Hi Guys

Given that I spend more time on Facebook than blogs, I’m trialling a system whereby I post to Facebook only (I know you can post to Facebook from WordPress but I like the layout when posting directly to FB). I see Facebook as a blog and twitter rolled into one.

I’ve recently added images from out two workshops in Tasmania, so to see what I’ve been up to lately, go onto Facebook and ‘Like’ my two pages:

- Tom Putt Panoramic Landscape Photography

- Tom Putt Photographic Workshops

Cheers,

Tom

Seriously though, I’ve just spent 8 hours printing my entries for this year’s VPPYs in two weeks time, and it got me thinking about what it takes to get a gold.  Let me give you a little about my background first.

I’ve been entering APPA since 2003 (I wasn’t even a member!) and I’ve won several awards. I’ve never won a GOLD however I came damn close last year (89 and at review 2 judges wanted it GOLD, three said no!). I’ve won two gold at state level and for the last three years I’ve judged APPA as well as 4 other state awards. I’ve been critiquing images ever since I was into photography (aged 13) and I feel I know what makes a good image.

Here are my notes from judging the NSW state awards several weeks back (these are applicable to Landscape images which I’m obviously most interested in):

1. CLARITY – there’s nothing better than seeing a shot with absolute detail. Capturing your image at the sharpest aperture (and focus staking if need be) as well as sharpening your image before printing is essential. I love the medium format guys like Rob Blakers cause I literally feel I’m there when I look at their images because of the clarity in the shot.

2. SIMPLICITY – The simple shots are often the best! Many photographers see a lot, then try to include it all in their images. It results in an image that is far too confusing. I believe the more you put in the shot, the more chance there is on stuffing up the image! Antonio Ranieri who won NSW Landscape Photographer 2011 had a stunning image of a pier in the sea, headland in the background, shot with a slow shutter speed to blur the water and then treated in black and white. Simple and yet very effective!

3. TONALITY – using a full range of tonality, with strong shadows and bright whites creates impact.

4. PRINTING – take your time to print your images at home on a decent printer and print, print, print until you’re 1000% happy with the image. Look for every flaw in the image and go back and correct it, then print it again. The print at the bottom of this post I”ve printed at least 15 times this weekend alone! Each time I look at it, I see something else I’d like to correct. I’m always thinking about what the judges might find wrong with my print, then correcting it.

5. SOFT LIGHT – The quality of light (or lack therefore) is vital to the impact of an image. I would put subject matter, composition and light (i know they all sound bleedingly obvious) as the most crucial factors in creating a kick-arse landscape image. But it’s amazing how many images I see that lack these three key ingredients! I judged the NSW state awards as I’ve said just recently, then watched the QLD landscape division on my iphone yesterday, and I have to say (and I need to be careful here as I haven’t won a state or national AIPP landscape title), that overall the quality of landscape imagery out there is poor. We as judges want to reward good imagery, but what I’m seeing lately is poorly composed shots, very poor subject selection, poor photoshop techniques trying to make up for poor quality of light, etc etc.

Look at the points I’ve made above. Next time you go out shooting, look to incorporate all of these into your photography and see what results you get!

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/campers-to-be-airlifted-after-flash-flood-20110323-1c5gv.html

Lots of posts coming in the next few days after my workshop down at Wilson’s Prom with Christian Fletcher (sorry it’s been a bit quiet), but in the meantime while I was editing my images I was watching this DVD again - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldAYgs4UF6w

It’s all shot from helicopters and set to stunning music. I saw it a few years ago in NZL and love the cinematography – look for the waterfall drop off about 1;50 in…

PS. You can purchase it here - http://fiordlandcinema.marketeer.biz/product.pasp?categoryid=1&productid=1

Mount Oberon, Wilson’s Promontory

I have just a few places left for our fantastic Wilson’s Promontory workshop on Friday 18th to Monday 21st March with guest leader Christian Fletcher.

Many of you may know Christian – he’s one of Australia’s most prolific landscape photographers at the moment, shooting all over Australia for upcoming books and supplying his three incredibly successful galleries. He’s got a heap of knowledge to share and is a very nice guy indeed (so with all of that combined it really makes us hate him lots!!!). See his website at http://www.christianfletcher.com.au/

So don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Christian in this part of the world. He doesn’t get over the east coast very often (something about the weather not being warm enough!) so book in NOW through our website at http://www.tomputtphotographicworkshops.com/products/Masterclass-Workshop-%252d-Wilson%27s-Promontory-Victoria.html

You’ll be spending four fabulous days with both of us – shooting all the stunning beaches that are within 5 mins drive of our accommodation (we’ll be staying right in the heart of the National Park at Tidal River), learning all our post-production techniques, printing at home, shooting with DSLRs and Phase One, and answering all the questions you’ll need answered.

See you there!

Christian Fletcher

How would you like to spend 5 days indulging in your passion of photography in some of the most photogenic landscape wildernesses across Australia?

Come with us as we show you how to capture professional images for you to hang on your walls, give as gifts to friends or brag to all your office friends about your trip away!

We still have a few places left for the workshops below, so get in fast by going to the website and booking in – www.tomputtphotographicworkshops.com

WORKSHOPS FOR 2011

MARCH – Great Ocean Road – FULLY BOOKED!

MARCH – Wilson’s Promontory with guest leader Christian Fletcher (3 places left)

APRIL – Cradle Mountain with guest leader Ian Wallace (2 places left)

APRIL – Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay with Ian Wallace (2 places left)

SEPTEMBER – Fraser Island – FULLY BOOKED!

SEPTEMBER – Kangaroo Island with guest leader David Evans (3 places left)

See you out there!

Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year is one of the most prestigious competitions of its kind, attracting entries from professional and amateur photographers of all ages worldwide. By encouraging innovation whilst maintaining excellence in nature photography, the competition seeks to promote the discovery, understanding and enjoyment of the natural world.

Why enter?

- photographers garner international recognition through extensive print and online publicity campaign

- amateurs and professionals alike compete for the chance to share the £24,500 prize pot and scoop the £10,000 top prize

- successful photographers are invited to the gala awards ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum and an exclusive private view of the winning images

- winning images are showcased in an acclaimed exhibition that tours both nationally and internationally and is seen by more than 2.5 million people worldwide

- winning images are published in both a commemorative hardback book translated into multiple languages as well as in a special feature of BBC Wildlife Magazine

How and what to enter

enter online – visit our website for complete competition rules, new digital guidelines and categories

entry fee for the Adult Competition: £20

entry to the Young Competition is free

entries must be digital files. Scans of transparencies and negatives are also accepted.

RAW files, original transparencies or negatives must be supplied if an image reaches the final round of judging (young entrants can submit original JPEGs)

translations of the rules are available online in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish

closing date: Friday 18 March 2011

Judges

We take the judging of the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition very seriously. We select judges who have distinguished themselves in their field and who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of photographic excellence.

Mark Carwardine, (Chair) zoologist, writer and photographer (UK)

Joe Cornish, landscape photographer (UK)

Colin Finlay, Head of Image Resources, Natural History Museum (UK)

Pål Hermansen, photographer and author (Norway)

Beverley Joubert, wildlife photographer, film-maker and conservationist (South Africa)

Rosamund Kidman Cox, editor and writer (UK)

Erik Sampers, picture director, Terre Sauvage magazine (France)

Sophie Stafford, editor, BBC Wildlife magazine (UK)

Markus Varesvuo, wildlife photographer (Finland)

The EPSON International Pano Awards 2011

US$25,000 in cash and prizes!

Enter online at www.thepanoawards.com Professional and amateur photographers around the world are invited to enter The EPSON

International Pano Awards to compete for approximately $25,000 in cash and prizes. Regular entries are open from 1st December 2010 until Friday 15th of April 2011.

The second Epson International Pano Awards is dedicated to the art of panoramic photography. Advances in digital photography and software such as PTGui and Adobe Photoshop has resulted in an explosion in image stitching, especially in the panoramic format. Panoramic film photography also remains alive and well.

The Epson International Pano Awards showcases the work of panoramic photographers worldwide and is the largest and most important competition for panoramic photography.

The 2010 competition saw 2740 images submitted from 945 photographers in 79 countries.

The 2011 competition is now open for all professional and amateur photographers with a combined prize pool of US $25,000 in cash and prizes!

New for 2011

-an exhibition of the winners and top scoring images at the PMA Photo Imaging Trade Show in Sydney, June 2011! -a new category for VR photography to be announced soon! -prizes for runner-ups and third places in each category

The judging panel includes over 20 of the world’s top panoramic photographers and industry professionals, including members of the IAPP and IVRPA.

www.thepanoawards.com

16th May – 29th May 2011

Daniel Capobianco M.Photog & Antonio Ranieri on a photographic experience of a lifetime!

Visit some of Italy’s iconic places and best kept secrets with muliti-award winning photographers Daniel and Antonio and learn how to take your landscape and fine art photography to an amazing level.

From only $6850…

Locations you will visit…

Venezia (Venice)

San Quirico Di Orica

San Gimignano

Monteriggioni

Volterra

Siena

Todi

Orvieto

Tivoli

Roma

Topics you will cover…

Landscape photography – Lighting & composition

Landscape stitching

Fine art photography – Lighting & composition

HDR photography and processing

Photoshop finishing techniques using the Adobe products

Printing techniques

Price…

$6850 per person twin share (deposit paid by 25th November 2010)

$7580 Per person single room (deposit paid by 25th November 2010)

Book after 25th November 2010 $7550 twin share & $8280 single share.

Non-refundable deposit $3000 due at time of booking.

Balance remaining due by 1st March 2011.

All flights, transfers, accommodation and some meals included, also includes tuition, tip book and added extras along the way.

There are only 12 spots available so get in early!

To book, please call Felicity on +61 410 596 617 or email felicity@pixelpurity.com.au…

What you will need…

DSLR camera or medium format camera.

Laptop loaded with photoshop (please contact us if you need assistance with this).

Promoter: Anlex Projects Pty Ltd

ABN: 40142343664

Unit 3 43-53 Bridge Road

Stanmore NSW, Australia

Bus Hours 9am – 4pm eastern Australian time

Email: anlexprojects@iinet.net.au