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Better Technique. Better Insight. Better Pictures TOP 30 CAMERAS • BP EXCELLENCE AWARDS • EXCLUSIVE review: SONY alpha NEX-5
Sony Alp ha NEX-5 wort
h the wait?
Easy ways to have fun with wide angle photography
BP Excellence Awards The finest products tested by BP in the past one year
Vol. 14 • No. 8 • january 2011
CAMERAS You can buy today! On Assignment
Training yourself to visualise everything in terms of bokeh
GREAT MASTERS
Exploring the scientific world of Ariel Ruiz i Altaba
Market sense
Negotiating the best price for your photo assignment
EXCLUSIVE REVIEWS Canon EOS 60D Nikon D7000 Canon PowerShot S95 Fujifilm FinePix F300EXR buyer's special
Ideal practices to back up your important photographs
BUYER’SL SPECIA
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SnapShots
GearGuide
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Software Of The Month PhotoPad Image Editor
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Website Review photography served.com
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Look Who’s Shooting Anbu Jawahar
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test
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Is this mirrorless camera the ‘NEX’ best thing? Canon EOS 60D Is this upgrade only for the videographer?
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Buyer’s special
Hidden Costs Additional expenses while budgeting for a new camera
Lost All My Images! 100 ISimple but effective
ways to ensure that this does not happen to you
I Have A Tripod 104 Help! A do-it-yourself guide to using a tripod
ON THE COVER PLAN YOUR CAMERA BUDGET SMARTLY GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR CELLPHONE CAMERA
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Canon PowerShot S95 Is this the world’s best compact camera?
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InFocus
54 BetterPictures
106 The Best Camera SHOOTING TECHNIQUE
Exploring the joy of cell phone photography
ShowCase
138
Profile
Prasad Pawaskar On his love for diverse genres of photography
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ON ASSIGNMENT
Thinking In Bokeh Experimenting with out-of-focus lights
Your World 124 Scan Stunning pictures without a camera!
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TIPS & TRICKS
Learn to photograph indoors, food items and your pet dogs!
DIFFERENT STROKES
for Accompanying a Photographer
246 PhotographingLife
150
248 AtTheNegotiationTable
An accomplished legend discovers art in the world of science
A Wide Wonderland Innovative techniques to have fun with wide angle photography
245 The 10 Commandments
144 Ariel Ruiz I Altaba GREAT MASTERS
114
PhotoFinish
Poy 2010 Nominees
Presenting the best entrvies received by us. Are you one of them?
History
And Beyond Exploring biomedical photography through the ages MARKET SENSE
How to negotiate a fair price for your work
250 Earthquake, Fire And STORY BEHIND THE PICTURE
A Photograph
Regulars Feedback.............................................................14 PHOTOCRITIQUE..................................................128 Q & A..................................................................136 1000 WORDS........................................................156 Your Pictures...................................................158 BP Buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide...............................................230
12/26/2010 4:52:18 PM
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Tamron 18–270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD To commemorate the company’s 60th anniversary, Tamron has announced the release of the 18–270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD superzoom lens. The 15x stabilised zoom is the first lens from the company to use Piezo Drive (PZD) technology that promises faster and quieter autofocus. The minimum focusing distance of the lens is 19.3 inches throughout the zoom range and the maximum magnification ratio is 1:3.8. Weighing 450g, the lens is said to be the world’s lightest superzoom lens. The lens will be available for the Nikon, Canon and Sony mounts.
Rollei 3D Cameras
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Fujifilm has been the only company to have launched a consumer 3D camera, and their feat has now been matched by Rollei. The new Rollei 3D PowerFlex digital camera has two 1/2.5-inch CMOS image sensors for 3D photographs that have a resolution of 5MP. It has a lenticular LCD that allows you to preview the image in 3D. The camera also shoots 720p HD video. It is expected to be priced at Euro 299.95 (approx. Rs. 17,450) and will be available by the end of January.
Hasselblad H4D-40 Stainless Steel Hasselblad is producing a limited run of 100 units of H4D-40 Stainless Steel cameras in response to similar requests by photographers at photokina 2010. The camera is priced at Euro 13,990 (approx Rs. 8,35,000). The stainless steel kit with the HC 80mm f/2.8 lens is priced at Euro 14,990 (approx Rs. 8,94,721).
Announcing the Better Photography Excellence Awards for the Best Products of 2010 B etter Photography has announced the Excellence Awards for the year 2010. These awards are a recognition for the best products tested by our magazine in the past one year. These results were interesting and quite different from last year. Nikon virtually swept all the DSLR awards, winning five different awards in all. Canon, on the other hand, won three awards. The Nikon D3S was named as the best camera of the year, while the Sony SLT A55 won an award for sheer innovation. For our extensive coverage, turn to page no. 46. The following are the winners: • Camera of the Year 2010: Nikon D3S • Professional Interchangeable Lens Camera of the Year 2010: Nikon D3S • Semi-professional Interchangeable Lens Camera of the Year 2010: Nikon D7000 • Entry-level Interchangeable Lens Camera of the Year 2010: Nikon D3100 • Professional Lens of the Year 2010: (A tie between) Nikkor AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED and Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II USM • Consumer Lens of the Year 2010: Tamron SP AF 17–50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] • Advanced Compact Camera of the Year 2010: Canon PowerShot S95 • Basic Compact Camera of the Year 2010: Fujifilm FinePix JZ300 • Innovative Product of the Year 2010: Sony SLT Alpha 55 • Service Backup of the Year 2010: Canon India Pvt Ltd
Taking pictures is savouring life intensely, every hundredth of a second. Marc Riboud (1923) Marc Riboud is an 85-year-old French photographer who is a legend and an avid observer of life. Known for his images of the East, one can feel a sense of serenity in his work. Some of his images have become iconic— the dancing painter at the Eiffel Tower, a lady holding out a flower to gun-toting soldiers and so on. He has the ability to capture fleeting moments and his powerful compositions breathe life into still photographs, making them extraordinary. He has covered several wars and his images have also been published in magazines like Life, National Geographic and Paris Match. Despite his age, Marc continues to shoot actively and now lives in France.
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BenVista PhotoZoom Pro 4 BenVista has released PhotoZoom Pro 4, a digital image resizing software. The software claims to enlarge photographs while still maintaining their quality. The demo version can be downloaded from www.benvista.com
Hewlett-Packard Introduces Designjet Multifunction Printer and Photo Printer Series
Sekonic DigiCineMate L-308DC Light Meter This new light meter from Sekonic can be customised to display specific functions that are essential for photographers and videographers. Depending on the application, this lightweight meter offers three modes—Photo, Cine and HD Cine. It also has three options to measure incident and reflected light—both ambient and flash. The DigiCineMate is priced at 239.99 Pounds (approx. Rs. 16,000).
Topaz Laps ReMask 3
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Topaz Labs has released ReMask 3, the latest version of its masking and extraction plug-in for Adobe Photoshop. Compared to its predecessor, ReMark 3 offers a reengineered masking engine, improved colour decontamination technology and an updated interface. The plug-in is available at a price of USD 49.99 (approx. Rs. 2250).
Unified Color HDR Express Unified Color Technologies has announced HDR Express, a software that helps merge, create and edit high dynamic range photographs. According to the company, HDR Express has a simpler interface than the company’s older HDR Expose software. It also has a number of automated preset options. HDR Express saves 32-bit files in the native .BEF format, which can be opened in Photoshop through a plug-in. It is available at a price of USD 85 (approx. Rs. 3800). The plug-in can also be used with Aperture and Lightroom.
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ewlett-Packard introduced a new Designjet Multifunction Printer and Photo Printer series that claims to improve design processes for large format prints. The printers—Designjet T2300 eMFP, Designjet T7100, and Designjet Z6200 will enable mobility for customers with features like e-print and share technology that allows the users to automatically create, print and manage files online using a desktop or a mobile device. The HP Designjet T2300 eMultifunction Printer (eMFP) is for architects, information professionals and urban
development planners who can locate their documents and adjust page layouts from a single screen, whereas the Designjet T7100 printer includes a high-speed B&W and colour printing system at a low cost. On the other hand, the HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer is supposed to be the fastest photo printer, claims HP. If it does stand true to this promise, then the printer can prove to be quite efficient for people who undertake extensive print jobs such as photo labs, digital print shops, advertising agencies, design firms, commercial printers and print service providers.
Student’s Cell Phone Seized by Police for Shooting Ambani’s House P hotographing monuments, government buildings and other sensitive structures usually needs prior permissions. But, did you know that you now need think twice before taking a picture of a residential building that is none of the aforementioned? A fourth-year law student, Dharmin Sampat, learnt this lesson when a policemen prohibited him from taking a picture from Mukesh Ambani’s multistorey mansion situated in South Mumbai. Sampat had partially rolled down
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the window of his car to take a picture of Antilia, which is the world’s first billion dollar home and was attempting to take a picture when a constable approached him and asked him what he was doing. The policeman insisted that photography was prohibited and the student was forced to accompany him to a police van. Sampat was stunned as there was no notice board that explicity prohibited photography. He claimed that eventually, the policemen asked for a bribe and relented after a lot of begging and cajoling.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone) Anil Khumbare said, “The incident shows that our policemen were alert.” Sampat’s ordeal may seem surprising, yet incidents like these are becoming increasingly common. Terrorism has made people wary and suspicious of anyone who photographs a public place. The issue is debateable. On one hand is a person’s freedom to photograph anything as long as he is not breaking any laws, but on the other hand, it is also a question of cooperating with security staff. ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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E xc e l l enc e Awa r d s
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The BP Excellence Awards are a recognition of quality, and our way of celebrating the products that have earned the highest rating on our test bench, in the past twelve months. here can only be one winner. We test a number of products every yearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from inexpensive compact cameras to high-end DSLRs, lenses and more. At the end of the year, we take stock of all these products, to see which ones top their respective category. The final decision is taken on the combined basis of ratings, research and a lot of editorial debate.
The Better Photography Excellence Awards are not just an acknowledgement of the best products of the past one year, but also of the efforts and research invested by the manufacturers behind these products. It is not just about products, but also about recognising innovations and service philosophies. Treat this as our tribute to the people behind the cameras and lenses that we have loved using.
Camera of the Year 2010 47
Nikon D3S As we looked at all the cameras that we have tested in the past one year, we realised that no camera has regularly astonished us to the degree that the D3S did. This Nikon powerhouse may look rather similar to its predecessor, the class-leading D3, but its sensor has been given a complete overhaul. So now, you can shoot noise-free photos at ISO 25600 and usable images at a previously unimaginable ISO setting of 102400! Three years ago, the D3 and D700 had redefined low light photography, but the D3S has taken technology to a whole new territory. Ja n ua ry 2 0 1 10
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BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;SL SPECIA
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It is a great time to be a photographer. The market is flooded with cameras for every type of light shooting? Alternatively, do you want to shoot stunning HD video? After a lot of
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he Better Photography team has tested hundreds of cameras over time. Every single month, we evaluate a variety of photographic equipment by testing them in our high-tech labs, and also on field. This helps us acquire a rather unique understanding of the modern-day camera market. But then, we live in a day and age where the consumer is completely Better Photography
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spoilt for choice. With the sheer number of cameras available today, making an exhaustive listing of all these cameras and evaluating them is a giant task. We decided to undertake this task almost three months ago, and started taking a close look at each and every camera available in India. We asked ourselves two main questionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;what does a buyer usually want? And what really, does he need? The Ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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consumer. Do you want something stylish? Or would you rather want something for low deliberation, we have compiled a list of the top 30 cameras that you can buy today. answers to these questions vary depending on whether you are looking at a compact, mirrorless or DSLR camera, which is what made this entire exercise so interesting.
Understanding a Cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Worth The following 30 cameras are all great at what they do. The camera you finally buy should depend upon what type of photographer you are. Whether you Ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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choose to spend around Rs. 5000 or Rs. 5 lakh, the worth of a camera, eventually, is directly related to the number of great pictures you shoot with it. We recommend you should shoot at least one great picture for every Rs. 1000 you spend. So if you really wish to splurge money and buy that high-end DSLR costing a lakh, you need to strive to shoot at least 100 fantastic images with the same. Better Photography
12/26/2010 12:56:09 AM
test
GearGuide
How We Test Product Categorisation We first segregate products into categories for the purpose of equitability in testing. The DSLR is divided into entrylevel, semi-professional and professional categories. For compacts, we distinguish between advanced and basic compact cameras. Similarly, we also test consumer and pro lenses, flashguns, printers, and other photographic accessories and gear.
The Process We primarily test for features, performance, build, ergonomics, warranty and support. While this remains constant, the weightage we give to these parameter differs from category to category, because different types of consumers have diverse expectations from products.
Final Ratings Under each main parameter, we 80 list out hundreds of individual variables (for eg. colour accuracy for individual colours in different lighting, individual features, dynamic range, center-to-edge definition, light fall-off, etc.) against which we either give points or simply mark ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Thus, we arrive at a score for that parameter, and then, the final score, denoted as a percentage. Additionally, based on the current pricing of a product, a star rating for ‘Value for Money’ is considered. Value for Money does not affect the final percentage, because prices for products change constantly.
Sony Alpha NEX-5
The NEX Best Thing? The Sony Alpha NEX-5 has a DSLR sensor, pro build, tons of features and is not too costly. Raj Lalwani dissects the hype to see if it is really that good.
Our Seals of Approval Any product that scores 80% or higher in individual tests gets ‘BP Recommended’—a seal of approval from our team. In comparison tests, we also tag products as ‘BP Best Performer’ and ‘BP Best Value for Money’.
BP Excellence Awards At the end of the calendar year, the five highest rated products in each category automatically gets nominated for the ‘Better Photography Excellence Awards’. A panel of experts then decide the winners. This is BP’s recognition of the very best products launched in the course of the year, and the companies that made them. Better Photography
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Weightage of parameters
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he Better Photography team has been observing the growth of mirrorless cameras rather keenly. We have managed to get our hands on some of these interesting products even before they hit the market, and have always been interested to see how different companies approach the concept of a ‘large sensor in a small camera’. A trend we have seen is that all companies have tried to target two kinds of consumers—the pro photographer who wants a competent, light body and the compact camera user who seeks superior image quality. Trying to cater to both, most cameras have ended up being in no man’s land. They are too complex for a basic user,
but the ergonomics are not refined enough for professionals. This is why the Sony Alpha NEX cameras were such a breath of fresh air. From the moment the NEX-3 and NEX-5 were announced, the company was clear, almost unabashed about the fact that these cameras are an upgrade option for a compact camera user. Over the past few weeks, we have been using a Sony NEX-5 to see whether this stylish camera delivers what it promises.
Features If you have used a Sony Cyber-shot compact camera in the past, you will identify the NEX-5 as one of the same family. It is incredibly sleek, and if you only ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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Canon EOS 60D
Neither Here, Nor There The Canon EOS 60D actually lacks a number of pro features that its predecessor, the 50D had. Shridhar Kunte tests the camera to see whom this camera really targets.
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wo years in the world of camera technology is an entire generation. This is why we were interested to find out what Canon had in store for us, when we first heard rumours about the EOS 50D being replaced. The launch of the 60D took us all by surprise though, since the camera was extremely different from what everyone expected. After the semi-pro build and feature set of the 30D/40D/50D, it seemed a little weird that Canon’s latest was a downgrade of sorts. The probable reason why this happened is actually a very interesting one. Nikon never had a product that could directly
compete with the EOS 50D. The D90 was lesser expensive and lacked the pro build of the Canon counterpart, but was far more popular. With the D90, Nikon had reached a sweet spot in terms of features, performance and pricing. While creating the 60D, Canon seems to have tried something similar.
Features The EOS 60D is like a combination of a number of cameras. In terms of sheer features, it borrows a lot of features from cameras like the 7D and 550D—notably, it uses the same 18MP sensor as these two cameras. Just like the aforementioned
What’s in the box • Canon 60D body • Canon 18–55mm IS lens • Body cap • Lens cap • Li-ion battery • Cordless battery charger • Software CD • Camera manual • USB cable • A/V cable • Camera strap ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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Nikon D7000
Almost As Good As It Gets O
Had it not been for the ergonomic differences forced onto the Nikon D7000, it would have veritably killed the Nikon D300s. K Madhavan Pillai peers under the hood.
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nce in a while, we get a camera on our test bench which has the potential to wrench away the sales of a superior model on same line-up. The Nikon D7000 comes with the advantage of a good pedigree. One step above the consumer oriented D90 and a step below the semipro D300s, the camera plugs a gap when it comes to pricing, but may well create another leak for Nikon.
Features The camera does just about everything that the D300s can do, more or less. What it does more, it does brilliantly. To begin with, it has a 16.2 million pixels CMOS sensor,
making it the highest resolution APS-C format DSLR in Nikon’s range (the D300s has 12.3MP), beaten only by Nikon’s fullframe 24.5MP flagship, the D3X. It shoots 1080p full HD video (the entry-level D3100 was the first in the Nikon line-up to feature full HD, the D300s shoots 720p). You can also manually set the exposure for videoshooting. The slowest shutterspeed is limited to 1/30 sec., which is good enough. With the D7000, the 3D colour matrix metering system has been improved. It now uses a 2,016 pixel RGB sensor as compared to 1005 pixels of the D300s. The D7000 also has an ISO range from 100 to 25,600 (100-6400 with the D300s). It has a shutter life tested for 150,000 frames
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Canon PowerShot S95
Good, Better, Best!
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Raj Lalwani takes the Canon PowerShot S95 through its paces in three different cities, to discover that the company’s best compact camera has just become better.
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SLR cameras are great because they score highly in terms of image quality, speed of operation and the ability to control the final photograph. However, they can be bulky and cumbersome to carry around. This is the main reason why so many photographers, professionals included, gravitate towards smaller cameras that have pro features. However, as we discussed in last month’s review of the Canon Powershot G12, the market for high-end compact cameras has been seriously threatened by the recent mirrorless revolution. But then, at the end of the day, even mirrorless cameras are not exactly pocketable. That is why a tiny camera like the Canon PowerShot S95 always attracts curiosity.
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The camera’s predecessor, the S90, had really impressed us when we tested it last year—it received the highest rating we have given to any compact camera. But then, is it possible to improve a camera that continues to be the best in its class even a year after its release?
The S95 is not a major upgrade, but it fine tunes a camera that was already quite brilliant.
Features On paper, it seems that the answer is no. The essential specifications of the S95 remain the same—RAW shooting and a 28– 105mm lens that has a maximum aperture of f/2 at the wide end. This allows you more depth control than regular compact cameras, and also allows you to shoot in low light without increasing the ISO. The S95 has only a few subtle changes. For one, it allows you to use five different ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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Hidden Costs
Buying a camera requires a lot of research. However, did you know that there are a number of hidden costs that you need to consider? Supriya Joshi lists them out.
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hen it comes to buying our first camera, we spend months sketching out a budget and finally decide on something that fits that budget. We assume that our budgeted amount is good enough, and that is all we need to look at. But then, how many of us actually realise that there are various hidden costs that we will face?
We forget about the fact that we cannot use the camera, unless we buy batteries, memory cards and a storage bag! Besides these, there are other essential accessories that you ought to look at, as well. Let us take you through the entire process and help you understand the tiny details that you may forget. So the next time you decide to buy something, remember to keep these hidden costs in mind!
98 Rs. 200 A basic lint-free cloth for cleaning the camera and lens. Rs. 200 Extra AA batteries with slow self-discharge rate.
Rs. 1000 A small, portable gorillapod for your compact camera. Rs. 450 A small camera pouch for camera protection and transportation.
Rs. 800 A smart battery charger with auto cut-off charging.
Basic Compact Camera With their compact sizes, these cameras have a number of creative features that are handy for simple, everyday photography. Rs. 4995
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Rs. 350 A memory card, and an extra one while travelling. ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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Rs. 650 8GB SDHC card for more storage and faster speed.
Rs. 1800 An extra Li-ion battery for power backup.
Rs. 200 Lint-free cloth to clean the camera body and the lens.
Advanced Compact Camera These cameras often shoot in RAW or can support an external flashgun. They are a link between basic compact cameras and DSLRs. Rs. 26,995
Rs. 34,645
Rs. 3500 A lightweight yet sturdy tripod for low light photography.
Rs. 1500 A medium-sized bag, if your camera is bulkier than a regular compact.
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Rs. 4000 A high quality camera bag to store your camera, lenses and other accessories.
Rs. 7500 A strong and sturdy tripod to support the weight of the camera body and lens.
Interchangeable Lens Camera DSLRs and mirrorless cameras give the user much more control when shooting and offer a lot more features with far superior image quality. Rs. 58,950 (Kit) Rs. 1000 A cleaning kit for the camera and optics.
Rs. 1600 Utilities to protect the lens from external elements. ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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Rs. 76,650 Rs. 1400 16GB SDHC Class 6 memory cards for storing RAW files and HD video.
Rs. 2200 An extra Li-ion battery for power backup.
Better Photography
12/26/2010 12:32:47 AM
bu y erâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spe ci a l
I Lost All My Images! Neha Mutreja familiarises you with commonly available devices that you can use to back up your precious photographs and data, and their failings as well.
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It is when you think that it could never happen to you that it invariably does.
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ust imagine thisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one fine morning you turn your computer on, but nothing happens. You try turning it on again. All you get is a boot-up message on your monitor says that your hard drive has completely and irrecoverably failed. All of a sudden, you realise that all the photography you have done over the last one year has been completely wiped out because you did not back up your data. Could there be a bigger nightmare for a photographer?
New Technology, New Threats In the age of film, the options were limited. Photographers preserved film by keeping Better Photography
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them in moisture-free, fireproof safes. With the coming of digital technology, the advantage is that you can now quickly and easily make copies of data that are as good as the original. But there are also new dimensions to the challenge. Fire and water are just a part of the problem. As easily as you can make copies of your data, it can also be erased. Viruses and undependable storage media are other threats.
So What Is The Answer? The only way to safeguard your data completely is to have several back-ups in at least two different types of storage media, secured against virus attacks, ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
12/22/2010 3:46:45 PM
bu y er’s spe ci a l
It is the physical nature of all things, including human bodies, to deteriorate over time.
stored in different, safe locations, and checked periodically for signs of physical deterioration or impending failure. At the very least, you should have two back-ups of your important data on two separate devices, apart from the one in your computer’s hard drive, to be secure. Here is a list of storage devices along with their pros and cons to let you decide which device is best for you.
Solid State Drives or SSD SSD is a plug-and-play drive that retains data in non-volatile memory chips. It is similar to the media cards used in digital cameras. This device has a far greater stability over its counterparts because there are no moving parts, unlike a conventional hard disk drive (HDD). So there are no chances of mechanical failure and it is less susceptible to damages through shocks, heat and temperature. It also uses less power and are much faster than HDDs. SSDs might offer better data security over traditional drives, but these are currently very expensive. They are prone to failures from electrical surges. SSDs also do not erase data completely unless it is overwritten. The maximum capacity available today is 512GB.
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Hard Disk Drives These are the most popular storage drives today. They are available as internal drives to be fitted into your computer, or as external drives within a protective casing. Internal HDDs are generally faster to copy data on than external ones. As the drive is within the computer, it is less prone to shocks. But, it is also almost constantly powered on within a computer and wears out more quickly than external drives, which can be switched off or disconnected. It consumes lots of power, produces noise, vibration and heat, because it has motors within it. Internal drives are also more vulnerable to virus attacks as your PC is constantly connected to internet and requires constant antivirus checks. Internal HDDs are less prone to electricity damages as opposed to external HDDs. They can also store large volumes of data as they are available in maximum capacities of 3 terabytes or 3000MB. Powered external HDDs are available in even higher capacities if required. It generates large amounts of heat and requires a power adaptor to run. Though they are outside the computer, they are not conveniently portable, but they can be moved around. Portable external HDDs are much smaller in size, lighter, and easy to carry around. They draw power directly from the computer when it is connected and does not require an external power source. These drives are available in the capacities of 500GB and 1TB. These drives are smaller than regular HDDs and draw less power and produce less heat. But they offer slower speeds. As with all HDDs, they are susceptible to damage if dropped accidentally. HDDs can operate without trouble for years. However, they can also fail quickly and often without warning. So it is best to maintain at least two back-ups on two different HDDs.
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Do not Abuse the Device Always ensure that you close down any software or windows using or showing files from your back-up device. Then use the ‘safely remove hardware’ icon to eject the device, before physically disconnecting it. While using DVDs ensure, you are closing the session. Scan pen drives before using them, and use them only on virus-free PCs. Better Photography
12/22/2010 3:46:47 PM
buye r’ s s pec i al
Help!
I Have A Tripod!
Tripod-related mishaps are more common than you think. Supriya Joshi tells you how to avoid them. t r i p o d t i ps • Use a cable release to trigger the shutter or use the Self Timer mode • Books, walls, etc. are wonderful natural tripods. • If a tripod is cumbersome, use a monopod instead.
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ou are standing on top of a hill, preparing to capture the beautiful sunrise. You set up your tripod, fix your camera and lean in to look through the viewfinder. Everything is perfect, till a gust of wind topples over the tripod. The rest may just be too painful to think about. There are some fundamentals of tripod usage that most of us may not be familiar with. On paper, setting up a tripod may look rather easy. Only when we get down to actually doing it, do we realise it that the simplest things are the easiest to forget. However, we can avoid these mistakes with a few simple checks.
Lock it Properly When you have arranged your tripod’s legs, check if you have locked them correctly. There is nothing worse than a leg buckling down because it was not locked properly. Ensure that you unlock the legs with the thicker segment first as the thinner section is less stable.
Secure the Base Plate Firmly The base plate screws into the tripod socket of the camera. An easy release clutch mechanism and a lock fastens it to the tripod. The camera can rotate loosely on its head, or even slip and fall if the baseplate is not screwed on firmly. This can also happen if the clutch is not properly locked. Better Photography
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Sho ot ing T e chnique
BetterPictures
Inadequacies in image quality can be masked by converting a cell phone image to B&W.
Raj Lalwani
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The Best Camera
Raj Lalwani discovers why the humble cell phone can actually be the best camera for a variety of different purposesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;simply because it is with you, all the time.
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he world of photography is a strange one indeed. Most of us start shooting because we love pictures, and wish to create something. Along the way though, we get drawn into a webâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is this camera better or that one? Should I buy Better Photography
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more expensive equipment? We start obsessing over the technicals, and believe that we can make better pictures with more advanced cameras. Due to this equipment snobbery, a lot of us believe that cell phone photography is frivolous. We almost look down upon it. ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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The Dos and Don’ts while Using Tripod
THICKER
Watch the Bubble In some tripods, there is a ‘level bubble’ on the head. With its help, you can keep the camera axis perfectly aligned so that your camera is perfectly level. You can use this indicator to make tiny adjustments to the tripod head before you shoot.
Make it Straight
Even if the camera is properly locked, if the adjustment handles are not secure, the camera can tilt over and hit the tripod legs.
The centre column of a tripod is used to maintain balance and equilibrium. The weight of the camera should be distributed evenly on all three legs. To ensure this, the centre column of the tripod must be vertical and absolutely straight, even if the tripod is on uneven ground.
THINNER
Distribute Evenly: While extending the legs, extend the thicker sections before the thinner ones for added stability.
CENTRE POST
Extend Properly: Do not extend the centre column unless absolutely necessary. This is because this column has a tendency of tilting.
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Use the Lens Collar Due to their size, telephoto lenses are prone to falling over if the tripod is imbalanced. In order to avoid this, attach the lens collar to the base plate rather than the camera. It will help maintain the centre of gravity between the lens and the camera.
LEVERS Watch the Lever: Attach the camera to the tripod head so that it faces in the right direction, so that the head adjustment levers do not obstruct your shooting.
Secure the Head Adjustment Handles It is easy to loosen the tripod’s head adjustment handle and then simply forget about it. The result will be that the head will suddenly tilt downwards. A heavy camera or lens can be badly damaged if it hits against the tripod’s legs. So secure it well.
Tripod Maintenance Over a period of time, the nuts and bolts of a tripod can loosen or the threads can wear out. It can cause tripod movement to be less rigid and can affect its stability. In these cases, ensure your tripod is sent for servicing before you use it. ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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In Addition... Besides this, there are a few things you can do to ensure your tripod’s safety.
Steady Surfaces: Find a flat surface to set up your tripod. Otherwise, ensure that the centre column is absolutely straight. Stabilise Those Legs: When extending or shortening the legs, ensure they are levelled. Unlock thicker sections of the legs first for adjustments.
Point the Leg: Point one of the tripod legs towards your subject. Ideally, it should extend in the same direction as that of the camera lens. This prevents the tripod from toppling forward by accident, when you lean towards the viewfinder. It also lets you stand comfortably in between the two other rear legs of the tripod. You have a greater chance of tripping up on your own tripod if one of the tripod’s legs come in between your own. If the tripod falls too, it could be an expensive mishap. Better Photography
12/22/2010 3:18:17 PM
shooting technique
ON ASSIGNMENT
On assignment
A Wide Wonderland Unique techniques at wide focal lengths
Thinking in Bokeh Playing with circles of light
Scan Your World Portraits... without a camera!
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The best camera is the one that you actually bother to carry with you.
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But then, what if we were to tell you that even an ordinary cell phone is a box of creativity lying in your pocket, just waiting to be discovered?
The Best Camera How many times have you removed that heavy DSLR of yours, and actually lugged it around with you? Most people carry their DSLR only when they are going out for a dedicated ‘shoot’, which may happen once a week or so. Moreover, even compact cameras can be cumbersome to carry around, as it involves the need to fit in an extra gadget in our jeans pocket or purse. Compare this to a cell phone, which is more or less ubiquitous in our daily lives—we carry one around everywhere. After all, the best camera is the one that
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you actually bother to carry with you, everywhere you go!
Your Daily Chronicler To shoot great pictures, you do not really need to go to a picturesque location like the Taj Mahal or Ladakh, or document a life-changing event. There are great images to be made absolutely everywhere! Even things that we consider mundane otherwise, can make interesting subjects. For instance, your cell phone can capture a curiously shaped lamppost outside your house, or even capture a light-hearted moment during a boring meeting in office.
An Alternate View Imagine using a DSLR to shoot a particular scene. Now, consider shooting the same
The best thing about cell phone photography is its spontaneous air. After all, there are interesting sights in our daily lives as well.
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Better Photography
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Sho ot ing T e chnique
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A Wide Wonderland Ambarin Afsar helps you understand how wide angle photographs can distort, expand or even change our perspective of the world around us.
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Sho ot ing T echnique
Anirban Brahma
your kit lens or even a compact camera, you may find that the final image lacks that ‘Wow!’ factor and seems like an ordinary capture. So, how do you get a perfect wide angle photograph that knocks the wind out of the viewer? Also, is a wide focal length only for gorgeous landscapes or can you use it for other kinds of photography as well? Here are a few simple things that you need to bear in mind.
To avoid the main subject from getting distorted, place it in the centre of the frame.
Get as Close as You Can Move as close as you can to your subject while shooting at a wide focal length to lend the frame a sense of intimacy. You do not need to take a wide view of the scene and include all the elements in one frame. An image that includes a parking lot, a petrol pump as well as rows of cars might end up lacking a single point of interest or defining element. As a result, the viewer’s eye wanders all over the frame disinterestedly and fails to understand the message being conveyed by the photograph. Instead, you can simply find a strong defining element in the foreground and move in as close as you can. In a park crowded with people and picnickers, you can get close to a fountain or even a statue. Once you have done this, frame the surroundings with context to this foreground elements. You will see your image transforming within a few steps. Anirban Brahma
Shot from atop a Ferris wheel, this unusual vantage point makes for a stunning wide angle shot.
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magine a beach wonderfully lit by a sunset, with large, majestic clouds casting impressive reflections on rivulets of wet sand. Alternatively, imagine rows of sharp, graphic shadows cast in a corridor of stone arches. In such situations, you feel compelled to capture the entire scene. Regardless of whether you are shooting with an ultrawide lens, the wide end of
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Do Away with the Clutter A messy room crammed with clothes, books, shoes and other things looks untidy and unkempt. Similarly, a frame with a lot of clutter may look unappealing and littered. Wide shots are more prone to clutter because while capturing the entire scene, you do not pay attention to the corners of the frame. In a capture of a busy market place, you might accidentally include pillars, garbage, peels, corners of Better Photography
12/21/2010 8:31:28 PM
This potted plant had a few green lights on it and red ones in the background. The blurred leaf and pot gives the image structure.
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Thinking in Bokeh Combining the bokeh effect with fireworks and the decorative lights commonly found during Diwali, Aditya Nair explores a new way of shooting festivities.
B
okeh has always intrigued me. At their most basic, they are spheres of light. It is the simplest representation of beauty in photography. In this series, what has fascinated me most has to be the different interpretations people give
Creating this entire series took about 4 days. But, I still shoot images whenever I get the chance.
Notes
The Process
Description This was an attempt to shoot a millennia old festival in a new way.
Duration
When you see light sources, always think of what they would look like if you shot them as bokeh.
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My Perspective While I would have loved to have been able to give an immensely philosophical reason for creating this series the honest, brutal truth is that the idea was created out of pure boredom. I was passing my time shooting fireworks from my window and the lights that hung on the tree at home during Diwali. The dilemma that arose was figuring a way to shoot the festival in a unique manner.
My Assignment
Better Photography
me for the same image. Where I see arrows, my aunt sees an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Omâ&#x20AC;? and my parents, both doctors, see DNA structures.
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o n a s s i g nm e n t
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The grey bokeh were actually red. But since they clashed with the green ones, I desaturated the red ones. ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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Better Photography
12/22/2010 12:34:00 PM
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Scan Your World
Close your eyes while scanning or use your hands to cover them.
Laura Dyet explores the fun of creating self portraits with the help of a scannerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an innovative alternative to using a camera.
W
hen we think of a scanner, we usually consider scanning documents, photos or negatives. But, do you know that it can be used instead of a camera? The idea is crazy and yet, is an effective way of creating artistic
images. Popular as Scannography, it is a great tool to achieve fine art. What is more, you can make scannographs of yourself in the comfort of your home, as I discovered accidentally. However, do remember that keeping your eyes open while scanning can harm them.
My Assignment Description This was an unintentional experiment that helped me discover a new perspective to portraitureâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; just by using a scanner.
I positioned my head slightly away from the bed of the scanner. My hands were in direct contact with the scanner, which lent this effect. Better Photography
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Duration A few hours!
Notes Ensure that your eyes are completely shut while scanning as the light can cause retinal damage. ja n ua ry 2 0 1 0
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o n a s s i g nm e n t
Scanner Art with Everyday Objects! Flower petals, staplers, vegetables, earrings etc can make great subjects. Avoid objects with sharp edges that can harm the scanner glass. To scan liquids like eggs or colours, place them on a transparency. Remember to keep the scannerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lid open to prevent damage. Cover the subject and scanner glass entirely with a piece of black material so that light does not escape from the scanner. Experiment with backdrops of different colours and textures.
My Perspective Seven years ago, while I was scanning some documents, I was curious to see what would happen if I placed my face against the scanner. Excited by the results, I went ahead and scanned myself a few more times. I felt the joy of discovery each time I saw the outcome on my computer screen. It was entirely surreal!
The Process While experimenting, ensure that you do not put too much pressure on the scanner as there are chances that you can damage it.
I realised that scannography is quite a simple process. All I needed to do was place my head on the scanner and hit the scan button. For making self-portraits, I had to keep the lid of the scanner up. This resulted in a black background as
I coloured my hands and placed them slightly above the scanner, just to see what would happen if I do so. The result was stunning.
the depth-of-field in a scanner is limited. Additionally, doing this experiment inside a dark room helped me play up the effect of light and colours in the final image. I experimented with how I placed my head on the scanner, used my hands and generally tried out different expressions. The only thing I had to remember was to keep my eyes shut as the light from the scanner was really bright. The idea was to experiment. I did it with my hands and face; but you could make use of different objects and arrange them in a varied manner. The best part is that one cannot predict the results so each time you scan you know its going to be a unique image in its own way.â&#x20AC;&#x192; 125
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12/21/2010 10:05:48 PM
Pr of i l e
ShowCase
A Diverse Life Prasad Pawaskar
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• He retired from a petrochemical firm and is the Joint Hon Secretary of the Photographic Society of India (PSI), Mumbai. • He was published in a book called 21st Century Photography Book, with 20 top photographers from across the world. • He has had many solo exhibitions, amongst which ‘People of Kashmir’ won wide acclaim.
Over the years, Prasad Pawaskar has experimented with a wide variety of photographic genres. He shares his experiences and insights in conversation with Digantika Mitra.
The simplicity of the life of tribals in Jawhar, Maharashtra fascinated Pawaskar and prompted him to make this photo. Better Photography
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GREAT MASTERS
contest
Ariel Ruiz i Altaba His scientific perspective
Nikon-Better Photography Photographer of the Year The final nominees announced!
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150
1000 words
A selection of the Profile best main stream media images
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T
he first thing I noticed about Prasad Pawaskar is that he is a man of a few words. Gradually, I came to understand that he needs to speak very little because his stunning captures convey a thousand words about him and the style of his work. It is his exploration of various genres and styles as well as a immense body of work that effectively sum up the man and his vision, when he is behind the camera.
Alertness—A Single Point Agenda
This award-winning photo, called Gone with the Wind was shot at Malshej Ghat, Maharashtra and is a fluid, evocative capture.
Pawaskar believes that alertness is the basic need in completing any work successfully, even more so in the field of photography. “Aspiring photographers need to keep a single point agenda in mind—to keep their ears and eyes open. One should never lose out on alertness and keen observation.” Regardless of the subject he is capturing,
Pawaskar feels an urgent need to constantly visualise varied compositions.
The First and the Last Word Previsualising a frame and perceiving the perfect composition is something
Pawaskar loves shooting portraits like this one, titled Mother and Child, shot in Kashmir.
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Better Photography
12/21/2010 8:20:33 PM
Ariel Ruiz i Altaba Supriya Joshi meets artist and scientist Ariel Ruiz i Altaba, and is left with a whole new perspective on photography.
H
ow does one begin to describe the works of a minimalist? As I looked at each picture from Ariel Ruiz i Altaba’s recent exhibition Minimal Landscapes, I could not help being drawn into the various patterns and formations I
saw. Besides being the photographer who created these stunning images, Ariel also happens to be a scientist studying brain development and cancer. These facets of the artist’s work really facinated me, and I was really looking forward to getting to know more about him. It was only after
“ Technique is just a base in the creative 144 process. Developing a conceptually interesting or challenging project is really the limiting step.”
Traces de llum from the series Minimal Landscapes. Archival pigment print on heavy weight 100% cotton rag paper. 105 X 105 cm. Better Photography
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Loneliness in your dreams from the series Minimal Landscapes. Archival pigment print on heavy weight 100% cotton rag paper. 105 X 105 cm.
an engaging conversation with him that I could consider myself enlightened on the beauty, the ideas and the art of minimalism that stems from this artist’s work.
Early Influences With a painter for a mother, Ariel’s childhood saw him being surrounded with the smells of brushes and fresh canvases— this greatly influenced his interest in the arts. “I developed an interest in photography at the age of 8 or 10. I have been fascinated with the idea, message and concept of ‘the image’ since then,” he says. Since he grew up in Barcelona, Spain, his formative years were heavily influenced by Catalan paintings. “These painters had very important influences on my work, even when I was not
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thinking about them.” He speaks of the sheer energy and vibe that the New York art scene provided, when he travelled there for his higher education. “There were a lot of artists doing very different things, and that was truly an enriching experience. New York is a boiling cauldron with people with many desires, interests and energy.”
A Mixed Approach While observing his pictures, one cannot help wondering how these beautiful and intriguing forms took shape. “I use a variety of methods to develop my pictures—old and new, 19th century, gelatin silver and digital,” he explains. He uses a vast range of cameras, from 35mm and medium format equipment to Polaroids, plastic cameras and pinhole
“ One can see how different images could hold similar relations to the intention of an artist doing classical fashion or street photography.” Better Photography
12/21/2010 5:27:02 PM
History Captain Albert King, Chief of X-ray Service, makes a fluoroscope of a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chest at the US Army Station Hospital in India.
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Photographing Life and Beyond Ambarin Afsar explores the various applications of photography in the field of science and medicine through the ages.
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Medical photographs were more realistic than drawings and illustrations.
he camera has captured all kinds of objects, from animals and natural elements to even inanimate objects like vases and toothpaste tubes. But do you know that in the medical realm, the camera has captured microorganisms and even human insides? The medical photographer has documented even surgical procedures in the operating theatre, forensic material, tissue slides, medical equipment and autopsy. This highly specialised genre is known as biomedical photography.
From Illustrations to Photographs Drawing was incredibly important in science until the mid-19th century in the pre-photography era. Scientists involved in the study of life sciences documented what they saw with painstaking
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illustrations. This changed in 1840 when Alfred DonnĂŠ, a French doctor, photographed sections of bones, teeth and red blood cells using an instrument called the microscope-daguerrotype. Around the same time, British scientists like William Fox Talbot were using the same instrument to make photographs of tiny creatures like moths and fleas. But, they faced staunch resistance from the old school that preferred the minute detailing of the illustrations. When the critics saw that photography consumed less time and offered a true likeness of the subject, all debates were put to rest.
A Photographic Spark The photographs of tiny creatures were just initial halting steps of biomedical photography. In 1851, Jules Baillarger, ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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History
Biomedical photography has become a valuable tool to determine the nature of an ailment.
a French neurologist and psychiatrist, started the actual use of photography in medicine by making pictures of mentally challenged people. British doctors, too, began photographing mental patients.
used multiple cameras to capture the motion of humans and animals. Such study, known as chronophotography, spurred researchers to further explore motion.
Patients and their Portraits
In 1895, another path-breaking invention emerged to change the world of medical imaging. German physicist Willhem Conrad Röntgen discovered a new ray, which would go on to be called the Röntgen Ray, or the X-Ray. Nearly two weeks after his discovery, he made a photograph of his wife, Anna Bertha’s hand using the new ray. This was the first ever photograph of a human body part made using x-rays. When Anna saw the skeleton of her hand, she exclaimed, “I have seen my death!” However foreboding the X-ray was for Anna, it paved the way for the study of radiology and, consequently, more advanced methods of medical imaging. Today, medical imaging has transcended many limitations and has become more than just a photograph. It has become a valuable tool to determine the nature of an ailment. It can help detect cancer, it can tell you why you have a toothache or knee-pain and it can even tell you how much activity is being registered from your brain, while you conduct a specific task. From Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs), Computed Tomography (CT) scans and X-rays to Angiograms and Ultrasounds, medical photography has been saving thousands of lives all over the world.
But hand-coloured engravings continued to be used as they displayed anatomical structures more clearly than photographs did. Interestingly, early photographs lacked detail because patients posed, as if for a portrait. This, too, changed with the American Civil War (1861–1865) when photographs of only wounds and injuries were taken. However, since these pictures were too graphic, they set the ground for a few ethical practices the modern world would follow. Thus, the patient’s identity came to be protected and only his symptoms began being emphasised.
A Seal of Approval After the initial boom of photo documenting many medical men began to publish their explorations as books and journals, which were published globally. As more and more people saw its results, the use of photography in medicine boomed.
The Dawn of a New Era Both modern science and photography flowered in the 19th century. Scientists increasingly used the microscope and the X-ray to analyse motion and decode other secrets of the body. Eadweard Muybridge
The X-Ray Discovery
Intensive Studies In the mid-1860s, photography was used to conduct intensive researches. For instance, in 1862, Guillame Duchenne, a French neurologist, published pictures on the facial expressions of humans. Similarly, findings of doctors like Duchenne were published all over the world.
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Notable Uses of Biomedical Photography Through the Ages
Patient Portraiture This is a medical portrait of a British Captain who suffered an arm injury in the Civil War.
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Surgical Specimens
X-Rays
A surgical photo of a skull which Made in 1895, this is a print of was badly shattered by a shell in Willhelm Röntgen’s first X-ray the American Civil war. of his wife’s hand.
Medical Studies of Animals
Angiograms
This is a print of an X-ray of a rainbow This is an Angiogram detailing the snake, probably made to study the blood flow of the blood vessels anatomical structure of the reptile. inside a human head. Better Photography
12/20/2010 9:09:17 PM
M a rk e t Sense
At the Negotiation Table
Commercial photography is about selling your work to a customer, who will always expect exceptional quality, but will want to pay less. Neha Mutreja tells you ways in which you can negotiate a fair price for your work.
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elling your photographic work to a customer is just like negotiating for vegetables or fish in the market. And with the growing awareness about cameras and their affordability, it has become even more difficult to convince a customer and strike a profitable deal. While some photographers observe and improvise, others find it difficult to negotiate and end up incurring losses. Here are some ways to help you chalk out a plan and negotiate a reasonable deal. 248
Packaging is Essential This is exactly like offering a supermarket purchaser an offer of buying soap, along with a soap case and a scrubber. This is a simple but lucrative technique especially in the present scenario. As a
Create a Platform for Discussion Whenever you plan to get into commercial photography, whether it is shooting events, portfolios, industrial shoots or working on advertisements or weddings, the first step is to create your own website or a portfolio. This will be a window for the customer to approach you, after getting glimpses of your work.
Study the Market Before you set out to decide your fee, it is always wise to move out and understand the tricks of the trade. Connect with other photographers. Understanding how they work, how they approach their clients, what they charge and what packages they offer.
Chalk out your Expenses
Before you decide on a fee, understand how the market works. Better Photography
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Though it comes with experience, always chalk out rough expenses. For instance, see if you require an assistant to help you out. What will be the cost of hiring specialised equipment? You might also have to calculate the cost of make-up and props required for the shoot. Also consider that the initial package may or may not include travelling and lodging expenses. So decide whether you want to make a separate mention of the cost of travel in the proposed budget or include it in the overall package.
Illustration: Pradeep Kumar B Nambiar ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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M a rk e t Sense
Make it Legal It is always advisable to make the deal legal. It is quite common to see that a photographer is not paid what he was promised, or the client was cheated. To ensure that both the parties get what they deserve, make a contract and have both parties sign it. It is also an indication of how professional you are towards your work.
photographer you can offer a package that includes ‘covering the event and packaging the images into booklets, along with CD and a flip book’. See if you can interact with your client, customise the package or include your personal favourites, and give them free of cost to your client. It all depends on how creative you can get. You can also have flexible packages depending on what the customer wants.
You will either come across clients who are willing to spend large sums of money, or someone who cannot afford a big budget. Do not look down upon the latter ones. Instead talk to them and see if you can manage a package according to their budget—without incurring any losses. Ensure that, in order to oblige them, you should not undersell yourself. You should cover all actual costs.
Understanding the Customers Psyche
Approach a Client with an Open Mind
This is an important consideration to make when you want to get exactly what you wish to charge. The best way to understand a customer is to speak to them and see where they are coming from.
People approaching you for an assignment may or may not have an idea of your skills. In either case, be confident and tell them the variety you can offer—both in terms of quality and quantity. Understand your clients’ requirement, its scale and what you are expected to deliver. For this, you can interact with them and pay attention to the small details. Additionally tell them about the different packages that you have to offer. Pay special attention to your body language, posture, attitude and attire as this will have a big impact on the client.
Negotiation is a healthy practice. It is always good to work out a price that suits both the customer and you.
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Renegotiations It is very much possible that a customer can approach you for a renegotiation. Be humble and see why the client is dissatisfied and asking for renegotiation. See if it is viable to cut down the price or accommodate their request. If not, learn to put your foot down and tell the customer that they are paying for skills after all. Negotiation is a healthy practice and it is always good to talk and work out a price that suits both the customer and you. But it is also essential to market yourself well so that you are able to charge what you wish to. The key is to be confident about your work, be clear in your thought process and remain firm. If you are sure about yourself, then nothing can stop you from getting the best price for your work.
Tips for Successful Negotiation 1. Confidence is the key to strike a good deal with your client. 2. Some photographers wait for the event or an assignment to get over to negotiate a price. Never make that mistake. Ensure that all negotiations have been completed before you begin the assignment. 3. Always have some options, in terms of packages, to suit different tastes and needs. ja n ua ry 2 0 1 1
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