Another year … what next?

As we approach the middle of December, my job within the food sector starts to get a little mad, so I thought it may be an idea to reflect on my photographic year and consider what the new year may bring.

Having dipped my feet into the world of older compact cameras in the autumn of 2022, I believed it would be just another diversion on my photographic journey and that I would return to the well trodden path in just a month or two.

I didn’t!

For me, that diversion has become one of my most enjoyable chapters in my photography, as slowly but surely the toe dipping became a fully fledged dive in at the deep end.

There is rarely a trip now where I do not take one of my Lumix LX series or Canon S series compact cameras, with one of my micro four thirds ‘proper’ camera, more recently, I have dared to take just a digicam to challenge myself with supposedly less capable gear.

I use the word challenge but in all honesty it has actually been more like fun, especially when many of the images I have captured with these smaller sensor cameras have become some of my best photos of the year.

Throughout my blogs, I have said how much I love the black and white rendering from these pocket rockets, often now if I see a scene that I want to edit as a monochrome image, I will reach for a digicam.

In terms of 2024, I will continue to shoot a lot of square format photos and perhaps dedicate one of my photographic days purely to one of my digicams, ‘digicam Sunday’ has a certain vibe…

Before posting a few favourite images, I would like to wish all those who have followed my musings throughout this year a very happy Christmas and new year!

Saturday not as planned

Today was to have been an early train from Exeter to Teignmouth, the intention being to hopefully capture the sunrise, my optimism was unfortunately thwarted by pouring rain for most of the morning.

With Plan ‘A’ out of the window, plan ‘B’ would be to seize any window of opportunity, however brief to continue my dalliance with shooting squares, my latest self imposed challenge.

I use the word ‘challenge’, yet in all honesty this has ceased to become a challenge, put simply, it’s turned out to be a whole lot of fun, especially the monochrome emphasis.

Once again, I chose the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 lens, just for its compactness and the fact it is becoming one of my favourite focal lengths.

Beesands in black and white

After a busy few weeks during the peak season, I am back to a Monday to Friday routine, seeing a welcome return to my visits to my home town of Salcombe.

While I am still focusing on my ‘squares’ project, the black and white theme was temporarily put on hold, as Saturday’s early outing rewarded me with some beautiful light and colours, so today saw the return to ‘normal service’

Today’s shoot was with the latest bargain buy, an Olympus EM10 mk III, with a 17mm F1.8 Olympus lens (35mm full frame equivalent).

This particular focal length is probably my favourite, certainly my most used after spending a year shooting with just a Fujifilm X100F just a couple of years ago, going back to it once more is like slipping into a comfy pair of well worn shoes.

Today’s outing is at Beesands, on the South Devon coast, a couple hours here before my return to Exeter for the start of another working week.

Inspired by the Olympus ‘Grainy film’ mode, I have developed some custom presets, some with less grain and contrast, others to emulate that gritty analogue vibe, Capture one being my editing suite of choice, that said, I do like the in camera output enough to use on some occasions.

I am really enjoying the challenge of the black and white format, learning to use the light and tonality to my advantage, looking for other shots when the light is not in an ideal place, I do feel that I am learning to ‘see’ in black and white the further I get into this project as my shot choices are becoming more selective.

Finding my niche

Since early July my working week has increased to six days a week, so when I am able, I try to get out for some after work shoots to satisfy my image making appetite.

Just a few weeks ago, I felt that I was in a creative rut, perhaps down in part to my preference for early mornings where I habitually shot the beautiful reflections in my local River, the Exe, or the sun rising to mark the start to a new day.

The change in my normal routine has brought me out of my comfort zone but also spurred me on to embark upon my latest project, shooting in square format.

I feel excited once more about getting out and taking photos, even if it is on my doorstep where I must have thousands of images already but not in this format and I am just glad to be out doing the thing I enjoy most.

To reach this chapter in my photographic journey, I have of course been inspired by so many photographers, in any learning curve we all try to emulate our peers but there comes a time when we emerge with our own creative voice.

Maybe my own journey has taken longer than many, those who come on photo walks with me, know my propensity for taking detours to find a different shot, my photographic self education has followed this same meandering path, yet it is a journey I would not change.

The gallery of images below have all been shot over a period of a few days, in various locations in and around Exeter, all very familiar to me but seen with my current mindset.

A grey day in August – Perfect!

It’s a Saturday morning but I have a few hours of overtime at work to do before I can get out with my camera and get a few more frames in the bag with my square format project.

I have packed my Lumix LX7 in my rucksack, so I am good to go, once I am back in town, even though it will only be an hour or so, I’m looking forward to finding a few images of my home city again.

I really like the monochrome profiles from the LX5 and LX7, so much so that I am happy to shoot Jpeg, the small sensor digicams add grain and noise that for me, look better than in post editing, it also saves time being sat in front of a PC monitor.

For most of the morning it has rained, as I arrive back in town, the rains have cleared but a thick cloak of grey remains above, perfect for my needs today!

My favourite from today is the old bus station yard, I deliberately set an ISO of 400 to increase the grain and noise to give a gritty feel to the scene, not to everybody’s taste but I am enjoying experimenting.

Post editing consists only of straightening and exposure adjustments if needed and a frame added on a selected few.

A new photographic project

Once again it has been a while since I last posted any content on this blog, it’s not for the lack of outings, perhaps more from a lack of anything new.

I am still shooting with retro cameras but I feel that this is now the norm, not the exception, so perhaps it’s time for a new project, something to challenge or exercise my photographic imagination and creativity.

I have decided that over the coming weeks, that I want shoot in only in 1:1 aspect ratio (square format), with an emphasis on black and white images.

To some, this may sound a little restricting but there are a couple of reasons why I am doing this.

Firstly, with the summer season in full swing, my working hours are longer as I work within the food industry, so my photo walks are going to be to quickly accessible local places that I have already photographed the socks off!

Secondly, I enjoy the challenge of self imposed rules, after recent projects, I have seen familiar places in a different way, almost as though I am seeing a location for the first time again.

Without further ado, I would like to share my first images from my latest idea, a few shots around my home city of Exeter, shot with one of my favourite compact cameras, the Lumix LX5.

More moor moodiness

It’s a Sunday morning and an invitation to get out on to Dartmoor once again will rarely be turned down, today is no exception as I go through my pre outing routine of checking batteries are charged and most importantly, I have a thermos of tea to look forward to after the morning’s walk.

It’s a lovely September morning, that autumnal freshness is making itself more prominent, there are also signs of low cloud in the distance, as usual, my eyes are peeled for any impromptu shots on the way.

First shot of the day, heading out from Exeter , low cloud and gorgeous light over the landscape.

With this potential for mist in the landscape, the thought is to head to Foggintor, scene of quarry workings and former quarry workers buildings, long since abandoned.

The blue skies of Exeter, less than an hour earlier are replaced by more moody skies, my second shot of the day is barely yards from the car park, a wonderful interplay of light upon the landscape, one of the many reasons for my frequent visits here.

Shot two, yards from the car park.

As I think about the images I have just captured, I look forward to whatever else I may be fortunate to see as the next 3 or four miles begin in earnest.

My next shot, taken a few steps to the left of the one above, will be the last of the sunlight I will see on the moor today, a huge front of ominous grey approached from the distance, there may well be a few monochrome images today.

The last of the sunlight seen on today’s outing.

The footpath passes Yellowmeade farm, the bovine community is out and about, of course I take a shot and a name immediately comes to mind for the image, ‘The Yellowmeade farm beef mountain’.

The Yellowmeade beef mountain

I come to realise This will become something of a theme today, the name of the image is decided before the click of the shutter, I come to realise that I actually do this on a regular basis…. here another one named before the shot was taken on the return leg of the walk.

Rare steak and pea soup

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The last of the days colour images as the conditions change rapidly

It is a good half way around the walk that the grey seems to want a permanent residency over the landscape, a chance for me to experiment with black and white images in camera or for later editing.

The ruins that remain of this part of Dartmoor look stark against the barren moorland, I do my best to capture the atmosphere which is helped by approaching mist.

My favourite trees, alone in most cases, stand defiant as ever against the elements, while horses look to find what little shelter they may offer.

I will finish this blog entry with the last picks of todays’s outing, all in monochrome, these really capture the essence of the moor in it’s raw beauty.

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One camera one lens, the last quarter

My one camera, one lens project is now approaching its final quarter, when it began in January, I had doubts that I would still be on course by autumn but I am as keen as ever to complete the full year.

During the last nine months, I have learned to be more creative with a single camera set up, rather than relying on a bag of kit that may or may not be used, by travelling light, I am happy to shoot for longer, a win, win scenario.

This project has also made me more open minded in my photography too, before this year, I would only ever shoot RAW images, (it’s the law isn’t it?) but I will happily shoot both Raw and Jpeg, or even just Jpeg’s on occasions!

For my occasional paid shoots, I will always shoot RAW, just for peace of mind but for my photo walks, I do not always want to spend too long at the PC editing, especially since the Fuji Jpeg engine is so good.

Yesterday was one such day, where I wanted to get out for a few hours before the next rainy spell arrived later in the day, so a trip to the seaside town of Teignmouth was decided upon, a spot of lunch and a few photos.

Earlier in the week, I had taken some photos using the square format aspect ratio and since I had enjoyed doing so, set the camera to do so again today.
It is not everyone’s cup of tea but I actually enjoy composing shots in the square format, I quite like the polaroid camera feel of the square format, it also makes you think a different way in terms of shot composition.

Just for the record, I set the camera to shoot Raw and Jpeg, but all the shots above were the Jpeg’s with very minor, if any post processing.

Teignmouth is one of my favourite local beaches to go for a brisk Sunday stroll, with plenty of photo opportunities.
A big thank you to the two very generous people who allowed me to take their photos while sat on the sea wall, I told them about my ‘shooting square’ theme and they were very happy to oblige.

I am looking forward to the next 3 months, watching the seasons change, while reluctantly accepting the shorter hours of daylight.

Shooting squares

This morning I had hoped to make a reasonably early start for one of my weekly trips out with the camera but as I listened to the rain against the windows, I had plenty of time to make a decision on where to go.

With the rain set to clear around 10am, I thought a trip to the seaside would be the perfect way to spend a few hours before the wet weather made another appearance later in the day.
I arrived at Sidmouth just after 11am, many of the day trippers had already found their way to the sea front cafes and were enjoying their chosen refreshments before exploring the town.

With the tide well up, the strong winds were whipping up some decent waves, the sound of the sea crashing against the pebbles, then that prolonged sound of the smaller stones being dragged back towards the shoreline.

There is a less frenetic pace about seaside towns post summer season that I really enjoy, people are more inclined to talk, rather than stare at a phone screen, today being no exception as I chat with Janet and Les from Rotherham, on their yearly trip to Sidmouth, along with Pip, their Jack Russel, they have been coming to Sidmouth for 12 years.

As this appears to be something of a spontaneous day, I decide to delve into one of the less used  optional features of my camera, the 1×1 aspect ratio.
The square image will be saved as a JPEG only image but the JPEG engine on Fujifilm cameras is one of the best, so I have no issues here.

Adding something different to camera my days out is something I have done a lot this year and will continue to do when it is this much fun.