ABCNews Looks At Recent Doctored Photos

More Photoshop fun! Following the recent hoopla over a Redbook cover featuring a slimmed-down and 'made-up' Faith Hill, ABCNews has posted several questionable ‘fixed’ images that have appeared in recent publications. Some are familiar, some are humorous, and some are just downright deceitful. With Photography, it’s a fine line between truth and lies.

Chicago Photographer Claims Police Destroyed Cameras

Chicago Tribune photographer Terrence Antonio James was covering a fatal shooting on Monday night when police allegedly interfered with his work. After an officer noticed James shooting photos of the police entering a building near the crime scene, he ordered the photographer to leave. James said he was a member of the press, but that didn’t satisfy the officer, who knocked one of the photographer’s cameras on the ground, breaking it. An officer also took and threw James’ second camera. The police department is investigating the allegations.

Source: Chicago Tribune

FocalView Site Updates

- New camera review for the Ricoh Caplio GX-100 has been added to ‘Recent Digital Camera Reviews’ section.

- Posts can now be accessed by subject using the ‘Post Catagories’ section under ‘Archives’. If looking for any posts related to recent book releases, click on ‘Books’, for contests click on ‘Contests’, etc. So easy even I can do it.

- Check out the ‘Podcasts’ section, many of these have been updated this week.

Wow! Photos From Erik Almas

Today's "Wow!" photo inspiration site is by Erik Almas. Scott Kelby of NAPP found this site and I'm also recommending it. Wonderful images. Very surreal techniques. Visit Erik Almas Photography.

Enter Sigma's "Summer Dreams" Photo Contest By September 30th

Sigma has announced its “Summer Dreams” photo contest, the third in a series of four. The contest calls for photos with a summer theme taken with a Sigma lens.

Entires will be accepted through Sept. 30. Three winners will be notified by Oct. 31. First prize is a Sigma APO 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM lens, retailing at $1,050; second prize is a Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO, retailing at $590; and third prize is a Sigma MACRO 70mm F2.8 EX DG, retailing at $570.

The photo can contain any subject, although model permission is necessary for use of people. Photos will be judged on composure, image quality, and theme relevance.

After the completion of the “Summer Dreams” contest, a fourth contest will be announced. The final contet will be only be open to the winners and honorable mention photographers from “Summer Dreams” and Sigma’s first two contests, “A Perfect World” and “Faces in Nature.” The contests are open to U.S. residents only.

For more details visit the Sigma website.

Photojournalist Harry Benson Featured On Kingston's Icons Of Photography Site

Kingston Technology Company, Inc. has announced that it has posted an interview with legendary photojournalist Harry Benson on its ‘Icons of Photography’ microsite. A witness to history, Benson shares what it was like to be standing next to Robert F. Kennedy when he was assassinated, how he got his first big break as the only journalist allowed to interview a mass murderer in prison, and how it felt to march with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition to his photographic exploits, Benson expresses personal goals such as his longtime desire to become a professional football (soccer) player.

“Being a member of Kingston’s ‘Icons of Photography’ means I have the support of professionals I can rely on to answer any questions I might have,” said Benson. “It seems rather apropos that Kingston would take it one step further and develop a program that allows photographers from around the world to ask questions and seek advice from us. Being involved in this way brings my career full-circle as it allows me to share my life experiences,” added Benson.

The interview marks the second in a series called 20 Questions which gives site visitors an up-close-and-personal look at some of the world’s most respected photographers. Kingston encourages photographers who visit the ‘Icons of Photography’ microsite to take an active role through features including Ask the Icon, which gives photographers an opportunity to pose their own questions and Critique My Image, which invites photographers to submit a photo to be constructively critiqued by one of Kingston’s Icons.

Benson has photographed every U.S. president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush. In addition, he went on maneuvers with the IRA, was in the room with former President Richard Nixon when he resigned and was next to Coretta Scott King at her husband’s funeral.For more detailed information visit the Kingston IOP Web site at www.kingston.com/iop.

New Photo Contest Awards Hybrid SUV

The National Park Foundation and Ford Motor Company are sponsoring a photography contest that will award some extravagant prizes. The 2007 Federal Recreational Lands Share the Experience Photo Contest will give a Ford Escape Hybrid sports utility vehicle, a trip for four to any federal recreation land, a digital camera, and an all-in-one photo printer to the grand prize winner. Second, third, and fourth prizes will include cameras and travel awards, and ten honorable mention winners will receive smaller prizes. The grand-prize-winning photo will be displayed on the 2009 Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

The 2007 Share the Experience Photo Contest will be open for submissions through December 31, 2007. Legal U.S. residents at least 18 years of age can enter by submitting up to three photos taken in one of the Federal Recreation Agency Lands during 2007.

According to the Share the Experience rules, submitted photos will be judged on "creativity; photographic quality; visual appeal; appropriateness; ability to show diversity and the richness of the Federal Recreation Lands." Winners will be announced in late May 2008.

Official rules and submission instructions are available on the Share the Experience Web site.

Akvis Releases Sketch 5.5 Photo-To-Sketch Software

Akvis has released a new version of its effects software that creates sketches and watercolors from photographs. Sketch 5.5 allows the program to be run as a standalone application, in addition to working as a plug-in for an image-editing program like previous versions. According to Akvis, the new version also improves color-profile handling and adds a new Color Strokes checkbox that converts photos into color-pencil sketches.

Current Akvis Sketch owners can download the version 5.5 upgrade for free from Akvis's Web site. A free trial version of Sketch is available on the Akvis site, and the software may be purchased for $72.