Door number 9 opening up to iconic British views: Photographer Chris Ford lives in Dorset and spends a lot of time out and about capturing the best of what this wonderful region has to offer. His Rock of Ages: The Enduring Beauty of Pulpit Rock calendar features the Dorset landmark in varying lights and weather conditions.
“Then suddenly, I discovered something amazing … “: Meet Paul Iddon, a self-taught photographer and Calvendo wall calendar publisher whose big passion is macro photography. Here, he tells us why, talks about his technical equipment and gives some good advice for Calvendo newcomers.
Paul, can you talk a bit about your background as a photographer and how and when you took up photography?
I found an interest in photography 20 or 30 years ago, back in the days when 36mm film was the standard. After trying a few film cameras, I decided that I wanted an SLR, and my first SLR was a Canon EOS. I never had any training on using a quality camera, and so became self-taught, but in retrospect I was limited in my abilities. I did landscapes and people, much like everybody else. I suppose, looking back, all my photos were pretty average – even if at the time, I thought they were good myself!
How would you describe your style and approach as a photographer? Continue reading
He loves wildlife, in particular owls and birds of prey, and has a lifelong infatuation with photography: Dave Knowles tell us how his photographic life has evolved over the years and why trust and patience are key when taking pictures of animals.
Dave and his Great Grey Owl ‘Midnight’
Dave, can you talk a bit about your background as a photographer and how and when you took up photography?
I’m a lifelong photography fan, starting with a foldout 120 camera given to me at the age of seven, through to a 21/4 square Rolliflex, followed by 35 mm cameras starting with a Zenith B, then Practica, then onto Canon – all in film then slide and then digital as they evolved. I’ve also had my fun with Polaroid and the initial embryonic digital cameras. I’ve had my own darkrooms in various makeshift locations such as the bathroom, developing and printing my own prints. I was also a member of the school camera club and joined the local camera club.
I’ve been using Canon since my first ‘L’ series lens (100-400) initially with an EOS 100 film camera. After coming back from a safari in Africa in 2000 with 40 rolls of film, I decided to buy a Canon EOS 300 digital SLR and now via a range of EOS bodies (20D, 5D, 5Dmk11) evolved to an EOS 1DX. I also have a wide range of ‘L’ series lenses and other equipment to match. Prior to my retirement from the NHS where I was an Intensive Care Charge Nurse, I started a small business which continues in a small way, and I sell images from various websites. I’ve given talks for various groups on wildlife photography, which is my main photographic love, and I’ve also led introduction to photography classes. I edit all of my images on a Mac and primarily use Lightroom since it has been introduced and occasionally also Photoshop for all processing.
I’m continuously improving and honing my techniques in wildlife and other aspects of photography. I attend many study days and subscribe to various websites and photographic forums. I also frequently meet up with like-minded photographer friends, and we use day trips to practice new ideas or processing techniques to build experience and portfolios.
‘Just Flamingos‘ calendar
How would you describe your style and approach as a photographer? Continue reading
