A short while ago I was asked to donate some photographs to a charity auction in aid of a work colleague of one of my nephews. So I framed up three of my favourite photos (see below) and sent them in along with a box of about 40 unmounted duplicate prints that were around the house.

I was stunned to discover that the three framed photos sold for a grand total of £490 and the unmounted prints (almost all) sold for a tenner a throw.

It made me very pleased to have been able to contribute to this very worthy charity. It also made me proud that my nephew and his mates were able to raise over £20,000 for the cause.

I've just added a new toy to the stable. It is the rather nifty Canon EOS 70D. For a while I've been thinking about getting a back-up SLR body as I occasionally subject my camera to extreme conditions. My worst nightmare is to be at some stunning location (with perfect light) and have a camera fail. Luckily, a small windfall means I could buy some 'peace of mind' without having to agonise over spending yet more money on photography.

Having the 70D in the bag alongside the 5D Mk3 is not just peace of mind, it is perhaps also a good move creatively speaking as it has features that my current kit lacks. The articulated viewing screen is the main one I'm looking forward to using. Getting down low without having to lie on the ground appeals to me a lot. Also, the follow focus video system means I'll probably use this camera for most of my video snippets from now on. The touch-screen controls are also rather good to use. Initially I dismissed this aspect as a bit of a gimmick but it really works well. With the 1.6 crop factor and higher frame rate, I can see me possibly using it as first choice body for some situations, motorsports for example. The 70D is also quite a lot smaller and lighter than the 5D Mk3 and with a 50mm lens attached (see photo), it doesn't seem that much heavier than my G12. So it will also be useful when I want to travel light.

All in all, I am very happy with my purchase. You can read a full review of the 70D here.

I've acquired the www.leighwoolford.co.uk domain and pointed it at this site. So, if you want to find me in a hurry, it should be a little easier.

I haven't set it up as the proper web address. Weebly would start charging me monthly if I did. (OK, I know I'm a cheapskate).

But it is worth reiterating that everything you see on this site is FREE from Weebly and very easy to set up. Message ends...