July 2021

Well, sort of a trade fair. As good as it's going to get in the current locked-down state of the world. You trade a gold coin to charity and the photographic people trade in their Sunday ( plus all the rest of the week to get things restocked and accounted for ...

The answer depends on whether they have been in the business, trade, sport, or profession of photography. If they have, and have ceased before they have deceased, then yes, they have retired. But I am hard pressed to think of any trade people who have done so. No names, and none of us are fit enough for pack drill, but cast about at the next ex-trade affair and see for yourself. Old photographers are never really retired. No need to get romantic about the smell of D-76 in the morning or artistic inspiration. Most people who have squeezed the rent and food out of a camera did because they knew how to do it and found there was a market for what they were prepared to do. That applies to a lot of professions. The fact that they got enough food to get to retirement age says they were a success. But there is something about doing photography that we do not let go. The fact that it carves a place in posterity ( at least until the hard drive fails )...

In this case, of your success in photography. Many people, it would appear, and sometimes even  those who we do not license to the task: a. The judges. They may be the contest judges of your local camera club, the state agricultural show, or the most prestigious photographic society in the country. In most cases they will have some expertise in the business of photography, and likely some experience in the sorting and comparing that a contest requires. You won't pay them, but someone will...

It's time for the big PhotoLive Expo event! Are you ready?  What You Can Expect When Attending PhotoLive This Year   On Sunday, 1st August, the Camera Electronic team and the representatives from the imaging industry will join forces to put Western Australia on the map again with the largest expo in Australia for 2021! Adding to the excitement will be selecting the finest speakers and talented artists who will share their knowledge on their chosen craft. It's all happening from 9am - 5pm at Edith Cowan University Mt Lawley (Building 3).   PhotoLive Expo   If you have never been to a Photo Live Expo before, you're in for a treat. For the gear enthusiasts out there, you'll be able to attend the expo area from 9am to 5pm. It's here that you'll get to engage with industry representatives to ask them your burning questions about cameras, lenses, filters, tripods, bags, cases, and lighting equipment (plus much more). What's more, the best thing about the expo is the show specials you won't find anywhere else! So if you are coming along to try out some gear, know...

Specifically, a shot with a camera. We'll leave the firing range instructors out of this one. Can you learn photography by attending a lecture on the subject? Is your time sitting in the audience likely to result in your images and fortunes improving? Like most things in life, the answers are yes, no, and maybe. People who attend photography schools - full time institutions designed to provide trade training for the various photographic industries - do have to be good at listening to their lecturers. They have to read, study, listen, reflect, and experiment. By and large they do and the results of their student efforts are often very good indeed. They have a vested interest in learning and doing. Further away from the institutions, the clubs and societies also provide lectures and talks that present specialised subjects to the enthusiasts. The fact that the attendees are keen makes the job of the lecturer hard but rewarding. They need to present a show that is worthwhile seeing and listening to. Volunteer audiences may start polite but are not bound to continue so by...

When I was in Grade 1, I made a great many works of art. My mother curated and displayed them on the refrigerator door. Few have survived the 68-year gap since then, though I am pleased to be able to say that I can now say my entire ABC's and count past 30. The art was fun but it only paid in graham crackers and little bottles of warm milk. I note from the family keepsakes that a few works of visual art have indeed been paid down from high school art classes. This is not because they were good - but because they were deliberate. They may not have made sense, but I worked hard to make them as bad as they were. Thus also with photography. The film era was rife with error - from light leaks to film advance errors. From misjudged exposures to bungled processing. I can review my fingerprints from 1967 as I have evidence of them in silver patterns on old negatives. Modern shooters who make bad decisions can see them documented in EXIF files and...

Nikon recently announced not one but two new MC lenses - the Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8 and the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8. All Nikon Z mount shooters enjoying a Nikon Z5, Nikon Z6 II or the stellar Nikon Z7 II should take note. The new Nikkor Z MC lenses are here to take your macro photography to the next level.  In recent years, macro photography has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. It is no longer considered a problematic photography genre to master - one that requires expensive specialist gear. It is now more affordable and more accessible than it has even been. If you’re already shooting with the Nikon Z5, Z6 II or the flagship mirrorless Nikon Z7 II, these lenses open up a whole range of new challenges.      The Nikkor Z MC lens duo release provides the option to suit your shooting style, budget, and kit size. If you want a more compact and cost-effective macro kit, the Nikon Z5 mirrorless digital camera and Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8 are your go-to solution. However, enthusiasts shooting with the Nikon...