Photo Life November 2016 sample

INTERVIEW WITH

LAURA LETINSKY “It’s not about what’s in the picture.”

YOUR GUIDE TO EVERYTHING PHOTO

THE SURREAL WORLD OF

RENEE ROBYN TEST REVIEW OF THE NEW

PROFOTO D2 DINA GOLDSTEIN

HEALTH TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

MERGING HUMOUR AND POP CULTURE TO MAKE A POINT

A PRO’S ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BACK

TRAVELLING LIGHT A PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO BACKPACKING

10

DOWN-AND-DIRTY DETAILS ABOUT RAW

CRITICISM THE BENEFITS OF HONEST FEEDBACK PHOTOLIFE.COM - OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 - DISPLAY UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2016 - $5.95

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CONTENTS

COVER PHOTO Renee Robyn reneerobynphotography.com Model: Odette McKinnon ­

PHOTO LIFE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016, VOLUME 41, NUMBER 6

CONTENTS PHOTO LIFE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016, VOLUME 41, NUMBER 6

EXPOSURE 4 CONTRIBUTORS 6 EDITORIAL 10 THIS AND THAT 22 THE COMMUNITY 66 THE VAULT

TOOLBOX (CONTINUED) TEST REVIEW 54 THE POWER AND THE SPEED THE NEW PROFOTO D2

VISION

54

WISDOM, WIT AND OTHER TIDBITS 28 LAURA LETINSKY © DINA GOLDSTEIN

32

Influenced by the masters yet ­contemporary in her approach, ­Canadian artist Laura Letinsky uses still-life ­photography to explore complex ideas.

With open space, edges, remnants and light, she has a way of creating work that is at once exquisite and destabilizing.

DINA GOLDSTEIN MERGING HUMOUR AND POP CULTURE TO MAKE A POINT

Vancouver-based pop-surrealist photographer Dina Goldstein creates images that provoke a response. We were delighted when the busy artist took the time to speak with us about her work and career journey so far.

MERGING HUMOUR AND POP CULTURE TO MAKE A POINT

BY JENNY MONTGOMERY

WITHOUT THE FRAME 40 ON CRITIQUE

BY DAVID DUCHEMIN

Few things will help us move forward in our craft as quickly as honest feedback from the right sources. But knowing how to receive critique, as well as how to give it, is not always easy.

SHOWTIME 42 RED

© XAVIER BONACORSI

TOOLBOX 44 TRAVELLING LIGHT

TRAVELLING LIGHT A PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO BACKPACKING

Travelling light is the most important rule for hikers, particularly when they’re also carrying photo gear. The sheer amount of equipment available on the market today is overwhelming, and choosing the right outdoor gear can be difficult.

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO BACKPACKING

BY XAVIER BONACORSI

48 A SHORT Q&A

BY JEAN-FRANÇOIS LANDRY

You’ve got questions? I might have some answers. Some come from reading, some from discussions, but most come from mistakes.

50 HEALTH TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

DON’T BREAK YOUR BACK ON THE JOB

BY DR. CHRISTOPHER SINGH

Research has shown that most people will experience some sort of back pain during their lives. Although it’s impossible to ­prevent all back injuries from occurring, there are some things we can do to reduce the risk significantly.

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THE POWER AND THE SPEED THE NEW PROFOTO D2

Profoto, the self-titled “Light Shaping Company,” represents excellence in the industry. The D2 is no exception.

60 RAW FILE CONFIDENTIAL

10 DOWN-AND-DIRTY DETAILS ABOUT RAW

BY DAVID TANAKA

With today’s advanced cameras, does shooting Raw still pay off? Here are some factors to consider as you decide what’s best for your needs.

64 GADGET GUIDE

BY JEAN-FRANÇOIS LANDRY

32 DINA GOLDSTEIN

44

© PATRICK LA ROQUE

BY PATRICK LA ROQUE

BEHIND THE IMAGE 26 RENEE ROBYN

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 PHOTOLIFE.COM

CONTRIBUTORS AND EDITORIAL STAFF Xavier Bonacorsi is a ­photographer, kinesiologist, builder and follower of the maxim, “Life happens ­outdoors.”

Xavier ­collaborates with ­several ­magazines specialized in ­photography, ­exercise, health and outdoor living, and he is founder of ­nature-humaine.ca.

Laurence Butet-Roch fell in love with journalism through Scoop, a Quebec sitcom set inside a newsroom. Studying international relations at the University of British Columbia and photography at the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa led her to become a photographer with the Boreal Collective, a photo editor and a writer. lbrphoto.ca 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 Passionate about words and images, Gabrielle Germain’s background

includes literature studies, a master’s degree in cinema, and professional experience as a journalist.

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 Patrick La Roque is a ­speaker, writer and ­professional ­photographer from Montreal. He is an official ­Fujifilm ­X-Photographer and founder of the KAGE ­COLLECTIVE, an ­international group specializing in visual ­storytelling and ­documentary work. laroquephoto.com, ­kagecollective.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.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 PHOTOLIFE.COM

Curious about who put this together?

Here’s this issue’s who’s who.

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.

Dr. Christopher Singh is a ­chiropractor by trade but a ­freelance writer and ­photographer at heart. When he is not out ­capturing images or researching his next article, you can find him hard at work in his clinic, Trans Canada Chiropractic, in Woodstock, Ontario. transcanadachiropractic.net 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.

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EXPOSURE

EDITORIAL

THIS AND THAT

SHE

PHOTO LIFE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 Volume 41, Number 6 171 St. Paul Street, Suite 102, Quebec, QC Canada G1K 3W2 418-692-2110 1-800-905-7468 info@photolife.com facebook.com/photolifemag

CONNECTORS

We’re thrilled with this issue and the photographers who are in it! Not only is their talent inspiring, so are their words, approach, and effort in pursuing their goals.

W

hen we learn more about how artists work, we start to understand that, in almost every case, creativity doesn’t just come out of nowhere. Brilliant ideas rarely appear by magic. Instead, artists discover seeds of ideas that they grow and develop, adjusting them until they have the right balance to achieve their vision.

For example, Dina Goldstein succeeds, series after series, in connecting concepts that might not seem to go together at first. But it works—and it works really well!

She observes something from life, thinks about it, and builds on it. Laura ­Letinsky meticulously combines physical elements to make her still-life photographs, ­creating final images that convey stories that are more than the sum of their parts.

Annie Sakkab started with something we’ve all heard about on the news and then went there to research the issue. She got to know individual people in that situation and uses her images to help bring awareness to their struggles.

It’s reassuring to know that these photographers aren’t demigods or unicorns but normal people who have ideas and pursue them. They work hard and know how to make powerful connections between concepts and existing elements. I don’t know about you, but that inspires me! And being inspired by another artist is like getting a shot of adrenaline in the heart. It makes me want to work harder, and it helps me see the possibilities!

And for that, I’d like to thank them. Thank you for the visual feast and for sharing your thoughts with us. Thank you for the sea of inspiration…

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Recently we’ve been asking the photographers we interview what they are reading, and their answers have been fascinating. But that’s made us curious what you’re reading too! Email me at glangevin@photolife.com to share what books are on your nightstand, on your coffee table, or in your e-reader.

LAST CHANCE FOR OUR ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST! The deadline for participating in The World We Live In photo contest is coming soon!

You have until November 30 to submit your best images; see page 13 for more details!

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1-800-461-7468 subscription@photolife.com EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Guy Langevin.................. glangevin@photolife.com Deputy Editor Jenny Montgomery......... news@photolife.com Administrative and Editorial Assistant Gabrielle Germain 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 Emmanuelle Champagne... accounting@photolife.com Consultant Valérie Racine 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 c­ ontents 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.

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.

AND EF-630 WIRELESS TTL FLASH A 39-MP mirrorless camera with ­interchangeable lenses, the new Sigma sd Quattro with Foveon X3 ­Technology is light, compact and ­compatible with the Contemporary, Art and Sports lenses. Sigma has also introduced the Sigma EF-630 TTL flash for Nikon, Canon and Sigma cameras.

Sigma sd Quattro $1,149.95, body only; Sigma sd Quattro with Sigma ­30-mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art $1,499.95; Sigma EF-630 TTL Flash $599.95, Optional FD-11 Flash USB Dock $119.95 (list) sigmacanada.ca

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Complete submission guidelines are available at photolife.com, from the publisher at write@photolife.com, or by calling 1-800-905-7468.

COPYRIGHT © 2016 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.

FROM October 21 through ­November 20, Glen Boles: ­Climber, Photographer & Artist is being showcased at the Whyte Museum in Banff. The exhibition brings together adventurer Glen Boles’ images and pen-and-ink drawings of the mountains. whyte.org

ON THE

WISH LIST SOME of us in the office have just added this retro-style Polaroid tee to our personal wish lists… polaroid.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 PHOTOLIFE.COM

THE Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is presenting She Photographs, a collection of contemporary art by 30 photographers.

Created using a wide range of styles and techniques, including everything from pinhole to collage and composites, the 70 images in this exhibition are incredibly diverse. The long list of (mostly Canadian) artists includes Angela Grauerholz, Raymonde April, Nan Goldin, Claire Beaugrand-Champagne, Holly King, Laura Letinsky and many more. (To learn more about Letinsky’s work, read our interview with her on page 28.) mbam.qc.ca

CLAIRE BEAUGRAND-CHAMPAGNE (BORN IN 1948)/MRS. THÉRÈSE MACGUIRE, PINE AVENUE, MONTREAL (DETAIL)/FROM THE SERIES “OLD PEOPLE”/1974, PRINT 2012/GELATIN SILVER PRINT/12.5 X 17.4 CM/MMFA, GIFT OF CLAIRE BEAUGRAND-CHAMPAGNE.

Member of CCAB, CITA and TIPA.

Guy Langevin

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NEW SIGMA SD QUATTRO

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.

Publications Mail - Agreement No.: 40010196 171 St. Paul Street, Suite 102, Quebec, QC Canada G1K 3W2 PRINTED IN CANADA

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PHOTOGRAPHS

@photolifemag

© GLEN BOLES, A SPIRE IN THE OPAL RANGE, 1975.

CREATIVE PEOPLE ARE

EXPOSURE

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 PHOTOLIFE.COM

LAURA LETINSKY (BORN IN 1962)/UNTITLED NO. 48/FROM THE SERIES “I DID NOT REMEMBER I HAD FORGOTTEN”/2002, PRINT 2007/CHROMOGENIC PRINT, 9/15/61 X 88.9 CM/MMFA, PURCHASE, HORSLEY AND ANNIE TOWNSEND BEQUEST.

PROFUSION DON’T FORGET: Vistek’s ProFusion Pro Imaging Expo is October 5 and 6 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto. profusionexpo.com

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EXPOSURE

THE COMMUNITY

P

TO HO

LIFE & PHOTO S OLUT

ION

PRESENT THEIR

22ND ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST

BEHIND

WORDSAND SILENCES ANNIE SAKKAB SHARES THE STORIES OF SYRIAN REFUGEES WITH SENSITIVITY AND RESPECT

BY LAURENCE BUTET-ROCH

Jordanian-Canadian photographer Annie Sakkab focuses her lens on women because she hopes to raise awareness about the issues they face. Lately, she is concerned with the struggle of Syrian refugees seeking shelter in the ­Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

“I

These experiences, and others of the same kind, stayed with her and informed how she relates to the women she meets in the field.

When they share how they’ve been hurt and ­discriminated against, and how they continued on, she can relate. These ­stories not only rouse her empathy and anger; they also stir up ­personal memories.

Thanks to that understanding, she’s ­uniquely positioned to grasp the hidden meaning behind their words and their silences.

Last November, Annie Sakkab, who immigrated to Canada in 2008, traveled to the Middle East with

the intention of turning her lens on the growing numbers of Syrians who seek shelter in Jordan, and whose plight is being eclipsed in mainstream media by the ­reports of those who make it to Europe.

Spending several months in the field researching the issue, she learned about the informal refugee camps where tents have been set up on private land outside the compounds run by the United Nations High ­Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

These ­stories not only rouse her empathy and anger; they also stir up ­personal memories.

19-year-old Syrian refugee Yusra during a visit to the home of her sister-in-law ­Hanan. Many who choose to live at informal camps were farmers in Syria prior to the civil war.

THE WORLD WE LIVE IN MORE THAN

$45,000 IN PRIZES

PHOTOLIFE.COM/TWWLI

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PHOTOLIFE.COM/TWWLI

In addition to their daily c­ oncerns, these women also must manage and handle the whole gamut of child-rearing ­responsibilities—maintaining their hygiene while they have their periods, carrying a pregnancy to term, giving birth, breastfeeding and caring for their children.

Sakkab was particularly taken by a young mother who was

© ANNIE SAKKAB

’ve never felt drawn to stories that weren’t women’s ­stories,” declares Annie Sakkab, who was born in Amman, Jordan. “I come from a place where ­women’s rights are largely ignored and where violence against women is endemic. As a child, I remember reading a story in the newspaper about a girl being misdiagnosed as pregnant, whose parents, upon hearing the news, threw acid in her face. I also lost a childhood friend at 13, to early marriage.”

There refugees often offer to work on the farm in lieu of rent. In doing so, though they relinquish access to most of the services provided by ­international NGOs, they gain freedom and a sense of ­ownership over their fate. When visiting these ­settlements, she naturally struck up conversations with the ­women.* “They shared their stories and opened their hearts ­readily. They’ve experienced a lot of loss and trauma. Some lost their ­husbands and their eldest ­children, so they have to look ­after themselves and their ­younger kids alone,” says the photojournalist, who also hints at the difficulty of doing so in a country that affords women little rights and freedoms.

* THE NAMES OF THESE WOMEN HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THEIR IDENTITY.

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PHOTO LIFE & PHOTO SOLUTION PRESENT THEIR

22 ND ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST THE WORLD WE LIVE IN A GRAND PRIZE WORTH MORE THAN $18,000!*

Grand Prize ..............................................................................................................................................$18,230* Heart of the Arctic expedition for two (July 18-30, 2017) with Adventure Canada ..................................................... $18,080* Gift certificate for Photobooks by Pikto ................................................................................................................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................................................................................................................. $75

Environment

Interconnections

1st Prize.......................................................$3,043 Sony α7 II with FE 28-70 mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS zoom ... $2,100 BlackRapid Sport camera strap ............................... $139 Tenba Switch 8 camera bag ..................................... $130 Lowepro Photo Hatchback BP 150 AW II - Black ...... $120 Gary Fong Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount ...... $109 Joby GorillaPod SLR-Zoom and Ballhead .................. $100 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 Rogue Large Softbox Kit for speedlights .................. $96 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75

1st Prize.......................................................$2,990 Sigma 50-mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens ........................ $1,300 B+W 77-mm circular polarizer filter .......................... $272 Datacolor Spyder5PRO ............................................ $269 PocketWizard PlusX 2-pack ..................................... $260 B+W 77-mm Clear MRC filter .................................... $198 LEDGo CN-B150 LED on-camera light ...................... $180 Lowepro Ridge Line BP 250 AW - Black ................... $125 Rogue Large Softbox Kit for speedlights .................. $96 illumi Halo Softbox .................................................... $90 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 107-cm 5-in-One Reflector Kit.......................... $50

1st Prize.......................................................$2,974 Sigma 50-mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens ........................ $1,300 Lowepro Pro Runner BP 350 AW II .......................... $300 B+W 77-mm circular polarizer filter .......................... $272 B+W 77-mm Clear MRC filter .................................... $198 LEDGo CN-B150 LED on-camera light ...................... $180 Slik Pro 340 DX Black tripod..................................... $150 BlackRapid Sport camera strap ............................... $139 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 Rogue Large Softbox Kit for speedlights .................. $96 illumi Halo Softbox .................................................... $90 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75

2nd Prize .....................................................$2,277 Sigma 50-mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens ........................ $1,300 B+W 77-mm circular polarizer filter .......................... $272 B+W 77-mm Clear MRC filter .................................... $198 Rogue XL Pro Lighting Kit for speedlights ................. $148 BlackRapid Sport camera strap ............................... $139 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 45” Umbrella- White with Black........................ $70

2nd Prize .....................................................$2,286 Sony α6300 and 16-50 mm Power-zoom lens ........ $1,500 Rogue XL Pro Lighting Kit for speedlights ................. $148 BlackRapid Sport camera strap ............................... $139 Tenba Switch 8 camera bag ..................................... $130 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 45” Umbrella- White with Black........................ $70 Slik 500G-7 tripod .................................................... $50

2nd Prize .....................................................$2,292 Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV ....................................... $1,150 Lowepro Pro Trekker 450 AW - Black ...................... $480 Rogue XL Pro Lighting Kit for speedlights ................. $148 BlackRapid Sport camera strap ............................... $139 Lowepro Nova Sport 17L AW - Grey ......................... $90 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 45” Umbrella- White with Black........................ $70 Slik 800G-7 tripod .................................................... $65

3rd Prize ......................................................$1,591 Adobe Creative Cloud 1-year subscription ............... $599 MeFoto RoadTrip Travel Tripod Kit - Blue ................. $250 Joby GorillaPod Focus & Ballhead X ......................... $190 Rogue XL Pro Lighting Kit for speedlights ................. $148 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 - Blue .................................. $85 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 45” Umbrella- White with Black........................ $70

3rd Prize ......................................................$1,586 Adobe Creative Cloud 1-year subscription ............... $599 MeFoto RoadTrip Travel Tripod Kit - Blue ................. $250 Joby GorillaPod Focus & Ballhead X ......................... $190 Rogue XL Pro Lighting Kit for speedlights ................. $148 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 Lowepro Passport Messenger - Grey ...................... $80 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 45” Umbrella- White with Black........................ $70

3rd Prize ......................................................$1,586 Adobe Creative Cloud 1-year subscription ............... $599 MeFoto RoadTrip Travel Tripod Kit - Blue ................. $250 Joby GorillaPod Focus & Ballhead X ......................... $190 Rogue XL Pro Lighting Kit for speedlights ................. $148 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 Lowepro Passport Messenger - Black ..................... $80 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 45” Umbrella- White with Black........................ $70

4th Prize ......................................................$1,052 Manfrotto Befree Aluminum Tripod with Ballhead Kit ..$299 BlackRapid Sport camera strap ............................... $139 Tenba - Switch 7 camera bag ................................... $110 Gary Fong Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount ...... $109 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 Rogue Large Softbox Kit for speedlights .................. $96 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 107-cm 5-in-One Reflector Kit ......................... $50

4th Prize ......................................................$1,093 Manfrotto Befree Aluminum Tripod with Ballhead Kit ..$299 LEDGo CN-B150 LED on-camera light ...................... $180 Tenba - Switch 7 camera bag ................................... $110 Gary Fong Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount ...... $109 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 Rogue Large Softbox Kit for speedlights .................. $96 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 107-cm 5-in-One Reflector Kit.......................... $50

4th Prize ......................................................$1,075 Manfrotto Befree Aluminum Tripod with Ballhead Kit ..$299 Hoya 77-mm Fusion Antistatic C-POL filter ............... $218 Tenba - Switch 7 camera bag ................................... $110 Gary Fong Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount ...... $109 Henry’s Learning Lab Productivity & Creativity 1-yr subscription .. $99 illumi Halo Softbox .................................................... $90 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75

5th Prize ......................................................$858 Manfrotto Befree Aluminum Tripod with Ballhead Kit ..$299 Hoya 77-mm PRO ND 100 filter ................................. $139 Lowepro Photo Hatchback BP 150 AW II - Black ...... $120 illumi Halo Softbox .................................................... $90 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 SanDisk Extreme Plus 16-GB SD Memory Card ........ $60

5th Prize ......................................................$844 Manfrotto Befree Aluminum Tripod with Ballhead Kit ..$299 Lowepro Toploader Pro 75 AW II - Black .................. $125 Lowepro Photo Hatchback BP 150 AW II - Blue ........ $120 illumi Halo Softbox .................................................... $90 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 SanDisk Extreme Plus 16-GB SD Memory Card ........ $60

5th Prize ......................................................$839 Manfrotto Befree Aluminum Tripod with Ballhead Kit ..$299 Lowepro Photo Classic BP 300 AW ......................... $170 Tenba Switch 8 camera bag ..................................... $130 illumi Halo Softbox .................................................... $90 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75

6th Prize ......................................................$608 Manfrotto Advanced Tri-Backpack .......................... $149 Adobe Photoshop & Premiere Elements ................... $149 Joby GorillaPod SLR-Zoom & Ballhead ..................... $100 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 SanDisk Extreme Plus 16-GB SD Memory Card ........ $60

6th Prize ......................................................$617 Manfrotto Advanced Tri-Backpack .......................... $149 Adobe Photoshop & Premiere Elements ................... $149 Gary Fong Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount ...... $109 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 SanDisk Extreme Plus 16-GB SD Memory Card ........ $60

6th Prize ......................................................$657 Manfrotto Advanced Tri-Backpack .......................... $149 Adobe Photoshop & Premiere Elements ................... $149 Gary Fong Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount ...... $109 Joby GorillaPod SLR-Zoom & Ballhead ..................... $100 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75

7th Prize ......................................................$445 Manfrotto Advanced Tri-Backpack .......................... $149 Rogue Large Softbox Kit for speedlights .................. $96 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 illumi 107-cm 5-in-One Reflector Kit ......................... $50

7th Prize ......................................................$459 Manfrotto Advanced Tri-Backpack .......................... $149 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 SanDisk Extreme Plus 16-GB SD Memory Card ........ $60 Joby GorillaPod Hybrid ............................................. $50 illumi 107-cm 5-in-One Reflector Kit ......................... $50

7th Prize ......................................................$459 Manfrotto Advanced Tri-Backpack .......................... $149 Gift certificate for photobooks by Pikto .................... $75 One-year Awesome account with 500px ................. $75 SanDisk Extreme Plus 16-GB SD Memory Card ........ $60 Joby GorillaPod Hybrid ............................................. $50 Illumi 107-cm 5-in-One Reflector Kit ......................... $50

* Expedition value in U.S. dollars.

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VISION

WISDOM, WIT AND OTHER TIDBITS

WISDOM, WIT AND OTHER TIDBITS

VISION

EXCERPTS FROM OUR INTERVIEW WITH

LAURA LETINSKY

Influenced by the masters yet contemporary in her a ­ pproach, Canadian artist Laura Letinsky uses still-life photography to ­explore complex ideas. With open space, edges, remnants and light, she has a way of creating work that is at once exquisite and destabilizing. Uneasy questions about home, loss and thresholds seem to rise to the surface when contemplating her ­photographs.

Where is the razor-thin boundary between abundance and loss?

What is actually substantive? How do we determine what is ­beautiful? A professor at the University of Chicago, the talented fine-art photographer has had her images presented in ­galleries, museums and publications around the world. When Laura ­Letinsky agreed to an interview, it made our day!

When I was 15 or 16, my dad gave me a semi-automatic ­35-mm camera. As he was an avid photo enthusiast, I was ­somewhat ­disinclined to follow in his tracks.

It wasn’t until years later, when I finally moved into the field I wanted, Fine Arts, after he died in an accident, that rather than painting, my initial love, ­photography took hold.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Psychiatrist. What a gig!

WHY A CAREER IN ­PHOTOGRAPHY? Not an accident, but found myself here after a series of turns away from what I didn’t want to do, with photography being the only ­language in which I could speak.

MOST PIVOTAL CAREER EXPERIENCE? Hmmm, not sure how to ­answer this. First show I felt truly ­considered,

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curated by Susanne Ghez at the ­ enaissance Society, 2004, Hardly R More Than Ever. My book Ill Form & Void Full, with ­David Chickey of Radius Books, 2014. Working with Yancey ­Richardson over the past…egads, decades. Before, Jenni Holder. ­Lately, working with Susan Bright, John Paul Morabito, friends, amazing artists, Karen Reimer, ­Nazafarin ­Lotfi…

I’m as influenced by writers, musicians, painters, etc. as I am by photographers. P.L. diCorcia. Cindy Sherman. Diane Arbus. Yamini Nayar. Danny Gordon. Jan Groover.

Tanya Marcuse. I could go on.

MOST UNEXPECTED THING IN YOUR PHOTO BAG? 3x (or higher) close-up reading glasses. But then, I don’t really have a photo bag as my studio functions as this.

WHAT’S YOUR SISYPHEAN STRUGGLE? The sick attraction to p ­ hotographic description, like candy, that makes us want more, more, more of what is described. How photography fuels desire for what is pictured, a fantasy not achievable, rather predicated upon its unavailability.

Why this pleasure?

FAVOURITE CITY TO PHOTOGRAPH? Wherever I am.

EARLY RISER OR NIGHT OWL?

THE “PHOTO THAT GOT AWAY”?

Both.

Those that I’ve not enough time for.

I’ve three ideas I want desperately to make. Now. Make that four.

CURRENT FAVOURITE PHOTO (OF YOUR OWN)?

A thing in my computer that I made in the summer of 2015 that that I’m still trying to figure out.

FAVOURITE CAMERA-ANDLENS COMBINATION? What film do I use? Why do photographers get this question?

Do painters get asked about their favourite brushes or paint brand?

BEST ADVICE? It’s not about what you photograph, rather how and why. Or rather, the why driving the how.

WEIRDEST PHOTO EXPERIENCE?

It’s not about what’s in the picture.

The realization that it’s all been done? The amazingness of light.

Really!?! © LAURA LETINSKY

FIRST CAMERA?

MOST ADMIRED PHOTOGRAPHER?

WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU CHOOSE? To not age. Anymore.

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VISION

DINA GOLDSTEIN

BY JENNY MONTGOMERY

MERGING HUMOUR AND POP CULTURE TO MAKE A POINT

Vancouver-based pop-surrealist photographer Dina ­Goldstein creates images that provoke a response. Her ­series Fallen Princesses, In the Dollhouse and Gods of Suburbia have all caused a stir, both in the international public response and in the recognition and awards they have received. There is an ­exhibition of her newest work, Modern Girl, at the Galerie ­Virginie Barrou Planquart in Paris this November—and three other shows this fall in Venice; Brussels; and Daegu, South Korea.

The busy artist took the time to speak with us about her work and career journey so far.

THE PURSUIT

NIKON D2X, 17 MM, F/8, 1/60 S, ISO 100. © DINA GOLDSTEIN DINAGOLDSTEIN.COM

As a child Dina Goldstein dreamed of growing up to be a treasure hunter or a private detective; but as a young adult, she discovered she wanted to be a photographer. She told us, “It happened in the Sinai, Dahab—one of the most beautiful places on Earth! I brought a pointand-shoot and ended up taking pictures the whole trip. I was 19 and decided to study photography.

By 23, I was working full time as a photojournalist.”

To prepare herself for this career, Goldstein took an ­enterprising approach to her studies at Langara College. She explained,

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Women like ­Dorothea ­Lange, ­Margaret Bourke ­White and Diane Arbus paved the way for all of us girls ­considering photography.

They were the archetypes!

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Geographic or Life photographer, Goldstein spent her early 20s travelling to conflict zones. She worked in places like the West Bank and Gaza, but ­eventually she came to realize that the ­peripatetic lifestyle, solitude and danger inherent in war photography were not a good match for her.

Returning home to Vancouver, Goldstein transitioned to ­editorial portraiture, and the images she made in these years were ­published in many ­Canadian and international newspapers and ­magazines. “My twenties were about learning the basics and ­honing my skills as a ­photographer.

I took whatever jobs were offered to me and experimented with various ­techniques and looks. I was fortunate to be amongst friends that were actors, musicians and artists that all needed images so I had lots to work with. This is also the time when I began creating mini-series and other personal works. In my thirties, I took on many editorial jobs and some advertising work, which kept me busy.” Though these projects were diverse, she did mainly portraits, calling her approach “photoanthropology.”

“Back when I was in school in the early 90s, they did not have a ­photojournalism ­program, so I created my own by ­taking a ­variety of social ­science ­classes and a ­photography program at the same time.” She found ­inspiration in ­female ­photographers: “Remember ­women pioneered modern ­photography! Women like ­Dorothea Lange, Margaret Bourke White and Diane Arbus paved the way for all of us girls ­considering photography. They were the archetypes!”

A DISTILLED FOCUS

Armed with a Nikon FE2 and the dream of becoming a National

If you’re thinking that it sounds like she had a lot of irons in the fire in her early-career years, you’re

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TOOLBOX

TOOLBOX

TRAVELLING

LIGHT A PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO BACKPACKING

BY XAVIER BONACORSI

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T

he sheer amount of ­equipment available on the market today is ­overwhelming, and choosing the right outdoor gear can be difficult. When we spend one night in a tent every once in a while, we can easily make do with ­less-than-ideal ­equipment.

Fish Lake, near ­Whitehorse, Yukon.

But when we regularly leave for several days or weeks at a time, investing in quality ­equipment to help us stay dry, warm and ­comfortable makes all the ­difference!

Determining how we plan to use the desired equipment will help OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 PHOTOLIFE.COM

us better evaluate our needs and make good choices. Are we looking for the lightest option? Do we prefer versatility or specialization?

Are we okay with sacrificing a little durability to have something that weighs less? Knowing how you feel about these questions will help you choose the right gear.

On day hikes, I trade my big pack for a photo backpack to carry my photo gear plus a hydration pack, food, and a storm jacket and pants.

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© XAVIER BONACORSI

Travelling light ­is the most important rule for ­backpackers, ­particularly when they’re also carrying photo gear.

FUJIFILM XT-1, 24 MM, F/7.1, 1/320 S, 200 ISO © XAVIER BONACORSI

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TOOLBOX

TOOLBOX

HEALTH TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

DON’T BREAK YOUR BACK ON THE JOB

BY DR. CHRISTOPHER SINGH

It was a brisk autumn day last year when I packed my family into the car and headed down the highway toward Point Pelee, Ontario. Every year thousands of birders flock to this beautiful region to observe the masses of migrating birds. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse—or better yet, a photo—of a rare species.

© ISTOCK/ERAXION

I

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had visited Point Pelee several times in the past, but this was my three-year-old daughter’s first time. She was very excited to see all the different birds in one place. When we finally arrived at our destination, I parked the car and began to unload our bags. As I was lifting my camera bag out of the trunk, my daughter exclaimed, “Daddy, look at the pretty orange bird!” Without thinking, I quickly

turned to see what she was talking about. Instantly I felt a sharp pain in my lower back, a pain so severe it dropped me to my knees. Being a chiropractor, I knew exactly what had just happened. I was certain that I had sprained a joint in my lumbar spine. Everyday I tell patients to avoid twisting at the waist while lifting objects; ­unfortunately, in this case, I did not listen to my own advice.

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Research has shown that most people will ­experience some sort of back pain during their lives.

Many of you have probably been in a similar situation—perhaps even while doing photography!

Research has shown that most people will experience some sort of back pain during their lives. For an unlucky few, back pain can become a chronic and ­debilitating condition.

Although it’s impossible to prevent all back injuries from occurring, there are some things we can do to reduce the risk ­significantly.

Let’s look at proper posture and back-specific stretches and strengthening exercises from a photographer’s perspective.

And—just in case—I’ll also cover the best course of action if a back injury does occur.

PERSEVERANCE AND POSTURE Contrary to popular belief, posture is not something that you are born with, and therefore it’s possible to improve your posture by making a conscientious effort over time. If you are patient and diligent in this endeavour, you will be ­rewarded with a lifetime of ­benefits that ­include: • decreased wear of joint surfaces, • decreased stress on the ligaments and tendons that support the joints of the spine, • decreased muscle fatigue, and • decreased chances of developing repetitive strain injuries.

The goal of proper posture is to minimize the force or strain on the muscles and joints of the body. As a photographer, it is important to maintain proper posture even while shooting and ­transporting equipment.

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REVIEW

REVIEW

TOOLBOX

THE

POWER AND THE SPEED

BY PATRICK LA ROQUE

TEST REVIEW OF THE NEW PROFOTO D2

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FUJIFILM X-T1, 35 MM (53-MM EQUIVALENT), F/6.4, 1/180 S, ISO 200. © PATRICK LA ROQUE

D2 500 AirTTL Max energy: 500 watt seconds (Ws) Energy range: 10 f-stops (1-500 Ws) Energy control increments: 1/10 or full f-stops Recycling time: 0.03-0.6 s (quick burst up to 20 flashes per second) Shortest flash duration (in Freeze mode): 1/63,000 s Longest flash duration: 1/2600 s

D2 1000 AirTTL

FUJIFILM X-T1, 35 MM (53-MM EQUIVALENT), F/10, 1/180 S, ISO 200. © PATRICK LA ROQUE

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Max energy: 1000 Ws Energy range: 10 f-stops (2-1000 Ws) Energy control increments: 1/10 or full f-stops Recycling time: 0.03-1.2 s (quick burst up to 20 flashes per second) Shortest flash duration (in Freeze mode): 1/50,000 s Longest flash duration: 1/1600 s

FUJIFILM X-T1, 35 MM (53-MM EQUIVALENT), F/5, 1/180 S, ISO 200. © PATRICK LA ROQUE

Their origin myth is the stuff of legends: Conny Dufgran—a ­Stockholm photo retailer—sells a faulty flash unit to photographer and engineer Eckhard Heine. A few weeks later Eckhard comes back with a better ­design, and the two decide to collaborate. At the 1968 Photokina trade show, their resulting partnership, Profoto, bursts onto the scene with the Pro-1 generator. The rest, as they say, is history.

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TOOLBOX

THE GEAR MAT 400 SERIES

RAW FILE CONFIDENTIAL

A welcome mat in an inhospitable world So, you did it. You got the Fujifilm X-T2 and XF 16-55 mm f/2.8 R LM WR. Wanting to travel light, you bring it with only a spare battery and an extra memory card in your pockets. But after three hours of uninterrupted pleasure, you’d like to rest.

Near the water in the Old Port (or on a mountain, in a café, in a four-person tent, etc.), you look around for ­somewhere to lay down this part of your soul. But all these rough and dirty ­places are just waiting to desecrate your beloved gear.

This is when the Gear Mat surfaces as the perfect solution to a cruel world. It’s a simple leather rectangle (from a Brazilian cow, I should ­specify) that’s 16.5 x 9.5 cm (6.5 x 3.75”), slightly larger than an iPhone 6s Plus. A perfectly welcoming spot, the Gear Mat comes in eight models that cost between US$16 and US$25. I don’t know about you, but I adore #421. gearmat.com

10 DOWN-AND-DIRTY DETAILS ABOUT RAW

BY DAVID TANAKA

When I first started shooting Raw around 2002, the ­advantages of an image ­processed from the Raw file compared to the JPEGs were clear.

Today’s ­cameras are vastly superior ­devices, so does shooting Raw still pay off? Here are some factors to ­consider as you decide what’s best for your needs.

1 2 RAW FILES LET YOU CHANGE ­COLOUR SPACE

RAW FILES NEED SPECIAL SOFTWARE

Some cameras let you choose between sRGB and Adobe RGB as the colour space. If you are saving camera images as JPEGs, this determines the colour space the camera uses to create the JPEG image. If you save images in Raw format, it is somewhat immaterial which one you have your camera set to because the colour space information isn’t part of the Raw image data. It is another set of metadata that can be changed.

Workflow editors like Adobe Lightroom let you set your working space to a large colour space like ProPhoto RGB, and from there you can choose other colour spaces when you export finished files.

When camera makers gave photographers access to Raw file formats, they also provided special software to view, process and export the data into standardized image formats like TIFF and JPEG. A number of independent software ­developers also provide Raw processors, and people often ask which is better. In some ­instances, the camera manufacturer’s inside knowledge of the Raw file gives it an advantage in creating better ­processing, at least initially. With Fujifilm’s X-Trans sensor, for example, which uses a non-standard RGB sensor grid, there were initial complaints about the inferior quality of Raw conversions from third-party ­software compared to Fujifilm’s own Raw software.

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GADGET GUIDE WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEEDED

BY JEAN-FRANÇOIS LANDRY

Have you noticed that gadgets are rarely out of stock? And for good reason! If they aren’t available right when you have the impulse to buy them, you might change your mind and go with something else instead.

THE PRODOT SHUTTER BUTTON ­UPGRADE

BY CUSTOM SLR A more comfy, better grip The focus and settings are perfect, the foreground is ideal, and the framing is incredible. You’re ready to push the shutter button at the decisive moment, and...you can’t find it! (And don’t try to act like this has never happened to you!) The ProDot creates a non-slip, textured, raised surface on your shutter button, and it’s US$8 for two.

The rest is just a question of style: black, red or white. ­customslr.com/products/prodot

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