The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 23rd 2020
The ‘Stena Forecaster’ at anchor at the mouth of Belfast Lough. Lockdown? Don’t even ask!
Fujifilm X-T30, F=200mm, f/7.1 @ 1/125th sec on ISO320
The Lockdown Logs #52
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 22nd 2020
I’m still working out the best settings for lighting in the socially isolated Studio-Pod. Here’s what it looks like at the minute:-
I’m sitting behind the desk, looking at the pencil-mug in the light tent, through the Fujifilm ‘Cam Remote’ App on the iPhone. Here’s what I’m seeing (Although obviously, I’ve processed the image)…
The Lockdown Logs #51
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 21st 2020
The Ding-Thing!
Second photo of the day, and I’m still setting up the lights in the Studio-Pod, so I’ve two Elinchrom D-Lites, one suspended on a ‘goose-neck’ thing, and fitted with a Softbox, the other on a stand, and fitted with a white, shoot-through umbrella. This old bell has been around our various business premises for many years, so I shot it using the two lights. I set it into an open light tent, to control the light around it, and give a white backdrop. Used the Fujifilm X-T2, fitted with a Nikon 50mm manual focus lens, and focus-peaking on the camera.
So, Fujifilm X-T2, F=50mm, f/8 @ 1/125th sec on ISO400.
The Lockdown Logs #50
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 21st 2020
The Plastic Rose.
Photographed in the Studio-Pod using one Elinchrom D-Lite RX2, Fujifilm X-T30, F=50mm, f/8 @ 1/125th sec on ISO200. Shot in Velvia, and desaturated in Lightroom. 
The Lockdown Logs #49
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 20th 2020
There’s a Dobbies flower pot thingy outside the Cocoon. Apparently it’s been there since Christmas, and I’m only seeing it now! Anyway, here’s a macro shot of some of the wee flowers in the pot-thing.
I shot it with the Fujifilm X-T30, with a 200mm Macro Nikon Lens, F=200mm, f/5.6, 1/1000th sec on ISO3200. Manual focus with focus peaking.
It looked quite surreal, so in post-processing, I added a watercolour canvas effect…
The Lockdown Logs #48
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 19th 2020
Not much happening in or around the Cocoon today, so all I could manage was a Fir Cone that I’d found one day while out on a walk. I photographed it in the light-tent, with one Elinchrom studio flash light behind my right shoulder. Fujifilm X-T30 with Nikon 200mm Macro lens. F=200mm, f/8 @ 1/60th sec on ISO125.
The Lockdown Logs #47
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 18th 2020
Tulips at Crossnacreevy.
These white Tulips are growing in a flower bed beside the post box at Crossnacreevy, so when I stopped to post some letters, I grabbed the camera and made a series of exposures of the flowers. I wanted to use a wide aperture to remove the distracting background, and it was good that I did, for the tulips were moving slightly in the wind, and I needed quite a fast shutter speed. The big tulip is in focus, but with so little actual texture in the flower itself, it was difficult to assess the focus in-camera, but in LightroomI was able to see the tiny specks of dust on the petals.
Fujifilm X-T30, F=200mm, f/4.8, 1/1000th sec on ISO1250
The Lockdown Logs #46
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 15th 2020
On the catwalk – this beautiful model. A BMW Z4! Sheer lens-candy! Shot on the Fujifilm X-T3, f/5.6 @ 1/60th sec on ISO3200.
The Lockdown Logs #45
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 15th 2020
Following my earlier conversation with a crow, I decided that I couldn’t allow myself be defined solely by my love for the birds. This pony was standing alone in a field, so I stopped and politely asked if I might take its photograph? The pony obliged striking a pose, and when I’d got the shot he/she came over to the fence to have its forehead stroked. I thanked the pony for its willingness to pose, and promised to leave it continue its meal (grass).
The Lockdown Logs #44
The Lockdown Logs
Dateline: May 15th 2020
Well, stone the crows! This fellow came and sat beside my car when I was in the petrol station! It was a salutary lesson, one I should have heeded many years ago – that a camera in it’s bag is no use at all! This old crow came and sat a few feet away from me, – cocking its head to give me a good examination… But the Fujifilm X-T30 was tucked away inside its camera bag beside me. By the time I’d got the camera out, he’d walked away along the fence, and then I needed to waste more time changing to a telephoto lens.
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