Image by Danielle Lancaster (c)

In this issue:

Bluedog News

What's On: photography courses, retreats and tours

Exhibitions

Photo Tip - Photography from a moving vehicle

What's New in the World of Apps?

Photo Trivia

Product Review - Lowepro's new series for bird and nature photographers!

Bluedog's Eco Tip and Bluedog's Blog

For Sale

Checking out web sites

Dedication to a Master of the Lens: Brian Lanker

“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph." Matt Hardy

Paloma had her camera going overtime on her recent trip. This is just one of many wonderful images.
Well done!

Lindy won a Facebook weekly challenge
with this image.

Congratulations to Kelsey and her great results
at Uni this past semester.
Here's a hint of what she has been up to.

A surprise and a little bit of giving back.
Chamnan's tuk tuk in Siem Reap!

This great image of a dragonfly was taken by Dean.

The temples were enthralling!
Image by Linden.

Photo Tip: Photography from a moving vehicle

Taking images from a car, bus, train, plane, bike even as we experienced on our recent tour in Cambodia from a tuk tuk can be a little tricky.

The most important thing to take into consideration is the speed of the two objects relative to each other. For example: photographing from a moving car the passing traffic is passing quicker than a pedestrian walking. And your mode of travel speed varies: a car travels faster than a tuk tuk. Confused? Don't be.

I To deal with motion blur it is best to push your shutter speed up. A photo taken at 1/1000 of a second will be much less blurred than one taken at 1/60 of a second. For many, the best way here to go is to use Shutter Speed Priority and exposure compensate to correctly expose your subject.

I Be prepared to turn the ISO up.

I Turn on Vibration Reduction or Image Stabilisation.

I If shooting from behind a window, get close to the glass.

I Use a polariser but be careful of uneven polarisation especially if the windows you are shooting through are tinted.

Image 1

Image 1. Taken through glass of a tour bus. The reflections and discolouration from the window can easily be 'fixed' in post processing. Nikon D3 1/800th; f6.3; ISO 400

I Test your exposure

Image 2

Image 2. Danielle tests and explains exposure with Keith during the Cambodia Tour from the 'Bluedog Mobile'. Image Courtesy Andrew.

I Remember the closest objects will be blurred most, the ones in the distance will be blurred the least.

I If you have the option, shoot from the front or rear window as motion blur will be much less visible compared to a side window.

I Try and avoid obstructions such as bushes, light and electricity poles - these will ruin your composition and final image. Look ahead and try and anticipate and set the camera on continuous shooting mode. Then hopefully you'll get one that is OK.

I If flying by plane try and get a seat away from the wing when you check in. If in a helicopter, ask them to take the doors up and ensure you are buckled in well!

I Clean glass does make a difference!

I Try diffused flash to light the interior:

With diffused flash to expose for the interior while meter reading for the exterior. Manual Mode D700 1/400th; f11; ISO 400

With no flash used the interior is underexposed when meter reading for the exterior. Nikon D3 1/800th; f6.3; ISO 400

Simply B&W is a new, simple yet amazing black and white app. Simply B&W is more feature rich that Vint B&W, with the addition of traditional black and white filter effects [Red, Green, Blue, Yellow or Orange], but lacks the advanced features found in Monophix. It's features are too long to list here! So here's a few: 6 different coloured lens filters, brightness and contrast adjust control, border options. Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.   Price: $0.99 Apps Store Link Please enable pop-ups for viewing.

Bluedog's Eco Tip: More friendly tips....
Did you know the US plans to ban tungsten (incandescent) lighting by 2014? Why?

Current tungsten bulbs on store shelves are really very highly inefficient. It is estimated only 10% of the energy consumed by each bulb is for light with 90% wasted on unnecessary heat. Today's tungsten bulbs employ the same technology as the bulbs Thomas Edison first created over 120 years ago.

Tungsten lights reigned supreme for many years in commercial studios until the introduction of strobes (or speed lights) and some workers still prefer tungsten for its controllability (what you see is what you get).

It uses a bulb with a filament made of metal tungsten, as opposed to, say, carbon or platinum. Unless you have switched to compact fluorescents, most of the lighting in your home is tungsten. For television and cinematography tungsten is essential.

It's a worthy consideration to think which lighting is not only more effective but also cost efficient and greener for your place of work or play.

Bluedog's Product Review

Lowepro launches Optic series for bird watching and wildlife enthusiasts! 

Scope Porter™ 200 AW
Ideal for  birders and wildlife watchers, Lowepro’s patent-pending backpack offers a hands-free, protective and supportive way to carry a large-sized spotting scope and tripod in the field. Use the pack to carry your scope-tripod set-up while you walk. Set it down and stealthily unbutton the main compartment for an on-the-spot observation.

Additional features include a hydration-ready side compartment (reservoir not included); large organisation pocket; and Lowepro’s patented All Weather AW Cover™ to protect valuable gear from the elements when used with or without an attached tripod.
RRP: $229.00AUD

Scope Photo Travel™ 350 AW
The Scope Photo Travel 350 AW, part of Lowepro’s Optics Series™, is a modular backpack designed to offer protection and flexibility as you travel and observe. The pack is filled with five padded compartments that may be adjusted or removed to customise your kit for air travel or in-field use. Each fits a specific piece of equipment, including a Pro-Fit DSLR compartment (in black). Add or subtract compartments to suit your outing. A padded laptop pocket fits up to a 15.6” widescreen model. Also includes a tripod attachment, multiple pockets and Lowepro’s patented All Weather AW Cover™ to protect valuable gear from elements.
RRP: $279.00 AUD

Scope Travel™ 200 AW
A modular backpack designed to offer protection and flexibility and as you travel, the padded and mesh-covered backpad and shoulder straps offer long-wearing comfort and breathability. The pack contains three padded compartments that may be adjusted or removed to customise your kit for air travel or in-field use. The tuck-away tripod holder allows you to attach a tripod to the front or pack via a tuck-away foot cup and compression strap with a quick-release buckle.
RRP: $229.00 AUD

Field Station™
A purpose-built beltpack designed to offer comfort, hands-free support and convenient access to your gear. Inside, the Field Station includes details that make it easy to spot and identify species throughout the day. A patent-pending, pull-out Quick Shelf provides a stable (and hands-free) base for a field guide, notepad or tablet-style computer. The padded binoculars compartment adjusts to fit a variety of models. Outside the rain-flap lid opens away from the body so you can easily see and access gear.

RRP: $99.00 AUD

Checking Out Websites
Into sites for fashion and beauty inspiration? Then check out Jo Liu's site!
http://www.joliuphotography.com

For those more interested in street and news photography check out the site of Jan Sochor, a photographer born in the Czech Republic. http://www.jansochor.com

If you have come across a great web site please send it to us - we'd love to feature it!

For Sale

I Nikon D 5000 with Tamron 18-270mm. Purchased November 2009
In excellent condition. $700. Contact Rhonda

I Cable release for Canon (fitted 450d but not 5D). Sell for $20. Contact Julie

I Canon 5D Mark II with 24-105mm f4 L series lens. Contact Sheryn

I Canon 40d. Excellent condition. Complete with box, manuals, leads etc. Includes 2 batteries, EF-S 18-55mm lens, EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens, UV and polarising filters. $850. Call 0421 830 840 Contact Andrew

I Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG HSM Canon - Box tattered, lens brand new.
Normal Price: $ 1,089.00  Special Price: $ 890. Contact Tony Holden

I Nikon AFS 70-200mm f2.8 G ED VR Price on application. Contact Augustine

Bluedog's Blog: http://blue-dogphotography.blogspot.com
What's been written about lately.

A beautiful image by Sheryn demonstrating high key lighting.

Julie shows her PS skills in this blog.

~ Blog, sweet and beers.

~ What is high key photography?

~ Photography tips for Program Mode

~ Cambodia through the windows of a mini bus

~ The Little Things

~ A Day in Phnom Penh

~ Food Photography Tips

~ Awaken Your Inner Artist - Why I love Photoshop

Dedication to a Master of the Lens
Brian Lanker (1947- 2011)

Brian Lanker at home last July after a gathering of
Topeka Capital-Journal alumni in honor of Rich Clarkson.

Each year we lose numerous wonderful photographers and Brian Lanker is no exception.

His early roots was in newspaper photojournalism beginning his career as a newspaper photographer at the Phoenix Gazette. He then joined the Topeka Capital-Journal in 1969, where in addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography in 1973, when he was only 25, for "Moment Of Life," an essay about natural childbirth (his subject was Lynda Coburn, whom Lanker married in 1974), he was twice (in 1972 and 1975) named Newspaper Photographer of the Year.

However Lanker was also very highly regarded in his portraiture work. "I Dream A World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America" debut exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. set attendance records for the 111 year old museum. Currently, "I Dream A World" is in its 14th printing. For Lanker personally, one of his greatest honours was being selected and featured, along with W. Eugene Smith, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Eliot Porter, in "Images of Man," an audio visual educational program.

He proved to do what you love and enjoy you do it all. He photographed landscapes, still lifes, portraits, sports, animals, flora and everything in between to perfection.

Chris Johns, National Geographic editor (and former field photographer) says of Lanker, "He had profound impact on my photography, as much as anyone I can think of. I was astonished at his ability to make extraordinary pictures with ordinary people."

Lanker never left Eugene though he was always in the 'top list' in New York. "It's a beautiful place here, and I never left," he told PDN in a 1999 interview. Lanker found work as a contract photographer for Sports Illustrated and he shot features for Life magazine and for each magazine received numerous international awards. He also took commercial assignments for clients including Nike, Adidas, and others.

His son Dustin Lanker is a well renowned American keyboardist. Lanker began feeling ill only about two weeks before his death while on a trip to Los Angeles, according to the National Press Photographers Association Web site. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer soon after his return, but it was at such an advanced stage that doctors told him there was little they could do to treat him. He died ten days later on March 14th 2011 at his home in Eugene Oregon. He was 63.

© Brian Lanker

© Brian Lanker

© Brian Lanker