Uploads from Alan MacKenzie, tagged alanmackenzie, with geodata

Ocean of Knowledge

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:50:00 -0800

© 2013 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

Seen from atop Beachy Head, a lone vessel sails through sunbeams on the English Channel. This image and three others appear on www.oneresearch.co.uk - the website of a clinical research company, based at the Sussex Innovation Centre, situated on the University of Sussex campus. The site is attractive, easy to navigate and showcases local places of interest. I am pleased that the web designer chose to give my photographs full prominence, making the site memorable and attractive to potential customers. I wish One Research Ltd every success in the future.

I hope you have fun naming the locations. I've given you a head start with Beachy Head. All four images have been shown before. Can you guess where?

Falmer Farm Cat

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 05:26:00 -0800

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2011 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

This silver tabby cat lives on a farm, at the end of Ridge Road, Falmer. He briefly greeted me, before diverting his attention towards the various critters living in the undergrowth.

Kingston Ridge

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 12:11:00 -0800

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

I was hoping for excellent visibility and clear blue skies today, however, as usual in Sussex, fair weather is accompanied by haze and high level clouds. By 18:50, I saw gaps in the cloud just above the horizon and predicted a golden hour (or golden five minutes to be precise) just before sunset. Kingston Ridge looked quite wonderful for a few minutes. Shortly afterwards, there was a very intense sunset.

Night picture of the Chattri in December Snow

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 15:48:00 -0800

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

England suffered the coldest December weather in living memory back in 2010. I decided that I wanted an outstanding photograph of a local war memorial in the snow, with a twist of course. I would take the photo at night. The Chattri monument is located at the top of a series of hills called the South Downs. I waded through 50cm snow drifts for over a mile and underneath my layers of clothes, it felt like a boiling hot summer's day. I arrived at the Chattri and removed my outer gloves, to set up the camera and tripod. When I picked up the gloves a few minutes later, to my surprise, the sweat inside them had frozen solid. Handling my tripod reminded me of what happens when one touches the interior of a freezer cabinet. My fingers stuck to the metal bars. The digital thermometer I had brought with me gave a reading of -13°C. Rather than time the long exposures, I listened to music on my phone and deactivated the remote cable at the end of each song. I finally gave up after 90 minutes, because I was entering the early stages of hypothermia. On the way back, I waded through 50 cm snow drifts, which my body heat partially melted. I first noticed that I was wearing a pair of frozen trousers when I reached Brighton. I often conclude my expeditions with a beer and curry. I think I'd truly earned them on this occasion!

See the rest of my 2010 snow pictures here: www.alanmackenziephotography.com/2010/12/brighton-and-hov...

Magnus Agugu

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 02:23:00 -0800

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

See the rest of my snow pictures all on one page: www.alanmackenziephotography.com/2010/12/brighton-and-hov...

Cuckmere Haven

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 05:21:00 -0800

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

0.6 soft and hard grad LEE filters stacked together, followed by a pint of Harveys Sussex Best Bitter at the Golden Galleon.

Brighton & Hove Calendar 2013 - Give it to someone special this Christmas

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:25:00 -0800

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

This photo of the Brighton Clock Tower features as the main December image in the Brighton and Hove Calendar 2013. A huge print is also hanging in the foyer at Juice 107.2. I took this on December 1st 2010, when heavy blizzards coincided with Christmas lighting, a rare event in southern England.

Three other images of starlings are included in November. I will display those below.

The Brighton and Hove Calendar 2013 is available to purchase at stalls in Churchill Square and Kensington Gardens and online. I'm not sure about the price. A4 prints of my images are available to buy. Nigel Swallow, who runs North Laine Photography, tells me that prints can sell in high volume over Christmas. I'm hoping in vain to raise enough cash to buy a used copy of the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM! To save me from tears, please buy many prints.

www.brightonphotography.com

Starling Express

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:36:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

Best viewed in full screen.

Taken using a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Mark II, kindly lent to me by Alex Lawrence. This lunchtime, he showed me the Canon EOS-1DX, which, combined with the said lens, made for an orgy of super-mega-macho hardware. The speed and responsiveness of this DSLR is breathtaking; the camera is noticeably larger and heavier than previous 1-series bodies. I found the 12 frames-per-second drive particularly thrilling; we easily pleased men like our hardware, don't we?

This afternoon, I was reminded of how difficult it is to photograph starlings. Nature isn't here for our benefit, so one just has to take it as it comes. Although the lens has a 4 stop Image Stabilizer, one does need a monopod for control, stability and sharpness. I went to Jessops afterwards and bought a good quality Manfrotto pole. I've micro-adjusted the 300mm lens to +2 and reconfigured some AF custom functions, so everything should be working as it should, the next time I visit Brighton Pier.

I was pleasantly surprised to be graced with the presence of starlings in late October; they are early, perhaps owing to cold weather on the European continent. I am happy with my first starling picture of the season. I will of course, do better than this over the coming months.

September, bad patch

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 04:54:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

Please refrain from self-promotion and vanity 'comments'.

I trust you are preparing yourselves to forgive me for the lack of posting. Late summer and early autumn is always a lean time for wildlife photography. Most animals, except Fallow deer, have finished mating; the butterflies are mostly deceased; the countryside is preparing itself for the winter.

I have completed 98 pages of my upcoming book on wildlife and nature. There is still work to be done this autumn, before it is ready in time for Christmas.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the photograph I took on Hove beach.

Peace Camp 2012

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 09:29:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

Peace Camp 2012 is on at Cuckmere Haven this Thursday and lasts for three nights. I've just turned down a commission to photograph the installation, owing to un-negotiable commitments in my life (or put differently, I was offered the commission with just days to go). It's a great pity, as I wanted to go and the financial compensation had the words "money towards a Canon EOS 1DX" written on it. I've recommended a couple of Flickr contacts to the Artichoke Trust, who are organising this event.

A beautiful A3 poster featuring my photograph of the Seven Sisters is hanging on my wall at home!

Event website : www.peacecamp2012.com

Adder in Friston Forest

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 14:18:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

Fulking Escarpment

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 12:46:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

My first and only image composed of two exposures.

For a write-up on this picture, visit: www.alanmackenziephotography.com/2011/07/fulking-escarpme...

Peek-a-boo

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:25:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

Roe deer doe, Willoughby Fields, West Sussex.

The background noise from Gatwick Airport was to my advantage, since it disguised any sound I created, as I crept on all fours, towards the deer. The long grass aided my camouflage; Roe deer are only two feet at shoulder level and three feet tall at eye level. I deliberately attracted the deer's attention by firing the shutter; out of natural curiosity, she took an interest in the uninvited guest watching her. I would have preferred her entire face to have been visible, but perhaps the concealment of her nose is representative of her natural shyness.

Precise focussing is absolutely critical when using super telephoto lenses; very minor errors are ruinous. I prefer to rely on manual focus and my own judgement. The Canon EOS-1Ds MK II doesn't have a lens calibration setting, a feature present on newer 1-series bodies.

Total Photoshop Interview

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:04:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

Recent interview with the Italian website Total Photoshop, which you can read here (in English) : www.alanmackenziephotography.com/2012/05/interview-with-t...

If anyone is wondering about the date, 10th August 1996, is when I started photography.

Hourglass Wood

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:02:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

This photo is part of my spring diary : www.alanmackenziephotography.com/2012/05/may-2012-photo-d...

Ups and Downs

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:40:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

Taken from the Seven Sisters. Seaford Head and Hope Gap can be seen in the distance.

0.6 LEE hard and soft grad filters stacked together at a slightly opposing angle.

Bucolic Valley

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:50:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

The verdant Cuckmere Valley looked quite lovely this afternoon. The presence of cumulus clouds provided an opportunity to use my new Lee neutral density graduated filters. Although they are expensive, Lee ND grad filters are worth every penny, for they help the landscape photographer achieve correct exposure across the frame.

For this particular photograph, I stacked two 0.6 hard and soft grads together. I had to hold the filters in place by hand, since Warehouse Express don't yet have the Lee Universal Hood and Filter Holder in stock. The only telephoto lens currently at my disposal is the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro, because my new Canon EF 100-400mm lens is being fixed under warranty courtesy of MPD Photographic. The lens has a serious hunting problem and cannot achieve focus at middle distances between 300-400mm, making the lens useless for wildlife photography.

On the matter of serious hunting problems, I earlier noticed a professional marksman down in the valley, using a high powered air rifle to shoot crows. I felt quite nauseous as he crept towards a gate and took aim. Although I love the countryside, I cannot stand all the killing. In the past, I've used a 130 decibel Suzy Lamplugh alarm to scare off deer about to be shot dead by marksmen. Luckily, the moderate south-westerly breeze caused both his shots to miss and the fortunate crow escaped. I clapped my hands all the way to Cuckmere Haven, causing potential avian targets to fly away to safety. And I took great delight in watching the rotund gnome return to the car park without a single kill!

Fly me to the moon

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:15:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

Peace Camp 2012

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 05:54:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

Best viewed on black.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

My image of the Seven Sisters is to feature in Peace Camp 2012, part of the London 2012 Festival, culminating in a series of encampments at various locations around the British coastline. Theatre director, Deborah Warner and actor Fiona Shaw are working in collaboration to produce a series of coastal installations, from Cornwall to Sussex and Wales, Northumberland, Scotland and Northern Ireland. My image will advertise Cuckmere Haven, the nearest Peace Camp installation to the London 2012 Games. I expect the image to gain wide exposure, owing to the proximity to London. Expect to see the image on posters, in press releases and perhaps on television. Peace Camp 2012 runs between 19th - 22nd July and entry is free.

**************************************************

From www.peacecamp2012.com :

"Something extraordinary is happening this year as part of the London 2012 Festival. Inspired by the Olympic Truce, whose roots date back to Ancient Greece, renowned director Deborah Warner has been commissioned to create a coastal installation encircling the UK in collaboration with actor Fiona Shaw.

Eight murmuring, glowing encampments will appear simultaneously at some of our most beautiful and remote coastal locations, from County Antrim to the tip of Cornwall, from the Isle of Lewis to the Sussex cliffs. Designed to be visited between dusk and dawn, Peace Camp is a poignant exploration of love poetry and a celebration of the extraordinary variety and beauty of our coastline.

Alongside the live installations, the project will also paint an audible portrait of the nation with the creation of a virtual Peace Camp online. The people of the UK are invited to nominate and record their favourite love poems and submit their own messages, creating an online anthology that celebrates our languages, dialects and accents as well as our rich poetic tradition."

Birling Gap

nobody@flickr.com (Alan MacKenzie) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:48:00 -0700

Alan MacKenzie posted a photo:

© 2012 Alan Mackenzie.

www.alanmackenziephotography.com

I needed a slow shutter speed to blur the sea. Since I don't (yet) own a ND filter, I relied on ISO 50 and f/16 for this purpose. It's a little known fact, that the signal-to-noise ratio of the Canon EOS-1Ds MKII at ISO 50 is the same as ISO 800. The simulated ISO 50 setting falls outside of the sensor's native range. It does not, contrary to received thought, produce the best results. Chrominance noise is kept under control; an increase in luminance noise is visible and colour depth is lower than ISO 100.

I used a soft edged ND grad filter for the sky. I will (hopefully soon) be the owner of a Lee ND grad filter system, provided the ongoing supply issues don't hold things up.