PhotoTalkies Magazine - June 2014

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PHOTO June 2014

Issue 05

A Joint Initiative of Kunzum and ZEISS

FACE TO FACE

ZEISS Touit Lenses as Companion

THE BIG

CATS of India

GLAMOUR & FASHION TIPS

TECH Sony Smartband

Nokia Lumia 630

IT’S HOT

THE BEST TIME TO SPOT BIG CATS If you want to go spotting the big cats in India, be prepared to sweat it out. And carry dollops of sun protection creams, hats, comfortable clothing and water.

The best time to meet lions, tigers and leopards in India is during the summer months of May and June when temperatures can come close to 50 degrees Centigrade. This is the time when the flora dries up to a great extent, which would normally camouflage animals from view even if they were a few feet away. Water is scarce, and even the mightiest of animals can’t live without it; you will thus find them lounging around the few water pools that remain naturally or are filled by forest officials. The madding tourist crowd also tends to stay away - they often create too much of a ruckus, driving animals away. Sad. Not only the big cats, you will also get good viewings of other animals. For the same reasons as above. And this is a delightful sight for the wildlife lover as well as the camera. Most parks close

by June 30, and reopen in September or October after the rains. So plan your trips accordingly.

Till then, enjoy the photo feature on the wild cats in this issue.

We have also started a special series on photography tips from the best of experts globally. Add to it the usual features on books, gadgets and apps and you have a well rounded issue of PhotoTalkies.

Let’s keep clicking together. And sharing our stories. Pictorially. Shot with a ZEISS.

AJAY JAIN ajay@ajayjain.com

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PHOTO

PHOTOTALKIES IS A MONTHLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE. AND IT’S FREE!! DOWNLOAD AND READ ON YOUR IPAD, IPHONE OR ANY OTHER TABLET, COMPUTER AND SMARTPHONE.

A Joint Initiative of Kunzum and ZEISS

CONTENTS

The Big Cats of India

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FACE TO FACE: The ZEISS Touit 1.8/32 as a constant companion

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GLAMOUR, FASHION & MAKE UP

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FUZEL: The App for Collages

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Sony Smartband

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Nokia Lumia 630

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10 Photography Tips for Every Travelling Shutterbug

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The Complete Book of the World Cup

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Ping us at mail@kunzum.com

Disclaimer: All articles and photographs in this magazine are the opinions of the respective contributors. It is understood that they own the copyright to the same, or have the rights to offer the same under their bylines. ZEISS is not responsible for the authenticity of any of the articles and photographs, nor will be held liable for any disputes, claims and liabilities arising out of ownership or copyright issues of the content in the magazine.

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FACE TO FACE

The ZEISS Touit 1.8/32 as a constant companion Consalvo de Costa has discovered the ZEISS Touit 1.8/32 and now uses it to create classic portraits in black and white.

Sparring partner

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Consalvo de Costa has a constant companion: the ZEISS Touit 1.8/32 on a compact system camera (X-Pro 1). Portraits are his passion and he is always on the lookout for interesting faces. Sometimes he approaches strangers in a bar, or accompanies colleagues to their sports activities. “Three of my colleagues box in their free time. I took a few pictures during their training sessions and the results were really surprising. The aggressive impression here is deceptive. All three are pretty reserved. That makes the pictures that bit more interesting: I was able to bring out another aspect of their personalities.�

Punch

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When de Costa started seriously with photography in 2011 and bought a full-frame SLR camera, he quickly became interested in portraits and the big names in the genre, such as Irving Penn. “My portraits are not snapshots; they require organization and planning. Nevertheless, I keep the setting as simple as possible. I often use a small reflector screen, or a soft box with a synchronized standard flash. Equally important is establishing contact with each model – my daughter is in the picture below – and not letting yourself hide behind a large camera.”

Melancholy pride

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De Costa’s tendency towards simplicity is what originally brought him to the Touit 1.8/32 in the autumn of 2013. His single-lens reflex system became too bulky and he was looking for an alternative – one that would not require him to lower his standards in terms of quality. “My photo dealer let me test the Touit for an hour. After a few test shots I knew: this is it. It not only makes exceptional images, it also feels good in your hands.”

Kitchen helpers

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De Costa initially had doubts about whether the standard 48mm (with crop factor of 1.5) was a not-too-short focal length for portrait photography. But the Touit 1.8/32 proved a positive surprise in that respect. “The lens delivers amazingly sharp pictures that – and this is very important in portraiture – are also completely distortion-free. I think the combination of a Touit with a system camera even exceeds the quality of a full format.”

Using this combination, a photographer’s every need is met — with one caveat. “Without wanting to exaggerate, I often think that this Touit is the perfect lens for my needs. But of course I’m very curious about the new Touit 2.8/50M. With its moderate tele focal length, it must be very well suited to portraits as well.

We’ll see.“

About Consalvo de Costa Consalvo de Costa has been taking pictures since his childhood. While studying business, he also enjoyed spending time in the dark room. Today, he lives in Milan and works in the marketing department of a healthcare company. Visual communication is an important part of his daily work. And he takes that with him after work, experimenting with his camera in many very different ways.

Distant view

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/consalvodecosta/

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GLAMOUR, FASHION & MAKE-UP The ZEISS Touit

Fashion and beauty photographer Sonja Dirscherl aka MIA ROYAL tested exclusively the new ZEISS Touit 2.8/50M against the tough conditions of a studio. And she is enthusiastic. The light and flexible combination of a system camera with a Touit exceeded expectations compared to a full-frame camera — that latter the ‘normal’ benchmark for professional photography.

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Together with one of her clients, a professional make-up school in Cologne, Dirscherl organized a six-hour shoot in December 2013. “The graduates of pro academy learn make-up techniques that are in demand in photography, film and television. They use finely pigmented high-end cosmetics because today’s cameras can pick up even the tiniest blemish and imperfection of the skin,” she says. Five young make-up artists carried out their “final thesis” on five models, which provided Dirscherl with ample opportunity to test the Touit 2.8/50M. “The macro characteristics of the Touit really add value in my work,” she says. “Thanks to the large magnification power that is possible, I can easily take detailed shots of such details as lips or eyes, where you can clearly identify the structure of a single hair, pore and even the pigmentation of the eye shadow. That level of detail is expected these days from a lens in cosmetics photography. At the same X-E2, Touit 2.8/50M, f/13, 1/160 sec, ISO 200

time, I barely had to do any extra work during the editing – for example for re-sharpening.”

Today DSLR cameras are state of the art for studio photography. But powerful compact system cameras (CSC) are increasingly becoming a viable option in this discipline too. And Sonja Dirscherl, a fashion and beauty photographer from Cologne, couldn’t agree more. She discovered the X system from Fujifilm and likes how light and flexible these cameras are. When working with a compact system camera in the studio, she doesn’t disappear behind a large single-lens reflex camera, but instead can communicate directly with her models during a shoot. In other words, she is both present and unobtrusive at the same time. When asked last fall whether she wanted to try the new Touit 2.8/50M exclusively before the official launch, she immediately said yes — and was surprised by the excellent results.

Watch it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTOgnpAl3VQ 29

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XE-2, Touit 2.8/50M, f/8, 1/160 sec, ISO 200 30

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One particular feature – autofocus - is particularly important for Dirscherl.

Characteristic for the Touit family, autofocus is generally unusual for ZEISS. “I can’t really use manual focusing in my work because in fashion photography you want to have the body language, which comes from the model’s movements. For this, I need equipment that reacts immediately; otherwise the poses change before I can capture them. In this sense the Touit 2.8/50M really won me over. It not only has a pleasant surface feel, which ensures good handling, but also a super-fast autofocus with a short reaction time.”

Reacting fast is vital in studio photography, but of course the center of attention is always the final image, as Dirscherl herself emphasizes.

“For a professional photographer like myself, Touit lenses are extremely interesting. For me, a fixed focal length is always my first choice because I am dependent on a higher focus and strong contrast. In portrait and fashion photography, it is extremely important that there are no anatomic distortions in the images, for example as a result of converging lines. The 50 mm focal length of the Touit 2.8/50M is ideally suited for this. It creates a fantastic, natural-looking depiction of the models.”

X-M1, Touit 2.8/50M, f/13, 1/160 sec, ISO 250 31

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XM-1, Touit 2.8/50M, f/7.1, 1/16 sec, ISO 200 (Black/white conversion of a color image) 32

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Dirscherl also likes the balanced color rendering of the Touit 2.8/50M. The colors are neither overloaded nor too neutral, but rather harmonious, in particular the skin tones. This is particularly noticeable in black and white; there are no visible contrasts. The image is so rich in detail that you can also see the mid-range tones. And there’s a certain dynamism achieved across the entire image, which harmoniously ‘rounds out’ the picture. The excellent detail and homogeneous skin complexion are also striking in a positive way.

“I always compare my photographic work to the standard of a full-frame camera. And with the Touit 2.8/50M, in combination with a system camera, I can truly say: the comparison totally works. Although system cameras are still uncommon in the studio, the Touit is outstanding to use for high-end photography.”

About Sonja Dirscherl Sonja Dirscherl trained as a graphic designer, but later entered fashion purchasing. It was during this time that she privately started taking photographs. As an autodidact fashion and beauty photographer she acquired her skill through a lot of “learning by doing” and finally set up her own successful business in 2009. Today she counts such well-known names as Germany’s Next Topmodel, international magazines und various artists among her clients. She writes for DigitalPHOTO and teaches at the FUJIFILMSchool and the DigitalPHOTO Academy.

http://www.mia-royal.com/ X-E2, Touit 2.8/50M, f/13, 1/160 sec, ISO 200 33

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FUZEL The app for collages NIMISH DUBEY

Collages. They can be wonderful and dazzling to see when you get them right. And an absolute disaster when you get them wrong. But rare indeed is the photographer who has not at some time tried to create a collage or two…or more.

Which is why we are talking about Fuzel here. What we really love about Fuzel (apart from the fact that it is totally free) is just how easy it is to use. You just select the pictures you want to select in the collage – any number from two to sixteen – and then let the app work its magic at arranging them. No, it won’t always get them spot on the first time it lays them out, but then that brings us to the next great thing about the app – you can actually play around with the templates: moving images around, adding minor editing effects, removing pictures and replacing them with others and much more. There are more than fifty templates available by default and there is a lot of collage chaos you can wreak with them, including adding animation effects (images moving around in their designated slots, if you will). No, it is not as creatively insane as you could be with your bare hands, but hey, it is a lot less messy, works more smoothly and still generates a high quality end result that you can share across your social networks with as little as a tap. Pretty much a must-have for all ye who possess an iOS device and a camera.

Available from: iTunes App Store Price: Free

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SONY SMARTBAND

Log in to your life, wearable tech style NIMISH DUBEY

Wearables are the rage this season. And alas, they also cost a bomb. Be it Samsung’s Galaxy Gear series, Sony’s SmartWatches or the much-praised Pebble, each will lay your wallet low by anything upwards of Rs 10,000. So you can imagine how high our eyebrows shot up when Sony introduced the SmartBand, a wearable wristband, for Rs 5,999.

Yes, on the surface, it does not look very impressive – it has no display whatsoever and is basically a small core unit that slots into a wristband (you get two with the device, for both genders, although the colours depend on the package you purchase). But pair it with a compatible Android device – and it works with any Android phone running Kit Kat (4.4) and above – and the band starts its magic. It uses the sensors inside the core to send information to the phone and presents it in a dazzling format using Sony’s Lifelog application. The result: you can check up how many steps you have taken, how many calories you have burnt, how much you have slept, how much time you have spent on social networks, on e-mail, when you took which photograph, where you travelled, and so on…a beautiful summary of your day, complete with some lovely animations. Yes, the absence of a display is a bit of a downer, but you can get notifications about calls, messages and the like on the SmartBand, which vibrates gently. Battery life is superb – a single charge got us through five days – and we could also control some apps like the camera from the smartband. We in particular loved the feature that alerted us whenever we went too far from our phone (we used it with a Nexus 5). It is not a watch, but it sure is smart and is very wearable (you can even opt for different strap colours). And costeth not a bomb. Which makes it definitely worth trying out in our opinion.

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Nokia Lumia 630

DID MONEY EVER DELIVER SO MUCH VALUE NIMISH DUBEY

The term “value for money” has been bandied around too easily of late, being used to describe just about any smartphone that is available for less than Rs 12,000. We have seen our share of these, but honestly, almost each comes with its share of compromises on the hardware or software front, which in turn tend to muck up (no, there’s no gentler term for it) the user experience. The Lumia 630, however, seems a delightful aberration. It cuts no major corners on the hardware front offering you a 4.5 inch display, backed up by a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and 8GB onboard storage (expandable to 128 GB), 3G connectivity and best of all, the latest Windows Phone operating system – Windows Phone 8.1 (something no other phone in the country has at the time of writing). All in a very natty looking and solidly built body that is a mere 9.2 mm thick. Some might scoff at the 512 MB RAM and the 854 x 480 resolution of the display, but we were very impressed by the speed at which the device performed. There were zero lags and the phone pretty much handled everything we threw at it from mails to Facebook to Temple Run. There were the usual add-ons like free music from Nokia MixRadio and a lifetime of free maps and navigation, topped off with great reception and sound, but the surprise package was the 5.0-megapixel shooter which takes the best pictures we have seen from a phone at this price point. Which of course, brings us to the little matter of the price. We saved the best for the last: Rs 11,500 for the dual SIM edition (it is the first Lumia to support dual SIMs) and about Rs 10,500 for the single SIM one. Perfect for those on a tight budget, we say.

Price: Rs 11, 500 (dual SIM), Rs 10,500 (single SIM) 37

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10 PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR EVERY TRAVELLING SHUTTERBUG AJAY JAIN

We all love to take photographs - especially when we travel. But so often we face disappointments over missed or badly taken photos. Here are 10 tips for every photographer - amateur or professional - to increase your chances of taking memorable pictures.

Before you continue, remember: The camera is the last piece in the photographic process. Seriously, I mean it. If you want to be a good photographer, as an amateur or a professional, I suggest you ponder over the following:

1.The camera does not matter: You do not need an expensive camera to start taking

good photos. Make do with what you have - smartphones, point-and-shoots or basic DSLRs - and master these first. In over 70 percent of the cases, your entry level DSLR will give you results similar to a high end one. Upgrade only after you have been shooting enough with what you have first.

2.Technology does most of the work for you - but only you can compose: Today’s

cameras are advanced enough to give you great results even in the auto mode, or by just adjusting the Shutter or Aperture settings. No need to fret about knowing all camera functions initially - just understand the essentials. But no camera can compose for you - the art if your own. And that is what you need to work on most - what goes into your frame. Learn to observe the world around you - can compose images in your mind without your camera.

3.Always be a student: Never stop learning. The Internet is a great resource for blogs,

magazines and other repositories of knowledge. Go through this content regularly understand what the experts are saying. Look at a lot of photographs - online and in galleries. Your senses will get more artistic sub-consciously. Talk to other photographers - don’t hesitate to ask questions. We have all learnt from each other. A simple tip can do wonders for your photography. Learn from the Masters but don’t imitate them - develop your own style.

4.The 20:80 rule of classroom learning: No matter how many lessons you take, that

is only 20 percent of the job done. The rest is what you do with yourself. If you don’t practice regularly, and put in the hard work, you might as well not waste your time and money attending classes. The teacher can only teach you the vocabulary - you have to forms words and stories yourself.

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5.No substitute for hard work and odd hours: Photography is not for the lazy. You have to

be on your feet - and at times when your subject can be shot best. If you want to shoot in the first light of the day, you have to be up when the world is still asleep. Sunrise will not change its schedule for you. Be willing to explore and wait for surprises to pop up - for example, if you are a travel or street photographer, spend hours just walking around and looking around you. You cannot always pre-plan what you are going to shoot.

6.Prepare yourself in advance for best results: Advance research is very important. Research

your subject before going out to shoot. For example, if you are travelling, find out the best time of the year to shoot. Try to coincide your trip with events. Browse the Internet to see what others have shot - get ideas, but don’t just imitate. Come back with your own unique shots. If you need permissions, have them in order. Carry back-up batteries, memory and even cameras if going to remote locations. Go fully prepared - but keep your mind and eyes open to shooting what you have not visualised.

7.Travel light: Burdening yourself like a mule with equipment is not sexy. Travel light. Carry

only as much as you need. You don’t want to be weighed down with gear - and also be worried about losing something. You need to be free in the mind to shoot better.

8.Keep your equipment safe: Tourists are the easiest victims for thieves looking to steal cam-

eras. We all tend to just place our cameras anywhere - on a wall, on the floor in a cafe, in an open car. And as the day progresses, we get tired and our alertness levels go down. Keep the equipment close to you. Have the cameras strapped to your bodies. If you are sitting someplace, have an arm or a leg going through the bag straps. You don’t want to spoil your mood and be the poorer too.

9.Don’t let the camera die on you: Cameras seem to follow their own version of Murphy’s law:

they will go on the blink just when you have that perfect moment to be captured on holiday.

Carry extra memory and battery. And keep the batteries charged and empty the memory cards at the end of each day.

10.Take Back-Ups: Try carrying a laptop to download images whenever you can. And don’t

procrastinate: download at every opportunity, you might run short of memory anytime. And make an extra copy too in case of a computer crash. Back-up on CDs at a cyber café: Most cyber cafes, especially in tourist locations, have facilities to download images and burn them on a CD for a nominal sum. Upload the same online on Flickr or any other platform if you can.

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- Ajay Jain is a travel writer and photographer,

and blogs at http://kunzum.com.

He has authored several books on his travels including “Peep Peep Don’t Sleep”

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THE COMPLETE BOOK OF THE WORLD CUP The best book on the World Cup. Period.

NIMISH DUBEY There are not too many books that live up to their titles. But Cris Freddi’s The Complete Book of the World Cup does so. Resoundingly. Available on the Kindle for Indian readers (do not try getting a paper copy), this is a book that simply has it ALL about the world’s premier football tournament. You want the line ups of every football match played in the tournament? You got it. You want the name of every goal scorer and when he scored the goal? It’s there. A detailed, opinionated report on every match? There. Hell, you want the attendance of every match played in the tournament? Again, all you need to do is dip into those pages. And as there are literally hundreds of pages out there, the Kindle is perhaps the best format in which to read this book. The book is very well indexed and arranged tournament by tournament, so navigation is convenient and well, you are saved from the task of lugging around a book that would have tipped the scale by well over a kilogram if its 2002 edition is any indication. But while the detail makes this book a treasure trove for all those who are interested in the World Cup, what really makes it stand out is the narration. Freddi writes brilliantly and with feeling, making this a very readable book, and not just a footballing version of the Guiness Book of World Records. Do you love football? Download. Read.

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About Ajay Jain

Ajay Jain is a full time writer and photographer, and has authored eight paperback books and over 30 e-books. He promotes his photography as collectible art, runs the popular Kunzum Travel Cafe in New Delhi and publishes e-magazines on travel and photography.

He is also a regular speaker on Mindful Travel, Personal Branding, Photography and Business Networking. All his creative ideas came to the fore only after he started travelling - mindfully.

He has pursued careers in Information Technology and Sports Management before he took up journalism and writing. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Business Management and Journalism.

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More on Ajay Jain at http://ajayj ain.com.

Connect with him at ajay@ajayja in.com +91.9910044476. Or call his offic e at +91.9650702777.

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