Thursday, July 31, 2014

How to Get Started With Light Painting

How to Get Started With Light Painting

What is Light Painting and How Does it Work?

Things You Will Need
A camera with manual settings and bulb (B) mode.
A sturdy tripod.
A shutter release cable with locking mechanism or remote with timer function.
A light source of some kind. This could be a flashlight, an LED, a neon glow stick, even a flash unit.
A dark environment. You can work indoors in a room with all the lights turned out and windows blocked, or you can work outdoors at nighttime.

Examples of What You Can Do







Light Surfer by JustinJensen, on Flickr


Wednesday, July 30, 2014

How to Use Shutter Speed for More Powerful Images

How to Use Shutter Speed for More Powerful Images

"Of all a camera’s available settings and functions, the one that most allows you to convey a sense of energy in your work is shutter speed. It is shutter speed that, in numerous scenarios, provides for the greatest degree of flexibility in terms of how you present your subject to the viewer."

  • Fast Shutter Speeds
    • Sports
  • High Speed Photography
  • Medium Shutter Speeds
    • Sports 
  • Panning
  • Zoom
  • Slow Shutter Speeds
  • Light Trails
  • Astrophotography

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Monday, July 28, 2014

Art and Ann Yost earn honors at NECCC , they are now MNEC

Hi Lisa, I made this composite from two photographs of Art and Ann Yost getting their MNEC. If you don't get anything better you can use it for the Blog. Regards, Jim Dionne


Master Member, New England Camera Club Council – MNEC

Awarded to those who have performed exceptional service for the Council during a period of not less than five years, and/or have substantially advanced photography in the New England area through lecturing, teaching, judging, and through other administrative activities in photographic organizations for the same period. This honor is limited to a maximum of five each year.

The NECCC Honors are awarded in recognition of contribution to the advancement of the art and science of photography in the New England area. Quality of character, administrative activities, service through lecturing, teaching, judging, and writing are as important as an outstanding competition record. Before proposing a candidate, weigh carefully the responsibility you are assuming and your duty to the New England Camera Club Council. These considerations should transcend any desire you may have to do a favor for someone. Do not submit an application unless you are fully convinced that the candidate’s qualifications are far above average. Try to give the committee a verbal picture of the candidate as an individual as well as a photographer. Present all facts in a brief and concise manner, avoiding exaggeration. List the candidate’s qualifications under each of these general headings: (1) Administrative Activities (2) (A) Lecturing, (B) Judging, (C) Teaching, (D) Writing (3) (A) Photographic Achievements, (B) Exhibition Record, (C) Competition Awards (4) Other Qualifications

Want to nominate someone for their MNEC for next year? click here

7 Cool Night Photography Tutorials For 7 Different Situations

7 Cool Night Photography Tutorials For 7 Different Situations

"Heading indoors after the sun sets deprives you of some wonderful photographic opportunities. From shooting the starry sky and the milky way to capturing cityscapes and fireworks, the possibilities can be plenty. As the saying goes, “luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. This post aims at keeping you prepared by providing you with links to tutorials that cover almost all night photography situations."


  • Star Photography Tutorial
  • Cityscape Photography Tips
  • Photographing Fireworks
  • How to Shoot the Perfect Lightning Photograph
  • Photographing Fairs
  • How to Shoot Light Trails
  • Astrophotography Tutorial

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Understanding Composition Book

The Understanding Composition Book




Understanding Composition Book by Kent DuFault. Hundreds of photographers have already snapped up this offer.

This book will help you with:
  • How to Simplify Your Image for a Dynamic Composition
  • Using Light as an Element of Composition
  • What are Pointing Elements
  • Avoid Distracting Elements
  • How to Determine the Flow of a Scene
  • What is the Use of Space
  • How to Create Balance
  • What is POV and Why Does it Matter
  • Composition Case Studies
  • Practical Assignments (that you can do at home)
  • And Much, Much More!
Don't Miss Out - Grab Your Copy Today

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Upcoming workshops



Come join us on some of our upcoming workshops...

http://www.meetup.com/Image-Enhancement/

Lisa and Tom Cuchara


Friday, July 25, 2014

11 Photos That Prove Fog Isn't A Ruiner

Thanks Bill H for passing this along.

11 Photos That Prove Fog Isn't A Ruiner

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II Lens Rumors


Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II Lens Rumors



Canon 100-400mm L Lens
http://www.photographybay.com/2014/07/13/canon-ef-100-400mm-f4-5-5-6l-is-ii-lens-rumors/?awt_l=E9xm2&awt_m=IiL8Qf3t3f62xu
We’ve been waiting on a replacement for the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS lens for years. Since last year though rumors have continued to build fairly steadily.
Now, we’re starting to hear that it may be released alongside the 7D Mark II, which is rumored to land on September 5, 2014 just prior to Photokina. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens is further rumored to feature a rotating zoom ring (something we’ve heard before) and a new IS system.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II Lens Rumored Features

  • Rotating zoom ring
  • New IS system
  • Lighter weight than predecessor
  • 82mm filter thread
  • New coating
  • $2399 USD
If these rumors hold water, expect to hear a lot more in the next month as we lead up to the announcement.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Night Photo Workshop, Canoe Tour MARK BOWIE

OUTDOOR IMAGES ~ THE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY OF MARK BOWIE

There’s still time to register for my new Photographing the Night Landscape workshop, 
based out of Inlet, NY July 27th - 31st.  
Enough people signed up to run it and some slots remain.

The attached pdf lists the subject matter I’ll cover during the workshop, 
and provides information on my upcoming Adirondack Canoe Tour
based out of Tupper Lake, NY  August 14th - 17th.


More workshops are scheduled through the Adirondack Photography Institute this fall.
Please see API’s website for program descriptions and to register.  

 I invite you to join me.

Best wishes,
Mark
61 Howe Rd.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 442-9125

David Mecey's Ultimate Photo Workshop

David Mecey is offering his next workshops at one of the most incredible locations to be found anywhere in the world:
Pirates Cove, Boulder City, Nevada. A location that is a mix of incredible interiors, dazzling exteriors, swimming pools disguised as lagoons, pirate ships, cobblestone streets and wonderfully appointed interiors.

That, combined with some of David’s gorgeous models including playmates with world class hair and make-up and you have an ultimate photo workshop experience unlike any other.

Choose from one of two weekends this fall!


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

on sale Three Unique Texture Packs with 170 Textures!


Value Discount Savings
$168 92% $155

3 Packs of 170 Textures from light and subtle to dramatic and distinct.

California Photo Festival

Photo by Bob Canepa

Follow this link to see this year's schedule and click here for the registration page.

http://www.californiaphotofest.com/events.php

36 Photos of New England That Will Make Your Day

36 Photos of New England That Will Make Your Day


36 Photos of New England That Will Make Your Day
Source: Flickr user mclcbooks

How to Fix Blemishes and Reduce Wrinkles in Lightroom

How to Fix Blemishes and Reduce Wrinkles in Lightroom

A common question we get in the free webinars and at the help desk is how to fix blemishes without taking the image to Photoshop. Many Lightroom users do not realize how useful the "spot removal tool" can be for fixing blemishes such as scratches, food particles, pimples, etc.
This tool continues to be improved with each Lightroom release and really can handle most of your healing and cloning needs.

Read the rest of this tutorial here (video included)

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Adobe has announced a release candidate for Camera Raw 8.6

Adobe Camera Raw 8.6 Release Candidate Now Available

Adobe Camera Raw 8.6
Adobe has announced a release candidate for Camera Raw 8.6, which adds RAW file support to several new cameras listed below.
The release candidate also includes improvements for batch processing and color matching profiles for the Sony RX100 IIISony A7S, and Sony Alpha A77 II. Additionally, there are several new lens profiles now supported.
Bug fixes in Camera Raw 8.6 include the following:
  • Fix crash on launch in some cases on Hi DPI (Retina) systems.
  • Fix crash when opening some Sigma SD9 raw files.
  • Fix issue with JPEG images saved by Camera Raw not readable in some external applications.
  • Fix automatic lens profile selection for Leica M (Typ 240) when using most recent firmware version.
  • Fix issue with some Hasselblad H5D-50c and H5D-60 3FR raw images appearing slightly too dark. Unfortunately, this fix may affect the appearance of existing images captured with this combination of settings. It is recommended that you (1) purge the Camera Raw cache via the Camera Raw Preferences dialog, and (2) review previously captured images for unexpected brightness changes.
You can download the release candidate at the following link from Adobe Labs:
Remember, this is a release candidate, which means it has been pretty well tested and Adobe thinks it is ready for full release; however, it’s recommended that you keep production work to prior versions until the official release drops. Expect those to come soon though. Release candidates mean that the final versions are just around the corner.

LIGHTROOM 5: VISUALIZE SPOTS

LIGHTROOM 5: VISUALIZE SPOTS

Monday, July 21, 2014

24 camera features every beginner photographer must memorize

24 camera features every beginner photographer must memorize

 
24 camera features every beginner photographer must memorize
"No matter how long you’ve had your digital camera, there’s always something to learn. And if you’ve just bought your first camera body, the learning curve can seem impossibly steep. But it needn’t be a painful slog. In this tutorial we’ll help you get the most from your DSLR by explaining some of the key camera features found on almost every camera body. Learning these camera features early on in your development will ensure you avoid some of the common camera mistakes and get much better shots as a result."

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Download beautiful grungy painterly textures

Download beautiful grungy painterly textures


Download some beautiful painterly textures with a grungy look by Evelyn Flint. These textures are free to use in your personal work and you must credit the author. For commercial use or other questions contact the author directly. 

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Mollie Isaacs Awake The Light Photo Tours and Workshops

Awake The Light Header

OUTER BANKS "AUTUMN AT THE BEACH" WORKSHOP 
SECTION 2 
OCTOBER 28 - 31
OUTER BANKS, NC
Demand was so high for the autumn Outer Banks workshop that we have scheduled a repeat of the workshop from Oct. 28 - 31.

Contact us today to reserve your space in this in-demand workshop!
____________ 

NOVEMBER 19 - 21
Chincoteague, VA

This workshop coincides with the fall  bird migration. It will also provide opportunities to see the famous wild horses and other wildlife. We will shoot at sunrise and sunset, and will have mid-day teaching sessions. The "challenge" will be to let go of old beliefs and open the door to newfound creativity.
ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT
For more details on our 2014 Calendar
see our website  


               
NEW INFORMATION  
read about it below  
       
Workshops are filling fast, so now is the time to sign up. All our workshops are fun, educational, and motivational. Join the ranks of others who  
come back for more workshops year after year.
October 21 - 24, Outer Banks of North Carolina
October at the Outer Banks is the perfect time to be there. Empty beaches, clear air, warm temperatures, and the sunrises and sunsets are the most spectacular of the year. We will shoot sunrises and sunsets, lighthouses, sand dunes, fishing villages, birds, and more. Elevate your photography to a higher level. More information here.

FULL, BUT BY POPULAR DEMAND A
REPEAT OF THE WORKSHOP HAS BEEN SCHEDULED 
  FOR OCTOBER 28 - 31.
CALL TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE!
November 19 - 21, Eastern Shore of Virginia

The mystique of Chincoteague is compelling. It has calm inland waters, exciting ocean views, and of course its famous wild horses. We've timed this workshop to coincide with the fall bird migration. We plan to photograph horses, a variety of bird species, great sunrises and sunsets, harbor scenes, and more. More information here. 

ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Friday, July 18, 2014

"Topaz ReMask" 50% off

Topaz is promoting their image masking software "Topaz ReMask" and it will be 50% off from July 15 - 31 with coupon code "julyremask". 

:There's lots of masking tools out there, but we've focused on making ReMask the fastest + easiest to use. We like to say that it's the only masking software that doesn't require an instructions manual. We're dropping the ReMask price from $70 to $34.99 until the end of the month. Many customers tell us that ReMask is their favorite Topaz product, and we're confident that this promotion will do well."

Purchase ReMask here:

FYI, they also released a substantial free update to ReMask for existing customers this Saturday.

Scottish Castles, Culture and Coastlines 11-Day Sojourn Series Workshop


Scottish Castles, Culture and Coastlines 11-Day Sojourn Series Workshop

Travel back in time with us to photograph ancient castles and rugged coastlines in the historic and moody Scottish highlands.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Avoid These 10 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Image Quality

Avoid These 10 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Image Quality

"How many times have you captured an amazing image only to view it on your computer, or as a print, and realize that you screwed something up along the way. Unfortunately, the only way to stop doing a lot of these easy-to-make mistakes is to have an image ruined by them.  Once you screw up an image you’ll quickly learn not to make the same mistake again. Here are the most frequent ways I see photographers ruining their images. Avoid these 10 mistakes that can ruin your images. "


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Photoshopped by 25 different countries

Thanks Vic for passing this along!

Photographer and journalist Esther Honig sent a photograph of herself to freelancers in over 25 countries around the world. She requested each one to “make her beautiful.” The results are very interesting and insightful, showing the different standards of beauty worldwide.

Which version of Esther appeals to you?

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Photoshop free painting webinar

paint1cc111y
Turn photos into genuine painted pieces of art in your complimentary Photoshop Smudge Brush Painting Webinar.
Get truly painted results without ever leaving Photoshop; much easier to use than dedicated painting programs. Show your customers unique painted photos they will not see anywhere else.
Please review more painted examples and your complimentary webinar dates and times. Please register early, as there are only 50 participants per webinar,
http://www.photoeffects.biz/paintwebinar.html
Thank you. Gavin Phillips.
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Acadia National Park Photography Workshop


Magnificent Maine in Full Fall Color
When:
October 14 - 17, 2014
Tuition:
$625 per person
Tuition is due in advance to secure your spot.  Early bird discount for registration before Monday, August 11, 2014 is $525. 
Email jim@jamespettitphotography.com to register.
Description:
Just in time for peak fall color, join Jim Pettit for a special Field Photography Workshop on beautiful Mount Desert Island on October 14th - 17th, 2014.
This exclusive workshop features 4 full days of hands-on coaching to take your photography to the next level.
Gain practical experience as you capture the natural beauty and magnificence of coastal Maine in breathtaking photos that will create a lifetime of memories.
Hone your photographic skills while shooting some of the best scenery in America in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island.
Jim, a native of Maine, will guide you around the island to sites such as Bass Harbor Head Light, Cadillac Mountain, and Otter Cliff.
By popular request, we will have a critique session during the workshop. You will get valuable feedback on your images including but not limited to camera, composition and processing techniques.
To learn more, contact Jim Pettit today at 770-312-5550 orjim@jamespettitphotography.com.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Take 20% Off Your First Order of PSA Actions and LR rpesets



The Innocence Collection

Take your photography to the next level and receive 20% OFF your first Greater Than Gatsby purchase! 


Our Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets are used by thousands of amateur and professional photographers around the world to quickly and easily turn their photographs into beautiful works of art.

Save 20%


Enter the discount code below during checkout and we'll automatically take 20% OFF your first Greater Than Gatsby purchase.

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