Technical Stuff
I've added this page, somewhat reluctantly, after receiving several requests from visitors to the site. Reluctantly, because many years of experience have led me to staunchly believe that far too much is made of the type and make of equipment that is used by an individual photographer when, at the end of the day it's the person behind the viewfinder that determines the final image and not whether he uses a Canon or a Nikon. OK, so there maybe a few who are so very motivated by their brand new, all singing and dancing, expensive camera that their photography actually does improve - marginally, but these are a tiny majority. Digital printers are perhaps alone in the respect that, in most cases, the quality of print you produce (as opposed to its content)is pretty much directly proportionate to the amount of money you spend. This is also true of paper and ink. Cheap paper and/or cheap ink = poor quality prints. Why on earth would you want to use cheap consumables in a printer that cost a king's ransom? Beats me!
Anyway, for those who really must know what I use, here's the latest list, which is up to date at 31st. January, 2009.
CAMERAS FOR MONOCHROME(non-digital)
Canon Eos 5 (2 bodies) - secondhand
Canon EOS 650 (for infra-red film) - secondhand
CAMERAS FOR DIGITAL
Canon EOS 30D - secondhand
Canon EOS 350D
Canon G7 (compact)
LENSES
Canon 28-135mm IS
Canon 75-300mm IS
Sigma 18-50 f2.8 (Digital only)
Sigma 18-200 f3.5-6.3 (Digital only)
ENLARGERS
LPL 7700
Vivitar VI
DIGITAL PRINTERS
Epson 1290S A3+
Canon i9950 A3+ (purchased secondhand)
CONSUMABLES
For silver work:
Ilford ID11 developer
Ilford Fixers and Stop Baths
Ilford Multigrade FB Glossy (various sizes)
Ilford Warmtone FB Glossy
Apart from selenium, I mix all my own toners from raw chemicals. That way I know what they contain!
For digital work:
Epson Premium Glossy
Epson Premium Semi-gloss
Epson Colourlife
Epson Heavyweight Matt
Jessops Heavyweight Matt 230gsm (better and much cheaper than Epson - seriously white!)
Somerset Enhanced - Satin, Velvet and Textured finishes.
Epson and Canon inks only.
So there we are, hardly an exciting bag full, but it does what I need it to do which is, in a nutshell, to produce photographs and then prints of a standard sufficient to get accepted, and occasionally win awards, in top international exhibitions both in the UK and abroad.
As I said before, it's not what you've got, but what you do with it that counts!
Anyway, for those who really must know what I use, here's the latest list, which is up to date at 31st. January, 2009.
CAMERAS FOR MONOCHROME(non-digital)
Canon Eos 5 (2 bodies) - secondhand
Canon EOS 650 (for infra-red film) - secondhand
CAMERAS FOR DIGITAL
Canon EOS 30D - secondhand
Canon EOS 350D
Canon G7 (compact)
LENSES
Canon 28-135mm IS
Canon 75-300mm IS
Sigma 18-50 f2.8 (Digital only)
Sigma 18-200 f3.5-6.3 (Digital only)
ENLARGERS
LPL 7700
Vivitar VI
DIGITAL PRINTERS
Epson 1290S A3+
Canon i9950 A3+ (purchased secondhand)
CONSUMABLES
For silver work:
Ilford ID11 developer
Ilford Fixers and Stop Baths
Ilford Multigrade FB Glossy (various sizes)
Ilford Warmtone FB Glossy
Apart from selenium, I mix all my own toners from raw chemicals. That way I know what they contain!
For digital work:
Epson Premium Glossy
Epson Premium Semi-gloss
Epson Colourlife
Epson Heavyweight Matt
Jessops Heavyweight Matt 230gsm (better and much cheaper than Epson - seriously white!)
Somerset Enhanced - Satin, Velvet and Textured finishes.
Epson and Canon inks only.
So there we are, hardly an exciting bag full, but it does what I need it to do which is, in a nutshell, to produce photographs and then prints of a standard sufficient to get accepted, and occasionally win awards, in top international exhibitions both in the UK and abroad.
As I said before, it's not what you've got, but what you do with it that counts!
