O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E C A N A D I A N A S S O C I AT I O N F O R P H O T O G R A P H I C A R T
WINTER 2011 • $7.95
Sinister Kabuki Winter Wonderland Franklin Island Workshop Winter Sunsets in Vancouver
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Vol. 12, No.4 • Winter 2011
Contents
Sheena Wilkie
Editor-in-chief 14220 71 Ave. Surrey BC V3W2L1 E-mail: editor-in-chief@capacanada.ca
Jacques S. Mailloux
Publishing Editor
Jozef VanVeenen
Art Director E-mail: info@tikit.ca
Roger Partington
Advertising Manager E-mail: roger@coherentb2b.com
CANADIAN CAMERA (ISSN1206-3401) is published quarterly by the Canadian Association for Photographic Art, Box 357, Logan Lake BC V0K 1W0. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission of the publisher and author. All photographic rights remain with the photographer. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors. Articles and photographic portfolios are welcomed from all CAPA members. All articles should be submitted to CANADIAN CAMERA, c/o the editor-in-chief. If you wish material to be returned, include a suitably sized envelope with adequate return postage affixed. CANADIAN CAMERA and the editor assume no responsibility for loss or damage to material, regardless of cause; however, every effort will be made to return material supplied with SASE. CANADIAN CAMERA reserves the unrestricted right to edit, crop and comment editorially on all submitted material. SUBSCRIPTIONS: CANADIAN CAMERA is distributed automatically to CAPA members. Individual copies are available for $7.95. Library subscriptions cost $35.00 for four issues.
2
Sheena Wilkie
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Message from the President Phototalk
Alan & Elaine Wilson
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Jacques S. Mailloux
Member's Portfolio CAPA 2011 Annual Digital Competition Winners Winter Wonderland Franklin Island Revisit Photographic Workshop Sinister Kabuki Beautiful Sunsets in Vancouver Canadian Camera Conference 2013 Share Your images Like a Pro CAPA News CAPA New Members
Jacques S. Mailloux
8 Cosmin Badea 10 Rick Shapka 14 Derek Galon 18 Man-Kay Koon 24 27 Deb Hall 28 30 32
THE COVER Northern Hawk Owl by Alan D Wilson Best Image 2011 Four Nations Competition
For further information, contact CAPA National Headquarters, Box 357, Logan Lake BC V0K 1W0. Tel.: 1-250-523-2378 E-mail: capa@capacanada.ca Canadian Mail Publication Agreement #1665081 Printed in Canada by
CAPA is a FIAP-affiliated organization.
www.capacanada.ca
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Message from the president
CAPA Officers & National
Dear friends, Looking through my window, I see a cloudy sky, heavy with the promise of rain, a harbinger of the long months of winter just ahead. Soon the rain will turn to snow, as the cold arctic air migrates south, and the Christmas decorations will replace the Halloween pumpkins, ghosts and gremlins on the front doors in my neighbourhood.
Council Members
Founded in 1968, CAPA is a nonprofit organization for photographers, including amateurs, professionals, camera clubs, and anyone interested in photography. The aims of CAPA are to promote good photography as an art form in Canada, and to provide useful information for photographers. CAPA accomplishes this through interaction with individuals and member camera clubs and by distributing slide sets, evaluating photographs, running competitions, and publishing the quarterly Canadian Camera. CAPA also sponsors Canadian Camera Conference, an annual summer weekend of field trips and seminars held in a different city each year. CAPA is a member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP).
CAPA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Jacques S. Mailloux, Hon. FCAPA VICE PRESIDENT Rick Shapka SECRETARY Michael Breakey, FCAPA TREASURER Len Suchan, FCAPA PAST PRESIDENT Allen P. Bargen, Hon. FCAPA
CAPA DIRECTORS ATLANTIC ZONE Leo Allain QUEBEC ZONE Volunteer Opportunity ONTARIO ZONE Rod Trider PRAIRIE ZONE Larry Easton, FCAPA PACIFIC ZONE Larry Breitkreutz, MCAPA DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGING Dr. Bob Ito, Hon. FCAPA DIRECTOR OF CCC William ( Bill ) Lloyd DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIONS Leonie Holmes
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR CAPA Membership phone 1.250.523.2378 c/o Lee Smith Box 357, Logan Lake, BC V0K 1W0 E-mail: membership@capacanada.ca Website: www.capacanada.ca 2 - CANADIAN CAMERA
Jacques S. Mailloux
Suddenly, this entire white world will transform itself into a time of celebrations, of visiting with family and friends, of festive trees, boughs and mistletoe, with tables overflowing with the Holidays favourites. Gifts will change hands; kisses, hugs and tears of joy will fill your life. Although many of us strive to escape the winter, there is much to be said for this time of year. Everything around us changes, as a white mantle envelops everything in sight, giving back to nature the virginal purity of a new world, set to explode again into sweet tender greens and a multitude of colours in just a few more months. Newborns in the animal kingdom will be everywhere again, and a whole new generation of life will spring forth from this renewal. This is what Christmas is all about, the rebirth of our world, of our faith in the future and in eternal life. This is the intrinsic wisdom of nature that renews itself cyclically and, with everything new, promises a better tomorrow. As photographers, we constantly strive to capture these changes in nature, in man and in his enterprises, whether they be institutions, buildings, infrastructures or cultural extravaganzas. Already, I am looking forward to these beginnings as each new year harbours hopes of photographing something I have never seen before. And I often succeed.
As I am writing this, I am just back from spending an entire week in northern New England, to capture the splendours of the fall foliage. The magnificence was everywhere, and I returned filled with wonder, ready to face the upcoming season change with anticipation. I am especially looking forward to appreciating all the beautiful images my fellow CAPA members create and submit to our competitions, and to our magazine. The level of expertise and achievement is rising every year, as evidenced by the results and sometimes the difficulty in deciding which image is best. Take a look at the winners of the CAPA 2011 Annual Digital Competition in this issue. You will most certainly agree that all of these photographs are deserving of the awards they received. Yet, many others were deserving as well. Keep watch on our Website for a slide show of all the entries, which will soon be made available. Remember that a camera is just a tool. The image it captures stems from the ability of the photographer to envision a moment in time, to frame it and to show it to us in a way that fires our imagination and our creative juices. A camera is only as good as the photographer holding it. A newer camera will not produce a better image unless the person behind the viewfinder is capable
of creating a better photograph. Newfangled electronics don’t create great images, only great photographers do. Yet, every year manufacturers are offering shelves full of new toys for the Holidays, many of us salivate to get our hands on. Instead, consider taking a course to increase your understanding of photography, which may prove a better investment than a new camera body. Once you have improved your skills and knowledge, spending on new gear will be validated, and will result in better photographs. T h e B o a rd o f Di re c t o r s , t h e members of the National Council, as well as the many volunteers who help run this Association are joining me to offer all our readers, our Best Wishes for the Holidays! g Sincerely, Jacques S. Mailloux President
www.capacanada.ca Tel.(250) 523-2333
SUBMISSION OF ARTICLES, PORTFOLIOS AND NEWS ITEMS CAPA Members… We need submissions for upcoming issues. Canadian Camera is YOUR magazine! We welcome your articles, news items, portfolios and reviews. We do reserve the right to accept or reject material as we see fit. We will make every effort to achieve a balance of views, subject matter and geographical representation of our members. So please, submit an article about that last photo trip you took or that last nice lens you purchased. You never know, you might just get your name in print.
How to send material • Please write your article in MS Word format, plain or rich text; • You may mail your article and high resolution images on a CD/DVD; • CD/DVD returns require a SASE suitable for return mail; • You may send your article and low res photos by email to editor-in-chief@ capacanada.ca; • High resolution photos can also be submitted by FTP (instructions available upon request); • Please don’t format the text of your article. No bold, underline, bullets, indenting, or special characters; • Photos must be JPG format (No RAW, TIFF, PSD, etc.); • Do not resize, final photos must be full resolution; • If photos are scanned CMYK is preferable to RGB; • Photos must have simple descriptive filenames and include the photographer's name, e.g. Susan_ Brown_barn_swallow.jpg; • We may not use all of the photos you submit;
• Your article should not contain notes about where to place a photo; • Your article should not contain wording specific to a photo; • You may list your files and suggested captions after the text of your article; • Please include your phone number, e-mail address and CAPA membership number.
When to send it • Spring Issue Jan. 19, 2012 • Summer Issue April 20, 2012 • Fall Issue July 20, 2012 • Winter Issue Oct. 23, 2012 These dates are for time-sensitive material only. Submitting an article and having it accepted does not mean it will come out in the next issue.
Where to send it Canadian Camera
c/o Sheena Wilkie, Editor-in-Chief 14220, 71st Ave., Surrey, BC V3W 2L1 E-mail: editor-in-chief@capacanada.ca
You’ve just bought a new digital SLR. Now, only one thing can come between you and great pictures:
A cheap filter. The truth is, an economy filter will seriously compromise the quality of the pictures you take with your new DSLR. Trust the optical perfection of German-crafted B+W filters. The most important accessory you can have next to your camera.
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phototalk
Sheena Wilkie, Editor-in-chief
Are you genre biased?
Of course you are. We all are. We know what we like and we like what we know. But should we be satisfied with that? I don’t think so. I don’t think it benefits our photography when we limit ourselves that way. I think we should learn more, know more and grow more. Just between you and me, for the longest time I found bird photography, particularly birds on a stick, not very interesting. I worked hard to keep an objective perspective on avian photography because I judge club and CAPA competitions and I want to do my best. I invested some time reading about bird photography, researching what bird photographer’s view as a good avian photograph. I viewed a lot of bird photographs, learning a bit about bird behaviour, and yes, I even went out and tried to photograph birds. Bird shooters out there -- no need to worry about any competition from me. It’s much, much harder to do well than it looks. So while I may not be a bird photographer I learned a ne w appreciation for the genre and armed with some additional knowledge I am better able to give useful feedback on bird photographs. And hey, I find them far more interesting now that I understand them better!
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Abstract photography; I hear the quiet groans, the muffled “I don’t get it”, the astonished “that scored 28??” Maybe if you don’t get it you might enjoy learning more about it. Ever considered an art course? You could be surprised how that might benefit your own photographic work. What about street photography? Not your cup of tea? Have you tried it? Street photography is seeing a growing renaissance that embraces urban and social landscape as well as documentary photography. Take a look at what young people are photographing these days and you’ll see a lot of this genre. Want to attract young people to your photo club? Do some club work around street photography. They will come. The genre of portrait photography is changing, with an increasing number of people using off camera flash which has been spurred by the online Strobist movement. The resources for learning more about portraiture on the Internet are seemingly endless.
It’s a given that judges need to be objective, and that they need to put their biases aside. And I think for many judges, just like me, it does take some work and practice to get there. I think judges need to be able to know what makes a good street photo, as well as what makes a good nature photo, or a good portrait, or any one of a dozen different genres. You just can’t say “I don’t like that kind of photo”. And it’s not just judges that can benefit from a dose of objectivity and additional knowledge of different photographic genres. I think all photographers benefit from an open mind when it comes to photographic art. These days it’s never been easier to learn new things about photography – and new things about ourselves! Between online resources, courses, galleries and museums, photography is everywhere. Never stop learning! g Sheena Wilkie MCAPA www.phototalk.ca
Never miss the moment
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MEMBER’S PORTFOLIO
Alan & Elaine Wilson Elaine and I are fairly traditional nature photographers, focusing on birds, animals and natural landscapes. We didn’t get underway until we retired in late 2005. We especially like to create set-piece attractions to photograph birds. We’re just beginning to absorb the immense power that Photoshop brings to the wonderful world of digital photographic art. 6 - CANADIAN CAMERA
MEMBER’S PORTFOLIO
We were amazed to discover the history of altering images extends back to Carlton Watkins and Ansel Adams, although the dodge and burn tools at their disposal pale in comparison to the feature sets available in the digital market today. While our Âexperiments have been somewhat limited, we do like watercolor renditions produced using LucisArt and find the oil paint filter from Adobe Pixel Bender can produce some stunning results. Our website, www.naturespicsonline.com, is dedicated to digital photographers that are just getting underway. The sections on equipment, workflow and post-processing hopefully help others avoid the mistakes we made early on. It also contains galleries where we share our work with others. CANADIAN CAMERA - 7
CAPA Competitions
CAPA 2011 Annual Digital Competition The themes required some technical expertise on the part of the photographers, and undoubtedly those that succeeded mastered the technique. The marks from our three judges showed this. Our first judge was Dave Haggarty, a CAPA Past President with long experience judging competitions. Next was Rod Trider, our Ontario Zone Director, and a CAPA trained judge. Rod is a professional photographer from Toronto, who has recently moved to Almonte, a suburb of Ottawa. Our third judge was no one else than Joy McDonell, former Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Camera Magazine. Joy has extensive experience behind the viewfinder, as well as in the darkroom. She has judged for many years and has a keen eye for what makes a good photograph. Many of the scores were high this year, and the quality of the images impressed our judges. Several of the participants had taken the time to set up their set, or waited patiently for just the right light of the day, to produce exceptional photos. As in the years past, we had the use of a high-end calibrated projector, including a state-of-the-art judging apparatus using a Linux-based main database system with three wireless netbook computers, linked together by a special program written by John Elliott, a professional programming wizard and member of the RA Photo Club. Glenn Bloodworth, Bill McCloskey and Robert Laramée, all members of that club, were on hand to assist with the equipment and software, and provided their expertise to make sure this competition was judged under the best conditions possible. The winning entries, including the Honour Awards recipients, will be posted on the CAPA Website shortly, and will be incorporated into a short slide show, to be shown at all major CAPA events in Canada, throughout the year. As previously mentioned, Sony of Canada and Adobe Canada will also be showing these images at various venues, giving full credit to the photographers and to CAPA. Competition participants can login to the CAPA Digital Website www.digitalcapacanada.ca/ , using the e-mail address they used to register and the password that was generated for them, in order to view their score in the competition. This was designed so that all scores are kept confidential. The following is a complete list of the prizes won by our first, second and third place winners. Ten participants will also receive an Honour Award from our Director of Competitions, Leonie Holmes, commemorating their winning entry into the 2011 edition of this competition.
Shadow Play or Silhouette, for the first time ever, participants had a choice and could select between two themes this year, both of which proved very popular. We received several positive and enthusiastic comments about these. First Prize to Kieron Nelson of Sarnia, ON: • Sony SLT a55VL 16.7MP Digital SLR Kit w/DT 18-55 f3.5-5.6 SAM Zoom Lens • Lowepro SlingShot 202 AW Camera Bag • Manfrotto 496RC2 Compact Ball Head • $100 Gift Certificate towards a Blurb Photo Book • Adobe Photoshop CS5 • Adobe Lightroom 3 Second Prize to Rick Marotz of Qualicum Beach, BC: • Sony aNEX5NK/B 14.2MP Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55 f3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens • Lowepro Rezo 180 AW Camera Bag • Photoflex PX229 30” White Ajustable Umbrella • $100 Gift Certificate towards a Blurb Photo Book • Adobe PhotoShop CS5 • Adobe Lightroom 3 Third Prize to Marta Eva LLamera of London, ON: • Sony Cyber-shot DSC WX7B 16.2MP Digital Camera w/5x Optical Zoom • Lowepro Apex 120 AW Camera Bag • 2 packs of Hahnemühle Bamboo 290 gsm 8-1/2 x 11” Paper • $100 Gift Certificate towards a Blurb Photo Book • Adobe Photoshop CS5 • Adobe Lightroom 3 The support and response CAPA continues to receive from our sponsors has a major impact on the success of this competition. As our membership continues to grow by leaps and bounds, member participation and interest is increasing, making this competition one of the most valued CAPA has ever hosted. Our most sincere congratulations go to all the winners. Many thanks to all of you who participated and for making our judging event so interesting and so challenging! See the announcement of the 2012 Annual Digital Competition in the Spring 2012 issue of your magazine! Jacques S. Mailloux, Hon. FCAPA CAPA President and CAPA 2010 Annual Digital Competition Chair
EVENT SPONSORS
Our deep gratitude and appreciation go to our sponsors for their support: Sony of Canada Ltd.; Amplis Foto Inc.; DayMen Photo Marketing; Adobe Systems Canada; and Blurb Canada. A special note of thanks is also due to Roy Hooper, for creating and maintaining our submission system, and for being so responsive to our queries, and also to the RA Centre for providing a comfortable venue in which to run this event.
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CAPA Competitions
2nd, Beachwalk, Rick Marotz
1st, Li River Fisherman, Kieron Nelson
3rd, Canada I love you, Marta Eva LLamera
HM, Evening soccer, Tom Stephens
HM, Reichstag Interior, Mary Chambers
HM, Sossusvlei Silhouette, Bill Young
HM, The Last Roundup, Heather Dawe
HM, Chimney Pots, Maggie Sale
HM, TileTales, Derek Galon
HM, Sunset Spike, Heather Dawe
HM, A Moment In Time, Haydn Eugene
HM, Start of Another Day, Kasandra Sproson
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Winter Wonderland By Cosmin Badea
The first time I was exposed to winter photography was in 1994. It was during spring break in my first year of university and with several friends we decided to spend one weekend in the heart of the Romanian mountains. My girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife and most outspoken critic, had a Russian rangefinder camera called Smena with a 35mm lens. This camera was very nifty and even came with a leather case that could be attached to the bottom of it. For the whole stay she took pictures and was excited about finding the perfect spot or just the right lighting. I didn't really care or want to try photography. But, we had a great time up there on the mountains with lots of snow. Now every time I’m outside in the cold and buried in snow I remember those days and feel good. 10 - CANADIAN CAMERA
Seventeen years later, the tables have turned. I’m the one taking the pictures and my wife doesn't really feel like touching the camera. I believe she enjoys looking at and criticizing my pictures more. Last winter I took about 6,000 pictures, not a large number since winter lasted 7 months. But, I think that I have finally succeeded in reproducing the feeling of that winter in 1994. All the photos were taken in the Canadian Rockies from December to April. Looking at them now I realize how many different ways a single location can look when it is covered with snow. The light can be reflected in so many directions giving the place a different meaning.
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One thing I have discovered, and have the photos to prove, is that you don't have to go too far to get great photos in winter. So many times when you talk to photographers or read magazines it's always about finding that one place no one else has found yet. My approach is quite different. I try to find the one place that everyone can reach quite easily. I believe that people feel more connected with places that they know well and are amazed to see them in a new light. For instance, these photographs are taken from the side of the road or less than 100 meters from it. I drove around weeks in advance at different times of the day, studying the light, the position of the sun or animals that might be visiting the area. All these pictures are taken using a tripod with remote in hand and filters attached to the lenses. To me the most important aspect 12 - CANADIAN CAMERA
of photography is to see beauty in everything and to feel it at the time when you press that shutter. So, my advice for this winter is to go out and find your spots earlier, study them well and be prepared for the time when you will press the shutter. For now though, enjoy these wonderful winter pictures in the comfort of your cozy armchair. Happy winter! g www.cosminbadea.zenfolio.com blog.cosminbadeaphotography.com CANADIAN CAMERA - 13
John Minkowskyj Photo
Franklin Island Revisit Photographic Workshop September 10 -12th 2011 By Rick Shapka
One day in early July my good friend, Dan, asked me if I would like to take a trip to photograph some rocks? I am thinking “Not really”, but replied, “tell me more.” Dan told me of his recent discussion with a fellow landscape photographer Harry, about a place to which Harry refers as “sacred ground.” It is Franklin Island, Ontario. Franklin Island Revisit is a photographic workshop organized by Harry and Philip. Harry is a CAPA member from London, Ontario. Philip is a former 14 - CANADIAN CAMERA
owner of camera stores in Toronto. It is the second year for the workshop, which was advertised by flyer at the recent Canadian Camera Conference.
Billed as a two and a half day trip, it is two full days of photography on different parts of this very picturesque island. Franklin Island is “a conservation reserve” of 2,261 acres which is part of the Ontario Provincial Park Reserve in Georgian Bay. The island has some very unique rock formations of unusual beauty. It offers some fantastic photographic opportunities. Location is about forty-five minutes north and
John Minkowskyj Photo
Kirk Elliott Photo Rick Shapka Photo
west of Parry Sound. It is accessible only by a short boat ride. In addition to me, Dan Bryer recruited Dave Euler, Kirk Elliot and John Minkowskyj all of North Bay. We became known as ‘the North Bay boys.’ Each of us became enthusiastic photographers of the rock on this island. Accommodation at Rockwood Resort on Georgian Bay while basic is very acceptable, with each cabin equipped for your own meal cooking. The barbecue at the cabins is an essential. Our host Leslie handled arrival for check in very efficiently, explaining the resort’s many offerings. Her partner, Reima, proved to be a humorous but very skilled boat operator for our photography on Franklin Island. A first get together for orientation was at dinner Sunday evening. A very informal ‘bring your own dinner’, which was consistent with the methodology of the workshop over the next two days. At dinner, although we were told to be on time for the boat as the first group -- to depart at 6:30 AM the next morning -- the boat was late to arrive. Not by much, but we were all very anxious for our first glimpses of Franklin Island. Once on the Island, the unique rock formations challenge you to take the time to study the alternatives, and then compose your picture. The workshop included two groups, of five photographers each, accompanied by either Harry or Philip. Two groups arriving at the same place within a thirty CANADIAN CAMERA - 15
Dan Bryer Photo
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David Euler Photo
to forty minute period of each other proved to be challenging for many of us who need a little more time to compose. While there was very good guidance from our leaders about what to expect with respect to shooting as two groups, until you arrived to set up on the island, it was difficult to appreciate that my early morning shadow might well intrude into another photographer’s picture space. Because of the long rock vistas of Franklin Island, the first lens of choice is a wide-angle one. A macro lens was great to capture close up textures. Each photographer constantly had to
David Euler Photo
Rick Shapka Photo Dan Bryer Photo
maintain an awareness and respect for the other person’s photographic space. Harry and Philip, good natured and cordial guides, each traveled with a group of 5 photographers. Both were available to provide constructive comment about the shooting locations and opportunities. If a photographer asked a specific question, each was able to respond to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. Both did some picture making as well. During our first night orientation, Harry and Phillip mentioned the possibility of either a second sunset trip, or a social with an image critique after dinner the last workshop night. While the image critique prevailed, many of us questioned the value of the critique, especially when some photographers who provided comment had not submitted images for review. Overall our group concluded this was a great location to photograph. We enjoyed the trip a great deal. Harry and Philip led the groups with enthusiasm. The accommodations were quite acceptable. The coordination of the two group’s arrivals on the island should be differently organized. While the photo critique can be ditched, it could be replaced easily with a show of each photographer’s 5 chosen images. I have the feeling each of the ‘North Bay boys,’ including me will plan a return visit to Franklin Island. Thanks to Harry and Philip for their introduction of this wonderful place to photograph! g CANADIAN CAMERA - 17
SINISTER KABUKI By Derek Galon
In the world of architectural and landscape photography, my images are known for very intense, rich and vibrant colours. They are often over-saturated and contrasty, simply popping-out at the viewer.
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Perhaps that was the reason why photographing in Goth style created an irresistible magic and challenge to me. Most often, Goth photos are rather limited in their colour palette, using only a few tones other than black, gray and white. It somehow “compresses” the energy in a photo and pushes attention into other elements. Composition, expression, wardrobe, makeup are much more dominant, and the few colour elements create immediate and dramatic accents. This is how I see most of Goth photography. When discussing the photo-shoot with my favourite model from Victoria BC, Koko “Kitty”, we decided on a concept I had wanted to do for a while: Kabuki. Koko, being partially Asian, knows a lot about Asian arts. She actually learned traditional fan dance and Kabuki sounded just perfect for her. However – she has another passion – a passion for Goth fashion. Therefore we decided to blend these two styles and invited make-up artist, Aleta Eliasen, to help us with the task.
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“Kabuki is a very bold and striking form of Japanese theatre involving song and dance, known for its elaborate make up worn by the performers” – says Koko. “I did dance for a number of years and it still is a very big part of who I am. When I do photo shoots I automatically transform myself into another character and start posing, performing as if I am on stage. The feeling is very liberating; enabling me to escape my everyday life. Doing this shoot was very "me". Not only was the "performing" a feature that I admired, but the styling that Aleta and I worked on was Goth-like with lots of detail. Looking fierce and dramatic was the best part of the shoot!” Indeed, Aleta's makeup exceeded my expectations! Keeping with the traditional Kabuki idea, it also had elements underscoring the black and pale-white Goth style. Beautiful and inspiring. We decided on a black Asian dress which had accents in red. I used standard to wide-angle lenses (35mm, 28mm, and 20mm, shooting with Nikon D300s) adding dynamics and a sense of space. Koko, as always, immediately jumped into her new role, creating scenes full of dark expression, or cool and static – like on a Kabuki stage. I decided on rather sharp light and lots of shade, adding just a touch of hair light from the back. Koko turned to look hauntingly beautiful, on some images as if from a dark Asian horror movie, or on others – such as the Fan Dance - from a fine Kabuki performance. But all the images were tied together by the Goth feel, making them harder to define and more unusual. Koko's look in her elaborate makeup was so irresistible that we had to do a series of close-ups – and perhaps they are the most fascinating part of this session. Aleta's decision to do totally handdrawn makeup without using stencils worked well. “I was pleased to work with Derek and Koko - a model with amazing diversity” - said Aleta. “I enjoyed the challenge of altering Kokos' appearance into an artistic interpretation of a modern Kabuki girl. I focused on simple lines and emphasized black and white. Red was used to create a more complex and visual interest. It was a great pleasure, and seeing these photos was really thrilling!” 20 - CANADIAN CAMERA
We all had a strong feeling that this session was truly unique. Selected photos were well worth long hours of meticulous editing. I tried to simplify the colours and make the limited palette stronger, creating emotion and expression in a very intense but unobtrusive, intuitive way. Surely, lots of computer hours went into finishing it, and for those who are doing their own Goth photography I recommend a plug-in which was particularly useful for these images. It is Imagenomic Portraiture, and one of the presets there really helps quickly achieving these pale whites surrounded by dark shadows. Very handy! The session resulted in a large set of images with quite an unusual mix of styles and expressions taken from Asian tradition, Goth and the creative imaginations of Koko and Aleta. I hope you enjoy these photos. As for me – I can't wait to shoot with Koko and Aleta again! g www.artphotographyservices.com
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Gift Guide p
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Digital Point and Shoot
Built to withstand depths of up to 10 m, to resist shock when dropped from up to 1.5 m, and withstand temperatures down to -10°C. Full 1080p HD movie recording with stereo, 16.0 megapixels plus a high-performance GPS chip that records location data.
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Canon Rebel T3i with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Featuring Canon's newest DIGIC 4 Image Processor and an 18.0 Megapixel CMOS Image Sensor - plus cutting-edge technologies like Full HD video recording, Live View shooting, Wireless flash photography and even a Vari-angle 3.0-inch LCD monitor.
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Bowens 400/400 Lighting Kit
The Gemini 400 two-head kit is perfect for studio quality light shaping and control, the kit includes two Bowens 35" Silver/White Umbrellas and two 120° Wide-Angle Umbrella reflectors. The kit is supported by two Bowens 'Handy Stand' Lighting support stands.
p
Sony HDR-CX700V Flash Memory Camcorder Kit
“Exmor R” CMOS sensor delivers superior low-light capabilities. Enhanced manual controls and 60p/24p recording options. The wide angle Sony G Lens lets you capture more of the action. 96GB Flash memory allows you to record up to 40 hours of HD video footage. Includes a Bonus Battery and Bag ACC-FV50A accessory kit.
Henry’s is open late during the holiday season to serve you better, visit www.henrys.com to find a retail location near you.
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Gift Guide u
SpyderCube® & SpyderCheckr™
White may be pure and blues may be true, but no colour is completely trustworthy. Know that you’re getting the most accurate colour the moment you begin to shoot, and make sure your greys, colour and white balance can be trusted throughout your entire workflow.
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Lowepro Photo Sport AW Series
Outdoor adventure sport athletes who like to go light — but equally like to capture the moment — will enjoy the freedom and comfort of Lowepro’s Photo Sport AW series. Each of the dual-compartment designs (backpack and sling backpack) offer ample space for personal gear and a camera kit. Contoured adventurepack construction features ultra-lightweight, resilient and highperformance technical fabrics for improved durability during activity. Lowepro’s patent-pending Ultra-Cinch Camera Chamber prevents camera movement while being active. www.lowepro.com
SpyderCube - The compact, 3-dimensional, award-winning grey card that helps capture ideal colour and contrast range within RAW control settings. Includes a black trap and chrome sphere for highlight and shadow detail control. SpyderCheckr - The eco-friendly, 48-colour test chart. Durable, foldable and tripod-mountable. With easy SpyderCheckr software. www.datacolor.com/truth
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Slik Compact II/Les Stroud Edition Tripod
Legendary filmmaker Les Stroud counts on the Slik Compact II Tripod to capture amazing footage in his popular Survivorman TV series. This compact, lightweight, perfect for travel and ‘do it yourself’ filmmaking tripod, features a 2-way pan head, bubble level for accurate set-up on rough terrain and quick release lever leg locks which allow for easy extension. This tripod has 4 leg sections, is all aluminum construction, folds to 14.2” for easy storage, weighs only 570grams and will extend to a 39” maximum working height. www.daymen.ca
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Joby Focus with Ballhead X
Flexible, wrappable legs allow for securing equipment weighing up to 5kg (11 lbs) to virtually any surface. Attach the Focus directly to your camera, or for even more flexibility, use it with the JOBY Ballhead X http://joby.com/gorillapod/ballheadx, which was designed specifically for the Focus. The Ballhead X has full 360° panning, and 90° tilt to position the camera at virtually any angle to get portrait or landscape shots with ease. www.joby.com
These products are distributed by DayMen Canada. Visit www.daymen.ca for more information.
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Beautiful Winter Sunsets in Vancouver By Man-kay Koon
Located on the west coast of Canada, facing Vancouver Island and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is a perfect place to watch the sun set. The beautiful and fantastic sunsets we experience may be one of the reasons Vancouver has been voted as one of the best places to live. 24 - CANADIAN CAMERA
Winter in Vancouver is usually wet and cold, with some snow occasionally. We don’t see many clear sunny days in the middle of winter. And when it’s a sunny day the temperature is usually a few degrees lower. It’s not pleasant to shoot sunsets in the cold and wind with heavy
photography gear, so warm clothing is a necessity. Vancouver is geographically located on the upper part of the northern hemisphere; the position of the winter sun is to the south, making the window of opportunity for shooting very short.
When the sun is close to the horizon, it is still bright enough to mask everything making the colours and details in the sky less visible. That makes it difficult to control the exposure. The better time to shoot is when the sun is at least half or two-thirds behind the mountains or CANADIAN CAMERA - 25
below the horizon. At this time, the brightness of the remaining sunrays and the contrast of the sky are much softer making things easier to manage. Using a small aperture creates starbursts to form 360 degrees around the sun. It is similar to the effect of using a star-filter. With a small aperture light will deflect at a sharper angle when it goes through the small aperture opening in the lens. This sharp bending path of the light causes the starbursts. Different aperture settings will create different starburst effects, and auto aperture bracketing can be used to achieve a better 26 - CANADIAN CAMERA
result. Since you need a longer exposure time for this type of photography a tripod is strongly recommended. The camera should be set at a suitable position well before hand, ready and waiting for the right moment to press the shutter. Don’t forget the window for shooting may only be a few minutes so don’t waste precious time to look for better shooting locations. Shooting into the sun may create flare in the optics, especially in those less expensive lenses. A good quality multicoated lens will achieve a better result. In order to make the most of the sunset colours and details in the sky the
best shooting time is a few minutes after the sun has fully disappeared below the horizon. At that time, the sun is in a very low position; its rays need to travel a longer distance to reach the sky. Most colours will be absorbed by the air in the atmosphere leaving only the red with the longest wavelength passing through. The sky will then be lined with different layers of saturated colours upward with yellow at the bottom near to the horizon, then orange, pink, red, purple and blue. It looks like a rainbow and that is what I look for in a nice sunset photograph. g
CCC 2013 CANADIAN CAMERA CONFERENCE 2013
June 28, 29, and 30, 2013 Hosted By Photo Fredericton in beautiful Fredericton, New Brunswick Contact: Michiko Nishijima at michiko@CAPACanada.ca for more information.
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Share Your Images Like A Pro By Deb Hall So -- you have come home from four weeks in the Caribbean. You’ve loaded your images on to your computer and yes, you have some stunning shots! How are you going to share the wonderful time you had with family and friends? Two great ways to share your images are coffee table books and AV slide shows. Creating a travel book of your adventures is especially good if you want to share your trip with co-workers or give it as a gift. In addition to your photos you can add annotations, poetry or thoughtful insights about the places you visited, and don’t forget your brief biography. This article will focus on AV slide shows; however, many of the steps would also apply to preparing a book. AV slide shows are great for sharing with a group of friends, your local camera club, as a guest presenter at a community event or entering a CAPA AV competition. There are several software packages available for producing AV slide shows, see my list below. The first step is to separate the grain from the chaff; in other words, select 28 - CANADIAN CAMERA
only those images that are technically well executed and contribute to telling your story. At this point isolate the selected images by putting them in a separate folder or creating a collection in Lightroom. Now that you have a pool of images to choose from, give some thought to how you want to present them; for example, will it be chronologically, by theme or by location? The process of creating a good A/V show always starts with a storyboard. A storyboard is simply a way of organizing the elements of your slideshow (images, titles and sound track) and will help you define the length. Hint: it is usually better to divide your presentation into several slideshows of three to five minutes rather than one long show. This allows you the flexibility to pick and choose which parts of your trip to show.
Adding a musical sound track can dramatically enhance the impact of your slideshow. Selecting music appropriate to the mood of your show will make the images seem alive, create emotion and engage the viewer. You will have to decide whether to have the images spread equally across the length of the music or synchronize to the music; which is transitioning from one image to another on the beat of the music or the feel of the music. If you have seen both styles of shows, you may have found that synchronized shows are more interesting and evoke more emotion as the images surge and drift with the music. So let’s look at how to choose the music. There are shows that need the emotion only a song can give; however, in most cases an audience will concentrate on the words of the song rather than your images. Popular songs or instrumentals may have already imbedded images in the listener’s mind that may differ from the message you intended. Consider original works or tunes that are less known. When choosing the music, ask yourself, “Does this audio enhance the
images?” Hint: it is important that you love the music; you will be listening to it many times before your show is audience ready. You can use music from your CD collection if it is just for your personal use and to show your friends. But, if you are going to present your slideshow to the public or enter it into a competition, look for royalty free music or make sure you obtain the rights to use the music. There are many sources for royalty free music online. For inexpensive or no cost royalty free music check out my personal favorite below. As you created your storyboard, you will have noted that the number of images in your show will be determined by the length and tempo of the music you choose. If the music is lively, you will use more images than if it is slow and melodic. Hint: as you make your final image selection, remember that your audience doesn’t need to see every image you took. Select only enough images to tell the story and avoid too many shots of the same location or event. Once you have your music and images aligned in your software program and
you are happy with the results find a spouse or friend to test it on. And finally, if you will be using unfamiliar equipment to present your slideshow, be sure to test it before your audience arrives. A show created on a fast new computer may stagger and stall on an older computer. Congratulations you have just created something that your audience
Here are a few of the many resources available to get you started: Book Software: Blurb www.blurb.com MyMemoryBook www.MyMemoryBook.com Apple - iPhoto www.apple.com Audio/visual Software: WnSoft - PicturesToExe Deluxe www.wnsoft.com Photodex - Proshow Gold or Proshow Producer www.photodex.com iMovie or Final Cut Pro for MAC users www.apple.com Music: Jamendo www.jamendo.com Sound Click www.soundclick.com Royalty Free Music Library www.royaltyfreemusiclibrary.com/free-royalty-free-music.php About the author: Deb Hall has created AV shows both pre and post digital. Together with her husband, they have created shows from less than 2-minutes to 1-hour, from a one-day event to a 12-day Mediterranean cruise. They have taken their shows out to senior’s homes, church fundraisers and camera clubs. She asks, “How will you share your images?”
F r a m e b y F r a m e P h o t o F o r u m 2 0 1 2 April 13, 14 & 15, 2012 Ramada Hotel & Convention Centre
Victoria Ave. & Broad Street, Regina, SK
Early Bird Weekend Price Before Mar. 1, 2012 -‐ $145.00 v Day Pass -‐ $80.00 After Mar. 1, 2012 -‐ $160.00 v Day pass -‐ $90.00
will truly enjoy. I know, all of this sounds a little scary, but the greatest advantage photographers have is fellow photographers ready to help. Get together in small groups or talk to the AV experts in your club for some oneon-one mentoring. Your first show will, without doubt, stir your creative soul. g
{Limit of 300 people}
FREEMAN PATTERSON “Gardening With What You Have”
DENNIS FAST “Wild About Wildlife”
MUFTY MATHEWSON “Adventures With Flowers”
MIKE STOBBS “Painting With Light”
DON HEALY “Newspaper Photography”
ALLEN BARGEN “In Search of A Better Photograph”
GEORGE WEBBER “Last Call – Photographing Vanishing Places”
LARRY EASTON “Northern Odysseys” & “Prairie Legacies”
CHERYL PADY “Doing More With Your Point ’N Shoot Camera”
KEN DICKSON “How Multiple Photos Are Made On Film”
DR. BRANIMIR GJETVAJ “Mr. Everest Base Camp Trek”
MICHAEL MANETT “Aerial Photography & Land Use Planning”
DAVE KRUGHOFF “Nurturing Coexistence Through Wildlife Photography”
MIKE GRANDMAISON “Seeing Canada”
SUSAN MCGILLIVRAY “Wabi-sabi”
Contact: Bill Inglis 1-‐306-‐584-‐1281 for more information CANADIAN CAMERA - 29
CAPA News
Canada wins the 2011 4-Nations Digital Image Competition Thank you to everyone who entered images in the 2011 4-Nations competition. We had a large number of entries from our members once again this year, with a wide variety of subjects to choose from. The competition winning image, “Northern Hawk Owl” by Alan D. Wilson was selected by the judges as the best of entries from all 4 Nations. It was awarded 15 points out of a total possible score of 15 points. Honourable mention went to Ray Goddard for his submission “Curious Serval” which scored 14 points. Other notable Canadian images were “Barred Owl on Branch” by Michel Soucy, scoring 14 points, “Underfoot” by Sheri Belanger, and “Skimming over the ice” by Lenora Shier. Shows for both PC and MAC systems are now available from the CAPA library.Please email your request to Joyce DeMeester at library@capacanada.ca and be sure to state which computer system you wish the files for. Individual shows run for approximately 8 minutes and may be ordered for Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Australia. You may also request the master file covering all 4 nations, which runs for approximately 30 minutes. Scores for the competition are also available from Joyce DeMeester. The winning image by Alan Wilson has been selected for the cover of this issue of the magazine. A portfolio of images from all 4 nations will be featured in the Spring issue of Canadian Camera. Thank you to Sheena Wilkie, Michael Easton and Neil leNobel for judging this year’s event. We appreciate your efforts. The call for images for the 2012 event will go out in January next year. We look forward to seeing your images.
The CAPA Judging Course The 2011-2012 calendar for our Judging course is continually growing. Here is the current list of locations where we are taking applications for registrations. For more information, or to discuss the possibility of a course in your area, please contact training@capacanada.ca.
Fort Langley, BC - Spring 2012 Atlantic Zone - 2012 Calgary, AB - 2012 capa@capacanada.ca • www.capacanada.ca • Tel.(250) 523-2333
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The North Shore Photographic Society will present its 28th 2012 Photography Challenge, Saturday, March 3, 7:00 PM at the Kay Meek Centre for the Performing Arts, West Vancouver. The Challenge is a competition of 30 photo clubs from BC and the Yukon – a visual feast of rarely seen wildlife action, stunning natural beauty, street photography, architecture, the human form, abstracts, and altered reality images. Competing clubs each submit digital images, which are scored by a panel of judges certified by CAPA. Viewing of the competition and awards is open to the public. Ticket holders will take home a large number of photography-related door prizes donated by our generous corporate sponsors. Tickets may be purchased for $18 from Kay Meek, by phoning 604-913-3634, or on their website at www.kaymeekcentre.com. For more information, contact Gordon Cornwall, Challenge Team (Promotions) gordon@phantomself.org
CAPA Members PUT YOUR AD IN THIS SPACE You can reach new customers with your ad in Canadian Camera. Your message will be seen by serious photographers across Canada at a reduced ‘Members Only’ price of $50.00 (B&W) per issue.
Contact: capa@capacanada.ca
CAPA News
Balance Sheet
Financial Statement December 31, 2010
ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Bank - General Account $ 31,719 Scholarship Fund - G.I.C. $ 14,096 Accounts Receivable $ 8,532 Total Current Assets $ 54,347 FIXED ASSETS Office Equipment $ 1,125 Total Fixed Assets $ 1,125 LIABILITIES, SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND EQUITY Accounts Payable $ 1,863 GST / HST Payable $ 2,487 Prepaid Memberships $ 7,979 Prepaid Judging Course $ 3,135 Total Liabilities $ 15,464 Scholarships & Education Fund $ 14,087 EQUITY Retained Earnings Balance, Beginning of Year $ 18,969 Income for the year $ 6,952 Balance, End of Year $ 25,921 TOTAL LIABILITIES, SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND EQUITY $ 55,472
INCOME STATEMENT 2010 2009 INCOME Memberships Individuals $ 36,643 $ 38,161 Family $ 3,089 $ 4,504 Clubs $ 8,742 $ 8,723 Library & Subscriptions $ 477 $ 574 $ 48,951 $ 51,962 Advertising Sales $ 15,474 $ 13,525 Other Income $ 3,287 $ 2,730 Donations $ 520 $ 615 Member Ads $ - $ 48 $ 19,281 $ 16,918 Judging Course Income $ 15,649 $ 32,527 Total income $ 83,881 $ 101,407 OPERATING EXPENSES CCC Magazine $ 48,447 $ 45,359 Office Expense $ 8,770 $ 9,929 Directors & Officers Expense $ 4,907 $ 5,295 Divisions - Member Services $ 3,391 $ 1,599 Web Site $ 2,302 $ 1,240 Dues to Zones $ 2,832 $ 3,158 FIAP Dues $ 580 $ 662 Other Expenses $ - $ 1,013 Promotions Membership 190 $ 718 Judging Course Expense $ 5,510 $ 13,069 Total Operating Expenses $ 76,929 $ 82,042 NET INCOME for the YEAR $ 6,952 $ 19,365
Approved by the Board of Directors: Jacques S. Mailloux, President , President L. E. (Len) Suchan, Treasurer Note: The Financial Position of CAPA was greatly improved by the Income generated by the Judging Course in the past two years.
capa@capacanada.ca • www.capacanada.ca • Tel.(250) 523-2333
CANADIAN CAMERA - 31
OCTOBER 2011 CAPA NEW MEMBERS Atlantic
Pacific
Leona Arsenault PE Allison George NL Mireille Hall NB Wayne Hebb NL Robert Imeson NB Andrew White NB Gudrun Wuttge NS Peter Wuttge NS
Ben Anders Derek Applegarth Arash Azrahimi Jim Bird Peace Portal Photography Group Marilyn Buyar Tony Colangelo Peter Davies Carrie Davison Liz Dehn Wendi Donaldson Haydn B Eugene Sandra Fiedler Margarita Huang CraigmLetourneau Stephan Pawloski Craig Roberts George Skelton Dave Terpening
Ontario Gerald Alger Robert Brookes Nicole Couture-Lord Jo-Anne Devost Penelope Edgar David Euler Alasdair Gillespie Leonie Holmes Hamilton Camera Club Jody Kerr Marta Eva Llamera Keith Marshall Robert Matyas Suzanne McLaren John Minkowskyj June Pryor Christine Roenspiess Francis Smith Richard Smith Rudy Straat Kent Taylor Lynn Wilbur Port Franks And Area Camera Club
Fern Thompson Neil Walton Alan D Wilson Elaine R Wilson George Wycherley
Prairie Jim Burton AB Linda Greiner SK Nick Kokil MB Stuart Perry AB Taron Puri AB Amy Wildeman SK
Quebec Tony Emond Andre Faubert
Donations J. Higham
capa@capacanada.ca www.capacanada.ca
(250) 523-2378
CAPA Members
PUT YOUR AD IN THIS SPACE You can reach new customers with your ad in Canadian Camera. Your message will be seen by serious photographers across Canada at a reduced ‘Members Only’ price of $50.00 (B&W) per issue.
Contact: capa@capacanada.ca
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Stay in-tune.
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A site for bored eyes There’s no place in the world like vistek.ca. Along with more than 15,000 products, you’ll find daily deals, clearance specials, shooting tips, technical information, helpful videos, the Canadian Imaging Blog, access to Vistek Rentals, and so much more, including our new eco-friendly digital flyer – a seasonal feature filled with pages of great buys.
Think of vistek.ca as a virtual superstore. Unlike other superstores where you can easily get lost, departments in vistek.ca are clearly labelled. So even though the site features an almost endless supply of cameras, lenses and photo and video gear, finding what you’re looking requires a click or two of the mouse. For example, Canon and Nikon DSLRs, Panasonic and Olympus micro four-thirds, Sony compacts, the Leica M9 and S2, Phase One medium format camera systems including Phase One and Leaf digital backs. Sony, JVC, Panasonic and Canon camcorders – from handhelds to shoulder-mounted professional models. Epson and Canon wide-format inkjet printers, along with inks and gallery-quality inkjet paper and canvas. Lighting, tripods, sound equipment, mics, mixers, amazing new storage gear and the latest portable audio capture devices. And a full lineup of Mac computers, each customized to meet your specific working requirements.
The vistek Experience. online or in-store. The ability to touch, try out and talk to a Vistek imaging expert is still for many the best way to experience Vistek. But if you can’t get to a showroom at one of our six stores, vistek.ca is the next best thing. Helpful Product Finders makes it easy to shop. And if you have questions, help is a mere email or toll-free call away. When you shop vistek.ca, you can feel confident knowing product professionals are looking after you – before, during and after your purchase.
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