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…)

Kia ora tatou:

Sometimes it is an ill wind, as they say…..

I have been eyeing my site with disfavour for some time now. Even I could not figure how to navigate it at times…

Yesterday we did a minor upgrade and it fell over. Moral: you get what you pay for sometimes. No, don’t ask….

So Michelle at Webmatters rebuilt it overnight.

Michelle , you are a legend. The graphic is for you!

My deepest thanks!

The rest of you are now free to offer your thoughts….

Ka kite ano

Kia ora tatou:
This just in…
While I was swanning around in South Africa, people all over the world were participating in the Scott Kelby Walk, then submitting their images…
Some of you will know one of them…
This image was the winner in the:
BEST SHOT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE HANGING IN A REALLY NICE HOTEL LOBBY
A Big Hand, Nick!
Check them out here…

Kia ora tatou:

If you were looking at the site, you would have seen it turn septic for a time this afternoon.

In the process of upgrading the back-engine, the template was lost. Well the site is back as it was.

But not for long…

I have been giving it the evil eye and feeling the design was tired, confused and messy.

Synchronicity would seem to indicate that the time is now for a makeover.

So sometime soon expect it to look radically different and trimmed down….

Ka kite ano

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

Kia ora tatou:

Lots of stuff I have been saving up.

Now it is time to let the little darlings out for a run….

1. Nothing makes me shudder quite as much as type used unintelligently. Powerpoints with Times where Arial or Myriad or anything sans serif would be better: Script used where Garamond would be better. How do I detest thee? Let me count the ways. I guess it is a hangover from days teaching graphic design. Those of you who use type as a design component or would like to be more informed when using it might like to read this article for one of my favourite websites, creativepro.com.
2. A visit to Photo & Video usually enables me to keep up with the latest cool toys on the horizon. Now I know where they source the goss. Rumours include the new Canon 60D: Canon is not happy with the sales of the Canon 50D
   Canon 60D will ship with a new 12.1 MP APS-H sensor with a size between full frame and APS-C sensor (1.3x crop factor)
   Canon 60D will have the 1D’s autofocus system
   Build quality similar to the Canon 5D Mark II
   6fps
   Prics: $1999 (more…)

Kia ora tatou:

Over the last couple of days ( including one pointed comment this am) it has been drawn to my attention that the blog posts have been a bit thin, and that some you you want something new to read…

Ther are reasons for this….

The Winterlight Workshops are involving and intense for all of us who come. Living and working with fellow photographers for two weeks can be a hugely rewarding process ( it always is for me), but one which often has me on the go from 0500 to late at night, so it is a little difficult to get in a post or two.In fact, I am still only beginning to catch up with the 1800-odd files I managed to make myself….

We got back on Saturday, and I have had a couple of days off for R+R and recovery from a (mild) dose of man-flu. Now it is back to the ever-burgeoning pile of email. if you have been awaiting a reply to an email, I am on the job…Thank Goodness for Dragon Naturally Speaking ( it doesn’t).

Winterlight 2010 is in the pipeline and bookings are being made. At this stage we plan to move it back closer to the beginning of July, to take advantage of the hoar frost and more snow…Those of you who came might want to share your experiences in the comment section below.

Many thanks to Rodney Adamson from Invercargill for the header image… (more…)