A Prime Tool For Image Editing

Wacom’s Bamboo Tablets; A Prime Tool For Image Editing

Most serious digital photographers know that using a graphic tablet is the best way by far when it comes to editing and making selections in Photoshop and other imaging applications. There is a learning curve when switching from a mouse to a pen, but after using one I don’t know of any photographers who would go back to the old method. Along with the finer control you have by holding a pen, and the more natural feeling of drawing compared to moving a mouse around (a method I compare to drawing with a bar of soap), you also gain functionality.

The most popular brand of tablet has long been the Wacom line, with the Intuos3 being the serious user’s choice, and the Graphire Bluetooth a good option for those needing a wireless device. The drawback for more casual users, however, has been price. At $229.95 for the smallest (4x6) version of the Intuos3, justifying a tablet is difficult for the casual user. In response to that, Wacom has introduced the Bamboo and Bamboo Fun tablets.For digital photography, the Bamboo Fun is the better choice.

DetailsBamboo: $79 (4x6 only)Bamboo Fun: $99 (4x6), $199 (6x8)Requirements: Windows 2000, XP, or Vista, or Macintosh OS X 10.3.9 or later, available USB port.For more information, contact Wacom Technology Corporation, 1311 SE Cardinal Court, Vancouver, WA 98683; (360) 896-9833; wacom.com/.

read Jon Canfield's full article at shutterbug.com/

Jon Canfield is the author of several books on digital imaging and printing. A popular instructor at BetterPhoto.com, Canfield also teaches workshops for the Panasonic Digital Photo Academy (digitalphotoacademy.com). You can reach Canfield via e-mail at: jon@joncanfield.com.

Photo of the day:

Plants and Flowers

Mariposa Lily Desert Wildflower

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Conscience The Ultimate Weapon

ROCHESTER, NY - The George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film opened the exhibit Conscience The Ultimate Weapon through June 1. A new interpretation of the 1968 Eastman House exhibition featuring civil rights and Vietnam-era photography by Benedict J. Fernandez. More than 800 photographs are part of Conscience The Ultimate Weapon, being presented during the 40th anniversary of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy.
Originally presented as a slideshow, the images will be displayed via multi-media projection accompanied by a music soundtrack featuring songs from the era. The intent of the recreated exhibition is to show the parallel between a turbulent America 40 years ago and today, including issues of race and our country at war. The innovative piece was intended to address the social issues of its day. Today it stands as an important historical document in both medium and message.
In a series of exhibitions opening throughout winter and spring 2008, George Eastman House focuses on the photograph’s unique ability to take its viewers to parts of the world they might not otherwise know or care about. From the slums of 19th-century London, to the Depression dust bowl, to the variety of contemporary lives in black America and the Middle East, the series LOSS/ HOPE informs us and asks for our engagement by considering the notion of loss, both personally and as a result of industrialization and poverty. George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film combines the world’s leading collections of photography and film with the stately pleasures of the landmark Colonial Revival mansion and gardens that George Eastman called home from 1905 to 1932. The Museum is a National Historic Landmark. Mr. Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak Company, is heralded as the father of modern photography and the inventor of motion picture film.
The Eastman House, the world’s oldest photography museum and one of the world’s oldest film archives, opened to the public in 1949. World-renowned for its photograph and motion picture archives, the Museum is also a leader in film preservation and photograph conservation, educating the top archivists and conservators from around the world. Visit the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film at : http://www.eastmanhouse.org/

Credits: artknowledgenews.com - Benedict J Fernandez

Photo of the day:

Wildlife

Canadian Mountian Goat with Baby

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Early Photo Pulled from Auction - Origin Scrutinized

A few days ago I reported about an Image could be of historic importance in world of photography

This primitive image believed to be taken decades before what is widely considered to be the dawn of photography has now been pulled from an upcoming auction to allow further research as to its authorship.

The image of a leaf at was scheduled to be sold at Sotheby's next Monday, and was listed in the auction catalog as "Photographer Unknown." But Sotheby's said research by a leading photo expert had suggested that several early photo experimenters could have made the image, including Thomas Wedgwood, James Watt and Humphry Davy, who worked in the medium decades before what is believed to be the birth of photography in 1839.

On Wednesday, Sotheby's said it decided to pull the lot because the upcoming auction had generated "a spirited and lively dialogue'' among photo scholars "about the possible origins for the 'Leaf."

This conversation has revealed new areas of research, which will be explored in the coming months,'' the auctioneer said."Leaf'' is a photogenic drawing - a cameraless process in which an object is placed on silver nitrate-coated paper or leather to form a negative image.

It had previously been attributed to William Henry Fox Talbot, considered the father of photography along with Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre. "Leaf'' was among six similar anonymous works that were sold individually at Sotheby's London in 1984. It was purchased by a dealer for $776, and only later attributed to Talbot.

Two of the other six works are now in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and one is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan.

Sotheby's said the hypothesis that the work could predate Talbot was made by Larry J. Schaaf, a leading photo historian and Talbot expert.

It said Schaaf based his theory on the "W'' inscription in the lower corner of the image and the fact that it doesn't resemble a Talbot, among other things.

Credits: Wcbs880.com.

Photo of the day:

Scenery and Sights

Edinburgh Skyline in the Morning Sun

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Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 Beta

Adobe Delivers Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 Beta

Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 beta, a public preview of new and improved functionality to be delivered in the next major release. Lightroom is the professional photographer’s essential toolbox, providing one application for managing, adjusting, presenting large volumes of digital photographs. Lightroom 2.0 beta will feature enhancements such as dual-monitor support, localized dodge and burn correction and will be the first Adobe application to support 64-bit for Mac OS X 10.5 Intel Macs and Microsoft Vista 64-bit operating systems.
“Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 beta provides early access to requested improvements over version 1.3 and continues our ongoing dialogue and open communication with the photography community,” said Tom Hogarty, senior product manager for Photoshop Lightroom and Camera Raw. “We’re excited not only for our existing customers, but also for the general public who will have an opportunity to take Lightroom 2.0 beta on a test run.”
New in Lightroom 2.0 betaAn improved layout in the Library module allows for a more intuitive approach to image organization by simplifying the location of the features needed to find and filter photographs. A new feature called Smart Collections automatically updates collections with images that match desired criteria such as star-rating, keyword or other metadata. “The Suggested Keywords feature eases the task of keywording by making recommendations based upon keyword associations across a catalog as well as the use of keywords in neighboring images.”
Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 beta includes improved memory handling through 64-bit support for OS X 10.5 Intel Macs and Vista 64-bit operating systems. Additional enhancements in Lightroom 2.0 beta include support for a dual monitor configuration that maximizes a photographer’s workspace and can be easily adjusted to meet a particular workflow. Additionally, the Develop module has been updated to provide the ability to correct specific parts of an image without affecting other areas. Now, fundamental photographic techniques such as dodge and burn can be performed using the same non-destructive approach, allowing unprecedented control within the Lightroom program.

Beta Availability
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 beta is available as a 30-day trial for free download on Macintosh and Windows platforms at adobe.com. Existing Lightroom 1.0 customers will be able to test the beta for an extended period until Aug. 31, 2008 and can invite friends to take part in this trial period. Recommended system requirements are Macintosh OSX 10.4, 10.5 1 GHz PowerPC G4 or G5 or Intel-based processor, or Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise, Intel Pentium 4 processor, 1 GBRAM and a 1024×768 resolution screen.

credits: photoshopnews.com

Picture of the day:

Wildlife

The sharp eyes of a mountain cougar

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Multimedia stories in a fresh, engaging way

Lessons from the NPPA Web contest

The future that online journalists predicted is beginning to take shape: News organizations are using video, photos and audio to tell stories in fresh, engaging ways. They are bringing videographers and Web producers into stories early rather than calling them just before the publication of a months-long project. And even news operations that lack anyone skilled in Flash are producing audio slideshows, thanks to Soundslides.

But the 700 or so entries in the online categories of the National Press Photographers Association awards showed that multimedia journalism is still in its adolescence: Many projects lacked mastery of fundamentals and didn't live up to their potential. Judges said they want to see higher production quality, tighter editing, and a clearer understanding of how to use various media most effectively.

Here are some thoughts from the online judges on what's working and what needs work in multimedia journalism today.

What's working

Multimedia isn't the orphan it once was. Entries reflected a consideration of what medium would best tell each part of the story -- video for some parts, graphics for others, audio slideshows elsewhere. "You could tell news organizations are starting to plan stories from the ground up," Angelotti said. This audio slideshow from The Washington Post's "Fixing D.C.'s Schools" project is a good example.

Audio makes the difference. "Other than storytelling -- and let's assume good photography -- the audio, that's what puts one person above everyone else," Breite said. That means well-placed, meaningful natural sound, as well as effective voiceovers. Angelotti said the best voiceovers were those done by the subjects, which enabled them to tell their stories directly. Here's a presentation with great natural sound.

News organizations are using audio slideshows to tell stories. This hasn't always been true; in the past, slideshows have been used as containers for photo galleries. But Angelotti said she observed narrative arcs in most of the slideshows entered in the competition. Judges said there's still work to be done: eliminating redundant photos, coordinating visuals with audio and incorporating transitional, environmental and close-up shots. This Chicago Tribune slideshow demonstrates the power of this method of storytelling.

You don't need a Flash expert on staff to create a great multimedia package. Clear navigation that directs users to the most important content is more important than a fancy interface. And you don't need to know any Flash to produce a great audio slideshow (such as this one) with Soundslides, which has become the dominant tool for those presentations.

What needs work

Don't sacrifice ease of use for something that looks cool. Judges said too many multimedia presentations are hard to figure out. Consider the downside of breaking conventions, such as a back button in the upper left corner. And whatever navigation system you choose, keep it consistent. (As Gitner put it, don't keep moving the car door handles.)

The best interfaces preview the content and show users how to navigate through it, Jenkins said. The navigation on "Soul of Athens" was one of the reasons it was named "Best Multimedia Package" -- its design made it easy to find great content.

Too many presentations lack a unifying narrative thread. In the best presentations, the individual videos, slideshows or graphics told their own stories, and they also connected with the other parts to move the overall story forward. (This sounds a lot like Roy Peter Clark's "umbrella" narrative structure.) Some presentations contained disparate elements with nothing except a common subject to hold them all together. This St. Louis Post-Dispatch package has a strong narrative throughout.

Still photographers should incorporate broadcast storytelling fundamentals. Still photographers are practiced at creating multilayered images and capturing "the moment." But judges said many slideshows and videos lacked broadcast fundamentals such as proper framing of subjects and transitioning from wide, to medium, to close and detail shots.

Gitner said he would like to see still photographers and videographers learn from one other. some innovative online storytelling. "Then we're going to be applying what we think is good visual storytelling to video, and take video to that next level," he said. Notice how this video from The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer captures the best elements of video and still photography.

Don't take control away from the user. Judges complained about autoplays and the absence of stop and back buttons. Sometimes they couldn't figure out how to get back to the home page, so they resorted to refreshing the browser window. Several criticized introductory sequences that "hold the user hostage." And "skip intro" buttons didn't allay their irritation.

This presentation from The (Cleveland) Plain-Dealer won an award, although the judges thought the introduction delayed them from digging into the content.

Don't pack too much in. When the judges reviewed some entries, one would cry out, "Too much!" Don't overload the user. Pick out the best stuff and use it to tell the story. Don't feel compelled to use a lot of material to justify a project. And keep in mind that the user interface can easily become confusing when there is a lot of content.

Just because space is infinite online, don't stop editing yourself. Judges said some audio slideshows contained redundant shots that didn't add to the story. In fact, they said pretty much every entry -- even the winners -- could have used some cutting. Judges suggested some of the redundancy stemmed from photographers not getting enough environmental and detail photographs, so they compensated by adding more of the same stuff.

This year, said Jenkins, "it was the 25-picture gallery. It's hard to tell a story in 25 pictures. It's probably easier to do it in eight or nine." What's called for, he said, is "rethinking the role of editing in an environment where everyone thinks that's the one role they can get rid of."

Credits: Steve Myers (more by author) Contributors: Ellyn Angelotti

Picture of the day:

Scenery and Sights

frost covered winter landscape near Munich, Germany

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Ashton Kutcher Stars in New Advertising Campaign for Nikon

Hollywood's A-list actor and producer, Ashton Kutcher, is lending his photogenic qualities to Nikon to promote the manufacturer's new COOLPIX Style series cameras. The campaign will debut nationally on March 25th with a television commercial, which precedes the print advertisements and an interactive online component. Nikon selected Kutcher for the campaign to bring brand relevance to a broader and more youthful audience. Taking place in trendy locales such as boutique hotels and upscale shopping destinations, the campaign highlights the exquisite styling, fashionable colors, simplicity and great performance of Nikon's Style series compact digital cameras.
"Ashton is the perfect choice for this campaign as he embodies both the stylish and fun attributes of Nikon's COOLPIX Style series cameras," said Lisa Baxt, senior communications manager for Nikon Inc. "Ashton's collaborative spirit, creativity and approachable personality enhanced our campaign which showcases the great style, sleek colorful design and ease of use of Nikon's newest COOLPIX Style series cameras."
"I am thrilled to work with Nikon on this campaign," said Kutcher. "I think technology today represents so much more than just function -- it represents personal style and sophistication. I'm enjoying the opportunity to work with such a well respected brand and a group of highly creative individuals on a campaign that showcases the style, design and simplicity of the new COOLPIX cameras."
The television campaign spots, directed by Emmy award winner Brian Buckley, have Kutcher's COOLPIX camera being discretely taken and passed around by numerous adoring fans who take several pictures with it before slipping it back into Ashton's pocket. Ashton then notices some surprising pictures when he reviews the photos on his camera's LCD screen. The print campaign, shot by legendary photographer Norman Jean Roy, truly captures the sophisticated yet playful essence of Ashton and the aesthetics of the camera. Following the television and print advertisements, the campaign will come full circle with a uniquely engaging internet component, details of which will be revealed shortly.
For more information on the Nikon COOLPIX Style series cameras and other products from Nikon, please visit http://www.nikonusa.com/.
About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image(TM). Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX(R) compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN(R) digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. Nikon D Series digital SLR cameras are recognized as "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Digital SLR cameras," according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Digital Camera Satisfaction Study. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 90th anniversary and announced the production of over 40 million NIKKOR SLR interchangeable lenses. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com/, which links all levels of photographers to the Web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.
For J.D. Power and Associates award information go to jdpower.com.
Web site: www.nikonusa.com/

Credits: KVOA News

Photo of the day:

Sports and Events

Calf Roping a special cowboy event at the Rodeo

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Kodak Enhances Digital Picture Frame Portfolio

Kodak Enhances Digital Picture Frame Portfolio, Adding a New Dimension to the Photo Sharing Experience

ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eastman Kodak Company today announced an enhanced Digital Picture Frame portfolio that will bring consumers a more personalized and intuitive picture viewing experience. Available in 10-inch and 8-inch multimedia, and 7-inch standard photo versions, these sleek and stylish frames host a suite of features including the newly announced Quick Touch Border, as well as accessories for enhancing your home.

Read about the Latest Additions to Family of Frames Boast New Quick Touch Border and a Range of Features for Simple Sharing of Pictures and Videos
at kvoa.com

Pricing and Availability
All KODAK products listed in this release will be available at retail and online at Kodak.com. Recommended pricing is available at http://www.kodak.com/.
KODAK EASYSHARE Software Digital Frames Edition, with Digital Display Software, will be available with all EASYSHARE Digital Picture Frames and free to download from kodak.com.
About the KODAK EASYSHARE System
Kodak continues to bring groundbreaking features to its award-winning KODAK EASYSHARE Digital Photography System, enhancing the digital photography experience for consumers worldwide. The EASYSHARE system consists of digital cameras, picture frames, online services, software, inkjet and thermal photo papers, and accessories-making picture taking, sharing and archiving effortless. All KODAK EASYSHARE Digital Picture Frames announced today include the latest version of KODAK EASYSHARE Software Digital Frames Edition, with Digital Display Software, featuring an array of enhancements to help consumers find, create and share pictures like never before. Version 7.0 Software now includes direct access to KODAK Gallery, making it simple to find albums stored online. The new KODAK EASYSHARE Software Version 7.0 can be downloaded for free. Further information on all KODAK EASYSHARE Products can be found at http://www.kodak.com/

About Eastman Kodak Company
As the world's foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.
To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com/, and our blogs: 1000words.kodak.com, and 1000nerds.kodak.com.

Editor's Note: Kodak corporate news releases are now offered via RSS feeds. To subscribe, visit www.kodak.com/go/RSS and look for the RSS symbol. In addition, Kodak podcasts are viewable at www.kodak.com/go/podcasts. Podcasts may be downloaded for viewing on iTunes, Quicktime, or other PC-based media players. Users may also subscribe to Kodak podcasts via the iTunes store by typing "Kodak Close Up" in the search field at the top of the iTunes Store window.

Kodak and EasyShare are trademarks of Kodak.
Web site:
www.kodak.com/
www.kodak.com/
www.1000words.kodak.com/
www.1000nerds.kodak.com/
www.kodak.com/go/RSS/ www.kodak.com/go/podcasts/

Photo of the day:

Arts and Crafts

Ancient Petroglyphs in Tsegi Canyon

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Aperture 2.1 released by Apple

Less than two months after releasing version 2.0, Apple unveiled on Friday Aperture 2.1, the newest version of the company’s professional photography workflow application. The new version includes an open plug-in architecture that will allow photographers to use third-party imaging software in Aperture.
Aperture 2.1 includes the Apple-developed plug-in, Dodge & Burn, which adds brush-based tools for dodge (lighten), burn (darken), contrast, saturation, sharpen and blur.
“Aperture 2.0 has proven to be a phenomenal success and today we are continuing that momentum,” said Kirk Paulsen, Apple’s senior director, application Product Marketing.
When clicking on an image in Aperture 2.1, you will get a menu where you can choose from your installed plug-ins.
Joe Schorr, Apple’s senior product manager for Aperture, explained the API allows developers to take control of the image and build their own interface. This means that if users are familiar with a certain plug-in’s interface, they will get the same experience within Aperture.
Apple said that over the coming months, third party software developers will deliver image editing plug-ins for localized editing, filters and effects, noise analysis and reduction, fisheye lens correction and more.
Companies that plan plug-ins include Nik Software’s Viveza plug-in; PictureCode’s Noise Ninja plug-in; Digital Film Tools’ Power Stroke plug-in; The Tiffen Company’s Dfx plug-in; dvGarage’s dpMatte plug-in; and Image Trends’ plug-ins that include Fisheye-Hemi.
While the plug-in architecture is the highlight of the new release, it’s not the only change in Aperture 2.1. With the update you now have the ability to flip images horizontally or vertically and the ability to customize your own set of adjustments. The update also improved other functions including import, Quick Preview, All Projects view, image adjustments, books, printing and export.
Aperture 2.1 is a free software update available from Apple’s Web site.

credits: Jim Dalrymple at macworld.com

Picture of the day:

Scenery and Sights

Sunset in Monument, Valley, Utah

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Image could be of historic importance in world of photography

A New York auction house is selling a primitive photograph that could be a much earlier work than originally believed. If so, it says, it would be one of the most important discoveries in the history of photography.

The work, "Leaf," to be sold at Sotheby's on April 7, is a photogenic drawing _ a cameraless process in which an object is placed on silver nitrate-coated paper or leather to form a negative image.

It had previously been attributed to William Henry Fox Talbot, considered the father of photography along with Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre. It was thought to have been made in 1839 at what is widely accepted as the dawn of photography.

But Sotheby's says research by a leading photo expert suggests otherwise _ that several early photo experimenters could be the authors, including Thomas Wedgwood, James Watt and Humphry Davy, who worked in the medium decades earlier. If that theory is true, it means the photo could have been made as early as 1790.

What it will fetch at auction is anyone's guess, said Denise Bethel, Sotheby's director of photography.

"The range is pretty wide," she said. "When we thought it was Talbot, we gave it a $100,000 to $150,000 estimate. Now with this other possibility ... it's certainly far more valuable."

Sotheby's catalog lists "Leaf" as "Photographer Unknown." But the auctioneer says an inscription of the initial "W" on the corner of the photo could point to Wedgwood or Watt as possible authors. Wedgwood died in 1805; Watt in 1819.

"Leaf" was among six similar anonymous works that were sold individually at Sotheby's London in 1984. It was purchased by a dealer for $776, and only later attributed to Talbot.

Two of the other six works are now in the J. Paul Getty Museum and one is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

All six photogenic drawings were contained in an album belonging to Henry Bright of England whose family had a close social connection to the Wedgwoods, Watt and Davy, adding further support to the theory that "Leaf" could be by one of them, Sotheby's said.

Bethel said Sotheby's, in reevaluating the photo, was relying on the expertise of Larry J. Schaaf, a leading photo historian and Talbot expert.

She said Schaaf based his hypothesis on the "W" inscription; the photo's connection to the Bright family; and the fact that it doesn't resemble a Talbot.

The work of Wedgwood, of Wedgwood china fame, Watt and Davy was documented in their day and cited in standard histories of photography, but no examples have ever been identified, Sotheby's said.

"In the end, what is certain is perhaps the only factor that really matters in a work of art," Schaaf writes in an essay in the sale's catalog. "This image of a leaf is extraordinary. It arrests our attention as much today as it had done for at least a century and a half, and just possibly more than two centuries."

credits: amny.com
and ULA ILNYTZKY Associated Press Writer

Photograph of the day:

Seasons

Soft Rime covered fence on a cold December Day

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Significant Savings on NIK Color Efex Pro 3.0 and Fluid Mask 3

San Diego, CA & London, England – March 26, 2008 – Nik Software, Inc. and Vertus announced, today, a new software bundle which offers photographers and creative professionals superior solutions for image extractions and creative enhancements. By combining the features and capabilities of Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete Edition from Nik Software and Vertus’ Fluid Mask 3, the leading tools in their respective categories, photographers, graphic designers, and image editors receive increased creative flexibility at a significant cost savings.

Available on both companies’ websites as electronic download files, the products are being offered together at $429.95, representing a savings of $110, or 20%. The bundle offer is good through June 1, 2008. In addition, current Color Efex Pro 3.0 owners can get Fluid Mask 3 directly from Nik Software at a 15% discount. For download and discount information please visit www.niksoftware.com/vertus or www.vertustech.com/bundles/nik.htm

Nik Software, Inc. is a privately held company that develops software solutions for the growing digital imaging and photography markets. Established in 1995, Nik Software has become the recognized leader in digital photographic filter development and produces award-winning technology and software products for digital photography and imaging professionals including U Point® technology, Dfine®, Viveza™, Color Efex Pro™, and Nik Sharpener Pro™ software. For more information, visit http://www.niksoftware.com/.

“We are extremely enthusiastic about joining with Nik Software to offer this valuable image editing package,” said James Carr-Jones, president & CEO of Vertus. “Using the unmatched masking capabilities of Fluid Mask 3 and the unique image enhancements and effects available with Nik’s Color Efex Pro, image editing will not only be fast and accurate, but more creative. Users who take advantage of this limited time offer will truly be acquiring some of the best image editing products on the market.”

About Color Efex Pro 3.0 - Photoshop Plug-In
Color Efex Pro 3.0 from Nik Software are the leading photographic filters for digital photography, widely used by many of today's professional photographers around the world to save time and get professional level results. The Complete Edition contains fifty-two filters and over 250 effects enabling photographers to quickly perform high quality retouching, color correction, traditional filtering, and endless creative enhancements to their photographs.
Using Nik Software’s patented U Point® technology found within Color Efex Pro 3.0, users are provided the ultimate control to selectively apply enhancements without the need for any complicated selections or layer masks. Using Control Points, users can determine where to apply any filter within Color Efex Pro selectively to their image, further enhancing their creativity.
“The new digital darkroom that creative professionals live in needs powerful software to take full advantage of technology and help them push the limits,” said Michael J. Slater, president and CEO of Nik Software. “Fluid Mask and Color Efex Pro work great together and will help professionals create stunning results with a photographic style all their own,” he concluded.

About Vertus
Vertus is the graphics and imaging software division of Heligon, a technology business specializing in image data interpretation. Heligon's groundbreaking technology uses complex algorithms to mimic the way the eye and brain perform visual processing so that complex shapes and colors can be recognized within images. Heligon licenses its technology to market leaders in industries including design and graphics, printing and video. More information on Vertus can be found at: http://www.vertustech.com/.

About Fluid Mask 3 - Photoshop Plug-In
Fluid Mask 3 offers the most powerful and accurate image extraction on the market. The product offers a “Smart Blending” capability unique to the software, an effective edge detection system, and intuitive workflow resources. The award winning Fluid Mask 3 is currently available for both Windows and Mac based operating systems, and will continue to function as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3 & Elements, while also working in stand alone mode. The program has been deployed by image editors at the National Magazine Company, producers of such titles as Elle, Men’s Health, Glamour and Bazaar, and recently became the first image editing program added to the Getty Images Preferred Supplier Program. The newest version of Fluid Mask is available for download through the Vertus website at: http://www.vertustech.com/.

credits: cameratown.com

Photograph of the day:

Wildflowers

Dandelion Parachute Leaving Home

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Kodak Announces Two New Cameras

Kodak Announces the V1073 with a Touch-Screen
The Kodak Easyshare V1073 is a 10-megapixel digital camera with a 3x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens. It is designed to be a high resolution point-and-shoot camera that is compact with useful features. The V1073 features a large 3.0" touch-screen LCD, a multimedia slideshow, face detection, and HD photo viewing options. It is available now for $249.
Initial Review

Kodak also Announces the Z1012 IS with 12x Zoom
The Kodak Easyshare Z1012 IS is a 10-megapixel camera with an impressive 12x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon optical zoom lens. It is designed to be a smart camera that makes taking family photos an easy process. The Z1012 IS features optical image stabilization, 0.23-second click-to-capture speed, face detection, and smart capture technology. The Kodak Easyshare Z1012 is available for $299.
Initial Review

See images and read more reviews at picturecorrect.com/

Photograph of the day:

Scenery and Sights

Shadow Play on what once was the prison wall of Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

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Adobe ships Mac version of Photoshop Elements 6

Do you want to edit photos and push pixels but don't have the scratch for Photoshop's hefty price tag? Maybe Photoshop Elements 6 is right for you.
Adobe announced today that Photoshop Elements 6 is now shipping. Photoshop Elements 6 software helps photography enthusiasts achieve desired results quickly and easily. New Photomerge technology lets users create the perfect group shot by simply choosing and combining the best facial expressions and body language from a series of shots. By simply clicking and dragging over a specific area, the new Quick Selection tool snaps to the edges in seconds for the perfect selection.
Three edits modes (Guided, Quick and Full) meet the needs of beginner to expert photographers. The new Guided Edit mode offers step-by-step assistance to help users improve their photos. Photoshop Elements 6 software streamlines editing with clean, uncluttered spaces that draw focus to the photos, with new tabs providing easy access to the many capabilities of the program. Additional enhancements include an improved conversion tool that dramatically converts color images into elegant, nuanced black-and-whites.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 runs on Leopard, (Mac OS X v 10.5.2), as well as previous versions of Mac OS X starting with 10.4.8. The software is a Universal Binary application that will run natively on PowerPC and new Intel-based Macintosh systems. Photoshop Elements 6 is immediately available in the United States and Canada for an estimated street price of USD$89.99. Owners of previous versions of Photoshop Elements can upgrade to Photoshop Elements 6 for USD$69.99 with an in-box, mail-in rebate or through Adobe.com.

Credits: macmerc.com
Photo of the day:

Seasons:

Frosted Bicycle during a period of Hoar Frost

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Alabama Town's Photography Permit Draws Fire

MOORESVILLE, Ala. The city of Mooresville is charging commercial photographers $500 for a permit to take pictures of its historic buildings, a practice some are questioning as discriminatory and unlawful.Huntsville photographer Don Broome sent a letter to the editor of The Huntsville Times after he was served with a violation notice two weeks ago and told to leave town because he didn’t buy the permit before taking pictures.Since Mooresville also charges $30 for a business privilege license, it costs commercial photographers $530 a year to take pictures in the north Alabama town, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and has about 60 residents.“To me if I’m on a public street, whatever view I have is mine to photograph,” Broome said. “If I go on somebody’s private property to take pictures, then I’d be stealing it.”Mayor Jerri McLain said March 19 the person who served Broome with the violation must have been confused about the new policy and fee, which began in January.She said only commercial photographers who regularly book multiple clients and actually step onto the property to take pictures are required to buy the permit.Commercial photographers like Broome would be exempt because they don’t have a subject in the photo and aren’t in Mooresville on a regular basis.The Huntsville Times published a story on the matter in its March 19 editions, and the issue also drew attention from area television stations.“I think this has been helpful. When some new policy comes on board, you learn and you get better at it,” McLain said.She said the policy needs to have a description of who the town considers to be a commercial photographer. “We’ll define that in more narrative,” she said.Huntsville attorney Charles Younger helped Mooresville draft the policy and said tourists won’t be affected because it only applies to commercial photographers.A call to Younger’s cell phone was abruptly disconnected and messages left there and at his office were not returned.McLain said the $500 fee was needed to cut down on the tide of photographers who would flood the town at springtime and fight over space at the historic church, post office and tavern.She said a $25 business permit was previously all that was needed and the price was raised to $30 when the photography permit was implemented. The additional money from fees are being used to help preserve the buildings, McLain said.Younger told the Times that Mooresville’s policy was no different from any other town in the United States, but Alabama Press Association attorney Dennis Bailey said this was the first such policy he’d ever heard about.The photography permit “has constitutional issues,” he said. “It’s part of freedom of expression and assembly and to be allowed to photograph what you want and publish it.”Bailey said that commercial photographers need to have a business license with the city where they are selling their pictures, but not a license with every city they visit to take pictures.He said the permit also has a problem by not charging amateur photographers for doing the exact same thing the commercial photographers are doing.“Cities have always been able to charge a permit for doing business in a city,” he said. “But the idea of charging a photographer to come take a picture of a building ... that has First Amendment implications. That’s why I don’t think cities do it.”

credits: http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003729465

Photo of the day:

Scenery and Sights:

This Hoodoo in Bryce Canyon
looks like a dog from Hell to me

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