Lighting Mods

Adobe Lightroom 3.0 Beta is Out to Try for Free

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Well it's out!!!

Beware that this is only a BETA version and by any means use this with your production pictures.

YOU WERE WARNED!!

My advise is to use it with some copied pictures and test it out.

Check what's inside and download links...

Here are a few key details on what they are looking for feedback on:

Import
We've redesigned the Lightroom import experience to make it much easier to visualize how Lightroom allows you to manage your files. You'll be able to see exactly where you've asked Lightroom to copy your files off your card and then use import presets in compact mode to get fast repeatable results every time. You can also quickly browse your hard drive to find exactly the right file you need to work on.

Publish Collections
We live in a connected world so you need direct access to publish your photos on your favorite sharing site from directly within the Lightroom Library. In the Lightroom 3 public beta we're providing direct access to the Flickr photo sharing site so that adding images to your Photostream is as simple as a drag and drop. You can see all of your uploaded images and if you make any changes to those images you can have them updated on Flickr automatically.(Pro accounts only) When a visitor comments on your images, Lightroom can pull that comment right back into the Library so that you can see feedback on your files where it belongs, next to the image in your Lightroom library. We've built this functionality with the same extensibility designed for our Export Plug-ins so if Flickr isn't your cup of tea we're working hard to support developers who can create connections to any of the popular photo sharing sites. Publish collections can do more than just publish to a photo sharing site. You can have a publish collection that allows you to publish images to my iPhone sync folder with drag and drop simplicity.

Image Quality
Sharpening and Noise Reduction
In the Develop module we've focused on tuning our raw processing algorithms to extract incredible detail and quality from your images. Capture sharpening and Color Noise Reduction improvements work together to give you incredible noise reduction results without losing that fine detail. We're only halfway through our noise reduction efforts but believe that you will be very pleased with the results so far. We've actually disabled the previous Luminance Noise Reduction so that you can focus on evaluating the Color Noise reduction implementation.

Grain
While Lightroom's improved noise reduction will give you incredibly smooth images, sometimes you want a little texture or grain in your images. We've added a grain tool that can add a natural film-style grain to your images to get that perfect look for your photo.

Vignette
The Lightroom team received quite a bit of feedback on our post-crop vignette tool in Lightroom 2 that allows photographers to apply beautifully styled vignettes after cropping is applied. While the tool was received quite well, we found that photographers wanted a more natural vignette that utilized an exposure or brightness effect rather than just painting black and white on the edges of images. We've added two vignette modes in Lightroom 3 beta, Color Priority and Highlight Priority that attempt to provide the natural vignette that photographers have requested. Let's not get hung up on the technical details of these models but rather focus on which you prefer for your images and why.

Process Version
The changes above are so significant that for the first time since the Camera Raw plug-in was introduced in 2003, we've needed to add the concept of a process version. The process version specifies which version of certain Camera Raw image processing elements should be used when rendering and editing files. Process version can affect raw, DNG, TIFF, JPEG, and PSD files. The process version is incremented only when major changes to the raw processing or features are changed. In Lightroom 3, the demosaicing, noise reduction, sharpening, and post crop vignette were all updated. Depending on what is applied to the image, different image characteristics will change more dramatically than others (i.e. sharpening should change sharpening characteristics etc.), but the demosaic changes apply across the board, so there will always be some change. By default, we'll leave your images just as they were but if you want to take advantage of the latest processing technology, just update to the current process version. You can update to the latest process version by selecting the notification triangle that includes an exclamation point above the left hand side of the histogram. (Or from the Settings -> Process Version file menu available in the Develop module) By default, all new files in Lightroom 3 beta will receive the latest process version.

Slideshow Export
One of the most elegant ways to present your images is in a slideshow accompanied by music. But until now, you could only share that slideshow with music when playing it directly from within the Lightroom application. But with Lightroom 3 we've added the ability to export high quality movie files that include your detailed layout and the music track you've selected. By utilizing the popular H.264 movie format you can share these movies on many popular video sharing sites or optimize it for mobile media!

Custom Print Package
Lightroom 3 adds a new custom layout option for photographers who need complete control over their print layouts. Add as many different images in whatever configuration you desire on a single or multiple pages.

Watermarking
Lightroom 3's new watermarking function lets you embed your identity or other information in your images themselves. You can apply text or graphic watermarks to a photograph with adjustable size, position, and opacity. Available in the Print and Web modules as well as the Export dialog, your identity can now travel with all of your images.

What's Next?
We're not even close to finished in terms of features, performance or image quality but we want early feedback on our improvements so that we have time to make sure Lightroom 3 is your ideal workflow assistant.

Additional Details
General

* On Mac, the 'hit zone' for the right scroll bar in the grid view has been expanded so that a closed right hand panel doesn't automatically open too easily. The automatic panel opening experience has been modified so that it takes a longer amount of time for the panel to open in cases of overshooting the scrollbar. (Mouse towards the white triangle for instant opening) Please provide feedback on this new behavior so that it can be modified or added to the Windows version of Lightroom.
* Images can be sorted by aspect ratio
* The catalog selection dialog has been expanded and improved

Library

* You can backup your catalog when you quit Lightroom instead of on launch
* A volume can be ejected or un-mounted from your system directly from the volume browser in the Library module.
* Collections can be created directly within a collection set by right-clicking on the collection set
* Images can be sorted by aspect ratio
* The name of a collection is displayed when an image is added to a target collection
* Stack badges can now be toggled on or off independently in the filmstrip via an interface preference
* Erasing with the spray paint tool now requires the use of the Alt key
* Select a folder in the Library module and choose a new option "Import to here" to launch the import dialog with that folder preselected as the destination
* The import dialog provides source folder and destination volume capacity information
* The option to include items from subfolders has been included in the primary Folder panel drop down menu
* Choose Library -> Show Missing Images to locate offline or missing files
* A lock icon has been added to the metadata filter bar in the Library module to make filter selections "global" across folders or collections
* An icon has been added to grid thumbnails to indicate that an image is part of a collection. Click on that icon to view and/or visit the collection
* Favorite sources can be added to the filmstrip source pop-up menu for quick access to specific collections or folders
* Flash state is now included as part of the smart collection filter criteria
* When the 'spray can' is used to add an image to a collection, the collection name is now displayed upon application
* The optimize catalog feature is now available in the File menu
* Lightroom now imports CMYK files. Any output, with the exception of export original, or adjustments to these images will take place in an RGB color space
* Filters are now longer automatically "sticky" on folders or collections

Develop

* Crop presets choices have been edited for clarity
* A checkbox has been added to the toolbar to turn on/off overlay visibility
* All adjustment brush and graduated filter sliders can be reset by holding down Option/Alt and clicking on Amount
* The color setting for the adjustment brush and graduated filter clearly display an 'x' overlay when no color is selected
* The Collections panel is now available in the Develop Module
* The targeted adjustment tool is deactivated when switching to a new Develop panel
* The local adjustment brush and graduated filter panel have been simplified to a single mode (Previously there was a button and slider 'mode')

Slideshow

* The music selection in the Slideshow module has been decoupled from iTunes on the Mac
* Click the track duration to sync the length of the slideshow to the length of the music track

Print

* Black or a custom color can be selected for a print layout background
* The Identity Plate can be moved in small increments by selecting it and using the arrow keys
* Match photo aspect ratio is now a persistent option in the Cell panel

Export

* The file extension case(UPPER/lower) can be selected in the export dialog

Full release notes are located here:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom3/releasenotes.pdf

You can check some cool videos here:
http://tv.adobe.com/product/lightroom

And download the Mac and Pc versions at Adobe Labs here:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom3/

Adobe Lightroom 2.5 and Camera Raw 5.5 Now Available

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:43:00 +0000

Lightroom 2.5 and Camera Raw 5.5 are now available as final releases on Adobe.com and through the update mechanisms available in Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom 2.

These updates include camera support for the following models:

* Nikon D300s
* Nikon D3000
* Olympus E-P1
* Panasonic DMC-FZ35**
* Panasonic DMC-GF1

**Note that in Europe and Japan this model is marketed as the DMC-FZ38. Unfortunately, due to a metadata difference between these cameras, files from the DMC-FZ38 will *not* be supported until the next Camera Raw and Lightroom updates.

Release Notes:

* Camera Raw 5.5 and Lightroom 2.5 include a correction to the demosaic algorithms for Bayer sensor cameras with unequal green response. Olympus, Panasonic and Sony are among the more popular camera manufacturers affected by this change. But the demosaic correction provides only a subtle visual improvement to the processing of those raw files.

* Lightroom 2.5 corrects for the following problem in Lightroom 2.4. Lightroom 2.4 on Windows continued to display the import dialog when a memory card was detected regardless of the preference setting "Show import dialog when a memory card is detected."

Direct downloads:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.5 - Mac - Win
Adobe Camera Raw 5.5 - Mac - Win

Tip: Online Monthly Income Calculator

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Fellow photographer Yuri Arcurs has created a neat tool for having your profits calculated in a matter of seconds.

If you work with stock agencies and lost your income profit from each one of them you got to check out this.

As he explains in his blog page...

"The calculator will estimate the expected total income for that month.

How it works is simple. Just call up the calculator anytime, and enter your total (to date) for the month, on any of the sites. The calculator will quickly whip up what your projected monthly total will be.

You can easily customize the list of agencies by adding your own to the list by tapping the last field. You can save your list and recall it, all stored safely and your data will be not be shared. Not even I can see the data you type in."

You can find it here.

And if you do not know this great photographer take a look at his inside tour studio video here.

Enjoy.

Tip: Shutter Count Utility

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:58:00 +0000

MAN!!!! It's been a long time since my last post.

For me it seems yesterday but when I looked at the last post date it seems ages.

Time runs fast, sometimes, and troubled waters and other non photographic businesses have been consuming my time and energy, unfortunately, not letting me too much to write anything here on the blog or even bring some creative ideas into here as much I would like to :(

Would like to thank you all for the warm mails that have arrived to the box and to say that it's always a pleasure to help out a fellow photographer.

On today's tip I bring you another great software to found out shutter actuations from your camera. I wish Canon and other manufacturers could release this to the public so we can know when it's time to have that service center call and even when we buy some second hand stuff.

Oh well marketing business... just hope Canon will release something very strong until the end of the year or they may be doomed ;)

Anyway...

Last year I had a Tip article "Tip: How to Find Shutter Count Actuation's" that mentioned this for the Canon 1D series and how to figure them out on Photoshop, but with the update on new cameras new software have arise.

Today I bring you a software to make actuation's count easier called EOSInfo.

What is EOSInfo and to what cameras does it apply to?

EOSInfo is a AstroJargon software and the successor to the 40DShutterCount utility. It's called EOSInfo since it provides more information than just the shutter counter, and works on a wider variety of cameras than just the Canon 40D.

FAQ:

0) I have a 1D*/5D/10D/20D/30D/50D/300D/350D/400D/450D/1000D. Will the software work with it?

This works on any of the Canon DIGIC III/IV DSLRs except the 1D* series. This means it will work for the 40D, the 50D, the 450D, the 500D, and the 1000D. Thanks to all the 5DMkII users who reported success. As it turns out, you have to power-cycle the 5DMkII before the shutter count value updates itself. It will not work on the 1D*, 5D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 300D, 350D, and 400D. It's not that I have anything against the owners of those cameras, but simply that the Canon SDK does not support retrieving the shutter count for them.

1) The software reports that I've taken 1234 pictures, but the last image on my CF card is numbered 1111 (i.e., the number reported is higher than the last image number number on the CF card). Why?
If you've ever taken images while tethered to a PC with the EOS utility or other software, or with no CF card in your camera, those increment the shutter actuation counter, but not the numbering system for your card. If you've reset the image numbering on you camera or "rolled over" 9999 images, this may also occur.

2) Does using LiveView affect the shutter count reported?
Taking pictures while in LiveView increments the shutter count. Entering and exiting live view mode does not.

3) Is there a Mac version?
Yes. Note how lazy I am, I don't want to renumber my FAQs.
4) How does it work? Is it majick?
Yes.

4a) Seriously. Are you looking in the EXIF data?
No. It doesn't matter if there are any images on the camera or not, or even if there's a CF card inserted - the camera just needs to be connected.

5) I've heard that only Canon can extract this number, so you must be lying. Are you lying?
No, I'm not lying. I've heard the "Canon service center" mantra too - but there are thousands - well, hundreds - okay, at least *3* people I know of who believe this number to be a relatively accurate count of shutter actuations.

5a) Why only "relatively" accurate?
See FAQ #2.

6) I'm using Windows Vista 64-bit, and I get the error "BadImageFormatException."
Download the latest version, it fixes that issue.

7) The software reports that I've taken 1234 pictures, but the last image on my CF card is numbered 4999 (i.e., the number reported is lower than the last image on the CF card). Why?
You may have used the CF card on more than one camera, and the other camera's images were numbered higher. DSLRs typically name image files by grabbing the highest image number on the card and incrementing by one.

8) Do you mean the C:\Program Files\Canon\EOS Utility folder, or the C:\Program Files\Canon\EOS Utility\EOS Utility folder?
What? That's brilliant, Canon. I mean the first (higher) one.

Direct Downloads:

40DShutterCount MAC
EOSInfo Windows

If you have any of the mentioned camera hope you enjoy this software and send me back some feedback about it. Also if you have any software that you have built to retrieve this kind of information from any camera would be gladly welcome.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.4 and Camera Raw 5.4 updated

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:38:00 +0000

Lightroom 2.4 and Camera Raw 5.4 are now available as final releases on Adobe.com and through the update mechanisms available in Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom 2.

These updates include camera support for the following models:

* Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i/EOS Kiss X3 Digital)
* Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
* Epson R-D1x
* Hasselblad CF-22
* Hasselblad CF-22MS
* Hasselblad CF-39
* Hasselblad CF-39MS
* Hasselblad CFH-22
* Hasselblad CFH-39
* Hasselblad CFV
* Hasselblad 503CWD
* Hasselblad H2D-22
* Hasselblad H2D-39
* Hasselblad H3D-22
* Hasselblad H3D-31

* Hasselblad H3D-39
* Hasselblad H3DII-22
* Hasselblad H3DII-31
* Hasselblad H3DII-39
* Hasselblad H3DII-39MS
* Hasselblad H3DII-50
* Kodak EasyShare Z980
* Nikon D5000
* Olympus E-450
* Olympus E-620
* Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
* Pentax K-7
* Sigma DP2
* Sony A230
* Sony A330
* Sony A380

Note: Hasselblad support is for the 3FR file format only. The Hasselblad FFF file format is not currently supported.

Lightroom 2.4 Bug Fixes

The Lightroom 2.4 update includes several bug fixes.

The following is a list of items FIXED in this release:

* Web galleries with a Collection Title of six characters would not export or upload
* The crop aspect ratio could revert to the last selected ratio even when reset to original
* The crop aspect ratio in Quick Develop could be lost after a crop adjustment
* The crop aspect ratio lock could be lost after an orientation switch
* Images could preview incorrectly when imported using the MTP/PTP USB protocol
* Sony .ARW files may not have been recognized by Lightroom’s import dialog
* The Japanese language configuration of Lightroom on Mac OS X 10.5 could fail to switch to the print module if the HP B9180 was set as the default printer
* Metadata options that are intended for use were dimmed incorrectly when exporting DNG files
* The Japanese language configuration of Lightroom on Mac OS X was missing a shortcut for “Zoom Out”
* Several translation and shortcut corrections were made for the eight additional languages introduced with Lightroom 2.3

New Lightroom 2.4 and Camera Raw 5.4 DNG Options

This release includes new DNG Compatibility conversion options. These choices help address the additional options available with the new DNG 1.3 Specification (http://www.adobe.com/dng):

* Camera Raw 2.4 and later: The DNG file will be readable by Camera Raw 2.4 (Photoshop CS) and later, and Lightroom 1.0 and later
* Camera Raw 4.1 and later: The DNG file will be readable by Camera Raw 4.1 (Photoshop CS3) and later, and Lightroom 1.1 and later. The DNG file will often be readable by earlier versions, depending on the camera model
* Camera Raw 4.6 and later: The DNG file will be readable by Camera Raw 4.6 (Photoshop CS3) and later, and Lightroom 2.1 and later. The DNG file will often be readable by earlier versions, depending on the camera model
* Camera Raw 5.4 and later: The DNG file will be readable by Camera Raw 5.4 (Photoshop CS4) and later, and Lightroom 2.4 and later. The DNG file will often be readable by earlier versions, depending on the camera model
* Custom: (Not available in Lightroom 2.4)
o Backward Version Option: DNG 1.1, DNG 1.3 (default 1.3)
o Checkbox: Linear (demosaiced) (default unchecked)
o Checkbox: Uncompressed (default unchecked)

DNG 1.3 Specification Update

The DNG specification has been updated to version 1.3.[LINK] The update includes the following changes:

* In Chapter 2, “DNG Format Overview”, the section on Defective Pixels has been updated
* The section on Opcode Lists has been added to Chapter 2, “DNG Format Overview”
* The CFALayout tag has been updated in Chapter 4, “DNG Tags”.
* Additional Tags for Version 1.3.0.0 were added to Chapter 4, “DNG Tags”
* Chapter 7, “Opcode List Processing” was added.
* “Appendix A: Compatibility with Previous Versions” was updated.

The additional "Opcode Lists" allow complex processing to be moved off the camera hardware, which can have limited processing power, and into the DNG reader, which is often running on more powerful hardware. This also allows processing steps to be specified, such as lens corrections, which ideally should be performed on the image data after it has been demosaic, while still retaining the advantages of a raw mosaic data format.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.4 Direct Download Links (Mac - PC)

Adobe Camera Raw 5.4 Direct Download Links (Mac - PC)

Tip: Canon 5D MarkII - Video Locks Up/Freezing (Solution)

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:10:00 +0000

Did it ever happened to you?

Lately I've been having some issues with the 5D MarkII video recording mode and would like to share with you what I have figure out to solve, at least for now, these kind of problems.

If you're having the same problems read my story and maybe it could bring you some sort of a relieve.

This has been an issue that I tried to replicate before bringing it to the blog but it seems that is very unpredictable when video recording will Freeze or Locks Up that I cannot tell exactly what is going on.

What I can say is that it happens and I have already lost 3 pieces of important film recording that are lost forever. I did some interviews during the weekend for our brandy new HardHeavy TV and while doing a small cut intro the video recording stopped at 40s and a blinking info "Busy" on the Top LCD.

I've waited more than 5 minutes for it to process since a buffer bar was showing at the back LCD but nothing happened. The shutter was still open but nothing happened. The only way to stop it was to remove both batteries from the grip and the shutter will close. Of course that the video was lost and so the recording :(

Well I formatted the card since this was the beginning of the session and I thought maybe there is something with the card, by the way I was using a 8Gb Sandisk UltraIII 30MB/s, I then started to record the interviews and everything seemed OK by that time.

The first interview went sweet with a 3m40s piece over 640x480 resolution. we did not need more resolution so all things were done on 640 format to keep the video files small.

I went around the place and did some photos of the ambiance, arena, group shots, headbangers shots and some small video pieces to fill in cuts and other stuff for post production.

I returned to the backstage for another interview and that when all the problems started. The card was maybe at half full when I started to record another interview. Everything was going smoothly then suddenly at the middle of the interview the same screen appeared and the video stopped recording... man, there was a chill on my bones and I went from red to white in a sec.

I run a simulation at home and obtained the same results. Although the Lock Up/Freeze did not occur as frequently but sometimes it happened and I think this could be disastrous if you are with a client and the camera acts weird and you loose all those important video recordings :(

Here are some of those Lock Up/Freeze photos.

The picture of the Frozen/Lock on the back LCD screen. You can still see the buffer on the right but I've waited so long and it never went down :(

And the top LCD screen.

You can see that the camera is switched off ;) and the screen is still available but frozen :(

It only unlocks if you remove the battery, in my case, both batteries from the grip.

I run this test several times and in the end I came to the conclusion that the problem is with the Sandisk Extreme III 8GB/30s card.

I also did a quick Google search and found this thread talking about the same problem and with the same conclusions.

I run a couple of tests with some older cards like the Sandisk Ultra II 2.0GB, Sandisk Extreme III 2.0GB, Sandisk Extreme III 4.0GB and with Transcend 4GB 120x, so far, with no errors, Lock Ups or Freezes and I've continuously recorded 30 minutes with each one.

WARNING SOLUTION: If you are using your 5D MarkII for video pay attention to the Sandisk Extreme III 8GB/30s as they can bring you some ours with no sleep.

So until Canon releases another firmware to correct this for these cards I will keep my eyes on those older cards.

...and YES it has happened with older firmware and now with version 1.1.0.

If you are having these kind of problems report them on comments so people could also share your experiences.

5D MarkII Firmware update 1.1.0 with Video Manual Controls

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:03:00 +0000

Well It's here!!!!

And right on the date they have announced it June the 2nd 2009.

While I'm writing this I'm making the update and will post some more new tomorrow but for now here goes what consists this update and what problems it addresses.

First you can get the Firmware update here at Canon web page.

And direct link to the PDF Manual file for the Manual Exposure on the movie mode.

Firmware changes

Firmware Version 1.1.0 incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

1. Includes a function to enable the manual exposure setting when shooting movies.

*When shooting movies in manual (M) mode, the shutter speed *1, the lens aperture value *2, and the ISO speed *3 can be freely set to allow a greater flexibility.

Notes:
*1 Shutter speed range: 1/30 sec. to 1/4000 sec.
*2 Lens aperture range: Maximum to minimum aperture value of the lens used
*3 ISO speed range:
Auto: ISO 100 to 6400 set automatically
Manual: ISO 100 to 6400, H1

2. *For details on how to use this function, please download the PDF files from the bottom of this page. Disables the function of the depth-of-field preview button when images are played back or when the menu screen is displayed on the LCD panel.

*There are indications that images being reviewed or the menu screen may suddenly disappear from the LCD panel. As this phenomenon may be caused by accidentally pressing the depth-of-field preview button, this firmware update disables the function of the depth of field preview to address this issue.

3. Fixes a phenomenon where the peripheral illumination of images cannot be properly corrected, even if the images were captured with the lens peripheral illumination correction function set to Enable.

*Firmware Version 1.1.0 fixes a phenomenon where peripheral illumination may not be properly corrected due the type of lens used and shooting conditions.

4. Fixes the algorithms of the Auto Lighting Optimizer function when Custom Function C.Fn II-3 Highlight tone priority is enabled.

*Digital Photo Professional software version 3.6.1 or later (for Windows and Macintosh) can be used to automatically correct the peripheral illumination of RAW and JPEG images that were captured in the Peripheral illumination correction setting with cameras that have Firmware Version 1.0.7 or earlier.

5. Fixes incorrect indications on the Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, and Ukrainian menu screens.

6. Changes the battery information displayed on the camera when using the optional Battery Grip BG-E6.

*If only one LP-E6 battery pack is installed in the Battery Grip BG-E6, the battery information for the empty battery slot shows the error message, Cannot communicate with battery. However, with this firmware update, this error message no longer appears, even if only one LP-E6 battery pack is installed.

First impression after install is that when you change the aperture you will hear the shutter opening and closing and that interferes with sound recording. So if you are trying to record something with sound I suggest an external microphone. Also for the speed you can ear the cracking of the dial.

It looks, at first impression, that the sound on the shutter is the same you ear on the G10 movie mode but amplified a couple of times.

I think people would still prefer to buy Nikon lenses with manual aperture values and use it here instead of this NOISY crack sound but time will tell.

My first opinion is that this feature is great but it's not a killer if you are going to use the camera to record sound from the built in microphone unless of course you are on loudly external events ;)

I also noticed that when you take a photo while shooting a movie the exposure settings (ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed) set for the movie will be applied to the still photo instead of the previous firmware where you would have to take a photo with the settings the camera was using for video and sometimes they were not the ones you would like.

Now with Manual control mode you loose the possibility of AE Lock and Exposure Compensation.

Take a look at this small example video of the Shutter, Speed and ISO dial buttons sound I did this movie right after the firmware update so no bother comment on quality or content issues. It's just first test.

I will upload the video tomorrow since Vimeo is too slow and YouTube is updating it's database :(

Here is the Video watch it in HQ for better quality. Had to put it on YouTube since Vimeo still did not have it available by this time.

--- Updated ---

Just want to mention that I got a good external microphone that I used on my old Sony MD player and that it fits perfectly to the camera and can help you dealing with all those noise button cracks and clicks. I'm using the Sony ECM717 with great results.

Share your experiences with external microphones on comments.

--- End of Update ---

Tip: FREE EBook

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:53:00 +0000

Today I bring you a lot of tips and good information on this great EBook written by David D. Bush.

With lots of pictures, How to Master and capture great pictures with your DLSR.

Just see for yourself...

5D MarkII Video: Manual Controls Coming Soon

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:05:00 +0000

FINALLY!!!!
It looks like Canon will get it BIG,this time, let's hope so.

As soon as I got more news will let you guys know but for now here is today's official announcement.

Canon has announced a firmware update for its EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR enabling manual exposure when shooting videos. With the updated version, users will be able to manually adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings in the video mode. The new firmware will be available for download on 2 June 2009 from Canon's website.

Press Release:
Canon Enable Manual Exposure in Video on EOS 5D Mark II

LONDON, UK, 27th May 2009: Canon announced today it will release a firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II allowing users to manually control exposure when shooting video. The new firmware will be available for download from 2 June 2009 on Canon Europe’s support web site.
Following the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008, Canon’s Research and Development team has listened closely to customer feedback to develop additions to the camera’s movie recording functionality.

Allowing EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:

* Full aperture selection
* ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
* Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

The EOS 5D Mark II integrates full HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera; opening a multitude of new possibilities for photojournalists and news photographers.
Since its launch the camera has proved its appeal to professionals working in diverse fields, from studio and wedding to nature and travel.

Now, following customer feedback, Canon has improved functionality for professional video users, further unleashing the potential of the EOS 5D Mark II for cinematographers and photographers alike.

Camera Raw 5.4 RC Available on Adobe Labs

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:50:00 +0000

Adobe has recently released a Release Candidate for their new Camera Raw.

As always this brings a lot of new cameras to the set and if you are using the Hasselblad series or the new Nikon D5000 this is a major for you.

Although this is only a Release Candidate but is very functional and the Hasselblad possibilities just rocks.

Check the ful article for the full list of new supported cameras.

The Camera Raw 5.4 Release Candidate is now available on Adobe Labs. The release includes new camera support for the following models:

* Canon EOS 500D (EOS Rebel T1i)
* Epson R-D1x
* Hasselblad CF-22
* Hasselblad CF-22MS
* Hasselblad CF-39
* Hasselblad CF-39MS
* Hasselblad CFH-22
* Hasselblad CFH-39
* Hasselblad CFV503
* Hasselblad CWD
* Hasselblad H2D-22
* Hasselblad H2D-39
* Hasselblad H3D-22
* Hasselblad H3D-31
* Hasselblad H3D-39
* Hasselblad H3DII-22
* Hasselblad H3DII-31
* Hasselblad H3DII-39
* Hasselblad H3DII-39MS
* Hasselblad H3DII-50
* Kodak EasyShare Z980
* Nikon D5000
* Olympus E-450
* Olympus E-620
* Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
* Sigma DP2

This release also includes new DNG Compatibility conversion options. These choices are explained on the Adobe Labs web site and help address the additional options available with an upcoming revision of the DNG Specification.

If you have feedback on this release please post a descriptive topic on the Adobe User to User forums.

DIY: Ball Bungee

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:45:00 +0000

It's been a while since I did not posted any news here on the blog but the boat has started to put some water and the holes need to be closed. Since there are so many holes to close it's taking a little bit longer to maintain Lighting Mods at full speed but I hope that soon it will be at full speed again.

I would like to thank you all for the kind words that has been arriving through the sooo many emails and for the numerous requests for some more DIY projects.

While you wait for more new stuff take a moment to go through the right side menus and check the other stuff, you may find something useful in there for your small strobes and maybe it could even help you out at some point.

THANK YOU readers for hanging out.

A lot of people been asking me where to get the Ball Bungees because not every corner have them available.

I decided that it was time to put out this inexpensive Do It Yourself (DIY) Ball Bungee project. I name it Ball Bungee as title for today's article, just as a reference, but the real name I call them is NUT BUNGEE.

Sounds a little like what I feel sometimes... but it fits it's purposes and that's what matters.

Let's begin by explaining what are these Ball Bungees and what they are useful for.

They are loops of a thin elastic rope whose nodes ends on a plastic ball. With this Ball Bugees you can, not only stretch tight schedule, but they are simply a versatile tool to fix things together. I use it for a lot of different purposes and one of them is secure the umbrella to the light stand for a much easier way to carry them both.

Unfortunately, buying these loops are not offered in Portugal like in so many other countries. So I decided to create a simple, but with lot's of images, DIY project so you can create yours in a blink of an eye.

First you need to move your body to a hardware store near you and search for these next items:

Elastic rope with 4mm or 6mm. I do prefer the 4mm and let you know why later on, but you can always make these with any thickness and color you like.

Next we go NUTS!!!!!

Thickness M8 or a M10 size nut depending on the thickness of the elastic rope you have chosen for your project.

I also bought some M12 just in case the 6mm elastic rope would not fit inside the M10.

So let's take a closer look at what you really need:

- Elastic rope about 1 meter or more, depending how many you would like to make.
- Nuts M8 or larger, depending on the thickness of the rubber rope.
- Scissors.
- Lighter.
- Ruler or Metric Tape.

These are 2 different Original Ball Bungees with different sizes to tight different things.

Now that we have what we need let's begin...

I'm cutting the 6mm Elastic Rope with a 40cm long to produce a 20cm Nut Bungee, so if you need to make a longer one just cut it more, simple as that.

Now you understand why the lighter ;) So in order for the tips would not come apart is better to burn them a little so that the elastic would not unweave itself.

Here it is burned but not toasted.

Now let's grab the 6mm Elastic Rope and put the both ends through the tiny Nut hole with the help of the scissors (this sounds like weird but it's not... hole, nuts, nut, hole... well simple), let's move on.

UFFFF!!!! DONE!!! The 6mm is very thick and difficult to tight the not so that's why I prefer the 4mm Elastic Rope. They also make the job done and for the small strobes are perfect unless you are trying to tighten together heavy stuff.

This is what it should look like in the end.

This is something I was searching through the shells and found interesting so I bought it to test if was really cool. And in the end it does :)

What is it, you may ask?

It's a cover for the 10M Nuts with this you can cover your Nuts (uppsss!!) your Screws, well not that a... hum!! well this writing is a different lead. STOP STOP STOP REWIND!!!!!

So, as I was saying this is a cover to conceal the Nuts and this way they would not be banging on your stuff while in the bag. Unfortunately I only saw for the M10 Nuts, maybe they will have it somewhere else. Anyway I will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

This is the box where they came in.

See what I mean? To cover the Nuts, just that :)

Since they do not have a hole in the back end one need to be made.

So grab the scissors and make a nice hole that corresponds the size of the Elastic Rope thickness you have.

This is what it should look like in the end.

Put it through the Elastic Rope right before you put the Nut.

Then make a loop knot at the end and you have your Nut Bungee ready to use.

That's it. I also made a bigger ones with the small Elastic Rope just in case I need them bigger than my originals.

An example of what you can use them for.

Another example of what you can use them for.

You can even use them to hold your strobes either together or against something. Just use your imagination.

If you prefer you can always get original ones at FlashGels in the U.K. Just tell them you are coming from Lighting Mods for a discount ;)

Hope you enjoy this DIY and see you again soon.

Lighting Mods - WSPT09 ABERTAS INSCRIÇÕES

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:37:00 +0000

JÁ ESTÃO ABERTAS AS INCRIÇÕES.

WORKSHOPS PARA MAIO 2009 (Zona de Lisboa).

Nivel 1 - Iniciado – 21 de Maio de 2009 (Quinta Feira) 19h30-22h30
Nivel 2 - Intermédio – 24 de Maio de 2009 (Domingo) 10h00-13h00 / 14h00-18h00

Os conteudos e valores encontram-se disponiveis em Português para Portugueses nos seguintes links;)

Nivel 1 - Iniciado (Download pdf)
(3 Horas – Max. 10 pessoas)

Esta formação está direccionada para quem deseja adquirir conhecimentos básicos de fotografia com Flashes Portateis mesmo sem noções de iluminação com os mesmos.

- Noções de Flashes Portateis e suas utilidades quer seja na camera ou fora dela.

- Equipamentos e acessórios para Flashes Portateis:
a) Que Flashes Portateis podemos usar e como.
b) Conceitos de ligações do flash com a camera.
c) Como montar o seu equipamento de flash portatil.
d) Modificadores da luz para o flash.
e) Outros Acessorios; Como fazer “DIY” os seus ou Onde comprar.

- Noções de iluminação com Flashes Portateis:
a) Diferentes tipos de luz e iluminacões possiveis.
b) Noções das diversas aplicações práticas.

- Exemplos, com visionamento e explicação de imagens, de diferentes iluminações com Flashes Portateis:
a) Diferenças entre a luz produzida pelo flash na camera e fora dela.
b) Luz Cruzada (1 Flash Portatil cruzado com outra fonte de luz).
c) Sombrinha com um Flash Portatil.
d) Utilização de alguns acessórios complementares, Snoot e Grid, para modificação e controlo da luz.
- Perguntas, Respostas e Esclarecimento de Dúvidas.

Valor do Workshop Iniciado: 60,00€

Nivel 2 - Intermédio (Download pdf)
(6 Horas – Máx. 9 Pessoas)

Esta formação está direccionada para quem deseja aprofundar os seus conhecimentos de fotografia com Flashes Portateis e que já possua algumas noções de iluminação com os mesmos.

- Identificação de Flashes Portateis e acessórios:
a) Equipamento.
b) Ligações do Flash com a camera.
c) Acessorios.

- Como controlar e dominar o Flash Portatil:
a) Relação entre Potencias/Flash/Abertura/Velocidades.
b) Uso Manual do Zoom do Flash Portatil.
c) Sincronismo do Flash Portatil com a camera, diferentes maneiras e técnicas de o superar.
d) Abordagem aos Modos do flash portátil.
e) Posicionamento do flash em relação ao assunto e sua influência directa.

- Uso prático do flash na Iluminação com Flashes Portateis:
a) Conceitos de diferentes tipos de luz e iluminações possiveis.
b) Como controlar o Flash Portátil com a luz ambiente.
c) Distancias Vs Tipo Vs Tamanho da Luz.
d) Tipos de luz (Luz Dura, Luz Suave e Luz Reflectida).
e) Tipos de Restrições de Luz.

- Diversos Exemplos de como identificar e superar as dificuldades mais comuns no uso dos flashes portateis.

- Prática de iluminação com exemplos de alguns setups:
a) Como utilizar correctamente a Luz Cruzada (1 flash portatil cruzado com uma ou várias fontes de luz).
b) Utilização correcta da Sombrinhas com o flash portatil.
c) Utilização de acessorios complementares para modificação e controlo da luz do flash portatil.
d) Balancear luz com paredes e tecto.
e) Manuseamento e Utilização da Luz Dura.
f) Utilização de Gel de correção de temperatura no flash para corrigir a luz ambiente e/ou balanço de brancos e criar ambientes.

- Perguntas, Respostas e esclarecimento de Dúvidas

Valor do Workshop Intermédio: 125,00€

Nivel 3 - Avançado I (Download pdf)
(8 Horas – Min. 6 - Máx. 9 Pessoas)

Breve apresentação do equipamento de Flash Portatil e algumas duvidas existentes quanto ao mesmo.

As aulas praticas terão a presença de modelos, maquilhagem e styling para que haja uma dinâmica em cada uma das fotos produzidas.
Depois dos setups mencionados será criado um conceito “Projecto” que os alunos terão que resolver em 20 minutos de forma sincronizada e em equipa.

Manha – 09h00 – 13h00
- Setup com uma fonte de luz (Luz Suave sombrinha).
- Setup com duas fontes de luz (Luz Cruzada).

Tarde – 13h30 – 17h30
- Setup Luz dura ou directa no assunto.
- Setup com luz controlada (Snoots, Gobos e Grids).
17h30 – 18h30
- Projecto.
- Análise do trabalho produzido.
- Perguntas e Respostas

As incrições para os módulos avançados só podem ser efectuadas após frequência do módulo Intermédio.

Valor do Workshop Avançado I: 150,00€

Nivel 4 - Avançado II (Download pdf)
(8 Horas – Min. 6 - Máx. 9 Pessoas)

Breve apresentação do equipamento de Flash Portatil e algumas duvidas existentes quanto ao mesmo.

As aulas praticas terão a presença de modelos, maquilhagem e styling para que haja uma dinâmica em cada uma das fotos produzidas.
Depois dos setups mencionados será criado um conceito que os alunos terão que resolver em 20 minutos de forma sincronizada e em equipa.

Manha – 09h00 – 13h00
- Setup com Posicao/ Angulo / Distancia / Tamanho.
- Setup com uso de Gelatinas.

Tarde – 13h30 – 17h30
- Setup com várias fontes de luz e modeladores.
- Setup fotografia de grupo.

17h30 – 18h30
- Projecto.
- Análise do trabalho produzido.
- Perguntas e Respostas

As incrições para os módulos avançados só podem ser efectuadas após frequência do módulo Intermédio.

Valor do Workshop Avançado II: 150,00€

FICHA DE INSCRIÇÃO

Os workshops são ministrados e acompanhados pelos fotografos profissionais Rui M Leal e Carlos Rodrigues.

Mais informações através do email wsflashportatil@gmail.com

Videos Brussels & Paris
Brussels part 1
Brussels part 2
--//--
Paris part 1
Paris part 2

Grupos de Conversação disponiveis no Flickr:

Lighting Mods WS PT
Strobist Portugal

Adiciona-te.

Tip: Don't Loose Your Focus!!

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:03:00 +0000

How many times lack of focus and not knowing what to do next will block your mind from doing what you really like?

Today I just wanted to share with you this wonderful video as part of your growing photographer experience. Not that the video has anything to do with photography, on the contrary it has a lot of human reactions to what may not seem too obvious.

Many times, on my assignments, I lack inspiration to create better images than my previous ones. Maybe because I'm always pushing my cyclops eye into the unknown or even worst letting others judge the work I do causing some lost of focus and objectivity.

Sometimes we are so influenced by what others judge on our work that we do not give it credit, maybe we could not accomplish some objectives just by thinking we are older, shorter, thinner or maybe even fatter.

Come on people... put your head up and keep your track and everything will come it's way.

Just as an example of what I'm trying to put through this Tip is on the video bellow where Susan Boyle gives a demonstration of how appearances may not lead into a dreadful end.

Although this video does not have any technical or photographic content I was so impressed with it that I decided to share it with you. Think of it as a positive thinking for your photography breakdowns.

Believe in Yourself!!!!!

Lighting Mods - Workshops PT 2009 SOON-BREVEMENTE

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:53:00 +0000

Lighting Mods - Workshops 2009

Will be Available, SOON, the calendar and contents in Portuguese by and for Portuguese ;)

Level 1 - Basic
Level 2 - Intermediate
Level 3 - Advanced Lighting 101
Level 4 - Advanced Lighting 102

For the moment for more information's please contact me directly.

Thank you

Rui M Leal

--//--

Estarão, BREVEMENTE, publicados aqui o calendário dos Workshops para 2009 e os respectivos conteudos disponiveis em Português para Portugueses ;)

Nivel 1 - Iniciado
Nivel 2 - Intermédio
Nivel 3 - Avançado Lighting 101
Nivel 4 - Avançado Lighting 102

De momento para mais informações e inscrições contactem-me directamente.

Rui M Leal

Videos Brussels & Paris

Brussels part 1
Brussels part 2

Paris part 1
Paris part 2

Grupos de Conversação disponiveis no Flickr:

Lighting Mods WS PT
Strobist Portugal

Adiciona-te

Tip: Why Shoot Raw?

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Many of you been asking on what format I'm taking my pictures and the answer is very simple.

I use only RAW format, well maybe sometimes Raw+Jpg when I need fast delivery on the images, otherwise I use only RAW format.

It gives me the possibility of having more control over your images without having degradation while save it over and over and over.

I found this video by hadto titled "Generation Loss" that shows exactly what I'm talking about.

Keep reading for video...

You take a normal JPG image from your files and open the last saved jpeg image, then you Save it as a new JPG/Jpeg image with slightly more compression and repeat the process 600 times and this is what you will get.

Watch the video

Generation Loss from hadto on Vimeo.

And you what are you shooting Raw or Jpg?... why so?

FREE?, Something to Think About

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:44:00 +0000

This video of Harlan Ellison "Pay the Writer" it applies also to photographers.

How do you feel about this? Did it ever happen to you and what did you do?

What do you feel about the Coldplay contracts signed prior the bad's show?

Take a look at the article about this here.

Share your comments...

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 and Camera Raw 5.3 Final

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:30:00 +0000

Lightroom 2.3 and Camera Raw 5.3 have graduated from Adobe Labs and are now available as final releases on Adobe.com.(UPDATE: Use this link to download the new language versions of Lightroom ) These updates include camera support for the following models:(Previously provided in the release candidates of these updates)

* Nikon D3X
* Olympus E-30

This update also includes preliminary support for the recently announced Epson R-D1x (and R-D1xG).

The Lightroom 2.3 update includes several bug fixes.

FIXES originally provided in the Lightroom 2.3 Release Candidate

* In the Windows 64-bit version of Lightroom an sFTP upload process could cause Lightroom to crash.
* Slideshows could return to the first image randomly during playback.
* A memory leak could cause Lightroom to crash while attempting to process files with local adjustments.
* Canon EOS 5D Mk II sRAW files could process with artifacts in Lightroom 2.2.
* Lightroom 2.2 could cause disc burning to fail for Windows customers.

FIXES new to the final version of Lightroom 2.3

* Attempting to undo(CTRL-Z) a single step in Lightroom 2.2 on Windows could cause a series of previous actions to be undone.

Lightroom 2.3 now provides language support for the following additional languages:
(UPDATE: It indicates a trial version but it's identical to what we're now shipping from the Adobe.com Store for this new version. Since technically these versions didn't exist before there was no place to put them on the Update page.)

* Chinese (Simplified)
* Chinese (Traditional)
* Dutch
* Italian
* Korean
* Portuguese (Brazilian)
* Spanish
* Swedish

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 Direct Download Links (Mac - PC)

Adobe Camera Raw 5.3 Direct Download Links (Mac - PC)

Tip: DVD's You Must Have (Part 2)

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:41:00 +0000

After waiting for a few weeks on some mail sent to Mr. Zack Arias concerning the use of some more info and photos from the DVD I got no answer so I decided to publish what I have on both DVD's and try not infringe too much copyrighted information.

This is part 2 of the DVD's You Must Have and if you have missed the first one here is the link to where you can find Part 1. DVD's You Must Have (Part 1)

Just follow me...

I believe that some of the good tools to get your photography skills improved are taking pictures, read lot's of photography books and related, sharing skills with other photographers and DVD's.

Today I bring you another one of my favorite from the collection I already own.

It's called "OneLight Workshop" by photographer Zack Arias.

This DVD caught my attention because of the OneLight concept I was trying to accomplish and quite few people have talked about it in such a deep and detailed way.

But why? - you may ask.

Well simply because I always carry my small portable strobe with me while I'm on assignments and because I wanted to try different photo approaches but lacked the ideas.

I've been following Zack Arias blog for quite some time now and did not hesitate on getting his DVD when it was released.

The Zack blog thing started with his wonderful "White Seamless Tutorial" have you read it? It may change the way you look and create a white seamless picture. Take a peak ;)

For those who do not know MR. Zack Arias here is a small introduction taken from his own blog:

"My name is Zack Arias and I am a full time editorial photographer.

My specialty is niched in press and publicity photography for the music industry. As my music work continues to expand nationally, my studio in Atlanta works within a wider spectrum of the entertainment industry producing headshots and fashion portfolios.

My first run at being a freelance photographer left me heavily in debt and placed my family on the edge of destruction. I came to a place in my career that required me to put the cameras down and take a “job.” After two years of leaving the cameras and selling them off to pay rent and fix beater cars, I was given a chance to come back as a second shooter for a friend of mine who shoots weddings. I took a D100 that he bought me, a 285 flash, an ample amount of faith, and quit my job at Kinkos in October of 2003. I was determined to do things differently this time around..."

You can find his works here:
Music Photography by Zack Arias
Headshots by Used Film Studios
The OneLight Workshop

This 2 DVD pack has a lot of goods inside the card box pack that came on the post.

Here is what I found inside when I open it...

This is the full package :)

Inside the card box package you will find:

- 6 Stickers
- 2 DVD with lots of information
- 1 Black T-Shirt with OneLight Workshop white logo
- 1 music CD from the band Meghan Coffee "Songs to Sail By". For more information about this band you can always check their page in here.
- 1 Instructions Booklet with 18 pages.

Inside the DVD box package you can find:
A detail of the Booklet with some basic information and more tips.

Inside the DVD box package you will find:

- 2 DVD with lots of video information.
- 1 Instruction Booklet to guide you with some basic information and more tips.

On the first DVD Zack shows you how exposure variables work.

How Shutter Speed controls the ambient exposure with pictures to illustrate what he's talking about. Range goes to 250th to 4th with simple and illustrative examples.

Zack talks clearly and it's not those kind of videos where at middle of the lesson you're opening your mouth and tired of what the tutor tries to explain you... remember those boring school days with that lousy teacher?... well this has nothing to do with it, it's the complete opposite.

He also talks about Flash Power and explain how you can get consistent flashes and amount of light with the explanation of 1/1 scale to the 1/128 on your flash and this is full of diagrams and examples so you can see what he's talking about in a simple manner.

Then you will have a talk about aperture controls and ISO and how they will affect your photo shootings.

Next come the gear.

Zack talks about what gear he carries around, flashes and accessories.

Flashes are explained from the simple hot-shoe flash to a more powerful studio flashes. You will get to know how you can assemble the gear and also the ways to trigger your flashes wireless, light modifiers, umbrellas and softboxes.

Back in the studio you start to see how you can apply all the things you have learned so far and this is done with a model.

Zack explains all details on how to start with the client, shoot with small on camera strobe, off-camera and compare them.

You will see the pictures taken during this shooting has he explains what is going on with ISO, Aperture and why he chooses that light or position. You imagine yourself having a personal workshop with Zack.

As the 1st DVD is coming to an end is time to move outside and use the model with softbox and umbrella and compare the differences. Zack, at some point, will be shooting against the sun and some more great techniques that will help you outside.

On disc 2 you will go travel with Zack Arias through his client shootings around several setups and this is more of a follow up DVD with lot's on hands on the job.

You can watch Zack talking while choosing this or that setup or light and follow him on this journey through all his assignments.

He does a great job explaining why he has chosen this or that location, spot, light and sends some great tips.

I think this is a must have DVD. If you do not have what are you waiting for???

You can take a look at this small presentation video from DVD package:

And if you are lucky enough to catch one of his workshops... Man you ARE LUCKY!!!

What are people saying about his workshops:

The DVD Box can be ordered at:
OneLight Workshop web page and check out Zac Arias blog for more tips.

Before you go just take a moment to see this brilliant video made by Zack Arias himself:

For more information here are the direct links to his pages:

Web Page: http://www.zackarias.com/
DVD: http://www.onelightworkshop.com/
Blog: http://www.zarias.com/

THANK YOU MR.ZACK ARIAS for sharing this information with all of us.

Tip: DVD's You Must Have (Part 1)
Tip: DVD's You Must Have (Part 2)

Canon Powershot G10 Firmware Updated

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Canon has updated the Powershot G10 firmware to a newer version 1.0.2.0.

This addresses the Phenomenon:

If RAW images are captured by continuous shooting under the ISO 1600 setting, abnormal data is recorded and a magenta cast appears in the second and subsequent RAW images. This phenomenon also occurs in the second and subsequent recorded RAW images captured by single shooting, but only if the LCD monitor display mode is set to the OFF position.

This phenomenon cannot be confirmed when images are played back on the camera's LCD monitor. It can only be confirmed if image processing software (such as the Digital Photo Professional software bundled with the product) is used to develop RAW images on a PC.

Read the full article for more about this, what cameras are affected and where to download it from.

The following content is to help you update the firmware by yourself. If errors occur when performing the firmware update, there are instances where the camera cannot be started; therefore, please read the precautionary notes carefully before starting the firmware update.

In addition, this firmware update can also be performed at our service centers. If you wish to have us perform the firmware updates, please contact our service centers.

Firmware Update (Version 1.0.2.0)

This firmware update corrects the following phenomenon.

Phenomenon:

If RAW images are captured by continuous shooting under the ISO 1600 setting, abnormal data is recorded and a magenta cast appears in the second and subsequent RAW images. This phenomenon also occurs in the second and subsequent recorded RAW images captured by single shooting, but only if the LCD monitor display mode is set to the OFF position.

This phenomenon cannot be confirmed when images are played back on the camera's LCD monitor. It can only be confirmed if image processing software (such as the Digital Photo Professional software bundled with the product) is used to develop RAW images on a PC.

Note

* Images that have the magenta cast phenomenon cannot be fixed.
* The phenomenon only appears in RAW images, and does not appear in JPEG images or images appearing on the LCD monitor display.
* The phenomenon only occurs if the ISO Speed Dial is set to ISO 1600 manually, and does not occur if the ISO speed is set to other values (such as ISO AUTO or ISO HI).

Identifying Affected Cameras for the Update

Please check the serial number on the bottom of the camera.

Serial numbers

Products whose fifth digit from the left is 0 or 1 are affected.

****0*****
****1*****

Among products with the serial numbers described above, if there is a marking inside the battery cover like the one in the image below, the issue has already been corrected by correction firmware, and you may continue to use your camera as is with no further action required.

Marking Position

In addition, products whose fifth digit from the left is 2 or above are already equipped with correction firmware; therefore, this phenomenon does not apply.

Items Required for Firmware Update

The following items are required for this firmware update.

1 - PowerShot G10 Camera
2 - Computer* (USB interface required)
3 - Battery (Bundled with the camera)
4 - USB Interface Cable (Bundled with the camera)
5 - Memory Card (Commercially available SD memory card with a capacity of at least 8 MB)
6 - Firmware Update Data (Can be downloaded if the camera is determined as affected after the serial number is entered).
7 - Firmware Update Procedure (PDF) (Can be Downloaded)

* OS installed on the computer: Windows® XP/ Windows VistaTM, Mac OS X (v10.4-10.5)

Customers who do not have any of the items 2 to 5 are asked to contact Canon service centers.

Outline of the Firmware Update Procedures

To update the firmware, the following procedures are required.

1. Downloading and extracting the firmware update data
2. Preparing the memory card for the firmware update
3. Updating the firmware
4. Confirming the completion of firmware update

In addition, details of the procedures above are covered by the Firmware Update Procedure (PDF). Read the Firmware Update Procedure (PDF) carefully before updating the firmware.

GO TO DOWNLOAD PAGE
(You will need to enter your serial)

Final notes:

You have to pay attention to the way the firmware is uploaded to the camera. Canon with the Powershot G10 model decided to change the way firmware were updated.
So now instead of copying the file directly to the card you will have to connect the computer (PC or MAC) and the camera with the supplied USB cable and use the software to copy the firmware update file to the card on the camera (make sure you formatted the card first).

Then you will have to start the camera on preview mode and choose the firmware update menu item (you cannot have the lens extended or this menu item will not show up).

Just made mine today with no problems and my camera was one of the affected but I've never saw or identified this Phenomenon. But if Canon says it's to update then it's time.

I was hopping to see some improvements on video (GIVES US BACK the 1024 of the G9!!!) or maybe the reappearance of time lapse feature but nothing... this simply corrects what it's mentioned here.

Maybe we will all have better luck next time who knows...

Pro Gaza rally assaults photographer in NYC

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:17:00 +0000

NO COMMENTS!!

Tip: Interview with Copyright Attorney Ed Greenberg

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:44:00 +0000

This great video came into my attention and I think it's worth while and spare some of your time to watch it full.

Just click on the image below to take you to the PhotoshopUserTv video and watch this great Interview with Ed Greenberg conducted by Scott Kelby.

It's a must in copyright advices.

Canon 5D MarkII - The Grip Errors

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:57:00 +0000

Well it's TRUE!!!

Canon has done it again. A brand new camera with lots of great features but again errors are arising from it.

I thought carefully if I could put my mouth to the world, about this, or wait until a couple of rumors started to arise on the web.

After a lot of thinking I decided to release this info to all you people that purchase the new Canon 5D MarkII or are planning on buying it in a couple of days, weeks or months.

This is nothing that I was not expecting after I received the BG-E6 and looking at it carefully.

It has the same connections problems has previous models and it continues to be very fragile. (Canon you are so mean after all this years you did not have time to replace this series with a better grip, shame on you guys!!!)

Maybe you will never experience this problems, maybe you will start to experience them as soon as you got the grip... well you all know that technology is a f... s... sometimes it comes perfect while some other times it simply sucks no mater what you do the faulty ones need to be replaced.

This error 80 is one of the main errors that the 5D MarkII gives me almost all the time.

Here is the Camera combo I normally use when these errors occurred:

- Firmware 1.0.7
- Canon 5D MarkII
- Grip BG-E6
- 2 Canon Batteries LP-E6 (On the Grip)
- EF 24-70 L USM
- EF 70-200 L IS USM
- CF Cards Sandisk Extreme III, IV and Ducati (4Gb and 8Gb)
- 580EX

Then on another assignment while using the 24-70 L with 580EX flash and grip on the vertical position the Error 02 appeared, after 30 frame shots, apparently from nowhere and it caused the camera to stop working.

After removing both batteries and unscrew and screw back on the lens the camera started to work normally but the card warning came again saying that the card was not formatted and if I wanted to format it.

I kept the card for later inspection and worked with another one. After arriving home and analyzed the card I noticed that all the 30 pictures take were gone. I had to use Sandisk RescuePro to get those pictures back from the card. UFFF, assignment saved!!!!

I also got a strange "Card Full" information when I had only taken 20 pictures and the camera had always the red light on. I found that strange since I was certain that I had formatted the card before starting the assignment, but you never know... maybe it was my fault so I removed the card after the red light turns off and decided to keep the card and see what the problem could be afterward in the computer.

You will not believe this... the ,card had 4 folders the normal MISC and 3 DCIM more. When inspected the each of the DCIM folders I found that the camera had created 3 more identical folder with the same the same 20 pictures I took copied endless times untill the card was full :)

So the camera got this copy/paste issue and copied all the pictures to those folders until the card was full and this happened with no grip attached.

Please Canon send us a firmware to correct this ASAP!!!

Another error that's been giving a couple of times and while shooting with 1/30 or 1/20 speeds is the Error 70.

Here is a page with some of the "normal" Canon errors ;)

I finally figured out what the problem is.

After a group investigation with some of other fellow photographers, here in Portugal, that have the same camera but not use the grip or not have the double batteries, I concluded that the problem is the grip with 2 batteries.

When the batteries start to become empty like the above image it seems that the grip looses it's power and start giving failure messages. It cannot process the images or have a failure to the drive because it lacks power to function properly.

I contacted Canon Portugal an they do not even know what's going on with this. No one has reported this so far and since the replacement batteries are now available at the moment and people are using Alkaline batteries on the grip they do not have received any reports from this errors.

Not happy with the Portuguese reply I decided to write to Canon Europe Headquarters (Germany) and send them the above pictures to support my complain.

I received a reply 2 days later saying that they are aware of this situation and that a couple of grips were released with defect and they will send me a replacement one in a couple of days so I can test it out.

It's impossible for me know which serials are affected since the grip apparently do not have serial number on it but I will try to check with Canon and report it here as soon as I got some more good news.

Meanwhile if you get any of these errors please report them immediately to your Canon supplier in order to have them replaced at no cost.

Here is the table of the Error Codes for the 5D MarkII as stated on page 209 of the Instructions Manual.

I do blame Canon for this happenings and for letting us, the consumers, be their Beta testers.

Remember when they release the 1D MarkIII flop with it's super fast shutter speed but with lot's of problems and issues with the mirror and auto focus performance.

And if you do not know what I'm talking about just check the Rob Galbraith extensive review on this issue.

With this Canon has lost part of the share market to Nikon and it looks like they do not even care or worry about it because technology its first than photography and photographers.

While Nikon, on the other hand, they improved their infrared flash system, improved the flashes and released 3 cameras that beat out of the Canon arsenal and also made great improvements on their lenses.

Canon on the other hand gave us the 1D MarkIII flop and now with the 5D MarkII, stated as a video recorder that you could control its functions, turns out that you do not have control over the video mode and the most important one is the faulty grip BG-E6.

If you can remember well this has also happened a couple years ago when they released the Canon EOS 20D with it's also faulty grip that I also complained and send back, a couple of them, before I move to the 1D series.

From everyday that passes I noticed that Canon has a more commercial approach to the market than making things happen to photographers, they always want to be ahead of technology and introduce more new things but forget about improving the ones they already have, I mean the old ST-E2 for example.

This could mean an advantage over the other manufacturers ... just imagine Canon could introduce on their flash system something like the Radio Popper to control their flashes and also improve the 580EXII with a more powerful and better balanced one something in the range of the Nikon SB-900?

They could improve the sharpness of the 100-400mm by releasing a new one and while talking about lens why not a 12-24 L USM (Nikon has it so don't come saying that it will be impossible) and a replacement for the bulky 24-70 L USM lighter and with better overall sharpness or replace it for a 24-85 2.8 L USM IS ?

Turn their heads toward the photographers instead of just releasing new things that most of the people would not use them anyway.

So what would you like to have on the new cameras and flashes systems and why?

Write your suggestions maybe Canon guys would read this and could give us what we really asked for ;)

Tip: Easy, Tilt-Shift Your Photos Online

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:30:00 +0000

At the beginning of the month I brought you one cool application so that you can transform your regular photos into some old Polaroid, if you missed the Tip article do not miss it at "Tip: Instantly Create a Polaroid Look".

This got such a huge review from all of you that I decided add another cool one so you can give your photos a different look.

While the Polaroid needed to download software this one "Tilt-Shift" do not.

You just have to import the photo you would like to create the effect and voilá it's done in seconds, although you can always make the same effect in Photoshop this turns out to be a very practical online tool.

Follow me...

You may ask yourself what that heck is Tilt-Shift pictures?

Well, the phrase "tilt-shift" describes a photographic technique that is used to create special effects when taking a photo.

A type of camera lens that can be moved (shifted) and pointed at different angles (tilted) is used.

This can have the effect of changing the focus of the picture in unusual ways.

Read more in here.

Still curious?? Take a look at the definition in Wikipedia.

Here is a cool example I did with one of my pictures.
Before:

After:

How to make your Tilt-Shift:

- On the main page of the Tilt-shift maker online software upload your photo via browse method or if you have one on a web page you can import it too.

- Move the vertical slider on the right of the original photo to select the area in focus.

- Use the "Preview" button to see the results then "Get full size" when done, to get a link to the full size image. Creating and downloading the full size image may take a while, depending on original photo size and other factors.

Note: The Preview is meant as a low quality version only - it's better to download the full size image and resizing it down if you want a small version of the picture.

- The size of the area in focus can be adjusted using the horizontal slider, from "narrow" (a small area in focus) to "wide" (a larger area in focus).

Hints and Tips:

- Tilt-shift miniatures often look better with vivid colors. Some photos may have already had their colors adjusted though. In this case, the "Enhance colors" checkbox can be unchecked to avoid over-enhancement of the image.

- Does part of the picture look good but the rest of it is not so great? Consider saving the picture full-size and then select and copy/paste out the best area as a new image.

The name of the page is TiltShift Maker go check it out.

If you made some great Tilt-Shift picture you are invited to send them to the Flickr web page where you can also look at lots of other examples on what you can accomplish with this effect.

Enjoy.

The Best Collection of Dusty Books & Old Movies

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:44:00 +0000

Let me take you into a Voyage...

Hey!! wait a minute where did I heard this before??...

Today I'm not going to talk nor about Star Trek nor Star Wars and not even on how to make those special little tiny effects or to create a magic photo bubble with your fingers and produce a BIGGER light to get you a nice picture.

Instead I decided to look around the internet archives and bring you something different, maybe something you have never heard or seen before but that has to do with Photography.

Internet is full of surprises and, if you read this post all the way down, you'll see what I mean.

I could simple start by... Once upon a time...

Well if you are reading this far is a good thing, first because my headline caught your attention and you start to become curious and second you sure like photography like myself.

There is nothing fancy about this nor mysterious just some old dusted tapes and books I manage to find while googleing.

You will have the opportunity to see and download movies from the late 40's and books for the late 30's and guess what? All of them about photography or Photography related.

Cool, No!?

So without further delays let's get this party started.

(BUG reported: all videos start automatically and tried to fix the code but they keep on starting, please take a moment to go the page all the way down and stop them manually before continuing). Sorry for the inconvenience and hope I could fix this soon.

First one is a short movie about Photography and how careers were developed.

Careers in Photography and Cinematography (1946)This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives
Producer: Holmes (Burton) Films, Inc. (1946)
Sponsor: Vocational Guidance Films, Inc.
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Creative Commons license: Public Domain
Download 32Mb Cinepack Here.
Download HiRes MPEG4 151Mb Here.

By the same producer and the same series.

Journalism (1940)target="_new">This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives
Producer: Holmes (Burton) Films, Inc.
Sponsor: Vocational Guidance Films, Inc.
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Creative Commons license: Public Domain
Download 34Mb Cinepack Here.
Download HiRes MPEG4 109Mb Here.

Great quality books from the oldies that also teach you a lot o good stuff. The wheel was already invented when you even started thinking about photography or has we say today "Digital Photography".

Press photography (1936)

Author: Kinkaid, James C
Subject: Photojournalism
Publisher: Boston, American photographic publishing co.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: 8542
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: Prelinger Library
Download: 37Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

A dictionary of self-instructing library of practical photography.

The dictionary of photography for amateur and
professional photographers (1902)

Author: Wall, E. J. (Edward John), 1860-1928; Bolas, Thomas
Publisher: London : Hazell, Watson & Viney, ld.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-319504
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 58Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

A Complete self-instructing Encyclopedia in 10 volumes.

Complete self-instructing library of practical photography (1909)

Author:Schriever, J. B. (James Boniface), b. 1868; American School of Art and Photography
Subject: Photography
Publisher: Scranton, Pa. : American School of Art and Photography
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: SRLF:LAGE-2901534
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries

VOL.01 - Elementary Photography
Download: 31Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

VOL.02 - Negative Developing and After-Manipulation
Download: 34Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

VOL.03 - General Exterior Photography Composition
Download: 20Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Vol.04 - Photographic Printing
Download:19Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Vol.05 - Photographic Printing, Part II
Download: 18Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Vol.06 - At-Home Portraiture, Flashlight, Interior, Lenses
Download: 39Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Vol.07 - Studio Portraiture
Download: 25Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Vol.08 - Studio Portrait, Part II
Download: 26Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Vol.09 - Commercial, Press, Scientific Photography
Download: 39Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Vol.10 - Negative Retouching, Etching and Modeling
Download: 38Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

One about exposures.

Unity Photography (1914)

Author: Steadman, Frank Morris
Subject: Photography -- Exposure
Publisher: New York, D. Van Nostrand company
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: b5515224
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: New York Public Library
Collection: americana
Download: 7Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

If you are into time-lapse photography you should love this one.

My ivory cellar; [the story of time-lapse photography] (1958)

Author: Ott, John Nash, 1909-
Subject: Chronophotography
Publisher: Chicago, Twentieth Century Press
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: 8888
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: Prelinger Library
Download: 25Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

See how some of the special effects were created back then. Hey mate, NO Photoshop ;)

Behind the Lens (1940)
This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Creative Commons license: Public Domain
Download 34Mb 512Kb MPEG4 Here.
Download HiRes MPEG4 100Mb Here.

Another Video, this one takes you to a 19 minute journey over High Speed Photography in the earlier days.

Fastax-tion (1961)
This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives
Audio/Visual: Sound, Color
Creative Commons license: Public Domain
Download 83Mb 512Kb MPEG4 Here.
Download HiRes MPEG4 299Mb Here.

And in this one I found a lot of good things that, even in nowadays people continue to make the mistake of not reading the "Instructions Book". So I leave you with this great old movie full of advises and tips...

Your Movie Camera and How to Use It (1948)
This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives
Producer: Paul Burnford
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Creative Commons license: Public Domain
Download 46Mb 512Kb MPEG4 Here.
Download HiRes MPEG 297Mb Here.

Some more interesting oldies books.

Get that picture! The story of
the news cameraman (1938)

Author: Ezickson, A. J. (Aaron Jacob), 1896-
Subject: Photography; Journalism; Newspapers -- Illustrations
Publisher: New York, N.Y. National library press
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: 8543
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: Prelinger Library
Download: 25Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

News pictures (1937)

Author: Price, Jack
Subject: Photography; Newspapers
Publisher: New York : Round Table Press, inc.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: 8541
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: Prelinger Library
Download: 45Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Before I fill your mind with old B/W movies I would like to share the Film promoting use of Technicolor process to industrial film producers.

Technicolor for Industrial Films (1949)
This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives
Producer: Technicolor Corporation
Audio/Visual: Sd, C
Creative Commons license: Public Domain
Download 35Mb 512Kb MPEG4 Here.
Download HiRes MPEG2 226Mb Here.

And some more good books.

One that talks about Aerial photography and this is a very interesting one for that time.

Airplane photography (1920)

Author: Ives, Herbert Eugene, 1882-1953
Subject: Aerial photography
Publisher: Philadelphia, London : J.B. Lippincott company
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-253779
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 54Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Another for general purposes Photography.

The Barnet book of photography (1905)

Publisher: Barnet, [Eng.] : Elliott & Sons
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: b5517236
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: New York Public Library
Download: 14Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Let's take a look at some of the most interesting ones for Landscape photography.

Pictorial landscape-photography (1914)

Author: Anderson, Paul, 1880-1956
Subject: Landscape photography; Photography, Artistic
Publisher: Boston : Photo-era, the American journal of photography
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-50469261
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 12Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Another that talks about artistic landscape with some good advices.

Artistic landscape photography (1896)

Author: Wall, Alfred H
Subject: Landscapes photography; Photography, Artistic
Publisher: London : Percy Lund & Co.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: srlf_ucla:LAGE-4336900
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 16Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Landscape photography was one of the very discusses issues by that time people would love to explore the outdoors and mentioned on the next volume from 1888.

Letters on landscape photography (1888)

Author: Robinson, H. P. (Henry Peach), 1830-1901
Subject: Landscape photography; Photography, Artistic
Publisher: London : Piper & Carter
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-319849
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Download: 9.1Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Talking about nature I found this one for Beginners ;)

Nature photography for beginners (1909)

Author: Bedford, Edward John
Subject: Nature photography
Publisher: London : J.M. Dent
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: srlf_ucla:LAGE-567464
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Download: 32Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

If you are a Naturalist photographer, then you also have your own book from 1901.

Photography for naturalists (1901)

Author: English, Douglas, 1870-1939
Subject: Nature photography
Publisher: London : Iliffe & sons
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-33776396
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 44Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

How about some composition lesson? Read the next one...

Pictorial composition in photography (1920)

Author: Hammond, Arthur, b. 1882
Subject: Photography, Artistic
Publisher: Boston, Mass. : American photographic publishing co.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-253714
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 47Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Another one about composition.

An adventure in photography (1893)

Author: Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934
Subject: Photography
Publisher: New York : C. Scribner's sons
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: srlf_ucla:LAGE-304638
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 21Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Are you beginning Astronomical photography, maybe you consider reading this one.

Astronomical photography for amateurs (1921)

Author: Waters, Henry Hayden
Subject: Astronomical photography
Publisher: London : Gall & Inglis
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: srlf_ucla:LAGE-3567253
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 8.7Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

But if you are more into Fine Art photography here are two great books for you.

The fine art of photography (1919)

Author: Anderson, Paul, 1880-1956
Subject: Photography, Artistic
Publisher: Philadelphia ; and London : Lippincott
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-253712
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 41Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

And here is the other one.

Photography and fine art (1918)

Author: Bailey, Henry Turner, 1865-
Subject: Photography, Artistic
Publisher: Worcester, Mass., The Davis press
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-50469259
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 29Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

If Underwater is your theme grab this one ;)

The photography of aquatic animals in
their natural environment (1908)

Author: Reighard, Jacob Ellsworth, 1861-1942
Subject: Photography of animals
Publisher: Washington, Govt. Print. Off.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-33776407
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 7.6Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Even back then they had books about lens and optics :) and I'm talking 1904.

The optics of photography
and photographic lenses (1904)

Author: Taylor, J. Traill (John Traill), 1827-1895; Everitt, P. F
Subject: Photographic optics; Photographic lenses
Publisher: London, New York, Whittaker & co.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-11731
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 21Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

One for Indoor and Outdoor photography from 1895 and this one is for amateurs ;)

Photography indoors and out;
a book for amateurs (1895)

Author: Black, Alexander, 1859-1940
Subject: Photography
Publisher: Boston, New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: b5568683
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: New York Public Library
Download: 12Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Let's take a short break on the books to watch this last video. It's HILARIOUS and very informative ;)
Know all there is to know about fashion photography and models in late 1940's.

The Girl on the Magazine Cover (1940)

This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives
Producer: Handy (Jam)
Organization Sponsor: Chevrolet Motor Company
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Creative Commons license: Public Domain
Download 37Mb 512Kb MPEG4 Here.
Download HiRes MPEG2 244Mb Here.

These last books are a short compilation of Photography books for beginners, instructions in photography and the beginning of color photography.

Instructions in photography (1900)

Author: Abney, William de Wiveleslie, Sir, 1843-1920
Subject: Photography
Publisher: London, S. Low, Marston & company, limited
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-319516
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 53Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

So after reading the instructions let's take the very first steps in Photography.

First steps in photography (1913)

Author: Wallsgrove, J. C. H
Subject: Photography
Publisher: London, G. Routledge and Sons; [etc., etc.]
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-100796094
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 13Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

We move forward to the fundamentals of Photography.

The fundamentals of photography (1921)

Author: Mees, C. E. Kenneth (Charles Edward Kenneth), 1882-1960
Subject: Photography -- Handbooks, manuals, etc
Publisher: Rochester, N.Y., Eastman Kodak co.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: Robarts - University of Toronto
Download: 13Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Next and before we move into color photography here are some principles and applications.

Photography, its principles and applications (1920)

Author: Watkins, Alfred
Publisher: London, Constable & company ltd.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: nrlf_ucb:GLAD-319526
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 36Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Moving into color photography back in 1945 let's read some history first.

History of color photography (1945)

Author: Friedman, Joseph Solomon, 1899-
Subject: Color photography -- History; Color photography
Publisher: Boston, The American photographic publishing company
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: 9502
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: Prelinger Library
Download: 77Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Color Photography in Objects.

The photography of colored objects (1919)

Author: Eastman Kodak Company
Subject: Photography, Orthochromatic
Publisher: Rochester, N.Y. : The Company
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: b5519537
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: New York Public Library
Download: 5.4Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

And last but not least the Pratical Color Photography in 1922.

Practical color photography (1922)

Author: Wall, E. J. (Edward John), 1860-1928
Subject: Color photography
Publisher: Boston, Mass. : American Photographic Publishing Co.
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: srlf_ucla:LAGE-3427338
Digitizing sponsor: MSN
Book contributor: University of California Libraries
Download: 16Mb PDF Book Here.
Read it: in HTML Flip Book go Here.

Hope you have enjoyed this time travel through some of the old movies and books that taught and show to the masses Photography and Cinematography of those days and that I brought you here today as a Best compilation of them all.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 RC OUT!!

ruimleal@gmail.com (Rui M Leal) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:11:00 +0000

Adobe just put out today to the public the new Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 Release Candidate and the Camera Raw 5.3 also has a Release Candidate.

The ‘release candidate’ label indicates that this update is well tested but would benefit from additional community testing before it is distributed automatically to all of our customers. The Lightroom team would like the community to help verify the quality of this update through normal usage as this will ensure that the application is tested on a diversity of hardware and software configurations not available internally at Adobe.

If you do experience an issue with this release candidate please report it here: Bug Report Form.

For more information on Lightroom 2 please visit the Lightroom pages on Adobe.com.

Read the full article to know what is coming with this Release Candidate Version and where you can download it from.

Camera Raw 5.3 and Lightroom 2.3 Release Candidates are now available on Adobe Labs.(Camera Raw 5.3, Lightroom 2.3) The release includes new camera support for the following models:

* Nikon D3X
* Olympus E-30

There are several bug fixes in this update :

* In the Windows 64-bit version of Lightroom an sFTP upload process could cause Lightroom to crash
* Slideshows could return to the first image randomly during playback
* A memory leak could cause Lightroom to crash while attempting to process files with local adjustments
* Canon EOS 5D Mk II sRAW files could process with artifacts in Lightroom 2.2
* Lightroom 2.2 could cause disc burning to fail for Windows customers

Additional Languages
Lightroom 2.3 now provides language support for the following additional languages:

* Chinese (Simplified)
* Chinese (Traditional)
* Dutch
* Italian
* Korean
* Portuguese (Brazilian)
* Spanish
* Swedish

The translation effort for these languages is over 90% complete in this release. We appreciate your feedback as we complete this work so that we can ensure that the final release provides a high quality update for all of these new languages. If you find a translation error or problem with these new language versions please report them here: Bug Report Form

Notes on the Additional Languages

* Localized help is not yet available for these additional language versions
* The new language versions cannot be installed simultaneously with the English/French/German 2.3 RC build

I'd like to thank everyone who contributed in the Adobe User to User forums to help us track down some of the bugs we corrected in this release.

This release installs alongside with your current version so it will not overlap the older one.

Camera Raw 5.3 RC direct downloads:

- Windows
- Macintosh

Adobe DNG Converter 5.3 RC direct downloads:

- Windows
- Macintosh

Adobe Lightroom 2.3 RC direct downloads:

- Windows
- Macintosh