Bevy of Beauties: 42nd Street (1933)



Una Merkel, Ruby Keeler and Ginger Rogers in 42nd Street (1933)


Una Merkel, Ginger Rogers and Ruby Keeler in 42nd Street (1933)


On the Set: Joan Bennett



on the set of Green Hell (1940)


with Director Fritz Lang on the set of Scarlet Street (1945)


costume selection for Secret Beyond the Door (1947)





with Director Fritz Lang on the set of Secret Beyond the Door (1947)


Fridays Foto Tip - Water Droplets




Ok so I know it's not Friday, but better late than never right? This week I thought we would tackle that pesky issue of the dreaded water droplet sticking to your lens/port during water photography, and how to promote a quick, smooth and efficient water runoff. Whether you have a professional fish-eye waterhousing or a beginner compact water-camera, if you don't know how to avoid water droplets and initiate good water runoff, capturing a great surf shot can be extremely frustrating. I've had times when a single water droplet has ruined a potential cover.

Problem: Water droplets sticking to camera port/lens.

Cure: Although there are many watery solutions out there, the best and most readily available is your own saliva. What, did AvG just say spit? Yip that be right. Good old gross spit or saliva. I've also heard of potato milk, sweat and "No more Rain", but why spend extra money and lug bags of potatoes in the boot of your car when your body already produces the perfect solution.

While you wade out through the shallows, gather up a big ball of saliva in your mouth for your lens/port. It is interesting to note at this point that some foods or drinks inhibit or promote the build up of saliva. Chocolate or something milky usually works wonders for mucus buildup. Once you have a good supply available, carefully spit out the saliva onto the port of your housing/camera. If this wasn't gross enough, use your tongue to equally distribute the saliva around the port, and then dip the camera in and out of the water. Back this up with another application before diving into the water and swimming out to your chosen spot. If you're having trouble gathering up enough and you're pressed for time, why not get a mate to help you out, or not.

Keep your housing/camera submerged beneath the surface while you wait to capture the action. I usually mix a little saltwater in my mouth with some more saliva, and spit this useful mix onto the port every 15 minutes or so just to keep the layer intact. Once the saliva and saltwater have merged, you should notice a fine layer covering the port. In addition, when you pick up your housing/camera, you should notice the quick and even runoff of any water. This saliva layer will also prevent any water droplets from "sticking" or staying on the port as they should run off just as quickly. Lastly, it is best to keep your housing underwater while waiting, as this will keep it from "drying" out. Good luck and lets see your results.

AvG

Keep The Faith, Live The Dream

Modern Femmes Fatale: Part 68




Monica Bellucci


Maja Latinovic


Maggie Gyllenhaal


Madchen Amick


Trish Goff


Gledis Cinque


Evan Rachel Wood


Elena Cucci


Dree Hemingway


Lidija Hlinova



Dance Hall Demoiselles: Constance Smith


Imitating anothers photograph - Copyright infringement


Amateur Photographer magazine published an interesting story about a copyright infringement case of similar, but not directly copied, images. The issue of copyright is thorny, contentious and often misunderstood but this case sheds some light on the current attitude of courts in the UK. Despite significant differences between the two images (there was no implication that the second image was a duplicate of the first), the court found that the second image copied substantially from the 'intellectual creation' of the first (that is the elements that can be protected by copyright in the original image, including a consideration of the composition, lighting and processing of the image).

Amateur Photographer quotes photographic copyright expert Charles Swan as saying: 'The judgement should be studied by anyone imitating an existing photograph or commissioning a photograph based on a similar photograph.'

Click here to read the full judgement of the case


The judge concluded that the claimant (Justin Fielder)'s image is original and that the intellectual creation resided both in the compositional elements of the image and the contrast aspects. Specifically, Judge Birss QC highlighted two visual contrasts: 'one between the bright red bus and the monochrome background, and the other between the blank white sky and the rest of the photograph.'

He also took into account the evidence that Mr Houghton was aware of Mr Fielder's image (the two had previously been to court when they had failed to reach a licensing agreement over Houghton's previous infringement of Fielder's copyright), to conclude the similarities were causally related.

In the end, Birss said a difficult decision hinged on a 'qualitative assessment of the reproduced elements.' He defined Fielder's image a 'photographic work,' as distinct from a simply a photograph, in that 'its appearance is the product of deliberate choices and also deliberate manipulations by the author,' and concluded that those aspects had been copied.

Judge Birss also said that a series of images showing buses on Westminster Bridge and of red London icons on monochrome backgrounds submitted by Houghton 'worked against them because the collection has served to emphasize how different ostensibly independent expressions of the same idea actually look.' - story and info www.dpreview.com

AvG

Keep The Faith, Live The Dream

Rub-a-dub-dub: Vera Zorina



The Goldwyn Follies (1938)


The life of a cover


Selecting a front cover of any magazine is a difficult task, almost as difficult as it is to capture one. This particular photograph of mine took a little over a year to get. Mikey February and I must have made at least 10 trips up the West Coast during the past year in search of the perfect conditions and waves for a cover, but alas no worthy cover shot. We didn't let it get us down, and continued to try at Longbeach, Noordhoek, Dias Beach and many others. Finally just two days before he had to leave our beloved South Africa for a year abroad, we nailed this one frame during a short session down the beach at our favourite spot. We weren't out for long; my housing "misted" up for the first 15 minutes, a not-so-friendly kneeboarder burnt Mikey on possibly the best wave of the day, and Mikey only had an hour before a crucial embassy appointment, but we finally nailed it. Thanks for the patience Mikey!

Sometimes, more often than not, photographs are just born that way. You can't force them to come to life or will the opportunity to fit into your schedule; but once you actually stop searching for them, as with most things in life, they flash by in a micro-second, almost too quick to capture. Make the most of life's opportunities when you see them, however brief the moment.

AvG

Keep The Faith, Live The Dream

Live life vicariously


Inspiration comes from many facets of life. It continues to mould and shape our future, our decisions and our very existence. A good friend of mine suggested the following: www.thegoodwinproject.com (click) A story about a family in search of something different, who packed up and took their children on the journey of a lifetime. Immersing themselves in the world outside their own, vicariously living life.

AvG

Keep The Faith, Live The Dream