Table of contents for January-February 2017 in Capture

Welcome to the first edition of Capture for the year. I hope that 2017 is truly amazing for you – both creatively and commercially. After all, success in both is necessary for a completely rewarding and fulfilling career. Unless of course you’re working as a professional photographer entirely for your health! As many of you might know, every year we set out to find the very best emerging photographic talent from Australia and New Zealand. Now in its ninth year, the call for entries for Australia’s Top Emerging Photographers is open. With portfolios judged by some of the very best in the industry, there’s over $21,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, and $3,000 for the overall winner plus a camera kit from Fujifilm, including the X-Pro2, valued at…

Say the word photojournalist to most people and it will probably conjure up images of an olive-green shoulder bag, a pair of Leicas hanging under a well-used scarf, and an outfit of earthy tones draped over a young individual with big publications hot on their heels. It’s characters like Maddy Bowen in Blood Diamond or Sean O’ Connell in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty that perpetuate this ideal and who undoubtedly become the catalyst for a wave of young people’s foray into photography. But skip to the reality of a working freelance photojournalist and the scene is noticeably different. As with any genre within the craft, the challenges of making a career from photography often mean that what might have once seemed like a dream job is a little…

Water comprises more than half of the human body, humans need to drink water to survive, it keeps us clean and healthy, it covers a majority of the planet and yet, it feels almost impossible to pin down the exact reason why we find water so enchanting. The increasing popularity of underwater photography has expanded the already strong Australian connection to the ocean. With this popularity brings the demand for more underwater photographers to dive into varied waters from Olympic swimming pools to shark-inhabited parts of the ocean. With ever advancing and accessible gear, photographers are adding refreshing images to their portfolios which are also finding their way to galleries, magazines, and private collections all over the world. A Fluid Connection For underwater photographers, the drive to explain the human…

Jai Long Jai Long’s initial introduction to photography was when he picked up a camera to curb his boredom while working in the mines in Western Australia in 2010. Long found his calling as a wedding photographer after dabbling with a number of other business endeavours. The move provided the perfect vehicle to both run a business and have an outlet for self-expression. A self-taught photographer, Long realised early that understanding his subjects would be the key to his success. “I didn’t even know how to use my camera in manual mode. It wasn’t important to me. I started reading body language books and started to study people,” he says. “I knew if I could understand them and make them feel comfortable, I would be able to take great portraits.”…

Cameras ▪The Leica Q now features a titanium gray paint finish. The fixed, fast prime Leica-Summilux lens (28mm f/1.7 ASPH) and full-frame sensor are the same as in the standard issue black edition as are all the other key specifications including a 24 megapixel sensor, ISO up to 50,000, 3.68-megapixel integrated viewfinder, and full-HD video recording, allowing you to choose between 30 and 60 full frames per second. The camera’s specs make it ideal for street, architectural, and landscape photography. au.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-Q/LEICA-Q ▪ The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II flagship model features a 20.4 megapixel Live MOS sensor equipped with the new 121-point all cross-type, on-chip phase detection AF sensor, along with advanced 5-axis image stabilisation which offers up to an additional 5.5 shutter speed stops ofcompensation. This micro four thirds…

Before he became a household name in the Australian wedding photography industry, being commissioned to capture wedding across the globe, and a regular on the international speaking circuit, Dan O’Day used to tour the country with his band as well as hold exhibitions of his paintings and fine art photography. His day job at the time was working in the government for the National Health and Medical Research Council, taking care of the peer review process of medical research funding schemes in Australia. And he’s certainly come a long way since then. In a world where the celebration of matrimony has become ‘cool’ again, gone are the days of stock-standard weddings. The opportunity to capture that special day, coupled with finding the most epic locations to amplify the self-expression of…

The great photographer’s dream Ask any number of photographers to describe the perfect studio space and the responses you get are unlikely to differ greatly. It’s a massive ground floor studio in a disused warehouse whose aesthetics, and gardens, are gorgeous. It’s located on the edge of the city. It has adequate parking and a loading dock with direct entry. Its ceiling soars. Its width is immense. It’s equipped with everything. It’s flooded with natural light – but only if you want it. It can turn day into night. There’s a huge cyclorama. Every light you’ve ever dreamed of. Enough power to light the Opera House. Props, soft-boxes, light stand, and polyboards in every colour. A dressing room that would make Mariah Carey happy. A MasterChef kitchen, whether you shoot…

See Life aquatic (group exhibition), Monash Gallery of Art, Wheelers Hill, VIC, until 26 February. The exhibition features the work of three contemporary photographers – Narelle Autio, Ruth Maddison, and Catherine Nelson. Life aquatic will plunge the viewer into underwater landscapes where life forms are suspended, interconnected, and bubbling with quiet potential. In different ways, each artist asks us to sink below the horizon of our civilised lives. www.mga.org.au/exhibition Digital Portraiture Award 2016, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, ACT, until 9 April. The best work from the Digital Portraiture Award 2016 will be showing at the National Portrait Gallery until 9 April. Now in its fifth year, the Digital Portraiture Award aims to extend the traditional notion of portraiture in the digital realm. The winner receives $10,000 and a residency at…