Friday 22 February 2008

Sources of inspiration...


Icelandic Photographer Örvar Atli Þorgeirsson combines great landscapes, with impeccable technique and processing, plus oodles of talent to come up with a stunning set of landscape images sure to make all but the most critical go wow..!

If you enjoy landscapes, night photography and aurora borealis don't waste anymore time click here to see Örvars' flickr stream.

Canon launches European wide Photographic Competition...

Being as some of our members have had competition success in the past I thought you may like to know about Canons European photography competition called "The Assignment" which challenges photographers from all over Europe to enter their best images in the categories - Portrait, Landscape, Sport and Macro.

Each participant will be given the choice of competing nationally (only eligible to win Canon equipment) or internationally (also eligible to be selected to participate in the Assignment). Further details can be found in the press release below.

I didn't read anywhere that you could only use Canon equipment so I don't see why the Nikonians amongst us can't participate as well.

Pre-registration is required and has already been open since the18th February and closes on the 17th March after which you can upload your image, the competition itself running until 1st May.

Anyway, as I said before check out the press release below plus the website indicated to get up to date with all the details (and if you prefer it in spanish you can go here).... and above all.... good luck !

... and no, I won't accept entering this competition as an excuse for not presenting images at the club themes ;-)
Canon UK Press Release
United Kingdom / Republic of Ireland, 19 February, 2008: Canon is pleased to announce The Assignment, the European photography competition that is set to take the continent by storm. Pre-registration for the contest – which offers four overall winners once-in-a-lifetime prizes – is now open at http://www.canon-europe.com/theassignment.
Across 19 European countries, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK. The Assignment challenges amateur photographers to submit their best work in one of four categories: Portrait, Landscape, Sport and Macro. In every country, winning images will be selected by a distinguished judging panel from a shortlist created by online public voting; the winners will receive €2,000 worth of Canon EOS kit as a reward.
Each national category winner will also be judged against those from all other competing countries by the expert panel, chaired by award-winning reportage, portrait and travel photographer Vicki Couchman. The top two winners in Europe per category (Portrait, Landscape, Sport and Macro) will then be taken on a trip to Vienna, to experience the thrills of a match at UEFA EURO 2008™ before competing head-to-head in a photographic shoot out.
The final four European category winners will win the opportunity to plan, then follow their own personal ‘dream assignment’ – each of which will be filmed for broadcast across Europe later in the year.
“The Assignment will help amateur photographers across Europe to realise their ambitions,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “Canon EOS has revolutionised D-SLR photography, and with this high-profile competition we hope to inspire even more people to take up this rewarding, creative hobby.”
Pre-registration for The Assignment begins on 18 February at http://www.canon-europe.com/theassignment. Each registrant will gain free access to exclusive online video tutorials with head judge Vicki Couchman.
The competition opens on 17 March and runs until 1 May. Public voting ends two weeks later. For more information, visit http://www.canon-europe.com/theassignment.

Wednesday 20 February 2008

Monday 18 February 2008

Question on macro lenses

One question:

I am interested in start playing with photography with macro, but the lenses are quite expensive considering it is just a trial. On the other hand I have seen in the web macro-rings, but don't know how easy or dificult to use they are, how they work and, the most importat, how good or bad the results are.

Any one with experience with them, any general hint, any one willing to give away his/her nikon macro?

Cheers

Thursday 14 February 2008

For Night Photography Fans...

Brendan Austin has finished a project called Darkspace which has been shot inside tunnels. A perfect example of how to make an exposure in difficult conditions and then how to present the results for maximum effect.

Should we plan a trip to the M-30 tunnels and give it a go ? ;-)

Anyway, for more Night Photography you could do no better that check out the blog of Andy Frazer who is an aficionado of after hours photography...

Clyde Butcher.. inspirational landscape photographer...

Clyde Butcher is a photographer that I admire not only for the beautiful images he takes, but also for his no nonsense approach to photography.

He never gets weighed down with technical issues, he keeps everything simple.

As you can see from the image above he uses large format camera's (that one looks like a 12x20 and thats in inches !). Only recently using digital technology to scan his negatives to produce inkjet prints along with his hand printed photo's.

If he can't find the equipment he needs, he builds it, he has no problems wading around the everglades completely oblivious to the snakes, mosquitoes and crocodiles. He's straight talking, unpretentious..... a real pioneer...

Have a look at this article over on 'double exposure' which gives a brief insight into the man.

Then if you want to find out more you can visit his own site here.

Wednesday 13 February 2008

World Press Photographer of the Year Winners...

This image of a US soldier in Afghanistan was chosen over more than 80,000 other images to win the World Press Photo Contest for 2007.

'This image shows the exhaustion of a man – and the exhaustion of a nation,' said Gary Knight chairman of the judging panel.

Apparently this year more than 5,000 photographers entered.

All the images of all the winners can be found here.

PDN 'World in Focus' Winners...

PDN recently published winners of its 'Ultimate Travel Photography Contest' with more than 80 images showcased.

Images submitted were as diverse as Hammerhead sharks waiting to be groomed near Cocos Island, Costa Rica to a Solar Eclipse in the Libyan desert.

The contest was divided into six categories: Human Condition, Extreme Exploration, Urban Landscapes, Snapshots, Wilderness and Open Series.

As I know a lot of you enjoy travel photography, click here and prepare to be amazed.