THECLAPPCOLUMN
Dartmoor National Park, Devon. 04:27am. 24 April 2023
A chance look at social media at midnight got David up and out with his new Canon EOS R3 shooting colourful aurora until the early hours
Over the last four years I have been trying to steer my business without social media.
It's not been so straightforward, but I have never got on with any platform and the process.
As a creative person I can imagine nothing worse than my audience digesting my imagery, along with updates from their grandchildren and photos of people's dinners.
That’s not to say I don’t use social media. I use the internet for what I believe it is intended for – following stupid stuff that makes me laugh! I like calamitous cat videos, American monster trucks, mountain biking mayhem. No news, no ‘doom scrolling’, nothing heavy. I like to stay light.
Late one night in early April last year, when the UK orchid flowering season was just beginning, I'm looking on Twitter (or X – was that rebrand really necessary) as I like to follow the findings of a few local botanists and fellow orchid enthusiasts.
I turned off the bedside light just as a post popped up – ‘I can't believe I would ever see aurora in Penzance!’ Wow, you can see aurora in Penzance? That must mean I can see aurora on Dartmoor… I shot out of bed to the window.
“What the hell are you doing?” “I am going up Dartmoor!” “But it's after 12…” said a weary Rachel. “It's actually 12:45,” I confirmed. “I have to go to work!”
Mobile, camera bag, tripod, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. Flask – check.
Lens Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Exposure 20 secs, f/4, ISO6400
This is also the maiden voyage of my flashy new Canon EOS R3. Other than documenting the kitchen, this bad boy’s menus are primed, and for its debut, it is about to see something really special.
I set off. Then immediately drive back home as I have a video fluid head on the tripod. I sneak in, climb the stairs to my office like it's Mission Impossible, grab the tripod head, and get back on the road.
I get to Bovey Tracey and excitedly take a few north-facing roadside shots. Everything is blurred. What is going on?! The lens is at infinity? Then it dawns on me – I'm using my drop-in filter mount adapter EF-EOS R. It's the only one I have with me, and for my infrared system, with drop in IR filters. I need the basic RF adapter that came with the R3. I have just learned a hard lesson:
