Photography Happenings!! Issue #24

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                        *      PHOTOGRAPHY HAPPENINGS !!     *
                        *        Photography news in Singapore       *
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Greetings all photo enthusiasts !!

1) This a private mailing list for photographers in Singapore, so that we
can all be kept informed of the latest happenings in the photographic circle, eg. any courses, outings, interesting websites, and new products in photography.

2) If you wish not to receive any mails, or if you have any photography
enthusiast friends who wants to be added onto this list, pls e-mail me their
e-mail addresses. All the recipients on this mailing list will not be listed, so your address will be kept private and confidential.

3) Depending on the amount of news, you should be receiving one update every
two weeks or so. If you have any news of photographic interest you wish to
share with the rest, pls mail it to me !! Remember, this mailing list is only as good as the info I receive !

4) I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information posted, but I'll try my best to verify the information before putting it up. I will not be held responsible for any inaccuracy of information in the newsletter.

5) The official "Photography Happenings !!" homepage is located at:

http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo/index.htm

Best regards,
Nelson Tan (Editor)

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Issue #24 Dated: 26th July 1999

*** CONTENTS ***

Okay, and in this issue of "Photography Happenings !!", we have:

        1) Announcements
           - Editor's note
           - 2 New Article!!
a) Kodak Portra 400VC Review
b) Handling, Caring and Storing of Photographic Equipment

        2) New Products
     - Horseman SW612 Pro
     - Rodenstock Aspheric 6X loupe
     - D-series digital camera bags from LowePro

        3) Website Reviews
     - Digital Photo Corner
     - Pete Turner - Master Colour Photographer
     - Wildlife and Nature Photography by Hans Martens
     - Other Worlds by A. Paul Jenkin
     - Jody Dole Photography

        4) Events
     - National Day 1999 (Singapore)
     - Singapore River Fiesta

        5) Photography tips
     - How to shoot fireworks display?
     - Are mechanical cameras on the way out?
     - Eliminating pizza wheels tracks on Epson printers
     - Technical details and explanation of the Nikon D1
           - Focus on Lenses: Shutterbug August Edition

6) Classified Ads
- Tamrac Backpack for Sale
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* ANNOUNCEMENTS *

Editor's note
-------------
Local ISP Pacific-Net has launched a new round of bonus-offerings, by giving away free computers to subscribers of the Unlimited Access plan for 15 months. By paying S$1500 for the period ($100/month), subscribers are given a free Celeron-based PC. If camera manufacturers and distributors adopt this practice, we should be seeing free Nikons, Canons and Minoltas given away in order to get us to buy their lenses and accessories! Don't you just love these ideas?

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Frederick Foo for generously contributing his article on how to handle and care for photographic equipment. His willingness to share his vast knowledge has resulted in the benefit of the many readers of this newsletter. In addition, Frederick has kindly provided tips on how to capture fireworks display. Other readers who are willing to share their knowledge with the rest of the photographic community are welcome to e-mail me.

Singapore's Changi International Airport has implemented new rules on carry-on luggages to help speed up boarding time. Passengers will have their carry-on luggages limited to prevent the overhead compartments from being over-congested and slowing down boarding time. The new regulations state that each passenger will not be allowed to carry-on more than 7kg of luggages, and the external dimensions must not exceed 46 inches. This may sound reasonable until you consider how much your equipment weighs. The authorities are pretty strict on implementing the new rules, and photographic equipment are not given special consideration. So pack smartly by putting fragile items (eg. lenses) and film in the carry-ons, and dumping the unbreakable items in the stow-away luggage. Never never deposit your film in the stow-away luggage, because they will be exposed to enough X-rays to fry your film. And with the new weight regulation, this is probably a good excuse to get a Leica set!

Happy travelling !!

2 New Articles!!
----------------
In this issue, we have two new articles for you readers!!

i) Review of Kodak Portra 400VC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this issue, check out the new Portra 400VC portrait film from Kodak. You can read about the advantages offered by the new Portra series of negative films, and see a couple of images taken with the Portra 400VC. Find out what the author feels about the new film, and how he thinks the film stack up against traditional contenders like Kodak's GPX/VPS and Fuji's NPS/NPH.

All this and more, at the Reviews section in:

Http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo

ii) Handling, Care and Storage of Photographic Equipment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check out this article for plenty of good advice on how to handle and care for your photographic equipment. Written by Frederick Foo, this article contains much words of wisdom that he has gathered from his many years in photography. His experience as a photography instructor allowed him to understand the common mistakes that beginners tend to make, so be sure to check out his article in the "Photography Articles" section at:

Http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo

[Total list membership stands at 474]

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* NEW PRODUCTS *

Horseman SW612 Pro
------------------
Japanese large format manufacturer Horseman has released a new camera - the SW612 Pro. Like its predecessor, the SW612 Pro produces wonderfully sharp 6X12cm images on the 120/220 roll film, using Rodenstock lenses. The new Pro version added tri-direction movement of rise (20mm) and fall (20mm), and lateral shift (30mm horizontal) capabilities. This makes architecture photography a breeze when using the Horseman SW612 Pro. The compact size of this camera makes it a serious consideration for professionals who do not need the tilt capabilities of a large-format camera.

Rodenstock 6X Aspheric Loupe
----------------------------
After its ever popular 4X Aspheric loupe, Rodenstock has released a 6X version of the aspherical loupes. This should satisfy photographers who found the 4X version insufficient for their needs.

D-series digital camera bags from LowePro
-----------------------------------------
LowePro has launched a new series of bags specially designed for carrying digital photography gear. With new designs taking into account flashcards, batteries and other digital components, they should make carrying digital gear easier than when using a conventional photo bag. In addition, LowePro claims that the new bags utilize a soft interior material that will not harm sensitive LCD displays commonly found on digital cameras. The new bags form the D-Series, with a total of 6 designs to suit different needs.

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* WEBSITE REVIEWS *

Here are this issue's recommended websites:

Digital Photo Corner
--------------------
This website contains a potpurri of information on digital photography, and the articles are concise and to the point. They are not really of a technical nature, so if you're looking for some basic stuff into digital, this might be a good starting point.

There is a section on the comparison of Epson printers, one segment on some digital tools, an interview with Renata Ratajczyk, and tips on the basics of digital cameras as well as making use of PhotoCDs. Drop in at:

Http://www.dpcorner.com/

Pete Turner - Master Colour Photographer
----------------------------------------
Pete Turner is considered to be one of the world's best colour photographer. Check out his website to view his images in all their colour glory. See how he uses colour to impart a certain mood to the photos. If you are into colour photography, Pete Turner could very well be your inspiration! The images are divided into themed gallery like Americana, Africa and Classics. Check them out at:

http://www.peteturner.com/

Wildlife and Nature Photography by Hans Martens
-----------------------------------------------
Hans Martens is a nature photographer, and his site contains a substantial amount of wildlife photographs. What differentiates his gallery from others is his attention to technical details on the wildlife he photographs. Beside each photo is a brief write-up on the animal, which shows his understanding of his subject. He has spent a lot of time in Africa, and although the images may not be the best in wildlife photography, it certainly says a lot about his dedication to the preservation of wildlife. Check him out at:

http://www.wildpicture.com/firstframe.htm

Other Worlds
------------
A. Paul Jenkin is a travel photographer, and Other Worlds is a collection of outdoor and travel photography from around the world. Each image offers a vision of the wonders of our world: events in adventure travel, moments of beauty in nature, and glimpses into people's lives, both past and present. Check out the diversity of different cultures at this travel website:

http://www.rain.org/~pjenkin/

Jody Dole Photography
---------------------
This site sets an example to which all other sites should emulate. Not only is the virtual gallery extremely well-designed for navigation, it is also very esthetically pleasing. In addition, Jody Dole has demonstrated that she is well-worth her salt as a commercial photographer with a series of excellent work on product and landscape photography. This is definitely not a site to be missed! Check it out now at:

http://www.pdn-pix.com/MasterDole/still1.html

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* EVENTS *

National Day 1999 (Singapore)
-----------------------------

For Singaporean and those in Singapore, it is Singapore's Birthday again.
This year, like the last few years, it is at National Stadium.

This year dates and time are :
National Day Preview :- 31 July 1999, Saturday 6 to 8 p.m.
National Day : 9 August 1999, Monday 6 to 8 p.m.

There are 2 set of fireworks: one at 7:50 p.m. and at 8:00 p.m. From 6 p.m.
there are the fly pass and other lights display.

Normally, every year I will bring my students for the fireworks. If anyone
interested and wish to join me and my students, meet us at Kallang Indoor
Stadium, up the stairs on the first flight facing the National Stadium on
31st July 1999, Saturday from at 5:30 p.m. On the National day itself, meet
me at Burger King in Concourse, Beach Road at 5:00 p.m.. I will bring you
to Marina Bay opposite the Condo along Kallang River. Meet us there
directly if you are late.

How do you know it is me ? Find a fat guy that wears shorts, spectacle and
may shout a lot. Please be early to get a good spot. I will briefing on the techniques at 6:15 p.m. It should finish by 8:15 p.m.

What to bring?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) SLR Camera ( ensure your camera has B mode and the battery is fresh )

2) Lens from 28-70mm (70-200mmm if you want to want to capture the fly pass )

3) Cable release ( Electronic or mechanical depending on your camera)

4) Tripod --- Strong and steady

5) ISO/ASA 100 or slower film ( slide or print is up to you ) as many as
you can bring and carry. ( ISO/ASA 800 or higher if you want to want to
capture the fly pass )

(Editor's notes: Mr. Fredrick Foo's offer to give advice is purely out of goodwill. Please give your full cooperation if you wish to join his group for the shoot, and do not disrupt him unnecessarily.)

Singapore River Fiesta
----------------------
During the first half of August, the Singapore River will come alive in the evenings with lots of festive activities. The Singapore River Fiesta will be held from 1st to the 15th of August, and you can expect much entertainment along the riverside. Pop down to Boat Quay and Clarke Quay to get a piece of the action, and bring along your flash! You might like to try some slow-sync flash for creativity, or bring along a tripod to capture the lights along the river. Whatever you do, don't forget to have fun!!

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* PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS *

How to shoot fireworks display?
-------------------------------

Check List :-

1/ Mount your camera with lens on a tripod and a cable release.
2/ Set the camera to 'B' mode
3/ Use a relatively medium or slow speed colour film; like ASA of 100 or 50
4/ Use a small aperture like f/8 or smaller
5/ Ignore and Forget your camera metering.
6/ Aim your camera to the sky where you think there is a possible
fireworks; include some night scene if you want.
7/ REMEMBER TO OFF THE AUTO FOCUS function on your camera and SET YOUR FOCUS TO INFINITY.

Actual Taking: -

1/ Using your eyes and ears, watch and listen for the trail of a Shooting
Sky Rocket as it is fired into the sky.

2/ Once you hear or see it, open the shutter and maintain pressure on the cable release.

3/ Watch the explosion. It is like many fine pens drawing a flower at the
same time. The drawing and effects will slowly disappear. Keep the shutter
open until the entire individual display is over.

4/ Then close the shutter. With this way, the entire pattern and path of
the skyrocket would have been photographed.

5/ Wind your film for the next shot. Repeat the steps again.

THINGS TO NOTE
-- Usually, it is about a few second. But Do Not set the shutter speed for
   any fixed long time exposure by the camera. You might open too late or
   close too early and cut off the effects prematurely.
-- For most spectacular effects, leave the shutter open to record a number
   of different displays on the same film frame. Use a black card to block
   the front of the lens between the interval of the fireworks to stop any
   exposure of the film from the sky.
-- If the interval between fireworks is too short ( like they do in
   Singapore ); i.e. firing more than one at a time, pick one of the
   explosion as a reference to open and close the shutter.
-- To include the night scene in the frame, use night photography method to
   get a reading and hope that the fireworks appear during the time of
   exposure.
--   Usually for Singapore fireworks, the entire show last for only 3
   minutes or so. They fire at least 5 patterns at a time. So wind fast
   after taking. Usually the action are open, close, wind and repeat the
   actions until the show is over.

QUESTIONS:-

Why not use high speed film as the sky is very dark ?

The sky may be dark, but the trial of fireworks does not. If use a high
speed film, the fireworks trial will burn the film and the final picture
just appears white burnt out line. With slow speed film, especially slide,
all the nice colourful will appear on the film. Most of the time, red and
orange.

Why use small aperture ?

Smaller aperture like f/8, f/11 are desired. One reason is to keep the sky
dark. With large aperture, the sky is brown and look under exposed. Also,
the aperture controls the width of the skyrocket trace; small aperture for
fine and clear trace, large aperture for course and bury trace. Try f / 11
or f / 16 for starters.

For those who miss this fireworks, see you on River Hong Bao.

Are mechanical cameras on the way out?
--------------------------------------
This is not strictly a technical tip, but rather viewpoints on the fate of mechanical cameras. In the age of electronic automated cameras, mechanical cameras seemed doomed by their fancy counterparts. Azrul Abdullah takes discusses the value of mechanical cameras, such as durability in extreme weather conditions, to argue against their impending doom. Check it out at:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/portfolio/azrul/htmls/index.htm

Eliminating pizza wheels tracks on Epson printers
-------------------------------------------------
Epson printer users know that the printers have a tiny notched wheel at the rollers to keep the paper straight in the path. Because the wheel looks like a pizza cutter, some techies called it the pizza wheel. There is a tendency for this wheel to come into contact with the wet print, leaving a trail of tiny marks across the paper as it exits the printer. This website has a simple tip which allows you to modify your printer so that the wheel is lifted above the paper, eliminating the irritating marks. All you need is a washer, screwdriver, commonsense and some courage (this modification is unauthorized by Epson, but it is reversible). Proceed at your own risk!

http://www.missupply.com/Html/pizza.html

Technical details and explanation of the Nikon D1
-------------------------------------------------
This one is really for the technies at heart. This page goes into a detailed technical explanation of how the digital Nikon D1 works, and the technology involved (eg. the anti-aliasing filters etc.). For the technically faint-hearted, it is best to ignore this completely!!

http://www.robgalbraith.com/diginews/index2.html

Focus on Lenses - Shutterbug August Edition
-------------------------------------------
If you are interested in finding out more about the latest lenses on the market, you must check out the latest issue of Shutterbug magazine. The August edition is a focus on lenses, and contains reviews of many of the latest lenses, including:

- Nikon's 28-70 and 80-200 f/2.8 AFS
- Canon's latest telephoto IS lenses
- Tamron's ultra-wide wonder 14mm f/2.8
- Sigma's 105mm f/2.8 AF EX Macro

The reviews are basically done with real-life situations by real photographers, rather than resolution-target tests in a lab, so you'll get to see photographs taken by the lenses and personal comments by the reviewers. It's a real treat if you want some comments about the latest crop of lenses on the market.

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* CLASSIFIED ADS *

Tamrac Backpack for Sale
------------------------
I have a top-end Tamrac camera backpack for sale.

Take a look at the following, and click on "Model 787" for more information:

http://www.tamrac.com/f_extreme_backpack.htm

Codition: new.
Asking for: S$400 (price of new bag: S$485); negotiable

(Buyers from Singapore strongly preferred)

Interested buyers, pls feel free to e-mail me at karatex@pacific.net.sg

Best Regards,
Chu

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That's all for this issue, folks!
Happy shooting!!
Your friendly list-maintainer,
Nelson Tan

Visit the official "Photography Happenings !!" website at:

http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo