Pollution - River Taff, Cardiff, Wales
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House of Fraser closes after 158 years - press photography
House of Fraser, previously the Howells department store, has been a retail landmark in St Mary Street, Cardiff, for more than 150 years. It was established by James Howell in 1865 and acquired by the House of Fraser group in 1972. It closed for the final time on March 26, 2023, and is now set to be redeveloped into a multi-use space including retail, office and food and drink units.
Welsh Independence March
Platinum Jubilee - South Wales
Nikon Z 9
Few thoughts in no particular order on the Nikon Z 9 which I’ve been using since just before Christmas last year. I had previously been using the Nikon D6/5 but sold them both and switched to a fully mirrorless setup: the Nikon Z 7 and the Z 9.
The Z 9 feels and handles like any other professional Nikon camera I’ve used. The menus are a bit more polished but 10 mins after picking it up from Camera Centre UK in Cardiff I was out and shooting with it. It’s very familiar to anyone who has used a Nikon camera before. In terms of its size the camera is less chunky than the D6 - presumably due to the lack of shutter. I’m glad it takes the existing D5/6 batteries too.
Z 9 seems to combine the best of Z 7 and D6 cameras together - silent shutter, gps fast/accurate focus tracking, very responsive and good editing and networking capabilities.
The main difference I’ve noticed is the autofocus system which is incredible. The tracking functions are excellent and mean I can get pictures that would be much more difficult with the Z 7. I’m getting a lot more pictures in focus and attempting a lot more pictures I wouldn’t have otherwise tried.
Being able to shoot 20fps with a blackout free viewfinder is also a big plus over the Z 7 - it can be very easy to forget that you are taking pictures at all if the camera is set to be completely silent.
The battery seems about twice as good as the Z 7 and half as good as the D6. I use the wireless networking functions fairly heavily which no doubt runs the battery down considerably. Being able to charge via a USB C cable is very useful. When travelling it means a camera, laptop and phone can all be charged from one plug and two cables.
The protective shutter that covers the sensor when a lens is removed is an absolute godsend. I was surprised it was off by default in the menu system. I had to clean the Z 7 sensor monthly if not fortnightly.
One of my least favourite things with the Z 7 was the momentary delay in the viewfinder turning on after being raised to the eye - no doubt it was milliseconds but felt like an age at times, particularly when something was happening in front of you! The Z 9 is considerably faster.
20fps is very useful - even if it’s just in a press conference where you want to capture a brief moment where someone is gesturing or pointing. It gives far more options.
Would be good to see the release of the NX Mobile Air app. I know it’s been released in the US but for some reason it doesn’t seem to have been released in Europe yet.
It would be nice if Nikon could find a way of grouping images shot in a single burst together - similar to how the iPhone manages burst photos. Scrolling through on the back of the camera can take a long time with long bursts at 20fps and it’s a nightmare at 120fps.
Kill the Bill protest
CARDIFF, WALES - JANUARY 15: Kill the Bill protest on January 15, 2022 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. The House of Lords is due to vote on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) bill on Monday 17 January. The protesters believe if the bill passes unamended the right to protest will be compromised in the future and the police will be given greater powers.
New Years Eve in Cardiff
CARDIFF, WALES: New Years Eve in Cardiff, Wales. The countries that make up the UK have differing covid measures in place over the festive period. In Scotland, a maximum of 500 people can attend outdoor events where physical distancing of one metre is in place meaning the traditional Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations have been canceled. The rule-of-six in regulated premises, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas and theatres, was reintroduced in Wales on Boxing Day along with the closure of nightclubs. In England, the government has not introduced any new measures. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
NHS protest - press photography
CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 03: Protest in support of the NHS on July 3, 2021 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. On July 05, 1948 the National Health Service was launched to provide free healthcare for everybody in the United Kingdom. To mark the 73rd anniversary of the occasion, rallies are taking place across the country calling for increased pay for NHS staff and opposing privatisation.
Wales v Turkey Euro 2020
Senedd Elections 2021
Rubbish at Cardiff Bay
LICENCE IMAGES: https://archive.matt-horwood.com/gallery/010421-Rubbish-Cardiff-Bay-Cardiff-Wales/G0000P1qpPtYqkP0
Protest at Cardiff Central Police station
CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 17: A protest outside Cardiff Central Police Station on March 17, 2021 in Cardiff, Wales. Legislation giving police greater power to crack down on protests has passed its second reading in the House of Commons with a majority of 96 votes, amid anger at the way officers broke up a vigil for Sarah Everard where women were handcuffed and arrested. Sarah Everard, 33, disappeared after walking home from a friend's house on March 3. Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with the 33-year-old's kidnap and murder.
LICENCE IMAGES: https://archive.matt-horwood.com/gallery/170321-Cardiff-Central-Police-Station-protest-Cardiff-Wales/G0000J4.s.TV_WrY/
"Reclaim These Streets" protest at Cardiff Police Station
CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 15: Protestors hold signs outside Cardiff Bay police station during a protest on March 15, 2021 in Cardiff, Wales. Labour has announced it will oppose a new law handing police greater powers to crack down on protests amid anger at the way officers broke up a vigil for Sarah Everard where some women were handcuffed and arrested. Sarah Everard, 33, disappeared after walking home from a friend's house on March 3. Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with the 33-year-old's kidnap and murder
Vigil for Sarah Everard and Wenjing Lin at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay
CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 13: A vigil for Sarah Everard and Wenjing Lin on the steps of the Senedd, home of the Welsh Parliament, in Cardiff Bay on March 13, 2021 in Cardiff, Wales. Sarah Everard, 33, disappeared when walking home to Brixton from Clapham in south London last week. Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with her kidnap and murder. Wenjing Lin, 16, died following an incident at her family's Chinese takeaway in Treorchy Wales. Chun Xu, 31, has been charged with her murder.
February - Daily Life in Wales
More coronavirus images from South Wales in February - archive.matt-horwood.com
Skewen Flood in Neath Port Talbot
SKEWEN, WALES - JANUARY 29: Serious flooding was caused by a mine shaft "blow out" during Storm Christoph. Approximately 80 people were evacuated from their homes as water rushed the village of Skewen in Neath Port Talbot.
LICENCE IMAGES: https://archive.matt-horwood.com/gallery/290121-Skewen-Flood-Skewen-Wales/G0000xwJJw8ga4xs
Cardiff Bay Candlelit Vigil
CARDIFF, WALES - FEBRUARY 09: Crowds gather for a candlelit vigil at Cardiff Bay Police Station on February 09, 2021 in Cardiff, Wales. Mohamud Mohammed Hassan, 24, died on January at his home in Cardiff after being released from police custody earlier that day. Hassan was allegedly assaulted while in the custody of South Wales Police. South Wales Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the incident and has said no evidence of excessive force or misconduct has been found so far.
LICENCE IMAGES: https://archive.matt-horwood.com/gallery/090221-Candlelit-vigil-at-Cardiff-Bay-Police-Station-Cardiff-Wales/G0000mO4lXJ_azOw
Police carry out COVID-19 travel checks in Penarth, Wales
PENARTH, WALES - FEBRUARY 07: Police perform COVID-19 travel checks at the entrance to Penarth Marina on February 07, 2021 in Penarth, Wales.
LICENCE IMAGES: https://archive.matt-horwood.com/gallery/070221-Police-Travel-Checks-Penarth-Wales/G0000IT0Vfbp9wSI
Coronavirus vaccine sculpture
BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM- FEBRUARY 05: Artist Luke Jerram's sculpture of the coronavirus and coronavirus vaccine in glass at the Paintworks on February 05, 2021 in Bristol, United Kingdom. The sculpture, which is one million times larger than the actual vaccine nanoparticle, marks the ten millionth vaccination to be administered in the UK. Five limited editions of the artwork will be sold with all profits going to the global charity Médecins Sans Frontières to help communities heavily impacted by the pandemic. Testing positive for Covid-19 himself in November, Jerram says he is still feeling the effects of the virus. "When I created a sculpture of Covid-19 back in March, little did I know I would later be among those to contract the virus."
LICENCE IMAGES: https://archive.matt-horwood.com/gallery/050221-Coronavirus-And-Vaccine-Artwork-Bristol-England/G0000jf8yGynZCaI
Captain Tom Clap
CARDIFF, WALES - FEBRUARY 03: Melvyn Burlace salutes in his front garden on February 3, 2021 in Cardiff, Wales. WWII veteran, Sir Tom had raised nearly £33 million for NHS charities ahead of his 100th birthday last year by walking laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire. He was admitted to Bedford Hospital this weekend after testing positive for covid-19 and died on 2nd February with his family present.
