A LEAP OF FAITH...

In the days when I could run a four minute mile, wrestle a grizzly bear in just my shorts, and pull a bus with my teeth (of course only one is true) I never questioned my motives behind my photography or the amount of gear I needed. I would load all my gear without hesitation, usually a large format, lots of dark slides, 5 or 6 lenses, a heavy tripod and anything else I deemed necessary for my outing. This was not because I was super human, although I was probably stronger with more energy, It was because I knew far less about what I actually needed. These days I tend to carry the very bare essentials mainly due to the fact I am more confident about my work and know pretty much all of what I need. One camera, one lens, a few slides, a light tripod and a focusing lube, that's about it. However this self assurance did slap me in the face when after a severe downpour and camera soaking, my favorite lens ceased up and failed to fire the next day due to getting water in the shutter mechanism. But before you say ' That will teach you smart arse!' the lens was still usable, I just took the olde worlde approach and put my hand in front of the lens. (Now you can call me a smart arse..)
My point here is that sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and not think so much along the lines of what if I need a longer lens, or what if I need fifty more dark slides. Having said that I have just realised that you digital types have it all to hand. A zoom lens, no film to carry, the ability to shoot in low light (hand held), heck you even have an instant image to see if using all those automatic modes has made you take an out of focus shot.
Well that was a waste of time.. But I have raised another point here in that Digital does seem to take a lot of the thought out of photography, at least where landscape photography is concerned anyway...

Heres some words from the master to back up my thoughts...

Doyle news...

I thought I would share a little news with you all, not that I think you need to know, but it stops my mother calling and puts people at ease....

Well I am back from mission coastline and have almost reached saturation point, so no trips to the sea side for a while...

My planned trip to Paris Photo is out the La fenetre (window) which stinks of garlic as I was looking forward to speaking broken French, fine food and vast amounts of photography. I am not even linking to the Paris Photo site because if I cant see it, neither can you....

Apparently America has a new president so lets hope things get 'gooder' and they grant me a green card at some point....

Editing, printing and scraping a living....May be time to hot up the deep fat fryers and start that chip shop business I have been thinking about.
Bring on the grease...

Bruce Percy.

During my research for my Scottish trip I came across the work of Bruce Percy and have to say its quite brilliant. I particularly like the Torness Power Station images and the Iceland series which are some of the best I have seen.
Very thought provoking with techniques that I know are time consuming and difficult in harsh conditions.
The podcast is a very nice touch and a great way to enjoy the work (better than reading of a computer screen with watery eyes..)

I take off my hat (and bear the cold)

I am a photographer, and I am very serious..

It has come to my attention whilst trolling through a lot of photography blogs (seeing though every photographer has one these days including myself) that most of them are way too serious for my liking, not that I think anyone in the world is bothered. I read one (actually it was 3 or 4) the other day that was trying to persuade people who to vote for in the U.S elections, very serious indeed, but its just one persons opinion and really quite vain to think they can control peoples thoughts....People take photography far too serious these days saying things like 'Well this is a very important photograph/collection and without it man would simply not exist'. Utter balls....
The point I am trying to make is that surely a blog, if you are going to take the time to do one, should be a bit of light relief, a few minutes of escapism if you like, its not the flaming news......Lighten up you stiff lot...

Written in a foul mood....Or should I say in the moment..

My hands are cold...

I recently watched Kenneth Branner's Shackleton which I would recommend to anyone, a very enjoyable snowy epic. It got me thinking of how important Photography can be. Shackleton's journey to the pole would of been fruitless had it not being recorded onto film (or in this case glass plates). Not only was it proof of his endeavors, it has since become a valuable record of the time.
Any past achievement has always been recorded using photography be it the fake moon landings, conquering Everest, the birth of a child etc...But without writing a book on the subject I just thought it would be nice to mention Shackleton and the photography of Frank Hurley, especially considering how difficult it would of been producing such images in such bad conditions, something I am familiar with on a smaller scale.

Forever searching for the prize...

As my Scotland trip now draws to a close I would like to make some time for reflection as I so often do after my travels.
So often in the past I would chose to travel to far off places in search of new imagery, but in the past few years (since my return to the UK from the States) I have tried to look at my project ideas with fresh eyes. Usually there is a project right under your nose you just have to know its there, a bit like a bogey. This latest project of Scotland's coast I am working on is a prime example of something that was always there on my door step, I just needed to move the foot mat.
The Scottish coastline is quite remarkable and rivals the likes of Iceland in its dramatic outer worldly rock formations. Although I put up with some almighty weather, it all added to the drama within the landscape and I truly believe that this project will be some of my best work. It has certainly been my most challenging in terms of bad weather, access, trying not to do the obvious, and sticking to my brief (following the steps of my Grandfather when I just wanted to point the camera the other way..). So in brief I will end by saying its all out there my friends and probably closer than you think, you just have to find it...

Haste Ye Back.

Britains got talent...

Well I thought I better mention the 'Take a view/ jump' photography competition seeing though the winners have been announced.
All very pretty and clean and the kind of images your grandma may like on her flowery wall. This may be a little harsh but the competitions hardly ground breaking is it.... Cant say I like the competition, can't say I wouldn't like the prize, but I do like being able to say that winning shot is completely pants... See above and become 'inspired'