13 October 2008
TWIP Podcast #51 - More Q&A
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Audio Podcast
This Week in Photography - Episode 51 Q&A is in the feed. Please subscribe via iTunes. If you want the MP3 direct you can find it at Pixelcorps.
Hosts:
-Scott Bourne is up in his studio in Gig Harbor
-Alex Lindsay is off galvanting around the world again.
Guests:
-Steve Simon from New York City
-Ron Brinkmann from Seattle where there is even sun coming out
Bandwidth provided by Cachefly.
Show is also sponsored by - Drobo.
HOUSEKEEPING
Reminder that the linking contest is going until October 30th. Link from your blog or web site to TWiP Photo and you could win a great prize pack which includes:
-Vmware Fusion
- One copy Adobe Lightroom
- One paid JBL reference 220 earphones
- One Adobe ball cap
- One copy “88 Secrets to Selling & Publishing Your Photography” by Scott Bourne
- One copy “88 Secrets to Photoshop for Photographers” by Scott Bourne
- onOne Software Essentials (version 2) for Adobe Photoshop Elements
- One small Canon Camera gadget bag
- One RhinoSkin iPod case
- Aperture
- DV Matte
Link must be from a blog or a web site. Winners are only eligible from the US.
Aperture Nature Photography Workshop. Another round is underway with a chance to win a trip to Yosemite in the snow.
NEWS
James Nachtwey XDRTB Awareness Campaign
Well-known war photographer James Nacthwey has launched a campaign to raise awareness around Xtreme Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDRTB) and is using his photography to spread the word. This project stems from the TED Conference where he was a recipient of the award in 2007.
Sum of your Facial Parts
The guys discuss a NY Times article that talks about the use of software that utilizes a beautification engine to analyze your face and make it prettier. Scott points out that his face broke the software whereas Steve tried it and discovered that it couldn’t be made any prettier! Scott says that the use of these techniques isn’t necessarily new - it has been going on to negatives since the 40’s. Steve brings up the controversy about the latest Newsweek cover that featured a close up of Sarah Palin that wasn’t retouched so many Palin supporters were wondering why they didn’t touch it up. Steve also talks about the scientific components where the researches determine the universal standard that includes certain visual cues that make a person good looking. Scott points out that he could have saved them a lot of money if they just took his face as an example and went the inverse direction.
Bird Workshops
There are a couple of bird workshops coming up that people may be interested in. Artie Morris is leading a workshop in Fort Meyers Florida from February 13th - 17th. Scott is also doing some private workshops in Bosque del Apache. You can download a PDF with more information at http://www.aperturenatureworkshops.com/photomentor.pdf
Microsoft Pro Photo Tools 2
Scott asks if anyone has used these tools because being a Mac pure blood he hasn’t touched it. Neither Steve or Ron have looked at it either. If you are using it, send your comments to twipphoto@gmail.com. Scott thinks they may have to find a dedicated Windows Photographer from time to time to talk about Windows based photography tools. What Scott does know is that it is a tool for geo-tagging and editing meta data with support for 64-bit versions of Windows. This leads to a side discussion about the burden on OS’s to support all of these different RAW file formats. Ron would like to see the manufacturers release API level tools to support their new RAW formats as they are released. Scott just got the new Panasonic LX3 but has to use the software that came with it because nobody supports their RAW format yet. Steve asks Scott about the LX3 and it’s quality at high ISOs. At ISO 800 it was as good as his G9 at ISO 400. Ron hopes that this camera sells like crazy to help push the industry in the right direction - less megapixels and better noise reduction. Scott will hold off on giving a full review here but for all the people who think Scott is a Canon fanboy, he got the G10 the next day and sent it back - officially unloading your clip.
Eye-Fi Card
Fred Johnson liked the original one so Scott will be curious to see how he likes the newest cards now that they have doubled the rate it can transmit photos over Wi-Fi networks. Scott isn’t personally interested but it has drawn quite a bit of interest in the forums.
Adobe Forms a Global Philanthropic Foundation
Adobe has created a program to help youth in under served areas gain access to digital creative tools. Scott is happy to hear about this as he has had quite a bit of experience with this. 10 years ago he created a similar program in Seattle and Tacoma and was excited to see these kids get motivated. Scott worked with very young kids who would come and shoot with him, have a lunch and then process them. Steve says that when you see how these kids communicate with cameras as part of these programs, you get a fresh perspective on their lives.
Lynda.com CS4 University
CS4 isn’t out yet but you can start to learn how to use it at Lynda.com.
Web firms win Copyright Victory in Congress
The senate passed the Orphan Works Bill but it was referred to the house judiciary committee where it died. The guys are happy about this but the Library lobby will likely bring it back. On the Senate side they beefed up what constitutes legitimate search.
If you have news to share, send an email to twipphoto@gmail.com or tag your ideas with twipideas on Delicious.
SITE OF THE WEEK
Aaron Mahler brings us the site of the week which comes from a podcast called History of Photography by Jeff Curto. You can view the site at http://photohistory.jeffcurto.com/. Jeff is a professor at DuPage College in Illinois. He teaches a history of photography course. He records the classes and puts them up as a podcast and then puts up the class notes, visual aides, etc on his site.
Send your suggestions for the Site of the Week to twipphoto@gmail.com
TWiP PHOTO ASSIGNMENT
The challenge is moving to a monthly challenge as it was becoming too hard to manage. This month’s assignment runs until October 31st and the theme is “Yellow”. The winner of the challenge will win a brand-new USB Drobo. Last week’s winner was Bob Gannon for the theme “Gear”. Scott also encourages you to sign up and participate in the Flickr Critique forum and Flickr Discussion forum. If you see any inappropriate action in the forums send an email to twipphoto@gmail.com. Steve also comments that these contests are there to get you out shooting so when you aim your camera at something visually rich you will improve as a photographer. Scott talks about the Aperture Nature Photography workshop in the Grand Tetons as a good example of a visually rich environment. Steve reminds you to also enter the 2nd Aperture Nature Photography Workshop at www.f64.com to win a trip to Yosemite to photograph in the snow.
STEVE SIMON SHOOTS WITH QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY
Scott congratulates Steve on his recent portrait shoot with Carson Cressley for Nikon’s “How-to” series called “Look Good in Pictures”. There may be a couple more that Steve will be involved in.
DROBO - PREMIERE SPONSOR OF TWiP
Ron is finally feeling Drooby. He is the proud new owner of a Drobo and Steve also just got his but still has to hook it up. Scott tells us to check out the Drobo dashboard which shows you a lot of information about storage capacity, drive health, etc. Visit http://www.drobo.com/twip to receive a $25 off coupon on either model of the Drobo.
LISTENER QUESTIONS
First question is from Andrew Selig and he wants some advice on a summer road trip location. Scott asks Ron to share his favourite summer road trip locations. Ron likes Joshua tree which is close to L.A. It has some interesting ghost town stuff. Zion is also a big favourite of his. Scott likes Joshua Tree because it’s not very crowded.
Next question is from Cynthia Speed and is about color printing accuracy. How can I get the same color I see on my monitor on my printer? Scott says there are a couple of things to start with. First thing is a colorimeter. This is a device that lets you record a profile of your monitor. It tells software the way the monitor sees color. Then you need accurate printer profiles that match the paper and ink you are using. Also, have the software control the color and not the printer.
Matt Cunningham asks for a recommendation for a close up lens for his Canon 30D. Steve suggests Matt may be looking for a portrait lens so he suggests a slightly telephoto lens to compress the background and giving pleasing features. Ron recommends the 100mm Canon prime lens but also suggests playing more with the 28-105 lens that he currently has to figure out what he likes best. Steve suggests shooting at higher ISOs and then once he figures what focal length works best then he can look at a faster lens to overcome any noise issues.
Next question comes from Thomas Brower from Edmonton (also home to show note taker Bruce Clarke) who will be exhibiting his work at the University of Alberta. Thomas would like suggestions from the guys on how to go about selecting images for the show and how to go about hanging the images. Steve thinks that if it’s going to be a greatest hits collection make sure the images selected show a great range without a lot of redundancy. If he has two images that are similar - be the ruthless editor and choose the best one. If he has enough material then he could also go with a theme with a variety of images around that theme. Lastly Steve would make a light table for each wall in Aperture to create the order. Ron likes the light table idea because you can overlap photos so you could shoot a photo of the exhibition wall where they will hang and then overlap your photos on them. In terms of hanging the photos, Scott’s advice is to give each image it’s own space. The worst mistake Scott often sees is that they over crowd the wall. Also make sure that it has good light on it. Have business cards, information on your future work, etc.
Colin Belsin is an 18 year old college student from Toronto who is thinking about making photography a career and wonders about specializing or not specializing and where to go to school. Scott has a couple of recommendations including schools in New York. Many people like the Brooks Institute but it is expensive. Steve teaches at ICP (International Centre for Photography) but also recommends Ryerson and the photojournalist program at Loyalist College in the Toronto area. Steve thinks Colin needs to decide what sort of photographic life he would like to have. Also, talk to photographers to get their advice. Ron talks to a lot of students about getting into visual effects and the point he tries to make is that when you’re going to school - don’t think the assignment is all there is to it. Do stuff outside of school - look beyond the boundaries of the program and make good contacts. Scott says to try lots of different photography and worry about specializing later.
William MacIntosh has alerted us that Disneyland is banning lenses 6 inches or longer. Scott asks the guys for their thoughts. Ron thinks that this is so ridiculous. Scott says that it’s crazy considering that Canon has a 400mm lens that is less than 6 inches long and that soon shorter lenses will reach distances of 1000mm. Scott votes with his feet in these types of situations so he won’t be visiting Disneyland anytime soon. Scott brings up that these types of bans are not always legitimate. Scott was in Newport Beach at the fashion mall near the Apple store and someone he was with snapped a photo with their iPhone and the security guard told him that photography was not allowed. When Scott contacted the mall they told him that the security guard overstepped his bounds and that there was no ban on photography. In situations like this, Scott recommends asking the person to confirm that this is the policy by asking their boss and then if they are overstepping their bounds - let them know about it.
Magnus Nordon was watching Scott’s video on packing for Alaska and noticed Scott had a teleconvertor in his bag. Magnus would like to get their thoughts on their experiences with teleconvertors. Ron has used teleconvertors but says there is a trade-off to get extra length but you can lose a stop of light and possibly degrade the image. Scott recommends getting the brand name teleconverters because he finds that the 3rd party teleconverters are poorer substitutes. Steve agrees with both Scott and Ron but adds that they are nice and small so they don’t take up a lot of space and can be there when you need it.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Scott asks Ron to share a tip. Ron’s tip is to not throw away any photos. He now keeps everything because the tools are getting better and better to recover photos so down the road you may be able to use some of these photos.
WRAP UP
Steve Simon - www.twitter.com/stevesimon or www.stevesimonphoto.com
Ron Brinkmann - www.digitalcomposting.com or www.twitter.com/ronbrinkmann
Scott Bourne - www.scottbourne.com or www.twitter.com/scottbourne or www.f64.com
Aaron Mahler (Producer) - www.halfpress.com or www.twitter.com/halfpress
Visit the blog at www.twipphoto.com and the Flickr critique group.
Show notes by Bruce Clarke at www.momentsindigital.com or www.twitter.com/bruceclarke
14 Comments so far...
Allen Says:
13 October 2008 at 10:10 pm.
good show and good length… I’m ready for the next one. 
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Mike Smith Says:
14 October 2008 at 11:08 am.
I just wanted to say that it was great to hear you mention Jeff Curto’s History of Photography podcast in your show. I have been listening to both of Jeff’s shows now for a couple of years and I find them very interesting. I think I’m into my 4th semester of his History class! It’s nice to hear a show that talks about something other than gear. Don’t get me wrong, I love the gear talk too, but his shows are a refreshing change. Jeff’s discussions on history, art and creativity are well worth the listen to anyone interested in photography.
Keep up the great work everyone!
Mike
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Tim L Says:
14 October 2008 at 12:53 pm.
+1 on Jeff Curto.
His “Camera Position” podcast, the companion to his History of Photography podcast, is equally outstanding. In my experience, podcasts discussing the creative side of photography are often lacking. Not so in the case of Camera Position. Curto is very well spoken, highly knowledgeable, and able to present his ideas in way that makes it easy to apply them to one’s own photography.
Curto also does a great job of illustrating his concepts with images so if you’re watching the podcast on an iPhone or iPod touch (or your computer), you are able to see exactly what Curto is currently talking about.
TWiP and Curto’s Camera Position podcast are the two “can’t miss” podcasts to which I subscribe.
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Stephen Cupp Says:
14 October 2008 at 2:06 pm.
Who wants to carry a lens longer then 6″ to Disneyland anyway? What do you do with those long lenses when you want to go on a ride? Sometimes you just have to put the camera down and have some fun. If I took my long lens to Disneyland I wouldn’t have a great time because I would be worried about it getting stolen or it bumping into people or the pain in my neck it would be carrying it around all day.
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Alex Pummer Says:
14 October 2008 at 3:37 pm.
In regards to Microsoft’s Pro Photo.. I have it installed, used it, and can share opinions about it.
My main reason for trying to software is for its ability add GPS data to files. I can add it to JPEGS just fine, and Lightroom will display the meta data as well. My issues with the application when I tried to enter GPS for Canon’s CR2 or Adobe’s DNG, and it can’t read it. The reason for this is that Canon & Adobe has not released a codec. For Canon they have not released a 64 bit codec to be clear. There is a link to a third party that has created the driver, but its at a price of $30 for each file type.
To be fair Pro Photo can read any image file format that Windows has a codec for, so its really at the door steps of Adobe and Canon to get on the ball. I was surprised to hear that Adobe has not supplied a codec, with it wanting to be such a universal raw file format.
Back on topic, Pro Photo itself could use some polish as far as the interface goes. Feels a bit cumbersome, but you can edit the meta tags in large numbers. For it being free, its a nice little app and gets the job done. The meta-tagging isn’t as advanced as say Lightroom is but works.
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G. Frederick Says:
14 October 2008 at 7:55 pm.
> One RhinoSkin iPod case
Thanks for a great podcast! My wife and I listened to a couple hours of TWIP podcasts this weekend during our travels. I wanted to share a laugh: my wife thought this was actually a Rhinoceros skin (leather?) case.
[Reply]
Rikki / UXXV Says:
15 October 2008 at 4:29 am.
Hey Scott, the link above : “Send your suggestions for the Site of the Week to twipphoto@gmail.com” doesnt link anywhere, it points to a local file.
Just an FYI.
Thanks,
Rikki
[Reply]
Trevor Says:
15 October 2008 at 4:10 pm.
I have an entry for the “silliest rules” category mentioned on the podcast. It proves that the U.S. doesn’t have a monopoly on stupidity. (boldly stated by an Australian)
Security rules for entry into the walls of the Kremlin prohibit taking a lens with a diameter of 70mm or above. Yes, that’s diameter not focal length! The guards get very confused, and roundly scolded by their superiors when they get it wrong.
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Grier Says:
15 October 2008 at 8:32 pm.
Thomas,
I am also from Edmonton and would like to check out the photo exhibition at the U of A. If it is not to late please post the location and time.
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Grant Says:
15 October 2008 at 9:27 pm.
What’s all the fuss about the LX3? The LX2 did all that, with a 16:9 native sensor - much nicer for framing and displaying. I tried to tell everyone, now you’ve lost the more natural aspect ratio, without any increase in megapixels - that’s the equivalent of dropping 2 megapixels, not staying the same!
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Daniel Says:
15 October 2008 at 10:36 pm.
Scott, During your Lumix LX3 discussion you mentioned you had no way to view the LX3’s RAW data. I found a Panasonic/Lumix site where you can download SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 SE, free software to view and modify the LX3’s RAW data on a Mac:
http://www.isl.co.jp/SILKYPIX/english/p/
I downloaded a sample RAW photo from an early review of an LX3 and was able to view and modify the RAW data in SLIKYPIX.
P.S. After listening to your mini review of the LX3 you recently acquired and your return of the Canon G10, I decided to place an order for a Lumix LX3 right away. Thanks for your great contributions to TWIP.
[Reply]
Maurice Says:
17 October 2008 at 1:22 pm.
The lens restriction at Disneyland is quite arbitrary, and by that I mean ridiculous. The new Nikon 18-105VR (D90 kit lens) is over 7″ extended and the 55-200VR (D40 kit lens) is over 6″ extended. That is a fairly large slice of the entry-level DSLR market popular with soccer moms.
The website FAQ says no professional gear, so insert your own definition there. Scott, is your new Lumix a “pro” camera because its operator is a professional or only if you sell a image that you made with it?
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Tim Says:
23 October 2008 at 11:50 am.
Hey All!
As for restrictions on equipment at parks and events, I have personally been detained in the past and here is why. I had been using my camera at hockey games for many years until one night I was harassed by a couple of arena employees who attempted to secure my gear until the game was over. Without going into details, they claim I was disregarding their policy, which they had none of. What really was going on was that the agents of the elite players spotted me and wanted to stop me from taking pictures of their players. And now, after Sept. 11, all public places have an excuse to use for restricting or not allowing your picture taking. They have always wanted to ban camaras but wouldn’t since it was not good publicity. Now they can do it for security reasons. That is why the rules for lens length, diameter or whatever are so rediculous. They just want to stop all photography at some point.
Thanks, Great Show!
Tim
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