Hazel's art exhibit

Hi Lisa,

My photos are now up at the Orange Library until Dec. 30th. I have a lot of new work in this exhibit. I am having a reception this Thursday, Dec. 3rd from 5-7 p.m. if anyone would like to stop by.

Regards,
Hazel

sale ends soon Borrowlenses.com

Ever want to try out a lens before you buy it?
need to use a particular lens just a couple of times a year?
Going on a special trip and need a big or special lens?

I have rented from Borrowlenses.com and they are very good. They make it simple to rent.



Get ready for fall savings with our coupons for discounts on photography gear rentals and lighting rentals. Valid 10/23/09 -12/31/09

Use Coupon code FALL5 at checkout to save 5% on rentals of Cameras, Lenses, Bags and accessories. Valid 10/23/09 -12/31/09 Terms and conditions may apply.

Save 5% on all photography lighting rentals. Use coupon code LIGHTING5 at checkout. Valid 10/23/09 -12/31/09 Terms and conditions may apply.

If you have never used our service before, we would like to welcome you to the BorrowLenses.com experience. Take 10% off your first order by using coupon code "First10".

Hummingbirds Magic in the Air

Hummingbirds Magic in the Air With Ann Johnson Prum
Thursday, December 3 at 5:00 pmYale Peabody Museum Auditorium
Preview Film Screening and Panel Discussion

Free Admission

Stunningly beautiful high-definition, high speed footage of hummingbirds in the wild combined with high-tech presentations of their remarkable abilities help us to understand the world of hummingbirds as we never have before. In this presentation producer and cinematographer Ann Johnson Prum previews her new one-hour documentary, “Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air.” The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Prum and two of the biologists featured in the film: Postdoctoral Associate Chris Clark and doctoral candidate Teresa Feo in the Yale Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Yale Peabody Museum Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Richard O. Prum, the William Robertson Coe Professor of Ornithology, will moderate the discussion.

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT
InfoTape (203) 432-5050 www.peabody.yale.edu/events

Ten Creative Flower Photography Tips

Ten Creative Flower Photography Tips
Amy Davies
Make your botanical shots stand out from the crowd with these simple guidelines
Flowers are one of the most popular subjects for amateurs and pros alike, but it can be difficult to capture something a little bit different to make your images really stand out. That’s why sometimes you need to get a little bit creative.
read the article and see the photos here:
http://www.photoradar.com/techniques/technique/ten-creative-flower-photography-tips

Archival articles

A Consumer Guide to Traditional and Digital Print Stability





A Consumer Guide to Understanding Permanence Testing





Preserving Digital Memory Files



Saving Digital Prints



Saving Digital Storage Media





A Consumer Guide for the Recovery of Water-Damaged Traditional and Digital Prints



A Consumer Guide to Modern Photo Papers





How Do You Preserve Your Ultrasound/Sonogram Print?
Most of these images are printed with thermal imaging paper. This paper can brown when exposed to the light for even a short time. They're also sensitive to heat and pressure. So keep these images in the dark, out of the attic, and be careful when handling. We strongly recommend you make copies of these important pictures with a photocopier or scanner and printer.






Going Green Fades Photos Faster
Many people are switching from incandescent to fluorescent light bulbs to save energy, but most don’t know that fluorescent fades photos faster. If you’re going green be sure to frame your photos behind glass. Glass cuts out much of the harmful UV energy from fluorescent bulbs and will help your picture remain pristine much longer.

Nik software sale

promotional code HOLIDAY2009 today to save 20% off any new product of your choice, or 10% off upgrades.*

Make the most of those holiday "hero" shots with the award-winning Nik Software tools used by photographers the world over.

To show our appreciation for your support over the years, we’re offering our lowest price ever on our most popular product – the Complete Collection Ultimate Edition! Pick up a copy for yourself, or give it as a gift!

For just $399, the Ultimate Edition gives you all five of our photographic solutions, all designed to save you loads of valuable time and money. Purchased separately you'd spend over $1000, but for the next 4 days, get them for a fraction of that cost! Use the promotional code HOLIDAY2009 while shopping to get your discount, but hurry! Offer ends promptly at midnight Monday, 11/30/09.

What you get with the Ultimate Edition:
5 high-quality, easy to use solutions for enhancing your images and fixing common photographic problems
Free copy of Viveza® 2, due in December 2009
A vast library of educational resources, including online video lessons and free live training webinars, to help you get the most out of your software
Compatibility with Adobe® Photoshop®, Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom®, and Apple® Aperture™ on the Macintosh® and Windows® platforms

Already have one or more Nik products? Use the promotional code HOLIDAY2009 today to save 20% off any new product of your choice, or 10% off upgrades.*

Shop our store >

Best of luck and much success with your photography!
Sincerely,
The Nik Software Team

winners of their 39th Annual Photo Contest

The editors of National Wildlife® are pleased to announce the winners of their 39th Annual Photo Contest.

A selection of the top 2009 images appears in the December/January issue of the magazine, and all of the winners can be viewed online at www.nwf.org/photozone/.

This year, two Grand Prize winners were selected. In the Amateur and Youth divisions, Steffen Binke of Moorobool, Australia received the $5,000 prize for his dramatic, up-close image of a dwarf minke whale.

Binke took the photo while on a dive trip in the Great Barrier Reef. Moments after its eyes emerged from the water for a “spy shot,” the whale approached the photographer for a closer look. Binke was only a few feet away when he used a fish-eye lens to make this award-winning image.

In the Professional division, Robert M. Palmer of Littleton, Colorado, received the $5,000 prize for his action shot of a bald eagle about to capture a starling.

While watching a group of bald eagles that congregated at a local cattle feed lot, he noticed the raptors were climbing into the air to catch starlings and blackbirds—not typical prey for the large birds. Palmer captured this dramatic midair scene of an eagle and a starling with his camera before his weeklong encounter ended and the eagles left the site.

See other winning images at www.nwf.org/photozone/.

The National Wildlife Photo Contest will celebrate its 40th year in 2010. This will be our biggest contest ever, with more than $30,000 in cash prizes! You can enter as many as 25 photos in any of seven categories in three divisions. The contest will open in late January and full information on how to enter will be available on NWF’s website at that time.

Photographers Ignite?

What’s Photographers Ignite?

HOT NEWS: We are now accepting proposals for Photographers Ignite sessions at WPPI 2010. If you are interested in being a presenter, please fill out our “Submit A Proposal” page!
What is Photographers Ignite? I’m glad you asked!

From Wikipedia: Ignite is a style of presentation where participants are given five minutes to speak on a subject accompanied by 20 slides. Each slide is displayed for 15 seconds, and slides are automatically advanced. The first Ignite was held in 2006 in Seattle, Washington, and was sponsored by O’Reilly Media and MAKE magazine.

Photographers Ignite is all about Photography!

Les Campbell's free Sunday slide shows

Lisa -

I picked up Les Campbell's Fall Flyer for his free Sunday slide shows in the gallery and here are the remaining dates and programs for this season. The Gallery opens at 1:00 PM and the free slide programs begin at 4:00 PM. If you wish to call ahead, Les's phone number is: 413-323-7405.

Sunday, November 29, 2009:
"For the Love of the Earth"
45 min long
A wide screen tone poem of the earth with a minimum of narration.

December 6, 2009:
"Touch the Earth"
70 min long
Music and a narrative expressing respect and appreciation for the culture and philosophy of the native peiople of North America.

December 13, 2009:
"Quabbin - For the Joy of It"
40 min long
Quabbin's history, wildlife, and scenery are blended with musical selections creating atone poem of exception beauty and spirituality. A special moment is provided by a readin of "Reservation", a Quabbin inspired poem by poet Candace Curran or Athol, MA.

Les's home and his gallery are located on Ballou Street, immediately off MA Rt 9 in Belchertown, MA, and Ballou Street is 1/2 mile east of the entrance to the Quabbin Reservoir Visitor's center and 1/4 mile west of the Ware/Belchertown, MA, town lines (the Swift River).

Les cordially invites all to view these wonderful multiprojector slide shows.

Gary

The Lighthouses of Maine Photo Workshop

Lerro Productions Presents: The Lighthouses of Maine Photo Workshop

Only 6 spots left!!

Lighthouses were made to illuminate the night sky, so why not photograph them in their natural environment? The lighthouses in the state of Maine are some of the most spectacular in the United States. The rocky cliffs, variety of different lighthouse designs and winter weather are ideal reasons to make this trip one of our first workshops. Join us in our unique adventure as we travel along the coast of Maine and photograph the lighthouses from sunset to sunrise. Our group will have special access into restricted areas as well as a detailed schedule that will put us at the right place at the right time. Unlike our railroad photo charters, this lighthouse workshop will be a learning experience with teaching and photo critiques. Patrons will learn about long exposure (bulb) photography, how to mix ambient light with the unique flash patterns of each lighthouse as well as other night photography techniques. Don't miss out on this unique experience. There are only have 6 spots left so if you are interested, please contact me. I'm offering a down deposit option for those of you who want to reserve a spot but can't afford to purchase the ticket at this moment.

To see pictures and read more information on the Lighthouses of Maine Workshop, please visit: http://www.lerroproductions.com/maineworkshop.html

If you have any questions or concerns, fell free to ask. Regards, Pete Lerro

Hummingbirds, Magic in the Air

Hummingbirds, Magic in the Air
With Ann Johnson Prum
Thursday, December 3 5:00 pm

Yale Peabody Museum Preview Film Screening and Panel DiscussionFree Admission
Hummingbirds are one of nature's most interesting paradoxes: the tiniest of birds, they yet qualify as among the toughest and most energetic creatures on the planet. New knowledge gained from current scientific breakthroughs in hummingbird biology makes this a perfect time to focus on these shimmering, flashing jewels of the natural world. Stunningly beautiful high-definition, high speed footage of hummingbirds in the wild combined with high-tech presentations of their remarkable abilities help us to understand the world of hummingbirds as we never have before.In this presentation producer and cinematographer Ann Johnson Prum previews her new one-hour documentary, "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air," which was commissioned by the PBS series Nature. Ms. Prum's Coneflower Productions, based in New Haven, produces science and natural history programs for broadcast.

Her documentary "Creating the Peabody's Torosaurus: Dinosaur Science, Dinosaur Art" won a regional Emmy in 2007 at the National Television Academy's 30th Boston/New England Emmy Awards.The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Prum and two of the biologists featured in the film: Postdoctoral Associate Chris Clark and doctoral candidate Teresa Feo in the Yale Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Yale Peabody Museum Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Richard O. Prum, the William Robertson Coe Professor of Ornithology, will moderate the discussion.

Virtual Painter 5 plugin

The trial version of the Virtual Painter 5 plugin can be downloaded from this website. You can try a free trial and check it out (plugin only costs $55). You can view a short tutorial on using VP5 here: http://www.digiretus.com/tippek/cikkiro.php?SORSZAM=143

From their website:

You can turn your favorite digital photos into realistic looking paintings such as watercolor, oil painting, pencils, etc. with a few simple mouse clicks. No difficult setup is required. Your photos are turned into paintings in front of your eyes in a few seconds.

Virtual Painter 5 could not be any easier to use -- all you need to do is to select a digital photograph, taken with a digital camera, scanned with a scanner, or downloaded from the web, select one of the 16 painting styles (also called painters or filters), choose the material on which the painting will be created (canvas, wood, stucco, etc.), and let Virtual Painter 5 do the work for you.

Virtual Painter 5 is not a painting tool that you must master to create your own works of art. Rather, the filters it offers are like agents, virtual artists who have their own characteristic techniques and methods. You can preview their art and even request a few changes, but you can leave the hard work to them. Sit back and watch them paint. You're sure to be pleasantly surprised, time after time.


16 painters at your command!
Watercolor
Oil Painting
Gouache
Color Pensil
Patel
Rectangles
Triangles
Impasto
Pointillism
Silk Screen
Collage
Drawing
Airbrush
Embroidery
Gothic Oil Painting
Fauvist Oil Painting
See each painter's profile here.

The Plug-In version of Virtual Painter 5 runs as a "plug-in" to popular graphic applications such as Adobe® Photoshop®. Plug-ins are software that run inside another application to enhance and extend the application’s capabilities. The application plug-ins run inside is called the “master application" or " host application”. Please see below for a list of supported master applications. In order to use the Plug-In version of Virtual Painter 5, you need either one of these.

If you have Photoshop Elements and install the Plug-In version, Virtual Painter 5 should be added under the Filter menu of Photoshop Elements. This means that while you work with Photoshop Elements, you can easily run Virtual Painter 5 and apply its artistic effects. You don't have to switch between the two applications, everything will be done within Photoshop Elements.

26 Books Every Photographer Should Own

26 Books Every Photographer Should Own
From Ansel Adams to Annie Leibovitz, your library is not complete without these books.

A new PSA Nature Division definition

Thanks Bill for passing this along!

A new PSA Nature Division definition of what constitutes nature was adopted at the recent PSA Convention held in West Yellowstone.

The new definition is as follows:

"Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict observations from all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archeology, in such a fashion that a well informed person will be able to identify the subject material and to certify as to its honest presentation. The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining a high technical quality. Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements enhance the nature story. The presence of scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals is permissible. Photographs of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals, mounted specimens, or obviously set arrangements, are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement. No techniques that add to, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content are permitted. All adjustments must appear natural.”

This new definition means we have new freedoms to use digital techniques to enhance our nature images. In two recent communications Dan Charbonnet added the following clarifying comments which help to understand the new rules:

“For most people, this means that the various HDR techniques are now allowed and it means blurring the background is now allowed, provided the results look natural.”

“All images must be considered “Digital Realism”, where a photographer may perform any enhancements and modifications that improve the presentation of the image to make it more closely represent the original scene photographed but that does not change the truth of the original nature story. Cropping and horizontal flipping (equivalent to reversing a slide) are acceptable modifications. Removing spots due to dust on your sensors is allowed. Removing rounded slide mount corners on scanned images is allowed. Adding elements to your images, removing pictorial elements from your image other than by cropping, combining separate images or rearranging and/or cloning and/or copying elements in your image are not still acceptable and can lead to disqualification of your image in the competition.

Since HDR techniques and Helicon Focus techniques are techniques that enhance the presentation without changing the pictorial content, they are now considered allowable techniques. Please note that all adjustments must still look natural. Just because a technique is legitimate does not guarantee the image it was used on will get a good score.”

Tim Grey Thanksgiving "Thank You!" Sale

Thanksgiving "Thank You!" Sale

Thursday is the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, which is a time to express thanks for our family, friends, and good fortunes. As such, it seems appropriate to say "thank you" to you, the readers of my Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter. I'm very grateful for the support and encouragement (and even praise) I receive from many readers throughout the year. So, as a way of saying "thank you" to all of my readers, I'm offering a special discount of $5 off all orders placed between now and Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26th). Whether you want to get one (or all) of my video DVDs to help you master Photoshop, subscribe (or renew a subscription) to my Digital Darkroom Quarterly print newsletter, or sign up as a member of the Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter to take advantage of special benefits and discounts, simply place an order at www.timgrey.com/order/ and I will automatically take $5 off the total price for your order. This special discount is in addition to the discount paid Ask Tim Grey Members receive off my instructional video DVDs.

Thank you for your continued support, and for providing me with the opportunity to help you make the most of your photographic images. I feel very fortunate to be able to make a living doing what I love, and the kind words I often hear from readers who feel my efforts has improved their photography is very encouraging. Thank you.

Sensor cleaning

Are there nasty spots on your images?
Is you sensor filthy and you are afraid to touch it?
Do you spend countless hours in Photoshop fixing the dark spots in your blue sky?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, let the pros at BorrowLenses.com do the dirty work for you. Place the order online for the sensor cleaning and we'll get in touch with you on the process of getting your camera to us. We work on all digital Nikon and Canon bodies.

thementorblog.net

thementorblog.net is a free website that features six of the country's top professional photographers who share new insights each week on what and how they are shooting to stay as profitable as possible.

Inkjet Printing Done Right Seminar

Inkjet Printing Done Right -- Calumet seminar (NYC) http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/info/summary.aspx?e=cf70d5cc-d896-4ec6-9bb1-013866cc6080

You have the right photo printer, but are you using it the right way? After this seminar, you will be able to make prints at home that look like they came from a custom photo lab. We’ll discuss printer technologies, basic color management and the proper use of the print driver.

You will be thrilled with your end results!

About the Instructor
Eduardo Angel was born and raised in Colombia, spent adolescence traveling to 500 cities in over 30 countries and is now based in Brooklyn, New York. He has a Bachelor's degree in Architecture as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has been exhibited and published extensively and among his clients he has the New York Magazine and the Chicago Architectural Foundation. He has experience with studio and location lighting, color management, RAW workflow, wide format printing, and all the major professional digital manipulation and shooting applications.

Fee: $35.00

Kenai Fjords National Park Photo Tour

Since I live at the entrance to Kenai Fjords, and spend much of my summer in the Park, a tour here is a natural. The problem is, I didn’t want to be limited to day tours, hotels and restaurants. I have spent many nights on boats in Kenai Fjords, and it didn’t matter if I was on a large fishing vessel, the Park Service boat, a research vessel, or in friends pleasure crafts, every trip was a memorable experience with amazing photo opportunities. By spending the night, we can be in the fjords when the light is best, the animals most active, and with the other tour boats back in Seward- perfect!

So this is a 3 day, 2 night all inclusive boat tour limited to just 3 guests which will maximize our interaction and learning. No point in going on and on, you can read about all the juicy details here: Kenai Fjords National Park Photo Tour.

Stay tuned for a similar, but larger tour (4 guest / 4 days) into Prince William Sound, along with another 4 day, 4 guest tour concentrating on coastal brown bears and puffin!

Calumet FREE UPS Ground shipping on all orders $100 or more

Calumet Beat the holiday shopping rush, and we'll give you FREE UPS Ground shipping on all orders $100 or more.

No coupon code is needed; place your order, and we'll take care of the rest.
Offer valid on all orders with UPS Ground shipping only and must be shipped within the 48 contiguous United States. Excludes hazardous, truck, and expedited shipping methods. Order must be placed during the promotional period (11/17/2009 through 11/25/2009). Orders will ship when items are available; normal rates apply on pre-scheduled deliveries outside the promotional period.

Photoshop in a Weekend BOOK

Photoshop in a Weekend (Paperback) by Mark Cleghorn
ISBN-13: 978-1861085573

Adobe Photoshop takes your photography to the next level—and now anyone can learn this richly featured creative tool in only 48 hours! Top photographer Mark Cleghorn has broken down the daunting Photoshop program into bite-sized sections that show exactly how to achieve specific results. He reveals the keyboard shortcuts that can save time and effort, and explains why each technique should be learned and when to use it. Color photographs and graphic screen captures walk beginners through the various menus, show how to fix common errors, and demonstrate the results of choosing different technical options.

About the Author
Mark Cleghorn (www.markcleghorn.com) is considered to be one of the most creative and influential portrait photographers today. One of a few photographers to be awarded a "Fellowship" by all three major photographic organisations, he has worked professionally for more than 20 years and specialises in portraiture and wedding photography. Mark is the author of four books for Photographers' Institute Press and he lives in Cardiff.

Photoshop Tutorial: How To Create A Circle Polyorama

Circle Polyorama are cute, tiny 'planets' made of a photographic panorama. In this tutorial we're going to make such a polyorama with a bunch of photos. It is pretty basic and works for photoshop CS and over.

See the tutorial here: http://www.pxleyes.com/tutorial/photoshop/1544/How-To-Create-A-Circle-Polyorama.html

new versions Photoshop Camera Raw 5.6, Lightroom 2.6 and DNG Converter 5.6

Press release

Adobe has announced the Photoshop Camera Raw 5.6, Lightroom 2.6 and DNG Converter 5.6 Release Candidates, available for immediate download on Adobe Labs. The term 'release candidate' means this update is well tested but would benefit from additional community testing to provide the highest quality experience for customers working on a variety of hardware and software configurations.

The updates add raw file support for 19 new popular camera models, including the Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D3s, with additional DNG support added for the Leica M9 camera model. A full list of the newly supported cameras is below. The Release Candidates also provide a fix for an issue affecting PowerPC customers using the final Lightroom 2.5 and Camera Raw 5.5 updates on the Mac. The issue, introduced in the demosaic change to address sensors with unequal green response, has the potential to create artifacts in the highlight area while using the Highlight Recovery tool in raw files from Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and various medium format digital camera backs.

Photoshop Lightroom 2 software is today's digital photography workflow solution, allowing photographers to quickly import, process, manage and showcase images. The Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in provides fast and easy access within Photoshop to the raw image formats produced by many leading digital cameras, and Adobe's Digital Negative (DNG) format is a publicly available archival format for the raw files generated by digital cameras.

Pricing and AvailabilityThe Lightroom 2.6 Release Candidate is available as a free download for existing Lightroom 2 customers, and the Photoshop Camera Raw 5.6 Release Candidate is available as a free download for existing customers of Photoshop CS4. The DNG Converter 5.6 Release Candidate is also available as a free download for all customers.

Newly Supported Camera Models: Canon EOS 7DCanon PowerShot G11Canon PowerShot S90Leaf Aptus II 5Mamiya DM22, DM28, DM33, DM56, M18, M22, M31Nikon D3sOlympus E-P2Pentax K-xPanasonic FZ38Sigma DP1sSony A500Sony A550Sony A850

Photographers And Their iPhones

How professionals use their iPhones to capture stunning images: "Photographers And Their iPhones"
Top Five iPhone Camera Apps
The iPhone, introduced in 2007, is not only the most popular cameraphone on Flickr, it’s actually the second most popular camera of any type (in first place is the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi). One reason: the abundance of apps available. Here are our top five picks.

Introduction to Keywords in Lightroom

Introduction to Keywords in Lightroom
by Helen Bradley

"As with any photo management tool Lightroom 2 offers you the ability to add keywords to your images. In this way you can make it easier to find images later on by searching for them by keyword. One simple way of adding keywords to your images is to do this as you import your images into Lightroom. Of course this requires that you’re importing a series of images which all share the same keywords. As this is not always the case, you may need to add keywords from inside Lightroom and I’ll show you how to do this."

Read the rest here: http://digital-photography-school.com/introduction-to-keywords-and-lightroom#ixzz0Wm1rc8OY

Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?

I posted this on our own Blog last January, but two recent conversations made me decide to post it here as well.

Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?

Digital technology is brilliant. The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur. With flexibility comes a price though. Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into all of this.

Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for memory) you may be wondering why you may pay upwards of $40, 50, 70, 90 for a custom photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:

“How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at the local drug store?”

The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time, aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.

TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance let’s imagine if you will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and that is travelling an hour to your on location session.

Time break down:

* session prep time (30 mins , includes equipment and back up equipment checks)
* travel time to and from session
* 15 minutes pre-event consultation with client
* 2 hours with client photographing subject
* 30 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
* 45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
* 20 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
* 1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
* 1 hour with client for ordering images
* 1 hour sorting through and checking order
* 30 minutes prep time for delivery
* any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues

As you can see, average client time for a session is over 27 hours. This is time dedicated only to your session. When the photographer charges $150-$400 for the photo shoot you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 20-30 hours complete time for your session.

COSTS of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:
Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer. Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography. A good lens for portrait photography can run up $900 to $2500. A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.Then come lab costs for specialty products. A good photographer knows the lab is integral to their success. Photography labs dedicated to the professional photographer often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for you, the discerning client.

Discussion other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip the intricate details. There is of course much more: including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES:

Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $25 for an 8×10 or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains. The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service. According to several articles at the time, did you know that in February 2007 a rather well known discount department store that started in Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation? The reason is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if you do not sell enough of them. Interestingly enough – those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10).

The whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait studios in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments. Your “PORTRAITS” are considered the true “loss leader”.

Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely captures of natural expressions. You simply get a bare bones, “SAY CHEESE” experience. Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.

REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER:

Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part. Their expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism. A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography. Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream?

They often neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..Being of sound reputation, a better professional photographer knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch. To create good work good equipment, reliable equipment, back up equipment is a necessity. The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability. This is how reputations get built. Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories. The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

Article written by: Marianne Drenthe

Terry white's 2009 Holiday Gift Guide is Here!

Terry White's 2009 Holiday Gift Guide is Here!

Straight from his blog

That's right it's my guide to help you with you holiday shopping for the gadget lover (freak) on your list. The way this thing started was each year towards the holiday season all my friends started asking me and emailing about what my picks were in various categories and of course the answers were usually the same. So I decided to compile a list and just email it to the folks that asked. Once again I've put together a Holiday Gift Guide to help you pick out gifts for the techies and gadget lovers on your gift list. However, instead of making a PDF with links to multiple sources, I've decided to go with once source this year. I've chosen Amazon.com simply because they are the one online retailer with not only the largest presence, but also the one that carries 99% of the items I recommend. Another advantage is that I can continue to add things that come up all the way up to the final days of the holiday season. In previous years I would always find some cool gadgets after the static gift guide was published. Now because they don't carry every single item on my recommendation list, you can check for some Extras at the bottom of this post.

Save Out-of-Focus Images!

I have always said that this cannot be done, seems like the times they are a changin'

Save Out-of-Focus Images
Learn expert techniques to save out-of-focus images from renowned photographer Vincent Versace. Includes extensive use of Sharpener Pro 3.0. Click here to learn more and buy.

Viveza 2

Viveza 2, powered by U Point® technology, is the most powerful and precise tool available to selectively control light and color in photographic images without the need to create complicated selections or layer masks.

Watch a brief introductory video about Viveza 2, read more about the new features, and add your name to the notification list at www.niksoftware.com/viveza2.

Pre-order Viveza 2
Already know you want Viveza 2 the moment it’s released? Call Customer Service at 888-284-4085 to pre-order (M-F, 8:30-5:00, PST). Two for the Price of One

If you don’t yet own Viveza, buy version 1 now and receive a free upgrade to Viveza 2 (when available). See http://click.mailus.niksoftware.com/?qs=96c6f8d32587f05471aaa5d9b75e6a2343d235c2a1ec13f4ca305f924e336385 to learn more.

Free Upgrade Eligibility
Anyone purchasing and registering Viveza 1 or the Complete Collection after September 22, 2009 is eligible to receive a free copy of Viveza 2. Make sure you have registered on our web site with a valid email address and we’ll contact you personally when Viveza 2 is available.

more on Help Portrait

I have been getting questions about Help Portrait.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9tu1XrBn3A
http://www.labellephoto.com/?p=473Here’s the link

This is what I was thinking -- that we could have a few people shooting and a few people editing, even allow rotating people if we have enough need (people that come to be photographed) and enough volunteers. I am thinking that perhaps CAP can sponsor the studio fee and we provide the photographs. Everyone can leave with an edited printed 5x7 or 8x10.

There are lots of needy people out there -- people who have been hit hard by the current economic times, people with health problems, single parents, senior citizens, etc. etc.

We need:

-- a space to hold this (I have some ideas and have made some inquiries)

-- some publicity (therefore someone willing to send press releases in)

-- volunteer photographers

-- volunteers editors

I have created a group within the Help Portrait website: http://community.help-portrait.com/group/ctphotographers where you can join, comment, etc.

Help Portrait

New Help Portrait Web Site and Must-see Video

Brad and Scott Kelby are starting to ramp up for our local “Help Portrait” shoot (on Saturday, December 12th). Now organizer Jeremy Cowart (a really terrific guy and incredible photographer) just released a new updated version of the Help Portrait Web site, along with a quick video you’ve just got to see.

Here’s the link (seriously, if you’ve got a minute, this is really an incredibly wonderful thing he’s doing. Don’t stand on the sidelines—-get involved with photographers all over the world who, on December 12th are giving back by sharing our talents to do something really great for those less fortunate).

I would love to get a group of photogaphers in on this!

www.photoshoproadmap.com tips and tutorials

http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/

See Exactly What Your Crop Will Be
Sometimes it's easier to visualize what your crop will look like if you don't see the rest of the image. Learn how to make the cropped out area completely black so you only see the part you want to keep.

How to use selective color
Create images that are part black and white, part colour to make the subject stand out in photoshop CS and Elements

Create a Film Strip
In this two-part Photoshop tutorial, learn how to create a fun photo collage using a film strip as a photo frame for multiple images. In this first part of the tutorial, we'll see how Photoshop's various shape tools make it easy to draw the actual film strip itself, which we'll then be using in Part Two to create the photo collage!

How to Darken an Overexposed Photo
Some photos come back a little more exposed than you originally planned, but this tutorial will show you an easy fix to that problem.

10 Free Paper Textures
10 Free Paper Textures that you can download for free. They are all unique and can only be downloaded on tutorialfreakz.com. You can use them for free for personal and commercial use.

SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III memory cards on sale at Adorama.

SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III memory cards on sale at Adorama.

A 3 pack of Compact Flash Memory Cards just $69

A 3 pack of SDHC cards only $129.

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The 3 pack of SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III Compact Flash Memory Cards is $149.95, has an $80 rebate, making the final price $69.95 (only $23 per card!).

A 3 pack of SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Memory Card is $219.95, comes with a $90 rebate (only $43 per card!).

Aperture Academy

Hello, I wanted to personally invite you to the opening of the Aperture Academy. I'm proud to share with you the result of many years of work, including the last year in putting this state of the art facility together.

Please join me on Saturday, Dec. 5th, from 6-10pm for:
live music by guitarist, Jerry Snyder;
hourly prize drawings for $5,000 worth of merchandise and classes;
refreshing appetizers and drinks;
a fun preview of our Photoshop & Lightroom classes;
a meet and greet with the Aperture Academy staff;
the night's guest speaker from the Snow Leopard Trust;
the special unveiling of my latest fine art print!

I hope you will come by to help us celebrate the opening of The Aperture Academy in style! If you want to RXVP, or want to read more about it, visit http://www.apertureacademy.com/grand-opening-rsvp.php. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Stephen W. Oachs http://www.ApertureAcademy.com Gallery: (408) 369-8585

FREE download Virtual Studio

FREE download Virtual Studio http://www.optikvervelabs.com/downloads/vSsetup.exe
Installs on Vista 32-bit, Windows XP, 2000, ME or '98 operating systems.

Want a quick alternative to opening your complex imaging application each time you want to apply artistic effects to a photo?We make it easy to use virtualPhotographer and other popular plug-ins with virtualStudio, a full-featured digital photo editor. virtualStudio allows you to open and save over 30 file formats including jpg, jpeg2000, png, bmp, gif, tiff, psd and some RAW files.

Runs many popular Photoshop plug-ins- including virtual Photographer

Easily applies layered effects with "Blend" mode
Image Browser with full-screen slideshow
Opens multiple photos
Auto Expose, Enhance, Sharpen, Equalize and White Balance
Adds picture frames, copyright and titles
Adjust brightness/contrast, gamma, hue and color
Full Curves functionality
Histograms Shadows and highlights
Flip and rotate to 1/10th degree
Selection with feather tool
Sharpen, blur, noise removal
Red-eye removal
Resize using Lanczos, Mitchell, Bicubic
Edit IPTC information and view EXIF
Print with Print Preview
Connect to your scanner or camera
Cool Skins
Enable/disable/drag toolbars
Find out more...

FREE virtual Photographer software

Compatible with Photoshop® CS3 and older, Photoshop® Elements, Paint Shop™ Pro®, Photo-Paint and other popular imaging applications. Install on Vista 32-bit, Windows XP, 2000, ME or '98 operating systems. Find out more...

“Fix it fast…helps you adjust brightness, as well as add style, ambiance, seasonal colors, and more.” - POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY

“virtual Photographer offers so many features and options to edit and apply effects that it can almost be considered its own standalone program.” - EXTREME TECH

virtualPhotographer lets you instantly apply high quality, professional photographic styles to your digital images…with just one click. Adjust film grain, color, B/W, soft focus, high contrast and many other effects to achieve the same professional-looking images that used to take hours of photo editing. Get great results in seconds. Get the latest version of our popular FREE one-click photo effects plug-in downloaded by over 5 million digital photographers worldwide.

Photoshop plug-in filter
200 one-click preset Effects
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New tabbed controls
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Split-screen preview
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Plug-in Suite 5 for Adobe Photoshopfrom onOne Software

onOne Software, Inc., has announced Plug-in Suite 5 for Adobe Photoshop. Designed to solve the most common problems facing photographers in the areas of color correction, enlarging, masking and professional photographic effects, the Plug-in Suite 5 combines full versions of six essential software tools in one affordable package: FocalPoint 2, PhotoTune 3, PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition, PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition, Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition and MaskPro 4.

With support for Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4 the onOne Software Plug-in Suite 5 now includes the new onOne Panel which provides quick access to all products, Windows 64 bit support and the ability to access select plug-ins from within Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 and Apple Aperture 2.1. Plug-in Suite 5 will be available in November.Plug-in Suite 5 includes full versions of the following onOne Software products:FocalPoint 2 – Like bringing the camera lens inside Photoshop, this new version of FocalPoint 2 gives photographers the best way to add the most realistic depth of field and selective focus control to any image after it is photographed. Photographers now have an incredible amount of flexibility and control over the look of the blur with FocalPoint 2's new blur algorithm, FocusBrush, Lens Presets and multiple FocusBug features.

PhotoTune 3 – Getting great color doesn’t have to be so hard. This new version of PhotoTune 3 uses patented eye-fidelityTM technology, originally developed by and licensed from imsense to optimize the dynamic range, color and sharpness of images so that they look more true-to-life. The improved Wizard offers fast color and tone correction in as little as two steps while giving pro users direct access to advanced and innovative controls. SkinTune, which represents two years of research and analysis of thousands of skin tones, now offers one-click color correction of portraits and the option to correct just the skin in an image.

PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition – With PhotoFrame 4.5, you can add the perfect finishing touch to your images with over 100 exciting new professionally designed frames, backgrounds, textures and layouts including over a dozen from professional photographer Kersti Malvre. With one thousand design elements like film edges, borders, textures, backgrounds and adornments, PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition even has complete layouts where users can simply drop an image in and they are done. It is the easiest and fastest way to add an authentic darkroom touch with a film edge or to create beautiful albums or scrapbook pages

PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition – PhotoTools 2.5 is the highly acclaimed Photoshop plug-in that allows photographers of all skill levels to maximize the full power of Photoshop with it's ability to preview and combine Photoshop Actions in a single, intuitive interface. Designed by photographers for photographers, PhotoTools 2.5 Professional now includes a new MaskingBug control based on the FocusBug control from the award-winning FocalPoint plug-in. The new MaskingBug allows photographers to create high-quality masks to selectively apply effects to images. With over 30 new creative effects, for a total effect library of 280, photographers can easily find, combine and save the results to create images that truly stand out.

Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition - The industry standard for enlarging photos, Genuine Fractals 6 enlarges images up to 1,000% while maintaining sharp edges and important image details. Genuine Fractals 6 now includes an automated gallery wrap feature and output options for tiling an enlarged photo. No other resizing plug-in is as widely used by more professionals than Genuine Fractals.MaskPro 4 – For those times when you need to extract a subject from a photo, Mask Pro 4 uses a color-based method that allows users to easily remove unwanted backgrounds from your photos.

Mask Pro's unique Color Decontamination technology allows users to get realistic results by maintaining transparency in hard to mask objects like hair, smoke and glass in a fraction of the time using traditional tools.

The new Plug-in Suite 5 will be available in November to new users for $599.95; purchased separately the products would normally cost $1,300.

Existing users of Plug-in Suite version 1, 2, 3 or 4 can upgrade to the Plug-in Suite 5 for $199.95. Customers who own any one or more of the products in Plug-in 5 will be able to upgrade as well by visiting http://www.ononesoftware.com/upgrade/.

For more information on the Plug-in Suite 5, please visit http://www.ononesoftware.com

How does a starving photographer live on a free travel book as winnings?

Thanks for sharing this!! Good to know not to quit our dayjobs :-)

Hi Lisa, Thought I might share this...

Fodor’s Travel Books chose my image for their 2010 book on Florida.

How does a starving photographer live on a free travel book as winnings?
No money, just a book.

They cropped the image so the horizon fell midway – a big no-no.

They also cropped the tops off the fishing poles.

Page 63 is the chopped up image of Juno Beach.
A large canvas of this image is over the sofa in one of the bedrooms in our Palm Beach Gardens home.



Linda Brinckerhoff

ADIRONDACK WINTER WEEKEND with Mark BowieJanuary 29-31

ADIRONDACK WINTER WEEKEND with Mark BowieJanuary 29-31 Inlet, New York

Winter in the Adirondacks is a beautiful, magical time. Snow quiets and simplifies the landscape, accentuating lines and form. Photographing it requires special attention to composition and exposure.

Through both indoor instructional sessions and outdoor field sessions, you'll explore strategies to take advantage of different lighting conditions, and compositional and digital techniques to create expressive wintertime images that resonate with emotional impact and meaning.

The Woods Inn is offering special pricing to workshop participants for this event.

We don't offer this event every year, so don't miss this special opportunity!
For more information, visit our website. To register, call 216-531-2155.

30th annual George W. Glennie Nature Interclub Exhibition

The 30th annual George W. Glennie Nature Interclub Exhibition is now upon us. I won Best of Show Last year (see here: http://www.glennie-exhibition.com/2009/bos.pdf). Lisa


You are cordially invited to participate in the 30th annual George W. Glennie Nature Interclub Exhibition, which will be held by the Merrimack Valley Camera Club, North Andover, MA on Saturday, March 27, 2010. The digital-only format is now well established as the Exhibition medium, as it provides more organizations with greater opportunities to participate in this event that has become a world-wide showcase of Nature photography. It should be noted, though, that scanned slides are acceptable.

As has been done previously, awards will be presented to both clubs and individuals for their meritorious achievements.

In 2009, the invitation area was expanded to include the all of the Eastern United States and Canada as well as Western Europe in addition to Australia and New Zealand with great success; as 95 clubs participated. Visit www.glennie-exhibition.com to view last year’s results. The invitation area for the 2010 Exhibition includes all camera clubs and similar organizations world-wide. It is intended to provide many more clubs with the opportunity to participate in this premier event. It is also hoped that the spectrum of Nature specimen will be increased, as well, for the information and enjoyment of all.

The following general categories are listed as guidelines, but are not limits. for the selection of images:: Amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, newts); Birds (hummingbirds, predators, song birds, waders, waterfowl); Botany (grasses, shrubs, trees, wild flowers); Insects (ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, spiders, wasps); Geological formations (including those with and without water); Mammals (bear, big horn sheep, deer, moose, mountain lion, wolf); Marine Life (anemones, coral, crustaceans, dolphins, fish, sponges, whales); and Reptiles (crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles). Some examples of possible images for each category are shown in parentheses. The final specific categories will be on the types and level of submissions. The goal is to have the broadest range possible..

Awards will be given for the clubs that have the 3 highest total scores, including ties, for their 10 images. For the first time, recognition will be given to clubs for the diversity of their image submissions. In order to be eligible for this award, a club must submit an image in at least 6 of the 8 general categories mentioned above. A club’s 6 highest scoring images will be used to determine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winners, including ties.

Individual “Best Of” and Merit Awards will be presented in each of the specific final categories In addition, Best of Show and Best Wildlife plaques will given as well as a Judge’s Choice Awards. The Exhibition Chair will also present an award courtesy of the Yankee Photographic Society. In addition, high scoring images that are not otherwise recognized will receive an Honor Award. Further, another set of awards has been established for the 2010 Exhibition. A Special Theme Category, which is close up photography of specimen that are typically small. Some examples include insects and their larvae as well as fungi, flower blossoms, seed pods and microbes. Individual awards will be presented for the Best in Category and a select number of high scoring images. A special theme entry may also count as one of the 6 categories for the Club Diversity Award.

Each club may submit ten (10) images, which conform to the PSA Nature definition and guidelines for the adjustment of Nature images. Multiple image HDR submissions are acceptable. An individual may submit no more than two (2) images, even through more than one club. The scores for those acceptable images will be given to the first club(s) submitting them; all additional images will be scored but not eligible for club or individual awards.. All previous award winning images, regardless whether they were slides or digital, are ineligible.

The maximum width (horizontal dimension) and height (vertical dimension) for each images is 1024 and 768 pixels, respectively, regardless of the image’s primary orientation – portrait or landscape. The image file must be in JPG/JPEG format and not exceed 1 megabyte (MB) in size. For best projection, the images should be saved in the sRGB color space.

On-line entry forms and image submissions will be available on February 1, 2010. Postal mail may also be used for the submission of entry forms and images, on a non-returnable CD basis.

Additional information concerning a closing date and the entry fee will be provided at a later date. Last year, the club entry fee was $15 (USD); little, if any, increase is anticipated this year.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the Exhibition Chair.

Hopefully, you will find this exhibition interesting and wish to make a significant contribution of your own to its success by participating. This is one of the few opportunities where individuals can gain recognition for images of specimen throughout the Nature spectrum.

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing your images.

Charlie Burke
Chair, 2010 Glennie Nature Interclub Exhibition
E-Mail: nichburke@yahoo.com

Jay Maisel: Light, Gesture, and Color and New Work, Nov 12, 2009

Jay Maisel: Light, Gesture, and Color and New Work, Nov 12, 2009

Place: Yale Universtiy, Linsly-Chittenden Hall, Room 102

Time: Nov. 12, 2009 doors open 6:30 pm; program at 7:00 pm

Cost: ASMP members & students $15; Non-members $25

Directions: Yale University Linsly-Chittenden Hall, 63 High St., New Haven CT

Jay Maisel--Light, Gesture, Color and New Work

Join us for an evening with Jay Maisel, a world-class photographer whose name has become synonymous with light, gesture, and color.

"Light, gesture, and color form the basis of all my images. This, coupled with an awareness of figure-ground relationship or photographic optical illusions, constitute half of the presentation," says Maisel. "I will show you why and how images challenge perception. You do not always see what you think you see."

Since his professional career started in 1954, Jay Maisel's images have been used for advertising, editorial and corporate communications worldwide. He is widely exhibited and has numerous prints in private, corporate and museum collections. His books include Light in America, On Assignment (Photographers at Work), Jay Maisel's New York, and his latest, A Tribute.

Jay has taught workshops since 1966 in Maine, NYC, Houston, Truckee, Aspen; Jamaica, Santa Fe, Italy and British Columbia, and he has lectured all over the USA, Australia and New Zealand. In fact, he will host six five-day workshops at his lower Manhattan studio alone this year.
His awards include the ASMP Life Time Achievement award, ASMP Photographer of the Year, International Center of Photography’s Infinity Award, and the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame.

Jay is a native of of Brooklyn, New York. He earned his B.F.A. at Yale University and is a 1952 graduate of The Cooper Union where he majored in painting. At the beginning of his career, he worked with Swiss painter and photographer Herbert Matter, known best for his pioneering work in creating photomontages, and Alexi Brodovitch, who pioneered the role of magazine art director in America at Harper's Bazaar.
To register, just click here.

We are grateful to Epson for sponsoring this inspiring event.

Hudson Valley photographer

I just stumbled upon this Hudson Valley photographer -- he leads workshops too.

All of the information below is directly taken off his blog or website.

Focusing on the Hudson Valley allowed Robert to discover not only beautiful landscapes often taken for granted, but the changing mood and character of the region. Seeking to capture the beauty, or convey the emotional qualities of a place or moment in nature, his images have elicited responses ranging from evocative, to spiritual and breathtaking. He frequently travels beyond in search of other dramatic and unique locations, including the Adirondacks, and the coast of Maine.

Robert takes pride in a hands on approach to creating his expressive prints, working on every stage, from the initial exposure and processing, to printing and framing. His prints have been purchased by private collectors and commercial clients throughout North America. His photographs have also been featured in publications such as the NY Times.
In addition, Robert is a respected educator in all aspects of photography including field work and digital editing and printing. He now teaches photography workshops, gives seminars in the region on a regular basis, and is a frequently invited speaker to industry associations.
A member of the National Association of Nature Photographers, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Beacon Arts Community Association, and Beekman Banners Project.

2009 Photography Workshops Download latest workshop brochure

I’m starting a new series of Free Monthly Wallpapers (desktops for Mac users) for readers of the Beyond the Lens Blog and for Fans on Facebook – thank you for your generous support. They will feature my latest landscape images together with a monthly calendar in a panoramic format which I think works well with todays wide screen monitors.Enjoy the first edition: “Watercolors” from the Black Creek in Ulster County, NY during the fall season and come closer to nature!

Why Do I Photograph The Hudson River?In a recent interview for InsideOut Magazine's Second Annual Art Issue, I was asked "why do you photograph the Hudson River"? It was a question that had several answers, but in the end, it came down to my passion for the place I call home. Read more about the interview and my feelings about the valley on the blog.

Our new 2010 "Light & Landscapes Hudson Valley" Wall Calendar is now available for pre-order and will be shipping in September. This is our first calendar exclusively dedicated to the Hudson Valley featuring inspiring landscapes of both land and water. In the works for the past 2 years, it also includes my personal notes and feelings about each image, together with its location. Makes a great gift for a Hudson Valley lover.SPECIAL PROMOTION - For a limited time only, each order will receive a FREE 8x10 signed fine art print of the September image! Order your calendar now and start or add to your Hudson Valley print collection

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom: Organizing and Enhancing Your Images

"Adobe Photoshop Lightroom: Organizing and Enhancing Your Images"

Sunday, November 15th - 9:00-3:00

Professional photographer Lindsay Adler will guide you through the most helpful and key features of Lightroom. She will give tips on organizing your images and show you how you can also use Lightroom to improve and enhance them. This is a hands-on workshop so you will be bringing your laptop. Details

Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom

Jeff Schewe's new book -- very popular topic: “Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom”

Scott Kelby's quote "There are few topics as important as sharpening (and few that can support an entire book), but this topic, and this author, are right on the money. Kudos to Jeff for his work, and for his dedication to honoring Bruce’s legacy. I think Bruce would be very proud indeed."

Here are the links to the book Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders

Lightroom Tutorial

Lightroom tutorial The Lightroom Catalog – Part 1, or “Where Are My Pictures?” by George Jardine. Reviews say "If I had my way it would ship with the Lightroom install and auto play on first launch of the application."

"American Light" by Joe LeFevre CAP Fall Dinner Meeting & Program

Dear CAP Members, Just a reminder that the CAP Fall Dinner Meeting & Program featuring "American Light" by Joe LeFevre is rapidly approaching. The dinner will take place on Saturday evening, Nov. 21, 2009, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Southbury, CT. RESERVATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN NOV. 12, 2009, just over 1 week from today. The attached flier gives the details including directions to the restaurant and a reservation form. More details were contained in the recent CAPtion; if you have misplaced your copy you can download another from www.CAPinCT.org.

Exhibit "Earth Designs" by Dan Mead and Sally Eagle.

Two weeks remain for seeing a must-see photographic exhibit: "Earth Designs" by Dan Mead and Sally Eagle. Until November 17th this exhibit is hanging in the MASC Gallery, Math and Science Center, at Millbrook School, Millbrook, NY. The gallery hours are: Monday-Friday, 8:00-5:00pm and Saturday, 8:00-1:00pm.

These large color photographs document the wonderous land forms from various positions in the landscape, from the edge of rims to openings in an aircraft.

Dan has recently been chosen as a Highly Honored Photographer by Nature's Best Photography magazine, bird category. His photograph along with other category winners will be exhibited in the Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., beginning November 12th.

If you are unable to see this exhibit, go to their Website: www.meadeaglephotos.com

To those of you who have accepted my invitation to LinkedIn, I thank you. I would like to use this format to promote photography, for example, by announcing exhibits in CT and just across state lines. To that end, I would appreciate your sending me information about your exhibit or those of your friends. If I can, I will view the exhibit myself, but please note that I will not review or critique exhibits, but I will only recommend those that I deem meritorious so please be selective about which exhibit announcements you send me. I will also post workshops, lectures, or classes so please let me know about them, too. Yours truly, Abby

Nature Photographers Network online nature photography courses

The Nature Photographers Network™ is pleased to present its series of online nature photography courses. NPN online courses are conducted in “virtual classroom” private forums and are instructed by today’s top nature photography professionals. Students are granted access to the virtual classroom for the duration of the course. All lessons and interaction with the instructor – and other students – take place in the virtual classroom.

Each course includes six lessons, which are presented in publication-quality PDF format. Each lesson is allotted one week for completion and includes a shooting assignment. The student may post questions in the virtual classroom at any time during the week for the instructor to answer. Once the assignment is completed, the student will post their work in the virtual classroom for instructor and peer review. At the completion of the course, each student will receive a personalized Certificate of Completion.

You can pay for the course via your PayPal account or directly with a credit card. We are so confident that you will enjoy and benefit from any of our online nature photography courses that we offer a no-hassle, no-questions-asked 100% satisfaction guarantee. Once the course commences, you have 14 days to cancel and receive a full refund.

The Ultimate Digital Nature Photography CourseInstructor - Richard Bernabe
This two-part A-Z class of digital nature photography will teach you the very basics of nature photography and a whole lot more. From choosing the right equipment to learning the essential aspects of composition to the basics of digital workflow, there’s not much this course doesn’t cover. Course Information

The Essentials of Digital Landscape Photography - Part 1: Field TechniquesInstructor - Darwin Wiggett Join Darwin in this detailed course on essential field techniques for digital landscape photography. Learn the basics and advanced techniques used by pros in the field to make images with impact. Course Information

Learning to “Speak” the Language of Visual ExpressionInstructor - Samantha Chrysanthou
In this course, you will learn the basic building blocks of design and composition in a step-by-step way so that you can put it all together to create a finished photograph. You will also be exposed to some wonderful works by both artists and photographers to understand why their creations ‘work’. Course Information

Fine Art Abstract Photography - The Art of Seeing and Special TechniquesInstructor - Joseph Rossbach This course that will cover the fundamentals of abstract photography and explore personal vision. From image design, line and color to special techniques such as panning and multiple exposures, this 6 week course will build a solid foundation for creating your own personal style. Course Information

Creating “Wow” Images - Six Steps to Making Great Nature PhotographsInstructor - Ian Plant
This course is designed for the photographer who already knows the basics, but who wants to take their shooting to the next level. We will take a step-by-step approach to learning advanced techniques for creating magical images that will make you the envy of your fellow photographers! Course Information

Macro Nature PhotographyInstructor - Mike Moats
Geared to the macro nature photographer looking to learn about the equipment, techniques, and the rules of composition used to produce quality macro/close-up images of nature. Some Adobe Photoshop processing will also be included. Course Information

Adjust skin tones with Photoshop Elements

From http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/

Adjust skin tones with Photoshop Elements

Skin tones are so easy to color correct. It's worth trying just to see if the color can be improved. Because if it can your whole photo will benefit.

Artist's Reception Pat Brundage photographic display

This THURSDAY come join Pat at her reception!

I will be having a photographic display at the Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield for the month of November. Artist's reception will be Thursday, November 5 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. All are welcome. Would love to see a large turnout! Thanks in advance. Pat Brundage

PhotographyBB is a free online magazine

Digital photography fans can download the free monthly issues of PhotographyBB e-magazine in PDF format. PhotographyBB Online Magazine PhotographyBB is a free online magazine composed by a hardworking team of volunteer contributing authors whose goal is to teach beginners all about digital photography and image processing.

Faces of the Moon

Faces of the Moon
With Robert Crelin

Tuesday, November 3, 20097:00 pmAt the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium355 Prospect Street, New Haven

Author and educator Robert Crelin invites you to join him for an exciting discussion about our Moon's ever-changing phases. Learn about why we see these changes and how you can witness our Moon's monthly orbit around Earth by simply observing the sky day-to-day. Bob will also be signing copies of his new children's book, Faces of the Moon, on sale at this event.Sponsored by the Yale University Astronomy Department

The Bottle Cap Tripod

The Bottle Cap Tripod -- now you can ALWATS have a tripod with you!

http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/bottle-cap-tripod

• Mounts on any standard water or soda bottle
• Pivots up to 15° in any direction
• Portable and lightweight -- fits anywhere!
• Universal camera mount fits any camera with a tripod socket
• Great for self-portraits, group photos on self-timer, and steady low-light shots

Fine art nature photographer

take a look at these photographs! wow!

Welcome to the website of award-winning California fine art nature photographer Floris van Breugel. Explore his landscape and wildlife image galleries, purchase fine art prints and calendars, read his blog, locate stock photos, sign up for workshops, and more.

BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards!

He had three images receive BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards.

"Life Among Giants" recieved runner-up in 'Animals in their Environment'

"Frozen Paradise" was highly commended in 'Wild Places'

"The Spring Explosion" was highly commended in 'In Praise of Plants'. (note his titles differ from the ones they used in the competition).

You can see the images here: online gallery

The BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards are considered among the most prestigious honors in nature photography. This year they recieved a record number of 43,000+ images from 94 countries.

About Floris: artist statement (directly from his website)
Each of my images is the result of patient hours spent in the field, exploring, learning, feeling, and seeing. Occasionally everything aligns and I get to bring home meaningful images, but I enjoy every minute of the wilderness regardless of my photographic success. Currently, my equipment of choice is a Canon digital SLR, a wide array of Canon lenses, and Singh-Ray filters. This is an exciting time in photography, and I fully embrace the power of the digital darkroom to turn the raw camera data into works of art that have the emotional impact of a painting, but with the detail, authenticity, and direct connection to nature that comes with photography. It is very important to me that my images are photographs, and not paintings, as it means that they are in fact real events that I experienced in real places. You could go out and see these places for yourself, in fact, I hope my images inspire you to do just that. The brain is a wonderful piece of machinery; a complex network of close to 1 billion neurons, and of those almost 300 million are involved in visual processing. What this means is, what you "see", is not in fact, "reality" as it is. If you need convincing, take a look at some of these optical illusions. Thus, it should be no surprise to you that using a camera to produce an image that looks similar to what we experience is not trivial. In fact, in many cases a significant amount of post processing of photographs is required to render the scene as it was experienced in person. So, while I do my best to capture my photographs in traditional single exposures where possible, often times I will make use of multiple exposures of the same scene to blend together for increased control of tonal range, image quality, and subject motion. In every case I strive to make my art honest to the original scene, with modest contrast and saturation adjustments for aesthetic considerations; I never add or remove significant elements. If you are interested in learning more about my methods, I invite you to read my articles, peruse my blog, and sign up for a workshop. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Photomatix Pro Discount

Photomatix Pro Discount
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The D.I.Y. Photo Block Kit

From Photojojo: http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/diy-photo-block-kit

Eight 2"x3" fine hardwood blocks, enough to make two photo block sets.
Stunning photo blocks take only minutes to make!
Easy-to-follow instructions for adults and kids, 8 and older.
Photo-safe glue adheres your photos firmly to the blocks.
Sealer gives your photos a protective finish with brushed texture.
Contains: hardwood blocks, foam brush, sandpaper, instructions, photo-safe glue & sealer. You'll need a photo, scissors, and a ruler.
Designed and made in New York City by Photojojo.

Monsterpod

Monsterpod is a Viscoelastic Polymer-based tripod that's the stuff of science fiction. This marvel sticks to and peels right off just about anything.

Really, we mean anything. We tried this thing on brick walls, trees, marble, cement, steel, sheet rock, wire fences, metal poles, plate glass windows, upside down, in the heat, in the cold, on furniture, street lamps, and on a car. It sticks to over 1,000 things, and it's the closest thing to magic we've seen.

Just screw your camera (up to 20 ounces) onto the adjustable pivoting tripod mount, then use your hands to mold the Monsterpod to any surface or object. It'll hold its position from anywhere for 1-10 minutes (even longer, in our experience.) When you're finished, gently peel the little guy off. Dirt can simply be washed away with water!

• Holds any camera up to 20oz (560 grams).
• Sticks to over 1,000 surfaces and objects, even upside down and peels right off.
• Tilts and rotates to any angle with pivoting tripod mount.
• Molds to hold almost any surface or object.
• Waterproof and dirt resistant.
• Fits in your pocket.
• Works over and over. Simply wash it with water when it gets dirty.