A new month and a new featured photographer. This time around it's Johan du Toit. I met Johan while running a photowalk along the South Bank in London. Johan is originally South African, but now resides in London. Watching all the photographers that turned up for that photowalk, I was immediately impressed by what he was doing. While everyone else was trying to get the same sort of shots as usual of the skater boys and bmx'ers Johan had his pocketwizards out and was trying to do something a bit different. Interesting stuff. 

Anyway, as usual, Johan was subjected to a barrage of questions from EOS Network. Here's what he had to say:

EN: What colour would your Ferrari be?
J: Matte black (I'm the second guest / featured photographer picking this colour, interesting!)
 
EN: Weddings, fun to photograph or the work of the Devil?
J: Fun, definitely fun! Like most photographer this was not where I thought my photography would take me the first time I picked up the camera, but thanks to great friends that decided to get married and insisted that I be their photographer this started a passion for this genre.
I used to believe that wedding photography was more reportage with 50-70% photos coming from moments that you capture. Now I know that although there are some truly beautiful spontaneous moments, there are very few that come close to a carefully created photo in which the photographer gives the client a hint and a nudge in the right direction or at times a specific instruction.
Thanks to Doug Gordon for showing me Flow Posing!
Weddings are special moments to the couple and to their family and friends. That is why it is so important that as a photographer you perfect your craft and give them the best service, for you it might be a job, for them it is memories that will last forever!

EOS NETWORK: What's your best bit of advice for a new photographer?
J: Don't worry about gear... get out and shoot. All photographers, especially new ones, can get caught up in gear... but actually it has very little to do with what you shoot with... think of Chase Jarvis and his Best Camera book... all the images were taken with an iPhone... and that is not a great camera with all the bells & whistles!! So learn how to use the gear that you have, because: "If you own an oven it does not make you a top chef" likewise, "if you own a camera, it does not make you a professional photographer". - Giles Christopher If you shoot more you will have more experience, learn more about the gear you have and what you like to shoot. This will build confidence and a style which will make you much more marketable than the kid with all the gear and no clue how to use it!! Only then should you start working towards upgrading your kit, after-all each style / genre has got specific types of equipment it requires.

1. Canary Wharf by Night
Reason: This is one of my first digital SLR images (40th), and one that brought me back to photography. After I arrived in the UK I decided to purchase a DSLR, ending nearly 5 years of not taking photos. It was taken at night in Canary Wharf, a place that has a soft spot in my mind’s eye.
EXIF data: Canon EOS 400D, Canon EF-S18-55mm at 18mm, 1 sec at f5.6 on ISO 400.

2. Houtbay
Reason: Taken on a trip to South Africa, this photo of Houtbay harbour (Cape Town) was taken near the end of the day. I changed it to sepia to give it that timeless feel that fits in with the boats and the harbour.
EXIF data: Canon EOS 400D, Tamron 28-300mm at 28mm, 1/125th sec at f6.3 on ISO 100.

3. Eyelashes
Reason: A home experiment on portraiture using a Lastolite Softbox. This is where the excitement of off-camera flash started. The Canon 580 EX II Speedlight was triggered with Pocket Wizards Plus II’s and was inside the Lastolite Softbox placed camera left on a high stand.
EXIF data: Canon EOS 400D, Tamron 28-300mm at 71mm, 1/200th sec at f7.1 on ISO 100

EOS Network: Johan, thanks for your time and for showing us your images. Some very interesting points raised, especially about the kit not making the photographer. Something we could all do with remembering now and again! 

Well, to start the new year, we'll be resurrecting the featured 'tog idea from the old blab days. We're not going to try and have someone every week, as seemingly there is not an endless supply of people wishing to be featured (but if you do want to guest blog, please let me know!).

 First up is Marine Biologist and photographer Fergus Kennedy. Fergus and I are in some way kindred spirits. Both marine biologists, though like a bad religious person I'm now a little lapsed, both having studied at Bangor, North Wales, and both liking the great outdoors. I met Fergus on a shoot in South Africa last year and managed to fulfill a lifelong ambition, thanks in no small part to his organisation - that being to dive with Great White Sharks.  

I met up with Fergus and asked him some of the familiar questions to see what he had to say. He has also provided a few images and an audio commentary to go with them. This can be viewed by clicking on this link. 

EOS Network: What colour Ferrari would you have?
Fergus: The Ferrari would have to be matte black, to match my cameras.

EN: What's the best advice you have for a new photographer? FK: My best advice for a new photographer: Vision & Perserverance- Try to visualise the picture you want, then don't stop trying until you have the photo exactly the way you want it.

EN: What's your dream photo opportunity? FK: I'd love to travel to Tonga to photograph humpback whales, particularly underwater. The water is some of the clearest in the world and the whales come there to breed, so there is plenty of activity- breaching, tail slapping, and mothers and calves together.  A really good encounter with one of these graceful giants must be the experience of a life-time. Whilst in that part of the world, I'd also like to hop over to Fiji to shoot surfers on the big wave break at Teahupoo. Among the most spectuclar and dangerous surfing locations in the world.

EN: Wide Angle or Telelphoto? FK: I use both quite a lot, but I think it would have to be wide angle. Particular underwater, I love the perspective that a fisheye lens gives, with the subject in the foreground, but also a lot the surroundings, putting the subject in context. Above water too, I love shooting wide-angle landscapes for similar reasons.

EN: Thanks for your time Fergus, and thanks for getting that cage dive sorted! 

It's that time again. The time that comes but once a year. Yes, you've guessed it, it's New Year's Eve!

This post serves simply to wish all blog readers, forum members, gallery posters, twitter followers and anyone else who is part of the EOS Network community a very Happy New Year! 

This year seems to have gone by rather quickly. It's seems only the other week I was starting this site and yet it's nearly a whole year already - certainly if you include the precursor blog site of blab pictures. But instead of looking back, what about looking forwards. What does 2010 hold for EOS Network and the world of photography at large? 

Dealing with photography first, it will be the year of HD Video. You can fight it all you want, but there is no denying that HD Video is going to feature ever more strongly in cameras over the coming year. More people will embrace the technology, it won't just be for professionals, consumers will get on board and all those who are against it now, will slowly start to see the benefits - even if it's just for a couple of clips to show family and friends. If you're not convinced, just take a look around the web. The appearance of HD video has done for photography what the transition to digital did 10 years ago. The EOS D30, at the start of this decade, ushered in a new wave of photography - sure digital was in use before, but the D30 made it accessible to most. 10 years later and we have a new firmware due for the EOS 5D Mark II that could (providing they listen to the requests from the many users utilising that camera) mark another turning point in the history of photography and film making. It won't just be the cameras though. There will be an ever growing number of third party accessories designed to help you shoot video more efficiently.

From a stills side, I think we'll see an increase in HDR imaging and cameras that feature wider dynamic ranges will be ever more in demand. 

For EOS Network, I'll continue to grow the site. The blog will once again run like regular clockwork, there will be new videos to explain features and functions, there will be training courses announced to help you all get the most from your EOS cameras. I also hope the community will continue to grow. I hope you'll make new friends, cement existing friendships and learn from each other. 

I know 2009 has been a tough year for some of you. Some have been unwell, some have suffered financial, emotional and physical strain. To those members who, for whatever reason, have found 2009 a difficult year, the good news is it's over! 2010 will bring new challenges and hurdles, but it gives you the chance to forge ahead. For those that have been unwell, I think I can speak for all members in wishing you a speedy recovery. 

All that remains to be said is: Happy New Year one and all! May 2010 be the year you want it to be!