kit

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Photographic Filters: Now an ESSENTIAL Addition to my Camera Bag

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Photographic Filters: Now an ESSENTIAL Addition to my Camera Bag

A few years ago I attempted a landscape photography project, and me being me, that meant buying investing in some kit I’d had no call for until then as a portrait photographer, such as filters. The brand I opted for, and that everyone seemed to mention at the time, was Lee.

I purchased a number of Graduated Neutral Density (ND) Filters, Reverse ND Filters, Polarisers, Big Stopper, Little Stopper and so on, obviously in addition to the filter holding system, carry case and all.

The landscape photography venture didn’t really go much further than one photograph, but to be fair that was mainly because my 39-45 Portraits Project picked up a heck of a pace and took over.

Fast forward to March 2020 when circumstances dictated that I give the landscape stuff another try. I ventured out a few times taking along my Lee Filters but very soon they took a back seat, stayed on a shelf in my office and never saw the light of day.

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How to get BETTER Video On Location: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE AUDIO

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How to get BETTER Video On Location: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE AUDIO

I think it’s pretty obvious that when it comes to getting your message out, telling the world about a new product or service, or just passing on thoughts, tips, advice and opinion, then video is where it’s at these days.

Video is engaging, it’s to the point (most of the time) and it’’s convenient, meaning we can consume it sat at home on our computers, watching it on Smart TVs, tablet devices and mobiles phones.


However, that said, I remember a good while back someone saying to me…

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Photographing Long Exposure Seascape at Sandymouth, Cornwall

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Photographing Long Exposure Seascape at Sandymouth, Cornwall

Conditions were absolutely perfect for some long exposure photography, and wow, what a stunning location!

We arrived around 5pm with the high tide expected at 5.20pm, and had to wait maybe an hour or so before some of the hidden rock formations became visible. This gave us plenty of time to set up kit and think about where we would position ourselves; this being made a lot easier from Doug having been there before.

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Sony A1: Is it all hype?

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Sony A1: Is it all hype?

Following on from a post last week, here’s a full length (10 minute) video where I go through ‘hands’ on use of the NEW Sony A1 and how I lit and photographed a recent surfer portrait on the beach at Saunton Sands at around 12pm on a VERY bright, sunny day…

KIT:

Sony A1

Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master

Westcott FJ400 (LINK)

SETTINGS:

f/1.4 , ISO 50, 1/8000sec in High Speed Sync

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Female Surfer Portrait with Sony A7RIV and Westcott FJ400

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Portrait of a female surfer on her board awaiting the wave…

This is the result of one of the most challenging, but great fun, photo shoots I’ve had to date; not because it was taken at around midday on a VERY bright sunny day and camera and flash settings related BUT sea, waves, sun and kit related.

Getting beyond the breakers at Saunton Beach in Devon meant being chest height in the water; me with camera and a great guy named Jim, a surfer, who helped us out by holding and positioning the lighting.

Ordinarily a relatively easy shot but not so when you have waves to contend with constantly pushing you this way and that, your subject (Molly, a Surfing Instructor from Walking on Waves Surf School) is constantly moving and having to counter the waves to maintain a pose, AND your lighting is moving; also, keeping an eye out for any rogue waves that may (and did) appear, meaning a well timed jump up with arm stretched high to keep the camera and lighting safe.

KIT & SETTINGS

  • Sony A7RIV (camera)

  • Sony 85mm f/1.4 G-Master (lens)

  • Westcott FJ400 (light) – LINK

Having rehearsed positioning on the beach and dialled in the settings, this is what I went with to give enough detail in the sky and light Molly with the FJ400 in High Speed Sync…

ISO 50, 85mm, f/2.0, 1/2500sec (High Speed Sync)

*For a full list of the kit I’m currently using, check out my GEAR page

Focusing

Initally when on the beach I’d opted with Single-Shot AF, but very soon after getting in the water, realised that Continuous AF was best choice, and with Back-Button Focus. 

This was definitely the way to go along with a Focus Area of Flexible Spot: Medium because the rise and fall of the water would knock the focus point elsewhere onto a wave, when I had it set to Focus Area: Zone, AND because of the waves our positions were constantly shifting.

All of these settings I have programmed so that they’re available at the press of a button rather than having to dive through the menu…

Ordinarily I would also shoot tethered to my laptop which would be in a shade so I could see the screen clearly despite the bright sunshine, however for this photo shoot, this just wasn’t possible. 

The LCD on the back of the camera, despite being at full brightness, was incredibly difficult to see. I didn’t want to use the viewfinder as that would give me tunnel vision with my face pressed against the camera, and this I definitely didn’t want as I also needed to keep an eye out for any of the rogue waves.

Ultimately this is where complete trust in your kit comes in. I knew that once I’d dialled in the correct settings, the camera would lock on to Molly with Face Tracking and Eye AF, and it certainly didn’t let me down.

Waterproof Camera Housing

Believe me I was more than a little on edge once in the water with all the kit but thankfully, despite a few splashes, everything survived, however I do now have a waterproof camera housing on order as I’m going to be doing a lot more of this kind of stuff AND underwater / split above and below the water.

Having taken some advice I’ve opted for Outex (Dome Lens Pro Kit) so I’ll definitely keep you posted how that performs once it arrives and I start putting it to test.

 

Closing…

One of the many things I love about photography is how I can recall the when, where, how, who and what happened as I look at the photographs in my portfolio; this photograph will most definitely be one I won’t forget. 

VERY excited about the kind of images and videos I’ll be working on in the future now that I live in Devon; first things first though…that watertight camera housing 🙂

As always, if you have any questions or comments please do make use of the comments section below and I’ll get straight back to you.

Cheers,
Glyn

•Video sponsored by Sony going through the ‘Behind the Scenes’ coming soon.

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Slow Shutter for Foggy Sea t Lynmouth, Devon

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If you’ve been following how I’ve been getting on with my Portrait Photographer tackles Landscape Photography, you’ll likely have heard me mention how slowing down, relaxing and just enjoying the surroundings, very quickly started to produce results I was happy with.

Well, that was certainly the case a few weeks ago when I happened to drop into Lynmouth, North Devon for a pit stop when on the way to elsewhere.

Long story short, but I parked up and popped to what is without doubt one of the best

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Filming for Sony with the Sony A7SII and DJI Ronin RS2

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Love this Behind the Scenes Capture Mark Baber from Sony grabbed of me yesterday when I was filming Jack (Surfer) running on Saunton Sands beach for part of yesterday’s content with the Sony A7SIII.

The Behind the Scenes looks like something from a Benny Hill comedy sketch but OH MY GOD am I happy with the result!

First time getting some proper use out of my DJI Ronin RS2 Gimbal and I’m blown away with how it smooths out the movement.

Happy Days!

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Slow Shutter Speed at Hartland Quay, Devon

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Slow Shutter Speed at Hartland Quay, Devon

It’s been a few months now since I started out on my (long overdue) Landscape Photography Project with a view to trying something new whilst we’re living with restrictions because of the pandemic, and also just, well, wanting to see how I could improve.

I’ve mentioned in some of my more recent videos about how much I’m enjoying it and that when restrictions do eventually get lifted, I will 100% be continuing.. It’s totally different to my usual portrait photography but also similar in so many ways, but I love the escapism it brings and how it’s making me see more of the outdoors and immerse myself in my surroundings.

A few days ago I headed back to Hartland Quay in North Devon

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TIMELAPSE: Dandelion opening in Morning Sunrise

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TIMELAPSE: Dandelion opening in Morning Sunrise

Since we all started living with restrictions due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic, I’ve been enjoying getting out and experimenting with other genres of photography as I’m unable to take portraits.

Before this time I guess you could say I was a strict portrait photographer in that, if I wasn’t taking a portrait, then my camera remained in my camera bag. I never felt the urge to try anything else.

Landscapes, Seascapes and Woodland is not only proving to be a heck of a lot of fun and a great way to keep the tools in my hand and keep…

© Glyn Dewis 2024