Useful Links

Robert White: Highly regarded source of large format (and other) equipment. Excellent advice tailored to suit the customer's needs rather than sales coupled with exemplary follow up service.

Large Format Photography Site: One of the most informative sites on large format photography. Contains many useful articles and links to other sites as well as discussion groups.

View Camera Magazine: The only magazine devoted entirely to large format photography. The articles range from portfolios, interviews and discussions to technical matters including equipment reviews. Within the UK, the magazine is distributed by Robert White.

Ebony Cameras: Makers of a wide range of large format cameras, made from wood (Ebony!) and titanium. Not cheap but worth every penny.

Lee Filters: Makers of very high quality filters and a firm favourite with many landscape photographers.

Fuji Film: From the start of its introduction, Fuji Velvia 50 has been the film of choice for most colour landscape photography. Its availability in Fuji's Quickload form for the 4×5 format means that it is possible to carry enough film not to run out after a long trek. It also means there is no risk of stray dust as can happen when loading traditional holders (the only down side is the extra cost of course). This is a film that is well worth getting to know, it does suffer from reciprocity failure and undergoes some colour shift for long exposures but both are controllable. Fuji Provia 100F also comes in very handy when the extra speed is needed or, more likely, a more muted colour palette is required.
Sadly Fuji have now discontinued Velvia 50 and have replaced it with Velvia 100. The film was described as new when it was introduced but it had been available in Japan for some time (it should not be confused with Velvia 100F). There have been various test reports on this film but curiously the ones that I have seen do not touch on one important feature of the film; the way it handles colours at the red end of the spectrum under some conditions. You can read my observations here. Velvia 50 production has stopped and retailers either have no stock or not very much. A replacement Velvia 50 is now available but I have not used it (thanks to my stock of classic Velvia).

Colour management: Reliable representation and translation of colour on and via various devices (scanners, computers, printers) is in principle straight forward but in practice rather involved. Neil Barstow's web site is an excellent resource. You will find much useful information there including links to other places. The "Books" page gives a guide to reading (and can save you money); in particular the book Getting Colour Right is a very well written guide to the area.

A&M Imaging Services Excellent service and results in film processing, great care is taken in loading 4x5 sheets so that the clip marks are as close to the edge as possible. Very clean transparencies with colour as good as you'd expect. No charge for pushing or pulling, you could find cheaper but not better.

Historic Scotland: Looks after many sites of historical interest within Scotland. You can become a friend by joining either for a year or for life. Many sites are free but others (e.g., Edinburgh Castle) carry a charge; friends have free entry as well as a healthy discount on purchases.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office: Provides tide predictions (free for the current day and the next six). I have found this very useful on many occasions, if you intend to do a lot of coastal work then it will be worth paying for longer term information. Please note that this link will open a new window (as required by UKHO links policy). There are also services for predicting sun position but I have never used them (many other people do, it is a matter of an individual's photographic needs).

Ishbel MacAskill (Iseabail NicAsgaill) Gaelic singing at its finest. Currently available recordings are Sìoda and Essentially Ishbell both world class.