Straddling a beautiful stretch of the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is a hiker’s and photographer’s delight. Located only 70 miles from the nation’s capital, Shenandoah provides an oasis of nature surrounded by ever-encroaching civilization. Long and narrow, the park runs north/south along a ridge crest characterized by rolling hills and mountains, quiet hollows, rushing streams and waterfalls, and verdant forests. Running through the park is Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic roadway that meanders along the crest of the Blue Ridge. Along this roadway are 75 overlooks offering unparalleled views of the piedmont to the east and the valley and mountains to the west. The park is also host to a 101-mile segment of the venerable Appalachian Trail as it winds its way from Georgia to Maine.

The Xit Group has introduced the first non-OEM Battery Grip for the Nikon D7100 DSLR Camera. It features a vertical shutter release and effectively doubles your shooting time. It also significantly improves stability in photographing. Xit gives the photographer the choice of using either a battery cartridge that holds 1 EN-EL15 Lithium Ion battery, which can also be supplied by Xit (optional), or a cartridge that holds 6 AA batteries for added convenience. The grip has a 1 year limited warranty.

Photoflex Inc. announces the release of the Adjustable ShoeMount Rotating Hardware. Designed to aid the photographer in adding more light to their set-up, the rotating hardware allows the user to connect two speed lights for improved light output while still having the ability to rotate a softbox of their choice.

The Xit Group has introduced a new Quick Release Dual Shoulder Camera Neck Strap, dubbed the ultimate solution for two camera shooters. It is light weight at only 0.84 lbs., and small with a widening shoulder construction which reduces the burden. The strap is ergonomically designed and the weight is evenly distributed by way of the shoulder pads.

The job of auto-retouching software is to retouch faces quickly, easily, and with as little human intervention as possible. Most require you to either set or confirm where the major points of the face are, like the eyes, ears, and lips. After you’ve identified those areas, the software then goes about its business of transforming little Pamela into little Princess.

Shooting Soho with a Yellow Camera.

The 20.3MP APS-C CMOS Sensor in the NX2000, produced entirely by Samsung in-house, is said to produce extremely sharp and highly detailed images, even in low light conditions. The NX2000's capabilities are boosted by its DRIMe IV engine which works to reduce noise, improve speed and enable superior color reproduction.

Sigma Corporation of America announced the pricing and availability of the Sigma USB dock and the company’s newly redesigned 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM from the Global Vision Sport lens category.

The January rainstorms had come to the Utah high desert mountains, making it a perfect day to capture the storm clouds and rainbows that moved across the various mountain ranges. As I was driving on the outskirts of the small town of Gunlock, Utah, I came around a large mountain cliff ledge. To my surprise under the ledge were at least a dozen donkeys trying to escape the cold, freezing drizzle and get the warmth coming off the rock face. There were two donkeys in particular that caught my eye because of their noisy insistence on being in the same place.

As more photos are made on more types of devices, there’s a need for resultant images that aren’t just “OK” but as good as they can be. And part of the need, it would seem, is that some folks don’t want to spend a lot of time learning complex programs to get the image results they want. Companies like Athentech Imaging aim to make it a one-click affair.