Recommended Gear

Replay Capture Suite
The Replay Capture Suite includes all the tools you need to capture and convert video, music and radio from ANY site.

This is the programme that I use to capture and save all the photography video tutorials that I need.
Datacolor SpyderLensCal - Autofocus calibration Chart
  • The smarter focus tool - a fast, reliable method of measuring the focus performance on your camera!
  • A fast, reliable method of measuring the focus performance on your camera!
  • SpyderLensCal allows photographers to easily calibrate their interchangeable lenses and recent DSLR bodies
  • SpyderLensCal provides a fast, reliable method of measuring the focus performance on your camera and lens combinations
  • It allows photographers to obtain razor-sharp focusing or check to see that their lenses are working at their peak performance
  • This device is compact, lightweight and durable, with integrated level and tri-pod mount.

Click on images to view videos

Neutral Density Filters
B+W 110 ND Filter
The B+W 110 ND cuts out an amazing 10 stops of light, far more than usual, meaning it can turn a 1/60sec shutter speed into 15 secs.
Click on image to see tutorial
B+W 106 ND Filter
The B+W 106 ND cuts out
6 stops of light, meaning it can turn a 1/60sec shutter speed into 1 second exposure.
Click on image to see tutorial
A Neutral Density (ND) filter like the B&W 110 ND or the B&W 106 ND is often needed if you want to experiment with long exposures, reducing the amount of light that passes through the lens to the sensor and allowing you to use slower shutter speeds in your shots. This slowing down of the shutter lets you capture the motion of flowing water, windswept grasses or clouds etc. as a blur, which can result in very creative images.

Using the B&W 110 ND or the B&W 106 ND is quite an art – you have to compose and focus shots before adding the filter, as once it is on you can barely see anything through the viewfinder (With some cameras it can be left on if you use with Live View). If you fancy experimenting with really long exposures it's a fabulous tool, allowing you to use slow shutter speeds even in full daylight conditions. Very specific, but good fun!
Exposure Calculation Chart.
(for using the 10x or 6x Neutral Density Filter)
Click on the PDF logos to get the Exposure Calculation Chart and instructions or Printable Chart.
Instructions Printable Table
Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX Flash
If my macro work dictates the need for flash, then this is flashgun set-up that I use.
It clips onto my canon MP-E 65mm macro lens as it stands, but it needs a Canon adaper ring to clip onto my Canon 180mm macro lens and my Canon 100mm 2.8L IS macro lens.
view or buy
Sandberg 10400 mAh Outdoor PowerBank
  • With the Outdoor Power Bank 10400 mAh in your luggage you won't run out of power on your phone or other portable devices when you're far away from a socket.
  • Backup power in the wilderness
  • Sturdy and rainproof

    Click Here for YouTube review

Daylight Balanced Modelling Light
Godox LED64 Continuous On Camera LED Panel light Portable Dimmable Camcorder for DSLR Canon Nikon etc

For most of my macro photography I used to find that reflectors were very useful fror reflecting light to illuminate the very dark areas, this was providing that you had light to reflect.

Instead of a reflector, I now use this daylight balanced light, mounted on a Joby Gorillapod to illuminate where needed. It is compact, wirefree and is an ULTRA BRIGHT 64 x LED video and digital camera modelling light with a dimmer control.

If I need less illumination minimum setting, I move the light further away or cover with one or more layers of a white handkerchief

Two or more of these light can be clipped together to make a larger light.

Flight Logistics SUN POSITION COMPASS

Much of my Landscape Photography is planned in advance and it is useful to know the position of the sun beforehand.
This cheap and simple to use compass, allows me to predict the position of the sun.
Simply line the compass with the North. The months of the year are indicated on the base and it indicates for each month where the sun will rise and set.
Click on the logo to the left to find where to buy them

Mudder Rain Cover Protector
Rainproof for Canon, Nikon and other Digital SLR Cameras

This is an essential part of my equipment to keep the rain out of my camera.

Insect Repellant?
Avon Skin So Soft (Original)

This is not equipment used I hear you say, but I when I go to Scotland, the Outer Hebrides or even my own Derbyshire, there are times when the midges make life hell for taking photos.
I find that Avon Skin So Soft really does reduces midge attacks.

Sandisk Extreme PRO SDHC 32 GB Memory Card up to 280MB/s

Modern Cameras can write images extremely fast, so I needed a memory card that could quickly record images to avoid waiting
between shots. At the time of buying my SDHC memory cards, Extreme Pro were the best available. These cards are capable of recording images faster than my camera can write them.

Sandisk CompactFlash cards Extreme Pro
up to 160MB/s

Modern Cameras can write images extremely fast, so I needed a memory card that could quickly record images to avoid waiting between shots.
Lexar Professional 500MB/s USB 3.0 Dual Slot Reader

Technical Details
  • Leverages SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology for high-speed file transfers, with a USB interface speed up to 500MB/s
  • Ultimate high-speed performance to accelerate digital workflow
  • Maximizes speed and bandwidth of USB 3.0 computers, and supports the latest UDMA CompactFlash (including UDMA 7), SDXCTM, and SD UHS-I (SD 3.0) card formats
  • Enables concurrent and card-to-card file transfers
  • Pop-up design protects card slots when not in use
NEC SpectraView Reference 242 LED Monitor

The NEC SpectraView Reference 242 is a high-end, 24" professional performance monitor using the latest 10-bit AH-IPS with GB-R LED backlight for obtaining best picture quality and colour accuracy.

True Colours - with a wide colour gamut (108.6% size / 99.3% coverage AdobeRGB) and hardware calibration with 14-bit LUT (look up table) for 42-bit colour control and gamma correction, irrespective of colour and input.

Seagate Backup 8 TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive for PC and Mac with Integrated 2 Port USB Hub
  • Two integrated high-speed USB 3.0 ports on the front allow you to connect and recharge your other USB devices
  • Formatted for Windows computers out of the box
  • Install the provided NTFS driver for Mac and use the drive interchangeably between Windows and Mac computers without reformatting
  • Install the free Seagate Mobile Backup app on an iOS or Android mobile device, and back up all of the photos and videos from your device to your Seagate drive or to the cloud.

LaCie 8TB USB 3.0
Desktop External Hard Drive
  • 3mm solid aluminium casing keeps your data solidly protected
  • Stylish, sophisticated finish perfectly matches your MacBook®
  • Automatic backup software and Time Machine® compatibility provide seamless backup of your important data
  • Compatible with PC & Mac
  • 2 year warranty
Sanyo eneloop XX HR-3UWXB - AA Batteries (Pack of 8)

2,550 mAh (Minimum 2,450 mAh) - Powered by eneloop Technology - With 2 Heiba Electronics Storage Boxes

  • High Capacity (min. 2450mAh)
  • Low-Self-Discharge
  • 4pcs
  • 1,2V Ni-MH


SENSOR CLEANING
GIOTTO 1900 ROCKET AIR BLOWER

This unusual looking Hand Air Blower is very powerful and is probably the best blower on the market for cleaning the sensor in your SLR Digital Camera.


Visible Dust

Quasar Sensor Loupe:
A tool that can be used to identify the smallest spots with the highest resolution.The NEW Quasar Sensor Loupe 7X has six super bright LEDs with vari-angled orientation to help create a 3D image of dust particles.
Viewing your sensor helps to avoid unnecessary cleaning, saving time, cleaning consumables, and most importantly, reduces the risk of damaging delicate and expensive camera components.
Advanced Cleaning Kits

Advanced Cleaning Kits contain a comprehensive mix of components for cleaning your camera's sensor, lenses and body.
ARCTIC BUTTERFLY 724 (Super Bright)

Self-cleaning and self-charging brush, designed for light cleaning of a digital SLR sensor.

TRIPODS and TRIPOD HEADS
A lot of people would not include a tripod in their equipment list but it is such a vital item in obtaining sharp images. 
Click on the above logo to visit the Really Right Stuff website


Click on the image above to visit the Really Right Stuff website page
  
Click on the image above to visit the Really Right Stuff website page
BH-55 LR: Full-sized ballhead
with Lever Release Clamp 		 
BH-40 LR II: Mid-sized ballhead
with Lever Release Clamp
These two ball heads are my prefered tripod heads.
 



I prefer to use use "L" plates to connect my camera to my Really Right Stuff Ball Heads to ensure a sturdy connection particulaly when using the camera in vertical orientation.
   
L-plate for Canon EOS-1D-Mark IV.  
Tutorial on how to use an L-Plate
FEISOL CT-3372-Rapid - Large Tournament Class
Carbon Fibre Tripod

I consider this to be my main tripod for walking. It is sturdy, very stable and light.

At just 1.72 kg, the CT-3372-Rapid offers the additional durability you need while making transport and setup effortless. In our three-section heavy-duty tripod class, nothing comes close to the FEISOL CT-3372-Rapid for lightweight performance.

Constructed of high grade 6061 T6 solid block aluminum, the FEISOL CT-3372-Rapid can easily handle loads of over 11.8 kg. Inheriting all the superior specifications found in our tournament class tripods, the CT-3372-Rapid is an engineering success

Some additional advantages of the FEISOL CT-3372-Rapid to consider: 
- FEISOL's new Rapid anti-leg-rotation technology
- Maximum height of 150 cm – more with optional center column
- A load capacity of 12 kg
- Remarkably lightweight construction – just 1.72 kg
- Maximum leg tube diameter of 37 cm
- Preset leg angles at 25, 50, and 75 degrees
- A load capacity of 12 kg
- incl. tripod bag and hook 


SOFTWARE USED

Adobe
Photoshop CC
(Creative Cloud)

ON1 PHOTO RAW 2018

ON1 Photo RAW 2018 includes the essential tools and features every photographer needs in their workflow. Our super fast, non-destructive, and state-of-the-art processing engine gives you an ultra smooth and efficient editing experience.
ON1 Photo RAW is focused on allowing you to get the most out of every photo. Photographers now have a tool with fast photo management, hundreds of customizable photo effects, fast and beautiful HDR, panos, masking and selection tools, layers, and much more—in one app.

No Subscription Required | For Mac and Windows.

Adobe
Dreamweaver CC
 (Creative Cloud)
(This software used to create this website)

A2 PRINTER 

 
EPSON STYLUS PRO 3800
Current model now
EPSON SURECOLOR SC-P800
A2 COLOUR INKJET PRINTER


PRINT VIEWING

Graflite
TrueColour Lighting

Print accessment needs to be done underdaylight viewing conditions and for this purpose I use a daylight balanced Graflite Task Lamp.



MONITOR CALIBRATION