LATEST ADDITIONS

Press Release  |  Aug 13, 2012  |  1 comments
Harman technology Limited is pleased to announce the Ilford Photo Student Photographic Competition 2012. The competition is open to all students aged 16 and over undertaking full or part-time professional photography training at a USA based high school, college or university.

Judged by renowned photographer and author Henry Horenstein the theme for the competition is "Family".

With no detailed brief, Henry will be looking for imagesthat are original and imaginative. All images must be printed on Ilford Photo black and white darkroom paper, and there is no limit to the number of entries that can be submitted by any student.

Edited by George Schaub  |  Aug 10, 2012  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2012  |  0 comments

Like a standard compact camera, the Pentax Q system uses a very small sensor system, 1x2.33”. It offers an interchangeable lens system with the new Q mount. Pentax offers three lenses: a standard zoom (5-15mm f/2.8-4.5, equivalent to 27.5-83mm), a fisheye lens (3.2mm f/5.6, equivalent to 17.5mm), and a third, with which we did our tests, a fixed focal length of 8.5mm, equivalent to 47mm. Pentax brands this lens as the “Standard PRIME 8.5mm f/1.9 AL [IF].” Pentax also offers two additional “Toy” lenses with a fixed aperture size: the Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm f/7.1 and the Toy Lens Tele 18mm f/8.

Press Release  |  Aug 10, 2012  |  1 comments
SeaLife has announced the introduction of its new Fisheye Wide Angle Lens, the company’s widest angle and most advanced external lens to date.

The SeaLife Fisheye Wide Angle Lens allows the underwater photographer to come very close to the subject and capture all of its amazing surroundings by increasing the field of view by an astounding 80 percent. With its universal-fit design, it quickly and easily snaps onto any SeaLife DC-series camera for breathtaking seascape images, and it creates a 16mm effective focal length when attached to the DC1400 digital underwater camera. That’s an increase from 61 degrees to 111 degrees with the Fisheye Wide Angle Lens attached to the DC1400. On the DC1200, you can almost instantly increase your standard 44-degree field of view to 86 degrees.

Steve Bedell  |  Aug 09, 2012  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2012  |  0 comments

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens (average price: $969 on various Internet sites) is designed for full-frame cameras; with an APS-C multiply by your usual factor. At about 25 oz, I’d describe the lens as substantial, but not hefty. One of the reasons for the weight is the build—11 elements in eight groups, including the use of SLD glass, Sigma speak for Special Low Dispersion. The big chunk of glass on the end requires a 77mm filter. As to handling, Sigma has gone from their black “crinkle” finish to a smooth black rubberized finish that feels great to the touch. It’s plastic, not metal, but based on my experience with previous Sigma lenses, I’ve found them to be built to professional standards and can take a lot of abuse.

Press Release  |  Aug 09, 2012  |  1 comments
The Tiffen Company unveiled its redesigned Davis & Sanford Magnum XG13 Tripod and FX13 Head. The advanced, state-of-the-art Magnum XG13 Tripod supports professional DSLR and video shoots. The new design is manufactured with high-quality aluminum alloy and is precisely machined to offer the quality and strength demanded by photographers and videographers. The Davis & Sanford tripod’s switchable counterbalance helps keep the camera stable on the platform while the photographer/videographer’s hands are not controlling the camera with the option to turn off counterbalance to enhance certain shooting styles.

Shipped with the Magnum XG13, the FX13 Head is manufactured with the new Davis & Sanford advanced, built-in fluid system. The fluid system is ideal for DSLR shoots in video mode as well as shooting stills of fast-moving subjects like birds. The FX13 Head also incorporates a switchable counterbalance system to prevent camera dumping and a long and short quick-release plate for video and still photography variable balance control.

Jack Neubart  |  Aug 08, 2012  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2012  |  1 comments

Attempting to make the HDR process more user-friendly, the newly updated HDR Expose and Photoshop-dedicated plug-in 32 Float, now both in Version 2, largely share the same features and enhancements. As I see it, the improvements center mainly on workflow—reason enough to upgrade, in my opinion, and reason enough to consider these as serious tools for HDR work. Both are available from Unified Color Technologies.

Press Release  |  Aug 08, 2012  |  2 comments
Polaroid introduces the Z2300 instant digital camera, the newest addition to the Polaroid instant digital camera line. The Z2300 features an integrated printer with ZINK Technology, enabling users to instantly capture, edit and in less than a minute print full color, 2x3” prints. Along with the ability to easily upload images to any social media platform, the Z2300 combines a compact form factor with a host of fun, easy-to-use features to create the ultimate social media machine. The camera is available in white and black and houses a 10 megapixel image sensor. The large 3.0” LCD display makes it easy to frame and review images and capture video in virtually any setting.
Staff  |  Aug 07, 2012  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2012  |  2 comments
Our Picture This! assignment this month was “Silhouette,” using exposure and composition to create an iconic form within the frame. The exposure technique involves choosing a brightly lit background, making a reading of that value and then having the form, or subject, sit between you and the light source. Readers responded with a host of subjects ranging from sculptural figures to wildlife to natural forms. We were excited by the many great images we received and choosing from among them was one of our toughest editing assignments yet.
Press Release  |  Aug 07, 2012  |  1 comments
Sigma Corporation of America has announced that the Sigma DP2 Merrill compact digital camera will be available in the United States on July 12 for the street price of $999.

This upgraded, high-resolution, compact digital camera with a fixed lens is named in honor of Richard “Dick” Merrill, the co-creator of the Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor technology that powers Sigma’s unique lineup of cameras. It differs from its predecessor, the DP2x, because its resolution has grown by moving from Foveon’s 14.6-megapixel APS-C size image sensor to the 46-megapixel APS-C image sensor found in the company’s flagship SLR, the Sigma SD1 Merrill. The full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor ensures outstanding resolution, richly gradated tones and images with a three-dimensional feel. A focus ring and custom Quick Set (QS) mode also improve the user interface.

Joe Farace  |  Aug 05, 2012  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2012  |  1 comments
One of the guiding philosophies for my personal work is to “have fun with photography” and that involves using image manipulation software to create either an idealized version, as in a portrait of a subject, or an interpretation of a previously captured photograph. Retouching portraits goes back to the hand-tinting Mathew Brady added to daguerreotypes delivered to his customers but in more recent times photojournalists have been fired from newspapers for applying a bit too much Photoshop on their images. The whole question of what is “too much” is fraught with contradictions: since we see the world in color, is a black-and-white photograph manipulated? Is burning and dodging or changing an image’s contrast a manipulation? Trying to find answers that everyone will agree on is enough to make you crazy so I don’t let it bother me because all I want to do is have fun with my photography. If you agree, here are some useful tools to help you do just that.

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