With Spring around the corner, it's time to start thinking about photography workshops for the 2011 season. We have some great events lined up, and here's an overview of the schedule. Also, some notes from the field as I'm in Ventura right now recording a new "Photo Assignment" title for Lynda.com. Yes, another report from a hotel room, somewhere.

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You can also download the podcast here (22 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

Blue is the March 2011 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is March 31, 2011.

TDS Summer 2011 Photography Workshop

We're making plans now for the Summer 2011 TDS Photography Workshop. If you want your name on the reserve list, just drop me a line.

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.

"While reading Red River's information on their new card paper, I clicked on your link about BOKAH taken in Las Vegas, and enjoyed the image of OOF Lights," writes Ralph Ansel. "During my visit to Las Vegas, I did some photos of lights at the candy factory's decorated cactus garden. I used a Canon 5D MarkII, Canon 24-70mm f2.8 at about f8 in Aperture Priority mode. I adjusted the lens opening to get a 1 to 2 sec. shutter speed and zoomed the lens during the exposure."

Nice shot, Ralph! I think the effect is striking.

Photo by Ralph Ansel.

This is our 210th Grab Shot! Wow. If you want to review the collection that began back in 2006, go to our Grab Shots page.

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.

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I was just reading a Canon advisory about peripheral AF points operation limitation with certain EF lenses, referring to eight older lenses released between 1990 and 1995. One of the lenses, the 35-105mm zoom, is still hanging around my studio.

Just to be clear, the advisory doesn't say that the lenses don't work with the new Canon bodies. The issue is, "...the peripheral AF points do not function as cross-type AF points resulting in vertical and horizontal lines not being simultaneously detected. Vertical or horizontal lines can only be detected separately."

One of the things I enjoy about my Canon DSLR system is that I'm still using favorite lenses from years ago, such as the 85mm f/1.8, on current bodies, such as the 5D Mark II and the 60D. This particular advisory doesn't bother me much, In fact, I appreciate the information... just in case I decide to break out the 35-105 zoom (which was a mediocre lens at best, btw).

The good news is, that in most cases, you're going to get solid performance with your older Canon EF lenses on any Canon DSLR body. That's why we say that good glass is an investment.

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There are a handful of applications that enable a connection from an iPad to your DSLR. But if you really want to control the camera remotely, take a look at onOne's DSLR Camera Remote HD for the iPad.

I've connected a Canon T1i, 60D, and 5D to my MacBook Air, and then used my iPad as command central. This includes working in Live View, video recording, and using the iPad as an Intervalometer to set both interval and number of shots for a session.

The set-up is painless. First, I downloaded the iPad app from the App Store ($49.99). Then I went to the onOne site to download the server for my MacBook.

Connect the camera to the MacBook, turn it on, and fire up the server. Then launch the iPad app. It will see your computer on the WiFi network and list it for you. You tap the name of your computer in the list, and DSLR Camera Remote HD makes the connection. You now have control of your camera from the iPad

At this point, you can turn off and on Live View (for cameras that have it), take pictures, focus (via Live View), adjust parameters such as white balance and ISO, and even record video if your camera supports it. When all of the settings are to your liking, you can switch to full screen mode that gives you a bigger version on the image with the Fire button. You have the option of saving your photos to the computer only, or the computer and the camera.

DSLR Camera Remote HD is designed for Canon and Nikon cameras. The interface is well designed, functionality works great, and for Canon users in particular, it's worth the price for the Intervalometer alone.

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Over the course of an event, such as WPPI 2011 in Las Vegas, I notice little adjustments along the way. Here's an example that made me smile.

On Day 3 at WPPI, the body painters were wearing undergarments. Click on image for larger size.

Earlier in the show, when I walked by the Unique Photo booth, they were body painting models, but with no undergarments on top. This has been a popular attention grabber at Vegas photo shows in the past. Aside from the attractive models, the artists are quite good. It's amazing at how fast they work, and how effective the results are.

Then, on Wednesday, I passed by the booth again on my way to see Brian Smith present at the Sony booth, and I noticed that the models were now sporting bras beneath the body paint. Looks like, even in Vegas, you have to cover up these days.

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Out of Focus Car Lights - Las Vegas, originally uploaded by The Digital Story.

This image was captured from an overpass on Las Vegas Ave., looking down at the cars and lights on the street. I was shooting with a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L on a Canon 60D. I opened the aperture all the way to f/2.8, then manually defocused the lens to create this abstract bokeh composition.

I'm seriously considering making a SizzlPix of this image. I think it would be fascinating to hang on the studio wall.

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The Epson R3000 Inkjet Printer features high-capacity cartridges that hold 25.9 ml of ink each, more than most printers in this class. I was able to pop the hood on one today at WPPI and take this shot, allowing you to see for yourself.

Indeed the cartridges look much bigger than those in my R2400. Epson also confirmed that they are on schedule for a March delivery of the first batch of R3000s. The street price will be $849.

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Statue of Liberty, Las Vegas, originally uploaded by The Digital Story.

As soon as the Expo Hall closes at WPPI, I head outdoors for some late afternoon shooting. In this case, I liked facing the sunset and working with the interesting shapes of Las Vegas.

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I'm recording this podcast as I'm stepping out of my hotel room in Las Vegas for day 2 of the WPPI show at the MGM Grand Hotel. I wanted to hold off on recording this episode until I've spent some time here, so you're getting my impressions of the event as close to "live" as possible.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (21 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

Loved One is the February 2011 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Feb. 28, 2011.

TDS Summer 2011 Photography Workshop

We're making plans now for the Summer 2011 TDS Photography Workshop. If you want your name on the reserve list, just drop me a line.

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!

Podcast Sponsors

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

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

You don't have to be a guy to use a Lowepro S&F Technical vest, as proven by fashion photographer Vered Koshlano. In this Lowepro blog post, she explains why in a very fun 1-minute video recorded on the show floor at WPPI.

You can see Vered's work at www.byvk.com.

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