One of my favourite spots for creative travel photography that I captured in Greece in 2018.
It was while searching through my archive last week I came across some location photography film scans of almost the exact same area I shot 15 years ago which I had forgotten about.
Later this year I’m heading back there once again this time to shoot some motion work.
White Washed Building Against Dawn Sky Rhodes Greece
As a keen Scooterist from way back in the 80’s Im always on the lookout during my travels for old Italian Vespas and Lambretta’s.
In Greece you can still come across older Vespa workhorses still being used but it stands to reason they are becoming less frequent these days.
There does seem however a large amount of Honda Cub mopeds still on the road which is no surprise when you discover over 100 million have come off the production line so far and still going.
And my point is?… well I don’t have one except to introduce a couple of images with them in and inform you why you see the bloody things everywhere you go!
Mr Butt window cleaner Captured in Burnham On Sea Somerset circa 1993.
I can’t remember the exact year I did this lifestyle portrait but I do remember running home in excitement like a big girl to grab a 5×4 camera to do the shot!.
I had wanted to create a lifestyle portrait of this lovely chap for a while and I finally seized the opportunity.
I set up the large format camera hastily (well as hastily as you can with a 5×4) in front of what I felt was a perfect backdrop for colours.
A large-format camera is not something you would use for most of my work as a lifestyle photographer but the quality of tone and detail is simply amazing.
Ive never been a gear head in fact I’m only on my second main (I did have a backup) DSLR since I went digital back in 2005.
The fact my Canon 1DS Mk2 was not replaced despite 15 years of shooting was mainly because there was simply no need.
It was still working fine (and still is) and did everything I needed at the time.
Eventually though I decided video capabilities as well as some nifty advances in imaging technology were needed.
After some careful thought a new purchase was made in the shape of a Canon 5d Mk4.
I did obviously consider all the options that were on the market but this is the only time I really get caught up in the whole camera specs comparison stuff.
I did make a further purchase shortly after however a Sony RX100 Mk2 followed by a Mk3 a few months after.
As a keen Scooterist I wanted something compact to place in my toolbox or pocket that would shoot Raw images to capture travel images.
Although the Canon is my main work horse Ive found this camera an incredible addition to my camera bag especially while wanting to travel light and requiring more than my iPhone.
Isle Of Wight Scooter Rally. Image captured with Sony RX100
Captured with the RX 100 while riding the coast in the Costa Del Sol
I started out like many photographers of a certain age shooting, developing and printing Black & White Images.
Even though I can fully appreciate the beauty of monochrome my real passion has always been for colour work inspired by many
of my favourite 80’s advertising location photographer heroes like John Claridge, Duncan Sim and Peter Lavery (google em kids).
So this is a rare occasion when I decided the subject worked far better in B&W.
Have you ever been to a place and had such a great trip you kind of don’t want to go back because you don’t feel you can top that perfect first visit?
That’s where I’m at when it comes to Venice.
I visited a week before Christmas to capture some travel lifestyle images so no doubt a little festive mood helped set the tone. On that note Venice is incredible at Christmas as the whole place is like a huge Santas grotto with lights and more importantly very few tourists.
The weather was also a great gift as it was very cold but clear providing beautiful low winter sunlight.
I came away with some incredible images from the trip which in Venice is hard not too and the feeling that returning could not get any better.
Having said all that’s it’s not to say I won’t as I would love to take my kids there and perhaps shoot some motion work this time.
I came across this beautiful photography location during a day riding a Vespa around the Majorcan countryside.
I confess to often being slightly disappointed when I discover such great locations in the middle of the day as in most cases the light would almost definitely be more interesting earlier or later.
To add extra resolution to the camera resolution of my DJI Phantom 4 Pro I decided to capture this aerial scene in nine individual frames.
Some high-end retouching was then applied to the frames and then colour graded.
I could never image capturing images from the air years ago let alone being able to capture separate perfectly registered frames.
Aerial-landscape-burrow-hill-south-somerset
Another Time-Lapse video from my project Somerset Uncovered.
I had been wanting to test out a new bit of equipment on location to aid my shooting Time-Lapse videos and the perfect opportunity arrived this week.
With a beautiful evening forecast that looked like delivering a stunning sunset this would be perfect test conditions.
My son was playing a Cricket match at the village cricket club which is situated in beautiful surroundings.
I wanted to capture the setting sun and the match within my composition so I arrived and located the perfect spot.
Not really being a follower of Cricket and the rules I asked how long was left and told the home team were now starting to bat so could be a while..perfect !
I had only shot for about 10 minutes when suddenly everyone shook hands and disappeared. Apparently they won the game with just a few runs so nobody else was required to bat so they all buggered off home!.
Not too worry I decided to keep shooting as my hunch at a fantastic sunset still looked promising so I stayed another 50 minutes and was glad I did as the sky was incredible.
[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/341102387″ width=”1600″ height=”720″]
