16/03: Choosing Lenses
Choosing the right lens seems to be a topic of interest to almost everyone -- the Public Lending Right Authority in Britain cited our 'The Lens Book' as one of the most borrowed in 2007.
This will be the first in a series, and covers what to look for in a lens -- do all those specs you see in magazines and the internet give you a true idea of what to expect from a lens?
This will be the first in a series, and covers what to look for in a lens -- do all those specs you see in magazines and the internet give you a true idea of what to expect from a lens?
As ever, this blog is only sporadically updated -- we were in Scotland for Christmas, and I didn't have the passwords -- but you'll see that there is a new, short, paid module on portrait lenses and lighting, as well as several new 'microtests', which are very short reviews of products we find really useful. There are more in the pipeline.
A Prosperous New Year to all our readers! (Bit late for a Merry Christmas...)
A Prosperous New Year to all our readers! (Bit late for a Merry Christmas...)
We've just added a new group of modules called 'First Look'. The first two are up now, the new Leica Summarits and the 50/1.5 Zeiss Sonnar. Usually, they are kit we are particularly impressed with -- especially in this case.
These are less in-depth than a full-scale review (though at least as informative as some others' reviews) but they enable us to write about new products soon after receiving them. They should prove especially useful as a counter to internet speculation, as they refer only to stuff we have actually used, albeit briefly.
These are less in-depth than a full-scale review (though at least as informative as some others' reviews) but they enable us to write about new products soon after receiving them. They should prove especially useful as a counter to internet speculation, as they refer only to stuff we have actually used, albeit briefly.
06/12: Unashamed advertising
Nothing about new modules here, just a simple observation that a year's subscription to the site costs less than many annual magazine subscriptions and about the same as one book -- and we reckon there is as much information here as in several books, and quite likely more than several years' magazines, at least, once you cut out the reviews in magazines of the stuff you aren't interested in. Surely no-one reads every review in magazines?
03/12: How do I...
As well as the 'How do I...' piece on developing film that appeared in the last blog entry, there's also one on loading developing tanks. There is now quite a lot on this subject: choosing cassettes, bulk loading film, choosing a tank, loading the tank, developing the film... Our aim is to make this site a major resource for film photographers, as well as being very useful for digital photographers.
02/12: Colour for colour's sake
In mid-November, a new paid module was added, colour for colour's sake. I'll make more of an effort to keep this up to date in future. The problem is that I dislike the very concept of blogs, most of which are 'Me! Me! Me!' pieces about subjects of no conceivable interest to anyone. Does anyone really want to know that yesterday I went shopping and developed 5 rolls of film? Or that I had foie gras for brunch? (Well, it was on special offer...)
Though I suppose some might be interested in the wash sequence I use for the film, which appears in the new 'How Do I...?' module on how to process film.
Though I suppose some might be interested in the wash sequence I use for the film, which appears in the new 'How Do I...?' module on how to process film.
29/10: New galleries
Two new galleries are now up, about Moncontour in France. The pics look fine on one of my monitors, but rather flat on another, so I'd be grateful for feedback on how they look to other people.
We're now away shooting the new T-Max 400 for a while, but Karl should be putting up more modules, free and paid, while we're away.
We're now away shooting the new T-Max 400 for a while, but Karl should be putting up more modules, free and paid, while we're away.
27/10: More 'How do I...'
A new, free How Do I...? module has just gone up, on choosing developing tanks. Two more are in the pipeline, one for loading 35mm film onto developing spirals and one on how to develop films at home. We're trying to make the site the natural portal for people who want to start using film, as well as appealing to those with a broader knowledge and longer experience with either film or digital. Please recommend it to your friends, and on the forums!
16/10: New module 'Magic Windows'
Some pictures seem to open a window in time and space. They seem almost as if you could crawl into them, if you were reduced to ant-like size; a sort of 'Alice through the Looking Glass'. 'Magic Windows' is a paid module about this.
The reaction to Photo School Extras has been very modest: you might care to take a look at them.
What we're aiming for next is more free modules on absolute basics, to try to make this THE portal for people who want to learn about film photography.
The reaction to Photo School Extras has been very modest: you might care to take a look at them.
What we're aiming for next is more free modules on absolute basics, to try to make this THE portal for people who want to learn about film photography.
The reason there has not been much activity lately is that we have been working on 'Extras', a personalized Photo School. It's the biggest change to the Photo School so far, and it's expensive, but at least some people think it's worth it. Go to Photo School and click on 'Extras' to learn more about it...
