Secret Diary of a Seasoned Snapper
How to take photos in the dark: All photographs © Al Macphee/MiraclePR The brief of the Haldon Night run a Grammarcombe Woods, Ashcombe is, as usual, to get as many pictures of as many entrants as possible. We’ve got to shoot with flash. It would be much too dark otherwise, as the course is pitch black. … Read more
South Devon Football League action from Coach Road. As a club photographer, make sure you contact the venue in advance for permission to take pictures. © Al Macphee/MiraclePR Protecting your equipment – and yourself! Let’s start with something that a new club photographer might not think about: keeping their equipment safe. It’s not just a … Read more
Donut Duathlon. All photographs © Al Macphee/MiraclePR Over my time in the photography business, I have collected a fair few contacts: from newspaper editors and radio DJs to community leaders and event organisers. Ever so often, the opportunity arises to ‘rally the troops’ for the benefit of a good cause. With Children In Need coming up … Read more
Photography on a budget: Lioness captured on a 4 megapixel Canon EOS-1D (current used price £75). © Al Macphee/MiraclePR This week’s blog is about the various ways you can save money when getting started as a photographer. I was on a Facebook photography forum the other day and there was a post where someone was … Read more
FA Vase: All photographs © Al Macphee/MiraclePR The FA Vase challenge Working with the local press in the 21st Century is very different to how it used to be. Things have changed a lot even in the last ten years. Many local newspapers now come under the umbrella of large commercial publishers and editors have responsibility … Read more
What is aperture in photography? All pictures ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR To answer the question, ‘What is aperture in photography?’, you first need to know what your focal plane is. Take your focus point and extend it in a line to either side (not in front or behind). This is your focal plane. Your aperture setting affects … Read more
South Devon Football League photographs © Al Macphee/MiraclePR The South Devon football 6 team challenge In a recent radio interview with David Hammond for Riviera FM‘s Sports Roundup, I mentioned how setting yourself a challenge can help keep things fresh for a sports photographer. Since Neil (press officer) and I hadn’t covered any South Devon Football … Read more
Dawlish Warren Triathlon: All photographs © Al Macphee/MiraclePR I had been up until gone 11 following a wedding shoot. My breakfast consisted of a sandwich in the car. So spending three hours trying to get my head around the dreaded Dawlish Triathlon (aka the Dawlish Warren Triathlon) roundabout was not a thrilling prospect. Let me try … Read more
How to take photographs in the rain. All photographs © Al Macphee/MiraclePR This week I covered the Sportiva Lands End 100 and the forecast for the event was 95% chance of heavy rain. In Cornwall, with the weather coming in from the Atlantic, you can expect wet weather in Autumn. Because my brief was to shoot … Read more
Tips for photographing people. All photographs © Al Macphee/MiraclePR Diplomacy works when photographing people If you can talk to people as human beings, on their wavelength, you will be able to get on with anybody. I learned that from my brother. He was a sales rep covering Scotland and part of the north of England. He … Read more