Below is a copy of the press release circulated by Jude Savage, Chair, Foto Freo Inc about the closure of the iconic festival of photography known as FotoFreo.
Vale FotoFreo
The Board of FotoFreo Inc regrets to advise that FotoFreo, the festival of photography, will be discontinued.
The Board’s decision to not proceed with the event into the future is primarily because key funding was not renewed by one of the major sponsors and this in turn would make it more difficult to secure funding from other key partners.
FotoFreo has been going now for 10 years and there have been six festivals, and the event has grown with each successive Festival.
However, despite the success of the event, both nationally and internationally, recurrent funding (money committed to the event without having to apply for the funds each time) has not been secured from any of our major partners.
As an event FotoFreo relies substantially on the efforts of a large number of volunteers and a small number of paid employees.
However, a critical phase in the development of each Festival is the first 12 months after the last festival – the first year of the two year Festival cycle. It is during this time that most of the planning is done and where there is a continuity of effort required. This is probably the most critical period of the Festival cycle and where a component of core funding is now necessary.
In the earliest years of FotoFreo’s development this activity was undertaken by a small group of dedicated volunteers, in particular, Brad Rimmer, Graham Miller, David Dare Parker, Bob Hewitt, and later included Ben Walton, Seng Mah, Elizabeth McCaig, Lyle Branson and Brent Acie, but as the scope and scale of the Festival increased paid staff were necessary to undertake the work.
Another factor in the Board’s thinking was the decision by Bob Hewitt, who started the event in its current form in 2001 and has been associated with it ever since, to step aside to make way for a new Festival Director and his subsequent resignation from the Board. However, Bob did indicate that he would be happy to continue in a supportive role, particularly assisting a new Festival Director, if required.
FotoFreo was the first international photo festival in Australasia and one of the first if not the first in the South East Asian region. The pioneering nature of the event served as an inspiration for other festivals in the region.
FotoFreo successfully established its own identity amongst the growing ranks of photo festivals by the innovations and the risks it undertook. In particular, the commissioning of original work – Edward Burtynsky, Australian Minescapes (FotoFreo 2008), David Dare Parker, The Clubs (FotoFreo 2010), Martin Parr, No Worries and Bo Wong, Fremantle Markets Project (FotoFreo 2012). These exhibitions were funded without the help of government grants. Furthermore, books were published to accompany all of these commissions and exhibitions. These commissions all contributed to the cultural capital of Western Australia and indeed to Australia.
Another innovation was the focus given to photographers in the Asian region through group exhibitions from a number of countries, in particular China and most recently India. On each occasion a number of the photographers accompanied the exhibitions and spoke about the work during the Festival.
FotoFreo 2012 also saw the introduction of WA Life, a photographic competition that privileged WA photographers, and the highly successful FutureGen project that involved a partnership with the Pingyao Photography Festival in China and a cultural exchange between the two countries. These two events were set to become regular activities in future Festivals and for which ongoing sponsorship had been secured.
In recent years there was a growing awareness that the Festival was beginning to spread too widely and in the most recent evaluation of the event (of FotoFreo 2012) it was acknowledged that some consolidation was required and this was made clear to our sponsors.
In the end, however, the ongoing success of an event such as FotoFreo is determined initially by a small group of people and at least one ‘driver’, and at the scale of the current event such people must be appropriately remunerated. In addition, there are ongoing real costs of an administrative nature that need to be met.
On an optimistic note, I think it can be said that FotoFreo has played an important part in raising the awareness of photography amongst the wider public and made a positive contribution to the cultural landscape of Western Australia. The Board of FotoFreo are grateful to all our many volunteers, supporters and sponsors who have assisted us in realising the FotoFreo festival of photography over the past ten years and trust that they will continue to support many other photographic endeavours.
The only regret might be the loss of recognition that came with the event nationally and internationally over ten years or more of growth and development and for which there are few similar events in Western Australia, let alone Fremantle.
The imaging industry in Australia is on the decline restructure. Gone are the boom times of rocketing camera sales and profitability. Times are tough for most retailers and this has been reflected in a number of job losses across the wholesale imaging industry.
Today I found out Olympus made 9 positions redundant across Australia. To my knowledge most of the redundancies happened over in the east coast of Australia with no job losses in the State of Western Australia. The positions made redundant varied from business managers, administration and a position within the accounts department.
Recently I saw a similar situation happened with Sony Australia where service technicians and account managers (to name a few) were also given their pink slips .
But it’s not all bad news for Olympus. Industry figures (recently released) showed the Olympus OM-D held a whopping 43% of market share for Digital SLR cameras in the month of December 2013. Historically Olympus have been very strong in their compact range but over the last couple of years sales figures have been in a downward spiral. I’m sure this would have played a part in the redundancies as the rise of smart phones has clearly dominated this category. However saying this the OM-D is certainly making up for the lack of sales in compacts. To this day I have never seen a camera sell as well – so I think Canon and Nikon should take a leaf out of Olympus’s book to see what they are doing right!
On top of the OM-D’s success its rumoured Olympus will be releasing an updated Digital SLR to replace their flagship E-5 camera . I can confirm Olympus’s marketing department is heading on a plane to Japan for ‘meetings’ this week, where I’m sure this rumoured camera will be discussed and revealed. So stay tuned.
For those who are reading this who have been made redundant I certainly know what it is like. Over one year ago I found myself in the same situation. My role as an Area Business Manager for Fujifilm Australia was no longer required as the company was transitioning itself into more streamlined practices. Online services seemed to be the way of the future and since November 3rd 2011 (the day I was made redundant *on my birthday*) Fujifilm Australia is believed to have made a total of nearly 50 redundancies (unconfirmed). As I have been in the industry for some time this was no surprise. Online accounting services and cloud computing have replaced the expensive employee and at the time of my redundancy my thoughts were reflected in Dave Marshall’s CEO statement to the press (via current.com) –
“By creating clever internet systems that incorporate such initiatives as sophisticated reordering websites, centralised systems, Facebook applications and virtual photo books, Fujifilm aims to provide innovative platforms that will offer new business opportunities for all of its customers.
“Fujifilm Australia has already proved very successful in developing and delivering cutting edge network solutions for its customers within the consumer imaging segment.
“Advanced plans are now underway within Fujifilm Australia to extend its network connectivity capabilities to the Graphic Systems and Medical Imaging Divisions.
“New business models that maximise this trend to ensure customers are at the forefront of new technology is a key focus for our business moving forward.
“In order to reinvent our processes and technology, this represents an opportunity to create a range of new specialist positions within Fujifilm Australia to drive a seamless transition for both consumers and customers.
“Unfortunately, as part of this process, it has also meant some changes to positions that have become redundant in the back office administration area due to technological advancements.
“There has also been a small number of positions that have been rationalised at the front end of the business to accommodate the specialist roles that are being created as part of the transition.
“Our goal is to strengthen Fujifilm’s position and ensure it is suitably equipped to balance current market demands with future business investment.
“Advancements in technology coupled with changes in consumer behaviour, has resulted in a significant transformation in the way businesses such as Fujifilm need to operate.”
So do I have any advice for employees who find themselves out of a job? Certainly! My advice – stay positive and hold no grudges. Look at it this way, being let go is possibly the best thing that could happen to you. It’s a new start, a new you. So don’t be complacent, use this time to reinvent yourself and do what you love. Start your own business or even become a consultant within your industry. For me I followed my love of social media and although I am still working a 9 to 5 I do plan on making this my gig in the distant future.
So based on Fujifilm, Olympus, Sony and Panasonic’s (2011) redundancies the big question looms….what about the big players like Nikon and Canon? When will they be cutting back?
Over the last couple of days I have been doing a bit of research on the subject and have found two hypotheticals which could lead to redundancies (please take my findings as speculation and rumour, not fact):
I can see the move to Salesforce equating to job losses within Canon Australia in the next year. The reason I say this is because when I worked at Fujifilm I saw the same Salesforce rollout. It certainly is a powerful account management system and it does really replace the need to have extra account managers out in the field. Once the accounts are entered in the cloud they can be seen on any device from anywhere. Orders, leads, account history and delivery are all the vital information to an account manager. Salesforce easily combines a team of people reporting this information into a manageable feed which can be read by one person and acted upon. Need I say more?
2) The mirrorless camera situation for Canon and Nikon (Nikon especially) is serious.
Stock levels for the Nikon 1 J1 and Canon EOS M in their respective warehouses are said to be high. For Nikon this is quite alarming. The Nikon 1 J2 (announced August 9th 2012) and the anticipated Nikon V1 replacement (announced October 24th 2012) are simply premature for the market place. There is too much old stock (old models) sitting on retailers shelves. Something has got to give. Either the price has to be lowered and profits cut which in turn could affect jobs in the long-term.
Canon forecasters have anticipated their lack of sales by offering the slow-moving EOS M buyers a $150 cash back when they purchase their camera from an Australian retailer. I’m sure this will work in the short-term but it still early days. Over the next month you will see a huge marketing campaign from Canon to help their sell through across their range of products. I’m sure this is a one of their ways to cut their losses.
So in closing redundancies are never a nice thing. Unfortunately for industry they are a big part of life and for industry to evolve its a necessary thing. Over the next three years I can envision the imaging industry changing dramatically. The rise of connected smart phones and technology will certainly make the jobs within the imaging industry semi redundant if companies don’t act or embrace the technology.
I recently discussed the future of imaging over on F Stop Lounge which looks at some of the future technology and how it may play a part in the industry. No longer will industry be able to sit on their hands and wait for product to sell (fine example EOS M), employees and their associated marketing companies will have to be proactive in their marketing approach to reach a new audience that falls outside the traditional photographer. As the generations age and the technology evolves I see a new kind of photo being created and produced. One that will replace the photo industry and be more aligned with the Consumer Electronics Industry. I just hope that day doesn’t come too soon as I do like working in my industry…but hey we all have to live with change…good or bad.
Entry is FREE and you even will have the chance to win 1 of 3 Sony Digital Still Cameras!
To enter the photo competition simply visit the Google+ Event and follow the Conditions of Entry (information about the competition can be seen below or on the Google+ Event).
The details of the Google+ Photographers Competition are as follows:
Event is open Friday, Feb 1, 1:00am (Hong Kong Time) and closes Saturday, April 27, 6:00pm (Hong Kong Time)
There will be 10 judges.
Each of the 10 judges will choose their favourite photo.
The photos selected will form the finalists.
The selected finalists will then be judged on a Judges Google+ Hangout and be given a score out of 100 on the following criteria –
How creative, original and what the technical quality is like in the photograph.
HOW WILL THE TOP THREE PHOTOS BE CHOSEN?
The three photos that receive the highest score from the judges will be selected as the winning three photos. These three finalists will be announced LIVE on a Google+ On Air Hangout on Leigh Diprose’s YouTube Channel.
In the event the winner is disqualified for any reason, the photograph that received the next highest total score will be chosen as one of the winning photos.
REMEMBER TO WIN A PRIZE YOU MUST FOLLOW THE CONDITIONS OF ENTRY (located at the top)
WHO ARE THE JUDGES?
The Judges will be announced shortly.
THE LITTLE LEGAL SECTION – THE SMALL TEXT
1. You acknowledge that is Your responsibility for protecting your entry against image misuse by any third party. Leigh Diprose assumes no responsibility and will not be liable for any image misuse.
2. There are no alternatives available for the prize winner.
3. The winners photo will be published online on www.fstoplounge.com; the F Stop Lounge Google+ page, F Stop Lounge Facebook page and the Google+ Photographers Community.
4. Photoshop and other editing techniques are allowed.
5 The prize will be sent to you within a reasonable time.
6. Your submission must not contain content, material or any element that is unlawful, or otherwise in violation of or contrary to all applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws and regulations the laws or regulations in any state where the Photographs were created.
7. The judges have the right to disqualify anyone who submits multiple entries or is found to be cheating.
Who is the sponsor of the prize?
Sponsored by Leigh Diprose
Good Luck Everyone!
To see the winner of the last Google+ Photographers Photo Competition check out the Judges Google+ Hangout where myself and the judges announced the winner live on my YouTube channel.
In my view the Tamron SP 24-70mm with the new VC gets the big tick of approval. Let me tell you why:
To start there are a number of great reviews online already showcasing the many advantages and some disadvantages of the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/28 DI VC USD lens. I wanted my review to be a little bit different. I haven’t really seen many low light photographs from this lens so I decided to pursue some lightning and star photography to show something a little bit different.
As you can see from the above specs the lens has a whopping 82mm filter. Most photographers who have a wide-angle lens will find the filter size to be different from their kits. The only other lens I can think of that uses this size is the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L lens.
Personally I had an 82mm Hoya Pro1 Digital UV filter lying around so I was able to utilize it for the lightning photos shown below. To be fair on image testing I only used the filter on the lightning photographs due to the wet weather. As a side note if you are using a filter on any good quality lens be sure NOT to purchase the cheapest filter out there. Go for the highest quality otherwise you are only going to degrade the glass quality of the lens. For the majority of my work I use LEE filters and Hoya Pro1 Digital filters.
I have just finished a video tutorial for F Stop Lounge on how to create art using Photoshop. Click on the picture to be taken to the video tutorial. Be sure to comment over on F Stop Lounge if you found the tutorial helpful.
Interesting fact: I have unboxed approximately 4000+ new cameras since I started in the imaging industry. The next camera unboxing is going to be the best! I will be unboxing the new Fujifilm X-E1. Video coming as soon as the camera arrives in Australia. Can’t wait!
I must say this was the first photography competition which I have conducted and what a success! A huge thank you to all the photographers for getting behind this free competition by submitting their motion themed entry! There certainly is some very talented photographers out there! We had over 144 entries which were accepted across the month-long competition.
This competition would not have happened if it wasn’t for the amazing judges who put in a huge effort to get this competition launched. Thanks to André Appel, Suzanne Clements, Andy Gray, Kev Isabeth, Paul Pichugin, Jack Salzke and Helen Sotiriadis for donating your time and photographic insight. Also a huge shout out for Don Noll for administrating the entire event. You all are truly amazing photographers, judges and wonderful people so from the bottom of my heart I thank you for all your help.
Below you can see the photos which made the finals as well as the top three photos. Congratulations to Nicola Davidson for the amazing photo which took out first place.
For your information this is how the judging was conducted:
Each of the 8 judges chose their favourite three entries from all the entered photographs. These selected entries formed the finalists.
From the selected finalists the photographs were judged individually and were scored out of 100 on the following criteria –
1. How well the photo fits the theme of motion.
2. How creative the photograph is.
3. How original the photograph is.
4. What the technical photographic quality is like.
Once an image had been individually scored the judges scores for that image were combined to give a final score. The finalist that received the highest overall score was selected as the winner.
I have been quite busy over the last week setting up a photo competition for you all.
I’m giving away a free Nikon D3100 Twin VR Kit!
The photo competition starts soon. Click on the image below for more details. A big thanks to all the team at F Stop Lounge for helping me set things up – you know who you are!
The competition runs from the 10th September 2012 – 7th October 2012.
The deafening howl increased as wind shuttled passed my ears. My vision was temporarily interrupted, the blast of sand in my eyes was agonizing. Recovering the gritty debris from my vision I wasn’t about to retreat to the car without exercising my camera. Nothing was going to stop me.
The picture before me was developing into a scene…one that was worth waiting for.
The light was starting to revel itself from lost clouds gathering on the distant horizon. Secure in its footings the wooden jetty stood strong against the battling water thrashing against its dilapidating wooden boards. Seaweed draped over the edge of the wet structure breaking up horizontal repetition within the frame. My mind raced as fast as the clouds gathered in front of me.
With the fishing trawler awaiting a new dawn the light above began to broadcast itself between the clouds. A magical glow illuminated the camera sensor into action. The scene was born.
If you would like to see the scene I also took from this spot check out my recent post – Beauty Abounds in Port Gregory.
POST UPDATED WITH NEW SPECIFICATIONS (SEE **UPDATED**) – 6TH SEPTEMBER 2012
Fujifilm are always pushing the boundaries when it comes to extreme developments within the imaging industry. Over the past decade Fujifilm released a number of exciting developments within professional photography arena.
The incredible Fujifilm S3 is still a camera that brings back great memories for professional wedding and studio photographers. I believe we are seeing another revolution in imaging with the ever-increasing family of X-Series cameras.
The recent X-100 camera has been highly successful for the iconic brand due to the manual design and impressive image quality. The X-100 camera has been out now for almost two years (announced 19th September 2010) so it really is no surprise that Fujifilm will be continuing the X-Series legacy with a new line of X series cameras. The X-E1 is one of those cameras soon to be announced by Fujifilm.
I have had a look at what the Fujifilm X-E1 may offer and I can speculate the following specifications.
Pictured below is Japanese made X-E1 which boasts the new XF 18-55mm lens with Super EBC coating.
14 Megapixels **UPDATED** 16 Megapixels
APS-C size sensor
Electronic Viewfinder – 460,000 Screen Dots **AMENDED** ** This should be screen resolution **
3.0″ LCD Screen
Diopter adjustment
Full HD Movie Recording
Electronic hot shoe to suit the Fujifilm EF-X20, EF42 and EF20 flash units.
Screw in shutter release for long exposures
7 White Balance Presets
RAW file format
Autofocus Modes – Contrast Detect (sensor), Centre, Continuous, Live View, Multi area and Single
HDMI output
USB 2.0
Exposure Compensation Dial +2, +1, 0, -1, -2
ISO Control Auto, 100-6400 (expandable to 12800) **UPDATED** (expandable to 25600)
Film Simulation Mode
Built in pop up flash (I would imagine this would be rated to 7-12 metres)
XF Lens Mount
AF/AE Lock
Still, Continuous and Manual Autofocus Modes
Bulb Shutter
3.0″ LCD Screen **UPDATED** (2.8″ LCD Screen)
SDHC/SDXC Memory Card Slot
NP-95 battery or NP-50 (Battery Life around 250 – 270 photos) **UPDATED** (Battery NP-W126 – Battery Life around 350 photos)
Level Assist and guide lines as a display mode
Customizable Function Button
Quick Mode – Where the user will be able to change the majority of camera settings without accessing the menu system.
AF Selection Mode
Silver or Black design
I would imagine the camera would be nice to hold as it looks to be a similar size to Fujifilm X-100. However the camera does look a bit smaller than the Fujifilm X-Pro 1.
The XF lens pin configuration system on the X-E1 is the same on the X-Pro 1 – hence my conclusion for the 6 different focus modes.
I’m sure this camera will be affordable for the pro-enthusiast. I can imagine the price to be around AU$1499.00 including the XF 18-55mm lens (AU$999 Body only?) . This of course is purely speculation as the camera hasn’t been officially announced by Fujifilm. If you want to read more about the X-Series camera system be sure to check out my review on the Fujifilm X-Pro 1.
“You don’t need carrots to see in the dark – you simply need a Fujifilm X-Pro 1. Hopefully the photos and story show just how this camera performs in low light when using high ISO – no need for those carrots anymore!”
PART 2:
Motionless, beat up and lost the door stood as a gateway into a darker world. The urban rustic weathered paint was a reminder of the harsh abandoned life this building had become custom to. The distant street light shed new life on the neglected doorway. My X-Pro 1 picked up the little available light with ease. ISO 5000 had never looked so clean against a decrepit dirty background.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 5000 – f1.4- 1/40 second
Continuing my stroll down heritage surrounds my camera was drawn to a light like a moth to a flame. The building before was bathed in an iridescent glow. Bold straight architectural lines gave form with a modern twist.
Double doors centred as a focal point balancing the two outer archways. Caged vertical bars broke horizontal lines. Interior warming light shone juxtaposed against the outside cool colour temperature. All I had to do was simply lift the camera, look and click. The magic light danced around my viewfinder and instantaneously the camera showed off its work on the back LCD. Impressive!
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 2500 – f2.0 – 1/125 second
Street art always intrigues me. Fremantle is not really renowned for the modern art form so it was a breath of fresh air coming across it. The intricate detail of pen on textured walls stood proud. I was impressed at the quality both of the artist and camera’s reproduction alike. Smooth tones and noiseless photos proved the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 had been a perfect choice. ISO 6400 had never looked so clear before. Maybe it was down to the amazing sensor or just the sharpened glass present on the robust camera either way I was happy the X-Pro 1 was in my hands and my Canon Pro body was at home.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 6400 – f1.4 – 1/25 second
Eyes attuned to detail my legs trekked down the road stopping momentarily at a nearby notice board. Full of interesting events I focused my attention toward the centre of the board and set the lens to a shallow depth of field. Posters hung carelessly fighting for space. People hurried past ignoring the abundant plethora of words and information. Noticing the lack of interest my eyes lost focus and blurred the swamp of dictation before me. Briefly all I could see was vibrant colour – words became a jumbled mess.
I wanted to recreate the vibrant colour I had seen briefly so dashing through the menu, Velvia film simulation mode was locked and loaded. Colours popped and vibrance shone, E6 processing without the chemicals was proven to be the perfect combination. Slide film was reborn. Digital had finally made its modern move. The debate of film was no more.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 1200 – f1.4 – 1/50 second
By now the light was falling into a darker trance. Contrast and shadows filled every space the moonlight burned textures reflecting an eerie glow. Gathering clouds surrounded the ball of light above. My camera pitched into the darkness. The frame was set, ticking time detailed the foreground as my camera’s ISO was pushed to capture the remaining light. The clouds formed clean white streaks which brushed the blackened sky. The halls magnificent towering peak almost formed a pirouette in the night sky as the clouds danced behind, stars twinkling in delight. The night show had begun.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 5000 – f1.8 – 1/125 second
Walking along a busy Queen Street I felt like a photographic King as I noticed the printed word Queen on a window pane. Bathed in a strong red backlight (from an interior sign) I lined up the text to fill my viewfinder. The text stood strong with hardened edges as a the lens depicted the scene without colour bleed. I was more than impressed.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 2500 – f5.6 – 1/220 second
Amassing on the monument of Fremantle’s heritage I found myself among the buildings that time forgot. The worn, cracked weathered limestone reflected the hastiness of the surrounds. Windows bound in formality repeated along the structure. Shadows formed across the strewed masonry filling shadows with amazing hues. My camera picked up the contrast with ease and the final shot stood still, the way time had left it.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 1000 – f1.4 – 1/105 second
The detailed attention of the master sculptor filled my frame. His eyes fixated and focused at the sculpture at hand. Street light hit the bronze statue highlighting the shapes of his worn jacket and combed hair. Standing as still as the statue I locked focus, held my breath and proceeded to push the shutter. The almost depressing light engrossed the frame. Beautiful golden bokeh broke the scene into two as the emerging human shape jumped from the foreground. It was almost as the statue had come to life.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 2500 – f1.4 – 1/15 second
Steps filled with a hurried pace as I travelled on my homeward journey. The chilled cold night air had won. The quest to test the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 was over. I didn’t need to eat any carrots as the camera was able to see into the darkness for me. High ISO and low light noiseless images had made this camera one of the best in my collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this two-part test. If you would like to see some more of my work be sure to subscribe to this page.
If you have any questions on the camera or any of the images feel free to ask them here or on my new collaborated website – F Stop Lounge – a site made by photographers for photographers.
Osprey feathers fly silently upon the wind soaring in grandeur. Patterns dance in the breeze above. Light falls on feathers enhancing pools of striking reds and electric blues. The sound of the sea stirs, the powerful Osprey beats its wings steadily toward the headland wind. Eyesight sharp and focused.
Mysterious shapes travel below in the churning water. The powerful bird tucks wings and dives to the depths grasping its trophy within its sharp talons. Beats of power gracefully lift the bird to its place of rest were it consumes its prize. Victory has its calling, the Osprey cries a whistles in the wind preening its feathers with pride.
The following are my thoughts I have learned over the past 5 years of photographing weddings. I hope you find my insights helpful for when you next shoot someone’s special day.
I typically meet with all my clients at least two or three times before the proposed date to plan a photography shoot around their desired needs. The first step for me is to establish what type of wedding the couple will host . Country, beach, church, backyard or is it going to be something completely out of the square?
I then proceed to ask one of the most important questions – what sort of feel would you like portrayed in your photographs? Would you like the photographs to looked relaxed, hipster, documentary or traditional? Most couples would have previously looked at your website or portfolio of images so I also ask if there any wedding photos that they enjoyed looking at. I find asking these simple questions really gives you a great foundation to plan their wedding photography.
A wedding is one of the biggest events you will ever photograph in your lifetime. Most brides have been dreaming of this day their entire life. From the moment a young girl styles her favourite doll in white cloth forming the most elegant of gowns, the slow steps begin down the confetti filled isle. The unsuspecting brothers toy, typically a dreamy Tuxedo Ken nervously awaits the hand of his beautiful bride as the ceremony unfolds.
The Fat Controller announces the famous words – “You may kiss the bride” and the perfectly timed monumental occasion rises to a new level, Elmo and the other stuffed congregation of misfits (family or friends) celebrate with cheers of joy. The makeshift shoebox comes alive as the bride and groom skip back down the aisle.
So now lets look back at this scene. Where is the photographer in this dreamed scenario?
The photographer is actually the child directing every move of the day as the preparation, ceremony and reception unfold. Knowing this fact it well worth your while to find out what the developed child’s mind is visualising for her wedding day. It’s your job to develop a shooting schedule that will show off her dreamed vision of the day. You will have to use all your creative, negotiation and leaderships skills to pull off the best wedding photography shoot ever.
I would say photography is a small part of photographing weddings. Firstly you have to be a people person, secondly a business mind and thirdly you need to have the creative genus to create amazing memories. Be sure to learn some good editing techniques, learn how to use your camera gear and if possible try to encourage an assistant to come along for the ride. I have used an assistant on all my wedding jobs and the difference is clear.
I pay my assistants well as they work just as hard as me! I have had a few assistants work with me over my time and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all (you know who you are) for the wonderful photographs you helped create. I would especially like to thank Caroline for giving me my first film SLR to explore this amazing world with. Without my first SLR camera I wouldn’t be where I am now. So thank you.
Getting back to discussing some wedding preparation – next on the list would have to be discussing the timeline of the day. As a general rule I normally arrive an hour before I need to be there. The extra time allows me to interact with the everyone involved and set up any gear. If you arrive too close to leaving for the ceremony the rush will last the rest of the day and the photos you capture will certainly suffer.
I really don’t want to make this post into a long boring wedding speech so I will keep it short.
Be sure to practise your photography craft at friends weddings, learn from others and practice some more. Wedding photography isn’t for everyone so if you aren’t up to the task then certainly leave it to a professional.
Weddings are truly one of my favourite things to photograph so I do hope you have enjoyed some of my thoughts and tips on the subject.
Remember to enjoy what you do and you will always succeed – Leigh Diprose.
Isn’t funny how we look for composition. Some of us practise it and for others it comes naturally.
My mother was an artist so composition came naturally to me. Maybe I was born with it….maybe its…..oh no that sounds like an ad! Seriously if you’re not born with composition then you will find it comes with practise. I think I learned how to compose an image as a child. Television and movies were my forte. Living in Sydney I would visit the cinema with a mate at least three times a month and the video rental card certainly got a work out too – normally 7 movies a week. When I watched a movie or TV show I would constantly look at the way the Director of Photography composed a scene. People were allocated head room and looking space…it was always consistent teaching. Two thirds looking room with the subject on a third line.
Want to learn composition but you don’t have the time to watch movies and TV? Don’t stress there is another way – bucket practice!
What the? Bucket practice I hear you say? Let me explain….start with some strong rope, a sturdy bucket (with metal handle) and some rocks. Attach the rope to the handle of the bucket. Throw the other end of the rope over an overhead strong horizontal beam. Measure so the bucket is hanging around chest height and tie off the rope again to the handle of the bucket. Add some rocks to the weigh down the bucket. Now your bucket will be hanging freely from a horizontal beam.
Hold the bucket and walk away from the hanging position so the rope is pulled tight. Release the bucket in any direction..for example swing the bucket left or right in circular motion or simply in a release it in a straight line. Once the bucket is in full swing pick up your camera with a telephoto lens attached and proceed to follow the bucket with the lens zoomed in all the way. This will take a bit of practice.
Once you have mastered following the bucket with the lens zoomed all the way try keeping your framing consistent by zooming in and out as the bucket moves towards or away from you. Try and make the bucket stay the same size. Spend about 10 minutes on this step. Once you have mastered following and framing proceed to the next step.
The next step requires a tripod and lots of practice. Set the camera up and turn your focus to manual. Proceed to do everything I mentioned above, keeping framing and zoom…..now simply add focus to the mix. This is hard but possible! You will now have two hands on the lens; one operating the zoom the other operating the camera’s focus…..let me know how you go!
All the hours of bucket practice has really helped my wildlife and sports photography. To this day I feel quite comfortable following a small bird through the viewfinder whilst maintaining framing and focus at 800mm.
Now back to the composition…
When out and about I’m constantly looking for leading lines and composition angles within my photographs. If I need to crop an image in post processing then I use the common third lines as a guide.
Don’t get me wrong. Not everything needs to be perfect. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken you simply just have to have the correct photograph to do it. I hear you say, when should they be broken Leigh? Simple answer….you just know…that’s what composition is about – producing a photograph that pleases the eye.
Take this photograph as an example. The birds lined up on the railing create a leading line to the bird looking in the other direction. See it?
So now I challenge you all, next time you are out with your camera don’t press the shutter button until you have composed the image first. In other words know what to shoot before you shoot it. Be sure to look for those leading lines too – they will make a big difference to your photography.
The world is light; tone; shape and form – its my job as an artist to share life’s intricate details.
Beauty abounds the natural wonders of Port Gregory. Waves turn and tumble roaring as weathered water amasses to the shore. Running in synchronization waves continues their forceful journey along the beach gliding until the evanescent wave reaches its peak. Receding water reflects the final afterglow. The watery rhythm continues as the bright beams fill voids upon the open ocean.
A gazebo stands steadfast upon its foundations as winds howl in its path. Weathered rotting wood holds little protection for the passing traveller. The storm shows no sign of holding back. Light passes through thick developed clouds shedding warmth wherever it lands. The spectacle emerges as low clouds pass; clearing the misty confusion. Crouched with tripod and camera in hand the words develop in my mind. Wind; rain; light and water – the perfect composition.
Canon EOS 1D MK IV – 85mm – ISO 50 – f14 – 1 second – PS CS5
You don’t need carrots to see in the dark – you simply need a Fujifilm X-Pro 1. Hopefully the photos and story show just how this camera performs in low light when using high ISO – no need for those carrots anymore!
The soles of my shoes were wearing thin. Darkness surrounded me, I was now in the back streets of Fremantle. Rain was softly falling wetting my brow as I clutched my Fujifilm X-Pro 1 protecting it from the unknown surrounds. My backpack felt light as I picked up my pace. The sound of crackling leaves burst into the air as I stepped along the long cobbled paved path. Winter still had a hold on the air as I grasped my jacket ensuring zips were closed. The engineered 35mm lens was fixed tight onto the camera and my ISO control was set to extremely high. As I gazed around me the leaves on the trees were hanging onto flexing branches desperate not to fall. Cracked limestone buildings towered over me. Lonely lights lit the street as a car alarm silenced itself in the distance. Travelling along I noticed a doorway open almost inviting me in to escape the dampness of the cold street. I had never seen an open door in this area before. Steadying myself as the tripod I applied pressure to the smooth round shutter button.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 3200 – f1.4 – 1/25 second
Passing the building with a disconcerting look for a welcome invite I found myself in an adjacent alleyway. Thick narrow walls swarmed the scene before me opening up briefly to form a dirty makeshift parking zone. An old neglected car sat lonely against the backlight.
The smell of rotting food filled the air as bouncing light filled the dark alleyway striking shapes along its path. Highlights and shadows formed, black and white was the clear choice as the light disappeared into the engulfing darkness. I bumped up my ISO to capture the little amount of light present before me. As I had no tripod I concentrated my mind and body to be in sync with the shutter action. I counted one, two and click. Instantly the camera came alive. Focus locked in pitch black conditions and the sound of the camera finishing its digital take on the scene was music to my ears. With excitement abound I pressed the large preview button, the clear LCD lit the world like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Adjusting my eyes the result excelled my expectations.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 6400 – f1.4 – 1/15 second
Passing a window with a fleeting glance a wall of words stood out. Instantly a warming fire coupled with a good read filled my mind. The colour scheme of the shelved text shouted out to the depressing street as I stood reading the titles before me. The thought of a good book and a fire was too good to pass. Lining the camera up to the cold plain window I composed my artistic angle and mashed my finger on the X-Pro 1’s retro shutter button.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 3200 – f1.6 – 1/125 second
With Fremantle renowned for its small quaint stores I set out with a new stride turning my attention to closed doors or barred windows. I intended to capture the stillness of the earlier working day. Time passed on my quest, eventually I found myself looking through recessed windows and strong iron bars. The rear of a cafe was in full view. Feeling like a tidy criminal I cleaned the glass before me. Peeping through the camera’s hybrid viewfinder the scene hit my retina. The still scene suddenly jumped to life.
The old bicycle sign filled the empty cracked concrete floor. Couches sat unfulfilling their duties as respite for tired workers. The smell of freshly ground coffee brewed in my mind. Laughter and conversations emoted the scene; clatter of cutlery against white porcelain plates filled the air. The scene was alive. Without hesitating I continued to pursue my photographic journey.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 4000 – f1.4 – 1/45 second
The high ISO/low light journey will be continued…
Until next time – Happy Shooting.
Please note all these photos were taken without a tripod to test the capability of high ISO’s on the Fujifilm X-Pro 1.
Fujifilm Cameras Australia have come up with a brilliant concept for any photographer to have the opportunity to hijack their Facebook cover photo making them Fujifilm Famous for one month! This months theme is Australian Landmarks. Have you been anywhere in Australia that stands out?
If so I challenge you to go to the Fujifilm Cameras Australia page hit LIKE to hear about how you can become Fujifilm Famous! There is only 13 days left before the comp has finished. So get to it! This was my entry I posted on the Fujifilm Cameras Page to become Fujifilm Famous! I took this photo of the Sydney Opera House from the Harbour.
As a photographer I have travelled around various places and seen some amazing sites…some of them I didn’t even have a camera with me! Oh No! One of my favourite places to visit here in Western Australia would have to be around Geraldton area also known as the Coral Coast. The rocky coastline and beautiful sunsets are beautiful on any day. Whenever I head to the ocean around that area I can always rely on capturing something special.
Taking about taking special photos, the last two Fujifilm Famous hijackers have had some really amazing photographs. This months photographer is Paul Pichugin who found some amazing water detail along the West Australian coastline. What an amazing photographer and an amazing image don’t you think? The clouds on the distant horizon seem tame compared with the swirling water in the foreground and I love the way the water trickles over the rocks creating a cascading waterfall. Simply beautiful.
The previous months Fujifilm Famous photographer, Sue-ann Tilby captured another beautiful sunset which rocked the community on the Fujifilm Cameras Australia Facebook page. The colour in this image is simply amazing! I would certainly have a big smile on my face if I captured this image. I’m sure Sue-ann did! Have you ever tried taking a photograph like this before? Why not get out this weekend and give it a go then share it with the world so everyone can see it….who knows you might be the next Fujifilm Famous photographer!
I am planning a beach shoot this weekend down at my local beach however I don’t think I can match these two photographers….however I will give it a go.
I’ll leave you with this question: If you could go anywhere in the world to take a photograph where would it be?
Wind swept through my hair as I left the car park. Keeping to the sandy path the sight of dune grasses dancing in the breeze caught my eye. I felt the cold gritty sand between my toes which instantly translated into a shiver throughout my body. My warm woollen jumper cut the air as the storm approached. I felt alive.
The outdoors was smelling like a salt pan. The developing scene before me was a place where lifesavers swam and whales sang. Middleton beach was a special place for so many people. Stories unfolded as my camera pointed in different directions. I could see people engaging with others as mans best friend yapped at the approaching tide. Laughing children ran with excitement giving chase to unsuspecting seagulls which tumbled into mid-air. The beach was alive and entertaining.
Waves rode close to the ocean shoreline crashing with anger. The distant sounds of conversations were muffled by the developing gusts. Crashing waves echoed in my mind as I lined up the composition. The tripod was sturdy and heavy in my hand. Brushing sand from the lens I had to take the shot before the storm rolled in – rain was no friend to my camera. Flickering light caught my attention as it shone boldly through the passing clouds. Emu Point dotted on the horizon was disappearing due to the sand storms forming along the beach. As I adjusted my focus the light broke from the cotton wool blanket above me. The beach grasses shone with vibrance. The colour jumped out and was lifted from the white beach canvas. Shadows filled with an array of colour while the ocean danced with aquas and blues.. I was photographing mother nature at its grandest. The light show had begun.
This review is based solely on my own opinion about the camera. I have been using the X-Pro 1 since the beginning of May and have seen some amazing results.
All my photographs were taken as a RAW file and edited in some way using Adobe Lightroom 3/4 or Adobe Photoshop CS5.
I have spread my thoughts on this camera across different aspects that are important to me. If you are after a detailed spec review then this is not the site for you. This review is based on a user experience the highs and the lows….so lets get started!
To celebrate the camera’s ability to shoot in low light I put this video together. Enjoy.
DESIGN
Fujifilm have managed to design the X-Pro 1 with style, class and quality. The full metal body speaks highly of the cameras design. The X-Pro 1 fits like a glove. The sleek stylish curved body accentuates and oozes quality. Many say a poor man Leica? I say touch of class.
However there are a few things that I don’t like so much about the camera. I’ll get into those later on.
I have found the bold black magnesium alloy shapes aesthetically pleasing. The designer in my has ignited. I simply wanted to get my hands on one. Two months later and I am thankful I have one.
Having a history with professional DSLR cameras the physical size of the camera and lens combinations have been a pleasure to hold. Most compact pro cameras out there have simply been too small. The Olympus OM-D EM5, Nikon V1, Sony Nex 7 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 have all been in my hands before, all of which have lost their appeal due to their compact size (the closest thing to comfort out of these cameras would have to be the Olympus OMD with the grip on). Don’t get me wrong the other cameras out there take a great photo – what I am trying to say is coming from a Pro DSLR background, the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 simply feels better in my hands.
I think the Japanese do things well. For a camera to be in my kit it must be made in Japan or Germany. Quality is Japan and German – period. Luckily the X-Pro 1 was forged in Japan otherwise I wouldn’t even touch it!
CAMERA LAYOUT
All the buttons are ergonomically designed to fit the users hand. One of the main features I like about the design was the placement of the viewfinder. Too many cameras have the viewfinder in the middle. When you press your eye up against the viewfinder your nose becomes jammed up against the LCD which eventually smears the screen The X-Pro 1 has fixed that problem by moving the viewfinder to the side of the camera.
DIALS
The dials on the camera also reflect Fujifilm’s attention to detail. As you turn the on/off switch, the shutter speed dial or the exposure compensation dial you can be assured of the change as each movement is confirmed with a solid “click” as the dial moves into place. I have read a few reviews in my time and played with many cameras. One big issue for Fujifilm on the earlier X100 was the mode dial would move if you bumped it. This hasn’t been a problem on the X-Pro 1 as Fujifilm have added a much-needed lock on the shutter speed dial.
Coming from a Canon background I found when looking through the viewfinder navigating the button and dial configuration seemed second nature. When reviewing images on the 3 inch screen or through the 1,230,000 dot electronic viewfinder the colour and detail was very close to what I saw through my own eyes.
VIEWFINDER
Hybrid viewfinder. Now there’s an idea. I found myself using this feature all to often. I’ll give you an example. I was photographing some stars on a moonless night near Pemberton, Western Australia. I travelled there only to find there was no bright light source to set my focus on. I had two cameras with me the Canon EOS 1D MK IV and the Fujifilm X-Pro 1. After setting both up on tripods I attempted to gain focus on the Canon. Using only the optical viewfinder I set the focus point to the center point and half pressed the shutter button. The Canon 17-40mm f4 L lens whirred and hunted back and forth trying its best to focus on the brightest star in the sky. After five minutes of trying I had no luck. I’m sure if the Canon could talk it was saying “I think I can…I think I can…” My eyes were too bad to attempt to manually focus so the camera was useless on this occasion. The Fujifilm X-Pro had its chance.
I set the hybrid viewfinder to the electronic viewfinder. WOW! I was blown away. Not only could the camera focus in almost pitch black it was like I was looking through a window into clear daylight. The electronic viewfinder boasted amazing quality and only took less than a second to gain autofocus! To this day I am still amazed a camera can perform better than how I see in low light. Fujifilm clearly got something right!
X-PRO 1 – 18mm – ISO 400 – f2 – 30 secs
MENU
The camera’s menu took a bit of getting use to. Although after the first week I seem to have mastered it.
Conveniently placed the menu button sits nestled in-between the selector keys. Once pressed the shooting menu tab is the first out of eight tabs to be displayed – five of which are camera settings and the remaining are playback settings.
Previously on the Fujifilm X100 menu you had to fight your way through various functions to get to the next page of settings. The main menu on the X-Pro 1 has been laid out with some thought – thanks Fujifilm for listening! The X-Pro 1 menu allows you to bypass all the unwanted settings by selecting a tab on the left hand side. Navigating your way around the menu is simple. The selector keys scroll up, down, left and right while the command dial controls the function of the mode you have selected.
For changing settings on the fly the X-Pro 1 features a Q (Quick) button. 15 of the most common settings appear as symbols on the back LCD allowing you to bypass the main menu. I was able to control what settings appeared on the Quick menu as the camera allowed 7 different custom screens. Each custom screen allowed me to save my favourite camera settings to the quick menu. For example I set a custom quick menu for low light shooting which centred around ISO and bracketing controls; the other custom menu was set for landscape photography where I pre-saved my film simulation mode to Velvia.
I think without the Quick mode Fujifilm would have made a huge mistake. This button was designed to keep the user out of the menu so they could spend more time shooting and it certainly worked for me!
Check out the video from the Fuji Guys on how the new menu works.
Auto (400), Auto (800), Auto (1600), Auto (3200)….ok now that’s over….. I tended to use ISO 400 right through to ISO 2500.
The camera has really challenged me with my photography. I am so used to carrying my clunky tripod or flash to capture the dimly lit scenes in life. With the X-Pro 1 I didn’t have to worry about all the other photographic paraphernalia. I was able to go anywhere and photograph anything.
Setting the ISO control to 3200 my head was telling me ARRRGHHHH what are you doing???? I wanted to explore the camera…I mean if Fujifilm were going to put a setting on the camera it had to be good right? I had to test it – sort of like when you have to test if the paint is dry just after painting…I got that feeling! The question was at ISO 3200 was there going to be noise?
Really ISO 3200?
BOOM!
No noise.
The shutter had been pressed when shooting some low light urban scenes in Melbourne and Fremantle and look no noise! Crazy!
This would definitely be one of the very best features on the camera. High ISO with no noise. What more could I want?
Fujifilm X Pro 1 – ISO 2500 – 35mm – f1.4 – 1/170sec – Split Toning in Adobe Lightroom 4.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 18mm – ISO 200 – f10 – 5 secs
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 18mm – ISO 200 – f10 – 30 sec
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 18mm – ISO 200 – f2 – 1/4 sec
MOVIE
HD Video on the X-Pro 1 is a feature I am still dabbling in. However if you want to see what the quality is like at 720p I found this video showcasing the video quality. Remember to change the YouTube video setting to 720P HD for better viewing quality.
SWEEP PANORAMA
This sort of setting is not new for me. I have used this setting mainly on compact Fujifilm, Olympus, Canon and Sony cameras. The first series of cameras to bring this feature out were …how do I put it….crap.
The X-Pro 1 must have majored in sweep panoramas at production school! When it comes to sweeping the X-Pro 1 knows! The quality of the stitch is seamless if done correctly.
I pushed the camera to the limits by acting as a drunk and even portraying the smoker withdrawal shake. The pictures weren’t pretty….lets just say I found the limit. This mode is definitely not for the drunks. To be expected there were some problems with stitching due the rapid hand shake. My advice would be to use a tripod or monopod if you like your drink or smokes and suffer from withdrawals…this camera setting isn’t for you….but for everyone else all you need is a steady hand and you will be fine. This is the result in a high contrast scene. The outdoor light was pouring in and I don’t think I could have photographed this almost 180 degree view without the use of the sweep panorama mode.
Power consumption was probably one of my only dislikes on the camera (maybe because I used it so much!)
The CIPA (Camera and Imaging Products Association) standard is said to be 300 images from one charged battery. CIPA test under strict conditions. Each camera is turned on, the shutter button is pressed once taking a photo and the camera is then turned off. The process is repeated until the camera won’t turn on again. Fujifilm reached 300 cycles.
Fujifilm amped up the power from the previous X100’s NP-95 battery to the new Fujifilm NP-W126 battery. I would definitely recommend a spare as I found myself running out of power too often. The battery drain can really be likened to a car. Performance vehicles use a lot of fuel so really you should expect the X-Pro 1 to use a lot of battery.
LENSES
The XF lens system has produced some amazing results. No detail was spared when designing these lenses. The tow lenes I have been using are the Fujifilm XF 18mm F2 R and the Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4 R. My favorite out of the two would have to be the 35mm as it gives a true representation to what I see. Recently Fujifilm announced the XF 14mm f2.8, 18-55mm f2.8-4, 56mm f1.4, 27mm f2.8, 55-200mm f3.5-f4.8 and the new 10-24 f4.
I just wish I had the 10-24mm as it would provide a nice wide-angle for shooting my landscapes. Currently I am stitching all my photographs which is quite time-consuming.
Pictured below is the road map of Fujifilm XF lenses which will be released shortly.
IMAGE DETAIL
Overall I think when it comes to reviewing a camera the image detail is one of the most important things. I won’t write too much more on this subject as the Jpeg images taken on the APS-C sized senor will show you . Take a look.
Full sized compact pro – fitted perfectly in my hands
High ISO with extremely low noise. I was able to shoot ISO 3200 with no problems at all.
Quick Menu allowed me to bypass the main menu for ease of operation
Hybrid Viewfinder worked well in low light situations.
Horizon tool on the rear LCD allowed me to get all my landscapes straight!
Magnesium alloy body meant I could take the camera anywhere without any problem.
XF lenses – clean, sharp and crisp – especially the 35mm f1.4
Amazing detail due to the removal of the low pass filter
Camera strap – the underside of the strap was rubberized and provided good grip. Never slid off my shoulder!
THUMBS DOWN:
Battery life – didn’t seem to last two days of shooting.
Diopter adjustment lens seemed to want to unscrew itself from the camera. I found it in my camera bag on one occasion.
Slow start-up time (compared with a Pro DSLR)
OVERALL
Overall I can recommend this camera to the keen enthusiast or professional photographer. The camera is light and perfect as a stand alone or second body. Shooting in low light stacks up against some of the bigger players like the Canon 5D MKIII and Nikon D800. I think the removal of the low pass filter to mimic film has paid off. Fujifilm have really developed a ground breaking camera adding to the overall success of the X series camera lineup. I look forward to seeing what other photographic boundaries can be pushed by Fujifilm in the coming year and I’m sure the X-Pro 1 will be just one of many X series cameras to wow the photographic world.
Finally Canon have come to the mirrorless party and will be bringing out the new Canon EOS M camera.
Featured on the camera is the new EF-M 22mm f2 STM pancake lens. This lens will join the new STM range of EF lens – the 40mm STM and 18-135mm STM lenses. I assume there will be an adapter to take EF-M mount to EF mount lenses.
I can’t wait to see what picture quality this camera will provide. Due to the size of the camera I expect there will be an APS-C sized sensor (same size as the Canon EOS 650D).
The new Canon EOS M camera has a hot shoe to add an external flash. My guess is the Canon 320EX Speedlight will be best suited for this camera due to the newly developed sensor capable of recording full HD video (similar to the Canon EOS 650D) which will allow full time auto focus tracking. Something the Nikon DSLR’s have had for a while now.
This camera would be a great addition to any DSLR photography kit you may have already. Due to the small metal body the camera seems like it will be able to go anywhere and cover almost any photography project.
It will be very interesting to see the low light capabilities from the Canon EOS M compared with the Olympus OM-D EM5, Fujifilm X Pro 1, Panasonic GX1, Nikon V1 and Sony NEX 7 cameras. I imagine the performance will be on the ball with the camera manufactured in Japan.
Some of the standout features this camera may have are:
Full HD movie recording – 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps)
Phase detection pixels
APS-C CMOS sized sensor
1,040,000 dot 3 inch touch screen
6 white balance presets
Digic 5 processor
Scrolling mode dials on the touch screen (same as the Canon EOS 650D)
EyeFi – wirelessly send your photos to a mobile device or network for easy sharing (via the Canon app)
I estimate the availability of the new Canon EOS M camera to be very soon as Canon are in the process of celebrating their 75 year.
I received these cupcakes from Canon a few days ago to celebrate the occasion (the chocolate one was the best!)
The evolving storm clouds masked the last of the warming light. The sound of the ocean was threatening with wave after wave crashing against the battered landscape. Rock hopping with tripod in hand and camera bag on my tired shoulders I fought my way against the howling wind.
Quickly constructing my tripod I felt like a soldier assembling a weapon. Clouds swarmed above me blackening the sky. By now the ocean was tumbling and churning – the storm was rolling in. The reflection usually seen on the surface of the water was nowhere to be seen instead violent ripples formed by the wind accelerated across the water.
Taking in the scene for a few minutes I noticed a pattern was developing from the break as it left the shore. The streaming water quickly invaded the shoreline filling every gap, stopping briefly then retreating back into the ocean. I was inspired to capture the ocean rhythm playing around me.
Attaching the fish eye lens to the camera I changed the camera’s settings with solid clicks as my numbing fingers fought the bitter cold. Looking through the viewfinder I was presented with an almost ethereal scene. Light bounced about on the surface of the detailed rocks while water came from all directions filling the frame with a juxtaposing smooth finish.
Developing this image in Photoshop I am convinced there should be more photographs like this – dark and gloomy. Not every landscape scene should have golden light. Right?
LEIGH DIPROSE 