A non stop photographic journey around the Isle of Man by Peter Killey

Are you starting out in digital photography? If you are, then here are a list of pointers pertaining to digital photography basics. These pointers will give your digital images a massive kick start in terms of quality and it doesn’t matter what camera you have. You can take good photographs with any digital SLR camera.

So here’s my advice:

1. Don’t be concerned with the number of megapixels of your camera. The number of pixels determines how big you’ll be able to print your photographs. Yes it’s true that the more pixels you have, the more refined detail your images will have but at this stage you want to start shooting as many photographs as you possibly can. You’ll learn so much through every photograph.

2. Set your camera’s ISO speed to the lowest possible setting. This will give a smooth transition to your photographs and make them less grainy than at higher ISO settings.

3. When you are shooting portraits, use large apertures that are wide open. This means that the f-number should be as small as possible. The smaller the f-number, the larger the aperture. Why is it a good idea to use large apertures when photographing human subjects? Large apertures blur out the background and bring the subject into sharp focus bringing the viewer’s attention right where you want it.

4. Pay attention to the background – try to eliminate clutter that doesn’t need to be there. In digital photography, a lot can be done to remove unwanted clutter using software like Adobe Photoshop but there is no harm in doing a little preparation. Perhaps you’ll want your subject to stand in front of a bright plain wall, or colourful patterned curtains. Make your background work with your subject.

5. If you are hand-holding your camera, try not to use a shutter speed slower than 1/60. For example, don’t hand-hold the camera at 1/30. Nice photographs are sharp and in-focus. If you need to use a shutter speed slower than 1/60, use a tripod to ensure sharpness.

6. Use slow shutter speeds to imply motion. Take your digital SLR camera out to an urban environment where there are cars, bicycles and public transport. Set it to shutter priority mode using speeds of 1/30, 1/15, 1/8 and 1/4, follow a moving car or bicycle using the AI Servo focusing drive. Once the moving object is in focus, take the shot. This should blur out the background leaving trails of the subject and imply motion. This technique can take a bit of practice.

7. In your camera’s menu, increase the sharpness and contrast of your “picture style”. Some photographers like to increase the saturation as well, but if you are going to post-process in RGB mode I wouldn’t increase saturation in-camera.

8. Take your landscape images at small apertures like f/16 or even f/22 using a tripod. This will ensure sharp focusing from front-to-back telling a story about your landscape.

9. Pay attention to your camera angle – as a photographer, be prepared to move around. You may have to get down on your knees, even lie down to get down to your subject’s level. Don’t photograph a crawling baby whilst standing… get down to the baby’s level. That’ll evoke more emotions when the photograph is printed and viewed. Get down when shooting landscapes to use your foreground to convey a sense of depth.

10. Don’t forget the rule of thirds – imagine that your viewfinder is split into three thirds both vertically and horizontally. Never place your subject in the centre square or a horizon in the middle. Frame your portraits so that they appear to the right if you are shooting in the landscape orientation, otherwise in the middle if you are using the portrait orientation. For landscape photographs, make sure the horizon line sits on the first or the second horizontal line that divides your viewfinder into three thirds. A horizon line in the middle produces boring landscapes that will do nothing for your viewers.

It’s hard to go wrong with a breed that was the favorite of James Herriot. Developed in northern England, the Border Terrier was used to hunt foxes that preyed on farmers’ livestock. It became a favorite hunt terrier, working with packs of Border Foxhounds. Hunt masters are credited with standardizing breed type and getting this hardy, working terrier recognized as a purebred by England’s Kennel Club. A sturdy, natural-looking terrier, males weigh about 14 pounds, females slightly less. The breed’s hallmarks are the head and expression, which resemble that of the otter. The coat is short, dense and harsh in shades of red, grizzle and tan, blue and tan, or wheaten, and may be kept neat by raking weekly with a stripping knife. While the Border adapts well to either city or country, it needs vigorous daily exercise to stay fit and content. Terriers like to push behavior boundaries, so present firm, consistent rules. This breed enjoys children and is, like most terriers, an excellent watchdog.

The images was captured on my Fuji X10 camera resized and cropped in Adobe Photoshop CS5

Click on any of the images for a larger view of  Ted, both images were captured in late March 2012.

Well I have to be honest and say that I never thought that I would say that I like HDR Photography, in fact quite the opposite, I never liked it and thought it was a bit of a cheat!

How wrong I was and my turning point was seeing many of my forum members starting to use this HDR imaging, it was at this point that I realised I could either carry on not agreeing with it or make some changes and at least try it out!

So what is HDR Imaging, well HDR stands for High Definition Range In simple layman terms it is the ability to take a series of different exposures of the same scene and combining them in post processing so basically all the image is properly exposed.

And it is as simple as that, well apart from the post imaging Photoshop adjusting etc.

Here are a couple of examples of my HDR imaging, click on them to see a larger image and feel free to write a comment if you wish

Seven crewmen lost their lives on 11th January 2000 when their vessel – the scallop dredger Solway Harvester – sank off the East coast of the Isle of Man.

On board were Skipper Andrew Mills (known as Craig), 29, his brother Robin Mills, 33, their cousin David Mills, 17, Martin Milligan, 26, John Murphy, 22, David Lyons, 18, and Wesley Jolly, 17.

The men were all from the Isle of Whithorn area of Dumfries and Galloway.

Through my work I remember that day so well and the subsequent involvement that my work had in the recovery of the vessel and the men on the night they were brought back onto Victoria Pier.

I must say though that my respect and credit goes to Police Inspector Dudley Butt who conducted the whole inquiry from start to finish and was regularly producing press releases along with supporting family members during this terrible period.

I took this image today (11th January 2012) twelve years to the day that this stricken vessel was lost.

The image was captured on my Fuji X10 camera, resized and cropped in Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Click on the image for a larger view!

I really fancy this camera for many reasons and StevehuffPhoto.com has virtually made my mind up to get this lovely retro model

I really do like this retro camera from Fujifilm – The Fujifilm X10 is a 12-megapixel compact with manual controls, a larger-than-average, 2/3” type EXR CMOS sensor, a 28-112mm (eq.) f/2.0-2.8 lens and a newly developed Optical Image Stabilisation mechanism. Resurrecting the 2/3” sensor size that was commonly found in bridge cameras until the middle of the past decade, the Fujfilm X10 features a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to ISO 5000, expandable to ISO 12800 at reduced resolution. The new sensor also offers all the usual EXR shooting modes that allow the user to give priority to signal-to-noise ratio, dynamic range or resolution depending on the individual requirements of each shot. The newly developed 4x manual zoom lens comprises 11 elements (including 3 aspherical and 2 extra-low-dispersion elements) in 9 groups and benefits from a Super Electron Beam Coating that is claimed to reduce flare and ghosts. The maximum aperture is f/2 at the wide end of the zoom range and f/2.8 at full telephoto, while the available minimum aperture is f11 throughout. Raw image capture, a full range of manual controls, 4 different auto bracketing functions, 8 film simulation modes, a 360° Motion Panorama mode, electronic level gauge and 1080p Full HD video recording round off the features list. The Fuji X10 also boasts a hot-shoe, an integrated manual pop-up flash, an optical viewfinder and a 2.8” rear monitor with a resolution of 460,000 dots.

The Fujifilm X10 will be available in early November 2011, with pricing to be confirmed.

Fujifilm Press Release

FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES THE NEW PREMIUM COMPACT FUJIFILM X10 DIGITAL CAMERA: LARGE SENSOR, BRIGHT LENS AND WIDE OPTICAL VIEW FINDER IN A RETRO BLACKOUT DESIGN

FUJIFILM X10 Features a 2/3” EXR CMOS Sensor with a Maximum F2.0 Aperture and 4x Manual Zoom

Valhalla, N.Y., September 1, 2011 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced the all new premium compact FUJIFILM X10 digital camera, featuring a new larger 2/3” 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor and a bright, high-definition FUJINON1 F2.0 wide-angle to F2.8 telephoto, 4x manual zoom lens (28-112mm)2 with a proprietary Super EBC (Electron Beam Coating) that produces superb image quality from edge to edge.

The sleek X10 is a sophisticated compact digital camera that follows in the footsteps of the multi-award winning FUJIFILM X100, and it now combines a trim and refined blackout design, an easy-to-use manual barrel zoom lens and a traditional optical viewfinder with a wide 20° field of view for exceptional image composition.

The X10’s stunning body is built from lightweight, yet ultra strong, die-cast magnesium alloy and has an upper control deck with mode dials and an aluminum milled, textured finish lens ring. The 4x manual zoom lens ring doubles as an on/off power switch, ensuring fast start times to capture even the most fleeting shooting scenario.

“Fujifilm is dedicated to elevating the art of digital photography, and the X10 premium compact underscores that commitment by offering first-class image quality, beautiful styling and the innovative technology that exceeds consumers’ expectations,” said Go Miyazaki, division president, Imaging and Electronic Imaging Divisions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation.

“The X10’s thoughtfully laid out design, large EXR CMOS sensor, bright lens and manual zoom make it an outstanding choice when image quality simply cannot be compromised.”

Exceptional Image Quality
The X10 features a newly-developed, larger 2/3” 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor that combines Fujifilm’s proprietary EXR technology with CMOS technology to provide bright, sharp images in all shooting conditions. The intelligent EXR CMOS sensor automatically selects the optimum shooting mode from a total of 99 different variations to capture every type of scene perfectly, even in the most difficult photography situations.

The X10’s EXR CMOS sensor selects the optimum shooting mode for any lighting situation:
SN (Signal to Noise) High Sensitivity and Low Noise – produces clear and sharp high-sensitivity images while keeping noise levels low, which is ideal for capturing night scenes or indoor situations with poor lighting.
DR (Dynamic Range) Wide Dynamic Range – delivers an increased dynamic range (up to 1600%) to deliver rich gradations and detail in both shadows and highlights.
HR (High Resolution) – takes full advantage of the 12 megapixel resolution to reproduce the finest details in landscape and portrait scenes, perfect for use on bright clear days.

The X10’s fast EXR processor also delivers high-speed continuous shooting – up to 7 frames per second – at the full 12 megapixel resolution (L size), and 10 frames per second at the reduced resolution M size.

Bright Optical System
The X10 features a newly-developed high-definition FUJINON 4x manual zoom lens (28-112mm) with a Super EBC (Electron Beam Coating) that achieves superb image clarity from edge to edge. By treating all of the lens elements with the multilayer Super EBC, the X10 expertly reduces ghosting and lens flare and delivers an impeccably sharp image.

The lens consists of 11 glass lens elements in 9 groups, including 3 aspherical glass lens elements (6 sides) and 2 extra-low dispersion lens elements. Together with its wide-angle maximum aperture of F2.0 to a maximum telephoto aperture of F2.8, the X10 delivers beautiful, bright images with outstanding clarity.

In its spacious glass optical viewfinder, the X10 uses an arrangement of 3 aspherical lenses plus a special 2 glass prism configuration to give the photographer a composition experience that is marked by superior brightness and superb field of view with its extra wide 20° viewing angle.

X10 Premium Shooting Experience
In less than one second, photographers can be ready to shoot in almost any situation thanks to the X10’s power switch that has been aptly integrated into the manual zoom barrel. This smart and simple design feature allows faster photography response times and helps to avoid missed photo opportunities.

Once ready to shoot, the X10’s all-metal lens barrel and smooth zoom rotation helps you compose photos quickly and easily, and its remarkably quick shutter-release lag time of approximately 0.01 seconds lets you capture even the most momentary of photography scenarios.

The X10 also features a newly developed Optical Image Stabilization mechanism that all but eliminates motion blur by maximizing sensor performance, and its 49-point matrix contrast auto focus provides high-speed and high-precision focusing thanks to the fast CMOS capabilities and the advanced EXR Processor system.

The X10’s lens is capable of taking super-macro shots as close up as 1cm, and combined with its 7-blade aperture, the X10 generates a stunning soft-focus “bokeh” effect that makes it the ideal choice for shooting perfect portraits.

The X10 is proudly manufactured in Japan, and as a mark of true quality, it prominently features the words “made in Japan” along the rear of the chassis near the viewfinder.

X10 Key Features:
4x manual optical zoom featuring Fujifilm’s new Intelligent Digital Zoom technology that doubles telephoto capabilities and provides up to 8x zoom
Fast power start-up; the X10 is fully ready to shoot in approximately 0.8 seconds using the on/off power switch built into the lens ring (must be in Quick Start mode)
High-contrast and wide viewing-angle 2.8” 460K dot high contrast LCD screen that provides excellent viewing even outdoors and in bright sunlight
Diverse manual shooting modes that can be selected according to scene type (Program / Aperture Priority / Shutter Speed Priority / Manual)
Four diverse auto bracketing functions for exposure, ISO sensitivity, dynamic range and film simulation
RAW shooting and in-camera RAW processing (SilkyPix RAW conversion software supplied in-box)
Best-in-class3 1080p Full HD movie recording capabilities
Film Simulation Modes (eight setting are available, including Velvia / PROVIA / ASTIA)
Manual pop-up flash with a range of 7 meters (approximately 23 feet)
Electronic horizon leveling gauge to ensure that the camera is being held level, and histogram display to check image gradation
Motion Panorama 360° for seamless 360-degree panoramic shooting

Premium Accessories
To perfectly complement the look and first-class feel of the X10 camera body, the following premium accessories will be available:
Case – a retro-style “quick shot” case with matching strap made from luxurious leather (LC-X10)
Lens Hood – precision milled from metal, the lens hood with adapter ring is also compatible with commercially sold 52mm filters and lens caps (LH-X10)
TTL Flash – Fujifilm External Automatic Flashes EF-20 (Guide Number:20) and EF-42 (Guide Number:42) are compatible with the X10

Nikon announced the new J1 and V1 cameras amidst a flurry of excitement spawned from months, if not years, of rumours and mysterious “giant hands” appearing around the world.

The Nikon J1 and V1 were finally revealed to a world with baited breath, featuring some pretty impressive specs in an extremely small body, along with a brand new “CX” format 10 million pixel sensor and new “1″ mount, the company’s first new mount since 1959.

We spent some time with a pre-production sample of V1 to get the lowdown on Nikon’s camera, which it describes as belonging to a whole new category, the “ACIL” or “Advanced compact with interchangeable lenses”.

Designed from the ground up, Nikon claims that, unlike other compact system cameras on the market, this is not a compromise, but a complete system that has been designed for the best performance.

I really do like this camera and the Nikon V1 “C1″ format.

Key Features of the New Nikon S8200 Digital Camera

Ultra-portable 14x super-zoom: boasts a compact pocket-size body.

Back illuminated 16 megapixel CMOS image sensor: increases the amount of light that each pixel receives, improving sensitivity and reducing noise for superb performance in any light.

14x NIKKOR zoom lens with wide-angle to super-telephoto coverage: boasts ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass as well as aspherical lens and HRI (High Refractive Index) elements for superior performance. Offers outstanding precision and sharp resolution (35mm equivalent: 25-350 mm).

Anti-blur technology automatically counters blurred images in four different ways. Lens-shift VR (Vibration Reduction) reduces the effect of camera shake. High ISO (up to 3200) light sensitivity reduces the risk of blurred images with fast-moving subjects or in low-light. Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically selects the sharpest of up to 10 sequential shots.

Dedicated light modes: deliver superb results in any light, even without a tripod: Backlight scene mode  with Auto HDR offers impressive tonal detail in any situation. Night Portrait mode delivers beautifully detailed night scenes and indoor portraits. Night Landscape mode lets you shoot sharp images in low light.

Large 7.5 cm (3 in.) 921k-dot LCD monitor offers vivid color reproduction, sharp contrast and clear viewing. Boasts Nikon’s Clear Color Display technology that minimizes reflections, even in bright sunlight.

Full HD (1080p) movie recording with stereo sound: optical zoom and autofocus are available during recording, and you can capture a photo while filming. Boasts an option to film in slow or fast motion using recording speeds from 15 to 120 fps (VGA). Camera features a built-in HDMI connector with HDMI-CEC support for output to an HDTV.

High speed continuous shooting: lets you capture the action at a fast 6 fps.

Quick response: fast start-up and autofocus for capturing moments as they happen.

Easy Panorama 360°/180°: lets you pan vertically or horizontally to create dynamic panoramas.

Special effects: shoot still images or movies using a special effect, or use an in-camera filter to enhance photos after you have taken them. Effects to shoot with include soft focus and Nostalgic Sepia, and you can review your choice on the LCD screen before you begin. Filters include Cross Screen, fisheye and Miniature.

EXPEED C2 image processing system provides enhanced movie recording, high-sensitivity performance and maximum image quality.

Smart portrait system: advanced automatic features for perfect portraits. Smile Timer takes a series of shots at 6 fps when your chosen subject smiles. Blink Proof alerts you when someone had their eyes closed.

Skin softening adjusts uneven skin tones on people’s faces for smoother looking skin. In-camera Red-eye Fix corrects false eye color due to flash the instant you take the shot.

18 scene modes automatically optimize settings for popular photographic styles, effects and locations.

Scene Auto Selector selects the optimum scene mode for popular photographic situations.

Estimated Price at date of post – £279.00

Steve Jobs, billionaire co-founder of Apple and the mastermind behind an empire of products that revolutionised computing, telephony and the music industry, has died in California at the age of 56.

Jobs stepped down in August as chief executive of the company he helped set up in 1976, citing illness. He had been battling an unusual form of pancreatic cancer, and had received a liver transplant in 2009.

Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation: “I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.”

Apple released a statement paying tribute: “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives … The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.”

Bill Gates, the former chief executive of Microsoft, said in a statement that he was “truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’s death”. He added: “The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.

“For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely.”

He is survived by his wife, Laurene, and four children. In a statement his family said Jobs “died peacefully today surrounded by his family … We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief”.

Jobs was one of the pioneers of Silicon Valley and helped establish the region’s claim as the global centre of technology. He founded Apple with his childhood friend Steve Wozniak, and the two marketed what was considered the world’s first personal computer, the Apple II.

He was ousted in a bitter boardroom battle in 1985, a move that he later claimed was the best thing that could have happened to him. Jobs went on to buy Pixar, the company behind some of the biggest animated hits in cinema history including Toy Story, Cars and Finding Nemo.

He returned to Apple 11 years later when it was being written off by rivals. What followed was one of the most remarkable comebacks in business history.

Apple was briefly the most valuable company in the world earlier this year, knocking oil giant Exxon Mobil off the top spot. The company produces $65.2bn a year in revenue compared with $7.1bn in its business year ending September 1997.

Starting with his brightly coloured iMacs, Jobs went on to launch hit after hit transformed personal computing.

Then came the success of the iPod, which revolutionised the music industry, leading to a collapse in CD sales and making Jobs one of the most powerful voices in an industry he loved.

His firm was named in homage to the Beatles’ record label, Apple. But the borrowing was permitted on the basis that the computing firm would stay out of music. After the success of the iPod the two Apples became engaged in a lengthy legal battle which finally ended last year when the Beatles allowed iTunes to start selling their back catalogue.

Jobs’s remarkable capacity to spot what people wanted next came without the aid of market research or focus groups.

“For something this complicated, it’s really hard to design products by focus groups,” he once said. “A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

Jobs initially hid his illness but his startling weight loss started to unnerve his investors. He took a six-month medical leave of absence in 2009, during which he received a liver transplant, and another medical leave of absence in mid-January before stepping down as chief executive in August.

Jobs leaves an estimated $8.3bn, but he often dismissed others’ interest in his wealth. “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful … that’s what matters to me.”

I am so jealous today, Nick took Ted down to Douglas Beach for the first time ever, Ted and Nick or Nick and Ted loved it, Ted was running wild and even ran into the sea right up to his neck and spent an hour after that running wild, I just wish I was off work to have been with them! Never mind I am off this coming Friday until next Tuesday so hopefully we can take Ted down there again, happy days

Well it’s been well over a week now since I last took some images for Manxscenes.com, the weather has been terrible over the last week, let’s hope the weather will improve for this weekend as I am off from Friday until Tuesday