Craig Kolesky shoots World Surf League Championship Tour Corona Open J-Bay with the Nikon Z6
Craig Kolesky stepped out the comfort zone while shooting the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) Corona Open J-Bay in South Africa for Red Bull, with the Nikon Z6 and a Nikon 200-500 f5.6 lens. We quizzed him on his gear choice. In previous years what gear did you use to shoot a surfing event of this nature? I’ve been shooting this event a while now (six years or so), and, with the massive advancements in technology you sometimes just have let go and try something new so as not to stagnate (in terms of angles and the like). I would normally have had my D5, D850 with 600mm f4 lens to capture all the action, so this year I just figured ‘why not’ and decided on Z6 and the Nikon 200-500 F5.6. What was a big change for you? Well firstly, I didn’t have to carry that big lens around. Secondly, with a fixed focal (like the 600) you are rather limited to your angles. With the 200-500 (with FTZ adapter) I had so much more range and didn’t once have to use a tripod or monopod. The plan was to walk around and shoot on-the-fly as moments […]
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Undocumented dragonfly photographed for first time with Nikon P900
Undocumented dragonfly found in Limpopo, South Africa The Eastern Scissortail Dragonfly was recently spotted in SA for the first time at the Swadini Forever Resort in Hoedspruit, Limpopo. An undocumented dragonfly has been found at the Swadini Forever Resort. This is the first time that this dragonfly has formally been documented in the country; needless to say, it is also good news for the Limpopo ecosystem. Earlier this year Swadini started a project with the aim of understanding the ecosystem in and around the resort ultimately exposing guests and students to a wealth of knowledge. The Dragonfly named Eastern Scissortail was found and photographed by Antoinette Snyman on 20 May 2019. “Dragonflies and Damselflies play a key role in both the terrestrial and aquatic habitats. They are predators as both nymphs and adults feed on a variety of prey including nuisance species such as mosquitos, ants and biting flies. Dragonflies are also able to consume their own body weight in as little as half an hour. Dragonflies’ are nature’s way of pest control – natural alternative”, said Nols van der Berg, General Manager at Swadini. Dragonflies were some of the first winged insects to evolve, some 300 million years ago. […]
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FINDING BEAUTY IN THE FOG
Capturing photographs in the fog or mist can leave you with some truly wonderful and atmospheric images. However, you have to expect the unexpected. Without the proper techniques, it’s easy to end up with photos that look flat, washed-out and uninteresting. The first step is understanding how this natural phenomenon occurs, only then can you master it. UNDERSTANDING FOG Fog or mist forms in the evening, and lasts till the morning. This gives you two windows of opportunity; early evening or early morning to capture your images. The next thing to understand is that this phenomenon almost always forms near a body of water. This is due to the water being slightly warmer than the air’s temperature, which leads to the water evaporating and causing fog, or mist. Knowing this bit of information will now help you hunt down the right areas. Photographed with Nikon D810 and AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR at 50mm ISO 100, f/13, 1/8 seconds SCATTERED LIGHT The next step is understanding how to capture it. Fog is often difficult to capture on camera. Subjects are no longer clearly defined, as the fog deprives the camera of clear light, contrast and colour. In essence, fog […]
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Wedding photographers pursue light with the Nikon Z Series
Golden Light – the marriage of Elizabeth and Robin, Spain. Nikon Z 6 + AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G / 1/400 sec | f/1.8 | 85mm | ISO 100 © The Kitcheners Mastering light Light is a photographer’s best friend. But wedding photographers are at the mercy of the location they’re shooting – there is little control or time to carefully compose that ‘perfect photo’. Delivering images of the most important day of a couple’s life come down to knowing how to work with the light available. As any photographer will know, no two weddings are ever the same and each one will pose a fresh set of challenges when it comes to mastering light. This could be capturing newlyweds bathed in Majorca’s legendary, yet fleeting golden hour or turning the dreary skies of the Scottish Lowlands into a dramatic backdrop. Either way, ensuring you have the right equipment to ‘pursue light’ will ensure the resulting images are truly special. A marriage of light and imaging power Nikon’s Z system is built around the world’s widest 55mm lens mount. With just 16mm between the mount and the camera’s full-frame image sensor, more light can reach the sensor, therefore providing more opportunity […]
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A BLUEPRINT TO ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Enter the amazing world of architecture photography. From contemporary cityscapes to historical landmarks, there are a myriad of ways to capture wonderful works of architecture. Look beyond the still nature of buildings and attempt to find the motion and movement in your subject because it’s all about finding the right perspective to make your subject sing. EQUIPPING YOURSELF When it comes to photographing architecture, there are several kinds of lenses you can go for, with each lending itself to a different benefit. Telephoto lenses are often the go-to choice for architecture photographers. They allow you to get amongst a building’s façade and really focus in on intricate details. A wide-angle lens will allow you to capture the bigger picture, granting you more of the building’s structure. Wide-angles are also a great way of giving a building more context with its surrounding elements. A fish-eye lens can be used to convey sheer size, and also adds an extra touch of creativity to your shot. Ultimately, the choice of lens depends on what you’re trying to achieve. Experiment and discover which works best for you. Photographed with Nikon D810 and AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR at 62mm ISO 400, f/4.8, 1/30 […]
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South African Food Photographer selected as finalist in the 2019 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year
We are delighted to share with you that the image below, shot by award-winning Food photographer, Hein van Tonder, was selected as a finalist in the 2019 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year. It was awarded “Highly Commended” in the category “Bringing Home the Harvest” at the awards ceremony held in London on 30 April 2019. It was the only finalist image from a South African photographer. The image was shot at the historic Old Delhi spice market depicts a worker having a nap on bags of pungent chillies. 2019 was the 4th year that Hein’s work has been selected for the finals of the competition and this year saw a further 3 images selected for the shortlist stage of the competition. 2 images shot for Katelyn William’s best-selling book “Chocolate” and an image shot for Caro de Waal’s immersive installation at the 2018 Venice Food Design Week. The Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year is the world’s most important food photography competition and this year’s competition saw more than 9000 entries from 77 countries. The finalist gallery with some incredible work from all over the world can be viewed here: https://www.pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com/finalists-gallery-2019/ Hein’s portfolio has been updated with his most recent work and can be […]
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PHOTOGRAPHING STORMY WEATHER
Instead of hibernating, get outdoors in stormy weather, as it can whip up some great opportunities – use our tips to maximise your results with the minimum of hassle. Keep it steady Mount your camera on a tripod, firing the shutter via a cable release or the self-timer. The more pixels your camera’s sensor packs, the more likely that tiny movements will be recorded as blur in your shots, and the longer the exposure and the larger you’re intending to display your final image, the more important this is. Long exposures enable you to create dynamic streaks in the sky from scudding clouds, milky surfaces on lakes or the sea instead of choppy waves, and ethereally smooth waterfalls (see Water Effects, below). For a belts-and-braces approach, most tripods have a hook underneath the plate from which you can hang something heavy (like your kitbag), anchoring the set-up even more securely. Protect your kit Pack a lens cloth and use it frequently; a rain cover for your camera and lens is also a wise investment. At a pinch, put your camera in a clear plastic sandwich bag, fastened around the lens with a rubber band. A UV filter will also protect your lens […]
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New Firmware Ver. 2.0 for the Nikon Z 7 and Z 6
New firmware brings further improvements, including the addition of Eye-Detection AF, to the Z series full-frame mirrorless cameras. Johannesburg – Nikon in South Africa is pleased to announce the release of firmware Ver. 2.0 that will further enhance the performance of its full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Nikon Z 7 and Z 6. Users will enjoy three main additional support features following the Ver. 2.0 upgrade. They include: Eye-Detection AF with still-image shooting; Extension of the low-light AF detection range; Addition of AE tracking capability to the continuous high-speed (extended) mode. These enhanced shooting functions will further expand the possibilities for visual expression. Primary features of the new firmware 1. Eye-Detection AF with still-image shooting The new firmware offers the Eye-Detection AF function that automatically detects and focuses on human eyes in the auto-area AF (AF-S, AF-C) mode. When the eyes of multiple human subjects are detected, the multi-selector or sub-selector can be used to select the eye upon which the camera should focus. This enables focus on the intended individual even when looking through the Electronic Viewfinder. This function is applicable even when the subject’s face is partially covered by another object, and also in the event when human subjects […]
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FINAL NIKON ASSIGNMENT: MAY 2019
Would you like to have your image displayed in Nikon Centurion? Participate in our monthly Nikon Assignments and you could be one of seven lucky photographers who will get the opportunity to have their image displayed. Each Nikon Assignment will have a unique theme to challenge photographers to get creative and use their photographic skills. THEME: YOUR BEST SHOT Do you have a favourite photograph that you consider your best shot? Blow us away with your best shot for our final #MyNikonAssignment. The subject can be anything. *No explicit/racial/inappropriate images. Photos can be in colour or in B&W. The brief Submit an image showcasing YOUR BEST SHOT. To participate in the assignment, you must: SNAP – Take your best photograph GRAM – Post your image on Instagram TAG – Add the hashtag #MyNikonAssignment and #Mybestshot and tag @IamNikonSA in the Instagram caption FOLLOW – Follow @IamNikonSA on Instagram Your entry must be published on Instagram during the assignment dates (1 – 31 May 2019). The award Seven lucky photographers will get the final opportunity to have their images on display at Nikon House in Centurion in the month following the assignment. Who can participate You must be a South African resident, however, […]
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