Latest architectural shoot: The Hepworth Wakefield
The Hepworth Wakefield at dusk
This is a building that tends to split opinion. A concrete carbunkle to some, a thing of odd abstract beauty to others. Marmite towers if you like. I personally love it, and that’s not just because I was paid to photograph it recently….
Latest VIDEO project
This video is a short 2-camera feature I recently filmed and edited for the University of Manchester. The premise behind it was an ‘informal group chat’ to try and get useful information across in a different way to new incoming postgraduate students. It’s also edited in a style to be shown at a large presentation to new students, and then later feature on the website.
Sound was a bit of a ‘mare for this film. Massive post production work had to be done, and quality has suffered as a result unfortunately. Brilliant venue for visuals, terrible for audio. Note to self – never film near a coffee bar and huge fridge, ever, ever again.
(Filmed, directed, edited and motion graphics by Dan Dunkley)
More videos on my vimeo channel
by Dan Dunkley
New science, health and education portfolio
Amongst other work, I do a lot of what could best be described as science photography, but I also do general health and healthcare photography too.
Some of my older blog posts (see Lighting the Lab series) detail my experiences in taking these photos in my new portfolio, but in summary the main thing I learnt was this: science labs all look exactly the same. If you want to get effective images on this type of assignment you really have to put the effort in, and go to town with the off-camera lighting and coloured gels! I put my Nikon speedlights in some places you wouldn’t want to think about on a normal day.
The raft of new images I produced have earned their own section I thought, so if you’re interested head over to my main website and have a look at my new ‘Science, health and education’ section under ‘photo portfolios’.
Flashy flash site version: go here and look under ‘photo portfolios’
For you ipad users: go here
by Dan Dunkley
Sony NEX-5 + Raybans + Bergerac = good
A long shot of Corbiere lighthouse using my Raybans as a makeshit ND grad filter. I left the frame in as I like it that way.
(very) Mini review
Just back from a break to the lovely island of Jersey. Before I went I had vague desires to pick up a new compact camera whilst I was out there (taking advantage of the tax free channel island goodness). My usual Nikon camera gear is heavy, very heavy, and a pain to lug around on a job, let alone on holiday. Which is why these days I never take my cameras on vacation.
So, enter the Sony NEX-5. I’ve been out of the game for the last few years with all this micro four-thirds and mini ‘mirrorless dslr’ new stuff, but I’m glad I’ve dabbled back in. I’m not going to do any sort of techy review of this camera, there are loads out there – suffice to say though – for a compact camera about the size of a pack of Marlboro Lights, I am mightily impressed. This mini marvel packs an APS-C sized sensor – that’s the same size that sits in my D7000 which is a technical feat when you look at them sitting next to one another. It was this large sensor (and overall build quality/feel) that swung me to this Sony model over the smaller four-thirds sensor of the Panasonic GF2 or GF3 that I’d had in mind to pick up before the trip. The excellent deal I got and £50 cashback offer that was running also helped. I went for the twin lens kit bundle that includes the 18-55 zoom lens and the 16mm wide angle 2.8 prime ‘pancake’ lens which really is tiny, and makes the camera truly pocketable if you have this one attached. With the 18-55 lens on it’s no longer technically pocket-sized, but it looks like a mini dslr and feels really balanced with the well designed grip on the side.
Stills quality, from my brief time so far with the camera, is pretty impressive from what I can tell. I’ll confess to not even getting the 16mm lens on there yet for proper testing, but I suspect the clarity and quality from this will be better than the 18-55 delivers as it’s a prime. The pic above (taken using the 18-55) looks sharp enough, but full size it’s not quite as sharp as I was hoping for, truth be told. I’m probably expecting too much from this little fella, and it’ll certainly never replace my D3 with one of the holy trinity 2.8 lenses strapped on, but then again that’s not what I bought it for.
Video
I was also very keen to see what the NEX-5 could deliver in terms of video. Full 1080 AVCHD goodness in a tiny box basically. Again not up to par with my D7000 and a big expensive Nikon lens on the front, but really quite impressive for what the Sony NEX-5 is.
See my quick wee Jersey composition below which gives you a taster. Every shot in here is handheld – no tripods, glide tracks, support rig or any of my other video gear was available unfortunately. But, the gear you have with you is the best gear you’ve got, so I used my Rayban sunglasses with one eyepiece held precarioulsy in front of the lens in every shot here as a makeshift ND grad filter (like the top pic above), to try and help the situation and add some depth/ balance the bright skies. Very very awkward to physically hold and do, but kind of worked out nice….
by Dan Dunkley
Graduation day, round 2
Another graduation day done and dusted this week, this time for the class of 2011 at the School of Chemical Engineering, University of Manchester.
Once again the Elinchrom Quadra portable lighting rig came into action (see post below for further outings) for the group shots, which this time were indoors in a fantastic hall, with less than fantastic light. It really was a case of blasting the group at full power and I even had to up the iso to 800 for the shot above it was that dark. With the benefit of hindsight, for the shot above it would have have been great to get some lights in behind them too, powering in through the open doors. Ah well, maybe next time.
NOTE: if you were there – buy photos from this event: here (contact me for a password)
More pics after the jump…
Fighting the sun, the shade, and mums and dads…
NOTE – buy photos from this event: here (contact me for a password)
I still keep my hand in with the odd event here and there, and today saw the first of a few graduation day jobs I’ve got lined up. Today’s students were from the School of Materials at the University of Manchester, and a very pleasant bunch they were too.
The shot above is the final big group one that everyone wants, but the one that photographers often dislike or even fear, and with good reason some might say….
What’s in a name?
Oooh, what a big logo. Sorry for the overkill but astute readers may notice a ‘+ video‘ now whacked on the side of my DanD logo. It’s all part of my gradual move towards world cinematography domination (and introducing video to clients alongside my current commercial and corporate stills photography.)
I’ll be reworking and updating my main website soon along with some other changes so watch this space….
by Dan Dunkley
Lighting the Lab part V (the finish)
Quick update on the big commissioned science project I’ve been working on – It’s finished! Around 7 shoots in total and a shed load of ‘sciency’ images later it’s finally done. I’m happy, and more importantly so is the client…
Howl Griff
Did a few snaps recently for a band called Howl Griff. They were up from that London on a mini tour of the North West, including gigs in Liverpool and Manchester, and stayed in my neck of the woods near Todmorden in West Yorkshire. I’ve known half the band for a long time so it wasn’t your normal commercial type shoot, more a morning after the night before, bleary-eyed affair if you know what I mean. Anyway, not that I’m biased but they are a fine bunch of lads, and their music really is worth having a listen to…
“A breezy collection of guitar-pop nuggets… and very fine they are too. Angelic harmonies… think Grand Prix-era Teenage Fanclub given a tantalising Taff twist. A Welsh Brian Wilson” Clash magazine
Not my words, the words of Clash magazine. Have a listen and a browse over at their website
P.S. The world should brace itself for Steve Kennedy Day later on this year. Trust me, it’s going to be massive.
Wall Art: at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester
A few months ago I was contacted by the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. They were looking to commission a whole new set of images/ wall art for the new private patient wing that’s recently been built. Well, they did, and my pics are now in there….
