Better HDR in Photoshop

Better HDR in Photoshop
If you're not a fan of high-dynamic range images pushed to unrealistic extremes, try this two-part vide series on the softer side of HDR. http://www.creativepro.com/article/better-hdr-photoshop Written by Terri Stone on December 21, 2009

American Photo Images of the Year 2009

American Photo Images of the Year 2009
PopPhoto.com

American Photo Images...
We're celebrating the finest images of 2009.

http://www.popphoto.com/Galleries/American-Photo-Images-of-the-Year-2009

Nikon D90 and D300S Instant Rebate$250 Off with 18-200mm VR Lens

Nikon D90 and D300S Instant Rebate$250 Off with 18-200mm VR Lens
A photographer's new year's resolution: start dabbling in video.
Take the first step toward achieving that goal with Nikon's D90 or D300S, and you can cover your resolution to save more money too... Couple either camera with the immensely popular 18-200mm VR lens, and you'll save $250 instantly until January 2.
This DSLR pair introduces 720p HD video recording to two of Nikon's most revered camera lines. Plus, they offer the stunning ISO performance, tough build, and responsive set of automatic features you're used to from Nikon.
Save $250 on a Nikon Video-enabled DSLR »

Calumet Free shipping

With gift shopping over and a budget that's not quite topped-off, pick up that piece of equipment you really could use to start 2010 running. And we'll have it run to you for FREE. That's right, these final days of 2009 mark a few final days of FREE UPS Ground shipping on any size order from Calumet. After January 3, this offer goes away, so act quickly.

*Offer valid only on orders with UPS Ground shipping and must be delivered within the 48 contiguous United States. Excludes hazardous, truck, and expedited shipping methods.

Order must be placed during the promotional period (12/29/2009 - 1/3/2010). Items will ship when available. Normal rates apply on deliveries pre-scheduled for outside the promo period.

Adorama courses

Lisa -

Here is a listing of the courses Adorama is offering in January and February. Some are specific to Canon or Nikon equipment; some are PhotoShop/Lightroom courses; and some are specific subject photography courses.....

Gary

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_List&utm_source=ET&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Workshops&utm_campaign=EmailWork122909

South West Florida HDR Workshop With Scott Bourne & Trey Ratcliff

This was taken DIRECTLY from http://photofocus.com/

Announcing the South West Florida HDR Workshop With Scott Bourne & Trey Ratcliff

Two Days to Choose From January 16 or January 17 – 2010 – Tampa, FL
Join Scott Bourne and Trey Ratcliff in beautiful South West Florida for two one-day workshops covering basic to intermediate high dynamic range (HDR) photography.

HDR is one of the hottest and most interesting trends in photography today. It can take your images to a whole new level. HDR allows you to make photographs you couldn’t have dreamed of making back in the film days. At this workshop, you can learn to squeeze every drop of dynamic range out of your images, even the ones that are shot on harshly lit days or which contain wide areas of different contrast.

Scott & Trey will cover shooting 32-bit files, converting them in Photoshop and other third party applications like Photomatix. Not only will we cover HDR, but we’ll take you to the next level – tonemapping.Here’s our tentative course outline:

* Gear – the basic tools of HDR photography from tripods to software.

* Composing for HDR – you still need a good image to get a good HDR.

* Understanding tonal range and dynamic range in relation to HDR images.

* How to shoot a bracketed exposure sequence for HDR.

* How to shoot a single RAW to convert into an HDR

* How to get rid of halos

* How to shoot motion HDR – how to do it with a single RAW file

* Using Photomatix Pro to begin the process.

* Cleaning everything up in Photoshop afterwards (the master’s touch).

* Creating a photo-realistic effect.

* Understanding tone mapping.

* How to take convert a single-image RAW into an HDR image.

* How to create a realistic look with an HDR.

* How to create a an illustrative artsy look with an HDR.

* How HDR can add a new element of depth to B&W photography.

* Creating Panoramic Stitched HDR images.

All attendees will receive hands-on training, a copy of Scott Bourne’s Crane’s In The Fire Mist poster, a copy of Trey’s new book, “A World in HDR”, a Textures Tutorial, and the right to download all materials, screencasts, etc from the workshop. We’ll also have VERY cool prizes to give away each day. We’re still working out the prize list, but so far we have Gift Certificates from ScanCafe.com, gear from Lensbaby.com and ExpoDiscs from ExpoImaging.net.

COST:
The fee is only $125 per person if paid before December 30, 2009 $150 after that date – seating is limited. If you select to attend both days, the price is $200 no matter when you buy your ticket.

All meals, transportation and hotel accommodations are on your own. Rooms are available at the luxurious Tampa Bay Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina in the $200 range. There are also more affordable hotels in the immediate area, but none nicer or more convenient for our workshop.

Tentative Itinerary
We’ll meet at the hotel at 8:30 AM sharp Saturday morning. This will be our home base for classroom sessions and will also provide lots of opportunity to explore the Channelside and Ybor City districts of Tampa.
The Tampa bay area is a perfect location for an HDR workshop. It has both modern and traditional architecture and cityscapes along with historic areas, boat harbors, and wonderful January Florida weather.
After a brief slide show and introduction, we’ll split into two groups and go out photographing the area. Each group will have at least one instructor to help with the technical details of shooting HDR.
We’ll break for a quick 45 minute lunch (on your own) and convene back at the hotel classroom to process and work on images. We’ll also critique images so that attendees have a chance to monitor the success or failure of their technique with the help of instructors.
We’ll wrap up by no later than 6:00 pm each evening.

REQUIRED GEAR

Each participant must have a digital camera. A tripod is also highly recommended. Each participant should also bring a laptop loaded with Photoshop and Photomatix Pro. If you don’t have those programs, wait until a few days before the workshop and download free trials from the respective manufacturers.

ABOUT YOUR WORKSHOP LEADERS
Scott Bourne has been photographing professionally for more than three decades. He’s the publisher of Photofocus.com, one of the most widely listened to photo-related podcasts and blogs. He’s also co-founder of TWIP – This Week in Photography, one of the first photo-related podcasts on iTunes.

Scott’s the author of four photo books, and three video training titles on Lynda.com. He’s a member of PPA, NANPA and NAPP.

Trey Ratcliff is the publisher of StuckInCustoms.com, which has become well-known hub for HDR photography with more than 250,000 visitors a month (including one from his mom). He’s had the first HDR to hang in the Smithsonian, is represented by Getty, and has been featured on the BBC, NBC, ABC, and FOX television. His new book, “A World In HDR” challenges the world to think about the nature of photography in a new light.

Workshop attendees will get lots of personal interaction with the instructors, a chance to learn from and network with each other, and a chance to shoot and process HDR photos.

Seating is extremely limited. This workshop will sell out quickly so reserve your seat today.

Hummingbirds: Magic in the AirVideo: Incredible Agility

Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air premieres Sunday, January 10, 2010 (check local listings).

Hummingbirds: Magic in the AirVideo: Incredible Agility

Biologist Doug Altshuler has turned his lab into a kind of hummingbird training center, where he can test the limits of their aerial agility. The key, he says, is hovering.

Hummingbirds take extraordinary to a whole new level. They are the smallest warm-blooded creatures on the planet, but they are also among the fastest. With wings that beat up to 200 times every second, they are among nature’s most accomplished athletes, the only birds able to hover, fly backwards, and even upside down. Hummingbird metabolisms are set in permanent overdrive, requiring them to consume more than half their body weight in nectar every day, yet even so, they remain in constant threat of starving to death as they sleep. To survive the night, they fluff up their feathers and adjust their thermostats, decreasing their body temperatures by half and reducing their heart rate from 600 beats per minute to a mere 36.

Because hummingbirds live their lives in fast forward, much of their fascinating world is typically lost to human perception. But using cameras able to capture over 500 images a second, the hummingbirds’ magical world can finally be seen and appreciated. Amazing footage shows these little powerhouses are far more than delicate nectar gatherers — they are also deadly predators. And watch as the birds display their elaborate mating rituals, showing off with nose dives that subject them to over ten G’s of force — enough to cause an experienced fighter pilot to black out!
These tiny marvels dazzle and delight bird watchers all over the world, and NATURE reveals their stunning abilities as they have never been seen before.

Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air premieres Sunday, January 10, 2010 (check local listings).

Photography Guides

Photography Guides

Zoo Photography by Walter Harrington

Purgatory Chasm by Bob Stevens

Winter Photo Opportunities by Sandy Selesky

The Lupine Festival by Robert Bicknell

Salisbury State Park by Sandy Selesky

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge by Sandy Selesky

5 D Mark II firmware update

The 5 D Mark II has a firmware update available. Owners may want to go get this one from the firmware update site: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos5dmk2/firmware.html

Modern Dioramas of Our New Natural History Photographs by Amy Stein

Domesticated: Modern Dioramas of Our New Natural History Photographs by Amy Stein

Opening January 22, 2010
In Domesticated, New York photographer Amy Stein explores the tenuous relationship between humans and animals through staged scenes inspired by true events in rural Pennsylvania.
Stein was named one of the top fifteen emerging photographers in the world by American Photo magazine. Her work has exhibited at the ClampArt gallery, New York, NY; Robert Koch Gallery, San Francisco, CA; Pool Gallery, Berlin, Germany; and the Paul Kopeikin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
For more information see the full release: http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/images/stories/documents/stein_release2.pdf
or the artist’s site at http://www.amysteinphoto.com/


Mary Blue MagruderDirector of CommunicationsHarvard Museum of Natural History26 Oxford StreetCambridge, MA 02138617-496-0049bmagruder@oeb.harvard.edu http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu

How to Make Winning Wildlife Portraits

How to Make Winning Wildlife Portraits

By Jeff Wignall (The following is excerpted from Winning Digital Photo Contests, a new book by Black Star Rising contributor Jeff Wignall.)

"Getting your first close-up photograph of a wild animal is kind of like getting your first kiss; you’re often so flustered (not to mention grateful) at the opportunity and so satisfied by the conquest that you lose all critical perspective. "

"You’ve got the shot, and there’s no denying the evidence. But once the initial thrill has subsided, in order for your photography to grow you must apply a more discerning eye to your images, and find out how you can fine-tune the quality to a higher level."

Here is a checklist of important considerations:
Is the background simple and unobtrusive?
Does the animal’s pose look natural and refined?
Have you restricted depth of field in order to isolate the subject?
Is the animal positioned in the frame in an interesting way?
Does it seem alert and attentive to its surroundings?

Read the rest here

Jeff Wignall is a photographer and writer and the author of numerous books on photography, including The Joy of Digital Photography, The Kodak Guide to Shooting Great Travel Pictures, Kodak's Most Basic Book of 35mm Photography, and Winning Pictures. Check out Jeff's Photo Tip of the Day blog. in Art of Photography on November 3rd, 2009

HDR Tutorial – Everything you need to know about HDR Photography

I have his book, which I love, so I am not sure why I just discovered his fantastic blog. Below are exerpts driectly from his Blog, including a great HDR tutorial!


Trey Ratcliff -- I freely share my photos and many tutorials with everyone. I use the Creative Commons license, so people are free to use this stuff on their own, as long as it is not for commercial purposes.

See Trey's photos on smugmug!

HDR Tutorial – Everything you need to know about HDR Photography
Welcome to the free tutorial! This will be fun.
This simple 6-step HDR Tutorial has taught thousands of people, so I am sure it can help you too. Remember, YOU can do this!

Who is this tutorial for?

• New photographers and those just getting started and want to make prettier pictures


• For advanced photographers ready to add new and improved HDR techniques

I am constantly evolving my techniques. HDR is still a young art form. I’ve been lucky enough to travel around the world and meet some of the greatest HDR Photographers in the world. We share techniques, shoot together, post process together, and all work together to drive the art form forward. I am happy to share the latest and greatest.

Now, I know a great many of you come just to nab my Photomatix Coupon Code – it is “STUCKINCUSTOMS“, which gives you 15% off. If you’d like to order it or give it a free trial, just go to the Photomatix webpage. The nice people there were swell enough to give my fans the best discount code, so I am happy to share it since I believe in their product. I’ve tried all the others… I still keep coming back to sweet Photomatix! I think you will like it as much as I do.

HDR Book – Another option beyond this free HDR Tutorial

I have recently announced a book all about HDR. It’s a 216-page monstrosity. I hope you love it! If you are like me, and you just can’t get enough of HDR, then maybe this is the book for you. It contains a ton of tips, tricks, and techniques. In addition, there is a collection of HDR Photographs as well as deeper explanations about how they were achieved. The book also gives me a longer format to go into depth about various descriptions of how I use and think about light to really push HDR to the next level.

The book has been designed for all levels of photographers. Whether you are just now getting your feet wet or a seasoned professional, there are tips and tricks in there for every level.
Come order the HDR Book right away… It’s just a click away and all knowledge and beauty will be yours to behold.

Software I use (in order of importance):

Please note that you really only need Photomatix Pro below. The others help give your final product a more polished and professional look. Also, I didn’t mention Photoshop because that is an absolute necessity. If you JUST use Photomatix, chances are that your final result will look like everyone else’s ham-fisted HDRs. Please do not take offense to that – many of my early HDRs were as ham-fisted as possible…

Photomatix Pro (required) – If you click on the following link to buy the HDR software Photomatix (which is quite reasonably priced, for the power it provides), be sure to use the Photomatix Coupon Code “STUCKINCUSTOMS“, you’ll be set up. If you’d like the trial or to order, just go to the Photomatix website and check it out. Hey, it’s better than a sharp stick in the eye. This is the same thing the priest said at my wedding. I wrote a short Photomatix Review, but most of that info and more is included right here in this tutorial.

Noiseware (optional) – I have tried a multitude of “noise reduction” software packages. You’ll notice that the HDR process can create a bit of noise, to say the least. I use Noiseware Professional, and one of the nice guys over there gave the not-so-surprising Noiseware Coupon code of “STUCKINCUSTOMS” to my readers. You can order it from the Imagenomic website or you can read my Noiseware Review, but it is also mentioned below.

Topaz Adjust (optional) – This product can help bring some contrast and pop into the final product. I have a Topaz Adjust Review here on the site if you want to read more. They give my readers a Topaz Adjust Coupon of “STUCKINCUSTOMS” as well to save you some dough.

Lucis Pro (optional) – I’ve also started using Lucis Pro more and more. It’s a lot like LucisArt, but it’s even better. I’ve written a Lucis Pro Review and a Lucis Tutorial here on the site, which maybe you can save for later. The same coupon code for LucisArt applies here of “TREYRATCLIFF”. She tells me it’s the best one available.

Photography in Extreme Cold

Photography in Extreme Cold
by Sherry Osborne
Read the DPS article here

50 must-read books about photography

Photocritic.org has published a list of the 50 must-read books about photography ever published. So if you still need that special Christmas present...

Ask Tim Grey - Computer Specifications

Ask Tim GreyeNewsletter Learn more at www.timgrey.com

Today's Question:
Similar to the question in the December 11th email, my computer is also out of date. Instead of upgrading, however, I have decided to replace it . Given today's Photoshop environment, what capabilities do you suggest for a PC?

Tim's Answer:
There are, of course, countless possible variations on the specific configurations you could choose from based on the huge number of components you could choose from. It is very easy to get overwhelmed quite quickly.

This is much less of an issue for those purchasing an Apple computer, because in that case you're dealing with only a single manufacturer and there is a relatively limited number of possible models to choose from. While each of those models does in turn provide you with various options to choose from, on balance there are many fewer decisions to be made. For example, if you're interested in purchasing a Macintosh desktop system, I can simply recommend that you get a Mac Pro with 6GB of RAM (the Mac Pro is offered in multiples of 3GB of RAM), and you'd be in good shape.

On the Windows front things are a bit more complicated. This is the result of something I consider to be a very good thing: There are more manufacturers available, and thus more choice and a greater likelihood you'll be able to find a computer that is perfectly suited to your needs and preferences. But you'll also have to contend with the complexity involved and the difficulty in comparing one model to the next.

In order of priority, the key components to consider are RAM, processor, hard drive, and display adapter (video card). While your decision isn't as simple as choosing basic specifications, here are some guidelines:

For RAM I recommend having 4GB, and if you're working with a 64-bit operating system and 64-bit version of Photoshop, more might provide some benefit if you don't mind spending the additional money.

For the processor, I recommend a dual-core processor at the higher end in terms of clock speed. That means, for example, a Dual Core processor running at around 2.5 GHz. Most photographers won't get much benefit from more than a single dual-core processor (some utilizing specialized applications will, but most won't see an appreciable benefit most of the time).

When it comes to the hard drive, the best performance specification to look at (if you can even get this information) is the sustained transfer rate. The RPM value is a good rough guide to the potential performance of the drive, but that really only measures how fast the platters are spinning, not how quickly your data is getting transferred. Just be sure to look at the actual sustained transfer rates, not the number indicating the theoretical maximum throughput speed for the drive based on the interface being used. For example, a drive is capable of supporting transfer speeds of up to 150 MB/second, but more common sustained transfer rates are around 90-100 MB/second. Note that many manufacturers are starting to use Gb/second, which is gigabits, not gigabytes, to convey this performance information. One gigabit is equal to 128 megabytes, so for example 3Gb/second would equate to 384 MB/second. And yes, I'm sure this is only being done to add confusion to an already confusing situation...

Finally, the display adapter can be rather important, especially if you're taking advantage of the GPU acceleration capabilities of the latest releases of Photoshop. In short, look for a display adapter that gets good reviews among the gaming community and that is listed as being compatible with Photoshop, and you'll be in good shape. That generally means a display adapter with around 512MB or more of video RAM, among other specifications.

These key specifications will get you a long way toward a top performing computer. Naturally you need to balance all of these considerations with your budget, and also take into account other factors such as the reliability ratings for a given manufacturer, support offered by that manufacturer, ergonomics, personal preference, and other factors.

I wrote about computer specifications more extensively in an article called "Dream Machine" in the Winter 2008 issue (slightly dated, but still largely relevant) of Digital Darkroom Quarterly, my full-color print publication that features in-depth articles of interest to photographers. You can sign up for a subscription through my online store at www.timgrey.com/store/, and even choose the Winter 2008 issue as the first issue in your subscription if you'd like to have the full article.

Become a Member
The Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter is free to receive, but paid Ask Tim Grey Members receive special benefits, including:
Opportunity to submit questions to be considered for inclusion in the Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter.
Discounts and special offers available only to Members.
Access to the full archive of previous emails (going back over eight years) with search capability.
The knowledge you are supporting this valuable service.
Much more!
Details on becoming a member can be found here:www.timgrey.com/asktimgrey/

A World in HDR (Paperback)~ Trey Ratcliff

I just got this book and I love it!

A World in HDR (Paperback)~ Trey Ratcliff (Author)

High dynamic range (HDR) photography lets you capture the myriad colors and levels of light that you can see in the real world, and the results are amazing photographs that run the gamut from super real to surreal. Explore this fantastic realm of photography through the unique vision of renowned travel photographer Trey Ratcliff. In this book, Trey shares his phenomenal HDR photographs as well as all the backstory on the adventurous circumstances of their origin. He also reveals the techniques he used to get the final shot. The breathtaking images gracing these pages and the author’s real-world advice for capturing and manipulating images will inspire you to create your own HDR magic. So Trey also includes his simple and straightforward tutorial that teaches you everything you need to know to make your own HDR photographs, whether you’re a beginner, amateur, or professional. A unique blend of practical and inspirational, this book features a breathtaking collection of HDR photographs engaging explanations of how the author achieved the image expert tips for achieving stunning results (and avoiding common mistakes)
a foolproof HDR tutorial and software recommendations

purchase it here on Amazon

Things I Would Tell New Lightroom Users

10 Things I Wish I Could Tell Every New Lightroom User by Rob Sylvan – Follow Rob on Twitter

"There is no better tutorial on the subject than The Lightroom Catalog – Part 1, or “Where Are My Pictures?” by George Jardine. If I had my way it would ship with the Lightroom install and auto play on first launch of the application."

10 Things I Would Tell New Lightroom Users by Scott Kelby

Plus more tips

"Lightroom saves all of your history states... forever!Ever notice that when you're working in Lightroom you never actually have to save your image? In Photoshop we're always going to File > Save but not in LR. That's because Lightroom has a History panel in the Develop module (on the left side panel group). It automatically saves every single thing you do to your photos. The cool part is that unlike Photoshop (which discards your history when you quit the program), Lightroom saves this forever so you can always go back to it. "

In Photography, It’s the Archer, Not the Arrow

I always love when someone sees one of my photographs and their comment is "you must have a nice camera". I have heard this hundreds if not thousands of times. But you would never tell someone who made a great meal or an awesome cake "you must have great pots and pans" ! it's the person behind the camers MAKES the photograph...

By Aaron Lindbergclose "I’m a big fan of technology, and it’s easy to get swept up in the shiny new toys that the big camera companies roll out every year. I love the fact that I can now record video as well as stills from the same camera bodies, for example, and that the low light sensitivity of those bodies can produce amazing results without the digital noise we once had to work around. But a few weeks ago, I read a quote that I thought applied well to photography: “It’s the archer, not the arrow.” I took that quote to heart, and decided to take a step back from my arrows and focus on the archery itself."

Read the rest here:

10% off all Perfect Picture School of Photography courses

Bryan F PetersonFounder and Instructor The Perfect Picture School of Photography


10% off all PPSOP courses, enter discount code "happy2010" upon checkout. Discount ends Dec 26, 2009. This discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

Jan 2010 Classes
Small Strobes, Big Results
Stretching Your Mind's Eye
Lightroomers Guide to Lightroom
Understanding Close-Up Photography
Understanding Exposure
Beyond Portraits: Careers in Commercial People Photography
The Business of Outdoor and Nature Photography
Advanced Wedding Photography and Digital Workflow
Architectural PhotographyThe Joy of Photography
Wedding and Portrait Albums for Profit by Fundy!
Pet Photography
Shooting Like A Professional Sports Photographer
Maximum Profits from Microstock World
Portraits Unplugged
The Business of Photographing High-School Senior PortraitsPhotographing Art for Profit
Creative Digital Scrapbooking
Documentary Photography
Photojournalism: Telling Stories with Pictures
Mastering Layers with Photoshop
Lightroom from Import to Output
Wedding Photography by Master Photographer Kevin Focht
Camera Raw with Photoshop and Elements
Fashion Photography - Creativity and Profit by Kevin Focht
Secrets of Lighting on Location
Photo Illustration: An Introduction to Digital Product Photography
Unleashing the Power of High Dynamic Range (HDR) Images
Travel and Vacation Photography
Digital Snap-Shooters Guide to Great Photos!
The Art of Printing and Selling Your Art
All About Color
Wildlife Photography
Introduction to Food Photography
Street Photography: Finding Order in Chaos
Lighting Challenges of Architectural Photography
Lensbaby Magic
The Art of Seeing
Compelling Photographs - "Must Know" Fundamentals of Composition
Electronic Flash-The 'Mystery' Revealed!
Capturing the Beauty of Flowers
Photoshop Basics 101-The Basics of Photoshop for the Overwhelmed
Photographing Children: Rising to the Challenge
Lighting Techniques of the Portrait Masters - An introduction to digital portrait photographyPainting Photographs
Photoshop Elements PRIMER
Photoshop Elements PROFORMANCE
The Evolution of a Masterpiece
Controlling The Weather and Mastering the Light in Photoshop
The Art of B&W, Infrared and Sepia Photography in Photoshop
Beyond Color Photography In Photoshop

Ask Tim Grey Save JPEG as TIFF/PSD?

Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter, December 17, 2009, Learn more at www.timgrey.com

Today's Question:
I received the photographer’s files from my daughter’s wedding. They are all JPEG in reasonably large files (5-7 Mb). Is there an advantage to converting them to TIFF or PSD if I need to do minor editing (enlarge/reduce, some color correction) before making prints for the family?

Tim's Answer:
There is some advantage, but it is largely theoretical and it assumes what I think of as a "typical" approach to touching up the image. Specifically, if you actually apply changes and then re-save the files as JPEG images, then JPEG compression will be applied to the image. That means compression was applied once when the image was originally saved as a JPEG (either during capture if the photographer captured in JPEG mode or after converting if the images had been captured in RAW), and then again when you re-save the image after applying your adjustments.

However, assuming your adjustments are indeed relatively minor and that you only save them again once, the difference will be truly minor, to the extent that nobody would be able to see any difference in the final print. Even with a magnifying glass. So as long as you keep your adjustments minor you can feel comfortable keeping the images in JPEG mode, using the maximum Quality setting of 12 when you do re-save he final result for each image as a JPEG.
If you're going to do any extensive work on the images, I would naturally recommend working with adjustment layers or other layers as needed in order to apply the changes, and then save the resulting file with all layers intact as either a TIFF or PSD file. You can always use that file as the basis for other output, such as printing directly, or saving that master image as a JPEG as needed for specific purposes (for example, sharing via email).

There's no question the absolute best approach to optimizing any image (from the perspective of flexibility and ultimate image quality) is to utilize a layer-based non-destructive workflow (such as through the use of adjustment layers, as covered on my DVD, "Photoshop Hands-On: Adjustments", available through my online store at www.timgrey.com/store/). However, when appropriate caution is taken you can still produce excellent images while keeping those images in the JPEG file format. It is similar to the fact that you'll improve flexibility and image quality by capturing in RAW, but can still produce excellent images capturing in JPEG mode.

I might add that even though the photographer presumably has a copy of the original captures, you should also be sure to make a backup copy (ideally more than one) of these important images.

Become a Member
The Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter is free to receive, but paid Ask Tim Grey Members receive special benefits, including:
Opportunity to submit questions to be considered for inclusion in the Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter.
Discounts and special offers available only to Members.
Access to the full archive of previous emails (going back over eight years) with search capability.
The knowledge you are supporting this valuable service.
Much more!
Details on becoming a member can be found here:www.timgrey.com/asktimgrey/

FYI, Tim has said that as long as his DDQ's are passed along in their entirety they can be distributed to others

Adobe Releases Final Camera Raw, Lightroom and DNG Converter Updates

Adobe Releases Final Camera Raw, Lightroom and DNG Converter Updates
By PPA Staff on December 18, 2009 3:15 PM

Adobe today announced the immediate availability of Lightroom 2.6, Photoshop Camera Raw 5.6 and DNG Converter 5.6 on Adobe.com. Originally posted as release candidates for community testing on Adobe Labs, these final versions include raw file support for 20 new popular camera models, including the Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D3s. Additional DNG support has been added for the Leica M9 and Ricoh GXR camera models.

The updates 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.

Lightroom 2.6 is available as a free download for existing Lightroom 2 customers, and Photoshop Camera Raw 5.6 is available as a free download for existing customers of Photoshop CS4, Photoshop Elements 8 (Win/Mac) and Premiere Elements 8. DNG Converter 5.6 is also available as a free download for all customers. Click here for more information and to download the updates: www.adobe.com/downloads/updates.

www.carlheilman.com

Hello! It seems that in the blink of an eye we went from fall colors, to ten below. It's been a good fall season, but I don't think I've ever felt one slip by quite so fast before...Brant Lake froze over last night - hard NOT to be frozen when it goes down to -10 degrees. With snow on the ground, we're all ready for the holiday season here in the Adirondacks.

I wanted to let folks know that we made a change on the one date for the day long winter comprehensiven workshop. We changed it from Sunday, Feb 7 (Super Bowl Sunday), to Sunday Jan. 31. There are 4 spaces left for that Sunday workshop right now, while the Sat. workshop on Feb. 6 is filled.

For folks interested in the DVD of our most recent AV show, 'I Am the Adirondacks' - they are arriving via UPS today. We will be sending them out tomorrow to everyone who has preordered the DVD, so you should see them in the mail early next week.

Wishing everyone peace and happiness in this holiday season, and all the best for the New Year!
Best regards, Carl
www.carlheilman.com
www.naturepanoramas.com
Phone / Fax (518)-494-3072 (Mon. - Fri Eastern US)

Five Tips for Better Holiday Photos

Five Tips for Better Holiday Photos
By Harrison McClaryclose http://www.mcclary.net.
In Art of Photography on December 11th, 2009

1. Remember, your camera is not as smart as you are
2. Pay attention to backgrounds.
3. Don’t stop the action.
4. Get on your subject’s level.
5. Be patient, and you will be rewarded.

Read the entire article here

DRYPOD - Waders for your Tripod

DRYPODS - Waders for your Tripod --> Item #: DRYPODPrice/ea:$26.95

Many of you have been asking about Drypods for several months. (I mentioned them in several Bulletins as “Tripod Condoms.”) They have been some time in testing and development as Rod Wiley wanted to get them right. James Shadle and I have been testing them for several months and though we were pretty happy with the early versions Rod kept making them better and better and using stronger and thicker plastic. BAA is proud to add a small line of Drypods to its mail order product line. Here are the details:

Drypod Waders are designed to keep your valuable Gitzo Carbon Fiber tripods as well as other tripods dry while you are wading, especially in saltwater.

Drypods are made of plastic sleeves that are approximately 47" long. Because some photographers prefer to adjust the height of their tripods by using the leg locks rather than the slide locks, each kit includes 3-6 mil sleeves and 6-10mil sleeves (total of 9). Note: using the slide locks instead of the leg locks will greatly increase the life of the plastic sleeve.

Each kit comes with 3 boots that slide over the plastic sleeve to protect the plastic from cuts and abrasions. The sleeves must NEVER be used without the boots. The boots have two Velcro wraps sewn on to secure the boot to the tripod.

Drypods come in 3" and 4" widths, with the 3 inch being almost universally popular. The 3" Drypod sleeves have a diameter of approximately 2-3/16" and the 4" approximately 2-11/16.” You should order the smallest size that will fit. All but the larger tripods that have clip locks or wing locks will fit inside the 3” Drypods. Each kit comes in a heavy string tie bag with instructions and repair tape.

The prices of the Drypods are as follows
Drypod 3" kits are $46.00
Drypod 4" kits are $48.00

Weekender kits are for limited use and consist of 4 sleeves with a multi layer foot assembly to help protect the plastic sleeve.
Weekenders 3" kits are $26.95
Weekenders 4" kits are $28.95

Item #: DRYPODPrice/ea:$26.95

For sale on Art Morris' Birds as Art website.

Don’t Fall for These Six Digital Photography Myths

Don’t Fall for These Six Digital Photography Myths By Peter Phun In Art of Photography

We all know that digital photography has buried film. We also know that digital technology has brought high-quality photographic gear within reach of the masses. But it’s not the panacea that some think it is. Doing it right still requires hard work — and talent.

Here are six common digital photography myths: http://rising.blackstar.com/dont-fall-for-these-six-digital-photography-myths.html

Your Most Important Piece of Equipment Is Your Brain

Your Most Important Piece of Equipment Is Your Brain

17 Amazing Wide Angle Images

From DPS

Many digital photographers get a little obsessed by the ability that their zoom lenses give them to get in nice and close to their subjects. While there’s a lot to be said for the power of zoom lenses photographers who exclusively shoot at the longer focal lengths that their camera and lens offer could be missing out on some wonderful perspectives and framings. Today I want to present you with 17 shots – all taken with wider focal lengths (mostly with 10mm lenses). I hope these give a little inspiration to rediscover the wider end of your camera’s zoom. I’ve included the focal lengths of those images with EXIF data that reveal the focal length used.

Read the article and see the photos here

Nik Software’s Viveza 2

Nik Software’s Viveza 2, offering support for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Apple Aperture, is available via electronic and boxed delivery directly from Nik Software. Download a free Trial version. Enter our exclusive discount coupon code - NIKPSS - during the checkout process at Nik Software for an instant 15% discount.

2009 Photo Contest Winners - National Wildlife Photo Contest

A great wildlife photograph celebrates the unexpected, and the 39th annual National Wildlife Photo Contest is full of improbable images. Read on...

2009 Photo Contest Winners
By Hannah Schardt

A great wildlife photograph celebrates the unexpected, and the 39th annual National Wildlife Photo Contest is full of improbable images: A bald eagle and its prey appear frozen in midair. A night-blooming flower glows from within, revealing a visiting insect. Calling for a mate, a Brazilian frog appears nearly swallowed by its own vocal sac. This year’s contest winners are drawn from nearly 70,000 entries—the largest pool in contest history—in seven categories: Mammals, Birds, Other Wildlife, Landscapes and Plant Life, Backyard Habitats, Connecting People and Nature and, for the first time, Global Warming. This new category features species whose habitats or behaviors have been affected by climate change. Along with selecting the two $5,000 grand prize winners—one each for the professional and amateur divisions—judges awarded cash and other prizes for the first- and second-place winners in every category in each of the two divisions. One winner was also chosen in the youth division. To see all of the winning images, visit National Wildlife PhotoZone.

Help us determine the winner of our "Birds on the Move" photo challenge. Vote for your favorite image. Visit National Wildlife PhotoZone to see more winning images.

Hunts Holiday promos

Included is the latest of specials that are valid through Friday, Dec 18th. One more will be on its way by Christmas before the week is out. I appreciate you passing this along to the members.

Gary Farber
http://wbhunt.com/holidays/

23 Popular DSLR Lenses

From the Digital Photography School

Over the last two weeks and in the lead up to Christmas when a lot of camera gear is bought – we’ve published lists of popular DSLR cameras and popular point and shoot digital cameras – based upon the buying habits of our readers at Amazon. Today we’re going to take a similar look at DSLR lenses that are popular with our readers. As I scan the list of popular DSLRs that have been purchased it’s clear that Canon and Nikon lenses have dominated the list once again. However instead of listing them in a mixed list in order of popularity I thought it’d be more useful to list them by manufacturer. Afterall – if you’ve got a Canon DSLR you’re not going to be interested in a Nikon or Pentax lens. A further note – I’ve only listed lenses that have been purchased multiple times – this accounts for the different sizes of the lists (ie there were more Canon lenses bought multiple times than Nikon and fewer of other manufacturers).

read the article here

Make your own digital mats in any layout in EzMats Designer.

Review: EzMats Designer

Make your own digital mats in any layout in EzMats Designer. Customize with your own textures or start with the ready-to-use templates. Helpful video tutorials will get you started and moving on to more advanced designs in no time. Our review includes a detailed description of the mat design process and tips on preserving layers for future designs. Read full story.

Fat Robin Optics Sale

When Jim Zipp presented his great bird program to the NHCC this Fall I was very surprised to hear that there were a few people that had not been to the Fat Robin. I buy all my suet, bird seed and bird feeders there. In fact this summer I got fed up with the squirrels and completely rearranged our bird feeders and removed them all from the deck and installed tall metal poles with lots of arms and a platform and squirrel baffles and four bird seed feeder (two with domes), three niger seed feeders (for the finches, etc.) and four suet feeders -- and we finally solved our squirrel problem!

I also buy lots of my gifts at the Fat Robin for Christmas and for Birthdays. If you have not been there you have to check it out! It is easy to get to (and parking is very convenient).

Anyway, now is their Optics Sale





If you tell Fat Robin that you saw this on my blog they will toss in a free binocular harness with any binocular over $99 free. ($25 value).




Lisa's FYI -- if your own binoculars or someone on your holiday shopping list does these are REALLY great. I have three pairs of binoculars and I have these on all three -- they are awesome! Tom will wear these when we hike, etc. because they make carrying binoculars easier to carry when you are carrying your camera.

The Fat Robin is a family owned and operated business now in its 15th year! We specialize in providing quality products for bird feeding and birding as well as unique gifts for those who love nature!
The Fat Robin Wild Bird and Nature Shop
3000 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06518
http://www.fatrobin.com/ 203-248-7068 Toll Free U.S. 1-866-Fat-Robin
Jim Zipp Bird Photography http://www.jimzippphotography.com/

Current Store Hours: 10-6 Mon - Fri, 10-5 Saturday, 12-4 Sunday

Hummingbirds receive spotlight at fluid dynamics meeting

Hummingbirds receive spotlight at fluid dynamics meeting -- this was recently posted on the WildBird Blog.
The NY Times also had an article about it -- How Hummingbirds Get Their Nectar With Tiny ‘Straws’ By KENNETH CHANG Published: November 23, 2009

It is harder to suck liquid through a thin straw than a wider one because of viscosity. Yet a hummingbird is able extract nectar from a flower by wrapping its tongue into a hummingbird-size straw. How?

Read the rest of the article here

Eye-Fi Collaborates With Google’s Picasa to Make Storing and Sharing Memories Easier

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Dec. 8, 2009 — Today Eye-Fi Inc. announced a collaboration with Google’s Picasa that makes sharing and storing memories effortless, just in time for the holidays. Anyone who purchases 200GB or more of extra Google storage will receive a free Eye-Fi wireless memory card, which lets users send photos and videos directly from their camera to the Web.

Users can enjoy automatic backup and storage of their memories with Google and Eye-Fi, and store up to 100,000 5MB photos under the 200GB plan. The combined power of Google’s Picasa Web Albums and Eye-Fi’s automatic geotagging service also lets users easily view their photos plotted on a map where the image was taken, and search or organize photos by location.
“Google and Eye-Fi have the common vision of leveraging the power of ‘the cloud’ to provide effortless ways for consumers to store and share their memories,” said Jef Holove, CEO for Eye-Fi. “Together we’re giving consumers the most convenient way to get their memories off the camera, and onto the Web. We’re enabling users to focus on the memories, and not the chore of offloading images from a camera and storing them.”

Google’s storage solutions featuring the Eye-Fi card start at 200GB per year for $50 and are available for customers in the United States and Canada from www.picasa.google.com/eyefi.html. With this promotion, the free Eye-Fi Home video card (a $69.99 value) also comes with one free year of Online Sharing and Geotagging services (an additional $24.98 value), which can be extended with continued use of Google’s Web properties.
This marks the latest development in Google and Eye-Fi’s ongoing collaboration. Picasa Web Albums was one of the first photo sharing sites to integrate with Eye-Fi, and YouTube became the first online sharing site where Eye-Fi users could automatically upload videos. To date, Eye-Fi users have uploaded more than 2.7 million photos to Picasa. “By giving people a better way to upload and share their photos, Picasa Web Albums and Eye-Fi help people share life’s memories easily – with the added peace of mind that their information is backed up in the cloud” said Google Product Management Director Brian Axe.

About Eye-Fi
Founded in 2005, Eye-Fi is dedicated to building products and services that help consumers manage, nurture and share their visual memories. Eye-Fi’s patent-pending technology wirelessly and automatically uploads photos and videos from digital imaging devices, including digital cameras and the iPhone, to online, in-home and retail destinations. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., the company’s investors include LMS Capital, Opus Capital, Shasta Ventures and TransLink Capital. More information is available at www.eye.fi.


FYI, I have not used this service, not any online photo storage service. I like the concept, but I remember when the Digital Railroad went out of business and many people lost their online photos, so I would use this

"Members of Digital Railroad found out the hard way that the answer may be yes. The digital photo archiving and commerce site used by over 1,500 professional photographers abruptly went dark on October 29th. All that was left up on the site was a note that said “We deeply regret to inform you that Digital Railroad (DRR) has shut down.” " read more here

Photo Charter At The Strasburg Railroad

Lerro Productions Presents: The Norfolk and Western Photo Charter At The Strasburg Railroad - February 13, 2010

After the huge success of our Norfolk & Western night session in Roanoke, we felt inspired to continue the N&W theme and run a charter at the Strasburg Railroad with their N&W #475. The charter will be broken up into two parts in order to work around the railroad's regularly scheduled passenger trains. The morning portion will run from dawn until 10:00am. The second part of the charter will run from 3:30pm - 11:00pm.

The nighttime photo session will feature photo opps as well as NIGHT RUNBYS for photographers and videographers! Early Bird Special - Ticket prices will increase after December 20th!!! Combined Morning/Evening Ticket Discount - $225.00 Morning Photo Session - $100.00

Afternoon/Nighttime Session - $150.00 For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.lerroproductions.com This charter is anticipated to sell very quickly. Seating is limited to 40 patrons. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask. Regards, Pete Lerro www.LerroProductions.com

Nikon’s new Learn & Explore iPhone application

Nikon is pleased to offer our consumers a new way to access the educational and editorial content found on NikonUSA.com. Nikon’s new Learn & Explore iPhone application now makes this material available to you, whether you are taking pictures close to home or in the field.
From beginning photographer to experienced enthusiast, you are sure to find information on Learn & Explore that is of interest to you—and now that information can go where you go.
Read an article on getting the most from your travel photography while you’re on vacation. Check information on adjusting depth of field or selecting the right shutter speed when you’re taking photos at your child’s sporting event. Access advice on the right aperture for shooting photos indoors when you’re attending a wedding. It’s all there on the Learn & Explore iPhone app. Photography information at your fingertips.

In addition to articles on the fundamentals of photography and various shooting techniques, you can read the four latest issues of Nikon World magazine, complete with images and audio slideshows. Need the definition of a photography term? Check out the Photography Glossary.

The Learn & Explore iPhone app is continually updated with new articles and information. It’s a must for any enthusiastic photographer.

Once-a-year Gear Sale!

Once-a-year Gear Sale! The BorrowLenes.com once-a-year photo sale has begun, so grab some well-taken-care-of gear before its all gone! All of our gear has been professionally maintained, inspected after each use, and cared for as well as a member of our own family (even better in some cases).

Go to our website to check out the selection -- you will not find better taken care of gear at these prices anywhere!

A sampling:

-- Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM ($1425.00)

-- Canon 40D DSLR ($625.00)

-- Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM ($950.00)

-- Nikon D300 DSLR ($1,025.00)

-- Nikon 70-200mm F2.8G AF-S VR ($1,500.00)

And LOTS more!

CVS fine print gives rights to your work away.

Read the fine print...CVS fine print gives rights to your work away.

Photographers should pay attention and petition CVS to change terms of service. http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecvsphoto%2Ecom%2Fdisclaimers%2Fterms%2Easpx&urlhash=GysF . Pay attention to bullet 1 of the License and Warranties section. This, folks, is very scary. I use a pro lab and immediately checked their terms...all cool. But what about my clients who buy 'full rights and ownership' packages? If they use CVS for a print, suddenly MY work belongs to CVS? Take this seriously and, please, check the terms of service for any lab, printers, publishers you may use.

LICENSE AND WARRANTIES For all Materials you may use or allow others to use in connection with the Service, including Materials posted or submitted to the Service: You grant to the Web Site and its service providers and licensees a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, unrestricted, world-wide right and license to access, use, copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, display, perform, communicate to the public, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, and otherwise use such Materials (in whole or in part) in connection with the Service, using any form, media or technology now known or later developed, without providing compensation to you or any other person, without any liability to you or any other person, and free from any obligation of confidence or other duties on the part of the Web Site or its service providers; You grant to all members and other Service users permission to access, view, store, copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, display, perform, and reproduce such Materials (in whole or in part) in any of the ways facilitated or provided by the Service; and You represent and warrant to the Company and its service providers and all members and other Service users that (i) their use of the Materials does not and will not violate or infringe the rights (including copyright, moral rights, and other intellectual property rights and privacy and personality rights) of any other person or any laws and (ii) you have all the rights necessary to grant all rights and licenses set forth above. You also grant to the Web Site and its service providers the right to use your name in connection with the Materials.

Mastering the Zoom Effect

Mastering the Zoom Effect
If you want to have a little fun with your digital camera next time you go out with it have a go at experimenting with the zoom effect. In essence what the zoom effect is is a picture which look like the subject is either moving towards or away from you with motion lines. There are a number of ways to get this effect some are done while shooting the image and some afterwards through zoom blur post production techniques. I’m not going to talk about post production techniques here but will instead focus upon what to do to achieve the zoom effect while taking the shot in camera.

Read the DPS article and see the photos here

35+ Free Photoshop Brushes for Christmas Season

35+ Free Photoshop Brushes for Christmas Season Naldz Graphics

Subscribe RSS. Email Write For Us. Naldz Graphics. 10908 Subscribers Rss Feed. 35+ Free Photoshop Brushes for Christmas Season. Advertisement It's the Christmas season once again, folks. Santas and Christmas trees are back. Read more at Delicious popular »

1000 Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets

1000 Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets - Noupe

Hundreds of thousands of incredible Adobe Photoshop brush sets are all over the web. Due to this phenomenally vast amount of Photoshop brushes available, you can now add patches of dirt, rust, floral effect, swirls, mold, oil stains in your artworks, etc.

Read more at www.noupe.com - via Shareaholic »

A talk by photographer Greg Miller

ASMP Sponsored Talk
When: December 10 – 6:30pm – 10:00pm

What: A talk by photographer Greg Miller

Where: at School of Visual Arts in New York

WHO:Greg Miller is the recipient of a 2008 John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in Photography. His most recent series of photographs, entitled Distant Relatives (photographs of his hometown, Nashville, TN), has shown in Los Angeles, is currently on exhibit at the Cheekwood Museum in Nashville and is scheduled to exhibit at +Kris Graves Projects in Brooklyn, NY in March 2010. Miller was born in Nashville in 1967. He received a full scholarship to attend the School of Visual Arts in NY, and graduated with a BFA in 1990. Since 2001, he has taught at the International Center of Photography in NY. His work is widely exhibited and collected.

WHEN:Thursday, December 10, 2009Doors: 6:30 pmLecture: 7 PM – 9 PMArtist reception to follow at 10 PM, Cash Bar; Light food will be provided.

WHERE:School of Visual Arts, Amphitheater (MAP)209 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010-3994(212)-592-2340

lynda.com Online Training Library subscription

It’s the perfect season to give those you care about a truly life-changing gift. This year, instead of a novelty sweater or fruitcake, give a gift subscription to the lynda.com Online Training Library®. There’s no waiting in line, no Black Friday restrictions, nothing to wrap or ship: It takes just a couple of minutes online, and they’ll be learning in no time.

And while you’re shopping, give yourself something truly powerful: Knowledge, skills, and the confidence to become more competitive in today’s fast-paced digital world. Give yourself a lynda.com Online Training Library® subscription.

Give on-demand software learning
Give the lasting gift of knowledge, skills, and confidence
Make a difference in someone’s life, including yours
Get your shopping done in minutes
Find the gift subscriptions packages that fit your budget—from a one-month membership to a full year’s Premium access. Order online and have your gift sent immediately, or designate a day for it to arrive in their email inbox.
Happy Holidays and Happy Learning from lynda.com!

St. Augustine Alligator Farm -- Shoot the Light Technical Series Workshops

St. Augustine Alligator Farm -- Shoot the Light Technical Series Workshops

April 29 - May 2, 2010 with Chas Glatzer, M.Photog. CP of Shoot the Light Instructional Photographic Workshops

This Advanced Series of Metering, Flash, Post-Production and Visual Design workshops are for those photographers who seriously wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction.Each photography workshop includes extensive photographic instruction, daily image critiques, and more!

To sign up or get more information: www.shootthelight.com

In this series you will learn:

• Metering Simplified

• Light is the key ingredient

• How to make your images POP

• Preparedness is the key to efficiency

• And much more!

Learn how to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense from one of the best professional photographers in the industry today!

the last lab to process Kodachrome

Good piece on the last lab to process Kodachrome.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/34172096#34172096

Epson Introduces Two-in-One Digital Frame and Compact Photo Printer

Epson Introduces Two-in-One Digital Frame and Compact Photo Printer
Epson has announced a breakthrough in the compact photo printer market with the introduction of PictureMate® Show, the ultimate two-in-one digital photo frame and 4" x 6" photo printer.

Overview
2-in-1 digital frame & compact photo printer
7" WVGA tilt screen
12 slideshows including clock and calendar options
Access all commands with remote control
Better-than-lab-quality 4" x 6" in as fast as 37 secs1
Smudge, fade and water resistant
Everyday low print price
Works with all digital cameras
Print custom sizes from 0.3" x 0.3" up to 4" x 6"
Auto photo correction, crop and remove red eye
Print wirelessly with optional Bluetooth adapter1
Print various layouts - wallets, mini-wallets, and more
Black-and-white and sepia color effects available

PictureMate Show is currently available through a variety of online retail stores and Epson's retail site. For more information visit www.mypicturemate.com.

How To Handle Unwanted Critique of Your Photography

An interesting take on a subject related to camera club judging...

From DPS...

How To Handle Unwanted Critique of Your Photography

"When I first started posting my photos online, I longed for people to take a look and comment on them, but then sometimes I wished they just hadn’t bothered. Not everyone is going to love every single one of our photos, and we’re all going to get our share of critique – whether asked for or not – that we don’t like. I think this is especially hard for those of us that are just starting off, because you work so hard on something and you think it’s one of the best photos you’ve taken and edited in quite some time, that when you get a critique it feels like they expect a masterpiece from you and don’t appreciate what you have done. Here are some things I try to consider before getting too upset about what people say about my photos."

Read the rest here:

Eye Candy® 6

From Alienskin, this is THEIR press release

Fresh out of the oven! Eye Candy® 6 is piping hot and ready for you to dig into. We will mention a few of the highlights here, but the really tasty stuff is on our Web site. There you’ll find entertaining videos, over 100 pretty example images, and a “what’s new” page. You can even try Eye Candy free for 30 days.

Gorgeous Effects -- If you’re not familiar with Eye Candy, you’ll be amazed when you see the images it renders. They look natural, detailed, and organic, unlike the computery filters built into Photoshop. The newly improved fire seen here is a good example.

Time Savings -- Eye Candy now adapts to the size of your image, which makes the 1500 factory presets look good in almost any situation. A non-destructive workflow is achieved by rendering effects on new layers and through Photoshop Smart Filters. Eye Candy installs panels for use in Photoshop CS4 that help you quickly start filters or make buttons.

Tiny Landscapes workshop

Macro Boot Camp Presented by Mike Moats, an award-winning, published nature photographer specializing in macro photography.
Tiny Landscapes

Sponsored by Tamron - Lensbaby - Helicon Focus - Hunt's Photo - PhotoFlex - Nik Software
This will be an in depth unique three days of learning, fun, and entertainment. It is for the beginner to the advanced photographer wanting to learn more about the macro world in nature.

Where; The Embassy Suites Hotel, Livonia, Michigan (just outside Detroit)
Dates and Times; March 26th 5:00pm - 8:00pm$March 27th 9:00am - 5:00pmMarch 28th 9:00am - 2:00pm

Mike will cover macro lenses, demonstrate the Lensbaby composer and accessories, best tripods and heads for macro, special macro accessories, stacking images with Helicon Focus, reversing lenses. Composing, and learning how to see the artwork in nature. Learn how to control depth of field. See how to build a collapsible enclosed plexiglas wind shield for shooting flowers. Camera positioning for that perfect background. When and how to use reflectors, diffusers, plamps, focusing rails, and more. Mike shows his image processing using Photoshop and Nik Software.

Bring your camera because Tamron and Lensbaby will be providing lens for you to try out. Mike will have subjects set up for you to shoot.

You will have a chance to win door prizes from our sponsors.Sales on many of the products you see at the workshop will be offered in a Hunt's Photo flyer.Bring some of your macro photos to show each other.The Embassy Hotel will offer special room rates for this event.Lunch on Saturday and Sunday included in the price of the workshop.

Limited to forty participants, so don't wait to register or you may miss out. Cost $149.00
If you register and pay before January 1st, you will receive a free PDF of Mike's e-book, "Running A Successful Nature Photography Business" ($59.00 value).

For more information or to register by credit card, call Mike at (586)770-3992.Or register online at www.MikeMoatsBooks.com.

2009 Great Backyard Bird Count photo contest winners

Taken directly from WildBird's Blog

Monday, November 30, 2009

2009 Great Backyard Bird Count photo contest winners

Last year, the photo contest during the Great Backyard Bird Count -- organized by Cornell Lab of Ornithology -- generated more than 6,000 entries. Now we can enjoy the winning images.The contest encompasses winners in six categories: overall, behavior, composition, group, habitat and people. Each category has a first-, second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-place winners as well as nine to 26 honorable mentions. That's a feast for our eyes!Lynne Marsho of Illinois won first place overall with this Great Blue Heron. Congratulations, Lynne!

Have you signed up for the 2010 Great Backyard Bird Count? It's scheduled for Feb. 12-15. You can learn more details in this video.

If you enjoy photo contests, consider WildBird's annual competition. For details about the rules and prizes, look in the March/April 2010 issue, available in early February. You can see previous winners here.