Hi Members,

I've been looking at the members list and see that we now have members from 22 different countries from around the world.

As you can see it is very international community. Not everybody is as active as we would like to see but that will grow slowly better.

Last week I had a preview into the future during a Phodia meeting on the internet with Theo Weijmer, Sue Thompson and Jenipher Baker where we discussed the new look of Phodia. The name is Phodia3. I can tell you that it looks very fancy and will work easier and quicker.

Over the last weeks we've had a real winter in Europe and we have seen a lot of fine winter shots but my guess is, the members are waiting for spring time. And to be honest I will admit I've seen enough snow, so let the sun shine.

Maybe it's a fine idea when the members also let us know which camera they use, I'm just curious. So if you like the idea; then lets us know by placing, under your upload, the camera you are using.

gr. Rob :-)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

In this issue of the Newsletter I got the chance to interview Rob Nagelhout, our Administrator, and to find out more about him as a photographer.

• • Q:Rob, When and why did you decide to take up Photography as a hobby.
  • Rob:That was a long time ago, when I started working as a carpenter I purchased my first camera. A few years later when I start riding a motorbike I combined the two and rode on my bike to motor races to make slides of those races.
• Q:Was your first camera film or digital, and if film did you ever do your own developing.
• Rob:Rob: My first camera was a Zenith, a massive piece of steel with a shutter that sounded like a church door and made in Russia. Then there was a Practica, several Olympus cameras, an Agfa mini cam and several Minoltas. Then it was time for digital and I had three Fujis and after that I bought my first SLR from Canon, the 400D. Now I'm using a Canon40D. Looks like a lot, but it is over a period of 40 years. Developing my own shots I've never done because of the hassle with chemicals etc. Now in the digital age it's a fine extra for my hobby on the computer.
• Q:What does Photography mean to you.
• Rob:Rob. It means a lot to me because at the end 2004 I stopped working due some physical problems and I needed a real hobby. From only taking pictures in holidays was changed in to full time hobby using my camera and computer and in that way I've got sometimes a time problem. :-)))))
• Q:Have you always enjoyed B/W Photography, or is it something you have gradually moved to.
• Rob:That's a thing that slowly develops due to changing taste. A couple months ago I quit colour photography.
• Q:Describe what B/W Photography means to you.
• Rob: Rob. A good black and white photograph has more drama in it and the viewer isn't distracted with vibrant colours that often take away all the attention. But don't understand me wrongly, I still enjoying looking at a fine colour shot.
• Q:Can you remember the first photo you took that made you go ‘wow’.
• Rob:Rob. That's a very difficult question and I should say no I don't. I'm proud of every fine picture that I take but there is one special one that I made on the Zaanse Schans. I was almost too late for a fine sunset, so I just put my camera in the air and released the shutter. It's printed in a panorama format, black and white, and is hanging in my toilet room.
• Q:Is there a particular photographer that has had a strong influence on you, and your style of photography.
• Rob:I've seen a bunch of fine photographers on several sites all over the world. I've been on Zoom, Better Photo and Fotocommunity etcetera and now I'm with Phodia. And I'm learning from them by looking and getting advice.
• Q:With Photography being mostly Digital today, relying on computers and software, what are your thoughts on the heavily edited images we regularly see now.
• Rob:Rob. Fully accepted by me as a part of the possibilities in 2010, and I think it is ridiculous to skip these features. Sounds like going to a magician instead of a good doctor. Be honest, a digital camera is already a way of editing, I can change my white balance as I like.

• Q:How technical is your photography.
• Rob:I can use my camera very well and learnt it the hard way. I'm always very impulsive and react with my feelings and then often forget my techniques. What's very important for me is a good composition. That's the basis of a good shot and everybody can learn that with looking. I always try to make that with my camera. And now with the black and white photography, I am also looking for fine contrasts.

• Q:What are your favourite subjects to Photograph.
• Rob:I try to be all-round and capture everything that's interesting but the coastal area is what I really love.

• Q:Do you ever have Photographer’s Block, and if yes how do you deal with it.
• Rob:Yes I think every photographer has that problem now and then. On such moment I walk along the beach with my camera and there is always something that's interesting enough to be captured and on that moment the problem is solved.

Lawson: Thank you for your time Rob, and for giving us an insight into you as a photographer.

Next month we will be interviewing Harold Thompson, a man who has been taking photos for over 40 years and writing comments now for 28 years.

Places to Visit

I thought for the 2nd article in my Places to Visit series I would take you to the very beautiful Isle of Skye, which is the largest island in the Outer Hebrides Islands of Scotland

It was only 7 years ago that I first visited this very beautiful and wonderful island, which for me, is a photographer’s paradise. Sky

As we approach Skye there is a real treat in store for us, the very photogenic Elilean Donan Castle. Although it has been photographed many times, I feel any photographer seeing this castle for the first time will certainly want to stop and spend some time here trying to capture this beautiful landscape his or her own way. Flickr

Continuing on our journey, in years gone by it would have been a ferry that took us across the water, but today the short journey is over a rather lovely looking road bridge, and once onto the famous Isle of Skye the real treat begins. In my opinion this land offers something for every photographic style. For the landscape photographer there are the Red and Black Cullins, mountains with wonderful shapes that are a challenge for even for the most experienced photographer.

Along with these there are great looking waterfalls, ruined cottages which those into B/W will especially enjoy. The beaches are stunning with mile after mile of deserted white sand, and many small fishing harbours where close-up shots are plentiful.

For lovers of wildlife come herds of Red Deer, birds from Goldcrests to Golden eagles, otters and many species of wild flowers where on a wet day (which being in Scotland, there can be many of) Macro photography comes into its own.

I hope that this gives you a taste of what I think is a great place to spend a week with your camera, and I do hope that hopefully some of you will find your way to the very magical Isle of Skye.

The Photo Link Reference Library

This month I have included links to Landscapes, Blogs and Editing. I would like to thank Mirjam, Lenie, Ken Piros, Henk Giesbers and Rob Nagelhout for the contributions to the Link Library.

Lansdscapes

Carpe Diem Landscapes is stunning collection of photos, composed from 5 dutch photographers, Chris Vermeer, Feico Koning, Richard Schoutens, Marc Smits and Peter Bolman

Their slogan ‘Seize the day, capture the moment’ is just what they have done as they travelled through Holland, Scotland, Canada and Thailand to mention just a few places. Carpe Diem Landscapes

Peter Bolman, one of the members from the Carpe Diem team, has many very beautiful winter landscapes. On this site you will also find links to other landscape sites. Peter Bolman

Blogs and Editing

Scott Kelby is an excellent site for keeping up to date with what is happening in and around photography. It is constantly updated with the latest news, interviews from well known photographers, Photoshop World updates and travel tips. Scott Kelby

PhotoshopCAFE is another site for keeping up to date with what is happening in the world of photography. This site offers news, contests, interviews, tips and links. Photoshop cafe

Ron Bigelow is not only an excellent site for viewing landscapes, but also a site that offers many very good video tutorials and articles on working with Photoshop. Just click on either Articles or Videos and you will see the many tutorials on offer. Both the written and video tutorials are easy to follow. Ron Bigelow

In conjunction with the article <‘TIME FRAME’/b> I have included this link to show you where the idea came from. Searching the web for links for the Newsletter I came across the following site. After discussing it we thought it would be a good idea to do something similar, though on a much smaller scale, with Phodia Time frame

Newsletter Desk

Firstly, Lawson and I would like to thank everyone one for the wonderful response we have had to the first Newsletter. Many suggestions for the Link Library were received and this seems to be the most popular part of the Newsletter. The Interview also seems to have come across well.

We have temporarily closed the Trading Post, but we will be more than happy to open it again should anyone require the service for buying or selling camera equipment.

Letters to the editor will now appear in this section, so if you would like to have your say on anything at all, write to us and we will published all letters received. We would like to know what you are thinking, how we could possibly improve the Newsletter or maybe any changes we could make to the format.

Your ideas and comments are welcome and we look forward to hearing from you……… so please don’t be shy……..all suggestions are welcome.

Time Frame

A Day in the Life of Phodia Members.

On Sunday the 21st February, between 2-4pm local time we would like to invite all phodia members to take their cameras with them, and go out and take a photo of something that is happening where they live. This could be at the seaside, a local park, family lunch, an art gallery, really anything of your choice. It can be funny, sad, or serious; the choice is all yours, the most important thing is to enjoy yourself. Maybe you could use the self timer and include yourself in the shot.

This moment in time will then be shared in the Newsletter, giving us all a small insight into each other’s lives, where we live, how we spend our Sunday etc.

Send your edited shot along with a short description, including the time it was taken, to us here at newsletter@phodia.net. for publishing in the next Newsletter.

Monthly theme

The winner for January Monthly Theme ‘Backlight’ was won by Recojo. His photo ‘Elderly Times’ won with an average rating of 7.9. Following this were 3 photos with an average rating of 7.5 followed by 4 photos on 7.4. So as you can see this was a strongly contested theme. Congratulations Recojo on your win.

First place

Second place

Recojo Elderly Times

Ans Stairway to heaven

Third place

Manu Flower

Although it looks like there were three numbers two there was a very slight difference between the competetors

WE NEED YOUR HELP

to keep this Newsletter going. If you have any interesting articles or links which you would like to share with the members, send them to us. Maybe there is someone you would like to see interviewed, a special place you would like to know about. What ever it is, let us know and we will follow it up. We can both be contacted at any of the following addresses………..looking forward to hearing from you.

Best regards
Your Newsletter team
Lawson and Jenipher