I have kept putting this off! I am dithering between saying Hello! And a mini autobiography... Perhaps something in between.
Hello!
In case you are wondering, Seapy is based on my two surname initials, C. P. It was my fathers pen name.
I love exploring, places and things. I love making 'stuff', I have built and renovated things throughout my life, houses, factories, metalwork, cars, toys, computers etc.
My early 'family' camera was a Kodak Box Brownie, I still have some prints from my childhood made with that camera. My first 'proper' camera was a Practika, bought from the local chemists. I used that on school trips and took the occasional community photograph for the local paper. When I started work I got an Exa 1a then a 2b and later an Exacta Varex. I also used my fathers Zeiss Contaflex, which had a semi interchangeable lens, you swapped the front elements to change the focal length. One day it dropped from it's hook on the back of the office door onto the floor, still in it's ever-ready case, the impact on the solid concrete floor resulted in the entire lens being ripped from the body. Some delicate surgery later I re-attached the lens and it worked well again. My father used the camera to photograph plants to illustrate his botanic writings for magazines like Popular Gardening and others. With my fathers keen interest in things botanic I had a background of flowers and plants which has stayed with me throughout my life, it isn't my prime interest but it's always there, in the background.
My first car:
A 1936 Austin Seven, which I created a wooden sports body for when I was about 14.
Now I am retired from construction and engineering I am pursuing my interest of creating things. I have built two cars and several other projects since retirement.
Marlin 1.
From this:
To this:
Little Land Rover.
The kids having fun with the little Land Rover I created for them:
Marlin 2.
From this:
To this:
I made my own English Wheel, to form body panels on my car projects...
English wheel.
My youngest, creating something on my English Wheel:
I am also working on publishing my late fathers last book on commemorative plant names, much of my photography is geared towards that end.
After my Nikon FE and Bronica S2a, my first Digital camera was a D1 in 2005 with a Micro 60mm f2.8 I had kept since selling the FE which was my only lens for nearly a year! Then I got an 80-200 f2.8, trombone type. Thanks to visiting Bjørns website I acquired a converted D1-IR from a friend in America, which I have enjoyed greatly. I had a D1x, or two, which I experimented with, then when I retired in 2007 I treated myself to two D200's, one of which I converted to full Spectrum, then I added a D200 IR.
When choosing lenses I always went for full frame 35mm lenses rather than DX, because I have always considered the DX format a temporary expedient until technical difficulties were overcome to allow the creation of full frame FX sensors, so all my lenses are full frame. I am planning to get a D3 later this year, for me that will be the perfect camera, I wouldn't thank you for a camera with more than 15,000 Mp. I see no advantage in ultra high resolution, only disadvantages, if I really need higher resolution for a particular image I can always stitch. I have a D3100 which I use for recording projects and for snaps, saving the good cameras from the rigours of my toolbox!
I recently had a major clear out of my D1 and some other unused stuff and did a deal, coming away with a D300s, which continues to astound me with it's high ISO/low light capability compared with my D200. Bring on the D3!!!
I have found the UV aspect of photography challenging, both from a cost point of view and technically, given you are working beyond the visible spectrum you are working, literally in the dark! I have made my own UV lamp with a very expensive Nichia LED chip, I created my own control electronics and power pack. I am currently investigating a possible lens for my UV photography, so that interest is very active at present and has been re-kindled by discovering Bjorn's 'Ultra Violet Photography' website.
I am overjoyed at having found all you people who I have missed since I lost interest in the previous incarnation of NikonGear.com Dalas eMail just before Christmas was the best Christmas present I could have wished for, I had not a clue that you had re-formed here. I am so delighted that so many of the names I knew are still alive and clicking here?
Which brings me to my computers, my first being a Sinclair ZX80 then an 81 followed by a Spectrum, Amstrad then growing tired and frustrated by the DOS interface and having seen and used the new Mac128 with it's vastly improved used interface, in 1988/9 I bought my first Mac, I have been using a wide variety of Mac's ever since, they occupy a large part of my life. I am privileged to have been invited to test various beta software and that occupies some of my time, NDA's apply! I also help run a small Nikon DSLR group forum (The original D1 board which evolved to become the D1 Forum, now nikondslr.net) with another member here.
So I lead a busy life, which has been spiced up by the revival of NikonGear.
I enjoy photographing motorsport, landscapes, waterscapes, local events, we have a very good local rugby team and my surroundings, I have tried my hand at wildlife but I don't have the fieldcraft skills to do it well. I greatly enjoy exploring botanic gardens and going on sorties around the country, seeking out new gardens and places of capture particular plants and flowers. I have made some very good friends through these forums which I greatly value.
I am so pleased Bjorn and the others get their heads together and made this move to revive the spirit we have here. The ethos is perfect, the variety and depth of personalities and skills here is wonderful.
