Help Portrait @ PAR In Largo, FL

Operation PAR website

Terry White: Overview Of New Features In Photoshop CS5

Adobe Photoshop CS5 has some mind blowing new features that will make your retouching and photo editing work much much easier and faster. In this video Terry White provides a complete overview of many of the new features in Photoshop CS5...

Firmware Update for Nikon D7000

Nikon has published a firmware update for the D7000 that includes a fix for this problem:

“Bright spots were sometimes noticeable with live view mode or movie recording of especially dark scenes or subjects. Occurrence of this issue has been reduced.”

Nikon D7000 Firmware Update Page

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.3 Upgrade

The 3.3 upgrade for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is now available. It includes camera support for several new cameras, including the Nikon D7000, and contains corrections for issues introduced in Lightroom 3.0.

• Download Mac Upgrade Here
• Download Windows Upgrade Here

Weddings In Sedona

Of all the wedding planners in Sedona, I work the most with Weddings in Sedona. Like most of the wedding professionals in Sedona, the folks behind Weddings in Sedona are warm, caring, beautiful human beings and super-competent wedding professionals. Here's a recent video of theirs that is aimed at the wedding market in Japan (a lot of Japanese toursits visit Sedona every year). The large photo behind Uqualla is one of mine -- it hangs on one of the walls in the Weddings in Sedona office. You can find many photos of Native American weddings on my photo website, including a complete section dedicated to Uqualla.

Ken Rockwell: "The D7000 Is Nikon's Best DSLR Ever"

EXCERPTS:

The D7000 is Nikon's most advanced camera at any price. The fact that it sells for $1,200 make it a no-brainer, which is why it's sold out. The D7000 is Nikon's best DSLR ever.

Unlike 2009's crappy D3000, Nikon really did their homework these past couple of years on the D7000, and everything about it just works better than older cameras, technically, artistically and ergonomically.

The D7000 has the highest linear resolution of any Nikon DSLR, and more overall resolution than any other Nikon under $7,500. The Nikon D7000 has technical performance better than every other Nikon DSLR priced under $7,500, and handles better than any Nikon DSLR, regardless of price.

The D7000 certainly replaces the old D300s, at a lower price for even higher technical and ergonomic performance...

...

For most people, the D7000 is the camera to get, regardless of price, while FX is still the go-to camera for full-time pros. 

...

There is a focus motor in the D7000, so it works with every AF lens made since 1986.

Even better, there's an aperture-ring feeler, so it meters with all AI and newer (1977-on) manual-focus lenses. 

...

...I get free, live backup of everything I shoot because I record it to two cards simultaneously.

I can download and reformat one card and not worry if I backup my computer that day, because if I drop my MacBook Pro into McGee Creek, it's all still on the second card in my camera. I never worry about backing-up until I return from the field.

...

One of the biggest stand-out features of the Nikon D7000 is its fantastic autofocus system.

Whatever Nikon has done under the hood has made it the best, fastest, most precise and most accurate focus system of any Nikon.

This becomes more apparent as you've shot more cameras for longer; it's a subtle thing, but something I very much notice.

It feels about the same or better than my professional Nikon D3, and worlds faster in actual use than my Nikon D300.

Read Ken Rockwell's complete review here.

Utah 3D Panoramas

This is cool.
Utah, in full surround 360 degree interactive panoramas.

www.utah3d.net

Another Great Gift Idea: Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set

Another great gift idea:

Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set, Volumes 1, 2, and 3

For The Holidays: Best Gift Guides

Scott Kelby's 2010 Holiday Gear Guide

Terry White's 2010 Holiday Gadget Gift Guide

DxOMark: Nikon D7000 vs. D90 vs. D300s

Click to see larger image. 

Source

DxOMark Camera Sensor Rankings: Nikon D7000 Ranked 10th

DxOMark ratings of camera sensors at RAW level. The Sensor Overall Score (included below), shows the performance for a general purpose use case, the Portrait Score based on Color Depth, the Landscape Score based on Dynamic Range and the Sports Score based on Low-Light ISO.

The Sensor Overall Score is based on:

- The quality of the sensor in terms of noise.
- The ability to render high contrast.
- The formation of colored noise.
- The ability to shoot in low light.

The Sensor Overall Score DOES NOT show:

- The resolution of the camera, i.e., its ability to render fine details.
- The quality of the lens.
- The optical aberrations.

Rank - Camera - Score - Price

Notice Nikon has FIVE cameras listed in the top 10
(Canon only has one)

1 - Phase One P65 Plus - 89 - $39,900.00
2 - Nikon D3X - 88 - $9,172.00
3 - Phase One P40 Plus - 87 - $19,500.00
4 - Pentax 645D - 82 - $9,400.00
5 - Nikon D3s - 82 - $5,510.00
6 - Pentax K-5 - 82 - $1,374.00
7 - Nikon D3 - 81 - $4,300.00
8 - Nikon D700 - 80 - $2,699.00
9 - Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III - 80 - $7,100.00
10 - Nikon D7000 - 80 - $1,300.00
11 - Canon EOS 5D Mark II
12 - Sony Alpha 850
13 - Sony Alpha 900
14 - Hasselblad H3DII 50
15 - Leaf Aptus75S
16 - Phase One P45 Plus
17 - Hasselblad H3DII 39
18 - Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
19 - Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
20 - Sony SLT Alpha 55
21 - Nikon D90
22 - Nikon D5000
23 - Pentax K-x
24 - Pentax K-r
25 - Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Source

Nikon D90 Firmware Update

A new firmware update (Ver. 1.002) for the Distortion Control Data for Nikon D90 and D5000 is out. Here's where to go for Mac and Windows. The step-by-step installation guide for Mac users is located here. The step-by-step user guide for Windows users is located here.

Dazzling Sedona Weddings!

Here's a video I made showcasing images from a few of the hundreds of weddings I have photographed in and around Sedona. I am now offering my couples the option of turning a few of their best wedding images into a video like this that they can post on their blogs, websites, and social networks. I'm expecting it to be a hit, especially now that everyone -- young, old, and everyone in between -- are hanging out on Facebook! You can watch a larger, high-resolution copy of this video here.

Nikon Cameras In Outer Space

Original Link (Thanks to Nikon Rumors)

The power of images drives the imagination and yearning to explore the universe. This movie introduces Nikon's space cameras that continue to record challenges for humanity and deliver an amazing variety of images from outer space.

PSW09: McNally vs. Kelby

Hitler Unhappy With Nikon D7000 Shipment Schedule

Hitler finds out his Nikon D7000 is not shipping until November from nikonreviewcentral on Vimeo.

Digitutor D7000

A helpful video tutorial describing the key features of Nikon's new D7000 camera.

Nikon D7000 Videos

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The Nikon D7000 is a dust- and moisture-sealed 16.2-megapixel DX-format DSLR camera with a 39-point AF system, 14-bit analogue-to-digital conversion, 6fps continuous shooting, dual memory card slots and Full HD video with full-time autofocus and manual exposure control. The new AF module includes 9 cross-type sensors in the central part of the frame. Photographers can also activate 3D tracking, which continuously follows moving subjects within the 39 AF points, highlighting the activated AF point in the viewfinder - which in turn has 100% frame coverage and 0.94x magnification. Also new is the 2,016-pixel 3D Colour Matrix meter, which Nikon calls "groundbreaking". The Nikon D7000 has a native ISO range of 100-6400 that can be expanded to ISO 25,600; another first in a Nikon DX camera. The video mode of the D7000 offers variable frame rates of 20, 24 or 30fps at 720p, and cinema-standard 24fps at the 1080p setting. In the US, the Nikon D7000 will be available from mid-October priced at $1199.95 for body only and $1499.95 for body and lens outfit that includes the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens.

30 Outstanding Panoramas

Click here to see all 30!

All About The New Nikon D7000

For links all over the place about the new Nikon D7000, visit this page on Nikon Rumors. Bottom line: I need to replace my Nikon D90, D300, and D80 cameras with three of these jewels...

Publish Your Pictures To Facebook Directly From Lightroom 3.2

In this video Terry White demonstrates how to use Lightroom 3.2's ability to publish photos directly to your Facebook account.

Rumored Specs Of Nikon D7000 (D90 Replacement)

Nikon is expected to make an announcement on September 15th concerning the camera that will replace the D90. Nikon Rumors is reporting that this new camera -- the D7000 -- will likely include the following features:

• 100% viewfinder
• Dual SD memory card slots
• Magnesium-alloy body
• 16.2MP CMOS sensor (DX)
• Expeed 2
• 1080 HD video @24p | 720 @30p (not sure about those)
• 20 min video recording (up from 5min on the D90)
• Save images from video (similar to the D3s)
• AF during video
• Stereo mic input for video
• 6 fps
• Virtual horizon (like the D300s)
• One touch video and/or live view (similar to the D3100)
• Improved ISO range: 100-25600
• 39 AF points
• Wireless flash
• Weather proof (like the D300s)
• New battery system
• Expected price: $1199 for body only
• Update: no swivel display

Terry White: Top Photoshop CS5 Features (Must Watch)

Design Evangelist Terry White describes his favorite features in Adobe Photoshop CS5.

New Nikon USA Store

Nikon launches new Nikon USA store. Thanks to Nikon Rumors for catching this.

Bell Rock Wedding Photos

I just finished adding a few photos to the Bell Rock section on my photo website. The photos come from Sherry and Jacob’s August 6th wedding. The light was perfect. The bride was beautiful, easy-going, and spunky. Everything flowed. The Bell Rock section is located here. More photos from this wedding are posted here. Thanks to Andrew Murphy of Heart of Sedona Weddings for making this wedding possible.

The Nikon Coolpix S1100pj 14 MP Digital Camera

Nikon Coolpix S1100pj 14 MP Digital Camera

Scott Kelby On Aperture Versus Lightroom

In response to a misrepresentation of his views of Aperture versus Lightroom, Scott Kelby wrote a  helpful comparison the two programs. To summarize: far more pros use Lightroom than Aperture; Aperture lacks many of the features found in Lightroom; Aperture is slow and buggy; and Aperture only has one feature that Kelby favors over Lightroom's -- Aperture's making photo books feature.

Here are a few quick excerpts:

...

"I only like Aperture better for one feature -- making photo books. I don’t use it for anything else (I do my slideshows in iPhoto)."

...

"...if I had written an Aperture 4 wish list article, it would have gone on to include features already in Lightroom that Aperture doesn’t do well, or doesn’t do at all, like: automated and manual lens correction and perspective correction, or snapshots and history for your edits, or supporting multiple adjustments with one brush stroke like Lightroom’s Adjustment Brush, or built-in Camera profiles to emulate Nikon/Canon in-camera looks, or a fast responsive crop tool, or crop tool overlays for composition, or setting your default adjustment settings by camera model, camera serial number or image ISO, or expertly-tuned sharpening on output, or saving your print layouts as JPEGs so you can send them to a photo lab, and I could go on and on and on.

"Not to mention that there’s a massive worldwide community built around using Lightroom and supporting Lightroom users, and you can find tons of presets, plug-ins, advice, training books, live seminars, hands-on workshops, and even its own conference available to Lightroom users, that simply doesn’t exist on that scale for Aperture users (and did I mention that Aperture isn’t even available on the Windows platform at all?)."

...

"An independent study by InfoTrends looked at which programs pros are using to process their raw images. Here’s what they found:

"In 2009 (the most current year for which statistics are available) here’s what the pros use:

"Lightroom: 37%

"Aperture: 6.3% (down from 7.5% the previous year, so their pro user base is actually shrinking).

"Now, although Lightroom is available for both PCs and Macs, Aperture is only available on Macs, and you’d think that would help its case quite a bit, but it actually gets worse when you just compare what Mac users are using. Here are InfoTrend’s results when you just look at pro photographers using Macs:

"Lightroom: 44.4%

"Aperture: 12.5% (down from 14.6% the previous year, so their pro user base is actually shrinking on the Mac, too)."

...

You can read Kelby's complete article here.

New Nikon Cameras Coming

Nikon Rumors is reporting that Nikon is planning to announce new Coolpix models on August 17th and four new lenses and the Nikon D3100 on August 19th. No dates or new information on D90 and D700 replacements yet.

Check Your Shutter Count

MyShutterCount.com provides a tool for you to check your digital camera shutter count and basic EXIF information. Simply upload a photo which is taken by your digital camera. We will show you the shutter count of your camera instantly. MyShutterCount.com supports Nikon's NEF, Pextax's DNG, PEF, and non-edited JPG formats.

Thanks to friend and photographer Mel Russell for this tip!

Photography Is Not A Crime

Check out the Photography Is Not A Crime (It’s A First Amendment Right) Website. Great news and information concerning all aspects of photographing people (including police officers) in public places.

Excerpt from The Photographer's Right (pdf) by Bert P. Krages II

"The general rule in the United States is that anyone may take photographs of whatever they want when they are in a public place or places where they have permission to take photographs. Absent a specific legal prohibition such as a statute or ordinance, you are legally entitled to take photographs. Examples of places that are traditionally considered public are streets, sidewalks, and public parks.

"Property owners may legally prohibit photography on their premises but have no right to prohibit others from photographing their property from other locations. Whether you need permission from property owners to take photographs while on their premises depends on the circumstances. In most places, you may reasonably assume that taking photographs is allowed and that you do not need explicit permission. However, this is a judgment call and you should request permission when the circumstances suggest that the owner is likely to object. In any case, when a property owner tells you not to take photographs while on the premises, you are legally obligated to honor the request..."

Scott McClellan FX

New Fine Art Gallery

Looking to purchase some inspiring, high-quality, off-the-beaten-path prints? With a nudge from friend and fellow Sedona photographer Bob Coates, I created a gallery of some of my favorite images on Fine Art America. Along with providing customers with a variety of print options, including wall-sized canvass prints (my favorite), Fine Art America also offers a 100% money-back guarantee on all the prints they produce. They also have a very fast turnout time: they ship whatever prints are ordered within three days! Come take a look.

Porcelana

Porcelana from Real Creations on Vimeo.

The Making Of Porcelana

Porcelana - Making Of from Real Creations on Vimeo.

fstoppers

fstoppers on Facebook - fstoppers on Vimeo - fstoppers website

The iPhone Fashion Shoot

The iPhone Fashion Shoot - Lee Morris Shoots With The 3GS Fstoppers from FStoppers on Vimeo.

50 Incredible Photography Techniques and Tutorials

50 Incredible Photography Techniques and Tutorials from Smashing Magazine.

Photoshop CS5 Overview

The Zi8 Pocket Video Camera In Action

Here are four videos shot by Sher Stultz using The Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera I wrote about in my last blog. Like most digital cameras, the Zi8 doesn't do well in bright sunlight, especially with anything white. But turn it loose indoors, where the light is more even and subdued, and you can see how well this $150.00 camera can shoot. Considering the cost, and how small and easy to carry the camera is, we should all have one. You're obviously not going to get the same quality that you will from higher priced cameras, but how many of those can you stuff in your pocket and carry everywhere with a minimum of hassle?

For those of you who want to follow Sher's travel blog (which is really good, by the way), it's located here: Great Blue Wanderers.

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Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera

I'm always on the lookout for something I can EASILY carry with me EVERYWHERE that allows me to shoot quick videos and snap quick photos with a minimum of fuss and muss -- and produce great results. Recently, Sher Stultz needed a small, inexpensive, high-quality video camera that she could take on the road to document her trip. After researching the current models that are available, and carefully comparing their features (and user reviews), I/we settled on this little beauty: The Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera. Along with shooting 1080p on SD and SDHC cards, this pocket-sized camera also allows you to connect a external microphone (which is critical for people who want decent sound in situations where the built-in mic falls short). Sher ordered the camera and we took it for a spin. I love it and have since recommended it to another friend, who had similar needs -- and a tight budget. I also plan to put my money where my mouth is and get one myself. It will replace a bulkier Panasonic HD video camera I've been carrying around with me, and give me longer battery life, better low-light capabilities, a 5 megapixel still camera, and, very important, a less intimidating, more informal presence when I pull it out to shoot someone or something.

For a very nice overview of this camera, including a list of recommended accessories, I encourage you to watch this video from Traffic Geyser. I've included a quick list of the accessories that are recommended in this video below, along with a few others that I think are worthwhile.

Zi8 & Recommended Accessories:

• Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera
• Transcend 16 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card
• Audio Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone
• AZDEN ECZ-990 Super Cardioid Zoom Camcorder Microphone
• AV-JEFE CM520 Professional Lavalier Mic With 3.5mm Stereo Plug
• Sony ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone
• Manfrotto 785 Modo Maxi Photo Video Grip Head Tripod
• High Density (Black) Neoprene Glove Case and Mini Tripod Combo for Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera
• Kodak Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery/KLIC 7004
• Kodak Remote Control for Zi8 Pocket Video Camera

Zi8 Features Include:

• A flexible swing-out USB arm
• Removable lithium-ion batteries that can be charged in or out of the camera
• SD card slot - so you can bring extra cards and keep on shooting
• 2.5-inch color LCD
• External microphone jack
• Full HD 1080p video capture
• Built-in electronic image stabilization
• 5MP still capture
• Improved low light performance
• Smart face-tracking technology

New Wedding Photos

Just finished adding some more new photos to my photo website. Most of these photos are from Anna and Javier’s wedding, which was officiated by Uqualla, a Native American officiate. The newest images can be found here. A special section featuring images of Uqualla are located here.

Lightroom 3 Learning Center

Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskwoski provide a nice introduction to some of the cool features found in Lightroom 3. Here's where to go to watch a series of videos that illustrate their favorite Lightroom 3 features.

Adobe Lightroom 3 Now Available

Adobe Lightroom 3 is finally available. Go here for more information.

Impressive Film Shot On Canon 5D

Here's a post that marries three big interests of mine: photography, movie-making, and near-death experiences. The film is called "The Last 3 Minutes" and it was made by Shane Hurlbut using a Canon 5D! The first video is the film (five minutes long). The next two videos describe how the film was made.

Concerning near-death and shared death experiences, I encourage you to visit NHNE NDE, which is a network I created for people interested in these important topics.

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Hubble Celebrates 20 Years; Releases New Image

Hubble's 20th anniversary image shows a mountain of dust and gas rising in the Carina Nebula. The top of a three-light-year tall pillar of cool hydrogen is being worn away by the radiation of nearby stars, while stars within the pillar unleash jets of gas that stream from the peaks. Download wallpapers of this image. Read article about Hubble's 20th anniversary.

Long Canyon Hike

Here are a few photos from another Sedona hike. This time a group of friends and I headed for Long Canyon. Click here to see a gallery of images from the April, 2010 hike.

Boynton Canyon Hike

I managed to get out for a nice hike this past weekend. Here are a couple photos from the adventure. The second photo is a panoramic image of my hiking buddies perched atop one of Sedona's red rocks with fantastic grooves carved into it by Mother Nature. The hike took place in Boynton Canyon. The friends who appear in the first image are, from left to right: Ken, Karen, James, Bill, Eileen, John, and yours truly. Click on the images to see larger versions.

NAPP Adobe Photoshop CS5 Learning Center

NAPP Adobe Photoshop CS5 Learning Center

Aronson Family Photos

Just finished adding a few photos from a family portrait session I did with Megan, Kory, and Kayta Aronson. Since then, little brother Kanon (who was in the oven at the time of the shoot) has joined the family. The photos are posted in the portrait section of my new photo website.

The Hubble In "Hubble 3D" IMAX

A short video describing the contributions of Frank Summers and colleagues at the Space Telescope Science Institute to the new IMAX film "Hubble 3D." The Hubble images are stunningly presented, and so are simulations and data animations contributed by the Advanced Visualization Lab, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, U. of Illinois. To find an iMax theater near you, go here.

Aperture 3.0 Versus Lightroom 2.0 / 3.0

Now that Apple has come out with a 3.0 version of Aperture, the competition between Adobe Lightroom and Aperture is heating up. From my perspective, there really hasn't been any competition until now.  I bought Aperture the moment it was announced, weeks before it was released, before I had heard anything about Lightroom. My early experience with Aperture was horrendous, as were many other users. The program was slow, buggy, and poorly supported. There was, in fact, a mini rebellion among many first adopters about all kinds of issues, including how much the program cost. When Lightroom came out -- and came out as a FREE (did I say FREE) demo -- many frustrated Aperture users, me included, took it for a test spin, migrated, and never looked back.

Until now.

While I haven't taken Aperture 3.0 for a spin yet, I plan to. In fact, while I haven't touched Aperture since version 1.0, I plan to upgrade to 3.0. That's because I want to use Aperture's wedding album / book making functions, which is sadly lacking in Lightroom. And while I'm at it, I also plan to try out some of the new features that people like Chase Jarvis and Joe McNally have been raving about. In advance of purchasing the $99.00 upgrade, I've spent some time watching the tutorials Apple has posted, which are great!

So what, exactly, are the pros and cons? How do these two titans compare to one another? Here's where you can find a few great reviews and feature-by-feature comparisons. The first piece, by Matt Kloskowski, is the best because it includes many real-world comparisons from people who have actually used both programs.

5 Reasons To Stay With Lightroom (And Not Switch To Aperture)
By Matt Kloskowski

Five Reasons For Switching From Lightroom 2 To Aperture 3
By Marco Davi

First Impressions Of Aperture 3
By Thomas Fitzgerald

Apple Aperture 3.0 Awesomeness
By Chase Jarvis

Aperture 3 Was My Idea
By Joe McNally

Apple's Aperture 3 Causing Significant Memory Leak For Many Users
By Seth Weintraub

New Images Of 9/11 World Trade Center Collapse

Nine years after 9/11, a stunning set of photographs taken by New York Police helicopters have been posted online. Click here to see them.

Apple's New iPad (I Want One!)

Check out Apple's new iPad here!

Superman Obama

I'm not sure who the artist is, but this was too good not to share...