In this Issue:

l Bluedog Photo News

l Photo Competition

l Workshops

l Exhibitions

l Checking Out Websites

l Photo Tip: Keep It Steady

l Photo Trivia

l The Master of the Lens Dedication: NEW!

l Thanks to our Sponsors

Photo News:
As I sit and write this newsletter the winds are whistling and the cold is creeping in. Winter has arrived in Australia!

We have some wonderful news for you this edition. Firstly we announce the Photography Retreats! Fun-filled days with passionate professional photographers on Tamborine Mountain, home to Queensland's oldest National Park and the third oldest in the world. For the early birds there's a special bonus!

Second: Our exciting Eco-cultural Photo Tours to the South Pacific's idyllic Vanuatu. View More Details

Third: If you are near the Gold Coast, do not miss the David Moore Exhibition - truly fantastic and inspirational. What a great photographer!

And last but not least, Bluedog has a revamped website - always a work in progress - however check it out at: www.blue-dog.com.au

Keep the feedback coming on in!
This newsletter is designed specifically for you, to be yours, so please enjoy!

Keep Those Fingers Clicking!

What's On: Workshops:

Registration and receipt of place is essential as numbers are limited. We want the workshops to continue to be very personalised so that you may gain the maximum benefit from every workshop. One-On-One classes continue. Please send in your requests for workshops and we will always do our best to accommodate you.

l Photography Retreat
The 19th - 21st October is our two day photography retreat to be held on Tamborine Mountain - set in magical rainforest in the hinterland of the Gold Coast. Trained professional photographers will undertake workshops on various subjects including portrait, landscape, digital imaging and other topics.
For more details view Photography Retreat
Early Bird Discount - Book and pay before the 31st July 2007 and receive $50.00 off the price for each a photographer and accompanying non-photography partner - that's $100.00 between two! *(this early bird special is only available for those participants staying in the accommodated package).
If you wish to ask any questions please Contact Us

l Camping Photography Retreat
23rd-24th November 2007 is the camping photography retreat. The retreat will be held at Tamborine Mountain Caravan and Camping ground - a dog friendly park - situated in Thunderbird Park. Families are welcome!
Other activities include horse riding, Thunderegg mining, exploring the rainforest and Australia's first Adventure Parc - the largest ropes and adventure games course in the country. Trained professional photographers will undertake workshops on various subjects including landscape, digital imaging and for the first time a workshop will be held on writing travel articles. All camp sites are shady and include secluded camp areas as well as room for groups to camp together.
For more details Contact Us
All prices will be set by 12th July 2007

One-on-One Classes
l Understanding Your Digital Camera
Designed for those who want to gain a better understanding of how to their digital camera works and how to use it.
Date: Open - you contact us and we arrange a mutually suitable time.
Venue: 42 Licuala Drive, Tamborine Mountain
Cost: $77.00 per person/per hour
Ph: 07 55454777 or e-mail "One-On-One Camera Use"

l Photoshop
Designed for those who want to learn Photoshop and enhance their digital editing skills.
Date: Open - you contact us and we arrange a mutually suitable time.
Venue: 42 Licuala Drive, Tamborine Mountain
Cost: $77.00 per person/per hour
Ph: 07 55454777 or e-mail
"One-On-One Photoshop"

Competition
l Winter
Our next competition will be themed 'Winter'. What does winter mean for you? Maybe a roaring fire, orange leaves, snow capped mountains or a skiing holiday.

Conditions of Entry: Only one entry per person. Photographs must not be larger than 1MB file. Prizes are not exchangeable for cash and are subject to conditions as set out by the generous prize givers. Photographs must be taken by the person submitting the photograph - proof of such may be asked for. Entrants must be registered as receiving the newsletter. Entrants agree to allow Bluedog Pty Ltd to publish their photograph in the Bluedog Photography Newsletter.
Closing Date: 31st August 2007

To Enter:
Simply send your photo to: Photo Competition
with a brief description of what, where and why - including camera and exposure details - and your contact details.

l My Backyard Critters - A Celebration of Native Wildlife
In support of the important work Landcare do, we have featured the wonderful photo competition the Tamborine Mountain Landcare are holding - 'My Backyard Critters'. The competition has now closed and the winners will be announced at a Community Awareness Day on the 28th July 2007 at 11am at the North Tamborine Library. For more information visit: http://tamborinemtnlandcare.org.au

l Beginner Workshop - "Let's start"
The last for 2007! Understand what all those buttons and dials mean - interpret the jargon and learn important composition skills.
Date: Saturday 8th September 2007
Venue: 42 Licuala Drive,
North Tamborine 4272
Time: 9.30am-4.00pm
Cost: $147.00 Includes notes.
Limited numbers apply. Bookings taken now.
Ph: 07 55454777 or e-mail "Let's Start! "

l Understanding White Balance
Come and listen to this presentation on white balance - what does it mean, how should it be used and a few tricks to make sure you get it right.
Date: Saturday 11th August 2007
Venue: 42 Licuala Drive,
North Tamborine 4272
Time: 10am-12noon
Cost: $55.00 Includes notes.
Minimum 5 for class to run; maximum 6.
Bookings taken now. Ph: 07 5545 4777 or e-mail "White Balance "

l Intermediate Class I
In Intermediate Session I topics such as why shoot in RAW, simple techniques to 'tweak' your images in Photoshop (CS2 will be used), exposure compensation and other topics will be covered.
You may bring your own laptop to follow the Photoshop tutorial component.
Minimum 5 for class to run; maximum 5.
Date: Saturday 11th August 2007
Venue: 42 Licuala Drive,
North Tamborine 4272
Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm
Cost: $55.00 Includes notes and images to work on.
Minimum 5 for class to run; maximum 6.
Bookings taken now. Ph: 07 5545 4777 or e-mail "Intermediate I"

l It's Spring
A terrific morning out to celebrate the arrival of Spring!
Date: Saturday 1st September 2007
Venue: Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens
Time: 9.30am-11.30pm
Cost: $33.00
No numbers apply. Bookings taken now.
Ph: 07 55454777 or e-mail "It's Spring "

l Understanding On Camera Flash
Gain the maximum benefit from your on-camera flash and learn how to avoid the common disappointing mistakes.
Date: Saturday 1st September 2007
Venue: 42 Licuala Drive,
North Tamborine 4272
Time: 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Cost: $55.00 Includes notes.
Minimum 5 for class to run; maximum 6.
Bookings taken now. Ph: 07 5545 4777 or e-mail "White Balance "

Photo Tip: Keep It Steady!
One of the most common faults we see when assessing photographs is blurring caused by camera shake. There are many variables that contribute to image sharpness. To get your images looking sharper try:
l To use a tripod

l Use a remote control or cable release

l If you have to hand-hold make sure you use two hands to hold the camera, take a deep breath while depressing the shutter, ensure your stance is stable; that is your feet, hips and shoulders are in a line and attempt to lean on something.

l If you have image stabiliser, turn it on.

l Find out the exact shutter speed you can hand hold down to. Some people can not hand hold there camera below 1/125th while others can go as low as 1/15th or lower.

l Watch your aperture setting. Is it enough to obtain the depth of field you require to get all your subject
in focus?

l Try increasing your ISO rating.

l If you are using a long lens, try positioning a small soft bean bag on the lens to limit shutter shake.

l If you do not have a tripod, try positioning your camera on a rail, soft bean bag or other support. Remember, if you use your vehicle to turn it off!

There are many other things that can change the sharpness of your image including:

l Subject motion l Camera motion l Lens resolution capability l Sensor or film resolution capability l Sensor or film flatness l Aperture with fewest lens aberrations l Aperture with greatest depth of field l Noise or grain l Image contrast l Sharpening routines (digital or analog) lResolving capability of output device l Resolving capability of substrate

© Danielle Lancaster

What's On: Exhibitions

l David Moore: A Vision 1927 - 2003: David Moore (1927-2003) is one of Australia’s most significant and influential photographers. In a career spanning over 50 years, Moore produced many iconic images that have been imprinted on Australia’s visual memory. A Monash Gallery of Art Travelling Exhibition. One of our favourite photographers and an exhibition well worth viewing.

Migrants arriving in Sydney - 1966

Venue: Gold Coast Art Centre - Gallery 2
Date/s: 02 Jun 2007 - 29 July 2007

l State Library of New South Wales: Max Dupain - Modernist
This exhibition celebrates the modernist idiom as well as Dupain's photographs of Australian modernist architecture.
Venue: Mitchell Galleries; Macquarie Street Sydney NSW
Date/s: 9 June to 23 September 2007

l Two Birds: New work in textiles, painting and photography by Kim Hopper and Megan Munro
Venue: ANCA 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson ACT 2602
Date/s: 25 Jul 2007 - 05 Aug 2007

l Polixeni Papapetrou: Evocative of the world of Lewis Carroll and Australia’s own Picnic at Hanging Rock, Papapetrou explores the themes of identity and childhood in her work.
Venue: Stills Gallery 36 Gosbell Street Paddington NSW
Date/s: 5 July – 12 Aug 36 Gosbell Street Paddington NSW

l National Portrait Gallery Angus McBean Portraits: McBean made a major contribution to British photography through his continuing evolution as an artist. In this exhibition each facet of his personality comes to light from his early surrealistic leanings through his celebrity portrait work to his later incarnation as a music photographer of the Beatles.
Venue: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place London
Date/s: 5 July – 22 Oct

Photo Trivia: Did You know?

The World's first photograph was taken on a summer day in France in 1826, by Joseph Niepce.

It took an exposure time of 8 hours! Not a lot is known of the process Niepce used however we do know the photo was taken on an 8"x 6.5" coated pewter plate in a camera obscura. It's so faint it has to be tilted in order for the light to catch it just right, to see it.

Niepce had been experimenting with his brother Claude, since 1793 while both were engineers in the French military Service.

The Getty Museum in California did two weeks of tests in 2003 in a joint project involving the Rochester Institute of Technology and France's Centre de Recherches sur la Conservation des Documents Graphiques (try saying that three times fast). Then it went back on display at the University of Texas in a new air tight case, where it's been on display since 1964.

There are a few theories about how Niepce coated his pewter plate. One is the plate was coated with bitumen, a petroleum derivative sensitive to light. After it spent those 8 hours hardening, he washed the plate with a mixture of oil of lavender and white petroleum. This dissolved the portions of the bitumen that didn't 'see' direct light, so didn't harden. Niepce called his work a "heliograph," in a tribute to the power of the sun.

Joseph Niepce "View from his window at Gras" (1826)

Check it out:
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