I made some Pics in the last couple of days – please tell me if you like them:
Asus X5DIJ-SX155L 39 Tell me if you like them – i love to discuss the photos with you!
I made some shots in the last months – please tell me what you think:
Fotokalender Weblog Tell me if you like them – i love to discuss the photos with you!
I have taken some Photos in the last days – please tell me if you like them:
Fotokalender Website Tell me if you like them – i love to discuss the photos with you!
I taken a lot of Fotos in the last weeks – please tell me what you think:
08.10.2010
Introducing Photographer Matt Wilson
One of my little side projects around here is to bring you beautiful images of vineyard and wine country landscapes on a fairly regular basis under the banner “Vinography Images.” I've had year-long partnerships with some of the best wine photographers in the world, and I'm thrilled to introduce my latest partnership with photographer Matt Wilson.
I first encountered Wilson through his portraits of some of Chile's youngest winemakers, and went on to enjoy his excellent landscapes of South American vineyards. Matt lives in Chile and has photographed all over Chile and Argentina, as well as other wine regions around the world.
Matt was born in the U.K. and he studied at the International Centre of Photography in N.Y. in the early nineties, going on to become a touring music photographer in the USA, working notably in the Hip Hop scene, with artists such as Mos Def, The Roots, Method Man, Redman, and Common.
After moving to Chile 7 years ago he began working in the wine industry, photographing vineyards, landscapes, wine personalities including many portraits of wine professionals, from workers to owners.
Matt's currently published books are: 'Chile Uncorked' which was published in 2007, following the highly successful exhibition of the same name; and Chile: Country of Wine and Mountains, published by Versant-Sud in Belgium (2009).
His work can be seen regularly in many global publications including Wine Enthusiast (USA), Decanter (UK) and Epicuro (Chile).
His stock photographs can be seen and purchased on his UK agency Cephas.
I hope you enjoy his pictures as your desktop backgrounds or wallpaper for the year to come.
Posted by: Alder on August 10, 2010 8:53 PM
Filed under: Vinography Images
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This is the best single volume on visual design and composition in years. Painters need a book this good. Freeman’s earlier book from the 1980s, “Image,” had long held the status, IMHO, of being the best single volume. His new book surpasses the older one by a significant margin.
Freeman is one of very few photographers, or artists of any ilk, who can articulate their art-related thoughts in concrete, accurate, analytical ways, and not in the jargon of so much of what is written about art that lacks any actual content. Not only is he an outstandingly gifted photographer, with dozens of books to his credit, but one who has mastered the grammar of images and is one of the few who can describe how and why visual phenomena work.
This is the most complete volume on this subject out there in terms of numbers of topics introduced and discussed at a reasonable length. It is also the most effective melding of the insights of current Gestalt perception theory with traditional design elements/principles in print. The first 60% of the book deals with the more concrete aspects of designing an image.
The last two chapters marry the other part of composing that is harder to articulate well: the message in a image, or the photographer’s intent. Only in this book has an author attempted to define major categories of intent in making an image. And then categorizes the physical and mental aspects of how a photographer goes after, constructs, or recognizes an image – the process.
Throughout the discussions he introduces those aspects of digital imaging that a photographer can use to influence a picture’s design. Perhaps the most powerful development is that digital in-camera and post processing technologies allow the photographer to apply to color images all those image control aspects formerly available only in the wet chemistry darkroom to monochrome images, as well as many more.
Make no mistake…. This is a book for readers. One cannot get all of this book’s benefit from the illustrations alone, in the manner of so many “how-to” art and photography books these days that have pictures, but little text. But this is the book to which thoughtful photographers will return over and over for many years.
The only way it can be significantly better would be to have twice as many pages. It would make a wonderful textbook for any studio art, photography, art history, or art appreciation course in high school or college/university.
5 May 2009, update. The number of reviews, number of responses to reviews, and other sources of information indicate that this book is a certifiable best-seller among photography books. The response to this book indicates that there is a large market for information about the structure of images and for effective writing on that difficult, intangible interplay between design and content, or of structure and expression/message.
My hope is that Freeman and other capable author/photographers will publish books delving further into the composition problem. To date, the in-print situation is grim. This one, Mante’s, and Hoffmann’s books are about the only ones yet in English that deal with composing photographs at higher than the most elementary levels. Together these three books comprise quite a strong presentation at the intermediate level of image structure and of various approaches to imparting meaning and expression in one’s images.
There is more, though, that can be said. To date there is no thorough look at the role of similarity and proportion in causing a viewer’s eye to move through an image. That is to say, which characteristics among, shape, size, tone, color, direction, etc., assume priority in one’s eye in which combinations, and how does proportionality, or violations thereof, work?
To date, this reviewer cannot find any published research that updates Alfred Yarbis’s ground breaking insights into eye movement in images from the 1950s and 1960s. His work is quoted to this day as the definitive study in this field. His results seem to imply that many artists’ assertions about the role of “leading lines” may be nothing but bunk.
Do light tones and bright colors really appear to project toward a viewer and darks recede? A Russian scientist has a considerable argument that, in fact, darks are what appears to “project” and lights recede. His work is not available in English.
Is the success or failure of an image still articulable only at the level of intangibles? At this point in the history of the arts and contributions from visual psychology and brain studies, one should be able to make specific assertions about structure and its role in the success or failure of carrying the artist’s expression or meaning.
Unfortunately, there are very few artists or photographers who also write who can focus clearly enough on these nitty-gritty issues to make statements that have actual meaning. An inordinate percentage of writing about the arts still reduces to hand waving and ranting: always has, always will, it seems.
It is one of Freeman’s gifts that he can write analytically and be a very successful, versatile artist. This book’s success indicates that the demand is there for hard-hitting information on images. Three authors does not amount to much of a supply.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is the best single volume on visual design and composition in years. Painters need a book this good. Freeman’s earlier book from the 1980s, “Image,” had long held the status, IMHO, of being the best single volume. His new book surpasses the older one by a significant margin.
Freeman is one of very few photographers, or artists of any ilk, who can articulate their art-related thoughts in concrete, accurate, analytical ways, and not in the jargon of so much of what is written about art that lacks any actual content. Not only is he an outstandingly gifted photographer, with dozens of books to his credit, but one who has mastered the grammar of images and is one of the few who can describe how and why visual phenomena work.
This is the most complete volume on this subject out there in terms of numbers of topics introduced and discussed at a reasonable length. It is also the most effective melding of the insights of current Gestalt perception theory with traditional design elements/principles in print. The first 60% of the book deals with the more concrete aspects of designing an image.
The last two chapters marry the other part of composing that is harder to articulate well: the message in a image, or the photographer’s intent. Only in this book has an author attempted to define major categories of intent in making an image. And then categorizes the physical and mental aspects of how a photographer goes after, constructs, or recognizes an image – the process.
Throughout the discussions he introduces those aspects of digital imaging that a photographer can use to influence a picture’s design. Perhaps the most powerful development is that digital in-camera and post processing technologies allow the photographer to apply to color images all those image control aspects formerly available only in the wet chemistry darkroom to monochrome images, as well as many more.
Make no mistake…. This is a book for readers. One cannot get all of this book’s benefit from the illustrations alone, in the manner of so many “how-to” art and photography books these days that have pictures, but little text. But this is the book to which thoughtful photographers will return over and over for many years.
The only way it can be significantly better would be to have twice as many pages. It would make a wonderful textbook for any studio art, photography, art history, or art appreciation course in high school or college/university.
5 May 2009, update. The number of reviews, number of responses to reviews, and other sources of information indicate that this book is a certifiable best-seller among photography books. The response to this book indicates that there is a large market for information about the structure of images and for effective writing on that difficult, intangible interplay between design and content, or of structure and expression/message.
My hope is that Freeman and other capable author/photographers will publish books delving further into the composition problem. To date, the in-print situation is grim. This one, Mante’s, and Hoffmann’s books are about the only ones yet in English that deal with composing photographs at higher than the most elementary levels. Together these three books comprise quite a strong presentation at the intermediate level of image structure and of various approaches to imparting meaning and expression in one’s images.
There is more, though, that can be said. To date there is no thorough look at the role of similarity and proportion in causing a viewer’s eye to move through an image. That is to say, which characteristics among, shape, size, tone, color, direction, etc., assume priority in one’s eye in which combinations, and how does proportionality, or violations thereof, work?
To date, this reviewer cannot find any published research that updates Alfred Yarbis’s ground breaking insights into eye movement in images from the 1950s and 1960s. His work is quoted to this day as the definitive study in this field. His results seem to imply that many artists’ assertions about the role of “leading lines” may be nothing but bunk.
Do light tones and bright colors really appear to project toward a viewer and darks recede? A Russian scientist has a considerable argument that, in fact, darks are what appears to “project” and lights recede. His work is not available in English.
Is the success or failure of an image still articulable only at the level of intangibles? At this point in the history of the arts and contributions from visual psychology and brain studies, one should be able to make specific assertions about structure and its role in the success or failure of carrying the artist’s expression or meaning.
Unfortunately, there are very few artists or photographers who also write who can focus clearly enough on these nitty-gritty issues to make statements that have actual meaning. An inordinate percentage of writing about the arts still reduces to hand waving and ranting: always has, always will, it seems.
It is one of Freeman’s gifts that he can write analytically and be a very successful, versatile artist. This book’s success indicates that the demand is there for hard-hitting information on images. Three authors does not amount to much of a supply.
Rating: 5 / 5
Tags: flickr, Images, last days, Photos, Pics, pictures, pix photos
I taken a lot of Photos in the last days – please tell me your thoughts:
Plustek Technology Inc. has released its latest imaging product on Thursday, the SmartPhoto P60. It converts old photographs into digital files for use as a backup, for sharing online of for use in digital photo frames. The size of the scanner is enough to make typical four-by-six inch prints.
The scanner can capture a photo in as quickly as 18 seconds, and requires no software for converting or scanning photos. The scanner ships with a protector sheet for feeding through older, damaged or crumbling photos. It plugs into computers using a USB port, which powers it as well. The P60 can scan photos at 100DPI, 300DPI or 600DPI.
The SmartPhoto P60 is now shipping for $99.
By adamg – 8/7/10 – 10:16 am
Photos: Twitter (l), bookingMBTA Transit Police report the arrest of a Dorchester man on charges he fondled himself on a crowded Red Line train during the Wednesday afternoon rush hour – based on a photo and description from a tweeting commuter.
Nay, a rider on the train, spotted the man and posted his photo as the train was between MGH/Charles and Park Street:
#mbta pervert on the 2nd car of the red line going to Braintree just passed Charles help me report him in hat
After another Twitter user urged him to contact MBTA police, he added:
currently talking to mbta officials at park he was putting lube on himself and touching himself. Saw it as I got up n took pic
Lawrence Maguire, 59, of Dorchester, was charged with open and gross lewdness after his arrest last night – not long after the T released a wanted poster using Nay's photo and description.
Innocent, etc.
Final Image
As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:
Step 1
Create a new document (600X900px) and paste in this old paper texture.
Step 2
Now add a hue/saturation adjustment layer (saturation-40). This will reduce the saturation of your paper texture background:
Step 3
Paste in this image of a female portrait.
Step 4
On your layer palette select the ‘add layer mask’ icon.
Then use a soft black paint brush to mask off the edges of your woman’s face and hair until you’re left with an image like the one below:
Step 5
Now apply a top adjustment layer (hue/saturation). Reduce your saturation to -70 and increase your lightness to +20.
However, you will notice that this adjustment layer applies to your entire image. You want it just to apply to your woman’s face, so go to layer>apply clipping mask. Applying a clipping mask means that your layer will be masked to fit to the data on the layer directly beneath it (in this case your masked off woman’s face).
Step 6
Then apply another adjustment layer (levels), using the settings below. Apply another clipping layer mask, which due to the first adjustment layer being clipped will also only effect the woman’s face, and not the surrounding canvas.
Step 7
Paste in these images of fur:
fur photo 1
fur photo 2
Step 8
Select your first fur layer and then go to edit>transform>warp. Use your warp tool to warp your fur to the side of the woman’s face:
Step 9
Then warp your second fur layer. You’ll notice that there is a seam between your two fur photos. In order to fix this use your eraser tool (soft) on your top fur layer to subtly blend the two photos together. Then merge down your top fur layer to have both fur images on a single layer.
Step 10
Now apply a layer mask to your merged fur layer. Then use a soft black paintbrush to mask away the edges of your fur area. You want to create a hair-like effect from your hair, gradually blending it into the side of the woman’s face.
Step 11
Now create a new adjustment layer (levels) and apply the settings shown below. Then apply a clipping mask so that the adjustments only effect the fur part of your composition:
Step 12
Now paste in more fur to the right of your woman’s face. Make sure that these new images of fur are at the top of your layers in your layer palette. Then repeat the previous steps of warping, masking and adjustment layers in order to create a nice effect:
Step 13
Now apply another adjustment layer. This time do not apply a clipping mask, as you want this adjustment to apply to your entire canvas. Make the adjustment layer hue/saturation, and reduce the saturation to -40.
Step 14
Create a new layer called ‘eye color’. Use your lasso tool to select around the left iris of your woman’s eyes. Then fill this with a magenta color. Then change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’ and reduce it’s opacity to 15%.
Step 15
Now repeat this technique to turn the right eye blue.
Step 16
Create a new layer called ’sketch lines’. Use a 1px paintbrush to draw sketchy lines over your woman’s face. Then reduce this layer’s opacity to 15% to make the effect more subtle.
Step 17
Now create a new layer called ‘circles’. Use your circular marquee tool and create a few circular selections over your canvas. For each circle fill it with a neon color to transparent gradient. Finally, reduce this layer’s opacity to 20%.
Step 18
Create a new layer called ‘rectangles’ and repeat the same techniques as your circles layer, filling each with neon colors and reducing their opacity.
Step 19
Now create a new layer called ‘burn’. Use a soft black paintbrush to paint over the shadowed areas of your image.
Then change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’ and reduce the opacity to 50%.
Step 20
Create a new layer called ‘dodge’. Repeat the same technique as your burn layer, but this time use a soft white paintbrush on the lighter parts of your image. Reduce the opacity of this layer to 20%.
Step 21
Create a new adjustment layer (gradient map). Apply the default gradient shown below, and reduce this layer’s opacity to 15%. Do not apply a clipping mask to this layer, as you want all adjustment layers from this point on to apply to your entire composition.
Step 22
Apply another adjustment layer (levels), using the settings below. Reduce this layer’s opacity to 50% to make the effect more subtle.
Step 23
Finally, apply a color balance adjustment layer (settings below):
And We’re Done!
You can view the final outcome below. I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and would love to hear your feedback on the techniques and outcome:
I made some Photos in the last months – please tell me your thoughts:
Fujitsu Siemens TFT Monitor billig
I first came across the photography of Anna Gay on her Flickr Account when doing some research for a post on self portraiture and the 365 project. I don’t remember which image first grabbed me but do remember surfing through the work in her 365 day challenge archives and being impressed by the quality of her photography, the dedication it must take to take self portraits every day for a year (twice) and being interested to learn more about her workflow.
So when Anna agreed to take part in an interview here on dPS – and to talk us through three of her shots – I was over the moon. I hope you enjoy hearing about how Anna approaches her photography.
How did you get into photography? how long have you been doing it?
I first picked up a camera in November of 2008. At the time, a family member was working on a 365 project of photos, and I thought it seemed like a really neat thing to do, so I decided to try my hand at taking a photo every day for a month as sort of an experiment to see if I would enjoy photography, and if I had the willpower to stick to something every day for a month.
I have always really loved to paint and draw, and I have an undergraduate degree in theatre, so the arts have always been an important part of my life. Photography was a new medium for me, so I was curious to explore it further. My first endeavors, though, were not self-portraits – I started off by shooting urban and rural decay, and pretty much anything that caught my eye or interested me. It wasn’t until I had been shooting for a couple of months that I thought, “I wonder what would happen if I photographed myself?”
Day 106: Descent
This shot was from my first 365, and I was still learning about composites, and using stock photos in my own work. In this case, I had an idea for a shot, but no clue how to execute said idea. So, I took my self-portrait in my bedroom, and then searched high and low for tutorials on how to add birds to a photo, and make them look realistic. The main thing I learned while working this shot was how to adjust the levels on the dove to match the light in my shot, and also how to add a drop shadow to the dove in CS4 so that the dove’s shadow would appear on my wall.
The more attention you pay to detail in your photo manipulations, the more realistic the shot will look. I also adjusted the color curves to bring out the green shadows on the wall behind me. The lighting in this shot is from my window, camera right. I also used the “dodge” tool in CS4 to bring out some of the highlights on my hair.
What kind of gear do you use? (cameras/lenses)
These days, I am shooting primarily with a Nikon D90 and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 without fail – I love that setup! When the natural light isn’t quite enough, I have a speedlight SB-600 with a small reflector umbrella. Those are my staples, and if I could only choose one lens and one lighting setup, those would be all I need. I try to keep things as simple as possible in terms of gear.
You are on your 2nd 365 challenge. What attracted you to this type of challenge?
Initially, I started my first 365 out of the desire to learn about photography, but also to learn about myself. However, when I started that first year, I had no clue how much my personal life was going to change, so I think I may have, emotionally, ended up getting way more than I bargained for!
I went through some very dark times, and being able to take and then process a photo every day gave me some sort of routine, a small amount of consistency in my life. The thing I really love about a 365 is that it is what you make of it, and for me, I love to learn new things, so for 365 days, I felt very fulfilled because, no matter what was going on in my personal life, I knew that I would learn something new about photography every single day.
When my first 365 ended, I felt like something was missing from my life without that pressing need to take at least one shot for the day. I started a second year on my birthday in March, and have been having a blast with year two! I post all of my shots on Flickr, and there is something really rewarding about taking a shot you’re proud of, and then sharing it with people around the world.
Day 209: Beach or Bust
Another shot taken during my first 365. When creating a self-portrait, I like to find elements to add to the photo that people will find relatable. I took this shot in a junkyard I found on the way to Hilton Head, SC. I was so excited about going on vacation, and I wanted other people to share that excitment with me.
I had such a feeling of freedom that day, and I knew that VW’s, the idea of the open road, cutoff jeans and bare feet would convey to my viewers that sense of reckless abandon I was feeling on that September day. Part of being a self-portrait artist, for me, is relating to people around me, so I love to find elements to add to a photo that are common ground for all of us.
What’s the most challenging thing about a 365 challenge and how do you manage to keep up with it?
Let’s face it, time is valuable, and none of us seem to have enough of it these days. So, it can be really tough to find that moment with myself to take a shot. Sometimes there are distractions. Other times, I’m tired, or sick, or both. But, I always make the time. I don’t watch much TV, I don’t play computer games, and when I read, it is usually photography related, so in my down time, I am able to really focus my energy on creating an image every day. It is all about priorities, and creating images daily for myself and others is pretty high on my list.
What tips would you give other aspiring self portrait enthusiasts? What kind of process do you go through in setting up and taking your shots?
First, gain an understanding of the basic principles of photography – composition, lighting, balance, perspective, etc. Then, get to know your camera. Make an effort to shoot in Manual mode at all times, and develop a foundation in understanding shutter speed and aperture. If you can get a grasp on those two things (and they’re quite easy to grasp with just a little bit of practice and patience) then the sky is the limit for you not only in your self-portraits, but as a photographer in general.
Invest in a remote – there is nothing more tiring than running back and forth when your camera is on a timer! Find other people who are interested in self-portraits, and get to know them and their work. You will learn so much from sharing your work with other photographers, and you will also find a lot of moral support in them, and that is really important, I think.
Most of all, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re going to have some self-portraits that you love more than others, and some of your self-portraits may be a little embarrassing, but that’s really okay, because all of us are, hopefully, constantly on a learning curve. Always push yourself to get better, but never push yourself to the point of being discouraged. You always want expand your horizons as an artist, but try not to lose sight of the idea that self-portraiture is supposed to be something that is good for you – a healthy exploration of self. As much as you can, be yourself in front of the camera, because that is what is so beautiful about self-portraits – they show everyone else who you really are as an individual. Self-portraits have the potential to be truthful, and all of us appreciate truth.
Day 115: Go With It
This shot is from my current 365, though, I started rotating my shots in year one. One day, I found that if I rotated my shot, it added a completely new dimension to the overall feel of the photo. However, as a general rule of thumb, I never rotate my photos as an afterthought – I always compose the shot with the final rotation in mind. So, for this shot, I tossed my scarf straight up in the air, the rotated the shot counter clockwise so that it would convey that sense of movement to the right.
Playing with rotations has been very enjoyable for me, and I find that it can add a surreal element to an otherwise very simple composition.
I’m also interested in your approach to post production – could you give us some insight into your workflow and processes in this area?
My process varies a lot from day to day! I try to make each shot fresh and new, even if I am building on a previous theme – I try not to do the same thing twice. Most of the time, I will wake up with an idea in mind for a shot, but sometimes I will let the shot present itself to me on its own. My camera is always on a tripod, and I always use a remote. In most cases, I take around 10 shots, load them to my computer, and pick 2-3 favorites. Then, I process the shots in Lightroom and CS4, and choose my final edit from those 3.
For the majority of my shots, I adjust the exposure and white balance in Lightroom, and will use presets to adjust the tones and color curves to fit the overall mood of the look I am going for. If I feel the shot still needs work, I will sometimes add a texture in CS4, and will do any necessary skin retouching. Sometimes, I like to process my shot, then walk away from it for a few hours before posting it online.
I find that putting a shot away for a moment, then returning to it with fresh eyes before making the final touches, can help me see the shot more objectively. Everything I know I have learned from either reading tutorials online, or from talking shop with other photographers, and have found that my process becomes more free-flowing the more technical knowledge I gain. I have reached a point where I tailor my workflow to the shot at hand.
View more of Anna Gay’s photography on her website and at her Flickr Account.
I first came across the photography of Anna Gay on her Flickr Account when doing some research for a post on self portraiture and the 365 project. I don’t remember which image first grabbed me but do remember surfing through the work in her 365 day challenge archives and being impressed by the quality of her photography, the dedication it must take to take self portraits every day for a year (twice) and being interested to learn more about her workflow.
So when Anna agreed to take part in an interview here on dPS – and to talk us through three of her shots – I was over the moon. I hope you enjoy hearing about how Anna approaches her photography.
How did you get into photography? how long have you been doing it?
I first picked up a camera in November of 2008. At the time, a family member was working on a 365 project of photos, and I thought it seemed like a really neat thing to do, so I decided to try my hand at taking a photo every day for a month as sort of an experiment to see if I would enjoy photography, and if I had the willpower to stick to something every day for a month.
I have always really loved to paint and draw, and I have an undergraduate degree in theatre, so the arts have always been an important part of my life. Photography was a new medium for me, so I was curious to explore it further. My first endeavors, though, were not self-portraits – I started off by shooting urban and rural decay, and pretty much anything that caught my eye or interested me. It wasn’t until I had been shooting for a couple of months that I thought, “I wonder what would happen if I photographed myself?”
Day 106: Descent
This shot was from my first 365, and I was still learning about composites, and using stock photos in my own work. In this case, I had an idea for a shot, but no clue how to execute said idea. So, I took my self-portrait in my bedroom, and then searched high and low for tutorials on how to add birds to a photo, and make them look realistic. The main thing I learned while working this shot was how to adjust the levels on the dove to match the light in my shot, and also how to add a drop shadow to the dove in CS4 so that the dove’s shadow would appear on my wall.
The more attention you pay to detail in your photo manipulations, the more realistic the shot will look. I also adjusted the color curves to bring out the green shadows on the wall behind me. The lighting in this shot is from my window, camera right. I also used the “dodge” tool in CS4 to bring out some of the highlights on my hair.
What kind of gear do you use? (cameras/lenses)
These days, I am shooting primarily with a Nikon D90 and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 without fail – I love that setup! When the natural light isn’t quite enough, I have a speedlight SB-600 with a small reflector umbrella. Those are my staples, and if I could only choose one lens and one lighting setup, those would be all I need. I try to keep things as simple as possible in terms of gear.
You are on your 2nd 365 challenge. What attracted you to this type of challenge?
Initially, I started my first 365 out of the desire to learn about photography, but also to learn about myself. However, when I started that first year, I had no clue how much my personal life was going to change, so I think I may have, emotionally, ended up getting way more than I bargained for!
I went through some very dark times, and being able to take and then process a photo every day gave me some sort of routine, a small amount of consistency in my life. The thing I really love about a 365 is that it is what you make of it, and for me, I love to learn new things, so for 365 days, I felt very fulfilled because, no matter what was going on in my personal life, I knew that I would learn something new about photography every single day.
When my first 365 ended, I felt like something was missing from my life without that pressing need to take at least one shot for the day. I started a second year on my birthday in March, and have been having a blast with year two! I post all of my shots on Flickr, and there is something really rewarding about taking a shot you’re proud of, and then sharing it with people around the world.
Day 209: Beach or Bust
Another shot taken during my first 365. When creating a self-portrait, I like to find elements to add to the photo that people will find relatable. I took this shot in a junkyard I found on the way to Hilton Head, SC. I was so excited about going on vacation, and I wanted other people to share that excitment with me.
I had such a feeling of freedom that day, and I knew that VW’s, the idea of the open road, cutoff jeans and bare feet would convey to my viewers that sense of reckless abandon I was feeling on that September day. Part of being a self-portrait artist, for me, is relating to people around me, so I love to find elements to add to a photo that are common ground for all of us.
What’s the most challenging thing about a 365 challenge and how do you manage to keep up with it?
Let’s face it, time is valuable, and none of us seem to have enough of it these days. So, it can be really tough to find that moment with myself to take a shot. Sometimes there are distractions. Other times, I’m tired, or sick, or both. But, I always make the time. I don’t watch much TV, I don’t play computer games, and when I read, it is usually photography related, so in my down time, I am able to really focus my energy on creating an image every day. It is all about priorities, and creating images daily for myself and others is pretty high on my list.
What tips would you give other aspiring self portrait enthusiasts? What kind of process do you go through in setting up and taking your shots?
First, gain an understanding of the basic principles of photography – composition, lighting, balance, perspective, etc. Then, get to know your camera. Make an effort to shoot in Manual mode at all times, and develop a foundation in understanding shutter speed and aperture. If you can get a grasp on those two things (and they’re quite easy to grasp with just a little bit of practice and patience) then the sky is the limit for you not only in your self-portraits, but as a photographer in general.
Invest in a remote – there is nothing more tiring than running back and forth when your camera is on a timer! Find other people who are interested in self-portraits, and get to know them and their work. You will learn so much from sharing your work with other photographers, and you will also find a lot of moral support in them, and that is really important, I think.
Most of all, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re going to have some self-portraits that you love more than others, and some of your self-portraits may be a little embarrassing, but that’s really okay, because all of us are, hopefully, constantly on a learning curve. Always push yourself to get better, but never push yourself to the point of being discouraged. You always want expand your horizons as an artist, but try not to lose sight of the idea that self-portraiture is supposed to be something that is good for you – a healthy exploration of self. As much as you can, be yourself in front of the camera, because that is what is so beautiful about self-portraits – they show everyone else who you really are as an individual. Self-portraits have the potential to be truthful, and all of us appreciate truth.
Day 115: Go With It
This shot is from my current 365, though, I started rotating my shots in year one. One day, I found that if I rotated my shot, it added a completely new dimension to the overall feel of the photo. However, as a general rule of thumb, I never rotate my photos as an afterthought – I always compose the shot with the final rotation in mind. So, for this shot, I tossed my scarf straight up in the air, the rotated the shot counter clockwise so that it would convey that sense of movement to the right.
Playing with rotations has been very enjoyable for me, and I find that it can add a surreal element to an otherwise very simple composition.
I’m also interested in your approach to post production – could you give us some insight into your workflow and processes in this area?
My process varies a lot from day to day! I try to make each shot fresh and new, even if I am building on a previous theme – I try not to do the same thing twice. Most of the time, I will wake up with an idea in mind for a shot, but sometimes I will let the shot present itself to me on its own. My camera is always on a tripod, and I always use a remote. In most cases, I take around 10 shots, load them to my computer, and pick 2-3 favorites. Then, I process the shots in Lightroom and CS4, and choose my final edit from those 3.
For the majority of my shots, I adjust the exposure and white balance in Lightroom, and will use presets to adjust the tones and color curves to fit the overall mood of the look I am going for. If I feel the shot still needs work, I will sometimes add a texture in CS4, and will do any necessary skin retouching. Sometimes, I like to process my shot, then walk away from it for a few hours before posting it online.
I find that putting a shot away for a moment, then returning to it with fresh eyes before making the final touches, can help me see the shot more objectively. Everything I know I have learned from either reading tutorials online, or from talking shop with other photographers, and have found that my process becomes more free-flowing the more technical knowledge I gain. I have reached a point where I tailor my workflow to the shot at hand.
View more of Anna Gay’s photography on her website and at her Flickr Account.
from: Leishas Blog
Andr?S Weblog
Kapitals Site
Tags: flickr, Images, last days, Photos, Pics, Pix, pix photos
from: Laydens Site
Nikitas Blog
Sony camcorder deals are, to many people, superb deals. If you haven’t had an acquaintance with this offer, trust me it is the most appropriate for you. Besides amazing features, the model is also affordable to most people wishing to acquire it. Little beauties of this model with easy Handycam modes make it user-friendly when operating the gadget.
Most people who buy camcorders rarely go through the manuals that come with the gadgets. A close look at manuals of sony camcorder deals will make you realize how spectacular the gadgets from Sony are. Sony camcorders have gained immense popularity over the years due to fantastic features as well as being user-friendly in terms of learning how to use the gadget.
Think of features such as MPEG movie or video recording ability and the ability to produce clear shots even when it’s dark. Most models have a limited ability when it comes to recording is poor lighting conditions, but Sony camcorders have proved to be superficial in all lighting conditions. These models have also been known for their high speed.
It does not take long to download videos from sony camcorder deals to watch them on television and, most times, the videos has been noted to be very clear.
Sony VAIO VGN-NW120J/S 15.5-Inch Laptop – Silver
Posted: August 3rd, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: Sony | Tags: 15.5Inch, Laptop, Silver, Sony, VAIO, VGNNW120J/S | 5 Comments »
- The Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor has a 2.1 GHz processor speed, quick 800 MHz front-side train (FSB), as well as 2 MB L2 cache
- 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM
- 320GB Hard Drive, DVD Double Layer Drive
- Genuine Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
- 15.5-Inch WXGA with XBRITE-ECO Technology
Product Description
pThe VAIO NW120J/S Notebook is a undiluted mobile messenger either your commercial operation takes we cross-country or simply in as well as out of meetings during a office. Whats more, with an discretionary vast genius battery./p… More >>
Sony VAIO VGN-NW120J/S 15.5-Inch Laptop – Silver
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Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick Feature
- MiniDV camcorder
- 10x optical, 120x digital zoom with digital image stabilization
- 2.5-inch color LCD; color EVF
- Records still photos onto tape or included Memory Stick media
- Also includes adapter, wireless remote control, stereo AV cable, lens cap, USB cable, MGI Photo Suite/VideoWave/USB CD-ROM
Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick Overviews
Sony introduces its new Mini DV Handycam camcorder incorporating Carl Zeiss optics, USB streaming and the MPEG Movie EX feature – the DCR-TRV18. The camcorder will record for up to 12 hours or playback for up to 13 hours (with LCD screen off) on a single charge with the optional NP-QM91 battery. The Super NightShot function allows you to capture monochrome video even when shooting in total darkness (0 lux) using the built-in infrared system up to ten feet away. The Super NightShot mode automatically adjusts the shutter speed to increase picture brightness and clarity. With Color Slow Shutter, full-color video is recorded in dimly lit places, enabling users to capture video of sleeping babies and nocturnal animals in color. Sharing special moments with family and friends across the world is easy, with the incorporation of USB (Universal Serial Bus) Streaming into this Digital Handycam camcorder. USB Streaming allows users to stream live and recorded video to the Internet with their PCs using Microsoft Windows NetMeeting. This feature turns the camcorder into a webcam with a simple USB plug-in and Microsoft’s free NetMeeting software. Now parents can either share baby’s first steps live or stream a pre-recorded video of the event to loved ones who can’t be there.
Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick RelateItems
- Sony DVC-60 PR/5 Premium Minidv Videocassette (5-Pack)
Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick Specifications
Capture those special moments with the DCR-TRV18 MiniDV camcorder. The new MiniDV camcorder from Sony creates high-quality visuals, thanks to the 800,000 pixel CCD (which gives a horizontal resolution of up to 500 lines) and the Carl Zeiss 10x optical zoom lens. The Super SteadyShot mode will make sure your visuals stay still, even if your hand doesn’t.
Using the USB streaming feature, the camcorder can also function as a Webcam. In addition to this, video footage can be downloaded directly to a PC via a USB port. This material can then be edited on your PC using the supplied software. Once edited, your masterpiece can be shared with the whole world via the Internet.
The DCR-TRV18 includes the ability to record straight to MemoryStick. As with the DCR-TRV340, you can create movies by using MPEG; your recording time is now only limited by the size of MemoryStick.
Add to these already impressive features a 2.5-inch 123,000 pixel LCD screen, manual focus, 120x digital zoom, playback zoom and Super NightShot mode for filming in very low light and you’ve got yourself an impressive camcorder.
Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick CustomerReview
I am a student filmmaker of fourteen years. Previous to my purchasing of this camera, I had been using my mother’s PD-100P. (My mother is a film producer). I needed to stop using her camera because it annoyed her that I knew more about it than she did, and because I needed the convenience of being able to use a camera without supervision and whenever I wanted. Being parents, my mother and father forced me to do my research on camera’s, and made me earn all the money for it, instead of spending money I already had in savings. From the beggining I knew I wanted a Sony. Everybody in the business talked about how they were the top of the line, the best in every dimension. Still, I looked at Cannon’s, Fuji’s, Panasonic’s, and just about every other make. After my gigantic search, I finally decided to go with this camera because of picture quality, format, Firewire (i.Link), and because of the cost and size. I can tell you, I made the right choice.
A few days after purchasing the camera, a friend of mine (who owns a Cannon) and I got together and did a two-camera shoot for a class production. When I brought the tapes home to edit, I was amazed at the diference in picture and sound quality. Even though we were mostly the same distance away, my camera picked up better quality, denser, and overall more dynamic sound than the Cannon, which I had been told had better sound than the Sony. Of course, the Sony also had much better and more detailed pictures as well. Overall, I was amazed at the quality.
One more thing to mention that is a definit advantage over other consumer camera’s that most people overlook: the Intelligent Acessory Show. (IAS) The Sony line of camera’s are the only ones that have hot shoes (the devices that you plug in get power from the camera). Most other brands feature cold shoes (the devices you plug in have to get power from another source), meaning you must carry extra cords around whenever you want to plug in an external feature, and you have to make sure that there is always an outlet nearbye.
The overall features of this camera make it the best buy for “the money” out there.
OVERVIEW
Pros:
-Size
-Format
-IAS
-Firewire
-Picture
-Sound
Cons:
-Only one con that I have found, and it is so minor, I didn’t even mention it in the main portion of the review. The hand strap is slightly uncomfortable.
I hope this helps you decide which camcorder to buy.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored:Aug 03, 2010 06:15:45
Available at Amazon Check Price Now!
The interchangeable lens consumer-oriented HD camcorder Sony teased us with when it announced its NEX interchangeable lens digital cameras has now been unveiled. As previously revealed, the Handycam NEX-VG10 features the same Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor found in the NEX-5 and NEX-3 and will be able to share E-mount interchangeable lenses with those devices. Calling the NEX-VG10 the world’s first consumer HD camcorder with an interchangeable lens system, Sony says it enables users to capture images and videos with background defocus effects and shallow depth of field.
Interchangeability widens possibilities
The NEX-VG10 shoots Blu-ray quality 1920×1080 video at 24 megabits per second in AVCHD format and 14.2 megapixel stills with its DSLR-sized image sensor providing shallower depth of field to produce shots that help separate the subject from the background. Giving users the option of using a wide variety of lenses including fisheye, telephoto and wide-angled, the camera also seeks to unleash that inner De Milne. The camcorder comes bundled with an E-mount 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS zoom lens, while additional E-mount lenses as well as an A-mount adapter that will allow the use of lenses used with Sony’s Alpha DSLR cameras will also be available at launch.
Additional features include optical image stabilization with Active Mode, silent auto focus and iris control, twin accessory shoes as well as offering more advanced videographers and photographers the option to manually tweak settings such as aperture and shutter speed. The camera doesn’t have any internal storage so images are stored to Memory Stick and SD (SDHC/SDXC) cards. A 3-inch swivel Xtra Fine LCD screen that features TruBlack technology and a pivoting electronic viewfinder should makes it possible to keep an eye on your framing at both high and low angles.
Audio
On the audio front the NEX-VG10’s Quad Capsule Spatial Array Stereo Microphone combines signals from four separate omnidirectional capsules, which Sony says delivers clear stereo audio with a highly directional response. There is also a jack for adding an optional external mic, plus a 3.5mm input and 3.5mm headphone jack for audio monitoring.
The NEX-VG10 comes equipped with an NP-FV70 battery that is good for around 155 minutes of continuous recording, while an optional NP-FV100 battery can record more than five hours of continuous video.
The announcement of the NEX-VG10 coincides with the 25th anniversary for Sony’s Handycam line this month. When it lands this September for around US$2,000 it looks like a present well worth waiting for.
Tags: acer laptop, notebook, sony laptop
HP Home offers the HP 17″ Sport Notebook Backpack in Red, model no. RC735AA, for $24.99. Add coupon code “ACY58341″ to your cart to slice it to $21.24. With shipping at $5.25, it's the lowest total price we could find by $6. Sales tax is added where applicable. It features a padded notebook compartment, accessory pockets, media player pocket with headphones port, padded shoulder straps, and more. Deal ends July 29.
List Price : $19.99
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- Stylish netbook protective sleeve in black with iconic HP Espresso pattern
- Compatible with HP Mini and other netbooks with screens up to 10.2 inches in size
- Secure dual-zippered closure
- Made of padded, durable neoprene
- Measures 11.02 by 7.76 by 0.79 inches (WxHxD); 1-year limited warranty
Product Description
Protect your small notebook PC in our stylish Mini Sleeve. Protect and cushion your notebook with the durable Neoprene exterior and velvet interior. Easily carry the slim design by hand or in a bag. Compatibility: notebook PCs with displays up to 10.2-Inch.Amazon.com Product Description
Stylish Protection for your HP Mini Netbook Keep your HP Mini in pristine condition and protect it from bumps, dirt, and liquid spills with this slim, stylish protective sleeve (model NF869AA), which features HP’s signature Espresso pattern on black. A great choice for carrying your laptop while on the go or in between meetings or classes, it fits any HP Mini or netbook with a display up to 10.2 inches in size. Svelte enough to slip into your most fashion-forward bag and gorgeous enough to carry as a clutch, this padded sleeve closes up securely thanks to two zipper closures. Made from durable neoprene with a soft velvet interior, the sleeve measures 11.0… More >>
HP Pavilion DV4-2140US 14.1-Inch Laptop Review from Geoff Hazel. Good personal laptop but short battery life, I wanted a laptop for cruising the internet and general purpose use. I don’t do gaming. This laptop fit the bill in nearly ever respect, but I was quite disappointed by the short battery life. It seems to discharge at a rate of about 1% per minute, so that gives 1.5 hrs of on-battery use. Yeah, you could extend the uptime by dimming your display but that makes it quite difficult to read. …
Click here to see full story, check price or purchase HP Pavilion DV4-2140US 14.1-Inch Laptop.
Tags: apple notebook, laptop
from: Helders Site
Tyonnas Weblog
Evalenes Weblog
The buzzword in consumer electronics this year is 3D and Lenovo has added its voice to the buzz by introducing the Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d, the company’s first multimedia laptop with a 3D display.
The move follows companies such as MSI and ASUS which debuted 3-D PCs at the Computex trade show in Taiwan last month.
For 3D movie playback, the Lenovo Y560d features an Intel Core 7 processor, 15.6 inch 16:9 screen, ATI Radeon HD5730 1GB graphics card, JBL designed speakers, Dolby Home Theatre sound, wireless N and Bluetooth connectivity, and comes with the necessary playback software and 3D glasses. An optional Blu-ray Disc drive is available as a step up feature.
The Y560d laptop also includes Lenovo’s RapidDrive technology which combines a SSD (solid state drive) and HDD (hard disc drive) to deliver faster Windows 7 boot-up times and improved application performance. Lenovo claims RapidDrive technology means boot up times that are 66% faster, application start times and file copy operations are cut in half.
Additional features on the Y560d include SlideNav – an intelligent touch-sensitive slide bar application for easy desktop navigation; OneKey Theater II for optimized video playback; and an Ambient Light Sensor that automatically adjusts the PC screen brightness based on the user’s distance from the display.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d laptop is available now starting at $1,300.
Discuss in Digital Home’s Home Computing forum.
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At Creative IT you will never have to wait. If you are in and around London,they will offer you professional same day Lenovo IdeaPad Z laptop repair and upgrade services. And they will do that and the most competitive price, without ever compromising the quality of their services. Whenever you are having problems with your Lenovo IdeaPad Z series laptop, Creative IT will fix them for you! Just call them on 020 7237 6805 or email them info@creativeit.net.
Lenovo Ideapad U-550 15.6-Inch Laptop
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The Lenovo Ideapad U-550 laptop will make your life a little bit easier, with enhancements like Active Protection System which protects your hard drive from sudden shocks and an Ambient Light Sensor that adjusts screen brightness to reduce eye strain. And with Windows® 7 Lenovo Enhanced Experience certification, you’ll appreciate fast boot and shutdown, rich multimedia capabilities and easy system maintenance tools. All this in a notebook that’s just 1.2 inches thin and only 5.3lbs. Plus it’s from Lenovo, makers of the legendary ThinkPad notebook. This laptop is now available at Amazon.com for sale and special discount. Buy cheap price and read more reviews by click on link below.
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Tags: hp notebook, notebook
Travis Caldwell