Australian_Photography_-_June_2016_

(C. Jardin) #1
Sony adds 300mm zoom
and 50mm prime to
E-mount line-up

Sony has released two new full-frame lenses for its
E-mount camera system, the FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G
OSS telephoto zoom and 50mm F1.8 prime lens.
The new FE 70-300mm F4.5-F5.6 G OSS zoom lens
is Sony’s first E-mount lens to reach a 300mm focal
length. Sony says the new 50mm f1.8 prime lens is
extremely compact, lightweight and affordably priced.
The FE 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G OSS telephoto zoom
lens (model SEL70300G), features four aspherical glass
elements, two ED (extra-low dispersion) glass elements
and Sony’s Nano AR coating, which the maker
says work together to effectively suppress spherical
aberration, distortion, and chromatic aberration.
Local pricing and
availability of the new
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.
G OSS telephoto zoom
lens and FE 50mm
F1.8 prime lens will be
announced soon.

10 AUSTRALIANPHOTOGRAPHY.COM


Quick


snaps


National Photographic Portrait
Prize 2016: Winner announced

An image by Elizabeth Looker, ‘Life Dancers’,
has won the 2016 National Photographic Portrait
Prize which includes a cheque for $25,000 for
the most outstanding photographic portrait. Held
annually, the National Photographic Portrait
Prize seeks to recognise the best in contemporary
photographic portraiture by professional and
aspiring Australian photographers. Looker’s
winning images was selected from 2,000 entries.
It will be on display along with 48 other finalists
at the Portrait Gallery in Canberra until 26 June

2016. The exhibition will then tour to Dubbo


Regional Gallery, Newcastle’s Lovett Gallery,
Port Pirie Regional Gallery, Mildura Arts Centre
and Glenelg Art Gallery in South Australia.
Guest judge Narelle Autio commended the
unspoken emotion of the winning photograph.
“From the moment I saw this photograph, it
captured my attention, and in the end it didn’t
let go,” said Autio. “Beautifully composed,
it offers a stunning tableau of childhood; a
moment grabbed out of the bustle of family life.”
Sean Davey received the Highly
Commended award for his portrait, ‘Asha’, and

receives an Eizo ColorEdge CG277 27-inch
monitor, valued at $3,800. For the first time, an
Art Handler’s award was also announced, and
this went to Matthew Newton for his portrait,
‘On Albatross Island’. Newton picked up
$1,000, courtesy of International Art Services
(IAS) Fine Art Logistics.
More info: portrait.gov.au

Photographers who operate
lightweight drones for commercial
use will no longer need to obtain
a number of regulatory approvals,
under changes announced by
the Civil Aviation Safety
Authorit y (CASA).
The changes, which come into
effect on 29 September 2016, are
designed to cut regulatory costs
for operators of drones weighing less than
2kg. Commercial operators will no longer
require an operator’s certificate and remote
pilot licence to operate commercially.
The new regulations will cover many
popular lightweight drones including the
DJI Phantom; Parrot Bepop and 3DR Solo.
Operators of such aircraft will need
to notify CASA they intend to use their
remotely piloted aircraft for commercial
f lights according to a set of standard
operating conditions. These include: f lying
only in day visual line of sight; below 120
metres; keeping more than 30 metres
away from other people; f lying more than
5.5km from controlled aerodromes and not
operating near emergency situations.
Private landholders will be allowed to
carry out a range of activities on their
own land, without the need for CASA

approvals, including operating remotely
piloted aircraft up to 25kg where no money
is exchanged.
“While safety must always come first,
CASA’s aim is to lighten the regulatory
requirements where we can,” said CASA
Director, Mark Skidmore said.
“The amended regulations recognise the
different safety risks posed by different types
of remotely piloted aircraft.
“People intending to utilise the new very
small category of commercial operations
should understand this can only be done
if the standard operating conditions are
strictly followed and CASA is notified.
Penalties can apply if these conditions are
not met.”
The amended remotely piloted aircraft
regulations take effect on 29 September 2016.
More info: http://www.casa.gov.au

AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY JUNE 2016

A B OV E
Elizabeth Looker has won the $25,000 National
Photographic Portrait Prize for 2016.

CASA set to


cut red tape for


drone operators

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