John's Top 10 Photos - updated

Trying to select my top 10 photos from the thousands that have been taken since we left New Zealand is very difficult. Those that have been posted here are memorable in some respects; as good photos in terms of my improving photographic techniques or the story behind each one. I will also add a meaningful commentary and some photographic notes.

Trying to rank them is almost impossible but I've put my top three shots as the first three here.

Number 1: No doubt in my mind which is my best effort behind the lens so far.

All Saint's at Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, UK. 14 July 2009.
(Canon 450D, EF-S 10-22mm lens at 17 mm, 1/80s, f/6.3, ISO 200.)

Good photos are all about composition, light, exposure, focus and depth of field. Of course a good camera and lens are required but also the operator needs to turn the dials, select menus and press buttons when everything is right. This shot seems to have all these elements coming together without the need for any Photoshop work being needed.

Firstly the subject. The village of Burnham Thorpe was where Horatio Nelson was born and went to school. His father was vicar at this church and there are memorials to Nelson inside the Church as well. The Nelson (the local pub about 120m from here) is where Nelson had his last meal in his home town the night before heading to London to receive his orders from The Admiralty prior to the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

The light was magic! Heavy foreboding skies with thunder rolling around gave good contrast with the clouds and an even level of lighting over the whole scene. Five minutes after the shot was taken we were running for the car for the short drive to The Nelson.

One of the advantages with digital cameras is that you can see the immediate results and try again. The first photo of the church was taken over the fence - no foreground. Putting the fence and gate in the shot made it much more interesting. I later found out about the unofficial rule of thirds which I stumbled across here. Good composition if I say so myself.

The ultra wide angle 10-22mm really shows its very good reputation here. The great focus and depth of field means that an enlargement shows the fine detail of the fence as well as that in the stonework of the church. I now realise that the kit lens, 18-55mm lightweight plastic lens,  that came with the camera is rather soft and this shot would not have been so good had it been used.

My number one shot at the moment. One which is printed and framed.



Sunset over Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi, 5.20pm, 16 December 2009.

(Canon 450D, EF-S 55-250mm lens at 109mm, 1/640s, f/11, ISO200. I used an AEB of -1/f stop for this rather colourful shot.)

I like this photo although possibly over saturated in the orange / yellow but I don't really want to use Photoshop to artificially enhance my photos. This photo could be a lot better if I used an ND graduated filter but they are in the future! Another one printed and framed.

Abu Dhabi Corniche, 8 November 2009.

(Canon 450D, EF-S 18-55 mm lens, 0.6s, f/3.5, ISO400.)

I used the night portrait setting for the flash to freeze the water in the fountain but correctly expose the background. A good tripod is needed for shots like these.

Another printed and framed as a Christmas present for our good friends Richard and Julie who live in the apartment building on the right.

Stalkers Castle, Loch Linnhe,Scotland, 13 August 2009.

(Canon 450D, 55-250mm lens at 116mm, 1/250s, f/7.1, ISO-100)

A popular tourist shot but one of my favourites as I loved the setting. The tide being high adds to this too. A little soft but a lovely record of a day trip from Oban which included a visit the Ben Nevis Distillery to see how "the water of life" is made. (I wasn't overly impressed with the local product and still think a wee dram or two of Glenfiddich takes some beating.)

Masai ladies on way home from digging potatoes. 23 January 2009. Tungamalenga, Tanzania.

(Canon IXUS 80 IS, 1/100s, f/4, ISO-200)

This photo was taken by Gail from the back of our Landrover and has pride of place as an A3 framed photo in our apartment. I like the composition and rich colours which look much better than it does here in the print. You can get some great shots from point and shoot automatic digital cameras. Good one Gail.

Hannah, Helen, Gail and John, Gerome, Cappadocia, Turkey
26 July 2007.

Canon PowerShot, S1 IS, 1/100s, f/5.

A nice family group photo taken during a great trip around Turkey which included a balloon ride at dawn. Memorable also because it was very hot, ca 45C.

St Marys Church Scarborough, UK. 8 July 2009.

(Canon 450D, EF-S 10-22mm lens at 10 mm, 1/5s, f/5 {+1/3}, ISO-800)

Another shot showing the ultra wide 10-22 mm at its best. Hand held with some support, and no image stabilsation system has resulted in a pleasing, nicely foccused shot. At f/5 this lens shows good depth of field and is quite crisp throughout. Applying the formula of auto-bracketing at + and -1/3 f stop allows the interior to come alive at the expense of over exposure around the windows. To the eye it was quite dark inside but I am impressed with the results here.

Another of my more favourite photos.

Hallstatt Austria, 8 July 2008

(Canon PowerShot S1 IS  1/100s, f/4.5)

The picture post card village in the Saltzgamergat was a little gem Gail discovered in the DK Guide to Europe. This photo was taken with my first digital camera zoomed as far out as it could go. Although technically nothing to write home about, it made me start thinking about how to capture such scenes and do them justice - my 10-22 mm wide angle may well return here!!!!

19 June 2011. And now the Chinese are building a replica of Hallstatt!!!!!



First encounter. Siwandu airstrip, Tanzania 17 January 2009

Canon PowerShot S1 IS 1/400s, f/4.5

I like the symmetry of this shot. The colours did originally look a bit washed out- but a little adjustment here and there make this photo a little more pleasing. This was our first close-up encounter with the wildlife in Africa and the first day of 2 wonderful weeks on safari and on Zanzibar. We loved it so much that we will return for another Tanzanian safari; with better camera gear too! This will take place in March 2011 as we head north this time to the Serengeti, hopefully with a better telephoto lens too. (Feb 2011. I will be taking a EF 70-300mm L series with me!)

Lake Manzie camp, Tanzania, 17 January 2009.

(Canon PowerShot S1 IS 1/400s, f/4.5)

What is remarkable about this shot? After lunch on arrival from Siwandu we retired to our tent for a veranda safari. Gail had taken her book out under the awning whilst I'd decided to catch some sleep before heading out onto the water to see the hippos, crocodiles and birds etc. A short while later there was a muffled cry from out the front! A small herd of elephants moved into the area and proceeded to slowly munch their way, for an hour, through the grass and these 2 ended up totally oblivious to us not 8m away. After the elephants moved on a troop of around 40 baboons entertained us gathering nuts off the doum palms.

The elephants and giraffes have been framed and formed the first part of a growing collection off bits and pieces from around the world.

Well that's my Top 10. The final selection did differ from what I had originally chosen. Very difficult to decide what to leave out! 

Post some comments and I'd like to see what you think is your choice of best shot.

I have now added a second series, third series, fourth and now fifth series.