Welcome to my channel. I am a professional Landscape Photographer printing my stuff Very large in limited edition fine art prints, specialising in the creation of Panorama images.
I conduct workshops and photo tours of New Zealand as well as documenting my trips via the content on this channel.
Originally form Scotland, but living in New Zealand - I shoot landscapes exclusively with Medium Format Digital.
This channel is dedicated to exploring parts of New Zealand and other parts of the world, some may never get to see, as well as sharing techniques in camera and in Post processing. It's great to have you along.
The video content here is often documentary in style, and try to be informative, as i explain what I visualise in my mind's eye, and what I can bring to life with my Camera.
Id really appreciate your support, by you 'subscribing'... as we explore New Zealand together and I hone my videography skills. = )
Ewan, these two videos have been a wonderful journey into Travel Photography. One significant difference between Landscape and Travel Photography is the lack of time that is available to capture/create the image. I find that often times I only have a few minutes to capture an image vs. re-visiting the same location time and time again to capture the image in the best lighting and environmental condition. To me, that is one of the most gratifying aspects of Travel Photography. I really enjoyed both videos, and I can't wait to see how you incorporate your learning into your next Landscape Photography sessions. Keep well. Cheers, Keith (Canada)
yeah, i agree. Im looking forward to rhe next time out in landscape with time on my side! I found it tough but atually enjoyed the process of it, and learned as much again, by producing the video! Thanks Keith. Ewan
Hi Ewan: I another wonderful and thought provoking video. I must admit that I have been trapped on the treadmill of camera system replacement a few times over the years. That being said, I also make sure that I have sufficient time and resources to travel aboard to capture images. Travelling is the single best tool that a photographer has in developing their artistic vision. We recently spent some time in Scotland/The Shetland Islands, Norway and Iceland and these travels have opened up more creativity for me that one could image. I am looking forward to Part II of this video. Keep well. . . Cheers, Keith (Canada)
Thanks for your interaction here Keith and your thoughts! I agree that the cucle of gear replacement is incredibly quick and no longer are camera manufacturers wanting to producr the best camera, but rather to make money form the quick recycling of models - i cite the recent R5 mk2. There is negligible, and indiscernible difference to both platforms - which should in turn have us rely on other things within photographic evolution. Sadly though in many cases it dies. Travel wins every time i reckon! Best wishes, Ewan
Loved this video Ewan… I lm predominately a landscape and wildlife photographer but i love the challenge of going urban from time to time… always takes a day or two to find my eye and i find with urban photography its very similar to wildlife… u have to react to fleeting moments… i also find it much easier to simplify my kit… 3 basic little primes… 16mm, 35mm and 85mm prime only… you just draw attention to yourself with big kit bag and its just a hassle lugging it about… with this im just a wee crossbody bag, bottle of water and ur off… i generally always walk and go via coffeeshops to stop and observe, refresh and pee… then go out and shoot again!
HI there, yes, its certainly challenging and i think i did the same thing here just with my vlogging c size sensor in lieu of the medium format stuff, to both simplify my gear, but also reaffirm the point that you dont need to keep advancing with your gear choices. I was still a little self conscious though. Glad the vid made sense and you could relate to it! Best wishes, Ewan
Thoroughly enjoyed both of your latest videos. We had a chance to visit Vienna and Bratislava a couple years ago and your lovely photos brought back many wonderful memories. By the way……my wife and I love your daughter’s music, such a lovely voice. Mark from Atlanta, Georgia.
Thanks Mark, good to have you along for the ride and reminding you of some of these places in your previous visits to Europe. Thanks for checking out Freyjas stuff. Ill get to work with her on getting her stuff out there more. im sure she will appreciate your traffic. Best wishes, Ewan
Hey Peter - it woulda been funny if i had met you over there in some randomplace. Hope you ahd a good time. Aweoms part of the world huh!? Nah, the opening drone footage - stock
LOL, I know right! Word of warning, i wont be able to sustain that, moving forward. I do intend getting back into my cadence of one per month. Lovey to have you along for the journey. Kind regards, Ewan
@@EwanDunsmuirImagesI watched this yesterday, absolutely loved it I've just spent a holiday wandering around where we were staying looking at the little things and details and got some lovely results. And I can't comment without saying what a fantastic song at the end. If I read it right, Freyja is a very talented lady!
@@hoonior - hey there. Yeah, its awesome and travelling studying where you are right? Thanks re Freyja too - Im trying to help her in my own little way, as building a following is super tough! Appreciate your support. = ) Regards, Ewan
Hey Andrew Thanks very much man. Her music is on apple music, Spotify etc, but she is going to officially studio record some of them and formalise her portfolio them in the next little while. Regards, Ewan
@@andrewwheatley8973 I notice she has taken much of her stuff off of on line in spotify, possibly as she is looking to improve the quality of production. Ill chase her up on it though!
Thank you for this follow up Euan; you continue to inspire by stretching yourself. I love the way that you really exercised all your powers of observation to pull great images out of these cityscapes. That tales real talent, and is a powerful lesson. And all this inside a week!
Thanks bob, yes it was certainly a big ask to do that inside a week with two 27 hour flights on either end. What was i thinking. First time to these three places and wonderful to do. Really enjoyed it and thanks for your interaction. Best wishes, Ewan
Thanks Ewan, for taking us on your jorney! And your skills as a "street" and an architecture photographer are at the same high level as in landscape. Very good pictures!
Ewan Dunsmuir videos are like buses, you don't see one for ages then two come at once and like buses in a foreign city, they take on a journey of discovery. On the theme of gear, I'm working on a long-term project to take one picture a day while I'm walking my dog, Ollie. I listen to music on my iPod touch while walking Ollie and began to use its camera as record of the things I see. The project has evolved from this and I'm now making prints (albeit small ones) with surprising quality from the small JPEGS. I was listening to Billie Holiday last night and I'm struck by the similarity in tone of Freyja's voice. Bloody hell, Freyja's talented, you must be very proud. I've subscribed to Freyja's channel. Another great choice of music too, I love Pachelbel's Canon, one of my favourite pieces. Thanks for your kind words in reply to my comment on your last video. All the best.
Thanks Tony, LOL - i know right!? tow vids from me on two months is a lot. Good re the project and thanks for the subscription on Freyja's stuff. Her music writing is sooo damn good and i love her tone. She hot a National award for some of it a couple of years ago. Thanks again.. Take care and regards, Ewan
Really enjoyed these two videos Ewan, it was nice to see how you brought your eye for landscapes into a different genre, really inspiring. Particularly liked the image with the reflections in the glass and the one of the lamppost, the simplicity and symmetry really worked nicely. Completely agree with spending money on travel rather than gear upgrades too, far better value! S
Hey Sam, nice to here from you. I really enjoyed the process, albeit, it took a few days to get into it. I have a bit of travel planned over the next 12 months... States, Portugal, END, Scotland maybe and goodness knows where else. Hope you are both well. Regards, Ewan
Another awesome video Ewan. I love the way your videos expand my mind, and that is a good thing. Awesome also to hear your daughters talent in with yours.
Hey Andrew. Many thanks indeed. It expands MY mind too, trying to put them together, but conversely, they really make you think about what you are trying to say, and in doing so... solidifies the thought process. This is why they take me so dang long to produce. These last two, took about 3 weeks.. Good to be able to help Freyja a little too. Best wishes Andrew, Ewan
That was a bizarrely soothing episode Ewan. I’m not sure how to articulate what I mean…I generally dread going to any populated place but you see it so uniquely and through your eyes, I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. Absolutely loved the glass window shot. I just woke up to see you posted another and kept your word to post within the week. I’m going to grab a coffee and watch that now 👍
Hey Simon... LOL a bizarrely soothing episode. I know what you mean though. I just had to blank everyone out and i got caught out a couple of times, pointing the vid camera onto some people. Oops! Hope you are well mate. Me, you, Arran, next October. Should only be us there! Hope you are well mate - we will catch up soon huh!?
Hey Mark, yeah, Im looking forward to give it a test. I have been noticing that it has changed the way... or renewed the way at least i see the landscapes. We will find out pretty soon i guess. Regards, Ewan
The two videos made in Vienna were excellent Ewan great advice and lovely films.l don't shoot commercially so don't rely on megapixels and the razor sharp images that they produce preferring the look of various film stocks and process of shooting with film and of course travelling to new or past locations along the way.
@@stevenwhite921 Hey Steven - yeah, thats awesome. I actually wonder deep down whether we will get away form the Megapixel race and get back photos having a feel. It may be an interesting twist on technical equipment development. I have a bit of travel over the next 12 months and we shall see how that shapes what and how i do . Best regards, Ewan
Agree, that photographing outside your chosen genre is good for learning to see. I discovered that when in Europe & the UK in 2018. One camera & a 24-105 Lens, I discovered some new skills. Looking forward to seeing some new images from NZ. Cheers.
Different - but great as ever, Ewan! Once again thoughts on photography that make you think and reflect on yourself...and again a matching voice-over an nice background music. And beautiful shots! Thank you for your efforts! I'm already looking forward to the second part! Kind regards Thomas
Hey Thomas, many thanks indeed. Kind words, greatly appreciated. i take inordinate amounts of time to narrate and accompany these within the music. Its nice that people notice the extra effort, as its really easy to do these videos really badly. Best wishes, Ewan
You talk a lot of sense about the reasons to change gear. A few years ago I had a total change of gear, different camera an a new set of lenses. Did I want to? It wasn't on my list of priorities but a break into my car and the loss of all my gear was the reason. Why change manufacturer? Simple, I tried my old kit against a newer design and was persuaded by the improved (for me ergonomics). That said, I then spent several months getting to know the new kit; shadow recovery, dynamic range, how RAW files were rendered etc. Move forward to 2023 and a potentially serious accident saw my camera and most used lens disappear into a large waterfall, so again a new camera was needed. Should I replace the lost camera with the same model, that was my preference, but it was discontinued. So once again it was another period of getting to know my new camera. I'm glad I did change, because my new camera is brilliant, but then so was my old one. Having written all that, my experience form 2023 and this year following the death of my dear wife put me into a dark place, my motivation and enthusiasm all but vanished. My new gear meant nothing. What has helped me to regain my motivation and enthusiasm? Travel has certainly helped - meeting new people, experiencing different cultures and finding solace in new experiences has put me back into the land of the living. I would choose travel over new gear. All the best Ewan and thanks for your videos, quite often a voice of reason and sense, combined with top class images.
Hey Tony, Im really sorry to hear about your wife mate. Thats tough as tough can be! Getting out and about and spending tme woth similarly interested individuals is some light relief at least. re changing gear... Im not sure what i would do if i had to change the gear - probably wouldn't be the Pentax as i would use that as an excuse to upgrade i guess. Whilst i will change the camera at some point, Ill probably keep the Pentax as a second outfit whenever that day comes. These images all shot with the wee Canon M50 C size camera with jpegs only, They held up well huh!? You take care mate and hear form you soon. Regards, Ewan
Great to have you back Ewan, always a pleasure to watch your vids and I'm sure well all learn a great deal from them. Not easy to do them, but we all enjoy your approach to taking, in my view wonderful pics. Had a week last March on the Isle of Harris, wonderful, beaches, going back next Feb.
Great to see you having fun and creating images in a different environment. I will be heading to London (from WA) next month, and will take heaps of inspiration from your approach to Vienna. Thanks as always Ewan, really enjoyed it.
Thanks Bob. Was good fun and im not done yet with more and a wee twist in part two, which 'levelled' me. London is a cool place to visit and was there last August. You enjoy it when you go! Regards, Ewan
When I traveled I discovered we're all brothers and sisters with the same desires and the same pains. Very unifying experience. The best way for me to get out of my comfort zone is to ask myself why do I take photographs. The most uncomfortable journey we can take is the inner journey but it's the one journey that leads to light. When my Aunt first got to live on Lake Geneva she was gob smacked by it's beauty but after 6 mths of working there, she was bored with it. The world is not enough. It never has been, because its finite, but the desire in the human heart is infinite.
Hey Tony - the why is an uncomfortable question to ask of ones self indeed! Its funny how your aunt could get bored with such a view, but i understand it. I am about to start building a house on a magnificent piece of land with wonderful views to the sea and the mountains to the rear. I will no doubt, not even see it after 6 months! Same with new camera gear i guess. It only new for one week, or a single day even! Thanks for your interaction here. Good to hear from you. Regards, Ewan
@@EwanDunsmuirImages I think maybe you will Ewan. I responded this way because I've always thought you've had a really good spirit in you. Ever since I watched your Mt Doom video in New Zealand one early morning I thought I might have found a rare gem of a person.
Thanks Stuart. I dont post an awful lot but my production is so complicated, as i put a heap of thoughts in to them. I glad you enjoyed it! Many thanks and regards, Ewan
Gorgeous work as always, it's fascinating to hear your thoughts on different topics from normal and now I'm going to investigate whether pigeons play. Thank you
Hey Bro, nice to hear from you gain, it's really interesting to watch you videos and then reflect on what have been going through my mind b4..for example here i'm watching YT and thinking, wish I could be in London now doing some street photography, only to cast those thooughts aside and to watch your video instead..only to be transported to Vienna and all it's beautiful architecture , and its wonderful pigeons doing laps of honor around the city square...any way, the video was enjoyable and looking forward to part 2 later on for the conclusion..it actually have in a lot of food for thought relating to how some people get the GAS syndrome, and b4 they get acquainted with they equpment they want a next piece....well i'm not so lucky to be in that position so still on my fujifilm Xt3, and that ws bought 2nd hand..oh well lets have the second part and hopefully i'll enjoy that part just as much..take care bro......Photobug in Barbados
Hey Leo. Barbados huh? Wow! Thanks for your comments here and I appreciate your feedback. I always worry that these vids will turn people off of the content rather than engage them. I really appreciate your interaction. Regards, Ewan
Ah,,, you know I want to go Midge Ure and say Vienna 🤣 But it's Ah, don't get a new R5! you probably had a good chuckle the other day! Interesting to watch the people go about their day and I recognizing the looking for angles/shapes/light, maybe there is some hope I'm not just a gas junkie.
I used the same film camera for almost 20 years from the late 70's, and not because I didn't have the money to buy a different one (unless you count buying a house instead of a Hasselblad at the time, yes it's scary those things were equivalent once). I have just purchased a panoramic field camera that takes 120 film, it cost just over £3000, and the large format lenses are of course even more. I already have a few but I need at least one more soonish for wider views (115mm) that'll cost around £5 - 600. That won't be purchased until I'm sure buying it will be worthwhile. On the whole I avoid buying new gear to 'improve' my images, because it doesn't work. I bought this to explore a new format.
Thats awesome - love the comment on new equipment doesnt work to improve your images. I think too many of us rely on that very thing. Hasselblad and houses the same price... oh my goodness, were they? Thats incredible! Good lock wth your pano field camera. That sounds awesome. What did you buy exactly? Regards, Ewan
@@EwanDunsmuirImages I bought a Shen Hao TFC617-B 6x17. It's a coach built steel and black Walnut masterpiece of a thing. I've already got a (sort of) job to do with it for a charity. They want images for their website of a sensory garden. Not my normal sort of thing and I haven't done work for clients for a long time. This is unpaid so I'll treat it as fun.
Hey Ewan, it’s wonderful to watch and digest another one of your ‘Master Class’ episodes 👍🏻 The discussion about GAS is so very true. I recently saw Vlog of a photographer telling us that DSLR’s with their MIRROR causes blurred images and the weight of the new Mirrorless cameras as so much lighter😂…… I’d love to know how heavy the mirror is😅 I use a Canon 5DsR, purchased in 2016…… this will probably be my last camera, it is fine tool that i cherish. Yes, many people scoff at it but I LOVE it. The limitations and workin with them is part of my skill set. I’m off to NZ on the 5th August to photograph in the Otago & Fiordland regions. 7 days with just me & my camera, to LOOK…SEE… then capture some images👍🏻📷👍🏻❄️
Hey Phil, yeah the weight saving is a bit of a myth indeed and i actually dislike the EVFs, even the best of them. Im trying to avoid them on my new kit when i finally decide! NZ huh, give me a shout when you are here if you have time. Be good to meet a long standing supporter. Ill be heading of to the states the week after that! Best regards Phil, Ewan
@@EwanDunsmuirImagesHi Ewan, I arrive in Queenstown on Monday 5th August & traveling up to Twizle the next day. I’ll send you my phone number via private message…… when i figure out how to do that 😅
Thanks Keith. It may hav ebeen more impactful were it just one video, but i thought that one 42m vid, was a little long. Thanks for watching. Kind regards, Ewan
Many thanks indeed. I really enjoyed shooting this one. Ill be publishing another one , which is an unusual one (for me) in the next week! Thanks for your support and comment here. Greatly appreciated/ Ewan
Hi there, each lens and each focal length is different, which is why i guess it (1/3 way down lens) There is a way you can actually set your nodal point by doing a test, which i have given you a link for here. My approach is that moving your camera to rotate roughly around the nodal point is still much better than sinply rotating it around the camera body otself. Hope the link helps. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0IS27kdMdOc.html Many thanks, Ewan
Welcome Back!! Nice to see you back on your photography journey, Ewan (from a totally selfish point of view of enjoying your videos, of course). Time for you to head to the winterless North for some seascapes? Nga mihi, Barbara
Thanks for the video. I learned the hard way on my first stitched panorama that the stitching software I was using needed the sequence to be left to right instead of right to left.
Thanks for your interaction and comment here. I often do joining of frames left to righbut also right to left (dependant on what is going on in the frame to facilitate movement within frame for joining purposes. I havent really run into the issues you had previously as I overlap with sufficient data (50%) Thanks again, and best regards, Ewan
Ewan, your ethos, patience and commitment to your craft, art, is inspiring. As someone who has lived in New Zealand, with brief forays overseas, for 76 years, 50 of them as an amateur photographer, I have rarely, if ever seen photographs as beautiful as the ones you take away. I've seen what you have seen but rarely captured the moment with my camera in a way that doesn't leave me still wanting to explain what I have photographed. Thank you for detailing the guidelines that explain how you achieve the results you get. I wonder how many times I will have to `attend this class before it sinks in and I might get to the next level with my camera.
HI Tony, many thanks for your kind and detailed feedback - I am glad that the work that i pour over, has resonated with you. We surely are lucky indeed to be able to get out amongst this beautiful country! I hope the content of the vid wasn't too confusing. Its something i have been practicing for years and so makes perfect sense to me! The trick to getting very real but beautiful photos, is all in the time of the day I think, when it is vastly different tohow most people see the scenes that we do - just at different times of the day and in different light! Kindest regards. Ewan
Hi Ewan, once again a beautifully video...and it really makes you want to take a trip to the Orkneys. Thank you very much for this beautiful excursion and a wonderful island...with marvellous pictures! Greetings to the other side of the world! 🙂 Thomas
Hi Bobby, ideal, but not necessarily, as long as you are prepared to shoot a touch wider and crop back in with some puppet warp and content aware fill to fix any distortion. Its all pre-calculated when i shoot this way. Hope that helps
What are your thoughts on shooting Panorama with the camera in portrait position, I believe Gary gough "dont quote me on that" shoots panoramas stitching portrait images together.
Hey Mike, You can do either I will only do that when i need the vertical real estate or if (by doing this) you shoot with a longer focal length to in closer to get more detail out. Generally, a two shot horizontal pano will equate to a 5 or 6 shot vertical, creating more pixels. The only thing i would ask would be ... why would you need so many pixels. I print up to 2.4m on the mong edge and only need to shoot vertically when my images are printed to this size. Hopr this help? Thanks for your question! = ) Ewan
Wow, what a stunningly filmed video with heartfelt commentary. The soundtrack perfectly captured the mood of the film. Thank you for sharing. Cheers, Merv
I didn't understand everything: what is 'blackpoint'? And howcome the camera was pointing upwards (wasn't it supposed to be parallel to the level setup of the bottom part of the tripod?)
Hello there. I try to make sure that my images have a black point, or near to a black point as visually (when printing and hanging large panos) your image requires some 'depth to its dynamic range which helps, ground the image visually. As long as your tripopd is level, you can get away with your camera not being on exactly the same plane, as long as you are willing to 'converge correct' or 'puppet warp' in PS during your post processing workflow. Keeping the camera absolutely level is easier, but then you have to shoot at a wider focal length to get the frame you require, and then crop in. Hope that helps! Regards, Ewan
Great video thanks. I live in Wellington and planning a trip to Rotorua and Tongariro National park for photography. Can I ask what tripod pan head, ball head and long rail you use please? Many thanks, Bryan
Hi Bryan. You should be lucky with the weather looking forward i think. Beautiful part of NZ. I use the BENRO B40 ball head which is over engineered, a SIRUI levelling head and a Sunwayfoto 250mm Nodal rail. = ) Hope that answers your question! Regards, Ewan
