...just dropping by to say hello to everyone here.

Having retired in April this year, I've resurrected an involvement in natural history that was the specialism I nominated in my City & Guilds course in general professional photography 'back in the day'. As a 'wet process' trained photographer I love digital - my father-in-law, when he was alive, asked me if I mourned the decline in film. I told him there was no contest between being sealed in hot darkroom, up to the eyes in chemicals, compared to feet up with the laptop and a cup of coffee!

I guess my objective is to raise my Licentiate certificate of The Royal Photographic Society to Associate in natural history and I'm starting to put the required 15 image portfolio together.

One of the unexpected bonuses of digital photography has been the realisation that using full frame lenses on a crop sensor body gives a longer reach, along with 1.4x and 2x converters.

Having survived the world of work, I promised myself a retirement investment that would help further my photography. That came last week in the shape of the Canon EF300mm f2.8L IS MkII. This joins the Canon EF100mm f2.8L IS MkII, Canon EF17-40mm f4L and Canon EF70-200mm f2.8L IS MkII. Camera bodies are the 5D MkIII and 7D MkII, both with the dedicated battery grips.

I'm soaking up as much information as I can and enjoying the jaw dropping output of so many photographers here and elsewhere. Both are inspirational and I look forward so much to trying to create some memorable images of my own.

In the mean time, I wish everyone here health, fitness and a sense of fun and wellbeing. It's a wonderful life...


Take it easy


Steve