My new favourite Ad

I find myself watching this ad over and over again.

Check it...

Lightroom 2 released!

I am a disciple of lightroom.

This piece of software makes my life so much easier, speeding up everything from sorting through thousands of images to making adjustments via Adobe's powerful Adobe Camera Raw interface.

Big News, the official full release of Lightroom 2 was released this morning!!!

It is an amazing upgrade from the last iteration, Lightroom 1.4, and promises photographers an even more enhanced workflow experience.

My favourite new features include localised adjustments (awesome when wielding a Wacom Tablet) and support for dual monitors.

According to Adobe, the powers that be have deemed the official top new features list to include:

* Local adjustment brush
* Enhanced organizational tools
* Volume management
* Extensible architecture
* Multiple monitor support
* Flexible print package functionality
* Streamlined Photoshop CS3 integration
* Enhanced output sharpening
* 64-bit support for Windows® and Mac OS


To find out more, check out the awesome Lightroom 2 Learning Centre presented by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski from the NAPP.

Enjoy!

The cloud is falling: The future of professional photography

If you've ever given any thought to becoming a professional photographer, give this article at Sportshooter.com a read. It is a fascinating insight from one of the world's best photographers, Vincent Laforet, into the future of professional photography.

Photographing People: How I do it

Photographing people is one of the most interesting and engaging things you can do in photography - travel photography in particular. Your camera - if you make it - can be your ticket to some of the most amazing and memorable experiences with others you'll ever have. But, getting over that initial approach anxiety and shyness which arises when photographing strangers, especially when traveling, can be tough.

Here's how I do it:
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Asking permission before taking someone's photo is the easiest way to circumvent that discomfort some feel when photographing a stranger without their verbal permission. In my experience, I find that asking permission almost never results in natural-looking pictures - unless of course you wait around until your subject tires of holding that cheesy grin and photograph them as their focus wanders. Asking permission is a great idea for projects or when you will be photographing people for an extended period of time, but most of the time it isn't necessary.

I almost never ask for permission verbally, rather I'll suggest my intentions through gesture. This requires a understanding of non-verbal body language (especially important in foreign cultures!) which I think we all have. For a start, the fact that I'm usually wielding a large digital SLR with battery grip and oftentimes a flash held in my left hand means that people around me know what I'm doing. Even if you were wielding a small Leica Rangefinder or point-and-shoot, people would understand what you're doing, it just might take them longer to notice you. Either way, people know what you are doing when you approach them with a camera. I find that they are more accepting of this in foreign cultures. This is probably for a few reasons, including that they are more accustomed to tourists with cameras and that their culture doesn't share the same unsavoury connotations with candid photography as the western world.

In quieter, more unobtrusive situations, I'll shoot from further back, then ease my way into closer proximity. It's all about letting my intentions be known. It also allows me to gauge the response of the subject to my intentions. In situations where I want subject engagement, I will smile throughout this whole process, and will oftentimes raise my camera slightly in a suggestion of my intentions. If someone doesn't want their photo taken, they will tell you outright or suggest it though non-verbal body-language. This does occur every now and then, but not as often as you would think.

The beauty of this approach is the subject will usually lose interest in what you are doing, so that you can then then capture them candidly. It also means that you can escalate in terms of gear. Approach someone with a 70-200 zoom lens and they'll probably think it's a bazooka and run away screaming (well maybe not that dramatically!), but approach them with a small prime lens and as they lose interest it becomes easier to fit that zoom without their objection.

Well there you have it, my approach to photographing people. At the end of the day, it isn't set in stone and there is no secret formula, it is a skill which you'll develop in your own unique way.

Good Luck!

Photographing People: Just do it!

Photographing People - Strangers - People who aren't models.

This is probably one of the biggest hurdles many photographers find themselves having to face, especially those interested in pursuing travel photography, photojournalism or street photography.

I don't profess to be an expert in the subject, but I am fascinated by the topic and over a series of blog posts, I will endeavor to offer what I have learnt about shooting strangers, particularly in a travel context, after a reasonable amount of time spent photographing people in Africa and Southeast Asia.

My first piece of advice, and probably the most valuable is: "Just do it"

Yes, there are many profound lessons to be learnt from Nike's well known slogan! 

Seriously though, doing rather than thinking about doing is often one of the keys to success, in any field now that I think about it, but also in photographing strangers. Getting outside one's comfort zone is probably the biggest barrier one needs to overcome in photographing people. Don't worry, the more you do it, the easier it will become. 

Keeping track of your images on the web: Tineye

Thankfully, I haven't had any major issues with copyright infringement on the web - yet.

However, it remains a serious issue, especially for users of such Photo sharing sites as Flickr, whose images can be searched for and copied by everyone from highschool bloggers to major corporations. Luckily, in the case of commercial usage, art directors and designers are usually savvy enough to make a formal request from the photographer before publishing an image of theirs without their consent - they've learnt from the lawsuits. 

However, this doesn't stop people from doing all sorts of other things with one's image, despite images being clearly copyrighted, from using photos to enhance homepage decor to uploading to their own website or photo sharing account and asserting your best photos as their own.

Tracking down such offenders has always been very difficult, as it is often only through luck that a photographer might stumble upon his or her image being used. However, this is all about to change.

Enter Tineye, a revolutionary new image search application which no doubt will alleviate much of the worries some have for their image rights being abused across the internet. Rather than try and explain what Tineye does, I'll let their promotional video do it for me.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words - so how many words is a moving picture which speaks worth?

check it!

One does have to apply to use Tineye in its Beta form in order to use the service - Don't fret, applications are generally accepted within a day or so.

Yanchep Adventures: Slideshow

I've been playing with media presentations lately. Here's a little slideshow I concocted showing our adventures at Yanchep. What I love about doing this is that when you deal with your images in this fashion, you find storylines in your work where you thought there were none.

If you think your connection can handle it, try the "full screen" option for the best experience!

Enjoy!

Bodyboarding Photos: Yanchep

Surf photography.

Here in Australia, we're bombarded with it since we're little grommets in high school, images of zinc-covered, blonde-haired men riding waves by standing on pieces of fibreglass or lying on bits of high-tech foam - plaster the magazine racks.

I had always wanted to try my hand at such imagery, and today I got a shot at It. I joined a few young guys, almost past their prime years of 'grommet-hood' (a technical term for young, frequently annoying young surfers). 

We headed out early, really early, considering the temperature in Perth at the moment and the fact that the sun is rising as late as 7am. We arrived in the sleepy town of Yanchep (although I'd probably call Yanchep a suburb at this stage of Perth's incredible urban sprawl!) just before sunrise, in the gloomy hours when flash staves off the blurry images that would result otherwise.

These first few images where shot at about F4, ISO 400, 1/5 second - so you know it was dark!

The main reason i wanted to head out with the boys this morning was to try out my newly purchased EWA-marine underwater housing. I had bought it a few months ago, but had never found a chance to use it. I'll try and write up a more in depth review of it later on - but suffice to say, the thing is cumbersome. Other than that, the thing stood up really really well against the frequent swirling currents i found myself in as i was dumped again - and again. Each time i emerged from the turbulent waves where i was introduced to the sandy bottom, I was stunned to see my camera dry and protected - It's a weird feeling when you're cold, soaking wet and at the mercy of the ocean.

I really have a newfound respect for surf photographers, this stuff is tough - and a workout to boot!

Growing Creatives!

If only it were that easy!

Introducing: CINEMA - Street

I've been working hard lately to diversify my portfolio, producing work inspired by the drama and action of cinema films.

This is the latest series, dubbed for now as "Street".

Run!

I spent two weeks in February galavanting around northern WA. This shot is from Shark Bay.

Ray Hanas - Where service still matters...

One almost forgets the value of service. It's the reason why shopfronts will never disappear in lieu of oftentimes more efficient and less expensive ebay resellers and online stores. It's what drives successful business dealings and ultimately business success.

I was reminded of this when, this afternoon, i wandered into Ray Hanas Martial Arts supply store in Northbridge, simply to buy some hand wraps for an upcoming photography project.

Not only did Sunil, who runs the store, help me find what i was after, he also proceeded to illustrate what other products his store offered which could help me in my eternal search for great props - all with great enthusiasm and genuine interest in how he could help.

So, if you ever need anything related to the martial arts, stop by Ray Hanas and have a chat with Sunil - be reminded what real service is like.

Gruen Transfer - watch it!

If you're into the intricacies and creativity of advertising and find yourself enjoying your favourite ad almost as much as the product it's trying to sell you, then check out ABC's latest foray into the world of niche television with Gruen Transfer - a show all about advertising.



"Gru-what?" was my initial reaction, but with a panel of some of Australia's most eminent figures in the advertising industry and a deconstruction of what makes a good TV commercial, the show is as much entertainment as a delectable glimpse into the wit and psychology of advertising.

Even better, you don't have to wait till its next ABC airing to watch it, you can download the episodes or stream them in the comfort of your very own command station...uhh, i mean desk.

check it!