Canon Master | AIPP & NZIPP Grand Master | EIZO Ambassador
Photographer, Artist & Teacher
“We learn about the photographic process from the inside out. It starts from the heart when we photograph the things that we love and things that we love doing. As time goes by we can’t help but want to make better photographs, so we learn from others as well as learn from the mistakes that we inevitably make. Over time our photography improves but we want to keep getting better, so we search for new ideas and learn from the ‘doing of it’ and taking part in what is going on in the world”.
'I am a photographer/artist/teacher living in the South Island of New Zealand. I learnt my craft through thirty five years of continual practice. Working within the photographic industry as a sports photographer, wedding photographer, commercial photographer and photojournalist. For the past twenty years I have been in a position to share the accumulated knowledge I have through running landscape and travel photography workshops in New Zealand and Internationally with my photographic husband Mike Langford.
What I love most about photography is the making of impressionistic, abstract photographs that express the feeling of a place. I make my images primarily through in-camera techniques. These include multiple exposures and intentional camera movements and stitched images made on my Tilt Shift lens.
Having some sort of studio space is a very important room for me to have. It is a place where I can be as messy or as tidy as I like. I can play music although I most often prefer silence. It gets messy when I am in the middle of a project and ideas are flying around my head as well as sometimes in the space. I can control the light, the air and the heat. It’s a versatile space where I can pin prints to the walls and hang up anything that interests me. In recent times you will find me working with Encaustic Wax. This process allows me to apply an extra layer of texture, mark making and individuality to a print. It allows for multi media applications and takes me back to Art School and feeling more like an artist.'
Camera Gear:
- CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D MK IV: This is my all-time favourite camera. I find the camera menu easy to read, logical and the camera is fast easy to operate. My favourite aspect is the easy to use in-camera multiple exposure modes and options, the high res files that it outputs and the file output from high ISO’s in low light conditions. | Canon EOSR: This is my lighter version on the 5DMKIV. It is a lot of fun being able to see my multiple exposures come together while looking through the viewfinder. I also enjoy the movable LCD screen.
- LENS: Canon EF 24-105 f4 IS II USM Lens: My favourite lens is the go-to Canon EF 24-105 f4 IS II USM because of it’s flexibility when making multiple exposures and slow shutter speed pans.
- LENS: Canon EF 100-400 f4.5/5.6 L IS II USM: My next most used lens would be Canon EF 100-400 f4.5/5.6 L ISII USM for finding the detail/abstract shot in the wider landscape. I don’t shoot many classic landscape view images.
- LENS: Canon TS-E 24mm f3.5 Tilt-shift Lens + Canon RF 1.4 MARK III Extender: I love making square images from stitching two frames together using my Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 Tilt-shift lens. I can add the Canon RF 1.4 MARK III Extender to this to make the focal length around 33mm. This lens gives me a unique point of view that takes my mind away from the obvious. (NB. Manual focus and manual exposure are required with this lens).
- FILTERS: ND Grads P121 & P12072, 72 and77mm ND 8 & 4, 72 and 77mm Circular Polariser: I use screw-on neutral density filters because they are easy to carry and fast to attach to my lens.
- CAMERA BAG: F Stop Lotus Camera Bag: This bag in a comfortable to wear and great for travelling with. Waterproof and easy to reconfigure for different uses.
Post Production:
- MONITOR: EIZO ColorEdge CG277: It shows me exactly what I have captured on my files and brings extra joy to the editing and printing experience. | Apple, Thunderbolt Display -27inch: Over ten years old and used for internet and office use. It’s great to have space to spread the windows around.
- PRINTER: Canon image PROGRAF PRO-1000: An important aspect of photography is the printed image. I use a Canon printer and find that it’s a dream machine. Easy to use and the print quality is amazing
- SOFTWARE: Adobe Creative Package: I have the Adobe Creative package, mainly using Photoshop 20 but have access to the full version of Adobe Acrobat when needed. | Capture One 20: I started to use this program before Lightroom was invented. I love its flexibility and its file processing capabilities. The image will always only be as good as the idea that went behind making it.
- COMPUTER: MacBook Pro 15", 2.9 GHz Dual-Core Processor, 16GB 2400 MHz DDR4: This computer has plenty of grunt and power for my image making uses. It travels well and I really enjoy the MAC interface.
- CLOUD STORAGE: Dropbox for file sharing
- PHYSICAL HARD DRIVE: 1-2 TB WD & ADATA Durable HD710P branded: I have a collection of around twelve 1-2 TB travel backup drives WD and ADATA Durable HD710P brand. These live in a fireproof safe and are numbered on the outside with an information tab attached to them showing a list of what folders are inside. I make sure not to drop them :) When travelling I always back up to two drives at the same time. Once back in my studio space, I backup the final selects to WD desk powered hard drives. They are not flashy but I have never had a problem with them. | Drobo backup system that I fire up every now and then to source my old files.
- PHYSICAL DATA PROTECTION: Fireproof safe to protect hard drives