Please vote for my picture at Mirabaud Sailing Photo Competition.

I have entered a photo in the Mirabaud Sailing photography Competition, please go and vote here Mirabaud Sailing Photography Competition

Infringer who originally offered £150 forced to pay £20,000 in settlement.

A very interesting article on someone who stole a picture and decided to “tough it out” against a photographer who wanted paying for the use of his pictures. Here
Here is the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 for reference. The maximum prison sentence for breaking this law is 2 years. I note than Spain has increased theirs to 5 years.
Here

I am now selling some of my archive black and white prints in limited editions. Many of these photographs were taken during the late 1970s and early 1980s. I use to carry my Olympus OM-1/2/4s cameras around with me all the time, usually with a 28mm lens and roll of Kodak Tri-X film in them. I shot pics of my friends, often much to their goodhearted annoyance or just went out and looked for pictures on the street. My website is at Patrick Eden Photography

Limited Edition Prints for Sale - Images by Patrick Eden

Chase Jarvis, Lego Camera - DigitalRev TV

Another great video from Kai at Digitalrev. Chase Jarvis, Lego Camera - DigitalRev TV. This video is very interesting and an excellent tutorial on how to interact with the people you are photographing. This is the most important part of people photography, you have to get your subjects relaxed and on your side. Chase shows a masterclass here.
www.patrickeden.co.uk

Round the Island Yacht Race 2013.

Very early start for this years race, the first start was at 5.00 am. So I met Jon Mendez, whose RIB I was going to be working from, at the pontoons of the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club at 4.30 am, dawn was just breaking and there was still a slight chill in the air. Life jackets and kill cord checked and fitted we motored out of the marina, past the Royal Yacht Squadron and into The Solent. Equipment wise I am using two Canon bodies (1D II and 5D) 16-35mm, 24-105mm, 70-200 and a 300 f2.8, also 1.4 tele converter. As it was still pretty dark for the first start so I was shooting at 1000 ISO. The yacht classes start at 10 minute intervals so subject matter was coming thick and fast. My first priorities were the named sponsor boats. So Ben Ainsley's J P Morgan catamaran, which was on for a possible new record was first up. Followed by round the world yachtsman Alex Thompson's Hugo Boss. Charity boats such as military charity Toe in the Water and Ellen MacArthur Trust were also on the list. Once I had a good selection of "named" boats and some atmospheres we came ashore to drop off two SD card fulls of pics. We then proceeded down the Solent to Yarmouth and the narrows at Hurst Castle. The yachts were moving very quickly with tide and wind behind pushing them onwards. I cannot remember such a fast race, the bulk of the fleet getting down to The Needles in a big group. The lighthouse and sea stacks make a dramatic backdrop, with large numbers of people watching from the old battery on the cliffs above. The chalk stacks created some interesting sailing conditions, creating a wind shadow for boats who decided to come in close past the light house. Sudden gusts coming through the gaps between the rocks catching some people out with spinnaker snapping blasts as the breeze began to freshen. Photographically it was superb, excellent bright sunshine and great cloud formations combined for a dramatic scene. We stayed until the last boats turned to follow the south coast of the Island heading towards St Catherines Point. I must say that even though it was nowhere near as rough as last years race it was extremely wet for us on the boat. Sudden blasts of spray breaking over the boat. I found it almost impossible to keep the cameras dry. So I put the cameras into my watertight box and we headed back to Cowes to deliver the second set of cards to the media centre. We then had a coffee and a bite to eat, before heading out to the eastern Solent towards the forts off Ryde. Here the first of the main fleet were coming round the the bouy off Bembridge ledge and heading up towards us. The leading boats had arrived with both the monohull record and the overall records being broken. Mike Slade's maxi yacht Ocean Leopard taking the monohull record, clipping 9min 45sec off the old time of 3hr 52min 05sec. Ben Ainsley's catamaran knocked 16 mins and 14 secs off Francis Joyon’s 2001 record of 3hr and 08min with a time of 2hr 52min 15sec. From the forts we made our way back to get shots of boats in front of Osborne House, which is now due to English Heritages excellent work, clearly visible through the trees.Then down to the finish line for some final pictures. A long day for everyone in almost perfect conditions.

Round the Island Race 2013 - Images by Patrick Eden

Photographer Zack Arias Takes a Trip to Mumbai with the X-Pro1 4

I have been a professional photographer for 28 years and the place that has most impressed me in my travels round the world is India, a country of amazing contrasts and contradictions. A visceral in your face experience of the human experience.All elements of the many different cultures are manifested on the street, Indian people are fantastically vivid, the colourful clothes, their expressiveness, their passion is wonderful to behold. And of course the sheer physical beauty of the country from the mountains in the north to the sub tropical lushness in the south. Here are my photos and the gear I took in 1993. Pictures
Which leads me to this fascinating video of Zak Arias in India using the Fuji x-Pro 1, which I must say I am hugely impressed with. I think a must addition to my equipment.

www.patrickeden.co.uk

Zack Arias, Cheap Camera Challenge (Pro Tog, Cheap Cam)

I do love these Digitalrev videos amusing and informative. They are worth buying from as well, I have bought kit and they are very good. >.

www.patrickeden.co.uk

Life of the Monks at Quarr Abbey, Isle of Wight. 1982

I visited Quarr Abbey on the Isle of Wight several times during 1982 to photograph the life, worship and work of the Monks. Sadly there only about five left there now. These pictures have never been published. For the technically minded I used Olympus OM-2s and 28mm f2 50mm f1.4 and 135mm f2.8 lenses with Kodak Tri-X Film often pushed to 800.

Quarr Abbey, Isle of Wight, 1982. from Patrick Eden Photography on Vimeo.

www.patrickeden.co.uk

Very interesting Vimeo video interview with Photojournalist David Burnett

Very interesting Vimeo video interview with Photojournalist David Burnett, looking at his equipment and his pictures.

In The Bag with photographer David Burnett from PhotoShelter.com on Vimeo.

www.patrickeden.co.uk

Storytelling Made Easy: How to Capture Photos that Tell a Compelling Story. Talk by Marcus Donner.

Storytelling Made Easy: How to Capture Photos that Tell a Compelling Story. Talk by Marcus Donner.

www.patrickeden.co.uk

Very interesting video by Australian Wildlife Photographer Joshua Holko on Canon's new 200-400 f4 lens at Luminous Landscape. It looks superb and I for one will be buying one to compliment my 300 F2.8 L IS.


Article is Here  
Screen Grab.

www.patrickeden.co.uk

Level 42. Pictures of the recording of Guaranteed Album

photographs of level 42 recording the album guaranteed from Patrick Eden Photography on Vimeo.

In 1990 Mark King asked me to come up to his Summerhouse Recording Studio in East Cowes, Isle of Wight to take photographs of Level 42 recording their "Guaranteed" Album. I was using Olympus OM4 Cameras with 28mm f2, 35mm f2, 85mm f2 and 180mm f2.8 Lense, with T32 Flash. The film stock was Fujichrome 100 and ektachrome 400 pushed to 800 Asa. A great experience and I had the pleasure of watching guitarist Alan Holdsworth in action. Time to put the cameras down and watch a master.

www.patrickeden.co.uk

Book Project.

Just got a sample of the book I am planning and rather impressed with the print quality. It is excellent. Just need to refine some prints and to tweak the design/wording. Pictures Here

Fascinating insight. Photography affects online sales.

Fascinating insight. Photography affects online sales.
"However the most important insight from the survey was that 84% of people had decided not to buy something online, because the product image was not good enough.
Photography Sales

www.patrickeden.co.uk

Book Project.

Have been tinkering with a book idea. I have wanted to publish something for years but have never really had a reason/handle to hang it on. So I have just used Blurb Books to run a test to see what the quality is like. I think the final product depends on this and of course layout and print quality. So I am expecting my first sample through the post soon. It arrived today March 1, sample pics below.


 

Latest Work.

Just a quick post of some of my latest work. Weather here in UK has not been brilliant so I have been doing admin and SEO work on my many websites and blogs. Also working on my new book.


Latest Work - Images by Patrick Eden

Round the Island Race 2012.

Round the Island Yacht Race.

Well here we go, my first ever blog post.
Round the Island Race.
The event was on the weekend just gone (30th June) and was my 27th as a photographer. The forecast was for showers, sunny spells, with strengthening winds during the day, peaking at a force 7 on the Beaufort Scale, (31 to 35 mph) in the afternoon. As it turned out the wind was not quite as strong as this, but still enough of a blow to make things lumpy off The Needles and St Catherines Point.
I am always  asked two questions about marine photography, “what equipment I use?” and “how do you keep it dry?” I always shoot with two cameras. I use Canons, EOS 1D Mark IIs and 5Ds. The lenses attached most of the time are a 300mm 2.8L IS with a 1.4 converter and a 70-200mm 2.8 zoom. These give me excellent broad coverage for most eventualities. If I want to go in really close I will change the 300 for a 16-35 mm 2.8L lens. I use a plastic water proof fishing creel to keep the cameras, lenses, flash cards, spare batteries, etc in.
As for keeping the gear dry, it is almost impossible. Sea spray is always in the air, so this is where the marine photographers most important piece of equipment comes in. The Shammy, a good old fashioned shammy leather to wipe the worst of the spray off the gear and to clean the front of the lenses. I also have a collection of ordinary cloths and a small towel. All drying materials are kept in various pockets in my water proof bib trousers. I always work with a large offshore sailing jacket, which can be quickly closed around the equipment. This helps to keep the really wet stuff from drenching both me and the gear. I always wear a lifejacket which is inside the jacket.
I normally work from a 21ft RIB, basically a big rubber boat with a large engine on the back. And most important of all a driver who is also an experienced yachtsman who under stands what is going on and can safely put me in the right spot for pictures.
Here is one of the pictures from the race of beautiful classic boat “Eleonora” off The Needles. More pictures at my website www.patrickeden.co.uk

Eleonora, The Needles, Isle of Wight. 

The Good Old Days.

Ah the good old days……………….

Posted on July 15, 2012 by patrickedenphotography

Photojournalist or pack mule? A look back at the good old days of wire service photography by Chris Wilkins.
Here.

Royal visit by HRH Queen Elizabeth II to Cowes Isle of Wight

Royal visit by HRH Queen Elizabeth II to Cowes Isle of Wight. 25 July 2012.

Posted on July 27, 2012 by patrickedenphotography

After 27 years as a professional photographer I finally got to photograph The Queen. She is the only member of the Royal Family that I haven’t photographed, I was asked last time she visited the Isle of Wight, but unfortunately I was already booked in to do other work. I have done dozens of visits by royalty to the island. Often in a private capacity, which tend to be far more relaxed events.
This time was not under ideal conditions,I did not have a Palace Rotapress Pass which would allow me to be part of the official press party. Which did in some senses allow me more freedom. The security and press officers knew who I was so no problems.
I was asked by the Island Sailing Club to get a picture of The Queen being introduced to the Commodore and his wife, who would then escort the royal party through the marque past members to the pontoon where they would depart for Cowes Yacht Haven. So I had basically about 120 seconds to get the pictures. Not ideal situation but as a professional this is where you earn your money and it is what you are employed to do. And as the adage goes in photography “you are only as good as your last job”.
The main reason for the Queens visit was to open the new RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Station. Which is adjacent to the ISC and shares slipway space. So I was able initially get pictures of the Queen seated and her talking with staff and the plaque she unveiled. It was the same old bun fight with other photographers, TV and Radio and of course some members of the public all jostling for a good view. The Royal Protection blokes were as usual cool as cucumbers and one even asked a colleague to move as he was blocking my view.
The lighting presented some interesting problems blazing mid day sunshine, but fortunately most I what I got was in bright open shade which gave a very pleasing, and for people of a certain age, flattering light.
Equipment wise I had two Canon bodies with 24-105 f4, 70-200 f2.8 and 300 f2.8L IS with a 1.4 converter. The later was met with disapproval in some quarters, I presume because of the close ups it afforded, which was negated by the quality of the light.
This segment of the visit was over in less than half an hour, so then time for a drink and a chat with old friends with the RNLI who I hadn’t seen for quite some time.
There are more pictures at my website www.patrickeden.co.uk

Chevy Chase Mountain Bike Endurance Race. Isle of Wight.

Chevy Chase Endurance Mountain Biking Event.

Posted on 24 February 2013 by patrickedenphotography

Chevy Chase Mountain Bike Challenge

Isle of Wight, Shalfleet, Cheverton Farm, Event, Endurance, Mountain Bike, Chevy Chase, Biker, Bikers

I was recently asked by the organisers of the Chevy Chase mountain bike endurance event to take promotional photographs. I had been to the course for previous events so was fairly familiar with the layout, how ever quite a lot had been added.
The start was a le mans style through the event tent, this was past the electronic starting gates which tripped the timers for all the racers. This was followed by a dash across the first field to a large bank which is landscaped with some great short ascents, mogals and a terrific steep descent, all through a narrow weaving track fringed by thickets and hedges. A long open ascent across fields with specially built humps and jumps. At the bottom of the valley was a ramp leading to undulating single track through mixed wood and pine forest. The exit was up a long slow drag to a steep zig zagging ascent up the side of the valley, followed by a quick down hill to the finish.
I pretty much brought the kitchen sink with me. EOS 1D Mark II and EOS 5D bodies. 16-35 f2.8, 24-105 f4, 70-200 f2.8 and 300 f2.8 lenses. 2X 1.4X extenders. EX580, EX540 and EZ540 flash guns. ST-E2 infra red trigger. Pocket wizards. Mini tripod.
I tried to keep it reasonably simple, 16-35 on the 5D with EX580 flash and 70-200 on the 1D.
The plan was to just work my way anti clockwise round the course as it was a four hour endurance event.
The pictures I took on the first sections were with the flash on the camera, simple fill in shots and slow shutter pan shots. It was over cast early on, but the sun peaked through the clouds on the odd occasion giving the light a bit of a lift, especially in the sepulchral gloom of the woods.
The low angle pictures were taken while lying flat on my face peering up at various man made humps and hillocks, shot against an interesting and ever changing sky. Some people took them at full tilt trying to get some air, while others were much more circumspect, erring on the downright cautious.
The plan for the forested single track was to use the ST-E2 infrared trigger to fire two flashes place on the ground either side of the narrow path. The best spots were corners where the banks had been built up giving a cracking raised berm to really lean into the turns. I tried to keep the lighting simple no stofens, just open flash. Because it was pretty dark the infra red ST-E2 worked perfectly. This isn’t often the case in bright sunlight, where unless the flashes are in direct line of sight and close to the camera they can be very erratic.
I was going to trigger the flashes with pocket wizards but the ST-E2 worked so superbly I didn’t need to. Shutter speed was set to a manual speed varying between 200th right down to ¼ sec, while the flash was set to ETTL.
After the wooded areas I set up on the chalky drag up to the steep grass area. This time I was using the 70-200 with again the flashes set up next to the track. Unfortunately one of the flashes did not fire because of the long grass, but the one that was supplied enough fill in light to make the dull grey light look a bit more interesting.
All in all I was very happy with the results, which you can see here