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Lighting NewsLighting Reviews
Rime Lite Fame Monolights: We Test The Two-Light Kit
Joe Farace  |  Dec 20, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011

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.”

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Photo Paper Reviews
Red River Polar Matte: Color Or B&W, For A Fair Price
George Schaub  |  Dec 19, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011

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.

 

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News
2012 International CES
Press Release  |  Dec 19, 2011
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.
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Picture This
Industrial Design
Staff  |  Dec 16, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011
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.
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Photo Accessory NewsPhoto Accessory Reviews
A Photo Studio In A Tube: Versatile, Colorful Backdrops
Art Ketchum  |  Dec 15, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011

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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News
onOne Software New Releases
Press Release  |  Dec 15, 2011
OnOne Software has evolved its product line to offer the best tools for solving the most common problems faced by photographers today and integrate seamlessly into their workflow of choice. Photographers can use any of these onOne products as standalone applications as well as access them from within Photoshop, Lightroom or Aperture—or as integrated modules in the new Perfect Photo Suite 6.
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Lighting Reviews
Einstein Studio Light: An Affordable Monobloc With Power & Features
Steve Bedell  |  Dec 14, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011

The Einstein monobloc strobe is listed at 640 watt seconds (ws) of power, has a bright 250-watt modeling light that can vary proportionally with the flash output, a 12 flash per second (fps) claimed capability, and a constant 5600˚K color temperature, no matter what the power level. Also, a claimed nine f/stop range, from 2.5 to 640 ws, and Paul C. Buff’s proprietary IGBT technology fill out the bill. It’s solidly built, using a Lexan housing instead of metal. It’s not very big, but is bigger and about a pound heavier than the company’s AlienBees units that many photographers, including myself, use.

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News
Digital Darkroom, An Exploration Of Altered Realities
Press Release  |  Dec 14, 2011
The Annenberg Space for Photography is pleased to announce its next exhibit - Digital Darkroom, a group show featuring the work of 17 artists from the U.S., France and the U.K. that explores the intersection of art and technology. Digital Darkroom opens to the public in Los Angeles on December 17, 2011 and runs through May 30, 2012.
© Khyong Nguyen. Used with the permission of the Annenberg Space for Photography.
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Lighting Reviews
Nissin Di622 Mark II Shoe-Mount Flash: Wireless Flash, New Interface, Enhanced Functionality—Affordable Price
Jack Neubart  |  Dec 13, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011

I was quite impressed with Nissin’s initial lineup of shoe-mount strobes. The Di866 Professional (now the Di866 Mark II) is quite innovative and versatile in its own right, sporting a full-color menu interface, while providing TTL wireless operation. There’s also the Di466 (for Nikon, Canon, and Four Thirds cameras). And the Di622 has been updated to the largely revamped Di622 Mark II, now the subject of this review.

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News
Adorama Photo Workshops
Press Release  |  Dec 13, 2011
The Workshops@Adorama program features expert help for all levels of shooter from such respected photographers as Joe McNally, Bryan Peterson, and Doug Gordon. Conceived and directed by accomplished photo editor Monica Cipnic, this unique educational asset offers its participants a high level of access, information, and resources.
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