Topaz B&W Effects on sale
Topaz Labs is running a 50% sale on B&W Effects from November 5th through November 19th. Just use the promo code novbw to get B&W Effects for $29.99 from lis link:Topaz is also running a photo contest with the New York Institute of Photography from now until November 30th. The prizes include Topaz software and courses from NYIP. Here is the link to the contest : http://review.wizehive.com/contests/the-sharper-eye-photo-contest
Click to order - please enter the promo code novbw when asked
Remember ReMask promotion ends this Thursday, October 31st the promo code is: octremask and you can use the same link as above.
Phottix Mitros and Mitros+
I had done a review of the Phottix Mitros a while back but did not post it. The Mitros is an excellent flash unit and in my review I had indicated that it should have been provided with a built in Odin radio wireless triggering system. Phottix has released a new version of the Mitros called the Mitros+ that has the Odin system built in.The Mitros Retails for $ 299 while the Mitros+ is $ 399My review of the Mitros is a PDF document - click the link to open or download it: Phottix Mitros Flash Head
LRTimelapse 3.1 - a fantastic upgrade
In a prior blog post I had recommended holding off on using Lightroom 5 for creating timelapse sequences with LRTimelapse as Adobe had made changes that eliminated the video export features from Lightroom when using LRTimelapse presets. LRTimelapse has been revamped and no longer relies on video rendering using Lightroom. As a result LRtimelapse is now fully compatible with Lightroom Version 5.I have done extensive testing of the latest version of LRTimelapse 3.1 and can say that it is an exceptional upgrade from LRTimelapse 2.All the issues that Lightroom 5 presented are not longer a barrier. The lastest version is 3.1 and a beta for version 3.2 is also available if you are so inclined.Version 3 has an integrated module for video rendering that is much better and faster than what was available in Lightroom 4. You can export and render 4K and 6K resolution video, it has MP4 and ProRes support and can render in multiple aspect ratios.I would recommend the pro version so you can avail of all the great features that have been implemented. An easy to follow tabbed workflow for basic sequences, deflicker and holy-grail sequences makes timelapse creation a breeze.Note however, the old "Commercial" version has been renamed to LRTimelapse Pro.You can upgrade, cross-grade or purchase a new license by clicking here.
Blueberry Barrens
Mid October the blueberries have been harvested and the barrens in Maine are ablaze with color. The fall foliage provides a great background for these vast expanses of red, yellow and green. Around the third week of October the barrens are mowed down to the ground so you need to get your images before the mowing begins.
Another great "Glorious Acadia" fall workshop
Got back late Monday Night after a wonderful 4 day "Glorious Acadia" workshop. Had a great group of photographers and met some wonderful friends and made a few new ones too. All-in-all this was a 5 star workshop. One last one left this year in December - The Bosque del Apache and White Sands - a few spaces are still available.Here are few images form various locations:
I was looking to do something a little different during tho workshop. There are way too many images of the same subjects and the same tripod holes. Here isa lone dead tree lit up by the setting sun. I knew it was going to be a full moon so we stayed at the same location and turned around about 130 degrees. The next images is the moon rising.
The next image is a customary sunrise looking out toward Otter Clifs. A few more clouds would definitely have added to the image.
At otter cove I did an IR time lapse using the 16 to 35 mm series two Canon lens. This was a disaster as this lens just like to older version creates a massive hotspot in the center of the frame of each image. Trash canned the lot bout a deep crop on one image was useable.
I will be posting a few more images captured by the wonderful participants. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for coming and being so supportive.
One final slow shutter speed image from the trip:
Perfect Photo Suite 8 Public Beta Released
The Beta or pre-release version of Perfect Photo Suite 8 is now available. Download it todayThis Public Beta will work alongside your existing onOne Software products, so you can explore the new version without losing the capabilities you already have. Download the Public Beta and get started now.If you wish, you can pre-order the suite now and get a bonus video - click on the image below
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Sony Releases two full frame mirror-less cameras
Sony today announced the α7 and α7R interchangeable lens mirror-less systems. Though the lens selection is limited but Sony promises and extensive line by 2015. I do believe these are definitely cameras that will be strong competition for other mirror-less and prosumer range DSLR cameras. From the specifications these are ideal cameras for all types of photography with the exception of subjects that require a fast focusing system - wildlife and sports action photography. The cameras will be available in December and I am putting one on my wish list.
The Sony α7R has a 36.4 megapixel sensor and excludes a low pass filter for obtaining greater detail. The Sony α7 has a 24.3 megapixel sensor coupled with a reasonably fast hybrid auto focus system.
Click here for a link to the Sony press release.
Vermont - Fall 2013
Fall colors have come a week or more early in most of New England. Most tourist areas will be past peak foliage color by Columbus Day.Took a trip up north to Vermont this pst weekend - the Ludlow and Woodstock areas. Grey skies, rain and fog were in the forecast and for a change the weather man was on the money.
One must make the best of every opportunity and the Okemo mountain region offered the best fog images.
Topaz ReMask 50% off through October 31
Topaz Labs is running a another promotion, this time it’s for Topaz ReMask. Topaz ReMask will be 50% off ($34.99) from October 9th through October 31st with this promo code: octremask
Also watch for a my review on masking using ReMask in a future blog post.
Click to order - please enter the promo code octremask when asked
Bass Harbor Light - Time-Lapse
This was captured last week during my Glorious Acadia workshop.The second Acadia workshop is October 18, 2013 - few spaces are still open and hotel discount rates are in effect. Click here for detailsUnfortunately the embedded video does not work for all so here is a link to the video on Vimeo - click here[video type="vimeo" id="75489717" width="600" height="300"]
Adobe Camera Raw 8.2 and Lightroom 5.2 Released
Adobe has released Lightroom 5.2 and ACR 8.2Though Adobe had indicated that ACR 8.2 was designed for Photoshop CC , it is compatible with Photoshop CS6 on both the MAC and Windows. Please use the update link from the Photoshop help menu to update ACR. You can use the links below to upgrade Lightroom Lightroom 5.2 - WindowsLightroom 5.2 - Mac
Tigers and More - India 2014 - April 17 - 28, 2014
This is a unique wildlife photography trip, focused on getting great shots of Indian wildlife, especially tigers.We have selected parks which offer the best game viewing opportunities and our prices are unbeatable.BANDHAVGARH has the highest density of tigers among all the national parks and sanctuaries in India. Photography from 4WD jeeps and elephant back will allow for spectacular opportunities for photographing this truly magnificent and awe inspiring feline. In addition, Bandhavgarh boasts the gaur (Indian bison), sloth bear, leopard, porcupine, wild boar, sambhar and spotted deer to name some.TADOBA Often referred to as “The Jewel of Vidharba”, the Tadoba National Park lies in north-eastern Maharashtra. Located in the heart of a reserved forest, it is an infinite treasure trove of wildlife that includes tigers, panthers, sloth bears, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, bison, barking deer, nil gai, sambar, and spotted deer.In fact, the Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Santuary together form the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.Our itinerary is also structured to maximize your chances of wildlife photography in the early morning and late afternoon. We will also spend the time seeking out some of the lesser known, but no less interesting, species that are found in these parks.CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND A DOWNLOADABLE PDF DOCUMENT
Bosque del Apache and White Sands Dec 7 - Dec 14, 2013 Finalized
Bosque del Apache which translates to Woods of the Apache is a most spectacular congregation of birds. The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a 57,331-acre wildlife oasis of upland desert and floodplain that was established in 1939. The Rio Grande flows through the area providing water to the refuge. Close to 15,000 Sandhill Cranes and over 30,000 Snow and Ross’s Geese migrate here for the winter.7 Days in the Bosque and White Sands - instruction, lodging and breakfasts included for and unbelievable price of $1,050 double occupancy.Click Here for Details
Iceland II - March 22-29, 2013
The Mach 15 to 22 Iceland trip is fully subscribed. I will arrange a second trip March 22 to 29 if can get a minimum of 6 participantsCLICK HERE FOR DETAILS - DATES ARE March 22 to 29, 2014
Think Tank announces to new products for Apple users
Click here to order or learn morePowerhouse – Created for MacBook Pro® laptop power adapters and AC cable plus pens, small cables, USB drives, and other small accessories.
Click here to order or learn moreDon’t forget, as a subscriber on my blog, when you click on these links and order $50 or more of Think Tank Photo gear you receive a free gift, such as a Pixel Pocket Rocket memory card holder.
Carnival - Cambridge, MA
Spent Sunday Sept 9, 2013 afternoon with a few fellow photographers from the Plymouth Digital Photographers Group in Cambridge. It was the Caribbean Carnival - a parade, a mass of color, feathers, loud musicand gusts of wind. All this made for a great photo pop. I carried one body and two lenses - the 40mm pancake was on my 5D Mk III all afternoon except the last half hour when I switched to the 85. I must say the 40 performed flawlessly, fast, unobtrusive and sharp. Most shots at f/ 5.6. It was nice to carry such a light kit. Next time a I want to use a mirror-less (Sony NEX, Olympus, Panasonic or .........) I do like the APS-C form factor of the NEX but find the menu system not user friendly.Out of camera images with some cropping.
Adobe's 9.99 Offer - Scott Kelby's take on it.....
I just finished reading Scot's take on the Adobe limited time offer so I have posed a link here:http://scottkelby.com/2013/adobe-announces-a-much-better-deal-for-photographers-than-i-was-expecting/The blog post also provides a link to Adobe's FAQ on the topic.I wish Adobe would be more definitive in their statements and be clear with their intentions and plans.
Don't you love Facebook?!?!
This is a rare post, it is not about photography alone but it is about disappointment, the feeling of being let down, being cheated and anger.It is bad business practice when you have years worth of personal information and assets collected on a social networking site and you change the terms to benefit yourself with no regard for the community you established - what is Facebook's greedy logic - monetize??I am waiting for these words soon - "Read the fine print dear FB user. We own your identity and your intellectual property and will do as we please.............."The issue of the new terms of service released on Sept 5th is best stated on the ASMP site "Facebook is now able to exploit your name, likeness, content, images, private information, and personal brand by using it in advertising and in commercial and sponsored content — without any compensation to you. Facebook is monetizing not just your images, but a sizable portion of your entire online identity."The next question - which social network will follow and which one might survive.It may be time for a Gramm Leach Bliley (financial privacy) or HIPPA (health privacy) type of "Act" to protect us from such exploitation.
Adobe finally makes it a good deal for photographers.
Adobe at Photoshop World annouced that Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5 in the cloud will be priced at $9.99 a month with no end date. This is a good deal as it includes:
- 20 GB of online storage
- Behance Prosite
- All ongoing updates and upgrades
- Creative Cloud Learning
There is a caveat, you must own Photoshop CS3 or higher to be eligible for a special Creative Cloud membership offer and you must sign up before December 31, 2013. This offer will be go into effect with the release of Lightroom 5.2 - possibly later this month.
onOne Software announces Perfect Photo Suite 8.0
New Perfect Enhance module, Perfect Eraser, Perfect Batch utility, and re-engineered Perfect Effects module create a complete photo editing solution that seamlessly integrates into any workflow
Perfect Photo Suite 8—the photographer’s choice for photo editing. Perfect Photo Suite 8 is a full-featured, standalone photo editor that integrates seamlessly with Adobe® Photoshop®, Lightroom®, Photoshop Elements, and Apple® Aperture® and it includes all the best tools a photographer needs to create extraordinary images. Key new features include the Perfect Enhance module for essential photo adjustments, the Perfect Eraser with content-aware fill technology, the Perfect Batch processing utility for applying workflows to multiple images at once, and a re-engineered Perfect Effects module with twice as many filters, customizable presets, and integrated FocalPoint™ technology.The new tools and capabilities alongside Perfect Photo Suite 8’s eight modules—Effects, Enhance, B&W, Portrait, Mask, Layers, Resize, and Browse—allow photographers to enhance, retouch, and stylize images in a layered workflow, replace backgrounds, create high-quality enlargements, prepare images for output, and batch process workflows. The modules share a unified interface, each targeting a specific imageprocessing task. Each module provides only the tools necessary to complete the job at hand, eliminatingscreen clutter and confusion for the user.New in Perfect Photo Suite 8:• Perfect Enhance module – Perfect Enhance provides essential tools for basic enhancements. Use it to adjust brightness and contrast, remove a color cast, remove dust spots and power lines, and add sharpening and vignettes. It is an ideal module to start with when using Perfect Photo Suite 8 as a standalone application or when quick corrections are needed.• Perfect Eraser – Using content-aware fill technology and simple brush strokes, the Perfect Eraser removes objects and automatically reconstructs the image with realistic results.• Twice as Many Filters – The Effects module now includes new adjustable filters including: HDR Look, Dynamic Contrast for tonal clarity, Vintage, Grunge, Antique, and more.• Customizable Presets – All built-in presets included in Perfect Photo Suite 8 may be deconstructed by their filter settings and personally customized.• FocalPoint is now in the Effects Module – The best parts of FocalPoint technology to create bokeh, tilt-shift, and selective focus effects after the shot, are now in the Effects module as theLens Blur filter.• New Browse module – Images can be browsed and directly accessed from Perfect Photo Suite wherever they are stored—on the computer, an external drive, a connected network, and even on a cloud-based storage service like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Apple’s photo stream.• Perfect Batch Utility – Powerful batch processing of actions from one or multiple modules, including the insertion of a watermark.• Multiple File Handling: As a photo editor, you can now open and work with more than one image at a time. Move between images to edit or copy layers from one file to the next.• Improved Masking Bug: Redesigned Masking Bug in the Effects and Layers modules make mask creation easier and more intuitive.• Higher Quality Effects: Performance enhancements improve effects by minimizing artifacts without sacrificing processing speed.• Improved RAW file handling: Open and process RAW files faster and with better quality. Support for new cameras also added.onOne Software Announces Perfect Photo Suite 8, a complete photo editor for every workflowAvailability and PricingThe new Perfect Photo Suite 8 will be available November 26, 2013. Pre-orders are available immediately CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE. Perfect Photo Suite 8 is available in three editions: Premium, Standard, and an edition for Adobe Lightroom & Apple Aperture. The Premium Edition works with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop Elements, and as astandalone application. Owners of previous versions of Perfect Photo Suite Premium Edition can upgrade for $99.95. New users may pre-order the Premium Edition for $179.95. For a limited time, pre-orders of Perfect Photo Suite 8 Premium Edition will include a complimentary Essential Video Guide to Perfect Photo Suite 8, which provides a comprehensive collection of getting started training videos for Perfect Photo Suite 8 ($40 value).CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO ORDERPerfect Photo Suite 8 for Adobe Lightroom & Apple Aperture works with Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop Elements, and as a standalone application. It is available for $129.95 | $79.95 upgrade. The Standard Edition works as a complete standalone photo editor and is available for $79.95. New users who pre-order Perfect Photo Suite 8 will immediately receive a complimentary license for Perfect Photo Suite 7.5. Customers who pre-order Perfect Photo Suite 8 will receive all upcoming Loyalty Rewards that will be delivered monthly to owners of the Perfect Photo Suite 8. For those who have purchased Perfect Photo Suite 7.5 on or after August 1, 2013, onOne Software will issue a complimentary upgrade to Perfect Photo Suite 8 via download when it is available.