CotswoldPhoto's photostream  

I am setting up a blog, so watch this space, but don't hold your breath!

Owned my first SLR (a Praktica B 200 in 1979, followed by a Pentax ME Super in 1981), but 'took a break' from photography for a while.

My main interest is outdoor photography - landscapes and architectural. I switched from a Sony A100 DSLR to the Nikon D200 because I found myself taking so many bracketed shots for HDR processing and the Sony (along with many other DSLR's) is not so good at that. The Nikon is, bar one thing (it won't do more than a 1EV step), pretty much perfect. Sorry about that Canon owners, but the Canons would do the 2EV steps, but only 3 shots, and that isn't a wide enough dynamic range (+/- 2EV - the Nikon will do +/- 4EV). At least, on any camera I could afford.

Hey ho. Another camera is now in my backpack - the Nikon D300s. Way to go. D200 is now my backup. Poor thing, hope it isn't too upset.

Recently I have started doing strobist stuff (flashes). Many years ago I had a Sunpak flash on my ME Super, but never got really good shots. When I'm happy, I will start posting them up here. Strangely, I found that the Kodak P20 flashes I now have are made by Sunpak. I now have 2 Big Daddies - my shiny new SB-900's. They dwarf the Kodak's, LOL!

Equipment:

Nikon D200 with Dicain D200 Screen Protectors
NEW: Nikon D300s
Nikon MB-D200 Battery grip
Kirk Enterprises BL-D200G Arca Swiss Mount L-Bracket
Tamron Di II (A16N) SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR LD Aspherical Lens
Sigma SLD DC 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX HSM Lens
Tokina 11-16mm AT-X 116 PRO DX f2.8 Lens
Nikon/Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm Zoom f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens
(all lenses fitted with Kenko UV Filters)
Tamrac 5627 Camera Bag (fits the D200 with Battery Grip and L-Bracket fitted)
Triopo GX-1328 6x Carbon Fibre tripod (a bit like the Gitzo GT3540L) ...
with Gitzo GH3780QR ball head and (Bogen) Manfrotto 3433PL 501/503 Release Plate
Timer Remote (Intervalometer) - Phottix/YongNuo type
8GB Samsung 150x CF Card
Giottos Rocket Air Blower (medium)
PhotoSkill PS4041 TrekMaster Photo Backpack camera system bag (a fantastic bag that has a tripod fitting too)
and lots of little bits.

Processed with Artizen HDR and/or Photoshop CS3
PTLens
Noise Ninja

A shout also goes out to:

KUSO EXIF Viewer, Firefox (with loads of addins) and the various GreaseMonkey Scripts I use.

And my Stobist Kit:

Nikon/Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D Lens
2 x Nikon SB-900 Flashes and ...
4 x Kodak P20 Flashes, powered by ...
loads of Vapex Instant Hybrid Alkaline/NiMH AA batteries (like Sanyo Eneloops) - in the UK get the Eneloops from 7dayshop and get the LCD800 charger (it's actually made by Fujicell).
Pocket Wizard Plus II Transmitter/Receivers
DIY Black Straw grids
60 x 60 cm Lastolite EzyBox
40 x 40 cm Speedlight Softbox (EzyBox copy)
40 inch Silver umbrella (with black removable back)
Umbrella Stands/Booms/Reflectors
Various clamps, sockets, gels, cards and mounts
... all this stuff I cart in my neat black and red Roebuck Rolling Toolbox (added foam in the boxes to hold it in, the big stuff straps to the sides).