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T’S WHALABLE AVAIR EACH FO OUNT M
YOUR GUIDE TO EVERYTHING PHOTO
YOUR GUIDE TO CSC LENSES
THE WINNERS! The Best of Our Biggest Photo Contest Mother Nature on Cue
HOW TO MAKE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT BELIEVABLE Improve Your Street Portraits
TIPS FOR APPROACHING AND PHOTOGRAPHING STRANGERS
+
HOW TO USE A HISTOGRAM 8 TIPS FOR TACK-SHARP IMAGES
GREAT WAYS TO USE YOUR SMART DEVICE AS A DIGITAL ASSISTANT
© Michael Cali
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You stake out a vantage point 800 feet high. Contort up an antenna not made for climbing. Defy the downward pull of 60 pounds of gear. Fight your nerves, trust your equipment, then lean back as far as you dare. Just to get one shot.
Finish strong. © Joe McNally
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epson.ca/finishstrong Concept submitted by Finish Strong Contest winner Josh Lohmeyer. *Prices are Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price. EPSON, EPSON Stylus, EPSON UItraChrome K3 and MicroPiezo are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/ or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2013 Epson America, Inc.
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CONTENTS April/May 2014, Volume 39, Number 3
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Contributors Editorial Exposure Close-up
VISION 22 From Fort Erie to Hollywood
Cover photo by Justin Russo
by Dale Wilson Canadian-born Douglas Kirkland has photographed entertainment industry icons like Marilyn Monroe, Leonardo DiCaprio, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson. But just who is this legend?
29 The World We Live In Pro and amateur photographers living in Canada and the U.S. were invited to share their best images. Here are the results of our biggest annual photo contest.
38 Showtime Gardens
TECHNIQUE 40 Street Portraits
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by David Giral Developing a portrait portfolio can seem like a daunting task, even for the most extroverted among us. Here are a few tips to approach and photograph strangers.
44 Mother Nature on Cue by Scott Linstead When it comes to flash photography, we have been brainwashed by history and convention into lighting in the most sterile of ways. Let’s learn how to use flash as Mother Nature would, both outdoors and in the studio.
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48 FAQ Sharpness: A Matter of Definition by Jean-François Landry A sharp image is an image where the details assert their individuality. Here are eight things to consider if you want to increase sharpness in your images.
50 Photo 101 How to Use a Histogram When Shooting
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44 PHOTO LIFE
by Jean-François Landry For some people, the word “histogram” evokes the mysteries of a secret society. And yet, when you take a photo, this tool can help you avoid exposition errors that would often be irreparable later.
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GEAR 52 Digital Workflow The Photographer’s Digital Assistant by David Tanaka As a photography enthusiast you might not be terribly interested in the camera on your phone or tablet. Nevertheless, photographers have reasons to celebrate smart devices.
54 Lenses for Compact-System Cameras by Peter K. Burian Lens lines for CSCs are rapidly expanding, and some of the mirrorless systems now include every lens you’re likely to ever need. We’ve taken a look at what’s available for each of the available mounts.
58 Gadget Guide by Jean-François Landry
61 Imaging Products Review by Peter K. Burian
PHOTO LIFE APRIL/MAY 2014 Volume 39, Number 3 102-171 St. Paul Street, Quebec, QC Canada G1K 3W2 418-692-2110 1-800-905-7468 info@photolife.com facebook.com/photolifemag
@photolifemag
SUBSCRIPTIONS 1-800-461-7468 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 Phone: 1-800-905-7468 Ext. 101 National Sales Manager Michael Skinner . . . . . . . . . . . . .mskinner@photolife.com Phone: 416-473-4624 Accounting Julie Fortin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .accounting@photolife.com
CONTRIBUTORS AND EDITORIAL STAFF 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 Originally from France, David Giral has lived in Montreal since 1997. He works mostly in Montreal and Toronto, specializing in travel, lifestyle, architectural and interior photography. davidgiralphoto.com
Patrice Halley has been shooting for magazines worldwide for more than 25 years. After moving to B.C. seven years ago, he started to pursue adventure photography. He now lives in Montreal. patricehalley.com Jean-François Landry
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.
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.
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
Member of CCAB, CITA and TIPA.
Guy Langevin has worked as a graphic designer in the photo industry for many years. You
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
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. Trained in aerospace engineering, Scott Linstead stepped into professional nature photography after leaving a high-school teaching position in 2007. He is the author of the book Decisive Moments: Creating Iconic Imagery (2010). scottyphotography.photoshelter.com
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 2001. 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 self-taught freelance photographer. A Photo Life collaborator since 1991, he is a new regular contributor to the Photo Life blog. He lives in the Halifax suburb of Eastern Passage with his wife and two sons. dalewilsonphotography.com
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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 © 2014 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
Photo: Garry Black Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
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.
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Photo: Garry Black Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
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PL_MAY14.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-03-06 11:10 AM Page 6
EDITORIAL April/May 2014, Volume 39, Number 3
Photo Life magazine has been around for almost 40 years now. And thinking about turning 40 triggers reflection on renewal and self-improvement—even for a magazine. The landscape for magazines and other media has changed a great deal over the past ten years. Readers want more content, more news, more images, and we want to follow you on that path. So to offer you an even better Photo Life experience, we decided to completely revamp our website. In terms of design, we wanted to lighten the feel of the site and emphasize the images more—because photography is the real star here—so we used lighter colours, a cleaner background and larger images. The structure is basically the same; you’ll recognize the same main sections from before, but we’ve introduced a few add-ons to improve your online experience.
In terms of content, Photolife.com offers exclusive contributions by professional photographer and writer Dale Wilson, an overview of what’s emerging in photography with blog posts from Seneca College students, industry news and events, photo galleries, upcoming opportunities, a redesigned and more userfriendly calendar of workshops and seminars, as well as recommendations of interesting reads around the web. The rest is for you to discover, so head to photolife.com and explore! Keep in mind that our website is a dynamic work in progress, and we intend to continue adapting it to meet your needs in the future. Please share your thoughts about Photolife.com and don’t hesitate to let us know what features you’d like to see added. Valérie Racine Editorial Director
© IDA KORIC
These additions include an entirely new interface for subscribers. Once you log in to your account, you’ll be able to manage your subscription. You can see how many issues are left, renew your subscription, change your address, and so on. Subscribers will continue to have online access to the magazine through the Photo Life digital archives.
COMING UP
Discovering Zanzibar underwater Falling for waterfalls: inspiration and techniques Raw vs. JPEG: what’s your best bet? Our take on creative cloud services The latest imaging products reviewed Camera tests And more…
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APRIL/MAY 2014
PHOTO LIFE
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Tuck your laptop in a deep and roomy zippered front pocket with fast access.
Pack a large amount of gear with the patent-pending MaxFit System™ of dividers.
Find out more at lowepro.com/pro-roller-x-aw Lowepro is distributed by DayMen Canada - daymen.ca Š2014 DayMen Canada Acquisition ULC
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EXPOSURE YOUR VIEW . WHAT’S ON . IN FOCUS . BOOK REVIEWS
[your view] IN RESPONSE TO DALE WILSON’S “FOTOGRAPHY FOR PHUN” BLOG POST A photography challenge for just the pure fun of it would be great to see. Not sure I could submit on every challenge but would do my best to do so. So bring it on, Dale. —Darren via blog
RE: THE ETHICS OF BAITING WILDLIFE I have always thought the idea of wildlife photography was to research and study the animal in their natural habitat. All the animals I ever shot were found through research of what they eat and where they travel to in order to feed. In a wildlife workshop I took years ago, they always said you leave the location the way you enter it. No trash, no cigarette butts, no anything that can disturb or scare away the wildlife. When baiting you never get the real shots of the animals you seek. You get them to depend on you for their food and always ends up with them dying off because one day you decide to stop. —Mike Hill via Facebook
ON DALE WILSON’S ARTICLE ON GEOTAGGING In the February/March 2014 issue of Photo Life magazine, there was an article by Dale Wilson, “GPS Orienting and Geotagging: Bridging the Technology Gap the Old-Fashioned Way.” On page 48, the author mentioned, “...to the best of my knowledge, there is no way to download a file from a hand-held GPS unit directly into the image EXIF data fields...” Actually there are several applications that can easily insert GPS info into the EXIF of photos (Raw or JPEG) using the tracklog from GPS devices (such as his Garmin eTrex). The process is easy and quick if you know which application to use and how to use it. Here is a link for an Instructable I created (January 2012) that explains how to do it using a GPS and GeoSetter: http://goo.gl/EFIjtD. For people who would like more information on geotagging, here is a link to the GeoTagging Flickr Group: http://goo.gl/kHbKWl. —Don Wallquist via email Many thanks for pointing this out, Don, and you are absolutely correct in that there are numerous applications available that will tag GPS hand-held data to an image. I should have been more precise in my comment, and will write in erratum “... to the best of my knowledge, there is no way to download a file from a hand-held GPS unit directly into the image EXIF data fields in either Lightroom or Photoshop.” Additionally, as alluded to in the article, it also appears Lightroom will not work with the CanTopo series in Map mode, and this is another encumbrance to the photographer who explores the backcountry using the more detailed topographic maps. My wish is that camera manufacturers would provide an umbilical cable that would tether the hand-held GPS directly to the camera and record the positional data from the GPS to that image on the recording media each time the shutter is tripped. However, this is a wish I suspect will not be filled in the near future. —Dale Wilson
LIKE PHOTO LIFE FACEBOOK.COM/PHOTOLIFEMAG 10
APRIL/MAY 2014
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2014-03-06 3:06 PM
Never lose focus.
The Nikon D7100, when focusing is crucial. The Nikon D7100 is the camera you want by your side when critical focus is crucial. With High-density 51-point AF and a 3D tracking system, the Nikon D7100 helps maintain unbelievably accurate focus in the most challenging of conditions. So, keep your eyes peeled, and never lose focus with the Nikon D7100 from Henry’s.
www.henrys.com
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EXPOSURE
© JOHN STANMEYER, uSA, VII FOR NATIONAl GEOGRAPHIC
[what’s on]
WORLD PRESS PHOTO World Press Photo has announced that u.S. photographer John Stanmeyer’s image “Signal” was chosen as World Press Photo of the Year 2013. The photograph, which was shot for National Geographic and also won first prize in the Contemporary Issues category, shows African migrants in Djibouti City trying to get a cell phone signal from Somalia. The exhibition featuring all the winning images will tour to more than 100 cities in 45 countries. World Press Photo will be in Ottawa at the Canadian War Museum from July 25 through August 21, and in Montreal at the Marché Bonsecours from August 27 through September 28. worldpressphoto.org
STEPHEN BULGER GALLERY Stephen Bulger Gallery in Toronto is featuring Scott Conarroe’s China from April 5 through May 3, and Joseph Hartman’s Hamilton from May 10 to June 7. bulgergallery.com GIRl, HAMIlTON, 2012 © JOSEPH HARTMAN/COuRTESY OF STEPHEN BulGER GAllERY
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NIGHT POOl, HAIKOu, HAINAN, 2012 © SCOTT CONARROE/COuRTESY OF STEPHEN BulGER GAllERY
EXPOSURE PHOTO LIFE
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