Photography and Digital Services

Just as it is to artists, Bermuda is a never-disappointing muse to photographers both amateur and professional. Lensfolk rhapsodize about the unique softness of the island’s light, the diffusion of water and air, the multi-turquoise hues of its ocean, the cornucopia of pastel shades at every turn.

Digital photo printing is expensive in Bermuda (85 cents each for 4x6 prints, $1 for 5x7), so you might prefer to wait to do it done at home, but there are several efficient, good-quality outlets that offer a speedy turnaround. P-Tech Photo (5 Reid St., Hamilton, tel. 441/279-5419 or 441/295-5496, photo [at] psl [dot] bm, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat.) has a full-service digital mini-lab so customers can order lab-quality prints and create greeting cards. Photo files can be uploaded online and prints collected from the store. Kodak Express (Washington Mall, at Reid St., Hamilton, tel. 441/295-2519, pictures [at] kodakexpress [dot] bm, www.kodakexpress.bm [1]) offers digital printing to order, and also has four self-service kiosks, two of which can print sizes of up to 8x10 while you wait. For commercial-style fine-quality photographic digital printing, contact Colourlab (73 Ord Rd., Paget, tel. 441/236-5051) or Quality Colour (tel. 441/292-8100, waynetodd [at] logic [dot] bm).

Beware the effect of heat on cameras—do not store equipment inside parked cars or the oven-like canisters on the back of rental mopeds. Bring a polarizing UV lens filter to take the shine off ocean shots, in particular, and be careful of sand and salt exposure at the beach or on the water (keep cameras covered when not in use). Avoid shooting in the harshness of midday if possible; Bermuda’s intense sunlight 11 a.m.–2 p.m. fills photos with deep contrasts, burnout, and shadows; dawn or early evening will provide the most alluring light conditions, not to mention soft pink sunrises and sunsets.

Wedding photo specialists include Sacha Blackburne (tel. 441/234-5089, www.sacha [2] blackburne.com); Becky Spencer Photography (tel. 441/238-5236, www.beckyspencer.com [3]), Ras Mykkal (tel. 441/232-2470, or 441/732-3190, www.rasmykkal.com [4]); Ernie McCreight (Visual Impact Photography, tel. 441/295-4755, emccreight [at] logic [dot] bm, www.viphotograph.com [5]); Wayne Todd (tel. 441.292-8100, waynetodd [at] logic [dot] bm), and Art Simons (Photographic Associates Ltd., tel. 441/295-5619, www.photobermuda.com [6]).

LookBermuda’s digital photographic services (tel. 441/295-3555, www.lookbermuda.com [7]) include shooting special events and panoramas. For more contacts and portfolios, check www.bermudaphotographers.com [8].