Back in the days of film the square format was limited to photographers who purchased medium format cameras (such as Hasselblad or Bronica) that produced 6x6cm negatives. You had to decide on which format you wanted to work in before you purchased the camera, and (cropping aside) you were forced to work in the aspect ratio of the cameras that you chose.

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Craft & Vision have just released their newest eBook, Making the Print: Printing Techniques for the Digital Photographer. Written by photographer Martin Bailey it’s a complete guide to printing your digital images at home on an inkjet printer.

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2011 was an eventful year for me – it started off in New Zealand and finished in China. It was also my first full year working as a freelance writer. January is a natural time to reflect on the achievements and disappointments of the previous 12 months; to celebrate successes, learn from mistakes and make plans for the year to come. Part of that process is evaluating how I’ve developed as a writer and photographer. At the end of last year I chose my ten favourite photos. This year I’ve done it again. Comparing the two sets of images shows how my focus has changed; and hints at future projects and images to come.

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As a photographer staying in China, I’m interested in beautiful landscapes and the way that people in the more remote parts of the country live (I’m planning a trip to Yunnan early next year – I won’t find many of those here in Shanghai). But a photographer who ventured into remote China long before me is Terri Gold. Her work caught my eye some time ago as she has created some beautiful black and white images using a digital camera converted to infrared. She has travelled to China several times, and is a witness to the immense changes that have taken place here over the last twenty years or so.

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I’ve just finished watching The Tudors on DVD with my girlfriend – all four seasons, working our way through the episodes by playing one each night. The series is brilliant on many levels, but the thing that stays with me most is the portrayal of King Henry VIII and his close friend, Charles Brandon as they changed over the decades covered by the show.

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