And The Winner Is … Someone Else!

Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 0 comments

Is your first name Loren, perchance? And does your last name begin with a W? If so, you just may be the winner of Steve’s Digicams killer computer giveaway (described here on Monday). But if you are not Loren W. then you didn’t win this time (and James H. is not even close to a winner … sniff, sniff). Better luck to all the rest of us in the future.

But just when your dreams were shattered, along comes a new teaser to pick them up again. Photoshop CS5 was a fantastic winner of an upgrade just for the Content Aware Fill feature alone. Now Adobe is readying Photoshop CS6 (or whatever it may be named) for release in the not-too-distant future. And today I have a sneak peek at what that version’s Camera Raw will include (hint: you have seen some of the changes already in the Lightroom 4 beta release). But any new version of Photoshop is pretty exciting to me, so here is a peek at some of what is to come:

And I have a confirmation from Nikon Rumors that February 7th is indeed announcement day in Japan for the D800 (Coolpix updates to be released a week earlier). You already know the exciting news that it will be a whopping 36 megapixels, so now all that really counts is if the rumored MSRP is around that magic $3,000 figure. If so, get in line and get in line fast, because these cameras are going to be in very, very short supply with those specs.

And, for you die-hard Canon fans, here is a link to Canon Rumors. They have another hot-off-the-presses rumor about the 5D Mark III (pixels and frame rate). I have never gotten the Canon nomenclature down pat, but this promises to be a heckuva camera.

And, finally for a Freaky Friday Special, click on this link to the photos of one Dennis Maitland, a photographer with a flair for high places. I got that funny feeling in my stomach just looking at these self-portraits, let alone be tempted to try any myself. But, you may be the more daring type … and you must admit, they make for some very compelling images.

Hey, that’s it for this week! Have a great weekend, camera in hand.

And In The Center Ring … The Amazing Joe McNally!

Posted on Jan 26, 2012 | 1 comment

Don’t worry about the ‘why’ right now. You just gotta watch this photo shoot!

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages …. In the center ring we have the one, the only, the amazing Joe McNally! He walks; he talks; he crawls on his belly like a reptile! Oops, wrong tent show. Sorry! But you can’t miss this YouTube video of the amazing Joe McNally shooting the Nikon D4 (and being shot with the equally amazing Nikon D4). This video again points out that all of us who have been looking down our collective noses at video on our DLSRs should perhaps pause a moment or two to re-think that position. This video was put together on Nikon’s D7000 (DX) and D4 (FX) cameras, and the quality is not-to-be-sneered-at. Not by any means.

But what is truly fascinating and truly enjoyable is just to watch Joe put together a photo shoot that the rest of us can only dream about. Like starting with the opening scene: behind me is a circus tent we had put up for the shoot. And followed by: inside is an elephant! And trainer! And other acts that you aren’t going to run into on your average trip downtown. And the images that Joe shoots (the stills) are marvels to me. This is just such a joy to watch that I wanted to share it with you, to demonstrate again the excitement and passion that is today’s world of photography.

And then just a dollop of other news. February 7th seems to be a huge upcoming day in the photo world. Nikon Rumors and Canon Rumors both are expecting that to be the day in Japan where Nikkon’s new D800 and Canon’s new 5D Mark III are showcased. There will be other announcements of all kinds right about then, since that is the next big photo show in the world (in Japan this time around).

If you latch on to any of the Big Two’s latest and greatest DLSRs you’ll be interested in the latest and greatest Lexmark CompactFlash cards. Click on this link to Rob Galbraith to see some startling fast read-and-write times, all suited for the top DLSRs in the world. This is an amazing time to be a photographer (with some relatively deep pockets).

And, finally … the pole cam. Wedding photographer David Ziser (he is good, folks) has a rig that he uses for overhead shots during the events he shoots. It’s a bit different, and a lot of clients like things that are a little bit different. Or, what I was thinking, was that this technique might be valuable for some non-event situations where you want or need just a bit more perspective. Or a bit different perspective. Something that will make your image stand out from all those other images. It requires only a pole of some kind (a monopod will do), a flash and knowing how to set the self-timer on your camera. Easy enough. Click here for a link to David’s site and check out The Pole Cam!

Canon Speedlite Tutorials … For Nikonians, Too!

Posted on Jan 25, 2012 | 0 comments

Bonus section: In the market for a new photo printer? Read on…

I found this neat little series from Canon and Bruce Dorn (no, Bruce Dern is the actor; Bruce Dorn is the photographer) on speedlite technique. It is a series in-the-making, as more sophistocated ones are in the pipeline. But this is worth bookmarking and keeping an eye on, as Bruce goes over some basics that are good refreshers and some equipment that may be new to many of us and promises some more advanced shoots that may be new to a lot of us. And don’t fret if you shoot with speedlights (Nikon) instead of speedlites (Canon). Small off-camera flash is small off-camera flash; good techniques is good technique. And inspiration for a setup or a shoot is where you find it. So click here for a link to Canon’s site (I especially enjoyed the very last video in the series-to-date).

In the market for a home photo printer, either as an upgrade or for the first time? Don’t have a budget of $1,500 or $2,000 or more? Neither do I, so I was looking for a photo printer worthy of clients who expect a really good print, at a price I (and they) could afford. And I think I found one … the Epson R3000.

Now, this is an $820 printer, and I know that is not cheap (okay, inexpensive). But there is a rebate of $200 from now until February 29th, and $620 (plus FREE shipping) all of a sudden becomes much more reasonable for a photo printer that will not disappoint you or your clients (as long as you restrict your printing to 13″ wide printing). Click on this link to B&H Photo for more details and some pretty thorough reviews, including details on the rebate. And if you would like to see the printer in action from a real pro (RC Concepcion of the Kelby Group) click here for a link to him and a series of YouTube videos from which you can pick and choose.

I mention this printer because the rebate is a real deal and won’t last forever. Also, the true end result of what we do as shooters usually is in the final print, something tangible to hang on the wall. If you ever are approached by those who admire your work and would like to purchase a copy of that perfect shot, you already know the satisfaction of handing over that print. This printer from Epson may be just what you have been looking for, at a new and affrodable price.

D4 Video … And Some Other Stuff

Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 0 comments

The video above was shot using Nikon’s new top-of-the-line DLSR, the D4. It also was shot by one of my favs, Joe McNally. What is interesting is the quality of that video, given that Joe freely admits he is no videographer. Nikon has been touting the video chops of this new marvel (as have been some of the true professional video guys), and it is pretty easy now to see why. If you are not into video at all (and I admit that I am not), perhaps it is time to give that stance a little more thought.

One overlooked part of the beta release of Adobe’s must-have program, Lightrrom 4: it doesn’t work with Microsoft Windows XP. I forgot to mention that. Nobody really played that fact up very much in the hoopla surrounding the beta version’s recent release. And some of you aren’t too happy about that fact, especially since we all can read between the lines – don’t expect the final, official release to work on XP, either. Click here for a link to Matt Kloskowski (Photoshop Guy and Lightroom guru) for an explanation direct from Adobe on why … and why Matt agrees with the decision.

And for all you Canon fans, news about the highly anticipated 5D Mark III. Canon Rumors has contact upon contact in that part of the world, and what they are hearing is that the rumored 30+ megapixel count for the new kid on the block actually will be more in the neighborhood of 21 or 22 MP. That makes sense to me given that the new Nikon D4 came out at 16 (up from the D3 lineup’s 12.1). Click here for a link to Canon Rumors and when you may expect the newest marvel to become available.

Finally, if you read Scott Kelby yesterday you saw a list of his favs from 2011 (from photo-related to well, not-so-photo-related). One site he mentioned that is worth visiting at least once in a while is that of blamethemonkey (I know, I know … but a rose by any other name and all that). There are some great images to digest and deconstruct, a tactic I urge regularly for improving your own shooting. Click here for a link and give some thought to bookmarking it for a look-see every so often.

Okay, that’s it. Onward to Tuesday, camera in hand.

One More Contest

Posted on Jan 23, 2012 | 0 comments

This is NOT a computer. It is just another pretty image from me.

One more contest/giveaway today, but it ends at midnight tonight. You MUST sign up today, prior to midnight, or you cannot sign up at all. So what, you ask? Well, this giveaway features a computer from the most respected folks at Steve’s Digicams … and not just any computer. This is is complete with 16 gigs of RAM, TWO 2 TB hard drives, an i-7 processor and much, much more. All those goodies are worth taking a moment to enter, are they not?????

Click on this link to Steve’s Digicams (one of my go-to sites) and leave a comment in the forum thread (you do have to register as a user to do so). That’s it! Nothing else! Then just sit back and wait for your new computer to arrive. I entered some time ago and I have NOT received any pesky spam or sales calls or any other type of followup. The winner will be announced tomorrow and the computer will be shipped to that lucky person within the week. Thank you, Steve!

It’s Monday. What could brighten your week more than a new, fast, FREE computer? Sign up now.

Win A Nikon D700 Or A Canon 5DMKII And Lens: Your Choice!

Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 0 comments

Here is a neat way to begin your weekend: enter a FREE giveaway from MCP Actions by simply listing your name and email address and possibly win a FREE Nikon D700 or a FREE Canon 5DMKII (and FREE 85mm f/1.8 lens)! And did I mention that it is FREE?

Click here to visit the MCP Actions website. At the bottom of the page is a box where you just enter your name and email address and hit the Enter now! button. That’s it; you are entered. In fact, you can earn extra chances if you want to do a bunch of Twitter or Facebook stuff, but that’s up to you. I’m happy to enter and then sit back and wait for the package to arrive … sometime around February 22nd, I am guessing (because the contest ends on the 19th). Now, there are only going to be about a gazillion entries, but someone is going to win. And your entry could just be the one! Let me put it this way: you have nothing to lose and a new camera to possibly gain. So what are you waiting for?

Good luck and have a great weekend, camera in hand.

Odds And Ends

Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 0 comments

My losing contest entry.

Just a few odds and ends today … mostly odds.

The Rick Sammon contest I posted a few days ago (click here if you have forgotten)? I didn’t win (darn it). But, frankly, my attempt (pictured at the top today) isn’t as good as the eventual winner’s. Click here to see the winning entry.

Moose Peterson is dropping the price on his used (but described as mint) D3s, from $4400 to $4100 (shipping is extra). He wrote that,”(a)nd despite vast web rumors, I’m just selling gear, not replacing it with anything new.” The Moose (as he likes to refer to himself) wrote just a few days ago, however, that he is going to be getting a D4 when they actually ship (“I will have a D4 and will be selling my D3s”). If I were in the market for a D3s I would look elsewhere than a shooter who takes about a gazillion shots each year with his cameras. And I would look for a much more reasonable price than $4100. And I would make sure the person selling it wasn’t saying one thing one day and a different thing soon after. And I would look for a seller who avoids referring to himself in the third person. If that were me ….

And, finally, yesterday I referred you to Scott Kelby’s site for a valuable list of 10 tips for making your portfolio better in 2012 (click here if you missed that list). Well, recommendations 3 and 9 from that list both can be accomplished (daily in fact) by checking out 500px (click here then bookmark that site). I have recommended this site previously; now I have another reason to do so, the out-of-town expert who wrote the tips and tricks for 2012. I told you so ….

Improve Your Portfolio … Old Tips, Good Advice

Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 0 comments

Not every image will work when you stretch yourself a bit.

I have repeated myself over and over on a few subjects these past couple of years (I know, I know … kind of like deja vu all over again. Insert chuckle here). But there are a few exercises that are not new that bear repeating, certainly to myself when I grow stale of tired of my own images. One that I preach is to study the work of others. There are some absolutely fantastic, wonderful, knock-’em-dead photographers out there from whom you may draw inspiration. Another is to deconstruct photos that draw your attention/catch your eye. Why does that image work? What draws you personally to it? Can you tell how it was put together inside and outside of the camera? Streeeeeeeeetch yourself once in a while by shooting something outside your comfort zone. You just may surprise yourself by picking up a new technique or two. These are recommendations I have been writing for two years now … but I feel sometimes like a voice in the wilderness.

But, now comes an expert (that person from another town or another state) to give you a list of tips for improving your portfolio (and, thus, your overall shooting skills). Lindsay Adler is her name, and she is a successful fashion photographer in NYC. How do I know that? She is the guest blogger on Scott Kelby’s site today (and he has an eye for talent). If you already have visited his site today and read that blog then you already have the ten tips safely stored away somewhere. If not, click here to read them now. They will reinforce what I have been writing for some time because now you have a genuine expert saying them, Lindsay Adler.

My take on this? Don’t just look at the pretty pictures and scan the tips. Read them and take them to heart. They fit right into the 2012 resolutions I suggested at the start of this year. Stretch, grow, practice, learn. And do so by seriously taking Lindsay’s advice today. She knows her stuff.

Our First Lightroom 4 Preset … And, Need A Beer Coozy Here!

Posted on Jan 17, 2012 | 0 comments

Preset today courtesy of Matt Kloskowski!

Last week we all downloaded the new Adobe Lightroom 4 beta software (c’mon, you DO use Lightroom and you DID download the beta, didn’t you?). It is an improved, more responsive program than version 3. This is an official pronouncement by me, even prior to the formal and official release (probably sometime in March) … this is an upgrade worthy of your precious dollars. That said, Matt Kloskowski (original Photoshop Guy and very fine photographer) has generously provided us with the very first preset for version 4. Click here to download this HDR-like preset (you can preview before and after images there, also). This preset obviously takes advantage of the new sliders for whites and blacks, a most welcome advancement. Thank you, Matt!

Nikon Rumors believes there is at least some chance that Nikon is going to make more than one product announcement prior to the first week in February. Those in-the-know folks are expecting the D800 to be showcased that month; stay tuned, Nikon fans, to see what else may be in the pipeline in the next two weeks. And … and Nikon Rumors also is posting a purported advance order receipt for a store in Houston for that much-anticipated camera (click here). And for the reasonable price of $2,699.99! At that price and with 36 megapixels I predict the D800 is going to give the new D4 a real run for its money.

Finally, since it has turned into Nikon day around here, Moose Peterson has one of his Nikon D3s’ for sale for $4,400 (claiming it to be in mint condition). My guess is that the D3s is going to start turning up in ever-increasing numbers on the web once the D4 actually ships. Moose is just jumping ship early, hoping to get a pretty high price before everyone else puts their cameras up for sale. Click here if you are interested (but be advised there are going to be better prices pretty soon for the same camera). Just sayin’ ……

And, finally … last night I watched noted wedding photographer David Ziser conduct a posing/composition class over on Kelby Training (yes, the same site I’ve recommended over and over for two years now). One neat (cheap!) tip he passed on was cutting the bottom out of any old beer coozy laying around the house and using it as a snoot for your speedlight. Cool! You probably are familiar with the quite expensive speedlight modifiers sold by David Honl and the Rogue Benders from Expo Imaging. Before you order from either of those sites give David’s trick the old college try. The taken-for-granted beer coozy fit just fine, worked just fine, and probably was free. Hey, just another part of good living brought to you by the makers of beer.

Foto Shop? And Photoshop 6.

Posted on Jan 16, 2012 | 0 comments

Yes, Foto Shop is here for all of us who need ‘just a little work’ to be at our very best. This is a fun way to begin the week (and an amazing not-so-secret secret of all the stars and fashion magazines). Enjoy!

And a note from the real Photoshop crew … you undoubtedly read a few weeks ago that Adobe was planning to change how upgrades to Photoshop were to be handled in the future. As in, unless you kept current with each successive version you had to start over each time and pay full price? Well, the uproar and outrage caught Adobe’s ear (thankfully). Adobe heard you (and me and Scott Kelby and everyone else) and has changed their plan. They now will extend discounts to CS3 and CS4 owners for a limited time. Just how much that discount will be is something that is yet-to-be-announced. Adobe says that the discounted offer will be available from the time CS6 is released until December 31, 2012. Hey, Adobe … thank you!

Cameras And Lightroom … My, Oh My!

Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 0 comments

A good weekend for shooting photos … inside!

The big Lightroom announcement is over, but the news keeps coming. There are lots of new features and improvements in an already top-drawer program, so there are lots of new features and improvements to learn. Julieanne Kost is a fine instructor who really knows her Adobe products (she works for Adobe). That means she really knows Lightroom 4 already. Click here to view a series of short videos from Julieanne on all the new stuff in the beta download. Let me just add for about the two-zillionth time … if you are NOT already using Lightroom and you ARE a photographer, shame on you. This is a must-have, must-use program.

I recently have given you places to check for the latest from the big Consumer Electronics Show going on out in Vegas. Let me add another, a fun one. The creative folks over at Photojojo consistently come up with photo-related products that you just don’t see anywhere else. They have done the same for CES. Click here for a short tour of products that may catch your interest, even if they don’t capture your wallet. For example, how about a wrist remote control for your GoPro wireless remote camera? Or the Tamaggo, a 360 degree pano camera the size of an egg? Hey, there just may be something here for you for 2012!

And, finally … I have a friend who is about as goofy over new gear as all the rest of us. This is for him (okay, I admit it. And for myself). David Hobby over at The Strobist has a short article and images on something new in fashion photography. He features a photog using an inexpensive laser pointer with a head that breaks up the beam into patterns. This guy has been experimenting with using the laser as another light source/ accessory-of-sorts. Being into portraits, I took a look. Being into buying photo equipment, I took a look. being into portraits that I admire, I got right back out. Click here to take a peek at this new (?) technique. My last comment will be an old standby: I know you can, but why would you want to?

Happy Friday. Here’s to a great weekend, camera in hand.

Happy Birthday … Kevin Kubota … Bill Fortney

Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 0 comments

Happy birthday! No, not to Kevin Kubota (I have no idea when he was born). Nor to my dear friend and mentor Bill Fortney (his is next month). No, it is Happy Birthday to myself (it was yesterday, actually). So thank you for both the cards (thanks, Mom. Thanks, Sue.) and the well-wishes (many of you). It was a most enjoyable day, despite the rainy skies. My lovely wife surprised me with a book dealing with lighting and lighting setups. That’s where Kevin Kubota comes in.

The book is Kevin Kubota’s Lighting Notebook: 101 Lighting Styles and Setups for Digital Photographers. I have read most of it (since I had the day to myself) and I am going to recommend it to you if you are a portrait photographer, since this book deals with lighting people in various situations. It begins with sort of a primer on lighting. Then it covers lighting equipment (including various kits ranging in price from low to pretty high). Then it deals with the promised 101 setups, including production shots, diagrams, equipment lists and the photo that was produced. He also includes another finished image that was further enhanced using filters and plugins. Obviously there are lots of setups that you can borrow from and just as obviously not every setup will be one that appeals to you. That’s why there are 101, apparently.

I really like the format. The production shots make the setups extremely clear and easy to follow. The text explanations give you a glimpse into the ‘why’ and not just the’how’. This is a field guide more than a text book or photo book. I am filing away written and mental notes on setups that appeal to me and lend themselves to the type of image I want to produce. And a nice bonus is that the book goes for only $19.21 over on Amazon (click here to see inside and read more details). That is a most reasonable price for a book that may lead to a bunch of new portraits for you and your clients.

Now, one caveat. Many reviewers complained over at Amazon that the really nice finished images that Kevin showed were finished with Photoshop or Lightroom actions and presets developed by and sold by Kevin himself. They felt he stepped over the line, apparently, between photographer and salesman. Yes, Kevin does that. But he first shows you the image produced by the lighting setup, sans any filters or post-processing. It didn’t bother me, but then I almost always do at least some processing after a shoot. My personal goal is to produce the best image I possibly can. I assume Kevin wants to do the same. So be prepared for that little nit-pick; if you are not a fan of post-processing, you’ll just have to overlook that tendency. To me it was no big deal.

Click here to visit Kevin’s site and see some examples of pages and what I am referring to. This is a worthwhile book. It’s not as good nor as valuable as Joe McNally’s latest (Sketching Light), but it a keeper for my reference shelf, no doubt.

And, no leaving without sending you over to Bill Fortney’s website where he has a short post explaining the driving principles behind His Light workshops (click here). You may read this post and decide the workshops are not for you. That would be a terrible mistake, but Bill is up front on what you can benefit from and enjoy from his instruction. I want to recommend any of the workshops he puts on, with no exceptions and no conditions. Bill’s next workshop is in Old car City (in White, Ga, just north of Atlanta). Read about the experience by clicking here and contact Bill at billfortney@earthlink.net if you are at all interested. The workshop is in March and there are only about three spots left.

Okay, if it is YOUR birthday today … Happy Birthday! If not, just have a good day, camera in hand.

Lightroom 4 … The Beginning

Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 0 comments

If this morning you stumbled out of that cave you’ve been living in for the past few years … if this morning you awoke from a deep sleep of those same years … if this morning you got your computer back from the repair shop where it had been sitting on the shelf, then you must be wondering what is all the excitement about? Is it Nikon’s D4? Nah, that was released way back on January 6th. Is it the Consumer Electronics Show from Vegas? Nah, who needs another 19 new compact cameras in hot pink colors? No, the BIG news is the release of Lightroom 4 in beta form.

Adobe’s Lightroom is the go-to program for importing, organizing and processing photos without relying exclusively on Photoshop. It is easy to use, full of features, and affordable. And now it is getting even better. Adobe releases Lightroom to the public for testing just before the final version is boxed up and sent out for downloading. Anyone, even you, can download the beta version for free, use it, test, report back to Adobe about what you like and don’t like, and process all the photos you wish … for free! Now, not every feature is in its final form. There may be additions, and there certainly will be tweaks and refinements. But you get a free sneak preview, a free program that works, a free program to use as you wish until the beta testing ends. Thank you, Adobe.

The reps don’t want to announce a release date for the final version yet. But the beta testing ends march 31st. Hey, I can figure this one out … the final version will hit the newsstands prior to that March date. No word on the price yet, but figure about $199 straight up, about $99 for the upgrade. Quite reasonable for this power-packed program, believe me. So, what is all the hoopla about?

Click here to visit the Luminous Landscape. There you will find a very informative 22-minute video on What Is New In Lightroom 4? It makes for easy viewing, lots of information. Then click here to skip over to the NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) site for a whole series of short videos that deal with specific parts of the new Lightroom. These videos feature Matt Kloskowski and Scott Kelby, two guys that really know Lightroom. Pick and choose the topics you are most interested in or just watch them all. And, of course, you definitely will want to click here to visit the Adobe site and download the new version for your own personal and up close look-see. I watched some of the breaking news earlier today and I gotta tell ya – this is an upgrade you definitely will want to have.

And … and, there still is even a little bit of other photographic news. There is the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show out in Vegas, a showcase for cameras and camera-makers. Click here to visit 1,001 Noisy Cameras (catchy name, eh?) for all the breaking news. There are lots and lots of announcements daily, but most have been overshadowed by news from the big boys.

There is a lot for you to look at and take in today. But, hey … what could be more fun on a rainy day?

Cool Contest … And Other Stuff

Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 0 comments

A contest entry I have been playing with. Click on image for a good look..

I have a cool contest for you today (I actually thought it was cool myself, and didn’t just steal my post title from Rick Sammon). And you can have fun with Photoshop and Nik Software in the process. And maybe win an autographed copy of Rick Sammon’s book, Exploring the Light. Cool!

Here’s the lowdown: click here to visit Rick’s site. Copy the two low-res images he has over to your desktop (you can just drag them). Then use Photoshop (or Elements) to put the images together anyway you want in any size you want to form any composition you want. Then use Nik’s Color Efex pro 4 to craft the final photo. Post that somewhere for Rick to view and he will choose a winner some time after January 16th. Cool! Don’t have the Nik software, you say? No problem. Click here to download a fully-functioning trial to use for this contest. It’s free!

Are you a Canon fan feeling neglected what with all the Nikon D4 hub-bub out there? Cheer up! Today we have some pretty exciting news for all fans of Canon’s G line of advanced do-all-easy-carry cameras (the G9, G10, G11 and current G12). The new carry-all should appeal to those who want near-DLSR performance in a small package without the hassle of carrying extra lenses around. Click here to preview the Canon Powershot G1X. My wife shoots with a G11, and I don’t mind admitting – it is a very nice camera indeed. The new one promises better performance and lots and lots of controls.

And here’s one that I know absolutely nothing about … except the most-intriguing teaser. It is from Kelby Training (one of the sites I keep urging you to visit). Click here just to read the teaser at the top of the page, although it may be gone by the time you read this. Those good folks are promising a BIG, HUGE (their words) surprise for this morning at 10AM. No idea what it is, but I admit that they have me hooked. Be there at ten to see what all the hoopla is about.

And … I just can’t help it. Here is one more feature about that darned new D4. Click here to watch a video shot entirely with the new camera. Everybody is raving about this new camera’s video capabilities, and I guess I know why after watching this. Just sayin’ ………..

And, and ………. one more reminder as you do your 2012 workshop planning. You will NEVER meet a finer man or better photographer than Bill Fortney. You will NEVER shoot with a more sincere, helpful, fun group than the ones Bill puts together for his workshops. And you will NEVER get a better chance to shoot HDR images and learn HDR skills than by going with Bill and Jim Begley to just outside of Atlanta, Ga to visit Old Car City. Click here for the info from Bill and a wonderful chance to improve your skills.

Okay. Whew! That’s it for today. Happy Tuesday, camera in hand.

CES … The Consumer Electronics Show

Posted on Jan 9, 2012 | 0 comments

The new Nikon D4 pretty much sucked the air out of the photo world last week. But there is other news out there; there are other companies still making things. So let’s take a look at some of that other news from last week.

The first is from Fuji. Last week they released a rather staggering number of cameras destined to make their public appearance at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (scheduled for Las Vegas from January 10-13), 19 to be exact. It is beyond me to describe all 19 (is there really the need and demand for 19 new compact cameras?), but the excellent folks over at dpreview have done so. Just click here to visit their site, then scroll down until you see the first of a long list of Fuji camera announcements. The cameras range from compacts to super zooms, from entry models to the highend stuff. If you are in the market for a new camera, or if you just are a Fuji fan, take a look.

Next is a line of new display calibrators, from laptops to desktops to iPads and iPhones. The Spyder 4 line comes in Express, Pro and Elite models. Datacolor, the Spyder series manufacturer, is known for quality and ease-of-use. You absolutely must calibrate you devices to produce proper images, whether for print or screen. If you are not calibrating your devices, shame on you. If you are, consider if it is time to consider an upgrade. In either event, click here to take a look at the new Spyder line. And for a review of the new line from Imaging Resource, click here and get an inside look at the devices.

If you are not completely tired of D4 news, Thom Hogan has promised to provide his take on the new camera. Thom really knows Nikon, the company and the products. He is a most candid writer, not always the most complimentary toward them. It may be most interesting to read what he has to say today. Click here if you are interested.

And then click here for more from Bill Fortney, my dear friend and mentor. I have told you over and over, if Bill says something, then that is exactly what you may count on. He answers a few more questions about the D4 and whether or not one is the right camera for you.

So, Happy Monday. May the coming week be a most enjoyable one, camera in hand.