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• CAPA Photo Expo 2015 • CAPA 2014 Annual Digital Competition • Archictecture of Saskatchewan's Rural Churches • Architecture for the Layman • Getting Great Images Where You Live • Member's Portfolio • Competitions Results
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Vol. 15, No. 3 • Fall 2014
Contents
Sheena Wilkie
Editor-in-chief 14220 71 Ave. Surrey BC V3W 2L1 E-mail: editor-in-chief@capacanada.ca
Rick Shapka
Publishing Editor
Jozef VanVeenen
Art Director E-mail: information@tikit.ca
Kevin McMillan
Advertising Manager E-mail: advertising@capacanada.ca CANADIAN CAMERA (ISSN1206-3401) is published quarterly by the Canadian Association for Photographic Art, Box 357, Logan Lake BC V0K 1W0. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission of the publisher and author. All photographic rights remain with the photographer. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors. Contributions are welcomed from all CAPA members. Story ideas and low resolution photographs may be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief at editor-inchief@capacanada.ca. CANADIAN CAMERA reserves the unrestricted right to edit, crop and and comment editorially on all submitted material. SUBSCRIPTIONS: CANADIAN CAMERA is distributed automatically to CAPA members. Individual copies are available for $9.95. Library subscriptions cost $35.00 for four issues.
Rick Shapka
Sheena Wilkie
2
4 6 7
8 10 12 Sheena Wilkie 13 Larry Easton 14 Karl Maskos 18 Richard Hulbert 22 26 30 Ralph Milton 36
Message from the President Phototalk CAPA Photo Expo 2015 10th Anniversary CAPA 2014 Annual Digital Competition CAPA News Club News CAPA New Members Correcting Perspective in Photoshop Archictecture of Saskatchewan's Rural Churches Architecture for the Layman Getting Great Images Where You Live Member's Portfolio CAPA Competitions Results Sincerity vs. Sanctity
For further information, contact CAPA National Headquarters, Box 357, Logan Lake BC V0K 1W0. Tel.: 1-250-523-2378 E-mail: capa@capacanada.ca Canadian Mail Publication Agreement #1665081 All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material appearing in this magazine in any form is forbidden without prior consent of the publisher. Copyright of photographs remain with photographer.
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CAPA is a FIAP-affiliated organization.
www.capacanada.ca
theCOVER
Quebec City, Quebec, by Richard Hulbert CANADIAN CAMERA - 1
Message from the president
Council Members
Founded in 1968, CAPA is a nonprofit organization for photographers, including amateurs, professionals, camera clubs, and anyone interested in photography. The aims of CAPA are to promote good photography as an art form in Canada, and to provide useful information for photographers. CAPA accomplishes this through interaction with individuals and member camera clubs and by distributing slide sets, evaluating photographs, running competitions, and publishing the quarterly Canadian Camera. CAPA also sponsors Canadian Camera Conference, a bi-annual summer weekend of field trips and seminars held in a different city every other year. CAPA is a member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP).
CAPA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Rick Shapka, FCAPA VICE PRESIDENT Sheena Wilkie, FCAPA SECRETARY Michael Breakey, FCAPA TREASURER Len Suchan, FCAPA PAST PRESIDENT Jacques S. Mailloux, Hon. FCAPA
CAPA DIRECTORS ATLANTIC ZONE Leo Allain, MCAPA QUEBEC ZONE Albert Limoges ONTARIO ZONE Rod Trider PRAIRIE ZONE Harvey Brink PACIFIC ZONE Larry Breitkreutz, FCAPA DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGING Dr. Bob Ito, Hon. FCAPA DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIONS Virginia Stranaghan, FCAPA
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR CAPA Membership phone 1.250.523.2378 c/o Lee Smith Box 357, Logan Lake, BC V0K 1W0 E-mail: membership@capacanada.ca Website: www.capacanada.ca
2 - CANADIAN CAMERA
If you have been a CAPA member for sometime, you will know that Canadian Camera is a great photographic magazine which shows our members' many artistic talents and skills. Canadian Camera is our flagship communication with members. As you work continuously to improve your own photography, those involved with Canadian Camera are working to improve its content, interest to you, and presentation. Photo by Sheena Wilkie
CAPA Officers & National
Rick Shapka
One of the changes to Canadian Camera in the past year or so, is to pursue interesting themes for each edition. Editor-in-chief, Sheena Wilkie, thinks about a suitable concept that can be represented through images and stories in a future edition, then searches out members who can develop content around the theme. The Fall Edition theme is about architecture. While it may not be a genre of photography that every member regularly practices, most of us take many more architectural images than we realize. Think about the last photo road trip that you made. Compelling pictures of the main street of small town, an old wood or stone church, a grain elevator or barn, the legislative buildings at one of our provincial capitals, Garrison Clock at Citadel Hill, the Banff Springs Hotel, a refinery at night, the modern mix of old and new clapboard, or brick houses of Niagara on the Lake, the lighthouses of the east or west coasts. These are but a few examples of architectural photography. What is the first object seen when we visit a new location? Likely the buildings, or structures that are used for everyday life. Recently travelling through southern B C to do a hummingbird workshop, we drove through numerous small towns. One of particular interest was Greenwood —“the smallest city in Canada,” advertised population 676. Greenwood's main street, Hi-way 3, is an amazing collection of well preserved historic buildings which proudly
supported mining and forestry production since the 1890s. First we visited the local bakery for the best cinnamon buns and coffee, as well as to speak with some residents about the 'city' history. Next we took our cameras and tripods to make some pictures of the unique architecture. It was a fabulous photographic stop we had neither planned nor anticipated! If you want to experience some terrific west coast photography please mark the CAPA Photo Expo on your calendar for next August 1 – 3, 2015. The committee is working to provide tremendous learning, and photo opportunities for you. The speakers/ presenters will add value to your appreciation of photography. Come for the exchange of ideas with other CAPA members. Please read Pacific Zone Director's Larry Breitkreutz's update in CAPA News. And check out the website for more details at http:// capaphotoexpo.ca/ . As a CAPA member, the association counts on you for any number of important activities, including volunteering for one of the many positions available. The Canadian Association for Photographic Art depends upon membership growth, and membership volunteers. We ask you to participate to spread the word to fellow photographers about being a member, and the benefits of membership. Encourage fellow photographers to join CAPA. If you have any questions or concerns about the value of your membership, please contact me at president@
September 30th. Please submit your entries for the opportunity to be awarded a CAPA medal and some great sponsor prizes. We thank Jacques Mailloux for his work over the past 10 years to bring this great competition to members with its ever expanding prize list. The competition subject is your interpretation of 'Misty Water.' Good luck to you all. g Sincerely, Rick Shapka, FCAPA President
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CAPA Members… We need submissions for upcoming issues. Canadian Camera is YOUR magazine! We welcome your story ideas, news items, portfolios and reviews. We do reserve the right to accept or reject material as we see fit. We make every effort to achieve a balance of views, subject matter and geographical representation of our members.
How to send material
When to send it
• Please write your story idea as a paragraph or outline of what you would like to write an article about and send it with several low res photos to editor-in-chief@capacanada.ca; • Photos must be JPG format; • If photos are scanned CMYK is preferable to RGB; • Photos must have simple descriptive filenames and include the photographer's name, e.g. Susan_ Brown_barn_swallow.jpg; • Please include your phone number, e-mail address and CAPA membership number.
You may submit a story idea any time but for time sensitive material our submissions deadlines are:
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Where to send it Canadian Camera c/o Sheena Wilkie, Editor-in-Chief E-mail: editor-in-chief@capacanada.ca
Don’t forget to keep your email and mailing address up to date! We wouldn’t want you to miss your Canadian Camera magazine! You can login to your member account at capacanada.ca and update your personal information there. MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR CAPA Membership phone 1.250.523.2378 c/o Lee Smith Box 357, Logan Lake, BC V0K 1W0 E-mail: membership@capacanada.ca Website: www.capacanada.ca
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capacanada.ca . I would like to hear from you. When your membership comes up for renewal, along with your renewed membership, please consider making a small tax deductible contribution. Your membership participation and any such donation goes a very long way to help sustain the Canadian Association for Photographic Art. Without sustained membership, CAPA will not exist. And a final invitation for all members to enter the 10th CAPA Annual Digital Competition. The competition closes
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phototalk Sheena Wilkie, Editor-in-chief
We're Listening! Sometimes, when we are part of a large organization, we think we have no power, no way to change things. It's been my experience that things change when people engage and participate fully. Read on to see how one CAPA member has made a difference to how we manage competitions.
To the Editor: Looking at the latest issue of Camera Canada and the winning images of the latest CAPA Competitions, it's hard not to notice the number of bird photos among the top images. This is to be expected among the nature competition images, but there are also a significant number of them among the pictorial competition winners. And perhaps most surprising of all, in the individual "humourous" theme competition, a whopping four out of the five featured images (first & third place, plus both honourable mentions) are of birds. Now, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against bird pictures. And I am in no way suggesting that any of these images are not worthy of these awards. But when I look at the large number of bird photos among the winning entries, I'm starting to wonder if CAPA is doing enough to promote the other types of photography that are out there. In my own camera club, it’s starting to be a bit of a punchline at critique nights; I sometimes hear comments like: “Oh, it’s a bird image. Better save it for CAPA” or “image would be stronger….if it were of a bird.” Perhaps the reason for the large number of bird photos among the winners is that bird photographers make up a large percentage of CAPA's membership. Or perhaps CAPA is blessed with more talented bird photographers than other 4 - CANADIAN CAMERA
types of photographer. In either case, it would be worthwhile to promote other types of photography and an easy solution would be to not allow images that are eligible for the nature category into the pictorial category. That way, there will always be a category that doesn't put other types of photography up against birds. Now, someone will probably say, "but what about captive birds, or images of birds that have been manipulated"? Well, to that I say that perhaps it's time to revisit some of the competition rules that have been largely unchanged since people were shooting film, and probably made more sense during that era. Have all images of birds and wildlife judged together, and put the emphasis on judging the final product rather than how the photographer arrived at the image. Another option would be to drop one of the two nature competitions and replace with a new category such as architectural, portraits, landscapes, street, fashion, etc., which would help promote other types of photography. I also wonder if part of the problem is in the judging and how judges are trained. If there are a significant number of bird photography enthusiasts among CAPA members, there may well be a judging bias towards bird images, but I suspect it may be a larger issue than that. In bird photography and wildlife photography in general, the challenge is more with the technical aspects, i.e. producing a
sharp image. But in many other types of photography, while the technical aspects are still important, the bigger challenge is coming up with a creative composition. Evaluating sharpness and the technical aspects of an image is fairly straightforward, but evaluating creativity is much harder to do. When I took the judging course, they didn’t really provide much of a framework for evaluating creativity. Perhaps our current judging system overvalues the technical aspects of photography and doesn’t provide enough of a framework to fairly compare the challenges of one type of photography with another. Personally, I don't know what exactly the problem is or what the solution is; I'm just trying to promote discussion on the issue. Perhaps members don't even think that there is an issue to begin with, and that’s fine. But if CAPA is truly trying to promote all types of photography, then I believe there is. David Hook Mississauga, Ontario Hi David, My apologies for the lateness of my reply. I forwarded your email on to the CAPA executive for their information and comments and wanted to give them time to do so. Thank you for stimulating an interesting discussion amongst us. There was definitely resonance with the points you raised. On t h e w h o l e we a g re e t h a t competitions CAPA hosts have been weighted towards nature/wildlife. However, I think the issue surrounding judging may be a regional issue. I know here in the lower mainland a "bird on a stick" is not as popular as they once were. The CAPA Learn to Judge Program has been emphasizing creativity and originality in photography. Progress on that front is being made but we need to keep up with educating our judges and members. We are open to suggestions for improvement and appreciate hearing your perspective on the judging program. Perhaps you've noticed that we have been working hard to ensure our magazine, Canadian Camera, represents all genres of photography. Our spring issue was a creative spin on inspiration,
the summer theme was road trips and travel and the fall issue is on architecture (not a bird in sight in the past year - not that there is anything wrong with birds). We think you've made some good points about our competitions not being representative of all the genres of photography. Virginia Stranaghan, the CAPA Director of Competitions, is looking at introducing two new competitions (Fine Art and Portraiture) in the spring to replace the Digital Nature and Digital Open. Thanks so much for taking the time to write us and give us your feedback. It is that kind of constructive participation from our members that is going to lead us into a successful future. If you have any other ideas or commentary on competitions, or if you are interested in volunteering to help put on the CAPA competitions please don't hesitate to contact Virginia directly g Sheena Wilkie, FCAPA Editor-in-Chief Canadian Camera Magazine www.phototalk.ca
facebook.com/TheCanadian AssociationForPhotographicArt
Don Berthman Appointed District Representative, Manitoba I am pleased to announce the appointment of Don Berthman as CAPA's District Representative for the province of Manitoba. Don has considerable experience with photography, and volunteering his time on behalf of photographers. Don will represent and promote CAPA activities from the Winnipeg area. Don’s early involvement with the Manitoba Camera Club, sparked a competitive urge which lead to his competing internationally in photo salons. Don is a member of both the Photographic Society of America and the Canadian Association for Photographic Art and a past member of the National Association for Photographic Art which later became CAPA. PSA and NAPA both awarded Don the honour of Associate for his service to International and Canadian Photography. Don is a member of the Red River Exhibition Association and has served as chairman of both the Canadian and International Salons and presently serves as chairman of the Canadian Photo Salon, he is a past President of the Manitoba Camera Club and a Life member, as well he is an Honorary Life member of the Winnipeg South Photo Club. Don had served on the Executive of NAPA and the Professional Photographers Association of Manitoba and was supervisor of the custom colour and b/w print departments of Winnipeg Photo by Lifetouch from 1987 to 1997. Don was a professional photographer specializing in weddings and portraits for 35 years until retirement in 2012. One of Don's most recent photographic and volunteer achievements is the revival of “a classic Photo Salon”, at the Red River Exhibition. The salon, formerly a major international one, was discontinued in the 90s. Don became re- involved about 3 years ago, and in a very short time with a great deal of personal effort has established this a major Canadian photographic competition. Don joins a great Prairie team of representatives led by Harvey Brink of Red Deer. Rick Shapka, President
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AUGUST 1-3, 2015 Join us as the Canadian Association for Photographic Art will create a vibrant arts community of photographers during CAPA Photo Expo in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia. CAPA Photo Expo will attract amateur and professional photographers as well as photography enthusiasts from the Pacific Northwest, across Canada, the US and internationally. CAPA Photo Expo will feature interactive workshops, photo tours, print displays, presentations, competitions, a trade show and most of all photographic exploration. CPX 2015 is a work in progress but we wanted to give you a sneak peek behind the scenes to see what we are planning for you.
See you in Vancouver in 2015!
Val Hider Photo
Mark your calendar and plan now to join us at CAPA Photo Expo on August 1-3, 2015 For more information on CPX 2015, visit www.capaphotoexpo.ca 6 - CANADIAN CAMERA
10th Anniversary CAPA Annual Digital 2014 Competition This is our 10th Anniversary of this highly anticipated competition! This year, the competition has been simplified by limiting it to a single topic. Our 2014 topic: Misty Water. What are you competing for? How about one of three fabulous prize packages! The Sony cameras are your window onto the world of photographic achievement – and look at what else is included to help you create your artwork. Did we mention that ten additional participants will receive a prestigious CAPA Honour Award, with a $50 Gift Certificate towards a Blurb Print Product!
st 1 PRIZE
nd 2 PRIZE
rd 3 PRIZE
• Sony a6000 Mirrorless Camera (ILCE6000LB) w/16-50 Zoom Lens • Lowepro Photo Sport Shoulder 12L Camera Bag • Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB Tripod Kit • Epson Stylus Photo R3000 Inkjet Printer • $150 Gift Certificate towards a Blurb Print Product • Adobe One-Year Creative Cloud Membership
• Sony aCybershot RX100 II Digital Camera 20.2MP w/1” Exmor CMOS Sensor • Lowepro Passport Messenger Camera Bag (black) • Aurora 34” White Shoot-Thru Umbrella • Epson Stylus Photo R2000 Inkjet Printer • $100 Gift Certificate towards a Blurb Print Product • Adobe One-Year Creative Cloud Membership
• Sony a5000 Mirrorless Camera (ILCE5000LB) w/16-50 Zoom Lens • Lowepro Nova Sport 7L AW Camera Bag (pepper red) • Epson Artisan 1430 Inkjet Printer • 2 packs of Hahnemühle Bamboo 290 gsm 8-1/2 x 11” Paper • $75 Gift Certificate towards a Blurb Print Product • Adobe One-Year Creative Cloud Membership
The winners will be announced in a future issue of Canadian Camera. In addition to our three winners, ten (10) CAPA Honour Awards will be awarded. This competition is open to CAPA individual and family members only; those members who are permanent Canadian residents. If you are not a CAPA member, and if you belong to one of our many CAPA clubs, we encourage you to join as an individual or family member. All entries must be submitted electronically no later than midnight (Pacific Standard Time: GMT-8:00) September 30th, 2014, through our online submission system on the CAPA website. Your CAPA member number and a valid e-mail address are required to login and register. E-mail and regular mail entries will not be accepted and will not be returned. The rules and guidelines governing this competition are posted on the CAPA website. Any email enquiries should be sent to CAPA-ADC@CAPACanada.ca. Participation is limited to 2 entries per member. You may submit either colour or black and white photos. Manipulation in editing software is permitted. Judging will be carried out in Ottawa in October 2014, and the results will be announced on the CAPA website. Competition Chair: Jacques S. Mailloux • Co-Chair: Léo Allain EVENT SPONSORS
Our thanks and appreciation goes to John Elliott of the Ottawa RA Photo Club for the creation and integration of the online submission system to the CAPA Website.
www.capacanada.ca CANADIAN CAMERA - 7
CAPA News
Creating a Standardized Digital Viewing Environment By Dr M Robert Ito, CAPA Director of Photographic Imaging (The unabridged version of this article can be found at www.capacanada.ca) One of the major advantages of photographs in print form, such as the magazine you are reading, is that all viewers see essentially the same image. For digital image displays, this is not the case and there can be a very wide variation in what individual viewers see because of technological and environmental factors. This inconsistency in viewer experience makes creating a standardized digital viewing environment for competition photographs important. Having a standard would improve consistency and fairness in judging and also allow photographers to have a reasonable assurance that their images are accurately displayed on other displays that conform to a standardized viewing environment.
The benefits of a standardized viewing environment include: • Consistent viewing experience independent of geographic location and time • Consistent viewing experience whether using a screen or projector • Greater consistency and fairness in judging • Photographers using the same standard viewing environment will be able to make image edits that will be accurately shown in other standard viewing environments • A standardized viewing environment would allow different equipment choices that meet the standard, rather than having to use a particular brand or model
What should a standardized viewing environment look like? Room Brightness Darkened room, suitable for photo evaluation – projected images are usually viewed in a darkened room. Editing photos in a bright room often leads to over-compensation, such as excessive colour saturation and harsh contrast, leading to false judgements in editing and evaluation. Display Brightness A display brightness of about 100 nits is the recommended industry standard for electronic display brightness, whether that image be a projected image or a monitor image. This brightness level allows prints/publications to be matched to the screen image. You can check your electronic display brightness with your camera exposure meter. 100 nits correspond approximately to a meter reading of 1/30 sec @ f6.3 @ ISO 200 off a pure white image.
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Display Colour Gamut While there are colour spaces that more closely match the range of colours that the human eye can see, the sRGB colour space is recommended for the following practical reason: • sRGB is the default colour space for almost all digital cameras and for many cameras there is no other choice • Photo editing programs that do not have colour management capability assume sRGB as the input, working and output colour spaces • sRGB is the standard colour space for web images • While Adobe RGB compliant projectors and monitors are less available, sRGB compliant projector and monitors are available and have become relatively inexpensive • However, most business projectors and monitors are not sRGB compliant; so look carefully at the specifications • The colour gamut of home theatre projectors is essentially the same as the sRGB colour gamut but the tone mapping is different. Tone Mapping Tone mapping refers to how highlights, midtones and shadow areas are handled by a display device and strongly affects the overall perception of an image. The sRGB standard includes a tone mapping profile as well as a colour gamut profile. Tone mapping can not expand the dynamic range of a display, so the display must have a good dynamic range to start with (good blacks and good highlight textures). Display Calibration Although a display device may be specified to be a sRGB device, manufacturing variations may cause some inaccuracies. So a good quality calibration device is usually needed to verify and adjust the brightness, colours and tone mapping more accurately. It should be noted that display calibration devices mainly make small corrections to the tone mapping and colour, but can not turn a non-compliant sRGB device into a sRGB compliant device. Display Resolution The criterion for resolution is based on the science of human vision which demonstrates that the region of greatest acuity of the eye is between 10 and 20 degrees. Steve Jobs of Apple has shown that the resolving power of the eye is about 53 pixels per degree. This region of greatest acuity is important for critical image evaluation; so the science of human vision indicates that an image with the longest dimension between 500 and 1000 pixels is sufficient for image evaluation.
CAPA News CAPA Photo Expo August 1-3, 2015 Exploring Photography – Sea to Sky So what is CAPA Photo Expo 2015? A conference, yes. But more than a conference. We want to explore photography. And what better location to do so than Vancouver. An exciting, vibrant city, surrounded by stunning natural beauty on the edge of the Pacific. It’s no exaggeration to say that photographic opportunities abound, literally from sea to sky. We’ve engaged some of the most exciting and experienced keynote speakers in North America. Please see our website, capaphotoexpo.ca for the latest information about our presenters. For the afternoon sessions we’ve organized dynamic, interactive workshops where you will do more than just sit and listen, you will learn, you will grow as a photographer. You will be stimulated and inspired. Photo tours are a great way to explore this exciting environment, whether wild nature is your passion, or you prefer photo-walks in vibrant gardens, or street photography while exploring the eclectic neighbourhoods of this international city. We’ve organized a diverse array of photo tours where you can shoot, learn and make new friends. Perched on the far western edge of Vancouver Island is the quaint fishing village of Tofino, and just down the road, the rolling surf of Long Beach pounds continuously. Led by an experienced team, this tour is bound to sell-out early. One of the highlights of the CAPA Photo Expo will be the international photo competition. We invite photographers from around the globe to send us their images to compete for medals and recognition. We’re also inviting the photography clubs of the Pacific Zone to enter our club competition, showcasing our beautiful province. Ground-zero for this life enriching experience will be the beautiful campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC). We’ve reserved a battery of very comfortable rooms on campus, while the events will be held in the newly completed, ultra-modern AMS Students Union Building, which is, in itself, worth a visit to the campus. You’ll want to arrive early, or stay a few extra days to join one of the exciting photo tours. More details are available on our website: capaphotoexpo.ca. Please check back frequently as we continue to add details about this amazing event. We expect to be open to receive your registration on January 5, 2015. See you in Vancouver, August 2015 Larry Breitkreutz, FCAPA Chair – CAPA Photo Expo 2015
Freeman Patterson presenting CAPA Atlantic Director Leo Allain with the MCAPA pin and certificate. Photo taken at Shampers Bluff, NB by Maurice Henry.
membership@capacanada.ca www.capacanada.ca Tel.(250) 523-2333
AS A MEMBER YOU GET MORE. THEN YOU GET MORE.
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Club News Calgary Camera Club
Abbotsford Photo Arts Club’s 37th Annual Photo Seminar Frans Lanting October 25, 2014 – 9 am – 6 pm Michael J Fox Theatre 7373 MacPherson Ave, Burnaby, BC Internationally acclaimed photographer, Frans Lanting will introduce different ways to interpret the natural world with a camera, sharing his unique approach to photography and innovations to the traditions of visual storytelling. A National Geographic contributor, Lanting has produced photo essays profiling ecological hot spots, American landscapes, and wildlife around the globe. His books have received awards and acclaim. “No one turns animals into art more completely than Frans Lanting,” writes The New Yorker. Lanting’s presentations feature spectacular imagery and inspiring commentary. His gift for connecting us with the lives of animals shows us the world through their eyes. His powerful personal perspective illuminates the big stories behind his images. Registration includes: • Five hours of insight with Frans • Door Prizes • All day event (9 am to 6 pm) • Trade Show • Box lunch with registration • Free Coffee available all day Fees: • Early Bird Rate – June 1 to August 31 - $85 • Regular Rate – September 1 to October 22 - $95 • At the Door - $110 Register at www.apac.bc.ca 10 - CANADIAN CAMERA
Starting our third year, The Calgary Camera Club has a membership of about 150 members plus corporate sponsorships. Our members represent all levels of proficiency and the club is working hard to provide everyone with education and opportunities to improve in photography. Our executives main goal is to provide learning and mentoring for all members. The club provides speakers on varied subjects, special interest group nights, field trips, workshops, and competitions with critique nights. As we circle through these events, meeting nights rotate through; speakers, special interest groups, and competitions. Field trips and workshops take place on weekends. This new club is very excited about adding our voice and images to the Canadian Association for Photographic Arts. Through our participation, we hope to gain education and knowledge, to enhance photographic skills and attain a higher level of competitiveness. Participation in CAPA fits well with our vision and mission statement. Two of our members have already completed the CAPA judging course held one year ago here in Calgary. As their Club Representative, I am also an individual member of CAPA and a Certified CAPA Judge active here in the province of Alberta. I and another member of The Calgary Camera Club also attended the workshop with Andre Gallant held in Calgary in March. As a new member club of Canadian Association for Photographic Arts, we look forward to growing our skills in “the art and science of photography in all its forms”. David Ingoe, Club Representative
Edson Photography Club Edson, Alberta is located in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies an hour and a half east of Jasper on the Yellowhead Highway. Currently home to about 10,000 residents the town has a vibrant and active arts community with photographers, potters, quilters, painters, musicians, and thespians to name a few. Founded in 2009, the Edson Photography Club tries to take an active role in promoting the arts in general while focusing on our own photographic arts. The brainchild of Sherry Holmedal, the club continues to grow and mature around a core group of ‘founding members’. Our mission is simply to provide members of the community interested in photography an opportunity to share, learn, promote and develop photographic skills in an environment that is mutually supportive and encourages growth of artistic vision and technical expertise. To this end we have regular meetings (first Monday of every month from September to June) and photo ‘outings’ that range from road trips to Jasper National Park (or the local skate park) to portrait lighting sessions and everything in between. We also try to host workshops on a regular basis including the upcoming Freeman Patterson’s presentation Visual Design for the Visual Artist in November 2014. We are hoping that by becoming members of CAPA we will be able to network with other clubs expanding and enhancing our photographic horizons. Please visit us at www.edsonphotographyclub.com. Julian Buchwald Vice-President Edson Photography Club
Four Nations Competition The Four Nations Competition is an Inter-Society digital image competition organized annually between New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Canada.
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The results of the Four Nations 2014 competition have been announced. First - South Africa Second - Australia Third - New Zealand Fourth - Canada While Canada didn't fare so well over all, CAPA member Derek Galon won the Open PSSA Gold Award for his photograph Apassionata. Congratulations Derek!
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Club News
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Fall 2014 CAPA NEW MEMBERS Atlantic Zone Randy Bullerwell NS
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Prairie Zone Buchwald Edson Photography Club AB Larry Holland AB Sherry Holmedal AB Jim Mckinley AB Barbara Morban AB Vincent Morban AB Mark Nabia AB Frank Valentini AB
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Correcting Perspective in Photoshop By Sheena Macintyre Wilkie www.photogurus.ca Shooting with a wide angle lens can capture more a wider view of a scene but it can also cause lens distortion. Notice in this snapshot of the interior of Christchurch Priory in Dorset England that the lines of the columns are leaning inward. On top of that, without a tripod, I managed to get the horizon line crooked as well.
Let's try and straighten this photo out! 1. Using the ruler tool (under the eye dropper) trace the crooked horizon line, or whatever you want to appear straight, here I used the line of the pews.
4. Next I made some minor adjustments to tonality and saturation with a couple of adjustment layers.
5. Now to fix those leaning lines. Choose your crop tool, make sure you have grid selected from the drop down box in the tool mode. Also check Perspective as well. Now grab the corners and pull inward using the grid to line up what ever element is leaning, here it's the columns. Image 4.jpg
2. Now go to Image > Image Rotation > Arbitrary and a dialogue box opens with the exact amount the image needs to rotate. Click ok.
6. Double click on the image and voila, straight columns! Image 5.jpg Note that I lost some area of the photo when I straightened the photo, and again when I corrected the perspective. That is why it can be a good idea, when shooting wide, to take a few steps back and have a bit extra to work with. Give it a try yourself! 3. Now your image is straight!
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Architecture of Saskatchewan’s Rural Churches
By Larry Easton
Wilcox Bethesda Lutheran
Stanley Mission Holy Trinity Anglican
Our first book “Legacy of Stone – Saskatchewan’s Field stone Buildings” was published in 2008 and received the Book of the Year Award in Saskatchewan. Some of those photos were featured in the “Saskatchewan’s Fieldstone Ruins” my article in the Spring 2011 issue of Canadian Camera. Photography for the book was by Dorothy and Larry Easton and Margaret Hryniuk and Frank Korvemaker were the authors. 14 - CANADIAN CAMERA
A second book is in the works with the same authors and publisher to release later in 2014, titled “Legacy of Worship – Sacred Places in Rural Saskatchewan”. The book will include selected churches of all denominations from rural Saskatchewan from 1950 and earlier. The reason for this era and rural locations is to illustrate earlier architectural history of these churches which in many locations are abandoned and being destroyed as the declining rural population and small farming communities give away to larger farms and corporate farms. Many churches still active are facing declining congregations and financial difficulties. The same fate has already happened to the prairie icons – wooden grain elevators, abandoned farm homesteads and one-room schools across the province. Our goal as authors and photographers is to preserve some of our prairie architectural and heritage Legacy.
Lisieux Grand Valle Lutheran
B-Say-Tah - Roman Orthodox Church Deanery of Canada
Verigin St. Michael's UO
Many of the churches illustrate the architectural influence from the homelands of these early settlers immigrating from Europe and Great Britain, starting new lives in Canada. The oldest church and building existing in Saskatchewan is Holy Trinity Anglican Church at Stanley Mission
Stanley Mission Holy Trinity Anglican (2)
on the Churchill River, still used to the present for special occasions. This 154 year old church is a provincial and national heritage site and has been restored. There is one oval window, 37 gothic arched windows and 1000 pieces of stained glass brought in by ship, York boats and canoes.
Many of the first churches however did not have the available materials and resources to fully replicate the architectural designs of churches in their homelands thus many churches were built functionally from available stone or logs and other materials found locally. CANADIAN CAMERA - 15
Gravelbourg Our Lady of Assumption Co-Cathedral
Travel Preparedness for Photographers
Photography of buildings in rural Saskatchewan is generally accessible from the extensive highway and grid road systems throughout the southern prairie regions of Saskatchewan. The photographer though must be vigilante during all seasons. Summer road conditions are for the most part good with some exceptions. The lesser used roads in low densely populated areas may have little or no grade on right of ways with some becoming trails. These roads require some caution with an eye on sudden storms with roads becoming impassible when wet. Winter driving conditions on even the best of highways can become impassible during severe winter storms due to ice or white out conditions that may result in road closers on short notice. Early spring may present some of the worst conditions with rural dirt roads; they maybe under water in low areas and have lingering snow drifts on unmaintained roads. Photographers traveling in rural areas should always carry seasonal clothing and foot wear; a survival kit, food and water. It is also useful to carry a cell phone, but be aware some areas will not have service. Monitor weather reports, highway hot lines and ask locals about conditions and be sure someone knows your general travel itinerary. 16 - CANADIAN CAMERA
Pike Lake St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Church
Gravelbourg Our Lady of Assumption Co-Cathedral
Lapine St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox
B-Say-Tah Roman Orthodox Church Deanery of Canada (2)
Photography Tips on Private Property
B-Say-Tah Roman Orthodox Church Deanery of Canada (3)
• Obtain permission or face possible trespass violation which can lead to a fine of up to $2000. • Get a signed property release if for publication. • Outside of abandoned buildings – watch for hidden dangers such as old machinery, fence wire, abandoned open wells in tall grass or deep snow. Enter buildings carefully watching for rotten floors & stairs, loose objects above you and animals. • Be aware of the possibility of Hantavirus in old buildings – from deer mice feces • Leave property as you found it – Leave only foot prints and take only photographs. • GPS location data should not be for distribution unless authorized by owner. • It is a good practice to travel with a companion. g
Southey Elizabeth Church
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Architecture For the Layman By Karl Maskos
Architecture is fascinating and often taken for granted. For example, you're on the waterfront in Halifax or Vancouver and you see the towers at Purdy’s Wharf or the fabric covered roofs of Canada Place, you may have seen them many times before and hardly noticed them. But, today there is something different. The storm has cleared and there are rays of light shining upon them as if lit with spot lights or you feel an energy coming from the people who inhabit these buildings. The task is how to make this image yours. How do you capture that special light? How do you convey the energy you feel? How do you make it special, even iconic – different from the many photos that were shot before you. As in portraiture photography, there many variables to consider, architectural photography has its own dynamics. Being aware of them means you will be able to unleash your creativity and shoot your story. Photography is about light, you need to consider what is the best light for your subject, the soft early morning light, the reflections of a sunset on the windows or perhaps the harsh light of noon day, 18 - CANADIAN CAMERA
creating dynamic contrasts. Remember that the glass that envelopes many modern buildings reflects the clouds beautifully . If you suffer from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) then this is a good field of photography to work in. You can purchase a wide array of lights and wide angle lenses to shoot interior work or a very expensive tilt-shift or perspective control lens with fancy tripods and heads but that equipment is not necessary for the average photographer. What is needed most is a creative eye, a flair for the unusual and an understanding of the basics. A sturdy tripod goes without saying. While sometimes cumbersome, a tripod is very helpful in achieving tack sharp detail in your photos. As buildings are large, a larger depth of field will be required. While a smaller aperture gives
us a large depth field for detail from front to back it will also likely require a slower shutter speed – especially in low light situations. Sometimes just touching your camera or tripod during these longer exposures can leave your photo looking unsharp. A tripod will also protect against wind and reduce the vibration caused by
moving people or vehicles. When using the tripod consider using a cable release, or a wireless remote, or the timer fnd or the mirror lock-up function (if available) to avoid camera shake. Getting your camera level is imperative. Unlevel lines are easily noticed. Position your camera facing the
structure face on and centered to avoid converging vertical lines to eliminate the “falling over” effect. Walk around the building to find that creative point of view. Will you shoot extremely close – emphasizing size and substance? Or perhaps further away using leading lines to direct your attention. You will notice as you walk around that there may be shadows and highlights making this a great subject for HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, whereby you can capture detail in both the highlights and the shadows and combine these photos into one with a great dynamic range . Which lens will you use? Using a tilt shift lens or a perspective correcting lens,necessary adjustments are made in-camera and using a wide angle lens the inevitable distortions will be corrected in post processing software. A telephoto lens will assist in capturing details that otherwise go unnoticed. Many structures are not only beautiful but they often have a spirit , the soul of the builders if you will. Sometime they CANADIAN CAMERA - 19
are built for human habitation and others more utilitarian like bridges and tunnels. In either case many of these structures also have a back story that make them interesting. Perhaps it was the acquisition of materials or labour. Consider these as well. One might think that photographing an immovable structure would be easy, after all it is always striking a pose. Keep in mind both pedestrian and vehicular congestion. Lighting conditions, such as a sunrise, sunset or perhaps a night shot. Some building have so much going on that it might be better to focus on just one feature. Don't forget that some buildings may require that you get permission to shoot. Keep in mind, your story might be told in a single shot or perhaps a series to do justice to your story. So next time you are in the big city or the “burbs� find your story, plan your visual narrative and enjoy. This article is dedicated to my wonderful friend and mentor Rob Martell , his enthusiasm for life and photography is dearly missed. g 20 - CANADIAN CAMERA
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Getting Great Images Where You Live Photographing the Constructed Environment By Richard Hulbert • www.rickhulbertphotography.com
1 Great Light Vancouver, BC
2 The Frame as an Intregral Part of the Image Vancouver, BC
3 Portraying Vertical Verticles Vancouver, BC
First a confession. I am a practicing architect and an urban designer who has spent 40 years creating constructed environments for people and their activities. At the same time I have enjoyed my passion for photography for almost half a century, so much so that I have re-invented myself as a professional teacher of photography. As it is impossible to ignore ones personal life experience, my comments are presented with what I refer to as an architectural attitude.
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I love photography because it teaches us how to better see and perceive the world around us. My favorite quote is by Dorothea Lang, “A camera is an instrument that teaches us how to see without a camera.” Most photographs contain a subject within a setting or background. The reality is that architecture and the constructed environment can be both a subject and or a setting. Think about all the outdoor images you have taken that
4 Camera tilting with conviction Toronto, Ontario
6 Subject is entire field of view Vancouver
5 Portraying Edges that Breathe Vancouver, BC
contain building walls as the featured subject or as backgrounds to other photographic subjects, like people, for example. Chances are you live in a house, townhouse, apartment or condo. While it’s nice to attend photo lectures and look at magazines with cool images taken in exotic locations, do you need to fly somewhere and stay in a hotel or camp out overnight just to get some great shots? No,
that is not the case. You can find fabulous opportunities to make great photographs in your own hometown. Yes, I said make great images, because photography is a three staged process. Pre - Vi s u a l i z a t i o n a l l ow s t h e photographer the opportunity to plan, to consider the subject, the best location to place your camera, the favored weather conditions and the ideal angles of view. I utilize a computer program that tells me exactly the location of the sun at
any given date and time so that I can be in the right place at the right time. (photoephemeris.com) Image Recording is the time spent patiently waiting for what I refer to as the anticipated moment, that moment when you can record the defining frame. Every photograph is part of a sequence, a visual clip of the world around us. The challenge is to discover that single photograph that captures the essence of the overall sequence of time. CANADIAN CAMERA - 23
9 Capturing a Slice of Life Quebec City, BC
7 Photographing Space Vancouver, BC
Re-Visualization is where you get to document what the camera captured or interpret what you thought you visually experienced. This is where utilizing RAW files gives you tremendous flexibility in image creation. If you have maximized the data collection during image recording, you will be better able convert that RAW file to an image file that sings.
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10 Anticipating the Decisive Moment Toronto, Ontario
Here are my top ten tips for great images of the constructed environment!
1. Look for great light. People frequently say that they have trouble knowing where to start, subject wise. Our eyes are so stimulated with objects to look at, it is often hard to know where to look or what to photograph. My suggestion is to simply look for great light. Sometimes I squint to try to separate the light from the physical scene. Great light becomes the focus of your image.
2. The image frame should become an integral part of the photograph. Think of constructing an image where the frame of the photo forms an integral part of that image. When photographing the built environment, insuring that one or more of the constructed edges are parallel with the image frame usually has the effect of tying the image frame and the image itself together.
great space and wait for the action to occur. As photographers we need to be able to record a multidimensional world and portray it in two dimensions. Think of your photo as a room with an atmosphere in which to linger.
8 Photographing Time Quebec City, Quebec
3. Vertically constructed elements want to be illustrated as such. Our brain interprets light and re-constructs the image, in part, based on our individual life experiences. In addition to points of light, vertical edges are the first elements we see. Then we see horizontal and oblique or diagonal edges. We perceive vertical edges as perpendicular to the imaginary horizon line. When you look up at a constructed building, your brain compensates and provides you with the sense and feeling of verticality. A camera can’t do that. The idea here is to respect human vision, at least as a starting point. 4. Keep your camera level or tilt it purposefully, with conviction! This will not only guarantee vertical verticals, it will allow the constructed environment to be documented as our brain interprets it. The problem is that this is not so easy to do. The good news is that the visual result of an unlevel camera can be corrected during the re-visualization stage with software. In addition, all lenses have a degree of distortion and this too can be corrected in most cases. When photographing the constructed environment, straight lines or edges want to be seen as straight.
5. Portray edges that breathe. While the last 2 tips are objective and measurable, this tip fosters your subjective creativity. When two or more edges are directly aligned and overlaid in a photo, it is confusing to the viewer. Edges can overlap, but should not exactly coincide. The space or breathing room you give to important edges in your images can make a big difference to how your image is received and enjoyed. 6. Consider the subject of your photo as the entire field of view. I could allude to the notion that the difference between a good photo and a great one is the portrayal of the background. But I want to take it one step further and suggest that the entire field of view in a photograph is the subject. While there maybe primary, secondary, and even tertiary points of focus, the overall photograph should read as the unity of visual form and structure. 7. Challenge yourself to photograph 3D space. That’s right, the essence of the built environment is the design and construction of interior and exterior spaces for people and their activities. Think about capturing the actual feeling and essence of the space in front of your camera and lens. Find a
8. For many the essence of photography is memorializing time. The intensity, angle and colour of sunlight, the colour and character of vegetation, the clothing people wear along with the activities in which they are engaged, the weather, the atmosphere, all contribute to a sense of time. With the right combination of clues, you can not only come close to the time of day or night, but the season and era of the photograph. 9. “The essence of travel photography is capturing a slice of life.” This quote, from playwright Jean Julliane, was taught to me by the great teacher and Associated Press photographer Michael Marient. It sums up the objective of great travel photography. 10. “Anticipating the decisive moment.” For me, the key lesson from Henri Cartier’s famous quote is that one has to be ready to embrace that special moment before it actually occurs. I believe that the highest form of photographic achievement involves the presence and capitalization of luck. The good news is that as Canadians, we are among the luckiest people on earth. Good fortune by way of visual stimuli is presented to us every day. The problem is that most of us are not in a favoured position with a camera when luck happens. g
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MEMBER’S PORTFOLIO
Peter Owens
My favourite collection of photographs is the Term Assignment for a course I did last winter at Langara College in Vancouver. The Langara College Photography Certificate Program offers a variety of photography courses taught by working professional photographers and can lead to a 26 - CANADIAN CAMERA
professional certificate with the completion of sixteen courses. This particular course, the Digital Intermediate Photography Course, was comprised of twelve classes of three hours per week, in the classroom, in studios, and a couple of outdoor sessions, one of which was at night.
Models were provided for the two portrait sessions, one in natural light and one using various studio lighting set-ups. Andrea Sirois was the instructor for my course and there were eight students, half of whom were young and hoping to start a career in photography and the other half, like myself, who were
retired and taking the course more for interest and improvement. The Term Assignment was to be a body of work created using various photographic techniques taught during the course, such as cohesion in colours, pattern, and framing. Images were to be shot in
RAW and it was the one assignment where we were allowed to work on our photographs beyond cropping, removing evidence of sensor dust, and sharpening for screen as the images were exported. We were to submit ten digital images and three unframed prints.
The assignment was to find a subject of interest and tell a story. Architecture came up as a topic in discussions with Sirois and I immediately thought of the West Vancouver Community Centre and Pool. The complex is inviting and esthetically pleasing, with lots of natural light. The colours are muted CANADIAN CAMERA - 27
and it blends beautifully in its setting. The foyer has floor to ceiling windows on both the north and south face, providing a mountain view through the building. There are skylights providing natural light from the roof to the main floor in the central hallway. 28 - CANADIAN CAMERA
Our West Vancouver Seniors' Photography Club meets weekly in an adjoining building and the community center is always welcoming and busy with adults and children. The photographs were made over a period of two and half months trying to take advantage of the best light, with
an attempt to focus on some of the attractive features and materials. They were made using a Nikon D800 with either the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 or the 14-24mm F2.8 lens. Since I purchased my first SLR in Singapore in 1976, photography has been a passion. However, raising two children
and working put serious constraints on the amount of time and energy available to devote to photography. Retiring in 2008, provided me with the time to join two photography clubs, the West Vancouver Seniors' Photography Club and the North Shore Photographic Society. Both
clubs are members of CAPA. Seeing other photographers' excellent examples of macro, abstract, landscape, nature, night, or portrait photography can provide inspiration to attempt different subjects and strive to improve. Belonging to photography clubs provides critical feedback on
photographs, with ready sources of advice. At its most basic level, it provides a community that shares an appreciation for photographic art. Andrea Sirois will be a presenter at the CAPA Photo Expo in Vancouver on August 1-3, 2015. You can view her work at www.andreasirois.com g CANADIAN CAMERA - 29
CAPA Competitions CAPA Individual Print Competition March 20, 2014 Host: The Darkroom Group Chair of Competition: Richard Knotts
Gold Medal Jim Ainslie: 4 images - Virginia Creeper, Poinsettia, Black Tulips, Pyramids Silver Medal Zibigniew Gortel: 4 images – Music Santuary, Shady Business, Excel A.D. 1928, Hive Bronze Medal Wendy Royer: 4 images – Man on the Street, Contemplation, Wild and Mangy, Mottled Certificate of Merit 1st - Jim Ainslie, Virginia Creeper 2nd - Jim Ainslie, Black Tulips 3rd - Jim Ainslie, Poinsetta
Gold-CCC-Jim Ainslie-Poinsetta
Gold-CCC-Jim Ainslie-Black Tulips
Honorable Mention Jason Duncan, Vancouver BC Carol Coleman, North Vancouver BC
Gold-CCC-Jim Ainslie-Pyramids Bronze-IACC-Wendy Royer-Man On The Street
Silver-IACC-Zibigniew Gortel-Hive
Silver-IACC-Zibigniew Gortel-Music sanctuary
Gold-CCC-Jim Ainslie-Virginia Creeper
Bronze-IACC-Wendy Royer-Wild And Mangy Silver-IACC-Zibigniew Gortel-Shady business
Bronze-IACC-Wendy Royer-Contemplation
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Bronze-IACC-Wendy Royer-Mottled
Silver-IACC-Zibigniew Gortel-Excel A.D. 1928
CAPA Competitions CAPA Print Competition Clubs March 20, 2014 Host: London Camera Club
Gold Certificate London Camera Club, London, ON Silver Certificate Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS Bronze Certificate Crossroads Camera Club, Edmonton, AB Certificate of Merit 1st - David Robinson, London CC, Tall Ship Faire Jeanne 2nd – Fred Greene, PGNS, The Pirate 5149 3rd – Bill Boswell, London CC, Spanish Mission
Silver-PGNS-Fred Greene The Pireate 5149 Silver-PGNS-Marg Nolen-Looking Pensive
Honorable Mention Abbotsford Photo Arts Club, Abbotsford, BC
Gold-LCC-Theodore Lo-Lift Off
Silver-PGNS-George Mitchell Rue Aumone Viellie
Gold-LCC-Mary Chambers-Ukraine Musician
Silver-PGNS-Ken Renton-Meeting of The Minds
Gold-LCC-David Robinson-Tall Ship Faire Jeanne
Gold-LCC-Rosemaire Culver-Rock Glen Gold-LCC-Bill Boswell Spanish Mission
Gold-LCC-Mimi Lo-White Water Kayaking
Silver-PGNS-Viki Gaul-Gator With Snow Egret
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CAPA Competitions Newsletter Competition April 1, 2014 Virginia Stranaghan
1st Place Latow Latow Photographers Guild, Latow Focus 2nd – Images for Alberta Images for Alberta, Imagery 3rd – Photo Guild of Nova Scotia Photo Guild of Nova Scotia
2nd – Images for Alberta Images for Alberta, Imagery
1st Place Latow Latow Photographers Guild, Latow Focus
3rd – Photo Guild of Nova Scotia Photo Guild of Nova Scotia
capa@capacanada.ca • www.capacanada.ca 32 - CANADIAN CAMERA
CAPA Competitions Digital AV Show – Photo Essay and Travel Essay May 1st, 2014 Host: London Camera Club, London, ON Chair of Competition: Ann Alimi
Photo Essay Medals: Gold Medal - Jim Hatch, How Much is That Doggie in the Window Silver Medal - Sandra Fiedler, Katherine Bronze Medal - Harry Cartner, Look Into My Eyes Travel Essay Medals: Gold Medal - Mimi Lo, Enchanting Guilin Silver Medal - Maggie Sale, The Bruce Peninsula Bronze Medal - heodore Lo, Mystical Zhangjiajie
Gold Photo Essay-JimHatch How Much is That Doggie in the Window
Bronze Photo Essay-HarryCartner-Look into My Eyes
Silver Photo Essay-Sandra Fiedler-Katherine
Silver Travel Essay-MaggieSale-Bruce Peninsula.
Bronze Travel Essay-Theodore Lo-Mystical Zhangjiajie
Gold Travel Essay-MimiLo-Enchanting Gullin
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CAPA Competitions Post Card Competition May 15, 2014 Host: Carol Coleman
Gold Medal Kas Stone, Evening on the Dock Awarded Corel Paintshop ProX5 Ultimate Honorable Mention Carol Coleman, Three Puffins Jim Hatch, Morning Sune Cambell Valley Jim Hatch, Steam Clock Gastown, Kas Stone, Blue Bottles and Old Boat, Robert Hawkins, Vatican Staircase, Sandra Fiedler, Gastown Landmark, Sandra Fiedler, Lone Tree, Virginia Stranaghan, Sawhet Owl Virginia Stranaghan, St. Bernards Church Gold - KasStone – Evening on the Dock
HM – KasStone – Blue Bottles and Old Boat
HM – Robert Hawkins – Vatican Staircase
HM – Jim Hatch – Steam Clock, Gastown
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CAPA Competitions
HM – VirginiaStranaghan – Sawhet Owl
HM – VirginiaStranaghan – St. Bernards Church
HM – CarolColeman – Three Puffins
HM – SandraFiedler – Gastown Landmark
HM – Sandra Fiedler – Longe Tree
HM – Jim Hatch – Morning Sun Campbell Valley
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Sincerity vs. Sanctity (The Camera Wars) By Ralph Milton, D.D. Here is the worst photographer joke I’ve ever heard. There was this shutter bug who found himself in a haunted house. Along comes a ghost. The ghost is very co-operative and poses in all kinds of frightening postures. It’s pretty dark in the haunted house, so the photo guy pops up his flash. He fires off a batch of shots, then rushes home to get them up on the screen. “Wait till the folks in the photo club see these,” he says to his wife. “It’ll score a bulls eye 30!” He can hardly breathe as the computer boots up. But there’s nothing! Blank! El Zippo! Completely underexposed! You see, the spirit was willing, but the flash was weak. Do you know where that saying comes from? It’s from JC himself. From the Bible. What he actually said was, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” How do I know that? I live two lives. In my life at the photo club I am the Nikon toting shooter who scores in the high twenties on every photo every evaluation night. Well, maybe not every evaluation night. OK, so I managed a 19 once last year. But I try hard and I’m sincere. And I faithfully cheer for the Nikonian sect whenever the conflict with those Canon converts comes up. It’s a religion, you see,
because none of us have any idea why we cheer for the side we are on, but we do so, and with great vigour. At the club I am an avid, athletic photo nut, ready to punch the pixels. But in my other life, I am a mild-mannered writer. Not just a writer, but a writer who writes religious stuff. That’s how I know that quote was Jesus being ticked off because his friends had finked out on him. He was doing all the heavy lifting and they were snoring. “Nice guys,” he says. “And sincere. But they just can’t hack it!” It reminds me of our photo club President trying to recruit some of us laggards to become part of the executive and actually take responsibility for doing something. In photo clubs, like in churches, 20% of the people do 80% of the work. I knew the moment I joined the photo fraternity that the Canon-Nikon wars had all the hallmarks of a religious conflict. It has zip to do with the relative merits of the hardware. It’s what we grew up with. It’s what we’re used to. It’s what’s comfortable. That’s why us Nikon aficionados always compare the best characteristics of our brand with the worst characteristics of the Canons. It’s a long tradition learned through millennia of religious wars. It’s a way of fighting that always leaves you feeling good. Virtuous. Justified. There’s more (and this is scary)! Us Nikon nabobs know the secret agenda behind the very name, Canon. Note it’s a one “n” canon, not the two “n” big-gun
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cannon. When you buy a Canon, you are “canonized.” That means the Pope has declared you a saint. That’s why, when Canon shooters take selfies, they see halos glowing around their heads. Nobody else can see the halo, of course, but they can. Us Nikonators know all this, but we never tell those “saints”. They’re so busy being “saintly” they think they have us fooled. Nikonosticators have no such delusions of sanctity, of course. We have our feet on the ground, our shoulder to the wheel, our nose to the grindstone and our eye on a star. (You get some fine photos of feet and nostrils that way!) And we are sincere. We have sincerity oozing out of our eyeballs. Dribbling down our shirts. It follows (Yes it does!) that all our photos are superior too, whether those know-nothing judges agree or not. Sincerity vs. sanctity. That’s the issue in the Camera Wars! But fear not! In our photo club at least, we have a lot of fun with the battle. Which is why, after a lifetime of writing about people in churches, I feel at home in the photo club. I think of my friends in the Central Okanagan Photographic Society not as COPS (their acronym) but as angels. Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. g
awe is in the details Fireworks crackling mid-air. Thousands celebrating together. A night to remember – down to the last detail. That’s why the size of your camera’s sensor matters so much. A larger sensor means more detail and with a Sony 5000 you’ll capture every last detail – from the subtle colours of the light show above to the joy on people’s faces as they celebrate the night away. The Sony
5000. Extraordinary sensor size. Ultra compact body.
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are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. Screen images are simulated. A.E. & O.E.
Are you ready to step up? The 36.3-megapixel full-frame Nikon D810 is more than just Nikon’s intrusion into medium format territory. It could represent your next great stepping-stone.
If you’re into filmmaking the Nikon D810 is equally impressive, delivering stunning resolution. The D810 allows you shoot Full 1080p at 60 fps, and even high-resolution time-lapse movies at near 8K quality.
The Nikon D810 delivers an unprecedented level of detail and sharpness, which is due in large part to Nikon’s decision to remove the optical low pass filter. With the D810 you enjoy sharper and better low light image quality, and are able to produce beautiful noise-free images from native ISO 64 to 12,800.
Useful features and significant specs aside, there are bigger reasons for stepping up to the Nikon D810. If you feel your best work is still out there, if you harbour visions of shooting sharper photos and more cinematic-looking videos – this is the camera that will take you to the top.
As part of the D810’s improved auto-focus system, the new Group Area AF feature gives you five AF points to lock onto unpredictable or fast-moving subjects instead of just one. Plus, a new RAW-S feature means you can now shoot in RAW and save files that are half the size of regular RAW files.
The first step is to get inside a Vistek showroom. There, a Vistek camera specialist will not only show you what this camera can do. They’ll thoroughly explain why the Nikon D810 is the right camera for you.
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