Leica has posted a firmware update for the Leica D-Lux 5 digital compact camera. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Leica D-Lux 5 Firmware Update 2.0
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Nik Software has released version 4 of its Color Efex Pro filter suite. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Color Efex Pro 4 Now Shipping Kodak has released three cameras, including the Easyshare Touch M5370; a 16MP, 5x zoom touch-screen compact. It features a 28-140mm equivalent lens and follows Samsung’s trend of using MicroSD cards. The company has also created the Z5010 14MP 21x (25-525mm equiv.) superzoom and the M5350, which appears to offer a similar spec to the M5370 but without touch-screen and taking full-size SD cards. . . . → Read More: Kodak announces Easyshare M5370 touch-screen 5x compact ‘The Dawn of the Color Photograph: Albert Kahn’s Archives of the Planet’ by David Okeofuna presents the early color photographs collected from all over the world by French banker Albert Kahn. The book was published in conjunction with the BBC television series The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn and brings together over 300 of these early ‘autochromes.’ . . . → Read More: Just posted: Book review – The dawn of the color photograph  This week your photographic challenge is to do some ‘Street Photography’. Image by ‘an Untrained Eye’/Tom I know some of you just went into a cold sweat thinking about the idea of going out in public to photograph strangers – but let me say up front you can interpret this any way that you like and need not make it Street Photography with a people focus at all. There are many other alternatives. For example you might like to head out on the street you live to photograph an urban landscape, or you might want to photograph some of the houses and buildings you find, or you might photograph a quirky sign or bill board…. really anything can go. Just take a walk like we talked about earlier today and see what you can find . Better still – take a friend and do the challenge together. A few tutorials that may come in handy: 20 Quick Street Photography Tips 10 Tips for the Aspiring Street Photographer Photographing Urban Landscapes Once you’ve taken your ‘Street Photography’ Photos – choose your best 1-2, upload them to your favourite photo sharing site either share a link to them even better – embed them in the comments using the our new tool to do so . If you tag your photos on Flickr, Twitter or other sites with Tagging tag them as #DPSSTREET to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun. Also – don’t forget to check out some of the great shots posted in last weeks Contrasting Colors challenge – there were some great shots submitted. Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . Street Photography: Weekly Photography Challenge . . . → Read More: Street Photography: Weekly Photography Challenge  A Guest Post by Photo Book Girl . Since jumping into the world of digital photography – like most folks, I rarely ever printed out my photos anymore. Slipping photos into plastic sleeves had long lost its charm and my photos gathered virtual dust, hidden away in some long forgotten folder. My poor mother lamented that she never saw any family photos, and squinting at a tiny LCD screen wasn’t very satisfying. Hence, my first foray into digital photo books back in 2005 was of a family trip to Hong Kong – a gift to my mother, motivated by my never-ending quest to make my mother happy. Some 50 books later, I suppose you can say I’m seriously hooked (and so is Mom!) If you haven’t made a photo book online yet, the advantages of digital photo books over traditional slip-in album are numerous: Digital photos books tend to be much lighter in weight. Mine take up less than a fourth of the space of my traditional albums; Digital photo books are easily duplicated, making them great to give as personalized gifts for the entire family; Creativity is limitless – you can create a very clean composition of photos – portfolio-style or utilize a variety of themes, embellishments and borders for a scrapbook-look; You can share and even sell your creations online, allowing you to test the market without the expense of printing mass copies; With the number of companies providing online print services increasing every day, so have the options – from affordable $8.00 softcover books, to higher-end flush mounts and premium pro options for $250.00 or more. Here’s some tips on how to get started: Narrow down the photos you plan to use to a manageable number so it doesn’t become overwhelming and you don’t waste time uploading photos you aren’t going to use. For a 20-page photo book, I average anywhere from 1 to 5 photos per page (assuming a standard 11″ x 8.5″ sized book), so 80 to 100 photos should provide a good selection from which to choose; Edit your photos using your own photo-editing software. The editing tools provided with most free book software are not very sophisticated, and are generally limited to the basics such as converting to black and white, rotating and brightening; If in doubt, err on the side of brighter. In my experience, photos tend to print darker than on screen. (Calibrating your monitor and obtaining printer profiles from the printer can also be very helpful.) Duplicate and save all the photos you plan to use in a single folder for easy upload; For a quick and easy book, most companies have preset themes, easy drag and drop templates and also “one-click” options that automatically place your photos for you; For complete customization, use your own design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Aperture 3, or Adobe InDesign (free trials are available for download at the company’s sites). However, having your own software isn’t necessary to make a customized and professional-looking book. Look for a photo book company that allows you to edit and create your own templates. < The author is the blogger behind Photo Book Girl – a resource for finding the best photo book companies, the latest photo book deals and helpful tips on designing your own photo book. For more tips, check out her ongoing series: “ How to Make Your Own Digital Photo Book “. Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . How to Make Your Own Digital Photo Book . . . → Read More: How to Make Your Own Digital Photo Book  So how often do you get your camera out and how many shots do you take on an average week? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll. Looking forward to seeing the results on this one. Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . How Many Photos Do You Take Per Week [POLL] . . . → Read More: How Many Photos Do You Take Per Week [POLL]  Rounding out Canon’s 2011 PowerShot ELPH lineup, the ELPH 500 HS is the top-of-the-line model in this new series of compact, low-light powerhouses. Like the ELPH 100 HS and ELPH 300 HS , the 500 HS uses Canon’s newer HS (High Sensitivity) system, which combines a fast CMOS image sensor with their Digitc 4 processor, and a fast zoom lens. The 500 boasts 12-megapixels, full 1080p HD video capture, a fast f/2.0 4.4x optical zoom lens, Optical Image Stabilization, and a massive 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD. All this for under $300 US. For the low down on the ELPH 500′s performance, be sure to read Steve’s Conclusion and have a peek at our unedited Sample Photos . . . . → Read More: Just Posted: Our Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS Review  Image by Pedro Szekely Last week, in the lead up to the release of our Captivating Color eBook, we issued the challenge to take and share photos that were VIBRANT in color. Today we’re still thinking about color – but are thinking about ‘contrasting’ colors (suggested by a number of people in our facebook community ). The subject matter can be anything you like – portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, abstract… anything you like – just make contrasting colors a part of your image. Once you’ve taken your ‘Vibrant Color’ Photos – choose your best 1-2, upload them to your favourite photo sharing site either share a link to them even better – embed them in the comments using the our new tool to do so . If you tag your photos on Flickr, Twitter or other sites with Tagging tag them as #DPSCONTRAST to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun. Also – don’t forget to check out some of the great shots posted in last weeks Vibrant challenge – there were some great shots submitted. Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . Contrasting Colors: Weekly Photography Challenge . . . → Read More: Contrasting Colors: Weekly Photography Challenge Magnum Photos and Caseable have teamed up to create a line of limited edition laptop cases with select Magnum images. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Limited Edition Laptop Cases Featuring Magnum Images  a Guest Post by Mary Andrade from Pam Photography . After discovering the fast, easy and creative effects available via iphone camera apps, I have been searching for similar software to creatively modify photos I take with my DLSR and my pocket camera. I stumbled upon Lo-Fi , which was recently launched. This reasonably priced standalone piece of software is not a plug-in and does not require knowledge of Photoshop or other photo processing software. The interface is intuitive and easy to use, and the “owner’s manual” consists of three short videos totaling seven minutes. I love this software because it mimics the retro look of old images and photos made on toy cameras. Here are some tips to get you started on creatively re-interpreting your photos: Tip 1: Randomize Lo-Fi has a randomize button that will pick a combination of three looks for you. I am usually surprised at how much I like the combination of effects I wouldn’t normally have picked. It is a great way to break out of your comfort zone and expand your creative range. [Insert 2_Spots/Butterfly Photo] Tip 2: Match Identify which looks are consistent with the mood and feel of your image. For example, If it’s a gritty street scene, do you want a more contrasty and grungy look? If it’s a portrait do you want a dreamy look with a white vignette? Tip 3: Contradict Choose looks that are completely opposite of the look and feel for the image. I chose a yellow film, a plastic or blurry effect, and a dirty border which was completely opposite of the crisp, sharp, clean feel of these fishing boat lights. Process tip I usually start from the top with the Film set of looks and work my way down. Sometimes, I find it easier to toggle off the looks underneath the one I am currently working with. This layering approach helps me visually build the end result as I go. Lo-Fi has quickly become a verb in my vocabulary, I now find myself saying, “you should Lo-Fi that photo”. Check out more from Mary Andrade at Pam Photography . Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . Have you “Lo-Fi”’d a photo? . . . → Read More: Have you “Lo-Fi”’d a photo? And now we end our week of digital photo frames with a look at the Pandigital PAN8003M01, a frame with a nice look that also does a good job with your photos. And when you see the price tag, things will be better still. The Pandigital PAN8003M01 digital photo frame is … . . . → Read More: Pandigital PAN8003M01 Digital Photo Frame Review–A Terrific Value We have reported on many photo frames here on image-acquire. This one is not a digital photo frame, but it is most unique. As you can see, it uses the stylings of a a comic-book in order for you to place your photos. I would imagine that … . . . → Read More: Check out this Comic-book photo frame Image by Amanda Tipton This week your photography challenge is to shoot and share an image on the theme of ‘emotion’. The suggestion was made by a number of our readers on our facebook page – thanks everyone! Feel free to interpret the theme in any way that you like. You might like to shoot a portrait that shows someone experiencing an emotion (happiness, sadness, anger etc) or you might choose to shoot something that makes those who view it feel some kind of emotion…. or you might have another idea – anything goes. Once you’ve taken your ‘Emotion’ Photos – choose your best 1-2, upload them to your favourite photo sharing site either share a link to them even better – embed them in the comments using the our new tool to do so . If you tag your photos on Flickr, Twitter or other sites with Tagging tag them as #DPSEMOTION to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun. Also – don’t forget to check out some of the great shots posted in last weeks Emotion challenge – there were some great shots submitted. Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . Emotion: Weekly Photography Challenge . . . → Read More: Emotion: Weekly Photography Challenge  A Guest post by Jim Harmer of ImprovePhotography.com Athletes would never consider showing up to a game without having practiced, so why is it that most photographers shoot for the “wall-hanger” photo every time they go out without ever practicing new techniques? Consider applying these new workouts in your photography routine and you will improve your skills and creativity. The EXIF Drilldown In my photography workshops, I often show my portfolio to introduce myself before the class begins. After showing a few pictures, someone will inevitably raise their hand and ask, “How did you shoot that one?” I tell them the answer, but then I show them how to practice guessing camera settings so they will know what to use in any situation. The very best way to shoot like a pro is to analyse the work of the pros, and Flickr is just the place to look. Most photographers probably know that cameras save information about what camera settings were used to take a photo, and the information is saved in the jpeg image file. Some websites, such as Flickr, make this information easily viewable so photographers can see how other photographers created a photo. To view this information on Flickr, find a photo and click the small text link on the top right of the screen that reads the name of the camera that shot the picture. Clicking this link will bring up a new page showing all of the camera settings the photographer used. This photography workout simply requires going to Flickr or any other photo sharing website, finding good photos, and then carefully reviewing the EXIF data from the pictures. Ask intrinsically why the photographer chose those settings and what camera settings could change in order to improve the photograph. When this photography exercise is implemented, the question, “How did he take that picture?” is asked much less often. With practice, knowing the correct camera settings is easy. One Shot Most photographers take tens of thousands of pictures over the course of a year, but only a handful of those photos really stand out enough to make their way to your portfolio of best images. Many good images may be captured during each time shooting, but rarely is an image captured that is truly stunning. While all photographers understand this fact, their photography techniques rarely reflect it. Most photographers shoot hundreds of images and hope that some of them reach the level of quality necessary to make it into the portfolio. Though this method of never missing the moment has some merit, it also teaches photographers that if the first or second photo of a scene does not turn out, it is acceptable to simply forgive and forget the mistakes and move on to something else. Therefore, this straight-forward exercise is designed to work that bad habit out of photographers: Go out and shoot, but do not return home with more than one photo. Click the shutter more times, yes, but delete each photo if it is not perfect. Implementing this photography workout will teach photographers not to give up on a shot until it is perfect. Ten Shots, One Subject This workout works almost the opposite of the second exercise, but it has a similar purpose—keep shooting to capture the perfect shot. To practice this technique, find one subject and work to capture ten photos of that same subject before leaving. I recognized the need for this exercise while teaching my photography students landscape photography in Naples, Florida. We went to shoot the famous Naples Fishing Pier, but, not to my surprise, all of the students set up their tripods at the exact same spot immediately upon arriving at the beach. Their photo included all of the pier and the sunset behind it. This was a perfectly reasonable composition, but the students had a difficult time thinking of new ways to photograph the pier in an interesting way. I asked the students to all take 10 different shots of the pier. They struggled at first, but eventually ended up with beautiful photos. They photographed tiny details on the pier, captured photos of the water splashing up against the pier pilings, and shot the pier as a silhouette against the sunset. Soon the students discovered their initial photo of the subject was not quite as strong as the photos they took as they forced themselves to try new things. When something captures your eye, don’t leave until you have shot that same subject in ten different ways. As you practice your photography skills rather than simply shooting and hoping to improve, you will feel more confident in your ability to come out of any shoot with creative and technically-correct photos. Jim Harmer is the author of five photography instructional books and writes the ImprovePhotography.com photography blog. Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . 3 Workouts to Improve your Photography . . . → Read More: 3 Workouts to Improve your Photography  A Guest Post by Aaron Barlow from Delineations of Eye . Are you thinking of hitting the trail for a grand adventure? Want to fill your camera with hundreds of beautiful shots of the great outdoors? I have some tips to keep that adventure eco-friendly and help ensure you have locations to photograph for years to come. Image by Rick Harrison Let’s start out with something that everyone has heard before but can’t be said enough (mostly because it’s catchy) 1. Take Photos, Leave Only Footprints Of course! Simple enough, right? Essentially don’t leave with anything you didn’t come with. 2. Make a List Make a list of what you will be taking. Making a list puts those items in your mind and helps you not forget anything you may need. That’s the obvious. However, it also helps you remember everything you brought with you! Leaving a lens – God forbid – a filter, or any other equipment behind is not only bad for the bunnies; it’s probably expensive and let’s not forgot frustrating! 3. Leave It Cleaner Leave the trail cleaner than you found it. For me, this normally means bringing a spare grocery bag strapped to my pack for callously discarded bottles, cans, and various other refuse. It sometimes takes a bit extra work depending on the gear I have with me, but getting hi-fives from other appreciative photogs and hikers is well worth it. 4. Remember The Snacks If you’re going out on any trail for an extended period of time, it’s always a good idea to bring a snack. Just remember snacks have packaging that can end up on the trail. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen wrappers blown right out of people’s hands. I recommend using reusable Tupperware containers. No wrappers, easy to pack and handle, and you are far less likely to leave it behind. 5. Bottles You should always take water on the trail. ALWAYS. This tip though is more of an odd one that is just my personal preference. I find it better to take reusable bottles. Why? Well, why pay for a bottle of water when it’s FREE from the tap! Not to mention, just like the Tupperware, you’re less likely to leave it behind. 6. Man’s Best Friend If you take your best friend… the furry one. OK, if you take your dog with you on trail, keep it leashed and by your side. Dogs left to roam unleashed can cause pretty serious unseen damage to the trail and surrounding eco-system. Not to mention it can be stressful for some to come across a strange unleashed dog. Oh, and please ensure you clean up after your friend. Add doggy bags to your list! 7. Look Out For Hitchhikers This is probably the number one thing many hikers and outdoor photogs do not think about. It is a sad fact that these days there are many invasive plants in locations ripe for photography. These plants love to hitch a ride on your boots which you may inadvertently transplant someplace else. Always inspect your shoes (including underneath), socks, and other gear before leaving the trail. If you brought a pet with you, and even if you followed tip 6, It’s a good idea to inspect them for hitchhikers also. 8. Watch Your Step Watch your step! That plant or flower you just walked on could have been another photographers dream shot, or at least an inspiration. This is usually achieved by staying on trail. I know, as a photographer you may have the urge to run off with the perfect shot in your mind, just remember to look down! Many of the locations I go shooting are often environmentally sensitive areas, so even stepping on one plant can have a major impact. In many locations you can also get slapped with a steep fine for going off trail and damaging the landscape. 9. Animal Interactions Keep your interactions with animals to a minimum, especially the big ones! Photograph them; enjoy their presence and natural beauty, just leave it at that. Wild animals are wild, keep them that way. I suppose it may be tempting to try novel approaches at getting that shot – like the guy who was recently arrested for baiting animals – be smart, don’t try that. If one decides you look tastier than the bait, don’t say I didn’t warn you! 10. No Smoking Please Don’t worry, not going to preach about its health effects. I will say though that smoking on a trail is potentially dangerous when you think of it as a major fire hazard. It’s better to wait till you’re someplace less susceptible to fire. 11. Keeping Water Clean This means that you or your best friend should not have any emergencies within 40 yards of a water source. Strange tip right? Well, think of it this way; animals drink that water and depending on the water source, you may eventually as well. I hope these tips help you when you’re out in the wild on a trail, and remember, if you have any tips of your own, please share them in the comments below. We always love learning something new! Check out more of Aaron Barlow’s work at Delineations of Eye . Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . 11 Tips For Eco-friendly Trail Photography . . . → Read More: 11 Tips For Eco-friendly Trail Photography  Color Efex Pro from Nik Software offers digital camera owners a wide range of quick and easy ways to dramatically enhance their photos with just a few clicks of the mouse. Color Efex Pro 3.0 contains the most comprehensive set of creative enhancements, color correction filters, retouching tools, and a complete collection of traditional photographic effects available. Read our Nik Color Efex Pro 3 review to find out if it’s worth adding to your digital toolbox. Read the review . . . → Read More: Nik Color Efex Pro 3 Review Take a lot of self-portraits? How about couple shots with your friends? If you answered yes to either of these questions you’ll want to check out our Samsung ST100 review . One of only a few digital cameras on the planet to offer Dual View technology, the ST100 is a sleek and stylish 14-megapixel digicam that is loaded with Samsung’s latest features. Of these is a 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD with over 1 million dots and a 1.8-inch LCD mounted on the front of the camera. This allows you to let your friends see the picture you’re framing, and also makes a perfect front facing viewfinder for all kinds of shots that you can include yourself in. See Steve’s Conclusion and Sample Photos to get all the details about the ST100. . . . → Read More: Just Posted: Our Samsung ST100 Dual View Camera Review  That’s right, Apple has yet again set a record, but this isn’t one they’re going to be talking about in keynotes or putting on packaging. According to Jack Deneut at Nelso the camera on the iPad 2 may be the first ever to offer a lower resolution than the display attached to it. Think about that. The camera can’t take pictures that are as good as the display can show. Apple hasn’t revealed just what kind of camera will be in the iPad, but we do know it will be able to record video in 720p. “We can infer from this that the rear camera sensor is capable of at least 1280×720 pixel resolution,” writes Deneut. “However, it’s reasonable to assume that still photos will be cropped to 960×720 like the current generation iPod Touch.” “If that’s true,” he continues, “then the iPad will have a higher resolution LCD display (1024×768) than the photos it takes (960×720).” . . . → Read More: The iPad 2 Camera May Be a World’s First  A Guest Post by Ryan Pendleton I think this is a valuable piece of information to pass along to both newcomers to photography and the more experienced crowd… Perhaps the best piece of advice I can provide which will immediately improve one’s photography and cause it to stand out from the countless other photos on the web, is to act unusual while taking the photos. If you’re standing upright, pointing your camera at obvious subjects, from obvious perspectives, at obvious times the day, the resulting photographs will be nothing more than…obvious. Your photos will not differentiate themselves, as is the intentions of so many photographers. Everyone wants ‘different’ images that catch the public’s eye. But many do not take this into consideration while out with their camera. Many more do take it into consideration, but let the perception of passers-by impact their willingness to get into a unique position from which to gain an interesting perspective, to implement that prop that’ll make the photo fun and unique, or to point the lens toward subjects most people walk by without notice. Many of my best photos were taken with at least one (and sometimes several) person staring at me as if I were a closed-head injury patient who happened to find a DSLR lying on the side of the road. These stares are usually led by my wife… If I’m receiving unusual looks due to my lying on the ground, using an unusual prop in public view, or pointing my camera at a seemingly boring object because I see photographic potential, I can usually rest assured that I’m on the right track. Unless an unusual opportunity presents itself, you can assume that a photograph which is easy to obtain has already been taken by numerous other photographers. But, if you have to get down on the ground to find a unique view of the subject, or if you are sticking your lens out of the window of a cab who’s driver is eying you down in the rear-view mirror, chances are you’ll come away with something unique. Aside from potentially gaining an advantage over the army of other photographers ‘on the street,’ you’ll also fundamentally alter the way you view the world. After paying attention to different scenes, lighting, perspectives, textures, etc. through years of trying to view things from a unique viewpoint, I’ve realized that this strategy has trained me to see the world through my own internal lens. Overall, I think this allows me to come back from visiting various parts of the world having truly experienced the uniqueness of each place. The next time you’re out with your camera, try the following: 1. First, take the shot you would normally take. Then, force yourself to take it from a drastically different perspective. This could be lying on the ground, climbing a nearby hill, or circling the subject for another alternative view. 2. Don’t be afraid to set up shop (tripod, camera, other gear) in busy places with lots of people watching you, wondering what you’re doing. Obviously, make sure you’re not breaking any rules or laws related to the location. But definitely don’t let odd looks from passers-by cause you to skip the shot. Just do it. When you get home and pull up the image on the computer, you’ll be happy you did. 3. Don’t quickly bounce from tourist-attraction to tourist-attraction while in a new location, as you’ll undoubtedly miss valuable shots in between. Pay attention to the doorways, the fence posts, the people, and everything in between. You might later realize your best photo of Paris isn’t of the Eiffel Tower, but is instead of the elderly man sipping espresso who you noticed on the way back to the hotel… 4. Be willing to act as your own subject, should the right situation arise. If you come across a picturesque situation which would be enhanced with a person in-frame, don’t hesitate to set up the tripod and become the actor in your own production. I assure you, you’ll find that you’re easier to direct than most potential subjects… 5. Finally, have fun. When you put down your guard and concentrate on having fun, instead of on acting normally in public, your shots will be impacted by that shift in thinking. Normal is boring. Unusual, is interesting… Check out more of Ryan Pendleton’s images on his Flickr account where he goes by the name of Pichead . Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . How to Take Photos that Stand Out from the Crowd . . . → Read More: How to Take Photos that Stand Out from the Crowd |
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