Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.0, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Peak Images - walking cycling outdoors adventure photography and writing Chiz Dakin - Writer, Photographer, usually found on a hill or out cycling... ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [OWPG Digital Award For Designing And Building Website!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/owpg-digital-award-for-designing-and-building-website/) - Wow, I just won an award for designing and developing a website! The Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG) have just announced their 2020 Awards for Excellence, and I've picked up their Digital Award, which is sponsored by Cordee. Not for this website of course. The irony is that I've been badly neglecting my own - [VF2 electronic viewfinder for Olympus E-PL1 - UPDATE](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/vf2-electronic-viewfinder-for-olympus-e-pl1/) - An update to my previous slating of the VF2 viewfinder for the Olympus E-PL1 - where rapid access to the camera is not required, it's actually rather good! - [Blue-tit chicks sighted at the nest-box entrance!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/blue-tit-chicks-in-the-nest/) - We have confirmation that there are definitely chicks in the nest - a pale yellow head has peeked out of the entrance hole! The juvenile markings are suffiently different to the adults and showed that this was clearly a youngster, not a parent! (The youngsters have a much yellower face than the adult's white and - [Empty nest syndrome - our blue-tits have fledged](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/empty-nest-syndrome-our-blue-tits-have-fledged/) - This morning I spent a long while trying to get my camera to talk to my smartphone. Eventually I succeeded, but the nest was ominously quiet. R said he had seen the parents being active earlier, so I wondered if perhaps they had been very active early morning and were just taking a short break? - [Sounds of blue-tit chicks in the nest!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/sounds-of-blue-tit-chicks-in-the-nest/) - Over the last few days we've noticed a big increase in the number of times the parents are flitting back and forth to the nest site. Due to the position of the nest it's hard to see if they are carrying food, but the amount of activity we are seeing is very suggestive that there - [We think our blue-tits have chicks!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/our-blue-tits-have-chicks/) - The blue-tit parents have definitely settled and are becoming even busier than before. Although we've yet to see them bringing back insects or nuts to the nest, we can only assume that we have chicks in the box! - [Quiet cycle ride - on sunny BH weekend!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/quiet-cycle-ride-on-sunny-bh-weekend/) - As lockdown eases and hot sunny days become more frequent, the temptation is to head out into the popular spots in the Peak District. But the problem with that is that if we all congregate on the most favoured spots, we're bound to increase the risk of a second spike in the dreaded Coronavirus. So - [Driving in Mendoza and along Argentina’s Ruta 40 and Ruta 150](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/driving-in-mendoza-and-along-argentinas-ruta-40-and-ruta-150/) - Driving in Mendoza and along Argentina's Ruta 40 and Ruta 150 - [Páramo Trek & Travel Catalogue](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/paramo-trek-travel-catalogue/) - I've just had a short article published in the latest Páramo Trek and Travel Catalogue. Its about the 2nd Madeira Walking Festival which I was very fortunate to attend as one of the official photographers of the event - from the point of view of a photographer. The weather wasn't perfect, (it was unusually cold - [A window no more - Dwejra Bay (Malta)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/a-window-no-more-dwejra-bay-malta/) - I was out in Malta in January for a few days. One of the natural highlights of the trip was seeing the Azure Window. This natural arch extended the limestone cliffs across a layered platform and down a supporting column into the sea. It was an iconic landmark of Gozo (the second largest of the - [Tongariro Northern Circuit - drowned rats ahoy!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/walking/trekking/tongariro-northern-circuit-drowned-rats-ahoy/) - Tongariro Northern Circuit - drowned rats ahoy! - [New cycle friendly community pub/cafe opens in the Peak District](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-cycle-friendly-community-pubcafe-opens-in-the-peak-district/) - The Angler's Rest in Bamford is a new sort of pub - one owned by the community rather than a brewery. That in itself sounds interesting, it's the first one of it's kind in Derbyshire. Being community-owned means all the income from the business stays within the community and two thirds of the food served - [New Antarctic images](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-antarctic-images/) - Selenium toned (digitally) image of falling snow in the Lemaire Channel, Antarctic Peninsula - [Amundsen Sea - Ross Seals and the Ross Ice Shelf](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/ross-sea-ross-seals-and-the-ross-ice-shelf/) - Amundsen Sea - Ross Seals and the Ross Ice Shelf - [Diving the Poor Knights Islands, Tutukaka, Northern New Zealand](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/diving-the-poor-knights-islands-tutukaka-northern-new-zealand/) - 12 sites in 5 days on the Poor Knights with underwater flash to aid the camera get the colours of underwater. - [Antarctica Images](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/antarctica-images/) - Antarctic images from an epic trip on an icebreaker sailing half-way around Antarctica - [A Devonport hide-away and Rangitoto Island - Auckland's nearest and most recent volcano!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/a-devonport-hide-away-and-rangitoto-island-aucklands-nearest-and-most-recent-volcano/) - A Devonport hideaway and a day trip to Rangitoto Island. - [Minor updates to Two Tunnels Route](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/updates-to-two-tunnels-route/) - Guidebook updates are a little like buses, when one one arrives, often another isn't far behind! There are some minor updates to the Two Tunnels route in Bath - the most important one to note is that current signage towards the end of the Linear Park is confusing for those on the Circular Two Tunnels - [Cotswold Cycling - Route 10 (Batheaston Sting) ROUTE CHANGED](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/cotswold-cycling-route-10-batheaston-sting-route-changed/) - Route 10 - Batheaston: Please DO NOT attempt to cross the A46 - we no longer recommend the original route. One of the challenges of writing a cycling guidebook to the Cotswolds AONB is that amongst all the lovely quiet lanes and tracks, the region is also riddled with criss-crossing A roads. Many routes mostly - [Iffy winds on Cuesta del Viento still result in some good windsurfing photographs](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/iffy-winds-on-cuesta-del-viento-still-result-in-some-good-windsurfing-photographs/) - Iffy winds on Cuesta del Viento still result in some good windsurfing photographs - [Pismanta’s Geothermal “Pileta” and the hostel Rancho Lamaral](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/pismantas-geothermal-pileta-and-the-hostel-rancho-lamaral/) - Pismanta's Geothermal "Pileta" and the hostel Rancho Lamaral - [Pakleni Islands - Sea kayaking (Day 4 - Croatian Cycle Touring - Split to Dubrovnik)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/croatian-cycle-touring-split-to-dubrovnik-pakleni-islands-sea-kayaking-day-4/) - Day 4 Sea kayaking to the Pakleni Islands offshore from Hvar Town It's a much more relaxing day today - we can linger over breakfast without having to have luggage packed up and ready to move, and we don't need to be anywhere before 9:45am. Luxury! Even though the beach for sea kayaking is the - [Expedition Equipment - some thoughts](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/walking/trekking/expedition-equipment-some-thoughts/) - As we count down the weeks and now days to our Patagonia trip, the question of what we're taking with us takes ever more priority in discussions - at the dinner table, in the pub, on the way to the supermarket even. On many treks you have the luxury of pack animals or porters to - [Conkers Exhibition](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/conkers-exhibition/) - I've got several images up at Conkers in the heart of the National Forest. This is part of a joint exhibition by a group of us at Banks Mill, and runs from today until the 30th of March. The exhibition is in an area just off the shop, and does not cost to visit (although - [Photography award makes the Derby news](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/outdoors-industry-news/peak-images-chiz-dakin-in-the-news/in-the-news/) - It was a busy week last week. I got interviewed live on Radio Derby which was a novel experience and the Derby Evening Telegraph ran a story on me too. It was all about the OWPG Award for Excellence in Photography which I won recently. The Derby Evening Telegraph story is here but a couple - [Visit Banks Mill Open Studios and 5 Parks Ride - Derby](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/derby-this-weekend-banks-mill-open-studios-and-5-parks-ride/) - Lots of great things happening in Derby this weekend - especially for those that like cycling or creative work (arts, crafts, design). - [A blue woodpecker?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/a-blue-woodpecker/) - As I sat working at my laptop in the garden I hear a surprising tapping and hammering noise - just like a quiet, slower speed woodpecker! I look up into the apple tree, yet to conceal many of it's branches with spring leaves, in the hope of seeing a woodpecker, but all I see is - [Blue tits in the apple blossom](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/blue-tits-in-the-apple-blossom/) - Our apple tree is beginning to feel very spring-like with clusters of white flowers raining "petals of snow" down on the lawn. And it looks like our blue-tits have settled in the box and hopefully are nesting now. They're spending a lot of time near the nest, continuing to peck at the hole's edges and - [Blue-tits find nest-box](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/wildlife/blue-tits-find-nest-box/) - At the start of lockdown, we put up several nest-boxes made from untreated wood in the hope that some of the small birds in our area would find a new home in our garden. We've set up a wildlife camera to see if they even investigate any of them - it's pretty portable so we're - [New OWPG Website](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/new-owpg-website/) - While we've been locked down and unable to travel freely to the hills and wider countryside I've been spending a lot of time neglecting my own website, writing and photography in order to get the new Outdoor Writers and Photographers (OWPG) website up and running. However I'm really happy that this complex new site is - [Viewpoints book on it's way](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/viewpoints-book-on-its-way/) - I've just received the advance info and front cover image of my latest book - Walks to Viewpoints. It's one of the Top10 series of walking books published by Northern Eye. Although some of my images have appeared in other books they've published, this is the first book I've written for them (although my first - [Tea Shops book available!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/tea-shops-book-available/) - Really happy to announce that My Top 10 Walks to Tea Shops in the Peak District book has just been published by Northern Eye. This is the third book in the series that I have written (or for the "Best of the Peak District" book, contributed to the writing of) for them, although some of - [New Peak District walks book!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/new-peak-district-walks-book/) - Northern Eye have just produced a "Best of" book covering walks in the Peak District. Combining a walk from each of the titles written by my predecessor in the series (fellow OWPG member Dennis Kelsall) with one from my new viewpoints book and one from my forthcoming cafes book, this book is a celebration of - [Viewpoints book available!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/viewpoints-book-is-available/) - Really happy to announce that My Top 10 Walks to Viewpoints in the Peak District book has just been published by Northern Eye. This is the first book I have written for them, although some of my images have appeared in other books they've published. It was thoroughly enjoyable researching the walks and shooting many - [#Lockdown ramblings](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/lockdown-ramblings/) - It's 4am at the end of the 3rd week of Lockdown. And I can't sleep. Again. There are so many posts I've intended to write for this blog, and in recent months, just not had the time. I'd intended to post about the books I've written, the photography work I've had, the places I've been - [New Matlock to Rowsley CyclePath changes start of TdPD route](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/new-matlock-to-rowsley-cyclepath-changes-start-of-tdpd-route/) - The long-awaited Matlock to Rowsley cycle path is now complete and open for use. The Tour de Peak District route now follows this (with the old route, as described in the guidebook, a hilly but still worthwhile alternative). Revised route description for the new start to the Tour de Peak District: From Matlock Railway station, - [Really nice review of my Understanding HD Video book](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/really-nice-review-of-my-understanding-hd-video-book/) - Just seen this review of my book about Understanding HD Video. The reviewer has clearly understood exactly the audience I was writing for - that of stills photographer using a DLSR or CSC (ie interchangeable lens) camera who is getting interested in also making good movies using their existing camera (as opposed to die-hard camcorder - [The ghostly white head of Dunottar Castle?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/the-ghostly-white-head-of-dunottar-castle/) - Having had my curiosity piqued by the previous night at Dunottar, I returned in the morning. Partly to check out the location in the light (yes, wrong way round I know!) to see if it might be a good place to try again that night. Partly to see if I could see anything that might - [Tissington Trail widening](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/tissington-trail-widening/) - Work to resurface and widen part of the Tissington Trail in the Peak District National Park begins on the 10 November. The work is taking place near Alsop Station car park (about 5km south of Hartington), with widening works and general repairs being combined into one set of works. The works are scheduled for completion - [Madeira recovering well after flooding disaster](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/madeira-recovering-well-after-flooding-disaster/) - Madeira recovering well after flooding disaster - [Travels With a Camera site updated](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/travels-with-a-camera-site-updated/) - Yesterday I had a really useful conversation with a wordpress expert - Joke de Winter (it's pronounced Yoka, so don't laugh) who I got to know through the Banks Mill community. It was amazing how just being able to float some of the ideas I had for the site at someone who understands the technology - [Peak District National Park Authority wanting users views on popular rail-trail cycle paths](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/peak-district-national-park-authority-wanting-users-views-on-popular-rail-trail-cycle-paths/) - Having recognised how many people enjoy the Peak District cycle trails along former railway lines, the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) is keen to hear the views of those that use them - to find out what they like most about the trails, and what the PDNPA could do to make them even better. - [Latest photography commission - TGO Magazine Autumn Edition - Edale Skyline](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/latest-photography-commission-tgo-magazine-autumn-edition-edale-skyline/) - A walk with camera in nearly all weathers around the Edale skyline with TGO's Carey Davies. - [Discovering road bikes with the Norco Tactic 105](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/discovering-road-bikes-with-the-norco-tactic-105/) - While in Perth I had the chance to hire a carbon fibre road bike. Not normally the sort of bike I'd have chosen for a variety of reasons. After all it's a road bike. And having ridden MTB/MTB-touring bikes for so many years now, until I rode this one I really didn't get the point - [Korcula Beaches (Day 6 - Croatian Cycle Touring - Split to Dubrovnik)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/croatian-cycle-touring-split-to-dubrovnik-korcula-beaches-day-6/) - Day 6 Split to Dubrovnik. Korcula Beaches We're not ones for sitting on a beach normally. Seriously. I can manage about 10mins usually. 1 hour if there's a really good book and some shade and a nice drink... And R usually less than me. But the water is so refreshing and visibility so clear and - [Korcula Island (Day 5 Croatian Cycle Touring - Split to Dubrovnik)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/croatian-cycle-touring-split-to-dubrovnik-korcula-island-day-5/) - Day 5 Split to Dubrovnik. Hvar Town to Korcula Town A familiar pattern is now emerging - and one that's worked well on previous trips. That of a harder day followed by an easier day. Sea kayaking was pretty easy yesterday, so it must be a hard day today. First though we had to wait - [Island Hvar (Day 3 - Croatian Cycle Touring - Split to Dubrovnik)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/croatian-cycle-touring-split-to-dubrovnik-island-hvar/) - Day 3 Bol (Island Brac) to Hvar Town (Island Hvar) It's already feeling a bit of a whirlwind tour - it's early morning so it must be time to leave our luggage for collection, grab a quick breakfast, then a ferry! But we're glad it's a little less hectic than yesterday - we have a - [Bonus image from a photo talk](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/bonus-image-from-a-photo-talk/) - Every so often I end up giving talks to organisations and photographic societies - usually "within reasonable driving back distance" from Derby. Tonight I had the pleasure of visiting Newark and District Photographic Society, who were really friendly and seemed to enjoy the talk - the penguins always seem to go down well :) And - [Puffins still elusive at RSPB Bempton](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/puffins-still-elusive-at-rspb-bempton/) - I had a book launch to go to in Beverley yesterday (one of my fellow Gritstone Coop partners, Colin Speakman, was launching his new Yorkshire Wolds book), so on the basis that the train was unaffordable (at least to get there earlier than half an hour too late, which was no use at all...) I - [Peljesac Peninsula (Day 7 - Croatian Cycle Touring - Split to Dubrovnik)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/croatian-cycle-touring-split-to-dubrovnik-peljesac-peninsula-day-7/) - Day 7 Split to Dubrovnik. Peljesac Peninsula - Orebic to Ston. It's that stage in the trip now where it feels like we've been here for ages, yet how has the time gone so quick? Our final day of cycling takes us across the straits to the mainland, then over the hills of the Peljesac - [Island Brac (Day 2 - Croatian Cycle Touring - Split to Dubrovnik)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/croatian-cycle-touring-split-dubrovnik-island-brac/) - Day 2 Split to Bol (Island Brac) It's an early start today, with luggage collected at 7:30am, as in this direction the ferries/boat transfers come first thing in the morning but leave us all day to get to our accommodation. But with the heat we need to make as much as we can of the - [Arrival in Split (Day 0 - Croatian Cycle Touring Split to Dubrovnik)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/croatian-cycle-touring-split-dubrovnik-arrival-split/) - Day 0 - Getting to Split. UK to Croatia is a short flight - around about two hours, which puts it a shade nearer to home than southern Spain and barely further than Austria or Italy. It is after all just a short ferry crossing over the Adriatic Sea from Italy. There aren't as many - [Marjan Hill (Day 1 - Croatian Cycle Touring - Split to Dubrovnik)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/croatian-cycle-touring-split-dubrovnik-marjan-hill/) - Day 1 Split to Dubrovnik - Getting bikes and test ride over Marjan Hill. Having encountered some unusual but not unpleasant tomato bread for breakfast, we discover that the Croatians have a healthy passion for coffee in the morning. It's the first order of the day when meeting Ante from Meridien 10, who had come - [12 reasons to go cycling in Croatia](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/cycling-in-croatia/) - When the British summer seems to have got lost on the wrong side of the jetstream, the dull grey cold mizzly days are getting too much to bear and your itching for some blue skies, warmth and pleasant riding, Croatia could be the perfect place to go. Well, we thought so and after 10 days - [A wet and windy weekend in Wales](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/a-wet-and-windy-weekend-in-wales/) - "You have got some wetsuits for us, haven't you?" I enquired nervously. Earlier that morning it was looking a bit wild and windy as I had a brief wander around the head of the lake, and I'd been glad of a waterproof jacket. "Err, no, we usually just provide cagoules and buoyancy aids..." our instructor - [Gear Review: Alpkit Kraku stove](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/reviews/gear-review-alpkit-kraku-stove/) - This tiny featherlight stove from Alpkit is a bit like Marmite: Either you will be able to cope with its foibles and will love its lack of bulk and weight. Or those foibles will drive you to distraction and you'll hate it regardless of anything else. I've been using this stove since February 2014 with - [Expedition Food](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/walking/trekking/expedition-food/) - Food is one of the most important things on an expedition. Having something tasty and filling to look forward to can make the effort required to put one foot in front of the other in the face of howling winds just that little bit easier. Conversely, knowing that you've got something tasteless, or inadequate facing - [New Tour de Peak District refreshments map](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/new-tour-de-peak-district-refreshments-map/) - In advance of the launch of the new edition of my Cycling in the Peak District guidebook, I've been playing with mapping options in wordpress! And have figured out how to show all known refreshment stops along the lines of the Tour de Peak District cycle routes (both the main semi-off-road route and the new - [Re-discovering views lost for 40 years - Monsal Tunnels reopen!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/re-discovering-views-lost-for-40-years-monsal-tunnels-reopen/) - High up above a bend in the River Wye, a lovely viewpoint that's been lost to everyone for the last forty-three years has become accessible to all once more. - [Cycling in the N York Moors](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/cycling-in-the-n-york-moors/) - The N York Moors are well known to me from childhood as a place my dad used to like to drive my nan out to in winter. When the snow was piled up 2-4m high beside the ploughed road in winter (yes, they really did have proper winters back then!) And in summer he'd try - [Unexpected altruistic advice from a random triathlon coach](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/unexpected-altruistic-advice-from-a-random-triathlon-coach/) - Riding up a steep and sustained hill this morning (on the way to a meeting at a cafe some 35-45mins from base) I had a bizarre experience. Car driver overtakes, then stops about 50m up the hill. Driver gets out and comments that he likes to watch cyclists going up hills. Odd I thought, but - [Breaking News: The Autonomous Errand Bike (plus App) - low tech robotics making a remote community driverless vehicle?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/breaking-news-the-autonomous-errand-bike-plus-app-low-tech-robotics-making-a-remote-community-driverless-vehicle/) - In what appears to be a leaked "not quite there yet" forthcoming patent application, plans for an "Autonomous Errand Bike (plus App)" appear to be on the design tables for a collaboration of British industries. From the partial information received, it appears that the world of robotics may be about to be turned on its - [Bye Bye Canon and micro four-thirds Hello Fuji](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/bye-bye-canon-and-micro-four-thirds-hello-fuji/) - Today was a momentous and scary day. Today was the day I finally said good-bye to my Canon gear, and also my m4/3 gear (Olympus and Panasonic). The Canon 5D mk2 that was my professional workhorse for so long. That's been on press trips abroad, been to Antarctica and went across South Georgia on expedition - [Winter storms - 10 tips on how to drive through floods](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/winter-storms-10-tips-on-how-to-drive-through-floods/) - This post follows on from my post about a swimming van I encountered on my way to the Peak District - please do read that one first! What to do if you encounter a flood or ford? Don't assume that a ford is always safe to cross - always check the depth and flow of - [Winter storms - driving through fast-moving floodwater and fords can cause a swim](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/winter-storms-driving-through-fast-moving-floodwater-and-fords-can-cause-a-swim/) - It's rare that I blog about driving, but this one is travel and winter storm related. I was driving up into the Peak District in search of elusive sunshine for some photos for the update to my Peak District cycling guidebook, when I passed a van that had been trying to swim. And that reminded - [Nomination for "Article of the Year" (2016) award, for my article about crossing the Julian Alps in Slovenia](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/nomination-for-article-of-the-year-award-2016-for-my-article-about-crossing-the-julian-alps-in-slovenia/) - It's not every day you get an email from a foreign embassy. And even less, that it's such a delightful message, announcing your nomination for an international writing award! I'm seriously excited that the Slovenian Tourist Board has just nominated my article ‘Hut to hut across the Slovenian Alps’ for ‘Article of the Year'. The - [Reached my website on a broken link?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/admin/reached-my-website-on-a-broken-link/) - Simplifying my website recently may have caused some broken links. Apologies - and here's links to my most popular pages/posts as a quick way of redirecting in the interim. Family Friendly cycling in the Peak District and Derby area Tour de Peak District Coast to Coast cycling routes in N England Vango Argon 200 tent - [New cycle link to Chesterfield Station](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/new-cycle-link-to-chesterfield-station/) - Today's the official opening of a new cyclepath linking Chesterfield station and Queen's park (and onwards to the Hipper Valley trail). Having seen that the route was already open on the ground, I took a short run along it yesterday and it's a great improvement to the fiddly route around the houses and across busy - [Peak Cycle Hire Centres](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/peak-cycle-hire-centres/) - Just added a new page to the site trying to keep track of Cycle Hire Centres in and within striking distance of the Peak District. As always, if you find things have changed on the ground - or know of a fab new place that I've not got listed, please let me know :) [si-contact-form - [The next n+1 - a summary of wishes](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/the-next-n1-a-summary-of-wishes/) - This post is perhaps more for me than for the rare reader out there that finds my intermittent blog ;-) But in summary Weight: This actually is the most critical one, as the heaviness of the Raven was discouraging me from riding. Having re-discovered the Marin, that's been partially alleviated, but even the Marin could - [Conundrums in bike choice Road vs CX vs MTB](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/conundrums-in-bike-choice-road-vs-cx-vs-mtb/) - If n=1 is dead and road bikes are seriously grin-inducing after all, where does that leave me? I'm finding the 15kg Thorn Raven just a bit too heavy at the moment - especially for lifting over obstacles and into and out of vehicles and onto it's hook in the garage. And I really like the - [N equals 1 is dead N plus 1 might have a point](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/n-equals-1-is-dead-n-plus-1-might-have-a-point/) - For a long while I've been a great fan of one bike to do all (N=1). It simplifies a lot of things - which bike do I take today? The one I have! Where do I store them all - one bike doesn't take half as much space as N+1. And I can afford to - [A wild 24hrs on the hills](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/a-wild-24hrs-on-the-hills/) - It wasn't meant to be windy tonight, that was meant to have been this morning. But as ever weather forecasting for the mountains is a very imprecise art. So the first snow of this trip had come in the morning, but not the wind. That arrived just before dusk and, of course, just before I'd - [Sony RX100 mk3. Initial thoughts and real world shooting](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/sony-rx100-mk3-initial-thoughts-and-real-world-shooting/) - The Sony RX100 series has a great reputation. And in many ways very well deserved, it could be the closest that camera manufacturer's have yet come to solving the "holy grail" of a lightweight, small yet powerful camera with all the image quality that you'd expect from a bulky and heavy DSLR.But does it live - [Sony RX100mk3 further thoughts](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/sony-rx100mk3-further-thoughts/) - In brief, this camera is a lot more capable than my initial thoughts, but it does have some limitations, which will affect some more than others. Corner softness My copy did indeed show corner softness. But... when I tested it by shooting a RAW+JPG image of a handy printout of Jeffry Friedls test chart, the - [Canon 5DS - why I'm unhappy about a return to the MP race](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/canon-5ds-why-im-unhappy-about-a-return-to-the-mp-race/) - I've long been a Canon user, although recently a desire to reduce the weight of kit I carry has lead to me experimenting with a Panasonic GX7 and a Sony RX100 mk3. Both of which are very nice cameras and a lot lighter than the Canon 5mk2 or even 650D! But although I can see - [Backups, Archives and Lightroom - a few thoughts](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/backups-archives-and-lightroom-a-few-thoughts/) - I recently needed to find a few images I took more than ten years ago. And discovered it was surprisingly hard to locate them. Not only had I long archived them out of the current LR catalog, but that "Archive" Lightroom (LR) catalog was long abandoned itself, on a drive that I only had one - [SHAFF 2015](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/shaff-2015/) - I was only really going to return a tent! (The fantastic F10 Vango Vortex 200 that I borrowed from Dave Mycroft for the Patagonia expedition - it's got a rather illustrious history before it came out on expedition with me. But more on that later - I've heard something about its future and I'll share - [Whitebells](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/whitebells/) - And no, they aren't just bluebells that have faded in the excess of sunlight we've recently been blessed with - there really are such things as whitebells. It turns out that like many plants and animals, bluebells can come in albino form (ie missing the usual pigment, so ending up white). Typically it's the Spanish - [Scotland - in search of the elusive Northern Lights - getting going on a kp7 forecast!...](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/scotland-in-search-of-the-elusive-northern-lights-getting-going-on-a-kp7-forecast/) - A kp7 Aurora Borealis forecast (meaning a very strong chance of being able to see the Northern Lights in the UK) is a rare thing. Add in the met Office saying that there will be a very good chance of clear skies over the next few days and warm weather for the time of year - [Dunottar Castle - midnight ghost hunting!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/dunottar-castle-midnight-ghost-hunting/) - Standing on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the stark outline of Dunottar castle below, it seems so peaceful. That is, until I hear a sudden yell, and my heart suddenly starts racing violently as the two lads below run for their lives below me. Of course, a castle like Dunottar, with its strategic location - [Yellow sticky post-it notes for the phone are about as sticky as the current weather forecasts are (not!) reliable! (Derwent Reservoirs images for my cycling guidebook)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/yellow-sticky-post-it-notes-for-the-phone-are-about-as-sticky-as-the-current-weather-forecasts-are-being-useful/) - When the forecast is as useful as lead feathers & electronic yellow sticky post-it notes don't appear to have the same "sticktion" as their paper counterparts! - [Route 66 - Derby's orbital cycling route](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/route-66-derbys-orbital-cycling-route/) - Route 66 is a new cycling route around Derby - this article investigates what it's like. - [Cotswolds - cycle hire and tea shops](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/cotswolds-cycle-hire-and-tea-shops/) - I've been hard at work on my latest project - a guidebook to cycling the wonderful lanes and bridleways of the Cotswolds. (Which is why this site has been a little unloved for rather too long...) But while in the process of my research and writing, I've realised that a list of cycle hire and - [Gravel Bikes - and ponderings on whether the cycling industry is doing too well at marketing the extemes?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/gravel-bikes-and-ponderings-on-whether-the-cycling-industry-is-doing-too-well-at-marketing-the-extemes/) - As I return from the Cycle Show 2015 I have very mixed thoughts.... Chatting to folks there and looking around it certainly seems to have been very successful... For some... It's the first time I've been to this show, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Some of the stereotypes I feared might be there, were indeed - [Book launch of Cycling in the Peak District at Peak District Walking Festival](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/book-launch-of-cycling-in-the-peak-district-at-peak-district-walking-festival/) - It's a milestone in a writer's early career - that first book launch. How will it go, will anyone buy the book, do they even want your signature? Today I found out. Arriving early at Buxton Pavilion, it was a gloriously sunny day, which was fortunate in a number of respects, not least as it - [White Peak Cycling Loop moving a step closer to completion](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/white-peak-cycling-loop-moving-a-step-closer-to-completion/) - Updates on the White Peak Cycle loop - linking Buxton rail station to Matlock rail station and back - [New Peak District Cycle Shuttle between Matlock and Buxton](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/new-peak-district-cycle-shuttle-between-matlock-and-buxton/) - Travelling by public transport with a bike should make perfect sense - let the train take the strain on the way to your destination, then have bike all ready to explore the area with when you get there. But all too often, the train station isn't where you want to be, or requires you to - [2011 Calendar - Limited Edition, Antarctic Wildlife](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/2011-calendar-limited-edition-antarctic-wildlife/) - A CD-case style calendar for 2011 from Peak Images featuring seriously cute penguins and seals from the depths of Antarctica. - [2010 Landscapes Calendar - Derbyshire and Beyond is in the shops!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/2010-landscapes-calendar-derbyshire-and-beyond-is-in-the-shops/) - Chiz Dakin's 2010 Landscapes Calendar is now on sale in various locations in Derbyshire. - [2010 Landscape Calendars selling well](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/2010-landscape-calendars-selling-well/) - 2010 calendar "Landscapes: Derbyshire and Beyond" is selling well. Limited quantities are still available in retail stores in Derby, Belper and Little Eaton - [Walking Guidebooks](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/walking-guidebooks/) - And just in case you thought the photography was beginning to dominate the writing, one of the reasons this site has been a little neglected in the last couple of months is that I've been hard at work on my first guidebook. Its a short walking guidebook to some of the best walks in the - [Advance Copy of Outdoor Photography looks great!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/advance-copy-of-outdoor-photography-looks-great/) - I've just very sadly had to post back my advance copy of "Outdoor Photography", my latest book published by Cicerone - apparently the reviewers need to see it too! But the only reason I'm sad is that I couldn't keep it longer - it looks absolutely stunning (even if I do say so myself). I - [Outdoors Photography on Radio Derby today with Ian Skye](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/outdoors-industry-news/peak-images-chiz-dakin-in-the-news/outdoors-photography-on-radio-derby-today-with-ian-skye/) - Just got back from chatting to Ian Skye (sitting in on Aleena Naylor's spot) at Radio Derby about outdoors photography in general and my recent trips to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Isles. He was really friendly and enthusiastic, making it easier to chat live on air (even about subjects that naturally make me - [Off to Argentina for some exotic images](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/off-to-argentina-for-some-exotic-images/) - Chiz is off to Argentina and Antarctica for some exotic outdoors images. - [Across the Andes to Mendoza, Argentina](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/across-the-andes-to-mendoza-argentina/) - Reached Mendoza after a long set of three flights, but flying over the Andes with views of Aconcagua was worth it. - [Mendoza Gear Shops, Doite Gas canisters and Aconcagua Park Permits](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/mendoza-gear-shops-doite-gas-canisters-and-aconcagua-park-permits/) - Mendoza Outdoors Gear Shops and Aconcagua Park Permits - [Gale-force winds result in great windsurfing conditions and pictures at Cuesta del Viento!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/gale-force-winds-result-in-great-windsurfing-conditions-and-pictures-at-cuesta-del-viento/) - Gale-force winds result in great windsurfing conditions and pictures at Cuesta del Viento! - [10 years ago I could windsurf – can I still remember today in the strong winds of Cuesta del Viento?!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/10-years-ago-i-could-windsurf-can-i-still-remember-today-in-the-strong-winds-of-cuesta-del-viento/) - Remembering how to windsurf on Cuesta del Viento - South America's windiest lake. - [Zonda departure from Rodeo](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/zonda-departure-from-rodeo/) - Travelling south east from Rodeo, through San Juan towards San Luis. Interesting Zonda winds over lake on leaving Rodeo, car trouble towards Quijadas - [Thundering through Quijadas National Park](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/thundering-through-quijadas-national-park/) - Thundering through Quijadas national park to San Luis - [Coatis and The Iguacu/Iguazu Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/coatis-and-the-iguacuiguazu-falls-from-both-the-brazilian-and-argentinian-sides/) - Coatis, Toucans and The Iguacu/Iguazu Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides - [Hotel Altiplanico and Valley de la Luna in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/hotel-altiplanico-and-valley-de-la-luna-in-san-pedro-de-atacama-chile/) - Hotel Altiplanico and Valley de la Luna in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile - [Quitor Fortress, Aldea de Tulor, San Pedro de Atacama, Tocoano and the Flamingoes of Laguna Chaxa](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/quitor-fortress-aldea-de-tulor-san-pedro-de-atacama-tocoano-and-the-flamingoes-of-laguna-chaxa/) - Quitor Fortress, Aldea de Tulor, San Pedro de Atacama, Tocoano and the Flamingoes of Laguna Chaxa - [El Tatio Geysers, suris and vicunas in the Atacama Desert and Santiago](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/el-tatio-geysers-suris-vicunas-in-the-atacama-desert-and-santiago/) - El Tatio Geysers, suris and vicunas in the Atacama Desert and Santiago - [Kiersten's Camera Lessons - wildlife enthusiast meets landscape photographer!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/kierstens-camera-lessons-wildlife-enthusiast-meets-landscape-photographer/) - It's always nice when you get positive feedback from your clients - review of a wildlife/landscape photography course Chiz Dakin ran in Spanish Sierra Nevada. - [Derbyshire Bluebells in full bloom - a woodpecker - and an awesome location found](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/derbyshirebluebells-in-full-bloom-awesome-location-found/) - On a recce today for a few new locations for my Derbyshire Photo Trails, especially looking for Bluebells and found a stunning new location! - [First session of Photography Workshop in Lanjaron - aperture priority](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/first-session-of-photography-workshop-in-lanjaron-aperture-priority/) - Chiz Dakin runs photography courses in Southern Spain's Sierra Navada-blog post from 1st session of Feb 2011 course (covering aperture priority) in Lanjaron, Alpujarras - [Derbyshire bluebells and photo trails 2011 - early flowering and a new location](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/derbyshire-bluebells-and-photo-trails-2011-early-flowering-and-a-new-location/) - The bluebells in Derbyshire seem to be flowering very early this year, so you'll need to hurry if you want to learn more about taking better pictures of them this year! - [New dates for Spanish photo holidays](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-dates-for-spanish-photo-holidays/) - New 2011 dates announced for Spanish photo holidays - [Last minute: A couple of places left on Sierra Nevada Photo Workshop 9-16 Feb 2011](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/last-minute-a-couple-of-places-left-on-sierra-nevada-photo-workshop-9-16-feb-2011/) - A couple of places on last minute offer for a photography course based in Lanjaron (perfect base for the Sierra Nevada, Alpujarras and Granada) 9-16 Feb 2011 - [More Spanish images online](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/more-spanish-images-online/) - More images added to Spanish Sierra Nevada Image Gallery - [Spanish Sierra Nevada Workshops Group](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/spanish-sierra-nevada-workshops-group/) - As I'm starting to run photographic workshops in the Spanish Sierra Nevada, it seemed sensible to have a group page where folks who have been on one of my courses can upload their images and show them to others. So I've set up a group on Flickr here and added a few images from my - [Just back from recce trip for Spanish Outdoors Photography in Andalucia's Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/just-back-from-recce-trip-for-spanish-outdoors-photography-in-andalucias-alpujarras-and-sierra-nevada/) - Photography holidays in Spanish Sierra Nevada, Andalucia - [Spanish High's – Los Tres Miles](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/spanish-highs-los-tres-miles/) - The highlight of the trip was 5 days walking "Los Tres Miles" with Mike from Spanish Highs. We set off from Lanjaron in the SE of the region, and walked across several of the 3000m peaks (they have so many that some don't even have names!). The route roughly followed the main ridge line El - [Just back from Spanish Sierra Nevada](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/just-back-from-spanish-sierra-nevada/) - And it was wonderful! The mountains are awesome, everything from easy trails to full-on ridge scrambling (or harder!). You may think that the slowly disintegrating road linking the two highest summits mean this area's an easy day trippers stroll - just at high altitude - but don't be fooled. Yes, there are some easy trails, - [Image from the Trident Col, South Georgia](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/image-from-the-trident-col-south-georgia/) - This shot was taken from the Trident Col during a break in the clouds shortly before we set off back down the Murray Snowfield to head for Possession Bay. At 7:20am, it was fairly late in the morning (even without our early wake-up call from the wind, on a trip such as this you can - [Gear that worked (or didn't) on Shackleton's Traverse - camping and sleeping](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/gear-that-worked-or-didnt-on-shackletons-traverse-camping-sleeping/) - At the end of a mountaineering trip (especially one as remote and challenging as the Shackleton Traverse) it's always a good idea to consider what worked and what didn't. This post looks at how well some of the camping and sleeping gear we used on the expedition worked. Camping and sleeping The NorthFace VE25 tent - [Gear that worked (or didn't!) on Shackleton's Traverse - cooking and eating](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/gear-that-worked-or-didnt-on-shackletons-traverse-cooking-and-eating/) - At the end of a mountaineering trip (especially one as remote and challenging as the Shackleton Traverse) it's always a good idea to consider what worked and what didn't. This post looks at how well some of the cooking gear and food we used on the expedition worked. Also in the series - camping and - [A new adventure - Patagonia](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/a-new-adventure/) - Sometimes a new adventure is just what you need to wake up and feel renewed. There's the challenge of the adventure itself, are you capable of doing it? Will you enjoy it? Will it be worth it? When it's a tougher challenge than you've done before, especially one with no resupply over a longer period - [Canon Remote Control RC-1 Works With 5D Mk2](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/canon-remote-control-rc-1-works-with-5d-mk2/) - I've long rued the fact that Canon didn't make an affordable remote control for dSLRs. Well that now seems to have changed :) The Canon RC-1 Remote Control works with the 5D Mk2 :) Although I've always thought that this type of remote only worked for film cameras, and indeed it's often advertised as only - [Canon Remote Control RC-1 Review – update](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/canon-remote-control-rc-1-review-update/) - I promised an update on the Canon remote control when I'd used it a little more, and here it is. At first I was really excited by this new gadget. It's really small, lightweight and looked like it should be a major step up from either using the timer, or the timer wired control. But - [Update – Canon G9 fixed :)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/update-canon-g9-fixed/) - Repaired in speedy time! - [Oread Mountaineering Club 60th Annual Dinner - testing out the 5DMk2's high ISO capabilities!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/oread-mountaineering-club-60th-annual-dinner-testing-out-the-5dmk2s-high-iso-capabilities/) - Testing out the 5DMk2's low light (high ISO) capabilities at the Oread Mountaineering Club 60th Annual Dinner. - [The direction of the future? Panasonic's G1 range is a camera series to watch](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/the-direction-of-the-future-panasonics-g1-range-is-a-camera-series-to-watch/) - Panasonic's G1 camera range could be setting a new direction - this is a design to watch. - [Canon's EOS 60D sports the first flip-out and swivel viewfinder on a Canon SLR camera](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/canons-60d-sports-the-first-flip-out-and-swivel-viewfinder-on-a-canon-slr-camera/) - Canon's new EOS D60 packs a good set of features despite going slightly downmarket from a true successor to the 50D. How does it compare against 50D, 7D, 550D? - [Canon will make a 200-400 lens with built in 1.4x extender: early pros and cons](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/canon-will-make-a-200-400-lens-with-built-in-1-4x-extender-early-pros-and-cons/) - Canon has just introduced a potential killer lens for keen bird, wildlife and adventure sports photographers. But do the pros outweigh some potential cons? - [Focus on Imaging 2011](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/focus-on-imaging-2011/) - Review of Focus on Imaging 2011, a "first thoughts" review of Sony and Panasonic EVF cameras, sigma and canon lenses and a forced change of inkjet paper - [An impossible quest? : searching for the holy grail of camera design for outdoors photography](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/an-impossible-quest-searching-for-the-holy-grail-of-camera-design-for-outdoors-photography/) - Lightweight and ltd bulk vs quality, versatility & ability to capture action. A long-standing dilemma for outdoor photographers. Is the holy grail of a lightweight quality camera possible? - [An impossible quest pt2: searching for the holy grail of camera design](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/an-impossible-quest-pt2-searching-for-the-holy-grail-of-camera-design/) - A review of the Olympus E-PL1 after a tough mountain biking trip in the Cairngorms. - [Canon 5mk3 announced just before Focus 2012](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/canon-5mk3-announced/) - Hasty post as book deadline too close for comfort now, but it seems the Canon 5mk3 has just been announced. Just in time for Focus... Headline features for video: audio monitoring while recording - both headphone jack and live audio levels on screen. Thanks for listening Canon :) iso 50 - 102,400 same ALL-i and - [Panasonic GX7, Olympus 12-40 f/2.8 PRO, Panasonic 35-100 f/2.8](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/panasonic-gx7-olympus-12-40-f2-8-pro-panasonic-35-100-f2-8/) - Another new camera? Err, yes... :) I'd high hopes for the Sony as my main camera on the Patagonian trip, but realistically I always suspected it was going to be a second camera. It's a cracking camera, don't get me wrong, and it's definitely got a place on the trip. But the ability to change - [Sleeping bags that can walk and make you tea!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/walking/trekking/sleeping-bags-that-can-walk-and-make-you-tea/) - How many times have you been holed up in a tent, snuggled up in your sleeping bag for warmth as it's biting cold outside - and even inside the tent. But all the time wishing you could read a book, cook some dinner, make a tea, or even go and visit your mate in the - [Lanjaron and Granada in February](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/alpujarras-and-granada-in-february/) - It's good to be back in the Alpujarras/Sierra Nevada region! And my first thoughts are on the climate - it doesn't know if it's winter or spring or summer! Arriving at Malaga airport last night it was 16C - dropping to 8C by the time I reached Lanjaron, (now just 90mins up the nearly all-joinned-together - [Camera/Gear Review: Aquapac stormproof SLR camera pouch](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/reviews/cameragear-review-aquapac-stormproof-slr-camera-pouch/) - I always like getting gear to test that involves playing with water! And having just acquired a stormproof SLR pouch from the nice folks at Aquapac, it clearly had to be water-tested - despite the unseasonably warm and sunny day outside. Initial thoughts on the bag are that it's solidly constructed out of tough waterproof - [Expedition Countdown: gear review - hardware and sleeping!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/walking/trekking/expedition-countdown-gear-review-hardware-and-sleeping/) - The expedition is getting closer by the minute! It's funny how the last three months, ever since I signed up to this possibly rather mad idea, has been a complete roller-coaster of "I can't wait, it's awesome" to "how the **** am I going to be ready in time/sort xyz...?" (And apols for the lack - [Vango Force10 Argon 200 - initial thoughts](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/reviews/vango-force10-argon-200-initial-thoughts/) - I've just received a shiny new Vango F10 Argon 200 tent, and it looks fantastic and feels really lightweight! This post only covers my trial pitch in the back garden (I'll report on it's use in the hills later), so I'm not making any serious comments about it's use in the proper wilds (ie in - [Vango F10 Argon 200 review - on the hills](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/reviews/vango-f10-argon-200-review-on-the-hills/) - As I write this, the wind is howling around me, every so often a stronger gust comes and rattles the top of the tent. But I'm not worried, or cold either. You see, I'm snuggled down in the Vango F10 Endurance 1300 sleeping bag (yes, it is the top bag in their range - lucky - [Vango F10 Endurance 1300 sleeping bag review](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/reviews/vango-f10-endurance-1300-sleeping-bag-review-2/) - This sleeping bag (and the weather over the winter of 2013-14) has changed my thoughts on how warm I like to be overnight in the hills! I have to admit that when it first arrived, I wasn't 100% convinced that it was the best one for the job, I actually thought it would be too - [Gear Review - Sleeping mats](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/reviews/gear-review-sleeping-mats/) - When heading out backpacking for more than a quick overnight, getting the right sleeping mat can make a lot of difference between a cold or uncomfortable night awake and a good night's sleep. I've used 4 different mats over several years - from the humble foam mat (in various guises) to the latest warm - [Photographic Tips - Panning to Capture Motion](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/photographic-tips-panning-to-capture-motion/) - Capturing Motion While Keeping the Subject Sharp - Panning Is Useful in Cycle and Other Sports or Urban Motion Photography - [Honing story-telling and shallow-depth of field (aperture) skills in photography](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/honing-story-telling-and-shallow-depth-of-field-aperture-skills-in-photography/) - A simple home-based photographic project to hone story-telling and shallow-depth of field (aperture) skills - the chainsawing wood project - [Spring is finally arriving - it's time for macro flower photography!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/spring-is-finally-arriving-its-time-for-macro-flower-photography/) - Spring feels very late this year. But now that the snowdrops are out, macro flower photography is in! And snowdrops are a good test for macro flower photographers. - [Outdoor Photography now out!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/outdoor-photography-now-out/) - My latest book, Outdoor Photography (co-authored with Jon Sparks) is now available for purchase - either direct from me, through Cicerone, or at any good bookshop. I saw the advance copy a few weeks ago, and it looks really great (even if I do say so myself!) - I really didn't want to send it - [Bluebells - Photography Tips video](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/bluebells-photography-tips-video/) - I thought it was about time I started doing some more videos - so as the bluebells are in season now (and I had some footage and images from previous years ;-) ) I thought I'd create a short pilot video for a photography tips series. Of course it wasn't quite as simple as just - [A Photographer's Journey - Photographic talks in Derbyshire](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/a-photographers-journey-photographic-talks-in-derbyshire/) - Well-received talk to Derbyshire Image clubs by Chiz Dakin of Peak Images - [Derby Pecha Kucha event - change of date](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/derby-pecha-kucha-event-change-of-date/) - Southern Xposure slideshow at Derby Pecha Kucha Event 3 - 26 Oct 2011. Featuring cute penguins, icebergs and Antarctic landscape. New date announced. - [Newsletter correction: Outdoors show - out not in! Working on new book...](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/newsletter-correction-outdoors-show-out-not-in-working-on-new-book/) - Sadly my information about talking at the Outdoors Show was out of date in my last newsletter - it seems I'm not talking on the Cicerone stand at the Outdoors Show about Outdoors Photography after all this year. Apparently their theatre got combined with the main theatre while I was away (and totally out of - [1st video talk a success - despite projector resolution issues with HD video](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/1st-video-talk-a-success-despite-projector-resolution-issues-with-hdvideo/) - Just a quick post to say that my first talk including video seemed to be a success last night. Despite starting off with an initial worry when my husband appeared to have brought everything in, yet there was no projector obvious anywhere...(!) (I usually borrow one of his work's projectors for such events). But all - [Duffield Images](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/duffield-images/) - I've currently got more than a dozen images up on the walls of the Appletree Gallery in Duffield. Yes, it's the local doctor's surgery, but because they don't have the high rates of commission that galleries do I can pass on a large saving to anyone interested in puchasing any of my images while they're - [Australian Images Exhibition](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/australian-images-exhibition/) - As promised some my Australian images are soon going to grace the walls of a gallery in Derbyshire. They'll be at Studio61 (click on "Opening Hours" for location map) in the pretty village of Lea in the Derbyshire Dales. It's near Lea Gardens, Crich Tramway museum and the Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath - - [Last chance to see... air!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/last-chance-to-see-air/) - Last chance to see... air! Featuring some of Chiz's Derbyshire images on display at Derbyshire Hospital, this exhibition ends on 4th March - [New Exhibitions at Studio 61 and East Midlands Airport](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-exhibitions-at-studio-61-and-east-midlands-airport/) - As if one wasn't enough I've got two photography exhibitions happening at the same time! - [Southern Xposure - new Blurb book on Antarctica](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/southern-xposure-new-blurb-book-on-antarctica/) - Photographic travel book from an epic trip to one of the most remote places in the world - Antarctica's west and south coasts. Includes Phantom Coast, penguins, Ross Sea, huts and more... - [New outlet for greetings cards and prints](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-outlet-for-greetings-cards-and-prints/) - New Derbyshire outlet for my greetings cards and prints - [OPOTY shortlisted in world wildlife category!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/outdoors-industry-news/peak-images-chiz-dakin-in-the-news/opoty-shortlisted-in-world-wildlife-category/) - Just a quick blog post this morning. But while I was up in the hills last week I got an email saying that one (or more!) of my images entered in the world wildlife category of the Outdoor Photographer of the Year Awards (run by Outdoor Photography Magazine here in the UK) has made the - [Just back from the Madeira Walking Festival](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/just-back-from-madeira/) - I've been out in Madeira earlier this month - photographing the Madeiran Walking Festival (yep, they let me back in again - last year's effort obviously wasn't too bad!). The weather was a tad more challenging this time - all the skills of Carlos the taxi driver couldn't get us up the access road of - [Travelling again - South Africa this time!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/travelling-again-south-africa-this-time/) - Just back from travelling through southern South Africa - images of elephants, meerkats, ostriches from KwaZuluNatal, and Western and Eastern Cape regions. - [A short Timelapse - Arctic Norway](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/a-short-timelapse-arctic-norway/) - Just a quick post about a little timelapse video from my trip to Arctic Norway in early April to view the Northern lights. I've called it End of an Arctic Day - as it's just a short bit of picture-skew relaxation while waiting for the sky to darken and the Lights to come out and - [Setting foot on Peter 1 Øy - a very remote peri-Antarctic island off Antarctica's Western Coast](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/travel/setting-foot-on-peter-1-oy-a-very-remote-peri-antarctic-island-off-antarcticas-western-coast/) - One of the most remote places on this planet, less than 1000 people have set foot on Peter 1 Oy (island). This article is a first-hand account of the experience. - [Ladakh Floods appeal – overshadowed by Pakistan?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/slightly-off-topic-but-topical/ladakh-floods-appeal-overshadowed-by-pakistan/) - The more you travel, the more risk there is that at some time, some place, a disaster will happen in a place you've been to and had a really great time in. [singlepic id=264 w=320 h=240 float=left]Ladakh is one of those such places. Last August, from a base in the pleasant mountain "town" of Leh, - [Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year/) - As you may have guessed from earlier posts I've been out of the country for a bit - tackling the Shackleton Traverse in South Georgia. More of that later, but apologies it's been a bit quiet on here recently - that's why! Before heading out on expedition though, I was determined that I wasn't going - [Expedition Fitness Training - a home made kettlebell and other weird words!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/fitness-training/expedition-fitness-training-a-home-made-kettlebell-and-other-weird-words/) - UPDATE - Do NOT try this exercise if you have any niggling (or worse) injuries to the lower back... You will likely end up just keeping your physio in business! It is far more powerful than you'd expect and the leverage effect of the swing can really aggravate back injuries. (I got off lightly with - [Digital Economy Bill - Stop Clause 43 (previously Clause 42)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/photo-industry-issues/digital-economy-bill-stop-clause-43-previously-clause-42/) - Stop Clause 43 of the Digital Economy Bill - [HS2 and why it's neccessary for our rail system...](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/slightly-off-topic-but-topical/hs2-and-why-its-neccessary-for-our-rail-system/) - Slightly off-topic, but the issue of HS2, along with fracking seems to have a lot of people hot under the collar at the moment. Having got a good number of views of my image of Dunstanburgh which I posted with some comments about fracking on FB, I thought I'd have a brief look at HS2. - [Peak District doodled, err Googled... then "Trekked"](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/peak-district-doodled-err-googled-then-trekked/) - No, wait a minute, that was doodled, Google Doodled! The Peak District became the first UK National Park to be featured in the Google doodle today. As Jim Dixon, chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, explains “I'm really excited that Google has chosen to reflect the Peak District National Park on their - [Solving wordpress website database bloat](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/solving-wordpress-website-database-bloat/) - My website has been a little unloved this year... It's the downside of becoming increasingly very busy with paid work and spending much of the summer away - a huge backlog of images to process awaits this winter! But it's been an exciting year, with a third book published, and additional video skills added to - [Merry Christmas!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/merry-christmas/) - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the one person (oops, everyone, just in case there's more than one!) that reads this haphazard and oft-ignored blog of mine! As always one of my resolutions for next year is that I will get more things up here without deadlines getting in the way and then - [Indoor Climbing Outside? (the Morphus Eternal Adventure)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/outdoors-industry-news/indoor-climbing-outside-the-morphus-eternal-adventure/) - When is a climbing wall not a climbing wall? Perhaps when it's outdoors, and but more so when it's not just a single wall but a freestanding structure with several different slopes, overhangs and angles on it. Born from a desire to give youngsters and teenagers something active and challenging to do, and the shocking - [Should I stay or should I go now...](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-now/) - [New Penguin Species (Aptenodytes Shetlandii) Found in Northern Hemisphere](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-penguin-species-aptenodytes-shetlandii-found-in-northern-hemisphere/) - A significant and highly unexpected discovery on a tiny outlier of Shetland of the world's most northerly penguin species - Aptenodytes Shetlandii - [Cracking winter conditions on St Sunday Crag in the Lake District](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/cracking-winter-conditions-on-st-sunday-crag-in-the-lake-district/) - What a difference a day makes - Cracking winter conditions on St Sunday Crag in the Lake District after soft conditions on Nethermost Gully. - [Snowdon's overlooked outlier - Yr Aran](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/snowdons-overlooked-outlier-yr-aran/) - Alternatively one of the best weather days on a hill in a long while... :) November and December 2013 will go down (in my memory at least) as being some of the wettest and windiest for a long while. Particularly frustrating when what I needed was calm, clear and cold (ie snowy!) conditions for wildcamping - [Rakiura Track - Stewart Islands Great Walk](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/walking/trekking/rakiura-track-stewart-islands-great-walk/) - Walking the Rakiura track - a 3 day moderately easy tramp on Stewart Island - [Accidental deletion of images from Lightroom 5 - some cheap and no-cost options for recovery](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/accidental-deletion-images-lightroom-cheap-nocost-options-recovery/) - Recovery of images once deleted can be a scary business. And not cheap if you have to call in the data recovery professionals. Hopefully this blog post of my experiences with two missing folders may give a few ideas as to what you can do yourself for minimal (or zero) cost. For reasons I'm not - [Disaster on the fells...](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/disaster-on-the-fells/) - It was briefly a gorgeous afternoon - the clag had lifted, the sun was out, and I even had some company of a fellow hill-walker for a short while. I'd gone up to Esk Hause - [RAW video for Canon 5mk3](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/raw-video-for-canon-5mk3/) - Just a quick post to say that the clever folks at Magic Lantern appear to have achieved a major breakthrough - continuous RAW video recording on the Canon 5mk3. It's still in early alpha stage (ie very experimental) and hasn't yet got support for audio, but this could be one of the biggest breakthroughs in - [TGO Front Cover Image](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/tgo-front-cover-image/) - This month the image gracing the front cover of TGO was taken by... me! It was originally shot on another commission for TGO (of Carey Davies walking the Edale skyline) - a lovely summer's day when the heather was in full flower. (Well, it was a lovely summer's day at the start - it got - [Winter has finally arrived!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/winter-has-finally-arrived/) - Yesterday I should have been processing some of the huge backlog of images I've gathered while away this summer/autumn, and getting on with several things in the in-tray. But something strange had happened to the sky - it had gone a very odd colour. We don't seem to have seen this blue shade in the - [Journey - our film from the Kendal 48hr film challenge](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/journey-our-film-from-the-kendal-48hr-film-challengekendal-48hr-film-challenge/) - Just back from a fantastic week at the Kendal Adventure Film Academy and 48hr film challenge. 'Twas beyond manic, but a really great experience, and I hope I've learned a fair bit from some of the best in the business - Keith Partridge, Brian Hall, Paul Diffley and Dan Hodges - especially on editing and - [Australian Article](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing/australian-article/) - The latest edition of Outdoor Focus has an article by me on p 14 and 15 about the extended trip I took to Australia last year. Entitled Serendipity, its an account of how things twisted and turned so that a 9day trip became three and a half months, and let me travel more than 12000km - [Inline posting in wordpress pages](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/inline-posting-in-wordpress-pages/) - I've just come across a really useful plug-in for wordpress - its the InlinePosts plug-in. This looks like it should let me include posts in my pages - something I've been struggling to know how to do since starting this site. Solving this will hopefully let me get the "Adventures of the Red Jacket" bloglet - [Adventures of the Red Jacket](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/adventures-of-the-red-jacket/) - Coming soon - now I've finally just about figured out how to add posts into pages in word-press without those posts appearing in the general blog - no mean feat!! - [Australian motor-racing with a difference!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/australian-motor-racing-with-a-difference/) - Every once in a while you come across something that makes you sit up and think - "wow, things have really progressed while you weren't noticing". I just came across a site for a motor-race between Darwin and Adelaide - no noisy laps of special circuits here - the Global Green Challenge is just a - [G9 brick :(](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/g9-brick/) - Ages ago I bought the G9 as a small lightweight "go anywhere" camera, and until recently it's been good that. It's only for places where I'm hesitant to take the SLR, but for that use, its great. This weekend, I've just discovered the video option on it (ok, I knew it was there all along, - [G9 Brick update - has it got a screw loose?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/g9-brick-update-has-it-got-a-screw-loose/) - An update on the woes of my Canon G9 camera after it didn't like me videoing cycling while riding! (It's not a good idea anyhow!) - [2010 Calendar getting there!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/2010-calendar-getting-there/) - Front and back cover images of Chiz Dakin's 2010 Landscape's Calendar, with images from Derbyshire, Peak District and beyond. - [New version of Peak Images website](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-version-of-peak-images-website/) - Complete update of Peak Images website - [More images online at Peak Images website - Travels With A Camera](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/more-images-online-at-peak-images-website/) - More images online at Peak Images website - Travels With a Camera, including images from India and Ladakh, Madeira, Cycling, Mountains, Scotland. - [Pictures back in Argentinian trip posts :)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/pictures-back-in-argentinian-trip-posts/) - Discovered the cause of the problem where my images just wouldn't attach themselves to a post - seems something in one of the plug-ins got corrupted. Reinstalled and reactivated 'em all, and hopefully all now working again without havign broken something else in the process! - [San Luis to Mendoza](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/san-luis-to-mendoza/) - San Luis to Mendoza - [First Week in Antarctica](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/other/first-week-in-antarctica/) - After a day spent just offshore from the Falklands taking on fuel for the whole month's journey we endured the rite of passage now known as the Drake Shake (the Drake Pasage). It's notorious as one of the roughest crossings on the planet, and on our crossing, gave us Force 9 gales and 6m waves. Sadly, this blew us far enough west off-course to miss the South Shetland Isles. But we discovered a new use for lifejackets - as head padding against the bunk headwall when the ship rolls more than 30deg! - [McMurdo Sound and a visit to Scott and McMurdo Antarctic Research Bases](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/mcmurdo-sound-and-a-visit-to-scott-and-mcmurdo-antarctic-research-bases/) - We get a chance to see round a couple of bases the following day - Mc Murdo and Scott Base - one America and one New Zealand. The contrast in many ways couldn't be greater - 1200 people spend summer at McMurdo compared to roughly a tenth of that at Scott. Hillary's hut is a fascinating museum piece which feels very modern compared to Scott's Discovery Hut at Hut Point by the American McMurdo base. - [Fluffy Emperor chicks and mountaineering Adelie Penguins at Capes Washington and Adare.](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/fluffy-emperor-chicks-and-mountaineering-adelie-penguins-at-capes-washington-and-adare/) - Fluffy Emperor chicks and mountaineering Adelie Penguins at Capes Washington and Adare. - [Campbell & Enderby - NZ's Peri-Antarctic Islands](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/campbell-enderby-nzs-peri-antarctic-islands/) - A rare chance to visit some of NZ's southern most islands of Campbell and Enderby. A wildlife paradise for yellow-eyed penguins, sea lions, albatross+megaherbs. - [Missing pix?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/missing-pix/) - Yes, I know there is a distinct lack of images in the posts at the mo. Apologies about that - I'm having trouble keeping up with a) a month's backlog of email from being out in Antarctica with no access and b) limited options for net access with my laptop. It seems net is slow, - [Greenglow - glow-worm photography and caving](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/greenglow-glow-worm-photography-and-caving/) - Greenglow - glow-worm photography and caving -the anti-dote to the "no photography in Waitomo" edicts! - [Rainbow Warrior and Mercury Bay/Alderman Isles (Coromandel) a wash-out](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/rainbow-warrior-and-mercury-bayalderman-isles-coromandel-a-wash-out/) - Stormy conditions along the east coast of New Zealand played havoc with diving plans. - [Orphan Works - the photographers nightmare](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/orphan-works-the-photographers-nightmare/) - What is an orphan work, and why are they a nightmare for photographers? - [The Digital Economy Bill - a thieves charter](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/photo-industry-issues/the-digital-economy-bill/) - Another major flaw with the Digital Economy Bill, this one's likely to kill off professional photography unless its radically altered. - [Another day, another rights grab](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/another-day-another-rights-grab/) - Another day, another rights grab. This time photographers fight back! - [Great British Life do the right thing!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/great-british-life-do-the-right-thing/) - Archant listens to professional photographers and changes photo competition T&Cs to ones that seem very fair. - [Digital Economy Bill - an update](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/digital-economy-bill-an-update/) - Digital Economy Bill - an update, may not be the total disaster we first feared, but still has a lot of issues to be sorted. - [Clause 43 of the Digital Economy Bill defeated! You still own your photographs!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/clause-43-defeated-you-still-own-your-photographs/) - Clause 43 of the UK's Digital Economy Bill deleted just hours before the Bill got passed through Wash-up-a victory for professional and amateur photographers! - [Editing a photographic portfolio - part 1](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/editing-a-photographic-portfolio-part-1/) - Editing - such a simple word, yet so difficult to put into practice. But more than any other, success with that one word makes the best of any set of images. - [Cycling and Curlews](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/cycling-and-curlews/) - A chance encounter with a curlew while cycling leads to a fantastic aerial display and some great pictures - [New images in Derbyshire and Cycling Galleries](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-images-in-derbyshire-and-cycling-galleries/) - Derbyshire and cycling galleries updated on Peak Images website - [More images on Flickr](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/more-images-on-flickr/) - [singlepic id=143 w=320 h=240 float=left] Another quick update. I've just added a few more images to Flickr - 30 images from my Peak District and Derbyshire collection, featuring mostly landscapes and walkers. - [New Exhibitions page added to my site](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-exhibitions-page-added-to-my-site/) - With a few upcoming exhibitions, I thought I ought to get round to updating (ie adding!) my exhibitions page. The next exhibition I have is "Southern Xposure" at Studio61 Gallery in the tiny Derbyshire village of Holloway (which has some fantastic views over the Derwent Valley!), fairly much half-way between the Cromford Canal (at Whatstandwell) - [White-water kayaking images](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/white-water-kayaking-images/) - Tips on getting better images of white-water kayaking in wet weather. - [OWPG Annual Dinner Weekend and Dovedale Dash](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/owpg-annual-dinner-weekend-and-dovedale-dash/) - Or why muddy runners have become muddy cyclists this weekend! - [Bearded tit from Leighton Moss](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/bearded-tit-from-leighton-moss/) - Bearded Tit photograph and why they eat gravel - [Special Offers on Images, Cards and Calendars at Banks Mill Open Studios this weekend](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/special-offers-on-images-cards-and-calendars-at-banks-mill-open-studios-this-weekend/) - Special offers on images, greetings cards and limited edition 2011 Antarctic wildlife calendar at Banks Mill Open Studios this weekend - [New climbing gallery & climbing images from NASOP](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-climbing-gallery-climbing-images-from-nasop/) - Just added a new image gallery to my site - long overdue - for climbing images. Also contains some new images from NASOP last weekend. - [Derbyshire in early winter snow!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/derbyshire-in-early-winter-snow/) - Snowfall heavier than we've seen in decades was making rather pretty scenes - if you could get out to them! - [New image gallery - underwater images from diving the Poor Knights, NZ](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-image-gallery-underwater-images-from-diving-the-poor-knights-nz/) - Underwater images from Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand. Includes stingrays, mosaic moray eels, scorpion fish, sea urchins, yellow wrasse. - [Happy New Year 2011 - and a chance for dawn photography on the Scottish Coast](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/happy-new-year-2011-and-a-chance-for-dawn-photography-on-the-scottish-coast/) - Escaping to Scotland for a few days much-needed walking on the hills gave a chance to stop off on the coast for some dawn photography. - [Minninglow at sunset](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/minninglow-at-sunset/) - Minninglow at sunset - a mysterious ancient burial ground with a ring of trees on the top. - [Spring is finally here - new green leaves along the banks of the River Derwent](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/spring-is-finally-here-new-green-leaves-along-the-banks-of-the-river-derwent/) - Photo of new green sycamore leaf against the silvery silky water of the River Derwent - spring is finally arriving in the Derbyshire Peak District! - [Amplify and PeakImages Facebook Business page - an attempt to better integrate my social marketing](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/amplify-and-peakimages-facebook-business-page-an-attempt-to-better-integrate-my-social-marketing/) - I've been struggling with Facebook pages for a while, and had just decided to give up on the @PeakImages "business" page, which seems to be little more than a duplication of my personal page which doesn't automatically get posted to, when Andy of GearWeAre explained how to get things to post automatically to it with - [Padley Gorge PhotoWalk](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/padley-gorge-photowalk/) - Just a quick blog to mention the PhotoWalk I lead yesterday at Padley Gorge. Good weather, huge turnout (21 of us in the end!), happy faces, an ice-cream for some half way round, and lots of good photos taken :) Nicky Heppenstall's done a nice writeup here, and I hope to expand this to a - [Orchid Photo Walks - an update](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/orchid-photo-walks-an-update/) - I had a quick recce to one of my favourite locations just before heading out to Norway and Spain for a couple of weeks. Like the bluebells, they're very much earlier this year than usual, but I'll put futher updates on the orchid photo-walks page. - [Motor vehicles excluded from Chapel Gate MTB route until end 2012](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/motor-vehicles-excluded-from-chapel-gate-mtb-route-until-end-2012/) - A temporary 18month ban on off-road motor vehicles (trail-bikes, quad-bikes and 4x4s) is about to come into force on Chapel Gate - a notoriously difficult and eroded ancient highway which has become a bit of a mecca for both technical mountain bikers and motorised off-roaders. The route was closed for repairs until May 2011, and - [Uncertain polar bears](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/uncertain-polar-bears/) - It's been a while since I last posted - lots of things going on here, sorry! And while most of these things are good, there's been one big disappointment recently. It seems a certain north-eastern country isn't letting the Kapitan Khlebnikov come out to play this summer, and so all Arctic trips on it with - [From slouch-potato to expedition fit in 3months? Is it possible?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/walking/trekking/from-slouch-potato-to-expedition-fit-in-3months-is-it-possible/) - Start of a new section of the blog on how I'm going from basic walking fitness to expedition fit for a short but serious expedition! - [In Shackleton's footsteps - recreating the epic traverse across South Georgia's mountains](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/in-shackletons-footsteps-recreating-the-epic-traverse-across-south-georgias-mountains/) - Imagine Scotland in winter - one of those winters when it hovers around freezing, and the wind is howling. Now multiply that wind-strength by a factor unique to the roaring forties and fifties of the southern hemisphere. Add a crew of men who have survived their ship being trapped in the pincer-grip of the Weddel - [Ethics and wildlife shots](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/ethics-and-wildlife-shots/) - A recent furore over Terje Helleso's award-winning image of a lynx raises the question once again as to what is ethically acceptable practice for wildlife photographs. And as a pro, I have to also point out that there is an oft-competing question of what is commercially viable practice - and the two are often interlinked - [From Slouch-Potato to Expedition Fit - week 2](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/from-slouch-potato-to-expedition-fit-week-2/) - From slouch-potato to expedition fit is my challenge to get from a basic level of walking fitness to ready for a challenging expedition - week 2 involves running! - [New Exhibition - Derbyshire and Beyond at Studio61 in Holloway](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/new-exhibition-derbyshire-and-beyond-at-studio61-in-holloway/) - Stunning photographic images of Derbyshire and Peak District by Chiz Dakin at Studio 61 gallery in Holloway (near Crich) from 28 Sep to 30 Oct 2011. - [Weeks 3 & 4 of training for South Georgia (From Slouch Potato to Expedition Fit)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/weeks-3-4-of-training-for-south-georgia-from-slouch-potato-to-expedition-fit/) - From slouch-potato to expedition fit - weeks 3&4. Disrupted training, and it seems hard at times, but perhaps is beginning to have some effect. - [A mountain stroll to catch a plane - Mt Byng, Carcass Island (Falkland Isles)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/a-mountain-stroll-to-catch-a-plane-mt-byng-carcass-island-falklands/) - There aren't many places where you can walk from your lodgings to catch the plane to your next destination. Still fewer where it's a pleasant short stroll over a low mountain summit with an interesting scramble before dropping down to the grassy runway. This morning I had just such a pleasure as I set out - [Frosty conditions in the Peak District](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/frosty-conditions-in-the-peak-district/) - Just a quick post about a wonderful afternoon exploring an unknown bit of the Peak District near Buxton. A few years ago I recall being quite impressed with the climbing crags at Castle Naze, but had never wandered up onto Combs Moss and the moors above the A6 just north of Buxton before. But with - [Cambridge](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/cambridge/) - Just a quick posting after a couple of days out in Cambridge. I went there for the presentation of the OWPG Golden Eagle Award to Bill Bryson (which I had to take pix of), and it seemed like a good place to get some images for my next book (which I'm currently working on). It - [Sigma 12-24mm mk2 lens](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/sigma-12-24mm-mk2-lens/) - I had the Sigma 12-24mm mk2 lens on loan for a book I'm writing for a few days last week. So I thought I'd write a mini-review of my thoughts on it. First things first - as with Sigma lenses generally, it comes in a good soft protective case, which is far more protective than - [Canon 5mk2 - Manual Exposure Control Missing?](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/canon-5mk2-manual-exposure-control-missing/) - I was very puzzled this morning. I was trying to write what should have been a very simple section on aperture and ISO. But my Canon 5mk2 didn't seem to be playing by the rules. I selected true manual "M" rather than one of the saved custom functions (C1, C2, C3). But it didn't matter - [A morning running amok in a warehouse!](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/a-morning-running-amok-in-a-warehouse/) - Just a quick post to say I've had a very useful and instructive morning over at the offices and warehouse of Keene Electronics who are based near me in Derbyshire, where the kind folks who run the company let me try out various bits of stabilisation gear for the video book I'm currently writing. (Many - [Canon 1D C - finally the frame grab video capability for press has happened](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/canon-1d-c-finally-the-frame-grab-video-capability-for-press-has-happened/) - It's been a rumour for years - eventually this newfangled movie stuff that's migrating onto DSLR's will spell the end of the individual image for press images that need to be grabbed in a hurry. (And as the rumour told by some pro photographers goes, it'll put them out of a job as then any - [Camera Operator on the Derby Soap Opera Filmset](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/camera-operator-on-the-derby-soap-opera-filmset/) - Peering into the filmset of the Derby Soap Opera I've just had a very hectic couple of days working as a camera operator on the Derby Soap Opera filmset, and it's been a fantastic experience. Very very different to the sort of stuff I usually do - as far as you can get really from - [A long weekend in Jersey with the OWPG](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/a-long-weekend-in-jersey-with-the-owpg/) - I've recently been in Jersey for a fantastic long weekend, with the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG), doing everything from participating in a course on how to develop apps, to running an introductory video course, to walking more than a mile offshore on the sea bed and travelling on a very fast boat (a ## Pages - [Books and other published work](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/about-chiz-dakin/) - Books Chiz is the author of several books, covering topics from walking and cycling to video. Cicerone Titles: Cycling: Cycling in the Peak District Edition 2 is her most recent book published by Cicerone. It has 21 great routes, covers the whole of the Peak District (including the less well known areas in the north-west - [Family-friendly cycling - Peak District and Derby area](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/family-friendly-cycling-peak-district-and-derby-area/) - Popular traffic-free and mostly traffic-free routes more suited to families with younger children than most routes in my Cycling in the Peak District guidebook. - [Tour de Peak District Accommodation](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/tour-de-peak-district-accommodation/) - August 2019: Whaley Bridge/Toddbrook Dam damage The Toddbrook dam was severely damaged by floodwater after very heavy rain early in August 2019 and threatened to collapse with extreme risk to life if it had failed. TdPD and other routes in the Cycling in the Peak District guidebook are thought to be unaffected as a result - [Cotswold Bike Hire](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/cotswold-bike-hire/) - These are all the places I'm aware of that do cycle hire in or near to the Cotswolds, listed in alphabetical order by main town name. If you own a cycle hire business and yours isn't listed or you wish to update your details - please do get in touch and I'll update the list. - [Tour de Peak District cafes, pubs (and snackshops too)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-peak-district/cafes-pubs-snackshops-along-the-tour-de-peak-district-tdpd/) - All cyclists know that one of the really enjoyable things about cycling is that well-earned break in a café or pub. Whether it's a coffee and cake during the ride or a pint and pie afterwards, a good watering hole can really help make a route memorable! With than in mind, I'm trying to gather - [Contact Me](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/contact-me/) - Apologies for the annoying anti-spam question - we've been getting too much recently, so have had to add this to cut it down to size! Our Privacy Policy: We hate spam, so we fully understand that you would not want us to sell on your details to anyone else. That's fine - we have no - [Privacy Policy](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/privacy-policy/) - We hate spam, so we fully understand that you would not want us to sell on your details to anyone else. That’s fine – we have no intention of doing so! We don't currently run a mailing list, so you won't hear from us unless you have ordered something from us via another website (eg - [Tour de Peak District](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-peak-district/) - A multi-day cycling route loosely following the Peak District National Park boundary - [WP Statistics Honey Pot Page [2022-01-24 16:56:59]](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/wp-statistics-honey-pot-page-2022-01-24-165659/) - This is the Honey Pot for WP Statistics to use, do not delete. - [404](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/404-2/) - 404 Error Page - Sorry if you arrived here from a broken link, but here's a few links to some popular posts and pages on my site. - [Outdoor Photography - 2nd Edition](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/outdoor-photography-2nd-edition/) - Completely re-written from the ground up, this 2nd Edition of the popular Outdoor Photography book covers places, people, wildlife, outdoor activities & trekking. - [Cycling](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/) - This section of Peak Images website is about cycling, routes and ideas, gear reviews and more. - [Cycling in the Peak District (2nd Edition)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/cycling-in-the-peak-district/) - Cycling in the Peak District (2nd edition) is my newly updated guidebook covering moderately easy to moderately energetic routes in the Peak District. There's 20 half and full day routes ranging between 15 and 65km long (8-40 miles) with a finale 21st route of a multi-day "Tour de Peak District" which surprisingly ;-) circumnavigates the - [Peak District Cafes for walkers and cyclists](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/peak-district-cafes-walkers-cyclists/) - Updated Nov 2023 As all cyclists and walkers know - one of the reasons for all that exercise is to justify the café/tea shop/pub stop part-way around a route - or at the end. Or if it's a really tough route, it may even be possible to justify both! Below is a map of some - [Peak District Cycle Hire](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/peak-district-cycle-hire/) - Cycle hire establishments in the Peak District seem to come and go with alarming regularity. This page is an attempt to keep track of the current situation - if you find any have gone or opened afresh, please do let me know and I'll update accordingly! General info: For all hire centres, proof of identity - [Cycling in the Cotswolds](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/cycling-in-the-cotswolds/) - Cotswolds Cycling: Leisurely or strenuous, road or off-road, it’s up to you! The Cotswolds is home to pretty honey-hued stone villages set in a landscape of rolling countryside. The dramatic 100-mile limestone escarpment offers breathtaking views, while the network of quiet lanes, cycle-friendly canal paths, tracks and bridleways is perfect for exploration on a bicycle. - [Cookie Policy (UK)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cookie-policy-uk/) - Due to a change of cookie management plugin it seems that Google Maps cookies are now classed as "marketing". As far as we are aware these are the only "marketing" cookies used on our site - we do not ourselves use cookies for marketing/advertising, nor do we do anything like build any individual profiles of - [Copyright/Licensing](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/copyright-and-licensing-information/) - Welcome to Peak Images. If you reached this page because you are interested in licencing one (or more) of my images, then I'm very happy to speak with you about your licensing requirements. Please initially use the Contact Me form on this website and give an outline of: which image you want to use for - [Writing](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/) - Chiz Dakin's Published Books and articles - [Photography Tips and Techniques](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/photography-tips-and-techniques/) - Photography Tips and Techniques - a collection of short articles by Chiz Dakin - [Photography](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/) - All things relating to photography on my site - image galleries, exhibitions, greetings cards and photography workshops/photo-trails - [Antarctica](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/image-galleries/antarctica/) - Antarctic images from an epic trip on an icebreaker sailing half-way around Antarctica - [PeakPhotoHolidays](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/peakphotoholidays/) - I used to run photography workshops in the Peak District. Due to a variety of circumstances I stopped doing that in 2012. But as this page seems to be generating quite a bit of interest again, I'm beginning to wonder if there's still a market for workshops and photo holidays in the Derbyshire Peak District - [Image Galleries](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/image-galleries/) - Photography Galleries of images from Australia, the Spanish Sierra Nevada, and Chiz Dakin's 2010 "Landscapes - Derbyshire and Beyond" Calendar - [Outdoors Blog](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/blog/) - Welcome to the intermittent "outdoors" blog of Peak Images, kept out of date by Chiz Dakin. Please note, this is an OUTDOORS blog, NOT a photo blog, even though photography is covered at times within it. Posts are mostly about walking, cycling, backpacking, wild-camping, ski-touring and gear reviews, along with some about photography, writing and - [Video](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/) - Short video and timelapse sequences - [5 Tips to improve your Snowdrop photos (Macro Flower Photography)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/photography-tips-and-techniques/photographing-snowdrops-successfully-aka-how-to-improve-your-macro-flower-photography/) - A short article covering key points to help the novice photographer improve their shots of flowers, especially snowdrops. - [Coast to Coast Cycling Routes in Northern England](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/coast-to-coast-cycling-routes-in-northern-england/) - Since the opening of the "Way of the Roses" cycle route (Sep 2010), there are apparently now seven official Coast to Coast cycle routes in the North of England, although I am only aware of six myself. Some of these, like the original C2C route are very well known, others like the Walney to Wear - [Cotswolds cafes and pubs for cyclists](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/cotswolds-cafes-and-pubs-for-cyclists/) - In the process of researching my forthcoming cycling guidebook to the Cotswolds I have found it hard to find out in advance where good cafes en-route might be. So to help others cycling in the Cotswolds and around, I'm collecting an informal list of those that seem good (either because I stopped at them and - [Los Tres Miles](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/trekking-articles-sierra-nevada/) - Account of a 5 day backpacking trip across the spine of the Spanish Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada. - [Video 5 - Sneak Preview of In Shackleton's Footsteps](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/video-5-sneak-preview-of-in-shackletons-footsteps/) - It's not every day you get the chance to follow in the footsteps of someone as famous as Ernest Shackleton, but in Dec 2011 I got a last-minute chance to join an international team of 9, skiing across South Georgia (the sub-Antarctic island, not a state of the US or somewhere near Russia!). I'd hoped - [Video-Caroline](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/video-caroline/) - This is a short (under 2mins) "pilot project" from a group of us in Derby who have got together to form a film-making group. It was first shown at Quad cinema as part of a FiveLampsFilms event (roughly bi-monthly showing of films made by local groups around Derby) and looked stunning on the big screen. - [Video3](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/video3/) - [Video2](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/video/video2/) - [Monsal Trail (Bakewell to Wye Dale)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/monsal-trail/) - Key facts: To/From: Bakewell to Topley Pike (Wye Dale) Length: 8.5miles/14km Steepness: Former railway line, negligable Cycle & Electric Bike Hire: Yes, at Hassop Station and Blackwell. Rail access: none directly as yet, nearest at Buxton or Matlock Tunnels: Six of which four are lengthy (300-500m long), lit in daylight hours, not lit at night. - [Exhibitions](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/photography/exhibitions/) - Latest Derbyshire exhibitions of Chiz Dakin's landscape and wildlife images: Studio61 from Sep 26 - Oct 30 2011. - [Derby’s Orbital Route 66](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/cycling/derbys-orbital-route-66/) - [[2795]] - [Guestbook](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/about-chiz-dakin-old/guestbook/) - This is just a brief glimpse into some of the kind comments and thanks I've had from recent customers on my photography courses. - [Top End Tours – The Tiwi Islands, Australia:A Must-Do Trip To See Aboriginal Tropical Island Culture Near Darwin ](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/australia/top-end-tours-–-the-tiwi-islands-australiaa-must-do-trip-to-see-aboriginal-tropical-island-culture-near-darwin/) - The Tiwi Islands are just offshore from Darwin, but are entirely Aboriginal-owned and are hard to visit unless part of a tour. However if access can be gained, they make an interesting and varied day trip. - [Driving the Gibb River Road (East), Australia](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/australia/driving-the-gibb-river-road-east-australia/) - The Gibb River Road in Western Oz has a reputation for eating 4x4s for breakfast & it really likes tyres! But that shouldn't put visitors off-even a 4WD newbie can do it. - [Glass House Mountains (Scrambling)](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/australia/scrambling-the-glass-house-mountains-australiawalking-and-climbing-around-mt-tibrogargan-nr-brisbane-queensland/) - Scrambling the Glass House Mountains, Australia:Walking and Climbing Around Mt Tibrogargan, nr Brisbane, Queensland - [History of the Glass House Mountains, Brisbane](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/australia/history-of-the-glass-house-mountains-brisbane/) - The Glass House Mountains form a striking outline overlooking the Sunshine Coast, have a rich historical past and are very accessible - being only 70km north of Brisbane. - [Four Places to Visit Around Darwin](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/australia/four-places-to-visit-around-darwin/) - Named after evolutionary theorist, Charles Darwin, this tropical city is best known for its sultry climate, but has many hidden historical gems that shouldn't be missed. - [Blog Archives](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/blog/blog-archives/) - [Australia](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/writing-and-published-articles-by-chiz-dakin/australia/) - This section contains articles based on travelling around Australia. ## Categories - [Other](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/other/) - [Peak Images and Chiz Dakin In The News](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/other/outdoors-industry-news/peak-images-chiz-dakin-in-the-news/) - [Photography](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/photography/) - [Writing](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/writing/) - [Trekking](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/walking/trekking/) - [Photography Industry Issues](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/photography/photo-industry-issues/) - [Cycling](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/cycling/) - [Travel](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/travel/) - [Video](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/video/) - [Slightly off-topic but topical](https://www.peakimages.co.uk/category/other/slightly-off-topic-but-topical/) - 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