CAPTURE NEW HORIZONS

Today we visited Loch Lomond and took a boat out to the island of Inchcailloch which is a short 5-minute trip out from Balmaha on eastern shore of Scotland's largest loch. The island is quite small and from the highest point of 85m there are some magnificent views of Loch Lomond and the mountains beyond.  Inchcailloch is also covered in woodland and at this time of year the ground beneath the trees is covered in a carpet of bluebells ( Hyacinthoides non-scripta ). In the strong sunlight streaming through the trees the carpet of blue was highlighted so I took some images on the X-Pro2 using the XF16-55mm f2.8 or XF50-140mm f2.8 with the 2x converter fitted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BLOG BY VISITING THE ADVERTISERS ON THIS PAGE By clicking on the adverts you are helping support this blog - thank you. ----...

Yesterday Fujifilm launched the latest edition to the Fujinon XF lens line up, the XF 2X TC WR teleconverter for use with the XF50-140mm f2.8 and XF100-400mm f4.5/5.6 zoom lenses.  In April I was invited by Fujifilm to test the new converter and here are my thoughts on this new lens. Before I go into details I need to be upfront about something.  I've never been a fan of 2x converters because the optical quality of the lens is usually affected to a large degree.   I did have a 1.4x and 2x converter for my lenses when I was shooting with Nikon. While the 1.4x converter was regularly attached to my long f2.8 lenses, the 2x converter was probably used about three times in the 18 years I used Nikkor lenses.  I didn't like the results when using the converter so tended to not use it. Anyway back to the X-Series!  The 1.4x Fujinon converter was launched in 2015 and I have been a fan of this diminutive lens attachment on both the 50-140mm and 100-400mm....

Today I was at Le Mans for meetings and I also had some time to go out and have a look at some of the preparations for next months 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now I don't normally look at the circuit from the spectator areas, I am usually down behind the barriers shooting trackside, so I was pleasantly surprised by the view of the Dunlop Bridge through the pine trees growing on the bank. I took the shot on the Fujifilm X-Pro2 and the 16-55mm f2.8 lens.  There was a bike trackday being conducted on the short Bugatti circuit, which gave me something to put in the image. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BLOG BY VISITING THE ADVERTISERS ON THIS PAGE By clicking on the adverts you are helping support this blog - thank you. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALL I...

Spring has sprung but I have been so busy with the day job that the opportunities to photograph the flowers and trees, especially the close up details, at this time of year have passed me by of late. Yesterday evening the sunlight was streaming through the trees at the back of our house and casting long shadows with pools of light.  I spotted some dandelion clocks backlit my the strong sunlight so I fitted the 90mm f2 lens and the 16mm extension tube to the X-Pro2 and headed out quickly to get some close up shots of the delicate heads.  I also saw some Bullrushes while I was waiting for the Flying Scotsman to appear yesterday morning that were also backlit by the strong morning sunlight.  Using the XF50-140mm f2.8 on the X-Pro2 I took a series of shots and the one above was my favourite as it was taken just before the sun disappeared behind a large cloud. Next time you are out and about with the camera look for some opportunities to take some detail shots ...

The Flying Scotsman is probably the world's most famous steam locomotive and this morning it headed south through East Lothian.   Built in 1923 the Flying Scotsman became the first steam locomotive to reach the speed of 100mph in 1934.  The engine was retired from service in 1963 but was used to tour in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia setting a new long distance record for a steam locomotive, covering 423 miles between stops while 'Down Under'.   The Flying Scotsman recently underwent a £4.2million restoration and travelled up the East Coast Mainline at the weekend but as I was working in Italy I was unable to get out to take some pictures. However on my return to Scotland yesterday I found out that the Flying Scotsman was going south today, travelling through Dunbar at 9am.  So I grabbed the camera bag and headed south of Dunbar to capture some images of the mechanical icon. Using the Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF50-140mm f2.8 I used the new camera's exce...

The Fujinon XF10-24mm f4R OIS ultra wide zoom lens is a favourite of mine when working at the circuit.   A wide angle zoom might not be the first lens you think one when you mention sports photography but this lens is superb for working the pitlane or on the grid.  I have also used this trackside when I can get close enough or I want to show the environment surrounding the competitors on track.  This weekend in Imola I used the 10-24mm fitted to the Fujifilm X-Pro2 on the grid for the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup on Saturday evening and also during the pitwalk for the European Le Mans Series on Sunday morning. The ability to zoom wide at 15mm equivalent and also change quickly to a perfect 'street' focal length of 20-24mm (30-36mm equivalent) is a real boon when working in a fast moving environment. The only downside for me is the maximum f4 constant aperture.  I would prefer to have an f2.8 aperture so when I am working close to my subjects I can i...

This weekend I am in Italy for the second round of the European Le Mans Series at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola.   I had to go out to remove a spectator from a trackside position. S o I took along my Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF50-140mm f2.8 to capture some of the cars hopping over the kerbs during the first Free Practice session at the Variante Alta before heading back to the media centre to write the session report. The camera was set to AF-C, Zone Focusing and CH mode on the drive. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BLOG BY VISITING THE ADVERTISERS ON THIS PAGE By clicking on the adverts you are helping support this blog - thank you. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALL IMAGES ARE THE PROPERTY OF MACLEAN PHOTOGRAPHIC A...