PixelatedImage Blog

Well folks, time for the weekly roundup. Starting with Deke McClelland’s 100 photoshop tips in 5 minutes video. It’s mostly keyboard shortcuts, so don’t be looking for killer techniques, but it’s pretty funny and you’re bound to learn a few things if you’re good at listening fast.

Since we’re talking about Deke, you should check out You Suck At Photoshop which is rumoured to be done by Deke. There’re several of these videos. As education it works ok - you might learn a thing or two - but as performance art/satire it’s damn funny. And it’s crude and might border on offensive if you’re the type who doesn’t get satire for what it is, or just have more delicate ears than some. You’ve been warned.

While we’re on the topic of funny, have you heard of the IYP Photography Contest? You heard, it the IYP. International Year of the Potato World Photography Contest. I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Link HERE. It’s actually pretty serious and the prizes reflect that. But who can resist a jab at something so quirky? In 2004, there was an International Year of Rice contest too - see the winner’s gallery HERE.

Less funny is the introduction of the new Nikon D700 this week, a new SB-900 strobe, and two new PC/shift-tilt lenses. See Scott Kelby’s blog for details and links HERE. It’s getting hard to be Canon fanboy these days. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s worth investing in both systems. Starting with a D-700, a 24-70/2.8 VR (or whatever the Nikon lens equivalent is), and a few SB-900’s is starting to look pretty fine. Joe McNally is not doing much to help with this - see his recent blog post HERE.

I got Peterson’s Understanding Shutter Speed in the mail this week and took some time to read it yesterday. It’s not a big book, so the read was quick. I think as book reviews go there are two questions - did the book do what the author set out to do? and did I get anything out of it? The rest are secondary. I assume the answer to the first is yes; this is not a book with a complicated premise. The second, well, yes and no.

I think that, if new shooters can be persuaded to put down their camera long enough to pick up a book, being reminded of the effects of shutter speed on the aesthetics of an image is a good thing and this book does that. The photos illustrate the book well, though they aren’t generally inspiring. If your local library has it, it’s a rental. Or a nice gift for someone starting out. But if you’ve got one book to buy and read, I can think of meatier ones out of which you’ll glean much more, like Freeman’s The Photographer’s Eye.

Finally, a quote:

All my photographs are about meetings and about coups de foudre - love at first site. To do that type of photography one must wipe the canvas clean to prepare for chance encounters, be open and aware to such moments, otherwise it becomes cliche - already seen and expected.
-Edouart Boubat

Have a great weekend. To my American readers, have a great July 4th. Shoot what you love, love what you shoot.

Head over to GKB’s blog for a fun interview with yours truly. It’s brief, but fun. Thanks to GKB for taking the time. Link HERE.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Hi folks. Another grab bag of stuff this morning.

Blog Exchange. Tomorrow Gavin Gough and I will be doing another blog exchange. He will be writing here, and I will be writing there. Be sure to welcome Gavin here and if you’re missing your daily fix of thoughts scrapped from my brain, check out Gavin’s blog where I’ll be.

Lumen Dei. Our seven participants for this year’s photographic workshop and tour in Kashmir will be pleased to be reminded that in three months today we’ll be meeting in Delhi and starting the tour. I can’t wait.

An Announcement. I’m keeping the details on this one close to my chest - but I’m so excited about this I needed to pass it on before my head exploded. Last week I was given a book deal and in less than a year there should be a book on the shelves, from a major publisher, with my name on it, and my photographs and writing inside. This is all I’m going to release at this point, but you are now free to let your imaginations run wild. You may now jump up and down on my behalf.

Check in tomorrow with Gavin and I.

It’s a bit of a no-blog Monday, I’m afraid. Was up at 3am in the time zone I was unaccustomed to, 1am Vancouver equivalent. A little head-fogged right now. I think I need a nap.

Had a great workshop in Ft. Erie  - to those of you that were there, thanks for coming, for making me feel so welcome, and making the day as enjoyable as it was.

I have big news, but will release that when it’s a little more stable and not likely to blow up in my face. In the mean time I’m beginning to do research for an around-the-world trip. I need to chose 4-6 countries to shoot in, and need some diversity. I’m looking to peer around my blind spots and you can help me with that. So do me a favor? Y’all know what kind of stuff I love to shoot - so tell me, what’s the one place on the planet in which you’ve shot and would immediately go back to if you had the chance? And why. Your input would be most appreciated.

See you tomorrow.

Think Tank Photo is sending one lucky person to 2008 Photokina in Cologne, Germany. Here’s the PR:

Party with Think Tank Photo at photokina!
If you are a photographer, you are eligible to enter Think Tank Photo’s drawing for free round-trip airfare, hotel, spending money, and exhibition passes to photokina, the world’s leading photo and imaging trade fair. Join over 160,000 visitors from 156 countries in exploring 1,600 exhibitors of cutting edge imaging products from almost 50 countries. And, you get to hang around Cologne with the gang from Think Tank Photo (what could be better!).

Open to all photographers, worldwide
September 22-27, 2008
Cologne, Germay
Visit the website for more details HERE.

My most recent article, Reconciling The Poet and The Geek: A Means To Achieving Your Vision, has been published now on Lexar.com. I posted it last week in the articles section here, and if you’re a regular you’ve read many of these thoughts before, but give it a read all the same if you’re so inclined. I’ve put a few of the thoughts all in the same place and worded them a little differently. Find it, along with many of my other articles, on Lexar.com at this link

Also, if you go to the Pro Photographer page and scroll down to find me - I’m next door neighbors with James Nachtwey! This is as close to famous as it gets, folks. (How James Nachtwey didn’t make the cut for the Elite photographers I have no idea. Travesty of justice, etc.)

Want a look into some of the hoped-for possibilities for the next release of Photoshop? Want a say? Got a feature idea you want to let Adobe know about? Check out this post on Photoshop Insider.

While we’re on Scott’s site, be sure to read McNally’s guest article on his favourite photography books - here’s a list of the influences Joe considers really important, so it’s worth a look.

The Lumen Dei Photographic Workshop and Tour in Kashmir this September is now sold out. Check back early next year to see where we’re going next. But this one’s sold out. We really mean it this time.

Looking for a new 580 EX II? - Looks like you can get an instant rebate on them. Amazon has them on for $390.00 right now - that’s over $100 off the ticket price. Check it here.

This week Epson announced a new printer, the R2880 which replaces the R2400. I love my R2400 and would buy it again in a heartbeat, but now it’s close to $300 cheaper, AND it’s newer, shinier, and better. More about it on the Epson website here.

Unrelated to yesterday’s rant, Joe McNally has a post on his own blog about his now infamous desert shoot and the rational behind the number of SB-800’s. Not that Joe needs to justify himself to anyone, he’s just so bent on teaching that he can’t seem to help it. As always, informative.

My new buddy Gavin Gough is featured in this month’s Digital Photographer magazine (the expensive one from the UK.) Be sure to check it out. Gavin’s site is here, the magazine’s site is here.

I’m in the studio all weekend shooting yogis (those bendy twisty yoga people.) Have a great weekend.

The venerable David Hobby, single handedly responsible for keeping sales of Nikon SB-800 flashes and Pocket Wizard remotes well above average, has just released his 8-disc Strobist Lighting Seminar set.

There’s some whining and complaining going on about David’s choice to focus on content over production value, and some about the $139 price tag, but the 200,000 readers of Hobby’s Strobist blog can’t all be wrong - the man has made a niche for himself teaching strong, simple off-camera lighting. If you’re interested in putting yourself through an off-camera lighting bootcamp, this is a phenomenal deal. Read more about it here.

Running dry? Looking for inspiration? Here’s a simple solution: increase the inputs. Watch something inspiring or educational. Read something you wouldn’t otherwise read. Attend a workshop. Go to Borders or Barnes and Noble and pick up a photography book by someone you’ve never heard of who shoots in a style you’d never shoot.

Here’s some suggestions:

Western Canadians who haven’t taken a NAPP seminar have a chance to see Ben Wilmore (left) in Vancouver and Calgary on June 9, and 10 as he presents his Photoshop CS3 for Photographers seminar. Details on the NAPP website here: Vancouver - Calgary (Oops, looks like there’s one in Ottawa -June 06 - and Toronto - June 16 - as well. Follow the links for details)

If you’re in or around Ft. Erie, Ontario on June 07, I will be presenting my Know Your Stuff workshop and would love to see you. More info HERE.

There’s a great video of David Tejada shooting a commercial assignment on oil rigs in Colorado - if you’re interested in seeing how he works and why he does what he does, his videos - all of them - are worth the time. The video is on the Strobist site HERE.

George Jardine has an interview/podcats with Steve McCurry on his site HERE. While there be sure to check out his conversation with Jay Maisel, Seth Resnick, and Greg Gorman HERE as well.

Finally, if you want some solid learnin’ in your own living room - Kelby Training is having a Memorial Day sale and selected DVD’s are 50% off. Follow THIS LINK for details.

I’m shooting a commercial assignment out of town for the next two days, so I’m writing this on Thursday, see you next week. For my American readers, enjoy your long weekend. Go shoot something you love.

Tune in to this week’s (Episode #133) PhotoshopUser TV, (now airing) to see yours truly making a guest appearance with Scott Kelby. (It used to be PhotoshopTV, now it’s Photoshop USER TV, presumably the change was made to reflect the addictive nature of Photoshop and the dependance-based behavior it induces.)

Let me know how it is because I’m not sure I have the strength to watch. There’s this scene in Almost Famous where the Russell, the leader of the band Stillwater, turns to the reporter and says, “just makes us look cool.” I’m not sure this is going to make me look cool.

We did one take and just as I was feeling I’d totally blown it but would get another take or two, Scott turns to me, calls me a one-take-wonder and we leave. No second take. No chance to get comfortable. No chance to rectify mistakes, like forgetting to mention Matt Brandon with whom I run the Lumen Dei tour. So if it looks like I’m fumbling for words and don’t know whether to look at the camera or at Scott - it’s no fancy camera trickery. All that discomfort is pure me, baby. Still, tune in. Might be worth a laugh. Link HERE.

LUMEN DEI - One Spot Left.
Related to the Photoshop TV fiasco interview, if you’ve come here regarding the Lumen Dei tour and workshop in Kashmir, we have only one space left now, so act fast.

NEED Magazine Blog
NEED Magazine has an online supplement to their excellent quarterly print magazine. This week they’ve published a personal piece I wrote about hope, and the role World Vision assignments have played in beating back my cynicism. Read that piece, and others here - Link to NEED Magazine online HERE. (Updated - the article is now up.)