Inspiring ways to improve your photos
Inspiring ways to improve your photos
Photo Review tips section
Although cameras with manual white balance measurement systems can provide almost cast-free colour photographs, there are times when additional colour reference tools should also be used to ensure you achieve a correct colour balance in any shooting situation
Reader query: Would you please be able to tell me where I can get an SLR camera/lens tested for optical quality. I am having focus problems and need to know if the problem is the equipment or me – while there is still some warranty.
Correct focusing is the key to a successful photograph. But how often have you looked at a shot and discovered that the areas that should have been sharp are slightly blurred? By understanding how your camera’s AF system works – and how to use it effectively – you can take sharply focused pictures more often and control which areas in the image are sharp.
Letter from Des Paroz
There are two approaches to the use of optical filters with digital cameras. The first asserts that any extra glass inserted in the light path between the subject and the image sensor can degrade the image in various ways. The second maintains that filters are as useful to digital photographers as they were to those who captured pictures on film. The truth lies somewhere between these extremes.
Today we would achieve the main objective of our trip to New Zealand: to walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Renowned as one of the great day walks in New Zealand, this 19.4 km track traverses steep volcanic terrain and climbs upwards through 800 metres vertically then down through 1050 metres of what promised to be quite the spectacular scenery, we booked on the first bus to leave Discovery Village and, accordingly, we arrived at the start of the walk at the Mangatepopo car park by 6.30 a.m.
After the strenuous climb of Ruapehu we decided to take the next two days more easily in preparation for the 19.4 km Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which was scheduled for Day 8. Accordingly, since the weather looked like remaining good for the next three says, we opted to explore the area to the south of Mt Ruapehu on Day 6 and go canoeing on the Whanganui River on day 7.
Today’s objective was the Tongariro National Park, where we would spend the rest of the time on this trip. But first we had to drive to Turangi and go to the Visitors’ Centre to gain email access, check the weather forecast for the alpine areas and arrange accommodation for the next two nights. (We had pre-booked accommodation for our last three nights as we planned to meet friends who were arriving from Australia in time to join us for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing on our last day in the area.)
After a chilly night we arose to a frosty morning and assembled a quick breakfast in order to get up to the Iwikau Village car park in the Whakapapa Ski Area where we would meet our guide, Mike Fox. We had been instructed to bring lunch, wet weather gear, hats, sunscreen and plenty of water. We also brought our walking sticks and cameras.
When you mention New Zealand’s thermal regions, the first name to come to mind is Rotorua. Often described as ‘Sulphur City’ the area is dotted with thermal springs which contain boiling cauldrons of water, pungent gas and steam emissions and bubbling mud pools – as well as the occasional thrusting geyser.
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