Sarah Medway

Hello, I am Sarah Medway, an outdoor photographer based in the UK. My love for photography started through my father and developed whilst studying for my degree at Ravensbourne College of Art and design in Kent.

Now I am a freelance graphic designer, and alongside this I also pursue photography, mainly landscapes around the Eden Valley in Kent and the south coast.

I am a photography workshop leader for The National Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent – I am passionate about the conservation of the world’s endangered big cats.

I started out many years ago with a film camera, a Pentax ME Super. This was a wonderful little camera and it held my hand through studying for the photography side of my degree.

As digital emerged I found the lack of resolution and shutter lag frustrating and ultimately unsatisfactory within my price range and still favoured my film camera. This changed when I purchased the Canon 5D Mark I, with a full frame sensor and fairly affordable price. Pleased with the results from the Mark I, I bought the 5D Mark II in 2009.

I enjoy capturing weather, storms and the moment when light transforms the landscape and the elements of nature reveal atmosphere and texture. I like to have my camera with me all the time for these fleeting moments of magical light. However, I have found the bulkiness of my kit a problem to lug around. Particularly if I am asked by clients to visit awkward to reach locations.

My kit needs to be able to produce high resolution images for commercial reproduction. I write and produce photography for various publications including BBC Countryfile magazine. I have exhibited in central London including The Mall Galleries and OXO Gallery.

I was commissioned by Leeds Castle to photograph the castle and grounds over the course of a year, capturing the seasons and weather. This culminated in an exhibition held in the castle and my images are now used on many Castle shop products.

A year ago, I bought a Fuji X-T2, which I love. It’s intuitive to use, highly portable and it produces superb results. Plus, it has survived some quite extreme weather conditions.

My current kit bag is built up around landscape, nature and big cat photography.

My essentials for a trip out are:

1. Fuji X-T2
2. Fuji XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8
3. Fuji XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4
4. Fuji XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6
5. Fuji 10-24mm f/4
6. Manfrotto 190CL tripod with 390RC2 head
7. Lee filters ND soft grads 0.3 / 0.6 / 0.9
8. Lee filter The Big Stopper
9. Fujifilm RR-90 Remote Release
10. SanDisk Extreme memory cards
11. iPhone 7 plus
12. Hoya Polarizer

I also carry with me a picnic blanket, a small bean bag, a couple of bin liners and supermarket carry bags. All have proved useful.

The picnic blanket is thick and waterproof on one side, so I can lie/kneel on it without getting muddy or wet.

The bean bag is perfect for resting the camera if it isn’t practical to use a tripod.

The bin liners and carry bags have saved my kit and camera numerous times when I been caught in storms. Even though my LowePro bag has a good built-in all-weather pull out cover, these are quick to grab.

My iPhone is used constantly to check forecasts, and for its compass and sat nav.

All of this is either in or attached to my LowePro Mini Trekker AW.

www.sarahmedwayphotography.com

2014

I trained at Ravensbourne College of Art and Design and gained a BA Hons in Graphic Design. My passion for photography started whilst studying for my degree where photography was an integral part of the course. I am a freelance graphic designer and web designer – it is alongside my design business that I also pursue my photography interests.

The marriage of light and land, for me, is the key factor and at the heart of my work. I enjoy the way light transforms the landscape momentarily, revealing cloudscapes, atmosphere and textures – I try to capture that moment.

I like to explore the integration and effect of weather and landscape, both locally where I live in Kent, UK and when travelling.

I have won the Kent Wildlife Trust Photographer of the Year award and my work has appeared in Coast Magazine, BBC Countryfile magazine, The Great Outdoors, plus other publications and books. I also exhibit in London and the south east, including the Mall Galleries, London.

I started out many years ago with my trusty film camera, a Pentax ME Super, which was a wonderful little camera and held my hand through studying for the photography side of my degree. As digital emerged I found the lack of resolution and shutter lag frustrating and ultimately unsatisfactory within my price range and still favoured my film camera. This changed when I purchased the Canon EOS 5D Mark 1, with a full frame sensor and fairly affordable. Pleased with the results from the Mark 1, I bought the 5D Mark 2 in 2009. My current kit bag is built up around landscape and nature photography.

My essentials for a trip out are:

1. Canon EOS 5D Mark 2
2. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
3. Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
4. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
5. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
6. Manfrotto 190CL tripod with 390RC2 head
7. Lee filters ND soft grads 0.3 / 0.6 / 0.9
8. Lee filter The Big Stopper
9. Canon TC-80N3 remote
10. San Disk Extreme memory cards
11. iphone 5
12. B+W Polarizer

I also carry with me a picnic blanket, a small bean bag, a couple of bin liners and supermarket carry bags. All have proved useful. The picnic blanket is thick and waterproof on one side so I can lie/kneel on it without getting muddy or wet. The bean bag is perfect for resting the camera if it isn’t practical to use a tripod. The bin liners and carry bags have saved my kit and camera numerous times when I been caught in storms, even though my Lowepro bag has a good built in all weather pull out cover, these are quick to grab. My iphone is used constantly to check forecasts, use as a compass and sat nav. All of this is either in or attached to my Lowepro Mini Trekker AW.

www.sarahmedwayphotography.com

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