Author: Paul W. Baker

Paul W. Baker

XQD Card

I purchased this memory card on Amazon just over a year ago.

On Saturday I was out with the camera in Cleveleys photographing Mary’s Shell when the card failed, the camera saying ‘unreadable’.

I have over the many years of owning the NIKON Z cameras purchased many XQD cards and this is to date the only one to fail and it is the newest one I own that is or was in use.

I have contacted the seller on Amazon, I have added their reply, below, for all to see which was not very helpful though it was expected. I am publishing this to give you a more educated view on the product before you spend your hard earned cash on what is obviously a poorly designed XQD card.

Screenshot
Paul W. Baker

St. Marys Shell

Sadly since my last trip to the shell some bright spark decided to place large boulders around the shell, probably to prevent it being moved by the harsh tides. The decision has killed a photography gem and probably reduced the tourism attraction at the same time as it now looks like a right mess.

As I have said, I think, the decision to place those huge rocks around the shell the shell is in my opinion no longer an attraction or subject to photographers, why would you design a anchor place underneath it so it maintains its attraction status?

The place now look as though it has been dumped there along with the rocks, believe it or not I have removed some of the mess and rock in the image taken on Saturday 27 April 2024 surrounding it and it still looks a right mess.

I could spend even more hours removing more of the rocks and other crap from around it but I would hate to advertise it for what it no longer is and entice other photographers to the location giving false hope. Sadly those days have gone.

See the last vlog I did from that location: Click Here

taken on Saturday 27 April 2024
Paul W. Baker

Lyndhurst in Dorset.

To celebrate my wife’s birthday (which is actually tomorrow) we took a trip to the majestic town of Lyndhurst in Dorset and I, as I always do, took a camera along for the day out.

The NIKON 1

The camera wasn’t the normal Nikon Z8 but the much smaller though very capable NIKON 1, a small 10 Pixel (or there about’s) camera.

I took the NIKON 1 as it is lighter, could be kept in my pocket and is perfect for those recce trips out when with the family at such stunning locations.

Lens wise, I only took the 10-30mm lens, again very capable and just right for what I had in mind for this trip.

I didn’t take too many, but you get an idea of the treats available on the right day to all having a camera by their side. Below are three of the photographs taken on the trip. Please share your thoughts below.

Paul W. Baker

Peak District meet up

Last weekend I travelled to the beautiful Peak District (12th April 2024) to meet up with the F7.1 team and others from the Thumbs up Photography Facebook page. It took me about 4 hours to get there and we spent the afternoon in the woodland and the evening in the bar chatting or eating.

The Saturday was the meet up and I struggled with my knee pain from the off, I was unable to walk after about 2 hours in the woods, it was a very challenging time on Saturday.

Taking things easy and allowing myself to rest was a bit beneficial however I did have to cut my time with the guys short as I was just unable to walk, close to tears at one point.

I did however get a vlog done on the Friday, seems to be OK, nothing too special as the condition were awful, but do please drop by watch and let me know your thoughts.

Paul W. Baker

Scotland

Scotland Trip Cut Short

We had been looking forward to our week in Scotland, but unfortunately, the weather had other plans for us. The heavy rain, persistent winds, and cold temperatures made it impossible to fully enjoy our trip. As a result, we made the difficult decision to cut our visit short and return home earlier than planned.

Despite the circumstances, we still managed to appreciate the unique beauty of Scotland, and we look forward to returning under more favourable weather conditions in the future.

I managed to capture some great images of the Breakwater in St. Monan’s, the Forth Bridge and the Kelpies, all of the vlogs are currently being uploaded, one is available for your viewing now.

Remember you can view my content on my YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@paulwbakerphotography

Thank you

Paul W. Baker

How is it going?

It’s not uncommon to encounter some challenges while setting up a website.

I have decided not to go all, just yet, in regard to what is offered on WordPress as it is simply too expensive, especially when you have two websites up and running at the same time. As good as WordPress is I cannot justify paying for two websites with all guns blazing at this time.

That does limit what I can do, so no newsletter for instance, not at this time. I know a lot of you enjoyed that whilst I was on the SquareSpace platform, but it is simply not affordable at this time, it will come at some point in the future.

The shop well let’s be honest, it was not that good on the previous platform. Just know all the photographs are for sale and all you need do is contact me and we will sort something out.

The template is not the best, I just knew how to work with this one. I will peruse all that are available in time and make the required changes over a period.

I am sorting out the landing page where you will be able to click an image of all the available location to view those images, that’s just time. Please use the drop-down men option in the meantime.

If you see any issues with the website in the meantime, please let me know so I can get that resolved as soon as possible.

Paul W. Baker

Move

I decided to move away from SquareSpace and bring my web site back to WordPress as it is a platform I am used to and it has many more options. Please note the new domain name

paulwbakerphotography.com

Thank you for continuing to follow me.

Paul W. Baker

Leg Injury / Scotland

I slipped down a bank last Friday afternoon ending up in hospital on the Sunday damaging the ligaments in both my left knee and ankle, which is proving to be quite challenging. I have been trying to get out but it is proving to be very difficult at this time.

We prepare for Scotland

I am still going into work, that is just about bearable at the moment but sometimes the pain is a just little too much and I am having to take that which I hate doing – tablets.

With our trip to Scotland only a week away I hope and prey that the discomfort subsides as it could spoil what is, or should be, a great mini holiday.

I am visiting four lour locations over the 5 day period so plenty of vlogs to edit on my return. There may be a lull in proceedings for a week so please bear with me as I try and keep up.

Thank you :)

Paul W. Baker

Evolution

I have decided to sell a couple of my lenses to MPB, very sad really.

Landscape photography, a demanding craft that hinges on precision and vision, often entails tough decisions when it comes to gear selection.

The weight of each piece of equipment can be a burden, prompting photographers to carefully curate their kit for each outing.

Today, I bid farewell to the 70-200mm F2.8 lens, along with its trusty X2 teleconverter, as I own both the 100-400mm and the 70-200mm lenses.

Parting with the 70-200mm F2.8 was a poignant moment for me; its exceptional clarity and performance have left an indelible mark on my photographic journey.

This separation echoes the regret I still feel from letting go of the remarkable 50mm F1.2 in 2023.While the loss is palpable, adapting to new equipment is an inevitable part of growth in this pursuit.

Paul W. Baker

Moving up in the world

I decided to sell the Nikon Z7II and move up in spec to the Nikon Z8 because I am constantly seeking to elevate my photography game. The enhanced features of the Z8, such as higher resolution, improved autofocus capabilities, and better low-light performance, align more closely with my needs and will enable me to capture even more stunning images. The decision to upgrade reflects my commitment to staying at the forefront of technology in order to deliver the best possible images I can for all to see.