Author: Paul W. Baker

Paul W. Baker

Thurne Mill

I do not really like to share too many images of places I have been until the Vlog is up, however on this occasion I am after your thoughts.

This is the exact look I was after when I took this. It was at ISO 64, F14 and 90 seconds. I really wanted everything to be bright and smooth.

I think my friend Steve said it wasn’t for him at the time, he wasn’t really wanting long exposures at the time as the water was already clam and he liked the ripples in the water.

There is one thing I do not like on this, I’ll see what you guys see and think.

Thank you for looking.

Click to enlarge
Paul W. Baker

Did I say reduce

I may of said it but that doesn’t mean that I mean it.

So today a new member of the family arrived. I bought her for use in portrait photography because I do that often (sarcasm)

I have been asked to photograph a wedding and I think that I will need the F1.8 aperture for the event.

Paul W. Baker

The addition of the beast

I was going to give the new addition to the collection a name but I think the beast will have to be sufficient.

I have not used it in anger yet though I am about to venture out into the cold photographing any bird that presents itself, I will share any I take and add them below on this post, mind you it is only 3C and I wouldn’t blame any of our feathered friends for hiding and taking cover in a warm spot.

Some of the images with the beast

As stated before, it was cold, very cold and the wildlife we saw was few and far between. There was a buzzard or bird of prey but he was very high and although I did capture a few images they were very small so once cropped they became a little spoiled and not really worth sharing.

The experience was however worth it, remembering I do not normally take images of birds in general but it is something I would now like to do more often so watch this space.

Paul W. Baker

How many cameras do you need??

It is a known fact that I love to own NIKON cameras and lenses, well they are exceptionally high quality so why wouldn’t I be?

Today I went out to have some breakfast after our weekly too early in the morning meeting. Before I sat down to eat a reasonably healthy breakfast I decided I should call in at one of my my favourite shops London Camera Exchange.

I started to look at some of their lenses and other equipment that were for sale mentioning my desire for a camera purely to do the occasional time lapse, so I looked at the second hand cameras that were for sale.

NIKON Z50 shouting my name

About 5 minutes later I left, with a new camera under my arm, I mean how many cameras can a man use? The Z50 did look lonely and I clearly heard it calling my name so I clearly had to, yes, had to buy that camera.

I had to explain the purchase to my wife, she doesn’t care to be fair, but that question ‘how many cameras do you need’ did pass her lips but thankfully we were distracted by the breakfast that was placed before us and all was forgiven.

Paul W. Baker

Time to go it alone again . . . . .

I have had a funny feeling for the past few weeks, not too comfortable really.

Since the break up of F7.1, I have not had any contact with the guys, which is very sad as I have grown to enjoy their company whilst out on location.

Since about the Christmas period, there has been none from some and very little from one or two others.

So before the formation of the F7.1 group I would meet up with the occasional photographer, but I would predominantly go it alone, find the chosen location, plan, and execute. I have decided that I am going to return to that, depending on no one else again.

I will of course meet up again if asked and if I have nothing already planned and I hope those ‘invitations’ come but I will no longer try and arrange those meet ups.

I have, in honesty, even considered giving it all up, selling my equipment, and starting a more home-based hobby—stamp collecting, jigsaws, or just buy another mini lol. But I can not give up on the traveling and the photography!

Some things need doing before I start to venture out again, new glasses, van needs a service and most probably a few other important things thats escape me right now.

Paul W. Baker

WEX

So it would seem I am not the only victim!

I recently tried to sell a Lens to WEX but that lens was rejected for mold within the glass. They ‘very kindly’ offered to have the lens disposed of, I rejected that offer and asked for it to be returned to me.

Once home I sent the lens straight to NIKON to be repaired, it left the house on Monday and was inspected today.

Today I have been contacted by NIKON who advised me that they have found nothing wrong with the lens and have asked for the email from WEX so they can investigate.

I have been told today that MPB have done this to their customers also, there seems to be a pattern.

Be careful guys, if you are told these companies find mold or fungus have it inspected by the manufacturer rather than take the word from these robbing cowboys.

Paul W. Baker

Cornwall

One of my favourite places to photograph today is Cornwall, part of the country is simply outstanding in beauty. Nightfall / Sunset and sunrise produce some of the most beautiful opportunities from behind the camera.

Below is an image I took in sunset couple of years ago Saint Michael’s Mount as a gentleman left his fishing boat on the side of the shore as the tide retreated. The gentleman ran across the sound to catch his baskets so he could put his daily catch into them presumably to take home and eat, or to take to a local shop and sell for his own daily bread?

Paul W. Baker

Knowlton Church

My trip to Knowlton Church on Friday proved to be rather successful. I think some of the images captured were rather good personally and the use of the drone, my first, has made a huge difference to the content of the vlog.

I the coming weeks I will resume adding photographs taken to the website, I seem to have little time at the moment, but here is a ling so you can at least see some of the photographs taken on Friday evening.

Please remember to leave your thoughts on YouTube :)