© Gunther Deichmann - “liquid colors” on the Tonle Sap,
Siem Reap Cambodia

Q: Could you give a brief description of yourself as a photographer?
A: Pls. check my Bio at http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

Q: What are your motivations/inspirations to become a photographer?
A: Again, the answers you find in my Bio.
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

Q: In your opinion, what makes a good photograph?
A: Personal style, uniqueness, exposure, composition and originality.
One of my favorite quotes is;
"You can take a thousand images but only a few will set you on fire,"


Q: I can't buy expensive lenses. A Nikon D40 is all I have.
A: The Nikon D40 is fine, you be amazed the images you can create with just one Camera and a standard lens, think before you shoot. Understand your Camera, its limitations and work with what you have got. Remember the Camera is only a tool; the actual image you create is prior pressing the shutter.

Q: What is some of the essential camera equipment one should pack into their camera bag for travel photography workshops?
A: I am recommending a Digital SLR with one or two lenses, no need for high power telephoto lenses and a small tri-pod (equipment also depends on the type of workshop) Of course you should bring along a laptop for up-loading your images, with software installed for editing. CF cards and readers, a small memory stick, and if possible an external hard drive, plus spare Batteries & chargers for your Cameras and Laptops. If you have a small flash (strobe) then bring that along too. Small flash light, a raincoat or small Umbrella, good solid walking shoes & some insect repellant.
If you have a small compact camera bring it along, these can come in very handy at times.

Q: What are some of the items and camera equipment you have in your camera bag?
A: Basically the same what I have described above, but I always carry two cameras bodies and additional lenses, but when we go into the field I only bring one camera with one lens to show the students what can be done with little equipment.

© Gunther Deichmann - Children of Cambodia, Phnom Penh
original color image converted into B&W using the
Monochrome Mixer in Aperture 2

Q: What are your favorite photography subjects during travel?
A: It all depends entirely on the given assignment, but I usually have a Theme/Story or a subject planned out, but then you never know what is around the next corner, you have to be ready all the time and make quick decisions.
Always expect the un-expected!

Q: How does image editing applications like Apple Aperture 2, Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop factor into your photo management and editing?
A: I use the Computer just for up-loading and basic editing, however part of the learning curve is to understand the software and the workflow after the shoot, caption your images, using only minor adjustments for the RAW files.
Try and get your image right in the first place, your exposure and composition. Don’t rely on Photoshop for fixing things later.
Working with Aperture 2 on my Mac is pure pleasure, speed and integration, easy access to my Aperture Library. A great image management system, even when you use older scanned but digitized images, simple import them from any of your hard drives.

Q: You have done work for many prestigious global publications. How is it like to shoot for these renowned publications?
A: Very tough but awesome, e.g. for Stern Magazine, Germany I spend weeks to get the images on the killing of wild Horses in Australia. Another good example was my three-month assignment for Animan Magazine (Switzerland) covering the Mekong River, a tough but also very rewarding trip, the final article was published later over 24 pages.

Q: What is your advise for new and up coming travel photographers?
A: Research, research and more research, and try to make friends on your Journeys, it helps if you return one day.

I guess that is all for today, there are many more questions and answers but they have to wait until next time.
GD

Relaxing Friday afternoon with “Mojito”
& friends at Cafe Havana...

© Gunther Deichmann - Charming waitress at Cafe Havana Makati Greenbelt 3 , Philippines,
Leica D-Lux 4 ISO 400, f:2.5

A nice start for the weekend had a great time with my friend Juergen Warnke from Club Paradise in Palawan at the Cuban “Café Havana” in Greenbelt 3 in Makati. Friday afternoon… a social get together with some nice Drinks called Mojito
…
and the Leica D-Lux 4.

© Gunther Deichmann -
Mojito... at Cafe Havana Makati Greenbelt 3 , Philippines,
Leica D-Lux 4 ISO 400, f:2.5
Cuban mojito drink recipe, the authentic version enjoyed by Hemingway in Havana
______________________________________________

Aperture v. Lightroom, the never-ending saga on the Net, don’t worry I keep it simple and get straight to the point.
I am sure all Aperture 2 users waiting with great anticipation for the next upgrade…
I hope we get to see it soon.
I am not an expert on Lightroom nor I am going to be one, I am happy with Aperture 2 for all my work. I believe the most common problem lies when you work with two or three different software’s instead getting used to one, learning and understanding it properly.
Lightroom has introduced recently some updates and improved the software, however in my opinion there are quiet a few advantages in using Aperture 2.
First of all the smooth integration on a Mac, it is flawless and very smooth, plus in Aperture you can make adjustments at any stage. E.g. if you have an image selected you can pull up the adjustment-HUD right there in the Browser, Full screen in book layouts etc., no need to go back and forth.

This is very cool and feels free and more natural. From what I know and heard of LR this cant be done, LR puts way too much emphasis on the software while Aperture lets you focus on what you want to do with your image.

Check with the Power Mac Center in Greenbelt 3 for Aperture Training and intro Seminars.
http://www.powermaccenter.com/training.php
______________________________________________

More iPhone 3G applications.
In one of my recent Blogs I recommended the GPS from MotionX, another interesting one is AudioBoo you record your voice or a conversation with friend then post it on Twitter or Facebook. Useful? For some of us maybe, check it out and play with it.
For those who use the iPhone Camera, AutoStitch is cool, thanks to my good friend Choon from Singapore who pointed this application out to me.

iPhone 3G Camera, using four images and then AutoStitch

See above an example taken without any planning during last Fridays “Mojito” sessions at Café Havana. Four images stitched together on the iPhone and posted a few seconds later on Twitter. You can even crop the image after it has been stitched.
For more info just go to the iTunes store!
GD

“Light is Photography,
Photography is Light.” GD

It’s raining cat and dogs for the past few days, there is still Color around us, but you have to bring your Camera along. The shot below, taken from the Car Window on the way to a meeting while stuck in a traffic Jam in Manila.

© Gunther Deichmann - Yakal Street Makati 100 yards from
Santis & Cave Werdenberg
a great stop for some light meals and superb Wine.

The image above and other NEW images from the past few days already residing in my PhotoShelter Gallery/Archives. (New Manila, Aug. ‘09, including some interesting once from inside a Church)

__________________________

Now from the Philippines to Cambodia; my GDPhotoWorkshop in September ’09 “Angkor Wat & Beyond” Siem Reap, Cambodia is fast approaching, we’re ready to go in September and bookings are closed now. Just a few images below from one of my earlier trips to Angkor Wat Siem Reap, Cambodia.

© Gunther Deichmann - APSARA traditional Khmer Dancer, Bayon


© Gunther Deichmann - Lingas in the river bed, Phnom Kulen is the holiest
mountain in Cambodia & the river of 1000 Lingas, a powerful sacred site
for Cambodians, even today.

However, I make a major announcement very shortly regarding all my future PhotoWorkshops including more to Cambodia, (this year) but also into Laos and other Exotic destinations in Asia, plus preparations are made for India in 2010.

© Gunther Deichmann - Women Priest at
Bayon Temple Angkor Wat area, Cambodia

© Gunther Deichmann - Buddhist Monk, Siem Reap Cambodia

Please stay tuned for more information very, soon.
GD

Heritage Suite Hotel Cambodia Screenshot of the MobileMe Gallery,
view this Gallery online click this link or the image above.
But you have to use the Username: gdimages Password: gd2551

1. When you need to create web pages that mix text and images, the Web Journal option is your best choice. When you create a Web Journal, you manually add the pages, images and text. This is slower than the Web Gallery option, but it offers precise control.
2. Within Aperture there is a third option simply called Webpage. The Webpage template offers less customization than the Web Journal; the Webpage translates an Album into a page, and then allows you to specify a number of columns and rows for each page.

Screenshot of the Web Journal, ideal for lots of text.

Screenshot of the Webpages, with limited text options

3. I guess you know this one, the now called MobileMe Gallery, my absolute favorite, but then it depends what type of work you producing or like to show. However you do need a MobileMe account for the MobileMe Gallery.

The Web Journal and Web Page can be placed also on any Server where as the Web Gallery (now MobileMe Gallery) requires a .Mac account or now a MobileMe account.
I have described my favorite the MobileMe Gallery (before .Mac) in great details before and how much I love it for the storage and distribution of my images, and since the arrival of MobileMe it has only gotten better.
If I where in Beijing right now and had to cover some of the events I would certainly choose the MobileMe Gallery to get my images out to the Editors and Publishers, the MobileMe Gallery is very cool and smooth as Silk…
Check this link for some action shots at the Olympics: CLICK HERE
“Phelps Frame-By-Frame Phelps' Miracle” Finish

However Aperture does not stop here, if Aperture’s three webpage options aren’t enough for you then you can turn to iWeb, which is part of the iLife suite that is a standard on all Macs.
Tip: If iWeb isn’t located in your Dock, you can navigate to your Applications folder and launch it from here.
Note also: If you have an active MobileMe account, when you click on the Publish button, iWeb will automatically upload your website. Otherwise you can always choose File>Publish to a Folder to Export iWebpages without needing a MobileMe account (until recently it was called .Mac)
WOW all of this within Aperture 2.1.1; I keep on saying…AMAZING… not surprising with all this integration on the Mac.
GD

Tags: Webpages, Webtechnique, MobileMe Gallery, Web Journal, iWEB