NZ Photographer e-Magazine Issue 24

Issue 24

October 2011

SHOOTING FRESH How smartphones are changing digital photography Playing with a moment Mini planet tutorial and competition

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6 Shooting Fresh

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Cool Stuff

Editorial

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!

W

elcome along to Issue

24 of NZ Photographer e-Magazine, and what

EDITOR

will be the first of many with me as the

Brady Dyer, editor@nzphotographer.co.nz

Editor. I’ve got some great content up my sleeves and look forward to sharing

GROUP EDITOR Trudi Caffell

this with all of you. With the change of Editor, we will be taking a slightly

ART DIRECTOR Jodi Olsson

different direction with the magazine and who the content is aimed at.

While we will still be discussing some

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Lisa Clark on 09 576 1121 or email lisa@espiremedia.com

advanced photographic techniques, we will also be including more content for beginners, from ‘I’ve never picked up a camera’; through to intermediate, ‘I use my camera all the time’. Having said that, it doesn’t really matter what level you are at on the photography ladder, I’m confident you’ll still enjoy casting your eyes over our monthly e-Magazine, packed with featured professional photographers, tutorials & tips, competitions, giveaways, as well as a team of new contributors producing the content for the articles. So if you think you have a way with words or some ideas

those who have been in touch welcoming me aboard. I am excited, and am looking forward to helping you on your journey through the world of photography.

ADDRESS NZ Photographer, C/- Espire Media, PO Box 99758, Newmarket WEBSITE www.nzphotographer.co.nz

NZ Photographer is an Espire Media publication

you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you. That’s all from me for now, thanks to Cover Image: Competition Winner Alden Williams

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INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO READ OUR EMAG

By Brady Dyer

4 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

B

eing an emag has some

Print the PDF

great benefits. We can get

If you must get your hands on some ink, you always have the option to print

content and news to you

out the PDF. While this isn’t overly encouraged, as we love that our emag is so

far quicker than a print magazine

clean & green, if you simply must you can always print the PDF out.

as we have no lengthy printing times, furthermore it allows us to pump out more issues with just the right amount of content. But most

Download the PDF

importantly for you, it’s free! We’ve

The easiest option is to simply click the

put together a bit of a guide to

“Download PDF” button in the email that we

show you how you can get the

send out. This will download the PDF to the

most out of reading our emag.

device you are on, and nearly every device these days can open a PDF with ease.

Read on Issuu Issuu is a wonderful service that allows you to read our emag with as much realism as a print magazine. You can flip through pages or jump to a specific page. The emag can be embedded into Facebook, emails, and any other website for you to share, and can be read full screen to get the full user experience.

Read on iPad or other tablet Our favorite method of reading is downloading the PDF to an iPad (or other tablet) and then reading it when it suit. Simply install the free Apple app called ‘iBooks’ and when you click on “Download PDF” you will be given an option to save this into iBooks.

You can save and organise all the issues easily within iBooks.

To contact Brady or if you’re interested in contributing to NZ Photographer e-Magazine please email brady@nzphotographer.co.nz

www.nzphotographer.co.nz | 5

TIPS & TRICKS

SHOOTING FRESH Perhaps it’s time you tried something different to get your creative juices flowing again

By Sanele Chadwick

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A

s a photographer it’s sometimes difficult to come up with fresh and creative photos. In fact, anyone

who has an inkling of creativity in the arts will know very well generating ideas isn’t always easy.

Frustration, anger, and despite a burning desire to capture a Pulitzer Prize winning imawge, even the best of us can occasionally struggle to come up with new and innovative ideas. It’s normal to come across this situation and it can leave even the most enthusiastic photographer feeling frustrated and angry.

tempted to zoom in and out with your

Watch a film

If you’ve been struggling lately to

camera, instead use your feet. You’ll be

Nothing beats a good film. In fact, nothing

conjure up some magical moments,

surprised how the restricted focal length

beats a good film when you’re looking

or spark something special with your

can actually open up new ideas, capturing

for inspiration. Everyone has a favourite

photography, perhaps it’s time you tried

shots you may not have thought of before.

film, but what about your favourite scene?

something different to get your creative

Or favourite shot? I love film noirs such

juices flowing again. It’s time you let the

Shoot with a purpose

as Double Indemnity, Kiss Me Deadly,

frustration and anger go and try these

Instead of venturing out blindly, try

and The Big Sleep. They rely heavily on

fun, easy, and useful tips that might take

shooting with a purpose in the field.

lighting to convey a sense of mystery and

it to the next level. Best thing is that you

Having a compass point before you go

darkness. Try taking that black and white

don’t have to let go of your Pulitzer Prize

out and shoot can aid you enormously

noir and incorporating it into your photos.

winning dreams.

in capturing great photos. Set yourself

Next time you’re watching your favourite

a goal while out on location. If you’re

film, or any movie for that matter, pay

Shoot with a fixed focal length

going for a stroll, challenge yourself to

attention to the scene.

Zoom lenses do offer a lot of options,

shoot things that are only pink, or of a

Try pausing the movie and see if it’d make

but this can sometimes be a bad thing

certain shape. Test yourself to see if you

a great photo. Pause the film till your heart’s

and hinder your ability to be creative.

can put together a set of photos that

content, you’ve got more than 60 minutes

Instead of spending time framing your

relates to that element.

of footage to choose from, 180 if you’re

shot and pushing the shutter you find

Aim for five, six, maybe even ten photos

lucky. Remember, there’s a reason why

yourself pondering whether to shoot a

that reflect the colour pink, or objects that

camera operators are called ‘directors of

wide shot, or zoom in and get tight.

are circle in nature. It could be anything,

photography’. They usually have a good

Next time you’re out shooting, try using

so long as you have a purpose. Spend

photographic eye.

a prime lens, one that doesn’t zoom, like

an hour or so on location, looking with

the plastic fantastic 50mm.

your photographic eye, for subjects that

If you aren’t blessed with a prime lens, or don’t own a dSLR, then simply set

pertain to that certain element.

So the next time you’re feeling stuck for creative ideas and unimaginative, try a few

When you’ve finished up, look at the

of these tricks and see what you come up

your zoom lens at a specific focal length

photos as a set. I guarantee there will be

with. So get out and get shooting and start

like 24mm, and leave it there! Don’t be

at least one photo in there that you’ll love!

putting together those creative portfolios!

www.nzphotographer.co.nz | 7

How smart phones are changing digital photography

“The best camera is the one you have with you,” photographer Chase Jarvis once said

A

top of the range DSLR with all the

me. Often a nice sunset, particularly still

bells and whistles might produce

mill-pond body of water, or just having fun

some great images, but it isn’t

with friends and family.

much use if it’s sitting in a bag at home is it? Maybe you forgot to take it with you, or

hanging off our neck for those moments

the weight and size restricts where you can

producing something unique and special,

take it.

or should we turn to the piece of equipment

As a professional photographer I have too often found myself in a situation where the camera is at home, and I am wanting to capture something happening before

8 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

So, should we have our camera always

that is becoming ever increasingly to find in your pocket? A smartphone.

When Chase Jarvis stated ‘the best camera is the one you have with you’ it

was a celebration of the iPhone, that little camera that is always in your pocket. At the time he made it, in 2009, the iPhone had become more popular than Canon’s entry level DSLR to become the most popular camera on the photo-sharing site Flickr. Now, an average of 10,000 iPhone photos are uploaded every day.

I know what you’re thinking, Apple didnt invent the camera phone? And right you are, there are plenty of other manufacturers with camera phones sporting much better onboard cameras. Android phones are breathing down the neck of the iPhone, with their 8 megapixel cameras from the HTC Desire and Desire HD handsets recently launched.

What really makes the iPhone stand apart, is the wide range of photography apps available that allow everyday people, and photographers alike, to produce stunning photos. With there being literally thousands of apps at your disposal, we’ve put together a couple of our favorites to get you on your way to becoming a smartphone photographer.

There are a lot of professional photographers whose iPhones are now a vital part of their kit. Being able to take photos, edit them to your liking, and then uploading directly to Twitter, Facebook, or your own website is great! We live in

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a world where informtion is on tap and ready for you, and if you dont keep up, you’ll just be left behind.

While we are discussing the success of the iPhone, it would be remiss of us not to mention the recent loss of Steve Jobs, the man who invented the “iWorld” that we live in. Without his dedication to the industry its unlikely I would be sitting here writing this article on my iPad.

PhotoCurves PhotoCurves enables you to create your own filers: tones and contrast.

Photosynth After trialing a lot of panoramic photo apps, this one produces the cleanest merging of the individual images.

10 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

Hipstamatic This is the app to get if you have an

image again and it will

affinity for big, chunky plastic cameras

reapply the filter with

and square prints.

slightly different settings,

We say prints rather than photos because the makers of this app want you

producing different results every time.

to turn your shots into real, physical prints.

A range of ‘lenses’ and ‘film’ can be used

iSwap Faces

to create unique results, there are even

We had to include this

extra ‘lens’ packs you can purchase to get

for the pure laugh factor.

new effects when you get bored of the free

iSwap Faces morphs one

ones with the app.

person into another for everyone’s entertainment.

CameraBag

.

CameraBag can open any image and apply a huge range of filters to your photos. Not happy with the effect a certain filter has produced? Double-tap the

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PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT

Playing with a moment?

Melissa Cowan’s story

25 year-old, Wellington based

How did you get into photography?

intricate and detailed. Back in 2008 were

Photographer Melissa Cowan’s latest

I started by taking photos at local gigs

you using the same techniques?

while at uni. My boyfriend at the time was

I was always editing colour wise. It is just

a DJ, so it was a natural progression.

a style that I have always had, even in uni.

project has been a new venture. A new collaborating style with Make Up Artist, Olivia Wilde has left her feeling as exited about her photographs as when she first got into it in 2008. Though she earned her name working in the event photography scene, she is now looking outside of parties towards fashion and illustration and loving the results she brings to light as she plays.

12 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

The closer I got to graduating the more gigs promoters were inviting me to

How does your creative process work?

photograph at. I was going out to the gigs

It depends what I am doing but for gigs

anyway,so it rolled over quite nicely.

and events, I like to capture the ambiance and the persona of the event itself. So

Now, you’re photos are technically quite

I am pulling back on my creativeness

because I’m letting the subject come to me.

I like to capture subtle, obscure things that people over look and bring it to the surface; like necklaces, rings, belts, a DJ’s headphones or microphones.

Had you noticed other photographers at the time producing the same kind of work? …No. At the time my peers in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree were probably focussing more on their exhibitions. I was about the only person in my class that was focussing on events.

In 2008 was event photography big?

It’s definitely grown. I’ve been freelancing for a solid two and a half to three years and it’s definitely evolved. There used to be one to no photographers and now there’s sometimes a minimum of five to six… people love to see photos of themselves.

Do you find your field very competitive?

Yes, any photographic industry is competitive. You have to be motivated, organised and I think, personally have your own style or X-factor.

Do you enjoy being in front of the camera as well?

Not really (giggles). I feel much more natural behind it.

What has occurred to you about people after photographing so many over the last couple of years?

Body language. Especially when you’re at a gig. You can instantly feel a negative vibe from some people at certain gigs when there are so many photographers, so in situations like that I will sometimes go put my camera away.

Do you have a name for your personal style of photography?

No we haven’t, but currently it’s a

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collaboration with Make Up Artist, Olivia

lighting, composition and with fashion,

If you won the lotto what kind of camera

Wilde and Illustrator, Becca O’Shea

what they were dressed in.

would you have?

I really enjoy my camera at the moment

is coming to do some work over them.

It’s definitely digital manipulation…

Have new iPhone aps taken away from

(Nikon D700) but I would definitely

postproduction is done in Photoshop.

the skill of the photographer?

buy some new lenses…Photography is

I think it does and doesn’t because it

technical, you’re using light and glass

Do you think it is good more people are

gets photography out there to more

and understanding your camera and

embracing more modern techniques’ in

people who wouldn’t have picked it up

those elements, as tools allow you to get

their photography?

otherwise. At the same time it’s quite hard

a better end product; so I use these to

It’s good art is constantly evolving and

because it is just an application where

express my own passion and aesthetic...

changing. It’s good to have that challenge

people can spin it off and upload it. I

and because I love it…It’s something

as an artist. Personally some people don’t

personally wouldn’t use it. But it doesn’t

that’s… I think it’s in me.

like the digital manipulation at all. But I

really bother me.

am a fan of it and I enjoy it. I still look in

…So many people even have DSL

The other day I was so bored I went and took

magazines and am overwhelmed by the

cameras now, which is just an upgrade

photos of the outside of the house. But! Then I

talent. It’s just beautiful.

from a dig cam. Though professional

made these awesome images from them.

cameras aren’t just for professionals, [so it’s

For Melissa, more collaboration with fellow

a tricky subject].

creative people like Wellington based

What would you say is your signature?

designer, Jasmin Sparrow and friend Becca

I think I have a really raw, fresh style and my colour grading [also] adds to

Do you think technology advances have

O’Shea is on the way as well. She will still

my style. Personally I love and enjoy it

allowed us to create a new phase of

do event photography; but now has the

because it cuts into the design aspect. My

creativity in terms of crossing mediums?

ability to be selective about what she does.

photos [are then] not just a photo, but art

Yes. Becca and I were able to pop

She’s looking forward to Rhythm and Vines

as well. I want people to really engage

off emails and get illustrations on my

for the second year coming and big events

with my photos and question why I’ve

photographs done instantly via email

of the like.

shot what I have.

the other day. It’s just easier and much

What makes a good photo for you?

more manageable. I personally am a

To see more of Melissa’s work check out

fan of it [technology advances].

www.melissacowan.co.nz

It depends on the individual photo but,

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TUTORIAL

MINI PLANETS F

or this tutorial we will assume you know how to stich some photos together to make a panoramic

image. If you’re not sure, Google it, there are literally 1000’s of different tools and programs you can use to stitch images together. If you have a smartphone there are just as many apps that will also create

1

stunning panoramic images.

We don’t know about you, but ever since those astronomers kicked Pluto out of the party we’ve been feeling a bit lonely here on planet Earth.

Choose a good photo

2

Choose a good panoramic photo to start with. Here are a few tips to help you select an image:

• The width needs to be longer than the height, by at least two times. The wider the photo, the better. The bottom area

Re-size and Rotate

of your photo will be distorted the most,

the photo

so make sure there aren’t too many fine

Open the photo in

details as they’ll be squashed.

Photoshop. We’re

• The top quarter of your photo should be

going to prepare it for

consistent with detail and color as that will

the Polar filter by firstly

surround your planet. Preferably the top

resizing it into a perfectly square image,

quarter should just be one color, like the sky.

setting the width exactly as your height

• The left edge should somewhat match the right edge as the two will come

Image > Image Size [Untick Constrain

together. Also make sure that the horizon

Properties] > Enter the width the same as

is perfectly straight.

the photo’s height

16 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

5 6

Fix and clean with the Patch tool If there’s a color variation or your horizon wasn’t perfectly straight (or both!), you’d notice a harsh “line” straight down in the center. Use the ‘Patch Tool’ to fix this up or the ‘Spot Healing Brush’

3

Once you’ve done that, we want to rotate the canvas 180 degrees.

Image > Rotate Canvas > 180° You should end up with something like the

Finally, crop and rotate Finally, crop the photo tightly and you might like to also rotate it again and there you have it, your own mini panorama planet!

below pic.

4

Apply the Polar Filter You’ve probably done most of the hard work. Now, just apply the polar filter.

Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates > Select “Rectangular to Polar” setting

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PIC OF THE BUNCH

AldenWilliams JohnLamb

PIC OF THE BUNCH 18 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

ChrisGin

O

ne of my first duties as editor, besides putting together this issue, was selecting the winner

or our Landscape Competition to grace the front cover. With so many great images my job was made very hard, in the end I had to go with my gut feeling and am pleased to announce Alden Williams as the winner of this competition.

Alden wins this issue’s cover and a $100 voucher from the fabulous team at Giclée Print. Alden’s image of the rocks & beach on the Kapiti Coast grabbed my attention and even when we cropped away half the image for the front cover, it was still a captivating photo.

For all YOUR fine art and canvas printing needs, visit www.gicleeprint.co.nz

AlexandrClaudel EricPollack www.nzphotographer.co.nz | 19

James Griffin

Roger Griffiths

Alexandre Claudel

KateTaylor 20 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

RichardBrown

HayleaMuir ShaunHolmes

www.nzphotographer.co.nz | 21

COMPETITIONS

MINI PLANET Competition Want your photo on the cover of Issue 26?

S

imply follow our tutorial on page INSERT PAGE NUMBER to produce your own mini planet. Put your own

‘spin’ on the photo and use this opportunity to capture an area that is special to you.

As well as having your photo on the cover of Issue 26 you will also score yourself $100 voucher courtesy of Giclée Print.Thanks again to our sponsors of our competitions - for all YOUR fine art and canvas printing needs, visit www.gicleeprint.co.nz

One entry per person, and you must be in New Zealand or hold a NZ Passport at the time of entry to qualify to win.

One entry per person, and you must be in New Zealand or hold a NZ Passport at the time of entry to qualify to win.

Images must be 100dpi, 1600 pixels wide, and sent to competitions@ nzphotographer.co.nz by 5pm on 29th November, 2011. The winner will be published in Issue 26, out on Wednesday the 14th of December, 2011.

22 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

WINTER Competition W

ith this being my first issue out the door, we decided to keep it simple. To win

the next competition and the cover of our next issue, you need to capture any genre that illustrates Winter. No barriers, no boundries, just winter.

It could be a portrait, a landscape (but keep in mind that we need a portrait image for the front cover), photojournalism or a creative piece of Photoshop mastery.

It’s up to you, and we expect to be wowed, so get to it.

Thanks again to our sponsors of our competitions - for all YOUR fine art and canvas printing needs, visit www.gicleeprint.co.nz

One entry per person, and you must be in New Zealand or hold a NZ Passport at the time of entry to qualify to win.

Images must be 100dpi, 1600 pixels wide, and sent to competitions@nzphotographer.co.nz by 5pm on 1st of November, 2011.

The winner will be published in Issue 25, out on Wednesday the 16th of November, 2011.

www.nzphotographer.co.nz | 23

COOL STUFF

cool stuff

Photoshop Fridge Magnets

Undo that over-seasoned soup, or clone

You’re a whiz when your fingertips hit the

stamp a hole in your pie crust they can

keyboard. You’ve got brushes and lassos

make you feel a little more at home in

at the ready. But when your feet hit the tile

your kitchen.

and you’re forced to confront cupboards of

Feel them silently cheering you on as you

neglected pans, melon ballers, and scary

select “pizza” to heat up your leftovers or

looking blenders -- you realize they’re not

shift command the oven light to view some

your tools of choice.

sizzling formerly frozen treats.

Fear not culinary-challenged friend! With our Photoshop Fridge Magnets you can

Disclaimer: these magnets, while ideal for

now find comfort in the kitchen. This set

holding photos to your fridge may/may

of eleven magnets brings that friendly user

not actually improve your cooking skills.

interface you know and love to the front of your fridge.

Though they won’t allow you to Edit >

24 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

Source: http://photojojo.com/store/ awesomeness/photoshop-fridge-magnets/

USB Film Roll Know how many pictures you can fit into a roll of film? 24 exposures? 36? Nah, try thousands! (If it’s one of our special USB Film Rolls, that is.)

We’ve had some awesome ideas for repurposing these little cans in the past, but hiding a USB drive in there is the best idea yet. These upcycled jewels hold 4GB of information: that’s up to 1000 photos!

Since we get these from film labs that were just going to throw them away, you never know what kind of canister you’ll end up with. It’s like a grab bag: will you get Fuji Velvia? Tri-X? Precious but elusive Kodachrome? Who knows, you’ll just have to wait and see!

Source: http://photojojo.com/store/ awesomeness/usb-film-roll/

The F-Stop Watch You’re a little fuzzy around 2, start feeling fine around 8, but at 11 you’re sharp, focused, and ready to party.

The f-stop watch gets you.

Aperture numbers mark off the hours on this understated timepiece. The zinc-alloy frame encircles a glass-encased dial, and a 9.25” band sits comfortably on your wrist. A quartz movement ensures accurate time keeping, and a bright-red second hand is ready to help you time your manual exposures.

(And if you’ve ever been on a long shoot where you had to leave your phone in your bag, you know a watch can make a huge difference.)

Truly, ‘tis a timely accessory for photomaking that any photographer would love.

Source: http://photojojo.com/store/ awesomeness/f-stop-watch/

www.nzphotographer.co.nz | 25

Enjoy NZ Photographer?

Check out these other great Espire E-Mags NZ SALES MANAGER Sales or Business person?

Introducing NZ Sales Manager - the free and informative e-magazine for Kiwi Sales & Business people out every four weeks. Packed full of articles and tips to improve your performance in the sales

NZ SALES SEPTEMBER 201

1

ISSuE 54

When YoWuhaaret to do

Chasing

the Money

arena as well as articles which make sense of the business world. Short, straight to the point and easy

Negotiating with difficult people

to read - an essential for any Salesperson!

Mining your databa se for sales opportunitie s

Download a free copy of the latest issue HERE: www.nzsalesmanager.co.nz

f sher

Running Late

Plus! Check inside to see if you've won prizes from our cool awesome new sup porters!

NZ’s e-mag for sales leaders

ISSUE 12 September 2011

NZ FISHER

Enjoy fishing?

her NZFisar old!

If you love fishing you'll love NZ Fisher, the fresh new

– One ye

e-magazine for Kiwi fishing enthusiasts... and it's free! Packed full of tips, ideas and stories to see you through to your next fishing outing, you'll land a shiny new issue direct in your email inbox every four weeks!

Download a free copy of the latest issue HERE: www.nzsalesfisher.co.nz

rnational secrets shared Magnificent Squid – Inte – Its becoming a habit!

Landbased from the boat late than never Great Barrier Is – Better d’s overlooked Jewel The Waitemata – Aucklan

w w w .n z fi sh e r .c o .n z www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

26 | www.nzphotographer.co.nz

next issue of NZ Photographer…

Coming up in Issue 25: • Profile of a professional photographer • More techniques to try out in our next competition • And some tips on basic photography gear to get you started

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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