Storm chasing

Long exposures have fast become one of my go-to genres in photography, and I'm always on a keen lookout for opportunities to shoot some great imagery. I got a heck of a chance three weeks ago, when a storm warning was issued. Around our neck of the woods the weather barely ever goes pear shaped, so I knew I had to make use of the conditions to my advantage. With a rapid change in weather came some great skies, complete with the loveliest of clouds. Great scenes were fast unfolding and a lot was to be had. A few short messages back and forth with some other photographers quickly set the wheels in motion, and the following day we set out in the early hours to capture all we could.

It's fair to say that we got a lot more than we bargained for. With the exception of five images the entirety of my morning was spent shooting long exposures.The moving clouds and the choppy sea made for great scenes along the coast, and I got to create the images precisely how I wanted to. The initial set up with capturing L.E images is always a bit time consuming but once that's out of the way the rest is a breeze. Below are some of the images from yet another morning adventure with a great bunch of people and my Fujifilm XE2.

I almost didn't take this picture.

Look a little closer and you might think I intended to photograph this image. That I spent an absolute age creating it. Actually, this image almost didn't make it. What I mean, is that I almost didn't bother with this image. Here's the back story.

I had spent a long evening with some fellow photographers capturing images along the streets of Muscat but had to hurry back afterwards due to a prior commitment. The others decided to end the day on a high by watching the sunset along the coast and making the most of the spectacle about to unfold. As disappointed as I was that I couldn't make it, there was no turning back. I had agreed to meet a client at a certain time and I wasn't going to get my priorities mixed up, so I jogged hurriedly to the car. Just as I rounded the bend to the car park I noticed the entirety of the area bathed in a massive shadow. Curiosity got the better of me so I glanced behind me, to be met by a large hill. I looked further above and that's when this image was initially created inside my head.

The setting sun was creating some beautiful light that was cast across an equally gorgeous sky and also partly illuminating the hill.

A dilemma ensued in the seconds that followed. Should I get this shot or just leave it for another day. Surely the hill, the fort and the sun weren't going anywhere. I decided I needed the image, and knew that should it be done correctly it would only take a minute. I grabbed my camera from the bag, swapped lenses and exposed for the image. Burst mode ensured I got a few images just in case something went wrong with the initial shot, and I was done. The final image was a fleeting memory. There wasn't any more time to be spent looking through the images. I was in the car and dashing out, just as the last bit of light in the sky began to fade. I got to my meeting on time and didn't get to check the final image till much later that night.When I finally did see it on my screen I was well pleased. What was almost a missed shot ended up being a visual treat. 

Let me know what you think in the comments. Feedback and constructive criticism are always welcome.

The X-perience so far !

February 2014 ended on an insipid note. I shot absolutely nothing the whole month. All this because I was deeply engrossed in making the switch. A little over a year has since gone by. Fourteen months since I ditched the DSLR for good and moved on with mirrorless technology. As a result of this I haven’t looked back. The hype was real, and experiencing it was special. 

Buying into the Fujifilm X-series was a decision that didn't come easy. Given that I was moving into uncharted territory in terms of new technology I needed to analyze and re analyze every morsel of information available till all the boxes were ticked. Now that that’s behind me I can tell you that I’m one, of many happy Fujifilm customers.

The XE2 has been everything and more that I wanted. I'm a sucker for detail and one of the first things that caught my eye was how well it was built. The rangefinder look made it even harder to resist. Retro was back, and back with a bang! The appeal didn't stop there. It grew on. However, it was going to take a lot more than its looks to convince me. I was keen on character, and that, I did find. Lots of it. In fact, heaps and heaps of it. One more final brief encounter was all it took to firmly establish the Fujifilm XE2 as my tool of choice for the future.

With all that’s been said about this camera, there’s also been one more massive game changer. It has completely transformed the way in which I approach photography and entirely enhanced the experience. Prior to owning the Fuji I would only carry my DSLR if I knew I was planning to shoot some images. This approach has since ceased to exist, and I couldn't be happier. The Fuji now goes where I go. I barely feel its presence, but if the opportunity arises I know I have it on me. This to me is photographic freedom. Its form resembles nothing of the DSLR. This camera is small, super light and handles exceptionally well. Try parking a Bentley Mulsanne on a narrow street in central London and you’ll begin to understand what I’m talking about. Sure it’s possible, but soon enough you’d wish you drove a MINI. This camera right here is the MINI I lusted after to get the job done. It's vital in my opinion that a photographer is not restricted while at work, and judging purely by how well form and function coexist I think Fujifilm have hit the nail right on its head.

Excelling in what they do happens to be second nature at Fujifilm HQ. I say this because they’ve also spent time perfecting areas where other camera manufacturers have been seriously lacking. Their attention towards customer service has been above par and as a Fujifilm customer I cannot find the right words to express how thrilled I am. I shot Nikon for the good part of a decade and to be very honest all I got from them was a camera, a lens, a cd and a user manual. The affair between customer and manufacturer began and ended right there, inside the store. In just over year of shooting with a Fujifilm, I've already had four firmware updates via their website. They could have focused only on their newer line of cameras, yet they did the exact opposite. They paid attention and still do to most of their older models, which I think is nothing short of brilliant. Having this type of support only strengthens ties with the brand and firmly establishes a relationship, which is bound to blossom over the years. Another value adding fact is their willingness to listen. Quite often this has not been the case with the others in the industry. Fujifilm have yet again outdone the competition as well as themselves and this is something I and countless others truly appreciate.   

An ongoing debate is that mirrorless tech is yet to challenge the DSLR cameras with regard to certain types of photography. Yes, it’s true that sports photography and certain wildlife imagery may require the precision that the DSLR can produce, yet that’s not what I’m into. I bought into this system because it meets my requirements and I intend to stay with it because it has tremendously changed the way I shoot for the better.  If you’re on the fence, have already made the switch or shot mirrorless for a while, hit me up in the comments. I’d love to hear your opinions and feedback.

The Corniche Instawalk

The Muttrah corniche is a crowd puller. Day or night, you are bound to find a fair number of people walking, running, cycling or just purely soaking in the sights.It’s no doubt, one of the most scenic areas within the city. It’s also a great location to shoot some street photography. With a fine blend between old and new there’re plenty of images to be captured.

Choosing the corniche to host our next Instawalk was therefore quite the no-brainer. The choice also proved more fruitful on the day due to some overnight rain which brought in some spectacular clouds. Right off the bat we shot along the coast. With the streets getting a lot busier we then shifted our focus to the fish market and the pier where the fishermen disembark after a hard morning’s work. In all, it was a morning well spent with some great people, doing one of the things we enjoy the most.   

The images below are some of what I shot on the day with my Fujifilm XE2, and later processed in Lightroom. Enjoy them, let me know your thoughts and keep shooting.  

18 seconds of calm

Calm is all I seek, and if you can deliver you will be my eternal retreat.

This is what the sea means to me. I'm constantly drawn to it. You may find me at the water’s edge, taking in the views or walking along on the warm wet sand. I long for a steady breeze and the foamy surf. While I could be here forever I intend to capture the mood, the sudden stillness and how it all could be seen as something beautiful. Back behind the camera I go.  

I was inspired to create this image from a previous image I had posted on my Instagram (naushadsaleem) a few weeks ago, which was that of a moody landscape. My intention was to better it, yet also work on my long exposure photography, so with both in mind I gave it a shot. Let me know what you think.

The Return

Most of you now know that I've spent the last ten months shooting a completely different camera. While the experience has been pretty amazing for a number of reasons there have been times when I just couldn't find the time to do more. A while ago my wife and I welcomed our first child into our lives and and quite naturally our priorities were challenged. As a result, this blog has taken a bit of a beating.

However, with the hardest bits behind us (or so we hope) I’m now able to spend some time getting back to what it was I did.  Even though I haven’t blogged in a while I did shoot a whole bunch of images, mostly of our little one and that’s kept me going. One of the things I really missed though was shooting images outdoors.

Just before my blogging took a hiatus I had intended on exploring long exposure photography. Clearly, owning just the camera wasn't going to be enough. A few extra bits and bobs were required in order to hone this new skill. I must tell you though that sourcing those little extras turned out to be quite the rigmarole, but as always with the results I got it was well worth it.

Geared with everything I needed, shooting an image was next. Normally I tend to scout for image worthy locations whenever possible, so when the weather played nice a few weeks ago I knew exactly where to go. 
The initial idea was to shoot the bay with the sky being gradually illuminated by the rising sun, and to render a certain stillness to the moving water. A few test shots however proved barely satisfactory, so I decided to use the sun in its entirety, such that the sky and the foreground would receive its morning glow. While still waiting for the first rays to hit the tip of the mountain I upped the ante and reduced the shutter speed from its original setting to add some movement to the water in the foreground. In the space of a few minutes the entire creative process of the image had changed. The final plan was to have slight movement in the water that would lead to a stagnant pool, with the backdrop of the mountains over which the sun would rise. 
Including many scenarios increased the chances of error but I persisted, knowing that if I timed it right I could walk away with a half decent shot. Just as the first rays appeared I exposed for a full fifteen seconds and was finally rewarded. 

Have yourselves a great year ahead, and as always do drop me a line when you can. I love hearing from you all.