CameraTalk » Photographers

On the road to Halong Bay Vietnam

Alex Harrison — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:44:49 +0000

Viewers of Top Gear will recall the Vietnam story when the intrepid trio arrive in Hanoi thinking they are in Halong Bay. The soon learn that the stunningly beautiful Halong Bay is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Hanoi.

We set off early one morning out into the already hectic Hanoi travel, dodging every mode of transport know to man and animal bound for Halong Bay.

The road after you get out of town, opens up to reveal the landscape photographers dream. Farmlands are far as you can see with ancient equipment along side modern machinery. The contrasts are mind blowing. The horns on every car, truck, go cart, push bike etcetc are also omni present.

I would prefer to allow the photos to try to present to you some idea of the area but alas neither words nor images for some reason truly do the are justice. You will simply have to go to experience the trip. What I will say is that the trip finishes at one of the most beautiful bays I have ever witnessed. Halong Bay is well worth the journey. Halong Bay is the topic of my forthcoming posts.

Lac Thien Restaurant Hue Vietnam

Alex Harrison — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:25:03 +0000

The Lac Thien Restaurant in Hue Vietnam is worthy of mention not only as it is written up in Lonely Planet but because the food is superb. The surroundings are well ummm run down, or stylish with you like a wild west type of place with writing on the walls. (As I do)

Another interesting fact is that the owner and several of the staff are blind. The owner makes a point of presenting you with a ‘bottle opener’ that he demonstrates with zest.

Give it a go should you find youself in downtown Hue and then you take a short stroll in the Citadel.

Bali High

Kenny Smith — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:20:41 +0000

I just got back from a trip to Bali. Most of us have been there, many more than once. Everytime I go I’m blown away by the hospitality of the people and how hard they work to make a living and support their families. Sure things aren’t perfect, but nothing is. I saw something that I thought was really cool. I paddled out in the surf one day and it was not by any means small, in fact it was pumping. Out in the line up were 2 local ladies on old shortboards, looked in their mid to late thirties, dressed modestly in shorts and long t-shirts, pretty much fully clothed. No roxy girl wear or billabong bikinis. They were laughing together and paddling for waves and having a blast, much like the social mum surfers I see where I live who meet on their longboards and catch up. They actually couldn’t surf yet and were going over the falls, yet just kept hooting each other on and laughing and paddling back out. Awesome! Oh yeah, I took some pics too

In: Series – Emily R

Kenny Smith — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:53:04 +0000

Worked with model Emily updating her portfolio. In this shoot we really went for lively natural poses, and focused on the overall colour palette.
Emily naturally has a real outgoing personality and turned out to be real athletic. I don’t know many models would just do a handstand on a whim, but it went real well with what we were doing.
Styling, hair and Make Up by Mel Grafton.
View the whole series

Tech Info: Canon 1Ds MkIII, 17 – 40mmL, 50mm 1.4, 20mm 2.8, Available light and a large reflector

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www.kennysmithphotography.com

Technique or Instinct?

Gabriela Sousa Rocha — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:57:35 +0000

There’s a lot of talk about what makes a good photographer. Some say an eye for art. Others argue having impeccable technique is more important. Some say the difference is in the equipment used. Let’s analyse the implications. I believe following the line of thought is important no matter the conclusion. Not everyone sees photography as a form of artistic expression, principally because an electronic device stands between the person and the final picture. I must say I disagree. Photography is definitely a form of art in my opinion and, therefore, it does take an artist to take good photographs. On the other hand, we can’t disregard that the artist still has to know how to operate a camera. I can imagine that non-technical, instinctive photographers get the best images when the light is perfect. But they probably struggle in low light, have a hard time with strobes and in situations where the camera fails to translate their point of view. In those cases, technique is all important. It can get you out of a lot of trouble and not hinder your artistic sensitivity. I’ve seen photographers with extreme technical prowess who produce boring photographs because their technique overpowers their creativity. Photographic images should first and foremost be an expression of the photographer’s creativity and sensitivity. Technique should be no more than a means to an end (producing the shot you envisioned). It takes a combination of the technical and the instinctive to make a great photographer.

A 7D, a Monopod, and a Cheap Trick

Gabriela Sousa Rocha — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:59:16 +0000

Those who follow this blog will be familiar with my dilemmas in stabilising video DLSRs. In this post, I will share a cheap trick that actually worked.

I was filming a wedding last weekend and although we have a professional video camera for the job, the second filmer always uses the 7D (believe it or not, the image quality is better).

The story begins at my father-in-law’s house, a few hours before the wedding. He has fishing gear all over the place. Between rods and lines and bait, something caught my eye: a fishing belt.

I had an epiphany. A much smoother image might be possible if I use a monopod and support it with the fishing belt… And it will be less physically demanding.

The monopod, combined with a ball head, gives me a great flexibility when it comes to framing. So the ball head and the monopod with the added leverage of the fishing belt, meant I could do almost anything I wanted.

I must say I was pleased with the results. Even when filming and walking, the images were super steady.

When it comes to filming with a DSLR, this really makes life easier if you’re on a budget. I liked it so much, I shelled out $15 on a fishing belt of my own!

Crop photos for impact

Alex Harrison — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:05:27 +0000

Enough said from me.

Hopefully someone with more nous will tell us their methods of deciding what to leave in or take out.

How To Get Amazing Surfing Shots

Gabriela Sousa Rocha — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:20:09 +0000

Amazing surfing images can be shot if you get yourself in the water. And it’s easier than you might imagine. All it takes is a confident swimmer, a waterhousing, a DSLR and a fisheye lens. Most photos you see that are taken inside a barrel have been taken this way.

The procedure involves setting your camera to manual. Keep the shutter speed high, usually 1/1000 sec, and set your aperture to 4.5. If it’s a cloudy day or low light conditions apply, you might need to change the settings or alternatively, leave your camera on auto ISO.

Once you have the settings adjusted, focus on a close object (e.g. 1.5m away). Set your lens to manual focus. You don’t want to have to autofocus in the water. Believe me, you will make less mistakes this way.

Make sure your waterhousing is sealed, then get in the water. (Refer here to some tips on maintianing underwater equipment.)

Position yourself at the impact zone — that’s right, you’re going to get smashed. Since you’re using a fisheye, you want the rider you’re shooting to come close to you. So work together. If he gets barrelled, even better.

Respect your limits. If the waves are huge, don’t go out. Swimming with a waterhousing is tough. If you’re not comfortable in the ocean, this is not for you.

If you need a waterhousing, take a look delmarhousings — these waterhousings are awesome!

Click here if you’d like to check out some amazing water shots… amazing!