making documentaries about them. You may have already seen my documentaries about Chris Sale and Nick Livesey. Though I don’t make documentaries very often, I am passionate about them, so you can imagine my excitement when Murray agreed that I could make one about him.
What you are about to watch is the result of that collaboration. I join Murray on one his world-famous walks, on a route he’s never walked before to (hopefully) find one of Glencoe’s finest viewpoints. Along the way I ask Murray about his passion for hillwalking, his photography, his life on YouTube, and most importantly, what his favourite mountain snack is!
Sit back, relax, and enjoy “Scotland’s Mountains - The Murray Wilkie Story”.
Murray’s Video of that Day
If you’d like to see the video Murray made of that day then check it out below. It’s well worth a watch!
Check out Murray's excellent Instagram feed - instagram.com/scotlandsmountains
Buy Gerry's book "Day Walks in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs" - https://amzn.to/3thXXLG
Glencoe Photos
As with any of the documentaries I produce, filming my subject is my primary focus. However, I did manage to find the time to take a photograph of the mighty fine view Murray guided me to.
Glencoe Valley from Meall Mor, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/8, 1/60 sec at ISO 64.
Even The Birds Were Afraid To Fly by Al Brydon and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S05E08
In this episode I take a look at Even The Birds Were Afraid To Fly by Al Brydon and published by Kozu Books. Is this collection of "lo-fi" photographs a book for your bookshelf?
Challenging But Rewarding
The On My Bookshelf playlist now has thirty-five videos in it but my passion for photography books shows no signs of slowing down. However, I’m not only looking at books that align with and inspire the style of photographs I like to take, but I’m also trying to expand my photographic horizons by embracing photography from a wide range of styles and genres.
Even the Birds Were Afraid to Fly is a book that falls into the latter category. Sitting down to look through this book I initially struggled to connect with the photographs. I would go as far as to say that I found it challenging and I wasn’t sure what I would say about the photographs.
My experience of looking at so many books has taught me that some photographs need more viewing time before you start to appreciate them. This is very much the case for this book. Well, for me personally at least. It’s time I’m glad I spent though.
Find out why I’ve found this book so rewarding in the latest episode of On My Bookshelf.
You can purchase a copy of Even the Birds Were Afraid to Fly directly from Kozu Books - https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/eventhebirdswereafraidtofly
East Mill Tor - Dartmoor - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure
Is there any point in returning to a location if you've already captured a great landscape photograph there? In this video I return to the spot where I took one of my favourite landscape photographs of Dartmoor to try again. But was this new photograph better, worse, or just different?
Better or Different - Just Keep Coming Back
The north has become my favourite area of Dartmoor to photograph. This is especially true now that we are getting closer to winter. The long Dartmoor grasses start to lose their green colour leaving them a pale yellow colour which beautifully reflects the light from the rising or setting sun.
A new favourite location in that area is East Mill Tor and I decided it was time to return to the location from which I captured one of my favourite Dartmoor photographs. That photograph, which I captured back in March 2022, hangs proudly on my office wall.
So why have I returned? Did I capture an image that was better than my previous image? Does it matter? Let’s find out in my latest 5 Minute Photo Adventure.
East Mill Tor - Dartmoor - Landscape Photographs
Autumn Sunrise at East Mill Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 14mm, f/11, 1/13 sec at ISO 400.
Autumn Sunrise at East Mill Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/11, 1/20 sec at ISO 400.
Hidden Worlds by Robbie Shone and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S05E07
Would you be willing journey 2000m below the surface of the earth to capture a photograph? Fortunately for us there are photographers like Robbie Stone who have made the exploration of caves their life. In his book, Hidden Worlds, Robbie shares some the images he has captured over the last 20 years. Is this a book for your bookshelf?
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth
When you think about photographing the landscape you will likely think of mountains, rivers, forests, clouds sunlight. But I would imagine few of us consider photographing the landscape that is below the surface of the earth! And why would we. It’s cold, claustrophobic, dangerous and most importantly there’s no light!
For photographers like Robbie Shone though, what lies beneath our feet is a world of adventure and discovery, and a world that must be photographed. In his book, Hidden Worlds, Robbie shares some of the photographs he has captured over the last 20 years exploring the deepest, longest, and largest caves in the world.
This book offers a view into a fantastical world that most people will never see, but is it a book for your bookshelf?
You purchase a copy of Hidden Worlds by Robbie Shone directly from Kozu Books - https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/hidden-worlds-by-robbie-shone
Photographing One of Scotland's Hidden Waterfalls
Scotland has many famous and majestic waterfalls, but for the landscape photographer willing to do a bit of exploring, there are also a few hidden gems. Join me in this 5 Minute Photo Adventure where I photograph one of those hidden gems near the coastal town of Oban in West Scotland.
A Very Wet and Challenging Photography Adventure
There’s not much Scotland doesn’t offer the adventurous landscape photographer. It has mountains, lochs, coastline, woodlands, and waterfalls. Some of those waterfalls have a lot of grandeur and are well known. There are also a few hidden gems. Not that hard to get to, but you need to know where they are.
There is one such waterfall near the town of Oban in West Scotland where I grew up. It’s been on my list of places to photograph for many years but it’s only on my most recent visit to Scotland that I’ve finally taken the chance to photograph it.
When I arrived at the waterfall though, it was in full flow, and it was raining. I shouldn’t have been surprised though. It is Scotland! With so much water in the air, it turned out to be one of the most challenging photographs I’ve ever captured. But I must admit, it was still a lot of fun!
Watch me get wet and take some photographs of this hidden gem of a waterfall in my latest 5 Minute Photo Adventure.
Landscape Photographs of Oban’s Hidden Waterfall
Waterfalls #1, Oban, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 0.4 sec at ISO 50, Kase Filters CPL.
Waterfalls #2, Oban, Scotland - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 0.4 sec at ISO 50, Kase Filters CPL.
Komorebi by Martin Rak and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S05E06
Komorebi is a book that takes you on a journey into the world of trees, forests and woodland landscapes. But is Martin Rak's book of his favourite woodland images from the last 10 years a book for your bookshelf?
Sunlight Filtering Through the Trees
The team at Kozu Books have a great track record of publishing high quality photography books from a diverse range of photographers. I’ve reviewed some of these books in previous episodes of On My Bookshelf and you can watch those in this handy playlist.
Expanding on their lengthy list of titles, they now bring us Komorebi by Martin Rak. Martin is an award-winning photographer from the Czech Republic. The book features his favourite woodland photographs from the last ten years. The book title, Komorebi, is a Japanese word which roughly translates to “sunlight filtering through trees”. While this is a great summary of the photographs in this book, there is so much more to discover as I find out in the latest episode of On My Bookshelf.
You purchase a copy of Komorebi by Martin Rak directly from Kozu Books at - https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/komorebi-by-martinrak