When To Use A Pro Lab - 350 Reasons

The new digital photographer can be forgiven for being confused by any number of aspects of the sport - there seem to be so many to learn.

He or she used to be confronted only by which film to use, does the orange needle match the mark on the light meter, and is the Chemist open so that I can drop my film in? Then in two weeks it was should I buy another roll of film or a bag of barley sugar and box of bandaids?

Now it is white balances, tonal curves, video frame rates, colour spaces, and all the rest. No wonder they have started putting an " Automatic " setting on new cameras and dedicating a knob or lever to it. The relief for some shooters must be palpable.

It is nearly the same for the shooter who wants paper prints of their work. What do they do now that the chemist has gone out of photofinishing and reverted to selling overpriced vitamin supplements and something for the weekend? What are the alternatives with that card full of images?

a. Print it yourself at home on a multifunction printer from Officeworks. No, please - go ahead and do it. The printer will only cost you a hundred bucks and you'll be so disappointed with the results that you won't even have to buy expensive ink cartridges later to try again. The larger multifunctions make attractive pots for cactus.

b. Get Officeworks to print it for you on their big machine. This sometimes works to some extent if your file is perfect and your need is modest. Do not expect art. They are not going to correct your flaws. GIGO.

c. Get an Epson photo-quality printer and do it at home. This works. Start off with the Epson Surecolor SC-600 and move up to the SC-800 if you want larger prints and cheaper ink. Then cast your eyes at the even larger range of large format printers from the company. They will not be cheap but their quality of print is professional and you can be sure that the prints that emerge with K-3 ink on quality Epson, Ilford, Permajet, or Hahnemuhle paper will be be permanent and accurate.

But sad to relate, you are still going to have to be doing a good job with the files. You'll be telling the computer what you want, but you'll have to make sure your monitor is showing you the truth. ( Hint: Spyder colour calibrators, EIZO screens...) And you'll have to make sure that the computer tells the printer the right thing to do ( Hint: either, you, the computer, or the printer will have to manage the colour. Decide early.) And you'll have to make sure that the printer knows what paper you're using ( Hint: paper profiles.)

You will also need to ensure that you put the paper in the right side up. Do not ask this writer how he knows that. Take it for granted that he knows...

A little unsure about all the settings and alternatives? Then you need the Automatic solution...

d. Take the files on a hard drive, CD, or memory card to a professional photofinishing lab. They have not disappeared with the advent of digital - in fact the good ones are going strong because they are the good ones. And they are resourceful, technically skilled, and helpful.

A visit to a professional photofinisher like Fitzgerald Photo Labs at 350 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
is almost as easy as it used to be to put your films into the chemist. There are real people there who can look at your files and advise you on the optimum sizes that they can be printed. They can suggest paper surfaces for larger works. They can frame the bigger prints - and there are so many options for modern display that you can never run out of a fresh decor idea.

They are able to handle film needs as well - lots of people still shoot on film - and converting the negatives and transparencies to digital files is easy these days. You can get your work back in dual form - digital as well as paper print.

Again you can be sure that the pictures you pay for will be permanent. The big labs use Epson K-3 ink on their big machines.

The joy of a big lab like Fitzie's is that the printing people are there to talk to you and they know what they are doing from long experience. It is not just machine minding in a large furniture or discount store for them. Their job is a profession and they produce professional quality - and that's why Camera Electronic depend on them for our advertising banners and promotional prints. These need to be right and they ARE right.

For those of you  point out that I have forgotten the discount store and the furniture shop...well I remember them when I need tee shirts or kitchen chairs. But not when I need good quality photofinishing.

Some Artistic Events Coming Up

Number One.

There is an exhibition currently on show at the Linton & Kay Galleries - 299 Railway Road, Subiaco and there is to be an especial artist talk connected with it.

On Saturday, 22nd August at 2:30 PM, Tony Hewitt will be speaking to his works.

This is proudly sponsored by Fitzgerald Photo Laboratory - Renowned fine art photographer Mr. Tony Hewitt concentrates on images that are both literal and abstract interpretations of the relatively thin boundary separating land from deep water, and the way that man interacts within these regions of both natural and constructed landscapes. 

A 'Grand Master of Photography' of the prestigious Australian Institute of Professional Photography, he was named Professional Photographer of the Year for 2013. Mr. Hewitt has exhibited extensively both within Australia and abroad.

Here is a link to their site.

Number Two.

The 2105 Perth Heritage Days photographic competition has prestigious sponsors and valuable prizes.

The sponsors include Leica Australia, Fitzgerald Photo laboratory, Camera Electronic, and Heritage Perth.

The prizes will be a Leica camera and a $450 printing voucher from Fitzgerald's. There will be a Judges Prize and a People's Choice prize.

Submissions are invited for he inaugural Perth Heritage Days 2015 photographic competition.Photographers will be encouraged to explore the amazing heritage places which can be fond in the city and to show their vision of Pret' Heritage.

The competition is open to all non-professional photographers who are residents of Western Australia.

Closing date will be the 30th of September 2015.

Here is a link to the website.

Number Three.

There will be a small group "boutique" tour of Cambodia under the title " Captivating Cambodia".

It will be conducted between October 30 and November 5, 2015.

The ancient temples of Agkor and the rich culture of the Kmer civilization awaits. Master photographer Nick Melidonis with guest: renowned American photographer John McDermott who resides in Siem Reap will take you on a personal journey to discover the culture and wonders of this exciting and vibrant destination.

8 Participants only.

Full details are available at:  www.nickmelidonis.com/tours

Brodie Butler Passes Judgement!

It's not as bad as it sounds - he hasn't put on the black cap and the solemn voice...in fact the news he has to impart to the prisoners is all good...

Brodie recently gave a dynamite lecture on the subject of the new Canon EOS 5Ds and 5D Sr cameras at the Oxford Hotel. As part of the festivities, Canon Australia, Fitzgerald Photo laboratory, and Camera Electronic put up a little contest for the photographers who attended.

They were to submit pictures involving Canon products. Brodie was to be judge.

The entries were so good that Brodie finally had to give it as a spilt decision and award two prizes. They go to:

Hyrom Jones
Brad Miskiewicz

They both get a big 'ol print voucher from Fitgerald's, and $ 375 worth of Canon gear rental from us. Good images coming...

And for all who entered the contest , they can come in to see our service team for a free sensor clean - courtesy of Canon CPS and us.

Night Exposure - The Social Scene At The Oxford

No great philosophy or art, folks, but here's some pictures of the Canon EOS 5Ds night presented by Brodie Butler - and us and Fitzgerald's Photo Laboratories, for that matter. We did the setup, Fitzgerald's did the drop-dead gorgeous prints on Chromajet metallic paper, Canon supplied the brand new camera body and a beaut digital projector and the Oxford hotel supplied beer and snacks. Everyone to their own specialty.

Brodie is a good speaker. The camera is a corker. The beer is cold. There's going to be a repeat of his presentation in August to a camera club, but I don't know about the beer...

Howard!

Saul...

Brodie?

The Usual Suspects.

Caught in the headlights...

The Debate.

The guy in blue with running shoes and a baseball cap is Brodie

 and the guy in blue with running shoes and a baseball cap isn't...

Yay Canon! Great Night!

The Three B's - Canon's New 5Ds In The Real World

The three B's*. A glorious night.

Canon Australia sent some of their new Canon EOS 5Ds cameras out, and one of them landed in the hands of Brodie Butler. Last night Brodie gave a memorable lecture regarding this camera to a gathering of enthusiasts at the Oxford Hotel in Leederville.

Canon made a good choice in letting Brodie work with the new camera - Brodie can do, has done for a long time, did then, and was able to do right in front of the viewers. He can also explain what he did and why and THAT is a rare talent.

As Brodie explained, the new camera is massively increased performance packed into a familiar body shape - that of the Canon EOS 5D MkIII. If you know how that feels, you know how the 5Ds feels...but you won't be prepared for what it does until you see the results.

Over 50 megapixels available in one shot from the full-frame sensor. Available with very fast focussing. Large files, and clean. Wild amount of detail available when enlarging - the display prints that were made by Fitzgerald Photo Laboratory on Chromajet metallic paper were startling in their impact and the impact continued right down into the finest detail of the image.

Brodie was able to take photos there on the night with his trusty Elinchrom giant umbrella reflector and the same lady who had modelled for the original photo shoot. The shots made of eyelashes and detail on a fur jacket were detailed beyond belief - but there they were...

The really startling thing for the landscape, architectural, portrait, or fine art photographer is the thought that this camera can do what it does with all the existing Canon L-series lenses! People who might have been looking longingly at other medium format camera systems while shooting with their faithful Canon system can now shelve their envy - the Canon company has the answer to their dreams.

Their dreams are not going to be inexpensive dreams - this level of performance is not going to be fond in the bargain basement - but the purchase price of this 5Ds camera body or the companion 5Dsr body later on is is going to be a great deal less than the medium format option. And you have so many more lenses to choose from...

Altogether a very satisfying rainy night out - good speaker, great images, a remarkable product new to the market - a product that will be truly useful as well as technically brilliant.

* Brodie, Butler, and beer.