Northlight Images Photography

Making a 14 metre print

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:55:11 +0100

'How to' article about the making of a 14 metre wide print of Leicester City centre at dusk.

Press release - Major architectural photography exhibition - 14 metre print

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:38:10 +0100

Keith Cooper is a Leicester based architectural photographer who has turned his lens on his home city, with a series of large architectural photographs emphasising some well known Leicester locations in new and striking ways, including one single print of the city centre over 14 metres (~47 feet) long.

The exhibition runs from May 2nd at the Leicester People's Photography Gallery, Leicester, UK

X-Rite announces new i1 Pro 2 spectrophotometer

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:29:53 +0100

An all new version of the i1 spectrophotometer is launched by X-Rite

Available in a number of profiling solutions, we'll be reviewing them in detail over the coming months.

Spyder4Pro review

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:20:31 +0100

Completing our set of reviews of Datacolor's monitor calibrators, the Spyder4Pro offer multiple monitor support and ambient light monitoring

Spyder4Express review

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:33:24 +0000

Detailed review of the Spyder4express monitor calibrator from Datacolor.

A basic device that does everything most users would need for their profiling. Includes a discussion of just why it's such an important thing to do, if you are editing and printing your photos - even if you get them printed elsewhere.

Cheap printers, ink costs and quality

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:58:28 +0000

After being asked about choices for good quality printers that were cheap to buy and cheap to run, I decide to look again at my old principle of:

Cheaper Printer :: Low Ink Costs :: Print Quality
Pick any two features (only)

Pro photography - winning the lottery?

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:33:17 +0000

What sorts of planning should you make for the development of your photography business? Is it just a lottery?

Working as a photographer on a cruise ship

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:49:16 +0000

As part of our Photography business series of articles, guest writer Ian Kee talks about some of the photography career options that have come his way since becoming a cruise ship photographer.

Spyder4Elite review

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:25:56 +0000

Full review of Datacolor's newest monitor profiling and calibration colorimeter, the Spyder4Elite.
Also usable for calibrating projectors.

Autopano Giga 2.6

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:01:39 +0000

A full review of Kolor's panoramic image stitching software, with emphasis on making large high quality prints.

ImageNest V3.5

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:31:30 +0000

The latest version of ImageNest adds a whole slew of useful features to this Layout Tool/RIP.

Includes BPC, resampling and sharpening

How much to charge for photography

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:14:18 +0000

The very basic numbers that tell you how much you should be charging for your professional photography, if you want more than a paid hobby or a rather short career as a photographer.

DxO V7.2 - full review

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:35:14 +0000

We've a detailed review covering many of the updates in DxO Optics Pro V7.2
It's faster, with a more flexible workflow and adds many refinements to what is still one of Keith's favourite RAW camera file processors, particularly for images with difficult lighting or needing processing to a large size.

Is your printer OK for black and white photography?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:17:33 +0000

Some of Keith's thoughts about choosing a basic printer for black and white, and why good black and white doesn't often come at the cheap utility end of printers.

Are the camera companies looking backwards?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:09:12 +0000

What's really new in the photography business and are the camera companies trying to avoid the next big thing?

Using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 for dull colour images

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:13:03 +0000

Sometimes I just have to take pictures for clients on dull cloudy days, when better light would be ideal.

Article shows a quick way of using Nik Silver Efex pro 2 to give a bit more 'oomph' to dull colour images.

Silver Efex is a plugin for converting images to black and white, but you can use its output as a layer blended in Luminance mode to enhance various aspects of colour images too

What paper should I use?

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:24:18 +0000

Some thoughts about how to get the best from printing your photos.

Why trying lots of different papers is rarely a good long term approach

Canon iPF5100

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:43:32 +0000

Full review of Canon's iPF5100 17 inch width printer.
12 inks, with roll paper and paper holding cassette.
Now at under £1k (ex Vat) in the UK

Will they sell?

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:49:00 +0000

Some more thoughts about selling your photographic prints. Moving on from selling the odd few prints requires a more solid approach to your marketing, and an acceptance that the photo the customer picks really is the best from their POV.

A follow on to the earlier 'Will it sell?' article.

GigaPan Epic Pro - a quick look

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:24:22 +0000

We've just got a GigaPan Epic Pro motorised camera mount for making some of our high resolution images. Keith will be writing up a full review in due course, but this short note shows its set-up

Tiffen Dfx 3 - Image filter plugin review

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:39:20 +0000

Tiffen Dfx digital filters reviewed as a Photoshop plugin.
Software also works with Aperture and Lightroom, or as a standalone program.

When your prints are too dark

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:40:21 +0000

Another look at the problem of prints coming out too dark - particularly if you have an iMac or other computer that you can't easily dim.

Screen calibration is best, but there are some other things you can experiment with.

Using an Infrared converted Canon 5D mk2

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:43:12 +0000

Keith Cooper try out an infrared converted Canon 5D mk2 and looks at digital infrared photography.
Is it worth converting the sensor of a camera for IR only?

Nik Color Efex 4 review

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:10:09 +0000

Full review of Nik Color Efex Version 4 - multiple filter plugin for photoshop/lightroom/aperture.
Lots of improvements on the old version, such as filter stacking and full adjustments history.

Canon Pixma Pro-1

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:42:10 +0100

Information about Canon's new Pixma Pro-1 A3+ printer.
12 inks including a 'chroma optimiser'

Epson SP4900

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:52:06 +0100

Comprehensive review of the Epson Stylus Pro 4900 A2 12 ink printer.

Close up macro – the Canon MP-E65 lens

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:39:43 +0100

Some initial thoughts on using the interesting Canon MP-E65mm macro lens
A lens with no focus adjustment...

3 (9) quick tips for better B&W

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:12:58 +0100

I was recently asked for 3 quick tips for improving your black and white photography - her are nine things that occurred to me...

The photographer in the orange hat

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:45:22 +0100

Differentiating your photography business from all the rest is important, but you need to go about it in the right way

Exhibition Page - Leicester People's Photography Gallery

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:34:41 +0100

The Leicester People's Photography Gallery opens on September 16th and is featuring 8 of Keith Cooper's large prints of Leicester and Leicestershire.

Epson R3000

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:43:34 +0100

Full review of Epson's current top of the range A3+ printer.
Now with built in black ink swapping and larger 26ml ink carts

Are there too many Pro photographers?

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:55:27 +0100

The market for professional photography isn't growing, and taking good photos gets easier and cheaper.
What should you consider about your photo business if you want it to continue?

Review - using the Canon 8-15mm f/4 L Fisheye lens

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:43:12 +0100

Out and about using the new canon 8-15mm f/4 zoom fisheye lens.

Solidly built lens that's not the one trick pony that people are inclined to dismiss it for.

So, you’re thinking of becoming a photographer some time?

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:59:55 +0100

Some thoughts about why, even if it's some years off, you should start to establish you photography business web presence right now.