A new lens added to the collection but it mean one of the others will be leaving us.

I recently purchased the NIKKOR 100-400mm f4.5 – 5.6 S lens as it seems to me to be a better option than carrying the 70 – 200mm F2.8 S lens and the adaptor.

Thats means the 70 – 200mm F2.8 S lens and the adaptor will soon be leaving us, well i am thinking about the adaptor but the lens will be sold at some point. I simply can not carry all these lenses so why would I keep them?

I have decided to leave Twitter/X platform. I have therefore removed the link.

I have decided to join Threads and have added that link at the top of the page.

I have changed the look of the website slightly, I hope you approve of and like the new look.

I have just added the images taken in Lowestoft last weekend, hope you enjoy them.

https://www.paulwbaker.photography/lowestoft

At long last, I have been able to get out and do some photography, still not easy but it was so good to be out again.

I was out with some friend too and did they help me! What a fantastic bunch, feeding me, helping me up and all sorts of other things I struggled with, oh and lets not the forget, tea thats soooo important, thanks Stan.

Anyway, thank you to them all I hope you get to do it all again soon ;)

If you have not seen it already the Vlog can be found here: https://youtu.be/894V_BXUfOE

Thank you for your continued support.

If you are one of the regular visitors to the website you may have noticed on the equipment page that the amount of camera equipment has been reduced of late.

As I have said in the past, I have started to struggled somewhat with my legs and I am unfortunately unable to carry these large weights in my bag on my back any longer.

My recent visit to the Yorkshire Dales was the final nail in the coffin for such exploits, and as I am no longer a ‘spring chicken’ and my legs are well and truly done, I decided it was time to sell some of it on.

The equipment sold included the following:

• NIKON Z 50MM F1.2

• NIKON Z 35MM F1.8

• NIKON Z6 CAMERA

It was clear that carrying 3 cameras was simply no longer possible and the weight of the 50mm was as much as the two other items put together.

I sold them to MPB and got less than I had hoped if I am honest, but isn’t that always the case. I could have sold them on eBay and got more but to be honest I am fed up with people messing me about and eBay holding onto the funds until they feel fit to release them, even though the buyer states he / she is happy with the received product I sold on that platform.

Anyway, it was a very sad day when I boxed them back up and posted them out on Friday, I will now wait and see how long it takes for MPB to pay the agreed sum into my bank.

Thank you for reading

It’s a great shame that it’s come to this, but as I get older and my legs seem to get worse by the day and I am finding it harder to carry equipment around with me especially on my back.

The past weekend, whilst in the Yorkshire Dales, I struggled to walk with my back pack on and found myself leaving lenses behind in the van to make it easier for my legs which is not ideal. 

So, reluctantly, I’ve made the decision to reduce the amount of camera equipment that I own and carry around with me when I am out and about.

The Nikon Z6 (used for time lapses) as well as the NIKON Z 50mm F1.2 S lens, NIKON Z 30mm F1.8 lens are now surplus to requirement and I unfortunately feel the need to have to sell them all.

This means I would only be carrying two cameras instead of the three which I currently carry, I might even consider selling my vlogging camera the Nikon Z30 if I can find an alternative method of vlogging.

I would therefore also only have four lenses on most occasions to carry those being the NIKON Z 14-24mm F2.8, NIKON Z 24-70mm F2.8 and the NIKON Z 70-200mm F2.8 lenses with the x2 adapter and the NIKON Z 24-120mm F4 lens, probably still too many and too much weight, I guess I’ll find that out on my next trip out

I also have the NIKON Z 105 Macro which would only come out with me as and when required.

Well the conversion of the van got underway early last week and it has been a struggle if I am honest. My legs do like the positions I am forcing them in and I am unable to kneel so I am having to find ways around it and so far so good.

I am still not finished and I doubt I will be for a couple more weeks yet but I only have to lay a little more of the thermal underlay (there wasn’t enough in one box) and lay the ALTRO VINYL SAFETY FLOORING when it gets here in the next few days.

The hardship has been removing and replacing the cabinet (I collected that from Cardiff on Friday) and the read chairs/bed (I collected that from Bradford on Thursday). I can see that being more of a problem when it comes to putting them in once the Altro Flooring has been laid as it could easily tear.

Anyway, here are a few images of the progress so far, hopefully in sequence.

I can tell you that the rest of the thermal flooring and the Altro Flooring arrived this morning so I hope to have this all done in the coming days!

During the conversion I tried to make a Vlog showing the progress, unfortunately that let to an accident which you can watch on my YouTube channel by clicking on this link:

https://youtu.be/ctJHvBYrHjM

Monday 24th April 2023

The plan was to get the floor of the van finished over the weekend. Sadly the weather interfered with those plans and it will be done over the coming Bank Holiday weekend.

Once completed I intend to do a couple of local trips ensuring I have all I need in the van before I start to venture further afield.

I will continue to update you as the build progresses.

I have had a new Logo made professionally and would love your thoughts. It will be making it’s way into the new Vlogs as and when I am able to get out again.

I am hoping to also have it made /printed so it can be stuck to the van once I am on the road . . . . so keep an eye out and wave ;)

Well, I have done it. I have agreed to buy a van and I collect it this Saturday. This will enable me to travel further afield, sleep over in the van at locations with my camera and all the equipment I need to take those photographs I have been wanting to take for a very long time.

Time wise? Well I hope to have the van mostly ready by the end of April, although I intend to get out on the road within 10 day.

Yes, I am still having trouble with my legs, yes I am still in great pain in my knees but walking slowly with plenty of breaks will help, I am certainly not going to stop living . . . . . yet anyway!!

Some photographs of the Van taken today. 09/04/2023