- ABOUT CAMBRIDGE IN COLOUR -
Cambridge in Colour was started in 2005, and has since grown substantially both in content and in the number of visitors it attracts. On any given day this site has well over 10,000 different people learning about photography, viewing the gallery and contributing to the forums. Thank you to all those who have helped share this site with others.
ABOUT THE PHOTO GALLERY
The images contained within my "Cambridge in Colour" collection are from in and around the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world and is rich in history and tradition. Although one university, Cambridge is composed of 31 separate colleges, each with its own community and architectural style. This history and diversity no doubt makes Cambridge uniquely scenic, and in low-light it comes alive with a moody atmosphere. I have thus chosen to capture many scenes in this gallery by using long exposures during rare twilight or moonlit conditions—taking the viewer to magical places which visitors seldom see.
Photographs from this collection have been published in several calendars, holiday cards, books and magazines, including by the Cambridge University Press and the Cambridge City Council.
Other sample publications will be made available on a photography portfolio page. Projects often include photographs not shown in the online gallery, such as the one used in the recent calendar cover on the left.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - SEAN MCHUGH
Much of this gallery was captured over the three and a half years of attaining my PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Cambridge. I have previously conducted undergraduate studies at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, also in chemical engineering. My doctoral research focused on understanding reactive flow in multiphase plumes (applications to carbon dioxide sequestration, cloud growth and volcanic eruptions).
As a scientist by training, I am fascinated by the interaction between technological developments and the range of creative options available to photographers. Improvements in sensitivity, ex post facto white balance control and real-time feedback from digital imaging are providing photographers with unprecedented low-light capabilities. Much of this fascination went into learning the unique times, perspectives and techniques for capturing many of these low-light scenes in Cambridge.
As part of the Cambridge University Photographic Society, I conducted student workshops relating to general camera and digital SLR technique, photographic post-processing and low-light photography. These included participants ranging from those with their first camera, to more seasoned users wishing to refine their techniques. Time permitting, I also occasionally conduct one on one workshops in the United States; if you are interested in arranging a session please let me know well in advance.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
For those interested, my current camera equipment includes the Canon EOS 5D digital SLR camera along with the Canon 17-40 mm f/4 L, 24-105 mm f/4 L IS, 70-200 mm f/2.8 L IS, 70-200 mm f/4 L IS, 45 mm TS-E, 85 mm f/1.8 USM and 50 mm f/1.4 USM lenses. Detailed EXIF information for photos in this gallery can be found in the Cambridge University photo gallery on PBase (which predates this website).
The 5D achieves excellent long exposure work with virtually no image noise, and the lens array provides a nice range of focal lengths for the kinds of perspectives which I like to explore. In addition, each L-series lens includes special aspherical and ultra-low dispersion glass elements—ensuring maximum sharpness and clarity under the notoriously difficult shooting conditions encountered in low-light time photography.
I hope you enjoy your visit to this site. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sean T. McHugh 
