Hola 2014!

And a very happy new year to you! Did you miss me? 2014 is going to be a sensational year. Not just because it's a new year, or because I am starting a new job, or because I will be sharing some photos taken on the other side of the world, or even because as we speak I am awaiting two new lenses to arrive (you beauty!). No, it's going to be a fantastic year for those reasons and the fact that we arrived safe and sound from South America, learnt many lessons and have been welcomed back home. There are many more reasons as well that I can't think of right now but am sure will be coming! (like Peter Capaldi as Dr. Who...)

So, I bet you are all wondering, how was South America? Well, it was fantastic. Do I have some great photos from the continent on the other side of the world? Well, no, not really. Yes I bravely carried my Canon EOS 50D through rain, wind, mud, on 15 flights, numerous taxis and buses, cities, hiking trails, waterfalls and into jaguar territory. But the outcome of taking photos while hiking/on tours/when stressed out is not always great. Truth be told, I was too rushed to set up great photos, I only used my tripod once and the ND graduated filters I bought specifically barely got touched. Clearly I have a lot to learn about travelling and photographing.

I did however spend a number of days going through my...2000 odd photos and have a few that I would like to share with you.

Let's start with the process I used which if I were to do it again, would change. I went with my EOS 50D and 18-200mm lens, along with my Samsung Galaxy for shapshots (food, peace signs, pulling faces next to statues, that kind of thing). The phone was always in my pocket (except when it was raining) and the 50D in my backpack because most of the time it was simply too heavy to have around my neck (we weighed it - nearly 2kg!) and I didn't want to attract any thieves by having a big shiny object on display. There in lay the problem. When faced with a Kodak moment, I would whip out the Samsung. Invariably I would decide the photo would be better quality coming from the SLR but I simply did not have time (or be bothered by the effort) to take it out of the backpack. Especially when we were in groups being hurried along to the next site. So, the photos from the SLR were rather lacking in diversity. Also, it was very difficult to set settings on the run - so many of the photos didn't turn out on the first go and had to be edited. Hence, the days going through the photos.

Below is an example of what typically happened: First on our agenda was Cusco, ancient capital of the Inca Empire, demolished by the Spanish invasion of 1532 and rebuilt. Remarkable city - certain parts still contain in tact Inca ruins with Spanish buildings right over the top - temples replaced by Churches. Below is an image of the town square:

Samsung Galaxy Smartphone, f/2.6 1/501 sec, ISO 40, 4mm. Plaza de Armas

Same view on a Canon EOS 50D, f/7.1, 1/400 sec, ISO 125, 18mm, unedited. A little dark and soft.

As above only edited in Adobe RAW. Warmed the white balance, sharpened, adjusted vibrance, clarity and saturation.

Three versions of one photo, none of them brilliant. And this is just one example - some of the shots have more than three versions.

Never the less, we went to South America to enjoy South America. We were tourists, not photographers and I did manage to shoot a number of exciting subjects and have a heck of a lot of fun even  if it did mean lugging a 2kg camera across the globe! The most fulfilling enjoyment is when you use the best camera most of us will ever have - our own eyes - to witness and experience a new culture, a new side to the world, without fussing over the perfect picture.

Come with me and I will share a few of the highlights I did manage to capture and discuss the strengths and flaws. I will also be engaging in new adventures (as mentioned above, I have some new toys arriving this month. Very exciting) and new experiments. Hola 2014!