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.