Posh word for collection of images, it’s also the default name for a gallery that a nice plugin for wordpress creates. It’s called ‘Easy Photography Portfolio‘ from a company called Colormelon – they create a number of paid WordPress themes etc, but this portfolio is free!
I’ve been looking for a decent gallery for WordPress for a while – I think I’ve found it now. Still testing but on the whole it does what I want – it could do with a few tweaks to fine tune the look but considering the complications of other plugins this one is easy. (It could be I’ve not found what to tweak yet!)
Click on the Portfolio link in the right side menu widget.
For this most season I’ve stuck to Film images as that was my primary format. Now with the X-Pro 2 I’m mixing both film and digital images for the competitions. Neither of my entries got ranked in the top 3 last competition (3rd Quarterly)….
…..however the digital (Concrete Junction) was highly commended. Hopefully the mono entries will be more successful. I know the judge shoots film, but that hasn’t swayed my decision to enter a film scan, if anything the projection does tend to spoil the images – I’m tempted to get hold of a cheap projector to see they turn out.
….now the blog is back and working I’ve noticed a pattern of things. Illness and Fitness seem to feature a lot. And guess what, well last week I joined the Aston Uni Gym – it’s over the road from where I work so convenient.
Last week I also couldn’t shake off the cold/sore throat and headache I had so I got ill.
Had a bit of spare time today, it’s a Saturday after all – so I’ve fired up the XP pc and SCSI scanner in an attempt to catch up with my images taken in November…..
Spun burning wire wool
A bit of strange one this, a number of Igers folks have been playing with light and my mate Andy May (Alpha.brum on Instagram) is probably the local master at it. Anyway, common convention for these shots are a reasonable decent iso (200-400) and long exposure, colour obviously. But me not being conventional decided Film, ISO 50 at that (Ilford Pan F 50) and the film in question is black and white. It’s been processed a bit, but overall I like it.
The rest of the shots are from November’s trip to London for Callum’s birthday. Shot with both Ilford Pan F 50 and Ilford HP5 Plus.
Just got a couple of 35mm films to scan, those are a bit easier as I can do 6 images in one go. The 120 format is a bit more of pain as it’s single frame only.
Whilst i’m in the mood for danc updates, here’s another one.
Film, once thought of a past media has recently had an upturn in interest, I personally think I’m responsible for that upturn – or at least a very small localised Yardley based upturn.
For most of 2017 I switched back to film, getting bored of my Eos system – and to be honest I didn’t miss it. I was mainly using my Medium Format FujiFilm GA645zi.
Fujifilm GA645zi Medium Format Film Camera
Used with a mixture of Colour and mainly Black and White film I’ve had an enjoyable year. I also dug out my old Eos 50E which used on a couple of holidays. Strange thing using the 50E worth about £20 with a £1700 EF24-70 f/2.8 mkII L lens. It’s been a good thing to go back to film, thinking about the image before shooting and having to wait for the result. It’s good to step back from time to time I think.
Anyway it’s not all anti digital, I still scan and digitally manipulate the images as online is usually my area to share. If you want to check out my Brum_Film instagram account, check the links on the side bar.
Water Taxi, Paignton Devon – Fujifilm GA645zi
So what to do with a collection of:
Eos 1D MkII, Eos 6D (Mk1)
15mm Fisheye
100mm Macro
24-70mm, 70-200mm, 135mm, 200mm, 300mm Zooms
3 flash guns
Well, I sold them (except the ancient 1D)- all traded/sold for a figure of around £3,500.
O.k. if you price it all up I’ve lost money – but have I? Most of the kit is over 5 years old and had plenty of use. I’m not going to get precious about camera kit values – none of it is a rare old Leica so why bother. (Although I’m sad to see the 15mm Fisheye go – it’s a marmite lens I know, but I loved it. but I’ll check out some of the SamYang 3rd party Fisheye lenses at the Photography Show (NEC) in March.)
Besides I have a new toy….
Fujifilm X Pro 2 and Instax Share SP-2
Why mirrorless? why not to be honest – I tried the Fuji XT2/X Pro 2 out at the photography show (NEC) last year as was impressed. I was looking at getting one last year, but Mom and my bike crash kept me busy for a while.
So it is any better than the Eos system? Well probably not, but the advantages are the smaller size so I can take both the film and digital system out together. Carrying less is one thing my film Fuji has taught me.
Under Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham – Fujifilm X Pro 2 – in body Black and White ConversionStairs, Solihull – Fujifilm X Pro 2, B&W conversion via Lightroom
The EVF is different, but it works. The hybrid Optical/EVF is a bit of a gimmick, but it works well until you get a long lens on it.
Currently I have just the kit lens, but the quality is superb – possibly not the L series quality of my EF24-70, but at £600 it’s a bargain.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L Mk II – Vs – Fujifilm XF18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS – Size Matters? (possibly, but weight and £1000 cheaper helps a lot!)
The camera plays nice with the Install Share SP2 printer (prints Instax Mini instant prints) so that’s another bonus. I’m still getting used to the quirks of the system, 20 years of Eos use makes my figure memory go to the wrong places. Just need a few more outings to reprogram the digitals.
