Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i Australian Photography

Have you noticed that despite however many good intentions you may have had lately, things just don’t seem to be going to plan? I’m not quite talking about getting to the supermarket early in the hope of finding toilet paper before it’s all gone, but more about picking something up and not finishing it, or finding your attention span has reduced itself to the capacity of a goldfish in a tank. There’s a school of thought – and all manner of articles online – that we should be using “all” this time we suddenly have to finally learn Italian, or the science behind lens diffraction, but I think it’s important to also acknowledge the unsettlement that change on a scale such as this can cause and accept that not everything…

AUSTRALIAN COMPANY LAUNCHES NEW GAME-CHANGING QUICK-RELEASE CAMERA STRAP AUSTRALIAN camera strap company Lucky Straps has launched a new quick-release system for their locally made camera straps. With a clear eye towards camera gear giants Peak Design, whose unique anchor link system has been wildly popular, Lucky’s new system addresses one of the criticisms of Peak Design’s system by allowing photographers to attach, detach and swap camera straps on the fly without the need for any dongles, straps or buckles to remain on the camera. Professional photographer and Lucky Strap founder Justin Castles says the new quick-release system has been more than two years in the making. He believes it’s a game changer. “Our camera straps are arguably the most comfortable in the world,” he says. “The long, leather body of…

UPCOMING COMPETITION THEMES YOUR ENTRY 1. Email your entry to yourbestshot@australianphotography.com with the name of the competition theme in the email subject line. For example: Weather, Abstract, Landscape, etc.2. The image file must be the same as your name. For example: Jane Smith.jpg. If you enter multiple images, each new image file name should be appended with a unique number, eg Jane Smith2.jpg3. A maximum of three images can be entered per person.4. Images must be in JPEG format.5. Email file size must not exceed 7MB.6. Please include the following information about your entry in the body of your email: name, image title, and up to 200 words explaining how you captured your image. Please also include technical details including camera, lens, focal length, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, tripod (if…

Once upon a time, only the rich and powerful could afford to hire a skilled portrait painter to labour over a stretched piece of canvas for hours on end. The interesting thing is, we still look back to those classic painted portraits and wonder why on earth everyone looks so damn miserable, menacing or at least, slightly stuffy and stoic? But now, thanks to photography and a bit of lighting know-how, almost anyone can afford to be immortalised beautifully on screen or in print in a matter of minutes. This article will attempt to determine the lights you need, where to position them and how to interact with your subject for the best results. THE LIGHTS Apart from our sun, fire and, to a lesser extent, fireflies and those bizarre…

In 2019, while in Botswana, we were floating along in our boat on the Chobe River. A good-size crocodile was up high on the bank. Crocodiles are not unusual in the Chobe, but the location of this croc was. Its position offered eye level viewing from our boat. At a distance, I could see a bush thick-knee bird about to walk behind the crocodile. This was all happening fast, with the subject moving and the boat moved into a position for a general shot. Of course, the croc was to be the main target, or was it? It was decision time – do I focus on the crocodile, which is traditionally the hero subject, or do I focus on the bird? What story am I wanting to tell? I decided…

Photographing a landscape is not as simple as turning up at a location, setting your camera on a tripod and waiting for nature to work its magic. It takes a lot of planning, preparation and an element of luck. As landscape photographers, we are bound by mother nature and even with months of planning, if the stars don’t align, there is a good chance you could walk away with nothing. It’s the desire to capture something special, even when the odds are stacked against you, that fuel (along with several cups of coffee) those early mornings and late-night shoots. Let’s dive in deep and discuss some important but not so frequently shared tips for landscape photography so when that amazing sunset happens, you’re ready to go! 1 GROUND YOUR COMPOSITION…

We are all shocked at the speed by which theCOVID-19 pandemic has completely turned our world upside down. As photographers, we are fortunate to have a passion that keeps us interested. We can set ourselves assignments or do online courses. We now have the time to study our cameras. We can improve our skills, targeting our weaknesses. We can reorganise our files and edit archived photos we didn’t have time for in our busy lives. I will make some photo books, published online by local businesses. Being at home is a unique gift of time to look, wait and see. Lately, I’ve spent much of my time revisiting old images. I love to tell the story of what I photograph. There are always stories going on right under our noses…

Thanks to Fujifilm, Ran Fuchs has won a brilliant Fujifilm Finepix XP140 camera valued at $299. The first XP Series model capable of recording 4K video, the XP140’s High-Speed Video recording function also allows you to record HD video for smooth slow-motion, even for fast-moving subjects. Inside, the camera features a 16.4 megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor and it is waterproof to 25m, freeze proof to-10°C, and shockproof to withstand drops from 1.8m. The widest setting of 28mm on the Fujinon 5x optical zoom lens is perfectly suited to close-up action shots, while clear portraits are easy using the 5x optical zoom and 10x Intelligent Digital Zoom. There’s also a large 3-inch high-definition 920K-dot LCD and Bluetooth connectivity. Find out more at fujifilm.com.au HOW TO SUBMIT AN IMAGE • Email entries…

On 7 January 2020, I arrived in Wuhan, China, where I started a sabbatical with the Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). I was scheduled to return home to Sydney on 29 January, after spending Chinese New Year with my parents in Wuhan. In mid-January, a local friend mentioned to me rumours of an anticipated virus outbreak. I didn’t pay much attention because everything appeared normal. People went to work, and shops and restaurants were operating as usual. Nobody wore facemasks and the trains were packed with commuters. However, by late January things had changed. On the 23rd, a city-wide lockdown came into effect, and I finally accepted the COVID-19 situation: it was completely out of control. Locking down an entire city was the last line of defence for…

ROD NAZER Off to work EDITOR’S COMMENT Rod Nazer says he captured this image while travelling in South Australia. “I was photographing interesting buildings in Goolwa when I noticed the priest strolling to the Anglican Church. I waited until he was strategically placed in the composition and I was rewarded by a fortunate profile with him mid-stride and holding his bag in front. I felt the image would be more striking in monochrome.” This is a dynamic shot and a great example of how images with high contrast work particularly well in black and white. Your rule of thirds framing (well, just about) also makes for a nicely balanced frame. Well done. TECHNICAL DETAILS Sony RX100 Mk II, 28-100mm lens @ 40mm, 1/800s @ f6.3, ISO 160. Photoshop Elements 11…

There really is no guessing what situation we’ll be in by the time you read this article. Our once seemingly secure world has changed so dramatically during the past few months, leaving most of us in a state of flux and frustration, and also forcing many of us to be confined to the great indoors. It’s a tough time. There is no denying that. Trying to turn the recent negativity into productive positivity can be a tall order to call in right now, especially if you’re someone who loves to roam free in the outside world. As photographers, we’re a really mixed and “quietly rowdy” bunch. Some of us may already spend much of our time indoors in a studio, but some of us may also crave the wilds of…

I’ve been shooting with the X100series since the third generation X100S, primarily for street photography and documenting my everyday life moments. In a way, the system has had a transformative effect on my photography over the years and I regretted selling my X100S for a very long time. Since then, I’ve used a number of Fujifilm cameras but have always retained a soft spot for the pure and simple X100 series. By now, most of you will be familiar with the X100series, so let’s focus on what’s new. THE BODY The top and bottom plates of the camera are now made of durable aluminium rather than magnesium, and the X100V is the first in the series to sport weather sealing. This would be a huge improvement for landscape photographers or…

POLARISER POWER Ran Fuchs was “standing on a bridge above the pond, [while] turtles were coming up for air and then diving back again. The water was clear, but the light reflection made it impossible to see through. But once I added a polariser I could see under the water, and capture the turtles diving.” Minimalism can be really nice. In this, the emptiness helps draw focus onto the turtle. The composition with the turtle moving diagonally from the top left corner into the frame is also a dynamic touch. A little bit of movement with the head or a foot kicking would have also added life. The green water has little variation in tone – bar the little circular section above the turtle – which makes it two-dimensional. The…