Technical information
Many of the images on the site have been taken on traditional 'film' cameras: Nikon, Pentax and Hasselblad.
In the main, the film used was . . . .
Ilford FP4 (125 ASA)
Ilford HP5 (400 ASA)
Ilford PAN F (50 ASA)
Kodak High Speed Infrared
Cameras
The 35mm film cameras used were Nikons (Nikkormats, F's & F2's) - plus a very old Pentax Spotmatic. In the early days, the medium format images were were taken on a Bronica ETRS (6cm x 4.5 cm) and later, when funds permitted - Hasselblad 500C's (6 cm x 6 cm Negs.) Film based images were all produced from negatives professionally scanned at 4000 dpi. The final prints being produced from these high grade masters in Adobe Photoshop CS.
Lenses
A variety of lenses were used, mostly Nikkor prime lenses, 28 mm, 35 mm and a Nikkor zoom 28 mm - 85 mm. The Hasselblad alternated between and 80 mm and a 60 mm lens. For most mono shots, a deep red filter was used to darken skies and improve contrast with clouds. For a less darkening effect, orange or yellow filters can be used. Where the contrast between skies and land were too great a Cokin Gray graduated filter was used
The Advent of digital
Whilst Rod still uses film cameras, he now supplements these images with those shot on Nikon digital SLR's. Typically a Nikon D200 and D80.
Printing and paper
In 2003, a move was made to digital printing. Initially, an Epson 1160 A3 printer was purchased and run with the *Lyson 'small gamut inkset'. The printer profile's were provided by * Marrut Digital Solutions
However, this was eventually replaced with an Epson R1800, using Epson's own UltraChrome™ pigment inks.
All images are printed on Epson Heavyweight Matt Archival paper and the inks have been tested for colour permanence and are claimed to show no loss in quality for over 80 years.
* For more information on inks, printing and printer profiles visit: Marrutt Digital Solutions
Taking Landscape photographs
It's been said that the three main rules for landscape photography are - Tripods, tripods and tripods!
Rod uses Manfrotto and Uniloc tripods for virtually all of his photography.
The use of a tripod encourages photographers to 'look' at a scene before pressing the shutter release. The camera can be left set up on the tripod whilst rubbish clearing, or other site maintenance is carried out just prior to the shot being taken. Peering at a potential image through a viewfinder has never been conducive to 'seeing' and often, the odd Coke can, sweet wrapper or piece of unwanted foliage lie unnoticed until after the shutter has been fired.
In the main, apertures should be set to somewhere around f16 to ensure maximum depth of field in the scene. This can of course result in slow shutter speeds, but then this is unlikely to be a problem where a tripod is used. The only time that very slow speeds can be problematic, is where grass, tree branches or clouds are moving noticeably and are likely to be blurred in the final image.
For tips on landscape work and image composition , have a look at the following sites:
http://photoinf.com/General/Johannes_Vloothuis/landscape_composition_rules.html
http://www.naturephotographers.net/np101/gt0804-1.html
and
http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/guides/understanding_dof/index.html
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