PhotoComment May 2010

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MAY 2010 ISSUE NO. 15 FREE ONLINE

5 Ways To Fall In Love With Photography Again How to Use White Balance



CONTENTS

MAY 2010

Editor’s Comment Submit your portfolio

4 4

We want to see your images

Readers Comments

4

5 Ways to fall in love with photography again

18

White Balance

Advertorial

magazine@photocomment.net

6

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

Reader’s Portfolio

14

Technique

We want to hear from you

Scoop

Inspiration

20

Snap II Exhibition

Book Review

24

David duChemin - Within The Frame

8

Gavin Falck - Camera Club

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

27

Are you a Catholic or a Reformed Photographer? 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

Whilst all care and attention is employed to ensure the legitimacy, accuracy and correctness of the information, data, texts, images, ideas, photographs and opinions expressed herein, PHOTOCOMMENT cannot be held

Visit us on the web: http://photocomment.net

responsible or liable in any way whatsoever for the content

Mail us at: PhotoComment P.O.Box 947 Fontainbleau 2032

as it appears herein. Similarly, PHOTOCOMMENT makes no express or implied warranty or representation as to the proprietorship or intellectual property inherent in the images and photographs published herein and which it has commissioned for use from external sources on good faith dealing. Accordingly, PHOTOCOMMENT is hereby indemnified, defended and held harmless against all claims, liability, damages, costs and expenses in regard thereto.

Front Cover Image by: Gavin Falck


EDITOR’S COMMENT

I

t hard to believe that we are in May already and

This issue has some exciting articles including a

that we are less than 30 days away from the big

fantastic portfolio from Gavin Falck a member of

kick off, soccer fever is spreading. At the same time,

CameraClub.co.za. We also have two guest

so is PhotoComment and over the next few months

contributors with an article by Lisa Bettany from

you may begin to see several changes.

Vancouver and the Final Comment by Christianne Taylor, I couldn’t say what he says any better

PhotoComment is now part of Comment Media

myself. Also lookout for the article on White

which has interests in several other media ventures

Balance and how to use it more effectively.

with a heavy focus on quality content. You may see from time to time mentions of their other media

So sitback and enjoy the journey.

ventures in PhotoComment, never fear, we are not going anywhere.

Tristan Hall - Founder

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!


Bruce Davidson and the Sony

900

The Old Woman of Atlantika - Sony Alpha 900, Carl Zeiss 85mm f1.4 lens

Gold Award Winning Image - Portraiture Category

The Profoto Awards were initiated in 1988 by the PPSA (Professional Photographers of Southern Africa) to showcase the best of professional photography. Today in partnership with Sony Alpha the Awards are one of the largest and most prestigious photographic events in Southern Africa with over 6000 entries received for the 2009 awards. To find out more and view all the award winning images go to www.profotoawards.co.za

Madame Yibsina Besso, a 97 year old Koma mother of three and grandmother of eight. She pauses to reflect upon the discussed topic of dying culture, during a shoot with photographer Bruce Davidson. She is one of the last of her generation to have lived the old ways for almost a century. Koma people are now drawn off the fabled Atlantika Mountains that straddle the Cameroonian-Nigerian border in central west Africa, dispersing themselves into the hinterlands. Most Koma have now abandoned the ways of the past, searching instead for a more modern lifestyle. Bruce Davidson was drawn to the Alpha system because of his vast experience in the world of the moving image, where Sony and Carl Zeiss have a reputation bar-none. From feature films to documentary work, these two

Equipment Bruce Uses: Sony Alpha 900 Bodies Sony VG-C90AM Vertical Grips Sony 20mm f2.8 Sony 35mm f1.4 G Sony 85mm f1.4 Carl Zeiss Sony 100mm f2.8 macro Sony 135mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony 500mm f8 Reflex Sony HVL-F58AM Flashes Sony Remote Commanders S1AM & L1AM

brands have gone from strength to strength. Davidson was quick to adopt the Alpha 900, Sony 'G' and Carl Zeiss lenses for a rigorous sixteen month shoot throughout central Africa. Sixty thousand images later, the system is still going strong, despite a serious dousing in the Atlantic off Principe island, elephant and gorilla charges in the forests of the Dzanga-Ndoki in the Central African Republic and rough handling in a near fatal stabbing incident in Gabon. The Alpha 900 is a superb piece of durable, professional equipment and Davidson can't praise it enough. “Coupled with the best lenses in the business, the images speak for themselves... and quite frankly at the end of the day as a professional photographer, that's what I care about most of all.” – Bruce Davidson


To keep up to date with the latest news see our blog at http://photocomment.net Sony’s New E-mount eXperience

T

he world of the mirrorless cameras have seen another major player step into the ring with Sony having announced the NEX-5 and NEX-3 which seem to be taking a very different approach to that of their competitors. Both cameras feature 14mp CMOS APS-C size sensors making them larger than the Micro Four Thirds sensor in the Olympus or Panasonic offerings yet the body is smaller than the same two competing brands and smaller than that of the latest rival – Samsung’s NX-10 which also features and APS-C sized sensor. On top of this the Sony’s are styled to be far more familiar for a Cyber-shot or compact camera user than any of the other mirrorless models while still offering all the overrides that you’d expect from a DSLR. The NEX-5 will shoot HD video (1080i) in AVCHD or MP4 formats while the NEX-3 offers 720 HD in MP4 only. Perhaps the most exciting thing about these cameras is the firmware that will be released in July allowing their current Sweep Panorama mode (as found on most of the new Cyber-shot cameras) to render a 3D panoramic image. Expect prices from around R7000.00 depending on the model and kits. Both will be available with the 18-55mm, 16mm f/2.8 pancake lens or both. The NEX-5 will also be available with an 18-200mm later this year. Release dated in South Africa should hopefully be a little ahead of the rest of the world, perhaps in time for World Cup kick off.

Canon IXUS 300HS

J

oining the growing pack of compacts utilizing the new back-illuminated CMOS sensors is Canon’s new IXUS 300HS. The HS is part of Canon’s new system to provide improved highspeed, lowlight photography through combining these new sensor with their impressive DIGIC 4 image processor. In addition to shooting 720p HD movies, this little camera offers a Super Slow Motion mode which records video at 240 frames per second at a resolution of 340x240. With the inclusion of a lens equivalent to a 28105mm f/2-5.3 IS (Images Stabilized) and the full range of shooting modes (Program, Aperture and Shutter Priority plus Manual) this little camera really starts appealing to photographers that want a versatile, always in your pocket camera.


Ricoh P10 module for the GXR

L

ate last year the compact camera market was

thrown into quite a stir when the somewhat smaller camera manufacturer Ricoh, created a new and innovative modular compact camera, the GXR. In its simplest form the GXR is nothing but the body of a camera that has no sensor or lens. At the time of launch an A12 module (12mp APS-C sized CMOS sensor with 50mm f/2.5 Macro lens) and S10 (10mp CCD 1/1.7-inch sized sensor with 24-72mm f/2.54.4 lens) were available. Now Ricoh have announced the P10 module which features a 28300mm f/3.5-5.6 VC lens on a 10mp 1/2.3 inch, back illuminated CMOS sensor. This module will allow the GXR to capture RAW images in high-speed continuous shooting of up to 5 frames per second and HD video at 1280x720 in motion JPEG format.

Nikon’s 200-400mm f/4 ED VR II

I

t is hard to believe that version one of this lens came out already in 2003. The new updated version sees some minor though important updates to this already fantastic lens including Nano Crystal coatings and improved Vibration Reduction system. The Nano Crystal coating is said to have antireflection properties that “drastically reduce ghosting and flare”. Also added is the new A/M mode which has been finding its way onto more and more Nikkor lenses and allows autofocus even when you are handling the focusing ring.

Leica Summarit-S 35mm f/2.5 ASPH CS

I

f you had asked many Leica aficionados a few

years ago id there would be a medium format Leica they would have laughed. Indeed Leica is most regularly regarded as the camera that pioneered the 35mm film and the rangefinder camera. Already back then purists frowned upon the SLR Leica. Two years on from the announcement of the Leica S2 (at Photokina 2008) and Leica have released a new Summarit-S 35mm f/2.5 ASPH which offers an equivalent to a 28mm in full frame (35mm film or sensor) terms. This becomes the first wide angle then in the S2 system which previously only had a Summarit-S 70mm f/2.5 ASPH CS standard lens, 120mm f/2.5 CS Macro and 180mm f/2.5 CS. While still on the topic of Leica S2, the company have announced a new trade-up programme for existing customers and those purchasing non CS (Central Shutter) lenses before the 20th September 2010 the option to trade up to CS lenses by only paying in the difference. To find out more about this programme, head over to the Leica Website’s Owners Area.


READER’S PORTFOLIO

GAVIN FALCK

Article & Images By: Gavin Falck

a rather dodgy telephoto lens of obscure origin.

Originally from Fish Hoek, I have lived in George and taught English at Outeniqua High School since 1984. My passions are surfing, reptiles and photography! My daughter Simone (17) has recently taken an interest in photography and, according to her doting dad, shows quite a flair for it. My son Cameron (14) has only one focus at present: soccer, soccer and more soccer! Routie, my wife, prefers brush and paints as a form of expression.

Dodgy as the telephoto lens was, it allowed me to photograph surfing. I started surfing in the early 1970's and quickly became obsessed with this amazing sport - to the extent that I have always regarded it as a lifestyle rather than a sport. In fact, it was surfing that prompted me to move to George Victoria Bay, with its amazing waves and pleasantly warm water being the main attraction.

My first venture into photography was when, aged 16, I borrowed my mother's very ordinary little camera to go on a school hiking trip to the Cederberg Mountains. By the time we got back from the 5 day walking trip the photography bug had bitten! As soon as I could scrape enough money together, I bought a second-hand Pentax SP1000 and

A neck injury recently forced me to stop surfing, but for about 38 years of my life I managed to spend some time in the surf almost every day. I continue to enjoy photographing surfers, especially now that I am unable to get into the water myself. Apart from the action, I'm constantly fascinated by the beauty of the waves themselves, and the endless variety of patterns created the water and spray. Knowing how

Below: Airborne - 1 Dec 2008 This winning pic of Camera Club’s November photo competition showing a surfer getting airborne during a contest at Victoria Bay, near George, was taken with a Pentax istD & Sigma with 170-500 lens.


READER’S PORTFOLIO

GAVIN FALCK

Above: Top Turn - 17 July 2009 This photo was voted third overall in the Camera Club "Fast Action" photo competition. The pic was taken at Victoria Bay with a Pentax istD with Sigma 170-500mm lens.

to surf certainly helps me catch the right moment as surfers often telegraph their next manoeuvre with their body language. As good surfing pics require the best surfers riding spectacular waves, it is important to sit and watch the surfing for a while to see who is getting the best rides. It is best to concentrate on Reader’s Portfolio Sponsored by:

a few surfers instead of trying to watch the whole group. Sunny weather is also an advantage, but good results can be achieved on the stormy, overcast days that often accompany good surf along the Southern Cape coastline. In order to get as close to the action as possible, I


READER’S PORTFOLIO

GAVIN FALCK

Above: Green Tree Viper - 27 Dec 2009 This is the last thing that many a small rodent sees, and it was photographed with a Pentax istD with a 35-80mm Pentax lens with close-up

like to photograph point breaks and reef breaks where the waves run along a rocky point or headland, causing the surfers to ride very close to the shoreline. It is important to get as close to the sea as possible so that you get the effect of looking up at the wave. This makes them seem bigger and more spectacular. If you stand further away you tend to look down onto the waves, making them appear flatter and smaller. Local surf photographers such as Louis Wulf and Lance Slabbert have been an inspiration to me. As my photographs demonstrate, snakes and frogs are another obsession. I caught my first snake when I was about 10 years old and have been hooked ever since. I currently have about 80 snakes ranging from a 2.5 metre Black Mamba to a 30 cm Kenyan Sand Boa. Most of the snakes are on display at Jukani Predator Park near Mossel Bay, but I have a few favourites at home.


READER’S PORTFOLIO As with the surfers, I like to get as close as possible when photographing reptiles. A photograph of a snake that shows the whole body is often meaningless. I tend to concentrate on the head and include just enough of the body to get an idea of its colouration, markings and patterns. Photographing venomous snakes can be quite an adrenalin rush and obviously needs to be done with caution! Snakes, like surfers, tend to indicate their intentions with their body language, so knowing how to read the snake helps to predict what is going to happen. Adders and vipers need to be treated with extreme caution as they often strike without any warning – and they are fast!

GAVIN FALCK Cooling a snake down before photographing is advantageous as warm snakes are very active and uncooperative, although some snakes just look better when they are warm and active. It is difficult to get a cobra to flair a hood if it is too cool. Hungry snakes are also more active, so it is helpful to give the snake something small to eat before photographing it. Careful photographing of the snake inside its enclosure can yield results that look as if the snake was in the wild if you take care not to include unnatural features of the enclosure in the photograph. Sometimes things can go wrong when you photograph snakes. A friend of mine removed a beautiful Boomslang from somebody's garden and I

Below: Nature's Palette - 14 July 2009 This herald snake (also known as the red-lipped snake) was photographed with a Pentax istD with 18-55mm Pentax lens. The beautiful herald snake is a common, harmless and inoffensive South African snake.

Reader’s Portfolio Sponsored by:


READER’S PORTFOLIO went to take some pics. It crawled over his hands and arms while he repeatedly positioned the head so that I could take pictures. Although extremely venomous, a Boomslang will generally tolerate quite a lot before indicating its displeasure by puffing up its throat and giving you the beady eye. Our snake, however, ignored Boomslang etiquette and, without warning, sunk its fangs into my friend's biceps. Fortunately the bite was a dry one, which is fairly common as snakes have control over the amount of venom they inject. My friend didn't show any symptoms of snakebite and was given a clean bill of health after 24 hrs of observation. I am fortunate to be able to enjoy photography as one of my extramurals at Outeniqua High. The school supplies the camera and lenses and I get to

GAVIN FALCK photograph all the sport, cultural events, kids doing crazy things, and the occasional boring group photo. We bombard the local press with photos of all our activities, so the school gets a lot of exposure! When I decided to go digital the natural choice was Pentax, as the school already had a good selection of Pentax compatible lenses, including a lovely 170500mm DSigma zoom lens. Although Pentax initially trailed behind other brands in the digital stakes, I have had many years of good service from my trusty istD, and I look forward to getting my hands on the K7 that we recently ordered.

See more of Gavin's pics at www.cameraclub.co.za/gavinfalck.html

Below: Arum Lily Frog - 1 Dec 2007 This winning shot for our November 2007 photo competition was taken in Gavin's garden with a Pentax istD.

Gavin Falck is a member of Camera Club, an online photography club open to all South African photographers. Gavin is one of Camera Club's top contributors and is a two-time winner of Camera Club's monthly photo competition. Camera Club membership is free and anyone is welcome to enter the monthly and theme competitions. For more information, go to www.cameraclub.co.za. Reader’s Portfolio Sponsored by:


Steve McCurrach wins Gold with a Sony

Steve McCurrach, an aerial photographer based in Durban, first became aware of the Profoto Awards presented by Sony Alpha in 2008. After receiving a bronze certificate for one of his images in 2008 he set about preparing to enter once more in 2009.

The Profoto Awards were initiated in 1988 by the PPSA (Professional Photographers of Southern Africa) to showcase the best of professional photography. Today in partnership with Sony Alpha the Awards are one of the largest and most prestigious photographic events in Southern Africa with over 6000 entries received for the 2009 awards. To find out more and view all the award winning images go to www.profotoawards.co.za

On the 8th April 2010 the winners were announced and Steve McCurrach walked away with a Gold certificate for this Macro image in the Wildlife category and Silver for the aerial lanscape picture of a holiday retreat in Himeville, Drakensberg. He chooses to use a Sony Alpha to capture his images. “The ease of use and simplicity of features, make it a whole lot more user friendly. With my aerial photography I do both tasks i.e. fly the plane and take the pictures, and more often than not I'm alone. In this busy and attention demanding environment, there's no time for messing around. Often needing to shoot through a hole in the floor of the aircraft I simply switch to Live View, tilt the screen backwards towards myself and I'm able to perfectly compose my pics.� - Steve McCurrach

350

Gold Award Winning Image Wildlife Category

Silver Award Winning Image Landscapes Category

Steve in his plane

Congratulations to Steve McCurrach and all the best for 2010.

Sony

350


INSPIRATION

Lisa with the SF Heart in Union Square Article & Images By: Lisa Bettany

I'm back from a quick trip to San Francisco. Although I brought my 5DMKII, I actually spent most of my time shooting with my iPhone. I found myself really enjoying snapping hundreds of pictures with wild abandon, shooting things I would have never “wasted” shots on with my 5DMKII. This experience was a valuable reminder of what I love about photography: The act of taking pictures. The sheer joy of capturing a moment is such a powerful feeling as a photographer and one that I've been missing in recent months. I find that many photographers, especially the perfectionists among us, feel a huge pressure when it comes to their photography. Gaining good editing and photoshop skills, as well as pushing yourself

creatively is an important part of becoming a better photographer, but when you start feeling perpetually unsatisfied with every picture you take, you start to lose the passion and love for the thing you love to do. I've noticed this with my attitude towards my own photography, so I thought I'd share some tips to help you generate a little bit of heat between you and your camera. 1. Fill up your memory card. Never limit the number of shots you take based on digital space, just line your pockets with memory cards. :) Memory is cheap. Buy plenty of memory cards and don't be scared of filling up your cards. I carry 2×8GB, 2×4GB, & 2×2GB CFs plus 2×8GB SD cards for my P&S with me all the time.


5 WAYS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AGAIN

Union Square, San Francisco - iPhone I've had photo shoots with models where I didn't get a great shot until Shot 100 after one hour of shooting. Think about professional fashion photographers who snap-snap-snap 10s of pictures a second. If you don't get the shot the first try, keep shooting until you do. 2. Don't edit in camera You may think that keeping those 50 shots of blurry pigeons flying into the blue sky, but you never know what you are going to get with a photo until you see it on your computer screen. The LCD screens on your camera/iPhone is extremely deceptive and can not be trusted out in the field, especially on a sunny day. Some photographers swear on editing shots in camera, but I disagree. You can always dump the unusable shots during your first editing pass on your computer. So, keep those shots, even the overexposed, blurry ones, you might just have the next famous, award-winning blurry pigeon shot sitting on your CF card.

3. Share your photos Never feel embarrassed to share your shots with others because you don't think they are “good enough”. We are all at differing levels of ability from a day old shutterbug to Annie Leibovitz. And let's face it, not every shot is destined for the front page of Vogue, so cut yourself some slack and don't get caught up in negative feedback. Criticism is never easy to take, especially with something as personal as photography, but learning from our mistakes is how we grow as photographers. By not sharing your photos you are not only preventing yourself from growing, but also shutting yourself off from receiving praise and encouragement from others. Networking with other photographers is one of the most motivating things you can do. So, put yourself out there a little and post a photo on your Facebook. It's as easy as one, two, Zukerberg…

Team Cheer at the SF Heart, Union Square, San Francisco


INSPIRATION 4. Don't miss a photo-op. The world has an annoying habit of producing amazing photo-ops at the exact moments when you don't have a camera on you. I've learnt this the hard way by missing many magical moments: A double rainbow over a field of hay bales in the south of England, a golden magic hour backlit shot of wild Pronghorn antelopes in Jackson hole, Wyoming, and a perfect sliver of light shining between two glassy high-rises in downtown Vancouver illuminating a beautiful woman carrying a red umbrella. *sigh* Having learnt this painful mistake numerous times, I now carry a camera with me where ever I go and often, in the palm of my hand.

Powell & Market Trolley! Ding Ding Pete Cashmore catching a cab on Market St - iPhone

It may annoy your friends more often then not and you will probably hear this phrase a few times: “Why do you take so many pictures all the time?” and possibly,“What's so interesting about about that drain grate anyway?” But you're a photographer, that's who you are, so keep that camera close and capture as many moments as you can. You never know when that double rainbow is going to spring up. 5. Photograph what you love I love photographing people. I've explored all kinds of photography from landscapes to macros to wildlife to sports and I find that I'm just more passionate about photographing people. Even when I'm out shooting street photography I try to sneak candid shots of people.


5 WAYS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AGAIN I find that photographers that focus on one particular area of photography and building a portfolio of work in that area, tend to develop a more cohesive style. Plus, they are happy because they are photographing what they love to shoot. You'll never find a more unhappy photographer than a passionate sports photographer shooting weddings. “Can we have a replay on the bouquet toss? This time really give it some air�. Now it's your turn. Make me a promise that you'll fall in love with your photography again! Happy snapping & share your shots. [o] My Pete on the flight home - iPhone

Find out more about Lisa Bettany at http://mostlylisa.com Golden Gate Bridge - iPhone, shot from plane


TECHNIQUE

WHITE BALANCE

Light and its preferred colour Article By: Beverley Pestana Inacio College of Digital Photography

A

s a professional photographer I am often asked by people what the one thing I recommend they do to improve their photography and I normally reply with “learn to see the light!” Photography is all about light, and how we capture the behavior between the light and our subject. As sophisticated and advanced as our digital cameras might be, we need to understand that our camera is still just a light proof machine that needs to be told what to do.

spectrum that consists of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet light. These tones dominate natural light at different times of the day, and are not always visible to the human eye. Our eyes work by continuously correcting the colour of light, which “normalizes the scene we're viewing. Artificial Light sources also emit different colour casts, for instance Tungsten lamps give off an orange / yellow tone. Fluorescent lights give off a green tone, and Candle light a very deep orange / red. The colour of a light source is called “colour temperature” and is measured in Kelvin.

One of the most powerful tools to improving your photography is learning to capture the colour of light. The sun in its entire splendor is our only natural light source and provides us with a visible colour

Left: Auto White Balance Above: Daylight White Balance


TECHNIQUE

WHITE BALANCE

One of the biggest advantages of a digital camera is that it has a built in filter system called White Balance, which allows you to correct, enhance or manipulate the colour of light inside the camera.

adding the opposite colour to the colour of the light. For example if you are photographing under Tungsten light which is orange, the camera will add blue to neutralize the colour cast.

White Balance can be used to “fix� the colour of light in an image by keeping the white objects in the scene, white in the photograph. It does this by

When used creatively, you can use the different White Balance settings to add a specific colour to an image to create or enhance the mood. On Auto White Balance the camera attempts to remove a colour cast from the image, which often results in the mood being destroyed. [o]

Top Left: Daylight White Balance Bottom Left: Tungsten White Balance Bottom Right : Cloudy White Balance


ADVERTORIAL

SNAP II EXHIBITION

D

ue to the huge success of SNAP last year, the 9 photographers from Pretoria and Johannesburg have decided to do it again this year. SNAP II will be a photographic exhibition featuring work from Halden Krog, Alet Pretorius, Lisa Skinner, Herman Verwey, Brenda Veldtman, Cornel van Heerden, Theana Calitz, Waldo Swiegers and Gerhard Uys. All these photographers work within the broad confines of photojournalism. Whether they are on assignment, travelling for pleasure or just photographing their live and surroundings they are documenting the time and place we live in. Photography has a universal appeal and with this exhibition we want to make it accessible for a broad audience. Join us for a glass of wine on the opening night 9 July from 18.00 SNAP II will be held at Platform on 18th, 232 18th Street, Rietondale, Pretoria from 9 July till 24 July 2010. The gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday 10.00 – 16.00 and Saturdays 10.00 – 14.00. Please phone Christo Harvey 0847644258 or Alet Pretorius 0835156485 for more info or to organise group tours. Halden Krog

Alet Pretorius

http://aletpretorius.blogspot.com Halden Krog, senior photographer at the The Times in Johannesburg in South Africa, was born in the city in 1974. After studying photography at the Vaal Triangle Technikon in South Africa he set off for the UK in 1994 where he spent several years freelancing as a photographer covering major events such as post war Bosnia and the conflict in Israel. He returned to South Africa in 1999 taking on a full-time position at the daily newspaper Beeld in Johannesburg, becoming the chief photographer before moving to The Times in 2007. He has won various awards including the Fuji South African Press Photographer of the Year award in 2002 and 2005 .He gained international recognition with a World Press Award in the Nature category in 2005. Halden's work has appeared in international renowned publications such as TIME, News Week, Stern and La Figaro. In 2009 he won the best news photo category in the CNN Journalist of the Year award 2009 for a series of photographs during the xenophobic attacks here in South Africa. He continues to be passionate about photography. He lives with his family in Westdene, Johannesburg.

“Photography broadens my view of the world. Being a photojournalist you are put in unfamiliar situations and recording such events gives you a better understanding of other people, cultures and events. Seeing the beauty and the ugly of the world makes you appreciate your own life and makes you tolerant for others' lives and way of living. We are all connected by a common thread but also individual. Visual story telling is a very important tool to record history as pictures evoke emotion and are remembered long after the story is forgotten. ” She obtained a BJourn from Rhodes University in 2001 and has since worked for various publications including Independent Newspapers in Natal, The Star and Beeld; where she is currently a Specialist Photographer. She received 2 Gold Awards, 3 Silver Awards and 2 Bronze Award in the Profoto Awards in 2009 in the editorial, portraiture and music and theatre categories. In 2010 she received 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze award in the Profoto Awards. She also had a work on the ABSA L’Atelier award exhibitions and this year one of her works has again been selected as a finalist in this competition (the results of the competition is not yet available).


ADVERTORIAL

SNAP II EXHIBITION

Theana Calitz

Waldo Swiegers

Theana Calitz obtained a B-Tech Photography at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and is currently a Senior Photographer at Beeld Newspaper. With extensive experience ranging from food and fashion photography to photojournalism, Theana has already experienced some of the best and worst offered by modern day South African culture. In 2009 she received several awards in the Profoto Awards and also received a commendation at the Mondi Awards in the feature category. This year she received 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 3 Bronze awards in the Profoto Awards.

Waldo Swiegers is a freelance photographer from Pretoria. Although he obtained a BA Languages (Journalism) from the University of Pretoria, he finds that the visual medium evokes more response. He mainly shoots people for magazines these days. He grew up with the distinct impression that the world is round, but sees the world daily through a rectangular viewfinder. His passion for photography is shared only by the Metro Police’s Traffic Department.

Cornel van Heerden

Herman Verwey

Cornel is a young up-and-coming photographer working at Beeld. He was a finalist in the Mondi Awards 2009 in the Sport category. He is a confident self taught photographer who attended the photography classes of life. Cornél is passionate about simplicity and truly believes in capturing a moment with a less is more-attitude. He enjoys shooting and will always wait a little longer to get that unique shot which everybody else missed.

“Om 'n persfotograaf te wees is nie net 'n werk nie, dis 'n lewenstyl. Ek geniet dit om hardenuus en sport af te neem waarin ek swart en wit fotografie bo kleur verkies weens die manier hoe dit emosie uitbring” Herman Verwey is currently a photographer at Beeld. He studied at the National College of Photography where he was student of the year 2008. He was also Beeld’s photographer of the year 2008 despite the fact that he was permanently employed for less than a year. He received a commendation in this year’s Mondi Awards in the sport category and several awards in the Profoto Awards 2009. In 2010 he received 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze awards in the Profoto Awards.

Cornél is a funky, professional photographer who sees the world through a lens. He loves Miami pizza and nachos and is keen to capture memories as they go by. This year he received 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze awards in the Sony Profoto Awards.


ADVERTORIAL Gerhard Uys

SNAP II EXHIBITION Lisa Skinner is a staff photographer at the weekly Mail & Guardian Newspaper. A graduate of Rhodes University’s Journalism School she specialises in portraiture, documentary and feature photography. Her work has been published in the Le Mond (France) Time Out (SA & UK), the Mail & Guardian, Art South Africa, INSIG Magazine, The Sunday Times, SL Magazine, Stage Magazine, Fair Lady Magazine, Beeld Newspaper and Die Burger Newspaper. She still believes in the power of images to move people. Brenda Veldtman

Gerhard Uys is a freelance photographer and journalist. He specialises in portrait work for magazines. If given a choice Gerhard would have really liked to be a cowboy. But not living in America and not having a horse has complicated the matter. He does however own a pair of really rad cowboy boots. Gerhard has no real opinion on global warming. He goes to church twice every Sunday. He strongly believes that Canon is so much cooler than Nikon, but admits that it could partly be because there are so many more Canon ads in magazines that may have indoctrinated him. He does however wish that Canon could also have a yellow strap, because he feels yellow is a super cool colour. Lisa Skinner

https://brendaveldtman.marenco.co.za/ Brenda Veldtman is a South African documentary photographer with more than six years experience as a photojournalist. Her passion is shooting documentaries-telling other people’s stories through pictures. Furthermore she also loves going “behind the scenes” whilst shooting a story.In 2004 she received a commendation for one of her News pictures at the Mondi Awards and was second runner up at the Fuji Africa Awards also for News.



BOOK REVIEW

DAVID DUCHEMIN

WITHIN THE FRAME A Journey in Photographic Vision

I

t is safe to say that since the start of my interest in photography began – back in school – I have read and reread a fair number of books on the subject. Some of those books were deeply technical and required me to read each paragraph several times to convince myself that I had begun to understand, while others where entertaining or educational. There have however been very few books... if any that I can recall now, which have inspired me as this book has. There is something in the way the David deChemin approaches the subject of his title which has one spell bound. Often you stop to reread something not because you did not understand it the first time but rather because it is so profound you want to hold forever to the truth it contains. As the theme suggests, this book is a journey of photographic vision. Through David's own stories and images you are guided by the subject within his frame to experience his vision and develop your own. Subject... one of the most eye opening sections in this book is where the definition of subject and subject matter are put into perspective. I admit to looking at my photography very differently following this section of the book. Sections of the book that put me in my place and reminded me of what photography is really about

included 'Gear Is Good, Vision Is Better' in the chapter “The Artist and the Geek”. The challenges or assignments and tips to improve upon photographing people, places culture etc. are all fantastic tools that can only help improve one's approach and creativity to particular photogenic subjects. After all is said and done, a good book should either leave you with a lasting impression or move you to action. This book does both. If I was to rate it for it's ability to inspire alone, it would get 10 out or 10. Having recently struggled with my desire to shoot, this book has put me on the path to recovery. [o]



JUNE 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!


This month I came across a very interesting article by Christianne Taylor, which with her permission I am going to share with you as the Final Comment for this issue. Thank you Christianne.

Are you a Catholic or Reformed Photographer:

T

oday I was in Humanities studying the early Catholic Church, the Reformation and the rise of the Protestant church. Ironically the more I learned about the Reformation the more I realized that the Photography Industry is in a MAJOR Reformation! For years we endured the photographers who wore the “Photographer Vest”, walked into places like they owned the universe, and wouldn’t dare converse with a mere amateur! We had the Film Photographers who told the Digital Photographers they had “lost the true art of photography”, and the Old Grumpies who complained about the “Common Amateur” calling themselves photographers. We learned about how the Catholic Church wanted the sacred texts of the Bible to be read only by the Clergy of the Catholic Church. Never would they allow the “Common Man” to wield the Word of God. But Martin Luther stepped in!!! He said enough to the uppity attitudes of the “Superior Class”, he opened up to the world what he had learned, and he SHARED IT! No more hidden locations, or secret actions, no more photographer attitudes or nose raising to prosumer camera’s. Embrace your fellow friends. Share the wealth and for goodness sake, drop the Uppity, Grumpy, chip on your shoulder act. We are all sick of it. It's time you chose a side? Will you share or glare?! -Christianne Taylor [o] Pictures by: Christianne Taylor


Image: Puppy Between Feet - Roger Ballen Roger Ballen was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Sony Profoto Awards

2010


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