Sunday, October 30, 2011

PhotoShelter Launches Free Photo Business Bootcamp


5-Week email series shares business and marketing best practices for serious photographers; 40+ curated interviews with respected photographers and industry experts  

New York, NY (PRWEB) October, 2011 - PhotoShelter (http://www.photoshelter.com), the worldwide leader in photography portfolio websites, sales and marketing tools for photographers, launches the Photo Business Bootcamp, a powerful compilation of free photography business advice packed into a five-week email series for photographers seeking guidance to grow their businesses and drive more revenue. The Photo Business Bootcamp features blog interviews, tutorials, webinars, and videos with contributed insights from some of the most respected photographers, business consultants and marketing professionals in the industry. Registration is free and photographers can sign up directly here: http://bit.ly/PSbootcamp

The Photo Business Bootcamp features a curated presentation of PhotoShelter’s “greatest hits” content designed to help photographers attract more clients, generate more work, and focus on the key elements to effectively manage their businesses. The five-week curriculum includes:

        WEEK 1: Inspiration: The Secrets to Success
        WEEK 2: Growing Your Photography Business
        WEEK 3: Your Website: Your Most Important Business Tool
        WEEK 4: Mastering Online Marketing
        WEEK 5: Selling Your Services & Your Photos  

“We’ve compiled sound business advice from successful photographers and marketing pros who know what works,” says Allen Murabayashi, CEO of PhotoShelter. “Our goal is to help guide photographers who want to launch their careers, as well as those already in the game, on how to achieve greater success in the photography business. These courses offer strategies, tactics, and inspiration to make that happen.”

Photo Business Bootcamp participants will receive a weekly email over the course of five weeks following their registration date. PhotoShelter’s Photo Business Bootcamp will run indefinitely.

About PhotoShelter
PhotoShelter is the leader in portfolio websites, photo sales, marketing and archiving tools for photographers. Over 70,000 photographers worldwide use PhotoShelter to power their success online, with customizable website templates, searchable photo galleries, e-commerce capabilities, and bulletproof image storage. Photographers can create a professional PhotoShelter website in under five minutes, or customize the design of PhotoShelter to power their existing photography website. A complete solution designed to make the business of photography easier to manage - PhotoShelter offers image security, online image delivery, and advanced marketing tools like SEO and social media sharing capabilities so photographers can make their images work harder for them. To join our community or try PhotoShelter for $1, visit http://www.photoshelter.com.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Canon U.S.A. Presents Two Highly Anticipated Imaging Products at the PhotoPlus Expo 2011

Canon Will Debut the New PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Photo Inkjet Printer and the EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera at the Canon Booth #402.


LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., October 27, 2011 – Reaching new heights in imaging excellence, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, will showcase the Company's latest imaging products, including the new PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Photo Inkjet printer and the revolutionary EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera,* at PhotoPlus Expo 2011 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City (Booth #402).
Attendees will receive hands-on demonstrations of Canon's award-winning EOS DSLR and PowerShot cameras, VIXIA high-definition (HD) video camcorders and PIXMA photo inkjet printers. In addition, the Canon Digital Learning Center website will broadcast live stage presentations of Canon's acclaimed Explorers of Light, such as Vincent Laforet, Clay Blackmore and Vincent Isola, to audiences online.
"Designed for professionals and enthusiasts in the photographic and imaging industries, PhotoPlus Expo offers Canon the opportunity to connect directly with photo enthusiasts, igniting inspiration and imagination," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. "With the Company's complete line of imaging solutions, Canon is proud to continuously offer photographers a complete professional ecosystem needed to capture and create high-quality images and prints."

A new way to print professional photos
Delivering superb printing performance, the new Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Photo Inkjet printer features a newly developed 12-ink system, five of which are monochrome, along with a new FINE Print Head which helps deliver consistent and superb results to meet the demands of professional photographers. As part of the 12-ink system, a new Chroma Optimizer is included to aid in the accuracy and quality of prints. In addition to increasing the color gamut, the Chroma Optimizer further increases the black density when printing on glossy media types for a deeper, darker black. For the first time in a Canon PIXMA Professional Printer, the PIXMA PRO-1 Printer uses a tubular ink-delivery system - with the ink tanks conveniently located on either side of the printer - helping to improve the print speed when compared to the existing PIXMA Pro printer models. With this system, the PIXMA PRO-1 Printer can produce a 13x19-inch print in approximately 4 minutes and 20 seconds, helping to increase productivity in any photography studio1.
Canon's EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera* Re-Designed from the Inside Out
Making its debut at PhotoPlus Expo, the EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera helps take tradition to a whole new level with a completely new 61-Point High Density Reticular Autofocus (AF) System (the first of its kind for a DSLR AF system), 12 frames per second (fps) of fast shooting, a newly developed high-performance 18-megapixel Full-Frame CMOS Image Sensor and Full HD Video Recording. The EOS-1D X DSLR camera features three DIGIC processors, including Dual DIGIC 5+ image processors as well as a DIGIC 4 for metering and AF control. In conjunction with the CMOS Image Sensor, the Dual DIGIC 5+ processors provide high-speed continuous shooting, lower noise and a significant increase in data processing speed than their predecessors. As the new leader in Canon's arsenal of professional DSLRs, the EOS-1D X will be replacing both the EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS-1D Mark IV models in Canon's lineup.
In addition to the Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Inkjet Printer and the EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera, Canon U.S.A. will display its complete line of input to output equipment, such as:
Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras and EF lenses
From the EOS 5D Mark II to the EOS Rebel T3 Digital SLR camera, each Canon EOS model and EF lens provide various opportunities to shoot beautiful and captivating still images as well as HD video. Each camera possesses a large CMOS Image Sensor, DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor and advanced AF System. The perfect complement to Canon's EOS Digital cameras is the Company's impressive EF lenses. From the standard zoom 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens to the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM telephoto zoom lens, the wide variety of Canon EF lenses make them an ideal fit for any professional photographer looking to capture beautiful images near or afar.
Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras
Canon's advanced PowerShot Digital cameras capture high-quality photos and HD video, by using the latest Canon optics, Canon's new DIGIC 5 image processor enhanced image quality and HS SYSTEM that delivers clear images with minimal noise and maximum details in shadowy areas. Among the PowerShot cameras on display will be the PowerShot G12, PowerShot S100, and SX40 HS Digital cameras, each equipped with a high-megapixel CMOS Sensor, HD Video Recording with stereo sound and 32 pre-defined scenes with Advanced Smart AUTO. These models also include High-Speed Burst HQ, Intelligent Image Stabilization, and a host of options for creative control. This combination of style, performance and image quality in each PowerShot Digital camera makes it the perfect pocket-friendly companion for professional photographers looking to capture images and video at a moment's notice.
Canon High Definition (HD) Camcorders
Offering photo aficionados and alike the ability to easily capture stunning HD video for everyday use, most VIXIA camcorders, such as the VIXIA HF G10 and the VIXIA HF M41, utilize Canon's proprietary HD CMOS Pro Sensor which incorporates large, sensitive pixels, resulting in high video resolution, outstanding low-light performance and an expanded dynamic range. The VIXIA camcorders also possess Dual SDXC-compatible Card Slots, which help ensure that users always have multiple sources of memory and allow for super-high capacity storage that expands as the capacity of SD memory cards increases. For added flexibility, these camcorders also offer HD-to-SD down-conversion for easy sharing and editing on standard definition systems, while preserving the original HD video.
Canon PIXMA Wireless Photo All-In-One Printers and SELPHY CP800 Compact Photo Printers
To produce high-quality prints while maintaining overall ease of use, look no further than Canon PIXMA Inkjet Photo printers. The new PIXMA MG8220 and MG6220 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-in-One printers feature built-in Wi-Fi capability for easy printing and scanning of images and documents wirelessly2. Both printers feature the Intelligent Touch System which offers a sleek, responsive touch panel so only the buttons you need light up. Additionally, photo enthusiasts can unlock their creative printing side with Easy-PhotoPrint EX and Full HD Movie Print3software , both of which have been upgraded from earlier versions. The Canon SELPHY CP800 Compact Photo Printer is an easy-to-use compact photo printer that produces exceptional quality and allows users to print creatively, with features such as the Shuffle layout feature that arranges multiple images in an enjoyable and creative format. When paired with the optional battery, the CP800 can also be made truly portable.
PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II and Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printers
The Canon PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II Photo Printer features 10 pigment-based ink colors - photo black, matte black and gray as well as cyan, magenta, yellow, photo cyan, photo magenta, red and green - allowing users the benefit of a wide color gamut for stunning color prints, as well as three levels of black for true black-and-white photographs. Designed for the pro and advanced amateur fine-art photographers, the printer provides outstanding resolution and droplet control utilizing Canon's double-encoder system to help produce gallery-quality prints. The eight-color dye-based PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printer's impressive quality and speed are the result of the Canon FINE print head technology coupled with a high-performance, high-density 6,144-nozzle print head, which is capable of producing nearly invisible ink droplets of two-picoliters.
PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II and Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printers
The CPS Lounge will be open to the public on October 26 at noon, the day before PhotoPlus Expo opens and will be located in rooms 2D02/03 and 2D04/05 and throughout the PhotoPlus Expo during show hours. In addition to answering questions and providing Clean & Check services throughout PhotoPlus Expo, Canon Professional Services will also host a number of great opportunities for CPS members to enjoy additional membership benefits:
  • Print Signings
On October 27, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., legendary rock 'n' roll photographer and CPS member Bob Gruen will be signing copies of one of his iconic images for the first 100 Gold and Platinum CPS members to visit the lounge. These limited edition prints will be produced on the new Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet printer.
On October 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the CPS Lounge, Canon Explorer of Light Vincent Isola will be signing prints of a legendary jazz performer for Gold and Platinum members. Images will be printed on the new Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet printer. Vincent Isola has won numerous awards for his work and teaches digital photography, printing, and lighting techniques to photographers throughout the country.
  • Free Large Format Print Sample of Your Own Image
Throughout PhotoPlus Expo, Canon will station an imagePROGRAF iPF6350 Large Format printer in the CPS Lounge where Gold and Platinum members will be able to receive a sample print of their own image, limited to one print per member.
  • Free Clean & Check
Gold and Platinum members will be able to take advantage of free on-site Clean & Check services for up to two Canon professional DSLR or lens models. All equipment must be dropped off before 5 p.m. on October 28 in order to guarantee turnaround before the show ends. The lounge will not be accepting additional equipment to service on October 29.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With more than $45 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks fourth overall in patent holdings in the U.S. in 2010†, and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2011. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.

###
* This device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.
† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.
1 Gartner, Inc. Magic Quadrant for MFPs and Printers, Worldwide, S. McNee, F. De Silva, 24 October 2011.
2 Wireless printing requires a working network with wireless 802.11b/g or 802.11n capability. Wireless performance may vary based on terrain and distance between the printer and wireless network clients.
3 Full HD Movie Print allows printing from HD or Full HD "MOV" movie files created by Canon EOS Digital SLR or PowerShot digital cameras. From PC, or Mac with Intel(r) processor. Print quality is determined by video resolution. Function does not upscale video resolution. Requires Canon ZoomBrowser EX 6.5 or later, or Canon ImageBrowser 6.5 or later.

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Nikon launches the free my Picturetown Pad application for iPads and iPhones

Support for playback of data recorded using the new Motion Snapshot function built into Nikon 1 J1 / V1

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce that its free my Picturetown Pad application for iPads and iPhones is available for download from Apple's App Store. The my Picturetown Pad app allows users to enjoy using my Picturetown, Nikon’s online image sharing and storage service, with their iPads and iPhones.
In addition to supporting playback of data recorded using the Motion Snapshot* function, which offers a new form of imaging expression and has been built into Nikon’s new Nikon 1, Advanced Camera with Interchangeable Lens, my Picturetown Pad also supports book view and a map view that utilizes information recorded with cameras equipped with a GPS function. What's more users can enjoy using my Picturetown with their iPads and iPhones with greater convenience through collaboration with Facebook and Twitter.
  • *The Motion Snapshot function records a still image and roughly a second of movie footage beginning before and ending after the time the shutter-release button was pressed. The 2.5-seconds worth of movie footage recorded in Motion Snapshot mode is played back in slow motion for a total playback time of 10 seconds that includes the still image and original background music for an impressive playback experience.
The new Nikon 1, Advance Camera with Interchangeable Lens just released by Nikon respond to the latest needs of the digital generation. Nikon will continue to offer fun, new forms of imaging expression with features such as those that combine still images and movie footage, and also continue to expand its services to offer users more ways to share their digital images.

Primary my Picturetown Pad features

  1. Convenient viewing of photos and movies The user interface optimized for the iPad and iPhone display allows users to view photos and movies uploaded to my Picturetown with ease and comfort. As images are cached as they are viewed, display is much faster when they are viewed again at a later time. Users can also create albums and change the manner in which images are sorted using simple touch operations.
  2. Playback of Motion Snapshot data Data recorded using the new Motion Snapshot function built into Nikon’s new Nikon 1 Advanced Camera with Interchangeable Lens and uploaded to my Picturetown can be played back using the my Picturetown Pad app.
  3. Book view
    Photos can be viewed with a beautiful layout resembling those found in photo books and magazines. Shooting information is displayed under each photo, and as layout is random, photos are displayed differently each time, allowing users to enjoy a new perspective each time this view is enabled.
    • *Book view is available when the app is used on an iPad.
  4. Map view
    Photos with which location information has been recorded using the GPS function built into models such as the Nikon COOLPIX AW100 can be displayed on a map. In addition, photos with heading information recorded can be displayed with the information, making viewing them on a map more fun.
  5. Share photos on Facebook and Twitter Not only can photos or photo links to images uploaded to my Picturetown be sent to your own Facebook or Twitter account, but when the my Picturetown Pad app is running, photos and photo links to images taken with the iPad or iPhone can also be sent to Facebook or Twitter. These photos taken with the iPad or iPhone are also uploaded to my Picturetown at the same time. What's more, comments can be added to photos when they are sent to Facebook or Twitter.
    Users can also enjoy sharing their digital images more with family, friends, and acquaintances with the ability to use iPad or iPhone contact data to e-mail images (photos and movies).
    Applicable devices iPad, iPad 2, iPhone and iPod touch
    Supported OS versions iOS 4.2 and iOS 4.3
    • *iPad, iPhone and iPad touch are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.
    • *Products, brand names and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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Nikon offers the free iPhone application, iP-PJ Transfer for more convenient projection of iPhone contents using the projector built into the COOLPIX S1200pj

TOKYO-Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the iP-PJ Transfer iPhone application, which is available free of charge for download. This application enables projection of contents stored on an applicable iOS device by the projector built into the COOLPIX S1200pj when the two are connected.
The iP-PJ Transfer application can be downloaded from the App Store application download page.
When iP-PJ Transfer is downloaded to your iOS device, still images and business documents created with common applications such as Word and Excel stored on the iPhone, and even websites can be projected by the COOLPIX S1200pj. In addition, functional collaboration between applicable iOS devices and the COOLPIX S1200pj has been increased with the ability to transfer data from a computer to the application via iTunes or Wi-Fi for direct registration of contents from a computer. Registered contents can then be projected using the COOLPIX S1200pj.

Nikon will continue to propose new ways of enjoying digital imaging.

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Nikon Podcast 43: Robert Knight and Rock Photography


Host Mark Ellwood and photographer Robert Knight talk about his prolific work in photographing some of the most iconic musicians in rock and roll history.

Nikon Podcast 43: Robert Knight and Rock Photography

Alternative content
Join Mark Ellwood as he sits down with photographer Robert Knight to discuss how he was able to photograph some of the most recognizable rock musicians in the past 40 years as well as the tips and gear he uses in this line of documentary photography.

Listen and subscribe to this podcast in iTunes by clicking here.
For all other RSS readers, click here.


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FUJIFILM In North America Launches New Photo Cleaning Tips Website

Site Features Tips on Cleaning Photos, Negatives and Albums, and Includes Demonstration Video

Valhalla, N.Y., October, 2011 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation announces the launch of “Tips for Cleaning Damaged Photos” website for consumers, located at:  http://photorepairinstruction.fujifilmusa.com in the U.S., and in Canada at: www.fujifilm.ca/products/film_photography/photo-cleaning-tips/index.html.

In the wake of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan earlier this year, many precious photographs were damaged and washed away, so Fujifilm in Tokyo launched its “Photo Rescue Project” site in Japanese. In the following weeks and months, the U.S. was hit with a number of natural disasters, including flooding in the Midwest and south, and most recently in the northeast with a hurricane and additional heavy rains that caused floods, so Fujifilm in North America launched its “Tips for Cleaning Damaged Photos,” a similar site with instructions in English.

The site includes advice on cleaning traditional photographs; processed film negatives; photo albums; dye sublimation photos, such as kiosk or instant print photos; and inkjet photos, such as those from home printers. Also included is a demonstration video providing viewers with step-by-step instruction.
“Fujifilm recognizes how important photos are, especially in times when they may be in danger of losing them,” said Manny Almeida, vice president and general manager, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “So if someone has photos or negatives that are damaged by caked-on mud or sand, Fujifilm wants to offer some tips that people may find successful in cleaning their prints.”

About Fujifilm
FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation consists of five operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division sells consumer and commercial photographic products and services including film, one-time-use cameras, online photo services and fulfilment, digital printing equipment and service. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras. The Motion Picture Division provides motion picture film, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides binoculars, and optical lenses for closed circuit television, videography, cinematography, broadcast and industrial markets. FUJIFILM Canada Inc. markets a range of Fujifilm products and services. For more information, please visit www.fujifilm.com/northamerica, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm via RSS, subscribe at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.                                           

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, digital printing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 16 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2010, and in the year ended March 31, 2011, had global revenues of $25.8 billion*. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.
* At an exchange rate of 86 yen to the dollar.

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Getty Images Announces Flickr's 250,000th Image Milestone

Dynamic Flickr Collection Reflects Passion of Worldwide Community of Photography Enthusiasts

LONDON – October 19, 2011Getty Images, a leading creator and distributor of visual content and other media , and Flickr®, a Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) service and one of the world’s largest photo sharing communities, today announced an exciting milestone for the Flickr Collection.   Just two years after the debut of this first-of-its-kind collection, the Flickr Collection has grown to 250,000 images, featuring compelling and innovative content from a global community of photography enthusiasts from over 115 countries. Available for licensing exclusively on gettyimages.com, the Flickr Collection reflects the customer’s diverse needs for authentic and regional imagery around the world.
In September 2011 alone, 30,000 new images were available to license from the Flickr Collection and over 1,000 images are typically uploaded on daily basis. There are currently more than 32,316 images submitted from UK-based artists and contributors. The 250,000th image to be added to the Flickr Collection was “Two little boys,” shot by Sally Anscombe from Ormskirk, Lancashire UK. Sally, a professional photographer, captured the image of her two children, George and James, as they stood on a bed and stared out a window of her Lancashire home. 
The growth of the Flickr Collection can be attributed to Getty Images’ dedicated team of photo editors who work with networks around the globe on a daily basis, communicating what is needed at a local level and working with contributors to ensure this is reflected in the imagery that is shot. As a result, Getty Images has been able to not only increase the number of images within the Flickr Collection, but to also ensure that the Collection has an abundance of content from all regions around the world. 
“The Flickr collection has proved a massive success for us in our aim to bring a different and a varied range of imagery to the marketplace,” explained Andrew Saunders, Getty Images SVP of Creative. “For us, the 250,000 image milestone emphasizes how dynamic and engaged our Flickr community of contributors truly is and we continue to be thrilled by the imagery being creating for this real life collection.”  The Flickr collection features imagery from the highly conceptual to everyday scenes of believable and regionally relevant content, with thousands of new images added each month to meet the evolving needs of Getty Images’ customers.
Distinct trends and common themes from UK-based Flickr contributors feature observational, outdoor life, family life and urban living. Throughout Getty Images’ Flickr Collection, some of the most popular UK subjects have included kids, food, travel and pets.
For more information and to view Getty Images’ Flickr Collection, please visit: www.gettyimages.co.uk/flickr. 
About Getty Images
Getty Images is one of the world’s leading creators and distributors of still imagery, video and multimedia products, as well as a recognized provider of other forms of premium digital content, including music. Getty Images serves business customers in more than 100 countries and is the first place creative and media professionals turn to discover purchase and manage images and other digital content. Its award-winning photographers and imagery help customers produce inspiring work which appears every day in the world’s most influential newspapers, magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs, books and websites. Visit Getty Images at www.gettyimages.co.uk to learn more about how the company is advancing the unique role of digital media in communications and business, and enabling creative ideas to come to life.

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Hasselbladusa is Introducing the H4X

There comes a point in everyone’s life when your body just can’t take anymore. When you wish you could trade it in for a new one. Now, with the launch of the H4X, we are giving our Hasselblad H1/H2/H2F camera users a unique opportunity to do just that. Since the launch of the H1 in 2002, and its successor the H2/H2F, thousands upon thousands of professional photographers and rental studios have come to rely upon these sturdy workhorses for their bread and butter. After almost a decade of continuous use and hundreds of thousands of exposures, however, many H1 and H2/H2F bodies are growing tired and are now in need of refurbishment or replacement.

As Charles Darwin once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives… but the one most responsive to change.” And not to disrespect the honorable Charles, but we at Hasselblad think that you can have it all – strength and the ability to change. That’s why we have developed the H4X.

The H4X provides a fantastic successor or upgrade to your H1 or H2/H2F body and supports all H System lenses, most third party backs*, and even features a film back option. The H4X also provides a technological bridge to our faithful H1 and H2/H2F customers enabling them to take advantage of all the features that photographers have come to expect from a Hasselblad H4 series camera, including Hasselblad’s world-acclaimed True Focus technology, which allows you to concentrate completely on creativity without worrying about focus mechanics, and the ability to use the HVD 90x viewfinder optimized for the 36×48mm format.

The H4X – the evolution continues.

For more information, please go to: www.hasselblad.com/H4X

*All third party backs currently supported by the H1 and H2/H2F bodies will also be supported by the H4X.


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Tamron Release / P-Iris Mega-Pixel Vari-Focal Lens

Tamron Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Saitama City; President: Morio Ono) announced the release of a 1/3”-format 2.8-8mm F/1.2 Mega-Pixel Vari-Focal with P-Iris (Models M13VP288IR) that is compatible with 3 Mega-Pixel Day/Night cameras and delivers full high-definition 1080p images over the entire focal length range, both in visible and near infrared light ranges.

Development Concept

As a result of the rising demand for higher image quality in security systems, requirements for higher pixel sensors are increasing. Existing lenses were unable to implement fine automatic iris control to suit various monitoring environments. Therefore bright areas in particular tended to result in an image quality loss due to the diffraction phenomenon caused by small opening aperture. Meanwhile, there is a growing need for mega-pixel cameras to deliver high quality images over the entire angle of view, and with greater depth of field. To overcome these issues, Tamron engineers have developed a P-Iris Vari-Focal Lens equipped with a bipolar drive stepper motor that allows fine iris control to suit any environment.


Main Features


  • 1. High performance 3 Mega-Pixel Lenses
    Through the use of an Aspherical element and a special LD (Low Dispersion) optical glass material in its advanced optical system, the new Vari-Focal Lens realize high optical performance that is a perfect match for 3 Mega-pixel cameras, delivering high image quality equivalent to 1080p full high-definition. At the same time, the lens features fast maximum open aperture of F/1.2 that helps to increase the sensitivity of the camera.
  • 2. Stepper motor design allows the precise control of iris setting
    There is often a drastic drop in image quality with ordinary lenses due to diffraction phenomenon caused by small opening apertures. Normally, a galvanometer is used to control the iris of the lens but precise adjustments of the aperture to a desired position was not possible. By using a stepper motor to control the iris, this lens is capable of adjusting the aperture at a position that does not cause diffraction, enabling an appropriate level of exposure by utilizing the camera shutter speed.*1 The result is that high quality, high contrast images can be recorded, even in bright outdoor areas. This fine tuning control will allow the user to acquire the best image quality delivering good depth of field at most installations.
  • 3. Mega-Pixel resolution even in “Night Mode”
    Tamron's 3 Mega-Pixel Lens delivers superb clear images from “Day Mode” to “Night Mode”. 3 Mega-Pixel resolution is achieved in both modes.
  • 4. 100 degree horizontal angle, Super-Wide-Angle lens
    The wide horizontal angle of view-100.1 degrees-makes it possible to cover the entire room when positioning the camera in a corner. Supported by 3 Mega-Pixel resolutions, this image can be cropped and still show a clear image to see what is happening in the room.
  • 5. Clear images without color smear by minimizing chromatic aberration
    The Mega-Pixel IR Corrected lens uses an optical design pursuing minimization of chromatic aberration to the maximum extent in order to realize clear images without color smear. In addition, by employing advanced countermeasures against light reflection on the lens surface including multi-layer coatings, Tamron engineers have successfully minimized the light reflection, realizing clear images without ghosting and flare.
  • 6. Highly accurate mechanical construction
    In designing the Mega-Pixel IR Corrected lens, Tamron enhanced the precision of each part and component, and shifted to mass-production by using advanced manufacturing technologies. Before going into mass-production, all structural causes that are likely to lead to image degradation, including image displacement and one-sided blur, were eliminated.
  • 7. Compact design
    The Mega-Pixel IR Corrected Lens realizes virtually the same compactness as the conventional models (M13VM308/M13VG308 3.0-8mm F/1.0 lenses).
  • 8. Designed to match any camera
    The amount of protrusion of the rear element from the lens mount is reduced in order to prevent interference with components within the camera. As a result, the lenses can be mounted on almost all camera models.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

YouTube: TWiT Photo 30: Jeremy Cowart



by - Hosts: Catherine Hall and Leo Laporte.
Learn why celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart doesn't like to be known simply as a "photographer". This incessantly creative mind has traveled the world to not only create incredible art, but also to utilize his artistic skills to help those in need. Watch a video of Jeremy's process creating "A Portrait of Christ" from a composite of faces, and see the unbelievable stories from his humanitarian work with Help-Portrait.com that will have you near tears.

Guest: Jeremy Cowart
Don't miss a chance to watch or listen to your favorite photographers -- download and subscribe to TWiT Photo podcast on iTunes for free.
Jeremy's Tips

1) When shooting outside, set your white balance to "shade". It just makes the skin tones look better, warmer and healthier.

2) All you really need is 1 light. There's a reason my friend Zack Arias teaches the "One Light Workshop". I take my one light with me everywhere I go and pretty much use it everywhere too.

3) Treat your subject like you would a friend. For most people, getting their photo taken is like going to the dentist. It's very awkward and uncomfortable. They hate it most of the time. So just talk to them, joke around, get to know them. You'll get better images for it.
Jeremy's Favorite Gears

Profoto AcuteB 600
Epson 4900

LINKS
Jeremy's Blog
Follow Catherine on Twitter. You can also check out her blog here.Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/photo.
Thanks to Cachefly for providing the bandwidth for this podcast.
Running time: 1:04:14

Category: Science & Technology
Tags: Leo Laporte, Catherine Hall, photography, DSLR


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Friday, October 14, 2011

Photoshop Tutorial: Different Methods for Making Selections




by - http://www.arenacreative.com/blog Photoshop video tutorial on making selections of a goldfish or any other object in Adobe Photoshop.

Category: Education
Tags: bob mizerek, miz, miz photoshop tutorials, photoshop, photoshop techniques, photoshop tips, photoshop tutorial, photoshop video tutorial, robert mizerek, tutorial video, video tutorial, adobe, Adobe Photoshop, making selections, pen tool, magnetic lasso tool, selections, cutting out, objects

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Sunday, October 9, 2011

Tilt-Shift Lens: Ep 204: Digital Photography 1 on 1: Adorama Photography TV



AdoramaTV Presents Digital Photography One on One. In this week's episode Mark answers a viewer's question regarding the the use of a tilt shift lens- what it does and how to use one to make a variety of photos. Join Mark on location and in the studio as he explains the fundamentals of using a tilt shift lens, how it affects perspective, and how you can make unique images with this special lens.

Products featured in this episode:
Tether Table Tether Tools Aero Table, Standard Edition Portable Computer Tethering Platform, http://www.adorama.com/TTA1SBLK.html
Canon EOS-5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera Body http://www.adorama.com/ICA5DM2.html
Benro A2691TB1 Transfunctional Travel Angel Aluminum Tripod http://www.adorama.com/BEA2691TB1.html
Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift Manual Focusing Lens fhttp://www.adorama.com/CA174AFU.html

Visit http://www.adorama.com/learn for more photography videos!
Category: Education
Tags: Adorama, Adorama TV, Mark Wallace, snapfactory, snapfactory studios, Photography, Digital, Digital  Photography, camera, tips, Tilt, Shift, Tilt Shift, Diarama, Selective Focus, Miniature Scene, Depth of Field, Tilt-Shift, Pictures, Tutorial, Demonstration

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Friday, October 7, 2011

FUJIFILM Optical Devices Post New Video Tutorial On Lens Cleaning As Part Of Larger Social Media Initiative

 

WAYNE, N.J., October 3, 2011 – Whether camera operators are seasoned pros or weekend videographers, they risk losing valuable shots or footage due to specks of dust or dirt on their lenses. While the urge is strong to wipe the lens surface with your T-shirt, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Optical Devices Division recently posted a video tutorial on “How to Clean A Lens” on its YouTube channel, Facebook page, and corporate blog.

The three-minute video, the first installment of a multi-part video series on “Lens Care Maintenance,” features Thom Calabro, director of marketing and product development for FUJIFILM North America Corporation’s Optical Devices Division. Supported by on-screen graphics and illustrations, Calabro describes proper lens cleaning techniques including:
  • Using a chemical-free, anti-static microfiber cloth
  • Using an air gun and lens brush to wipe off loose dust
  • Do not pour lens cleaning fluid directly on a lens because it can damage internal mechanisms
  • Use a gentle, circular wiping motion starting from the center of the lens working outwards
The “Lens Care Maintenance” series expands the Fujifilm Optical Device Division’s online video library, including tutorials on ‘Optimum Focus,’ ‘Optical Stability,’ and many that detail the features of the company’s industry-leading lens line.

The videos are part of a social media initiative introduced in March 2011 as a means to better inform the market about the unique benefits and features offered by FUJINON lenses.

“In producing these video tutorials, our goal is to help our customers get the best possible performance and longevity for their equipment investment,” said Calabro. “Video is an effective, fun way to convey technical information about our lenses, as well as to profile cutting edge customers and applications like stereo 3D. And today’s social media environment makes it easy for people worldwide to view these clips at their convenience.”
The videos can be accessed on the FujinonBroadcast channel on YouTube, as well as the corporate Facebook page and Fujifilm Optical Device Division blog.

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Nikon Continues To Help Emerging Photographers Gain Valuable Career Experience At Barnstorm XXIV

Nikon Sponsors the 24th Eddie Adams Workshop to Support 100 of the World’s Most Promising Young Photojournalists

JEFFERSONVILLE, N.Y. (Oct. 5, 2011) - From October 7-10, Nikon will sponsor 100 of the world’s most promising and talented young photojournalists in upstate New York for the 24th Annual Eddie Adams Workshop, also known as “Barnstorm.” As in years past, renowned and award-winning professional photographers and photo editors will mentor the handpicked selection of students during the intense and instructive four-day workshop.

To prepare Barnstorm participants for the ever-changing world where multimedia content is becoming more prevalent each and every day, students will have the opportunity to use Nikon’s extensive professional digital SLR camera system, including a full complement of NIKKOR lenses and accessories to push the boundaries of content capture and sharing.

“The Eddie Adams Workshop has established a legacy of producing some of the world’s finest photojournalists, and Nikon is proud to have been a sponsor from the beginning, 24 years ago.” said Bill Pekala, general manager of Nikon Professional Services and Eddie Adams Workshop board member. “At the end of the day, the quality of the image is what matters, and Nikon is honored for the opportunity to provide this elite group of carefully selected students with access to Nikon's extensive line of professional cameras and optics for capturing still and motion pictures - the same gear used by many working professionals in every part of the world.”

The students’ learning experience is tailored around the ever changing and evolving digital industry. During the workshop, participants will have full access to a state-of-the-art digital photo and multimedia studio equipped with all of the latest technologies. Nikon technical experts will be available onsite to offer advice and guidance to the students. Additionally, Nikon will provide access to professional camera equipment such as the D3X, D3S, D700, D300S and D7000, allowing these students to capture the world around them in stunning detail and clarity. Students will also benefit from the experience and advice of legendary professional mentors, including those from some of the world’s most well known photojournalism publications.

During the workshop, the Barnstorm students are divided into 10 teams, with each team paired with a photographer, an editor and a researcher. Each day consists of hands-on activities such as shooting and editing, as well as speeches and panel discussions from industry veterans. Over the course of the workshop, students are exposed to many types of photography, including photojournalism, fine art photography, studio portraiture, underwater work, long-term projects and conflict photography.

In addition to sponsoring Barnstorm, Nikon will present the Eddie Adams’ Nikon Equipment Scholarship to the top student from the workshop. A panel of judges will select a student based on the work he or she presents during the workshop, and that student will receive an assortment of professional Nikon camera gear ideally suited to a career as a photojournalist. This kit will include the renowned D3S D-SLR, SB-900 Speedlight, and the versatile combination of the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 VR NIKKOR lenses.

“The modern photojournalist has to be creative enough to expertly adapt to an ever-changing and expanding world of publications and mediums, from photo to video, from print to online and everything in between,” said Alyssa Adams, executive director, Eddie Adams Workshop. “It is especially gratifying that Lung Liu, a Vietnamese refugee, was the 2010 Nikon award winner. Eddie Adams championed the Vietnamese Boat People with his Boat People photos that were presented to Congress, influencing a movement to allow Vietnamese refugees into the U.S.”

About Barnstorm: The Eddie Adams Workshop
Now in its 24th year, the purpose of the Eddie Adams Workshop is to create a forum where the exchange of ideas, techniques, and philosophies can be shared between both established members and newcomers of the profession of picture journalism. The workshop is a tuition-free, invitation-only event. Attendees are portfolio-selected by the Eddie Adams Workshop Board of Directors. For more information, please visit www.eddieadamsworkshop.com.

About NPS
Nikon Professional Services provides valuable assistance for pros in every segment of the photography field, including newspaper, industrial, police and forensic, medical photography, commercial studios and even special movie productions. NPS is also available to work with national photographic organizations offering advice and assistance, demonstrations of the latest Nikon products, and lectures on various photography topics. NPS is also well known as a resource for professional photographers at various field events. For more information on NPS and membership requirements for the program, please visit www.nikonpro.com.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics as well as the new Nikon 1 advanced camera with interchangeable lens system. In 2011, production of NIKKOR lenses surpassed 60 million, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon and other photographers on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nikon and get the latest news and information from Twitter by following @Nikon_USA

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

ANIMOTO Video Creation Service Now Smarter, Easier And Faster With New Creation Flow

--Adds “Vintage” Video Style for Even More Choices to Create Amazing Videos --

New York City, October 4, 2011 - Animoto, the maker of the innovative and award-winning online video creation service, today announced an all-new, smarter video creation flow that makes it even easier to quickly produce pro-quality videos from photos, video clips and music. The company also added a new video slideshow style to its library, called Vintage Voyage, which lets anyone produce videos with an antique, old-world feel.


“The magic of Animoto has always been the ability for anyone to quickly create extraordinary videos through a simple, intuitive interface that doesn’t feel like an editing tool,” said Brad Jefferson, CEO of Animoto.  “Our all-new creation flow is a huge leap forward in simplicity and provides the framework for us to innovate on our vision faster, while addressing user-requested features more quickly.”


The new Animoto creation process has been redesigned from the ground up to accelerate the creation of video slideshows.  The new setup allows the creation of a video in as few as five clicks. Another benefit of the new creation flow is an expandable workspace that can display up to 300 thumbnail photos at a time -- making it easier to create longer videos. Editing is also easier with full-size image previews, and the ability to preview text from within thumbnails.


Vintage Voyage, Animoto’s 26th video style, is ideal for everything from creating an artistic trip down memory lane, to showcasing a rustic trip to Europe.


To get started, users create and share their own 30-second Animoto video for free.  For unlimited full-length videos, a monthly subscription to Animoto Plus is available for $5, or users can choose an annual subscription for $30.  Another option, Animoto Pro is available for $39 a month, or $249 for an annual subscription, and is ideal for businesses, including professional photographers.


About Animoto:
Animoto (www.animoto.com ) is a video slideshow creation service that enables consumers, professionals and businesses to easily make and share professional-looking videos that will amaze friends, family and others. The Animoto team, which includes entertainment and technology industry veterans, has leveraged their expertise to develop a web-based service that makes it easy for people to quickly create and share their stories through video – using photos and/or videos.  The heart of Animoto is its Cinematic Artificial Intelligence™ technology that thinks like an actual director and editor, using the same sophisticated post-production skills and techniques that are used in television and film.  A fast-growing company, Animoto Productions is based in New York City with an office in San Francisco.


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