While we're waiting for iOS 4 for the iPad to bring us native WiFi printing, there's a handy free app available right now for folks who use HP printers. HP iPrint Photo 3 enables you to print photos in a variety of sizes -- from snapshots all the way up to A4. The software also includes easy wireless document sharing between your Mac and the iPad. Then, if you want, you can print those PDFs or text files directly from the iPad. Nifty stuff.

Wireless document sharing from my Mac to the iPad was a pleasant surprise with HP iPrint. All I had to do was drag my files to the server icon on my Desktop, and they instantly appeared on my mobile device for reading, storing, and printing.

I tested this application on my HP C6380 "All in One" and on the HP C8100, and it worked smoothly on both. I could print any photo on my iPad, or save PDF and text files from my Mac to the iPad for printing later. Once I have the documents stored in HP iPrint, I can output them to any compatible HP printer, regardless of where I happen to be at the moment. The first items I added were model releases, just in case I have to output extras on the road.

If you're curious about your printer and this app, here's the official list of compatible devices. If you have an HP e-All-in-One device, you can also scan documents and photos wirelessly from the device to your iPad.

There are a few basic editing tools too. If, for example, your photo isn't sitting on the paper the way you want, you can use the two-finger pinch, expand, or rotate to reposition the image. This is particularly handy for shots that have different dimensions than the paper you want to print them on. If you get stuck, there's a terrific Help menu available in the upper right corner of the application.

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Nikon 7000, originally uploaded by The Digital Story.

Out goes the built-in GPS from the P6000, in comes HD video recording (720p at 24 fps) with an external mic jack. Is Nikon ready to go head to head with Canon's G11 and Panasonic's LX5? DP Review has some good thoughts about this in their hands on preview of the Nikon P7000.

If you like what you see, you can preorder the Nikon Coolpix P7000 for $499 on Amazon.com, or from your favorite photo retailer.

How can iPad-toting photographers store large amounts of data while on the road? The folks over at HyperShop may have a solution: the HyperDrive iPad Hard Drive. About the size of a portable USB hard drive, the HyperDrive iPad is a media storage device that connects to the iPad via the Camera Connection Kit (yes, you have to have that first). Models range in capacity from 120 GBs to 750 GBs.

Sanho, the makers of the product, have figured out how to work around the iPad's 32 GB size limitation of external drives. With 2 memory card slots and a 3.2" color LCD, the Hyperdrive iPad can receive and store images directly from your camera's memory card. If you want to transfer or view any of the media on your iPad, then connect the device via its USB cable the the Apple Camera Connection Kit. Suddenly the iPad becomes a long term travel device thanks to this additional storage and back up.

Prices range from $299 US to $599, and you can purchase directly from the HyperDrive site.

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In workshops, I often get at least one question about copyright, and how necessary it is to protect your images. My answer always begins with, "Well, I'm not s lawyer, but here's what I know..." Now, thanks to the folks at PhotoShelter, we have a real lawyer to dispense knowledgable advice.

"In the article, 5 Ways Photographers Can Protect Their Images Online, Carolyn Wright, the "photo attorney," lists five things photographers should do to protect their work. I will tell you up front that these are measures that many shooters do don't do, but I think they are good to know.

Here's an example of Carolyn's advice: "Register your copyrights to your photos. When a photo is not registered with the U.S. Copyright Office prior to the infringement (or within three months of the first publication of the photo), a copyright owner may recover only "actual damages" for the infringement (pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504 (b)), instead of statutory damages. Courts usually calculate actual damages based on your normal license fees and/or industry standard licensing fees. You also may recover the profits the infringer made from the infringement if they aren't too speculative. Unfortunately, actual damages usually don't amount to much so that attorneys will not take your infringement case on a contingency basis."

Take a look and see what you think.

I started using graduated filters years ago when I was shooting film, inspired to try them through the work of Galen Rowell. Graduated filters were one of his "secrets" to creating those fantastic landscape images.

These days I'm no longer putting tinted glass in front of my lenses, but I still use graduated filters. The difference is, now I apply them in post production using Adobe Camera Raw. What's interesting is that the mental process hasn't changed that much from the film days. The adjustment is that now I visualize how I'm going to apply the filter in post production rather than at capture.

In this week's episode, I talk about graduated filters, old and new, and the process of visualization that I use while shooting. If you want to see a before and after comparison, take a look at my article, Graduated Filter Adjustments in Adobe Camera Raw.

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

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

TDS Autumn 2010 Photography Workshop

The next TDS Photography Workshop will be Oct. 16-18, 2010. The event is sold out. But, you can place your name on the reserve list for the next workshop. 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

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One of the most useful non-destructive editing tools in Adobe Camera Raw (as part of the Photoshop package) is the Graduated Filter. It helps us cope with contrasty scenes where we often have to choose between not blowing out our highlights or plugging up our shadows. I used the Graduated Filter on this snapshot captured in Raw with a Canon S90 compact camera.

Carmel River State Beach, CA. I used the Graduated Filter tool in ACR to balance the blow out highlights in the sky and water with the properly exposed landscape foreground. Click on image for larger version.

Take the above image for example. What you see here is the finished product. But what I recorded originally with the Canon S90 is below. When I took the picture, I exposed for the ice plant foreground knowing that I was going to lose highlight detail in the overcast sky and water.

Knowing this, I shot in Raw and planned on using the Graduated Filter tool in ACR to recover those highlights in post production. I used two filters, pulling one down from the top and another (less intense) filter from the bottom up. My goal was to direct the viewer's eye to the beach, water, and ice plant in the lower 40 percent of the composition. If you want to see the difference, take a look at the original photo below.

Original image with blown out highlights.

There's quite a difference.

If you want to use this tool, open your image in ACR (I usually go CMD-R from Bridge), and click on the fourth tool from the right in the upper tool bar. Drag the mouse from top to bottom, and just like that, you have a graduated filter adjustment that you can fine tune. It makes a tremendous difference, even in snapshots such as this. And not only is it good to help recover tones, but you can actually use multiple filters to shape the image in a way that highlights exactly what you want.

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In my latest article for Macworld Magazine, Discover Preview's hidden image editing powers, I demonstrate Preview's prowess for photography. Many Mac users rely on the free application for reading PDFs, but some of those same users don't know they can:

• Adjust color and luminance
• Resample images
• Batch process
• Select components and drop out background (Smart Lasso)
• Soft proof before printing

And more. Preview is truly a hidden gem. You might want to check out the article then revisit the application.

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If you've been following the TDS podcasts lately, you know that I've been talking about Blurb books and our newest site feature, Blurb Book Page of the Month. We opened entries in August, and I'm happy to announce our first featured artist, David Bream. You can read all about his project in the article, August 2010 Featured Book Page - David Bream, "Window Seat".

From the Blurb book, "Window Seat" by David Bream. (Click on image to see larger version.)

Seasoned TDS members might recognize David's name. He's been a regular participant in our monthly Photo Assignments. At first, David was hesitant to try the book thing:

"I listened to your podcast regarding making a book, dismissed the idea, rethought it, and decided to give it a try. I downloaded the software, and spent the next 3 hours making my first small sampler booklet, which I received about a week ago. I could not believe the high quality of both the color and black-and-white printing, and the speed with which the book was printed and delivered to me," wrote David.

If you're like David, and want to experiment with this medium, we have just the opportunity for you. This is a monthly feature, and we're already receiving submissions for Sept. 2010. If you want to learn how to share your work, visit Win by Entering "Blurb Book Page of the Month" for all the details. Hope to see your work in our inbox soon!

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photokina comes around every two years, and in three weeks it will be here again. Arguably, it's one of the largest photography tradeshows in the world, attracting thousands to Cologne, Germany. This year, I will be among them.

I'm traveling to Europe on assignment for Lowepro, as part of my Photography Evangelist job. I'm packing up a Canon 5D Mark II, Olympus E-P1, lighting, microphones, and lenses in my Pro Trekker 300 AW. I'll be shooting stills, recording video, and publishing on the new Lowepro blog... and here too, of course.

Starting on September 21, I'll post a "photokina shot of the day" here on TDS. I'll definitely be focusing on new gear announcements, but I won't be limiting my coverage to equipment. People and events are also interesting, and at times they may upstage the hardware.

If you have a hot tip for the show, or for Cologne, please send me email. I think this is going to be an interesting week, both for me in Cologne, and hopefully for you too as you read about the activities and announcements there.

And if you're not already following me on Twitter, now might be a good time to click the button.

Editor's note: A friend from my Lowepro life, Jeff Cable, offered to share the images he captured as the official photographer for Steve Wozniak's 60th birthday party. (Thanks Jeff.)

"Janet Wozniak (Steve's awesome wife) threw a surprise party to celebrate Steve's 60 birthday. The party was located at The Tech Museum in San Jose, CA. The big challenge was to keep it a secret and to surprise Woz. This is not an easy task for such a sharp guy..."

To get the rest of the story, with 19 photos from the party (including Drew Carey who is now 80 pounds lighter), hop over to Jeff's blog. The shots are terrific, with lots of interesting text too.

Photo by Jeff Cable.