A Three Legged Thing

For every photographer there comes a time when you decide on purchasing a tripod or upgrading to a newer model.

Tripods come in varying sizes in leg length and of course the varying leg angle that can applied to those legs for specific types of photography, so for instance if you’re filming or if you’re shooting stills than your choice is a very broad one at that.

Many manufacturers of tripods have a low budget end user profile, and offer the budding beginner a chance to start off and get some stable platform landscape shots added to their portfolio. I myself have had owned several Manfrotto Tripods some with independent legs and  a few with the leg struts, which act as a platform to place a camera bag or other equipment to add greater stability to the set up.

However just like higher budget cameras or pro camera set -ups, you have to look at  the equipment being used and ask why am I not spending a decent amount of money on a stable tripod platform for said camera? If your a landscape photographer and your shooting large format then you need to look realistically at what plate to accommodate your camera.

So let's say for instance large format cameras have a big base for a seating platform as do some medium format cameras, then of course you have video cameras and they will need a stable platform to shoot on, with a certain degree of versatility to perform 'tricks'. 

Vinten V3-CP2 Vision 3 Carbon Fibre Tripod is a versatile and very responsive Tripod. Matching that with the design materials being Carbon Fibre. Carbon Fibre is a strong and lightweight material often used for sea and freshwater fishing rods.

So you can imagine what they put them rods through, the Vinten V3-CP2 3 Carbon Fibre Tripod is capable of holdings weight up to 10 kg / 22 lbs. Enough for a field camera or Professional Camcorder such as the Canon XF305 the BBC use these cameras out in the field so next time your watching David Attenboroughs' natural history programme bare a thought for the camera crew and how they're shooting those extraordinary scenes in the Sahara Desert.


They used a unique dolly system and elevated platform to shoot those scenes, so where do you want to take your photography?

 
For myself I shoot a lot of different subjects I have shot sporting events like the English Half Marathon and I have shot landscapes and moving pictures. My main tripod was an Manfrotto 394-H Tripod which is ideal for a beginner / intermediate photographer or videographer.


Though being honest if you own a heavier camera it is best to invest a little more money, and move from aluminium to carbon fibre. The reason is corrosion I enjoy shooting near the coast and the salt air, sand and seawater can take its toll on the material. So care should be taken I used a decent cloth which I inserted in to the bottom end of the bag, so that when placing the tripod in legs first the cloth would take the excess water from the feet.

 
That and a trusty aerosol can of WD-40 lubricant spray does exactly what it says on the tin, it protects and lubricates. Ideal for keeping your tripod equipment, in great condition; particularly if you’re like me and shoot in all weathers.


So my latest equipment is an upgrade from a standard three legged thing to one that does much more, and can offer more leg angles for shooting, thus I am much more of a versatile photographer. I purchased a very unique tripod which offers more for your buck than your regular tripod.

The legs invert and fold back 180° onto the centre column, this is perfect for the photographer who is on the go, and much like the Benro Travel Angel features a detachable leg to form a professional monopod. So far so good, I will be field testing this tripod and will discuss these features in more detail.

One great feature is the ball head it comes with dual spirit level bubble on the plate, ideal if you want to perform some 'tricks'. So what tricks can we perform with a tripod?

Well if your into film making a couple of shots which are ideal with this sort of tripod is to raise the front leg of the tripod and using the tilt on the head of a fluid video head or ball head with large plate.

This makes for a smooth dolly type shot and for the budding film maker it's an ideal way to be creative and start being more versatile.

Another trick is to use a rubber band around the operator handle on the video head for smoother panning. Yes, yes of course you can do this using your video software however it's great to know these can be done manually saving you time in editing later.

They're many other aspects with tripods too, you can double up on them if you have the budget and shoot some incredible time-lapse photography and 3D videography / photography.

Obviously with 3D photography two cameras are involved in the process as well as reasonable editing software.

So until the next post get out there and start thinking laterally about your tripod and the special features that some offer for all budgets.

Bye for now

David

Work, Rest and Play

Hello all

Here is the link again: Hope this one work.

Thanks

David

Work, Rest and Play

Work, Rest and Play

 Here is the link for my book hope you all enjoy it, it has been a remarkable year getting this together and now it is finally here yay! So please share the link and if you like it BUY IT!http://www.blurb.com/b/4257984-work-rest-and-play?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget

Its full of some great street shots I have taken over the course of a year, and I have enjoyed shooting this book.

Thanks for your support!


David Rothwell

Long Time No See

Well, well

Hi all, this is probably gonna be a right blurt! I have not been on this blog for a while and haven't really posted anything on here for such a while.

Have started a new blog using the word press format, I like it! But I have also been so busy, with my own photography and so many assignments one in particular was my 'first' try at making a film about my photography. I really enjoyed making the film; Work, Rest and Play. The version is a film short, however the full version will be available towards the end of the summer, that is if we ever do get a summer! 

Continuing with that theme, I also have been busy shooting more material for the book of the same title. I recently concentrated on New Brighton for this set and am looking to go and shoot some more material in Manchester. It's starting to rain and Manchester can produce some amazing light under a dark sky!

You can view my recent post on my other blog too Boston Triumphs! Which is a perfectly good reason to read about how a city has triumphed over adversity.



Star Spangled Banner ©David Rothwell

It gives me inspiration to be positive about things in life, and that is a really good thing! So just going off kilter, I have to remind you that the annual 1940s Weekender is coming up in May 18 -19 2013 at Haworth If you have never been and are going to be visiting the picturesque county of Yorkshire, then why not pop by...it's a real tonic!

Last year we had a genuine spitfire, and this year promises to be a lot more exciting, I think we may have George Formby Tribute this year too.

So plenty of opportunity to get dressed up 1940s style or get a camera out and shoot some vintage footage. I was there last year and it really is authentic like stepping back in time into a period drama.

One of the shots from my recent shooting trip, this one taken at the Colwyn Bay 1940s weekend. The theme was there, however it just wasn't as authentic as it was in Haworth. It was too close to a main road and to be honest cars of this century going past is not what this event is about, so if you really do want that nostalgic feel to it, then your best bet is Haworth.

What I will say is this that the re-enactment crews were brilliant and hats off to them for putting on a good show.

So my next trip out should be an eventful one, am currently working on a project too for my last assignment. Five photographs in total, and I have to focus on three photographers too. Which is not too hard it just begs the question which three?

I was thinking about Duane Michals and a brief thematic that would entail maybe a story involving sub framing techniques and out of bounds photography. Which to be honest sounds really appealing to myself, last night in the studio I began a few shots and had limited resources, however am sure I can pull this technique off.

You may remember from my other post Music is the Answer that I gain inspiration from music for my photography, well I been looking at Pink Floyd album covers and the titles to certain tracks etc. So of course if you have seen my  Tears Among The Trees work, you will know that I shoot a lot of surreal self portraiture, I enjoy it and you really do set the scene yourself you are in fact in the style of Cindy Sherman conceptual portrait photographer, however my work has a different approach, I also shoot duplicity so am playing two to three characters!

I have to go back to that place too very soon, so I can place the next part of the story in there. Yes, yes a bit more long winded than an episode of BROADCHURCH Which I have to say is beautifully written and quite the epic it has turned out to be. Brilliantly acted out too by the actors Olivia Colman and David Tennant.

So for now I will leave you so you can watch that epsiode! For now I better catch up on some other form of typing for my assignment.

Farewell for now!



A Brief Encounter

A Brief Encounter, a photo by David Rothwell (rothwell172) on Flickr.

A shot of a couple engaged in conversation, chattering about tales at the beach while the sun shines through. A brief encounter perhaps?

Llynnau Mymbyr Winter [Explored]

Llynnau Mymbyr Winter [Explored], a photo by David Rothwell (rothwell172) on Flickr.

These three; in this mini series are test shots for an upcmoing project on April 6th 2013 entitled One Minute On Earth

If any of you are currently shooting a 365 + Project may be you would like to get involved for more information please see the link below.

The photographs will get voted for a book, so if your happy for your work to be displayed you can register at www.kujaja.com

Thanks for looking.

Cinematographer...

Well, well I never thought I would ever consider myself to be a Cinematographer. That said it is currently my assignment, so far I have made a fairly good draft using Adobe Premiere Elements 11. It is meant to be two minutes in length, however looking at my peers work of such length am not overly impressed.

I cannot see how someone like my target market can grasp my photography in such a short length of timescale, alas I digress. One thing for sure I definitely did notice was 'artistic' my draft is so far. It does reflect my style of photography very well, once my final edit is complete and I have completed the credits and subjected a movie score to the images I will post on here via Vimeo.

I have been watching a lot of amateur film makers work on Vimeo and to be honest I would not normally use the term amateur. These guys seem like Pros!

A lot of photographers have developed certain styles and one particular photographer has re-awakened a particular style of photography, Ian Ruhter AKA The Alchemist is known for his daguerreotyping which was the first commercially successful photographic process, his photography is shot on these rather large metal plates. Obviously with this style of photography, it is shot in brightly sunlit conditions for the process to be at an optimum. It is known as wet plate photography today.

Here is a interesting video if you haven't viewed his work, I would suggest you follow him on Vimeo

Le Métro©David Rothwell All Rights Reserved

For now I will post a 'still' from my short film...