After avoiding New Zealand’s winter for four years in a row by heading to the Northern Hemisphere and summer climates, filmmaker and photographer Ben Mikha decided it was time to stick it out and experience a New Zealand winter for a change. But he didn’t just stay at home with the heat pump on — he took his Kiwi winter experience to the next level. Ben and two of his friends (Ron and Rob) packed up and took to the roads exploring stunning landscapes from Aoraki and Mount Cook to Canterbury and Napier.
During the trip, Ben shot 45 timelapses, two hyperlapses, more than 1000GB of footage and more than 50,000 photos. He incorporated a lot of this to create a stunning video of winter in New Zealand.
Have you ever wondered why we have the 135mm focal length at all?
It’s not a nice round number like 50 or 200. In function, you could say it’s a bit long to be an all-rounder for portraiture where 75mm to 90mm is more comfortable. At the same time, you might complain that it’s a little short as a telephoto for travel, where 180mm to 210mm is more useful. So why do we have it?
First, the fact is that 135mm is standard repertoire. You will find it in every 35mm camera system since its introduction in 1960. The reason is simple: it’s extremely versatile. It works fine for portraits, it works very well for photojournalism and it’s excellent for travel and scenery.
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Sony Electronics today announced Alpha 9 II (model ILCE-9M2). The latest model from Sony’s acclaimed line-up of α (Alpha) full-frame interchangeable lens cameras, the new model has been created to support working professionals in the fields of sports photography and photojournalism.
The new Alpha 9 II builds on the impressive legacy of the original Alpha 9, maintaining groundbreaking speed performance, including blackout-free continuous shooting at up to 20 frames per second with Auto Focus and Auto Exposure tracking at 60 calculations per second. Updates include significantly enhanced connectivity and file delivery, continuous shooting at up to 10 fps with mechanical shutter, and evolved AF performance with newly optimized algorithms, re-designed build to enhance durability and operability.
Today marks the fourth year of the Sony Alpha Awards, Sony’s annual competition to showcase the greatest in Australian and New Zealand photography using the Sony Alpha camera range. Over 4,000 stunning images were submitted from professional and amateur photographers alike, for the chance to be recognised for their talents and win some great prizes.
James Muir from the Coromandel in New Zealand took the top award as the overall Grand Prize Winner for his breath-taking iceberg image, entitled Fresh Ice, Liquid Salt. A producer and cinematographer specialising in natural history and environmental documentary, James is the third consecutive New Zealander to win the Grand Prize and receives Sony camera gear to the value of AUD $10,000.
