World Pinhole Photography Day

Be part of something big,
(through something very small).

The fifteenth Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD)  will be celebrated all over the world on Sunday April 26th, 2015.

Everyone in the world is invited to take a picture with a pinhole camera, upload it to http://www.pinholeday.org and become part of the Internet's premier pinhole photography gallery.

Pinhole cameras have no lens at all and pinhole photos are taken simply through a small hole. It is very fun, educational and creative to use these kinds of cameras that can even be self-made with various boxes or cans. Any container that can be made light-tight is enough: from tea boxes to tomato cans, from shoe boxes to wooden ones.

An increasing number of people are showing interest in the exciting practice of pinhole photography.  In 2001, 291 pinhole photographers from 24 countries took part in the WPPD and the web exhibition. Last year they were 3,517 participants from 70 countries.

You don’t even need to be working in the medium of film.  You can also use pinhole ‘lenses’ attached to digital SLR’s.  The choice is yours!

WPPD stems from the enthusiastic work by dozens of volunteers scattered worldwide.   More information and the full program (constantly updated) can be found at www.pinholeday.org

Freedom

By now everyone will probably know about the shocking events that unfolded in Paris yesterday.  Our thoughts are with those left behind to deal with such as senseless tragedy.

It would turn out that yesterday would be all about freedoms of speech.  Shortly after the news about Paris came a posting on Amateur Photographer Magazine’s website about a campaign to stop photographers publishing photographs of children without the consent of parents.

The Royal Photographic Society joined with the National Union of Journalists in condemning the bid which has now reached the House of Lords.

The campaign started after musician Paul Weller and his wife won a High Court Battle against the Daily Mail for publishing un-pixelated pictures of their children whilst on a shopping trip in Los Angeles.

If such a campaign should be successful the law would have an effect on amateur photographers as well as professionals.  The posting of photographs including children to social media sites or entrance to competitions would also be included.  This would have a serious impact on those that practice the documentary aspects of photography such as street photography.

Across the Atlantic in the United States the freedoms of photographers has also made the news.  The so-called Ansel Adams Act has been introduced in to Congress.  The bill aims to “restore the First Amendment rights of photographers” by removing restrictions on taking photographs in public places such as national parks, of taking images of Government buildings and/or workers and police officers.

Maybe it is a little ironic that we are talking about freedoms in 2015.  This year celebrates the 800 year anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta was the inspirations of all of our constitutional rights and freedoms.

On the subject of Film...

The Financial Times have realeased a little video on the state of film and analogue photography in the UK.

And now for something a little different!!!

The BBC website has a beautiful little article on the Kodak Brownie Camera and how it revolutionised photography.  There is also a gorgeous photograph entitled Tiller Girls by Bert Hardy that was taken in Blackpool.  It's well worth a quick read!!!

The Difference Between Art Photography & Other Photography

Over at The Online Photographer, Mike Johnston is having a converstaion about photography and its critque.  This is following the response given to him from readers about one of his images.  As articles usually are at TOP it is insightful and useful.  I especially like the statement "One big distinction between art photography and other photography is that you don't give the audience what they want, you lead them to see and understand (over the course of many pictures) what you want. You can't do that unless you're being true to yourself."

Consumer Electronics Show Show New Toys for Photographers

The annual Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas demonstrates that humble camera is not yeilding to the rise of cameraphone photography with a whole host of new products set to hit the stores.

Amongst the offerings is a mock up of a new DSLR from Pentax that is rumoured to be set for release during this spring as a replacement for the K-50.  Ricoh also showed two mock ups of a new ' high maginifcation super telephoto' and a 'large diameter' telephoto lens.

Nikon unvieled the new D5500.  This 'exceptionally portable' DSLR boasts a 24.2 mega pixel sensor with a vari-angle touchscreen.  Nikon claim that they have improved the contrast detection aouto focus in live view mode so it is 20% faster than the D5300.  The camera also has built in wi-fi and allows smart phone control.  The D5500 will be hitting the shops shortly and is expected to be sold at £639.99 for the body.

Camera makers are also throwing their weight behind the compact market.  Panasonic unvieled the Lumix SZ10 that comes complete with 'slimming mode'.  No longer do you need to use your generic photo-editing package, join a local gym or fat fighters to look slim!  The SZ10 will take pounds off you.  So now you can have your pies and still look good in a selfie!  Despite this little gimmick the SZ10 appears to be quite an impressive little camera with a 24mm wide angle lens, 12x optical zoom flip out monitor and wi-fi again with smartphone control.  All this for £139.99. 

For those looking for something a little more rugged there is also the Lumix FT30 with its 16 megapixel sensor, shock resistance and water resitant to 1.5m.  It also boasts 4x optical zoom and an intelliget underwater photography mode.

The last offering from Panasonic is the very nice looking Lumix TZ70.  Aimed at the high end compact market this camera has a 12 megapixel sensor with 24mm Leica lens and 30x optical zoom.  It has a lens mounted control ring as we have come to expect from high end compacts, geotagging, wi-fi and RAW file recording.  This camera is expected to cost £349.99 and will be available in the UK from March.

We're Back

Yes, we're back!  Finally, at last we're getting time to sit down and do stuff.

 

We are going to have a little change.  Not one that I hope will be detrimental to us but one that will keep you coming back for more.

 

From now on we'll be here from Monday to Friday keeping you up todate with all the latest going ones in the world of photography and any intresting articles or snippets that we come across.  Our regular Issuu base magazine will now be published quartely where we will bring together loads of information, reports and featured photographers from throughout the Pennine Lancashire region.  We will also be introducing you to some artists working in other media that we've stumbled across on our travels.

 

However, we can't do this without you!  We like input from readers so if you see something you like, fancy being one of our featured photographers, have an event then drop us an email and let us know!

See you soon!