Author: David

The Zuikography truth-detection challenge The Olympus OM system has been around long enough that rumours, half-truths, pub legends and pure photographic nonsense have fused into one big ball of “I think I read this somewhere”. But can you tell what’s real and what’s absolute waffle? Time to play Fact or Myth. 1. The OM-1 was originally called the “M-1”, and Leica complained. Reveal answer Answer: Fact Leica had already used “M” for their rangefinders and politely suggested Olympus reconsider. Olympus changed it. Leica went back to being Leica. 2. Maitani designed the OM-1’s shutter sound to mimic a samurai sword…

A focused, experience-led insight into 35mm landscape photography – built on movement, light, and being present in the wild. In this quietly powerful Kodak-produced film, legendary wilderness photographer Galen Rowell reflects on his approach to photographing remote landscapes, mountains, and fleeting natural light. Rather than presenting landscape photography as a technical exercise, Rowell frames it as something physical and experiential – rooted in walking, waiting, and responding. Rowell was an exceptional advocate for 35mm photography in environments where larger formats were impractical. A climber and adventurer as much as a photographer, he needed equipment that could move with him. His work demonstrates…

There’s a special kind of optimism reserved for people who buy “untested” camera bundles on eBay.It’s the same optimism that makes us believe we’ll get fit on Monday, or that the weather will magically hold until we get home. A kind of gentle, delusional hope we choose to carry because life is simply more fun that way. And so, one evening, against my better judgement, I found myself staring at a £42.50 Olympus OM-10 bundle that appeared – depending on the angle – either: Naturally, I bought it immediately. The listing photos were… let’s call them ambiguous.The sort of images…

A simple, repeatable process for getting great results with your Olympus OM – from frame 0 to 36. Shooting your first few rolls of film can feel overwhelming: This guide gives you a step-by-step beginner workflow.Follow this and you will shoot cleaner, sharper, better-exposed film every time – no guesswork, no panic. Think of it as the Zuikography method. 1. Load the camera properly (confidence starts here) Most beginner problems start with loading. Make sure the film leader is securely on the take-up spool.Pull gently – it should not slip out. Advance twice.Frame 1 should advance smoothly. Set your ISO…

If photography has a philosopher, it is Sam Abell. Soft-spoken, contemplative, deeply patient – Abell makes pictures the way a poet writes: slowly, deliberately, with attention to the smallest emotional shift in a scene. Few photographers have shaped how modern photojournalism understands composition, patience, and ethical presence as deeply as Abell. A National Geographic legend, a teacher without ego, and one of the greatest living masters of composition, Abell built his career on discipline rather than drama. No rushing. No spraying. No gear obsession. Just clarity and intention. During his later National Geographic work, Abell was known to favour the…

Photography has never struggled with sharpness, resolution, or perfection.It struggles with feeling. In a world obsessed with technical correctness, there’s something quietly powerful about images that breathe – photographs that accept blur, grain, imbalance, and chance as part of the process rather than something to be corrected later. This way of seeing aligns closely with wabi-sabi, the Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. It isn’t a style you apply. It’s a mindset you step into. Stop Chasing Perfection – Look for Truth A technically perfect photograph can be impressive.It can also be completely forgettable. Imperfection brings…

A short National Geographic documentary following the final commissioned use of Kodachrome film. This short documentary follows Steve McCurry as he photographs with what Kodak presented as the last roll of Kodachrome ever produced. The premise is straightforward: a film stock that defined colour photography for decades is reaching the end of its life, and one photographer is asked to use it one final time. The film doesn’t try to turn this into drama. There’s no countdown, no manufactured tension, and no attempt to create a definitive “last photograph.” Instead, it quietly observes McCurry at work – travelling, photographing people,…

Wildheart isn’t a place you rush. It sits quietly off the mainland on the Isle of Wight, and it has a way of slowing you down whether you intend it to or not. The animals here are rescued. They aren’t arranged, prompted, or encouraged to perform. They’re simply living out their lives with care, space, and time — and it doesn’t take long before that affects how you behave with a camera. I’ve grown fond of the place for exactly that reason. This visit was in early December. Cold, wet, and windy. I had thermals on, a woolly hat, waterproofs,…

The most common beginner disaster — and how to avoid it completely. Few things in film photography hurt as much as collecting a developed roll…and seeing absolutely nothing except 36 perfect rectangles of fogged sadness. A blank roll feels like a betrayal.But the cause is almost always simple — and almost always avoidable. Here are the five main reasons beginners end up with blank rolls on OM cameras, and how to make sure it never happens to you. 1. The Film Never Caught the Take-Up Spool This is, by far, the number one cause. What happens:You load the film, close…

Some photographers chase spectacle. Others chase perfection. David Hurn chased something quieter: understanding. A founding member of Magnum Photos, a lifelong teacher, and a fiercely observant documentarian, Hurn built a career on simplicity – a small camera, a short lens, and a clear idea of what mattered. While Hurn is best known for his use of Leica cameras, the principles that shaped his work – simplicity, discretion, and observation – are exactly what Maitani designed the Olympus OM system to support. He is, in every meaningful way, an OM-minded photographer.Not because of brand loyalty, but because the OM philosophy matched…