La mia famiglia

Good morning,

Here are some photos of my family and images from a trip to Ferrara, Italy.

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, moments with family often pass by in a blur. But what if you could freeze those precious seconds and revisit them anytime? That’s the magic of family photography.

A simple light set up, with one key light strobe, camera left through a soft box

and a standing house light I found in my aunts house to the camera right for some separation rim lighting.

Start capturing your family’s unique story today. Share your favorite family photos and the stories behind them in the comments on Instagram @lee_ramsden

And if you’re looking for professional help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a photographer who can bring your family’s memories to life.

Thanks

Lee

Manchester Airport.

Good Morning, 

As most are aware with my day job, i spend half my life at airports traveling. And so this time i brought my little Fuji X-T1 along for a ride, and took some shots while i was awaiting to board the plane. 

Thanks

Lee

Working in the oil and gas industry - Travel.

Fuji film X-T1  f8 1/80 ISO200

Morning, 

I thought that it has been awhile since i have brought this blog offshore with me, and so today i am posting some pictures of the largest part of working away... The travel. 

Next week's post is from the North sea oil platform. 

I hope that you enjoy.

Fuji film X-T1  f4.5 1/80 ISO200

Train one of four.

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/125 ISO400

My largest company expense is travel.

Each year the prices go up, and the service goes down....

Fuji film X-T1  f8 1/60 ISO200

Train two pulling into the station. 

Fuji film X-T1  f9 1/30 ISO200

Train number three

Fuji film X-T1  f18 1/15 ISO200

Unknown back packers. All aboard train four. 

Fuji film X-T1  f9 1/30 ISO200

Crossing the forth rail bridge. 

Fuji film X-T1  f7.1 1/125 ISO200

Trying to use my time productively and edit some wedding images. 

Fuji film X-T1  f4 1/125 ISO320

Arrived Aberdeen station. 

Fuji film X-T1  f4.5 1/125 ISO320

Aberdeen has the most expensive taxis in all of Europe. Where you can use the Jet bus, it is cheaper. 

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/125 ISO800

They said that the hotel is close to the airport.... they are not wrong. 

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/60 ISO500

Finally - 8 hours later, 4 trains and a bus i can get some sleep. 

And to be honest this is an easy journey. I spent 4 years where i had a train, 5 hours international flight, taxi and then a boat to get to the platform. 

Image courtesy google images

Please check next weeks post where i will display some images taken from the above platform.

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

Thanks  

Blackpool.

Fuji X-T1 1/280th F 7.1

Fuji X-T1 1/9000th F2.8

The Isles of Shetland.

iPhone 4s 1/15 f.2.4 ISO500

Working in the oil and gas industry I have spent my fair amount of time on the Isles of Shetland.

It has felt like a second home at times, and over the summer of 2014 I was spending more time there than at home.

iPhone 4s 1/270 f.2.4 ISO50

I feel privileged to have had the chance to spend so much time on such a gorgeous island, even with the brutal weather for 9 months of the year, this does not bring the spirit of the local inhabitants down.

The local people that I encountered and worked with, were amazing, lovely people. They appear to have a different look on life and take things in their stride.

Living in such remoteness they have became resourceful with the weekend evening entertainment, with the party busses which tour round the island villages, visiting the bars on a pub crawl - fancy dress in mandatory!

They sell Puffin poo to tourists....it is a delicacy!!

They breed miniature horses,

iPhone 4s 1/1700 f.2.4 ISO50

They dress up as Vikings and after spending a whole year, and thousands of pounds on building the most detailed / intricate wooden boat…. they set fire to it.

iPhone 4s 1/300 f2.4 ISO50

The airport of Scatsta was closed for two days, as an employee was getting married and so all the airport personnel attended the wedding.

iPhone 4s 1/20 f.2.4 ISO160

The island attracts many hill walking enthusiasts and photographers, but it is clear to see why.

With the unique landscapes,

(not a single tree to be seen though as it is too windy and the ground being peat),

migrating puffins, stunning beaches and many different festivals through out the year.

I could happily spend my days later in life, up on a hill, on the Shetland isle away from the problems, hustle and bustle of normal life, enjoying each day as it came.

Fuji X-PRO1 1/600  f.5 ISO 200 at 14mm

Note - 

At the present moment in time, if you are looking to visit, I personally would recommend the Isle of Lewis or Skye, only because Shetland is currently having a gas plant being built, with another on the cards and so the main towns are bursting with contractors. If you were to hire a little cottage away from the towns then I am sure you wouldn’t even notice.

iPhone 4s images were taken with the standard camera app and so the meta data shown is not controlled by my self. All images edited using the in phone Snapseed app. 

iPhone 4s 1/120 f2.4 ISO50

iPhone 4s 1/60 f2.4 ISO64

iPhone 4s 1/540 f2.4 ISO50

 iPhone 4s 1/2000 f.2.4 ISO50

iPhone 4s 1/2000 f.2.4 ISO50

iPhone 4s 1/120 f2.4 ISO3200

 iPhone 4s 1/15 f.2.4 ISO400

A cold trip to Helvellyn.

Nikon D800 f8 1.5seconds ISO100 with various flash bursts around the scene.

Last week i headed out to try and take some pics up Helvellyn in the lakes. I was losing light as i didn't plan on the amount of weight i carried would slow me down so much, and so i pitched up here rather then planned for the evening. 

I awoke at 3am and the place was covered in snow. At first light there was an absolute white out, and was very thankful for carrying a GPS with me as navigating would of been near on impossible in zero visibility. 

So photo wise it was a failure but a good heavy load carry is a well received for a bit of Phys after the indulgent new year. 

Nikon D800 f5.6 1/50th ISO800

Brrrrrrr a fresh morning.....

Nikon D800 f2.8 1/50th ISO5000 Lit with red head light.

Breakfast for a king... 

 Thanks

Lee

The View at The Shard London photography tips.

Hi, how are you? 

I hope that you are well, while I'm stuck out at work on the rig for a month....

Last week I took a trip to the new viewing platform in the Shard building- London.

72 floors high you get an incredible view of London.

You have to book in advance and pick your time slot, I was particular in that I wanted the sunset to dark.

After googling the timings I was happy that we would catch the setting sun, but just had to have our fingers crossed for the weather :0)

As you can see, we were so very lucky in the weather front, after so much snow and bad weather recently.

I wanted to give a couple of tips that i found so handy while shooting here.

and these tips will not only help if you fancy going up the Shard but I'm guessing 99.9% of tourist locations.

Tip 1

- The venue Tripod ban...

A lot of tourist venues have a tripod ban and so you are not allowed to enter with / or use one.

As you can see i over came this by using a Manfrotto magic arm, and super clamp. 

The security observed me using this and did not bother in the slightest. 

While using the clamp and magic arm, i treated it like a tripod and so was using my cable release to gain much longer shutter speeds. 

Tip 2

- Don't for get your polariser filter.

To try and reduce the reflections you gain shooting through the glass, a circular polariser filter is not perfect, but cuts down the problem loads. 

Nothing will stop the other members of public and their point and shoots, using the flash - still amazed at what they recon the on camera flash will light up. 

That its, i can really recommend the Shard, it was a fantastic experience. 

Keep in touch in the comments bar bellow...

Thanks 

Lee

Manfrotto Super Clamp without Stud

Manfrotto

Buy on Amazon

Manfrotto Magic Arm without Accesories

Manfrotto

Buy on Amazon

Amsterdam canal by boat.

As followers of this blog will know i head over to Amsterdam at least twice a year,

It is such an amazing city, spilling out at the seams with art and design. 

My favourite way to view this city has to be on the canals by boat. Im very lucky that my cousin and her fella have their own boat. 

Grab some beers, head out and enjoy the diverse and interesting sites of Amsterdam!

A couple of days in Amsterdam.

Once again i headed over to Amsterdam to catch up with my family and friends out there for the Queensday celebrations. 

Here are a few images from the couple of days i spent there. 

 Street performers in the main square.

Have you picture taken.. and a beer all for  €4.. bargain! Thats where wedding photographers are going wrong, they dont include any beer in their packages...

One busy party Canal.  

This lady is having a good time. 

Orange! 

They say you dont get anything for free... 

 Street party.

My aunty and cousin rock and rolling.. I love the smile on my aunts face, it shows how happy we all were to be there.  

A Bouncy Castle, a Lion and an African DJ... only in Amsterdam.. 

New Job.

Hello all,

Its has been awhile since my last post. I have been very busy with my job abroad over in Baku - Azerbaijan.

In the last 17 weeks I have been back in the UK less then 2 weeks and so i have been run off my feet.

After new year i will be on a rota and have more time off which is good news,

Here are a few images from being offshore over in Baku. The images were taken on my Canon G10.

Azerbaijan on the world map

Hong Kong vacation.

Hello, 

Well it feels like a life time ago since i last made a post. But i have been a busy one with work and other commitments, so i am seriously playing catch up now, as have a large amount of images to work through. 

Here are some of the images from a recent trip to Hong Kong. 

A view from the highest point on the Island.

Market Stall.

On the beach, where you can see the double Shark nets.

                                                            Part of the 5.5km escalator. 

View from the 5.5km escalator. 

Amsterdam, Queens Day April 30th 2010.

I ended up travelling over to Holland to party at Queens day in Amsterdam.

If you are like me you probably have not heard of this day before, i think it's a Dutch secret...

But WOW what a day!

The day origins from a previous Queens birthday, which the people still remain to celebrate.

The Dutch people are very much like the Brits and enjoy a good drink and party!

Queens day starts off early, where the towns people are out in force selling there possessions on the streets.

The buyers and sellers are all drinking, there are boats with HUGE sound systems booming out tunes which adds to the party atmosphere.

The sellers, then get drunk and seem to wonder off from their pitch.

As you walk the Streets of Amsterdam you turn a corner, the roads are blocked off and a DJ has set up shop with party go-errs dancing, drinking having a great time.

Here are a few images from my time there...

A couple of Shots from Manchester.

Here are a couple of images that I have taken.

I have seen many versions of the light trails and wanted to give it a try, the lights are not that pin sharp, as I would have liked and so I will definitely revisit this idea at a later time.