13May2008
Posted by Scott under: News.
Adobe has released an update to the Adobe Digital Negative specification (DNG), a publicly available archival format for the raw files generated by digital cameras.
This update provides new and expanded specifications that provide the digital imaging industry with increased flexibility and improved workflow for their raw images. A DNG Codec for Windows Vista has also been released on Adobe Labs, allowing photographers utilizing the Windows Vista platform to work with raw files in a more seamless manner.
This update addresses several industry requirements in the DNG format, including formalization of the concept of a “camera profile” and allowance for multiple camera profiles to be embedded in a single DNG file, producing the desired image results in a streamlined and efficient workflow. Additional metadata tags have been defined for the DNG format, including a field to indicate the integrity of the raw data within the file, providing a valuable tool to validate the safety of photographers’
image data. The DNG SDK has also been updated to reflect the changes to the specification.
Availability
Adobe DNG Converter is available as a free download at www.adobe.com/dng. The DNG Codec for Windows Vista is only compatible with Windows Vista 32-bit editions and is available as a free download at www.labs.adobe.com.
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12May2008
Posted by Scott under: News.
onOne makes software plugins for photographers. Most companies like onOne simply support the big programs like Photoshop, Aperture and Lightroom. But onOne has such a program for iPhoto. The iPhoto version features four easy-to-use tools for color correction, creative image blurring, frame and border effects and resizing for high quality large prints.
The company says that with Essentials for iPhoto, users can easily correct the color of their photos using technology from PhotoTune, simulate the effect of selective focus or tilt-shift lenses, helping photographers selectively blur and/or vignette an image to focus the viewers attention using technology from FocalPoint 1.0, add unique borders and edges around their photos using technology from PhotoFrame and increase the size and resolution of their photos to get larger print sizes by using technology from Genuine Fractals, the industry standard for resizing digital photos.
“Make it Better! Blur It! Frame It! and Enlarge It! These are the four important tools incorporated in onOne Software’s new Essentials 2 for iPhoto,” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. “These tools are designed to allow amateur and advanced amateur photographers to quickly and easily correct color, creatively add blur effects to images, add realistic frame and borders and enlarge digital images to transform even ordinary snapshots into extraordinary images without having to spend hours in front of a computer.”
Availability & Pricing
onOne Software’s Essentials 2 for iPhoto is available direct from onOne Software (www.onOnesoftware.com) and from authorized retailers including select Apple Stores. The MSRP for Essentials 2 for iPhoto is $59.95.
We’ll have a review and some screen caps from Essentials 2 as soon as we can.
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11May2008
Posted by Scott under: Photo Book Reviews.
Nikon D300 Guide to Digital SLR Photography by David Busch
Publisher: Course Technology Cengage Learning
Review by Conrad J. Obregon
I’ve been shooting Nikon cameras since 1960. When I look at the collection of buttons, dials, switches, screens and menus on Nikon’s D300 digital SLR, I wonder if I would have become a photographer back then if faced with so many choices.
All these choices are good. They let you customize the D300 to be used exactly the way you would want. And the embarrassment of riches means that one camera can do many things, for many different photographers, so that ultimately a highly sophisticated machine can be delivered more cheaply to photographers whose styles vary markedly.
Read the rest of this entry »
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10May2008
Posted by Liana under: Reviews.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece was written by guest contributor Liana Lehua from GirlsGoneGeek.TV.
Do you know what I like about any good gear bag? When the bag I am using allows me to focus on enjoying whatever I am doing instead of having to fuss with my stuff, I like it. This is true of my purses, gear cases, laptop bags, and most recently my photography bags. Yes. Bags. Plural. It is not my intent to flaunt that I have multiple camera and gear bags but to provide some perspective regarding my bag-spertise. As a photography enthusiast, I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on one of my newest bags, Think Tank’s Rotation 360. Read the rest of this entry »
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10May2008
Posted by Scott under: Uncategorized.
I have a very limited number of copies of my “Secrets to Selling & Publishing Photography” title at lynda.com for sale.
At lynda.com the CD-Rom copy of the title containing all six hours of training is $49.95. I have eight copies available at $29.95 plus $5.00 shipping. US residents only please.
To see some free samples from this title go to the lynda.com website.
Don’t worry, if I run out of the specially-priced copies, you can still subscribe to lynda.com to watch this and other titles related to photography for as little as $25 per month or you can buy the CD from lynda.com at $49.95.
If you’re interested send email to twipphoto@gmail.com. First come, first served.
Thanks.
UPDATE: Sorry all sold out, but I’ll see if I can get some more at the special price.
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9May2008
Posted by Scott under: Audio Podcast.
The latest episode of TWIP is in the feed.
Hosts: Scott Bourne & Alex Lindsay
Guest: Richard Harrington
Contributors: Fred Johnson, Ron Brinkmann, Steve Simon
Locations: San Francisco, DC, Seattle, New York
Intro Music by Scott Cannizzaro
Producer & Show Notes Author: Aaron Mahler - Twitter: halfpress
Bandwidth for This Week in Photography is provided by Cachefly.
TWIP is sponsored by Audible. For a free downloadable book visit www.audiblepodcast.com/twip
This week’s show is also brought to you by the word, Droovy. 
Our guest this week is Richard Harrington, training extraordinaire and co-author of Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 (Apple Pro Training Series).
Fred, who wasn’t with us last week since someone bashed into his beloved car, is in the studio today (and about 15 minutes late… not that you could tell with a podcast except that the others have be sure to rub it in). He’s also brought his Nikon D3 with him to torment the rest of the cast.
Read the rest of this entry »
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9May2008
Posted by Scott under: Photo Assignment.
Our last photo assignment was RED and we had our highest number of submissions yet. (Perhaps it was all those prizes?)
The winner is Start, by OLDTYPEDOG
Man this image just ran off the page right at me! Okay - pun intended, but wow. It just grabs you. It works on just about every level. The composition, color, exposure, light and impact are all great. If OLDTYPEDOG sends us an e-mail, we’ll get busy sending you all your prizes.
The runner up was Red Bed by WEDDINGSBYROB. It also has great impact and tells a great story. This image was really a coin flip away from winning, but it wasn’t taken as recently as our winner and we always give preference to folks who shoot and post just for the challenge. But in any event, this is a great image and if you’re interested in wedding photography or portraiture - study it.
This week’s assignment - should you decide to accept it - is to photograph DOORS. That’s it - no other guidelines - (other than keep it clean - remember our TWIP Flickr Group rules - kid-safe photos only please.)
You can post ONE image to the new Flickr - the TWIP CONTEST POOL and we’ll do the rest. You can also just use the old tag system if you prefer and tag the image TWIP DOORS.
We’ll pick one or two of the images we really like to talk about and feature on the blog - and if we really like something, we’ll send a free (NFR - Not For Resale copy of Aperture 2.1)
So have at it. You have until May 21st at 5:00 PM - PST to post your images. You can still post images with a theme of DOORS after that - but we won’t consider them for our TWIP Photo Assignment Competition.
If you’d like to chip in, please suggest some future themes you’d like us to explore in the comment section below. Have fun.
UPDATE: The prize craze continues. Our own Fred Johnson was nice enough to throw in a copy of Lightroom and Rich Harrington, co-author of the new Aperture 2.0 book through in a copy of his new book so the prize package is once again, more than $500 value. Go for it folks.
UPDATE UPDATE: We had a typo in the original announcement - the due date is May 21.
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