Performance and perfection

Arthur Pope said that the artist should never write about his art – the artist speaks in terms of his medium. Ansel Adams also said that he cannot tell what a great photograph is. He can answer best by showing a great photograph, not by talking about one. So what about us humble photographers?

Judging by the number of photography blogs (mine included!) most of us are happy to talk about our art, as well as letting it speak for itself. But how do we know what a great photograph is? Is it a perfect balance of composition, light, colour and subject? And what is “perfect” anyway? If you come up with an answer, perhaps you’ll let me know.

In the meantime, here’s a pic from a fantastic French dance troupe performance – there is something about a guy who can balance himself on one hand that screams some sort of perfection to me.

Canon 5DII

Source: www.canon.com/news/2009

TOKYO, May 15, 2009—Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. today announced that the Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera, equipped with a 21.1-megapixel 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor and capable of recording full HD video, has been named “Camera of the Year” in the Camera Grand Prix 2009.

The Camera Grand Prix, the most prestigious award in Japan’s photo industry, is sponsored by the Camera Journal Press Club Japan (CJPC), comprising thirteen photography and camera publications (as of May 2009). The Camera Grand Prix selection committee is made up of chief editors of CJPC member publications, academic experts, technical writers, professional photographers, and representatives from photo-related organizations. The coveted Camera of the Year 2009 was awarded to the most impressive camera released in Japan between April 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009.

The Camera Grand Prix, founded in 1984, marks its 26th anniversary this year. The 2009 Camera of the Year award marks the eighth time that a Canon camera has earned top honors at the Camera Grand Prix, and the first since the top prize went to the EOS-1Ds, the industry’s first professional-model digital SLR camera to feature a 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor.

This year’s title-winning EOS 5D Mark II was recognized for its range of high-performance features, including a newly developed full-size 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, the next-generation DIGIC 4 image processor and a sophisticated Live View function, along with its advanced image quality and ease of use. Additionally, the model earned high marks as the world’s first SLR camera to enable the recording of full HD video as well as for its outstanding cost performance.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II was also recently named “Best Digital SLR Expert in 2009″ in Europe by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), representing 29 photography and imaging magazines across 13 European countries.