Don't Disconnect Us - a TalkTalk led campaign against the UK Government's anti-filesharing 'three strikes' proposals

"Copyright infringement through filesharing is illegal and the Government is right to tackle the issue.

But the proposals to deter illegal filesharing announced by Lord Mandelson in September are wrong in principle and won’t work in practice."

Join the campaign to stop Lord Mandelson’s proposals Digital Economy Bill

Don't Disconnect Us - a TalkTalk led campaign against the UK Government's anti-filesharing 'three strikes' proposals

Climate Change (Earth Hour)

"On Saturday 27 March 2010 at 8.30pm, we want a billion people around the world to switch off their lights for one hour – WWF’s Earth Hour. Show you care about climate change." - http://www.earthhour.org/

If you believe/care about 'Climate Change' or not, this will indeed be an incredible feat, Brought together primarily by Social Networking.

Its being donned as "The Biggest Climate awareness campaign, ever!". This might be true, and not only that, it might well be the largest of any campaign to be promoted almost entirely through Social Marketing.

For me, personally that's what I find most interesting, to whitness the power of new Social Media really provoking such a grand response.

Personally I will be switching off, I hope you do to. If not for 'climate change' then perhaps to be part of the worlds largest Social Media/Marketing/Networking campaign/experiement we've seen....SO FAR! (Post 'Earth Hour' im sure we'll see plenty more like this pop up, again and again)

Check this page out to see supporters near you

http://www.earthhour.org/SupportersMap.aspx

Visit the site

http://www.earthhour.org/

Facebook Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/EarthHourUK?ref=ts&v=wall

New Forest

On the 27th of December 2009 we'll be tackling MT Snowdon, Wales. It's been a while since me and the boys went for a walk so me and Matt set off to just outside Minstead, New Forest, Hampshire. Naturally I took Camcorder and D-SLR to get a couple of flicks.

Entire Album can be viewed here

Roe Deer:

I was lucky to get this little fella. By chance I saw him bounding along in the distance so I set up to shoot at ISO1600 due to the low light in the forest canopy. Due to having to shoot F5.6 with the 70-300mm Lens, even at 1600 I could still only shoot at 1/100. He stood still just long enough for me to grab this flick :-)

Autumn, I do really love you.

Hello...

Its been a while since i posted here, its been at the back of my mind in all honesty.

But today while walking to work, it was impossible not to notice the rich spectrum of autumnal colours as the leaves laid on the pavement. It really was a very pretty sight. And for the first time in almost 3 Months now I had that urge to pick up my Camera again.

Unfortunately I had to go to work, so i couldn't. But it did make me wonder why its been so long since I picked up my DSLR.

For the time being, until I can find time to get out and do some nice photos I thought I'd post some of the last few months along with how they were shot (for the photo-heads

out there like I).

Lady Bird -

NIKON D50 SIGMA 70-300mm. Manual. ISO 200. F/5.6. 1/640. No Flash

Open aperture to widest at that zoom level for greatest Depth of Field in order to draw eye to subject. No flash used as the lighting was fantastic here and luckily they had just been watered so the droplets had formed.

Honey Bee -

NIKON D50 SIGMA 70-300mm. Manual. ISO 200. F/5.6. 1/400. Fill in Flash

I used a small amount of fill in flash here (notice the shine on eye and back of bee) as it was a very bright day and other bushes and such offered unwanted shade. Shot with wide Aperture to give good DOF but not too open that most of the bee remains in focus.

More Photos from this Set can be viewed on my Flickr and I update with more later on :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robotdog/sets/72157622317782237

Thunder and Lightening!

As the title states. Down south in the UK (Dorset) its been a change from the norm and we've had some nice weather. And of course off the back of that nice weather and heat comes a storm and it was a real nice one as well.

Luckily the Panasonic HDCSD100 (and its brothers and Sisters like the HDC-SD20K) all feature a stunning little mode called 'Pre-Record' which buffers around 6 seconds of video onto your SD-Card (or HDD if you went for that option). It does what it says on the Tin, quite obviously pre-record, one enabled makes sure you don't miss a beat (or your mate falling flat on his face after a few beers, a perfect example of this being the Stonehenge video coming next week).

Another prime example being the capture of this electric storm. As soon as i saw the flash all i had to do was simply hit record; and it gave some fantastic results. Have a look for yourself:

Lightening/Electric Storm Dorset, UK from James Williams on Vimeo.

Question from 'Danny Digital'

I received this Question From Vimeo User Danny Digital regarding the Miny 35mm Vibrating DOF adapter from http://www.miny.tv/

Here is my Honest and Frank Response.

Conversation with Danny Digital

saw you got the miny 35mm dof. which one did you get and do you recommend it? 

Hi There. I ordered the Vibrating DOF with ACHROMAT. 

I wouldnt recommend any of them, it was of poor build quality and the ground glass focusing screen seemed as if it was about 20 Micron, had loads of noise on it (they custom make them and they are not very impressive at all when using high def cameras) The vibrating part, which is a motor with a small weight on the end (much like you would find in you PS2 controller) was not much better.The motor decided to spin at different speed Despite changing batteries a number of times presuming it was that!

The Motor then span out of control, so much so that the GG holder was hitting the side of the extension tube uncontrollably. Rendering it useless.

Then, to top it all off the wire attached to the battery case fell off (was soldered on really poorly).

In summery. DO NOT BUY ONE!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, i know they are cheap, but that is for a good reason. 'Buy Cheap, Buy Twice'

And I've had to do exactly that.

On the good side, i did get a refund (apart from shipping, so i lost £20!).

If your looking for a DOF adapter in the same price bracket may i recommend jag35.com.

They offer a range of DOF adapters to suit price ranges. 

Mine is in the post as we speak. I can give you a review once i receive it if you wish.

Cheers

Jim

I knew its importance, but didnt appreciate it

It would be bloody stupid me for to say 'Light is really important in photography and Film'.

So I'll say it but with inverted comma's, then it wont make it look like I'm trying to make an extremely profound statement (pah!)

Of course it is. Light is essential for all of life. Not entirely the light itself but the energy of course. 

But in this case I'm not really talking about the sun. More of artificial light, and how to manipulate it.

In the last 2 years (prior to that i was kinda floating through a land of photographic discovery) I've really come to appreciate every technical aspect of photography, and i become astounded by the people who are not. 

The difference in colour tones you achieve by using different temp lights (6500K 'Daylight' being the best imo), Difference in contrast, shadow and harshness by using diffuse lighting (softbox's, overcast days) the different levels of compression and DOF you can achieve by using large or small apertures.

I wont go on forever, you get the idea. This has lead me to a fascination with Film Noir. 

Its hard and precise lighting, with the use of extreme camera angles and clever shot composition. 

Its got me all excited, so for the next project I'm determined to make a Film Noir Short. 

Next on the shopping list of a set of 3 Studio Lights with Softbox's (Key, Fill and Back Light).

If your interested in getting involved get in contact - Contact@manychefsbroth.co.uk

Test Footage shot on 26/05/09 With home made light kit

A Trial of Film Noir: Lucid Dream Motif from James Williams on Vimeo.