Déjà vu in Nepal…



© Gunther Deichmann - a mixed bag of just about everything
including a Monkey skull & Fossils, all for sale.
Kathmandu, Nepal

Déjà vu in Nepal…some of you might remember my passion for fossils, which goes way back during my time in paleontology.
Whenever I travel to different destinations in the world I always keep an eye out for those creatures long gone but been part of our evolution and my earlier life.
Last month on my first day in Nepal I strolled like so many other times before the Bazaars and local Markets in the narrow streets of Kathmandu.

I guess it came as no surprise to find many Ammonites and other interesting fossils on display wherever I went. Mixed with other religious and bizarre souvenir items; ugly ashtrays…cool looking masks, Gurkha Knifes (that be a challenge to get them on the plane) false and real gemstones, Buddha Statues, Prayer Wheels and lots of items made from Pashmina Wool…plus so many other obscure items, the list goes on and on. (Pashmina refers to a type of fine cashmere wool and the textiles made from it.)

© Gunther Deichmann - Ammonites & other fossils some of
them still enclosed in the Geode
Kathmandu, Nepal

Fossils always have been part of my life and I do have a very good understanding of them, their origin, age and the process of being fossilized.
What was new to me after some research; I discovered that these fossils are for sale mainly to the locals, their Believe in those fossilized creatures was something very different I found out.

Most of those fossils on display where broken but if luck is on your side you might spot a complete Ammonite.
I had a real great time with the Vendors to show me the good ones...
Trying to sell me the damage ones first… I persisted and soon enough they showed me the good stuff. Hey Guys …I do know my Fossils.

© Gunther Deichmann - everything you might desire...
Kathmandu, Nepal

Word got out fairly quick that there was this strange foreigner with a camera who had a keen interest in Fossils…and soon I had just about every Vendor on Durban Square chasing me, showcasing their very best Ammonites.
Sure I would have loved to buy a whole bunch of them…but these Rocks are very heavy and Excess baggage is expensive, so I contended myself with a couple good specimen.
Read on below, how Ammonites are treasured in Buddhism and Hindu faith throughout Asia

And for those of you who are interested in Nepal, why not joining our PhotoWorkshop in October, for details go to the
GD PhotoWorkshops site or click this LINK.
GD

Ammonite Fossils

The name Ammonite comes from the Greek ram-horn God called Ammon. Ammonites are the most widely known fossil; they are cephalopods and first appeared in the seas 415 million years ago, in the form of a straight shelled creature known as Bacrites. During their evolution three catastrophic events occurred. The first during the Permian period (250 million ago), only 10% survived. They went on to flourish throughout the Triassic period, but at the end of this period (206 million ago) all but one species died. Then they began to thrive from the Jurassic period until the end of the Cretaceous period when all species of ammonites became extinct.

Ammonites were animals that lived in the sea. They are now extinct except for one of their cousins the Nautilus, a truly living fossil found in the deeper part of our Oceans today.

Their name is derived from The Egyptian God Ammon. Ammon's sacred animal was a ram, and an ammonite looks like a ram's horn. Pliny the Elder called ammonites the Horns of Ammon.
Ammonites were cephalopods. Living cephalopods include octopuses, cuttlefish, squid and nautiloids. Extinct cephalopods include belemnites.

Ammonites found in the valley of the Gandaki River in Nepal and northern India are called Saligrams.
Because saligrams sometimes contain fragments of pyrite and quartz crystal, some people claim that there is gold or diamonds inside the fossils. Those sparkling black fossils are what gave the Kali Gandaki (Black Gandaki) its name.

They are considered the direct symbol of Lord Vishnu, as one of Vishnu's avatars (incarnations) was stone (Sri Saligram). Saligrams have markings called 'chakras', resembling the discus held in one of the six hands of the god Vishnu. Vishnu's chakra is a Hindu symbol of absolute completeness, with the eight spokes indicating the eightfold path of deliverance. The radial chakra markings in saligrams are actually the ribs of the ammonites. The fossils are kept in temples, monasteries and households as natural symbols of Vishnu and water in which they have been bathed is drunk daily.

For many people who have faith in the Hindu religion, the ammonite is one of the many forms of their Lord Vishnu. They keep the fossil in their worship room and worship it. Saligrams are mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating back to the second century BC.

In Account of the Kingdom of Nepal (1819), F. B. Hamilton described saligrams as objects of mystery and magic, respected throughout South Asia.

Resources: More LINKS and info below on Ammonite Fossils and their connection to various believes and religions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonite

http://www.shaligram.org/shaligramselection.html

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=355158

http://www.artbit.co.in/index.php/122/128

http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/fossils/ammonite.htm

The mood & colors from the last
few days in Cambodia...

The year is coming fast to an end and I am looking forward to some very exciting Journeys in 2010. Myanmar – India - Nepal & Cambodia are confirmed trips…plus what ever else crops up in between, with me you never know.

© Gunther Deichmann - the mood of Angkor Wat
the day before we left for Phnom Penh Cambodia

Before I am going into the family Christmas mood I like to share with you some more interesting escapades from the recent Cambodian Journey including a bit on Aperture 2.
I have also included a disturbing Photo…a stark reminder of the dark past in Cambodia with its Land Mines; its scars are still visible today and for many years to come.

© Gunther Deichmann - the Gate of Bayon
Temple, Siem Reap Cambodia

Please spare a moment for those unlucky ones among us, be it in Cambodia or elsewhere in the world. Lets not forget them, may our thoughts be with them not only during Christmas but all year around. Thank You!

© Gunther Deichmann - a stark reminder...
the scars of War! Phnom Penh, Cambodia

As you know I have just returned from Cambodia a few days ago in time to spend Christmas with my family. Arnold my Web Guru and myself left Siem Reap on the 18th of December by Car for Phnom Penh where we spend a few days roaming around.

Sadly we had to leave the good company of the Heritage Suites Hotel behind, already missing Didier, Vorana and Jam plus the super friendly staff, but I will return soon. Siem Reap has become almost my second home now, plus there is still so much to more explore and to discover.

© Gunther Deichmann - last light on the way to
Phnom Penh Cambodia

© Gunther Deichmann - the fisherman on the way to
Phnom Penh Cambodia

A lot of changes have taken place in Phnom Penh since my first visit in 1992 and again in 2005, I have been spending more time these past few years in the Siem Reap area.

© Gunther Deichmann - Sunday afternoon at the Mekong River
in Phnom Penh Cambodia

Phnom Penh brought back memories from the past especially when we had dinner at the FCC (Foreign Correspondence Club) my hangout from the earlier days.
A must on any ones list if you visit Phnom Penh, great food, cold Beer and a cool atmosphere, this time around they had a great Gallery of Photos from my famous Rock stars on the walls; Garry Moore, Chrissie Hynde's from the Pretenders, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Pat Garrett from Midnight Oil, Rolling Stones and just about everybody else from the good old days… plus a cool Blues/Jazz Band was playing on our first evening in Phnom Penh.

But you also find walls covered with Photos from the Vietnam War and the horrific reign of the Pol Pot Regime, some disturbing images but it is the reality from the past or even now in the streets of Phnom Penh where you see people with out their limbs.

Been connected is important these days, good Internet connections are all over Phnom Penh like in Side walk Café’s and Restaurants. Getting around is also not a problem you find Tuk Tuk’s and Motorbikes on every street corner.
If you don’t have any accommodation booked, then you should check out a very cool guesthouse called the “Eye of the Mekong House” at 30 street 110 - run by a very charming Frenchman called Nikolas. Great place with spacious rooms, good Coffee, very affordable and right in town just a stone throw away from the Mekong River.

The new Nikon D300s proved to be fantastic in every aspect during my last trip but I need more time for the Video…lot more details on that one later.

© Gunther Deichmann - A Christmas Tree???
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Let me finish today with the word “patience” there has been some whining and complaining re. Aperture 2 updates been to slow and some Photographers are thinking switching to Lightroom…
New Camera models have been popping up non-stop in 2009; now we blame Apple and other for not keeping up… sad! What ever happen to patience? From my past experience when Apple has done something they did it real well and not using some Beta version like Adobe with Lightroom. Would you buy or work with a Beta Version of a Camera? As a serious Photographer I don’t like to test things, I like them to work…don’t forget who came out first with the almost perfect Digital Photography workflow…Aperture was way ahead and made things possible which had been very difficult before and could only achieved with Photoshop.

© Gunther Deichmann - Color Steel...Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Patience…all real GOOD things take Time and I am sure Apple will come up with something soon enough…they have always done so in the past, maybe a bit slower but for sure it will be awesome and no need for Beta testing.
Now I have to get this Blog out... move my Magic Mouse and get back to my red wine and Midnight Oil plus the Kids are waiting. Cheers!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a GREAT 2010!
GD

A special report from Ayers Rock, Australia.


© Gunther Deichmann - Ayers Rock Central Austtralia ”The last Climb?” Tourists on the way to the top, hanging on to the provided chain sparkeling like silver in the early morning. As the sun rises higher this amazing effect disappears within minutes.

Recent News reports have indicated that in the foreseen future the climbing of Ayers Rock in Central Australia will be banned. But do we have to climb Ayers Rock to get our images?

The question is? Will this affect the tourist arrivals? In my opinion I don’t think so, I can’t remember how many times I visited this remarkable place in the Australian Outback and never had the urge to climb it. I could have easy done so, but for me the real beauty lies in the surrounding areas and Ayers Rock from below. The sunset and sunrise, the ever-changing colors have drawn me into the spell of this huge Monolith over and over again.
I have seen very young and old trying to make the trip to the top, taken chances of getting seriously injured.

© Gunther Deichmann - Aerial view of Ayers Rock,
Central Australia, Photo from a fixed wing aircraft.

I have also noticed similar climbing attempts at Angkor Wat in Cambodia too, watching tourist climbing the ancient ruins makes my hair stand up, soon very soon there be a major accident, not to mention the environmental impact it is having on this ancient and fragile architectural Wonder.

© Gunther Deichmann - A rare shot of a Centralian
Knob-Tailed Gecko (Nephrurus amyae)
lickining his eyes to keep them moist.

Few reptiles have the same appeal as the knob-tailed gecko. The tiny tail ending in a little round knob about half the size of a pea, the large beautifully patterned eyes and the face displaying a permanent smile all contribute to the character of this little lizard. The centralian knob-tail is the largest of the group reaching a total length of over 15cm, of which the tail comprises no more than about 3cm.
More info @ http://www.reptilepark.com.au/animals.asp?catID=13&ID=92


For me Ayers Rock is very much a spiritual place where I can sit back and let the colors play in front of me, thinking about the Aboriginal Dream Time and how it must have been thousands of years ago, a place we should all respect and treasure.

© Gunther Deichmann - the changing moods of Ayers Rock, Central Australia

View more of my Australian Images on my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Here are some useful Government information on permits, how to get there etc.
Visitor information:
http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru/visitor-information/index.html

Commercial image capture (photography, filming, and artistic representation)
http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/permits/uluru-media.html

Read below excerpts from articles I have collected from various News sources.
Just the accidents alone over the years should make one think, plus the environmental impact and respect for the traditional Aboriginal owners.
GD

Excerpts:
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has called for an end to people climbing the 348m-high rock, sacred to indigenous people, as part of a 10-year draft plan.
The issue sparked immediate debate over the future of the climb, which is seen by many as a draw card for many of the 350,000 tourists who visit the rock each year.
The Prime Minister has come out against a ban, saying it would be "very sad" if tourists were denied the chance.
But other arguments are that the wishes of traditional owners had been ignored for too long.

© Gunther Deichmann - The Thorny Devil is on average about 20 cms long,
and feed on a wide variety of ants. They catch them by using their tongue much
the same as an ant-eater would do. Animal Fact: If rain lands on the Thorny Devils
back, it runs down the creature finding its way to its mouth where it is consumed.
More info @ http://www.australianfauna.com/thornydevil.php

Some 35 people have died while scaling the rock.
THE Uluru climb is almost certain to be closed, probably in about two years.
Parks Australia has called for public comment on a plan to ban tourists clambering up the 348m rock.
The plan runs for 10 years.
But Parks Australia dropped strong hints that Uluru would be closed to climbers sooner rather than later.
The comment period closes in early September.
A final document will then be sent to the Federal Government, which controls the national park.
The tourism industry would then be given at least 12 months to adjust their marketing campaigns.
That means The Rock could be closed by October 1 in 2011, the start of the hot season in Central Australia.

Three main reasons for banning climbers:

SAFETY - 35 people died in the 25 years to the year 2000, but none have died since climbing restrictions were introduced;
ENVIRONMENTAL damage - the sandstone rock suffers erosion and human waste is washed down into waterholes by rain;
CULTURE - traditional owners don't like people climbing over something they consider sacred.
Tourism Central Australia commented, tour operators were divided over whether the climb should be scrapped, some companies had not advertised the climb for years.

But others said many tourists would not to go to Uluru if they weren't allowed to climb.
The Territory Government said it opposed banning climbing.
For a copy of the plan go to:
www.environment.gov.au/parks/publications/uluru/draft-plan.html

Some Ayers Rock Facts:
Ayers Rock is located in the middle of Australia, in fact very close to the actual geographical centre. Geographical coordinates: 25°20'41" S, 131°01'57" E.
Ayers Rock Resort is 443 km (275 miles) from Alice Springs by road, or 45 minutes by air. (From the resort it's another 8 km to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park entrance, and a further 10 km to Ayers Rock.)

Ayers Rock is not the world's largest monolith. This title belongs to Mt Augustus in Western Australia. Uluru is 348 meters (1141 feet) high, 3.6 km long (2.2 miles), 1.9 km wide (1.2 miles),9.4 km or 5.8 miles around the base (that's walking),covers 3.33 km2 (1.29 miles2),extends about several km/miles into the ground, it is not exactly known how far (despite the numbers you might have read).

Ayers Rock is Arkose, a course-grained sandstone rich in feldspar at least 2.5 km thick. Uplifting and folding between 400-300 million years ago turned the sedimentary layers nearly 90 degrees to their present position. The surface has then been eroded.
Depending on the time of day and the atmospheric conditions the rock can dramatically change color, anything from blue to glowing red ! Many avid photographers set up for days and record the many changing colors of Uluru.

Read more: http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/ayers-rock-facts.html

Or @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru

Aerial shot from 31,000 feet of Puerto Galera & Environs by:
Copyright © Rod Andrewartha - All rights reserved, this image
can’t be reproduced in any way electronically or otherwise.
Digital Watermark protected.

The photograph above was taken from the flight deck of a Qantas Boeing 747-400 while enroute from Hong Kong to Melbourne in Austarlia. The aircraft was directly above Verde Island at an altitude of 31,000 feet and maneuvering around thunderstorms, in a perfect position for a photograph of Puerto Galera.
The photographer, Rod Andrewartha, is a pilot with Qantas and a part-time photographer. He’s a regular visitor to Puerto Galera on diving and underwater photography trips. He believes the photo should be shared with all those who have come to love Puerto Galera, visitors and locals alike, and is making it available for purchase.

The price is US$ 49.95 for a 16 inch x 20-inch print, plus postage and packaging.
If you would like to order a print, contact Rod for details at:
sales@rodandrewartha.com.au
He will pack the print in a protective tube and post it to anywhere in the world.
For more info go to:
www.pbase.com/andrewartha & www.rodandrewartha.com.au

© Courtesy of La Laguna Beach Club & Dive Center

So, why don’t you book your next Dive Vacation with La Laguna Beach Club & Dive Center, say hi to Frank & Donno, if you lucky you might run into Rod, but if he is not around you can always purchase a nice Print of this great aerial shot at LLBC.
The accommodation is great too, plus there is always a cold beer waiting for you at the cool Gecko Bar overlooking the nice sandy beach at small La Laguna, the perfect spot for sunset.

© Courtesy of La laguna Beach Club & Dive Center

For our dive friends and Underwater Photographers, La Laguna Beach Club & Dive Center has some of the best “Critter Spotters” on their staff. Take my word for it, I have been using these dive guides from LLBC for many years and some of the images I took would not have been possible without their help and eagle eyes.
Thanks again to Rod for sharing this amazing image with us.
GD

______________________________________________

Just one more…

....yes you’re on the right website… we have changed the front/intro page on my main website, http://www.deichmann-photo.com/ I hope you like it.

My theme and philosophy has always been…Light is Photography…photography is light.
Natural light…mysterious, magical or just awesome, it is natures gift to man… however controlling it can be a challenge without a doubt.

The new front page of my website is a small token of how we perceive and interpret light as we see it through our eyes, a simple concrete wall in the backyard of our building with a light shaft from the adjourning building lasting for only 30 minutes demonstrates this well.
When I took this image I thought it could work for my web front page, which needed a new look anyway. Using the D700 Nikon at f: 5.6 exposing between the light and shadow part of the wall, then imported into Aperture 2 adjusted the shadow and highlights a bit, applied a little sharpening and a new background/intro page for my main website was created.
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/
GD

More modifications and updates on my Home Page...


Screenshot of the NEW Home Page

You know we recently improved, updated & created a new look for my Blog pages http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html.

Long overdue, today we uploaded a NEW Home Page look on my main Web Site/Gallery http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html
Of course we change the images from time to time and the small flash slide show on the right hand side shows always a few of the latest images, running India at the moment. We made the flash slide show simple and small, keeping the fast loading time of the site plus having all the SEO benefits too.
Hope you like it.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - impressive... interesting vegetation and
texture at the main entrance to the Oceanarium, this Outdoor area
houses also the Philippine Crocodile.

Inside the Oceanarium.

© Gunther Deichmann - some very interesting and educational
life displays, Embryos still in the Eggs.

Experience a slice of ocean life! Enjoy a 25-meter walk along an underwater tunnel and experience how marine animals interact with each other in their natural habitat.
So off we went today to check it out; my verdict not bad for Manila and certainly an education on Marine life for children and adults alike. If you plan a visit make sure you pick a weekday as the crowd can get quiet heavy on weekends, or in the morning it is not so bad either.
I guess it is still fairly new so you can expect a lot of visitors for the time being, getting some clean shots with my camera was almost imposable, but then I had the boys with me, defiantly a priority today.

© Gunther Deichmann - Brandon checking out the Lion fish in
one of the big display tanks.
Available light since flash photography is not allowed.

We took our time and spend some 2 hours wondering around checking on various critters and of course the highlight been the large Rays and Sharks.

© Gunther Deichmann - cruising overhead in
the Tunnel area a large Ray

The Nikon D700 was set on 1600 ISO, another great test drive, the shots came out OK with except able noise at this high ISO setting, the most difficult part was to get clean shots due to the large crowd. All images taken with available light, like with most other Oceanariums and Aquariums, flash photography is not permitted.
Now the Boys went to sleep and I am sorting out today’s take in Aperture 2, Twitter has left already via the Plug in.
All the images have been processed in Aperture 2 and have not been altered in any way or using another software.
However two of the indoor images have been treated with the Aperture 2 plug in, Noise Ninja.
As for the Nikon D700, I am impressed again!

© Gunther Deichmann - educational electronic touch
boards are through out the main display area

From an educational point of View…not bad and a good start in the Philippines, creating awareness to the public of our fragile Oceans.
The commercial shopping mall and Restaurant areas need for sure some more improvements, I found this part disappointing.
Also the boot ride to view some of the larger animals from the top was way to expensive for the given 10 min. this is actually a waste of money and time, you’re better off to spend more time below in the Aquarium area.
Lets keep in mind, this is all very new, and construction is ongoing for more facilities including a Hotel. The Oceanarium is for sure worth the visit and a good way of educating your children about our marine life, this part is well done and quiet impressive.
You can’t or should not compare it with Oceanariums in Japan, Australia or in the US, but it is a good start for Manila.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - movement in the Thar Desert India, April 09

The first one:
Delete! Delete! Delete! (Undelete)

An amazing story how a Photo-Journalist recovered his images, brought to my attention by Robin Grabherr.
http://baghdadbureau.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/22/delete-delete-delete-undelete/?scp=1&sq=delete%20camera&st=cse

The second one:

A Dinosaurs afternoon with Tony Wu...Tony made me green with envy, he had the opportunity in Japan to Visit my “past” yes, you all know I still love my fossils. As a good friend would do... he send me some Images in the past few days...to get me going...grrrrrrr, but thanks anyway Tony, much appreciated. Below excerpts from his Blog...

Walking with Dinosaurs...

Dinosaur, It seems like this was my week to see old stuff…expensive fossils on Monday, and yesterday, a dinosaur exhibit at the National Museum of Nature and Science Tokyo.
This will probably come as no surprise, but I was obsessed with dinosaurs and other prehistoric life forms when I was a kid. I devoured every dinosaur book in every library and bookstore that I came across, and I probably spent hundreds of hours digging through gravel, mountain rocks, river beds, construction sites, etc. for fossils. (I found a lot!)

© Tony Wu - Dinosaur Exhibit at the National Museum
of Nature and Science Tokyo

I drew dinosaurs at school (usually during reading and grammar classes), and dreamed up all sorts of little projects to pursue in lieu of doing homework. When I visited Washington DC…straight to the dinosaur exhibit.
…so seeing the dino displays at the museum yesterday brought back a flood of fond memories.

The were a number of dinosaurs on display. True to form, I gravitated to the ones with big teeth and sharp claws, giving only a casual glance to the duck-like, pacifist “veggisaursuses”.
The one at the top of this post was the first to greet visitors to the hall. It’s a Cryolophosaurus ellioti (can you hear me saying “cooooooolllllllll” as I walked in?).
...read more at Tony Wu’s Blog @
http://www.tonywublog.com/20090613/walking-with-dinosaurs.html

Latest NEWS...


© Gunther Deichmann - aerial view over the
Palau Rock Islands after sunset.

Associated Press
Palau cites human rights in resettling detainees
Associated Press, 06.11.09, 12:44 AM EDT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Palau's president says his tiny Pacific island state considered human rights - and not China's reaction - when it agreed to take in 17 Chinese Muslim separatists detained at Guantanamo Bay.
Palau President Johnson Toribiong says his country has agreed to a U.S. request to resettle the detainees out of humanitarian concerns and because their imprisonment is unlawful...
read the complete article and more NEWS LINKS at:
http://www.palautours.com/blog.html

© Gunther Deichmann - was the decision made here?
The Palau Capitol Building

“To see something which is not there
makes a great image” GD

This subject is cropping up all the time in Twitter, Facebook and Blogs the web is full of it… gadgets that is. More applications for this and that, new iPhones, new software the list goes on and on, not to mention cameras with this and that new thing.
Sounds cynical…yes, so it should.

© Gunther Deichmann - Vision... the eye and not the gadgets...
Composite created in PS

I recently read an article I picked up on Twitter by Jack Hollingsworth a very simple but so true statement:
Gear is good… but Vision is better!

I have written my fair share of articles about today’s digital Photography, lets call it today...
“Graduating in manipulation.”

As Jack put it, Vision is better… and I agree with him fully hearted. Why do I bring this subject up again is simple.
During a small Exhibition recently at the Hyatt Hotel showcasing images from India, people kept asking…who is the Painter? (by the way I can’t even draw a straight line)

I could consider that as a compliment but when I talked to them they could not believe the images where Photographs, and once they knew, they immediately thought of Computer and Photoshop. Grrrrrr.

This is exactly the dilemma we are facing today, very recently a good friend said to me … education is the magic word or better the lack off it.
I created the image above a long time ago in Photoshop, yes you have heard correctly, and yes I know how to use Photoshop. There is a place for PS no question about it and I have been using PS also but in the right context in commercial and advertising Photography, but not for my documentary and nature work.
The image above portraits an eye surrounded by colors and the “explosion of the brain” during the visualization of an image in front of us. In other words Vision first, then the capture of the image via any media using a camera or through the hand of a painter.
After the “explosion” you get the image like the one below…
NO Photoshop!

© Gunther Deichmann - A Reflection of Excellence the Taj Mahal
India April 2009 - Reflections are the work of Nature!

Since we are in a new age now, of course we need software like Aperture 2 or Lightroom to process our digital images, but lets think for a moment…are we manipulating to much? We do need to process the digital images converting from Raw or creating B/W images, some sharpening and at times adjusting the white balance all of that is acceptable today, but not changing the overall look and color.

Even in underwater photography some divers moving critters around and later fixing a lot in the computer, what ever happen to the real images or better the challenge of getting the perfect shot.
Hence the reason that many good images have been judged and misunderstood today, oh this is a great shot but I am sure he/she done this in the computer.
I stop rambling on now, trying to explain, I don’t have the answers and properly want change a thing but it is somewhat very sad in particular for our next generation and only the proper education can make a difference.
GD

The Rain didn’t stop the “Taste of India” at the
Hyatt Hotel in Manila.

My personal press release!
I just arrived back home, WOW it was a great show with genuine Indian food, traditional dances and some Sitar as background music.
A great evening with some amazing food and great company like:
The honorable Rajeet Mitter Ambassador of India, the Undersecretary of Tourism Philippines Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Mr. Vishnu Hathiramani from the Indian Chambers of Commerce, Anthony A. Sebastian the General Manager of the Hyatt Hotel in Manila.

Getting together for a “Taste of India”

Part of the Gallery

Blessing the Chefs Indian style

I also had the pleasure to be in the company of Lawrence Siason from the Power Mac Center and his wife, my good friend Luis Harder and Company and my better half Grace the sometime driving force behind me.
Overall a fantastic evening, a very special thanks goes to Arjun Shroff and his charming family from Shroff International Travel, without their help and India Tourism my Images on display tonight would not have been there.
Thank you so much!

http://www.incredibleindia.org/

Later in the evening I had a surprise visit by my very good friend Dirk Fahrenbach from Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center, he just snowed in at the spare of the moment.

I also had some very interesting questions all evening, guests referred to me as a Painter. I wish I could paint, however I cant even draw a straight line.
Maybe my images come across like that, I guess I paint with my camera but NOT Photoshop which I had to point out on numerous occasions. It is just my style, my interpretation and my ability to work with light. As I keep saying…Photography is light…light is Photography.
Thanks to One Work Shop and Ross Capilli for a great job on the archival printing.
We have also some seminars and workshops at the Power Mac Center in Greenbelt 3 shortly, and if you have the time please drop by, I am only to happy to guide you through my Light. However if you feel hungry then you better drop by the Hyatt Hotel for a real “Taste of India”
A very special thanks to the Engineering Dept, PR and Marketing Dept. at the Hyatt Hotel Manila for a very professional service, they did such a great Job, and of course it goes without saying, thanks to the Chefs for a real ”Taste of India”.
All Photos by Hermes Singson, thanks Hermes.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - abstract colors on my way to Makati

© Gunther Deichmann - abstract colors on the windshield, stuck in traffic, near Makati

I spend most of the day in the car going through (or not going at all) traffic jams navigating flooded streets until 10 PM last night.
I had no choice but things had to be done, I rather have stayed at home in this weather, a 2 hour affair become a whole day madness in flooded streets and traffic jams.

© Gunther Deichmann - streets are flooded but the kids having fun, last night in Makati.

Of course I always have my travel companion with me, the Leica D-Lux 4 just in case or when I get too bored sitting around waiting for the cars to move.
Rain was pounding the vehicle and the light from the traffic was painting colors on the windshield creating some abstract colors right in front of me, so I started to shoot what was right in front of me.

© Gunther Deichmann - fighting boredom in the Traffic jam, yesterday at about 6:30 PM

The weather this time of the year is nothing new…the wet season has arrived and is here to stay for a few month and if I have to venture out again, maybe I see some more interesting subjects to shoot, at least I am not getting bored sitting in traffic jams.
The way it looks, it is going to be another very wet and traffic clogged affair today, lucky I am not too far from the Hyatt Hotel where I have to be at 6:30 PM tonight, enjoying “A Taste of India”.
GD

Compact Flash Cards & Beards...
a very strange mix...but not in India.


© Gunther Deichmann - vendor selling Beards outside the Fort in New Delhi.
The largest of old Delhi's monuments is the Lal Quila, or the Red Fort.

It is truly amazing what you come across in India; take New Delhi for example, visiting the Red Fort one afternoon I saw this vendor selling “fully grown beards”. Are they for the Tourist or the locals? I still have to figure that one out yet.
Then in Jaipur at the entrance of the astronomy and observatory area, a vendor approached me; I guess he had spotted my Nikons, he was trying to sell me CF Cards up to 4 gigs. Wow… in the old days they sold films, but now Compact Flash Cards, just amazing.

© Gunther Deichmann - Compact Flash Cards and a lot more, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

I am not sure who is going to buy them, but I am sure some tourist might get them after their Card is full; this guy was selling them in all shapes and sizes up to 4 Gigs.
Of course he also carried some Batteries, Cigarettes, Video Tapes, other bits pieces and in case some Tourists who had not made the switch to Digital, he had some Fuji and Kodak films too.
In other words, if you run out of supplies on your trip in India I am sure there is always someone around the corner who carries what you looking for. Everything from CF Cards to Beards, or what ever you might need at the time. You just have to watch out how genuine these things are, carry your own CF Cards makes a lot more sense and it is a lot safer for your valuable images, as for the beard; who needs one in this heat anyway.
GD

Where have all the people gone?


© Gunther Deichmann - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport

When I arrived at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport a couple of days ago, I could not help noticing how empty it appeared. A coincident or was it due to the Red and Yellow shirts, the Swine Flu, the current Economic crisis or the simple off season?
I passed through this Airport many times on my way to Cambodia or other destinations, but for the first time I have seen it that deserted.

© Gunther Deichmann - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International
Airport, Thai Airways Check in Counter

© Gunther Deichmann - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
International Airport, empty shops.

When checked in at airline counter I looked around and jokingly asked the attendant if I was the only one on the flight to Manila? She simply replied… the flight is empty. Wow! Sure enough as I found out later, not totally empty but almost.
Normally I have to cue up during my check in but this time I was done in seconds and had plenty of time to wonder around taken photos of empty shops and hallways.
Who is to blame? Your guess is as good then mine and I dare not speculate...

© Gunther Deichmann - Even the news stand is empty

© Gunther Deichmann - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport,
No passengers and empty shops

© Gunther Deichmann - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport,
Empty hallways.
All the above images have been taken during a two hour
time span using the Leica D-Lux 4

GD

© Gunther Deichmann - Fossilized Ammonites and shells from
the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India

My Guide took me one afternoon into a very small side street to a small shop, which was selling gemstones, and other precious stones, quiet a treasure cove as I discovered.
After some questions the owner of the shop pulled out some Ammonites and shells from the area. Not in perfect condition but never the less I found my Fossils, I only wish I would have had more time and look for them myself, but then there is always next time.

© Gunther Deichmann - A wild Deer in the Thar Desert near Manvar ,
quiet a common sight in this area, Rajasthan India

© Gunther Deichmann - One morning on my way for breakfast at the
Oasis Resort of Manvar in the Thar Desert I spotted this Lizard right in
front of my room, sitting on a hedge not moving at all...a perfect model.

© Gunther Deichmann - Wild Peacock in flight...and I thought they cant fly,
well only a short distance like this one. Manvar in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India

Read below some more interesting facts about the Thar Desert Geology, and the Animal life that thrives today in this arid place of India.
The Thar Desert also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. With an area of more than 200,000 sq. km (77,000 sq. mi.) it is world's 18th largest desert. It lies mostly in the Indian state of Rajasthan, and extends into the southern portion of Haryana and Punjab states and into northern Gujarat state. In Pakistan, the desert covers eastern Sind province and the southeastern portion of Pakistan's Punjab province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.
It is a desolate country where sand is piled up into huge wind blown dunes. On the whole the Thar Desert slopes imperceptibly towards the Indus Plain and surface unevenness is mainly due to sand dunes. The dunes in the south are higher, rising sometimes to 152 m whereas in the north they are lower and rise to 16 m above the ground level.
Stretches of sand in the desert are interspersed by hillocks and sandy and gravel plains. Due to the diversified habitat, the vegetation and animal life in this arid region is very rich. About 23 species of lizard and 25 species of snakes are found here and several of them are endemic to the region.

The Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, spread over an area of 3162 km, is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert, and its diverse fauna. Great Indian Bustard, Blackbuck, chinkara, desert fox, Bengal fox, wolf, desert cat etc. can be easily seen here. Seashells and massive fossilized tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert.
The Thar’s geological history; based on the study of fossils found in the area is interesting. The area has been in and out of sea at least four times during the last two hundred and eighty million years.

It appears that this area was under sea in the early Triassic period. The sea withdrew after twenty five million years and the sediments were uplifted animal fossils of that period are found in the rocks in many areas.

Again, after about twenty five million years this area came under the sea. The limestone and the sandstone of Jaisalmer with their fossils of Ammonites were deposited during this period.

© Gunther Deichmann - Pushkar in Rajasthan of all places...
you never know what you come across in India, from holy
and sacred Rats to Pink Floyd “Wish You Where Here”

It is done & much sooner then I expected… the Taj Mahal & Rajasthan high res.Images are now available in my PhotoShelter Archives and can be viewed in two NEW Galleries. This was made only possible in such a short time with the integration & speed of Aperture 2 and PhotoShelter…

The NEW Galleries:
1. New! 100 selected images only; some of my personal favorites from the Taj Mahal & Rajasthan, here is the direct LINK
2. New! A broader selection of over 400 images from the Taj & Rajasthan and the Thar Desert, the direct LINK

If you’re searching for particular images, use the search field option implemented on all pages on my Web site or at this Blog (Stock Photos Search Archives, upper left hand side). You always find the latest image PhotoShelter Galleries at the top left hand side in my Gallery collections.
There is still some more work to be done, fixing some captions, detailed descriptions and uploading some additional images… the Rats are also not there yet. (Remember from my previous Blog on the sacred Rats) More updates will follow shortly.
I have to admit burning a bit of Midnight Oil the past few days going through thousands of images, but now it is out of my system. The images are safe and sound in my PhotoShelter Archive, plus I done all my other backups too.
The only thing missing now is to update my main website with the new category “India” this will be implemented by late Tuesday this week.

Just one more...


© Gunther Deichmann - no explanation required...

Now I have to get ready for my trip to Thailand to the TDEX (Thailand Dive & Travel Expo) only a short trip, I am back in a week. In the next few months I make an announcement in regards to my recent trip to India, so please stay tuned,
I know…my suspense again…

Again, special thanks to all my Guides, Drivers and Hotels who made my journey a save and enjoyable one.
Shroff International Travel: http://www.shrofftravel.com/
India Tourism: http://www. incredibleindia.org/
Rajasthan Tours: http://www.rajasthantouronline.com/

I have also prepared some articles on the Hotels, Food and other special things from my Journey trough Rajasthan, they will be available soon on this blog.
GD

I have seen colors I thought didn’t exist…



© Gunther Deichmann - Pushkar Rajasthan India
Click on the image and go to the first Gallery from India
If you still see the Bali Images you might have to refresh your Browser to view the new Gallery.

I managed to do it… thanks to Aperture 2 the main editing has been done and I am uploading most of the images in high resolution from my recent trip to India as we speak into my PhotoShelter Archives.
Very soon a Gallery is available with some of the best images from this truly amazing Journey through Rajasthan in India and of course the fantastic Taj Mahal.
The pressure has been on because I am leaving again next week for Thailand, I have been invited by the Organizers and Fins Magazine to give some lectures on Aperture 2 during the TDEX Show, (Thailand Dive & Travel Expo) for the dates on the Aperture 2 seminars click this LINK.
I am looking forward to catch up with old friends again, like Tony Wu, Aye and Mean from Fins, plus I have the opportunity to shoot some more images in Thailand, which I need for my seminars a couple days later.
I know some of you have been waiting to see some more Images from India including the Taj Mahal, so I have prepared prior my next departure “Rajasthan & the Taj Mahal India” Gallery on this Blog. Click this LINK or the image above & check out the small Gallery.

I only selected 30 images at random, a complete Gallery with many more images will be available on my PhotoShelter Gallery very soon, just give me a few more days.
We are also adding a new Category to my main website “India” with 14 very special Images, this one will be up by early next week.
Now enjoy a journey through vivid colors and experience a little bit of Incredible India.

Please note:
All images are in their original version non of them have been altered or modified in Photoshop, they have been exported to PhotoShelter and to my Blog from direct within Aperture 2 in low and high res. versions.
Adjustments used in Aperture 2: Raw conversion, cropping, straightening, contrast, minor white balance adjustments and of course some sharpening, plus I occasionally adjusted the shadows and highlights using the Highlight and Cold Areas.
However color may vary from one Computer screen to another on the Web, the colors are very rich and at times unbelievable, but then that is Rajasthan, my main reason to go there, it is truly awesome.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - near Bikaner on the road...
brilliant colors everywhere

Once you arrive in the Thar Desert town of Bikaner a trip to Deshnoke should be part of your agenda, here you find the temple of the Gajner Palace. 30 Km from Bikaner, the 600 -year old temple is dedicated to Karni Mata.
It plays host to thousands of rats. The rats are considered sacred and worshipped.

© Gunther Deichmann - near Bikaner on the road...
brilliant colors everywhere

The temple has huge intricately silver gates donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh and of course like with all other Indian Temples before entering you have to remove your shoes.

I have to admit it was a strange feeling once I entered the temple barefoot and saw the Rats running all over the place, every corner and niche was crawling with them.
Temple priests tend to the rats by constantly refilling large bowls of milk and in the heart of the temple, the shrine, there is a huge bowl filled with Prasad (sugar balls). This area is totally overrun with countless rats, someone even told me that these Rats die all young due to Diabetics, been constantly feed with sweets, however I have heard no scientific proof to support this claim.

© Gunther Deichmann - Temple of the Gajner Palace,
It plays host to thousands of rats.

© Gunther Deichmann - Temple of the Gajner Palace,
It plays host to thousands of rats.

It is also highly likely, if not a certainty, that a “holy rat” will run over your feet, if so, it is considered a blessing.
If a white rat is sighted then you are especially spiritually graced. Eating food or drinking water that previously has been sampled by a rat is considered to be a supreme blessing.
I moved around thousand of rats during my visit but unfortunately somehow missed the white one, maybe next time.
Strangely, there has been no recorded incidence of rat borne disease amongst the temple visitors. Could that be a miracle?
On my way out from the Temple I met a very nice local Schoolteacher who gave me some background on the history and the story of Karni Mata.

Karni Mata, born in the 14th century, was an incarnation of Durga, the goddess of power and victory. During her lifetime she performed many miracles.
When one of her clansmen died and she was unable to bring him back to life and she asked Yama, the god of death to bring him back to life. Yama could not because the clansman had already been reincarnated.

Karni Mata made an agreement with Yama that from now on all of her tribes people would be reborn as rats until they could be born back into the clan.
So, there you have it from grey-brown rats to multi color on the way a kaleidoscope of colors and strange things, now I know why they call it Incredible India.
A selection of my favorite images from the trip will be up soon on my Main website and a lot more in my PhotoShelter Archives, but first I have to do some more editing, you just have to stay tuned and watch out for the announcement.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - “playing the Blues...”
My favorite Music, created in iWork ’09 using Pages.

Children had the chance under supervision to play with the latest iMac Computers and iPods. Animation, some basic drawing and other educational software had been installed on all the iMacs with the guidance from the PMC staff.
Laughter and giggles came from the Kids once they discovered and had a go at Photo Booth…just watching them was real good entertainment.

© Gunther Deichmann - created in iWork ’09 using Pages

There was also an artist on hand who painted some cartoons on the Kid's faces, nice to see that a company like the PMC organized this week long fun and educational event for children.
All images on this post are taken with the Leica D-Lux 4 my constant travel companion,back home a few hours later, I created the layout with the new Pages from iWork '09

© Gunther Deichmann - created in iWork ’09 using Pages

All the Kids (“the big ones too”) had a lot of Fun myself included, plus I had a nice day out with my Boys.
The images are uploaded already on my PhotoShelter Archive, check out the new Gallery and click this Link…Philippines March 2009

Photo Workshops with Gunther in Cambodia @ http://www.gdphotoworkshop.com/home.html

Search Archives on all Web pages, white Box above the page
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

Type in your Keywords and you find images from over 25 Countries, from Europe, Australia, SE Asia, Tibet etc. in my PhotoShelter Archive. There are currently more than 5000 selected images in the Archive. If your search fails or only very few images show up (could be many reason e.g. like misspelling or the English verses the American spelling “Color or Colour” go to all Galleries once the page is open. Except for some Galleries like Underwater, Weather, FX etc., most of the subjects are in the order of the Countries, however the latest and NEW IMAGE GALERIES are usually on the top.
Now it doesn’t matter any more which page you on, from now on you can always go direct to my Personal PhotoShelter Archives and Galleries.

We have deleted the “Journey Through Color & Time” Book page, almost out of Print, hence the decision to remove the page, but if you’re still interested in purchasing a copy just send me an email. (http://www.deichmann-photo.com/contact/contact.php)
Some information on the Book is still available in the Links-Info section.

We also added India (sorry…, still empty but soon available) on the Top.
On my Personal PhotoShelter Galleries we did a nice clean up and made some modification on the Home Page.
Both Sites will have some more modification soon, but they have to wait now until I get back, plus some other exciting NEWS up on my return from India, but more on that later, as you know I love suspense...
In the meantime just stay tuned or subscribe to my Blog that I try to update now and then while I am on the road…I guess it all depends on my connection and time.
GD

There is a lot of talk about Pixelmator on the web lately…
so I took the time to find out what this fuzz is all about.

Since the arrival of Aperture there was no need (at least for me) to upgrade or for that matter invest in the latest Photoshop CS4 anymore. I am still using Photoshop CS2, more than enough for my requirements. I started many Moons ago in Photoshop, but then there was nothing else around at the time, now we have Aperture 2 and Lightroom to do all our hard editing work.

Pixemator…No, I have not downloaded it yet, however it is very tempting for a prize of US$ 59.00 I have checked some reports and reviews to give me an inside to find out what is going on…

Screenshot of the Pixelmator site,
click on the image above or this LINK

I guess the best thing to do, open the Pixelmator Website and check it out for yourself, but from what I have read, it is not as intimidating as Photoshop and apparently works super fast on Leopard. For someone who’s just starting in Photography using iPhoto or Aperture 2 maybe this is a very good choice.
Apparently the integration with iLife is very good running on Leopard.

If all of those things are true then we might have a real nice go between Aperture 2 and Pixelmator without the heavy use of Photoshop, not to mention the intimidation and heavy prize tag of the later one.
Aperture 2 will do most of your editing and take care of your RAW files and when you do need that little extra for advertising or commercial work maybe then Pixelmator is the answer now.
It might not do your super heavy stuff like Photoshop, but from what I have read will do just about everything else.
Maybe, just maybe we have something now very affordable for those Photographers who would use Photoshop once in a Blue Moon anyway; Pixelmator could fill this gap nicely.

I can’t say much more now until I have test driven Pixelmator or get some feedback from actually users.
A recent article about Pixelmator (Pixelmator updated to 1.4) is also on the Aperture User Network site @
http://www.apertureprofessional.com/showthread.php?t=24346
For a lot more info on Pixelmator check out their cool website at:
http://www.pixelmator.com/

GD
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

How do I do this? Select a folder with the images or create a new one with the images you like to use for the Book, then click on the Book icon, you can choose between auto flow or manual adding the images, you still have the option to move them around after they have been placed.
Once you happy with your Book layout you click on the slide show icon add all your effects, music etc. and go to Export or Share.
Now you have a Book for printing (check on the help menu for specs and more details) and a slick slide presentation, having a similar look then your Book.
Now a few new additions in iPhoto ’09; Places Powered by Google, (cool Maps)Face recognition the stuff everybody is talking about, get your images direct into Flickr and Facebook without leaving iPhoto.
Add a smart Album just like in Aperture 2 or create your Mobile Me Web Gallery all of this and the improved interface makes the new iPhoto ’09 a ripper… my only “worry” …what is going to come for Aperture 2 down the road, this could be very interesting.
Talking about integration with iLife and iWork ’09, it is almost “scary” how they worked all of this to perfection.

I have only scratched the surface on the new iLife and iWork ’09 but continue my test drives with both and bring you up to speed in due time.
GD

Screenshot with the poster in Pages from iWork ’09
but there is so much more...

I always loved iWork in particular Keynote, I do just about all my presentations with this cool software with endless possibilities to choose from and using Pages when I am in a hurry and need to create something with…Pages.

What is the difference between ’08 and ’09 iWork…well unless I don’t go to sleep tonight I can explain all the new things to you, but I must rest sometimes too.
Don’t worry in due time I give iWork ‘09 a very good test drive, however I can tell you this much; major improvements, awesome new Templates for Pages and super cool ones for Keynote... a lot of new ones. In short I am impressed, no wonder that the recent reviews on both products iLife and iWork ’09 have been very good and getting 4.5 + star ratings.
Why do these products work so well you might ask? It is the perfect integration on the Mac which makes all of this possible, no matter where you go the Media Browser is always around, hence the reason why I am as a Photographer love iWork and iLife, I have access to my Aperture 2 and iPhoto Libraries get into my GarageBand, iTunes and Videos without ever leaving the software.
Dont forget the iPhoto and Aperture 2 Seminar at the Power Mac Center Greenbelt 3, Makati on the 21st of Feb. from 6 to 7PM
GD

I have also fixed a few things on my Commercial Photography site…we had a few problems but now I am running iWeb ’09,which is super slick by the way, the new WIDGETS are just awesome; HTML Snipet,Google Maps, RSS Feed, YouTube, Google AdSense, iSight Movie, iSight Photo, Countdown, All is Ok now, so why dont you check it out...best viewed on Safari.
http://web.mac.com/gdimages/gdimages/Home.html

The NEW iLife ‘09 is so cool from what I have tried out and seen, super improvements, but more on that later need to do some more test driving.

The cool Widgets in iWeb ‘09

On or about the 15th of this month I am going to introduce you to our very first “UNDEREXPOSED” guy, Massimo Casal from Hanoi in Vietnam.
Stay tuned for our first special on The Underexposed” and a lot more very Interesting topics including iLife ’09.
GD
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

Shadows & Colors behind the Scene...


© Gunther Deichmann - “The Shadow Smoker”

A few hours I returned from a commercial Photo shoot and I thought why not share these images with you…sorry cant show you yet the commercial Images but certainly these ones.
Non of the images have been a setup or been manipulated in Photoshop, they just happen to be there.
This was also the first time the Nikon D700 got a very good workout, I am very pleased and extremely satisfied with the D700…she just performed awesome.

© Gunther Deichmann - “The Crew”


© Gunther Deichmann - “What a Pair”

In my next Blog I am introducing a new series called “The Underexposed” images from semi pro and amateur Photographers but with great talent from all over South East Asia. They will share 12 images each month with you, a small representation from their Country.
“The Underexposed”... Photographers I have met during my travel while others I have only known from Emails my Aperture 2 Workshops and Blogs they like to share their love and passion for Photography with you very soon.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - “The Third Eye” Bali 2008,
this image has a Copyright Watermark of about 10% opacity.

As Jason pointed out, there’re always some Thief’s around who steal images: others steal softwares, your car radio or television,
sad to say but it is part of life.
If for example an ad agency uses your images without permission, they are stupid and taken a great risk, registration or no registration plus they will loose their reputation very quick. (I had such a case a long time ago)

© Gunther Deichmann - Hindu Ceremony Bali
lets hope and pray that no one steals our images,
Image imbedded with a slightly visible Watermark

On the other hand the web is not so forgiving, copy and paste is so easy...and here I do agree with Jason, place a watermark on the image will help, but it is never perfect. Cloning with Photoshop makes it easy, if you do place a watermark on your image set the opacity to very weak (say 10% or less) and cover the whole image, this way it does not disturb the image to much and it is difficult to clone.

Registering every one and every image is given you the perfect protection in the US but what about all the other countries Jason did not mention anything about those. Are we only going to use Condoms in the US and not in other parts of the world, that would be very unwise and foolish.
It is a dilemma and only you can make the final decision how to protect yourself against the disease called “Stealing Images”.
The web is full of images like in Flickr, Multiply etc., and most of them dont have a Copyright Watermark, very inviting... it is just like leaving the key in your car engine, or leaving your camera bag in the Taxi and ask the driver to wait until you come back from the Toilet.
I dont have the perfect solution and I dont believe the registration is either, unless you’re a Richard Avedon or some other very famous Photographer, for the time being a good and well placed watermark is a very good choice and if you can proof without any reasonable doubt it is your image you have a very good chance in any court. In todays Digital age most if not all cameras record the time, date and even your location, in case of a dispute just pull your passport out and show that you have been there. Without any reasonable doubt!
The Nikon D700 has already a build in image authentication and copyright information in the menu, and I am sure some others have it too by now.

See below excerpts from Jason Heller’s article in DivePhotoGuide interesting reading for sure... & not only for our Underwater Photographers, thanks for sharing Jason.
GD

Copyrights: Everything An Underwater Photographer Needs To Know
Author: Jason Heller / January 27, 2009 12:00AM MST Category: Photo
Copyright, Stolen Images, Orphan Works, Copyrights

One of the frequent questions our readers send us relates to protecting images from inappropriate usage and enforcing your copyrights. It seems that underwater photographers take very little time to actual learn the process of properly registering your copyrights (actually most photographers are all in the same boat). The answers for copyrights are actually pretty straightforward, but the approach you chose to protect your images from being stolen and used online can be a bit subjective...
for the complete article go to: http://www.divephotoguide.com/articles/copyrights

© Gunther Deichmann - Frillneck Lizard from the “Top End”
the Northern Territory of Australia. Chlamydosaurus kingii is
one of Australia's most distinctive and familiar dragon lizards.

Reptile becomes a father, at 111 a tuatara.
Tuatara are the last surviving reptiles of their kind, a rare New Zealand reptile has become a father, possibly for the first time, at the age of 111. The keepers of Henry, a tuatara, had thought he was past his prime - especially after showing no interest in females during 40 years in captivity. But he mated with 80-year-old Mildred last July and 11 of the eggs she produced have now hatched...
read the complete story and an image of Henry: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7850975.stm

Due to the article below I have included a selection of images from
Santorini, Greece...you might ask why Santorini? Very simple,
I love the colors of this Island!
This presentation, Widget is auto generated from my
PhotoShelter Gallery.
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/page6/page6.html @
You can also go to Santorini, Greece by clicking the Widget above.

I received an interesting response from my latest Blog “Travel Photography the Journey continues...plus an interesting Flash presentation” from:

Your Name:
luismartinharder
Your Email:xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: question
Message: Dear GD,
Why is Mr. Gunther Deichmann a very good photographer?
Luis

Dear Luis,
I try to answer your question as good as I can.
Oh boy, not an easy answer...but let me explain a bit about my Photography, as for being very good... this is up for the audience and readers to judge I am merely creating images and I love doing so.
I guess my devotion, love..or my passion and my obsession have contributed in creating good images, I keep my mind open what ever the subjects. Seldom I follow rules which could restrict me in my freedom to create images, I follow my instincts and gut feeling, I cant remember the Photographers name who said a long time ago...”Photography is 10% technical and 90% is creativity” I really believe that. I think one of the most important aspects of good Photography is critique...critique and more critique, if you can handle critique then you’re on the right road, but if you dont or get offended then do something else.
Critique should also come in a constructive form, explanation why is this or why is that, choose your audience or critics wisely,
attend good workshops and seminars, concentrate on the images, less on the computer and Photoshop. Famous Photographer Jay Maisel points this out very direct in his workshops...”bring you Digital Camera and Computer but dont expect me to teach you Photoshop.”
As I have pointed out in my previous blog, keep your equipment simple you be amazed what you can do with just one Camera and one lens, discipline yourself working like this for a while, a challenge you might say...but very rewarding in the end.
Marketing yourself is another important issue, no good to have your great Images tugged away in some dark closet or on your Hard drive, get them out there and show your work...dont be shy.
I hope I have made some sense to the question from Luis Harder, now I like to rap it up with one of my sayings from my book Journey Through Color & Time...”You can take a thousand images, but ultimately only a few will set you on fire”
GD
Next week on the 15th of January you find an interesting article of mine in the Manila Bulletin, they might help to answer some of your other questions, dont worry if you dont reside in Manila I am posting those same questions and answers a few days later on my blog.

Please Note: I hope you understand that due to my privacy policy I have omitted the email address of Luis Harder.

.
© Gunther Deichmann - above a very recent image from
Boracay in the Philippines...
No Photoshop straight from the Camera into Aperture 2 and to this Blog

Your browser doesn't support JavaScript or you have disabled JavaScript.

© Gunther Deichmann - Spain 1991
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

Ernst Haas not only “created color” but in his book “The Creation” showed us how to see with different eyes.
Pete Turner took color to the next level using almost exclusive Kodachrome Film 25 ASA, traveling all over the Globe and fell in love with Africa. His book “Journey through Africa” showcases his love for this continent.
I am lucky and thankful for working and meeting with Pete during the mid ’80 we traveled together in the Northern Territory of Australia shooting Ayers Rock and a few years later ventured out to Western Australia shooting the Pinnacle Desert, we became good friends and communicate up to this day.
For pure inspiration you should take a few minutes and check out the amazing images on his website, a true master of color if not the ultimate in color photography.
It also comes as no surprise when you stumble on the website of Eric Meola who worked for Pete Turner in New York for a while…amazing color Photography.
Of course prior to color we had the breathtaking work in Black and White by Ansel Adams or the legendary Henri Cartier Bresson with his photo book “The Decisive Moment”.
Then there is the controversial Bert Stern and not to be missed Rebecca Blake with her unique fashion photography at the time, she was also the Photography consultant for the Film “The eyes of Laura Mars” starring Faye Dunaway.
Now sit back, get inspired and enjoy the work of some true Masters.
GD
http://www.ernst-haas.com/
http://www.peteturner.com/
http://www.ericmeola.com/
http://www.rebeccablake.com/index.swf
http://www.bertstern.com
http://www.zpub.com/sf/history/adams.html
http://www.e-photobooks.com/cartier-bresson/decisive-moment.html

Thoughts for the New Year


Courtesy © Tony Wu

Welcome to 2009! It’s a brand new year, albeit one that looks like it’s not going to be the most pleasant one in recent memory, but an opportunity nonetheless to reflect upon recent events and think about what the coming months hold in store.
Over the past week or so, I’ve been contemplating (among other things) the direction that the world of underwater photography is taking, specifically the trends affecting the photography world in general, and what those trends mean for marine photographers, both professionals and enthusiasts.
I thought it worth sharing some thoughts on this topic for my first blog post of the year.
Before proceeding, please note that the following is intended primarily for my underwater photography peers and aspiring underwater photographers. If you don’t fall into this (limited) universe of people, feel free to read on, but if you get bored, don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Read the complete article and click the LINK below...by the way I did not get bored...
http://www.tonywublog.com/20090101/thoughts-for-the-new-year.html#comment-2977

© Gunther Deichmann - both images are shot on Kodachrome 25 from the early 80’s in Central Australia many, many moons ago, and residing now digitized in my Archive. The Original Kodachrome are kept in an environment controlled storage.

My old and irreplaceable Kodachrome, Ektachrome and Velvia
Transparency’s are now digitized and accessible via Aperture 2.

Before Digital my “CANVAS” was Kodachrome 25 ASA a superb film if not the very best in the good old days, a film so good that Masters like Pete Turner, Ernst Haas, Eric Meola and many others used them almost exclusively. Later it became Fuji Velvia at 50 ASA and some Ektachromes not to mention a great range of B&W and Color Negative films.
All the Kodachromes are long gone since they required a complicated development process; only Kodak and a few specialized Pro Labs in the US could do the processing at the time.
Ektachromes are still around and of course Fuji with a good range of slide films all of these can be processed using the E6 process, which is still available today…but for how much longer...?
Polaroid has left us now for good…Kodachrome has long gone and I guess it is only a matter of time before the others follow…technology is progressing fast.

Digital gives you a clean and organized working environment.

Digital has arrived and is here to stay, no question about it, the new Nikon D3X and other DSLR Cameras reaching the 25 Mega pixel mark and above. The quality is there, but we also need some serious computing power now dealing with larger files.
Softwares like Aperture 2 and Lightroom have evolved not to mention Photoshop with its constant and expensive new upgrades.
Yes, we save on film, but now we spend on Computers, compact flash cards, hard drives for storage and software a never-ending story and technology is moving at an incredible speed these days.

OK. lets not forget, we had similar problems if not more during the film age, processing, storing and labeling of slides took on some real dimensions, filling up complete rooms and corridors. Packaging and sending slides in sheets to Stock agencies and Clients via courier services was also very expensive, now we use the Net.
In other words, both have their pro and cons, except for our younger generation; they might be missing out on the real art of Photography, getting the exposure and the shot right in the first place. As the new saying goes…
oh well I really messed this up, but never mind I can always fix it in the computer with Photoshop.
For this reason alone I like to see film around for many more years to come, given our younger generation the experience (at least in schools) to get it right in the first place without using Photoshop.
Of course you can also learn with Digital cameras and the ability to view the image on the LCD screen is certainly a plus for the learning curve as long you refrain from using Photoshop and start all this manipulation removing wires and so on. If you make a mistake, except it and you have learned something. Experiment with the Camera and not with the Computer remember you are a Photographer and not a Graphic Artist, unless you like to become both, then Photoshop is great. I am not against Photoshop, but remember the image comes first and then the Computer. Nothing has changed it is almost the same way we did before, we took our images and then went into the darkroom, of course we had some limitations then.
Photoshop has his place for sure and I am using it for my FX images and commercial work, (I used to do all my FX manually in the darkroom working with multiple exposures on one frame at the time) but real Photography starts with your vision first, learning how to see things before you press the shutter on your camera.
The computer is nothing else but a modern darkroom without chemicals and that is real good news and very positive for our environment.
GD
http://www.deichmann-photo.com

See below a letter from David Callard in Australia:
Thanks David for sharing this with us.

Hello Gunther,
                         Re your piece on film you might like to use my comment for your blog (if you so wish): 
I certainly don't want to see the end of film. I enjoy shooting transparency. I still get immense satisfaction from looking at a well exposed Kodak Elite Chrome or Fuji Velvia on a lightbox or better still the close involvement with an image that one gets when sitting in a darkened room viewing beautiful images projected onto a pro - grade projection screen. Somehow digital, in my view at least, often falls a little short in that regard. Perhaps that is just me. But I do think that using film is a great way to learn some of the more technical aspects of photography, e.g. color temperatures of different light sources, even the varying color temp. of sunlight according to time of day. 
Of course, we film lovers can still console ourselves that it looks like being many years before digital becomes an affordable alternative to film in medium and large formats. How many of us can justify spending $40K + for a digital back for a 4X5 Linhof Technika? Even if we do we still don't get a full frame sensor, but a 'cropped' down version of the format. Finally I would say if we don't want a product like Polaroid to disappear it is important to keep on buying it!
Cheers,
David.

From left: Jeffrey, Junior, Benjamin, Ching Ping, Choon and GD

Last night I got invited to join the Asia Apple System Engineers for dinner and afterwards for a few drinks at the Lunar Club.
Surrounded by these guys the iPhones where buzzing all around me, but they also gave me some cool and useful tips, in other words it was very educational besides having a real good time with this totally great bunch.
Super cool and real fun Guys… thanks a lot to Ching Ping (SE Manager) Benjamin, Jeffrey, Junior and of course Choon for a great evening and sharing some of their knowledge with me.
GD

The End of Polaroid instant Film has come...
& one starts to wonder now, when do
we see the End of Film.

But more of a concern; are we loosing our real Photography skills and rely upon Photoshop more and more?
A topic which I have written about it many times; is our younger generation loosing the real Photography skills and adopting an attitude...well I can always fix it in the Computer using Photoshop.
I sincerely hope not. I bring this issue up again within the next few month and go into more details how things have changed in the last few years.

But now to this very interesting article by John Omvik posted at the Aperture User Network yesterday...

The End Of An Era…
( posted by John Omvik on Yesterday, 03:27 AM )
CNN today reported a bit of photo news that should come as little surprise to most in the industry, Polaroid is officially ending production of instant film at the end of this month.

We all know that video killed the radio star, CD’s killed vinyl, iTunes killed the CD, and digital killed film, but it is still sad when you experience an icon of innovation in the industry finally disappear for good...
read the complete article with an image of the Polaroid Founder Edwin Herbert Land
@ http://www.apertureprofessional.com/showthread.php?t=21775

© Massimo Casal http://archive.casalphotography.com/c/maxcasal
His Email message to me was very simple,
but then what else needs to be said.
Gunther, just to share a nice smile for your beloved Cambodia!
Take care!
Massimo

Now you have made my Day,thanks my friend,
Cheers Gunther

Click on the image and go direct to “The Classics”

The cyan color circles show you the other options you have once the slideshow is running. The upper circle; move your curser and you get all the image info. Lower left circle; click here and you get the whole row of thumbnails from that particular Gallery. Lower right circle; options for a sheet of thumbnails, copy the code and URL from this slide show.

“Photo of the Week” German Stern Magazine
"Bilder der Woche"  in STERN no. 46 of November 6.


© Gunther Deichmann - Double page spread in Stern
Translated Headline:“The only thing left from the Sharks”

The Photo was taken in Bali on the 8th of October in the small commercial Harbor of Denpasar Bali, Indonesia.

I just happen to come across a vessel unloading not only Fish but massive amounts of Shark fins.
Each time a pile of shark fins had been cleared of the deck and trucked away by small trucks more Shark Fins appeared from the Hull of the vessel. I left the scene after about 45 minutes but the unloading continued, thousands of Shark fins of all species. I recognized Hammerheads, White tip and Black tip sharks.
I believe the reason for the worker wearing the hood is due to the cold temperature in the hull, (or is he hiding his face)? All fins had been frozen, which indicates that the vessel came from a longer trip. I could not get into the area where the fins where transported to by the trucks, which could have revealed most likely the real scope of this “catch”.
GD

• Canon EOS 50D
• Nikon D90
• Sony DSLR-A900
• Nikon Coolpix P6000

© Gunther Deichmann - Tanah Lot Bali Indonesia Oct. 2008
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

O-CE-N BALI

© Gunther Deichmann - Birds Eye View of the O-CE-N Bali
at Kuta-Legian Beach

Outrigger O~CE~N offers you the best location in Bali for owning a beautiful apartment in the first luxury apartment complex on the beach!

This property photography has been a bit different from our usual commercial shoot, Bali needs very little introduction, well known for its great beaches, gentle people and amazing colorful culture and tradition.
The privately owned O-CE-N Bali is very different from most other places in Bali, incorporating modern architecture and a touch of prehistoric times through out the property. O-CE-N @ http://www.o-ce-n.com/

© Gunther Deichmann - Ammonite set into Onyx at the Long Bar

Ammonite Fossils are on display in most rooms but at the Long Bar you see them in their full glory set into backlit Onyx which has been added on as an extension of this fossil.

© Gunther Deichmann - View from the Restaurant
with the amazing Marble in the foreground

At the entrance to one of the RESTAURANTS you can’t miss this fantastic backlit piece of marble cut so thin that it is transparent, an eye catcher at night.
Through out the whole property you see master pieces of stone craft and the occasional fossil.
However there is one piece of fossilized seabed which measures some 2 x 1.2 meters that really took my attention, a fantastic showcase of Ammonites in their evolution stage, in all my years I have never seen such a beautiful piece. Original intended for the property but it ended up in the hands of my good friend Thomas who did some of the interior designs and furnishing of the O-CE-N Bali.

2x1.2 meters

Close up
© Gunther Deichmann - fossilized seabed measuring
some 2x1.2 meters. By the way this unique
piece is for sale if you interested.
You can contact me @ gdeichmann@mac.com

In contrast to all these stones and fossils each room has a sound system (iHome) with an iPod (Nano) which you can get from the reception or bring your own, like I did.
Need my Blues during the editing hours with Aperture 2.

© Gunther Deichmann - the iPod & iHome System

I helped in organizing these iPods and mention this in one of my earlier Blogs they where bought and engraved from the Apple Center in Jakarta, plus I gave Thomas a little “crash course” on Fossils hence my background in Paleontology.
Now my assistant Hermes Singson and myself saw for the first time the final outcome of this true remarkable property. So if you in Bali next time, go down to Kuta-Legian Beach and check it out or even better have a drink at sunset while the Ammonites looking over your shoulder.
Hungry? Not a problem, the O-CE-N has some of the best food on the beach and soon their new Seafood Restaurant gives you the best choice of Seafood available in Bali.
GD
PS.Hang five for the next Blog as we continue the Colors of Bali, traveling through the country side, plus Aperture 2 field setup...

Tags: iHome, Property, Design, Outrigger, Real Estate, Kuta Beach, Architecture

© Gunther Deichmann - the rare and very unique Leichhardt Grasshopper from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, found nowhere else in the world. Visit Gunther Deichmann website @ www.deichmann-photo.com or click on the image above.

I was very deep inside Arnhem Land and in Aboriginal Territory, I had heard about this amazing Grasshopper before and had seen a specimen at the Darwin Museum (the only one) and now I was confronted with these rare creatures sitting sluggish on a bush right in front of me. I understand the Aboriginals a lot better now, the Dream TIme and myth, I can imagine when they saw this orange colored Grasshopper for the first time, how Alien this must have been.
I was told by the Curator of the Darwin Museum that this Grasshopper had not been seen for some 100 years, I did collect a specimen for the Darwin Museum for Research purpose. All the other ones which where clinging on this bush I left where I found them, but of course took some Photos first, I might never see them again.
The Leichhardt Grasshopper is only found in the Northern Territory, Australia.
Another endangered species?

See below some more info and excerpts courtesy of:
http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/
science/scribblygum/November2000/default.htm
It's named after the explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt who reported great numbers of them as he crossed the Arnhem Land plateau in 1845. However, after a few more sightings, Leichhardt's Grasshopper went incognito for 120 years. It's only reappeared on the scientific record recently, around 1973, when the mining industry boomed and access into Leichhardt's grasshopper territory was improved.
In Australia's Top End a beguiling grasshopper is heralding the coming of the wet season by putting on its gaudiest outfit. Leichhardt's Grasshopper is out in full adult glory. It's Australia's most brightly coloured grasshopper and one of the most spectacular in the world.
Leichhardt's Grasshopper is bright red, blue and orange. Its strong colours are a defence against predators which works so well that this little grasshopper has Attitude - often it doesn't even bother to fly away when predators approach.
Leichhardt's Grasshopper's scientific name is Petasida ephippigera. Grasshoppers come from the group of insects known as Orthoptera, which includes crickets, locusts and grasshoppers.
Jawoyn and Gundjeibmi people of Western Arnhem Land call the grasshopper Alyurr, children of the Lightning Man Namarrgon, a powerful ancestral being.
Catching sight of these grasshoppers requires a bit of effort and some patience. Most sites are accessible only by foot more than a day's walk from any roads. Even then it may not be worth it. Numbers fluctuate so greatly that grasshoppers may only be around one year in three.
This remoteness has made Leichhardt's Grasshopper difficult to study and also to protect. Even though it is quite rare, the grasshopper isn't able to be covered by Endangered Species Legislation because we don't fully understand its basic distribution, biology and ecology.For more info and some of the interesting Aboriginal legends go to:
http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/
science/scribblygum/November2000/default.htm

We have just removed the PhotoShelter widget on my main site...the PhotoShelter Archive has just been updated with all the images from the PhotoShelter collection.
The PhotoShelter Collection is not available anymore, however I have “JUICED” up my PhotoShelter Archives, now with over 4500 high res. images from more than 25 Countries and many other commercial subjects.

Your browser doesn't support JavaScript or you have disabled JavaScript.

Tags: Commercial Photography, Advertising Photography, Editorial Photography, Stock Photography, Rare Insects, Ludwig Leichhardt, Arnhem Land, Grasshopper

The NEW Nikon D90 the very first
D-SLR with a Movie function

Photo Courtesy of Nikon Singapore
http://www.nikon.com.sg/

Photo Courtesy of Nikon Singapore
http://www.nikon.com.sg/

Lets wait and see once it is out there, but the movie option is very cool and I guess a nice if not perfect addition for our Underwater Photographers. Now you can shoot all your Digital images just like before but have the option for Video too. Nice... going Nikon!

B ut the downside is... running out of air during the dive…we have plenty storage available with the latest CF cards, they getting bigger and bigger and now with the new video option never a dull moment underwater.
But there is also a bigger risk and we should be aware of it…you must keep an eye on your gauges, check you air supply regular. We all know to well when we have this great shot in front of us, and say oh just one more…one more…just one more...
To late we realize that we dont have enough air left for our Deco or Safety stops or in the worst case we find ourselves to deep and just run out of Air..Not even the greatest shot is worth taken that risk...remember it is your life.
You have this great shot but cant share it with anyone, because you and your Camera are missing in the DEEP.
Digital Cameras with large CF Cards 8Mb and more have increased the risk of scuba diving today, plus now a Video option.
The size of our regular Dive Tanks has stayed the same and decompression sickness is not going away.
Take some great images with the same Camera plus Video now, very easy, but don’t forget about you and your buddy’s safety.

© Gunther Deichmann - Our living Fossil the Nautilus from Palau Micronesia, and what better place than to Dive with Sam’s Tours which is fully equipped with the state of the Art Digital Photo Center. For more info click on the banner Ad or on the images and go direct to Sam’s Tours Digital Photo Center.


© Gunther Deichmann - a Turtle cruising near Blue Corner, Dive Palau Micronesia with Sam’s Tours who has the only Pro Digital Photo Center in Micronesia with the latest Software, Camera and Video rentals plus is Wi-Fi connected.

I am sure Canon will follow shortly and the manufactures of Underwater Housings must be going mad by now, it is a very competitive business with all those new Camera Models rolling of the assembly line year after year.
As soon I get any news on the latest Underwater Housings I let you know, or check with DivePhotoGuide.com my good buddy Jason Heller is usually very quick with the latest in Underwater Photography. Here is the link: http://www.divephotoguide.com/

© Gunther Deichmann - Napoleon Wrasse and Sharks. Great wall diving in Palau Micronesia, but be careful and watch you gauges make sure you have enough air for you safety and/or deco stop. A real problem in todays Digital Underwater Photography is, when to say NO to another Photo.
Of course all of this is not a problem for our land Photographers...would I use the new feature? Yes, for my Podcast for sure. Once I had the chance to give it a test drive I let you know what is possible.
For other images by Gunther Deichmann go to: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

Tags: D-SLR, Photokina , Decompression sickness, Safety Stop, Digital Photography Preview, Compact Flash Cards

Incase you don’t know what a Nudibranch looks like...
© Gunther Deichmann - Nudibranch, Nembrotha kubaryana
from Puerto Galera Philippines

I have received more feedback on our Nudibranch Photography Topic...see below a very interesting letter again fom Jaya, at this point I like to express my sincere thanks to all who have replied and voiced their opinon, thank you all.
An official letter went out to the Editor in Chief at National Geographic Magazine, once we have a reply I let you know.
I think Jaya, in his letter below nailed it down...well expressed and written.
GD

From: xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Now we know…feedback from an employee at the National Geographic Magazine regarding the Photography by...
Date: July 22, 2008 10:24:30 AM GMT+08:00
To: gdeichmann@mac.com

GD,
I understand your need to re-emphasise the core message of the blog.. 'The question is NOT how great the images are.... outstanding for sure.
It is the method..."
The notion of it's for the greater good ".. the results are worth it. People who has never heard of nudibranchs before have..." , does not apply here. In it's very basic, no human life or being would have been greatly disadvantaged if that personhas never seen a nudibranch.

Secondly, if it was intention to show the world, these beautiful creatures, wouldn't it make sense to show them in their natural environment and habitat? Now we are going to have a percentage of millions who would think that nudibranchs live in a white walled background, with piped music. There are a number of great shots of the nudibranchs, taken as they were by everyday folks, that you have shown with your blog.
With a big expense budget, I'm surprised that, the powers be, opted to strip bare rather than capture as whole.

Taking a shot at John James Audubon seems like a feeble attempt to paint the current method as a lesser evil. The dead cannot defend themselves and the living should not pick on them, for whatever reasons. He did what he did, with the limited concern for the environment and wildlife, as it was in 1827. That was 181 years ago. Jennifer Love Hewitt was born 150 years too late.

All works should stand and should be defended on their own merits. The end does not justify the means, if it means, moving something from it's natural habitat, its natural environment so that a beautiful picture can be taken. No one can empathise what the slugs went through. If only the slugs could talk. If only they could move a little faster. To quote.."the danger that other underwater photographers might be encouraged to do the same in an irresponsible manner..". It is very real.

Who defines if that diver photographer has the expertise or experience to move marine life around to get a great shot so that he can post it on his blog for the world to see ?
Who draws the line? Who plays Posiedon? Where is Davy Jones and his Kraken? At the end of the day, the best option with any given experience, take nothing but pictures.

Note : My post is subject specific, my questions rhetorical and there was no intention, subtle
or sublime, to offend anyone.

SM Jayabalan

_____________________________________

Hey sorry for the late reply!
BTW: I was also on a shoot with David while he was using the “underwater studio” light box. It was cool and he was gentle and respectful
J
All the best
Jason Heller DivePhotoGuide

More Readers feed back from my Blog Post dated
07 14 & 07 19 2008.

I have received some more comments on the recent Nudibranch article in the National Geographic Magazine, I have now written an official letter to the Editor.
The question is NOT how great the images are...outstanding for sure. It is the method... and this could lead to malpractice by other Divers and Underwater Photographers thinking they can also start moving things around as mention in my first Blog. It is a real dilemma and not easy to find an answers for it. My advise to Divers and Underwater Photographers is...enjoy our Marine Life but Dont touch.
See below my reply to Marilyn’s letter and her subsequence reply again, plus an interesting email from Switzerland.
As a courtesy I have removed all the email addresses to keep them confidential and to avoid spam, however upon legitimate requests we can pass them on. All emails received are in their original form and have not been edited or translated into English.
My reply below to Marilyn’s letter from the other day, thanks again Marilyn for sharing your thoughts with us, much appreciated.

My reply...
Dear Marilyn,
thank you very much for some of the explanations, I have had a very good look at the Video and How it was done.
Great work by David but I am still a bit concerned moving the animals around, scientifically speaking not a problem and that comes across on the Video, at least I dont feel so bad anymore. It is just my concern that other Underwater Photographers might not be so careful then David. Maybe it should say in the article that this was done also for research and should not be attempted by others. I have written another blog quoting you with the links leading to the video etc.,etc.
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html Again many thanks for your input and explanations I appreciate this very much,
have a nice Day,
Cheers Gunther

_____________________________________

Marilyn’s reply…
Dear Gunther,
You're welcome, and thank you for posting my explanation on your blog. I'd hate for people to think the nudibranchs were taken out of water to make these photos. I agree that there is a danger that other underwater photographers might be encouraged to photograph these creatures in an irresponsible manner. That's the downside of doing a photo gallery like this. But for the millions of people who might otherwise never know about nudibranchs except through National Geographic's pages, I think maybe it's worth it. Perhaps if you wrote a letter to National Geographic stating your opinion they would publish it. I know other people have the same concerns you do about photographing these creatures.
At least nature photographers no longer follow the practice of John James Audubon, who shot thousands of birds to make his beautiful illustrations:
http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/els-jh-Audubon
Best regards,
Marilyn

_____________________________________

Claudio from Switzerland wrote…
Lieber GD
Ich verstehe nur zu gut deine Meinung, die du in deinem Blog vertrittst. Auch als Nichttaucher bin ich der Meinung, dass nach all den Anstrengungen die viele Organisationen unternehmen um die Unterwasserwelt zu retten und schuetzen, dies von einem renomierten Unterwasserfotografen mit Fuessen getretten wurde. Vielleicht spielt auch wie so vieles im Leben Geld eine ausschlaggebende Rolle, die David Doubilet dazu bewogen hat, dies zu tun. Wie auch immer. Auf alle Faelle ist dies zur Nachahmung nicht zu empfehlen.
Gruss Claudio csc

_____________________________________

© Gunther Deichmann - Nudibranch, Hypselodoris bullocki (variant)

How did he achieve this? That is a very good question…you might say Photoshop…but I have heard another story…moving a complete studio underwater, tons of equipment and of course a dozen or so assistants. Wow what a budget given to him by National Geographic, however there is no way that this could have been executed without moving the Nudibranchs from their original location…
As mention in my previous blog I have seen David’s other images and one can only admire him, absolutely fantastic there is no question about it…

…read the feedback from Marilyn an employee of the National Geographic Magazine who has shed some light on the subject… certainly an interesting topic, worth while talking about it... how far we can or cant go in today’s Photography. Now it is up to you and form your own opinion after you have viewed the mention Video or checked out the other supported link… below.How did he do it.
Thanks Marilyn for sharing this with us... & if I receive any additional emails regarding this topic I post them on this Blog.
GD

More Images and info by Gunther Deichmann @
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

Readers feed back from my Blog post dated 07 14 08.
(all emails are not alterd or edited)

“Underwater Photography…a controversial subject… moving Marine Life around for a better shot. Aren’t we supposed to leave them where they are? What ever happen to the good old saying…LOOK…APPRECIATE…But Don’t Touch?”

Your Name: Marilyn Terrell
Your Email: xxxxxxxxx
For confidentially I have removed Marilyn email address.
GD
Subject: Doubilet\'s nudibranchs
Message: I read your blog about the Doubilet photos of nudibranchs in National Geographic and how he did it, which is a question many people had. He did set up an underwater studio, with a white backdrop, and he placed the nudibranchs back after he photographed them. He talks about it in his video: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player?titleID=1531204600
I work at Nat Geo and I had lunch the other day with someone who\'s been diving with Doubilet and he has lots of cameras set up and several assistants and he can go from camera to camera taking photos. It\'s obviously a big expense but the results are worth it. People who never heard of nudibranchs before have this new understanding and appreciation of them through his photos.
More: http://www.notcot.com/archives/2008/07/david_doubilets.php

_______________________________________

Gunther,
For examples of the practice see latest National Geographic with nudibranch photos by David Dubolet.
But I trust the nudies survived this harrowing experience.
Cheers, John from Palau Micronesia

_______________________________________

Read the DD posting and others....any "official" response?? Very interesting!
D from Palau Micronesia

_______________________________________

Hi GD,
Simple, sensible, thought provoking and with a touch of passion.
I do hope people read and forward to others to create a ripple effect, and hopefully it will find it's way to Nat Geo
I would like to read their posting.
Thanks for sharing GD
Cheers!!!
Jaya
Manila Philippines

_______________________________________

Tags: Marine Life, Documentary Photography, National Geographic

Grunting fish have helped scientists to date the origins
of vocal sounds to about 400 million years ago.

Photo: Screenshot Courtesy of the BBC, click on the image
or use the link below for the video and complete article.

Toadfish and midshipman fish use a variety of different sounds to attract mates and scare off rivals. Now US researchers have found that the area of a fish's brain that drives vocalization is extremely primitive. Writing in the journal Science, they say it suggests that the ability to communicate through sound emerged very early in the evolution of vertebrates...read the complete article and watch the Video...
@ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7510443.stm

The smallest Nikon D2X... on my MacBook Pro during the
recent Photography and Aperture 2 Workshop...

Photo by Mark-Lee Deichmann

During my recent Photography and Aperture 2 Workshop at the Power Mac Center, Honey Machuca from THINK BIG Events Management www.thinkbigevents.ph presented me with this soooooo cute Nikon D2X Camera made by Hand just for this occasion.
What else can I say…but thank you so much Honey, you are very talented indeed producing such a small Camera with all the details, even the lens has glass…very cool and thanks again.
Now back to Aperture 2…more Photography and Aperture Workshops are planned from Basic to Pro level…I keep you updated or you can check with the Power Mac Center in Greenbelt Makati. http://www.powermaccenter.com/
GD

Tags: Think Big, Events Management, Nikon D2X, Power Mac Center

Sorry no Aperture 2 talk today...but you might find this article very interesting.

Last night I became part of an interesting 3-hour conversation with Marc Ambat and S M Jayabalan, both are scuba divers and take underwater photos. Marc is a Chief Technical Officer working at a Top Digital production House specializing in Video FX and Jaya is the GM of Sensing Technology Corporation. So there you have it, two very intelligent and super nice people, our conversation started like this…
I mention a recent article in DivePhotoGuide.com… National Geographic has put up an online gallery of amazing nudibranch photography from our good friend David Doubilet, from the June issue. The imagery is classicly Doubilet, putting a different perspective on these amazingly diverse and colorful subjects...read more @ http://www.divephotoguide.com/articles/david_doubilet

© Gunther Deichmann - a feeding Nudibranch
from Puerto Galera, Philippines
Please note all the images on this Blog have been taken the natural way
none of them have been manipulated.

This published article showcased the latest work of David Doubilet…amazing images of cool looking Nudibranchs (click the link for the images) http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/nudibranchs/doubilet-photography
How did he achieve this? That is a very good question…you might say Photoshop…but I have heard another story…moving a complete studio underwater, tons of equipment and of course a dozen or so assistants. Wow what a budget given to him by National Geographic, however there is no way that this could have been executed without moving the Nudibranchs from their original location,even Photoshop could have been excepted in this case but moving animals around? Maybe I am wrong then please tell me so, it is after all only my opinion.
We suppose to be responsible Divers but now we see this, David Doubilet is an outstanding Underwater Photographer if not the very best on this planet…but why is he shooting like this now? For the sake of Art or just been different?
I have seen David’s other images and one can only admire him, absolutely fantastic there is no question about it…but this Nudibranch shoot, I honestly don’t get it.
I am not the only one with this opinion, Marc and Jaya agreed with me fully hearted and I am sure there are many more out there who share this with us.

© Gunther Deichmann - a feeding Nudibranch from Puerto Galera

Here we are talking about the environment and now we start moving our precious Marine life around declaring with these images an open season for other underwater Photographers…well, if he does it, then why cant I…what is next…tied up Dugongs and Turtles? They doing it already in Palau with Crocodiles just for the thrill, some operators offering to dive with Crocodiles for a fee of course and as the saying goes “no strings attached” but in this case there are.
Yes... this is another interesting and controversial issue but at least we can voice our concern and opinion.
(read some comments in Dive PhotoGuide.com)
If this was done for some scientific research then I can understand it, great images for sure, but I am disappointed at David Doubilet and National Geographic meddling with our marine life in the not so natural way.

Click on the Image and go direct to more of Omar’s Photos
Above Photo: © Omar D. Linsangan from
Dugong Dive Center, Palawan Philippines

Think about it and form your own opinion we are in titled of that, but for Jaya, Marc and myself it was very clear…Don’t touch! Look and observe and if you like to get this magic shot become a good and responsible diver first. Even the smallest of Digital Cameras give you some amazing results…remember Omar from Dugong Dive Center and my previous Blog…he does not move things around. Isn’t this what we have been taught during our first Open Water Course with PADI or other organizations?
GD

Gunther Deichmann - Nudibranch from Dumaguete, Philippines

Tags: David Doubilet, National Geographic, Photoshop

Click this link

Manila
Aperture 2 Workshop (Free)
Learn more about Aperture with Apple-certified trainer Gunther Deichmann
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

Dates: June 21 and 22, 2008
Time: 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm



Visit Power Mac Center at Greenbelt 3 to book your seat now!
Limited seats only
For more information call 7297087- 88
or email training@powermaccenter.com
____________________________


NEW YORK
Join AUPN at B&H for Aperture Day - June 23rd
by David Schloss 06-03-2008 filed in Blog > AUN News


Click this link
The AUPN will be presenting a day of seminars and instruction at B&H Photo in New York City, on June 23rd. Classes are free, registration via the B&H website (link below). Especially aimed at the iPhoto user and the photographer thinking of upgrading to Aperture 2, this session will tackle some of the hottest topics in digital photography, and answer your Aperture questions.
Aperture Day @ B&H June 23 seminar descriptions


All over the world with PhotoShelter

Click this link

Tags: NEW YORK, AUPN

left: Ammonite from 160 million years ago - right: Nautilus a close
relative from Palau Micronesia

Some of you know my background with fossils or Paleontology…but what has a Mac in common with all of this?
Read this amazing and very cool article below…

Running with the Dinosaurs
Mac Technology Helps Put the Spring in a Hadrosaur’s Step

Read more about this amazing story with cool images @
http://www.apple.com/science/profiles

Tags: Fossils, Dinosaur, Discovery, Technology, Paleontology

Tags: MobileMe, .Mac, Storage, iDisk

Very few are allowed to use my Mac...
Matt preparing a small article for me from his
visit to Puerto Galera.

Matt is studying marine biology and is working for DivePhotoGuide as a writer photographer, he just arrived from Bali and is covering now some of the dive destinations in the Philippines, Jason Heller the founder of DivePhotoGuide and a good friend ask me some weeks ago if I could assist Matt during his visit over here.
So here we are Matt and myself talking all night until the early morning, chatting away about our experience with Mac and Aperture 2, Photoshop, Photography and so on, a very interesting and productive evening. Matt has left this morning for Palawan another great dive destinations in the Philippines and the only place to see Dugongs.
Interesting, Matt is using the New MacBook Air, he decided to work on this trip with it since there are so many weight restriction on small aircrafts and he has to carry a lot already, a ton of cameras and underwater housing making the MacBook Air the ideal choice. We try to catch up with each other again when he is returning from Dugong Dive Center in Palawan next week...for another session and Apple talk. For all his images and stories check out DivePhotoGuide.com in a few weeks.
GD

Matt Weiss and Gunther Deichmann, two Mac addicts having fun, my son Mark-Lee took the opportunity and recorded the "event" on his cell phone.

Tags: DivePhotoGuide, Underwater Photography, Photo Journalism

Latest Press Release & info...

Stockinger Top Formula BMW Rookie Finisher in Action Packed Races, you can also find him now on You Tube... the TV coverage from last week, clips from his early days in Karting...

http://www.youtube.com/

Remember the Fast & Furious from my earlier blogs...he is getting very fast now.

Marlon Stockinger, sponsored by BMW and Swiss Private Bank Sarasin, put in a stellar performance last weekend at the Sepang International Grand Prix Circuit in Malaysia, where Asia Pacific’s Finest young racers gathered for a four-day race meeting. After struggling in the opening rounds of this year’s Formula BMW Pacific Championship during the recent F1 Grand Prix in Sepang, he is gaining confidence with each outing... read more on his brand NEW blog @ http://www.marlonstockinger.com/blog.html

Your browser doesn't support JavaScript or you have disabled JavaScript.

Aperture 2 creating some cool looking Black & White Images using the Monochrome Mixer plus a little Animation... the images from India including the COLOR IMAGES are soon on my website in about 24 hours, we also updated the Home page. Click on the screen shot or use this link:
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

Tags: BLACK & WHITE, PHOTOS, Animation, India, MUMBAI

May 16 - 18 Asian Festival of Speed, Sepang, Malaysia -
Rounds 7, 8, 9 and 10

Congratulations to Marlon Stockinger on his great achievement and win last week in Sepang Malaysia. No I was not around this time but his father and good friend Tom supplied me with these images & Press release below...

Press Release… excerpt from last weeks Formula BMW race
in Sepang Malaysia…

The Girls...

The Podium...
Photos © Tom Stockinger - more images soon on
Marlons website check the link below the article

Stockinger Top Formula BMW Rookie Finisher in Action Packed Races
Marlon Stockinger, sponsored by BMW and Swiss Private Bank Sarasin, put in a stellar performance last weekend at the Sepang International Grand Prix Circuit in Malaysia, where Asia Pacific’s Finest young racers gathered for a four-day race meeting. After struggling in the opening rounds of this year’s Formula BMW Pacific Championship during the recent F1 Grand Prix in Sepang, he is gaining confidence with each outing. “I made some smart overtaking moves and quick lap times. The team (Eurasia Motorsport) did an excellent job, the car felt great and it was really enjoyable. I think I am making progress. It helps build my morale and I can look towards the front of the field with confidence”, says Stockinger.
… Nara was away well when the safety car pulled off with Stockinger skillfully slipping into his tow and pulling away from the rest of the field. However, the unshakable Nara took the flag to record a superb second victory, joined on the podium by the triumphant BMW Juniors Stockinger in 2nd and Wootton in 3rd place. Due to the great results for this weekend Stockinger advanced from 5th to 2nd place behind Simon Moss of South Africa in the rookie classification and from 12th to 5th place in the overall drivers classification for the 2008 championship…
YOU can read the whole PRESS RELEASE and more photos next week on Marlon Stockingers website @ http://www.marlonstockinger.com/

Tags: Malaysia, Latest NEWS, Motor Sport, BMW MOTORSPORT

© Gunther Deichmann - Sydney Harbor Bridge & Opera House
Australia 1995 F4 Nikon, Kodachrome 25, Film


© Gunther Deichmann - The cliffs of Santorini,
Greece 2005, Nikon D70

Please note: These are very low res. images & original color might vary between different computer screens.
For more images on AUSTRALIA and GREECE click on the images or this link: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/greece9.html

Luis Martin Harder wrote...
Hi GD
BTW, your thought and the exchange of ideas about "real images" in your blog is really interesting and educational. I think the distinction between a photographer and a digital artist should really be defined. I believe you'll be a lot of help in this area GD, a lot of newbies in photography will be guided and many pros will be delighted.
Thanks again GD and hope to hear from you again.
Keep in touch.
Best regards,
Luis Harder
WINGS TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE INC.

My reply...
Hi Luis,
thanks for your thoughts and input, have a look at the latest blog.... some real images no manipulation shot the way I saw them, been at the right place at the right time.
Observing the weather before going out...work out a strategy where you need to be at a certain time of the day...and of course a bit of luck will help.
Remember my favorite saying... "Photography is Light... Light is Photography."
Thanks for your input and emails,
GD

Tags: GREECE, Australia

The real image? The story continues...


http://www.deichmann-photo.com/australia.html
© Gunther Deichmann - double rainbow over the Olgas N.T.
Central Australia, image taken on Kodachrome 25, 1981

Feedback and good dialogue is always a good thing…learning something everyday even if you think you old and wise…exchange of knowledge can only open our eyes and broaden our Horizon…
Read below some of the un-edited emails I have received, different opinions from different Countries…in the end it is up to you which way you create your images but as mention before I am very firm when it comes to Photo Journalism, Geographic, Culture and Travel Photography.
If you like to go crazy then go for it…YOUR Choice, it is after all a very creative field with many different interpretations on any given image.
However in Documentary Photography we should be truthful to our selfs and the public.


Henry Bateman an Australian Photographer/Artist living
in the Philippine wrote…
(thanks Henry for letting me use the images you send me)
Check out Henry’s work, you might find it very interesting@ http://www.pissedpoetpics.com/


Friday, May 16, 2008
Is This a Real Image?

Is this a real Image? Well yes, I guess it must be, it's there in front of you. (Ok, I am begging the question, but then it is a poorly phrased question) Is it a literal representation of what was in front of the lens? Well no, I guess not, it is my interpretation of the scene. Although, except for a few lines I added to highlight some edges, nothing has been added that didn't exist in the original photograph.
It was taken at the opening of Luis Martin Harder's exhibition, Unscripted.

© Henry Bateman- thanks Henry

My interest lies in exploring the why of things rather than displaying their literal representations. My images relate to a broader discourse and use the medium (captured light) to tell the story rather than just relying on the here is narrative.

I use Photoshop to make the image, but because it is made from only one negative/raw file it requires a particular approach to using the camera to get a file that can accept the manipulation. In fact it requires a different way of looking to find the scenes that will work.
Does this make it less real? Different yes, but only in so much that I am looking at from a different point of view.

My reply to Henry…
Hi Henry,
great I just read your blog, no problem I think a very nice and cool forum... what i am saying and what i am worried is that in Journalistic terms like real events this real verses manipulated becomes an issue.
I also have been using Photoshop almost since day one and do some crazy stuff but in covering events and real life encounters? We have to be careful, anyway thanks for your thoughts and I really like your stuff…
Cheers Gunther

Henry’s reply…

Hi Gunther
Thanks for the kind words mate and yes I am in agreement about keeping in touch.
 
I take on board your concern re doco pics but lets face it it aint nothing new. Granted PS makes it easier but it has always been buyer beware. As per the 2 attached pics circa 1854/5 by Roger Fenton titled "The Shadow of the Valley of Death".

Courtesy of Henry Bateman - R-Fenton-circa-1854-(1)



Courtesy of Henry Bateman - R-Fenton-circa-1854-(2)

There was a lovely debate some 12 months ago in the NY Times about which photo came first and which had been altered, albeit not by PS but physically by hand. The question that wasn't asked was "Which of the 2 pics best told the story?"
No 2 photographers will shoot a scene the same way, "Which of the 2 best tells the story/truth?". I can shoot the same scene in several ways with each telling a different story.
It is in part why I have chosen to do what I do. The camera doesn't lie is up there with "of course I will love you in the morning". As Picasso said the job of an artist is to convince people of the truth of their lies.
regards
Henry


From Picture Group Photo News Agency in India…

GD
 You tell us how ?
 
Chandu

My reply…

Hi Chandu,
Great to hear from you.
Now to your ?

Very difficult indeed to tell, I am an advocate for real things when it comes to Photo Journalistic images, we should not mess around with these, of course Photoshop and all the other stuff out there has is place and I use it too, but in real life and events we should be careful and not manipulate the images or distort a given event. In advertising and creative we can of course do what we like... go crazy if we choose so.
But how to tell is very difficult these days I guess ethics play a big role here, from the Photographer to the editors.
Thanks for reading the blog, remember it is only my opinion.
Have a fantastic day,
Cheers Gunther

Chandu’s reply…

Hi GD
 
I may be now editor but I am photographer 1st - I am out with the camera to shoot, I do not crop nor make any major changes in the "raw" image expect for transmission or printing.
 
that is all I have to say - i do not know what other photo editors do. Even agency like Magnum, I know quite a photographer attached to them, I have heard what happened at the board meeting, the older ones has quite taken back with the portfolio's they are getting for approval which do get approved. I will not give names but that is life...one has to change with it...if do not you get left behind....what do you have to say this....
 
Cheers
Chandu

My reply…
Hi Chandu,

thanks for this dialogue... very interesting indeed, hmmmm let me think, the image in the end will win you and I know that, I guess it boils down to only one thing your  conscious  and been able to feel good about it and say... yes this is real, I know that, even if they dont believe me, that alone is a good feeling and worth a lot. A nice gut feeling if nothing else!

It is an interesting subject which ever way you look at it and  we all know times have changed when Digital arrived, I am just a little concern, since I  admire the likes of Capola, Ansel Adams and many more, a craft which is now seldom taught even in schools, sad but true, can we change it?  I guess not.
We have arrived at this Digital age and I am no exception, all of this just crossed my mind the other day when i run into this young photographer and having this conversation. I have no doubts that this subject will be around for quiet some time, being old or young.

You are right we have to move forward otherwise we will be left behind... sad but so true.
Thanks for your words and exchange I do appreciate this very much, at-least we can talk about it, and that is just so nice,
have a great day and we stay in touch,
Cheers Gunther


From Luis Martin Harder, Manila Philippines

Hi Gunther,

Thanks so much for putting my exhibit on your blog. You're super cool,
man. Just as I was thinking about learning about true "photography" and
then you came out with an article about "are we getting real" photos or
images. You know GD I really want to learn more about PHOTOGRAPHY in its
purest sense. I believe you're the right person who can impart the
knowledge since I can see that you are one of the few remaining true
blue "PHOTOGRAPHER".

Can you help me with this? I'll surely appreciate your interest.

Thanks again GD. Hope to see you soon.
Cheers!
Luis Harder
WINGS TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE INC.

My closing words…thank you all for your thoughts and input very interesting indeed and I do appricitae all your comments…

" If we lose our human values by having everything mechanized, then machines will dictate our lives."
Dalai Lama

GD

Tags: Photo Journalism, Photoshop, Film, Kodachrome, Digital v. Film, Photography Today, Documentary Photography, Aperture 2, Art, Images, Australia

BURMA/Myanmar how much longer?
Another reminder!

It is the Typhoon/Monsoon season... how would we feel if we had to suffer like these beautiful and gentle people in Burma? The hard line Regime is still not moving, thousands more have to die...Why ?
A Country I got to know... not only for its culture but for it's beautiful people, they had a difficult life before... but NOW it is Genocide.
GD

Light of Hope?

© Gunther Deichmann - On the banks of the
Irrawadi River near Bagan,Burma/Myanmar 1996
(Original Image taken on Tri-X black and white film)
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/seasia1-5.html

Tags: MYANMAR/BURMA, Photo Journalism, Photography, BLACK & WHITE, Disaster, Typhoon Monsoon Season, Cyclone

Coincident…? Maybe…? Probably yes…?
But maybe not sure…?
Confusing isn’t it?

© Gunther Deichmann - for more images go to
www.deichmann-photo.com
Image above...lightning over Manila Bay...the Typhoon
and Monsoon season is approaching.

Having send off this riddle I better explain… a visit today by a young and up coming Photographer who is studying at a prestigious school in Berlin…sorry no names, made me think during our conversation.

We talked about the good old days…back in the film days, photo labs, processing and how things have changed now.
Do you know about push processing, clip test’s etc., etc., I asked?
He looked at me and said, what are you talking about?
Don’t they teach this at your school? No, we all study digital and only had an hour or so with a little Black and White film.

Now here is my point…read below my personal thoughts and philosophy about Photography today…bear in mind this is only my opinion.

Lets put aside the commercial photography for a moment, like fashion, products and many other subjects related to advertising…yes they have to be around and will be with us, there are some great Photographers out there shooting some real nice stuff, we all have to make a living, including myself, right!

But when it comes to travel or plain and simple Journalistic/Geographic type Photography, I have to think…

During a recent exhibition I overheard some of the visitors saying WOW what a great shot, but he did this in the Computer…not believing that the image had been taken on Kodachrome 25 and was as real as it gets, taken some 25 years ago.

Now here is my point and concern, when do we know these days the difference between
a real image or a manipulated one?
How far can we go with our computer…it is a creative field after all…in commercial work, advertising, FX, or experimental creative photography we can go wild and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that…the computer and the software today allow us to do some amazing things, I have seen some pretty cool stuff and do some of it myself.

But when do people say WOW what a great shot and he or she did this for real… not using Photoshop and only the minimum tools in the editing software?

I guess these days we all, well almost all have to use our computers and software to do the editing and processing…it is the digital age after all, no turning back.

But it is a bit of a worry… personally I am not fond of all those filters and certain effects, (some manufactures even claim, "helping create the world's greatest images.")
Yes some of these filters and other plug-ins have a place in commercial photography, but then who can tell these days that they have not being used on other images, how can we show how the image really was at the time the shutter had been released, very difficult indeed.
I guess we have to believe the photographer and take his word for it, not much else we can do.... or do we have a choice?

I am using Aperture 2 as my darkroom and I love it for it’s speed, simplicity and management system, it is just great, plug- ins for me are out, except for the ones which can make my life a lot easier e.g. Exporting and the delivery of images from one destination to another, this is very cool stuff.
Aperture 2 unlike Photoshop let me work on my images up to a point…and this is the part I really like, you don’t get tempted to move some “heads around”, a great management system, nice editing tools you do need for digital files and a few other cool tools and applications.

But manipulation is out…if I like to do that then I switch to Photoshop or buy some new plug –ins for Aperture 2, the nice part is and this is real great…with Aperture 2 YOU can choose and set it up the way you like it, customizing to suit your type of photography.

With most other software you buy everything, it is all inside, if you use it or not, plus the temptation to “fix things” is always there.

When I shoot commercial work I try to get it right in the first place, I had to do it for some 30 years, why change now…but not adopting the attitude oh well, I can always fix this in the computer later, maybe I sound old fashion but it is so true these days.

I like the way Aperture evolved, but I feel to much attention has been given to all these plug ins, yes if you do commercial work go for it, but NO if you do serious creative, Journalistic and real life work, because you like to look into the eyes of your client and say… YES this is the real thing you can take my word for it…

If we forget or not been taught the old traditional ways, then a few years from now, we cant be sure anymore what is real and what is not.

Only a few years ago we had our negatives or slides and could prove what was real and what had been manipulated…I guess now we can only rely on our Raw images, one more reason to shoot Raw only, what I am trying to say is, that it is getting harder and harder to prove these days what is real and what is not…please think about and form your own opinion like I have with all my blah, blah above.
But isn’t a great feeling to look somebody into the eyes and say...
YES, this is the real Mc Coy.
GD

Tags: Photoshop, Lightroom, Plug-ins, Filters, Film, Processing, Software, Photography School, Raw Images, Negative, Slides, Art, Photography,, Education, Kodachrome, Commercial Photography

BURMA needs our help more than ever...


© Gunther Deichmann - Burmese Indian Community north of Yangon

No need for many words but Burma needs help...I have traveled through this amazing and very beautiful Country years ago and the Burmese people are some of the most gentle in South East Asia...deprived of their freedom by a brutal Military Regime who will not even let outside help into the country in times of real need. This has to stop...
A group of Monks helped me many years ago from being arrested, now I have seen them getting beaten by the Military and Police why is outside help been delayed when it is needed most?
As a travel Photographer/Journalist I feel responsible to voice my opinion, even if this will not change the currant situation...lets hope there be a change for the better in the near future.
Buddha bless,
GD

Tags: NEWS, Disaster

These articles just arrived from Chennai India...for more details visit
Aditya Patel's website click on the images or this link:
http://www.adityapatel.in/latest.html

Tags: BMW MOTORSPORT, FERRARI, Eurasia, Formula BMW Pacific, Photography, Gunther Deichmann, NEWS, SINGAPORE, Philippines, India, ASIA, Racing, F1 GRAND PRIX

To go to the Center click on the image
The Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art: ACCEA
" NPAK" in Armenian acronymis an alternative center for avant-garde
and modern art in Yerevan, Armenia

We have to take care of our PLANET and the ENVIRONMENT otherwise there be nothing left for our Children…
we all need to contribute & STOP Global Warming.

Click on the image above and view the Exhibition
with images and slide shows from all
the international participants.

The image above was taken in Palau Micronesia it was used as the Cover
for the official Exhibition Booklet, for other environmental related images
by Gunther Deichmann click the link below:
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/environment.html

As mention in one of my earlier Blogs some of my Images have been part of an international Environment Exhibition at the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art.
For more detailed information I have provided some links below… many other international Photographers have contributed images for the Exhibition and environmental awareness, for a complete list of all the participants and sponsors including the WWF World Wildlife Fund in Armenia go to the provided links below…
I am happy and proud to have been part of this Exhibition in providing images creating awareness for our fragile environment.
GD

WHY BURNING MY HOME...THINK!

Slide show link of the images by Gunther Deichmann
http://www.davosstudio.com/Exhibition/Participants/Gunther%20Deichmann/




The walls:

http://www.davosstudio.com/Exhibition/The%20Walls.html


International participants:

http://www.davosstudio.com/Exhibition/participants.htm

Tags: Science, NATURE, Protect, Conservation, Global, Art, Photography,

You are cordially invited to attend our 6pm-7pm
FREE MAC Training for the month of May
at the Power Mac Training Center, Level 2 Greenbelt 3,
Ayala Center, Makati.


For all Mac and non Mac users...feel like switching? Why not!
Check out the Training Center at the Power Mac Center In Makati.
Recommended by Gunther Deichmann a certified Apple Trainer
for Aperture he is also on the Apple Aperture Advisory Board.
Visit his website @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

Click on the image for your
Registration at the POWER MAC CENTER
MAC TOPICS:
May 6- Mac OS X.5 Leopard Basic
May 13- Mac OS X.5 Leopard Advanced
May 15-iWork (Pages & Keynote)
May 17-iLife '08 Basic (iPhoto, iMovie & GarageBand)
May 20- Automator & AppleScript
May 22 - Movie Editing Using Final Cut Pro
May 24- Troubleshooting Your Mac
May 27-TAB Animation for Kids
May 29-Switchers 101 (From PC to Mac)

Check out our Training Calendar website for more info & services.
One-on-One Tutorial/ Group Training/ Venue Rental)

http://www.powermaccenter.com/training.php

© Gunther Deichmann - Communication...Hong Kong, for more
stock images visit GD PhotoShelter Archive, click on the image
or this link: http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann

Solving a problem can be fun or frustrating…nothing to do with
Aperture 2, Plug-ins or Photography this time, but with Communication…
an issue between Outlook and Mail… PC verses MAC
& why I am not surprised.

It all started when some of my friends complained having problems replying to my e-mails, they wrote back and said their Outlook started to freeze upon hitting the reply button and could only reply by open OUTLOOK again creating a new message. A persisting and re-occurring problem for quiet some time with a few of my good buddies who are using PC's

After a few weeks and some investigation we have solved the problem… NO VIRUS in my system! Remember… I am using Mac…but they also had no virus on their system.

So where was this little glitch…nothing major but I understand a little annoying for some, they had to re-boot when replying to my mail…no need for re-booting on a Mac.
Do I rub it in again? Well just a little…cant help myself, he, he.

We run some tests and found out this happens only with Outlook upon replying to my mail, Outlook did not like my SIGNATURE on my outgoing mail. (I have a couple of Logos on it)

Problem solved, when I send e-mails now and I know they are using Outlook I just remove my Signature and that works, or you need to switch my emails to plain text when replying because it is the html in the SIGNATURE that creates this problem. There you have it, nothing major just annoying for my friends…not for me.

Problem is fixed…and we all smiles again.

Visit my Website @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

GD

A straight shot...believe it or not, but very true.
I only applied the Raw conversion & a little sharpening.

© Gunther Deichmann - looking out of my Hotel Window in
Mumbai India April 2008 for the latest images on India visit
my PhotoShelter Archives, click on the image or the link below:
http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann

Below excerpts from the Aperture Users Professional Network a great site for all the latest technical information on Aperture.
http://www.apertureprofessional.com/
Tiffen's the newest player to release an effect plug-in for Aperture, Tiffen Dfx. The Tiffen Dfx software simulates and replicates digitally the effects that Tiffen filters can create, plus much more…

I am excited? Yes? No?
Ok some of you might love these plug-ins and there is really nothing wrong with it but for me…filters and some others in the pipeline are not much use to me.
I am a Photojournalist/Travel Photographer, I like my images the way I saw them…even before the digital age I have never used any filters, the only thing I do now is remove the odd sensor dust, cropping and straightening and of course the great black & white conversion. I do rely on the RAW Image conversions and adjust the exposure a bit at times, very minor tweaks... plus some sharpening which all the Digital Cameras need...some more than others.
I am not a Photoshop guy who enhances the images… no need before, why now…but I love the ability to export my files direct from within Aperture 2 to my PhotoShelter archives and PhotoShelter Collection, the latest plug in is very cool, plus I can create a nice .Mac Web Gallery, (not a plug-in) one of my favorites…I call it “show and tell the client.”

View some of my images before the digital age shot on Kodachrome 25 @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/australia.html

These are the things I love more than anything…lets take PhotoShelter as an example I have the ability to upload my images from just about any location provided I have a connection, not only having the possibility of a sale but just for safe keeping in a different location, it is just like another backup system & you know how important that is.
OK. for our studio guys and commercial Photographers some of these plug-ins are a welcome new addition to Aperture 2.1 and some of them come in very handy for sure, making the job so much more efficient and easy but for me filters and other new plug-ins are not much of an advantage, I like to spend more time in the field.
However a noise reduction plug-in would be nice, even for me, I think Nic Software is working on it now.
Aperture 2 has much bigger advantages for me…being so integrated and the management of images is out of this world plus the speed and flexibility.
In the end it is your choice what you like or need, with Aperture 2.1 you have all the options for a variety of Jobs and that is just so great.

GD

© Gunther Deichmann - BOLLYWOOD Posters along the road in
Mumbai India... click on the image for the latest photos on Mumbai India
in my PHOTOSHELTER ARCHIVE or click the link below the article.

If you travel to Mumbai India dont be surprised when you see or came across this amazing film industry, no matter where you go, posters and shooting along the road. In only 3 days I must have seen some 4 major productions along the way. Interesting or more fascinating? I guess it is AMAZING INDIA after all.

DID YOU KNOW
BOLLYWOOD is the name given to Mumbai-based Hindi language film industry. The name is a fusion of two words - Bombay and Hollywood. Bollywood is known across the world for the sheer volume of films it churns out each year. Virtually ruling the entertainment sector of India and great many parts of South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and parts of Africa, Bollywood also commands a sizable chunk of Indian diaspora in the UK, Canada, Australia and the US.
For my images on Mumbai India go to my PHOTO SHELTER ARCHIVE @
http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann

© Gunther Deichmann - BOLLYWOOD MOVIE
production opposite the famous
TAJ Hotel In Mumbai India


© Gunther Deichmann - the famous Taj Hotel and
its amazing architecture in Mumbai for the latest images on
Mumbai India click on the image or visit my
PHOTOSHELTER COLLECTION @
http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann

Jazz...Blues & the good old times.



Johnny Alegre AFFINITY


Juergen Warnke from Club Paradise and president
of the German Club introduces the Band

I guess everybody has one…I had mine yesterday another year passed and plus one more number.
Thanks to some very good friends and a superb JAZZ/BLUES Band called Johnny Alegre AFFINITY, we had a great evening at the German Club in Manila Philippines we where even graced with the presence of the German Ambassador Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch a coincident. No images from me today but from my good friend and assistant Hermes Singson.

left: Bebet Gaudinez...Photography... Aperture and Blues.

The amazing thing was that the Band had been organized a few weeks before not because it was my day but the German Club ask me if I knew some Jazz or Blues Band to play on the 25th of April.
I called Bebet Gaudinez who was part of my Photo Workshop in Cambodia, I knew that he could refer me to some good musicians, but then the next surprise… one of the musicians the bass player was related to one of my other students in Cambodia Luis Harder…a very small world or maybe not so in the music or photography circles.
Thanks to Bebet for organizing this real cool band and yes, Bebet and me did talk about Aperture 2 a little…but that was earlier in the evening. Special thanks to Johnny Alegre and his Band…you guys did a fantastic job.

Johnny Alegre (standing) with Stefan Schmitz from the Aboitiz Project TS,
Alan Simpson from Antrak Logistics, Australia & GD

All of us had a great time including my wife Grace, my son Mark-Lee & friends Gunter and Otts Taus, Juergen Warnke from Club Paradise, Paul Schenk from Swiss Air, Arnold Munoz from Rougarai, Rhandy Singson and of course Hermes plus many others. Now I have to sign off, still battling with a hangover… last but not least special thanks to Maritess Katzer and Michael Scheile from the German Club,
& to my friends who could not make it...Dirk Fahrenbach, Dermot Keane, Sam Scott, Thomas Schubert , Allan Nash ,Chris Heim and of course my Brother and mum.
GD

Thanks to you all for given me a fun &
stress free evening,
Gunther

© All photos by Hermes Singson

Marked with a red circle is where you can activate the slideshow

© Gunther Deichmann - wall decor at the Boracay
Mandarin Spa, Boracay Philippines 2008


© Gunther Deichmann - having fun...
Parasailing in Boracay Philippines 2008



© Gunther Deichmann - Kites at Boracay's White beach just out
side from the Boracay Mandarin Hotel Resort, Philippines 2008

But now to these new plug-ins...

The interesting part for all these new plug- ins will be for our underwater photographers in due time...some of whom still using Photoshop to tweak some colors which can be difficult for underwater landscapes. Remember when I set up the Digital Photo Center for Sam's Tours in Palau, (check the previous blogs for details) I have heard only yesterday that everything is running very smooth.
The Wi-Fi connections we installed running cool, not to mention the iMac upgrades and training of the staff on Leopard and Aperture, I guess all of this would not have been possible without the investment from Sam Scott and the incredible input and advise from Dermot Keane the GM at Sam's Tours.

_________________________________________

Sam's Tours has just been featured recently in the Scuba Diving Magazine online Bottoms Time, see the screenshot below.

Click on the image and go direct to
the Digital Photo Center

Press release from the Scuba Diving magazine:
ALL - NEW DIGITAL PHOTO CENTER AT SAM'S TOURS IN PALAU

Sam's Tours' all new Digital Photo Center is fully equipped to cater to digital photographers of all interest levels, from those with handy point-and-shoot cameras to the most demanding digital photographers shooting in RAW format. Their six top-of-the-line Apple iMac workstations are loaded with terabytes and terabytes of storage, archiving and secure data backup systems, lots of RAM, and completely optimized for digital imaging with Apple Aperture 2 image management software, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Bridge, Toast, and topped off with DSL Wi-Fi internet access. No other photo center in Palau comes near!

Plus, you can rent new Canon SD850 Digital Cameras and Canon ZR830 Digital Minicams with underwater housings. Other camera-friendly improvements include an expanded "dry zone" for Camera Preparation and Charging and a new Camera Drying Station complete with towels and compressed air for post-rinsing camera care.

________________________________________

What has all of this to do with the new plug-ins? Actually a lot...more capabilities on one system soon...I guess to go with the iMacs and Aperture at Sam's Tours was the right decision, check it out the next time you in Palau and dont forget your Camera for these incredible shots above and below the waves.
GD

Nic software has just announced the availability of one of the first Plug -ins for Aperture 2.1 in May 2008. For those of you who are interested in all these new plug ins stay tuned as soon more become available I be announcing them.
Exciting times ahead for some of you, soon you be able to stay even longer in Aperture 2.1 without switching back and forth or open Photoshop.
Click on the images below for a direct link to Nic software and a detail description of their products.
GD

Available in May, 2008, Viveza will also be compatible with Apple Aperture 2 to enable direct on-image editing, with the most powerful and precise tool available to selectively control light and color in photographic images. For the first time, corrections and enhancements can be made quickly and easily without the need to create complicated selections or layer masks, providing selective editing control within Aperture.