LATEST ADDITIONS

I usually do not write reports on new computers, but the new 2011 Apple Mac mini (www.apple.com) is an exception. It is not because it has the fastest CPU, as that is not a major advantage for working with digital photographs. In fact, doing digital photographic editing does not involve much computation (“compute” is to calculate or reckon a figure or amount) and no calculation is needed to edit an image with Photoshop. When an image editor opens a digital photographic file, the entire image, every pixel, is put into RAM memory.

Facebook users have the chance to win a Smith-Victor 2,000 Watt Pro SoftBox Light Kit or Smith-Victor FLO-220 220W Dimmable Fluorescent 4-Lamp Bank with Barndoors by posting their best original image and description of the lighting used to the Smith-Victor Facebook page. Entries should include details such as where lights were place, if the photo was shot with ambient light, and how the light wasdiffused. Each participant can enter up to three images. Entries will be judged by photographers and lighting professionals and the best two images with descriptions win the prizes.

Traveling by plane these days is certainly no joy, a bad situation made worse for photographers who never check their precious gear. Traveling on regional jets, and especially international flights, means not being able to lug large backpacks or roller cases filled with gear on board. And with flights so jammed airlines have gotten even stricter about carry-ons, despite the fact that their policies now make everyone want to carry on rather than shell out the extra bucks. It’s getting pretty nasty out there.

What I want to capture in my photography can be expressed as the character of a place. I have to aim for images beyond “this is what it looks like here” because in my business photos have to tell stories, have to illuminate, even educate; my images should always reveal something of the culture, the history, and, most important, the lives of the people.