July 2016

They really are.I don't think we need to have any more staff serving at the counter now that we have the new Manfrotto tripod boxes. The questions that the customers ask and the response that we give are all printed on the outside of the packaging. If they attach some reference to the weather and a dirty joke we can all stay home...

Who gets the largest slice of the retail photographic pie? The retail shop? The wholesale agency? The manufacturer? I've asked and no-one will tell me...

As a person who does not swim, either regularly or well, and who has never taken a camera underwater at any time. I feel I am perfectly qualified to review the products from Nauticam.They were shown at the recent photo Live Expo 2016, though not in their native element. To be fair, it would have been a bit much to expect the Novotel Langley Hotel to provide a 20 metre tank in their functions room, and even taking the cameras to the restrooms and plunging them into toilets would probably not go down well with the cleaning staff.So in the end, they were displayed out on dry tables, with a variety of housings, lights, and accessories. The visual effect was stunning.Now photographers are nearly all gadgeteers, and you don't get much gadget-ier than underwater photography. You need to insure that the camera and flash are sealed away from the water perfectly. You need to make sure that electricity can flow undisturbed. You need to keep the camera below the surface of the waves with enough weight to let it be...

A good question. And one that the people who go to trade shows might well ask themselves before they go. Keep in mind that there are any number of events of this nature in Perth, and the punters can afford to be selective.The Photo Live Expo 2016 just concluded gave people the following:A. Enthusiastic and expert speakers upon a range of topics - and the format of the thing meant that the people who spoke on a subject could concentrate on it with the attention of an intelligent audience to help them. There is a vast difference between this and generalised presentation that never really hits the spot.B. Industry reps who actually know their stuff. I know they know their stuff, because I know those reps. They are obviously speaking to their own topic, and their focus is getting you to give up your money, but when it comes right down to it, you WANT to give up your money so there is no sin there. The industry experts can make sure that when you transfer your dollars, you get...

I hope that all the people who visited us yesterday down at the Novotel Langley hotel got home safely and slept soundly - I know I did. It's because I had a happy day.Tasked with minding the table with the old books o n it, I still had time, thanks to assistance, to tour the rest of the trade room exhibition. What I found were very friendly industry representatives and a pretty good selection of current equipment and materials on offer - and there were  a few surprises for me as well. I'll detail them later in the week.But was I'd like to say for Monday morning is how well-behaved the crowd of visitors was on Sunday. Not that we expected a soccer riot or anything...

Today's the day of the Photo Live Expo 2016 at the Novotel Hotel on Adelaide Terrace.The doors open at 10:00 and there's still space in some of the Photo Talks so you get to find out all about new stuff.There's trade tables and industry reps and enthusiastic salespeople and new gear and bargains...

The good thing about trade tables at the Photo Live 2016 Expo is that we get to trade - you trade your time and money for our time and expertise. It is a mutual benefit.The staff of Camera Electronic man and woman the tables with their own knowledge of the equipment on show, and can help you to find the special parts of the cameras, lenses, and accessories that you want to see. We know the equipment. But what is more important - you know you.Each visitor to a trade exhibition carries with them their own needs. Admit it or not, every photographer has some sort of primary interest and a wide-ranging event like Photo Live 2016 is an ideal place to indulge that interest. There will be equipment form a vast range of manufacturers on display, and visitors can be sure of finding something in their own division to play with.I use the term play deliberately. You can look at the internet all you want, (and you can read this weblog column every working day, bless you...

If you know what The Endless Summer is,  you are qualified to attend the Photo Talk by Russell Ord on Surf, Beach & Lifestyle Photography. It'll be held at 2:00 a the Novotel Perth Langley hotel as part of the Photo Live Expo 2016. Surfers are tough people and surfing shots are tough to get right - we all try them but you need experience and planning to succeed. Come hear how Russell has done just that for the last 15 years with this fascinating subject.Western Australians have a particularly good resource for this sort of photography...