Welcome to Visionage

2007-02-24T00:00:00Z

Welcome to Visionage - a website created to illustrate my work as a photographer with more than 30 years experience. I use both traditional and digital mediums depending on what a project brief calls for. The site contains themed galleries exhibiting resized images, high resolution versions of which are available for purchase. Please contact me for further information. For anyone interested in Olympus equipment, I have also included a section which provides equipment reviews for some of the cameras and lenses I use.

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About Me

2008-03-29T00:00:00Z

Born in Birmingham, England in 1960, I am married and have a son. When I was ten years old, my family forsook urban life, in favour of more tranquil surroundings in the Derbyshire Dales, which form the backdrop for many of my photographs. Photography apart, I am a keen walker, spending much of my spare time in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales with my family. I have been interested in cameras and photography most of my life. Some of my earliest memories, during the mid to late 1960's, are of playing with my Father's old TLR camera until I broke it.

From around thirteen years old I possessed a working camera of some kind, but found film and processing costs restricted my efforts to 'special' occasions i.e. holidays, family get-togethers etc. My first camera was a Kodak Instamatic 110, which lasted for around six years before crapping out at a Gary Numan concert in Sheffield, back in 1979. Distraught at being 'cameraless', I purchased a Polaroid Instant camera. Film for it was expensive, but at least there were no processing costs. It was big, ugly and very noisy, but found its way to my side on many occasions.

Two years later, I was offered a second hand Zenit SLR for a few pounds. I saw this as a cheap ticket into the world of 'real' 35mm photography and snapped it up. Armed initially only with a 50mm Helios lens, the camera accompanied me on many walks and holidays before expiring during the summer of 1982. As anyone who began their true photographic interests with one of these early Russian leviathans will know, mastery of the art could only be gained by leaning and understanding basic photographic techniques, along with a fair amount of trial and error. The only other lens I purchased for the Zenit was of the 135mm focal length.

Following the Zenit's death, it was my intention to purchase a Pentax 35mm SLR, the MX being my choice. After reading various reviews and tests I decided to visit a dealer in Sheffield for a closer look. However, I found that it was not to my liking and began looking at other brands. I was determined to have a new camera by the end of the day and, after looking at Canon and Nikon models, came across Olympus. The model in question was the OM1n which seemed small and exquisitely built in comparison to other brands. It felt right in my hands, logically designed and solid. So, for the princely sum of £124 (I still have the original sales receipt!) I became the proud owner of the OM1n and a ubiquitous Zuiko 50mm f1.8 standard lens. This became my photographic workhorse for the next nine years. I added various third party lenses during this period, most of which were inexpensive telezooms, delivering mediocre results. The one exception to this was a Vivitar S1 28-105 zoom which was good, but heavy.

Toward the end of 1991, and after picking up various photographic assignements, I decided that it was time to add a new camera body and took a closer look at the OM4Ti. As soon as I tried this model out, I knew it was for me and took it home.

In pursuit of perfection I took a closer look at Olympus Zuiko optics, as the old 50mm lens purchased with my OM1n had always delivered excellent results. It was small, well engineered and reliable. I part exchanged the Vivitar S1 for a diminutive Zuiko 100mm f2.8 short telephoto lens and never looked back. Quickly afterwards, I added a Zuiko 24mm f2.8 wide angle lens. Since the early 1990’s, I purchased many more Zuiko’s, along with a host of peripherals such as the F280 flashgun, Varimagni finder, 65-116 telescopic extension tube etc.

In 2002, Olympus announced to the world that production of the OM system was to cease. I responded by purchasing an OM3Ti body to ensure continued use of the system well into the future. I also replaced my 24mm lens with a new model, as the old one had become much worn (it remains one of my favourite lenses). In 2004, I purchased a new 4Ti and 21mm F2 Zuiko. I have since added 35mm F2, 38mm F2.8 and 180mm F2.8 Zuiko’s. With regard to film, I prefer Kodak film stock and, having used most types in the past, now shoot almost exclusively with Elite Chrome and E100VS 100 asa transparency film. VS is superb for landscapes and macro work. Elite Chrome I find useful for all subjects, including flash photography. It also records skin tones very faithfully, being far less saturated that VS.

I project my slides through a Leica Pradovit P300 IR projector, with 90mm Colorplan lens. I have found this combination provides stunning image quality and feel it does justice to the Zuiko optics I use. My previous projector was a budget Braun Novomat which produced average results and jammed a lot. The difference between these two models is incredible.

In 2005, I purchased an Olympus E-1, Digital Zuiko 11-22mm and 50mm lenses as I wished to become familiar with digital photograhy. I used this for the bulk of my photography both business and pleasure. Recently, I aquired a Leica X1 that affords true portability with incredible image quality, and I have found that this camera has been my main hardware for several months now.

I provide material for optical and computer brochures, image libraries, have featured in Amateur Photographer, Outdoor Photographer and other photographic magazines. I am also involved in product and staff portrait photography. However, my favourite achievement was to have a portrait of my son Ethan selected by Kodak, for 'picture of the day' on their website. I do not specialize in particular subjects as I find most areas interesting. If I like it, I photograph it!. One thing I have discovered in the last 30 years of photography, is that there is always something new to learn. From a personal aspect, I like to set myself small projects from time to time, such as using one prime lens only for a particular shoot. This method of working can sometimes be frustrating, but forces me to think carefully about composition, lighting and technique, often with interesting results. Also, selecting a location near to where I live and photographing it throughout the seasons makes interesting projects, especially where a theme is used, for example macro, urban decay, reflections etc.

Finally, I dedicate this website to Alison and Ethan, my wonderful wife and son, who's patience is regularly tested when I go in search of that 'decisive photographic moment'. I love you both.

Steve Lane (October 2010).