Innholdsfortegnelse for October-November 2024 i Australian Photography

Right from the get-go, we knew we’d struck a chord when we launched The Mono Awards competition six years ago. At the time it was pretty clear to us that black and white photography held a special place in the hearts of many of you, and as the competition quickly grew into the largest we run, it became obvious it was no flash in the pan obsession either. Now, more than half a decade behind us, we’re honoured to share the winners of The Mono Awards for 2024 and to showcase what we think are the year’s best black and white photos. Over the last six years, through The Mono Awards we’ve published nearly a thousand of the best mono images captured in the region, while also staying true to…

JOHN PETERS Before the Storm EDITOR’S COMMENT John Peters tells us he photographed these windmills during a cloudless, hot sunny day in Toowoomba. “The metal blades of the windmills were strongly lit by the sun looking down on them, making them the overall subject of the image,” he says. This is a really striking image that was really deserving of the prize this issue. It’s also a good reminder of the power of pre-visualisation. Initially this scene probably appeared like ‘just’ a group of windmills, but in black and white it becomes something else entirely. It’s helped that John has edited the image really effectively – pushing the blacks deep into the negatives and emphasising those shiny blades beautifully. The result is a powerful image and a great interpretation of…

WINNER WADE CRAMER Wade Cramer is a wedding and portrait photographer based in the Canberra region. His journey with photography began at seven with his mum’s Box Brownie, and now almost 50 years later, he continues to have a passion for image making. “I wear many photographic hats,” he tells us. “I love photographing people, capturing and helping preserve their memories and telling their stories. When I am not photographing people, my passion is the quietness of a landscape. I am often up early before the sun rises because no two sunrises are ever the same. And I still have my mum’s Kodak Brownie, it’s one of my most treasured possessions.” @wadecramerphotography FLOODED FENCES. Wade Cramer tells us his striking minimalist image Flooded Fences was taken last year at Lake George…

It was early morning, and I had just awoken from a restless sleep. I was excited but also slightly panicked. What is this place I have landed myself in and will I make it through the next two weeks unscathed? I opened the blinds to look out onto a new day and there it was, one of the best street scenes I could hope for. I was in Havana, Cuba, and believe it or not, this image was a safe shot from the comfort of my palatial hotel room. A cheap shot some might say, or a lazy shot others might, but I pushed the button and started to think about breakfast. Photography can be hard work, but one must feast before venturing out into the wilds! Like many people…

Now in its sixth year, the annual competition continues to draw the cream of the region’s black and white photographers. This year, an imaginative, mysterious portrait by Brisbane’s Craig Stampfli, a powerful and technically perfect panorama by Canberra’s Wade Cramer and an artistic nature shot by South Australia’s Guy Draper have shared honours in the competition, which saw photographers compete for $18,000 in cash and prizes across three categories: People, Places and Animals. Over the next 30 pages you can see the winners, runners-up and top 40 images in each of the three categories of the competition, along with judges’ comments about why the images that won were chosen. We’re hugely grateful to our star-studded judging panel, made up of Anthony McKee, Liz Ham, Dean Sewell, Tom Truong, Alex Cearns…

WINNER GUY DRAPER Guy Draper considers himself a serious amateur photographer, with a passion for nature and wildlife photography, but tells us he will always grab the camera for local sporting events in the Barossa Valley, where he has lived and worked for the past 50 years. Draper has also been fortunate to travel the globe, where he has always had a camera at hand to capture the amazing scenery and wildlife found on his journeys. @gdraper63 THE COLONY. “When travelling recently through Iceland we came upon a colony of gulls nesting in the cliffs above the ocean,” explains Guy Draper. “Gulls were coming and going with nesting material, courting, fighting and fishing for a feed. The rocks were dark, the gulls and their waste was white and I instantly knew…

Back in 2009, The GH1 was a unique product for photographers who wanted to cross over into the world of mirrorless photography, something that was still very much in its infancy. But it’s probably best remembered for its appeal to video content creators, as there weren’t many ILCs that captured video on the market, with the exception of the Canon 5D Mark II. At launch, the GH1’s offering of full HD recording in a compact interchangeable lens camera system made it a hit. The last 15 years has meant that each new release in the GH series has been met with great anticipation and expectation. But in an era of cameras like Panasonic’s full frame S-Series, has the argument for Micro Four Thirds run its course? And has it already…

The golden hours, occurring just after sunrise and just before sunset, bathe the world in a warm, golden hue that transforms ordinary scenes into extraordinary works of art. For photographers, the golden hour is a sacred time—a fleeting opportunity to capture the beauty of nature in its most flattering light. During the golden hour, the low angle of the sun casts a gentle light that embraces the landscape, giving it a magical quality. Fields of flowers seem to glow, cityscapes become ethereal silhouettes, and portraits take on a warm, inviting tone. In these moments, the world feels softer and more intimate, as if every element is in perfect harmony with the light. Wildlife is often more active during the early hours, offering a unique opportunity to capture animals in their…

SONY ANNOUNCES ZV-E10 II AND E PZ 16-50MM F/3.5-5.6 OSS II LENS SONY has refreshed its blogger-friendly ZV-E10 camera, and also released a new 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. The ZV-E10 II gets a new sensor, the same 26MP BSI CMOS sensor as found in the a6700, and is able to deliver 4K video at up to 60 frames a second, thanks to a newer Bionz XR processor, rather than the ‘X’ of its predecessor. This is a significant improvement on the previous version which only captured at 30fps. Many online reviews criticised that camera for its significant rolling shutter in 4K modes, so this is a welcome addition. It’s also now capable of capturing 10-bit video. According to Sony, all the camera’s 4K modes are taken from oversampled 6K for modes up…

WINNER CRAIG STAMPFLI Craig Stampfli is a Brisbanebased commercial photographer specialising in architectural and real estate photography. In addition to his regular day job, he says he occasionally shoots weddings if asked, and also enjoys taking corporate headshots. @craig.stampfli REACHING OUT. Craig Stampfli’s image Reaching Out was a collaboration with NSW model Joanne, and was captured in Ocean shores, just north of Byron Bay. “The intention with this image was to capture her hands as they escaped the surface,” he says. “I wanted her hands to be sharp and defined, with less focus on her physique. The added bonus with this split image was that her face was obscured by the water’s edge. Although Joanne is a remarkably beautiful woman, I have been working on a series of underwater portraits where the…

I was first introduced to photography at the age of twelve or so when I came across my grandfather’s camera, an Agfa Clack. I was instantly intrigued. Ever since, photography has been an important part of my life. As a kid, I loved taking snaps on family holidays. The graphic designer in me also started to emerge as I loved putting photo albums together. Later, as an art school student, I learned to develop film in the dark room. And recently, after discovering the iPhone, street photography has become my passion. Over the years, I’ve been invited to present my work at camera clubs in and around Sydney. I simply love sharing my journey. It’s my way of giving back to the photography community in Australia who have welcomed me…

I own a small photographic studio setup for personal and business work in the Lockyer Valley, Queensland. Over the past 15 years I have taught myself to use my equipment and edit in Lightroom and Photoshop, while also learning from the monthly competitions at my local club to improve my work. I now own my own businesses, Rochelle James Photography, along with RJP Retouching Service. As a judge with the Photographic Society of Queensland and Member of Ipswich Photographic Society I am also constantly inspired by the work of the photography I see. This image, Bonded Three, was inspired by the bond I saw between the three sisters. I posed the girls very close together and emphasised the closeness with the shroud around them. I chose a stoic look from…

WHAT A RIDE! “This image was taken on the Chobe River in Botswana. I was using a borrowed 600mm lens that I wasn’t quite used to and was marvelling at the crocodile headed straight for our boat. I took a couple of shots and then noticed the crocodile’s passenger! I cropped to improve the composition, trying to keep enough space around the croc, using the rule of thirds rather than centring, while avoiding bright areas of sunlight reflecting off the water in front of him. I brought the highlights down and introduced a little vignette. I just loved the audacity of this little dragonfly! I bet his friends were impressed!” ANTHONY’S TIP: Hi Leanne, and well done on wrangling the mighty 600mm lens; they do take some effort to master. I…