I very rarely review gadgets on this site. But this is something that may be new to many of you.
When I travel I try to take as little gear as humanly possible. But the Tekkeon MP1580, seen above at bottom right, is on my must-take short list every time I fly with a camera.
Here's why. Read more »
Strobist
Over the last few weeks we’ve launched our brand new Portraits eBook – Portraits: Making the Shot – written by Aussie celebrity photographer Gina Milicia.
But our launch special is about to end in the next 48 hours (details below).
The eBook has already become one of the best-sellers in our library and we’ve had some lovely bits of feedback like these:
“Absolutely brilliant book – I am so glad I bought it! It was worth every penny. There are so many good things in it and I feel completed validated as a new photographer, spending the last 3 years learning as I go! Just lovely! And so helpful. Thank you.” – Christina Dithmar
“Just finished reading your ebook and really enjoyed its simplicity. It’s a great place to start for those new to portrait photography and something I will refer to often for good overall basic knowledge. Thank you.” – Tracy Wilkinson
“just wanted to let you know l really enjoyed your book – especially your style of writing and the way you de-mystified lighting especially!” – Gabbie Hine
We’ve also seen some great coverage on other blogs and even in the media about the eBook. Here’s one we saw in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph:
As a launch special we have two bonuses on offer that both end in 48 hours:
Both of these bonuses end at midnight US Eastern time on Friday 22nd February.
Grab Your Copy Today
As with all our eBooks Portraits: Making the Shot is covered by a 60 day money back guarantee (if you don’t find it helpful just let us know and we’ll refund your money) so you can have confidence that it and the bonus Recipes eBook will be a worthwhile investment in your photographic learning.
Learn more about the eBook here or pick up a copy by clicking the ‘Download it Now’ button below.
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Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
LAST CHANCE to Get these Free Bonuses with Our new Portraits eBook
[ By Marc in Art & Drawing & Digital. ]
Hyper realistic art is stunning for a variety of reasons: it pushes the limits of skill, it’s incredibly detailed, etc, but what really elevates the style is creating something in high definition that is even brighter and more detailed than possible in life. For the casual observer, however, it’s the dissonance between looking at something that must be a photograph, and realizing it was actually created by hand that makes it jaw-dropping.
Diego Fazio is an Italian artist whose careful portraiture is notable because his subjects are active. There are few things as tough to capture withe a pen or pencil as splashing water across a human subject, but Diego does it with excellent effect in Sensazioni, the piece on the left of these examples. The top right piece is Il Silenzio Del Dolore (English: The Silence of Pain), and the bottom right image is titled Come Il Vento (English: Like the Wind). According to Diego’s DeviantArt page, he began as a tattoo artist and then decided he preferred to draw bodies rather than draw on them. If there weren’t photos of Diego working on his pieces, it would be difficult to believe they were drawn by hand. Still can’t believe it? Check out the progression here, here, and here.
Dirk Dzimirsky is not playing around. When he wants to capture a moment, he captures every miniscule detail. One can look at Dirk’s collection here (warning, some images are NSFW). In Dirk’s artist statement, he discusses why he chooses drawing over painting. He notes that drawing allows him “to create many layers over layers of lines and dots which react to each other in order to create a vibrant texture with directions and movement” and argues that this layering makes his portraits more warm and alive than a photograph would. Picture above are four of his works. Clockwise from top left: Drawn Face VI 2009, Black Sun 2011, Frozen 2010, and Breath 2010.
Paul Cadden is a Scottish born hyper realist artist whose incredibly popular art is prized for its detail and subject matter. Cadden doesn’t shy away from the gritty, and uses subjects with an incredible amount of character. In describing hyper realism on his site, and how he draws based on photographs, he hits on a point that seems to be a lesson in hyper realism, that “the virtual image becomes the living image, an intensification of the normal.” All of Paul’s work can be found on his main site paulcadden.com (some of the portraits are nude, and possibly NSFW).
Hyper realism in art is mesmerizing. Take a photo in one hand and then take a look at one of these artists’ oddly perfect paintings and prepare to be shocked.
Click Here to Read More »»
Working with little more than cans of spray paint, 8 talented street artists produce large-scale works of urban art that are so realistic, they look like photos.
Click Here to Read More »»
[ By Marc in Art & Drawing & Digital. ]
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A Vietnamese site is sharing what it claims are sample images from Sony’s new Xperia Z smartphone, compared with shots from both the Apple iPhone 5 and the Oppo Find 5, both of which will feature Sony’s new 13-megapixel Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor. Although we can’t vouch for the integrity of the sample shots, if they’re genuine, the comparison provides an interesting look at what the Xperia and Oppo Find 5’s cameras may be capable of. Click through for the full story, and images, on connect.dpreview.com.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
This is the trailer for our Fashion and Beauty Lighting Secrets DVD. Part out our Pro Photography Masterclass DVD series. Get More FREE Training at my website: www.photography-tips-online.com See how these stunning shots were created from start to finish. Broaden your knowledge of studio and location lighting for Beauty Portraiture and Fashion Photography as Karl Taylor reveals some of his incredible lighting secrets. In this programme Karl shows you 9 incredible lighting set-ups and model shoots in an easy to understand format that will give your images that professional edge. On this DVD you will learn: * Beauty Studio Lighting * Soft Light on Location * Lighting Panels * Soft Dish Techniques * Fashion Lighting * Mixed Lighting Sources for Drama * Fashion Lighting on Location * Beauty Dish and Backgrounds Get More FREE Training at my website: www.photography-tips-online.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
With the countdown to the end of 2012 we’re also closing in on the time that our 20 Great Photography Deals of 2012 will be ending (and when we’ll draw the winner of $ 1200 in photographic gear).
In just 36 hours (as the calendar ticks over into 2013 US Eastern Time) the great deals we put on offer in the lead up to Christmas will close. Among them are some great savings to be had – up to 73% off resources that will help you make 2013 the year of great photos!
Also at that time our competition to give away $ 1200 in photography gear will end. You get an entry into that draw for each purchase you make. Pick up one deal you’re in the draw once, pick up two you’re in twice etc.
A number of people have messaged me for my personal recommendations on which deals I think are best. Really it will depend upon your needs but here are the deals in order of ‘best sellers’ so you can see what others bought this year:
Browse them all at our 12 Days of Christmas page.
Don’t forget – this year we also have brought back 9 of the best selling deals from 2011 – these also expire as we tick over into 2013. Here’s their ranking based upon best seller status last year!
See them all on our 12 Days of Christmas page.
Every purchase made gives you one entry into the draw to win a photographic prize to the value of $ 1200 USD.
You know what your kit need the most – so we thought we’d let you choose. You can put it towards a new DSLR, a new Lens (or two), a Flash, an Apple computer, Photoshop or anything else (based upon recommended retail price on Amazon, Apple or B&H Photo).
To enter – simply pick up one of the deals featured on the 12 Deals page. Pick up two and you’ve got two entries in the draw (each purchase gives you another entry in the draw).
If you’ve already picked up a deal or two – you’re already in the draw with one entry for each purchase.
This competition is open to all international readers – if you win we’ll get you your prize wherever you are.
So head to our 12 Days of Christmas page and grab yourself a bargain and put yourself in the running for this great prize. Enjoy!
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Last Chance: 36 Hours Left to Grab These 20 Sensational Photography Deals
A clever person learns from their mistakes. A wiser person learns from the mistakes others make. This article will identify the most common photography mistakes for you. It’s based on hundreds of hours teaching beginners through to professionals; do you still do any of these? I’m assuming you understand the essentials of photography; grab your copy of Photography: The Few Things You Need To Know if anything’s unclear.
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So many people do this. They’ve invested in an amazing camera, they’ve studied the essential techniques and then they’ve travelled to a great location; but as soon as they’re a little bit tired, hungry or bored – off they go. Even more common is not exploring the scene enough, perhaps assuming that the first photo will be the best. Experience says you’ll get better photos by taking the time to find all of the perspectives that the scene has to offer.
On my workshops, I’m always the last person out photographing before meeting up with the others in the bar. The best light isn’t necessarily before the sun goes down! When you consider that there are billions of photographs on Facebook alone, it’s wise to do a little bit more to ensure your photos stand out from the crowd. If taking a certain photograph is inconvenient and a little stressful, you can be sure a lot of photographers would give up. Keep going a little bit longer than them and you’ll be rewarded with better photographs.
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When you turn on a compact camera, the lens will be at its widest setting. A dSLR lens is generally at its widest when it’s contracted to fit in your bag. A wide-angle is therefore normally a default setting for most photographers. But for portraits, its distorting effect can be incredibly unflattering, especially if you’re very close. To avoid creating a caricature of your subject (and ensure they enjoy being photographed!) zoom in to the telephoto end of your lens. This will flatten the perspective, making for much more attractive portraits. If your compact camera has a digital zoom (a little line when you’re zooming in), turn it off as it only reduces image quality.
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This is one we’re probably all guilty of at times; I certainly am! At slow shutter speeds such as 1/8th and even 1/80th second, the camera will show any camera movement in the photos. Beginners don’t realise, and professionals often assume they’ll be okay and don’t want to raise the ISO. Unless it’s deliberate, camera shake can be distracting, and many competitions and magazines won’t use motion blurred pictures.
The main way to get sharp photos is to keep the camera still, and one of the best methods is to use a tripod. But you don’t want to carry one of these, nor maybe even invest the money necessary to get a decent one. That’s fine. Modern lenses often have technology to reduce camera shake and modern cameras are very good at high ISO sensitivities (so you can use faster shutter speeds). To avoid this common mistake, ensure you’re as still as possible for the split second when you take the picture. Don’t be afraid to use a higher ISO sensitivity if your shutter speed is too slow. And try and find some sort of support to help keep the camera still.
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To get it in, you point the camera up. This causes the vertical lines of the buildings to converge; to appear to slope inwards in the photo. This is made more obvious when you use a wide-angle lens; which will probably be necessary if the building is big and you’re right next to it. Ideally, you want the parallel lines in architecture to be parallel in your photographs. How can you achieve this? In theory, you need to be in line with the centre of the building. This is fully explained by the Pyramid Technique I teach on my courses.
This normally puts the ideal camera position way above our heads. And unless there’s a convenient window opposite our building at the right height for us to use, we’ll have to compromise. Minimise the angle at which you photograph the building by getting back as far as possible. To minimise distortion, use a longer telephoto lens from further away instead of a wide-angle lens up close. Often trees and lampposts will get in the way, so use common sense and get back as far as possible without including too many distractions in the final photograph.
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Last but definitely not least, the majority of photographs will never be award-winning because it’s either not obvious what the photographer is showing us, or because there are too many distractions from the main subject. This common tendency is due to the difference between how we see the world and how the camera captures it. Specifically, we generalise what we see, highlight what’s important to us and ignore what’s not. I covered this in my article on DPS, Benefit From How You See The World. There are several fixes you can try to help overcome this. The main one, and probably the most famous, is just to get closer. Often, people want to capture the whole scene so use the widest possible lens from far away. But this makes the subject seem small, and because the images are probably only going to be seen a few inches high on a screen, a lot of impact is lost. Likewise, photographing people and animals often prompts a fear of getting too close. Do it anyway; get closer. Also, experiment with ways to make your subject stand out using colour and lighting ratios. Check for distractions in your background. And make sure you know what you’re photographing!
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That’s it! These are the five most common mistakes that photographers make. Check to see which ones you’ve been doing without knowing it. Ask a friend if you want a second opinion. Hopefully my ‘hard and fast rules’ will prove useful. As always, take them as guidelines only; ultimately only you can know if you’re happy with the photograph or not. And in case you haven’t already done so, remember to get your copy of my book Photography: The Few Things You Need To Know, priced for less than an espresso HERE NOW to ensure you get the most value from these articles. If you’re already enjoying your copy, tell your friends where to get it – www.GreatBigBear.com!??Ben Evans is an English Photographer in Barcelona who works internationally. Ben teaches photography classes in Barcelona and keeps a photoblog of ‘fine art street’ photos of Barcelona at www.i-Barcelona.com.
Ben is the author of best-selling book, Photography: The Few Things You Need To Know, available now at www.GreatBigBear.com. He is working on two photography teaching projects, Better Than 90 Percent and Holistic Photography.
He shoots Nikon, Hasselblad, Apple (iPad 3) and those little throwaway waterproof film cameras with the plastic lenses.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Are You Making these 5 Common Mistakes with Your Photography
 photoBot photo by Claudine Quinn |
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No, they won’t.
But they’ll take over when you want to take a break from shooting at a party or want to document your day without having to stop what you’re doing!
Meet the anthropomorphic party cameras:
These robo-photographers are meant to be worn, so they’ll document your day from your perspective:
Other robo-cameras of note are Sony’s Party-Shot camera that sits on a base and takes photos of your party for you and the Instaprint, a little box that prints out Instagram photos based on hashtags.
It’ll be a while before humans are completely replaced with robots, but we wouldn’t mind handing over the duties when our hands are full. How about you?
photoBot, the Anthropomorphic Camera [via It’s Nice That]
p.s. Win a JPEG necklace to wear around your neck with pride, just follow our Pinterest today!
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[ By Marc in Design & Graphics & Branding. ]
When Facebook added its timeline cover image, it was likely the first time users didn’t revolt against a Facebook change; it gave the flexibility to truly customize one’s profile page and a lot of creative folks have taken full advantage of that opportunity.
Nothing adds a little energy to a profile like a bit of danger. With clever manipulation and Photoshop work, the small box that usually houses a person’s face can become an epic life or death struggle. Whether it’s running from a lurching Tyrannosaurus Rex, battling a giant clone, or fighting off a terrifying dragon… these profile owners can rest assured they have risen in the esteem of their friends if only because they have portrayed themselves in such an awesome light.
Classic videogames are the door to the geek soul, so it’s fitting that the more creative ones have put together excellent homages to their old school favorites. Dan has entered Streets of Rage as a streetwise brawler, while David has settled on an all time favorite: Super Mario Bros. Power up!
There is something very meta about a timeline cover photo in which the profile owner is pouring something on their own head, and while the subject matter is a bit odd, it’s definitely executed well in the above examples.
There are several ways to react to cover photos that show surveillance equipment narrowing down on the profile owner’s face: They can be seen as a comment on social media and the death of privacy, or they can be a tech-minded individual showing off their love for technology in a creative way. The top images are great examples of the zoom / enhance overwhelming surveillance found in spy thrillers. The bottom example is just plain fun, and likely the most epic use of a “man at a desk” thumbnail ever created.
It’s true… animals attack. In these creative examples this is especially true. It would be interesting to know which way most people would rather go; smushed by a giant crab claw, or consumed by a giant shark? Can’t get enough of these? Check out more of the best, with 24 Poke-worthy Facebook Timeline Covers.
Facebook’s new Timeline caused a landslide of creativity, as all the artsy types and tech-inclined began to push this new playground to its creative limits. 6 Comments – Click Here to Read More »»
The old fashioned billboard is plastered with text and ugly graphics, but there are pioneers who are pushing the limits of a once conservative business. 12 Comments – Click Here to Read More »»
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Five steps to take before you give away a PC, including helping to prevent identity theft.
Is your laptop or desktop computer running slowly and not handling tasks or games well enough for your current needs? Do the latest and greatest applications slow your system to a crawl? Do you need more RAM to run powerful graphics editors and virtual machines, but find your computer is limited to only 2 or 4 gigs? If so, it may be time to purchase a new computer. However, what can and should you do with your old machine besides dumping it into the trash?
* Many charities and schools can put older computers to good use as teaching aids or to provide to the less-fortunate….
Read more at MalekTips.
New Computer and Technology Help and Tips – MalekTips.Com
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