This image is nearly a year old but I am bringing it back for a reason. Perhaps it is because it has taken me all this time to begin to understand it, and perhaps it is because of the conversation I had yesterday which led to me hearing some absolutely fascinating information. Since writing about my pictures is a way for me to synthesise them and come to some understanding of both them and myself, I want to share some of the things around this image. I call it an image because, while it began life as a photographic file, it’s not really that any more.

About two years ago I was having a short break from photographing the grand landscape, probably because, at the time, I was feeling somewhat over the GL This happens from time to time and Iam OK with it. It was the middle of winter in the Maniototo, and after days of looking at snow-clad mountains, blue skies and crystal clear lakes with amazing reflections, I was feeling somewhat as if I had eaten too much pavlova (an iconic Kiwi desert). So I turned to photographing the ice at my feet along the edge of the lake margin. When I downloaded the files, I looked at them, saw nothing special and put them away. They sat there for nearly 2 years until, one day, I realised what they wanted to become. (more…)

For as long as I’ve been involved with photography, I’ve subscribed to the edict (and taught it) that you should have a filter on the front of the lens.

Until now.

After a conversation with a camera technician in South Africa, I’m rethinking the whole thing. I’m coming to the conclusion that they aren’t necessarily a good thing.

For those of us who came up through film, there were lots of good reasons for using filters. If we shot black-and-white, then we used a UV filter to cut down the amount of ultraviolet light reaching our film,  therefore giving it a better spectral response. If we shot film, then we probably went out and bought a skylight filter, to reduce the amount of blue light reaching our colour film. Here in New Zealand, with its excessively high amount of ultraviolet light (especially since the ozone hole came into being), there was no question of the necessity for these. But do we need to continue with this practice when all but a few of us use digital cameras?

Another reason for using filters like this on the front of our cameras was to protect the soft coating on the front lens element from scratching and from excessive cleaning. The theory was that filters could be thrown away when they got scratched and that it was cheaper to replace a filter than to replace the front element of the lens. Conventional wisdom also said that in using one of these filters we would be protecting our lenses from damage if we dropped it. And so for years we all dutifully bought filters for the front of our lenses. But, with coatings much harder and durable, is there a need to do so any more? (more…)

Kia ora tatou:

As a result of a request, I am going to run a digital production masterclass in Auckland over the weekend of 4-6 September, 2009.

This is not a beginner’s class, but should offer those of you who already work at an intermediate level new techniques and insights into working with Lightroom and PhotoShop CSx ( means any version of CS).

Lots of people are confused about which one to get/use. I use both, and find that generally, the transition is pretty seamless.

The accent here is on Creativity, and using them for a desired result. Too many books ( usually  the ones which weigh 200kg) tell you how to use a particular technique, not when or why you would use them. In this workshop I want to focus on creative use, not geeky technical-for-its-own-sake knowledge.

If you think this is you, contact Sandrina to book a place.

Nga mihi