Issue 18 Oct 13th 2010 Helping you take better photos How To: FOOD PhotographY Still Life Competition Winner NZIPP Iris Awards Winners Photoshop Tips Sony NEX Review 1 Oct 13 NZ Photographer CONTENTS 4 Are You Serious? 16 Iris Awards 18 Still Life Competition 6 Mental State Exhibition 26 Photoshop Tips 30 Critique 27 Gear Review 36 Cool Stuff 2 Oct 13 NZ Photographer 22 Food photography Editorial If you’re not a Twitter addict, that’s fine – either get someone else to tweet for you, or Blackwell for the copy to give away! Secondly, and equally as exciting, is the open day I’m holding at my studio in November. Called “Hands On”, it is just wait till next time when entries will be different. The first “Hands On” will be held on Saturday, November the 13th, from 12-4pm. Get Tweeting! that – your chance to get your hands on cameras, lenses and lighting setups that you may never have had a chance to play with before, and all for free! And, better than that, we’re providing you with opportunities W to roll your sleeves up. Bring your DSLR running again! My photography business skateboarder for some close-up action shots, has just gone through its busiest period ever, several how-to displays, drinks and nibbles so thanks for your patience! and much more. Thanks to Canon and Apix elcome back from our camera on the day to really get involved, impromptu little break – we’re because we’re going to have models, happy to be back up and hair and makeup artists, a professional Two fantastic announcements to get things started this for bringing all your coolest toys along! It’s going to be a great afternoon. So, how do you get to come? Well, month! Firstly, in our because of space limitations we’re going to last issue we said invite 25 of you, but don’t worry, we’ll be we’d give away to holding more “Hands On” open days next one of our readers year, so if you can’t come this time there’ll be the totally fabulous more opportunities! For this first round we’re 10th anniversary M.I.L.K. book, going to invite the early adopters, the social “Friendship, Family, Love and Laughter”. You butterflies, the geeks and the people with too were invited to leave your name on a post much time on their hands – that’s right, all you in Facebook, and within days we had 75 Twitter users out there, here’s the gold at the responses. Well, after randomly selecting a end of the “I’m addicted to Twitter” rainbow. post (using www.random.org) we’re pleased Simply follow me (@olliedale) and tweet to announce the lucky winner is Ali Balkwill with the tags @olliedale and #hands.on from Wellington. Congratulations Ali – get before midnight on October the 31st – the in touch and we’ll send you your new book. more times you tweet the more entries you Thanks again to Geoff Blackwell from P.Q. get into the draw. ABOUT Whether you’re an enthusiastic weekend snapper or a beginner who wants to learn more, NZ Photographer is the fun e-magazine for all Kiwi camera owners – and it’s free! EDITOR Ollie Dale, ANZIPP [email protected] GROUP EDITOR Trudi Caffell ART DIRECTOR Jodi Olsson ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Alastair on 09 523 4112 or email [email protected] ADDRESS NZ Photographer, C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162, Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ WEBSITE www.nzphotographer.co.nz NZ Photographer is an Espire Media publication go extreme. there’s no turning back. You go to extremes to get just the right shot, and with the SanDisk Extreme ® line of CompactFlash ® cards, you’ll get that shot, every time. Engineered to be lightning fast with blistering read/write speeds of up to 90MB/sec, these cards are also rigorously stress-tested for extreme shock, vibration, temperature and humidity so you can take it to the extreme—no matter what. 3 Oct 13 90MB/second NZ Photographer 60MB/second For more info contact [email protected] FEATURE ARE YOU SERIOUS? By Ollie Dale S omeone emailed me this week: “Just up a company designing games for the have a quick question... Do you Facebook API Gaming platform. We expect have any pointers as to how I could our company to grow from 4 million dollars to referral is someone with money.” Same product, same opportunity, different delivery, vastly different results. approach promoting myself? Since I’m 16 million dollars in the next 3 years due to the young, it’s often hard to get people to take success of online gaming. A great referral for recommend Vistaprint.co.nz for value-for- me seriously so any hints would be sweet!” me: who do you know who’s looking to invest money, especially the foiled business cards), This is a common problem and can be in a business with projected growth of 400% put your best photos on your website as easily fixed with a mirror, a pen and paper, in the next 3 years? I’m keen to talk to anyone examples of your work, then write down and practise. Just because you’re young with $2000 or more.” your features and benefits, and your goals So, get your business cards made (I doesn’t mean people won’t take you seriously, Or, a not-so-confident guy stands up and but your confidence levels that you portray will says “um, hi, um my name’s John, and I’m from definitely impact your results. Crappy Games Ltd, and I, um, write coding For example: for computer games. We’re looking for, um, Features: I use a Canon 5D MK II, I have a says “Hi, I’m John, I’m 24 and graduated people with money to invest in our company studio in Parnell Auckland Uni with a Master of Business because, um, we think our company will grow Studies and Computer Science. I’ve just set over the next few years, and, um, so a good Picture this - a confident guy stands up and 4 Oct 13 NZ Photographer for your business. Benefits: I’m able to capture great photos in low lighting at your next event, it’s easy for So, you need to practise who you are until you believe it (say it to yourself in the mirror every day), and then go out into the big wide world and BE that person. Auckland’s business people to get to me to be...” you become the person who isn’t yet. the young, uninformed and vulnerable are the People pick up on that. Why would I use you people who accept those low-paying jobs and photographer in Auckland, My clients are the if you want to become a photographer? Will hurt the industry as a whole. biggest corporate companies in Auckland you practise on me? Goals: I am the most sought-after event Memorise them, especially the differences The answer is of course yes, you will learn So, you need to practise who you are until you believe it (say it to yourself in the mirror between your features and your benefits (and something on every job and the photos you every day), and then go out into the big wide concentrate on your benefits), and always have take next year will be better than the ones world and BE that person. People will take your goals ready to recite to anyone who asks. you take this year, but your client doesn’t you seriously, and they will offer you little jobs care about that, they just care that they hire a to try you out, and when they realise you’re photographer to get the job done. the best around they start increasing the size Then, start handing out your cards. When people ask you what you do say “I am a photographer” NOT “I’m just starting out...” And if you ARE a photographer you of the jobs and you make millions and live or “I want to be...” or “I’m young and no one may get hired. If you’re GOING TO BE a takes me seriously...” photographer you won’t get hired, or if you do Or something like that... “I AM a photographer” it will be at a much-reduced rate because some People will take you seriously as soon as you As soon as you say it to someone, you are - clients prey on the young, uninformed and take yourself seriously, so, seriously, be who vulnerable by only paying low amounts, and you want to be and be serious about it! NZ Photographer 5 5 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Dec 2 such is the power of speech. If you say “I want happily ever after... EXHIBITION 6 Oct Mar13 3 NZ Photographer The Form of Mental State ‘T he Form of Mental State’ is an Mark: This exhibition represents my art exhibition featuring original exploration into inner emotions, dreams artwork from Mariya Nakova and metal states, and is conveyed in and Mark Tronson. Mariya’s photography explores spiritual the form of personified and profoundly abstract creatures and beings. The balance, the human body and the surreal characters that emerge are done moments we experience, while Mark’s spontaneously, I only create based airbrush paintings focus on dreams, on shapes in the moment, rather than emotions and mythical creatures. preconceived visions. As I am a trained airbrush artist, but a surrealist cartoonist Mariya: Capturing moments of ‘the at heart, I hope to combine the mediums, timeless state of mind’, where rules do which I’ve never attempted before. not apply, and translating those visually has been a phenomenon to me. That, Join us for a glass of wine at the opening on combined with my fascination with the Saturday 23rd October at 3pm. human body creates a natural and very abstract look I have fallen in love with. I 7 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Here is a link to the facebook am using long exposure photography to event: http://www.facebook. portray what parts of the mind would look com/?ref=home#!/event. like if it had a ‘body’. php?eid=147204415314148&ref=ts IRIS AWARDS NZIPP Iris Awards 2010 T his year’s Iris Awards were held in eyebrows are raised by the results, both beautiful Queenstown, which, after positively and negatively. watching hours of judging in dimly-lit With the advent of digital photography because I could go on for days about it. What we will ask you to do, however, is take whatever you want out of viewing rooms, is probably the most picturesque and post production techniques the Iris these pictures, and enjoy them for their location in New Zealand to have come Awards constantly seem to re-ignite debate masterful imagery. Over the next few slowly into focus as your eyes readjust. about what photography is, and how much issues we’ll meet and get to know the post processing is too much processing. photographers behind the images, so they’ll Every year photographers from around the country enter the Iris Awards, the official awards of the NZIPP, and every year Richard Brown 8 Oct 13 NZ Photographer I’m not going to get into that debate here, because it spoils the imagery, and also get a chance to expand on and explain the thinking behind their work. 9 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Wedding Photographer of the Year 10 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Commercial Photographer of the Year 11 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Wedding Album of the Year 12 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Illustrative Photographer of the Year 13 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Editorial-Photojournalism Photographer of the Year 14 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Portrait Photographer of the Year 15 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Creative Photographer of the Year 16 Oct 13 NZ Photographer TONY CARTER Overall Photographer of the Year 17 Oct 13 NZ Photographer COMPETITION WINNERS Filicia Sgh - After several shoots, I finally found what I want to do with this clown. I bought the fabric and made it into a stage curtain, printed a poster that I found on Google and used a camping torch for my lighting. Location: my dining room :) 18 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Shane Perry W hat a great response for such a tricky subject! Thank you all for entering! And thank you Fillicia for your efforts in creating a great image and perfect cover shot! Apologies for butchering your original for our cover, but we couldn’t have too many words competing for attention! Fillicia wins this issue’s cover (which is a portrait shape, everyone– hint-hint!) and a $100 voucher from the fabulous people at Giclée Print. For all YOUR fine art and canvas printing needs, visit www.gicleeprint.co.nz 19 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Janet Curry Cornelius Van Wyk Michelle Davies Murray Lowe 20 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Richard Burson Hilary Lakeman Suzi Hurley 21 Oct 13 NZ Photographer HOW TO FOOD Photography Photographer: Nick tresidder By Ollie Dale M any professional photographers also regularly shoots for Dish magazine, photographer because I don’t know in New Zealand find their work published bi-monthly by Tangible Media. enough about the games. isn’t big enough for everyone to pick one NZP: How did you get into food photography? NZP: Do you find yourself doing other work genre and stick to it. Nick: I started out shooting all sorts, as or do you solely stick to food photography? Some photographers do, though, most of us do, and I really liked shooting Nick: Food photography has become quite and one area of photography that is food so it kinda just worked out that way. dominant in the last few years, but I like very specialised is food photography. It’s a slow evolution and it wasn’t variation. I think cross-pollination of styles Nick Tresidder has spent more than 20 deliberate. I think the best photographers can be helpful. I recently had to shoot years developing his food photography shoot the subjects they have an chrome bathroom ware, which obviously skills, and has worked with some big affinity with, and the most successful requires different lighting to food, but what I names that we’ve all tasted; Nestlé, photographers have a good feel for learned in that shoot I’ll be able to bring in Cadbury, Heineken, Steinlager etc. He what they do; I couldn’t be a sports to my food photography. to be generalist – our market 22 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Luckily for all of us Nick believes in sharing knowledge for the good of the industry – here are some tips on how to successfully photograph your dinner tonight: • My main concern when taking photos of food is making it look delicious. If I look at my photo and think “Yum!” then I’ve succeeded. • Preparation and Presentation is key – you need to become a food stylist as well as a photographer. I use food stylists on my shoots, and their job is to present the food looking its best for photography. That doesn’t mean it’ll look how a high-end chef might plate their food, because they will sometimes stack their food so it looks amazing to the diner, but which may be very hard to capture well in a photograph. • Control of lighting is essential. I prefer to shoot in daylight, but quite often I need the consistency of studio lights to get similar pictures throughout the day. The trick then is to make the studio lighting look natural. 23 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Don’t worry if you don’t have access to studio lights – here’s how to use natural light to take amazing food photos: 4. Identify and focus on the most important part of the food. 5. Use a tripod for consistency, and don’t be afraid to experiment with 1. Indirect Sunlight Only! Cloudy days or south-facing windows are ideal, because direct sun will spoil your photos (and your food! 2. If you are outside look for shade – even the picnic table umbrella can be enough 8. Get your viewpoint right – think about where you’re shooting from, and where you should be to get the best angle. 9. Don’t overwhelm the food with your camera settings to find the best props. Use them to add to the combination for the situation. image, but don’t distract the viewer 6. Be prepared to shoot your food pretty quick – it can lose its attraction pretty quickly. 7. Shoot interesting, good looking food. from the food. 10. Last but definitely not least – lighting! Try this simple setup – backlight your food and use reflectors to bounce shade to give you nice soft light. I’ve been known to pop out to the local some fill light back in to the food. 3. Use a short depth of field. Set your deli and buy a pre-made lasagne and Reflectors can be paper, tinfoil, or camera to manual and a large salad to practise shooting on, so if anything else that will bounce the aperture (small f-number), which will you’re not the world’s best chef you can light where you want it. Remember, depend on the food. still shoot great looking food. have fun! 24 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Nick Tresidder is based in Auckland, is an Advertising/Commercial photographer specialising in Food and Still Life, and says he’s lucky to be paid to do what he loves doing. For more of his photography visit www.nick-t.com or www.shotsfood.com 25 Oct 13 NZ Photographer TIPS RESOLUTION II 1 By Pete West 2 3 (1) Let’s try and put an image or two in your information which it thinks should go in here, or you’re not sure what the final size of the head about what is happening when you these pixels are not entirely accurate. As picture will be, go to Layer > Smart Objects enlarge or reduce an image. The jug in the a result the image starts to blur. When you > Convert to Smart Object ( small ‘s’ icon top left of the image, represents the file size. reduce an image the computer throws away appears in the bottom left of the layer to If you were to pour it into a ‘U’ tube , with the information, and if you then try to enlarge it show it is a smart object). In this mode the left side representing the image size and the again information is added and the picture picture loses no information no matter how right side representing the resolution, you can blurs once more. many times you reduce or enlarge it. see that the higher the resolution, the lower While it is a smart object you cannot the image size, and the higher the image (3) Here we are re-sampling and the ‘U’ tube edit it directly – if you need to make size the lower the resolution. All this takes is broken at the bottom. The file size and changes to it, double click it to open it as place without re-sampling. resolution are no longer connected. In this a separate file, make your changes, then mode information can be added to either Save and close it – the saved file then (2) When you resample you add or take image size or resolution without affecting the appears in your original document with away information, the original information other column. the changes made to it – think of a Smart is shown in blue. When you enlarge the image the computer fills the gaps with Object as a file within a file, but beware In Photoshop if you wish to resize pictures, of ballooning file sizes! Pete West emigrated from the UK in 2002 and taught Photoshop at Natcol for 3 years. He works freelance producing aircraft illustrations and photographic articles on Airshows for magazines in the UK and Brazil. www.flickr.com/photos/oneleggedpom/ 26 Oct 13 NZ Photographer GADGETS GEAR REVIEW Sony Alpha NEX-3 & NEX-5 The World’s Smallest Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera (so far...) By Brian Foose (“Inspector Gadget”) T he Sony Alpha NEX is one of Technology really enhances the viewing the cameras that we just couldn’t experience on the back of the camera. The wait to get our hands on since its colour and contrast is really the best we’ve announcement earlier this year, and there are several good reasons why. The first thing we notice about the NEX is The tilt-able LCD screen is a joy to use, and we can now take pictures from all sorts its small size. Unlike traditional DSLRs, the of angles without having to get yourself into NEX camera body is roughly the same size uncomfortable positions. (or even smaller) as some compact digital The user interface on screen is easy to cameras on the market today. However it’s understand, and for beginner shooters, equipped with a full-size APS-C sensor just an on-screen tip feature can guide you like most of the DSLR cameras. to achieve better images. However, for The Sony NEX features a newly improved the more experienced shooter, the lack of APS HD sensor, which has an amazingly hardware keys to change simple settings clean high ISO/low light performance. like ISO can be a little annoying to start The noise level in the higher ISO range with, but just like most things in life, you will is comparable to some pro-level DSLR get used to it over time. Something worth cameras, meaning cleaner, less noisy mentioning about this camera is that it is pictures and video. designed for the point & shoot customer The NEX uses Sony’s new E-mount system. who wants to upgrade to something a There are currently 3 lenses available little bit more capable. Therefore it is not (16mm F/2.8, 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 & 18- targeted at semi-pro level users, which 200mm F/3.5-6.3) and 2 lens converters explains a lot why they designed the (ultra wide and fisheye adaptors). And with interface the way they did. an optional mount adaptor, you can use all of your Sony A-mount lenses with it. Also, if you are a Canon or Nikon shooter 27 Oct 13 NZ Photographer seen on a digital camera LCD screen. The NEX is also capable of shooting HD video at full 1080 resolution (NEX-5 only, NEX-3 shoots at 720P resolution). Unlike the you will be able to get an adaptor from a compact digital cameras with a fixed lens 3rd party company that will let you use their and the automatic video settings, the NEX range of lenses. has an interchangeable lens system like a The user experience is nice and easy, DSLR camera. This means you can shoot as is expected from Sony. The 3” tilt-able video with more control and achieve that Xtra Fine LCD screen with Sony’s TruBlack nice bokeh in video. colour and contrast is really the best we’ve seen on a digital camera LCD screen. The tilt-able LCD screen is a joy to use, and we can now take pictures from all sorts of angles without having to get yourself into uncomfortable positions. The user interface on screen is easy to understand, and for beginner shooters, an on-screen tip feature can guide you to achieve better images. However, for the more experienced shooter, the lack of hardware keys to change simple settings like ISO can be a little annoying to start with, but just like most things in life, you will get used to it over time. Something worth Hands-on with the nex The Sony Alpha NEX is one of the cameras, meaning cleaner, less noisy mentioning about this camera is that it is pictures and video. designed for the point & shoot customer who cameras that we just couldn’t wait to get our hands on since its announcement earlier this wants to upgrade to something a little bit The NEX uses Sony’s new E-mount system. more capable. Therefore it is not targeted year, and there are several good reasons There are currently 3 lenses available at semi-pro level users, which explains a lot why. (16mm F/2.8, 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 & 18- why they designed the interface the way 200mm F/3.5-6.3) and 2 lens converters they did. The first thing we notice about the NEX is (ultra wide and fisheye adaptors). And with its small size. Unlike traditional DSLRs, the an optional mount adaptor, you can use all NEX camera body is roughly the same size of your Sony A-mount lenses with it. (or even smaller) as some compact digital Also, if you are a Canon or Nikon shooter The NEX is also capable of shooting HD video at full 1080 resolution (NEX-5 only, NEX-3 shoots at 720P resolution). Unlike the cameras on the market today. However it’s you will be able to get an adaptor from a compact digital cameras with a fixed lens equipped with a full-size APS-C sensor just 3rd party company that will let you use their and the automatic video settings, the NEX like most of the DSLR cameras. range of lenses. has an interchangeable lens system like a DSLR camera. This means you can shoot The Sony NEX features a newly improved The user experience is nice and easy, APS HD sensor, which has an amazingly as is expected from Sony. The 3” tilt-able clean high ISO/low light performance. Xtra Fine LCD screen with Sony’s TruBlack The noise level in the higher ISO range Technology really enhances the viewing is comparable to some pro-level DSLR experience on the back of the camera. The 28 Oct 13 NZ Photographer video with more control and achieve that nice bokeh in video. Brian Foose is a great assistant and loves gadgets like they're going out of fashion. Which, of course, they're not - lucky for him! See Brian's work at BrianFoose.com Wrapping up most of the DSLR goodness. The image The Sony Alpha NEX camera has a lot to quality is amazing, and the HD Video is just offer in a very attractive small form factor. It a bonus. The build quality of the review unit small flash unit which can be attached to the has features that can fill page after page, NEX-5 is top notch, and feels solid in hands. accessory terminal without too much drama, but what do we think about this camera? The Sony Alpha NEX is not here to replace your DSLR. It is a step up from your point & shoot, something you can take But nothing is perfect in this world, so I pocket wizards at this stage. No built-in flash: Although Sony included a it’s still something extra to carry around would just like to point out a couple of things – when not in use, it clips on to the camera that are on the “not so fantastic list”. strap so you always have it right there with No hot-shoe: Sony decided to use a you. This was done by Sony to reduce the anywhere quite comfortably without lugging proprietary accessory terminal instead of the size of the camera. Personally, I never use the a huge DSLR around, but still benefits from normal hot shoe system. Which is not too onboard flash in any camera, as I believe bad if Sony offered an onboard flash ruins most photos. With the adaptor, however at this NEX’s clean high ISO performance, I much stage you can only use the prefer to use higher ISO setting to add more 3 accessories from Sony (an ambient light to my picture when possible. external optical viewfinder, 29 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Sony has done a brilliant job with the external microphone and Alpha NEX, and personally I can’t wait to the included flash unit), so buy one myself, but for now I think it’s safe unfortunately you can’t use to say I am going to find it pretty hard to your own external flash or hand this camera back to Sony. CRITIQUE Sized Up YOUR WORK CRITIQUED There’s no better way to learn than by having your work critiqued! In this section you get to have your work critiqued by professional photographers Lisa Crandall and Ollie Dale. Lisa Crandall is a multi-award winning portrait photographer. In 2008 she was named ‘People Photographer of the Year’ at Iris, NZ’s professional photography awards. Her studio, ImageMe www.imageme.co.nz is located in Takapuna in Auckland. She also runs photography workshops, and is an Associate of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (ANZIPP). Ollie has been a professional photographer for seven years, and has clients such as the NZ Herald, Visa, Microsoft, Westpac, Unitec and BMW. He is also a qualified commercial member and Associate of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (ANZIPP). Camera: Nikon D60 happened to see this beautiful sunset. that the building is not in the middle of the Shutter: 1/640 sec I couldn’t resist taking a shot because I frame. Aperture: f/4 loved the orange glow of the sunset. I just ISO: 800 managed to catch the bird flying off into the Ideally, the people in the shot would not be Author: Eddie Kyle distance. A few minutes earlier, there was partially hidden by the rails, and they would a man and a boy on a bike on the wharf. I be doing something recognisable - putting From the author: I took this a few got a few shots of them, but they were just bait on a line, or even just looking out at the weekends ago in Akaroa, not far from leaving as we got there. view. Instead, on close inspection we can see that the woman in the middle is bending Christchurch. My partner and I had gone down for a long weekend and had spent LISA’S COMMENTS: over and we don’t know why. Also, the some of the Saturday afternoon joining up I love the soft, warm mood of this image placement and direction of the flying bird is with the Photo Walk group in Akaroa. Most - what beautiful light. What at first glance not perfect - I think it would look better higher people seemed to be from Christchurch and looks like the sky, turns out to be a stunningly in the frame, flying into the picture rather that we were the only couple from Auckland. subtle background of hills, grass and trees. out of it. As it is, it leads the eye out of the We were just taking a leisurely drive back Well done to the photographer for seeing frame. However, this is the moment as it was to our accommodation in the late afternoon, and capturing this wonderful sunset scene. captured, and these are small details. From a compositional point of view, it’s great I have noticed a slight smudge on the left- when we decided to stop and photograph a statue. We walked around and just 30 Oct 13 NZ Photographer OP 1 this image (OP1). Firstly, I straightened the have created an unattractive smoky grey horizon. I believe this is a very important smudginess on the water. Instead, I added a finishing touch for every image. Unless your null curves adjustment layer (a curves layer horizon is tilted for a reason, the horizon with no adjustments actually made to the should be dead straight. Secondly, I cloned curve), set the blending mode of this layer out the yellow sign which I found visually to ‘multiply’, and then hid it behind a black distracting. mask. I then took a soft brush on 10% and gently painted white on that mask in the hand side of the building’s roof - it looks like spill-over from an attempt to darken the bright part of the roof. When you make adjustments in Photoshop it is always worth checking for spill-over. I have made a couple of minor tweaks to I also cropped a little off the bottom of the corners of the image. This multiply vignette image, to bring the horizon down around technique gives a very natural-looking the third. To comply with the ‘rule of thirds’, polishing touch to this beautiful image. important features such as the horizon need happened to see this beautiful sunset. to be placed either one third or two-thirds I couldn’t resist taking a shot because I of the way up the image. This gives a loved the orange glow of the sunset. I just composition which is pleasing to the eye. managed to catch the bird flying off into the distance. A few minutes earlier, there was Finally, I added a very subtle vignette, a man and a boy on a bike on the wharf. I particularly on the water, to help keep got a few shots of them, but they were just the eye inside the frame. I did not use a leaving as we got there. standard vignette technique, which would The Professional’s Professional Introducing the Epson Stylus® Pro 3880 and UltraChromeK3® Ink with Vivid Magenta. Featuring a three black inkset, the Pro 3880 delivers outstanding tonal range, especially in black and white prints. What’s more, the addition of Vivid Magenta and Vivid Light Magenta expands the colour gamut, making it easier to reproduce difficult colours. So if you’re looking for exceptional tonal range, an ultra wide colour gamut and durable photographic prints that last 406 years,* look no further than the Epson Stylus Pro 3880! * For more information visit www.wilhelm-research.com www.epson.co.nz NOW WITH VIVID MAGENTA Epson Stylus® Pro 3880 CRITIQUE 1 32 Oct 13 NZ Photographer Camera: Canon EOS 7D Shutter: 1/250 sec Aperture: f/5 ISO: 100 OP 1 Author: Gilles Rabaud From the author: I’ve had my new Canon 7D less than a month now, and to get to know the camera I take it to work with me every day, in the hope of capturing something of interest during my lunch break. I was walking down Fanshawe Street when I was struck by the reflections of neighbouring buildings in the glass facade of the new NZI building. From across the street I whipped out my new camera and zoomed in to get a tight crop, for this abstract look. I cropped a little more in Lightroom and added a wee bit of vibrance. OLLIES’S COMMENTS: Nicely done Gilles, you’ve captured a great contemporary image, with several layers of creativity and intrigue. Firstly, there are the graphics – the shapes of the triangles made by the steel, and the collection of patterns made by the reflections. Then there’s the juxtaposition of the conformity of the straight lines versus the abstract of the reflections. I also love the fact that while you’ve included the Auckland Sky Tower you haven’t made it the obvious and very cheesy focal point that most reflection-seekers shoot, so full marks for that. Another superb touch is the inclusion of the two women in the window in the upper left – nice! This is a critique, so you’ve asked for my constructive criticism. To me this is a great shot already, and if it were mine The graphic nature of the triangles is I’d attempt to straighten up the horizontal enhanced when all the lines are straight, lines made by the steel. You could do this and I personally believe this improves the in-camera by using a Tilt-Shift lens, or in shot. Having said that, there’s not much post production by using the transform tool more that’s obviously flawed about the set to warp (OP1). image. Good work! Call for entries: Get your images critiqued by professionals – send an image to [email protected] with a brief description of how and why you took the shot, and we’ll tell you what we think and if it could be improved. The views and opinions expressed in this section are only two people’s ideas on photographic imagery. You may have different, constructive ideas about how good or not the images are, and what could be done to them. You’re welcome to send those ideas in to [email protected]. We agree that the opinions contained in this critique section are by no means the only opinions that could be held about these images. COMPETITIONS FOOD Competition (single Image) T ime for y’all to get out to your from the fabulous people at Giclée Monday the 15th of November, 2010. nearest Urban area and get Print. For all YOUR fine art and Winner will be published in Issue snapping! Send us your best canvas printing needs, visit 20, out on Wednesday the 24th of www.gicleeprint.co.nz. November, 2010 image that illustrates what ‘urban’ means to you, and remember that thinking and One entry per person, and you shooting ‘out of the box’ will give you must be in New Zealand or hold a the best chance of winning! NZ Passport at the time of entry to Even if you don’t win you may still get published on our Best of the Rest page. Be in to win cover of Issue 19, and the fabulous $100 voucher 34 Mar 3 NZ Photographer qualify to win. Images must be 100dpi, 1600 pixels wide, and sent to competitions@ nzphotographer.co.nz by 5pm on URBAN Competition (single Image) A quick reminder… T image that illustrates what ‘urban’ means the fabulous $100 voucher from the in Issue 19, out on Wednesday the 27th to you, and remember that thinking and fabulous people at Giclée Print. For of October, 2010. shooting ‘out of the box’ will give you all YOUR fine art and canvas printing the best chance of winning! needs, visit www.gicleeprint.co.nz. ime for y’all to get out to your competition have been extended to the sent to competitions@nzphotographer. nearest Urban area and get 18th of October! co.nz by 5pm on Monday the 18th of snapping! Send us your best Even if you don’t win you may still get Be in to win cover of Issue 19, and One entry per person, and you must be published on our Best of the Rest page. in New Zealand or hold a NZ Passport at Due to the delay in Issue 18, the the time of entry to qualify to win. Images deadlines for the Urban photography must be 100dpi, 1600 pixels wide, and 35 Oct 13 NZ Photographer October, 2010. Winner will be published GADGETS COOL STUFF The best camera is the one you have with you™ If you’re the proud owner of an iPod Touch or iPhone 3G/3GS/4 then I thought I’d give a shout-out to my favourite Photography application – Chase Jarvis’s “Best Camera”. It’s not new, in that it’s been around for months, but I just bought it last week (NZ$4.19) and it’s fabulous. The two best features are the one-touch sharing to thebestcamera.com, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, email and into your device’s Camera Roll, meaning you can update all your How to Promote your Photography 101 the efforts of one Clint Davis. If your accounts in seconds, and also the modular So, you want to get your name out there efforts didn’t include buying 40 cameras, image editing – there are 14 inbuilt effects, and show off your photography to some branding them and sending them out with and the order in which you add them affects potential clients? Sent out anything via post examples of your work then you really the end result. The great part is you can recently? I’d be impressed and probably a could learn something by reading his blog! delete or change the order of any of the little shocked to hear ANY of you beating Source: Ollie Dale settings you apply at any time, meaning if something you did at the beginning looks bad with a whole bunch of other effects on top of it, it’s simple to go back and delete that first effect, or shift it into a better position. There are a number of items on my wishlist for the next update (e.g. effect opacity sliders), but this is still my favourite photography app by far! Check out my personal uploads for examples – http:// bestc.am/photographers/18140 only, excuse the poor image quality of the first few – the iPhone 3G’s camera is BAD, and you can see the difference the iPhone4 makes! Source: Ollie Dale 36 Oct 13 NZ Photographer NEXT ISSUE In the next issue of NZ Photographer… How To: Sports Photography Plus much more... Urban Competition Winner Issue 19, Out Wednesday 27th October 2010 iPad Review: A Photographer’s Tool Have you subscribed to NZ Photographer? It’s free! Simply visit www.nzphotographer.co.nz to get a copy of NZ Photographer delivered straight to your inbox every third Wednesday! 37 Oct 13 NZ Photographer
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