When I review my twilight shots that blur motion, it's amazing how often the ones I like best were exposed at 1 second.

"Las Vegas Blur" photo by Derrick Story.

What's even more curious, is that I'm usually controlling the settings with Aperture Priority, not Shutter Priority. I do this typically because I'm figuring how much depth of field I want. But when I review the metadata for the shots (don't you just love metadata!), the cool exposures are often around 1 second.

This has often held true for waterfalls and other motion shots. And I'm beginning to think, maybe I should switch to Shutter Priority?

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

When we think of "back up," we're usually visualizing hard drives and computers. But what about your "Plan B" for a photo shoot? Things don't always go the way we planned. What's your back up plan for mis-behaving lighting while you have subjects staring at you? In this week's podcast, I have a great back up strategy for you. In fact, you might like it so much that it becomes your first choice. Tune in to find out.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (31 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Rule of Thirds is the Feb. 2012 Photo Assignment. Entries must be adhere to a Rule of Thirds composition. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Feb. 29, 2012.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- The $7.99 Sample Kit is back! And with free shipping.

You might also want to check out my article, Artistic Gifts You Can Make in an Hour.

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

Need a New Photo Bag? Check out the Lowepro Specialty Store on The Digital Story and use discount code LP20 to saven 20% at check out.

The love affair with mobile cameras enters a new chapter with Nokia announcing PureView Pro.

They write, "The Nokia PureView Pro imaging technology is the combination of a large, super high resolution 41Mpix with high performance Carl Zeiss optics. The large sensor enables pixel oversampling, which means the combination of many pixels into one perfect pixel. PureView imaging technology is the result of many years of research and development and the tangible fruits of this work are amazing image quality, lossless zoom, and superior low light performance."

We're already at the point where the term, "mobile phone" doesn't really describe the device we carry in our pockets. High resolution cameras with computing capability and connected to the Internet and cellular network is not just a mobile phone. As image quality continues to improve, it's going to be interesting to see the shifts in the photography market this creates.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

Keep your camera at the ready during a portrait shoot. You may just capture an in-between moment.

Photographer Ed Shields talked about this with our group during the TDS Off-Camera Flash Workshop this past weekend during our shoot review. Even though Ed had many wonderful shots of model Ashley Tuttle, he included this image as part of his "6 for review."

Ed kept his camera poised during the session, and when another photographer said something that made Ashley laugh, Ed got the shot. "I've heard other photographers talk about this technique before," Ed said, "and keep it in the back of my mind."

I thought it was a good discussion during our review session, and wanted to share Ed's tip with you here.

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To celebrate our first TDS Off-Camera Flash Workshop this weekend, I thought I'd share a favorite tip: how to photograph reflective artwork with two flashes. This video is part of my Off Camera Flash training title on lynda.com.

The technique is simple. Set up two equal-powered off-camera flashes at 45 degree angles from the art. They will cancel out each other's reflections, but still illuminate the artwork. You can see the results of this configuration in this video from the course. Give it a try!

More Off Camera Flash Tutorials

Off Camera Flash - Basic Techniques for Pro Results

"More Off Camera Flash" - Digital Photography Podcast 233

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

The design of the soft box is clever. A piece of translucent plastic is riveted to a black plastic back. You "bow" them to create the opening for the light fixture that hooks into place. You can set the soft boxes on a flat surface for table top photography or mount them on a light stand via the threaded socket on the bottom. At first you may say to yourself, "I could have made that!" But you didn't. Lowel did, and they are fun to use in practice.

Turn on the lights via the rocker switch on the power cord. At first, the twin fluorescent lamps won't seem that bright. Don't worry. Do something else for a few minutes, and when you look up again they will be much more intense. I've found they need a good 5 minutes to reach peak output.

Once they do, you'll notice that the light is soft and pleasing. I used two Ego lights to produce this video for Lowepro. For table top photography you can also use the included white reflector for additional fill lighting.

The Lowel Ego Light kit sells for $215. It includes 2 soft boxes with mounts, 4 bulbs, 2 reflectors, and a small sweep for tabletop photography. Don't get excited about the sweep - that, you could make yourself.

I like this set up. There are times when I prefer continuous lighting to off-camera flash. I just flip the switch, position, and shoot. For video they are a true blessing. And unlike "hot lights," the fluorescent lamps stay cool - particularly nice for portrait sessions.

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Long exposure helps create the ghostly effect against a brightly lit background.

When you think about photographing Las Vegas, you probably see bright colors against a dark background. Right? Well, not necessarily. Whether it's Sin City or The City by the Bay, don't forget B&W. By removing color from the composition, you reveal a different place - the city behind the glaring lights.

The wispy effect is created by moving people during a long exposure. Photos by Derrick Story.

My favorite approach is to shoot in Raw, leaving all of my options available. Then, as I review the work on my Mac, I look for compositions than lend themselves to B&W. I test those candidates in Silver Efex Pro by Nik Software. And I always seem to come away with a handful that I like.

Twilight lighting converts well to B&W too...

So yes, Las Vegas is colorful. But it's also rich with interesting lighting and structures, which is perfect for B&W shooting.

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I'm working this week at WPPI held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. As you might expect, there's lots of energy, and a few new things to investigate. For this week's show, I highlight 5 noteworthy or entertaining aspects from the show that I think you might be interested in. Recorded on location.

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 for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Waiting to enter the expo hall on day 1 of the WPPI show in Las Vegas.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Rule of Thirds is the Feb. 2012 Photo Assignment. Entries must be adhere to a Rule of Thirds composition. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Feb. 29, 2012.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- The $7.99 Sample Kit is back! And with free shipping.

You might also want to check out my article, Artistic Gifts You Can Make in an Hour.

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

Need a New Photo Bag? Check out the Lowepro Specialty Store on The Digital Story and use discount code LP20 to saven 20% at check out.

One of the more interesting WPPI debuts was ICE Light, a hand-holdable daylight LED wand that makes it easier for the portrait photographer to hold the light source and shoot at the same time. The ICE Light is the result of a big name partnership: Designed by photographer Jerry Ghionis, and manufactured and distributed by Westcott lighting.

Two women holding ICE Lights making the rounds through the expo hall area at WPPI.

When set to full output, this device delivers 150 watts at 5200~5400k. It is bright indeed. It is also expensive. If you buy online, the kit sells for $499.

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You hear video shooters say time after time, the best way to get great audio for your movies is to record it with a separate device, then sync it with the video in post. But sometimes that's easier said than done. Now, thanks to Dual Eyes by Singular Software, this process is easy.

For this video, I recorded audio with both my Rode VideoMic Pro mounted on a Canon 60D, and with a lapel mic connected to my M-Audio Microtrack recorder. I then used Dual Eyes to substitute the M-Audio track for the onboard recording. The sound was very much improved.

I learned about Dual Eyes during our recent recording of TWiP where Frederick Van Johnson remarked that he likes it. Since I had to shoot a video for Lowepro that next morning, I thought this would be the perfect test for it. The improvement was quite noticeable.

Basically, you record audio with both your camera and the separate recorder. Then, you use Dual Eyes as a standalone app to replace the audio tracks before importing into Final Cut Pro (or your favorite editor). The application compares waveforms of the two audio tracks and is able to sync perfectly.

I have to shoot in a very noisy expo hall this week for my WPPI assignment in Las Vegas. I'm certainly going to be using the separate recorder and Dual Eyes to milk the best sound possible from my interviews.

Dual Eyes isn't cheap: $150. But they do offer a 30-day free trial to give you a chance to test the software. If it works for me this week in Las Vegas that way it did for the Pro Messenger video I initially tested it with, I'm darn sure I'm going to buy it.

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I touched down in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon to cover WPPI 2012 at the MGM Grand.

An Olympus E-PL2 set to 1/2 second at f/16 at dusk. I wanted the traffic in the foreground to add motion to the image.

The Wedding & Portrait Photographers International event is enjoyable because of the stars it attracts and the energy generated by its youthful audience. In addition to blog posts and photos, I'll also record this week's TDS Podcast here in Las Vegas and share some of that great energy to those of you who are back home.

Attendees leaving class up the escalators from the Conference Center. I set the Olympus E-PL2 to f/8 at 1 second, ISO 200.

So, stay tuned. There's more to come.

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It's one thing being able to connect your iPad to a projector and show your work. It's another being able to do it wirelessly. If you have a WiFi Epson projector, such as the PowerLite 1775Wthat I use for our TDS Photography Workshops, then you can use the free iOS app iProjection to display photos and presentations directly from your mobile device.

Imagine being able to walk around the room with iPad in hand, showing images from your camera roll and Photo Stream, or documents in the PDF, Keynote, PowerPoint or Microsoft Word format.

And what I really like about the Epson PowerLite projectorsis that they're about the size of a laptop. So you can transport the projector and the iPad in a standard size messenger bag... and be a very nimble presenter.

The trick to this system is that the Epson projector actually creates its own WiFi network. The module is built in to the unit. So, on your iPad (or iPhone for that matter), go to Settings > WiFi and select the adhoc network. Once you do that, iProjection will detect your iPad or iPhone, and display the content on the screen.

There is a setting in the menu system for the Epson Projector that allows you to name the network it creates. This makes it easy to find it if there are many other WiFi networks in your location. I do carry the iPad VGA adapter with me just in case. But so far, I haven't had to use it.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

The Loupe tool in Aperture was one of the first "oh wow" features that caught photographers' attention. What's interesting, however, is that it's also quite useful, especially if you know the basic ins and outs.

By spending just a few minutes with this video from my Aperture 3 Essential Training on Lynda.com, you just might fall in love with the Loupe tool all over again.

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.

My next open Aperture Workshop is scheduled for Nov. 2012, in Santa Rosa, CA. You can get on the pre-registration list, plus learn about all the other photography workshops offered this season by visiting the TDS Workshops page.

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"Danger, Will Robinson; danger, Will Robinson!" You look down at your camera and see Err 01 on the LCD. What does that mean? Why isn't it taking pictures?

Thanks to Rudy Winston over at the Canon Digital Learning Center, you can now have some clue as to what is going on. His article, Canon EOS Error Messages: An explanation and understanding, provides lots of insights about activity under the hood, and what many of those error messages actually mean.

If you shoot Canon, you'll definitely want to store this article on your mobile device.

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What a great month for Compact System Cameras (CSC). First, Sony announces its lens roadmap for the NEX series that includes some tantalizing glass. Sony promises 15 lenses for the system by the end of 2013. Then Olympus reintroduces the beloved OM series, but this time in digital form with the OM-D E-M5. And it's a beauty: 16 MP sensor, 5-axis image stabilization, 9 fps burst mode, and a built-in electronic viewfinder to augment the 3" tilting LCD. Panasonic just received a solid thumbs up on its latest, the GX1. Meanwhile, Samsung continues to push the envelope with its entries in the race. This week I take another look at this exciting category of cameras, with special attention given to the new Olympus OM-D series.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (36 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Rule of Thirds is the Feb. 2012 Photo Assignment. Entries must be adhere to a Rule of Thirds composition. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Feb. 29, 2012.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- The $7.99 Sample Kit is back! And with free shipping.

You might also want to check out my article, Artistic Gifts You Can Make in an Hour.

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

Need a New Photo Bag? Check out the Lowepro Specialty Store on The Digital Story and use discount code LP20 to saven 20% at check out.

When trying to decide which Compact System Camera (CSC) is the best for you, one to consider is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1,our current favorite of the Panasonic offerings. And DP Review seems to like it too, giving it a "Strong Silver" award in their recent review of the GX1.

Features such as the 16 MP sensor, compact form quality, and robust build construction impressed reviewer Amadou Diallo. It's a handsome little guy too. Our own Ed Shields published his field test of the GX1 citing, "It feels great in the hand, has lots of external controls, an intuitive menu system, and excellent RAW image quality."

As you survey the world of CSCs, certainly this one is worth consideration.

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I've talked a great deal about how much I like the Epson R2000 13" fine art printer. Now, thanks to their mobile app, Epson iPrint, I can send jobs directly from my iPad to the R2000 over a WiFi network. (The R2000 has built-in WiFi.)

And unlike some other free printing apps I've tried, iPrint gives me a variety options including paper size up to 11" x 17", quality setting, color vs monochrome, brightness, contrast, and saturation.

If you have an R2000, or any number of other WiFi enabled Epson printers, take a look at this free app.

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Imaging-Resource reports that the Nikon D4 delivery to the US will slip about a month. Originally scheduled for February, they are now estimating sometime in March.

I saw this latest top-of-the-line DSLR from Nikon at the CES event in Las Vegas last month. And I can say, for those who need it (and want it), it should be worth the wait.

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Want to have fun making a Valentine's Day card and delight the recipient at the same time? Take a look at Card Shop for the iPad. I've been playing with this 99-cent app, and have created some great looking greeting cards with it.

Once you've designed your masterpiece (which is a lot of fun, I have to admit), you can share it electronically or send to an AirPrint printer. If you don't have AirPrint, then move it to your computer and print traditionally. (We recommend using Red River Paper for the stock.)

So, pour yourself a cup of coffee, get out your iPad, and design a few cards right now. That way, you'll be ready when Valentine's Day gets here.

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Earlier this week, I wrote about the debut of the Olympus OM-D line. Since then, I've discovered a handful of informative movies about this pro caliber micro four thirds system. Here are a few that I thought you might like.

This first one is a good intro movie produced by Olympus with some terrific graphics. It finishes with the OM-D firing off in burst mode at 9 fps.

Here's a more in-depth piece by photographyREVIEW that covers the major features of the camera. It's about 8 minutes, but there is a lot to discuss.

And finally, here's a concise overview published by c-net.

Once the this camera ships, I'll cover how it performs.

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We have two terrific hands-on workshops scheduled for this Spring, and an addition to the Summer line up. On April 21-22, we're conducting the "Close-Up" event at TDS Headquarters. Then on June 2-3, we're heading out to Infineon Raceway for our Action Photography workshop. I've also added the Wine Country Big-Q Workshop on July 13-15. All of these can be reviewed and reserved on the TDS Workshops page.

Close Up Photography - April 21-22

Learn and practice how to get up close and personal with your subjects. You'll see how to set up your own "close up" studio, including lighting options, backgrounds, and more. We'll also venture outdoors (weather permitting) for nature photography using our macro gear. You'll come away with plenty of beautiful shots and new ideas that will energize your photography. Lots of hands-on shooting, sharing with other photographers, and of course, great tips and techniques to improve your images.

Action Photography at Infineon Raceway - June 2-3

Want to improve your sports photography? Or maybe learn how to use techniques such as panning? In this workshop we'll cover the important techniques for action photography, then go out on location and practice "getting the shot." Our big event for this workshop will be The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma County. Admission to the event is included in your workshop fees.

Event Photography at Wine Country Big-Q - July 13-15

Learn how to prepare, photograph, and publish coverage for a big event. You'll actually be a working photographer for the Big-Q, shooting behind the scenes, editing content, and contributing to the online event coverage. Plus, you will enjoy some of the most amazing BBQ on the planet. Live music, micro brewery beer, and Sonoma County wine are all included in your workshop fees.

Sign Up Now!

Reservation forms are available now for the Close-Up Workshop. If you're interesting in the Action or Event workshops you can get on the Reserve List. Either way, use the Send Me Info box on the TDS Workshops page.

Hope to see you at one of these events!

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I was impressed with Corel's ambition in its 1.0 release of AfterShot Pro. And for the most part, the execution wasn't bad either. I provide a complete rundown of my impressions in the Macworld Magazine review, Corel AfterShot Pro photo manager plays well in the big leagues.

Pros

• Fast decoding of raw files, even on a laptop
• Excellent raw file support across camera brands
• Completely non-destructive workflow
• Easy to use Layers implementation
• Decode or edit images on the fly without a catalog
• Perfectly Clear and lens correction tools included
• Plug-in support for a variety of tools

Cons

• Can't export slide shows for outside display
• Library management less refined than competition
• Mediocre sharpening tools
• Lack of importing tool for those who want it
• File output limited to TIFF and JPEG
• Dialog boxes don't feel Mac-like

Since the review, I've been using AfterShot for quick turnaround jobs. It won't replace Lightroom or Aperture (at least not yet). But it has taken over the jobs I used to use Adobe Camera Raw and Bridge for. You might want to try the 30-day free trial. Full price is $99. But Corel does offer the "competitive upgrade" deal for $79.

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Your investment in micro four thirds gear is about to pay off. And if you haven't made the leap yet, this might tempt you to do so. Olympus announced the OM-D E-M5 body that brings pro capabilities to the compact system camera world.

Basic Features

• Rugged dust proof and splash proof body
• 5-axis image stabilization that works with all micro 4/3 lenses (including those by Panasonic)
• Fast autofocusing system (Olympus claims "fastest")
• 9 frames per second burst mode
• Redesigned 16.1 MP image sensor
• High ISO performance: 200 - 25600
• Full HD recording using .mov format (MPEG-4AVC/H.264) and AVI (Motion JPEG)
• Built-in electronic viewfinder with 120-fps refresh rate
• Tilting back viewfinder (3.0-inch touch screen OLED, 610k dots)
• Wireless flash functionality
• Art filters for both stills and movies
• Stereo audio recording
• Compact body that measures only 4.8 inch (W) x 3.5 inch (H) x 1.7 inch (D)

Pro Accessories Too

The HLD-6 Power Battery Grip in the same dust and splash proof construction as the Olympus OM-D body, is an adaptable, two-part grip that can be used either as a landscape grip for easier handling or as a portrait grip with an additional shutter release. The portrait grip accommodates an extra lithium-ion battery to supplement the one in the camera body.

The FL-600R electronic flash (GN 50 at ISO 200 or GN 36 at ISO 100) offers improved recharge time and enhanced flexibility and operability for movie recording, and with a wireless control option. Equipped with a built-in LED, the FL-600R can be used to light movies and as a brighter AF auxiliary light.

The MMF-3 Four Thirds mount adapter is designed for mounting a Four Thirds Standard-compliant lens on the OM-D body. The MMF-3 also features dust and splash proof construction.

US Pricing

The Olympus OM-D will be available in April 2012 and will ship in the following configurations:

• $999.99 (Body only, available in Black and Silver)
• $1,299.99 (Black or Silver body with black M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-50 mm f3.5-6.3 EZ lens)
• $1,099.99 (Black body with black M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42 mm f3.5-5.6 II R lens)

I think the best deal is the OM-D with the 12-50 mm zoom for $1,299. Currently, the 12-50mm zoom lists for $499.

The Bottom Line

The OM-D body elevates micro four thirds to a new level. This rugged all-weather camera should provide the performance most serious photographers want while taking up less room in the camera bag. The pricing is reasonable, especially considering the specification. And for those of us who already have a collection of four thirds and micro four thirds lenses, the investment in the OM-D body seems like a wise one.

Nikon has throw down the gauntlet with the impressive D800 featuring 36 high resolution megapixels. Canon meanwhile, decided that today was a good time to announce 3 high resolution lenses designed for a full frame camera that would require such good glass. Hmmmm....

So basically, Nikon beat Canon to the punch with the D800. Canon wants to let everyone know that an answer is imminent, without actually having to make an announcement. Ah yes. Let the games begin.

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If printing were as fun as the other aspects of your photography, you might engage more often. Right? After all, we like sharing prints. It's the creating them that can be frustrating. In this week's podcast I explain a few nimble options for creating prints that just might get your juices flowing. I use mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad, a compact printer, and a few other goodies. Give it a listen and decide if a nimble printing setup might be the ticket to you creating prints to share with friends, family, and even clients.

Technical note: My recording studio is still under repair because of water damage. So I'm having to use a portable rig that doesn't have as high quality audio. I'm hoping to be back in the studio next week. In the meantime, please hang in there until I return to normal life. Thanks!

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (34 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Rule of Thirds is the Feb. 2012 Photo Assignment. Entries must be adhere to a Rule of Thirds composition. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Feb. 29, 2012.

Nimble printing set-up with HP compact printer, AirPort Express, and iPhone app.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- The $7.99 Sample Kit is back! And with free shipping.

You might also want to check out my article, Artistic Gifts You Can Make in an Hour.

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

Need a New Photo Bag? Check out the Lowepro Specialty Store on The Digital Story and use discount code LP20 to saven 20% at check out.

Postcards present great advantages. In a mailbox full of bland envelopes, postcards radiate like desert flowers. They're easy to send: stick a 32-cent stamp on the back, write an address, and drop them in the mail. Postcards will bring smiles to the faces of good friends, or catch the eye of potential clients. And you may not realize it, but they're easy to make. Yes, you could use outside printing services for this, but why not create your own?

Delight friends and family when a beautiful landscape appears amongst the bills and ads in their mailboxes.

By downloading the postcard "backs" on this page for 4" x 6" and 5" x 7" versions, all you have to do is add your artwork on the front, and you have a professional-looking mailer that you can send, share, or even sell. You can use your choice of paper surfaces. Take a look at the Red River Postcards Info Page for affordable paper options, tips, and specs.

4"x6" postcard back template. Right-click to download.

5"x7" postcard back template. Right-click to download.

The best papers to work with are those that are at least 8.5 mil thick (which exceeds postal regulations) and have plain paper backs that make it easy to print the template and write an address. The links on the Red River page offer some good suggestions that meet these requirements.

I like to print up a handful of templates to have on hand, then just run them through the printer again when I have an image I want to add. I also keep the digital templates on my iPhone, so I can create new postcards anywhere I find an AirPrint printer.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, both for business or pleasure, postcards are a great way to do so. Print up a few, and see what you think.

Like Red River Paper on Facebook -- Free paper give aways, printing tips, and lots more.

The folks at Imaging-Resource.com have published an excellent image comparison test with the Canon G1 Xand a batch of its competitors, including the Canon G12, Canon T3i, Nikon J1, Olympus E-P3, and Sony NEX-5N.

The lab shots were captured at base ISO and then at ISO 1600 and ISO 3200. You can read the report and see all of the photos here: Canon PowerShot G1 X Preview.

Bottom line: The Canon G1 X definitely held its own, or surpassed, all of these cameras in this test.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

Curious about what the Mac App Store has to offer for photographers? You might want to take a look at the Apps for Photographers collection.

Three sections are featured there: Organize & Share, Digital Darkroom, and Cool Creations. There's plenty of interesting software to peruse and experiment with, such as the just-released CameraBag 2, that's 20 percent off right now to celebrate its launch ($18.99).

One of the things I like about buying programs through the App Store is that the updates are easily managed there, very much like new version notifications on your iPhone or iPad.

To see the Apps for Photographers collection for yourself, use this link, or launch the App Store and look for Apps for Photographers in the right hand column under Categories.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

The new Lowepro Event Messenger is a good looking shoulder bag that holds your DSLR, Compact System Camera, lenses, and laptop or tablet computer. It has a distinct urban style that doesn't scream "camera bag!," yet provides fast access to all of your gear.

Aside from the looks and functionality of this shoulder bag, I like the pricing. Suggested manufacturer's price is $79, $69, and $59. TDS members who use our Shop Lowepro store and add the discount code "LP20" at checkout will get an addition 20 percent off.

I've had a chance to play with this bag in person, and I have to say... it's sharp

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

For the Dec. '11 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters looked close to home for exploring the theme Family. One of the things I enjoy most about this gallery are the captions that accompany the images. Make sure your read them as you view the pictures. And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

Photo by Fred S. Brundick. To see all of the other terrific shots from Dec., visit the Family gallery page.

Participate in This Month's Assignment

The Feb. 2012 assignment is "Rule of Thirds." To qualify, the entry image should take advantage of the rule of thirds in its composition. Details can be found on the Member Participation page. Deadline is Feb. 29, 2012.

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 this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Feb. 2012." 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.

Good luck with your Feb. assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for December.

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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.

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