Adventures & Blog

Neil Long Neil Long

Photographing Epic - The Matterhorn

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise sits at 3883m or over 12700ft and it’s how someone like me, with less than ideal mobility and in no way shape or form a climber, can reach heights that some climbers train for months or years to achieve.

Breathtaking? Literally. At 3883m, the air really is thinner at this altitude. Also, if it’s bright, remember sunscreen, especially if you’re planning on staying on the viewing platform for a while. Whilst I was having a coffee in the cafe at the top, I decided to do a little science experiment.

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Travel, Photography Neil Long Travel, Photography Neil Long

Reims Gueux - The Forgotten French F1 Circuit

The idea of the rally was to arrive in Casino Square, Monte Carlo and en route, we’d be set a series of challenges, both skill and time-based. We’d also get to see some of the rally related sights along the way.

One of the first stops was where I’m taking you now. The Reims Racing circuit. Opened in 1926 and closed in 1972, the Formula One French Grand Prix was held here many times between 1950 and 1966.

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Neil Long Neil Long

Rainy Days and Creative Slumps: How Travelling to Barcelona Saved My Sanity

I truly believe that sometimes, as image creators, we must see, must experience, fresh and exciting perspectives. And there’s no better way of achieving that, than to travel to somewhere new. Obviously it helps if the new place has a little more sunshine to fuel our souls too. And that’s why I hopped on a plane and made my way to a city I’ve never been to before, even though it’s only a cheap, two hour flight from England, Barcelona.

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Neil Long Neil Long

Peak Design Slide

After 4 years, this is still my favourite camera strap. It should be yours too.

In 2019, I bought and reviewed the Peak Design Slide camera strap. I think it may be the best camera strap ever designed…

The premise of the review back then, was that camera manufacturers may produce amazing and expensive image-capture equipment, but for some reason, they cheap out on the straps they supply.

These straps are the very safety net we all rely on when carrying our workhorses, our pride and joy, the fruits of our hard-earned money. So why do the camera manufacturers seem to think it’s ok to include a cheap piece of advertising as a strap, rather than a comfortable, well-thought-out and user-friendly support tool?

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Neil Long Neil Long

The Dam

Basically, mistakes were made…

Following on from my long exposure image of The Bridge, I decided that this dam should be my next large scale engineering image.

When you get an enormous amount of water flowing down the wall and being channeled into the river, the water actually creates a lot of air flow. Combine that with the regularly windy conditions that Wales experiences during the winter months and as you stand on the little footbridge spanning the river, you’re hit with quite a blustery gale in your face.

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Technique Neil Long Technique Neil Long

Rainy Landscapes Through the Windscreen

Rain. The nemesis of landscape photographers everywhere. But it doesn’t have to be. What if I told you there’s a way we can still venture out on rainy days and capture some different landscape images to what we’re used to seeing?

For this type of abstract landscape photography on rainy days, we ideally need a landscape that offers us some colours within the scene. Autumn / Fall is ideal, as the trees, grasses and heathers are all changing for the season. That’s not to say you can’t achieve this type of shot in Spring or Summer. You may have to find a field of flowers or similar to get those abstract colours, and rainy days may be fewer and farther between. Unless you live in England of course…

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Neil Long Neil Long

The Bridge

How then do you turn a lump of large-scale engineering into photographic fine art? In this post, I’m going to show you how I captured this stunning fine art image of the iconic Severn Bridge.

Shooting into the light and with the sun just off to the left of frame would ensure the bridge would have depth in the light and shadow that fell on it. The sunlight also reflects off the water and hits back up under the bridge to naturally lift some of the deeper shadows.

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Travel Neil Long Travel Neil Long

Road Trip The Coast of Wales

Embark on an unforgettable road trip around the captivating coast of Wales, from Caernarfon's majestic castle to the picturesque village of Portmeirion. Discover historical landmarks like Criccieth Castle, enjoy family beaches, and ride on historic railways in Porthmadog. Immerse yourself in the allure of Portmeirion, the Italianate village with a fascinating TV show connection. Join me on this scenic adventure and unlock the wonders of Wales' coastal gems.

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Equipment Neil Long Equipment Neil Long

Editing, Sharing, and Preserving Epic Travel Photographs

Dive into the exciting world of editing, sharing, and preserving your epic travel photographs. Enhance your images with editing techniques, connect with fellow travellers through social media, and create tangible keepsakes to relive your unforgettable journey. Unleash your creativity and make your travel memories shine with these essential tips and techniques.

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