Luscious landscapes from both side of the ditch

Some of the top photographers from both here and Australia will soon be exhibiting their best efforts at a showcase of world-class landscape photography in Auckland.

Organised by the Contemporary Photography Foundation, the June exhibition features works from the likes of Ken Duncan and Christian Fletcher from Australia as well as locals such as Mike Langford, Jackie Ranken and Andris Apse.

The Foundation has arranged the landscape exhibition, running from June 15 to 17, as part of the citywide Auckland Festival of Photography and is the first of its kind, says director Ronald Winstone.

The exhibition will be held at Parnell’s Kinder House where all works will be available for purchase.

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Travel Media Awards – Photography Winners

As part of our coverage of this year’s Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards D-Photo brings you a gallery of the winners in the programme’s photography section.

Cathay Pacific Travel Photographer of the Year Award (in association with Royal Caribbean’s Celebrity Cruises)

Winner: Natasha Martin Read the rest of this entry »

Travel Smart

Jackie Ranken finishes off her wonderful guide to lighting techniques for travel portraiture in D-Photo 47, on sale today. For those ready to pack their bags and put these lessons into practice Jackie has also put together this handy checklist of the gear she find most helpful in her wandering photographic adventures.

My Travel Kit

Many people struggle with decisions about what lenses and camera to take on a trip. My answer is to take gear that will allow you to take the kind of images you aspire to make. My motivation to travel is to photograph landscapes as well as people so I make sure I carry a sturdy tripod. I dismantle the tripod head from the legs so that it will fit into my checked luggage. I ‘carry on’ my camera bag and laptop bag. I know airlines say you can only ‘carry on’ one bag, but I have found two bags with electronics will always get through as long as they are not too heavy (placing a laptop in your camera bag can make it too heavy). My Kit includes:

Wide-angle lens

The wide-angle lens on my full frame sensor Canon 5D mkII is f/ 2.8 16-35mm, to see the equivalent view on a smaller sensor camera you require a 10-22mm lens.

These ultra-wide-angle lenses are primarily used for landscape photography but it’s also handy for environmental portraits. These portraits show what the person looks like as well as what they do and where they are. The largest and sharpest objects in the frame become the most important elements, followed successively by other subject matter.

Mid-range lens

An f/2.8 24-70mm is equivalent to 17-42mm on a small sensor camera.  The wide on this lens would be wide enough for most environmental portraiture (many people opt for an 18-200mm lens as a travel lens because of it’s versatility and less changes of lens means less chance of getting dust on your sensor).

Telephoto lens

An f/2.8 70-200mm is the lens that helps separate my subject away from the background. My f/2.8 lens is quite heavy because the glass elements within the lens are much bigger. It’s the lens that I have and I love it, so I am prepared to travel with it. An f/4 lens will also do a very good job. What’s most important is the idea and the correct use of the equipment you have.

Tripods and camera shake

Whenever your shutter speed is between 1/15^th of a second and one second camera shake can be caused by the simple press on the exposure button. The best technique is to use a cable release or infrared cable release to fire the shutter. If this is not available another option is to use a two-second delay timer.

The best travel tripod is the tripod you are prepared to carry with you and not leave back in the hotel. Generally your tripod should weigh more that your camera body and lens or the whole set-up can be top heavy and unstable. Many tripods have a small hook at the bottom of the centre post so you can add weight and thereby add stability. The next consideration is a camera bag that allows you to attach your tripod so that you can still have your hands free. Cheap tripods can be dangerous for your gear.

Torches

I have a small halogen torch that has two settings; a bright spotlight and soft diffused light. It’s lightweight and can also be mounted on my forehead to leave my hands free for walking or looking for gear when it’s dark.

I don’t take a flash when travelling; in my next article I will write about using flash for portraits.

Jackie Ranken is an EOS Master and multi-Iris award-winning photographer and photography teacher based in Queenstown. Visit the Queenstown Centre for Creative Photography for more details of Jackie’s work and workshops. 

NZ landscape photography field book goes digital

A comprehensive guidebook to practical landscape photography in new Zealand, written by two of the country’s top photographers, is now available in digital ebook format.

Creative Landscape Photography by Queenstown photographers Jackie Ranken and Mike Langford is now available as a downloadable PDF from Camera Labs for US$9.97 (about NZ$12, the PayPal service handles conversion).

The downloadable PDF file is 33MB large and contains all 86 pages of the original book, including quick guide, in-field tutorials and technical notes.

The PDF file can be viewed by almost all computers, laptops and tablets (including iPads) – check your specific model’s file compatibility if unsure.

The book, which was released last year, is accessible for beginners and covers basic camera functions, modes and settings before delving into the landscape specifics. Read the rest of this entry »

Iris ’11: Landscape, Travel, Student/Assistant

Continuing D-Photo’s online coverage of this year’s Epson/NZIPP Iris Professional Photography Awards we present the winners of the Landscape, Travel and Student/Assistant categories.

Jackie Ranken makes yet another appearance on the list, adding the Landscape category to her haul, which also includes Illustrative and Editorial/Photojournalism prizes this year.

A Master of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography and dedicated D-Photo contributor, Ranken is also twice winner of Australian Institute Landscape Photographer of the Year and World Press Award.

Palmerston North-based Gerald Wilson took out this year’s Travel category with a number of his internationally acclaimed portrait shots.

Wilson chalks up his portait success to a love of ‘family’, considering it a privilege to help New Zealand families honour themselves and their loved ones by way of enhanced hand-made portraiture.

This year’s Student/Assistant category was won by UCOL student Aimee Thompson.

Thompson is a second year Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging student at the school, which for the last six years has been named Institute of the Year, a category that was discontinued this year.

Iris ’11: Illustrative, Portrait – Classic and Creative

Continuing D-Photo’s online presentation of this year’s Epson/NZIPP Iris Professional Photography Awards here are the winners of the Illustrative, Classic Portrait and Creative Portrait categories.

For an in-depth look at this year’s awards and attached In-Focus conference pick up issue 44 of D-Photo, on sale now.

Already featured in our Iris coverage for her Editorial/Photojournalism win, Jackie Ranken also took out this year’s Illustrative category (spolier: she won the Landscape category too, coming up soon).

A Master of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography and dedicated D-Photo contributor, Ranken is also twice winner of Australian Institute Landscape Photographer of the Year and World Press Award.

This year’s Classic Portrait category went to Waihi-based photographer Mike Hill.

He and his wife Andrea run an award-winning photography company from Waihi Beach, which Hills says is as much about making new friendships as business.

“We provide a unique and professional atmosphere, maintaining open and clear communication so each individual’s photographic needs are looked after, while keeping it relaxed and fun for all.”

Another reoccurring name in this year’s award program, Havelock North-based photographer Richard Wood  won the Creative Portrait category as well as the awards’ top prize.

Wood works extensively throughout New Zealand and abroad as a commercial, wedding, fashion and creative photographer with his work featured in magazines as far afield as the US.

He took the time to chat with D-Photo online about his win here and you will also be hearing more from New Zealand’s Professional Photographer of the Year in issue 45 of D-Photo, on sale October 7.

Iris ’11: Commercial, Creative, Editorial

Continuing D-Photo’s online presentation of this year’s Epson/NZIPP Iris Professional Photography Awards we bring you the winners of the Commercial/Advertising, Creative and Editorial/Photojournalism categories.

For an in-depth look at this year’s awards and attached In-Focus conference pick up issue 44 of D-Photo, on sale now.

This year’s Commercial/Advertising Category went to New Plymouth-based photographer Chris Hill.

Hill beat out 23 other top photographers to scoop the award for the second year running. He claims his successful business partnerships are a result of flair and creativity in his work.

Palmerston North-based photographer Kaye Davis took home this year’s Creative Image Category at the awards.

Both a UCOL lecturer and commercial photographer, Davis specialises in fashion and design, photography and digital imaging.

Part of a comprehensive sweep at this year’s awards, Jackie Ranken was awarded the Editorial/Photojournalism category in addition to Highest-Scoring Monochrome Print, Illustrative and Landscape awards.

A Master of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography and dedicated D-Photo contributor, Ranken is also twice winner of Australian Institute Landscape Photographer of the Year and World Press Award.