DIGITAL PHOTO IMAGING INFORMATION FORUM

Adding to the Currency of DPII

2009-10-26T18:24:00.000-05:00

In an effort to stay fresh and current, I am going to give readers the opportunity to follow photography related tweets through two new twitter accounts. Follow me on twitter at dentonphotos and texasphotograph. Of course there's always something always going on on my facebook account as well - look to become a fan of my facebook business.

DentonPhotos
TexasPhotograph

Importance of Focus Point

2009-08-17T08:02:00.002-05:00

What makes the tourist squirrel photo so humorous? Take a good long look at the image. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Banff+squirrel+photo+gets+huge+attention/1889605/story.html

It's obvious isn't it? It is the fact the camera refocused on the squirrel making the humans the background - less important, more like visitors in the squirrel's world.

If the camera remained focused on the couple, the squirrel would have been a fuzzy blur and all impact forgotten and lost forever. Think about it.

Recovering Lost Data

2009-05-03T20:02:00.000-05:00

PHOTORECOVERY. There’s a demo version at www.lc-tech.com/photorecovery.htm or purchase at US$39.95. Windows 2000 or higher.
SanDisk RescuePro at www.lc-tech.com/rescuepro.htm Trial version. Price: US$40. Windows and Mac OSX.
File Rescue Plus at http://download.cnet.com/File-Rescue-Plus/3000-2248_4-10192710.html - Free demo. Price: US$29.95. Windows Vista, XP etc.
PhotoRescue at www.datarescue.com/photorescue - Trial version. Price: US$29. Windows and Mac OSX.
ImageRecall 2 at www.imagerecall.com — demo version or US$39.95. Windows.
MediaRECOVER at www.mediarecover.com - Demo version. Price: US$29.95. Windows and Mac OSX.

Read more: "Memory Cards - More on Keeping Memory Cards Healthy and Data Recovery" - http://digital-photography-school.com/memory-cards-more-on-keeping-memory-cards-healthy-and-data-recovery#ixzz0EUlHu8Ry&A

Nikon D500 Rolled Out to the Public

2009-04-14T21:49:00.002-05:00

For those of you caught in between a D90 and DXX, Nikon has slid a new model right in between to hit a sweet spot in their lineup.

If you are interested in the deep details try these links.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-9991-10012

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0904/09041402nikond5000.asp

http://www.topix.net/arts/photography/2009/04/nikon-d5000-digital-slr-camera-offers-720p-hd-video-at-24fps

Great Example of Fill Flash

2009-04-13T16:38:00.003-05:00

Check out my facebook site for an image that demonstrates the importance of fill flash in a shoot I did last week. If this doesn't convince you of the need to rip off those worthless popup flashes, nothing will.

What Lens Do I Buy? What Camera Do I Buy?

2009-04-01T08:39:00.005-05:00

I get those questions almost every week - what lens do I buy, or what camera body do I buy? To me that is like telling someone what car to buy. I know there are better brands of cars than others, and likewise there are better camera brands.

I advise any new camera buyers who are feeling the need to step up to a DSLR, or are about to move up a few generations in DSLR's to purchase names - today those names are still Nikon, Canon and new contender Sony.

Why Sony? The guts of Nikon - their sensors - come from Sony, and Sony is not bound (and never has been bound) by being a market leader. Sony is doing things in a way that shakes up the industry.

Why not others like Pentax, Sigma, Olympus etc ... ? Sure, those cameras work, and have good price points, and I do not own one, so I can not recommend one. You are here for my opinion, and that opinion is stick to the three at the top. Have you noticed your local neighborhood mom-and-pop film processing lab has disappeared? Well, in this economy, you can expect some camera makers to disappear too - if not the company, then at least the product.

THAT SAID
That said, I also get a question about buying "kits" or "package deals" right after the first two questions. It goes something like "they have a DXX with a xx to xx zoom lens for xxx.yy. Do you think I should go for that?" My opinion is NO. Just say NO to "kits" and "kit lenses". A camera body is (now) a box with a sensor, while the lens is what the image actually passes through before it hits the sensor (sensor megapixel wars addressed later). Other that megapixel count (which are incredibly high by standards of five years ago) and size of the sensor, the camera has nothing to do with the quality of the image file - ZERO.

YOUR LENS on the other hand has everything to do with the quality of your final image file. Here's why:

Glass - the glass in a lens varies with the quality level / pricing of the lens. High end glass has the best optical glass coated with the most advanced coatings. Cheaper lenses have cheaper glass and coatings. Why does this matter? Good glass and coatings make for sharper image files, and more accurate color renditions. And the glass in better lenses is still ground to be sharp from edge-to-edge as well as in the center. More on that later.

Mechanics - Servos are the little motors that run a lenses' autofocusing, and you guessed it, better lenses have better motors that work more quickly to snap a subject into focus. Cameras play a role as well in focusing speed, but great lenses will help an average camera focus faster.

FOCAL LENGTH - Now this is the critical part, and one that requires a bit of explaining. If you are not sure what the f.stops on your camera are, you will want to either look back in this blog, or google for deeper explanations, but here it goes -

"FOCAL LENGTH - How wide or how narrow a view the lens will provide. Smaller focal length numbers mean wider; larger numbers mean narrower." That means a 24mm. lens is "wide" while a 200mm. lens is "narrower".
Manufacturers try to get you to go for a "kit" lens with an extreme range of focal length, say, 18-to-135 range because they know that covers a wide range that most people would find useful. The manufacturers make these lenses by the thousands - with cheap plastic bodies, cheap elements, coatings and servos. They sell them by the ... thousands. But let's take a closer look at this mythical 18-135 lens. There are more drawbacks than meet the eye. ALL of these lenses have what is called a "variable" f.stop range. What you say, is a "Variable F.Stop Range!!!?"

VARIABLE F. STOP RANGE - Those are those numbers you see on the lens that the salesperson at Best Buy cannot explain, but they describe how light gets reduced as you zoom your new kit lens from wide to narrow - with your f.stop setting set at maximum (wide open). Here is what I found on the internet for our purposes -

Focal Length Maximum Aperture
18mm F/3.5
19mm F/3.8
24mm F/4.0
31mm F/4.2
35mm F/4.5
44mm F/4.8
50mm F/5.0
58mm F/5.3
70 - 135mm F/5.6

TRANSLATION - The more you zoom your lens, the darker it gets ---- LIKE IT OR NOT! In the real world, say you are photographing sports or a musical recital (I know polar opposites), these are both probably going to be low light and perhaps high speed subjects (sports for sure). Well, as you zoom in to get a closer shot of your Michael Jordan, or YoYo Ma, guess what, the light reaching your camera sensor becomes less and less - in exponential fashion, and quickly.
THIS IS WHY you see professionals with big fat zoom lenses. They are usually top-end lenses that have a FIXED FOCAL LENGTH zoom. No matter how far you zoom them (and to maintain quality their zoom ranges are always less than cheaper lenses), their aperture remains the same over the entire range of focal lengths --- at 17mm my lens is 2.8 (twice as bright as 3.5) and at 55mm my lens is,YES, 2.8 (almost four times brighter than most variables). All the lenses I use on a daily basis are f.2.8 throughout their entire range. There is never a mystery aperture waiting inside my lenses - they all max at 2.8!

I bet you are starting to see the light. I want to digress a minute, for the purpose of letting all that sink in, and talk about cameras for a short bit. Camera bodies by major manufacturers are made to compete on price points first and features second. If you have gotten this far, you know that buying a camera these days is like buying a computer. Something bigger and better will come out in a few days after you sweated over your decision for months. If you are lucky, and time your purchase for that new camera that is just about to hit the market, GREAT! It will be awhile before it becomes old news, and the value drops by at least two-thirds - at least. Buying a camera these days is like catching a falling knife, so get used to it. My advice is to ALWAYS buy a camera that you will grow into and not out of, meaning if there are features you don't understand, you will, if there are features you think you will never use, you will. Why end up "wishing you would have ..."? Reach a little bit further on the camera body, and a lot further on the camera body, and I guarantee you will be happier with your decisions.

BACK TO GLASS
Remember those numbers for zoom range 18-135? Well, this does not translate to your daddy's old Pentax in the closet. Why? The numbers are deceptive because they are shown to be for a "Full-Frame" sensor. What is a "Full-Frame" sensor? A "Full-Frame" sensor is a sensor inside your camera that is the exact same size as a full 35mm film frame. They are rare in affordable cameras due to the great expense to manufacturers of making these sensors. So, they reduce the size of the sensors to reduce the cost. Here's a general translation for the two major manufacturers:

Nikon
They have two different sensor sizes currently in use in their line of DSLR's - a full frame sensor in the D700 and above, and a 1.5 sensor (50% smaller sensor) in the cameras below the D700.
Canon
They use a wide range of sensor sizes which is one of the drawbacks for Canon as a company. They have great prices on full-frame sensors as well as higher end cameras that are not even full-frame. Check Canon for those numbers because they are critical to lens selection

"So why is this so important to me", you may say to yourself? Well, there is one big reason, and that is that a smaller sensor does two things critical to your lens decisions; it reduces the actual focal length of the lens by a matching percentage (1.5 means a 50% reduction) and it uses the "sweet spot" in the glass of your lens. "What is the sweet spot", I heard you say? The "sweet spot" in all lens elements is nearer the center of the elements and away from the edges. As manufacturers make glass, they have more quality control over the middle of the glass, and progressively less toward the edges.In this regard a smaller sensor is a good thing. "What is a 50% reduction"? That means your 18-135 is actually, drumroll please, a 27-200 zoom lens. If it were a full-frame sensor, or being used on a 35mm relic, it would be its actual range of 18-135 - but then and only then would it be that range. So, that can be good, and it can be bad. It's bad if you were really expecting a "wide angle", but good if you were expecting some "long" focal length. You have more long and less wide.

WHAT DO I DO?
In the long run, you will always end up with at least two lenses. That is still better than when I started out with a bag full of fixed lenses from 20 to 300mm. They were great, but heavy and a lot more expensive than what lenses are today - pound-for-pound.
Here's what you do
Camera Body - get one you think may be a little out of your price or knowledge range, and I can help you grow into it (www.livephotolessons.com).
Lens - Break the bank and you will be happy. Virtually every individual lens I own (each) costs more than any camera body I currently use.
Add-ons - Forget that crazy pop-up flash on your camera - just tape it off and forget it. They are completely worthless, and a sales gimmick by manufacturers. You are going to have to buy a flash made by the same manufacturer of your camera - one that "talks to" your camera. I can show you how that works too, but as much as all these upgrades will change your life, a dedicated flash will rock your world.

I hope this sheds some light on your needs, and gets you started in the right direction toward your camera purchases and use. I suggest you google any terms that I may not have made clear enough, and contact me for clarifications. As always, I do live photo lessons online at www.livephotolessons.com .

Noctilust

2008-09-17T18:26:00.002-05:00

A 10-thousand dollar lens by Leica. I'll take two.

How to Find Actuations on Nikon D200

2008-07-21T12:53:00.002-05:00

There is a simple way to find the number of actuations on a Nikon D200, and I presume any other camera that shoots raw images.
1) shoot an image on a newly formated card
2) plug image into card reader already connected to computer
3) Drag image file to photoshop to open the image in the raw opener
4) open the image and adjust if you like
5) close the image file
6) Look back where the original raw was located and there will now be an XMP file'
7) OPEN THE XMP file using a simple text editor / reader and read the metadata there
8) Look under ######<
That number is the total actuation number.

Wondering How Fast Your New CF Card Is?

2008-06-10T22:06:00.003-05:00

Rob Galbraith has a newly updated chart of CF card speeds. The Fastest is a brand I have never heard of. Look out for the kickoff this summer of a new site dedicated to personal tutoring photographers, serious and hobbyists, LIVE VIA STREAMING VIDEO CHAT. It is time to take this information to the next level, don't you think? Start saving your money, and contact me for your live appointment now!

Nikon D80 Firmware Update

2008-01-29T20:30:00.000-06:00

If you took my recommendation on the Nikon D80, then be sure and install the firmware update!

D300 and D3 Nikons On The Loose

2008-01-03T11:44:00.000-06:00

Lots of new camera information specific to Nikon to start the new year. Check back soon.

New Cameras Abound

2007-08-29T08:52:00.000-05:00

Finally! New professional cameras from NIKON. It's no surprise that Canon continues to release new upgrades in a consistent pattern, but hold the presses when Nikon comes out with something new for the professional.
Nikon even went as far as to publicly state their emphasis would be on "consumer" grade cameras for the near future. Great. Just what professional Nikon users wanted to hear.
Meanwhile, the financial Goliath of Canon marched on to their own beat with a constant barrage of new releases. And the principal from which they created the EOS-1D-MarkIIIn was truly something to behold. Canon did not grasp for more megapixel count, but instead redesigned the camera from the inside out. Brilliant.
To be continued...

WT-3A Boondoggle

2007-07-12T21:45:00.002-05:00

Look, everyone can be seduced by technology. I finally gave in and purchased a wireless transmitter for the D200, and let's just say I am so glad my local dealer takes returns.
It isn't the fact the range is about 30 feet - which is only 150 feet shy of their published range (I already knew that). It isn't the fact that it takes a degree in rocket science to get the laptop communicating with the camera - I figured that out. It isn't the fact the WT-3A instructions are spread over the sorry manual and the CD enclosed with the unit.
WHAT IT IS about the WT-3A, IS the fact that it only works with the pathetic, sorry and worthless Nikon software Picture Project. This software is so amateurish that it is difficult to believe it even exists. AND that is the reason I immediately returned the unit for a full refund after never using it on the job.
NIKON makes cameras and optics not software. Who thinks "hey I have to have the latest version of Picture Project!"?

All I can say is NIKON should be very scared - their software is junk - most if not all of it, and if Canon gets their New 1DM3 straightened out, it is a killer.

If NIKON wants to find some way to get ahold of themselves they would make their wireless and RAW work with any free standing software now in existence. IMAGINE what you could do if the WT-3A worked with PHOTOSHOP right out of the box! Now you have something. NIKON's proprietary myopia will lead to it being in second place for the foreseeable future. Only to be outdone by a dozing giant by the name of Canon.

NIKON - discontinue all software development and "dance with the one that brung ya'" ---- you make cameras and optics -stick to that and give the professionals something of value before Canon becomes the indisputable DSLR of choice. I for one, am a hog's breath from making the switch to Canon - and that's after 20 loyal years to Nikon. What do you think about that?

BEWARE THE EPSON PHOTO R2400

2007-05-07T23:01:00.000-05:00

Looks like the Epson R2400's are all exploding at once. I am also one of the unlucky owners of one of these and it now sits idle, doing nothing but taking up space. Anyone else?

Always Carry Your Camera

2007-04-26T09:14:00.000-05:00

Always carry your camera because you never know what is going to happen next. I was caught on the TWU side of town during the deluge, and subsequent flooding.

QUICK COUNT OF INTERESTED SHUTTERBUGS

2007-04-12T21:34:00.000-05:00

Should anyone be interested in locally offered photo classes with me in the near future, please speak now or forever hold your peace.
Classes would be starting this summer and based in the Center for Visual Arts in Denton, Texas.

For Those of you Waiting

2007-03-06T06:40:00.000-06:00

For those of you class members waiting for a summary, please hold on. Or, ask questions here.

Fruit of the Orchard - Photographs by Tammy Cromer-Campbell

2007-02-02T22:14:00.000-06:00

There seems to be a connection to UNT, but it is hard to tell exactly what it is.

Nikon Wireless for D200 Finally Hits the Streets

2007-01-31T17:03:00.000-06:00

The long delayed and much anticipated WT-3A has finally hit the stores! But wait! You of course will have to spend just a little bit more as the range of the new wireless transmitter for the D200 is ten feet. Let's see, I have been shooting tethered with a 10 foot cord and that cost me 8. dollars USD. The WT-3A weighs in at a hefty 599.00 USD. If you want a greater than 10 foot range, feel free to add on the antenna at 119. USD.

Lest we forget, all this wireless has a cost. Where there were once two slots for batteries - rechargables of course - there is now only one. I wonder if the camera will draw less power with a wireless transmitter on board? I think not.

According to sources, the WT-3A was delayed due to F.C.C. approval which can take some time when we are talking about the growing wireless trend.

You can find the NIKON WT-3A here and the NIKON antenna WA-E1 here as well.

Nobody said it would be easy, but nobody said it would be this hard either. Grand total for gadget = 717.90 + s/h . OUCH! Get out the extension cord please!

Lexjet Making Changes

2007-01-22T17:06:00.000-06:00

Just off the phone with my new Rep at Lexjet and she said there are some changes taking place there.

First, they are splitting up divisions between the big format prints / printers and the rest of the market so that they can more closely focus on the market's needs.

Second, when asked about the book covers for book making with Unibind products, they don't carry and will not be carrying any other cover sizes. She referred me to Unibind which currently seems like a company finding its feet in the US Photography market. We shall see.

Third, the old 10ml. rolls of semi-matte are being supersceded by "Lexjet Sunset Photo Semi-Matte", which apparently has a better top coating for use with the K3 Epson inksets.

last, don't be offput by their prices on the 220 ml. ink for Epson either. Just put it into your shopping cart to get the "real" pricing for the 220's.

The Power of the Search

2007-01-19T20:52:00.000-06:00

Sometimes all you have to do is ask. This "column on what makes a good portfolio" is pretty much timeless. Next time you have a question - just google it.

Another One Bites the Dust - Warehouse Photographic

2007-01-18T22:20:00.000-06:00

Looks as if Warehouse Photographic, a staple stop for photographer in the old days, is on the way out. According to their web site, "after 35 years we've decided to call it quits".

My recollections of Warehouse were in my early days of photography about 20-22 years ago, when Warehouse Photographic was the place I would go to find something I couldn't find anywhere else. They had used enlargers, cold light heads, enlarger lenses and a wide array of consignment items along rows of their "warehouse" floors.They were also fairly competitve in camera name brand sales and a place to check prices. Ah, the old days, but lkie so many others gone, gone at last.

This is part of the trend I have documented on this site since its inception in 2005. Shrinkage will continue unabated for those who do not heed the digital change in the wind. Warehouse did redefine their business along the way becoming a locally popular lab, but when you can find superior prints online at vendors like MPIX and the labs work hand-in-hand with the digital revolution - the mom-and-pop handwriting is on the wall.

Snow Day

2007-01-17T10:50:00.000-06:00

Always remember you can submit your photographs - of weather or whatever to dpii at anytime. Contributors to the upcoming UNT TWU Monthly Digital Imaging Contest are lining up. Rules and regulations will be out before February, and with the willful participation of our esteemed instructors - this should be GOOD!

Another One Bites the Dust - The Photo Place

2007-01-17T10:16:00.000-06:00

The Photo Place on Teasley Lane, in Denton, Texas, has passed into history. During the heyday it was a very accomplished small town lab where you could count on good service at a good price. Many of the local photographers amateur and professional came to rely on the Photo Place to get their processing / printing and proofing done for professional purposes.

They saved many a trip to the gauntlet of Dallas and probably prevented an accident or two just by preventing that drive.

Unfortunately, they could not weather the digital storm like so many other Mom-and-Pops who did not change with the times. They did last longer than many, and we will never know if they could have figured a way to change and survive. I would love to think they could have, but now they will just be relegated to being a memory - just like the meomory of Landy working behind the counter day-in-and-day-out.

Thanks for all the good work over all the years.

Duck Weather Denton Texas

2007-01-16T20:18:00.000-06:00

Weather suitable only for ducks - and newspaper photographers! Sent out to look for "wild art" as it is still called, Gary Payne of the Denton Record Chronicle whips out the long glass - a 400 f.2.8 (600 actually) - to get in on some ducks in the fog of North Lakes Park.

Motivational Microstock

2007-01-16T20:14:00.000-06:00

Here's how to use microstock to help you in your everyday photographic life. Use microstock to force you to shoot. Use it for more than it's worth!

Create microstock assignments - complete from beginning to end and follow through your creative process! If you are a struggling student, and have no real income and no digital camera, you can forget all about this. (Digital is after all the fuel that fires the explosion of imaging in this century and specifically microstock photography.)

This is what the organizational flow chart looks like and taken from the new book "How to Grow as a Photographer - Reinventing Your Career", by Tony Luna.
1 - idea / project
2 - research
3 - organization
4 - development
5 - editing
6 - promotion

It is becoming apparent quite quickly that Specialists - that is photographers who specialize in a "look", or subject or have their own distinct style - will go much further than a generalist who attempts to be all things to all people. If they know WHAT "you" look like, then they will know WHEN they want to look you up for something in particular - be it a subject or a style.

Contest Update

2007-01-16T08:36:00.000-06:00

We have another promise of contribution to the new UNT TWU digital image contest which now brings the promise of award up to 125.! Wonder if there are any students that could use that kind of money on a monthly basis?

Microstock Equals Micropayment

2007-01-15T14:23:00.000-06:00

Microstock isn't a new beer name and it's not a rock concert either. Microstock refers to the new breed of online stock agency where millions of images reside for purchase for micropayment amounts.

Each agency has it's own structures, but they encourage photographers to post images they have already rejected anyway so that their paying clients can download the images free if they choose to do so. And, for some of the beginners that's all they want is to see their images online, on one of these sites. If it has to be free, then so be it.

In a recent discussion about microstock, I listened to how this would hurt photographers and drive pricing down, and for the most part I agreed that would be the case - in the short term.

My defense of microstock comes from the perspective that I do not rely on stock to make a living and that I take a long term approach to the stock photography business.

If you are making a living off stock images, you are in for some hard times. That is the truth. But, you had to see it coming. Since digital, we have all had hard times as amateurs pick up cameras and call themselves professionals - sans knowledge, sans education and sans experience. Stock photographers - WELCOME TO OUR WORLD!

However, in the long run, look at what will happen. These folks with dreams of making it big in microstock (an oxymoron if ever there was one!) will fall by the wayside as the nickels dimes and quarters slowly add up in their accounts. These folks were drawn by the potential (and there is potential) of a single image to pay their mortgage in a months time of sales. Drawn like a moth to the flame. Before the "falling away" there will be sites and books telling you how you too can live the dream and get rich off your DSLR and microstock agencies. Guess what - they will get rich off the moths as they lead them to the flame. In a year or two there will be these stories about how many accounts there are on these sites that have accumulated a few dollars or cents and have been abandoned. A dollar here and a dollar there, but the dream has been replaced by reality. The reality is you have to be a good photographer producing good photography on a consistent basis.

The second thing that will happen to microstock is that the big buyers will tire, and are already showing signs of tiring, from seeing "their images" being used to promote other - even competitor's - products. Feel free to think! Anyone can purchase this stock. Finally, art buyers will see the value of original images for their specific usages - down goes microstock / micropayment. Back comes real photography from real photographers (a.k.a.-survivors), and at realistic pricing.

REAL STORIES

There really are people making money at the microstock game. All one has to do is look at sites such as iStockPhoto and check out download numbers from some of the "most popular" images. There absolutely are some people making a living at this and the quality of the images is unbelievable.

So, when a photographer has some downtime what does she do? Think of ways to make money with something that doesn't require work. What better thing to do than to recycle all of those images that have been sitting around for years - decades? So, fueled by the numbers she sees on the microstock site, and the hype that is all over the internet, she begins to scan all those old images. FIRST MISTAKE. Most microstock agencies are much more critical of film originals and scans than they are of digital originals. So, fully expect 50-75 percent rejection of your images based on technical difficulties. Oh yes, you also MUST HAVE SIGNED MODEL RELEASES for your images. What are the odds of you finding those people anyway?

Based on the rejections - which no photographer likes - she then decides she has to get something ... anything ... online with the agency. So, she sees what images are most popular on the microstock sites. "I can do a better flag shot than that!" SECOND MISTAKE. Read microsites carefully and you will see there are many subjects they consider to be "well covered", and they say so in not-so-tactful ways.

Perhaps then she decides to expand her research and join some groups online discussions of micropayment/microstock. It shouldn't take long to realize the folks in these groups know even less than she does - at least the vast majority know less.

So, how does one use microstock to benefit themselves - their art and their business? Tune into this post for the answer to that question.

The Photojournalist's office

2007-01-14T21:24:00.000-06:00

The newspaper photographer's office still looks like this - a car, a scanner and mapsco always at the ready.

Looking for Micro Stock Experience?

2007-01-14T13:49:00.000-06:00

The buzz on Micro Stock sites such as iStockPhoto, Dreamstime and others is quickly reaching a fever pace as urban legend, lies and truths blend into an online amalgam of discussion in which one must carefully row to avoid having their paddles rot off.

One could imagine the old school stock shooters - completely freaked out by images - big time images - selling for .50-cents on average for each download. They have to be going crazy. Imagine being a wedding photographer now getting paid by the image at .50 per! An average wedding would gross, say 300.!

But what exactly are the ramifications of microstock?

CMOS VS. CCD Sensors

2007-01-14T13:12:00.000-06:00

The latest issue of Digital Photo Pro has a wonderfully detailed article on the differences between CMOS and CCD sensors - now the two dominant chips to inhabit the gizzards of popularly available DSLR cameras. If you seek the distilled essence of what makes your DSLR do what it does, click that link and read s-l-o-w-l-y.

This information gives you the insight to understand the limitations camera makers face, and to some extent separate the rumors (of new products) from what is factually possible.

If you are really into learning, it would be difficult to deny Digital PhotoPro as a great resource for the technical and artistic "behind the scenes" knowledge to help along the learning curve.

Weather Photos

2007-01-14T12:58:00.000-06:00

The Dentonista took a "Ride-Along" yesterday with local photographer Gary Payne of the Denton Record Chronicle.
Not much has changed since the Dentonista's days of riding around looking for weather features, or whatever we could find! There's nothing like driving while looking left 40-percent of the time, right 40-percent of the time and forward, oh, maybe 20-percent of the time.

That feature ran page one of today's DRC, but the crux of the ride-along is I was able to scout a great new location and see more of the digital video Gary shot for an upcoming story - online.

The Dentonista is again getting a little of the "video fever", and sparked by Denton's Sesquicentennial, don't be surprised to see a history based video about Denton soon.

The big new is is that the new site shannondrawe.com is now live, alive and kicking. Much of the icy weekend is being spent optimizing that site and submitting to engines and listings.

FRESH STUFF

2007-01-04T14:39:00.000-06:00

Finding the exact thing to say to make one look photo intelligent is always easier when you have the cliff notes. Try PHOTOQUOTES you'll be glad you did.

Then there's this site MultimediaShooter.com. Look if you don't already realize that a revolution is on for the Newspaper Business, I can't help you.

The charge to newspaper video locally is being led by none other than David Leeson of Dallas Morning News fame. In Denton, you could even see photojournalist Gary Payne of the Denton Record Chronicle carrying the same Sony 3-chip guys at the DMN are lugging around. It's here and it's happening now.

Of course the site that led off this drill down into video was the STROBIST. Spend some time there if you get a chance.

Nikon Freaks UNITE!

2006-12-30T20:44:00.000-06:00

For a site that is pretty much over the top in support of NIKON and everything NIKON, it's hard to beat the NIKONIANS from planet NIKO.

I found the illusive eye cups through a vendors ad there as well as the spectacular KATZ EYE split screen for my D200 there.

Orphaned Works

2006-12-29T05:46:00.000-06:00

Orphan works: This is a new definition of the current (on-hold) legislation. It would give people some limited fair use rights
extension (not commercial) if they are not able to locate the copyright owner. This is NOT current law and is hanging on Capitol
Hill. Join the ASMP, PPA and others to fight this legislation.

Photographic Works in Public Domain

2006-12-28T13:44:00.000-06:00

Public domain is for really old expired works and government creations (paid by tax dollars ergo owned by the public: i.e. NASA), but definitely not for any recent images. So companies reselling your work claiming public domain are in blatant violation of copyright law.

Defining Fair Use

2006-12-27T22:40:00.000-06:00

Fair Use: Really only applies to rare informational, educational or personal use. Commercial use or reselling (worst case) is never fair use, period.

Copyright Snippet from Yahoo! Group

2006-12-27T10:16:00.000-06:00

-Public Domain: This will never apply to us in our lifetime, especially not for images created after January 1, 1978. According to
US/International copyright law your image "...is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a term enduring for the author's life plus an additional 70 years after the author's death...".
Please check for yourself at
COPYRIGHT.GOV

New Photography Contest

2006-12-25T12:02:00.000-06:00

How about a digital imaging contest open only to UNT and TWU undergraduate students? It would be a monthly contest - with money to winner who presents most inspired, original and creative use of digital photography. It would be difficult to pull off without the help of prominent local educators Dornith Doherty, M.A. and Dr. Susan Grant respectively. This should be easy to get everyone on board. Sounds like a good idea.

First - What should the rules be?
Second - Who should the judge(s) be?

Generally, it seems the people with the money make the rules, but in the interest of interest, perhaps dpii could get some input from our distinguished locals.

Seems to dpii, if there is enough higher education interest, it would be fairly easy to generate more money from local professionals to sweeten the monthly contest prize / award / grant -- whatever it is to be called.

Nikon D200 Corrupt Files

2006-12-21T18:11:00.000-06:00

If you have had the experience of corrupt files using the Flagship Nikon D200 camera, join the crowd. After some discussion with another D200 owner, the only thing we can pinpoint is the battery power to the camera (at the time of the corrupt files) was down and out.

Typically one battery may be dead and the other at 35-percent or less when this happens.

Talk about frustrating - you can see the images, they are there, and they have all the taste and feel of real image files. Alas, when you try to do anything to actually open them, nothing doing. You can try a can opener on your flies and it's a big NO GO.

These files are, for all intents and puropses, lost to the nether world of 1's and 0's never to return.

Coming soon: a 20-thousand exposure update on the D200 !

Video Card Resolved

2006-12-20T14:42:00.000-06:00

Well the relentless pursuit of resolution is at an end - I HOPE! Finally found a video card on eBay and just crossing my fingers and hoping it is real. What a nightmare. The card, a Radeon 9600 Pro for MAC/PC, may be arriving at retailers as I write, but don't hold your breath. Telephone conversations with vendors revealed that ATI and NVIDIA are both having problems getting merchandise to retailers. One could assume they base production output on the cost of the chips that go on the boards which, after all, are a fluid commodity.

Whatever the reason, let us all hope the search is over and that the "Billboard" monitor will soon be up and running.

Save Epson Printer Presets

2006-12-18T12:56:00.000-06:00

Can anyone solve the mystery of how to save printer settings for Epson printers? Epson does the famous "it's not us, it's them" routine when confronted with this problem.
Printers are R2400 and 4000 using Mac OS 10.4.8.

TRL Store, Inc. at Amazon.com - ALERT

2006-12-18T10:54:00.000-06:00

Looking for video cards from Amazon.com? Don't trust what you see there. TRL Store, Inc., a local business operating in the Dallas Fort Worth area has shown the bad side of the internet and online ordering from what should be highly trusted representative amazon.com.

Amazon, when contacted, said they are "investigating" TRL Store.
Let's be clear: I have not been charged for anything I have not received, but I also have not been contacted by TRL Store and they have not done business in a good faith way. Essentially, they carried out their contact, extended, delayed and did not respond to e mails. Finally, after phoning and leaving a message - no response whatsoever.

It all began innocently enough with ordering a Radeon 9600 Pro video card for Mac. It was necessary to order this card after being told my stock video card in my G5 D2.5 would handle my new monitor. Wrong.

I was given a couple of places to look for the card by my Mac Guru and chose to order from Amazon - TRL Store. It was showing as "in stock". Wrong.

Ordered. Confirmed. Then a long, long silence. Since my work depends on this, I contacted them after a few days. However, since it was within the "shipping time window", basically they could skate along with neither confirming nor denying anything.
Finally on December 7:
"Thank you for your inquiry. We would like to apologize for the delay in the
shipping of your item. Due to the high demands of the Christmas holiday,
there have been some setbacks, but please know that we are working hard to
make sure your item arrives as quickly as possible.

After doing some research into your account, I have found that your item
will ship out on December 8, and will take approximately 3-5 days to arrive.
Once it ships out, you should receive an email with your tracking number.

As a courtesy, we would like to offer you a 15% discount on your next order.
Please email us with the subject line 15% Discount. We will immediately
credit your invoice.
Thank you very much for your patience,

Raymond P. Conklin
TRL Store, Inc.
3210 Beltline Road
Suite #124
972-620-6200 "

On December 11:The following Amazon.com order, placed on 30-Nov-2006 with TRL Store, has not been ship-confirmed within the amount of time agreed to by the merchant. This notice was sent by Amazon. Very helpful - not.

Then, as information and questions began to flow from both me and Amazon, they responded with silence.

From Amazon: silence. Does the investigation continue?

OK, here's the kicker. Apparently you cannot comment on vendors at Amazon unless you have actually received something from that vendor - for better-or-worse. How do you think that works in this instance? Looks like the fix is in.

So the saga continues. Essentially, folks who don't need these video cards, or were smart or lucky enough to purchase these cards are now scalping the innocents who may have purchased a new monitor under the false information that they could just "plug it in and go".

Have a look at ebay.com, and you will instantly see these cards going for 20-40 percent premiums over new cards.These are used cards! More power to these capitalists!

Now, sellers such as B&H Photo and others are "accepting orders" for same cards saying they are expecting a shipment in "3-7 days" (in the case of B&H). This is the next scam you have to look out for: B&H Photo will accept your order for one of these cards, and even warn you that you will be charged when you order the card. That's all good. WHAT THEY DON'T SAY IS:
"You will receive a video card." "You are first in line." They take your money with no real promise to deliver. What does that sound like?

As always, let the buyer beware. If you are on the cutting edge, and need cutting edge technology that is obviously in limited supply - BE EXTREMELY AWARE. And do not go to these vendors (for the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro for Mac) - TRL Store, Inc. , Amazon.com or BH PhotoVideo.

Adobe Photoshop CS3 - BETA

2006-12-15T08:30:00.000-06:00

It had to happen, not because Mac users wanted it to happen, but it just HAD TO HAPPEN.

Adobe, known for its superior imaging software, and not known to rush anything out to the public (unlike the creators of Apple Aperture), will be posting the beta - apparently today - on their site. If you have an intel based MAC then you are reportedly about to be blasted way ahead of the old Power PC Macs on the performance curve. Good news for the dentonista and his new MacBook Pro Core2Duo!

Of course there's a catch - you have to have a current version CS2 serial number to download the new beta version. Roll out of the full non-beta is scheduled for the spring. Is there a better time to switch to a MAC?

Let us not forget that there also sits an extremely valuable and FREE download of Adobe Lightroom Beta 4.1 - a software that really rocks for those of us shooting in the RAW - at that same said download site. GET IT!

One announced feature in CS3 is of special interest and that is the ability in the new "Device Central" to preview images as "Mobile Content". Not much seem to have been published on this in the world of photography, but you can bet this is going to be BIG very, very, very BIG. Mobile browsing, portfolio viewing and sending is the next wave in professional photographic marketing. You heard it here first. I currently carry multiple portfolios with me at all times - in the form of slideshows on my iPod. How can you top that? Content on the go is the next natural phase - imagine beaming a presentation to the PDA of a potential client you've just met! Get the picture?

NIKON WT-3A Wireless Transmitter for D200

2006-12-08T09:22:00.000-06:00

Have any of the Nikonistas noticed the total lack of availibility of the Nikon WT-3A wireless transmitter made by Nikon for the Nikon D200? Word out is the unit has problems.

Nikon has figured out how to avoid having its comsumer (Consumer Reports) drop off the chart by - quietly dealing with problems by; stopping production when there's a problem, and by taking units defective or problematic back with little or no paperwork. They may not be doing a great job with R-and-D, but they accomplish three things with this approach:
1 - They keep bad PR off the internet
2 - They do not alienate customers
3 - Statistically, these problems never show up

Feel Free To Think

Gift Time - Get out the Checkbook

2006-12-08T08:57:00.000-06:00

This is the time of year when I get the most questions about "what camera to buy", and that makes sense as gift cards and money are looking to be spent.

The advice I have been giving for years is that there are generally two dominant brands in the DSLR business just as there were in the 35mm film camera business - CANON and NIKON.

In the early days, things were more wide open. Those two companies did not have converging pricepoints and their products were in thir primitive years. Now, they go head-to-head in pricing, features and value. This simplifies recommendations for me.

First, ask yourself if you want a camera to "grow into", or one you could potentially "grow out of".

Second, find the pricepoint you have for your purchase. This automatically narrows the field of brand models as there are generally hundreds of dollars separating the models in each brand.

Third, consider your sources and resources. If you have a personal friendship, or are related to a photographer, see what they use and what they think. THis photographer offers two very significant things to his friends and family:
1 - knowledge of the camera system he uses
2 - a recycling of well maintained equipment -- flashes, lenses etc.. to his closest family/friends before it goes on EBay

Last, consider the absolute fact that this is just the beginning. Whether turning pro, or just wanting to have a good camera for whatever purpose - rest assured your spending does not end with your camera purchase - it just begins.

Here's what else you will soon discover you need/want:
1 - More memory cards
2 - A very well padded camera bag with room to grow the number of lenses, flashes etc... you will soon purchase
3 - A more comfortable camera strap
4 - More camera batteries and charger for those batteries -- FORGET AA batteries - they are worthless for powering today's digital cameras
5 - More lenses - the more they cost the better they are - it's that simple.
6 - A real flash - the popup flashes found on DSLR's are a virtually worthless sales gimmick - as you will immediately find out
7 - Software and computer that runs and works when you turn it on (TRANSLATION buy a MAC)
8 - Storage - whether or not you print your pictures, you have to either store them on CD's / DVD's or on hard drives
9 - Printer - to have real control and once you have rounded the learning curve, you will get used to making your own prints and start actually saving money int he long run
10 - Let's say you have gotten this far. Now your old CRT monitor is on its last legs. Now you need a good monitor.

That should provide plenty of fodder for the gift buyers. If you seek details on any of these categories, please ask and I can go into detail - HERE - on each.

Nikon 22 Megapixel Full Frame - March 2007

2006-11-05T17:23:00.000-06:00

As is typical the rumor mill has new grist with six months to go to the March roll outs. This one is HOT! Word on the street has it there is a 22 megapixel full frame sensor in the NIKON lineup for 2007. If you didn't here it here first, then where did yoiu hear about it?

Students Everywhere

2006-11-04T10:41:00.000-06:00

A special thanks goes to Susan Grant at Texas Woman's University for opening the door for her students to speak with and gain knowledge from a small fish local professional.

Simply put, I immeiately try to explain to students that I offer no jobs per se', and there are not many photographers left standing that do offer positions resembling gainful full-time employment. Therefore, what I try to do for students is get them into the "freelance assistant" network based in Dallas, Texas.

The Dallas organization goes by the name Darkslide, and has been in existence for several years. It is under the umbrella of ASMP which certainly lends clout and legitimacy to Darkslide.

My experience with Darkslide tells me that the "100. one-time-lifetime sign up" fee is money well spent, and is a drop in the bucket compared to tuition, books and living expenses (beer) that parents are now accustomed to paying every year. Parents - it's up to your students, but there's no reason why you will not see a complete return on this investment.

So TWU photography students and UNT photography students; this is your chance to get your foot in the door. Sure, there may be internships, but this is a chance to learn not from one, but from many different photographers. I would guess the trend is that internships are more difficult to find (at least those that pay), while the Darkslide list is something photographers go to again and again over the years.

FEEL FREE TO THINK

Lens Babies BABY

2006-10-23T10:33:00.000-05:00

I don't have one of these yet, but the new third generation Lens Baby looks almost professional. Take a look.

Wilhelm Speaks

2006-10-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

Henry Wilhelm, considered to be THE authority on archival permanence gives a video interview on current state of archival affairs.

New Jpeg Format Waiting in the Wings

2006-10-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

Here's some good informaton on jpegs.JPEG2

NCTC Second Class Meeting

2006-10-11T20:33:00.000-05:00

With a grand total of two students, it didn't take too long to review their photographs, review and deliver the next assignment.
LOOKING AT IMAGES - Some exposures were off - either under or over exposed. In negative language that translates to "thick" or "thin" negatives. If you look at a particular negative and it is easy to see through the entire field of that frame ... generally, that is considered a "thin" negative. Most labs make money on prints, so they will try and print thin negatives anyway. And many times a lab in this modern era can save a thin negative. On the opposite end of the exposure spectrum are "thick" negatives. Thick negatives are difficult to see through and very difficult to print as the exposure times have to go very long to "burn through" a thick negative. However, labs will still try to deliver a print from a thick negative no matter how bad it is. That's how they make money.

Both thick and thin (over and under exposure) apply to digital photography - less the negative! Learn to make a good exposure on film and that skill translates cleanly into the digital realm.

REVIEW - Rehashed meaning and function of F.Stops and Shutter Speeds -- their mechanical and stylistic functions.

ASSIGNMENT - Illustrate an understanding of shutter speeds and what their stylistic function is.

Overall, processing and prints from the Photo Place were satisfactory for educational purposes.

Those of you seeking class documents must e mail me and I will send them in response.

THE PHOTO PLACE ON TEASLEY LANE

2006-10-05T11:07:00.000-05:00

Students from my class at NCTC: Go ahead and take your film to the Photo Place on Teasley in Denton, TX. Price is good and being matched by BWC in Dallas. Be sure to ask for "COLD TONE" black & white prints. Remember that BWC drop off is at Film Depot in Denton.

Nikon FOR SALE

2006-10-03T09:27:00.000-05:00

Selling a Nikon 80-200 lens! Anyone interested?
Selling a NIKON D70 with no BGLOD! Anyone interested?
Also have 1-gig CF cards to go fast.
As always any local purchasers get a free lesson to go with their purchase(s). E mail the dentonista if interested.

NIKON FIRMWARE UPDATE

2006-10-03T09:22:00.000-05:00

Nikon has released firmware updates for its topline cameras - the D2 series and D200. Apparently it enables functionality of new Nikon software capabilities.

APERTURE UPDATE

2006-10-03T09:13:00.000-05:00

NEW update to Aperture is now online for download for previously registered users. Message boards are mixed as to what the update (1.5) does and the pain it seems to be causing. I am holding off for now unless someone can tell me why to do it.

Panasonic Lumix FX9

2006-08-17T12:04:00.000-05:00

Is that a camera in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

This all started when I purchased a Canon D450 for the wife last Christmas. She was and is still having just too much fun with it. So, ME TOO! Of course, I could not stand the thought of actually owning a CANON (still camera) being the Nikon Bigot that I am. Enter the Panasonic Lumix FX9. Sure it was emotionally tempting to go for something bigger and better, but this camera has the most important feature of the Panasonic line and the one I wanted most - It fits in my shirt pocket!

Have you ever wished you had a camera with you because ________ fill in your own blank. Well, now there is no excuse. I am taking this thing everywhere and having tons of fun along the way.

Oh yes, I almost forgot to tell readers - this camera is no joke. Six megapixels and a Leica lens on the front!

I read what reviews I could find on the camera, and for the most part, complaints were along the lines of "... wish it had a viewfinder ...", missing the whole point of a camera like this. It is made for the masses who are aging and vision is going. How many of you have older compact point-and-shoot digitals with viewfinders AND ONLY USE THE SCREEN ON THE BACK? Most camera companies have gone to the finderless configuration because that is what "you" really want. Batteries are not a factor anymore, so the argument that the screen drains the battery is moot.

It has simple menu formats on back, and with a little bit of reading the manual, you will be using this camera in minutes with absolutely amazing results. IMAGES TO FOLLOW.

BHPHOTO meltdown

2006-08-04T18:22:00.000-05:00

BH Photo Video apparently have a melt down on their hands. Their site is offline and the phone is a constant busy signal. E mails to them have gone unanswered as well. SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT MACS! What is going on with B&H Photo? Current phone number I am dialing for B&H Photo in New York is 800-413-5653

Ahead of the Curves

2006-08-03T19:03:00.000-05:00

Well, it is even easier to see the handwriting on the wall - Kodak just posted another losing quarter - make that the seventh in a row. Goodbye to 2-thousand more jobs as well. I hope all those people at Kodak who defended the Kodak 14n are happy in the unemployment line.

Go ahead and keep shooting film - you can be like Kodak too! They forecast possible losses this year to perhaps reach the 1 Billion - yes that's Billion with a B.

Meanwhile, companies are gearing up for the next leap in resolution with Sandisk announcing the Extreme IV and more announcements to follow from other memory card makers. These leaps are logical when you take into account the need for faster read / write speeds as file sizes increase. It's not yet about the actual card capacity though - but it will be - and soon.

Why? Imagine writing files to a card that are 22-meg each instead of 11. You're going to need bigger cards to hold the same number of images as before. It is easy enough to predict that the commodity that is CF cards - AND THEY ARE A COMMODITY - will look back on 1-GiG cards as a charming historic relic in the near future. Expect 4 and 8 GiG cards to become the norm next year.

My professional friends resist the larger cards now because they can't bear to think of losing a card either blank of full that holds so much information. I say if you are in the market for cards, there's no time like now to get on the wagon with 4 GiG cards as your minimum. Feel free to think - the longer the card is in the camera the less likely you are to lose it. Imagine having 8 GiG cards and needing only two (maybe) to cover an entire wedding! Chances are you would never have to take the first card out of the camera! And just how often do you hear of cards magically being erased, lost or otherwise rendered useless? This is kind of the reverse engineering idea - never take the card out at an event and never lose it. Make sense?

Read the Writing on the Wall!

2006-07-21T07:58:00.000-05:00

It is not impossible to tell what is about to happen in the camera hardware area of digital imaging. Nikon has just thrown out a teaser about its new 10.2 megapixel camera that will probably be tagged something like D70X (x for extrapixel), and Sandisk who already had the some of the fastest cards on the market has upped its speed as well with the new EXTREME IV.

What does all this mean you ask? Well it means the bar is about to be raised yet again. In the megapixel war, it has been pretty much tit-for-tat between Nikon and Canon since the war began. Recent figures show that pound-for-pound, Nikon has held onto significant market share which you would think a behemoth like Canon would have already swallowed whole.

Despite the early problems with the Nikon D200, Nikon seems to have made good for people with problems and kept the bad publicity off the front pages in reference to D200 firmware problems, sensors with blown pixels and continuing supply problems with the D200.

Canon continues to wade through problems of its own with little press or class actions. Take the 20D for example; a revolutionary camera when it came out which has documented problems with focusing. Whoops, great camera just can't get anything in focus! Again, whether by design or the overwhelming number and rapidity of new camera models brought out to supersede the 20D, they dodged bad publicity on this one too.

What Canon lacks as a company is FOCUS. Too many sensor sizes and too rapid camera upgrades has fickled a consumer, if they are a die-hard Canon user, who has been preconditioned to wait for the next great thing.

So, what is the next great thing? Well, you can expect a jump (either announced or rolled out) to 22 megapixel camera sensors at the high end of all DSLR cameras in the next two months.

What does this mean for the average shooter? Well, again the camera you just bought has depreciated like a YUGO, so leveraging the sale of that into a new Porsche is impossible at best. If you are teetering on whether to sell gear - now is the time. When you have the cheaper cameras now at your (expensive camera's) megapixel range, and higher models replacing your camera - PUNT! (Hold onto your Hasselblad film cameras though as word on the street is they will cease production at the end of the year.)

What this all really means is we are about to enter a new era of digital SLR camera production. With a new upper end of 22 megapixels, there is no need to go any higher for quite some time. This kind of resolution is equivalent to medium format film. Very few consumers will see the need to even go to 22 meg., and professionals will be quite satisfied with 22 and smaller sensors (ala NIKON). This new era should see a truce in the megapixel war, and a new focus on ... cameras that focus, cameras that work differently from anything we now use (take a look at Sony), a true revolution in the way cameras look, work and feel.

Remember, we are in the first five minutes of a 100 year revolution. There is absolutely no reason professional DSLR's should look like our old 35-millimeter cameras. NONE! The only reason they do is that camera manufacturers are scared of a revolution and comfortable with evolution. How many times do reviewers tout "looks and feels like my 35mm..." bla bla? Or, "looks and feels like a real ..."? That is exactly the wrong signal sent and received by the manufacturers. We need manufacturers to now concentrate on cameras that look, feel and most importantly WORK like nothing we have ever seen or held in our hands before. Let the Golden Age begin!

LIGHTWARE - Still The Greatest Bags Ever

2006-06-20T19:29:00.000-05:00

DENVER CO. - Recently, while killing some time in Denver, I decided to try and drop in on the greatest bag manufacturer in the world - Lightware.

I was welcomed by Brenda who seems to basically run the whole show - which consists of a lot of shipping, customer relations and entertaining lost Texans.

Brenda not only showed me some new hot products, but also was nice enough to take the time to talk about the photography business in general, design in particular and their stringent quality control standards. Impressive, but then I already knew that as I have owned their bags for close to 15 years now. Sure, they cost money but then you get what you pay for.

Any way, if you are going there looking to see assembly line workers sewing away on their products - forget about it. They have had to make some of the same changes the rest of American manufacturing has made. In the end it all comes down to overseeing the quality of the product BEFORE it reaches the consumer.

UNT Cancels Continuing Education Minicourses

2006-06-19T18:07:00.000-05:00

Denton - Instructors for the University of North Texas' minicourse program were informed by letter that "Due to budget cuts and market changes, these courses no longer support themselves nor return the necessary revenue to our University."

For those of you who have taken my classes in the past - THANKS.

Now, is it time for me to create my own instructional outlet for those interested in learning more about photography? It's up to you. I will secure the physical space needed to continue with instruction which will be guaranteed to take anyone to a higher level of knowledge in any area of photography they are interested pursuing. However, this is not a "build it and they will come" scenario. New, former and potential students should financially commit to come and I will build it. Classes could be ready to start as early as this Fall and should the ball start rolling along, a full blown offering of classes would begin in January, 2007.
Preliminary brainstorming of class topics - each several hours in length - include digital printing, natural lighting, camera strobe lighting, studio lighting, studio equipment, digital manipulation with Photoshop and web site design. What else would you like to learn?

Thanks again and please check out the new sponsor on the right column - istockphoto --- nickels and dimes make dollars and sense.

PYG - And Do it Now!

2006-05-21T20:24:00.000-05:00

One of the first hurdles any upcoming photographer encounters is the most baffling, written about and subjective subjects there is; "How much do I charge?".

At first, you are just glad to be working in the field you love and can't believe you are being paid for it. Then, you can accept payments without a subliminal question mark on the end. Meanwhile, some peers do better and others do worse. "There but for the grace of God go I", you tell yourself when you see some, and with the others it's "What's (s)he know that I don't know?". You start to see the delineations - the haves and have nods, the sell outs and drop outs.

You find yourself surviving but not thriving so you do your research - read books. Advertising 101, how to build a service based business, success (insert subtitle here), creating a brand, branding, franchising, incorporating. What's wrong and what's right? Then you get caught up in other photographer's hype - DVD's that will make you / your studio rich, how to sell photos, all the things you think you need to succeed being taught by who - photographers who aren't doing what they do best - shoot photos. Always ask yourself, "Why is (s)he here?", when you attend one of those lectures / seminars etc... I will tell you why (s)he is there instead of shooting - three reasons really; money, money and mo' money. If you ever see a worthwhile and free lecture series, please let me and everyone know about it. It's about them branding their names and Proclaiming Themselves Great! Feel free to think ...

Sometimes clarity comes from unexpected places. Tonight talking to a friend - a fellow photographer who recently decided to do the teaching gig and get mostly out of the photo business - he said he once had a childlike epiphany talking to his brother who made pottery. "I was talking to my brother and trying to figure out why he was struggling to sell two dollar coffee cups while others were making stuff not nearly as good and charging ten. I told him, It just seems to me you should just Proclaim Yourself Great and charge ten!" He went on to relate that they still recall that moment many years later and how it changed things - changed everything.

If you really have what it takes, why not Proclaim Yourself Great (PYG) right now? I have seen this work first hand and it can carry you part of the way to your goals. There can be some pitfalls though - the main one being if you really aren't great or even good. How can you find that out? Be objective and look around at web sites, magazines and books. The thing about the PYG mentality is that it falls into one of those categories of "some people have it and some people don't". I know of people who can talk about themselves, their successes and conquests endlessly. Yet others have to have one word after another dragged out of them like a rope with knots in it. There are all shades of difference in between. If you are not a natural, you have to think of this as a game - one where you are playing the role of someone else. That someone is a successful, and talented musician or artist or photographer or business person. Gather the tools and play the role.

"But you still haven't answered the question. How much do I charge?" There are technical formulas to help answer that, but I am talking more about the intangible value you place on your work. The short answer is in three parts 1) be real, 2) charge what you believe in your heart you're worth and 3) Proclaim Yourself Great.

CLASS IS OVER

2006-05-01T08:53:00.000-05:00

Well, the spring session of Digital Photography at UNT has ended. Anyone from the class willing to take the time to summarize the meetings, please do so here by replying to this post. Meanwhile, as promised, one of my favorite newfound sites MIKE COLON will blow you away as well. One of my many questions: How does he deal with music rights on this? A new friend of mine said he knew FRANK W. OCKENFELS as a youngster. Mr.Ockenfels is what I would consider a well hidden secret. I have seen little press on this guy, yet he is obviously a star. Does anyone know where his work is published on a regular basis? Another local photographer, GREG BLOMBERG recommended signing up at WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST ASSOCIATION as a way of generating interest in my wedding work. The process for joining WPJA is more interesting than most. First, you have to submit your site for review. Then, if you are accepted, you pay 240.usd a year to be listed on the site.

The first time I applied about two years ago, I received a very nice review and rejection stating that my site did not have enough candid work and had too many posed shots. Well, I have evolved since then, and I think they are realizing the income generaing tiger they have by the tail. SO, I applied again - and shazam - was accepted. Now all I have to do is fork over 240. dollars. Take a look at that list of photographers and multiply each by 240. I think I am in the wrong business.

Overall, you need to go to the site and look at many of the photographers listed there - most of them are the cream of the crop. There is an interesting trend developing where male photographers seem to be fronting their female spouses in the business - Leighanne Whittington - for Brooks Whittington, and Anne Stefanchik for Joseph V. Stefanchik. Go to the site and click on them all.

Gotta' go and break my piggy bank to come up with that 240.

SELF PUBLISH YOUR OWN BOOKS

2006-04-21T08:52:00.000-05:00

Once you have figured out how to get the best of printing by going to MPIX, then why not take the next logical step and try your hand at publishing your own books. The easiest way to get on board this is with a MAC computer using the software iPhoto and uploading your images to their bookmakers. However, I may have just found a link to go around iPhoto and go directly to the book publisher which will be of great use to PC users. Have a look and report back.

APERTURE GOES ON SALE

2006-04-17T08:57:00.000-05:00

Sometimes if you shout loud enough even the largest company may hear you. The grumbling became a roar as weeks turned into months of waiting for Apple to update Aperture - to make it usable on the new INTEL Chipset Apple boxes, and for this photographer - an update to make the RAW images from the D200 accessable. They announced updates to be released "in March" and promptly missed their deadline. Of course the corporate spin was that they would rather miss the release date than release an buggy update. Meanwhile, unknown to some of my professional friends (using D200 Nikons), the OS update 10.4.6 contained the RAW translator for Aperture. That answers a major mystery --- RAW updates are, or can be, part of an OS update and not necessarily an Aperture update.

Last week APPLE released it's much awaited update for Aperture (v. 1.1) and in what can be considered a one-two punch they announced a price drop of 200. for the purchase of Aperture and 200. rebate for instore purchases for those of us on the bleeding edge who purchased Aperture when it was released last year. It is a smart move and one intended to silence (by paying off) its critics. Heck, who wouldn't want a new iPod video?

If you deal with images and are a MAC user, you should have this program. Keep in mind it is not Photoshop and is not intended to be a replacement for Photoshop. However, it resolves a lot of workflow issues, it exhibits wonderful translation of RAW to jpeg and tiff and it will cut your time in workflow - dramatically. So far, this is a MAC only program, but with the advent of the intel chips and APPLE edging into making the new boxes run Windoze, a PC version will be available sooner rather than later. At a new retail price of 299., there is nothing on the radar that come close to what this software will do.

If you want more reasons to switch, or purchase, now is the time to seek that knowledge.

NIKON DIGITUTOR

2006-04-14T14:05:00.000-05:00

Hey, now Nikon has a great idea! The DIGITUTOR is a part of Nikon's site that you can use to see - SEE - how your camera works. Happy Easter Eggs.

Second Class - UNT - SPRING

2006-04-14T14:04:00.000-05:00

So someone take the time to run down an outline of what happened in our second meeting.

FIRST CLASS - UNT Continuing Education - SPRING

2006-04-11T17:47:00.000-05:00

SPRING 2006 - First class went very much in line with early description of last Fall's class. We added detail to it by getting down and dirty into f.stops and shutter speeds --- what they do and how they change your images. If you read the previous blogs, you are ahead of the game. Feel free to add to this.

NIKON D70 Time Bomb

2006-04-11T17:35:00.000-05:00

Beware owners of the Nikon D70 camera body. There is a potential problem with your camera. We are still lacking full details, and you can bet there will not be agressive disclosure of this problem by the folks at Nikon. I discovered the problem recently when I dusted off my D70 from storage, inserted a freshly charged battery, and nothing. Nothing happened for a while, but I went through all the logical steps - charging the battery again, clicking the on-off button to try to jolt it to life ... and nothing going. Then what has come to be called the "blinking green light of death" came on on the back of the camera. At the time, I did not know there was such a thing, but only a couple of days later I received an e mail from a previous student who described the problem I was having precisely - was happening to her D70. OK, two does not make a trend. Then, I was describing the situation to a fellow photographer, and he said the guy he sold his D70 to had just called him to let him know the D70 had suddenly quit working. Now we have a trend. In talking to the folks ad Dallas Camera, they described the problem before I had time to finish my sentence. It seems there is a defect in one of the solders on a circuit board in the D70. I don't know if this is the early models or all D70's. I also do not know if this includes the D70s, but must assume at this time that it does not. Start with the business that sold you the camera. They should be able to do all the proper shipping and whatever else goes along with a non-recall recall (for lack of a better description). I have heard that Nikon is fixing this problem at no charge - as they should - but that is a little hard to believe. SO BEWARE THE BLINKING GREEN LIGHT OF DEATH - if this is your only camera or you are thinking of buying a used D70.

D200 Mixed Reviews

2006-01-03T12:00:00.000-06:00

Remember, a camera is a hammer. That said, this is one heavy hammer. You could even call it a B.F.H. On first feel, the D200 is the closest thing to a true, fast top-end 35mm camera that I have been able to afford. If you can afford a D200, well you aren't done yet. In order to get that loving feeling, you have to add the MB-D200 multi-power battery pack (about 179.usd). Feeling better? Then add the cost of a SB-800 Speedlight (about 329.usd), and now you have a fast photo-assault weapon. For those of you needing flash, there is no dedicated Nikon subsititute for the SB-800. Sorry. For those of you wanting to skimp on the battery pack - don't. The battery pack adds weight and function. It also adds MAJOR shooting capacity in that it holds TWO of the En-El3e Li-ion batteries. Guess what? There are no additional batteries to be purchased as of this writing! NONE. My preliminary estimate on this is 500 images before the battery immediately goes south. IMMEDIATELY. They did, however, include a AA battery insert to get you limping through - and it does limp.

PROS - Feels like a great camera. Functions are well laid out. Rear screen is HUGE. Controls make sense. File size allowed me to print 2.4 x 4 feet prints with quality. Programability of functions is extensive and managable. Viewfinder is incredibly bright, and the speed of the mirror is unlike anything I have ever witnessed. Lag time for shutter is not a factor. Multi-focusing areas are welcomed and easy to change. Did I mention the mirror speed? Wireless programability of Speedlights is amazing and now possible without a computer science degree. This needs detailed coverage because it opens so many creative doors, I can not cover it here.

CONS - My Cool Hand Luke quote of the day "What we have here is ... failure to communicate." Photographers need to unite and communicate to their respective camera manufacturers --- NO MORE NEW RAW FORMATS! ADOBE IS SHOWING THE WAY! The new RAW file for the D200 can only be read by, you guessed it, Nikon Capture Editor 4.x.x(and BIBBLE Pro 4.5 update). The NIKON software sucks as it always has! It was crashing and moving so slow that I finally pulled the last hair out of my head and went to the NIKON web site to check for updates. Guess what? The brand new software has a brand new update (4.4.1). That tells you how "good" the software really is. Besides the usual lack of speed, the conversion of raw completely departs from whysiwyg - giving you images nothing like the RAW (correctd in raw) originals show. There are no updates for CS2 or Aperture as of this writing. However, I have e mailed all channels - Adobe, Apple and Nikon to give them a taste of the displeasure over their slowness and backward thinking.

FINAL - Don't buy this camera now if you want to have your workflow move at same rate or faster than your current camera allows. Wait for the translators from Aperture and Adobe. If you are not in a workflow hurry, buy this camera now. It is a quantum leap in the advancement of Nikon's line of cameras. Besides the feel of the camera, the wireless dedication of flash, detailed programability and did I mention the mirror speed?

-30-

Nikon D 200 Holds Promise

2005-12-14T09:47:00.000-06:00

Poor little old Nikon. This is a company a fraction the size of Canon, and they still go tit-for-tat with Goliath. Nikon's newest pebble in their slingshot is the D200, a camera designed to fill the void between the overpriced D2x (about 4800.usd) and the D70s at the bottom of the (professional) spectrum (about 800.usd). Most of Nikon's cameras in between are outdated, or overpriced for features offered in them.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been using Nikon for about 20 years and have no plans to convert systems. Currently, I am on the waiting list for the D200 as I believe it offers an affordable (est. 1699.usd) alternative to the D2X and a replacement for my Kodak 14nx (a total dog except in studio). (Is anyone interested in a class action lawsuit involving Kodak 14N?) Make no mistake, when you hold a D2X it feels like you are holding a true professional camera. It is heavy, solid and has lightning fast focusing. The reason to hold off though is that rumors are that camera will be going to 22-megapixel by the end of 2006. Why not wait? Chances are it will cost the same as the current D2X. Beware though that I believe we will reach a usable threshold limit at about the 20-megapixel level in DSLR size cameras.

Another blog put the comparison of Nikon vs. Canon most accurately:
Nikon has been consistent in their sensor size - staying with the 1.5 magnification APS while they do change the sensor types from camera to camera from ccd to cmos. Canon on the ohter hand has three different sensor sizes while staying with the same sensor type - cmos. However you feel about brands, these two distinct directions are what keeps respective owners loyal to their chosen brands.

SEE NEW D200 IMAGES HERE

THE PHOTO PLACE PRICING POSTED

2005-11-02T11:12:00.000-06:00

As promised, the pricing for good old fashioned services from the Photo Place on Teasley Lane in Denton, Texas.

Final Wrap Up - Class Sessions 3 & 4

2005-10-19T08:36:00.000-05:00

Rather than present the instructor's view of what was presented in final two sessions, it would be more interesting to have students chime in with what they got from those sessions.

It is pretty obvious, based on feedback, there is a need to add another class like the "Beginning 35mm Photography" for the Spring, but in digital format. That class will start from square one - f.stops, shutter speeds and iso's - then build from there.

PERSONAL PHOTO LESSONS AVAILABLE

2005-10-03T17:56:00.000-05:00

I am available for one-on-one photo related lessons in several areas of photography including 1) Studio Lighting 2) Digital Image Workflow 3) Photoshop 4) Nature Photography 5) Location Lighting using on camera flash 6) Digital Inkjet Printing 7) Classic Darkroom Printing 8) Sports Photography . There is a two hour minimum and rates can be split up between up to three people. Send me an e mail or post here if you are interested. FEEL FREE TO THINK

JOYCE TENNESON IN DENTON!

2005-09-26T16:28:00.000-05:00

This is an amazing opportunity. If you don't know who she is, she is an internationally renowned photographer with books including Transformations, Wise Women, Illuminations and Light Warriors. Her work has appeared in countless publications including Time, Premiere, and Fortune. Catch her tomorrow night at Texas woman's University.

Class Meeting Two

2005-09-26T16:08:00.000-05:00

The second ever meeting of the UNT digital photography class seemed to bring great strides in progress for instructor and students alike. Topics included a review of the previous class meeing's highlights and general outline, followed by a demonstration of the image capture, downloading images off cards and workflow that leads to a satisfactory image to begin the Photoshop processes.
Capture included:
- flash versus ambient light
- Camera auto white balance versus manual white balance
- shooting with flash on manual white balance
- shooting wtih ambient light on auto white balance
Downloading included:
- using a firewire card reader
- controlling files on desktop
- archiving raw files immediately

Manipilation & Correction included:
- opening images with camera raw software
- camera raw color correction
- camera raw exposure correction
- conversion from raw to jpeg
- discussion of raw / jpeg / tiff benefits of each

Manipulation & Correction of converted images:
- Adobe Photoshop CS used in class demonstration
- sizing images for different uses
- cropping
- using curves to add or reduce emphasis
- black & white conversion methods
- Quadtone conversion
- using distort > diffuse glow

Assignment to be completed on following week was for each student to size down and e mail the instructor jpeg image.

Say Goodbye to Big Labs Too

2005-09-15T17:07:00.000-05:00

Professionals in the Dallas Fort Worth area recently received a letter from BWC lab, a mainstay for years in the professional and demanding amateur processing and printing market. I always open lab letters first because I am almost 100-percent assured it is not a bill, and I am curious as to whether it is another announcement of going out of business or going up in pricing.

BWC generated a nice letter saying they had not increased prices on certain areas of their processing in ten years and in the current market of increasing expense, they were going up on some processing prices. My economics immediately kicked in and made me wonder, with decreasing demand do you really want to RAISE prices? My curiosity got the best of me, so I flipped the page over to see the new price grid, and what was the shocking news - a blank sheet of paper! OK, am I the only one who thinks a company has a problem when it is sending out blank sheets of paper? And why had they not increased prices for ten years? That seems a little strange.

BWC does have a great service that converts digital files to slides and that is what my studio will be offering for doing student art portfolios. It is impossible to beat having one exact exposure, with perfect lighting and at a higher quality than 35-mm film, but that is the future. One set of slides and digital files is impossible to beat. So, I called BWC to see what pricing is for this service, and once they quoted it to me, I asked them if their "good customers" had a better rate. He looked me up and informed me, after looking at my account history, that I had done 122-dollars in 2004 and 26-dollars thus far this year. After a big laugh, the full weight of what he said began to sink in. In two short years, I have gone from thousands of dollars at BWC to dozens. Frightening for them.

We can only hope BWC is around for a long time to come. It is easy to imagine a Mad-Max-Road-Warrior scenario in the future: We finally get our hands on a roll of film, shoot it, and now have to find a lab to process it. We hear about some guy hidden away somewhere who just might - might - have the machine, and a few precious drops of the chemistry that makes it all GO. We finally find him in a run down old strip mall ... sleeves rolled up, unshaven and unbathed ... he dusts off the machine with a blow from his nicotine addled lungs ... "Yep, I can do it - it'll cost you one thousand dollars, or ten gallons of petrol."

FEEL FREE TO THINK

FIRST CLASS - UNT Continuing Education

2005-09-15T16:41:00.000-05:00

Class One (9/15)
Class began with a disclaimer: The description I turned in for the class is nothing like what is written in the UNT Continuing Education:

SECRETS OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Take better photographs and have more fun doing it with the fascinating technology that is catapulting the photographic world into the 21st. century. We'll discuss the basics common to all digital photography; equipment, software, printing, internet and e mail use. You'll also explore strategies for taking excellent photos in all types of situations, including portraiture, landscape, macro and still life using your own digital camera.
Wow. That's a pretty big order, especially compared to what I actually wrote in the original description. It reminds me of Elaine's job in Seinfeld; "... and it looks just as lovely on the Serengetti as on the streets of Manhattan."

OK, so we will take everyone and anyone into the promised land of digital imaging. Come along.

I was pleased to find three repeat students from my now defunct 35-mm class once offered in the dark ages of film photography. Three students also professed desires to be professional photographers - God help them and me!

I managed to come up with a coherent 3 phase approach and broad outline for the 5 session class just before the dry erase marker touched the board. The three phases are:
1) Digital capture / storage
2) Correction of images and manipulation
3) Image output

Tonight's topics included -
methods for importing images into computer
digital workflow begins -
archive images immediately
File types: RAW - TIFF - JPEG - DNG the new universal raw conversion from Adobe
The pros and cons (there are none) of upgrading to Adobe Photoshop CS2

We managed to convince one student to rent equipment from either Dallas Camera Exchange or Competitve Cameras instead of rushing out to buy without trying out different options.

It seemed to become clear by the end of the first session that this is not a class for beginners who do not understand exposure and the elements of f.stops and shutter speeds.

Future qustions yet to be answered:
How to look at images made by students
Students upgrading computer systems
Upgrading of software

Now begins the process of building this blog by you the students, the surfers and whoever has a nugget of knowledge to add to the mix.

Feel free to think -sd

Mom and Pops are Dead - Small Operators Falling by the Wayside

2005-09-02T08:40:00.000-05:00

If your region is anything like North Texas, you are experiencing a contraction in the number of small photo stores and Mom & Pop labs that were, in many cases, the places where information and knowledge flowed to the novice photographer and the humble professional alike. Now, in the new world of photography, the Mom & Pops are trying to find their way or in some cases going away. Locally, the old stand by lab - The Photo Place - closed last July 15. Inside are still sitting several machines for processing film including a FUJI FRONTIER which was probably a 250-thousand dollar machine new, and now according to another lab owner may, may be worth 30-thousand. This is a state-of-the-art machine and looks new!

A photo supply store manager nearby may have hit on something "Did you see the show on PBS the other night? Wal-Mart just opened its one-hundredth store in the Dallas Fort Worth area! What does that tell you? We're surrounded by a bunch of cheap a$$es! There aren't even a hundred stores in the entire State of California!"

Not many people realize what the margins are in the photography. For the most part, the area of supplies (film / paper /chemicals) and camera sales, margins are less than ten percent. So, when I was cornered yesterday by a dissatisfied customer of the previously mentioned "local photo supply store", an idea I had been considering once again boiled to the surface: open an online supply sales site aimed specifically at University students. However, a quick call to owner of one of the largest stores n Dallas brought me back to earth quite quickly - "There's no profit in it! People don't care anymore! You can't make any money anymore!" OK, case closed - I hung up the phone and the cyber dollar signs disappeared from my eyes once again.

WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION - Already in Progress

2005-08-27T10:28:00.000-05:00

This forum exists as a coduit for the free flow of information about the digital revolution well under way in the world of still photography. It was created specifically to be a place for my students to go to suck the marrow of knowledge from the bones of the internet and from those more knowledgeable about 1's and 0's than myself. Ask questions - get answers.

Shameless promotion of other digital photography purchasing resources is encouraged. Shameless self promotion of your images, web sites, other knowledge sources, other web sites, bad and good purchasing experiences, bad and good photo adventures will all be welcomed here.

Remember this - www stands for worldwideweb - whatever you do here is, for better or worse, visible to the world.

FEEL FREE TO THINK