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Newsletter from Kim Westerskov Email: kimsworkshops@gmail.com Web: www.kimwesterskov.com

20 Greerton Road, Tauranga 3112, New Zealand Phone 07-578-5138

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Newsletter #34 – March 2015 1. “BEACH MAGIC” PHOTO WORKSHOP – now 28th March 2. 44-page article on KIM’S CAREER & PHOTOGRAPHY 3. “WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR” exhibition

4. “BEACH MAGIC” PHOTO WORKSHOP – details 5. QUOTE OF THE MONTH

6. KIM TIPS – THE RULE OF ODDS 7. GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND” – 11-12 April

8-10. UPCOMING WORKSHOPS – May-July. 11-13. REGULAR MEETINGS & TUITION

This newsletter goes out to many photographers in New Zealand and overseas - and

to anybody who asks to go onto the mailing list. If you know anybody who would like

to be on the mailing list, please get them to email me. It’s free and they can

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1. “BEACH MAGIC” WORKSHOP – now 28th March

A few keen photographers wanted to come to this workshop but were unable come on the 21st March, so I’ve moved it forward a week to Saturday, 28th March. See details in section 4 below.

2. 44-page article on KIM’S PHOTOGRAPHY & CAREER

So you sometimes think you’d like to be a professional wildlife photographer, travelling the world? Many photographers do. Some ask me “Can I come on your next trip and carry your bags?” They assume that it’s fun [partly true], more interesting than their current job [probably true at times], financially rewarding [definitely not true] and glamorous somehow [depends what you mean by glamorous, but probably not true]. The current issue of f11 magazine has a 44-page article with many insights into the life, career, adventures and photography of one professional nature photographer that I know quite well – me. Tim Steele [editor and owner of f11] said that it’s the longest article he’s ever run. “Damn you for giving such interesting answers!” he said. But instead of editing the text severely, he just extended the feature to 44 pages – some of my best photos are there, and also insights into my career. [Many thanks for all the kind feedback I’ve had so far!] F11 magazine is free and it’s one of the very best photography magazines I know of. Just go to www.f11magazine.com where you can read the current issue online or download a PDF for your iPad, tablet, Mac or PC. And while you are there you can subscribe to the magazine if you wish.

3. “WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR” exhibition

The BBC/Natural History Museum “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” competition, now 50 years old, is the world’s largest and most prestigious nature photography competition. If you live within driving distance of Tauranga, you’re in for a treat. The Tauranga Art Gallery – bless them – have managed to secure the rights to bring the 100-print travelling exhibition to Tauranga, at considerable cost as I understand it. So – well done, Tauranga Art Gallery!! Especially as the exhibition will not be shown anywhere else in New Zealand. Would I recommend this exhibition to all keen photographers? Definitely. It’s worth driving from Auckland or Napier to come and see, in my opinion. Maybe even from Wellington. Each year, the photography in this travelling exhibition is amazing. The kind that both inspires you

and makes you despair [“How can I ever get photos that good?”] at the same time – the feeling that National Geographic photos sometimes give you as well. The exhibition will run from 6th March to 7th June at the Tauranga Art Gallery, corner Wharf and Willow Streets, Downtown Tauranga. 10.00am - 4.30pm every day except ANZAC Day. “Free admission. Donations greatly appreciated.” Two nights ago I gave an illustrated presentation to the “Friends of the Tauranga Art Gallery” at a preview evening for the exhibition. http://www.artgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-year

4. “BEACH MAGIC” WORKSHOP – 28th March

Saturday 28 March 9.00am – 5.00pm plus assignment and follow-up evening 2-3 weeks later for assignment evaluation [at a time that suits everyone]. The follow-up can be by email. Aaaaaah, late summer [nice still, but not too hot] and the beach! I find beaches – sandy beaches, rocky beaches, harbours, any beaches - to be some of my greatest sources of photographic inspiration. And most of us live close to some wonderful beaches. Part of why the beach is such a favourite of mine - and of many other photographers – is because it’s always changing. The possibilities are essentially endless. And as we all know, the beach is a great place to go anyway - with or without a camera. This workshop will show you the equipment, techniques and approaches for getting great beach and rocky shore photos, including long exposure “silky seas”. Lots of tips and tricks. Will you have fun? I’m afraid so. Cost: Full course fee [which includes tuition, hand-outs, Vivienne’s yummy catering, assignment and follow-up] $295 - or $245 for Early Birds [if you register before 18 March]. Fulltime students with ID

$150

5. QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“If you’re passionate about something, there are no obstacles”

Barbara Kendall

6. KIM TIPS – THE RULE OF ODDS

I’m not a great champion of photographic “rules”, but here’s one that is worth knowing about. If you are photographing people or animals or flowers or apples or … then odd numbers [one, three, five …] often look better than even numbers [two, four, six …].

Like most other photographic “rules”, it’s definitely not a hard and fast rule. Often in wildlife photography you may have no choice, or sometimes even numbers may work just fine. The four emperor penguins standing close together work pretty well both because they are so close that in one sense they are “one”, and also because the close penguins are much larger in the frame. If they had been standing slightly apart from each other and all looking straight at me, that photo might not have worked quite so well. The two emperor penguins bowing work well because they are interacting with each other and there is a symmetry [they almost look like mirror images of each other].

If you have to photograph an even number e.g. you are photographing a group of four people, then rather than having them all standing the same distance from you and looking at you, see if you can arrange them in a way that works better: get them to interact with each other [e.g. putting their arms around each other or looking at each other] or get the tallest to be in the centre and maybe the smallest/shortest person to be in front, or one person could kneel … whatever works. And then again, breaking “the rules” sometimes works just fine if you do it deliberately and have asked yourself “Does this photo work?” Also, digital photos are free, so it’s easy to both follow “the rules” [the rule of odd numbers, the rule of thirds, any rule at all…] for a few photos of a subject, and then deliberately break the rules, arranging the subjects [if possible] and/or “working the subject” [trying many different angles, lenses, compositions …]. You can decide later on, when you’ve uploaded the photos onto your computer, which photos work best.

7. “GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND” – 11-12 April

This workshop is different from most other workshops I’ve run so far. Instead of covering just nature photography, we’ll spread our wings wider, touching on most of the topics covered in my workshops & tuition over the last 8 years. “You mean a ‘Greatest Hits’ of all your workshops Kim?” “Well, sortof yes, I suppose”. “Will I learn a lot?” “Yep”. “Will it be fun?” “Definitely!” This is the biggest workshop I run, a full weekend of workshops and field trips, followed by an assignment and an evaluation evening about 3 weeks later at a time that suits

everyone. Learning will be via many paths: a creative mix of modules with detailed hand-outs, live demonstrations, screen-projected images, questions answered, and taking real photos in the field.

Topics include:

• Landscapes & seascapes

• Wildlife photography

• Photographing people

• Travel photography

• Composition, depth of field

• Which lens to use? Telephoto vs. normal vs. wide angle. Using each for best effect

• Wedding photography

• Going professional or semi-professional - or not

• Photo competitions – should you enter? What do the judges look for?

• Copyright, legal stuff, model and property releases

• Specialised techniques for night/dusk photography and aerial photography

• “Secrets of the pros” [yes, quite a few]

• Digital workflow, backing up, archiving

• That troublesome triangle of ISO/aperture/shutter speed - often not understood well [if at all] but absolutely vital if you want real control over your photography

• Photoshop & Lightroom

• Manual or Auto or ….?

• What makes powerful photos powerful?

• Harnessing & developing your creativity

• Silky waterfalls, long exposure photos

• Dealing with problem foregrounds… and more

** Cost: $475. Great value, I believe. The Early Bird special is even better value - $425 if you book before Wednesday 1

st April. Price includes the workshop, follow-up, detailed hand-

outs, and yummy catering [courtesy of Vivienne] on both days. You will feel well looked after. Special rate for fulltime students with ID $235. For anyone living outside the Tauranga area, there are three good motels within 7 minutes’ walk of Kim’s studio. The workshops are held at Kim’s comfortable studio at 18 Greerton Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga.

8. “LONG EXPOSURES” WORKSHOP - 9th May

Details in next newsletter. Mark this date on your calendar if you’re interested.

9. “PHOTO IMPRESSIONISM” WORKSHOP - 6th June

Details in next newsletter. Mark this date on your calendar if you’re interested.

10. “PAUL’S AMAZING LIQUIDS” WORKSHOP – June or July

Paul Oellermann and I ran this workshop twice back in 2012. Paul has been asked to run it again, so we’ll schedule it for June or July. If you’re keen, let me know which dates would suit you best.

11. IN-DEPTH PHOTO EVALUATION EVENINGS

Details as usual [see previous newsletter]. The next In-Depth Evening will be on Thursday 19

th March, starting at 7.00pm. Book by email. Cost: $55 for the evening

12. KIM’S PHOTOS & COFFEE EVENINGS

Details as usual [see previous newsletter]. The next one will be on Tuesday 7th April, starting 7.00pm. Book by email. Free.

13. PRIVATE TUITION

Yes, I’m usually busy doing “other stuff” too, but I can nearly always fit private tuition in. So – if you’d like some tuition or mentoring, give me a yell. Details as usual [see previous newsletter]. First 2 hours: $80 per hour, after that $70 per hour [forever!]