Can you feel the heat from these smokin' photos? The assignment for May 2010 was "Fire." Check out this intense collection of images from members of the TDS virtual camera club. Once again, it's going to be tough to choose the SizzlPix Pick of the Month from this effort.

The July 2010 assignment is "Torn." Start working on your contribution now. Details can be found on the Member Participation page. You can now submit photo assignment pictures up to 800 pixels in the widest direction.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for next month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: July 2010." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Photo by Michael DeBuhr. (Click on it to see enlarged version.) You can read more about how Michael captured this shot, plus see all of the other great images on the May 2010 Gallery page.

Good luck with your July assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for May. It's a great collection of images.

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Now Available! The Digital Photography Companion. The official guide for The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club.

• 25 handy and informative tables for quick reference.
• Metadata listings for every photo in the book
• Dedicated chapter on making printing easy.
• Photo management software guide.
• Many, many inside tips gleaned from years of experience.
• Comprehensive (214 pages), yet fits easily in camera bag.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, The Digital Story, Photo Assignment

Spontaneous portraits often have more character when captured using existing light. And since today's DSLRs perform so well at higher ISOs, this option is more practical than ever. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shooting existing light portraits.

Image captured during the June TDS Photography Workshop in Sonoma County, CA. Click on image for larger version.

• Keep a prime lens in your camera bag. Having a 50mm f/1.8, for example, lets you gather more of the light that's in the room. You can shoot "wide open" and keep your ISO setting lower, such as 400 instead of 1600. Plus, these lenses do a great job of softening the background.
• Pay attention to color temperature. Chances are you're going to have artificial light sources influencing the color (and skin tones) of your shot. Even if it's a natural light portrait from window light, that is often bluish and not the best for most skin tones. Learn how to adjust your white balance for the best capture possible.
• Shoot Raw. You have many more options available after the session if you shoot Raw. Color balance, for example, can be tweaked without compromising the quality of the image.
• Pay attention to shadow areas. Our eyes often "fill in" shadow areas better than our cameras do. Learn to recognize deep shadows. Often you can improve the situation by moving your subject slightly to the left or right.

Existing light portraits can be very expressive. These tips will help you get the best image possible when on location.

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People kept asking me during my first TDS Photography Workshop, "What do you think? What do you think? Do you like it? Are you going to keep conducting these workshops?" The answer is, "Yes! Absolutely Yes."

The inaugural TDS Photography Workshop took place on June 25-27, with a half dozen photographers gathering in Santa Rosa, CA to improve their skills, go behind the scenes at locations such a wineries, eat good food, and yes, sample some local wine too.

"Best photo workshop I have been on," writes Oliver Gunasekara, one of the participants. "Great amount of practical knowledge from a pro who knows how to teach."

In this podcast I review the highlights, tell stories from the weekend, and try to give you a feel for this experience that is now part of the TDS virtual camera club.

The next TDS Photography Workshop will be Oct. 16-18, 2010. You can place your name on the reserve list now.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (28 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Float is the June 2010 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is June 30, 2010.

JD Felton was the "SizzlPix Pick of the Month" for Photo Assignment 50. Who will be the winner for Photo Assignment 51? The prize is an 11"x14" SizzlPix of the winning photograph.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

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Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

During our afternoon shoot at the TDS Photography Workshop in Sonoma County, a curious Dragonfly became interested in me. He would buzz by, hover for just a second, dash off, then come back for another look.

Dragonfly captured with a 70-200 mm f/2.8 Canon Zoom with 1.4X tele extender. Click on image for larger version.

I added the 1.4X tele extender to my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom (on a 5D Mark II) and did my best to photograph the speedy Dragonfly. The afternoon light was strong and reflective, so I added a polarizer to cut down on glare. I do, however like the water reflections and boca in the background.

Speaking of the Workshop, we had a great day yesterday, combining classroom work with a model shoot and landscape photography at a vineyard. More on that later.

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On Friday night, at the debut of the TDS Photography Workshop, I'm introducing the Lowepro Bag Grab. It's simple, but fun. I pile up a heap of Lowepro bags, as shown below, then each workshop participant puts their name in hat. I draw a name, and that person gets to take any Lowepro bag in the heap. I draw a second name, and on down the line until every participant has picked a bag. I have extra gear so there's a good variety and plenty of options for everyone.

It's all just part of the fun on orientation night. Tomorrow, class starts, and we venture out into wine country for some shooting... and tasting.

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Have you ever wanted to photograph California Wine Country in the Fall? If so, save these dates on your calendar: October 16-18, 2010. The second Digital Story Photography Workshop will feature two half-day classroom training sessions at the Digital Story Headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA, plus two location shoots. Class size is limited to 8 people on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration fee for the workshop is $495, and it includes lots of goodies, such as delicious lunches and a very nice Lowepro camera bag.

You can put your name on the reserve list by sending me email with the Subject Line: "Fall TDS Workshop 2010," and in the body include your name, email address, phone number, and state where you live. Contact information can be found in the Member Participation section of the site.

I'll have more to report about TDS workshops soon, including some video from this week's event in Sonoma County. TDS members on are their way right now for the workshop this weekend. Stay tuned!

Apple's iOS 4 adds a handful of interesting photography-related features to my iPhone 3GS. One of the most basic, but an improvement that I like a lot, is being able to change the background of the Home Screen with one of my photos. I'm using a blue sky shot with just a wispy cloud, and it looks great. Nice use of those artsy images I'm prone to collecting.

Digital Zoom

On compact cameras, digital zoom is something that I always disable because those devices have optical zooms that are higher quality. But on my prime lens only iPhone, I'm happy to have the 5X zoom. To enable it, just tap the screen and a slider appears that allows you to get a little closer to your subject. It actually works fairly well. Keep the camera steady during exposure by holding your finger on the shutter button, then lightly lift it off to take the photo.

Places

I haven't had time to test the new Faces feature, but Places is automatically enabled since the iPhone geotags images. When in the Photos app, just tap the Places tab at the bottom, and you'll see a map with red drop pins. Tap on a drop pin and a label appears telling you how many photos are at that location. Tap the blue arrow, and you're taken to an album that has both photos and videos from that general area. You can fine tune the area by pinch-zooming in on the map. One pin can become several as you get closer. Very handy. Works great.

Tap to Focus Video

Another handy feature is the ability to focus the camera during video recording. So if you're shooting a distant shot, then move in close, you can tell the iPhone exactly want you want in focus by tapping the screen. What isn't discussed as much, but just as important, is that exposure is also adjusted by tapping. This really helps when dealing with a backlit subject that would otherwise be dramatically underexposed.

Final Thoughts

I just love free software, and the new iOS 4 includes features that I find useful. You don't have to buy a new iPhone to take advantage of many of these. Just connect your iPhone 3G or 3GS to iTunes, and grab your update now.

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You can actually "bake" your images onto a sheet of polished aluminum to create artwork that has amazing depth, durability, and detail. That's the process that SizzlPix uses, and we sit down with Don Sherman, the guy who started it all, to learn the ins and outs of this unique type of photo printing.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (26 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Float is the June 2010 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is June 30, 2010.

JD Felton was the "SizzlPix Pick of the Month" for Photo Assignment 50. Who will be the winner for Photo Assignment 51? The prize is an 11"x14" SizzlPix of the winning photograph.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

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Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Even though it isn't listed on the Netflix instantly to your TV page, you can watch lots of movies and TV shows streamed from your iPad to an HDTV. The set up is easy, and the quality is remarkably good. The basic tools you need are:

• Netflix account
• Netflix iPad app (V 1.0.3 or later)
• Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter
• Audio amp with speakers that you can connect to the iPad headphone jack

Using this rig, I connect the VGA Dock adapter to a VGA cable that has male prongs on both ends, then to the VGA input on my Sharp HDTV (making sure I change the input from "cable TV" to the "iPad" using the remote). This moves the video signal only, so then I connect the audio out from the headphone jack on the iPad to my sound system.

Once you start Netflix on the iPad and choose a show to watch, the app senses the output connection and sends the feed to the TV. You can watch in either full screen or letterbox (letterbox looks better on my TV) by tapping the TV icon in the upper right corner of the Netflix app. Now enjoy!

A couple notes: 1) Make sure your iPad is charged because the dock is occupied with video output. 2) You might want to dim the iPad screen before you start the Netflix app because it stays on (as the controller) during output to your HDTV. 3) If you don't want to go the Netflix route, which requires a subscription, this technique also works with the YouTube app for the iPad.

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Turning on "highlight hot and cold areas" can help you fine tune exposure adjustments when putting the finishing touches on your pictures. In this 2 minute video, I show you how to use this technique effectively.

More Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture 3, check out my Aperture 3 Essential Training on Lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

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"This butterfly kept fluttering around us as we walked in Sugar Loaf Ridge State Park, Northern California," writes Christine Barry. "It landed, and I snapped a quick shot which I love."

Christine used her Nikon D5000 set to ISO 200. Exposure was 1.125 at f/5.6

Photo by Christine Barry. Click on image for larger version.

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

The Digital Story Podcast App is the best way to stream or download weekly TDS podcast episodes. No more syncing your iPhone or iPod Touch just to get a podcast. And there's more! Tap the Extras button for free passes and discounts and the current Grab Shot by our virtual camera club members. Each podcast episode has its own Extras button, too, that contains more goodies such as pro photo tips. And the best part is, The Digital Story Podcast App is your way to help support this show.Download it today!

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Andy Katz just released his latest photography book, Sonoma. I caught up with him in Healdsburg, CA (in the heart of Sonoma County Wine Country), and asked him to reveal what he was toting in his Lowepro Classified 250 AW bag. This is what he had to say.

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I just read this great post on Digital Photography School titled, How to Get Your Camera Back When You Lose It. Shooter Andrew McDonald publishes a series of shots that you can leave on your memory card. If the curious person who finds your camera looks at its images, they will be treated to a fun visual story... complete with information on how to return the gear to its rightful owner. Definitely worth a look.

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On of the pieces of good news about the Sony Alpha NEX-5 is that it accepts SDHC cards in addition to Memory Sticks. I wasn't aware of that at first, but I am so happy that Sony is giving us this option. In addition to general convenience, it allows us to use Eye-Fi cards in the NEX-5 so we can transport images directly from the camera to a computer or online photo site. (I just tested this capability with the Eye-Fi Pro X2 8GB SDHC Card.)

In fact, if you scroll down to the bottom of the Setup menu on the NEX-5, you'll see that you have an on/off switch for the Eye-Fi card.

You can turn on and off the wireless function on the Eye-Fi card via a menu setting on the Sony NEX-5.

Now I have complete control over the Eye-Fi card. Plus, when it's uploading, there's an icon on the Sony LCD that lets me know the status of the card: sending images, idle, or off.

I love this integration and would like to see it on more cameras.

More on the Sony NEX-5

Sweep Panorama Is Impressive on Sony NEX-5

"Sony NEX-5: Where Does it Fit?" - Digital Photography Podcast 228

Viewing Sony's NEX-5 AVCHD Movies on a Mac

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Knowing how to get the most from your flash provides you with endless lighting options. This week we remove the strobe from the camera's hotshoe and explore how to create professional looking portraits with a minimal amount of equipment. With just a single light stand, a couple of umbrellas, and a pair of dedicated flashes, you can have a portable studio that is easy to transport, but yields amazing results.

As a bonus, those with the TDS Podcast App can watch a slideshow that demonstrates the various lighting techniques I discuss in the podcast. You'll find it under "Extras" for this episode. The TDS Podcast App works on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (23 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Float is the June 2010 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is June 30, 2010.

JD Felton was the "Sizzlpix Pick of the Month" for Photo Assignment 50. Who will be the winner for Photo Assignment 51? The prize is an 11"x14" Sizzlpix of the winning photograph.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Follow me on Twitter

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Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

When I was walking about Hamilton, Bermuda with just a Canon PowerShot S90 in my pocket, I spotted this most unusual shot. To this day, I'm not sure of the purpose of this particular phone, there, off to the side of the street.

Photo by Derrick Story. Canon S90, ISO 80, Raw, 1/400 at f/4 Click for larger image.

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Dateline: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. On the scene account by photographer Julie Dermansky. Politicians and BP officials who assure the public all that can be done is being done to protect and clean up the Gulf Coast, might want to reconsider those statements.

Photo by Julie Dermansky

This is not what I have seen. Brown pelicans on Queen Bess Island are living dangerously close to splotches of oil stuck inside and outside the boom meant to protect the island. Many of them have been rescued by wildlife and fishery officials, while countless others have died. The cleanup effort ramps up when VIP's are around; other than that, the cleanup and containment effort is sporadic at best.

Last weekend, Christopher Hernandez of Grand Isle called members of the press down to show them around the day after 600 workers were bussed in to clean the beach for Obama's visit. Post-Obama, the cleanup crews numbers dwindled and their work hours were almost nonexistant.

Editor's note: Professional photographer Julie Dermansky has been on the scene in the Gulf Coast since the early stages of the oil spill. You can follow her photographic coverage on her Flickr page.

One of the promises of the micro four thirds system is lens interchangeability between Olympus and Panasonic cameras. I was able to try this for myself recently by mounting a Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 on an Olympus E-PL1 body.

All functions seemed to work well, and the lens looked good on the camera. As for the results, I thought I'd let you decide for yourself. Click on the image below to view it full size without any image editing.

20mm Panasonic lens on Olympus E-PL1. No image editing on the shot. Click on image to see unedited full size photo.

Camera Data: Olympus E-PL1 body, Panasonic 20mm lens, ISO 800, 1/60th, f/1.7.

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I snapped this shot during a set change while working on my latest photography title at Lynda.com. You'll notice that the crew is trying to emulate my height while setting the scene. Oh, and guy sitting on the stool, Andrew, will be replaced by a very pretty model once the shoot begins.

Building the set for a tall guy. Click on image for a larger version.

You'll get to see the beautiful model, and hear much more about this photography training title, once we finish it.

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Even at this early stage in its development, the iPad has become a important part of my photography workflow. As I described in The Nimble Photographer, I can travel light (less than 6 pounds), but still be able to capture and manage high quality photographs. The key for me is using the Raw+Jpeg workflow.

In my latest Macworld Magazine article, A photographer's workflow for the iPad, I explain step-by-step how I work with the basic tools on the iPad to manage this.

Imported Raw+Jpeg pairs on an iPad using the Camera Connection Kit. What do you do from here? Click on image to enlarge.

The trick is to shoot Raw+Jpeg at capture and upload the pairs to the iPad via the Camera Connection Kit. Then when you're back in the office, offload the Raws to your computer, and leave the Jpegs you want on the iPad. Being able to separate the pairs is important because you don't want to fill up your iPad with large files.

I use the 3G model of the iPad, so I'm able to view, manipulate, and send off photos while still in the field. This is terrific for posting to social networking sites, blogs, or even sharing images with family and friends. Yet I know I have the Raw masters for more detailed post production when I return home.

You'll notice in the follow up discussion on the A photographer's workflow for the iPad article, there are still a lot of tools that photographers want, but aren't available yet on the iPad. This is always the case with a new device. But I predict that within months we'll have more capable applications that further enhance our ability to work on the run.

More iPad Articles

How to Create and Deliver Content for the iPad

Acme Made iPad Cases for Style and Protection

Will the iPad Squish my Photos?

The $2 iPad Stand

Bluetooth Keyboard and iPad - A Powerful Combination

Turn Your iPad into a Live Camera

Lowepro Classified 160 AW is Perfect Bag for iPad Toting Photographers

Coolest iPad Apps for Photogs? Keynote and CameraBag

"iPad for Photographers" - Digital Photography Podcast 219

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In-camera panorama processing seems like one of those features that's just too good to be true. But after testing this function with a Sony Alpha NEX-5, I'm here to say it's for real.

This sweep panorama of a high school football field was captured with a Sony NEX-5 with a 16mm f/2.8 lens. Click to enlarge.

The process is simple. You set the camera in Sweep Panorama mode, press the shutter, then pan your scene following the marker in the viewfinder. Once the image is completed, go to Playback mode, and your panorama is ready for viewing.

The finished resolution is 8192×1856 (15.2 MP), so you don't get the mega-dimensions that you'd see if you took a series of images and stitched them together in Photoshop. But what you do get is an impressively merged photograph that's ready to share right out of the camera. Click on the image above to examine a larger version. Not bad.

Moving objects do present a problem for Sweep Panorama. So this technique is best applied to static scenes (although the effects of movement are sometimes interesting and worth playing with). This technology will hopefully lead to more expansive shots from photographers who like showing the big picture.

More on the Sony NEX-5

Eye-Fi Control on Sony NEX-5

"Sony NEX-5: Where Does it Fit?" - Digital Photography Podcast 228

Viewing Sony's NEX-5 AVCHD Movies on a Mac

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Editor's Note: The following article and photos are by Dennis Adams, co-author of Step Zero: Getting Started on a SCUBA Photo Trip. Dennis is a TDS listener and wanted to contribute his expertise to our Outdoor Life section.

Considering the Canon S90 for UW Photography

I have been a world traveler and Under Water (UW) for many years. While I travel with a large, heavy, very capable DSLR that is enclosed in an UW housing and supported by two large UW strobes to illuminate the dark UW subjects, I also travel with a small P&S with an UW housing. The P&S serves as a walk around camera and a backup UW camera.

Your praise of the Canon S90 sparked my interest, as my current P&S is getting close to 7 years old and newer cameras have much more capability. In addition to your review of the S90, I researched and discovered that there are several manufactures producing UW housings for the S90.

I wanted an UW housing that was of proven durability, repairable, flexible, and lightweight. I tend to use my equipment for many years and only upgrade when there is a substantial performance improvement. Using antique equipment does not bother me as long as it does what is needed.

Equipment

I found an excellent review of UW P&Ss at Backscatter.com. I selected the S90 because:

• It is physically small
• Has excellent photographic performance and from a world class photo company
• Will produce RAW image files
• There are several UW housings to choose from

The S90 has with three excellent housings available:

I selected the Ikelite housing because of their excellent demonstrated performance across all their products and world class factory repair support. A wide angle lens may be attached or removed from the housing while underwater. Other manufactures also produce a more capable macro lens for UW use (than what is included with the S90).

I was upgrading my 15 year old strobes to the new Sea & Sea YS-110a, which will connect to my camera via the usual electrical sync cord, or the newer fiber optic sync cord. I connected the camera end of the fiber optic sync cord for these new strobes to a small, home fabricated, plastic bracket held in place on the outside of the housing over the S90 flash with black electrical tape. This held the fiber optic cables in place so the camera flash would travel though them to the optical sync ports on my larger external flashes. The black tape also blocked any light from the camera flash going straight forward and causing backscatter from the particulates in the water. All strobes could then be easily connected either to the new housed S90, or my old housed DSLR with my Ultra Light Control System (ULCS) arms and handles.

Performance

• The ISO set to 100 (I wanted max quality)
• The flash set to forced-on and output power set to "minimum" (this low setting saved S90 battery power and still provided sufficient flash power to travel through the fiber optic cables to trigger the optical sync sensor on my external strobes)
• The aperture setting was controlled via the twist knob on the front of the housing, (the aperture setting and strobe output power determine the subject illumination in UW photography)
• The shutter speed was set to 1/60, 1/125 or 1/500 via the buttons on the back of the housing to obtain he desired background sea color of nice ocean blue or dark black. (the shutter speed setting determines the background color in UW photography)
• The focus was set to auto and spot.
• The image format was set to RAW only.

(I have not yet tried the video mode UW as I don't have UW video light to bring out the colors, but I may try natural light video in the future)

With these control settings, I was properly configured and was able to obtain proper subject and background exposure by adjusting camera controls and/or the output power of the external strobes. The S90 performed extremely well. The photos were in focus, properly illuminated, the background as desired and the image quality fully acceptable.

The Macro camera function enabled me to record small fish and the wide angle UW attached lens enabled me to photograph large subjects while I was very close (being close UW eliminates most the floating gunk between your camera and the subject). While S90 does not have the rapid sequential photo, high focusing speed, or flexibility of my housed DSLR, I was able to take excellent photos with normal P&S planning.

I recommend without reservation that you or others purchase an UW housing for your S90 so you too may enjoy its UW performance. Which housing you choose will depend on your desired usage and how much you wish to spend.

Thanks Dennis for that excellent review. I am now inspired to get a housing for my S90! As I mentioned at the top of the article, Dennis Adams is co-author of Step Zero: Getting Started on a SCUBA Photo Trip.

The Sony Alpha NEX-5 is part compact, part DSLR. It's 10 oz body houses a 14.6 CMOS APS-c sensor, plus lots of other top notch features such as a 3" tilting LCD, 7 fps burst mode, and full HD movie recording. I think it's a good camera for those upgrading from a point and shoot. I explain myself in this week's podcast.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (27 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Float is the June 2010 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is June 30, 2010.

JD Felton was the "Sizzlpix Pick of the Month" for Photo Assignment 50. Who will be the winner for Photo Assignment 51? The prize is an 11"x14" Sizzlpix of the winning photograph.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Follow me on Twitter

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Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

The Heads Up Displays, often referred to as the HUDs, are some of the application's most distinctive features. By taking just a few minutes to learn their essential keystrokes and capabilities, you can speed up your workflow considerably.

In this 2:34 movie, I cover the Inspector, Keywords, and Lift and Stamp Heads Up Displays.

More Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture 3, check out my Aperture 3 Essential Training on Lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

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I've been testing the Sony Alpha NEX-5 camera and had to figure out a workflow to manage the video it captures. One of the formats that Sony uses for movies is AVCHD, which can be difficult when working with QuickTime on a Mac. Fortunately, I have a few tips to make it easier.

Video from a Sony NEX-5 playing in QuickTime.

First, and easiest, don't use AVCHD! That's right, you have an option. Go to the Image Size menu on the NEX-5, navigate down to Movie, and select MP4 instead of AVCHD. That was easy.

If you set the NEX-5 as a mountable drive or use a card reader, you can peer into the contents of its memory. To find your MP4 videos, go into the MP_ROOT folder, and you'll see MP.4 files that can be opened directly in QuickTime. Simply drag and drop. This gives you full size 1920x1080 video files. In my test, a 34 second file weighed-in at 51 MBs.

Another route for Mac users is to launch the latest version of iMovie, then click on the Open Camera Import Window icon (CMD-I). iMovie can recognize the NEX-5 and import the video clips you've recorded. You can then edit them, add titles, and do all of the post production stuff that you'd normally handle in iMovie.

When it's time to export for QuickTime viewing, an efficient way to go is to select Share > Export Movie. Then click on the HD preset in the dialog box. You'll end up with a high quality 1280x720 movie that you can play in QuickTime or any device that reads the .MOV format. That same 34 second movie was 43 MBs after going through this process.

And finally, Aperture 3 (and yes, iPhoto 09 too) can recognize the MP4 movies and import them. This worked when I connected the camera via its USB cable or used a card reader. For me personally, Aperture 3 is the easiest way to import, trim, and catalog videos captured with the Sony NEX-5. Unfortunately, Aperture 3 doesn't support the .ARW Raw files, but hopefully that will come up the road.

For those who prefer working with the AVCHD format, all of this might seem like a lot of fuss. But I think it's great that Sony gives you a MP4 option for those who prefer it.

More on the Sony NEX-5

Eye-Fi Control on Sony NEX-5

Sweep Panorama Is Impressive on Sony NEX-5

"Sony NEX-5: Where Does it Fit?" - Digital Photography Podcast 228

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A good night's sleep is just as important on location as at home. Regardless if you're camping outdoors or crashing on a friend's living room floor, the REI Self Inflating Camp Bed is so comfortable that you'll forget you're on the road.

Self-inflating truly works. No pumps or compressors are required. Simply unroll the mat, open both air valves, and watch as the mattress expands to over 3" in thickness. It seems like magic. But it works thanks to the foam inside the 150-denier polyester shell expanding and drawing in air. And unless you need a very firm sleeping surface and blow additional air in through the valves, the Camp Bed does all the work. Another advantage with the foam interior is increased insulation from the cold ground. This mattress has an R-Value of 7, which is excellent protection. Combined with cloth-like top cover, you'll feel at home just about anywhere.

The downside? The Camp Bed weighs-in a tad over 6.5 lbs. That's too heavy for backpacking, but excellent for car camping. And because of the foam interior, it doesn't roll up as compactly as less luxurious mats. The regular size (72" long by 25" wide) sells for $99 at REI. The X-Large version, which is the model I tested, is 78" long by 29" wide. It sells for $109.

And how comfortable is the REI Camp Bed? Let me put it this way: I can sleep on my side and not feel the ground on my hips or shoulders. When's the last time you could do that camping?

More tips and gear reviews in our new Outdoor Life section

If you enjoy working and playing in nature, take a look at our new Outdoor Life section on The Digital Story. And if you forget the link, just click on Outdoor Life in the top navigation bar on the site. You can also contribute your own reviews of gear by sending them to me.

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More than 20 articles and instructional videos are available in the new Aperture 3 Learning Center. And there's plenty more to come.

If you're looking to upgrade to Aperture 3, or you just want to brush up on your skills, you can watch videos on portrait retouching, slideshow authoring, and how to use the new Curves adjustment (and lots more). There are helpful articles on topics such as reconnecting your master files in Aperture 3 or maximizing your workspace by enabling full screen mode.

You can click on this link to visit the Aperture 3 Learning Center, or find it under the Photography section on The Digital Story.

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