LATEST ADDITIONS

Press Release  |  Dec 27, 2011  |  0 comments
Nikon Inc. announced the addition of a new flagship speedlight, the SB-910. The SB-910 incorporates an enhanced and intuitive operating system and graphic user interface (GUI). The SB-910 speedlight comes equipped with a wide zoom range covering the most popular focal lengths as well as FX/DX-format identification that optimizes zoom settings based on the camera body. This new speedlight also provides a more efficient flash coverage and use of batteries as well as an enhanced Thermal Cut-Out function.
Maynard Switzer  |  Dec 23, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  |  2 comments
The last thing I ever want to do is pose someone. On my travels I want pictures of people acting naturally, doing what they normally do, and if they acknowledge the camera at all, or pause for a portrait, I want them to do it in the most natural way. The people I photograph are always aware of me, but I never want them to play to the camera—which can be tricky because the very presence of the camera changes the situation.
Rod and Robin Deutschmann  |  Dec 22, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  |  0 comments
There is something magical about macro and close-up images. They provide a glimpse of a world few ever see and fewer still understand. In this book, acclaimed photography instructors Rod and Robin Deutschmann show all the ins and outs of creating outstanding images of small subjects. They begin with an overview of the key challenges of macro photography, including achieving correct focus, maximizing the depth of field, and providing optimal lighting.
Press Release  |  Dec 22, 2011  |  0 comments
The JetMaster frame comprises a pre-cut, laminated self-adhesive board to which a paper or canvas print is pressed, then trimmed and folded to make a 3D gallery wrap print. Now, Innova Art is broadening the brand with the launch of the JetMaster paper, newly developed to enable perfect prints for the JetMaster system.
Joe Farace  |  Dec 21, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  |  0 comments

Photographic umbrellas are the simplest and most inexpensive form of light modifier available and that makes them the most popular, too. Photographic umbrellas look and act just like rain umbrellas except they’re reflective and light is bounced into or shot through them, creating a big, soft light source that’s aimed at the subject. And size does matter. As photographers we live by a few important lighting rules: the closer and larger a light source is to a subject, the softer the lighting effect will be. Conversely, the smaller and further away a light source is from the subject, the harder the lighting becomes. That old lighting rule that “size matters” is important here because a large umbrella is going to produce broader, softer light for your portraits.

Joe Farace  |  Dec 20, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  |  0 comments

Rime Lite (www.rimeliteusa.com) monolights are manufactured by Hyundae Photonics Co., Ltd., a company that’s been building high-quality studio lighting gear in Korea since 1981. They’re now being distributed in the U.S.A. by Dynalite (www.dynalite.com). The Fame Monolights are available in three different models that deliver 200, 400, and 600 watt-second output. (To see technical specifications on the three Fame monolights, go to the Instant Links section of our website, www.shutterbug.com, for this issue.) The monolights feature a circular Xenon flash tube and a modeling light that’s protected by a hard vented glass cover that easily screws on or off. Two knobs on the back of each light allow you to continuously vary the output for either the flash or the modeling light. A cluster of four LED-illuminated buttons let you turn on (or off) sound, the modeling light, the built-in slave, or the ubiquitous “test.”

George Schaub  |  Dec 19, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  |  0 comments

There’s no question that glossy and satin or pearl-type surfaces give an image more “pop,” but on the other hand you might want to use a matte surface to enhance the look and feel of certain images that rely less on pop than a quieter mood. It could be boiled down to a simple rule of thumb: for rich, high-saturation images you might use a glossy or semigloss; for more subtle colors it might be better to use a matte or satin. In the black-and-white realm it’s more of a toss-up but I think the same general rule applies. For example, for architectural images of adobe or stucco wall buildings I use matte; for glass and steel skyscrapers I choose glossy. Notice that I always modify the recommendations with “might”: if you really get into papers for printing you’ll make your own judgments. But there’s no denying that surface decisions play a role in overall effectiveness of the image.

 

Press Release  |  Dec 19, 2011  |  0 comments
The 2012 CES boasts more than 250 conference sessions and 500 speakers ready to expand your knowledge and increase your inspiration.  Pair that with the more than 2,700 exhibitors showcasing their most innovative and ingenious products and services, you’ll quickly see why CES is the home of unbridled, jaw-dropping ideas.
Staff  |  Dec 16, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  |  4 comments
Our Picture This! assignment this month was Industrial Design. While nothing can beat the variety and beauty of nature, where patterns and designs have their own rhythm and pace, certain objects have a beauty and grace that speak to an aesthetic that is inherently human. Products of handmade origin or the Industrial Age that satisfy the need for function while maintaining a beauty of form are sometimes taken for granted, and sometimes, with a photographer’s keen eye, transformed into sculptural objects that seem to transcend their utility. We can contemplate them less for something we would use as a tool and more as objects of wonder or beauty that appeal to a deeper aesthetic sensibility. That’s what we sought, and found, in this month’s readers’ images.
Art Ketchum  |  Dec 15, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  |  0 comments

Over the years I’ve photographed hundreds if not thousands of models and subjects on muslin, canvas, and other background materials, and in many unique settings. I’ve had the privilege to shoot many magazine covers, dozens of catalogs, and ads for magazines.

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