Northlight Images Photography

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.

Book review - On Being a Photographer

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:24:15 +0100

Keith looks at a short book discussing aspects of what it takes to be a photographer. The importance of subject and what makes a 'Good photo'

ColorMunki Display

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:00:22 +0100

Comprehensive review of the ColorMunki Display monitor/projector profiler.
Includes a discussion about why monitor profiling is so important for better quality images.

A home made x5 macro lens

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:19:05 +0100

After needing a relatively high magnification macro lens for some test shots for a client, Keith Cooper builds a macro lens from the 'junk box'

The £700 Canon version can wait until we have some paying work...

Book Review: Digital Masters - B&W printing

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:51:55 +0100

I've been having a look at George DeWolfe's book about creating digital B/W prints. It's not always the easiest read, but I found it interesting and full of examples about what makes a great B/W print

i1 Display 2 and i1 Display LT to be supported for Mac OS 10.7 Lion

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:22:58 +0100

A new module for i1Profiler will allow for i1Display 2 and i1Display LT use under Mac OS 10.7

Due in September

Photography – I could do that…

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:34:42 +0100

Professional photographer - that's a job a lot of people think they'd like.

Some of Keith Cooper's thoughts about making the step from a good idea to doing something about it.

Who to ask? What to consider?

Were you aware that pro photography is more about business than taking photos?

Hyperfocal - No thanks

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:18:41 +0100

Hyperfocal distance focusing is often touted as an optimal approach to focusing.

Keith takes time to see why it's rarely the best approach, and explains the simple method he uses a lot of the time for his own landscape work.

Most importantly, try out your own approach to focusing with a truly critical eye, and don't assume that just because lots of people write about the hyperfocal technique, that that makes them right...

Book review: Make money with your digital photography

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:29:47 +0100

Keith Cooper reviews: Make money with your digital photography, a book by Erin Manning.

An excellent guide for those wondering how to use their photography to earn a living.

Digital's Analogue

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:16:59 +0100

A new guest article from Robert Fisher, looking at how the Zone System, HDR and the digital ETTR techniques are all rather similar in concept.

Making a cardboard lens for your DSLR

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:23:03 +0100

Experimenting with a home-made lens on a DSLR
Even an expensive camera can be made to look as bad as a Holga

i1Display Pro

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:18:26 +0100

Full review of the i1Display Pro monitor calibrator from X-Rite. Supports monitor and projector profiling, using i1Profiler software.