Our own Jon “The Bag Man” Sienkiewicz knows a thing or two about photo bags – check out his takes on the latest Domke, Manfrotto, and Vanguard models – but we’re guessing his collection of camera packs, pouches and satchels doesn’t rival David Alan Harvey’s.

Carleton Watkins was perhaps America’s greatest 19^th century landscape photographer yet today he’s largely unknown. His breathtaking landscapes of the Yosemite Valley were instrumental in preserving the valley for future generations and paving the way for both the National Parks system and the environmental movement.

According to a photo industry writer I know, I do something that’s a bit unusual: I freely admit that sometimes I’m too close to my own photographs to judge them objectively, and because of that, I ask for help.

For those seeking a larger print size at an affordable price, the Canon PIXMA iP8720 ($299) provides fast output (under two minutes for a 13x19 print) with very good image quality. The unit fits comfortably on a desktop (about 2 feet by 1 feet, given that you need more space for the catcher up front) and at 18 pounds or so, it does not require lifting from the knees, as do some 13x19-inch printers. Canon makes it very clear in their marketing, and in the features the unit has, and in some cases lacks, that this is a consumer-oriented printer. It goes head-to-head in price with the Epson Artisan 1430, and while this is not a comparative review, it’s good to know the competitive landscape for your further investigations.