This is my first blog post for quite a while as the dreaded pandemic has somewhat curtailed my photography.

It's always a gamble when you plan a visit to the misty isle, so named for very obvious reasons. I always expect mixed conditions but I wasn't quite expecting the week I had in the company of storms Malik and Corrie.

There were times when it wasn't safe to venture out, although they were rare. However, when I did venture forth, strong winds played a big part in the opportunity to make images. One afternoon on the Quiraing I was almost blown off my feet. Another day I watched while an unexpectedly strong gust rolled my 15 pound camera bag across a field whilst I clung onto my camera and tripod to stop that blowing away too.

Nonetheless, there were some breaks in the weather and mixed conditions, as everyone knows, are manna from heaven for the landscape photographer. Maybe not qute this mixed though. Below you can see a few of the images I took that week. Most were taken hand-held on high ISO as a tripod wasn't often possible. Many were taken using my trusty 70-200 f2.8 which has a lens hood long enough to keep the rain off the glass.

I don't think our current situation is entirely what Fat Larry's Band had in mind when they coined the lyric 'zoom, chase the day away' but many of us are now looking for ways to do just that. So, I decided to spend some time adapting my photography talks as Zoom presentations (other video conferencing software is available). It's taken a little time but it was a worthwhile exercise. I purchased a new webcam with a decent microphone and a number of bookings await.

Speaking to clubs in the virtual world is an interesting experience, particularly if, like me, you have a twin-screen set up. I can't help but wonder if the members realise that, even after my screen has been seized, I can still see them sitting at home. It's like some bizarre version of Celebrity Squares. So far I've witnessed lots of eating and drinking, a little bit of dancing and one instance of mild canoodling.

The other interesting diffference is that clubs mute everyone other than the speaker to avoid the issue of conflicting sounds blocking one another out. This means you get no aural reaction whatsover. So, if you have a joke or two built in to the presentation (and I do) it feels a bit like tumbleweeds and crickets. (Mind you, it can be like that in person too. Perhaps I just need some better jokes?) A quick glance at screen 2 does reveal if some are laughing but it's not quite the same. Also, when judging I imagined it would be a bonus not to be abe hear the gasps for a low score. However, I miss that too. 

There is one bonus though. A gin and tonic looks very much like sparkling water.

So, if you'd like to spend an evening listening to me witter on a bit (either as a lecturer or a judge), please feel free to get in touch. My contact details are elsewhere on this website. Perhaps I can help your club chase an evening away.

The talks I currently have available can be seen here.

I’ve been in a bit of a rut with my photography this past 18 months or so, lacking the usual motivation and enjoyment. But 2018 so far has provided a real fillip.

First of all, I had the opportunity to go back to wonderful Iceland for a week in February. This time I went North to the Lake Myvatn area and not even the -14 degree temperatures and a stinking cold and cough could dampen my enthusiasm for the wonderful scenery.

Nest up at their AGM I was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Welsh Photographic Federation for services to Welsh photograph. This was a total surprise and a real honour. I didn't realise anyone was watching!

Two weeks later I got my results from the 2018 Welsh Salon of Photography. They were my best ever. I entered 8 prints and 4 PDI. Eleven of the twelve were accepted and I got one 12, two 13s, four 14s and four maximum 15s. As if that wasn’t enough I won Best Landscape DPI, Best People print, Best Monochrome print and a WPF ribbon. To say I am pleased is a massive understatement. I  am speechless and those who know me will agree that is not often the case.

My successful Welsh Salon photos can be seen in the slideshow below:

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...