Blog - October to December 2009
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07/10/09 - Over the last few weeks I have been reflecting on my first season with Nikon. Regular readers of my blog will remember that in March this year I made the decision to switch from Canon to Nikon and I have really enjoyed this season shooting with the D3x and D3. They really are an awesome pair of cameras and as long as I get it right the camera gets the shot and that is about all a professional photographer can ask of his gear.
A little while ago I was asked by a fellow snapper which body I preferred and for what I shoot I have found myself reaching for the D3x time and time again. The detail in the images is simply incredible and I have become quite addicted to the creative possibilities of such a high megapixel sensor, plus it's great to be back shooting a full frame camera again. The D3 is a perfect partner to the D3x but I have only put 15K shots on it in 6 months, so given that there is a very real possibility that an upgraded D3 or a D4 will come out shortly along with the fact that I don't really need 2 bodies during the off season, I decided to sell the D3 while used prices are still good. In actual fact, the new price actually increased since I bought it 6 months ago so in reality I only lost a little on the sale. So the D3 has gone and I will consider what to replace it with at the beginning of next year. My current idea is a D300/s as the 1.5x crop will really help for airshows and my 500 f4 VR will become a 750 f4. Anyway, who knows what will be around by then!
06/10/09 - The hillclimb season is now finished for 2009 and although it's been a good year, it has had it's ups and downs. As usual part of me will miss the racing, the people and the enjoyable banter, but at the same time I am quite happy to have a break. :-) Anyway, all my images from the season are now finalised though I do have a few projects I need to complete for some of the drivers over the coming weeks.
So what will I do during the off season? Good question! I will do some more wildlife photography and I also have an aviation project to arrange. Otherwise just chill out, enjoy the weekends, complete some more of the DIY jobs that need doing around the house and really try not to be too grumpy when it's still dark when I wake up and dark by mid afternoon!!
01/10/09 - Prescott Hillclimb, Invited Clubs weekend, 27/09/09. See gallery.
It took me a bit longer to sort through the images from Prescott as I had family staying with me but all the images are done and a selection are now uploaded.
It was a good event but at the same time obvious that it was the last event of the season. Quite a few trips into the armco throughout the weekend so I can imagine a number of drivers being pretty busy during the winter off season rebuilding their machines for next year!
On Sunday I walked down to the start line to grab a few shots of cars wheel spinning off the line and was confronted by a Dalek, a dark red one which if I remember correctly from my youth was quite an important one in the Dalek hierarchy. It even interrogated me to determine whether I was allowed near the start line though luckily it decided not to exterminate me! I think being at a competition motorsport event had caused panic in the Dalek ranks so they decided to have a race up to the Bridge marshals post and back. It's a real challenge to hold the camera steady when you are almost crying with laughter. It really was the funniest thing I have ever seen at a hillclimb and in fact, I think it could spawn a whole new British hillclimb series! Unsurprisingly the red Dalek won by quite some margin though there was a silver one who obviously decided to adopt the Jim Gazey style of hillclimb start, with a wheelie!!
