Cape Reinga

Kia ora tatou:

More of this and that…

1. You suggested. I responded. Over the last couple of weeks I have been told in no uncertain terms what you thought of the blog design. ( Many thanks, PRFH. You will of course do me the courtesy of commenting as you once did…). So Michelle and I have redesigned the page. The idea is to make it the flipside of the photograph section of the site, since words are the other side of the creative me. I hope you like it. Please let me know. There is always room for improvement. (more…)

Kia ora tatou:

Rauamoko1

Some announcements. Of this and that:

1. I run into a number of you who have been too busy to get to the blog. To make it easier and to keep you in the loop wothout your having to call by, I have set up an automatic email which goes out every week to let people on the newsletter list know the posts for the week. You can then choose whether or not to call by and have a read. To get it, you need to be on my mailing list. This is free and relatively painless. You subscribe, then it asks you to confirm, then you confirm….all designed to keep faith with the anti-spam laws. BUT YOU NEED TO BE ON THE LIST. Just about any other page on the website will have the form for you to fill out.
2. Last week I spent 5 days in Queenstown, writing for a book  due out next August. In the 5 days I was there, with no interruptions I was able to  generate around around 24 000 words, including  the blog posts below. I am also currently writing for  Digital Photo and Design, an OZ magazine. (more…)

Settlement, near Calvinia

Kia ora tatou:

1. You may have noticed one or two changes in the tenor of this blog. It has come about through comments made both on-and off-line. A number of people have commented that some of my more (esoteric?) posts have them wondering what I’m smoking, or what particularly exclusive (and illegal) pharmaceuticals I’m ingesting. Well the answer is: I don’t do drugs, and I recently gave up smoking. So there. However, I’m well aware that some of you want to read about photography, and a few of you enjoy my more esoteric musings. I have to admit, of late, I’m feeling a real pull towards writing stuff which is more … philosophical. So, in an attempt to keep everybody happy, I developed another website, which should probably be titled “Homage to Ford Prefect”, where I write about life, the universe and everything. Be warned: if the intricacies of raw converters and the hunt for the perfect PhotoShop action is your thing, then I strongly recommend you don’t go there! That is the province of this particular blog. If you do go there, and you do like it,then I suggest you bookmark it and/or add it to your RSS feed. (more…)

Kia ora tatou:

Some links I have found interesting and thought to share with you…

1. Ever wondered who made the most reliable laptop? No, ASP, the correct answer is not Apple…. Check this out...and stay away from HP, by this account….
2. I know this is going to do me out of a workshop or two, but you really need to bookmark this site and then read it from top to bottom. dpBestflow.org is a reference site for anyone interested in digital imaging technology and especially getting the best possible workflow.
3. Luminous Landscape continue to review all the Big Boys’ Toys  the rest of us can only dream about…like the Phase One 645DF…

(more…)

New Zealand Camera 2010

Kia ora tatou:

It is that time of the year again.

A few months ago, I was asked to write the introduction for this year’s edition of New Zealand Camera. It was embargoed for publication here until the final version came out. Well, it is. PSNZ member will no doubt have received theirs, but copies can  be purchased from the PSNZ website.

For those of you who don’t know it, each year amateur photographers  are asked to submit work to be included in the book. Then the best are incorporated into ta wonderful showcase of the best of New Zealand amateur photography. This years publication contains some jaw-droppingly gorgeous work. To be selected for it is an honour indeed. One of the things I love is seeing who made it into NZ Camera, and I notice, somewhat wryly that there are a few professionals present (I am afraid I cannot mention any names, as I am hoping to get Stewart Nimmo to buy me a coffee one day).

(more…)

Kia ora tatou:

I am a slow learner. It takes time for me to see the most obvious things.

It was during my time at the St. Francis  Healing Centre that the penny finally dropped. I realised that my gifts, such as they are, relate to communication in one way or another, that I attempt to communicate how i see the world by way of photographs. Nothing particularly special there, you might say. I also attempt to do so by teaching and sharing verbally what I know . It brings me enormous satisfaction and a rich sense of fulfilling my contract with my Creator.

But I also love, challenging though it is, communicating through the written word. Occasionally it comes easily and unbidden. Most of the time however, finding the best words is rather like chasing mice in a dusty attic. But it is an itch that must be scratched.

(more…)

Kia ora tatou:

For those of you new to the Blog, Shipping News is where I put out news, information and suggestions of how to live your summer dangerously ( more about that later…)

1. Those of you wondering what to do with your summer might have a look over here. I have teamed up with the guys at 4 x4 Treks to offer a photo Tour like no other. If you fancy the thought of serious off-roading, stunning photographic opportunities, top tuition and some great fellowship in the last week of January or the 1st week of February, 2010, then wander over here and indicate your interest. It promises to be great fun and offer you opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise get. Steve, who runs the tours, has been doing this for 16 years. In fact he was the first guy in NZ to import Japanese import 4WD’s. If the interest is there, we will be doing a lot more of these.  Bring your own 4WD or rent one. All tuition supplied: confidence and courage is up to you…..
2. I am not one to brag but….This website is one of 5 finalists in the Best Nationwide Photographers Category of the Corporate Events Guide Awards, to be presented on 31 October in Auckland. A big thank you to all of you who clicked on that silly symbol on the last  website and my email signature. Here is hoping……
3. Lastly but not leastly ( oops..I sense the PRFH’s heavy footfall), the EVF ( electronic viewfinder) is almost here to stay. I am a big fan of these. My Sony R-1 has one and the cool thing is that I get a histogram in the viewfinder…..it might cut down on my test shots….and yours…. read more here

Ka kite ano

Kia  ora tatou:

This will be my last post from Aotearoa for a few weeks. I leave for South Africa tomorrow morning ( early-too early), and get back around October 23. I have to be upfront here: I am not going to photograph the springbokie or haartebeeste. Well, I am not. There are other reasons for my journey, many of which have little to do with photography. But they do. In that time, I hope to extend my exploration of the African landscape and whatever I may find.

So, in the light of my decision to change camera brands from Canon to Sony, here is what I have replaced my unreliable Canons with. in Africa there are no second chances. As they say over there, “Africa is not for sissies”. I opted for the A900 because the sensor is reputed ( practical experience to follow) as the class-leader in the low ISO stakes.  The camera, as far as I have used irt seems practical and straightforward and feels as if it has been designed by a photographer, not an engineer. It has Minolta genes. It feels both rugged and reliable. Given the punishment I hand out, time will tell.  I will know in a week or two. So I have 2 of those, one with the

VGC90AM Vertical Grip. I also have 3 batteries, so if I find myself in Namibia with several days beyween recharges, I will be able to keep shooting.

Lenses consist of the Sony/Zeiss T* 16-35mm f2.8 lens, the Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8, the Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ( a beast by anyone’s reckoning), the Sony 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 Gold and the Sony 50mm f1.4 Lens ( because if you can only have one lens, a 50mm will do most anything). I will also be taking a Sony HVL58AM Flash. The lenses are unbelievably solid and heavy, although the whole kit takes up very little space (relatively). Cards consist of around 48 Gb of Cf cards.

So that is the camera. Late today I picked up a demonstrator Sony Vaio VGNAW37.

This is a laptop configured for photographers. You can read about it here ( sorry, Mac fanbois, it is PC only)…. Sony have positioned it as a laptop for photographers. As we speak, I am busy  throwing software at it ( it comes with a full working copy of Lightroom pre-installed!). They want me to test drive it anfd give feedback. I will.

A number of you have rung me in the last few days to wish me well. I am deeply grateful for your kindness and concern.

I am both grateful for and honoured by it.

Next post from Afrika.

Kia ora tatou:

It is time to confess.

As some of you know, I have had a  Sony DSC R-1 for some years now. I am sorry, but this is my cold-dead-fingers camera. While I lend it out to my friends (both of them), Quite frankly it is the one camera which feels like just that. A camera, not a hi-tech wundertool.  All the buttons and knobs fall in the right place and it lets me do ( no, it helps me do what I love-make photographs). Sony got it right with this camera. And four years later, I still love it and what it delivers…..

Next Thursday I am returning to Afrika for 6 weeks.  I was thinking what gear I would take. I had decided to definitely take the R-1. Since it would do most anything I wanted,  I was happy enough about that, but I knew I also wanted to make some new work, to expand the exploration of the African landscape which I began back in June. I really wanted to take my Canons, but frankly I don’t trust them anymore. A new shutter at 30 000 cycles on a $12 000 camera supposedly able to cope with >300 000 cycles is just no good. I might add it is my second Ids Mk III- the first lasted 5 months before being replaced.  Plus my Canons, a 1D Mk III and a 1 Ds Mk III, have failed to deliver consistently accurate autofocus, in spite of several trips to the service centre.

(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

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…)

1. Those of you who shot film back in the day (and I am increasingly meeting people who never have) will remember the iconic Kodachrome. In fact, it was the first roll of colour film I ever used. It was fiendishly difficult to expose correctly, and processing meant putting it in the little orange bag posting it away and waiting about a fortnight before it returned in the familiar yellow box(familiar, that is, to those of us who used it. I put it through my dad’s Braun Paxette, end, using the instructions on the inside of the packet, got 24 perfect exposures. It took 20 years and a Nikon F5 before I ever achieved that again. Anyway, Kodak have just announced that, after 74 years (yes, that long) they are discontinuing production. It’s probably reasonable; is only one place in the world now that processes it. you can get a Kodachrome look by using one of the many film emulation plug-ins such as Phototools Lite (free) but it’s not quite the same thing. It’s sad to see the passing of an era. Those in need of a nostalgia fix can read more here.
2. If you use Mozilla Firefox, and update regularly, you may have found it crashes a lot. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. It’s certainly driven me back into the arms of Internet Explorer (which I find clunky and counterintuitive). Two suggestions:make sure Java is upgraded to the latest version (you can do this in the control panel)and to try using the new Firefox 3.5 release candidate 2, which you can download here
3. OnOne software are doing a push this month on their amazing PhotoSuite 4.5. Until the end of this month, you can buy it at a substantial discount, by clicking the link at the top of this post. Really, really useful for anybody wanting to add some tools into their post-production toolbox, and a must-have for wedding and fine art photographers.