Several years ago I decided to take on a challenge of focusing on macro photography right in my own backyard. No, I do not reside in the Sierra mountains or adjacent to a national wildlife refuge or conservation area. I live in a typical South Florida suburban subdivision surrounded by homes and asphalt. South Florida doesn’t even offer much in the way of seasons. Yet, I am amazed at how many unique images I have captured over the past several years.

The exhibition will be on view at Sohn Fine Art Gallery, 6 Elm Street, Stockbridge, MA, July 5th -September 30th, 2013, with an artist's reception Saturday, July 20th, 4:00 - 8:00. The exhibition features a curated selection of Gorman's nudes and celebrity portraits highlighting Gorman's impressive 40 year career. In conjunction with the exhibition, a public artist's presentation and book signing will be held at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA on July 18th at 7pm. Also, 2 one-day artist led workshops ("Mastering Portraits" and "Nudes") July 21 and 22, 2013, and one Critique Day Workshop July 23, 2013, will be held at Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club. Sign up for workshops at Sohn Fine Art.

Nikon Inc. has introduced the newest addition to the Nikon 1 system, the 1 NIKKOR 32mm f/1.2 lens, a fast medium-telephoto lens. With a fixed focal length of 32mm and a maximum aperture of f/1.2, the new 32mm lens is the fastest in the ever expanding 1 NIKKOR lens lineup. An ideal lens for portraiture, the 1 NIKKOR 32mm f/1.2 lens is capable of rendering breathtaking images that capture every detail.

The only thing better than owning a high-end compact camera is owning two of the same model. At the risk of sounding extravagant or greedy, let me explain.

I have always been a big supporter of joining and participating in professional groups. The growth of my career as a photo rep, teacher, and author all came from joining and participating in groups that brought together like-minded individuals. For photographers looking to enhance or initiate their careers there are numerous professional associations worthy of attention.

When shooting portraits on a green screen setup the first stage in the work is selecting and removing the green screen itself, something a “magic wand” or similar selection tool will accomplish. The next stage is finding and fitting an appropriate replacement background, and just as Digital Anarchy’s Primatte Chromakey streamlines the green screen removal process, the company also offers a Photoshop plug-in that streamlines the background creation process. Dubbed Backdrop Designer, the software can aid you in digitally creating muslin drapes, lighting effects, and other photographic backgrounds.

The iSeries 1914 Pro DSLR Case is said to be the ideal case to protect DSLR Cameras and their popular accessories. The interior of this case is made of high quality PE foam and can fit up to two camera bodies. The main camera compartment can be adjusted to fit a variety of DSLR body sizes. This section also has a perforated piece of foam that can be removed to accommodate cameras with battery grips. The orientation of the DSLR fit allows access to the memory card without removing the camera. It also allows for quick andeasy access to the camera by leaving the grip exposed, ready to grab. This case features four lens slots. Three of the slots are adjustable to fit a variety of lenses. Each one of the three adjustable slots contains three half inch foam rings that can be removed to fit different sized lenses. There is a section for lens hoods which can also be adjusted by three half inch foam rings. This case has additional compartments to fit a flash, memory cards, batteries, and other additional accessories.

Pelican Products, Inc. has unveiled the iM2435 Pelican Storm Case.

Designed as a rolling office or tool/photography equipment caddy, the iM2435 fits in most overhead airline compartments and is available with an optional “mobile office” file kit that features a lid organizer and a customizable padded divider set that will accommodate a 15.6 inch laptop. Also available as an optional accessory is the TSA Accepted PeliLock, which airport personnel, who all have special access keys, won’t need to cut for security inspections.

Olympus marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary PEN F with the launch of the new OlympusPEN E-P5, a digital update of a classic film camera designed with breakthrough technology and incredible performance advancements. Designed for photographers looking for superior image quality in a portable body, the PEN E-P5 delivers a stellar shooting experience with 1/8000th of a second shutter speed – a world-first for the Compact System Camera class – built-in Wi-Fi, autofocus advancements, easy-access manual controls and a host of other features.

While it may not be nice to fool Mother Nature, photographers have been doing just that since Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths photographed the “Cottingley Fairies” in 1917, but a lot has changed since then and we’re now more skeptical of images that appear “shopped.” (Portrait photographers engaged in retouching even before Mathew Brady opened his New York studio in 1844.) To me, part of the fun of photography is enhancing reality, creating images that could be true or might be true in a parallel Fringe-like universe. That’s one of the reasons I like shooting digital infrared images because photography, for me, is all about having fun and if you happen to play a harmless—emphasis on harmless—photographic April Fool’s prank on someone, let’s hope it’s accepted in the spirit of the day.