Western Cape Winelands Photography Experience
Come and learn landscape photography while exploring some of South Africa’s oldest and finest wine farms in the heart of the Breedekloof Wine Valley with Craig Fouché Photography and Nikon SA from 29 Feb – 1 March 2020. During the 2-day workshop, you will not only have the opportunity to photograph landscapes at different times of the day, but also experience the vineyard and all it has to offer. The workshop includes a welcome wine goodie bag from Deetlefs Wine Estate, wine tasting, light lunch on Saturday and a give-away wine pack for the best image taken during the course of the workshop. CLICK HERE to book your ticket Craig Fouché Photography in proud association with Deetlefs Wine Estate and Nikon South Africa, present the Western Cape Winelands Workshop in the Rawsonville surrounds ± 20km outside Worcester. Here you will not only have the opportunity to photograph landscapes but also experience the vineyards. I take you step-by-step from your first shutter click to final image on the wall! The main thrust of the workshop will be landscape photography, where I will also show you my workflow as to how I edit in Photoshop for the web and printing. THE LOCATION […]
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Expand your horizons with the NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
Go even wider with Nikon’s new fast, ultra-wide-angle prime lens that delivers superior resolution with minimal distortion JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Nikon in South Africa is pleased to announce the launch of its new ultra-wide-angle prime lens, the NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S for the Nikon Z series. Enjoy dynamic photo and video expressions made possible with the lens that is designed for high optical performance and provides a wider field of view than the human eyes. “Nature lovers, holiday-goers or landscape photography enthusiasts seeking to enjoy dynamic expression will love this NIKKOR Z S-Line lens that provides a wider field of view. Be it photos of grand hills from a distance or the starry sky, users will be delighted with how this ultra-wide-angle 20mm lens with minimal distortion is able to beautifully capture landscapes as well as nightscapes,” said Grant Norton, CEO of Premium Brand Distributors for Nikon in South Africa. Those that are already familiar with the S-Line lenses will be delighted to know that the features of this new lens share the same smooth operability and comfortable usage. The lens is versatile in allowing its users to recreate scenes with high resolution, delightfully beautiful bokeh, and capture […]
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Turn every moment into a masterpiece with the NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
The compact and high-power zoom lens helps you capture images and movies with great optical quality and ultimate versatility JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Today, Nikon in South Africa announced the launch of its NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR, a lightweight and versatile NIKKOR Z lens. Enjoy capturing beautiful moments with the telephoto lens’s extensive coverage of view angle from 24mm to 200mm, allowing for the shooting of a great diversity of scenes that include landscapes, portraits and close ups. It does not matter if you are an enthusiast or professional, let the lens accompany you around the world as you record every memory in high quality, even in low-light conditions. “The NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is a versatile lens for creators on an adventure to see the world, and who wish to only carry one high-power zoom lens that is compact and light. Despite its lightweight size, it doesn’t fail to deliver superior image quality. The lens features ARNEO Coat that allows you to capture stills and videos in clarity, with minimal ghosting and flaring even at the wide-angle of 24mm.” said Grant Norton, CEO of Premium Brand Distributors for Nikon in South Africa. NIKKOR Z 24-200MM F/4-6.3 VR […]
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Be on top of the game with the flagship D6
Nikon’s new powerhouse DSLR sets new heights in imaging accuracy and communication speed JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Speed is key in the world of sports and photojournalism. The new Nikon D6, announced by Nikon in South Africa today, makes the mark in Nikon’s history with its most powerful autofocus to capture the decisive moments, and delivers them with fast and versatile communication options so those winning shots swiftly make it to the news-desk or social media with just a few taps. Be it from an all-selectable 105-point autofocus (AF) employing cross sensors in high density sensor arrangement, to simultaneous recordings of JPEG images to both slots, and even to produce natural skin tones with utmost clarity, the flagship camera is ready to impress even the most gruelling demands of the industry. Low lights and challenging environments of harsh stadium lights will benefit from an ISO sensitivity of 102400. Track the action in conventionally difficult scenes such as multiple subjects in the frame with the new AF engine, while also catching it all with approximately 14-fps1 high speed continuous shooting. Discover workflow flexibility with prioritised image upload together with versatile data transfer capabilities. “We want to provide a photography experience that […]
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BOKEH FOR BEGINNERS
Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke (ボケ), which means ‘blur’ or ‘haze’—or boke-aji, the ‘blur quality.’ Bokeh is pronounced BOH-Kə or BOH-kay. Visit any photography website or forum and you’ll find plenty of debate on the pleasing bokeh that user’s favourite fast lenses allow. The adjectives flow thick and fast: smooth, incredible, superb, good, beautiful, sweet, silky, excellent …but what exactly is bokeh? Bokeh can be defined as ‘the effect of a soft out-of-focus background that you get when shooting a subject using a fast lens at the widest aperture.’ Simply put, bokeh is the pleasing or aesthetic quality of out-of-focus blur in a photograph. Although bokeh is actually a characteristic of a photograph, the lens used determines the shape and size of the visible bokeh. Usually seen more in highlights, bokeh is affected by the shape of the diaphragm blades (the aperture) of the lens. A lens with more circular-shaped blades will have rounder, softer orbs of out-of-focus highlight. A lens with an aperture that is more hexagonal in shape will recreate that shape in the highlights it captures. © Jody Dole, Bokeh is easily seen in the foreground and background. ACHIEVING BOKEH IN YOUR IMAGES To achieve […]
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5 EASY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPOSITION GUIDELINES
You may not realise this, but every time you bring your camera up to your eye you’re making decisions about composition. Simply put, composition is how you choose to frame the picture you’re about to make. Many books have been written about composition. And while no two people are likely to frame the same scene the same way, there are some general guidelines that can help you make your photos more interesting and engaging. THE RULE OF THIRDS The rule of thirds is a guide to help you show your subject off to best effect. When you look through your viewfinder or at the LCD monitor screen on your camera, it helps to imagine a noughts-and-crosses grid over the scene. The grid segments the image into nine squares, which are created by superimposing four lines over what you can see. Note that some Nikon cameras even have a menu option that allows you to turn on gridlines in the viewfinder (or on the screen). These gridlines are a guide to help you frame your image and won’t show up in your final picture. Notice where the four lines intersect. The rule of thirds suggests that these intersection points are the […]
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Tips for Capturing Silhouettes
Silhouettes are all about photographing a subject in front of a light source and persuading your camera to expose for the brightest part of the image – the background – so your subject is sufficiently underexposed that it appears blacked out. Silhouettes work beautifully with the vibrant colours of sunset, or against dramatic starry or moonlit skies, and they also bring depth and foreground interest to the Christmas and New Year fireworks displays which are now becoming increasingly popular. Whatever the background, you need to meter and correctly expose for that background in order to place your subject in shadow. Check on the LCD how the image looks, and adjust your exposure accordingly. You can also use exposure bracketing to shoot a series of shots with varied exposures, and then pick the best one. The ideal spot on which to focus is the subject. However, since the subject of a silhouette is so dark, the camera may have difficulty locking on the focus. Here’s what you can do to deal with this: Manually focus the camera on your subject. Focus on the subject’s edge, where there will be more of a contrast difference between the darkened subject and the brighter […]
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Making your flat lay photos pop
Flat lay has taken the world of photography by storm. When the word “photography” is mentioned, what comes to mind? We bet it’s not a flat lay image. However, with the perfect planning, you can capture a flat lay that can be just as eye-catching and visually appealing. Below are some basic steps for taking flat lay photos like a boss. WHAT MAKES A FLAT LAY? Simply put, flat lay is a photograph taken from right above. An establishing characteristic is its bird’s eye point of view, allowing you to capture all the elements in one picture. Another characteristic is the charming minimalist style each flat lay image exudes. But why do some flat lays look like they are cut from a Vanity Fair magazine, while others feel like randomly scattered items on a floor? The secret is in the message. Before setting up, you have to think thoroughly about the purpose of this photoshoot. Is it to tell a story, to convey an emotion, to visualize a message, or to set up the tone and expectation for more content? Photographed with D800 and the AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D at 50mm, ISO 125, f/14, 1/2s Photographed with D800 and the […]
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Free your creativity with Abstract photography
What is abstract photography? Also known as conceptual, experimental or non-objective photography, it’s difficult to sum up with a single definition. Lines, textures, patterns, colours and all types of graphic qualities can be used to create an image that doesn’t aim to illustrate reality but form a unique image from conventional subject matter. You may hardly, if at all, make a connection between an abstract photograph and the object world, but that’s why it can be so mesmerising — anything can become a magnificent piece of art. Shift your focus away from usual perspectives, observe the world, and concentrate on components with a macro lens. Sounds tricky? Here are some tips for recognising abstract photography opportunities. YOUR EYES CAN FEEL You can connect to one’s sense of touch with images of texture. Spend some time looking at surfaces around you, from nearby items like the shell of your laptop, to fine art like oil painting on a canvas. Every surface has a unique texture waiting to be explored. Take a few test shots to see how the convex and concave appear on an image, and more importantly, study which direction the light comes from. The dimensions and topography of a […]
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Why shoot mirrorless?
As a Nikon representative, I get asked a lot, “why should I shoot mirrorless?” with the majority of users already expecting the usual answers of: “Without the mirror box, the body is so much smaller and lighter” “Getting instant feedback about the colours and exposure through the Electronic Viewfinder leads to a much easier shooting experience” “The autofocus technology when shooting video is generally smoother and easier to use than with a DSLR” And while all of that is true when shooting mirrorless, the major benefit that I’m seeing with the Nikon Z Series comes down to the lenses and the fact that I am getting image quality like I have never seen before. Now if you’re reading this and you’ve never shot with a NIKKOR Z lens before, please don’t think that I’m saying that all of your amazing F mount DSLR lenses should be thrown out and that they’re useless…that’s the furthest thing from the truth, as not only are they some of the best lenses ever made for a DSLR, but also the Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ makes using older F mount glass so seamless that you don’t even realize it’s there. Ninety F mount NIKKOR lenses are fully compatible […]
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