Dec 31

Dec 31 2021 - A Review

Drone Photography, Bird Photography, film photography, landscape photography, Street Photography, Travel Photography, wildlife photography, Portrait Photography, overview, London, Madrid

Another Covid infested year is coming to an end, and what a topsy-turvy year it has been. Keeping things purely photography focused, I think it’s been one of my most enjoyable and challenging years yet, even with the limited opportunities to travel far and wide.

In terms of photographic gear, I have seen more cameras and lens changes over the course of these 12 months than any other year, while taking on and learning new techniques and processes along the way just for shits and giggles.

Camera - 5D MKIII
Lens - Canon 24-70mm F/2.8

2021 started with my big push into the world of film with the introduction of the FUJI GS645S and Pentax 6X7 leading the way in my adventure into medium format film photography. I learned how to develop both black and white, and then colour film from home, and started to reap the rewards of all the preparation and time I had put into it with all the images below developed and scanned at home.

FILM

I was really getting into the flow of film at the beginning of the year but ultimately the relentless cost of film had begun to take its toll and the shine off this process, and as the year drew on, the cost began to more and more get in the way of my enjoyment. A decision to rethink and upgrade my digital camera set up over to mirrorless in June was the final nail in films coffin. This new, mirrorless camera allowed me to create the film look I wanted using its built in colour profiles, while also being lightweight, unobtrusive and a joy to use. This one purchase has taken me in a totally new direction, leaving film in its wake for now.

WILDLIFE

As well as film, I had made a conscious decision to do more wildlife work in 2021, so I started the year off with the upgrade from my 7DMK I to the 7D MK II for exactly that. Following on from this in the spring, I acquired the Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM. I had hoped that this pairing would provide me with the extra reach and shutter speed needed to push this side of my photography on, however I have found the pairing to be hard to use out in the real world, resulting in the 7D MKII being side-lined for the more dependable and full frame sensor on the 5DMKIII.

Camera - 7D MKII
Lens - Canon 400mm F/5.6

Camera - 7D MKII
Lens - Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM CONTEMPORARY Lens

Camera - Canon 7D MKII
Lens - Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM CONTEMPORARY Lens

Camera - 5D MKIII
Lens - Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM CONTEMPORARY Lens

All in all a pretty decent year for wildlife but also a frustrating one. Two failed attempts to photograph Puffins and overall travel restrictions across the year has hampered my ability to do more but overall relatively happy with how 2021 panned out in this respect. For 2022 I will be looking to continue my shift over to Fujifilm with the acquisition of the fujifilm X-T4 and its 100-400 lens. This may take some time and will see most of my canon gear go with it, but I think in the long run the newer X-T4 will give me a faster and silent shutter on a smaller mirrorless body. The camera also has inbuilt IBIS (in body stabilization) that will make shooting at slower shutter speeds more of a possibility in darker conditions.

DRONE

In terms of my drone work this year I have been disappointed in my output overall with some missed opportunities and a general unwillingness to carry it on me all the time has meant it has stayed at home more often than not which is a shame.

When I do get it out though it always gets me some great images. I hope in 2022 I am able to bring it with me a little more often and hopefully get some more great top down shots like these below.

FUJIFILM X100V

And so it comes to the real game changer of 2021, the Fujifilm X100V, a camera so amazing I have not put it down since taking shipment of it back in June. I have sung its praises many times on here already as it has really set the bar high in terms of where I can go with my general everyday photography that my larger, heavier canon cameras have not been able to give me. The fact that I am now looking to move away from Canon tells you how much I have fallen in love with the FujiFilm system itself. As well as its inbuilt film simulations, the FujiFilm cameras are great looking, small and unobtrusive and packed full of features that I have/can use on a daily basis. I literally have it around my neck most of the time which is not something I could ever say I did with the much larger Canon DSLR cameras I have/do own.

The X100V also made capturing people a far more interesting and fun prospect as it allowed me to go almost unnoticed. This opened up a whole new avenue of shooting that I really started to embrace and enjoyed as the year progressed.

I was even able to use it for a couple of weddings in 2021, with the Fujifilm colour profiles baked into the images already gave me the look I wanted. This cut down editing time dramatically, and created an image I am always excited to see as soon as I look down at the screen.

As well as my more ‘usual’ photography, due to its form factor, the X100V has made it a lot easier to document my day to day life. this has meant I have been able to do a lot more family and friend orientated stuff which mainly seems to consist of babies, small children and dogs.

So that’s all she wrote for 2021. From film to mirrorless, it’s been a hell of a ride which has made me even more excited for 2022. The prospect of some new equipment to come as the year progresses, makes me more optimistic for another good year photography wise. And who knows, covid might finally fuck off and I may just get to go and photograph those Puffins that eluded me this year after all.

FIN

Dec 31 2021 - A Review

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