tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26326274122363208612024-03-14T01:23:00.373-07:00Steve Ashton PhotographyWildlife & Landscape Photography & Photography TuitionSteve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-38049536098431272402011-03-29T06:36:00.000-07:002011-03-29T06:36:45.346-07:00We Are Moving!!!Just to let you know that the blog is moving to a new Word Press based blog on my <a href="http://steveashtonphotography.co.uk">new website</a> <br />
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After a few years of meaning to get round to doing a website for myself, I have at last managed to get my head round some word press and the new site is now live and working.<br />
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The training courses and photography tuition really have become very busy so they needed a web place of there own. As well as course information the new web site will have many more images many more articles and a lot more reviews. It will also be much easier for you to post comments and ask questions.<br />
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Please come along a join me... feel free to ask questions and if I can help I will. Hope to see and hear from you all over at the <a href="http://www.steveashtonphotography.co.uk">new site</a> in the near future.<br />
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Thanks for you past and continued support.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-28891574264720915942011-03-19T13:21:00.000-07:002011-03-19T13:21:35.703-07:00Perch Rock Lighthouse<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5540269149/" title="Perch Rock New Brighton by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5540269149_f1491becb3.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Perch Rock New Brighton" /></a><br />
Perch Rock Lighthouse New Brighton Merseyside<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5540845248/" title="Perch Rock New Brighton by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5540845248_710926709b.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Perch Rock New Brighton" /></a><br />
Perch Rock Lighthouse New Brighton MerseysideSteve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-44309775663038658192011-03-17T05:33:00.000-07:002011-03-20T03:16:21.027-07:00Pictures From Paris<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534651210/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5534651210_fa2e8d9fc6.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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Following on from my last post about my interest in Lo Tec images and photography using very simple pinhole cameras and the amazing Holga camera from the 1970s, here are my latest images from a recent trip to Paris.<br />
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Most of these images were taken in and around the Montmartre area of the city. For me one of the main aims of this trip was to capture images very different from the normal stock or tourist picture. So I avoided the photography hotspots and ventured a little more off the tourist trail.<br />
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I am planning a further trip to Paris very soon to document the old cemeteries which are simply amazing places crammed with the most amazing detail. These places are becoming a bit of an obsession for me at the moment and have developed an interest in wanting to explore the older cemeteries in the UK. These are proving to be just as interesting from a photography perspective and are producing some images I am really enjoying.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534670418/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5534670418_444bc6be23.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534088771/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5534088771_af01599a26.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534087563/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5534087563_a24ee30460.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534666910/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5534666910_837dfd4195.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534665812/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5534665812_469c44aaaa.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534084069/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5534084069_d2f54249d7.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534083105/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5534083105_5608f489da.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534663098/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5534663098_ae6d912652.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534661836/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5534661836_ce0b858acb.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534080077/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5534080077_85bb72bc86.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534659672/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5534659672_e3708bcd12.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534658470/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5534658470_a39e72362d.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534076131/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5534076131_7145e37636.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534655358/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5534655358_e5311652cf.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534073855/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5534073855_e783414b57.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5534657842/" title="Montmartre Paris by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5534657842_b34c921469.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Montmartre Paris" /></a>Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-16389076317644786612011-03-16T06:02:00.000-07:002011-03-16T06:02:48.740-07:00Pinhole and Film<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5531432431/" title="Car Pinhole by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5531432431_e93c253820.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Car Pinhole" /></a><br />
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A friend just told me on twitter that its my age, it could possibly be. But I must admit to a love of images taken on film. Be it the old grainy Tri-x or the Kodak colour I grew up with I have never lost the enjoyment of seeing and holding a "real" photograph.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5531454373/" title="Pin Hole Boat by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5531454373_3f0e4c8626.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Pin Hole Boat" /></a><br />
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Hera are a few of my latest images taken on projects were pinhole cameras and cheap plastic lenses are the key ingredient. Its great to get away from the how many pixel and JPG v Raw debate once in a while and concentrate on the image.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5531435599/" title="Formby Point Pinhole by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5531435599_0a8ff817c5.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Formby Point Pinhole" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5531451293/" title="Pin Hole Boat 2 by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5531451293_9efdc29fc0.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Pin Hole Boat 2" /></a><br />
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I am finding the art market is very keen on this type of image and for me its great to be able to go out with a cheap film camera or a pinhole converted lens cap once in a while and just look for images, without the massive photo pack, tripods and hi Res camera backs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5531447947/" title="Lock Pinhole by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5093/5531447947_2161230f28.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Lock Pinhole" /></a><br />
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My latest projects are using more and more film in various ways and I seem to be spending a lot of time on eBay looking for suitable cheap cameras. In fact I have just purchased a 1970s Olympus Trip (it cost less than a decent haircut) and I am looking at the possibility of building a view camera to use as my main pinhole film camera.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5532026958/" title="Liver Building Pinhole 2 by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5532026958_c3dd23a797.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Liver Building Pinhole 2" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_ashton/5532026958/" title="Liver Building Pinhole 2 by Steve Ashton Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5532026958_c3dd23a797.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Liver Building Pinhole 2" /></a><br />
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Its great to work on new and interesting projects and find new ways to capture images. There is a great article in this months Advanced Photographer Magazine about this very subject. Its a great read with some fantastic images. If you get chance grab a copy.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-3713210720562474332011-03-14T17:12:00.000-07:002011-03-14T17:12:32.829-07:00A Busy Week Of Commercial JobsThe past week has been really busy with not only training courses but also commercial and Architectural commissions.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5514626402/" title="Tailors Chalk by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5514626402_27429ebf84.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Tailors Chalk" /></a><br />
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It has been an interesting week and just to show how diverse a week as a commercial photographer can be in the space of two days I went from photographing macro shots for a new company web site and promotional press releases one day, to my more normal architectural work the following day using high resolution Nikon bodies and specialist Tilt and shift lenses, to record images of new construction work in Piccadilly Manchester.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5527826436/" title="Manchester Piccadilly by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5527826436_16e245070c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Manchester Piccadilly" /></a><br />
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My daily working Life is very diverse at the moment with a very mixed bag of commercial and architectural work. The vast range of work is making for really interesting days. Some more amazing and interesting images coming up in the next few weeks.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-80583572515249529692011-03-14T17:01:00.000-07:002011-03-14T17:01:46.192-07:00Another Place<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5527194081/" title="Another Place by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5527194081_3f717fc826.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Another Place" /></a><br />
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Late last week I spent the afternoon on Crosby Beach in Merseyside with the aim of photographing the Famous "Another Place" by artist Antony Gormley. It was one of those days in landscape photography when the light conditions I had hoped and planed for just didn't arrive.<br />
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The wind was blowing at a brisk pace and the light was not playing ball, so never wanting to leave a location without at least some images, I took a long and muddy walk down the beach. Here are a couple of images from the afternoon. <br />
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Despite going with the aim of photographing the statues I found myself drawn more to the old structures on the beach which just seemed to be more interesting in the conditions on the day. <br />
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The fist image below, was another long exposure image taken with the Lee Filters "Big Stopper" which is a 10stop ND filter, Which reduces light intensity hitting the sensor by a factor of 10stops. This gives the ability to record movement in the image over long exposure times.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5527779658/" title="Crosby Beach Merseyside by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5527779658_5d1d97f2cd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Crosby Beach Merseyside" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5527200145/" title="Crosby Beach Merseyside by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5527200145_80a6e75edd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Crosby Beach Merseyside" /></a><br />
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On this image, not only did the filter enable me to capture some movement in the cloud it also helped remove the passing dog walkers and fishermen who passed through the frame during exposure. The walking passers by simply were moving to quickly to record in the final image. The final image was a much shorter exposure, here I wanted to capture the ferry in the distance on its way into Liverpool.<br />
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This B&W image was made using the fantastic new Nic Software Silver Effects Pro. This new software is a simple to use Photoshop or Lightroom Plug in and has very quickly become part of my digital workflow.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-45775502401398980792011-03-14T16:54:00.000-07:002011-03-14T16:54:25.363-07:00Formby Point & Southport PierOn another landscape trip this time a one 2 one landscape course with a new training client who had requested some photography tuition on his home patch. My client Tim, wanted to look at long exposure photography and also dusk and sunset images which had been causing him some problems in the past.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5527799090/" title="Lone Tree Formby Point by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5527799090_9cae12c6a2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Lone Tree Formby Point" /></a><br />
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Once again the light and weather conditions were not playing ball and in many ways were not ideal for long exposure images early in the day. It was in fact a fantastic sunny and warm spring day with hardly a cloud in the sky.<br />
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We did manage some longish exposures using a full set of Lee ND filters and an fantastic little iPhone app which calculated our exposures for the 16stops of ND filters we used in a blink of an eye.So despite the lack of cloud or indeed wind we recorded the movement of the costal grasses to add more depth and interest to our images.<br />
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After a coffee break and some time to look at equipment and the best way to carry the tools of our trade, we made our way to Southport were the clear skies promised an interesting dusk shot of the fantastic pier. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5527212321/" title="Southport Pier at Dusk by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5095/5527212321_5e21cb16f4.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Southport Pier at Dusk" /></a><br />
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Now with some new found skills with ND Grad filters and some refined exposure skills Tim was poised ready to capture the best of the dusk and sunset lighting.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5527809784/" title="Southport Pier at Dusk by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5527809784_931cb5d68a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Southport Pier at Dusk" /></a><br />
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All in all a really enjoyable day which produced some pleasing images for both Tim and myself. Its always interesting to look into the history of the subjects we photograph and I was amazed to find that Southport's stunning pier was only saved from demolition by a single vote when the Sefton Council wanted to pull it down....Simply beyond belief!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5527225433/" title="Southport Pier at Dusk by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5527225433_7af99f9824.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Southport Pier at Dusk" /></a>Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-34429226859161237232011-03-02T06:48:00.000-08:002011-03-02T07:01:37.106-08:00Urban Landscape Salford ManchesterHere are a few personal images I managed to squeeze in whilst working on an architectural assignment in Salford, Manchester yesterday. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5491307633/" title="Imperial War Museum North by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5491307633_130ba52338.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Imperial War Museum North" /></a><br />
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The first image shows the amazing architecture of the Imperial War Museum (North). This superb building was designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind and opened its doors to the public in July 2002. This image was captured with a long exposure using a Lee 10 Stop ND Filter.<br />
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The building was constructed on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal at Salford, an area which was heavily bombed during the second world war due to its importance in the construction of engines for the British heavy bombers and the Spitfire fighter aircraft. <br />
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Libeskind envisaged a 'constellation composed of three interlocking shards' with each shard being a remnant of an imagined globe shattered by conflict. These shards in turn represented air, earth and water, and each formed a functionally distinct part of the museum. The 55m high air shard, provides the museum's entranceway and a viewing balcony. The second image again shows the main Air Shard, which forms the entrance to the museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5491310613/" title="Imperial War Museum North by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5491310613_99700b8b5d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Imperial War Museum North" /></a><br />
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My other images show the scene at the new Media City which will become home to the BBC. The 200 acre site is being developed as a joint venture between The Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, Peel Holdings and Salford City Council.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5491917808/" title="Media City Manchester Pano by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5491917808_177a201179.jpg" width="500" height="195" alt="Media City Manchester Pano" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5491327843/" title="Media City Manchester by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5491327843_dd145461ba.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Media City Manchester" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5491332439/" title="Media City Salford Manchester by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5491332439_a9c7fb3e44.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Media City Salford Manchester" /></a><br />
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The area around Media City looks amazing at dusk as the evening light blends and balances with the artificial lights of the development. Hope you enjoy the images.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-35170597524480538892011-02-26T09:39:00.000-08:002011-02-26T09:39:27.556-08:00Runcorn BridgeI managed to get out this week do a set of pictures I have had in mind now for some time. I needed to add some images of Runcorn or Silver Jubilee Bridge to our stock collection and wanted to try to capture the massive flock of Starling which come to roost on the bridge in the evening at this time of year. Great chance to do some combined urban landscape and some wildlife images in one go.<br />
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Firstly I wanted to do some long exposure images using the Lee 10 Stop ND filter. This is a tool which is very much in fashion at the moment and so long exposure images are in demand with the photographic press. Despite a very clear sky I did manage to get a few images I am pleased with.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5479400330/" title="_SPA3790_006 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5479400330_9c7f2b3146.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_SPA3790_006" /></a><br />
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The long exposure in this case about 20 seconds produces a lovely velvet like texture to moving water and cloud. I would have liked more cloud to add to the atmosphere but I will try and get back on a more suitable day.<br />
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My second objective for the day was to capture a dusk image of the bridge with plenty of colour in the sky, and this second image was pretty much what I had in mind.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5478827293/" title="Runcorn Bridge by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5478827293_a747cbf375.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Runcorn Bridge" /></a><br />
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The third and possibly most important objective for me a a keen birdwatcher was to try and capture the Starling roost or "Murmation" to give it its correct name. This in my opinion is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles you can witness. It really is amazing to watch the Murmation develop from a few single birds to a massive swarm of tens of thousands of birds all performing the most fantastic aerobatics as the settle upon their roost for the night.<br />
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The Starlings are practicing pure survival as they congregate in massive numbers to evade potential predators and share warmth for the cold winter nights.<br />
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Not easy images to capture but well worth the effort. The combination of very low light and amazingly fast moving birds present a tricky subject but if you do get the chance to visit a location were the Starlings are roosting it really is a sight not to be missed.<br />
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Here are a couple of images which show my interpretation of the spectacle. The first is a shot in which I tried to capture the speed and movement of the birds as they started to gather. The second Black and White image is the shot I wanted to capture for myself.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5479414280/" title="_SPA3942_020 copy by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5479414280_7403d74986.jpg" width="500" height="221" alt="_SPA3942_020 copy" /></a><br />
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I had the idea of showing the stunning natural shape of the Starling Flock against the fantastic man made structure of the bridge. This image I saw in Black and White.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5479408288/" title="_SPA3856_011 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5479408288_011f843889.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_SPA3856_011" /></a><br />
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I was pleased with the results from the day, and in particular I love the way the shape of the flock reflects the curve of the bridge in the final image.<br />
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Whilst capturing these images I also let the Nikon D3s run shooting video which looks superb. I will post the finished video file when I finish editing the footage.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-87309618436148653862011-02-24T02:20:00.000-08:002011-02-24T02:20:00.853-08:00Yorkshire Dales & Beyond<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5471618610/" title="Yorkshire Moors by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5471618610_0267322dee.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yorkshire Moors" /></a><br />
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Just wanted to post a picture which I finished yesterday. Took the image late last year in the Yorkshire Dales.<br />
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I love the dramatic, moody lighting which for me captures the feeling of this bleak landscape in just the way I intended<br />
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I seem to have developed a theme of including birds in many of my B&W landscapes and my personal love of B&W landscapes seems to be growing ever stronger. Recent trips to the Cumbria side of Morecambe Bay have produced some really interesting images. All being well I should be getting round to post production on these in the next week or so.<br />
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As a strong contrast we have had some really nice sales from a series if images taken in Paris, way back in 2005. Here is one of my personal favourites from that particular set.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/3228790438/" title="Paris by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3228790438_48a0ac3ea5.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Paris" /></a><br />
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In contrast to the first image here for me the subject is the colour and texture of the wall and I just love the colour and tones in the wooden door. This has been a popular image for some time but has seen a big increase in print sales over the past month or so.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-56621875378231811672011-02-23T07:21:00.000-08:002011-02-23T07:51:47.975-08:00Nikon Capture NX2<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5471252250/" title="180111_000283 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5471252250_23913db8cf.jpg" width="500" height="295" alt="180111_000283" /></a><br />
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Lightroom has been my Raw convertor of choice since it was first released and I have found on the whole to be happy with its workflow. However there has always been a part of me that just didn't really like the way it dealt with files and more importantly the way it dealt with Nikon raw files.<br />
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So I set myself a target of finding a new and better raw convertor, or should I say better for me. I downloaded trial versions of most of the top raw software packages including Aperture, Capture One and many more.<br />
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Well I am please to say that after much testing and changes to my entire workflow process I have made the move over to Nikon Capture NX.<br />
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It should have really come as no great surprise that Nikon software deals with Nikon files the best. I can say from my testing Capture NX brings things out of the Nikon files I had not even seen when using lightroom and some of the other software packages.<br />
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I am sure Lightroom will be a big part of my life for a long time to come, and if I was a Canon user then lightroom would still be my convertor of choice. Most of my training clients seem to shoot with Canon cameras so there will be a big need to keep my Lightroom skills up to speed.<br />
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I have gone back and re worked a few images and will possible look at doing more reworks over the coming weeks and months.<br />
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As part of the workflow review we have also made a few changes to our computer equipment and software packages.<br />
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My main image editing computer is now a 27" iMac Quad Core with 8GB of RAM. Our very old and long serving Mac Book Pro has been replaced with a superb new 15" i7 4GB new version.<br />
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In terms of software As mentioned Nikon Capture Nx2 is the main Raw convertor now supported by a new version of Photoshop CS5 which is proving to be a very worthy upgrade from my old CS3<br />
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The learning curve with the new software has been very easy to be honest, but a lot of time has been spent looking at better ways of backing up data and archiving our ever growing stock catalogue of images. The bank of 1TB hard drives is now six deep.<br />
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I will let you know how the new equipment and software performs in the long term, but for now its back to more post production.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-3140752575442262112011-02-20T16:35:00.000-08:002011-02-20T16:40:01.999-08:00Playing with Tilt and Shift Lenses<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5462528068/" title="Winters Dawn by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5462528068_d19ba8e77a.jpg" width="500" height="322" alt="Winters Dawn" /></a><br />
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One of my favourite and most used lenses is the Nikkor 24mm F3.5 TSE. Whilst designed to enable perspective correction it also make a fantastic creative tool for some interesting photographic effects. These PC or Perspective Control lenses give a range of movements along the lines of those possible with many large format view cameras. This makes them invaluable for architectural and landscape photography<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YgbFQf8NqAo/TWGt9OEshXI/AAAAAAAAADw/k10q3nylBhk/s1600/Nikon%2B24mm%2BPCe%2BLens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YgbFQf8NqAo/TWGt9OEshXI/AAAAAAAAADw/k10q3nylBhk/s320/Nikon%2B24mm%2BPCe%2BLens.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Over the past few months I have been using the lens to create some of my most popular art images. Here are a couple of examples of the things I have been doing with this amazing lens.<br />
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The technique is simple but it takes some practice to get the movement correct and in most cases a ND filter is required to get exposure times long enough to enable accurate and controlled movement. The choice of subject is also very important. Strong verticals play a big part in the success of these images. <br />
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In simple terms the lens axis is moved in a vertical or horizontal plane during the exposure.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5462525212/" title="Woodland Impression by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5462525212_f3dde376af.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Woodland Impression" /></a><br />
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Another really interesting effect which can be created using a tilt and shift lens is the impression of a miniature scene. The resulting image looks as if of a model. These images always remind me of my days helping my Dad build his model railway.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5457494406/" title="T&S Lens Tests by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5457494406_579a41d303.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="T&S Lens Tests" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5456889371/" title="T&S Lens Tests by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5456889371_285ba88d74.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="T&S Lens Tests" /></a><br />
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Not a lens I intend to purchase but very possibly a lens I will hire for shoots were its unique capabilities will enable image otherwise not possible.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5456891645/" title="T&S Lens Tests by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5456891645_f4fa10f6ec.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="T&S Lens Tests" /></a><br />
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In near future I hope to add the Nikkor 45mm F2.8 TSe lens to my camera bag. This lens will also give me a suitable focal length lens to apply the tilt shift facility to portrait images as well as landscapes. The portrait possibilities of the 45mm lens are really interesting me at the moment.<br />
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The next few images will give you some idea of the range of movements possible with these amazing lenses.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-90leXaW6S9o/TWGvZ0B3PkI/AAAAAAAAAD4/-DOAxS0qOzI/s1600/PCe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-90leXaW6S9o/TWGvZ0B3PkI/AAAAAAAAAD4/-DOAxS0qOzI/s320/PCe1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ZTiS6tPVJk/TWGvgj9SG0I/AAAAAAAAAEA/Cw82nc2gbi8/s1600/PCe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ZTiS6tPVJk/TWGvgj9SG0I/AAAAAAAAAEA/Cw82nc2gbi8/s320/PCe3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSLCG9H9W58/TWGw1_OrayI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/xrEJGwiKM-Y/s1600/PCe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSLCG9H9W58/TWGw1_OrayI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/xrEJGwiKM-Y/s320/PCe3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Whilst a dedicated user of the Nikon system one lens in the Canon range is of particular interest to me, and that is the 17mm TSe. I am at present looking at the possibility of using a canon/Nikon adapter which will give me access to the amazing creative and commercial possibilities of the fantastic lens.<br />
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Initial findings point to the Canon lens mount being much bigger than the Nikon mount so this may not be a possibility. There is however always the possibility of using a hire Canon body. It would hurt but in the interest of Art anything is possible.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4A9k4NG6Ty8/TWGykr42SCI/AAAAAAAAAEg/6pAvl1SFsXg/s1600/17mm%2BTSe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4A9k4NG6Ty8/TWGykr42SCI/AAAAAAAAAEg/6pAvl1SFsXg/s320/17mm%2BTSe.jpg" /></a></div>Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-54277438149029999982011-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:002011-02-20T10:29:44.390-08:00More Canon 200-400mm F4 Lens PicturesFollowing on from the great news that Canon will be releasing a 200-400mm F4.0 lens in the near future, here is a image comparing the new lens to the Canon 500mm F4. The new lens looks a beast. Really going to enjoy having a play with on of these.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XrjrZEWGW5I/TWFdAllexrI/AAAAAAAAADo/9u8GY6g6fg4/s1600/owvj7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="231" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XrjrZEWGW5I/TWFdAllexrI/AAAAAAAAADo/9u8GY6g6fg4/s320/owvj7.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The 200-400 is the bottom lens. In this image you can see the system which drops a 1.4x convertor onto the the optical system. This is a fantastic idea and will be a great tool for sports and wildlife photographersSteve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-89090381305327224862011-02-11T04:17:00.000-08:002011-02-11T08:51:16.174-08:00Tripod HeadsFollowing on from my posting regarding tripods as promised here is my personal take on all things connected with tripod heads.<br />
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It amazes me just how many tripod heads are out there on the market today and they range from the superb to the well shall we say not very good at all. Like most professionals I have tried most over the years and after a lot of testing and much wasted money I have settled on a system that works well for me and my own photography.<br />
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So this is not going to be yet another review, that would be pointless, as there are so many reviews out there on the web. What I am going to give you is what I have found to be the best possible tripod heads regardless of price. Its then up to you to try them out and decide what is right for you.<br />
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Firstly there are a few different styles of head, you can have ball and sockets, geared, three way pan tilt to name just a few. Ball heads seem more popular in the United States whilst in the UK we seem to favour the three way pan tilt style of head. One is no better than the other its just personal choice.<br />
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My personal choice arrived at after trying all the styles is the Ball & Socket head. I find them easier and quicker to use and the just suit me better.<br />
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In the ball head market place there are some big names and some equally big price tags. You really do need to look at the offerings from Arca Swiss, Really Right Stuff, Acratec, Kirk and Gitzo, along with possibly Manfrotto but I must admit I have never found Manfrotto heads to be very good apart from the one mentioned below. In the main Manfrotto products seem very heavy and over engineered. I have tried many of their tripods and heads and had loads of problems, now I just don't go near them. But for some people they see to work really well.<br />
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For me there are two main choices, Acratech & Really Right Stuff. My tripod head of choice is the Acratech GV2.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsI2WiAtJGQ/TVVo69gl08I/AAAAAAAAADg/Af2WxK86KIc/s1600/1019787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsI2WiAtJGQ/TVVo69gl08I/AAAAAAAAADg/Af2WxK86KIc/s320/1019787.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I spend a lot of time working in mud, on beaches and pretty hostile places to camera gear, The open ball design of the Acratech won me over. There is just no place for dirt and grit to collect. These heads are also very light weight and combined with my Gitzo or Gittos tripods they are a fantastic and very portable combination. They are reliable and very simple to use.<br />
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The Acratec also functions as a small gimbal head which is great when working with long lenses. I use mine most days with my Nikkor 200-400 F4.0 and it is superb.<br />
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Take a look at the <a href="http://acratech.net/home.php?cat=1">Acratec Website</a> for some really detailed information <br />
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Now if I am honest and money was no object I would use the Really Right Suff Ball Head, however these are not sold in the Uk and I could not justify the import cost. If they had a UK supplier I would say the RRS would be my number one choice. I have never used a RRS head but the design just looks to be right. Maybe one day I will get to America and try one for myself.<br />
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The <a href="http://reallyrightstuff.com/Index.aspx?code=46&key=fr">Really Right Stuff</a> web site contains a vast amount of information covering just about everything you need to know about tripods and heads.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lt0cvQq695U/TVURNSVO5hI/AAAAAAAAACo/469ndJm7m_8/s1600/BH55LR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lt0cvQq695U/TVURNSVO5hI/AAAAAAAAACo/469ndJm7m_8/s320/BH55LR.png" /></a></div><br />
I use two other heads myself. One is a geared Manfrotto model number 410<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-az_0YqEvyjM/TVR0b9In21I/AAAAAAAAACY/k1TvK-IjmCA/s1600/Manfrotto%2B410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-az_0YqEvyjM/TVR0b9In21I/AAAAAAAAACY/k1TvK-IjmCA/s320/Manfrotto%2B410.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I find this head superb when I need maximum control, when using 5x4 cameras or medium format digital. Not a head I use often but when needed fits the bill very well.<br />
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My final head is the Gittos MH5001<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_UY1vW4_clU/TVR1BezvPPI/AAAAAAAAACg/Dlt0tLVFmOI/s1600/Gittos%2BMH5001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_UY1vW4_clU/TVR1BezvPPI/AAAAAAAAACg/Dlt0tLVFmOI/s320/Gittos%2BMH5001.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I own two of these but they are for use by training delegates who have yet to discover the advantages of tripods. I never use a three way head myself, but the Gittos is very good indeed and retails for a very sensible price, making it a good first tripod head. Easily able to support a DSLR camera and lenses up to 100-400mm.<br />
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This covers the main heads I use on a daily basis. All that remains now is to look at how we connect the camera to the head. This is vital to the sturdiness of the entire setup, and for me there is only one way to do this and as with most things photographic its not the cheapest option.<br />
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I use the Arca-Swiss dovetail plates made for specific cameras. These are from two main suppliers Kirk and Really Right Stuff. You simply purchase a plate which is shaped to the dase of your camera. This is 100% reliable and avoids twist, which is a common problem with other systems. Acratech also make a good range of camera specific plates but as yet I have not used one. Being an Acratech product I would have no hesitation in doing so.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rd20aR-pVfo/TVUTDOePWNI/AAAAAAAAACw/KdIWi6ftyVc/s1600/1520908_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rd20aR-pVfo/TVUTDOePWNI/AAAAAAAAACw/KdIWi6ftyVc/s320/1520908_3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As you can see the plates are designed so you simply move the camera to a vertical or horizontal position, lock the clamp and away you go. My plates have all come from <a href="http://ww.warehouseexpress.com">ww.warehouseexpress.com</a> who stock a range suitable for most cameras including some of the better compacts. Another big advantage of these plates is the way they keep the weight of the camera directly over the tripod centre axis, this again helps the stability of the setup.<br />
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You can also obtain camera specific plates that don't offer the 90 degree angle capability. These are cheaper and are a good alternative to the more bulky "L Plates" as they are called.<br />
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The kirk plates I use have never caused me a problem, and I have one available for each camera body I own. Its a system you need to check out for yourself but in most cases I think you will be impressed.<br />
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I also use the same type of plate on my 70-200mm F2.8 Nikkor. In this case I use a Wimberly lens plate and I also use Wimberly replacement lens feet on on my 200-400mm and 600mm Nikkor Lenses. In the latter case the Nikon supplied lens foot is removed and replaced with a low profile lens plate which has a built in Arca style dovetail.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-anaHchwlnHk/TVUj3XS5hfI/AAAAAAAAADA/QyCrBKAIPuA/s1600/rf.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="152" width="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-anaHchwlnHk/TVUj3XS5hfI/AAAAAAAAADA/QyCrBKAIPuA/s320/rf.gif" /></a></div><br />
As well as being rock solid these plates mean ever single item of equipment has its own specific anti twist connection to the tripod. The system is fantastic and when my training clients see and try out the system they simply fall in love with the reliability, simplicity and ease of use. The entire package just liberates your tripod user experience and many of the issues around tripod based photography vanish in the swipe of your credit card<br />
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I also use a generic Wimberly plate which fits any camera, it does not offer the 90 degree angle but the fact that it is very small and fits any camera is makes it a great tool on training courses, were I come across the odd Canon or Sony body!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsKfveKLTJs/TVUk5TaWkfI/AAAAAAAAADI/m9SH_NnPUwo/s1600/cp2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="174" width="249" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsKfveKLTJs/TVUk5TaWkfI/AAAAAAAAADI/m9SH_NnPUwo/s320/cp2.gif" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVMxC9HlY50/TVUk9f61PjI/AAAAAAAAADQ/R5UID1D1ZN4/s1600/cp3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="212" width="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVMxC9HlY50/TVUk9f61PjI/AAAAAAAAADQ/R5UID1D1ZN4/s320/cp3.gif" /></a></div><br />
This generic plate is a great product and please don't confuse it with the cheap plates supplied with many standard tripod heads.<br />
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Last and by no means least we need to look at how to support the big long lenses, the 500mm and 600mm monsters used for wildlife and bird photography. Here for me the choice is very easy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ErZ6aPExvc8/TVUWcG5Sn7I/AAAAAAAAAC4/XoFpnVHtG60/s1600/1012216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ErZ6aPExvc8/TVUWcG5Sn7I/AAAAAAAAAC4/XoFpnVHtG60/s320/1012216.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Wimberly Head makes a 600mm Nikkor weightless and so easy to use. Again its expensive at over £500 but the design and construction is superb. In all honesty if your going to £9,000 for a lens then the cost of the Wimberly head is a small price to pay in order to get the most from your investment.<br />
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Again the </a>Wimberly website will give you all the information you need.<br />
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Just to finish off the complete system I have adapted a simple Manfrotto head to work with Arca Style Plates.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-av-ZDQnQXkw/TVUn-vSnCCI/AAAAAAAAADY/_pe4dS9JKa0/s1600/C-12-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="223" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-av-ZDQnQXkw/TVUn-vSnCCI/AAAAAAAAADY/_pe4dS9JKa0/s320/C-12-large.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This very easy conversion took a few seconds to do and means that I can simply mount all my camera bodies and lenses directly onto my Gitzo monopod. The entire systen is seamless. Its also worth noting these tripod head plates can be retro fitted to many other non Arca Style heads. This can be a good way to save some money or use a particular head your find works well for you<br />
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So thats it, these are the product I use and can say with 100% confidence after much research they are the best on the market for my personal photography. There are many other products on the market for example Gitzo make some great heads, but I have never found them to be as good as the Acratech. Kirk and Arca-Swiss make superb ball heads but I have had many problems with them locking up and they are very heavy compared to the Acratech. Try them all and make your own choice.<br />
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If you do decide to take my advice and look at any of these products I would advise you pay a visit to one of the best suppliers I have ever come across <a href="http://www.bobrigby.com/">Bob Rigby</a> they keep a great range in stock and will offer you good honest advise.<br />
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Another great supplier I would advise you consider is <a href="http://www.warehouseexpress.com">Warehouse Express</a> they stock both the Gitzo and Gittos range as well as Kirk products and have been one of my regular suppliers for over 12 years now, suberb service and good prices. As always if your in the North West my local supplier <a href="http://www.wilkinson.co.uk">Wilkinson Cameras</a> will be able to help as they stock both the Gitzo and Gittos range.<br />
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Hope this helps and if you have any questions I will be more than happy to at least try and answer them.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-56909753996280714632011-02-10T11:30:00.000-08:002011-02-10T14:30:58.006-08:00Latest ImagesI made the short trip up the M6 on Tuesday to Morecambe. I grew up in the small Lancashire town, its a place that often gets very negative press, in no small part it fell victim to some very poor TV comedians many years ago and the bad name has stayed with the seaside resort.<br />
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For me Morecambe has many things to offer not least its stunning Landscape. In my very early days of photography, I would spend countless hours trying to capture the magic of the bay. I have seen it in many moods, from calm and tranquil to very angry and powerful.<br />
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My first stop on the trip was to Sunderland Point. The point gets cut off twice every day by the fast rising tides of Morecambe Bay and consists of a few small houses a small number of fishing boats and very little else. However what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in beauty.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5433710089/" title="_SPA3467 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5433710089_babe8b4d0f.jpg" width="500" height="239" alt="_SPA3467" /></a><br />
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Not wanting to cut off by the tide, my time on Sunderland Point was restricted and whilst there the light was not at its best, so a few return trips will be needed to get the image I have in mind. I set off with the intention of capturing black and white images but I only shot colour on this trip.<br />
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Next I made the short drive to Morecambe itself and found a spot on the Bay that looked promising. Then knowing Morecambe Bay pretty well, it was a case of playing with viewpoints and waiting for the magical light, so often found in Morecambe to develop.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5434782976/" title="_SA37411.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5434782976_b3f8bd012b.jpg" width="500" height="276" alt="_SA37411.jpg" /></a><br />
Nikkor 24-70mm F2.8 Lee Big Stopper<br />
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I was really pleased with the Images from the bay and I had the visual treat of one of Morecambe's famous sunsets.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5434333874/" title="_SA37459-2 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/5434333874_27a145d0d9.jpg" width="500" height="248" alt="_SA37459-2" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5434339450/" title="_SA37478 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5434339450_b167f34c75.jpg" width="500" height="243" alt="_SA37478" /></a><br />
Both images 24-70mm F2.8 Lee 0.9ND Grad<br />
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The lighting in all these images is totally natural very little post production was done on them. In the few hours I was on the beach the light changed from the most amazing blue and purple to a subtle pinky orange glow as the sun went down.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-56076245115752028782011-02-09T06:28:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:28:54.171-08:00Canon's new 200-400mm F4 LIS Lens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TVKjDCLqNLI/AAAAAAAAACA/fMM2uR51EZw/s1600/EF-200-400mm-f4L-IS-USM-EXTENDER-1.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TVKjDCLqNLI/AAAAAAAAACA/fMM2uR51EZw/s320/EF-200-400mm-f4L-IS-USM-EXTENDER-1.4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Its not very often I post about Canon equipment on the blog, but most of my training clients use Canon gear and I know for a long time the Canon users have been desperate for a lens in the 200-400mm range.<br />
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Well the wait is nearly over. Yesterday Canon released the new 200-400mm F4.0 and as an added bonus the new lens features the addition of a 1.4x converter, which is activated by a small switch on the top of the lens barrel.<br />
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All in all it looks a fantastic lens and fills a massive gap in the Canon range. I know a number of wildlife photographers changed to Nikon simply because of the 200-400mm Lens.<br />
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I predict this will be a very popular lens and a great investment for the Canon shooter. Also released yesterday was information on upgrades to the 500mm and 600mm lenses which was expected after the design changes made to the 300 and 400mm lenses last year.<br />
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Looks like the constant leap frog tactics of Nikon and Canon is hotting up. There will In my opinion be a new pro Nikon body this year to replace the D3s and I think some new nikon lenses are on the horizon very soon. I just hope we see a Nikkor 17mm Tilt and shift!!<br />
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I guess you canin shooters need to start saving!!!Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-46026803127089042382011-01-26T04:25:00.000-08:002011-01-26T04:29:03.977-08:00I wouldn’t normally mention political subjects on this blog but hopefully this goes beyond this. The governmane is currently proposing the sell-off of all publicly owned forests. We have to smallest percentage of forest land of any European country and our access to it is being eroded. This move would undoubtedly have a detrimental affect on the management of the woodlands as fare as environmental and public use is concerned. Please consider the facts presented on the following websites and, if you think our forests should stay in public hands, please sign the petitions.<br />
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Woodland Trust <a href="http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/Pages/default.aspx">Woodland Trust</a>Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-43070558705902971422011-01-20T03:26:00.000-08:002011-01-20T03:26:43.261-08:00Perch Rock Light House New Brighton<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5371978171/" title="180111_000015 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5371978171_82220d2d0e.jpg" width="500" height="266" alt="180111_000015" /></a><br />
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First image from yesterdays landscape One2One which I held around the fantastic landscape of Perch Rock on the Mersey Estuary. We had a great day, starting at first light and shooting pretty much non stop until well after sunset.<br />
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Todays delegate wanted to look at some more advanced shooting techniques and the use of filters. The images he shot yesterday will be used when we do a second training day next week. This will enable him to see the process through from concept to completion, he will go home with some stunning large format prints when he visits the studio next week for a slightly warmer training day!Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-83957850281250433602011-01-18T17:05:00.000-08:002011-01-18T17:05:02.624-08:00Latest One2One SessionSpent Tuesday with another great training client. He wanted to cover some exposure issues and the use of filters for his landscape photography. After a nice early start we went looking for images on the Coast.<br />
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Here is one of my images from the session. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5368010147/" title="Fleetwood 1 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5368010147_dc718ea647.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Fleetwood 1" /></a><br />
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Anybody wanting to spend some time on a One2One give me a shout. We can cover a lot of topics in a full day... A really great way to move your photography to the level. Don't forget I am always happy to help via the blog or e-mail if you have any burning questions.<br />
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Full week of location shooting this week, I have another training course booked in for Wednesday on the Dee Estuary / Wirral Estuary,and then a couple of days on personal projects.<br />
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Also working on a posting looking at all things concerning tripod heads. All being well should be able to post this before the weeks out.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-50084012969594492542011-01-13T12:35:00.000-08:002011-01-13T12:35:34.550-08:00Marmite<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5352129413/" title="_SPA9862.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5352129413_6e3d0b8aa4.jpg" width="500" height="223" alt="_SPA9862.jpg" /></a><br />
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Don't worry, this is not going to be a posting about the most hated traditional British food....<br />
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For some time now I have been finding my self drawn to take images which some years ago, in fact in some cases only months ago I would have never considered taking and to be honest if I had seen them as examples of other photographers work, I would have had very strong opinions against them.<br />
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I seem to be on a more artistic path and at first was very concerned that people would not like these new images. I think as photographers we all worry people wont like our images, and as a professional photographer it could lead to a disaster. <br />
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Why I have started to head down this path I have no idea, I seem to be looking at more and more images from other photographers. Photographic books have been like a magnet to me since I was a teenager, but more and more I seem to be looking at diverse types of images.<br />
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My love of the outdoors and the natural world and the way I combine this with my passion for photography seems to be fueling this artistic quest. Looking for new ways to capture the landscape in a way that inspires me is giving me a lot of pleasure at the moment.<br />
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For many years as a photographer I have worked to tight deadlines and in some ways been forced to take pictures that had little appeal for me. Maybe I have always had this desire to satisfy my own personal vision, maybe I have just reached a point in my life were I need to look at things in a different way. <br />
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The sheer joy of standing behind the tripod and simply waiting for the right light has become a massive part of my life and I find myself constantly looking for ways to slow down the photographic process. Many of the images I see in print and on the web seem to reflect the desire to get a picture quickly at all costs, maybe going back to film is the way for me to go, possibly, only time will tell.<br />
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The lure of going back to my photographic roots is very strong, but in the end I still need to make a living as a photographer, so digital imaging seems to be the only viable direction. Choices Choices.... The taking of pictures seems to have become so important for so many people, it seems a shame so few of these images ever get printed, maybe the speed and ease of image capture removes the connection with the image we enjoyed as film photographers.<br />
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Long gone is the joy of waiting for the Velvia to arrive back from the lab and the sheer joy of viewing those 5x4 images on the light box.<br />
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Many possible directions to consider both on a technical and an artistic level. So why the title Marmite..... Very simple I have come to accept that in the quest to satisfy my own artistic interests, I will take pictures I love and others hate or simply don't get!! <br />
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What is important to me is that the viewer has an opinion. You either love it or hate it but we all have an opinion on Marmite..... I now have a complete section in our stock library called MARMITE, in it goes all the stuff I am not sure about, one day it may form a book or produce good print sales, or it may just get deleted. Who knows, what I do know is I am loving the quest to find out just who I am artistically speaking.<br />
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Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings and please feel free to chip in anytime you like.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-55836044463754452462011-01-12T16:36:00.000-08:002011-01-13T16:09:18.358-08:00More from Tuesdays one 2 oneAs mentioned in my previous posting, I spent yesterday at Martin Mere WWT reserve. The agenda for the day was to cover some of the more basic photographic theory such as exposure, focusing techniques and in general how to squeeze the best possible performance from today's sophisticated SLR's.<br />
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On these more theory based days we cover a lot of ground and still find plenty of time for some photography practice.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5352127115/" title="Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5352127115_cbb14ea20b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Water rail (Rallus aquaticus)" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5350639644/" title="_SPA9843.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5350639644_dfd7169a1d.jpg" width="500" height="242" alt="_SPA9843.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5350036419/" title="_SPA0120.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5350036419_d05843409a.jpg" width="500" height="287" alt="_SPA0120.jpg" /></a><br />
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I have seen this Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on a few previous visits to the reserve, so we <br />
made a point of stopping by to try for a few images. We were not disappointed and we both <br />
managed a few nice frames of this fascinating bird. <br />
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Whilst a reasonably common species, the Water Rail is a relatively elusive species, more often heard than seen. What was interesting about this bird was the way it was picking small frozen fish from the surface of the frozen pond. I must say I haven't seen this behaviour before. I'm interested to know just how the birds digestive system copes with frozen food!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5350637474/" title="_SPA9810.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5350637474_3b4d745a91.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_SPA9810.jpg" /></a><br />
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We also captured a few Shots of a very confident Moor Hen(Gallinula chloropus) which showed well in some super light. The Moor Hen was also feeding on the frozen fish, so this must be fairly normal winter practice for these water birds.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5350034275/" title="_SPA9977.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5350034275_99582c6724.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_SPA9977.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5350643382/" title="_SPA9964.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5350643382_d4d6c231cf.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_SPA9964.jpg" /></a><br />
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To finish off the day we stopped by the Swan Link Hide aiming to catch some Whooper Swans and do a spot of wader photography to test the focusing skills.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5350653816/" title="_SPA0223.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5350653816_3839d275f3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_SPA0223.jpg" /></a><br />
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Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) all images Nikon D3s Nikkor 600mm F4VRSteve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-73412114422104684262011-01-11T11:38:00.000-08:002011-01-11T11:38:14.984-08:00One 2 One Training Day At Martin Mere WWT Reserve<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5346460565/" title="Whooper Swans (Martin Mere) by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5346460565_7c48dbe061.jpg" width="500" height="330" alt="Whooper Swans (Martin Mere)" /></a><br />
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Just a quick post from todays One 2 One photographic training day at Martin Mere. Spent the day with a great delegate covering many of the photo basics as they relate to bird photography. We had some great views of a Water Rail and I will post some images as soon as I can.<br />
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I just love being able to share my love of wildlife and photography with people so keen to learn, Its a great job!!!!<br />
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Plenty more sessions like this booked in over the coming weeks and months, more days crammed with great company, wildlife and photography.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-69393789277715681392011-01-07T01:52:00.000-08:002011-01-12T06:19:08.879-08:00Grey January SkiesThe first few days of the new year have been spent on trip planning and post production, mainly due to the dark and very grey conditions we been stuck with at the moment.<br />
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There has been a great interest in ONe 2 ONe training courses and the next few weeks will see some great interesting days with new training clients which I am really going to enjoy, and Im sure they will too.<br />
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So very few new images to show to be honest. However I did manage a trip out to do some location planning for future trips and found myself on the beach at Blackpool in Lancashire. Here are just a couple of images from the day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5332799160/" title="20110102-_SPA8673.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5332799160_305537256b.jpg" width="500" height="325" alt="20110102-_SPA8673.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5332186665/" title="20110102-_SPA8681.jpg by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5332186665_45b79e302b.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="20110102-_SPA8681.jpg" /></a>Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-48257228494236390322011-01-02T02:47:00.000-08:002011-01-02T03:05:27.145-08:00Tripods (You can't live without them)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5314968733/" title="_SA34458 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5314968733_287ffc938b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_SA34458" /></a><br />
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After many requests for more technical articles on the blog, here we go with what is the first of many, I hope!!<br />
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I pondered for some considerable time, as to what the first technical article should be. I considered all the sexy equipment I use and decided we should start with the most basic equipment first.<br />
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It never ceases to amaze me the number of delegates that turn up on my courses and the number of photographers I see out in the field who don't use or indeed own a good tripod. I have even had delegates who own 500mm and 600mm lenses who tell me they don't need one or they just can't be bothered to carry a tripod. These same people will constantly worry about dust spots on sensors and photograph news papers in their garden to test the sharpness of lenses.... A strange breed!!<br />
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I can honestly say the tripod is the single most used item of equipment I own, and I use a tripod for 90% of my images. Its the first Item packed and the very first item unpacked on location.<br />
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Firstly the tripod you choose needs to be sturdy and reliable. It needs to be quick and easy to operate in particular it needs to be light enough that you can carry it. Also its a great help if the tripod reaches high enough, so you don't need to bend. Low level ability is also a great feature, which I use very often.<br />
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Over the years I have used most makes of tripod some have been good others have been a waste of money and about 10 years ago I decided I needed to take a really long hard look at what was available and buy a tripod that would do everything I needed and last more than the 12 months or so my previous tripods had managed to survive.<br />
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For me there was only one choice, and that was Gitzo carbon Fibre tripods and I decided on the 1645 model which at the time set me back over £500. It seemed a crazy price to pay for a simple tripod, but its still going strong after 10 hard years. Its been used in jungles and deserts, its stood in 3 feet of snow and its often seen standing in sea water or mud. It has possibly been the best investment I have made in photo equipment.<br />
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The only complaint with the Gitzo was the design of the leg locks, which could be a bit tricky to operate. Also as digital equipment developed I sold my large and medium format camera systems. This gave me the chance to look for a smaller and lighter tripod, and a few months ago when I was upgrading my long lenses, I decided to look at the smaller tripods in the Gitzo range.<br />
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After some internet research I decided on the Gitzo GT3530LS and this is now the tripod I use every day. I use it for all my landscape and macro work and I also use it to support all my long lenses, including the 600mm Nikkor. The 3530 weighs just over 4 pounds and uses the new 6x carbon tubing. The leg locks are a new design which are so easy to operate even when wearing gloves. Were possible I add to the mass of the tripod by using a bungee cord between the tripod and my photo pack. This enables the use of a lighter tripod in all but the most windy conditions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TSBTAmN0dwI/AAAAAAAAABc/P5-OiwyuG8Y/s1600/Tripod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TSBTAmN0dwI/AAAAAAAAABc/P5-OiwyuG8Y/s320/Tripod.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The tripod is very sturdy indeed, so much so I have not used my Gitzo 1645 since getting the new legs. So without doubt for most general photography and long lens telephoto work the Gitzo GT3530 is the tripod I would advise you to purchase.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TSBUDEwc-CI/AAAAAAAAABk/BNOfu-4UWvg/s1600/Legs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TSBUDEwc-CI/AAAAAAAAABk/BNOfu-4UWvg/s320/Legs.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TSBUHA9ouaI/AAAAAAAAABs/52e_oyNJ37E/s1600/Plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TSBUHA9ouaI/AAAAAAAAABs/52e_oyNJ37E/s320/Plate.jpg" /></a></div><br />
But lets be real for me a tripod is a vital item of equipment I need it to make my living, so the price tag of £500 or so is justified. For most people this is a lot to pay for a tripod, for others the cost excludes it from their short list. So for a few seconds lets look at more affordable options. In fact when you consider a tripod like this is also going to need a head, this will possibly set you back a further £400. So a good pro grade tripod can easily be a £1,000 investment. A serious commitment by anybody's standards.<br />
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As I mentioned over the years I have used most tripods and in the more popular price range there is only one make that has impressed me and that is Gittos. They make a superb range of very reasonably priced tripods including a selection of Carbon Fibre legs. These do seem to offer a great compromise between cost and affordability.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TSBXhbgE-hI/AAAAAAAAAB0/ZfU9k6ICw28/s1600/Gittos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hiWCh8fn8eM/TSBXhbgE-hI/AAAAAAAAAB0/ZfU9k6ICw28/s320/Gittos.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Gittos Tripod<br />
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So if you are looking for a lower cost good all round tripod I would advise you take a look at the Gittos range. In fact I own a couple of their MTL8261B tripods. These are used by the training delegates who don't yet own their own tripod, or who have purchased a less reliable brand which seems to fall apart at regular intervals. The Gittos tripods will not hold the long lenses like the 600mm, but for most general work they are a really great product.<br />
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If you do decide to take my advice and look at the Gitzo range of tripods. I would advise you pay a visit to one of the best suppliers I have ever come across <a href="http://www.bobrigby.com/">Bob Rigby</a> they keep a great range in stock and will offer you good honest advise.<br />
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Another great supplier I would advise you consider is <a href="http://www.warehouseexpress.com">Warehouse Express</a> they stock both the Gitzo and Gittos range and have been one of my regular suppliers for over 12 years now, suberb service and good prices. As always if your in the North West my local supplier <a href="http://www.wilkinson.co.uk">Wilkinson Cameras</a> will be able to help as they stock both the Gitzo and Gittos range <br />
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So the end of my first technical article, Not a review but just some good advice which I hope will help you enjoy your photography and produce better images.<br />
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Finally, Here I have covered tripods, but to use a tripod you need a tripod head and these I will cover in the next posting.Steve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632627412236320861.post-55597290029192031542011-01-02T01:14:00.000-08:002011-01-02T01:14:51.909-08:00More Whoopers!!Despite heavy mist all day on my last trip to Martin Mere, a few more images has come out of post production.<br />
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Every once in a while I get an image that Im just not sure about. Cant decide if I like or not. The first image here is on such example.<br />
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Part of me likes the feeling the picture gives of these birds in flight on the long cold trip to their winter feeding grounds. Please let me know what you think. As always your comments are very welcome.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5313724115/" title="Whooper Swans In Flight by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5313724115_d23f70426c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Whooper Swans In Flight" /></a><br />
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The second image is a simple flight shot of a pair of whoopers. I must say given the poor conditions I was amazed how well the Nikon D3s coped and its ability to track white birds in thick mist was superb.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15291178@N07/5315502974/" title="_SPA8529 by steve.ashton7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5315502974_7c937a48b8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_SPA8529" /></a><br />
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Both Images Nikon D3s Nikkor 600mm F4vrSteve Ashton Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14208369544255337860noreply@blogger.com1