NZ Photographer Issue 19

Issue 19

Nov 17th 2010

Helping you take better photos

How To:

Sports

Photography

with Brendan O’Hagan

Getting to Know the Wedding Photographer of 2010: Blair Quax iPad Review: The Photographer’s Tool Urban Competition Winner Photoshop Tips 1

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PLUS: Metallica!

CONTENTS 4 Reader’s

Contribution

26

12 Getting to know: Blair Quax

10

You charge how much?

28

18 Pic of the Bunch

Photoshop Tips

34

Gear Review

36

Cool Stuff

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22 Sports photography

Editorial A

nother issue packed with all things

Corrections:

photography! This month we’ve

A couple of things we’d like to correct from last

introduced a reader’s submission page

month’s issue:

(thanks for sharing your work, Justin!), and you

•

The first Critique in Issue 18

will meet Blair Quax, this year’s Wedding

belonged to Marie Waters, not

Photographer of the Year.

Eddie Kyle - apologies to both!

For something different we’ve gone to a

Marie’s camera details were:

sports photographer for this month’s How

1/400 sec, F 5.6, ISO 100,

To (and therefore the next competition) –

135mm

Brendon O’Hagan shares his work and his

•

The details for the Food comp and

tips for any budding sports photographers

the Urban comp were confused –

out there.

The Food comp is definitely going

We had an amazing time at my "hands.on"

ahead - Images are due by 5pm

studio open day - thanks to all who came

on Monday the 6th of December,

along and made it fun. We were totally

2010. Winner will be published in

exhausted afterwards, but we’re keen to do it

Issue 20, out on Wednesday the

again!

15th of December, 2010

We’ve also taken on a couple of

•

Somehow we managed to miss

proofreaders here at NZ Photographer after

crediting the NZIPP Student

last month’s… challenges. Thanks to those of

Photographer of the year - Anna

you helping us out there! The whole magazine

Kernohan

will be a better place now that you’re here!

Cover Image: Single Image Competition Winner Hillary Lakeman

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

ADDRESS NZ Photographer, C/- Espire Media,

PO Box 137162, Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ WEBSITE www.nzphotographer.co.nz

Ollie Dale, ANZIPP

editor@nzphotographer.co.nz GROUP EDITOR Trudi Caffell ART DIRECTOR Jodi Olsson ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Alastair on 09 523 4112 or email alastairn@espiremedia.com

NZ Photographer is an Espire Media publication

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FEATURE

READER’S CONTRIBUTION Images by Justin Aitken, Memory Photography

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Here’s a nice addition to NZ Photographer, inspired by you, the readers. If you’d like to appear in NZ Photographer send a link to some examples of your work and we’ll help get your work published for the world to see.

This month, Justin Aitken shoots the Metallica concert at Auckland’s Vector Arena.

South African born Justin Aitken is an event photographer in Auckland. Having done loads of concerts and stage performances myself, it’s plain to see he has a talent and isn’t afraid to work his images to suit his creativity.

Justin’s work has been published in various magazines and online galleries including Remix, The Groove Guide, Rip it Up and The Rock.

He has photographed many international acts, including John Mayer, Michael Franti, Newton Faulkner, The Cult and Johnny Clegg. His most recent being Metallica. “There is nothing quite like the raw energy you get when photographing a live music concert, especially when they are such experienced and passionate musicians like Metallica.” Some of the local acts he has photographed are Opshop, Nathan King, Anika Moa, The Feelers, Dave Dobbyn, Midnight Youth

NZ Photographer

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and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

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For more of Justin’s work take a look at www.memoryphotography.co.nz

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FEATURE

You charge

HOW MUCH?

By Ollie Dale

One of my students raised an interesting point recently, and they’ve agreed to let me reproduce our conversation here – I think it’s a vitally important part of the photographic industry and is at the heart of the future success or failure of photography as a whole in New Zealand.

Excerpt from a student’s assignment:

to pay a lot of money when essentially you

The city or town you plan to work in: We

are just using them as guinea pigs and

don’t think you’re a professional, and you

live in Wainuiomata, in the Wellington

experimenting/learning on them.

“cannot offer a professional service due to lack of equipment and lack of skills and

region, which is quite handy as it is a fairly large city and full of potential

My reply:

clients! However, it is also full of existing

Everything in your assignment is superb.

photographers - the Yellow Pages revealed no less than 64 commercial and 73

You charge for your service, but you

Except the comment “I thought I should really offer someting others do not - lower prices!”

experience” - rubbish!

I’ve seen your work, and it’s fabulous. You’re one of the better students I’ve had here at TPI. Have you actually figured out how much

wedding/portrait photographers! About

That saddens me to hear - I know you

you need to charge to break even? Do

20 of which were in the Hutt area where

go on to explain it, but it’s just plain wrong.

you know what all your costs are? How

I am. That is a LOT of competition for a

I considered giving you a 1/10 for this

do you know that the local photographer

region with less than 350,000 inhabitants

assignment because of it, but then thought

whose prices you got as an indication is

(349,000 of whom own their own digital

better of it and simply deducted one mark as I

charging enough to break even, or even

cameras no doubt!!).

didn’t want you to lose your great average...

make a profit? The current median income

Proposed client base:

is that you’re cheaper than the next

Zealand is only $27-28k! If you’re basing

That’s why, to attract anyone at all, I thought

photographer then you’ve just turned my

your prices off theirs, and undercutting them,

I should really offer something others do not

work into a commodity. Photography then

you may be undercutting someone who

- lower prices! Having researched the price

becomes a product, sold to the lowest

doesn’t charge enough to start with and

structures of the local pro photographers, I’m

bidder. The photography industry suffers and

you’ll both go out of business, not to mention

confident I could halve the charges while

the general public becomes less interested in

bring down the name of professional

still maintaining a (small) profit margin. It

the plight of the “struggling artists” who used

photographers everywhere in the process.

is by no means a way of undermining the

to be known as professional photographers.

If you think your unique selling proposition

pros - on the contrary, people get what they

If you charge for your photography you

for self-employed photographers in New

Have you factored in insurance? If you aren’t producing professional grade work

pay for! I cannot offer a professional service

are a professional. That is the definition

you open yourself to the personal liability of

due to lack of equipment and lack of skills

of an eligible member as defined in the

getting a true pro to fix it at your cost.

and experience, so have no right to charge

constitution of the New Zealand Institute of

the full price! Also, it is hard to ask people

Professional Photography.

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You also need commercial insurance for gear, vehicles, public liability etc. Your

domestic insurance is null & void the moment you start accepting money.

And since when did the amount of

She is now one of the world’s best wedding photographers.

won’t be helping anyone.

You should also get in touch with your local

She didn’t say “because I have no

regional NZIPP and see when the next “Best

equipment you have dictate whether you

experience I can’t charge a professional’s

Practice” seminar is - there have been some

can provide a professional service?

rate” - she told brides she wouldn’t rest until

touring the country recently about costing and

she had captured them looking their best on

pricing, and this would be ideal for you (you

but the New Zealand Institute of

their wedding day, and then did that. She

don’t have to be a member to attend).

Professional Photography does, and it sobs

also charged $1500 for her first wedding,

uncontrollably every time it hears comments

and upped her rate by $500 every third

Rate Calculator (www.nzipp.org.nz/

like yours, because it’s precisely that line

wedding after that. She now charges

NzippWeb/Default.aspx?tabid=153) If

of thinking that is killing the photography

obscene amounts of money per wedding (like

you can genuinely get overhead costs

industry in New Zealand.

tens of thousands of dollars - 4 years later!).

(before ANY income) below $40k I

You may not think you’re a professional,

I know you don’t want to give up your

Yes she started off modestly, but she didn’t

I suggest you look at this Base

suggest you recalculate the figures as I’ve

day job and become one of the world’s best

undercut all her opposition by half, and

never seen anyone who can operate for

wedding photographers, but Jasmine Star

she DID have a plan in action to bring her

less than this sort of level.

did (www.jasmine-star.com).

charges up with her experience levels as she

She says on her website “I found something I couldn’t stop dreaming of until

grew in confidence and skill.

I appreciate that you’ve done your

You’re a great photographer. You have a great eye. You would far out-shoot any of the ‘uncles’ who bring their cameras to

it became a reality: Photography. I left law

research into other photographers in your

weddings. Your portraits will have your flair

school and started my business in 2006”

area, but you need to go read “The Goal”

and style and creativity injected into them.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_

Your work will inherently be yours.

She left LAW SCHOOL and started a photography business the year I got married

of_Constraints) and understand that if you

- 4 years ago.

differentiate on price (i.e. undercut) you

So value it, and help the whole industry out in the process!

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Getting to know

Getting to know: Blair Quax

By Ollie Dale

NZIPP Wedding Photographer of the year 2010

Richard Brown

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I

met Blair a couple of years ago when I

NZP: So]Ê À°Ê+1 8] how did you /

NZP: what made you buy your first

first joined the NZIPP. He’s a great guy

P

disposable camera at the age of 6?

and has an intriguing sense of humor,

BQ: “Lauretta and I always used to laugh at the

BQ: “I don’t know - it was probably the most

which I totally appreciate.

stories of how amazing photographers started

interesting thing in the Raglan dairy? It was

For the last two years our two families

their careers at the age of 6 when they sat

either that or a few 50c mixes.”

have shared accommodation for the Iris

on Granddad’s knee and he gave them his

Awards and Infocus Conference, and this

old SLR camera, and from there a superstar

year was awesome because it was in

photographer was born - we laughed because

of photography?

Queenstown. What was also awesome was

it wasn’t that way for us, we just kinda woke

BQ: “My dad imported a camera when

to be sitting next to him and his wife Lauretta

up one day doing photography.

I was about 14; cameras were really

at the awards dinner the moment he was

But then I remembered that I did have a

NZP: What was the next memory you have

expensive then, so he imported a Pentax

named Wedding Photographer of the Year -

story - when I was about 6 or 7 I used to save

SLR with a 50mm prime lens. I used it for

we were all shocked and elated at the same

up my pocket money and go down to the

my photography in Form 7 (now 9ear 13,

time, but no one more so than Blair himself.

local dairy in Raglan and buy a disposable

kids) and then later in my Polytech courses.

camera. Every couple of months I could

At High School I was really into art subjects

more about this unassuming but extremely

afford to do it again. It never really turned into

- I did them all, and pretty much failed

talented photographer.

anything but I guess it was a start.”

everything. I got loads of support from my

I caught up with Blair recently to find out

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teachers about my work but then as soon as I sent it away for marking it’d come back as a fail. That was really interesting for me.

I then got into Polytech on the basis of my painting portfolio, and chose to study a Bachelor of Media Arts majoring in Painting, but it was such a broad subject that at one point I was working with video.

“Once again I couldn’t get into the photography stream - I kept failing it, so I went down a fine arts path. I guess the big thing I learned was about conceptualising what you do before you do it, and that’s been really valuable.”

NZP: where did you go after Polytech?

BQ: “Well, try as I might, I couldn’t find any work as a fine arts painter... so I got other jobs, I travelled - basically I had a couple of gap years, and when I came home I moved back in with my parents in Raglan. Not long after that I got a job at a camera store in Hamilton, and that was where I met Lauretta.

“We hooked up and within a year we had decided to start our own business - it took us nearly a year to go through various concepts for the business idea, and finally we decided to set up a photography studio that did everything, as you do. We were completely naïve, but we started and that’s the main thing.

“We shifted to Whangaparaoa because it was close to Auckland without being Auckland, and being a small town boy I wasn’t keen to shift into the city.”

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NZP: So, you started a photography studio doing everything - how did you get into weddings?

BQ: We thought weddings were easy to market to and had a place to market - wedding magazines, shows etc. Weddings for us kinda took off without us realising. We tried to do other photography as well, but it took us a couple of years to realise that if we wanted to look after our clients properly we had to focus on one area, and weddings were really popular.

“We started out as Goode Photography and design, Lauretta’s surname, because Lauretta already had a few clients and because I thought it was an interesting pun. Then in 2007 we had a major year - we got married, bought a house, and rebranded our studio to Shine Studios.

“We really wanted to set ourselves up for the future and create an entity we could both be a part of, and it helped me find my place and validate my role in the business.”

NZP: So where do you get your work from?

BQ: “Now we’ve got enough of a history and enough happy clients that most of our work comes from referrals - people ring up and directly ask for either Lauretta or myself to be their photographer because of a referral from a friend.”

NZP: And what was it like beating two wellknown wedding photography heavyweights and winning Wedding Photographer of the year?

BQ: “I was quite surprised... I knew the images I’d entered were the best I’d ever entered - well, I was confident and happy with my images, and I was ready to just see what happened.

We went into this year’s Iris Awards solely focusing on the wedding category, and we had a good think about what the judges would talk about. It was a HUGE surprise to win it over those two guys who have won it so many times!

It’s certainly restored a bit of faith in myself.

“I am really proud of the work, but I was still totally shocked to win.”

For more info or to contact Blair directly go to www.shinestudios.co.nz 17

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COMPETITION WINNERS

WINNER: Hillary Lakeman - My image shows the Victoria Street clock, which stopped at the time of the earthquake, reflected in the window by Asko’s - my family’s business was also attached to this building and all the block has now been demolished and cleared.

(Sony DSC-R1, 1/250th sec. at f/4.5)

C

ongratulations this month goes out to Hillary Lakeman for her urban image of the recent devastation in

the Canterbury area. The crop we used for the Agnes Arnold David Garratt

cover focused on the reflection which worked for the cover image, but I also like the bigger picture (pun intended) told by the original.

Hillary wins this issue’s cover 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.

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Chris Brickell

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Chris Gin

Blair Walker

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Graham Barr

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HOW TO

SPORTS Photography Photographer: Brendon O’Hagan

By Ollie Dale

S

ports photography can be glamourous, and it can be painful.

The sports photographer can share

in the elation of the moment, and they can share in the taste of defeat. While the team can have a good day on the field the sports photographer can just as easily be having a bad day. I know one photographer who dropped a memory card full of All Blacks photos somewhere on the pitch at Eden Park during the game – sports photography can be equally as emotional as sport itself.

One of New Zealand’s leading sports photographers knows this himself; Brendon O’Hagan has made a name for himself in the sports photography world, and has been at most of the major international sporting events New Zealand has hosted over the last few years.

“Probably the most memorable moment recently was when the All Whites qualified for the World Cup on November 14th, 2009 – that was THE most electrifying atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at a New Zealand sporting event.”

Brendon started his photography with a part time job at the Manawatu Evening Standard, after first applying to join the Police.

“They (the Police) told me to come back when I was 20, as I was only 18, so I looked around and the Evening Standard job looked cool.”

After learning photography in Manawatu, Brendon moved to the Wanganui Chronicle, and then on to the NZ Herald as a staff photographer, where he was able to be involved with a lot of major sports.

He was with the Herald for two and a half years, but was caught up in their restructuring

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ten years ago and left New Zealand on his O.E. in late 2000.

After a couple of years overseas Brendon returned as a freelance photographer, and his love of sport continued to shape his career. A few years ago he started working for AFP (Agence France Presse) in NZ, and now covers “any sport with an international flavour”.

“I’ve just come back from the rowing; I do a lot of the All Blacks, Black Caps, All Whites, sailing regattas, etc. I also do a considerable amount of underwater photography.”

But to show you again that photography’s not cheap (like you need a reminder, right?), Brendon’s kit bag includes 6 Canon bodies (1D MKIV, 7D, 5D MKII, 2 5Ds and a 60D) and at least 14 lenses, including a 300mm f/2.8 and a 500mm f/4.

“Basically I’ve got everything covered from 14mm through to 500mm, plus a couple of 1.4x extenders.”

When it comes to the how-to tips for sports photography, there’s no one list that covers everything because every sport is different, but Brendon’s shared some points that apply to most situations: •

Firstly, a bigger lens helps! As big as you can afford!

•

Know the sport you’re photographing – or don’t. Sometimes not knowing the sport you’re photographing means you approach it with a fresh view, but then sometimes knowing the sport gets you in the right place at the right time. If you don’t know the sport, don’t let that hold you back, but be more aware of what’s going on and be ready to adapt quickly.

•

Try to get clean backgrounds where possible – this is where the big lenses work their hardest, because they help to throw everything else out of focus. A lot of the stuff I shoot has sponsorship banners in the background which is a pain. Pick your spot carefully so you avoid that security guard in the high-vis day-glow vest.

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•

•

Take a risk – sometimes a completely

to demand high shutter speeds to

spot and wait for the action to come to

different angle works. Up high is always

stop the action. (Editor’s note – when

you – it’s worth it because, while you

a good option for a different look to

I used to shoot rugby and basketball

may not get as much the stuff you do get

your images, if that’s what you want.

it tended to always be 1/500th of a

is really good.

Shoot on the smallest aperture possible,

second at f/2.8, or faster if you had

and this is again where the professional

enough light)

Brendon is based in Auckland, but regularly

I find the 7D is a great camera at an

travels the country for his work. “I have a

Your shutter speed depends on the

affordable price – it has a high frame

website (www.brendonohagan.co.nz) and

sport you’re photographing and the

rate which is good for sport, and it’s

there is also a blog on there - I rabbit on

look you’re going for, so experiment.

pretty good in low light.

about what I have been up to (all with very

Finally, sometimes it’s better to pick your

bad grammar and crap spelling!)”

lenses are better than the consumer models.

•

Rugby, cricket, basketball etc. all tend 25

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•

•

12:00 pm - 4:00pm

4th Dec 2010

Studio 3D, 93 The Strand, Parnell

Hi my name is Brian Foose. I am a professional commercial advertising & fashion photographer.

On Saturday 4th of December we are hosting a Help-Portrait session in our Auckland studio.

Help-Portrait is a collection of photographers around the world using their time, equipment, and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate. What does that look like? It looks like photographers taking pictures, and then giving those pictures back to the families.

None of the photographers or volunteers involved are being paid or making money off these photographs. None of the pictures taken will be used on personal websites or portfolios. The goal is simply to find people in need and take their picture in order to give the picture back.

Last year I photographed over 50 people and delivered more then 100 photos for child cancer foundation families. The best part is listening to their stories and knowing you are making a little bit of difference in their life.

This year we have an even bigger team; apart from yours truly we will also be joined by my good friend and one of the best commercial & lifestyle photographers, Ollie Dale, the fabulous professional makeup artist Lucy Medway-Smith and heaps of other good people willing to give back to their community.

So we need your help to spread the word around and to help us find someone in need to have a good cheer up this holiday season.

Who needs pictures? Maybe you know a single mum who never had time for herself. We will give her full makeup and photo shoot to make her feel special.

Pretty much anyone who wouldn’t normally have access to or be able to afford professional photography would be ideal for Help-Portrait. We suggest the following groups of people for starters…

Orphans, single mums/dads (and their kids), the elderly, underprivileged families, or even your neighbor?

DATE : 4th Dec 2010 TIME: 12:00pm - 4:00pm Venue: Studio 3D, 93 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland If you would like to give us a hand (make-up, hair, food and drinks etc.) please contact me directly on brian@brianfoose.com or follow me on twitter @BrianFoose .

For more information about Help-Portrait please visit www.help-portrait.com

TIPS

FOR BEGINNERS

By Pete West

1a

I

1

was using the background eraser today

In fig 2 you can see that the tool gives

and thought that not many people use

you a circle with a cross in the centre.

Now, keeping the cross in the centre of

this, so this is the subject for this issue.

Hold down the option key to give you

the brush on the area to be cleared you can

There are a number of ways you can

on the background in your layers palette.

the eyedropper, and then click on the

move it around the edge and magically see

‘clear cut’ an image out of a background.

surface, or colour that you want to

the background disappear as the object you

You can make a mask around it using a

protect. This colour will then appear in

want to keep is left (fig 2).

marquee tool or painting it out by using

the foreground of the tool palette and will

the ‘edit in quick mask mode’, or you can

now be protected.

use the background eraser tool. As with a

If you right click with your mouse you can

In fig 3, you can see that the tolerance is set to 10%, this ensures that the eraser does not eat away the object I want to keep.

lot of these tools they work better on high

bring up variations as for a normal brush,

Fig 4 and 5, show you what happens if

contrast, sharp pictures, but the background

(fig1A). I tend to go for zero spacing and

your tolerance is set wrongly. Here tolerance

eraser tool does have some flexibility, and

a soft edge to the brush, but you can try all

is 100%, and the result (fig4) shows that the

is very useful for cutting around hair or fine

these out. You can also reduce or enlarge

eraser has eaten into the area you want to

lines, (on sharp pictures).

the brush by using the left and right bracket

keep. In this case reduce the tolerance and

keys on your keyboard.

try again. As I said a high contrast sharp

In fig 1 you can see the 3 options for the eraser tool. We’re looking at the middle one, ‘Background eraser tool’.

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Firstly, make sure your background has been turned into a layer by double clicking

object largely reduces the need to play around with the tolerance.

2

3

5

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/

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4

CRITIQUE

There’s no better way to learn than

the Year’ at Iris, NZ’s professional

Ollie has been a professional

by having your work critiqued! In this

photography awards. Her studio,

photographer for seven years, and has

section you get to have your work

ImageMe www.imageme.co.nz is

clients such as the NZ Herald, Visa,

critiqued by professional photographers

located in Takapuna in Auckland. She

Microsoft, Westpac, Unitec and BMW.

Lisa Crandall and Ollie Dale.

also runs photography workshops,

He is also a qualified commercial

Lisa is a multi-award winning

and is an Associate of the New

member and Associate of the New

portrait photographer. In 2008 she

Zealand Institute of Professional

Zealand Institute of Professional

was named ‘People Photographer of

Photography (ANZIPP).

Photography (ANZIPP).

Sized Up

YOUR WORK CRITIQUED Camera: Nikon D60

diligently assessed the image I wanted to

Then I assessed the shots and realised what

Shutter: 1/640 sec

capture. I considered what I liked about

was missing which made the shot – the road

Aperture: f/4

it – the contrast between rugged granite

leading seemingly into the mountain face.

ISO: 800

face with shadows, the strong blue sky and a

Having done everything right to this point (?), I

Author: Eddie Kyle

softer mountain in the distance. I ensured a

got excited, waited for a break in traffic to run

power pole on the mountain remained out of

out into the middle of the road, and took only

From the author: Driving in Central Otago

shot, thought about rule of thirds and clicked

one photo. I then threw the EOS into the car

I saw this scene and it captured me. I

off several shots, changing the f-stop up and

and got on my way. Dismay came later when

stopped, pulled out my Canon 500D and

down in order to get different exposures.

I realised that the best shot was over exposed.

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OP 1

OP 2

Hardly an expert with editing, I’ve tried

and it’s much easier to recover over- or

dictate. In option 2 (OP2) I’ve used

correcting with Colour Curves on GIMP

under-exposure in post processing.

the black and white adjustment

(thanks to a previous NZ Photographer review) but to a novice this is just frustrating. How can it be fixed (and

Going on what you’ve sent in though, here are a few things you could try: •

layer to manually control the effect.

I also added a touch of exposure to

First, clone out the white road

the very black region on the left –

posts – they’re incredibly distracting,

shooting in camera RAW would have

and who would know they were

given more latitude for recovering the

supposed to be there, right? And

shadow area. I also gave the whole

of what you went through to get your shot,

crop the image down into a more

image a vignette and then removed

Eddie. I’m sure lots of other photographers

panoramic shape as that sky isn’t

some of it on the left and right sides.

have had similar experiences.

really adding anything (OP1)

otherwise improved)?

OLLIES’S COMMENTS: I like your description

Firstly, the answer to what you could

•

You don’t have to go as extreme as this

Secondly, the image is screaming

but you definitely need to pull some more

have done to ensure against overexposure is

out for a black and white treatment –

out of the image. Think of taking the picture

simple – shoot in Camera RAW – you retain

add some contrast, clarity, dodging

in the camera as the first step on the way to

99% of the data that your camera caught

and burning, whatever your tastes

making your image.

Call for entries: Get your images critiqued by professionals – send an image to critique@nzphotographer.co.nz 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 editor@nzphotographer.co.nz. 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

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY (single Image or Series)

W

ith summer almost upon us

Giclée Print!

antipodeans, here’s your

Thanks again to our sponsors of our

chance to try your trigger

(Yes that’s Valentine’s Day 2011) The Winner will be published in Issue 21,

competitions - for all YOUR fine art and

out on Wednesday the 23rd of February,

finger at some sport. Re-read the article

canvas printing needs, visit

2011

about sports photography and go out and

www.gicleeprint.co.nz

find some. Capture a sporting moment in a

One entry per person, and you must be in

single image, OR, if your moment is better

New Zealand or hold a NZ Passport at the

represented as several moments then you

time of entry to qualify to win.

may also enter a series of images. Send

Images must be 100dpi, 1600 pixels

your entry in to us to claim not only the cover

wide, and sent to competitions@

of Issue 21 (February) but also the fabulous

nzphotographer.co.nz by 5pm on

$100 voucher from the awesome people at

Monday the 14th of February, 2011.

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NZ Photographer

FOOD Competition (single Image) A quick reminder…

W

e want Issue 20 to

people at Giclée Print. For all YOUR

Winner will be published in Issue

look YUM! Here’s your

fine art and canvas printing needs, visit

20, out on Wednesday the 15th of

chance to try out the

www.gicleeprint.co.nz

December, 2010.

tricky world of food photography –

One entry per person, and you must be

re-read the article about Nick Tresidder’s

in New Zealand or hold a NZ Passport at

food photography from Issue 18 and

the time of entry to qualify to win.

cook up a storm. Capture it in a single

Images must be 100dpi, 1600

photograph and send it in to us to claim

pixels wide, and sent to competitions@

the Cover of Issue 20 (December) and

nzphotographer.co.nz by 5pm on

the $100 voucher from those amazing

Monday the 6th of December, 2010.

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NZ Photographer

GADGETS

GEAR REVIEW The iPad: A Photographer’s Tool

By Brian Foose (“Inspector Gadget”)

B

efore I got my iPhone I usually met

bigger, even just to show off images to clients?

signing off model releases. Can the

up with clients in a café or office to

(And this was way before the original official

iPod touch or iPhone not do the same

showcase my work on my laptop. I’ve

iPad announcement!)

thing? Yes they certainly can, but the

always found the laptop so inconvenient; it

Finally, 3 generations of iPhones later,

experience is nowhere near the same

takes up so much space on the table and the

Apple announced iPad and I was really

client is always confused about which key to

excited about it. Now I’ve had my iPad

press to go to the next image.

for over 5 months and I want to share

Like I said, ever since my first iPhone

with you how my iPad works for me as a

I’ve imagined a device like this, even

professional photographer.

if all it did was show off my work to

Then I got my first iPhone. I imported my portfolio and client’s images before the meetings and, as usual, I met with them in a café, home or office. The clients loved the way

as on the iPad. 2. Show off your images in style.

clients in a professional and easy to 1. Just to clear things up a little bit: Is

use manner.

the images were presented on a small enough

it just a big version of iPod touch

Out of the box you can import all

device they could hold to view the images.

or iPhone?

your photos into the built-in photo

However, I then had another issue: The screen

The answer is a big NO, although

app, to start using it as your portfolio

was too small, and sometimes when the client

they do share the same operating

to show off to your clients. Or if you

was viewing the images I would get a call

system and similar functionalities.

like you can download one of the

or text message. Totally unprofessional! Since

But the iPad offers a totally different

apps available on the App Store

then I have been thinking: What if there was

experience. From surfing the web,

designed to manage your images

a device, similar to my iPhone but a little bit

email, and reading a book, to

into a more portfolio-like presentation.

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NZ Photographer

3. Signing model releases on the iPad

to the iMac or MacBook and start

Here are just a few ways I use my iPad as

is more fun.

shooting. Instant feedback on the

a professional photographer. But, of course,

Preparing model releases, printing

iPad’s large screen without running

that’s not all I use my iPad for.

them out and remembering to get

to your computer monitor after every

them signed off by the models used to

shot is great! Also you can change

when I am doing things that require less

be a drag. I think mostly it’s because

the image treatment on-the-fly on the

computing power. I surf the web and

I hate dealing with paper. Now there

iPad, all from where you are shooting

email on my iPad on the couch more than

is an app for that; I just have to create

without moving a inch. Brilliant!

I use my laptop. I am writing this review

a model release template in the app.

5. Import your photos and videos to it.

on iPad right now meaning the on-screen

I also really enjoy using my iPad

Once I arrive on the set, I hand the

With an optional USB and SD

keyboard is comfortable enough to use

iPad over to the models to key in all

card reader attachment you can

to write an article with. The iPad offers

their details and digitally “sign” it on

download and backup your photos

10 hours of battery life and that’s not an

the screen (with their finger).

from a digital camera into the iPad.

overstatement. My iPad has lasted me

A copy of the release gets emailed

The iPad is also capable of reading

more than 10 hours and I can confirm

to both the model and myself. Job

and displaying most of the RAW

that number is pretty accurate.

done! No paper, no mess, instantly

formats from DSLR cameras. You can

saved and backed up.

even do some basic editing on the

The bottom line is, the iPad is not going to

iPad before emailing or uploading

replace your computer. But there is definitely a

Apology for the misleading title...

the images to an online image

place for it in your digital lifestyle. Read a book

There is currently no way to shoot

sharing site.

or news paper; read an animated book before

On location references

bed-time with your kids; use it as a cookbook

use the iPad as a portable wireless

Sometimes I want to refer to my tear

in the kitchen; surf the net on the couch instead of

monitor when shooting tethered

sheet or shot-list for shot references,

in the corner of your room so you can at least

to the iMac or MacBook. First we

or even just quickly Google up some

pretend to be socialising with friends and

downloaded one of the Wifi capable

ideas. Now I go straight to my iPad

family; use it as a picture frame to display all

VPN remote control apps, linked it

instead of my laptop. I chose the

your favourite photos; Skype on it, etc…

up to our computer via Wifi, and

iPad with 3G for occasions like this

everything on the monitor is beamed

when I don’t have access to Wifi

instead of your laptop. The possibilities

to our iPad. Then we shoot tethered

internet on location.

are endless.

4. Tethered shooting with the iPad.

tethered to the iPad. However, we do

6.

Or, take it to your next client meeting

Brian Foose is the gadget-guru here at NZ Photographer and will be reviewing all the cameras, gizmos and accessories that manufacturers and PR companies send us. He’s also a great photographer - check out his website at www.brianfoose.com

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NZ Photographer

GADGETS

COOL STUFF Canon’s Cross Media Station Pulling memory cards and downloading pictures? A pain. Keeping track of a drawer full of different-sized battery packs for your travel, studio, and video cameras? A headache. If that’s you, Canon’s Cross Media Station could be a big hit of aspirin. Finally shown to the world after being teased at the Canon Expo last month, the prototype device looks something like a chubby scanner from a dark future. However, the top is actually an inductive charging pad. Set your camera up there (up to three at once) and a blue light will pop on to indicate flowing electricity. While the power heads one direction the data goes whizzing by in the other, pictures pulled and categorized on the device based on time, place, and recognized faces. As you can see in the video (http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=922zFnVa0IE), photos can be displayed over HDMI onto your HDTV. We’re guessing the wireless data spec is TransferJet, as Canon is a member of that consortium, but when it comes to the wireless charging we’re somewhat in the dark. It looks like the models in the video are using adapters to enable this functionality, but surely this will be integrated eventually. You know, in the future, when all the best stuff happens.

SOURCE: Engadget

Canon EOS 5D Mark II timelapse video

the timescapes.org forums. There I

Dustin Farrell has sent us his latest Canon

found a wealth of knowledge, including

EOS 5D Mark II timelapse video and

information about a camera called the

there are some jaw dropping scenes in

“Canon EOS 5D Mark II.” It seemed

this one.

that every serious time lapse shooter was

http://vimeo.com/16198274

using it. So, we bought it along with a

From Dustin: ”Over a year ago now I began getting interested in DSLR time

24mm 1.4 mark2.

Since then I have been shooting

lapse photography. Now a DP with

incredible time lapses. The low

Crew West Inc. in Phoenix, AZ I began

light image quality of the 5D2 is

to miss the opportunities of editing my

amazing. Add the 24mm f1.4 and

own material. I quickly discovered that

the combination is unmatched. 80% of

shooting time lapse with a DSLR not only

‘Landscapes: Volume ONE’ was shot

gave me editing material, it gave me 5K

with this combination.”

RAW image sequence editing material!

Seen anything cool lately that’s even remotely

On my home PC I could crank out 4K

photographically related? Let us know by

video clips with ease.

email to editor@nzphotographer.co.nz 36

Nov 17

NZ Photographer

“My DSLR interests grew when I found

Source: Planet5D Blog

NEXT ISSUE

In the next issue of NZ Photographer…

Astrophotography (as requested by Jon – anything for you mate!)

Food Competition Winner (Get cookin’ and shootin’, kids!)

Canon S95 Camera Review Plus Much More!

Issue 20, Out Wednesday 15th December 2010

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!

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NZ Photographer