LATEST NEWS:
Stay up to date with my projects, photography shoots I am planning, events I am attending and more!
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I am excited to announce that I will be attending The Photography Show in London 2025 from 8th-11th March! You can catch me on the Vanguard and KASE stands throughout the show, and I will be presenting on the creator stage on the 8th with my 'Stepping into Youtube: Creating a rewarding channel' talk. Can't wait to see you there!
Updates:
Iceland 2025:​
After filling spaces for our September 2025 trip to Iceland, I'm very excited to travel back to a country of incredible landscapes once again! I know the trip is far in the future, but it can't come soon enough! If you're interested in joining me and the Siren Adventures team on a future trip then do get in touch! We will take any excuse to go on a trip ha!
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Macro Focus Stacking Guide:​
I am currently putting together a small E-book/PDF on focus bracketing and stacking in macro photography. There is no specific release date yet (hopefully February though) but it will answer a few frequently asked questions and talk through some common issues. I would like to send it to a couple of people before it's release to get your feedback on anything that may be missing from the guide. If you're interested in getting the draft version when it is ready, do get in touch!
Email: courtneyvictoriaphotography@gmail.com
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Nature Reserve Exploration:​
I have been taking more notice of the nature reserves in my local area in my attempt to step into more wildlife photography. Turns out there are nature reserves that I didn't know existed! I'm sure exploring them all throughout the year is going to keep me very busy, and hopefully I am able to build my confidence and skills in photographing wildlife at the same time. I'm sure I will be sharing this with you on occasion, both here and on my YT channel!
'I love the groups of fungi that sprout tall enough to peer around the leaf strewn floor. They look as though they're watchmen on the look out!'
'The Two Dancers. Don't they look as though they're wearing furry boots?'
What's next on Youtube?
In my latest video, I grab my telephoto and zoom lenses in search for tree characters in the forest that are usually hiding behind leaves. Although many of us find this time of year dull and uninspiring, I quite enjoy woodland walks when the trees are bare, as it revealed pathways not accessible in other seasons and the shapes of ancient trees. Of course, it will be exciting to see the beginning of spring in a few months time, but for now there is still plenty of personality within the forest and lots of unique stories to photograph.
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So, what is next?
You will see me Sunday 16th with a 'Return to Landscape Photography' video, where I discuss how I pulled away from landscapes over the past year due to a lack of motivation. This video will also see me using the Hasselblad X2D as a part of a long term project to answer numerous questions such as: 'Is high quality kit like this necessary for photographers? Does investing in this kind of kit change your photography or photographic process in anyway? And, if money were no issue, why would a photographer choose to invest in this camera instead of another?' The video will not focus on gear, but it is mentioned briefly. Otherwise, I am likely to take to the trees this week for some macro work as the weather is looking a little grey and uninspiring.
'Reign' 3 Image Pano
Weekly Fungi Hunt:
I spotted these Oyster Mushrooms growing on a tree a week or two back, and was surprised when I went back recently to see that they were still there and had doubled in size! They are clearly quite sheltered and not a target for local wildlife, but then they are growing quite high on this tree trunk. (Too high for me and my camera.) It's certainly a spot I will be keeping my eye on in the future though as who knows what else may grow!
Gear of the Month:
WORKSHOP NEWS:
Autumn Fungi Workshops: To be announced in the next few weeks! There will be October and November dates to choose from.
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Spring Workshops: To be announced closer to the time. It is difficult to predict Spring growth and Spring is generally quite busy leaving little time for lots of workshops. However, I will be hosting a couple of relaxed photo walks in Stroud and the Forest of Dean, for a chance for photographers to get together and enjoy nature with like-minded people.
Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD
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You may notice that I go through 'phases' of gear and subject interest within my photography. I am a 'all or nothing' type of person, meaning when I become interested in something I tend to let it take over my life.
My telephoto lens gets used fairly regularly, but it has never been my favourite lens up until recently. I'm really enjoying taking it out on my landscape walks at the moment and having it as the only lens in my camera bag. That being said, it is a little frustrating to find macro opportunities while exploring and not having a bag of macro kit with me. So, I now pop a close-up filter into my bag with this lens, meaning I get the best of both worlds!
If you have any questions, recommendations or comments, you are welcome to contact me via social media or email. I love hearing from you, although my inbox can get a little hectic, so please be patient in waiting for your response. I will aim to get back to you as quickly as I can!
Thanks and take care.