I thought I should post an update here before the hill climb season get's fully going. I'm hoping to make more posts this year but as I'm not much of a writer, and there are others that will do a much better job of reporting events, it will probably be soradic posts on random subjects.
Thank you to everyone that has watched 1 Day at Shelsley Walsh and let me know what they think of it. It has just past 5000 views which is much more than I was expecting. I'm hoping to do another side project this year but am still to decided exactly what form it will take. It will probably be focused on Loton Park as it is their anniversary this year and I'll be there more than anywhere else.
On the subject of events, this year I'm hoping to be at all days at Loton, all Midland Championship events and all mainland British Championship events. I would really like to do the 'overseas' events as well but I don't think it is going to happen. Feel free to try to convince me to go ;)
Since the end of last year I've been looking at new cameras and lenses and have now upgraded neally all my kit for this year. Hopefully this will mean I'll be able to increase the quality of my images and they will be suiltable for printing at even larger sizes. From the first two weekends at Loton this year I'm happy with the results and they should get better as I learn how to get the most out of it. I'll save you from all the geeky details but the credit card is smoking as camera kit seems the only thing that goes up even faster than petrol prices. So I really hope you like the results this year... so...
Thank you to everyone that brought CDs of their 2009 photos at the end of last year or single images during the year. The site has now been updated to make it easier to order single images and I hope I will take some more you like this year. I focus on selling the image files rather than prints as I feel things are moving to more digital use of images and once you have the file you can use it however you wish. I feel this is fairer than selling prints and having a markup on each one and should be cheaper for you, especially when you want larger prints.
Unfortunately some people have taken images off this site without permission, including some that have gone as far as removing my logo before posting the images back online. Despite taking 100s of photos each weekend I find it quite easy to recognise my images and they will be found. Previously I've just made a mental note of who has done this and taken it no further as I like to keep things relaxed but as more use of images goes from print to digital I'm going to have to be more strict. I've avoided putting a more secure watermark on the images as I want to keep them enjoyable to browse. Hopefully the majority of people that have taken images in the past have just made a mistake thinking the images were free and the new, clearer purchase options will make them realise they are not. I hate having to say this as it makes me sound grumpy (I'm not, even though I often look fed up!) but it is very costly, in time as well as money, to produce these images and I won't be able to keep doing it with no return.
So I'm now desperately trying to think of a way to end this on a lighter note... hmm... I'm stumped. I'll just wish you all all the best for 2010 and I hope to meet more of you as I'm going to try to spend a little more time around the paddocks taking some off track photos this year.