Hunts taking orders for the new canon 7D

Lisa - From Gary Farber at Hunts....for your blog. Gary P.

The new canon 7D has started to ship if any members would like to get on my preorder list they can contact me at 1-800-924-8682 ext 2332 or email me at digitalguygary@wbhunt.com

I also taking preorders on the new canon G11 camera schdule to ship the middle of oct and the new epson 3880 printer schdule to ship real soon best gary

Fourteenth Annual Hawk Migration Workshop

Saturday, October 3rd (raindate Sunday, October 4th), 9am-2pm. Fourteenth Annual Hawk Migration Workshop. http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/

Join Tom Sarro, Mohonk Preserve Research Associate and avid birder, and learn about wild raptors of the local area.

The program begins with an indoor presentation, introducing silhouettes and other means of distinguishing migrating species in flight. Then, enjoy a short hike to the “Hawk Watch” where experts will help you identify the hawks, ospreys, and other birds riding thermal air currents above the Shawangunk Ridge. Bring binoculars, lunch, and appropriate outdoor wear. Ages 12 and up are welcome. Children must always be accompanied by an adult. This program includes a moderate, 1-mile hike, with a short, steep, uphill scramble. Reservations are required; sign up begins 9/7/09. Call 845-255-0919 for reservations and meeting location. The fee for this program is $18 for Mohonk Preserve members and $28 for non-members (includes a day pass which allows hiking access to Preserve lands for a full day, sunrise to sunset, and can be credited for up to two weeks towards a membership). There are no refunds after 9/25.

Steve Wronker’s Funny Business… a comedy hypnosis show

Castle Craig Camera Cub

Mark your calendars everyone… October 9, 2009.
We are having a comedy night fundraiser. The goal is to raise money to buy a digital projector for our monthly competitions.

The night’s entertainment is: Steve Wronker’s Funny Business… a comedy hypnosis show.
www.swfb.net

The show will be held at Turner Hall, 800 Old Colony Road in Meriden.

Doors open at 6:30 PM, show starts at 7:30PM.
There is a cash bar but everyone may bring their own snacks or hors d'oeuvres.
People attending must be over 21 because of the liquor sales.

Tickets are $15 each or a table of 10 for $135

A couple of quick notes about the hypnosis show:

This is not a night club act. It is rated PG even though we are all adults. He does not do blue material.

Steve will ask for volunteers the night of the show.

Anyone interested can visit his web site to learn a lot more about the show… www.swfb.net Any questions or concerns about the show please call Steve at 860-561-8910

STEVE WRONKER's FUNNY BUSINESS
Comedy Hypnosis Shows
1-860-561-8910
www.SWFB.net
"Still laughing after 22 years!”

Photo Manipulation – Beautiful Lady Sitting under Sky

From Photoshop Lady

Photo Manipulation – Beautiful Lady Sitting under Sky

A tutorial to show you how to do a photo combination. It is very difficult to perfectly combine 2 or more photos due to their background, color or object unlikely to match each other. Combination skills are therefore, essential for this. Just have a go for this tutorial to create a good photo for yourself!(View This Tutorial)

Carl Zeiss announces 18mm F3.5 for Canon

Carl Zeiss has announced the price and availability of the Canon-mount version of its 18mm F3.5 lens. The 'ZE-mount' version of the Distagon T* 3.5/18 super-wide angle lens was first shown in March at the Photo Imaging Expo in Tokyo and is now available.

SanDisk unveils more Extreme cards

SanDisk unveils more Extreme cards

SanDisk has released a series of Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards with speeds of up to 90MB/s.

16GB, 32GB and 64GB
wow! ($300 to $800).

Press Release:

SANDISK EXTREME PRO COMPACTFLASH CARD RAISES BAR FOR PROFESSIONAL GRADE PERFORMANCE, CAPACITY AND RELIABILITY

World’s Fastest High-Capacity Memory Card Features SanDisk Power Core Controller That Optimises Card Endurance and Boosts Read/Write Speed to up to 90MB/s
London, Sept. 14, 2009 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today introduced a new line of SanDisk Extreme® Pro™ CompactFlash® memory cards, setting a new standard for fast, reliable, high-capacity memory cards designed for professional photographers. SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards feature a new SanDisk® Power Core Controller™, an advanced memory controller that enables lightning-fast read and write speeds of up to 90MB/s*1, doubling the performance from previous SanDisk high-end cards. The cards are shipping worldwide now with capacities ranging from 16 gigabytes (GB)*2 to 64GB.

“The new SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash line is the direct result of SanDisk’s passion, commitment, and break-through engineering innovation to provide best-in-class flash memory cards for professional photography,” said Eric Bone, vice president, retail product marketing, SanDisk. “The SanDisk Power Core Controller delivers unmatched write speed and reliability, providing photographers with a spectacular combination of performance, capacity and peace of mind that images are safely stored.”

Read the rest here: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09091402sandisk.asp#press

BIRDS AS ART and BPN

Visit www.birdsasart.com

BirdPhotographers.Net: Inspirational, Educational, & Fun. Honest critiques done gently: www.BirdPhotographers.Net (It Ain’t Just Birds!)

THE BIRDS AS ART BLOG: GREAT INFO, GREAT IMAGES, AND OUR LEGENDARY BAA EDUCATIONAL CAPTIONS & COMMENTS: www.birdsasart-blog.com

Exhibition of Photographs

You Are Invited!

Please join me at my Exhibition of Photographs

On October 1, 2009
From 5 to 7 PM
At Foster’s Restaurant
56 Orange Street near Crown
Happy Hour prices will apply

This promises to be a fun gathering and a chance to network and make new friends.

Both framed and unframed photographs will be available for sale. My work may be previewed at www.fredmott.zenfolio.com

50% of the profits from this Exhibition will be donated to St Jude’s Children Research Hospital
Thank you all for your support and encouragement and I look forward to seeing you on October 1.

Fred
Please RSVP

Camera-hogging squirrel an Internet sensation

Camera-hogging squirrel an Internet sensation http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/681176

"The camera’s self-timer was set and Alberta’s Banff National Park was providing a beautiful backdrop for a beaming couple when a wide-eyed ground squirrel popped into the frame and stole the shot. The camera’s focus locked onto the squirrel and the squirrel stared right back. A few feet behind the furry model, Melissa Brandts and her husband Jackson burst into laughter, their smiles blurred by the camera lens now focussed on the intruder. The finished product? A surprising, funny and adorable shot photographer Melissa calls “A once in a lifetime moment.” The squirrel photo, submitted to the magazine, was posted in its “Daily Dozen” gallery of readers’ pictures. Since then, newspapers around the world have written about the curious squirrel and links to the photo have flooded the web. Some people can’t get enough of the squirrel and have already turned the critter into an Internet meme. In a practice dubbed “squirrel bombing,” the same Alberta squirrel is cut out and can be found on the Net popping up in front of a Bill Clinton press conference and a Paris Hilton red carpet appearance.

From the Youtube posting, "The famous Photobomber Squirrel of Banff National Park now on film, doing his photobomb routine throughout the Park. The Crasher Squirrel in the famous picture has been showing up all around the Park. He's nuts in front of the camera. The Banff Crasher Squirrel has appeared on TV and in newspapers around the world, including CBC and CNN and the Banff Crasher Squirrel has sparked a wave of photoshop photos and avatars making Banff Crasher Squirrel the latest internet celebrity."

40 Amazing Online Photography Magazines

40 Amazing Online Photography Magazines

"As an introduction to the wonderful world of online photography magazines, we put together a list of the biggest and best that we could find. You won’t find these magazines in your local bookstore, they’re only available online. From photojournalism to portraiture, from landscapes to lomography (and everything in between), you’ll find the most amazing photography and discover the work of some of the world’s best photographers, both famous and unknown. Dive in and enjoy their work."

See the 40 online magazines here: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/17/40-amazing-online-photography-magazines/

The Art of Printing Photos on Your Epson Printer

The Art of Printing Photos on Your Epson Printer

From the Back Cover

Looking to print and sell photographs, or print photos for your own creative expression? The Art of Printing Photos on Your Epson Printer is a comprehensive guide to the techniques of fine-art photographic printing and the first book to focus on both the technical and creative aspects together. It gives in-depth coverage of all the latest advances in printer paper and ink technology -- and how to make the most of them -- and even offers practical advice on producing and selling fine-art photographic prints! Written by Michael Freeman, the celebrated author of The Photographer's Eye, this book is another must-have for any digital photographer.

Living Landscapes: photographs by Andy Rouse

Living Landscapes: photographs by Andy Rouse
Buy the book here: Living Landscapes: Creative Visions of the Wild

Review by Conrad J. Obregon

"Andy Rouse is one of the greatest wildlife photographers in the world. His pictures have been honored by most of the important world competitions. The best are stunning and breathtaking. Both lovers of wildlife and photographers spend many moments being enthralled by his work.
In “Living Landscapes” Rouse strikes out in a new direction. Instead of concentrating on filling the frame, the photographer has stepped back and tried to include more of the landscape so that we can get a deeper understanding of the subject. "

Read the rest here: http://photofocus.com/2009/09/20/photo-book-review-living-landscapes-creative-visions-of-the-wild/

10 Traits You Should Possess if You Want to be a Good Photographer

10 Traits You Should Possess if You Want to be a Good Photographer by Scott Bourne

"Both Rick and I have recently posted on what makes a good photo. But what about the other side? What makes a good photographer? See how many of these traits you possess."

Read the list here: http://photofocus.com/2009/09/16/10-traits-you-should-possess-if-you-want-to-be-a-good-photographer/

"Wow! What a list. Re-reading this it looks like it’s hard to be a good photographer. Guess what – it is. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would be a good photographer."

The Sociobiology of Ravens

The Sociobiology of Ravens

with Bernd Heinrich

Thursday, October 1, 2009, 5:30 pm
Yale Peabody Museum Auditorium
Free Admission

The common raven is possibly the most enigmatic bird in the world. It has the widest natural distribution, lives in the widest range of habitats, and is famous for its shyness, tameness, wanton playfulness and caution. In folklore it is often depicted as the Creator, a harbinger of death, or a trickster. Bernd Heinrich, a professor emeritus in the biology department at the University of Vermont, started working on what seemed to be a simple study of ravens in the wild in Maine over 25 years ago. His illustrated talk of this journey into the world of the raven will show how much of its enigmatic and often seemingly contradictory biology is illuminated by its behavior as a generalist food specialist. Book signing to follow.

iPhone app for Flickr

Taken straight from the Flickr blog...

There’s a new native iPhone app for Flickr, created by Yahoo’s mobile team. It’s currently available in English and French in the US, Canada, UK, France, Hong Kong and Singapore Apple iTunes stores. Download it for free now!

You can take a photo and upload it from the app, view your photostream and activity, and see recent photos from your contacts. There’s also the nifty slideshow that features the “Ken Burns effect”.

There is also m.flickr.com, Flickr's mobile browser experience. And several hardware manufacturers including BlackBerry and Nokia have built in “send to Flickr” right from their phones, which we love! Learn more about using Flickr on your mobile device.

World Animal Day& National Geographic Photo Safari Workshops

World Animal Day& National Geographic Photo Safari Workshops October 3
Bring the whole family to enjoy a variety of wildlife and geography themed activities in celebration of National Geographic’s World Animal Day, sponsored in part by the Rhode Island Geography Alliance.
Have fun and learn more about our planet with these activities:
An interactive chalk drawing of the world with artist Anna Shapiro
An origami crane craft activity using recycled maps
Education Stations in the Africa and Tropical America exhibits areas
Entertainment by the Young Fish School of Drumming, the Salsa Y Control Dance Group and Fraternidad Folklorica Boliviana
Activities run between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are free with Zoo admission.

See the detailed schedule of activities and entertainment >
And for photography enthusiasts (and even little ones just learning to snap that perfect photo), World Animal Day also includes the chance to participate in a Photo Safari Workshop hosted by award-winning National Geographic Photographer Darlyne Murawski.

There are four separate workshops available – one for ages 4 - 6, two for ages 7 – 12 and one for adults. The workshops are $15 per participant, in addition to regular Zoo admission and pre-registration is required. But hurry - there's a limit of 20 participants per workshop!

Register online now >

Squam Lakes Natural Nature Center

Take a Daytrip to New Hampshire with Us Hurry! Register by Friday to join us for leaf-peeping & more! Fall has officially arrived! Revel in the season by joining us on a daytrip to the beautiful Squam Lakes Natural Nature Center in Holderness, New Hampshire during peak leaf-peeping season!

We’ll enjoy a 90-minute, narrated pontoon boat ride along the property’s lakes, participate in a Live Animal Program with a Science Center Naturalist, stroll through Kirkwood Gardens and view the AZA-accredited center’s collection of native wildlife along an interactive exhibit trail that includes a children’s play area. There are even hiking trails for those of us who might be feeling a little more adventurous!

Date: Saturday, October 17; 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.But hurry! You must register to attend by this Friday!Cost: $75 per person; includes bus trip, exhibit trail admission, entry to Kirkwood Gardens, lake cruise and live animal program Questions: Please contact Jen at (401) 785 – 3510 x352 or e-mail jkarow@rwpzoo.org
REGISTER online now >

Stephen Wilke's Ellis Island Presentation

Please find attached the flyer about Stephen Wilke's Ellis Island Presentation. Please forward to all that you may feel would be interested. We need 100 people to attend for Canon to sponsor.

The Milford Camera Club presents
Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom
A Multi-Media Presentation by photographer Stephen Wilkes
award-winning "Canon Explorer of LIght"

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 7:30 PM
at The Milford Fine Arts Council
40 Railroad Avenue South Milford, CT 06660

Over a five-year period, New York photographer Stephen Wilkes explored and photographed the rooms and hospital complex of Ellis Island. In stark contrast to the duotone photographs that typically define the memory of the immigrant experience, Stephen Wilkes's images offer a startlingly new and at times disturbing vision of the so-called golden gateway to America.
“Stephen Wilkes's photographs of the 'dark side' of Ellis Island are extraordinary – very strong, very moving. I have no doubt that the “Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom” will be a major event.” - David McCullough (Author)

“The images are beautiful ...brings to mind canvases by Van Gogh.”
- Rebecca Robertson ARTnews

This event is sponsored by:
Canon, USA
The Milford Camera Club
Kane Computer, LLC, Fairfield, CT
For more information:
www.milfordcameraclub.org
www.stephenwilkes.com
www.ellisislandghosts.com

Admission is Free and Open to the Public

Travel Insurance Services

From Art Morris, Birds as Art

Travel insurance is of course highly recommended. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options, you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage, which expands the list of reasons for your canceling to an infinite list, from a sudden work or family obligation to a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services.

Zorb-It

with Fall here now this is something to file away for your next trip -- or next summer...

Taken directly from Art Morris' Birds As Art

At one point on my trip to Panama last year, I had three dead cameras. Dead as in dead. This year I realized that I needed to protect my camera bodies from the stifling humidity. After an on-line search, I found Zorb-It™: http://www.zorb-it.com/Scripts/default.asp.

I recommended the product to the whole group and many purchased several of the Zorb-It 4X4" packets here: http://www.zorb-it.com/Scripts/cart.asp. When not being used, I kept each of my three camera bodies in a one-gallon plastic Zip-loc bag along with one of the 4X4" packets. Each camera performed flawlessly for the entire trip in spite of the fact that I used my EOS-1D Mark III bodies several times in both heavy drizzle and pouring rain.

I am now storing my camera bodies as described above both to protect them from the high humidity here in Florida and to prevent long term corrosion problems. My big mistake on the Panama trip was not protecting my laptop with Zorb-It™. For the second year in a row my laptop suffered near-fatal humidity problems that were gone once I got back to the US. Yes, it is quite humid in Panama. On my next trip I will switch to Zorb-it Ci™ as it offers protection against the corrosion of sensitive electronic components. (Heck, my cameras and lens are often doused with salt spray.) If you live in a wet place like the Pacific Northwest, anywhere in the Southwest, or if you visit tropical countries with your cameras and laptops, you need to get yourself a few packets of Zorb-It or better yet, of Zorb-it Ci™. Unlike all desiccants, Zorb-It™ never needs to be replaced or artificially regenerated. (As below, Zorb-it Ci™ will need to be replaced every 7-10 years.)

This from the manufacturer's web site:
Zorb-It™ is a unique, patented, double-action™ agent for the positive control of moisture and humidity. It is no mere desiccant. The Zorb-It formulation has been proven effective in the toughest industrial environments around the world. Zorb-It™ now is available to you exclusively through this Worldwide Web Center. Zorb-It™ is unlike the ordinary sugar-packet desiccants you find in leather goods, briefcases, camera and binocular cases, and so on. It is superior. Its granular structure absorbs at least 10 times more moisture from the air inside any enclosure containing your prized possessions and valuables. Additionally, it stabilizes the ambient relative humidity to a near constant level over the long-term. It does not need to be replaced or artificially regenerated.

Zorb-it Ci™ contains an extra granular element that helps prevent corrosion of electronics and electrical contacts, and also the tarnishing of silver. It transfers through its packet membrane a patented micro-thin coating of corrosion inhibiting molecules which attach to metal surfaces. It is never oily or greasy to the touch however. And it aids in electrical conductivity. While Zorb-It™ never needs replacing, Zorb-It Ci™ will need replacement about every 7-10 years,

The Zorb-It™ and Zorb-It Ci™ packets are easy to use. Their granules are contained in a semi-permeable membrane packet material. The packet material allows only water vapor to pass into and out of the packet. Since the granules are very aggressive in their absorption of liquid water and water vapor, the packaging material is designed to protect the granules from contacting liquid water. The handy packets eliminate the need for messy powders or having to dispose of “buckets of liquid” left behind by other types of desiccant products. The double-stick tape on the back of the packets allow for easy installation in many cases and other enclosures.
You can learn lots more about Zorb-it ™ products here: http://www.zorb-it.com/usermods/ownersmanual.asp.

Back issues of all BAA Bulletins can be found in the Bulletin Archives which may be accessed from the home page at www.birdsasart.com

8 Secrets of the Zoom Tool in Photoshop

from http://digital-photography-school.com/

8 Secrets of the Zoom Tool in Photoshop : 8 secrets of the Photoshop Zoom Tool

Seventh Annual Migration Festival at Lighthouse Point Park

Seventh Annual Migration Festival at Lighthouse Point Park

Date: Sunday September 27, 2009 Time: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Notes: This festive event is sponsored by the New Haven Parks Dept., NHBC, and other fine organizations.

There will be hawk watching, bird banding demos, a live raptor show, bird walks, and other activities.

Check the newspaper and Club newsletter for details. Organizer—Ranger Dan Barvir: 203.946.6086. NHBC contact—Maria Stockmal: 203.488.3876, m.stockmal@snet.net

Enter the Digital Pro Magazine 'Perfect Portraits Photo Contest'

Enter the Digital Pro Magazine 'Perfect Portraits Photo Contest'

How would you like to have your portrait work published? Pretty cool, right? Digital Photo Magazine and Mpix have teamed up on The Perfect Portraits Photo Contest.

We are excited to see your great portraiture work! To enter simply submit your best portraiture to Digital Photo Magazine by October 21st. The grand prize package includes a $500 gift certificate to Mpix and your winning portrait published in Digital Photo – and there are other great prizes!


Click here to get started!



Grand Prize Package: $500 gift certificate from Mpix, a Tamrac SpeedRoller Model 5552 bag, a Lensbaby Composer lens, a Lensbaby Optic Kit, Digital Light & Color Picture Window Pro 5.0 software, publication of winning photo in an upcoming issue of Digital Photo and online publication in the Winners Gallery.

First Place Package: $250 gift certificate from Mpix, a Tamrac Velocity 8x Model 5768 bag,a Lensbaby Composer lens, Digital Light & Color Picture Window Pro 5.0 software and online publication in the Winners Gallery.

People's Choice Award: Digital Light & Color Picture Window Pro 5.0 software and online publication in the Winners Gallery.

Official Rules

Santa Fe Photographic Workshops

Experience San Miguel de Allende!

With a vibrant culture, rich heritage, and colorful fiestas, San Miguel de Allende is a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a charming town, with narrow cobblestone streets that wind through colonial-era buildings. Home to an international community of artists, San Miguel is an ideal refuge to immerse yourself in a photographic journey. San Miguel and the State of Guanajuato remain safe tourist destinations and the exchange rate currently strongly favors the U.S. dollar.

Download the San Miguel de Allende brochure.

Call the Workshops at (505) 983-1400, ext. 11 to register for any of the San Miguel workshops. Also, all registrations made prior to September 1 will receive the $100 early sign-up discount.

Contemporary Black-and-White Portraits with Paul Elledge and Leasha Overturf Oct. 18 - 25
Forgo the traditional rules of portrait making to define a more contemporary approach.

Dancing with the Ambient: Using Small Flashes with David Hobby October 18 - 25
Learn to light with flash by building lit photos around an existing ambient environment.

The Portrait and the Nude with Jock Sturges October 18 - 25
Learn to accept, rather than direct, "poses" by examining the relationship between photographer and model.

Rural Eyeglasses Project with John Michael Coppinger October 25 - November 1
Live, work, and photograph in the rural neighborhoods around San Miguel while bringing the gift of better vision to the local people.

Portraits Unplugged with Bobbi Lane October 25 - November 1
Develop your ability to see the quality of light and apply it to real people.

The Colors of Mexico with Alison Shaw October 25 - November 1
See the landscape in and around San Miguel de Allende from the perspective of an artist with your own unique vision.

Travel Photography in the Digital World with Ralph Lee Hopkins October 25 - Nov. 1
Explore the creative aspects of travel photography in and around the historic colonial town of San Miguel.

Day of the Dead with Sarah Meghan Lee October 29 - November 4
Photograph this uniquely beautiful and joyful three day festival with the families of San Miguel de Allende.

Exploring the Soul of a Portrait with Greg Gorman November 1 - 8
Capture the essence of a person in a portrait by combining both intuitive and technical approaches.

The Essence of Place with Eddie Soloway November 1 - 8
Learn and practice techniques for breaking through that safe, traditional image into one that captures emotion and speaks of the place itself.

Travel and Reportage Photography with Francesca Yorke November 8 - 15
Learn to create photo-essays and compelling travel images with the emphasis on capturing the moment.

Basics of Digital Photography with Jennifer Spelman November 8 - 15
Master the basics of digital photography and cultivate your creativity in an energetic and supportive atmosphere.

Exploring the People and Culture of San Miguel with Marcela Taboada November 8 - 15
Discover the richness of historic San Miguel, its gentle people and their vibrant culture by photographing the daily lives of local families.

A Gathering of Creative Women in Mexico with Joyce Tenneson and Jill Wilson November 9 - 15
Gather for spiritual renewal, connect with your physical well-being, and celebrate your life as an artist.

National parks, refuges to appear on quarter-dollar coins

National parks, refuges to appear on quarter-dollar coins

Do you have a favorite national park or national wildlife refuge? Maybe you'll see on the tail side of a quarter after April 2010. That's when the America the Beautiful Quarters Program will begin producing 56 coins with a national park, refuge or forest on the reverse sides.

Read the rest of the story on the WildBird on the Fly blog http://wildbirdonthefly.blogspot.com/2009/09/national-parks-refuges-to-appear-on.html

The first quarter will highlight Hot Springs National Park (Hot Springs, Ark.), which was established as Hot Springs Reservation in 1832. A new coin will appear 10 weeks later for the next 11 years. The 56 designs encompass a site from each state plus the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The complete list of parks, refuges and forests appears here.

Help-Portrait

Scott Kelby recently blogged about a new cause
http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2009/archives/6301

Help portrait is about creating wonderful portraits for people that would not normally have access to them.

December 12th

http://www.help-portrait.com

Perhaps we can find a place where we can assist with the cause...

Macro/Close-Up Photography Workshops

Macro/Close-Up Photography Workshops

The instructor Mike Moats is a local and international award winning, professional Nature Photographer. Mike's articles and images have been published in, Outdoor Photographer Magazine - Natures Best Magazine - Nature Photographer Magazine - Photolife - Whisper In The Woods - Michigan Game Finder - NANPA's Expressions Books - Pure Michigan Book - Fujifilm's Newsletter (Cable Release) and Tamron's "Angle of View" Blog. Mike is a member of the Fuji Pro Talent Team, and listed as a" Macro Master" on the Tamron Lens companies website. Moderator of the macro galleries of three photography online sites and his first book called "Tiny Landscapes" was released in 2008. He has taught workshops and given presentation at photo conventions and camera clubs to thousands of photographers.

www.tinylandscapes.com

INTRODUCTION TO CLOSE-UP/MACRO WORKSHOPThis workshop will explore the digital cameras, lenses, tripods, heads and accessories needed for macro photography. Also covered will be camera functions, techniques, depth of field, lighting and composition. I will shoot a couple of images, show how I process them using Adobe Photoshop. This is an instructional workshop and you need not bring any equipment to this class. The workshop will run about six hours. Cost $49.00.

INTERMEDIATE CLOSE-UP/MACRO WORKSHOPThis workshop is for the photographer who has a digital SLR camera, lenses with macro capabilities or standard lenses with extension tubes, a good tripod/head and the know how to work all the functions of the camera (change f-stops, exposure, ISO, white balance, etc). Various subjects will be set up and shot, then processed using Adobe Photoshop. The workshop is held indoors and will run about five and a half hours. Cost $69.00

ADVANCED FIELD WORKSHOPSIn the advanced field workshops all the qualifications are the same as in the intermediate workshops, but it will be held at an outdoor location. We will be shooting natural subjects in the field. Shooting will be the main subject, and no time will be spent after the shoot on processing images. The days, costs, and locations.

See below for workshop dates and costs.

Introduction To Macro/Close-Up Workshop

Location and dates

October 24th, 10:00am - 3:30pm
ConCorde Inn, M-59 and Crooks Rd.
Rochester Hills, Michigan

October 31st, 10:00am - 3:30pm
ConCorde Inn, M-59 and Crooks Rd.
Rochester Hills, Michigan
November 7th, 10:00am - 3:30pmBest Western Hotel, Jackson Rd. and I-94
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Contact Mike for info or to register with a credit card.
(586)770-3992
www.mgmoats@yahoo.com

Intermediate Macro/Close-Up Workshop

Location and dates

November 14th, 10:00am - 3:00
ConCorde Inn, M-59 and Crooks Rd.
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Contact Mike for info or to register with a credit card.
(586)770-3992 www.mgmoats@yahoo.com

Prints on Metal

First Prints on Metal

Scott Kelby talks about two companies that I have been seeing a lot of ads from lately. I have been wanting to try these metal prints out. In the Image Wizards ads they say "“Remember the first time you saw HDTV? Our AluminArte samples will show you a level of imaging never seen before.” Here’s the link to Metal Murals Website.

Scott Kelby says "I’m not talking about “metallic prints” (which are prints made on Kodak metallic-finish paper) I’m talking about images actually printed on metal (well, Aluminum to be exact). I got two different kinds in the past two weeks, from two different sources, so I’m going to cover them both here."

Read the rest here: http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2009/archives/6589

Photography Composition Articles

Photography Composition Articles
"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs." - Ansel Adams

The Master Guide for Wildlife Photographers: Wildlife CompositionsExcellent chapter from the book by Bill Silliker. Again, Amherst Media allowed us to publish it in our library. Check out really good examples.

Beginner's Guide to Nature Photography: CompositionExcerpt from the book by Cub Kahn. Amherst Media kindly allowed to publish it in our library.

Guidelines for Better Photographic CompositionPerfect examples for beginners, and intermetiate photographers. Composition rules: Simplicity, The Rule of Thirds, Lines, Balance, Framing, Avoiding Mergers.

Depth Of Field Calculator by Don FlemingReally good calculator with more than 400 cameras available.

Landscape Composition Rules by Johannes Vloothuis - What?! Article about painting, again? Yes. And I could say a good article! Almost all tips you may apply to photography. Really good examples!

Photography Tutorial: Composition by Geoff Lawrence - Composition advices, cropping techniques, viewpoint selection.

Learning to Photograph the Landscape by Guy Tal - First part of the article about all the desirable elements of a good landscape composition.

Learning to Photograph the Landscape by Guy Tal - Guidelines, Rules and Techniques: rule of thirds, leading lines, point of gravity, simplicity, equipment.

The Magic Of Selective Vision: Photo Composition by Arnold John Kaplan - Description of all the basic elements of the composition: balance, golden mean, lines, curves, colors.

An Eye for Composition by Gary Stanley - Rules, advices and inspirating examples.

Introduction To Photography Composition by Gao Mu - Several examples of composition rules.

Composition and the Elements of Visual Design by Robert Berdan - A lot of information: Lines, Shapes, Color, Texture, Image Balance, Proportion Rules, etc. Perfect examples.

Five Stops From The Edge by Bob Radcliff - Almost a "Zone System" in a color.

Colour Theory as Applied to Landscape Photography by Michael Reichmann - Good description of first and second order colors, complementary and harmonizing colours, intensity of light. Really nice photos as examples.

Basic Photographic Techniques (U.S. Navy training manual) - Don't be fooled by old B/W examples in this book. This is a perfect guide to better photography, and it contains really good examples.

Geometry in composition by Petteri Sulonen - Leading line, spatial divider, framing element, diagonal, triangle, arc and s-curve described.

Photo Composition by AGFA - Really good lesson. Take a subject and try to make all the composition variations. Nice examples.

Foreground and Lines by Kris Butler - Leading lines and their role in the human physiology.

The Art of Composition by Lee Frost - Good article about common rules and breaking them. Framing, rule of thirds, lines.

Composition (Part I) by Wendy Folse - Theme, Emphasis, Simplicity, and Rule of Thirds described.

Composition (Part II) by Wendy Folse - Horizontal or vertical format? Advantages and disadvantages.

Composition (Part III) by Wendy Folse - How to use perspective, what is the focal point, examples of in-camera cropping.

Composition (Part IV): Isolating the subject by Wendy Folse - Framing, selective focus, depth of field, distracting elements.

Framing Your Shots by Kris Butler - Guide from ACD Newsletters Editor.

Photographic Composition by Pony Express Photo School - Examples only, but good examples.

Composition: Understanding it - Using it by Larry Seiler - This atrticle was written for painters, but the image balance rules are perfect for photography.

Composition: Breaking all the Rules by Gloria Hopkins - WYSIWYG - breaking the composition rules!

Basic Photography Techniques by Klaus Schroiff - The golden mean, rule of thirds, framing, cross-lines described.

Photography Techniques: Perspective by Klaus Schroiff - Depth of field, focus, focal length, object isolation, separation, compression, layers.

Photography Techniques: Using Light by Klaus Schroiff - Spot light, backlit, monochrome, colors, etc.

Composition I: Getting Beyond the Snapshot by Gloria Hopkins - Composition guidelines: leading lines.

Composition II: Composition in Nature Photography and the Elements of a Photograph by Gloria Hopkins - Composition guidelines: light.

Composition III: Composition in Nature Photography and the Elements of a Photograph by Gloria Hopkins - Composition guidelines: depth and color.

Composition Basics - How to Get Good Pictures by umt.edu - Five sections from Introduction to Digital Photograpy: Composition Basics, Camera Composition, Camera Angle, Rule of Thirds, Types of Shots.

Composition with a 6x6...? Square Scotland by Wim van Velzen - How to compose your photos in medium format.

The Use of Focal Length in Landscape Photography by Wim van Velzen - Composition possibilities in different circumstances.

Tutorial on Composition Refresher by Peter Saw - Good and simple tutorial. Image balance, leading the eye, golden section, etc. This one is good for painters, but it's the same good for photographers.

Composition Refresher by Theresa Husarik - Several composition "do" and "don't" tips.

Learn Photo Composition by John Harvey - Interesting article with good examples.

Improving Your Photography: Composition. Lesson by Peter Ensenberger - Primary elements of a good composition.

Composition Basics lesson by Michael Fodor - General principles of the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Mean as well as several composition advises.

Rule of Thirds lesson by Michael Fodor - Examples of the Rule of Thirds.

The Golden Mean by Stuart Low - Natural and mathematical rules and how they have been applied in design.

Space, Figure, and Ground Lesson by Petteri Sulonen - The objective of this lesson is to introduce three fundamental elements in compositional thinking.

The Basics of Landscape Composition by Diane Johnson - This article is about painting, but it's applicable to the photography.

Photo Technique by James Gentles - Good description of golden rules.

Rule of Thirds by Edwin Leong - Photography e-Book, chapter 15. Several advices.

The Golden Ratio by Edwin Leong - Photography e-Book, chapter 16. Interesting description.

Lessons in Composition for the Amateur Photographer by Dale Cotton - This part is about "Rule of Thirds".

Proportions: Theorie and Construction by Volker Muller - Explained the mathematical rules of Golden Mean, Modulor, and Square Root of Two.

Composition by Michael Minner - Portrait photography and the Rule of Thirds.

Finding a satisfactory format for a square canvas by John Hagan - Paitings examples.

Photography, the Golden Mean, and Geeky Coolness by Laurie Nyveen - Several short examples.

Golden Section and Photography by Eugene Ilchenko - Several examples and photo-adjuster tool to help to adjust the composition.

Creativity and the Rule of Thirds by Jim Altengarten - Good article with description and examples.

The Rule of Thirds by John Longenecker - Description of the Rule of Thirds as well as a lot of related links.

About us Site news Links Feedback

Candlewood Camera Club has a great blog

Candlewood Camera Club has a great blog -- check it out http://candlewoodcamera.blogspot.com/

There are a lot of things I like about the Blog and the Blog content. One useful tool is on the right side -- a "Photographic Opportunities" link. Go to their Blog and you can click on items in their list to find out more...

Animoto

I love animoto -- easy to use, an awesome show in minutes. You can make 30 second videos for free or Join here and save $5 (only $25/year)

You can now add video clips to your Animoto videos! Watch a few sample videos and find out more here: http://animoto.com/video

You will not believe how good your vids are going to look. And using video clips in your Animoto videos couldn't be easier--no need for a complex video editor! Just follow these three steps:

1. Upload clips from your camera or phone (iPhone 3GS anyone??), or use some from our collection (thanks to iStockphoto and Getty Images).

2. Choose your highlights. You can choose highlights of up to 10 seconds each, though we recommend using only 3-5 seconds as that works best within the flow of an Animoto video.

3. Create the rest of your video as normal, and you're done.

To celebrate the launch of the video clip feature, we're holding a contest in which you can win an action-packed TRIP FOR TWO TO NEW YORK CITY! All you have to do is submit your best video. Sooooo easy. Here's the deal: each week for five weeks, we'll announce 2 finalists, and just for being a finalist you'll get a Flip Mino HD (awesome) or a VholdR ContourHD helmet camcorder (really awesome). Then at the end we'll announce the grand winner, which could be you!

For full contest details, head here: http://animoto.com/video/contest

So, you know when you've got tons of pics AND vids of your kids or some recent trip or party or whatever, and you scratch your head wondering how to share them? I think we all know the Right Answer now.

Join Audubon Greenwich for the 11th Annual HawkWatch Festival & Green Bazaar

Join Audubon Greenwich for the 11th Annual HawkWatch Festival & Green Bazaar
September 19 & 20, 2009, 11 am - 5 pm, Rain or Shine

Directly from their website: Come out to celebrate the annual hawk migration over Audubon Greenwich's "Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch" - an official raptor counting site. This scientific raptor count has been happening since 1970 and birders are out counting daily from August 20 to November 20. If the weather is cooperative, it is hoped that this special weekend will be the peak of the Broad-winged Hawk migration, where they can form 'kettles' of several hundreds birds, circling birds above the hawk watch site. Rain or shine, we will have a lineup of Eco-friendly Vendors on-site, environmental exhibits and loads of activities for all ages. So, save the date and come out for this exciting two-day Festival in the hills of northern Greenwich.

RAW (ACR) and Lightroom updates

September 15, 2009 adobe released some updates...

Lightroom 2.5 update

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.5 update includes these enhancements: Additional camera support for several new camera models including the Nikon D3000 and Olympus E-P1, Includes several corrections for issues introduced by previous Lightroom 2 releases.
Windows
Macintosh

Camera Raw 5.5 update
This new version of the Camera Raw plug-in replaces the original one that was installed with Adobe® Photoshop® CS4; Adobe Photoshop Elements 7; and Adobe Premiere® Elements 7 software. Visit the Camera Raw page for a complete list of supported cameras.
Windows
Macintosh

DNG Converter 5.5 update

photos matted and framed the really right way

From Red River

Want to get your photos matted and framed the really right way? See how the Library of Congress does it here

Flip out over "flipping!"

From http://www.ppsop.com/courses.aspx

Flip out over "flipping!"
If all you did for the next three months is concentrate on shooting one of the four following elements of design, LINE, TEXTURE, COLOR or PATTERN, your artistic vision would reach new heights-guaranteed! BUT if you really want your vision to soar then consider "flipping the many abstract images that will result from the pursuit of seeking out compositions that are limited to the strong design elements mentioned above.

PhotoShop; Image>Image Rotation, which in turn often reveals even more possibilities for strikingly graphic images.

You don't have to decide which one you like the best; in fact you can like both and saving either is a snap too since all you need to do is choose SAVE AS for each one and add a single letter or number to the file name. Once you flip an image twice, three times or, heck, six or eight times (including inversing it) consider joining all of them via the Canvas Tool into a single image and really let the fun begin!

As my many students will attest from their weekly critiques, 'flipping' an image is often an idea they had never considered, but in doing so, it actually took their shot to that much higher level that we all aspire towards.

PPSOP offers courses: From http://www.ppsop.com/courses.aspx

Read Jeff Revell's Guide to Photowalking

Photowalking is becoming a big time pastime. In rough economic times getting together with a group, having fun, and not spending money is a welcome opportunity.

Read Jeff Revell's Guide to Photowalking

Where to recycle inkjet tanks and cartridges

From Red River Blog

Where to recycle inkjet tanks and cartridges

Piles and piles of used inkjet cartridges and a trash can. Not the best solution for the environmentally minded (or those who simply cannot stand wasting resources).Epson, Canon and HP all offer ink cartridge recycling services. Pack up your legions of spent tanks and mail them off!

Links to the details are below:
Epson Ink Cartridge Recycling Program
Canon Recycling CenterHP
Locally stores like Staples and Office Depot likely take inkjet cartridges for recycling.

Five Secrets of the Marquee Tools in Photoshop

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.
Read the article and see the photos here:
Five Secrets of the Marquee Tools in Photoshop

Five Secrets of the Marquee Tools in Photoshop

There are two key marquee selection tools in Photoshop: the rectangular and elliptical marquee tools and they share a toolbar position. Here are some things you may not know about these tools.

1. Squares and Circles
The rectangular and elliptical marquee tools can be used to draw perfect squares and circles. When you click and drag the marquee, hold the Shift key to constrain the shape to a circle or square.

2. A Circle is a Square? No Thank You!
Try and draw a circle or ellipse in a fixed position on an image and you may be confused about just where the shape starts. A circle or ellipse is drawn as if it were placed inside a square or rectangle shape so you start drawing the shape from a corner of its square or rectangular container. All this makes it very hard to position a shape accurately. To make things easier you can draw your shapes from the center outwards by holding the Alt key (Option on the Mac), as you drag on the marquee tool. Add the Shift key to constrain the ellipsis to a circle.

3. Right Shape, Wrong Place?
What do you do when you’ve drawn a perfect shape but in the wrong place on the image? Don’t let go the mouse! Instead, hold the Spacebar and you can now move the shape into the desired position. Let go the Spacebar and then let go the left mouse button fix the marquee in position.

4. Right Shape, wrong Rotation?
When you want to create a rotated shape such as a rectangle, square or ellipse, first create your shape using the marquee tool and ignore the rotation issue. Now let go the mouse button and choose Select > Transform Selection. The shape now shows a set of transform handles that you can use to rotate it. Hold the Ctrl key (Command on the Mac) and you can drag on a corner of the shape to distort it. Press Enter or Return to commit the transformation and remove the handles. You can now continue to work with the marquee selection.

5. Exact Size Selection
If you want to make a selection that is an exact size, from the Style dropdown list choose Fixed Size. Type the pixel width and height into the boxes and click on the image and a selection exactly the desired size will appear on it. Use Fixed Ratio to make a selection at a fixed ratio like 1:1 shown here.

Next time you need to make a selection on an image using the marquee tool remember that there’s a lot more to it than might meet the eye.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.
Five Secrets of the Marquee Tools in Photoshop

Death Valley and the Valley of Fire

Death Valley and the Valley of Fire October 20 - October 26, 2010
http://www.phototc.com/

Dedicated in 1935, Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest State Park. It is located only fifty miles northeast of Las Vegas. We’ll spend our first full day here, enjoying the unique rock and sandstone formations of this region, before heading on to Death Valley National Park. Established in 1933, Death Valley is the largest National Park in the lower forty eight states with 3.3 million acres. It is a land of extremes, with elevations ranging from a high of over 11,000 feet at Telescope Peak to a low of 282 feet below sea level at Badwater Basin.

Our days will be filled with sunrise photography over the sand dunes and afternoons in the canyons.Travel with Ron Rosenstock to Death Valley and the Valley of Fire. Ron has been leading photographic tours since 1967. Although Ron has concentrated on international travel since that time he is amazed by the potential of photographing in the vast regions of Nevada and California. A former student of Paul Caponigro and Minor White, Ron retired in 2002 from teaching at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. His work has been featured in over one hundred exhibitions since 1967, both in the U.S. and abroad, and his photographs are to be found in the permanent collections of the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, Mass., The Polaroid Collection in Cambridge, Mass., and the International Center of Photography in New York City. Ron specializes in the subtleties of nature photography, capturing the grandeur and uniqueness of the land. His belief is that “Everyone has a certain style. I don’t tell my students what to photograph; I just show them how to accomplish what they decide to do.” www.ronrosenstock.com

Itinerary

Sunrise on the National Mall

Sunrise on the National Mall
Next Safari: 11/22/2009 6:30 am - 9:00 am

Like to get up early? Want to learn how to photograph sunrises? This Safari gives participants the opportunity to photograph the sun as it begins to rise in the east at 6:59 am behind the illuminated US Capitol building, lighting up the face of the Washington Monument and projecting its golden light onto the sandstone walls of the National Museum of the American Indian. Cloud formations in the sky will make your pictures even more interesting and dramatic. Professional photographer Bob Blanken will be on hand to give guidance on exposure, white balance, lighting and composition.

Meet at entrance to National Museum of the American Indian on 3rd St and Independence Ave SW.
Fee: $99 per person.Photo: Bob Blanken Go to Registration

Speedlights & Speedlites: Creative Flash Photography at the Speed of Light

A new book has hit the bookshelves, "Speedlights & Speedlites: Creative Flash Photography at the Speed of Light" by Lou Jones, Bob Keenan, and Stephen Ostrowski and it's a must read.It is a book dedicated to small strobes, specifically Nikon AND Canon flashes.

The book is even color coded (Nikon - purple, Canon - green) so you can easily see if the discussion is about Nikon Speedlights or Canon Speedlites.

http://www.amazon.com/Speedlights-Speedlites-Creative-Flash-Photography/dp/0240812077

23rd Annual Simsbury Fly-In

Simsbury, Connecticut 860.408.9288 Unicom 122.7 SimsburyAirport.com
The 23rd Annual Simsbury Fly-In is September 20, 2009 Rain Date: September 27, 2009
"The largest event of its kind in New England"

We need volunteers! Click here for an online application.
The Annual Simsbury Fly-In is the largest event of its kind in New England. Co-Sponsored by EAA Chapter 324 and the Valley Classic Wheels Car Club, the 2008 event was held on Sunday, Sept 21. The weather was clear and beautiful, with warm temperatures.

It was a wonderful event, with the largest number of spectators yet - estimated to be over 10,000. We attracted 160 airplanes of all kinds, and the car show featured hundreds of antique and classic autos. We featured two exhibitions of skydiving, a demonstration of formation flying by the Yankee Clippers RV squadron, live music by The Clams, and many vendor displays. A large number of aircraft dealers displayed new models, including some of the latest Light Sport airplanes.

Click here to see an article about our 2007 Fly-In.Click here to read story about 2007 Simsbury Fly-In in February 2008 issue of Sport Aviation magazine.Click here for photos from our 2008 event, orclick here to download the 2008 program brochure (about 2.5Megs). Click here to see an enthusiastic review of the 2007 FlyIn by our friends at the Shoreline Auto Connection.Click here for info about Valley Classic Wheels car club.

• Click here for the 2009 fly-in arrival procedures.
• Click here for the 2009 fly-in departure procedures.
• Click here for the 2009 Fly-in's scedule of events.
• Click here for an airport fly-in layout.

The 2009 Fly-In will be held on Sept 20th, with a rain date of Sept 29. Watch this space for detailed info as we get closer to that date.
The Fly-In is a great opportunity to market your product or service. If you wish to be a sponsor or advertiser or exhibitor, or for general info about the Fly-In, contact Event Chairman Joe Bellino at 860-408-0040 or jbellino@snet.net

Denise Saldana, NHCC member, in August PSA magazine

way to go Denise!

My photo was published in the August issue of PSA magazine. Here is a copy.

Enjoy, Denise Saldana

Discovering the Nature of California with a Camera and Lightroom

Discovering the Nature of California with a Camera and Lightroom


Rob Sheppard -- October 26-30, 2009

Join long-time Outdoor Photography Magazine editor, Rob Sheppard, on the beautiful Central Coast of California and get his insights and techniques that he uses to create incredible landscape images.

This course will take you on an adventure of discovery of the life around us in California as well as expanding your photography skills through specific assignments and work in Lightroom.

Camera Repair Now Available Ross Imaging Center Hamden

Camera Repair Now Available

Partnership with Precision Camera

We have recently partnered with Precision Camera Repair, enabling us to process repairs for both film and digital models. From minor repairs and cleaning to lens repair and part replacements on all Canon, Fuji, JVC, Kodak, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Polaroid, Samsung, Sony and many others! Repairing your old camera will not only save you money, but reduce pollution and negative environmental impact. Bring yours to our Hamden location for an estimate today!

We hope to see you soon!!

Ross Imaging Center 3000 Whitney AvenueHamden, CT 06518203.281.6996 www.ctprints.com

Limited Time Discount on Dfine 2.0

Dfine 2.0 Limited Time Discount on Dfine 2.0
If you've been waiting to get your hands on Nik Software's acclaimed noise reduction tool, now is the time. Ensure your images look their very best with Dfine 2.0 - now $20 off for a limited time only. Click here to purchase.

Upgrade from Elements to Photoshop CS4 for $299 August 26th, 2009

Here is your opportunity! If you have Elements and have been wishing that you could upgrade, but did not have $700 to spend, this is your chance. As long as you have a registered version of Elements, you have the next few weeks to get the FULL version of Photoshop CS4 for just $299. Here is the offer. You can buy online or call the number below and order.

What HDR Really Stands For: How to Depict Reality

What HDR Really Stands For:How to Depict Reality

How to Depict Reality, a primary question for two centuries of photography, is a meaningful question for high dynamic range photographers. Here, five reasons for photographers to try high dynamic range photography, HDR for short, are offered. HDR can expand your skills as it widens the dynamic range of your imaging. HDR images, despite heated controversy about how unreal they make scenes appear, are here to stay. HDR shots show up in magazines, advertising and everywhere online. Teaching this popular technique since 2005, I have invented acronyms for the three letters of HDR to help people visualize its assets. In the camera, you take different exposures of the same scene — but at different shutter speeds — to get an HDR image. The results - shots emerge with better whites and blacks than possible from a single image. Working with HDR software lets you handle back- and side-lighting. You get all the highlights and shadow detail you want in high contrast scenes and dimly lit places.

Read on for five key advantages of How to Depict Reality. http://www.apogeephoto.com/march2008/jaustin32008.shtml

How to Take High Dynamic Range Photographs

How to Take High Dynamic Range Photographs:A Complete Visual, Step-by-Step Lesson for the Latest Photo Imaging Technique© Jim Austin M.A., A.C.E.

Read the article here: http://www.apogeephoto.com/dec2007/jaustin122007.shtml

Click here for: A Flickr gallery of Jim Austin’s HDR images (http://flickr.com/photos/jimaustin/sets/72157594465689774/). Austin is a digital photo consultant, teacher, writer, and Adobe Certified Expert.

lighting diagrams

Not everyone has access to their own in-house team of professional illustrators to create stunningly beautiful lighting diagrams. For those of you who have not been following the Flickr threads, Strobist reader Quoc Huy Nguyen Dinh has been developing an online lighting diagram creator, and it is ready for prime time. You can either do it on-the-fly in the browser-based version, or download a Photoshop file to get serious on your desktop.



And best of all, it's free.(Check it out here.)

Fall foliage

Fall foliage maps and reports start today Sept 9th...

Here is some information for New York state...

Click here for the current fall foliage report or here: http://fallgetaways.iloveny.com/foliage_report.html

FALL FOLIAGE PEAK REPORT BY REGION

• Adirondack Mountains & Catskills: fall foliage peak last 2 weeks of September
• Chautauqua / Allegheny: fall foliage peak last week in September and 1st week of October
• Leatherstocking & Finger Lakes Region: fall foliage first 2 weeks in October
• 1000 Islands, Niagara Falls & Northern Finger Lakes: fall foliage peak 2nd and 3rd weeks of October
• Hudson Valley & Capital Region: fall foliage peak 2nd and 3rd weeks of October
• Southern Hudson Valley: fall foliage foliage peak last 2 weeks in October
• NYC & Long Island: fall foliage foliage peak last week in October and first week in November

Autumn Driving Tours
Set out on a driving tour of New York State’s patchwork-quilted red and gold countryside. From Long Island to Niagara Falls, every road you and your family travel will hold an autumn surprise. Download a tour below! For more scenic view information, click here.

New York City (NYC) & Long Island (LI) Tours
From skyscraper views to lighthouse lookouts, autumn's colors are on full display — along with culture, cuisine and creativity. download pdf

Hudson Valley (HV) &The Catskills (CT) Tours
A landscape of inspiration from forests to farm stands, mansions to mysteries — all wrapped in autumn's brillance. download pdf

Capital-Saratoga (CS) &Central-Leatherstocking (CL) Tours
Grandma Moses loved the scenery. The Dutch settlers loved the waterways. Current settlers love the orchards, history and endless fun. download PDF

The Adirondacks (AD) &Thousand Islands-Seaway (TI) Tours
Forty-six peaks with incredible views. Millions of acres to explore. Thousands of islands draped in magical hues. It's playtime! download PDF

Finger Lakes (FL) Tours
Idyllic settings, lush vineyards and clear lakes add to the bounty of one of the world's richest culinary regions. download PDF

Greater Niagara (GN) &Chautauqua-Allegheny (CA) Tours
It's festival season! Time to celebrate apples, grapes, antiques, prize-winning pumpkins and spooks. And all in a land of scenic wonder! download PDF

SCENIC VIEWS -- CHECK OUT THE SCENIC VISTAS BELOW FOR SOME OF THE BEST VIEWS IN NEW YORK STATE!

The Adirondacks

• Mount Arab Fire Tower, in the hamlet of Piercefield, near Tupper Lake, offers great views of Tupper Lake and Mount Morris to the southeast, the Adirondack High Peaks to the east, The Raquette River valley to the north, Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest to the southwest, and Mt Arab Lake and Eagle Crag Lake to the west.
• Bald Mountain (also know as Rondaxe Mountain), off Route 28 in Old Forge, features a fire tower offering great scenic vistas of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, as well as the parks of the southwestern Adirondacks.
• The summit of Mt. Defiance in Ticonderoga features a picnic pavilion with spectacular views of the Champlain Valley and Fort Ticonderoga.
• Whiteface Mountain near the Wilmington/Lake Placid area, has a 4,872-foot summit that can be reached via Memorial Highway. The breathtaking Gondola Sky Ride at Whiteface Mountain Ski Center offers unique views of the Adirondack High Peaks, and the Olympic Region, as it climbs to the top of Little Whiteface peak.
• Prospect Mountain in Lake George, off Route 9, offers vistas of Lake George and a 100-mile view of five states from a 2,030-foot summit.

PROSPECT MTN. VETERAN MEMORIALHIGHWAY AND 100 MILE VIEW
From I-87 Exit 21, travel 1 mile north on Rt. 9,turn left at state highway entrance. Marvel atthe 100 mile view from 2,021 ft. summit. The5 1/2 mile highway leads to the parking lot.Along the way, you'll be able to experiencebreathtaking views of Vermont's Green Mts.,New Hampshire's White Mts. and New York'sAdirondack Mountains. From the parking lot,a "viewmobile" will take you the rest of theway to the summit. Be sure to check out theremains of the world's largest cable railroadand the fireplace of once-thriving ProspectMountain Hotel.
Open Daily: May 27 - Oct 22, 9am - 5pm
Rates: $5/car, $30/bus, driving Time: 10 minutes one way to parking lot plus stops

Capital-Saratoga

• The scenic overlook at John Boyd Thatcher State Park, located on the Helderberg escarpment, on Hailes Cave Road in Voorheesville, offers amazing views of the Hudson-Mohawk lowlands, including the City of Albany, and the southern Adirondacks.
• Saratoga National Historical Park, Routes 4 and 32, in Stillwater offers a variety of scenic views including one overlooking the Hudson River Valley and another that overlooks three states.
• The 155-foot Saratoga Monument, off Route 29, in Schuylerville has 187 steps to the top and offers beautiful panoramic views of a view of Albany’s skyline, the Adirondack and Catskill mountains and three states.
• Grafton Lakes State Park on Route 2 in Grafton provides great views along Route 2 and throughout the park along fives lakes.
• The Empire State Plaza in Albany features an observation deck at the 42-story Corning Tower, offering spectacular views of the Helderbergs and Catskills.
  
  The Catskills
• Sam’s Point Dwarf Pine Ridge Preserve, a National Landmark on Route 52 in Ellenville, showcases views of five states.
• Point Lookout, on Route 23 in East Windham, offers scenic viewing of the Hudson Valley and five states.
• Kaaterskill Falls, Route 23A, in Haines Falls, the highest cascading waterfalls in New York State, with scenic marked hiking trails and magnificent views of the Hudson Valley.
• Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs in Delaware County offer breathtaking views of fall foliage, along with some of the best fly fishing east of the Mississippi. (Route 30 from Margaretville or Andes to Downsville along the southern edge of the Pepacton, and Route 10 from Walton to Deposit)
  
  Central-Leatherstocking
• Vroman’s Nose, off Route 30 near Middleburgh, offers a short uphill hike and breathtaking views of Schoharie Valley and the northern Catskill Mountains.
• Round Top picnic area, in Endicott, off Route 17C, offers hiking, shelters and scenic east-west overlooks.
• A drive to the top of Torture Hill near the statue of the Lady of Fatima and the Monument of the Unborn at the Auriesville Shrine, located just off Route 5S in Auriesville, offers commanding scenic views of the confluence of the Mohawk River and the Schoharie Creek.
• The Overlook Trail at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, off Route 5S,in Fort Hunter offers scenic views of the Schoharie Aqueduct with the Mohawk Valley’s fall foliage in the background and the Schoharie Creek in the foreground.
• Chittenango Falls State Park on Route 13 in Cazenovia offers a spectacular view in the autumn of waterfalls and a colorful gorge.

Chautauqua-Allegheny

• Luensman Overview Park on Thayer Road in Portland off Route 20, offers visitors hiking trails, picnic facilities, and a magnificent view of the flatlands and Lake Erie.
• Allegany State Park, exit 21 off Route 86,offers a phenomenal lake view featuring spectacular fall foliage; there is also an overlook pull-off on the road into the park looking over the valley containing the City of Salamanca.
• Rock City Park, three miles south of Olean on Route 16, offers a 20-mile vista with plentiful foliage.
• Luensman Overlook Park on Thayer Road in Portland features a panoramic view overlooking Lake Erie and Concord Grape County.
• Erlandson Overview Park on Oak Hill Road in Frewsburg, the second highest elevation in Chautauqua County, begins the foothills of the Alleghenies.

Capturing the Action:Urban Skateboarding Portrait

The magician reveals his secrets!You’ve been waiting in anticipation…Now LIVE on Web Photo School: Jay P. Morgan’s Capturing the Action:Urban Skateboarding Portrait!!!!

Learn from a master of capturing movement—and in some cases “staging” movement—Jay P. Morgan. You’ve seen the images, the ones you envy and wish you could take yourself, well now you can!
Learn the secret tricks of how to build your shot and capture inspiring images in just 20 minutes. See how creativity and spontaneity can add to the excitement of your images!

Cool Digital Photography Links from Around the Web

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

15 Cool Digital Photography Links from Around the Web

• Introduction to LED Lighting - A DIY way to light your subjects and get cool effects.
• Shooting by Moonlight - a great article by Ben Long from Complete Digital Photography
• How to Get the Most Out of Your Camera Battery - good practical tips
• 3 Tricks to Turn a Spring Clamp Into Your Best Photo Accessory - from the gang at Photojojo.
• DIY Steadycam - more of a video DIY tip but still pretty cool.
• Waterproof Camera Group Test - DPReview tests 7 cameras with waterproof qualities
• Make your own Remote Shutter Trigger - another DIY
• Roundup: Ring Flashes - Wired Magazine reviews 4 ring flashes
• Backing Up Flickr - how to safeguard your Flickr image collection
• Improvisational Light - a great post at Strobist
• Live Music Photography 101 - a good basic intro to the topic.
• DNG, RAW and JPEG: What I Use and Why - a good discussion starter and exploration of the options
• Publishing Your Own Photo Book - a guide to putting together your own book
• Three Short Tutorials for Photographers and Photography Lovers - some good basic teaching on Photoshop.
• Photoshop Elements: Beyond the Basic Fixes - from PopPhoto
• Five Great Flash Techniques to Improve Your Photography Light - 5 cool techniques, one that is mentioned above.

79% of DPS Readers Shoot In RAW (at least Sometimes)

79% of Our Readers Shoot In RAW (at least Sometimes) [POLL RESULTS]

A couple of weeks back we ran a poll here on DPS asking whether readers are shooting in RAW. The results are in and it seems that most of you are - at least some of the time.

Over 17,000 readers have voted in this poll and 79% of them shoot in RAW at least some of the time.

We asked our readers this same question just over 2 years ago and back then the Yes/No split was a lot more even (about 50/50) - so it looks like RAW continues to grow in popularity.

Further Reading on RAW: RAW vs JPEG

API WORKSHOPS (Adirondacks)

WORKSHOP -- The Nature of Possibility with John Radigan October 4-7 Inlet, New York

Nature is the ultimate testament to possibility. Digital imaging technology has tremendous ability to make new expressions possible. This workshop is about taking your photography to a higher level of expression. Participants will visit great shooting locations at a time when the area is awash in vibrant color. While in the field, John will assist participants in expanding their repertoire of expressive techniques.

The institute has received a lot of requests for a new workshop that combines traditional nature photography with an exploration into new possibilities offered by advanced techniques and technology. Well, here it is!

Sign-up now for what is sure to be an exciting new addition to our schedule!

About the Instructor
Director and founder of API, John Radigan is a freelance professional photographer specializing in intimate images of nature. His award-winning work has appeared in calendars and publications such as Adirondack Life magazine, the Adirondack Life calendar and Art Business News. He is currently working on his upcoming book, The Beat of Adirondack Hearts. In his workshops, John encourages participants to view nature without any preconceptions, utilizing all of their senses in creating images that reflect their unique inner landscape.
For more information, visit our website. To register, call 216-531-2155.

NANCY ROTENBERG! Capturing the Essence, September 17-20 Inlet, New York

Nancy's workshop is nearly sold-out! Due to a scheduling conflict we will not be offering a workshop with her in 2010. So don't miss out on this special opportunity to work with Nancy in the Adirondacks! For more information click here.

UPCOMING API EVENTS

• Fall in the Mountains with Carl Heilman IISeptember 24-27 Keene Valley, New York
• Our 3rd Annual Adirondack Fall Photo Weekend with Mark Bowie and John RadiganOctober 1-4 Blue Mountain Lake, New York
  REGISTER EARLY FOR POSSIBLE DISCOUNTS!

CONTACT INFO. For more information about the Adirondack Photography Institute visit our website. To join our mailing list click here. Call us today at (216) 531-2155 to register...