Year of the Model 2009 - Competition

It's time!!!

Year of the Model 2009 is happening NOW. If you are between 5 and 28 years of age, male or female, with or without experience - you can enter for this awesome competition that has in excess of R 750 000.00 in price money - that is more than THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION SMACKEROOS!

The Gala Final for YOTM will be presented from 29 September 2009 to 1 October 2009 (during the school holidays) in Pretoria at Diep in die Berg, an awesome venue to the east of Pretoria.

Enter now to make sure you qualify for some of that R750 000.00 - This includes an international modeling contract valued at US $50 000 sponsored by RACE MODELS, New York and KARINS, Paris.

Click here for more information and our additional lucky draw!!

Challenge 2

I "borrowed" this stunning diamond necklace from a jeweler in Menlyn for a product shoot. No, no, no!!!! Not borrowed like in affirmative shopping - it was a trade agreement!

HOW WAS IT DONE: Photographing jewelery is a bit difficult as it pics up reflections like crazy. I made a light tent from PVC tubing with a white cardboard background (bent to form a cyclorama or infinity curve), with a white cloth draped over to cover the top and sides. Shooting from far with a zoom lens and a dark background, the reflections are negligible. I used my trusty Metz 45CL-4 with a remote trigger to shoot into the roof of the light tent, which created the stunning soft light.

Challenge 1 on Ultphoto

As discussed on our Memories Unlimited blog, I have set a challenge to myself to create one new image per week (for each of Ultphoto and Memories Unlimited) in order to challenge my creativity. Here is the first one for Ultphoto. I just love the texture of the old Baobab juxtaposed against the manmade structures.

HOW WAS IT DONE: This is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image of a vehicle inspection station near Beitbridge. The image was taken just before sunset using three exposures, which was then blended together to ensure a proper exposure in every area of the image. The image was also adjusted for increased contrast and cropped. The border and logo was added separately.

Would you use Credit Card for payment?

We have been considering to get Credit Card facilities for a long time. Can you please help us to decide if this will be worthwhile by voting at www.memoriesunlimited.co.za - the poll is at the bottom left, below the menu.

Thank you

Monate Game Lodge

We had the opportunity to shoot some pictures for Monate Game Lodge. It was an awesome weekend, with lovely game viewing, sublime food and incredible hospitality.

Monate is situated near Modimole in Limpopo, approximately an hours drive from Pretoria and specializes in team building functions, weddings, etc.

I played a bit with HDR and enjoyed the results.

Main entrance


Relax at the fire after a sublime dinner


The "human" pool (HDR)


One of the outside dining areas (HDR) - we shot a wedding here last year


The hippo pool at dawn (HDR)


A lazy yawn after a nights grazing


This guy looked really hungry


Monate works closely with De Wildt to rehabilitate cheetahs

Katz at Greenhaven

Katz is the second model that I have processed from the Green haven model shoot.

It is not often that we get the time for TFCD, so this was really excellent - No pressure to perform, just a nice relaxing outing.

NJoy :)

Elsabe at Green Haven farm

On the 28th of March 2009, we had a stunning shoot at the Green haven farm. Wim, the owner, breeds and trains horses and was kind enough to give us the opportunity to shoot at this stunning location.

Time for CD (TFCD) means that the photographers, models and make-up artists donate their time and expertise in return for pictures of the shoot to enhance their portfolio. This was a TFCD arrangement, with 4 photographers, 4 models and three make-up artists.

What an excellent day out in the country - enjoying the fresh air and working with stunning models to produce ... well ... have a look at the results and judge for yourself :)

The Wedding Expo

Keep the following dates open in your dairy if you are busy planning your wedding:

Coca-Cola dome, Northgate, Johannesburg
Dates: 4 and 5 April 2009
Open hours: 09:00 to 17:00
Entrance fee: R70.00 (includes a free copy of Wedding Inspirations magazine)
Fashion shows: 11:00 and 15:00 on Saturday and Sunday
For more information contact 0861 113 997 or go to www.wedding-expo.co.za.

And if you are looking for a great wedding photographer, look no further than Ultphoto :)

The Women's Show

The Women's Show focuses on women and their interest. The following snippet is taken from their website:

"You are invited to celebrate your formidable feminine spirit in work, family and play!

So much more than just another expo, the 5th Women’s Show promises to be an informative, fun-filled inspiration destination to truly empower you, with the gentle reminder of your inherent magnificence.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Women’s Show at the CTICC 20 – 22 February 2009"

It is also coming to the Coca Cola dome on 26 - 28 JUNE 2009.

Have a look at their website for the latest details.

Make a note and spoil yourself and your daughter.

New digital cameras create instant professional photographers - Really?

With the proliferation of good digital cameras available in the market, so many amateurs are claiming to be "professional" photographers. Do you want to trust capturing the emotions and memories of your once in a life time wedding or event to them?

But how do you distinguish a professional from an amateur?

Capturing quality images is so much more than the equipment. Cameras are designed to allow regular photographers to take "average" pictures. Average in the sense that exposure will be acceptable, contrast will be acceptable, resolution will be acceptable, etc.

But why settle for "acceptable", when a professional photographer can use the same tool (camera) to give you something exceptional?

Click here to read more ...