Thursday, September 30, 2010

NUEVO FIRMWARE PARA LA NIKON P90


Nikon ha lanzado una nueva actualización de firmware para su Coolpix P90. Esta nueva versión del software de la cámara (1.1) se ha publicado para corregir un problema de funcionamiento que a veces impedía que las imágenes capturadas se grabasen correctamente en la memoria. Esto se daba al disparar en modo de disparo sencillo, con enfoque manual y con el control de distorsión activado.

Para más información y descarga: http://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/47247

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

EL EQUIPO DE... JOHN SHAW



Cámaras:

Nikon D3 y D3x

Objetivos y filtros (todos Nikon):

16-35mm f4
24-70mm f2.8
24mm f3.5 PC-E Tilt/Shift
45mm f2.8 PC-E Tilt/Shift
70-200mm f2.8 AF-S
200-400mm f4 AF-S
500mm f4 AF-S
Teleconvertidores Nikon
Filtros polarizadores circulares Nikon

Accesorios:

Flashes Nikon SB-800 con cables separadores
Walt Anderson's Better Beamer flash extender
Controles remotos Nikon
Reflectores y difusores Photoflex LiteDisc

Macro:

Objetivo Nikon 200mm f4 AF Micro, ocasionalmente con lentes de aproximación 5T o 6T Nikon y Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 con lente de aproximación.

Tripode:

Gitzo 3540XLS de fibra de carbono con rotula de bola Really Right Stuff BH-55




http://www.johnshawphoto.com/

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

PHOTOKINA: OBJETIVOS SIGMA, TAMRON Y SAMYANG PARA NIKON

En Photokina hemos podido disfrutar no solo de novedades en objetivos Nikon, sino también de otras marcas que tambén construyen sus monturas compatibkles con la Montura F de Nikon. Estas son las más destacables:

SIGMA

Sigma ha presentado dos objetivos nuevos, que por otro lado vienen a sustituir a otros dos ya existentes. El primero es el Sigma 150 mm f2.8 DG EX Macro OS, evolución del modelo anterior de igual focal pero introduciendo el estabilizador de imagen  Y el segundo objetivo es el Sigma 120-300 mm f2.8 DG EX OS, tambien con estabilización y construcción sellada capaz de resistir al agua y el polvo. Su estructura interna consta de 23 elementos en 18 grupos, con dos elementos FLD y uno SLD de baja dispersión.







TAMRON

El Tamron  AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 SP Di VC USD es el nuevo tele zoom de gama media con estabilizador incorporado, ganador del premio EISA al mejor tele zoom 2010-2011.





SAMYANG

La marca polaca ha presentado en Photokina dos nuevos objetivos manuales con montura Nikon. Se trata del Samyang 35mm f1.4 y del Samyang V-DSLR 8mm f3.5 (especialmente dedicado a la grabación de video en una cámara réflex).








Más información: http://www.samyang.pl/article,8,news

Barefoot & Half Naked

The weather has changed in Pittsburgh. Autumn has arrived, the nights are cold, the mornings are misty and damp and the light is late to wake up. Seasonal changes in Pittsburgh are not brought in by the calendar as much as it is brought in by a dramatic storm.

Couple days ago we lost power in our home; first time in four years in our new home. A microburst storm blew through our community ripping down trees and power lines. The storm took only about twenty minutes to end summer and bring in autumn.

During the storm I was driving home from the store. I watched a tree fall across the road in front of me blocking the roadway. An older man and I get out of our cars and start trying to pull a tree out of the road during the middle of the storm; two strangers meeting in the street.

This is when I realized how happy my life is…

I am standing in this street with no shoes on and no shirt on. Why? Because moments before I was running out of the grocery store to my car and I got soaked, completely drench. The temperature dropped from high eighties to low sixties. I was freezing. So I took off my shirt, ripped off my shoes (5 fingers are not good in a rain storm, at all) turned up the heat and drive home in the storm. One of the things that I hate about driving in a storm is that you cannot enjoy music in your car no matter how loud you turn it up.

Loud music, even louder storm and then a crashing tree in front of me; the odd thing was there was no sound. It was like watching a scary movie when they play classical music in the middle of a crazy Freddy Krueger scene. I watched the tree fall, roots ripped out of the soil. No sound, eerie…

Next the old man and I struggle with the tree with no luck. Then he notices the barefoot half naked man working alongside of him.

This moment was one of those moments of clarity. Like one of those moments at the last ten minutes of any TV mystery show. The camera pans in on the lead character, s/he looks up at the sky and at that moment you know that they have the answer (typical scenes like these have classical music playing during the epiphany…just an fyi).

As this man is staring at me half naked and barefoot I tell him I’m in my work clothes. He laughs, we struggle with the tree, and he says to me in his drenched suit, "Wish I had a job like yours."

I am free.

Photography provides me with a life of work on my on terms (most days).

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Mary Morris | Image Box & Wedding Cards

What a fun variety we have today from Mary Morris of Seth Morris Photography!! First up is the "Allure" Image Box – how gorgeous is that!!?? Then we have a couple samples from our new wedding card line that Mary has turned into postcards (as requested by her client). Those are awesome Mary!

Monday, September 27, 2010

PHOTOKINA: FOTOS DE PRUEBA DE LA NIKON D7000 A DIFERENTES VALORES ISO


Nos llegan las primeras imágenes desde Photokina de la Nikon D7000. Son pruebas con poco valor ya que se trata de fotos muy informales tomadas en la propia feria con los modelos de exposición (que probablemente sean modelos de pre-serie), pero aún así no queremos dejar de comentar la aparente mejora a ISO'S altos de la D7000 respecto a la D90. Tendremos que esperar a las pruebas más serias, pero todo apunta a lo esperado, es decir a la altísima calidad de imágen que ofrecerá este nuevo modelo de Nikon.

 http://www.naturapics.com/809-sample-iso-du-nikon-d7000.html

http://www.hwupgrade.it/articoli/fotografia-digitale/2552/nikon-d7000-primo-contatto-e-primi-scatti_2.html

Jaymz Van Hees | Reception Book

How incredible is this Reception Book??!! This was sent to us from Jaymz of Jaymz Fotografie and I am blown away . . . LOVE that the couple was shot in a parking garage, what a unique location for an engagement shoot. The cool photos paired with the fun and funky size of this slim 6x12 album makes for an awesome book. Jaymz said,
Absolutely love'n these reception books. Under 3 hours from raw files to finished album and final prints! SWEET! I've even been able to import these templates into my Proselect.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

PHOTOKINA: NOVEDADES CAMARAS COMPACTAS NIKON

Estas son las cámaras nikon Coolpix que se han podido ver en Photokina:

NIKON P7000




La recientemente presentada Nikon P7000 fué una de las estrellas entre las nuevas Coolpix vistas en Photokina. Os remitimos a la presentación que hicimos hace pocos dias de esta cámara: http://blog--nikon.blogspot.com/2010/09/presentacion-de-la-nikon-p7000.html


NIKON S80



Otra de las novedades Coolpix que sin duda será una superventas, por sus prestaciones y su reducido tamaño. Todas sus caracteristicas las podeis ver en la presentación de está cámara:  http://blog--nikon.blogspot.com/2010/09/presentacion-nikon-coolpix-s80.html


NIKON S8000



La COOLPIX S8000 dispone de un zoom de diez aumentos (30mm - 300 mm). con estabilizador de imagen VR integrado. Tiene la opción de grabar video en alta definición y su pantalla es de 3 pulgadas con 921.000 puntos de resolución.

Más información: http://www.nikonistas.com/digital/notices/nikon_coolpix_s8000_3333.php


NIKON COOLPIX S5100


Pequeña cámara de bolsillo con una resolución de 12 megapixeles y zoom de 5 aumentos.

Más información: http://www.nikon.es/es_ES/product/digital-cameras/coolpix/style/coolpix-s5100


NIKON COOLPIX S1100pj




La innovadora Nikon Coolpix S1100pj, no solo incluye excelentes prestaciones fotográficas como un sensor de 14 megapixeles o un zoom óptico de 5 aumentos sino que además incorpora un novedoso proyector fotográfico.

Más información: http://www.nikon.es/es_ES/product/digital-cameras/coolpix/style/coolpix-s1100pj

Walk About on I-Drive

After Old Town I headed to I-Drive for a walk. It wasn't long before I spotted about five fire trucks surrounding a restaurant. The firemen were geared up and ready for action. These guys are true Heroes.

Tried a little close up macro work on a fire hydrant. 

A little ways ahead there were these two chatting and creating.

Finally got to Wonder Works and got this pretty cool shot close to the building.


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Adventures in Old Town

After a long crazy work week I just got in the car and drove. Didn't know where I was going just driver for about thirty miles one way then came back and remembered Old Town. Took my new camera the Pentax kx which has so many features i don't know where to begin. So this is a new relationshp with this camera and it has lots to teach me.

Didn't know which one i liked for this shot so I made triptych

I made one with four panels.  The camera is a lot more advanced when it comes to imaging than my older ones as there was very little tweaking that had to be done and the dynamic range is pretty amazing compared to 6 megs.  Aside from the color this one didn't require much exposure editing. 

I was surprised by how nice the car came out. 

Turns out they added a new attraction.  Bull Riding.  Pretty cool this guy was pretty good he hung on for quite some time.
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How to Avoid Social Media Homework


Tips on how-to-avoid social media as homework…

One of the things I am finding interesting lately is how professional photographers view social media in terms of marketing, community building and growing their businesses.

It seems that the old-time, established photographers (35 yrs and older…sorry to whoever I just offended...deepest apologies) look at social media as another thing added to the ever-expanding To-Do-list. While the younger generation (Gen-Y) looks at social media as the only thing to do.

Digital-life-business-culture is here, support it, do not avoid it. (But there is no need to be overwhelmed by it either.)

Part 1: Social media is not something added to your workload…it's a tool to cut your workload in half.

This is why social medial is a tool & not homework. It is one of the few (if not only) business tools that allows to you accomplish many things with one action (a.k.a. timesaver)

I have yet to meet one photographer who misses the brick and mortar studio. The overhead itself has created many studios to fail. With the brick and mortar studio gone so is the traditional marketing and advertising that used to work.

Majority of photographers do not want to market or advertise; they want to create great photographs

Then do that, let photography be your marketing and advertising.

In the brick and mortar studio days we had storefront sidewalks. Nobody understood the value of those sidewalks until they went away.

What did the sidewalk provide that is lost in today’s digital-storefront?

Walk-by traffic
Drive-by traffic
Community
Storefront windows
Neighboring businesses
Conversation

Reasons why to think of social media as a tool

Findability
Shows that you are authentic
Conversation starter


The #1 reason is…Social media, if used correctly, will cut through the clutter of adverting and marketing that you don’t want to do anyway.

Part 2 - How-to-tips on social media as a tool

Create, Connect & Grow - Do one thing with multiple outcomes.

Create something new, and share it – This is the formula to success: “create & share”. Those who work constantly work, well...constantly. And those who do not constantly work go out of business, forever.

Deliver it, ship it, constantly – Show up for work, daily. There is no longer a brick and mortar store or a sidewalk to let people know that you showed up today. Social media gives you the opportunity to unlock your store, turn on the lights and flip over the Open for Business sign on your door front.

Decommoditize – you’re the only thing that cannot be copied. People buy from people they know. Let them know about YOU!

Learn to loveFeeds” “RSS” & “Ping.fm” (be sure to click on the hyper links if these words mean nothing to you)

Set the rules you want – You now have the tools to build whatever future you want, enjoy.

Build your portfolio and grow your business with the same actions…and its FREE.

I'd like to hear from you. So what do you think?

Saturday, September 25, 2010

PHOTOKINA: MONTAJE DEL STAND DE NIKON



Hoy termina la feria Photokina de la que hemos hablado extensamente en este blog los últimos dias y de la que seguiremos hablando unos dias más y como despedida mostramos un curioso timelapse sobre el montaje del stand Nikon en la feria. A disfrutarlo.

Friday, September 24, 2010

PHOTOKINA: NOVEDADES OBJETIVOS FIJOS NIKON

En Photokina hemos podido ver los nuevos objetivos de focal fija presentados hace algunos dias:

AF-S NIKKOR 35mm F1.4G



Objetivo con una focal y luminosidad inédita en el catálogo de objetivos autococus de Nikon, viene a reforzar aún más la gama de objetivos fijos luminosos de focal media. Destinado basicamente la las camaras FX (tambíen compatible con las DX) sin duda será bien recibido por los profesionales necesitados de opticas con una alta calidad de imagen.

Caracteristicas tecnicas:


Distancia focal35 mm
Diafragma máximof/1,4
Diafragma mínimof/16
Construcción del objetivo10 elementos en 7 grupos (con un elemento de objetivo asférico)
Ángulo de imagen63º con cámaras SLR de película de Nikon en formato de 35 mm (135) y cámaras SLR digitales de formato FX de Nikon, 44° con cámaras SLR digitales de formato DX de Nikon
EnfoqueAutofoco con SWM integrado y enfoque manual
Distancia mínima de enfoque0,3 m
Relación de reproducción máxima0,2x
N.º de láminas del diafragma9 (circular)
Tamaño de rosca para accesorios de filtros67 mm
DimensionesAprox. 83 x 89,5 mm
PesoAprox. 600 g (Basado en las directrices de la CIPA)




AF-S NIKKOR 200mm F2G ED VRII



Puesta al dia de este espectacular teleobjetivo prefesional mejorando su estabilizador al incorporar el nuevo sistema de estabilización VRII. Su altisima calidad y luminosidad lo hacen ideal para fotografos de deportes y naturaleza.

Caracteristicas tecnicas:


Distancia focal200 mm
Diafragma máximof/2
Diafragma mínimof/22
Construcción del objetivo13 elementos en 9 grupos (con tres elementos de cristal ED y uno de cristal Super ED, y revestimiento de nanocristal), así como un cristal protector
Ángulo de imagen12º20’ con cámaras SLR de película de Nikon en formato de 35 mm (135) y cámaras SLR digitales de formato FX de Nikon, 8° con cámaras SLR digitales de formato DX de Nikon
EnfoqueAutofoco con SWM integrado y enfoque manual
Distancia mínima de enfoque1,9 m
Relación de reproducción máxima0,12x
N.º de láminas del diafragma9 (circular)
Tamaño de rosca para accesorios de filtros52 mm
DimensionesAprox. 124 x 203,5 mm
PesoAprox. 2.930 g



AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G


Actualización de este objetivo especializado en retrato. Se incuye en esta nueva versión el sistema AF-S (motor de enfoque incluido en el cuerpo), así como la desaparición del anillo del diafragma y mejoras en el sistema optico.

Caracteristicas tecnicas:
 
Distancia focal85 mm
Diafragma máximof/1,4
Diafragma mínimof/16
Construcción del objetivo10 elementos en 9 grupos (con revestimiento de nanocristal)
Ángulo de visión28˚30’ (18˚50’ con formato DX de Nikon)
Distancia mínima de enfoque0,85 m
Relación de reproducción máxima0,12 aumentos
Láminas del diafragma9 (circulares)
Enfoque AF con SWM integrado y enfoque manual
Modos de enfoqueM/A y M
Tamaño de rosca para accesorios/filtros77 mm
Diámetro x longitudAprox. 86,5 x 84 mm / 3,4 x 3,3 pulgadas
PesoAprox. 595 g

2010 Penrod, in the hours before the 2nd rainfall

Artist Jennifer Mujezinovic of Bloomington with her her oil on canvas portraits at Penrod, in a corner booth near the Lilly House on the grounds of the Indianapolis Musuem of Art

Today's post is another attempt to "catch up" to lots of shoots this month. The images today are from only about two and a half to three hours of time spent at the 2010 Penrod arts and crafts fair on Sept. 11, 2010. Penrod is a hugely popular annual attraction in Central Indiana that, in all of my previous visits, had always lived up to its self-proclaimed billing as "Indiana's Nicest Day."

This year, for the first time, I decided to play photographer at Penrod, which of course was the kiss of death to it remaining a nice day. In fact, it turned out to be the first day of any significant rainfall Central Indiana had received in almost a month.

I took a huge gamble this day: I had checked the National Weather Service Doppler radar from home early in the morning before leaving for the fair. Doppler accurately indicated it was raining outside at the time (OK ... I know ... duh). The important factor, however, was that Doppler indicated that there would be a break in the rain very soon, and that one more dosage of rain -- one that looked like it would be relatively short -- would move across the area within about three hours then the area would be rainfree the rest of the day.

Doppler was right on the first count; the first rain did let up about 9 a.m. just as I was about to enter the fair venue, which was the beautiful grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. All of the images in this post were shot from about 9 a.m. till the second rain came about 11:15 a.m. or so. The second rain turned out to be not as brief as I had thought. And, it was heavy. Because I "read" Doppler to indicate the second rain would be short and sweet, I gambled to equip myself lightly when I reached the ground: I brought along my two camera bodies (each with a different lens) and a small bag containing my wide-angle lens, and that was it. I elected not to bring any protective gear, presuming I could take cover and wait out the second rain when it came (my car was parked about six blocks away in an area served by a shuttle bus).

The second rain came about 15 minutes into the Carmel Symphony Orchestra's performance on the Symphony Stage, which is where I was at the time. I wasn't very close to anything of substantial cover (well, OK, there was the stage, but the symphony -- and all of its musicians -- dutifully played on at least for as long as I hung around). I bolted toward the 38th Street gate at a fast walk pace and found a very hefty tree along the way, where I decided to park myself. It did keep me -- and my exposed camera equipment -- mostly dry for the first 15 minutes. But eventually, the tree's leaves strarted to sieve, so at the first momentary letup, I bolted for the shuttle bus and left the grounds. The rain did intensify again, and it didn't stop until about 20 minutes to a half-hour later, and true to Doppler radar, there was no more rain the rest of the day. I just wasn't there to enjoy the rest of it.


Last minute preparartions: Balloons festooning the booth












Bright colors seemed to be the lure at this artist's booth

















First in a series of shots from the Dance Stage, where the lead-off performers were students at the Expressenz Dance Studio, 9850 Michigan Road, Indianapolis.
























Even some of the artwork required protection from the damp elements



The first of three shots from the performance by the Rich Hardesty Band, the lead-off entertainment at the fair's Rock Stage.







Not-too-scary mortals at a booth staffed by The Indianapolis Children's Museum Guild promoting the museum's annual Haunted House attraction.


This gentleman's art (or craft, depending on how you prefer to look at it) is to entertain with humor -- while setting up a magic trick or two with ropes. He was very charming, indeed.


For the first couple of hours, this sparsely populated main thoroughfare on the IMA grounds was the storyline of the 2010 Penrod fair. Right before the second rain (below), the people did come.



A close-up of a brightly colored ornamental orb at one artist's booth.


First up at the Symphony Stage at the Penrod fair was Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra harpist Melissa Gallant.


The irony of a forsaken, nearly full bottle of spring water under an unoccupied bench didn't escape me on this first day of rain in a couple of weeks.


A two-part, front-and-back look at how the well-known LOVE sculpture on the IMA grounds fit into the Penrod landscape this day. The first view, from the front (above), presented a not very flattering juxtaposition with the Culinary Arts demonstration tent off to the right side.



The second view, from behind, casts it in a slightly more favorable role: as a family-friendly backdrop.

A doll (could this possibly be cranky, sarcastic Maxine of mass-forward email fame?) at the very end of a vendor booth along one of the fair's main thoroughfares.


The opening act on the Blues Stage was Phoebe and the Mojo Makers. This, you might have guessed, is Phoebe. Below, you have the Mojo Makers -- the drummer on the left, with drum brush in mid stroke, and guitar player on the far end.



The second act on the Symphony Stage (above and below) 
was the Carmel Symphony Orchestra. It was during this group's performance that the second rain came.