My latest exhibition is fast approaching and with a week to go the final preparations are well underway! I do hope you can make it on Saturday 29th with 62 new images on show, light refreshments and prints, cards, cushions and bags on sale! Perfect for a spot of early Christmas shopping!
I thought in this post I would also take some time answering one of the questions I frequently get asked, "how do you take the photos in the first place?" Well hopefully I can provide some answers. Probably the best way to start is by explaining some of the difficulties I have to overcome. Due to my disability (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) I have very limited movement, for instance I am unable to lift my arms. However, my fingers and hands (provided they’re warm!) are still very dexterous, so if placed in the right position can still achieve tasks like using my phone. Thankfully we live in the age of technology, otherwise I could achieve very little. Finding a camera set up that works for me has meant experimenting with many different combinations and I’m always fine-tuning things to make them work better. As my needs change I am constantly thinking outside the box.
Generally the equipment I use for a shoot, which is hardly anything special, is my laptop, tripod (Manfrotto), obviously a camera (Canon EOS 750D) and lenses, also not forgetting a trustee assistant! Having asked whoever’s helping me to place the camera on the tripod, with whatever lens I happen to be using, the camera is then tethered through a cable to my laptop. The laptop I have placed on my tray where I then take control using a program called EOS Utility, which is software that actually comes with the camera and I would highly recommend it to anyone else with similar issues. The program basically allows me to use almost all the camera functions through the computer; including f-stop, white balance, shutter speed and most importantly focusing. Using the live view mode I can then see through the view finder. Instead of a normal mouse or touch pad I use a roll-a-ball mouse (Logitech), which allows me to control the computer with as little movement as possible. The only problem I have struggled to get around is the zoom function, which I still need assistance to use, as it’s not an available option through EOS Utility, yet (Canon I hope you’re listening)! Once the camera is positioned where I want it then away I go! Basically it’s all about allowing me to be as independent as possible!
I hope that has satisfied you're curiosity and I hope to see you very soon at the exhibition! The details are all on the flyer below:
