Asian Photography November 2014

Asian

& IMAGING

Organised by Co - Sponsor

AWARDS20 15

EDITORIAL

w w w. a s i a n p h o t o g r a p h y i n d i a . c o m

There is something that I wanted to address to the industry manufacturers. In fact, I would not even like to address this but express my disappointment on how the information and the products handed out to the press has been dealt with. Naturally, I am not hinting at, or singling out particular manufacturers,

when I say this. But in recent years I have noticed such a slump when it comes to these aspects.For instance, this is the second year in a row when the shootouts in our magazine, which are directly linked

to the Asian Photography Awards 2015, have been pushed back due to the challenges we face procuring products from manufacturers. It is really unfortunate and disappointing to be in such a position, since we give everyone at least more than month of advance notice. Also, this never used to be an issue until few years ago, which makes me wonder what has changed. If an industry magazine and media has to go through so much pain to avail the products, then I wonder what challenges customers face on this issue.

Coming to our issue this month, it is wedding time, folks! Every year for the wedding special I wonder, what new content, will we be able to feature this month? But we always end up getting surprised with the opportunities in terms of content that is out there. I will not spill out the beans on what content we have featured this month.

If you are a photographer who wants to enter this market, then you are in for a great surprise. Also, if you are a consumer who has always thought of having a great wedding, then there’s something in it for you as well.

So Until Next Time….Happy Reading!!!

EDITOR / PUBLISHER Trilok Desai

GROUP HEADBhavya Desai

NEW DELHI BUREAUAmitabh Joshi

SENIOR CORRESPONDENTSFred Shippie

Lester Ledesma

DIRECTOR MARKETINGAruna Desai

DESIGNGoraksh Kokate

Rajendra Gaikwad

SENIOR PHOTOJOURNALISTSteve D’Souza

EDITORIAL TEAMAbhishek Desai

YashnashreeNeha Aggarwal

Ushma DhamdhereShikha Swaroop

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Lopamudra Ganguly (Delhi)

MANAGER ADVERTISINGLaila Rupawalla

DY. MANAGER ADVERTISINGKora Ganguly

MARKETING EXECUTIVERagini Desai

Mamata BhideIndu Lekha

Hashim KhatriNikhil Kalyanpad

COPY DESKSameer Gadkari

PRODUCTION MANAGERManoj Surve

MUMBAI OFFICE:509 & 511, Dilkap Chambers, Fun Republic Street, Off Veera Desai Road,Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053.Tel: 91-22-40401919Fax: 91-22-40401927E-mail: [email protected]

www.asianphotographyindia.com

NOVEMBER 2014 ` 100 US$9

JOIN US ON

Vol. 26 - No.11

Shooting Weddings inLow lightGo Crazy with Destination Weddings

Innovative Wedding Photography IdeasLighting gear for Wedding Photographers

Post Production Workfl ow Trends in Deliverables Shooting yourFirst Wedding

The Wedding Artist- Joy MarieThe Quirky Wedding Master- Anup J Kat

DEVELOPING YOUR OWN WEDDING

STYLE

WeddingSpecial

Cover Image: Joy MarieCover Design: Goraksh Kokate

follow us on Twitter@Asian_Photo @Bhavya _Desai

Published by TRILOK DESAI on behalf of Special Audience Publications Pvt. Ltd., 509 & 511, Dilkap Chambers, Fun Republic Street, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053. INDIA Printed by TRILOK DESAI on behalf of Special Audience Publications Pvt. Ltd., 509 & 511, Dilkap Chambers, Fun Republic Street, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053. INDIA Printed at Indigo Press India Pvt Ltd, Plot No 1 C/716, Off Dadoji Konddeo Cross Road, Between Sussex & Retiwala Industrial Estate, Byculla, Mumbai, Published at 509 & 511, Dilkap Chambers, Fun Republic Street, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053. INDIA Editor - TRILOK DESAI.All material covered by copyright; No part of the contents of this journal may be published or reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. The views and opinons expressed by the authors do not necessarily refl ect those of the publisher or the editorial staff.Special Audience Publications Pvt. Ltd. and ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING is not responsible and liable for any comments and articles published by its contributors and will not be liable for any damages. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai, India.

DELHI OFFICE:F-22, Green Park, New Delhi - 16.Tel: 91-011-26863028/26532568Fax: 91-(011)-26532568E-mail: [email protected]

SINGAPORE OFFICE:SAP Media Singapore Pte. Ltd.E-mail: [email protected]: 0065-90625120

Where have all the products gone?

November 2014 5

NOVEMBER 2014

News

Shoot My City• North East India

Pro-Profi le• Anup J Kat

Special Feature• Developing Your Own Style

Pro-Profi le• Joy Marie

• Ricoh announces WG-30W

and WG-30 rugged compacts

• EPSON launches the SureLab D700 Photo Printer

• HTC announces RE

• Tamron produces fi ve millionth high-power zoom lens

17 Ask Your Expert


Tips and Techs

TIPS & TECHS

November 2014 7372 November 2014 www.asianphotographyindia.com

- Whether opting for one or shooting one, we have it all for you

destination Weddings

Go crazy withTIPS & TECHSTIPS & TECHS

Destination weddings have become increasingly popular with couples in recent times. This ‘eloping with a crowd’ sort of a scenario appeals to those that want to run away and get

married, but at the same time, want to share their experience with family and friends. So it is more like getting out of your comfort zone and traveling to a new destination to unite with the person you love.

As a photographer I have shot a lot of destination weddings and their frequency have certainly increased in the past few years. So in this article I have shared my experiences not only as a photographer, but also someone who knows a lot about the industry.

So let us start with why couples are opting for such weddings? I have put together some of the top reasons for couples to opt for such scenarios rather than have a traditional wedding at home. In fact these points will also show you how affordable, convenient, stress-free and easy to plan a destination wedding can be.

If it fi ts the budget Everything starts with it and nothing is more important than the word ‘budget’. First thing you need to understand is that if planned correctly, destination weddings can be far less expensive than a traditional wedding at home, so before you start heading in this direction, make sure you have done your math correctly.

Planning is easierAnother common myth is the planning. More often than not

couples feel that organising a destination wedding will be a headache. But in reality if done properly than this can be an easy and stress-free process since the stress of planning your wedding falls to your destination vows specialist and your resort wedding co-ordinator.


Tips & Techs

Light it up -wedding styLe

AvAilAble lightAvailable light or ambient light refers to sources of light that are naturally available, for example – the sun, moon. It can even be artificial light which is already being used, for example- fluorescent lights in a room, halogen lights in a cricket stadium. In photography terms, it is any light source which is not specifically supplied by the photographer for the sole purpose of taking photos.

NAturAl light sourcesThis sort of a light source is the most commonly used by most beginner and amateur photographers. The Sun, is the primary natural source of light which is used to create maximum photographs. It is a known fact that the sunlight during dusk and dawn produces flattering light, owing to its directional nature. But it is not always possible to shoot at such specific timings in a day during a wedding. Hence, many a times we often end up shooting in bright harsh conditions which creates a flat image. Here are a few tips that will allow you to shoot during the day –

• Shooting in manual mode will allow you to properly expose skin tones in a harsh sunlight.

• Shooting in the shade will help an even soft light fall on the subject.

• Putting the subjects back facing the sun in such a way that their faces are completely shaded and you get a rim light of blown out highlights around them.

Photographers often fuss about the type of camera and lenses and probably some accessories in their kit. Lighting, without a doubt is a key factor for every photographer, which is why choosing the right lighting gear is imperative for photographers of various genres. For wedding photographers, the most basic system revolves around Flashguns. However, in recent times, quite a few wedding photographers are using unconventional means and methods of successfully lighting a frame, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor environment.

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TIPS & TECHS

Shooting your first Wedding

After having shot over two-hundred couples, I can say that it was not an easy journey, but certainly an adventurous one. However, all of this did not

happen overnight. I too had my first wedding to shoot, and I was probably just as confused as you might be. I will share with you the story of how I planned, storyboarded and shot the first wedding I ever did, so that you can gain some perspective of how you can go about yours.

HOW IT BEGANToday, I hardly storyboard anymore unless it is a unique wedding. However, four years ago at the first wedding I was ever invited to capture, this was necessary. Anshum, the groom, found me through one photo on Flickr and requested me to shoot his big day. Though the actual wedding was only for 6-8hrs in a barn outside Pune, I insisted on being there for the rehearsals and preps the day before. But before that, the journey to this point is what makes my first wedding interesting.

IGNITING THE PASSIONI had wanted to be a wedding photographer from the day I started to look for photographers for my sister’s wedding in 2008. Back then, I had no clue what this wonderful world of “fine art” or “candid” wedding photography had to offer. It was only when I chanced upon the work of Jerry Ghionis, Jeff Ascough, and more through Google searches did I realise the potential of the DSLR in my hands. What started as a simple search for a vendor for my sister quickly became an obsession that led to me

buying gear, and understanding and learning a whole lot of new techniques - shooting with prime lenses, using off camera flash and much more. But all this came to nought when I saw that mail from Anshum.

PRE-PREPARATIONIt is one thing obsessing about shooting a wedding and

another to actually pick up your camera and commit to capturing someone’s biggest day of their life. I realised how someone trusted me with their wedding day to not just capture some beautiful images, but also do justice to all the tiny and big moments during those few hours. My fear was not whether I’d get the kind of photos I had seen always but whether I would be able to be on time and shoot all of those moments in the best way possible. And I was worried if I could just step into a stranger’s wedding and become friendly with everyone and become invisible to them while capturing those moments. In simple terms: I freaked out. And so I sent one long email to the groom explaining how

he was taking a risk hiring me for the first time and if he was comfortable doing so, and would he be okay if I missed out on some big moments. I even recommended he hire someone else to do all the traditional shots, someone who is more conventional in approach but definitely more experienced. When he mailed back saying he would do so and that he knows exactly what to expect from this being my first gig, I knew I was about to have a whale of a time working with this couple!

Here I shall conclude my story, and note down what I learned from the experience of shooting my first wedding.


92

96

Photoscape

52 Go crazy with destination weddings

58 Shooting weddings in low light

64 Innovative Wedding Photography ideas

70 Light it up - wedding style

76 Shooting your fi rst wedding

81 Post Production Workfl owNovember 2014 71

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TIPS & TECHSTIPS & TECHS

Shooting weddings in low light

Have you just been hired to shoot your first wedding? Are you scared because the wedding

is inside and the lighting is terrible? This month, in our wedding issue, we continue our exploration of wedding photography with a look at the challenges faced by shooting ceremonies in low light. Read on further to see the list of tips that we have formulated that every wedding photographer should consider while taking pictures in low light.

Flash On-camera flash will get you the photos but it will also kill the ambience and make your pictures seem flat. Quite often wedding photographers are asked not to use a flash during the actual wedding ceremony as it can be distracting. If you require the use of flash, you may use it by bouncing the light off a wall or ceiling as it gives a softer light. Use Wide Aperture Lenses Prime lenses offer the widest apertures, the greatest depth-of-field and gives the P

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Photo: Vivek Sequeira

best bokeh effect. While an f/2.8 lens is great, being able to reduce the f/stop to f/1.8 or even f/1.4 will give you a much

better chance in poorly lit situations. The flip side of using the prime lens is that since it is a fixed lens, you will have to move

Pentax QS-1

Camera Review

Photomontage

8 November 2014 www.asianphotographyindia.com

Dear Sir,I am a high school student, and took up photography as my hobby. Will you please have a look at my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/itsallaboutphtography), and give a little feedback. I use a point and shoot camera.Thanking you,Akik RahamanBurdwan,West Bengal

Dear Akik,I have seen your FB page briefl y and also looked at some of the pictures that you have uploaded there. I think you need to work on your composition immensely. When I was looking at your pictures I couldn’t help but think that the subjects that you have shot could’ve been composed much better.

Also it is not always wise to get extremely close to every subject. In case you would like to do that, then you might want to learn some techniques like Depth of Field, to provide more impact to your pictures. Lot of the pictures that I saw about insects in your album seemed to be gory, impactful. But don’t be disheartened and take this as a learning curve.

I have been following Asian Photography magazine for quite some time now and it doesn’t fail to inspire me to shoot. I am a student of Symbiosis School of Photography, Pune. I go through a lot of photography magazines that are out there in the market, but Asian Photography has always been close to my heart, something I can get my inspiration from and something which I can connect to.I would like to submit my pictures for this esteemed magazine.A feedback about the same would really help me work more and create art.I have sent an email about the same with my pictures attached.Regards,Nachiket Kulkarni, Pune

Dear Nachiket,Thanks for the good words regarding the magazine and also the fact that the team works so hard to inspire all its readers is good to hear. I have seen some of the pictures that you have sent and they seem good overall, but somewhat disappointing as well. For instance, you have shot some pictures of Banaras, if I am not mistaken. For a place like that, pictures like these just do not do any justice at all.

The other pictures that you have shared seem good

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and do show me that you have a knack for shooting. But like much of the people out there, it seems to me that you are doing a lot of post-processing on your images. But I don’t blame you for it, as most of the photographic schools these days push this so much, that students forget to click pictures and think more about what they will do in post-processing. So I suggest that you also focus of shooting and on the basics.

Dear Sir,I am an avid reader of the magazine for a couple of years now. I have been reading the magazine since that time but never really sent a letter yet, so this is my fi rst time. I saw the October 2014 issue of the magazine and I found the Photo Printer Shootout very interesting. I had a question about it. I saw the sample images and the images produced by Epson and Canon and there were clear differences in the same. Is this done deliberately to show the difference? Also, how much time does it take for AP to do such tests in details?

I also loved the Round-Up article on Photokina 2014. It actually gave me a deep insight and actual pictures of what technology was featured there. Since I follow your FB page and the website as well, it gave me great information on the show. I will surely visit it next time.Regards,Ashish Rao, Mumbai

Dear Ashish,Thanks a lot for your email and it’s good to know that you like the magazine. Actually in my time with the magazine I have never come across a letter that enquires anything about the printer shootout. Yes, we do have letters asking about the shootouts, but they are usually more for the cameras and lenses. But there is always a fi rst time, and I am happy that you asked this.

To answer your fi rst question regarding the images being tweaked, the answer is NO. The images that we print in the magazine are ‘as is’ printed out by the printers from the samples that we get. In fact these are also stored for a year with us in case any of the manufacturers request to see the same since the time of the shootout.

Since this involves using benchmarking tests there is no way to tweak the images even in post-processing. An average time that we take to review a printer in a shootout is about a week. Also once the shootout is started it is not stopped since it needs continuous printing of all the different sizes and media.

It’s good that you liked the article on Photokina as well. You must visit it in future.

January 2011 asian PhotograPhy and imaging[6]

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Dear Editor,

I want to convey my thanks and regards to you for reviewing my photos in the link that I provided. I express my gratitude for providing me with your most valuable feedback and reviews on my photos. I promise that I will practice more on shooting techniques and try to improve my compositions. Following your advice I have already started to experiment on different subjects and I am getting better results.

However, I want to improve my compositional skills and give my pictures a more professional touch. I am currently using a Nikon Coolpix L110 camera and looking forward to buy a DSLR after I pass Class 12. It would be very kind of you to provide me, as well as the readers, tips on composition. Hope you take up the subject.

Regards,,Sabyasachi TalukdarNagaon, Assam

Dear Sabya,

It is good to know that our feedback has helped you in improving your photography skills and that you would like to learn more and more from the magazine. I will discuss this in our upcoming edit meet and we will ensure that we do something comprehensive on the Composition side so that the readers can benefit from it.

Dear Editor,

I have been reading your magazine for a while now and must comment that your team and you have been doing a great job. I have seen the simple and subtle changes that you have brought to the content and the fine balance that the magazine has been achieving lately.

I also like the reader columns like My Story, Ask Your Expert and Shoot My City. I am happy that you are looking at sections in the magazine that make them more reader interactive and I think that is the way forward for any magazine. From the December issue I loved the interview of Dabboo Ratnani. The DSLR shootout also provided a lot of valuable feedback on the cameras and their performances. Wish the AP team renewed success and great year ahead.

Regards,Vishal ShahAhemdabad,Gujarat.

Dear Vishal,

We are always happy to know that the readers are appreciating our work since it takes a lot of effort to put all the things together. Apart from the same I also have a great team that works really hard to ensure that we keep that fine balance in our content going.

In the months to come you will see some more initiatives that are reader driven so that we can engage more of the readers and also interact with them on a regular basis.


Canon U.S.A. announced the Canon EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera, the latest addition to the

Canon Cinema EOS line of professional Super 35mm 8.3 megapixel CMOS cameras and the second-generation version of the popular Canon EOS C100 Digital Video Camera.

Designed for economical film and video productions such as documentary and remote broadcast crews, wedding and event coverage, indie film productions, as well as film schools and business and government users, the new EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera, features advanced image processing, AVCHD and MP4 1920x1080/60p recording, uncompressed YCbCr output from HDMI, and many other new and enhanced capabilities for improved picture quality, operability, and convenient handling. Delivering a cinematic look with shallow depth of field and high

sensitivity in low-light environments, the new EOS C100 Mark II camera weighs just 2.5 lbs. and is compatible with over 103 Canon EF Series lenses, including STM models which can deliver smooth and silent autofocus during filmmaking.

“Canon’s commitment to the advancement of tools for visual expression takes another major step forward with the introduction of the EOS C100 Mark II Digital

Video Camera,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO of Canon U.S.A. “Drawing on input from Canon’s global community of Cinema EOS camera users and from digital filmmakers using Canon EF lenses – 100 million of which have now been produced worldwide – the Company has added new capabilities to the EOS C100 Mark II from its predecessor that powerfully leverage our considerable expertise in optics, imaging, and digital signal processing. The result is an improved, affordable Super 35mm CMOS digital camera that is designed to provide outstanding HD image quality, operational performance, ergonomics, and workflow convenience.”

The Canon EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera is scheduled to be available at the end of December 2014 for an estimated retail price of $5,499.

news

Canon announces the second-generation eos C100 mark ii digital video camera

ricoh announces WG-30W and WG-30 rugged compacts

Richoh announces its latest digital compact cameras for underwater photography, including a Wi-Fi-

compatible model with smartphone-support functions, the RICOH WG-30 and WG-30W. Boasting an array of advanced features these compact, lightweight cameras with waterproof bodies are able to hold their own in the field, ensuring you are free to capture every moment through high-quality images and Full HD movies.

Both the RICOH WG-30 and WG-30W deliver boast of technical specifications like being waterproof to a depth of 12 metres, shockproof against falls from 1.5 metres, and freeze-proof to temperatures as low as 10°C. The RICOH WG-30W, available from December, also comes equipped with a host of Wi-Fi functions where users can release the camera’s shutter and set various shooting functions from a distance, browse and

download recorded images and movies, and even share them with friends by uploading them to social networks and other websites via their smartphone.

Both the cameras are equipped with CMOS image sensor and a newly designed imaging engine allows for nightscapes and indoor sports events using a top sensitivity of ISO 6400. The triple anti-shake protection also prevents blurred images, while six macro lights assist close-up shooting, with a Self-Portrait Assist mode.

With a resolution of approximately 16.0 effective megapixels and Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) movie recording capability; the new WG-series models also include a range of WG-series mount accessories for a variety of camera setups, two remote control receptors (both front and back) to widen signal coverage, macro stand (included) to maintain a minimum focusing distance of one centimeter to the subject

during extended observation and shooting, High-speed Face Detection function to capture as many as 32 faces in focus in approximately 0.03 seconds (minimum); Smile Capture function to automatically release the shutter when the subject’s smile is detected, Outdoor-friendly Style Watch function displaying the time on the LCD monitor, Auto Picture mode to automatically select the most appropriate shooting mode from 16 different scene modes and a choice of 12 digital filters.

It is said to be available in the US market by the end of November 2014 followed by the worldwide release.

November 2014 14

news

EPSON launches the SureLab

D700 Photo Printer

Ricoh Imaging expands PENTAX K-mount lens line-up with a versatile DA 16-85mm Epson India, recently announced

the launch of its new SureLab D700 photo printer, a mini

desktop version of its SureLab D3000. The SureLab D700 is Epson’s first six-colour compact photo production printer with inkjet technology, offering a wide range of media and format options. Combining colour output with reliability and cost-efficiency, Epson said is ideally suited for small and medium sized commercial photo labs in India.

According to Epson, its Micro Piezo print head technology used within the Epson SureLab D700 guarantees crisp and vivid image quality. The printed images are sharp and defined thanks to its high 1440dpi x 720dpi (max) resolution, variable sized ink droplets and precise droplet placement. The Epson SL-D700 has been manufactured to easily provide print durable colour and black and white images on gloss, lustre and matte media and can produce prints sized from 102mm x 152mm to 205mm x 305mm. It is capable of producing up to 360 6” x 4” production quality photos per hour. Users are able to print directly from common photo applications and also available as an optional Epson proprietary OrderController V3.0 software at additional cost, that has integrated job estimation, scheduling, image editing and colour control to manage print jobs.

Epsons SureLab D700 will be offered in a package as part of

Epson’s Pro Lab Imaging solutions. The first of the Epson Pro Lab Imaging Solutions packages is meant for Commercial Photographers who can invest `5.0 Lakhs. The Epson Micro Photo Lab Solution will offer a business opportunity for the smallest of lab owners and people looking to start off in the business. Epson India’s first Micro Photo Lab was inaugurated in the month of September at Mumbai by Worldwide President of Seiko Epson Corporation Mr. Minoru Usui

The products in the package are the mini Digital Dry-Photo Lab - Epson SureLab SL-D700 and the A2 Size Professional Printer Pro 4900. Along with these two great printers the package also includes free media and inks to print 12000 4R Prints + 2 Years warranty on both the printers. All of these come with an initial investment of just `5 Lakhs and with the support of in-shop branding elements as well. This package is ideal for providing print services like Coffee Table Books, Greeting Cards, Wedding Albums, Photo Diaries, A3/A2 Color Photo enlargement/Portraits, Instant Photo Prints from 10x12 cms (4R) upto 20x99 cms (8x39”) and many more across a variety of media like Photo Glossy/Matte/Luster papers.

Announcing the launch, Mr. Samba Moorthy, Vice President-Sales & Marketing, Epson India, said, “We have been industry leaders in the photo printer segment offering our customers a diverse range of product offerings. Our SL-D700 is the latest addition to our photo printer portfolio. It is an incredible solution for small photo lab owners wanting to scale up their business and profits. We believe Epson will be changing the commercial photo printing landscape in India yet again with this fantastic product.”

The HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mmF3.5-5.6ED DC WR offers 5.3x zoom from ultra-wide-angle to middle telephoto. Ricoh announced the launch

of the HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mmF3.5-5.6ED DC WR. Designed for use with PENTAX K-mount digital SLR cameras, this interchangeable zoom lens is the newest addition to the K-mount series and will provide photographers with a new, high-quality solution across a wide variety of shooting conditions.

Developed in response to requests from photographers, this new versatile lens provides a high zoom ratio of approximately 5.3 times to cover focal lengths from 16mm ultra-wide-angle to 85mm mid-telephoto for lengths equivalent to 24.5mm to 130mm in the 35mm format. This makes it an ideal lens suitable for anything from wide-angle landscapes to portrait photography. “With the introduction of the new PENTAX DA 16-85mm lens, we are bringing to market a very versatile lens”, said Jim Malcolm, President of Ricoh Imaging North America.” The16-85mm enhances our already extensive line of proven zoom and prime optics.”

This new lens features the PENTAX-exclusive HD coating which delivers sharp, clear images reducing the occurrence of flare and ghosting, even under challenging lighting conditions such as backlight. Its weather-resistant construction with 11 seals makes it remarkably dependable, preventing water from getting into the lens interior. This durable design allows photographers to remain confident in its abilities under demanding outdoor conditions including rain and snow. The lens consists of 16 optical elements in 12 groups and features an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optical element to effectively compensate for chromatic aberrations, and aspherical optical elements to minimise colour bleeding.

With smooth, quiet autofocus operation driven by a built-in DC motor, you’re sure to enjoy serene shooting. The HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mmF3.5-5.6ED DC WR lens will be available at retailers nationwide and at www.ricohimaging.com in November 2014 for a suggested retail price of $749.95.


news

HTC announces REHTC, embarked upon a new era

and exciting new direction for the business, with the introduction

of RE. The RE applies HTC’s touch and stunning design philosophy to break into a completely new product category. “HTC has been setting the standard for smartphones for years - today we’re focused on redefining the concept of imaging forever,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC. “As a company we don’t stand still and our devotion to innovation has seen us take smart photography in a completely new direction for our business and our customers. Once people get a RE in their hands, they won’t want to put it down. This is everybody’s opportunity to get out from behind the lens and start living in the moment again.”

With a minimalist cylindrical design,

RE is made to be held in the palm of your hand. The RE’s built-in grip sensor instantly activates the camera as it’s picked up, eliminating the need for a power button. Its large, tactile shutter button captures photos with a single tap and videos with a longer press. The RE is equipped with a high-resolution 16MP CMOS sensor, Full HD (1080p) video recording and a 146-degree wide-angle lens.

RE also features slow-motion and time-lapse recording options and can shoot underwater. The RE interacts with your smartphone through the RE application, which syncs photos, videos and time-lapse recordings seamlessly over Wi-Fi at the touch of a button. It is available on Android and iOS and the RE app backs up photos and videos to your phone or the cloud.

It allows the user to control the

whole device remotely through the app and use the smartphone into a remote viewfinder. RE will soon offer real-time video streaming to YouTube, allowing users to live in the moment and share it live via your YouTube channel.

RE will be available in the US from late October, with other markets following later.

Tamron has announced the release of 28-300mm

F/3.5-6.3 Di PZD (Model A010), a new all-in-one zoom lens for full-frame DSLR cameras available starting October 30, 2014 for Sony mount.

The Sony mount will be first launched in the Japanese market, with overseas launch to follow at a later date. The Canon and Nikon mount models are previously available.

The optical construction of this lens includes four elements of LD (Low Dispersion) glass, three Molded-Glass Aspherical elements, one Hybrid Aspherical element, one XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass element, and one element of UXR (Ultra-Extra Refractive Index) glass, which has greater refractive index than XR.

Tamron announced that it had produced a total of 5 million high-power zoom lenses for interchangeable-lens cameras as of September 30, 2014.

Over 22 years since Tamron released the AF28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 Aspherical (Model 71D) in 1992, the company has continued to develop innovative high-power zoom lenses as a “pioneer of high-power zoom lenses” such as further expanding the focal range, realizing astounding lightweight and compact structure, supporting digital SLR cameras, incorporating VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanisms, and implementing the PZD (Piezo Drive) ultrasonic motor.

Tamron has announced that it has produced a total of 5 million Tamron high-power zoom lenses as a result of the development of high-power zoom lenses spanning the past 22 years.

At present, Tamron has a wide lineup of high-power zoom lenses supporting various camera formats. In particular, during 2014, the company has released the 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO (Model B016) for APS-C sized digital SLR cameras with a world-first 2 18.8x zoom, the 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD (Model A010) supporting full-frame digital SLR cameras, and the 14-150mm F/3.5-5.8 Di III (Model C001) for Micro Four Thirds mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras.

Tamron produces five millionth high-power zoom lens

Tamron announces the launch of 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di PZD (Model A010) for Sony mount

I have been reading your magazine for a while now. I have a question on whether I should go for second hand Nikon D800 or a new D7100?Omkar KulkarniPune

Dear Omkar,There are lots of customers who buy second-hand

cameras from the market and it is perfectly safe. It is like buying a second-hand car. Much like a car, it is very important to examine the goods properly. So these are points that you should keep in mind in case you are buying a second-hand camera.

1. Make sure the person you are buying the camera from is trustworthy

2. Examine the body, lens and the mechanisms properly3. Play around with the camera to see if it works fine,

especially the smaller features.4. Ensure that the goods are clean and with all the

paperwork. Not that this makes a big difference, but it is always good to keep everything in line and proper

5. Check the internal battery, memory and USB slots carefully since over time these tend to rust sometimesThese are the basic things that you should keep in

mind while looking into the cameras.

I have been using D3200, and recently I have started using Nikkor 70-300 with VR. When I shoot with a focal length of 300mm and distance of object above 40ft the sharpness of image is not quite satisfactory, even after cropping. Suggest me how to improve this.Sudip GuinKolkata

Dear Sudip,There are varieties of factors due to which you

might be facing problems with the sharpness. This can be a combination of factors that include the lens, as well as in most cases, the technique. I am assuming that you are using a tripod when you are shooting at the maximum focal length of 300mm because if you are shooting it handheld then it would be near impossible to rule out blur.

Most telephoto lenses at maximum focal length lack full clarity and sharpness but the Nikkor 70-300mm being a lightweight lens has more of an issue in this respect. But that doesn’t mean that the lens isn’t great. Since many other lenses are much heavier, they plant themselves well, and by sheer weight eliminate any shake caused while shooting. Also, it’s not only you, it’s difficult for many people

Answered by Bhavya Desai

EditorAsian Photography

Send in your Questions [email protected]


to get sharp images at the longer focal lengths because one will need to use smaller apertures, which leads to longer shutter speeds and more potential for blur.

So I suggest that you stick to smaller apertures at 300mm, which will give you decent sharpness, softness and clarity around the images.

I am a regular reader of your magazine. I want to know how star trails are captured and how to process that image. I thought you would be right person to clarify that. Sobhan Pavan Tej

Dear Sobhan,That’s a very interesting question that you have asked, and also a question which can’t be explained in the limited space in this section. But in brief I can tell you a few things that are a must for shooting star trails. In terms of technique, shooting a star trail is not very diffi cult. But it is the preparation and the place that is very important to get good star trail pictures.

So it is very important to select a good place, preferably one with a solid grounding (which doesn’t move). Also make sure that it is a colder night since that will make the visibility of the stars much better. Further it is extremely important that it is a night which doesn’t have a moon since any moonlight will defl ect on the sky and stars.

Naturally you will need the right gear and one can’t do without is a tripod (the heavier the better) if they want to get such images. If you have a shutter/trigger release and an intervalometer, then that is also very helpful, but these aren’t very necessary. A torch is another important gear that you will need since it gets pitch dark in the night and you wont be able to see a thing.

THE QUESTION OF THE MONTH WINS CAMERA CLEANING KIT WORTH `600

November 2014 18

Questionof the Month

AP

The two P’s, which are ‘preparation’ and ‘patience’, are also very important to get good images. It’s wise to set up the shot during the day before you actually start shooting the images well post-sunset since you need to get the level of your camera right including the manual focus on the camera. Also ensure that image stabilisation is off on your camera once you mount it up on the tripod.

Use large aperture (F/4) to shoot star trails with a 30-sec exposure, which will give you decent results. The infi nity setting on the lens is also very important (it’s marked as a ‘∞’ on the lens at the far end of the focus).Take a few test shots and see the results and then you can tweak the settings to get the desired results. Preferably shoot at ISO 1600 and take it from there since that will also determine the quality of the results.

The post-processing bit can be taken up in the article. We will try and see if we can run a Tips & Tech on this topic in the next few months to give you a deeper understanding of this.

shoot my city

Often when we talk about travelling, we think about travelling abroad, but one should

start exploring their country too. There is so much to explore in India, many colourful states, people and traditions! I personally never had a chance to explore my own country, and then one fine morning, a friend who often goes on treks, gave me a call and randomly asked me “Do you want to come on a backpack tour with me?”. She told me that she is planning 20-day long tour with her two other trekking friends.

I was anxious about the 20 days, as I am not someone who treks, just a photographer. Stressing about various things like work leaves, at first I wanted to decline. But then I wondered, this is probably the only chance I will get to see so many cities. And this is how my adventurous tour to North East India began!

Our main goal was to make this tour a low budget, as well as adventurous. We booked train tickets to all our main destinations and pre-booked the hotel

stay at our first destination, Gangtok, and our last destination, Kolkata. Like most of our journeys, this one began with an early morning train ride from CST station by Geetanjali Express. After long 30-hour journey we finally reached Kolkata, from where we travelled to New Jalpaiguri by train. On reaching New Jalpaiguri, we booked a shared cab which took us to our first destination in our six state tour, Gangtok - the capital of Sikkim.

Transport in North East India is convenient as rented cars are easily available. The weather in Gangtok was fabulous. We stayed in a hotel on MG Road, which is the main market road of Gangtok. Despite of being on main market road, there were no signs of heavy traffic. Our next day at Gangtok was spent well, visiting Baba Mandir and Rumtek Monastery. Baba Mandir is a shrine in the honour of Major ‘Baba’ Harbhanjan Singh who died near the Nathula Pass in Sikkim. The Do-Drul Chorten Stupa and the Rumtek Monastery are few of the most sacred Buddhist monasteries.

Everyone suggested us to visit Darjeeling but we decided to drop that plan and instead of visiting this touristy place, we went to visit a small village called Tinchuley. I feel that was the best decision we made in this whole journey. The word Tinchuley means Three Ovens (Chullahs). With the help of WWF, the village has developed Village Home Stays. Reaching there was a task for us, as no one in Darjeeling or Gangtok knew much about this village. After a lot of struggle we finally met a milk van driver who knew the place and agreed to take us there. This was truly one of the most unique modes of transports that I have travelled in. We stayed in a very famous home stay called

November 2014 25

‘Gurung Guest House’. The experience here was truly amazing. Lovely location, clean, neat and massive guesthouses, loving and caring hospitality stole our hearts. We fell in love with the village, and I got to see clear sky covered with sparkling stars. No pollution, no neon signboards, just a beautiful starry night!

After Tinchuley, our next stop was Sandakfu. Sandakfu is the highest peak in West Bengal. A peak from where four of the five highest peaks in the world, Mt. Everest, Mt. Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu can be seen. To visit our third destination, we had to first reach its base point, which was Mane Bhanjang. Mane Bhanjang is on a borderline of India –

Nepal. There are two ways to reach Sandakfu, by trekking or by car. As trekking was not possible for us, we decided to rent a car from Mane Bhanjang. The rented car was 1950’s made Land Rover. After experiencing 4 hours of a rocky ride, we managed to reach Sandakfu. We stayed in a government guesthouse, and trust me, it was fabulous! I was really surprised to see the food quality and rooms cleanliness.

Till now we had experienced pleasant cold weather but Sandakfu had really chilled weather. Our phones stopped working, as our guesthouse was located near Indian military base. We were freezing even after wearing multiple layers of woollen clothes, and at the same time,

Sandakfu is the highest peak in West Bengal. A peak from where four of the five highest peaks in the world, Mt. Everest, Mt. Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu can be seen

November 2014 27

we could see military officers emptying icy-cold water on their body just to make themselves immune to that chilled weather. From Sandakfu we could easily see Kanchenjunga glacier. As the sun set on Kanchenjunga glacier, the Indian flag was taken down, with the tuba playing in the background; it definitely gave goose bumps, and a patriotic feeling!

After covering West Bengal area, our next destinations were Seven Sisters states. As we did not have much time, we decided to cover only four sisters. The first two sisters were Assam and Meghalaya. Our destinations were Guwahati and Shillong. Both places were a little disappointing. While we found Guwahati was nothing quite different from Mumbai, Shillong had us stuck in traffic for almost 7-8 hours. We wasted a whole day in Shillong sitting inside our car doing nothing. The moment we entered the city we were stuck in traffic. After having a not-so-pleasant experience, we decided not to stay there any further and started our journey for Imphal, Manipur. Having heard so much about Kaziranga National highway, we asked our driver to take that

route, and what a route it was! One side is fully covered with tea plantations, whereas the other side you get to see Brahmaputra river doing peek-a-boo. As Shillong to Imphal was a long drive, we decided to take a stop for a night at Dimapur, Nagaland.

Next day morning we started our journey to Imphal, Manipur. After reaching Imphal we couldn’t help but notice one thing, local police everywhere. There was male/female police standing almost at every short distance. Many local police officers told us not to roam around after evening seven. We also realised, that the sun rises two hours early here. This meant us hearing honking of cars and grinding sound of mixers at 6AM! Anyway, the highlight part of Imphal city was Ema Keithel (market). Ema means mother, and the name literally means mother’s market or women’s market. It is one of the largest markets run by women in the country. Over 3500 female vendors sell garments, vegetables, fresh fishes, fruits, pots, crockery etc.

Our fourth destination was Kohima, Nagaland. Another small town that

ensured we got proper rest before we move on to our return journey. I’d like to especially mentioned here, when you visit North East India, do not forget to try their masala and Wai Wai, freshwater fishes and delicious momos. All locals are loving and helpful, so just enjoy the fresh weather, beautiful sceneries and scrumptious food.

Our whole journey was planned in such a way that we reach back to Kolkata during Durga Pujo days. We managed to reach on Ashtami, the 8th day of Navratri. We quickly booked a room in a small hotel, locked our bags in the room and left for our Durga Pujo pandal visits. Walking on the streets late night was fun. Each and every person was decked up nicely. Decorations, themes of all Durga pandals were different and innovative! Unlimited roadside puchkas and rosogullas kept us awake the whole night!

As we sat on the Duranto Express from Kolkata, after 22 days of non-stop travel, memories full of lovely people and some of the best food, we were finally returning to Mumbai.

TExT AND IMAGES: APARNA PATADE

PRO-PROFILE

Renowned for her mesmerising images,

this artist turned photographer has

shot numerous weddings around

the world. She has also photographed

several celebrity and destination

weddings, and has truly mastered the art of fi ne wedding

photography, with an edge of fashion. Last

year, she became the fi rst photographer to shoot a real wedding using a smartphone.

For our wedding special issue, we

speak to American photographer Joy Marie Smallwood and discover the

aesthetic behind her photography.

The Wedding

The The WeddingWeddingArtist


Joy Marie’s foray into the world of art began with painting. Having studied at UCLA School of Fine

Arts, it was one of her passions. However, after the birth of her first son, it was not easy to dedicate long hours and focus into each individual painting. Thus, she began shooting film as a new way to express her creativity. About fifteen years ago, she was asked by a close friend to photograph her wedding. “I was terrified, but said yes. I’ve been shooting weddings ever since,” she said.

Since then Joy Marie has gone on to shoot weddings in the United States, and around the world. Her work started getting noticed after shooting unique destination and celebrity weddings. Recently she shot the wedding of Owain Yeoman, one of the stars of the American TV show ‘The Mentalist’. Speaking about it, she said, “I love it when my clients put time into making their wedding day an amazing experience for their guests. For Owain and his beautiful bride, Gigi, they wanted their entire day to be about creating an awesome experience for their family and friends. Guests were greeted by a Beat-boxing Harpist, their ceremony backdrop was 360 degree views of the hills of Malibu on a helipad overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and during their cocktail hour, a few of the servers busted out in a spontaneous flash mob dance that slowly grew into 100 people performing on the helipad. It was incredible, and the wedding guests loved it!”

To shoot one wedding after another, a photographer truly has to love shooting weddings, or else it becomes just a monotonous job, and is reflected in the images. We asked Joy Marie, what draws her to weddings, and she said capturing love is what she likes the most. “I recently did a wedding that was the coming together of two completely different cultures and religions; two ethnic groups that in other parts of the world are literally at war with each other. I love when people

November 2014 29

from divergent backgrounds come together, and they treat each other’s cultural and religious traditions with honour, respect and dignity. That to me is true love, and what I most enjoy capturing through my lens. Love has the ability to break down all kinds of barriers.”

She added that capturing the older generation at a wedding is also her favourite, “For some reason, I’m always drawn to the older generation at weddings, the grandparents. I’ve

had a number of couples reach out to me after a grandparent has passed on, and tell me that the moment I captured with that family member at their wedding created a lasting memory that’s cherished by the whole family. That’s what it is all about!”

Joy Marie’s style of wedding photography can be described as a blend of fine art and photojournalism, with an edge of fashion. “But most importantly, I want to capture the


unique spirit and emotion of every couple and individual I photograph,” she said.

Having shot weddings over the years, Joy Marie’s turning point was switching from film to digital. With film, she was very limited in how far she could push the boundaries of creativity on a wedding day. “Clients paid for a certain number of rolls of film, so I felt I had to be very selective in the shots I captured. Once I started shooting digital, I was able to really push the envelope because I could take a lot more photos on a wedding day and not worry about staying within the client’s budget of rolls in their package. When I was shooting film early on, it was difficult to do as much personal work because it meant spending money on rolls of film every time I wanted to experiment. Digital changed all of that.”

If one observes Joy Marie’s images, it is evident that she pays keen attention to lighting and location. We asked her how she comes up with the unique shoot ideas that we see translated in her images. She explained, “One of the things very important to me is knowing my shoot locations and what the light is going to be like at certain times of the day. We do a

November 2014 31

The wedding that Joy shot with a smartphone

December, last year, Joy Marie used a smartphone camera to shoot a wedding. Shot in Capella Pedregal in Cabo, Mexico, she captured the wedding on a Nokia Lumia 1020. When she was approached by the company to shoot the wedding, her first reaction was excitement coupled with anxiousness. She said, “I love pushing creative boundaries, but I was a bit anxious because with wedding photography, there are no “do overs.” You get one opportunity to get certain shots, and if you miss them, there’s no going back.”But she had to first convince the couple to have their wedding shot by a smartphone camera. “Fortunately, this was a couple with whom I’d already built a personal rapport and relationship. I photographed the wedding of their best friends, so they had already seen me in action. After that, they knew how important it was for me to take care of my clients and get the right shots. I think them seeing and experiencing that with their best friends built a level of trust that allowed them to be open to participating in this adventure.”Speaking about shooting on the smartphone, she said, “Being able to change the ISO allowed me to get shots in lighting conditions that otherwise would not have happened. The manual focus allowed me to play with depth of field, and get creative. I was also impressed by the Smart Cam feature. This feature allows you to set the camera to a rapid fire setting. With weddings, there are times that you need to shoot in a “rapid fire” fashion to make sure you get your shot, and the Smart Cam feature allowed me to do just that.”

Shooting a wedding on a smartphone

lot of destination weddings, going to places I’ve never been before. What helps me come up with unique shoot ideas is flying into the destination a day or two before the wedding, and spending an entire day mapping out all of my shooting spots, and coming up with creative ideas. I like to find different indoor and outdoor backdrops with interesting light and texture. Shooting in new places is always an adventure and inspiring for me.”

Being a destination photographer and shooting weddings around the world, Joy Marie has come across a number of couples of different cultures and backgrounds. We asked her how she prepares for this, and she said that she becomes a student of both backgrounds. “I find out all of the unique traditions, I look up definitions, and I ask the couple

about what’s most important to them. Using this approach has been very helpful because there are some traditions that are so sacred that you can’t even photograph them. It’s my job to know that ahead of time. Conversely, there are other traditions that, when performed, may seem like nothing is really going on, yet they’re central to the couple’s religions and must be captured.”

Like every genre of photography, wedding photography has its own set of challenges, and the challenges vary from photographer to photographer. Joy Marie said that the biggest challenge for her is not having enough time to capture everything, if a couple doesn’t want to see each other before their ceremony.

She explains, “At these weddings, we are usually trying to fit the pictures of the couple, the bridal


party and all the family formals into their cocktail hour before the reception. That one hour usually ends up being less after taking time to gather everyone together and inevitably feels a little more stressful for the couple. Most of my couples

choose to see each other before, and we schedule plenty of time to get creative shots with a variety of backdrops. We usually set up an intimate first sight and sometimes get the most beautiful emotional pictures during this time. I’ve never

had a client regret seeing each other before so that those pictures are done and they are able to be more present with their guests and enjoy their day together as it unfolds.”

Evidently, wedding photography has greatly changed over the years, and to be successful wedding photographer, one has to change with the times. Speaking about evolving and adapting, Joy Marie said, “I started out as a Nikon film shooter, so the main way I’ve had to adapt is by switching over to Canon and becoming an all-digital shooter. Since I know film very well, I will still shoot with it, if a client requests it, but I’m primarily shooting all digital.”

Joy Marie also mentioned that the other thing she has had to adapt to is the proliferation of phone images being uploaded to social media. “There are so many people taking phone shots at a wedding that a couple nearly sees their entire

November 2014 33


wedding online a day or two after the event. This has inspired me to get at least a sneak peek of images from the wedding done almost immediately afterwards so the couple can get excited about how beautiful their wedding was.”

Joy Marie said that what motivates and inspires her to keep pushing is her inner artist. “I never want to stay in the same place, I want this shot to be better than my last. I’ve been doing something

artistic as far back as I can remember, I grew up in my mother’s art studio. It’s exciting to push boundaries and continue to find new inspiration. It’s in my DNA, so I wake up every day wanting to get better, know more and try something new.”

Talking about certain thing that a wedding photographer should keep in mind, she stresses that getting to know your client is highly important. “I find out as much as possible about my clients before the wedding: Who

are they? What’s important to them? What’s their vision for their wedding? Do they have any family dynamics I should know about and be aware of on the wedding day?”

Secondly, she mentioned the importance of knowing your location. “It’s imperative to know ahead of time what the light is going to be like where you’ll be shooting. This is especially critical when you’re trying to shoot couples pictures, bridal party and family formals all in the space of time

November 2014 35

between the ceremony and reception. You need to have your shooting spots all mapped out ahead of time.”

Thirdly, Joy Marie highlights how backing everything up multiple times is necessary.” I copy all of my wedding files to my computer, a couple of hard drives and I leave the images on the cards until I’ve had a chance to go through them on the computer. I’ve had times before where the backups didn’t work because of a faulty card reader, so the only useable images were the ones still on the memory cards. If I had reformatted those cards before discovering that issue, I would have deleted an entire wedding.”

Recalling some of her most

memorable moments, she said that it’s memorable when there is some element of surprise or a meaningful touch at the wedding. “One of my grooms was an African drummer. He played his heart out for his bride as she walked down the aisle with African dancers. It was so emotional. At another recent wedding, the groom surprised the bride by having a famous singer serenade her to start the reception. She and all of the guests went crazy! At a wedding, I did last year at Ayana Resort in Bali, Indonesia, there were literally hundreds of craftsmen, musicians and performers from the resort and surrounding villages involved with the wedding day. They did their grand

entrance walking between over 50 local drummers and musicians; It was spectacular.”

As a final advice to upcoming or budding wedding photographers, Joy Marie said that it is good to begin shooting with experienced photographers as much as possible. “I started out interning for an experienced wedding photographer, and the knowledge I gained from shooting with him for free still helps me to this day. There is always something to learn from each other as wedding photographers and when you’re starting out, it can be terrifying, but we’ve all been there,” she concluded.

TEXT: ABHISHEk DESAI


Pro-profile


Anup’s encounter with photography was pure chance. As a child, he grew up watching

his dad work in the film industry, and his natural curiosity led him to pick up the camera. Years down the line, when he was working for an ad agency, they needed some images for a campaign, and he shot some images for them. Little did he know that it would become his passion. He started shooting more often, and then there was no turning back.

Anup is self-taught and has had no formal training in photography. He attributes his learning to the Internet. He said that not having any formal training was an advantage for him, as he did not have to stick to a set of

rules, and could experiment and be creative at photography.

Anup foray into wedding photography began after he was invited by a friend to shoot his wedding. But his work first started getting noticed, when he shot a particular wedding in Bangalore of the couple, Anu and Pavan. “They were as crazy and creative as me. The rapport we had was very evident and this reflected in the images I shot,” he said.

However, he said that there wasn’t a “turning point” as such in his career. “Everything was very gradual. As a photographer and a cinematographer I’m still learning. You see and learn new things every day.

Get inspired from different art forms and I teach myself to correct and learn from my mistakes, which help me grow.”

Speaking about what draws him to weddings, Anup said, “The wedding day is the most memorable day of a person’s life and therefore you can’t afford to mess up. The pressure that comes with this makes it a challenge to shoot weddings, which I love.”

He added, “I enjoy shooting not just great pictures but fantastic memories. My sense of humour helps me befriend the couple very soon and this fuels my creativity. One of the perks of shooting weddings is meeting new people and listening to new stories. Oh, of course, the

November 2014 39


wedding food”! Anup is known for his particularly

creative and eccentric style of wedding photography. We asked him how he would describe it, and he said, “’Quirky’ is how I’d like to put it. I try to outdo myself at every wedding I shoot. Coming up with new ideas and to be different each time is always a challenge. My quirkiness makes amazing memories and also creates a fun set of pictures. I’m really lucky to get clients who are looking out for a mad, quirky and wacky photographer like me.”

We asked him how he came up

with the unique shoot ideas that we see translated in his images, and if he decides on the location and a theme for each wedding shoot. He said, “If you notice most ideas I shoot are not location specific. The shots can be shot anywhere. Like I mentioned earlier, my experiences fuel my creativity. I jot down certain pointers during my every day activities. For sure, if the location calls for it, I use it. The star of the image is the couple, not the location. I never let the location overpower the couple I am shooting.”

Anup makes custom packages for

couples. “Most Indian weddings go on for 2 or 3 days, so based on the requirements of the client I design the package. However, I don’t print the photographs. I put my client in touch with the printers, giving them the

The biggest challenge is to be on top of your game, and to keep coming up with fresh ideas

November 2014 41

Weaponsof ChoiCe

• CanonEOS5DMarkIII• CanonEF24-70mmf/2.8LIIUSM

• CanonEF70-200mm1:2.8LISIIUSM

• CanonEF16-35mmf/2.8LIIUSM

• CanonEF17-40mmf/4LUSM(ThisImostlyuseduringmyunderwatershoots)

• CanonSpeedlite600EX-RT

• IkeliteunderwaterhousingfortheCanonEOS5DMarkII

• IkeliteDS161TTLstrobewithvideolight

freedom to choose a design layout of their choice. The printers do offer a special discount for clients who give my name as a reference.”

Speaking about challenges in wedding photography, Anup said that the biggest challenge is to be on top of your game, and to keep coming up with fresh ideas. “I personally won’t feel good if I have not added value to every wedding that I have shot. I can’t be shooting

the same idea for every wedding and hence I need to keep up with the trend and better it.”

We asked Anup to tell us how he has adapted to changing scenarios of wedding photography through the years, and he said that it was his unique style that has kept him successful. “There is a saying that goes “In a kingdom with nose-less people, the one with half a nose is king”. Being different and fresh helped me


get noticed. When I started shooting weddings I was one of the few photographers who were following a new style. My style of photography and candid photography was not widely accepted and slowly more and more people realised this was different and wedding photography was no more boring. I’m constantly striving to do justice to this art-form and the expectations the client has of me.”

Anup runs the production house, 1st December Films, with his brother Atul Kattukaran. They recently worked on the Nike Advertisement ‘Make Every Yard Count’, which bagged them seven Lions at the prestigious Cannes Festival this year. They also won five CLIO awards and two blue elephants at the Kyoorius Awards.

Anup’s love for the ocean has also led him to get certified as an Advanced Scuba Diver. He took his passion for

photography inside the ocean and has learned to shoot underwater. Being one of the few underwater photographers in India his work is noticed.

We asked him what motivates and inspires him to keep pushing, and he said, “The people who I shoot and the people I shoot with. Everybody has a story. These stories inspire me.”

Speaking about some of his favourite moments, Anup said, “There are quite a few. Each couple shoot I have done has a story behind it. But if you ask me to pick out one fun wedding photo shoot then there was this one time where I actually made one couple kiss for the very first time right in front of my camera. That’s always going to stay very close to me.”

We asked him to give some advice to upcoming wedding photographers, and he said that getting the basics right is one of the

November 2014 43

anup listed some of the tips or rules that one must keep in mind while shooting a wedding

1. Stay true to your work and give it 100% every single time. No wedding is big or small. Shoot every wedding with the same intensity and dedication.

2. Every wedding is a portfolio: Think of every wedding you shoot as a portfolio. With that in mind, you will be motivated to give out the best possible images for that wedding.

3. Know the groom and the bride: They say the best emotions are brought out when people know each other well. If you strike up a good rapport with the clients, you tend to get better photographs, and also the couple will be comfortable with you around.

4. Consider a second wedding shooter: Having a second shooter can work to your advantage. It takes pressure off your shoulders and your work is divided equally. Not only does it give you a second angle but this also works as a contingency plan for when your equipment malfunctions for some reason.

most important things. He added that quoting well is equally important. “Know what your worth is and never under-price. I never negotiate. This just helps gauging a client who is looking to call you for your art, rather than calling you because you are just another wedding photographer.”

He added, “Remember, camera is your best friend, so shoot as much as possible. Knowing your camera and equipment is important. This help

syou concentrate on the image you are taking and not testing the camera while on location.”

Anup also said that it is important to keep the relationship going with your client, even after the wedding is done. “It is something that helps you. I keep in touch with most couples I have shot. I recently shot an underwater maternity shoot for one of my brides.”

TEXT: ABHISHEK DESAI


DEVELOPING YOUR OWN STYLE

Capturing weddings can be a tough task. Photographers have to be constantly on their toes to capture the right moment. This month for our wedding issue, we spoke to a few professional wedding photographers, Indian and international, who expressed their style of shooting weddings. Read on to fi nd out what they had to say.

Emin KuliyevHailing from Azerbaijan, and settled in New York, Emin Kuliyev has been shooting weddings for more than a decade now. His style of photography can be best described as a triumphant marriage of photojournalism with traditional wedding photography. Kuliyev treats each wedding as a journey, and the outcome is refreshingly contemporary.

SPECIAL FEATURE

November 2014 45

His style and tips “When I began, I usually took ideas and inspiration from the internet. Soon, I was trying to understand more about how people behave, as I believe that by predicting their behaviour, one can capture the right moments. Knowing this has helped me a lot while choosing the right camera equipment. My advice to all the budding photographers would be to not copy others and bring out your own creative styles through your lens. By trying out different techniques, one can understand how colours can be portrayed, how the light works and what compositions can do to a photograph.”


V. V. RamanaV.V Ramana is today one of the premier league photographers in the country. Within the professional fraternity, he is known more for his technicalities. Despite the average life of technology in photography domain getting bleak, he believes in exploring the potential of each technical artefact available in the market. He incessantly updates his business infrastructure, apart from continuously striving to � nd innovative ways of using technology.Ramana focuses extensively on the compositions and perspectives while shooting, which is evident from his photographs. His style is distinctly dramatic, and captures the wedding in a heightened cinematic sort of way.

SPECIAL FEATURE

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His style and tips He said that creativity has its own eye and the right images can be captured if one explores the different styles of photography. “I believe merging the fl ash light with the natural light produces a great effect. While creating images it is vital to keep in mind the post-production works which enhance the picture greatly.” As a master of drama, he said, “Using wide angle lenses adds more depth and drama to a photograph. Wedding photography includes candid and emotional moments. Considering the lighting, I feel that natural light is the best to shoot images. You can also use macro photography in weddings to get more creative.” To develop your own style, he said, “You need to develop your niche area which may include weddings, portraits, outdoor or studio shoots, keeping in mind the demand in the market for that particular area.”


Bill Waldorf Bill Waldorf ’s extensive experience in the art and photography industry has given him the unique ability to bring out the best in weddings.

Bill, whose background is in art, draws inspiration from some of the great classical painters like Johannes Vermeer who is known for his use of natural window light and is always looking for a dramatic light while shooting. He believes in drawing inspiration from other great photographers but shoots for himself. While framing his subjects, Bill has explored unique angles, re� ections and objects that are visible in his photographs.

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His style and tips “My passion comes from what I learned as an artist, the fundamentals of light and composition are the foundation of my photography. I recommend that you fi nd what it is that inspires you as a photographer. I would advise not to copy someone else’s style. Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun. I also want to be aware of other elements within the scene that may add context to the story of the image. To me, photography is evolutionary. I always want to be pushing myself to try new things and grow continuously.”


Vinayak DasCompletely self-taught as a photographer, Vinayak Das specialises in documentary and people photography. An avid traveller, working and playing with natural light and subjects of social and cultural interest is his forte. Vinayak has been one of the most popular new-age wedding photographers in India. Vinayak along with his wife Snigdha run Photo Tantra, a company dedicated to Wedding Photography across India.

Vinayak prefers shooting with two camera bodies. One with a 24mm or a 35mm prime and another with a 85mm prime lens. In some cases, he uses the 24-70mm.

SPECIAL FEATURE

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His style and tips “Weddings present us with a great occasion to capture beautiful images and tell poignant stories. Be part of the story and try to capture the moments and not engineer them. Have a good idea of what is happening at a wedding, what rituals follow each other, and who the important people are.”He points out the importance of being alert, “Make sure you are there where the action is so you are in the right place to capture moments as they happen. At every location do a quick check on what light sources you have at your disposal.” He said that he also sees many photographers getting hooked on to the telephoto lens and sticking with it. “They shoot close ups and seem pretty happy with that. However, I feel that the wedding is so much more than someone’s face. You have a large canvas to play with, make sure you capture that. Make sure your kit has a wide angle and make sure you use it. Last but not the least, I would advise to shoot on RAW. It takes up more space but it’s worth it.”

TEXT: ABHISHEK DESAI AND NEHA AGGARWAL

TIPS & TECHS





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If it fi ts the budget everything starts with it and nothing is more important than the word ‘budget’. First thing you need to understand is that if planned correctly, destination weddings can be far less expensive than a traditional wedding at home, so before you start heading in this direction, make sure you have done your math correctly.




Quality Time Destination weddings provide a great opportunity to spend some quality time with family and friends in a more

intimate setting allowing more time than a day as with a traditional wedding at home.

The Location Barefoot on a beautiful sugar-sand beach? Surrounded by lush tropical gardens? Or perhaps in a gazebo overlooking the turquoise waters of the sea? These are just a few of the breath-taking venue choices for destination weddings at most resorts and they can add some great brownie points making the moment more cherished and valuable.

Everything is in one place No time wasted travelling to the church, to a park or garden for pictures, then on to the reception. From the walk down the aisle to the last dance, everything can be found at your resort.

It’s also a vacation It’s a great way for others to unwind as well. Not only do your family and friends get to witness and celebrate the joyous occasion, but also get to relax and enjoy a vacation too!

Smaller guest list Due to obvious reasons or time constraints, attending a

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Equipment and permissions

It’s important to know if permits are needed for the locations, and also if any of the equipment need to be registered before entering the country. A good DSLR, portable lighting, memory cards, and a laptop are some of the essentials needed. A range of lenses from wide-angle, macro, to zoom lenses can be included as well.

Shooting destination wedding can be a great way to perk-up your career and make it more interesting, as a wedding photographer can tend to get bored after shooting the same kind of weddings after a while. It’s also a great chance to jet-set, and explore exotic and historical places. But this comes with its own set of challenges. If you are just starting to shoot destination weddings, it might be initially difficult to sell it to your clients. You will have to convince them that they will have to spend on flying you down to the destination, rather than hiring a local photographer. You must be smart enough to market your talent and skill-set to the couple.

While destination photography comes with its own set of risks and stress, those willing to take-up the challenge and plunge into an adventure should certainly do it.

destination wedding may not be for everyone, and the ones who attend are those that are most dear to you.

No Family Feuds Although not mentioned often you would be surprised

what all goes behind closed doors at a wedding. A destination wedding provides an equal playing field between families and more importantly, no uncomfortable decisions for couples to make that may cause a sticky situation between families.

TIPS & TECHS


And the guys like it too! Guys seem to get more excited about a destination wedding and even the groom becomes more involved in the planning process. Organising smaller events such as golfing or sailing for his buddies makes him a lot happier than picking out table centrepieces, that’s for sure!

And the honeymoon begins The honeymoon begins immediately after the ceremony. No early morning planes to catch, no time wasted travelling and the big one – no additional costs!

And if you are the photographer While it’s an adventure for a photographer, being a professional, one should keep certain things in mind when embarking on this journey.

Shooting a wedding is one of the most fantastic (as you have the opportunity to create beautiful memories in a couples life) and nerve wrecking (as it is your responsibility to capture those once in lifetime amazing memories in the couples life). In recent times, we have noticed a swarm of amateur photographers who have entered the wedding photography scene, who churn out some good images from time to time. In recent times, many couples opt to get married in a destination foreign to them, popularly known as Destination weddings.

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Say Cheeze Photography’s soul is its Creative Director Niklesh Malkani. Besides being a well-known photographer, he is above all a great guy. A creative artist with a wide range of skills, not least the uncanny ability to capture the essence of the moment. He has travelled all over the world, honing his skill to “connect” with international clients, clearly understanding their needs and exceeding their expectations.

Destination weddings are generally associated with exotic locations coupled with picturesque views to create stunning imagery of the newly married couple. This is where the photographer does not need exceptional photographic skills, but he/she also need to step up to take on the additional responsibility that may go beyond the call of duty for a regular photographer.

Destination photographers must also develop their organizational skills and learn how to deal with even the smallest detail, which is critical when the photographer may have to travel overseas. Since they would be travelling to an exotic location, it is the duty of the photographer to make the most of his/her assignment. Taking detailed notes of the travel and daily schedules of the couple should be one of the first things the photographer should execute in order to utilize their time and give the photographer an idea of the equipment that will be needed for the shoot. Other than that the photographer, needs to be updated with the travel procedures, travel documents, visa requirement, medical requirements, custom declarations and other such travel procedures.

-NIkleSh MAlkANI


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Flash On-camera flash will get you the photos but it will also kill the ambience and make your pictures seem flat. Quite often wedding photographers are asked not to use a flash during the actual wedding ceremony as it can be distracting. If you require the use of flash, you may use it by bouncing the light off a wall or ceiling as it gives a softer light. Use Wide Aperture Lenses Prime lenses offer the widest apertures, the greatest depth-of-field and gives the





more often.The Canon 50m f/1.8ii lens is a good

option when you are stuck in a low light situation. Great prime lenses for wedding photography include the Canon 200mm f/2.8L USM, the Canon 85mm f/1.2L USM and the Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM.

Find the Best Light You will be required to find places where there is great light and try to move your subjects into that light. A great lens can help

out in a lot of ways. To get a more natural set up, you may consider the light coming from a window. The bigger the window, the better when looking for indoor light.

For example if a ceremony is in church, a lot have windows and lighting in the front, which means you have competing light. Sometimes if you may be unlucky if the couple is placed just in front of the stage lights and just past the window light, leaving the bride and groom in a dark hole and backlit. When this happens make sure to meter to the couple’s faces. You can

change your light meter to be a spotlight meter, or just play with your settings until you get it right.

Use a tripod Sometimes the only way to get in more light is to use a tripod. A shutter speed slower than the reciprocal of the focal length at which you shoot may give you a blurry picture. For example, if you shoot at a focal length of 40mm, then prefer to keep your shutter speed at 1/40 or more. Going lower than that may give you a

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blurry photograph. Lenses with image stabilization are also very helpful, however, they may not give you the stability at slower shutter speeds. Carrying a tripod around may get tiresome after a while but the fact that there is a lot of standing still during a wedding ceremony, it will fetch you your best shots.

You may also choose to carry a monopod which is a stick you mount your camera on to help keep it steady. Using a monopod lets you move around easily when compared to a tripod.

Know Your Camera’s ISO Performance One of the first things you will do to get more light onto your camera’s sensor is to increase the ISO. Before you just crank it up to ISO 12,000 you need to know how well and how poorly your camera performs at high ISO’s. To do this you may take a few test shots at different ISOs. For wedding photographers who cannot use a flash during the ceremony a good ISO performance is very important. Make sure to manually change your settings to shoot

in low light. The higher the number, the more sensitive to light it is. So ISO 1600 is more sensitive to light than ISO 400.

Also remember to keep your aperture at its widest and manually choose a shutter speed to correctly expose the image. If the automatic settings won’t do this, switch everything to manual. Shoot Raw Take advantage of your camera’s raw file capabilities. Any underexposed or overexposed shot can be saved if you shoot in raw. This is no time to make a

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mistake but if you do, you will be glad you have the file in raw format when you go to edit.

If your camera doesn’t shoot raw or you simply don’t want to shoot in raw because it makes things more complicated, you’ll be fine with JPEG images. However, a raw file gives you more latitude in editing if you plan on doing any post-processing to your images.

Edit Lightly Now is not the time to use your HDR edits or to overdo sharpening. Edit lightly and in a manner that does not distract from the subject of your photography. Don’t overdo it with all of the background blurs and vignetting. Be careful that you don’t over contrast during editing. A softer look is often the better look.

Respect the rules Ask questions and see if any places are off limits. If you work well with wedding planners and other wedding vendors, they will be more likely to recommend you to

other couples. Wedding ceremonies are all different,

so it’s better to come prepared so that you can quickly adjust to what is being given to you. Be confident and trust your ability to use your camera. The more you turn off

the automatic settings and go manual, the better you will be when you have to adjust. Low lighting can be conquered as long as you’re not afraid to change your settings.

TEXT: NEHA AGGARWAL

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Tips & Techs

Innovative Wedding Photography

IdeasWedding pictures stay with us all our life and there’s

nothing better than watching them and re-living them every time you see them. You know what’s better than

that; creating these very special memories for someone, using your creativity. Wedding photography has drastically changed, from the era of charging a person per roll you expose to now charging for your creativity. Wedding photography has come a long way. We all experiment with various different things all the time and when it comes to weddings, we go beyond because to please a client you need to prove yourself to be different from others. You need to time and again experiment and even be consistent. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Not all our creative experiments turn out good, sometimes they fail. So with this article we are going to give you three simple ways to make a wedding memorable with the traditional ways of shooting that we follow:

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DisposeIt’s always a good add-on, if as a photographer in-charge of capturing the client’s beautiful day you try and think of innovative ideas to make their wedding pictures memorable. How about capturing some pictures through the guests’ perspective? Find some of those dated disposable cameras and hand it over to your guests, collect them at the end of the wedding. They are very easily available in major camera markets in Delhi and Mumbai, if not then buy them online.

photoboothThere is no particular set rule for setting up a Photobooth. It’s about picking up the right kind of lights/props and idea to set it up. These are the basic pointers one should remember while setting it up:

• Lights: Use a single light, place it right beside the camera in order to reduce shadows. Use an umbrella to bounce the light. Avoid complicated light set-ups.• Background: Backgrounds are easily available in the market. Pick and choose the ones that go with your desired theme. Also keep in mind the lights and background should complement each other and not distract your eyes.• Trigger: Use a trigger to sync the camera and light. Since you are going to be the closest one to the camera you can use the free sync cord that usually comes with the light.• Settings: Set your camera to the basic sync settings that are required to sync your flash. Set it up on a tripod with JPEGs to shoot, also set the camera to all points focus, in order to hopefully maximise the sharp shots.• Lens: Using a 50mm is the best option. Incase your backdrop is wide experimenting with vertical frames can be at good use. • Remote: Use cheap remotes that you can find online and in the camera markets across the country to give the guests control on the camera. Let them decide and shoot the frames they want. Do not forget to carry an extra one.• Props: Props and items are the fun-factor for a Photobooth. Go to the local market fill a box with all of these and keep it next to the Photobooth giving the person getting shot the choice to pick and choose and decide what he wants to use.• Print: Another option I know other photographers use is make prints available right away. I personally think this is too much work, but a better way to make the pictures more memorable.

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think outsiDe the boxThink of different ideas, things that can make you stand out from other photographers in your competition. There’s a lot of thing you can try, we are mentioning a few of them below.• Locations: Exploring various different locations than the normal one’s always gives you a better image. Bride and groom look perfect around the wedding venue, why not take them outside? A staircase maybe? • Angles: Try getting out of your basic comfort zone and shoot differently. Go crazy with the camera, explore experiment and create

variation shots.• Props and objects: Incorporating a prop or an out of the place personal close objects like guitar in your normal portrait shots – end result? Amazing creative shots. Easy tip – Use mirrors, play with reflections.• First looks: Capturing the first expressions of closed ones to the bride and groom can also be an add-on to your client’s trip down the memory lane.• Goof around: Gather all the near and dear ones and ask them to goof around in front of the camera this will give you some amazing quirky images of them which will be an add-on.

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• Thank you: Include a placard with a thank you note. Because nothing says anything better than a placard in an image.• GIF it up! Create GIFs of adorable gestures that can later be shared via e-mail with your client’s family by them.• JUMP: Try making people jump but in a not corny way. Decent jumping images are really beautiful. We personally love them.• Double Exposure: Enough said. Experiment with them and you will know what we are talking about. The end result indeed is the prettiest

one’s to die for. • Pets: Include pets in the newlywed’s portrait, after all our pets are more like our families.

Being creative and trying these different things not only adds to your portfolio, but also create memories for your clients. You have to choose to let go of the basics and experiment with your imagination. We hope your wedding shoot is going to be great fun and you implement at least few of these points. Until then Happy Shooting!

TEXT: USHMA DHAMDHERE

Think of different ideas, things that can make you stand out from other photographers in your competition

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Tips & Techs

Light it up -wedding styLePhotographers often fuss about the type of camera and lenses and probably some accessories in their kit. Lighting, without a doubt is a key factor for every photographer, which is why choosing the right lighting gear is imperative for photographers of various genres. For wedding photographers, the most basic system revolves around Flashguns. However, in recent times, quite a few wedding photographers are using unconventional means and methods of successfully lighting a frame, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor environment.

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ArtificiAl light sourcesThis light source refers to everything that is artificially made and used to light an environment not specific to photographic purposes. They include - Candles, Fluorescent lamps, Light bulbs, Fires, Street lights. Here are a few things to bear in mind while using artificial sources of light –

• The light emitted from the most artificial light sources is not as intense as that compared to sunlight, hence keep an eye on the exposure.

• Since various light sources have different colour temperatures, manually change the white balance setting according to the light sources or by the Kelvin value.

Modifiers A standard photographic reflector is the undisputed

favourite of many photographers while shooting outdoors. As the name suggests, this accessory reflects light. There are a number of different types of reflectors, which differ in sizes and colours (i.e. white, silver, gold, etc.). A reflector is usually a reflective fabric, stretched over a bendy ring, allowing it to fold, and easy to carry. In most cases it is used to bounce the light on the subject using various colours like white, silver and gold. Some reflectors have a translucent white material which softens the harsh sunlight by creating an even soft shade which is apt for portraitures.

ArtificiAl lightArtificial lighting includes all those sources of light employed by a photographer to light a particular frame for the following reasons – to counter for insufficient ambient light, to get different light or to have more control of the light for creative purposes. The most general type of light sources are – Continuous (Incandescent, Fluorescent, LED) and Strobe (Studio Strobe, Flashgun)

coNtiNuous light sourceIncandescentIncandescent light are associated with warmth and are close to natural daylight. Incandescent light sources include the household tungsten light bulb, to large studio light used in studios and movie sets. These light sources generate an adequate amount of heat that can melt colour gels. Their colour temperature ranges between 2500-3000K.

FluorescentFluorescent lights are popularly known as tube lights; generally shows a greenish tinge. Their generally used in most scenarios to light up spaces and are more commonly used as they do not dissipate heat like incandescent bulbs. But off lately many motion films have started using fluorescent tube arrangements in enclosed spaces since they do not emit heat. Their colour temperature ranges between 3200-7500K.P

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LEDLED (light emitting diodes) is generally arranged in a matrix series of bulbs to make a panel. They have recently started being used by videographers instead of older compact halogen lights as the LED panels are light weight, portable and have an in-built power source. They usually have either an external colour gel panel or a rheostat knob to change the colour temperature.

strobeStrobe lighting is probably the most commonly used artificial lighting in photography. As the name suggests, a studio strobe light releases a flash of light at the moment when the shutter trigger is depressed and the shutter curtain in the camera is open. This sort of lighting is particular to still photography and not video as the duration of the flash is too short. Strobes in photography consist of mainly studio strobe and flash unit. Both these lights are colour temperatures, and are balanced for daylight which is around 4500K.

Studio StrobesStudio strobes have been used by photographers for many years, where light manufacturers have been constantly innovating newer studio strobe lights with more power, compact, easy to handle and a few which can be controlled wirelessly. However, these strobe units can be heavy on the pockets, so most photographers opt for the generic studio strobes. Since these lights are bulky and use an external power source, it is cumbersome to move them around while changing locations. Hence, we find many wedding photographers using these studio strobes for the formal group photos or the trending photo booths where the background remains constant.

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Speedlights/ Flash unitsSpeedlights are a dedicated TTL flash units mounted on your camera’s hot shoe which are specific to each camera manufacturer. Dedicated TTL flashguns can be invaluable when working under the low or quick-changing lighting conditions common to the wedding venue. They are equally proficient at showing details in shadows when shooting outdoor portraits and/or backlit candid photographs. Flashes can be used off the camera with wired or wireless triggers. Its light weight nature and built in power source makes this a perfect tool for wedding photographers.

ModifiersThe light emitted from a flash unit or studio strobe is harsh which will create sharp shadows or even flat images. The easiest way around this is to bounce the light off a white ceiling to create an even soft light.

For the times were you cannot use this technique while shooting outdoors or when the ceiling is not white, here are a few modifiers you can use to create even well lit soft lighting.

UmbrellasThis is the most portable and lightweight modifier that can be used for both studio strobes and flash units. Umbrellas are available with a reflective inside (reflecting off the inside of the umbrella), some umbrellas are shoot-through (the light goes through the umbrella and is diffused). The light emitted through the umbrella is quite wide and often spills over to the background.

SoftboxesSimilar to an umbrella, a soft box is an enclosure around a bulb comprising reflective side and back walls and a diffusing material at the front of the light. The light emitted from the light source bounces off the reflective surface and exits through the diffused material in the front to evenly light the subject. A soft box can be used with either strobe (studio or flash units) or continuous light (fluorescent, quartz halogen bulbs or tungsten bulbs).

diffuserThese sorts of diffusers are used only in flash units. These are specifically designed plastic light modifiers that fix on the flash head to soften the light. Here are a few popular diffusers – Lightsphere, Omni-Bounce (generally available with Nikon speedlights), Flash bounce cards and Portable softbox.

TEXT- STEvE DSOUzA


TIPS & TECHS

Shooting your first WeddingShooting your first Wedding

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How it beganToday, I hardly storyboard anymore unless it is a unique wedding. However, four years ago at the first wedding I was ever invited to capture, this was necessary. Anshum, the groom, found me through one photo on Flickr and requested me to shoot his big day. Though the actual wedding was only for 6-8hrs in a barn outside Pune, I insisted on being there for the rehearsals and preps the day before. But before that, the journey to this point is what makes my first wedding interesting.

igniting tHe passionI had wanted to be a wedding photographer from the day I started to look for photographers for my sister’s wedding in 2008. Back then, I had no clue what this wonderful world of “fine art” or “candid” wedding photography had to offer. It was only when I chanced upon the work of Jerry Ghionis, Jeff Ascough, and more through Google searches did I realise the potential of the DSLR in my hands. What started as a simple search for a vendor for my sister quickly became an obsession that led to me


pre-preparationIt is one thing obsessing about shooting a wedding and





Always meet the couple much before the wedding day. I met Anshum and Sarita at their place for coffee two months before their wedding and we talked about much more than their wedding plan. How they met, how their parents accepted, how

people family was coming in from all over the world and how they loved animals. I noted this all down at a furious pace with ideas jumping through my mind. I made them tell me every single detail of their plan for the day and also showed some photos that would be great if we could pull them off. Sarita told me about her pink custom made sneakers, Anshum told me about his guy gang and his cousins love for nature and much more. It is these stories that helped me make most of my shots on the wedding day happen.

Go to the venue before the wedding, at the right time to do a recce. For this wedding, I stayed back for dinner at the venue with the family as well which resulted in me getting some wonderful family portraits including this one epic shot

of the entire Drego side with their dog in the foreground! Thanks to the recce, I knew exactly what to shoot before I got to the wedding. I knew exactly how light would play for the bridal entry, the formal shots of the bridesmaids and the groomsmen.

In your first ten weddings at least, carry a folder of your favourite work. This is not to imitate it, this is not even to strike off a checklist, but to ensure you remain focused. My inspiration folder helped me keep on my toes; this was way more than

just doing a few things for the sake of doing them. This was to keep fuelling ideas. My folder had a series of images from my favourite photographers which helped me remember to pose the couple in a certain way, to take the time to get some bridal portraits, to get that wide angle of the bridal room and much more.

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Develop the ability to switch between being the interactive, hyperactive photographer to being the fly on the wall, when the situation demands it. This is how I was able to get the fun yet formal group shot of the friends and the many

quiet candid photos during the rehearsals, the family get together and the preps.

Bring your couple’s stories into your frames. The dogs, the farm, the horses, music, and the pink shoes, all of these were part of the story that Sarita and Anshum told me during our first meeting and all of it stuck in my head. And even if

they didn’t stick, I had my phone reminding me of these tiny details. Pay attention to those details.

Do not lose sight of your end goal - to make breathtaking images. Though I have improved tons since this wedding in both my style and skill, I still look back at this set to understand where I began and how when I shot this, all I could think was: don’t forget

that you have to make great images! A wedding is chaotic, and it is easy to lose sight of your role as a photographer and become more of a guest with a camera in that chaos. Learn to step away from the action and create your frames, learn to step into the action and create drama.

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Request the guests before barging-in for a shot. This is something that commonly happens in a wedding - a photographer that shoves guests around for a shot! Never forget that you are a guest yourself, and be discrete while getting your shot.

The low-angle shot of the ceremony is one of my favourite since I had asked the guest to make way for me to sit down and get that shot during the ceremony; the end result is a ceremony which isn’t disturbed and a shot that shows off the gorgeous backdrop (and foreground) of this intimate wedding.

Make some friends, in fact, make a lot. A wedding is much more than the bride and groom, talk to the rest of the guests, make some friends and just have some fun yourself.

It’s okay if you break your own rules. I had decided not to get any “boring flash shots”, but I ended up ditching that since the entry for the bride and groom was in almost complete darkness and against the light. I just love how the emotion is perfectly

captured in this shot. However, today, I am usually much better prepared for any entry shot or any lighting. Our recces, and light setups ensure that we get the kind of light we like for every moment.

The tenth thing I learnt is something I incorporated into every wedding till today, and I only learned it during the fourth wedding I shot. Every wedding is different, and just because you have shot a certain kind of shot at one wedding

doesn’t mean you don’t do it at the next wedding as well. The challenge is to make every wedding exciting for you, as well as the couple.

TEXT AND IMAGES: JOSEPH RADHIK

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Post Production Workflow

After you finish shooting a wedding, the process of post begins and this process sure can be overwhelming

because while shooting we capture thousands of frames. Timelines are always tight, and you’re juggling multiple sessions at once. This article will take you through the basic workflow for post-production of wedding photographs. We will also introduce you to the Lightroom presets that will speed up your post production and fastforward this challenging process.

All of us want to please our clients with amazing final product on time, with no delays and without being stuck on the system for long hours. How are we going to achieve that? One simple word – workflow. A properly planned workflow will help you save time and will allow you to deliver consistently good and high-quality work. The idea is jotting down a workflow and then sticking to it! The most important thing to remember is that it should make your process easier, instead of complicated or inefficient. If it’s made lousily – it will fall apart too.

We are now sharing the basic workflow that we would follow if we were shooting weddings:

Import and Backup The first step in editing is actually downloading the images from your memory cards to your PC. Make sure you get yourself a good memory card reader with durable connectors and upgraded USB port.

Sorting Sorting images and categorising them

is a big task itself, this is where Lightroom comes to rescue. It’s also a good idea to use a separate programme to sort that isn’t


Here’s what to keep in mind while sorting out your images

• Sort inclusively: That means choose the images you want to keep, not the ones you want to remove. You’ll have far fewer keepers than the one’s you have deleted, so looking for ones to include takes less time.

• Go through all the images quickly, and take decisions based on instinct and aesthetics. Don’t try to save time by stopping to compare photos to one another. Comparing photos at this stage will do nothing but slow you down.

• Once you’ve pre-sorted images, then go through them a second time with a much more critical eye. Since you’ve seen all the images once, you’ll have a much better idea of what should stay and what should go.

capable of editing the images, you can use Adobe Bridge to sort and select images. While on the other hand, once exported, Lightroom is easier for editing. By sorting your images before importing them into

Lightroom, you ensure that you’re only importing the exact files you want to work on. This keeps your Lightroom catalogue tidy. You also won’t end up wasting time editing a file that you decide not to include!

Editing Once you are done sorting your images – the next step is editing them. We believe the simplest way to edit your wedding pictures can be achieved by one of the most known and benchmarking software from Adobe – Lightroom.

Lightroom Presets Using Lightroom you can quickly make adjustments to white balance, exposure, clarity and colors – the basics. Then you can take it further by applying the Lightroom preset filters for effects, grains, noise, contrasts etc. You can also use the colour dodge, curves, retouch and add/remove vignettes from your images which is pretty easy in the software. Start editing the first image, make your desired adjustments, and move on to the next. The

Before After

November 2014 83

beautiful thing about Lightroom is once you are done editing the first image, you can set it as preset, and from the next image onwards you just have to click on custom user presets and apply the one you just created, saving you a lot of time. Similarly you also have an option of ‘batch edit’ in Lightroom which helps you edit all similar images at once.

Export Once done editing the pictures on the software, use the handy export option and export your images as HIGH RES JPEGs, the resolution being 3oodpi and Adobe RGB colour space. Also renaming your files while exporting makes it easier for you’re to segregate while displaying the work to the client or while sorting them for your own folio. You also have an option to export the same files into Photoshop and retouch.

Retouching We prefer using Photoshop for retouching images. When it comes to wedding – re-touch only those images that are required to go into the album or any of the later deliverables. Re-touching bucket loads of images will consume a lot of time. One of the best tools that we have come across for batch-retouching is AutoLoader which is a Photoshop tool developed by Mike D. AutoLoader is essential for anyone who edits files in Photoshop, it handles all the tedious file management tasks, allowing you to focus on the work at hand. Born from the need to individually retouch hundreds of photos, it has become an invaluable workflow component for hundreds of photographers worldwide. You can always check other options out.

Deliverables For products that are ordered (albums, prints) review the images one final time. Make sure that no additional retouching is required and that the brightness, contrast and colour temperature are perfect. You can also increase the sharpness of the image a little, to ensure crisp prints. To know more about deliverables, we have a dedicated article on the topic this month.

These were the basic workflow steps according to us that are apt. We hope it will save you some time in creating your own! It’s easy to follow, and takes into account every necessary step. Feel free to adapt it, tweak it, and experiment with it to find something that works perfectly for

you. The following are the three things you have to remember:

Don’t Outsource Outsourcing is pretty popular thing right now in the industry. We will do the shooting but hire someone for post – is not the right attitude to carry. At first, it will seem like a good idea but remember outsourcing involves paying others for your post production which can be heavy to your pockets. The problem however is not just money but the fact that you are your own style and skill-set is sacrificed here. By just shooting you are not necessarily learning the complete art of wedding photography. Outsourcing will increase your budget and the timeline on your project. It might be hard at first, but with time it will be an asset.

Time Yourself Time how long each step takes. Challenge yourself to improve the speed of your work, while maintaining the level of quality. If certain areas are taking up a lot of time, see if you can change something to improve your efficiency.

At the end, the more you practice, the faster you’ll be able to bring the best out of your images. We hope this article helps you in developing your own workflow, if not, follow the one we told you. If you have a different style through post-production, do write to us. Until then, Happy Shooting!

TEXT: USHMA DHAMDHEREIMAGES: STEVE D’SOUZA


Tips & Techs

Wedding photography in general has evolved a lot in the past few decades. Currently, the two major approaches are traditional

and photojournalistic. Traditional wedding photography provides more of classic posed images, and has a great deal of photographer control and interaction on the day of the wedding. Photojournalistic wedding photography takes its cue from editorial reporting styles and focuses more on candid and unopposed images, with little photographer interaction. These are two extremes and many of today’s photographers will mostly fall somewhere in the middle of these two styles. If the shooting style has evolved even the deliverable process has subsequently evolved.

Wedding photography is basically divided into two processes, photographing the wedding and delivering the finished product. Your work just doesn’t end at shooting

and editing – it has more to it. We started off initially with delivering our final wedding product as prints then moved on to CDs and now there are so many options to pick from that it might confuse anyone. The wide range of deliverables present today is varied. There are no limitations or set standards as to what will be or won’t be included in the package you are offering to your client. So these deliverables vary with the number of photographs demanded by the client or the number that you have decided. Most wedding photographers prefer giving a set of untouched, non-edited images for preview in 4x6 formats. After the clients pick and choose what they want in the final product, the photographer sends in a quote with the options available. In this article we are going to take you through all the trending options in terms of deliverables:

November 2014 85

Trendsin deliverables

Prints There is wide range of album manufacturers available in the market today. There are different kind of albums to pick and choose from. The era has changed from just normal album to a 4D album which does seem pretty fascinating. You can either pick from digital or print:

• Print Albums: You can pick from traditional matted albums, digitally designed ‘coffee table’ albums, contemporary flush mount albums, hardbound books, scrapbook style albums, or a combination of any of the above. The choice of albums can be predefined while finalising the project – though most photographers don’t include the price of


printing an album in their initial budgets.• Digital Albums: They are popularly known as ‘Digital

photo viewers or Digital frames’. All you have to do is load a memory card with all the pictures and insert it in the frame. The most basic ones start from `4,000 and above. The higher you go on quality the more the price increases.

• Canvas Prints: A lot of people these days prefer printing their best wedding portrait on canvas for their bedrooms. So you can also opt for that option.

• 4D Albums: Is it a myth or some new technology advancement? This year at photo-fair we saw a lot of print partners showcasing the ‘4D Albums’, which is nothing more than an advance printing technique with a compilation of different kind of papers. For more do check it out at your local album printer.

• Pre-Wedding shoot booklet: A lot of people prefer passing out printed booklets of their pre-wedding shoots, as a thank you note during/after the wedding. You can also experiment with that.

WebThe web world is probably the most famous aspect of reality today, with medium going a little below the sheet, digital on the other hand has taken a hike. There are various ways you can provide the client with your deliverables, the two most popular ways that we have come across are:

• Customized Websites: A lot of people, for the ease of use, create a website as their wedding photos preview or sharing with the family. This can affect your cost and increases the budget, because your client might allot you a budget to set up the website – make sure you include the costing in the budget. But this also reduces your hassles of printing a hard copy and getting it delivered.

• Snapfish! and others: There are couples of websites like Snapfish by HP which allows you to upload the images on their server and then the client can choose the template and all the paper options and then print their own album according to their choices. Your work as a photographer ends at uploading the images to the server and suggesting what can be done.

If you really are on a tight budget, talk to the client and explain them all the options with prices available. There are many very effective ways to hold down your wedding cost. But, remember – you get what you produce!


November 2014 87

CAMERA REVIEW

Pentax QS-1Ricoh announced the Pentax QS-1 around August this year, its latest compact interchangeable lens camera which comes with a Q lens mount. The QS-1 comes with a standard 3x zoom kit lens and multiple choice of lenses. Besides some updates, the basic features like a 12MP 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS have remained same as the previous Q7 model. The QS-1 will be sold in 40 different colour combinations with quite a charming compact body. Let’s see how it performed on various aspects.

PRICE

` 53,755

With 5-15mm

(0.2 and 0.6 lens)

TIPS & TECHS


Look, Body and Feel The QS-1 offers a very compact body which is even smaller when compared to a pocket-sized sleek iPhone 5, making it a great choice for photographers who prefer to carry a small compact camera around while travelling. With a small weight and size, it will fit in the skinniest of your jeans. Don’t consider the QS-1 in the point and shoot category, as it comes with 15 variations in attachable lenses including the prime that we tested it with. The QS-1 also comes with a pop-out small flash which is sufficient enough to light –up your images in a dark room and with an amazing red-eye removal. You can also change the replaceable leather grip which comes in 8 different options.

The most attractive feature on the QS-1 body is the filter dial on front left. It offers the direct filter option in all the shooting modes, I’m sure it’s going to be perfect and pretty alluring to the Instagram crowd. You can also customise the front dial through the camera settings. An optional tripod bracket is available to securely stabilize the camera system when longer lenses are attached.

won’t really be needed thanks to the blur control option.

Performance The QS-1 offers you a maximum shutter-speed of 1/2000th of a second and ISO sensitivity of 12800. The 3-inch LCD screen on the back is pretty easy to access and the workflow is pretty impressive. There is a continuous autofocus add-on during movie shooting, but is not compatible with all the lens options available. There is a step-up improvement on the face-detection and tracking auto-focus. The sensor is a 12.4-megapixels backside-illuminated CMOS, it also has a built-in shake reduction and has better low-light performance. The camera is pretty smooth to use, and has effects just in the front on the camera body, making it easier to switch and shoot. The new Bokeh Control feature will allow users without any photography background to achieve that soft, out-of-focus look in the background of their images. Different scene modes allow for shooting in a variety of different conditions and still

Sample Image

Sample Image

November 2014 89

Light weight, small body and a very hassle-free filter dial with a first generationuser interface

Look, body and feel rating

Amazing filters and good blur control.

Performance rating

We found this small bundle of joy exciting, but just like the Q10, the ISO performance can

really be improved.

Overall rating

Effective pixels 12.4 MP

Sensor 1/1.7” Backlit CMOS Sensor

Focus System Contrast detection autofocus with face detection, tracking, multi-point auto, select and spot

LCD Monitor Type: 3.0-inch TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating

Flash Built-in retractable P-TTL flash, Sync Speed: Lens shutter: 1/2000 seconds, Electronic shutter: 1/13 seconds, Flash Exposure Compensation: –2.0 to +1.0 EV

ISO Sensitivity AUTO : ISO 100 to 12800 (1/3 EV steps)

White Balance Auto TTL by CMOS image sensor, Preset: Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Colour, N: Daylight White, W: Cool White, L: Warm White), Tungsten, Flash, CTE, Manual

Shutter Type: Lens shutter: 1/2000 - 30 seconds

Video Movie: MOV MPEG–4 AVC/H.264 (.mov)

Drive Modes Single frame, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-timer (12s, 2s), Remote Control (0 sec., 3 sec, continuous), Exposure Bracketing (3 frames, remote control), Multi-exposure (0 sec., Self-time, remote control), Interval Shooting

Dimensions Approx. 4.13”(W) x 2..28”(H) x1.33” (D)

Weight 7.16oz (203g)

Operating Humidity

built-in neutral density filter.

Specifications

achieving solid results. The Pentax QS-1 is also equipped with features like high dynamic range shooting, and digital filters for effects like toy camera and fish eye. Of course, the QS-1 does include manual modes, for those who prefer to fine tune their images. It also is equipped with RAW, but still overall appears to be more for an enthusiast, than a professional.

ISO Performance Talking about the ISO sensivity, images taken at the base sensitivity of ISO 100 are full of detail. Images taken at sensitivities up to ISO 400 show no noise and fine details

are reasonably well-defined. Increase this to ISO 800 and a combination of luminance noise and softening of fine details begin to appear on close inspection. While the ISO offered is impressive we noticed that the image quality started to degrade above ISO 1600, like its previous models.

Conclusion Image quality falls short of cameras equipped with a larger sensor, just like the Q10. As we mentioned before, this camera is perfect for people who prefer compactness above everything else. It’s an apt tool for a travel photographer to carry

along with their DSLRs. Those looking for a quirky alternative to the current crop of compact system cameras, with portability being their main concern, may be well served by the QS-1, as long as you’re well aware of its functions and how to use it.

TEXT AND IMAGES :USHMA DHAMDHERE

Sample Image


Review

Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery Software Review

The switch over from film to digital has been the most interesting one, especially where photographers and videographers are not dependent on film to record

data, which requires a lot of care and is quite expensive. Use of SD and CF cards has been a pleasant welcome to the fraternity with lesser production costs and gives them a room to fearlessly experiment and explore other techniques of shooting. However, most of us suffer from the underlying fear of losing data, caused due to accidental deletion or by corruption of the CF or SD card. This could be quite an ordeal, especially if the images or the video footage shot is exclusive. In times like these, data recovery software can be your saviour.

A host of solutions exist in the market today, which enables data recovery from various media (memory cards, external hard drives, internal hard drives etc.). We’ve used a few over the years, and very rarely have they recovered the full contents of our memory cards, without a few files being corrupt.

Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery 6.0 is available as a small download (approx 10 MB) and costs `2400. It can be used to scan and recover lost/corrupt multimedia files. The application supports the creation of an image of the drive that you need to scan, allowing you to analyse that particular image at a later time.

Interface The application has an easy-to-use interface, providing easy access to most of the important functions right from the main window. It provides you with options on the kind of data you’re looking to recover. You can choose to recover photo, audio, and video files, create an image, and even resume the previous recovery session. Once open, the application lists all the drives connected to the PC and if you’ve connected a card (SD card, CF card etc.), it shows up as a new drive ready to be scanned. Advanced options allow you to specify the type of files to scan for, with the files being classified according to its corresponding media type. Upon completion, all the recoverable media is grouped by type and can be selected for saving.

Performance As with most data recovery softwares, data can be recovered from the various media only if the accidentally deleted data hasn’t been overwritten completely. Once overwritten completely, data cannot be recovered.

Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery is primarily focused on image recovery, but it can also be used to recover audio and video files. It comes with support for about 18 image files, 21 audio files and 25 video file formats. We scanned

November 2014 91

a 4GB SD card and were able to recover all the data on it. The scanning process was fast and it took us around 15 minutes to scan and recover the files we were looking for. The process will be even faster if you filter out file formats you know do not exist on the drive. This can be done by altering the advanced scan settings, where the application allows you to search for specific formats rather than searching for all supported formats, which on a large drive can take several hours to complete.

Another noteworthy feature is the ability to choose the start and ending sectors on the selected drives under the

Select Range option. Skipping certain sectors might mean overlooking the files you’re specifically searching for and is recommended only for experienced users. The Create Image feature allows you to create a virtual copy of your drive that you can use any time. However, you need to make sure space for the copy is available on your drive.

Summary We were able to recover all of the deleted files on our 4GB SD card. The features and overall ease of use of this software makes this a good buy for photographers.

Test setup• 4GB SanDisk Extreme SD

card to recover media from• Windows XP for running

Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery 6.0

• Image files including JPG, TIFF, GIFs, Canon and Nikon Raw files

• Video files: AVI, MOV

TexT: STeve DSOUzA


Send in your entries to photoscape at [email protected]

Picture by: Mithun Kumar Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M5Shutter speed: 1/500 secF-Number: f/2.5Focal length: N/AISO: 200

November 2014 93

Û

Picture by: Pradeep ChamariaCamera: N/AShutter speed: N/AF-Number: N/AFocal length: N/AISO: N/A

Û

Picture by: Abhishek PaulCamera: Nikon D3100Shutter speed: 1/320 secF-Number: f/5.3Focal length: 40mmISO: 100

Picture by: Shivshankar MuraliCamera: N/A

Shutter speed: N/AF-Number: N/A

Focal length: N/AISO: N/A


Û

Picture by: Amit VakilCamera: Canon EOS 550DShutter speed: 1/125 secF-Number: f/11Focal length: 18mmISO: 100

Û

Picture by: Prasun Sanyal Camera: Nikon D5000Shutter speed: 1/250 secF-Number: f-8Focal length: N/AISO: 200

Picture by: Sumant LenkaCamera: N/A


Focal length: N/AISO:

November 2014 95

Û

Picture by: Debajit DuttaCamera: Nikon D3100Shutter speed: 1/100 secF-Number: f/13Focal Length: 10mmISO: 100

Û

Picture by: Kasturi MukherjeeCamera: Canon 550DShutter Speed: 1/45 secF-Number: f/2.8Focal Length: 50mmISO: 200

The Winner

Of the Monthly

PHOTOSCAPESection will

receive a gift from

Uniross

Picture by: Hitesh ChabraCamera: Nikon D610

Shutter speed: 1/1250 secF-Numer: f/1.8

Focal Length: 85mm ISO: 160


These photographs have been taken at Palla road which is in West Bengal. In this series I want to portray the immense amount of joy that children go through just before the festival of Durga Puja which is one of the major festivals of Bengal. It is celebrated in the autumn season. The white flowers in the images are called Kash Phool which is a symbol of autumn for the locals and are also used to adorn the statues of Durga. In the following series you will note that the excitement for the festival is clearly reflecting in their attitudes and smiles.

Indrajit Debanath, West Bengal

Send in your portfolio at: [email protected]

November 2014 97

The Featured

portfolio in the

PHOTOMONTAGE

section will receive a

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Readers

’ Comments

and Suggest

ions.

..The



and do show me that you have a knack for shooting. But like much of the people out there, it seems to me that you are doing a lot of post-processing on your images. But I don’t blame you for it, as most of the photographic schools these days push this so much, that students forget to click pictures and think more about what they will do in post-processing. So I suggest that you also focus of shooting and on the basics.

Dear Sir,I am an avid reader of the magazine for a couple of years now. I have been reading the magazine since that time but never really sent a letter yet, so this is my fi rst time. I saw the October 2014 issue of the magazine and I found the Photo Printer Shootout very interesting. I had a question about it. I saw the sample images and the images produced by Epson and Canon and there were clear differences in the same. Is this done deliberately to show the difference? Also, how much time does it take for AP to do such tests in details?

I also loved the Round-Up article on Photokina 2014. It actually gave me a deep insight and actual pictures of what technology was featured there. Since I follow your FB page and the website as well, it gave me great information on the show. I will surely visit it next time.Regards,Ashish Rao, Mumbai

Dear Ashish,Thanks a lot for your email and it’s good to know that you like the magazine. Actually in my time with the magazine I have never come across a letter that enquires anything about the printer shootout. Yes, we do have letters asking about the shootouts, but they are usually more for the cameras and lenses. But there is always a fi rst time, and I am happy that you asked this.

To answer your fi rst question regarding the images being tweaked, the answer is NO. The images that we print in the magazine are ‘as is’ printed out by the printers from the samples that we get. In fact these are also stored for a year with us in case any of the manufacturers request to see the same since the time of the shootout.

Since this involves using benchmarking tests there is no way to tweak the images even in post-processing. An average time that we take to review a printer in a shootout is about a week. Also once the shootout is started it is not stopped since it needs continuous printing of all the different sizes and media.

It’s good that you liked the article on Photokina as well. You must visit it in future.

January 2011 asian PhotograPhy and imaging[6]

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Dear Editor,

I want to convey my thanks and regards to you for reviewing my photos in the link that I provided. I express my gratitude for providing me with your most valuable feedback and reviews on my photos. I promise that I will practice more on shooting techniques and try to improve my compositions. Following your advice I have already started to experiment on different subjects and I am getting better results.

However, I want to improve my compositional skills and give my pictures a more professional touch. I am currently using a Nikon Coolpix L110 camera and looking forward to buy a DSLR after I pass Class 12. It would be very kind of you to provide me, as well as the readers, tips on composition. Hope you take up the subject.

Regards,,Sabyasachi TalukdarNagaon, Assam

Dear Sabya,

It is good to know that our feedback has helped you in improving your photography skills and that you would like to learn more and more from the magazine. I will discuss this in our upcoming edit meet and we will ensure that we do something comprehensive on the Composition side so that the readers can benefit from it.

Dear Editor,

I have been reading your magazine for a while now and must comment that your team and you have been doing a great job. I have seen the simple and subtle changes that you have brought to the content and the fine balance that the magazine has been achieving lately.

I also like the reader columns like My Story, Ask Your Expert and Shoot My City. I am happy that you are looking at sections in the magazine that make them more reader interactive and I think that is the way forward for any magazine. From the December issue I loved the interview of Dabboo Ratnani. The DSLR shootout also provided a lot of valuable feedback on the cameras and their performances. Wish the AP team renewed success and great year ahead.

Regards,Vishal ShahAhemdabad,Gujarat.

Dear Vishal,

We are always happy to know that the readers are appreciating our work since it takes a lot of effort to put all the things together. Apart from the same I also have a great team that works really hard to ensure that we keep that fine balance in our content going.

In the months to come you will see some more initiatives that are reader driven so that we can engage more of the readers and also interact with them on a regular basis.


Canon U.S.A. announced the Canon EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera, the latest addition to the

Canon Cinema EOS line of professional Super 35mm 8.3 megapixel CMOS cameras and the second-generation version of the popular Canon EOS C100 Digital Video Camera.

Designed for economical film and video productions such as documentary and remote broadcast crews, wedding and event coverage, indie film productions, as well as film schools and business and government users, the new EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera, features advanced image processing, AVCHD and MP4 1920x1080/60p recording, uncompressed YCbCr output from HDMI, and many other new and enhanced capabilities for improved picture quality, operability, and convenient handling. Delivering a cinematic look with shallow depth of field and high

sensitivity in low-light environments, the new EOS C100 Mark II camera weighs just 2.5 lbs. and is compatible with over 103 Canon EF Series lenses, including STM models which can deliver smooth and silent autofocus during filmmaking.

“Canon’s commitment to the advancement of tools for visual expression takes another major step forward with the introduction of the EOS C100 Mark II Digital

Video Camera,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO of Canon U.S.A. “Drawing on input from Canon’s global community of Cinema EOS camera users and from digital filmmakers using Canon EF lenses – 100 million of which have now been produced worldwide – the Company has added new capabilities to the EOS C100 Mark II from its predecessor that powerfully leverage our considerable expertise in optics, imaging, and digital signal processing. The result is an improved, affordable Super 35mm CMOS digital camera that is designed to provide outstanding HD image quality, operational performance, ergonomics, and workflow convenience.”

The Canon EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera is scheduled to be available at the end of December 2014 for an estimated retail price of $5,499.

news

Canon announces the second-generation eos C100 mark ii digital video camera

ricoh announces WG-30W and WG-30 rugged compacts

Richoh announces its latest digital compact cameras for underwater photography, including a Wi-Fi-

compatible model with smartphone-support functions, the RICOH WG-30 and WG-30W. Boasting an array of advanced features these compact, lightweight cameras with waterproof bodies are able to hold their own in the field, ensuring you are free to capture every moment through high-quality images and Full HD movies.

Both the RICOH WG-30 and WG-30W deliver boast of technical specifications like being waterproof to a depth of 12 metres, shockproof against falls from 1.5 metres, and freeze-proof to temperatures as low as 10°C. The RICOH WG-30W, available from December, also comes equipped with a host of Wi-Fi functions where users can release the camera’s shutter and set various shooting functions from a distance, browse and

download recorded images and movies, and even share them with friends by uploading them to social networks and other websites via their smartphone.

Both the cameras are equipped with CMOS image sensor and a newly designed imaging engine allows for nightscapes and indoor sports events using a top sensitivity of ISO 6400. The triple anti-shake protection also prevents blurred images, while six macro lights assist close-up shooting, with a Self-Portrait Assist mode.

With a resolution of approximately 16.0 effective megapixels and Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) movie recording capability; the new WG-series models also include a range of WG-series mount accessories for a variety of camera setups, two remote control receptors (both front and back) to widen signal coverage, macro stand (included) to maintain a minimum focusing distance of one centimeter to the subject

during extended observation and shooting, High-speed Face Detection function to capture as many as 32 faces in focus in approximately 0.03 seconds (minimum); Smile Capture function to automatically release the shutter when the subject’s smile is detected, Outdoor-friendly Style Watch function displaying the time on the LCD monitor, Auto Picture mode to automatically select the most appropriate shooting mode from 16 different scene modes and a choice of 12 digital filters.

It is said to be available in the US market by the end of November 2014 followed by the worldwide release.

November 2014 14

news

EPSON launches the SureLab

D700 Photo Printer

Ricoh Imaging expands PENTAX K-mount lens line-up with a versatile DA 16-85mm Epson India, recently announced

the launch of its new SureLab D700 photo printer, a mini

desktop version of its SureLab D3000. The SureLab D700 is Epson’s first six-colour compact photo production printer with inkjet technology, offering a wide range of media and format options. Combining colour output with reliability and cost-efficiency, Epson said is ideally suited for small and medium sized commercial photo labs in India.

According to Epson, its Micro Piezo print head technology used within the Epson SureLab D700 guarantees crisp and vivid image quality. The printed images are sharp and defined thanks to its high 1440dpi x 720dpi (max) resolution, variable sized ink droplets and precise droplet placement. The Epson SL-D700 has been manufactured to easily provide print durable colour and black and white images on gloss, lustre and matte media and can produce prints sized from 102mm x 152mm to 205mm x 305mm. It is capable of producing up to 360 6” x 4” production quality photos per hour. Users are able to print directly from common photo applications and also available as an optional Epson proprietary OrderController V3.0 software at additional cost, that has integrated job estimation, scheduling, image editing and colour control to manage print jobs.

Epsons SureLab D700 will be offered in a package as part of

Epson’s Pro Lab Imaging solutions. The first of the Epson Pro Lab Imaging Solutions packages is meant for Commercial Photographers who can invest `5.0 Lakhs. The Epson Micro Photo Lab Solution will offer a business opportunity for the smallest of lab owners and people looking to start off in the business. Epson India’s first Micro Photo Lab was inaugurated in the month of September at Mumbai by Worldwide President of Seiko Epson Corporation Mr. Minoru Usui

The products in the package are the mini Digital Dry-Photo Lab - Epson SureLab SL-D700 and the A2 Size Professional Printer Pro 4900. Along with these two great printers the package also includes free media and inks to print 12000 4R Prints + 2 Years warranty on both the printers. All of these come with an initial investment of just `5 Lakhs and with the support of in-shop branding elements as well. This package is ideal for providing print services like Coffee Table Books, Greeting Cards, Wedding Albums, Photo Diaries, A3/A2 Color Photo enlargement/Portraits, Instant Photo Prints from 10x12 cms (4R) upto 20x99 cms (8x39”) and many more across a variety of media like Photo Glossy/Matte/Luster papers.

Announcing the launch, Mr. Samba Moorthy, Vice President-Sales & Marketing, Epson India, said, “We have been industry leaders in the photo printer segment offering our customers a diverse range of product offerings. Our SL-D700 is the latest addition to our photo printer portfolio. It is an incredible solution for small photo lab owners wanting to scale up their business and profits. We believe Epson will be changing the commercial photo printing landscape in India yet again with this fantastic product.”

The HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mmF3.5-5.6ED DC WR offers 5.3x zoom from ultra-wide-angle to middle telephoto. Ricoh announced the launch

of the HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mmF3.5-5.6ED DC WR. Designed for use with PENTAX K-mount digital SLR cameras, this interchangeable zoom lens is the newest addition to the K-mount series and will provide photographers with a new, high-quality solution across a wide variety of shooting conditions.

Developed in response to requests from photographers, this new versatile lens provides a high zoom ratio of approximately 5.3 times to cover focal lengths from 16mm ultra-wide-angle to 85mm mid-telephoto for lengths equivalent to 24.5mm to 130mm in the 35mm format. This makes it an ideal lens suitable for anything from wide-angle landscapes to portrait photography. “With the introduction of the new PENTAX DA 16-85mm lens, we are bringing to market a very versatile lens”, said Jim Malcolm, President of Ricoh Imaging North America.” The16-85mm enhances our already extensive line of proven zoom and prime optics.”

This new lens features the PENTAX-exclusive HD coating which delivers sharp, clear images reducing the occurrence of flare and ghosting, even under challenging lighting conditions such as backlight. Its weather-resistant construction with 11 seals makes it remarkably dependable, preventing water from getting into the lens interior. This durable design allows photographers to remain confident in its abilities under demanding outdoor conditions including rain and snow. The lens consists of 16 optical elements in 12 groups and features an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optical element to effectively compensate for chromatic aberrations, and aspherical optical elements to minimise colour bleeding.

With smooth, quiet autofocus operation driven by a built-in DC motor, you’re sure to enjoy serene shooting. The HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mmF3.5-5.6ED DC WR lens will be available at retailers nationwide and at www.ricohimaging.com in November 2014 for a suggested retail price of $749.95.


news

HTC announces REHTC, embarked upon a new era

and exciting new direction for the business, with the introduction

of RE. The RE applies HTC’s touch and stunning design philosophy to break into a completely new product category. “HTC has been setting the standard for smartphones for years - today we’re focused on redefining the concept of imaging forever,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC. “As a company we don’t stand still and our devotion to innovation has seen us take smart photography in a completely new direction for our business and our customers. Once people get a RE in their hands, they won’t want to put it down. This is everybody’s opportunity to get out from behind the lens and start living in the moment again.”

With a minimalist cylindrical design,

RE is made to be held in the palm of your hand. The RE’s built-in grip sensor instantly activates the camera as it’s picked up, eliminating the need for a power button. Its large, tactile shutter button captures photos with a single tap and videos with a longer press. The RE is equipped with a high-resolution 16MP CMOS sensor, Full HD (1080p) video recording and a 146-degree wide-angle lens.

RE also features slow-motion and time-lapse recording options and can shoot underwater. The RE interacts with your smartphone through the RE application, which syncs photos, videos and time-lapse recordings seamlessly over Wi-Fi at the touch of a button. It is available on Android and iOS and the RE app backs up photos and videos to your phone or the cloud.

It allows the user to control the

whole device remotely through the app and use the smartphone into a remote viewfinder. RE will soon offer real-time video streaming to YouTube, allowing users to live in the moment and share it live via your YouTube channel.

RE will be available in the US from late October, with other markets following later.

Tamron has announced the release of 28-300mm

F/3.5-6.3 Di PZD (Model A010), a new all-in-one zoom lens for full-frame DSLR cameras available starting October 30, 2014 for Sony mount.

The Sony mount will be first launched in the Japanese market, with overseas launch to follow at a later date. The Canon and Nikon mount models are previously available.

The optical construction of this lens includes four elements of LD (Low Dispersion) glass, three Molded-Glass Aspherical elements, one Hybrid Aspherical element, one XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass element, and one element of UXR (Ultra-Extra Refractive Index) glass, which has greater refractive index than XR.

Tamron announced that it had produced a total of 5 million high-power zoom lenses for interchangeable-lens cameras as of September 30, 2014.

Over 22 years since Tamron released the AF28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 Aspherical (Model 71D) in 1992, the company has continued to develop innovative high-power zoom lenses as a “pioneer of high-power zoom lenses” such as further expanding the focal range, realizing astounding lightweight and compact structure, supporting digital SLR cameras, incorporating VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanisms, and implementing the PZD (Piezo Drive) ultrasonic motor.

Tamron has announced that it has produced a total of 5 million Tamron high-power zoom lenses as a result of the development of high-power zoom lenses spanning the past 22 years.

At present, Tamron has a wide lineup of high-power zoom lenses supporting various camera formats. In particular, during 2014, the company has released the 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO (Model B016) for APS-C sized digital SLR cameras with a world-first 2 18.8x zoom, the 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD (Model A010) supporting full-frame digital SLR cameras, and the 14-150mm F/3.5-5.8 Di III (Model C001) for Micro Four Thirds mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras.

Tamron produces five millionth high-power zoom lens

Tamron announces the launch of 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di PZD (Model A010) for Sony mount

I have been reading your magazine for a while now. I have a question on whether I should go for second hand Nikon D800 or a new D7100?Omkar KulkarniPune

Dear Omkar,There are lots of customers who buy second-hand

cameras from the market and it is perfectly safe. It is like buying a second-hand car. Much like a car, it is very important to examine the goods properly. So these are points that you should keep in mind in case you are buying a second-hand camera.

1. Make sure the person you are buying the camera from is trustworthy

2. Examine the body, lens and the mechanisms properly3. Play around with the camera to see if it works fine,

especially the smaller features.4. Ensure that the goods are clean and with all the

paperwork. Not that this makes a big difference, but it is always good to keep everything in line and proper

5. Check the internal battery, memory and USB slots carefully since over time these tend to rust sometimesThese are the basic things that you should keep in

mind while looking into the cameras.

I have been using D3200, and recently I have started using Nikkor 70-300 with VR. When I shoot with a focal length of 300mm and distance of object above 40ft the sharpness of image is not quite satisfactory, even after cropping. Suggest me how to improve this.Sudip GuinKolkata

Dear Sudip,There are varieties of factors due to which you

might be facing problems with the sharpness. This can be a combination of factors that include the lens, as well as in most cases, the technique. I am assuming that you are using a tripod when you are shooting at the maximum focal length of 300mm because if you are shooting it handheld then it would be near impossible to rule out blur.

Most telephoto lenses at maximum focal length lack full clarity and sharpness but the Nikkor 70-300mm being a lightweight lens has more of an issue in this respect. But that doesn’t mean that the lens isn’t great. Since many other lenses are much heavier, they plant themselves well, and by sheer weight eliminate any shake caused while shooting. Also, it’s not only you, it’s difficult for many people

Answered by Bhavya Desai

EditorAsian Photography

Send in your Questions [email protected]


to get sharp images at the longer focal lengths because one will need to use smaller apertures, which leads to longer shutter speeds and more potential for blur.

So I suggest that you stick to smaller apertures at 300mm, which will give you decent sharpness, softness and clarity around the images.

I am a regular reader of your magazine. I want to know how star trails are captured and how to process that image. I thought you would be right person to clarify that. Sobhan Pavan Tej

Dear Sobhan,That’s a very interesting question that you have asked, and also a question which can’t be explained in the limited space in this section. But in brief I can tell you a few things that are a must for shooting star trails. In terms of technique, shooting a star trail is not very diffi cult. But it is the preparation and the place that is very important to get good star trail pictures.

So it is very important to select a good place, preferably one with a solid grounding (which doesn’t move). Also make sure that it is a colder night since that will make the visibility of the stars much better. Further it is extremely important that it is a night which doesn’t have a moon since any moonlight will defl ect on the sky and stars.

Naturally you will need the right gear and one can’t do without is a tripod (the heavier the better) if they want to get such images. If you have a shutter/trigger release and an intervalometer, then that is also very helpful, but these aren’t very necessary. A torch is another important gear that you will need since it gets pitch dark in the night and you wont be able to see a thing.

THE QUESTION OF THE MONTH WINS CAMERA CLEANING KIT WORTH `600

November 2014 18

Questionof the Month

AP

The two P’s, which are ‘preparation’ and ‘patience’, are also very important to get good images. It’s wise to set up the shot during the day before you actually start shooting the images well post-sunset since you need to get the level of your camera right including the manual focus on the camera. Also ensure that image stabilisation is off on your camera once you mount it up on the tripod.

Use large aperture (F/4) to shoot star trails with a 30-sec exposure, which will give you decent results. The infi nity setting on the lens is also very important (it’s marked as a ‘∞’ on the lens at the far end of the focus).Take a few test shots and see the results and then you can tweak the settings to get the desired results. Preferably shoot at ISO 1600 and take it from there since that will also determine the quality of the results.

The post-processing bit can be taken up in the article. We will try and see if we can run a Tips & Tech on this topic in the next few months to give you a deeper understanding of this.

shoot my city

Often when we talk about travelling, we think about travelling abroad, but one should

start exploring their country too. There is so much to explore in India, many colourful states, people and traditions! I personally never had a chance to explore my own country, and then one fine morning, a friend who often goes on treks, gave me a call and randomly asked me “Do you want to come on a backpack tour with me?”. She told me that she is planning 20-day long tour with her two other trekking friends.

I was anxious about the 20 days, as I am not someone who treks, just a photographer. Stressing about various things like work leaves, at first I wanted to decline. But then I wondered, this is probably the only chance I will get to see so many cities. And this is how my adventurous tour to North East India began!

Our main goal was to make this tour a low budget, as well as adventurous. We booked train tickets to all our main destinations and pre-booked the hotel

stay at our first destination, Gangtok, and our last destination, Kolkata. Like most of our journeys, this one began with an early morning train ride from CST station by Geetanjali Express. After long 30-hour journey we finally reached Kolkata, from where we travelled to New Jalpaiguri by train. On reaching New Jalpaiguri, we booked a shared cab which took us to our first destination in our six state tour, Gangtok - the capital of Sikkim.

Transport in North East India is convenient as rented cars are easily available. The weather in Gangtok was fabulous. We stayed in a hotel on MG Road, which is the main market road of Gangtok. Despite of being on main market road, there were no signs of heavy traffic. Our next day at Gangtok was spent well, visiting Baba Mandir and Rumtek Monastery. Baba Mandir is a shrine in the honour of Major ‘Baba’ Harbhanjan Singh who died near the Nathula Pass in Sikkim. The Do-Drul Chorten Stupa and the Rumtek Monastery are few of the most sacred Buddhist monasteries.

Everyone suggested us to visit Darjeeling but we decided to drop that plan and instead of visiting this touristy place, we went to visit a small village called Tinchuley. I feel that was the best decision we made in this whole journey. The word Tinchuley means Three Ovens (Chullahs). With the help of WWF, the village has developed Village Home Stays. Reaching there was a task for us, as no one in Darjeeling or Gangtok knew much about this village. After a lot of struggle we finally met a milk van driver who knew the place and agreed to take us there. This was truly one of the most unique modes of transports that I have travelled in. We stayed in a very famous home stay called

November 2014 25

‘Gurung Guest House’. The experience here was truly amazing. Lovely location, clean, neat and massive guesthouses, loving and caring hospitality stole our hearts. We fell in love with the village, and I got to see clear sky covered with sparkling stars. No pollution, no neon signboards, just a beautiful starry night!

After Tinchuley, our next stop was Sandakfu. Sandakfu is the highest peak in West Bengal. A peak from where four of the five highest peaks in the world, Mt. Everest, Mt. Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu can be seen. To visit our third destination, we had to first reach its base point, which was Mane Bhanjang. Mane Bhanjang is on a borderline of India –

Nepal. There are two ways to reach Sandakfu, by trekking or by car. As trekking was not possible for us, we decided to rent a car from Mane Bhanjang. The rented car was 1950’s made Land Rover. After experiencing 4 hours of a rocky ride, we managed to reach Sandakfu. We stayed in a government guesthouse, and trust me, it was fabulous! I was really surprised to see the food quality and rooms cleanliness.

Till now we had experienced pleasant cold weather but Sandakfu had really chilled weather. Our phones stopped working, as our guesthouse was located near Indian military base. We were freezing even after wearing multiple layers of woollen clothes, and at the same time,

Sandakfu is the highest peak in West Bengal. A peak from where four of the five highest peaks in the world, Mt. Everest, Mt. Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu can be seen

November 2014 27

we could see military officers emptying icy-cold water on their body just to make themselves immune to that chilled weather. From Sandakfu we could easily see Kanchenjunga glacier. As the sun set on Kanchenjunga glacier, the Indian flag was taken down, with the tuba playing in the background; it definitely gave goose bumps, and a patriotic feeling!

After covering West Bengal area, our next destinations were Seven Sisters states. As we did not have much time, we decided to cover only four sisters. The first two sisters were Assam and Meghalaya. Our destinations were Guwahati and Shillong. Both places were a little disappointing. While we found Guwahati was nothing quite different from Mumbai, Shillong had us stuck in traffic for almost 7-8 hours. We wasted a whole day in Shillong sitting inside our car doing nothing. The moment we entered the city we were stuck in traffic. After having a not-so-pleasant experience, we decided not to stay there any further and started our journey for Imphal, Manipur. Having heard so much about Kaziranga National highway, we asked our driver to take that

route, and what a route it was! One side is fully covered with tea plantations, whereas the other side you get to see Brahmaputra river doing peek-a-boo. As Shillong to Imphal was a long drive, we decided to take a stop for a night at Dimapur, Nagaland.

Next day morning we started our journey to Imphal, Manipur. After reaching Imphal we couldn’t help but notice one thing, local police everywhere. There was male/female police standing almost at every short distance. Many local police officers told us not to roam around after evening seven. We also realised, that the sun rises two hours early here. This meant us hearing honking of cars and grinding sound of mixers at 6AM! Anyway, the highlight part of Imphal city was Ema Keithel (market). Ema means mother, and the name literally means mother’s market or women’s market. It is one of the largest markets run by women in the country. Over 3500 female vendors sell garments, vegetables, fresh fishes, fruits, pots, crockery etc.

Our fourth destination was Kohima, Nagaland. Another small town that

ensured we got proper rest before we move on to our return journey. I’d like to especially mentioned here, when you visit North East India, do not forget to try their masala and Wai Wai, freshwater fishes and delicious momos. All locals are loving and helpful, so just enjoy the fresh weather, beautiful sceneries and scrumptious food.

Our whole journey was planned in such a way that we reach back to Kolkata during Durga Pujo days. We managed to reach on Ashtami, the 8th day of Navratri. We quickly booked a room in a small hotel, locked our bags in the room and left for our Durga Pujo pandal visits. Walking on the streets late night was fun. Each and every person was decked up nicely. Decorations, themes of all Durga pandals were different and innovative! Unlimited roadside puchkas and rosogullas kept us awake the whole night!

As we sat on the Duranto Express from Kolkata, after 22 days of non-stop travel, memories full of lovely people and some of the best food, we were finally returning to Mumbai.

TExT AND IMAGES: APARNA PATADE

PRO-PROFILE

Renowned for her mesmerising images,

this artist turned photographer has

shot numerous weddings around

the world. She has also photographed

several celebrity and destination

weddings, and has truly mastered the art of fi ne wedding

photography, with an edge of fashion. Last

year, she became the fi rst photographer to shoot a real wedding using a smartphone.

For our wedding special issue, we

speak to American photographer Joy Marie Smallwood and discover the

aesthetic behind her photography.

The Wedding

The The WeddingWeddingArtist


Joy Marie’s foray into the world of art began with painting. Having studied at UCLA School of Fine

Arts, it was one of her passions. However, after the birth of her first son, it was not easy to dedicate long hours and focus into each individual painting. Thus, she began shooting film as a new way to express her creativity. About fifteen years ago, she was asked by a close friend to photograph her wedding. “I was terrified, but said yes. I’ve been shooting weddings ever since,” she said.

Since then Joy Marie has gone on to shoot weddings in the United States, and around the world. Her work started getting noticed after shooting unique destination and celebrity weddings. Recently she shot the wedding of Owain Yeoman, one of the stars of the American TV show ‘The Mentalist’. Speaking about it, she said, “I love it when my clients put time into making their wedding day an amazing experience for their guests. For Owain and his beautiful bride, Gigi, they wanted their entire day to be about creating an awesome experience for their family and friends. Guests were greeted by a Beat-boxing Harpist, their ceremony backdrop was 360 degree views of the hills of Malibu on a helipad overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and during their cocktail hour, a few of the servers busted out in a spontaneous flash mob dance that slowly grew into 100 people performing on the helipad. It was incredible, and the wedding guests loved it!”

To shoot one wedding after another, a photographer truly has to love shooting weddings, or else it becomes just a monotonous job, and is reflected in the images. We asked Joy Marie, what draws her to weddings, and she said capturing love is what she likes the most. “I recently did a wedding that was the coming together of two completely different cultures and religions; two ethnic groups that in other parts of the world are literally at war with each other. I love when people

November 2014 29

from divergent backgrounds come together, and they treat each other’s cultural and religious traditions with honour, respect and dignity. That to me is true love, and what I most enjoy capturing through my lens. Love has the ability to break down all kinds of barriers.”

She added that capturing the older generation at a wedding is also her favourite, “For some reason, I’m always drawn to the older generation at weddings, the grandparents. I’ve

had a number of couples reach out to me after a grandparent has passed on, and tell me that the moment I captured with that family member at their wedding created a lasting memory that’s cherished by the whole family. That’s what it is all about!”

Joy Marie’s style of wedding photography can be described as a blend of fine art and photojournalism, with an edge of fashion. “But most importantly, I want to capture the


unique spirit and emotion of every couple and individual I photograph,” she said.

Having shot weddings over the years, Joy Marie’s turning point was switching from film to digital. With film, she was very limited in how far she could push the boundaries of creativity on a wedding day. “Clients paid for a certain number of rolls of film, so I felt I had to be very selective in the shots I captured. Once I started shooting digital, I was able to really push the envelope because I could take a lot more photos on a wedding day and not worry about staying within the client’s budget of rolls in their package. When I was shooting film early on, it was difficult to do as much personal work because it meant spending money on rolls of film every time I wanted to experiment. Digital changed all of that.”

If one observes Joy Marie’s images, it is evident that she pays keen attention to lighting and location. We asked her how she comes up with the unique shoot ideas that we see translated in her images. She explained, “One of the things very important to me is knowing my shoot locations and what the light is going to be like at certain times of the day. We do a

November 2014 31

The wedding that Joy shot with a smartphone

December, last year, Joy Marie used a smartphone camera to shoot a wedding. Shot in Capella Pedregal in Cabo, Mexico, she captured the wedding on a Nokia Lumia 1020. When she was approached by the company to shoot the wedding, her first reaction was excitement coupled with anxiousness. She said, “I love pushing creative boundaries, but I was a bit anxious because with wedding photography, there are no “do overs.” You get one opportunity to get certain shots, and if you miss them, there’s no going back.”But she had to first convince the couple to have their wedding shot by a smartphone camera. “Fortunately, this was a couple with whom I’d already built a personal rapport and relationship. I photographed the wedding of their best friends, so they had already seen me in action. After that, they knew how important it was for me to take care of my clients and get the right shots. I think them seeing and experiencing that with their best friends built a level of trust that allowed them to be open to participating in this adventure.”Speaking about shooting on the smartphone, she said, “Being able to change the ISO allowed me to get shots in lighting conditions that otherwise would not have happened. The manual focus allowed me to play with depth of field, and get creative. I was also impressed by the Smart Cam feature. This feature allows you to set the camera to a rapid fire setting. With weddings, there are times that you need to shoot in a “rapid fire” fashion to make sure you get your shot, and the Smart Cam feature allowed me to do just that.”

Shooting a wedding on a smartphone

lot of destination weddings, going to places I’ve never been before. What helps me come up with unique shoot ideas is flying into the destination a day or two before the wedding, and spending an entire day mapping out all of my shooting spots, and coming up with creative ideas. I like to find different indoor and outdoor backdrops with interesting light and texture. Shooting in new places is always an adventure and inspiring for me.”

Being a destination photographer and shooting weddings around the world, Joy Marie has come across a number of couples of different cultures and backgrounds. We asked her how she prepares for this, and she said that she becomes a student of both backgrounds. “I find out all of the unique traditions, I look up definitions, and I ask the couple

about what’s most important to them. Using this approach has been very helpful because there are some traditions that are so sacred that you can’t even photograph them. It’s my job to know that ahead of time. Conversely, there are other traditions that, when performed, may seem like nothing is really going on, yet they’re central to the couple’s religions and must be captured.”

Like every genre of photography, wedding photography has its own set of challenges, and the challenges vary from photographer to photographer. Joy Marie said that the biggest challenge for her is not having enough time to capture everything, if a couple doesn’t want to see each other before their ceremony.

She explains, “At these weddings, we are usually trying to fit the pictures of the couple, the bridal


party and all the family formals into their cocktail hour before the reception. That one hour usually ends up being less after taking time to gather everyone together and inevitably feels a little more stressful for the couple. Most of my couples

choose to see each other before, and we schedule plenty of time to get creative shots with a variety of backdrops. We usually set up an intimate first sight and sometimes get the most beautiful emotional pictures during this time. I’ve never

had a client regret seeing each other before so that those pictures are done and they are able to be more present with their guests and enjoy their day together as it unfolds.”

Evidently, wedding photography has greatly changed over the years, and to be successful wedding photographer, one has to change with the times. Speaking about evolving and adapting, Joy Marie said, “I started out as a Nikon film shooter, so the main way I’ve had to adapt is by switching over to Canon and becoming an all-digital shooter. Since I know film very well, I will still shoot with it, if a client requests it, but I’m primarily shooting all digital.”

Joy Marie also mentioned that the other thing she has had to adapt to is the proliferation of phone images being uploaded to social media. “There are so many people taking phone shots at a wedding that a couple nearly sees their entire

November 2014 33


wedding online a day or two after the event. This has inspired me to get at least a sneak peek of images from the wedding done almost immediately afterwards so the couple can get excited about how beautiful their wedding was.”

Joy Marie said that what motivates and inspires her to keep pushing is her inner artist. “I never want to stay in the same place, I want this shot to be better than my last. I’ve been doing something

artistic as far back as I can remember, I grew up in my mother’s art studio. It’s exciting to push boundaries and continue to find new inspiration. It’s in my DNA, so I wake up every day wanting to get better, know more and try something new.”

Talking about certain thing that a wedding photographer should keep in mind, she stresses that getting to know your client is highly important. “I find out as much as possible about my clients before the wedding: Who

are they? What’s important to them? What’s their vision for their wedding? Do they have any family dynamics I should know about and be aware of on the wedding day?”

Secondly, she mentioned the importance of knowing your location. “It’s imperative to know ahead of time what the light is going to be like where you’ll be shooting. This is especially critical when you’re trying to shoot couples pictures, bridal party and family formals all in the space of time

November 2014 35

between the ceremony and reception. You need to have your shooting spots all mapped out ahead of time.”

Thirdly, Joy Marie highlights how backing everything up multiple times is necessary.” I copy all of my wedding files to my computer, a couple of hard drives and I leave the images on the cards until I’ve had a chance to go through them on the computer. I’ve had times before where the backups didn’t work because of a faulty card reader, so the only useable images were the ones still on the memory cards. If I had reformatted those cards before discovering that issue, I would have deleted an entire wedding.”

Recalling some of her most

memorable moments, she said that it’s memorable when there is some element of surprise or a meaningful touch at the wedding. “One of my grooms was an African drummer. He played his heart out for his bride as she walked down the aisle with African dancers. It was so emotional. At another recent wedding, the groom surprised the bride by having a famous singer serenade her to start the reception. She and all of the guests went crazy! At a wedding, I did last year at Ayana Resort in Bali, Indonesia, there were literally hundreds of craftsmen, musicians and performers from the resort and surrounding villages involved with the wedding day. They did their grand

entrance walking between over 50 local drummers and musicians; It was spectacular.”

As a final advice to upcoming or budding wedding photographers, Joy Marie said that it is good to begin shooting with experienced photographers as much as possible. “I started out interning for an experienced wedding photographer, and the knowledge I gained from shooting with him for free still helps me to this day. There is always something to learn from each other as wedding photographers and when you’re starting out, it can be terrifying, but we’ve all been there,” she concluded.

TEXT: ABHISHEk DESAI


Pro-profile


Anup’s encounter with photography was pure chance. As a child, he grew up watching

his dad work in the film industry, and his natural curiosity led him to pick up the camera. Years down the line, when he was working for an ad agency, they needed some images for a campaign, and he shot some images for them. Little did he know that it would become his passion. He started shooting more often, and then there was no turning back.

Anup is self-taught and has had no formal training in photography. He attributes his learning to the Internet. He said that not having any formal training was an advantage for him, as he did not have to stick to a set of

rules, and could experiment and be creative at photography.

Anup foray into wedding photography began after he was invited by a friend to shoot his wedding. But his work first started getting noticed, when he shot a particular wedding in Bangalore of the couple, Anu and Pavan. “They were as crazy and creative as me. The rapport we had was very evident and this reflected in the images I shot,” he said.

However, he said that there wasn’t a “turning point” as such in his career. “Everything was very gradual. As a photographer and a cinematographer I’m still learning. You see and learn new things every day.

Get inspired from different art forms and I teach myself to correct and learn from my mistakes, which help me grow.”

Speaking about what draws him to weddings, Anup said, “The wedding day is the most memorable day of a person’s life and therefore you can’t afford to mess up. The pressure that comes with this makes it a challenge to shoot weddings, which I love.”

He added, “I enjoy shooting not just great pictures but fantastic memories. My sense of humour helps me befriend the couple very soon and this fuels my creativity. One of the perks of shooting weddings is meeting new people and listening to new stories. Oh, of course, the

November 2014 39


wedding food”! Anup is known for his particularly

creative and eccentric style of wedding photography. We asked him how he would describe it, and he said, “’Quirky’ is how I’d like to put it. I try to outdo myself at every wedding I shoot. Coming up with new ideas and to be different each time is always a challenge. My quirkiness makes amazing memories and also creates a fun set of pictures. I’m really lucky to get clients who are looking out for a mad, quirky and wacky photographer like me.”

We asked him how he came up

with the unique shoot ideas that we see translated in his images, and if he decides on the location and a theme for each wedding shoot. He said, “If you notice most ideas I shoot are not location specific. The shots can be shot anywhere. Like I mentioned earlier, my experiences fuel my creativity. I jot down certain pointers during my every day activities. For sure, if the location calls for it, I use it. The star of the image is the couple, not the location. I never let the location overpower the couple I am shooting.”

Anup makes custom packages for

couples. “Most Indian weddings go on for 2 or 3 days, so based on the requirements of the client I design the package. However, I don’t print the photographs. I put my client in touch with the printers, giving them the

The biggest challenge is to be on top of your game, and to keep coming up with fresh ideas

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Weaponsof ChoiCe

• CanonEOS5DMarkIII• CanonEF24-70mmf/2.8LIIUSM

• CanonEF70-200mm1:2.8LISIIUSM

• CanonEF16-35mmf/2.8LIIUSM

• CanonEF17-40mmf/4LUSM(ThisImostlyuseduringmyunderwatershoots)

• CanonSpeedlite600EX-RT

• IkeliteunderwaterhousingfortheCanonEOS5DMarkII

• IkeliteDS161TTLstrobewithvideolight

freedom to choose a design layout of their choice. The printers do offer a special discount for clients who give my name as a reference.”

Speaking about challenges in wedding photography, Anup said that the biggest challenge is to be on top of your game, and to keep coming up with fresh ideas. “I personally won’t feel good if I have not added value to every wedding that I have shot. I can’t be shooting

the same idea for every wedding and hence I need to keep up with the trend and better it.”

We asked Anup to tell us how he has adapted to changing scenarios of wedding photography through the years, and he said that it was his unique style that has kept him successful. “There is a saying that goes “In a kingdom with nose-less people, the one with half a nose is king”. Being different and fresh helped me


get noticed. When I started shooting weddings I was one of the few photographers who were following a new style. My style of photography and candid photography was not widely accepted and slowly more and more people realised this was different and wedding photography was no more boring. I’m constantly striving to do justice to this art-form and the expectations the client has of me.”

Anup runs the production house, 1st December Films, with his brother Atul Kattukaran. They recently worked on the Nike Advertisement ‘Make Every Yard Count’, which bagged them seven Lions at the prestigious Cannes Festival this year. They also won five CLIO awards and two blue elephants at the Kyoorius Awards.

Anup’s love for the ocean has also led him to get certified as an Advanced Scuba Diver. He took his passion for

photography inside the ocean and has learned to shoot underwater. Being one of the few underwater photographers in India his work is noticed.

We asked him what motivates and inspires him to keep pushing, and he said, “The people who I shoot and the people I shoot with. Everybody has a story. These stories inspire me.”

Speaking about some of his favourite moments, Anup said, “There are quite a few. Each couple shoot I have done has a story behind it. But if you ask me to pick out one fun wedding photo shoot then there was this one time where I actually made one couple kiss for the very first time right in front of my camera. That’s always going to stay very close to me.”

We asked him to give some advice to upcoming wedding photographers, and he said that getting the basics right is one of the

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anup listed some of the tips or rules that one must keep in mind while shooting a wedding

1. Stay true to your work and give it 100% every single time. No wedding is big or small. Shoot every wedding with the same intensity and dedication.

2. Every wedding is a portfolio: Think of every wedding you shoot as a portfolio. With that in mind, you will be motivated to give out the best possible images for that wedding.

3. Know the groom and the bride: They say the best emotions are brought out when people know each other well. If you strike up a good rapport with the clients, you tend to get better photographs, and also the couple will be comfortable with you around.

4. Consider a second wedding shooter: Having a second shooter can work to your advantage. It takes pressure off your shoulders and your work is divided equally. Not only does it give you a second angle but this also works as a contingency plan for when your equipment malfunctions for some reason.

most important things. He added that quoting well is equally important. “Know what your worth is and never under-price. I never negotiate. This just helps gauging a client who is looking to call you for your art, rather than calling you because you are just another wedding photographer.”

He added, “Remember, camera is your best friend, so shoot as much as possible. Knowing your camera and equipment is important. This help

syou concentrate on the image you are taking and not testing the camera while on location.”

Anup also said that it is important to keep the relationship going with your client, even after the wedding is done. “It is something that helps you. I keep in touch with most couples I have shot. I recently shot an underwater maternity shoot for one of my brides.”

TEXT: ABHISHEK DESAI


DEVELOPING YOUR OWN STYLE

Capturing weddings can be a tough task. Photographers have to be constantly on their toes to capture the right moment. This month for our wedding issue, we spoke to a few professional wedding photographers, Indian and international, who expressed their style of shooting weddings. Read on to fi nd out what they had to say.

Emin KuliyevHailing from Azerbaijan, and settled in New York, Emin Kuliyev has been shooting weddings for more than a decade now. His style of photography can be best described as a triumphant marriage of photojournalism with traditional wedding photography. Kuliyev treats each wedding as a journey, and the outcome is refreshingly contemporary.

SPECIAL FEATURE

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His style and tips “When I began, I usually took ideas and inspiration from the internet. Soon, I was trying to understand more about how people behave, as I believe that by predicting their behaviour, one can capture the right moments. Knowing this has helped me a lot while choosing the right camera equipment. My advice to all the budding photographers would be to not copy others and bring out your own creative styles through your lens. By trying out different techniques, one can understand how colours can be portrayed, how the light works and what compositions can do to a photograph.”


V. V. RamanaV.V Ramana is today one of the premier league photographers in the country. Within the professional fraternity, he is known more for his technicalities. Despite the average life of technology in photography domain getting bleak, he believes in exploring the potential of each technical artefact available in the market. He incessantly updates his business infrastructure, apart from continuously striving to � nd innovative ways of using technology.Ramana focuses extensively on the compositions and perspectives while shooting, which is evident from his photographs. His style is distinctly dramatic, and captures the wedding in a heightened cinematic sort of way.

SPECIAL FEATURE

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His style and tips He said that creativity has its own eye and the right images can be captured if one explores the different styles of photography. “I believe merging the fl ash light with the natural light produces a great effect. While creating images it is vital to keep in mind the post-production works which enhance the picture greatly.” As a master of drama, he said, “Using wide angle lenses adds more depth and drama to a photograph. Wedding photography includes candid and emotional moments. Considering the lighting, I feel that natural light is the best to shoot images. You can also use macro photography in weddings to get more creative.” To develop your own style, he said, “You need to develop your niche area which may include weddings, portraits, outdoor or studio shoots, keeping in mind the demand in the market for that particular area.”


Bill Waldorf Bill Waldorf ’s extensive experience in the art and photography industry has given him the unique ability to bring out the best in weddings.

Bill, whose background is in art, draws inspiration from some of the great classical painters like Johannes Vermeer who is known for his use of natural window light and is always looking for a dramatic light while shooting. He believes in drawing inspiration from other great photographers but shoots for himself. While framing his subjects, Bill has explored unique angles, re� ections and objects that are visible in his photographs.

SPECIAL FEATURE

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His style and tips “My passion comes from what I learned as an artist, the fundamentals of light and composition are the foundation of my photography. I recommend that you fi nd what it is that inspires you as a photographer. I would advise not to copy someone else’s style. Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun. I also want to be aware of other elements within the scene that may add context to the story of the image. To me, photography is evolutionary. I always want to be pushing myself to try new things and grow continuously.”


Vinayak DasCompletely self-taught as a photographer, Vinayak Das specialises in documentary and people photography. An avid traveller, working and playing with natural light and subjects of social and cultural interest is his forte. Vinayak has been one of the most popular new-age wedding photographers in India. Vinayak along with his wife Snigdha run Photo Tantra, a company dedicated to Wedding Photography across India.

Vinayak prefers shooting with two camera bodies. One with a 24mm or a 35mm prime and another with a 85mm prime lens. In some cases, he uses the 24-70mm.

SPECIAL FEATURE

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His style and tips “Weddings present us with a great occasion to capture beautiful images and tell poignant stories. Be part of the story and try to capture the moments and not engineer them. Have a good idea of what is happening at a wedding, what rituals follow each other, and who the important people are.”He points out the importance of being alert, “Make sure you are there where the action is so you are in the right place to capture moments as they happen. At every location do a quick check on what light sources you have at your disposal.” He said that he also sees many photographers getting hooked on to the telephoto lens and sticking with it. “They shoot close ups and seem pretty happy with that. However, I feel that the wedding is so much more than someone’s face. You have a large canvas to play with, make sure you capture that. Make sure your kit has a wide angle and make sure you use it. Last but not the least, I would advise to shoot on RAW. It takes up more space but it’s worth it.”

TEXT: ABHISHEK DESAI AND NEHA AGGARWAL

TIPS & TECHS





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If it fi ts the budget everything starts with it and nothing is more important than the word ‘budget’. First thing you need to understand is that if planned correctly, destination weddings can be far less expensive than a traditional wedding at home, so before you start heading in this direction, make sure you have done your math correctly.




Quality Time Destination weddings provide a great opportunity to spend some quality time with family and friends in a more

intimate setting allowing more time than a day as with a traditional wedding at home.

The Location Barefoot on a beautiful sugar-sand beach? Surrounded by lush tropical gardens? Or perhaps in a gazebo overlooking the turquoise waters of the sea? These are just a few of the breath-taking venue choices for destination weddings at most resorts and they can add some great brownie points making the moment more cherished and valuable.

Everything is in one place No time wasted travelling to the church, to a park or garden for pictures, then on to the reception. From the walk down the aisle to the last dance, everything can be found at your resort.

It’s also a vacation It’s a great way for others to unwind as well. Not only do your family and friends get to witness and celebrate the joyous occasion, but also get to relax and enjoy a vacation too!

Smaller guest list Due to obvious reasons or time constraints, attending a

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Equipment and permissions

It’s important to know if permits are needed for the locations, and also if any of the equipment need to be registered before entering the country. A good DSLR, portable lighting, memory cards, and a laptop are some of the essentials needed. A range of lenses from wide-angle, macro, to zoom lenses can be included as well.

Shooting destination wedding can be a great way to perk-up your career and make it more interesting, as a wedding photographer can tend to get bored after shooting the same kind of weddings after a while. It’s also a great chance to jet-set, and explore exotic and historical places. But this comes with its own set of challenges. If you are just starting to shoot destination weddings, it might be initially difficult to sell it to your clients. You will have to convince them that they will have to spend on flying you down to the destination, rather than hiring a local photographer. You must be smart enough to market your talent and skill-set to the couple.

While destination photography comes with its own set of risks and stress, those willing to take-up the challenge and plunge into an adventure should certainly do it.

destination wedding may not be for everyone, and the ones who attend are those that are most dear to you.

No Family Feuds Although not mentioned often you would be surprised

what all goes behind closed doors at a wedding. A destination wedding provides an equal playing field between families and more importantly, no uncomfortable decisions for couples to make that may cause a sticky situation between families.

TIPS & TECHS


And the guys like it too! Guys seem to get more excited about a destination wedding and even the groom becomes more involved in the planning process. Organising smaller events such as golfing or sailing for his buddies makes him a lot happier than picking out table centrepieces, that’s for sure!

And the honeymoon begins The honeymoon begins immediately after the ceremony. No early morning planes to catch, no time wasted travelling and the big one – no additional costs!

And if you are the photographer While it’s an adventure for a photographer, being a professional, one should keep certain things in mind when embarking on this journey.

Shooting a wedding is one of the most fantastic (as you have the opportunity to create beautiful memories in a couples life) and nerve wrecking (as it is your responsibility to capture those once in lifetime amazing memories in the couples life). In recent times, we have noticed a swarm of amateur photographers who have entered the wedding photography scene, who churn out some good images from time to time. In recent times, many couples opt to get married in a destination foreign to them, popularly known as Destination weddings.

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Say Cheeze Photography’s soul is its Creative Director Niklesh Malkani. Besides being a well-known photographer, he is above all a great guy. A creative artist with a wide range of skills, not least the uncanny ability to capture the essence of the moment. He has travelled all over the world, honing his skill to “connect” with international clients, clearly understanding their needs and exceeding their expectations.

Destination weddings are generally associated with exotic locations coupled with picturesque views to create stunning imagery of the newly married couple. This is where the photographer does not need exceptional photographic skills, but he/she also need to step up to take on the additional responsibility that may go beyond the call of duty for a regular photographer.

Destination photographers must also develop their organizational skills and learn how to deal with even the smallest detail, which is critical when the photographer may have to travel overseas. Since they would be travelling to an exotic location, it is the duty of the photographer to make the most of his/her assignment. Taking detailed notes of the travel and daily schedules of the couple should be one of the first things the photographer should execute in order to utilize their time and give the photographer an idea of the equipment that will be needed for the shoot. Other than that the photographer, needs to be updated with the travel procedures, travel documents, visa requirement, medical requirements, custom declarations and other such travel procedures.

-NIkleSh MAlkANI


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Flash On-camera flash will get you the photos but it will also kill the ambience and make your pictures seem flat. Quite often wedding photographers are asked not to use a flash during the actual wedding ceremony as it can be distracting. If you require the use of flash, you may use it by bouncing the light off a wall or ceiling as it gives a softer light. Use Wide Aperture Lenses Prime lenses offer the widest apertures, the greatest depth-of-field and gives the





more often.The Canon 50m f/1.8ii lens is a good

option when you are stuck in a low light situation. Great prime lenses for wedding photography include the Canon 200mm f/2.8L USM, the Canon 85mm f/1.2L USM and the Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM.

Find the Best Light You will be required to find places where there is great light and try to move your subjects into that light. A great lens can help

out in a lot of ways. To get a more natural set up, you may consider the light coming from a window. The bigger the window, the better when looking for indoor light.

For example if a ceremony is in church, a lot have windows and lighting in the front, which means you have competing light. Sometimes if you may be unlucky if the couple is placed just in front of the stage lights and just past the window light, leaving the bride and groom in a dark hole and backlit. When this happens make sure to meter to the couple’s faces. You can

change your light meter to be a spotlight meter, or just play with your settings until you get it right.

Use a tripod Sometimes the only way to get in more light is to use a tripod. A shutter speed slower than the reciprocal of the focal length at which you shoot may give you a blurry picture. For example, if you shoot at a focal length of 40mm, then prefer to keep your shutter speed at 1/40 or more. Going lower than that may give you a

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blurry photograph. Lenses with image stabilization are also very helpful, however, they may not give you the stability at slower shutter speeds. Carrying a tripod around may get tiresome after a while but the fact that there is a lot of standing still during a wedding ceremony, it will fetch you your best shots.

You may also choose to carry a monopod which is a stick you mount your camera on to help keep it steady. Using a monopod lets you move around easily when compared to a tripod.

Know Your Camera’s ISO Performance One of the first things you will do to get more light onto your camera’s sensor is to increase the ISO. Before you just crank it up to ISO 12,000 you need to know how well and how poorly your camera performs at high ISO’s. To do this you may take a few test shots at different ISOs. For wedding photographers who cannot use a flash during the ceremony a good ISO performance is very important. Make sure to manually change your settings to shoot

in low light. The higher the number, the more sensitive to light it is. So ISO 1600 is more sensitive to light than ISO 400.

Also remember to keep your aperture at its widest and manually choose a shutter speed to correctly expose the image. If the automatic settings won’t do this, switch everything to manual. Shoot Raw Take advantage of your camera’s raw file capabilities. Any underexposed or overexposed shot can be saved if you shoot in raw. This is no time to make a

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mistake but if you do, you will be glad you have the file in raw format when you go to edit.

If your camera doesn’t shoot raw or you simply don’t want to shoot in raw because it makes things more complicated, you’ll be fine with JPEG images. However, a raw file gives you more latitude in editing if you plan on doing any post-processing to your images.

Edit Lightly Now is not the time to use your HDR edits or to overdo sharpening. Edit lightly and in a manner that does not distract from the subject of your photography. Don’t overdo it with all of the background blurs and vignetting. Be careful that you don’t over contrast during editing. A softer look is often the better look.

Respect the rules Ask questions and see if any places are off limits. If you work well with wedding planners and other wedding vendors, they will be more likely to recommend you to

other couples. Wedding ceremonies are all different,

so it’s better to come prepared so that you can quickly adjust to what is being given to you. Be confident and trust your ability to use your camera. The more you turn off

the automatic settings and go manual, the better you will be when you have to adjust. Low lighting can be conquered as long as you’re not afraid to change your settings.

TEXT: NEHA AGGARWAL

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Tips & Techs

Innovative Wedding Photography

IdeasWedding pictures stay with us all our life and there’s

nothing better than watching them and re-living them every time you see them. You know what’s better than

that; creating these very special memories for someone, using your creativity. Wedding photography has drastically changed, from the era of charging a person per roll you expose to now charging for your creativity. Wedding photography has come a long way. We all experiment with various different things all the time and when it comes to weddings, we go beyond because to please a client you need to prove yourself to be different from others. You need to time and again experiment and even be consistent. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Not all our creative experiments turn out good, sometimes they fail. So with this article we are going to give you three simple ways to make a wedding memorable with the traditional ways of shooting that we follow:

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DisposeIt’s always a good add-on, if as a photographer in-charge of capturing the client’s beautiful day you try and think of innovative ideas to make their wedding pictures memorable. How about capturing some pictures through the guests’ perspective? Find some of those dated disposable cameras and hand it over to your guests, collect them at the end of the wedding. They are very easily available in major camera markets in Delhi and Mumbai, if not then buy them online.

photoboothThere is no particular set rule for setting up a Photobooth. It’s about picking up the right kind of lights/props and idea to set it up. These are the basic pointers one should remember while setting it up:

• Lights: Use a single light, place it right beside the camera in order to reduce shadows. Use an umbrella to bounce the light. Avoid complicated light set-ups.• Background: Backgrounds are easily available in the market. Pick and choose the ones that go with your desired theme. Also keep in mind the lights and background should complement each other and not distract your eyes.• Trigger: Use a trigger to sync the camera and light. Since you are going to be the closest one to the camera you can use the free sync cord that usually comes with the light.• Settings: Set your camera to the basic sync settings that are required to sync your flash. Set it up on a tripod with JPEGs to shoot, also set the camera to all points focus, in order to hopefully maximise the sharp shots.• Lens: Using a 50mm is the best option. Incase your backdrop is wide experimenting with vertical frames can be at good use. • Remote: Use cheap remotes that you can find online and in the camera markets across the country to give the guests control on the camera. Let them decide and shoot the frames they want. Do not forget to carry an extra one.• Props: Props and items are the fun-factor for a Photobooth. Go to the local market fill a box with all of these and keep it next to the Photobooth giving the person getting shot the choice to pick and choose and decide what he wants to use.• Print: Another option I know other photographers use is make prints available right away. I personally think this is too much work, but a better way to make the pictures more memorable.

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think outsiDe the boxThink of different ideas, things that can make you stand out from other photographers in your competition. There’s a lot of thing you can try, we are mentioning a few of them below.• Locations: Exploring various different locations than the normal one’s always gives you a better image. Bride and groom look perfect around the wedding venue, why not take them outside? A staircase maybe? • Angles: Try getting out of your basic comfort zone and shoot differently. Go crazy with the camera, explore experiment and create

variation shots.• Props and objects: Incorporating a prop or an out of the place personal close objects like guitar in your normal portrait shots – end result? Amazing creative shots. Easy tip – Use mirrors, play with reflections.• First looks: Capturing the first expressions of closed ones to the bride and groom can also be an add-on to your client’s trip down the memory lane.• Goof around: Gather all the near and dear ones and ask them to goof around in front of the camera this will give you some amazing quirky images of them which will be an add-on.

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• Thank you: Include a placard with a thank you note. Because nothing says anything better than a placard in an image.• GIF it up! Create GIFs of adorable gestures that can later be shared via e-mail with your client’s family by them.• JUMP: Try making people jump but in a not corny way. Decent jumping images are really beautiful. We personally love them.• Double Exposure: Enough said. Experiment with them and you will know what we are talking about. The end result indeed is the prettiest

one’s to die for. • Pets: Include pets in the newlywed’s portrait, after all our pets are more like our families.

Being creative and trying these different things not only adds to your portfolio, but also create memories for your clients. You have to choose to let go of the basics and experiment with your imagination. We hope your wedding shoot is going to be great fun and you implement at least few of these points. Until then Happy Shooting!


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Tips and Techs

TIPS & TECHS









If it fi ts the budget Everything starts with it and nothing is more important than the word ‘budget’. First thing you need to understand is that if planned correctly, destination weddings can be far less expensive than a traditional wedding at home, so before you start heading in this direction, make sure you have done your math correctly.




Tips & Techs

Light it up -wedding styLe






Photographers often fuss about the type of camera and lenses and probably some accessories in their kit. Lighting, without a doubt is a key factor for every photographer, which is why choosing the right lighting gear is imperative for photographers of various genres. For wedding photographers, the most basic system revolves around Flashguns. However, in recent times, quite a few wedding photographers are using unconventional means and methods of successfully lighting a frame, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor environment.

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TIPS & TECHS




HOW IT BEGANToday, I hardly storyboard anymore unless it is a unique wedding. However, four years ago at the first wedding I was ever invited to capture, this was necessary. Anshum, the groom, found me through one photo on Flickr and requested me to shoot his big day. Though the actual wedding was only for 6-8hrs in a barn outside Pune, I insisted on being there for the rehearsals and preps the day before. But before that, the journey to this point is what makes my first wedding interesting.

IGNITING THE PASSIONI had wanted to be a wedding photographer from the day I started to look for photographers for my sister’s wedding in 2008. Back then, I had no clue what this wonderful world of “fine art” or “candid” wedding photography had to offer. It was only when I chanced upon the work of Jerry Ghionis, Jeff Ascough, and more through Google searches did I realise the potential of the DSLR in my hands. What started as a simple search for a vendor for my sister quickly became an obsession that led to me


PRE-PREPARATIONIt is one thing obsessing about shooting a wedding and





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52 Go crazy with destination weddings

58 Shooting weddings in low light

64 Innovative Wedding Photography ideas

70 Light it up - wedding style

76 Shooting your fi rst wedding

81 Post Production Workfl owNovember 2014 71

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Shooting weddings in low light



Flash On-camera flash will get you the photos but it will also kill the ambience and make your pictures seem flat. Quite often wedding photographers are asked not to use a flash during the actual wedding ceremony as it can be distracting. If you require the use of flash, you may use it by bouncing the light off a wall or ceiling as it gives a softer light. Use Wide Aperture Lenses Prime lenses offer the widest apertures, the greatest depth-of-field and gives the P

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Pentax QS-1

Camera Review

Photomontage


Tips & Techs

Light it up -wedding styLePhotographers often fuss about the type of camera and lenses and probably some accessories in their kit. Lighting, without a doubt is a key factor for every photographer, which is why choosing the right lighting gear is imperative for photographers of various genres. For wedding photographers, the most basic system revolves around Flashguns. However, in recent times, quite a few wedding photographers are using unconventional means and methods of successfully lighting a frame, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor environment.

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ArtificiAl light sourcesThis light source refers to everything that is artificially made and used to light an environment not specific to photographic purposes. They include - Candles, Fluorescent lamps, Light bulbs, Fires, Street lights. Here are a few things to bear in mind while using artificial sources of light –

• The light emitted from the most artificial light sources is not as intense as that compared to sunlight, hence keep an eye on the exposure.

• Since various light sources have different colour temperatures, manually change the white balance setting according to the light sources or by the Kelvin value.

Modifiers A standard photographic reflector is the undisputed

favourite of many photographers while shooting outdoors. As the name suggests, this accessory reflects light. There are a number of different types of reflectors, which differ in sizes and colours (i.e. white, silver, gold, etc.). A reflector is usually a reflective fabric, stretched over a bendy ring, allowing it to fold, and easy to carry. In most cases it is used to bounce the light on the subject using various colours like white, silver and gold. Some reflectors have a translucent white material which softens the harsh sunlight by creating an even soft shade which is apt for portraitures.

ArtificiAl lightArtificial lighting includes all those sources of light employed by a photographer to light a particular frame for the following reasons – to counter for insufficient ambient light, to get different light or to have more control of the light for creative purposes. The most general type of light sources are – Continuous (Incandescent, Fluorescent, LED) and Strobe (Studio Strobe, Flashgun)

coNtiNuous light sourceIncandescentIncandescent light are associated with warmth and are close to natural daylight. Incandescent light sources include the household tungsten light bulb, to large studio light used in studios and movie sets. These light sources generate an adequate amount of heat that can melt colour gels. Their colour temperature ranges between 2500-3000K.

FluorescentFluorescent lights are popularly known as tube lights; generally shows a greenish tinge. Their generally used in most scenarios to light up spaces and are more commonly used as they do not dissipate heat like incandescent bulbs. But off lately many motion films have started using fluorescent tube arrangements in enclosed spaces since they do not emit heat. Their colour temperature ranges between 3200-7500K.P

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LEDLED (light emitting diodes) is generally arranged in a matrix series of bulbs to make a panel. They have recently started being used by videographers instead of older compact halogen lights as the LED panels are light weight, portable and have an in-built power source. They usually have either an external colour gel panel or a rheostat knob to change the colour temperature.

strobeStrobe lighting is probably the most commonly used artificial lighting in photography. As the name suggests, a studio strobe light releases a flash of light at the moment when the shutter trigger is depressed and the shutter curtain in the camera is open. This sort of lighting is particular to still photography and not video as the duration of the flash is too short. Strobes in photography consist of mainly studio strobe and flash unit. Both these lights are colour temperatures, and are balanced for daylight which is around 4500K.

Studio StrobesStudio strobes have been used by photographers for many years, where light manufacturers have been constantly innovating newer studio strobe lights with more power, compact, easy to handle and a few which can be controlled wirelessly. However, these strobe units can be heavy on the pockets, so most photographers opt for the generic studio strobes. Since these lights are bulky and use an external power source, it is cumbersome to move them around while changing locations. Hence, we find many wedding photographers using these studio strobes for the formal group photos or the trending photo booths where the background remains constant.

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Speedlights/ Flash unitsSpeedlights are a dedicated TTL flash units mounted on your camera’s hot shoe which are specific to each camera manufacturer. Dedicated TTL flashguns can be invaluable when working under the low or quick-changing lighting conditions common to the wedding venue. They are equally proficient at showing details in shadows when shooting outdoor portraits and/or backlit candid photographs. Flashes can be used off the camera with wired or wireless triggers. Its light weight nature and built in power source makes this a perfect tool for wedding photographers.

ModifiersThe light emitted from a flash unit or studio strobe is harsh which will create sharp shadows or even flat images. The easiest way around this is to bounce the light off a white ceiling to create an even soft light.

For the times were you cannot use this technique while shooting outdoors or when the ceiling is not white, here are a few modifiers you can use to create even well lit soft lighting.

UmbrellasThis is the most portable and lightweight modifier that can be used for both studio strobes and flash units. Umbrellas are available with a reflective inside (reflecting off the inside of the umbrella), some umbrellas are shoot-through (the light goes through the umbrella and is diffused). The light emitted through the umbrella is quite wide and often spills over to the background.

SoftboxesSimilar to an umbrella, a soft box is an enclosure around a bulb comprising reflective side and back walls and a diffusing material at the front of the light. The light emitted from the light source bounces off the reflective surface and exits through the diffused material in the front to evenly light the subject. A soft box can be used with either strobe (studio or flash units) or continuous light (fluorescent, quartz halogen bulbs or tungsten bulbs).

diffuserThese sorts of diffusers are used only in flash units. These are specifically designed plastic light modifiers that fix on the flash head to soften the light. Here are a few popular diffusers – Lightsphere, Omni-Bounce (generally available with Nikon speedlights), Flash bounce cards and Portable softbox.

TEXT- STEvE DSOUzA


TIPS & TECHS

Shooting your first WeddingShooting your first Wedding

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How it beganToday, I hardly storyboard anymore unless it is a unique wedding. However, four years ago at the first wedding I was ever invited to capture, this was necessary. Anshum, the groom, found me through one photo on Flickr and requested me to shoot his big day. Though the actual wedding was only for 6-8hrs in a barn outside Pune, I insisted on being there for the rehearsals and preps the day before. But before that, the journey to this point is what makes my first wedding interesting.

igniting tHe passionI had wanted to be a wedding photographer from the day I started to look for photographers for my sister’s wedding in 2008. Back then, I had no clue what this wonderful world of “fine art” or “candid” wedding photography had to offer. It was only when I chanced upon the work of Jerry Ghionis, Jeff Ascough, and more through Google searches did I realise the potential of the DSLR in my hands. What started as a simple search for a vendor for my sister quickly became an obsession that led to me


pre-preparationIt is one thing obsessing about shooting a wedding and





Always meet the couple much before the wedding day. I met Anshum and Sarita at their place for coffee two months before their wedding and we talked about much more than their wedding plan. How they met, how their parents accepted, how

people family was coming in from all over the world and how they loved animals. I noted this all down at a furious pace with ideas jumping through my mind. I made them tell me every single detail of their plan for the day and also showed some photos that would be great if we could pull them off. Sarita told me about her pink custom made sneakers, Anshum told me about his guy gang and his cousins love for nature and much more. It is these stories that helped me make most of my shots on the wedding day happen.

Go to the venue before the wedding, at the right time to do a recce. For this wedding, I stayed back for dinner at the venue with the family as well which resulted in me getting some wonderful family portraits including this one epic shot

of the entire Drego side with their dog in the foreground! Thanks to the recce, I knew exactly what to shoot before I got to the wedding. I knew exactly how light would play for the bridal entry, the formal shots of the bridesmaids and the groomsmen.

In your first ten weddings at least, carry a folder of your favourite work. This is not to imitate it, this is not even to strike off a checklist, but to ensure you remain focused. My inspiration folder helped me keep on my toes; this was way more than

just doing a few things for the sake of doing them. This was to keep fuelling ideas. My folder had a series of images from my favourite photographers which helped me remember to pose the couple in a certain way, to take the time to get some bridal portraits, to get that wide angle of the bridal room and much more.

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Develop the ability to switch between being the interactive, hyperactive photographer to being the fly on the wall, when the situation demands it. This is how I was able to get the fun yet formal group shot of the friends and the many

quiet candid photos during the rehearsals, the family get together and the preps.

Bring your couple’s stories into your frames. The dogs, the farm, the horses, music, and the pink shoes, all of these were part of the story that Sarita and Anshum told me during our first meeting and all of it stuck in my head. And even if

they didn’t stick, I had my phone reminding me of these tiny details. Pay attention to those details.

Do not lose sight of your end goal - to make breathtaking images. Though I have improved tons since this wedding in both my style and skill, I still look back at this set to understand where I began and how when I shot this, all I could think was: don’t forget

that you have to make great images! A wedding is chaotic, and it is easy to lose sight of your role as a photographer and become more of a guest with a camera in that chaos. Learn to step away from the action and create your frames, learn to step into the action and create drama.

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Dear Sir,I am a high school student, and took up photography as my hobby. Will you please have a look at my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/itsallaboutphtography), and give a little feedback. I use a point and shoot camera.Thanking you,Akik RahamanBurdwan,West Bengal

Dear Akik,I have seen your FB page briefl y and also looked at some of the pictures that you have uploaded there. I think you need to work on your composition immensely. When I was looking at your pictures I couldn’t help but think that the subjects that you have shot could’ve been composed much better.

Also it is not always wise to get extremely close to every subject. In case you would like to do that, then you might want to learn some techniques like Depth of Field, to provide more impact to your pictures. Lot of the pictures that I saw about insects in your album seemed to be gory, impactful. But don’t be disheartened and take this as a learning curve.

I have been following Asian Photography magazine for quite some time now and it doesn’t fail to inspire me to shoot. I am a student of Symbiosis School of Photography, Pune. I go through a lot of photography magazines that are out there in the market, but Asian Photography has always been close to my heart, something I can get my inspiration from and something which I can connect to.I would like to submit my pictures for this esteemed magazine.A feedback about the same would really help me work more and create art.I have sent an email about the same with my pictures attached.Regards,Nachiket Kulkarni, Pune

Dear Nachiket,Thanks for the good words regarding the magazine and also the fact that the team works so hard to inspire all its readers is good to hear. I have seen some of the pictures that you have sent and they seem good overall, but somewhat disappointing as well. For instance, you have shot some pictures of Banaras, if I am not mistaken. For a place like that, pictures like these just do not do any justice at all.

The other pictures that you have shared seem good

Feed

back

Readers

’ Comments

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..The




Request the guests before barging-in for a shot. This is something that commonly happens in a wedding - a photographer that shoves guests around for a shot! Never forget that you are a guest yourself, and be discrete while getting your shot.

The low-angle shot of the ceremony is one of my favourite since I had asked the guest to make way for me to sit down and get that shot during the ceremony; the end result is a ceremony which isn’t disturbed and a shot that shows off the gorgeous backdrop (and foreground) of this intimate wedding.

Make some friends, in fact, make a lot. A wedding is much more than the bride and groom, talk to the rest of the guests, make some friends and just have some fun yourself.

It’s okay if you break your own rules. I had decided not to get any “boring flash shots”, but I ended up ditching that since the entry for the bride and groom was in almost complete darkness and against the light. I just love how the emotion is perfectly

captured in this shot. However, today, I am usually much better prepared for any entry shot or any lighting. Our recces, and light setups ensure that we get the kind of light we like for every moment.

The tenth thing I learnt is something I incorporated into every wedding till today, and I only learned it during the fourth wedding I shot. Every wedding is different, and just because you have shot a certain kind of shot at one wedding

doesn’t mean you don’t do it at the next wedding as well. The challenge is to make every wedding exciting for you, as well as the couple.

TEXT AND IMAGES: JOSEPH RADHIK

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Post Production Workflow

After you finish shooting a wedding, the process of post begins and this process sure can be overwhelming

because while shooting we capture thousands of frames. Timelines are always tight, and you’re juggling multiple sessions at once. This article will take you through the basic workflow for post-production of wedding photographs. We will also introduce you to the Lightroom presets that will speed up your post production and fastforward this challenging process.

All of us want to please our clients with amazing final product on time, with no delays and without being stuck on the system for long hours. How are we going to achieve that? One simple word – workflow. A properly planned workflow will help you save time and will allow you to deliver consistently good and high-quality work. The idea is jotting down a workflow and then sticking to it! The most important thing to remember is that it should make your process easier, instead of complicated or inefficient. If it’s made lousily – it will fall apart too.

We are now sharing the basic workflow that we would follow if we were shooting weddings:

Import and Backup The first step in editing is actually downloading the images from your memory cards to your PC. Make sure you get yourself a good memory card reader with durable connectors and upgraded USB port.

Sorting Sorting images and categorising them

is a big task itself, this is where Lightroom comes to rescue. It’s also a good idea to use a separate programme to sort that isn’t


Here’s what to keep in mind while sorting out your images

• Sort inclusively: That means choose the images you want to keep, not the ones you want to remove. You’ll have far fewer keepers than the one’s you have deleted, so looking for ones to include takes less time.

• Go through all the images quickly, and take decisions based on instinct and aesthetics. Don’t try to save time by stopping to compare photos to one another. Comparing photos at this stage will do nothing but slow you down.

• Once you’ve pre-sorted images, then go through them a second time with a much more critical eye. Since you’ve seen all the images once, you’ll have a much better idea of what should stay and what should go.

capable of editing the images, you can use Adobe Bridge to sort and select images. While on the other hand, once exported, Lightroom is easier for editing. By sorting your images before importing them into

Lightroom, you ensure that you’re only importing the exact files you want to work on. This keeps your Lightroom catalogue tidy. You also won’t end up wasting time editing a file that you decide not to include!

Editing Once you are done sorting your images – the next step is editing them. We believe the simplest way to edit your wedding pictures can be achieved by one of the most known and benchmarking software from Adobe – Lightroom.

Lightroom Presets Using Lightroom you can quickly make adjustments to white balance, exposure, clarity and colors – the basics. Then you can take it further by applying the Lightroom preset filters for effects, grains, noise, contrasts etc. You can also use the colour dodge, curves, retouch and add/remove vignettes from your images which is pretty easy in the software. Start editing the first image, make your desired adjustments, and move on to the next. The

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beautiful thing about Lightroom is once you are done editing the first image, you can set it as preset, and from the next image onwards you just have to click on custom user presets and apply the one you just created, saving you a lot of time. Similarly you also have an option of ‘batch edit’ in Lightroom which helps you edit all similar images at once.

Export Once done editing the pictures on the software, use the handy export option and export your images as HIGH RES JPEGs, the resolution being 3oodpi and Adobe RGB colour space. Also renaming your files while exporting makes it easier for you’re to segregate while displaying the work to the client or while sorting them for your own folio. You also have an option to export the same files into Photoshop and retouch.

Retouching We prefer using Photoshop for retouching images. When it comes to wedding – re-touch only those images that are required to go into the album or any of the later deliverables. Re-touching bucket loads of images will consume a lot of time. One of the best tools that we have come across for batch-retouching is AutoLoader which is a Photoshop tool developed by Mike D. AutoLoader is essential for anyone who edits files in Photoshop, it handles all the tedious file management tasks, allowing you to focus on the work at hand. Born from the need to individually retouch hundreds of photos, it has become an invaluable workflow component for hundreds of photographers worldwide. You can always check other options out.

Deliverables For products that are ordered (albums, prints) review the images one final time. Make sure that no additional retouching is required and that the brightness, contrast and colour temperature are perfect. You can also increase the sharpness of the image a little, to ensure crisp prints. To know more about deliverables, we have a dedicated article on the topic this month.

These were the basic workflow steps according to us that are apt. We hope it will save you some time in creating your own! It’s easy to follow, and takes into account every necessary step. Feel free to adapt it, tweak it, and experiment with it to find something that works perfectly for

you. The following are the three things you have to remember:

Don’t Outsource Outsourcing is pretty popular thing right now in the industry. We will do the shooting but hire someone for post – is not the right attitude to carry. At first, it will seem like a good idea but remember outsourcing involves paying others for your post production which can be heavy to your pockets. The problem however is not just money but the fact that you are your own style and skill-set is sacrificed here. By just shooting you are not necessarily learning the complete art of wedding photography. Outsourcing will increase your budget and the timeline on your project. It might be hard at first, but with time it will be an asset.

Time Yourself Time how long each step takes. Challenge yourself to improve the speed of your work, while maintaining the level of quality. If certain areas are taking up a lot of time, see if you can change something to improve your efficiency.

At the end, the more you practice, the faster you’ll be able to bring the best out of your images. We hope this article helps you in developing your own workflow, if not, follow the one we told you. If you have a different style through post-production, do write to us. Until then, Happy Shooting!

TEXT: USHMA DHAMDHEREIMAGES: STEVE D’SOUZA


Tips & Techs

Wedding photography in general has evolved a lot in the past few decades. Currently, the two major approaches are traditional

and photojournalistic. Traditional wedding photography provides more of classic posed images, and has a great deal of photographer control and interaction on the day of the wedding. Photojournalistic wedding photography takes its cue from editorial reporting styles and focuses more on candid and unopposed images, with little photographer interaction. These are two extremes and many of today’s photographers will mostly fall somewhere in the middle of these two styles. If the shooting style has evolved even the deliverable process has subsequently evolved.

Wedding photography is basically divided into two processes, photographing the wedding and delivering the finished product. Your work just doesn’t end at shooting

and editing – it has more to it. We started off initially with delivering our final wedding product as prints then moved on to CDs and now there are so many options to pick from that it might confuse anyone. The wide range of deliverables present today is varied. There are no limitations or set standards as to what will be or won’t be included in the package you are offering to your client. So these deliverables vary with the number of photographs demanded by the client or the number that you have decided. Most wedding photographers prefer giving a set of untouched, non-edited images for preview in 4x6 formats. After the clients pick and choose what they want in the final product, the photographer sends in a quote with the options available. In this article we are going to take you through all the trending options in terms of deliverables:

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Trendsin deliverables

Prints There is wide range of album manufacturers available in the market today. There are different kind of albums to pick and choose from. The era has changed from just normal album to a 4D album which does seem pretty fascinating. You can either pick from digital or print:

• Print Albums: You can pick from traditional matted albums, digitally designed ‘coffee table’ albums, contemporary flush mount albums, hardbound books, scrapbook style albums, or a combination of any of the above. The choice of albums can be predefined while finalising the project – though most photographers don’t include the price of


printing an album in their initial budgets.• Digital Albums: They are popularly known as ‘Digital

photo viewers or Digital frames’. All you have to do is load a memory card with all the pictures and insert it in the frame. The most basic ones start from `4,000 and above. The higher you go on quality the more the price increases.

• Canvas Prints: A lot of people these days prefer printing their best wedding portrait on canvas for their bedrooms. So you can also opt for that option.

• 4D Albums: Is it a myth or some new technology advancement? This year at photo-fair we saw a lot of print partners showcasing the ‘4D Albums’, which is nothing more than an advance printing technique with a compilation of different kind of papers. For more do check it out at your local album printer.

• Pre-Wedding shoot booklet: A lot of people prefer passing out printed booklets of their pre-wedding shoots, as a thank you note during/after the wedding. You can also experiment with that.

WebThe web world is probably the most famous aspect of reality today, with medium going a little below the sheet, digital on the other hand has taken a hike. There are various ways you can provide the client with your deliverables, the two most popular ways that we have come across are:

• Customized Websites: A lot of people, for the ease of use, create a website as their wedding photos preview or sharing with the family. This can affect your cost and increases the budget, because your client might allot you a budget to set up the website – make sure you include the costing in the budget. But this also reduces your hassles of printing a hard copy and getting it delivered.

• Snapfish! and others: There are couples of websites like Snapfish by HP which allows you to upload the images on their server and then the client can choose the template and all the paper options and then print their own album according to their choices. Your work as a photographer ends at uploading the images to the server and suggesting what can be done.

If you really are on a tight budget, talk to the client and explain them all the options with prices available. There are many very effective ways to hold down your wedding cost. But, remember – you get what you produce!


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CAMERA REVIEW

Pentax QS-1Ricoh announced the Pentax QS-1 around August this year, its latest compact interchangeable lens camera which comes with a Q lens mount. The QS-1 comes with a standard 3x zoom kit lens and multiple choice of lenses. Besides some updates, the basic features like a 12MP 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS have remained same as the previous Q7 model. The QS-1 will be sold in 40 different colour combinations with quite a charming compact body. Let’s see how it performed on various aspects.

PRICE

` 53,755

With 5-15mm

(0.2 and 0.6 lens)

TIPS & TECHS


Look, Body and Feel The QS-1 offers a very compact body which is even smaller when compared to a pocket-sized sleek iPhone 5, making it a great choice for photographers who prefer to carry a small compact camera around while travelling. With a small weight and size, it will fit in the skinniest of your jeans. Don’t consider the QS-1 in the point and shoot category, as it comes with 15 variations in attachable lenses including the prime that we tested it with. The QS-1 also comes with a pop-out small flash which is sufficient enough to light –up your images in a dark room and with an amazing red-eye removal. You can also change the replaceable leather grip which comes in 8 different options.

The most attractive feature on the QS-1 body is the filter dial on front left. It offers the direct filter option in all the shooting modes, I’m sure it’s going to be perfect and pretty alluring to the Instagram crowd. You can also customise the front dial through the camera settings. An optional tripod bracket is available to securely stabilize the camera system when longer lenses are attached.

won’t really be needed thanks to the blur control option.

Performance The QS-1 offers you a maximum shutter-speed of 1/2000th of a second and ISO sensitivity of 12800. The 3-inch LCD screen on the back is pretty easy to access and the workflow is pretty impressive. There is a continuous autofocus add-on during movie shooting, but is not compatible with all the lens options available. There is a step-up improvement on the face-detection and tracking auto-focus. The sensor is a 12.4-megapixels backside-illuminated CMOS, it also has a built-in shake reduction and has better low-light performance. The camera is pretty smooth to use, and has effects just in the front on the camera body, making it easier to switch and shoot. The new Bokeh Control feature will allow users without any photography background to achieve that soft, out-of-focus look in the background of their images. Different scene modes allow for shooting in a variety of different conditions and still

Sample Image

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Light weight, small body and a very hassle-free filter dial with a first generationuser interface

Look, body and feel rating

Amazing filters and good blur control.

Performance rating

We found this small bundle of joy exciting, but just like the Q10, the ISO performance can

really be improved.

Overall rating

Effective pixels 12.4 MP

Sensor 1/1.7” Backlit CMOS Sensor

Focus System Contrast detection autofocus with face detection, tracking, multi-point auto, select and spot

LCD Monitor Type: 3.0-inch TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating

Flash Built-in retractable P-TTL flash, Sync Speed: Lens shutter: 1/2000 seconds, Electronic shutter: 1/13 seconds, Flash Exposure Compensation: –2.0 to +1.0 EV

ISO Sensitivity AUTO : ISO 100 to 12800 (1/3 EV steps)

White Balance Auto TTL by CMOS image sensor, Preset: Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Colour, N: Daylight White, W: Cool White, L: Warm White), Tungsten, Flash, CTE, Manual

Shutter Type: Lens shutter: 1/2000 - 30 seconds

Video Movie: MOV MPEG–4 AVC/H.264 (.mov)

Drive Modes Single frame, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-timer (12s, 2s), Remote Control (0 sec., 3 sec, continuous), Exposure Bracketing (3 frames, remote control), Multi-exposure (0 sec., Self-time, remote control), Interval Shooting

Dimensions Approx. 4.13”(W) x 2..28”(H) x1.33” (D)

Weight 7.16oz (203g)

Operating Humidity

built-in neutral density filter.

Specifications

achieving solid results. The Pentax QS-1 is also equipped with features like high dynamic range shooting, and digital filters for effects like toy camera and fish eye. Of course, the QS-1 does include manual modes, for those who prefer to fine tune their images. It also is equipped with RAW, but still overall appears to be more for an enthusiast, than a professional.

ISO Performance Talking about the ISO sensivity, images taken at the base sensitivity of ISO 100 are full of detail. Images taken at sensitivities up to ISO 400 show no noise and fine details

are reasonably well-defined. Increase this to ISO 800 and a combination of luminance noise and softening of fine details begin to appear on close inspection. While the ISO offered is impressive we noticed that the image quality started to degrade above ISO 1600, like its previous models.

Conclusion Image quality falls short of cameras equipped with a larger sensor, just like the Q10. As we mentioned before, this camera is perfect for people who prefer compactness above everything else. It’s an apt tool for a travel photographer to carry

along with their DSLRs. Those looking for a quirky alternative to the current crop of compact system cameras, with portability being their main concern, may be well served by the QS-1, as long as you’re well aware of its functions and how to use it.

TEXT AND IMAGES :USHMA DHAMDHERE

Sample Image


Review

Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery Software Review

The switch over from film to digital has been the most interesting one, especially where photographers and videographers are not dependent on film to record

data, which requires a lot of care and is quite expensive. Use of SD and CF cards has been a pleasant welcome to the fraternity with lesser production costs and gives them a room to fearlessly experiment and explore other techniques of shooting. However, most of us suffer from the underlying fear of losing data, caused due to accidental deletion or by corruption of the CF or SD card. This could be quite an ordeal, especially if the images or the video footage shot is exclusive. In times like these, data recovery software can be your saviour.

A host of solutions exist in the market today, which enables data recovery from various media (memory cards, external hard drives, internal hard drives etc.). We’ve used a few over the years, and very rarely have they recovered the full contents of our memory cards, without a few files being corrupt.

Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery 6.0 is available as a small download (approx 10 MB) and costs `2400. It can be used to scan and recover lost/corrupt multimedia files. The application supports the creation of an image of the drive that you need to scan, allowing you to analyse that particular image at a later time.

Interface The application has an easy-to-use interface, providing easy access to most of the important functions right from the main window. It provides you with options on the kind of data you’re looking to recover. You can choose to recover photo, audio, and video files, create an image, and even resume the previous recovery session. Once open, the application lists all the drives connected to the PC and if you’ve connected a card (SD card, CF card etc.), it shows up as a new drive ready to be scanned. Advanced options allow you to specify the type of files to scan for, with the files being classified according to its corresponding media type. Upon completion, all the recoverable media is grouped by type and can be selected for saving.

Performance As with most data recovery softwares, data can be recovered from the various media only if the accidentally deleted data hasn’t been overwritten completely. Once overwritten completely, data cannot be recovered.

Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery is primarily focused on image recovery, but it can also be used to recover audio and video files. It comes with support for about 18 image files, 21 audio files and 25 video file formats. We scanned

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a 4GB SD card and were able to recover all the data on it. The scanning process was fast and it took us around 15 minutes to scan and recover the files we were looking for. The process will be even faster if you filter out file formats you know do not exist on the drive. This can be done by altering the advanced scan settings, where the application allows you to search for specific formats rather than searching for all supported formats, which on a large drive can take several hours to complete.

Another noteworthy feature is the ability to choose the start and ending sectors on the selected drives under the

Select Range option. Skipping certain sectors might mean overlooking the files you’re specifically searching for and is recommended only for experienced users. The Create Image feature allows you to create a virtual copy of your drive that you can use any time. However, you need to make sure space for the copy is available on your drive.

Summary We were able to recover all of the deleted files on our 4GB SD card. The features and overall ease of use of this software makes this a good buy for photographers.

Test setup• 4GB SanDisk Extreme SD

card to recover media from• Windows XP for running

Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery 6.0

• Image files including JPG, TIFF, GIFs, Canon and Nikon Raw files

• Video files: AVI, MOV

TexT: STeve DSOUzA


Send in your entries to photoscape at [email protected]

Picture by: Mithun Kumar Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M5Shutter speed: 1/500 secF-Number: f/2.5Focal length: N/AISO: 200

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Û

Picture by: Pradeep ChamariaCamera: N/AShutter speed: N/AF-Number: N/AFocal length: N/AISO: N/A

Û

Picture by: Abhishek PaulCamera: Nikon D3100Shutter speed: 1/320 secF-Number: f/5.3Focal length: 40mmISO: 100

Picture by: Shivshankar MuraliCamera: N/A


Focal length: N/AISO: N/A


Û

Picture by: Amit VakilCamera: Canon EOS 550DShutter speed: 1/125 secF-Number: f/11Focal length: 18mmISO: 100

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Picture by: Prasun Sanyal Camera: Nikon D5000Shutter speed: 1/250 secF-Number: f-8Focal length: N/AISO: 200

Picture by: Sumant LenkaCamera: N/A


Focal length: N/AISO:

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Û

Picture by: Debajit DuttaCamera: Nikon D3100Shutter speed: 1/100 secF-Number: f/13Focal Length: 10mmISO: 100

Û

Picture by: Kasturi MukherjeeCamera: Canon 550DShutter Speed: 1/45 secF-Number: f/2.8Focal Length: 50mmISO: 200

The Winner

Of the Monthly

PHOTOSCAPESection will

receive a gift from

Uniross

Picture by: Hitesh ChabraCamera: Nikon D610

Shutter speed: 1/1250 secF-Numer: f/1.8

Focal Length: 85mm ISO: 160


These photographs have been taken at Palla road which is in West Bengal. In this series I want to portray the immense amount of joy that children go through just before the festival of Durga Puja which is one of the major festivals of Bengal. It is celebrated in the autumn season. The white flowers in the images are called Kash Phool which is a symbol of autumn for the locals and are also used to adorn the statues of Durga. In the following series you will note that the excitement for the festival is clearly reflecting in their attitudes and smiles.

Indrajit Debanath, West Bengal

Send in your portfolio at: [email protected]

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The Featured

portfolio in the

PHOTOMONTAGE

section will receive a

gift from Uniross

98 November 2014 www.asianphotographyindia.com98 May 2014 www.asianphotographyindia.comAsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[98]august 2012AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[98]mAy 2012 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]APRIL 2012AUGUST 2011 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]MAY 2011 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]APRIL 2011 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]DECEMBER 2010 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]NOVEMBER 2010 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98] ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98] JUNE 2009 Asian Photography 98

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98 May 2014 www.asianphotographyindia.comAsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[98]august 2012AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[98]mAy 2012 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]APRIL 2012AUGUST 2011 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]MAY 2011 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]APRIL 2011 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]DECEMBER 2010 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98]NOVEMBER 2010 ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98] ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING[98] JUNE 2009 Asian Photography 98

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Asian Photography November 2014