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| Moderated by: chrisbet, | ||
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Robert
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I am involved in a project to re-create a very large garden. I have taken 'before and after' pictures. It's an ongoing project but we are approaching the end of the first phase. I would like to have a Photo Book printed of some of the images I have made. There seem to be a plethora of offerings on-line but it's a relatively expensive thing and I don't want to repeat with a succession of companies to find the 'best'... My head is spinning trying to compare different companies offerings but I am leaning towards Cewe, https://www.cewe.co.uk/photo-books.html Partly because their software is Mac compatible and apparently very comprehensive, also their range of products and pricing seems clear and I think reasonable. The help and technical side seems very comprehensive. Advising how to avoid technical issues with their advice on what file formats work best and the colour space settings which they advise give best results. Perhaps I should have a 'dry run' with images from another project? Most of the images have been made with my iPhone but they seem clear enough on my iMac large screen so I am confident they will stand up in the sizes I envisage printing them. Given the site is usually soggy, wet and very muddy or bone dry and dusty, although I do take a DSLR along, I rarely deploy it. Don't understand why "YANMAR" isn't included in the available list of Makes? Made with my iPhoneSE2, 4mm lens, f/1.8  Click here to comment on this image. |
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Eric
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In my limited experience the biggest issue is making sure your images are the right colour balance and correctly exposed for digital printing. In particular, some digital printers doesn't have the dynamic range of modern cameras and there is a tendency to lose the blacks or oversaturated them which can make the prints contrasty. Some software interfaces offer their own correction feature where you can switch it on or off. You have the option to review which is best. Of course if you switch it off and the result isn't ideal, you have less of a come back in getting and foc reprint. I used Bonusprint (printed in Holland) for many of my books as there was a series of special deals! We were satisfied with the end product and only on a couple of occasions had to get them reprinted mainly due to imposition or print defects. There was no question on reprinting foc. Not sure if all the people do this but Bonusprint offered an online book for viewing while waiting for the actual book to arrive or to send to friends. Some of mine are still live like this 2016 Cevennes holiday. (Many shots taken by Jan on her bridge camera) https://www.bonusprint.co.uk/view-online-photo-book?widgetId=e815603b-09af-4ccc-a6f7-5bab797517e5 And here's my IR book https://www.bonusprint.co.uk/view-online-photo-book?widgetId=6ea6cc7a-334b-491f-815f-fb28ef5bd7d4 Hope you can view them and they are not linked to my computer |
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novicius
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Eric , Wonderful photo`s, you have a keen eye and a sense for perspective and the colors just tops it , thank you for the opportunity to see some real nice work. |
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chrisbet
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I have some made by https://www.freeprintsphotobooks.co.uk/ - they seem OK to me! |
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Eric
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novicius wrote:Eric , Wonderful photo`s, you have a keen eye and a sense for perspective and the colors just tops it , thank you for the opportunity to see some real nice work.Thanks, you are very kind. We have found making photo books is a good way of encapsulating an event or series of work/activities. we have quite a few! But this thread has reminded me we have been lax of late and need to do some more. Too often our photos are simply hidden away in some digital archive and thus disconnected from the occasion of their takingand likely to be forgotten. Putting them into books and trying to do it in a creative arrangement is a challenge but it forces you to be selective about your images. They may not be the best ones and may even be tight crops, but they simple 'fit'. |
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Robert
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Eric, sorry for my lack of presence but I only have my iPhone to respond. Thanks for your reply, most appreciated. I have started to break my images down into albums on my iPhone because I often illustrate discussion with an image or two. I can't expect the person who I am talking with to wait while I swipe through a ton of pictures to find the one I want. Natural progression from that is to get some printed. Especially this project. I have some 'before and after' pix which are quite striking. Quite apart from project in progress and disaster pix. |
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novicius
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I am tempted of doing it, just to document my family, ye olde albums of yesteryear only show the kids when they were small,..I`ll look into it, thanks for the heads up Robert and Eric. |
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Eric
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Like Robert, I've been involved in my own garden project.but on a 'slightly' smaller scale. I have decided to create a walkway through the middle of a woodland area at the bottom of the garden. Currently in its early stages .  Click here to comment on this image. Hoping to make and fit a few nest boxes this autumn and even an owl box..if I am brave enough to to climb high enough up the pine tree. 😳 Well it would be nice to see this fella/lady breed hereas opposed to just sleeping through the daylight hours.  Click here to comment on this image. Yes Covid 19 or Stayathomeandfixthings 20 has concentrated my attentions more on nature and given me greater experience hndling wild creatures. Only this morning Jan asked me to “move the dragon†and I threw myself into the challenge with new confidencethey are tenacious little buggers though.  Click here to comment on this image. |
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chrisbet
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You sure that's not the Loch Ness monster?? |
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jk
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Catching the demon by its tail! Dangerous occupation.  |
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novicius
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Do you live in a Park ?.... |
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Bob Bowen
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Sorry for coming late to the topic. Have made several over the years using originally Apple service then Mimeo. Hard and soft copy books made with both including dust jackets. First was sons wedding 14 years back followed by celebration books for notable birthdays, life stories etc. Always found pretty easy to do with added text as necessary. A friend regularly makes holiday trip books using Bonus Print of Photobox and he is quite unskilled computerwise so no problems for you Robert. |
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Eric
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novicius wrote:Do you live in a Park ?....No. The camera is lying..it looks a lot bigger than it actually is. The woodland border is about 300m2. But the rest of our garden and the adjoining house's gardens when added together, provide a bigger natural 'oasis' in an otherwise urban landscape, for birds and wildlife. I have recorded 72 different bird species in the garden over the years. Sadly, many species have disappeared from the area (like much of the UK) in recent years. These days I would only expect to see 30-40 over a full year. |
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Eric
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Bob Bowen wrote:Sorry for coming late to the topic. Have made several over the years using originally Apple service then Mimeo. Hard and soft copy books made with both including dust jackets. First was sons wedding 14 years back followed by celebration books for notable birthdays, life stories etc. Always found pretty easy to do with added text as necessary. A friend regularly makes holiday trip books using Bonus Print of Photobox and he is quite unskilled computerwise so no problems for you Robert.Yes the Bonusprint software is very good and intuitive. It offers huge numbers of templates you can select to give varying numbers, sizes and arrangements on a page for you to place your selected photos. These 'frames' can be then stretched and moved around each page to better customise your artistic need. I guess other suppliers will have the same easy of use/customisation. I have been fired up to do some more in the winter ahead. So much better than letting the photos hide in a hard disk. |
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chrisbet
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We don't even get as many as 30! Wood pigeon, collared dove, crow, magpie, dunnock, sparrow, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, wren, robin, blackbird, starling and a welcome return after many years absence of a song thrush. House martins and wagtails have disappeared as have hedgehogs and bats - we live right on the edge of town with open fields on 2 sides, many trees and hedges plus country park within 1/4 mile. We get overflown by gulls and buzzards but that doesn't count as "in the garden"! |
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Eric
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chrisbet wrote:We don't even get as many as 30!The gulls (Lesser black back, Herring, Common and Blackheaded) all land to scavenge. We also have Rooks, Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies and Jays regularly. The house martins disappeared some years back, as did the spotted fly catchers, willow tits .and the redpolls (although we did have a winter return of them last year) Winter visitors like Fieldfares, Redwings and Brambling are more dependant on the 'white stuff'which hasn't been as common these last few years.  Click here to comment on this image. Of course it's often down to luckbeing there when something pops in unannounced. After the Beast from the East raged in a few years back, I noticed strange tracks across the snow. Not hedgehog, cat or larger beast I waited till dark and peered through the curtains..  Click here to comment on this image. It was a Wood**** tracking through the snow listening for (and finding) worms under snow and earth! The wife had a great idea to try a better photo..switch on the security lights. So I forcused up in the almost dark (hence the red colour above) and she flicked on the lights as I fired. The bird actually didn't move so we didn't need the synchronised illumination.  Click here to comment on this image. Still low light and a heavy crop ..but an unexpected visitor seeking sanctuary that we could have missed were it not for the tracks in the snow. sorry guilty of thread drift.  |
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novicius
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Eric, could you tell us what lens(es) were used ? |
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Eric
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novicius wrote:Eric, could you tell us what lens(es) were used ?Much to my own surprise (thought I was using Nikon back then) they were taken on the Fuji XT2 with the 100-400mm lens set at 400mm and with a 1.4xtc converter = 560mm Here's the full exif  Click here to comment on this image.  Click here to comment on this image. |
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Eric
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Just noticed the original red wide angle shot was taken with the 55-200, set at 200mm on the Fuji XT2. I clearly had time to switch to the longer lens and TC before the floodlights were used.  Click here to comment on this image. All these were shot through double glazed windows.so not ideal. |
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jk
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That XT2 worked well. I know you felt it didnt do what you wanted and the batteries were not long lived enough for you. |
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Eric
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jk wrote:That XT2 worked well.In all honesty, Jonathan, I expected too much of it. I was trying to use it for birds in flight and it wasn't up to itneither was I.„ The Fuji's X system is the archetypal 'lightweight mirrorless' offering. I would still like to use it for general walk around photography. In contrast, despite comparable quality and the FX offering, the Sony system is much heavier and bulky. 🤠|
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novicius
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Eric wrote: In all honesty, Jonathan, I expected too much of it. I was trying to use it for birds in flight and it wasn't up to itneither was I.„ The Fuji's X system is the archetypal 'lightweight mirrorless' offering. I would still like to use it for general walk around photography. In contrast, despite comparable quality and the FX offering, the Sony system is much heavier and bulky. 🤠Perhaps time to reach for that Fabulous Nikon gear again, Big,Heavy and Bulky, yet does the job.  |
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jk
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novicius wrote:Eric wrote:I think that you need to ask @Richard_M how he is is going with his new Nikon ZFC in his bird photography. I have stuck with the Fuji system and it is now as complete as my Nikon system. I actually prefer the Fuji controls, in the most part, to the Nikon system. There is rumours of the Fuji XH2 coming in November that will be effectively a 40MP Nikon Z7 camera. I am still vacillating about the merits of the Nikon Z system and the Fuji. |
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Eric
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It's too late now but on Friday I got news of Bonusprint doing a 50% off photo books special for Halloween (what's that all about go figure?) Anyway I won't bore you with the contents but I successfully completed two whole books this weekend, driven on by my Yorkshire thrift gland to beat yesterday's midnight deadline (yes it is 1am as I am typing and NOW wide awake €) All though it's been tiring (haven't worked under that sort of deadline pressure for years) it's a worthwhile pursuit that I must again commend to you all, rather than leaving your images hiding in a dark hard disk. My 'assistant designer' did finish the last 10 page layouts in the 2nd book a) because they were her flowers and b) I fell asleep after dinner and was in danger of not finishing it. I have 4 more holiday/general photography books to complete to get up to date and then I will start some genealogy books.but they will have to wait till Christmas when I am SURE there will be a another 50% off holiday special offer. Finally off to bed. |
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novicius
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What are the books for,..gifts or sale on line ?..could you post a photo of those ? |
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Eric
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novicius wrote:What are the books for,..gifts or sale on line ?..could you post a photo of those ?I did actually do two copies of one of the books, so I could give my sister and husband a copy. We have spent many splendid holidays together (or part time together) as they too caravanned in Europe. But they are merely holiday 'snaps' for the last 2/3 years in the UK. We have a collection for the last 10 years.  Click here to comment on this image. I don't think the pictures of our holiday books are of any interest to other people..I only bring the books off the shelf to annoy relatives that have outstayed their welcome I suppose one of the books might be of interest to others. It's contains photos from a sculpture park in Surrey we have visited a couple of times. All the statues are for sale but with prices running from £3000 upto £120,000 they are a bit too rich for my blood. My wife did fall for a couple of works but I would have to sell my camera equipment ( which she said I should consider 😳) to fund them. I will leave anyone who chooses to consider which two they were https://www.bonusprint.co.uk/view-online-photo-book?widgetId=f0ee36fa-98a0-4655-8724-95dbdd538ea6 I do feel that the process of compiling a photo book DOES make you more selective about your photos. With limited space (cost) and the need for layout harmonisation you do have to pick the best images that fit the layout and capture the sentiment or memory you wish to keep. Quite often even a small cropped image can deliver a message. |
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novicius
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What a Splendid idea,I have been wanting to make photo albums for my children with photo`s from when they were small ,since they have all moved out now and may want to have vivid documentation of days gone by ,...as most of the photo`s of my children are taken on film, I am considering of scanning the negatives and make books like you have done, I appreciate the " heads up ".thank You Eric. |
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Eric
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For those with an interest in Birds I have compiled a photobook of all the birds seen in or over our garden in Norfolk. My birder mate jokingly refers to it as RSPB Gaywood......here are the 78 species we've seen since living here. Enjoy. Garden Birds On another subject close to my heart, here is a smaller tome showing this years IR photos. Enjoy. IR2024 |
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chrisbet
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Some lovely images there Eric. |
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Eric
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chrisbet wrote:Some lovely images there Eric.Thanks. I’ve had a renewed photographic vigour this year after a period of the doldrums. Getting the new MacBook and returning to Photoshop has helped me no end. I think selecting/using the images in a photobook, rather than leaving them on a hard drive, adds a bit more meaning and worth to your efforts. Our collection is now up to 19! |
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jk
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Like the latest IR2024 Eric. |
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Eric
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jk wrote:Like the latest IR2024 Eric.Thx…..I thought there wouldn’t be enough false colour for you.  |
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Graham Whistler
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Eric: I have looked at it again: there are so many super images very well done great high quality record. |
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Eric
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Graham Whistler wrote:Eric: I have looked at it again: there are so many super images very well done great high quality record.Thx Graham. I hope that by showing them here, it might encourage other on-line viewers to do the same with their images. One of the biggest conundrums we face is what to do with our 1000s of images…especially in retirement! If we don’t sell them or exhibit them, they are consigned to sit as a collection of 1s & 0s on a hard drive. Apart from a cathartic selection/ rejection process that effectively thins out the archives, it offers something to do with the best images, resulting in an actual end product that is in equal parts, challenging, stimulating and rewarding to finish. Even the simplest holiday photos can be crafted into a presentation, far more pleasing and durable than the old photo albums, that is a hard copy record of events……an increasingly valuable aid to our memory in old age. I know we all have the photos on our mobile phones and tablets, but they are far more aesthetically pleasing to look at when arranged and presented in printed format. |
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jk
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Eric wrote:Thx…..I thought there wouldn’t be enough false colour for you.No I like the b&w versions but the false colour IR stuff is also good. |
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Eric
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jk wrote:No I like the b&w versions but the false colour IR stuff is also good. Did you spot my jocular nod to you in the caption of the penultimate photo?  Click here to comment on this image. |
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jk
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Eric, I just got an email flyer from Whitewall and it shows they also offer photobooks. https://view.mail.whitewall.com/?qs=5f48d5e323fa8d8b108d5e36d146417a680306c7efe4b84001072d546898804292cc47e09818823270b4a5789dc8d5cf4c71200cdf0f6ab81d752268ccefd8be1de56cf6a7905d34e619c1ccc0975d98 |
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Eric
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jk wrote:Eric, I just got an email flyer from Whitewall and it shows theyalso offer photobooks.Thx …will take a look at them. |
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| A small amount of member data is captured and held in an attempt to reduce spammers and to manage users. This site also uses cookies to ensure ease of use. In order to comply with new DPR regulations you are required to agree/disagree with this process. If you do not agree then please email the Admins using info@nikondsl.uk Thank you. |