How to Avoid Common Scams to Steal Your Camera Gear and Rip You Off

A good warning blog from Light Stalking. Your equipment is expensive and others want it just as much as you do. Although this is aimed at foreign travel, the message is true even here in the United States.
On a side note, there are straps and bags available that are difficult to cut - another safety hint!

The Impossible Project - Instant film for Polaroid

The Impossible Project : Fresh Impossible Instant Films for classic Polaroid cameras as well as final stock of expired original Polaroid film.

Peter Wong Photography

Peter Wong is a professional local photographer whose home town is Kota Kinabalu. Peter has been dropping by a number of clubs and is currently showing at Colonial Church of Edina. He took a trip back to his home town and is sharing his images of the visit. Check out his gallery and his online sites.
www.peterwongphotography.com

http://peterwongphotography.com/_blog/F-Stop_Muse

The Cyber Conductor

For a bit of fun 'off topic':

The Sistine Chapel

If your one of the lucky few who have visited the Vatican in Rome, then you've probably seen the Sistine Chapel in person.  But if you haven't visited yet, click on the link below that gives a 360 degree look at this magnificent work.

Go to the Vatican.

St. Paul Art Crawl

The wonderful St. Paul Art Crawl event is taking place this weekend starting on Friday April 27th from 6-10 PM; Saturday April 28th from 12-8 PM and Sunday April 29th from 12-5 PM.  There are a number of events planned including music and of course over a hundred artists exhibiting their work.

Spring 2012 Poster Competition Winner

Tib Shaw, poster winner, "Birch Bowls"

To view a listing of the events and locations go to: Art Crawl.

Software to control Focus - from OnOne

OnOne Focus 2 is an interesting product was recently obtained as a result of my interest in that new camera - the Lytro. The Lytro is being designed to allow the user to change the focus point in an image after it has been taken. Well, I don't know if the Lytro is practical, or affordable, but OnOne has a new product that will allow any image with deep DOF to be altered in much the same way as the Lytro. You can take the image and put the out of focus area where ever you want and end up changing the image dramatically. The link above will give you a chance to see what it can do or download a trial copy. The software is actually designed to copy the focus style of major (read 'expensive') lenses like Nikon and Canon. I have been very pleased with my copy and suggest you give it a look. What is especially nice - it can work as a standalone copy, no Photoshop needed.

http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/suite/focalpoint/?ind

STRANDVIEWPHOTOS, at PLYMOUTH CREEK CENTER

Jim and Sally Strand are showing their photography...STRANDVIEWPHOTOS, at PLYMOUTH CREEK CENTER, 14800 34th Ave North from Tues. April 24, this week, until May 31st.

Tho some of the images are the same as last month's exhibit, we have included many DIFFERENT images in this exhibit. These are more concentrated on Spring and Summer images because of the weddings and summer events at the community center.

Please come and enjoy. The theme is: "Photography as Art" with an emphasis on manipulations in ELEMENTS, TOPAZ etc.

Canon 5D Mark III underwhelms on sensor test

New DXO tests will please the Nikonians - the Nikon D800 fares better than the new 5DIII. However, none of the top cameras in production are really a bad investment in terms of quality (well that may well be a different discussion entirely and best left to another time) if you can afford your dream machine. The equipment out there - be it Nikon or Canon, or Fuji or even any of the Micro Four Thirds - the equipment available to discerning taste is amazing. All we have to do is figure out how to work our machine of choice (and pay for it) then put our photographic eye to work. In a way, we have no excuse for producing a bad image - we can capture all the light we want - the key now is to do it right. There is nothing uglier than a pretty picture badly focused, badly composed, or just plain boring.

DXO Tests

Rick Sammon and Topaz has a deal for you....

http://www.ricksammon.info/ - Rick has a deal for you from Topaz. If you haven't tried the Topaz products now is a great time to explore. If you are unsure, download a 'trial' version first. I use Topaz all the time and it is a very good product.

Rikk Flohr's new workshops - Lightroom 4

Rikk Flohr's new workshop coming up on April 28th for Lightroom 4. He will be teaching 3 sessions all day long. The first workshop will cover workflow, LIbrary and Maps. The second workshops will take students through the Development module and the Third workshop will cover Outputs from lightroom 4 exporting files and pages and for the web along with color management and printing.

http://www.meetup.com/tcphotogroup/events/60973362/
http://www.meetup.com/tcphotogroup/events/60973372/
http://www.meetup.com/tcphotogroup/events/60973862/

All three workshops are a great value at $85.00. As you all already know Rikk is a fantastic instructor so this is going to be a great series.

Battle at F-Stop Ridge

VisionQuest Nature Photography Workshop

Nature Photography Workshop

Saturday, May 19, 1:00 - 5:00 pm

 Sunday, May 20, 7:00 - 12:00 noon.
$50.00/participant

Tamarack Nature Center
5287 Otter Lake Road
White Bear Lake

Explore the process of capturing nature with your digital camera!
This two day workshop will focus on how to produce engaging and
exciting images of nature through composition, lens choice, timing,
exposure and more. Participants will practice these techniques
during a sunset and quiet morning photo walk with a naturalist. We
will build a group slideshow and create a print to take home.

Suggested equipment to bring:
digital interchangeable lens camera or user adjustable advanced

 point and shoot camera, tripod (if available) and clothing

for outdoor explorations.

Instructor: Bruce Leventhal
http://www.btleventhal.com
http://bruceleventhal,blogspot.com

Call 651-407-5350 for registration information

Creating HDR from a Single RAW Image

If not taken to the extreme (and sometimes when it is), creating an HDR image from a number of shots can bring out more detail then would normally be captured with a single image.  However, you can also achieve an HDR- like effect in Lightroom using just a signle image.

There is an article on the Digital Photography School website that discusses how to make an HDR image from one single shot that is worth reviewing, if you are into this type of treatment.  You can view it at: DPS.

the iPhone and John Paul Caponigro

John Paul Caponigro has always had an interesting site, but he is now offering advice on the use of iPhone cameras and other smartphone uses. No one has an excuse anymore for missing that shot - almost any type of camera will do. There are workshops, blog posts and advice at his site. Check it out and go for it.

Share the Camera Council Blog

So many interesting activities in photography are popping out this Spring - Lightroom 4 has been released (note the price decrease if you don't have it), CS6 is in Beta and preparing to be released; Canon has shipped the new 5DIII which has many users VERY excited, Olympus is shipping their new line the OM-D with its E-5, and Panasonic is right on Olympus' heels with a 2 new mirrorless cameras and two f2.8 lenses for M43. Rikk Flohr has classes dedicated to Lightroom, as well as a number of workshops fast filling up.  Local shooters have prints mounted, framed and hanging in a number of locations, others have prepared books and new websites. Are you a part of any of it? If so, let us know and we will share it and spread the word. The New Imaging, www.cameracouncil.blogspot.com site is here to help get the word out about the doings in the clubs and the activities of their members. Send emails to cameracouncil@gmail.com to add information.

Good Shooting!

Something Completely Different

The video below has nothing to do with photography and everything to do with "art"

parkinsonmn.org in need of volunteer photographers

ParkinsonMn.org is in need of photographic help if anyone is available. Per representative Eileen Smith, "I need photographers for our annual Parkinson's walk. In the past, we've been fortunate to have three to five professional or close-to-professional photographers volunteer their time. This year, all my "regulars" can't join us. It's May 12 in Plymouth, from about 9:30 or so until noon. Any volunteers or recommendations of people I could contact? People shots galore. Fun morning."

If you can help the cause, contact Eileen at the following: eileeensmith@gmail.com (please note the extra "e" is _not_ a typo). See the website: www.parkinsonmn.org

Thanks to local club member Margaret Grosspietsch.

Growing Strong Exhibit with Photos by APS Member Terra Rathai

Growing Strong Opens April 19 at Mill City Museum

“Growing Strong” celebrates the unique confluence of community aspiration, cultural exchange, and economic activity popularly known as the farmers market. The exhibit responds to an extraordinary resurgence in the number of farmers markets nationwide—from only 1755 in 1994 to over 7000 today.

While supporting renewed interest in sustainable farming and local food, farmers markets also help fill a growing desire to make our communities more connected, livable and vibrant. Through a combination of photomurals and first-person storytelling, visitors will explore the contemporary and historic ways that farmers markets serve Minnesota communities.

Growing Strong was created by North Node Consulting, LLC in partnership with Kidzibits,Mill City Museum, Renewing the Countryside, and Avant Garden Photography. Primary funding for this project provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

WEBSITE: www.growingstrongexhibit.com

LED Lighting - what can it really do?

LED Lighting by Kirk Tuck released last January which describes the newest thing in continuous lighting. Flash lighting is known as a stresser for models but continuous lights have always been a problem due to heat. LED lighting just might be the trick - although I have to admit, I always looked at it as a bit of a toy and trick. Apparently LED continuous lighting has grown up and is hitting the big time.

Kirk's new book just might be the start of something new for those into artificial lighting.

INTERCLUB AWARD IMAGES - 2012

Below are the winning images for each category in the Interclub competition.  All of the award winners including honorable mentions will be posted later this week on the Camera Council's website: www.cameracouncil.org.  Also, all of the images from the 3M camera club (that won the club competition) will be posted there, as well.

COLOR PRINT IMAGE OF THE YEAR

John Anderson

B & W PRINT IMAGE OF THE YEAR

 Terry Butler

 DIGITAL REALISTIC IMAGE OF THE YEAR

C. Mannheim

 DIGITAL NATURE IMAGE OF THE YEAR

Don Speeht

 DIGITAL CONTEMPORARY IMAGE OF THE YEAR

Doug Heimstead

Congratulations to all of the award winners!  Visit the council website later this week to see all of the winning images in each category including the club competition.  

Monday Reception: New Photo Exhibit at Colonial Church, Edina

Review:

I had the pleasure of attending tonight's reception at the Eleven 40 Exhibit currently showing at Colonial Church of Edina. All the images were professionally framed and beautifully hung. I would love to mention each image specifically, but everything displayed by these eleven skilled photographers is well worth seeing.

That said, I especially liked "Almost Circular Staircase" by Steven Shor. Many photographers take shots of circular staircases, but Steven inserted something unexpected that makes the image standout as something quite special. Peter Wong's "Tall Trees" is a lovely print of a forest expanse that draws you into its depths with sharp detail, delicate color and deep shadow, to say nothing of its impressive print size. Some images clearly demand to be printed large and their makers should and do obey. The same can be said of Peter's stunning "Power of the Waves", which simply must be seen in person in order to properly experience the amazing blue-greens of its foaming waves.

Standing on it's own as a classical photograph is Forrest Pearson's "Child with a Compass at Summer Camp". A wonderful black and white print of two young boys staring out of image and daring to engaging the viewer. An image not to be missed and uniquely special.

Brian Billadeau's outstanding presentation of "Elephant Repose" also stands out as something special and begs to hang on someones library wall. As well it should.

Lars Michael's "Pu'uhanua o Honaunau, Big Island" is another large image that accentuates the detail and beauty of landscape photography. He is joined by Cynthia Fleury's wonderful "Boats in Marina Morning Light", John Ringquist's delightful "Red Biplane", and John Olson's popular "Vintage America Series" that displays a skillful and beautiful rendition of rodeo life. Also there is a favorite image of mine - Brad Kissell's "The Meek and the Mighty", a skillful display of the use of light and dark in botanical nature. Mark Karney experimented with canvas printing and presented an unusual image mounting that will appeal to many with its dramatic 3-D style and entrancing colors reminiscent of the mid-century. Michael Gilligan presented two lovely images, "Shore Ice", and a striking black and white of a young boy standing in the lake waters, called "Boy's Silhouette".

In short, an excellent collection of local photography - please take the time to drop by the Church and enjoy the Exhibition. It will be hanging until June 1, 2012.

- Barb Smith

Colonial Church is exhibiting the work of eleven local photographers:
There will be an opening reception on Monday, April 2, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
The exhibit is free and open to the public from April 2 – June 1, 2012.

This collaborative exhibit is presented by eleven Twin Cities area, award- wining photographers. These 40 images showcase some of their best and most creative work. E ach of these photographers is unique in style and vision, yet unified by their high-level of artistic talent and passion for photography.

Exhibit images are available for purchase. Pricing and contact information will be listed in a catalog available at the church.
A percentage of all sales made will be donated to Colonial Church as thanks for providing space and opportunity for this exhibit.

Worldwide Micro Four Thirds Photography Day - April 3

A day for all M43 fans. http://www.flickr.com/groups/micro43day/

How to partipate: http://www.flickr.com/groups/micro43day/discuss/72157629532364231/

1) Before April 3, 2012: Join this Flickr group and help spread the word! Tell your fellow Micro 4/3 users this easy to remember URL: micro43day.org

2) On April 3, 2012: Set out with your Micro 4/3 camera and make some images! Consider meeting up with some fellow Micro 4/3 users for a photowalk or just go out by yourself knowing that Micro 4/3 users all over the world are doing the same.

3) On or after April 3, 2012: Submit up to to three of your images from that day to this group.

Hammeruser.com

Hammer Users at Lensrentals.com - don't miss it.