Jools Elliott

No! You should do though! I have thought every so often of just ordering it and sending it to you as a surprise. I bet you would find uses for it and you could actually add things such as long exposure cityscapes to your portfolio as it's strong enough to do them.

Last resort. You have the cable still that connects your computer to the camera? That will work! And again, definitely get that Manfrotto. It weighs 190g so you won't be lugging it around.

Tablet? By the way. I can see why you didn't use the Velbon D-700. For you it is TOO big. Definitely consider that Manfrotto one. As it really is miniscule.

See. Even you have been turned to the dark side With the focus stacking I would suggest sticking your camera on your tripod and trying to control it remotely. You still got your Canon 5D Mark III? If it has Wifi and you have a smart phone then see if you can control the camera using the Canon App.

Course I know you well enough Ian! I know that sticking a camera on a tripod is about as likely as me going to Vietnam tomorrow. It ain't going to happen! But! And here's a thought for you, and I guarantee you will earn your money back, go and buy the table top tripod from Manfrotto. You can stick it in your pocket as it's that small. Costs about £25. It will enable you to slightly bend your own rules.

There you go! I'm like you. i want to go out and start doing stuff. problem is if i do that it will add to the already HUGE mountain. Go have fun with that macro lens and discover a new world! Oh, and find a way to stabilize it so you can do focus stacking. Now there's a challenge for you!

Ian No worries OK! Indeed a rethink is needed. I sit here going crazy because I have lost a lot of work. But I'm also trying to stay positive. Only look at good news. Trying to think of new ways to earn money with my camera. Send off around 3000 images that haven't been sent anywhere. Go and challenge yourself to do something different with your camera. You're an intelligent guy and so I'm sure you can be challenged.

How essential is it when you get commissioned by a company. That the commission gives you money. That feeds you. Your family etc? Ian, these discussions could go on forever. Back and forth. The main thing we ALL need to do now is not start going down these roads and concentrate on getting rid of this virus as quickly as possible. It is doing to pretty much everyone!

Being stuck in France this past two weeks has been frustrating in one way (a trip to Vietnam has gone up in the air) and in another way it's allowed me to sort things out that didn't get done in a while. Looking through the thread it's easy to see why emotions are running high. We're all feeling. We're all losing work because of this and trying our level best to do what we can. There was a report the other day of a news photographer being stopped on the Champs Elysées by the police. Surrounded he explained to them that he needs to stop and change lenses etc as it's part of his job. Being a professional photographer it could be quite easy to push the limit of what is and isn't allowed. I certainly understand the need for people to get out and exercise but the problem is that you give people an inch and they take a mile. is it essential for Ian or anyone else to go out and take pictures as that's our job? Honestly, if it came to it and he got a fine then the only way to know for sure is to contest it in court. Here in France they have said that they want NO businesses to fail. Ian's business has been for a long time taking images to earn his way. It's an extremely difficult line that needs walking with caution.

I've just had a moment to check mine. It is down by over 50% of what it normally is. Every year I have claimed it has been consistent so I am shocked beyond belief that it has declined in such a drastic way.

Colin. Thanks! Apology accepted and no offense has been taken. I think it is sad that you kind enough to give the reply you did and you get your own red arrow just for being courteous. Right now I am in Vietnam doing something similar to Keith. I am staying in Hoi An for two weeks (long story why), learning Vietnamese and photographing local people’s portraits. My geographical area is extremely limited but what I have done is made many connections by making new friends. I am trading English lessons for help in learning Vietnamese. The language is helping me get images most others wouldn’t.

Just to reiterate. I absolutely respect what Keith did as a photographer. To have done what he did in such a small geographical area is nothing of phenomenal in this day and age. i guess my original post didn’t convey that. And again, the last thing I really want to be seeing is someone we all know losing their life. It is extremely tragic and beyond sadness when someone is taken before their time.

I only learned of Keith’s passing last night. It is very tragic what has happened and whenever one of our own is taken then we can only grieve. with regards to his comments to me. We are very different photographers. We each have our own styles and ways of working. It really is not the moment to name people in this way and to start making comparisons between our respective ways of working.

I hope not as I'll be in Moscow for 1 month at the end of the year. i'd like to use my downtime to sort out the keywording on my images.

Thanks everyone! In fact, one useful thing it has done is that it's made me go through what I have and see what needs tightening up in terms of keywording etc. I did find some images that didn't even have a caption so at least one good thing has come of this curiosity. As for green bars, I've been waiting for the usual suspects to come along who I know are well placed to offer insight on this. Very appreciated that as usual a feature has been added but no details offered up by Alamy as to how much difference it makes and that contributors are giving the best feedback.