Dave Benham

Sendmehome describes itself as a free tool that lets you assign a unique code to anything. 

In essence you can generate a unique ID for anything – Camera, Iphone, pet dog etc – and if that item is lost the finder can enter the ID at sendmehome.com and see the information you’ve decided to share about it. If you want you can order custom labels at $3.99 a pack, or just make your own.

If you find the item you can then add to the item’s story online. As an example, someone left a disposable camera secured to a bench in Santa Barbara asking for people to take a few shots. There’s also a frying pan doing the rounds looking for the ultimate bacon recipe!

D700, 70-200 f/2.8 @ 160mm, 1/200th @ f/5.6

The fine weather this last weekend brought out all the kids from the street on to the patch of grass we call the green. A perfect opportunity when they’re such willing models too!

The autofocus combination works really well between the D700 and 70-200, I had the continuous mode set for when the kids were on their bikes and hurtling towards me with no sense of fear (or lens cost). The majority of the shots were shot on single point AF, in shutter priority set to 1/200th sec to avoid camera shake. I know the VR should save me a couple of stops as well – force of habit.

Reading on the internet there’s a fair bit of criticism on the 70-200, mostly around the vignetting that you can alledgedly see when using the lens on a full frame camera. I haven’t noticed any problems myself, except my lack of muscles. The weight of the lens will make you struggle if the shoot goes on a while, I’m keeping a weather eye out for a monopod.

I love portraits with longer lenses – the perspective gives a more flattering image. Tie this in with the bokeh (blurred background) caused by the wide aperture and you get an idea why I love this lens.

D700 and 24-70 @ 66mm, 1/60th @ f/4, ISO 250

I’m convinced that having a second child is more difficult than the first – you may know what to expect yourself, but your other kid needs so much more from you in this time. It’s tiring but you wouldn’t swap anything for it. Except possibly sleep.

It’s fascinating to look at other people’s reactions to your child, even when they’re not directly related to you. The shot above is Tom being held by Susannah, my brother’s better half. Broody? I’d be worried if I was him!

Some updates to catch up on:

• Highly recommended – check out Joe McNally’s guest blog spot on Scott Kelby’s Photoshop Insider blog. Loving his work, especially the skyscraper shots!
• New blog alert – my friend and colleague Neil Potter has launched his Digital Agency Blog. Well worth a bookmark if you like to follow the social media scene

I’m now a certified MacBook owner as well. I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert in the IT field but I’m ploughing different furrows now. Still, it’s pretty and I can watch DVDs on it.

Interesting bit of viral marketing on Twitter – an Australian photographer called Cameron Laird (@cammo) is giving away his Nikon D2H body to one of the people who follows him on Twitter.

It’s a great way to get more followers, how many will abandon him after the draw I wonder – especially as this is on April Fools day! To be in with a chance of winning you’ll need to follow the instructions for the competition here. Good luck!

D700, 24-70 f/2.8 at 70mm, 1/50th at f/3.5, ISO 250

D700, 24-70 f/2.8 at 55mm, 1/30th at f/2.8, ISO 320

D700, 24-70 f/2.8 at 70mm, 1/30th at f/2.8, ISO 720