Making the most of the wonderful weather we had in June I took my mum over to Dublin for a few days. We found plenty to do and see in and around the Irish capital, and yes we did sample a Guinness or two or three, ok half a dozen – but it would be rude not to.

I like to think I don’t have many flaws (said with tongue firmly in cheek), but I will happily admit to hating packing, to be fair though – who does? I leave it right to the last minute and always, without fail, forget something. And what should I forget this time? No not my passport – but never the less as crucial – my camera ☹. Having just received a wonderful new DSLR from my loving family for my birthday I thanked them by rudely forgetting it on the first opportunity I had to do something with it. Miffed, yes, but not defeated I found a solution. Luckily I always carry a compact in my handbag for such times of idiocy. So with my faithful Nikon Coolpix S200 (don’t knock it until you try one) I was ready to shoot the city – compact style. I’ll admit I did become slightly frustrated by its lack of manual control but the one thing I have to applaud the genre of cameras for is there discretion.

After writing the news feature in Issue 71 on the state of street photography and how ‘crack downs’ by police and support officers, under Section 44, are obstructing our right to photograph. As I’m sure many people have found, I have become very self-conscious when it comes to shooting with a DSLR mounted on a tripod in bustling city environments for the fear of being accused a suspected terrorist. So in that respect having a handy compact was ideal. I had absolutely no problems and immersed myself in the candid sphere of street photography! I would like it noted that the off-kilter camera angles are the result of this shoot from the hip/forget the tripod situation, and nothing to do with the pint or two of Guinness consumed at the Guinness Factory’s Gravity Bar. Hiccup.

Not having ventured over to the Channel Islands before I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. My partner grew up in Guernsey and as his family still live there we ceased an invitation from them to visit for a mini-break in May.
The island was more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined. The inhabitants seem to enjoy life at a slower, relaxed pace, and this is in no way a criticism. I enjoyed the fact the speed limit was a comfortable 35mph and that on every corner was a small stall selling fruit, vegetables, honey or flowers with a trusting ‘Honesty Box’ collecting payment. We took a hire car out and travelled across the islands 78km square miles, every so often stopping to feast on the vistas that lay before us. Our cameras were certainly put through their paces, being called to arms every two miles of the island’s perimeter. I implore those searching for a relaxing retreat with a bounty of photographic possibilities to seriously consider the Island, although be warned prices are slightly steeper than those on the mainland. Here is a list of my top ten places/subjects to shoot:

1. Castle Cornet and other military buildings – steeped in history and having received more than its fair share of invasion, the island is littered with reminders of war. With Napoleonic to German occupation references at every turn you’d have to walk around with your eyes shut to miss them.
2. Orchid Fields and Bluebell woods – Basking in the warm climate, Guernsey’s flora are perfect subjects for a macro or nature-lover’s viewfinder.
3. St. Peter’s Port – Guernsey’s quaint capital is perfect for architecture and street photography
4. Guernsey cattle – The icon’s lovely red hue set against the lush green grazing grounds is postcard perfect material.
5. Port Grat – Once used as a smuggler’s transfer point, the scenic setting is now awash with flowers throughout the spring and summer months.
6. Beaming blue postboxes and telephone boxes – touristy maybe, but hey it’s your holiday!
7. Little Chapel, Les Vauxbelets – A mere stone’s throw from the airport this tiny chapel was completed by Brother Deodat using pieces of china, glass and shell.
8. Hurm – This mile and half long by half a mile wide car-free island is a few minutes away. It is currently up for sale so make the most of it while you still can.
9. St. Saviour’s Reservoir – Woodland meets freshwater habitat in this wonderfully peaceful pocket of the world.
10. Clifftop walks – What better way to get out and witness the coastal scenery than hike across Guernsey’s 28 miles of cliff paths. Be sure to take a picnic!

As you may have noticed after reading Issue 71 - DP has had a revamp! Some of you have expressed congratulations where others have lamented disappointment. Whatever your views we’d be grateful to hear your feedback, email us at dphotographer@imagine-publishing.co.uk.

As well as layout and design changes we’ve also included a wedge of new exciting features, aimed at bring us more in touch with our readership. One feature I’m particularly excited about is the ‘Improve your DSLR skills’. For issue 71 we teamed forum-fanatic Ian Furniss (aka Valerius, see http://www.zen104745.zen.co.uk/index.html) with worldly-wise pro Gavin Gough (www.gavingough.com). Reviews Editor Josie Reavely and myself meet the duo over in Swanage, Dorset where we spent a wonderful afternoon in the sun. We experimented with landscapes, seascapes, street photography, and we even went on an old-fashioned steam train (the station of which was rife with photographic opportunity, see www.swanagerailway.co.uk).

If you’d like to be considered for the Improve your Skills feature either as a tutor or student, write to us at dphotographer@imagine-publsihing.co.uk.

Olympus recently invited me up to London to test out their latest DSLR, the E-520. And what a camera! I’ve got to say that although there are no radical improvements over the E-510, but some of the features, which they share, have been significantly improved. In this respect I was particular impressed with the expanded dynamic range which seems to be more on par with the manufacturers heavyweight E-3. In terms of the cold hard facts we are looking at: 10 megapixels, 3648 x 2736 max resolution, 4/3” Live MOS sensor, 1/4000–60 s up to 30s shutter speed, and ISO 100 – 1600 in 1 EV steps (for more see www.olympus.co.uk). To find out DP’s official verdict be sure to pick up Issue 72 out 17th July.

Bournemouth-based Imagine Publishing has today announced that its gallery based digital photography website has attracted a massive 25,000 images, and all within its first year.

Launched in July 2007, the website offers users immediate access to all the latest photographic and imaging news, an active online forum and a host of hardware reviews, as well as the option of creating their very own web page.

Debbi Allen, editor, reveals: “The digital photography market has become increasingly competitive and the enormous success of Dphotographer.co.uk goes to show the hard work, dedication and commitment put into this website. Reaching 25,000 in one year really demonstrates the strength and popularity of the Digital Photographer brand. This has been further helped by the launch of our sister website www.digicambuyer.co.uk.”

Launched earlier this year, digicambuyer.co.uk is the online home of Digital Camera Buyer magazine, and is a one-stop site to research, compare prices and buy a digital camera. Stuart Tarrant, editor of DCB says: “These two websites work hand in hand with one another to ensure our visitors get every single review, all the latest news and have a place to share photos. However, we’re keen to push the websites even further now and users can expect to see some new features being added to both sites in 2008.”

So far this year, Dphotographer.co.uk has unveiled a number of new features including a direct link to the DP staff with an Ask The Team section, Lee Groombridge, Interactive Media Manager says: “It has been great to see the passionate community grow over the last year. Due to the shear number images in the bank now, it has given us the opportunity to develop some interesting new features that will be launched in the coming months that will benefit users and advertisers alike.”

Andy Wooldridge, Advertising Sales Executive agress: “The Digital Photographer website has really built on the magazine’s title as the fastest growing photography magazine and had an incredible year since its launch a year ago. We’ve been delighted at how keen our readers are to get online and upload their photos into their very own gallery. It goes to show how proud the readers are of their photos and how much they value the opinion of their photographic peers. The internet offers endless creative opportunities for our advertisers, to reach our very talented and dedicated readers. There’s never been a better way of directly reaching these people, a way in which companies such as Epson, Sony, Pentax, Canon, Nikon, PNY and Park Cameras have already exploited.”

Imagine Publishing is one of the UK’s fastest growing consumer specialist publishers. Formed in May 2005, it now publishes 20 magazines and 20 websites in the videogames, computing, entertainment and photography markets. An Imagine magazine is purchased every ten seconds.

… and we want your photos of the UK’s capital city.

If you’d like to see your images feature in an upcoming issue of Digital Photographer, post a reply on our forum or drop us a line at dphotographer@imagine-publishing.co.uk.

We’d love to see street shots, London landmarks and anything else you’ve shot in London, UK.

In issue 71 we spent the day with pro photographer Gavin Gough and reader Ian Furniss, for the first ever edition of ‘Improve my DSLR Skills’. We’d like to apologise for leaving Gavin’s contact details out of the article, and to thank him for making him the first in this series of articles so memorable. Check out his website: www.gavingough.com and be inspired!

Subscribe to Gavin’s newsletter at www.gavingough.com/newsletter, and be the first to hear about his latest projects, workshops and exhibitions.

web: www.gavingough.com
blog: www.gavingough.com/blog
newsletter: www.gavingough.com/newsletter
e-mail: mail@gavingough.com

All of the subscribers among you will have seen it already, and for those of you who buy ‘off shelf’ there’s just a few more, agonising hours to wait. Yes, I’m talking about Digital Photographer’s redesign!

Launched in 2001, Digital Photographer is now 7 years old, and on the whole, we think you’ll agree, looking pretty good for it! However, we thought it was about time to get you more involved and so we conceived the idea for the new look mag. Old favourites like Inside Tech, Readers’ Gallery and our 12-page Big Feature remain, but they’re joined by our new Improve My Skills, Location guide and Head to head features.

Improve my skills is a feature we’re all particularly proud of here in the DP office. Within it we follow one DP reader on a one-to-one day out with a pro, then print behind the scenes photos, interviews and the like within the magazine. I know I speak for Josie, Natalie and myself when I say it’s a pleasure to hear from DP readers and to meet you in person is even better!

The magazine’s design has also had a refresh, with Imagine’s top designer, Creative Director Mark Kendrick, getting involved: “Our 2008 refresh has been a long time in the making. When we launched the title in 2001 we strived to deliver a different kind of photography magazine that spoke to the new breed of creative ‘prosumer’ photographers out there switching to digital imaging. Since then the photography world has changed beyond even our wildest expectations, and so a new look Digital Photographer has been crafted to embrace these exciting new developments in the photography world and give the photo enthusiast an even more dynamic magazine and something we are very proud of indeed.”

We’d love to hear your thoughts on our new look (from issue 71 onwards)

What do you love?
What do your hate?

Email us at dphotographer@imagine-publishing.co.uk or post a thread on the forum.

I spent a wonderful afternoon at Liberty’s Raptor & Reptile Centre near Ringwood in Hampshire yesterday.

Having spoken to Linda Bridges at the centre, about taking some photos for issue 72 of DP, she kindly arranged a private photo shoot / flying session, with falconer John Picton.

John’s clearly passionate about his job and the birds that live at the centre under his care. He has a wealth of knowledge about them all and is fascinating to talk to. He was also very patient, flying several of the beautiful birds for me, while I tried to keep up!

It’s a wonderful location, with a wealth of educational resources and very friendly, helpful staff. It has a vast collection of birds of prey and reptiles, and there are a number of opportunities to see the birds flying freely and to get a closer look at the reptiles during the displays that occur throughout each day. I’d certainly recommend it for a day out, whether you’re a photographer or not!

Find out more at www.libertyscentre.co.uk - check out the Photographic Days that the centre runs in conjunction with Captive Light too.

Phone: 01425 476487

Crow Lane, Ringwood, Hants, BH24 3EA

I went back to my first home - Kent - last weekend, for a surprise 50th birthday party for my mum. My brother and I had spent months, conspiring secretly with my mum’s sister, in order to get people together to celebrate the occasion, and I’m pleased to report it went without a hitch!

It’s tradition in my family to have plenty of embarrassing photographs on hand of the birthday boy / girl in question, and this occasion was no different. On my occasional trips back home over the preceding months I’d be secretly taking away a stack of negatives each time, to scan at home, until I’d ended up with over 1,000 frames. I put these together to make a slideshow, mixed in with some more recent digital images I’d taken during trips to visit my family and had them playing on the TV at the gathering.

They were simply supposed to be on ‘in the background’ but - unexpectedly - they became the centre of attention: people sat, focused on the screen, laughing and joking and reminiscing as each new photo appeared, for several hours. Long-lost relatives were brought back to mind and I heard scores of new anecdotes about members of my family that I’d never been aware of before. It made the hours of hard work, slaving over a hot flatbed scanner, worth it.

This weekend made me realise just how much power a seemingly innocuous photograph holds. These days, digital photography is so accessible, you see people taking shots - of their family, friends, pets, etc - all the time, with a variety of DSLRs, compacts and camera phones. Much of the time, I think we take our ability to freeze memories  - so they’re available to be relived at any given point in the future - for granted. We take a snap and move on, blissfully unaware of the fact that, some twenty, thirty or forty years down the line, your children (or grandchildren) may be sitting around with their own family, looking through your pictures and reminiscing about you, joking about the clothes we used to wear and marvelling at how much their way of life has changed in the time that’s passed since the shot was taken.

So, photographs have the power to educate, to entertain, and to resurrect past memories that you thought you’d forgotten, but they also have the power to unite us, to teach us about our ancestors and - most of all - they have the power to make us smile. Photography is an artistic medium but it’s also there to preserve our memories, so remember to turn away from that glorious sunset occasionally, and turn your lens on your family, waiting patiently for you pack away your tripod - that way, the memory of their faces, bathed in the last golden rays of that day - will live on forever.