NZ Photographer Issue 18

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 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 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 info@lacklands.co.nz

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 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

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