The Lakes Get Posher

Day 9 Early start for long drive to Lake Como, which involves crossing another couple of mountains. Getting out of Riva Del Gardo complicated by one way system and tunnels, and we end up half way down western shore of Continue reading →

Sunday, October 13, 2013 in Italy 2013, Travel

What I Want In My Next DSLR – Progress Report

Have digital cameras advanced as picture-taking tools for serious photographers since 2010? In 2010 I wrote an article assessing what I thought was then missing from the typical DSLR, in the hope that it might contribute to improving digital cameras Continue reading →

Down to the Lakes

Day 7 A somewhat less exciting day dominated by the long drive down (well strictly up down up down down up down) from Cortina to Torbole on Lake Garda. Lunch at a tiny local pizzeria a mile off the main Continue reading →

Tuesday, October 8, 2013 in Italy 2013, Travel

Finally, in the Mountains

Day 6 Started the day with a trip up to the high point above Cortina, Le Tofane at 3244m. Frances opted to stay at the cafe slightly lower, but I took the final cable car and then completed the final Continue reading →

Friday, October 4, 2013 in Italy 2013, Travel

Through The Dolomites

Day 5 Our long drive to Cortina D’Ampezzo started with a gentle drive on the old road to Trento, most remarkable for the very erratic roadsigns showing remaining distance. Warning: the value of your roadsigns may go up as well Continue reading →

Buttons Or Switches? Buttons Are Better!

My Canon 7D, like the 40D before it, has a feature I love and would find it hard to relinquish – three fully programmable custom modes, right on the mode dial. This makes it possible to sort out the myriad Continue reading →

Sunday, September 29, 2013 in Micro Four Thirds, Photography, Thoughts on the World

From Bergamo to Verona

Day 3 Ghastly first hour driving from Bergamo to Breschia along the motorway, with heavy traffic, narrow lanes and roadworks frequently eliminating the minimal existing room for manoeuvre. We got off as soon as possible and drove gently towards Verona Continue reading →

Thursday, September 26, 2013 in Italy 2013, Travel

Unexpected Support

Quick update on the support position for the Panasonic GX7. Phase One won’t commit themselves on Capture One support. It looks like the DNG converter is the best Adobe are going to do. I also haven’t yet managed to track Continue reading →

Getting Ahead of the Curve

The majority of my camera purchases have been somewhat “behind the curve”, to the extent that I’ve purchased some just before the announcement of their replacement. However for my latest purchase I’ve gone right to the other end of the Continue reading →

Saturday, September 21, 2013 in Photography

Back to Italy!

For 2013 we’ve come back to Northern Italy. It’s a place we both love. Frances has long harboured a desire to visit Verona, and I wanted to revisit the Dolomites through which I took a fleeting drive many years ago, Continue reading →

Wednesday, September 18, 2013 in Italy 2013, Travel

Balloon Fiestas – The Awards

We are becoming quite the connoisseurs of balloon fiestas (unless fiesta is its own plural :)). Following on from Northampton 2008 (0 balloons) and Albuquerque 2012 (over 500 balloons) we’ve now added Britain’s biggest festival on Bristol, which featured a Continue reading →

Wednesday, August 14, 2013 in Thoughts on the World

Capturing the Setting Sun

I’ve been catching up with some of the outstanding shots from our USA trip in 2012. One of the most successful days of the whole trip in photographic terms started in the fascinating Bisti Badlands, and ended on a short Continue reading →

Thursday, July 25, 2013 in Photography, Travel, USA 2012