Wednesday, August 1, 2012

You Are Here

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Events
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You Are Here is an exhibition and evolving photo project live from 30 July to 10 August at Mother London. The partnership between Mother and award-winning international photographer Caroll Taveras will capture those found lost and wandering, in a specially created studio, during the Olympics. “Just one day in, and the You Are Here street team have helped an array of people who were lost – including the Serbian Olympic swimmer, George Markovic,” says Mother London’s Annalisa Hoadley. “The project has been greatly received by the sitters, who have all been helped out in return from the team here bringing them to the studio and giving them some tips and a tea.” All the images will be available to view on Tumblr - visits to the exhibition are by appointment only.

iLightningCam 4.00 for iOS

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
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Independent developer Florian Stiassny has announced iLightningCam 4.00, a new version of his real-time lightning photography app for iOS devices. iLightningCam enables everyone to take spectacular real lightning pictures with full photo resolution. Version 4.0 introduces 4th Gen support for iPod touch, support for iPad 2 and 3, improved night mode,  optimized exposure for night lightning storms, minor bug fixes and improved instructions. iLightningCam 4.00 is now reduced to $0.99 for 2 days and available worldwide exclusively through the iTunes App Store in the Photo & Video category.

Facebook Announces Changes to Photos Section

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Websites
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Facebook has announced upcoming changes to the way users’ photos are presented on their timelines. “Now when you click Photos at the top of your timeline, you’ll see larger pictures that fill up the page,” the company said in a statement. “You can use the menu to find shots you’re tagged in, pictures you’ve shared and albums you’ve created.” Although the press release does not say so in express terms, the screenshot above suggests that all images will - rather disappointingly and incomprehensibly - be cropped to square format, regardless of their original aspect ratio. The changes are being rolled out gradually.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Fujifilm WCL-X100 Review

Mark Goldstein
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The Fujifilm WCL-X100 is a new wide-angle conversion lens for the popular X100 camera. It converts the X100's 35mm lens to a wider-angle 28mm focal length with no effect on the camera's fast f/2 maximum aperture. Read our in-depth Fujifilm WCL-X100 review complete with full-size sample images to find out if it's a must-buy for X100 owners...

ColorStrokes 2.0 for iOS

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
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MacPhun has recently released ColorStrokes, a successor to its Color Splash Studio app for iOS and Mac. “The key feature of ColorStrokes for Mac and iPhone [is] the possibility to recolour the images and add colours to black and white photos,” says MacPhun’s Veronica Melnikova. The iOS app is available now for $1.99 on iTunes (free for Color Splash Studio users). The Mac version is “coming soon”.

Cooliris 2.0 for iOS

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
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Cooliris has updated its photo app for the Apple iPhone and iPad. “The application makes it very easy to instantly have a digital, hi-resolution mobile portfolio,” explains Claire Illmer of Cooliris. “The Cooliris app organizes your personal photo albums from your iPad or iPhone LIbrary, as well as your Instagram and Facebook photos. Additionally, you can quickly share multiple photos to Facebook to broadcast new shots to your Timeline, or share your photos directly from any of your libraries and networks in either one-on-one or group conversations.” Cooliris 2.0 is available as a free download from the iTunes App Store.

Innova Art Parks the Bus at This Year’s Photokina

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Accessories, Events, Photokina 2012
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Innova Art will be drawing up in a traditional London red bus and celebrating the sporting highlights of London 2012 on its stand in Hall 6.1, stand B31, at Photokina. The company’s range of new and enhanced products - including a new, improved JetMaster, two new products in the Olmec range and a premium selection of IFA media - will also be on display. The Photokina trade show will be taking place from18-23 September in Cologne, Germany.

Pro Uses “Hand Built” Canon 200-400mm Lens at Olympics

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Lenses
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On his blog, professional sports photographer Jeff Cable has briefly reported on his experiences with a “hand built” (prototype) Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens. “I borrowed t[he] 200-400 and it is amazing!” Cable says. “Canon and Nikon both loan lens and cameras to all Olympic photographers… I am like a kid in a candy store.” Canon first announced the development of this lens back in February, claiming that it “will offer an unsurpassed combination of versatility, first-class optical performance and an enhanced weather-proof construction.”

Source: Jeff Cable Photography via Photography Bay

Two New Videos from Reuters TV

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Accessories, Events, General
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Reuters TV has posted two new videos on robotic camera arms and underwater cameras used at the Olympics. Reuters was the first news organisation to develop remote robotic photographic cameras for sporting events - now the technology is being used at the London Games. In addition, Reuters photographers Wolfgang Rattay and Pawel Kopczynski have developed advanced underwater cameras to shoot swimming competitions nd transmit the images instantly around the globe. The videos below highlight these exciting new technologies.

Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Accessories
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Spider Holster has announced the addition of the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp to its range of camera accessories. With the Spider Arca- Swiss Clamp, Arca-Swiss plate users now can easily carry their gear with Spider Holster to reduce the stresses on their upper body. Compatible with any bracket or plate that features the Arca-Swiss geometry, including those from Wimberley, Really Right Stuff, Kirk, etc., users simply twist the pressure screw allowing the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp’s sliding jaws to release and are free to connect the camera to their tripod. Compatible with both the Spider Holster SpiderPro and Black Widow, the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp carries an MSRP of $95.

Manfrotto Teams Up with Joe McNally for his 2nd Webinar

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Accessories
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Manfrotto School of Xcellence has announced a second webinar featuring the lighting master Joe McNally. During this hour long tutorial Joe will explain the key aspects to take into consideration when shooting on location in order to achieve outstanding images. He will explore and analyse how to optimise backgrounds and lighting, where to place subjects in the picture and how to use colour. The webinar is taking place on 1st August, from 7-8pm BST. Interested readers can register via the website below.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Win with Dixons Retail!

Mark Goldstein | Competitions, PhotographyBLOG
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Photography Blog is now running a competition sponsored by Dixons Retail. You have a chance to win a few products from Curry’s camera selection plus an external hard drives from PC World, as listed below.

The three lucky winners are: 
1st and 2nd Prizes: Anthony Jessuk and Linda Mayson - Samsung PL121 Compact Digital Camera - Black (pictured)
3rd Prize: Leana Beegum - WD My Passport Essential External Portable Hard Drive - 320GBP - Black

This competition ended on the 29th July 2012 (12:00PM GMT).

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G Review

Mark Goldstein
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The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G is a new wide-angle prime lens. Aimed mainly at full-frame DSLR users, but also compatible with DX bodies where it provides a focal range of 42mm, the AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G is a more affordable alternative to Nikon's professional wide-angle primes. Read our in-depth Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G review complete with full-size sample images.

Showboat for iPad

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
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Showboat is a new scrapbook app for the Apple iPad. The easy-to-use program creates a double-page portrait photo album, a single page landscape photo album as well as a full-screen slideshow album - all at once. “Showboat was designed for anybody who wants to easily view and show their photos in a beautiful photo album format that looks like a traditional scrapbook,” the developers say. The app is available now on iTunes for $1.99.

TPOTY Exhibition Extended Due to Popular Demand

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Events
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In response to visitors’ demand, the Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) exhibition at London’s Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) has been extended for a further two weeks. Now running until 2nd September, the exhibition features the winning images from the 2011 international Travel Photographer of the Year awards, with all the stories behind the pictures, along with historic images from the Royal Geographical Society’s archives and a series of special showcases. The exhibition is free to enter.

BMG Launches Kodak Professional Inkjet Media

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Accessories, Photokina 2012
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The Brand Management Group (BMG) will launch their Kodak Professional range of digital media at this year’s Photokina trade show. The range includes the new 255g Professional Inkjet Photo Glossy and Lustre papers and two heavyweight, archival quality art papers: Fine Art Textured and Fine Art Smooth, both 315g. In the United Kingdom, the Kodak Professional Range will be distributed by Swains International.

Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Accessories
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Kingston has announced the second-generation of its DataTraveler Locker+ secure USB Flash drive. The new, lower-priced DataTraveler Locker+ G2 works interchangeably between Mac OS X and Windows systems and all data is secured with hardware-based encryption. Available in 4GB (£7.43+VAT), 8GB (£8.61+VAT), 16GB (£15.33+VAT) and 32GB (£34.43+VAT) capacities, the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 is backed by a five-year warranty and free technical support.

Pholium Gets Major Update

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
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58 North has announced that its digital photo book app, Pholium, is now free and offers a range of new features. Pholium’s latest version provides users with the ability to include an unlimited number of photos within each digital book that they create, while allowing users to share as many books as they want using iCloud. Pholium 1.2 for iPad is now available as a free download from the iTunes App Store.

Stadium Journey Advocates Back Row Photography

Zoltan Arva-Toth | General
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The website Stadium Journey, which publishes reviews of sports stadiums from around the world, has recently posted an interesting article entitled, “Why the Back Row of a Baseball Stadium is a Photographer’s Dream.” Written by Greg Goodman, the article argues that the “cheap seats” are the best place to photograph a baseball game. Known for his Baseball Stadium Fisheye Tour series, Goodman points out that “[m]ost baseball stadiums have some sort of architectural flair on the roof that makes an incredible border for a photograph.” Interested readers are encouraged to read the piece in its entirety at the website below.

Website: Stadium Journey

DSLR and GoPro Safari Workshop

Zoltan Arva-Toth | Events
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Mark Gillett and Rebecca Hart have teamed up under Suitcase Media & Productions to deliver a film and photography workshop in Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa. Taking place from 4-10 November and again from 11-17 November 2012, the DSLR and GoPro Safari Workshop is aimed at photographers who would like to explore the video function of their DSLRs, filmmakers looking for an opportunity to join a production team and anyone wanting to make a short documentary based on wildlife, conservation and the local African community. Each workshop is limited to eight participants. For more information, check out the website below.