Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested … and, of course, if you’d prefer not to receive future newsletters from Kim, please just “Reply” with

“Unsubscribe please” as the subject. Thanks ☺

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

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

Newsletter #33 – February 2015 1. HOW TO BECOME A REALLY GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER 2. FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER – PAUL OELLERMANN

3. LEIGH NICHOLAS’ EXHIBITION 4. EXHIBITION – WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

5. QUOTE OF THE MONTH 6. “BEACH MAGIC” PHOTO WORKSHOP – 21ST March 7. “GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND” – 11-12th April

8-9. MORE WORKSHOPS – May-June. 10. IN-DEPTH PHOTO EVALUATION EVENINGS

11. KIM’S PHOTOS & COFFEE EVENINGS 12. PRIVATE 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

unsubscribe at any time, of course.

1. HOW TO BECOME A REALLY GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER

1. Photograph the people or places or subjects you love, those you are

attracted to

2. Photograph lots. Regularly, if not every day

3. Learn new stuff

4. Look at lots of good photos that others have taken

5. Try new stuff

6. Have your photos critiqued constructively by photographers whose

opinion you respect

7. Keep photographing

It’s quite simple really ☺

I’ll go into more detail in next newsletter

2. FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER - PAUL OELLERMANN

Paul Oellermann is a highly motivated, creative and technically-innovative photographer based

here in Tauranga. I don’t need to say much to introduce him - Paul’s fine photos speak for

themselves. Paul’s latest photos are often a highlight at our Tuesday “Photos & Coffee” evenings.

I asked Paul to write a few words about himself and his photographic journey.

“I'm Paul, a passionate fine arts photographer and I've been around

cameras and into photography for a large portion of my life, but it's

only in the last seven odd years that I've taken the craft up seriously,

getting my first DSLR and completing a Diploma through The

Photography Institute (NZ) and with a mainly technical background

having worked as an Engineering Surveyor for many years I try to

be very technically proficient in all aspects of photography that I

work with.

My main interests fall on either side of the photography spectrum,

specialising in Long Exposure Landscape Photography and High

Speed Liquid Photography and I love portraying images of what we

see with our eyes in a different way though camera and processing

techniques. Of late I’ve been venturing into digital infrared

photography which is just another whole wonderfully different way

of looking at things.

Back in 2010, keen to learn something new, I attended one of Kim’s

Landscape and Nature workshops and have been attending Kim’s

monthly Tuesday coffee photo evenings ever since. Coincidently I

met my lovely wife, Pauline, at one of those evenings ☺.

My photography has grown over the years, along with my

equipment and post processing skills, running two High Speed

Liquid Photography workshops with Kim in 2012, setting up my

website and photography business in 2013 where I print, mount and

frame my own images. The current project is working towards an

exhibition at Creative Tauranga opening on 21 May 2015 and

running through to 15 June 2015 where all 3 main genres of my

photography will be on display, taking over the whole gallery.

If there’s one piece of advice that I could give to anybody learning photography it is to become

technically proficient with your camera gear, photography principles and techniques, the

creativity and the rest will come naturally.

Anyone interested in seeing more of my work can find me at:

http://www.pauloellermannphotography.com/

and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pauloellermannphotography

I am also on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulos75/

3. LEIGH NICHOLAS’ EXHIBITION

Papamoa-based photographer Leigh Nicholas held her first fine art photography exhibition

last November, as part of the Tauranga Garden & Arts Festival. A steady stream of visitors

viewed both the exhibition and Leigh’s garden over four days. I spent a couple of hours there

with Leigh and her husband Phil on the Saturday. Holding your first exhibition can be

somewhat nerve-wracking: Can the considerable expense really be justified? Will anyone

come? What will they say? Will any photos sell? I’m delighted to report that the exhibition

went wonderfully. The photos looked lovely and had been well printed and elegantly framed.

Leigh sold twelve framed photos, a remarkable achievement [as any New Zealand

photographer who has ever held an exhibition can tell you]. Congratulations Leigh!

4. EXHIBITION – WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

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 showing anywhere else in New Zealand. Would I

recommend this exhibition to all keen photographers? Definitely. It’s worth driving from

Auckland or Turangi to come and see, in my opinion. Maybe even 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 7 March to 7 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.”

http://www.artgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-year

5. QUOTE OF THE MONTH

This month’s quote comes from Ian Plant, a serious - and outstanding - landscape

photographer [note from me – you don’t have to go to the lengths that Ian goes to – really ☺]

“Field work is hard work, and can be equal parts toilsome, exhausting, and lonely. It can be

difficult to keep up the intensity required to make compelling photographs. During a recent

trip to Iceland, a combination of events severely depleted my creative reserves. I had to keep

reminding myself of a few important things in order to stay focused:

• I’m not here to be cozy, or to indulge in the comfort of a warm bed. I’m not here to

catch up on sleep lost... I’m here to chase the light, even during the long hours of the

night.

• I’m not here to be comfortable. I’m not here to shut myself in a nice hotel, hiding

from the cold, rain, snow, and a week of non-stop gale force winds. I’m here to shout

at the storm, and capture the tempest at its peak.

• I’m not here to screw around. I’m not here to feel sorry for myself when things don’t

go my way. Pain, exhaustion, sickness, bad weather, discomfort, loneliness—none of

these matter. I’m here for one reason and one reason alone: to make the best photos I

can possibly make.

• Now get to work!”

www.ianplant.com/blog/2015/02/17/the-reminder/

6. “BEACH MAGIC” WORKSHOP – 21ST MARCH 2015

Saturday 21 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, summer [or late summer] 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 how 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 11 March]. Fulltime students with ID

$150

7. “GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND” – 11-12 April 2015

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 1st 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

Saturday 9th May 2015

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

9. “PHOTO IMPRESSIONISM” WORKSHOP - 6th June 2015

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

10. IN-DEPTH PHOTO EVALUATION EVENINGS

These run on the THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH except December.

What to expect: You bring along some photos, ideally 3-6, that you’d like constructively

critiqued/evaluated, primarily by me, but also by the others attending. If you bring only 3-4

photos, each photo will be given more time than if you bring a larger number. Some of the

photos will be brought into Photoshop or Lightroom to show different cropping, tidying or

processing possibilities - how they could be improved in post-production, as well as

suggesting new approaches for you to try next time a similar subject is being photographed.

Cost. $55 for the evening, which runs from 7.00pm to 10.00pm [leave earlier if you need to –

we’ll do your photos first]. The next IN-DEPTH evening will be on Thursday 19th March.

Book your place by email.

11. KIM’S PHOTOS & COFFEE EVENINGS

These friendly, relaxed get-togethers are primarily for those of you who have been to any of

my workshops or are thinking about maybe coming on one. But if there’s room [as there

usually is] then anyone else is very welcome too. There’s no obligation of any kind. We meet

on the first Tuesday of each month [every month of the year except January], chat informally

about photography, and view some of the recent photos we’ve taken. No charge [free].

Supper is served. Please email me if you’d like to come and please only book up to one

month ahead. It’s always fun and friendly.

The next one is:

Tuesday 3rd March – starting 7.00pm

12. PRIVATE TUITION

I had a great time not so long ago, spending four hours with two keen photographers who had

driven a long way to come to the “Kiss My Arts” public presentation I gave, and then the

following day spent the afternoon with me. As usual, the tuition was based on what they

asked me to cover as well as what I thought would be of most use to them. We covered so

much ground I thought they might pull the plug early [“our heads hurt”] but they hung in

there, listening, smiling, absorbing, asking questions, picking up their cameras to try ideas I

was showing them, going over the two triangles that many photographers have trouble with

[and often simply “don’t get”] – the ISO/aperture/shutter speed triangle – plus the triangle of

the three things that interact to determine the depth of field. Much else was covered, well, a

whole workshop’s worth really, packed into four hours. As they left to drive home one of

them said “That was lovely – we’ll be back!” [I look forward to it ☺]

Topics covered can be anything from photography in general to specific techniques,

computer workflow, Lightroom, Photoshop… Each photographer determines their own

agenda, and so each session is unique. Most tuition so far has been one-on-one, but there’s no

reason why [if you’d like to bring a friend with similar questions] it couldn’t be for two

people at once [making it much less expensive for each person, of course]. Sessions are

typically 2-3 hours. We cover a lot of ground every hour. First 2 hours: $80 per hour, after

that $70 per hour [forever!]