01/01/09 – Happy New Year everyone!! Well, all the long hours have finally paid off in the launch of this new website. Have a look around and feel free to get in touch and tell me what you think.

While it is now up and running, it is not yet the finished article, with several further developments in the pipeline for the months ahead. So keep popping it to see what’s new.

This website based on the popular open source blogging software Wordpress.  The theme is a heavily modified version of Pixeled by Samk.  A big thanks to Luben’s friend and former colleague Martin Clayton for the modifications.  Icons are by famfamfam.

The Galleries use SlideShowPro flash-based multimedia presentation software together with the SSP Director Content Management System.

Software used in the creation of the website includes Adobe Photoshop CS4, Adobe Flash CS4, Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 and open source Filezilla FTP client.

Luben does not subscribe to either the ‘equipment does not matter’ nor the ‘equipment is king’ schools of thought.  “Give the world’s best camera to a beginner and you will still get beginner images.  Give a disposable camera to the world’s best photographer and they will be frustrated by not being able to record their artistic vision due to the limitation of their equipment.  There is a balance to be struck,” states Luben.

Thankfully, with Luben you get the best of both worlds – a talented photographer using world-class photographic equipment.  Luben uses the professional quality Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera for all of his photographic work.  Its resolution allows Luben to capture the finest details in his worldscape views, while its low light capabilities are vital in recording wedding scenes without the harsh use of flash.  The camera is married to some of the best lenses in Canon’s line-up chosen to produce sharp, high contrast images whatever the lighting conditions.

For the more technically minded of you, here is a list of Luben’s main photographic equipment:

Cameras
Main: Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR
Back-up: Canon EOS 20D DSLR
Infrared: Canon EOS 300D DSLR (specially converted by MaxMax for use in Infrared Photography)

Lenses
Wide Angle: EF 17-40 f4L USM
Standard: EF 24-105 f4L IS USM
Telephoto: EF 70-200 f4L IS USM
Prime: EF 50 f1.4 USM

Flash
Canon Speedlite 430EX

Tripods
Legs 1: Giottos MTL8361B carbon fibre legs
Legs 2: Feisol CT-3301 carbon fibre legs
Head 1: Manfrotto 410 geared head (used for Worldscapes)
Head 2: Giottos MH1301-652 ball head (used for Weddings)

Other Notable Accessories
BG-E6 portrait/battery grip
100cm diameter multi-surface reflector
Hot shoe bubble level
TC-80N3 timer remote controller

Software
Photoshop CS4 – for RAW conversion, retouching and versioning
Neat Image – for noise reduction
Panorama Factory – for creating panoramas

Calibration
Pantone ColorVision Spyder hardware monitor calibrator

Solev.net Photography is run by Reading (UK) based photographer Luben Solev and is the outlet for all of his photographic endeavours.

Born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1976, Luben Solev had an early introduction to photography through his grandfather. His interest gradually developed through secondary school and university days, but it was the increased availability of digital photography that made him take the art more seriously. “At last there was a way for a photographer to have full control of the entire creative process – from capturing the scene to committing it to paper.” states Luben. “This exited me immensely, as I wanted to have full creative control; without the need to spend half my life in a darkened room with just chemicals for company.”

Luben specialises in three main aspects of photography – worldscape, wedding and corporate.

Worldscape is the word Luben uses to describe what is traditionally known as landscape photography.  “For me worldscape photography is a wider reaching term that covers landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes,” states Luben.  “Each of these attracts me for different reasons.  Landscapes and seascapes allow me to escape the hurly burly of the city and marvel at the majestic beauty of nature, while cityscapes are my odes to these most obvious products of our civilisation.”  For more information, please see the Worldscape section of the site.

Recently Luben has also started capturing that most special day of all – the wedding day.  Luben’s move into wedding photography was one of natural progression.  More and more people, seeing his landscapes wanted him to record their big day.  “I wanted these people to get great photos of their day without breaking the bank, so I had to do it myself.  There is nothing more rewarding then seeing the smiles of my clients as they relive the memories of their special day.”  For more information of Luben’s wedding service, please go to the Wedding Section of the site.

Last but not least is Luben’s involvement in corporate photography.  During his seven year carrier at broadcast and post-production manufacturer Quantel, Luben’s photographic talents were quickly spotted and he was given the post of official company photographer.  Events and exhibitions (including major ones such as NAB and IBC), studio product and portraiture, architecture and ‘in situ’ shots are all part of his repertoire, Luben was single-handedly responsible for all visual material used by their Marketing department.  Luben is available for booking on a wide range of corporate photography assignments.  For more information, please see the Corporate section of the site.