Adam Monk Photography Gallery & Photo Tours

I got back from this years winter wonders of Japan photo tour at the beginning of March after two weeks of extraordinary adventures, it was a fabulous tour and I haven’t even had time to write properly about it… I will, though not today.

Planning Japan 2020 – Winter

Robert van Koesveld and I were planning adjustments for next years tour even as we travelled, which is often the best time when it’s all fresh. This meant the itinerary was done and we were ready to setup the logistics by the time we got home; so we had it all done in a very short time. I had only had a small window as I was off to Tasmania with Paul Hoelen 1 week after getting home from Japan, and directly following that I had two private Karijini tours to run… which is where I am now… More about Tasmania and Karijini soon (ish).

Well it seemed as fast as we put the Japan Winter tour together for 2020 the 8 available places filled, almost before I had finished the web page and the booking form. Last year both Japan tours (Autumn and Winter) filled within 2 days and without a proper newsletter going out, this years Autumn tour did the same thing… and now next years winter tour has filled without me notifying anyone!

The Moral of the Story

So… I’m not sure what the moral of this story really is, perhaps we should run more tours to Japan? Or perhaps if you are keen to come with us you should email me on tours@adammonk.com and I will put your name on the early notification list.

A mirrorless camera, what is the point?  I’m not doubting the validity of mirrorless, its a serious question.   I love mirrorless technology and I think it’s clearly the future of camera manufacturing.  But I also think many people seem to have missed or forgotten the reason a mirrorless camera was so attractive in the first place.  Small and light… Remember that?

So you have your trusty DSLR setup with 4 reliable carefully chosen lenses, maybe a 16-35mm f2.8, or a 14-24mm f2.8… A 24-70 f2.8 and the quintessential 70-200mm f2.8.  You are prepared for just about any photo opportunity.  So you are ready to head out, you go to pick up your camera bag and… Read the rest of this entry »

Robert van Koesveld and I have just put together a Japan photo tour in Winter for next year in February.    Actually this sounds like we threw the tour together in a hurry, this is not the case.   We have actually been putting together this tour for some months, and Robert has run a similar winter in Japan photo tour before, but we have only just this week released it… and there are only 2 spots left already…  and I haven’t even sent out a newsletter yet!

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Camera Insurance, like all insurance is pretty uninspiring stuff and if you are like most people, it’s not something you want to think too much about.  You pay your money and the job is done, right?  Until you find out you are actually not insured, which always happens at the worst possible moment.

Are you really insured?

I have been insuring all my camera gear with WFI (Westfarmers Federated Insurance) for about 14 years now, in fact they have all my insurance.  This included my Gallery insurance for fire, theft and damage, Public liability and workers compensation.  They also insure my car, my house and contents.  It all adds up to rather a substantial amount of money each year, just my camera gear alone comes in at around $2,900 per year and has been over $4,000 per year at the peak of my gear addiction…

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Continuing on from the Previous Post…   Around about the same time I was struggling up mountains in the Icelandic Highlands with my crazy heavy camera bag full of the Phase One XF camera, IQ3-100 digital back, lenses, tripods and other ancillary items, Phase One released their third firmware upgrade for the XF camera and IQ3 series backs.  Which amongst other features included the activation of a full electronic shutter in the IQ3 digital backs.  Meaning the Digital Back could be used on a technical camera without the limitations of the clockwork mechanical shutters in technical camera lenses (shutter speeds of just 1 sec – 1/500 sec in full stop intervals).

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