COSTA RICA TOUR - SAVE $200.00!

Rikk Flohr and Laurie Hernandez have been conducting annual photo tours to Costa Rica for many years. Their experience allows them to bring you to the most beautiful locations in a country filled with beautiful locations.

If you act before June 30th and book one of the 8 day tours offered in February 2012 you will save $200.00 on the tour price. Click on the image below for detail:


Also, visit the Worldesigns website for more information. Make sure to check out the photo galleries of past tours conducted by Laurie and Rikk.

Mirrorless Camera Market is Heating up

They're small, capable, stylish and evil (as in Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens). They're mirrorless digital cameras based upon the four thirds system that have interchangeable lenses.

The Four thirds system pioneered by Panasonic and Olympus now includes models from Samsung and Sony (rumors of a Nikon offering this spring fizzled and Canon remains on the sidelines). Recent product announcements from all of these makers indicate manufacturers are continuing to expand this market beyond the advanced entry level category into a viable competitor of sorts for the traditional DSLR. While EVIL cameras are not there yet in terms of quality and features, the capabilities of these camera is growing rapidly.

Panasonic announced the DMC-GF3 camera that has a 12mp CMOS sensor, shoots at 3.8fps and takes HD quality video. Last year Sony entered the fray with its NEX-3 and NEX-5 cameras. Each has a large 16mp APC sensor in an incredibly small package (at least until you attach a large lens). Also, Sony just announced the NEX-C3 with a sleeker style and new features.

Samsung updated its NX system that included the NX100 and NX10 with the new NX11 camera. It has a large 14mp APC sensor and shoots HD video at 720p. It also announced five new lenses for its NX system that includes a 60mm 2.8 macro and a 18-200 zoom.

Carl Zeiss AG, maker of high quality lenses, also joined the micro four-thirds system in February. Its Zeiss HD video lenses will now be available for four thirds cameras greatly expanding the product line of these cameras.

Projections indicate the market for these types of cameras will continue to expand well into 2015 and beyond.

For a complete explanation of the Four Thirds standard go to: MFT (Micro) and 4/3.

Convert an SD/SDHC Card to a CF Card

If you have more than one camera, you know they can utilize different card formats. Many DSLR cameras use the compact flash card format, while point and shoot cameras and the newer camcorders tend to employ either the SD/SDHC or MMC format.

An easy solution to the format dilemma is to use a card adopter like the one below. It accepts SD/SDHC/MMC cards and adoptts them for use in devices requiring compact flash cards only. Since the price of these smaller format cards is generally less then CF cards, this adopter is a great way to increase storage capacity inexpensively. Also, it is currently on sale at Amazon for only $17.28.

It's all just a matter of perspective.....

Russ Borud's Studies in Junque!!

POLO

As reported last year in this blog we do have a local polo club active in our area. It is called the Twin City Polo Club and is headquartered in Maple Plain. On most weekends between May 1st and September 10th there are matches or practices that are open to the public. They offer a great opportunity to photograph this thrilling sport.

The highlight of the season is the Twin City Polo Classic scheduled this year on July 31st. If you go to this or any other polo events remember to bring LONG lenses, as the field of play is really large. Also, bring a smaller portrait lens for closes up shots on the sidelines.


Below is a map to the field in Maple Plain.

National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

National Geographic Traveler magazine is holding a photo contest with some wonderful prizes. Click on the image below for the more information, or go to Nat Geo to review contest rules, prizes and to see the images submitted so far.

Facebook Privacy

All of us have become accustomed to sharing images and other information online. But if you are using Facebook, it would be wise to read an article posted in the Minneapolis Star about protecting your privacy. The title is "10 Facebook Settings to Check Now" and it is a real eye opener.

There are a number of ways anyone can access your information through Facebook. The article outlines 10 account settings you should review to ensure no one has unwarranted permission to access your private and personal data/images.

Users may initially set up their Facebook account without taking the time to explore their account options. This includes leaving many of the settings in the default mode that come standard with the account. As a result, permission to access personal data on the account is automatically given to any number of third persons and entities that were never intended to have this level of access.

This article provides simple instructions on how to reconfigure your account to avoid the unknowing release of information to any third parties. If you use Facebook, read this article and follow its instructions to protect your information and images.

Mitch Dobrowner at Fstop

FStop is billed as "the place that professional photographers discuss their craft" online. One of those photographers is Mitch Dobrowner. He works primarily in the Southwest. He has a special talent for recording severe weather scenes of intense beauty, for example the image below:


Recently Mitch gave an interview about his work you can view at: Fstop. You can also view Mitch's portfolio of fine images at: Dobrowner.