David Ziser's Captured By The Light Tour 2010 Coming To Phoenix

Accomplished Wedding and Portrait photographer David Ziser is coming to Phoenix on Tuesday September 7th for his "Captured by the Light Tour 2010".  Gain insight on camera settings, lens selection, lighting, promotion, post-production, and workflow.  The event takes place from 6pm-10:30pm at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel.  Registration is only $79.  Upcoming locations include Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Boston and many more until the tour raps up in November.

David Ziser Captured by the Light Tour 2010

Captured by the Light Book

Portrait Using Sony Alpha 300 DSLR

I’ve been going through some previous Lightroom collections and finding some RAW images I never got around to working on. This image was from a photo shoot back in February 2010 when I borrowed a Sony Alpha 300 with Sony 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 DT lens.  I can’t say there was much difference between my old Sony Alpha 100 and the 300, other than the body of the A300 is smaller and more annoying to handle.  The sensor is improved as these images were taken at ISO 800 and still usable; something that my older A100 couldn’t accomplish.  I have since jumped ship and become a Canonite with my wonderful EOS 7D.  No regrets.

The lighting setup was simple, just a single tungsten hot light on each side of the camera at around 45 degrees to the model.  This image was taken at f5.6 @ 1/100 with a focal length of 150mm.  Adjustments were made within Adobe Lightroom 3 and Adobe Photoshop CS5.  

Adobe Release Photoshop Lightroom 3.2 Update

Adobe has released an update for Photoshop Lightroom 3. The 3.2 update now available for download provides additional camera support for several new camera models including the Panasonic DMC-LX5, Sony NEX-5 and Pentax 645D. There are also numerous corrections for issues introduced within Lightroom 3.0, over 120 new lens profiles, and it includes the ability to directly publish to Facebook.

If you currently own Lightroom 3 and have it configured to autoupdate, you will be prompted to download and install the update at next launch of the application. To manually update, open the Help menu and select ‘Check for Updates’.

In addition to the Lightroom update Adobe has also released Adobe Camera Raw 6.2 update.  This will also be required if your digital workflow includes editing files in Photoshop directly from Lightroom.  This can be updated from within Photoshop or downloaded directly from the Adobe website.

Camera: A History of Photography, Coffee Table Book A Must Have

I’ve always been a fan of big coffee table books, but I can’t recall ever reading one from cover to cover…until now.  “Camera” from Todd Gustavson made the effort easy to accomplish.  Gustavson is the Curator of Technology at the Eastman House in Rochester, N.T., and he has put together a history of machines that have captured moments in time.  With over 350 color images and illustrations the book starts with a camera obscura from 1820 and completes with the digital Leica M8. 

I knew I was in for a treat when the first full page photo was of a Kodak No. 1 Brownie box camera owned by Ansel Adams.  The camera collector in me was thrilled.   I’ve got a No. 2 Brownie that still works.  It blows my mind that I can still take decent shots on 120 roll film with this little box camera that is over 100 years old.  Amazing.  While I love my Canon EOS 7D, I doubt it will be capturing 18MP images after a century. 

Some of the first images in the book are from Niepce, Daguerre and Talbot; names synonymous with the birth of modern photography.  The quality and clarity of the Daguerreotype images displayed in the book are a testament to this capture process.   Some of the most interesting sections cover the oddities in camera development such as the Photo-Revolver de Poche.  In 1882 the interesting idea was conceived to create a camera that looked like a handgun.  It operated like a pistol too with ten 20x20mm dry plates loaded into the cartridge and a 70mm f10 lens in the nickel-plated brass barrel.  There was no viewfinder, but as expected it did have a front sight on top of the barrel to assist with drawing a bead on your target.

This book is a must have for any camera collector or enthusiast with hundreds of cameras spanning almost two hundred years, plus historic photos, drawings, ads and plenty of informative captions and text.  Best of all it won’t damage the wallet.  

Camera: A History of Photography from Daguerreotype to Digital

'Best of' Photo Chosen From Flagstaff Kelby Photowalk 2010

I was fortunate to participate in the Third Annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk this year.  The specific walk I attended was in Flagstaff, Arizona and in July Northern Arizona is the only place you want to be in this state.  The high elevation, cool temperatures, pine trees, mountains, fresh air and small town make it ideal for photography.  There were some very good photographers on the walk and great personalities and photo opportunities discovered as we strolled around downtown Flagstaff. 

I consider myself lucky to have one of my photographs chosen as the ‘Best of’ the Flagstaff walk by coordinator Chris Pondy, and entered into the 2010 Photo Contest and People’s Choice Contest.  Those I didn’t win, but just getting recognized for the walk itself is great.  The chosen photo is displayed above.

I came across this bike while walking back alleys and liked the composition between the bike and the vent which someone has obviously 'vented' on.  The color of the bike against the painted wall also caught my eye.  I ran this through the HDR Toning feature in the new Photoshop CS5 with some initial adjustments in Photoshop Lightroom 3.  I am very happy with this image, which can be purchased (by the way) at the CTZ Photography Store in several sizes including a big 24x36.  

My Flickr Group from the Flagstaff Kelby Photowalk

Complete Kelby Photowalk (Flagstaff) Flickr Group

Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2010 Flickr Group

Canon Announces Several New EF Lenses and Extenders

Canon has announced several new EF lenses and extenders.   Dpreview has posted first looks for all of the products below.

Canon EF 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM Zoom Lens

Canon EF 8-15mm f4 L USM Fisheye Zoom Lens

Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L IS II USM and Canon EF 400mm f2.8 L IS II USM Lens

Canon EF 500mm f4 L IS II USM and 600mm f4 L IS II USM Lens

Canon EF Extender 1.4x III and Extender 2x III

Canon Announces New EOS 60D DSLR

Canon is releasing the new EOS 60D soon with an expected retail price of around $1399 with Canon EF-S 18-135mm Lens.

·      18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor

·      Advanced creative features with Basic +

·      Vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 ratio LCD

·      Full HD movies with manual control

·      DIGIC 4

·      ISO 100-6400, H:12800

·      5.3fps shooting for up to 58 JPEGs

·      9-point cross type AF System

·      iFCL metering with 63-zone Dual-layer Sensor

·      Integrated Speedlite transmitter

·      In-camera RAW processing

Official Company Press Release (Partial)

Canon today announces the latest addition to its world-famous EOS series of Digital SLR (DSLR) cameras – the new EOS 60D. Replacing the EOS 50D, the EOS 60D is designed for photographers who want to take their skills to the next level, offering high performance, a series of creative features, a Vari-angle LCD screen and enhanced ergonomics – empowering photography enthusiasts to capture outstanding stills and Full High Definition (HD) video for unique, creative results. 



High speed, high resolution - 
With an 18 Megapixel APS-C sensor, the EOS 60D offers high levels of detail and a magnification of 1.6x the focal length of the lens to capture poster-size images in a variety of aspect ratios*1. Canon’s powerful DIGIC 4 technology rapidly processes image information captured from the CMOS sensor’s four-channel output, providing outstanding colour reproduction, as well as high-speed shooting at 5.3fps in bursts of 58 full-resolution JPEGs. 

A standard ISO range of 100-6400 is extendable to 12800, providing smooth images with minimal noise in low light conditions. A 9-point, all cross-type autofocus (AF) system also provides swift and accurate focusing, with an extra-sensitive centre point for lenses faster than f/2.8, allowing photographers to artistically employ a shallow depth of field during portraiture or for more atmospheric shooting.

The EOS 60D features Canon’s iFCL metering system, first introduced with the acclaimed EOS 7D, with a 63-zone Dual-Layer sensor.  Information on subject location is gathered from the Auto Focus system, and is combined with colour and luminance readings for consistent accurate exposures whatever the situation. The Integrated Speedlite transmitter also provides in-camera control of multiple EX flash units for more creative lighting.



Shoot from all angles
- A new 7.7cm (3.0”) Vari-angle wide LCD monitor features a 3:2 aspect ratio and a 1,040k dot resolution, providing added flexibility and allowing photographers to view their images in incredible detail. The Vari-angle wide LCD helps frame shots from difficult angles, and can be positioned with Live View enabled to achieve the desired composition if shooting isn’t possible using the viewfinder. The ability to capture wildlife portraits, overhead shots or ground-level photography is instantly enhanced, and the surface of the screen features an anti-reflective, water-repellent coating to protect the screen allows easy viewing in bright light and from a variety of angles.



Empowering creativity
- A new Basic + function makes it easy for photographers to add their own creative touch to images without worrying about changing settings. Photographers can add ambiance to a scene by shooting according to lighting and scene type, with Portrait, Landscape, Close-Up, Sport, Night Snapshot or Creative AUTO modes all available. Different effects can be achieved by shooting with Basic + enhancements such as Daylight, Cloudy or Sunset or pre-set Picture Styles including Vivid, Soft, Warm or Monochrome.

View the Hands-On Preview from dpreview.

Sony Announces New Alpha 560 and 580 DSLR models

Sony announces two new Alpha DSLR models, the A560 and A580.  The A580 will be released later this year, while the A560 is not expected until early 2011.

Company Press Release:

Appealing to photographers ready to explore sophisticated new creative possibilities, the DSLR-A580 and DSLR-A560 from Sony offer unparalleled levels of imaging refinement.

At the heart of both is a new-generation Exmor™ APS HD CMOS Sensor processor. Together with the latest iteration of Sony’s powerful BIONZ imaging processor, it supports high-speed continuous shooting plus a sophisticated range of digital image compositing and processing functions. This gives even greater artistic possibilities to beginners and photo enthusiasts alike.

The A580 and A560 can freeze fleeting photo opportunities at up to 7 fps in Speed Priority Continuous Advance mode. What’s more, Sony’s popular Quick AF Live View system is now more effective than ever. The benefits of live image preview are maximised by a newly developed 15-point phase-detection autofocus system that keeps even moving subjects in pin-sharp focus.

The DSLR-A580 and A560 are compatible with the full α range of over 30 A-mount interchangeable lenses of Sony and Carl Zeiss and offer SteadyShot INSIDE. This in-body sensor shift image stabilisation system provides up to 4 exposure steps of anti-shake correction when shooting handheld.

Full HD movie shooting
 - Both the A580 and A560 offer Full HD video shooting. Just touch the dedicated Movie button and record detail-packed HD videos and crisp stereo sound in a choice of AVCHD 1080i or web-friendly MP4 formats. Thanks to the large, high-resolution Exmor™ APS HD CMOS Sensor, it’s possible to capture stunning HD movie clips with beautiful background defocus (‘bokeh’) effects.

Effortless composition and image viewing
 - The A580 and A560 enable exciting new possibilities for framing and viewing the highest-quality still images and video.

Articulating up or down for comfortable framing in any shooting position, the bright 7.5 cm (3.0") Xtra Fine LCD offers a bright, high contrast view with superb detail and colours.

As an additional refinement, new Focus Check Live View mode simplifies critical assessment of the finest image details. A real-time ‘feed’ from the main sensor can be viewed on the LCD monitor, with switchable magnification allowing close-up confirmation of delicate manual focus adjustments. Contrast AF method is selectable in focus check Live View mode.

DSLR enthusiasts will also welcome the bright, high contrast optical viewfinder with 95% frame coverage that provides a supremely detailed view while composing still images.  Depth of field preview is now available at the touch of a button.

Both cameras feature 3D Sweep Panorama, allowing photographers to capture detail-packed extra-wide panoramas with a huge field of view. 3D panoramas can be enjoyed on any compatible 3D HD television.

Auto HDR is now refined further compared with previous-generation α models. Data from a burst of three frames at bracketed exposure values is automatically combined, creating a single image with extended highlight and shadow detail. Multi-frame Noise Reduction ‘stacks’ a high-speed burst of six frames, creating a single low-noise exposure that boosts effective sensitivity as high as ISO 25600.

The new cameras accept both Memory Stick PRO Duo™ (including Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™) and SD (including both SDHC and SDXC formats) media (all sold separately).  Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX 30MB per second transfer rate offers the best performance during cameras' continuous shooting mode or when transferring the data to another media.

Sony Unveils New SLT Camera Line With A33 and A55

Sony announced plans to release a new SLT camera line with the A33 and A55. Sony calls the new system Translucent Mirror Technology. A traditional DSLR uses a mirror placed in front of the camera's sensor to bounce an image up to the optical viewfinder. When the shutter is released, the mirror is pulled out of the way, cutting off the image in the viewfinder and allowing the sensor to capture light from the lens.

In place of a traditional mirror, the a55 and a33 contain a piece of optical film. This makes it possible for light to pass through the mirror to the Exmor APS HD sensor as light is simultaneously reflected up to a 15-point phase-detect AF chip. The stream of light to the sensor and the auto focus mechanism is never interrupted.

The A55 is built around a 16.2MP sensor while the A33 features a 14.2MP unit. Both feature 3.0" articulated LCDs, full HD video recording and ISO sensitivity up to 12,800, while the A55 also features built-in GPS. Priced at $749 and $649 respectively, the A55 will be available from October, while the A33 will hit the markets earlier, in September.

Save $3.00 Off Select Ladies T-Shirts at OliverImages.Com

Save $3.00 on select ladies short and long sleeve shirts, including photography related and other products on OliverImages.com. Discount will be notated on select shirts and applied at checkout. While supplies last.

Photographers Like It RAW T-shirts

All Other Products

25% OFF T-shirts at OliverImages.com Until August 22nd

OliverImages.com is offering 25% off your order of 3 or more men's and women's classic cut white and light T-shirts, excluding shipping charges, gift wrap charges and applicable sales tax. Coupon code 2HOT25 must be entered at checkout. Offer good until August 22, 2010.

Photographer Joe McNally and KelbyTraining Coming to Phoenix, Arizona

Kelby Training is coming back to Phoenix. Of course they’re waiting until December when it’s beautiful here, and who can blame them. Who wants to organize a training seminar in July or August when it is 115 degrees? No one, that’s who. I’ve attended three of these seminars and they are excellent. Non-NAPP members get the whole day for only $99, while NAPP members enjoy a day of training for only $79.

This seminar is special however, as it is hosted by celebrated professional photographer Joe McNally. “Location Lighting Techniques with Joe McNally” should prove to be well worth the price of admission. He’ll cover Off Camera Flash Essentials, Multiple Flash Techniques, Portrait Techniques, On-Location Flash Techniques and more, including live portrait shoots during the class. Too bad December is so far away...

Visit Kelbytraining.com for more information regarding this and other available seminars. Other upcoming locations for this seminar include Hartford, Tampa, Atlanta, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

Location Lighting Techniques Seminar Tour with Joe McNally

New Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book From Deke McClelland

 

New photography book release.  This is not an endorsement, I’m just passing along new release information.

Deke McClelland

Adobe Photoshop CS5 One-on-One

Product Description from Amazon.com

Master the fundamentals of Photoshop CS5 and make all of your images come alive. With Deke McClelland's unique and effective learning system, you get step-by-step tutorials, hours of DVD-video demonstrations, and lots of hands-on projects to help you improve your knowledge and hone your skills.

- Find out everything you need to know to be productive with Photoshop CS5 right away 

- Learn at your own speed with 12 self-paced tutorials 

- Try out professional techniques with engaging, real-world projects 

- Read about a particular technique and watch the video to see how it's done 

- Follow every key step with hundreds of full-color photos, diagrams, and screen shots 

- Test your knowledge with multiple-choice quizzes in each chapter

Adobe Photoshop CS5 One-on-One simulates a classroom environment with one-on-one attention as you proceed from lesson to lesson. Deke's expert advice is like working with a personal coach -- you'll learn Photoshop faster, more creatively, and more efficiently than you thought possible.

New Photography Book From Bryan Peterson

New photography book release.  This is not an endorsement, I’m just passing along new release information.

Bryan Peterson

Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera

Product Description from Amazon.com

With more than 350,000 copies sold, Understanding Exposure has demystified the complex concepts of exposure for countless photographers. Now updated with current technologies, more than one hundred new images, and an all-new chapter, this new edition will inspire you more than ever to free yourself from “auto” and create the pictures you truly want.

In his trademark easy-to-understand style, author Bryan Peterson explains the relationship between aperture and shutter speed, including how to achieve successful exposures in seemingly difficult situations. You’ll learn:

• Which aperture gives you the greatest contrast and sharpness, and when to use it 
• Which apertures guarantee the background remains an out-of-focus tone 
• Which one aperture—when combined with the right lens—creates an area of sharpness from three feet to infinity 
• How to creatively use shutter speed to either freeze an action or imply motion 
• Where to take a meter reading when shooting a sunset, snow, or a city at dusk

With new information on white balance, flash, HDR, and more, this updated classic will inspire you to stop guessing and take control of your settings for better photos anytime, anywhere, and with any camera.

New Digital Camera Reviews Posted

New reviews have been added to the “Recent Digital Camera Reviews” section.  These include the following models:

Canon PowerShot SD-1300 IS

Canon PowerShot SD-4000 IS

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX75

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Ricoh GRX-P10

Sony A390 DSLR

Sony CyberShot DSC-TX7

Sony Announces New 18-200mm Zoom Lens for NEX Camera Line

A new E-mount telephoto lens has been announced from Sony for their latest NEX series of Interchangeable Lens cameras.  The 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS lens should be available around September 10, 2010 at an expected retail price of $800.  The lens does feature image-stabilization and will usable on the NEX-VG10E camcorder as well.   Sony currently provides an 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 zoom lens and 16mm F2.8 wideangle lens for these cameras.

New Photography Trainer App for iPhone and Android

A new app for iPhone and Android devices allows photographers to ‘learn as they go’ when out and about with their DSLR. According to the vendor it’s like having a photography instructor in your pocket (insert inappropriate joke here). Below is the official company press release and link to the site.

Official Press Release:
Trailblazer Media announces the launch of the “Photography Trainer” app for iPhone and Android. The significant increase in D-SLR sales over the last several years has led to consumers looking for innovative ways to learn photography and how to use their cameras. Photography Trainer is designed to teach photographers how to operate their D-SLRs when they’re out with their cameras and taking pictures. The app is an interactive step-by-step guide on how to set the camera to capture photos with impact – users tell it the type of subject being photographed and the lighting they’re in, and the app guides them on how to set items like shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focus, etc. It helps users get out of “Auto Mode” to allow for more creative photography.

Unlike any other photography app, Photography Trainer explains in detail “why” to use a given camera setting, for example, using a fast shutter speed to freeze fast-moving action or a wide aperture to blur the background and make the subject “pop”. Over time, users learn the principles and become better photographers. The app is written and designed by full-time professional photographer, Paul Timpa, as a way to enable anyone to capture better images. It doesn’t require an internet connection so it can be used anywhere in the world while traveling.

Paul Timpa has helped thousands of photographers through photography tutorials on the web. He’s now created this app to take advantage of the interactive nature of mobile phone apps and the fact that photographers will have their phones with them whenever they’re out taking pictures.

In addition to the “interactive training” section of the app, Photography Trainer also features a gallery of dozens of professional photographs each with complete shooting data such as shutter speed and aperture, and exactly why those settings were chosen for that particular photo. This enables the user to see how settings affect the final image.

A third section of the app, “In-Depth Techniques” dives into further detail on a wide variety of topics including Night Photography, Sports and Action Photography, Composition, Capturing Sharp Photos, and more. It also includes a detailed HDR tutorial with complete step-by-step instructions and example photos.

Photography Trainer is available for iPhone, iPod Touch, and Android devices for $0.99 by searching on “Photography Trainer” in the iPhone app store or Android Market.

App Website: http://www.trailblazermedia.com/

Tamron Releasing New SP 70-300mm Di VC USD Lens For Nikon

The new Tamron SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD (Model A005) high-resolution DSLR telephoto zoom lens will be available for the Nikon mount on August 26, 2010, with the launch of mounts for Canon and Sony to follow soon after.

Some of the features:

• New optical system optimized for digital cameras achieves top resolution in the 70-300mm class with specialized glass elements including an XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) lens

• Fast focusing USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive), the ultrasonic autofocus drive

• The lens is equipped with Tamron’s first-ever ultrasonic auto-focus drive USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive). It achieves faster focusing making this telephoto lens perfect for photography of sports, motor racing, and other fast-moving subjects. With advanced motor technology and newly developed software, Tamron's USD delivers precise and noiseless focusing at turbo speed.

• Equipped with Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization

Specifications:

Model: A005

Focal length: 70 – 300mm

Maximum aperture: F/4 – 5.6

Angle of view (diagonal): 34° 21'-8° 15’

Lens construction: 17 elements, 12 groups

Minimum focus distance: 59.1"

Maximum magnification ratio: 1:4 (at f = 300mm: MFD 1.5m)

Filter size (mm): Ø62mm

Length : 5.6"

Diameter: Ø3.2"

Weight : 27.0 oz.

No. of diaphragm blades: 9

Minimum aperture: F/32-45

Standard accessories: Flower Shaped Lens Hood

Compatible mounts: Nikon. Canon & Sony Soon

New Release Candidates for Camera RAW and Lightroom At Adobe Labs

If you’re looking to get a jump on the latest updates for Adobe Camera RAW and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Adobe Labs has made the Release Candidates available. Twelve additional camera models have been included such as the Pentax 645D, Leica S2, Sony NEX and Samsung NX10 to name a few. In an attempt to sync the version number with Camera RAW 6.2, the next Lightroom release will be “3.2”.

Other improvements are added lens profiles and a laundry list of bug fixes.  Visit the Adobe Labs pages below for more details and the download files.

Download Adobe Camera RAW v6.2 Release Candidate

Download Adobe Lightroom v3.2 Release Candidate

Apple Releases v3.3 Camera RAW Update

Apple has released a digital camera RAW compatibility update version 3.3 for Aperture 3 and iPhoto '09. Eight new cameras including the Sony Alpha NEX-5/3, Samsung NX10 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 are now supported.The update is available for immediate download from Apple's website.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1072

New Facebook Page

CTZ Photography has entered the social networking universe. Visit our new Facebook page. The plan is to post lots and lots of photography related links and discussions with some photos sprinkled around for good measure.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CTZ-Photography/141596672538493

New and Improved Online Photography Stores

August and September mark the beginning of the youth sports season here in the Valley of the Sun Stroke because we don’t want our children bursting into flames on the soccer and football fields during a 115 degree July afternoon.  I’m geared up and ready this season to capture the fun and excitement.  I’m also looking forward to giving parents a better shopping experience when it comes to choosing the images captured of their family sports stars.  

The CTZ Photography Store is available and provides an improved purchasing experience.  Parents can view the game photos by date and team, select their desired images and choose from multiple print sizes, calendars, trading cards and more; all at competitive prices.  Custom print packages will be coming soon as well.  The CTZ Photography Store also features beautiful and compelling images from locations such as New England, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, up to 24x36 posters or museum prints.

Oliverimages.com offers custom t-shirts, apparel, gifts and merchandise for guys, gals, kids and even ‘man’s best friend’, including colorful Polaroid SX-70 emulsion manipulation photographs, motivational images, and humorous graphics and sayings.  T-Shirts start as low as $11.99 plus shipping.  I’m looking forward to consistently expanding the images available each month to ensure a wide variety of topics to choose from.

CTZ Photography Store

OliverImages.com

Shameless Plug For New Scott Kelby Lightroom and Photoshop CS5 Books

Scott Kelby’s “The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers” is now available online and in bookstores.  I believe Kelby Training is still offering a free CD of presets if you order now.   I’m already using Lightroom 3 and have the book and presets CD on the way.  His tips and tricks make using the application within my digital workflow that much more efficient.   If you’ve never used Lightroom or use it and never utilized Kelby’s previous books on the subject, I recommend it.  This new version includes his “7-Point System” for Lightroom which allows you to obtain quality, repeatable results quickly.

Another shameless plug is for his upcoming “Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers” due out soon.  You can pre-order on the Kelby Training site and receive a free “Photoshop CS5 7-Point System for Camera Raw” DVD.  Of course both books are cheaper if you are a NAPP member. 

Some new things to learn in CS5 include:

•               Processing HDR (High Dynamic Range) images using CS5’s new Merge to HDR Pro.

•               How to master CS5’s new Content-Aware Fill.

•               How to color correct any photo in just three clicks with the included gray card.

•               How to take advantage of all the new Camera Raw features to process RAW images like a pro.

•               A special bonus chapter with Scott’s own Ps CS5 workflow.

Visit Kelby Training to find out more about their available books, DVDs and on-line courses.  They have so much content it’s hard to find the time to learn it all.

Apple Announces New Mac Pro Line

I really, really, really want one…

Official Press Release:

Apple has unveiled a new Mac Pro line with up to 12 processing cores and up to 50 percent greater performance than the previous generation. Featuring the latest quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors, all-new ATI graphics and the option for up to four 512GB solid state drives (SSD), the new Mac Pro continues to deliver amazing performance and expandability for the most demanding consumers and professionals.

“The new Mac Pro is the most powerful and configurable Mac we’ve ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With up to 12 cores, the new Mac Pro outperforms our previous top-of-the-line system by up to 50 percent, and with over a billion possible configurations, our customers can create exactly the system they want.”

At the heart of the new Mac Pro’s performance are next generation quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors running at speeds up to 3.33 GHz. These multi-core processors use a single die design so each core can share up to 12MB L3 cache to improve efficiency while increasing processing speed. These systems feature an integrated memory controller for faster memory bandwidth and reduced memory latency; Turbo Boost to dynamically boost processor speeds up to 3.6 GHz; and Hyper-Threading to create up to 24 virtual cores. The Mac Pro now comes with the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor with 1GB of memory and customers can configure-to-order the even faster ATI Radeon HD 5870 with 1GB of memory.

For the first time, Mac Pro customers have the option to order a 512GB SSD for the ultimate in reliability and lightning fast performance. With the ability to install up to four SSD drives in the system's internal drive bays, the new Mac Pro can provide ultra high-speed disk bandwidth and random disk performance, two times faster than the average performance of a standard disk drive. Mac Pro also now features two Mini DisplayPorts and one dual-link DVI port. The additional Mini DisplayPort output allows customers to connect two LED Cinema Displays without an additional graphics card or adapter and the dual-link DVI port supports legacy DVI-based displays up to a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.

Every Mac Pro comes with Apple’s innovative Magic Mouse and customers can also order Apple’s new Magic Trackpad as an option. The Magic Trackpad brings the intuitive Multi-Touch gestures of Mac notebook trackpads to the desktop. With its glass surface, the wireless Magic Trackpad allows users to scroll smoothly up and down a page with inertial scrolling, pinch to zoom in and out, rotate an image with their fingertips and swipe three fingers to flip through a collection of web pages or photos. The Magic Trackpad can be configured to support single button or two button commands and supports tap-to-click as well as a physical click. Magic Trackpad is available separately for $69.

Continuing Apple’s commitment to the environment, Apple’s desktop lineup is a leader in green design. The Mac Pro meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status. The Mac Pro enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and the interior is designed to be more material-efficient. The Mac Pro uses PVC-free internal cables and components and contains no brominated flame retardants. The new Apple Battery Charger provides a convenient and environmentally friendly way to always have a fresh set of batteries for your Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard. The Apple Battery Charger is available as an option for $29 and comes with six long shelf life rechargeable batteries.

Every Mac also comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto®, with breakthrough ways to organize and manage your photos by who appears in them and where they were taken; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand® which offers a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Optional Apple professional applications include Aperture, Final Cut Express, Final Cut Studio, Logic Express and Logic Studio®.

Pricing & Availability  - The new Mac Pro will be available in August through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The new quad-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:

    •    one 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3530 processor with 8MB of fully-shared L3 cache;

    •    3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 16GB;

    •    ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;

    •    two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately);

    •    1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;

    •    18x SuperDrive® with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);

    •    four PCI Express 2.0 slots;

    •    five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire® 800 ports;

    •    AirPort Extreme® 802.11n;

    •    Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and

    •    Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.

The new 8-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $3,499 (US), includes:

    •    two 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon E5620 processors with 12MB of fully-shared L3 cache per processor;

    •    6GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 32GB;

    •    ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;

    •    two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately);

    •    1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;

    •    18x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);

    •    four PCI Express 2.0 slots;

    •    five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire 800 ports;

    •    AirPort Extreme 802.11n;

    •    Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and

    •    Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include:

    •    one 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3565 processor for the quad-core Mac Pro;

    •    one 3.33 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon W3680 processor for the quad-core Mac Pro;

    •    two 2.66 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5650 processors (12-cores) for the 8-core Mac Pro;

    •    two 2.93 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5670 processors (12-cores) for the 8-core Mac Pro;

    •    two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;

    •    one ATI Radeon HD 5870 card with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;

    •    up to 16GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory for the quad-core Mac Pro;

    •    up to 32GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory for the 8-core Mac Pro;

    •    up to four 512GB solid state drives (SSD); or

    •    up to four 1TB or 2TB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm;

    •    Mac Pro RAID card;

    •    dual-channel or quad-channel 4Gb Fibre Channel card; and

    •    up to two 18x SuperDrives with double-layer support.

Accessories include: Magic Trackpad, Apple Battery Charger, wired Apple Mouse, wireless Apple Keyboard, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, the AppleCare® Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server; iWork®, Logic Express 9, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 3. Complete options and accessories are available at www.apple.com/macpro.

Apple Announces New 27-Inch LED Cinema Display

I want one, I really, really want one...

Official Press Release:

Apple has unveiled a new 27-inch LED Cinema Display with stunning 2560 x 1440 resolution and 60 percent more screen real estate than the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. Featuring a built-in iSight video camera, microphone and speakers, powered USB 2.0 hub, and universal MagSafe connector, the new LED Cinema Display is an ideal companion for the MacBook family or a Mac desktop, and is available for $999.

“With built-in MagSafe charging, iSight camera, speakers, and USB ports, the LED Cinema Display is ideal for MacBook and MacBook Pro users,”said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With its massive 2560 x 1440 resolution, the new 27-inch LED Cinema Display is a perfect fit with our powerful new Mac Pro, and it gives iMac users an easy way to double their screen real estate.”

The new, larger 27-inch LED Cinema Display features a beautiful 16:9 edge-to-edge glass display on an aluminum stand with an adjustable hinge that makes tilting the display almost effortless. The LED Cinema Display has vivid colors and exceptionally high contrast and uses a premium display technology called in-plane switching (IPS) to provide a brilliant image across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle.

Designed as a companion for any Mac notebook or desktop, the 27-inch display includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing, an integrated MagSafe charger to keep Mac notebooks charged, built-in Mini DisplayPort connectivity for video and audio input and a powered three-port USB 2.0 hub so customers can charge their iPhone® or iPod® even when they take their MacBook with them.

The new LED Cinema Display now includes a new ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting conditions and uses only as much energy as necessary to provide an optimum viewing experience. Made with mercury-free LED technology, arsenic-free glass and highly recyclable materials, the LED Cinema Display meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.* The new display contains no brominated flame retardants and all cables and components are PVC-free.

Pricing & Availability

The new LED Cinema Display will be available in September through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999 (US). The LED Cinema Display requires a Mac with Mini DisplayPort.