Great Output

New Exhibition Examines State of Art Photography

2012-01-30T20:17:00.000-05:00

The “State of the Art Photography” exhibition at the NRW Forum in Dϋsseldorf, Germany explores the changing relationship between photography and art. The exhibition opens February 4 and runs through May 6, 2012. It features works by 40 American, European, and South African photographers who are influencing the future of photographic art.

"Barbara" from the Week-End 2009 Series, by Alex Prager

“State of the Art Photography” demonstrates that imaging technology hasn’t just changed how photos are taken. Digital imaging has also opened whole new sources of inspiration. Plus, new forms of presentation, installation, and blends of media and materials have expanded the opportunities for creative expression in photographic art.

“The future does not belong to pure photography, but to the free arts,” says Andreas Gursky, a professor at Dϋsseldorf’s State Art Academy.

For example:

"Terra V" by Alex Grein (2010)

Alex Grein’s landscape photographs are reminiscent of paintings in the tradition of Caspar David Friedrichs, but include fragments of images she found on the Internet and Google Earth.

Sanna Kannisto’s work is based on biological studies.

Olaf Otto Becker focuses on the traces left on the landscape by human overpopulation.

Asger Carlsen merges images of human bodies to create inhuman forms. The approach is more sculptural than photographic.

From the series "Hester"
by Asger Carlsen

Other artists featured in the exhibit include: Peter Ainsworth, Laura Bielau, Miriam Böhm, Elina Brotherus, Bianca Brunner, Stefan Burger, Katalin Deér, Martin Denker, Jan Paul Evers, Daniel Gordon, Wassink Lundgren, Harry Gruyaert, Oliver Helbig, Ulrich Hensel, Stefan Hostettler, Pepa Hristova, Sanna Kannisto, Annette Kelm, Jeremy Kost, Mischa Kuball, Edgar Leciejewsk, Tim Lee, Maziar Moradi, Armin Morbach, Andreas Mühe, Taiyo Onorato/Nico Krebs, Alex Prager, Rico Scagliola, Michael Meier, Anja Schori, Jeremy Shaw, Arne Schmitt, Jacob Aue Sobol, Kathrin Sonntag, Heidi Specker, Mikhael Subotzky/Patrick Waterhouse, Pinar Yolaçan, Anna Vogel, and Moritz Wegwerth.

The artists were chosen by a committee of advisors, including Andreas Gursky, Thomas Weski, Klaus Biesenbach, Udo Kittelmann, FC Gundlach, Thomas Seelig, Andrea Holzherr, and Werner Lippert.

NRW Forum, a museum that specializes in photographic and new media collections, is one of Dϋsseldorf’s premier art venues.

LINKS

“State of the Art Photography” exhibition at NRW Forum in Dϋsseldorf

Enter the 2012 Art of Photography Show

2012-01-28T16:11:00.001-05:00

If you want your best photographic art viewed by a highly acclaimed museum curator, enter The Art of Photography Show. The judge for the 2012 show is Julian Cox, the curator of photography and chief curator at the de Young Museum in San Francisco.

Images created using any form of photography will be accepted for consideration, including:

images shot on film
images shot digitally
images that have been unaltered
digitally manipulated images
alternative-process prints
mixed-media works
montages
photograms

All entries must be submitted as a digital file in the JPEG format. The entry fee is $25 for the first entry, and $10 for each additional entry. A 25% discount is available for entries submitted by February 14. The deadline for all entries is midnight PST, June 30, 2012.

If Julian Cox judges your artwork to be among the top 200 images from thousands of entries, you will be notified via e-mail on August 7 and your work will be permanently displayed on The Art of Photography website. From the 200 top entries, Cox will select around 100 images for display in the physical gallery exhibition that will run from September 29 through November 11, 2012.

Being in the top 200 means that all artists will have earned the same level of achievement, explains Art of Photography Show founder Steven Churchill, “But the judge will curate which images fit best together in the physical gallery space.”

Awards

In the 2012 show, $10,000 will be awarded to 15 of the top entrants, as follows:

First Place Award: $2,000
Second Place Award: $1,600
Third Place Award: $1,200
Fourth Place Award: $800
Honorable Mentions (11): $400

The winning entries in the 2011 Art of Photography Show can be viewed on The Art of Photography website.

A Showcase of Cotemporary Photography

The Art of Photography Show in San Diego, California is viewed by tens of thousands of people, including more than 1,500 collectors, business owners, architects and designers, and high net-worth residents who attend the show’s opening gala. All of the top images are published in the catalog that is distributed to at the opening-night gala and other events held in conjunction with the show.

“The 2011 competition surpassed all expectations, attracting entries from 72 countries,” says Churchill. “About 30,000 people viewed the exhibit, and we are expecting an even bigger response to The Art of Photography Show in 2012.”

“Our goal is to provide as many tangible benefits as possible to the exhibiting artists,” he adds. “The cash awards, accolades, media coverage, and sales revenue that we provide to artists who are selected by our acclaimed judges are substantial.”

If you’re curious about how a museum curator evaluates images submitted to The Art of Photography Show, read the transcript of the radio interview that Maureen Cavanaugh conducted on KPBS with Natasha Egan, the associate director/curator, Chicago Museum of Contemporary Photography.

Egan recalls that as she went through the process, “I absolutely just went for what images stuck with me.” She says that when a certain image stayed with her longer than the others, she realized that “There’s something in that picture that is holding me to it. I want to look at it longer. I want to figure it out.”

LINKS

Website: The Art of Photography Show

Prospectus for Entrants

Testimonials from Artists in Previous Shows

Award Winning Entries in 2011 Art of Photography Show

Radio Interview: What Makes a Photograph Art?

Maureen Cavanaugh interviews Natasha Egan, the museum curator who judged the sixth annual Art of Photography Show.

IPI Reports on Scratch and Abrasion Resistance of Digital Prints

2012-01-25T07:57:00.000-05:00

On the Digital Print Preservation Portal of the Image Permanence Institute you can read the results of a study on the sensitivity of different types of digital prints to scratching. The results of the scratching study are compared to a previous investigation on the sensitivity of digital prints to abrasion.

In both studies, a range of digital printing technologies were compared to offset lithography and traditional chromogenic photo printing.

Although a lot of attention has focused on image stability and permanence, an IPI survey of libraries, archives, and museums showed that abrasion and scratching were the number-one form of damage to the digital prints in their cultural heritage collections.

Scratching occurs when a pointed object creates a gouge in the print surface.

Abrasion occurs when a flat object moves across the surface of the print, such as when one print is stacked on top of another.

The researchers observed that:

Digital prints that are sensitive to abrasion may or may not also be sensitive to scratching, and vice versa. Some inkjet samples showed both abrasion and scratch damage, but some were damaged from scratches but not abrasion. And two of the three digital press samples were damaged by abrasion, but not from scratches.

All digital prints need to be protected from abrasion and scratches with the possible exception of dye sublimation and color electrophotographic prints. These appear to be quite resistant to both types of damage. Pigment inkjet (on all paper types), traditional color photography, and black-and-white electrophotographic prints are the most sensitive to damage.

Clean, smooth plastic sleeves can provide protection. Another way to avoid damage from abrasion and scratches is to use window-matting and other techniques that keep the prints from coming into contact with adjacent surfaces.

LINKS

DP3 Newsletter Article: Summary of Abrasion vs. Scratch Study

PAPER: The Scratch Sensitivity of Digital Reflection Prints by Eugene Salesin and Daniel Burge, Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology.

About the Image Permanence Institute

InfoTrends Suggests Ways to Grow Sales of Photo Merchandise

2012-01-23T08:27:00.001-05:00

According to InfoTrends’ "2011 Photo Merchandise End-User Survey," revenues from the sale of photo merchandise may reach $2 billion by 2015. Photo merchandise includes photo cards, photo books, photo calendars, and specialty prints.

Because a large portion of the population has still not purchased any type of photo merchandise product, InfoTrends analysts believe many opportunities exist for vendors of photo merchandise to reach out to new buyers.

The study showed that adoption rates for photo merchandise products rose considerably between 2009 and 2010 but remained completely flat between 2010 and 2011. Because photo merchandise buyers tend to become repeat purchasers, InfoTrends has suggested three techniques that might convince non-buyers to become purchasers themselves.

Encourage word-of-mouth promotion.

When asked how they first because aware they could purchase or create photo merchandise, the greatest share of photo merchandise buyers said they heard about it from a friend or relative. “Refer-a-friend” programs with incentives for customers can encourage existing buyers of photo merchandise to spread the word. Satisfied customers are more likely to recommend photo merchandise to others if there is a benefit for doing so.

Enable multiple purchases.

If a bride creates a photo book of her wedding, there is a strong likelihood that others (parents, siblings, friends) will want to purchase the book themselves. Special deals such as a 15% discount for customers who buy two or more photo books, calendars, or other products can help increase sales.

Convince non-buyers to purchase.

When asked why they had not purchases photo merchandise, nearly half of the non-buyers of said the products were too expensive. Many respondents (46%) said they had no need for these products. Although it can be difficult to reach consumers who don’t see a need for certain products, it is possible to overcome the perception that photo merchandise is too expensive.

Prices for photo merchandise have fallen over the past few years and attractive promotions can help lower costs.

“Photo merchandise vendors can also use the stagnant economy to their advantage,” says David Hauter of InfoTrends. “Although there is a perception that personalized photo items are expensive, these products can offer a high sentimental value and are often more affordable than traditional gifts. Vendors can encourage consumers to give ‘gifts from the heart’ like photo merchandise in lieu of more expensive gifts.”

This 82-page study report considers how the market has changed over the past few years, uncovers the demographic groups with a greater propensity for purchasing photo merchandise items, and offers insight and advice on how photo merchandise vendors can increase their return on investment in an industry that is still on the upswing.

InfoTrends believes photo merchandise products continue to offer great potential because they command a higher price premium and have higher profit margins than standard-size prints. The wide range of products and personalization available also makes it easy for vendors to differentiate themselves.

LINKS

The 2011 Photo Merchandise End-User Survey

About InfoTrends

RELATED POSTS

Survey Shows More Photography Pros Offer Merchandise

Convert Your Images into Multiple Products

Video Tutorials Explain How to Photograph Artwork

2012-01-18T10:06:00.000-05:00

On the new “Solutions for Photographing Artwork” DVD from PhotoshopCAFE.com and Software Cinema, Maui-based artist and Institute of Visual Arts instructor Randy Hufford shows you how to accurately photograph two-dimensional artwork for replication.

The DVD includes complete workflows for using the Canon 5D Mark II, Hasselblad, and BetterLight Scanning Back.

The tutorials also includes lessons on

Handling and hanging the art
Setting up the lighting
Using a Zig-Align to line up the camera
Calibrating your monitor

Using the Color Checker Passport

“Correctly reproducing the exact color and texture of a painting in a photograph has always been a challenge,” says Hufford. He believes artists, framers, gallery owners and web designers can all benefit from understanding how artwork is properly replicated for digital use.

The “Solutions for Photographing Artwork” training can be purchased for $99.99, either as a DVD-ROM or as a digital download.

LINKS

Solutions for Photographing Artwork

About Randy Hufford

About PhotoshopCAFE

The LightRoom Helps Artist Make Book from iPhone Images

2012-01-16T11:38:00.000-05:00

The LightRoom, a San Francisco Bay-area provider of fine-art printing services for photographers and artists, recently helped photographer Gail Skoff convert images captured on her iPhone into a handmade, fan-fold book. The 13 x 13-inch pages of the book were digitally printed using a Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6300 printer and archival rag paper.

The book was part of Skoff’s “Santons de Provence” project. Santons are small figurines (5 or 6 inches high) from the folk art tradition in the Provence district of Southern France. Skoff used these figurines in three-dimensional sets, featuring printed backgrounds and other small props. The effect created tableaus that portrayed village life in the late 18th century, when vendors traveled from town to town offering their services and wares.

For the”Santons de Provence” project, Skoff used the Hipstamatic app with her iPhone. Photoshop was used to make additional edits on the images before the book was printed.

“I don't photograph with the iPhone because it is easy,” explains Skoff. “The application I have chosen, Hipstamatic, is hard to use with precision. The lighting is often uneven and there can be a greenish tint. The framing is vague and must be left to chance. There are often dark patches and the focus is difficult to predict.”

She likes the effect Hipstamatic produces in her images: “The frayed edges and softness seem appropriate to my 18th-century subject matter, and I don't have another tool that can do that. The iPhone has the only camera that can give me the effect I want.”

Gail Skoff has worked as a photographer for years. She started out shooting film, and was known for her delicate, hand-painted, black and white darkroom prints.

Skoff is one of many professional photographers and artists who have begun exploring the creative possibilities of iphoneography, observes Robert Reiter of The LightRoom: “Our gallery has featured two shows of phone-oriented photography in the last year, and we look forward to bringing the best of this new form of photography to light.”

LINKS

About The LightRoom

Gail Skoff

The LightRoom Produces Fan-Fold Books on Wide-Format Inkjet Printer

Inkjet Emulsion Transfers Can Replicate Vintage Tintypes Images

2012-01-13T07:17:00.001-05:00

The new “Vintage Tintypes” DVD from Digital Art Studio Seminars (DASS) demonstrates inkjet emulsion transfer processes you can use to create photographic prints reminiscent of photographic processes of the late 1800s.

On the 90-minute DVD, artist Bonny Lhotka demonstrates several ways to “age” metal. Then she shows you how to use DASS SuperSauce™ to transfer pigment inkjet prints on film to the aged metal. She also discusses how to pair the image with plate and the use of postcoats.

The final prints can be made to resemble the classic look of tintypes, cyanotypes, or ambrotypes. Or, you use the techniques with modern compositions to create one-of-a kind contemporary art pieces.

The DVD can be ordered separately or as part of the DASS Vintage Tintype Kit. The kit includes all of the materials you'll need to start experimenting with these new processes, including DASS SuperSauce Concetrate, DASS Transfer Film, and four 8 x 10 sheets of mill-finished aluminum.

LINK

Digital Art Studio Seminars Inkjet Transfer Series: Vintage Tintypes

Try Beta Version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4

2012-01-11T17:33:00.000-05:00

A beta version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 for Windows and Mac is now available as a free public download from Adobe Labs. Lightroom 4 beta is a preview of new features and capabilities that will be offered in the final release of Lightroom 4, expected in early 2012.

The beta features refined technology for superior shadow and highlight processing and expanded management capabilities including enhanced dSLR video support.

It also includes soft-proofing, as well as the ability to create Blurb photo books from within Lightroom.

Adobe is encouraging photographers to try the beta release and provide feedback to the product team. "Giving early customer access to new versions of Lightroom has helped our team deliver an outstanding battle-tested product that really stands up to the demands of photographers worldwide," said Winston Hendrickson, vice president of Digital Imaging Products, Adobe. "

New Features in Lightroom 4 Beta

Lightroom 4 beta is a major software update adding a broad range of new capabilities based on feedback provided by the photography community.

All-new basic tonal adjustment controls extract the entire dynamic range from cameras for stunning shadow details and highlights.

Additional local adjustment controls include Noise Reduction, Moire, and White Balance.

Soft proofing tools in the Develop module let you fine-tune your images in a destination color space to ensure that your prints and Web content look their best.

New native video support lets you play, trim and extract frames from video clips shot on dSLRs, point-and-shoot cameras, and smartphones.

Many standard Lightroom image-adjustment controls can be applied to video clips. Adjusted videos can be exported as an H.264 file or published directly to Facebook or Flickr.

A new Map module displays images already assigned a location, provides location tagging controls and saved locations for effortless assignment of a photographer's common locations.

You can also email images directly from Lightroom using an email account of your choice including Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail.

Integrated Bookmaking

"We are pleased to offer an elegant photo book creation experience within Lightroom that connects seamlessly with Blurb," said Tom Hogarty, Lightroom Principal Product Manager at Adobe. "Photo book authoring has been requested by many in the Lightroom community and we are proud to partner with a company who can deliver the quality and customer experience expected by our customers."

The new Book module in Lightroom 4 includes text controls, a variety of easy-to-use templates, and a direct-link to Blurb.com for printing, marketing and distribution of photo books.

Blurb offers an assortment of book-customization options, including multiple choices of papers, end sheets, and case covers. Online marketing tools enable you to sell your books in the Blurb online bookstore.

"Just as Adobe was getting requests for integrated bookmaking within Lightroom, we were hearing the same requests from Lightroom users within the Blurb customer base,” said Eileen Gittins, founder and CEO of Blurb. “This deep integration will enable Blurb to further satisfy its existing customers as well as reach many, many thousands of new users worldwide. We could not have found a better partner."

LINKS

Download Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Beta

Customers can submit feedback on the community powered feedback site:

http://feedback.photoshop.com.

You can also connect with the Lightroom team on Facebook, via Twitter or on the Adobe Lightroom blog. Lightroom how-to videos can be viewed on YouTube.

Learn about Blurb Bookmaking in Lightroom 4

Publisher of Digital Imaging Website Produces Print Magazine

2012-01-09T11:45:00.000-05:00

This story is about a tech-savvy photography writer who started out publishing a website. Recently, he has self-published different forms of e-books and produced the first issue of a print-on-demand magazine based on his website content.

In 2005 (when the concepts of online publishing and non-political blogs were still new), Wayne Cosshall created the Digital ImageMaker International (DIMI) website. The content was geared toward creative hobbyists and professionals who had mastered image-editing tools and had begun to experiment with all that was possible with digital imaging and printmaking. They were hungry for ideas, education, and inspiration. The site includes news, product reviews, and articles for photographers, artists, designers, and others.

Wayne’s goal in producing Digital ImageMaker International was to provide timely, deep and meaningful articles that covered the whole gamut of digital imagemaking practice for hobbyists and professionals. Recognizing that art, photography and graphics were converging, Wayne started writing about photography, web and graphic design, digital art, illustration, video production, editing and special effects, computational art and photography, and 3D graphics and animation (both 2D and 3D).

In addition to reporting on imaging trends and technology, Wayne has also explored new concepts in independent publishing of longer-form content. His self-published book “Photography Wisdom” in available in five different forms:

A print book from Amazon
An ebook for Kindle from Amazon
An ebook for Kindle and other ebook readers
An ebook from Apple
A video-enhanced version of the ebook as an app for the iPad

Last month, Wayne produced Digital ImageMaker content in the form of a printed magazine.To avoid having to pay for a large print run upfront, he used HP’s print-on-demand MagCloud service to produce a magazine filled with stunning photographs and art.

MagCloud can produce saddle-stitched or perfect-bound magazines from the pages you upload as print-ready PDFs. To lay out your pages, you can use Adobe InDesign, Quark Xpress, Microsoft Word or Publisher, Apple, or any other software that can output a suitable PDF.

Wayne describes his experiences with the MagCloud service in a post on the HP Pro Photography blog. He writes that “Before I started on my own project, I bought a couple of other photography publications from MagCloud so I could examine the image quality and the paper. Happy with this, I moved forward.”

After previewing and approving a sample copy of the first issue, Wayne released Digital ImageMaker magazine for sale on the MagCloud website.

Cosshall says he was very impressed with the print quality of the magazine: “Color is great, image detail is excellent, and the print is crisp and lovely. The paper feels good to handle, and the cover stock works well.”

The 60-page issue of Digital ImageMaker includes five long, lavishly illustrated articles. The contents include:

an article about computational artist Don Relyea, whose Generative Flowers II exhibt was displayed on two 50 x 30 ft. HD outdoor screens in Victory Plaza in Dallas.
an interview with wedding/portrait photographer Nadia Salameh
a profile of photographer/psychotherapist David J. Bookbinder who produces mandalas from images of flowers.
an interview with Austalian artist Jane Davenport who works on a mix of photography, drawing, and painting projects and creates products ranging from books to clothing.
an interview with mixed-media printmaker Bonny Lhotka, whose ground-breaking work in inkjet image-transfer printing is included in the Digital Darkroom exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles.
a profile of the Digital Art Guild, which is dedicated to advancing the concept of digital fine art while promoting public knowledge.

Paging through the magazine gave me a real sense of how diverse the “image-making” community really is. The issue also displays the enormous range of digital techniques that creative professionals are now using.

It was notably refreshing to read a magazine in which the articles weren’t interrupted by the clutter of ads needed to make print magazines financially viable.

In the first issue of Digital ImageMaker magazine, I could study the art and photography more deeply because the editorial content isn’t competing for attention with advertising headlines and product photography.

Personally, I have always loved magazines.But Wayne’s self-published version made me look at the format in a fresh new way.

HP Pro Photography Blog: MagCloud and Publishing for Photographers by Wayne Cosshall

HP Pro Photography Blog: HP’s MagCloud Self-Publishing Service Can be Great for Photographers

LINKS

Magazine: Digital ImageMaker Magazine on HP MagCloud

Website: Digital ImageMaker International

Datacolor Introduces Spyder4 Colorimeters

2012-01-06T17:31:00.000-05:00

Datacolor’s new Spyder4 line of highly advanced colorimeters can calibrate monitors, laptops, projectors, TVs, iPads and even iPhones.

Designed to provide photographers and creative professionals with accurate and consistent results, Spyder4 makes quick work of the color correction process.

Spyder4 combine an easy-to-use interface with advanced levels of brightness and color control. The full-spectrum color capture technology uses a seven-channel sensor, which registers color in the same way as the human eye, ensuring the colors on the screen are true-to-life.

Since no two devices display the exact same color, precise calibration is imperative in order to ensure consistent, true color representation. In addition, even calibrated monitors, TVs and tablets will gradually decrease in accuracy, requiring color calibration every one to two months in order to display sharp, accurate colors, shadows and highlights.

“Spyder 4 provides an easy-to-use calibration solution for all display devices, which greatly improves workflow efficiency for busy professionals and photo enthusiasts,” said Dave Faulkner, Product Manager, Imaging Color Solutions at Datacolor. “Our team is dedicated to developing color management tools that are extremely intuitive while still delivering the highest levels of accuracy that professional photographers demand. The industry is competitive, and anything that gives photographers an advantage, especially with the technical details of color management, is a huge asset. Photographers need to be able quickly edit and process shots to deliver to clients on deadline, and the Spyder4 will calibrate all their monitors in just minutes.”

A range of Spyder 4 devices is available. All models can calibrate wide-gamut and normal-gamut displays. And all models feature a simple install wizard, and deliver an average of 26% more accuracy and improved low luminance performance over previous Spyder3 technology.

Spyder4 Express ($119) quickly calibrates a single display computer or laptop right out of the box. iPad and iPhone calibration is also available with Datacolor’s free SpyderGallery app.

Spyder4 Pro ($169) is for those that want more control over light and color management. It offers ambient light measurement and the ability to calibrate multiple displays, as well as iOS devices.

Spyder4 Elite ($249) offers the highest level of customization. In addition to the previously noted displays, it can also be used to calibrate projectors. Developed for professional photographers, videographers and others who must match colors precisely, the Spyder4 Elite provides the tools to manage multiple displays and calibrate them using a full set of gamma and non-gamma tone response curves to create custom workflow settings. The user can even define a custom calibration. The Spyder4 Elite includes the L-Star workflow and supports the video standards Cineon, NTSC, PAL and HDTV.
Spyder4 products are available at photography and consumer electronic retailers nationwide or online at www.datacolor.com.

GoingPro Bootcamp To Be Held February 18 in Las Vegas

2012-01-04T15:56:00.003-05:00

The GoingPro Bootcamp on Feburary 18 in Las Vegas can help newcomers to professional photography cope with business and marketing challenges they might not have anticipated. The one-day event is not about photography techniques. But you will learn how to get your photography business started and what steps you need to keep it going.

Three well-established experts will help you with ideas on marketing, using social media, building your client base, pricing your work, developing selling skills and getting involved in community. Two of the presenters are Scott Bourne and Skip Cohen, who co-authored the best-selling photography-business book: Going Pro. The third presenter is Michelle Celentano, a Phoenix-based photographer with 21 years of experience. She is a Canon Explorer of Light, and her work has been published in Rangefinder, American Photographer and Shutterbug, just to name a few.

"We're excited to have Michelle join us. Her experience is remarkable, but even more impressive is her style. She's one of the best presenters in professional photography and her trademark is just being herself, candid and honest about all her experiences in business," said Skip Cohen. “Her marketing skills are outstanding. She’s constantly looking for ways to reinvent herself in the Arizona market.”

To sample the type of instruction you will receive at the GoingPro Bootcamp, visit the GoingPro Blog, which has a new post five days a week and a new podcast every ten days.

The February 18 GoingPro bootcamp at the Hampton Inn in Las Vegas is just one day before the start of classes at the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) Conference and Exposition at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from Feb. 19-23.

Registration for the GoingPro Bootcamp is $99 in advance and $129 on the day of the event if seats are still available.

LINKS

GoingPro Bootcamp Registration

GoingPro Blog Going Pro: How to Make the Leap from Aspiring to Professional Photographer

Book Teaches Aspiring Photography Pros How to Build a Business

ImagePrint 9 Software Is Now Available

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

ColorByte Software has announced that ImagePrint 9 software is now shipping. The software can help users of Epson’s pro-model inkjet photo prints get the best possible results on a wide selection of photo papers, art papers, and canvases. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the new features in ImagePrint 9.

New Interface
With the new Side Bar, all commonly used settings are visible at a glance. You don’t have to wade through multiple windows to get to the settings you need. Setting up a print is faster than ever, and mistakes are much easier to avoid.

The new Image Strip makes selecting files easier too. Its streamlined interface can be docked vertically or horizontally. Once you have identified your favorite image folders, you can return to them quickly.

Simplified Profile Selection
Cryptic filenames for printer profiles are a thing of the past. Now, just tell ImagePrint the paper you are using and the quality settings you need. Then, ImagePrint will automatically pick the correct ICC paper profile. If the profile hasn’t already been downloaded to your computer, ImagePrint can automatically retrieve it from our online profile library.

Expanded Black and White Toning
ColorByte, which is famous for black and white photo printing, has taken print quality to a whole new level by expanding the toning controls in ImagePrint 9. The new interface for Narrow Gamut Toning with Split Tones includes two additional tint picker zones. So, you can now control the tint individually in four distinct tonal ranges.

The new Wide Gamut Toning gives you the ability to tone and split tone in any hue, not just those close to neutral. Techniques such as brown toning are a snap to achieve.

Shuffle
Uses of large-format printers will benefit from the new Shuffle feature. It automatically rearranges images to avoid wasting paper when printing on wide rolls. When lots of images are involved, determining the most efficient layout on the paper can be a long, computer-intensive process with literally millions of combinations to churn through. The advanced algorithms in Shuffle cycle through the most promising candidates first. Throughout the process, you will see the current “best” layout so you can make the call to go ahead and print, or keep trying to find an even better arrangement.

Compatibility
ImagePrint 9 is the first version to be compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion). Version 9 will also work with OS X 10.6, 10.5 and 10.4. For Windows users, ImagePrint 9.0 is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP.

Details about specific features are described in posts on the ImagePrint Today blog, and demonstrated in videos on ColorByte Software’s website.

ColorByte Software

Links to ImagePrint Today Posts

The Dashboard and Image Strip

The Profile Valet

Improved Narrow-Gamut Toning

Wide-Gamut Toning

Shuffle

Pro Photographer Hosts New Year’s Eve Camera Phone Fun

2011-12-28T21:18:00.001-05:00

What are you doing New Year’s Eve? If you happen to take any great shots on your iPhone (or other camera phone) between midnight December 31 and midnight January 1, consider sharing them with the creative folks at Studio b in Florida.

“Shoot your life, your food, your dog—anything and everything,” urges Colleen Duffley, the advertising and editorial photographer who founded studio b. “The only rule for this event is that all images must be shot with a camera phone.”

There are no fees, and you can enter as many images as you like. Identify each image with your name, the title of the shot, and where you took the shot. Send your images to scoop@studiobthebeach.com by Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Some images will be selected for inclusion on studio b’s pioneering Light Impressions exhibition which showcases the work of 40 of the world’s best smartphone photographers on 40 iPads.

Slideshows from contest participants will also posted on studio b’s website where they may be viewed by some of the influential editors, artists, and designers Colleen befriended during her long, globe-trotting career in photography. Plus, some images will be printed and displayed in studio b’s art gallery.

What is studio b?

Studio b provides an inspirational learning environment for all things creative. The idea for the venue originated as Colleen struck up friendships with some amazingly talented people while she traveled the world shooting images of food, fashion, and homes for magazines such as Better Homes & Gardens, Traditional Home, Elle Décor, Bon Appetit and commercial clients such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Neiman Marcus, and Doral Resort and Spa.

She often wished some of her other friends could have joined in these memorable experiences. So Colleen decided that the best way to make this happen was to invite some of the friends she met during photography shoots to give events at studio b.

In addition to photography-related events, Studio b programs have included hands-on, small-group learning experiences in art, literature, fashion, design, music, and the culinary arts. Attendees have learned how to cook pieorogies, build a bamboo bike, sew, paint, and sculpt. Studio b attendees have learned about cooking from a James Beard- award-winning chef and organic olive oil grower from Italy and held Q and A sessions with the director of a film that won honored at the Sundance Film Festival.

Last October, Martie McGuire and Emily Robison from the Dixie Chicks spent a week at studio b writing music for the next CD to be released by their new band, The Courtyard Hounds.

They performed some of the new songs and mingled with a small group of music lovers who gathered at studio b for what turned out to be a fun and interactive evening.

The Light Impressions Exhibit

The New Year’s Eve camera-phone event provides a way for people all over the world to join in the fun at studio b. Colleen launched the event four years ago, at a time when cell-phone cameras weren't nearly as robust as they are today. Yet she could easily imagine how life-changing camera phones might one day become for people who wanted to have more fun with photography.

Others could see the possibilities too, because that first contest attracted more than 1,000 entries from all over the world. The first entry arrived at 6 pm U.S. Eastern time, from a photographer in Spain.

Last year, as the iPhoneography movement took off, Colleen created the"Light Impressions" installation to take image-sharing to the next level. The exhibit features slideshows of 13 selected works from 40 iPhoneographers. The slideshows are exhibited on 40 iPads mounted on metal salvaged from a hurricane-ravaged building.

"Because the images are always moving, the Light Impressions exhibit itself is always changing," Colleen says. "No matter how many times you look at it, you see it differently."

Some images currently displayed on Light Impressions came from studio B's call for entries. Others were supplied by 20 artists who have already become known for their pioneering work in iPhoneography art. This year, the Light Impressions exhibit will be shown in several U.S. cities as well as sites in England, Ireland, and points beyond.

B Inspired! Join the Community

Colleen Duffley believes creativity brings strength and confidence to everyone, which is why she is so excited that people from age 9 to 90 participate in the annual camera-phone imaging contest and other studio b. events.

To learn about opportunities to participate, visit the studio b. website and sign up for their newsletter. In 2012. studio b. plans to announce international trips that will enable you to enjoy the types of experiences Duffley had on some of her photography assignments.

She still loves doing photography assignments, because photography is her passion. But she also loves the fact that new assignments enable her to bring more people in to “the b.”

Colleen Duffley really wants to help many more artists experience opportunities they might not otherwise have. If you join the "studio b-list,” you will learn about some “a-list” events.

LINKS

PDF: How to Enter Studio b’s New Year’s Eve Camera Phone Event

About studio b.

Colleen Duffley Photography

Meet the Artists Featured in Light Impressions

App Makes It Easy to Get iPhone Photos Printed and Framed

2011-12-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

The new "Phil Spitze Framing" app makes it easy and convenient for consumers to get favorite photos taken on their iPhones or iPads printed and framed. Without going to a computer or making multiple trips to retail shops, users simply choose a photo from their iPhone or iPad, choose their frame, and place the order. Within a couple of weeks, they receive a professionally printed and framed photograph that is ready to hang on the wall.

The app was developed by photographer/entrepreneur Phil Spitze who was inspired by the growing popularity of apps such as Instagram and Postgram.

"Too many great photos are stuck on devices or only available for viewing online," says Spitze. "And there are far too many naked walls in this world, just crying out for your framed photo.”

"Photography has been a passion of mine for many years, and I have sold quite a few of my own prints,” says Spitze. “However, what I really love doing is looking at the works of others and being able to highlight and promote those in any way I can."

The "Phil Spitze Framing" app is available for download from the iTunes App Store and is free for use. Payment for a complete frame (including printing of the photograph) is processed through Google Checkout or Paypal. Most completed projects arrive in 2-3 weeks. Shipping is free.

LINKS

iTunes Preview: Phil Spitze Framing App

Phil Spitze Photography

Authors Recommend Preparing a Digital Estate Plan

2011-12-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Have you prepared for your digital afterlife?

Whether you have prepared or not, you will leave some sort of digital legacy when you die, note John Romano and Evan Carroll in their book “Your Digital Afterlife.” Ensuring that others will be able to continue to see your digital files after your death is particularly important to photographers, artists, writers, and other creative pros whose work might have more than sentimental value.

“The things we produce help us pay the bills, exercise our creativity, and leave an impact on our professions,” notes Carroll in an article on The Peachpit Press website entitled “Digital Estate Planning for Designers, Photographers, and Developers.” He says creative professionals have immense digital footprints because we tend to create, share, and collect far more data than the average person.

Yet a lot of the digital content we have created has been scattered over multiple digital devices, including work and personal computers, smartphones, backup drives, and online accounts such as Flickr. In some cases, your digital creations may reside on computers over which you don’t have direct control.

To save your heirs frustration, Carroll and Romano advise creating a digital estate plan. In addition to giving your family access to works that might be regarded as heirlooms, a digital estate plan can help ensure that the photographs you’ve created remain readable and available to those who want to view your work. You can get started by taking an inventory of your digital assets, recording the appropriate access credentials, and documenting your wishes.

(It also wouldn't hurt to publish your best work, and the stories behind the images, in a photo book or HP MagCloud magazine.)

In an interview on the PeachPit Press website, Carroll and Romano said they wrote the book to help people understand the new digital lifestyle and how it affects their legacy: “We’ve heard countless stories where grieving families have lost access to precious content or they’ve found content that revealed embarrassing content that belonged to the deceased. Our book will help you avoid both of these scenarios.”

The first section of the book talks about the risks that digital legacies face and current advances to help avoid those risks. The second section walks you through a step-by-step process to help secure different types of digital assets.

“The biggest mistake you can make is to not take any action at all,” said Carroll and Romano. “You will have some form of digital afterlife whether you take action or not. By not taking action, you leave everything to chance.”

LINKS

Article: Digital Estate Planning for Designers, Photographers, and Developers by Evan Carroll

Article: Your Digital Afterlife: An Interview with John Romano and Evan Carroll

Book: Your Digital Afterlife: When Facebook, Flickr and Twitter Are Your Estate, What’s Your Legacy?

Website: The Digital Beyond

Photo Business Plan Workbook Offers Success Tactics for 2012

2011-12-21T16:45:00.000-05:00

The free “2012 Photo Business Plan Workbook” from PhotoShelter provides 24 pages of timely, practical advice for professional photographers who want to implement a methodical approach for growing their businesses in 2012. For example, here are just three of the many excellent suggestions found in the workbook:

Update your marketing plan. In today’s competitive environment, you may need multiple campaigns through multiple channels to get people’s attention and convert them into customers. Design your marketing plan so that you don’t treat each potential customer as if they were in the same state of readiness to hire you. Plan a range of nuanced marketing activities that treat those who are closer to making a hiring decision differently from those who may be just beginning to explore their options for buying photography or photo-related services.

Get your finances in order so you maintain a level of professionalism and accountability. Do you have separate bank accounts and credit cards to keep your business expenses separate from your personal expenses? Do you have an accurate bookkeeping system and a cash flow plan that ensures that your spending doesn’t outpace your income? And, do you have the right types of business insurance?

Give your website a tune-up. If you still regard your website primarily as a digital version of a printed portfolio, it’s probably time for an upgrade. To compete with other photographers who use their websites as sales and marketing tools, your website should have the following capabilities: image search, e-commerce, file delivery, newsletter signup, a blog, and contact information.

The 2012 Photo Business Plan Workbook also explains how to:

Clearly define your products and services
Determine your audience and addressable market
Use SEO (search-engine optimization) techniques to attract traffic to your website
Optimize your use of social-media tools
Create an advisory group
Generate new business by following up with old clients

“You can’t expect to succeed in the coming year if you don’t have a plan to make it happen,” said PhotoShelter CEO Allen Murabayashi. “We see photographers all the time who have lofty goals but don’t afford themselves the time to make a plan.”

The workbook contains easy-to-digest sections, PhotoShelter-approved resource lists, and “Do This” action-item checklists.

“The 2012 Photo Business Plan Workbook” joins PhotoShelter’s expanding library of free business guides for photographers and creative professionals. PhotoShelter’s e-book library includes guides on email marketing, search engine optimization, starting a photography business, and social media marketing.

LINKS

The 2012 Photo Business Plan Workbook by PhotoShelter

PhotoShelter E-Book Library

About PhotoShelter

Free Online Education for Wedding Photography Business Owners

2011-12-19T17:13:00.000-05:00

If you want to give your wedding photography business a boost in 2012, tune in to 12 hours of free online education that will be presented by 11 top wedding photographers from 11 am to 3 pm CST on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, Wednesday, January 4 and Wednesday January 11, 2012. The “I Do” wedding-photography event is being presented by The Joy of Marketing and White House Custom Colour (WHCC).

“With wedding spending starting to rebound after several quarters of decline, there is a lot of opportunity for the professional wedding photographer to grow their business in 2012,” said Sarah Petty, the photographer who founded The Joy of Marketing. “It’s easy to succumb to price pressure from clients when business is slow, but when you create an experience that is unlike any other, you’ll thrill your clients and accelerate the growth of your wedding business.”

Recent research by The Wedding Report shows that 2.3 million couples wed every year in the United States. With the average wedding budget increasing to $18,859, wedding photographers can showcase their creative talents while making a living doing what they love.

During the event, some of the most successful owners of wedding photography businesses will explain how they continue to attract brides who value photography, despite economic pressures.

Each four-hour Wednesday session features four presentations, on topics such as:

Creating a Successful Wedding Business
Attracting the Right Clients
Branding and Distinguishing Yourself
Creating Remarkable Experiences
No-Cost Marketing
Picture the Perfect Wedding Album
Creating Customers for Life
The 4Ps: Pictures, Product, Personality and Prices
Becoming a Referral Rock Star

Professional wedding photographers can easily register for the free at The Joy of Marketing website. You will be emailed detailed instructions. Until December 27, you can pre-purchase recordings of the course for $79. Transcripts are also available.

LINKS

Schedule and Speakers: The “I Do” Wedding Event Special

“I Do” Online Course for Wedding Photographers: The Joy of Marketing

About The Joy of Marketing

About WHCC

Offer Your Customers Personalized iPad Cases

2011-12-16T12:06:00.000-05:00

Here’s a new form of photo merchandise that you can provide to your customers or use to add a personal touch to the cover of your iPad portfolio.

The “Design Your Own” iPowis Case is a folio-style iPad case that can be personalized with uploaded photographs. The Powis iCase is manufactured in Berkeley, California by Powis, a 28-year veteran in the bookbindery business.

After uploading your favorite photo, artwork or graphics, the images can be faithfully reproduced on durable and easy-to-clean cloth. Or, you can choose from one of 70 handcrafted leathers or patterns. The Powis iCase can be further personalized with a name, inscription, favorite quote, or personal message on the inside cover.

The cases can feature a special photo of a pet, family member, event, or travel destination. The iPad cases can also be produced as corporate gifts, featuring company photos or logos on the cover.

“I got my iPad last Christmas and researched like a madwoman trying to find the perfect combination of a case, cover, and stand,” says Shannon Vaughn, a Powis iCase customer. “I have since recommended the Powis iCase to quite a few people - some friends, as well as some random people at the airport who commented on my case.”

In addition to personalization, the case offers protection and ergonomic functionality. The built-in adjustable stand has more than nine viewing positions, so the iPad can be used for everything from typing while sitting on a park bench to watching an in-flight movie. Other features include camera cutouts so photos can be taken without removing the iPad 2 from the case and a magnetic on/off switch. The case also includes a hidden wipe cloth, business card holder and hand strap.

All cases are constructed with 100% recycled board, and its handcrafted leather is 100% recycled cowhide fibers. Powis iCases are available for the iPad and iPad 2 for $79.95.

LINKS

Powis iCase

About Powis

Ilford Brings Galerie Smooth High Gloss to US

2011-12-14T10:23:00.001-05:00

ILFORD’s GALERIE Smooth High Gloss inkjet media will be available in the U.S. beginning in January. This film-based inkjet-printable alternative to metallic inkjet papers produces prints with enhanced definition and an extended tonal range for the highest quality professional photo look. Galerie Smooth High Gloss can be used by the growing number of photography, art, and museum professionals who choose to work with inkjet printers to make exhibition-standard prints.

Developed by Ilford photo experts in Switzerland, the media features an instant dry, universally compatible layer for top-quality results with both dye and pigment-ink printers. Galerie Smooth High Gloss is available in 8.5 x 11-in sheets, A4 and A3+ sheet sizes, and 24-inch wide rolls.

Ilford is recommending Galterie Smooth High Gloss as an inkjet-printable alternative to ILFOCHROME Classic which is being discontinued due to the ongoing migration of color photo printing from hybrid digital/chemical processing methods (such as Lambdas and Lightjets) to inkjet photo printing. (The deadline for final orders of Ilfochrome Classic is December 19, 2011.)

“Ilford has long been a technological leader in the print media industry, and with many of our users and labs adopting a purely digital workflow we are proud to possess the technological capabilities necessary to offer customers professional quality inkjet alternatives to traditional photographic media.” says Jane Dixon, Director of Global Marketing at Ilford. “Some of our customers may remember the previous incarnation of Galerie Smooth High Gloss which was very popular with photography professionals. We are now pleased to introduce it as an alternative to metallic media following modifications by our team of experts in Switzerland.”

Galerie Smooth High Gloss joins the already diverse array of Galerie products designed for use in the professional inkjet marketplace.

LINKS

Ilford Galerie Professional Inkjet Range of Materials

Ilfochrome Classic Film for Direct Positive Color Photographic Printing

About Ilford

DASS SuperSauce Now Available in Matte Version

2011-12-12T07:51:00.000-05:00

DASS™ SuperSauce is the transfer medium that artist Bonny Lhotka developed to move pigment ink from an imaged printed on DASS Classic Transfer Film to smooth wood, or any gesso-primed substrate. In her book, Digital Alchemy: Printmaking Techniques for Fine Art, Photography and Mixed Media, Lhotka explains different techniques for using DASS SuperSauce to transfer pigment-ink images to nearly any flat surface you can imagine.

The original DASS SuperSauce concentrate produced a gloss transfer solution. A new Matte version of SuperSauce Concentrate is now available from the store on Lhotka’s DASS (DigitalArtStudio Seminars) website.

SuperSauce Concentrate Matte is recommended for transferring pigment-ink images from film to porous materials, such as a stone paper, wood, and fine-art papers. If the solution gets onto the paper outside of the image area, it will disappear into the paper itself without leaving any shine on the paper itself. Only the emulsion area will have a satin finish. On some paper, no dry solution will be visible—even on the transferred image.

The new Matte version of SuperSauce Concentrate should not be used as a primer on non-porous surfaces such as acrylic or metal. Nor should it be used as a final protective coating on non-porous surfaces.

Both the original gloss and new matte SuperSauce are sold in 16-oz. bottles. Save on shipping by ordering two or more bottles at once.

Send questions about SuperSauce Matte Concentrate to: sales (at) DigitalArtStudioSeminars (dot) com.

LINKS

Digital Art Studio Seminars

Book: Digital Alchemy

PDF about Using DASS SuperSauce Concentrate

Red Wing Digital Sells Photo Panel Prints Online

2011-12-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

Some photographers prefer hiring local printmakers to enlarge their best images. That’s because they enjoy interacting with printing and framing experts who can advise them on the right options for their work. Other photographers don’t mind uploading their images to a website, and waiting for prints to be delivered.

One avid photographer/entrepreneur who understands both these preferences is John Becker of Red Wing Digital. For the past decade, John and his wife Valerie have provided expert printing and faming assistance to photographers and commercial clients who visit their custom-framing shop in the small, historic Mississippi-River town of Red Wing, Minnesota. In addition to producing photo enlargements and offer custom framing services, Red Wing uses two HP Designjet Z6100 printers to produce high-quality visuals, signage, and decorative art for retailers and other local businesses.

Online Storefront

Last fall, Becker launched Red Wing Digital as an online storefront through which they sell Panel Prints. The panel prints give photographers an affordable, attractive, glass-free, frame-free method of displaying large photographs in all of their glory. Becker regards Red Wing Digital as a way to add a new a source of revenue that also enables the company to serve photographers who aren’t within driving distance of their brick-and-mortar shop.

After each photograph is printed with HP Vivera pigment inks on an HP Designjet Z6100, it is mounted to an ultra-stiff art board backed with a hanging system that makes the panel appear to float in front of the wall. The Panel Prints are sturdy, easy-to-care-for and create a pleasing drop-shadow effect on the wall.

John and Valerie Becker came up with the panel-print idea when they got involved in a photography competition sponsored by a local radio station. The contest organizers wanted a way to display the winning images in the radio station’s offices. The display product the Beckers designed was a big hit—both with photographers and radio-station visitors.

The Panel Prints have also proven to be popular with restaurant owners who want to “localize their décor” by showcasing images from area photographers. Because no glass is involved, there is less risk of injury to restaurant patrons if the print should happen to get knocked off the wall.

For the past two years, Red Wing Digital has experimented with different combinations of materials to workflows to ensure that when they started accepting online orders for Panel Prints they would be able to efficiently produce and deliver a quality product. Becker, who is an active member of the 100-member Red Wing Photography Club, turned to fellow members of the club for feedback. He says, “They were very supportive in helping us develop the Panel Print before we launched the online storefront. It has been like having a private test audience.”

“Anybody who can take a digital photo can have it made into a Panel Print,” Becker emphasizes.The workflow he developed includes ways to enlarge images from consumer-grade cameras without visual compromise. If any quality issues do arise, Becker will reach out to the customer to figure out ways to resolve them.

Red Wing Digital plans to continue to develop other types of photography-display products that can be ordered either in their framing shop or through their new online store.

Support for Online Art Gallery

While the Beckers regard the development of an online storefront to be a key way of expanding their business, they also value their relationships with people throughout the community. In the gallery adjacent to their studio, the Beckers host live events for their many friends who share their passion for the visual arts.

Last year, Red Wing Framing displayed some of the vintage illustration art in the collection of Dan Murphy. Murphy, who achieved national fame as the founder of the band Soul Asylum, now operates the online gallery Grapefruit Moon which specializes in original paintings, photographs, and prints from the “Grand Age of American Illustration.” This includes pin-up and glamour art, vintage advertising art, and pulp and men’s magazine cover designs. When pulp-magazine cover prints were shown at Red Wing’s gallery, the event was featured on two Minneapolis TV stations.

“Despite all the technology that’s out there,” says Becker. “Business still boils down to people doing business with other people. It’s all about relationships.”

LINKS

Red Wing Digital

Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing

Red Wing Digital Opens Online Storefront for Photography Panel Prints

Red Wing Digital Exemplifies Arts Entrepreneurship in Action

Video: Pulp-Fiction Cover Art from Grapefruit Moon Gallery

CanvasPop Prints Instagram iPhone Photos

2011-12-07T10:34:00.000-05:00

A growing number of artists, photography pros, designers, and hobbyists of all ages regard the camera in the iPhone as "an instrument of creativity" that they carry with them everywhere.

More than 12 million iPhone owners now use the Instagram app to enhance and share the photos they shoot with their phones. So far, Instagram users have shared more than 150 million images and uploaded 1.3 million images a day.

By integrating the Instagram API on their website, CanvasPop has set up a process that makes it easy for Instagram users to print them. The process includes a proprietary technique that allows lower-resolution Instagram photos to be enlarged and output as either 12 x 12-inch or 20 x 20-inch prints on canvas.
The prints are priced to be affordable enough for multi-image layouts. The 12 x 12-inch prints currently sell for $29.95 and the 20 x 20-inch prints are $59.95. To make the ordering-to-fulfilment process as easy as possible, CanvasPop offers one border depth (1.5 inch) and two border color options (black or white).

CanvasPop Director of Marketing Spencer Callaghan says they previewed the prints last October at 1197, a first-of-its-kind conference dedicated to mobile and iPhone photography. (The conference name pays tribute to the day when the first camera-phone image was taken: June 11, 1997.)

LINKS

Instagram Photo Printing at CanvasPop.com

1197 Conference

Use Precut Mat Kits to Sell Ready-to-Frame Prints

2011-12-02T07:30:00.000-05:00

If you want to sell ready-to-frame prints from a booth at an art show, check out the selection of Precut Mat Kits available from BD Matboard. Each Precut Mat Kit includes 25 acid-free precut mats, backing boards, and resealable cello bags to protect your prints from dust, fingerprints, and other hazards.

Choose from kits for use with 8 x 10, 11 x 14, and 16 x 20 inch frames. Single and double mat kits are available in popular color combinations.

BD Matboard also sells:

14 colors of 40 x 60-inch acid-free matboards
White foamboards for backing art with a bit of translusence
Backing boards
Picture frames
Six-packs of 8 x 10 “Frameless Frames” for 5 x 7 inch prints
Matboard blanks (for small custom jobs)
Custom mats (for jobs with 200+ prints)
Four sizes of protective cello bags in 100-count packages

The BD Matboard website features a glossary of framing terms. The BD Matboard blog includes posts on topics such as how to cut photo mats for pictures and when to use foamboard instead of cardboard as a backer for your prints.

LINKS

BD Matboard

BD Matboard Blog

Pixels & Pigment Show Features Prints of iPhone Images

2011-11-28T07:52:00.001-05:00

Artists from throughout the U.S. submitted iPhone images for display in the “Pixels & Pigment” exhibition that runs from November 25 through December 30, 2010 at the Renaissance Gallery in Carmel, Indiana.

The Heartland Printworks division of Virtu Fine Art Services output many of the images for the display at a 9 x 9 inch size on Crane Museo Max Archival Fine Art paper. The matted prints are displayed in 12 x 12-inch frames.

Last Pixel Show Offers iPhoneography and Printing Workshop Dec. 2-4

One iPhone artist featured in the Pixels & Pigment Show is professional photographer Harry Sandler. To help others advance creative photography skills on the iPhone and iPad, he joined force with iPhoneographer Teri Lou Dantzler to form The Last Pixel Show.

In conjunction with the Pixels & Pigment Show at the Renaissance Gallery, Harry and Terri Lou will be presenting a three-day intermediate-level workshop on iPhone photography and printing.

The first two days of the workshop (December 2 and 3) will be devoted to iPhone/iPad capture and processing, with an emphasis on new techniques and applications. Digital asset management, the iOS5 upgrade, and the iCloud will also be covered. On December 4, attendees will learn how to use Lightroom and Photoshop to prepare iPhone images for professional printing. Each student will receive a print to take home.

LINKS

Pixels & Pigment: 1st Annual Holiday Show of Small iPhone Works

Last Pixel Show Intermediate iPhone Photography Workshop: December 2-4

Galleries and Print Providers Help Showcase iPhone Photos

PhotoShelter Offers Guide on Selling Stock Photography

2011-11-27T11:42:00.001-05:00

Is it still possible to make money selling stock photography? Yes, according to PhotoShelter’s new 48-page educational guide on “Selling Stock Photography.” The authors readily admit that selling stock photography today probably won’t enable you to “get rich and retire early.” But if you can adapt your sales and marketing tactics to reflect the realities of today’s market, you may be able to generate more income from your work.

Because the glut of stock images and diminished photo budgets have forced prices downward, the guide’s authors confess they didn’t find anyone getting rich from licensing their images: “However, we did find a number of strong photographers who have found ways to generate income from stock photography, both independently and through major agencies.”

The e-book addresses key questions related to stock photography and presents insights gleaned from 13 interviews with stock photographers, photo buyers and executives from small stock-photo agencies. They all offer strategies on how to license stock photography in the wake of an industry that has changed significantly over the past 15 years.

The 13 experts interviewed in the guide include:

Ellice Lee, associate art director of Random House
Amy Cooper, digital asset manager and art buyer of the ad agency T3
Rachel Been, creative director of Billboard.com
Steven Poe, creative director at the leading car stock agency Izmostock
Caroline Metcalfe, director of photography, Conde Nast Traveller, UK edition
Robert Folz, co-owner of leading science stock agency Visuals Unlimited
David Sanger, travel stock photography veteran
Craig Robinson, CEO of the stock-photo agency Moodboard.com
Randy Santos, Washington, DC-based stock photographer
David Coleman, freelance travel photographer
Brad Magnin, sports photographer
Thomas Pickard, commercial and editorial photographer
Brian Smale, celebrity photographer

Each interview offers strategies to help photographers identify an effective business approach including best practices to market buyers and how to effectively keyword images to improve SEO and attract more customers.

Some of the questions covered in the guide include:

What qualifications do you need to shoot stock?
Who buys stock photography?
Where do buyers go to get stock photos?
Should I sell stock images through my own website or through an agency?
How should I keyword my images?

"Selling Stock Photography” is the latest in PhotoShelter’s ongoing series of free business guides for photographers and marketing professionals. PhotoShelter’s e-book library includes guides on email marketing, search engine optimization, starting a photography business, and social media marketing.

PhotoShelter is a leader in portfolio websites, photo sales, marketing and archiving tools for photographers. Over 70,000 photographers worldwide use PhotoShelter to power their success online, with customizable website templates, searchable photo galleries, e-commerce capabilities, and bulletproof image storage.

LINKS

E-Book: Selling Stock Photography

About PhotoShelter