Photography Photography

A Portable Wireless Drive with an SD Card Reader - Perfect for Photographers

This is the Western Digital Product portion of the Press Release:
New WD® Portable Storage Drive Wirelessly Connects to Smartphones, Tablets, Cameras and More

WDDISK
My Passport® Wireless External Hard Drive Expands Storage for all Devices With No Need for Wires or Internet
IRVINE, Calif. – Sept. 3, 2014 – WD®, a Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC) company and a world leader in connected storage solutions, today unveiled My Passport® Wireless, an easy to use Wi-Fi™ enabled storage drive that allows consumers to save, access and share stored content wirelessly with any smartphone, tablet, computer or other device. For the frequent business traveler to the family on a road trip or creative professional working in the field, the My Passport Wireless drive is a simple way to connect all computing and mobile devices to content without any wires or Internet connection. Additionally, when users need to transfer large amounts of data, the My Passport Wireless drive provides the option of using a high speed USB 3.0 connection."As we celebrate its 10th anniversary, the success of WD's My Passport® line of portable hard drives is unprecedented," explains Jim Welsh, executive vice president, WD Content Solutions Business and worldwide sales. "Our new My Passport Wireless drive continues the evolution, resolving a common problem for today's mobile consumer; too many devices with limited storage and no way to offload their content and free up space on-the-go. Now, consumers will have one drive to easily store content from all their devices and enjoy that content anywhere they go."The My Passport Wireless drive broadcasts its own wireless network that allows up to eight devices to connect at the same time and access any content stored on the drive. Available in 500GB, 1TB or 2TB models, users now have the ability to store and access up to hundreds of hours of movies and music, as well photos and other digital files, from their smartphones and tablets that are typically limited by minimal storage capacity.The portable wireless drive features Wireless N with MIMO technology for enhanced wireless performance so that users can access and transfer files quickly, as well as stream up to four HD videos simultaneously. The built-in rechargeable battery provides up to six hours of continuous streaming and up to 20 hours of standby power making the drive a perfect travel companion.With the My Passport Wireless drive users have anywhere, anytime access to their favorite digital content by using WD's award winning WD My Cloud® mobile app for iOS® or Android™ mobile devices. The WD My Cloud mobile app easily connects to a My Passport Wireless drive for simple product setup, and once setup the mobile app provides intuitive navigation, sharing and playback of the drive's content. The WD My Cloud app also helps unify all of a users' content under a single app and user interface, by allowing access to content on the My Passport Wireless drive, the WD My Cloud family of personal cloud storage, and on major public cloud services such as Dropbox™, OneDrive™ and Google Drive™ from just one app.In additional to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, the portable wireless storage drive is an ideal companion for cameras with its integrated SD card slot. Whether shooting large commercial photography and video production or just taking photos and videos of the family while on vacation, the My Passport Wireless drive will never let you miss a moment because your memory cards are full. The built-in SD card slot lets users copy their content from the SD card to the My Passport Wireless drive to make room for more memorable moments. Additionally, with integrated FTP, the drive connects to compatible wireless cameras so that users can automatically transfer photos from their cameras to the drive as they are taking them.Price and AvailabilityThe My Passport Wireless drive is currently available for advance order online at the wdstore.com and will be available at select U.S. retailers later in September. MSRP is $129.99 USD for 500GB, $179.99 USD for 1 TB and $219.99 for 2 TB. The WD My Cloud mobile app currently is available for download for free from the App Store™ and Google Play™.
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Photography Photography

Think Tank adds a new color style to its Mirrorless Mover line

Mirrorless MoverThink Tank added a new Heathered Grey colorway to the popular line of Mirrorless Mover shoulder bags. The Mirrorless Mover bags are designed specifically for compact mirrorless systems and accessories.  Now you can add a touch of elegance to your mirrorless shoulder bag by adding a Heathered Gray accents to an already great looking and practical carrying solution. Mirrorless Movers are available in four sizes with the Mirrorless Mover 30i able to carry your full size iPad or equivalently sized tablet.All bags in this series have a pass-through belt loop, iPhone storage divider, seal-sealed rain cover, and a removable shoulder strap.Click on the Think Tank Logo to order:

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Photography Photography

Where were these feet wanting to go?

Street photography can be so much fun.  One can click away and get lots of street photographs but I would much rather spend a few hours observing and capture just one unique moment, mood or expression.I spent a few hours in Boston's Quincy Market last weekend while my wife and her friend were shopping. Camera in hand I was people watching.  The light and shadows on the pavers was intriguing and I was hoping to capture something different. I noticed some confusion in the expression of this lady and that confusion seemed to be conveying a message that was reflected in her footsteps.Which Way 

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India - March 2015 - Tribes of Gujarat & Kavant Fair

March 4 - 19, 2015 photo tour through the western region of India. The “Tribes of Gujarat with Kavant Fair” is a tremendous opportunity to get one of the finest cultural experiences possible in India.For details on the trip please visit - http://tinyurl.com/meq6ge8This trip will immerse you in an India that few get to see or experience. Feel free to share this with with your friends.  The trip is all inclusive, round trip air fare included (from a US gateway city) and will have a maximum of 12 participants.  Register ASAP as this one will fill up very fast. 

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Super Moon - August 10, 2014

Super Moon - Cape Cod Sand DunesThe August 10, 2014 super moon captured in the Provincetown Dunes. Tried two other locations before settling on this one. I have moved the moon a bit lower in the frame. Shot with the Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the Panasonic Lumix Vario 100 - 300 mm lens at 300 mm (600 mm equivalence). Please click on the image for a larger view. 

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Photography Photography

Eagle Island - Time-lapse

[video type="youtube" id="WCiMgyGEFOM" width="420"]Default Message[/video]I had posted an image stack of the stars in Eagle Island, Botswana a few days ago. This is the rendered time-lapse of the same sequence. Please view this as a 1080p HD video for the best visual experience.

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Star-trails in the Southern Hemisphere

Finding Polaris or the North Star is easy in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, finding Sigma Octantis is very difficult. The star lies in the constellation of Octans and has a magnitude of 5.5 making it barely visible even on a clear night.  One can use the Southern Cross to make an attempt at locating its position but it will never be really accurate.  I did my best and set up my cameras to do a time-lapse.  This was the night Germany played Brazil in the World Cup.My tripod and camera must have aroused the curiosity of the night security guard at Eagle Island Camp.  He kindly moved my rig to a more secure position on the tiles of the swimming pool.  This was after 395 images had been captured with about 105 to go.  Sequence disrupted but in my opinion the stack is interesting.  Sigma Octantis is in the top left corner of the frame - INVISIBLE.Stars in Africa are incredibly bright as indicated by the EXIF data.  These images were captured using the Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the 12 to 35 mm Lumix Vario lens.  Exposure triad: f/2.8, 13 sec, ISO 200 - no noise reduction required.In hindsight, I should have added an ND filter and increased the exposure to 25 seconds or closed down the aperture to f/4.  This would have extended the individual trails.Your comments would be appreciated.Eagle Island Star Trail

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Southern Carmine Bee-eater

It was a rare but awesome opportunity to see this pair of Carmine Bee-eaters in Botswana. The Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) is primarily found in sub-equatorial African region. These are migratory birds that spend the winter August to November (breeding season) in Zimbabwe. They move south to Botswana and  South Africa for the summer and then migrate to equatorial Africa from March to August.Southern Carmine Bee Eater - Panasonic Lumix GH4 with the Lumix 100 - 300 mm lens.  Exposure: f/6.3, 1/2000 sec at ISO 400

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Photography Photography

The Okavango and Termite Mounds

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the largest inland deltas.  Most of the Okavango river’s water that feeds the delta is either evaporated or transpired and none of it flows into the ocean.  Some of the water (about 2%) does feed the Lake Ngami.

The termites of the Okavango are critical to the formation of the islands in the delta.  Nearly every island was formed by a termite mound.  During the floods, termite mounds are the usually the only land formation that is above water.  This make the mounds a surveying point for animals and birds.  It offers the creatures an elevated view allowing them to seek out prey.

This pair of lions are siblings who are keeping away from a large male who is pursuing them for territory dominance.

Siblings 

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Chobe National Park - Leopard

Leopards are normally shy and elusive, not this one.  This very large male allowed us to follow him for an hour while he marked his territory.  At times he came to within ten feet of the Land Cruiser we were following him in.  We lost him when a large male hyena charged him.  This was one magnificent specimen and as per the guide one of the largest leopards in Chobe National Park - Botswana.Male Leopard - Chobe National Park The animal is partially backlit that made this image worth including in this post. Click on the image for a larger view.Photographed with a Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the 100 - 300 mm Lumix lens.  Exposure triad: f/8, 1/500 sec at ISO 400.  Focal length 170 mm (340mm full frame equivalent).

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In search of the Lilac Breasted Roller

I do not believe a trip to Southern Africa would be complete without a good image of the Lilac Breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus). Many images were taken during this trip to Botswana and many rejected till this opportunity. The bird is fairly skittish and very fast in leaving its perch. Here it gave me a lovely pose and the catchlight was just right.Panasonic Lumix GH4 with the Panasonic Lumix Vario 100-300 f/4-5.OIS lens at 264mm. Exposure Triad, f/5.6, 1/3200 sec, ISO 400. The image has been slightly cropped on the left for improved composition.Lilac Breasted Roller, Botswana 2014

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Using Mirror-less Cameras in Africa

For my 2014 South Africa and Botswana photo tour I used only MILS cameras - a Sony A7R for some of the big landscapes and night photography, a Panasonic Lumix GH4 for action and wildlife (mainly with the Lumix Vario 100 to 300 mm which is  a 200 to 600 mm equivalent) and the Olympus OMD EM1 mainly with a Lumix Vario 35 to 100 mm (70 - 200 mm equivalent) for closer subjects and wider FOV.  Have no regrets and no disappointments at all.  The focusing is fast, shutter actuations at 12 and 11 FPS, accurate tracking and continuous focus. The next two images are of a sunset captured in the Shinde concession in Botswana:Shinde Sunset - Panasonic GH4, 100 mm (200 mm eq)  f/5.6, 1/6400 sec, ISO 800 - Hand held _1020094Red-billed Francolin (Francolinus adspersus)Earlier in the day this Red-billed Francolin was captured sitting on a termite mound.Contact Gary Farber or Keth Patankar at Hunt's Photo & Video for all your Mirror-less Camera NeedsHunts_Logo_Web

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Absence

It has been over a month since I posted on my blog. Here is the excuse - I left for an Iceland trip (the third one this year).  We did a complete circle around the island and more.  It was an incredible trip.  Many images - downloaded but not reviewed yet.  Came back to the USA for three days - enough time to pack for the next excursion - Africa. Specifically South Africa and Botswana.  A WOW trip.  Flew back on Thursday arriving at 11:30 AM.  Home by 1:00 PM - a quick switch of suitcases, shower and off to Amherst for the 69th annual NECCC conference.  This is undoubtedly the best photography related event in the US if not the world.  Next year it will be extra special - the 70th.It has been a lot of fun and getting used to the mirror-less world.  Took a Sony A7R full frame, Panasonic GH4 and Olympus OMD EM1, both MFT bodies with a full compliment of lenses from 7 to 300 mm (14 to 600 equivalent in full frame terms)  I have never been happier - small, light, easy, and super image quality.I posted this on Facebook but here it is again:A lion at sunset.Panasonic Lumix GH4 with the Lumix Vario 100 - 300 mm f/4 - 5.6  lens at 300mm. EXIF info:  ISO 400, f/6.3 and 1/100 sec.  Hand held with image stabilization on.Contact Gary Farber or Keth Patankar at Hunt's Photo & Video for all your Mirror-less Camera NeedsHunts_Logo_Web

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Sony A7R Sony A7R

Falls at the Basin

_DSC0104-Edit Was in New Hampshire yesterday so drove to Sugar Hill for some lupines.  What a pity - the fields have a handful of flowers.  It seems the weeds have choked the lupine plants.On the way back, stopped at the Basin and took a few images with the Sony A7R, 28 - 70 f/3.5 - 5.6.  Did not have any ND filters on hand so used ISO 50, f/22 for a 2.5 second exposure. The A7R has excellent dynamic range - impressed.  Click on the image to view larger.

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Photography Photography

New versions of Macphun Intensify and Intensify Pro now available

The new versions of Intensify and Intensify Pro are designed to give you the most powerful photographic detail enhancements possible. With faster performance, enhanced RAW processing and new ways to share your images online or in print, there’s no better way to make eye-popping images that everyone will love.  If you already own the previous version the update is free.  You can use the Apple App store for the update too Intensify and the Macphun web site for Intensify Pro.  Please use the link below to order from Macphun.Click Here to order

*Already own Intensify? Update for Free.

Key Version Highlights:

Export to SmugMugNow upload your favorite Intensify photos to the world’s leading photo sharing service.

Print LabThere’s no better way to share your photos than a gorgeous print. The new Macphun Print Lab, powered by MILK Books, gives you awesome print options that will make you smile.

Better performanceWith every new release, our engineers go “under the hood” to twist some dials, move some levels and squeeze out an even faster version. You and your Mac will love more speed.

Enhanced RAW processingWe’ve updated our 16-bit RAW image format libraries to support even more cameras, including the latest DSLRs.

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