Photography FAQ

What cameras did you use?
The earlier photos were taken on Olympus 35mm cameras: Olympus OM2n, OM4 (both SLRs) and the superb Olympus XA compact camera.

Since 1998, I have been shooting exclusively on digital cameras, mainly because it worked out a lot cheaper than buying/processing film (and I was very broke back then!).

My first digital camera was a Fujifilm MX700, which packed in a then cutting-edge 1.3 megapixels and had a battery life which seemed best measured in minutes rather than hours.

Depsite only offering a maximum output was 1280 x 1024 pixels (with an autofocus f/3.2 lens and 1/4 - 1/1000 secs shutter speed), the Fujifilm was capable of some decent shots: see this Chicago photo.

My next camera, a Sony Cybershot DSC-F55E (2.1 megapixel) was a considerable improvement, and I loved the swivelling lens.

I also bought by a Sony DSC-S70 (3.3 Mp) camera which offered more traditional controls but was hideously slow in use.


In late 2001, I managed to track down a rarer-than-hen's-teeth Sony Cybershot DCS-F55DX (3.3 Mp), followed by a super-compact Sony DSC F77X camera and a Sony F717.

The F717 was a great camera - the lens was fantastic - but that big, shiny silver body just screamed, "Hey Mugger! Over here!" so I had to get something a little more discrete.

I upgraded to a Sony F88 (5 Mp) for a while, but found it slower than the F77, so took it back.

In 2004, I moved on to the SLR-like Konica Minolta A2 'bridge' camera, but despite taking some great shots with it, I got frustrated by its erratic performance, so traded it in for a Nikon D70 dSLR.

I starting using a Sony V3 (7.2 Mp) camera in mid-2004 (it was a great camera but just a bit too bulky for a compact), and managed to blag a month testing the Fujifilm F10 in late 2005, followed by two weeks with the Panasonic Lumix LX1. I also used a Fujifilm F11 camera for a while.

A Ricoh GR compact has found its way into my bag for some six years now - it's a small and tough camera with fixed lens and fast lens - while for many years I've emplyed a Nikon D300 for 'serious' photography.

I also enjoyed used the Ricoh GX100 and Ricoh GX200 compact cameras, although my Panasonic Lumix LX3 has become my main 'carry anywhere' compact camera before being usupred by the LX5.

My current (Nov 2012) set up is an Olympus OM-D micro four thirds camera with a variety of lens (12-50mm/17mm/20mm/7-14mm plus a selection of old manual OM lenses)

Since I bought the OM-D, the Nikon D300 hasn't been touched.

Update Jan 2014

I've now sold off all my Nikon gear and replaced it with an Olympus Micro Four Thirds set up:

Main camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1
Back up: Olympus OMD- EM-5
Prime lenses (x2 for 35mm equiv): 12mm f2, 17mm f1.8, 45mm F1.8, 75mm f1.8 (all Olympus).
Zooms: 14mm-150mm/ 12mm-40mm f2,8.

Out and about compact: Ricoh GR

One important point I want to make is that it's really not all about having an expensive camera - some of greatest photographers used very basic cameras indeed and there's no reason why you can't make great photos from a £25 second hand 35mm snapper or even an old digital camera.

It's the idea and the image that matters, not the equipment!



What software?
I use a PC running Photoshop CS4. I'm not big on fiddling about with filters, so images usually only have a quick 'curves' adjustment and an unsharp mask filter applied after resizing.

Photos are indexed and sorted with ACDSee Pro and web pages are put together with Homesite 5 - a great text editor that sadly hasn't been updated since 2003.

How do you make the panoramas?
You don't need any special equipment to create the 360º panoramas - just spin around and take a series of photos and let the Photovista panorama software stitch it all together for you!

A java applet then lets users scroll and zoom around the image.

How did you start up in photography?
Like most people, I started off with a cheap 35mm camera and just took loads of pictures, learning from my mistakes.

I also read up on the greats like Andre Kertez, Cartier Bresson, Bill Brandt and tried to learn from their compositions (I've still got a long way to go!).

Can I license/buy any of the photos?
These photos have primarily been posted up so that others might enjoy them, not for commercial gain. However, if you wish to use any of our photos commercially, you will be expected to pay a fee. Please read our copyright page and email us a request with details of required photo usage.

Can I use them on my own computer?
You're welcome to use the images as desktop backgrounds for your own personal PC, but you must not transmit them, sell them or republish them.

Can I use them on my own website?
No. These photos can not be reproduced or transmitted in any way or form whatsoever. Legal action will be taken against anyone using any photographs without my permission.

Why not?!
Because they're my own personal work! How would you like your personal pictures appearing on sites that you have nothing to do with?!