Kia ora tatou:

I need help(I imagine there are one or two of you who would agree with that statement).

Now that I am settled into Hanmer, more or less, and beginning to get back in the groove, I am keen to begin expanding the range of workshops I have to offer. To that end I have been doing a little informal market research, asking people what they would like me to offer. There is bound to be something one of you would like to see, which is never occurred to me.so if you have any ideas, you might like to either e-mail me or make a comment below. I would love to hear what you think.

Those of you living in the Rotorua area might like to call by the Te Whare Toi Gallery (RAVE) over the next couple of weeks and check out the amazing range of work on exhibition by participants in last year’s Innerlight workshop. All of the work is quite extraordinary and very personal, their response to Lake Waikaremoana and Te Urewera. Every piece in the exhibition moves photography into quite a new space,  and sits happily as fine art. It really is worth seeing. you are all warmly welcomed to come along to the opening, next Saturday night at 6:30 pm.

Every so often I have a bad case of Leica-itis.this has been going on for nearly 15 years, ever since Greg Bramwell loaned me an M6. Fortunately this affliction is easily cured by staring at the pricetag for around 5  nanoseconds! to some time, however, I’ve been looking for a small portable camera after shooting documentary, which would replace my Sony R1. Help may be on its way. Sony, who are not accompanied to let the grass grow under their feet, are about to enter the EVIL(electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens)market. Rather than go with the micro 4/3 format, they will be using an APS-C sensor. My sources tell me they are intending to give Panasonic a hard time,and from the little I’ve been able to learn, there will be a camera to take on the Panasonic GH-1, hopefully at a much more attractive price. Incidentally, if you been thinking of buying one of these small Panasonic SLRs,but then put off by the price here in New Zealand, you might like to look at B&H. Even allowing for GST, the exchange rate and freight, there are significant savings to be had. You can read more about  the new Sony here. Interesting that it should appear on a Canon site …

Bibble 5 has recently been released. I gave up on version 4, because quite frankly it wasn’t able to cope with a folder much larger than 256 MB. But version 5 is a completely different animal. I’ve only had it a couple of weeks, but it’s fair to say I’m impressed. Of course, being used to light room, the inevitable comparisons have to be made. My initial impression is that see DAM(Digital asset management) is probably not as sophisticated as Lightroom or Aperture.it does however have some very cool features, such as built-in noise Ninja and the ability to work on layers. Based on the little I’ve seen, I have to wonder if it doesn’t eliminate any reason to use Photoshop Elements.  As time permits I will write a full review of the product. Watch this space.

Ka kite