LATEST NEWS:
Stay up to date with my projects, photography shoots I am planning, events I am attending and more!
20% off with code: SPK25
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!
Natural Vs Artificial Light
Here are a series of images I have been working on recently, experimenting with natural and LED lighting on a single subject. I admit, I am not one for the artificial lighting look, however, the more I experiment using my SmallRig video lights, the more I can see how lighting alone opens up a new channel of creativity. ​
This was something I would love to explore in a video sometime in the future. I was hoping to do so this Autumn, but unfortunately a few circumstances have meant that I have had to put this idea on hold for now!
​
The top left image was taken with natural light. I like this image, there is great contrast in the mushroom itself, however the image is lacking in colour apart from the vibrant moss.
​
The top right image is natural light with the addition of a reflector, to bounce light onto the stem and gills hiding underneath, to fill in those shadows and make them stand out a little more.
​
Bottom left saw the introduction of warm LED light, placed both sides of the fungus, highlighting the shape of the subject but also casting deeper shadows and more contrast in the background and front of the mushroom.
​
Finally, the bottom right saw side light again (slightly softer on the left) and a light held above the mushroom to bring out more cap detail. White balance was changed to a cooler tone, and the mix of blues and warm light gave the cap a silkier, wine coloured look.
​
A fun experiment that I can't wait to try again!
What's next on Youtube?
You may have noticed my lack of posting in recent weeks, and unfortunately a few circumstances have meant I had to put a pause on both photography and filming for a while. This has been frustrating, and not great timing as Autumn has passed and I have not fulfilled my goals for this season, nor been able to enjoy it quite as much as I'd hoped to. But never mind, these things happen and perhaps a little break was necessary.
​
I am happy to say I managed a little forest exploration with my macro lens recently, of which you can watch live on Youtube now! I focused on a small section of forest to see what small wonders I could find without having to walk far at all. I was pleasantly surprised to come away with a few images of scene I may not have spotted had I not made the effort to study this one area. In order to 'get in the zone' of photography, I took a moment to do a very simple journal exercise to build excitement and curiosity.
So, what is next? Just before Christmas you will see me with the OM1 Mark II in hand for a landscape shoot, as I thoroughly enjoyed using the OM1 in October for my macro photography and simply wanted to try micro four thirds once again for my landscape work. It was a challenging shoot, as for some reason I decided the best time to film this was in between two storms, and to top it off my SD card decided to corrupt half of my footage. (Massive face palming moment here.) But, there is still enough footage for a video of which is currently being edited.
​
Otherwise, I am looking towards 2025 now and planning how I'm going to step outside my comfort zone to challenge myself with some new projects. I admit to being a little afraid to state exactly what it is I'd like to do, as the past few weeks have proved that life may have other plans and flexibility is a must. November has taught me to detach from specific outcomes and to simply enjoy every possible opportunity. Regardless, I am excited to see what the next stage of my photography adventure brings and of course share that with you.
Image focus bracketed with the Nikon D850 + Sigma 105mm Macro lens. Photo Stacked in Helicon Focus.
Weekly Fungi Hunt:
I have not particularly been on the look out for fungi over the past week, but I have noticed that when I am not seeking a specific subject,I will notice them in abundance anyway. Typical! The wet weather and mild temperatures has meant there has been some growth, mostly small fungus's such as bonnet mushrooms and oysterlings, but they're still very exciting to spot. I particularly love to photograph the oysterlings in Winter, growing off damp and rotting bits of wood. They grow in large clusters so are easy to spot! Keep an eye out for them yourself for some winter fungi photography opportunities.
OTHER NEWS:
The Landscape Lencast Podcast invited me back onto the podcast alongside Greg Snell, where we critic some photos!
​
​
Now, this is a different one because it's not a camera I even own!!
​
I have had the opportunity to loan a couple of OM System camera bodies and lenses over the past month or so, specifically the OM1 and OM1 Mark II paired with macro lenses and standard zoom lenses. I'm not really much of a 'techie' photographer, I don't really get caught up in latest releases or gear talk (or at least I try not to). The reality is for the work I do, most modern cameras will do the job. However, a camera must be comfortable to use and easy to navigate so I can focus on creativity rather than trying to figure out 'how to do this or that' in the camera settings.
I have found the OM1 a fantastic camera to not only have in my hand, but to use for my photography too. It is such a powerful little set up (especially for macro photography) and the compact size is perfect for a long day out doing photography. The IBIS on the OM system is boast worthy from my experience, and the live ND filter feature that I recently tested for the first time amazed me! These cameras are designed to have most things you may need for outdoor photography, in a small, lightweight package. Every time I have to give these cameras back, I feel a little sad ha!
​
Gear of the Month:
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.