Adorama Introduces The APPOS™ – Photo App Awards and Photo Contest for the iPhone

Photography is about image quality but not just pixel quality. The quality of the image content is also important. The camera on the iPhone doesn’t produce noise-free images like a PRO DSLR camera but it still offers endless ways of creative photography, especially with the help of more than two thousand photography-related Apps you can find in the App Store.

If you are an aspiring iPhone photographer, this contest offered by Adorama is a great opportunity to display your talent and win some cool prizes. It is easy to get started, just follow the simple steps:

  1. Take a photo with your iPhone
  2. Use the apps of your choice to edit your photo
  3. Submit your photo here, or email it to adorama@strutta.com
  4. Describe how you created your photos and what apps were used, and earn a chance at winning one of many exciting prizes!

A panel of celebrity judges (big names in photography such as Scott Kelby, Joe McNally, Syl Arena, Moose Peterson, etc) will pick the winners but it is you who will select the best iPhone Apps.

Check out the details at contest.adorama.com.

Source: PRWeb

Posted in Digital photography, News, Photo contest on January 14th, 2010. No Comments.

Fotobabble: Photos That Talk

Fotobabble LogoThis is definitely a new comer in the crowed photo sharing site circle but it offers something nobody else seems to have: Photo that talks!

The new site (currently in beta) lets you upload a photo and then record your voice directly through your computer to create a Fotobabble. You can then share it by e-mail, Facebook, Twitter or embed it into a blog or website. There is nothing to download or install. Just a quick registration for a free account. Read More…

Posted in Photo sharing on January 12th, 2010. 1 Comment.

Auto ISO: When Is It Useful?

Many new digital SLR cameras now come with a feature called Auto ISO, which automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity of the camera based on pre-programed algorithms and user preferences such as maximum allowed ISO and minimum shutter speed.

Is this feature useful?

The typical support argument for the Auto ISO feature goes like this: Camera lenses have the maximum aperture limitation. At a given ISO,  the required shutter speed to achieve proper exposure may be too slow to stop motion or avoid camera shake even when the aperture is at its maximum setting. In this case, the ISO setting of the camera needs to be raised until a usable shutter speed can be obtained. This previously human-involved process can be automated by the Auto ISO feature.

Still need to see some more convincing arguments or have some questions answered about the usefulness of the Auto ISO feature? Professional photographer Steve Simon shared his thoughts on the Auto ISO feature in Nikon DSLR camera in two discussion threads on Flickr:

Posted in Online Resources, Tips and techniques on December 30th, 2009. No Comments.

Is Your Old Flash Safe to Use on Your New Camera?

Starblitz Flash, front

It is not the safety of the photographer but the safety of the camera at stake here. Some flashes use very high voltages in the trigger circuit that may be high enough to fry your camera’s circuit board. If you are temped to buy cheap flashes from garage sale or off eBay to expand your strobist arsenal, check this site first to make sure it is safe to use on your camera or other triggering devices’ hotshoe.

If the flash you are interested in is not listed, you can follow the instructions (scroll down until you see How to Check the Trigger Voltage) to measure it yourself. My Starblitz 200 DNX isn’t listed in there. The voltage on the sync terminal is ~11 volts. I put it on my Nikon D200 and it works just fine. According to Nikon D200 manual, the accessory shoe on the camera can support up to 250 volts.

Posted in Flash photography, Online Resources on December 24th, 2009. No Comments.

iPhoneography – The iPhone Photography & Videography Blog

The camera on the iPhone doesn’t take great pictures but it doesn’t prevent people from loving it either. The reasons?

  • It is available at any time. I can leave my Nikon DSLR camera at home but I won’t leave home without my cell phone, which is currently the iPhone.
  • Photo taking is now spontaneous. Whenever anything catches my eyes, I pull out the iPhone and snap a picture.
  • It is easy to be creative. Part of the reason for that is the tens of photo-related apps you can find in the App Store.

For all the iPhone shutterbugs out there, here is a good blog I just discovered (I know, I have been living under a rock for quite some time): iPhoneography. This blog covers all kinds of stuff related to iPhone photography and videography. You will find news, showcases, new photo app introductions, app reviews, etc.

Social network presence

Posted in Online Resources, Photography blogs on December 12th, 2009. No Comments.

Nikon NEF Codec 1.9.0 Adds D3s and Windows 7 Support

Nikon has released version 1.9.0 of the NEF Codec. The new version (release note) added the support for the new D3s DSLR and Windows 7, but only 32 bit versions. For people who wants 64 bit support, please check out the following posts for more information.

Posted in Software on November 29th, 2009. No Comments.

Nikon Software Release Schedule for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Compatibility

According to this Nikon support page, Nikon will release Mac OS X “Snow Leopard” compatible version of their photo transfer, management, editing software packages according to the following schedule:

  • Capture NX 2: End of December 2009
  • Camera Control Pro 2: End of November 2009
  • Nikon Transfer: End of January 2010
  • View NX: End of January 2010

Nikon has not determined the release date for the following Snow Leopard compatible software:

  • NIK Color Efex Pro 3
  • WT-4 Setup Utility / Thumbnail Selector

Via NikonRumors via RobGalbraith.

Posted in News, Software on November 21st, 2009. No Comments.

Pro Tips: How to Photograph Children

Canon EOS News November 2009 issue (You can read the online version here) hit my inbox today. The Canon Quick Tip section has a link to some great tips about how to photograph children.

The tips are offered by professional photographer Heather Lickliter based in Athens, GA. Her business, Stylized Portraiture, specialize in Maternity, Newborn, Baby, Infants, Children, Toddlers, Fairy Tale, Princess, Fairy, Boutique, Couture, Storybook, Studio, Seniors, Weddings, and Events Photography.

The three part series has only two of them published so-far.  In Photographing Children, Part 1: Working with Different Age Groups, Heather started with some general advices on composition. It is not about how to pose the children using instructions. It is about how to capture the most nature moments by selecting the proper shooting angle, by anticipation, and by selectively drawing or not drawing the attention of the children. Photography is not all about skills in camera handling. It has a lot to do with how to interact with people and how being patient, positive, and creative helps with the process.

After the general advices, she went into details on the setup techniques in working with children of different age groups. There are lots of great tips! The best way to get great photos of your children, she said at the end, is to “think like a child, whatever their age. Be close to the ground, watch the world around you, and be happy. If you’re having fun, then so are your kids, and the photos will show that!”

In Photographing Children, Part 2: The Canon You Carry, Heather first offered some tips on how to choose proper camera settings such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, followed by advices on choosing props and wardrobes. According to the article, she had spent $7,900 on Canon gears but you really don’t have to. Most of the tips can be applied to point-and-shoot compact cameras but for the best results a DSLR is highly recommended. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a Canon.

The third part, Lighting and Post Processing Techniques, has not yet been published.

Further reading

Posted in Online Resources, Tips and techniques on November 19th, 2009. No Comments.
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