Barry,

I found some information on the wiring for the shutter release cable... but I cannot find it. This page has some info though - http://www.crystalcanyons.net/3DGuidebook/TwinCameras.htm

If you check here at MXV in Sussex:
http://www.mxv.co.uk/pentax_afPage2.htm
They have a 6m release for £29.00 at the moment. My dealings with MXV have been very positive.

Hope that helps,
Matt

Thanks for the photos Barry! Some real "action" there

Matt

Thanks Barry!

FYI, the eagle was shot with 800ASA Kodak Ultrazoom. Just one of those fabulous moments when everything just came together. It was being held by its trainer (at a show in Bentley Wildfowl park). The beak still makes me wince when I look at it!

Your "Wildlife in the Galapagos Islands" was great, especially the crab!

Nice to know there are some serious Z1 & Z1p users out there

Matt

I appreciate your comments Barry. Thank you.

You are right about the local photography - we bought a very good photo book of Prague last year which is stunning. It does get a bit depressing comparing with your own images, however, I was fairly pleased with some of my images.

I have been rootling around the 'net looking for general composition guides which has given me a good foundation for analysing the work of others. I've also bought a couple of books from Amazon that had very good reviews... I will keep you all posted. (Maybe I'll give you all a mini book review.)

For those interested, I found buying a digital camera very useful for composition (it wasn't a Pentax though :0 ). I took something like 1000 photos in a matter of weeks, not touching my SLR. It gave me the opportunity to try out loads of ideas without wasting film. And then when I picked up the SLR... zowee! My eye had changed completely... then bought the Z1 and I'm reallly enjoying it

Many thanks,
Matt

(Looks like I might be talking to myself.. )

Found these very helpful links...
(The top two were very good)

http://www.kodak.com/global....s.shtml
http://www.studyworksonline.com/cda....0.shtml

http://www.agfanet.com/en....ex.php3

http://www.tcm.rmit.edu.au/notes/GoldenMean/golden1.htm
http://www.photosecrets.com/

If anyone has others to add...

Matt

Hi all (again!),

Maybe my last post was a little vaugue... What I was specifically looking for was lessons on composition. Sort of "what makes a good shot", whether that is rule-of-thirds, features, drawing the eye in, negative space, colour etc. Most of the images I feel are good were all just 'caught', and I feel I need to be more active in setting up shots and knowing what to look for and aim towards.

If there's nothing available, then maybe someone could cast a critical eye over my gallery?

Thanks

Matt

Thanks John

I appreciate your comments and offer to look at the gallery. Regarding my previous message, I found the tips have already put a more interesting slant on my 'photographic eye'. As one of the sites mentioned, art composition rules apply equally to photography... so I might look in that area too.

Having looked at some of the 'ground rules' I feel better equipped to analyse the work of others.

Your quotes were very good It's true about the small size... even really useless shots (e.g. blurred) can be used in the right setting if small enough!

(Maybe you could run an article or series in the PUM, Peter?!)

Matt

Just a post to all you good people...

Does anyone know where I can learn more about the "art" side of photography? I've been snapping for yonks, and technically I have no problems, but I would like some way of learning better ways to compose and arrange - to make the best of my technical knowledge.

I have seen http://www.webphotoschool.com which has some really nice lessons, but relies a lot on a car-load of lighting gear that I don't own (yet).

I've also been (erroneously) posted information from NYIP (New York Institute of Photography), but this seems very expensive. See http://www.nyip.com

An online/correspondence style learning would suit me better as I work full time (in electronics engineering and software), and have a very lively young family to care for, but any suggestions, and personal experiences, would be greatly appreciated.

The Pentax User Mag has been very helpful (having secured the past 3 years of back issues), but an all-in-one guide would be good.

Thanks!
Matt
gallery: http://www.pbase.com/mattmatic

Hi again everyone!

I have been busy reading two books I bought from Amazon, and thought I would post a very very quick review...

First, the links:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec....4962808

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec....4962808

Author does email tutorials too: http://www.betterphoto.com/sites4photogs/dynoMG.asp?memberID=6694

The author's home site: http://www.bfpphoto.com

Now the contents...
"Learning to See Creatively" - covers the approaches to a subject, ways to make a strong photo, ways to evoke emotion. The technical points are a little out of date for today's modern cameras, but not irrelevant. I've read this one completely, and many times I had the "duh" moment where I realised why my photo wasn't as powerful as I'd imagined it to be. The photos are beautifully reproduced (my wife wants to move to Oregon looking at the images! ), the text is very clear and almost conversational - a good and easy read, and the tips are great (some are obvious but still worth saying - I'd missed many of them myself! ). Already I am approaching things differently.

"Understanding Exposure" - is not just about f-stops and shutter speeds. It covers film types, lighting, and making the most of situations - oh yes, and finding the right situation. Like the other book, the technical details are good and worth knowing, but life is much easier with the current line up of Pentax metering. Once again, there have already been several "duh" moments for me, and I'm only 1/3 way through it.

Bryan Peterson's style is far from arrogant. In fact he's very candid and honest about his approach to photography. In the "Understanding Exposure" book he asks the reader to pass on the tips you learn to other less experienced photographers... a good tip.

Overall, I think I've received a good boost to improve my photographic skills... unfortunately I'm now looking at my library and wondering which ones are worth keeping !

Enjoy!
Matt

I find that I need multiple programs, depending on what I am tackling. And, like many others, I cannot afford the full PS, as much as I'd like it.

Personally, I use Photoshop Elements 2 most of the time for photographic work. I had used PSLE, then PSE1, and am pleased with PSE2. Thankfully, my two machines each have 1Gb of RAM which helps a lot. For scanning I use the Nikon Coolscan IV with Vuescan ( http://www.hamrick.com ) which pumps out nice 60Mb files. For cleaning up old images, and removing grain, as well as removing digital noise from my digicam, I use NeatImage Pro ( http://www.neatimage.com ). They are all very reasonably priced tools that do a very good job.

My general PSE workflow uses: selection & crop, levels, curves, colour balance, and unsharp mask. The curves and colour balance tools are provided with the "Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements" book. Well worth the £21 for it (Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0782141781/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/202-8074796-3165463 and the book website: http://www.hiddenelements.com/ where there are some free plugins available)

A lot of the "missing" facilities of PS I can emulate with PSE2. In fact, I am building up a whole set of tutorials and links for working in PSE1&2. There are also a number of free plug ins for PSE. (Here's one: http://member.melbpc.org.au/%7Epshipley/Download.htm )

When I get a chance I'll put them on my web site, or send them to Peter for the magazine.

Whenever I have used PSP7 for levels, curves, etc I have found it much slower at the preview stage than PSE. Yet, I still have PSP there for other facilities.

I've also used Gimp on Suse Linux - which is free It's quite a challenge getting around it, but the results are fantastic. There's a Windows version too: www.gimp.org is the place to start. (You'll need broadband though for downloading everything )

As with most things, it's a case of "suck-it-and-see" and trawelling the net for tutorials and plugins.

(Hope this helps someone out )

Matt