Quick one to let you know there's a 'Pro Tips' section from me in the new issue of Digital Camera Essentials. There's also a number of pages devoted to shooting, editing and printing panoramic images, so give it a whirl if you're so inclined...
July 01, 2010
June 25, 2010
A message to all photographers; Aussies in particular...
Photographic expression should be a fairly basic right in the free world, so I would urge you all to download/subscribe/take part in events such as this one in Sydney. Here is some linkage to help you out:
Arts Freedom Australia – Facebook Page
Landscape photographers, including you, are losing rights
I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! (UK Site)
To those of you that do attend the meet up, our UK thoughts and spirits are with you!
June 22, 2010
Winners of The EPSON International Pano Awards
Hello everyone. I have been finishing the last in a series of commissions recently so little or no time for blogging unfortunately :-(
However, news of some fantastic winning panoramic imagery courtesy of The EPSON International Pano Awards….
Congratulations to all those involved and my thoughts on the competition soon….
June 06, 2010
May 23, 2010
Back on the road again....
Hello everyone. A busy time in the real world which has left little or no time for this crazy virtual one.
Firstly, the Panoramic Visions show closed successfully in early May and there’ll be images and chat from the show soon.
Given the popularity of the smaller, open edition London images, it’s no surprise to see they are now on permanent display/sale at the Kraken Opus gallery for those who are interested.
Lastly, immediately after the show closed I was booked on a commission piece around the UK so I have been busy exactly where a photographer should be - behind a lens rather than a computer.
It was during this shoot that I had time to re-evaluate my camera equipment. After some thought, I am in the process of trading-in and trading-out of a few pieces (Fixation is always a good place to start such proceedings for those of similar inclination). I’ll be writing a piece on my current preferred ‘panoramic’ set-up next month.
Am back in the UK now, so more updates soon…
April 29, 2010
Panoramic Visions - Bank Holiday Weekend
The May Day bank holiday is almost upon us and that means the last long weekend of the current ‘Panoramic Visions’ exhibition.
For those of you wanting to see the artworks and also the new range of London images, then the full details are:
Panoramic Visions
15 April to 4 May 2010
The Opus Gallery, 10-13 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8HN
Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm • Sun 12 - 5pm, Free Admission
The gallery is open all the way through the long weekend (including Monday) so we’ll see you there!
April 22, 2010
Natural Wonders of Another Kind
Quick update. The exhibition is going fantastically well and pictures will follow as soon as we download them from the various memory cards.
Also, with all this talk of volcanic ash you would expect there to be a multitude of photographers out there taking pictures of incredible sunsets, but all we’ve had in the UK is bright blue sky and definition-less high cloud...
Still, I suppose it lets us drool over the gob-smacking new images/videos from a) Reuters and b) Nasa’s Solar Dynamics Observatory from the comfort of our monitors!
April 17, 2010
Jaspal Jandu Photography Website 2.0
Whilst I was shooting the famous karst / limestone scenery of China for Natural Wonders, I heard a great local quote which went along the lines of "...be not afraid of going slowly; be only afraid of standing still".
So, in that vein, we are very pleased to announce a major reboot of the website.
We've manged to tidy up the design and update all the background code for the modern desktop and mobile worlds. Also, there is a hell of a lot which is yet to be rolled out (such as member's area, hi-def video, new exhibition gallery etc) so stay tuned for that.
As ever, we would welcome your thoughts on the new website so please drop us an email or leave a comment if you can.
Lastly, many thanks to Nick at Coldmountain for the help and also the patience in dealing with the many - often minor - requests!
Enjoy and more to come....
April 16, 2010
Panoramic Visions - Jaspal Jandu Exhibition 2010
Jaspal Jandu Photography is very proud to announce that the new Panoramic Visions exhibition for 2010 is now open!
The show runs from the 15th April to 4th May 2010 at The Opus Gallery, 10-13 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8HN.
Jaspal will be there in person to talk about the new artworks during the VIP opening evening and through Fri-Sun each week. Also, existing Limited Edition Clients should now be able to view to the new website and gallery and this feature will be rolled out to the general website during the course of the show.
Regular updates and pictures will be posted here and on the Facebook page.
We very much look forward to seeing all of you there !
Jaspal Jandu Photography
info@jaspaljandu.com
April 02, 2010
Panoramic Visions - Major New Exhibition for 2010
Its Easter weekend and that means the final push for the upcoming exhibition. We are all getting very excited over here as you can see by invite below….
This show is the culmination of many years worth of dramatic landscape photography and it will also showcase new material – particularly that involving London.
For those of you planning to attend, the full details are contained in the invitational:
Panoramic Visions
15 April to 4 May 2010
The Opus Gallery, 10-13 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8HN
Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm • Sun 12 - 5pm, Free Admission
Existing Limited Edition Clients should have received their invites for the opening night and there’ll be regular updates from now until the show (both here and on the Facebook page).
So, get the dates in the diary and we look forward to meeting all of you there!
March 26, 2010
Panoramic Photography Conference Announced
If you’re interested in wide-angle and/or panoramic photography, you could do a lot worse than head over to the new IAPP/IVRPA conference "Tucson 2010".
Having just looked through the session line-up, I am convinced that it will be an exciting and invaluable way to catch up on all things panoramic. Further details can be found on the shiny new website…
March 21, 2010
A Panoramic Update!
Its been a busy month and on more than one occasion I have wanted to take comfort in the classic Homer Simpson quote “…if something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing!”
But, despite his literary wit, we must press on. So in no particular order, here’s a run down:
- “Panoramic Visions” 2010 Exhibition – The big one. I cannot emphasize enough how much work goes into a big exhibition nowadays. Organising prints, hanging displays, guest lists etc etc. is an enormous undertaking and it’s easy to fall off the critical path towards opening night if you are not careful. There’ll be a separate piece on this soon, so stay tuned for that.
- Open Edition Prints – Having spent over 18 months now shooting various parts of London, I’m getting happy with a new portfolio of images from this incredible city. The aim is to compile these into smaller open edition prints; the first 20 of which will be available at the 2010 exhibition.
- New Website – There’s also the not-insubstantial issue of a brand new website in the pipeline. Amongst other things it will handle things like merchandise and hi-definition video much better than the current one so I would welcome any thoughts you have on it when it goes live in the next month or so.
- Travel Plans – Lastly, it’s easy to forget that there is a world out there waiting to be explored! To this end, there’s a trip to the volcanoes of Hawaii coming up and then the possibility of storm chasing next year. Just can’t wait for these two…
So, lots of work to do and hopefully you’ll be seeing the fruits of this labour in person at the exhibition in April….
Jaspal
February 24, 2010
What is 'panoramic photography'?
Historically, the term ‘panoramic’ was normally reserved for images with aspect ratios in excess of 2:1 (i.e. the long side being twice the length of the short side). However, the problem with this approach is that it does not take field-of-view truly into account.
Field of view is important because it dictates the amount of ‘sweep’ and ‘swoosh’ you get in a panoramic frame (try cropping a picture taken with a wide-angle lens down to 3:1 and then compare it with exactly the same crop of an image taken with a telephoto lens).
In fact, the reason I love the 90mm lens on the Linhof 617 is precisely because of its unique combination of aspect ratio and field-of-view (both of which, by the way, resemble almost exactly our human stereoscopic vision).
You can imagine my head-scratching, therefore, when I was recently sent a link of a ‘panoramic photo’ of Prague. You see, this one is an incredibly well-executed, completely immersive ‘virtual world’ in which aspect ratios and field-of-views are completely redundant. Additionally, it’s presented in such hi-definition, that one can literally zoom all the way to the horizon and still make out discernable details such as window frames and people!
Although I am not sure where this leaves the humble ‘panorama’ (and I am not sure how you would sell something like this in a commercial environment), I am certain that such visualizations are going to push panoramic photography to the limit in the coming years...
February 20, 2010
February 17, 2010
January 18, 2010
Hidden Photographic Treasures
Apologies for the radio silence but I have been away for a couple of days and have also been sorting out new products for the year and the upcoming exhibition. However, I have had time to write a couple of pieces so I’ll be uploading those in the next week or so…
To kick start things, I wanted to share an intriguing link which a friend sent me the other day. It’s called Everytrail and it allows users to upload and share GPS tracks via the internet.
There used to be a time when some photographers would jealously guard locations in the hope that they would remain hidden from the general hoi polloi. In fact, there are at least a couple of apocryphal tales involving photographers deliberating ruining scenes after their personal discovery!
In light of this, it’s quite remarkable to witness the liberating power of the GPS, telephony and the internet combine to reveal photographic locations such as The Wave, for example (I remember having to barter my first-born to find out where the darn thing was). Although I'm not commercially associated with the site myself, I would be interested to hear your views on whether it’s a huge force for good or, paradoxically, whether its just another excuse sit in front of the computer...!
January 03, 2010
Panorama Interview
What better way to kick off the New Year than with a newly published interview in Panorama – the International Association of Panoramic Photographers’ (IAPP) journal of panoramic imaging.
The journal itself often contains a fascinatingly eclectic mix of articles (e.g. stitching macro panoramas, astrophotography etc.) and you can read my specific thoughts on the panoramic format in the interview.
If you’re into panoramas and/or wide-field imaging, then have a look through the website and become a member…
December 30, 2009
The Wisdom of the Photographic Crowd - Part I
Please find below the first instalment of a two-part piece which was inspired after receiving some jaw-dropping photographic books this Xmas….
I am looking through the photographic books which I received over the festive period and am having mixed feelings because whilst they are all undeniably stunning, they may also be heralding the end of the ‘one-author-one-book’ tradition.
You see, the books in question are all ‘compilation works’ (i.e. assembled from pictures submitted by various photographers and/or contest entrants) and the images themselves are stunning. They have truly captured Mother Nature at her finest, in every location, in every season and in every light imaginable.
I believe that the cornerstone of this photographic renaissance is the digital camera – a tool which has liberated us from the shackles of the darkroom. (Whilst this may seem a slightly contrarian things for a commercial photographer to say, I love landscapes more than I do photography and the thought that someone is around to record and share Nature’s incredibly fleeting moments more than outweighs the envy of not capturing something myself.)
In many ways, it reminds me of James Surowiecki’s The Wisdom of the Crowds, only in this medium the ‘wisdom’ is not information or knowledge, but the 24/7 omnipresence of the masses. With camera and Flickr in hand, we can all now contribute to the real-time documentary of Nature simultaneously around the world.
However, I am increasingly feeling that the downside of this photographic democratisation is the complete lack of visual narrative.
To demonstrate this point, I just conducted a rather unscientific experiment of my most favoured photographic books in the library. Top of the Pops were works from Joe Cornish, Peter Dombrovskis and Zhang Liping (amongst others). Books from such ‘storytellers’ lead us through a world - be it Scotland, Tasmania or Guilin respectively - with a consistent artistic eye and a clear visual narrative. I particularly enjoy looking out for deft visual touches (for example, charting not only the development of the landscape during the course of a book but also of the photographer) and I don’t feel I receive the same level of enjoyment from compilation works.
What does this mean for us photographers still plodding away by ourselves?? Well, you can read about that and thoughts on my next journey in part two of this article which I shall post shortly after further reflection…
December 23, 2009
Jaspal Jandu Photography - Seasons Greetings and Year in Review
The festive season is in full swing in Europe, with dollops of snow everywhere. As you enjoy this time with your loved ones, please spare a thought for all those faithful friends who have to lovingly accompany photographers on random trips to the Italian Alps :-)
On a more relevant note, here’s a review of an exciting year and a glimpse at our plans for 2010. It’s been a fantastic 2009 and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
All the very best
Jaspal
December 19, 2009
December 11, 2009
December 04, 2009
Life Begins With Three
Having becoming a happy father for the first time over the weekend, I will spare you gushing pictures of the new bundle of joy. However, I will let you know how she has forced me to brush up on some rusty skills.
You see, a Linhof panoramic camera is useless when it comes to close-ups, particularly those involving hyperactive babies. Instead, I have rummaged through the camera cupboard and have unearthed the superb 50mm f/1.4 and 100mm f/4 macro lenses. Combined with a Speedlight flash and a suitably silly looking Lightsphere, and I have assembled the perfect setup for the task at hand.
And what a task it is.
Babies like to move, yawn, cry and dribble at the drop of a hat and this provides very little leeway to get that life-defining image. In addition, one has to cope with the incredibly shallow (yet pleasing) depth of field at f/1.4 and also the tricky problem of white balance.
Shooting indoors with either fluorescent or incandescent light sources will mess up a camera’s view of ‘white’. Therefore, a grey card and a custom white balance has to be used (I use a gel filter to get the flash to match the ambient light and then set the white balance accordingly).
It’s obvious that I’m reacquainting myself with a lot of old tricks and techniques at the moment and although landscape duty will be resumed soon, there is no doubt that the joy and frustration will continue for some time yet… :-)
November 24, 2009
Size shouldn't matter...
I went to the captivating new Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Royal Academy today. Like most of the public, I was absorbed by the form, texture, and most importantly, pigment of the works.
As I was leaving, a small niggle began to form inside my head; namely, that some of the works derived their impact from primarily their size alone. For example, there is no doubt that ‘Hive’ – with its rusted steel and inspired vaginal opening – is a captivating piece. However, as it stands well over 7 meters tall, I couldn’t help but wonder how many people were principally knocked out by its size than anything else.
This led to me to think how much impact a large photographic print delivers from size alone. Surely, a great image is a great image and this is independent of print size, no?
Well, not really. As large prints begin to fill one’s field of view (particularly panoramics), they require the eye to scan from side-to-side and this creates a sense of immersion even when the subject matter is not that compelling. In short, if a large, well composed print is at the top of the ‘wow’ scale, and a small, poorly composed print at the bottom, then unfortunately there does exist a ‘mid-sized wow’ for artistically deficient yet large prints.
I can only hope that I’m not guilty of catering to this sin (all of my limited editions are accepted or rejected at a transparency stage, so the maximum size I ever see them is only 17cm across). However, with the advent of ever-larger exhibits and the growing public appetite for larger, better, faster art, we should never forget the basic foundations (i.e. timing, light, composition - TLC) that underpin a great photograph, no matter what the print size…
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Anyway, the exhibition is great and go along and let me know what you think (click for website, details and video)…
November 20, 2009
November 14, 2009
International Photographic Pano Awards
If you are interested in panoramic photography then why not enter the new International Photographic Pano Awards which is open to both professional and amateur photographers?
“The inaugural 2010 International Pano Awards is dedicated to the art of panoramic photography. Advances in digital photography and software such as PTGui and Adobe Photoshop has resulted in an explosion in image stitching, especially in the panoramic format. Panoramic film photography also remains alive and well. The Pano Awards aims to showcase the work of panoramic photographers worldwide and be the largest and most important competition for panoramic photography.”
Unfortunately, I can’t offer you personal advice on your entries because I am one of the judges, but I am sure the US$10,000 in cash and prizes from Lonely Planet, Apollo, Epson, PT Gui, and 360 Precision should soften the blow!
Entries are open now and close 30th April 2010. What are you waiting for?
November 08, 2009
Jaspal Jandu Photography on Facebook
Hello to everyone in cyberspace land – this is to inform you that there is a rather nice Jaspal Jandu Photography Facebook Page now up-and-running.
The page will be distinct from the blog in that it will have shorter, more real-time updates, behind-the-scenes pictures of life on the road and future event invites / updates
For those of you who like the polished pics and the more considered thoughts of the blog, then don’t fret, because the idea is to have the two ‘streams-of-consciousness’ working nicely in tandem with each other.
Wander on over to Facebook and check it out….
November 02, 2009
Jaspal Jandu @ Stanfords Book Store, London
Just to let you know that a sparkling new Jaspal Jandu promotion is now taking place at Stanfords’ flagship store in Covent Garden, London.
The renowned travel and maps experts have an inspirational, large print of ‘Zen’ alongside signed copies of Natural Wonders, so if you want to come along and admire the display or pick up some books then you know what to do!
Stay tuned for further updates, pictures and Jaspal’s personal signing times….
October 25, 2009
Natural Wonders Update
A quick update on ‘Natural Wonders: A Panoramic Vision’. Firstly, if you haven’t purchased a copy for you or a loved one yet, then mosey on over to the micro-site and do so now… :-)
Secondly - and with a degree of personal satisfaction - I am pleased to note that signed Special Edition versions are now safely in the hands of luminaries such as Bill Gates and Al Gore (my personal thanks to Alpa and Jenna respectively for making this happen).
Also, there is a new batch of freshly signed copies in the magnificent Kraken Opus store in London’s Covent Garden, so do head over if you would like a copy. Staying in the area, I will soon be announcing a rather prominent display and in-store signing event so keep tuned to the blog for that.
Lastly, there are plans afoot for a brand new exhibition next April (including a sneak peak at the two new projects covering London and America West), so please start planning the trip as it would be great to meet you all in person alongside the new works!
October 19, 2009
October 17, 2009
Doric Inspiration
No sooner back from the American West coast than off to Greece and then Washington, DC.
It’s amazing to think of the inextricable Doric link between two of the World’s most sublime structures – the Parthenon in Greece and Lincoln Memorial in America - despite the intervening 2,500 years.
Without over-labouring the Picasso biography which I am currently reading, he also noted that “good art copies, great art steals” !
September 26, 2009
September 08, 2009
August 13, 2009
A Few Updates...
Having been personally stopped for taking photos in London many times over, I have lent my support to the British Journal of Photography’s 'Not A Crime' campaign. The initiative - which launched last month - aims to raise awareness of the increasing restrictions on shooting in public. Here you can find the source article, official website, flickr group and external article.
Also, I’ve just signed a limited number of Natural Wonders books for Stanfords in Covent Garden, London. The store is one of my favourites in the UK, so if you’re passing by and would like a signed book either for yourself or as a gift, then please speak to one of the ever-helpful members of staff.
Lastly, after a few weeks of catching up with life, I’m off doing what I enjoy most tomorrow. Starting in San Fran, I’m taking a lazy few weeks up the Californian / Oregonian coastline for the completion of a project on the American West.
Happy travels to you all and watch out for the next update from on the road…!
Jaspal
August 05, 2009
July 26, 2009
The Joy of Analogue
Each year before the summer rush, I normally send my camera’s off to be serviced. As I was looking though the last service log (which involved extreme cold weather preparation for Norway), I noticed the results of a shutter test for one of my Linhof lenses.
In this relentlessly digital world, it is just a joy to see some true analogue randomness. In particular, I will feel humble knowing that every time I need to shoot at 1/500 of a second, I’ll be almost fifty percent out from my original intention!
So much for the photographer being in control of the photograph :-)
July 20, 2009
Wast Water, England
After receiving a request to show more UK content on this stream-of-consciousness, here is a newly processed scan from Wast Water in the Lake District of England.
Although Fuji Velvia was working hard to cope the with dynamic range, the dramatic light and awe-inspiring view of Red Pike, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Scafell Pike more than make up for any shortcomings...
Hope you enjoy!
July 05, 2009
June 08, 2009
An Icy Inspiration
Have just returned from New York and spent most of the last few days finalizing an exhibition later on this year and a rather large one early next.
In short, too much time away from the camera makes Jack a dull boy….I need some icy inspiration!
May 24, 2009
Desktop Photography
I am often fond of saying that the Internet is the best camera accessory known to Man.
To this end, I was researching a few locations in North America recently and thought it would be fun to ‘re-visit’ a few places via Google Earth. In a quite remarkable display of modern technology, I was able to view the very cover of Natural Wonders with an incredible degree of detail and clarity.
I am not sure if we should worry about this or not because as soon as we start to incorporate things like the weather and lighting, we may end up taking pictures from behind our computer instead of behind the lens!
(Download Google Earth, Natural Wonders Cover File, Complete Natural Wonders File)
May 15, 2009
Natural Wonders: Daily Express Review
“A stunning collection of landscape photography from around the world by a British photographer whose passion for the environment and the problems it faces shine through. From the European Alps to the reds and golds of the Grand Canyon at sunset, to foam-fringed coral islands and the flickering lights of the Aurora Borealis, Jandu has captured the beauty of our world with originality and imagination.”
May 11, 2009
Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams
Have only just finished going through the post-exhibition workload, I looked out of the window the other day to find that Spring has well and truly sprung!
The beautiful transition from Winter to Summer is now in full bloom and I have managed to sneak out a few times under the pretence of ‘taking a break’. I am now back online now after two spells abroad so more Spring images soon...
April 26, 2009
Natural Wonders: Mail On Sunday Review
An Inspired Portfolio To Broaden Your Horizons
Many photographers will tell you colour pictures never have the impact of black and white. But no one, apparently, told Jaspal Jandu.
He spent four years crossing six continents to assemble an amazing portfolio of stunningly colourful studies in his trademark panoramic format. And now he has published them as imposing double-page spreads in 'Natural Wonders: A Panoramic Vision' to coincide with a London exhibition of his work.
From the sweeping, burned expanses of Namibia to the thundering beauty of Victoria Falls; from the icy grandeur of the Scottish highlands in winter to the serenity of Mount Fuji at dawn, pictured here, they'll take your breath away.
April 12, 2009
Natural Wonders: The Exhibition
Two weeks and over six thousand guests later and I think we can categorically say that the Natural Wonders exhibition and book launch has been a rip-roaring success! Many thanks to all of you who attended and please find some initial thoughts from the show...
April 07, 2009
An enormous thanks to you all...
“I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.” William Shakespeare
Rest assured that I am getting through all your email messages and personal requests following the big exhibition. Given that things have gone stratospheric in the past month, I will be posting a much fuller update as soon as can…!
March 31, 2009
March 28, 2009
Book Release!
What can I say? It’s been one of the most eventful weeks in my life.
Natural Wonders has been released and the exhibition has opened with real bang. The reception to the book is surpassing my wildest expectations with The Guardian and Wanderlust already picking it up.
There is much more coverage to come and I will post further updates on the release, the exhibition and the exciting plans for this year as soon as I can.
Stay tuned….
March 21, 2009
‘Creation’ - Signature Image
I am often asked about the story behind the signature image of the new book ‘Natural Wonders’. In short, it was taken from Point Imperial, Grand Canyon and represents the most incredible sunrise I have ever experienced.
The viewpoint itself is the highest point on either rim of the Canyon and even during the harsh midday light commands majestic views of the Painted Desert to the east, Mount Hayden to the southeast and Saddle Mountain to the northeast. Arising early, I had already noticed a thin ‘slit’ in the clouds which would allow the sun to shine through if the timing was right. However, the pre-dawn darkness did not allow me to fully appreciate the level of haze in the Canyon itself and as the sun eventually burst through, crepuscular rays (also known as ‘God rays’) began to flood the scene.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment of total focus and unbridled awe. I knew instantly that it would make a timeless image and I truly hope you can see it printed over 6ft wide at the new exhibition…
March 15, 2009
Natural Wonders : The Exhibition
It’s all coming together. The Natural Wonders book will be launched this week and I am busy putting the final touches to my first solo exhibition in London. Although there are a few small things to iron out (when isn’t there in life?), I do feel like an expectant father about reveal the new born he’s been watching gestate for four years!
Goethe noted that “..thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.” To this end, if you are hoping to attend then please make sure to come up and say ‘Hi’ in person. Remember, this is also a time for me to meet all those of you who share my awe at Nature’s unrivalled beauty.
Kindest regards and see you there!
Jaspal
info@jaspaljandu.com
March 10, 2009
About
- Jaspal Jandu is a landscape photographer based in the UK who specialises in the panoramic format. Join his stunning journey around the world via this blog.
