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  • Kodak unveiled its own bitcoin miner at CES, will let you rent it for $3,400 for two years

    If you thought Kodak news couldn’t get any stranger following the company’s debut of a “photo-centric cryptocurrency” called KODAKCoin earlier this week… you were wrong. In a further attempt to cash in on the cryptocurrency mania currently spreading across the world, Kodak has debuted its own bitcoin mining machine at CES.

    The bitcoin miner is called the Kodak KashMiner, and you can rent it for just $ 3,400 and keep a share of the profits you make mining bitcoin for the next 2 years.

    We’ll give you a moment to let the absurdity of those last few sentences soak in before we attempt to put this madness in context.

    …

    Ready to move on? Okay.

    First of all, here is the Kodak KashMiner in the flesh at CES 2018:

    The deal, according to the pictures of Kodak’s pamphlet about the KashMiner, is that you can rent the machine on a 2-year contract for $ 3,400. From there, contends Kodak—who clearly know their stuff, having been publically interested in cryptocurrency for a full 48 hours now—you will earn approximately $ 750 per month, half of which you get to keep while the other half goes to a company called Spotlite Energy Systems in California.

    At that rate ($ 375 per month), you’ll make $ 9,000 in 24 months, or approximately $ 5,600 in profit.

    There’s just one problem with that line of thinking. Okay, actually, there are a few, as many people with actual cryptocurrency mining knowhow pointed out on the twittersphere as soon as news of Kodak’s bitcoin mining machine hit the headlines.

    Basically, bitcoin mining will not produce the same output month after month for 2 full years, even in the unlikely even that the price stays at $ 14,000 per bitcoin. According to bitcoin economist Saifedean Ammous, mining difficulty is increasing by about 15% per month, which means your total output after 24 months will be a lot less than the advertised $ 9,000+. But even if Kodak’s numbers were correct, there’s one other problem.

    It seems the KashMiner that Kodak is so graciously offering to rent you for $ 1,700 per year is just a rebranded Bitmain Antminer S9, an industry standard bitcoin miner that you can buy outright for just $ 2,320—a full $ 1,080 less than Kodak’s 2-year rental fee.

    The Bitmain Antminer S9

    Kodak’s initial cryptocurrency and blockchain announcement on Monday seemed, if a bit strange, at least not entirely crazy.

    Using the blockchain for copyright registration and tracking makes sense (and has been done before), and if Kodak wants to create its own cryptocurrency for photographers, it’s a risk the company is more than welcome to take. In fact, at first, it seemed like a risk that was well worth taking, as Kodak’s stock more than tripled on the news.

    But this bitcoin mining rental scheme feels like something else entirely. If the bitcoin experts speaking out about this online are correct, either Kodak has no idea what it’s doing, or this is a full-blown bitcoin mining scam.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Autel unveils the EVO drone, serious competition for the DJI Mavic Pro

    Autel Robotics released something pretty exciting at CES this week, although it’s stayed (ironically enough) somewhat under the radar so far. Meet the EVO: a folding, portable drone that looks like it could be the first serious competitor for DJI’s extremely popular Mavic Pro.

    When DJI first introduced the Mavic Pro—and later bumped up the battery live with the Mavic Pro Platinum—the company liked to say it had “revolutionized personal flight.” The thing is, DJI kind of had a point: the Mavic Pro was both extremely portable and extremely capable, opening up the joys of droning to a whole new range of potential consumers.

    But with the debut of the Autel EVO, DJI might want to watch its back.

    At first, the EVO seems like an almost shot-for-shot remake of the DJI Mavic Pro Platinum. The folding drone looks very similar, both sport a 3-axis gimbal, both boast intelligent flight modes and obstacle avoidance, they both offer 30 minutes of flight time, and both feature a max operating distance of 4.2 miles (7 km).

    Where the EVO manages to rise above (see what I did there…) the Mavic Pro Platinum is exactly where it counts: in the camera and remote control department.

    The stabilized camera can shoot at 4K/60p (DJI maxes out at 4K/30p) and the remote comes with a built-in 3.3 inch OLED screen that gives you a live feed at up to 720p—no need to plug your phone into your drone’s remote controller. Finally, the EVO also maxes out at a speed of 20 meters per second (44 miles per hour), which is just a hair faster than the Mavic Pro can handle.

    Unfortunately, Autel isn’t quite ready to commit to a specific release date for the EVO, but they did say it will arrive “very soon” and will cost $ 1,000 USD—that’s $ 100 cheaper than the DJI Mavic Pro Platinum, or the same price as the standard Mavic Pro, which can’t quite keep up on battery life.

    With DJI suffering from some PR problems of late, Autel has a real opportunity to steal some Mavic market share here. For our part, we’re going to try and get an EVO in the office for testing as soon as possible.

    To learn more about the Evo, check out the full release below or head over to the Autel Robotics website.

    Press Release

    Autel Robotics Announces New Aircraft EVO at CES 2018

    At CES 2018, Autel Robotics USA announced its new flagship aircraft line, the EVO.

    EVO is a portable camera drone with foldable arms and a sleek, compact form factor. We’re incredibly excited about this product, and after showing it off at CES, are eager to get it out into the wild for our customers to enjoy.

    EVO:

    • 4K UHD 60FPS camera equipped on a 3-axis gimbal
    • Front & Downward (Computer Vision) and Rear (IR Sensor) Obstacle Avoidance Systems
    • 3.3 Inch built-in OLED screen remote controller with 720p live video
    • 30-minute flight time
    • Speeds up to 20 meters per second
    • 4300 mAh Li-Po Battery, 1.3 hour recharge time
    • 7km (4.2 mi) Range
    • Autel Explorer app allowing for intelligent flight features & more

    We’ve been both humbled and honored by the overwhelmingly positive response to our announcement of the EVO. The EVO’s expected price point at launch is $ 999.00 USD. The launch date for the EVO will be announced as we close in further on our release timeline.

    While we are close to launching, we want to ensure that we deliver products that provide the utmost quality and reliability for our customers.

    Last year at CES we set some expectations that we did not achieve. We were not able to deliver a high quality, reliable offering with the Thermal and 1” Sensor for our X?Star series. There are many reasons that these units did not come to fruition.

    We realize that a big part of meeting our delivery goals for our customers is refining our messaging to ensure that we can always do what we say we will do.

    Moving forward with EVO we will focus on that goal of communicating clearly and never overpromising. As such, all we can say for now as to EVO’s release date is “very soon”. We’ll publish details on our website and social media as soon as they are available.

    Thank you for all of your support and feedback!

    The Autel Robotics Team

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • AT&T won’t sell the Huawei Mate 10 in the US over political concerns

    Chinese device manufacturer Huawei was widely expected to announce its first distribution partnership for a flagship smartphone in the US with carrier AT&T at CES this week. However, the carrier pulled out of the agreement at the last minute for reasons that are not entirely clear, though there is some interesting speculation.

    According to a report by the New York Times, it appears Huawei’s strong ties with the Chinese government and a fear of espionage have played an important role in the decision. This means that Huawei yet again won’t have an opportunity to compete eye-to-eye with its main rivals Apple and Samsung in the US, as its flagship device Mate 10 Pro will only be available to buy online, through retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy.

    If you live in the US and are not so concerned about Chinese espionage, the Mate 10 Pro is definitely worth a closer look. With a 6-inch 18:9 OLED screen, Kirin 970 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and its Leica-branded 12MP dual camera setup, it’s firmly placed in the high-end bracket of the market. That’s a lot smartphone for the $ 800 retail price.

    Oh, and its camera is also one of the best among the current crop of flagship phones.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Wedding photographer’s work lambasted by clients in detailed 30-page report

    A dissatisfied newlywed couple in Hong Kong have reportedly published a 30-page report that extensively details the various issues they have with photos taken by their wedding photographer.

    The critique, which was released on Chinese social media and later published in a report by DCFever, is said to be written like a lab report, including highlighted explanations of alleged issues in individual images. Many of the images even included a rule-of-thirds overlay with specific compositional mistakes pointed out.

    According to DCFever’s video, the critique was “leaked” onto social media, where it has since been heavily discussed. Complaints reportedly include overexposed backgrounds and framing issues, with some commentators agreeing and others backing the photographer by saying that the photos hadn’t yet been retouched.

    It is unclear based on DCFever’s written report whether the photos had been retouched before the couple received them, and whether the photographer was paid for their work. But if you want to see the full report for yourself, DCFever published several screenshots with thumbnails of the alleged wedding photos… for better or worse.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Sony a9 firmware 2.00 brings improvements to continuous AF and more

    Sony has released firmware version 2.00 for its flagship a9 mirrorless camera. The most notable improvements are to continuous AF, with the company claiming enhanced performance while tracking as well as more stability when zooming.

    Speaking of stability, the firmware should bring general bug fixes and reliability enhancements, and the overheating warning function is more accurate, according to Sony.

    There are also a number of improvements related to metadata which you can find in the press release below. The firmware update is now available for download.

    Press Release

    Firmware version 2.00 provides the following benefits:

    Continuous AF Enhancements:

    • Enhanced performance of continuous auto focus on moving subjects
    • Enhanced stability of the AF-C when zooming

    Added Functions:

    • Adds the function to assign Protecting images to custom Key
    • Adds the function to transfer (FTP) protected files at once
      Note: Only for images protected using version 2.00 or higher.
    • Displays wired LAN MAC address
    • Inputs IPTC metadata to files
      Note: IPTC information must be created beforehand using the IPTC Metadata Preset software.
    • Inputs camera serial number to metadata

    Other Improvements:

    • Improves operational stability
    • Improves accuracy of the overheating warning function

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Tips for Making the Most of Morning Light for Portraits

    There’s something about taking photos in the magical morning light that makes my heart so happy. Maybe it’s because of the extra effort it takes to be outside in the crisp morning air when your family is still in bed. It could also be because morning sessions are more uncommon, so they feel a little more special. Most likely it’s because that soft, beautiful light just glows, and looks just a little different from the light later in the day, or evening.

    How to Make the Most of Magical Morning Light

    If you’re a night owl, and can’t imagine getting out of a nice warm bed just to take some pictures, let me try and convince you to give it a try. You might become a morning person, just for that incredibly gorgeous morning light.

    Time it Right

    The best time to start a morning session is right around sunrise. I have an app on my phone that will tell me what time the sun rises in my area on any date. I like to start about 15 minutes after sunrise. The light level is usually fairly low right at sunrise, so I give a little bit of time for things to lighten up before starting.

    The nice thing about using that morning golden hour versus the evening golden hour is that you can take as much time as you need. In the evening you have to decide when it’s the exact right time to start. You want to use the best light right near sunset, but you don’t want to start too late and not have enough time before it’s too dark. If you start too early, you could be done before the beautiful golden sunset light shows up.

    Morning light at sunrise takes care of that problem. You start with that gorgeous glowy light and shoot until you’re done. No light is ever wasted.

    How to Make the Most of Magical Morning Light - portrait

    Morning Weather is Usually Good

    Depending on where you live, you might have better luck with the weather in the morning. In my area, it’s usually less windy than it can get in the afternoon. Most mornings are calm and still. Oftentimes there’s a light hazy cloud cover that makes any shooting direction work, so you can use your backgrounds to their fullest extent.

    More often the rain and storms come a little bit later in the day. It’s not always the case that you get beautiful weather in the morning, but more often than not, it’s perfect conditions for shooting.

    The only negative would be during the colder times of the year when mornings are brisk, or even downright freezing. I just instruct my subject to dress warm, and I wear fingerless gloves and a coat with pockets, so I can try to keep my hands as warm as possible.

    How to Make the Most of Magical Morning Light - golden portraits of two girls

    Morning Light has a Special Quality

    There’s a softness to morning light that you just don’t see most afternoons and evenings. It feels like it wraps around the subject a little more, and has a bit less intensity compared to light later in the day. It can be easier to work with because you won’t have as much glare in your lens when backlighting (facing your subject away from the sun).

    You can face your subject toward the sun easier too, because the light isn’t quite as harsh, so they don’t squint as much. The shadows on faces aren’t as pronounced, and everything feels a bit softer. The light isn’t usually as warm as it is in the evening, so sometimes I warm the photos up a bit more in post-processing, but there are times when the cooler light is simply stunning.

    How to Make the Most of Magical Morning Light

    Be Different, Learn Something New

    Many times when I’ve shared photos from a morning session, people have told me that they love the photos, but they don’t quite know what makes them so special. Most photographers are out there during the evening golden hour, and that little bit of difference you’ll see in a morning photo will set you apart from everyone else.

    Your photos will have a quality to them that other photographers might not be able to put their finger on. I don’t do every photo session in the morning, in fact, most of my sessions are later in the day, but doing something different, outside of the norm, sets you apart from other photographers, and it also opens you up to more inspiration and creativity.

    Every time we do something a little different, we learn new things, and sometimes discover something new that takes our photography to the next level. Shooting in the morning is just one of those things you can do differently, but it’s a big one. It might even be a game changer for you.

    How to Make the Most of Magical Morning Light

    Wake Up

    How do you convince your next photography subject to get up early in the morning and get ready for a photo session when they could be sleeping longer? How do you convince yourself to get out in the brisk morning air with your camera when you could be snuggled under the covers?

    The best way to convince anyone is to look at the results. I’ve had clients get up at 4:00 am to be ready for a session because beautiful photos were more important than a little bit more sleep. They can always take a nap later. If you can convince one person to give it a try, you might convince a lot more to do it too, once they see those photos.

    You will love the feeling of accomplishing something wonderful first thing in the morning, and then having the rest of the day to edit and play. So, set that alarm and give that morning light a try!

    How to Make the Most of Magical Morning Light

    Are you a lover of a beautiful sunrise and glowing morning light? Share your morning photos, people or nature, in the comments. I’d love to see what you’ve captured while your neighbors were still in their pajamas!

    How to Make the Most of Magical Morning Light

    The post Tips for Making the Most of Morning Light for Portraits by Melinda Smith appeared first on Digital Photography School.


    Digital Photography School

  • Yuneec’s new Typhoon H Plus drone boasts a 1-inch sensor camera that shoots 4K 60p

    Hong Kong drone manufacturer Yuneec has announced three new drones at CES, including an update to the popular Typhoon H that boasts a bigger sensor with more resolution and the ability to shoot 4K at 60fps.

    The company is also preparing to move into the fixed-wing category with its Firebird FPV, and take on the racing drone sector with the compact HD Racer.

    Yuneec Typhoon H Plus

    The Typhon H Plus now uses a 1-inch, 20MP sensor along with a wide aperture lens that results in better low light performance. The company doesn’t specify what the aperture is, but it does say that the lens has a focal length equivalent to that of a 23mm lens on a full frame body. The ISO range runs from 100 to 6400, and shutter speeds of between 4-1/8000sec are possible.

    The drone has a flight time of up to 25 minutes and can reach speeds of 13.5 meters per second (just over 30 miles per hour). With six large rotors the hexcopter provides stable flight in winds of up to 30mph, while a new design sees the machine producing 40% less noise.

    Yuneec Firebird FPV

    For a completely different experience, the fixed-wing Firebird FPV, “enables the user to fly just as if they were in the cockpit of a real airplane.”

    The airplane has a 13MP-sensor camera and can also shoot 4K video. It uses a ‘short-latency’ digital video link to stream footage back to Earth in high-definition. The craft is simple to fly and, according to Yuneec, can remain in the air for up to 30 minutes on a single charge.

    Yuneec HD Racer

    The HD Racer is designed to be a fun, portable quadcopter for use in indoor racing. It has a 13MP camera that can record 1080p video at 60fps, and it has a handy flip-over feature that allows the user to right the craft remotely should it land upside down at any stage.

    The Typhon H Plus and Firebird FPV will ship in the first half of 2018 and will cost $ 1,800 and $ 700, respectively. The HD Racer will come out later in the year, and should cost $ 180. For more information on any of these drones, visit the Yuneec website.

    Press Release

    Yuneec unveils new product releases at CES 2018

    Las Vegas (Jan. 09, 2018) – Yuneec entered two new categories with the unveiling of the all-new fixed wing Firebird FPV and all-new HD Racer for a more immersive flight. Additionally, the company announced the second generation of its proven six-rotor hex platform, Typhoon H Plus—its most powerful consumer product yet.

    The category expansion and product line advancements are a result of Yuneec’s ongoing commitment to deliver industry leading technologies and pilot-centric features for an unparalleled electric aviation experience.

    Typhoon H Plus

    Typhoon H Plus is packed with powerful features and professional image quality that photographers at any skill level will enjoy. The second generation of Typhoon H features Yuneec’s all-new, larger, highly stable six rotor hex airframe.

    With a 40 percent reduction in noise from previous hex models, and stable flight in winds up to 30mph, H Plus leads its category in stable flight and quiet operation.

    Designed with the creative consumer in mind, Typhoon H Plus is equipped with a high aperture one-inch sensor camera capable of 20 megapixel stills and 4K resolution video at 60fps. The new model also boasts an improved low-light performance compared to previous models. A continuous rotation gimbal combined with retractable landing gear provides seamless 360-degree unobstructed views.

    Typhoon H Plus comes equipped with Intel® RealSense™ Technology, a sophisticated collision avoidance system that detects obstacles and intelligently navigates around them. With this feature, drone pilots can worry less about obstacles and focus more on their flight path and camera work. Additionally, the Typhoon H Plus is accompanied by a newly redesigned Android-based ST16S controller, which includes a large, high brightness seven-inch integrated display and HD 720p video downlink for stunning real-time video reception.

    HD Racer

    The HD Racer, Yuneec’s first racing drone, fits in the palm of your hand and once in the air, gives pilots an immersive experience with cutting-edge technology.

    Built-in flight stabilization, with beginner and advanced modes, allow any skill level of pilot to experience the nimble, action packed experience of a racing drone. Its compact size, protected blades, and durable construction make it safe to fly indoors.

    While in the air, pilots can seamlessly navigate through any obstacle with an optimized, all-digital, low latency HD video downlink. Additionally, pilots can record and share their best racing moments in high resolution 1080p at 60fps. If pilots do catch an obstacle, ‘Flip-Up’ mode automatically uprights the downed HD Racer to maximize flying and minimize downtime.

    Firebird FPV

    Firebird FPV provides a fully immersive real-time outdoor flight experience, allowing the user to fly as if they were in the cockpit of a real airplane.

    The lightweight fixed-wing design extends the flight time to 30 minutes, which allows users to experience the true nature of piloting an aircraft in one continuous journey. Whether soaring the open sky or performing acrobatic maneuvers including inverted flight, rolls and loops, the Firebird FPV elevates the senses for new and experienced pilots alike.

    Its operation is simple and easy to fly at any skill level. Pilots can enable Safety Mode to remove all concern of flying too low by making it impossible to descend below the set floor altitude. Pilots will also appreciate Return Home, Geo Fence and Auto Landing capabilities of this easy-to-use fixed wing aircraft.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Photo Editing Software Options for Linux Users

    Do you use Linux and wonder what your alternatives are when it comes to photo processing? Are you a photo enthusiast trying to find alternatives to your current software? Or perhaps you’ve read this far and still have no idea what I’m talking about—great! This article is for all of you.

    Why Linux, and what is it anyway?

    In short, Linux comes in a range of different flavours (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.) but the common core in all of them is an operating system built primarily around free and open-source software. Many people choose Linux not only because it’s free, but also for the security and stability it offers, as well as the chance to gain more control over and knowledge about the software they use.

    Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a computer whiz to use Linux. All you need is some basic knowledge about how to use computers and a willingness to learn.

    Even if you’re not a Linux user, you might still benefit from learning about some of the free Lightroom and Photoshop alternatives that are available by reading this article.

    01 post processing linux

    There are two ways to install software on Linux: the one that makes you look cool, and the software installation program. It’s up to you which you choose!

    I’ve done all my photo processing in Linux since 2012, the same year I started working as a professional photographer. The main challenge was not that I haven’t been able to use Lightroom or Photoshop, but to find alternatives and choose between them.

    This has involved a decent amount of research, so to help you on the way I’ve decided to collect my findings in this article. Hopefully this is a first step in your research process, leading you to a solution that works best for you.

    As will become apparent soon, using Linux doesn’t even mean that you can’t use Lightroom, Photoshop, or any other program you prefer; it may just take a bit of tweaking. The important thing is to use something that can deliver what you need, not what others think you need.

    02 post processing linux

    Finding photo editing software that works for you is a continuous process.

    Figuring out the alternatives

    To choose the software that works best for you, you have to ask yourself what it is you’re looking for. Do you need a photo editor? Do you want to be able to manage and catalogue your photos? Is it the ability to process RAW photos you’re after? Or maybe all of the above?

    Some of the programs I’ll be presenting here can offer everything, others are only suited to specific tasks. I’m going to be focusing on solutions that offer photo editing (including RAW processing), and less on photo management software.

    The other important thing is to know what’s out there, and that’s the goal of the rest of this article.

    Alternative 1: Using software that works directly in Linux

    These are the programs that can be installed directly on your system. All of these are open-source and free, and they work in Linux, Windows, and Mac OS, unless otherwise stated.

    Darktable

    Darktable allows you to manage and process photos, including RAW images, in Linux and Mac OS. The two main tasks are separated into two spaces; the light-table for managing and cataloguing, and the darkroom for editing and processing photos.

    As you may have noticed, the name of the software is a combination of those two words, just like Lightroom. It’s a powerful and non-destructive editor which requires a bit of time to get used to, but for anyone who has ever used post-processing software before, it’s not a problem.

    03 post processing linux

    Raw Therapee

    Raw Therapee is a post-processing program for RAW images which works in most operating systems. It can be used to manage photos, but if you have a big collection, it’s good to combine it with software specifically aimed at image management, such as DigiKam. It’s easy and intuitive to use.

    04 post processing linux

    Rawstudio

    With Rawstudio you can process RAW images, as the name suggests. It works in Linux and Mac OS, but not in Windows. It’s especially good for bulk processing and it can read essentially any RAW image format. It doesn’t support the latest versions of Debian, so if you’re using Ubuntu and have a newer version than 13.10, it won’t work for you.

    Photivo

    Photivo is another RAW image processing program. I’ve never used it, but it supposed to be good once you learn how to handle it, which might take a bit of time due to the number of different options. You can’t manage or catalog your photos with it, but if it sounds tempting anyway, you can combine it with one of the many great stand-alone photo management programs out there.

    05 post processing linux

    GTKRawGallery

    GTKRawGallery is a lightweight program for managing and processing RAW images. It doesn’t work very well if you’re processing a lot of photos, but it’s faster for single image edits. It works in Linux and Windows, but not in Mac OS.

    Corel AfterShot Pro3

    Corel AfterShot Pro3 is the only commercial processing software I’m going to mention, as it’s the only one that works directly in Linux and provides a good alternative to software such as Lightroom.

    It’s not open-source, unlike all the other software mentioned so far. But, there is a free 30-day trial, which might help you decide between alternatives. It’s the program I use for my everyday and professional photo management and post-processing needs.

    06 post processing linux

    GIMP

    It’s difficult to talk about photo editing software in Linux without mentioning GIMP. This program won’t read RAW files without some tweaking, so many use it for post-post-processing, such as saving in a variety of different formats, retouching, and even drawing.

    It’s free, open-source, works in many different operating systems, and with the right add-on, it can also open RAW files.

    07 post processing linux

    Alternative 2: Using tools developed for other operating systems

    If you have a favorite piece of software that doesn’t work in Linux, don’t despair! There are a few ways for you to use popular programs like Lightroom and Photoshop without giving up on Linux.

    1. Virtual machine

    A virtual machine is a software that makes it possible for your computer to act like another computer, it basically works like a second physical computer in your operating system. You can install the operating system of your choice in the virtual machine, and use it as if it were, for instance, a Windows computer.

    VirtualBox is a free, open-source virtual machine I use when I really need to run a program in Windows.

    08 post processing linux

    My virtual machine running Windows 7 on my Linux computer.

    Apart from making it possible to install software that only works in non-Linux operating systems on your Linux machine, a virtual machine is useful compared to having separate partitions, because you don’t have to reboot to use it and you can easily share files between systems, have a joint clipboard, etc.

    The drawbacks are that the virtual machine won’t be as efficient at using the available hardware as a normal machine. That can prove to be a problem for big and heavy programs such as Photoshop and Lightroom (but with a modern computer you’ll probably be okay).

    2. Wine

    Wine is a free, open-source interface that lets you run Windows software in Linux. Unlike a virtual machine, Wine doesn’t work like a separate computer; instead, it makes the software think it’s in Windows. That also means you don’t get the added security of a virtual machine, where the program is running on a virtual computer instead of directly on yours.

    09 post processing linux

    Boosting productivity with Wine.

    One great thing about Wine is that you can run software for different Windows versions; backward compatibility is better than in Windows itself. However, all Windows software won’t necessarily run in Wine, and getting a program to work can sometimes involve lots of tinkering.

    PlayOnLinux is a free, open-source tool that takes the hassle out of setting up programs in Wine. CrossOver is a similar option but it’s proprietary and is commercial – on the other hand, that means you have someone you can call if things aren’t working.

    Conclusions

    As you can see, being a photographer and Linux user is not at all incompatible. There are many different alternatives out there. Also, it’s always nice to find great, supported, and constantly developed photo processing software that is also free!

    What software do you use for your photo processing, and why? Do you have more alternatives to add to this incomplete list? I would love if you shared your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

    The post Photo Editing Software Options for Linux Users by Hannele Luhtasela-el Showk appeared first on Digital Photography School.


    Digital Photography School

  • CIPA’s November numbers show the digital camera market’s continuing decline

    Graph: CIPA

    The Japanese Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) has released its numbers for November 2017, and they don’t make for pleasant reading. In short: the downward trend in the digital camera market continues, with only 2,166,788 DSC units shipped in November 2017, or approximately 17% percent lower than the previous year.

    Looking back further is even more depressing: almost an entire million more units were shipped in the same month in 2015.

    The situation looks very similar when looking at interchangeable lens cameras separately. With just over one million shipped, the total in November is approximately 20% lower than the same month of the two previous years.

    Due to smartphones taking over as the go-to imaging device for casual users, the market for digital cameras with built-in lenses has been plummeting for a while. At 1,163,523 units shipped, this market segment has now, at least in terms of shipments, almost shrunk to the same level as the interchangeable lens bracket.

    The year-on-year decrease for November is not as dramatic for DSLRs and system cameras, but compared to two years ago, the number of cameras with built-in lenses that have been shipped has been cut almost in half.

    Graph: CIPA

    Barring earthquakes and other natural disasters in the camera manufacturing regions, November tends to be one of the stronger month in camera retail, making this report all the more disappointing. Let’s hope the December numbers provide some reason for optimism when they arrive next month.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • The Importance of Diversification as a Photographer

    There’s an idea that has been perpetuated, however unintentionally, that photographers do one thing and one thing only. The illusion is that someone who carries the title of “professional photographer” must simply make photographs, sell them, and that is the sole source of their income.

    It’s true that there are some of us who do in fact make our way exclusively through our photography as an end in itself. I feel that most if not all of us camera jockeys (especially the landscape and nature types) hold as an ultimate goal the notion that one day we can reach a point in our careers when our photographs alone can carry us through life.

    The Importance of Diversification as a Photographer

    A few years back I was happy to learn and am equally glad to tell you now, that most if not all photographers are extremely diversified in the way they make a living from photography. Even most of the greats…from Ansel Adams to Cartier-Bresson, did other forms of photo-related work until they become famous enough to concentrate on their photography as a full-time job.

    Almost every photographer diversifies to some extent. In this article, we’re going to talk about why it’s so important to branch out into other areas of photography beyond just making photos.

    The Art of Diversification

    It’s not generally disclosed to us when we first start out in photography that the majority of professional shooters don’t simply make their living from selling prints. This is especially true during these enormously competitive days when everyone with a cell phone is a “professional” photographer.

    The truth is, it’s just plain difficult to make money from the sale of prints alone. You have to diversify in order to survive. The great thing is, if you’re truly in love with photography, everything that you do that centers around your beloved medium doesn’t seem like work. And it’s that word, “work”, that makes the world go round.

    The Importance of Diversification as a Photographer

    Diversifying yourself means that you will likely need to take a tiny step just outside the perimeter of your comfort zone. You must actively be on the watch for new opportunities to either market yourself through new outlets and to investigate what possibilities might be available to you. The key is to not limit yourself just because a certain opportunity is new to you or because it may not involve actual camera work.

    Ways to Diversify Yourself

    You may be thinking, “Alright, I need to diversify…but how and with what?” This goes back to what we spoke about a little earlier about how today’s world of digital photography has become more far-reaching than ever before. There is an incredible number of new ways for you to branch out into other areas of photography. Really, you are only limited by your ambition and your willingness to seek out brand new streams of creativity and dare I say, fresh revenue.

    The Importance of Diversification as a Photographer

    The most rewarding method to diversify yourself and your horizons, is by helping your fellow photographers through artistic and technical education.

    I got my own start in the photographic educational world right here at Digital Photography School. That opened up amazing new opportunities for me to not only expand myself as a photographer but also to help others who are just beginning their own journeys. Look for ways to give back to your peers and teach what you know. This could be through writing, giving photography workshops, educational videos, and even gear reviews.

    The Importance of Diversification as a Photographer

    By no means are these the only ways to branch out and diversify yourself. The key is to start looking for the outlets to begin with. Once you do, you might be shocked to learn about all the ways photography impacts people’s lives beyond the obvious.

    If you’re not keen on the educational route (you should really try it) then keep searching and be open to other areas of enrichment. Start a newsletter showcasing your work and link to gear you use (there are some great affiliate programs out there to help you make an income that way). Try blogging about your photo outings. Building a simple blog space is easier than ever these days. Most importantly, don’t allow yourself to grow stagnant and stop looking for ways to grow.

    Some Final Thoughts….

    Is it possible to make a living from only selling prints or through only making photographs? Absolutely. Depending on your own genre of photography it could be more or less difficult. Generally, the majority of photographers whose main income does, in fact, come from print sales find themselves looking for other ways to incorporate photography as a part of a larger professional whole.

    I found that I loved teaching others about photography and writing about all the aspects of making photographs. This led me to produce my own Lightroom presets and a whole host of other unlikely photography related jobs that I could never have imagined were possible only four or five years ago.

    The most important thing to remember is that diversifying yourself and your talents can do nothing but good and help you to grow as a photographer. Never stop looking for ways to advance yourself not only monetarily but also creatively in your work. Branch out. Reach out. Carpe consequat…seize the photography.

    The post The Importance of Diversification as a Photographer by Adam Welch appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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