I’m currently studying for the City and Guilds Photography (6923) Year 1 qualification at my local college (West Herts). One of the modules in the course is “Introduction to Black and White Photography”, with a choice of 2 assignments. I’ve chosen “People in the Environment” and have narrowed this very broad topic down to “Street Entertainers”, primarily because I don’t live too far from Covent Garden in London.

I haven’t shot much black and white before, and I’d never set foot in a darkroom prior to this course, so let’s just say that the learning curve is pretty steep. Especially in the darkroom, where I’m wasting reams of photographic paper and trying my patience to the limit.

Anyway, I wanted to share the best of my initial efforts with you, so here are 3 images from my first 2 rolls of film…

Covent Garden #1	Covent Garden #2	Covent Garden #3

Further news of the Canon D60’s demise, taken from the 25th January edition of the UK’s Amateur Photographer magazine (on sale today):

“Less than a year after the UK launch of Canon’s D60 digital SLR the company has confirmed that the camera is to be discontinued. Responding to rumours on the internet Canon UK’s public relations manager Angela Mason confirmed that the 6.3 megapixel model will be discountinued once current stocks have been distributed ... Canon UK were not able to confirm details of when a new model would become available.”

It always interests me when photographers comment on exactly how they took a particular photograph, especially when they supply more detail than simply listing the aperture and shutter speed used. Michael Reichmann of Luminous Landscape fame has just posted a short article which explains the thinking behind 2 of his recent photographs. It’s a good insight into what the professionals’ do…

Website: Luminous Landscape

“When people write with feedback on The Video Journal location segments the one request that I receive more than any other is for my commentary on the “how and why” of the making of my photographs. I do this now as much as possible, but sometimes there are interesting images and situations that don’t find their way into The Journal. This page therefore contains two recent (October, 2002) photographs and a description of their making. I hope that you find this to be of interest.

Phil Askey at DPReview has posted a new review of the Olympus C-5050 Zoom, which currently retails for ?699 at Jessops.

Website: DPReview

Just posted! Our full in-depth review of Olympus’s C-5050 Zoom five megapixel, three times optical zoom digital camera. The C-5050 Zoom is one of the first of a new generation of five megapixel digital cameras based around a 1/1.8” (7.2 x 5.3 mm) CCD sensor. The advantage of sticking to the 1/1.8” format are that existing lens systems and bodies originally designed for three and four megapixel sensors can be used as the basis for the new cameras. This is exactly the case with the C-5050 Zoom. Read on to see how the camera fared in our tests.

The same camera receives an even more enthusiastic response at Imaging Resource.

Website: Imaging Resource

“I dubbed this one “the best camera Olympus has ever made”, a tipoff to my feelings about it. The 5050 is the latest in one of the longest-running lines of digicams in the industry, but this time around Olympus has significantly redesigned the user interface, as well as added some very welcome features not present on the previous 4040. All in all, a really excellent camera, one that I’m sure is going to find many happy homes.”

Website: Read my review of the Olympus Camedia C-5050 Zoom

After a lot of faffing around with various JavaScripts, I’ve finally managed to post the first ever photos on PhotographyBLOG!

These images from Notting Hill Carnival 2002 are some of my favourites from the last 12 months. They were all taken hand-held on a Canon EOS 300 using Kodak EliteChrome EBX 100asa slide film, hence the saturated colours and the sense of movement in #1.

When you click on each thumbnail image a new window should automatically open to display a larger version. You should then be able to click anywhere in the window to close it. Please leave a comment and let me if it doesn’t work as expected, stating exactly which web browser you are using.

Notting Hill Carnival #1	Notting Hill Carnival #2	Notting Hill Carnival #3

It seems that Canon have ceased production of the Digital SLR that I’ve been aspiring to for the last few months (but can’t really afford to buy as it’s ?1,900 body only).

Website: DP Review

“We have received several emails from concerned readers who were interested in buying an EOS-D60 have been told by their dealer that the D60 has been discontinued. This information is coming out of Canada and has apparently been (accidentally) confirmed by Canon Canada. This is indeed interesting news especially with PMA 2003 just around the corner. That said you would think that Canon could sell plenty more D60’s even in the time between now and any future model hitting the streets. UPDATE: As of yet this has NOT been confirmed to us directly by Canon USA or UK. More news, this time from Australia. Also apparently confirmed by Canon France.”

The D60 is, or was, the logical upgrade path for me to take if I ever decided to buy a DSLR, as I already have a Canon film body and several lenses. Until Canon announce and make widely available the D60’s successor, there is no logical path, only the Nikon D100, Fuji S2 or the Sigma SD-9. All good cameras but all requiring me to start from scratch.

Why Canon have decided to cease production before announcing the D60’s successor is currently unknown. Nikon must be rubbing their hands in glee at the thought of at least a 3 month period without their main competitor.

It will be very interesting to see what they replace it with. Will it be cheaper with a similar feature list? Or more expensive with enhanced features? Will it still utilise the current CMOS chip? Only time and maybe a visit to the PMA 2003 show will tell…