In 2023, my wife Hannah and I moved back to Scotland, which means that 2024 has been our first full year north of the border. So how has that been? And what have been my challenges and successes?
I read your post on my new iPad and the luminosity of your film images is wonderful. And, yes, the b&w image of you and the camera looks like a shot from an old movie!
This is great, loved the seasonal format. Planning a road trip to Scotland in March, so Ben Vrackie is definitely on the list. Any other places we should check out?
Oh fantastic! Ben Vrackie is a favourite hill. There are so many great places to visit in that area. I really love Blair Atholl – the walk up Glen Tilt is great. Aberfeldy is a nice alternative to Pitlochry (which can be quite busy in summer). A bit further north, Rothiemurchus forest is not to be missed... or the Cairngorms if you're equipped for bigger mountains.
I really enjoyed this, Alex. By the end, I was pining for a copy of it in print … or on a Kindle. I really like that idea that print is counterculture, brimful of intentionality. Fascinating insight to your work. Excited to learn more, in due course, about your book plans. Warmly, as ever, Barrie
Big year for us. A milestone birthday for the auld fella so I’ll be pedalling from Forres to Faro to celebrate … followed by 3 months of interrailing with JoJo in the Autumn. Wintering gently until then (ie saving up!)
Always interesting to hear how a the year has gone for fellow member of OWPG. Choices made, directions taken and hills climbed.
I am interested in your set up for scanning photos using the D800. Did you buy or make your own rig? Is it permanently assembled or put together only for use?
I have an enormous collection of 35mm slides, some of which I would like to use again. I never had copies of any scans that magazines made of them to illustrate articles.
Thanks for dropping by, Felicity! I need to write a full post on my new scanning setup, because I've had several questions about it. In brief, it's a home-made rig, permanently assembled on my desk. The Nikon D800 (with macro lens) is connected to a home-made copy stand using a Manfrotto Super Clamp and ball head. It's pointing down towards a light source (Cinestill CS-Lite) and film holder (Lobster Holder, which works for both 35mm and medium format). I then use the Negative Lab Pro Lightroom plugin to process DNGs from the D800. Works like a charm!
One thing I really relate to is the commitment to print media. It was important for me to work with and support magazines like Singletrack and Cranked, which stepped away from the race to the bottom and focused on giving a real high quality experience.
I was talking to another writer the other day and she’s currently publishing exclusively on Kindle Unlimited. It seems to work pretty well economically, but it has never occurred to me not to produce a hard copy. There’s still something special about getting the first copy of a new book in your hands.
I read your post on my new iPad and the luminosity of your film images is wonderful. And, yes, the b&w image of you and the camera looks like a shot from an old movie!
This is great, loved the seasonal format. Planning a road trip to Scotland in March, so Ben Vrackie is definitely on the list. Any other places we should check out?
Oh fantastic! Ben Vrackie is a favourite hill. There are so many great places to visit in that area. I really love Blair Atholl – the walk up Glen Tilt is great. Aberfeldy is a nice alternative to Pitlochry (which can be quite busy in summer). A bit further north, Rothiemurchus forest is not to be missed... or the Cairngorms if you're equipped for bigger mountains.
Cheers Alex, will take a look
I really enjoyed this, Alex. By the end, I was pining for a copy of it in print … or on a Kindle. I really like that idea that print is counterculture, brimful of intentionality. Fascinating insight to your work. Excited to learn more, in due course, about your book plans. Warmly, as ever, Barrie
Thanks to much, Barrie, and hope the new year is treating you well!
Big year for us. A milestone birthday for the auld fella so I’ll be pedalling from Forres to Faro to celebrate … followed by 3 months of interrailing with JoJo in the Autumn. Wintering gently until then (ie saving up!)
Enjoy!
🙏
Always interesting to hear how a the year has gone for fellow member of OWPG. Choices made, directions taken and hills climbed.
I am interested in your set up for scanning photos using the D800. Did you buy or make your own rig? Is it permanently assembled or put together only for use?
I have an enormous collection of 35mm slides, some of which I would like to use again. I never had copies of any scans that magazines made of them to illustrate articles.
Thanks for dropping by, Felicity! I need to write a full post on my new scanning setup, because I've had several questions about it. In brief, it's a home-made rig, permanently assembled on my desk. The Nikon D800 (with macro lens) is connected to a home-made copy stand using a Manfrotto Super Clamp and ball head. It's pointing down towards a light source (Cinestill CS-Lite) and film holder (Lobster Holder, which works for both 35mm and medium format). I then use the Negative Lab Pro Lightroom plugin to process DNGs from the D800. Works like a charm!
Good to read about your year.
One thing I really relate to is the commitment to print media. It was important for me to work with and support magazines like Singletrack and Cranked, which stepped away from the race to the bottom and focused on giving a real high quality experience.
I was talking to another writer the other day and she’s currently publishing exclusively on Kindle Unlimited. It seems to work pretty well economically, but it has never occurred to me not to produce a hard copy. There’s still something special about getting the first copy of a new book in your hands.
Absolutely agree and I think many other writers and photographers are of the same mind – even (perhaps especially!) the young.
Really enjoyed that … looking forward to following your outdoor bimbles in the year ahead