This isn't a review of the Sony ZV-E1. Instead, it's a look at the three reasons I think it's Sony's best and cheapest full frame camera, and why and how the technology inside it makes it, in effect, a shrunken FX3. That same technology also means you don't need a gimbal, you don't need external microphones and you don't need an assistant, which for anyone filming themselves makes a huge difference to how simple the whole set up can be.
GET IT RIGHT!!! My Step by Step Guide to DISPLAY CALIBRATION for PHOTOGRAPHERS
If you work on images on your computer, then accurate colour, brightness and contrast from your display is vital, so this is my step by step guide to getting display calibration right. I go through the whole process using BenQ's Palette Master Ultimate software, but the settings I use translate to other displays and other calibration software too, so it's worth following along whatever you're working on. At the time I'd also just moved to the BenQ SW272U, which has a redesigned interior with a faster processor that makes the calibration process 50% faster, a matt screen that reduces reflections and glare, a screen hood and a wireless hot key puck.
Check out the NEW Palette Master Ultimate Software … ( LINK )
I’ll be posting a video very soon about my new display which is the BenQ SW272U which has a completely redesigned interior with faster processor making the calibration process literally 50% faster , a matt screen which redices the effect of reflections and glare , screen hood , wireless hot key puk and although it might not seem like a big deal, actually is … a fake leather material on the stand so you can place items on it without them sliding off.
In the mean time, here’s a link for more detials about the display which despite being brand new with new technology, is a way more affordable option than the larger SW321C … ( LINK )
North Wales Road-Trip 2023
I write this post as a diary entry so that I can look back in it in years to come and remember a great few days away with a great friend, and getting the opportunity to spend some quality time together to chat … and I mean really chat.
• • •
So this past weekend (Friday thru Sunday) I headed out on a Road-Trip around areas in North Wales with my great friend Brian Dukes.
We’d been speaking about doing this for quite a while, and so a few weeks back finally managed to put a date in the diary and before we knew it, we were heading off.
First stop took us from Cardiff where we’d left my car at another friends’ house, Anthony Crothers, then on to Abergavenny for some dinner and finally to Builth Wells for our first stop-over.
We didn’t arrive until around 9.30pm so after an ‘interesting’ greeting from the owner of the B&B (our fault for being so late) we headed out for a quick drink and then it was lights out for an early start the following day.
After breakfast we made our way to Devils Bridge Falls situated in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains, Mid Wales.
A famous location attracting tourists year round, armed with mimimal kit consisting of just our iPhones and Tripods (although I was carrying more kit for filming) we made our way down the seemingly endless steep steps into the depths.
The effort was well worth it though when we got to see the waterfalls which with all the greenery on the surroundings trees and plants, looked stunning.
We followed the route around the base and back up the other side, stopping occasioanlly to take some photographs and grab some video content with my 360 camera.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
10 second long exposure using the ReeXpose App
A great cardio and leg workout and a great first location and a great start to the Road-Trip!
After a spot of lunch at the Hafod Hotel (well worth a visit) which is directly opposite the entrance to Devils Bridge Falls, we then set off towards Bangor, passing through some incredible scenery en-route including the Abergwesyn Pass.
DJI Mini 3 Pro
DJI Mini 3 Pro
Having arrived at the hotel for our 2nd night stop, The Slate, Bangor (which was fabulous) we quickly checked in and then headed the short journey to the Menai Suspension Bridge.
I kept saying it all weekend, but wow, we were so incredibly fortunate with the weather being as good as it was and with there being some incredible clouds too.
We walked across the bridge and made our way down to ground level below the bridge and found a very well positioned grassed area for taking photographs.
It was so good being there with no concern of time or schedule and just hanging out with a friend, taking photographs and capturing video content.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
60 second long exposure using the ReeXpose App
We were both using the ReeXpose and ReeHeld long exposure apps on our iPhones, which definitely contributed to the whole experience being so relaxing not having to carry or think about so much additional kit … just incase.
Having captured all we wanted, it was then back to the hotel for a quick freshen up, a delicious dinner (Brian had Fillet Steak and I had Surf n’ Turf which set off the hotel fire alarm) and then the short drive over Britannia Bridge and onto Anglesey.
I’d been wanting to go here for a few years to photograph the Twr Mawr Lighthouse; a location that has been photographed thousands upon thousands of times … but not by us and certainly not by us with our iPhones.
The walk across the beach to the lighthouse takes about 40 minutes and would be great to do at a steady pace, but we definitely had our marching boots on so we could be sure to get near the lighthouse before sunset which was just over an hour away.
The lighthouse and where its situated is as stunning as I was led to believe. WOW! So incredibly peaceful with only the sound of the sea and the many varied sea birds in the area.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
30 second long exposure using the ReeXpose App
There was unfortuantely a little bit too much low cloud shielding the setting sun from casting warm shafts of light across the landscape, but despite that we were both really pleased with what we saw and captured, and hey … there’s always next time.
Having covered several hundred miles and been to some spectacular scenery along the way, it was time to head back to the hotel and relax, chat, have a cold drink and as we did, enjoy watching Guns n’ Roses LIVE on TV from Glastonbury 😃
The next morning after breakfast we then started making our way slowly back towards Cardiff, but en-route stopping off at a few places so as to take in as much as we could and just enjoy friends spending quality time together.
First stop was to Betws-y-Coed which is somewhere I’d spent quite a bit of time as a child doing activities such as orienteering, rock climbing, canoeing and so on, and being there brought back so many great memories.
The weather, although still fabulous, wasn’t really ideal for photographs so we both just ‘went with the flow’.
After maybe a couple of hours we then headed on to Aberdovey through the outstanding Snowdonia National Park, stopped over in one of my favourite places, Aberaeron to grab a drink and a light snack at the Harbour Master, and then continued making our way back to Cardiff … our final destination where we then met up with friends, Anthony Crothers, Ian Munro and Gerwyn Williams for a meal together celebrating Ian’s recent success in the Natural World Bodybuilding Championships.
So that was it; our 2 ½ / 3 day Road-Trip that was over in flash, or so it seemed.
Great fun. Great memories.
Roll on the next Road-Trip!
Transform Photographs into Stunning Paintings or Sketches with Photoshop's Generative Fill A.I.
This is a fun one. There's a little trick you can use with Generative Fill AI in Photoshop Beta to transform your own photographs into paintings and drawings, and here I show how it works. With it you can turn a picture into an oil painting, a watercolour, a pencil sketch and more, all from the same starting image, which makes it a really enjoyable way to experiment and see your photographs in a completely different light.
Squarespace makes it easier to add Photographs
Now this is a great update from Squarespace. It's made it so much easier to add photographs to your website straight from your phone or tablet, without having to go through the whole process of importing and exporting first. Here I show how the feature works, which is especially handy if you take a lot of photographs on your phone or tablet and want to get them onto your site quickly.
Wales and West Photography Show 2023
Last Friday (16th June) I was at the Wales and West Photography Show, held at the International Convention Centre in South. Wales, presneting on behalf of Permajet …
This was the 2nd year of the show, and my first time being there and loved every minute! Such a great venue and so well organised with a great hall of vendors, stands and stage / presentation area.
Nothing was too much trouble. Smiling faces an d helpful staff from. the Camera Centre UK but also from staff at the Convention Centre. There was always someone noticing if you were ok or not, maybe needed pointing in the right direction and so on. Also outside, a great refreshements area.
My talk / presentation was going thorugh how to get “Perfect Prints” so taking folks through how to correctly calibrate their displays and also explaining what certain settings mean, what settings to use in your printing software (Lightroom, Photoshop etc) and then paper choice.
This was a brand new presentation I’d put together for the show including the new Palette Master Ultimate Software from BenQ, which allowed me to go through settings clearly and that translated into other calibration software. Feedback after and since has been wonderful, so thank you if you were there!
Thank you to my friend Steve Healy for grabbinh these shots during my presentation
Thanks once again to Permajet, in particular Adam Hinchcliffe who not only was working incredibly hard on the stand but sorted everything out so that on the day I literally had nothing to think about other than my presentation. Also, Abi Symons who had done a fantastic job printing out some of my images on various papers, so that they could be on display on the stand over the 3 days and folks there could cleasrly see the benefits of certain paper types.)
If this was just the 2nd year of the Wales and West Photography Show then I can’t wait for next year. It’s definitely one to add into the diary!
LIGHTROOM UPDATE (June 2023)
In June 2023 Adobe added some updates to Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Cloud, which includes Lightroom Mobile, so this is a quick run through of the main bits. I look at the changes to Refine Saturation, HSL and Grain, along with the Devices tab and a few other additions. There were also the usual minor updates, including support for new cameras and lenses, but here I've concentrated on the changes that'll make the most difference when you're editing.
Book Review: "Atomic Habits" by James Clear
"Atomic Habits" by James Clear is definitely now one of my favourite books!
Atomic Habits is a powerful and insightful book that provides practical strategies for creating positive habits and breaking destructive ones. With a clear and engaging writing style, James demystifies the process of habit formation and guides readers on a transformative journey toward personal growth and productivity.
It seemed that on each and every page I found myself nodding in agreemnt or outwardly saying “Now that makes sense” or “I never thought of that”
So breaking the contents down, here’s some of the main key concepts and takeaways …
1. The Power of Tiny Habits:
James Clear emphasises the significance of small, incremental changes—what he calls "atomic habits." James encourages readers to focus on making small, manageable adjustments in their daily routines, as these compound over time to create significant and lasting results. In his own words, “By breaking down big goals into smaller, actionable steps, readers can develop a sense of momentum and build successful habits that endure.”
2. The Four Laws of Behavior Change:
James introduces the framework of the Four Laws of Behavior Change, which are cue, craving, response, and reward. By understanding how these laws interact, readers can design and shape their habits effectively. He guides readers to identify the cues that trigger their habits, the cravings that drive them, the responses they take, and the rewards they receive. This framework empowers individuals to modify their behavior and create positive habits while eliminating negative ones.
3. The Importance of Habit Stacking:
Habit stacking is a technique that involves attaching a new habit to an existing one. Clear explains that by linking a desired habit to an established routine, individuals can leverage the power of consistency and make habit formation more seamless. This approach eliminates decision-making and makes it easier to adopt new habits without relying solely on willpower.
4. The Role of Environment:
James highlights the influence of environment in shaping our habits. He suggests that individuals can optimise their environment to make desired behaviors more attractive and easily accessible. By making small adjustments, such as organising workspaces, removing distractions, or surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, readers can create an environment that supports their desired habits and increases their chances of success.
5. Continuous Improvement and Identity:
Clear encourages readers to focus on the process of continuous improvement rather than solely fixating on the outcome. By embodying the identity of the person they want to become, readers can align their habits with their self-perception. Through consistent action and mindset shifts, individuals can reinforce their new identity and sustain positive habits for the long term.
Conclusion:
"Atomic Habits" by James Clear is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the science behind habit formation and leverage it for personal growth. Clear's practical strategies and actionable advice empower readers to make small, incremental changes that lead to profound transformations. By adopting the principles outlined in the book, individuals can break free from destructive patterns, cultivate positive habits, and ultimately achieve their goals.
"Atomic Habits" is a must-read for those looking to build a solid foundation for lasting change and maximise their potential for success. At no point did I find myself thinking this was all just clever wording and regurgitating what some many other books in the P.M.A. genre seem to do; quite the oppisite in fact … the contents, the principles, the suggestions are well explained, make total sense and effective.
Highly recommended.
Camera Shake Podcast
Recently I had the absolute pleasure of being invited on the very popular Camera Shake Podcast to chat with host Kersten Luts.
I’d been a Guest on the podcast way back when it was in its infancy around the early time of the Covid Pandemic (Episode 46) but a lot has changed since then not just with what I’m focusing on but also in the creative world with the very recent release of Generative Fill A.I. in Photoshop Beta.
So, in this episode amongst other things Kersten and I chatted about how I’ve focused on my YouTube Channel and my process for creating weekly videos, mobile phone photography and how that is something I’m dong A LOT of now and also, of course Generative Fill A.I.
The podcast is available as audio only where all great podcasts are found and also in video format on YouTube: LINK
Here’s a couple of links:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y2Lmfm
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/304sm2G
Hope you enjoy it,
Glyn
iPHONE Photography and LIGHTROOM Masking Tip YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN'T KNOW !!!
Here's an iPhone photography and Lightroom tip you probably didn't know about. I start by showing how to change the depth of field on your iPhone before you take a photograph, and then how you can still change it after you've taken it. From there I move into Lightroom and show how to use the depth information captured in the photograph to create Depth Range masks, giving you a really useful way to target adjustments based on how near or far things are in the scene.


