I’ve been playing around with a few camera Apps for the iPhone…so far my favorite is the Instagram. It’s a free App that’s very easy to use and allows you to add filter effects to either your existing photos on your iPhone or take a shot with the Instagram software then add an effect. Personally I like to take the shot with the iPhone camera and then add an Instagram effect, that way you always have an original to go back to. I played with the Instagram extensively during a recent trip to Spain and England…here are my favorite images:

We just finished working on a new Videage for Naples base company Kitchens By Clay, a family owned and run business specializing in custom cabinets. They needed material for the launch of their new website, so it was important that they had both video and high quality stills of the showroom. We were able to give them both on one days shoot. This is the perfect scenario for the Videage:

As a multimedia producer, photographer and lover of all things visual, it’s important for me to be as well rounded as possible in the visual arts.  However, no matter how hard you try to be accomplished there will always be certain genres that ring more true than others. As much as I love film and video, photography is a deep and long-felt passion of mine, so I was thrilled to have a substantial spread of my work published in the December issue of Portfolio magazine. If you get a chance you can check it out…pages 17-27 plus the cover and back page.

I just went to a luncheon hosted by Dede Sweet, owner of Sweet Art Gallery, at a new restaurant called Flava, due to open full time on the 27th Dec. It’s been a while since I put food in my mouth at a restaurant in Naples and said “wow! that’s really good” We had a nice beet/arugula and goat cheese salad to start, which was simple, elegant but still very tasty . The main course was a grilled Salmon Mediterranean which was just wonderful, light, but still very flavorful, perfect for lunch on a sunny day in Naples. The restaurant is tucked away on 7th street, and is elegantly decorated with art supplied by Sweet Art Gallery artists. It has European style outside seating to compliment the restaurant. Manager Veronika and owners Petr and Eva were delightful…we wish them lots of luck…and we will be back!

This time of the year I often get asked “what’s a good camera to buy” and that’s a tough question, like, “what’s a good car to buy” It really comes down to what do you want it to do and where and when will you use it.

There are great point and shoot cameras that can slip into your pocket, like Canon S95 of Nikon Coolpix P300, or you can go for something different like the totally cool, retro looking, Fujifilm FinePix X100 which looks like a Leica from the fifties, but is fully digital. There are mid sized cameras that are small but still feel good in the hand and offer a level of control should you wish to actually “learn” something about the photographic process. This is the area I like the most for convenient, go anywhere, always have on hand, kind of camera. Of course I’m swayed by the fact that these cameras tend to have full manual override, which is nice for a photographer, but they also have the ability to be great “point and shoot” cameras. Of these, my favorite, so far, is the Canon G12. A beautifully made camera that feels good in the hand and takes really really good photographs, plus HD video. One feature I love is the articulated screen that folds out allowing you to hold the camera high above your head or low to the ground, and still be able to see the viewfinder. For a full review check out this site DP Review.

The power of the Videage.

We were asked to shoot a series of powerful portraits and also create a video message that the Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic could use to help raise funds and awareness of their mission to help the medically uninsured. The client ended up with a series of still images of staff, clients and the premises, plus a powerful Videage that has already helped them raise more money and awareness than ever before.

This coming Friday I have some of my latest landscape photography hanging in a show called “In Focus” at the Sweet Art Gallery here in Naples. As a photographer it’s so important to look back at the work and see it progressing, changing…evolving. I’m so excited by what I’ve just framed for the show…it’s the best work yet, even if I say so myself. This short Videage doesn’t have the new pieces in it, I’ll save that until after the show, but I think it’s pretty clear from looking at it that it’s a genre of photography that I truly love, and I feel blessed that I have the opportunity to express that part of me. Thanks to all of you who continue to support my passion.

CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY NOMINATE USA PHOTOGRAPHER GARETH ROCKLIFFE, FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING, AT THE 5TH ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS CUP

LONDON 11/7/2011- Professional photographer Gareth Rockliffe of the USA was presented with the 5th Annual Photography Masters Cup Nominee title in the categories of Fine Art and Nature photography at a prestigious Nomination & Winners Photo Show. The live online ceremony webcast Sunday, October 29, 2011 was attended by photography fans in 83 countries who logged on to see the climax of the industry’s most important event for color photography.

The awards international Jury included captains of the industry ranging from Hasted Hunt Kraeutler in New York, Brancolini Grimaldi, David & Goliath, Simon Studer Art Associates, Stills Gallery to Christie’s in London who honored Color Masters with 272 coveted title awards and 1099 nominees in 18 categories.

“It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 11,321 entries we received this year,” said Basil O’Brien, the awards Creative Director. “Gareth Rockliffe’s photographs “Zig Zag, Manchester, Erosion #1 and Erosion #2,” are exceptional images entered in the Fine art and Nature categories, they represent contemporary color photography at its finest, and we’re pleased to present him with the title of Nominee.”

See the 5th Annual Nominees for Fine Art at: http://www.thecolorawards.com/gallery/index.php?g=n

and the Nominees for Nature Photography at: http://www.thecolorawards.com/gallery/index.php?cid=144

INTERNATIONAL COLOR AWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS CUP is the leading international award honoring excellence in color photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in color photography.

Contact:  Gareth Rockliffe
Telephone: 239-877-4141
Email: garethrockliffe@mac.com
Website: www.garethrockliffe.com

Jan and I recently spent a week on Florida’s “Forgotten Coast” We stayed just outside a wonderful little town called Apalachicola. We were there earlier this year and we swore we would go back and spend some serious time taking photographs of that whole area. We had originally planned a month, but unfortunately work and family commitments cut that stay down to ten days. Still, it was a magical ten days. We took our antique Airstream trailer up to the area and we stayed at a funky campground in Indian Pass. It was rustic, but we had a great location right on the beach looking out at the Apalachicola Bay with St Vincent Wildlife Refuge a stones throw away. We watched dolphins, manatees and a myriad of wildlife right from our Airstream. It was heavenly. Each day I would get up at 5.30 and explore the shoreline looking for the right shot. I have to say it’s hard going to an area and taking photographs site unseen. It usually takes years of living in an area to know just the right places and then go to them when the light is just right. I did get lucky though and I’m pretty sure I’ve added half a dozen images to my portfolio!

We are thrilled that Florida Gulf Coast University is using three of our Videage shows on it’s home page. We’ve been working on the project for a while now and to see the work online on FGCU’s website is a real thrill. Ken Schexnayder, Assistant Vice President for Community Relations and Marketing at FGCU, said “I wanted something different to get our message across, and the Videage did that for us. The subtle blend of stills and video gives a new and fresh look…perfect for a young and rapidly growing university”

We put together a compilation of all three shows so we could share on this blog.

We had the pleasure of photographing rising star Morgan Li recently during his recent visit to Florida. During the shoot he let us listen his song “Can Anybody Tell” I thought it would be cool to share the song with the best shots of the day!

This was an experiment with time lapse photography and slow mo video. I was playing around with both the Canon 5D and the 7D to find out their strengths and weakness’ Love the 5D for time lapse because of it’s full frame sensor and low light sensitivity. The 7D does great slow motion video.