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Rex Features Press Release 22/04/04

REX FEATURES CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
PRIVATE PARTY - MAY 5TH
PARTY & PRESS VIEW - MAY 6TH

Rex Features, the UK’s largest independent photographic agency, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this May with the commissioning of a unique multi-screen installation, “THE WORLD ACCORDING TO REX”. After a launch party in London, the exhibition will go on tour as a 21st century showcase for a selection of striking images taken from Rex Features’ diverse archive of over 15 million pictures.

Designed by Antidote with Michaelides and Bednash, and constructed by Inflate, “THE WORLD ACCORDING TO REX” installation is a work of art in itself: a four-metres long and two-metres-high inflatable containing eight LCD screens which act as a mobile exhibition space.

Breeze Systems Press Release 22/04/04

Downloader Pro 1.3 adds support for Canon EOS-1D Mark II and Sony DSC-F828 cameras

22nd April 2004: Breeze Systems today released Downloader Pro 1.3. This simple but powerful tool enables photographers to transfer images to a PC at the touch of a button, renaming and storing them with file and directories names chosen by the user. It includes sophisticated handling of IPTC data, automatic lossless rotation of JPEGs and support for downloading from card readers and portable hard drives.

The new release allows users to :
- View thumbnails of images to be downloaded
- Gain even greater control when automatically sorting images as they are downloaded
- Use the camera model name mapping function to give meaningful names identifying the camera used to take pictures e.g. when different members of the family have their own camera this function can be used to download images to separate directories e.g. D:PhotosJohnsPro1, D:PhotosSuesD70
- Simplify workflow by automating the creation of sets of related directories for each download directory e.g. Vacation2004originals, Vacation2004working, Vacation2004final (using the new Directory Maker plug-in)
- Download raw images from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Minolta, Fuji, Pentax and Sony cameras and use shooting data for directory and image naming. Supported cameras include the new Canon EOS-1D Mark II, Canon PowerShot Pro1, Nikon D70, Minolta DiMAGE A2, Olympus C8080WZ and Sony DSC-F828
- Play WAV or AVI files

Downloader Pro has been developed by Breeze Systems whose products include BreezeBrowser, DSLR Remote Pro and PSRemote. Downloader Pro runs on Windows and costs US $29.95. It is available on a 30 day free trial from Breeze Systems’ website www.breezesys.com.

Serif (Europe) Ltd Press Release 22/04/04

Software to suit all home and business publishing needs

Serif (Europe) Ltd - the world’s leading independent publisher of desktop publishing, design and graphics software - is delighted to announce the forthcoming release of three packages into their Productivity Range:

- Business Publishing Suite PDF Edition with PagePlus 8 PDF Edition, PhotoPlus 8 and MediaPlus
- Home Creativity Suite with PagePlus 8, PhotoPlus 7 and DrawPlus 5
- Desktop Publishing Suite with PagePlus 8, DrawPlus 6 and 3DPlus 3

Offering high functionality, ease of use and great value for money, these Suites have been put together with Serif’s core values in mind to offer complete software solutions to all computer users, whether for home or business projects.

Fujifilm UK Press Release 22/04/04

Fujifilm UK is today celebrating the sale of its two millionth digital camera, which marks the highest number of digital cameras sold by a manufacturer in this country.  The company has achieved impressive sales figures across the full range of its cameras since it first started shipping them in 1996, and this latest milestone is indicative of the vibrancy of the UK digital camera market.

Fujifilm has launched a series of popular cameras in recent months, which have worked to enhance the company’s UK digital camera sales.  In particular, products such as the FinePix F700 Zoom have made it all possible.  This camera - described recently as ‘the true photographer’s compact’ by professional photography publications - has won 17 awards to date, and has been praised by industry experts and consumers alike.  Tellingly, it was a shipment of FinePix F700 Zooms that brought sales to the landmark two million figure.

Michael Reichmann has published a new article, “Cloning Out the Can”, considers the subject of altering images and asks how far you should go.

“That photographs can be altered doesn’t really concern me. They always have been and always will. A more interesting discussion to my mind is that of degree. This is a real issue that every photographer has to deal with on an almost daily basis. It has nothing really do with digital vs. traditional means and media - but again simply is an ethical question that photographers have long had to deal with.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Cloning Out the Can

DCResource have published their review of the 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

“With the exception of an occasional problem with moire, the Nikon D70 is the best camera you can buy for under $1300 (if you already have a few Nikon lenses, the price for the body-only kit is just $999). The D70 takes excellent pictures, though they are marred by moire patterns that show up way too often for a camera like this. There are many ways to try to get around it, and by all means: experiment! Photos are very sharp, with accurate color and exposure, and no purple fringing to speak of.”

Website: DCResource - Nikon D70 Review

Olympus UK Press Release 22/04/04

Olympus is delighted to present a series of events at The Hospital to support the Annie Leibovitz American Music exhibition. The activity is intended to offer aspiring digital photographers a unique opportunity to learn from experienced and revered professionals whilst creating an open forum to discuss the merits of the medium.

LECTURES
Celebrated international photographer, Lord Lichfield will present the first lecture on the evening of Monday April 26th. Lichfield will discuss his distinguished career and will focus on his transition from traditional film images to his recent digital work. A question and answer session will follow the talk.

A panel discussion on Tuesday April 27th will bring together a selection of radically differing viewpoints on the use of image in media. Panel members include Bob Kirwin, Times Picture Editor, Jasmine Montgomery, Brand Strategist at Futurebrand and a Creative Director of advertising agency, Lowes. Popular life style journalist Martin Deeson will chair the panel.

WORK SHOPS
On Saturday April 24th Olympus will be running a digital portraiture workshop from 11.00 ? 16.30 in association with the editorial team from Photography Monthly. A series of short talks, demonstrations and practical exercises over the day are designed to improve the skills of all attendees. A personalised tour of American Music follows each workshop.

DPReview have just reviewed the new 8-megapixel Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom digital camera.

“My first impression of the C-8080 Wide Zoom was, “at last a prosumer camera that feels as though it is worth its price tag”. The C-8080 is built to a higher standard than any of the other eight megapixel digital cameras (save maybe the Sony DSC-F828), with a thick, high grade metal body simple rubber coating and innovative yet unfussy control layout. This is a camera which feels as well put together as a much more expensive digital SLR, you just know it’s going to last. Olympus also broke the mold with the C-8080’s design and although initially the camera controls may seem complex it all falls into place and changing settings (almost any setting, they’re all there) become fast and logical.”

Website: DPReview - Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom Review

Website: Read my review of the Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom

DPReview have reviewed the 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot Pro1.

“The PowerShot Pro1 is a camera designed to be familiar to current Canon owners, easy enough to use for first time buyers and yet still provide a semiprofessional feel and feature set. Canon has borrowed from its professional lens line to put an L quality label on the lens system to indicate that this is a new lens and it has been designed to fulfill the high resolution requirements of an eight megapixel CCD. In use the Canon felt slightly slower than I was expecting, certainly not much faster than the G5 and I didn’t see any marked improvement in speed overall from that camera.”

Website: DPReview - Canon PowerShot Pro1 Review

DPReview have published their review of the new 8-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8700 digital camera.

“At first the Coolpix 8700 looks like a simple upgrade for Nikon, take the Coolpix 5700 body, the same lens and controls and drop in an eight megapixel CCD. However it’s clear that the 8700 has changed quite a bit under the skin, the camera starts more quickly (although is still not fast in that respect), feels more responsive and has slightly faster shot to shot times. From a design point of view it has a fairly standard ‘SLR-like’ prosumer digital camera look, nothing radical but not particularly inspired either.”

Website: DPReview - Nikon Coolpix 8700 Review

DPReview have just reviewed the new 8-megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 digital camera.

“The DiMAGE A2 takes the A1 design and increases the resolution to eight megapixels. The A1’s primary unique feature (among many other good design features) is the Anti Shake system which works by stabilizing the sensor on a movable platform instead of moving any of the lens elements. This ingenious solution works, and still works on the DiMAGE A2 although I personally didn’t find it that useful in 90% of everyday shooting situations (your mileage may vary). Konica Minolta were at pains to stress that the DiMAGE A2 shouldn’t be seen as a simple ‘drop the sensor in’ upgrade and that many things under the hood have been modified, upgraded and fixed.”

Website: DPReview - Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Review

Popular Photography magazine have interviewed 8 street photographers and published their insights and advice on their website. Fascinating stuff.

“PPI: Do you try to be “invisible” when you shoot, or do you approach people and ask to take their pictures? Either way, how do you handle approaching people and taking their pictures?
I never try to be invisible. And I almost never ask. I just stand around with a camera and photograph. If I make eye contact, I smile. That’s about it. When you are starting out, you tend to worry about this kind of thing but the truth is most people simply accept your presence if you look as if you know what you’re doing.”

Website: Popular Photography - Street Photographer Interviews

Popular Photography have reviewed the latest version of the popular alternative to Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro from Jasc Software. Version 8 includes several features aimed squarely at photographers, including the Perspective Correction, Straighten, One Step Photo Fix and Scratch Remover tools.

Website: Popular Photography - Paint Shop Pro 8 Review

Popular Photography have just reviewed the SpyderPro monitor calibration device. This is is an an all-digital, seven-filter colorimeter that works with both CRT and LCD monitors with the industry’s premiere monitor calibration software - OptiCAL. The SpyderPRO with OptiCAL calibrates your monitor to a universal standard for color and automatically creates a correct monitor profile.

Website: Popular Photography - SpyderPRO Review

The German website dforum.de has recently reviewed the new 8 megapixel professional DSLR from Canon, the EOS 1D Mark II. The review is available in both German and English.

“For me the Canon EOS 1D Mark II is an extremely successful combination of the precision and speed of a 1D and the smooth pixel quality of a 10D. Actually something I always wanted. But every one has to make the decision on his own whether or not the Mark II is worth it or not. It is undoubted that the Mark II is the - all the performance characteristics put together - the most innovative and fastest DSLR in the world. Only the 1Ds can top it in terms of picture resolution.”

Website: dforum.de - Canon EOS 1D Mark II Review

The Spanish website quesabesde.com have just reviewed the stylish 5 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 digital camera.

Website: quesabesde.com - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 Review

Lastolite Press Release 20/04/04

The Ezybox - the world’s first compact, portable softbox

Softbox lighting often makes the difference between an ordinary shot and an outstanding one, but up until now softboxes have generally been relegated to the studio due to their bulkiness and complicated assembly requirements. After years of development to find the answer to softbox portability, Lastolite have used their expertise in collapsible lighting solutions to create the Ezybox, a fully collapsible softbox without rods.

Offering an ideal combination of durability, portability, light quality and control, the Lastolite Ezybox has revolutionized the location photographer?s kitbag forever. Easy to set up and folding down to a third of its size, the secret of the Lastolite Ezybox is in its unique design. Four collapsible panels are stitched together to form a box, which pops up in seconds. A separate diffuser is attached via velcro, then a unique ‘speedring’ adapter attaches in seconds with no screws or fasteners of any type. For further reduction of the light output an optional additional diffuser is available.

The Czech website FotoAparat.cz have just reviewed the new Konica Minolta Dynax 60 film SLR (notice that I said film, not digital!).

Website: FotoAparat.cz - Konica Minolta Dynax 60 Review

This is the final part of my St. Paul’s Cathedral series. For some people that may be a bad thing, for others it may be a relief! I’ve learnt the following things from posting these particular photos:

1. I should really calibrate my monitors - quickly!
2. I need to find a converging verticals Photoshop tutorial.
3. There are a limited number of views of St. Pauls, and they all seem to be cliched.
4. Despite that , I still like these photos :-)
5. You can’t please everyone all of the time…

You can click on each image to view a larger / better quality version over on my personal website, markgoldstein.co.uk