Blog

Image "Fowey Suburbs" by James Brunker

The world's oldest surviving photograph dates back to the 1820s and not surprisingly iot wasn't in colour - that, believe it or not, was first achieved in 1861 by one Thomas Sutton - though it took Kodak in 1936 and Kodachrome to make colour the film of choice for many.   However the fact remains that black and white - or mono if you wish, can create dramatic and captivating images when the subject itself is more important than the range of colours in it. Making a great black and white image isn't just taking the colour out of an existing photo - to be successful the image needs to be conceived, planned and created with black and white in the forefront of the artist's mind.   Many of the artists on Lens2Print take great pride in creating such images and here we showcase just some of them.   

Chris Day           https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12582

David Powley      https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10343

Maggie McCall     https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=14040

Mary Fletcher      https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=4446

Mike Carroll        https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=4496

Karl Thompson    https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12617

Lynn Bolt            https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=597

Steve Stamford   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12651

James Brunker    https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12598

Susan Snow        https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12587

Peter Hemington https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12593

Pauline Tims        https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=359

Paul Woloschuk   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=14076

Janet Carmichael  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=14077

Warren Byrne  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=752

Jim Jones     https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12797

Phil Wareham  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=1074

This image "Flying Scotsman at night" by David Birchall

Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 and is considered to be the most famous locomotive in the World. 2023 marks 100 years of this magnicficent steam locomotive and below we have some beautiful images taken by some of our talented artists. 

Click on the links below:

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=75340

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=75078

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=76544

Richard Burdon https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=2016

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=84124

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=76446

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=84125

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=75080

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=75875

David Birchall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=75953

John Biggadike https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=7344

Image by Pete Lawless "Eurasian Kestrel"

With an estimate of over 10,000 species ranging from the taller than a human ostrich, down to the hummingbird that weighs the same as an acorn, birds are amazing. Some swim, some walk, some fly – some can do two or maybe all three. Whilst most mistrust us, many are happy visitors to our gardens and appreciate the free food, water and shelter we provide for them.

For some amazing images of birds from all over the world click on the albums below:

Mary Fletcher     https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=5756

Kelvin Rumsby   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=14

Kaye Menner     https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=118

Chris Day          https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=141

Theodore Crush https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=13915

Mike Carroll       https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=9187

Sandra Cockayne https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=7094

Pete Lawless     https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=13917

Steve Stamford https://lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=211

Susan Snow      https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=13922

Image by Steve Stamford "Beach Hut 167"

Brightly coloured beach huts are an essential part of the British coast. They go together with ice creams, sandcastles and the unreliable British weather to form part of our experience of summer by the seaside.

Beach huts started to be used in the early twentieth century. Before then, bathing had been a cumbersome and expensive affair. Men and women bathed on separate beaches and changing for a dip in the ocean was performed out of view in a bathing machine, which was towed a safe distance out to sea before the nervous bather took his or her plunge into the often uninvitingly cold sea water. When the bathing machine was finally dispensed with many were left abandoned on the beach but were later converted into huts with the removal of the wheels. 

In the Edwardian era and in the years following the First World War, the sight of people of both sexes in bathing costumes had become acceptable. However, changing in public was frowned upon and could result in a fine, even if decency was preserved under a Macintosh - so called "Macintosh Bathing". Hence councils provided and charged for beach huts to change in.

Recently the spirit of nostalgia for the British coast has meant that beach huts, in some locations, can sell for more money than houses in other areas and given that you cannot stay overnight in them and many need annual maintenance, this is really saying something!

For some fabulous images of beach huts click on the links below!

 Image by Mike Carroll "Bruarfoss waterfall in Iceland " 

Blog written by Chris Langley

“Mountains and Rivers” are very similar to the previous blog text on “rocks in water”. In fact they are totally related, so firstly I will ask you to reread last month’s blog then consider my expansion of the theme. In the case of rocks in water, water seems to be the dominant entity, giving emphasis to the rocks but between mountains and rivers that is reversed. The mountains are dominant and form a beautiful and integral frame for the water to play and stand out in. Of course the definition of a mountain varies through many environments but high ground causes water to flow in rivers. Where the differentiation of height is abrupt, rivers can form huge canyons and waterfalls can be created. Contrast this to rivers flowing very sluggishly in the “flat” plains using a minimal elevation change to flow. Here the destruction of rocks into channels is opposed by the silt and debris of the river’s course building up, blocking channels, building ox-bow lakes and deltas time and time again until the landscape from the air looks like spilled macaroni or lacey strands. These two environments and everything in between are both the cause and effect of “mountains” and “rivers”. Now consider these huge environmental differences and contemplate how they provide very special habitats, not just for the wandering eyes of the photographer, but for countless forms of life, vegetative and animate. Neither are in any way static, despite the apparent mass and solidity of mountains in the blink of an eye, while the force of fluid water can cause massive destruction, slowly or rapidly. Mountains and rivers are the generative forms bringing about and supporting terrestrial life on this planet as we know it.

Below you find some wonderful images of Mountains and Rivers!

Warren Byrne https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12815

Chris Day  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12816

Pete Lawless  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12817

Mike Carroll  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12818

Image by Peter Hemington "Dusk at Hartland"

Contemplations by Chris Langley

Rocks. Solid, hard, seemingly permanent Water. Fluid, soft, ever changing Yet while rocks can direct water, the fluid motion of water will erode rocks massively, turning them back to dust, forming them to their flow. Water on rocks makes music for the soul, pounding or gently tinkling as they make contact. The play of light reflecting from water moving over and around rocks pleases the eye. To the touch, hard and soft, yet beautiful partners

Here you will find some fabulous images of rocks in water: 

Mary Fletcher     https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12782

Steve Stamford  https://lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12783

David Powley     https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12784

Chris Langley     https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12785

Peter Hemington  https://lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12788 

Featured image is by David Powley "Dawn Reflections on the Norfolk Broads"

Windmills are a natural source of energy and have been in use since the 12th century, they replaced human beings as a source of power.  They were used to grind  grain, used in land drainage and water pumping. The windmill has been used as a source of electrical power since the late 1890's and is has been going through a revival since the 1970's.

Here you will find some wonderful images of windmills by some of our talented artists:

Steve Stamford  https://lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=4423

Jon Jones  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12773

David Powley  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12646

Mary Fletcher  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12774

Featured image by Karl Thompson  - "Storr Reflection"

Monochrome is an image created using just one colour. The most common being black and white or sepia, but many tones can be used to create a monochrome image. Not so long ago, black and white images were the only photograph that could be created and many a famous photographer made striking images, Ansel Adams probably being one of the most well known. Monochrome images are still very popular with artists and buyers, here you will find several portfolios with some stunning examples of monochrome images. 

Roger Hunt  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12585

Chris Day  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12582

Dave Godden  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10359

Susan Snow  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12587

Paul Woloschuk  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12588

Kris Ohlsson  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12589

David Powley  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12590

George Davidson  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12591

Jay Lethbridge   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12592

Pete Hemington  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12593

Bruce Little  https://lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=11502

James Brunker  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12598

Liam OMalley  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12596

Pete Lawless  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12599

Mary Fletcher  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=4446

Karl Thomspon  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=12617

Featured image "Cloch Lighthouse, Gourock" by George Robertson

In this blog Lens2Print features a number of artists with albums full of lighthouses, never has it been more relevant to offer that beacon of hope, that light at the end of the tunnel. Lighthouses represent a beacon of light and hope, a homecoming, a warning against clear and present danger.

The mariner has long since revered the lighthouse with its sense of hope and guidance. A guiding light that leads us to safety and home and warns of imminent danger.

"I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve". - George Bernard Shaw

"There are times when the ocean is not the ocean – not blue, not even water, but some violent explosion of energy and danger: ferocity on a scale only gods can summon. It hurls itself at the island, sending spray right over the top of the lighthouse, biting pieces off the cliff. And the sound is a roaring of a beast whose anger knows no limits. Those are the nights the light is needed most." – M. L. Stedman

"The Infinity Bridge, Stockton on Tees" image by George Robertson 

Blog written by Mary Fletcher

This months blog is all about Reflections

Artists are constantly fascinated by reflections especially in water which can distort the original object, whereas reflections in mirrors are not so distorted and therefore offer a more ‘true’ reflection. Of course there are other meanings to the world “reflection” - a fixing of thought or careful consideration, the reflection of heat or sound after striking a surface. Our talented artists have come together and are offering you some wonderful images, so please pop into their portfolios and browse through and reflect……..

Dave Siggens  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10220 

Rob Cole  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10226 

David Powley   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10225 

Lynn Bolt   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10227 

Elvia Worrall   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=126 

David Birchall  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10228 

Pete Hemington   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10229 

Pete Lawless   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10231 

George Davidson   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10230 

Susan Snow   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10232 

Kris Sadler   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10208 

Rina Devine   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10235 

Mike Carroll   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10237 

Mary Fletcher   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10236  

David John Martin   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10244 

George Robertson  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=10352

"Castle Stalker Argyll and Bute" Image by Lynn Bolt

Blog written by Steve Stamford

This month’s blog concentrates on images of castles and coasts.

People started building defensive structures that as time went on became ever more sophisticated. Simple wooden barricades and ditches became stone and moats. Towers were added for look-out purposes – and to drop things on attackers. As defences grew stronger so of course did the tactics to defeat them. The simplest tactic was to simply camp outside and wait for those inside to run out of food or water – the siege.

Whilst early castles were built by anyone (which wasn’t that many) with sufficient resources of labour and cash as the assorted local leaders were either defeated in battle or amalgamated by marriage castles became more of a nationally important asset. This explains why so many were built on and around the coast and beside rivers – to defend against foreign marauders.

We hope you enjoy the selection of images our artists have on the subject, and of course – you are most welcome to support them by purchasing from the site. We promise you will not be disappointed.

George Davidson https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=8160

Phillip Thornton https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=8164

Mike Carroll https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=8161

Daniel Dent https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=8167

Ann Garrett https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=8166

Jon Jones https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=9168

Lynn Bolt https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=9172

Simon Alun Hark https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=9173

 Arum Lily Bee- image by Terri Waters

Blog written by Steve Stamford

For an image to be considered macro the image recorded on the film, or in these days of digital photography the sensor, should be at least as large as the subject. This means that when we view the image at a ‘normal’ size as a print or canvas it will be very much larger than life. In doing so it can reveal an amazing level of detail and beauty.

It is though a very unforgiving subject. When photographing landscapes the amount in focus between the foreground and background can be anywhere between a metre or so up to infinity. The distance between the nearest point in focus and the furthest is known as ‘depth of field’ often just seen as DOF. In macro though this can be in the order of a millimetre or two so even a simple dandelion clock or daisy requires extreme care and the application of specialised (expensive) lenses or a cunning technique known as focus stacking.

Focus stacking is where an image is taken where the nearest point is in focus, and we accept anything behind that is not in focus. Then we take another image focusing a little further away, accepting that the nearest one is now not sharp. We continue to do this, taking shot after shot until the farthest point is the sharp one. Now of course we have anywhere between two and – well however many are needed. Sometimes in the case of those amazing images of insect eyes hundred of images are needed – each one a fraction of a millimetre different to the other.

All we need to do now is line them all up, selecting only the sharp bit from each one, then ‘stacking’ those sharp bits on top of each other to create the final image. Fortunately there are some rather nifty software tools that largely automate this for us.

This all takes time, patience a tripod and a subject that doesn’t move and a light source that doesn’t change between images. Macro isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but then again wouldn’t it be a boring world if we all liked the same thing?

Please take some time and click on the links below to see some wonderful and varied macro and close up images from some of our very talented artists:

 Steve Stamford  https://lens2print.co.uk//albumview.asp?albumID=7093

Susan Snow    https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=7099

Kaye Menner  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=7097

Rina Devine  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=7095

Mary Fletcher https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=7100

Pete Hemmington   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=1151

Anila Hussain https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=5830

Terri Waters  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=7114

Puffin In Flight image by Gary Clarricoates

Brilliant image of this cute bird!

Blog written by Steve Stamford

Lens2Print is home to many photographers and artists and of course many of them find inspiration in the animal kingdom.

This month we have invited our artists to create albums on the theme of “Animals and birds” and they have risen to that challenge. From wildlife through to more domesticated creatures that share our beautiful world we are sure you will find images that delight and maybe even inspire you.

We invite you to make a brew, grab a biscuit (or two) and take time to peruse the selection of fabulous images we have on offer. If you have space in your life for any of them then please go ahead and order – our smallest product is under 4 inches square, the largest around 4ft X 3ft so there is bound to be something to fit your lifestyle.

Our products include: canvas prints, prints, mousemats, mugs, wall clocks and coasters.

Please – spread the word, tell your friends about our site and share with them the wonderful world we live in, all captured by the talented artists at Lens2Print.

Jay Lethbridge https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=178

Tommy Dickson https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=5982

Kaye Menner https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=118

Phillip Thorntonhttps://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=6001

Simon Marlow https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=5997

Karl Thompson https://www.lens2print.co.uk/albumview.asp?albumID=268

Image by Chris Langley.

Blog written by Chris Langley

Love is funny.  It is emotional.  It is warm.  It can be contentious.  It can be delighful.  It can be love for a person or love for a place. It can be love for a colour or love for a texture.  Love can be expressed in light or darkness.  Love can be found in a form or a glint in the eye.  Love is evocative.  Love is a reaction which is as large and varied as the people on Earth.  On Lens2Print you will find images which have all been loved by the individuals who created them and by a team of reviewers who felt that in their huge variety,  the viewer will surely find something that invokes that curious spark which we can love in at least one of the ways described.

There is a lot to love.

Why not treat your loved one to a special gift or piece of artwork this Valentines Day to show them your love?

Below you will find some images of love from some of our artists:

John Edwards -   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=11502

Chris Langley -   https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=48045

Mary Fletcher -  https://www.lens2print.co.uk/imageview.asp?imageID=48004