Unposted

So why Unposted? Simply, I have a back catalogue of images from all genres of photography I’ve either yet to process or post on Instagram. I’m forever procrastinating over my thousands of images and wondering if they are good enough to post. With a bit more time on my hands lately I’ve selected a few from some awesome locations in this country and further afield to share with you.

I never really like to limit myself to one genre of photography and I’ll always challenge myself to ‘give it a go’. There are definitely some I’ve failed at and need more work; not quite mastered sports photography and often end up with an out of focus image or the subject is out the frame, gone! The ‘give it a go’ approach coupled with my passion for black and white photography I usually achieve the composition I’m after. I prefer black and white, a format that can easily change the perception or mood of a composition. Don’t get me wrong some images look equally great in colour but I always end up starting with the dark side.

I always shoot in RAW format, manual mode to challenge my camera skills. Sometimes you need to react quickly to your surroundings and conditions to achieve the base composition, especially with gig photography. In manual mode there are many different ways to obtain the same result or the odd accidental surprise, it all comes down to aperture, shutter speed, ISO, the lens used and the light source. So why not utilise the intricate electronics and escape the confines of the automatic settings; gives so much more scope.

My camera of choice is the Nikon Z7. Nikon’s first mirrorless camera used with my go to lenses; the Nikkor 24mm-70mm, f/2.8 lens and wide angled 14mm -24mm, f/2.8.

With the following images I’ve included the set up and a small description on the composition.

Brighton West Pier (Brighton)

Date: 24 January 2020

Set up: 240 sec, f/4.0, ISO 800, 19mm (14.0-24.0 mm f/2.8), Lee Filter 150mm Superstopper

One of my favourite locations on the South Coast and a bucket list shot for landscape photographers, never get tired of the ‘melancholy and rust’. Shot at the break of dawn, a wide angle shot over 4 minutes using Lee Filters superstopper ND filter. So lucky the clouds were travelling towards me and the sea was as calm as a mill pond. Using a ND filter allows for a long exposure to create the milkiness of the sea and sky.

Bruce Foxton – From the Jam

Date: 09 January 2020

Set up: 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 4000, 24mm (24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8)

Combining two great passions; gig photography and live music. I had the opportunity to shoot ‘From the Jam’ at Margate Winter Gardens and this was the one shot I’ve always wanted. Bruce Foxton in The Jam’s heyday was always known for leaping in the air and I was determined to capture it! Nowadays he just leaps at the beginning of the third song, I stood there and kept my finger on the shutter button knowing I would at least have one great shot…success!

A wide open aperture and high ISO gave me the grainy look and feel as if the image had been taken on a film camera. This has been commissioned as an A1 print.

Cuban Backstreet (Havana)

Date: 10 April 2019

Set up: 1/800 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100, 24mm (24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8)

One of the many shots I took of the old cars and backstreets of Havana, Cuba. An amazing place, it’s like a living film set and I could have quite easily spent all my time behind the camera. I wanted to capture this old American Plymouth with the darkened back street, while keeping the reportage approach to what was going on in the background. Having to use f/2.8 aperture to give enough light and a low ISO allowed me that shallow depth of field and the ability to retain the foreground details.

Cuban Veteran (Havana)

Date: 09 April 2019

Set up: 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100, 60mm (24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8)

There was no way I could walk past this guy without taking several pictures of him, he was too photogenic to walk on by. The composition was a mixture of street and portrait techniques. This was my favourite shot from several taken. I wanted to capture his natural state, that ‘I don’t give a shit look’. I went for a shallow depth of field and focused on his face and let the rest blur away.

Dan Fenton – The Vapors

Date: 30 November 2019

Set up: 1/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400, 26mm (24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8)

A dream come true; I have been photographing The Vapors since they reformed back in 2016. My favourite band back in my school days and it couldn’t get any better.

Dan Fenton, son of lead singer Dave took over lead guitar duties and he makes it very easy to shoot. Totally photogenic and willing to play up to the camera, this guy makes it so easy to get the shots. With dim red lighting, there was no choice but to pump up the ISO to 6400, aperture wide open and snap this portrait. Probably one of my favourite shots of Dan. The colour version is being used as part of the artwork for the up and coming new album ‘Together’. Humbled!

Palazzo Tetta (Venice)

Date: 29 December 2019

Set up: 240 sec, f/4.0, ISO 100, 16mm (14.0-24.0 mm f/2.8), Lee Filter 150mm Superstopper

Another long exposure shot using the Lee Filters ND super stopper filter. I discovered this go to location in Venice for photographers and tourists alike on Instagram. The shot was taken from a bridge on one of the narrow back streets. I was able to set up and capture this image over 4 minutes undisturbed. I just loved the symmetry of the location and the depth of the reflections a long exposure gives.