New Screencast: Collections in Bridge CS4, October 29, 2008
A new and terrific feature in Bridge CS4 is Collections. If you haven't heard of them, they are virtual folders that you can use to view your pictures in various groupings without compromising the integrity of your organizational structure. So you can pull a picture from here and from there, put it in a Collection, and use that for display or publishing. When you're done, you can discard the Collection, and there's no impact on your organizational folders. I've published a new screencast on CS4 Collections that shows you the ins and outs. They are quite handy. Learn more... read more
Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers Debuts at PhotoPlus Expo, October 20, 2008
I just got word that a limited batch of The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers will be delivered to PhotoPlus Expo. That means visitors to the O'Reilly Media booth will be able get a first look at the CS4 guide written specifically for photographers. It will also my first look at the printed version of the book. If you're coming to PhotoPlus Expo, then be sure to stop by the O'Reilly booth for a peek. Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.... read more
Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers Available for Preorder, October 9, 2008
With the release of Photoshop CS4 just around the corner, my CS4 guide for photographers is ready for preorder right now. That means you should receive the book as soon as the software is released by Adobe. There are two scenarios where I think you would want to preorder The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers. The first is if you're going to upgrade and want to start taking advantage of the new features and workflow options that were designed just for shooters. The Photoshop CS4 Companion focuses on the use of this application for photographers only. This enables you... read more
"How I Did It" 10 - Chevy Above the Levy - Jim Austin, June 15, 2008
"It was late on a stormy afternoon in Everglades City, Florida," said Jim Austin. "The wind was howling, and a storm was on the way. Raindrops kissed the hot metal of a car nearby." "I crouched down. The fins of the car, a 1957 Chevy BelAir, towered above my Canon EF 10-22 lens like a skyscraper. Resting on my stomach so I could gaze upwards, I made three bracketed exposures in color with a Canon DSLR." "All three shots looked well-exposed in the viewfinder. By now the sky had opened and lighting and thunder were rolling in. The image... read more
"How I Did It" 9 - Wet Fields - Landon Michaelson, May 21, 2008
In a recent podcast I asked the question, HDR: Do We Still Need It?. "Yes, we do," answers Landon Michaelson. He goes on to explain how he crafted his Wet Fields image. It's an outstanding example of pushing dynamic range creatively. He applies his own term to the process, Hybrid Exposure Compensation, and explains how he did it. Capture "I was standing in the mud on the edges of these expansive daffodil fields in the Skagit Valley of Washington State," said Landon. "I wanted to keep the scene more of how it felt to be standing here. The sky... read more
Insulated Lunch Bag for Camera Gear, May 19, 2008
Digital gear needs protection from excessive heat when working in summer weather. For these conditions, you may want to use a thermal bag to keep your gear from overheating. I like this eBags Crew Cooler because it has a second compartment on top where you can put your cool items, yet keep them separate from your gear in the insulated bottom compartment. There are plenty of zippered pockets for accessories, dual handles, shoulder strap, and lots of storage (15 x 8.5 x 10.5 inches), yet the Crew Cooler only weighs 2 pounds. The eBag isn't cheap ($39.99 on Amazon),... read more
"After Every Shoot" - Digital Photography Podcast 125, April 22, 2008
Be sure to download the free reference card that you can print on a standard 4 x 6 sheet of photo paper and carry in your camera bag. The card, titled, "After Every Shoot," lists the 10 reminders that you need to pay attention to at the close of each session. In this podcast, I go over every point on the list. Once you finish listening, download the Jpeg image below and print it on a sheet of standard 4 x 6 photo paper. For best results, print in "portrait" mode (vertically aligned paper), center the image, and scale... read more
"How I Did It" 8 - No Car Freeway - by Sage Humphries, April 6, 2008
"This image is a culmination of approximately 35 images taken from a small street near a busy freeway interchange," said Sage Humphries D.D.S. "I originally got the idea when changing from one So Cal freeway to another in traffic. As I was gazing down upon the busy interchange from high above, I was amazed at the aerial view and really wanted to try and replicate the complexity of the interchange without the chaos of the cars." "I knew that I could not set up a tripod and a camera at this location of inspiration, and I knew there was... read more
Digital Photography Companion is Pocketable, March 16, 2008
"The new trim size [of The Digital Photography Companion] will make it more appealing for bookstore shelving, but we wanted to make sure it stayed portable too," wrote Colleen Wheeler in her post, It's Still a Pocket Guide at Heart. (The Companion is someone you want with you, not home on the shelf when you need to figure out your exposure compensation setting.) So we went with a 5 1/2 by 8 1/2" size that will fit nicely in camera bags. Oh, and it still fits in some (larger) pockets. (Author carrying case not included.) Photo by Colleen Wheeler... read more
"How I Did It" 7 - Lunar Eclipse Phases - by Marty German, March 12, 2008
"I read about the lunar eclipse just a few hours before it was to start, in an urgent email from a friend," said Marty German. "I had just enough time to Google the local start times for each of the main phases." How Marty Took the Shots "I setup my 1980s Leitz Tiltal tripod and mounted my Nikon D200 camera with its 1980's Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 ED AF lens manually focused to infinity, and set it to its maximum 200mm zoom. It was the longest lens that I own. I shot everything in raw so that I could 'tweak... read more
"Meet the Digital Photography Companion" - Podcast 120, March 10, 2008
If you only had one digital photography book, would this be it? My biased answer is a resounding "Yes!" The Digital Photography Companion is off the press and headed to bookstores everywhere as you listen to this show. Because you're a member of this virtual camera club, however, you deserve a little inside information. And that's exactly what you're going to get in this podcast -- interesting tidbits about the book that you can't get anywhere else. I've also typed up my notes in the TDS post titled, "The Digital Photography Companion": Author's Release Notes. And remember, this is... read more
"The Digital Photography Companion": Author's Release Notes, March 9, 2008
As the author, I'm one of the first people on the planet to get my hands on the just-printed The Digital Photography Companion. This seems like a good opportunity to provide you with insights about the book that you won't find anywhere else. Before I get to the anecdotes, let's start with the basic specs. The trim size is 5.5" wide by 8.5" tall. It's a nice size that fits in a lot of places. Companion is 228 pages, full color, and printed on 60# coated stock. Personally, I would have preferred a slightly denser 70# stock, and may... read more
"How I Did It" 6 - The 9th Tee - by Mike Doel, March 2, 2008
"I had been trying to consider how to tackle the theme of "Empty" for a recent TDS photo assignment, when a significant snowstorm provided the inspiration," said Mike Doel. "In addition to knowing that the golf course would be empty, I figured that it would also be a good example of one of the tips I've learned from The Digital Story - try to find photos that catch views that are unique or unexpected." How Mike Did It "When I arrived at the course, the first thing I did was to get permission to take photos. Having received that... read more
Output Tip - How to Publish Camera Video to Your Personal Web Site, February 26, 2008
If you have your own web site, QuickTime Pro makes it easy to take video snippets off your digital camera and post them there. Its "Export for Web" option under the File menu presents you with some sophisticated publishing options... except now they're as easy to implement as checking a box. The process couldn't be simplier. Open the movie you want to publish. Choose "Export for Web" from the File menu. Select the options you want: iPhone (WiFi), iPhone (cellular), and/or Desktop. Choose as many as you want. When you hit the Export button, QuickTime will create a folder with... read more
Outdoor Photographer's Friend - The Microwave Oven, February 22, 2008
I've found another great use for the microwave over. I was shooting some water shots recently and actually found a way to soak my sneakers. I'm not talking about a little wet, I mean drenched from stem to stern. I tried just letting them air-dry for a couple days, and got nowhere. Because I was staying in a hotel, I didn't have a traditional clothes dryer available. After a few days, my good ole sneaks started to smell a little funny. It occurred to me, that when sponges in the kitchen start to smell funky, a good way to... read more
"How I Did It" 4 - Damselfly on a Cherry Tree - by Ruth Cooper, February 13, 2008
"I thoroughly enjoy capturing insects, spiders and other creepy crawlies on my little pocket-sized Canon Ixus 800 IS camera," says Ruth Cooper. "It goes everywhere with me, since I never know when I'll find something interesting to capture." "I usually wear clothing that blends into the garden surroundings, and an old blue cloth hat that shades me and my glasses." "The sound on the camera has been turned off, and I almost always have the camera on the Digital Macro setting, which still gives me automatic focus on the subject. I also try to stand either in the shade,... read more
"How I Did It" 3 - Las Vegas Night Traffic, February 6, 2008
When I'm in big cities, I try to travel by foot as much as possible. That's when I see the good shots, and if I'm lucky, I come home with one or two. I was walking back from a dinner meeting in Las Vegas with a Canon G9 and a small Gorillapod tucked away in my jacket pocket. I felt like shooting something, but nothing caught my eye until I climbed a set of stairs for a street overpass and noticed this scene. I wanted the streaming lights of traffic driving by, but I thought they would look best in... read more
"How I Did It" 2 - Aerial View of Hoover Dam by Derrick Story, January 30, 2008
Shooting from a helicopter is tricky business. You have to photograph through glass that is often curved and full of reflections. Unlike with other through-glass shooting, you can't put your camera lens up against the surface because of the rotor vibration while flying. I was dealing with all of these factors while capturing this image of Hoover Dam with Lake Mead in the background at the Arizona/Nevada border in Southwestern USA. So here's how I did it. I used a Panasonic LUMIX TZ5 (just announced at PMA) in aerial scene mode. What that does (and what you can do on... read more
"How I Did It" 1 - Balancing Act by Hans Stolz, January 25, 2008
Here's a new feature for The Digital Story: "How I Did It." These are techniques from virtual camera club members who have built upon information in The Digital Photography Companion, or came up with a new tip altogether. The "How I Did It" tips will appear on The Digital Photography Companion mini-site, so we can build a living library of knowledge for everyone to use (and contribute to). If you have a "How I Did It" tip to share, just send it to me with the sample photo, and put "How I Did It" in the email subject. This week's... read more
A Cornucopia of Keywording Advice, January 23, 2008
I was reading Jon Canfield's post this morning, Using Standard Keywords, and I began to wonder about how many articles we've published on O'Reilly Digital Media on the art and science of using keywords. So I did a quick search on the subject, and came up with list of 20 posts that help you organize your photo library. This is a true cornucopia of keywording advice. So, for those of us in the middle of winter, now might be the opportune time to finally figure out what our approach is to organizing our libraries. And even if you don't... read more
Previewing Matte Colors in iPhoto '08, January 20, 2008
I've been sharing a lot of iPhoto '08 tips lately at Macworld SF in the O'Reilly Booth. But I discovered a new one this weekend that I thought you might enjoy. When you have a print, and want to figure out the perfect color for the front matte, you can do so right on your computer. One of the new goodies in iPhoto '08 is the Customize function in the Print dialog box. It allows you to design (and print if you want) single and double mattes in a variety of color combinations. I wanted to figure out a... read more
Remember the Pocket Tripod Too!, January 16, 2008
I constantly remind people to keep their compact cameras with them while on the go. That way if a great shot presets itself, they can grab it. But when going out for an evening stroll, take the portable tripod too! Compact tripods, such as my favorite, Gorillapod by Joby ($22), enables me to use sign posts, newspaper machines, and just about anything else I can find standing still on the street, and use it for making long exposures. In the case of this image of Lori's Diner on Mason Street in San Francisco, I use the Gorillapod and a... read more
On the Fly Sharpen Mask in ACR and Lightroom, January 14, 2008
One of the problems with sharpening in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom could be that you're not controlling what gets sharpened and what doesn't. For example, you may want to sharpen the buildings in a scene, but not the sky above them. Sharpening sky is a waste of time that only increases image noise. Same for portraits, you want to sharpen the eyelashes but not the skin pores. You may have more control than you realize if you use this simple technique in either Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom. Display your photo at 100 percent (this technique won't work... read more
How to Shoot at Aquariums, January 9, 2008
I was wandering around the The Florida Aquarium in Tampa last night for the Kodak-sponsored Closing Night Party at Imaging USA. Since it was a photography show, it's safe to assume that most of the attendees were shooters. I was amazed at how many people did not know how to shoot exhibits at an aquarium. So I thought it might be time for a refresher. This technique applies to shooting through hotel windows and portholes on airplanes too. Turn off the flash. (all it's going to do is cause reflection in the glass). Increase your ISO (for aquarium and... read more
Is Image Noise Always Bad?, December 28, 2007
The topic of image noise often surfaces when we talk about shooting at high ISOs with compact cameras. Usually the conversation veers in the direction of trying to prevent the noise and devising workarounds toward that goal. But, is image noise always bad? When I was a film shooter, one of the reasons why I liked TRI-X B&W film was because of its grain pattern. I would often use this film in situations where I thought the grain would add an artistic element to the composition. Now, when I'm out and about, I'm carrying a Canon G9 as my... read more
Winter Pattern Shots, December 26, 2007
Winter presents some graphical opportunities for photographers with a keen eye. The combination of angled light with various forms of precipitation can make for some interesting abstract compositions. Now that you've captured snapshots of family and friends during holiday gatherings, turn your lens outward and see what you can find. This shot of lingering frost in the shadow of a chimney was recorded with a Canon G9. Photo by Derrick Story Technorati Tags: Canon G9, digital photography, The Digital Story... read more
"Burst Mode" - Digital Photography Podcast 110, December 18, 2007
I've discovered that I'm using burst mode much more than I used to, and I wanted to figure out why. As is turns out, there are a number of factors, including changes both on the camera side and in post production. In this podcast, I extol the virtues of shooting in burst mode, then give tips for getting the most out of it. Monthly Photo Assignment Water is this month's photo assignment. It's time to work with all states of water, from vapor to ice. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for... read more
DNG vs Raw Space Savings Chart, December 16, 2007
I've done some testing with DNG files to see just how much hard disc space they save compared to Raw files. I worked with 8, 10, and 12.7 megapixel images from Canon DSLRs (Rebel XT, Rebel XTi, and EOS 5D). First thing I noticed, there are only measurable file size savings if you don't embed a Jpeg (and obviously if you don't embed the Raw file too). My original Raw file sizes were 12.1, 8.7, and 7 MBs (5D, XTi, XT) and the corresponding DNGs with Large Jpeg previews were 11, 8.7, and 7.1 MBs. Some savings, but nothing... read more
