Europe Road Trip

[Dewi]

I posted these links on the Drivers forum but thought some of you guys who don't visit there may like to see them as well. I think I mentioned a while back that we were doing another Euro tour? Anyway, my website is now updated with the full story / pics and I've now started sorting out the videos. So far I've got two finished, one of the drive to the Stelvio Pass via the Munt la Schera Tunnel and another (longer one) of the drive over the Stelvio.

Website link: http://www.dewisant-photography.net/y_ogb_Europe_%202013_page1.htm

We had a few video cam problems on the trip, the Contour car cam is having exposure probs so the pics are a bit dark in places - and the Canon SLR I use for a handheld video cam has lost it's autofocus ability so most of the focusing is done manually and therefore not pin sharp I'm afraid - sorry about that! I'll need to be spending some cash on a bit new camera gear before our next trip :)

Munt la Schera Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5-peZ4fy50

Stelvio Pass video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTFbQpf9knQ


I'll post more vids up as I finish editing them

D :)

[Mazda Mender]

I wondered where you had been
M-m

[Dewi]

Got back from Europe, Wayne and set more or less straight off for Scotland. Finally got home and settled in to find Wigan's closed because of bloody roadworks!! We can only get off our estate one way now so the road off is permanently chokka block. Everywhere we try to get to there's roads closed, just been for a run to Roby Mill but couldn't get there either - College Rd in Upholland is closed now -whats' going on?


D :)

[Mazda Mender]

Not a problem here in the posh end with hanging baskets buddy

[Dewi]

OI!! We've got hanging baskets, mate ...... We nicked 'em from up your end but we got 'em!

D

[azzeer]

awesome photos are you on cannon fodder forum ? , why cant we have nice roads like that over here :(

[Dewi]

awesome photos are you on cannon fodder forum ? , why cant we have nice roads like that over here :(

No, Azzeer I don't do photo forums :) I was a pro snapper for a number of years so these days I take photos just for me, if other people like them all well and good - I don't need any forum nerd telling me how I should have done it! I do use Canon gear though, only cheapo stuff these days because I abuse my photo kit something awful - the 550D body I bought a few years ago is still going strong - I'm surprised it's still useable, it's been soaked several times and dropped - once down a small cliff in Iceland and it survived. It's all I use these days with 2 lenses, a 17-40 Canon L (beltin' lens) and a 70-300 USM. I use it as a video cam as well. There's also an old Canon compact for when I can't be bothered carrying the SLR. Here's a link to my other website if you're interested in snapping: http://www.dewisant-photography.net/

Roads in the UK? They're here you just gotta go find them - try the Western Highlands of Scotland sometimes, or the north Yorks Moors some of the best roads you'll find anywhere up there. But, yes Europe has some really good roads, there are better (more dangerous) ones on the vids I'm working at the moment so I'll post the links up when I've finished editing them.

D

[paggers]

Nice to see another ex-tog in the ranks. I'm the same these days, just take pictures that I want to take and that I'm happy with. I always find the new togs out to make a name for themselves are the ones who want to 'critique' everyone else's pictures in order to try and make themselves look better. There is one of those over on the OC at the moment - makes me smile, I remember when I was like that.

I got rid of most of my pro gear as well but held onto a 7D and my main lens is the 24-105 F4/L IS which I love. Need to get myself a new 'wide' lens tho.

What type of photography did you do? Mine was commercial - product shots mostly and occasionally some modelling.

[Dewi]

Hi, Niall. I started off doing weddings and made a good living at it, but after about 8 years of interferring brides' mothers and dealing with generally obnoxious people and some equally obnoxious vicars and priests, I'd had enough and stopped taking bookings for weddings. By then I'd established a bit of a commercial client base and I shot a few freelance motorsport pictures (some of the early published stuff is on my website - link in post above above) for mags, didn't make a great deal of money out of that but it was great for getting press passes for the circuits. I also had a lot of stuff lodged wth various film libraries so got a little cheque in the post periodically. Even did dog portraits for a while :) - don't knock it, those people pay good money for decent doggy shots! I even taught a photography night shool class for a couple of terms while the regular guy was on sick leave,

I gave it all up eventually because I found I wasn't enjoying my photography anymore, took up making & restoring guitars for a living and started to do a lot travelling with a little Sony Compact 3.2 mega pixies thing. Re-discovered my interest for photography after a few years and took up taking landscapes and travel pics just for me. All the pro gear, Mamiya medium format, a few Canon T90 bodies plus god knows how may lenses I'd acquired over the years, all my darkroom equipment was sold off to pay the tax mans bill after I closed the business. Like I mentioned above, it's just the 550D now and the bare minmum of lenses. I'm due a new body soon so not sure whether to go for the 650D as it is now or have a complete change and get a Sony Nex, I like the idea of the small physical size and larger ASPC sensor. I love Canon stuff though - used it for years, best cameras out there bar none in my opinion (That'll upset a few nikon owners :) )

I need a 24 / 105 to fill the gap in between my two - where do you live and when are you out?? ..... Ooops! Sorry, that's the Scouser in me coming out :) How come you packed it all in?


D


P.S Just had look at your website - nice, very impressive. Is the GS1200 yours? I have a 2009 R21200R - in black of course! :)

[paggers]

The GS was mine, had to jack biking in last summer due to problems with my back. That's when I went back to MX-5s (we first bought one about 15 years ago).

I jacked photography in for very similar reasons to you, it just stopped being fun so I decided it was time to get out. Fortunately I have a second skillset as a project manager so ensuring the bills got paid wasn't a problem. Agree on Canon cameras, aside from my iPhone which gets a lot of use these days I wouldn't own anything else - I hate to think how long I have been using them, going all the way back to 'proper' film shooting B&W and doing my own developing and printing. Good for you on sticking with weddings for so long - I did them for 3 years and that was more than enough!

Thanks for the kind comments on my website. Been looking through yours also, some very nice stuff on there. Not quite sure which part of 'Pielandshire' you are in (although you did make the Scouse reference) but hopefully if you are close we can meet up sometime and swap notes - should have plenty to talk about between the cars, bikes and cameras!

[Dewi]

Sounds like a plan, Niall. I'm only in Wigan, not lived in Scouseland for about 35 years. I'm kind of toying with the idea of selling the 1200R, not entirely serious about that though! I had a few heath issues myself last year so it doesn't get used as much as it used to now - but I'm hoping that'll change. I just can't bring myself to part with it though.

That was a nice looking GS you had, I always fancied one but I'm only a shortarse so couldn't even reach the floor on one. The 1200 R is the factory lowered version, best bike I've ever owned and there have been many, I've got the Akropovic end can on it so it sounds gorgeous - baffles out of course. It's just a shame that they have so many reliability issues, the fuel gauge has just packed up on mine - very common problem for which BMW will relieve you of around 300 notes to repair. I'll leave it 'til winter and fix it myself I think, it can't be that difficult. A new fuel strip costs about £120 just buy from the dealer though.

D

[azzeer]

awesome photos are you on cannon fodder forum ? , why cant we have nice roads like that over here :(

No, Azzeer I don't do photo forums :) I was a pro snapper for a number of years so these days I take photos just for me, if other people like them all well and good - I don't need any forum nerd telling me how I should have done it! I do use Canon gear though, only cheapo stuff these days because I abuse my photo kit something awful - the 550D body I bought a few years ago is still going strong - I'm surprised it's still useable, it's been soaked several times and dropped - once down a small cliff in Iceland and it survived. It's all I use these days with 2 lenses, a 17-40 Canon L (beltin' lens) and a 70-300 USM. I use it as a video cam as well. There's also an old Canon compact for when I can't be bothered carrying the SLR. Here's a link to my other website if you're interested in snapping: http://www.dewisant-photography.net/

Roads in the UK? They're here you just gotta go find them - try the Western Highlands of Scotland sometimes, or the north Yorks Moors some of the best roads you'll find anywhere up there. But, yes Europe has some really good roads, there are better (more dangerous) ones on the vids I'm working at the moment so I'll post the links up when I've finished editing them.

D

I have only just got into the tog life ,my photos are on here https://www.facebook.com/BertiesPhotographyAmh

and thank you for the heads up i will go in search :)

[Dewi]

Some decent photos you got there Azzeer, I'm off to Scotland for a few days tomorrow - back Thurs, I'll give you a few little pointers when I get back if you like, just to make you shots "pop" a bit more?

D

[Dewi]

Couple more videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkbFRE9Jre4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T823x_IVrHA

[flea]