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.

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.

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