FEBRUARY 2010
Editor’s Comment
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Readers Comments
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We want to hear from you magazine@photocomment.net
Scoop
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All about what is happening in the photographic world locally and internationally
Cover Image by: Frank Krummacher
Founder: Tristan Hall Design & Layout: Greg Wrench Contact: magazine@photocomment.net Website: http://photocomment.net
Technique
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Zoo Photography
To advertise in PhotoComment please email us at magazine@photocoment.net
photocomment
Professional Portfolio 10 Frank Krummacher
Review
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Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ
Review
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Sony Cyber-Shot DSC HX-5
Final Comment What happens to our photos?
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Š 2009
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Editor’s Comment
I
t is February again, the month of love. I hope
College Of Digital Photography.
that you got a photo of your special someone
this Valentine’s Day.
We test the new Sony HX-5 Compact Digital and the not so new but very impressive Nikon S1000PJ,
In this issue we talk about Zoo Photogrpahy. You
the only camera with a built in projector.
don’t have to go all the way to a game park to get great shot of animals, we give you some tips on
Please remember to send us your feedback to
getting that great shot at your local zoo.
magazine@photocomment.net.
We get to know Frank Krummacher in our
Greg
Professional Portfolio, one of the founders of the
PhotoComment Designer
Readers Comments We welcome feedback about what you think of PhotoComment Magazine. Your stories, experiences, questions, inspirations, are all welcome and can be sent to magazine@photocomment.net enter “Letters” as the subject. Each month we will publish some of your feedback.
A Letter Of Thanks! Hello PhotoComment The Sony A230 prize has arrived, and there was universal and bountiful excitement in the household ! Thank you very much to the panel of judges who showed much perspicacity and wisdom in arriving at this most welcome decision ! No, but seriously I am tickled pink over this recognition, particularly as I feel that other submissions are certainly pictures which I would have been proud to have made myself. Congratulations on an excellent ‘publication’. Quite apart from the useful new product and technical information you provide, there are always words and images, and the experiences of other photographers from across the spectrum, to be enjoyed and from which we readers can draw a never-ending stream of ideas and inspiration ! With best wishes Giles Ridley
Nikon delivers the AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED: the ultimate wide angle lens
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There have been a multitiude of new releases in the past few weeks, with CES having taken place in January and PMA coming up shortly. We have a few of the high lights here to keep you up to date!
Canon EOS 550D
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arlier this month Canon announced a
groundbreaking new addition to its expanding, world-famous EOS range of Digital SLR cameras – the EOS 550D. The EOS 550D redefines the boundaries of Canon’s consumer DSLR range, incorporating technologies and features more commonly found in semi-professional DSLRs into the compact, lightweight body favoured by consumers. With a newly-developed 18 Megapixel (MP) APS-C CMOS sensor, coupled with Canon’s advanced DIGIC 4 image processor and the ability to shoot Full HD movies, photography enthusiasts are empowered to explore new levels of creativity.
ikon has announced a class leading ultra-fast aperture wide angle lens, the AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED. Designed for professional reportage and landscape photography, the new lens features a ground-breaking optical design for Nikon’s range of class leading FX-format DSLR cameras. The AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED features a unique optical design which provides improved image quality, with minimal distortion and excellent edge to corner sharpness especially at wider aperture settings. The new optical system combines Nikon’s exclusive anti-reflection Nano Crystal coat, ED glass and aspherical lens elements to deliver brilliant, high contrast image quality with minimised distortion and aberration. The lens boasts a dedicated Silent Wave Motor for smooth and discrete autofocus operation, and is built to last with extensive use of magnesium in its construction, and weather and dust sealing, including around the mount.
Powerfully simple: the Olympus PEN E-PL1
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he new Olympus PEN® E-PL1 is truly greater
than the sum of its parts, with a surprisingly small camera body packed with technology normally found in bigger, bulkier and heavier professional Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras and HighDefinition (HD) camcorders. This third-generation PEN is built for shutterbugs who always wanted better pictures and considered a DSLR, but were intimidated by the bulky size and complex interface. The new camera’s simple design and easy interface enable consumers to easily create amazing images never dreamt possible. It will make you wonder how Olympus managed to put all of these powerful features inside such a compact camera. The E-PL1 equals an
Olympus introduces two new ultra-compact and lightweight m.zuiko digital ED lenses
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lympus has announced two new additions to its Micro Four Thirds™ System lens lineup: the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 918mm F4.0-5.6 (35mm equivalent 18–36mm) and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 (35mm equivalent 28–300mm). Designed to maximize the performance advantages of the Micro Four Thirds System, the new lenses are significantly lighter and more compact – easily fitting in a jacket pocket. The new lenses, made with ED (extra-low dispersion) glass for superior image quality, complement the design of the PEN® cameras, including the powerfully simple E-PL1, making it the all-in-one package for consumers with any skill level, including those who are new to photography.
Canon introduces the ultra-stylish IXUS 210
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PENTAX Optio I-10
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n eye-catching SLR-shaped digital compact camera, packaging a host of advanced features in a compact, lightweight body. In addition to a compact body with the look of an SLR camera, it offers a wide range of advanced functions — including an upgraded Face Detection AF & AE function that even detects the faces of dogs and cats — to make high-quality digital photography more effortless and enjoyable. The Optio I-10 has 12.1 Mega Pixels and a 5x Optical Zoom making it a great modern all rounder with a classic feel.
anon has announced the arrival of the latest and most advanced touch screen IXUS – the new IXUS 210. The IXUS 210 offers a sculpted metal exterior, a 14.1 Megapixel image sensor and 24mm genuine Canon lens delivering premium imaging performance to match its iconic IXUS styling. A newly-developed touch user interface coupled with onscreen Hints and Tips, makes capturing, browsing and sharing images easier than ever before.
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et's face it, while many of us dream of travelling to far flung corners of the earth to photograph rare and endangered animals in their natural habitat, few of us will ever get to live the life of a National Geographic photographer for months at a time. That said, there is no reason why we can't capture amazing images of such animals in captive environments. The modern day zoo has evolved from what could almost be termed 'concentration camp cells', with just enough space for an animal to lie down, into the educational symbol of conservation, which not only showcases the animals, but as much of their natural environment as is possible. This evolution has opened up the opportunity for avid photographers to get nearly as natural images as an assigned professional would over months of shooting in the wild, all in a single day and without the need of a passport or some of the more expensive lenses that would cost more than such a trip. With that said, there are still some challenges (not in the political sense of renamed problems that seem insurmountable) that can be easily overcome if you follow these handy tips.
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The Foreground Fence On a recent trip to the Bird Gardens the issue of the fence was a regular irritant. The key to overcoming this is to get as close to the fence as you possibly, and safely can. Next, use a longer focal length. You will notice the difference through the viewfinder easily enough between shooting wide and going long. The obvious reason is the gain in magnification bypasses a fair amount of fence. The other is that the limited depth of field which comes with telephoto lenses. This brings me to the next point, try to shoot as wide open in terms of your aperture as possible so you don’t
have to worry about your depth of field putting the little bit of fence you may have in the scene back into focus. Lastly a rubber lens hood can be useful to cut out reflection of the fence which can make the image look soft even though you can’t make out the fence. If you don’t have a rubber lens hood just pay attention to the light and how it may be reflecting of the fence. Obviously don’t try to shoot through the fence with a flash. One final point here is that you may find it a lot easier to focus manually as the camera will likely get confused by fence and keep hunting between it and your subject.
1. Too far away from the fence 2. Close to the fence but too wide an angle 3. Close to the fence and good zoom length but too small an aperture 4. Close to the fence zoomed right in and large aperture
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Background With the fence issue taken care of, don’t forget to watch out for background distractions. It may be the Chimp’s toys or the other side of the enclosure. Remember to use your depth of field to control these elements and be creative with your composition. Behaviour The zoo offers a great chance to capture animal behaviour in as controlled an environment as you are going to get. Be patient and watch out for intimate moments, play time or even the occasional demonstration of dominance and aggression. Time It can be useful to contact the zoo ahead of time and see when they may feed the animal you particularly want to photograph or get an idea of the most animate times. Generally you will find it is when the light is at its best, early morning or late afternoon.
Family While it may not always allow for as relaxed a shooting experience as you may wish, and sometimes you may desire to donate them to the zoo as a new addition, remember that the magic of seeing these animals can make for some amazing images of your own family. Be on the lookout for those special moments. Game Parks Don’t forget that we live in one of the best countries in the world for easy access to wildlife and many of the tips above can be used in the game park. Never overlook you local reserves just because you won’t get a leopard kill. I have almost always got my favourite images of rhino and giraffe by going to the Krugersdorp Game Reserve than from going to the Kruger National Park. [o]
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e are excited to have Frank Krummacher as our featured Professional Photographer this month. Frank is one of the founding members of the College Of Digital Photography based in Johannesburg. Frank enjoys being outdoors photographing nature and dreams of having his work published in National Geographic. He has answered a few questions for us about photography and shared some of his amazing images.
PC: When did your interest in photography start? FK: I have been interested in photography for as long as I can remember. My father was a keen photographer and gave me my first slide film to shoot on with a completely manual Pentax SLR that had screw-mount lenses. My first camera was given to me as an exercise in engineering – my dad intended that I learn about engineering this way but I was much more interested in the photography.
PC: Where does your inspiration come from, the thoughts within you or the things around you? FK: To me inspiration is more of a process than a mere moment. It often starts with an idea or a thought and the desire to express or realise it. Things and items can also kick off the process and start the ‘creative juices’ flowing. Inspiration also comes from places that I travel to, where the opportunities reveal themselves when the light works its magic. PC: Is photography art? FK: Photography is an art form that struggled for a long time to achieve that status. The major difference when comparing it to the classic art of painting is that photography is a subtractive process, which you control by simplifying the reality around you, whereas the former is an additive process that you begin with a blank canvas.
PC: What role do you see photography playing in society? FK: Photography has the power to fulfil the creative need for many people. It is an outlet that many of us need in the busy world that we live and work in, and it lets us record moments to be remembered for later on. PC: What made you decide to start a photographic college? FK: I have always wanted to be able to inspire people in a creative and fulfilling way, and the college made this possible in a unique way that reaches many people. PC: What is the most important thing you can teach someone about photography? FK: The camera is a machine that has no idea what you want from it. It allows you to capture light, learning and understanding this will make you a better photographer. PC: Do you believe that a person must have an ‘eye’ for creating an image or is it a skill that can be learnt? FK: Many people have an eye and ‘see’ images more easily than others. It is however a skill that can be learnt
and taught, and there a number of great exercises that will help you with this. It is important to understand that a good technical knowledge of your equipment and technique is essential. PC: What would you tell someone wanting to start photography? FK: Go for it. Throw all your energy and time into it and photograph at every opportunity that you have. Look to others and the world around you for inspiration and ideas. PC: What advice would you give to a photographer, novice or pro, who may be feeling uninspired? FK: Everyone goes through stages when you lack inspiration or ideas. Don’t let this frustrate you too much; it will pass and you will feel inspired again. If you are in a situation where you feel like this and you
have to shoot, push yourself and often you will be through this phase sooner than you thought. PC: With the merging of mediums like Photo and Video, how do you think the industry will change moving forward? FK: I am cautious about the merging of the media types, and would advise anyone who wants to shoot video to get a dedicated video camera. For me stills photography is a dedicated medium for expressing yourself in a certain way and that’s how I like it. No doubt it’s very handy to be able to capture HD video with your DSLR. I am also certain that the industry will continue moving forward in this direction. Even more amazing technologies are being brought to the fore by manufacturers such as the RED camera system. [o]
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year ago the idea of a digital projector that could fit into your pocket was unheard of, let alone having a camera with a projector built into it. Nikon has done it! The Coolpix S1000PJ is a full function compact digital camera that has a projector built into it. This new camera is not short on other features. It has a 12.1 Mega Pixel CCD Sensor and has a 5x optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent). The large 2.7� LCD on the rear make for easy shooting. So the specifications are good, but does it work? The answer is yes! The S1000PJ is easy to handle and has a good quality lens. Shooting in full automatic gives you good results. On closer inspection of the scene modes I found the subject tracking mode which helps when shooting moving subjects. As expected all the other scene modes such as Portrait, Landscape etc. are still there and I do advise using these modes. For people who are not pro photographers using these modes will make your images stand out from those shot on full automatic. The biggest new feature, and this being the only camera to have this feature, the projector was of most interest to me. I thought to myself how good can a projector that is built into a normal size compact camera be? The camera is a slimline design and will fit into most pockets. I have to admit I was sceptical.
The projector is rated at 10 lumens, which is not much considering your average home\office projector is between 1000 and 2000 lumens. Using the projector in a daylight situation the projector is good for projecting upto about A4 size image. However in a room with the curtains closed, even during the day, I was able to get a projected image over a metre wide with sharp detail and good colour reproduction. I was impressed, the projector even handled playing back the videos shot on the camera without any problems. The sound was a problem as the camera has only a small speaker built into it. The unit comes with a remote control which makes controlling playback in projector mode easy. Over all Nikon have pulled this off. The camera is great quality and Nikon have not compromised on the quality or functionality of the camera to include the projector and the projector works well when used within its capabilities. The only question that I can't answer is, is it really necessary? [o]
changing the settings in manual mode is not intuitive after a few minutes of playing, it is easy to make these adjustments.
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he Sony HX-5 is an impressive camera. From the
moment you pick it up it feels good and makes you think it is up to the job. Packed with features this new model from Sony is sure to be a winner! First in the line of a seemingly endless list of features is Sony's EXMOR R CMOS Sensor with 10 Megapixels. The EXMOR R sensor is great in all conditions but shines in lowlight conditions. The EXMOR R sensor is backlit to make it more sensitive with less noise. This is mated with a Song G Series 10X Optical Zoom lens starting at 25mm. Sony's Optical Steady Shot is built in to ensure there is no shaking. Although this camera has an impressive zoom lens the body remains compact and when turned off is only as big as you would expect a 3x zoom camera to be. When it comes to taking pictures you are spoiled for choice of modes. The Intelligent Auto mode (Green Mode) automatically detects what you are shooting and adjusts the mode accordingly. Aim the camera at a person and it will select portrait mode etc. The EASY mode on the camera is very similar but without all the information on the 3.0� LCD. The HX-5 also features a PROGRAM mode and a MANUAL mode. Although
One of Sony's claims to fame is the Sweep Panorama mode which allows you to press the shutter and 'sweep' the camera in the direction selected and the camera will stitch together a panorama. There are 2 settings for the panorama, normal and wide. Normal allows approximately 180 degrees of rotation where the wide mode allows 270 degrees. With a bit of practice the sweep panorama mode can be used handheld. On close inspection of the image you may see 1 or 2 flaws, but when mounted on a tripod the final result is seamless. What would a top end compact camera be these days without video? The HX-5 steps up to the task admirably with Full HD video (1920x1080) video in AVCHD format. The camera has a built in stereo microphone and a dedicated video start\stop button on the back of the camera is a nice touch and makes shooting video easy. The biggest new feature of the HX-5 is the built in GPS and Compass functions. These allow the camera to automatically tag the pictures or videos with the GPS co-ordinates of where the shot was taken and which direction you were pointing. This will make it easy to map out your holiday and remember exactly where you were when you got that perfect shot. In another first for a compact camera the HX-5 features in camera HDR (High Dynamic Range), first seen on the Sony Alpha's. This feature takes 2 shots in quick succession, one optimised for highlights and one optimised for lowlights and then powerful algorithms combine the 2 images to give a single image with detail in the high-lights and shadows. This new camera from Sony has jumped to the top of my wish list and is a serious contender for any other compact out there and dare I say entry level SLR's. [o]
Readers Portfolio This is your chance to get your images published. For each issue we (the editors assisted by a panel of industry leading photographers) will choose a reader's portfolio that inspires and celebrates the art and craft of photography best for that month. You stand a chance to win a prize from Tandem Focus Distributors, one of our advertisers, should your portfolio be published. Include a self-portrait accompanied by a brief introduction of yourself, your style and your philosophy. Send us no more than 10 of your best images with your contact details to magazine@photocomment.net enter “Readers Portfolio� as the subject. Make sure the images are in JPEG format and no larger than 1 Megabyte (or closest too), we will contact you for larger files if needed. Needless to say that the standard will be high and uncompromising so please put your best foot forward.
TANDEM
What happens to our photos?
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ecently we ran a poll on our website asking what medium or method you use to share your images. Without a doubt the largest photo sharing platform, even among photographic enthusiasts, is Facebook. I have been reflecting on this recently with the visit of my brother in law from Cape Town. Before leaving for a family dinner my wife made certain she grabbed the little compact camera on the way out the door. It then dawned on me that my hard drive is full of pictures taken at the same restaurant every time we go out with her folks and visiting family. I couldn't stop myself from asking why we bother, "it's not like we do anything with those images in any case". Wrong response. I was promptly put in my place by my wife that she takes every opportunity to get pictures of our son with her
brother to record the memories and share them with all her family abroad on Facebook. This made me ponder upon what we do with the stacks of family images we take and store on the PC? Are we seeing a demise of the family photo album? Perhaps the increasing sales of digital photo frames is filling this void? Or is Facebook destined to become the home of the family album and that's that? Do we take more family pictures on digital than we did on film? If we do tend to capture more family memories, why is that the case? Is it simply because its easier? Why not share you thoughts with us on this topic. Tell you what, the best letter will pick up a Transcend digital photo frame. [o]
Image By: Frank Krummacher
2010