The Luminous Landscape - What's New

16 May, 2012 - Some Thoughts on the Leica X2

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:34:10 EDT

Leica showed the X2 in Berlin last week. This update to the popular X1 features a new 16MP sensor and a number of additional enhancements.

Due to other committments I have not had a chance as yet to work with the X2, but my colleague Sean Reid of ReidReviews has, and has kindly provided us with a brief overview of the new Leica X2. Sean also has a much more comprehensive review of the new camera on his own subscription site.

"You and Jeff did it again! A great series of videos.

I've watched the earlier Camera to Print series as well as the LR 2 & 3 videos and as usual, I learned new technique and ideas even though I've been behind a camera for 45 years.

Additionally, the rapport you two have is most engaging, enjoyable, and totally different than the sterile video tutorials from others (I'm afflicted with being a visual learner).

Again, a great series of videos
that have helped me grow once again."

...

15 May, 2012 - Nikon D800E vs Pentax 645D in The Field

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:43:55 EDT

Our good friend Nick Devlin, also one of this site's contributing editors, was just out in Calgary last week picking up his new Nikon D800E. Nick has been a long time Pentax 645D afficionado and shooter, as well as a good friend of the folks at The Camera Store in Calgary.

Put the two together for a few days, and what you get is another one of TCS's fascinating video test reports. How does the larger, heavier and more expensive Pentax hold up against the new Nikon challenger? Watch it and find out.

Britain's high regarded Amateur Photographer magazine has today published a Nikon D800E vs Hasselblad review in which they conclude "... the Hasselblad HD4-31 has more than met its match for large reproduction of fine detail in what is the smaller, quicker and more affordable form of the D800E." (AP is available on newsstands in the UK and via download on Zinio.)

And, to round out the sub-40 Megapixel medium format Vs. D800/E comparison field, Lloyd Chambers at Diglloyd (a subscription site) has recently performed a test of the Nikon D800 vs the Leica S2. The results are not much different than what we now see against the Pentax 645D or Hasselblad H4D31. The consistancy of these comparisons simply can not be ignored. It would appear that the lower end of the medium format industry has been formally put on notice by Nikon.

Brilliant Lightroom 4 videos.
I thought I was a knowledgable pro. Hah!

...

14 May, 2012 - Leica S2 Field Report

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:12:50 EDT

There has been a lot of sturm und drang in the photo community these past couple of months about the Nikon D800/E, and deservedly so. But the Leica S2 continues to sell very well to a segment of the marketplace that values tremendous build quality and what are arguably the world's finest camera lenses.

Last week's media event in Berlin for the launch of the M Monochrom also gave me an opportunity to handle the S2 for a while, and it reminded me of how appealing I had found the camera a few years ago, the last time I was in Germany for that product's launch.

By coincidence, our colleage Andy Biggs has recently completed a US Southwest and an Antactic photographic expedition using the Leica S2 and today shares with us his impressions.

"You and Jeff did it again! A great series of videos.

I've watched the earlier Camera to Print series as well as the LR 2 & 3 videos and as usual, I learned new technique and ideas even though I've been behind a camera for 45 years.

Additionally, the rapport you two have is most engaging, enjoyable, and totally different than the sterile video tutorials from others (I'm afflicted with being a visual learner).

Again, a great series of videos
that have helped me grow once again."

...

12 May, 2012 - Leica S Hasselblad H Lens Adaptor

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:48:03 EDT

Leica has been making adaptors for various medium format camera's lenses. But now, in an industry first, they have released a full autofocus adaptor for Hasselblad H series lenses.

I tried it out at the Leica event in Berlin this week, and it simply does what it claims to do. Now the full range of H series lenses is available for current and potential Leica S owners. Very cool.

Brilliant Lightroom 4 videos.
I thought I was a knowledgable pro. Hah!

...

10 May, 2012 - Leica M Monochrom - Meet Henri

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:18:40 EDT

It isn't every day that a new M Leica comes along. It's only happened less than a dozen times in the past 50 years. Today is one of those days though, with the introduction of the Leica M Monochrom.

I am currently in Berlin, Germany for the launch event, but have also been working with a pre-production sample of the M Monochrom for the past 10 days or so. My initial hands-on impressions report is now online.

For a more detailed report you may want to look at Sean Reid's in-depth review at Reid Reviews, a pay site, but one which focuses in considerable depth on Leica and related products.

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself
returning to them often.

...

9 May, 2012 - Tonal Adjustments in the Age of Lightroom 4

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Wed, 9 May 2012 08:10:17 EDT

Charlie Cramer is one of America's preminant landscape photographers and photographic educators. Today he provides us with an exclusive tutorial titled Tonal Adjustments in the Age of Lightroom 4. Don't miss it!

"You and Jeff did it again! A great series of videos.

I've watched the earlier Camera to Print series as well as the LR 2 & 3 videos and as usual, I learned new technique and ideas even though I've been behind a camera for 45 years.

Additionally, the rapport you two have is most engaging, enjoyable, and totally different than the sterile video tutorials from others (I'm afflicted with being a visual learner).

Again, a great series of videos
that have helped me grow once again."

...

6 May, 2012 - New Lightroom 4 Advanced Training Videos

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Sat, 5 May 2012 19:14:44 EDT

We have just added ten new videos our new Lightroom 4 Advanced Training video tutorials; LR4_20.zip, LR4_21.zip, LR4_22.zip, LR4_23.zip

Here is the new Table of Contents.

These videos are largely about various functions in the Library module

– Changing the default rendering of a Raw file on import. If you have a particular camera & ISO that you know is going to require some basic noise reduction, learn how to apply that automatically on import.

– Smart Collections. How to let Lightroom do the organization of files for you; let the database do the work.

-– Video Files. How to view, trim, colour correct and export video.

– Location Catalogs. How to work with new empty catalogs on a per project basis and then import them into your main master catalog. This video shows Jeff Schewe's Selection Editing workflow.

-– Michael Reichmann's Selection Editing workflow: a different 'take'

– Keywording. How to make key wording work for you

-– Keywording on location. Work with a Master Keyword list and keep everything organized when you import a new catalog. Avoid having to insert and edit keywords from two lists.

- DNG. Learn about the new abilities of LR4 in saving out DNG files

– Make a Virtual Copy the Master Image. When a Virtual Copy becomes the file interpretation you want, change it to become the master image.

– Publish Services. Use this valuable feature of LR to automatically publish and edit photographs onto an iPad or other external source such as Flickr or FaceBook.

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself
returning to them often.

...

3 May, 2012 - A Critique of Contemporary Camera Design

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Thu, 3 May 2012 08:35:43 EDT

Why are cameras designed the way that they are? This engaging topic is explored today in an original and insightful essay titled A Critique of Contemporary Camera Design, by Richard Sexton.

Friday Evening – Gallery Show Opening
New Work by
Michael Reichmann and Mark Dubovoy

@ 44 Wide Gallery

171 East Liberty Street. Unit 122
Toronto, Ontario
Inside the arcade at Liberty Village

Opening Night: Friday, May 4, 2012. 6–9PM
Michael and Mark will be in attendance
Refreshments will be served

The show will run until May 31

If you live in or near Toronto and can attend the opening
on Friday evening, we'd love to see you there.
Please come and say "Hi", and have a glass of wine with us.

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself
returning to them often.

...

1 May, 2012 - An Embarrassment of Riches - Two New Cameras

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:48:04 EDT

There is a constant flow of new cameras from the major manufacturers. It's what keeps the industry alive. But many (most?) are simply rehashes of what came before...new chrome and a fresh bumper design, as a colleague once put it.

But every now and then there are new cameras that really move the art foreward. Two of these are the Sony NEX-7 and the Nikon D800/E, devices which have received considerable coverage on these pages.

Today, Mark Dubovoy discusses these in a new essay titled An Embarrassment of Riches.

Incidently, as noted in yesterday's What's New announcement below, Mark will be in Toronto for a new gallery show featuring some of his as well as my new work, at the 44 Wide Gallery. The public opening is this coming Friday evening, from 6–9pm.

This show runs for the next month. Mark is also here to teach an advanced printing workshop with me this weekend, and also an Algonquin Park field workshop next week.

"You and Jeff did it again! A great series of videos.

I've watched the earlier Camera to Print series as well as the LR 2 & 3 videos and as usual, I learned new technique and ideas even though I've been behind a camera for 45 years.

Additionally, the rapport you two have is most engaging, enjoyable, and totally different than the sterile video tutorials from others (I'm afflicted with being a visual learner).

Again, a great series of videos
that have helped me grow once again."

...

30 April, 2012 - Reichmann & Dubovoy Two Man Show

mreichmann@luminous-landscape.com — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:00:40 EDT

A Two Man Show of Recent Work
by Michael Reichmann and Mark Dubovoy

44 Wide Gallery

171 East Liberty Street. Unit 122
Toronto, Ontario
Inside the arcade at Liberty Village

Opening Night: Friday, May 4, 2012. 6–9PM
Michael and Mark will be in attendance
Refreshments will be served

The show will run until May 31

If you live in or near Toronto and can attend the opening
on Friday evening, we'd love to see you there.
Please come and say "Hi", and have a glass of wine with us.

...

The Luminous Landscape - What's New

16 May, 2012 - Some Thoughts on the Leica X2

15 May, 2012 - Nikon D800E vs Pentax 645D in The Field

14 May, 2012 - Leica S2 Field Report

12 May, 2012 - Leica S Hasselblad H Lens Adaptor

10 May, 2012 - Leica M Monochrom - Meet Henri

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself returning to them often.

9 May, 2012 - Tonal Adjustments in the Age of Lightroom 4

6 May, 2012 - New Lightroom 4 Advanced Training Videos

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself returning to them often.

3 May, 2012 - A Critique of Contemporary Camera Design

Friday Evening – Gallery Show Opening New Work by Michael Reichmann and Mark Dubovoy

@ 44 Wide Gallery

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself returning to them often.

1 May, 2012 - An Embarrassment of Riches - Two New Cameras

30 April, 2012 - Reichmann & Dubovoy Two Man Show

A Two Man Show of Recent Work by Michael Reichmann and Mark Dubovoy

44 Wide Gallery

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself
returning to them often.

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself
returning to them often.

Friday Evening – Gallery Show Opening
New Work by
Michael Reichmann and Mark Dubovoy

Your videos are overflowing with fascinating lessons and insights into the why as much as the how of the creative process. They have become a valuable resource for me and I find myself
returning to them often.

A Two Man Show of Recent Work
by Michael Reichmann and Mark Dubovoy