photocomment july 2009

photocomment

Editor’s Comment 4

Readers Comments 4We want to hear from [email protected]

Scoop 6All about what is happeningin the photographic world locally and internationally

Professional Portfolio 8Emil Wessels

Technique 14Improve Your Camera Phone Photography

Review 16 - Sony Alpha 380 D-SLR - Rapid Studio Album Software

Final Comment 21

JULY 2009

Whilst all care and attention is employed to ensure the legitimacy, accuracy and correctness of the information, data, texts, images, ideas, photographs and opinions expressed herein, PHOTOCOMMENT cannot be held responsible or liable in any way whatsoever for the content as it appears herein. Similarly, PHOTOCOMMENT makes no express or implied warranty or representation as to the proprietorship or intellectual property inherent in the images and photographs published herein and which it has commissioned for use from external sources on good faith dealing. Accordingly, PHOTOCOMMENT is hereby indemnified, defended and held harmless against all claims, liability, damages, costs and expenses in regard thereto.

International and local Intellectual Property and Copyright laws protect all material (text, images, photographs, graphics, software and icons) used herein. You are only permitted to download, copy or print this on-line publication or any features there from for personal, instructional and non-commercial use.

Cover Photo by: Emil Wessels Model: Jenni

Founder: Tristan Hall

Editor: Wilhelmus Moller

Design & Layout: Greg Wrench

Contact: [email protected]

Editor’s Comment 4

Readers Comments 4We want to hear from [email protected]

Scoop 6All about what is happeningin the photographic world locally and internationally

Professional Portfolio 8Emil Wessels

Technique 14Improve Your Camera Phone Photography

Review 16 - Sony Alpha 380 D-SLR - Rapid Studio Album Software

Final Comment 21

JULY 2009

Whilst all care and attention is employed to ensure the legitimacy, accuracy and correctness of the information, data, texts, images, ideas, photographs and opinions expressed herein, PHOTOCOMMENT cannot be held responsible or liable in any way whatsoever for the content as it appears herein. Similarly, PHOTOCOMMENT makes no express or implied warranty or representation as to the proprietorship or intellectual property inherent in the images and photographs published herein and which it has commissioned for use from external sources on good faith dealing. Accordingly, PHOTOCOMMENT is hereby indemnified, defended and held harmless against all claims, liability, damages, costs and expenses in regard thereto.

International and local Intellectual Property and Copyright laws protect all material (text, images, photographs, graphics, software and icons) used herein. You are only permitted to download, copy or print this on-line publication or any features there from for personal, instructional and non-commercial use.

Cover Photo by: Emil Wessels Model: Jenni

Founder: Tristan Hall

Editor: Wilhelmus Moller

Design & Layout: Greg Wrench

Contact: [email protected]

t is said that smell is our most direct link to Ithe past and with that those in the know mean

to say our distant, ancient past. For most of us

living right now, sight is the sense that

immediately informs us of our present situation

and, through printed or projected imagery, our

past also.

In PhotoComment this month we investigate

cellphone imagery and the remarkable results that

Editor’s Comment

Readers CommentsWe welcome feedback about what you think of

PhotoComment Magazine. Your stories,

experiences, questions, inspirations, are all welcome

and can be sent to [email protected]

enter “Letters” as the subject. Each month we will

publish some of your feedback.

Win Stand a chance to win by contributing to our

Readers Letters section.Camera Stabilising Bag

sponsored by Tandem Focus

Distributors

TANDEM

can be obtained when one is not limited by your

equipment or imagination. Rob Wood guides us

through the pitfalls of photographing with a

cellphone camera and we also review the Sony

Alpha 380.

Sit back, relax, read our magazine and ponder

the virtues of God’s most amazing creations -

your sight and creativity.

s some of you may have noticed, from the A1st July 2009 PhotoComment's online

edition, published at www.mymag.co.za is free.

We wish to thank all of those who have supported

us since we launched earlier this year and have

arranged with My Mag to refund the balance of

your subscriptions. Should there be an delays in

this process and you have not received your

refund by August 1st, please notify us by email to

[email protected]

Announcement

ongratulations Cto our founder

Tristan Hall and his

wife Candice on the

birth of their their

son Clarke on

25 June 2009.

Congratulations

Kodak Axes KodaChrome For generations it has been

used to capture everything

from family memories to

world-changing events.

But now Kodachrome

itself, Kodak’s oldest

camera film, is about to

become history.

The company has decided

to axe Kodachrome as

photographers switch to digital cameras.

The first commercially successful colour film, which has been

in production for 74 years, accounts for only 1 per cent of the

company’s sales of still-picture films.

There is only one laboratory in the world still producing it.

Its heyday came in the Fifties and Sixties when it was

favoured by still and motion-picture photographers for its rich

tones and vibrant colours.

Many professional photographers feel this richness is missing

from modern digital images.

In 1963, Abraham Zapruder used Kodachrome to film

President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas.

The film was even immortalised in the 1973 song

Kodachrome by Paul Simon. The lyrics read: ‘They give us

those nice bright colours. They give us the greens of summers.

Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day.’

Kodak estimates stocks of Kodachrome will run out this

autumn. It is still sold by some British retailers, including

Boots.

'The majority of today's photographers have voiced their

preference to capture images with newer technology - both

film and digital,' said president of Kodak, Mary Jane Hellyar.

'Kodachrome is particularly difficult (to retire) because it

really has become kind of an icon,' she added.

Miss Hellyar insisted that despite the demise of the famous

film, Kodak would continue to produce camera film 'as far

into the future as possible'. She pointed out that many

professional photographers still refuse to go digital.

Hasselblad Debuts CFV-39 Digital BackThe new Hasselblad CFV-39 digital back, custom built to match the design and functionality of

Hasselblad V cameras, turns every V camera into an easy-to-use digital workhorse.

The 39-megapixel back, with a sensor twice the size of premier DSLRs, features two capture modes and

a new digital lens correction technology for Carl Zeiss lenses, powered by Mac- and Windows-

compatible Phocus image processing software.

“Quickly and easily, the Hasselblad CFV-39 can transform a V System film camera into a high-

performance digital camera,” says product manager Peter Stig. “Just snap on a charged battery, insert a

CF card, add the back, and you’re ready to shoot.”

“The Hasselblad CFV-39 brings an ultra-high level of integration, flexibility, and image quality to the

professional photographer who needs the best for mobile and studio shooting,” says Peter Stig.

New Olympus E-P1A new era of digital imaging begins today with the launch of

the Olympus E-P1. The world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel

interchangeable lens system camera blends the high-quality

still images of a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) with High

Definition (HD) video, stereo Linear PCM audio recording

and In-Camera Creativity within an ultra-portable body. The

easy-to-use E-P1 expands your creative horizons and its

diverse multimedia features offer something for everyone.

Built for today’s visual generation who lead active lives online

and offline, the E-P1 will make you rethink what you can do

with a camera.

Sony World Photography AwardsAs one of the largest photographic events existing today, the

Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA), reach far beyond an

awards programme for the still image. The SWPA is a

convergence of festival events, focused photographic agendas,

exhibitions, awards schemes, student programmes and an

industry-led gala evening ceremony which marks the pinnacle

of the week-long event held in April 2009.

From fine art to applied photography in fashion, advertising and

sport to humanistic and documentary photography of people,

social, cultural and current affairs to the environmental image of

landscape, wildlife and ecology, there are few subjects or genres

left undiscovered. The celebration of the still image - its roots,

conception, adaptation and continuous evolution - is a constant

parallel, unifying all categories of the Sony World Photography

Awards.

The Sony World Photography Awards are entirely international,

welcoming amateur and professional photographers from across

the globe to submit their photographs into a highly competitive

awards programme.

Professional Competition

As an entering professional photographer, you will be judged by

the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of being

recognized by leading industry figures and taking the stage in

Cannes to receive one of the 12 prestigious category awards

and, the most coveted prize, L’iris d’Or, given to The Sony

World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year, with the

recipient taking, amongst other things, prize money of $25,000.

Amateur Competition

As an amateur photographer, you also have the opportunity to

be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of

taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the most sought

after prizes in the competition: The SonY World Photography

Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year.

Deadline for submissions: December 4th, 2009

For more information on this competition visit

http://www.photocompetitions.com/2009/sony-world-

photography-awards-2/

PENTAX Optio W80HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX Optio W80

digital compact camera. In addition to its outstanding waterproof, dustproof and coldproof capabilities — which allow for up

to two hours of continuous underwater

photography at a depth down to five

meters — the new Optio W80 offers

outstanding shockproof performance

to withstand a fall from a height of

one meter

Nokia unveils new flagship Nseries devicesOn 16 July 2009 Nokia unveiled the latest from its coveted Nseries range,

the Nokia N97 and the Nokia N86 8MP. Both devices incorporate leading

Nseries technology including high-speed connectivity, the latest version

of Nokia Maps and a large onboard memory, 32GB & 8GB respectively,

for storing music and photographs. The highly anticipated Nokia N97,

known as the world's most advanced

mobile computer, is set to transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other.

When Nokia set out to make the best mobile imaging device, it combined wide-angle Carl

Zeiss optics and an 8 megapixel sensor, resulting in performance comparable to a stand-alone

digital camera. The Nokia N86 8MP is designed to excel in both bright and low light

conditions and is optimized for both video and still imaging. Its high-speed connectivity

ensures easy and convenient sharing.

Kodak Axes KodaChrome For generations it has been

used to capture everything

from family memories to

world-changing events.

But now Kodachrome

itself, Kodak’s oldest

camera film, is about to

become history.

The company has decided

to axe Kodachrome as

photographers switch to digital cameras.

The first commercially successful colour film, which has been

in production for 74 years, accounts for only 1 per cent of the

company’s sales of still-picture films.

There is only one laboratory in the world still producing it.

Its heyday came in the Fifties and Sixties when it was

favoured by still and motion-picture photographers for its rich

tones and vibrant colours.

Many professional photographers feel this richness is missing

from modern digital images.

In 1963, Abraham Zapruder used Kodachrome to film

President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas.

The film was even immortalised in the 1973 song

Kodachrome by Paul Simon. The lyrics read: ‘They give us

those nice bright colours. They give us the greens of summers.

Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day.’

Kodak estimates stocks of Kodachrome will run out this

autumn. It is still sold by some British retailers, including

Boots.

'The majority of today's photographers have voiced their

preference to capture images with newer technology - both

film and digital,' said president of Kodak, Mary Jane Hellyar.

'Kodachrome is particularly difficult (to retire) because it

really has become kind of an icon,' she added.

Miss Hellyar insisted that despite the demise of the famous

film, Kodak would continue to produce camera film 'as far

into the future as possible'. She pointed out that many

professional photographers still refuse to go digital.

Hasselblad Debuts CFV-39 Digital BackThe new Hasselblad CFV-39 digital back, custom built to match the design and functionality of

Hasselblad V cameras, turns every V camera into an easy-to-use digital workhorse.

The 39-megapixel back, with a sensor twice the size of premier DSLRs, features two capture modes and

a new digital lens correction technology for Carl Zeiss lenses, powered by Mac- and Windows-

compatible Phocus image processing software.

“Quickly and easily, the Hasselblad CFV-39 can transform a V System film camera into a high-

performance digital camera,” says product manager Peter Stig. “Just snap on a charged battery, insert a

CF card, add the back, and you’re ready to shoot.”

“The Hasselblad CFV-39 brings an ultra-high level of integration, flexibility, and image quality to the

professional photographer who needs the best for mobile and studio shooting,” says Peter Stig.

New Olympus E-P1A new era of digital imaging begins today with the launch of

the Olympus E-P1. The world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel

interchangeable lens system camera blends the high-quality

still images of a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) with High

Definition (HD) video, stereo Linear PCM audio recording

and In-Camera Creativity within an ultra-portable body. The

easy-to-use E-P1 expands your creative horizons and its

diverse multimedia features offer something for everyone.

Built for today’s visual generation who lead active lives online

and offline, the E-P1 will make you rethink what you can do

with a camera.

Sony World Photography AwardsAs one of the largest photographic events existing today, the

Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA), reach far beyond an

awards programme for the still image. The SWPA is a

convergence of festival events, focused photographic agendas,

exhibitions, awards schemes, student programmes and an

industry-led gala evening ceremony which marks the pinnacle

of the week-long event held in April 2009.

From fine art to applied photography in fashion, advertising and

sport to humanistic and documentary photography of people,

social, cultural and current affairs to the environmental image of

landscape, wildlife and ecology, there are few subjects or genres

left undiscovered. The celebration of the still image - its roots,

conception, adaptation and continuous evolution - is a constant

parallel, unifying all categories of the Sony World Photography

Awards.

The Sony World Photography Awards are entirely international,

welcoming amateur and professional photographers from across

the globe to submit their photographs into a highly competitive

awards programme.

Professional Competition

As an entering professional photographer, you will be judged by

the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of being

recognized by leading industry figures and taking the stage in

Cannes to receive one of the 12 prestigious category awards

and, the most coveted prize, L’iris d’Or, given to The Sony

World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year, with the

recipient taking, amongst other things, prize money of $25,000.

Amateur Competition

As an amateur photographer, you also have the opportunity to

be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of

taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the most sought

after prizes in the competition: The SonY World Photography

Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year.

Deadline for submissions: December 4th, 2009

For more information on this competition visit

http://www.photocompetitions.com/2009/sony-world-

photography-awards-2/

PENTAX Optio W80HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX Optio W80

digital compact camera. In addition to its outstanding waterproof, dustproof and coldproof capabilities — which allow for up

to two hours of continuous underwater

photography at a depth down to five

meters — the new Optio W80 offers

outstanding shockproof performance

to withstand a fall from a height of

one meter

Nokia unveils new flagship Nseries devicesOn 16 July 2009 Nokia unveiled the latest from its coveted Nseries range,

the Nokia N97 and the Nokia N86 8MP. Both devices incorporate leading

Nseries technology including high-speed connectivity, the latest version

of Nokia Maps and a large onboard memory, 32GB & 8GB respectively,

for storing music and photographs. The highly anticipated Nokia N97,

known as the world's most advanced

mobile computer, is set to transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other.

When Nokia set out to make the best mobile imaging device, it combined wide-angle Carl

Zeiss optics and an 8 megapixel sensor, resulting in performance comparable to a stand-alone

digital camera. The Nokia N86 8MP is designed to excel in both bright and low light

conditions and is optimized for both video and still imaging. Its high-speed connectivity

ensures easy and convenient sharing.

hen Emil Wessels watched his first print come to life Win a friend's darkroom many years ago he was

hooked. The thrill of knowing he had created something drove

him to take more pictures and do it better than before. Emil

will tell you how many different people and things have

influenced his photography, but it is Gordon Riddick who

influenced him most in his youth. Emil recounts how Gordon

gave him the guidance and recognition he needed at a time

when his talent was still being developed. He now tries to do

the same for up and coming photographers by helping them

better understand the craft and giving them the recognition

they require to believe in themselves. He says, 'If you spend

time with people who are better than you, you can get

inspiration to become better, whereas if you spend time with

people who have not reached the same level as you you need

to give them the inspiration to become better. When you give

someone recognition, you open their boundaries.'

After winning a gold medal for the first image he submitted to

a Camera Club competition, Emil has earned a wealth of

experience having worked as a photographer in the Airforce,

as a press photographer for Die Beeld and as the Chief

photographer for the SABC for 15 years, as well as having

worked in the South African film industry. He now has a

studio in Linden and lectures at the University of

Johannesburg.

Talent doesn't always come naturally, but can be developed

through hard work. Emil refers to himself as 'poetic without a

command for written language' and as 'an artist without brush

skills.' He has made up for this by developing his photography

to the point of excellence. He says that you have to be visually

literate. Remember shots you have seen and use them as a

guide for taking new shots. He warns not to just copy other

shots verbatim, this way you will not learn and improve your

own skills, but rather use them as a spring board for your own

ideas. Make it become your own. Sometimes you need to sit

back and look at how to inspire yourself. Some people decide

before hand on the photograph they want to take and go out

and take it. While this is not a bad thing, Emil says that this

method means that you will miss many other opportunities for

a great photograph. Always be on the lookout for the next

hen Emil Wessels watched his first print come to life Win a friend's darkroom many years ago he was

hooked. The thrill of knowing he had created something drove

him to take more pictures and do it better than before. Emil

will tell you how many different people and things have

influenced his photography, but it is Gordon Riddick who

influenced him most in his youth. Emil recounts how Gordon

gave him the guidance and recognition he needed at a time

when his talent was still being developed. He now tries to do

the same for up and coming photographers by helping them

better understand the craft and giving them the recognition

they require to believe in themselves. He says, 'If you spend

time with people who are better than you, you can get

inspiration to become better, whereas if you spend time with

people who have not reached the same level as you you need

to give them the inspiration to become better. When you give

someone recognition, you open their boundaries.'

After winning a gold medal for the first image he submitted to

a Camera Club competition, Emil has earned a wealth of

experience having worked as a photographer in the Airforce,

as a press photographer for Die Beeld and as the Chief

photographer for the SABC for 15 years, as well as having

worked in the South African film industry. He now has a

studio in Linden and lectures at the University of

Johannesburg.

Talent doesn't always come naturally, but can be developed

through hard work. Emil refers to himself as 'poetic without a

command for written language' and as 'an artist without brush

skills.' He has made up for this by developing his photography

to the point of excellence. He says that you have to be visually

literate. Remember shots you have seen and use them as a

guide for taking new shots. He warns not to just copy other

shots verbatim, this way you will not learn and improve your

own skills, but rather use them as a spring board for your own

ideas. Make it become your own. Sometimes you need to sit

back and look at how to inspire yourself. Some people decide

before hand on the photograph they want to take and go out

and take it. While this is not a bad thing, Emil says that this

method means that you will miss many other opportunities for

a great photograph. Always be on the lookout for the next

shot. One way of finding opportunities is to choose a theme

for the day and take photographs of that theme. He does this

often with amazing results. He says 'When you go out to take

photographs know where you are going and what to expect so

that you can prepare yourself to see those opportunities.' He

reminds us not to go looking for shots of a forest when you are

in the desert.

Having started out using a Chinon and upgrading to a Minolta

system, he now uses Nikon equipment. He will tell you that

now, more than ever before, it does not matter what camera

you are using, as long there is a good piece of glass in front of

it. It is the lens that determines the quality of the captured

image. He points out that you can give two people exactly the

same equipment, put them in the same location with the same

lighting, the same subject and one of them will take a good

photograph and the other won't. Taking photographs needs to

become instinctive. He recalls the old days, not to long ago,

where you had a roll of film with 36 exposures on which to get

your shot and produce a good result, unlike today where you

can shoot hundreds of photographs and still only produce a

mediocre result.

shot. One way of finding opportunities is to choose a theme

for the day and take photographs of that theme. He does this

often with amazing results. He says 'When you go out to take

photographs know where you are going and what to expect so

that you can prepare yourself to see those opportunities.' He

reminds us not to go looking for shots of a forest when you are

in the desert.

Having started out using a Chinon and upgrading to a Minolta

system, he now uses Nikon equipment. He will tell you that

now, more than ever before, it does not matter what camera

you are using, as long there is a good piece of glass in front of

it. It is the lens that determines the quality of the captured

image. He points out that you can give two people exactly the

same equipment, put them in the same location with the same

lighting, the same subject and one of them will take a good

photograph and the other won't. Taking photographs needs to

become instinctive. He recalls the old days, not to long ago,

where you had a roll of film with 36 exposures on which to get

your shot and produce a good result, unlike today where you

can shoot hundreds of photographs and still only produce a

mediocre result.

Emil enjoys photgraphing any subject but admits that he

enjoys photographing people most of all. He also enjoys

photographing what he refers to as intimate landscapes. A

landscape that covers an area of only a few metres. As a lover

of history Emil emphasizes the importance of taking

photographs of the people around us. A family's history used

to be kept in writing by the patriarch and passed on from

generation to generation. Now it is easy to keep a visual

history. He advises that we should take pictures of our family,

and take pictures of ourselves with our family, so that we can

look back and remember that moment in time.

Emil enjoys photgraphing any subject but admits that he

enjoys photographing people most of all. He also enjoys

photographing what he refers to as intimate landscapes. A

landscape that covers an area of only a few metres. As a lover

of history Emil emphasizes the importance of taking

photographs of the people around us. A family's history used

to be kept in writing by the patriarch and passed on from

generation to generation. Now it is easy to keep a visual

history. He advises that we should take pictures of our family,

and take pictures of ourselves with our family, so that we can

look back and remember that moment in time.

s any camera phone photographer will tell you, talent Abeats equipment almost every time in photography. A

talented photographer can produce a stunning image with a

pinhole camera given enough time, whereas many amateurs

struggle to produce even average photographs using top of the

line camera gear. These days, there is a growing movement of

camera phone photographers who are out to show that talent

combined with a camera phone can produce some incredible

photos. Given some of the images they come up with, we are

certainly not going to argue.

In fact, the stunning examples of camera phone photography

that we have seen led us to investigate how camera phones can

be used to produce such incredible images. And so, here is our

online guide to camera phone photography!

Camera Phone Photography GuideThere are a lot of things you can do to start getting the most

out of your camera phone in terms of the best possible

photography. Some of the more obvious things you can do

include:

• Maximise the camera resolution – many recent

camera phones come with the option to increase or decrease

the resolution of the camera. If you plan to be taking a lot of

artistic shots then it’s obvious that you are going to have to

jack the resolution up as high as possible for most scenarios.

• Be Aware of Light – Many camera phones deal with low

light quite poorly. In general, if you can get a well lit subject

then you are going to get better results with your camera

phone.

• Alter the white balance – likewise, the white balance

of shots on many camera phones can also be adjusted. Play

around with this setting to achieve the effect that you want.

You may even need to adjust this depending on the type of

shots you are trying to take so get used to using one of the few

controls that you have over the image making process on a

camera phone.

• Don’t be shy about taking a lot of shots – now,

you have to realise that you are simply not going to have the

options available to you that many people who shoot on SLRs

or DSLRs will. One easy way to make up for that is to start

taking as many shots as possible. This simply increases the

chances of snagging a good one.

• Get Close – The majority of camera phones don’t have

great zoom lenses. In almost all cases the zoom is digital

rather than optical meaning the image chip simply takes a part

of the large and makes that part larger – that leads to poorer

quality. It is much better to get up close to the subject than to

use the zoom on a camera phone.

Closing ThoughtsIf you are determined to show what great images can be taken

with a camera phone, then you have set yourself quite a

challenge, but certainly an achievable one. One key that is

repeated in all of the guides is that planning is paramount. If

you can control and plan for as much of the photography

process as possible, then you offset many of the drawbacks in

shooting with less adaptable equipment such as a camera

phone. But as many camera phone photographers have shown,

the results can be well worth the effort.

s any camera phone photographer will tell you, talent Abeats equipment almost every time in photography. A

talented photographer can produce a stunning image with a

pinhole camera given enough time, whereas many amateurs

struggle to produce even average photographs using top of the

line camera gear. These days, there is a growing movement of

camera phone photographers who are out to show that talent

combined with a camera phone can produce some incredible

photos. Given some of the images they come up with, we are

certainly not going to argue.

In fact, the stunning examples of camera phone photography

that we have seen led us to investigate how camera phones can

be used to produce such incredible images. And so, here is our

online guide to camera phone photography!

Camera Phone Photography GuideThere are a lot of things you can do to start getting the most

out of your camera phone in terms of the best possible

photography. Some of the more obvious things you can do

include:

• Maximise the camera resolution – many recent

camera phones come with the option to increase or decrease

the resolution of the camera. If you plan to be taking a lot of

artistic shots then it’s obvious that you are going to have to

jack the resolution up as high as possible for most scenarios.

• Be Aware of Light – Many camera phones deal with low

light quite poorly. In general, if you can get a well lit subject

then you are going to get better results with your camera

phone.

• Alter the white balance – likewise, the white balance

of shots on many camera phones can also be adjusted. Play

around with this setting to achieve the effect that you want.

You may even need to adjust this depending on the type of

shots you are trying to take so get used to using one of the few

controls that you have over the image making process on a

camera phone.

• Don’t be shy about taking a lot of shots – now,

you have to realise that you are simply not going to have the

options available to you that many people who shoot on SLRs

or DSLRs will. One easy way to make up for that is to start

taking as many shots as possible. This simply increases the

chances of snagging a good one.

• Get Close – The majority of camera phones don’t have

great zoom lenses. In almost all cases the zoom is digital

rather than optical meaning the image chip simply takes a part

of the large and makes that part larger – that leads to poorer

quality. It is much better to get up close to the subject than to

use the zoom on a camera phone.

Closing ThoughtsIf you are determined to show what great images can be taken

with a camera phone, then you have set yourself quite a

challenge, but certainly an achievable one. One key that is

repeated in all of the guides is that planning is paramount. If

you can control and plan for as much of the photography

process as possible, then you offset many of the drawbacks in

shooting with less adaptable equipment such as a camera

phone. But as many camera phone photographers have shown,

the results can be well worth the effort.

The Alpha 380 features Live View. This is the ability to use

the LCD on the rear of the camera as a viewfinder. As you

would with a compact digital camera. The screen tilts as much

as 90 degrees when viewing from the top or 45 degrees when

viewing from the bottom. Unfortunately the LCD looks as

though it was attached as an after thought and in Live View

mode the image on the LCD is not great. Switching between

Live View and the Optical Viewfinder is by a switch on top of

the camera, and in Live View mode the optical viewfinder is

blocked. Don't try and use the LCD if you are focusing

manually, you can't be sure if it is in focus because the image

on the screen is not sharp. The camera does try to assist you in

deciding when the shot is in focus by means of the focus

points on the LCD turning green when the image is in focus.

There is the option to enlarge the centre of the display, but

doing this does not really help as the quality of the display gets

worse and you cannot see what you actually have framed

before you take the shot. I must say the quality of this screen

does not affect the quality of the captured image. The reason

for the poorer quality of the image on the Live View screen is

due to Sony using a second CCD for the Live View. This

means that in Live View mode you still get continuous auto

focus and that when you press the shutter button there is no

delay while the camera focuses, the shutter fires immediately,

you won't miss your shot. The Live View function and the

ability to tilt the screen will help you get some of those tricky

shots where you previously had to guess if you were getting

the shot you wanted.

Sonly Alpha 380 Review by: Greg Wrench

he first thing I noticed when I picked Tup the new Sony Alpha 380 was that it

didn't fit in my hand. Now my hands aren't

that big, but it still feels very small. I asked

my wife what she thought, her hands are

significantly smaller than mine, and without

any prompting she said the same thing, that

the grip was too small and therefore not easy

to hold. That being said, the general layout

of the Alpha 380 is good with almost all

buttons in easy reach. The only exception is

the menu button which is all on its own on

the left of the body. Sony wanted to produce

a Digital SLR that anyone could pick up and

take good photos. This they have achieved.

The new alpha range is very easy to use.

Informative help screens tell you what each

function on the camera does, making the sometimes daunting

task of switching from the 'Green' mode to one of the pre-set

scene modes, or taking the next step to the semi auto modes,

much simpler. This camera will inspire confidence, even in a

novice photographer.

The Alpha 380 features Live View. This is the ability to use

the LCD on the rear of the camera as a viewfinder. As you

would with a compact digital camera. The screen tilts as much

as 90 degrees when viewing from the top or 45 degrees when

viewing from the bottom. Unfortunately the LCD looks as

though it was attached as an after thought and in Live View

mode the image on the LCD is not great. Switching between

Live View and the Optical Viewfinder is by a switch on top of

the camera, and in Live View mode the optical viewfinder is

blocked. Don't try and use the LCD if you are focusing

manually, you can't be sure if it is in focus because the image

on the screen is not sharp. The camera does try to assist you in

deciding when the shot is in focus by means of the focus

points on the LCD turning green when the image is in focus.

There is the option to enlarge the centre of the display, but

doing this does not really help as the quality of the display gets

worse and you cannot see what you actually have framed

before you take the shot. I must say the quality of this screen

does not affect the quality of the captured image. The reason

for the poorer quality of the image on the Live View screen is

due to Sony using a second CCD for the Live View. This

means that in Live View mode you still get continuous auto

focus and that when you press the shutter button there is no

delay while the camera focuses, the shutter fires immediately,

you won't miss your shot. The Live View function and the

ability to tilt the screen will help you get some of those tricky

shots where you previously had to guess if you were getting

the shot you wanted.

Sonly Alpha 380 Review by: Greg Wrench

he first thing I noticed when I picked Tup the new Sony Alpha 380 was that it

didn't fit in my hand. Now my hands aren't

that big, but it still feels very small. I asked

my wife what she thought, her hands are

significantly smaller than mine, and without

any prompting she said the same thing, that

the grip was too small and therefore not easy

to hold. That being said, the general layout

of the Alpha 380 is good with almost all

buttons in easy reach. The only exception is

the menu button which is all on its own on

the left of the body. Sony wanted to produce

a Digital SLR that anyone could pick up and

take good photos. This they have achieved.

The new alpha range is very easy to use.

Informative help screens tell you what each

function on the camera does, making the sometimes daunting

task of switching from the 'Green' mode to one of the pre-set

scene modes, or taking the next step to the semi auto modes,

much simpler. This camera will inspire confidence, even in a

novice photographer.

Aperture PrioritySteadyshot Inside, Sony's in body image stabilistion, helps

take clear pictures when shooting hand held. As this is in the

body it works with any lense that is attached.

A 9 point auto focus system makes focusing fast and accurate.

A sensor on the optical viewfinder senses when you put the

camera to your eye and starts focusing immediatley while also

turning off the LCD to save battery. At 14.2 Mega Pixels you

you have enough pixels for any application. A newly enhanced

D-Range Optimiser helps with tricky lighting situations

ensuring correctly exposed images. The Alpha 380 can use

either the Sony Memory Stick or SD Cards which is great

news as the Memory Sticks can be quite pricey, and if you are

upgrading from a compact camera that uses SD cards you can

still use those same cards. It also features an HDMI output

which allows you to connect the camera to any HD ready TV.

In an Alpha first, when connected to a BRAVIA™ TV you can

control the slideshow and other camera playback functions

using your TV remote.

The Alpha 380 is designed to make the change over from a

digital compact to a digital SLR easy. This is a great camera

and will give anyone from a beginner to an experienced

photographer hours of pleasure shooting high quality images.

Program Mode Sunset Mode

Landscape Mode (Cropped)

Last month you would have seen an

Advertorial for photobooks by

Remember When and Rapid Studio.

This month we bring you a review of

the software and service by former

PhotoComment designer and new

mom Candice, is who better suited for

the job.

Candice's Feedback:

?I found that a basic graphic

software knowledge will assist you in

navigating this software better, though

it's by no means as complicated as

Photoshop or Corel Draw.

?There are exciting kid's album

options available due to the large

range of colours to choose from.

?Enjoyed the option of choosing a

Matt, Gloss or textured finish.

?A negative point in my experience

is that you need to have a stable,

highspeed internet connection when

uploading the album using the online

option.

?The support people were great and

once the album was uploaded they

delivered the album quickly to our

?The overall finish of the photobook

was good with print quality better than

expected.

We selected images from a recent

wedding for this photobook and will

be posting some feedback from the

couple once we deliver it too them,

but from our experience Rapid Studio

is well worth a try.

Aperture PrioritySteadyshot Inside, Sony's in body image stabilistion, helps

take clear pictures when shooting hand held. As this is in the

body it works with any lense that is attached.

A 9 point auto focus system makes focusing fast and accurate.

A sensor on the optical viewfinder senses when you put the

camera to your eye and starts focusing immediatley while also

turning off the LCD to save battery. At 14.2 Mega Pixels you

you have enough pixels for any application. A newly enhanced

D-Range Optimiser helps with tricky lighting situations

ensuring correctly exposed images. The Alpha 380 can use

either the Sony Memory Stick or SD Cards which is great

news as the Memory Sticks can be quite pricey, and if you are

upgrading from a compact camera that uses SD cards you can

still use those same cards. It also features an HDMI output

which allows you to connect the camera to any HD ready TV.

In an Alpha first, when connected to a BRAVIA™ TV you can

control the slideshow and other camera playback functions

using your TV remote.

The Alpha 380 is designed to make the change over from a

digital compact to a digital SLR easy. This is a great camera

and will give anyone from a beginner to an experienced

photographer hours of pleasure shooting high quality images.

Program Mode Sunset Mode

Landscape Mode (Cropped)

Last month you would have seen an

Advertorial for photobooks by

Remember When and Rapid Studio.

This month we bring you a review of

the software and service by former

PhotoComment designer and new

mom Candice, is who better suited for

the job.

Candice's Feedback:

?I found that a basic graphic

software knowledge will assist you in

navigating this software better, though

it's by no means as complicated as

Photoshop or Corel Draw.

?There are exciting kid's album

options available due to the large

range of colours to choose from.

?Enjoyed the option of choosing a

Matt, Gloss or textured finish.

?A negative point in my experience

is that you need to have a stable,

highspeed internet connection when

uploading the album using the online

option.

?The support people were great and

once the album was uploaded they

delivered the album quickly to our

?The overall finish of the photobook

was good with print quality better than

expected.

We selected images from a recent

wedding for this photobook and will

be posting some feedback from the

couple once we deliver it too them,

but from our experience Rapid Studio

is well worth a try.

Which will you use?

thOn June 25 2009 a life changing event took place as my first child was delivered through the marvels of modern medicine. Naturally I took a camera, - a DSLR – and, without passing out, shot a few pictures in theater. Much to everyone's surprise.

Recently I have raised several topics in this section of our magazine ranging from the motive behind why we take a picture, to what the possible future of the camera and ultimately photography could be as technology continues to evolve in this field. My experience with the birth of our son has given me a new perspective on some of the photographic tools we use.

As some of you may have possibly picked up in my previous articles, I cannot claim to be a great advocate for expensive compact cameras unless you have a very particular need for them. Having said this, of the hundred plus images taken of baby in his first week, approximately 80% were shot on my Sony Ericsson C902 cell phone, which features a 5mp camera. Apart from allowing me to MMS my family the pictures, it also allows me to publish those images directly to Blogger for others to see.

And once again I find myself asking what the best camera is to own? And once more the response comes 'the one you will use'.

I am left to wonder what future there is for the standard compact digital camera? For the application of sharing by web and making standard Jumbo size prints I am happy with my new cell phone camera’s quality. More quality? No problem bring out my DSLR. Cell phones that lack a great camera, like the Apple I-Phone, captured the pictures of US Airways flight 1549 landing on the Hudson River. These less than adequate cell phone cameras are becoming great tools for photographers, particularly with the growing number of applications available that incorporate photography.

A few weeks before getting my phone I had been considering purchasing a small compact camera to carry with me everywhere, now I am not so sure I need to. Constantly increasing in capability and popularity - Is tomorrow's point and shoot camera going to be found on your belt or in your pocket and handbag as 'The cell phone' with 10mp camera, and HD video, and MP3 player, and 500GB memory, and GPS, and SLR remote control, and Email, and digital Spirit Level, and Mobile TV, and 3G modem, and, and,

and... With any luck by then it will still function as a phone, but who cares if it takes great pictures.

We have recently been running a poll at www.photocomment.net asking what type of camera you use most and it took some time for cell phones to feature the 5% share they currently hold. That being said we would like to see your favourite cell phone pictures and stories. Send them to [email protected]

- More porfolios to inspire

- You could be featured next month submit comments, images or portfolio to [email protected]

Readers Portfolio

This is your chance to get your images published.

For each issue we (the editors assisted by a panel of

industry leading photographers) will choose a

reader's portfolio that inspires and celebrates the art

and craft of photography best for that month.

You stand a chance to win a prize from SONY, one

of our advertisers, should your portfolio be

published. Include a self-portrait accompanied with a

brief introduction of yourself, your style and your

philosophy.

Send us no more than 10 of your best images with

your contact details to [email protected]

enter “Readers Portfolio” as the subject. Make sure

the images are in JPEG format and no larger than

640x480 (or closest too), we will contact you for

larger files if needed. Needless to say that the

standard will be high and uncompromising so please

put your best foot forward.

1 x Laptop Sleeve

1 x SONY ALPHA Lens Book

1 x Memory Card Pouch

1 x Rain umbrella

All branded SONY ALPHA

Keith G

roenew