Hi Everyone
Here we have a photo taken at the world famous Shibuya Crossing, a multi directional people crossing point at the heart of Tokyo.
What I will always love about this photo is that it captures for me the essence of the location. Frenetic, busy, fast, commercial, with the style of dress and the motion. What we have is a slightly slow shutter speed, looking down at the ground at the legs of people rushing over the crossing before the lights changed. This was not a grab shot. It took a few visits and a good few hours to get the right light, position, shutter speed and then a bit of luck.
To capture the essence of a location can take a few days of walking around until you get the feel for it. I have a photo in Grand Central Station New York that frankly took multiple visits and a whole day in hours to capture. Yes sometimes you have to put in the time, but I have always found when you do that the photo to be much more personally valuable.
So don't just try to record a location, try and capture the essence of what a location means to you.
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Hi Everyone
If your eye catches something, your mind almost stops itself with a spike of ouhh I like that. Then follow through on this emotional reaction, stop and take the shot. In fact my tip is really stop, evaluate the shot, take a few and don't rush. Often I've just grabbed a shot without having the courage to really stop, compose the shot, get the right settings and squeeze the best out of scene.
Here we have two bikes in Bologna Italy which caught my eye. Maybe it's the interrelationship between the wheels, maybe the colours, I don't know. I stopped took a few photos, although I should have taken longer, but at least I stopped as I still like this photo.
So keep looking out for images and if you like it, shoot it!
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Hi Everyone
Here is a photo from a South American town. It was an autumn day and a bit grey. So instead of fighting against the lack of colour I used it and switched the photo to Black & White. When we travel we cannot hope to emulate all the images we see on the internet, taken in great light, by a pro photographer, who has been waiting all year for the right moment. We have to deal with what we have, be it rain, dull clouds...whatever. So when you look at your photos consider a switch to Black and White to see if they look better, sometimes it does, sometimes not, but it's an options that is often ignored.
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Well here we have a photo of Christ in RIO. It's a great photo that makes me smile remembering a happy holiday.
I actually sold this photo to the Rough Guide......but why. Because with the wispy clouds it's slightly different from the norm and this gives the feeling of being high up.
Also what you do not see is the great mass of people all around the base of the statue. So when you see something on your travels that is surrounded by people try and lift the shot a little and keep them out - they often distract from the real subject.
Here is another example. The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, to the right is a crowd of people all taking photos from the path. I walked down onto the rocks, out of the way and got a different shot without the people. Now mine is not the greatest photo, it's weak for a lot of reasons. But it's a lot better than if I had followed the crowd and taken the standard photo. Just an idea to help you get a better shot the next time you are on your travels standing in front of an iconic statue or building.
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So here we have Time Square New York, a simply brilliant place for street life and photos.
The key point here is when Darth Vader steps out in front of you be ready to get the shot. OK this is not an awesome photo, but I did at least get a good record of what it was like at the time.
My camera is generally set on AUTO and I adjust the setting off that when doing something specific. I shoot in RAW so I can edit better, but you may wish just to stay in JPEG setting. My phone has the option to double click the ON button and the camera function opens immediately.
So know your gear, have your settings pre set and when you are in an area that has lots of potential have your camera or phone in hand READY!
I also have a great shot of Harrison Ford taken just after this one. You just never know who or what is around the corner. Enjoy
For my regular visitors you will notice I am giving my web site a refresh. For new ones, welcome. I am still aiming to Inspire World Travel through photos. But I am also updating my travel guides and other travel tips / hints. My Blog has a few more examples of what I have learned, with a few more posts in the pipeline. Be kind to me as this is taking a lot of time, but I hope you enjoy the results.
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The photo learning for this blog entry is simple, give your subject space. Especially items that move, eg a boat, plane or car. Here is an example from Hong Kong and the world famous Junk with its red sails. Notice how I have intentionally given it space to sail into on the right.
If I had not done so then the photo for me would not be as good.
As background I saw the junk approaching the dock but I was not in a great position. So I had to run, and I mean run about 200m to get to a spot on the elevated dock. It was worth it as this allowed me to see onto the deck and it just works. It's also a great memory of a wonderful holiday and this photo has also done well in a competition.
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There you are on holiday and a great landscape is all around and you are just so excited you cannot stop taking photos, but stop... here is the challenge. Simply taking the shot at head height is good, as you can see below.
However if you drop down low and get a bit of foreground into the shot, for me, its just so much more interesting and puts the whole scene into more context. It's not prefect as too much grass and flowers can create a sort of barrier to getting into the image. Try it for yourself, experiment and see what balance you prefer.
I did adjust the odd blade of grass to try and give a channel too look through. If I was doing this again I would take a few more shots and each time remove a few more bits of grass. This could be done in editing software but for me that's just time consuming and I prefer to get it right in the camera/phone.
Until next time.
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Well here I am walking along with my compact camera or phone and I see this shot. However it's nothing special, and that's the lesson. All the photos we take cannot be brilliant, or should I say GREAT. It's a pretty shot up a gorge that has some climbers traversing. I did a 30 second edit and cropped into a portrait orientation to try and help emphasise the height. The light on the trees is sympathetic and it's all really nice, but it would not win any competitions. I will keep it and I share it here with a smile as I had a lovely walk and the climbers added a bit of drama.
Do not be scared of taking and keeping a photo you like, remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you like it then that's all the counts. However the other side of the coin is on balance I bet we take many more photos, especially on our phones, than we really should. We can easily become overwhelmed. Try and have a sort through and delete the really duff shots and only keep the ones that mean something, notice I did not say good ones, the ones that mean something. I often find if you leave it a few weeks and then sort through your photos it's easier. I think the emotions have reduced and one can be more self critical and sort quicker.
For this sort of shot I would say try and get it right at the time. Look, think what you are trying to achieve and only take a few, then maybe change location as who knows around the next corner could be an even better view point.
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Hi Everyone
I took over 150 shots over the course of a month to get this one...yes to get the shot you want takes time. Now I am not advocating taking lots of photos. I would take a few, have a look, adjust some settings and then stop for the day. I was and am in search of the right sky, a one awash with colour, yes the great travel photo. It's annoying as we all want it now and frankly this is still not the shot I want. I used a phone, a compact camera and a mirrorless camera shooting in Raw but the kit is not really the issue here it's one of timing. Then suddenly one day the sky was just a step up from the norm and over a period of ten minutes I shot about 20 photos and all were quite different. The key lesson, and that's what my blog is all about, is things change quickly so be ready! Be ready to shoot a lot to capture the changing environment and edit/sort afterwards. It's like you have 23 hours and 50 minutes of not much and then 10 minutes when the light is changing so fast its hard to comprehend. I generally advocate less shots but sometimes rules need to be broken and this for me is one occasion.
There is a second lesson, and never think I am an expert or talking down to you, this is what I am learning and after sharing. The photo shot in RAW looks like nothing dramatic. It's only a 30 second edit pushing the colours does the photo develop more into art than a representation of what I saw or photographed. In a way this is the image I wanted to see and editing software allows me to create it. So yes I really like the result but it's not the end of the journey for the photo I want from this location.....
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A night shot taken on a light show in a French forest. A wonderful experience that was really hard to capture as a photographer. Sometimes you just have to experience things and accept that a photo cannot convey everything.
Walking in the hills around Le Gets, I just loved the soft grey tones of the roof and the grass.
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A brief visit to Denmark and oh what a visit. I did feel inspired and just loved the contrasting light with dramatic weather. I visited a tower in town and the spiral stairs were just a photographers dream...but how to capture it. I had a go and enjoyed the experience and the exercise
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OK a little tip, If you can get a flag in your shot, great, it adds context and tells everyone where you are. BUT it really helps to get the flag so you can see all of it. This was the best I could do on the day after waiting a few minutes and taking lots of photos. SO try not to accept a shot with a flag not unfolded...wait and try and capture the whole flag.
Below is an example from Athens Greece, did I need to tell you that, no as the branding and flags do the talking
Firstly I've had a break away for a while but I'm back. I've generally stopped carrying a camera because I just was not in the right mind set to take photos. Its important to understand that this can happen to us all, no matter what the hobby and its OK to have a break. Over the last few months I've been taking the odd photo but have done nothing with them. But finally I was in the mood and last night I brought a few of these together, did a quick edit on the SNAPSEED app, on the phone and I've just uploaded 18 new photos. I will highlight a few via my blog over the next few weeks. So a break and an evolution, will I always carry a camera again, I'm not sure, but that's not important - its the desire to capture what I see. So just as before join me and we will once again travel.
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OK two shots in Nice France. Similar but very different. The first has 3 people and conveys for me an image of a group of friends chilling. The second on a different day with a vivid sea has a lonely feel and just felt the right shot at the time. I highlight as the contrast in what you can achieve can be massive with the same camera, same location and similar style.
Well travel is still not back to normal but its trying and so am I. A quick visit to Spain and Malaga gives a hint towards the summer we all want. A bit wet but still great to visit and somewhere I hope to return. Keep taking your photos. I have a few new places to share but I have not edited yet. On that note try and get it right in the camera and then wait six weeks before editing. This allows you to forget the good holiday memories and look more objectively at the array of photos you have to choose from. For myself I am not spending too long editing; level, crop, adjust a few levels and 30 seconds later its done, move on. OK its a special photo that was taken in a rush then you might want to spend some time trying to rescue it...but otherwise... focus on getting it right in the camera first time.
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Well its early December and where better to visit than Rome. The colours and the light were sublime and helped to lift my spirits. Often in the winter the grey can lead me to leaving my camera at home, why bother I ask myself. However when the light is out and ohhh in Rome it was the results are worth the effort. I will add that the weather changed and I got soaked in the rain.....lets not make it out that every day I go to take photos things run to plan.
As you may have noticed this web site is not a money making scheme, I don't advertise and if things go wrong I say so. Think that this is more my private hobby photo collection that I share with only those who make a bit of an effort to find. To you welcome, find inspiration and travel.
This month I've also been to Lisbon and its been like seeing a long lost friend. I enjoyed it so much I've already booked flights to return next summer.
So 2021 started in Scotland....lets see where 2022 takes us all, travel well.
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For as long as I can remember I have wanted to visit Istanbul. Maybe its the setting for Bond movies or the history lessons at school, but I've wanted but never had...until now. A few days in Istanbul were better than I expected and somewhere I intend to return. The weather was dull and grey but still it was BRILLIANT. I'll be back, as they say.
Well life and travel have been a bit tricky, hence only a few photos this year. However I have just been to Alicante, Valencia and Barcelona. A wonderful visit to Spain where I must say I felt most welcome.
I have to admit I am struggling to edit my photos. I've given away my laptop and am trying to start again with a PC that was not bought for the purpose of editing photos. I've new software that I am starting to learn. In the meantime I am just using the windows edit suite that's OK for a quick crop and level....but really I need more time to find those photos that are potentially great travel photos ;) and really put the work in.... So for all those that feel they cannot edit, are a bit lost when you come back from a trip with 1000 photos and only a few hours to edit... I am with you.
Here we have a few more photos, edited quickly and in a month I'll go back to the folder and select just a few and put the work into making them really great.
Oh...I've another trip booked for Oct to France, a possible trip in Nov and also Dec... so standby for more travel photos.
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The top 2 are in BCN and the 3rd is in Valencia. I have already tried to edit the 3rd and improved it a bit but then over did it and spoiled the copy...this one gives you a feel for now.
Hi everyone
Here we have sunset on 1st Jan 2021 in Scotland. Let it be a good year for all of us. Hopefully I will get to take many more photos and I'll share when I can.
Lets see where travel is allowed.
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Well for a site based upon travel 2020 has been a bit tricky, but lets not be too negative.
My enforced break from photography has reminded me why I like it so much. I'll be frank I've missed the travel, missed seeing new things and missed looking for a photograph. When you walk about a town looking for photos you look differently, critically and actively. With no camera or travel it's all too easy to just drift.
I've bought a new phone with a great camera. However I'm not sure if the phone is over brightening images. Comparing them to my G7X Canon camera there is a massive difference. I'm going to see how it goes, maybe I've got some settings wrong on the phone. However I do love the wide angle shot option, its ease of use and the ability to share photos quickly. Basically I was carrying both a camera and a phone and taking photos with both or the one that suited the subject the best.
Recently I have been able to travel.....yes go on holiday and see the world again. I've revisited Lisbon, Milan and Stockholm, see below.
I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, but rest assured I am here and as soon as I can take more photos and share I will. Until then look after yourselves and use your camera/phone and look for that photo.
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]]>Well a quick visit to Rome proved a great evening out. My trusty mini tripod and a bit of rain was brilliant. I got some shots of a location I have visited lots and this just proves keep trying, never never give up. Also Inverness Scotland has been added for the first time after a brief visit.
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So there you are you find yourself in a French Demonstration, fireworks, crowds, smoke and noise. To be fair it had a good feel to it and having walked in a side street feeling very uncomfortable I returned to the crowds and felt safer!
So to the photos. Here is an example of emotion and reality. At the time I thought I really had some special photos. However on reflection they are OK but nothing really super special. The lesson is that the emotion of the event is how you feel and the photo is the trigger to that personal emotion. The key is getting the photo so good that it conveys that emotion. I've still a lot to learn.
Until next time.
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]]>Well its been a while. I've had some time away from photography, a mini break which turned into a longer one. I did not plan it, these things just happen. However I'm now back and am refreshed.
Rome is always a favorite and below is a grab shot that came up well. Its all in the eyes and I was lucky.
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Photographing rowing regattas has proven to be really hard. Hence not many of my 1000's of shots making it onto the web site. What I have learnt is that the location for your photo is more important than complaining that you do not have a £10k camera and lens... OK I've not tested that fully.
So here have a few shots from the England gallery that hopefully offer hope for all those also struggling. Get up high onto a bridge and shoot into the direction that you will see the faces of the rowers. Its still not easy to get the timing right as these boats are traveling at some speed, especially an eight. To help yourself set the camera on sports mode, burst shot, be ready and when they pop out have a go. Below are some examples of some brilliant rowers on the Thames. Think Formula One on water, this is true Olympic ethos pure competition.
Well firstly a bit of fun from Oslo and the fantastic reflections in a building. I thought the SELFIE below was even better with the reflection.
Taken from the same location in Oslo looking out and capturing the brilliant light and a lone fisherman. Seconds later he moved which just shows, take the photo when you see it as things change all too quickly.
While in Oslo I saw Rune Eraker describe his fantastic photo exhibition in the Nobel Peace Prize museum... something to see if you can.
Until next month
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]]>A tale of two seas. Aberdeen and The Dead Sea. Wonderful weather allowed the beach at Aberdeen to shine. While the Dead Sea allowed everything to float. Its quite a contrast between the two environments. Scotland is simply a wonderful place. While the Dead Sea is just something special in the world. Now as a photographer how do you capture the essence of the two. Yes we can record it, but how do we add that bit more. I always want to blame my equipment, if only I had X Y or Z. If not then if I had more time to really understand the area. However we rarely in life have either. So this months lesson is just have a go and do your best. My two photos below are not brilliant but they are my best effort. I've tried to keep the Dead Sea shot fun as people float about. While the Aberdeen shot is almost B&W highlighting the hard environment found in the North of Scotland.
Now its over to you to have a go and do your best capturing the environment where you are.... good luck.
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Most people take photos in Jpeg format. It sort of works. However if you have the option to shoot in RAW it can save the day. So you find yourself in say Jordan at Jerash... a group are just demonstrating what it is like to be a gladiator. You set your camera to 1/40th of a second to get a bit of blur from the swords and the action... but its wrong. Its too bright and as these things are over quick all your photos are rubbish, see below. However by shooting in RAW and then using some software all is not totally lost. I have worked at the extremes of the camera and software, ok just my abilities, I am sure others could do a lot more. But here we have a photo cropped and edited, 5 minutes work and we have something that captures the essence of the event, see below. Not as good as I would like but hopefully an example of why you should consider shooting in RAW.
All the best
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Sorry for the lack of posts recently, I've been busy. But I have new photos in Zurich, Oslo, Milan, Glasgow and Rome I have just uploaded.
But here is my photo of the year. Taken on the Spanish steps in Rome. I was trying to get more than the average holiday photo. So up early with not too many people about, set on 40th ish of a second and looking down at the steps and not up. Took a few which were OK. I was there with finger on the button ready for someone to walk down or past me. Then a chap stood up who was sitting on the wall right in front of me. I clicked and I knew it was what I had waited for. I love it because for me it captures the essence of Rome. Style, history and frenetic activity. If you like it, hate it, whatever, the choice is yours and that's a lesson in itself. You must love your photos and if not then change what you are doing.
So I give you my photo of the year... now go and get yours, you can do it.
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Well here we are on Boxing Day in a rural village watching the hunt depart. Not the easiest photo to prepare for and take but the result captures the essence of the scene.
Also the coastline of the UK can be brilliant in the winter, although it can be windy :)
I look forward to another great year of travels and photos. I wish that you can join me and lets see what the world brings us.
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Well a great first visit to Munich... I have actually visited friends and been to Munich a few times but this was my first real visit with a camera. Its a great town but a November visit proved to be really COLD and the daylight was only brief. However a photographer has to use the available light and not fight against the dark but use it. My mini tripod that you all know is so so useful proved to be a great asset yet again.
The lights on the river were great and flashed on and off... so it made getting the timing of a long exposure a bit of trial and error.
See you soon
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Well a trip to a new destination with a new camera, what could be better!
What I learned was that a new water proof camera like the Olympus TG5 is its not that the underwater function that is key. My first efforts were a bit average. But to be fair I think I had the camera on the wrong settings. Plus a quick dive is not enough to learn how to operate in a new medium.
The point is that this camera can now be used on the beach, on a boat, canoe, paddle board etc. All those times when you used to say, "no" I will leave my DSLR or compact in the room to keep it safe... now you say great I have my action camera. The results will not be quite as good but they are lot better than no photo!
I had an OLYMPUS clip on float for the camera and this proved really useful to attach to your life jacket. A simple wrist tie in my view was not good enough. You could clip it to the jacket and then stuff it between it and your body, leaving your arms free to sail, row, swim, jump etc.
So if you are into photography an action camera is a good addition and I am happy I have it as an option. If you are into general travel I would have the Canon G7X or similar over an action camera. Ultimately the choice is yours based on what you will be doing most.
All the best
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Note Both shots below are taken with the Olympus TG5 as Jpeg and edited in Light room. More examples are in the Antigua folder, anything on the beach or water.. others are taken with the Canon G7X Mk1.
A quick return to Copenhagen was a greeted with some sun light in the morning, see above.
A first visit to Frankfurt enabled a few photos. However after many visits to Glasgow I just struggle to get what I want. This just proves that even when you travel like I do its not easy! What I intend to do is to keep visiting and simply get under the skin of the place, work out what makes it tick and then try to take some photos.
A visit to London and Milan added a few more photos to the collection.
So as you can tell I have been busy. Not many photos taken and nothing brilliant but if I keep working hard at it the results will come.
I wish you all the best getting some GREAT TRAVEL PHOTOS for yourself.
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]]>A great visit to Singapore followed by a bus trip and a NEW DESTINATION...KL. A couple photos of France and a sports event, not my normal thing, the IAAF World Championships. Almost everything I have shot has been with my Canon G7X.. so a compact camera...why because its a great balance between image quality and size of camera.
Until next month
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Yes a new camera, but not what you expect. I have just bought an Olympus TG-5... its a new model of a compact water proof, drop proof camera. Its a bit more of a toy than something you expect to get the very best photos from. However expect to see a few underwater shots over the next few months! So no photos from this to share just yet, sorry... I still use my Canon G7X Mk 1 and well its a brilliant camera and something I would recommend to everyone. The Mk II has been released and has a few updates but nothing to substantial as far as I can tell... ie its still an above average compact.
I have just been to Prague and Budapest again and as it is now the summer the light is a bit harsh but you can get a good feel for what these two great cities have to offer.
See you soon
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Sorry for not being around for a little while. I have decided to follow a great photographers top tip and delay editing photos for a few weeks and then look more critically at them. It does help a lot as you see more and discard easier the ones you thought were great but in truth are just average.
Here are a couple of photos from Bucharest where I recently visited. I will return.
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Four photos of mine have been picked up by BA Highlife magazine and will be shown in the Feb 2017 issue. I am not sure how they will look but it's great to have some of my hobby travel photos published. If you have made it to my web site from the credit in the magazine... Hi come on in and look around..
ATB
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Well an exciting month with lots of travel. I have just got back from Washington DC and New York. I am going to type up a little guide to both as I do have some top tips. Firstly Washington museums are brilliant and worth a visit. The train to New York took about 3.5 hours and well New York is a personal favorite of mine.
Above is a photo of Capitol Hill taken from the National achives building. Below is a photo of the ice skating in Central Park... it is Christmas after all.
Wishing everyone a happy Christmas and a great 2017
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Well a quick night time visit to Prague after ten years or so proved quite enjoyable. It has a great centre to stroll around and was busy even on a cool November evening. I employed my trusty mini tripod and well decide for yourself.
This is the famous Charles Bridge. Top Tip, visit the tower on the right hand end, through a little doorway and about £3 / $5US you can visit the roof and a very small museum. The history tale states that the cement used on the stones of the bridge had eggs added to make it all stick!
The photo above was taken on the bridge, which is packed with people.
Another visit to Milan was brilliant with the rain giving some interesting reflections on the floor of the world famous Arcade.
If you have found my web site, well done. I do not advertise it and do not add many key words etc so search engines generally fail to find it. The aim is simple to "Inspire World Travel" for you and for myself to cronicle my travels through photography. Its not about making money and is a hobby and not a business, odd I know in the modern world.
So have a look about, email me if you feel the need, or simply just follow me as I wonder around and who knows you may even find some inspiration to travel yourself.
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I do hope you can see a difference in what is basically the same thing... I can, thank goodness.
Please visit the Athens Gallery and enjoy.
In addition to Athens I visited a UK woodland and was able to capture some trees in the setting sun. I am thinking of splitting the England folder as it is just too big. Ohh the delights of web design and management.
Until next time
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Well after many years I finally made a return to Lisbon in Portugal. I have to admit I was impressed. The heart of the town is very pleasant to walk around and had an almost Italian feel in parts. The tiled flooring was tricky once it rained but could give you a chance of some great reflective photos. However not for myself on this occasion.
The ground is not always level so have some good shoes.
All in all I would rate Lisbon as a place to visit. The people were friendly, the weather can be great and the city has a lot to offer.
Until my next post....
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]]>So there you are, you have made it Paris. Ohh la la. Its wonderful. However you are now overlooking the Eifle Tower along with everyone else and well what can you do to make your photo different. Well by chance a cool guy starts skate boarding and I get a few shots. Now having taken over 8000 photos on my compact and knowing my way round it... Dohh I get it wrong. I wanted to have a burst shot and capture him jumping. Instead I had to flip onto the Canon 5 shot mix mode and take what I could get. Well its good but it could have been so much better, see below.
So if you are wondering why there is some different colours etc, thats why. I have never professed to being the greatest photographer, I am simply a student on a journey. So I am pleased with these shots as they are a bit different but I would have loved to have taken them in RAW and thus had more creative choices in what to do.
I also got some night shots, again using my wonderful mini tripod. And yes folks these were all taken with a compact camera, my trusty Canon G7X.
Until my next post
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Well a quick count has the web site upto 74 destinations, if you can count the North Sea as a destination :) Anyway the general drift is I do get about and am very lucky to be recording the journey. This week I visited Dublin for the first time and with a wonderful setting sun managed to capture a few shots to at least give you a flavour and to inspire.
I have been trying to edit my new guide to Rome but well its just not happening. Rome was not built in a day and neither was this web site.
I revisited Milan after many years and well the light was a dream. Now here is my top tip of the day... a mini tripod. I use a Joby GPod Mini Magnetic which as it says is MAGNETIC... So there I am in Milan, I fix my light G7X to the metal window frame and now I am setting a 3 or 4 second timer on the crowds and getting motion blur shots like the one below. Its nothing to carry and about $15US or £10 and is a must.
Put it like this when I go out I carry my camera, a spare battery and this tripod.
So you are walking about even on a bright day you can still use it say in a church like below. So thats my top tip.
I did notice that the UK Which Magazine rated the Canon G7X as a great camera, I cannot agree more. FYI
Thats enough from me, see you soon
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Well another visit to Rome proved some great photos. The best one is a lady with a bike... a grab shot but brilliant.
After a long wait I also returned to Berlin and made good on the lack of photos from last time. At the Brandenburg gate instead of the normal shots I tried to capture the feel of freedom of movement by shooting people on bikes passing thru the iconic spot. Not easy, I can tell you as they cycle fast. The war memorial is moving and amazing at the same time. I spent quite a while trying to work out how to photograph it and decided that looking down and not up was the answer. One lady brushed her hand along one of the stones and well that made it for me.
See you next month.
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Well this month I have been to Florence and Bologna on an Italian escape. It was wonderful weather and very busy. As I was there during the middle of the day it was hard to get anything too dramatic but hopefully my effort at record shots inspire you to visit and do even better. For a change I used my Nikon DSLR, (D5200 with a 18-250m Lens - see my kit page). Its odd when you have not used a camera for a month or so how you loose the instant ability to shoot. Jumping between my Canon compact and Nikon DSLR is great but it does make you think!
See you all next month
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]]>I have switched on the option to buy photos from the web site. Obviously I have added a £1million fee... NO that's not the case at all...They are at cost, that is I make no money at all from any sales. The hosting site has set up links to various printing firms and all you pay is what they charge. So to be clear I make no money and am trailing this to allow purchases should you like a photo or two and want a copy. All feedback is welcome.... Let me know what you think and how it works for you.
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Most notable recent adventures were the Valley of the Kings in Jordan. This was just outstanding. I have also been to France and visited a few places and when I get time I will split the France folder into specific places to make it easier. Amsterdam was great and Basel even on a generally cloudy visit was worthwhile.
In the last six months almost all my photos have been taken with my Canon G7X. Its proven to be a great pocket camera that is just a class above the normal and not far off DSLR. See my page on selecting kit. I did worry that the newer model was going to be better but a chap in B&H in New York said no I had the right one as the G9X is more a "consumer" minded product. So it appears if you are not taking many photos the G9X might be good but if are more serious follow me! Have a look around my recent photos and you will see examples. I generally shoot in Raw but the camera does have some nifty settings that do it all for you and I use them too. Also look at my guide to taking better photos, its not all about the camera!
I am going to focus on Europe for a while as this is an area that I have not explored enough, so if you are new to my blog and web site then hold onto your hat as the future is bright.
As always email if you have any thoughts or views.
A
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There you enjoying your new camera and always something has to spoil your day. A new model that is just that bit better is going to be launched in Nov. The Canon G9X appears to be even better.... but lets move on. To be fair I am loving the quality of shots I am getting from such a small camera. Together with a tripod so small you can easily carry it... well lets just see where it takes me.
A return to Chicago where I expected a quiet Sunday to take photos was met with masses of people watching the Marathon. So after a trip to the "Bean" I tried to get some shots contrasting the movement of the runners with the static position of those watching. One has to try new things.
I have been trying some slower shutter speeds on the traffic in Beijing and playing about with the feel of how they look. The traffic is a real issue and so it does help to capture the feel of the place, which as you will know is an area I am trying to explore.
See you next month. A :)
Well here I am with a new camera and I have learned that well its different to a Nikon. Firstly that means I am having to learn how to use Light Room as it does not work with the basic Nikon software. This is probably a good thing but still its a challenge. Also it has a feature that allows you to take one photo and the camera takes FIVE and adds some effects. These have proven to be really great. So when you start seeing some new styles coming through onto the site - that's why!
Recently I visited the The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and it is brilliant. I have added not only photos but a brief review to encourage those even passing thru Abu Dhabi to pop in.
I have added a single photo here for a change to brighten up this blog post :) All the best A
The summer has been busy with a long trip to the middle of France. A few days in the Bordeaux region was great. A further holiday to Tokyo was simply brilliant. Finally a return to Hong Kong proved to have better weather than expected. Also I was able to get on the Junk boat that some 7 or so years ago I missed the sailing of through ...well I will not go into that one. Lets just say since then the Junk boat was sunk and rebuilt but still provides the iconic image of Hong Kong.
I am still adding travel trips and this month it is about my gear but also WHERE TO BUY A CAMERA. You will maybe shocked at the experiences I have written up for the benefit of others. Check it out in the GENERAL drop down menu.
Goto go, see you next month.
A :)
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It feels like an age since I have been online and doing "photos". I've been up London Bridge again and also saw the bridge raised, a first for me. Henley Festival had some great photos, always hard to take with a compact on a moving boat at night. In Boston a hot day out added a few more photos. A few hours and the sun will be coming up.... lets see what the day brings.
A:)
]]>A true professional along with a cast from the Army and RAF made my day and hopefully provided some great photos. They can be seen in the England section which is quite appropriate :)
Well a visit to Tokyo proved a great day out. The metro/subway system appears complicated but once you get going it really is great. I find the people of Japan simply wonderful. Before my first visit I had just read about the second world war and a soldiers account. It was terrible and my expectations were shall we say low. However when you visit today I find the whole country polite, respectful, helpful and simply one of the best places in the world to visit. They are going to produce a great Olympics.
The web site moves on with about 60 destinations from a host of nations. I am not only adding photos but a few reviews and tips when I get the time and the space. I've added a few banner links to Expedia and to a Car hire web site that I had used and was really good. I have kept this low key and out of the way so as not to detract. What I want to focus on now is increasing the number of hits to the site and also not adding photos but improving the quality. That will not be easy but lets see how I get on over the next year.
As always email me with any ideas or thoughts
A
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In addition I am adding more and more travel advice for destinations. These are just top line tips. The sort of thing a friend would tell you before you visited a place. I am not going to try and beat specific web sites. However I have found trip adviser not as good on giving you a big feel. It spends too much time trying to sell you a hotel room. Fair enough. So lets see how this evolves.
My search over 8 years for the best steak in the world has been concluded... check out the top five results.
So here we are, a photo web site evolving into a travel advice site based around photos and experiences. I do not know where the site will be in a years time. Its like a journey where the destination is unknown.
See you soon A :)
]]>Oxford in England was a welcome day out but again a bit dull. Denver in the US has just started the day with a wonderful sunrise... I will post it soon :)
I am thinking about adding my advice for what to do if you visit a destination. I am not certain about the format but just in case you thought I was getting dull, plans are afoot. See you all soon
A
]]>Lots of new photos to see and I forgot to BLOG in November. I have just edited and uploaded San Diego which had great light. Bahrain found some interesting buildings and a grab shot that although not technically brilliant is my personal fav. Argentina is always good and I was blessed with brilliant weather. Mumbai saw a few more shots added from a train station while messing around with the shutter speed. I may have even missed a country out as I do forget, I do live an odd life, but that's enough about me. Keep on looking at the different images and any feedback just email, enjoy.
]]>Well the site continues to develop with some photos from India this month where the light was really good. We have passed the 400 hits point, thank you to everyone who has visited. I have just sorted and edited using new software my competition photos for the year and am posting these onto the home page scrolling photos folder. I will report back if any "do well". Any advice questions just email.
A:)
]]>Well I made a decision today. I am not sure if it right but we shall see. I have gone back through all digital photos going back years and uploaded lots and lots. The early photos were taken with a compact so will not match today's level of technology. However I felt it better to have some pictures of Rome and Washington DC than no pictures. I do not expect to win any awards from this site but now I have all my digital photos in one place, sorted and on show. This makes me happy and I hope you like them too.... until next month.
A:)
]]>August saw a great trip to France and some almost dead Sun Flowers. A trip to Singapore was a highlight while the rain in Sydney did not dampen my spirits. The Sydney Opera House in sunlight must be brilliant but on a grey day I did my best. A walk over the Harbour Bridge and a visit to the museum topped off with an Opera made it a great day out.
Its great to see so many of you visiting. See you all soon
A:)
]]>Well having flown into the Grand Canyon a few weeks ago I felt compelled to go back and this time by helicopter. It was a cloudy day and this added a bit more texture. Simply it was a totally awesome experience. If you were the pilot of the helicopter, thank you. If you were my fellow passengers and are reading this, thank you for your company. I have uploaded a higher number of photos of this than normal so you can see more. If you want copies email me and I will forward the images.
In addition to the Canyon I have been in Tel Aviv, India and the cultural capital of the North - Leeds. The Leeds Royal Armouries is a great museum and really is worth a long visit.
See you soon
A :)
]]>Well this month the highlight has to be the Grand Canyon. The shots were taken from an aircraft flying for about an hour. The vibration and glare from the sun made it hard to get great shots... but I have done my best. The Neon Museum in Las Vegas is a great place to visit. Book in advance for either a day or a night tour. The shots from the Museum are not for sale and are shown to help highlight a great place to visit. Mumbai offers a contrast with some real poverty but also some interesting shots at the coast. Until next month. A:)
]]>Well here we are a few months in and 499 photos are now online. I have updated the layout and added some music. I never seem to get time to sort all the things I want to do but slowly the site is evolving. Keep checking out the new photos, India, England and Mauritius - which was not as expected have new photos this month.
As always email me if you love or hate anything eg YES or NO to music!
A:)
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This month I took my compact camera to Argentina and had a great day out walking all around town. Las Vegas also provided a few good shots. However I used my DSLR in Mumbia and a shot of a lady in the street is probably my best shot for April. Finally a few shots at Hever castle in Kent England although not classics do provide a record of a great English Castle. See you next month!
A:)
]]>Well for this months Blog I would like to highlight new photos from Las Vegas, South Korea, Bahrain and England. I am also playing around with the design a little, this is always going to be a work in progress. I do need to add text and titles but its hard to find the time but I will try. Any ideas of pure inspiration for a photos title then please email me.
I am also trialing some new software for photo editing. I found Photoshop elements poor for sorting photos - probably me but that's how I feel. It drove me mad and took a long time to get nowhere. I am about to try LR5 and will see if that works better for me. I understand LR6 is soon to be launched so if I like it I may hold off a few months to get the NEW version. I also have two free software packages to check out - I will report my thoughts in due course.
Next month watch out for Bombay and Argentina :)
As always any ideas to improve, questions etc, email me direct on [email protected]
See you next month.
A:)
]]>After a few years of using a Nikon P7000 compact camera I have invested in a Nikon D5200 and a Sigma 15-250 Lens. In addition a new laptop to help keep on top of the images. Hopefully we should see an improvement in image quality. I have gone for a single lens so that I do not miss a shot trying to quickly fumble a lens change.
Lets see how the new kit shapes up. Or more accurately how I learn to use it!
A:)
]]>So join me as I travel the world looking for simply great images of people, landscapes and cities. Bookmark my web page and pop back every month to see where I have been.
This is not a finished web site, I am not a pro photographer or a company. But the journey will be all the more brilliant for that.
So the train is leaving the station and my hand is reaching out to help you jump on board. This is the start of the adventure...
A :)
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