Saturday, November 29, 2008

Youth Soccer Ends

It has occurred to me that I have been ignoring this blog since the Fall youth sports season began. So it seems fitting that this current posting “Youth Soccer Ends” follows the last one; “Youth Sports Begins.”

Over the last few months I’ve been able to capture some wonderful moments of these kids improving their skills while learning valuable lessons about teamwork. I hope I have successfully portrayed their high level of effort within these images. I’ve put together a small gallery of images taken over the course of the Fall 2008 soccer season.

View the Youth Soccer Fall 2008 Gallery.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Youth Sports Begin

Youth soccer season is finally underway, along with football so the camera is clicking again in the great outdoors. Of course it is still 102 degrees in the valley of the sun stroke. Never mind that it is now October! At least the weather soothsayers predict the mercury will dip below triple digits by this Saturday. Just in time for another game.

My trusty Sony A100 and Minolta 70-210mm F4 (Beer Can) lens haven’t seen the outdoors since a trip to California a couple of months ago; my attempt to escape another 112 degree Arizona summer. So last Saturday morning (7:30am to beat the heat) was the first official game of the GYSA soccer season here in Gilbert, Arizona. The kids were ready to get outside and enjoy some heathly competition.

Now that Fall is officially here, the Sony will be getting some exercise and I can get some fresh air without burning my lungs. I’m not sure if I’m mentally prepared for exercise just yet, however.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.1 Release Candidate

The new Lightroom update fixes 2.0 bugs and adds Raw support.

Lightroom Product Manager Tom Hogarty announced the availability of Lightroom 2.1 as a release candidate on Adobe Labs.

"The goal of this release is to address bugs that were introduced with the release of Lightroom 2.0 and provide additional camera Raw support," Hogarty explained on the Lightroom Journal. "A comprehensive list of issues fixed in this release is provided on Adobe Labs." Camera support is "identical to the support provided in the recent Camera Raw 4.6 update," he added, citing the Fuji Finepix IS Pro, Nikon D700, Nikon D90and Nikon Coolpix P6000 specifically.

The release notes and downloads for Mac or Windows versions are available on the Lightroom 2.1 page.

New Lexar Shoot-n-Sync Wi-Fi Memory Card

Lexar will release it's Shoot-n-Sync™ Wi-Fi® memory card - a convenient wireless solution for uploading digital photos to computers as well as sharing them via social networking and photo-sharing websites. The 2GB memory card, compatible with SD-compatible digital cameras, reliably records and stores digital photos in a camera just like a standard memory card, but adds the time-saving convenience and simplicity of wireless uploading from camera to computer - and directly to the Internet.

The Lexar Shoot-n-Sync Wi-Fi memory card will be available in October.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Announcement

Adobe® is announcing the release of Creative Suite 4 and we are all invited. Adobe will be providing a special web announcement on September 23. Simply register to receive information for viewing the broadcast.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

New DSLR Camera Reviews

Five new DLSR camera models have been added to the ‘Recent Digital Camera Reviews’ section.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 50D DSLR
Nikon D90 DSLR
Pentax K200D DSLR
Sony A900 DSLR

Featured Photographer - Charlie Cho

Featured in this month's edition of Rangefinder magazine, Charlie Cho creates amazing and imaginative images literally painting with light. Doing what few others can, Cho illuminates the darkness with light paintings of mind-boggling precision and artfulness. Coordinating all of these unseen picture elements sometimes takes him much of the night to choreograph, or in several cases the better part of three consecutive nights.

Read Charlie Cho: Light & Night Painting by Larry Brownstein on Rangefindermag.com.

Adobe Beta Testing for Camera Raw and DNG Converter

Adobe Labs is the domain of public program testing for Adobe, allowing us glimpses at programs prior to release. Both Lightroom 1 and 2 were available there, and now Camera Raw 4.6 and the associated DNG converter are available from there to download.

This is a release candidate version, meaning that it has been internally tested, but needs more testing in the public domain before being released as an automatic update.New cameras fully supported by this version include Fuji Finepix IS Pro, Nikon D700, Nikon D90 and the Nikon Coolpix 6000. Preliminary (i.e. uncertified) support is provided for Canon Rebel XS, 50D, Olympus SP-565 UZ, Sony A900 and Sigma DP1 (the DP1 support is not finalised).
Courtesy of lightroom-news.com

Samsung Makes Bid for SanDisk

The New York Times is reporting today that Samsung Electronics has made an unsolicited $5.85 billion cash offer for SanDisk, the flash memory card manufacturer.

According to the article, Samsung's offer of $26 a share was first made in August and only revealed to investors after the U.S. market closed Tuesday with SanDisk trading at $15.04. In after-hours trading, shares rose to nearly $23 a share as news of the proposal spread.

In an earlier Sept. 5 statement, the company had acknowledged, "SanDisk periodically has conversations with multiple parties, including Samsung, regarding a variety of potential business opportunities. We evaluate all of these opportunities, but maintain a policy of not commenting on market rumors or speculation."

But in a letter released Tuesday, Eli Harari, SanDisk founder and chief executive, had rejected the offer, claiming it significantly undervalued the company and characterizing it as "opportunistically timed."
Courtesy of Mike Pasini, The Imaging Resource

Nikon Updates Transfer, NX2 and Capture Software

Nikon has updated three of its software applications to be compatible with its D90 including Transfer, NX2 and Capture Control. Nikon Transfer additionally introduces support for the P6000's new NRW Raw format.

Transfer
The updater is available as a 24.3MB Macintosh download and a 46.1MB Windows download.

Capture NX 2
The 68.3MB Macintosh download and the 44.5MB Windows download of the updater require version 2.0.0 or 2.0.1.

Camera Control Pro 2
The 29.2MB Macintosh download and the 29MB Windows download require Camera Control Pro ver.2.0.0, 2.1.0, or 2.2.0.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Hands-on Preview

Dpreview.com takes a closer look at the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II DLSR. The 5D Mark II clocks in with impressive resolution and features, including 21 megapixels, 1080p video, 3.0" VGA LCD, Live view, ISO 100 - 6400 calibrated range, ISO 50 - 25600 expansion, 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting, and a higher capacity battery. The camera aims to seriously compete with both its direct rivals, the Nikon D700 and the Sony A900.

Read more about the Canon EOS 5D Mark II on dpreview.com

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Featured Photographer - Chris Clor

Chris Clor, featured in the latest issue of Layers Magazine, has more than 25 years of experience working as a commercial photographer, and is passionate about producing the highest quality images for his clients on each and every project. His photographic expertise, innate lighting ability and sense of design, coupled with extensive computer imaging skills provide his clients with the tools necessary to solve any problem either in studio or on location.

Get inspired by viewing his images at clorimages.com

New Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM

When ever I bring up to fellow photographers that I still like to use my trusty 50mm f1.7 lens, they give that puzzled "why not just use a zoom" look. Until the purchase of the Sigma 70mm 2.8 Macro (105mm on A100), the 50mm was my portrait lens of choice for the Sony Alpha 100. At 70mm on the DSLR it provides sharp images for both low light and narrow depth of field situations.

So I was pleased to see that Sigma recently released their new 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM for all of the top camera mounts including Sony. Sigma has included features which distinguish this lens from those older designs, including an aspheric element for superior correction of aberrations, an oversized barrel design to reduce vignetting at wide apertures, a rounded diaphragm for attractive background blur, and 'super multi-layer' coating for reduced flare and ghosting.

Read an indepth review of the lens at dpreview.com

Scott Kelby's Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book Now Available

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers from Scott Kelby is finally available on Amazon.com. If you haven't had the pleasure of utlizing any of his many instructional books, I highly suggest them. Kelby makes learning these products easy by utilizing practical,step-by-step instructions.

His first Lightroom book was great and this new edition should be no different. I still having gotten around to upgrading to Lightroom 2, but once I do, this new volume will be on the desk next to the computer.

Order the book at Amazon.com for only $26.99 or at a discount through the NAPP website for NAPP members.

PhotoShelter Abandons its Stock Sales Effort

Not all online stock photo enterprises are apparently successful. Just a year after announcing a new stock photo licensing business with great fanfare, PhotoShelter says it will close its PhotoShelter Collection on Oct. 10.

Read the entire article on PDN.com

New Lumix DMC-G1 Lens From Panasonic

To coincide with the announcement of Lumix DMC-G1, Panasonic has also announced two new Micro Four Thirds System zoom lenses; the LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. and LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S. Both lenses offer Image Stabilization and produce an equivalent field of view of 28-90 mm and 90-400 mm respectively.

Read more about them from Digital Photography Review.

Friday, September 12, 2008

New Panasonic Lumix G1

Panasonic has a radical solution to the big, bulky 'same-as-all-the-rest' camera: the new Lumix G1. It’s not just a new model, but a new class: “The Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera System," and the choice of body colors, including red, look pretty cool too.

12MP Live MOS Four Thirds Standard sensor; Live view. 1.44-million-dot EVF with 100% viewfinder accuracy; $800, estimated street price and Body colors: black, blue, red.

Read the entire article.

New Sony 24.6MP Alpha 900 DSLR

It's been vaporware for over a year and now if finally becomes a reality. Popular Photography & Imaging have been testing the preproduction unit and have posted an article about the forthcoming Sony Alpha 900. 24.6MP CMOS sensor and a $3000 price tag are just the tip of the iceberg.

Read the entire article on popphoto.com


Digital Photography Review also has a 'first look' at the A900.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Edward Weston: Mexico

Edward Weston: Mexico
Phoenix Art Museum
Norton Photography Gallery
August 9, 2008 – November 15, 2008

Born in 1886, Edward Weston began his career practicing a popular photographic style called Pictorialism, creating portraits and nudes. The pieces with minimum contrast and soft-focus had a dream like quality. In 1923, an uninspiring and stagnate commercial portrait business prompted Weston to relocate to Mexico with Modotti. While there, he created innovative work exploring a modernist aesthetic characterized by sharp focused portraits, abstractions, and richly textured still lifes. Weston’s work was met with praise and recognition in the midst of the vibrant Mexican artistic culture.

This stunning collection of 60 photographs displays the local culture and scenery of Mexico in the 1920s – a rich period for the arts known as the Mexican Renaissance. Weston used a large camera to create technically accomplished black-and-white photos rich in detail and markedly abstract. Mexico allowed him to experiment with new subject matter, such as still lifes and landscapes, making this period one of the most pivotal of his career.

Current Exhibitions at the Phoenix Art Museum

Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography

Recent Photography Book:
Packed with incredible images and step-by-step techniques, this book is a must have for commercial, wedding, and portrait photographers working on location who want to maximize their time behind the camera and minimize their time spent hauling cumbersome lighting equipment. The tips show how to select easily portable and versatile equipment for location shoots, cutting down on the packing and porting of expensive equipment.

With techniques and information on the latest technology—including battery-powered flashes and accessories—this reference shows photographers how to work with smaller and lighter-weight lighting equipment without sacrificing quality. Whether shooting portraits, landscapes, or interiors, whether indoors or out, photographers will embrace the portable approach offered in this valuable resource. Find out more.

The New Low-Light Photography

Sharp, clean images lit by just a burning candle. Smooth, natural skin tones in dim, mixed lighting. Blur-free scenes shot handheld at 1/8 sec. Action frozen without a flash. Details in shadows without compromising color. Autofocus that locks on in the dark. Welcome to today's low-light photography.

Read the entire article on popphoto.com

Replace Your Filters With Tiffen DFX 2.0 Software

Tiffen, one of the leaders in the filter market has revised their software-based collection of filters and effects, and DFX 2.0 now includes more creative tools than ever before. There are more than 1000 new filters to tweak and adjust your images.

Available for either Photoshop or Aperture, Final Cut and more, the new software also includes masking and layering.

The original press release is below:

Hauppauge, New York, August 18, 2008 - Based on the success of its original award-winning Dfx Digital Filter software that revolutionized the digital filter market, Tiffen now introduces Dfx version 2.0.

Steven Tiffen, company CEO commented. "We are very excited about the release of Tiffen Dfx version 2.0. It affirms our on-going commitment to the software category, as we extend our reach into the digital imaging marketplace with innovative new products.”

The new version now features multiple masking and layering capabilities with its Photoshop and Aperture plug-ins, previously only offered with the Stand-alone edition, plus more than 1,000 new filters and effects including: Ambient Light, Close Up Lens, Dot, Eye Light, Flag, Gobo, HFX® Star, Haze, High Contrast, Ice Halos, Rainbows, Sepia, Sky, Soft Contrast, Soft Light, Warm Center Spot, Warm Polarizer, Water Droplets, Wide Angle Lens and 812® Warming.

Professionals and enthusiasts alike can now choose from a palette of more than 2,000 standard, exclusive and special effect filters that simulate Tiffen’s award-winning optical equivalents. These can all be quickly and easily customized, then saved to a filter library for later use.
Provided by PDNonline.com

Microsoft Web-based "Photosynth" 3D Image Panorama Software

Microsoft officially took the wraps off Photosynth with hopes it will become a sort of Flickr of the next dimension. And after playing around with it for a few days before the launch, PDN can see some definite potential. Read the entire article on PDNonline.com.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

New Digital Camera Reviews

Seven new reviews have been added to the Recent Digital Camera Reviews section.

Canon EOS 1000D (Rebel XS) DSLR
Kodak EasyShare V1073
Nikon D700 DSLR
Olympus E-520 DSLR
Pentax Optio W60
Sony CyberShot DSC-H50
Sony CyberShot DSC-W300

Venice Beach with the Sony A100

My wife and I recently spent a few days at Venice Beach in California, without the kids. Now that is what I call a real vacation.

I took along my reliable Sony Alpha 100 with the Sony 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 AF kit lens. We were going to do a lot of walking and bike riding up and down the boardwalk, and I didn’t want to be lugging around a big telephoto lens or multiple lenses. Popphoto.com gave the Sony kit lens high marks and there is no reason not to use it in a situation such as this.

Venice Beach is quite the unique place to vacation. During the day the eclectic scenery, including the beachs (and Muscle Beach which really isn't a beach), buildings, shops and cavalcade of characters, can be quite entertaining. However, after nightfall the mood changes and indoors was our preferred location. I’ve put together a short gallery of images from the few days we were there. If you haven’t had the chance to experience this distinctive area of the American West Coast, I recommend it. The people watching alone is worth the trip.

Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro AF (SONY)

One of my most recent acquisitions is the wonderful Sigma 70mm f2.8 EX DG Macro AF lens for the Sony mount. Mounted onto the Sony Alpha 100 DSLR the lens becomes a 105mm, which is excellent for most portrait situations.

The lens handling is excellent with smooth focusing and easy to grip; although a bit heavy. It is a Macro lens and includes focus lock. I’ve created a short gallery of sample images and a detailed review of the lens can be read on PopPhoto.com.

NAPP Lightroom 2.0 Learning Center

Speaking of the Lightroom community that has developed over the last year, NAPP (Nation Association of Photoshop Professionals) has been one of the leading proponents of Adobe’s non-destructive photo editing and digital photography workflow application. Their new site includes a wealth of information including an overview of the application’s new features, FAQ, videos, on-line training, and links to several other Lightroom on-line sources.

Check out the NAPP Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 Learning Center website for yourself.

Adobe Releases Photoshop Lightroom 2.0

Adobe has finally released Photoshop Lightroom v2.0, the latest edition of it's excellent non-destructive photo editing and digital photography workflow application. Quickly import, adjust, process, manage and digitally display or print your images. New features include enhanced organizational tools, volume management, multiple monitor support, local adjustment brush, 64-bit support for Windows and Mac OS, and many more.

I’ve been using the first version of Lightroom for some time now and find it essential to my digital workflow process. A huge Lightroom community has developed over the last year and dozens of “how-to” books are available.

New users expect to pay $299, while the upgrade for those of us who already use and enjoy the product will only need to shell out 99 bucks. Check out the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 website for more information and how to order.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Photographer Focus - Peter Yang

Photographer Focus of the Day:

Peter Yang

According to Peter he lives in Brooklyn, hails from the great state of Texas, and photographs subjects all over the world.

Peter shoots lots of rock stars. He gets along with them because he's a nice guy and not intimidating. This is confusing to Peter because he thinks he totally looks like a rock star. Peter is a regular contributor to Rolling Stone, ESPN Magazine and Wired, among others.

Website: http://www.peteryang.com/
Image by Peter Yang.

Adobe TV Launched As New Training Resource

Adobe has launched a new online video resource. Adobe TV offers channels for photographers, designers, developers, and video professionals, each of which makes a wide selection of video tutorials available for free viewing. While some of the tutorials are produced by Adobe itself, others come from a variety of well-established professional training companies and publishers, including xTrain, Lynda, and Total Training. Adobe TV has launched with over 200 videos, and plans to add new segments each week.

The training videos can also be watched via the Adobe TV channel on Adobe's new Media Player software. In addition to Adobe TV, the player offers access to a broad range of programs from television networks and other content publishers. You can download the player for free from Adobe's Web site.

Rolleiflex 5MP MiniDigi AF

Many people may think of Rolleiflex professional cameras as classic if somewhat clunky affairs. Those people may want to start reevaluating that view, however, now that Rolleiflex has once again released a super cool miniature digital version of its twin reflex camera. Once again, we have to say that this mini Rollei is cute as hell. (Whoa, can't believe we just said that.)

The Rolleiflex MiniDigi AF 5.0 is just three inches tall but it includes some fairly decent digital features, making this tiny camera more than just a novelty. Though it may look like the original MiniDigi released back in 2006, the AF 5.0 model includes several improvements including autofocus (between 10CM and infinity); 5MP interpolated image files, and a 1.1-inch screen on top of the camera for reviewing your shots.

The coolest part though is how much is resembles a shrunken version of an original Rolleiflex which used two lenses, one above the other, a hand crank lever, shutter release, and hooded viewfinder. The crank lever on the new MiniDigi prepares you for your next shot – rather than advancing the film – while the classic pop-up hood and viewfinder lets you do some traditional-style "waist-level" shooting and prevents stray light from getting in. Another interesting throwback is that the MiniDigi AF 5.0 shoots digital files in a square format just like in the old days.

Along with being small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the Rolleiflex MiniDigi AF 5.0 offers one distinct difference from the classic coal-black model –it comes in fire engine red. Oh how very racy it is!

Cost: $399
Further information: http://www.dsmww.com/
Image © PDNOnline
Article by Dan Havlik

New Digital Camera Reviews Posted

New reviews in the Recent Digital Camera Reviews section:

Canon PowerShot A650 IS
Nikon CoolPix P80
Sony Alpha 350
Sony CyberShot DSC-H10
Sony CyberShot DSC-T300

Adobe Releases Lightroom and Camera RAW Updates

Apologizing "for any inconveniences caused by the issues presented in the initial updates," Lightroom Product Manager Tom Hogarty announced the release of updates to the Photoshop Lightroom, Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in and DNG Converter to correct problems found in Lightroom 1.4 and Camera Raw 4.4.

Highlights of the revisions follow:

Lightroom

• Lightroom 1.4 incorrectly modified the EXIF time date field of images that had a metadata update applied. This incorrect modification does not appear in Lightroom or Bridge and is only viewable through third party EXIF tools. This error has been corrected in Lightroom 1.4.1 and all files in a Lightroom catalog that have been incorrectly modified will be corrected on their next metadata update. (Metadata can be updated by selecting the files in the Library grid view and choosing Command or Control+S to save and update the metadata.)

• Olympus JPEG files could render incorrectly in Lightroom 1.4, displaying an artifact in the exported file.

• Any conversion to DNG in Lightroom 1.4 (Windows Only) would cause the DNG file to become unreadable by Lightroom's Develop Module or Camera Raw 4.4 in Photoshop. The issue has been corrected and files can be converted to DNG again in order to resolve the issue for existing files. Returning to the original native raw files is not necessary. The affected DNG files can be selected and converted again using the DNG Converter 4.4.1 available at www.adobe.com/dng/. This process is not required but recommended to ensure that a correct validation value is stored within the DNG files.

• Lightroom 1.4 provided degraded import performance relative to Lightroom 1.3.

Camera Raw

• Camera Raw 4.4 incorrectly modified the EXIF time date field of images that were saved as TIFF or JPEG files from the Camera Raw dialog. This has been corrected in Camera Raw 4.4.1

• Olympus JPEG files could render incorrectly in Camera Raw 4.4, displaying an artifact in the exported file.

Downloads

The Lightroom 1.4.1 and Camera Raw 4.4.1 updates are available
immediately as free downloads at http://www.adobe.com/downloads.

PENTAX Student Photography Program

PENTAX Imaging Company has announced a PENTAX Student Photography Program to support budding photographers and photography educators with camera bodies, lenses and flashes at significant savings. Known for producing photography equipment that offers value, quality, ease-of-use, durability, and affordability, PENTAX takes great pride in the commitment to countless users who have learned and taught the art of photography with a PENTAX camera.

The PENTAX Student Photography discounts are offered exclusively to full-time students at accredited institutions (high schools, colleges and universities) as well as full-time photography educators. Students and educators must observe the following conditions to qualify for these significant savings:

Purchase the PENTAX equipment from an authorized PENTAX dealer between April 1, 2008 and June 30, 2008. Complete a PENTAX Student Program form (available for download at www.pentaxslr.com or www.pentaximaging.com.) Students must provide photography class enrollment certification (class schedule or copy of registration) and a copy of a valid student identification. Educators must submit a copy of course curriculum for their photography class and a copy of a valid faculty identification.

Due to the significant discounts offered, all requirements listed must be met and approved by PENTAX Imaging Company and may not be combined with any other offers including consumer promotions and rebates. This program is valid to students and educators in the United States for purchases made in the United States.

For more information, qualified photographers may e-mail customer.followup@pentax.com or call 1-800-877-0155 (press “0” and ask to speak to the PENTAX STUDENT PROGRAM).

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Nikon Announces New D60 DSLR

Yet another new Nikon DSLR. The D60 has been added to the lineup expanding consumer choices even further. Here is the official Nikon press release...

Nikon, Inc., has introduced the new D60 digital SLR camera, which provides consumers with stunning picture quality and versatility in an easy-to-use, compact camera design. The D60 joins Nikon’s award-winning line of D-series digital SLR cameras and shares a form factor similar to the D40 – Nikon’s smallest D-SLR camera ever. With 10.2 effective megapixels and a wealth of innovative and user-friendly features, the D60 enables both photo enthusiasts and those new to digital SLR photography to capture incredible images like never before.

“The Nikon D60 makes stepping up to digital SLR photography easy for anyone, but is also a wonderful choice for photo enthusiasts looking for remarkable performance in a compact package,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for marketing, SLR System Products at Nikon, Inc. “This model, like the wildly popular Nikon D40, greatly simplifies use and builds confidence in the user. With a host of innovative features, such as a visually intuitive LCD information display, Nikon’s highly regarded EXPEED image processing concept, new dual dust reduction countermeasures, in-camera editing tools and exciting creative options, the D60 enhances the picture-taking experience for picture-takers of all skill levels.”

Users will immediately appreciate the D60’s fast 0.18-second start-up time and split-second shutter response, which combine to eliminate the frustration of shooting lag – a common issue with many point-and-shoot digital cameras. With a fast and accurate autofocus and the ability to shoot continuously at up to three pictures-per-second, the D60 faithfully captures pictures that other cameras often miss. The D60 does all this while delivering extraordinarily vivid and detailed pictures, ensuring that fleeting expressions, special moments and memorable events are captured beautifully.

Packaged with Nikon’s new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens, the D60 camera and lens outfit delivers striking image sharpness. What’s more, Nikon’s proprietary VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization technology also dramatically reduces blur caused when shooting handheld pictures, especially in low light.

The camera’s 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor delivers crisp, high-resolution images with astounding color and clarity, while Nikon’s advanced 3-D Color Matrix Metering II ensures that images are exposed beautifully and automatically, even in challenging lighting conditions. Additionally, Nikon’s new digital image processing concept, EXPEED, delivers smooth tones and accurate color for vibrant pictures and flattering portraits.

The D60 also offers consumers comprehensive in-camera functionality, such as Active D-lighting. Through this innovative Nikon feature, the camera can, with the option selected, further optimize shadow and highlight detail—as pictures are taken. Shots that once required adjustment with photo editing software can now go straight to the printer, bypassing the computer altogether.

For added fun and creativity while reducing or helping to eliminate time spent manipulating pictures later, the D60’s In-camera Retouch Menu enables users to accomplish a wide variety of tasks without a computer. The D60 offers new in-camera editing capabilities, including adjustable cross-screen star effects, color-intensifying filters as well as D-lighting, Red-eye correction, Image Trim and more. The D60’s Stop-Motion Movie mode is a D-SLR first that enables users to create stop-animation movie clips from a series of as many as 100 consecutive JPEG picture files. More experienced photographers will also enjoy shooting in the lossless NEF (RAW) format, and then adjusting image parameters, such as size, format, and white balance, all within the camera.

While many cameras now feature a dust cleaning function, the D60 takes this idea one step further. In addition to offering an Image Sensor Cleaning function that quickly and silently shakes off specks of image degrading dust, the camera also minimizes the dust that can come into contact with the sensor through a unique Airflow Control System. This design works to channel particles away from the sensor with every click of the shutter, resulting in even further reduction of dust particles and the spots they can leave on pictures.

Ergonomically designed with intuitively placed controls, the D60 is a camera that’s compact and ready to go wherever life leads. It also features a new power conserving Eye Sensor that turns the big 2.5-inch color LCD monitor on and off automatically when the user alternates between taking pictures and reviewing camera settings.

A customizable LCD monitor user interface rounds out the D60’s convenient features, as users can create their own wallpapers and adjust color settings to adapt to their preferences. The D60’s design also supports Eye-Fi memory card functionality, enabling the convenient wireless transfer of images from the D60 to a computer, when using Eye-Fi memory cards.* Additionally, photos can be securely written to readily available SD cards, high-capacity SDHC cards and Eye-Fi memory cards, offering users a range of data storage options.

The D60 will be packaged with the 3x zoom AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens and will be available throughout the United States beginning in February 2008. Pricing information will be available approximately 30 days prior to sales availability. For more information, please visit the Nikon website.

Fujifilm Reduces Prices On Select Digicams

Fujifilm reduces the price of the FinePix F50fd digital camera to $249.95, and the price of the Z10fd to $149.95, effective February 3rd.

With 12 megapixel power, a 3x Optical Zoom and an extra-large 2.7" high resolution LCD, the F50fd also includes Fujifilm's signature Face Detection 2.0 with Automatic Red-Eye Removal.

With the Z10fd, you can Face It, Beam It, Blog It and Roll It with 7.2 MegaPixel power, a 3x Optical Zoom and an extra-large 2.5” LCD at an extremely affordable price.

Please click here for more information.

Sony Confirms FF 24.6MP CMOS Model By Year End

Sony confirms at PMA '08 that the long rumored Full Frame DSLR flagship model will be a reality.

It's going to be a Full Frame, 24.6MP CMOS model with Super Steady Shot stabilization, and should be available by year's end.

Sony Announces New A300 & A350 DSLR Models

Finally expanding its current Alpha DSLR camera line and lenses even further, Sony has announced two new additions to its Alpha line of DSLR digital cameras, the 10.2 megapixel A300 and the 14.2 megapixel A350. The cameras are aimed at serious photographers as well as consumers looking to get beyond the constraints of typical point-and-shoot digital cameras. Both cameras feature Sony's new "Quick AF Life View," a two-sensor system that enables users to frame images on the cameras' built-in LCD displays without sacrificing auto-focus speed.

"Mainstream users stepping up to DSLRs are looking for a similar experience to their point and shoot cameras, but without compromise in speed or performance" said Sony Electronics' director for digital camera marketing Phil Lubell, in s a statement. "Quick AF Live View gives these new models a familiar shooting style without compromising speed—ideal for the growing market of first-time SLR users."

Both cameras feature 2.7-inch LCD displays that flip out from the camera bodies, Sony's Bionz image processing engine, image stabilization, and sensitivity down to ISO 3,200. The A300 can shoot at three frames per second, while the A350 can manage about 2.5 frames per second (using the optical viewfinder, not the LCD); both store images to CompactFlash cards. Sony is touting the new slimmer bodies on the cameras as friendlier than the typical DSLR, but both are still compatible with a wide range of lenses and accessories, including vertical grips.

The A300 will ship with 18–70mm lens for about $800, with the A350 will be available in an $800 lens-free edition, or a $900 for a kit with lenses. Both should be available in April. Sony has also announced a new series of lenses for use with its Alpha DSLR line.

How Bad Do You Want It? Maui Photo Contest

Cold weather, work, responsibility -- how bad do you want to escape? If you're dreaming of relaxing and exploring a true photographer's paradise, five nights in the luxurious Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on the Hawaiian island of Maui probably sounds like music to your ears.

The trip, including airfare for two from a North American gateway in the continental U.S., and a rental car to explore black- or white-sand beaches, take the drive to Hana, whale-watch on the Expedition Ferry, climb Haleakala Mountain and/or visit the nearby islands of Lana'i and Moloka'i, could be yours if you win Pop Photo's Maui: How Bad Do You Want It? Photo Contest.

Read more information on popphoto.com.
image © Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Adobe Discontinues Adobe Stock Photos Service

Official notice from Adobe...

As of April 1, 2008, the Adobe® Stock Photos royalty-free image service will be discontinued. We made this decision in order to focus our efforts in other areas, and we want to share this news with you and let you know how it affects you.

Over the next few months we will be making changes to Adobe Stock Photos. On March 4, 2008, search functionality will be disabled. You will be able to purchase images through our service until March 31, 2008.

To finalize your transactions with us, please follow these steps:

1. Complete your image searches by March 4, 2008.

2. Make final image purchases by March 31, 2008.

3. If necessary, re-download past purchases and print your purchase history by March 31, 2008.

4. When you're ready, uninstall Adobe Stock Photos from Adobe® Bridge in your Creative Suite® applications.

Download the Windows Uninstaller now.
Download the Mac Uninstaller now.

Thanks for your support of Adobe and the Adobe Stock Photos service.

Sincerely,
The Adobe Stock Photos Team

Monday, January 28, 2008

NAPP Photoshop CS3 Seminar Coming To Phoenix

Photoshop CS3 for Photographers Tour
Phoenix, Arizona
Thursday, February 28, 2008

I'm very enthusiastic about Kelby Traning coming to Phoenix next month. Here is the pitch from their website...

You can join best-selling author Ben Willmore and the NAPP team for the Photoshop CS3 for Photographers Tour, an entire day of Photoshop training that you don't want to miss. This is your chance to learn the hottest tips and tricks in photo restoration and repair!

The seminar is only $79 for NAPP members, or $99 for non-members. At the seminar you'll receive our invaluable keyboard shortcuts guide, our "goodies" disc, and a detailed seminar workbook that includes all the techniques presented in a step-by-step format so you can spend the day learning instead of taking notes.

For more info go to Kelbytraining.com.

Sony World Photography Awards Competition Ending Soon

The Competition
Throughout the five days and evenings, a series of events will take place amongst over 300 diverse photographs on exhibit, all derived from the three finalists work in each of the 11 professional categories. The exhibition will be open to the public for five days.

On the final evening, (24th April), a spectacular awards ceremony will pay tribute to the photo industry and announce the winners in each professional category as well as the overall amateur winner. One image will be named world photograph of the year and receive the coveted "L’ iris d’Or", including a $25,000 cash prize.

A cocktail reception of 400 VIPs including finalists, Academy Members, photographers, Judges, press and other industry leaders will commence the evening followed by the Awards Ceremony taking place in the Grand Auditorium in front of over 2,000 people.

For Professionals
The Sony World Photography Awards incorporates eleven Professional Award categories with a winner in each category, a Lifetime Achievement Award and proudly presents "L’ iris d’Or" – the Sony World Photography Awards, Photograph of the Year, whose winner claims the $25,000 prize. Three finalists will be nominated in each category with all nominated finalists receiving free accommodation in Cannes along with VIP tickets to the cocktail party, awards ceremony and gala dinner. For further information click on For Professionals.

For Amateurs
The Sony World Photography Awards also recognises amateur photographers and incorporates an Amateur Award, covering eight categories. The winners from each category will be exhibited in Cannes with the overall winner (and guest) being flown to Cannes and put up in a hotel for the Awards presentation. For further information click on For Amateurs.

The deadline is coming up fast - January 31, 2008.

Popphoto.com at PMA 2008

The popphoto.com team of editors will be reporting live from the Photo Marketing Association's 2008 trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada all week. Check back often for their continually updated coverage of the hottest new digital cameras and accessories being unveiled and touted at the show, such as the Pentax K20D, the Canon EOS Rebel XSi, the FujiFilm S100FS, and much more. They'll also have live podcasts from the show floor, exclusive analysis of hot products and other cool coverage from Las Vegas.

Popphoto.com will be at the 2008 PMA conference in Las Vegas.

Popphoto.com - Cool Cameras for HDR Photography

Pretty much every DSLR out there can be used to make High Dynamic Range images, but some make it easier than others.

Briefly, HDRI involves capturing the same scene at different exposures, then merging and processing these bracketed shots through a specialized workflow to pull as much detail out of the image -- from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights.

Read the entire online article.

D80 Firmware Version 1.10 Update From Nikon

Nikon has released firmware version 1.10 for the D80 digital SLR. Available now via Nikon's support website, the update adds certified Windows Vista compatibility, USB MTP protocol support and improves long exposure noise reduction processing under certain conditions.

Modifications enabled with upgrade of A and B firmware from Ver. 1.01 to Ver. 1.10:
The product will be "Certified for Windows Vista"

Support for the new USB Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) has been added. The PTP option in the setup menu will be modified to MTP/PTP. The icon will also be modified. The effects of noise reduction processing performed at shutter speeds of 1 - 8s with shutter speed set to "bulb", when ON is selected for Long Exp. NR in the shooting menu, have been approved.

Visit the Nikon Technical Support firmware update page for the download and instructions here:
D80 Firmware Update 1.10 - Windows
D80 Firmware Update 1.10 - Macintosh

Thursday, January 24, 2008

First Look At The New Pentax K20D

Pentax has announced the new K20D DSLR and Popular Photography and Imaging seems to like it a lot. Check out their first look.

Hasselblad To Provide Digital Demos In The Phoenix Area

Hasselblad USA will be in the Phoenix area on February 6th, 7th and 8th and will be available to provide personal demonstrations of their latest digital capture technology.

If you are interested in learning about the latest advances in professional digital capture products, contact Hasselblad USA's regional manager Jeff Payne to schedule an appointment.

Jeff will be in the Phoenix area during the following time frames:
Wednesday, February 6th: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Thursday , February 7th: 9:00am-5:00pm
Friday, February 8th: 9:00am-12:00pm

You can contact Jeff via phone at 800-536-6661 or email at:jpayne@hasselbladusa.com
To learn more about Hasselblad technology visit us on the web at:Hasselblad Website

Monday, January 21, 2008

Richard Avedon Exhibit At Phoenix Art Museum

Richard Avedon: Photographer of Influence
Norton Photography Gallery
January 12, 2008 – April 13, 2008
Richard Avedon’s career as a fashion and portrait photographer spanned nearly seven decades in the 20th century and just into the 21st, leaving an indelible impression on American culture. The early years of Avedon’s prolific career were spent photographing the era’s leading models in designer clothing for magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. For his signature portraiture style, Avedon placed his subject in front of a spare white background, drawing a viewer’s attention to the posture, expression, and gestures of the people he photographed. This exhibition includes both his early fashion photographs as well as powerful and revealing portraits of actors, politicians, artists, writers and intellectuals.

Phoenix Art Museum website.

CNET Explores The Future Of Adobe Lightroom

CNET talks with Kevin Connor, Adobe’s senior director of professional digital imaging product management for Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and the Digital Negative format about the future of Lightroom. Read the entire article.

Location Announced For Scottsdale Digital Days Photography Workshop

Event coordinators just recently posted the official location for the upcoming Digital Days Photography Workshop in Scottsdale, Arizona. Scheduled for February 9th and 10th registration is occurring now. B&H Photo & Video is the official retailer for this event.

Chaparral Suites
5001 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
(480) 949-1414
February 9 & 10, 9am-5pm

6x17 Digital Camera From Seitz

If you have an extra $40,000 lying around why not pick up the 160MP 6x17 digital camera from Seitz Switzerland. I’ll take two…

Here’s some info from the official Seitz website.

• Create a high-resolution (160 million pixel) 6x17 digital scan in just one second
• Capture action thanks to a minimum exposure speed of 1/2000 sec. (per pixel) - images full of speed, motion and life!
• Benefit from an outstanding image quality in virtually all light situations:
- 16-bit per channel (48-bit RGB) color depth
- anti-blooming
- low noise
- dynamic range of 1:2,600 (11 f-stops)
- Seitz image optimisation algorithms
• Use world-class large format Schneider or Rodenstock lenses - or reuse your existing set of lenses
• Process a high-definition high dynamic range panorama directly in the RAM of the computer (single-pass, multi-pass)
• Use a very user-friendly software with very advanced features
• Take advantage of the latest technology in tablet PCs for image control, display and storage
• Remove the Seitz D3 digital scan back and use it with the Roundshot D3, the Alpa family of medium format cameras
(Alpa 12 SWA, WA, TC, XY) or with other medium or large format cameras (in the future)

This substantial resolution makes it possible to create high quality reproductions. A variety of different formats is possible: 6x6, 6x9, 6x15 or a full 6x17 panorama. No limits for high definition photography! The camera can also be used in the studio, running the software from a computer (Mac, PC, Linux) via gigabit ethernet connection. Another possibility is to use large-format lenses of existing 6x17 panoramic cameras such as Linhof Technorama, Fuji and others. These lenses are connected to the Seitz camera on an optional adaptor plate.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Shutterbug Looks At New Sony A700 DSLR

Shutterbug takes a close look at the new Sony Alpha 700 DSLR...

The original A100 remains a very fine 10-megapixel entry-level D-SLR but the new enthusiast-level 12-megapixel model is even more desirable because of more effective technology, much greater speed, more rugged construction, and a richer feature set. It should be a strong contender in the mid-range category in spite of fierce competition from other recent 10- and 12-megapixel models. While the A700 does not include a Live View mode, it’s a powerful camera, part of an extensive Sony system that should satisfy even the semiprofessional photographer. Whether you already own Dynax lenses or are considering a multi-talented, high-resolution D-SLR, be sure to ask for a demo of the A700 while comparison shopping for your next camera...

Read the entire three page review at shutterbug.com.

Corel PhotoImpact X3

Corel Corporation announced the PhotoImpact® X3 which is retailing for $69.99 (US and Canada) and is now available through corel.com. Upgrades from PhotoImpact 10, 11 and 12 start at $49.99 SRP (US and Canada).

PhotoImpact® X3 is targeted at the casual user and graphic arts hobbyists since it provides one-click corrections and easy-to-use composition tools.

“Corel’s Digital Media solutions offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance the way users live, work and play,” said Denise MacDonell, Director, Product Management, Digital Imaging at Corel. “Project-oriented users will find that PhotoImpact X3 has the perfect mix of easy-to-use editing capabilities, creative project templates and digital art - all at an affordable price.”

Mamiya Provides IR Filter For ZD Digital Back

Mamiya has released a filter that will allow its ZD Digital Back for medium-format SLRs to capture infrared images. The IR Photo Filter YD401 replaces the standard IR cut filter in the back and allows both infrared and visible light to be transmitted to the sensor. IR cut filters block infrared and allow light in the visible range only to reach the sensor. Photographers will be able to switch out the IR-cut and YD401 filters themselves without any alterations to the ZD back by Mamiya.

The IR Photo Filter YD401 will be available in mid-January 2008. Pricing has not yet been announced.

New Version Of ExpressDigital Darkroom Software

ExpressDigital is proud to announce the next generation of its powerful workflow software, Darkroom v8.9, designed to help photographers make more money in their business. These new features reflect the ever-changing photography landscape, including fast digital output, enhanced wireless support, advanced greenscreen and more.

"By working closely with professional photographers, conducting extensive photographer surveys and watching industry trends, we gauged the needs of the professional photographer and built a new version of Darkroom to fulfill those needs," explained Graham McFarland, Founder and CEO of ExpressDigital. "We found that photographers are anxious to use new technologies to enhance their business and to deliver new, diverse products to their customers."

Fast Digital Output
Darkroom v8.9 cuts photographer screen time by streamlining new digital delivery options into an intuitive wizard system that allows digital files to be as easy to sell as the print. Darkroom photographers can quickly save photos, at a user-set resolution, to a CD, DVD, or memory card. Not only can Darkroom users create digital photo products for their customer, photographers can create interactive slideshows as either a product or sales pitch. The slideshows are distributed by CD/DVD, email or an online posting. Photographers can also access the tools to make products, such as custom photo albums, with the fully integrated PDF printing feature. This universal file format allows photographers to submit a custom photo book project to their favorite professional printing lab.

Enhanced Wireless Support
Darkroom v8.9 took the recent advances in wireless technology to a new level with its integrated internal FTP server. This finely tuned system makes using a wireless camera easier than ever before. With its integrated FTP server, photographers can expect quick setup and seamless support. Photographers who prefer to use a Hotfolder will also see vast improvements in speed and efficiency. The enhanced wireless support in Darkroom provides new workflow opportunities for all industry photographers.

Advanced Greenscreen
As a leader in photography workflow software, ExpressDigital maintains its edge in the industry with advanced greenscreen technology. Darkroom v8.9 provides new state-of-the-art chroma-key algorithms that are smarter and more accurate than ever before. The expanded drop-out adjustment tools give photographers more precise advanced control, while easy-to-use presets allow for a fast and efficient greenscreen workflow.

These features and more are available in the new Darkroom v8.9. For complete details please visit expressdigital.com

Pricing and Availability
ExpressDigital Darkroom v8.9 is immediately available for purchase. The retail prices are as follows: Darkroom Core Edition - $495, Darkroom Professional Edition - $1395, Darkroom Assembly Edition (Plus 6 hours phone training) - $2995, Darkroom Assembly Edition (Plus 2 days on-site training) - $4395. Upgrade pricing is also available.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Super Bowl XLII: The Ultimate Shoot-out

This year the Superbowl is coming back to Arizona, and no I don’t have tickets. But being a sports shooter at the farthest end of the spectrum of an NFL photographer at the “Big Game”, I was interested to read a recent article on popphoto.com regarding the shooters on the sidelines. Here is a brief excerpt.

..Just off-field, sports shooters and their assistants will dash up field and down following the plays. Runners will rapidly ferry memory cards from sideline DSLRs to the nearby media trailers. There, images will be transmitted almost instantaneously to the home offices of the Associated Press, Getty Images, Reuters, Sports Illustrated, and other news organizations.

The goal: To be the first and fastest to deliver images of the game to their print- and web-based clients -- and the world. This intense off-field action carries with it potential rewards just as significant as those of the big game itself...

Not nearly as intense as an NFL game, shooting Youth Sports is rewarding when I see the faces of the players and parents as they view my images. I’m just glad I can capture the action of these “Big Games.” Read the entire article on popphoto.com.


Tuesday, January 15, 2008

NYIP Award of Merit Winner

Several years ago I decided to explore photography education possibilities, beyond a couple of community college courses I had taken. Up until that point anything I knew about photography was primarily self-taught. Those classes were fun and I learned several things, including the now ancient art of darkroom processing and printing, but the classes were limited in scope.

After some research I determined that the New York Institute of Photography would be a good choice. The self-paced, NYI Complete Course in Professional Photography seemed to provide what I was looking for, and as luck would have it, NYI was offering an enticing discount at the time. So in 2005 I became an NYI student.

I was immediately impressed with the amount of material NYIP sent me. Since I opted to pay for the entire course in one lump sum, not only did I receive an additional discount, I also soon found on my porch, a couple of boxes filled with course materials, DVDs, audio tapes, CDs, books, photographic umbrella, 5-in-1 reflector disc and more. I dived into the material and then completed and submitted the first photo project.

Fast forward to October 2007 and the first project is the only one that I had completed. Life, kids, chronic procrastination and starting my own photography business put NYI on the back burner. I found myself saying ‘I’ll get to that next week’ for about two years.

I am the reason why they provide three years to complete the course. I will inadvertently utilize all of that time by the time I’m done, and I do plan to finish. Back in October I completed and submitted the next two assignments, realizing I could have improved my current skills if I had been reading the NYIP material up to that point.

Recently I received the critiqued projects back in the mail along with notification that both projects had received the NYI Award of Merit. NYI also purchased the rights to those photos for their Student Archives and website. This was a pleasant surprise and provides me with additional motivation to complete the course. I’ve included the four awarded images in this post, and thank NYI for recognizing my work. Even prior to receiving this distinction, I would recommend the New York Institute of Photography to any beginning or advanced amateur photographer looking to improve their technique and knowledge of the photography business.


Nikon and Canon Lead Japanese Camera Market

Tokyo-based BCN said that, having captured 43.3% of Japan's DSLR market between January and November, it expects Nikon to hold on to the top spot once December's sales have been calculated. Despite the successful launch of the 40D, BCN's research suggests that Canon will not be able to overcome its second place, having secured a 39.9% market share up to November. Pentax were positioned third, having taken 6.3% of the market to November.

However, taking compacts into account as well, Canon led the market for the fourth consecutive year. It took 21.2% of Japan's overall digital camera market, ahead of Matsushita (Panasonic), which jumped from fourth to second place with 14.9% of the market, mainly because of the success of the Lumix FX33.

With Electronics giants Panasonic and Sony both launching DSLRs in the second half of 2007 and expected to continue to engage with this relatively high-margin market, 2008 is likely to see the big two's market dominance challenged. The Japanese market for DSLRs grew almost 50% in the first 11 months of 2007, in terms of volumes and around 35% by value.

Nikon was bullish about the additional competition: "Next fiscal year [from April 2008] our competitors will develop their marketing to full extent in the digital SLR market, and we expect this will stimulate market growth and contribute to sales." In November 2007, Nikon revised its sales projections, stating that it expected its DSLR sales to increase 43% over the previous year and account for 40% of the Global DSLR market in the financial year ending March 31st 2008.

The Japanese market buys 14% of all DSLRs and 10.3% of all compacts made by Japanese manufacturers*.

* Figures from CIPA represent only cameras made by Japanese manufacturers. This makes them fairly representative for all DSLR sales, as Samsung is the only major non-Japanese DSLR manufacturer.

Sony A200 DSLR Hands-On Preview

e-Photographia has acquired a pre-production version of the Sony Alpha 200 DSLR and provided a hands-on preview. Several close-up images of the camera fitted with the Carl Zeiss DT f3.5-4.5 16-80mm lens are provided.

Terry White Introduction To New Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 For Macintosh

Terry White takes a first look at the new Photoshop Elements 6 from Adobe for Macintosh on the Adobe Creative Suite Video Podcast.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Upcoming Contest Deadlines And Events

Jan. 15:
IPN Go Indie Contest Extended Deadline Entries are being accepted in the second annual GO INDIE contest, sponsored by IPNStock (a partner of PDN within Nielsen Business Media). The contest is open to amateurs and professionals. Details at http://www.goindiecontest.com/.

Jan. 15:
PDN Photo Annual Annual Contest Extended Deadline The PDN Photo Annual Contest is accepting entries through the extended deadline of Jan. 15. Categories include Advertising, Magazine / Editorial, Photo Books, Photojournalism, Corporate Design, Personal, Stock Photography, Web Sites And Student Work. Details are at http://www.pdnphotoannual.com/.

Jan. 18:
Pictures of the Year International Deadline January 18 is the deadline for the University of Missouri School of Journalism's 65th Annual Pictures of the Year International contest. A call for entries will be posted Dec. 10. Details online at poy.org.

Jan. 18:
Art Directors Club Award Deadline The deadline to enter the 87th Annual Art Directors Club Awards is Jan. 18. The awards include a photography division with various editorial and advertising categories. Details on the ADC Web site.

Jan. 18:
Center Project Competition Deadline Center (formerly the Santa Fe Center for Photography) is accepting entries in three competitions, all with a deadline of Jan. 18. Photographers may enter work in the 14th annual Project Competition, which supports long-term documentary projects and fine-art series; The Singular Image, which recognizes individual photos; and Review Santa Fe, a two-day conference for photographers featuring portfolio reviews. Details at visitcenter.org/.

Jan. 20:
Magenta Emerging Photographers Exchange Deadline The Magenta Foundation is accepting entries in its fourth annual Emerging Photographers exchange. The contest is open to photographers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. under the age of 34, with a top prize of $5,000. The deadline is Jan. 20, 2008. Details online here.

Jan. 21:
Blue Earth Alliance project submission deadline Blue Earth Alliance is a non-profit organization that sponsors photography projects that educate the public about threatened cultures, endangered environments and other social concerns. (The alliance provides financial and professional support, though the photographer is primarily responsible for developing funding requests for the project.) The next submission deadline is Jan. 21. Submission guidelines and other details are available online here.

Jan. 30:
Overseas Press Club Awards Deadline Entries are being accepted for the Overseas Press Club Awards, including several categories for photographic reporting abroad. OPC awards include the Robert Capa Gold Medal Award (for photography reporting requiring exceptional courage and enterprise), the Oliver Rebbot Award (for magazines and books), the John Faber Award (for newspapers or wire services) and the Feature Photography Award. The entry deadline is Jan. 30. Complete details and an entry form are available online here.

Jan. 31:
Dorothea Lange-Paul Taylor Prize Deadline The $20,000 Dorothea Lange-Paul Taylor Prize from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University recognizes collaboration between a writer and a photographer on a documentary project. The deadline to enter is Jan. 31, 2008. Details online here.

Feb. 1:
NPPA Best of Photojournalism Deadline The deadline for the National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism 2008 contest is Feb. 1. Entries are now being accepted in categories in four divisions: Still Photography, Photo Editing, Web Sites and (TV) News Video. Details online at bop.nppa.org.

Feb. 15:
Center for Photography at Woodstock Photography Now Deadline Entries are being accepted for the Center for Photography at Woodstock’s annual Photography Now exhibition. The deadline to enter is Feb. 15. Details online at http://www.cpw.org/.

March 15:
The Great Outdoors Photo Contest PDN and National Geographic Traveler co-sponsor The Great Outdoors Photo Contest, which has separate amateur and professional divisions. Entries are being accepted in categories of Scenics of The Natural World, Outdoor Sports And Activities, Parks, Islands and Underwater, and Gardens. The deadline is March 15 with an extended deadline of March 31. Details at http://www.thegreatoutdoorscontest.com/.

Microsoft Usually Annoys, Yet Still Can Inspire

Since I’m on the subject of the Microsoft Professional Photography website, check out the Icons of Imaging section for some inspiration.

Profiled photographers include, Phil Borges, Colin Finlay, Reed Hoffmann and Art Wolfe to name a few. Good stuff.
image © Art Wolfe