photocomment
JULY 2009
Editor’s Comment
4
Readers Comments
4
We want to hear from you magazine@photocomment.net
Scoop
6
All about what is happening in the photographic world locally and internationally
Cover Photo by: Emil Wessels Model: Jenni
Professional Portfolio 8 Emil Wessels
Technique
14
Improve Your Camera Phone Photography
Review
16
- Sony Alpha 380 D-SLR - Rapid Studio Album Software
Final Comment
21
Founder: Tristan Hall Editor: Wilhelmus Moller Design & Layout: Greg Wrench Contact: magazine@photocomment.net
photocomment
Š 2009
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Editor’s Comment t is said that smell is our most direct link to
I
can be obtained when one is not limited by your
the past and with that those in the know mean
equipment or imagination. Rob Wood guides us
to say our distant, ancient past. For most of us
through the pitfalls of photographing with a
living right now, sight is the sense that
cellphone camera and we also review the Sony
immediately informs us of our present situation
Alpha 380.
and, through printed or projected imagery, our Sit back, relax, read our magazine and ponder
past also.
the virtues of God’s most amazing creations In PhotoComment this month we investigate
your sight and creativity.
cellphone imagery and the remarkable results that
Ed.
Announcement
A
s some of you may have noticed, from the 1st July 2009 PhotoComment's online
Congratulations
C
ongratulations to our founder
edition, published at www.mymag.co.za is free.
Tristan Hall and his
We wish to thank all of those who have supported
wife Candice on the
us since we launched earlier this year and have
birth of their their
arranged with My Mag to refund the balance of
son Clarke on
your subscriptions. Should there be an delays in
25 June 2009.
this process and you have not received your refund by August 1st, please notify us by email to magazine@photocomment.net
Win Stand a chance to win by contributing to our Readers Letters section. Camera Stabilising Bag sponsored by Tandem Focus Distributors
Readers Comments TANDEM
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.
Kodak Axes KodaChrome Sony World Photography Awards As one of the largest photographic events existing today, the Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA), reach far beyond an awards programme for the still image. The SWPA is a convergence of festival events, focused photographic agendas, exhibitions, awards schemes, student programmes and an industry-led gala evening ceremony which marks the pinnacle of the week-long event held in April 2009. From fine art to applied photography in fashion, advertising and sport to humanistic and documentary photography of people, social, cultural and current affairs to the environmental image of landscape, wildlife and ecology, there are few subjects or genres left undiscovered. The celebration of the still image - its roots, conception, adaptation and continuous evolution - is a constant parallel, unifying all categories of the Sony World Photography Awards. The Sony World Photography Awards are entirely international, welcoming amateur and professional photographers from across the globe to submit their photographs into a highly competitive awards programme. Professional Competition As an entering professional photographer, you will be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of being recognized by leading industry figures and taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the 12 prestigious category awards and, the most coveted prize, L’iris d’Or, given to The Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year, with the recipient taking, amongst other things, prize money of $25,000. Amateur Competition As an amateur photographer, you also have the opportunity to be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the most sought after prizes in the competition: The SonY World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year. Deadline for submissions: December 4th, 2009 For more information on this competition visit http://www.photocompetitions.com/2009/sony-worldphotography-awards-2/
For generations it has been used to capture everything from family memories to world-changing events. But now Kodachrome itself, Kodak’s oldest camera film, is about to become history. The company has decided to axe Kodachrome as photographers switch to digital cameras. The first commercially successful colour film, which has been in production for 74 years, accounts for only 1 per cent of the company’s sales of still-picture films. There is only one laboratory in the world still producing it. Its heyday came in the Fifties and Sixties when it was favoured by still and motion-picture photographers for its rich tones and vibrant colours. Many professional photographers feel this richness is missing from modern digital images. In 1963, Abraham Zapruder used Kodachrome to film President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas. The film was even immortalised in the 1973 song Kodachrome by Paul Simon. The lyrics read: ‘They give us those nice bright colours. They give us the greens of summers. Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day.’ Kodak estimates stocks of Kodachrome will run out this autumn. It is still sold by some British retailers, including Boots. 'The majority of today's photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology - both film and digital,' said president of Kodak, Mary Jane Hellyar. 'Kodachrome is particularly difficult (to retire) because it really has become kind of an icon,' she added. Miss Hellyar insisted that despite the demise of the famous film, Kodak would continue to produce camera film 'as far into the future as possible'. She pointed out that many professional photographers still refuse to go digital.
New Olympus E-P1 A new era of digital imaging begins today with the launch of the Olympus E-P1. The world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens system camera blends the high-quality still images of a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) with High Definition (HD) video, stereo Linear PCM audio recording and In-Camera Creativity within an ultra-portable body. The easy-to-use E-P1 expands your creative horizons and its diverse multimedia features offer something for everyone. Built for today’s visual generation who lead active lives online and offline, the E-P1 will make you rethink what you can do with a camera.
Nokia unveils new flagship Nseries devices On 16 July 2009 Nokia unveiled the latest from its coveted Nseries range, the Nokia N97 and the Nokia N86 8MP. Both devices incorporate leading Nseries technology including high-speed connectivity, the latest version of Nokia Maps and a large onboard memory, 32GB & 8GB respectively, for storing music and photographs. The highly anticipated Nokia N97, known as the world's most advanced mobile computer, is set to transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other. When Nokia set out to make the best mobile imaging device, it combined wide-angle Carl Zeiss optics and an 8 megapixel sensor, resulting in performance comparable to a stand-alone digital camera. The Nokia N86 8MP is designed to excel in both bright and low light conditions and is optimized for both video and still imaging. Its high-speed connectivity ensures easy and convenient sharing.
PENTAX Optio W80 HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX Optio W80 digital compact camera. In addition to its outstanding waterproof, dustproof and coldproof capabilities — which allow for up to two hours of continuous underwater photography at a depth down to five meters — the new Optio W80 offers outstanding shockproof performance to withstand a fall from a height of one meter
Hasselblad Debuts CFV-39 Digital Back The new Hasselblad CFV-39 digital back, custom built to match the design and functionality of Hasselblad V cameras, turns every V camera into an easy-to-use digital workhorse. The 39-megapixel back, with a sensor twice the size of premier DSLRs, features two capture modes and a new digital lens correction technology for Carl Zeiss lenses, powered by Mac- and Windowscompatible Phocus image processing software. “Quickly and easily, the Hasselblad CFV-39 can transform a V System film camera into a highperformance digital camera,” says product manager Peter Stig. “Just snap on a charged battery, insert a CF card, add the back, and you’re ready to shoot.” “The Hasselblad CFV-39 brings an ultra-high level of integration, flexibility, and image quality to the professional photographer who needs the best for mobile and studio shooting,” says Peter Stig.
hen Emil Wessels watched his first print come to life
W
as a press photographer for Die Beeld and as the Chief
in a friend's darkroom many years ago he was
photographer for the SABC for 15 years, as well as having
hooked. The thrill of knowing he had created something drove
worked in the South African film industry. He now has a
him to take more pictures and do it better than before. Emil
studio in Linden and lectures at the University of
will tell you how many different people and things have
Johannesburg.
influenced his photography, but it is Gordon Riddick who influenced him most in his youth. Emil recounts how Gordon
Talent doesn't always come naturally, but can be developed
gave him the guidance and recognition he needed at a time
through hard work. Emil refers to himself as 'poetic without a
when his talent was still being developed. He now tries to do
command for written language' and as 'an artist without brush
the same for up and coming photographers by helping them
skills.' He has made up for this by developing his photography
better understand the craft and giving them the recognition
to the point of excellence. He says that you have to be visually
they require to believe in themselves. He says, 'If you spend
literate. Remember shots you have seen and use them as a
time with people who are better than you, you can get
guide for taking new shots. He warns not to just copy other
inspiration to become better, whereas if you spend time with
shots verbatim, this way you will not learn and improve your
people who have not reached the same level as you you need
own skills, but rather use them as a spring board for your own
to give them the inspiration to become better. When you give
ideas. Make it become your own. Sometimes you need to sit
someone recognition, you open their boundaries.'
back and look at how to inspire yourself. Some people decide before hand on the photograph they want to take and go out
After winning a gold medal for the first image he submitted to
and take it. While this is not a bad thing, Emil says that this
a Camera Club competition, Emil has earned a wealth of
method means that you will miss many other opportunities for
experience having worked as a photographer in the Airforce,
a great photograph. Always be on the lookout for the next
shot. One way of finding opportunities is to choose a theme for the day and take photographs of that theme. He does this often with amazing results. He says 'When you go out to take photographs know where you are going and what to expect so that you can prepare yourself to see those opportunities.' He reminds us not to go looking for shots of a forest when you are in the desert. Having started out using a Chinon and upgrading to a Minolta system, he now uses Nikon equipment. He will tell you that now, more than ever before, it does not matter what camera you are using, as long there is a good piece of glass in front of it. It is the lens that determines the quality of the captured image. He points out that you can give two people exactly the same equipment, put them in the same location with the same lighting, the same subject and one of them will take a good photograph and the other won't. Taking photographs needs to become instinctive. He recalls the old days, not to long ago, where you had a roll of film with 36 exposures on which to get your shot and produce a good result, unlike today where you can shoot hundreds of photographs and still only produce a mediocre result.
Emil enjoys photgraphing any subject but admits that he
to be kept in writing by the patriarch and passed on from
enjoys photographing people most of all. He also enjoys
generation to generation. Now it is easy to keep a visual
photographing what he refers to as intimate landscapes. A
history. He advises that we should take pictures of our family,
landscape that covers an area of only a few metres. As a lover
and take pictures of ourselves with our family, so that we can
of history Emil emphasizes the importance of taking
look back and remember that moment in time.
photographs of the people around us. A family's history used
[o]
A
s any camera phone photographer will tell you, talent beats equipment almost every time in photography. A talented photographer can produce a stunning image with a pinhole camera given enough time, whereas many amateurs struggle to produce even average photographs using top of the line camera gear. These days, there is a growing movement of camera phone photographers who are out to show that talent combined with a camera phone can produce some incredible photos. Given some of the images they come up with, we are certainly not going to argue. In fact, the stunning examples of camera phone photography that we have seen led us to investigate how camera phones can be used to produce such incredible images. And so, here is our online guide to camera phone photography!
Camera Phone Photography Guide There are a lot of things you can do to start getting the most out of your camera phone in terms of the best possible photography. Some of the more obvious things you can do include:
• Maximise the camera resolution – many recent camera phones come with the option to increase or decrease the resolution of the camera. If you plan to be taking a lot of artistic shots then it’s obvious that you are going to have to jack the resolution up as high as possible for most scenarios.
• Be Aware of Light – Many camera phones deal with low light quite poorly. In general, if you can get a well lit subject then you are going to get better results with your camera phone.
• Alter the white balance – likewise, the white balance of shots on many camera phones can also be adjusted. Play around with this setting to achieve the effect that you want. You may even need to adjust this depending on the type of shots you are trying to take so get used to using one of the few controls that you have over the image making process on a camera phone.
• Don’t be shy about taking a lot of shots – now, you have to realise that you are simply not going to have the options available to you that many people who shoot on SLRs or DSLRs will. One easy way to make up for that is to start taking as many shots as possible. This simply increases the chances of snagging a good one.
• Get Close – The majority of camera phones don’t have great zoom lenses. In almost all cases the zoom is digital rather than optical meaning the image chip simply takes a part of the large and makes that part larger – that leads to poorer quality. It is much better to get up close to the subject than to use the zoom on a camera phone. Closing Thoughts If you are determined to show what great images can be taken with a camera phone, then you have set yourself quite a challenge, but certainly an achievable one. One key that is repeated in all of the guides is that planning is paramount. If you can control and plan for as much of the photography process as possible, then you offset many of the drawbacks in shooting with less adaptable equipment such as a camera phone. But as many camera phone photographers have shown, the results can be well worth the effort.
Sonly Alpha 380 Review by: Greg Wrench
T
he first thing I noticed when I picked up the new Sony Alpha 380 was that it didn't fit in my hand. Now my hands aren't that big, but it still feels very small. I asked my wife what she thought, her hands are significantly smaller than mine, and without any prompting she said the same thing, that the grip was too small and therefore not easy to hold. That being said, the general layout of the Alpha 380 is good with almost all buttons in easy reach. The only exception is the menu button which is all on its own on the left of the body. Sony wanted to produce a Digital SLR that anyone could pick up and take good photos. This they have achieved. The new alpha range is very easy to use. Informative help screens tell you what each function on the camera does, making the sometimes daunting task of switching from the 'Green' mode to one of the pre-set scene modes, or taking the next step to the semi auto modes, much simpler. This camera will inspire confidence, even in a novice photographer.
The Alpha 380 features Live View. This is the ability to use the LCD on the rear of the camera as a viewfinder. As you would with a compact digital camera. The screen tilts as much as 90 degrees when viewing from the top or 45 degrees when viewing from the bottom. Unfortunately the LCD looks as though it was attached as an after thought and in Live View mode the image on the LCD is not great. Switching between Live View and the Optical Viewfinder is by a switch on top of the camera, and in Live View mode the optical viewfinder is blocked. Don't try and use the LCD if you are focusing manually, you can't be sure if it is in focus because the image on the screen is not sharp. The camera does try to assist you in deciding when the shot is in focus by means of the focus
points on the LCD turning green when the image is in focus. There is the option to enlarge the centre of the display, but doing this does not really help as the quality of the display gets worse and you cannot see what you actually have framed before you take the shot. I must say the quality of this screen does not affect the quality of the captured image. The reason for the poorer quality of the image on the Live View screen is due to Sony using a second CCD for the Live View. This means that in Live View mode you still get continuous auto focus and that when you press the shutter button there is no delay while the camera focuses, the shutter fires immediately, you won't miss your shot. The Live View function and the ability to tilt the screen will help you get some of those tricky shots where you previously had to guess if you were getting the shot you wanted.
Landscape Mode (Cropped)
Steadyshot Inside, Sony's in body image stabilistion, helps take clear pictures when shooting hand held. As this is in the body it works with any lense that is attached. A 9 point auto focus system makes focusing fast and accurate. A sensor on the optical viewfinder senses when you put the camera to your eye and starts focusing immediatley while also turning off the LCD to save battery. At 14.2 Mega Pixels you you have enough pixels for any application. A newly enhanced D-Range Optimiser helps with tricky lighting situations ensuring correctly exposed images. The Alpha 380 can use either the Sony Memory Stick or SD Cards which is great news as the Memory Sticks can be quite pricey, and if you are upgrading from a compact camera that uses SD cards you can still use those same cards. It also features an HDMI output which allows you to connect the camera to any HD ready TV. In an Alpha first, when connected to a BRAVIA™ TV you can control the slideshow and other camera playback functions using your TV remote.
Aperture Priority
The Alpha 380 is designed to make the change over from a digital compact to a digital SLR easy. This is a great camera and will give anyone from a beginner to an experienced photographer hours of pleasure shooting high quality images.
Program Mode
Sunset Mode
Last month you would have seen an Advertorial for photobooks by Remember When and Rapid Studio. This month we bring you a review of the software and service by former PhotoComment designer and new mom Candice, is who better suited for the job. Candice's Feedback: ? I found that a basic graphic software knowledge will assist you in navigating this software better, though it's by no means as complicated as Photoshop or Corel Draw. ? There are exciting kid's album
options available due to the large range of colours to choose from. ? Enjoyed the option of choosing a
Matt, Gloss or textured finish. ? A negative point in my experience
is that you need to have a stable, highspeed internet connection when uploading the album using the online option. ? The support people were great and
once the album was uploaded they delivered the album quickly to our door. ? The overall finish of the photobook
was good with print quality better than expected. We selected images from a recent wedding for this photobook and will be posting some feedback from the couple once we deliver it too them, but from our experience Rapid Studio is well worth a try.
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 SONY, one of our advertisers, should your portfolio be published. Include a self-portrait accompanied with 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 640x480 (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.
Prize
Keith Groenewald
- More porfolios to inspire
1 x Laptop Sleeve 1 x SONY ALPHA Lens Book 1 x Memory Card Pouch 1 x Rain umbrella All branded SONY ALPHA
- You could be featured next month submit comments, images or portfolio to magazine@photocomment.net
Which will you use? On June 25th 2009 a life changing event took place as my first child was delivered through the marvels of modern medicine. Naturally I took a camera, - a DSLR – and, without passing out, shot a few pictures in theater. Much to everyone's surprise. Recently I have raised several topics in this section of our magazine ranging from the motive behind why we take a picture, to what the possible future of the camera and ultimately photography could be as technology continues to evolve in this field. My experience with the birth of our son has given me a new perspective on some of the photographic tools we use. As some of you may have possibly picked up in my previous articles, I cannot claim to be a great advocate for expensive compact cameras unless you have a very particular need for them. Having said this, of the hundred plus images taken of baby in his first week, approximately 80% were shot on my Sony Ericsson C902 cell phone, which features a 5mp camera. Apart from allowing me to MMS my family the pictures, it also allows me to publish those images directly to Blogger for others to see. And once again I find myself asking what the best camera is to own? And once more the response comes 'the one you will use'.
I am left to wonder what future there is for the standard compact digital camera? For the application of sharing by web and making standard Jumbo size prints I am happy with my new cell phone camera’s quality. More quality? No problem bring out my DSLR. Cell phones that lack a great camera, like the Apple I-Phone, captured the pictures of US Airways flight 1549 landing on the Hudson River. These less than adequate cell phone cameras are becoming great tools for photographers, particularly with the growing number of applications available that incorporate photography. A few weeks before getting my phone I had been considering purchasing a small compact camera to carry with me everywhere, now I am not so sure I need to. Constantly increasing in capability and popularity - Is tomorrow's point and shoot camera going to be found on your belt or in your pocket and handbag as 'The cell phone' with 10mp camera, and HD video, and MP3 player, and 500GB memory, and GPS, remote control, and Email,
and SLR
and digital Spirit Level, and Mobile TV, and 3G modem, and, and,
With any luck by then it will still function as a phone, but who cares if it takes great pictures. and...
We have recently been running a poll at www.photocomment.net asking what type of camera you use most and it took some time for cell phones to feature the 5% share they currently hold. That being said we would like to see your favourite cell phone pictures and stories. Send them to magazine@photocomment.net