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It seems like an age ago now, but on the 22nd of February this year we held a Kase Filters UK Ladies Demo Day in association with Vanguard UK at Burnham-On-Sea in Somerset. Alongside the demo we were running a competition that all attendees could enter with the stipulation that their photographs must contain the iconic lighthouse on the beach. We had some fabulous entries as you can see below! Our wonderful judges Angela Nicholson from SheClicks and Camera Jabber, Liz Ludlow from Vanguard UK, and our very own Ambassador from Kase Filters UK Vanda Ralevska had a job on their hands to whittle the collection down to five shortlisted images which were announced via the facebook event on the 14th of March. The final five that they chose were....... Then it was to choose just one image from the collection for the overall winner. And that lucky winner is......... Beth Astington! Massive congratulations to Beth with her beautifully taken low angle shot of the lighthouse on the beach. How she managed to get such a super shot in the pretty awful conditions we had on the day just goes to prove the amount of skill that she has. Beth can now enjoy some super prizes worth nearly £500 and consisting of a Kase Filters UK 100mm K8 holder kit with magnetic polariser, a Kase Filters UK 16 stop wolverine neutral density filter, a Vanguard Photo UK Veo2Go 235CB carbon fibre travel tripod, and a Vanguard Photo UK VeoGO 34M shoulder bag. Not bad at all! Enjoy Beth and once again a very well done to you. Here is Beth's winning image for you to enjoy.  Burnham-On-Sea Lighthouse, Somerset by Beth Astington Thank you very much indeed to both Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK for all of their support and generosity with making this demo day and competition a success.
Thank you also to Angela Nicholson, Liz Ludlow and Vanda Ralevska for agreeing to be our competition judges, and also to all of our co-hosts for their help on the day. If you would like to join in on a Kase Filters UK Demo Day we are looking to run more in the near future and these will be announced via my facebook page Phil Starkey Photography accordingly. Or alternatively you can book with me for a 1-2-1 workshop on Dartmoor in Devon where I can give you some personal tuition. For further details on workshops please click here.
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Once again the guys at Kase Filters have listened to the photographers that use their equipment and have actioned some of the things that was felt needed to improve on their already excellent K8 filter holder. I was lucky enough to be loaned a demo kit for a little while to see what I thought of it. So without further ado here's my review of the soon to be released K9 Filter Holder Kit. Improvements MadeSo whilst the fundamentals of the holder system remain the same, the new Kase Filters K9 holder has some differences, and these differences make the K9 even easier to use. They have shaved a little bit off from around the top and bottom of the K9 holder, making it not only slightly lighter again than the K8 but also making it ergonomically better. They've added in some lovely little divots perfectly shaped to help you lift out your polariser when in situ much easier. The geared wheel for polariser adjustment on the side of the holder has been enlarged on the K9 for better ease of use. The filter slots have been redesigned making it easier for you to take your filters in and out of the holder but still retaining the super hold of the K8. The red knurl to tighten everything up has a slightly coarser thread making it again easier to adjust. Changing the wheel and the knurl in particular makes the K9 easier again to use with gloves on in cold weather which is always a good thing. The one change that stands out from all others in the kit though is the fact that the polariser has been made larger, going from 86mm to 90mm. The reason for this is that it was identified that there was some vignetting with the K8 system on some wide angle lenses such as the Nikon 14-35mm and the Sony 16-35mm f2.8, so that's been listened to and the adjustments made accordingly. What Do I Think Of The K9? I think that the improvements that have been made to produce the new K9 holder are once again very much in support of the photographer. It's not just a product that looks good, but it works superbly well out in the field making photography a joy. Even in chilly weather with gloves on you'll have no problem making the fine adjustments that you need to to get your images. It's a very well thought out item. The one thing that you have to keep in mind is that the K9 hasn't been produced as the next step up from the K8, the K8 is still the tops and very much holds its own for the majority of lenses, the K9 however has been made with specific wide lenses in mind that suffered with a little vignetting previously when using the K8. Therefore, you don't need to rush out and buy it unless you actually have the need for it. There is a slight increase in price from the K8 at £110 to the K9 at £140, however as with all of the Kase Filters range you very much get what you pay for. Top quality equipment with solely the photographer in mind. Personally I won't be purchasing the K9 holder as I don't have a need for it, the K8 does the job absolutely fine for me, however my partner in crime Alan Howe does and will most likely be investing in one as he was equally impressed with it. So, if you want to #CaptureWithConfidence as the Kase Filters UK slogan says and have a wide angle lens that requires the Kase Filter K9 Filter Holder, I'd recommend it you without hesitation. The Kase Filters K9 Filter Holder Kit is due for release mid November and if you would like a 10% discount code should you wish to purchase one simply drop me a line at info@philstarkeyphotography.co.uk A Rather Sketchy Video! Below you can find a rather dodgy little video of how easy it is that the Kase Filters K9 Holder Kit goes together, I gave it a bit of a shake to show you how it doesn't budge too. It's a great bit of kit! As with any type of event, details of parking, directions to the event itself and other information are a necessary thing, so please find below those little snippets for our Kase Filters UK Ladies Demo Day event on Saturday the 22nd of February 2020 3:30pm - 6:30pm at Burnham-On-Sea in Somerset. Car Parking Facilities Main car parking facilities for the day can be found along the seafront, there are three in total and the image below shows where these are located. They're all a short walk down the road to where the event is situated.  Route from Seafront to Low Lighthouse Below is the walking route from Burnham-On-Sea seafront to the Low Lighthouse where the Kase Filters UK event is being held via Gore Road. You can also follow this link to the ordnance survey map https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/4041752/Car-Park-to-Gore-Road-Walk  Appropriate Clothing As with any outdoor event of any kind it's really essential that you wear and bring adequate clothing for all conditions. Even if the forecast is deemed to be good it's sensible to bring with you warm clothes, wet weather gear and have decent footwear. In an open environment like this it doesn't take long to get cold, so it's vitally important that you're prepared. A waterproof coat is a must because if it rains whilst you're there there is no shelter. Wearing either walking boots or wellies is advisable. If you're dry, protected and warm from the elements you'll have a much more enjoyable time at the event. In the Event of Bad Weather All of your lovely hosts are busy doing their fair weather dances to the gods above in the hope that they'll look favourably upon us all on the day and provide fantastic conditions, however, if they decide otherwise and for example we are forecast high stormy winds which could be deemed a danger to participants and hosts alike, or if there looks to be a deluge of rain the likes of which no wet weather gear could withstand, then we will unfortunately have to take the most sensible course of action which would be to postpone the event. Any form of postponement or otherwise will take place through our Kase Filters Ladies Demo Day facebook event page no later than 10am on Thursday the 20th of February 2020 giving you all 48hrs notice in advance. If this does happen then we will also look to reschedule the event for another date in the near future and still run the competition alongside so that no one misses out. Afterall, we've all been looking forward to this event for a little while now, we couldn't just cancel it! Other Info Don't forget your camera gear! You'll need it to try our demo gear on and also for entering into our fab competition too. If you have any adapter/step up rings that go with your lenses do bring them with you as your hosts will only have a certain amount to go around themselves, although we will try to supply them where we can. Bring your tripod. It'll be handy to use whilst testing our neutral density filters which will be available for you to try for long exposure work. Don't forget to bring funds with you for the parking facilities! As this event is later in the day and goes on past sunset it is advisable to bring a torch or head torch with you for the walk back to wherever your car may be. And if you're looking to have some food or a cup of tea during the day there are a number of nice little cafes located along the seafront that do food and drinks. We're excited to meet you all and are looking forward to showing you all of our lovely equipment. See you on the 22nd of February 2020!  We thought it might be nice for you to be able to recognise and get to know a little about your Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK hosts that will be with you on the 22nd of February 2020 at the Free Kase Filters UK Free Ladies Demo Day ready to give you all of the advice that you need about our wonderful equipment. Without further ado may I introduce our lovely hosts to you! Vanda Ralevska - Kase Filters UK Brand Ambassador    My name is Vanda Ralevska, and I am a semi-professional landscape photographer based in London. Photography has been my passion since my teens, and over the years it became an inseparable part of my life. It enables me to see things that normally stay unnoticed, and appreciate the beauty that exists within everyday scenes. I am passionate about capturing the world we live in, always searching for those fleeting moments of magic that transform it into something extraordinary. I am predominantly a landscape photographer. In my images I strive to reflect the atmosphere, feeling, and sheer wonderment that our natural world can evoke within us. Having grown up in an industrial area of former Czechoslovakia, I soon learnt how to appreciate beauty of the natural world, far away from hustle and bustle of a big city. Nowadays I find most inspiration in quieter scenes and intimate details, whether it is on the coast, in woodland, in the countryside, or even in cities, during quiet times. I don’t limit myself to one particular subject. Photography for me is more about the moments when I don’t want to be anywhere else but where I am. About being truly present in those moment, and enjoying them for what they are. I am a member of Arena Photographers, World Women Art and Echiquier groups. I have had several successes in international competitions, including the International Garden Photographer of the Year and Black and White Spider Awards. I regularly take part in joint exhibitions, and give lectures at photographic clubs, groups and festivals, both in UK and abroad. I hope to inspire others to find their own style, to look beyond the obvious, and to find joy while doing so. Website: www.mylenscapes.co.uk Phil Starkey - Kase Filters UK Pro Partner |
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Terms and Conditions
1. This Competition is open to workshop attendees only who must be UK residents, aged 18 years or over, except for employees, team members of Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK, their group companies, their families or anyone else associated with this competition.
2. All information detailing how to enter this Competition forms part of these terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions.
3. The entry route to this Competition is solely by posting to the advertised facebook event page of Free Kase Filters UK Ladies Demo Day. We regret that we are unable to accept entries to this competition by any other means.
4. All entries must be received by the advertised closing time of midnight on the 7th of March 2020.
5. All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them and must have been taken on the day of the event and at the event. Exif data may be asked for to confirm this from any entry made. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit which include an identifiable person or persons have been taken with the permission of the person or persons pictured and do not infringe the copyright of any third party or any laws. Entrants must warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it.
6. Copyright in all images submitted for this Competition remains with the respective entrants. However, in consideration of their providing the Competition, each entrant grants an irrevocable, perpetual licence to Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK to feature any or all of the submitted images in any of their publications, their websites, social media and/or in any promotional material connected to this competition.
7. Only one entry per person. Late, illegible, incomplete, defaced, extensively digitally manipulated or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Entries must not be sent through agencies or third parties.
8. The winning entry will be that that is judged to be the most visually appealing, original and self-explanatory. The winner will be notified within twenty one days of the closing date of the competition, the 7th of March 2020.
9. There will only be one winner and the entrant shall win a Kase Filters UK 100mm K8 Filter Holder Kit worth £110, a Kase Filter UK 100mm Wolverine 16 stop Neutral Density Filter worth £137, and a Vanguard Photo UK VEO 2 GO 235CB Tripod worth £179.99. A prize worth in total £426.99.
10. All prizes are non-transferable. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash, vouchers or any other Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK equipment. Lost or stolen items cannot be replaced.
11. The winners may be required to take part in publicity.
12. We take your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information to administer the prizes which are due to you. By entering into this competition and sharing your personal details with Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK in order to send out these prizes you thereby give permission for your personal data to be used by the parties involved for this purpose.
13. Events may occur that render the Competition itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and accordingly the Promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the Competition and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof.
14. The Promoter Phil Starkey Photography is responsible for the first part of the promotion, which is the publication and adjudication of the competition. All other facilities connected with the provision of the prize are the responsibility of Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK.
2. All information detailing how to enter this Competition forms part of these terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions.
3. The entry route to this Competition is solely by posting to the advertised facebook event page of Free Kase Filters UK Ladies Demo Day. We regret that we are unable to accept entries to this competition by any other means.
4. All entries must be received by the advertised closing time of midnight on the 7th of March 2020.
5. All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them and must have been taken on the day of the event and at the event. Exif data may be asked for to confirm this from any entry made. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit which include an identifiable person or persons have been taken with the permission of the person or persons pictured and do not infringe the copyright of any third party or any laws. Entrants must warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it.
6. Copyright in all images submitted for this Competition remains with the respective entrants. However, in consideration of their providing the Competition, each entrant grants an irrevocable, perpetual licence to Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK to feature any or all of the submitted images in any of their publications, their websites, social media and/or in any promotional material connected to this competition.
7. Only one entry per person. Late, illegible, incomplete, defaced, extensively digitally manipulated or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Entries must not be sent through agencies or third parties.
8. The winning entry will be that that is judged to be the most visually appealing, original and self-explanatory. The winner will be notified within twenty one days of the closing date of the competition, the 7th of March 2020.
9. There will only be one winner and the entrant shall win a Kase Filters UK 100mm K8 Filter Holder Kit worth £110, a Kase Filter UK 100mm Wolverine 16 stop Neutral Density Filter worth £137, and a Vanguard Photo UK VEO 2 GO 235CB Tripod worth £179.99. A prize worth in total £426.99.
10. All prizes are non-transferable. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash, vouchers or any other Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK equipment. Lost or stolen items cannot be replaced.
11. The winners may be required to take part in publicity.
12. We take your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information to administer the prizes which are due to you. By entering into this competition and sharing your personal details with Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK in order to send out these prizes you thereby give permission for your personal data to be used by the parties involved for this purpose.
13. Events may occur that render the Competition itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and accordingly the Promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the Competition and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof.
14. The Promoter Phil Starkey Photography is responsible for the first part of the promotion, which is the publication and adjudication of the competition. All other facilities connected with the provision of the prize are the responsibility of Kase Filters UK and Vanguard UK.
Sock Problems
Get ready for an epic review of socks, walking socks to be precise. Ooo I can hear the excitement from here at my desk as I type. Actually it's not so much a review but a blurb! Not the most grabbing of subjects and one that I didn't think I'd be blogging about but there we go.
Socks. Bridgedale socks to be precise. Soft, springy, comfortable socks that I fell in love with a while ago now. These socks have made my running more bouncy, and my long distance walking infinitely more bearable, especially with a hike across Devon that I did last year where I only suffered minor blisters due to these lovely, well made, wonderful foot pouches. Those were the Trekkers that I wore at the time.
So, why did I have a moan about Bridgedale Socks on Twitter a while ago then and ask my fellow photographers and walkers about other brands? Well, because unfortunately the Summit type of Bridgedales caused me to end up with a huge blister the size of the moon (I kid you not) on my right foot nine miles into a fourteen mile walk. Ok, so, maybe it wasn't the size of the moon, just from one side of my foot to the other, covering the whole ball from the base of the toes to almost half way down the foot. Now that's a pretty epic sized blister really isn't it. Needless to say the bloody thing was excruciatingly painful and I nearly had to chop my foot off. Well I did get my penknife out and have to burst the bugger simply to give some sort of relief from the ridiculous pain, it really was that bad. At the point of burstage I still had another two miles to do before making it home, and there was no way the other half could reach me in my hour of need due to the location, and the fact that he was finishing up at work. So, with a branch lodged between my teeth, swigging brandy from a bottle, and going at the pace of a tortoise, I hobbled home using the side of my foot to relieve pressure on the fluid ridden skin bag whilst developing blisters on the other foot too and having to give the biggun a poke with the penknife another couple of times en route. Happy days! I did find one bonus to the old style Summits, they made great fluid mops!!
After getting home, discarding the branch and brandy and reporting my big, brave, tough, adventure of endurance to my other half who had since got home and was being very sympathetic by offering me a much needed cup of tea and mopping my fevered brow, I decided that I would take up the tweeting, not for any other reason than to seek advice and alternative recommendations on socks by a number of acquaintances. This tweeting resulted in Jim, the Product Manager from Bridgedale themselves, seeing my woes and suggesting that I might like to contact him via email to have a chat about this a little further. So that's exactly what I did, and what a pleasant chap Jim was too. He was extremely helpful in explaining the different types of walking socks and came to the conclusion that I probably had the wool, old style Summits and that might be what had caused the issue. He very kindly offered me a pair of the new Explorer Heavyweight Performance Merino to try (which are the old Summits rebranded), and didn't even bat an eye when I went off on a tangent with a moan about why the womens socks were shorter in the leg and that I couldn't stand pink and was fed up with outdoor companies thinking us girls live in pink......we don't! So, I took Jim up on his kind offer of trying out the Explorers and within a few days they'd arrived in the post ready for my little tootsies to be eased into them.
I have now worn these Merino toe bags of fluffiness a million times since they landed, they're not pink but blue/green (big bonus points Bridgedale), they fit like an absolute glove, they're super warm but without being sweaty, they are ridiculously comfortable (if you could have pillows on your feet these would be that), and I'm very happy to report that as yet I have not suffered with even one minor blister let alone a moon sized one since using these beauties, and I can assure you that there have been many many Dartmoor miles racked up in them. Oh, and they're longer in the leg too which is marvellous!
Bridgedale you have restored my faith in your super walking socks thank you, I am more than happy to once again recommend them to anyone and everyone, even as bed socks because they'd be great as those too being so snuggly. And Jim, you're a credit to the company with your super customer service skills and general helpfulness, many thanks to you also.
Go buy Bridgedales.........they rock! I will be increasing my stock without a doubt.
To find your own pair of exceptional Bridgedale socks please visit their website here at www.bridgedale.com
Socks. Bridgedale socks to be precise. Soft, springy, comfortable socks that I fell in love with a while ago now. These socks have made my running more bouncy, and my long distance walking infinitely more bearable, especially with a hike across Devon that I did last year where I only suffered minor blisters due to these lovely, well made, wonderful foot pouches. Those were the Trekkers that I wore at the time.
So, why did I have a moan about Bridgedale Socks on Twitter a while ago then and ask my fellow photographers and walkers about other brands? Well, because unfortunately the Summit type of Bridgedales caused me to end up with a huge blister the size of the moon (I kid you not) on my right foot nine miles into a fourteen mile walk. Ok, so, maybe it wasn't the size of the moon, just from one side of my foot to the other, covering the whole ball from the base of the toes to almost half way down the foot. Now that's a pretty epic sized blister really isn't it. Needless to say the bloody thing was excruciatingly painful and I nearly had to chop my foot off. Well I did get my penknife out and have to burst the bugger simply to give some sort of relief from the ridiculous pain, it really was that bad. At the point of burstage I still had another two miles to do before making it home, and there was no way the other half could reach me in my hour of need due to the location, and the fact that he was finishing up at work. So, with a branch lodged between my teeth, swigging brandy from a bottle, and going at the pace of a tortoise, I hobbled home using the side of my foot to relieve pressure on the fluid ridden skin bag whilst developing blisters on the other foot too and having to give the biggun a poke with the penknife another couple of times en route. Happy days! I did find one bonus to the old style Summits, they made great fluid mops!!
After getting home, discarding the branch and brandy and reporting my big, brave, tough, adventure of endurance to my other half who had since got home and was being very sympathetic by offering me a much needed cup of tea and mopping my fevered brow, I decided that I would take up the tweeting, not for any other reason than to seek advice and alternative recommendations on socks by a number of acquaintances. This tweeting resulted in Jim, the Product Manager from Bridgedale themselves, seeing my woes and suggesting that I might like to contact him via email to have a chat about this a little further. So that's exactly what I did, and what a pleasant chap Jim was too. He was extremely helpful in explaining the different types of walking socks and came to the conclusion that I probably had the wool, old style Summits and that might be what had caused the issue. He very kindly offered me a pair of the new Explorer Heavyweight Performance Merino to try (which are the old Summits rebranded), and didn't even bat an eye when I went off on a tangent with a moan about why the womens socks were shorter in the leg and that I couldn't stand pink and was fed up with outdoor companies thinking us girls live in pink......we don't! So, I took Jim up on his kind offer of trying out the Explorers and within a few days they'd arrived in the post ready for my little tootsies to be eased into them.
I have now worn these Merino toe bags of fluffiness a million times since they landed, they're not pink but blue/green (big bonus points Bridgedale), they fit like an absolute glove, they're super warm but without being sweaty, they are ridiculously comfortable (if you could have pillows on your feet these would be that), and I'm very happy to report that as yet I have not suffered with even one minor blister let alone a moon sized one since using these beauties, and I can assure you that there have been many many Dartmoor miles racked up in them. Oh, and they're longer in the leg too which is marvellous!
Bridgedale you have restored my faith in your super walking socks thank you, I am more than happy to once again recommend them to anyone and everyone, even as bed socks because they'd be great as those too being so snuggly. And Jim, you're a credit to the company with your super customer service skills and general helpfulness, many thanks to you also.
Go buy Bridgedales.........they rock! I will be increasing my stock without a doubt.
To find your own pair of exceptional Bridgedale socks please visit their website here at www.bridgedale.com
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An Adventure Of The Non Photographic Kind
 | You know when you read a book about someone having a great personal adventure and you sit back and think, ‘God, I’d love to be able to do something like that even if it’s on a smaller scale’, well……that’s where it started. I read a book called The Hairy Hikers, written by David Le Vay, where he and his friend Rob walk the GR10 Coast to Coast trail from Hendaye on the Atlantic and along the French Pyrenees to Banyuls-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean. It’s an account of their rather enjoyable seven week adventure together which includes some personal down moments and struggles, but also lots of humour and good times too along with wonderful descriptions of the places they were walking through and visiting. |
As soon as I’d read this book I knew that I wanted to do something similar, to give myself something purposeful to do, to cut myself off almost completely from the goings on of day to day life, and to really give myself time to appreciate what a beautiful world we live in. So, where to walk was the next question. That was burningly obvious, there’s one impressive trail that runs across the whole of Devon called the Two Moors Way going from Ivybridge right across Dartmoor, into mid Devon, then north and over Exmoor before finishing at Lynton and Lynmouth. I'd read about it and heard about through social media and really fancied having a go. So, with the trail sorted the next bit was to do some research so I started googling away and reading up a bit about the walk itself. I also decided to put up a status on social media as I have a number of friends who love to walk and simply asked if they knew anything about it. How hard going was it? What sort of fitness level would you need to be at? How long would it take to do it in? Those sorts of questions. Then up popped my mate Richard Davy, and that’s where it all started to become real! He’d been wanting to walk the Two Moors Way too and was keen to join me if I was going to do it. Great! ‘But…’ he said, ‘how about doing the whole thing from Coast to Coast and starting off at Wembury? Seems silly to miss that bit out as it’s only a small section added on.’ Small? Only an extra 16 miles! Gulp! That made the whole walk a total of 117 miles altogether, and for a moderate walker this seemed like a huge task. What was I doing?! Nah, sod it, why the heck not, might as well bung in the extra and go the whole hog. So there it was, we were doing the Devon Coast to Coast together. Next step, when to do it and to book the time off from work. After a bit of discussion it was decided the best time to do it was the middle of October. Rich being a bit of an adventurer had the South West Coast Path to walk first amongst other amazing things, as you do, and we both agreed that being as it would be in the autumn the weather would be cooler and that it would be lovely to see the colours over the county as we went on our merry way. Now, most ordinary people would stretch the whole thing out over perhaps 10 days or more, giving plenty of time, shorter daily distances etc. Where’s the fun in that though hey! So what did we do? We decided that to make it a good challenge to ourselves we were going to do it in just 7 days…….another gulp! So 117 miles in 7 days it was and with that out of the way we met a couple more times, discussed the route, what we’d need to take, booked our b&b’s up (camping had crossed our mind but we thought that creature comforts might be nice, how glad we were of that decision actually on the walk!) and that was that, we were all ready to set off on the 15th of October!
Although the walk had been described to me as moderate in difficulty, I was quite aware that my fitness levels probably weren’t up to par, so I got straight into several months worth of running and weight training to build up some strength and stamina. In hindsight more walking training would’ve been good too as my muscle recovery day after day wasn’t as good as it could’ve been, however the prep that I did do I have no doubt contributed greatly towards my being able to do this. I walk frequently but I'm no long distance walker and so all of this was a bit new to me! Before I knew it the months had passed and the time had come to walk, further than I’d ever walked before. I was nervous, excited, slightly concerned, all sorts, but determined to complete it for sure. Now I expect that some of you reading this might be thinking…….crikey, she’s going on a bit, people every day do some crazily big things, she's not exactly climbing Everest! And you’re right, I wasn’t, and some people would absolutely breeze through a challenge like this with no effort at all and it would be like they’d gone for a walk in their local park, but for me it was a big undertaking and one that I would never have even contemplated in a previous life (long story). This was MY Everest right at this very moment. In stark comparison though Richard unfortunately was diagnosed with advanced colonic cancer literally a couple of weeks before our start date, and so his Everest was and is rather more considerable than mine! I have nothing but admiration and respect for him for deciding to still do and ultimately complete this walk.
Early in the morning on the 15th of October Richard and I were taken to our starting point at Wembury by my other half Alan where we were also met by Sara and Nigel Hicks. Both Sara and Nigel are amazing people who run the charity OVAID – Orangutan Veternairy Aid which is a zero salary, voluntary run charity dedicated to providing veterinary equipment, medicines and practical veterinary presence and assistance to Orangutan rescue groups and centres in Indonesia and Malaysia. Richard had decided a few weeks before the walk that he would like to fundraise for this great charity (I’ve put the link to his JustGiving page at the end of the blog) and so we had photos holding their banner by the sea before we started. Before we knew it, it was kisses and hugs all round bidding cheerio to everyone and off we set, Ivybridge bound. Our first days walk was really good overall and we were joined by Rich’s cousin Jacki all the way which was rather lovely. When we made it to Ivybridge that day we were tired but felt good and the day was topped off by Al meeting us for dinner where we were staying that evening.
Early in the morning on the 15th of October Richard and I were taken to our starting point at Wembury by my other half Alan where we were also met by Sara and Nigel Hicks. Both Sara and Nigel are amazing people who run the charity OVAID – Orangutan Veternairy Aid which is a zero salary, voluntary run charity dedicated to providing veterinary equipment, medicines and practical veterinary presence and assistance to Orangutan rescue groups and centres in Indonesia and Malaysia. Richard had decided a few weeks before the walk that he would like to fundraise for this great charity (I’ve put the link to his JustGiving page at the end of the blog) and so we had photos holding their banner by the sea before we started. Before we knew it, it was kisses and hugs all round bidding cheerio to everyone and off we set, Ivybridge bound. Our first days walk was really good overall and we were joined by Rich’s cousin Jacki all the way which was rather lovely. When we made it to Ivybridge that day we were tired but felt good and the day was topped off by Al meeting us for dinner where we were staying that evening.
What followed over the next few days can be described in many ways. Here’s a few words for you……difficult, tiring, mentally and physically draining, exciting, sobering, incredible, breathtaking, peaceful, beautiful, quiet, impressive……so many things! Some of the walking was quite nice and easy underfoot allowing us to get a good pace on, however some of it was rather the opposite. Overall the weather throughout the walk was incredible to say the least. We had light winds the whole time, and warm autumnal sunshine for five days out of the seven, although on day two we had fog and on day three relentless rain too. Typically both of these drab days were spent crossing Dartmoor, and sadly we didn’t get to see the amazing views that we’d hoped for. I’d read in books about Dartmoor getting a hold on travellers and not letting them go, whether that be getting lost in the mists, bogs or otherwise and I can totally see why now. Although we didn’t get stuck in any of this, it was mentally draining in a way that I wasn't really expecting. The Dartmoor weather certainly got into my head, and it sucked the enthusiasm and vigour from me. We also sadly came across a sheep that was laying on it’s side on the saturated ground, twitching its legs around, clearly unwell and in distress. Rich tried to help it up but it was too late, the poor thing had gone beyond the point of return and we regretfully had to leave it and move on letting nature take its course, hopefully quickly. It was a sobering reminder of how harsh the Moors can be.
Once off Dartmoor the weather and scenery changed significantly. But whilst I thought that crossing Dartmoor in the lashing rain and fog was hard, equally so was crossed the rolling fields of mid Devon! You know those lovely fields that you see from a distance, that look so lush smooth and green? Well, they’re knobbly, gnarly, tufty gits that twist your ankles from one to the other side in a split second over and over again with the long wet grass weighing down your feet until you feel like you’ve got concrete boots on! Typically this type of terrain was over our longest two days of walking too at over twenty miles each day. Now as much as I love the green fields of Devon I'm not sure that I'd want to distance walk over them again. Mid Devon is however without a doubt some of THE most beautiful countryside that I’ve ever seen, and everywhere looked like something off a chocolate box, so idyllic and magical. There seemed to be at almost every base of a hill a wonderful tucked away little stream with pretty pockets of Oak or Beech woodland surrounding it too. Seeing the mid Devon landscape was definitely a highlight for me, and it’s an area that I’d love to explore more of without a doubt. It was quite magic to look at.
When heading into north Devon and Somerset the hills seemed to get rather more gentle thankfully and our walk out towards Exmoor was much more pleasant. The riverside section just after Tarr Steps proved to be quite a tricky one but the woodland there is just gorgeous. We were also treated to a number of great bird sightings that day, Kingfisher, Dipper, Gooseander, Heron and on that same day I saw my first Fogbow just after we’d set off from the b&b in the morning. Exmoor itself was truly breathtaking. The valleys are so different to those on Dartmoor, much steeper and more angled with beautiful snake like rivers flowing through them. One magical experience that will always stick in my mind though was on leaving Simonsbath on the final day. We’d been setting out most mornings at half past six to give ourselves a good start, and as we were starting to cross some of the peat bogs we looked up to see a big herd of Red Deer on the ridge ahead of us. There were three Stags amongst this herd and they were all silhouetted in the distance against the morning sky (the sun hadn’t quite risen) with those beautiful antlers of theirs outlined so perfectly! I’ve never seen Red Deer in the flesh before, so this was a super exciting moment for me even though they were quite far away. What followed that morning was equally as wonderful, because as we continued on our walk across the moors from all directions you could hear the Red Deer Stags bellowing their rutting calls from across the valleys. That amazing sound that can only come from somewhere deep inside the animal will stay with me forever, and to be able to hear it in its natural environment was so special.
At the end of the final day we took some time at the top of Lynton and Lynmouth just to sit together on a bench and reflect on what we’d achieved and the wonderful experiences we’d had together before meeting friends and family who had kindly come out to meet us down by the sea at the finishing point. And yes, I had a little welling up going on. Fantastic memories were made over this whole week. We had some down moments but were there to support each other and give hugs when needed, and there were some hilarious moments like Rich walking into a hedge of ferns in the dark with only his mobile torch for light, and on another occasion confessing that he’d stood with his hands under a paper towel dispenser thinking it was a dryer and waiting for it to come on! There was also the landlady at The London Inn in Morchard Bishop, brilliant woman, such a character! I must thank her, unbeknown to me, for filling my camelback with soda water instead of still. It nearly exploded under the pressure of the gas haha! We’d crawled through the mud on our hands and knees together in the dark under fallen trees by rivers, climbed over many many stiles, gone through many gates, fields of sheep and cows (Richard was my protector from cows), through woods and forests, up and over countless hills, down into many valleys, over two moorlands, trudged through bogs, saw Kingfishers, Dippers, Foxes, Pheasants, Gooseander, Herons, Buzzards, Kestrels and more, eaten fabulous cooked breakfasts, drunk many cups of tea, and saw very few people and cars which was heavenly.
Devon really is an exceptionally beautiful county and I’m so pleased that I’ve seen so much of its unspoilt areas in this manner. Walking through where you live really is the very best way of getting to know it, and I would recommend doing it to anyone. Most of all I’m so pleased that I got to share this with my good friend Richard, he was fabulous company and we suited each other as walking partners perfectly. Thank you for joining me Rich! It was an adventure that I'll always look back fondly on with a very big smile.
A couple of notes to finish on.....
There is one very precious thing that I have learnt from this experience over everything else, and that is……never EVER decide to carry a box of flapjacks with you on a walk like this! The buggers are heavy and you can’t even give them away!
And thank you to my other half Alan for his help to us both over the duration, plus all of the supportive messages along the way even though he thought I was a bit barmy.
Richard’s JustGiving page for OVAID is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Richard-Davy3
OVAID also have their own JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/ovaid
A list of B&B’s we stayed at;
Sportman's Inn at Ivybridge - Basic but good food.
Lowertown Farm at Ponsworthy - Comfortable, needed notice 2 days in advance for packed lunches and quite a late breakfast.
West Ford Farm at Hittisleigh - I really can't recommend this place enough! Stunning, comfy, warm, homely and our host was wonderfully attentive and accommodating. I wouldn't hesitate to stay again or to recommend.
Mitre Inn at Witheridge - Lovely place to stay. Very comfortable with excellent food.
Zeal Farm at Hawkridge - Again at the top of my list. A fabulously comfortable place to stay with lovely helpful hosting.
Exmoor Forest Inn at Simonsbath - Warm, comfortable, good food and a great place to stay.
A couple of notes to finish on.....
There is one very precious thing that I have learnt from this experience over everything else, and that is……never EVER decide to carry a box of flapjacks with you on a walk like this! The buggers are heavy and you can’t even give them away!
And thank you to my other half Alan for his help to us both over the duration, plus all of the supportive messages along the way even though he thought I was a bit barmy.
Richard’s JustGiving page for OVAID is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Richard-Davy3
OVAID also have their own JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/ovaid
A list of B&B’s we stayed at;
Sportman's Inn at Ivybridge - Basic but good food.
Lowertown Farm at Ponsworthy - Comfortable, needed notice 2 days in advance for packed lunches and quite a late breakfast.
West Ford Farm at Hittisleigh - I really can't recommend this place enough! Stunning, comfy, warm, homely and our host was wonderfully attentive and accommodating. I wouldn't hesitate to stay again or to recommend.
Mitre Inn at Witheridge - Lovely place to stay. Very comfortable with excellent food.
Zeal Farm at Hawkridge - Again at the top of my list. A fabulously comfortable place to stay with lovely helpful hosting.
Exmoor Forest Inn at Simonsbath - Warm, comfortable, good food and a great place to stay.
Kase Filters Review
You know when you have a piece of kit in your hands and you're so impressed with it that you think it'll be hard to beat? Well, I felt like that when I tried out the Haida filters if you remember, but after attending the Photography Show back in March I was contacted by Kase Filters UK and offered the opportunity of meeting one of their Brand Ambassadors and testing their filters out in the field......that meeting once again changed everything for me, and for several different reasons.
Kase Filters have blasted onto the landscape photography scene in the UK in recent months with impressive gusto and are armed with a wide range of kit that is not only excellent quality, but also they boast that their filters are more robust than others out there on the market, their unique selling point. Their kit is very well thought out and designed, right down to the smallest of details, and when it's in your hands you feel very confident using it, especially knowing that even if you are a bit of a klutz and you do happen to drop one of your filters the likelihood of it breaking and shattering into a million pieces is rather slimmer than if you were using other makes!
So, onto a few details.......the Kase K8 Holder and Polariser. Now there's a smart little bit of kit both in the way it looks and the way it works, and being machined from aerospace grade aluminium you know it's going to be a tough cookie. The polariser is just as impressive, it's sleek and ultra slim and does it's job perfectly reducing glare and reflection without adding unwanted tones to your images. Setting the polariser in place is as simple as this; you screw on the adapter ring to your lens, you hold the polariser to the ring and before you know it they've hooked up to each other as if by magic! Well, by magnetism actually.......yes it's a magnetic system, genius! There's no faffing, no fiddling, no movement, nothing. It just sits in there perfectly and securely. The next step is to add the holder. This attaches once again very simply and easily with the geared wheel on one side and the little tightening knob to the other. Both the wheel and knob are in red unlike the rest of the holder which is black, and this helps greatly for quick recognition when wanting to adjust either the polariser or holder itself. The holder itself also has a gasket attached helping to stop any form of light leakage once the filters are inserted, and because it has the geared wheel on the side this means that you can adjust your polariser without disturbing your filter positioning, or likewise with using the knob, adjust the filter holder without moving the polariser.
Kase Filters have blasted onto the landscape photography scene in the UK in recent months with impressive gusto and are armed with a wide range of kit that is not only excellent quality, but also they boast that their filters are more robust than others out there on the market, their unique selling point. Their kit is very well thought out and designed, right down to the smallest of details, and when it's in your hands you feel very confident using it, especially knowing that even if you are a bit of a klutz and you do happen to drop one of your filters the likelihood of it breaking and shattering into a million pieces is rather slimmer than if you were using other makes!
So, onto a few details.......the Kase K8 Holder and Polariser. Now there's a smart little bit of kit both in the way it looks and the way it works, and being machined from aerospace grade aluminium you know it's going to be a tough cookie. The polariser is just as impressive, it's sleek and ultra slim and does it's job perfectly reducing glare and reflection without adding unwanted tones to your images. Setting the polariser in place is as simple as this; you screw on the adapter ring to your lens, you hold the polariser to the ring and before you know it they've hooked up to each other as if by magic! Well, by magnetism actually.......yes it's a magnetic system, genius! There's no faffing, no fiddling, no movement, nothing. It just sits in there perfectly and securely. The next step is to add the holder. This attaches once again very simply and easily with the geared wheel on one side and the little tightening knob to the other. Both the wheel and knob are in red unlike the rest of the holder which is black, and this helps greatly for quick recognition when wanting to adjust either the polariser or holder itself. The holder itself also has a gasket attached helping to stop any form of light leakage once the filters are inserted, and because it has the geared wheel on the side this means that you can adjust your polariser without disturbing your filter positioning, or likewise with using the knob, adjust the filter holder without moving the polariser.
The Kase Wolverine Filters. Well weighted, colour neutral, shock resistant, top notch optical glass filters. I'm very impressed with them. They sit beautifully in the holder, which they should do, without any slippage at all, and I have to say that in a windy environment there is absolutely no movement or vibration from the whole system. It sits so securely on my lens at all times. The clarity of the optical glass is spot on and the neutrality of the filters themselves is absolutely superb. It's on a par with Haida which I had previously used, and post processing is a joy as there's absolutely no colour adjustment needed. This isn't only found in their graduated neutral density filters, but also in their full ND's too. Since testing the filters I have now used both the 6 and 10 stoppers and they really are superb with no cast at all! I believe the 16 stop, which I've not tested myself, is also absolutely colour neutral too. There is a scratch resistant coating which resists unwanted things like sea spray and this also makes the filters really very easy to clean without smudges or smears. I mentioned at the start of this post about the shock resistant factor of these filters. Something we're all very aware of is that when we're spending out a small fortune on glass filters for our beloved landscape photography, the very last thing that any of us want to do is break them whilst out in the field! Many of us have been almost reduced to tears by that awful sound as one hits the deck. Now although Kase cannot guarantee that their filters won't break, they can assure you that they are tougher than the average filter and should withstand the odd fall. Now that's got to be worth the money in my book! Not bad hey! Another point to make is that I used to be a resin filter user in the past, and it wasn't until I tried out optical glass filters that I really began to appreciate the differences. Although resin is a fairly tough substance, it scratches really quite easily and sometimes quite badly, I have also dropped one in the past and it chipped awfully. But when using the Kase Wolverine filters this is something that's not quite so much of a concern due to the anti scratch coating and the sheer toughness of them. Clarity is something else that has struck me too. Now although the resin filters aren't bad at all there is certainly an element of softening the image to them. Again I could only see this properly when I compared images taken with both types of filters side by side, and obviously clarity is something that is important to us all with our shots. So overall, not only do you have an excellent quality, excellent clarity, truly neutral filter to play with with Kase, but you also have the added security and peace of mind that you don't get with other makes. Not bad hey!
The Filter Bag. I prefer to call this item a box because it's far more solid than any bag I've used before, bag just doesn't seem the right description for it. Sometimes this is an item that's a little overlooked, but for myself I think it's an important part of the equipment and Kase have got it bang on here. This lovely looking sturdy little PU leather coated box can hold up to five Kase Wolverine filters, both the square and the 100x150mm designs, has a separate slot for your polariser, and on the front a little pocket for your filter holder. There is also space next to the filter slots for a cloth or perhaps the shoulder strap that comes with the box when you're not using it. The box is lightweight yet there's absolutely no concern that your equipment will get damaged whilst inside of it, it really is protected very well indeed. There is one little feature about it that I love, and that's the little D-ring on the back. This enables me to attach a carabiner to it and to hook the whole thing onto my tripod meaning that I don't have to keep diving in and out of my camera bag every time I wish to change filters. As I use a large rucksack a lot of the time for comfort too I've found that I can clip the box on the strap of this also, meaning I can walk around with it on my person which is sometimes more practical than attaching it to my tripod. It's a nice handy little addition.
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In summary, this is a set up that I like very much indeed. I have tried hard to find something that might niggle me, but I can honestly say that I can't! As Kase state on their website, it's 'By Photographers, For Photographers'. The people who have developed these things know exactly what's needed and how it should work, and so therefore have produced something that is quite spot on. One other thing that I haven't yet mentioned but feel that I should, is their excellent customer service. Polite, informative, and they genuinely care whether you are happy about the product or not, and if not do their utmost to make things right. Customer care is such an important aspect of any company and Kase seem to do very well at this.
I would like to point out that this review is based solely on my findings as of when I first used Kase Filters equipment, however since then I have in fact purchased and now use my own set as I was that impressed with it. I was also offered the opportunity to represent the company by becoming an official Kase Filters UK Reseller which I have agreed to because I believe in the equipment and the company itself. Maybe that tells you something about quite how impressed by it all I was!
If you would like any more information about Kase Filters UK please visit their website www.kaseuk.com and if you're in the market for any new gear please visit www.philstarkeyphotography.co.uk/store/c41/KaseFiltersandEquipment. You can also email me at info@philstarkeyphotography.co.uk
Below are a few examples of images I've taken using Kase Filters polariser, K8 filter holder and Wolverine filters.
I would like to point out that this review is based solely on my findings as of when I first used Kase Filters equipment, however since then I have in fact purchased and now use my own set as I was that impressed with it. I was also offered the opportunity to represent the company by becoming an official Kase Filters UK Reseller which I have agreed to because I believe in the equipment and the company itself. Maybe that tells you something about quite how impressed by it all I was!
If you would like any more information about Kase Filters UK please visit their website www.kaseuk.com and if you're in the market for any new gear please visit www.philstarkeyphotography.co.uk/store/c41/KaseFiltersandEquipment. You can also email me at info@philstarkeyphotography.co.uk
Below are a few examples of images I've taken using Kase Filters polariser, K8 filter holder and Wolverine filters.
Haida Filter Review
Just recently I, and also Alan, were invited by Haida Filters of China to test and review some of their products. Having heard only good things about the quality of their equipment I jumped at the chance. Haida began production in 2007 and specialise in optical glass filters for photography, making a range of high quality screw on, square and rectangular format filters and accompanying accessories. They offered to supply me with the following pieces of equipment to use out in the field;
100 Pro Insert Filter Holder
100 Series Pro 77, 49 and 58 Adapter Rings
NanoPro MC CPL (Circular Polariser)
NanoPro Soft ND 0.9 100x150mm Graduated Filter
NanoPro ND 0.6 100x100mm Filter
NanoPro ND 0.9 100x100mm Filter
Within a few days of discussing and arranging, the box with all of the above was delivered in record time to the house and I proceeded to open it excited to find out what the equipment was actually like. First impressions with the packaging were extremely good. Aesthetically it was very pleasing indeed, well put together, neat and tidy and explaining clearly what was in each box. No faff and jargon everywhere, just very clean and uncluttered. As I opened each box to reveal the individual pieces it was clear that a lot of thought had been put into the presentation of the items. Each of the glass ND filters that had been sent to me were beautifully presented in sturdy brushed aluminium cases, every one with a white foam insert inside giving excellent protection. Little cut outs in the sides of the foam inserts meant that getting the filters out was very easy, and due to the type of foam used there was absolutely no slippage either, eliminating any fear of dropping the items.
100 Pro Insert Filter Holder
100 Series Pro 77, 49 and 58 Adapter Rings
NanoPro MC CPL (Circular Polariser)
NanoPro Soft ND 0.9 100x150mm Graduated Filter
NanoPro ND 0.6 100x100mm Filter
NanoPro ND 0.9 100x100mm Filter
Within a few days of discussing and arranging, the box with all of the above was delivered in record time to the house and I proceeded to open it excited to find out what the equipment was actually like. First impressions with the packaging were extremely good. Aesthetically it was very pleasing indeed, well put together, neat and tidy and explaining clearly what was in each box. No faff and jargon everywhere, just very clean and uncluttered. As I opened each box to reveal the individual pieces it was clear that a lot of thought had been put into the presentation of the items. Each of the glass ND filters that had been sent to me were beautifully presented in sturdy brushed aluminium cases, every one with a white foam insert inside giving excellent protection. Little cut outs in the sides of the foam inserts meant that getting the filters out was very easy, and due to the type of foam used there was absolutely no slippage either, eliminating any fear of dropping the items.
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The CPL filter was presented in a smooth plastic box, again with a foam insert, and again with the well thought out cut out for handling. To put together the CPL and holder ready to place on my camera was a complete doddle. There was no messing around, just three simple aluminium alloy pieces which screwed into one another very satisfyingly. The pieces are also machined in such a way that the edges are slightly curved in and out to enable a much firmer grip when putting everything together, once again taking that element of fear about dropping them. Mounting the whole set up onto any one of my lenses using the lightweight but sturdy aluminium adapter rings was equally as simple, no faff at all. And all of these items, including the CPL and filter holder, fit very nicely, and with room, into the lovely thickly padded pouch when not in use.
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I was keen to test out the CPL first on my wide angle 10-22mm lens, as this is my favourite and most used of all of my lenses. I’ve seen similar CPL mechanisms from other companies used before, and many seem to have suffered with a certain amount of vignetting when used with a very wide angle such as this, and I was at first a little unsure of whether this would be any different. I really needn’t have worried at all. Not an ounce of vignetting in sight! I was obviously really quite overjoyed at the prospect of not having to sort out in post processing this little but highly irritating matter. A big thumbs up from me for that. I did find with the CPL though that there was possibly a teeny tiny bit of warmth to it, but, it is barely noticeable to the point where I really didn't feel the need to adjust in post processing. A handy little feature of the CPL filter also is that it has a little gripped knob on one side, this makes life so much easier when you want to move it around and adjust it, especially if you’re wearing gloves at the time.
The filter holder, once again sturdy and well made, was a cinch to fit to the CPL. It has a bayonet fitting and it’s as easy as lining the arrows up, slipping it on, twisting it round and then tightening the thumbscrew on the side of the holder to put it firmly in place where you want it. You still have freedom of movement of the CPL that’s behind it, as this works completely independently from the filter holder itself. The filter holder also has a foam gasket to stop any light leakage and two rails for the filters themselves. Haida also include a spare rail in the kit if you wish to add more. A really lovely set up which feels, and is, very secure but freely manoeuvrable. And yes, again, there is no issue on adjusting even with gloves on.
The filter holder, once again sturdy and well made, was a cinch to fit to the CPL. It has a bayonet fitting and it’s as easy as lining the arrows up, slipping it on, twisting it round and then tightening the thumbscrew on the side of the holder to put it firmly in place where you want it. You still have freedom of movement of the CPL that’s behind it, as this works completely independently from the filter holder itself. The filter holder also has a foam gasket to stop any light leakage and two rails for the filters themselves. Haida also include a spare rail in the kit if you wish to add more. A really lovely set up which feels, and is, very secure but freely manoeuvrable. And yes, again, there is no issue on adjusting even with gloves on.
I might just add that being able to use this equipment easily whilst wearing gloves is actually really quite important to me, as the last thing that I want to be doing in chilly conditions is taking them on and off to make fine adjustments and freezing my fingers off. I want to stay comfortable out in the field. This kit really did enable me to do so, so it’s worth mentioning I think.
So the next test of course was what would it be like adding the ND filters to the set up. Would that dreaded vignetting pop up on my wide angle lens? Not in the slightest. The set up is such that even with using more than one filter, for example an ND and the ND Grad, there was still absolutely no vignetting on any of my shots whatsoever, even at 10mm! Impressed? Well of course I was.
ND Filters - As a lover of the Intentional Camera Movement method, having the choice of the the two ND filters I was given was great. They’re handy in bright conditions to help bring the shutter speed down just enough to enable you to get your creative side going. I was out and about working on a project of mine regarding trees in my local area and had blue skies and bright conditions in the middle of the afternoon, so, it was the perfect time to test out the NanoPro 0.6 ND Filter. It of course did the job regarding shutter speed for me, but what I was most impressed with was the colour rendition. It was as near to perfect to the eye as it could possibly be. Superb!
I then decided to test out the NanoPro 0.9 ND Filter at the beach. This time at sunset, but it was an extremely clear sunset so lots of light about and I needed to slow the shutter speed down a bit to smooth out the water the way I wanted it. I was shooting some of the pebbles on the edge of the tideline as the waves came in close to them, and once again, the filter did it’s job superbly without any kind of colour cast at all. Yes, I was once again very impressed indeed.
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The NanoPro Soft ND 0.9 Filter – Now, I’m usually a Medium and Hard grad user when it comes to my landscapes and seascapes, so getting to try out the soft grad I was actually looking forward to. It was really rather soft indeed, but this allowed me to use it in all number of situations and I really enjoyed using it to be honest. Once again this filter performed beautifully. The shots came out lovely and sharp and again there was no visible colour cast. Below are some images that I've taken recently around where I live in Devon using this lovely filter.
One thing that I must also mention is the nano coating on all of Haida's filters. This wonderful feature reduces reflections, scratches, smears and beads any rain that lands on your filters beautifully. Whilst using the filters there was many an occasion where I had to wipe them off for varying reasons, and every single time without fail there wasn't a streak left behind. It certainly did make things so much easier in slightly more difficult conditions.
In summary, when using these filters I honestly found there to be no colour issue at all with any of them where usually you might expect a little at the very least, they really are as spot on as you can get and are colour neutral. They are solid, sturdy, beautifully made items. You certainly don’t feel like they’re fragile and going to break in your hands. They slide effortlessly into place in the wonderfully made holder, and working independently to the CPL there is never any issue with having to faff around with the equipment, so easy to use even in difficult situations. The quality of glass is really top notch resulting in wonderfully sharp crisp images, there’s absolutely no softening at all when using these filters unlike others I’ve used before. I found there to be almost virtually no reflections or flare when using them in most situations which was absolutely brilliant, and what can I say about the way that they shed any kind of dust, dirt, water and even sea salt! That nano coating is pure genius! With one gentle swipe of the soft cloth the sea salt was gone without any marks at all……..you wouldn’t have even known it was there in the first place. The whole set up is extremely sturdy in very windy conditions. I felt completely confident that none of the equipment was going to move, rattle about or shake resulting in unwanted effects to my images. It stayed perfectly put and without so much as a quiver. Plus, and this is something that is important to many of us, they're not the most expensive on the market either. For the pricing you really are getting a lot for your money.
I think what strikes me most of all about these filters, is the absolute superb quality. It slaps you in the face the very moment that you set eyes on the boxes and before you even glance at the filters themselves. Everything about Haida's equipment is very well thought out, very well designed and beautifully made.
Am I impressed? Absolutely I am! I’m actually really quite taken with them in all honesty, and after having had plenty of time to use them, I would now more than happily recommend Haida’s NanoPro series and equipment to anyone!
If you would like to see more of Haida Filters range of equipment please visit www.haidaphoto.com for more details.
A few weeks ago Alan and I were very kindly asked by Vanguard UK if we'd like to choose a tripod from their new Pro 2+ range and do a review for them. Both of us being users of the Vanguard 263 tripod we jumped at the opportunity as you can imagine! We had a good look through the catalogue at what was on offer and made our choices. Al opted for the Alta Pro 2+ 263CT model and myself the Alta Pro 2+ 264CT and we took them out for a thorough workout on both Dartmoor and the Devon coast. Alan's review can be found on his website and here's my honest take on how I found the Alta Pro 2+ 264CT tripod.
Key Features
Very quick and easy set up
Multi angle hexagonal center column
Four section legs with angles of 20°, 40°, 60° and 80° for positioning
Made of carbon fibre
Twist lock system on the legs
Built on bubble for precise levelling
Work load of up to 7kgs
An extra 3/8 accessory thread
TPU non slip grips on two of the legs
Angled rubber feet
Roll top fastening carry bag with shoulder strap
First Impressions
A very sleek smart looking tripod that's extremely easy on the eye. Lightweight and balanced when in the hand with no risk of slipping due to the grips on two of the legs. Beautifully quick and easy to extend the legs with the twist lock system, and lovely grips on the centre column buttons making it easy and comfortable to move them about. The centre column is smooth to extend and simply stops when it's reached full extension, and flipping over the column is a cinch with the easy to use button on the side and it glides into position wonderfully. First impressions........a very well thought out and good looking tripod.
Key Features
Very quick and easy set up
Multi angle hexagonal center column
Four section legs with angles of 20°, 40°, 60° and 80° for positioning
Made of carbon fibre
Twist lock system on the legs
Built on bubble for precise levelling
Work load of up to 7kgs
An extra 3/8 accessory thread
TPU non slip grips on two of the legs
Angled rubber feet
Roll top fastening carry bag with shoulder strap
First Impressions
A very sleek smart looking tripod that's extremely easy on the eye. Lightweight and balanced when in the hand with no risk of slipping due to the grips on two of the legs. Beautifully quick and easy to extend the legs with the twist lock system, and lovely grips on the centre column buttons making it easy and comfortable to move them about. The centre column is smooth to extend and simply stops when it's reached full extension, and flipping over the column is a cinch with the easy to use button on the side and it glides into position wonderfully. First impressions........a very well thought out and good looking tripod.
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Performance Out In The Field
So the first outing was a very gentle one to Lustleigh Woods and Hisley Bridge on Dartmoor. It was a lovely calm day and the perfect opportunity to try and get some low level water shots in this area. The initial set up of the tripod was really nice and easy taking no time at all, and manoeuvrability of the centre column was smooth and simple enabling me to get my camera into the right position to shoot towards the bridge and across the water. I had to splay the legs in order to balance the tripod correctly and this was absolutely no issue, the tripod sat nice and securely in position. At no time did I feel that my camera was at risk and I happily shot away. I continued to move around the area with the tripod trying it out at lots of different angles for different shots and came away very happy with how it functioned and the ease of use too.
Another outing for the 264CT was close to Merrivale on Dartmoor. We walked out to a rocky outcrop to set up for sunset which turned out to be quite chilly and breezy. Once again the tripod was lovely and easy to set up, however I found that even when the legs were fully extended it really didn't have a wide enough footprint for it to feel secure in the breeze, I wasn’t overly confident about walking away from it and leaving it on its own with my camera attached. Even though my 263AB only has an extra five degrees on the initial footprint before opening wider it makes a lot of difference to stability. There was another little matter of the feet too. Now although the design looks very good, they're non slip and also performed well in previous circumstances, on the granite rocks that I was working on they didn't feel so secure, and on a couple of occasions they did move jolting my equipment. At the time I wasn’t taking a shot so this didn't really matter, but if I had have been it would've resulted in a blurry image which would've been somewhat disappointing. These matters aside though it worked sufficiently well enough for me to be able to come away with some decent images over the course of the evening, I just had to keep my eye on it a little bit.
For another test it was time for some coastal shooting, destination of choice Wembury, Devon. Coastal being very demanding on equipment with the salt in the air, stiff sea winds, sharp rocky terrain and tiny grains of sand ready to cause havoc. I chose my spot on the rocks quite close to the waters edge but far enough away to be safe from splashes and being caught by the waves. Out came the equipment and I began to set up. The rocks at Wembury are really very angular and are quite tricky to position your gear on, so making use of the variable leg angles was a must and the twist and lock leg system was very useful enabling me to get into and change positions really very quickly in between wave sets. I did have a few fumbles with the adjustment buttons for the angle settings on the legs, and once again the rubber shoes on the tripod weren't as grippy as I’d have possibly liked them to be, but overall the tripod scored well on ease of set up, use and manoeuvrability. There was one thing that really bothered me throughout the shoot here at Wembury unfortunately, and that was vibration through the tripod legs. It seems that although this time stability wasn’t such an issue, probably due to the legs being all splayed out here there and everywhere, in the strong wind the tripod vibrated a lot. I actually had to hold on to it and push it downward in order to get rid of some of that vibration so that I could take my shots. This was a shame as I was really hoping that it would be sturdy in tougher situations. Having said that the issue was pretty much overcome and I did come away with what I wanted by the end of the shoot.
So the first outing was a very gentle one to Lustleigh Woods and Hisley Bridge on Dartmoor. It was a lovely calm day and the perfect opportunity to try and get some low level water shots in this area. The initial set up of the tripod was really nice and easy taking no time at all, and manoeuvrability of the centre column was smooth and simple enabling me to get my camera into the right position to shoot towards the bridge and across the water. I had to splay the legs in order to balance the tripod correctly and this was absolutely no issue, the tripod sat nice and securely in position. At no time did I feel that my camera was at risk and I happily shot away. I continued to move around the area with the tripod trying it out at lots of different angles for different shots and came away very happy with how it functioned and the ease of use too.
Another outing for the 264CT was close to Merrivale on Dartmoor. We walked out to a rocky outcrop to set up for sunset which turned out to be quite chilly and breezy. Once again the tripod was lovely and easy to set up, however I found that even when the legs were fully extended it really didn't have a wide enough footprint for it to feel secure in the breeze, I wasn’t overly confident about walking away from it and leaving it on its own with my camera attached. Even though my 263AB only has an extra five degrees on the initial footprint before opening wider it makes a lot of difference to stability. There was another little matter of the feet too. Now although the design looks very good, they're non slip and also performed well in previous circumstances, on the granite rocks that I was working on they didn't feel so secure, and on a couple of occasions they did move jolting my equipment. At the time I wasn’t taking a shot so this didn't really matter, but if I had have been it would've resulted in a blurry image which would've been somewhat disappointing. These matters aside though it worked sufficiently well enough for me to be able to come away with some decent images over the course of the evening, I just had to keep my eye on it a little bit.
For another test it was time for some coastal shooting, destination of choice Wembury, Devon. Coastal being very demanding on equipment with the salt in the air, stiff sea winds, sharp rocky terrain and tiny grains of sand ready to cause havoc. I chose my spot on the rocks quite close to the waters edge but far enough away to be safe from splashes and being caught by the waves. Out came the equipment and I began to set up. The rocks at Wembury are really very angular and are quite tricky to position your gear on, so making use of the variable leg angles was a must and the twist and lock leg system was very useful enabling me to get into and change positions really very quickly in between wave sets. I did have a few fumbles with the adjustment buttons for the angle settings on the legs, and once again the rubber shoes on the tripod weren't as grippy as I’d have possibly liked them to be, but overall the tripod scored well on ease of set up, use and manoeuvrability. There was one thing that really bothered me throughout the shoot here at Wembury unfortunately, and that was vibration through the tripod legs. It seems that although this time stability wasn’t such an issue, probably due to the legs being all splayed out here there and everywhere, in the strong wind the tripod vibrated a lot. I actually had to hold on to it and push it downward in order to get rid of some of that vibration so that I could take my shots. This was a shame as I was really hoping that it would be sturdy in tougher situations. Having said that the issue was pretty much overcome and I did come away with what I wanted by the end of the shoot.
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The Carry Bag
The bag….......the bag is great but please Vanguard could you supply a slightly larger one? I only just managed to fit the tripod with my ball head on in it. I imagine if someone is using a bigger tripod head it might be a bit of a squeeze. Just a minor thing though ;)
Final Thoughts
How would I sum up the Alta Pro 2+ 264CT tripod? Despite having a few issues whilst using this tripod it really is overall a very good piece of equipment. I think as a travel tripod it’s absolutely perfect and I would highly recommend it, but as a heavy weather tripod I would suggest maybe something a little sturdier. There are features on the Pro 2+ 264CT which I absolutely love like the design of the buttons. They’re so easy to use, are very smooth, and have great grip especially with cold hands. The workings of the central column are a joy and it just seems to glide into position, and the twist lock system on the legs…..brilliant, quick, easy, and simple. Overall this tripod really has been enjoyable to use and if you’re looking for a decently priced carbon fibre tripod, want a well built piece of equipment that is easy to carry, very quick and easy to set up, and extremely smooth to use in relatively fair weather then I would certainly recommend the Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 264CT.
The bag….......the bag is great but please Vanguard could you supply a slightly larger one? I only just managed to fit the tripod with my ball head on in it. I imagine if someone is using a bigger tripod head it might be a bit of a squeeze. Just a minor thing though ;)
Final Thoughts
How would I sum up the Alta Pro 2+ 264CT tripod? Despite having a few issues whilst using this tripod it really is overall a very good piece of equipment. I think as a travel tripod it’s absolutely perfect and I would highly recommend it, but as a heavy weather tripod I would suggest maybe something a little sturdier. There are features on the Pro 2+ 264CT which I absolutely love like the design of the buttons. They’re so easy to use, are very smooth, and have great grip especially with cold hands. The workings of the central column are a joy and it just seems to glide into position, and the twist lock system on the legs…..brilliant, quick, easy, and simple. Overall this tripod really has been enjoyable to use and if you’re looking for a decently priced carbon fibre tripod, want a well built piece of equipment that is easy to carry, very quick and easy to set up, and extremely smooth to use in relatively fair weather then I would certainly recommend the Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 264CT.
Phil Starkey Photography
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