Photography

  1. When Panasonic's Android app won't connect to your camera

    Plenty of people seem to have been struggling to get Panasonic's Image App to work on recent Android phones. It seems that those of us running Android 7 (codenamed Nougat) have the most problems. I've found a workaround that works for my Google Pixel and GX80/GX85 camera. Hopefully it'll work you too…

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  2. The Alphabet - one roll of film, shot in one day

    Last weekend I took part in the “Roll in a Day” Flickr group’s monthly challenge. The idea is simple; to use up an entire roll of film in a single day. To make it interesting the group organisers suggest themes that you can focus on, and November’s theme was “The Alphabet”. I set out to take 26 exactly pictures, in alphabetical order.

    The Alphabet – one roll, in one day

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  3. Returning to film photography

    In 1986 my Dad took me to a camera shop. We were out shopping for my first proper camera and quickly homed in on a second hand Pentax K1000 with a 50mm f1.7 lens. At the time I didn't appreciate just how good a 50mm f1.7 lens is, and the K1000 (which had only been on the market for eight years) hadn't yet achieved its legendary status.

    If memory serves, it cost £125. That's a serious amount of cash to a twelve year old boy in the mid '80s.

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  4. Autumn colours

    Three photos from a morning stroll round the local nature reserve. The sun was low, the light was flat, but when it shon weakly through the leaves the colours were magic.

    Woodland

    Trapped

    Fallen

    This last one was taken a couple of weeks ago at night, under a street light on the pavement just outside my house. There are some beautiful things right under our noses...

    Pavement

  5. Sailing past the Berney

    I used to come here every year in my late teens for Breydon Regatta. The boats were big and the racing was exciting. Once the fun was over, stories were shared in the beer tent...

    Berney Arms Windmill

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  6. Manchester's Upper Brook Street

    After I left the photo walk at Victoria Baths last weekend, I took a stroll through the area around Manchester University. My fisheye lens was still attached to my camera, and I had fun making interesting shapes out of the local architecture.

    I'm sure there are other interesting ways to use a fisheye, but so far this approach is working for me.

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    Booth St, Manchester

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    I stopped for some lunch and a coffee, and tried my hand at some candid shots.

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    Spotted

    There are more in the full set on Flickr.

  7. Squashtastic

    My recent small-camera purchase has (happily) led to me carrying a camera more often. It doesn't come everywhere with me yet, but it's spent the week in the side pocket of my saddlebag.

    This is progress. Now I just need to remember that I've got it with me.

    I spotted this rather fantastic collection of squashes when I was doing the weekly shop. I didn't expect it to be a photo I'd bother uploading to Flickr, but as it turned out, I rather like it.

    Squashtastic

    The Unicorn is a fairly unusual shop. They've got a great selection of seasonal organic fruit and veg, and a small selection of decent kitchen implements. Quite a mish-mash. I kept the camera out as I wandered, with an eye open for more interesting shapes that I could squeeze into a square.

    Orange peel

    I'm liking the squares...

  8. Euston Square at dawn

    As I may have mentioned, I'm working in London at the moment, travelling back to Manchester at the end of the week on the train. Last night I got chatting in the pub, missed the last train home, and ended up in a hotel.

    I got the first train home this morning, which gave me a rare opportunity to see London at the crack of dawn. Euston was empty, with only a handful of people to distract me.

    I saw it through fresh eyes.

    Euston Square

  9. New camera: Ricoh GRD V

    I didn't really need a new camera, but then, who really needs a camera in the first place? My first impressions of this new GR are that it's a very well designed and capable little camera.

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