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www.charliewaite.com
Charlie Waite is one of the best-loved landscape photographers in the UK. Poise, balance, rhythm and harmony are everything in his images. He eschews the obvious effect, yet design is powerfully present in all his images. And he is a master of working in subdued palettes and flat lighting conditions, especially seen in his early volumes on Italy and Spain.
And he also writes wonderfully. Part of the delight in landscape photography is being out among the landscape, and conditions coming together as hoped – or, unpredictably but beautifully. Charlie's book Landscape: The Story of 50 Favourite Photographs imparts this joy of the moment – whether chanced on or doggedly pursued – beautifully. The classic The Making of Landscape Photographs meanwhile offers much thought-provoking commentary on how to balance image content and approach.
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www.graysofwestminster.co.uk
The premier Nikon stockist in the UK, and deservedly an institution, with perhaps the best service of any shop, in any discipline, I have encountered. Gray's staff are hugely knowledgeable about the different Nikon bodies and lenses available, yet wear this knowledge lightly – dealing with them soon becomes like a discussion among friends. They have an unrivalled stock, both new and second-hand, and all the spare parts you might possibly find you are short of before an impending trip.
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www.nikonownermagazine.com
Allied to Gray's of Westminster is the Nikon Owner's Club International: for some reason it attracts professionals and amateurs passionate, knowledgeable and generous in equal measure. And – unlike many other internet forums – backed by the personal knowledge of other members, the website forums are a lively and positive affair.
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www.photech.co.uk
With the discontinuation of Ilfochrome, the closest to traditional cibachrome that can be achieved from a digital source is to print on Fujiflex. BPD Photech have been my printer of choice for digital originals or scanned transparencies for a number of years.