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• Artificial lighting
• Photo equipment
• Outdoor gear
• How to approach and shoot rock climbing, mountain biking and whitewater kayaking – what it takes to be a pro!

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Already available in 4GB, 8GB & 16GB capacities, the new 32GB is geared toward the new MacBook Pros (which now have SD card slots). And, with a number of newer DSLRs featuring HD video capture, the larger capacity & higher speed these cards offer is suited perfectly to photographers & videographers.

The new card can endure temperature extremes from -25°C (-13°F) to 85°C (185°F) and will hold around 160 minutes of HD video or up to 2,500 RAW image files.

The 32GB SanDisk Extreme® SDHC™ card is set to hit the market this August.

For generations, Kodachrome was used to capture everything from everyday family snapshots & vacation photos shown on carousel slide shows to portraits of world leaders and entertainment giants and global events that changed our world.

Kodachrome reached it’s heyday in the 50s and 60s when it was favoured by still and motion-picture photographers for its rich tones and vibrant colours.  And some of the century’s most enduring & memorable images have been captured on Kodachrome: Steve McCurry’s famous “Afghan Girl” who graced the cover of National Geographic in June of 1985, Abraham Zapruder’s 1963 8mm reel of President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas and colour photos made famous of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Joe DiMaggio.

As of late, sales of the iconic film have dwindled so far that there is currently only one commercial lab in the world still processing it. Kodak cites declining sales due to the advent of digital photography and estimates stocks of Kodachrome will run out this autumn. This January, the photography pioneer said it would cut up to 4,500 jobs (18% of its workforce). Kodachrome currently only accounts for less a percent of Eastman Kodak’s sales of still-picture film, while 70% of the company’s revenue comes from consumer & commercial digital business.

But despite losing $4.5 billion in market value last year, Eastman Kodak plans to stay in the film business on a limited basis. After the end of the year, however, it will be without its iconic Kodachrome.

Sorry, Paul. Looks like they have taken your Kodachrome away. (Forgive me, I had to.)

Until today, that is. Olympus has launched the E-P1: a DSLR-sized sensor stuffed into a retro compact body. And with a stock 17mm lens & an interchangeable 14-42mm (3x) zoom lens available at launch, this tiny powerhouse has us all a-twitter. While this isn’t the first Micro Four Thirds camera to hit the market, it is one of the first to take the technology towards a compact sized shell.

The EP-1 looks like your typical compact camera (it’s size is a mere 4.74″ x 2.75″ x 1.38″). But looks are definitely deceiving when it comes to the 2009 Pen. In addition to a 12.3-megapixel Live MOS sensor, Olympus’ TruePic V Image Processor adds “excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity, fine image details in all highlight and shadow areas, and reduced noise” (Olympus’ words). And, though not a DSLR, the E-P1 does boast interchangeable lenses as though it were. So, not only is the base model available in a kit with the aforementioned 17mm & 14-42mm lenses, the Mirco Four Thirds Mount makes the E-O1 compatible (aided by the MMF-1 Adapter) with all Micro Four Thirds lenses.

But the good stuff doesn’t end there. The E-P1 is loaded with features. In-body image stabilization + electronic image stabilization, live view autofocus, and a digital leveler are joined with a dust reduction system that assures spot-free images, 19 automatic scene modes, ePortrait mode & face detection, some nifty looking art filters (including Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film and Pin Hole) as well as a multiple exposure feature that allows you to combine 2 images to create one perfect photo.

Oh - and, in case this wasn’t enough, the Pen shoots HD video as well.

Check out the full specs here and see what all the fuss is about for yourself!

But how do they really handle? And will they hold anything beyond a basic camera/lens combo? Turns out - yes, they do. Quite nicely, in fact.

I got my hands on the smallest of the Jill•e bags (in bone coloured leather with brown leather accents) and was impressed that, even though we’ve all learned to be wary of what a manufacturer claims their product will hold, this actually is roomy enough for a camera, flash, 2 lenses (at least) and a slew of accessories. And while it’s not big enough to hold ALL my gear (which I rarely cart around with me all at once anyway), it’s certainly enough to carry what I’d need for a day out (or even a weekend away, for that matter.)

The main compartment (in addition to a cute polka-dot interior) has adjustable dividers so you can arrange your gear as you see fit. The top interior has a 3-part mesh compartment for spare batteries, memory cards, keys or a spare lipgloss. And there’s a detachable  “cosmetic case” (Jill•e’s words) for any other smaller items you don’t want jostling about loose in the bottom of your bag. In all honesty, you really could take this bag along on an outing and leave your purse behind. With the detachable padded shoulder strap in addition to the dual handle straps, you have a choice in how you heft your gear, as well.

The outside features 3 magnetic-clasped pockets (two of which have silver accented decorative buckles) as well as a 4th pocket that zips closed. The bag’s interior is nicely padded and the leather exterior is soft and durable. Bottom line? This bag is a win. In fact, I plan to add the red one to my collection in the very near future.

In addition to the one I mauled, the small bags are available in 5 other variations: black leather, red leather (which I also got a gander at and it’s gorgeous), pink patent leather, brown nylon & yellow nylon. The medium comes in chocolate suede as well as black, bone, red or pink leather. The large is available in moss green, black or red leather. And, in July, an extra large rolling bag will be available. Measuring in at 14″ x 11″ x 18″ this bad boy is meant to fit 3 - 4 SLR bodies, 2 flashes, 4 - 5 moderate sized and 1 or 2 telephoto lenses as well as a laptop up to 17″. So you’ll be able to look good AND artfully execute all your busiest photo shoots.

Here’s a look at the yellow nylon version:

What do you use for your gear? Let us know - we’re curious!

Glenbow Museum

Vancouver Art Gallery (Vancouver, BC)
Andreas Gursky: Werke/Works 80-08 (until Sept. 20. 2009)
→ More than 70 works from throughout his career, reaching back in time to his student days at the Folkwang Hochschule Essen, followed by the period in which he studied in the class taught by Bernd and Hilla Becher at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf.

Anthony Hernandez (until Sept. 7, 2009)
→ The first Canadian exhibition of this Los Angeles artist’s work, Anthony Hernandez will present a remarkable collection of photographs from the 1970s and 1980s.

Stan Douglas: Klatsassin (until Sept. 13, 2009)
→ In addition to the video installation (Klatsassin) and a body of black & white portrait photographs of the video’s principal characters , this exhibition  includes a Group of Seven location photographs of sites as diverse as Barkerville, Quesnel Forks, Stanley and Vancouver.

National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, ON)
Scott McFarland: A Cultivated View (until Sept. 13, 2009)
→ While not an exhibit actually taking place on the west coast, McFarland’s is a major body of work focused on Vancouver gardens.

Have you got an upcoming exhibit you’d like to promote? Let us know - we’re more than happy to give you a shout out.

The two-week festival exhibits the thesis work of the artists in the Documentary Media MFA Program at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. With four gallery exhibitions, three days of film screenings, an artist-panel talk and other special events this festival extends Ryerson’s reputation as a cultural production house to the arts community, industry professionals and the Toronto public.

Documentary Now takes place over two weeks in seven Toronto venues, including: Gallery 1313, Lennox Contemporary, Ryerson Gallery, Toronto Image Works Gallery, and the National Film Board of Canada’s John Spotton Theatre.

For full details, including a full schedule, check out the Doc Now website.

Peter Eastway interviews Aussie photographer Jerry Ghionis about his move to medium format digital and what it means for his wedding and portrait photography.

You can read the full article here. And you can check out the rest of the camera specs here.

The newly architected Capture One 4 allows photographers to enhance and develop RAW digital files with excellent color and detail reproduction. Providing best possible image quality is a cornerstone in Capture One. Tools for this and excellent “out-of-the-box” results are part of the new Capture One 4.

Capture One 4 is designed with an easy workflow in mind, and the simplified new user interface leaves more of the screen area to your images.

Capture One 4.8.1 comes in three versions: 4.8.1, 4.8.1 PRO and 4.8.1 DB & includes image quality improvements (improved P65+ and P40+ long exposure performance) as well as bug fixes (solved issues occurring when running on Japanese versions of Windows & stability improvements.)

Capture One 4.8.1 is a free service release to existing Capture One 4.x owners, while existing customers with Capture One 3.x can upgrade to a similar version of Capture One 4.8.1 at no extra cost.

Contestants can submit up to ten photos and they can pretty much be anything related to your Ontario resort stay (sports, resort images, shots of guests with a resort property visible in the background etc.)

The contest runs until September 15 and winners will be chosen by October 1, 2009.

Images 5MB or less can be emailed in jpg format to photos@resortsofontario.com.

Check out the full contest details.

Mazzucco’s work has been featured in ELLE and Vogue magazines and his exhibition (which runs for the entirety of the festival at 639 Queen St. W on the 3rd floor of the Burroughes Building) of new and commissioned works that draw their inspiration from L’Oréal Professionnel’s Century of Color, Lancôme’s magic of femininity and Luminato’s festival programming.

Shadow Notes is an unprecedented exhibition presenting the work of Danny Clinch and Ralph Gibson, two photographers obsessed with music, and the photos of Andy Summers, a musician obsessed with photography. The all-day event takes place June 5 at Yonge-Dundas Square and includes a panel discussion with all three artists.

Check them out… and see what else is on the schedule!

Class topics include:

1. Creative Camera – Learn the photographic basics that apply to every camera ever made, film or digital, beginner to professional. Students will learn to shoot in manual mode to understand the principles of how an image is made.
2. Language of the Photographer – Discover how your camera records light, so you can control the way it affects your photographs. Put your manual controls to full advantage to shape the effect of light.
3. Creative Lighting – This class is designed to inspire. First, you will experiment indoors with studio lights to learn how light can be shaped and manipulated. Then you will move outdoors, working with available light and modifying with on-camera flash.
4. Composition – A brilliant Powerpoint presentation with all the rules, reasons and explanations of composition; all backed up with classic and contemporary fine art. Your work is then reviewed and critiqued.

Classes can be purchased individually, but students registering for the entire series will save $100 on the price of admission.

When: June 16 to 24, 2009 (classes start at 10am and run for 3 hours)
Where: Vistek Toronto – 496 Queen St. E [map]
Price: $400 for the entire series; $125 per class.

Get more info & register.

Photographers from China, Japan, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, India, Canada, the United States, Italy, Australia, Germany, and other countries have captured images that reflect 10 categories: architectural, editorial, fashion/beauty, fine art, general, landscapes/nature, portrait, products, upcoming, and wedding/social.

The top 100 finalists been selected and their images are now online for viewing and voting. Note:  you will have to register as a jury member in order to cast your vote.

The 10 winners will be announced January 1, 2010.

click to enlarge

Ray took this picture of his wife and daughter with a Nikon D50 with Tamron 18-200 lens. He back lit the shot with a south facing window. The shot was converted to black & white and cropped using Capture NX and further adjusted in CS2.

Matt Hunter says:
“Great composition with the Mother-Baby emotional tone.  It could be improved with a little less of a close-crop on the mother’s face. Expanding the crop on the right would relax the image with the space of the Mother’s face from the edge of the photo.  The expression and attention of both was gracefully captured.  A fine photograph with its fittingly soft tones.  The baby’s eyes are particularly beautiful how they shine.”

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and tell us what you think.

This annual event gives photography and image arts students an opportunity to display their best work in a juried show. And each year, a leading professional from the photography community selects several works for their outstanding merit. The winning artists receive valuable awards that in the past have included tuition for a Chang School course and a $500 gift certificate from a photography-supply merchant.

When:
June 25 to July 11/09
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 25/09  from 6 – 9pm

Where:
Ryerson Gallery
80 Spadina Avenue, Suite 305
Toronto, ON

If you’re in the GTA, you can check out the Colour Management Basics seminar at Vistek’s Mississauga location. This Saturday morning seminar starts at 10am and presents the theory behind colour management and will show you how to put it this theory into effective practice.

For those of you a bit further west, Vistek’s Sports Photography Basics seminar also gets underway at 10am this Saturday (10am) at the Edmonton store. With an aim to make sure you can catch all the action – from your child’s little league game on up – this seminar will teach you valuable shooting tips as well as show you the best equipment for the best shots.

Admission is $50 & registration for both events is available online.

Colour Management Basics (register online)
May 23/09 @ 10am
Vistek Mississauga
5840 Mavis Road

Sports Photography Basics (register online)
Vistek Edmonton
10569 109th Street NW

New for this incarnation, the GH1 incorporates FullHD video-recording capability which allows you to record high-resolution FullHD (1,920 by 1080p) video at 24 fps or smooth HD video (1,280 by 720p) at 60 fps using the AVCHD format (MPEG-4/H.264). This effectively doubles recording time in HD mode compared to Motion JPEG. And a dedicated video-record button allows you to keep shooting video even while you’re capturing still photos.

Another feature unique to this model is the Lumix G Vario 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH/MEGA OIS lens (that’s included as part of the kit) featuring silent motor and continuous AF capability in a design specifically for HD movie recording. This, combined with the stereo mic featuring Dolby Digital Stereo Creator, allows you to record seriously high quality audio.

The 12.1-megapixel DSLR features all of the manual functionality & creative control desired by more advanced users, while one of Pansonic’s popular point-and-shoot features – iA (Intelligent Auto) mode enables fully automatic control of the camera settings – allows great photo capturing capability for those nearer the amateur end of the photography spectrum.

Get more info or pre-order yours today .

Here are just a few to get you started:

Stephen Bulger Gallery (Toronto, ON)
Gerry Deiter: Give Peace a Chance (May 26 to June 2, 2009)
→ Features photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono during the 1969 eight-day bed-in for Peace in Montréal.

Alison Rossiter: Lament (until May 23, 2009)
→ Features new works by American photographer Alison Rossiter

Confederation Centre (Charlottetown, PEI)
RBC Emerging Artists Series Exhibit (until May 31, 2009)
→  Features PEI photographer Becka Viau’s exhibit “Young Farmers.”

Various Venues (Toronto, ON)
CONTACT (until May 31. 2009)
→  Features more than 100 artists with exhibits at over 220 venues.

Have you got an upcoming exhibit you’d like to promote? Let us know - we’re more than happy to give you a shout out.

This annual public showcase of thesis works takes place at the Royal Cinema on College St. in Toronto and tickets can be purchased, in advance,  online.

The site launched April 30 and encorporates many of the features utlized by other photosharing sites (mobile uploads, image tagging, geotagging etc.) and throws in the handy social networking features of Twitter and Facebook Connect (which allows you to filter through the people you follow on Twitter to find your Facebook Friends and, in turn, publishes to your Facebook account any photos you upload to tweetPhoto.)

With tweetPhoto, you can:

• Upload photos by email, mobile or web
• See who viewed any photo
• Favorite or retweet any photo
• Have your photos automatically geo-tagged
• Filter photos by Twitter or Facebook friends
• Automatically publish photos to Facebook
• Search photos and see trending tags

Check it out!