NZ CameraTalk To p r o m o t e t h e w i d e r e n j o y m e n t o f p h o t o g r a p h y
T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F T H E P H OT O G R A P H I C S O C I E T Y O F N E W Z E A L A N D I N C
Fe b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 2 0
In this issue PRESIDENT Moira Blincoe LPSNZ t. 09 379 7021 e: president@photography.org.nz
VICE-PRESIDENT
Karen Lawton t. 021 143 7764 e. vicepresident@photography.org.nz
TREASURER David Knightley PO Box 99470, Newmarket, Auckland 1149 e. treasurer@photography.org.nz
SECRETARY Patrice Nilsen 8 Raroa Terrace, Tawa, Wellington 5028 t. 04 232 1565 e. secretary@photography.org.nz
WELCOME TO THE first edition of CameraTalk for 2020, a new year and a new decade as well. This issue contains a small special feature on “event photography” to help those who end up shooting in such circumstances. We also include information on our 2020 PSNZ events including both National and Regional Conventions and the workshop series. For those of you who look to compete outside of New Zealand, Ann Bastion FPSNZ EFIAP has prepared a guide to entering international competitions. Finally we have a recap of the 2019 Whanganui Salon. Paul Whitham LPSNZ Editor
EDITOR, ADVERTISING & LAYOUT Paul Whitham LPSNZ PSNZ Councillor t. 04 973 3015 or m. 021 644 418 e. paul@pwfotos.com
SUBEDITOR Lindsay Stockbridge LPSNZ 14 Poynter Place, Whanganui 4501 t. 06 348 7141 or m. 027 653 0341 e. dilinz@actrix.co.nz
CAMERATALK DEADLINE
The next CameraTalk deadline is 1 April 2020 Email your contributions to the SubEditor at his email address. Editorial should be sent as Word or .txt files. JPEG images generally should be saved at 300 dpi, compressed to high to medium quality. Include return postage if you wish material to be returned. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Council of PSNZ.
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On the cover Little Bird by Julia Home APSNZ EFIAP AAPS GPSA PPSA featuring the modelling talents of Georgia Baynon.
Key dates for the diary
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Editorial
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2020 Laurie Thomas
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2020 PSNZ workshops
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Canon Online changes Special feature - event photography FIAP B&W Biennial A guide to entering international competitions Convention updates
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Audio-visual notes
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Canon Online results
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The Whanganui Salon
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HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. I hope everyone has been enjoying the summer weather and making good use of whatever downtime you had over the holiday period to recharge your batteries. During this time I read several times on various social media pages that some photographers were struggling to find their mojo or creative flow and wondered how they could get it back. Personally I think this happens to all of us from time to time, and I know for the better part of 2019, I definitely struggled with my own photographic motivation. In reply to these posts, I then read encouraging comments from some well known photographers about setting yourself a project – it doesn’t have to be a large or difficult one. Even taking your camera or cell phone and photographing various objects within your house can break the cycle. For example, set up some utensils in the kitchen, forks, knives and spoons, and create shadows with them, then convert them to black and white. Alternatively, set up some still life using your fresh fruit and vegetables which are in abundance at the moment. From these simple projects, venture on to a larger project like street photography or making several portraits a week. Over the feastive season I was immobilised, recovering from knee surgery, so I didn’t get to do any photography. However, having just spent one week at the beach, I embraced the opportunity to use my camera every day. The surf and waves provided great inspiration for intentional camera movement and some action shots while the magnificent sunrises made for dramatic skies and seascapes. A gorgeous toddler holidaying next door gave me the opportunity for portraiture and family photography. The dotterel sanctuary pushed my nature skills to the max - the little devils move with lightning speed, making for quite exhausting work.
A Note from the President If your motivation is lying low, don’t give up start small and you will find it again. Everyone keeps saying that 2020 is going to be a fantastic year and I believe this too – not only personally but for you as members. There are lots of exciting plans underway and with the SONY National Exhibition opening last weekend it is pleasing to see entries coming in already. Remember, this salon is open to any photographer in New Zealand, so do encourage any of your non-member photography buddies to submit their works. Submissions for the honours distinction applications are now open and it is good to hear that entries are arriving through the new web submission process. Please read all the application guidelines carefully as this will ensure you make a smooth submission and help our Honours Board Secretary to be as efficient as she can.
(continued overleaf)
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2020 sees a number of changes for the Honours Board – Bruce Girdwood FPSNZ will chair his first assessment and Board meeting. Bruce welcomes two new members to the Board, Paul Byrne FPSNZ and Helen McLeod FPSNZ and new secretary Stephanie Forrester APSNZ, who manages the significant administration and organisational aspects for the Board. And, it will be the first time the Board convenes in the deeper south in Invercargill. In the last quarter of 2019 a number of members submitted posts on social media, voicing their thoughts on the PSNZ honours system. These thoughts and suggestions, positive and negative, have all been collated and documented and forwarded to Bruce. It is important for members to remember that the decisions of the Honours Board are not made solely by Bruce, but with collective discussion on all operational processes with his Board members. As Bruce says, “With me chairing the Board for the first time and two new members on the Board, it is important that I take the time to induct them and also refresh everyone as to the standards, processes and language we use in assessing our members’ honours submissions.” Bruce is aware of the members’ comments and has indicated to me he is open to opportunities to improve our system, but you “don’t change things for change’s sake” and he would like to work with the Board members to “carefully review all members’ suggestions for evolution”.
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In previous years the Honours Board and Council have been more at arms length and what has been made clear is that he sees the PSNZ honours distinctions (and Board) as very much part of the PSNZ brand. He therefore wants a closer working relationship with Council while retaining the Board’s independence in making its recommendations to Council. The 68th National Convention in April will be upon us before we know it and already it is proving to be a popular event, judging by the number of registered delegates. Well done to the organising committee for all the hard work and promotions to date – I know from the underground buzz that people are very much looking forward to descending on the garden city. The six workshops in the 2020 PSNZ Workshop Series have been finalised and you can read all about them on page 12. We welcome and thank two members who have stepped up to assist James with the organisation and member liaison – Nicole Tai and Ita Daniels LPSNZ. Remember to keep an eye out for these popular workshops and, a reminder, your place is not confirmed until you have paid the registration fee! Now in its second year, this popular initiative is for PSNZ members only and subsidised by the Society to ensure affordability for all.
Our two new Councillors, Colin Kropach (assuming the role of Councillor for Events from Viviane Baldwin APSNZ) and Leanne Silver who is handling communications and marketing, now have their feet firmly under the table. Colin is well underway with developing a sub-committee to work on the 2021 National Convention. It is also a great relief to have Leanne looking after the communications portfolio which has been handled by various councillors for the past nine months. I’m confident they will both excel in their portfolios as well as have a good time on Council!
Enjoy this first edition of CameraTalk and remember, this is your magazine. If you have any newsworthy information and/or member success stories, please send them to subeditor Lindsay Stockbridge LPSNZ at dilinz@ actrix.co.nz. Finally, as the late Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” So, keep lifting your cameras and get out and about.
Kind regards, Moira Blincoe LPSNZ
Key dates for the diary February 25 February 28
Canon Online Round 1 closes Submissions for PSNZ Service Awards close
February 28 March 1 March 1 March 1 March 13-15 March 19-22 March 25 April 23-26 April 25 May 1 May 5 May 24
Applications for PSNZ Honours close Entries for Sony PSNZ National Exhibition close Entries for PSNZ interclub competitions close Memberships terminated for non-payment Selection weekend for Sony PSNZ National Exhibition PSNZ Honours judging Entries for FIAP Biennial close 2020 National Convention Canon Online Round 2 closes Entries for Laurie Thomas competition open Entries for Tauranga AV competition open Entries for Laurie Thomas competition close
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shop.olympus.co.nz/e-m5markiii
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Editorial : The Missing Benefit By Paul Whitham LPSNZ
PAGE 46 OF this issue is devoted to the benefits of belonging to PSNZ. It has appeared in most editions of CameraTalk over the last two years. I wonder how many of you have taken the time to read it or have thought about what it contains. Organisations like PSNZ are often very hard to describe to outsiders and even some members, in terms of what benefits you gain from them. I am sure that as subs come up for renewal a number of people do ponder this question before they renew or cancel. If you look at the list, you will see that many of the items are opportunities to take part rather than concrete benefits given to all members. Only those who take part gain any benefit. To me there is one benefit missing from the list, and that it is the opportunity offered via the close relationship that PSNZ has with our trade partners. At the PSNZ national and some regional conventions, the trade stands have not only provided you with the opportunity to buy, but also to seriously try out camera gear before you make a decision. For many members there are no other opportunities to do this, as specialist camera stores only exist in a small number of centres and even then, trying out gear can be limited to a quick demonstration in the shop. Now, I am primarily a ‘people photographer’ and therefore you could assume that I would have no need for a wide angle lens. I also questioned whether I needed one and over the year have not allowed GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) to cause me to buy something I wouldn’t use. That did not stop me trying them. At both the Auckland and Dunedin conventions I borrowed an 8-16mm f4 lens from Andrew Reid at Panasonic to put it through its paces while out on the fieldtrips. At the end of the day I handed it back.
Interesting close up options
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Then, at last year’s Southern Regional, I was able to try out the Olympus 7-14mm f2.8 and absolutely loved the results. For anyone not familiar with the micro four-thirds system used by most Panasonic and Olympus cameras, this lens will work on either manufacturer’s cameras. In total I probably spent the best part of four hours trying out these two lenses and by the time the convention was over, one of the lenses was definitely in my wish list. Over Christmas, as part of a combined present from my daughter (that included both Father’s Day and my birthday) and a very good Boxing Day deal, I now have that lens in my kit. The next opportunity for this level of faceto-face examination and product trials, with the generosity of PSNZ trade partners, is at the National Convention in Christchurch this April. Single day registrations for the convention are now available. I have longed to get shots like this. All four levels of the Emporium Mall in Melbourne
Want to join a print circle? ONE WAY TO improve your photography is to critique other people’s photographs and to have others assess yours. You can do this by joining a print circle. Up to 10 photographers circulate their work by mail to other members who have a few days to make constructive comments on the work received, add a new print for others to view and post the bag to the next person on the list. Each circle is monitored by a Secretary who sends out a roster of each round and ensures the circle is running smoothly. Members can expect the bag to arrive three or four times a year. People are encouraged to keep in touch by adding a short letter to each round, helping them to get to know other photographers and gain useful feedback on their work.
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One or two circles currently have vacancies. If you’d like to join, please contact Lindsay Stockbridge LPSNZ at dilinz@actrix.co.nz and we’ll happily settle you into a print circle!
Mark in your calendar: Saturday 25th April 2020 AND DON’T MISS THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!
Julieanne Kost Cole Thompson
Karen Alsop Convention one-day-ticket at only $145 allows you to attend inspiring presentations by three famous photographers and experts in their fields:
JULIEANNE KOST, COLE THOMPSON & KAREN ALSOP You also get to view the Sony PSNZ National Exhibition showcasing some of the best photography New Zealand has to offer. On your doorstep, this is fantastic value for money and a chance to have a full day to celebrate photography. More info: 2020chch.org.nz
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VERSATILITY MEETS AGILITY
CAPTURE TOMORROW
From fast-moving action to rich 4K HDR video, the new Nikon D780 helps your vision take flight. Its unique combination of innovations including an algorithm adapted from the flagship D5. Meanwhile, live view shooting brings all the advantages of hybrid AF using focal-plane phase-detection AF technology, including eye-detection AF and wide 273-point coverage. Combined with shutter speeds from 1/8000 s to 900 s, and advanced video and time-lapse features, the D780 embodies true versatility.
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24.5 MP | ISO 100-51200 | 51-point AF | 273-point hybrid AF | 4K UHD, HDR (HLG) video
23rd Laurie Thomas NZ Landscape Salon 2020 By Kathrin Affeld, Salon Organiser
NEW ZEALAND’S PREMIER salon for landscape projected images is run by the Christchurch Photographic Society and will be held again this year. The salon is named in honour of Laurie Thomas who was a devoted pioneer member of the club through the 50s, 60s and 70s and was recognised internationally for his New Zealand landscape photography. The salon trophy presented to the winner was designed by Lesley Sales FPSNZ. The trophy known as Wind & Water symbolises the essence of the New Zealand landscape: water, wind, trees and light. Lesley says the outline shape suggests a mountain and the forces acting upon it to carve out the landscape. Mountain streams flowing down the mountainsides are depicted by internal cut-out lines. The action of the wind is suggested by an invisible, implied line that begins as a curl on the outside edge of the mountain and flows across the landscape. Trees clinging to the mountainsides add another dimension, that of vegetation and plant growth. Light defines the shape of the mountain, illuminating the waters, the shapes, the trees, silhouetting the shapes of the landscape.
This unique trophy is awarded to the winner of the salon - to keep. This year our judges will be from the North Island. Find out more in the next issue of Camera Talk. The 2020 Laurie Thomas Salon will open for entries on 1 May. The closing date is 24 May 2020.
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James Gibson APSNZ EFIPA reveals an exciting list! LAST YEAR SAW the inaugural PSNZ Workshop Series, with six events spread around the country and covering topics, skills and genres such as astrophotography, Photoshop, creative photography and more. In total, 114 PSNZ members were able to take advantage of this initiative and benefit from the sharing of knowledge and experience of the tutors along with much camaraderie and social skill-sharing. We would like to acknowledge the huge amount of time and effort put into preparing the workshops on our behalf, and thank the tutors for their generous, open approach to sharing their skills with us. We’ve been working hard to plan this year’s workshops, and we are really excited about the variety of topics and the incredible talents of this year’s tutors. You’ll notice there are some new topics, and a few of last year’s favourites being taken to a completely new part of the country. (This is the general theme we intend to build on over the coming years.) You’ll also find that many of our trade partners are becoming involved in the workshops; there will be opportunities to try out new gear and help your photography grow. In a change from last year, the registrations for these workshops will be staggered. The first two will be available to sign up on 10 February, and a couple of months later we will open the next pair (one North Island and one South Island workshop each time). The details for each workshop can be seen on the PSNZ website (https://photography.org.nz/ events/2020-workshop-series/), and you will find the entry form in the Members Area. This year we are not restricting the number of workshops you can register for – it’s firstcome, first-served, but remember that you need to pay for the workshop to secure your place. To help with this, we’re also including a Paypal option on the registration form. Check out the PSNZ website for more details on each workshop. If you have any questions, you can contact the series coordinator, James Gibson (gibsondesignnz@gmail.com)
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So, what are the options in 2020? In-Camera Creative - Bruce Girdwood FPSNZ, 23 May, Dunedin Bruce will be taking last year’s workshop into the heart of Dunedin to open your eyes and minds!
Portraiture - Aaron Key, 13 June, Hamilton Aaron will take you on an exploration of studio lighting and modelling, showing you how he creates his dramatic images.
Astrophotography - Chris Pegman, 24-26 July, Queenstown Join MNZIPP photographer Chris Pegman for a full weekend of star shooting in the depths of the Southern Alps!
Painting with your Camera - Judy Stokes APSNZ, 22 August, Muriwai No tripods will be required on this incredible day exploring the landscapes and seascapes of the Muriwai coastline!
Macro Photography - Matt Leamy, 12 September, Nelson Matt will demystify the technical aspects of this demanding field of photography in a mix of capturing and processing your own images.
Bird Photography - Craig McKenzie, 14 November, Kapiti Island To round off the year, Craig will take his incredibly informative, relaxed workshop up to Paraparaumu for a day trip to Kapiti Island and the nearby reserves. Note that this workshop will commence with a lecture on Friday evening and a bright, early start on Saturday morning.
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Important Changes to Canon Online Entries By James Gibson APSNZ EFIAP
OVER THE LAST couple of months Paul Willyams LPSNZ AFIAP MNZIPP and I have been working on some new features for the 2020 competition, including a fully revamped entry system. You will find the new forms in the same place as before, in the members area of the PSNZ website. The new system will check your image sizes before submission, avoiding the need to disqualify incorrectly sized images. You can enter all six rounds immediately, see what you’ve entered and also amend your choices right up the closing date for each round (25th of every second month at midnight). Paul has also created a system which can rename your images with the image title, so there’s no need to rename your files; just make sure you enter the titles correctly! Also, you will not need to enter your honours – we can get these details directly from the PSNZ website (so make sure your details are up to date). We do still need to ask you to enter your full name into each entry (as the website only uses your email for your login), but we hope you will find the new system easier. The new entry system is related to your login email address, so for those of you in double or family memberships who all want to enter the competition, you will now need a personal login. Those members who currently share an email address will have received an email with instructions on how to alter their membership records so that they can continue to enter the competition.
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EXPERIENCE NEXT GENERATION IMAGING STANDARDS The EOS-1D X Mark III features a brandnew AF sensor with 28 times more resolution than its predecessor, with a new Canon CMOS sensor and powerful new DIG!C X processing, image quality even at high ISO is taken to even greater levels of quality. This is along with 4K video at 60p plus the options of capturing RAW video or 10-bit video with Canon Log, both recorded internally to CF express cards.
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Special Feature - Tips for Event Photography By Paul Whitham LPSNZ
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY IS literally what the name suggests. You are recording the happenings and generally people, involved in some event to provide a documentary recording of that event. Quite often, as photographers who try to develop our skills, we are asked to shoot because they have seen our work, or even just because “you have a nice camera.� You may even be lucky enough to get some benefit from it. The following tips are not an exhaustive list but rather a starting point.
Be clear on the requirements Before you agree to shoot an event it is really important that you have a clear understanding of what it is you are being asked to record and also what the images will be used for. From personal experience, being asked to take candid shots at a party turns very quickly into group formal images when the host announces that the photographer is available to take family shots without even first discussing it with you.
Try to capture interaction and activity
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It is also usual to determine with the organisers what the dress standard of the event will be because that will help you plan your own wardrobe.
Have an agreed shot list Quite often event organisers will have certain aspects that they wish to record, so it is a good idea to discuss with them what the shots are, and more importantly when they are planned to occur. This is particularly relevant when the item that they want you to capture is part of a surprise and will only happen once. Even at conferences the organisers may want group shots which need to be taken during breaks, so you need to be prepared both to take them as well as plan your own breaks. Once you have the list, sort it into chronological order, print it out and put it into you camera bag. Check it before you pack your gear and several times during the event. Don’t rely on your memory because in the heat of the event things are easily forgotten. If the event is more formal (or business related) it pays to also find out what the images will be used for. For that last 12 years I have been the official photographer at a number of work events and I knew that the images would be used both on web and in print and that they also wanted images in both portrait and landscape format. I therefore ensured that I could provide all of these images.
Sort out the timing for delivery and who handles the release of images It is also very important that you have a clear understanding of when images are needed and in this social media age, who will release them. Some events may not care but others will have a clear order in which the images are to be sent out, which may involve the people in the images clearing them for publication. From a copyright viewpoint, if you are shooting as part of your job, or if you have been asked to record the event by someone else, the default position is that copyright in the images belongs to your employer or the other party. So, if you think you may want to use the images yourself, then you need to have a contract signed that gives you some rights.
Make sure you include branding in the images
Check out the venue If at all possible, visit the venue before the event so that you can get an idea of the conditions that you will be shooting in, as well as the locations that you can shoot from. Generally, if you talk to the venue operators and explain that you are recording the event, they will give you access without too much difficulty. Take the camera and lens that you are thinking of using and see what settings are needed to shoot.
Know your gear This may seem obvious but, before you try to record an event in a dark hall, make sure you know how your gear operates in different lighting conditions. Don’t simply assume that you can use flash and if you can that it will be suitable to your needs. The reality with event photography is that you will only have a limited number of opportunities to get the shot, so mucking around with camera settings is not a good look. Having said that, it’s documentary photography and not high art. The old newspaper adage, that it is better to get a poor photo then no photo, certainly applies. It is unlikely that the images will be enlarged hugely so you can crank the ISO up and ignore the noise.
When flash is not an option you have to work with available light
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Get the right credentials or paperwork The type of event will determine what you need to show to gain admission carrying camera gear. However, even for something simple, it pays to plan ahead. Accreditation may range from simply the name of the person to contact at the venue through to full-on printed media passes. Make sure that any of the information provided to you is printed and in your camera bag. This avoids the potential difficulty when you arrive at the venue to find they have security who will only let in certain people.
Practise shooting people talking If you have been asked to record people making speeches, I would suggest you practise taking images of some friends rehearsing for you. You may think that photographing talking heads is really easy, but the reality is something quite different. When you talk the muscles on your face contort in all sorts of ways. The results are images that may be funny in some circumstances but in others would horrify the subject. I have a number of images of politicians that would definitely have me crossed off their Christmas card list (not that I am on any in the first place). The key is to take lots of images and to take time to review them if you can. Generally, when I record speakers at a conference I will watch them for the first 30 seconds to see how they speak and then shoot for a couple of minutes. Then I will review the images and, if I am happy with the shots I have, then I don’t bother taking more.
A presenter in full story will have no idea what their face is doing
Wide shots give an impression of the size of the event
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During the event If at all possible try not to stay in one place. Without making too much disturbance move around and shoot from different angles.
Move around and shoot from different angles
Always look out for the unusual
It is important to shoot the details as well
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PSNZ SONY National Exhibition catalogue to remain A4 FOLLOWING LAST YEAR’S innovation, the catalogue for the PSNZ SONY National Exhibition will again be the larger A4 size. The significantly larger reproduction of the photographs was well received. This time the format will be similar, changed slightly to reflect some of the feedback. Entrants of both print and projected image sections of the exhibition may be asked to supply high resolution files shortly after selection day on 14 March. To see all the awarded photographs in the catalogue enter the PSNZ SONY National Exhibition by 1 March 2020 or register for the 2020/Vision convention.
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FIAP Black and White Biennial 2020 PSNZ invites members to submit images for consideration for selection for this year’s PSNZ entry into the FIAP 35th Black and White (B&W) Print Biennial. At least one of the New Zealand prints will be included as a part of the B&W Exhibition being displayed in India during the 35th FIAP Congress this year. About 40 countries will be entering and we are aiming for a top ten finish. The theme for the PSNZ entry is: Our Sporting
Culture
The selectors for the NZ submission will be Lynn Clayton Hon PSNZ APSNZ EFIAP ESFIAP, Ann Bastion FPSNZ EFIAP MFIAP and Moira Blincoe LPSNZ. You are invited to submit a maximum of four borderless images in jpeg format only; (landscape or portrait format but preferably horizontal format.); compression 10, at 300 dpi and 1920 on the longest side (approx. 2 megabytes). These will be printed to 30x40cm. Please include your name as a part of the file name. (ie Joe Blogs-Catch That Ball.jpg) The PSNZ entry can only have one image per author. Unsuccessful image files will be deleted shortly after the selection process is concluded. No watermarks are to be included on images. Images that do not meet above criteria will not be considered for selection. The selectors decision will be final. Each entrant will be advised of the outcome of their submission. If you have any queries please e-mail Ann Bastion (ajbastion@gmail.com)
Submit your files via the PSNZ website, members area, ‘FIAP Biennial submission’ tab, by Wednesday 25 March (but preferably in February). Selecting will take place Sunday 29 March.
Some ideas Start with mud and sweat Rugby, mud wrestling, motorbike racing, anything muddy like this.
Cleaner recreation Yachting, swimming, cycling, surfing, kite surfing, pole vault, hurdles, archery, any athletic (shot put, discuss, gymnastics...)
Quieter artistic recreation Dancing, playing instruments, artists painting, walking in the park, bowls, pétanque.
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A Guide to Entering International Competitions By Ann Bastion FPSNZ EFIAP
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL who received awards in our 2019 International Salon. I would like to help you on your way to entering future international competitions by reinforcing some of the rules and requirements for international salons, in fact any salon. These rules are what you agree to abide by when entering such salons. To avoid disappointment by having your image disqualified you need to take note and read the rules pertaining to the particular salon you are entering. The following form a basic guideline for any salon, but there may also be particular restrictions given for the individual salon as well. You need to read the ‘Conditions of Entry’ that every salon will have on its website! • Any image, that has previously received an acceptance or higher in a salon, can’t be submitted again in the same salon the following year or any other year. • It can, however, be entered in any other salon that it has not had an acceptance from. There is software that is being used to check for this now. • A black and white version of a colour image is deemed to be the same image and must have the same title. • You can’t enter a colour image and a black and white version of the same image in the same salon. It has to be one or the other. • Once you have entered an image it must maintain that title in any subsequent salons in order to keep track of the image in the records.
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• You are not allowed to alter an image slightly and give it a new name. • Words such as ‘Untitled’ and ‘No Title’ are not acceptable, and any image with the camera capture numbers is also not accepted. • No title or identification of the maker shall be visible anywhere on the face of an image print mat or mount. • The definitions of any section that require them will be listed, and you need to adhere to them. They are basically the same as what we use in our SONY National Exhibition salon. • In sections like Nature, Travel and Photojournalism you are not permitted to add or remove anything from the image as captured and you are not permitted to add a texture overlay. • In open sections where computer work is allowable all elements in the image must have been created or captured by the author; in other words, no cutting and pasting-in small objects from images you have found on the internet. If you intend to apply for FIAP or PSA distinctions you must keep accurate records of all your acceptances. For further details on this contact FIAP Liaison Officer Ann Bastion at ajbastion@ gmail.com
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Speed It Up and Slow It Down! PSNZ Regional Convention – You’re Invited! JOIN US IN celebrating the art of photography at the PSNZ Regional Convention in Taupo from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September. Our theme highlights the many technical and artistic elements that we photographers use to create great images. There are so many ways to Speed It Up and Slow It Down in our photographic work. Do you want to capture the feeling of speed by slowing the shutter speed down and panning to evoke the sense of movement? Or capture the height of the action by upping your shutter speed and freezing the moment? John Cowpland knows all about this. As one of the country’s top sports photographers, John knows all about working at high speed and under intense deadline pressure, making quick decisions about the feeling he wants the image to evoke and what settings to use. Perhaps you prefer life at a slightly slower pace, taking your time. Taupo is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy the view, to make those beautiful landscape images, long exposures with beautiful milky waters as you look across to the mountain. Perhaps you like your images to have a more painterly look and want to try impressionism, the art of combining slow shutters speeds with movement, expressing emotion through photography. Both Bruce Girdwood FPSNZ and Eva Polak LPSNZ have this down to a fine art. If you’re keen to return to where photography started for you, the way it used to be, you will enjoy listening to Michael Bradley as he tells us about his personal project using wet plate photography. If you’re a traveller, someone who likes to get off the treadmill of everyday life and escape to another country, see other cultures, tell stories of other places and times gone by through your images, then Jeremy Bright APSNZ is your man. Our programme will be a mixture of high energy and chill, opportunities to catch up with old friends and make new acquaintances, learn about and share our passion for photography - all in and around Taupo, the wonderful and beautiful place that members of Taupo Camera club call home.
Our venue The convention will be based at Suncourt, an established and full-facility convention centre with easy walking distance to lake and town. It has an on-site restaurant and bar, and our convention dinner will be held on site. High quality accommodation is available at the centre, and Suncourt have agreed to hold all rooms for us until 30 May. View the facilities at suncourt.co.nz and when booking mention Taupo Camera Club for convention rates.
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Keynote speakers
Bruce Girdwood FPSNZ is a long-standing member and Fellow of the Photographic Society of New Zealand. He currently chairs the PSNZ Honours Board. Originally from southern Africa, Bruce has lived in New Zealand since 1996. He leads photographic tours, runs creative photography workshops and frequently presents photographic talks around New Zealand. “As I progress through life I seek to give expression to what I find in my journey of self-discovery. Some people talk, some write, some paint, some sculpt, some photograph and others combine some or all of these to express their views, thoughts, feelings, experiences and discoveries as they journey. I try to achieve this through my photography. My photography is an intensely personal expression of who I am and hope to be.”
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Eva Polak LPSNZ As a photographer, artist, author and teacher, Eva Polak is well known for her enthusiasm and passion for impressionist photography. She has written three books: Impressionist Photography Techniques – A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Great Images by Using Your Digital Camera, Transcended Light, and The Secret Life of Dandelions, describing ways to use your camera for painterly effect. Eva has had three solo exhibitions and has participated in a variety of group exhibitions. Her photographs are in private collections in New Zealand, Australia and Europe. As an educator, Eva has passed on her knowledge and experience to keen photographers through a variety of workshops.
John Cowpland
Jeremy Bright APSNZ is originally from the U.K., from Essex in fact. He likes to point out, ‘from real Essex, not London overspill - and proud of it’. Cortinas and fluffy dice aside, he feels that being born and raised in this heartland gives him a certain edge to his character that people feel drawn to. In 2010 he formed Grabb – for image excellence, a commercial photographic company that produces stills and moving imagery, specifically for businesses and corporates. He also continues to work as a freelance documentary photographer and is passionate about the many personal projects that are at the heart of his creativity. In both endeavours his fascination is for storytelling – to discover the subtle nuances behind the person and subject, in other words, what makes people tick. He loves the chance encounter, a passing conversation or an observed situation. He is now in his 29th year behind the camera. His journey continues . . .
An award-winning photographer based in Napier, John Cowpland has been shooting full time for more than 30 years, for the past 18 years running his own business, Alphapix. John shoots a variety of commercial and editorial work and covers sports for numerous clients. John’s images grace the pages of many national and international newspapers and magazines every week. In 2017 John was awarded Sports Photographer of the Year at the Sir Terry McLean National Sports Journalism Awards. John has covered world cups, a variety of major sporting events and the Commonwealth Games. He was one of only two New Zealand photographers at the Rio Olympics and he will be joining us freshly back from the Tokyo Olympics. We can’t wait to hear about his experience as a photographer during the Olympics and as professional sports photographer; what it’s like to work for a wire service and filing images while still on the sideline capturing the action. John will explain how the latest technology allows the rapid turnaround of photos that clients now demand.
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Michael Bradley Michael is based in Auckland and specialises in commercial, food, editorial and sports photography. He works for a wide range of corporate clients and sporting organisations including ANZ Bank Ltd, SKY CITY, Foodstuffs, The Edge, Netball New Zealand. He is also a contract photographer for Fairfax Media. Michael covers a number of major sporting events in New Zealand: he is the official photographer for Netball New Zealand, has covered the world netball champs and two Commonwealth Games. On the flip side of all this fast-paced sports action, Michael set himself a personal project, spent four years mastering the art of wet-plate photography, studying under the guidance of “godfather of wet-plate�, Brian Scadden. In his research Michael became fascinated by the way the wet-plate process served to essentially erase ta moko. This fascination all came together after lots of research and hard work, culminating in his PUAKI exhibition in 2018. We are excited to have Michael joining us as one of our keynote speakers. We look forward to hearing about his fascinating journey and seeing images from his exhibition.
Bruce Girdwood Eva Polak
Jeremy Bright
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Workshops and Programme We’re excited to promote our region and what it has to offer photographically. Taupo has opportunities to practise everything from beautiful lakescapes to sport and action, impressionism, street photography and industrial landscapes. Here are some of the options we are working on. • Impressionism workshops with Eva Polak and Bruce Girdwood - endless opportunities with our beautiful lake shore just a stone’s throw from the venue. • Timberline Huskies field trip – visit New Zealand’s largest Siberian Husky race kennel. Get up close and personal with the huskies and photograph them them running as a team around the purpose-built track. • Graffiti Walk • Action Photography - workshops with John Cowpland and Michael Bradley. There is no better place for action photography than Taupo; there is always something happening. • Industrial Landscapes – we have access to the Wairakei contact energy site. Photograph our geothermal power facilities and make stunning industrial landscape images. • Natural Landscapes – our lake and mountains, the mighty Waikato River, the Huka Falls, forests and more. • Botanical Gardens • Taupo Markets • Other Treats – Watch this space for confirmation of other exciting locations.
Key Timeline Convention registrations will open at the end of April, just after the National Convention. The full programme, workshops and field trip options will be on our website prior to registration opening. You will have plenty of time to choose your options.
John Cowpland
Michael Bradley
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Audio-Visual Notes by Trish McAuslan APSNZ AV-LAPS EFIAP AAPS AV Coordinator for PSNZ
Challenge 321 THE CHALLENGE IS to tell your AV story in no more than 3 minutes 21 seconds. This is a fun competition which is open to all AV makers. Why not create a short AV and have a go? The competition is open for entries now and it closes on 15 March. For more information, check out the website: www. challenge321.org
Tauranga Audio-Visual Salon This year the Tauranga club celebrates the tenth year they have run this competition. The information for this year’s Tauranga Salon is now on their website: https:// taurangaphoto.nz/ under the heading ‘AudioVisual Salon’. Entries will open on 5 May. The only significant change this year is that authors may leave their name on their AV, preferably in the credits at the end of the programme. This is important in terms of establishing the copyright ownership of an AV. We realise that this may be a little uncomfortable for many New Zealand entrants as we are not used to doing this. To the best of my knowledge, ours is the only country which has specifically banned the inclusion of authors’ names on AVs. Consequently this causes problems for some entrants who have to create a special programme for the New Zealand competition and for the organisers who frequently have to contact an author and ask them to remove their name and resubmit their entry. We had considerable discussion before deciding to follow what is the norm in international competition. Because AVs are
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several minutes in length, we realised that the judging is generally completed by the end of the AV, so seeing the author’s name is not likely to influence experienced judges. In any competition the judges are likely to have seen a number of the AVs before and probably know who the author is, or they recognise the author’s voice, so we expect our judges to be sufficiently professional not to allow this to influence their judgement. Other AVs are created by people the judges have never heard of so they are not likely to be influenced by an unknown name.
Award Winners in the Jack Sprosen Memorial Trophy Competition for AVs Congratulations to you all. Members will be able to see these AVs at the PSNZ Convention in Christchurch this April. Here is what the authors had to say about their successful audio-visuals.
Bruce Burgess FPSNZ Gold Medal and the Jack Sprosen Memorial Trophy for Te o Whakaari The Dramatic Volcano
The images made for this documentary-style audio-visual were taken on an outing to White Island during the PSNZ National Convention hosted by Tauranga Photographic Society in 2015.
Matt Leamy LPSNZ Silver Medal (winner of Music Poetry and Song) for Body
This was my second visit to White Island, so I knew what to expect and had made a visual AV in my mind. Although there were instructions to closely follow the tour guides in a tight group for safety reasons, I tried to capture as many images as possible to cover the field, knowing that I would make an AV in the future. Although it was midday in bright sunlight, the images were captured in wide screen aspect by eliminating as much blue sky as possible and concentrating on the beautiful colours, textures, light and shadow and moonlike landscapes, coupled with the mystic light caused by the eerie steam and mist. A thorough Google search provided the facts for the documentary and many hours of Internet searching finally supplied the haunting audio track.
The primary motivation for creating this AV was for the benefit of my stepson who worked so hard to be on that stage.
Although we wore hard hats and carried gas masks on the White Island tour, I never felt afraid for my safety during the exploration of an active volcano. It was just a sheer coincidence that the judging of the JSMT occurred a few days before the volcano erupted. I felt very emotional with much sadness on hearing of the tragedy from the eruption and declined offers to make the AV available on various social media platforms as the death toll and names of the victims were not known at that time. It was considered to be too raw in my mind.
My thinking was that he needed something to remember this by. Not only do these guys and girls work hard on the stage, they dehydrate for two days before a performance. But what I found most impressive was to see how much fun they’re having and it shows on their faces. The square format with lots of black background and no borders was a bit of a risk, the thinking being to emphasise how they are coming out of the screen at you. The music was easy to choose, they were playing “I’m sexy and I know it “ during the final showdown.
But the AV will preserve, in time, the natural beauty of this mystical but obviously dangerous place, prior to the 2019 eruption.
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Sue Riach APSNZ ARPS AFIAP Silver Medal (winner of Theme) for Photography and the Artist
I wanted to create an AV which documented my journey as a new photographer, from six years ago to now and the learning and joy I had along the way, that not only opened up my latent creative side but also ignited a great passion for the craft. Sheryl Williams APSNZ Bronze Medal for Zion National Park - Winter Wonderland
We had visited Zion about seven years ago in the summer and, while it was spectacular at that time of year, I was keen to visit during the winter. We got the opportunity two years ago. As we started our hike, it started to snow very heavily and the scenery became otherworldly. Then it gradually started to clear and I was rewarded with lots of beautiful changing light, stunning contrasts and wonderful colours. That became my story, trying to capture the unfolding majesty of this beautiful park as the weather changed.
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John Hodgson EFIAP/b AV-AFIAP FAPS AV-FAPS Bronze Medal for Gloria
The images for Gloria were all taken on a visit to Prague and a week cruising down the Danube. Because flashes and tripods were not allowed in what were generally dimly-lit church interiors, I had to shoot all the images at 6400 ISO and deal with the inevitable noise during processing. The underlying idea behind the sequence was a celebration of the extravagant rococo architecture characterising the churches. I thought it appropriate to accompany the images with a richly ornamented piece of music from the same period.
THAT “PHOTOGRAPH” YOU’RE SO PROUD OF IS JUST ANOTHER COMPUTER FILE UNTIL YOU CAN HANG IT ON A WALL. A photo only becomes a photograph when you can touch it, feel it, and frame it. For that, all you need is time, technique, taste and a paper that make the most of what you’ve made. If you’re proud of your work, print it.
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PSNZ Canon Online Results from Round 6, 2019 HERE ARE THE results from the final round of this year’s PSNZ Canon Online competition. I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful few days socialising, eating far too much delicious food and are now soaking up the delightful weather. While we’ve all been relaxing, our judge for this round has been hard at work reviewing and selecting her top 10 images, also determining of course the overall winner for 2019! For this round, our judge was Michelle Usher LPSNZ. Michelle is a Wairarapa-based photographer and has been a PSNZ Judge for a number of years. She is currently studying through the Open College of Arts to complete a BA in photography. She enjoys travel, documentary and landscape photography - you can see her work at www.mcuphotography.co.nz. This is my final round as coordinator and I would like to thank all the selectors and the 224 entrants this year for making the task so enjoyable and allowing me the opportunity to view nearly 550 beautiful artworks over the six rounds. From next year, Paul Willyams LPSNZ AFIAP MNZIPP will be taking over as coordinator. Finally, congratulations to the following authors who managed to enter all six rounds this year: Allysa Carberry LPSNZ, Deborah Martin, Dennis Tohovaka, Eunice Belk LPSNZ, Hartmut Joschonek, Helen Howie, Jeanette Nee APSNZ, Jo Curtis LPSNZ, Julia Home APSNZ EFIAP GPSA PPSA, Kate Beauchamp, Liz Hardley FPSNZ, EFIAP/b LRPS, Lynn Fothergill LPSNZ, Lynn Hedges LPSNZ, Peter Rodgers LPSNZ, Prashant Joshi, Richard Laing, Roger Ball, Ron Willems Hon PSNZ FPSNZ AFIAP ARPS FAPS, Shona Jaray APSNZ, Sue Riach APSNZ ARPS and Vivianne Baldwin APSNZ. Well done everyone, and best wishes for your pursuits in 2020. James Gibson APSNZ EFIAP PSNZ Canon Online Coordinator
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Comments from the judge:
Michelle Usher LPSNZ
1st Subtle Awakening by Jo Curtis LPSNZ Such simplicity and power in this image. There is such a feeling of a cool misty morning walk with the dog. The soft tones really make this image.
2nd Out of the Fog by Roger Ball Another great image that reminds me of walking across London Bridge on my way to work. Great use of leading lines which take you into the image. The tones and processing really give that feeling of Sherlock Homes.
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PSNZ Canon Online: 3rd Lady of Shalott by Karen Moffatt-McLeod LPSNZ A beautiful portrait of this little girl playing ‘dress-up’. The lighting gives a soft thoughtful mood to the image.
4th Into the Blue by Bryan Lay Yee A strong image based on bold colours and geometric lines. I really like the simplicity and the use of negative space.
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5th Please by Lynn Hedges LPSNZ A powerful documentary portrait. Great interaction between subject and photographer. The tight crop helps to focus my eyes on all the fine detail, from the dirt under her nails to the dust on her eyelashes.
6th Ying Yang by Rebecca King A powerful and well executed portrait. It really makes me think and question what might be hiding on the other side.
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PSNZ Canon Online:
7th White Heron in Nest Plumage by Ron Willems HonPSNZ FPSNZ AFIAP ARPS FAPS A simple and elegant image showing this delicate bird within its surroundings. The side lighting helps to highlight the beautiful detail of the plumage.
8th Perpetual Performer by Kathy Richards LPSNZ A well lit, exposed and processed table-top study. Great use of repeating patterns to give a 3D feel.
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9th Waitanguru Falls by Karl Tretheway LPSNZ A well-executed monochrome landscape image of this waterfall. The zig-zag of the water takes my eye into and through the scene. Great detail in the shadows and the slow shutter speed have produced a lovely softness in the water.
10th Tranquil by Prashant Joshi Another well-executed seascape. The posts take me into the water and out to the horizon. Great detail in the rocks which makes me want to explore the scene and it holds my attention.
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The Whanganui Salon 2019 – Humanity and Earth By Club President John Smart LPSNZ
IT WAS A fantastic experience to host the Whanganui Salon again after a gap of 27 years. Particularly moving were the links to the past that remain, with several club members and visitors able to reminisce and share their experiences of the former glories of the Salon and its prominence in the mid-20th century New Zealand photography world. Having Whanganui Camera Club Patron and former PSNZ President Vonnie Cave MNZM Hon FPSNZ FPSNZ MNZM present the awards to winning photographers who attended the awards dinner in October was especially poignant. We were delighted to receive over 400 entries across the three categories under our Salon theme “Humanity and Earth”. All images given awards by our three judges can be seen on the club web site: http://www. whanganuicameraclub.org.nz/whanganuisalon-2019.html
Vonnie Cave presenting Category Winner Certificate to Roger Smith
The relationship between Humanity and Earth is the defining issue of our times. As photographers, we can play a small but important role in shining a light on it. The three categories provided opportunities to illustrate both the good and the bad of our impact on the planet. Our three judges - Drew Hopper (Australia), Petra Leary (Auckland) and Simon Woolf FPSNZ (Wellington) - did a fabulous job in identifying the most evocative images from the high quality and highly diverse entries.
Category winners Human Settlements and Technology: Lake Powell by Les Rackham Humanity and Nature: Keep Vehicles Away from Nesting Birds by Roger Smith
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With the experience and success of the 2019 Whanganui Salon still fresh in our minds, we are already starting to plan the Whanganui Salon 2021. Our aim is to establish it as an ongoing biennial Salon. As its significance is likely to grow, we intend retaining the overall theme Humanity and Earth - so keep taking photos of the world and the relationship our species has with it. We will publish details of the next Salon in early 2021 if not before keep an eye out!
Humanity and the Environment Category Winner and overall Salon winner The Cooling Tower by Jay Drew APSNZ
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Club news If your club has information or events that you would like to share, email the details to Lindsay Stockbridge LPSNZ at dilinz@ actrix.co.nz.
From the Past FROM THE VERY first edition of “Camera in New Zealand” in 1967, which was the forerunner of New Zealand Camera, Man of the land by Vonnie Cave MNZM Hon FPSNZ FPSNZ.
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PSNZ Membership Benefits Helping photographers grow As a PSNZ member you can enjoy a range of benefits, including: • Expert advice to help improve your photography. • The opportunity to achieve a higher Society distinction (APSNZ, FPSNZ). • A complimentary copy of New Zealand Camera, and the ability to submit your images for selection in this annual publication. • Access to member only resources, including a member only PSNZ Facebook page for social chat and updates with other members. • The opportunity to enter the Canon Online Competition, with trophies for each round and for the overall winner each year. • Discounts for Society activities, such as the annual PSNZ national convention, special workshops, international competitions and much more. • The opportunity to participate in regional club meetings and events, including the PSNZ Workshop Series • A copy of our bimonthly magazine – CameraTalk, with news, reviews, events and some of the best photography around. • The opportunity to exhibit your work in exhibitions such as the PSNZ Canon National Exhibition, Regional Salons and other member only online competitions. • Access to judge training workshops which are free for PSNZ members. • Ability to promote your website on our website. • Receive our regular blog posts to stay up to date with the latest news on events, activities and special offers. • Product discounts and savings when they are offered from our corporate partners and associated companies. • Discounts for major NZIPP events as a PSNZ member.
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Predictions from the Past From a tech tips page in April 1999 in answer to the question, “Will digital cameras replace 35mm film?”.
Film will continue to be with us when we need the highest quality image possible. At other times, when we don’t need an image that will be greatly enlarged, digital has become the qualified contender. The best of both the film and digital world can work side-by-side to enrich our photography.
The last image
St Patricks Cathedral in Melbourne, shot from a very low level with a 7mm lens by Paul Whitham LPSNZ.
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