PhotoComment April 2010

MICHAEL MEYERSFELD

PROFOTO AWARDS 2009 IMAGE OF THE YEAR

Alternative Printing APRIL 2010 ISSUE NO. 14 FREE ONLINE

Review

NIKON COOLPIX S3000

CONTENTS

MARCH 2010 Sony Profoto Awards

Editor’s Comment

4

Submit your portfolio

4

We want to see your images

Readers Comments

See who won the Sony Profoto Awards along with a selection of Gold Award Winners

Technique 4

8

10

Alternative Printing Cyanotype & Van Dyk Brown

We want to hear from you

Review

magazine@photocomment.net

16

Nikon Coolpix S3000

Scoop

6

All about what is happening in the photographic world locally and internationally

LEGAL STUFF International and local Intellectual Property and Copyright laws protect all material (text, images, photographs, graphics, software and icons) used herein. You are only permitted to download, copy or print this on-line publication or any features there from for personal, instructional and non-commercial use.

Final Comment

19

Do they leave an impression?

ABOUT Published By: Comment Media cc Founder: Tristan Hall Design & Layout: Greg Wrench Contact: magazine@photocomment.net To advertise in PhotoComment please email us at magazine@photocoment.net

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responsible or liable in any way whatsoever for the content

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Front Cover Image by: Michael Meyersfeld

EDITOR’S COMMENT

A

s always, PhotoComment is where the action

we used to be. Has the era of digital photograhy

is. We were able to attend the Gala Dinner

make us lower our standards for an acceptable

where the winners of the Sony Profoto Awards were

photograph?

announced. There were some amazing images that were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze awards in their

We take a look at a selection of the Gold Award

respective categories. What suprised me was the

Winners later in this issue as well as learn about

number of categories where there were no Gold or

Alternative Printing methods. We also take a brief

even Silver Awards.

look at Nikon’s new ultra compact S3000.

This year the number of entries was much higher than previous years so there was no shortage of

Cheers

entries. I think we need to take a step back and look

Greg Wrench

at the photos we are taking. Are we as disciplined as

PhotoComment Designer

SUBMIT YOUR PORTFOLIO Regular readers of PhotoComment Magazine will

Send us no more than 10 of your best images with

know that in each issue we publish a professional

your contact details to

portfolio and either a reader’s or student’s portfolio.

magazine@photocomment.net with “Portfolio for

This is your chance to get your images published.

PhotoComment” as the subject. Make sure the

For each issue we (the editors assisted by a panel of

images are in JPEG format and no larger than 1

industry leading photographers) will choose a

Megabyte each (or closest too). We will contact you

portfolio from each category that inspires and

if we need any more information or to ask you some

celebrates the art and craft of photography. Include a

questions. Needless to say that the standard will be

self-portrait accompanied by a brief introduction of

high and uncompromising so please put your best

yourself, your style and your philosophy.

foot forward.

READER’S COMMENTS We want to know what you think of PhotoComment

PhotoComment - Reader’s Comments

Magazine or anything photographic. Please send us

P.O. Box 947,

your stories, experiences, questions, inspiration or

Fontainbleau, 2032

even your favourite photo you took this month to

.We read all the mails we receive and will publish

magazine@photocomment.net with ‘Reader’s

anything that catches our attention. You will also

Comments’ in the subject line.

put yourself in line to win some great prizes during

You can also use snail mail addressed to:

the year. We are waiting for your submission!

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Adobe Photoshop CS5

W

This month win with Sony and stand a chance to be at a world cup match. Adobe announces CS5. More Firmware updates.

Carl Zeiss announces new Cine Lenses for your favourite HD DSLR or sell your photos online.

To keep up to date with the latest news see our blog at http://photocomment.net ImageBank.co.za

T

his is a brand new stock photo site aimed at the South African market. The aim is to give South African photographers the opportunity to earn money from their photos and get their pictures out in the open for everyone to see.

We are looking for more typically South African photographs - how many adverts have we seen where you can clearly see the people in the ad is European or American, yet the ad is for a South African company and target market.

Imagebank.co.za allows any photographer, professional or hobby, to sell their photos on the site.

All you have to do is to register as a user and then send an e-mail to callievg@gmail.com requesting to be a seller and we will set up the permissions as well as provide software to simplify the process..

ith millions of users celebrating the product’s 20th anniversary this year, Photoshop CS5 builds upon a rich history of innovation and leadership with groundbreaking features and performance gains that boost creativity and workflow efficiency. Packing in more technological advancements from Adobe Labs than any other release and incorporating enhancements to everyday tasks requested by the Photoshop community, the software has greater intelligence and awareness of the content within images, allowing for complex and magical manipulation in just a few clicks. Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended delivers everything in Photoshop CS5, as well as advanced tools for 3-D which address the unique needs of the video, Web, medical, manufacturing and engineering industries.

Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended will be available as stand-alone applications or key components of the Adobe Creative SuiteÂŽ 5 family.

Official Fan Photographer

S

ony is running the Official Fan Photographer competition. Winners of this competition will be given the opportunity to take photographs pitch side during the warm up before a 2010 World Cup Match.

To enter the competition you need to purchase an Alpha Fan Photographer Bundle and SMS your details to the number provided. This is an amazing opportunity for any aspiring sports photographers out there!

Carl Zeiss Cine Lenses for DSLRs

New Olympus PEN Firmware

O

lympus is to enhance the performance of its groundbreaking PEN cameras with a new firmware update. The update speeds up auto-focus for photos and movies across the whole PEN range.

The new firmware will be available as a download from Olympus websites from April 22, 2010.

Now users can enjoy fast auto focussing speed in still image shooting with all Olympus PEN cameras, EP1, E-P2, E-PL1. For the E-P1 and E-P2, the update also makes continuous auto-focus tracking in movie mode as fast and accurate as on the new E-PL1. So all three cameras can harness the full potential of Olympus’ new ‘MSC’ (Movie and Still Compatible) lenses designed for fast, smooth and silent auto-focus – the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm 1:4.0-5.6.

What’s more, the update enables E-P2 and E-PL1 users to display the menu and images recorded on the LCD when the VF-2 electronic viewfinder is attached to the camera.

T

he trend of filming in high definition using a digital SLR camera is unstoppable.

Moviemaking today is unthinkable without this technique, whether for independent filmmakers, television producers or professional still photographers who wish to expand their services.

Optics specialist Carl Zeiss now introduces the world’s first set of cine lenses designed especially for HDSLR cameras: the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses.

Why change the mount on the camera when you can change it on the lens? The Compact Prime CP.2 lenses deliver great flexibility by introducing interchangeable mounts that allow the lenses to be used with a wide range of cameras, from traditional cine to HDSLR systems. Available with three different mounts – PL, EF and F – this new family of ZEISS lenses enables cinematographers to be completely free in their choice of camera systems while ensuring a high consistency of images.

Furthermore, the lenses can be upgraded to any number of existing or future cine and still cameras while enabling cinematographers to still utilize the same set of lenses.

The Compact Prime CP.2 lenses cover a full-frame 24 x 36 image format without vignetting. They will be based around a common aperture of T2.1 for the standard set, which is an improvement over the first generation of lenses.

Carl Zeiss will present these new lenses for the first time at the NAB show in Las Vegas (April 10-15).

They will be available from June 2010.

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

T

he 8th of April saw the much anticipated announcement of the winners of the Sony PROFOTO Awards. At a gala dinner, attended by many luminaries in the photographic industry, 248 single entries were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze 2009 PROFOTO Awards certificates in 17 different categories, while 81 portfolios were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates in the professional and student categories.

Antoine de Ras’ portfolio, “The Life of Brian Ngcibi” (Editorial/Documentary Campaign) was awarded Professional Portfolio of the Year, and Samantha Davis from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth scored the highest marks with her portfolio “Expression and Perception” (Portraiture Campaign) in the section for full-time students.

The entry that was judged “Image of the Year” was taken by Michael Meyersfeld, and the “News Image of the Year” was awarded to James Oatway. Both these images were entered in the Photojournalism category.

UDO KIESLICH

Nineteen of South Africa’s finest professional photography experts, as well as 6 highly acclaimed international photographers or art directors, formed part of the panel that judged images in categories ranging from wildlife to beauty, fashion and advertising. South African photographic experts such as Merwelene van der Merwe, renowned for her fashion and beauty photography, well-known wildlife photographer Dave Hamman, seasoned advertising and TV commercial photographic guru Gavin Furlonger, and international award-winning stills photography expert and commercial director Michael Doran, formed part of this formidable team.

According to PPSA President, Pieter de Ras, the 2009 Sony PROFOTO Awards showed some very interesting trends, such as the Advertising Category taking second place in regards to the number of entries in the Environmental and Photojournalism categories.

The 2009 Sony PROFOTO Awards is a combined effort of Sony South Africa and the Professional Photographers of Southern Africa (PPSA) to promote local professional photographers, and to acknowledge their talents and dedication. The 2009 Sony PROFOTO Awards attracted the largest number of participants since its inception in 1988.

With more than 6 000 images being submitted, it has fully justified its reputation as the most prestigious and influential photographic competition on the continent.

Says De Ras: “Portraiture was very well represented, and many entries submitted in the Wedding Category were ‘competent and safe’, but in future photographers will have to push the boundaries available to them. With the digital era now fully entrenched, photographers are obliged to spend more time on experimental work.”

He continues: “Judges were very happy with the outcome of their judging, and all the overall winners were way ahead of their closest competition. It was especially great to see that one of the stalwarts of the PPSA, Michael Meyersfeld (FPPSA) won the overall ‘Image of the Year’. He has been participating and winning Gold Awards in the PROFOTO Awards since 1988.

The electronic format of the Awards enabled judges to view and judge entries anywhere in the world.

See more of the winning images on our website http://photocommenr.net [o]

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

Michael Meyerfeld - Image Of The Year

James Oatway - News Image Of The Year

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

Antoine de Ras - Professional Portfolio Of The Year The Life of Brian Ngcibi

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

Samantha Davis - Student Portfolio Of The Year

Expression and Perception

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

Simon Scholtz - Advertising GOLD Award

Frans Dely - Aerial\Automotive GOLD Award

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

Des Kleineibst - Aerial\Automotive GOLD Award

Theana Calitz - Architecture Interior\Exterior GOLD Award

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

Mariette du Toit - Wedding GOLD Award

Michel Bega - Music\Dance\Theatre GOLD Award

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

Herman Verwey - Portraiture GOLD Award

Matt Raven - Portraiture GOLD Award

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

UDO KIESLICH

Bruce Davidson - Portraiture GOLD Award

Jaques Marais -Sports\Action GOLD Award

TECHNIQUE

M

ost Saturdays the last thing one wants to do is get up early in the morning to be at a 9am workshop, but there was something different about the opportunity afforded me by Janus Boshoff and Beverley Inacio from Silvertone International to attend a workshop on Alternative Photographic Printing Processes at the College of Digital Photography.

The excitement only increased as I realised that this was going to be a really great ‘hands on’ workshop where we would walk away with our very own images printed in blue and brown that gives almost any image a mystical feel, a hint of what some might label ‘fine art’ just by virtue of it's appearance.

The key for any such event is to have enthusiasm for the techniques to be taught, something our hosts had in large doses and it was not long before their creative energy began to fill the room.

I must say, I was blown away by how simple the process was compared to traditional darkroom,

ALTERNATIVE PRINTING something that I have a love hate relationship with... even in the digital realm funnily enough, but with these prints there was a relaxed feeling. There was no stringent measuring of chemical or water temperatures, nor was there a need to work in total darkness or sit down from a feeling of light headeness thanks to a room full of nauseating chemical smells.

We began with the Cyanotype process. It was almost magical. Small wooden boxes were placed in front of each of us containing a little black draw string pouch reminiscent of those you would picture diamonds being kept in. Within these pouches was a small bottle containing the magic potion that would bring our images to life. Having marked out the size of our Litho printed black and white negs on the water colour paper before us, we began coating the paper with a paint brush by the dim light of bedside lamps. Yes we were not completely in the dark.

The emulsion of the Cyanotype and Van Dyke

TECHNIQUE Brown which we printed on are sensitive to UV light meaning that as long as you block out the windows and doors you still can work by light of tungsten lamp. What a pleasure.

Moving on, after coating the paper you need to wait for it to dry, a fan in the room can be beneficial to speed up this process. It would be wise to coat two sheets as you do need to make a test print to get your print time right. It is possibly best to do this on a day - as we found out - when the sunlight is consistent.

For much of the day we had overcast with the occasional break through the clouds of sunlight and then back to overcast, making the print timing more of a continous guessing game... and more fun.

Oh, I have skipped a step. Once your emulsion is dry, it is laid onto a wooden base board, the Litho negative is place on top of the paper (within the area you marked out and painted the emulsion in) with the negative's emulsion facing up. Place a clean piece of glass on top - preferably the size of the base

ALTERNATIVE PRINTING board so it can be held together with large dog clips around the edge. Now cover the image with a large 'Grey Card' or other light blocking board, and take the print into the light outside. As mentioned above, it is best to start with a test strip exposing one strip of the image for a minute, moving the board a strip on again so that the first one minute strip will now get another minute (making it 2 minutes) and the new strip becomes the one minute strip. Do this across the whole image till you have 6 to 7 strips starting at 1 minute and going to 6/7. From that you can pull out the best exposure time for the negative and hopefully the bulk of the images you wish to print on that process that day.

Once you have exposed the negative onto the print, head back into the UV protected 'darkroom', and time to start processing your image. With the Cyanotype you simply wash the print in running water for 15 – 20 minutes. A squeeze of lemon or a pinch of household citric acid will aid with the

TECHNIQUE washing, as normal tapwater is ussually too alkaline – which can wash the blue out. It is that simple. How long will the print last... I can hear you think. A good +160 years, Sir John Herschel and Anna Atkins' images made in the 1840's still survive to this day.

The Van Dyke Brown is a little different but not by much. After exposing you rinse in water for a minute (or 10? Its up to you, you're the artist!) followed by a 2 minute fix in a 3% Hypo solution (the old stuff Ansel Adams used). This is simply because the Van Dyke Brown has silver which needs to be fixed in order to stop the image from changing once back in the light. Fixing is followed by a wash, a good 40 minutes long, to get rid of the hypo.

The results are magic and well worth a try.

On top of the basics I have mentioned here, there is a world of other possibilities to try, like using

ALTERNATIVE PRINTING Cyanotype to dye and expose fabrics. You can tone the prints and get different effects out of them that way. Just remember to wear gloves though as the last thing you need is for your fingers to be stained blue and don't rub your eyes.

If you want to experience this world of magic, why not contact Janus from Silvertone International at janus@silvertone.co.za or The College of Digital Photography to book a day on the next workshop, it is well worth it. [o]

PRODUCT REVIEW

NIKON COOLPIX S3000

L

ast week I received the new Nikon S3000 Compact Camera from Nikon. At first glance it is a very good looking camera. It is very slim, only 19mm thick and is available in a range of bright colours. This camera is going to appeal to those looking for a fun, simple to use yet sophisticatedly styled camera that they can keep on them all the time.

I have spent the last week with this camera in my pocket. I was able to go about my daily routine without the camera getting in the way or being something extra to carry around, yet I had a camera which i could use at a moments notice. I hear you saying that you have a camera built into your cellphone. Yes, my phone features a 5mp camera, but show me a cellphone with a 12mp sensor and a 4x Optical Zoom.

Yes, the Nikon S3000 features a 12mp sensor and has a 4x optical zoom packed into it's very compact body. The zoom starts at an impressive 27mm

(35mm equivalent) wide angle meaning you won't have to take as many steps back to fit that large group in. The S3000 also features an impressive ISO rating going up to a maximum of 3200. As you would expect from a modern digital compact the S3000 has a fully automatic mode which will detect what you are shooting and choose the best mode accordingly. Of course you are able to override this and choose one of the preset scene modes. These modes include a panoramic assist mode to help you line up the next photograph in the sequence and a very effective copy mode which allows for photographing documents more easily when you do not has access to a scanner.

A new feature is the ability to charge the battery in the camera. No more taking the battery out to charge it. Just plug the charger into the camera and let the battery charge. As the charger utilises the USB cable to connect to the camera you can also charge the camera from your computer while transferring your images.

I enjoyed using the S3000. It is simple and uncomplicated yet gives great results.

[o]

MAY 2010 - What would you like to see in the next issue? Let us know at magazine@photocomment.net - Have you submitted your portfoilio? You could be featured in our next issue!

-How To Use Histograms & Levels

Do they leave an impression?

A

pril 2010, just two months to go till the kick off of the 'you know what' and time seems to be moving at an even greater pace. This time last year PhotoComment Magazine was just a month old and attending the Profoto Awards presented by Sony.

This year we were back and able to attend this expanding event. The most interesting highlight for me was the address given by Guest Speaker and Lifetime Achievement recipient, Roger Ballen. His remarks combined with the words of another photographer and author - David duChemin - that I have been reading in the book 'Within the Frame - The Journey of Photographic Vision' have had a great impact in my life presently. Both Roger Ballen and David duChemin have highlighted for me the importance of finding one's own vision and then working to communicate that most effectively to the viewer.

Why has this had more impact on me now than any prior occasion in my life? What has changed that makes me want to pick up a camera more now than ever before? How is it possible that this sense of urgency carries more heartfelt desire than previously? After pondering this for days I may have found the answer.

Take a moment to contemplate the photographs that have left a strong impression upon you. In many instances those photographs are taken by photographers who have portfolios full of images that move your emotions with greater effect than other photographers do. These photographers have become converted to their work. They are more than just casual camera clickers capturing quick snapshots. They are more than creative individuals who use the camera as another medium of expression alone.

Those photographers who alter the course of human history, who change the mindsets of the masses or even enlighten the individual to a new perspective on their previous perceptions are more than just photographers.

They are artists who do more than simply capture, they create, communicate, form and sculpt out of light and time the souls and emotions of their scenes, their subjects and their vision. The art of photography is their life, not just an occupation.

Anything that changes one's lifestyle, converts the late sleeper to a predawn riser is more than just a hobby, it is not to be at all disrespectful - a religion, culture or even a marriage. It takes whole hearted commitment, a leap of faith where you only take out or receive proportionately to that which you put in to it and until you become converted to that cause you cannot expect more reward. It reminds me of the quote by Harry Emerson Fosdick "Men will work hard for money. They will work harder for other men. But men will work hardest of all when they are dedicated to a cause. Until willingness overflows obligation, men fight as conscripts, rather than following the flag as patriots. Duty is never worthily performed until it is performed by one who would gladly do more, if only he could."

In some cultures the taking of ones pictures is viewed as the taking away a part of the subjects soul... perhaps there is some truth in that, perhaps those images that leave a mark on us do so because they are made from the fusion of three souls, the subjects, the artists and that of the viewer to make it a whole. [o]

We would like to hear your conversion stories, share them via email to magazine@photocomment.net Look out for the up coming review of "Within the Fame"

by David duChemin.

Image By: Neil Weideman - Industrial\Medical\Scientific GOLD Award 2009 Sony Profoto Awards

2010