Wedding Fayre at the Cwrt Bleddyn

The first big wedding fayre of the year is now over and done with – and boy am I glad. It was great to meet all those brides and grooms though – I sometimes think I get as excited as they do!!

The staff at the Cwrt Bleddyn are great and provided tea, coffee and sandwhiches which as a welcome for me!

Weather was damned cold though, must have been about -1 all day though it didnt stop the brides coming along.

I got some great leads and have spent today chasing them up.

Apple iPad - any good for photographers?

Apple iPad

Wow - did you see Steve Jobs launch the new Apple iPad??!! No, I didn't either - I was on a photo shoot!!
As is typical of the hype when Apple launches new gadgets there was lots of media cover etc etc. What I want to know is how come Apple manage to keep things like this under wraps for soooo long without anyone getting an idea of what the details are??!! Please, can we have Apple security division running Mi5 or Mi6 ??!!
Anyway, to the gist of the post. The iPad - any good for photographers?
I've not read loads on the new machine, not much on the way of tech specs etc but the first thing that springs to mind is being able to use it as a storage facility when your out and about. (Ok, not sure how were gonna get the images from the camera into the iPad without some other gadget...) At 65Gb it is a pretty hefty drive size, much better than the usual 30Gb on the portable viewers that are about.

Apple iPad - any good for photographers?

It would also give you the option of getting a dammed decent look at the images so you can do basic deleting, sorry editing! (Come on Adobe - how about a PS4 Lite for the iPad??!!!)
Next thing that springs to mind is being able to use it to show clients your images - the ultimate hand held portfolio. A device like this just brings the convergence of digital art closer.
Next on my think list is to use it as a photo-viewer at wedding fayres, wedding shoots and the like. Lets face it, is is gonna be a lot cheaper than the standard stuff you can get from Currys or Dixons - a bigger screen and it can do much more as well. All we need is a stand....
Next for me would be to catch up on the old CPD - Continuous Professional Development. I can read photography books, watch short film clips (I do like the Digital Photography Connectionstuff) and surf the web via the in built WiFi. (Im not sure about paying another £81 for 3G though!!! and I'd have to have contract on top of that as I can't see O2 giving me a dual sim!!)
Next up for me would be as a tool for updating my website via an iPad version of iWeb (if there is one? If not COME ON APPLE!!!!). I can shoot a wedding and whilst having a break get some images uploaded almost straight away!!
Given it's size it looks good, the demos look good so it just remains to be seen what it is like in real life...

Apple iPad - any good for photographers?

Thanks for reading..

Andrew Miller

www.andrew-miller.co.uk

Playing with Canon Cameras and Manfrotto Tripods & Heads

I have a little project going on (and on and on...!). I want to take a photograph in the same place at least once per week of the same subject. I intend to put a photobook together for the local church to sell as part of it's fundraising later this year.
My subject? Wentood Forest And seeing it is just up the road from my cottage in Llanvair Discoed it is an ideal spot.   It is also one of my favourite places to walk with my two dogs and wife. We can be there in 5 minutes and the place is so large we never have to see any human again all day!   Needless to say the dogs just love the idea!!
I'm using the same lens as well as the same camera body - Canon EOS 5D Mark II and a 24-70mm f2.8 L USM. Along with this I am also using a Manfrotto tripod and joystick head.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Manfrotto tripod and joystick head

Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Manfrotto tripod and joystick head

As you can see the tripod legs really extend out and I can raise the centre column and move it to 90' to the legs. This allows me to get really low down (I could get lower with this set-up) and provides loads of stability for a 10 second timed shot.

View back towards the main car park at the top of Wentwood

View back towards the main car park at the top of Wentwood

As usual comments always welcome!!

Andrew Miller

www.andrew-miller.co.uk