Bonfire Night Peebles

A Montage of my firework images from Victoria Park, Peebles, which we attend every year. All images Nikon D800 + 28-70mm/2.8, the exposure time for the main firework image was 4 secs f8, ISO 100, with focus set to infinity. My Calumet Class project for the week was nightime/hallow'een and bonfire night.

Autumn Morning

The River Tweed flowing through Haylodge Park, Peebles, photographed at the end of October 2012 with a Nikon D800 and 70-300mm VR lens. The fullsize file is a 26mb jpeg.

Swan Take-off

Swan on the River Tweed, Peebles, startled by a dog takes to the air, 180mm lens on Nikon D800 1/1000th f2.8 ISO400 cropped from middle of the frame.

Time Trial

Peebles Cycling Club Rider Andrew Isherwood races through a puddle moments after nearly coming a cropper. Grass and mud can still be seen stuck in his brakes from his rush onto the verge.
Nikon D800 + 180mm/2.8 ISO 400 1/1000th f2,8 AFC 3D, 1st August 2012.

Bradley Wiggins

Bradley Wiggins, races up the Champs Elysees, on his way to an historic victory in the Tour De France.

Nikon D800 180mm/2.8 125th sec f11

Bit of an addition I wrote a letter to Cycling Weekly about their woeful photography here is the letter and the reply (I was thinking it might be interesting to readers for the letter's page) but just elicited a response from the picture editor:

To: Default User Name <Cycling@ipcmedia.com>
Subject: Photography Coverage of Bradley's Win

Dear Sir,

I have just returned from Paris where we witnessed the finest sporting achievement by a British man ever. Last week I ordered Cycling Weekly from my local newsagent and eagerly awaited its arrival yesterday. 

As a photographer I was amazed that of all the many pictures including the fine poster which came with the magazine there were none that really showed the "motion" of the bike. By that I mean blurred spokes and some blur in the background, a technique achieved by "panning" with a still camera. 

Indeed the poster picture could have been taken with the bike and rider lent against a stand as the wheels were stationery despite the bike being in a leaning position. Even the many images I have seen of Wiggins going round the bend at the Arc de Triomphe are shot so that he is totally "stationery". We know he is moving pretty quick so why not show it. 

Panning is not some computer trick it is done in camera, sure the rider will not be as sharp but at least it looks like he's going some. The attached picture was taken from the barrier half way up the Champs Elysées, I had no press pass or special access.

Yours faithfully

Mark Davey

Cycling Weekly picture editor Jason Hardy says I may not reproduce his reply as the email is protected by a confidentiality clause.

So, quoting from an email I received, Mr Hardy said:

"Many thanks for your expert advice on cycling photography, examples of which I have seen on your website. I'll be sure to pass it on to our photographers and hopefully they'll take it on board and raise their game.

By the way, I think you meant "stationary" as opposed to "stationery" (writing and other office materials)."

Nikon D800

"Hello Mark, I'm just calling to find out if you have the Nikon D800 in stock?"
I have heard the above question about three times a day since 22nd March 2012, when the camera was due to arrive from Nikon. Some are a bit more shirty than that and some downright rude, as if I can magic up a camera there and then.
Yesterday one customer even said that a rival dealer had stock. At lunchtime I rang the dealer who's exact words were:
"Ha, ha, no of course we don't have them and when we do we have 330 orders so if you want one you will be 331 and might receive a camera just before Christmas!"
I relayed this to my customer who said she would leave the order with us but really needed the camera for three jobs next month. If it is just a matter of the high resolution then a film camera would make a good substitute.
I find it hard to believe that there would not be an alternative especially as three months ago no-one knew for certain Nikon would bring out a 36 million pixel camera this year, or even ever.



This is an image shot by my wife Geraldine with the new Nikon D800 and 24-70mm/2.8 lens. Exposure is 1/160th f4, WB Cloudy with fill flash, ISO 100. It will probably be the last she will take until we get our hands on a camera. It was shot at the Calumet spring open day in early April on a camera loaned by Nikon UK.