photography

I seem to have been doing a lot more Sports Photography than anything else recently.  In order to ensure that Sports fans can easily find related content and that the more general photography on here doesn't get overwhelmed I've launched a new website at http://nowsport.info. 

The new site will be featuring Team Sport (including Football), all kinds of Motorsport some Athletics and Multisport, I will be migrating all  sports photography  from here to there so why not take a look.

I spent an hour or two wandering around Leeds this afternoon, didn't take many shots.  I've added a few from today to some photos I took some time ago, to start a gallery on the City Centre.  It's changing so much now that I suspect a lot of these places will be very different in a few years.

Harrisons

Reflections

Alia Takeaway

Something Special

This is the third year that I've attempted to photograph fireworks and I think I'm improving each time so that's pleasing.  Like a lot of amateur photographers I wanted to get some shots but was expecting it to be pretty tricky, actually if you have the right kit and follow a few simple rules the basic technical elements are pretty easy and once you've mastered that you can start thinking more about the composition.

How to photograph fireworks

Equipment -

• A camera with Bulb mode (ordinary long exposures are OK but much less flexible)
• A tripod (I've seen some good handheld firework shots, but I can't imagine you'd get many keepers from an evening)
• A remote shutter release
• A small penlight can be useful

Bonfire

Fireworks at Middleton Park

Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night

I may be old fashioned but I don't think seeing an image on screen can compare to a good print especially at sizes of 8" * 10" and above.  Up to now I've done all my printing at home and at up to A4 size am likely to contine to do that but I've been considering replacing my A3 printer and decided to look at the option of online Photolabs before I took the plunge.  I've read mixed reviews of Photobox but some friends have been pleased with results from there so I decided to try them first.

Anyone who's investigated the theory of photographic composition will be aware of principles such as the Rule of Thirds, The Golden Ratio and The Golden Spiral and other guidelines designed to help create pleasing compositions and direct the viewer's eyes to the main subjects thereby giving your images more impact.  Whilst no one would advocate adhereing strictly to these methods they can certainly be useful aids, unfortunately visualising them isn't always easy and that's where some new features in Lightroom 1.1 can help.

I often find myself returning home from a weekend away with several hundred shots, some are good (although not as many as I'd like), some are OK and some are rubbish.

Before I spend any time cataloging and properly "developing" the images I want to sort out the good, the bad and the downright ugly.  There are a number of ways that this can be achieved in Lightroom which include using ratings or simply deleting each bad one as you get to it.  I use the method outlined below because I find it quick, it gives me a chance to review my decision before I delete anything and lets me keep track of where I am so that if I get interrupted half way through I can come straight back to it another day.

This is the second year that we've been to Southport Air Show and it won't be the last time (for one thing I want to be there when the weather's a bit better), this year we met up with my wife's parents and had a nice family weekend in the area.  The weather forecast was for clear skies so we headed over the Pennines with high hopes, unfortunately the reality didn't live up to the forecast and it was mostly overcast with some light showers, while this didn't affect the show too badly it did make the photography a bit more challenging.  I tried to make the best of the odd breaks in

RAF Red Arrows

Blades Extra 300 LPs

XX179 Red Arrows Hawk

G-ZXCL Extra 300 LP