STILL IMAGING

New Classes at the Minneapolis Photography Center

2012-01-26T10:13:00.000-06:00

New classes have been announced for beginning and intermediate photographers at the MPC.

Click on the image below for more details, or go to MPC.

Pindelski.org - Photography on the web

2012-01-25T12:40:00.001-06:00

http://pindelski.org/Photography/

There are some great sites on the web about photography. My suggestion is to look at photos on the web, in books, and magazines. Be inspired.

DPS and TCDigi Exhibition

2012-01-21T18:07:00.000-06:00

The DigitalPhotographic Society and Twin Cities Digital have joined together to present ajoint photographic exhibition at Colonial Church of Edina, Minnesota. Our artists will be showing 68 of their best images from January18, 2012 through March 6. Colonial Church is located at 6200 Colonial Way, Edina, Minnesota 55436.

An artist's reception for the Colonial Exhibit has been set for Monday,January 23 from 7pm-9pm at the Colonial Church in Edina. Please stop by and enjoy the Exhibition.

DPS and TCDigi are salon style organizations where artists gather to discuss their latest efforts and to seek advice and support. Although many of the members are serving photo judges for the Camera Council of the Twin Cities, no judging or scoring takes places at the salons. Artistic experimentation is actively encouraged through open discussion. Most members also attend other camera clubs with judging processes.

http://digitalphotographicsociety.com/
www.tcdigi.org

Rick Sammon and Self Publishing (he says you should)

2012-01-19T18:48:00.003-06:00

Why I (and you should) Self Publish & Confessions of a Publisher & Please Don't Drown:

About three years ago, I saw the writing on the wall (for writers and photographers): The world of traditional book publishing was changing - thanks (or maybe "no thanks" as some traditional book publishers may say) to on-line training, apps, DVDs and other methods of e-publishing. - rick sammon

Time Lapse Photography

2012-01-18T07:17:00.000-06:00

We have featured a few time lapse photo sequences here in past posts. If you would like to learn the fundamentals of creating a time lapse clip, there is a website that offers advice and tutorials on the subject called "Learn Time Lapse Photography".

The site offers advice on how to get started, the equipment needed and how to produce a flicker-free time lapse sequence. It also provides a link to other videos on Youtube that reference this type of photography including the one below for beginners.

Epson Panoramic - Epson International

2012-01-16T23:41:00.000-06:00

http://www.thepanoawards.com/

Attn:
Twin Cities Area Council of Camera Clubs

We would like to announce a call for entries for The EPSON International Pano Awards 2012, dedicated to the art of panoramic photography.

Please find attached a Press Release for your information and for announcement to your members.

Earlybird entries close 20th April 2012.

This is the third year of the awards, and we are pleased to announce an exhibition of the winners and highest scoring images at the PMA Photo Imaging trade show in Melbourne, May 2012, and more than US$25,000 in cash and prizes.

See the The EPSON International Pano Awards website for more details.

Kind regards,

David Evans
Curator

The International Pano Awards
PO Box 459
Fullarton SA 5063

Photographer's Rights

2012-01-16T23:34:00.000-06:00

Stand Your Ground - Six photographers in London were sent out tophotograph buildings from public spaces and their interactions with securityand police were video taped.

Call for Photographers

2012-01-16T22:49:00.003-06:00

Click Call for Photographers for Current Calls for Photographers: Fading Light
Early Entry Deadline: January 19, 2012

Enter Now to save $10 on submission fee. Lock in at $30 for 5 images then submit your entry no later than Thursday March 15th at 11:59 PST.

Hunt's Specials

2012-01-16T14:57:00.000-06:00

Hunt's is a supporter of the Camera Council's Spring Break, and it offers so great specials on cameras, lenses and gear. For the latest offerings go to: HUNTS.

McKnight Fellowships for Photographers

2012-01-12T15:58:00.001-06:00

The Timeless Genius of Kodak’s George Eastman

2012-01-11T10:56:00.002-06:00

Over at the Atlantic, Alexis Madrigal has an exceptionally good post with an exceptionally good title: “The Triumph of Kodakery.” Inspired by the sad news that Eastman Kodak may be on the verge of bankruptcy, he points out that the dream the company was built on–making photography so effortless that it’s everywhere, and enjoyed by everybody–is hardly in trouble. It’s just that its purest expression today is the camera phone, not a Kodak camera that takes Kodak film that’s processed by a Kodak lab.
read the rest here..... By Harry McCracken

MIniaturization

2012-01-11T08:08:00.001-06:00

Cameras are next?

Something Completely Different: Street Art

2012-01-11T07:29:00.000-06:00

In addition to the usual graffiti and murals on the outsides of buildings there is street art that is created directly on city streets. The Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis features its version of this art form with brass impressionistic shapes that contain words or quotes embedded in the sidewalks.

Eduardo Relero is a street artist known world-wide for creating realistic 3-D artwork. His surreal images invite viewers to be part of the scenes he creates. As the images below illustrate, the images are remarkably realistic and allow viewers to photograph each other as they "interact" with the fantasy scenes he paints.

You can see more of this artist's work at: Street Art and on Facebook at: Relero.

Water Proof Your Camera

2012-01-11T07:02:00.001-06:00

There is a new revolutionary product out called Liquipel that can waterproof electronic devices. It coats both the inside and outside of any electronic device with a nano-coating of a water repellant material. If the device accidentally comes into contact with water, or even if submerged (see video below) the device will not be ruined and continue to work.

The video below shows how the product waterproofs an I-phone, but it probably will be offered on other electronic devices such as cameras in the near future.

New Studio Space for Rent

2012-01-07T21:14:00.001-06:00

NEW BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA

Inside The Frame Studios Now Open

Inside The Frame Studios is a studio rental facility for Photographers, Film Makers, Musicians or Artists. It is available to rent to Professionals and Amateurs alike. The studio is located in Downtown Lakeville, MN. It is 1 ½ blocks behind the new Ace Hardware Store in the McGuire Mechanical Building. The entrance faces 208th Street.

^{Becky McGuire is one of the owners of Miracole’s Candy Shoppe that is located next door to the studio. There are three studios, a conference room & secure storage lockers available for rent.}

^{Studio 33A is 13 feet wide and 16 feet long with 11 foot ceiling. It has a variety of fabric backgrounds and continuous studio lights. This studio is well suited for Amatuer as well as Professional shooters.}

^{Studio 33B is 13 feet wide and 16 feet long with 11 foot ceiling. It has a pull down paper backdrop system and professional lights that sync to your SLR camera. This studio is well suited for Professional Photographers as well Advanced Amatuers.}

^{Studio 11 is 10 feet wide and 11 feet long with a window for natural light. It comes equiped with a product table, reflector and light. It is best suited for Product Photophers and Natural Light Photographers.}

^{Each studio space rents for $40.00 per hour plus tax or $300.00 for a 10 hour day. The rate includes the use of studio equipment, lights and props. There are twelve secure storage lockers that are for rent for $40.00 per month. The storage locker area is heated.}

^{There is a Grand Opening Open House scheduled for Saturday, January 21st from 10:00AM to 5PM. Please RSVP to}^{insidetheframestudios@hotmail.com}^{, or call 612-490-0359.}

^{If you would like more information, or to schedule an interview with Becky McGuire, Please call 612-490-0359, or email insidetheframestudios@hotmail.com.}

Florida Camera Council Conference

2012-01-07T21:08:00.001-06:00

Its not cold now, but it will be! And probably will be in March. So you may want to consider a weekend or longer in lovely and warm Naples, Florida.

The Florida Camera Council is offering a great line-up of speakers at its annual conference and promises one more thing in addition: The weather will be warmer than in Minnesota. The Florida council said that because many of our members winter in Florida they would like to extend member privileges to all of us.

Below is the information about this event.

The Florida Camera Club Council

Announces its annual conference

March 23-25, 2012

Hilton Hotel

Naples, Florida

A partial list of world class speakers and presenters:

George Lepp Canon Explorer of Light and Editor of Outdoor Photographer

Arthur Morris Canon Explorer of Light, Master Photographer and Author

Connie Bransilver National Geographic Contributor and Conservation Photographer

Bill Fortney Nikon Master Photographer, Author of several photographic books

Go to: www.f3c.org to see the complete lineup of speakers and events.

Three days of education, camaraderie, photo ops, entertainment, outings (join our speakers in the everglades for hands-on opportunities to learn from the experts).

Trade Show will be open all three days of the conference!

For more information call:

Eric Hansen, President

Florida Camera Club Council

1-800-891-3258

NOTE: the weather in Naples is currently in the 70's.

To see the yearly forecasts go to : Weather

Ice Dive 2012

2012-01-03T05:45:00.001-06:00

Each year on New Years Day the ALARC fitness club puts on an event at Lake Minnetonka called the Ice Dive. Participants put on swim suits and/or costumes, jump into the lake, swim a short distance and then quickly get out. The event can be extremely cold making it a real challenge to participate. This year's event was warmer than most recent ones temperature wise, but there was a biting wind chill that made it nasty to stand around on the dock waiting in line to jump-in. Below are some images taken by Forrest Pearson and myself, members of the Crosstown Camera Club.

(Click on each image to enlarge the view)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2012

2011-12-31T23:22:00.000-06:00

My resolutions for 2012

Make more photographs
Make better photographs
Have more fun while making more and better photographs
Organize my photos (I would say organize better, but organizing my photos has never been my strong point. What can I say, I can not tell a lie.)
Present my photos in a more interesting way (creating more folios, and expanding into books - this should force me to actually do #4)

Well, these few items should keep me busy for the next 12 months, don't you think?

Have a wonderful New Year, my friends. Good shooting to you all.....

Limited Edition Photo Prints?

2011-12-30T14:35:00.000-06:00

The Online Photographer has a discussion going on 'limited edition prints' that is quite useful. If you are thinking of doing 'limited editions', check it out before you trap yourself.

Layne Kennedy at REI

2011-12-29T15:41:00.000-06:00

Local photographer and lecturer Layne Kennedy is scheduled to give a free presentations at REI in Bloomington on January 21, 2012. The title of his presentation is "Photographing the Wild". It is scheduled to be delivered between 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

You can get more information at: REI.www.rei.com/event/33237/session/41599

Master of Photography Series

2011-12-24T09:09:00.000-06:00

National Geographic is producing a series of episodes called "Master of Photography." Each is an audio podcast that can be heard and viewed in I-Tunes. The series covers a variety of interesting subjects related to photography, and best of all, each episode is free.

You can see all of the episodes produced to date (29) by going to the I-Tunes store and typing in the category "I-Tunes U", or you can view them here: NAT GEO.

CNN Fires Photo Journalists

2011-12-22T08:17:00.000-06:00

No one disputes the fact images often times make a news story. Images attract a viewer and can convey a sense of "being there" at the source of the news. Well composed images often times lend impact to a story that mere words alone could not convey.

News outlets traditionally employed professional photojournalists who are dispatched to the news scene to "get the images" needed to support the news being reported. But recently CNN has fired some of its photojournalists in favor of developing what it calls I-Reporters. The move raises an interesting debate on the value of photography and the ethics of news reporting.

On its website CNN has for sometime encouraged viewers to submit images of news in the making. The initial theory being news occurs randomly everywhere and no news organization can possibly cover it all, or anticipate which stories will be published. In addition, news organizations recognize that nearly everyone carries a smartphone or other device capable of taking images whose quality can be acceptable for use in news coverage. By soliciting images from viewers a news organization can get the benefit of potentially having millions of photojournalists on the ground covering potential news stories. And in fact CNN reportedly does get many images regularly from I-Reporters it can potentially use in news stories. CNN also does not pay for the images submitted to it even if they are used in a news story.

At the center of the debate is the decision to rely on what is described as "user generated" content versus original content developed by professionals. This can raise ethical issues about the use of images that can and may in fact have been manipulated by amateur I-reporters, rather than an eyewitness image produced by a trained journalist. It also involves a "cost of coverage" issue for news organizations. Clearly it is cheaper in theory to have free news photos and stories to publish to save the costs associated with sending journalists to the scene of the news. But there are costs associated with handling and reviewing the thousands of images submitted by I-reporters, not to mention the investigation that may be required to put the images into a workable news story.

Finally, there is an issue regarding the quality of the news. Trained photojournalists produce professional content, but so can some I-reporters with the advantage they may happen to be at the scene of the news, whereas a professional may not. Photographers have this discussion all the time: What is better, getting a lower quality shot with a cheap point and shoot camera that is easy to carry, or not getting it at all because it is too difficult to carry expensive and heavy professional equipment around all the time? The move to rely more on I-reporters rather than professional photojournalists is much the same debate and the outcome does affect the type and quality of the news the public will ultimately receive.

To view the article go to CNN.

Images of the Year - 2011

2011-12-22T06:39:00.000-06:00

The Atlantic is featuring its images of the year for 2011. The article features a great collection of images taken this past year on topics ranging from the tragic Japanese tsunami to heartwarming human interest stories, to images of political change and unrest that made headlines during the year.

Below are examples of some of the featured images. You can view the entire set of images in three parts at: Atlantic. You can view the images of parts #2 and #3 by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Hunts New Specials for the Holidays

2011-12-14T20:12:00.000-06:00

Check out the camera specials here at HUNTS.

Scroll to the bottom of these specials and check out the Nikon and Canon coffee mugs and thermos shaped like actual manufacture's lenses.

Free Online Courses with Creative Live

2011-12-10T22:10:00.001-06:00

Creative Live Free Courses - iPhone photography is one of many free courses available, and a whole host of pay courses. Well worth checking out.

A Short guide to Street Photography

2011-12-09T16:12:00.000-06:00

Russ Borud sent in a link to a website that discusses street photography. It contains a lot of information on the main topics involved with such shots such as: "Overcoming Shyness", "Locales", "Legality" etc.

To visit the website and view its content go to: STREET PHOTO.

The Best Advice for Photographers

2011-12-04T11:44:00.000-06:00

This is great advice for new photographers, but we all learn a lot from our photo mistakes.

Whats Inside a DSLR

2011-12-04T11:29:00.000-06:00

There was a recent article in Popular Mechanics that featured disassembled DSLR that shows the working parts of the camera. Click on the image below for an expanded view.

You can view the article at: PM.

National Geographic Photography

2011-12-04T11:21:00.000-06:00

National Geographic showcases amazing photography on its website including the "photo of the day" like the one below from November.

To view the photos submitted go to: Nat Geo Photography.

New 12 Ink Pixma Pro 1 Printer from Canon

2011-12-04T10:34:00.000-06:00

John Ringquist of the Crosstown club mentioned that Canon has just come out with a new printer that features 12 ink cartridges for better color resolution in prints up to 13" x 19" in size. Below from Adorama TV is a video of this amazing new printer that lists for $999.99.

Canon Pixma Pro-1 Printer: Product Reviews: Adorama Photography TV from AdoramaTV on Vimeo.

Sony A77 & NEX 7 Cameras

2011-12-04T10:30:00.000-06:00

Sony has introduced two new cameras to market the semi-pro A77 with a non-moveable translucent mirror, and the mirrorless NEX 7. Both contain a 24mp APC sensor and a new OLED viewfinder.

Here is a video that introduces the new cameras and their features:
PhotoPlus 2011 – Sony NEX-7 and A77 from AdoramaTV on Vimeo.

Note that the NEX 7 is both popular (due to its size and features), and delayed due to flooding that took place in Thailand earlier this fall.

2011-12-03T13:24:00.001-06:00

Russ Borud, Japanese Flower Show

Night Photography

2011-12-01T09:23:00.000-06:00

A recent article in Wired Magazine featured the night photography of Scott Martin.

The article gives some basic information about how to take night shots, but is more notable for the excellent shots taken by Mr. Martin.

To view the article and see the photos go to: Night Shots.

Title your image, by Rikk Flohr

2011-11-18T09:52:00.000-06:00

Below is an interesting article featured on Rikk Flohr's blog about an image he judged recently and the importance of titling your images for competition. Click on the images below to enlarge them:

The image featured in the article is a fine art piece offered for sale at the ridiculously low price of $44.95.
To purchase one, or to read more informative articles on photography go to Rikk's Blog.

The Artistry of Youth

2011-11-15T21:43:00.001-06:00

Surfing a 90 foot wave

2011-11-15T07:48:00.003-06:00

Here is video of an American surfer riding a record setting 90 ft. wave in Portugal.

What was also astounding was that the action was supposedly caught on a small GoPro HD Hero2 camera. See below:

It has become the camera of choice for participants in active sports because it records hi-def 1080 video, is waterproof, shockproof and wearable. The model is also continuing to evolve in quality and function as people find new uses for it in their activities. to learn about this video camera go to: GoPro.

Upgrading to CS6? better have CS5 first.....

2011-11-14T11:49:00.001-06:00

"Starting with Photoshop CS6, which is anticipated to ship in 2012, Adobe will be enforcing a new upgrade policy. The existing practice is to allow customers to purchase the newest version at the upgrade price if they own an existing version up to three major releases back." (robgalbraith.com)

==================================

The upgrade policies for Adobe has changed. So, if you have PhotoShop(PS) CS4 and want to upgrade to CS6 in 2012, you can only do it as an upgrade discount if you currently have CS5, before they release CS6. They must have the same upper management team as Bank America.

Looks like anyone buying new photo editing software is better off with Corel's Paint Shop Pro. Which I usually recommend to people beginning their photo editing adventures. For photographers it is as good as PhotoShop. In fact, it is the top seller in Europe and other parts of the world. So far, Corel is customer focused rather than stockholder focused.

You can get Paint Shop Pro x4 (PSP) now on sale for only $59.95 instead of PhotoShop for over $600. I buy PSP even though I use PhotoShop knowing that Adobe will soon exceed my tolerance level for their greed.

Corel Paint Shop Pro site:

http://www.corel.com/corel/product/index.jsp?pid=prod4220093&storeKey=us& trkid=NASEMGglDM#tabview=tab1&LID=59882446

See below for Adobe's new policies:

<http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-11667-12100>
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-11667-12100

- John Olson

I have spent some $1000 to-date on Photoshop (not counting filters - that is totally different issue!), and expect to pay another $199 for the next upgrade (if I choose to buy). And this is with skipping one version! However, I also bought PSP over the same period and spent less than $300. Hummmm, $1199, vs $300 - is it time to rethink my bottom line? Good question, indeed. Thanks, John - Barb

Print Circuit Competition

2011-11-13T19:31:00.001-06:00

Below is information about the upcoming Print Circuit competition, including the rules and entry forms. (Click on an image below to enlarge it)

Lens Genealogy (Where did your lens come from?)

2011-11-12T10:58:00.001-06:00

There is an article on the Canon Rumors website that discusses the lineage of camera lens. The piece states that all lenses produced today can be traced back to six basic designs, four of which were produced prior to 1900! That is because modern lens designers don't start with a new design, rather they work to improve existing ones.

The article then describes in historical and technical terms the basic designs that have formed the foundation of all of the lenses we use today. To read the article go to: Canon Rumors.

New DSLR from Nikon?

2011-11-12T10:41:00.003-06:00

Nikon rumors has posted several pieces about a new camera from Nikon to be called the D800. This would be a successor to the D700 introduced in 2008. It is a full frame camera that has 12mp and no video capability. However, the new camera is rumored to have a 36mp sensor and shoot HD video at 30fps. The specs on the camera (just guesses at this point) are:

This would be a significant step up for what is generally thought of as Nikon's "semi-pro" model.

I Pad in Business

2011-11-11T17:50:00.000-06:00

Speaking of webinars, Apple has offered some related to doing business on an I Pad. Although the webinars have already been held, they do offer replays on demand.

You can go to the Apple Store to watch this webinar on demand.

Kelby Training

2011-11-11T17:41:00.000-06:00

Kelby training is offering a free webinar with professional photographer Joe McNally on November 16th. It is scheduled at 5 p.m. central time.

To register go to: McNally.

A Steve Jobs quote

2011-11-09T16:07:00.001-06:00

Olympus financial meltdown

2011-11-08T23:09:00.003-06:00

Olympus meltdown intensifies... the question is how will this affect the camera business.

Interclub Competition Video

2011-11-07T21:29:00.000-06:00

Here is the first draft of a video for club members on how to submit images to the individual competition of Interclub:

Audubon Photo Contest

2011-11-07T16:06:00.000-06:00

I received word that the Audubon Society of Greater Denver is holding an international nature photo contest that has a $1,000.00 cash prize among others. Below are the details for this contest (click images to view larger size):

Go to AUDUBON to learn more details and to enter the contest.

Venice Carnival Photo Tour

2011-11-04T12:26:00.001-05:00

If you ever wanted to travel to Venice, February is a good month to go. It is generally carnival time when residents dress up in wild and colorful costumes that create a tremendous amount of photo opportunities.

Professional photographer David Nightingale is conducting a week long workshop in Venice called the Carnival Photo Tour. It is scheduled for February 2012 from the 14th thorough the 19th. It includes a single occupancy room (double occupancy can lower the price) and a few event dinners.

Below are some of the images on David's website to whet your appetite for the tour. To learn more about this photo tour go to: VENICE.

CHIMPING

2011-11-03T21:14:00.001-05:00

Chimping is defined as the activity of "continually looking at your LCD to view every image you shoot to make sure you got it right".

But maybe it is the art of "letting your chimp look at the images you shoot to get a professional opinion".

Beautiful Timelapse of Iceland

2011-11-02T07:43:00.000-05:00

Iceland among other countries is called the land of the midnight sun for its long summer days. I suspect together with Norway, Sweden and Finland it is called something else less flattering in winter, maybe just "dark". Below is a time lapse that showcases the beauty of that country:

Table Top Tripod as "Chest-Pod"

2011-10-30T13:09:00.001-05:00

Another interesting idea from one of our readers, Russ Borud:

The classic table top tripod, "by twisting it around into a novel configuration, you can brace the camera against your chest and get much of the stabilizing power of a tripod on the floor - but the flexibility to move around quickly with fast moving subjects."

Free online classes - photography, wordpress, social media

2011-10-30T13:02:00.000-05:00

JoinMatthew Jordan Smith for a LIVE ONLINE workshop as he delves into threedays dedicated to fashion and beauty. This weekend is going to be amazing.

Enroll: Beauty and Fashion Photography(November 11-13)

NEW: WordPress forPhotographers.

Updateyour online photography portfolio with WordPress. In this 3-day course you'll learn how to get your photos onlinequickly and easily using WordPress. Justin will cover the basics, help you getyour site up and running, and looking great.

Enroll: WordPress for Photographers(Nov 29 - Dec 1)

NEW: Designing for the SocialWeb.

Cleanup your act on Google+, Twitter and Facebook!This special one-day workshop focuses on hand-on design and branding secretsfor today's most popular social media sites.

Enroll: Designing for the Social Web(Dec 2)

ACLU sues Sheriff's Department in LA for harassing Photoogs

2011-10-28T13:49:00.000-05:00

Photographers are being stopped more frequently and we can only hope that the courts will continue to side with us. Since most of these so-called targets have been photographed for decades by millions of tourists and published in every possible medium - stopping photographers is a huge over-reach.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/10/aclu-sues-.html

The article states: "Photography is not a crime. It's protected 1st Amendment expression," said Peter Bibring, senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. "It violates the Constitution's core protections for sheriff’s deputies to detain and search people who are doing nothing wrong. To single them out for such treatment while they’re pursuing a constitutionally protected activity is doubly wrong." Bibring said the policy and practices of the Sheriff's Department reflect a widespread misuse of "suspicious activity reporting" under the auspices of Homeland Security and counterterrorism. Similar suits have been filed in several other states.

2011 NorthStar Judging

2011-10-25T17:02:00.000-05:00

The TCACCC and Minnesota nature Photography Club sections of the NorthStar Nature Circuit will be held on Saturday October 29, 2011. Judging will start at 9AM. We could always use a few more people at the judging, either to help with the score records or just to watch the wonderful images. There will be in excess of 1000 images total from the three categories (Open Nature, Wildlife and Botany). If you or your club members are interested in attending, we have plenty of space available.

The session will be held at the Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Judging starts at 9AM, the doors are open by 8AM.

A second session will be held on Saturday November 5, 2011. Same time, same place (Holy Batman!). This session will be hosted by 3M Club Camera Club

Risen Christ Lutheran Church
9050 60th Street North
Stillwater, MN

The church is located on the north frontage road of state highway 36 about 1.5 miles east of I-694. Take highway 36 east from I-694 to Demontreville Road, exit north (left) on to the frontage road and then immediately east (right) up the frontage road about 1/3 mile. The church is on your left (north side) and has parking in the rear.

We hope to see you there!

Mike Prokosch

Lytro light field camera

2011-10-24T06:17:00.001-05:00

Here is a video of the new Lytro light field camera. It doesn't take very high resolution images, nor can it do video. However, it is very simple to use, and of course requires to focusing.

It is expected the technology behind it will steadily increase in the capability in the coming years so that the sensor will likely support high resolution images. The ability to take pictures without focusing makes this technology a natural for smartphones in the future, once the resolution technology catches up.

Time Lapse Video

2011-10-22T18:35:00.002-05:00

Below is a beautiful time lapse video called Canyons and the Cosmos. If you click on the arrows on the lower left you can view it full screen.

Landscapes: Volume Two from Dustin Farrell on Vimeo.

Images from Rikk's Roadtrip

2011-10-21T10:12:00.000-05:00

Rikk Flohr followed up with just this small sample of the many amazing images he got on his road trip. Remember these were taken as he traveled from tourist locations on the fly and not the result of research and taking the time to be in the right place at the right time.

Great job Rikk!

Road Trip

2011-10-21T07:09:00.001-05:00

I asked Rikk Flohr to give a presentation to the Crosstown Camera Club thinking he might help enlighten our group on one of his favorite subjects, Lightroom. Fortunately for the group, Rikk and I met to discuss his presentation and he told me about a road trip he had just taken.

He was scheduled to attend a relatives wedding in Las Vegas and a week or so later teach a class in Austin, Texas. He decided to make a road trip of it that ultimately covered over 6000 miles from Minneapolis to Las Vegas/Austin and back. He also made the choice to stop at many well and lesser known national parks to take some shots while out camping. His goal was to take the shots from the same locations as a tourist might, but with the hope he could produce some good work with the limited time he had to shoot at each location.

Although Rikk hadn't gotten through most of his images yet, he was able to show our group many from each location that he shot. Most of the images were spectacular despite the circumstances under which they were taken. Also, the stories behind each location made for an interesting program. I have emailed Rikk our club's thanks for the wonderful night, and hope he can send us some images for posting here later on. In the meantime, if Rikk decides to give a similar presentation at another club we'll let you know the time, date and location. It really was an interesting and entertaining program you should see.

To view more of Rikk's work, or register for one of his upcoming workshops, go to: fleetingglimpse. As of last night he had only one space available for the December Badlands tour, but a member of our group may already have snagged it by the time you read this. Otherwise, I understand space is still available for Rikk's workshop in Costa Rica. I've been there and would highly recommend it if you have the time and inclination.

Flooding in Thailand affect camera makers

2011-10-20T15:42:00.001-05:00

Flooding in Thailand affects camera makers, some plants unrecoverable. We are linking to a post on "theonelinephotographer" that may be of interest to our members and readers. Mostly Nikon and Sony, but other Japanest companies have plants in the area that have been compromised.

79th Wilmington International Exhibit

2011-10-19T17:13:00.000-05:00

The Delaware Photographic society holds an annual competition it claims is one of the oldest and largest juried events of its kind in the USA. It is a member of the PSA as is our council. It is both a well known and well respected photography competition.

Click on the image below for more details, or go to WIEP.

Alex Johnson Art Exhibit

2011-10-19T17:01:00.001-05:00

Alex as you may know is a popular local area photographer who has been both a speaker and judge at some of our member clubs. He teaches a workshop on the North Shore in August (that I have personally attended and would highly recommend), but he also travels there a lot to shot personally as well.

Alex announced he is having his first ever photo exhibition that will include 16 of his best B & W images of the North Shore. Proceeds from it will go to the benefit Designwise Medical that designs medical solutions for children with unmet needs. The exhibit will be one night only, November 5th from 6-8pm at Alec's studio in Edina.

Below is the announcement. (Click on the image to enlarge the information)

You can also read more about the exhibit here: ACJOHNSON. I am already signed up and will see you there!

Light Field Camera to Debut in Early 2012

2011-10-19T16:52:00.001-05:00

You may have read our prior blog piece on a new type of camera that takes images as a "Light Field". The technology was developed over 15 years ago at Standford. The developer was working on bringing the technology to market under the name Lytro.

I had expressed an interest in the technology and signed up to test the camera when it became available. However, I was never contacted by the company to test their camera, and assumed it was still under development. I just received an email that indicates the cameras are going to be sold to the public early next year, but I can order one now and receive priority delivery. I guess that the companies interest in having people sign up to test it was to create of list of people who were willing to buy it instead! Despite that I signed up to buy one anyway.

In past communications Lytro wouldn't give any hint about how the camera would look, work or even how much it would cost. I now have that information, so here it is hot off the press:

(Click on an image below to enlarge it)

It doesn't appear that the camera does video and I am not sure how you get the images off of the camera yet. It also doesn't seem to have a place for an SD or CF card. It is being marketed like an Ipod or Iphone in that it comes with 8GB or 16GB, and as the memory increases so does the price.
It is small, but the use of a square camera seems odd, and the LCD on the back looks very small.

It will be interesting to see if this is merely an interesting toy, or the start of a new type of camera technology.

Throwable Ball Camera

2011-10-16T14:30:00.001-05:00

A Throwable Ball Camera: Consisting of 36 mobile phone cameras and a layer of advanced protective foam, a simple toss in the air gives breathtaking perspective. What else can all these clever people think up?

Audubon Society Photo Contest (Denver)

2011-10-15T18:07:00.000-05:00

Audubon Society of Greater Denver Photo Contest: Entry period: October 15 - November 30, 2011
Judges: George Lepp, Helen Gilks and Jeff Foott.

Minneapolis-St Paul International October 15, 2011

2011-10-11T14:41:00.001-05:00

Visitors are welcome to drop in and watch the judging! A great opportunity to see an International Competition at its best.

Drop by for the day or for an hour.

Twin Cities Area Council of Camera Clubs
2011 78th MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

TCACCC and SPCC Judging October 15, 2011, starts at 9 a.m.

at the Church Of The Risen Christ
9050 60th St North
Stillwater, MN
General Chairmen:
Michael Prokosch Vijay Karai

40 Medals

Judging

Each of the four sections of the Circuit will present 10 Medals designated as follows:

PSA Gold Best of Show
Best Creative
Best Nature
Best Landscape
Best Child

Best Portrait
4 General Medals
Honorable Mentions
Additional Medals may be added at the decision of the judges

FALL 2011 SAINT PAUL ART CRAWL

2011-10-06T20:08:00.000-05:00

FALL 2011 SAINT PAUL ART CRAWL STARTS TOMORROW!

Friday October 7, 6:00 until 10:00 pm
Saturday October 8, noon until 8:00 pm
Sunday October 9, noon until 5:00 pm

St Paul Art Crawl (link)

Photography Releases

2011-10-06T15:36:00.000-05:00

Mike Waterman is an attorney and a member of the Western Wisconsin camera club. Recently he gave a presentation at the Crosstown club concerning photographer's rights. It was very informative. In addition, he was kind enough to give the club copies of standard model and property releases. Attached are the releases he provided. You certainly can feel free to use these as circumstances dictate, but bear in mind these are standard forms provided by Mike and not legal advice given by him. However, they are a great starting point to use when you need something signed to protect your right to photograph and publish.

(Click on each release for a larger view)

Gary Hallman at the MPC

2011-10-05T20:09:00.000-05:00

During and after high school you tend to think you know it all.
If you move onto college your mind is exposed to so much knowledge on such a variety of subjects that you actually start to believe you do know it all.

If you then venture into a professional degree program, all that knowledge becomes irrelevant, if it is not related to your "advanced degree". I chose law school (although I suspect all doctorate level programs maybe the same) and became so immersed in "the law" nothing else mattered. It was more than a full time endeavor.

Law school subsequently squeezed out all of the knowledge I had accumulated in college and replaced it with "the law". The law was a source of all knowledge and way of life. I felt I had learned a lot, but I had forgotten a awful lot more.

So while practicing law I tried to broaden my horizons again and decided to take college courses on the side. I decided to try fine art classes and gravitated to night extension courses in photography. My instructor was Gary Hallman. I remember not producing much in the way of memorable photographs, but I did learn my way around a darkroom, the basics of composition, and yearlong courses laid the groundwork for jumping back into photography at the dawn of the digital age. (I also remember spending a lot of time in beer joints with a fellow student Richard Copely who has gone onto become a well-known local B & W street photographer. But that is another story).

So I was surprised to learn that Gary Hallman was still teaching at the U of M until just last spring. I admired his teaching style and the dedication to students he exhibited while I was in the program. (I also like the fact he didn't pan my awful images to death). I am happy to report Gary is giving an artist's talk at the MPC on November 15th. If you happen to be available, I would recommend attending to hear him speak on the evolution of photography and his own work.

Opening Reception at the MPC

2011-10-05T19:31:00.000-05:00

The Minneapolis Photo Center has announced the opening of its juried competition "Where in the World: People, Places, Events" on Friday October 14th from 7:00 to 10:00PM. The event features wine, food and music, in addition to the great art.

Click on the notice below for more information about this exhibit:

The competition was judged by Tony Kampa a Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Menil Museum in Houston, Texas.

You can read his juror statement below:

For more information about the exhibit go to MPC.

Also, there will be a book produced from the images selected for this exhibit that can be purchased from the MPC on the night of the event or online. You can preview the book on the MPC website.

North Shore Trip

2011-10-03T21:35:00.006-05:00

Some members of the Crosstown club got together to shoot up on the North Shore last weekend. They stayed at some remarkably comfortable cabins right on the lake shore:

And in a nice tent surrounded by "Guard Flamingos":

They got some great shots of Gooseberry Falls:

And some great shots of the Split Rock Lighthouse:

They shot landscapes on the lake shore:

And they got some great shots inland from the lake:

And they took pictures of each other just hanging out:

and chimping with their cameras:

and shooting a model in a canoe:

But ultimately they elected Peter Wong to start a fire so they could all burn their Canon cameras and collect the insurance proceeds to buy _____________?

I wonder if they got their new Nikons yet? (Just Kidding)

All images above by Peter Wong, Lars Michael and Forrest Pearson

NOTE: I suspect Crosstown isn't the only member club that has outings, or is willing to contribute images to the council blog. So if your club has images from an outing, or wants to just submit images to the blog, email us and send in your images with the story behind them.

Joel Grimes Lecture in MInneapolis

2011-09-28T19:47:00.000-05:00

Update:

Joel Grimes Workshop tickets will not be available at the door. They must be purchased through his website. See the following link: Joel Grimes Workshop

=======================================================================

Joel Grimes is a professional commercial photographer with a unique style of his own. He has created a body of work that combines studio shot images with non-studio shots that are simply amazing in concept and beautiful in execution.

You can see Joel's portfolio's at Joel Grimes. Click on "menu options" at the bottom of the page to view all of his portfolio's.

Joel is also going to be in Minneapolis in October for two big events. The first is a lecture he is giving at the Minneapolis convention center on Friday October 14th at 7:00 pm. The cost of this lecture is $50.00. Click on the image below for more information.

He is also giving a two day seminar beginning Saturday October 15th on studio lighting and the creative process. This seminar will also be held at the Minneapolis convention center. For more information about it go to: Seminar.

Also, Joel offers instructional DVD's that explain his techniques and work flow. You can view and purchase these at: tutorials.

The Digital Camera Explained

2011-09-27T22:15:00.002-05:00

Below is an instructional video on how a digital camera works.

A Must See in Winona Minnesota

2011-09-26T21:43:00.001-05:00

John Ringquist of Crosstown Camera was with our group when we traveled recently to Lanesboro for a weekend photo outing. On the way back, John and his wife took it slow and stopped in a number of towns along the way.

John mentioned they found a great new museum in Winona that just opened in 2006. It is called the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, located on the Mississippi near downtown Winona.

John mentioned the museum is rapidly becoming a tourist attraction in the area because of its outstanding facilities, and wonderful exhibits. Currently the museum features an exhibit called "America's Great Rivers" depicting all of our nations great river systems. Also featured is an exhibit of 32 works called "Flow" that contain various interpretations of images related to water from traditional to abstract. Also there is a photography exhibit by two local artists in the region called "Portrait and Place" that features images of people and places in Winona.

Another big draw to the facility is a new wing that houses the museum's permanent collection, and the Burrichter/Kierlin Marine Art Collection that contains work by such notables as Georgia O"Keefe, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh and Monet, to name a few.

If you are in the area or plan to be this museum is a must see. It is located at 8oo Riverview Drive and its location is depicted on the map below. You can call ahead at 507-474-6626, and visit the museum's informative website at: Marine Art.

A special thanks to John Ringquist for bringing this find to our attention!

Fall Colors

2011-09-26T21:20:00.000-05:00

Below is the current map of fall color in Minnesota. The twin cities and immediate surrounding areas are still at 10-25%, but just North all the way to Canada the colors are at 50% peak or more.

To keep up with the latest fall color information remember to go to the DNR's webpage.

Camera Council Wins at PSA Conference in Colorado Springs, CO

2011-09-25T17:26:00.002-05:00

The picture below was taken yesterday at the PSA Conference in Colorado Springs, CO. TCACCC placed 1st in the Print section, and 2nd in the world in overall points for Prints, Color Digital, and Monochrome Digital.

From left to right: St. Paul Camera Club members Morris Gildemeister, Herb Gustafson, Pat Schwope, and Gene Schwope, and North Metro Photo Club member Jean McDonough, pose at PSA's 73rd Annual International Conference of Photography in Colorado Springs, CO, with the TCA Council's 1st Place Print entry in the 2011 PSA Councils' Challenge Competition.

Congratulations to the winners. Details to follow.

TED/David Griffin - how photography connects

2011-09-23T22:09:00.000-05:00

http://www.ted.com/talks/david_griffin_on_how_photography_connects.html

"The photo director for National Geographic, David Griffin knows the power of photography to connect us to our world. In a talk filled with glorious images, he talks about how we all use photos to tell our stories."

Nikon Mirrorless Camera

2011-09-23T12:01:00.000-05:00

Nikon has announced a new mirrorless camera - apparently designed to complete with the Micro 4/3, but has a smaller sensor. One would think that the smaller sensor suggests more of a consumer market (2.7x crop) than the DSLR, but the reviews should start pouring in very soon as the device is delivered to interested parties. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and we will be watching and pointing out the reviews as they appear. The cameras should start appearing around October 20th, triggering the official reviews.

USA Today

Wired Magazine

dpreview.com

extremetech

Sigma 200-500 f2.8

2011-09-22T23:51:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-200-500mm-Ultra-Telephoto-Canon-Cameras/dp/B0013D8VDQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

101 lbs of mean green for a mere $26,000. Someone needs to rethink the motivations of the R&D department at Sigma. Please check out the reviews before someone at Amazon takes them down. Or, just slide over to the following link: Photography Bay. If you have ever been questioned about the size of your lens, you will appreciate the comments.

Might I suggest a nice, tidy little Micro 4/3s?

The Folio Option

2011-09-22T22:39:00.000-05:00

After the big issue of which camera to buy, to carry, and to use – the next big issue is presentation. That covers websites, slideshows, and, most importantly, printing. DPS (the west side digital club break-off from the east side TCDigi), has been exploring presentation for a few years now. This is our second year in the exploration of the Folio. A folio is midway between a single image and a book. The images are printed and included inside a folder designed especially for the project. The Folio Project is part of a yearly event called “The September Project”, which allows members to show the results of what we have learned through the year. Our 2012 September Project will be a book developed by each member and presented to the group.

The folio idea was developed by Bruce Jenson of Lenswork Magazine (http://lenswork.com/specialeditions/lwfolios.htm) and it has proved to be very useful idea. Here are a few examples of the completed works.

John Olson:

"The Rodeo" is part of the "Vintage America Series" that I am putting together which will include several other themes. Each will have its separate folio. Eventually, I am hoping to put a book together and maybe even market the series.

As a vintage American experience, the rodeo goes back through history, so I wanted to create the feel of a photograph taken over 100 years ago but introduce slight, subtle elements of the present day. Thus, tying the present day in with our history. I also wanted to include a little caption about each event along with the photograph. The images in the folio are printed on Hanemuhle Photo Rag paper which is richly textured and prints with a soft impressionistic feel.

Photographing the rodeo came about because of my love and respect for horses, a favorite subject of mine for years. Initially, I was attracted to the barrel race, but the other events such as saddle bronc riding, calf roping, bull riding and others eventually drew my attention.

Judith Barat:

Attached is 1 of 10 images in my folio " a virginal journey". These images were created during the workshop "Environmental Nudes: 72 Hours with Layne Kennedy" through Minneapolis Photo Center. I chose this folio title because it is how I felt photographing and interacting with female nude models for the first time.

Barb Smith:

In June, 2010, I was strolling through Grand Old Days in St. Paul, Minnesota and came across a piano store that specialized in selling and repairing pianos and other instruments. It was a snap decision to capture the delights of the back room and a few of the lovely instruments in the midst of being salvaged.

For more information, contact any member of DPS or send an email via this Blog.

Fall Classes at the MInneapolis Photo Center

2011-09-20T15:22:00.000-05:00

It's being billed as the "Fall in Love with Photography" month at the MPC with a slate of interesting and informative classes to help imporove your photographic skills. Included are an introduction to HDR and to Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro 2 the popular software for black and white conversion.

Click to see the offerings below, or go to the MPC website for more information about registration and price.

More Images from Lanesboro

2011-09-19T06:07:00.002-05:00

Here are some additional images from the people on the Lanesboro trip:

By Forrest Pearson

By Mark Karney

By Steve Shor

By Gary Eckhardt

By Cynthia Fleury

By Brian Billadeau

By Geoff Kuchera

By Holly Kuchera

By John Olson

By Dale Lewellyn

The night before we left Lanesboro we held a final show at the local VFW of all the images submitted by the participants. It turned out to be a wonderful recap of the weekend shooting there.

Great job by everyone on the trip.

If your club has an outing and wishes to submit images make sure you send them to us for posting here.

Lanesboro MInnesota Images

2011-09-12T21:28:00.001-05:00

Below are some of the images from the Crosstown Camera Club trip to Lanesboro late last month organized by Cynthia Fleury. The photographer responsible is noted, if known.

By Cynthia Fluery

By Gary Eckhardt

By Geoff Kuchera

By Forrest Pearson

By Holly Kuchera

By Mark Karney

By John Olson

By Scott Board

By Steve Shor

By Lee Swenson

By Brian Billadeau

By Scott board

There were hundreds of great images taken over this weekend adventure. More will be posted in the future.

Mirrorless Camera Update

2011-09-12T11:37:00.000-05:00

As noted in this blog previously, both Sony and Samsung have announced new mirrorless cameras that are remarkably small, but have very large image sensors. Now Panasonic has made an announcement of its own but moves the four/thirds system to an even smaller scale.

It has produced a "collapsible" zoom lens that fits its cameras, as well as, those from Olympus. It works like the lens on a point-and-shoot camera. It collapses to a very small size to give the camera an equally small profile when not in use, or during wide angle use. But it can telescope to increase the focal range.

Unlike a point and shoot, the telescopic range is optically stabilized to give sharp images throughout the entire focal range. The stabilization allows for zooming-in while shooting video with the camera just like on a point-and-shoot. This makes shooting sharp video much easier than using a DLS that requires manual focus while zooming.

Update on Photographer Rights

2011-09-12T09:48:00.000-05:00

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/know-your-rights-photographers

Personally, I find being in agreement with the ACLU can sometimes be problematic, but at times they can be very helpful. In this case, the information is interesting and I think it is helpful. As usual, its the timing and its a matter of perspective. Anyway, check it out.

the last Interview - Ansel Adams

2011-09-11T16:39:00.000-05:00

ART NEWS - ANSELADAMS-THE LAST INTERVIEW - 905N-000-001
Source: maryellenmark.com

Capture Minnesota

2011-09-11T11:16:00.002-05:00

There is a photo contest called "Capture Minnesota" that is held by Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) on their website. Viewers can submit photos in a variety of categories, and then vote on the images submitted. Each day a photo is selected as the photo of the day.

On September 10th the photo of day was taken of the high bridge in St. Paul below. It was taken by Elizabeth Genovese a member of the Crosstown Camera Club.

Then yesterday the photo of the day that was selected was of the Lake Harriett bandshell in Minneapolis. It was taken by another Crosstown member Forrest Pearson.

Not only that but two days earlier Brian Billadeau of Crosstown won image of the day for his picture below.

Congratulations to these Crosstown members on their winning images. It was quite a week for Crosstown with three winning images in 4 days.

Photo Editing

2011-09-10T13:54:00.000-05:00

CNN recently posted a piece on the dos and don'ts of photo editing. It contains some useful tips on taking and editing a photographic story.

To read the entire article go to: Photo Editing.

Photography at the Renaissance Festival

2011-09-10T07:42:00.006-05:00

A member of one of our camera clubs was shooting someone at the festival with consent when he was approached by a security agent who confronted him about his activities. This confrontation apparently took place because our member possessed "professional' quality photography equipment.

The festival is a private event that takes place on private property, so it has the right to set the guidelines or standards for activities that take place there. Here is the festival's statement about photography rights from their web page:

The confrontation raises the issue of photographers rights when taking images on both public and private property. We've put articles on this blog previously relating to this topic, but the area is still a confusing one for photographers because of the number of different fact circumstances that can give rise to issues relating to our rights.

The council will continue to post information about your rights as a photographer here when it becomes available. We have also asked attorney Mike Waterman (who made an enlightening presentation on intellectual property at the last Spring Break) to send us any information he can provide on this subject. We hope to have his input here soon. In the meantime, if you do go to the Renaissance with your equipment be mindful of the lens length restriction, and make sure you ask permission to take images of visitors who are not participants in the festival.

Pilot Mound Minnesota

2011-09-08T07:03:00.011-05:00

Cynthia Fleury of the Crosstown Camera Club organized a well-attended outing to Lanesboro, Minnesota at the end of last month. 31 members and their spouses attended. Images from our weekend spent shooting there will be posted here in the very near future.

On the way down three of us decided to take the back roads to Lanesboro and came into the town of Pilot Mound, Minnesota. We had come through a number of small towns on the way, but this one had a church that looked particularly interesting, so we stopped to shoot it.

Just down the end of the block from the church, and on the main street of the town, was a building that advertised itself as the General Store.

The three of of us took some images from outside, but we really weren't interested much in going inside to explore a general store. Finally, Forrest Pearson decided to go inside to see whether it was a functioning facility because it had stained glass hanging in the windows, but no merchandise.

We met the owner Karl Unnasch who told us he had purchased the store and converted it to a glass art studio. He invited us inside to see his work and to have a beer. (actually I coaxed beer out of him). Anyway, his work was remarkable.

He said he created it by first sketching our the design, then cutting colored glass and finally firing it in a kiln much like potters fire pottery. He often has to paint the glass many times using this process to create the fine detail and color he achieves. When lit from behind the glass pieces seem to come alive with brilliant and vivid color renditions.

Before we left I remarked to him that the studio location and his art reminded me of the type of story typically seen in an "On the Road" segment by Jason Davis on KSTP Sunday night. Since he had provided the beer, and maybe because I was feeling the effects of it, I promised to send information about his art studio to Jason Davis when I got back home.

I did contact Mr. Davis suggesting he visit Karl's studio because of the quality of his work and the unique location of the studio. Surprisingly Jason wrote back immediately telling me my timing was excellent. He had a trip to Lanesboro planned that week and he would stop by Karl's studio.

I checked in with Karl and Jason Davis's production crew did schedule an appointment to meet him on Friday September 2nd. I don't know yet how it turned out, or if Jason Davis will air a segment on TV. If I find out it will be aired, I'll post it so everyone has the opportunity to watch it. In the meantime, you can visit Karl's website at: Pilot Mound Design. Just bear in mind the website doesn't do justice to stained glass. It really has to be seen in person to appreciate the color, detail and work involved.

It was fortunate we decided to take the slow route to Lanesboro, and more so that we stopped to talk to Karl Unnasch. Meeting him was very much like viewing one of Jason Davis' segments about Minnesota. There is a lot of stories to be found traveling around back roads of this state.

Fall Colors

2011-09-08T06:18:00.003-05:00

Fall is coming for better or worse. To catch the fall colors throughout the state you can check the DNR's fall color index. It contains a map of the state and the estimated color range of every area from 0% to past peak. It also lists the various state parks and gives a short description of any interesting details for each location. The site will also allow you to upload your own fall color images and view others.

Go to: FALL COLOR for all of the DNR information.

Photo Contest @ Caponi Art Park

2011-09-07T09:35:00.004-05:00

Caponi Art Park is located in Eagan Minnesota. It was created according to its history as an "outdoor laboratory to teach and demonstrate how creativity is a necessary part of daily living".

For the past three years the park has held a photo contest and it is doing so again this year. Entries are being accepted up through October 9th. Besides a cash prize, winners will be honored at an awards ceremony and winning images displayed in an exhibition at the Eagan community center.

Click on the image below for all the details, or go to: CAPONI to learn more about this art park and the photo contest.

Shooting Star Trails

2011-09-05T21:31:00.003-05:00

Photographer Ben Canales likes shooting star trails. He was also the grand prize winner of the 2011 National Geographic photo contest.

He is producing a series of video tutorials on how to shoot star trails. He currently has two free videos available on his website. Go to: Star Trails to access the videos and any future offerings. You can also view Ben's work on his website at: Ben Canales.

6th Annual Photo day In Urbandale Iowa

2011-09-04T18:53:00.007-05:00

If you have the inclination, or happen to be near Urbandale Iowa on September 17 - 18, check out the 6th annual Photography Day and the list of classes being offered. It's an event that attracts lots of photographers to the area.

For more information go to: Photography day.

Art Wolfe interview with Nik Filters

2011-09-04T18:13:00.001-05:00

Those who are Art Wolfe fans might like to listen to this Nik Radio Interview with Art:
click here for the interview.

Art started as a traditional artist and offers a lot of interesting look into his perspective.

New MIrrorless Cameras Announced

2011-09-01T08:14:00.006-05:00

Both Sony and Samsung have announced new cameras that compete with the 4/3 mirrorless cameras produced by Olympus and Panasonic.

The Samsung NX200 is an upgrade of its previous NX100. It offers the larger APS-C sensor and increased the size to 20.3MP. It now offers HD video at 1080p. For more information go to: SAMSUNG.

Sony announced the NEX-7 that has 24.3MP on an APS-C sensor. It features an electronic viewfinder, true HD video and claims to have the fastest release time lag of any mirrorless camera on the market. For more information go to: SONY.

The availability of either camera has yet to be announced. However, the NEX-7's price is going to be steep at an estimated $1200.00 for body only.

Finally,SONY announced an upgrade to its existing NEX-5 called the NEX-5N. It uses a larger 16.1MP Exmor sensor and features the same fast focusing mechanism found in the NEX-7. It also allows HD video capture at 60 frames per second. It does not offer a built-in electronic view found on the NEX-7, but the price is only half at an estimated $600.00 body only. For more information about this camera go to: NEX-5N.

Also, remember when comparing these new high-end mirroless cameras to check out the lens offerings from each company. Samsung currently has the edge in available e-mount lenses, although SONY has announced three new ones and an adapter that will allow the use of its existing A-mount lenses.

Being Original

2011-08-31T17:02:00.000-05:00

If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original. – Sir Ken Robinson

Just something to think about.

Hunt's Equipment Specials

2011-08-25T17:16:00.002-05:00

Here is another periodic update from Hunt's detailing their current specials on cameras, lenses and other related equipment:

Check out all of the subscriber specials at: HUNTS

Gene Schwope to be interviewed on "History Detectives"

2011-08-25T15:44:00.001-05:00

SPCC Historian Gene Schwope will be interviewed at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 30th, live on KMSP TV, Channel 9, regarding that evening's "History Detectives" show, which will feature former St. Paul Camera Club member Marion Carpenter.

From the Photographic Society of America Website:
PSA News
Summer 2011

=======================================================================================

August 2011

"HISTORY DETECTIVES" TO FEATURE ....

On Tuesday, August 30, 2011, PSA-member St. Paul Camera Club (SPCC), Minnesota's oldest photography organization, will receive national publicity on a segment of the “History Detectives” TV program on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). The “History Detectives” airs at 7:00 PM in most locations, but checking local listings is recommended.

Each hour-long episode of “History Detectives” features three investigations that delve into family legends, local folklore, and the stories behind potentially extraordinary objects in everyday American homes, cities, and small towns.

The first segment of the August 30 program features a battered camera said to be originally owned by former St. Paul Camera Club member Marion A. Carpenter. Marion belonged to the club in 1942-43, and again in the 1950’s. Marion was photojournalism's pioneering woman who became the first female member of the White House Press Photographers Association and White House Press Corp. She was the only female press photographer to travel with President Harry S. Truman on a daily basis and she captured images of other notables of the day including Dwight D. Eisenhower and Winston Churchill. After her death in October 2003, a donation from her estate was given to the Saint Paul Camera Club. It was decided that a traveling trophy, named the Marion Carpenter Award, would be given each year to the best Monochrome Photojournalism Print.

St. Paul Camera Club Historian, Eugene Schwope, FPSA, provided the relevant information during the interviews. Wes Cowan, an independent appraiser and auctioneer, is the host for this program. Did this camera belong to Marion Carpenter? Did she use it to photograph President Truman? History Detectives visits the White House Pressroom and the Washington Post to find answers.

Visit the History Detectives web site and the page about this episode.

All photos are the property of the St. Paul Camera club.

The Value of your Photographic Work

2011-08-19T06:33:00.003-05:00

Here is a link to an interesting article that discusses the value of a photographers work. It briefly discusses the value of an image, and "positioning" your work to add value to it. Although the article is aimed primarily at commercial photographers, it message has applicability to anyone who takes their images seriously.

To read it go to: Editorial Photography.

Vivian Maier, update - new book expected this Fall

2011-08-16T19:45:00.000-05:00

As we reported a couple of months ago, Vivian Maier: Street Photographer, the book, is being published by powerHouse and Amazon is now set up for pre-orders. The price is quite reasonable, $24.96 (just under the free shipping price, but, what the heck - order something else just because and get it shipped for free).

RidgePoint Arts and Crafts Fair

2011-08-11T21:57:00.000-05:00

To participate by showing and hopefully selling your work, see the following:

I am looking for Arts & Craft vendors for our

RidgePointe Arts & Crafts Fair

that we will be offering on

Saturday October 1, 2011

10:00AM to 2:00PM

RidgePointe is an Independent Living Senior Apartment complex

with over 268 residents in Minnetonka near the Ridgedale Mall.

I am looking specifically for vendors who specialize in Wood products,

Holiday Decorations, Hand sewn or made products, Photography & products,

Artwork, etc...products that others would consider possible gifts for the

holidays or products that are also practical in nature too.

This show is FREE and Open to the Public.

It will be advertised in our local newspaper, our website, and

in the local Senior Community Centers and places of worship.

VENDOR REQUIREMENTS:

We are asking vendors to set up between 8:30 - 9:30AM

Cost is $10 per 6' table and this includes two chairs.

Vendors are asked to provide their own cover for their table.

Registration Fee: $10/table (limit 2 tables) is due by September 10th, 2011

Checks should be made out to RidgePointe (must talk to Paula before registering!)

Snacks will be available for sale 10AM - 2PM in the the Country Store in

our Atrium. Lunch will also be for sale from 11AM - 1PM

in our Deli in the Atrium.

Potential Vendors are asked to contact:

Paula Frakes Resident Service Director

at (952) 540-6212 or e-mail: pkfsunshine@yahoo.com

if you are interested in displaying at our fair.

I look forward to hearing from you and any other potential vendors

for our show.

I am also looking for a Quilter that would be willing to help provide

us with a Quilt for a raffle that my resident council would like to host.

It would also be awesome if the Quilter also was one of the vendors

at our fair! If you know of anyone that quilts please let me know

how to contact them.

I really appreciate any and all contact information you can provide

me to help make this Arts & Crafts Fair a success!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Kind Regards,

Paula Frakes, M.A.

Resident Service Director

RidgePointe Senior Apartments

12600 &12800 Marion LN W

Minnetonka, MN 55305

Direct: (952) 540-6212

WEB: www.funatridge.com