To be eligible for nomination the photographer must have at least ten years of feature film experience, receive sponsorship from two existing members and submit a portfolio for review by the Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers.

Jasin and Matt are thrilled to have been accepted into the exclusive organisation:

“To be made a member of The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers is a colossal honour, It seems like yesterday that I was shooting on the set of ‘The Matrix’ and to now have my work recognised by the most influential photographers in the film Industry is humbling to say the least” says Jasin.

Matt shares the sentiment, “There is not a great deal of official recognition for the production Still photographer out there, to even get a photo credit is rare. It is therefore great to connect with my colleagues working in this incredibly specialised field of photography and be invited into what is a very prestigious club.”

Both photographers have had extensive experience working on a number of Australian and international feature films. Matt Neitheim’s credits include Somersault, Little Fish, Bran Nue Dae, Hot Fuzz and Where the Wild Things Are while Jasin Boland has worked on a international blockbusters including The Matrix trilogies, The Bourne Ultimatum, Green Zone, Karate Kid and The Mummy 3.

Press release from NIX Co. To view the original article click here.

Raise it to your eyes and the world opens up, crystal clear and in gorgeous colours.

There’s nothing quite like getting your mitts on a beautifully made digital single-lens-reflex (D-SLR) camera.

It has been a while since that certain photographic yearning last came over Doubleclick.

But come back that yearning surely did the other day when Nikon handed around its latest D-SLR, dubbed the D90, at a glitzy affair in Sydney’s Walsh Bay precinct.

Digital SLRs (cameras that have interchangeable lenses and large image sensors to capture more detail) don’t sell as well as the cheaper compact models. A compact costs about $200, slips into a pocket or handbag, and can be hoicked out and fired off in a flash.

D-SLRs won’t fit into a pocket. You need to tote a camera bag or maybe a backpack and you’ll certainly spend a minute or two fiddling with the controls and framing your shot.

The pros think nothing of shelling out $7000 to $8000 for a top-end SLR, and that’s without a lens. You don’t need to spend anything like that for the latest semi-pro models, such as the Nikon D90 or Canon EOS 50D, which are about to slug it out in the Australian market, and both are packed with features that make them sophisticated yet simple to use.

The D90 is said to be the first SLR that shoots cinematic quality movies and stills.

You can only shoot five minutes at a time, and you have to focus manually, but the D90 has a far bigger image sensor and better lenses than most camcorders, and shoots at a smooth 24 frames per second.

You can even record the results in high-definition for viewing on an HD TV. Some results we saw projected on to a large screen at the D90 launch were stunning in their clarity and gorgeous tones, although we note they were shot by one of Australia’s top professionals: Jasin Boland, who specialises in still photography at leading movie shoots.

Natch, most customers will buy a D90 for taking stills, not video.

Framing still shots is a joy using the D90′s classy 3 inch colour display. No need to squint through the eyefinder: the Live View gives you a big, crisp picture that’s accurate.

The autofocus system has three modes, including face priority, which detects up to five faces and focuses on the nearest.

There’s 12.3 megapixel resolution, 4.5 frames per second shooting, automatic image processing to ensure fine details and smooth tones, a system for shaking dust off the lens and in-camera editing.

The D90 will go on sale in Australia in mid-September. A body-only camera will sell for a recommended $1549. An extra $300 will buy an 18mm-105mm zoom lens, or for $1899 you can opt for dual lenses, an 18mm-55mm wide-angle and a 55mm-200mm telephoto.

Canon’s new EOS 50D D-SLR, due later in the year, will come with even higher resolution, 15.1 megapixels, and will shoot 6.3 frames per second. It will feature HD still output and Live View, but no movie capture.

Part 2

To launch the Nikon Ambassador program, seven dedicated photographers have been selected based on their commitment to the art of photography and their allegiance to the Nikon brand. Ranging from diverse backgrounds and specialities, the Ambassadors vary from Wedding and Sports to Photojournalism, Portraiture and Movie Stills.

“Nikon Ambassadors live and breathe photography, they all share an addictive passion for creating magical images and, of course, they love Nikon products.” said Nick Segger, Senior Marketing Manager at Nikon Australia.

“The Ambassadors have been selected because they are experts, masters and innovators in their chosen field of photography. Their dedication and commitment to photography is not only Australian based but also respected globally. Our Ambassadors are dedicated Nikon users and leaders in their disciplines having been highly awarded and praised their services and contributions to the photographic community.”

The Nikon Ambassadors will be the heart and soul of Nikon by inspiring other photographers through their work. Ambassadors will feature across events such as trade shows, product launches and photography seminars. They will even feature across an array video tutorials and through various online destinations.

View the full article below.