Summer 2013
Summer 2013
PORTFOLIO
Glenn Bartley, Kwan Choo, and David Hemmings
FLIGHTS of FANTASY
How to take great bird photos!
DR. WAYNE LYNCH
Torres del Paine, Patagonia
MICHEL ROY
Secrets of Sports Photography
MICHAEL DeFREITAS
Go Wide!
KRISTIAN BOGNER
Summer Perspectives
CHRISTIAN AUTOTTE
Macro Technique
PLUS:
Photo by Glenn Bartley
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electronics is regulated. Because It Counts is a trade-mark of Canon Canada Inc. Canon and EOS are registered trade-marks of Canon Inc. © 2013 Canon Canada Inc.
InFocus
A Celebration
Join the conversation!
facebook.com/
of Summer Norm Rosen, editor | [email protected]
photonewscanada
With long days and warm weather, the Canadian great pictures in difficult locations – and how to
twitter.com/ summer is an ideal time to explore the world get your gear home in one piece!
photonewscanada
and expand your photographic skills. This issue You don’t have to go far to explore the world
of PHOTONews focuses on some of the many of macro photography – Christian Autotte shows
ways to capture the images of the season, using how to get up close and personal with nature’s
the full range of focal lengths from ultra-wide small wonders.
to super-telephoto, and techniques that can The result is a celebration of summer photog-
Visit the website at
www.photonews.ca
help you create spectacular photographs of your raphy, which we are proud to share with more
summer adventures. than 100,000 readers.
Join the flickr® group at Many people are surprised to learn that the most If this is your first encounter with PHOTONews,
www.flickr.com/groups/
photonewsgallery/ popular outdoor activity in North America is bird thank you for sharing your leisure time with us.
watching – we asked three of Canada’s best bird Please take a few minutes to visit our website at
Questions or comments?
Please send me an e-mail –
photographers to share their secrets, and some of www.photonews.ca, where you can find addi-
[email protected] their favourite images in our special feature “Flights tional information on all of the products and tech-
of Fantasy”. niques featured in this issue, and access the digital
Kristian Bogner captures the colours of sum- edition archives of the magazine.
mer in a series of spectacular images, and shares PHOTONews is distributed free of charge to
tips that can help you create spectacular photos Canadian photo enthusiasts courtesy of the par-
of the season in his Perspectives feature. ticipating advertisers – you may subscribe to the
Nothing beats the thrill of capturing action magazine free of charge by signing up at the web-
sports images like a pro - we asked Michel Roy to site. Free copies of PHOTONews are available at
reveal the magic of sports photography. Canadian photo retail shops.
Summer is a season of travel, and there is no We encourage readers to participate in the
betterway to capture the sights and scenes than magazine - join us at our flickr® group, where
YOUR SOURCE FOR CANADIAN PHOTOGRAPHY
through an ultra-wide lens. Michael DeFreitas shows you can post your favourite images, enter the
how to expand your horizon by “Going Wide”. quarterly PHOTONews Challenge, and share
VOLUME 22, NO. 2 / sUMMEr 2013 News FREE COPY!
Touring the world with your camera can be a your thoughts with Canada’s photo enthusiasts.
challenge – Dr. Wayne Lynch explains how to get
PORTFOLIO
GLenn BaRTLey, Kwan ChOO, and davId hemmInGs
FLIGHTS of FANTASY
how to take great bird photos!
dR. wayne LynCh
Torres del Paine, Patagonia
mICheL ROy
Secrets of Sports Photography
mIChaeL deFReITas
Go Wide!
KRIsTIan BOGneR
Summer Perspectives Contributing writers/photographers PHOTONews is published four times a year Published by
Dr. Wayne Lynch; Kristian Bogner; Glenn Bartley, (Spring; Summer; Autumn; Winter) by Zak Media,
ChRIsTIan aUTOTTe
Macro Technique
PLUS: David Hemmings, Kwan Choo; Michel Roy; and distributed to 103,141 photography
Photo by David Hemmings
PM40040669 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to 22 Telson Road, Markham, ON, L3R 1E5
COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE
Cool summer Products
and more! Christian Autotte; Michael DeFreitas; and video enthusiasts throughout Canada.
Ginette Lapointe.
All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material
Volume 22, Number 2
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25 x 10.875 000 000 000 000 IR Date:
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Summer 2013 | 3
I photographed the interior
of St. Stephan’s Cathedral in
Passau, Germany, by placing
the camera on the floor for
a low-angle perspective.
14mm, f/11, 1/2 second,
ISO 200.
52
4 | PHOTONews
Through the Lens… Go Wide!
Michael DeFreitas describes the technique
of ultra-wide photography.
18 Technique – Catch the Action!
Michel Roy focuses on the magic of
summer sports.
29
Portfolio - Flights of Fantasy
Glenn Bartley, Kwan Choo, and
David Hemmings show how to take
great bird photos!
42
Perspectives -
Add Sizzle to your Summer
Kristian Bogner's tips will help you shoot
summer subjects like a pro
48
Photo Display -
Black & White Inkjet Printing
Jack Colvin explains how to make
beautiful monochrome prints!
Summer 2013 | 5
5 - A X I S I M A G E S TA B I L I Z AT I O N .
ZOOM IN
W I T H O U T F L I P P I N G O U T.
T
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viewfinder, 9 fps High-Speed Sequential Shooting, a 16-megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor and an array of lenses. And it all fits snugly
into a light yet durable body that can withstand rain, sand and dust. www.getolympus.com/ca/en/OMD
Cool Products
for Summer A selection of products to help you take
the best pictures of the season!
May 1, 2013 1:33 PM
Last Modified
For the serious macro enthusiast, nothing beats the versatility of a long prime lens, and the
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compensate for chromatic aberra-
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Summer 2013 | 7
Editor’sChoice
Catch the Action!
Action Shooter!
The Vanguard GH-200 supports standard and large zoom
lenses with impressive security. Its quick shoe plate with
clamp knob enables forward and backward shifting move-
ment with a large telephoto lens, while maintaining steady
center-of-gravity support and preventing accidental release.
The GH-200 provides smooth movement with impressive
ergonomic control. This ball head has a pistol grip-style
Your Ideal Two-Lens Kit… handle which rotates 360 degrees and enables you to unlock,
reposition and lock gear into place with ease, thanks to the
For Sports Photography, your ideal two-lens kit begins with a long telephoto zoom, like the Grip Position Release System. You can position the handle
Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD with VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabiliza- at any angle for maximum comfort. Squeeze the handle for
tion that delivers leading-edge image quality in a compact lens. Equipped with Tamron’s 360-degrees of panning movement, -32 to +90-degrees of
proprietary USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) motor, this lens boasts a speedy autofocus so side-to-side tilt, and -8 to +90-degrees of back to front tilt.
that you can capture sports, journalism, fashion, and weddings. Ideal for all-round use, the The Friction Control System allows you to modify the level of
70-200mm will exceed your expectations every time. friction on the ball to accommodate changing between light
With one special XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) glass and four LD (Low Dispersion) elements, and heavier lenses. A panorama feature offers 72-point rota-
this lens offers a new level of correction for chromatic aberrations. The new advanced optical tion with click-into-place positioning that moves the camera
design delivers higher performance with excellent contrast and resolution. With a rounded 5 degrees per click and prevents jumps in shots to ensure a
diaphragm for spectacular blur effects, this high-speed lens creates images that bring your perfect 360-degree panorama.
subject to life. Full-time manual focus adjustments can be made during autofocus shooting,
without the need to change focus mode, and moisture-resistant construction is ideal for active
outdoor assignments.
8 | PHOTONews
ative
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Editor’sChoice
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Vanguard Endeavor
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Birders often spend many hours
observing their subjects, which
can be an exhausting adventure
when you view the birds through
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a full range of movement, many
enthusiasts carry a high qual- The Tamron SP AF200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di LD (IF) super-telephoto zoom
ity binocular, like the Vanguard fills the frame with distant subjects – ideal for wildlife and sport assign-
Endeavour 8 x 42, a top-of-the- ments. The optical effect of a super-telephoto separates the main subject
line model that delivers sharpness from the background for professional-looking results. The 200-500mm
and clarity with exceptional light transmission and remarkable colour resolu- lens design is extremely lightweight and compact.
tion and contrast. The Endeavor ED 8x42 was named “top birding pick” by When mounted on an APS-C size digital SLR camera, it provides a focal
Bird Watcher’s Digest. This exceptional optical instrument features ED (extra- length equivalent to a 760mm for super ultra telephoto imaging. As with
low dispersion) glass for high resolution images Nitrogen-charged and o-ring most super telephoto lenses, the Tamron SP AF200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di
sealed, Endeavor ED is waterproof and fogproof to take on challenging weather LD (IF) produces its best results when mounted on a tripod, and there is a
conditions. Other features include an ergonomic, open-bridge design for com- convenient rotating collar and tripod foot for this purpose. Lens quality is
fort, a wide view angle, BaK4 roof prisms, an anti-reflection coating, large focus excellent at a very affordable price.
adjustment wheel and long eye relief. Available in Canon, Nikon, Sony and Pentax mounts.
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SpringChallenge
P
lay Fight
Gary Drake, of Lethbridge,
Alberta., captured this image
with his Nikon D7000 and
18-300mm lens, shooting
at f/5.6, 1/640 second,
ISO 100.
“I was out for a Sunday
drive and noticed a herd of
horses in a large field, and
some of them were running
and enjoying the day. These
two continued to track each
other and finally started this
playing. It was enjoyable to
watch and photograph.”
Sponsored by
12 | PHOTONews
Rebel Rams
James Anderson of Calgary, AB, captured this image of two big dominant Rams that seem to morph into one another as they lock horns and
push and shove each other around during the fall rut, captured with a Canon XSi at 230mm, shooting at 1/80 second and f/5.6, ISO 800.
18-270mm “I applied black and white with green filter and added warming hues to try and give the picture the moodiness these Rams are por-
ZOOM traying. Kootenay National Park\Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada.”
Summer 2013 | 13
Images featured in the PHOTONews Reader's
Reader’s Gallery
Gallery are selected from the photo pool at the
PHOTONews flickr® group – why not take a look,
join the group, and post a few pictures
> www.flickr.com/groups/photonewsgallery/
14 | PHOTONews
Coming Home
Greg David from Etobicoke, Ontario, captured this early morning
shot of cormorants flying over Lake Ontario with the Toronto
skyline in the background. "I used a Canon 6D with a Canon 70-300
f4/5.6 with a shutter speed of 1/100, aperture at 5.6 and ISO 400
in Manual mode."
Happy Feet
Megan Lorenz of Etobicoke, Ontario, captured this
image of a wild Red-Eyed Tree Frog at night on a visit to
Costa Rica in February 2013. "After waiting patiently for
the frog to move from the back of the leaf and peek it's
head over the top, I captured the moment with a Canon
1D4 and 100mm Macro lens with a Canon Macro Ring
Light, shooting at 1/15 second at f/13."
B
ee on a Bluebonnet
Zena Woron-Quinn of Calgary, Alberta, captured this image of a bee
on a flower in Texas Hill Country with a Canon 5D Mark III and a 100-
400mm lens, shooting at 1/1250 second and f/5.6, ISO 200. “I got
down low and waited patiently for one of the bees to come by and
enjoy the nectar of the beautiful Texas Bluebonnet flower.”
Summer 2013 | 15
Springboard
Martin
Cauchon
Heat
Martin Cauchon of Quebec
City captured this image with a
Nikon D600, shooting at 1/60
second, f/8 ISO 100.
"I used a flash triggered by
Cactus V5. I shot this one
vertical and the only Photoshop
manipulation was to rotate it so
the incense smoke looks like it is
going from right to left."
The quotation: “So what? He
ain’t seen my heat” is from
Bull Durham, one of the best
baseball movies ever made.
16 | PHOTONews
Summer 2013 | 17
SpecialFeature
Summer 2013 | 19
SpecialFeature
20 | PHOTONews
For most sports, if you
choose the best seat in the
house, get a cool perspec-
tive and an interesting
background, you will get
a winning shot.
When to use a flash? A good harness is a must for a long day of pho-
First make sure that flash photography is per- tography on the sidelines, and a good photo back-
mitted at the event! Some sports, like tennis, will pack is a major plus. A monopod is a back saver
not let you use flash at all except at the awards for all sports photographers, get a good one, you’ll
ceremony. For some sports, like cycling trial use it for life.
competitions, flashes can be mounted on stands Now it is time to show your talent, find the
and be triggered by radio control from close best seat in the house, and get ready to capture
range. Radio triggers are often used at basketball the magic of the moment. Sports photography is
games, when the flash is placed next to the net to fun, it’s rewarding, and it’s one of the best ways to
capture great angles. enjoy summer!
Action photographers work with at least two
camera bodies and two different lenses, usually VAMOS!
a wide and a telephoto zoom. With this kit, you
don’t waste time changing lenses on location.
Michel Roy Michel Roy, from Quebec City, is the owner of Digital Direct Photos & Videos,
specializing in a full range of photography and video from corporate assignments
to weddings. For a visual adventure, visit the website at www.digitaldirect.ca.
Summer 2013 | 21
PhotoDestinations
By Wayne Lynch
Patagonia
Getting There With Gear
Supporting the vast bulk of South America is a great wedge of continent called Patagonia.
Here, great tracts of grasslands, enlivened with colourful patches of wildflowers, sweep
beneath immense cerulean skies and nurture exotic creatures with exotic names: gua-
naco, rhea, tinamou, and huemul. Above it all rise the chiselled flanks of the mighty
Andes and the wind-swept wings of one of the largest flying creatures on earth, the
magnificent Andean condor.
For my money, the jewel of Patagonia is Parque National Torres del Paine in southern
Chile. In the words of author William Leitch, Torres del Paine “is not a mere park, but a
park of parks, a destination of travelers to whom a park is more than a place in which to
be entertained, but rather an experience to be integrated into one’s life. Torres del Paine
Austral Pygmy Owl. is the sort of park that changes its visitors by setting standards of sheer sensory impact
against which all other parks are thereafter measured.”
In 2012, I made two photo trips to Torres del Paine in Patagonia. The first in April
to capture the autumn splendour of the southern beech forests set against the magnifi-
cence of the snow-capped peaks, and a second in late October to revel in the photogenic
mountain wildlife of the Andes and its foothills. In both trips I especially wanted to see
a puma, the lion of the Andes, and Lady Luck was on my side.
Since my photo targets for both trips ranged from scenery to macro subjects, to wildlife
photography requiring long telephotos, I brought along a complete range of lenses and
cameras. My principal gear included: a Nikon D700, a Nikon D300S, a Nikkor 24mm
f/1.4, Nikkor 12-24mm f/4, Macro Nikkor 105mm f/4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8, and
Nikkor 500mm f/4 lenses, a Nikon SB900 flash, and a carbon fibre tripod with a ball head.
As backup gear in case something broke I had a second Nikon D300S, a Canon G12 view-
finder camera, a Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, a Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 and a Nikkor
SB800 flash. As well, I had a set of extension tubes, a dozen lithium AA batteries, two flash
synch cords, a pair of lightweight binoculars, a laptop computer, an iPod touch, two card
readers, a battery charger, and a small 250 Gig external hard drive. The total weight of all
this photo paraphernalia was 21 kilograms (46 lb). So what’s my point? In South America,
and many other parts of the world, the baggage allotment for today’s economy traveller,
which is how I always travel, is a personal item such as a purse or briefcase, five kilograms
of carry-on baggage, plus 20 kilograms of checked baggage. That’s it. Simple arithmetic
tells you that I’m dangerously close to being overweight before I even think about clothing,
toothpaste, and, of course, my favourite bunny bedroom slippers. What’s the solution?
22 | PHOTONews
Guanaco.
24 | PHOTONews
Andean Condor
Bio
Author Wayne Lynch's first love
has always been photographing
creatures with a beating heart and
he was never very excited by land-
scape photography until he starting
making panoramas with Photoshop.
Many Photoshop techniques are
covered in his e-book.
www.waynelynch.ca
Summer 2013 | 25
Learn Faster. Learn Better.
Flights of Fantasy
PHOTONews asked three of Canada's best bird photographers to select
their favourite images, and share the methods and techniques that are
essential to achieving spectacular photographs of our feathered friends.
I
t takes a special kind of personality to be a photography. David is the President of Nature’s
successful bird photographer - you have to be Photo Adventures, and he leads photo semin-
prepared to devote a great deal of time and ars in Central and Eastern Canada, and inter-
energy to learning about the birds in your region, national expeditions to exotic destinations
and welcome the opportunity to expand your where wildlife abounds.
knowledge when you embark on a birding exped- Our experts use an array of equipment that
ition to distant lands. ranges from basic gear to highly specialized
PHOTONews asked three of Canada’s top bird items. We asked them to describe the technique
photographers to share their secrets for success. and settings used for each photograph. Note that
We invited Glenn Bartley to show us some of almost all of the images are shot using a tripod, a
the birds of Western Canada, and explain how solid ball or pistol grip head and fast lenses. Some
an avid photographer can become more involved of the images were captured using fill-in flash – a
in the genre. Glenn leads birding expeditions to technique that helps add detail as well as action-
a range of domestic and international destina- stopping capabilities so crucial to successful bird
tions, and his insights are certain to inspire you photography. Your photo retailer can help you
to develop your skills. select the camera, tripod, lens and flash appropri-
Our second expert contributor, Kwan Choo, ate to your needs and budget. Our Editor’s Choice
is a master of bird photography, with many section includes several items that are ideal for
awards to his credit. Kwan is, in many ways, exploring the techniques discussed in this issue.
the ultimate photo enthusiast, having honed his The following pages contain a portfolio of
skills by attending bird photography seminars spectacular images – the culmination of years of
and field trips, including sessions presented by dedicated practice. Can you develop the skills to
Glenn Bartley and David Hemmings. capture our feathered friends in their flights of
Rounding out our panel of experts, David fantasy? Of course! All it takes is a bit of expert
Hemmings is one of Canada’s leading wild- guidance, the careful choice of quality gear, and
life photography teachers and a master of the a healthy respect for the environment and the
technique of capturing images of birds in ecosystems that sustain these magnificent yet
flight - one of the most difficult assignments in fragile subjects.
28 | PHOTONews
Photo by Kwan Choo
Summer 2013 | 29
Photo by Kwan Choo
Booted Racket-tail
I must admit that I had turned my nose up at into detail as to technique as you can get such
(Ocreatus underwoodii) multi-flash photography, until I joined a work- information from the Internet. Glenn himself
A Silver Medal in the 2013 Royal Photographic Society of Great shop run by the masterful Glenn Bartley. I abso- has expressed it best when he has said that he
Britain’s International Projected Exhibition. Photo was taken in lutely endorsed it as a means of Hummingbird never tires of seeing the joyful faces of atten-
Ecuador in January, 2012. photography the moment I tried it! I shan’t go dees using this technique for the very first time.
30 | PHOTONews
Kwan Choo Summer 2013 | 31
Photo by Kwan Choo
Blue-tailed Bee-eater I first visited this spot, a large area of padi- close to the birds without them flying away,
fields, in 2006 and thought I had found and they all have perches that they return to
(Merops philippinus) paradise. All photography in this area is regularly. Thus, when one such a bird and perch
Silver Medal in the 2013 Royal Photographic Society of Great accomplished using the car as a hide and the are spotted, it is just a matter of waiting for
Britain’s International Projected Exhibition. Photo was taken window ledge as support for my bean-bag upon the bird to return, often with prey. I hand-held a
in Malaysia in February, 2012. which my camera and lens sit. One can get very 300mm f2.8 lens with 1.4X attached.
32 | PHOTONews
Kwan Choo
Kwan Choo is truly a citizen of the world. Born in
Singapore, he grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
went to boarding school in Cambridge, England
and eventually became a Barrister-at-Law at the
Inns of Court, London. Kwan and his wife Jessica
lived in Malaysia for nine years and raised a young
family before moving to Vancouver, B.C. in 1975.
Kwan is an Associate of the Royal Photographic
Society of Great Britain, and an avid golfer. As this
issue of PHOTONews was going to press, Kwan
was competing on the senior golf tour, and hiking
the High Sierra mountains on a photo expedition.
T
o succeed in this genre, you will need Ansell Adams would not have been able
a lens no shorter than 300mm. Many to produce his famous black and white prints
pro-photographers will tell you that without post processing in his darkroom. We
prime lenses (not zooms) are preferred and use Photoshop (or Lightroom, etc.) in a simi-
I feel the same way. A camera body with the lar manner. All nature competitions allow
fastest frame rate that you can afford is also the surreptitious use of the digital darkroom
advisable. A good tripod is mandatory and with strict guidelines allowing minor clon-
the sturdier it is, the better it will be for tack ing, cropping and colour enhancement, for
sharp shots. example.
I really enjoy tropical forest bird photog- Birds mostly move constantly (although
raphy where shutter speeds are often 1/30 forest birds tend to stay still generally as I
sec or less, and fill-flash is a necessity. We imagine so that prey will not notice them) so
use fill-flash very gently and I often explain composition is normally difficult on the run.
to people that it’s not like a shove, but simply Pay attention to your background, the rule of
a gentle and ever so slight brush. thirds and try to have a catchlight in the eye.
Setting up bird feeders and suitable perches Join a camera club and browse some of
in your yard is one of the best ways of pho- the better nature forums, like Naturescapes.
tographing birds. Ensure that the perch is net and Naturephotographers.net. Joining a
from a native plant and is natural. An Anna’s workshop with photographers such as Glenn
Hummingbird feeding at a Hibiscus flower Bartley and David Hemmings is well worth
would not work! the effort and money spent.
Summer 2013 | 33
Photo by Glenn Bartley
Bullock’s Oriole
This is my favourite type of image to take - a classic portrait of a Much easier said than done! For this image I However it is essential that the bird is not
gorgeous bird that is framed nicely by a natural perch. used a judicious amount of call playback to stressed out or harassed by the photographer
attract the bird to a perch of my choosing. This using too much playback of the calls.
can be a great technique to use for songbirds.
34 | PHOTONews
Summer 2013 | 35
Photo by Glenn Bartley
Common Loon
For this image I wanted an extremely low perspective. I submerged myself in the water so that my much too close to fit the entire bird in the
camera was only a few inches above the water. frame. Because of this I composed the image
When the loon surfaced in front of me it was for a tight portrait.
36 | PHOTONews
Glenn Bartley
Glenn Bartley is a professional nature photog-
rapher from Victoria, British Columbia. He focuses
almost all of his efforts on capturing intimate
images of birds in their natural habitat. Glenn is
especially well known for his portraits of rare and
difficult to photograph birds from the Neotropical
Region and his portfolio of hummingbird images. In
addition to his own photographic pursuits, Glenn
leads instructional photographic workshops to
exciting destinations throughout the Americas
(including Canada, Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica).
Glenn Bartley,
Vancouver, British Columbia.
I
wanted to show you a few of my favour- try to identify any type of predictable behaviour
ite birds from the western part of Canada. that perhaps can give you as the photographer a
I’m sure that every photographer has a few slight advantage or a greater probability of cap-
images that they are especially proud of. turing a pleasing image.
These are a few of mine. For example, imagine that you spot a Brown
Being a good bird photographer is not about Creeper up in a tree and that the bird is too high
equipment. In fact, once you master the basic to photograph. Knowing that this species is
concepts of photography it isn’t about tech- likely to start at the bottom of a tree when feed-
nique or settings either. Being a good bird pho- ing and work its way up you could simply antici-
tographer is about understanding birds and pate the next tree the bird is likely to fly to and
bird behaviour. You have to know your subject, then be ready for the action. This is just a very
its habits, its song and where it is likely to be simple example of trying to predict a bird’s next
found. Learn as much as you can about birds move and be in position to take a great image.
and you will without doubt become a better I use Canon gear. My primary equipment
bird photographer. includes a couple of 7D bodies, 500mm f/4, 300
Each bird species or family has different ten- f/4 and 17-40 f/4 lenses. I always have a 1.4x tele-
dencies. I would say that one of the most import- converter with me and of course at least one flash.
ant elements of bird photography is the ability to I use a carbon fibre tripod and Wimberly head. To
know the general habits of a bird and to then tote everything around I use a photo backpack.
Summer 2013 | 37
Photo by David Hemmings
Male American Kestrel in Flight The Male American Kestrel is one of my favorite Canon 400mm f5.6 lens mounted to a Bushhawk
This image is a personal favorite of mine. species of falcons. It has beautiful colors and shoulder mount system. The Bushhawk allows for
feather patterns and is an excellent aerial acrobat. fast panning and tracking while keeping my gear
This image was taken with a Canon 1D MK III and a steady.
38 | PHOTONews
Summer 2013 | 39
Photo by David Hemmings
I have watched Bald Eagles feeding on fish many hand holding my equipment on a boat deck. It
Bald Eagle in flight Contortions times and I specifically wanted to capture an
image of the amazing contortions that this bird
would be almost impossible to capture images
like this using a tripod. Since the eagles were
I have selected this photo as a favorite because of the extreme is capable of in a split second. This image was very close I was shooting at f8 to maximize my
positioning of this Bald Eagle's body. snapped when the eagle suddenly changed dir- depth of field and still had enough light to get
ections and was heading towards the water to 1/1000 second shutter speed, enough to freeze
grab a fish. This image was only possible while the motion of this large raptor.
40 | PHOTONews
David Hemmings
David Hemmings is a world-renowned bird pho-
tographer who specializes in bird-in-flight images.
His work has been published on the cover of
National Geographic, Canadian Geographic and
numerous nature photography publications
including Audubon Magazine, On Feathered
Wings, Birding Essentials and more.
David Hemmings,
Ontario.
F
ew people realize that bird watching is the There is considerable controversy surround-
most popular outdoor activity in North ing the ethics and impact of using food to attract
America. From a photographic perspec- birds to your photo location. It is very important
tive, birds present a number of technical chal- to consult the environmental experts who care
lenges – small, skittish, and capable of swift and for the natural habitat and species in the various
distant flight, birds are fascinating subjects that preserves, national and regional parks, to be cer-
are as intriguing as they are beautiful. tain that you respect the guidelines for each area.
Add Sizzle
to Your
Summer!
Summer is one of my favourite seasons – there is always
something exciting to photograph – here are a few tips to
help you shoot summer subjects like a pro.
42 | PHOTONews
"Taking Flight"
I was one of the first people to own a Nikon D4. I had it shipped to me
in Maui and I headed right over to shoot the windsurfing. I captured
this image in the first 20 minutes of using the camera.
I cranked up the saturation in the picture control settings, set the
shutter speed to 1/8000 of a second to freeze every molecule of
water and listened to the titanium shutter purr like a Ferrari as the
camera tracked focus with ease. I used AF-S focus mode and AF-Area
set to Single Point so I was able to precompose my image and just
track the action at one spot.
Two other settings that I enabled right away were the Viewfinder Grid,
and the Virtual Horizon - I set the VH to be activated by the Function
Button. These are both great features to help you get straight horizon
lines while shooting any subject, especially sports.
I manually set my exposure and then hold my function button while
shooting, and the virtual horizon shows my camera level in the view-
finder, which helps me get a perfect horizon.
Nikon D4, VR 300mm f/2.8G and Nikon TC-20E III 2X Teleconverter,
f/5.6 at 1/8000 second, ISO 800.
Summer 2013 | 43
Turn up the heat If you shoot with your camera set to “automatic”
for spectacular shots… try switching to “Shutter Speed Priority” - the
“S” or “T” setting on your camera. Now you can
Whether you are boating, biking or hiking manually set your shutter speed to match your
along the Trans Canada Trail, summer activities subject and the aperture will adjust automatically
provide an amazing array of thrilling subjects. to achieve proper exposure while the camera pro-
Everywhere you look there are colours, shapes, gram maintains your desired shutter speed. I like
and movement - a non-stop series of photo to zoom-in on my image preview and check to
opportunities. With a bit of practice, and some make sure there is no undesired movement and
insights into summer photo techniques, you can my focus point is sharp. For summer action I rec-
add impact to any summer shot! ommend using at least 1/500 second to 1/2000
With so much light surrounding your sub- second as a starting point for capturing great out-
jects, it is easy to capture the action of the season. door sports images.
44 | PHOTONews
Some of the newer cameras have an Auto-ISO only takes a few seconds to confirm that I am in
feature which lets you set your desired aperture control of the light and how I want to capture the
and shutter speed and the camera automatically subject. Manual settings may take a bit of practice
adjusts the ISO to give you the correct exposure. but give it a try and see how you do.
It is a very useful feature on a partly sunny, partly While my camera exposure settings may be
cloudy day, when the light is always changing set to shutter speed preferred, or full manual, I
your exposure. always set my autofocus to “continuous” or AF-C,
I shoot with manual exposure settings almost so that I don’t miss the moment of action, even if
all of the time, so I can dial in my desired aper- the camera doesn’t think my subject is in focus. I
ture, shutter speed and ISO settings. I start with a also like to use “Single Point” or “Dynamic Area”
quick test of shutter settings that are appropriate settings for my AF-Area Mode on my Nikon. That
to stop the movement of my subject, and aperture way I can pre-compose my image and give the
settings that capture the ideal depth of focus. It camera a single point to focus on at the peak of
interest, which is usually the eyes of my subject.
I often use the rule of thirds as a composition
technique for summer action images. This gives a
moving subject somewhere to go within the scene
- the negative or empty space in the frame creates
a sense of motion and movement.
Even though there may be abundant light in
a summer scene, you can add a dash of flash to
fill in shadows or capture extremely fast move-
ment. If you use your flash to help stop the action
set your flash settings to “Rear-Curtain Sync” to
properly capture the movement.
“Distant Castle”
This image shows why it always pays to carry a camera! I was at the
right place at the right time, with my camera in the trunk of my car,
when I saw the beautiful colour contrast of the warm light hitting the
mountains against the cool dark sky background. I took a quick detour
off my route to capture the scene. I shot hand-held at f/13 to make
sure I had plenty of depth of field. The Nikon D3 at 250 ISO added
almost negligable amounts of grain to the image.
Get to know you camera's ISO capabilities. For some cameras you may
have needed to shoot an image like this with a tripod in order to ensure
minimal grain. Framing this image with the spring flowers helps draw
you in to the scene, further enhancing the impact of this landscape.
Nikon D3, 14-24mm lens, 1/160 second, f/13, ISO 250.
Summer 2013 | 45
background all in focus I will try to shoot at an The time of day can be a key consideration
aperture of f/8 or higher. In order to get enough when shooting landscapes. In most cases, the
light to shoot landscape subjects at small aperture best time to shoot is early morning or evening
settings and low ISO, it is a good idea to use a when the sun is low in the sky. I call this the
tripod for rock-solid exposures at slower shutter “sweet light” time of day.
speeds.
I also like to manually adjust my white bal-
Sizzling Beach and Outdoor
ance to warm or cool my landscapes to enhance Fashion Shots
the feeling and mood. For instance, I use the Shooting outdoors can give you studio-like effects
“cloudy” setting to add a bit more warmth to the if you use some simple tools and techniques.
subject. Choose the best time of day for your assignment
Nikon’s “D-Lighting” setting works great to - in many cases, people look their best in mor-
get a bit more detail in the mid-tone to shadow ning or evening light when the light source is
area. I usually leave the “D-Lighting” set on low lower and warmer. Position the sunlight behind
or normal. If you don’t have this feature you can your model and bounce light back into the face
try reducing the contrast when shooting difficult with a silver or white reflector - in a pinch, even
light and dark subjects. a white piece of cardboard or tin foil can be used.
In order to get straight horizons I love the This will soften the sunlight so the model doesn’t
“virtual horizon” and “grid view” features on squint and the technique will give you nice bal-
my cameras. These really help to get that per- anced light on the face while the sun provides a
fect horizon line. I set the function button on my great hair light from behind and helps separate
Nikon D800E and D4 to show me my camera lev- your subject from the background.
els through the viewfinder.
46 | PHOTONews
You can also use flash to fill in the front of the Take your camera everywhere you go because
subject. I use my Nikon SB-910 flash on camera, you never know when the opportunity to shoot
or take the flash off camera at about 45 degrees to an extraordinary moment will arise. If your DSLR
fill in or give some direction of light to the sub- system is a bit too bulky to carry on a summer
ject. This works especially well at sunset when stroll, take a compact camera along. I just had the
there are brilliant colours, and it is very effect- opportunity play with and test the new Nikon
ive just after the sun has gone down when flash Coolpix A with RAW features and a DX sensor.
becomes more powerful relative to the sunlight. I was absolutely amazed by the images I got with
The technique is quite simple, and it is explained it. I am so excited to finally have a camera that fits
well in your camera and flash manuals and bro- in my pocket with pro features to take with me
chures. Essentially, you meter and expose for everywhere that I don’t want to lug my 2 bodies
the background and light your subject with your and 8 lenses with me.
flash. Try softening your light source with a small Summer is a photographer’s dream come true
softbox or by shooting through some translucent – try a few of the techniques for sizzling summer
material. If you need more power, increase your images, and you will capture some of the best
ISO settings. For instance, if you increase the ISO times of your life! ▪
on your camera from 100 ISO to 400 ISO your
flash essentially becomes four times as powerful.
Keep Learning
Experiment and Play
Summer is a wonderful time to get creative, experi- If you would like to learn more, I will be speak-
ment and play with photography. Fireworks on ing on tour at special events like the Contact
Canada Day can be a blast. Try longer expos- Festival in Toronto for Nikon.
ures using a tripod. Shoot star trails or play with Find out more at www.kristianbogner.com or
macro subjects like flowers or bugs. If you don’t join me for one of my photography workshops
have a macro lens try buying an extension tube at www.photographicrockstar.com
to put between your lens and the camera body to
allow you to focus on tiny subjects.
Summer 2013 | 47
InkjetPrinting
By Jack Colvin
Black & White
Make Beautiful Monochrome Prints!
A
lthough none of us sees the world in black switch automatically between photo black and
and white, monochrome image making matte black as required for various types of paper
has been popular for over a century and while others require you to make the swap your-
remains an important means of creative expres- self. With the latter, the extra effort will definitely
sion. While colour tends to reflect “reality” as pay off.
we perceive it, monochrome provides a more Suitable Printers: In the 13” wide format, the
abstract representation which often makes a more following current machines’ inksets include three
profound impression on a viewer’s subconscious. monochrome inks: the PIXMA PRO-100 (dye-
Without the appeal of vibrant hues and tones, based), PIXMA PRO-10 and PIXMA Pro-1 (pig-
monochrome encourages more emphasis on ment-based) from Canon and Epson’s Stylus R2880
composition, visual design or capturing graphic and R3000 (pigment-based). If you prefer the 17”
lines, patterns, or texture. Instead of a picture wide format, the following models are highly suit-
postcard view, a black & white print offers an able: Canon imagePROGRAF iPF5100 and Epson’s
impressionistic glimpse of a reality that the pho- Stylus Pro 3880 and 4900 (all pigment-based).
tographer intended to convey.
Especially today when we can find inkjet Hint: Many printing papers work well with either pigment-based
or dye-based ink but some are specifically optimized for only one
printers and media that can provide stunning type. When this is an issue, you should find it mentioned on the
monochrome prints, it’s well worth exploring the package and in the data on the manufacturer’s Web site.
beauty of tonal values in shades of gray and the
deep blacks and bright whites. With a machine that is fully optimized for
A “bargain” printer will not make beauti- black & white print making, check out all of the
ful black & white prints, regardless of the paper monochrome options in the “driver” or operating
you use - look for printers that are specifically software. This should include one for printing
designed for photographic purposes. with the three black/gray inks only for the most
neutral prints. For the best results, it’s important
The Basic Requirements to use ICC profiles for each specific paper avail-
All inkjet photo printers are optimized for colour able from Websites such as www.hahnemuehle.
printing so most models employ only a single ca and Ilford www.ilfordgalerie.ca. You can also
black ink. That makes it difficult or impossible to find an excellent primer on printer and paper
get great black density or to reproduce the entire topics in the FAQ section of the Hahnemühle web
range of tones in a stunning image. Typically, site at www.hahnemuehle.ca.
your prints will also exhibit a cyan or magenta Fine Tune Your Image: Ideally, a b&w photo
colour cast. If you’re serious about monochrome to be printed should exhibit deep blacks, detail
printing, consider one of the machines that in important highlight and shadow areas, strong
employ three black inks. Some of these printers contrast through the full range of mid-tones, and
48 | PHOTONews
Inkjet Printing
monochrome printing, it can deliver deep, rich
blacks and bright whites.
Paper Weight: The weight of media is com-
monly expressed in grams per square meter (gsm
or g/m2) while thickness is specified in mils (thou-
sandths of an inch). Of course, a heavy paper also
tends to be thick. While that’s useful for many pur-
poses, thin stock is preferable for use in an album
or portfolio; you’ll be able to include more of them
in the presentation. If the paper allows for double
sided printing, that can be a bonus in some appli-
cations. For example, Hahnemühle Photorag Book
accurate brightness. While it’s possible to print from and Album, a smooth matte, 100% cotton 220gsm
a colour image, it’s preferable to convert your photos fine art paper, meets both of those criteria. Its grain
to monochrome with software such as Photoshop or direction runs parallel to the spine of the produced
Lightroom and especially with a plug-in like Alien book or album to enable smooth page turning.
Skin Exposure 4 or Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. Especially
the latter makes it surprisingly easy to achieve a
really stunning black-and-white image, with some
unusual effects that I would not have imagined.
Summer 2013 | 49
Paper Tone: While we usually expect organic texture, washi paper has a distinctive
a monochrome print to be neutral -- with- look and feel. The Awagami series is intended
out a cyan or magenta cast -- the colour of the for inkjet printing so it’s specially coated for ink
paper’s base will determine whether it’s “cool” or reception as well as ink fastness. (For more infor-
“warm” in tone. Since inkjet printers do not use mation, visit www.awagami.ca.) Two of these
white ink, many media are made with optical are particularly recommended for black & white
brightening agents (OBA’s). A paper such as printing: the warm (ecru) Kozo Natural with a
Hahnemühle Photo Rag Bright White (310gsm) subtle gloss finish and the thicker, very warm
with a 99.5% whiteness rating would be ideal for handmade Bizan with four deckle edges (feath-
images that benefit from the purest white tones. I ered, not straight-cut) that simulates paper made
might select this fine art 100% cotton “cold tone” prior to the 19th century.
matte paper for winter landscapes or for steel and Baryta Paper: When the image would look
glass architecture to emphasize the cool, stark or perfect in a beautiful high gloss, semi-gloss or silk
bluish overall tone. finish, you’ll want to try one of the baryta fine
Some of the fine art rag (cotton) papers are art papers for silky blacks and creamy whites.
made with no optical brighteners and certain These are made with barium sulphate in the
media made of bleached pulp fibres (alpha cellu- inkjet coating for a smooth reflective look and a
lose) in traditional paper mills use minimal OBA’s. structure that’s similar to traditional fibre-based
This makes the base slightly more yellow or ecru. darkroom papers. They’re particularly suitable
The so-called “natural white” media are preferable for prints with blacks of extremely high density.
for a warmer look when printing photos of sum- In this category, check out the Hahnemühle
mer landscapes or rich wood tones and also when FineArt Baryta (325gsm) a high-gloss bright
making sepia monochrome prints. It’s worth com- white organic cellulose paper and Harman by
paring the brightness spec of several similar inkjet Hahnemühle Gloss Baryta Warmtone (320gsm)
papers you’re considering. A rating above 95% with a warmer tone. If you prefer a baryta paper
indicates a cool tone while a rating of 90% sug- with less of a sheen, Ilford’s Galerie Gold Fibre Silk
gests a definite warm tone. (310gsm), optimized for pigment-based ink, would
be a fine choice; it has a subtle stipple finish, is
Finishes and Textures slightly warm and capable of nice dense blacks.
The glossy, pearl and lustre finishes are very popu-
lar for black & white printing and they’re ideal for Try Several Media
use when the smooth effect enhances the subject, The paper you select is an important part of the
such as a model with flawless skin. But when the creative process in monochrome print mak-
subject features an obvious texture, such as a ing. Of course, there are hundreds of available
weathered barn or an archaic stone options and that can lead to frustration when
wall, try rougher media to enhance trying to decide which to buy. The solution is to
its characteristics with a greater narrow down the number of options. Many of
tactile experience. (Naturally, the the high-grade inkjet media are available in sam-
texture of the paper is most appar- pler packs containing 8.5x11-inch sheets of vari-
ent when light skims across the ous types. Each will impart an entirely different
surface of the print from the side look to your images.
or the top). You can make black & white prints on just
You’ll get that rich tactile feel with about any paper, but if you’re just getting ser-
media such as Hahnemühle ious, I’d recommend starting with the most
Torchon (285gsm) a bright white suitable sampler kits. These include the Ilford
watercolour paper with a coarse Galerie (not yet including Gold Mono Silk) and
structure made of wood fibres the Hahnemühle Matte or the Glossy and Canvas
or the warmer 100% cotton sampler. Print the same image on each type of
Ilford Galerie Prestige Gold paper in a pack to determine the texture and
Cotton Textured (360gsm) brightness that’s most suitable for the photo.
with a contoured surface. After getting a feel for each type of paper, it will
Washi Paper: Made for be easier to determine which one would be most
over 1300 years in Japan, appropriate for the entirely different images you
using natural fibres from plan to print.
various trees, shrubs,
rice and bamboo for an
50 | PHOTONews
TechniqueTips
Text and photos by Michael DeFreitas
Go Wide!
If you can only take one lens on a trip,
make sure it’s a wide-angle zoom!
52 | PHOTONews
T
he early morning air was thick with the When shooting in close quarters, I try not to
pungent odour of chicharrones (deep- bring the camera up to my eye to shoot, opting
fried pork rinds) and incense as I made instead for the “shoot from the hip” approach. I
my way through the narrow aisles in Guatemala’s select f/11 or f/16 in aperture priority or manual
crowded Chichicastenango market. The sights, mode, turn off my autofocus, and preset the
smells, overflowing stalls of food and crafts, and focus distance manually. If your lens does not
people going about their daily lives, provided have a distance scale, focus on an object the
a unique window into the country’s culture. preferred distance away then switch off your
Looking at the marketplace through my wide- auto focus.
angle lens let me get into the heart of the action to When you “shoot from the hip” with a pre-
record the dramatic excitement. focused lens all you have to do is make sure
The key to shooting in crowded places like that your subject is roughly the preset distance
markets is to avoid drawing attention to yourself, away. For shots of brightly coloured fruit in the
because it can change the behaviour of the people foreground and a smiling vendor in the back-
you are trying to photograph. Unlike photograph- ground, I preset a focus distance of one metre
ers who prefer to stay back and use a telephoto lens and point the camera at the middle of the fruit
to capture individual scenes, I do my shopping display. For overhead “crowd” shots I pick a
with an ultra-wide angle zoom… my 10-24mm busy intersection between stalls, preset the
lens has a much greater angle of view and depth of focus distance at three metres and point the
field than the standard “kit lens” and that allows camera slightly downwards as I hold it high
me to capture and record a more inclusive scene. above my head.
Summer 2013 | 53
Take a break for a steam bath in the
Hammam Al-Basha restored Turkish
bathhouse, Akko, Israel.
16mm fisheye, f/8, 1/10 second, ISO 200.
Pro Tips
Gear up to discover the wide world
of photography!
The ideal range for wide-angle lenses is 10mm A few extra-wide shooting tips
to 24mm for DX format sensors and 14mm to
35mm for FX sensor formats. Since these lenses • To reduce the vertical distortions around the edges of
have such wide depth of field, some manufac- your wide-angle images try to keep your camera level
turers have stopped making them with distance and parallel to your subject. The more you tilt your cam-
scales. I highly recommend lenses with distance era (up or down) the greater the distortion.
scales. While you can purchase a number of fixed • Avoid placing people at the edge of your frame. The wide-
or prime wide-angle lenses, I prefer a zoom that angle lens will distort them.
provides focal lengths that cover the zoom range • The front element of wide-angle lenses is curved and
necessary to capture street scenes and interiors. highly susceptible to flare. Always use the recommended
Travel to Quebec City or Europe, and the wide lens hood to avoid stray light entering the lens.
angle zoom can be your greatest asset. Top of the • Add a bit of warmth to market scenes by setting your
line zooms from the camera manufacturers can white balance to “cloudy day”.
set you back $1,500 to $2,000, but you can get • When shooting in crowded places, leave all your valu-
very good wide angle zooms (with distance scales) ables, personal effects and extra camera equipment at
from aftermarket manufacturers like Tamron for the hotel. Wrap your camera strap around your wrist, and
half that price. If you shoot with a Canon, Nikon, put your wallet in an inside pocket.
Pentax or Sony DSLR with the APS-C sensor,
check out the Tamron SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5
Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] at www.tamron.ca
56 | PHOTONews
MacroTechnique
S
ummer is here and along with it comes a
wonderful range of photo opportunities
- everywhere you look there are flowers,
small insects, mushrooms, and a world of macro
subjects… If you haven’t tried shooting “up close
and personal” now is the perfect time to get
started. If you start from scratch, a visit to a well-
stocked photo retailer or a few hours of search-
ing the internet might produce the answers to
your technique and equipment questions, and it
will no doubt be an entertaining and informative
exercise… here is a quick backgrounder on what
you need to know before you begin your macro
adventure.
Just why do lens makers put out so many
models of macro lenses? Don’t they do all the
same thing? Well, not quite. By definition, all
macro lenses will allow the photographer to pro-
duce an image at life-size magnification, where
the image reproduced on the sensor (or the film
in the old days) will be the same size as the sub-
ject itself. Tamron offers macro lenses of 60, 90,
and 180mm. The first difference will be in their
working distances when you fill the frame with
an image about an inch wide: you can capture the
subject from a working distance of 23cm with the
60mm, or stand back and shoot from 47cm with
the 180mm. That is a valuable piece of informa-
tion: if you plan to shoot natural subjects, like
flowers and insects, a longer working distance
can be the key to a successful macro adventure.
It will allow you to keep your distance from skit-
tish critters, and avoid throwing your shadow on
flowers. Should you choose to work with a flash
it will also simplify its positioning to provide
proper lighting for your subject.
The second reason to choose one focal length
over another is more subtle. Longer lenses have
a narrower field of view, which means that the
58 | PHOTONews
Shot with a short telephoto
macro lens, these mush-
rooms could be growing
anywhere and anytime…
amount of background detail recorded will be Use a Tripod for Sharper Shots
more limited. With shorter lenses that “see”
wider, you can reproduce the subject at the same For all its usefulness, a stabilizer does not replace
size while showing more of its surroundings. a good tripod. The right tripod for macro will be
Other considerations also come into play able to get down to ground level with a minimum
when choosing which lens to buy. Many are now of fuss. Take the Vanguard Alta Pro series. Not
designed specifically for the smaller APS-C only can each leg be angled independently, but
sensors. That’s the case of the Tamron 60mm its central column can also pivot from zero to 180
macro, as it is with several other macro lenses. degrees and it can be locked in any position you
Another thing to consider is whether you need a choose. In seconds such a tripod can be lowered
stabilizer or not. In macrophotography a stabil- to the level it needs to be. When the subject is
izer is not the must it can be when shooting long not quite at ground level simply angle the col-
lenses in low light. However, the “hunter” who umn up a bit. With other tripods you may have to
will go after mobile subjects such as frogs, butter- lengthen one or more legs.
flies and other creepy-crawlies may find that a But even the best tripod will be of little use
stabilizer will help you compose the shot when if you leave it behind because you can’t take the
hand-holding the camera. The moment you press time to set it up properly. The macro “pros” take
the shutter release half-way the stabilizer freezes the time to familiarize themselves with their gear
the image you see in the viewfinder, making it - and you can do this in a few minutes. Just start
Shot with the Metz
ring flash and the
that much easier to keep out anything you don’t with something simple and immobile, like flowers
Tamron 90mm macro. want in your image. or mushrooms. Leave the tripod aside while
Summer 2013 | 59
TechniqueMacro
FLIGHTS of FAN
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Macro Techniqu TTe
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Words and Photos
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KRISTIAN BOGNER
MICHEL ROY . CHRISTIAN AUTOTTE Spring Perspectives
ing sharp to shoot new Nikon
Anne Geddes
HD 1080 noise and the versa
p video puts superior tile FX forma
Travel Tips
low-light t can offer. iture and HD-SLR
And it’s waitin cinema qualit performan from still in a size
g for you y movies ce – are Its larger life to action and weigh
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NewProducts
Quovio 41 Wins TIPA Best Bag Award For more information please visit www.ilfordgalerie.ca
Looking for a bag that can handle your gear in style? Take a look at the bag that the top
photo magazine editors from around the world selected as the “Best Photo Bag 2013”.
TIPA described the Vanguard Quovio 41 in the official announcement of the award:
“designed for the working pro and enthusiast, the
Vanguard Quovio 41 shoulder bag is a well-padded
carrier that features a Quick Access main opening
to enable ready access to gear by pulling on its large
handle. It can hold a semi-pro camcorder as well as
a pro DSLR camera and kit, with configurable sec-
tions and a dual, built-in tripod holder. There are
two mesh pouches for wires and accessories, plus
a trolley attachment loop for moving through city
streets and airports. The bag has a water-resistant
base with ‘anti-shock feet,’ rain cover and incorpor-
ates a compartment for up to a 14-inch laptop.”
For more information please visit
www.vanguardbags.ca
62 | PHOTONews
BBH 200 Wins
iF Product Design Award Metz Celebrates 75 Years
From electronic flash to televisions, camcorders and
The Vanguard BBH 200 Ball Head has been hon-
LED lights, some of the most innovative ideas in the
oured with the 2013 iF award as “a top-of-the-line
photo and electronics industry have come from Metz.
tripod ball head with outstanding design and an
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary, the company has
innovative and unique levelling system for pro
posted a very interesting retrospective, available on-line
photographers.”
at www.metzflash.ca.
The award citation describes the BBH series ball
One of the latest examples of advanced Metz technol-
head as “a product for professional photograph-
ogy is the Mecablitz MB 52 AF1 shoe-mount flash,
ers that delivers in all of the key areas – accuracy,
which features a touchscreen control panel for fast and
precision, convenience and ease of use. No matter
easy operation. With a guide number 52 for ISO 100,
what the camera position is, the BBH 200 Rapid
the 52 AF-1 has more than enough power to cope with
Level System enables photographers to guide their
any shot – the horizontally swivelling and vertically tilt-
camera to be perfectly level with the base, quickly
ing reflector ensures optimal lighting control. There is
and efficiently.”
an integrated diffuser for wide angle shots, and a built-
The iF design award is one of the most import-
in white reflector card. The fully automatic motorized
ant product awards in the world. Winning entries
zoom can adjust lighting angles to precisely suit the
are recognized in 16 different categories and are
focal length of the lens. The 52 AF-1 also operates as a
allowed to carry the iF label, signifying outstand-
wireless flash in TTL or servo mode for easy and expert
ing products to buyers throughout the world.
results. A free software update is available at any time
See the full line of Vanguard tripods and accessories via the USB interface. The innovative compact flash
at www.vanguardtripods.ca is available in five versions for Canon, Nikon, Sony,
Olympus/Panasonic and Pentax.
Summer 2013 | 63
NewProducts
For more information please visit the Olympus website at: www.getolympus.com
64 | PHOTONews
BookShelf by Ginette Lapointe
Vojo 22GR Shoulder Bag
Summer 2013 | 65
FinalFrame
Sponsored by
Memories of Santorini
“A Summer Place…”
G. Lapointe, of Quebec City,
captured this image of summer
in Oia, on the island of Santorini,
Greece, with a Nikon D800 and
24-120mm lens, shooting at
1/320 second, f/9, ISO 100.
“Every time I look at this photo,
I can feel the soft ocean breeze
and the warm summer sun
of Santorini… my favourite
summer place!”
18-270mm
ZOOM
Our PHOTONews
Challenge contest for
the summer of 2013 is The PHOTONews Challenge for Summer 2013 your home town or a favourite destination. You
sponsored by TAMRON, is “A Summer Place…” - your assignment - to may want to experiment with a variety of cam-
who will present an photograph a special place that brings to mind era angles, special effects, or techniques, or visit
18-270mm lens to the
the memories of summers past. the location after dark for some adventures in
photographer of the
most interesting image The topic is open to a range of interpretations night photography. Images from previous sum-
selected for publication – you may photograph a scene or an event in mers are welcome.
in the next issue. To participate in the PHOTONewsChallenge,
please visit our flickr® group at www.flickr.com/
groups/photonewsgallery/ and click on the dis-
COMING IN THE NEXT ISSUE cussion thread titled “PHOTONews Summer
Autumn 2013
2013 Challenge”, where you will find additional
challenge details, as well as samples, sugges-
tions, and technique tips.
The Autumn 2013 issue of PHOTONews will take readers on a tour of some of
Canada's most spectacular landscapes, explore the techniques of wireless multiple Full instructions on how to join the flickr®
flash photography, and focus on the magic of pet photography. group, and how to post photos, can be found at
For in-depth information on the equipment and techniques featured in this issue, the flickr® site.
and for FREE access to our PHOTONews Digital Edition archives, please visit
www.photonews.ca Our PHOTONews Challenge themes
Join us as we share our passion for photography - visit our flickr ® group at www.flickr. for the coming issues are as follows:
com/groups/photonewsgallery/ where you can sign up to exchange ideas and • Autumn Challenge Theme: Faces
display your favourite photographs – it’s fun, it’s free, and it’s a friendly environment
• Winter Challenge Theme: Close-up
for photographers of all ages and skill levels.
• Spring Challenge Theme: Colours
• Summer Challenge Theme: Hot Stuff!
66 | PHOTONews
nikon.ca
Stunning FX-quality images and HD videos • 24.3 MP for crisp, lifelike detail • 5.5 FPS continuous shooting
• 39-point AF System delivers superior sharpness • Cinema-quality Full HD 1080p video with stereo sound*
*Optional external stereo microphone required.