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Canon Releases Software Updates for Multiple Cameras

Canon USA has issued a number of software updates for it’s DSLR and compact digital cameras on their site.

The updates vary by camera model and operating system, but includes the company’s Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility, WFT Utility, Picture Style Editor and Original Data Security Tools applications. Almost all of the company’s EOS digital SLR models receive software updates, as do four of their compact cameras.

Links to the updates for each camera:

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More Tilt Shift Fun

While looking over my bookmarks I noticed one that I haven’t visited in awhile, tiltshiftmaker.com. I don’t believe I’ve been back here since my post about it in January.

If you haven’t seen this site you need to go look right now. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a tiltshift lens this site gives you that functionality for free. Just upload your image, make any tweeks you want and download your new tiltshifted image.

I went looking through my past month’s shots to see if any were a good subject for this treatment.

Here’s a view of Hershey, PA from the Hershey Hotel.  Panoramic shots with buildings, people or vehicles make the perfect photos for this effect.

opt-hersh-3-tiltshift

For more ideas and to see other images like this visit the Tilt Shift Flickr group.

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Prepping with Flickr to Shoot the Flaunt Runway Event

Photo by Heather Goss

Photo by Joshua Yospyn

Let me start off by telling you what has me excited this week.  Heather Goss, the Managing and Arts Editor at DCist.com, has invited Shawn Duffy and I to shoot the upcoming Flaunt Runway Event at the Honfleur Gallery.

This spring, the Honfleur Gallery will premiere Flaunt: Photography & Fashion Collaboration, a special exhibition showcasing emerging local talent in photography and fashion design. To highlight the synergy between the two mediums, the show will feature two events: an opening launch on Saturday, April 25, 2009, and a runway show on June 6, 2009.

Flaunt, produced in association with Ten Miles Square and Project Beltway, LLC, will feature new fashion portrait work by photographers Joshua Yospyn, John Ulaszek, Meaghan Gay, and Steve Goldenberg. The work is the result of collaborations with local fashion designers Dana Greaves, Taimur Baig, Lara Akinsaya, and Will Sharp, who will showoff their talent as their clothes grace the runway.

This is something new for me so I’ve been conducting research all week in preparation. Shawn has been a fountain of knowledge for me and I really appreciate his patience with all my questions.

One often overlooked resource on the web is Flickr.  Not only is Flickr a great way to share your photos but it also provides a way to learn from others.  For example lets take Saturday’s upcoming shoot.  I plan to bring two cameras, my new 40D and my XS.  Since the 40D is new to my bag I wanted to conduct some research on how other owners used it for this type of shoot.  I logged into my Flickr account and choose Camera Finder under the Explore menu.  Choose your brand (Canon for me) and it will present you with a list of all cameras used for images in Flickr.  Choose your model (40D for me) and you’ll be presented a page with various types of information on the camera such as price, capabilities, most interesting pictures, as well as a search box.  In the search box enter the type of subject you are interested in (Fashion Show for me) and you’ll be presented a listing of photos for that subject from that camera.  Here’s the results of my search using Canon 40D and Fashion Show.

Review the results to get a feel of the compositions of your subject shots.  To get greater detail click into one of the individual shots.  Flickr provides a way to view the EXIF data if its available in the uploaded JPEG. On the right hand side below the tags will be a link saying More Properties if the EXIF is available.  Here you can see the exposure, aperture, ISO and many other settings used for that shot.

more-detail

Photo by alan_raga

For every photowalk I go on I spend some time on Flickr getting ideas.  Its an invaluable resource that I’m surprised more people do not take advantage of.

You may want to try this before your next shoot.  Good luck with it where ever it is and wish me luck this Saturday!

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Tilt Shift Fun

dayeleven-5-tiltshift

Tilt shift refers to the practice in photography of moving the camera’s lens to direct a viewer’s gaze from a part of the image the photographer wishes to de-emphasize. This can be applied to provide a diorama, or miniature,  view of a real life scene.  It is especially effective when done from a high angle, looking down on a subject such as you would a model set. Continue reading »

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Photography on Twitter

twitter-photo-birdWhen you’re not being a shutterbug, do you tweet on Twitter?  Does that question even make sense to you?  If not then maybe you should check it out.  Twitter is a 140 character at a time microblogging service that is mainly about building relationships and sharing resources.  There have been hundreds and probably thousands of articles written on the web about the whatnot’s of Twitter.  Instead of me trying to add to the chaff I’ll suggest a Google search or a visit to the Twitter FAQ to find out more about the service.

I’m seeing more and more conversations about photography in my stream.  It has quickly become a valued source of information about gear, techniques and resources.  If you are looking to connect with photographers around the country, and even around the world, then consider joining me on Twitter.  Here is some information to get you started. Continue reading »

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