Archive for August, 2010
Posted on August 27, 2010 - by benmullay
Thinking of buying a new printer?
As the summer draws to a close, I’m sure there will be plenty of great holiday photos out there which you’ll be looking to print. This article will be useful if you are considering purchasing a new printer for the home/office. Furthermore, you may find that you can actually save money by purchasing a new printer and recoup the initial payment on the savings you’ll make on ink. Read on…
Channel 5 programme ‘The Gadget Show’ recently did a test to decide on the best inkjet printer on the market. To view the full video review click here.
Consumer printers have come a long way since the boom in digital photography. For example, we are now moving away from cluttered desktops as printers, scanners and copiers are now being combined into all-in-one devices. Higher-end models also feature WiFi connectivity allowing a printer to be shared across a network enabling people to print from a different location to the printer in the home or office.
We are getting a lot more for our money now as digital cameras boast high megapixel count and good quality lenses. High grade premium prints are available from your local photo lab specialist. However, if you decide to print at home then you need a printer that is going to do your images justice.
The Gadget Show selected 10 leading inkjet printers and invited Martin Brent, the 2010 Sony World Advertising Photographer of the Year, to select and print one of his professional images. The chosen image would test the printers to the extreme with a challenging range of tonal values, especially the blacks in the shadow areas.
Each printer was loaded with manufacturer recommended paper and ink, set to the highest quality and the prints were made. Martin’s main emphasis when judging the prints was on clarity, gradation of colour and richness of blacks.
The printers were then re-filled with ink, loaded up with paper and left to see how many could be produced using a fresh set of cartridges. It was noted that the cost of ink can work out 5 times more than a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne, so this was an important test to determine running costs once the printer had been purchased.
The top 5 printers in descending order were:
Features: WiFi
Comments: High Quality Prints, Rich Blacks
Cost per print: £1.58
Features: Claria inks
Comments: Greater quality over the PX810FW, strong colours and good flesh tones
Cost per print: £1.35
Comments: Strong images and warm colours
Cost per print: £1.27
Features: Graphic touch screen, good colours, reasonable blacks but not as much impact as other top printers.
Cost per print: £1.22
AND THE WINNER IS……………
Comments: good colours and blacks
Price per print: £0.52 per print – less than half of nearest rival
A full set of cartridges for the Kodak ESP 3250 is less than £19. Furthermore, the Kodak uses pigment ink technology which is usually only found in more expensive models. For example, the cheapest Epson printer with pigment ink technology is the R800 which has an RRP of £249.99 – you do the maths!
The Kodak printer is available at your local independent photographic specialists The Camera Centre. For full details on the printer, view their website here or visit in-store. at 72 Commercial Street, Lerwick.
-Ben
Posted on August 25, 2010 - by benmullay
Lisa & Stephen’s Hamefarin
We recently covered Lisa Woodside and Stephen Glaister’s Hamefarin by taking them down to their chosen destination of St Ninian’s Isle, Bigton.
This was my second photo shoot at St Ninian’s Isle this summer and again the weather was absolutely glorious. As a result the beach was very busy with people enjoying the fine day. We had a great time photographing Lisa and Stephen despite the midges!
Lisa is originally from Bangor in Northern Ireland but moved to Shetland a few years ago. Lisa is now working for the Shetland Islands Council at Hayfield House.
Stephen is employed by T & N Joinery and used to stay in Mossbank.
The Hamefarin was held afterwards at the Sandwick Social Club where there was a meal for 40 close family and friends. Music was supplied by 6-piece folk-rock band Scaldin’ Bragg which added an Irish element to the evening. Everyone had a great time and danced the night away.
Lisa and Stephen now live in Sandwick. I would like to thank them for letting us cover their Hamefarin and wish them all the best for their future together.
-Ben
Posted on August 11, 2010 - by benmullay
Caroline & Trevor’s Unforgettable 06-08-10 Wedding
When Caroline and Trevor asked me to photograph their wedding it seemed such a long way away. However, the big day arrived last Friday which was the culmination of many months planning and organising. Despite a poor forecast the weather couldn’t have been better for them.
I met the bride, Caroline, and her bridesmaids, Kathleen and Jessalin, at hairdressing expert Liz Hunter’s in South Whiteness while Grace Allan was on hand doing the make-up. I then darted across to Scalloway to photograph the groom with his best men and then returned to Whiteness to photograph Caroline, Kathleen and Jessalin. After some coordination via mobile phone, I went back to Scalloway to capture the boys reaction when they saw the vehicle that was taking them to the service at Scalloway Kirk – an army style Jeep!
This is the first wedding I’ve blogged using my new video slideshow feature so look forward to getting feedback on this. Special thanks to May & Mackie for allowing me to use one of their tracks – That’s The Kind of Mood I’m In – which is on their Long Way Down the Road Album. You can read more about May & Mackie here and view their MySpace page here.
Congratulations to Caroline and Trevor – you guys make an awesome couple and thanks for letting me be part of your big day.
Ok, sit back, turn up the volume, set to full screen, enjoy the show and post a comment below to let me know what you think!
-Ben
Posted on August 10, 2010 - by benmullay
Worldwide Photo Walk 2010 – Winner!
Chainlink by Gillian Okill - Worldwide Photo Walk 2010 Winner (Shetland) 2010
The winner of this year’s Worldwide Photo Walk 2010 (Shetland leg) is Gillian Okill. Congratulations to Gillian who wins a digital photography book and goes forward with all the other local winners across the world to be in contention of winning the grand prize.
I chose this image because it’s pin-sharp despite being at quite a hard height to photograph. The rusty chain is well composed within the photograph. I also like the contrast between the hard, edgy stones behind the chain and the smaller, lighter ones in the distance.
Thanks to everyone that took part and I hope to see you all again next year.
-Ben
Posted on August 5, 2010 - by benmullay
Shalders in flight
This group of Oystercatchers caught my eye as they flew in front of this dramatic blanket of cloud.
The scientific name for an Oystercatcher is Haematopus ostralegus, but is known in Shetland as a Shalder. For more information on this bird click here.
Posted on August 1, 2010 - by benmullay
Tall Ships Races 2011 – Archive Collection #1
To purchase this image click here.
With only 353 days to go until the Tall Ships Races 2011 visit Lerwick, I thought I’d take a look back through my archives from 1999 when the event last visited Shetland. I remember the tremendous atmosphere that was created when we were last a host port for this prestigious event and am sure that next year will be no exception.
In the coming year I’ll post a series of images which I managed to capture as the ships left Lerwick Harbour.
To keep in touch with latest developments then visit the official site here. For further information then visit the Sail Training International site here.
Pictured below is The Christian Radich, a 241 foot, 676 ton, full-rigged ship built in 1937 in Sandefjord, Norway. The photo was taken with Fuji Sensia slide film using a Nikon F4 – an absolute tank of a camera! Camera technology has changed at an unbelivable rate since then. I waited ten days until the slide film was processed and I could finally see what I’d captured. Slide film has no latitude for exposure errors unlike print film and digital. As a result I had to get my exposures spot on every time.
The Christian Raddich - Tall Ships Races 1999
The Christian Radich is a 241 foot, 676 ton, full-rigged ship built in 1937 in Sandefjord, Norway. In 1938 she sailed to New York for the World Fair.
In design she has the moderate sail plan of the modern training ship, with a total area of about 11,700 sq. ft., while her hull profile follows that of the traditional sailing ship, although on much finer lines since she carries no cargo other than her own stores and equipment. Her normal complement consists of a captain, three mates, six schoolmasters or instructors, a doctor, engineer, steward, cook and 100 cadets.
When she sailed to New York as a representative of her country in 1938 she met the Danish “Danmark” on a similar mission. In the states the two ships had a wonderful reception, and they appeared to stimulate an interest in the square-rigger as a medium of modern training, for they undoubtedly demonstrated that such vessels had something to offer in the type of youngster they turned out.
The Christian Radich sailed back to Norway late in 1939 and was placed under the control of the Norwegian Navy. She was seized by the Germans at Horten, near Oslo, and was used by them as a submarine depot ship. She was taken to Germany in 1943, and in 1945 she was found by the Allies at Flensburg in a capsized condition and without her masts or equipment. She was towed back to Norway and was rebuilt in the same yard where she was built in 1937.
She resumed her schoolship operations in 1947 and in 1956-1957 she went on a long trans-Atlantic cruise during which the wide-screen Cinerama film “Windjammer” was shot aboard. In the 1970′s she also played a leading role in “The Onedin Line” television series.
In 1976 she took part in the American Bicentennial trans-Atlantic Tall Ships Race. After a major refit and accommodation modernization in 1983 she took part in the Quebec Tall Ships Parade in 1984. In 1986 she went to New York Op Sail marking the Centennial and re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty. In 1992 she took part in the Columbus Regatta, and will again be at Sail Amsterdam in 2000.
Source: http://www.tallshipprints.com/Christian.html
To purchase this image click here.
-Ben
