SLIDESHOW

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

NOTICEBOARD

TWIN TOWERS RISE AGAIN

Police photographer Neil Kitson could not believe his eyes on a recent trip to New York. The horrific events of 9/11 changed the New York skyline forever but when the West Yorkshire Police photographer went to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the terror attacks, The Twin Towers made an eerie return.

Mr Kitson was photographing the annual Tribute in Light memorial at Ground Zero when this image was captured - and it was severe weather conditions that temporarily brought the towers back to life.

"Normally the lights are more cylinder-like" said Mr Kitson, a photographer with the force for 20 years. "But because it was raining heavily and there were gale force winds on the night, the wind must have whipped up the clouds and made them look rectangular. "It just looked so real, I couldn't believe it. "It was a dog walker who suddenly shouted, 'Look, the Twin Towers are back', so I just got my camera out and started snapping away".

After he returned from his six-day trip, Mr Kitson sent the pictures to Getty Images only to be told by its New York office that they looked too fake and "too Photoshopped". After having to send the original shots to Getty to prove they were legitimate and with assistance from the London office, the images were finally accepted and will now be permanently marketed by Getty.

Mr Kitson said: "It was so frustrating that they didn't believe me. I thought it was strange that none of the papers the following day had picked up on it so I thought I'd take advantage".

One of his images is now being used to create a postcard which will be sold in the New York Police Department Museum shop. All other proceeds made from his images with Getty will be given to the British Memorial Garden Trust at Hanover Square, New York.


From an article in the Yorkshire Post newspaper, 20 October 2009. By Joanne Ginley.
Posted by Trevor David Betts BA (Hons.) at 17:16
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION

The majority of the images featured on this blog spot were taken on Canon analog 35mm SLR cameras including the following models: Canon A1, Canon AE1 (non-programme) and Canon T90. As such I presently have three T90s and an assortment of Canon FD lens.

The Canon A1 was rendered useless after prolonged exposure to salt spray residue, and the AE1 was never the same after some idiot drove over my camera bag.

Canon FD lenses used include: 28 and 35mm wide angle, 50mm standard, 35-105mm short telephoto zoom and a 70-210mm large telephoto zoom lenses. Also used was a Mamiya 645 with 50 and 80mm lenses. The favourite combination for me is a T90 fitted with the 35-105mm lens with an orange filter.

Hoya orange, red, neutral density, and skylight filters. Hoya and Canon lens hoods. A set of three Hoya Close-up filters (+ 1, 2 and 4). Canon remote cable.

I also have a lovely old Metz 45CT flashgun (you just cannot beat this make and model of flashgun if you ask me). I might have used this for the bounced flash for some of the documentary and portraiture work.

Studio flash used was Courtenay brolly flash (usually just two heads) at Hull Community Artworks studio. Billingham and Oyster camera bags (the Billingham is a old model that I have had for years - lovely bags. The Oyster one is a backpack type bag).

Slik Black Diamond 88 and 500 DX Pro tripods. A Cullmann touring set.

Film used was 35mm with some 120mm. Ilford Delta monochrome negative print film, 100 asa (a few rolls of 400 asa as well). Ilford HP5 and FP4 (400 and 125 asa respectively). Fuji Neopan 400 asa.

Various Fuji colour film. Photographic chemicals: Ilford ID-11 and Microphen film developers. Agfa Rodinal fine grain film developer, and Ilford Hypam fixer.

Photographic paper: Ilford Multigrade IV VC paper, Fibre based VC paper including warm and cool tone. Kentmere Velvet Stipple and Art Document papers. Kodak selenium toner. Barclay and Fotospeed sepia toners, and Colorvir blue toner. Durst M60 and Meopta 5 enlargers fitted with 50 and 80mm Schneider lenses. Kenro negative sheets and Jessops negative folders.

Most of my photography involves the use of the camera being securely mounted to the tripod, with the shutter set to the 10 second delay. I also tend to bracket my exposures (relying on the excellent Canon in-camera meter). My aperture settings are usually between F8 and F22. In the vast majority of cases the very first exposure or shot I take is usually the correctly exposed one.

Finished photographic prints (spotted if needed) and usually at the 10 x 8 inch size are then scanned on an Epsom 1660 photo perfection scanner in Adope Photoshop CS2 at the 5.5 x 3.5 inch size at 150 dpi and 750 x 550 pixels size and saved as for the web. The only thing that is manipulated is the brightness balance and contrast levels.