I had an opportunity to check out a copy of the new AFTERCAPTURE magazine today. I read it cover to cover while I was waiting for a client to arrive at the studio. The publishers are offering some sort of free subscription, available for a limited time. I was extremely impressed by the printing, visuals and content. I would have to say that it might well be the most useful magazine ever published for Digital Photographers. No kidding!
Check them out on their WEBZINE to get a feel for the content.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
After Capture Magazine Subscription Offer!
Software Review...
The good folks at Alien Skin Software are shipping me two of their most popular Photoshop Plug- ins, 'Snap art' and 'BLOWUP'. I will be playing with both of them this weekend and hope to have a review of each plug- in posted early next week. The 'Snap art' plug- in gives your images the look of natural art media, such as oil paint or pen and ink and 'BLOWUP' is Alien Skin's answer to Genuine Fractals for image upressing. I have read good things about both and I'm looking forward to putting them through a few of my very unscientific and subjective tests. Don't expect a 10 page White Paper with charts and mathematical analysis. If your looking for that much detail you've come to the wrong place!
coming soon...
Monday, June 25, 2007
Alien Skin's 'Exposure' Plug-In
In the Sunday June 3rd post I promised you I would write more about Alien Skin Software's 'Exposure' Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop. So here it is...
The folks at Alien Skin Software are local. So they actually came over and spent an afternoon with me in front of my computer listening to me gripe about Adobe Photoshop. In the middle of a book project, I was on month 6 of the editing, processing and manipulation of images to submit to my editor. Anything that would speed up or improve upon the process would be greatly appreciated. Their contribution to ending my misery was the new Adobe Photoshop Plug-in 'Exposure', designed to give your digital images a more traditional film-Like look complete with added grain and luminosity. After the initial testing, Jeff Butterworth; Owner, Founder and Head Braniac at Alien Skin, sent me newly updated versions of the software almost every day. Those nutty guys at AS implemented every change into the software that I asked for and usually within 24 to 48 hours. Software output on its own layer and endless independent point changes on the Curves adjustment were just a few. If I only had that much pull with the folks at Adobe!
The 'Exposure' Plug-in will give you the option of running a particular film look on a new layer above the current layer. You can then finesse the look of the final image by fading back the layer in increments. If you are familiar with Layer Masks you can pull some of the effects thru select areas of an image for endless variety. Velvia, Kodachrome, Old GAF film stocks are but a few of the choices you can run on your images. I find Alien Skin's Exposure plug-in to be indispensable.
EOS-1D Mark III ...Stud or Dud! ....Update
Rob Galbraith has added an update to the article on the Canon EOS 1D Mark III and its autofocus performance problems. The update to the June 19th post deals with more of the readers questions. The article lists several methods for contacting Canon Technical Support and your local Canon Rep.
Link Below:
An analysis of EOS-1D Mark III ... Update for June 21
Sunday, June 24, 2007
My Camera's Better Than Yours !
Now that I have today's first post out of the way and several cups of fine java circulating thru my veins, I can get to the important task of 'Learnin you folks up about this thar Digitle Kamra Witchery. Cause you know I has a sertified degree in Think-Ology from the fedral Govm't.' With credentials like that, who can doubt me!
Canon VS Nikon VS whatever you shoot with:
Spend time on any Camera Forum and you will find the die-hards defending their particular imaging instrument against the slings and arrows of others who shoot with another brand or format. Photographers get emotionally involved with their camera choice and to hell with all the unbelievers. If you can't shoot with a _______ then you shouldn't be shooting at all. So , here I am to add to the fray and upset a few more people.
I used to shoot with Nikon.....exclusively, FE, FM, F3, F4 and F5. The last one ( F5 ) I could never afford to own, but I shot with one on more than one occasion........SweeeeeeT! So I don't have any qualms with Nikon or their optics. I made the transition to Canon Cameras when Nikon fell behind in their AF (auto focus) lens technology. Canon lenses focused faster and much quieter than any of Nikon's Professional lenses and the ergonomic design was, at least to me, a little more pleasing. To get those fine lenses, I had to switch from my beloved Nikon and start all over with a new Canon. I dove into the shallow end and got one of the consumer level cameras to test the waters and fell in love with the ( Elan 2 ) quick response, fast auto focus, and ease of use. This inexpensive little camera completely changed my thinking about Canon Cameras. Because I have at my disposal all the high end cameras and formats from 8X10 to medium format to shoot with at the studio, I don't have to personally own every piece of equipment under the sun to get my work done. When it was time to transition to Digital Capture vs Film, I had no second thoughts about going all in with a Canon Setup. Shooting with the Canon Eos 1ds mark II sealed the deal and there has been no turning back. The quality of the images produced with this camera are stunning, noise free and colorful. Having said all that...... I still shoot 99 % of my work with an 8 Megapixel Canon and Sigma lenses!
Blasphemy!!!
more on this later...
Unicorn Burger Rocks!
Special thanks to Kristen Stewart over at Unicorn Burger who has graciously allowed me to use one of her T-Shirt illustrations for my Coffee Posts. You know I love the visuals and she has got some great images over at her website www.unicornburger.com and her page at deviantArt. Buy lots of stuff and send me some to! Remember, I wear an XL in a cotton Tee!
Maybe I can sweet-talk Kristen into drawing a new version with a Digital Camera in Coffee Man's hand? Did I mention how fantastically gorgeous Kristen is? You can check her out on her website too!
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