General

Yesterday (Thursday 2nd February 2012) Pentax announced the launch of the Pentax K-01, a mirrorless interchangeable lens digital camera that joins the ever-popular Pentax K series. As well as supporting all the Pentax K mount lenses and D-SLR accessories, the K-01 also supports the dedicated XS lenses and comes packaged with an incredibly slim (1cm thick) 40mm F2.8 XS lens to match its design.

On Wednesday 1st February Nikon announced not one, not two, but ten new digital compact cameras to join the well established Coolpix clan! Joining Nikon’s popular Coolpix range are two new P series cameras, four new L series compacts and four new stylish S series cameras.

Last year, the staff here at Wex had a competition running to shoot the best photo of a ‘W’ and you can see some of our results in the image above. So, we want to extend the challenge to you! How would you fancy a brand new Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR camera with 15-85mm IS USM Lens worth £2,399.99? That’s what we’ll be giving away to the person who takes our favourite ‘W’ photo.

A photography project that many photographers choose to get involved in is a 365 project. If it’s not obvious already; you take a photo every day for a whole year (and since 2012 is a leap year, you’ll need to take an extra photo!)

To be honest I was a little skeptical of the SkyScout when first told of its introduction here at Wex. What can it do that a certain prominent Search-engine’s free app can’t I wondered, “A lot more” I was informed, “and easier and better!” So, a fair bit of hype then? Let’s get on with the review.

Following on from my last article about shooting still life work on a table, I want to move on from that and take the techniques I used a step further. For this article I want to show you how easy it is to shoot flowers against a completely white background, working again on a table top with just two lights.

If you’re planning some time at the beach with your camera, then a sandy stretch adjacent to Liverpool and the Mersey estuary may not immediately come to mind. However think again – this long, straight beach is home to Antony Gormley’s “Another Place” installation – 100 iron life size statues cast in his own image, placed at intervals along the beach

Dungeness is an intriguing place unlike anywhere else I have ever been in the UK. The vast shingle landscape is dominated by two nuclear power stations. However in their shadow you’ll find, amongst other things, a RSPB nature reserve, a small airport, the world’s smallest public railway, wartime acoustic mirrors and two lighthouses.

For lighting nuts like me, the clock change into wintertime is a real plus. Having these darker winter afternoons will give us all the opportunity to shoot with flash more easily. I’ve already been planning a couple of afternoons, using our dining room or small conservatory to set up some still life stuff to shoot. It’s a great way to while away a winters afternoon getting completely engrossed in your favourite pastime! My aim is always to shoot something quite small, often one item using the barest minimum of equipment.

A colleague at work told me about his favourite lens, the “50mm f1.4”. He had used one for a while and could not fault it. With that sort of endorsement it was quite easy to take the plunge and the lens was ordered the same day. That was nearly 3 years ago and since then the 50mm f1.4 is almost permanently attached to my camera.