Nature Photo Magazine 2010/2 by Természetfotó Magazin

Nature photo magazine

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drops | Tips and tricks Loire-Atlantique, West of France | Photo adventures Canon EOS 1d mark IV | Field test

2010/2.

welcome Dear Reader! Welcome to our second issue of this year (2010/2.) We have made some changes in the content of the magazine. New columns and interesting places make our repertoire more colourful. It gives us a great pleasure that János Eifert fine art photographer publishes in our „People - Cultures - Cities” column in which this time Paris is highlighted. In our „Adventure trip” we present a region of France (Loire-Atlantique) which is far from the crowd of the tourists but is still near the Ocean. We take you to this natural wonder through the photos of Anikó Imre and Tamás Imre. In our „Interesting places „ column Transylvania and the cultivated lands of Hungary are highlighted, presenting the beauties of Eastern-Europe. In our „Portfolio” column we welcome Zsuzsanna Tóth whose wonderful pictures of drops, lights and atmospheres can be a real feast for your eyes. In the „Photo School” series this time we analyse the role of the atmospheres and we try to reveal how to transmit their messages through the pictures. Our „Tips and Tricks” column deals with an interesting subject again: we highlighted the photography of waterdrops and its tricks with the help of László Suhayda’s pictures. We could „Tested in the field” Canon’s newest, cutting-edge camera which was born to nature photography. Anikó Imre and Tamás Imre simply said about EOS 1D Mark IV: „It was a great experience to work with it.” Among the photo clubs now we can get acquainted with the nature photography section of the Photo Club of Győr. We present Olympus PEN E-P2 digital camera, which was designed for city, landscape and people photography. Dániel Selmeczi dazzles us by his wonderful pictures of the sea life of the Malpelo and the Cocos islands which are situated in Central-America. We launched our new „Diapanorama” series of articles in which we show you the magic of the slide show travelogue which is based on the interaction of visual and audio effects. In our series on photo processing now Photoshop CS5 came into the front, and Márton Perhiniák shows the novelties in a video tutorial. With the help of Bence Máté’s photos and Ágnes Kis’s text we can spy into the life of the bee-eaters in Pusztaszer. Our websites has been developed into a dynamic site so we could publish news, exhibitions and other useful information much more frequently. Please visit us regularly at: www.termeszetfotomagazin.hu TAKE PART IN the popularization of nature photography through our EYE OF NATURE website, where our photographers can share their experiences and opinions by their pictures. We await the portfolios of nature photography clubs and individual photographers. Getting enthusiastic about the success of our „Beautiful places of the world” column we are waiting for the registration of those photographers who are willing to share their photo sites selflessly with others. The most beautiful selections will be published in the magazine as well. You can send your portfolio and pictures to: info@naturephotomagazine.com Please receive our fifth issue with love. Tamás Imre Editor-in-Chief Cover: Wild coast Photo: © Anikó Imre Canon EOS 1D Mark II, EF 16-35mm f/2,8 USM 2 sec, f/22, ISO 100 állvány

Portfolio - Zsuzsanna Tóth 30

transylvania 12

tips and tricks - drops

Erdély. Minden magyarban ennek a szónak a hallatán erős érzelmi kötődés alakul ki. A trianoni békeszerződés következtében megszűnt történelmi Magyarország legnagyobb tájegysége, amely ma Románia részét képezi. Hányatott történelmű vidék, melynek magyarsága túlélte a kun, tatár, török, osztrák háborúkat, Ceausescu diktatúráját. Ezen a vidéken hirdették meg először a vallásszabadságot. A történelem folyamán együtt élt itt a magyar, székely, szász, román - hol békében, hol harcban.

Eső után, vagy hűvös, harmatos reggelen számtalan érdekes kompozíciót kínál a Természet: a vízcseppek teljesen megváltoztatják a parányok világát. Egy egyébként hétköznapinak mondható dolog szép és izgalmas témává válhat a csillogó apró vízcseppek jelenlétében. Többféleképpen „használhatjuk” a jelenséget: a cseppek lehetnek csak díszítőelemek, mint például egy virágfotónál, ami eső után készült a vizes virágról, vagy csak az életlen csillogások foltjait használjuk a kompozícióban.

Canon EOS 1D mark IV test

A Canon EOS 1D Mark IV végleges kereskedelmi verzióját a Canon Hungária jóvoltából vehettük magunkhoz január elején és április végén 3-3 napra. A Canon sajtóhírei alapján megszületett az a váz, amire régóta vágytak a Canon professzionális felhasználók. Nem bíztunk a véletlenre semmit, ezért műteremben az ISO érzékenységet és az élességet, terepen pedig az autofókusz gyorsaságát és pontosságát teszteltük.

olympus pen e-p2

Az Olympus legújabb félprofesszionális fényképezőgépe nem egyszerű digitális gép és nem is DSLR, hanem PEN. A fényképezőgépet elsősorban a haladó amatőröknek fejlesztette ki a gyártó, mely olyan tulajdonságokat ötvöz magában, mint a kompakt méret, de cserélhető objektíves, mint a DSLR.

Bence Máté - bee eaters

Megérkeztek. Május 3-át írunk. Jellegzetes “fuvola füttyük”-ről - ahogy azt becsült magyar költőnk, Áprily Lajos írja versében - kétség nélkül felismerni ezeket a színpompás madarakat, melyek valamivel később érkeznek, mint a többi vonuló madárfajunk. Ősszel ugyancsak korán, már szeptemberben csapatokba verődve indulnak vissza Kelet-és Dél-Afrikába.

Photo adventures loire atlantic 6 Interesting places cultivated lands 22 photo school atmospheres 40 People, cities, cultures paris 60 photo club photo club of győr 66 life underwater cocos: Island of Sharks 78 diaporama wings platinum 85 digital image editing photoshop cs5 88

2 sec, f/22, ISO 100 stand

Photo adventures

Loire-Atlantique, West of France Loire-Atlantique and Bretagne: this is the corner of France stretching into the Atlantic Ocean which has a totally different face than the usual French coasts. The wonderful land and bird world of this country blessed with natural treasures was our destination. Wild, lacy coasts, mouths of rivers, Â swamps and salt evaporation ponds (or salterns) make this land attractive to nature photographers.

Briére National Park and its environs Through our adventure on the Atlantic-coast, we would like to present the atmosphere, the natural beauties and the rare bird species of this beautiful land. This area is not a well-known destination for nature photographers, - particularly its western part - as it is 400 kilometres far from Paris which is not a short distance to travel. There are not extraordinary species or mass bird populations but the land and the atmosphere is unique. In the first place we chose the Briére National Park, the Le Croisic Coast and the salt evaporation ponds near Guérande to be our photo scenes. It is no accident as the national park includes a fresh water swamp (70 square km) which is inhabited by plenty of water birds and muskrats. We were here before on an IFWP (International Federation of Wildlife Photography) meeting in 2005, so the place was not unknown for us. We have to say thank you to our French friends, without their help our photo tour has not been so successful. Let us take one after the other what are the photo themes we can shoot here. There is a moorland in the Briére National Park where - just lake at the Tisza-lake - we can get as close to the birds as possible by boat. Since this land is not frequently visited by tourists, birds are not afraid of men. We can spot plenty of species of waterbirds, however, it is worth to highlight one of them, as here is the only presence of the African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) which mainly occurs in Africa, but here in this national park a rewilded population has multiplied. Presently, we can find about 80100 couples. They can be easily photographed as we can approach them even up to 10 meters. The other species like the Eurasian Spoonbill, the Little Egret, the Grey Heron and the cormorants can be found in Hungary too. Boating and enjoying the sounds of nature is a fantastic experience on this wild swamp. Our other photo destination were the salt evaporation ponds of Guérande. The main theme to photograph here is the Pied Avocet. They can be approached up to 4-5 meters without any lurking place, using only a small camouflage net. Their main feed is between the muddy sandbanks which are rich in salt. The local conservation authority has made 10-15 evaporation ponds here but they do not maintain them, just let nature have her way.

Planning Scene: Loire-Atlantique, West of France. Accessibility: By car or by train from the Paris airport. What can you shoot: Birds and landscape. What to take: A wide-angle lens 16-35 mm, a telephoto lens 300 mm, with a 1,4x teleconverter if possible; tripod; ND graduated filter; memory cards, camouflage net. Accomodation: In the region of Nantes we can find good quality accomodation. Best time to go: From April to June.

That’s how they can provide natural conditions for the Pied Avocet and the Common Stilt. These long-legged birds prefer this salty, swampy living place. It is worth to get up early and take photos in the most beautiful lighting conditions. The sun path is quite strange in May: due to the time difference the sun rises at 6 in the morning and sets 10 in the evening. During the interval we can relax and have lunch in the pretty, intimate villages nearby. In this land we can shoot other interesting birds too, such as the Bluethroat and the Common Tern. Our third destination was the region of Le Croisic, where we could photograph plenty of small coastal birds. My favourite one is the Ruddy Turnstone, they are really spectacular and colourful. This part offers great opportunities for landscape photography as well, since here the endless waves of the ocean storm the cliffs and the sandy coast. A stable tripod and long exposures secure various chances for those who are committed to this genre. The western coast of France has granted us many beautiful sights, it has been really worth travelling so far and make ourselves familiar with this varied and friendly land.

Text: Tamás Imre Photos: Anikó Imre and Tamás Imre

Interesting places

Transylvania - In the ring of mountains of the CarpathiansÂ

Canon EOS 5D, EF 70-200 mm

6sec f/22 ISO 50

Fuji FinePix S2Pro, 28 mm

1/4sec f/8 ISO 200

Transylvania. Hearing this word every Hungarian feels strong emotions. As a result of the peace treaty at Trianon (in 1920) the largest region of the Old-Hungary ceased to exist and became a part of the present Romania. This is a land of stormy history, the local Hungarians has survived the wars with the Cumanians, the Tartars, the Osman-Turkish and the Austrian empire, and finally the dictatorship of Ceuasescu. This is the land where religious liberty was granted first in Europe. Throughout history Hungarians, Székelys, Saxons and Romanians have lived together here, now in war, now in peace. The landscape has a unique charm, living by the snow-capped mountains of the Carpathians has always required hard work from locals. Archaic lifestyle - which has disappeared in Hungary by now - has been preserved up to present here. During our wanderings, we looked up suddenly for the names of the villages and towns: Apáca is the home village of János Apáczai, one of the greatest Hungarian educator, Barót is the home village of Dávid Baróti Szabó, an eminent literary man of the18th century. Here is the memory of Kelemen Mikes, the secretary of Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II in his exile in Rodostó, there are the memories of the Bolyai brothers, the great mathematicians, over there is Segesvár and we think of Petőfi - and so on. Székelyderzs which has the most beautiful example of fortified churches is on the World Heritage List of the UNESCO, Gelence is famous for its unique frescos of the Saint László legend. The centuries old remains of the Saxon culture, which have been perishing since the emigration of the local German people in the 1970s and 1980s, the wonderful fortified churches, etc. all remain the part of the Hungarian history and culture, irrespective of the changed borders. The territory of Transylvania is more than 100 000 km2, so its natural beauty cannot be presented in a short article, I only flash a few places. The region of the Defile „Békás” and the Lake „Gyilkos” are among the most visited places. The „Nagyhagymás” National Park is one of the most exciting sites.

Fuji FinePix S2Pro, 70-200 mm

1/45 sec f/11 ISO 160

The Lake Gyilkos is at a height of 983 m, and came into being as a result of a landslide 150 years ago. Several legends are connected to its birth. As for photography, autumn is the most beautiful season, at that time - if we are willing to set up our tripod before sunrise - we can witness wonderful lights. Get some proper literature and explore the region. A booklet titled Kalandozások a

Gyilkos-tónál („Wanderings around the Lake Gyilkos”) and published by „Mark House” offers some excellent walking paths. Its editor László Dezső, a nature photographer and member of the Photo Club of Győr is an excellent guide. He hikes hundreds of kilometers in Gyergyó and throughout Transylvania every year. Do not miss the Defile Békás which has hundreds of meters high precipices and

a gorge only 20-30 meters points. If we leave the main roads tourism, we can spot a ne a moment. There is also a different scene in winter, b as even minus 25 C° cold i Another significant lake o the Lake St. Anna which w crater of a volcano called „

s wide at some

s of mass ew world in completely but be careful is not rare here. of Transylvania is was formed in a „Nagycsomád”

at a height of 950 meters. Once it was a double crater with two lakes, but one of the lakes turned into a peat bog and formed the special world of „Mohos” today. The area is a nature reserve. It has a unique atmosphere in early spring and in autumn. Once I have experienced 15 cm of snow in October. The region of Parajd, the „Sóvidék” („Salt Land”) is also a special scene.

Fuji FinePix S2Pro, 70-200 mm

1/125sec f/5,6 ISO 100

Fuji FinePix S2Pro, 28 mm

1/30sec f/11 ISO 160

After a tour in the salt-mine (which is a must!) visit „Sószoros” („Defile Salt”) where the Stream Korond cut across Europe’s highest salt rock. Surface salt rocks similar to this can be found only in Spain the nearest. It is also a nature reserve, visitors have to pay a small entrance fee in high season. It is the most beautiful in autumn and in winter. In winter, it often has a frosty fog which gives a unique atmosphere to the scene. A temperature of minus 20 C° is not rare here. If we are in Parajd, it is worth to climb up to the Plateau „Görgényi-Hargita”. Here can be found Székelyvarság, a village with the biggest territory in Romania at a height of 850-1000 meters. Its territory comes near to the capital’s, however, it is inhabited by only 1500 people. The peaks of the „Hargita” is in the proximity and offers real treats for photographers who are willing to discover its hidden treasures. It is a fantastic sight

when the peak emerges out of the blanket of fog which covers the „Csíki” Basin. It is covered by meters of snow during the winter and the snow remain until late spring. I hope that more and more photographer visits this region and discovers the beauty of the landscape and the hospitality of local people. This exceptionally beautiful land captured me in 2001. I come here several times a year and I have made a lot of friends. That’s what makes me to offer an expert guide to those photographers who are attracted to both nature and the still existing archaic, rural culture. This is the 7th time that our International Photo Workshop of Transylvania, called „In Search of Lost Cultures” will be organized in October 2010, under the guidance of László Dezső and myself. Everybody is welcome

Szöveg és fotó: Szabó Béla www.belafoto.hu

Planning Scene: A part of Rumania surrounded by the Carpathian mountains, a region called „Székelyföld” (the Land of the Székelys”). Accessibility: Motorway is under construction in this part of Rumania, only a 60 km section (the ring of Kolozsvár) has been opened yet. The quality of public roads differs widely, main roads are often busy with lorries. Most of the roads cut across villages, so the traffic is quite slow. You can expect horse carriages, or - in some places - ox or buffalo drawn vehicles. Some of the roads even cannot be called „roads” to certain villages. What can you shoot? The only limit is your interest. Nature, architecture and the still existing archaic rural lifestyle. What to take: Fisheye lens, wide-angle lens 16-35 mm,

wide-angle tele-zoom lens 24-70 mm, telephoto lens 80200 mm, tripod, ND2x, ND4x, ND8x, ND graduated filter, cable release. Proper hiking boots are basic, waterproof clothes are also useful. Photo backpack is practical. Accommodation: Although there are plenty of places to stay, shop around before booking. It is worth booking in advance. Quality of accommodation differs widely. Rural tourism works in a lot of places. The best time to go: All year round. However, certain places are inaccessable in winter. At the end of the summer season even the popular places get quiet. A nyári szezon végével a felkapott helyek is lecsendesednek. Do not miss: Roast meats are excellent. Do not miss the roast meatball called „mitch”. Try the traditional soups as well. „Puliszka”, a specialty of the Transylvanian cuisine is also a must. Be careful with home-made „pálinka”. It is barely distilled under 50 % ABV.

Cultivated lands in hungary It is worth to take an excursion into this field of photography as the mixture of natural and manmade things can result in some very interesting compositions. We should look for the unusual situations. Sometimes an unexpected sight such as the (often conflicting) coexistence of an industrial landscape and the nature can be an interesting photo theme. Photography of cultivated lands - as every landscape photography - needs contrasted light, at least a medium-contrast, however, taking pictures in special lighting conditions is the most worthwhile. A mistless and clear air is also important, you can have the best chance for it after the passing of a cold front. These lands - ploughlands, sown-lands, avenues - are filled with geometrical forms, straight lines and curves, patches and powerful graphic effects. The regular furrows of a plowed field, clods in the same size and shine are excellent photo themes starting from the end of the winter when the melting snow still hides between the furrows. The sight is the most beautiful if we have a view of the land which is more likely in a hilly country. In a plain country we have to climb up somewhere to get a suitable perspective. Perhaps the most beautiful cultivated land is the one which has regular, repeating waves. The regularity of the furrows is broken by turns of the tractors, groups of trees or bushes, rocky places or depressions in an interesting way. Other, accidental patterns can loosen the geometrical order of the furrows such as the variable shades of the surface caused by the difference in humidity or the shadow play of passing clouds on the ground. Telephotolenses do a good service because they brings distant things closer, make the sight more compact so that we could put more emphasis on the configuration of the terrain and on the graphic patterns. The blueness of the sky and the white or grey shades of the passing clouds can be added to the typical colours of the soil.Â

Canon EOS 300, Sigma 2,8-4/28-105 mm

Canon EO

OS 5D Mark II, EF-L 2,8/16-35 mm

OS 30D, EF 3,5-4,5/28-105 mm

© Suhayda László f/13 1/160 s ISO 200 In case of a spectacular sky - which has a variety of forms - we can take a photo with an emphasis on the sky where the proportion of the sky can be two-third or even more. A sky before storm, into which the sun shines in, can give to the picture a dramatic effect. When the sky has no special details we should take a picture with an inverse proportion, or leave only a little bit of the sky in the picture. If the landscape to be photographed dominated by geometrical forms we can even leave the sky out. In these cases few colours or a black and white photo can even strengthen the message of the picture. Diagonal lines, curved ridges of hills and valleys make the photo more exciting, especially if we managed to place some stressed motif at one of the trisection points. The fresh, growing crop brings different shades of green into the picture besides the regularity of the lines. The large, flowering fields - rape, sunflower - mainly impress by the power of colours. Wind can bring gentle shades into the ripen cornfield, such as the cornflowers, the poppies or the summer pheasant’s-eyes (Adonis aestivalis). On the lands which are let lie fallow for a while a colourful mixture of wild flowers can make a carpet. We can form interesting, closed geometrical figures out of the massive, cylindric bales of the reaped corfields. Playing with our own shadow we can take humorous photos as well. Cordons of a vineyard can be a rewarding theme as well. Flowering fields are lovingly visited by insects. The huge discs of the sunflowers are well-laid tables for flies, bees, wasps, bumble-bees. From time to time we can witness a real drama when the flower (crab) spider (Misumena vatia) pounces on its unsuspecting victim.

Canon EOS 3, EF-L 4/500 mm

So do not leave your macro lens and the extension tubes at home. The sunflower usually takes a south-eastern or southern direction which can be easily photographed with a polar filter (in the morning!) against the blue sky even when the sun is higher, however, due to the colour of the light and the shadow conditions, cultivated lands look better at dawn, early morning or in

the twilight. The geometry of the inflorescence or the fruit of certain plants is also interesting such as the arrangement of seeds on the disc of the sunflower or the curved „arms” of the lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia). Cultivated lands start almost under our feet so we should use an aperture f/11 or f/16 and a tripod

Canon T90, FD 4/24 mm

and a cable release. If you do not own the latter, you can also use a shutter release, however, it has the possible disadvantage that the lightning conditions might change during the period of time which can be set (2 secs, 5 secs, etc.) In order to heighten the contrast and deepen the colours the circular polarized filter does a really

good job. If the difference of lighting conditions cannot be „brought together” without any aid, then use a Cokin (or any other filter system) grey, graduated semi-filter.

Text and photos: László Suhayda, Árpád Krivánszky

Zsuzsanna Tóth Zsuzsanna Tóth was born in 1977 in Hatvan. She completed her primary and secondary studies in Hatvan, too. At the moment she works on financial field as a sales assistant. Besides office work she is a keen nature-worshipper in her free time. She is a member of MFV (World Society of Hungarian Photographer Artists) and also the Society of Nature Photographers in Heves county (also called Diginatura) led by Tibor Jakab. She started photography in 2006 and gained her firm professional knowledge from the late Gábor ’’Pege’’ Pecze. Mr Pecze was the one who explained to her patiently how the camera works , how to process films and also the tricks of nature photography over and over again. In 2007 Zsuzsanna Tóth got an opportunity from a well known photography magazine to introduce herself and in the summer of that year she published her first portfolio based on her macro photos. In the autumn of 2007 she opened her first independent exhibition with the title of Tiny Worlds. Her second exhibition which was carried out with her partner in life and creation Imre Sándor opened in 2009 with the title Dream boundery. In 2008 she was invited to Transylvania to a photography camp( called With the eyes of Balázs Orbán in the village of Kányád) led by Ödön Balázs.This was followed by another photography camp in Zetelak in 2009. Here she got acquainted with the professional tricks of portrait and documentary- photography. She was deeply touched by the traditionalist life of the small villages in Transylvania. Her favourite subject is to present the macroworld of nature. She is fascinated by the first flowers of spring, the butterflies that are dancing in the sunlight, the spiders and their webs, the glittering of the dew and all those small wonders that are not recognized by most of the people.She especially likes taking photos in the Landscape Area of Fót, in the Matra, in the Pilis and in the restricted area around Hatvan. If she can do it she is up at daybreak to wander in the vaporous landscape and to take photos at the best lights about her favourite subjects. Her first success in competitions came in 2007 when she won the special award of Green Planet 2007. Since then she has participated in more than 40 competitions in 4 different countries and in totality 90 of her photos were accepted. So far she has got 20 awards. In 2008 3 of her photos were chosen to take part in the exhibition of Nature Photos of the Year. In 2009 in the competition Nature Photographer of the Year she got first prize award with her photo ’’They two’’ within The Plants and Mushrooms category Website: www.tothzsu.hu

Portfolio

Flower bed

Lament for t

the summer

Dusk

k star

Awakenings

Curtain of pearls

usk

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Canon EOS 3

3, EF-L 2,8/16-35 mm

photo school atmospheres

Every good picture has an atmosphere. Pictures always must have some atmosphere but in certain cases the photographer experiences a definite, strong emotion which he or she would like to transmit to the viewer. While in case of usual nature photos the subject is what really counts, atmosphere photos are on the border of abstract pictures. Although in these pictures emotions are emphasized, but not that powerfully as in abstract photos which are completely abstracted from the concrete things. Photographers should be aware of what triggered the emotion and that should be recorded in the picture in order to make the viewer experience the same. Sometimes all the things in front of us can have the atmosphere as a whole, sometimes only a part of them. As a case in point, let’s look at a flowering field with plenty of buzzing bees. If we want to catch this atmosphere with a wideangle lens, it will not be successful as the viewer will only see a flowering field. But if we approach this phenomenon closer, with a different lens then the flowers and the thousands of diligent bees will be seen at the same time so we can suggest much more of the atmosphere experienced by us. (A bee and a flower - this would be a totally different feeling.) Let’s take further examples too. A misty, reddish sunrise with nicely coloured rimy trees can be an impressive picture in itself. But if the photographer was on a winter bird watching then it is more elegant to give back the atmosphere of this activity. This can be done by the two birds flying into the picture, one of them already landed. They bring motion and life into the picture and make a contrast with atmosphere of the still landscape.

Mating of the Moor frog (Rana arvalis) is a fascinating view in early spring but it takes place in an environment which is unfavourable, almost hostile to a photographer.

f/10 1/640 s ISO 800

The blue-coloured male frogs come together in a swampy, muddy area tangled with last year’s withered sedge leaves, a rather chaotic environment. It is quite difficult successfully convey this atmosphere in such a way that looks good in a picture. We have to wait for a moment when the frogs arrangement is the most suitable and - with a relatively large aperture and an exact sharpness setting - we should make the environment of the frogs as blurred and patchy as possible. A stream valley near Mátrafüred welcomed me with an intensely yellowish forest scene. At a place like this one could take a middling landscape photo, however, the autumn mood can be presented much more powerfully if the photographer - by choosing a suitable angle - brings as much yellow as possible in the foreground to create a picture of monochrome effect. Generally speaking: it is not possible to photograph a forest completely. We must choose a characteristic feature which includes the atmosphere we feel and want to show to the viewer. For example, the atmosphere of a beech forest is determined by light grey, often massive trunks. Or a dolomitic forest in the Vértes mountains is characterized by steep slopes spiced with white cliffs and from mid-October by the flaming red smoke trees (Cotinus coggygria) mixed with the still green leafy boughs. The photographer should strive to present this types of atmosphere. Lonely, old, characteristic trees in a nice evironment are rewarding themes for landscape photography. Each tree is a character. The atmosphere of these photos can be strengthened by spectacular, interesting clouds.

Text and photos: László Suhayda - Árpád Krivánszky

tips and tricks drops

Canon EOS 40D, EF-L 3,5/180 mm makro

f/7,1 1/15 s ISO 100

After rain or in a cool, dewy morning nature offers several interesting compositions. Raindrops change the world of tiny things entirely. Even a common thing can become a beautiful and exciting theme in the presence of the tiny, sparkling drops. We can use this phenomenon in different ways: the drops can be mere decorations (for example in case of a flower photo after rain) or we can use spots of the blunt sparkles in our composition. We can also emphasize the role of the drops, like in a case of a dewy cobweb; or drops themselves can be our main theme. If we want to depict the sparkle, or the environment reflected on the surface of the drop we will need a relatively intense light. If the drops are on the surface of a leaf and we would like to photograph it in the company of the leaf we should choose a gloomy weather or a shadow to shoot. Since in intense light drops - like little magnifying glasses project light spots on the surface under them. The more intense the light, the more intense the light spot which can ruin the picture. However, if we use the drops as little lenses we can make very exciting and impressive pictures. Magnifying glasses (if we look them through from some distance) reduce the area behind the glass and show it upside down. Waterdrops work in the same way. The smaller, globular drops give the most symmetrical pictures. Oval drops distort the sight but sometimes it makes the picture even more interesting. In the case of these picture we should focus on the picture inside the drop instead the drop itself. It is worth using a smaller aperture in order to achieve the best quality of the picture inside the the drop. In this case, avoiding intense light is also important. If there is too much light, there will be bright, mostly burnt out gleams on the outer surface of the drop. Waterdrops are very tiny. If you want to take close pictures of them you must have a proper equipment. The best solution is a magnifying lens or a macro lens with a suitable extension (extension tubes or bellows). If you do not have a special lens, a good-quality 24-35 mm wide-angle lens used in a reversed position.

Text: László Suhayda - Árpád Krivánszky Photo: Suhayda László

Canon T90, FD 4/200 mm makro

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f/6,7 1/20 s Fujichrome Velvia 50

tested in the field

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV The final commercial version of Canon EOS 1D Mark IV was provided to us by Canon Hungary for twice 3 days, first in early January and then in late April. According to Canonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s press releases the shell that has long been desired by professional Canon users was finally created. We left nothing to chance and tested ISO sensitivity and focus in a studio while auto focus speed and accuracy in the field. Having unwrapped the shell, I created a test-environment even good enough for nature photographers and took pictures using all sensitivity options possible. Then, my girlfriend took the shell to the Bavarian National Park where she managed to capture two wolves in action. In April I could not stop myself from asking for the test-shell again, and off I went to my favourite place: the bird reserve of the HortobĂĄgy National Park.

Technical specifications: The 1D Mark IV shell shares the features of its predecessor. There are only slight alternations regarding the distance of buttons but as for the design there are no remarkable changes, therefore it could be handled in the same old way without re-learning the new arrangement of control buttons. For the first time we came across Hungarian menu language in a professional shell. It obviously holds advantages but highly depends on what people are used to: its a matter of habit which language one prefers. I used English and Hungarian alternately. The heart of the equipment is a 16,1 megapixel Canon APS-H CMOS image sensor which, owing to a dual DIGIC 4 processor, allows for high dimension sequences at 10 pictures per second and ensures high sensitivity never experienced with Canon cameras. In spite of the smaller pixel size the signal/noise ratio is more favourable, the photo diodes are more sensitive, and more optical information are designated to the dual DIGIC 4 image processor. ISO sensibility is therefore high, noise is low and the dynamic range is wider, hence the major breakthrough of the new shell is the higher ISO sensitivity and the reengineered auto focus system. In the time passed between the testing in January and in April we studied the focus system of the new body shell in order to embark on the final testing phase with adequate experience. Well, the new AI Servo AF system works the following way: using artificial intelligence (AI) the AI Servo AF calculates the speed and direction of the subject (subjects coming straight for us), than focuses on the spot where the subject is predicted to be (Focus Prediction Function). It is all done in fractions of a second, making sharp pictures more likely than ever before. Of course it doesn’t mean that photographers will not need to track the speed and direction of the subject, but that among the frames in the sequences there will be 40% more sharp picture. The new functions include the following: When the subject in motion, e.g. a beast is moving in one direction, therefore it can be tracked relatively accurately by steadily pulling the objective lens. The AI Servo sets the position of the focus using an algorithm. If in two subsequent calculations there is huge deviation – e.g. the subject suddenly changes directions and is now in an unexpected place – the next focus doesn’t apply the latest result but waits for the new one and skips. It is particularly useful as the difference between the contrast ratio of the background and the brightness of the subject is not taken into account to that extent, and it prevents the frame from going out of focus.

The constant focus ensures that when the photo subject is covered the objective system sticks in the plane of the latest focus, so when the photographer catches the subject again, the focus system senses it and tracking is continued according to the latest data. Still, the most useful innovation is the quick, predictive clarity control. The new system is immediately able to achieve prediction-based clearness. The moment the subject makes a move, the AI Servo launches. As we have not had it till now, we could have missed some important subjects. The four major settings of the AF system: Point-source AF: we can choose a point-source AF point from the 45. The system sets the clearness focusing on this area, relying on the surrounding points. Single point AF: here literally one single AF point is working with no consideration to the surrounding points. AF point extension: here we can choose a pre-defined AF point from the 45 focus points, and then the system calculates tracking in respect of contrast ratio and sharpness logarithms. 45-point auto focus: cross-type points located across the frame, providing consistent AF on static or moving subjects, no matter which AF point is being used. Above these listed, there is a wide range of AF settings in the menu depending on the event we are willing to capture. All in all, I can say that the EOS 1D Mark IV holds a proper solution to each situation. Image quality: The improved Dual “DIGIC 4” processors enable high-speed shooting and high quality even in case of high ISO sensitivity. Furthermore, the increased processing capacity of the processors manages the increased data, while still enabling the EOS-1D Mark IV to deliver a continuous burst of up to 121 large JPEGS or 28 RAW images. Image quality and speed are the most important features for a nature or sports photographer. The shell was tested in different situations, but the noise level ratio was mainly observed in studio conditions. The results are as follows: Almost no difference can be made out between ISO 100 and ISO 800, except for a slight decline in line focus. It is worth magnifying the test photos: the results are shocking. The next level was ISO 1000 and ISO 3200, here a little noise could be detected but it was so negligible that we can still hang it on the wall in 70x100 cm size. While processing the images good quality photos can be produced in the DPP with Noise Reduction set to 03 and Chrominance Noise Reduction to 05. Then came the third quality level - ISO 4000 and ISO 6400. Some noise emerged in the pictures but they could easily be filtered by the DPP program.

1/2000 sec, f/4 ISO 800

This time I had to increase filtering performance. With Noise Reduction set to 05 and Chrominance Noise Reduction to 07, the image quality was still astonishing. My God! This shell enables photography even ISO 6400. Compare: this level with the EOS 1D Mark III was ISO 1600. Mark IV is a light year ahead of its predecessor in photography in poor lighting. The ISO 12.800 is noisy, but using the noise filter in the Digital Photo Professional (DPP) (Luminance Noise Reduction at 07, Chrominance Noise Reduction at 10) we can still produce acceptable quality. At this high sensitivity, these pictures are only enjoyable in an A4 size. Higher ISO sensitivity is only recommended to newspaper pictures (sport in black and white) or to the internet – no attractive and detailed landscape photos can be produced. Field-test: the first real test took place this February when Anikó took the equipment to the Bavarian National Park’s semi-savage reserve, where she had the opportunity to take photos of grey wolves. During the action scenes, the shots didn’t go out of focus even in spite of the blinding snow. Even when the photos were magnified we noticed how detailed pictures the Mark IV produced. Despite the weather conditions and the cold the shell did its job. The pictures were taken with a Canon EF 2,8 300 mm IS USM objective. A few months had passed on then we got the shell again and it accompanied us on a workshop in Hortobágy in April. Here we had several fast subject as we were taking photos of birds. Having customized the menu and the user functions, during the 3-day shooting session we managed to capture kestrels flying against us and fast moving hoopoes. As ISO sensitivity setting did not mean a problem during the studio test-sessions, I choose my favourite ISO 640 setting since I’d already had proper shutter speed to take photos of birds.

I took the Canon EF 2,8/300 mm IS and the new Canon EF 70-200 mm IS II objectives. I set the AF to 45-point auto focus and choose the AF track priority (AI servo). The outcome was astonishing: compared to Canon EOS Mark III, I managed to track the subjects with 30% more accuracy no matter if the approaching bird was in counter or backlight. To my surprise the birds coming for me were captured relatively well, but there was occasional imprecision in sharpness, for example the bird’s wings were captured an not its head, but in the next frame it could sense and track the subject accurately. It all happened very close, almost at the proximity point of the objective, within about 4 metres. I’ve never used such a good AF system. It seems that Canon has finally come out with the camera we have been awaiting for two and a half years. I did not go deeply into the video function as it had not fit the subject. The quality of the videos I made was equivalent to that of the EOS 5D Mark II HD. To sum up: A Canon EOS 1D Mark IV became the new favourite among nature and sports photographers. Excellent image quality at higher ISO sensitivity and the improved AF further enhances the precision of the camera. I recommend it for those who want a reliable, fast and professional shell. The shell was provided by Canon Hungary.

Text and photos: Anikó Imre and Tamás Imre /Canon Pro Club

People, cities, cultures Paris, the capital of the world They say Paris is the capital city of love, fashion, film, literature and gastronomy. The capital of art. The capital of photography, I must add. Niépce, Daguerre, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paul Almasy, Atget, Bayard, Doisneau, Brassaï, Durieu, Lucien Hervé, Lartigue, Nadar, Jeanloup Sieff and others: a complete history of photography. And what does the present provides? An opportunity to draw the portrait of this metropolis.

Canon EOS 300D, 70-300 mm Vivitar Zoom lens 1/200 sec, f/5, ISO 400

La DÃ©fense Canon EOS 300D, EF-S18-55 mm 1/125 sec, f/7,1 ISO 100

Having long strolls with a camera we come across faces, doorways, buildings, falling leaves of trees, museums, plaques, walls of cafés which can reveal the worldfamous history, art and culture of the metropolis situated on the River Seine. This garden was the favourite walking place of the Sun King; there is a place where Napoleon Bonaparte was riding amidst the rejoicing crowd when he returned from his victorious campaign; this is the coffee table where Endre Ady was sitting; here were the kings executed during the French Revolution; this is the Triumphal arch through which Charles de Gaulle’s car passed when the new republic was born... We must look here and there, must change our objectives as the impressive buildings, the broad avenues, the pulsating traffic, the luxurious shop windows, the lively atmosphere, the impressions of the historical past and the forming future all make Paris photogenic. Parks with benches and young lovers and dog walkers, excellent cafés, mysterious zigzags, small streets and shiny boulevards, ingenious and splendid shop windows, intimate corners: Paris is still the world’s most romantic city. The city centre is quite small, the remarkable places are in a walking distance from each other. You can discover miracles not mentioned by guide books, but do not miss the wellknown main sights either. They can be very interesting if photographed by you. So do not miss the Eiffel-tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre-Dame, the Pompidou-centre, the Louvre and the new Musée d’Orsay either.

„Napoleon” at Café Montmartre

Night lights

There are excellent discount trips advertised, keep an eye on them. If you want to spend a long weekend in Paris, you should arrive at Thursday night so that the whole Friday could be yours. Remember that most museums are cheaper or even free on Sundays and most of them closed on Mondays. For the mysterious smile of Mona Lisa, the Louvre is worth a visit again. We might even take a photo of her, however, only for an additional fee. But we can photograph smiles and beautiful women anywhere else. Do not miss a walk along the River Seine, have a browse at the riverside bookstalls, watch the painters of the Montmartre while they are painting pretty portraits, have a lunch in the Eiffel-tower restaurant, sunbathe at the terrace of a café or throw your money around in the luxury shops of the Camps-Elysées. Paris is bustles with life night and day. The steam of people, the headlights of the surging cars and the floodlights of the buildings can provide brilliant night themes jointly or severally. It is worth to walk up to some higher place, for example to the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur or the Eiffel-tower to take a picture of the sparkling jewellery box of the city from above. Do not miss the Norman and Gothic style building of the Notre-Dame, it is even more spectacular when illuminated at night.

In order to avoid shaking pictures or if you want to conjure up streaks of light it is practical to use a tripod. Transport It is easy to get anywhere in Paris as the transport network is very thick. With the help of the 15 metro lines we can easily get even to the suburbs, for example to Versailles or to Bois de Boulogne. One ticket is valid for a maximum of 2 hours. As for the buses, tickets must be validated each time of changing lines. Tickets for night buses cost EUR 2.50 and valid for changing lines as well. Taxi drivers are very reliable. Passengers can sit only on the backseats. Travel fees are about EUR 10 to 15, you often have to queue at night and on Saturday. Paris Card pass provides unlimited travel on all the public transport services and a discount entrance price to the most popular sights. It is only available by hotel booking and valid for three days. Children’s discount between ages 4-11. Zones 1-3 (inside Paris): HUF 5500/adult, HUF2800/child. Zones 1-5 (Disneyland, airport etc.) : HUF 11500/adult, HUF 5900/child.

rees in Versailles

Places of interest Remember to recharge your cameras and your mobile at night and download the pictures from your CF-card so you could be ready for continue your photo walk in the morning. Take out your maps, travel guide and your experiences and plan. Paris has plenty of things to see: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, the Quartier Latin, the Montparnasse, the old houses of Le Marais, the Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur. And lots of churches, museums and impressive buildings such as the Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Pyramid, the Bastille, the Opera, the Picasso Museum, the Place de la Concorde and the Musée D’Orsay. The unusual Centre Georges Pompidou also known as Beaubourg houses the Musée National d’Art Moderne. Its extreme appearance designed by Richard Rogers. It is quite shocking but attracts millions. Versailles (about 25 km) the palace of the Sun King with wonderful parks and fountains. The Disneyland of Paris is 30 km far, easy to get there by RER, metro or by car on motorway A4. On Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays do not miss the flee market „Marché Dauphine” at Porte de Clignancourt.

Sztravinszkij fountain

Eating out Don’t think that because you are Paris you can get delicious food and French specialities at every corner. The city is quite full of average restaurants, however, some of the best restaurants of the world can be found here, too. Many restaurants are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. They can be closed even for a full month - due to holidays - in July and August. Many restaurants serve menus at a fixed, reasonable price. Service and tax are always included so leaving a tip is not necessary. They are quite busy at lunchtime. Orders are usually not taken after 9 pm. Mushroom salad, egg with mayonnaise, smoked salmon (saumon fumé) or melon with ham (melon au jambon) are recommended for starter (hors-d’ouvre). Pâté de fois gras, terine de canard and timbale de riz de veau are real specialities. Soups are usually served only in the evening. Escargots and grenouilles santée are two real specialities of the French cuisine. If you eat meat you can choose between lamb (mouton), beef (boeuf ) or pork (porc). For dessert try caramel pudding (flau) or sweet yogurt. You can between 350 different types of cheese (fromage). White or red wine is an essential part of a French meal, however, nowadays more and more people drink beer as well.

Text and photos: János Eifert

photo club Nature Photography Section Photo Club of Győr Photography lovers of Győr established their first photo club back in 1909 but it (just like the next club founded in 1932) was swept away by the war years. The present Photo Club of Győr (founded in 1958) has been continuously working over the last 50 years and became a significant member of the Hungarian photo community. The last five decades has proved that this club could successfully integrated autonomous artist who work „only” for exhibitions and those professionals to whom - besides making their living - participating in exhibitions is also important. Every types of photography can be found in this workshop, however some of the members are committed to nature photography. The Club was a founding member of MAFOSZ (Association of Hungarian Fine Art Photography Workshops) and the „Pannonia Fine Art Photography Forum” in 1978. The Photo Club initiated the „Pannonia Travelling Photo Gallery” along the triple border of Austria, Hungary and Slovakia which involves photographers of the three countries. The Forum has organized successful exhibitions in all three of these countries. The Photo Club also runs the „Dalmatian Fine Art Photography Masters Workshop” since 1999 and - in search of lost cultures - the „Transylvanian International Fine Art Photography Masters Workshop” since 2003. Members participate in 60 to 70 exhibitions successfully each year. Over the last five decades the Photo Club of Győr has earned a reputation from Argentina to Japan and became a credit to the Hungarian Art Photography and to the City of Győr. The Photo Club of Győr strives to establish international relations as far as possible. It has a long-term relationship with the Photo Club of Dunaszerdahely, the Photo Club of Galánta, the Helios Photo Club of Révkomárom in Slovakia, HSV Photogruppe of Bruckendorf in Austria. The Photo Club of Győr went into a partnership with the Schanzer Photoclub of Ingolstadt in Germany in 2000, the Photo Club of Marosvásárhely (in 2002), the „Gyulai Ferenc” Fine art Photography Association of

Sepsiszentgyörgy (in 2004), and the „Tavirózsa” Photo Club of Nagyvárad (in 2006), the „Iris” Photo Studio of Gyergyószentmiklós, and photographers of Bucovina in Rumania (in 2007). The Photo Club has became an independent association in November 2001 with 73 full members and 11 honorary members. In the summer of 2002 we organized our first programme called Photography in Nature Photo Picnic of Győr. The outdoor event went unexpectedly successful, the exhibition attracted about two thousand visitors. Next year it became an international event with guest photographers from Slovakia, Austria, Transylvania and Germany. Based on the idea of the Photo Club of Győr similar events are organized in Slovakia (Pozsony, Pöstyén, Galánta, Naszvad, Révkomárom), in Rumania (Sepsiszentgyörgy, Székelyudvarhely), in Bruckneudorf of Austria and in several cities of Hungary. The Photography in Nature - 9th Photo Picnic of Győr will be held on Sunday, 18 July 2010. All visitors and exhibitors are welcome! Deadline for application to get into the catalogue is 30 June. On the „Day of the Hungarian Culture” in 2009, the City of Győr granted its highest arts award („For the Art of Győr Award”) to the 50 years old Photo Club of Győr for its outstanding achievements in fine arts. The Photo Club of Győr holds its regular club evening on Mondays at 18 pm. Everybody is welcome! Contact: Béla Szabó chairman belafoto@t-online.hu www.gyorifotoklub.hu

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the new Olympus PEN E-P

Olympus’ brand new semi-professional is neither a simple digital camera nor a DSLR, but a PEN. T he camera, combining such features as compactness or replaceable objective like in DSLRs, has been developed mainly for advanced amateurs. This equipment completely suits travels, people and portraits.

Before introducing the camera it’s worth having a look at the PEN camera range. The PEN, developed by legendary Olympus designer Yoshihisa Maitani, was first introduced in 1959. The camera gained popularity quickly and spread on the market: - 17 million items were sold altogether. Its success is mainly due to its attractive design and compactness. Now a big jump forward in time. In June 2009 Olympus announced the first ever digital E-P1, then in November came E-P2 and in February 2010 the E-PL1 appeared as the third cam in this standard. Being the biggest in the Olympus PEN range, E-P2 targets both beginners and advanced users. The new apparatus will be known as the tiniest and lightest digital camera with replaceable objective lens and due to the striking aspect of being easily portable, it might become widely popular. The E-P2 suits into particularly all bags – a small portmanteau or a lady’s purse – but still provides the user with all the options that a digicam with replaceable objectives can have. This is why it can be a worthy partner for travellers, hikers and portrait photographers but don1t forget about those who appreciate portability, unparallel design, excellent performance and unbelievable price-quality ratio.

The E-P2 proves that whatever knowledge the photographer might have, good quality photos are guaranteed. The customer can choose from several exposure control programs. The automatic, semi automatic and manual functions allow for a wide range of choice. The high-performance 12,u megapixel Live MOS sensor provides appropriate resolution to take sharp and detailed pictures. It is supported by a TruePic V image processor that guarantees extremely life-like image reproduction while decreasing noise and enhancing processing speed. Further, E-P2 cams are equipped with a pioneering dust-protection solution, Olympus’ Supersonic Wave Filter system. Due to the constant live image function, the user can compose the pictures on a 3.0” HyperCrystal LCD screen that provides 100 % field of vision and allows for the easy setting of contrast, brightness and colour. Thanks to the perfect LCD, settings made on the camera such as exposure, white balance, tone and the picture mode effects can be checked direct from the screen. The E-P2 applies a contrast – AF system that allows a more convenient focus and on the top of that, using the new AF tracking system even motions can be composed directly on the screen.

ew P2

The first PEN cams received much criticism as photos could not have been taken through viewfinder, but this problem has been eliminated by an electronic view finder. While testing I got caught by the multiexpo option and that I could choose sensitivity from a range of ISO 100 to ISO 6400. I got the PEN E-P2 and went to capture the details of the National Theatre. I exploited the lightness and compactness of the camera, I felt like travelling as a tourist, cheerful I took pictures with the camera held up in front of me. It was a little weird for me but I soon caught the spirit. I took pictures with various ISO settings that left for the city centre, the underpass in Nyugati Square where I took portraits in rather poor lighting conditions. In my experience the PEN can be used very easily and with much creativity further, the LCD in the back makes composing easy. As the camera’s objectives provided less chance for teleobjective photography I took the E-system’s objectives to the test but they didn’t work properly with the AF. After all I can say that it has been fun to work with this light camera compared to the stone heavy DSLR I’ve been used to.

The camera is capable for HD video recording, too. The AVI motion pictures are made at 30 images per minute, in 1280x720 pixels and with a stunning PCM sound quality. Above the distinguished resolution and PCM sound quality, the PEN provides motion picture experience. In one session a maximum seven-minute video can be recorded. Also, several other functions are available to video recording that are normally used with photography such as artsitic filters, DOF, view angle and AF tracking functions. Something new is filming in M-mode, which helps realise creative ideas. Furthermore, as filming is possible with each and every objective, the possibilities of themes and compositions are virtually infinite. In addition, freeze frames can be shot by pushing a single button while shooting a film. To sum up: The new Olympus E-P2 is a compact, easy-to-use 12,5 megapixel digital camera with 4:3 ratio and replaceable objective. It is suitable for capturing travelling moments, portraits as well as simpler macros and landscapes. The E-P2 camera was provided by Olympus Hungary.

Text and photos: Tamás Imre

Life underwater

Central America: malpelo and Cocos, the Island of Sharks I came across Cocos island - famous for its hammerhead sharks - while surfing the Net. I vaguely remembered that I had seen a documentary about the island but I was not sure. It took me a few hours to find a company called Underseahunter which ran two ships in the area. I sent them an e-mail immediately and - to my great surprise - I received a reply in a few hours saying we got an opportunity for a 10 days trip in October 2006. The only problem was that it happened in July 2005. Months went past and - at last - the time of our departure had come.Â

video: Â© Zsolt Sasdi

On the board

A ship called Sea Hunter was waiting for us and became our new home for the next 16 days. My friends know that I do not like messing around but as we had just arrived I found myself in the middle of a briefing with a welcome drink in my hand and when a few minutes later we set off, well, then I was surprised myself. The 19 passengers started to set up their equipment straight away on the ship as if we had not had 40 hours left to reach the Malpelo Island of Columbia. I started to look for some practical place for my equipment but I realized soon that there was no point as my place and even my scuba tank was labelled with my name! I throw my stuff together and I looked for some good stand for my camera (there was a socket in each pit) and I delayed the assembling for the next day just to kill time. We went to look for our cabin number 5 which was designated for us in advance. To our surprise it was a 3 bed cabin, so we had an extra room for the following days. I found a greeting card addressed to me on my bed, a map with the dive sites and a water bottle labelled as „Daniel S.” and a chocolate bar as well. I must admit that I have been on a couple of cruise but I have never ever seen such organization. The ship was decorated by the photos of many well-known photographer like David Doubiliet, Christopher Newbert, Lionel Pozzoli etc. The first part of our 740 km route went quite smoothly, I entered into a long conversation with Erik about photography and the dive sites of the world. After dinner, we were watching dolphins in the light of the full moon, staring into the infinity of the Pacific Ocean and musing on the adventures we faced in the following days.

The Bare Cliff: Malpelo

Our first dive was at a place called „Virginia’s Althar”, which was one of the most protected sites of the island. We, with SUI, was arranged into the blue group, all the others to the yellow group. Our little boat under the guidance of Pepe got to the dive site in 5 minutes. Right after we dived a smaller hammerhead appeared, then an other one (I thought it was not bad for start), then a couple of jackfish came towards me. Descending deeper at about a depth of 20 meters we went across a thermocline which meant 4 degrees temperature difference. Above the sandy bottom we spotted a group of 20-30 hammerheads... this „checkdive” is quite alright... The undersea landscape consists of large, bare cliffs, some of them covered with sea fans. The distance of vision was OK, about 15-20 meters, water temperature was 22 degrees Celsius on the surface and at a depth of 28-30 meters as well.

It was interesting that the fish were not frightened of us, we could approach them at arm’s length. After the dive our boat took us back to the Sea Hunter’s board. Luckily, we could leave our equipment in the boat and they even refilled our cylinders there. At arrival we were received with warm cakes, fresh fruits and dry towels. There were two bowls filled with freshwater only for the cameras. At the camera desks there were little white towels and 220V and 110V sockets with compressed air pistols. It seemed that they came across a few scuba diver photographers before. Our second dive was at the site called „The Freezer” where we mainly expected hammerhead sharks. The streams were very strange, during the dive I felt like I was in a washing machine, the stream whirled me in a 2 meters circle. We saw several groups of hammerheads but sadly they did not came really close. At the end of the dive an Eagle Ray came to say hello and I had managed to shoot a couple of good pictures of it.

Miss Painted Lips

We planned our first dive on the third day up to a depth of 35 meters to hunt out the Red-lipped batfish which only lives at the islands of Cocos and Malpelo. We descended according to the plan in the nice and warm (24 degrees) water. But at the depth of 20 meters - as a slap in the face - we arrived at a very cold stream. The display of my computer showed a water temperature of 17 degrees. As I got through the first shock we had already reached the bottom. Our divemaster on the briefing warned us to be careful as the Red-lipped batfish can perfectly disguise itself so it might easily happen that when we spot one we nearly step on the other. After a few minutes search I had already noticed a weird little creature. Mother nature treated him roughly to say the least. It was not enough that she painted its lips flaming red and conjured a phallus shaped prolongation on its forehead but it even cannot swim properly, it rather crawls on the bottom. I shot the compulsory portraits and started to rise up as we can spend only 8-10 minutes at this depth safely. It was a nice feeling to cross the thermocline from the cold water to the warm. At the border of the two layers usually plenty of fish stay, this time I continued to ascend by hundreds of dorados. The sight of these fish (8-10 kg each) with their silvery body was an uplifting experience. A smaller village could be supplied with food if their would thrown their net here. But fortunately it cannot be happen as Malpelo is a strictly protected conversation area and the Columbian navy takes good care to make people comply with the law.

The empire of the seven-headed dragon

Diving, dining, sleeping, life consist of these three things on a scuba diving cruise. I was busy with the third one (half asleep) when I heard Wilson, the boss shouting on his brazen voice: „Briiiefing!” Our last dive today will be the site which is dreadfully called „Monster Rock”. This place is famous for the Monster Shark. This deep water shark rarely comes to the nearness of the surface, however, its appearance was reported several times at a depth of 30-35 meters. According to the plan we spent the first ten minutes of the dive at this depth. Due to the strong stream we had to hold on to the cliffs and stare into the yawning depths below us but we had been waiting for the monster in vain. My hiding place was a small niche in the steep cliff. I had a strange feeling that I was not alone. I switched on my searchlights and I shone into the hollow. I should not do that. In the light of my lamps countless of Moray eels stared at me at an arm’s length. The spiral motion of their long, graceful bodies and the gaping of their fearful mouths usually frightens greenhorn divers to death. I was not a greenhorn, I kept saying to myself in order to believe that they were harmless creatures. I shot pictures briskly and the sevenheaded dragon postured nicely. Suddenly I realized that the ground was moving under my feet too and I spotted another 10-15 morays coming towards me. I was the one who blocked their way out. I quickly assessed with my bright mind that I had not chosen the best position to watch the monster. But it also could be that actually it was the monster itself, just took on a different disguise today.

Bye bye Malpelo

The first five days - 13 dives - had gone very fast. We have seen hammerhead sharks at every diving, sometimes they came close, sometimes we could watch them only from a distance. Once a group of about a hundred specimens has swum deep under us. The Common Eagle Ray was our frequent guest and two times we could enjoy the impressive size and graceful „flying” of the Manta Ray as well. The blue-yellow striped snapper can be found in enormous groups here, and the specimens are much larger than in the Red Sea. There are so many morays here that quite a few of them are homeless as they cannot find any hollows to rest during the day. To be continued in the August issue

Text and photos: Dániel Selmeczi www.selmeczidaniel.com

Let’s make a diaporama! wings platinum What is a diaporama? It is a slideshow of photographs with accompanying audio, based on a defined choreography. With a series of articles we will discover a genre that is being revived thanks to digital technology. In the early days the old masters used two slideprojectors for their first shows. A hand-held potentiometer was used to switch between projectors and photographs. Back in those analogue days the genre already had its two highly exciting attributes, one being the accompanying audio, which greatly enhances the effect of our photographs on the viewers, the other the dissolving. At the very moment of transition a new third picture is created, which is not only unique but also constantly keeps changing as the new picture gradually fades in.

Just like every aspect of our lives, digital technology sneaked into photography with all its advantages and disadvantages. In these days we seldom dust off our scrapbooks, we’d rather upload them to the Internet or just simply e-mail them as an attachment. The recipient on the other side can browse them or view our photos as a slide show. In case you would like to sort you photographs deliberately, to gather them as a unit, or to tell a story, then it’s time to get acquainted with the curious world of diaporama making. Diaporama is a peculiar mixture of photography, music and cinematography. While editing a diaporama you have to give an eye to the photographs’ composition as well as to the music’s rhythm. Nowadays almost anyone can make a slide show rather easily and quickly that technically can be called a diaporama, although the essence, just like in photography, lies within consciousness and minute details. One can make a diaporama by simply throwing their pictures in a slide show maker and join them with some music.

Timeline with control tracks

Fade

If you have not created a diaporama yet just give it a try and with a little luck you will see what a powerful effect the accompanying music can have! In case you have no such software simply browse the images in any image viewer while listening to music that more or less goes with the picturesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mood. Hopefully pacing and rhythm will have a spontaneous match. Software that are purposely made for creating diaporama make such rhythm and harmony possible. Hundreds of slideshow makers are available on the Internet. Professional as well as semiprofessional versions can be purchased; the latter are less expensive. And of course the ones you can download for free.

Picture editing

The main and basic differences are features and settings. If you take diaporama making seriously you should not look for automatic functions and wizards but favor manual settings. Wizards can rarely detect rhythm. The truth is they rarely look for it. No doubt many of you have faced the question whether to start something new, and if yes, how much time, or even more important, how much money should be invested in trying the new method or technology. One possible answer to this very difficult question is the basic version of Wings Platinum, 4 developed by AVstumpfl. Wings Platinum might sound familiar to those who are more acquainted with diaporama making but only few know the basic license is free.

Inscreen editing

Of course its capabilities are limited compared to its big brother but has the same basis and features. If you would like to receive a basic license just send an e-mail to avstumpfl@avstumpfl.com and request a Wings Platinum basic license code, which will quite likely to arrive within a day or two. While waiting for the license let’s get familiar with the software, which can be used 10 times if not registered. One of the free version’s virtues is there are no ads in the diaporama you created, it won’t not nag you to buy the license and of course you will not receive unsolicited e-mail to the address you are to specify during registration.

Our next article will be on tips and tweaks of diaporama making to provide you with a little extra in your slideshows. In the mean time why not get familiar with a slideshow maker? Wings Platinum 4 can be downloaded from Download, detailed description on how to use the software is provided in Help.

Text: László Szilágyi

digital image editing

Adobe Photoshop cs5 With every upgrade Photoshop gets smarter and gives users more and more creative tools. With CS5 we are now able to make basic changes like making selections and retouching far more efficiently than ever before.

Adobe announced Creative Suite 5 on April 12th 2010. The flagship application of Adobe has always been Photoshop, which has improved a lot since its latest version again. The famous image editing application had its 20th anniversary in 2010 and it reached its 12th version with CS5.

The most interesting new feature is definitely Content-aware fill, which can remove unwanted parts of a photo and replace it with surrounding content. This can seamlessly get rid of disturbing objects or persons on our photos and we only need to make an approximate selection around the edges. Obviously it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work 100 percent in every case, but if there are enough useful parts on the photo for the retouch than sometimes it can look like a magic trick.

Of course there are lots of new features very useful for photographers. There is a new Lens Correction filter, which detects the camera and lens from the metadata and makes the corrections according to those. The new HDR pro feature is also a great addition, which can merge different exposures into one 16-bit image and the user can decide to make an artistic effect or just simply show all the highlights and shadows in the photo closer to midtones. There is also another interesting new feature called Smart radius. It is under Refine edges or Refine mask and it can improve our complicated selections a lot. For instance it can automatically detect small details such as hair or fur around the edges of an approximate selection. Photoshop CS5 is definitely a useful upgrade for beginner and advanced users. Text, video and photo: Martin Perhiniak

In this video Martin Perhiniak shows the new features of Adobe Photoshop CS5.

„Ornate feathered birds of rainbow, Your floating fly and fluting whistle. Where have you gone beautiful bee-eater? a golden beam flashes your feather under the blazing blue sky of the south.”

Ágnes Kiss and Bence Máté

They has arrived. It is the 3rd of May. By their characteristic “fluting whistle” - as the esteemed Hungarian poet Lajos Áprily wrote - one can recognize this colourful birds without any doubt. They arrive a bit later than our other migratory birds and they leave early in September back to East and South Africa. The Merops apiaster - the only species of the family which breeds in Europe - likes warmer climates. It can settle throughout Hungary (except the closed forests on the

north) and prefers sandy riverbanks, dry riverbeds or mines to build a nest. It really likes fresh molehills and steep loess walls where it can dig its 2 meters long tunnel and lay its 4-6 round, white eggs at the end. It lays its eggs in a few days of intervals but it starts its 20-22 days brooding before laying the last eggs. That’s why its nestlings does not hatch at the same time. The brood is fed by both parents for 30 days. Bee-eaters nesting colonially. They stick to their brooding place persistently.

They appear around our garden to breed every year just like Sand martins (Riparia ripari) providing an opportunity for close birdwatching and photography. Weather strongly influences the success of their brooding. However, the couples cling to their brooding places, in case of permanent raining they often need to find a new place to brood. Thanks to their graceful, slender shape and quick and airy flight they can easily catch insects right

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in the air. They eat bees and wasps, and even dragonflies, butterflies or horse-flies, locusts and flies as well. During their migration in September they often hunt above the vineyards. As they eat pests, it makes them useful for wine producers.

Their nests are frequently destroyed, and in addition shooting for illegal preparation and poisoning are also cause a decrease in population.

work out legal regulations. In our garden the number of bee-eater couples are increasing year by year. We achieved this by the renovation of the sand walls and by providing a That is why a comprehensive safe nesting to the birds. conservation and monitoring programme needed which is under The European Bee-eater is strictly elaboration by the experts of the protected in Hungary since 1982, its Unfortunately, apiaries are another Monitoring Center of the Hungarian conversation value is HUF 100.000. case as these birds are unwanted at Ornithological Association. those places, however, they do not Text: Ágnes Kiss do as much harm in the hives as the Since there is not too many beePhoto: Bence Máté bee-keepers think. eater colonies in Hungary, it is important to secure the stabilization of the present population and to

editorial Editor in Chief : Tamás Imre Tamás Imre

Anikó Imre

János Szekeres

Béla Szabó

Árpád Krivánszky

László Suhayda

Adrien Imre

Iván Éder

tamas.imre@naturephotomagazine.com

Editors: Anikó Imre Árpád Krivánszky Béla Szabó János Szekeres László Suhayda Associate Editors: Adrien Imre Ágnes Kiss Bence Máté Dániel Selmeczi Iván Éder János Eifert Martin Perhiniak Copy Editor: Árpád Krivánszky Art Director: Anikó Imre Graphical Design: Martin Perhiniak Web Design: FX designport Web Product: Thomas Picture Translators: Péter Pál Tóth Advertising: Anikó Imre aniko.imre@naturephotomagazine.com

Nature Photo Magazine www.naturephotomagazine.com info@naturephotomagazine.com

Bence Máté

Ágnes Kiss

Publisher: Thomas Picture Publisher Ltd. Address: Hungary Budapest 1576 Pf. 3 All rights reserved © 2010 Thomas Picture Publisher Ltd. The Nature Photo Magazine assumes no responsibility for solicited or unsolicited contributions and materials.

Martin Perhiniak

Dániel Selmeczi

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