Photo Life September 2014 Sample by Apex Publications

cPL_SEPT14.qxp_Photo Life Jan 2005 2014-07-11 9:16 AM Page 1

ERA M A C EST T

YOUR GUIDE TO EVERYTHING PHOTO

CAPTURE THE IMPOSSIBLE

Renee Robyn’s Surreal World How to Create a Photo Journey

THE BEST TIPS FOR YOUR ROAD TRIP

MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY - HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH STAR TRAILS - THE SECRET TO STUNNING PORTRAITS - COLOUR SPACES EXPLAINED THE BEST CAMERA STRAPS AND HOLSTERS FOR SKIPPING THE CHIROPRACTOR

THE SONY α77 II

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F1.4 Perfect for low-light conditions Shallow depth-of-field allows creative focus control Bright viewfinder Fast, accurate autofocus

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CONTENTS August/September 2014, Volume 39, Number 5

4 6 8 66

Contributors Editorial Exposure Close-up

VISION 22 Renee Robyn: Making It Happen

Cover photo by Renee Robyn

by Jenny Montgomery Renee Robyn’s art is an imaginative, ethereal blend of fact and fiction. Using composite images and expert retouching, this Alberta-based photographer makes it her goal to do what has not already been done.

32 Showtime The Colour Pink 34 Without the Frame Old Delhi Blacksmith by David duChemin Old Delhi, India, is one of my favourite places to wander with a camera. It’s a sensually overwhelming place, busy with people and motorcycles, the honking of horns and calls to prayer.

TECHNIQUE

36 Images That Work by Scott Linstead Paying the bills with nature photography is not easy. Finding a compromise between creative satisfaction and commercial value is the key to sustaining a career. What sells and to whom should we be selling it?

42 A Photographic Road Trip

by David Giral In my opinion, road-trip photography is one of the most exhilarating experiences for a photographer. It’s all about the journey, not the destination. So how do you create a journey that you will never forget?

46 Photo 101 How to Photograph Star Trails by Jean-François Landry You only need a few things to capture star trails: a manual camera, a stable tripod, a cable release, a perfect night...and some free time!

48 FAQ Demystifying Colour Spaces

by Jean-François Landry What exactly are these “colour spaces” that are infrequently explained, but referred to all the time? Is the choice insignificant or crucial?

50 42 PHOTO LIFE

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PHOTO LIFE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 Volume 39, Number 5 171 St. Paul Street, Suite 102, Quebec, QC Canada G1K 3W2 418-692-2110 1-800-905-7468 info@photolife.com facebook.com/photolifemag

GEAR 50 Innovative Carrying Solutions by Peter K. Burian Over the years, camera bags and cases have become increasingly more comfortable and effective, but other types of carrying accessories have also been developed. Let’s take a look at some well-designed options.

54 Digital Workflow Exploring the Cloud, Part 2 by David Tanaka This final part looks at the cloud’s impact on photographic workflow as practiced by photography enthusiasts.

58 Review The Sony α77 II by Peter K. Burian

60 Gadget Guide by Jean-François Landry

62 Imaging Products Review by Peter K. Burian

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

@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 or 1-800-905-7468 Ext. 101 Accounting Julie Fortin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .accounting@photolife.com

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. 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.

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 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

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.

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

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. 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 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.

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 © 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

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Move into a New World

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EDITORIAL August/September 2014, Volume 39, Number 5

’m writing this editorial during the longest days of summer and, as if in response to the seasonal celebration of light, photography exhibitions are everywhere—in galleries, along streets, around river banks, on a beach and even in forests! Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to attend photography festivals across the province of Quebec. I’m going to visit another one in August and more later this fall. What effervescence!

This issue’s content explores this idea of imagining new possibilities through the work of Renee Robyn, another artist who is creating worlds in her own way. Blending fact and fiction, blurring the lines between reality and dreams, and imagining new horizons are all part of what we humans can do with our creative abilities. Since a camera captures light in way that’s similar to how our eyes work, the photographic process might seem to be bound to the limits of reality. But as with any other art form, photography doesn’t actually have to be confined to certain parameters. Artistic boundaries can be reconsidered, pushed, bent and transformed by anyone who wishes to explore and reconsider preconceived ideas.

A few of the exhibitions that I saw in Kamouraska particularly caught my attention with their playful use of photography to create images that push the boundaries of this medium that can sometimes be a bit too serious. The festival’s curator kindly guided me through the main exhibitions, commenting on each and discussing their exploration of this year’s festival theme Creating Worlds. One of the exhibitions presented a photo series created by two friends who took pictures of the other’s printed images while travelling. One artist deconstructed and reconstructed images using scissors and glue. Another exhibition showed images of apparently insignificant buildings that went through the magic of Photoshop to become strange urban constructions. Attending these festivals has been an inspiring experience that has reminded me that photography can do so much more than document reality; it can recreate reality.

COMING UP

Photographing storms An interview with George Kourounis Showtime contest results Natural Parks Neutral-density filters: how they work and how to choose them Aerial photography on a budget

With this issue, we’d like to invite you to wander through the space between traditional photography and new possible worlds. We hope you’ll enjoy what you discover!

Photo 101: the Landscape scene mode The lowdown on the latest gear

Valérie Racine Editorial Director

Test reviews

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EXPOSURE YOUR VIEW . WHAT’S ON . IN FOCUS . BOOK REVIEWS

[your view] ON THE JUNE/JULY COVER That is a beautiful cover for sure!! —Claude Robidoux via Facebook

STREET PORTRAITS Excellent article by David Giral in your April/May magazine, but it sure would have been nice if David had talked about the times when you ask someone to pose and they ask you “why?” and “what for?” Being an advanced amateur, I do not have any great creative agenda to use their photos, other than sharing them on Flickr…. — Dan Pieniak via Facebook I think that being friendly with the approach counts more than the content of what you would say to a stranger. Opening with a compliment is usually a good helper. I remember that for the portrait of the mechanic, I walked straight up to him and said “Hi, sir, the lighting on you is great; would you mind if I took your picture?” If he had asked why, I would probably have said that I’m a photographer and I’m working on developing a portrait portfolio. I could also say that this is personal work. I also

remember stopping a couple with an umbrella telling them that I had no choice but to take pictures of people with an umbrella. Any excuse can work as long as the tone is light and quirky and leaves the option to say no. I think it also helps if you have a business card. (You don’t have to be a pro to have one.) Finally, when taking pictures of strangers, I find the most important thing is to take down their contact info in order to be able to send them a picture. That way, they will see that they get something from their collaboration. — David Giral

IDEAS FOR AN ISSUE I have been a regular reader for a few years now and although I enjoy it, I feel that perhaps you could change the format once in a while and devote entire issues to a particular theme. I would like to suggest that you devote an entire issue to street photography. You could begin by defining street photography and then profile famous street photographers. Analyze their works and explain why the photo you’ve chosen works well as a street photo. Rather than a cursory explanation, go into depth by discussing composition as it relates to geometry. You can also discuss different styles of street photography. Mention cameras that are best suited to street photographers and list their pros and cons. … You can help readers interested in the subject and progressing in their art by listing workshops that are available and then touch on the laws of shooting in the street, especially in Quebec. Finally, a discussion on postprocessing techniques would be helpful but please don’t discuss methods within Photoshop; since most of us use Lightroom, Aperture, Capture One and Silver Efex, it would be best to discuss techniques in these applications. In future issues you can devote your attention to fashion, portraits, architecture, travel and weddings, again with in-depth articles and don’t just scratch the surface. Make it memorable! — Harry V. via email

ON XUME QUICK RELEASE ADAPTERS Got them. Love them. —Jean-François Landry

XUME QUICK RELEASE ADAPTERS REVIEW If you’re like me, you have a love/hate relationship with filters. On one hand, I love the fact that they help me boost my images; on the other, it’s so frustrating to screw them on and off all the time that I end up not using them as much as I’d like. Picture yourself using a 9- or 10- stop ND filter and having to remove it every time you reframe or focus…and then put it back on again. It takes discipline that I lack. Well, I’m about to start using filters much more often, thanks to Xume. Check out the rest of Guy’s review on the blog at: http://goo.gl/3TkD6e

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

EXPOSURE PHOTO LIFE

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