05.02.10 | The wait is over!
The Olivon T-84 EDO has arrived.
It's seems like an eternity for me to finally get my hands on the new OLIVON T-84-EDO spotting scope, but it's finally here - and it was worth the wait! Olivon's New flagship spotting scope really is outstanding in terms of both optical quality, design and construction. It's early days in my testing of this product - but it's obvious it's a real winner - it's also compatible with the Olivon Universal digiscoping adapter which is great news for us digiscopers. Over the coming weeks, I will be shooting lots of digital stills and videos through the scope and posting the results on this site. Please visit the Olivon T-84 EDO pages within this site to find out more.
I'm also currently experimenting shooting video through my scopes with a Praktica Luxmedia 12-HD digital compact camera - it's proving to be a great method of digiscoping and I'm getting some nice results - it really does open up a new aspect of wildlife photography - check out my videos posted on you tube from the new video gallery. You can also learn how I shot my digiscoped videos on the video page.
17.01.10 | Capturing the action
At last most of the snow has cleared and it's time to get digiscoping in 2010.
I spent a couple of hours this morning at a near by stretch of water on the edge of the Peak District, the roads were reasonable and the light was good.
Main aim of this morning was to have a go at doing some video digiscoping using the movie function of my Praktica Luxmedia 12-HD digital camera. First impressions are that this method of digiscoping has got huge potential and offers a totally different experience in the way you approach the subject matter.
Take a read of my findings and see a few example of video digiscoping here. I need to spend time and get a lot more footage so I can experiment further, but hope this will give you some idea of what can be achieved. It's good fun and makes me look forward to some of the opportunities available later on this year.
16.12.09 | looking ahead
Got some great things planned for digiscopediary in 2010.
Digiscoping seems to be coming more and more popular every year, with some great products out there to really help us get the best from this hobby.
Next year I'm planing to do a lot more testing and experimenting with digiscoping products and hopefully, if I can, help anyone who's looking to get started in digiscoping.
The latest 'big thing' in the digiscope world is recording video through your scope - as more and more digital cameras come equipped with HD video functions - it seems like the natural progression - something I'm going to be delving in to early in the new year.
Also planned is a comparison test between a Digiscoping set up, a DSLR with telephoto lens and a super zoom compact camera - lets see what the pros and cons are of all three options so you can see for yourself which system would suit you best.
Next year will see the introduction of the new Olivon T84 EDO - a truly outstanding spotting scope - and like all Olivon scopes - it's designed for digiscoping, ready to accept Olivon digiscoping adapters- should be a really exciting bit of kit.
Wishing everyone who has visited the site a Happy Christmas and New Year - remember to send in your images to be added to the gallery.
All the best
Rob
11.07.09 | getting up close and personal
Summer is well and truly here, and I'm trying to see as much as possible of it.
It's been a nice couple of months and I've had a few visits to Anglesey and local reserves near me. Most of my recent photography has been with my 100mm Macro lens - I'm becoming more and more interested in photographic flowers and insects at the moment - I just love the abstract colours and shapes that macro photography produces especially when photographing wildlife. I've spent a lot of time photographing wild orchids with my Dad who is very passionate about this amazing plant.
Main highlight of recent months was meeting some of the BBC SpringWatch team at South Stack on Anglesey, I was lucky enough to watch John Aitchison BBC Wildlife camera man filming the bird life on the cliff face. Also a recent visit to Cemlyn Bay to see the Thousands of Terns was a real treat.
| A selection of recent shots |
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Bee Orchid
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Fragrant Orchid
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Gulls
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South Stack
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21.03.09 | Spring is in the air
The recent spell of sunshine has been a real inspiration to get out with the gear again.
At last, some sunny skies and great conditons for wildlife photography. I've had a couple of trips out this week, both local and a bit further a field. We visited South Stack on Anglesey on Monday - the weather was great, and you can always rely on Stack for some nice shots. Male Stonechats presented well perched high on the Gorse. I think Stonechats are one of my favorite birds to photograph as they are so approachable and look so striking sitting on a prominant perch.
At the weekend we visited Wolseley Bridge, lots of signs that Spring has started plus an opportunity for me to test the Olivon Podtreck - which is great for carrying your tripod and scope as well as other equipment.
Earlier in the month I went to a very interesting talk by Michael Leech, a wildlife photographer and wildlife camera man for the BBC. Michael specialises in high speed photography and has a set up that when a infra red beam is triggered by a moving animal he can shoot at F32 at a shutter speed of 30,000th of a second. Amazing stuff. His work can be viewed at www.michael-leach.co.uk
| A selection of shots from this week |
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Stonechat
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Stonechat
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Common Toad
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Common Toad
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11.01.09 | Happy New Year
It's been a while since I last updated my diary - seems like every weekend has something in the way of getting out and doing some photography - either the weather or other commitments. I'm hoping this year will be different and I'm determined to get out more with my gear.
I started this year with a very interesting evening at Leek Photographic Club, there was a talk by David Cromack the editor of Birds Illustrated magazine on world class bird photography. The talk featured a slide show of entries from bird photographers into birding photo competitions over the years. Some DSLR and some Digiscoped. It was very interesting to hear the thoughts of what makes a good bird photograph from a serious bird watcher and competition judge.
The emphasis was very much on the colours and composition rather than the subject matter, rather than just a picture of a bird on the branch for example. This is something that I would like to reflect more in my photography this year, rather than trying to capture an image of a particular bird, I want to think more about the placing of the subject with in the frame, whether it be just a silhouette of the subject matter and remembering that the subject does not have to fill the frame in order to capture a good image.
All the best for the new year and happy digiscoping.
