A Glorious Morning at Great Links Tor - Dartmoor National Park
A photograph of Great Links Tor in the glorious morning light has eluded me for years but no longer thanks to this photograph. But why am I a tiny bit disappointed?
I Got the Shot, But I'm Slightly Disappointed!
Great Links Tor on Dartmoor is a hard location to photograph for a couple reasons. Firstly, it involves a strenuous walk with over 300 meters of ascent. I can make the walk in about 40 minutes, but with a heavy backpack of camera gear on my back, I can really feel it. Especially when it's a dawn shoot and I haven't quite left enough time to get to the summit with time to spare.
The other challenge is the weather. Great Links Tor sits at an altitude of 586 meters which makes predicting the weather a proper challenge. The weather at the start point of the walk can be very different than the weather at the top. I've often made the ascent in clear weather only to find Great Links Tor covered in cloud. You can check the weather forecast as much as you like, but sometimes you have to take a chance and go for it.
And go for it I do. Despite the 1.5 hr round trip in the car, and the 7 km walk, I still feel compelled to take a chance on the hope I will get a compelling photograph that will show how majestic Great Links Tor can be.
The risk has paid off though. Back in April 2023 I walked up to Great Links Tor for a sunset shot and while my patience was tested, it ultimately paid off with one of my favourite Dartmoor photographs. You can watch me capture that photograph in this blog post.
But with a great sunset photograph of Great Links Tor in my portfolio I craved a sunrise photograph to go with it. And so started my slight obsession with getting up early, and walking up to Great Links Tor in the dark. Prior to writing this blog post I had tried to capture a sunrise photograph of Great Links Tor that I am happy with several times. While each visit yielded a good photograph, I knew in different conditions I could capture something special.
Just to make things a little complicated, the photograph I wanted can only be captured during winter when the sunrises from a specific direction. This puts the pressure on!
As winter 2025 came round I was determined to try again and make what I expected to be multiple trips to Great Links Tor. I also thought this might make an interesting video story. How many ascents would I need to make? What would the conditions of each visit be? How frustrated would I get?
Well imagine my surprise when on my first winter 2025 ascent I get exactly the shot I was looking for. Setting off early in the morning, it was far from guaranteed that I would get the shot. The forecast was for clear blue skies which rarely makes for good landscape photographs. Arriving in the car park there were already a couple of vans parked up. This is often a sign that there are wild campers on the moor, and I have made the ascent to Great Links Tor before only to find a tent right in the middle of my favourite composition.
Sure enough, when I arrived there were wild campers there but fortunately well away from my composition. The camper was already awake when I arrived, and I enjoyed a very nice chat to him. But in the corner of my vision, I was keeping an eye on the conditions which were surprisingly looking very interesting. Despite much of the sky being clear there was some cloud above Great Links Tor and as soon as the sun rose above the horizon and lit the scene, I stopped chatting and got shooting!
This is the photograph I captured.
Sunrise at Great Links Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4S at 14mm, f/13, 0.5 sec at ISO 64.
So why am I disappointed? It has nothing to do with the photograph. I'm really happy with it. I'm disappointed as I won't be producing a video documenting my repeated visits to Great Links Tor in search of my photograph! I mustn't complain as I felt really happy as I descended from Great Links Tor. I know I had a good shot in the bag.
So, is that me done with Great Links Tor? Of course not. There is always a different and possibly better photograph to be captured. It's just that I won't spend the winter focusing on when I will next go to Great Links Tor. I'm free to explore and discover some of Dartmoor's other winter locations. So make sure you sign up to my newsletter to find out where I go and what I photograph next.
When Dartmoor Turns Purple - Photographing the Magic of Heather Season
For a few short weeks each year, Dartmoor transforms into a purple landscape as the heather blooms across the tors. This video follows my journey across the moor, through sunrise, sunset, changing weather, and shifting conditions to photograph the heather at its absolute best.
The Changing Seasons of Dartmoor
The UK is a special place for landscape photographers, and I feel fortunate to live here. Every season dramatically changes the feel of the landscape and provides photographers with both opportunities and challenges. Those seasonal changes can also be seen at a local level where areas of the UK celebrate special natural events such as bluebells in Dorset, the autumn colours of the New Forest, or snowdrops in north Yorkshire.
But for me, the local seasonal event that I get most excited about occurs in late summer when the heather blooms across Dartmoor. I’m slightly biased as Dartmoor is my local area, but the purple heather adds a splash of colour to an already dramatic landscape. The other thing I like about the heather season on Dartmoor is that it lasts. Peak bluebells on Dartmoor, or thrift on the Cornish coast might only last a couple of weeks, but the heather will stay strong for 6 to 8 weeks. The longer something is about, the more opportunities there is to photograph it.
With this knowledge, I decided that I would focus my efforts this summer on capturing a series of strong heather themed photographs. Even if the weather was poor for a week, or I was away, I'd still have plenty of opportunities to get up onto Dartmoor and photograph locations I know are good for heather, or perhaps even discover some new ones.
So how did I get on? Well, I didn't get out as much as I wanted (no surprise there!), but I did get out enough times to create a collection of Dartmoor heather photos. It was a decent season, lasting nearly 8 weeks and I'm happy with the results. I do however appreciate that heather season finished a couple of months ago, but I'm finally ready to share it with you, and the photographs I captured. Enjoy!
Do you have a favourite seasonal event to photograph? Let me know in the comments below.
My Dartmoor Heather Collection for 2025
Haytor Heather, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 800
Bite-Size Blog Post #53 - First Snow of the Year on Dartmoor
A forecast of snow on Dartmoor was all I needed to read to get me to drop everything else and head out with my camera!
Let There Be Snow on Dartmoor!
For the last couple of months, I’ve had a bit of backlog of work. Not that I’m complaining, but it means I’ve been sacrificing the thing I love about photography, and that’s going out taking photographs! Sometimes when the weather forecast just doesn’t look good enough, I’ve opted to stay in the office editing, rather than taking a chance and heading out to take pictures.
However, when snow is forecast, I will drop everything and get myself out there! So, with light snow forecast on the western edge of Dartmoor I packed my bag, ready for an early morning start. Well, not that early. Sunrise is around 07:45, which as far as I’m concerned, that’s the middle of day (compared to spring!).
As I drove towards Okehampton, I did have a terrible thought. I hadn’t been to Dartmoor for such a long time that I’d got out of the habit of checking live firing times. I pulled over, and sure enough, the Okehampton range was live firing that day. Very annoying! Not to worry, I’d go to the one location that is accessible and might have snow on it, Belstone.
Arriving at the summit of Belstone it did indeed have snow on it, but only a light dusting. Enough to make it feel wintry. Not that I needed snow to feel that way. The freezing wind did a great job of that! The cold aside, it felt so good to be back up on Dartmoor, experiencing the wilderness and taking photographs.
I only captured one photograph which you can see below. The cloud cover was extensive as it was bringing in the snow, but the scene still makes for a good black and white photograph if you exclude most of the sky.
As I said, it was a great morning to be out on Dartmoor, and now that I’ve cleared most of my backlog of work, I’m really excited about spending a lot more time back out with the camera doing what I love.
Creating a Black and White Landscape Portfolio with Fotospeed DUO Papers & Spring Back Binders
In this video I continue my exploration of black and white landscape photography by creating a portfolio of prints using Fotospeed DUO papers and a Fotospeed Spring Back Binder.
Black and White Landscape Photography - Part 2
A few months ago, I published a video where I talked about my journey as a black and white landscape photographer. Something I never thought I would say, but hey, we all grow and change as photographers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not exclusively a black and white photographer now, it’s just that capturing black and white while on location is something I now think about.
In this follow up video I’m going to take a selection of the black and white photographs I’ve been capturing and printing them to make my first black and white landscape photography portfolio. It was something I always intended on doing and I’m very happy with the results. Watch the video below to find out why!
Useful Links and Information
Watch Part 1
🎞️ Watch The Dance of Light and Shadow - How Black and White is Changing My Landscape Photography - Part 1
Fotospeed Papers
Use the discount code Julian15 and get 15% off Fotospeed papers at Fotospeed.com
🛒 Purchase Fotospeed Art Smooth DUO 210 - https://fotospeed.com/fotospeed-art-smooth-duo-210-short-grain.html
🛒 Purchase Fotospeed High White Smooth Lite DUO 225 - https://fotospeed.com/high-white-smooth-duo-225.html
🛒 Purchase Fotospeed Matt DUO 240 https://fotospeed.com/matt-duo-240.html
🛒Fotospeed Spring Back Binders - https://fotospeed.com/presentation/springback-binders.html
More of my printing videos worth watching:
🎞️ Fotospeed Spring Back Binders
🎞️ My Canon Pro-1100 review and setup video
Other Useful Links
🔗 Fotospeed Art of Printing eBook - https://fotospeed.com/ebook/artofprinting
🔗 Fotospeed Generic Profiles for the Canon Pro-1100 - https://fotospeed.com/profiles/printer/ink/ink/62/
🔗 Fotospeed Custom Profiling Service - https://fotospeed.com/support/
Best Photography Books to Gift Now or Anytime! Inspiration for Every Photographer!
Looking for the perfect photography gift or a new book to inspire your own creativity? In this special edition of On My Bookshelf, I’m sharing 10 amazing photography books worth gifting (or keeping for yourself).
Finally! A Video with My Gift Recommendations!
Every year as Christmas approaches I say to myself that I’m going to join the bandwagon and publish a photography gift list. And every year I don’t. Until this year that is when I put it on my task list and scheduled it in for filming nice and early.
There are lots of themes I could have picked for my photography related gift list, but I wanted to do something that was related to me and my channel. The On My Bookshelf series on my channel is special to me as I’m passionate about photography books, so doing a gift list of photography books made perfect sense.
If you are looking for a photography related gift for yourself, or the photography lover in your life, then my list of photography books is just what you need. And best of all, you can buy photography books all year round so no need to wait for Christmas.
I hope you enjoy my choices and happy gift shopping!
🎞️ Watch all the episodes of On My Bookshelf that feature the books in this video in this playlist.
🛒 Purchase Visually Speaking - Mastering the Art of Photography by Ted Forbes https://amzn.to/3GfNtqo or find other retailers - https://www.tedforbes.com/book
🛒 Purchase From Dawn to Dusk: Mastering the Light in Landscape Photography, by Ross Hoddinott and Mark Bauer - https://amzn.to/4jPF8Ib
🛒 Purchase Landscape Photography Workshop (Updated Edition) by Ross Hoddinott and Mark Bauer - https://amzn.to/3qBTHIW
🛒 Purchase The Art of Landscape Photography (Updated Edition) by Ross Hoddinott and Mark Bauer - https://amzn.to/45Z3WHn
🛒 Purchase any fotoVUE guidebook and use the discount code JULIAN to get 20% off all books at https://fotovue.com/shop/
🛒 Purchase Sand by Anthony Lamb from Kozu Books - https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/sand-by-anthony-lamb
🛒 Purchase Stillness in Motion by Sally Mason from Kozu Books -https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/stillness-in-motion-by-sally-mason
🛒 Purchase 40 Farms by Amy Bateman - https://amzn.to/4r53LoL
🛒 Purchase Gemini and Mercury Remastered by Andy Saunders - https://amzn.to/3J66M71
🛒 Purchase Apollo Remastered by Andy Saunders - https://amzn.to/4nWQcFQ
🛒 Purchase The Great Wilderness directly from Alex Nail - https://www.alexnail.com/great-wilderness-book/
🛒 Purchase Headlands by Norman McCloskey - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/books/headlands/
🛒 Purchase Kingdom by Norman McCloskey - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/books/kingdom/
🛒 Purchase Beara by Norman McCloskey - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/product/beara/
Bite-Size Blog Post #52 - Loch Etive
The view down Loch Etive from the village where I grew up is something I will never bore of, especially when the light is great.
A View of My Homeland
Regular readers of this blog will know that I like to make regular trips back to my homeland in the highlands of Scotland. When I finished high school, I couldn't wait to leave and get to Glasgow, but now that I'm older (a fair bit older) and living in Exeter, I can't wait to get back!
It's not just that I have family who still live up there but it's also the draw of seeing that beautiful landscape again. Becoming a photographer has really opened my eyes to the beauty of the landscape and I appreciate it more than ever. Returning to Scotland is a joyful experience and seeing how it changes from season to season, and even from minute to minute is something I greatly value.
I recently took time off work and part of that holiday was taken in Scotland. I visited Edinburgh and of course Glen Coe, but I also made some time to visit my family in the village where I grew up. One our favourite things to do as a family is to go for a walk to the viewpoint that looks over Loch Etive and Ben Starav. Even when the weather is poor it's a stunning view. A view I will never bore off. Fortunately for me, on this visit the conditions were lovely and I was able to grab a quick shot. No time for tripods, filters and waiting about, so it was a quick handheld shot, but what a view!
Loch Etive, Scotland - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 120mm, f/11, 1/200 sec at ISO 1250.
Bite-Size Blog Post #51 - The Devil's Beef Tub
A scenic tourist drive between Moffat and Edinburgh reveals a location that forces me to pull over and admire the view.
Let's Save That One for Later
A few weeks ago, I took time off from work for a little holiday. Nothing extravagant, just a little vacation staying within the UK. I needed to take time to relax. My problem is that I can't seem to go on holiday without wanting to take all my camera gear with me. My idea of relaxing is to go on adventurous walks and take photographs!
This holiday, however, was not going to be that type of holiday. I would be going on adventurous walks, but the focus of those would be just to enjoy the experience of walking. And that's exactly what I did.
But clearly, I wouldn't be writing a blog post if I hadn't taken my camera gear with me! Of course I did, but I significantly cut down the amount of gear that I took. In fact, I really only took the camera with me so I could get nice photographs of my holiday.
It was fortunate that I did as during my drive from the Lake District to Edinburgh I drove past a location called The Devil's Beef Tub. A wonderful location with rolling hills and a dramatic hollow with a patchwork of colours and surface vegetation. Even in the middle of the day the scene stood out while driving along the road. So, I pulled over, grabbed the camera and captured this recce image. Sure, it's not going to win any awards, but it's given me a great reference shot for when I have time to plan a proper shoot there. And it's also a good reminder never to leave home without your camera!
The Devil’s Beeftub, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/11, 1/125 sec at ISO 400, handheld.
Bite-Size Blog Post #50 - Vixen Tor - Dartmoor
Despite Vixen Tor being very much out of bounds and on private land, there are still some wonderful viewpoints to photograph.
One is Not Welcome!
If you've watched my free watch video series Discovering Dartmoor, you'll know that in episode five I visited Vixen Tor. Well, I say visited, you can't actually visit Vixen Tor as it is on private land and access is prohibited. It's not even a tor you can go and sneakily access as it's surrounded by a stone wall and barbed wire!
However, that doesn't mean you can't photograph it. It just means you have to be a little further back and capture the tor as part of the wider landscape. That was exactly the approach I took when I filmed there for Discovering Dartmoor and as result of being forced to look beyond the tor, I discovered a wonderful panoramic view. Ever since that afternoon I've been eager to get back.
With me living east of Dartmoor and Vixen Tor being location the Western Edge, getting there always takes a little more effort but given that it's only a short walk from the road, I really should go there more often! However, for whatever reason I only recently returned to Vixen Tor to see if I could improve on the panoramic image that I captured during Discovering Dartmoor.
My hopes were high when I looked over to Vixen Tor one afternoon recently. It was near perfect conditions. The light was warm and soft, the trees were displaying their autumn colours, and the wind was light. Oh, and no sheep to spoil the composition! However, while there were great clouds in the sky, some of them looking very moody, there was an annoying gap between the horizon where the tor sat and dramatic clouds above. It was unfortunately a large gap somewhat making it difficult to create a balanced composition.
Vixen Tor Panorama, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-12-mm f/4 S at 54mm, f/8, 1/60 sect at ISO 200, 9 image stitched panoramic.
Not to be put off by a lack of clouds I tried to make the most of the scene by placing the tor and the surrounding landscape much lower in the frame so I could include a little of the moody sky. Has it worked? I'm not 100% convinced, but the more time I spend the more I grow to like the photographs, and they represent the wonderful the view I experienced that afternoon, and it has inspired me to return again very soon!
Vixen Tor, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-12-mm f/4 S at 69mm, f/13, 1/13 sect at ISO 64..
Bite-Size Blog Post #49 - Sharpitor - Dartmoor
Despite it's near roadside location, the view from Sharpitor on the western edge of Dartmoor is something I'd not experienced before but when I found myself driving by one day, I just had to pull over and take a look.
Drive By Landscape Photography
Over my 10 plus years of photographing Dartmoor there still remain locations that I haven't photographed. That's hardly a surprise when Dartmoor is over 365 square miles in size! Some of these locations are remote or require additional effort to get to, but there are locations that are close to the road that I just haven’t visited yet.
Nestled on the western edge of Dartmoor, Sharpitor is one such location. It’s on the main road between Yelverton and Princetown, and there is a very convenient car park which only leaves you roughly a 15 minute walk up a gentle slope. So why have I never photographed this easily accessible tor before? Honestly, I don't know. It's not I wasn't aware of it, I guess just never got around to getting there.
That was until a few weeks ago! I was spending the day volunteering with the Dartmoor Preservation Association helping them to clear gorse from an area of land they own called High House Waste. It's not the type of work I'm used but I found it to be highly satisfying!
It was on my way home from my volunteering day that I found myself passing Sharpitor, so I pulled over, grabbed my camera and headed up the hill. Here's what I captured.
Sharpitor #5, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f4 S at 19mm, f/13, 1/20 sec at ISO 64.
I needed to get back home so I wasn't able to wait for the light to soften at sunset but even so, the light on Dartmoor was lovely. Sharpitor itself isn't that interesting but it does offer some compelling foregrounds that help frame the more distant Leather Tor and surrounding hills. Now that I've been, it's definitely a location I'll be returning to!
Going Greener with Fotospeed's Natural Smooth 310 Paper
In this video, I put Fotospeed’s Natural Smooth 310 to the test. The paper is made from 34% hemp, 33% recycled materials, and is produced with sustainability in mind but how does it actually perform when printing photographs?
Part 2 of Going Greener with my Photography
A few months ago, I published a video in which I used public transport rather than my car to reach one of my landscape photography locations. I wanted to see if using the train was a practical option. It would be a small change, but it might be a more sustainable one. You can see how I got on and what I concluded in the video.
For my next small change I wanted to take a look a new paper from Fotospeed, their Natural Smooth Cotton 310. Not only is this smooth matt paper part of their signature range, it is also Fotospeed’s first sustainably sourced paper.
Using a sustainable paper for printing is hardly going to save the world, but if I make a lot of small changes they can add up. But the question is, will using a paper made of hemp and recycled materials compromise the print quality? To find out I put the paper to test, and you can find out the results in this video!
Use the discount code Julian15 and get 15% off Fotospeed papers at Fotospeed.com
🛒 Purchase Fotospeed Natural Smooth 310
🛒 Fotospeed Spring Back Binders
More of my printing videos worth watching:
🎞️ Showcase Your Photos with Spring Back Binders
🎞️ My Canon Pro-1100 review and setup video
Other Useful Links
🎞️ Fotospeed's Natural Smooth 310 video
Headlands by Norman McCloskey - On My Bookshelf S07E12
In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I’m looking at one of the most highly anticipated books of 2025, Headlands by Norman McCloskey. Will this follow-up to Beara and Kingdom be the crown of the trilogy?
Setting the Standard for a Landscape Photography Book
Over the years I’ve made no secret about how much I like Norman McCloskey’s earlier two books, Beara and Kingdom. They are exceptional not only for the photographs in them, but also the presentation, layout, and sequencing. It’s a tough formula to get right, and I can only think of one other photographer who excels in book production. Can you guess who that is?
So, when Norman teased the release of his fourth book and third in a trilogy along with Beara and Kingdom, I couldn’t wait to see what he would produce. But sometimes when you get so excited about something and your expectations rise, the real-life experience can sometimes leave you disappointed and flat.
When my copy of Headlands dropped through the letter box, I was a little apprehensive. Should I have been? Let’s find out in the latest episode of On My Bookshelf.
Purchase Norman’s Books
✔️ Visit Norman's website and sign up for his newsletter - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/
🛒 Purchase Headlands by Norman McCloskey - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/books/headlands/
🛒 Purchase Kingdom by Norman McCloskey - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/books/kingdom/
🛒 Purchase Beara by Norman McCloskey - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/product/beara/
🛒 Purchase Parklight by Norman McCloskey - https://www.normanmccloskey.com/product/parklight/
🎞️ Watch the episodes of On My Bookshelf for Beara and Kingdom here -
🎞️ Watch Ólafur Arnalds & Talos - We Didn't Know We Were Ready (feat. Niamh Regan & Ye Vagabonds) -
Gemini and Mercury Remastered by Andy Saunders - On My Bookshelf S07E11
In this episode of On My Bookshelf, I look at Gemini and Mercury Remastered by Andy Saunders, the acclaimed follow-up to his bestselling Apollo Remastered.
Remastered Again!
Back in series 6 of On My Bookshelf I looked at a book called Apollo Remastered by Andy Saunders. I loved it so much that it’s now up there with some of my all-time favourite photography books. It’s probably not surprising given I am fascinated about space and space travel!
When I heard that Andy Saunders was creating Gemini and Mercury Remastered, I couldn’t have pre-ordered the book quick enough. I knew very little about those early space flights that were the precursor to the Apollo missions, and I hoped this book would not only fill in a gap in my knowledge but also have stunningly restored photographs.
Now that I have it, has it disappointed? Let’s find out in this episode of On My Bookshelf.
🛒 You can purchase the hardcover, Kindle or audiobook version of Gemini and Mercury Remastered by Andy Saunders - https://amzn.to/3J66M71
🛒 You can also purchase Apollo Remastered by Andy Saunders - https://amzn.to/4nWQcFQ
Bite-Size Blog Post #48 - Chamonix
A little excursion to the French alps provides the chance to capture the Mont Blanc Massif.
A Retrospective Blog Post from France
I know that all blog posts are technically retrospective reviews of my photography adventures but given my adventure to Chamonix in France occurred back in July and it’s now October, I feel the use of the word retrospective is justified.
I wasn’t planning on publishing the pics from this trip because the primary purpose of going to Chamonix wasn’t to take photographs but to spend time wandering in the alps with friends. Nothing involving snow and ice though which way above my skill set but very pleasant walks below the snow line where the land is green and lush.
One of the highlights was the day I spent walking Aiguillette des Houches via Le Brévent. Such a wonderful day walking in the sun and being in awe of the mountains that surrounded me. I also had time to walk up to Lac Blanc, though that was a LOT busier with people. And I even squeezed in a run to Mer de Glace. Aside from a photography-based holiday, it was what I would consider a perfect vacation.
However, even though it wasn’t a photography based holiday, I still took my camera with me. Most of my outdoor time wouldn’t be during the golden hours, but you never know when you’ll be inspired, and you’ll want to capture a photograph.
Mont Blanc Massif from Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, France - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120 f/4 S at 33mm, f/11, 1/100 sec at ISO 64.
Bite-Size Blog Post #47 - The Lakes - Day 3
I had to wait, but my third day photographing the Lake District delivered the views I was hoping for.
Dawn at Hallin Fell
After the slight disappointment of missing an ascent of Blencathra in my previous blog post, I was eager to finish my Lake District weekend on a high. With the worst of Storm Amy having passed through, the weather forecast for Sunday morning was looking positive. Sure, the winds were still strong, but a sky with broken cloud could provide light on the landscape. But where to go?
Hallin Fell Towards Martindale #1, The Lake District - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 800.
Fortunately for me I knew the best person to ask, my good friend and fellow professional photographer, Chris Sale. I’d already met with Chris for a Friday morning shoot on Latrigg Fell and when I suggested he join me for a Sunday morning shoot he knew just the place and jumped at the chance.
Hallin Fell Towards Martindale #2, The Lake District - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 27mm, f/13, 1/100 sec at ISO 500.
It was a very pleasant walk up to Hallin Fell, until we reached the summit where we hit with the full force of the wind! Getting stable shots was going to be a challenge but the views were amazing and the thought of getting light on the hills kept us positive. I had to wrap up warm to keep my positivity, but the cold didn’t seem to be bothering Chris!
Hallin Fell Towards Martindale #3, The Lake District - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/60 sec at ISO 500.
It was a test of our patience though as it was a good 45 minutes before the sun finally broke through the cloud and bathed the hills in glorious morning light.
Hallin Fell Towards Martindale #4, The Lake District - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 70mm, f/10, 1/320 sec at ISO 500.
It was one of those mornings where you remember why you love landscape photography so much. You battle wild weather, your patience is tested, you question your life choices, and then you get break in the weather and you run around with a smile on your face taking pictures. What a way to finish my weekend in the Lake District.
This is what happy photographers look like!
Bite-Size Blog Post #46 - The Lakes - Day 2
The plans for my 2nd day in the Lake District were impacted by Storm Amy resulting in the planned walk up Blencathra being cancelled. But we weren’t going to let the weather stop us going out with the cameras.
The OWPG and Storm Amy
If you saw my previous bite-size blog post, you’ll have read that I had returned to the Lake District after a three year gap. One of the reasons for this visit was to see my friend Chris Sale, and the other was to attend the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG) Big Weekend.
I’ve been a proud member of the OWPG for over a year, but this was my first opportunity to attend their annual get together and awards dinner, which this year was being held in the Lake District. The Big Weekend is not only a chance to celebrate the achievements of its members (who range from writers, photographers, filmmakers editors and podcasters), but it was also an opportunity for me to meet my fellow guild members in person.
I already knew Josephine Collingwood (who was kind enough to appear in my video series Discovering Dartmoor) but most of the other members I only knew from our regular group zoom calls. Needless to say, that meeting such a diverse and passionate group of people was a highlight of the weekend.
Another highlight from the OWPG Big Weekend was the planned guided walk up Blencathra, a mountain I have been keen to ascend for a long time. However, Storm Amy had different ideas. With winds in excess of 80mph and very heavy rain, it would have been dangerous to try a walk up Blencathra.
However, OWPG members love the outdoors and while the mountains were out of action, there were plenty of other lowland walks to do. After some last minute planning by Josphine, we went on a lovely walk to Lodore Falls, Surprise View and Ashness Bridge. While the conditions were challenging for photography, I still got the camera out to capture a few photographs.
Ladore Falls, Lake District - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 120mm, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 320.
Ashness Bridge, Lake District - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 23mm, f/22, 1/15 sec at ISO 64.
I spent a great couple of days with my fellow OWPG members and chatted to some really interesting people, but my Lake District adventure didn’t end there. In my next blog post I head back out with Chris for another sunrise shoot. And as you’ll find out, it turns out to be a bit of a special one.
Bite-Size Blog Post #45 - The Lakes - Day 1
After three years I return to the Lake District. Here’s what happened on my first morning out with the camera.
A Weekend in The Lake District
As I start to write this blog post I thought I’d look back to see when I last visited the Lake District to take photographs and I was shocked to see it was way back in April 2022! I can’t believe it’s been over three years, but looking back at the video I made that weekend I was reminded of what a great time I had, not only photographically, but also with my good friend Chris Sale. You can watch that video here.
This most recent trip was to serve two purposes, catch up with Chris and to attend the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG) Big Weekend. I’ll talk more about my time with the OWPG in the next blog post. This bite-size blog post is all about the shoot Chris and I went on for my first morning in the Lake District.
Latrigg Fell
As it had been over three years since I had last photographed the Lake District, I was keen to photograph a classic Lake Districte view. Ideally somewhere that if the predicated cloud cover were to break, we’d get light on the surrounding hills. While Latrigg Fell near Keswick fits the bill, it’s unlikely to yield the most original compositions. But you never know. You have to take a chance and hope you’ll get some special conditions.
Keswick and Cat Bells from Latrigg Fell #1, The Lake District - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 27mm, f/11, 2 seconds at ISO 64.
Keswick and Cat Bells from Latrigg Fell #2, The Lake District - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 34mm, f/11, 0.8 seconds at ISO 64, 6 image panoramic stitch.
Unfortunately for us it was a case of unbroken cloud and flat light. This did not dampen our enthusiasm and joy of being out with our cameras. I spend a lot of time by myself when I’m out with the camera, but spending the morning with Chris reminded me that while the photography doesn’t always work out the way you want, spending time with a mate is never a waste of time.
In the next bit-size blog post I’ll talk about my 2nd day in the Lake District.
Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III Review
Looking for the best camera backpack for outdoor and event photography? In this video, I review the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III, one of Lowepro’s most popular modular camera bags designed for professional photographers and content creators. But is it the best option?
I’m struggling with this one…
Bags, bags, bags. I have a lot of camera bags. I almost have one for every situation now. But I also recognise that because I have a photography-based YouTube channel with a reasonable reach, brands will ask me to review their products. I don’t say yes to everything. In fact, I more often than not say no. Either the product isn’t related to photography, or I have no use for it.
There is something about camera bags though. Someone how I can find a reason to test another because there is a “gap” in my bag line up. So, when Lowepro asked to try out their Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III I said yes. I’m not sure what gap I was trying to fill but I’m glad I decided to look at this one because it’s very good. However, I found myself struggling with one particular part of this video review. What? You’ll just have to watch to find out.
✔️ Learn more about the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III - https://www.lowepro.com/uk-en/protactic-bp-350-aw-iii-lp37505-pww/ or the 450 version - https://www.lowepro.com/uk-en/protactic-bp-450-aw-iii-lp37483-pww/?___store=lowepro_uk_en
🛒 Purchase the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III from Amazon - https://amzn.to/46r36Ew or WEX - https://wex.pxf.io/JK666E
🛒 Purchase the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III from Amazon - https://amzn.to/3Wa1xG4 or WEX - https://wex.pxf.io/WyeWm3
Please note that these are affiliate links (but not paid links or ads). By buying through these links I may receive a commission for the sale. This has no effect on the price for you.
✔️ Check out my review of the Manfrotto Befree GT PRO Carbon Tripod - https://julianbaird.com/blog/2024/10/22/manfrotto-befree-gt-pro-carbon-tripod-review
🎞️ Check out my review of the Lowepro PhotoSport Backpack PRO AW III
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 Review and Setup Guide
Are you thinking about purchasing the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100? Or have you just purchased it and want to know how to set it up? In this video I’ll show you how to set it up, make your first print, use ICC profiles, talk about ink costs and give you some ideas for displaying your prints.
Going Bigger and Being More Cost Effective with the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100
If you’ve been reading this blog or watching my YouTube channel over the years you’ll know what a passion I have for printing. My love for printing was further fuelled at the weekend when I attended and hosted Fotofest in Bristol. It was a fantastic event and being in a community of like-minded photographers reminded me of how important printing is to so many people.
A few months ago I changed from a Canon imagePRO-GRAF PRO-300 to the new Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100. There was nothing wrong with the print quality of the Pro-300 but I wanted to have the capability to print A2 and to make my ink consumption more cost effective.
Over those last few months, I’ve been putting the printer through it’s paces and I’m now ready to share my PRO-1100 video. So no matter if you are thinking about purchasing a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100, or have you just purchased one and want to know how to set it up, my video should have you covered. In my video -
I'll share the key details on the Pro-1100.
Tell you why I bought it and where from
Show you how to set both the hardware and software
Talk you through how to make your first print
How to manage paper types and ICC profiles using Canon’s Media Configuration Utility
Show you how to find out how much your prints cost using Canon’s Accounting Manager software
I’ll Print some glorious A2 images
Show you some options for displaying your prints.
And finally share my thoughts and comments on this printer
I hope you found this video useful. If you did or just have a question or comment, do let me know below in the comments section.
You can of course expect lots more printing content from me, so please make sure you stay tuned to my YouTube channel and the blog. Thanks for watching and all just below you’ll find links to everything I mentioned in the video,
Useful Links from the Video
Purchase the Pro-1100, Inks and Tech Specs
🛒 If you are considering a purchase of the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 you can do so from Fotospeed - https://fotospeed.com/canon-pro-1100-a2-printer-12-inks.html
🛒 Canon Pro-1100 inks - https://fotospeed.com/printers-inks/desktop-printer-inks.html?default_brand=Canon&dit_printer=Canon%20Pro%201100
🔗 Check out the full specifications of the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 - https://www.canon.co.uk/printers/imageprograf-pro-1100/
More of my printing videos worth watching
🎞️ Fotospeed Spring Back Binders - https://youtu.be/IRXr6VuRYwE
🎞️ Designing a Custom Frame from Picture Frames Express - https://youtu.be/FJYOckTLbyA?si=RSoVSVb7z6Ii91gu&t=443
🎞️ How to Become a Fearless Printer - https://youtu.be/mbB1WdLFF_s?si=pI620VKr0qnXEXix
🎞️ Using a Nikon D80 to Create an A3+ Print - https://youtu.be/6X_vK5lts5c
🎞️ Why and How I Calibrate My Monitor - https://youtu.be/ozPuGrXQfeU
Other Useful Links
🔗 Fotospeed Generic Profiles for the Canon Pro-1100 - https://fotospeed.com/profiles/printer/ink/ink/62/
🔗 Fotospeed Custom Profiling Service - https://fotospeed.com/support/
🔗 Fotospeed Art of Printing eBook - https://fotospeed.com/ebook/artofprinting
🔗 ICC Profile Toolkit - https://icc-profile-toolkit.software.informer.com/
🔗 Canon PRO-1100 sotware including Professional Print & Layout, Media Configuration Utility, and Accounting Manager - https://www.canon.co.uk/support/business/products/wide-format-printers/imageprograf/pro-series/imageprograf-pro-1100.html
Papers Used in this Video
Use the discount code Julian15 and get 15% off Fotospeed papers at Fotospeed.com
🛒 Fotospeed Test Packs - https://fotospeed.com/paper/test-packs.html
🛒 Fotospeed PF Lustre 190 - https://fotospeed.com/lustre-190.html
🛒 Fotospeed NST BW 315 - https://fotospeed.com/nst-bright-white-315.html
🛒 Fotospeed Smooth Cotton 300 - https://fotospeed.com/smooth-cotton-300.html
🛒 Fotospeed Platinum Cotton 305 - https://fotospeed.com/platinum-cotton-305.html
🛒 Fotospeed Natural Smooth 310 - https://fotospeed.com/fotospeed-natural-smooth-310.html
🛒 Fotospeed Legacy Gloss 325 - https://fotospeed.com/legacy-gloss-325.html
🛒 Fotospeed Matt Baryta 310 - https://fotospeed.com/fotospeed-matt-baryta-310.html
🛒 Fotospeed Platinum Baryta 300 - https://fotospeed.com/platinum-baryta-300.html
🛒 Fotospeed Panoramic Paper - https://fotospeed.com/papers/panoramic-papers.html
🛒 Canon A3 Pro Luster Photo Paper - https://amzn.to/4g6dINz
🛒 Canon GP-501 Glossy Photo Paper 4x6"/10x15cm (100 Sheets) - https://amzn.to/3I3i1fW
Print Display Options
🛒 Fotospeed Spring Back Binder - https://fotospeed.com/presentation/springback-binders.html
🛒 A2 White Self-Adhesive Foamboard - https://amzn.to/4oVsqLc
🛒 A3 Self-Adhesive White Foamboard - https://amzn.to/4m0EWGP
🛒 A4 White Self-Adhesive Foamboard - https://amzn.to/4lSwLvX
🛒 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips - https://amzn.to/4p3SYtT
🛒 Picture Frames Express - https://www.pictureframesexpress.co.uk/
🛒 Ikea MOSSLANDA Picture ledge - https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/mosslanda-picture-ledge-white-90292103/
🛒 Ikea Drawer unit on castors, white, 67x66 cm - https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/alex-drawer-unit-on-castors-white-80485423/
Please note that some of these links are affiliate links (but not paid links or ads). By buying through these links I may receive a commission for the sale. This has no effect on the price for you.
Trevose Head - An Iconic South West Coast Path Location on the North Cornwall Coast
If there's one place to get light from the setting sun, it's the coast. With such a small gap between the clouds and the horizon, will my trusty friend Trevose Head give me the light I'm looking for?
Trevose Head - I Just Keep Going Back
In my last blog post I talked about how I was going to spend a bit less time on Dartmoor and start reconnecting with the South West Coast Path. Just after writing that though I started a new mini project on Dartmoor! What can I say. When you are inspired, you’re inspired!
The start of a new Dartmoor project however does not mean I’ve decided not to spend more time photographing the coast. Far from it. I’ve just decided to give up on a little sleep!
When I was considering which coastal locations to photograph while I reconnect with the South West Coast Path, one location stood out as one that I must revisit. Trevose Head is probably one of my favourite locations on the South West Coast Path. It’s a dramatic bit of coastline with crashing waves, sharp rocks, cliffs, and a lighthouse. It also shoots well at sunset just about all year round!
With that all said, it wasn’t my original plan to go there, but the weather conditions weren’t favouring my original choice of The Rumps. While I was eating my fish and chips (a mandatory treat when visiting Cornwall), I was trying to think of a location that might work even when the sky was heavy with cloud. It didn’t take long. There was only one choice and that was Trevose Head.
Photographs on Trevose Head on the South West Coast Path
Trevose Head #1, South West Coast Path, North Cornwall - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 0.4 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Trevose Head #2, South West Coast Path, North Cornwall - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/11, 5 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND.
Trevose Head #3, South West Coast Path, North Cornwall - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/11, 6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND.
Photographing The Daymark - Devon's Coastal Beacon, Landmark and Icon
In this video I head to the south Devon coast on a beautiful summers evening to photograph one of the South West Coast Path's best known landmarks, The Daymark.
Back to the Coast (Nearly)
I’ve been exploring and photographing Dartmoor extensively over the last few years and I loved every minute of it. Well, nearly every minute of it! However, there is so much more to discover in the south west of the UK. The South West Coast Path is perhaps the most obvious choice, and with over 630 miles of coastline to explore, I’d have no shortage of places to go.
So, it’s time for me to branch out and learn more about the South West Coast Path. I have of course photographed some of paths great locations like Trevose Head in Cornwall, but I’ve never spent a significant amount of time exploring what I expect to be a treasure trove of photography locations.
I’m not giving up on Dartmoor, far from it, but I do want to expand my horizons.
To start my South West Coast Path journey, I’m going to revisit a few of the locations I already know, starting with The Daymark, a location I haven’t photographed for some time. So why not join me in my latest video as I explore and photograph The Daymark. And yes, I know it’s not directly on the coast path, but it’s close enough!
Landscape Photographs of The Daymark - South West Coast Path
Daymark Tower #1, Devon, South West Coast Path - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 23mm, f/13, 1/10 sec at ISO 64.
Daymark Tower #2, Devon, South West Coast Path - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 54mm, f/13, 1/60 sec at ISO 400.
Daymark Tower #3, Devon, South West Coast Path - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1/5 sec at ISO 400, single image crop at 6:17.