Ultphoto

Year of the Model 2009 - Competition

2009-08-17T21:59:00.000+02:00

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

2009-07-11T18:27:00.000+02:00

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

2009-06-28T19:59:00.000+02:00

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?

2009-06-23T23:06:00.000+02:00

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

2009-06-09T22:14:00.000+02:00

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

Marnhe at Greenhaven farm

2009-04-09T22:18:00.002+02:00

This is the second time I've worked with Marnhe. She was responsible for all the arrangements for this terrific shoot - thank you! Marnhe is a professional model and a pleasure to work with.

Katz at Greenhaven

2009-04-08T22:46:00.004+02:00

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

2009-04-07T22:20:00.001+02:00

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

2009-02-13T15:46:00.002+02:00

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

2009-02-12T15:02:00.004+02:00

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?

2009-01-24T12:51:00.002+02:00

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 ...

Teaching yourself digital photography

2009-01-14T21:18:00.000+02:00

Through the years, I have taught myself a lot about of photography. I have never attended one photography course in my life and taught myself all the basics. This was done through many years of reading and experimenting.

This is a slow process but worth the while. If you want to get into photography quickly, it is advisable to a 1 year diploma course at someone like National College of Photography, located in Hatfield, Pretoria.

However, if you like reading, there are a number of excellent resources on the net. I would like to introduce the following resource to the technically minded. If you are at all interested in the details behind photography, this is the ultimate site. If you read it and understand nothing, don't despair - there is always the creative side of photography left for you to explore :)

Link: Cambridge in Colour

They cover the following subjects at day of posting:

BASICS

* Cameras
* Understanding Digital Camera Sensors
* Understanding Camera Metering & Exposure
* Understanding Camera Lenses: Focal Length & Aperture
* Choosing a Camera Lens Filter: Polarizers, UV, ND & GND (NEW)
* Understanding Depth of Field
* Understanding Camera Autofocus (NEW)
* Understanding RAW Files: Why Should I Use RAW?
* Camera Lens Flare: What It Is and How to Reduce It
* Understanding the Hyperfocal Distance
* Imaging
* A Background on Color Perception
* Understanding Digital Pixels: PPI, Dithering and Print Size
* Understanding Bit Depth
* Understanding Image Types: JPEG & TIFF
* Understanding Histograms, Part 1: Tones & Contrast
* Understanding Histograms, Part 2: Luminance & Color
* Understanding Image Noise
* Understanding Sharpness
* Understanding White Balance
* Understanding Image Posterization
* Understanding Dynamic Range
* Understanding Digital Image Interpolation

TIPS & TECHNIQUES

* Using "Levels" in Photoshop
* Using "Curves" in Photoshop
* Sharpening Using an "Unsharp Mask"
* Using Local Contrast Enhancement
* Converting a Color Photo Into Black & White
* A Closer Look at Resizing an Image for the Web & Email
* Optimizing Digital Photo Enlargement
* Averaging Images to Reduce Noise
* A Flexible Depth of Field Calculator
* Color Management
* Color Management, Part 1: Concept & Overview
* Color Management, Part 2: Color Spaces
* Color Management, Part 3: Color Space Conversion
* Working Space Comparison: sRGB vs. Adobe RGB 1998

ADVANCED TOPICS

* Understanding Diffraction: Pixel Size, Aperture and Airy Disks
* Digital Camera Sensor Sizes: How Do These Influence Photography?
* Using the High Dynamic Range (HDR) Feature in Photoshop CS2/CS3
* Tilt/Shift Lenses: Using Shift Movements to Control Perspective (NEW)
* Tilt/Shift Lenses: Using Tilt Movements to Control Depth of Field (NEW)
* Intro and Common Obstacles in Night Photography
* Photo Stitching Digital Panoramas, Part 1: Overview & Capture
* Photo Stitching Digital Panoramas, Part 2: Using Stitching Software (NEW)
* Photo Stitching Digital Panoramas: Image Projections

Photo editing

2009-01-13T21:39:00.004+02:00

As you may well be aware, there are very little published pictures that are not edited before publishing ... but ... the pressures and stress of the job also get to designers and they often slip up, with the result being published for the whole wide world (www :) ) to see.

There are some people that specialize in hunting down these pics - whether to humour us or to humiliate the designer, I won't know.

But once you've worked in Adobe Photoshop (the industry standard for photo manipulation en editing) and realize how powerful it is, you can imagine that things may slip through as designers stretch the boundaries with little time to implement it properly.

Here are some links to bring a smile to a dull day ...

Link 1

Link 2

Enjoy :)

Pricelists published

2009-01-12T21:40:00.001+02:00

Due to the demand by our readers, we have published our price lists on our website for your direct view and comparison, without requiring you to complete a request form in order to have it mailed to you.

We hope you will find this makes your browsing experience so much easier!

New photographic equipment

2009-01-02T14:23:00.002+02:00

Although we lost a lot of money in the armed robbery, we received enough to upgrade my camera equipment (with a significant contribution from myself) to the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II with the 24-105mm, F4L IS lens. This is an absolutely lovely combination with EXCEPTIONAL image quality, although it is hellishly expensive :) This combination is perfect for people and stock photography, our specialization area!

Where we previously rented quality equipment for our shoots, we now have the quality equipment in-house to use. Hallo, business insurance!!!

Insurance after armed robbery

2008-12-30T16:20:00.001+02:00

The trauma of an armed robbery is nothing compared to the trauma of dealing with your insurance afterwards!!!!

After the armed robbery on 12 December 2008, we left for holiday on the 15th, which was as well to get the kid's minds off the event. We submitted our claim on the 13th and faxed all the required information to the insurance by the next Wednesday. I called almost every day to follow up.

My friend, who is with the same insurance company, had his claim approved and paid out by Monday, the 15th - working through a different insurance adviser than I did. That is three days after the claim was submitted!!!!

After we came back from holiday (two weeks later), I eventually got fed up with the call centers stories and managed to get the number of the assessor from them. According to the assessor, they were waiting for stuff which I sent to the call center 1.5 weeks ago AND confirmed that they have received it!

The assessor resolved my claim the same day and payment was effected two days later.

I have replaced my camera and lens and am as ready to go as ever before!

What an incredible tool - Jorina & Martyn album layout

2008-12-27T10:48:00.002+02:00

Lumapix Fotofusion is incredible! We have used it for the layout of Jorina & Martyn's Furi Fine Art book (which offer incredible quality and value photo books) and add the following examples for your viewing pleasure (my favourites).

Please note - this book is a 30cm high by 60 cm wide, lie-flat design (you virtually cannot see the fold between the pages), and the pictures you see below is for a spread (an open book forms a spread with the two open pages). Click on a picture to see a bigger version.

Photographic equipment taken at gunpoint

2008-12-13T10:00:00.003+02:00

On 12 December 2008, we were visiting with friends in Pierre van Ryneveld. It was a social function for friends that do missionary work in Zambia. I had a lot of my camera equipment there to take some nice pictures of the visit for their website. We were 10 adults in the lounge and 10 kids in the TV room.

As we made a circle around the table to start praying before we left, two men with pistols stormed in on us and fired a warning shot. We all dropped to the floor and started praying aloud. One of the kids later told us they were talking about crackers, and thought that we were shooting crackers, and she came to investigate.

One of the robbers followed here to the TV room, and all the kids also started praying.

We believe that the robbers could not handle the prayers, because they were in and out in less than 5 minutes, leaving a lot of stuff behind. Thanks to God's protection, no-one was seriously hurt, and although the kids were severely traumatized, we actually came of lightly if you compare this incident to others were people are tied up and threatened for hours.

The robbers took 11 cellphones, some jewelery, 1 handbag and 3 cameras - including my kit but left my wallet, my wife's handbag and a lot of other valuable stuff untouched.

The police and neighborhood watch was excellent, arriving in less than 15 minutes from the phone call and they even arranged for councilors to talk to the kids before we left.

The worst is the feeling of helplessness, not knowing what to do but pray!

Lumapix Fotofusion album layout software

2008-12-11T21:14:00.001+02:00

After much consideration, we eventually decided to purchase Lumapix FotoFusion 4 Extreme to ease the layout of new wedding albums. This is an incredibly powerful, yet easy to use package and reduced the time spent in the layout of albums significantly (think half).

Although it is "extreme"-ly expensive at $300.00 (especially at the current exchange rates), the package pays for itself in the time saved during layout.

Now to find a way to reduce the editing time without loosing the personal touch and critical eye of our main photographer (he he)!!!

Martyn & Jorina, Pebble Rock Golf Estate, 1 Nov 08

2008-12-04T20:14:00.009+02:00

She was positively glowing and her smile radiated happiness! It was the big day, the day she has planned to the finest detail for so long.

Yes, today she will get married to Martyn. A special couple! So obviously in love. The venue was the clubhouse at Pebble Rock Golf Estate, located just north of Pretoria. The date was 1 November 2008. Bernard (the events manager for Pebble Rock), did a swell job. The clubhouse shone and the tables were ready. The smell of the food from the kitchen was sublime.

Everything was perfect, even the weather played along with lovely clouds as background. It was a happy day!

But ... I am not a writer, so let the pictures rather tell the story ...

Willie and Adele wedding, Monate Game Lodge

2008-11-04T22:34:00.005+02:00

On 25 October 2008, Willie and Adele tied the knot at Monate Game Lodge. It was a small and intimate affair for close friends and family and the couple insisted that it should be an informal thing, a "bos kuier".

The Monate team excelled and ensured that all the guests had a wonderful time. Although it was windy, the weather worked out perfectly for some very nice shots, as can be seen from the samples below.

Congratulations to Willie and Adele!

Ultphoto formalized

2008-10-17T15:26:00.003+02:00

After 20 years as amateur and a further 2.5 years trading as professional under the name Ultphoto, we have registered the name "Ultimate Photographic and Design" (shortname Ultphoto) as a formal business.

This was done to protect the professional image that we have created in the industry due to extensive marketing and very hard work over the last few years.

This means that when you see our name, or logo, you can be assured of the best, professional photographic work, as proclaimed in our slogan "Your ultimate fine-art imager"!

Pre-wedding shoot with Martyn and Jorina at the Union Buildings, Pretoria

2008-10-12T10:00:00.001+02:00

Martyn and Jorina is getting married on 1 November 2008, and Ultphoto had the pre-wedding shoot (or engagement shoot) with them last Thursday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Ultphoto includes a pre-wedding shoot with all our packages, to ensure that the couple and the photographer are comfortable with each other on the day of the wedding. This also provides images to be used in a guestbook if the couple decides to order one.

Here are some images from this shoot, showing some of the different effects we use in post-processing.

Modelling page update

2008-09-25T21:41:00.002+02:00

I can't believe it - I thought my modelling page was up to date, but I never loaded it to the server! This has been corrected (at last) :)

Please enjoy!

Abrie en Carina, wedding at Mvubu Lodge

2008-08-30T19:59:00.000+02:00

On 23 August 2008 Abrie and Carina tied the knot at Mvubu Lodge in Pretoria. What a spectacular couple. It was an absolute joy to take their pictures, as they are so spontaneous and open.

Herewith are two sample posters that I have prepared for the guests to download and print for free.

Some more pictures to come soon ...

Year of the Model 2008 Competition

2008-08-06T22:42:00.004+02:00

YOTM 2008 IS HAPPENING IN PRETORIA

For the first time, the Year of the Model competition is presented in Pretoria at Bondev house in Centurion. The location, combined with the new rules implemented creates a unique and excellent opportunity for potential models to be introduced and recognized in the South African fashion, commercial, television and other industries.

The new rules allow ALL ENTRANTS access to the judging events, which is conducted over a 3 day period from 29 September 2008 to 1 October 2008 (in the school holidays). There will be no photographic pre-judging; therefore all entrants have equal opportunity to be seen by the accredited scouts, agents and agencies.

With over R 500 000.00 worth of prizes, including clothing, vouchers, modelling contracts, portfolios, courses, etc. this is an excellent opportunity. Prices also includes an International contract from New York/Paris valued at US $50 000.00.

The entry fees are fixed this year. If you enter via Ultphoto as agent, there is also an additional discount applicable. Entry fees are as follows:

	Catwalk OR Face competition	BOTH competitions
Direct entry	R 400.00 per category	R 650.00
Entry via Ulphoto	R 350.00 per category	R 500.00

To qualify for the discounted entry fees, please:

1) Download the entry form and form “Appendix B” below:

2) Complete the entry form
3) Complete the form – “Appendix B”
4) Make the required payment to YOTM as per the information on the entry form
5) Send the forms mentioned in 1 and 2 above together with your proof of payment to YOTM
via one of the methods identified on the entry form
5) Notify Ultphoto via e-mail (gbotha@ultphoto.co.za) or fax (0866 179 394) so that we
can trigger the discount with YOTM. We need the ENTRANT’S NAME
/SURNAME, AGE and CONTACT NUMBER to complete this process.

NOTE: To qualify for the discount, this process must be completed by 10 September 2008!!!

YOTM will then send you an information package with the final details. We wish you the best of luck with this competition.

Kind regards
Gert Botha

Stock shoot

2008-07-30T20:25:00.000+02:00

On 26 July 2008 we had a very nice stock photography shoot with a model at our studio. The intent was to create stock pictures depicting a business women and also some pictures of the model in high fashion poses. The model brought her pet corn snakes with for the occasion. What a jol :)

Here are some sample shots from the session. The background taken as white to ensure that designers can easily isolate the model from the background if they wanted to change the background.

Note that these pictures are virtually unedited and still needs some work before we submit to the stock libraries.

Stock photography

2008-07-07T22:47:00.000+02:00

O man, am I snowed under with editing the shoots from the last few months. We are seriously pushing stock photography, as it allows us to be really creative while earning our income.

Are you unsure of what stock photography is? Have a look at this ...

Well ... of to some more editing! Enjoy your evening!

G

Juandre and Melissa - Wedding - 31 May 2008

2008-06-22T10:31:00.004+02:00

Congratulations to Juandre and Melissa, who got married on 31 May 2008 at L'Acquila just outside Pretoria. The proceedings were exceptionally well organized! Here are some sample images with minimal processing.

Train graveyard modelling shoot

2008-06-17T19:58:00.010+02:00

5 models + train graveyard + loads of fun = SUPER IMAGES. These images are virtually un-edited and provides an excellent idea of the portfolio material that can be achieved on location.

Ben and Lisle - Wedding 19 April 2008

2008-04-21T07:42:00.007+02:00

Here are some preliminary edits from Ben and Lisle's wedding on 19 April 2008 at Safari garden centre in Pretoria. The Gardenex show and exhibition was in full swing, and Safari facilitated the opportunity to shoot in some of the beautiful gardens laid out there.

Congratulations to Ben and Lisle.

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Jopie and Michelle, wedding - 22 March 2008

2008-03-26T07:52:00.002+02:00

Congratulations to Jopie and Michelle on the BIG day. Here are some sample images from their wedding.

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Fine art versus street art

2008-03-07T07:38:00.010+02:00

The pictures shown here was planned and executed as a location shoot for a model portfolio.

But it also highlights for me the CONTRAST between fine art (dance, photography, modelling) versus "street art". I know that we all tend to condemn "graffiti" as vandalism, but I want you consider another perspective today.

Art, in my eyes, is a JOURNEY - A journey of self-discovery followed by self-expression to the outside world. So often, we find ourselves moulded into a rigid form, created by the world, trying to define who we are. And yes - I am referring to the age old adage "putting people into boxes" in part.

BUT, I am also referring to something more than this. I am referring to us being so caught up in making a living, that we forget to actually LIVE.

Art helps us in discovering who we really are and expressing that UNIQUE ME, not the engineer, doctor, photographer or whatever, but the REAL ME to the world outside.

Some of us are fortunate enough to have the opportunity and means to pursue "fine arts" like dance, modelling, music, etc. and that is AWESOME. But there are other people that are not so fortunate!

People that never get the opportunities that we do. People that are almost "outcasts of society" because they are poor, unsightly, uneducated or whatever!! I suspect that grafiti (in some cases) is an expression by these people to be seen and recognized for WHO THEY ARE, as we like to express ourselves through our art.

So my plea today is - don't just judge. When you see graffiti, spare these people a thought - maybe even a prayer. Who knows - it may be an urgent appeal for help!

For me, this also reflects the CONTRAST in the world between left-brainers and right-brainers. The world often moulds us into left-brain beings, because it's practical - it contributes to society - its easier to comprehend. But this often denies who we really are.

I wrote the following poem a while ago - my personal interpretation of who I am :)

Internal conflict:

Lots of studies on left brain vs right brain

So please don’t think me vain ...

Having a balanced left and right

Is nothing but a pain!

Forever a contest, a power play

Who is right, who says nay.

A continuous pulling of strings

And similar - other sort of things

Disorganized vs Structured

Sensible vs Exciting

Responsible vs Daring

Rigid vs Relaxed

It influences every sphere of life

Hacks your decisions - like a knife

Makes you wonder, daily

If the preference you chose was mainly ...

A way of survival

Or really denial?

Can you accommodate the two?

When the world prefers - the left

RIGHT – the one not to pursue

Truth? – The world created the cleft

Working the left …

No reason for theft!

Working the right …

You’re often despised!

Living your life as a juggler

Left brain - right brain - Your balls

The internal conflict – a smuggler!

Creating – then breaking down walls!

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine.

But it remains – always – enticing

Daily - ensuring – forever

That life remains – o – so exciting!

(c) 2007 Gert Botha

I hope this caused you to think a little or maybe even drawn a smile. Please leave me your comments below. I can take criticism and also praise.

Have a wonderful day!

Figures graduation (Jacaranda and Centurion)

2008-03-02T20:22:00.007+02:00

Saturday, 16 February 2008 marked the graduation of the junior and senior group for Figures models, Jacaranda and Centurion branch.

The models were awesome, and really dressed for the occasion. Pirates, clowns and mime's were the order of the day.

Herewith some samples pictures.

Coversearch 2008 entry shoot

2008-02-27T21:41:00.005+02:00

We are currently taking bookings for entry shoots for the Coversearch 2008 event, of which the closing date is 20 March 2008. The shoot consist of a 20 minute studio shoot at our studio, of which the model get all the pictures on CD in printable quality. The required pictures for entry in the event, will further be edited and submitted with the completed entry form to Coversearch 2008. The entry fee is R200.00, and is payable before the shoot commences. The next date we have reserved for the entry shoot is 11 March 2008. Please call me on 083 460 3100 for your appointment.

Click here for further detail ...

Regards

Gert

Special offers for February 2008

2008-02-11T00:00:00.002+02:00

Special offers for February 2008:

Family portrait special:
We offer our family portrait session, normally valued at R 1000.00 for the unbelievable price of R 750.00 to the first ten people to confirm their booking (*) by paying the full amount. In addition to what we offer in the standard package (details below), we also offer another FREE A3 enlargement of your choice.

What is included in our standard package:

1 hour session at our studio
20x 5x7" prints
2x 8x12" (Approx A4) enlargement of your choice
1x 12x18" (Approx A3) enlargement of your choice

Click here to obtain a copy of our pricelist, and here for more detail on our family portrait package.

(*) Note - A booking is constituted by a signed contract and payment of the required fees/deposit

Coversearch 2008

2008-02-04T08:05:00.001+02:00

Coversearch 2008 (Closing date - 20 March 2008)

Entry process:

The competition is divided into two (2) stages namely a casting session and then a GALA FINAL. Successful entrants making it through the first round casting session shall be invited to attend the GALA FINAL event
All persons between the ages of 5 and 28 can enter and no prior modelling experience is necessary. Entrants shall compete in four age categories namely 5 to 8, 9 to 12, 13 to 16 and 17 to 28. Only one winner per age category shall be announced.
Entrants entering can only enter the competition via e-mail, through the post or by entering at an associated event (a list of the associated events shall be made available on our website www.coversearch.co.za or contact our offices at 082 809 6233.
A completed entry form, two (2) full colour photographs (one head/shoulder and one full length) together with the proof of entry fee payment must be forwarded directly to the Organisers if entering via e-mail or the post.
We advise that the photographs accompanying an entry form be taken by a COVER SEARCH accredited photographer.
The initial judging of entries received via the post or e-mail shall be done in camera on an ad hoc (as the entries are received) by a pre-selected panel. Once judged we office shall immediately inform entrants if they have or have not made it through to the GALA FINAL as finalists.
The Organisers shall also then forward a detailed GALA FINAL information kit to all finalists (it shall include a list of accommodation available in the area).
Entrants entering at an associated event shall be judged in person by a accredited Cover Search judge and shall be informed immediately after the event if he/she has made it through to the Gala Finals. The information kit shall then also be given to the selected finalist.
Finalists attending will have to complete an information sheet, pay a registration fee and then forward requested documentation to our offices either per facsimile or via e-mail.

Download the entry form with complete competition rules and other detail here. Please contact us for your booking for an entry shoot or visit the Coversearch website.

2008-02-04T00:12:00.001+02:00

February 2008 newsletter

Introduction:

February already! Time is flying, so we will try to be brief in this newsletter, describing all the new plans we have for the year.

It has been a long time since we sent out a newsletter, not because we disappeared off the face of the earth – but because Ultphoto is booming. We have been so busy the last two months finishing off assignments, editing pictures and creating stunning photo books – that we really believe 2008 is going to be great.

We have a number of plans to further expand the business, although our main focus will always remain the personal relationship with our clients, which we treasure. Thanks for your support during the past year!

Updated website:

We have gone through a big effort to optimize and neaten our website ( www.ultphoto.co.za ) in order to ensure that the information that you need, is readily available. We also wanted to reflect the professionalism of our service and the quality of our images. Please have a look and let us know what you think on our blog.

Gift certificates:

An innovative and fun way to spoil your loved ones!! Ultphoto now offer gift certificates in the form of R250.00, R500.00 and R1000.00 standard certificates. These are available for all the genres that we shoot (e.g. wedding, maternity, kids and family portraits). We also do customized gift certificates for specific packages from our price list. If you are interested, please contact us. The process is simple. (1) Make your deposit into our bank account according to the gift certificate that you want (2) Mail us the proof of payment and the details of the person you want to give it to, as well as the package you want (3) We mail a customized gift certificate to you within 3 working days, which you can personally deliver.

Go ahead – Spoil your parents, in-laws, friend or yourself > Order a gift certificate today!

Expanding our portrait offering:

Our focus has always been on people photography, and although we have always been involved in portraits, we are expanding our offering this year in order to better utilize our studio during the week.

We attempt to capture the mood of the shoot, for families, maternity, kids and baby shoots by making it a fun and exciting event.

To ensure that kids do not get bored, we ensure that they are entertained and happy during the shoot, and we do not waste excessive time on setup of our equipment. Everything will be ready when the shoot starts. We also accommodate the time your kids may require off you to ensure that you are not stressed.

We also offer a maternity package which covers the first year of your child’s development, starting approximately 1 week prior to birth. The pictures from the different shoots are presented in the form of a Furi Fine Art coffee table book (see below for further detail).

Have a look at the FUN images in our gallery and contact us to arrange your appointment.

Furi Fine Art photography books:

We have upgraded our top two wedding packages to include the Furi Fine Art photography books. These books offer exceptional quality and really show off the pictures from your special event! These books can also be ordered as special add-ons to any of our other packages. Find more detail here.

Edugraphix albums:

We have also registered with Edugraphix as suppliers of their albums. They specialize in wedding and children albums (“My First Years” and “My School Years”). More detail on their website.

Coversearch 2008:

Coversearch 2008 is up and running. A huge opportunity for your child (aged between 5 and 28 years), with prices u p to R 500 000.00 (That’s half a million rand) and international modelling contracts up for grabs, this is an opportunity not to be missed! We have been very successful with our models for Coversearch 2007, with a number of our model entrants being interviewed for local and international contracts.

With the entry fees working in stages as your child progress through the evaluation phases, you don’t have to invest more than is required. The fee for the initial “in-camera” judging is only R 200.00, and you get a nice set of images (on CD) for your child’s portfolio.

Please watch our website for details regarding entry shoots. More detail here.

In conclusion:

We hope you have an excellent year, and do remember to capture your special moments this year :)

Figures - International model of the Year winner

2007-07-11T22:20:00.000+02:00

4 July 2007:
Congratulations to Daniel from Figures Models who won the International Model of the Year competition. He has won an "all expenses paid" trip to Ford Models in Paris, France.

Coversearch 2007 semi-finalists

2007-06-06T20:20:00.000+02:00

Wow - we have 11 of our models who made it to the semi-finals of the Coversearch 2007 event! Congratulations.

The semi-finals and the final GALA event will be hosted at Emerald Casino. The semi-final judging will take place on 30 June and 1 July and 120 candidates (30 per age group) will make it through to the final Gala evening on the 2nd of July 2007, where they stand a chance to win prizes valued at R 500 000 and an international modeling contract!

Cool stuff!

Coversearch entry date

2007-05-30T06:00:00.000+02:00

We just got a notification (actually received it yesterday) that the Coversearch 2007 closing date has been extended to 13 June 2007.

If you still want to enter, please contact me for a studio shoot. The cost is R 200.00, which includes the Coversearch entry fee and a CD with the images we did at the shoot.

Coversearch details:

- Up to R 500 000 worth of prizes to be won
- Gala evening hosted by Emerald Casino
- All previous winners won international modelling contracts
- More than 300 previous finalists scooped up by top high fashion Model Agencies in South Africa
- Ages 5 to 28 years in different categories

Please visit www.portfolioshoot.co.za for detail information.

Gert

Frustration

2007-05-30T05:54:00.000+02:00

What is the ultimate frustration? Having to finish CD's for your clients and then spending 2 hours trying to get rid of virus infections on your computer!

Yes, as security conscious as I am, I got infected. One mistake (a freeware program I downloaded and executed), and I'm stuck with 12 viruses infecting 26 files. And are those things tenacious!!

And the WORST part - I could have been doing a shoot instead of wasting this time - ya sure, as if anyone will want to come to the studio at 4 in the morning, or me want to go outside in this cold !!!

Anyway - enough of my lamenting. Wishing you all a lovely day.

Gert

2007-05-28T08:19:00.000+02:00

And a very good morning to you as well !!!

Yes, it was a good weekend. I had a very successful shoot with Figures Models Centurion. If you were there, please contact Christina to get the user code that will give you access to the pictures from this shoot.

The work that Christina do with these boys and girls is absolutely amazing. I can see the confidence level of the kids grow everytime I do a shoot with them. And the guts they must have to walk onto that stage ... from a very young age ... is just incredible.

Christina - thank you for your effort, and the confidence that you provide these kids for their future. After all - if you can work confidently with other people, your life will be a success.

Have a lovely week!

Gert

Some more Coversearch pics

2007-05-24T23:46:00.000+02:00

Good evening, late night again - editing some shoots. I did this shoot the other night for the Coversearch event as well. Got some lovely shots!

Enjoy and please chat to me if you have any questions!

Coversearch 2007, some images

2007-05-22T12:50:00.000+02:00

Finally, as promised, here are some picture uploads. I did a shoot with these ladies for the Coversearch 2007 event. Both exceptional models in front of the camera.

It's been hectic

2007-05-22T10:39:00.000+02:00

I am not complaining at all, but having 4 photo shoots in a week, causes a HELL OF A LOT of back-end work. Processing the images (some shoots up to 300 pics), converting and uploading for web, handling of orders, ensuring prints and CD's are delivered. It just never ends.

And although that brings in some money, it keeps me away from the real passion - making pictures! Yeah, not taking, but making! Capturing a good picture nowadays is essential, but there is a lot more fun waiting in the editing of the picture. Believe me, I do not do this for every picture in a formal shoot, but rather for my art collection, where I like to interpret the picture in accordance with my perception and/or idea when I took it. Unfortunately, that also takes time ... which I don't have an abundance off ;-(

Anyway, enough for now. I have to run, but will upload some samples of my recent shoots soon.

Ciao

First time blogger

2007-03-26T14:48:00.000+02:00

Blogging, blogging ... Always thought this was for people who cannot do their own web site! Well, now I am joining the fray ... Is this what you call peer pressure, or just a need to COMMUNICATE with people instead of just trying to communicate WITH people? What I mean is ... a web site is great, but it is pretty one sided, and that's why I joined the BB. No, not Brigitte Bardott, the Blogging Brigade.

Anyway, my passion is photography, and after being an amateur for close on 21 years now, I finally decided to make it a profession. That's when I started my website www.ultphoto.co.za, the one sided affair.

But, as you know, an affair cannot remain one sided - I need to communicate, need to know what you want, what you need - and how we can assist each other.

Photography is very much a visual medium (wow, what insight), and therefore I will post a number of pictures in this blog. Praise me, tear me apart - I don't care - as long as you communicate!

Help me to build this blog into something really useful. If you need advice on something, please ask (even if it's not photography related). Due to my gray hair, I do possess some wisdom, and what I don't know, I will find out.

Chat to you!

Gert