300mm

The last weekend of January, and I'm stuck in doors. Saturday I was busy which meant it all depended on Sunday. We were going to Flower Farm for breakfast; cake and tea. It would make up for me not cycling yesterday.

I woke up to heavy rain being blown against the bedroom window. I was just about to send an abort text; Matt beat me to it.

So what to do with my day? I haven't had a photoshoot since this one. After breakfast it was time to get the camera out before it started raining again.

I have plans for March that include using a 300mm prime lens. It's not one I use very often so I needed to see how it performed as a portrait lens. I wanted to use it at its maximum aperture. This would blur the background and help the subject stand out. Giving a 3D effect. I don't think a camera phone can do that, even with the software and two lens trickery they now have. I have previously used a 80-200mm for portraits but I hadn't used the long end of the zoom for full length shots. Preferring around 100mm because I could still use the flash on camera to obtain the right exposure balance. With a longer lens the flash would have to be closer to the subject. This would be difficult without an assistant.  In March I have a second person helping me, so he can hold the light.

Photographing my bike which isn't very tall meant I had to open the side gate and leave the garden to get it all in, I ended up over thirty feet away.

I like the result, I think it does have a 3D feel. High speed sync meant I could control the ambient, or background light with the shutter speed. The trigger allowed me to adjust the power of the flash remotely, so no walking back and forth. I intend to test this setup again to make sure there are no problems in March when there'll be people to wonder what the problem is if I stop shooting. The bike just stood there impassively, only showing some impatience by falling over. Although that could have been the wind or the bricks moving.

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Robert Mapplethorpe

A film was made about Robert Mapplethorpe's life last year. It got me thinking again about famous photographers. I keep coming back to this subject, here is a link to my last post about it. 

He was very controversial, with many exhibitions and protests as a result.

I searched for examples of his work, and I have to say I found what I expected. Black and white, stark pictures of famous people. And explicit portraits. Part of his fame was because of the sexual content of his pictures. But does that make them good pictures?

And this on the BBC website, why is it the best album cover ever?

The celebrity portraits, why is he remembered for them, even revered? The fact he had access that others didn't could be a reason, but the pictures are not remarkable. He hasn't connected to the subjects, so it can't be that skill.

The sexual pictures, could be classed as porn. They are of sex acts and show sexual arrousal. But because of who he was and that they are black and white; it's art. Exhibitions of his work were cancelled, because of the content. But that just increased his fame.

I just don't get it. Today artists like Tracey Emin for example seem to gain more fame and fortune as they move further away from what I think most would see as art. It seems the more controversial you are, the more success you will have.

Art can give topics and issues more exposure, maybe help to bring about change. But if the majority of people need the topic or issue explained because the art doesn't do it. How is that helping? It just becomes elitist, a way to show off wealth. And to demostrate intelligence because they "get it" and most don't.

I am happy with my photography, it would be great to make a living from it. But for now I'll push myself to be more creative, and explore opportunities as they come my way.

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Not quite lights out

Matt is back, so it was the long way to the bus stop. He had been to Rome and it was time to chat about the trip. His blog posts had prepared my, he's not into tourist activities. He did see some of the sites of Rome, but was more interested in finding interesting places to eat. I know what he means. There is a lot of history but at such a busy place you are always moving. Throngs of people all josseling to take pictures, selfies mostly. It seems they are more interested in ticking the place of a list than really appreciating where they are. As a photographer I notice that most of the time they don't even stop walking, just point the camera and click. I like to compose the shot, try to get a picture that is a little different. What's the point taking the same picture as everyone else?

When I visit a place the cafe is where I gravitate to because, like Matt, I prefer to relax. The outside area is also the best part. A wander around the grounds allows time to chill out. And it's normally much less crowded than the big house or castle. We're both not really interested in who slept where a long time ago.

Back to the cycling; it was much colder than yesterday. My toes and fingers were soon painful, but on the bright side it's getting lighter in the mornings. I still need to turn the lights on as I leave the house, but unless it's foggy, they don't stay on for the whole ride.

The forecast is for snow this week. I hope it doesn't happen. It's fun for about five minutes and then really unpleasant. And there is the day to day stuff. Public transport grinds to a halt, the roads quickly become blocked, and panic buying sets in. Snow rarely stays for more than a day or two, but everyone strips the shelves of bread and milk etc. It saddens me how much must be thrown away because it isn't used before it goes off.

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Bullbeggars Lane

A solo ride today, so I took the Kona past Godstone, round the Enterdent loop and back. I noticed a lane as I left Godstone, and followed it back to the church. It's called Bullbeggars Lane. I can't find out why it has that name. I did discover that when the plague decimated the area the dead were buried in two pits either side of the lane; one for men, one for women. If you know more, please leave a comment bellow.

It wasn't as cold as the forecast said it would be, so I had too many layers on, but it did mean that when I stopped to take pictures I didn't feel the windchill from the chilly breeze.

I was on the mountain bike so went off road for part of the ride. I can't keep the bike too clean for long. I probably have another visit to the jetwash in my future.

I cycled through Marden Park to Gangers Hill then on to Godstone.

The main reason to go cycling is chatting, and tea; without it I arrived home sooner that usual. It will be the two of us tomorrow so the question will be a cafe or not. My vote is for a cafe.

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keeping them safe

I have written before about the reasons to pay for a photographer, please click on the link to read them.

I read about a couple who did have a professional photographer shoot their wedding. The article didn't say if they paid him; he was a close friend.

All of his equipment was stolen. The couple and the writer of the article seem very forgiving, both saying he was doing his best to get the memory cards back and asking other guests to contibute their pictures to an album he is compiling.

At first it appeared the crime occurred soon after the ceremony, but it actually happened a week later. Meaning for a week the photographer carried the only media containing the wedding files around in his camera bag.

This got me thinking. After a shoot I travel home and then copy the files to my computer, which is backed up to an external drive. This is kept at another location when I am not using it. But what about the travel between venues and then the journey home. I’ve read a lot from professional photographers, online and in magazines, they say the camera must have two cards, you must backup your files from the computer. But I haven’t read anything about that period after the shoot but before you get to your computer. Shooting tethered with an internet connection could alow immediate off site backup, but what if you are on location and off line?

I know back in the days of film there was only one copy, and no backup until the negatives could be duplicated. Today photographers are very focused on backups and duplicates. When Nikon released the Z6 and 7 with only one card slot the internet exploded with criticism. It had calmed down by the time Canon released their mirrorless range with only one slot. Even having two slots wouldn't have helped the photographer because they would both have been in the camera.

I guess there is only so much you can do to avert disaster. From now on I’ll remove the memory cards after a shoot and keep them on me.

I’m not sure how practical uploading from the camera or computer straight after a shoot would be.

But I would never leave it a week without backing up my files, and certainly not for a set as valuable as a wedding shoot.

As I said in the post I linked to at the top of this page. Having a professional provide a service should mean you can expect a level of competence. I don’t know if waiting a week to backup the files was normal for this guy or not, but it would seem he let the couple down and showed a lack of professionalism.

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tea with a view

Another cycle to a new destination, and a great view while drinking tea. Regular readers will know of our obsession with finding nice places to stop for a break. This morning we planned to visit the cottage by the route we had been on when we first found it. But our path was blocked by a closed gate, and a sign that said no footpath. I'm fairly sure that wasn't there the last time we passed this way. So we turned around and followed footpath signs across another field, until they ran out. Which left us next to a low wooden fence we could use as a seat. We got out the tea and biscuits and admired the view.

The bikes, mine in particular, were muddy. I don't normally care too much but the gears were starting to play up again. My local bike shop always comment on my poor maintenance regime, and say it's the reason parts like the gears need replacing as often as they do.

When Matt suggested we use the jet wash on our way back to the green, I initially said no. But as we approached the petrol station I changed my mind. The local bike shop would be so proud. I have a very clean bike now.

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