Selected by jpbernhardt

• Most Topular Stories

• How the Other Half Lives: George Holz' Beyoncé for Spin

  Strobist

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  Photo © George HolzYou know how people on the Strobist Flickr group like to talk about how it is technically possible to shoot blow-away white with just one flash?Yeah, this is not exactly that.Hit the jump for a walk-thru vid for the (ahem, eight-light) shoot, including a key light combo that you're prolly gonna want to rent rather than buy next time you are assigned to shoot Beyoncé. Read more »

• Cliff Mautner on the Nikon D800

  Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider

  Brad Moore

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:02 pm

  What a few days. It’s amazing how much interest a little piece of metal can produce. As a proud member of the team at Kelby Training, I wanted to share my experience with the D800. This project has been going on for many months. i was approached by my good friends at K&L in Tokyo- Nikon’s agency for decades- and was blown away that they asked me to participate with this project. My job was well defined: Use the D800 in a way that utilizes and highlights the latest features the D800 offers in real world wedding conditions that I’d face week in and week out. Simple, right?

• MLP – Alicia Earle Renner

  Moose Peterson's Website

  Moose

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:30 am

  It’s with pride I introduce you to Alicia Earle Renner, our latest finisher of our Master Light Program. Alicia, like MLP participants before her found out that the program and the industry is more challenging then you might think reading the webpage. Alicia brought something new to the program, a photographic presence above and below the water! A Key West resident (and gallery owner), you’ll see Great White Shark photos in her book! Yikes! Enjoy her work here but her best stuff is featured in the upcoming BT Journal soon to go in the mail. Great job Alicia! Next Previous Picture…

• In Today’s News…New Classes at Kelby Training

  Joe McNally's Blog

  Drew Gurian

  6 Feb 2012 | 5:30 am

  Just finished two new classes for Kelby Training, which are in the pipe, and will most likely come out fairly shortly. They’re pretty in depth looks at creating, with just light and a plain wall, an environment in which dancers can thrive, create their own sublime shapes, which then, at camera, you simply hope to capture. I’m a big believer in the fact that when the camera observes a performer, it simply stands in service to their creativity.  Consequently, the best thing a shooter can do is provide a comfortable place for them to experiment, light them simply and well, and then…

• Dope Music Video – Niki & the Dove [via Wintr]

  Chase Jarvis Blog

  Chase

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:15 pm

  Humpday special. Superdope track from band Niki & the Dove, all wrapped up nicely in a superfresh animated video, cooked up by my pals over at Wintr Get it here on iTunes. Featured on The Fader also. ——

• 

  Strobist

• How the Other Half Lives: George Holz' Beyoncé for Spin

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  Photo © George HolzYou know how people on the Strobist Flickr group like to talk about how it is technically possible to shoot blow-away white with just one flash?Yeah, this is not exactly that.Hit the jump for a walk-thru vid for the (ahem, eight-light) shoot, including a key light combo that you're prolly gonna want to rent rather than buy next time you are assigned to shoot Beyoncé. Read more »

• Lighting Inside the Box

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:30 am

  After 15 years of long-term planning (and saving) Susan and I finally took the plunge with a full kitchen remodel. We were really pleased with the results, and at some point I had promised the contractor a nice photo of the final product.In a room like this you are basically illuminating the inside of a box by using hidden lights, which turned out to be an interesting exercise. And it's something I would recommend for just about any photographer. Read more »

• Core Knowledge: Working With Remotes

  2 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  There are two things you should always remember about radio remotes:One, radio can be fickle. This is true whether you are using your time-honored PocketWizards or a brand new Chinese offering.Two, radio waves -- and success with your remotes -- are all about the physics. So a little knowledge can go a long way toward ensuring good range and reliability. Some basics that every lighting photographer should know, inside. Read more »

• Tyler Stableford: Dispatches From the Underground

  30 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

  Aspen, Colorado-based photographer Tyler Stableford generally shoots action and adventure, most of it aboveground. But this shoot for Timberland PRO would send him a half-mile deep into the earth. That far down, before adding light it is absolutely pitch black. As in, you cannot see your hand in front of your face. And the lights the miners use while extracting coal there aren't much friendlier -- low-level, and a mix of tungsten and fluorescents. So Stableford shot the entire campaign working on the edge of the quality envelope, and lighting with only a few speedlights. Read more »

• Q&A: Dealing with Glare from Dark Wood Backgrounds

  26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

  Reader Jefferson, from California in the US, asked via Twitter:"How do you deal with glare on dark wood in background for portraits? Is this covered in Lighting 101 or 102?"Actually, it is covered in L102, if a little obliquely. And yes, pretty much any time you light into dark wood as a background you are gonna get some blowback.But rather than look at this as a problem, I prefer to think of it as a feature… Read more »

• 

  Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider

• Cliff Mautner on the Nikon D800

  Brad Moore

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:02 pm

  What a few days. It’s amazing how much interest a little piece of metal can produce. As a proud member of the team at Kelby Training, I wanted to share my experience with the D800. This project has been going on for many months. i was approached by my good friends at K&L in Tokyo- Nikon’s agency for decades- and was blown away that they asked me to participate with this project. My job was well defined: Use the D800 in a way that utilizes and highlights the latest features the D800 offers in real world wedding conditions that I’d face week in and week out. Simple, right?

• It’s Free Stuff Thursday!

  Brad Moore

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:01 pm

  Photoshop World DC – 9 Days Left for Early Bird Registration! Photoshop World Washington DC is quickly approaching, and there are only 9 days left to save $100 on registration! Head on over to PhotoshopWorld.com to sign up, get hotel info, see the full schedule of classes from instructors like Jay Maisel, Joel Grimes, Lindsay Adler, Glyn Dewis, and a ton of other incredible people! And, there are only a few spots left in some of the pre-conference workshops like Lightpainting 101 with Dave Black, On Location DSLR Workshop with Rich Harrington, Real World Concert Photography with Alan…

• It’s Guest Blog Wednesday featuring Jake Peterson!

  Brad Moore

  7 Feb 2012 | 9:37 pm

  Making History Come to LifeTen months ago I was attending Photoshop World in Orlando, FL. It was the second time I had been to Photoshop World, but after the blast of Vegas the previous September there was no way I was going to miss the one that Spring. One morning in the instructors’ lounge Jay Maisel, someone who I knew of but had never met, was sitting at a table. I introduced myself and we started to talk. Afterward Jay went up to my Dad and said, “You have failed as a parent if you let your kid go into photography as a career.” He smiled and my Dad just laughed;…

• Jumping the gun on the Nikon D800

  Scott Kelby

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:46 am

  Since my post last night here on Google+ (http://www.scottgplus.com), and here on my blog earlier today, I’ve seen a lot of comments flowing in pro and con about this camera, and I just want to say a quick few things about the comments I’ve been reading thus far:(1) The D800 was apparently created for a very specific type of photographer  There is no law that every camera introduced by a camera company has to be designed to fit your personal needs. If you read that it has 36.3 megapixels and you’re like “36.3 megapixels is overkill!!!” then obviously this…

• Nikon Announces The D800 And Baby Does It Look Sweet!!!!

  Scott Kelby

  6 Feb 2012 | 9:33 pm

  36.3 megapixels (wow!) with a full frame sensor. Full HD video with stereo sound (yay) built in HDR (sweet) and it looks like its aimed at the commercial, wedding and landscape markets (photographers who shoot medium format digital backs. I mean who used to shoot digital backs). ;-)I haven’t seen one, held one, etc., but it sounds amazing and I want one. Bad!!!! (And yes, sometimes you need 36.3 megapixels). Two words: Whoo Hoo!Read the full scoop at Nikon USA: http://bit.ly/wVaU77

• 

  Moose Peterson's Website

• MLP – Alicia Earle Renner

  Moose

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:30 am

  It’s with pride I introduce you to Alicia Earle Renner, our latest finisher of our Master Light Program. Alicia, like MLP participants before her found out that the program and the industry is more challenging then you might think reading the webpage. Alicia brought something new to the program, a photographic presence above and below the water! A Key West resident (and gallery owner), you’ll see Great White Shark photos in her book! Yikes! Enjoy her work here but her best stuff is featured in the upcoming BT Journal soon to go in the mail. Great job Alicia! Next Previous Picture…

• I Know that “Kid!”

  Moose

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:30 am

  but he’s no kid! Jake’s is Scott Kelby’s Guest Blogger today and it’s a great read. Couldn’t be prouder, congrats bud!

• D4 or D800?

  Moose

  8 Feb 2012 | 4:40 am

  (photos courtesy of Nikon) Understandably, the emails are arriving asking the question which body to buy. Rather then just putting up the link for the post from the last time I answered this question (D3 or D3x?) because the way to the answer hasn’t changed, I thought I would just write a little something here. First and foremost, it is quite possible the best body for you is the one you own right now! No one feels the pressure of having a new body like me as the emails arrive asking questions I don’t have answers to until I have that body in my hands. Then there is that,…

• The D800E – My Choice

  Moose

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:40 am

  Pre-Order D800 Here / Pre-Order D800E Here “Why buy a camera missing a filter and pay more for it”? That’s the $64 million question in my inbox right now. Understand, I don’t have a D800, not seen one even, all I know if what you might know reading the material now available from Nikon. I do understand the theory behind removing the anti-aliasing filter and I know the quality hoops Nikon goes through with their products. So if I were going to buy a D800, it would be the D800E to go for ALL the quality that sensor can deliver. I’ve been pounded about the…

• D800 Announced!

  Moose

  6 Feb 2012 | 8:33 pm

  Pre-Order D800 Here / Pre-Order D800E Here Nikon has announced the D800. As per the announcement: D800, built for today’s multimedia photographer includes a groundbreaking 36.3MP FX-format CMOS sensor, Full HD 1080p video at 30/25/24p with stereo sound, class leading ISO range of 100-6400, expandable to 25,600, 4 fps burst rate and Advanced Scene Recognition System with 91,000-pixel RGB sensor. I’ve not seen the camera, not seen any delivery date yet but here’s the USA Official Page announcing it. Here’s the Japan page with the D800 / D800E announcement. The specs sound…

• 

  Joe McNally's Blog

• In Today’s News…New Classes at Kelby Training

  Drew Gurian

  6 Feb 2012 | 5:30 am

  Just finished two new classes for Kelby Training, which are in the pipe, and will most likely come out fairly shortly. They’re pretty in depth looks at creating, with just light and a plain wall, an environment in which dancers can thrive, create their own sublime shapes, which then, at camera, you simply hope to capture. I’m a big believer in the fact that when the camera observes a performer, it simply stands in service to their creativity.  Consequently, the best thing a shooter can do is provide a comfortable place for them to experiment, light them simply and well, and then…

• GPP-A Reunion in the Desert

  Joe McNally

  30 Jan 2012 | 1:52 am

  I’ve been away from Gulf Photo Plus for a couple years now, but heading back for 2012. Dubai remains fascinating, to be sure, but what really has rocked me, once again, is the gathering of talent in the city of the sands. I kinda wish I could go and clone myself for a week, and just shuttle around to hear some wisdom. I’m especially psyched for the return of Greg Heisler. I missed him there last year, and he knows light and color like no one else. Also, David Burnett is coming. David and I know each other now for thirty years. He’s simply one of the most intelligent…

• Nikon D4- Behind The Scenes Video

  Joe McNally

  25 Jan 2012 | 3:53 am

  We’ve got some major thank you’s to offer as we dipped our toe into the waters of video. First off to Nikon who trusted us with this project and their hand built, prototype D4 cameras. (See the video to reference the fact that I broke one--slightly.) And to Gen Umei, from the K&L agency in Tokyo, who is a wonderful friend and a wondrous art director. And as always to his colleague, Aoyagi Toshiaki, who we have known for years simply as Mr. Blue. Marco Tortato of the Manfrotto Corporation provided us with simple, wonderful tools to execute shots. And Victor Ha and Brian Hynes…

• Nikon D4 Video….The Blues in His Shoes….

  Joe McNally

  23 Jan 2012 | 5:44 am

  Little Freddie King is the real deal. He hopped the rails at the age of 14, and went from his family farm in Mississippi down to New Orleans, ’cause that town was swayin’ with sound, and he knew he had to be there. The ever magical Lynn Delmastro in our studio got in touch with him, and his manager, “Wacko” Wade Wright, and we were invited, briefly, into his life, and his music. It was enriching and wonderful to be around Little Freddie. I doubt a nicer man ever picked up a guitar. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpo5AC-wETY We shot this short, sweet and simple,’cause…

• Buds

  Joe McNally

  17 Jan 2012 | 8:21 am

  One of the cool things about shooting for Nikon a bit of late has been hanging with my Italian and Jewish brothers, Mike Corrado and Lindsay Silverman. Among the three of us, we must have about eighty years of camera experience. (They would immediately assure you right now that they each have ten of those and the remaining sixty belong to me.) We collectively survived the acetate era, and arrived intact in the age of digital. Intact physically, anyway. Mentally, the three of us are a few pixels short of a full frame chip, if you know what I mean. I love going on location with Corrado. His…

• 

  Chase Jarvis Blog

• Dope Music Video – Niki & the Dove [via Wintr]

  Chase

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:15 pm

  Humpday special. Superdope track from band Niki & the Dove, all wrapped up nicely in a superfresh animated video, cooked up by my pals over at Wintr Get it here on iTunes. Featured on The Fader also. ——

• Famous Photographers Pose with Their Most Iconic Images

  Chase

  7 Feb 2012 | 11:52 am

  Steve McCurry When we gaze upon an iconic (or even just a really good) photograph, it’s difficult to think about the work or the passion behind it – we are seeing a documented scene or a crafted image and–unless you are a photographer–most people don’t wonder about the individual who was behind the camera. Sure, the majority of the populace will automatically recognize the photo of the Afghan Girl that was on the cover of National Geographic, but if you said the name “Steve McCurry” would the everyday person have any idea who you were talking about? Photographer Tim…

• Dead Mobsters Remind Us: Success in Your Work is in Your Quirk.

  Chase

  6 Feb 2012 | 10:37 am

  All images courtesy of ICP Photos of dead mobsters lying prone, surrounded by articles of clothing and police chalk markings. The crime scene, the murder as art. Equal parts photographer and old-school sleuth Arthur “Weegee” Fellig had a otherworldly guidance that lead him straight to fresh crime scenes, like the plastic thing on a Ouija board. Working the streets of New York City in the 1930s and 40s, he consorted with both the good guys and the bad guys, as he documented crime and street life in his neighborhood. Ultimately, Weegee was an amateur photographer with a killer eye…

• Talent Imitates, Genius Steals: chasejarvisLIVE REMIX episode with MIKE RELM [coming Tues Feb 7]

  Chase

  3 Feb 2012 | 10:18 am

  Mike Relm will move you. Photo: SF Weekly. UPDATE: if you’re reading this post now…The no “Talent Imitates, Genius Steals – REMIX” edition of #cjLIVE with one of the world’s leading multimedia (audio + video) DJ’s Mike Relm is TODAY 11:00 Seattle Time, 2pm NYC, 19:00 London! Tune in here to the live page to unlock your creative mojo and realize that inspiration is all around you. ——— There’s a saying that you should understand. It’s “TALENT IMITATES. GENIUS STEALS.” Now before your undies get in a wad,…

• The Freshman Yearbook of Power Nerds, Washington DC Style

  Chase

  2 Feb 2012 | 9:46 am

  All images by Christopher Leaman Funny segue from yesterday’s political post… Got to thinking about politics and photography…. Though it seems otherwise at time, politicians aren’t actually celebs. Sure, they get their picture taken at press conferences, but–especially early on in their career–they’re not really used to having a photographer take a portrait of them like a rock star. They’re most often power nerds and people who do a job that’s -either wonderfully or catastrophically- public. All this is hyper-evident in this series of photos by…

• 

  Nikon Rumors

• Nikon D800 vs. D4 specs comparison

  [NR] admin

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:58 pm

  Here is a quick comparison between the Nikon D800 and Nikon D4 based on the specifications listed on Nikon's website:  Camera  NikonD800 Nikon D4 Effective Pixels 36.3 million 16.2 million Sensor Size 35.9mm x 24mm 36.0mm x 23.9mm Lens Mount Nikon F bayonet mount Nikon F bayonet mount Effective Pixels 36.3 million 16.2 million Sensor Size 35.9mm x 24mm 36.0mm x 23.9mm Image Sensor Format FX FX File Format Still Images JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant with fine (approx 1:4), Normal (approx 1:8) or Basic (approx 1:16) Compression NEF (RAW): lossless compressed 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed,…

• Nikon D800 vs. D700 specs comparison

  [NR] admin

  8 Feb 2012 | 4:16 pm

  Here is a quick comparison between the Nikon D800 and Nikon D700 based on the specifications listed on Nikon's website. I was told that the D700 will go down in price in the next few days - in France for example, the price is expected to drop from the current EUR 2,100 to EUR 1,800. I have no confirmation about US prices yet. Model Nikon D800 Nikon D700 Effective Pixels 36.3 million 12.1 million Sensor Size 35.9mm x 24mm 36.0mm x 23.9mm File Format Still Images JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant with fine (approx 1:4), Normal (approx 1:8) or Basic (approx 1:16) Compression NEF (RAW): lossless…

• OneCall opened their Nikon D800/E pre-orders

  [NR] admin

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:10 pm

  OneCall also just opened their pre-orders for the Nikon D800 and Nikon D800E. Full list of pre-order options available here. Posted by NikonRumors.com This RSS feed is copyrighted and cannot be republished in any way without permission. Follow [NR] on Facebook and Twitter.

• J&R just opened their pre-orders for the Nikon D800/E cameras

  [NR] admin

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:29 pm

  Another chance to get on the top of the waiting list - J&R just opened their pre-orders for the Nikon D800 and Nikon D800E. Other pre-orders options available here. Posted by NikonRumors.com This RSS feed is copyrighted and cannot be republished in any way without permission. Follow [NR] on Facebook and Twitter.

• Nikon D800 coverage continues…

  [NR] admin

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:46 am

  Few more D800 updates: Poll: did you order the D800/D800E? Did you purchase the Nikon D800/D800E Nikon D800 is the first SuperSpeed USB certified camera (see entire press release): About SuperSpeed USB SuperSpeed USB brings significant performance enhancements to the ubiquitous USB standard, while remaining compatible with the billions of USB-enabled devices currently deployed in the market. SuperSpeed USB delivers up to 10x the data transfer rate of Hi-Speed USB, as well as improved power efficiency. SuperSpeed USB offers effortless video streaming, music and photos at your home, office,…

• 

  MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - Front Page

• Photo of the Back of an iPad 3 Rear Shell, Smart Cover Magnets

  Arnold Kim

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:44 pm

  Apparently, iPad 3 enclosures are easy to come by these days. Earlier today, Repair Labs posted a photo of the interior the iPad 3 rear shell. They concluded that there were some minor changes that suggested a larger battery and redesigned logic board. Tonight, Apple.pro posts an image of the back of the same shell, showing it to look quite simliar to the current iPad 2 backing, though the camera appears closer to the edge. There's no markings on the enclosure, however. No "iPad" or serial number markings. The site also claims to have a photo of the Smart Cover magnets, suggesting the iPad 3…

• Foxconn's Servers Hacked, Exposing Vendor Usernames and Passwords

  Arnold Kim

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:11 pm

  One of Foxconn's servers was reportedly hacked, exposing usernames and passwords for clients and employees. The group that took credit for the hack is called SwaggSec who claims they weren't doing it in response to working conditions or even for information on the iPhone 5, but simply for the enjoyment of it. We encourage media, security experts, and other interested individuals to explore our leaks. Foxconn did have an appropriate firewall, but fortunately to our intent, we were able to bypass it almost flawlessly. Of course with funding ourselves we did have our limitations. But with…

• Apple Determines iTunes Match Royalties By Counting How Many Times A Song is Accessed

  Jordan Golson

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:56 pm

  TuneCore president Jeff Price today wrote a blog post praising Apple's iTunes Match service for creating money "out of thin air" for copyright holders. iTunes Match launched with all the major record labels on board, but some small labels refused to participate over concerns the service was legitimizing music pirates. Price disagrees: A person has a song on her computer hard drive. She clicks on the song and plays it. No one is getting paid. The same person pays iTunes $25 for iMatch. She now clicks on the same song and plays it through her iMatch service. Copyright holders get paid.

• Photo of iPad 3 Rear Shell Suggests Minor Physical Changes, Larger Battery

  Eric Slivka

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:52 pm

  (Click here for larger version) RepairLabs reports that it has received a photo of what is claimed to the inside of the rear shell of the iPad 3, comparing the part to the corresponding version found on the iPad 2. The iPad 3 version demonstrates a few minor changes compared to the iPad 2, with one of the most notable being an apparently narrower logic board that could make room for an expanded battery.A. You can see here that the mounts for the logic board are very different, which means the logic board shape will be different allowing for . . . . B. More battery. The width of where the…

• Siri Support for Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Russian Languages Coming Next Month?

  Eric Slivka

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:42 am

  Tech in Asia reports on an article [Google translation] from Chinese information technology website DoNews claiming that Apple is preparing to bring support for the Chinese language to Siri on the iPhone 4S next month. According to the report, Apple is also preparing to launch support for Japanese and Russian, but the initial Chinese support will only include Mandarin, with Cantonese and other dialects being left out for the time being.The Chinese tech site DoNews claims to have heard from an Apple engineer who’s working on the Chinese-language version of Siri, the clever voice assistant on…

• 

  National Geographic News

• Russian Scientists Breach Antarctica's Lake Vostok—Confirmed

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:34 am

  Russian scientists have confirmed that they have breached the subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctica—a first.

• New "Porta Potty" Flower Discovered

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:35 am

  A new relative of the "corpse flower" growing in Madagscar smells like rotting meat and feces, researchers say.

• Bubble Curtains: Can They Dampen Offshore Energy Sound for Whales?

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:38 pm

  Oil and wind power companies are testing a novel technology—air bubbles—to shield marine mammals from the sound of their offshore operations.

• Pictures: Bird Mummies "Fed" After Death, Stuffed With Snails

  7 Feb 2012 | 2:27 pm

  Some of the millions of ancient Egyptian ibis mummies were "fed" after death, scans reveal—the better to live  the afterlife.

• Oldest Animal Discovered—Earliest Ancestor of Us All?

  7 Feb 2012 | 1:51 pm

  Could 760-million-year-old African "sponges" be humankind's earliest known ancestors?

• 

  News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

• Sony full-frame camera coming, 500mm F4 lens finally announced

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:05 pm

  Sony has confirmed it will be making a full-frame replacement for its flagship A900 DSLR. No further details were given during a round-table discussion at the CP+ show in Japan, but we find it hard to believe the result will step away from the SLT technology the company has invested so heavily in. The company has also finally announced the A-mount 500mm F4 lens that it has been showing in various states of preparedness since PMA 2007 will be available from late March.

• Ricoh reshuffle sees Pentax take control of cameras

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:07 pm

  Ricoh has announced that its Pentax Ricoh Imaging (PRI) business unit will take full control of the design, development and sales of the company's cameras, worldwide. PRI was created when Ricoh bought Pentax and is the business that has been responsible for the design, manufacturing and sales of Pentax cameras. It will now absorb the consumer businesses of Ricoh's Personal Multimedia Product Company, which was responsible for the design, manufacture and sale of Ricoh cameras. The change will take effect from April 1st 2012.

• Sony promises more NEX lenses in updated E-mount lens roadmap

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:00 pm

  Sony has said it will have 15 lenses ready for the NEX system by the end of 2013. It made the annoucement of an expanded E-mount roadmap at the start of the CP+ trade show in Yokohama, Japan. The roadmap includes a variety of zooms and prime lenses, including a high-end standard zoom with Sony's premium 'G' branding. There will also be a pancake prime and a mid-telephoto prime lens some time during 2013.

• Sigma DP series reinvented as DP1M and DP2M with 15MPx3 sensor from SD1

  7 Feb 2012 | 11:00 pm

  Sigma has totally reinvented its DP series of large sensor compacts with the DP1 Merrill  and DP2 Merrill. The DP Merrill models are named after Dick Merrill, inventor of the Foveon sensor and include the most recent version of his technology - the 15x3MP APS-C sensor first seen in Sigma's SD1. Because the Merrill cameras feature full APS-C sensors, they also feature totally redesigned lenses, with the DP1M including a 19mm F2.8 lens to offer a 28mm equivalent field of view and the DP2M having a 30mm F2.8 lens to give a 45mm equivalent field-of-view.

• Sigma SD1 becomes SD1 Merrill and gains (much) keener price tag

  7 Feb 2012 | 11:00 pm

  Sigma's new CEO, Kazuto Yamaki has announced the re-branding and re-pricing of the company's flagship camera. The SD1 DSLR will now be know as the SD1 Merrill, in honor of Dick Merrill, inventor of the Foveon sensor technology on which it is based. The price will also be revised, falling to what should be a street price of around $2,299, which Yamaki attributes to work conducted to reduce production costs of the sensor. Despite these changes, his letter promises the performance and characteristics of the sensor have not changed. To avoid disappointing existing SD1 customers, Sigma will offer…

• 

  Planet Photoshop

• My 3D Feature in Photoshop User

  Corey Barker

  31 Jan 2012 | 7:11 am

  So if you are a NAPP member should have just recently received your latest issue of Photoshop User magazine! The official publication of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. If not a member click here to learn more and see what NAPP members get in addition to a year’s subscription to Photoshop User. You can also pick it up at most bookstore newsstands. Anyway in this month’s issue I had the honor of writing the feature article on 3D in Photoshop. I discuss how you can use 3D in Photoshop in not so obvious ways by combining the power of 3D and the compositing power…

• Photoshop World, it will get here fast!

  Corey Barker

  27 Jan 2012 | 11:16 am

  Are you planning on joining us for Photoshop World in Washington D.C. this March? If so, you better make sure you get registered soon! The early bird registration, which will save you $100 off the full-conference price, will be available through February 17, 2012. I know that seems like a ways off but we all know that will get here a lot quicker than we think. Not to mention you will want to get registered for other events you may be interested in that have a very high likelihood of filling up fast like the pre-cons and the after hours party! Always a blast! This event boasts the biggest…

• Flare Effects

  Corey Barker

  20 Jan 2012 | 12:36 pm

  Corey has a cool trick for creating a flare brush and see how one effect can lead to another. Corey Barker is Executive Producer of PlanetPhotoshop.com and is an Education and Curriculum Developer for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Corey has also made numerous appearances on the highly rated podcast, PhotoshopUser TV, and is co-host of Layers TV.

• Create A Composite Layer

  Web Editor

  13 Jan 2012 | 8:47 am

  If you have a multilayer composition and you want to apply an effect to all the layers at once, don’t flatten the layers–use a composite layer instead. Hide the layers you want excluded, and press Shift-Command-Option-E (PC: Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E). A new layer will be created at the top containing a merged copy of all the visible layers. Another option is to create a new layer at the top of the stack and make it active. Command-click (PC: Ctrl-click) each layer you want to include to make those layers active, as well. Press Option-Command-E (PC: Alt-Ctrl-E). by Colin Smith

• Creating Glossy Lips

  Web Editor

  10 Jan 2012 | 8:43 am

  If you see a shiny highlight on your subject’s lips, and you want to make it look glossier, duplicate the Background layer then change your layer blend mode to Screen to brighten the entire image. Option-click (PC: Alt-click) the Add Layer Mask icon to hide this brighter layer behind a black mask. Press D to set your Foreground color to white; choose a small, soft-edged Brush (B); and paint over those white highlight areas on the lips and they’ll get even glossier. by Scott Kelby

• 

  Nikonians News - Photography & Imaging News and Podcasts

• Nikon announces new 36.3 megapixel D800 & D800E

  6 Feb 2012 | 9:23 pm

  Nikon's long rumored megapixel abundant full frame DSLR has come out of hiding. Our members are going through the features and specs just released and weighing in with their reactions.

• Tamron unveils new full frame f/2.8 lightweight zoom

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:16 am

  Tamron has announced a new standard zoom lens designed for full frame DSLR's combining high speed in a lighweight bundle (plus vibration reduction).

• Free Digital Photo Magazine for Nikonians

  6 Feb 2012 | 5:22 am

  The excellent magazine c't Digital Photography is available for one year for free for Nikonians signing up for Gold Membership. The offer is valid until February 15th. More info

• Welcome Profoto

  4 Feb 2012 | 12:55 pm

  We are pleased to announce the entry of our newest corporate partner, Profoto-- who proudly stand by their reputaion as the world's leading manufacturer of professional photography lighting and light shaping tools. They arrive just in time to offer our members the opportunity to a try a Profoto D1 monolight set before buying it. In addition to contributing to our community, they will also run several special discounts for our members in the coming months

• Welcome OMP -- OneModelPlace

  4 Feb 2012 | 12:02 pm

  One Model Place is an online community for models, photographers and creative talents with almost 200,000 active members. They have recently arranged to provide a 30% discount to our Nikonians members. OMP provides models, photographers, casting agents, and clients access to the most diverse talent pool the world has ever seen.

• 

  AppleInsider

• Pictured Sharp LCD panel claimed to be Retina Display for Apple's 'iPad 3'

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:05 am

  Another leaked component photo shows an LCD panel manufactured by Sharp that is claimed to be a 9.7-inch Retina Display for Apple's anticipated third-generation iPad.

• Leaked photo allegedly shows outside back cover of Apple's next iPad

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:40 pm

  On the heels of an earlier purported leak of the back panel of the third-generation iPad, new leaked photos have emerged showing an external view of the back panel of the rumored device, as well as magnets for an "iPad 3" Smart Cover.

• Alleged Foxconn hack allowed bogus orders to be placed for vendors

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  A "Greyhat" hacking group announced this week that it had successfully hacked contract manufacturer Foxconn and released usernames and passwords for vendors that could be used to place fraudulent orders for companies like Apple and Microsoft.

• White MacBook sales come to close as Apple ceases sales to education institutions

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:45 pm

  Apple has reportedly notified resellers that the white polycarbonate MacBook is now officially classified as "End of Life" and has been discontinued.

• Google says it won't support fair licensing in open standards as Apple, Microsoft, Cisco have

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:18 pm

  In a distinct departure from the agreement voiced between Apple, Cisco and Microsoft regarding the need for fair, transparent, understandable and consistent licensing policy for open standards, Google has promised to continue to wage Motorola's increasingly hostile patent wars.

• 

  Digital ProTalk

• The Dust Is Finally Settling From The Greatest Show On Earth!

  David Ziser

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

  Good Afternoon Everybody, We are slowly getting back to normal around here with the dust nearly settled from our blowout convention, PhotoPro Expo 2012. After making several trips from the Marriott Hotel back to our studio with a couple cars, we were finally unloaded by around 4:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon. By the time we got things halfway unpacked it was turning into a really long day and I decided to hold the post to today. Thanks to Dave Dabour and many others for suggesting we take a couple of days off. Don't worry though, I'll plan to have things back to normal beginning next week.

• PhotoPro Expo 2012–The Photographic Super Bowl of the year–and WE WON!!!

  David Ziser

  6 Feb 2012 | 8:50 am

  Good Morning Everybody, I know what you’re thinking – “Where in the world is David Ziser? Where are my DigitalProTalk posts!?”  Don’t worry, I’m back or, at least almost back. The last time I checked in with our DigitalProTalk readers was last Thursday when I updated you with our world wide webcast of the PhotoPro Expo Print Competition.  Then I went MIA. So what’s been happening you ask?  Well, let me tell you.  It’s been a wild and crazy time at our PhotoPro Expo this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LaDawn and I have been up about 5:30 every morning and didn’t…

• PhotoPro Expo 2012 Print Competition Streaming “LIVE” Right Now!!!

  David Ziser

  2 Feb 2012 | 11:45 am

  PhotoPro Expo 2012 Print Competition Streaming “LIVE” Right Now! We are “LIVE” at the 2012 PhotoPro Expo print competition. This means that you will be able to see the images come up before the jury panel and hear all the judges’ comments.  I will be “chiming in” on occasion, and my good friend, Ralph Romaguera, is giving a great play-by-play on how the competition works. By the way, the Print Judging is FREE to attend, so come and join us! Where Is The Judging Taking Place? Judging is taking place in the Grand Ballroom at: Marriott RiverCenter [link] 10 West RiverCenter…

• The Best Photographic Learning Opportunity In the Midwest Is Only Minutes Away! and “LIVE” Streaming Print Competition!

  David Ziser

  31 Jan 2012 | 3:48 pm

  Good Evening Everybody, You guessed it, things are hopping around here with PhotoPro Expo 2012 kicking off on Thursday and still a few loose ends to wrap up.  Speakers and judges begin arriving tomorrow and the Expo Print competition kicks off  Thursday morning. The best photographic learning opportunity is only minutes away! Here’s A Quick Expo Update The Expo Trade Show, as I said, is sold out with nearly 90 occupied booth spaces!  But look at all the other fantastic learning opportunities taking place in the trade show: Four Speed-Lighting Clinics Be sure to come by the…

• "Blue Boy"

  David Ziser

  30 Jan 2012 | 1:01 pm

  "Blue Boy" © David A. Ziser This is one of my favorite and most lasting images I have ever taken over the years. We were set up in the church basement during the reception – portrait background and lights in place. I remember trying to get young Nicholas to smile and he just would have nothing of it. Even his dad was tying to coax him from behind my camera - still no luck. Finally his dad ordered Nicholas to do what he was told. He defiantly finally pushed his hands into his pockets, said “No”, and pouted back. I hit the shutter, and knew I had the shot. Nicholas is now in…

• 

  Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips

• Why I Don’t Backup My Photos Using Lightroom

  jgilbert@photoshopuser.com (Matt Kloskowski)

  7 Feb 2012 | 5:39 am

  If you’ve used the Import dialog in Lightroom, you’ve probably noticed an area under File Handing called “Make a Second Copy To:”. This is Lightroom’s way of letting you make a backup of your photos as you import them. That way you can get your import and your backup all done at once. A while back, some one pointed out that when you use this feature, you don’t have much control over how the backup drive stores the photos. Basically, it just stores them in a folder named “Imported on….”. For me this is a big problem because it’s not…

• Lightroom Worth-a-click

  jgilbert@photoshopuser.com (Matt Kloskowski)

  3 Feb 2012 | 6:26 am

  Happy Friday! Here’s a few Lightroom/Photography related things that are worth a quick click if you’re surfing around. • A friend of mine from Paris (who I shot with while I visited last year and was a HUGE help!), Serge Ramelli has a Lightroom app on the iTunes store. Here’s the link if you want to check it out. • It’s not exactly brand new news but I had a new class go up on Kelby Training last month that’s all about Lightroom presets and how I create them. If you’re looking for a peak inside the mind of the preset creator (and some cool ideas for…

• Lightroom Video – Dynamic Watermarks (well… not really, but kinda)

  jgilbert@photoshopuser.com (Matt Kloskowski)

  1 Feb 2012 | 8:08 am

  I always like to do videos that answer questions I get, rather than just doing a video that I “think” everyone wants to know about. Well, this weeks video comes from a question that I’ve gotten in several forms over the last couple years. Recently, some one asked if they could add a watermark to their photos with the current year on them. So basically, Lightroom would have to figure out the year from the metadata (probably not hard) and dynamically add it to the photos when you export them into JPEGS (not so easy). So, there’s really no way to do this, but there is an…

• Your Burning Lightroom 4 Questions Answered From Adobe

  jgilbert@photoshopuser.com (Matt Kloskowski)

  30 Jan 2012 | 7:10 am

  I just saw a post over on Adobe’s Photoshop.com blog where product manager Sharad Mangalick, answered a bunch of Lightroom 4 questions. Everything from catalogs, to video, new features, you name it. Below is one question I pulled directly from the page because I’ve been asked quite a bit too, but there’s lots more in the full article. @luxx11 and @jennawoodward Ask: @Lightroom why can’t I use my LR3 catalogs in LR4? Is there a way to easily transfer my Lr3 catalogue into Lr4? Sharad: Since Lightroom 4 is still in beta form, we restricted the ability to bring in catalogs…

• Lightroom 4 and Windows XP

  jgilbert@photoshopuser.com (Matt Kloskowski)

  23 Jan 2012 | 7:52 am

  I’ve seen quite a few comments about the fact that Lightroom 4 Beta doesn’t work with Windows XP (and you can probably guess that the full version isn’t going to work with it either). Last week Tom Hogarty (Lightroom Product Manager) wrote about the reasons behind that decision on his blog. Here’s a quick snippet but you can go here to read the rest: “As many have noticed, the Lightroom 4 public beta we released last week does not support Windows XP. This decision did not come lightly and was based on a number of factors. With each version of Lightroom, our goal…

• 

  John Nack on Adobe

• Adobe Muse (visual HTML authoring) gets updated

  John Nack

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:28 pm

  The Muse Beta 6 update is now available, delivering more than 80 enhancements & bug fixes based on customer feedback. Check it out, and please let us know what you think.

• You can put 16GB of RAM in a MacBook Pro

  John Nack

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:01 am

  I mention it A) because I just ordered a new machine*, and B) people seem not to know about this capacity. Adobe’s Jason Levine says the upgrade is fast, easy–and now cheap. I’ve always been a sucka for tons of memory, having jammed an eye-popping 512MB into my first PowerBook at Adobe (2000!). When I priced an 8GB upgrade on Apple.com 3 years ago, it cost $1200–as much as a MacBook + Apple TV. Now Apple will let you go from 4 to 8GB for $200. Strangely, though, they don’t list a 16GB option–which OWC offers for $249. *This is part of my perverse effort to…

• Photoshop Touch for Android gets new functionality

  John Nack

  7 Feb 2012 | 8:47 am

  Now available on the Android Market: Export to PNG and PSD functionalityWhen choosing Save to Camera Roll or Share by E-mail or on uploading to Creative Cloud, you can now save to either JPEG, PSD, or PNG. Improved image quality of images saved to the local Camera Roll/GallerySave to Camera Roll saves out JPEGs which are compressed with max quality now instead of medium quality. Improved compatibility with Android 4.0This update addresses some issues related to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) compatibility; including resolving the in-app log-in issues with the Adobe Creative Cloud website.

• Feedback wanted for Adobe Revel (formerly Carousel)

  John Nack

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:22 am

  From PM Sumner Paine: Calling all active and enthusiastic Revel users! The team at Adobe is looking for people to join our prerelease program. We’re working on new features and we need your feedback and help with testing. If you are a Revel subscriber and you have it on all three device types (iPad, iPhone, Mac) just send an email to sumner@adobe.com with a brief explanation covering 4 things: Your favorite thing about Revel The most important thing that’s missing from Revel today List of devices where you have Revel installed (e.g., MacBook Air, iPhone 4, etc.) Names of other…

• Photoshop events in NYC this week

  John Nack

  6 Feb 2012 | 10:09 am

  Thursday, February 9 Event Meetup: Hosted at the School of Visual Arts with special guest SVA alum and pro photographer Sarah Silver. Bryan O’Neil Hughes, Photoshop Sr. Product Manager, will demo. Saturday, February 11 Event Meetup: Hosted at pro photographer Sarah Silver’s NYC studio.  Bryan will demo.

• 

  Peachpit Press :: Articles

• Article :: Everything You Need to Know about Applying Photoshop Filters

  8 Feb 2012 | 4:00 pm

  In this excerpt from Best Photoshop Filters, Susannah Hall talks about Photoshop Filters, including applying them, using Smart Filters, using the Filter Gallery, fading a Filter effect, using the History Brush, and finding and adding new filters.

• Article :: Editing DSLR Video with Final Cut Pro X: Organizing Your Media

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:00 pm

  Final Cut Pro X has several tools that let you sort, sift, filter, and find the perfect shot. You can use embedded metadata as well as attach powerful keywords to improve your ability to locate the perfect shot. In this chapter you'll learn the many ways to organize your media.

• Article :: Creating Android Applications: Acquiring Data

  6 Feb 2012 | 4:00 pm

  Learn how to acquire data from a remote source, as well as Android and the main thread.

• Article :: Building iOS 5 Games: Controllers and Sprites

  5 Feb 2012 | 4:00 pm

  In this chapter you will be introduced to the classes that combine to form the foundation of the game engine. Then, you’ll create the sprite classes that draw and control the game characters on the screen.

• Article :: The Family Photographers’ Guide to Setting Up a Working Photography Studio

  1 Feb 2012 | 4:00 pm

  It doesn’t matter if a studio is a designated space within your home, a standalone structure, or an area located within a commercial retail center. But there are several considerations to keep in mind when setting up a working studio. Tamara Lackey explores them in this chapter from her book, Envisioning Family: A photographer's guide to making meaningful portraits of the modern family.

• 

  Layers Magazine

• Xume Quick-Release Adapters

  Erik Vlietinck

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:55 am

  Change Photo Filters Instantly without 
Cross-Threading or Frustration From time to time, polarizing, neutral density (ND), or other filters all need to be screwed onto a lens barrel. One common trait of the screw threads on lenses is that they are a pain to work with, making it difficult to avoid cross-threads. Additionally, ND and polarizing filters pose their own positioning problems. All these troubles may be solved by the Xume Quick-Release Adapters and exchange system. Xume’s brilliant idea is based on magnetic lens adapter rings and filter holders. The Xume system requires the user…

• AutoFit Images in InDesign CS5

  A.J. Wood

  6 Feb 2012 | 7:55 am

  Learn how to use the new autofit options in InDesign CS5 when scaling and sizing frames and picture content.

• Sculpting Signatures in Illustrator

  Corey Barker

  3 Feb 2012 | 1:01 pm

  Create a stylized digital signature in Illustrator to drop onto your artwork when you are finished. Use Illustrator’s width tool to add some calligraphy style to your signature.

• Perfect Portrait 1

  jay nelson

  25 Jan 2012 | 11:14 am

  Better Portraits in Less Time Perfect Portrait 1 is a huge timesaver for portrait photographers. It automatically identifies faces and features, and with a press of a button, eyes become whiter and clearer, teeth become whiter, lips have greater definition, wrinkles are softened, and shine and blemishes are reduced. In addition, color casts can be improved, based on the ethnicity of each face in the photo. Age- and gender-specific presets give you a headstart for many common problems. Then, sliders let you adjust every improvement, and manual tools let you paint away stray hairs, blemishes,…

• Helicon Focus Pro X64

  Steve Baczewski

  23 Jan 2012 | 1:13 pm

  Create Sharp Focus Throughout Your Images Ansel Adams was part of a group of San Francisco realistic landscape photographers who called themselves Group f/64. The name came from their desire to achieve maximum depth of field (DOF). However, attaining maximum DOF can be challenging, especially in macro photography. Stopping a lens down to its smallest aperture extends DOF but introduces diffraction. Enter Helicon Focus software. It produces an edge-to-edge focused image by combining partially focused areas from multiple files of a scene. The Helicon Focus interface and process is amazingly…

• 

  PhotoWalkPro

• I’m Selling My Canon T2i/550D

  jeff

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:01 pm

  It was a pretty tough decision but with the release of the new D800, I really needed to look at my current stable of cameras and start thinning the herd. It wasn’t that long ago that I got my Nikon D7000 and I followed that up with the Sony SLT-a77. So you can see that something has to go. The Nikon and Sony are going to be keeping my camera bag company for the near future, which leaves no room for the Canon T2i. But my loss will be someone’s gain. The T2i is a great camera and if you combine it with the lenses that I am throwing in, you have a pretty sweet camera kit that will…

• If Sharpness Is What You Want, the D800E is What You Need

  jeff

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:40 am

  As predicted, Nikon unleashed the D800 on the hungry camera consumers last night and it is everything that the pundits had said it would be. There are some eye-popping specs associated with this ambitious release and it is sure to be the hot camera for the year (unless Canon gets off their butts and does something special with the 5D Mark III). I’m not going to get into all the features, I’ll let you do that for yourself (LINK), but I do want to bring your attention to something at the bottom of the product page. That’s where the little banner above is taken from. If you…

• Creating Faux HDR in Lightroom – the New and the Old

  jeff

  5 Feb 2012 | 9:03 pm

  I was working on one of my Lightroom chapters and I got to the section where I described how to do a faux HDR look using the sliders in the Basic panel when it hit me, the sliders I normally use for creating the effect are not there anymore. In LR3 there is a Recovery, Fill Light and Brightness sliders but those are gone, having been replaced by a Highlights, Shadows, and Whites sliders. I then remembered that my buddy Matt Kloskowski had written a post on his Lightroom Killer Tips blog about new HDR presets using LR4 so I figured I would play around with the sliders and see what I could do.

• February Wallpaper Calendar Now Available

  jeff

  1 Feb 2012 | 2:44 am

  I’m trying out something new here on the blog. As a way of saying thankyou to all my readers I am giving away computer desktop wallpapers made from my images – free of charge. I have uploaded the first image that is available in various sizes and all I ask is that you don’t use it for anything but a wallpaper. To access the February wallpaper calendar just click this link (WALLPAPER) or click on the Desktop Wallpaper link in the menu at the top of the page. Thanks and have a great February! No related posts.

• How do you Say Exposure in French?

  jeff

  31 Jan 2012 | 9:02 pm

  I have to admit that I didn’t know until last week. That’s when I got a copy of my book, Exposure – Snapshots to Great Shots in French. The word is Exposition by the way. So the funny thing is that a couple of week ago my wife and I were looking at a sales report for my books and we noticed that there was an entry for sales of my books in China. We thought that was pretty cool and we commented that it would be pretty cool to see some of my books in different languages. I had seen some Czech translations about a year ago but had never seen any other translations. Then, out…

• 

  The Luminous Landscape - What's New

• 8 February, 2012 - New Cameras, and New Pricing from Sigma

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:04 pm

  Sigma has announced that their controversial SD1 camera has been re-launched as the SD1 Merrill, in honour of Dick Merrill the late co-founder of Foveon. The new MSRP is $3,300, but the MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) will be $2,299, which likely means an actual retail price of around $2,000 when it's released in March. This is the price that it should have launched with last year. This re-launch and price reduction quickly follows the recent passing of Sigma's co-founder and CEO Michihiro Yamaki. The new CEO is Kazuto Yamaki, the founder's son and the company's previous COO. The SD1 has been…

• 7 February, 2012 - Master Class in San Miguel with Michael Reichmann

  6 Feb 2012 | 2:53 pm

  As previous announced, Phase One is having a Master Class in San Miguel de Allende in early March. It is being taught by Michael Reichmann and Mark Dubovoy. There have just been a couple of cancellations and these spots are now open. If you do not own Phase One gear, a loaner system can be made available for use during the workshop. Find out more right away. NEW I normally don't do new product announcements unless they are really significant. There are two though today that will have far reaching implications. Nikon has announced the 36 Megapixel D800, also available in a version without an…

• 5 February, 2012 - A Photographer's Eulogy for Eastman Kodak

  4 Feb 2012 | 2:25 pm

  It's the end of an era. The Kodak that we knew and loved (or not) for the past hundred years is no more. Michael Chiusano shares with us today A Photographer's Eulogy for Eastman Kodak.     "I have purchased many of your tutorials in the past and found them very helpful.  However, Camera to Print and Screen is truly over the top in usefulness and helpfulness.  I have gone back to it several times to get up to speed on a subject, or answer a question about sharpening, printing and/or moving photos to an iPad; it is great, and well worth the cost." …

• 1 February, 2012 - The Game of Photography - What Are The Rules

  31 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pm

  Today's new essay is by scientist, photographer and author Harold Merklinger. It is titled The Game of Photography – What Are The Rules?    "You and Jeff did it again!  A great series of videos. I've watched the earlier Camera to Print series as well as the LR 2 & 3 videos and as usual, I learned new technique and ideas even though I've been behind a camera for 45 years. Additionally, the rapport you two have is most engaging, enjoyable, and totally different than the sterile video tutorials from others (I'm afflicted with being a visual learner).

• 27 January, 2012 - Learning Video Production The Hard Way

  26 Jan 2012 | 4:33 pm

  High end video production is now within the reach of any modern DSLR owner. What does it take to achieve something really worthwhile though? Regular contributor Peter Cox shares the trials and tribulations of producing an hour long video tutorial/travelogue in Learning Video Production the Hard Way.   "I have purchased many of your tutorials in the past and found them very helpful.  However, Camera to Print and Screen is truly over the top in usefulness and helpfulness.  I have gone back to it several times to get up to speed on a subject, or answer a…

• 

  Imaging Insider

• Expectations Surpassed: The 36.3-Megapixel Nikon D800 Is The Multimedia HD-SLR That Shatters Conventional Resolution Barriers For Maximum Fidelity

  imaginginsider@gmail.com (Imaging Insider)

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:45 am

  The New Nikon D800 Offers Unrivaled Resolution and Features Designed for a Variety of Demanding Professional Photographic and Multimedia Disciplines, Videographers and Filmmakers MELVILLE, N.Y. (Feb 6, 2012) – Today, imaging leader Nikon Inc. announced the highly anticipated D800 HD-SLR, engineered to provide extreme resolution, astounding image quality and valuable video features optimized for professional [...]

• Nikon® And Warner Music Group Team Up To Rock South By Southwest® (SXSW) With Star-Studded Three-Day Music Residency

  imaginginsider@gmail.com (Imaging Insider)

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:36 am

  “THE WARNER SOUND CAPTURED BY NIKON” TO FEATURE LIVE SHOWCASE PERFORMANCES BY SANTIGOLD, B.o.B, WALE & MEEK MILL, fun., AND GARY CLARK, JR. “YOUR 1 SHOT” CONTEST OFFERS NEW ARTISTS A CHANCE TO PERFORM LIVE AT SXSW RESIDENCY New York, NY – (February 6, 2012) Nikon Inc. and Warner Music Group are uniting to host [...]

• Remove noise from photos, convert to sketch in Top Camera 4.0

  imaginginsider@gmail.com (Imaging Insider)

  6 Feb 2012 | 7:15 am

  Lucky Clan today releases Top Camera 4.0 for iOS, an update to their versatile Photography app that adds more than 50 features to the standard iOS Camera app. New version adds advanced Noise Reduction filter, which eliminates all types of photo noise: high iso, chroma, contrast, low light, film grain etc while preserving important details. [...]

• Macro Converters Give Lensbaby Shooters Limitless Close-Focus Options

  imaginginsider@gmail.com (Imaging Insider)

  2 Feb 2012 | 8:44 am

   New Lensbaby Macro Converters Give Lensbaby Shooters Limitless Close-Focus Options  Portland, OR – February 2, 2012 – Lensbaby announces today the addition of its new macro photography accessories for its lens bodies and optics, the Lensbaby Macro Converters.  These Macro Converters help Lensbaby photographers create close-up, dreamy and artistic photos while blurring out distracting elements.  “We’ve created a product [...]

• Appafolio Enables Creative Professionals, Businesses to Create Interactive iPhone and iPad Portfolio Apps, No Coding Required

  imaginginsider@gmail.com (Imaging Insider)

  31 Jan 2012 | 8:29 am

  The developer of iPad apps for artists including Beyoncé and The Roots provides the tools for businesses to create customized iPhone and iPad apps SEATTLE – January 31, 2012 – Treemo Labs today announced the availability of its Appafolio iPad and iPhone app creation platform. Appafolio enables users to create unique portfolio apps and share [...]

• 

  1001 Noisy Cameras

• Pre-Orders summary: Olympus E-M5, Nikon D800/D800E, Canon lenses, Powershots, etc

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:46 pm

  This turned out to be a very eventful CP+ Trade Show with a number of impact camera announcements. I... This is a new blog post alert. Please visit the website for the actual post. Republication of this feed without permission is prohibited. For the latest camera specials and in-stock alerts, check the Cameras Deals blog

• Pentax and Ricoh cameras will move under Pentax control

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:13 pm

  April 1st is the start of a new quarter, and for some companies the start of a new fiscal year, but ... This is a new blog post alert. Please visit the website for the actual post. Republication of this feed without permission is prohibited. For the latest camera specials and in-stock alerts, check the Cameras Deals blog

• Sony shows new NEX roadmap for 2012 & 2013

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:34 pm

  But wait there's more! At CP+ in Japan, Sony revealed a brand new lens roadmap for the NEX syste... This is a new blog post alert. Please visit the website for the actual post. Republication of this feed without permission is prohibited. For the latest camera specials and in-stock alerts, check the Cameras Deals blog

• New Canon SX260 and SX240 superzooms [tape-delayed news]

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:08 pm

  And we finally catch up (I think) with all the new camera announcements leading up to CP+ 2012 in Ja... This is a new blog post alert. Please visit the website for the actual post. Republication of this feed without permission is prohibited. For the latest camera specials and in-stock alerts, check the Cameras Deals blog

• New Canon Elph 530HS (12x) & Elph 320HS (5x) with Wifi [tape-delayed news]

  8 Feb 2012 | 4:46 pm

  We are slowly but steadily seeing an increase in Wifi in digital cameras. Some, especially people wh... This is a new blog post alert. Please visit the website for the actual post. Republication of this feed without permission is prohibited. For the latest camera specials and in-stock alerts, check the Cameras Deals blog

• 

  Photojojo

• DIY: Make a Scratch-Off Photo Valentine

  lisbeth

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  Extra photos for bloggers: 1, 2, 3 Scratch-off cards sure know how to take you on an emotional roller coaster. First you’re filled with gleeful anticipation and then, womp-womp. It’s a dud! Lucky for us, our buddy Brit showed us a sure way to always get a winning scratch-off. She taught us how to turn Polaroids (or any photo) into the best scratch-off card ever. You can make your own easy scratch-offs using dish soap and acrylic paint. It’s really that easy. Give one of these away to your crush or BFF for Valentine’s Day! They’ll totally be impressed by your…

• How to Be Part of a Global Food Photo Exhibit (Help End Hunger, Too)

  lisbeth

  7 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  You’re ravenous. A most delectable grilled cheese sits before you, melty sides catching your eye. It’s too beautiful to eat without photographing first! On February 24th at 12pm EST, you’ll discover you’re not the only one. It’s a global day of photographing your food! The Meal is calling all foodie photographers to participate in a global food photo exhibit. Your simultaneously shot photos will be collected and shown at The Brooklyn Art Library on March 31st. It’s for a good cause, too! The Meal has partnered with Action Against Hunger, a non-profit who…

• DIY: Make a Scarf Camera Strap (It’s Chilly Out There!)

  lisbeth

  2 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  Extra photos for bloggers: 1, 2, 3 What’s incredibly soft, keeps you warm, and spends its days around your neck? A) Your cat, Harold. B) A plush dolphin travel neck pillow. C) Solid gold bling. D) Your new favorite DIY camera strap. If you answered D, you win! Because that’s what this tutorial is all about: how to make a DIY scarf camera strap. It’s the warmest, most colorful and winter-friendly strap your camera’s ever met. Our pal Stacie Grissom just so happens to be a leading authority on scarf camera straps. That’s why we asked her to put together this how-to…

• The iPhone Lens Wallet Keeps Your Cell Lenses in One Place

  lisbeth

  30 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

  Check out that sweet collection of lenses for your smarty-pants phone. You’re prepared for everything, aren’t ya? Alas, it never fails. Somehow, the lens you need is always nestled in the deep recesses of your bag. Your solution: the iPhone Lens Wallet! It keeps all of your favorite cell lenses in one handy case. It’s as if someone fired a shrink ray at your camera bag. The Macro/Wide Angle, Fisheye, 2x Telephoto and 8x Telephoto lenses all have a home in this durable case. A fool-proof way to always have the right lens at the right time! The iPhone Lens Wallet Tweet It! $15…

• #From Where I Stand, Skyscraper Edition

  lisbeth

  26 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

  You’ve taken #From Where I Stand shots in a snowy field, in line at the market, on 8 mile hikes and down alleyways in far-off countries. The last frontier? The ledge of your town’s highest skyscraper. Sounds scary, but once you scale your way up and point your camera down, you’ll fall in love with what you see. Dennis Maitland can attest to it. He’s been documenting his rooftop adventures in Detroit by photographing his feet over ledges. The result is an awesome collection of aerial views with a touch of self-portrait. #Fromwhereistand → #Fromwheremyfeetdangle.

• 

  Features RSS

• How Do You Prepare for Fashion Week?

  6 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  As the New York fashion shows approach, PDN asks four photographers what equipment they pack to cover runway shows, the backstage scene and street style.

• DIY Camera: John Chiara's Giant Camera Obscura

  6 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  The landscape photographer talks about how and why he built a 50 x 80 camera.

• Cookbooks Come Out of the Kitchen

  2 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  A slate of new cookbooks are using extraordinary photography 
to entice consumers.

• 3 Photo Book Picks

  2 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  Looking for some good photography reading? Check out these three terrific photo tomes.

• How To Land Environmental Portrait Assignments

  31 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

  Photo editors explain what they need to see in photographers’ images before giving them the challenging job of shooting environmental portraits.

• 

  Rick Sammon's Digital Imaging Diaries

• Sammon's Speedlite Sessions in Oldsmar, Florida

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:12 pm

  © Rick Sammon. Canon 5D Mark II. Two Canon 580 EX II Speedlites. Honl grids and gelsDay II one of my workshop at the Dave Cross Studio in Oldsmar, Florida was a blast! I had eight students learning the benefits of shooting with speedlites - which I teach on all my workshops.I illustrated how to created dramatic lighting with speedlites. Above is one end-result photograph; below is a behind the scenes shot of the same scene.© Kathy PorupskiAbove: For my shot, I used two Canon 580 EX speedlites. Right speedlite: a Honl grid was placed over the flash head to create direct…

• Day One At Dave's: One Light Wonders

  7 Feb 2012 | 3:08 pm

  © Rick SammonDay one of my workshop at the Dave Cross Studio in Oldsmar, Florida was a blast! I had eight students learning the benefits of shooting with one light source: speedlite in a Westcott Apollo softbox.Above is a quick grab shot I took to illustrate the technique. After rotating the image and cloning out the reflection of the softbox in the model's sunglasses, I enhanced the image with the Dark Ghostly effect in Topaz Adjust. See my plug-ins page to lean about Topaz and the other plug-ins I use.© Rick SammonAbove: My original image, taken with my Canon 5D Mark II and Canon…

• "Out of Africa and Into Fossil Rim" Workshop

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:55 am

  Photograph © Rick SammonI hope you can join me and 10 photographers for my 2012 "Out of Africa and Into Fossil Rim Wildlife" Center Workshop: April 13 - 15, 2012. I have been to Fossil Rim four times, and each time I have come back with nice photographs and wonderful memories. It's almost like being in Africa - tent and all.If you can't get to Africa, or if you are planning a trip to Africa, Fossil Rim, which is about 1.5 hours south of Dallas, Texas, is a great place to shoot. Here are the details:FridayArrive at Foothills Safari Camp Pavilion by 3PM4-6 PM Game Drive (our cars)7 PM…

• Learn Lighting and Lightroom in Atlanta

  5 Feb 2012 | 2:54 pm

  I hope you can join me and my good friend Parish Kohanim for our first Learn Lighing and Lightroom class in March. The class is mostly about lighting, but we'll show you some Lightroom tricks, too.Here's the info-packed and fun-filled schedule:March 97 to 9 PMPresentation at Parish's studioMarch 109 AM to 5 PMFocus on Flash Photography & After hours, informal get-together. Shooting with model.March 119 AM to 5 PMContinue the learning with continuous lighting & Group slide show. Shooting with model.Photograph © Parish KohanimCost: $499 (Includes model fee for both days).Location:…

• Need a Speaker For an Event? Shoot Me an Email!

  3 Feb 2012 | 7:09 pm

  Sunset on the Mara.I'm updating my 2012 presentations with new pictures from:• Kenya• Mt. Rainer, WA• Costa Rica• The California Photo Fest• A Herbie Hancock gig• The Salton Sea, CA• Croton on Hudson, NY• A few of my "Master Your Flash" studio shoots, NY.Mt. Rainier.Yes! It's been a busy year of shooting. Tons of  new images and ideas.If you need a speaker for your club, annual meeting, corporate meeting or trade show, shoot me an email.Looking for dinner on the Mara.In my presentations, which range from 2 to 6 hours, I talk about:• Making Pictures• Enhancing pictures…

• 

  John Paul Caponigro – Digital Photography Workshops, DVDs, eBooks

• 3 Sneak Peeks At Adobe Photoshop CS6

  johnpaulcaponigro

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:38 am

  Adobe has been releasing a series of Photoshop CS6 Sneak Peeks. Above are the first 3. Find Adobe’s Julianne Kost’s 8 part video series on Lightroom here.

• New Images – Aerials – Sossusvlei, Namibia

  johnpaulcaponigro

  8 Feb 2012 | 4:38 am

  I’ve just completed a new suite of images from Sossusvlei, Namibia. You can view previous images from Namibia here. You can find more images here.

• Create Complex Grunge Photo FX With GothPix

  johnpaulcaponigro

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:38 am

  Find out how to change your iPhone images from this to this or even this in less than a minute. Splatter, speckle, and stain your images in seconds with the iPhone app Goth Pix. It generates surprisingly rich and complex weathering effects that can give your images an antique, distressed, or painterly look … Read / View more on The Huffington Post.

• iPhone Experiments – Bones

  johnpaulcaponigro

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:52 am

  Recently, during an African safari, I spent several days photographing animals. We saw all of the big five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, cape buffalo) and many other animals in one day. It was the first time I made a concerted effort to make wildlife photographs, which was excellent practice. I gained an increased appreciation for how moments of peak action (or lack thereof) can make or break some photographs. I made many competent photographs that entertained my family at home, which I have no intention of using professionally. In between these sessions, I spent a few hours photographing…

• February’s Free Desktop Calendar Is Available Now

  johnpaulcaponigro

  4 Feb 2012 | 4:38 am

  February’s free desktop calendar is available now. Download it here.

• 

  The Online Photographer

• Blog Note

  Michael Johnston

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:19 pm

  Your weekly Ctein will appear tomorrow this week. I'd explain why, but that would just delay it longer. Mike, Inscrutable TOPmeister

• New Olympus E-M5 (OM-D): First Look

  Michael Johnston

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:42 am

  The E-M5 could be the centerpiece of a capable lightweight camera system. By Eamon Hickey Last week, I had a relatively brief chance to handle the new OM-D E-M5, courtesy of the folks at Olympus America. I thought I'd report a few random thoughts and impressions with an eye towards some things not necessarily apparent from the spec sheet. Let me just get a business prediction out of the way first. This looks like a good all-around effort from Olympus, and I'm guessing it'll sell pretty well. Making an advanced photographer's Micro 4/3 body with weather sealing and a…

• Comic Relief

  Michael Johnston

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:11 am

  XKCD adroitly skewers the tendency of photographers to overlook content and see only technique (style, too, sometimes). There oughta be a name for that. Take a look. Mike(Thanks to Charlie and several others) Send this post to a friendPlease help support TOP by patronizing our sponsors B&H Photo and Amazon Note: Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. More...Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Featured Comment by Dennis: "Reminds me of that Nikon ad from the…

• Nikon D800, Woo-Hoo!

  Michael Johnston

  7 Feb 2012 | 8:39 am

  It's here, folks. The long-awaited and much-talked-about (and probably natural-disaster-delayed)...drum roll...Nikon D800. Nikon's replacement for the superb, much-loved, and undyingly popular D700 (a.k.a. the digital F100) is everything that was rumored: full-frame and 36 megapixels. And it's essentially no bigger or heavier than the camera it replaces. Both cameras are positioned as Nikon's "top of the line amateur DSLRs" but the D700 has been widely used by professionals, as a backup and as their main axe. Just as some automotive buffs advocate buying a model…

• Movies and Photography

  Michael Johnston

  6 Feb 2012 | 10:49 am

  A car thief and a Minox "spy camera" feature in the plot ofLouis Malle's famous Ascenseur pour l'échafaud. You can tell a real movie lover because their list of all-time best or favorite movies doesn't contain mostly films from the years of their own teens and early twenties. Those are, certainly, the years of our lives in which movies matter most to most people. My best movie-watching experiences came from those years of my life, but for a different reason. At Dartmouth, in the years when I was a student there or lived nearby, the Dartmouth Film Society showed a…

• 

  Canon Blogger: Learning Digital Photography

• Wordless Wednesday # 002 – A Dog Lives Here

  Jason

  7 Feb 2012 | 10:30 pm

• The Benefit of Company

  Jason

  5 Feb 2012 | 10:30 pm

  Tracy works with some nice people – we get together every year for a “Super Bowl” gathering.  It’s not so much about the Super Bowl (because this year, we frankly had no interest in either participant) as it is about getting together.  It’s a set of three couples (two with kids), so six of us gather in the living room and socialize, talk, consume various beverages, and the like.Socializing is a good thing – we are social creatures, and this is even more true with photographers.  You need to be able to communicate and engage with others.  Even if you are…

• Wordless Wednesday #001

  Jason

  31 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm

  While the title should be self-explanatory, it unfortunately isn’t for the first ever Wordless Wednesday.  Here’s the deal…I am going to start posting an image every Wednesday.  The purpose is for you to enjoy the image!  I’ve so many images in my library of work thus far that have never made it into sets, portfolio reviews, juried shows, and the like, that it’s simply time to start culling some of them here.  What do I want in return?  Nothing!  Just enjoy the image.  If one speaks to you in particular, feel free to share your own emotions, thoughts,…

• My Conversation with Joe Farace…

  Jason

  30 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm

  The first podcast of 2012 is now ready for your listening pleasure!  I had the distinct honor of talking with long time photographer and author Joe Farace!  A contributing writer for Shutterbug Magazine, and author of several blogs, it was a great way to kick off the new year!  We had a great chat for about 45 minutes (on the record anyway)…and talked about everything from posing models, to lighting them, as well as some travel photography…heck, we even talked cars for a bit too!Thanks to Joe for taking the time to talk too – here’s his info and the show notes: Joe…

• Resistance Is Futile

  Jason

  29 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm

  I’ve long been fond of my status as a “vendor-neutral” blogger.  Shortly after beginning this blog I realized that it’s not the camera that makes the photographer good, it’s who’s behind the lens that matters.  I’ve got many friends who are Nikonians, others who are Pentaxians, and even a few Olympains out there.  The camera doesn’t matter.  I still shoot Canon-centric gear…Equally, I’ve worked my way up the heap in a predominantly Windows-world.  Beginning with Windows 3.1, 3.11 for workgroups, then on to 95, 98, the worst idea…

• 

  ESSENTIALS For Photographers

• Hey… Where are you going with all that stuff?

  wizwow

  7 Feb 2012 | 12:31 pm

  Didja ever wonder? You got the gear. You got the lights. You got that shiny new megapixelbeast of a machine. You even have one of those latest doohickeys that everyone is drooling over. You know the one. Yeah… it’s sweet. But where are you going with all that stuff? Are you off to make photographs? Why? Seriously… why? Is there a reason for the images you are making? Is there a strong desire to make those images? Is it something you have been thinking about for a long time? Was it a sudden desire to go out and record something on a bunch of pixels or a roll of chemically…

• CreativeLIVE – Seattle – April 6, 7, 8, – Well, This Will Be Fun!

  wizwow

  5 Feb 2012 | 7:22 pm

  Thanks to Charles Tibbs for taking the photo. Yeah… that’s me lookin’ all serious and cold leaning against the back wall of my studio. Fact is, it was a bit chilly that day. Unlike today where it is pushing a bit over 70. But the weather is not the subject here – it is the CreativeLIVE show I am doing in Seattle with the great folks up there in the PNW. Yep – I will be doing a Creative LIVE show April 6, 7, 8, in Seattle and hope all of you will be watching. I will be blogging and tweeting the entire experience as well, but it is nice to know that some loyal fans…

• OT- Sunday, #1: Darkness, Cello Madness and Jazz

  wizwow

  5 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Sometimes I have an opportunity to discuss other topics than photography. These times are rare, of course, but they do exist. I thought it may be fun to post some of the other things that are interesting to me on Sunday Mornings. Welcome to Off Topic Sundays, an excursion into the unknown. “… and darkness fell across the land…” First off. I received an email from someone in the business asking me to help create a ‘day of darkness’ by blocking all my content from the people who are stealing us blind. I have no interest in that sort of thing. Not because I…

• A Special “Portfolio Building” Workshop, Feb 11, 12: Only 3 Students

  wizwow

  3 Feb 2012 | 2:03 pm

  This is a special workshop for only three students. It is on short notice, but there is a reason for that – and it will be explained at a later date. Our focus will be on mastering images across a spectrum of genres. This workshop is for the serious photographer who wants to understand the finesse of light, and how to apply lighting and drama to their portfolio pieces. We will look at the qualities of light, how to understand the medium, and what we can do with photographic tools to enhance and modify our light to make the shots we see in our head. This is an intensive workshop and it…

• Portraits: Four Simple Approaches

  wizwow

  1 Feb 2012 | 7:47 pm

  I had the chance to do some portraits of some of the talent we had at the LE Weekend Meetup. They were Briana’s dance company and all of them were delightful and beautiful dancers. The folks who came had a blast and I was simply stunned that so many people came so far to hang out with us. We had photographers from NY / FL  / WA / CA / KS / TX and other far flung areas… we covered North America pretty well. More shots from that weekend coming when I get them all in from the folks… wow, it was fun. The first portrait was of Briana and done as a demonstration for one of the…

• 

  Rob Galbraith DPI

• First deliveries of Nikon D4 delayed until mid-March

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:45 pm

  Initial shipments of the Nikon D4 to retailers have been pushed into next month. The pro digital SLR had originally been slated for worldwide release beginning late next week. Earlier today, however, Nikon USA told us - through their PR firm - that a "minor production delay" means that dealers should now expect to start taking delivery of the company's new flagship closer to the middle of March.

• The Atlantic features Civil War gallery

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:15 pm

  The Atlantic features The Civil War, Part 1, The Places, an historic gallery of interesting old black-and-white photos.

• Turnley slideshow features human condition

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:15 am

  Peter Turnley features an interesting slideshow called Moments Of The Human Condition on his website.

• Photojournalist shares seven things learned

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:30 am

  Getty Images photojournalist Peter Macdiarmid shares the Top 7 things I've earned as a Getty Images news photographer but what is more interesting is the video below the list.

• Sigma announces dramatic SD1 price reduction, updated DP1 and DP2

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:45 am

  Sigma today announced that the price of its SD1 DSLR camera has been reduced to US$2,299 in the U.S. (That is the Minimum Advertised Price, or MAP, which is normally also the actual street price.) This is a reduction of more than $4,500 from the previous MAP. At the same time, the company announced updated versions of the DP1 and DP2 large-sensor compact cameras, which now use the same 14.75 million image pixel, 3-layer Foveon sensor as the SD1.

• 

  DIYPhotography.net -DIY Photography and Studio Lighting

• Nasty In Vegas (A Post-PMA Post)

  udijw

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:52 am

  Having the opportunity to visit the industry at PMA and CES this year was rad, but what was even radder was the chance to meet and have fun with a few of my personal industry heroes, Zeke of Nice Photo Mag, Matt of Nasty Clamps and James of Orbis. We spent some time talking gear and the industry but having spent too much time confined in the show rooms, Zeke and I need some venting. We took a Nasty Clamp a Canon s100 and an strobe and roamed the strip. Having limited gear, we wanted to see what we can come up with. What started as a fun (yet cold) evening ended with security kicking us out of…

• Use a DIY Super Clamp For Shooting in Confined Spaces

  udijw

  7 Feb 2012 | 9:16 am

  If you ever had to shoot in a confined space you know that getting your light in the place can be challenging .Limited space, cabinets and shelves all join hands in eliminating good lighting placements. Photographer Allen Mowery put together a DIY Super Clamp that allows mounting your strobe on almost every semi-open door or shelf. We have featured two similar products before, a DIY Clamp and the Nasty Clamps, each with its own merits. This design uses a controllable pressure clamp which I can see useful when the need to mount larger weights rises. Here is a video describing the use of the…

• Your Complete Guide For Photographing Maya In The Year Of Apocalypse

  udijw

  6 Feb 2012 | 7:40 am

  Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've almost certainly heard that the ancient Maya long-count calendar rolls over in December this year. Along with spurring the release of a frenzy of apocalyptic books, this event is also helping spawn renewed tourist interest in Maya ruins. Not to miss out on the opportunity (and free publicity), Mesoamerican communities are hosting a number of special events to celebrate the historic occasion. And governments in what was once the Maya realm have funded a new wave of restoration projects at ruin sites. So regardless of whether your driving interest…

• Light Painting Is All About Cute Girls Throwing Beads

  udijw

  2 Feb 2012 | 11:31 pm

  If you thought that the physics behind light painting involves photon accumulation, advanced sensor technology and high end buffer management, you have it all wrong. The truth of the thing, as Destin explains, is that light painting is done by cute girls throwing beads at boxes. OK, it does not, but Destin and daughter (and Wes Whaley) do a terrific job and explaining all this stuff in a fun and super easy to understand way. (Plus you get to see some of the most unique pregnancy photoshoots ever). Hit the jump to see the full video. read more

• Object Of Desire - 10.5mm Lens Cap

  udijw

  2 Feb 2012 | 6:27 am

  Having lost his Nikon 10.5mm lens cap, photographer Stu Carlson used the bottom end of a Dr. pepper bottle to cap his lens. "The lens cap disappeared and I hate to have my lens unprotected.  So I cut off the end of a Dr. Pepper bottle to use till I could order the right lens cap for it.  Quite by accident I had picked a perfect fit for this lens and since a replacement cap is not cheap and this is and it works and fits so well, I have not bothered to order the replacement cap. While the bottle seems to provide some nice protection, I doubt that the 10.5mm tastes as good as the…

• 

  Pioneer Woman Photography | Ree Drummond

• So Much Fun

  Miz Booshay

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:22 am

  You have got to try this! It just so much fun.               Here is what I do: I set my ISO. I set my aperture. I make sure the camera is on continuous shooting. I set my shutter speed/exposure by metering on the doggies head before I lower the camera. I hang my camera down by my foot, aim in the direction of my puppy (Ginny) and shoot. Of course you can put your camera on automatic and try this too. Why not!? Sometimes the focus is off. I should say, lots of time the focus is off. But it is endlessly entertaining to scroll thru your surprise pictures. I…

• Morning, Excellent and Fair

  Ree

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:52 am

  I went feeding with Marlboro Man last week and snapped this photo of the eastern sky. My first two attempts blew out the sky a bit, so I dialed down on the exposure compensation button until the ground was pitch black, the trees were silhouettes, and the sky’s full glory was revealed. For added contrast, I applied the “Fresh & Colorful” action from PW Action Set 1, then wind up decreasing its opacity by quite a bit, as the sky didn’t need a huge amount of help. I love morning anyway. It signals a new day, everything is quiet and crisp and cool, and everything…

• Instagram Photo of the Day

  Ree

  1 Feb 2012 | 3:50 am

  I snapped this yesterday. I was driving from my house to the highway and I thought the sky looked like Heaven. So I pulled over, stuck my phone out the window, and snapped. I would have used my Nikon, but after fully charging the battery, cleaning the lens, and remembering to take it with me, I left out the minor detail of sticking a compact flash card in the camera. It’s not the first time my cell phone has rescued me from missing a photo.

• The Silhouette, Take Two

  Miz Booshay

  25 Jan 2012 | 7:41 am

  By Miz Booshay. The sun was shining and the snow was reflecting and all this light was flooding my family room. I think Katie was actually standing near the door, watching the puppy, if I recall correctly. I decided to try a profile shot with my iPhone. It was not entirely bad.   But with the phone, you do not have control over aperture and shutter speed. I did not like seeing the picnic table and the fence. So I grabbed my big girl camera and tried again. (Nikon D700)   Exposure 0.02 sec (1/50) Aperture f/1.8 Focal Length 85 mm ISO Speed 400 I have my camera set to spot metering.

• Instagram Photo of the Day

  Ree

  21 Jan 2012 | 5:37 am

  After using it for nearly nine months, I’d like to say unequivocally that I believe Instagram is a miracle. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Instagram is an iPhone app that transforms otherwise drab and lifeless phone photos with fun, interesting filters and allows you to post them on Instagram (which is its own little social network), Twitter, and Facebook. I’ve used it for months and months to snap photos of random things when I’m out and about, and I love how mobile it is, how cool the photos look, and how easy it is to share them on social networking…

• 

  My Home Sweet Home

• Good and Good for You Challenge: Week 2

  Dawn

  4 Feb 2012 | 4:10 pm

  As part of our fitness plan for the new year, we participated in the second week of the Good and Good for You Challenge from the National Pork Board and their partner, Publix. We used boneless pork loin chops to make Braised Pork Chops with Peppers and Onions. I’m moving right along with the 30 Day Shred, too: today was day 14! This week’s theme is Game Day, but one of my kids requested this recipe and I couldn’t resist the peppers and onions. If you’re looking for a game day recipe, Game Day Pork and Chile Wraps sounds like a winner (pun intended). This recipe is…

• Our Trip to Space! at the Center For Puppetry Arts

  Dawn

  3 Feb 2012 | 3:30 pm

  Last week my 10-year-old son and I went on a mother/son date to see Space! at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Space! is a rollicking romp through the solar system: if you’re looking for a fun day in Atlanta with your child and a great learning opportunity, too, it’s a good choice for a trip into Atlanta. We enjoyed the zany characters and slick puppet effects, which were explained after the show. The songs entertained and informed at the same time; we clapped our hands and tapped our feet and sang along. As a mom, however, the thing that impressed me most was the way Space! presents…

• Camera Phone Friday: Another Driver’s License in the Family

  Dawn

  3 Feb 2012 | 6:47 am

  1. Proud owner of a new driver’s license, 2. Birthday cookie cake with chocolate chip lettering, 3. Chocolate mustache, 4. “On Joy” from Something Beautiful for God, 5. Put on a happy face :), 6. My jumbo mug makes me feel like Alice in Wonderland, 7. Photogenic food #Publix4Pork, 8. Dinner in the works #publix4pork, 9. Braised Pork with Peppers and Onions #publix4pork As most parents who’ve “been there” will tell you, once the initial fear of your teen driving wears off, it’s mighty handy to have an extra driver’s license in the family. Because…

• The Power that Lives Within Us Today at (in)courage

  Dawn

  3 Feb 2012 | 6:29 am

  Do you struggle with issues that you can’t handle, that are simply bigger than yourself? Stop by (in)courage today and I hope my post will remind and encourage you to trust the power that lives within you: Christ Jesus. The Power that Lives Within Us Today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home © 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

• Desktop Wallpaper, Anyone?

  Dawn

  1 Feb 2012 | 9:48 pm

  I have not one, but two desktop wallpapers to offer you for February! To download the one above, just visit (in)courage and look for the row of links under the blog header at the top of the page (it starts with “Home”). You’ll see a link called “Calendar (Feb)” towards the far right. Click it and you can download that desktop wallpaper. If you prefer this one, head over to The Homeschool Post and download it here. I hope you’re desktop enjoys its February selections! Desktop Wallpaper, Anyone? is a post from: My Home Sweet Home © 2012 My Home Sweet…

• 

  Presentation Zen

• Hans Rosling: The Jedi Master of data visualization

  Garr

  26 Jan 2012 | 11:31 pm

  Dr. Hans Rosling is one of my presentation heroes; he's been featured or mentioned in all my books and several times on presentationzen.com over the years. If there is a Jedi Master of presenting data clearly, visually, and simply, then it is Hans. He proves time and time again, that data are not dull—and when you are trying to change the world, there is no excuse for boring presentations. Most people are aware of Dr. Rosling through his popular TED Talks, but just in case you've never seen him present, below is a nice 5-minute piece he did on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS. At TED.com you'll…

• New: Presentation Zen (2nd Edition)

  Garr

  18 Jan 2012 | 10:36 pm

  Four years ago my first book Presentation Zen was published by Peachpit Press. Since then I wrote two other presentation books and a sketchbook/storyboard book and a DVD (plus an additional DVD/Book just for Japan). Although a lot of time had passed, I was still happy with the original Presentation Zen. And yet, the original Presentation Zen book could benefit from a little freshening up in the form of a 2nd edition for 2012. This 2nd edition of Presentation Zen has the same look and feel as the original book and I still did all the design and layout myself. The biggest difference is the book…

• 10 great books to help you think, create, & communicate better in 2012

  Garr

  10 Jan 2012 | 4:54 am

  In the spirit of personal kaizen, I have listed below a few books that I read (or reread) over the past year that you may want to read as part of your own continuous improvement journey. (Clicking on the book's icon takes you to Amazon.com.) (1) Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long. Over the last 10-20 years scientists have made many remarkable discoveries concerning the brain and how it works. David Rock is not a neuroscientist but he is a good "neurotranslator" of the scientific evidence and does a good job of…

• Progress and the intentional selection of less

  Garr

  30 Dec 2011 | 5:26 pm

  Many people today talk about presentation technology as if it were a panacea for boring lectures and ineffective presentations. Technologies such as our laptops, iPads, and cool software packages are wonderful tools that can, when used well, increase the quality of communication and engagement. This is especially true when we need to engage with people live on the other side of the planet via tools like video conferencing, webinars, Skype, and so on. However, while technology has evolved in dramatic ways over the last generation, our deep human need for visceral connections, and personal…

• Steve Jobs: "People who know what they’re talking about don’t need PowerPoint"

  Garr

  20 Dec 2011 | 5:12 am

  One thing we need to constantly remind ourselves is that slides and other forms of projected visualization—no matter how "cool" they may be—are not appropriate for every context. Multimedia is great for presentations before large groups such as keynote addresses or conference presentations, but in meetings where you want to actively discuss issues or go over details in depth, slides—especially the snooze-inducing bulletpoint variety, which are never a good idea—are almost always counter productive. I stressed early on in the first version of Presentation Zen four years ago—and ad…

• 

  The Digital Story

• Corel AfterShot Pro Review

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:36 pm

  I was impressed with Corel's ambition in its 1.0 release of AfterShot Pro. And for the most part, the execution wasn't bad either. I provide a complete rundown of my impressions in the Macworld Magazine review, Corel AfterShot Pro photo manager plays well in the big leagues. Pros Fast decoding of raw files, even on a laptop Excellent raw file support across camera brands Completely non-destructive workflow Easy to use Layers implementation Decode or edit images on the fly without a catalog Perfectly Clear and lens correction tools included Plug-in support for a variety of tools Cons Can't…

• New Olympus OM-D Brings Pro Body to Micro Four Thirds

  7 Feb 2012 | 2:30 pm

  Your investment in micro four thirds gear is about to pay off. And if you haven't made the leap yet, this might tempt you to do so. Olympus announced the OM-D E-M5 body that brings pro capabilities to the compact system camera world. Basic Features Rugged dust proof and splash proof body 5-axis image stabilization that works with all micro 4/3 lenses (including those by Panasonic) Fast autofocusing system (Olympus claims "fastest") 9 frames per second burst mode Redesigned 16.1 MP image sensor High ISO performance: 200 - 25600 Full HD recording using .mov format (MPEG-4AVC/H.264) and AVI…

• Let the Games Begin: Nikon D800 vs Canon [5D Mark III]

  7 Feb 2012 | 9:22 am

  Nikon has throw down the gauntlet with the impressive D800 featuring 36 high resolution megapixels. Canon meanwhile, decided that today was a good time to announce 3 high resolution lenses designed for a full frame camera that would require such good glass. Hmmmm.... So basically, Nikon beat Canon to the punch with the D800. Canon wants to let everyone know that an answer is imminent, without actually having to make an announcement. Ah yes. Let the games begin. The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration…

• "Nimble Printing" - Digital Photography Podcast 311

  7 Feb 2012 | 8:44 am

  If printing were as fun as the other aspects of your photography, you might engage more often. Right? After all, we like sharing prints. It's the creating them that can be frustrating. In this week's podcast I explain a few nimble options for creating prints that just might get your juices flowing. I use mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad, a compact printer, and a few other goodies. Give it a listen and decide if a nimble printing setup might be the ticket to you creating prints to share with friends, family, and even clients. Technical note: My...

• Print Your Own Postcards - Front and Back

  5 Feb 2012 | 8:43 pm

  Postcards present great advantages. In a mailbox full of bland envelopes, postcards radiate like desert flowers. They're easy to send: stick a 32-cent stamp on the back, write an address, and drop them in the mail. Postcards will bring smiles to the faces of good friends, or catch the eye of potential clients. And you may not realize it, but they're easy to make. Yes, you could use outside printing services for this, but why not create your own? Delight friends and family when a beautiful landscape appears amongst the bills and ads in their mailboxes. By downloading the postcard...

• 

  Latest Adobe News by Smart Category

• Let Me Sink - Emotional Rainy Scene Photo Manipulation

  Photoshop Tutorials

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:37 am

  In this tutorial I'll show you how to create an emotional photo manipulation called "Let me sink". We'll come through techniques of manipulating, retouching, using brush, layer mask, adjusting light and shadow a well as other several techniques to create an emotional rainy scene. Read more... (http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/let-me-sink-emotional-rainy-scene-photo-manipulation.html)

• Copy Appearance from one object to another in Adobe Illustrator

  adobe Photoshop Secrets

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:21 pm

  In Adobe Illustrator you can quickly copy appearance from one object to another using Eyedropper tool. Basically it is copy-paste done at once. Appearance want to say: Stroke, Fill, Live Effects (Roughen, Zig Zag) even and Photoshop raster Effects. First select Eyedropper tool (I) from toolbox, press Ctrl on your keyboard to temporary switch to Selection tool. Click object you want to transfer appearance to select it. Release Ctrl to switch back to Eyedropper tool then click on object from which you want to copy appearance.

• How to Create a Chocolaty Valentine’s Day Card for Your Girlfriend

  Photoshop Tutorials

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:37 pm

  This Valentine’s day, show your true love with a Valentine’s Day card! Whether it’s for your partner or yourself, you’ll have a fun time making it. This tutorial will show you how to create an easy swirling background and how to use layer styles to create a chocolaty text effect. Once you’re done, feel free to customize it with personal photos or just a few cute hearts. Read more... (http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/text-effects/create-a-chocolaty-valentines-day-card-for-you-or-your-girlfriend.html)

• A better Photoshop grid for responsive web design

  Jeffrey Zeldman

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:36 am

  IN MAKING the move to responsive web design, one of the potential hurdles is the rather awkward maths for calculating the percentage-based widths necessary for fluid layouts. If, for example, you’re designing with a 960px grid in Photoshop and you have six columns, each 140px wide, you divide 140 by 960 to get your percentage-based [...]

• Process Multiple Files in Photoshop Elements

  adobe Photoshop Secrets

  7 Feb 2012 | 8:10 pm

  Photoshop Elements offers feature similar to Image Processor in Photoshop, similar but not exactly the same with some advantages and disadvantages. Advantage is that you can apply Quick Fix without recording actions and to add watermark text if you want, disadvantage is that you can not control Quick Fix. There is one option not covered in video tutorial: Same as Source below Destination folder. Use this option if you want to save images in same folder but keep in mind that original files may be replaced. For example if you want only to resize JPEG images and save them with

• 

  MacNN | The Macintosh News Network

• Samsung avoids Galaxy Tab 10.1N ban in Germany for now

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:45 am

  Samsung got a reprieve on Thursday after a Dusseldorf court ruling (PDF) denied Apple's call for a preliminary ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1N. Fulfilling early expectations, the judge determined that the 10.1N was sufficiently different from the iPad to avoid confusion over Apple's claimed design rights. The court also tossed ideas that even the consciously modified Tab 10.1N was breaking competition rules by unfairly using a similar product....

• Google Drive cloud storage near ready

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:40 am

  Google is said to be close to launching its own cloud-storage service that is set to compete with Dropbox. The tip-off was offered to the Wall Street Journal, which says that it has talked to ëpeople familiar with the matter.í The long-rumored service dubbed 'Drive' will offer users the ability to store all types of files and make the sharing of those files simple by allowing them to stream a video directly from the cloud, for example....

• Foxconn server hacked, CEO's password published

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:00 pm

  A hacker group calling itself SwaggSec has published data from internal Foxconn servers that the group hacked into, including usernames and passwords for management officials right up to and including CEO Terry Gou. While initial analysis of the data hasn't turned up any other sensitive information, the security breach prompted company officials to shut down its servers to prevent fraudulent orders that could appear to be from Foxconn's clients using the passwords....

• Lenovo results: tops in work, desktops, 6.5m phones shipped

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:15 pm

  Lenovo as part of record results for its fall quarter clinched the top spots in key parts of the PC business. While it wouldn't give exact numbers, it mostly sided with IDC rankings that saw it claim 14 percent of the computer market worldwide, or second place. It was now large enough that it was the leader for shipments in work PCs of any kind as well as in home desktops....

• Amazon Kindle Fire ad: three of these less than one iPad

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:35 pm

  Amazon has started running one of its first TV ads for the Kindle Fire this week in a conspicuous jab at Apple. The spot (below) recalls Amazon's earlier ads criticizing the poor readability of the iPad but, this time, has an answer to the regular Kindle's lack of features. The $79 Kindle, combined with two $199 Kindle Fires, lets a mother at the beach give herself and her children a device each at under the price of an iPad....

• 

  MacNews Latest News

• Tablet tariffs comprise one-third of mobile broadband plans

  dsellers

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:47 am

  An analysis of tablet tariffs from the Strategy Analytics Mobile Broadband Price Benchmarking Service (http://www.strategyanalytics.com) shows that the number of tablet devices offered by operators is growing -- with many providing at least five different tablets. The research shows that 4G/LTE plans, increasingly prevalent in mobile broadband offers, are now starting to appear specifically for tablets. read more

• Luca Visual FX brings Grunge collection to FCP X, Motion, AE

  dsellers

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:22 am

  Noise Industries welcomes the latest collection of Luca Visual FX plug-ins to FxFactory 3. The Grunge Collection features four new visual effects tools: Grunge Effects, Film Leaders, Sprocket Slip, and Light Leaks. The family of tools are compatible with Final Cut Pro, Motion, and After Effects. The Grunge Collection includes the following four products: read more

• CurrentWerks shipping energy-saving USB wall outlets

  dsellers

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:16 am

  CurrentWerks (http://www.currentwerks.com) says its newest energy-saving USB wall outlets, the Duo and the Quattro (pictured), are now shipping. The Duo adds two powerful USB ports with 16W of output to a standard 110V wall outlet. The Duo supports both 15A and 20A wall receptacles. It ships in regular and decorator styles with a choice of colors. The Quattro has four USB ports that have a combined 22W output and fits in a standard wall gang box. Using a patented door mechanism, the Quattro purportedly eliminates vampire power, also known as standby power, saving energy. read more

• Mac OS X software updates for Feb. 9

  dsellers

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:53 am

  Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps. Econ Technologies has updated ChronoSync to version 4.3 and ChronoAgent for Mac to version 1.3. ChronoSync is the automated synchronization and backup application for Mac OS X and ChronoAgent for Mac is a utility that runs on the destination Mac and communicates directly with ChronoSync, giving you full root access to the destination Mac. For more info go to econtechnologies.com . read more

• Greenpeace: Apple's not green enough

  dsellers

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:14 pm

  Apple has come under fire from the Greenpeace environmental group for a lack of effort to raise awareness around issues of climate change and address itsown energy use levels, despite record profits in recent months, reports "V3" (http://macte.ch/Jwuia). Greenpeace's "Cool IT Leaderboard" report (http://macte.ch/xd37Y) assess many of the world's major technology firms for their work in raising the awareness of climate change issues, the work they do to reduce their own energy output and the services they provides for others to try and reduce their own impact. read more

• 

  O'Grady's PowerPage

• Yahoo cuts four members from its board, looks to restructure

  Chris Barylick

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:48 am

  If you’re in a hot air balloon and it has a leak and is thus spiraling towards the ground at a fairly quick rate of speed, it never hurts to lose some weight. Per Macworld, Yahoo announced on Tuesday that four board members, including its chairman, will step down. Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang left the board earlier this month. With the additional departures announced today—including that of chairman Roy Bostock—more than half of the board’s membership will be fresh blood. Bostock, Vyomesh Joshi, Arthur Kern and Gary Wilson will step down at the annual meeting, which Yahoo expects…

• Apple revises iOS Developer Program requirements, begins asking for Retina Display-compatible screenshots across the board

  Chris Barylick

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:21 am

  It looks like the Retina Display might be arriving for additional advices. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing. Per AppleInsider, Apple on Tuesday notified members of its iOS Developer Program that they will be required to provide high-resolution, Retina Display compatible screenshots when initially submitting or updating an app through iTunes Connect. The note sent out to third-party software developers says that any future updates will not be approved by Apple unless 960×640 pixel screenshot is included, a change from the company’s earlier policy which supported Retina Display…

• Apple releases firmware updates for early 2010 MacBook Air, Pro notebooks, adds Lion Recovery and sleep fix

  Chris Barylick

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:04 am

  Firmware updates…they get useful. Late Tuesday, Apple released MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.6 for its early 2010 MacBook Pro notebooks. The update, a 3 megabyte download, enables Lion Recovery from an Internet connection on MacBook Pro (Early 2010) models. The company also released MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.3 for its early 2010 MacBook Air notebooks. The update, a 3 megabyte download, enables Lion Recovery from an Internet connection and also addresses an issue where the system would sometimes restart when the power button was pressed immediately after waking from deep…

• AT&T begins data throttling on “Unlimited” data plans at 2GB mark

  Chris Barylick

  7 Feb 2012 | 8:03 am

  Sometimes it’s as if the wireless carriers WANT you to be disgruntled with them. Per iLounge, AT&T has begun to throttle—or downgrade the data speeds of—customers on unlimited data plans that go over 2GB in data usage for the month. As AT&T customer John Cozen wrote on his blog, “I received a message during my last billing cycle, warning I was in the top 5% of my region and would experience reduced data speeds next time I reach that level of data use. I immediately checked my data usage on the AT&T iOS app. 2.1 GB. Less than I expected considering AT&T offers a…

• Updated Mac OS X 10.7.3 user interface notes could point towards Retina displays for future Macs

  Chris Barylick

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:25 am

  Analyze the new Mac OS X update’s source code and you find some interesting stuff. Per Daring Fireball, a series of newly-upgraded high-DPI UI elements in Mac OS X 10.7.3 has led to some speculation that Apple is continuing to lay the groundwork for high-resolution Mac displays that approach the pixel density of its Retina Displays. The article pointed to a series of Twitter posts (1, 2) outing UI resources that scale to larger sizes in the latest release of Mac OS X Lion, which arrived last week. The new elements include the pointing-finger cursor in Safari, the “grabby…

• 

  iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog

• Amazon joins the trend of knocking Apple in its latest Kindle commercial, three Kindles for the price of one iPad

  Chris Oldroyd

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:05 am

  Amazon has joined the trend set by Samsung in knocking Apple in its commercials. Amazon’s latest commercial for its range of Kindle devices goes all out to make the point that you can buy three Kindle devices for the cost of one iPad. That would be two Kindle Fire tablets and one Kindle which would come to a total cost of $477. This is not the first time that Amazon has made comparisons with the iPad. In a previous Kindle commercial, Amazon made the point that the Kindle was easier to read in direct sunlight, is smaller, lighter and less expensive than Apple’s iPad too. This time it is…

• Apple TV jailbreak package aTV Flash (black) gets updated with automated firmware backups, playback improvements and more

  Chris Parsons

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:42 pm

  The fine folks from Firecore have been hard at work on their aTV Flash (black) package for jailbroken AppleTVs and have just released a new update that allows all-new firmware backup options, new localizations for our international readers, and playback enhancements. The Apple TV is an incredibly inexpensive way to easily get all your iTunes music and videos onto your big screen HDTV, along with special channels like Netfix, but you only get support for Apple’s own file formats, and for channel partners they select. Jailbreaking and using aTV Flash (black) opens up entirely new worlds…

• Path apologizes for taking your address book, wipes data from their servers

  Simon Sage

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:35 pm

  There was a bit of noise yesterday about a popular mobile social networking app, Path, taking the address books of users wholesale, and storing them on their servers. Despite being transferred over SSL, and the data only being used to notifications when friends signed up, Path has apologized profusely and wiped any personal address book information from their servers. A patch to their iPhone app now provides a prompt if you’re interested in receiving notifications when friends sign up. It’s good to see Path is being clear, prompt, proactive, and apologetic about the whole thing,…

• Fotopedia Women of the World for iPhone and iPad is a tribute to the diversity, beauty and strength of women on this earth

  Leanna Lofte

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:39 pm

  “Women make up 50% of the global population, 40% of the global workforce, yet women own only 1% of the world’s wealth”. This fact is the first thing you read upon launching Fotopedia Women of the World before diving into this tribute to the diversity, beauty and strength of women on this earth. Fotopedia Womeon of the World is filled with hundreds of beautiful images and stories of women from 75 different countries. Through photographer Olivier Martel’s art, you will witness the fighting spirit of these women in the face of human, political, religious or dramatic…

• iPhone & iPad Live podcast tonight at 9pm ET

  Georgia

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:30 pm

  Nothing in the ‘verse that should stop you from joining us for iPhone & iPad Live tonight! Place: www.imore.com/live Time: 9pm ET, 6pm PT, 2am GMT. (ZEN and TECH will be on on immediately following iPhone & iPad live tonight, and you’ll really want to join us for the announcement of our big Xbox Kinect giveaway! Spoiler alert!) If you have any questions or topics you’d like us to discuss, just leave them in the comments then come be part of the show! Want to watch via iPhone or iPad? Grab the Ustream app and search for “mobilenations”!

• 

  iLounge | All Things iPod, iPhone, iPad and Beyond

• News: Smartr Contacts adds e-mail viewing support

  Jesse Hollington

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:17 pm

  Xobni has released an update to Smartr Contacts for the iPhone adding several new features and enhancements including the ability to access linked e-mail messages from directly within the app. First released last month, Smartr Contacts provides a contact management solution primarily targeted at Gmail and Outlook users that provides an aggregated view of contact information from multiple sources such as e-mail conversations and social networking profiles.…

• News: Path releases update to address contact privacy issue

  Jesse Hollington

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:17 pm

  In response to the recent revelation that social networking app Path was uploading iOS users’ contact data to its servers, the company has apologized and released an update to the iOS app providing proper disclosure of the feature and prompting the user to either opt in or opt out. Path had originally implemented this feature to provide more accurate friend suggestions and notify users when somebody in their address book joined the social network.…

• News: Galaxy on Fire 2 HD update opens the Kaamo Club

  Jesse Hollington

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:40 pm

  Fishlabs has released an update to Galaxy on Fire 2 HD, the high-performance version of its popular space adventure game adding the Kaamo Club and preliminary support for the upcoming Valkyrie HD expansion pack scheduled to be released in the coming weeks. Introduced to the standard edition early last year, the Kaamo Club feature allows users to purchase their own space station in the Shima system where they can stash extra cargo and additional space…

• News: Tapbots updates Tweetbot, releases iPad version

  Jesse Hollington

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:08 pm

  Tapbots has released Tweetbot 2.0, the latest update to the popular Twitter client for the iPhone and iPod touch. The new version features an updated timeline view with in-line image thumbnails and active links that can be opened with a single tap. Additional UI improvements include new views for direct messages and tweet replies and a redesigned New Tweets notification bar. Users can also now enable timed auto-refresh and enable Readability mobilizer…

• News: Claimed iPad 3 casing shows new camera, mounting holes

  Charles Starrett

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:04 pm

  A photo of a purported “iPad 3” rear housing has appeared online, and shows a number of small—but notable—changes between it and the iPad 2. According to Fix-iPhones’ RepairLabs, the new shell provides mounting holes for a smaller logic board, which the report suggests is to make more room for an even larger battery. Other differences in the two devices are said to include the camera hole and a different LCD mounting…