About

I'm a IT support specialist with an avid interest in digital photography who has the luck and good fortune to have a home near some beautiful countryside in Renfrewshire and a family holiday home in the scenic wild's of Assynt

The scenic photo's are mostly taken in two area's of Scotland one in and around Stoer. This is a small village in the NW of Scotland near Lochinver. It is an amazing part of the country and offers some fantastic scenery and weather (rain, snow, wind, more rain and midges when its sunny).

Of the other photo's the rest are taking in central west Scotland mostly Renfrewshire and the coastal region's.

I have only in the last two years became interested in this great hobby and I use a Nikon D70 camera. It's a great way to get out there and see things...

Below is something very rare... A thing called a picture of me.

I hope you enjoy the site

Tommy Graham

And thanks goes to my Brother John, for his work on the site, also to all my friends, the guys at the Tigers, and the rest you know who you all are...

My Kit....

Camera

My camera, which I use most and had over 1 year now is the Nikon D70. Well its solid, feels good to use and I would recommend it to anyone. The lens that comes with the kit, the 18-70 is 1st class and a great start lens.

But in the end, the camera is only as good as the lanes you put on the front of it. Something so many people forget....

Lenses

When I first got my camera I really wanted to use it with my landscapes and sports pictures. So the 1st lens I bought was the 70-300 Nikon. I soon learned the hard way its limitations. So my next purchase was the Sigma 70-200 and this kept me very happy and still is for my sports pictures and landscapes.

While I enjoyed still using my little Canon G5 for macro work I decided I wanted to get a macro lens for the Nikon, lucky enough a friend from my camera club had the little Nikkor Micro and showed me it, I went for it and have had a great time with this one. I still would like an auto one at some point with a little more zoom but it can wait for a while yet.

I then invested in the little 50mm 1.2, as I say later I've still to give this lens a proper work out but it has its place just now and its only time before I use it proper.

After all this I seen some friends start to play with some wider lenses, the Canon 10-20 and I started to look to the nikon 12-24. I was very close to buying this lens but held back when I seen a review of the Tokina 12-24. After reading the review and doing my homework I jumped to get one and have no regretted it.

The future.. Well right now a high powered lens or an extender for my Sigma would be something I'm looking at. Also a 105 or higher macro are on the to get list but I'm in no rush. I suppose I'm also looking at the new Nikon D200 but will wait as this camera is bound to drop a lot in price when the new Canon 30D hits the shops and they both go head to head price wise. The future looks interesting as long as I can keep working and saving my cash ;-)

AF-S Nikkon 18-70 1:3.5-45G ED

I originally got my camera with the AF-S Nikon 18-70 1:3.5-45G ED as part of a kit, this was ideal as it let me out and straight on with taking pictures. It seems the norm that cameras in the lower end market come with lenses that are lower standard. I think Nikon had a very good game plan when it made this lenses and threw it in the kit package..

This lenses is 1st class, its solid built. Takes nice photos and covers a good focal range. Focus is fast, quiet and solid.

All in all, great value for money especially if you got it with the Kit. Its wide enough to do landscapes and a little bit of zoom to get in closer when you need too. When its wide it doesn't distort much at all. I don't have a bad word to say about this lenses...

AF-S Nikon 24-120 1:3.5-6G

I got this lens after reading a lot of reviews on it. The lens is an ED lens with Vibration reduction.

Now days this lens tends to be on my camera more than any other for normal day to day photos. Once you learn how to use it, then it opens up a lot of pictures you would normally needed a tripod for. One thing to start with, its 5.6 upwards, the 3.5 is only at the 24 end and as soon as you move even slightly in, it drops the 3.5 aperture right away and your at 5. Though the VR makes up for this.

This to remember, vibration reduction is good for landscapes and things that "don't move" but this does not mean you can take pictures and freeze the moment...I've read too many reviews where people got disappointed because they just didn't grasp the VR aspect. If your taking a photo of kids running around, this lenses wont stop the blur on the kids...

One other thing, at the 24 it distorts a tad, easy enough to fix... I'm looking forward to seeing if the new 18-200 VR lenses lives up to expectations. Would put that on the wish list if it does :-) Also with the 18-200 VR, you may find this lens a lot cheaper nowdays.....

Tokina 12-24 ATX Pro SD F4 (IF) DX

I must start by saying, I love this lens. Its wide, its well built. It gives great images and nice a sharp. Flare can be a problem so keep the hood on and shade it if the suns causing problems.

Now for the rest of the good things. This lens is about half the price in the shop of the nikon one. Apparently it beats it in most of the stats, its built to last and it well just feels right. Pick this up and you know its a lens, pick up the nikon 12-24 and its made of good plastic and double the price !

If your looking for a wide one, then keep this in mind. I don't see me replacing this one for a while.

Nikon 70-200

First things first, in the scheme of things this is a cheap and cheerful lens.

If you look about you can get this one for a low price. In the right light or with a tripod you will find it fine. Its a bit soft at the 300 end but I found it fine to use. Its plastic but its solid enough. Its got a spot in my bag when I need it, until i get an extender for my sigma, then it will end on the shelf.

Good buy though if your on a tight budget.

Nikkor 50mm 1.2

Manual lens. with more glass in it than you can believe.

For its size its got a great feel to it, its solid. I've not used this one too much yet but I intend too.

Been playing with it and looking forward to taking to a concert or a place where I cant use flash or want to get creative. Its a beut...

Sigma 70-200 F2.8

Got to admit this was a compromise lens for me at 1st. I wanted to get the Nikon 70-200 F2.8 but just couldn't find one at the price and condition I wanted. This one came up on sale and I thought what the hell, if I don't like I can always sell it at the same price.

So far though its not disappointed me at all. Its fast to focus, solid build and sharp. For my USA Football its been ideal and I've used it countless other times. YES its heavy but its worth being in the bag and I do love it..

Advice, don't rule it out if you want a fast lens. in this range...at a good price.

Nikkor Micro 55mm 1:2.8

My little macro lense. Solid build. Does the very job well.

Manual so its sometimes a pain to set up the shot and to use flash but generally I don't use flash for macro work anyway. Get this thing to F4 and it seems to work well. Cant complain, picked it up for a good price from a friend and not looked back. I would like to invest in a 105mm macro lens when the bank account will allow me but till then this will keep me happy.

Other Stuff....

Nikon SB600 Flash Unit

I went for this one as its powerful enough to handle what I need it for and it was a lot cheaper than the SB800. Also, ironic as it seems the battery is supposed last longer in it than its big brother.

I tend to use it with the Sto Flo shown above to soften the light from it. Generally speaking it does the work for me and that makes me happy. Well built and works fine.

Other bits and bobs...

My Tripod is a Gitzo G2220, its an unusual tripod. It has some features like a Benbo and isn't as big. It does have a few niggles though. The rubber grommets at the top can be broken if you spread and lower the legs too much. Apart from that its solid and good investment.

My bags a crumpler. Brians Hot Tub. :-) it looks like a normal rucksack and is light and very comfortable on. Also its unusual that you open it on the inside, which at 1st seems strange but this has its advantages, you lie the outside on the ground so you don't get the part you put on your back dirty and damp ! You can set it up as you like inside and move the velcro all over the place. I know it's expensive but in my opinion worth it....

I will add the rest of my toys and some pictures when I get more time.

Tommy