Digital photography has done an interesting thing for me: it has opened the door to color photography. Used to be Too Damn Complicated. The color and temperature of your lights had to be compatible with that of your film. If they weren't the same then you had to filter the shit out of your lights or your lens. If you totally fucked up, you wouldn't know until after you'd spent all the money and time on developing the film and either: scanning the negatives, printing a contact sheet, or having 4x6 "proof" prints made at the 1-hour photo lab. And then, if you'd done it wrong, you had to go back and do it all over again. Lots of trial-and-error was involved in the process until one magical day, it might all just "click" (hah, hah), and you'd be able to do it correct in perpetuity. What did Molly say to most of that run-around? "No thanks, Bucko, I'll take my Ilford HP5 and be done with it." All of that is to say, I've been primarily a black and white photographer. I love the details, the textures, and the feelings I get from black and white photography. It's simple. Timeless. Classic. There are very few color photographs that I DON'T feel would be better in black and white. My friend, Daniel Newman, is just about the only photographer who consistently takes color photographs I like. And he, unfortunately, has decided to run off and become an architect. Go figure. But here comes digital, removing all those old barriers I had with color photography, and providing me with the opportunity to actually LIKE color photography. To PLAY with color photography. To get attached to a photograph in color before I turn it to greyscale, and to actually *gasp* LIKE IT. Each time this happens, I am faced with a dilemma. I LIKE my black and white version of the image, and I also like the color version. I can't decide between them, so I exhibit my compulsive indecision by posting both versions of the photograph. Just like I'm doing now. Opinions? Thoughts? Preferences? Leave a comment. Incidentally, if I've marked you as friend/family, check out the large size of this image. The detail in the scraggly tendrils on the onion are lovely.

Good morning everyone! Day off today, but as I said a few days ago i'mm off to a lake near Heathrow to take some photos for the BDWSA, British Disabled Water Sk Association. Looking forward to it, I think its going to be a hot day as well which is nice, makes a change too! So something a little different, but i'm very excited to announce I have a new lens! It arrived yesterday morning. Its a Sigma 105mm 2.8 Macro! I'd saved up some money in my Paypal back in June with the intention of getting a new lens. I couldn't decide between the 105mm, the Sigma 30mm 1.4 or Canon 28mm 1.8. In an ideal world, all three, but can't have everything! I'd been checking eBay almost daily for about a month for the right thing to pop up and at the end of last week, it eventually did. Just pays to be patient sometimes. Came in the original box, papers, warranty, not a mark on it. Its completely different to anything i've ever used. The DoF at 2.8 and 1:1 is SO tiny, about a mm. You also need to watch the shutter speed and your breathing and a lot of other things to ensure a sharp image. I'm aiming to learn to use my Jessops flash more/better as I think i'll need it. Took hundreds of shots yesterday with it, deleted 90% but some I am quite happy with. This one the most so, but it was a close call between this and bubbled in the kitchen sink. Only annoying thing is the compo, theres kinda 2 focus points which is a bit distracting I think. Oh well, early days! Processed this in a 'Fine Art' style. Nice and bright. Contact lens trial yesterday was weird, I liked them except putting them in/taking them out. Gotta go back next week for a 'teaching lesson' oh well. Another potential free day gone. I also did some uni shopping, I now have enough pencils to last a life time! Happy Friday all, enjoy the weekend when it comes! Hit 'L' + HCS