No time

Hello to all,

As you may have noticed, there hasn't been a posting since October. I've had very little time to write anything. So it looks like it'll be in the New Year that I write again.

So I wish you all Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2010 Year!

A little badmington anyone?

A funny image to start off the week courtesy of the Pentax Photo Gallery.

Photography T-Shirts – Cafepress.ca

Click title for link

Since its FRIDAY today, I thought I'd post something fun.

Ever walk the streets and thought, "I'd like everyone to know I'm a photographer!" (as if the big camera and lens wasn't obvious enough)?

Well over at Cafepress.ca, you can get a t-shirt to do such a thing! They have pre-made t-shirts with funny expressions or you can have a custom one made with your business logo.

Below are a few samples.

World Press Photo 09 Exhibition

Click title for link

For those of you interested in photojournalism, the World Press Photo association presents an exhibition of this year's most influential and eye capturing photojournalistic images from press photographers from around the world. "World Press Photo" visits 80 cities around the globe and makes its stop in Montreal Sep 4 – Oct 4 at the Just For Laughs museum. Featured highlights include the prize winning photo from American press photographer Anthony Suau.

The exhibition features other showcases such as "La Foire de L'Image" with a selection of over 400 images by
Canadian photographers.

(updated 09/27/09)

*I have just visited the exhibition. It really is worth the visit, especially at $5 for students. I, having been trained in photojournalism, really took in the depth of what the photo journalist tried to convey to us. It runs through an array of emotions and really captures the human condition, sometimes at risk of the press photographer themselves. Most note worthy was the emphasis on the 2008-2009 Georgia–Russia crisis, an event that many have or didn't realize went on.

The exhibition runs from 11am to 10pm every day.

Musée juste pour rire
2111 boul. St. Laurent
Tickets: 514-845-2322

“Ron Galella: "Photography With The Paparazzi Approach"

On Oct. 7, the Centaur will be host to photographer Ron Galella's lecture and slideshow entitled

"Ron Galella: "Photography With The Paparazzi Approach"

He has been dubbed `` the most famous and most controversial celebrity photographer in the world.``

For those of you interested in photojournalism or would like insight into the mind of the paparazzi, this will certainly be worth the look.

The presentation takes place Wed. Oct. 7^th at 12:30pm at the Centaur theatre. Admission is free but you must call ahead to reserve.

In conjunction is "VIVA L'ITALIA", an exhibit of Ron Galella's photographs of Italian and Italian American movie icons from the past 50 years. It runs from October 6 to December 6 in the Centaur Gallery.

*****************

Centaur Theatre Company presents
Ron Galella: "Photography With The Paparazzi Approach"

Wednesday, October 7 at 12:30 PM

Centaur invites you to attend a lecture and slide show presented by Ron Galella - the most famous and most controversial celebrity photographer in the world. This special event is presented in conjunction with "VIVA L'ITALIA" an exhibit of Ron Galella's photographs of Italian and Italian American movie icons from the past 50 years, from October 6 to December 6 in the Centaur Gallery.

Dubbed "Paparazzo Extraordinaire" by Newsweek and "Paparazzi Superstar" by the Miami Herald News, Galella is willing to take great risks to get the perfect shot. He has had two court battles with Jacqueline Onassis—the outcome being that he would be forever barred from photographing her or her children, Caroline and John F. Kennedy, Jr. (John later permitted Ron to photograph him at public events). He has been punched in the jaw by Marlon Brando (a $40,000 punch according to the terms of the out-of-court settlement), nearly killed pursuing Julie Christie along the Pacific Coast Highway, beaten up by Richard Burton's bodyguards before being jailed in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and hosed down by friends of Brigitte Bardot in Saint-Tropez. His iconic prints are displayed permanently on each of the 11 floors at the landmark Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. His work has featured in many published books and has been exhibited in museums and renowned galleries worldwide, including the Museum Of Modern Art in New York, Museum Of Modern Art in San Francisco, Tate Modern and the Helmut Newton Foundation Gallery. He is the mastermind behind the iconic photo of Windblown Jackie (Jacqueline Onassis) which catapulted his career to notoriety!

The slide show will encompass photography from all nine of his books: the upcoming Boxing with the Stars, and current and past books Viva l'Italia!, No Pictures, Warhol by Galella: That's Great!, Disco Years, Ron Galella Exclusive Diary, The Photographs of Ron Galella 1965-1989, Offguard: A Paparazzi Look at the Beautiful People, and Jacqueline.

Lecture to take place at Centaur theatre (453 St. François-Xavier, Old Montreal)

Admission is FREE but reservation is required. Please call the box office to reserve your ticket. (514 288-3161)

TELUS buys Black's for $28 M.

The company I work for for over five years has been acquired by TELUS mobility. The move was done by Telus as a means to gain further expansion of their mobile products, particularly in Ontario, prior to the arrival of new cellular telecom companies.

For those of you wondering, it means exactly what you are thinking; Telus phones will be sold in Black's (Astral) stores across the country. What does this mean for the image of photography stores? Nothing; nothing will change. In my opinion, Black's has always been the boutique photo store rather than specialty retailer.

Is this the right move?
Everyone these days, especially in these economic times, cannot and should try to survive on their own. Companies, especially in photography have been joining forces for years: Pentax with Samsung (now with HOYA), Sony and Minolta, Nikon and Sony, etc...

Is this a good move?
That we will just have to wait and see.

*Disclaimer
The above opinions are solely those of the writer and do no reflect those of TELUS, Black's or Astral.

Back to basics!

Hello to all!

Well I've been quite busy with my own photography business these past weeks. Now that the summer season is over, things have settled enough to start writing again.

Since it is back to school for many of us, many of you are looking to learn photography in a formal way. For those of you who live in the west island part of Montreal, there is one location that offers such teaching.

The DDO centre for the Arts offers a class once a week for 10 weeks.
Details are below. Click title for link.

THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY

10 weeks from Sept. 30 to Dec. 2

Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m.
Teacher: Sheryl Ann Medicoff

This course is designed for everyone who wants to learn how to take a good photograph. You will be introduced to the art of photography while learning how to use your camera better. Students must have their own 35 mm or SLR digital camera with manual option and can either use black and white or colour film. (Not for automatic cameras). No darkroom work is involved. Not included: equipment, materials and printing (approx. $160).

Dollard Res.: $208.82 Others: $225.98

Photo tip: Night Photography

I had a friend e-mail me asking how to do night photography. I thought I would share my tips I gave him here. Night time photography is always as much fun as it it challenging. Here are a few tips to help it along:

• Increase the ISO of the camera gain faster shutter speeds. These may result in digital noise (graininess) but at least you've captured the content clearly.
• IS, VR or SR is only helpful to a certain degree. Since night photography requires exposures well beyond the capability of the stabilizers, it is best to use a tripod for all the shots and to to turn off the IS.
• Shooting on Tv or T mode (shutter priority) helps you to control the amount of light you see in the frame. The longer the shutter is open, the more light enters in.
• Use the timer mode at 2 seconds or a remote. This will avoid any camera shake caused by pressing the shutter button.

Photo Tip: Focus Point & Depth of Field

When choosing a focus point, you are not really choosing a certain point to be in focus but rather an entire plane to be in focus. If say two objects are the same distance from the camera, it won't matter whether you choose one or the other because both will end up in focus.

If the two objects are at different distance from the camera, choose the focus point on the object that is closest to the camera, then adjust the depth-of-field to blur (shallow or small f-stop) or not blur (deep or large f-stop) the object that is behind.

Photograph: Place Ville-Marie

Downtown Montreal at Place Ville-Marie
Featured in the Pentax Photo Gallery

Photo Tip: Compact Cameras for Natural Lighting

If you're trying to take a picture with natural lighting in the evening and it seems a little blurred, try boosting the ISO to a higher number like 400 or 800 instead of leaving it on AUTO ISO. This will make the camera work faster and reduce the amount of blur in your picture.

Photograph

Montreal Fashion & Design Festival 2009

Photography: Festival Mode & Design - Montreal

The following are tips for shooting the runway shows at the Montreal Festival Mode & Design

Since 2006, I've noticed a steady increase of photographers at this annual festival of fashion and design. Whether that's because the digital age has brought upon more affordable DSLRs or simply more shows like Canada's Next Top Model or Project Runway have brought fashion even more into the mainstream we may never know. In any case, the Montreal Festival Mode & Design is certainly attracting more photographers each year from the curious shutterbug to the die-hard wannabe paparazzi. We Montrealers are privileged to have free open fashion runway shows.



So for all you willing to test your skills out on the battlefield, here now are some tips and tricks for the festival.

(The following is modified from the New York Institute of Photography)

Study the Field
Consider what framing/composition ideas will work best for these runways. Notice the amount of room left below shoes and above the models heads in the full length photographs, and notice the relationship of model to background.

Position is Key
Expect a crowd fighting over the best positions to photograph from, and realize that you'll need to get there early. It is a free event so definitely first come first serve. If you get a great spot, do your best to keep it and maintain enough room to do your work. Before throwing any elbows or harsh words at the other photographers, though, remember you may see the same group at other events. Probably better to make some new friends. Remember we're all there to enjoy the show too.

Check the Lighting and White Balance
In the biggest fashion shows, you'll be working with the lighting that's provided. Remember to check your white balance, as you may need to switch to a "tungsten" or "indoor" setting. Also, taking some test shots early and checking the histogram — the graphic representation of the tones in the image — will let you know if you have your exposure right. Using spot metering will help you get faster exposures since you'll want to meter only for the available lights. Remember your metering may dramatically change as the model is walking until she finally stops.

Fast Lenses
You won't be controlling the light level, and may find this is a situation where a fast lens — a lens with a widest aperture of F1.4, F2.0, or F2.8 — may help you keep a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action. Also, shooting at an aperture like F2.8 or F4 can let you create an image with the model sharply focused and the background thrown out of focus — a good effect in some situations.

Take Verticals
Runway photography means vertical shots. You are framing the model from shoes to hat, so turn your camera sideways. As well, this suits the pages of fashion magazines, especially if your goal is the cover. Most DSLR cameras have the option to add a vertical grip — which will make it easy to operate your camera in a vertical position. (Usually, they also let you add a second battery, which may be useful as well. It wouldn't be a good idea to run out of power in the middle of the fashion show.)


Remember, shooting off 10000000+ frames doesn't mean you'll get the shot you want! Get there early, study the runway, the lighting and anticipate what kind of shot you'll be getting.

And while you're looking through the lens, don't forget to look at the models :P!

Photo Tip: Better Beach Photography

The following is from popphoto.com

The best time to enjoy the beach is one of the worst times to take pictures. Harsh midday sunlight can ruin your shots, so experimentation is key. Prevent your camera from automatically under exposing your pictures by keeping it in manual mode. Cameras with spot metering will also allow you to quickly adjust the amount of light you want to capture. When photographing people, try using your flash to get rid of shadows—use a weak flash setting if your camera allows it.

For more tips, check out Digital Photography School’s list of beach photography tips by Darren Rowse.

Be Interesting... but be alone.

The other day a customer came in with hope in her eyes. She was looking to get a Pentax so that she could use the many lenses she had. She was gleaming when I mentioned the current line-up for Pentax. But then I had to break to her the terrible news: very few if any K20D/K200D were available from our stores. We had one K-m that remained.

As I had done with a few customers in the past several weeks, I checked our nationwide inventory and very few K20D/K200D remained. I found out that we would not be ordering anymore from the warehouse in the Philippines (meaning we will slowly stop carrying them in store).

So I went to check other big stores:
- L.L. Lozeau has a few K20D but no K200D for a few months
- Simons Cameras no longer lists either camera
- Forget Future Shop/Best Buy
- Photoservice.ca still has them listed

Nationwide:
- Henry's has the K20D & K-M listed
- TheCameraStore.com is the same story

I'm a big Pentaxian and I know for Pentax to continue to grow, they'll have to cut costs in these economic times in order to stay viable.

Sometimes we get smaller to get bigger

So as I see it, they are putting a lot of marketing into the fantastic K-7 to gain new market share, new and convert clients and that the profits gained will aid in new K30D/K300D down the line. But to do so, they'll have to stop or limit production of the K20D/K200D. They maybe don't have enough funds to fully promote and simultaneously run 4 different lines of cameras as the big 2 (Canon/Nikon) has.

However, if this is isn't the case, and if the K20D/K200D aren't officially discontinued, then I'm very upset at the above retailers. They would prefer to carry brands people know rather than provide all the tools they need.

Up until last week, we had the Nikon D300 & and K20D. Neither camera has sold in months yet we still have plenty in warehouse and probably would order another D300 if they sold out yet for Pentax we have few left and would will not order more should it become sold out (which it did for lucky customer last week).

This doesn't necessarily mean Pentax is on the out. By all accounts, Pentax worldwide is on the rise with their game-changer K-7, their lens line-up increasing, more people discovering and re-discovering the brand and their digital presence on the net with the ever growing www.pentaxphotogallery.com.

David Vs. Goliath
However it seems North Americans are hell bent on having competition as 1 vs. 1 mentality. BMW vs. Mercedes, Canon vs. Nikon, David vs. Goliath, evil vs. good. This I see is strongly reflected in our buyers at head office. In Asia & Europe, you can see much more brand diversity. In France, there are especially many more Pentax owners.

Pentax hopefuls are a unique breed; they love their cameras but they love the passion of photography more. And often they should alone (single Pentaxian among thousands of Canikonians).

In the last 4 weeks, I've upset a couple looking to get the K20D by not having anymore. A student asked my advice and was planning to get the K200D but could not find any in Montreal. A friend got the K-m but due to higher forces is being bullied into getting a Nikon.

And what about that photographer I started with? She can't and won't be able to find any Pentax cameras and though she was happy to see my vested interested in the brand, it ultimately was useless to convince her to stay with a brand that, although to many industry watchers is on the rise with the new K-7, seems to be interesting but alone.

*The comments and opinions are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the opinions and decisions of the above mentioned companies.

Festival Mode & Design - Montreal

Montreal is one of the fashion meccas of the world and is known for its diverse looks and multi-talented designs. To the world, Montreal is known for it's many wonderful festivals including the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs festival. The Festival Mode and Design is no exception.

This festival showcases many fashions of well known brands and labels including Bedo, Dom Rebel and Foxy Jeans. It also features local designers, schools of design and now more integrated music performances including a performance by K-OS. The festival has also been expanded to reach from De Maisonneuve to Cathcart and the Place Ville Marie esplanade. The major highlight will be Saturday Night with the festival's lingerie and music performance.

Photographers are definitely allowed on the site but be warned, if you want the best shots, be ready to bunker down hours ahead and to deal with the immensely large crowds. I've shot freelance style at the festival for a few years and I can share with you a few tips:

• Depending on lighting, be ready to use a monopod for stability. I tried this once and found it more got in the way of my shots, so a Shake Reduction of image stabalization system will make it easier.
• Bring an 18-50, 17-70, 18-135, 50-135 or ideally 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for those runway shots.
• Although regular lenses will work with high ISO (800-1600), F/2.8 lenses will work best.
• Bring a portable strobe (flash).
• Use Av if you aren't comfortable with manual, set you WB and remember to use the selectable focus point on the eyes of the models.

With all that in mind, this is one of the few events of the year that many amateurs DSLR owners come to play photographer and practice their skills. It's certainly been a great testing ground for myself. Although many will be out and about trying to get THE SHOT (as I will be once again), please do try to be considerate and respectful of others. That way, we can all enjoy the fun and excitement of the Montreal Festival Mode & Design.

The festival is free to attend and will run from June 17-20 on McGill College.
The schedule of the runway shows is available downtown at the Eaton Center or online. Click the title for the link.

What Lens Should I Buy?

Click Title for Link

Summer time in Montreal is a great time to be taking pictures. There are many festivals, sports, events, concerts and places to see and find in our wonderful salad-bowl of a city. And when we are out, we want to make sure we have the right lens for the right type of shot. A common question I get is "what lens I should buy?" You already have your 18-55mm kit lens and now want to expand. The typical choice would be to get a zoom lens. Although it may be the natural second lens, it may not always be the right choice. Below I will cover two very important aspects of lens selection, conversion and range.

Is my 18-55mm lens the same as film? Do I see the same thing?

When you have a digital SLR, the lens range (focal length) on the digital body is not the same number. Let me explain. 35mm film had a very large surface area. With modern DSLRs, this area now being used by either a CCD or CMOS sensor is much smaller. As a result, the light entering the lens covers a smaller area. This means basically that you will get more zoom than what is marked on the lens but less wide-angle. So for Pentax, Sony and Nikon DSLRs, you must multiply the focal length by a factor of 1.5 (x1.5 crop factor). So if you put a 50mm lens on these DSLRs, it will give an equivalent-to-film lens of 75mm. This means that when you take a picture, it look like what a 75mm lens did on a film camera. So your 18-55 lens gives you the look of a 27-83mm or the old 28-80 mm lenses from a film camera. For Canons the crop factor is 1.6 and for Olympus it is 2.

So Who Cares What It Looks Like In Film!?!

Well this actually has an affect on what lenses we choose to use. Let's have a look at the ranges and their uses:

Lens Focal Length*	Terminology	Typical Photography
Less than 21 mm	Extreme Wide Angle	Architecture
21-35 mm	Wide Angle	Landscape
35-70 mm	Normal	Street & Documentary
70-135 mm	Medium Telephoto	Portraiture
135-300+ mm	Telephoto	Sports, Bird & Wildlife

The above are focal lengths for film cameras.

These are the ranges used for the different types of shots. Once you consider the crop factor, theri usefulness changes dramatically.
For instance, the 50mm prime lens is becoming a newly found favorite amongst digital photgraphers. It was popular in the days of film because it saw the same thing as what our eyes saw. Now on digital, it doesn't serve the same purpose because it gives a look that is more zoomed than what our eyes see.
The same can be said for wide-angle lenses; traditionally wide-anlge (despite above) cut-off was 28mm. Now with say a Pentax, having a 28mm lens is really like shooting with at 42mm film lens.
Even the most popular telephoto lens today, the 70-200 has changed. With a 105-300mm, it can be a little strong for traditional protraiture.

The factors that may be affected include the depth-of-field look and the perspective. If you are like me and want that traditional look, the way in how the picture was meant to be seen, think of the focal length after the conversion. For instance, I shoot portraits and I use PENTAX DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 because after the conversion, it's like using a 70-200. The way the DOF (bokeh) looks and the perspective it gives for my portraits is how it has always loked. I have used the SIGMA 70-200 f/2.8 and it was too strong for portraits, expecially in studio having to stand farther back.

Although many have only been shooting in digital and don't know what film would give as a result, it really depends on the end users preference to the final look of the picture. In retrospect, the landscape of digital photography will forever change. The purpose of one film lens will now change to suit a new look for a new generation. It has been partially the manufacturer's faults for not considering this. Pentax is one of the few that has taken this to heart early on. There is also Olympus that has factored this in and even Nikon with their new 35mm DX lens that gives the traditonally loved 50mm look.

Anyway you look at it, as long as you get your shot and "be interesting", the only question you need to ask yourself, "am I suffering from LBA - Lens Buying Addiction?"

Eye On Photographers - Vincent Versace

In the first of several segments in my new series on photographers entitled "Eye On Photographers", I will be introducing to you photographer Vincent Versace.

Vincent Versace is a passionate portrait, celebrity and landscape photographer, Nikon sponsored "Legend Behind the Lens". For you gear nuts, he is one of the first to test new upcoming Nikon DSLRs like the D300 in a trip he had to Vietnam. He is also the founding member of the Epson Stylus Pros. His list of credentials and bio sees no bound; you can see it detailed here.

I first heard about Vincent Versace when I was listening to a podcast from 'Inside Digital Photo Radio' (available for free on iTunes). It was part of Epson's Passion of Photography. In the podcast, he talks a bit about being given the Nikon D300 to test in Vietnam and later talks about what makes a good photographer and photographing the moment and people.

One of the first things that I stress to people when wanting to take better pictures, and subsequently what Vincent goes on to mention, is to know your gear! If you are in the field and or at an event and you see a moment you want to capture, if you don't know your camera and have to tell the person "oh wait just a sec. I have to set my aperature, wait the wb is not right, the focus point..." you'll probably lose that moment! Knowing you gear and equipment is like driving a high performance car in a race. You may have to make a split second decision and if you hesitate, you may lose the race. Be comfortable and enjoy using your equipment. A camera should never impeded your ability to take the pictures you want.

One of the questions posed to Vincent is what makes a good photographer. He states that people are searching for that magical formula that will give them great pictures. Of course this would be naive to think in such mathematical terms for art. One of the most important and last of concerns to people is not the equipment used or the technical understanding but to live the moment. Many people say "I want a camera that takes great pictures". As I've mentioned before, that would be like pots and pans that cook great food.

On vacations, many get so caught up with "living the vacation through the lens" that they often miss some key moments by fiddling with their camera or more often that they will miss out on the experience of that vacation because they were so busy taking pictures. Don't live your vacation through what the camera sees. Instead let the camera see what you see; live and seize the moment. If you feel the moment, then take a picture and that emotional experience will then translate to the image. If the person looking at the picture can feel what you felt at the time, then it will have that much more of an impact.

Next time I'll continue on Vincent and more of his thoughts on photography and people.

New Digital (Pentax) in Star Trek Movie

As a huge Star Trek fan, I went to see the new movie. Although many of you may not be into Star Trek, this new movie will definitely appeal to those who never got into it and thought it was for the geeks (which it really isn't at all).

After seeing the movie, I got to see what the new Pentax digital pro SLR camera will look like. It's a camera of the 23rd century and really helps Spock on his trek through the stars. (Click to see enlargement of funny settings "pee break now")

Well ok so maybe this camera isn't quite ready for us simple 21st century beings but there is some truth in the stars (just incase you couldn't figure it out, this is suppose to be a funny mock-up of a pro camera). There is indeed a new Pentax Digital Pro SLR camera on the way to be announced on May 20. Its supposed name is the K-7 and though it may not be a camera from the future, it will definitely be a camera for the future.

D-Clic Photo & Video Show

Living in Montreal for such a long time, I've come to notice that as artistic a city we are, there hasn't really been any photo related large-scale gatherings in the city. But this weekend, that all changes with the first photo & video show call D-Clic.

If you've ever wanted to see what's new and upcoming in digital photography, learn about photography and video techniques or to see how you can up-your-gear, this show will have it all under one roof.

Over the course of three days, representatives from such brands as Pentax, Nikon and Canon will be ready to answer questions and discuss with the new products that will be presented for the very first time at this exclusive event.

On site conference rooms will allow you to improve your photo and video skills. You will be able to attend a wide variety of free workshops, all hosted by speakers chosen for their vast knowledge and experience. (However all the workshops sadly will only be presented in french).

This event is being presented by L.L. Lozeau and is being held at the Palais Des Congres May 8-9-10. The cost is $12 for the whole three days.

Picasa by Google

This summer, you'll undoubtedly be taking many hundreds of pictures. Once you have them on your computer, they may become hard to look for or sort through. With Picasa 3 by Google, sorting through those pictures will be a lot easier.

I've always been a huge fan of the simplicity and usefulness that Google products provide, and with Picasa that way of thinking certainly rains through.



Picasa is at first a program to help organize and find all those wonderful captured moments. But it doesn't stop there. You can use the program to make quick edits to your pictures such as brightening a picture or doing some crop editing. But for advanced users, it does offer features like soft filtering or leaving a single colour in the image. You can also make slidesshows that can be burned to a DVD for direct viewing.

What is great for you is also great for others. The program also allows you to take the pictures you have and immediately upload them to your *Web Picasa Album for others to view.

I always try to look for easier and more efficient ways to sort and edit my pictures and Picasa 3 really does make it simple and fun.

The GRAND Return

As general McArthur said in the Philippines during WWII when he had to leave, "I shall return". And as he did, I too have returned.

The last month has been busy with studying and exams but now I'm free to continue in my passion and to share that with you.

In the next few months, you'll see several blogs covering tips, skills, profiles of photgraphers and more.

In the meantime, if you have any ideas or suggestions on what you'd like to see covered, send me an e-mail to ajphoto.mtl@gmail.com

Happy Photography!

I'm quitting photography!? (Not really!)

My April Fool's joke to everyone :P.

As you may have noticed, I havn't been posting much this last month. This is because I got the flu but was mostly busy with school. And now that we are entering April, I really have lots more on my plate. So as such, I will not be posting anything for several weeks.

However, I do invite you to check-out two sites that may inspire or enlighten you during this leave-of-absence.

The first is the Pentax Photo Gallery. This gallery contains photos from several thousands of "Pentaxians" from around the world including myself.

www.pentaxphotogallery.com

The second is Pop Photo. This website is from the magazine which has been publishing for several decades. It contains articles more about photographic equipment (gear) but has several postings about photographic tips and tricks.

www.popphoto.com

Please enjoy and see you all again in May!

Article - Photography's Sure-Fire Shots

Click Title for Link

Popular Photography & Imaging just posted an article about five kinds of photos that "despite their simplicity to achieve, will leave your friends and family mighty impressed."



They aren't hard to do and yet presents great creativity and imagination. NO PHOTOSHOP is necessary; the above photo used Google's simple and free Picasa software.You don't even need a DSLR as the first featured shot was done with a digital compact camera.

Thought of the Day - RACE MODE!??

The following is a personal rant. These happen seldomly but be warned, you may not like it.

A camera has several scene modes. These modes tell the camera what kind of picture you'll be taking. When a person takes a picture and it doesn't come out the way they thought it would, they instantly blame the camera.

AS IF IT'S A MAGIC BOX!?? THEY DEMAND PERFECTION WITH LITTLE EFFORT BY THE SO-CALLED PHOTOGRAPHER!? You know, you do have to try and think about the picture; give a little consideration to what the camera is trying to achieve.
If you don't like how you look in a photo, it's not because the camera sucks, IT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T LOOK GOOD or IT WASN'T TAKEN WELL!!!

If you make a mistake, or worse you put the wrong setting, you cannot blame the camera for it. IT'S JUST A MACHINE.

IF YOU GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE, YOU CANNOT SAY TO HIM: "SORRY OFFICER, I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE GOING SO FAST. I HAD MY CAR SET TO RACE MODE!!!"

THINK A LITTLE, PEOPLE, THINK!

Photo Essay - Your Local Photo Lab

Have you ever gone to your local photo lab and wondered how they were able to get your film back in one hour? Or what goes on in the lab to have your digital pictures printed? Since I've worked in a photo lab (correctly called a mini-lab), I decided to give you all a little tour of what is it like to be behind the scenes.



Japan Camera was the first photo retailer to open a mini-lab in North America. A mini-lab is a small version of a photo processing center equipped with a film processor (C-41 chemistry) and a paper printer/processor.

These machines must be calibrated both every morning and when a new roll of paper is used to ensure proper colour rendition and paper quality. They must also be constantly monitored & maintained during operations.

Since people use less of film and more of digital ordering kiosks, it is not uncommon that a single client can ask to have printed an order say over 500 pictures!
FYI: digital pictures are not developed, they are printed!

















This is our Digital Imaging station. We use this for any digital work such as scanning a photograph or colour correcting digital images. Here you can see a passport photo being processed.



This is the C-41 Film Processor. Here film is loaded and passed through a chemical process which develops the film. This is what allows for 1-hour availability!



This is our film station. As you can see, a processed film roll is being loaded into the reader in order to be colour corrected. This needs to be done since many times cheap films are used for taking photos often resulting in dull, unappealing colours (always use a well known film!) Also, a good minilab will try to maintain a certain consistency and accuracy in the colour rendition of your photos.

















This is the final step in the creation of a passport. After it has been cropped and printed, it is then cut, stamped and package accordingly. This is of course if it is a single person. All this must be done in 15 minutes!



Finally, after the pictures have been printed & priced, the negative is the last step; it is cut and packaged.




To give you an idea of how intense it can be in the lab in one hour, these are some of the things that may be requested:

• Develop, correct, print and package several rolls of film
• Colour correct and print several small digital orders and one large order
• Keep track of incoming internet orders
• Prioritize passport images
• Change paper and calibrate printer
• Quality check to ensure prints are met by lab standards
  

It can happen that many clients are requesting services all at once. If an error occurs in any of the above steps, it can dramatically slow down or impede production.

As important as speed is, there is always a strong effort to ensure that a quality assurance on your photos is maintained. It is why the reputable well-maintained photo labs in the city have properly trained lab technicians and why prints there will always cost more than say *COSTCO or Walmart.
Keep in mind all that goes on in the lab (often at times) is performed BY 1 TECHNICIAN! ONE TECHNICIAN!

So the next time you have some prints to do, try to keep in mind what is happening behind the scenes and that the single technician is doing their fastest and best to get you a ONE HOUR SERVICE!

Photo Insight

In the field, there are three kinds of photographers. A soldier analogy is used.

There are support soldiers with the big guns who fire several hundred rounds and will maybe or eventually hit their target.

Then there are the marksman. They don't necessarily have the big or fancy guns. These are the ones who train to get their targets with a single shot.

Recently, I've found a third kind. The special forces, whom you didn't even realize were there.

In my view, digital photography makes many into the support troops. The marksman are more passionate about the art; they think as film shooters since you only get one chance. Special forces... well I can't say cause then I'd have to kill you!

PMA 2009

I usually won't talk too much about gear, but I thought this to be note-worthy to all you gearheads.





Every year, at this time, many of the world's largest photographic brands including Pentax, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Fuji and Sony come together under one roof at what is called PMA. The Photo Marketing Association (which was started as way to reflect the importance of marketing photofinishing and retailing services) holds an annual convention and trade show in Las Vegas, Neveada, one of the largest

Often at times, PMA has always been the focal point for which camera companies announced their newest tech for the present year. This usually marks the point when old cameras are phased out in favour of their replacement models.

For several years past, rumours leading up to the PMA would unveil to us what new DSLRs we can be treated to by all the major players. However with the economy in its present state, we are noticing a conservative approach to what (and even when) will be reveiled to us.

If you'd like to have a glimpse of what new toys are coming this year, visit http://www.dpreview.com/articles/pma2009/ to see live up to the minute reports from the convention floor. The PMA convention is from March 3 to March 5.

Photograph - De Maisonneuve

Hey all,

I've been busy studying at school but thought I'd use PICNIK to make a fun photo of the view from my computer lab.

De Maisonneuve - View from 9th floor Concordia University

Photo Tip - B&W vs. Grayscale (facebook edition)

[The following is directed to all with an emphasis to facebook users]

Often people upload photos to photo sharing sites like facebook or flikr and apply what they think is a black and white look to it. However, this is not a real black and white look; real being the result of B&W film. All that is occuring is the lowering or removal of color saturation. What is left are simply shades of grey. Although sometimes grayscale comes close, it often doesn't properly give the same feel as a real B&W photograph. One characteristic that lacks in a grayscale image is the "dirty graininess" of a B&W film. The difference can be seen here.

Grayscale vs.Black & White

Click to view large size

The grayscale photo has no colour but what remains is a flat photo with no depth and no contrast. A real B&W photograph has much contrast, depth and a often a more rough feel to it.

Here's a great site (as mentioned in previous posting) to give that photo a true B&W look.
http://www.picnik.com/app#/home/welcome

Watch for a future posting on B&W photography.

Featured Photo Tech - PICNIK

The following is for all
Click title for link

Many people spout the term Photoshop as the term used to fix, correct or manipulate a digital image. Although Photoshop, created by Adobe, is the industry's leading image manipulation software, it is also one of the most complex and highly difficult software available, not to mention expensive.
Often people desire to make simple corrections like brighten a photo or special effects such as sepia and believe photoshop is the only solution. This is the same as trying to go after a fly with a bazooka; a little overkill!

This is where PICNIK steps in. Picnik is an online website that lets you "play" with a photo to your heart's content. Best of all, it's free! Though there is an option to register for a paying account for premium functions (ie. curves and levels adjustments) , there are many free options to choose from.

Besides the basics for exposure and contrast (which also surprisingly includes functions for highlights and shadows with a tonal histogram), there are several high-end features from infrared to HDR. The B&W mode even has coloured filters for a true film-like effect.

Samples using PICNIK

B&W with filtering -------- "1960's" with Cross-Processing

You can get your photos from your own computer or online sites such as Facebook or Picasa. After you finish, you can save the image to several formats including .jpg or even .tif. All of this is done in a warm and user-friendly interface with no knowledge of layers or masks needed!

From the casual point-and-shoot to the pros-on-the-go, PICNIK is an easy and powerful way to get the most out of your pictures without having to bleed your wallet dry!

Filters

The following is for DSLR users

So it's been more than a month that many of you have had your DSLRs. A question I keep getting asked is "What filter should I have on my lens?" or "Do I need a filter"? Here's the 514 on that. Firstly, a filter will do two things for your lens. It will protect the lens and, depending on what type of filter, affect the image itself. Before I talk about different filters, let me answer if you really do need one or not.

With or Without Protection?
If ever you dropped the camera and it hits the ground lens first, having a filter will take the brunt of the impact (hopefully taking most of the damage) and leave the lens glass intact. This way, you'll just replace the damaged filter. Comparing this to the cost of having to repair the lens itself and you'll be wishing you spent that $20-70!

However, there is a downside. A filter can reduce the exposure anywhere from 1-2 stops and sometimes cause lens flare (like a ball or streak of light). As well, having a non coated filter vs. single or multi-coated filter can affect the quality of the colour and exposure.

In my personal experience, I have lens hoods on most of my lenses. So that in itself provides protection. So I do not use filters. BUT this is solely depending upon the user. Each person knows how they hold the camera and their personal habbits. So it really depends on how they use the camera. I do however recommend to new users to use filters for protection.


Different Types
Many filters today had stronger applications to film use than they do with DSLRs. This was because film was more sensitive to how light affected the quality of the photo since film was chemical based. Because cameras today are electronic in nature, some materials used for lens glass fabrication already reduce flare and because we can do many adjustments with photo software, many filters to be listed mostly serve to protect the lens rather than affect the photo itself.

UV - Absorbs the ultraviolet rays which often makes outdoor photographs hazy and indistinct. A muliti-purpose fine-weather filter for color as well as black and white films. Also serves as a permanent lens protector.
Note: In digital, mostly serves to protect the lens.

1A - Reduces the excessive bluishness that frequently occurs in outdoor color photography, especially in open shade under a clear, blue sky. The absorption peak is in the range which corresponds to the film's green spectrum. This means outstanding outdoor shots with superb color balance and clarity under all conditions. Also keeps skin tones free of colored reflections from nearby objects such as the shade of trees.
Note: In digital, mostly serves to protect the lens. Similar to UV with additional above mentioned function.

Circular Polarizer - They allow you to remove unwanted reflections from non-metallic surfaces such as water, glass etc. meaning you can shoot through windows. They also enable colors to become more saturated and appear clearer, with better contrast. This effect is often used to increase the contrast and saturation in blue skies and white clouds.
Note: Make sure the lens does not focus externally. Because the circular polarizer depends on how you rotate the filter, external focused lenses will rotate your filter altering the desired effect.


Here are some useful websites with further details on filters.
http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/gf-01.html
http://photo.net/equipment/filters/
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam/User-Guide/filter/filter-UV.html

*SPECIAL EDITION* - Street Shots with Magnum Photographer Bruce Gilden

Photograph - Nightclub

Today being Friday, "end of the week, time to go out and party..." I thought I'd share and talk about this club photo.

One of you asked me how I do the lighting for my club photography. Though I don't want to get into the topic about flash just yet (saving that for later on), I will answer the following question:

"Did you use the built-in flash or an external flash?" The (short) answer is an external flash.
To be precise a Pentax AF360FGZ flash.



Why do I like this photo?
Using an external flash can add more depth and natural ambient-like lighting when properly used. For those starting off, notice the use of the rule-of-thirds. I've also cropped-in (positioning and zooming slightly) to focus just on the two subjects. I composed to a half-body proportion to keep their arms and drink within the photo.

Thanks for the question and enjoy the picture!

Funny Fridays!

I thought I'd end the week on a funny note!
I've worked at Astral Photo for over 5 years and in that time I've heard, from customers, some funny terms for MEGAPIXELS. A megapixel contains 1 million pixels (those little squares).
Here are a few of those terms. Enjoy!

"8 megabyte (MB) camera"

"10 pixel camera"

"That camera with 10X megapixels?"

"6 megapickle camera"

"8 MP film camera"

"7 byte camera"

"10 mega whatever camera"

"5 megapixies camera"

Photo Lesson - Lines and Patterns

The following is for DSLR and Compacts

The Flow

Everywhere in nature we can find lines and patterns. Most of the times, we don’t notice these things but hopefully after this lesson, you’ll begin to develop an eye for noticing natural patterns.

There are three directions for lines to occur in nature: horizontal, vertical and diagonal. And with patterns, there is a natural flow in one (or more) of these directions. So when looking through your lens or behind the screen, two things can be seen. Either you’ll notice a movement (or flow) of objects or people in one of these directions or you’ll see static (non-moving) objects along a certain direction. These directions may be obvious at times or they will appear in your frame when you move into position.

Lines

Often when looking at lines in a photo, we will follow it from one end to the other. They can divide, unify, or highlight certain parts of a composition. If they are interesting enough, they can become a visual topic in themselves. Depending on the direction in which the line is shaped, it can be of great help to lead our eyes to or from the subject or point of interest. This is what is considered a leading line. The shape of the lines can have great significance upon the mood of the photograph.

The following are examples of lines.

This photo was actually of the ceiling but I rotated it 90 degrees clockwise to give the illusion of a hallway.

Here the reflection of the wall caused a mirror effect. The wall acted as a line causing a flow towards the door.

Patterns

A person with a trained photographic eye will develop the ability to notice patterns even when he or she does not have a camera in hand. Whether the patterns are man-made or natural, patterns bring a sense of visual rhythm and harmony to photographs that, like a series of repeating notes in a melody, attract the attention of the human mind. Patterns appear whenever strong graphic elements such as lines, colours, shapes, or forms repeat themselves. The key to emphasizing patterns is to isolate them from their surroundings. By excluding everything but the design, you create the illusion that the repetition is infinite, extending beyond the frame. Telephoto and longer zoom lenses are excellent tools for isolating and extracting patterns by enabling you to exclude extraneous images. (Fodor’s: Focus on Travel Photography).

The following are examples of patterns.

Here each floor had the same layout giving rise to a repeating pattern.

This repeating pattern can either cause the eyes to start from the front and lead towards the back or vice-versa.

This is both a combination of lines and patterns causing the eyes to want to flow toward the center of the photograph.