Photo Life March 2015 Preview by Apex Publications

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 10:14 AM Page 1

YOUR GUIDE TO EVERYTHING PHOTO

BUYING USED PHOTO GEAR What You Need to Know

THE NEXT GENERATION OF IMAGE MAKERS

DUST OFF YOUR NEGATIVES!

+ THE 2015 CANADIAN PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM DIRECTORY +

Emerging Photographers Competition Results

DISTINCTIVE PORTRAITS

The Wet-Plate Collodion Technique SOFTWARE UPDATES IS IT WORTH UPGRADING NOW?

IMPROVE YOUR FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY WITH DIFFUSERS AND REFLECTORS

Crombie McNeill Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM

Kevin Pepper Sigma lens 24–105mm F4 DG OS HSM

Ethan Meleg Sigma lens 18–35mm F1.8 DC HSM

Kevin Pepper Sigma lens 24–105mm F4 DG OS HSM

Younes Bounhar Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM

Garry Black Sigma lens 35mm F1.4 DG HSM

Achieve your Artistic vision

Younes Bounhar Sigma lens 35mm F1.4 DG HSM

Achieve your artistic vision with Sigma’s award winning, large-aperture lenses. •

World class optical quality for exceptional results

•

Perfect for low-light conditions

•

Shallow depth-of-field allows creative focus control

•

Fast, accurate HSM autofocus

•

Create photos and videos like a pro

•

100% made in Japan

18–35mm F1.8 DC HSM

35mm F1.4 DG HSM

DC | APS-C SENSOR

DG | Full-FRAmE

24–105mm F4 DG oS HSM

50mm F1.4 DG HSM

DG | Full-FRAmE

For more information on Sigma lenses visit www. SigmaCanada.ca

To find other Sigma retailers near you, visit www.gentec-intl.com/where-to-buy Sigma lenses are distributed in Canada exclusively by Gentec International, one of Canada’s Best managed Companies • www.gentec-intl.com

PL_MAR_ADS.indd 1

2014-12-23 8:42 AM

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 10:14 AM Page 3

CONTENTS February/March 2015, Volume 40, Number 2

4 6 10 66

Contributors Editorial Exposure Close-up

VISION Cover photo by Brandi Guzman

20 Behind the Image Julien Bourbon by Véronica Gill For the last several years, Julien Bourbon has been exploring an early photographic technique that was invented over 150 years ago. The now-rare wet-plate collodion process allows him to make distinctive images.

26 Without the Frame Shadow Play, Monterosso al Mare, Italy by David duChemin There’s something magic about the light in Italy: even at its highest and hottest, it’s beautiful. The shadows it creates seem to have a life of their own.

30 Emerging Photographers Competition This year’s portfolio features the work of 21 emerging photographers, including the winner of the first Photo Life Student Award.

36 Canadian Photography Program Directory The most up-to-date information on leading Canadian colleges and universities offering photography programs.

42 Showtime Mountains

TECHNIQUE 44 Photo 101 Scene Mode: Portrait by Jean-François Landry Scene modes are simple, efficient and perfectly suited for enthusiast use. This series explains how they work and how to get by without them.

46 FAQ Diffusers and Reflectors

by Jean-François Landry Using an external flash fixes several exposure problems, but certain ones remain. Thankfully, there is a plethora of accessories that will compensate for these small shortcomings.

GEAR 48 Digital Workflow Latest Software Revisions

30 PHOTO LIFE

by David Tanaka Most of today’s image-editing software updates emphasize on improving the user experience by making the software perform faster and more smoothly while creating a better interface.

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 10:14 AM Page 4

PHOTO LIFE FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 Volume 40, Number 2 171 St. Paul Street, Suite 102, Quebec, QC Canada G1K 3W2 418-692-2110 1-800-905-7468 info@photolife.com facebook.com/photolifemag

52 Buying Used Equipment by Dale Wilson This article covers some tips to help you shop for used equipment, whether you’re looking online or locally.

56 Review SilverFast HDR Studio by David Tanaka Your film camera might be ready for the flea market, but there could still be gold in those negs and slides. LaserSoft Imaging is one of the few companies still developing dedicated scanning software packages.

@photolifemag

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1-800-461-7468 subscription@photolife.com EDITORIAL Editorial Department editor@photolife.com Editorial Director Valérie Racine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vracine@photolife.com Administrative and Editorial Assistant Jenny Montgomery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .info@photolife.com Contributing Editors David Tanaka Peter K. Burian Art Director Guy Langevin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .glangevin@photolife.com ADMINISTRATION Publisher & Media Sales Director Guy J. Poirier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .gpoirier@photolife.com 418-692-2110 or 1-800-905-7468 Ext. 101 Advertising Consultant Stephen Stelmach . . . . . . . . . .advertising@photolife.com 416-996-1822 Accounting Julie Fortin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .accounting@photolife.com

58 Gadget Guide by Jean-François Landry

60 Imaging Products Review by Peter K. Burian

PHOTO LIFE (ISSN 0700-3021) is published six times a year (December/January, February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November) by Apex Publications Inc., a Canadian-owned company. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not, under any circumstances, including Cancopy, be reproduced or used in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher.

52 CONTRIBUTORS AND EDITORIAL STAFF

PHOTO LIFE is indexed in Canadian Magazine by Micromedia Limited. Back issues of PHOTO LIFE are available in microform from Micromedia Limited, 20 Victoria St., Toronto, Ontario M5C 2N8. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Peter K. Burian

is a technology writer and freelance stock photographer. He is the author of several Magic Lantern Guide books on DSLR systems. He is also a digital photography course instructor with betterphoto.com. peterkburian.com

David duChemin is a Vancouver-based photographer and adventurer. His bestselling books on the art of photography have been translated into a dozen languages. davidduchemin.com

Véronica Gill is a freelance journalist from Montreal with writing interests as varied as the

Occasionally, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies whose products and services might be of interest to our subscribers. If you prefer to have your name removed from this list and not receive these mailings, let us know by telephone, fax, regular mail or email. Member of CCAB, CITA and TIPA.

outdoors, sports, yoga, green subjects (food, tourism, buildings), and, of course, photography.

Jean-François Landry

has been providing advice to photographic equipment buyers in Quebec City since 1989. He also shares his passion with amateur photographers through courses and magazine articles. cylidd.com

Guy Langevin has worked as a graphic designer in the photo industry for many years. You don’t collaborate with and befriend some of the best photographers in the country without learning a few tricks of the trade, so he became a photographic designer. Jenny Montgomery is a theatre director and writer who first learned her way around a darkroom in 1998. Photography runs in her family, so it was probably inevitable that it would be a part of her life. Valérie Racine began working for Apex Publications in 2002. She currently serves as Editorial Director for both Photo Life and Photo Solution magazines. Her background includes studies in art, art history and communications, and she is passionate about photography. David Tanaka

is a technology writer based in Lethbridge, Alta. His work as a photographer includes magazine assignments, fine-art printmaking and stock. He also teaches multimedia communication at Lethbridge College.

Dale Wilson is a freelance photographer based in Nova Scotia and long-time Photo Life contributor. His practice concentrates on commercial work and creating images for several stock agencies. dalewilson.ca

REGULAR PRICES $35.70 (1 year - 6 issues) $71.40 (2 years - 12 issues) $107.10 (3 years - 18 issues) Prices exclude applicable Canadian sales taxes. Make cheque payable to PHOTO LIFE. US residents pay in US funds and add US$10.00 per year for postage. Foreign residents pay in US funds and add US$90.00 per year for postage. Single copy: CAN/US$5.95 SUBMISSIONS PHOTO LIFE welcomes portfolio and article submissions for possible publication. Article submissions must pertain to the subject of photography and include images supporting the submitted text. All submissions must respect the publisher’s submission guidelines. Complete submission guidelines are available at www.photolife.com, from the publisher at write@photolife.com, or by calling 1-800-905-7468. COPYRIGHT © 2015 APEX PUBLICATIONS INC. No material from the magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Despite the care taken in reviewing editorial content, Apex Publications Inc. cannot guarantee that all written information is complete and accurate. Consequently, Apex Publications Inc. assumes no responsibility concerning any error and/or omission. Publications Mail - Agreement No.: 40010196 102-171 St. Paul Street, Quebec, QC Canada G1K 3W2 PRINTED IN CANADA

PHOTO LIFE

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-23 9:32 AM Page 5

See the full picture. At any angle. Full-frame freedom, outstanding agility and the convenience of built-in Wi-Fi.

For those who find inspiration everywhere, who switch between stills and video without missing a beat, who want the look only a full-frame D-SLR can achieve and who love sharing their shots, the D750 is the tool to unleash your artistry.

www.henrys.com

9:27 AM

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 11:52 AM Page 6

EDITORIAL February/March 2015, Volume 40, Number 2 was born in the 1970s when cars were still huge vessels roaming the highways, consuming tons of gas. I went to school with no ice packs in my lunchbox. The first computer that I encountered was a Commodore VIC-20, which was awesome at the time (5 KB of RAM, with only 3.5 available!). In high school, I did research using the library’s card-catalogue system and encyclopaedias—actual heavy, printed encyclopaedias. I began writing university papers on a beige cubic Macintosh computer with a blackand-white screen. I did drawings on it too—horrible. When I bought my first camera for a photography course I was taking as part of my arts studies, the vendor told me the used Nikon FM was a safe investment since I could always resell it for the same price: $250. It’s funny how things change, right? And now I’m realizing that those who are just beginning their adult life in 2015 never actually knew a world without digital. They were born with low-emission vehicles, highperforming computers and digital cameras, fear of room-temperature mayonnaise, and most of their education was done with the help of the Internet. And on top of that, they are constantly facing an onslaught of photographic images. Nonetheless, a growing part of this new generation of photographers is turning to traditional techniques such as Polaroid transfer or even more complex chemical processes such as wet-plate collodion. All of this is new to them—this IS the new thing. And since they use these traditional processes in new ways and sometimes even combine them with digital techniques, they are actually reinventing photography. Mixing the old with the new can create some wonderful things! This issue features the work of Julien Bourbon, one of these “new” photographers using “old” techniques. We also are pleased to present some of today’s best Canadian emerging photographers with the results of our Emerging Photographers competition. Enjoy!

COMING UP The Azores A photographer’s paradise The World We Live In Contest results FAQ Lens conversion and equivalents Photo 101 Handheld Night scene mode Sharing images safely on the Web Photo bags and cases for travel And more…

Valérie Racine Editorial Director

BEST OF CANADIAN PHOTO CLUBS PHOTO CLUB MEMBERS ACROSS CANADA, WE’D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO SHARE YOUR TALENT! Send in your 3 best shots, and your images will be considered for publication in the 2015 Best of Canadian Photo Clubs feature in the June/July 2015 issue of Photo Life and on photolife.com. We can’t wait to show off your excellent work! There is no limit on the number of individual entries from each club. New! Photo Club of the Year Each photo club is invited to submit a one-minute video about what makes it unique and valuable. The club with the best response will be named Photo Club of the Year! Visit photolife.com/bestofphotoclubs for more details.

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015

PHOTO LIFE

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 10:14 AM Page 7

Introducing the Nikon D750 camera.

Order yours today! Get the picture

Full-frame freedom, outstanding agility and the convenience of built-in Wi-Fi®. For those who find inspiration everywhere, who switch between stills and video without missing a beat, who want the look only a full-frame D-SLR can achieve and who love sharing their shots, the D750 is the tool to unleash your artistry. With features inspired by D4S and D810, the D750 brings dazzling image quality, cinematic video capabilities and pro-inspired handling in a nimble design with a tilting Vari-angle LCD and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. Enthusiasts upgrading from a DX-format D-SLR will marvel at the D750’s full-frame performance. Pros seeking a primary or secondary camera for fast-paced shoots will appreciate the D750’s familiar handling and speed. And filmmakers looking for a compact D-SLR to bring a production to life or to capture B-Roll will find the D750 a perfect fit. The D750 is a thrilling centerpiece of an exceptional imaging system.

The Camera Store is the proud recipient of the Consumer Choice Award for Photographic Retailer 9 years in a row.

Big Box Prices, Expert Knowledge. Call or check our website for guaranteed low prices. 802 - 11th Avenue S.W. Calgary Ph: (403) 234-9935 Toll free: 1-888-539-9397

www.thecamerastore.com

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 10:14 AM Page 8

EXPOSURE WHAT’S ON IN TODAY’S PHOTO CULTURE

[your view] AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY Thank you for the very good article written by Scott Linstead called “How to Fly a Camera.” —Mark Betuzzi (Radio Spectrum Chair, Model Aeronautics Association of Canada) via email

RE:“TRYING AN ENGAGEMENT PHOTO SHOOT” ON THE BLOG I was the model for this assignment. I must say I had an amazing time working with Kei! The pictures came out great! On the day of the photoshoot, Fernando and I tried so many poses to get the best ones since we are not models in real life, LOL, but Kei was very patient and had great ideas as well to get the per-

fect picture! It was a lot of fun doing this project with her; we explored new romantic places in Toronto and enjoyed every moment of it... —Maria Jose via Facebook Photo Life is proud to partner with Seneca students (like Kei Miyajima mentioned above) to document their journey through the school curriculum. Visit the Photo Life blog each week to follow along!

THE DECEMBER/JANUARY COVER Beautiful cover as usual! —Claude Robidoux via Facebook

WORLDWIDE WOW PHOTO CONTEST The 8th annual Worldwide WOW Photo Contest, sponsored by the Canadian Progress Club Elevate, is open from February 1 through March 31. Canadian amateur and professional photographers are invited to enter in one of four categories (Nature, Capture Canada, Faces Around the World or Global Travel). All proceeds go to support The Canadian Women’s Foundation, which helps women and girls impacted by poverty and violence. wowphotocontest.ca 2014-11-06 2:59 PM Page 1

COMPARE SPECS AND PRICES

TOP PHOTO GEAR

ON NEWSSTANDS

NOW! CANADA’S

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY! CAMERAS • LENSES • TRIPODS • BAGS • PRINTERS • APPS • ACTION CAMS • LIGHTING • VIDEO • SOFTWARE • AND MORE!

MORE TH

270 TS PRODURCED COVE

BUY BETTER!

BUYING GUIDE

TO EVERYTHING

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015

PRINTED IN CANADA

PHOTO

CAN/US$8.95

CARRYING SYSTEMS FIND THE BEST ONE FOR YOU

EXPOSURE PHOTO LIFE

before

after

Save Your Memories and Digitize Your Images

SilverFast®Archive Suite 8

Now is the time to finally digitize all of your old film and original photos before they are damaged or lost to the elements forever. The new SilverFast Archive Suite offers a completely non-destructive, time saving, workflow with unparalleled control and features to save those old memories and bring them back to life. “After 50 years of shooting mountains of film for Time and other magazines, I need one application that integrates the entire process from quality scanning to meaningful archiving with a smooth workflow and this is it. Like everyone, my time is valuable, so I need to get it done and I need to get it done right! SilverFast Archive Suite is my solution.“ Shelly Katz World renowned Photographer for TIME, LIFE, PEOPLE Weekly and many other mainstream magazines. Also founding Vice-President on the Board of Directors of the World-Wide Publishing Consortium, Speaker, Author.

before

after

Auto IT8 Calibration – Automatically color calibrate your Scanner in 2 Minutes

before

after

Multi-Exposure – Increasing Dynamic Range for more Image Details and less Image Noise

before

after

iSRD – infrared-based Smart Removal of Defects

LaserSoft Imaging, Inc. • 7441 N. Tamiami Trail • Sarasota, FL 34243, USA, Phone: +1 941-351-9400 • Fax: +1 941-351-9402 LaserSoft Imaging AG • Luisenweg 6-8 • 24105 Kiel • Tel.: +49 431 560 09-0 • Email: info@silverfast.de

E-Mail: sales@SilverFast.net • www.SilverFast.com

Flyer_SF_PrinTao_ArchiveSuite_RGB_Tiff_new.indd 2 PL_MAR_ADS.indd 3

09.12.14 17:27 2014-12-22 10:11 AM

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-23 4:32 PM Page 10

EXPOSURE [what’s on] VIEWPOINT GALLERY

TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) has announced that the TIPA Photo Trophy 2015 contest is open for entries through March 23. The theme is Discover the World: Open (Y)our Eyes to the Beauty of Planet Earth. This free contest is a special theme within the Trierenberg Super Circuit & Special Themes Circuit 2015, which is the largest photo art contest in the world. The first prize is €5000, the second prize is €3000 and third prize is €2000. For more information, visit photocontest.at or tipa.com.

ViewPoint Gallery in Halifax is featuring Christopher Jordan’s Suburban Sublime from February 4 through March 1. Jordan’s work highlights the wondrous and mystical events that can be discovered within suburbia, while exploring the ambiguity between realism and abstraction. On view from March 4 through 29, Presentification of Paradise showcases Jean-René Leblanc’s digital colour and infrared images. viewpointgallery.ca

PHOTO CONTEST NOW OPEN OVER $10,000 IN PRIZES

TIPA PHOTO TROPHY 2015 CONTEST

Submission deadline March 31, 2015 Professional and Amateur Photographers Enter Online Now

WOW P H O T O C O N T E S T.C A

Proceeds supporting The Canadian Women’s Foundation

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015

PL_MAR_ADS.indd 2

EXPOSURE PHOTO LIFE

2014-12-23 4:35 PM

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 10:14 AM Page 11

[what’s on] BRYAN ADAM’S EXPOSED IN QUEBEC CITY

Did you know that rock singer Bryan Adams is also an impressive photographer? Setting aside the question of whether or not it’s fair for one person to have so much talent, it’s clear that this artist creates stunning images. Exposed is on view at the Musée National de Beaux Arts de Québec in Quebec City from February 19 through June 14—and this is the only chance to see this exhibition in eastern Canada. With 130 black-and-white and colour images, Exposed features two groups of Adams’s work: his portraits of celebrities and his recent work with British soldiers who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. (For more on Bryan Adams’s photography, subscribers can check out our interview with him in the December/January 2013 issue in the digital archives.) mnbaq.org

Be Colourful MeFoto RoadTrip and GlobeTrotter Travel Tripod kits provide an exceptional combination of materials, construction and features – plus a splash of colour to suit your individuality! Complete with matching precision ballhead, they offer an all-in-one camera support system, converting from a tripod to a full-size monopod. With their unique fold-up design, MeFoto Travel Tripod kits easily fit inside a backpack or luggage. Available in carbon fibre or aluminum. RoadTrip supports up to 17.6 lb / GlobeTrotter supports up to 26.4 lb

Available colours

MeFoto available at: • Vistek (Toronto) • Vistek (Mississauga)

• Vistek (Ottawa) • Vistek (Calgary)

• Vistek (Edmonton) • Photo Central (Winnipeg)

• Photo Service (Montreal) • Camera Craft (Sault Ste. Marie)

gnigami.ca

PHOTO LIFE EXPOSURE

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 10:14 AM Page 12

GALLE RY OF ONTAR IO

[what’s on]

YK © HENR

ROSS/ART

TARIO Y OF ON GALLER

RARE GLIMPSE INSIDE SECOND WORLD WAR JEWISH GHETTO Never before seen in Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto is presenting the work of Polish Jewish photojournalist Henryk Ross. Taken at great risk, these 200 images document what daily life was like under Nazi rule in the Lodz ghetto. Ross buried the negatives in the ground to try to preserve this important historical record of suffering and tragedy. Over half of his 6000 negatives are intact, making this collection one of the largest visual records to survive the Holocaust. The photographs will be accompanied by artefacts like Ross’ identity card and footage from the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann, for which Ross’ images served as evidence. Memory Unearthed: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross, 1940-1944 is on view from January 31 through June 14. ago.net

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015

EXPOSURE PHOTO LIFE

PL_MAR15.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-12-22 10:14 AM Page 15

SAVE UP TO

SUBSCRIBE TO PHOTO LIFE, CANADA’S #1 PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE, FOR ESSENTIAL CONTENT, TRENDS AND TIPS FOR TODAY’S PHOTOGRAPHER. PHOTOLIFE.COM/SUBSCRIPTION

50% OFF THE NEWSSTAND PRICE! 3 YEARS / $54.95** 2 YEARS / $44.95** 1 YEAR / $24.95**

YOUR PRINT SUBSCRIPTION ALSO GIVES YOU ACCESS TO THE DIGITAL ARCHIVES OF THE MAGAZINE! PHOTOLIFE.COM/EMAGS

3 YEARS/18 ISSUES FOR ONLY $54.95* (VALUE OF $107.10 PLUS TAXES) 2 YEARS/12 ISSUES FOR ONLY $44.95* (VALUE OF $71.40 PLUS TAXES) 1 YEAR/6 ISSUES FOR ONLY $24.95* (VALUE OF $35.70 PLUS TAXES) YOU CAN ALSO BUY PHOTO LIFE ON THE APP STORE FOR YOUR IPAD. LOOK FOR “PHOTO LIFE MAGAZINE.”

NEW SUBSCRIPTION Mr.

Mrs.

RENEWAL

Ms.______________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________ City: _______________________________Province/State: _____________ Postal Code: _________________Telephone: ________________________

** CANADIAN RATE (PLUS APPLICABLE TAXES). FOR US AND INTERNATIONAL RATES, PLEASE CHECK THE PHOTO LIFE WEBSITE.

You can subscribe by mail, phone or online:

Email: ______________________________________________________ PAYMENT

VISA

MASTERCARD

PHOTO LIFE SUBSCRIPTIONS

Credit Card #: ____________________________Exp. Date: _____________

CP 126, SUCC. PLACE D’ARMES MONTRÉAL, QC, Canada H2Y 3E9

Signature: __________________________________Date: _____________ Please check this box if you do not want us to share your information with third parties offering products and services that we feel may be of interest to you. * Canadian Rate (plus applicable taxes). U.S. residents pay in U.S. dollars and add US$10 per year for postage. Other international residents pay in U.S. dollars and add US$90 per year for postage.

1-800-461-7468 photolife.com

Photocopies are welcome.

DROP BY PHOTOLIFE.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/PHOTOLIFEMAG FOR MORE CANADIAN PHOTO NEWS AND CONTENT!