Price alert! Amazon listed this combo pack of Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements 11
for $100! Seriously a great deal.
Ok, carry on.

Ahhhh…
We have finally come to a collective consciousness that we shoot sooooo many digital images, it is getting to be a bit unwieldy.
Yeah, the enthusiasts and pros are used to this, and have a workflow set up, making it easy to locate images.
With most folks, not the case.
The numbering systems attached to each image file, just becomes a string of digits. How can you locate your favorite shot of that BBQ last summer?
Thankfully, Adobe has addressed this in the latest edition of PhotoShop Elements 11.
You can tell right from the start-up screen that this is a different bit of software.

When you are ready to truly organize your photos, the Organizer lets you organize by face,place, event, and date. And if, by some chance, the dates on your photos are off, you can adjust and change.
If you haven’t geotagged your images when you took them, have no fear: tag em when you organize em.

The facial recognition is just ok, as every one of our friends who is follicely challenged became as one.

Events were easy to tag, as photos taken on the same date were put into stacks.
No, the visuals for organizing tools aren’t sexy, but you better believe you need em.
This is one of the cleanest, simplest ways for the neophyte to organize their photos.

Now go to the other side of the program and that’s where you’ll get the real deal.
With 3 levels of image adjustment:
Quick, that’ll give you the simple choices and show you what a click will do. And you can show the before and after as you go. It even has a toothbrush tool to easily whiten the choppers:

Guided, as you begin to understand the tools and what they may do, this level gives you written descriptions to walk you through the adjustments, so you not only see what it the function does, but you learn why you are using it.

Then you get to Expert. When you are at this level, you will have (hopefully) understood what important tools like layers do, and be able to utilize the full set of tools that program supplies.

What you also get are some new effects that kept us up for hours, playing.
And the beauty of each effect is the ability to refine it for intensity.
Graphic Novel

Or go Cartoon:


The brush strokes and outline that this effect algorithm lays on your image, is fascinating. You may have to go through your folders to find the best image for the effect, but we were impressed by the tree and statue at Rockefeller Center line strokes, that came out with one click.
Yes, another specific filter to be used when appropriate, but dang fun.

Or is Warhol more your taste?
We won’t go all the way there, but you can.

Here’s what you have: #Adobe,The undisputed leader in image software continues to make their top tier products, Like CS6, the best possible.
They take the learnings from that, understand the people that don’t need the Ferrari, and developed for them, the most intuitive, useful, fun image editing/organizing software out there.
Multi-step tasks, have been simplified to a simple keystroke, in the Elements series.
Elements 11 continues that thought process and adds high powered organizational tools.

One thing we haven’t touched on, is the video editing software, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements 11
.
For a short stroke cost add-on, about $50.00, you get a powerful editing program.
This one allows you to post to all of the popular sharing sites from the program.
And for effects, if Avatar blue skin floats your boat, you have that effect.

Sidebar: 2 years ago, Apple had the pro editing market with Final Cut Pro. They then overhauled the entire program and, in the process, PO a lot or pro editors.
Some went back to the previous edit leader, AVID, and some went to Premiere.
Gaining a foothold is this user robust editing program, which has a interface not dissimilar to FCP.
What does that mean to you?
Well, by learning the Premiere system, you are getting into, what may be becoming, the new standard of video editing programs.
And you get it for $50. with quick and expert modes to help teach you.

We highly recommend the Elements series, as a gift and as a solid working tool for the enthusiast photographer/videographer.
Great value at $100 MSRP for Photoshop Elements 11 alone, and $150 MSRP for the Photoshop/Premiere Elements package.
In addition, one tool we always suggest is a Wacom Tablets. For a bit more precision in your image editing, and pen and tablet, is truly the way to go.
We travel with a small version of the Bamboo Capture.About $85. At the office, it’s the Intuos5, with a range of prices depending on size.
We do dream about a Cintiq
, with a monitor that you work directly on. Pricey, even for the smaller version but….

And if you read this far, hopefully you saw the notice at the top of the review: both programs,Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements 11
for $100.

We’ll be back soon with some more looks at software.

Every year, one of our readers, Fred Bonilla, graces us with an article on giving back using the power of photography. We always look forward to it, and we hope you do to.
Click on the links and watch the videos.
The sales have been raging. You probably got what you wanted.
Now it’s time to give a bit back.

Acts of Photographic Charity 2012 by Fred Bonilla

In my 4th annual holiday article for Photoinduced, I’ll be highlighting events and organizations that we can assist with our photographic talents (and spare equipment) for those in economic,emotional and spiritual need this holiday season and also make you aware of 2 organizations whose educational efforts to underprivileged children both here in the U.S. and abroad need our help and attention.

As a native New Yorker who lived for many years in Chelsea, my heart was broken by the damage & devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought to much of the city, especially the Far Rockaway section of Queens & the borough of Staten Island. While Help Portrait, whose world wide event of taking portraits of those that are in need will occur in locations all over the US & in over 60 nations worldwide on December 8th, there will be a special effort to help over 200 families affected by Hurricane Sandy in the New York City area the following Saturday (December 15th). In the video below, HP founder Jeremy Cowart explains the work of Help Portrait and the special undertaking for the hurricane victims.

If you would like to participate in a local chapter for the December 8th event, you can get information at www.help-portrait.com. Or go to www.hpsandy.com to assist or contribute in the Hurricane Sandy effort on December 15th.

If you’d like another way to help Hurricane Sandy victims (and cop some great print swag at the same time) then you’d want to check out a project that’s co-sponsored by Jen Berkman & Time Magazine called “Art For Sandy Relief” The Berkman Gallery has collaborated with Time’s photo editors to offer 12 limited edition photos from the likes of Eugene Richards, Stephen Wilkes, Arlene Gottfried & more with proceeds to go to 6 local charities that will be assisting on the ground directly with the hurricane victims.

Being part of the photo retail trade (and as a photographer) for over 30 years, I’ve found that the most fulfilling part of my job has been educating my customers not only the correct use of their gear but the magic of photography with it’s power to touch and inspire both subject and photographer. The 2 next charities that I will highlight involve themselves in teaching photography to those in need, with 2 different approaches.

First off,Fine Art photographer Betsy Chesler founded the Cameras For Kids Foundation in 2009 to address the needs of the needs of children living without parents. (Worldwide, there are 146 million children living in foster care and in the United States alone, there are currently over 500,000.) Having volunteered in a number of orphanages in South Africa ,that experience allowed her to shape CFKF to make a difference in the lives of the abandoned children by exposing teens to the process of creating art through a camera’s lens. CFKF uses photography to capture participant’s imaginations, to empower them, build confidence, self-esteem and open a whole new world for them to visualize and create. Speaking to Betsy this week, she stated that the best way to help her work would be through donations of any size that can be made safely on the site’s “donate” page.

Quoting Betsy, she said that “Each donation helps to ensure that one more deserving and enthusiastic child can participate in our unique photography program. Our program fosters self-esteem, self-confidence and offers the teens a skill set….ALL A GIFT FOR LIFE! “ Through workshops with children in different cities in the US (and having done a workshop earlier this year in Haiti), as well as fine art exhibits of some of the children’s work, CFKF hopes to expand this work and outreach in the coming year. CFKF has spoken to groups in several other countries that are interested in the program as well. For more information on CFKF or to contribute, please go to www.camerasforkidsfoundation.org

On the other hand, Colby Brown started The Giving Lens last year as a tangible way to bring teams of photographers together to teach photographers to children in developing nations and making a difference with both their hands and their hearts while learning the magic of photography. The Giving Lens starts by forming a relationship with an NGO in a developing country,and while getting to know them & listening to their plight, they come up with a plan and mission to assist them in a lasting and uplifting way. While including photographic education,it can also include wildlife preservation and other vital issues. The result is a team of photographers that become active advocates of the area they serve and not only better photographers but better people as well. 2013 workshops will take place in Nicaragua, Jordan,Peru and other locations.

If an active involvement in helping those in need overseas interests you, please go to thegivinglens.com for more information.

2012 seems to be a watershed year for the active participation of photographers worldwide in the advocacy of those among in need. While I highlight these particular charities, many more are active in assisting including organizations I’ve mentioned in previous articles like Rehabilitation Through Photography and Do1Thing. It hits home particularly this year when some of my fellow New Yorkers are still without power or heat (or even displaced from their homes) more than a month after Sandy hit. An act or kindness and charity, no matter how small matters more than one can ever imagine, and I urge my fellow Photoinduced readers and friends to take part and allow yourselves to witness the joy of giving of our talent and art to others.

My sincere thanks to Damon for again giving me an opportunity to share this with you and my deepest wishes to one and all for a blessed & happy holiday season. God Bless.

And thank you Fred, for always coming through with the good word.

Throughout the year, we have our hands on a variety DSLR’s and, since this is the big ticket item for all of us, we consider carefully all of the features v. cost implications.
Now, of course, the lenses will be your major expense. Year to year, they don’t change much, but the handheld computers we call cameras, change as fast as the technology allows. And the major brands just keep leapfrogging each other in features, so you can’t go far wrong with most of them.

Our camera of the year for 2012 is the Nikon D800
.

Why?

Full frame, 36mp, uncompressed HDMI out plus audio monitoring options, ergonomic simplicity, readily accessible media card slots (CF and SD) versatility,ISO 100-6400 extendable to ISO 25,600 equiv (same as D700) about $3000. body only.

While the D4 has an 11FPS RAW capability and the D800 goes to about 4FPS, If you keep the mode in FINE Jpeg, there should be no delay in the buffer.
And about $3000. more in your pocket.

The 51 point focus system is the same as the D4. Fast and accurate. Fully customizable and that’s one thing we’ve always loved about the Nikon DSLRs: pick your point of focus.
Now in Live View, while the simplicity of button selection between Still and Movie, the phase detection accuracy of the focus system is not as fast as we would like.

Same auto ISO/Shutter speed menu choices as the D700.

We wondered if this would make sense to upgrade from our beloved D700.
Let’s say, it’ll join the family.

Now all of the pros and purists, Earmuffs please: With a file this big, we can crop in and still get an amazing quality image. At the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, we didn’t get up at 4:00 AM nor had a press pass sorted out in time.
Using one of our favorite “crop duster” lenses (thanks Katy Winn for the phrase) the 28mm-300mm, we got up close and maintained quality.

If you get this as a gift, you should thank your lucky stars you have someone like that in your life.
If you give it, you’re a better man, than I!
If you buy it for yourself, you’re gonna be one happy shooter!

For the mirrorless shooter, we recco the Sony NEX 5N. Since they have moved on to the NEX6 and of course, the NEX 7, this discontinued model is seeing incredible discounts all over. A month ago it was blown out at $415. Even the Sony site has a good price on new, better on refurbished.
ALERT! PRICE FOR CYBER MONDAY IS $500.!!
APS-C little wonder comes with an 18mm-55mm kit lens, and is light in the hands with an articulated screen. Easy to use controls, and here is a beauty part: We’ve put a Leica lens on this one, and with zebra focus assist ( when the subject is in focus, a colored line shows up around it) you can use manual lenses with confidence. Yep, I’m talking to all of the AF folks out there.
Now, one thing it doesn’t have that the NEX7 does have is a viewfinder. You can buy one, but it’s a bit pricey.
we did, during the day, we love it.

The compact we always have with us is the Canon S series of Powershots. The S95 has served us well, but we’re moving forward to the Canon PowerShot S100 12.1 MP
. Right now only $250. on Amazon.
And now the S110, has wi-fi.
Shoot RAW, f/2.0 lens, truly fits in your pocket.
Walking out of the house with this, is just a part of getting dressed.

For the more adventurous shooters, GoPro, who has secured a top spot in the category, just introduced the Gopro Hero 3
. No you can shoot 4K with this tiny vid cam!!!
yep. It’s only at 15FPS, but this is a huge advancement in this tiny camera.
We like to use it with a chest mount and get a true POV.

They finally figured out that to see what you were shooting, you can’t always attach a monitor. So..The APP is here (free) and wi-fi control. See what your camera see’s on your iphone or tablet, control it, and make sure the frame is what you wanted.
All working on the HERO2, but DEC. for the latest, best Hero3

Put this under the tree, (make sure you add a micro-sd card)and you’ll see Christmas morning video like never before.
Then hit the slopes or the waves.
from $200 up to $400.

The hardware.
Lot’s available. We’ve seen most. Have our faves.
Hopefully, this helps.

And when we say toys, we’re not just talking about the Barbie with a video camera embedded in her body, or the Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera , although no doubt there is an exhibit about to mounted using only images from the Fisher Price line.

We’re talking about the photo related goods that make a perfect gift, and bring a sweet smile upon opening the package.

Like just about anything from the Lomography store. In a celebration from the fast fading world of analog imaging, they go the other way and give you the tools to make the imperfect, unusual, and many times, unexpected images with film.
Knowing that film labs are getting scarce, they’ll develop and scan you film.

All for fun and the love of the raw, everyone at some point should shoot with a Holga. Or a Spinner. It’s a global movement.

Perhaps you’ve become spoiled by the immediacy of digital. Heck, haven’t we all been spoiled since Polaroid was around? Now, the Impossible Project has yet to live up to it’s expectations (the emperor has no clothes) but Polaroid and Fuji have taken up the slack.
Looking strangely like an Instagram app, the Polaroid Digital Instant Print Camera offers a digital image for later, and a hard copy print for right now.
About $160.
Fuji has the edge on design though, and more along the original Pola film concept with Fujifilm Instax
Just looks like fun, right?
About $.65 a shot and the camera is only about $63.00
It’s pretty cool that in a world of smartphone, compact, and DSLR photography, this instant print camera line has taken off like crazy. People get to walk away with an original image.
No digital files. Privacy. Like the old days.
Shake it like a Polaroid picture. HeeyyYahhh!

Or go total lo-fi with the Superheadz CLAP Digital Camera
. Not the sound, action, or other thing you may have been considering, but a digital camera that charges via USB, has no viewfinder or screen, and is discreet. From Japan, this is a fun one.

International center of Photography store is a place we ALWAYS go to shop. Unique cool, fun, photo stuff, along with outstanding books.
This set of photo dog pillow seems to be a popular item that will be great for your dog loving giftee’s and the photo lover in you.

While you’re there, maybe a Speed Graphic, or Leica pillow (hand made in Brooklyn), will fit the bill)

Or something else that caught our eye: who doesn’t need a box to put stuff in? Right?
Maybe it becomes the perfect box to pack the OTHER gift in.

Whatever, with great graphics, this is a limited edition for about $20.

See, all for fun, just some suggestions to make you gift listing easier this year.
And our friends over at Photojojo have a bunch more “just for fun” photo items

OK, who is gonna buy the Barbie to see what kind of images it makes?

Sure, the holiday seems to be the best time for gifts, and we all love opening the box, wondering what treasure could be inside, shaking it beforehand, gauging the weight, hoping for the new DSLR, happy with the new camera bag.

But sometimes it’s just socks and slacks. Yeah, you can use them, and they are the right size. Where’s the pizazz?

Sometimes books fall right into that category. The shape of the package belies the contents. We’ve tried the trick of a book in a bigger box, but the weight distribution is a dead giveaway.

We posit that the gift of a great photobook,is as good as any gadget, gear, or tool.
Better perhaps, as the effect could be deeper. And the influence longer.

So for the holidays this year we recco these books to put under the tree, or by the bush.

As always, The Family Of Man
rules as the best photo gift book. Ever.
Over 256 photographers from all over the world document the human condition in global cultures.
First exhibited in 1955, this is still the most visited photo show ever.

It’s been out a few years but this book Chuck Close: A Couple of Ways of Doing Something still resonates with beautiful daguerreotypes reproduced in a rich duotone. The portraits are of artists that inhabit Chuck Close’s life, with each page a photo with the poetry of Bob Holman on the opposite page. About $36.00

The world of Daido Moriyama had a major rebirth this past year in the US, with the revered Japanese street photographer, being included in seminal collections, while the master himself has taken to the road and is signing his work all over.
You can get a book here
, or perhaps a signed copy from Aperture or ICP.
Now a signed copy of a book is always a great gift.

Want to know how they did that? This book,50 Photo Icons
gets to a good general market from the folks at Taschen. “Each chapter of this special edition focuses on a single image which is described and analyzed in detail, in aesthetic, historical, and artistic contexts. The book begins with the very first permanent images (Nicéphore Niépce’s 1827 eight-hour-exposure rooftop picture and Louis Daguerre’s famous 1839 street scene) and takes the reader up through the present day, via the avant-garde photography of the 1920s and works such as Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother (1936), Robert Doisneau’s Kiss in Front of City Hall (1950), and Martin Parr’s ‘New European photography.'”

We do love Taschen, and their love for photo books. True, they usually have a slight lean to the risque, pre-warning before you hit their site. They have , however made some incredible volumes by the likes of Neil Leifer, Linda McCartney, Helmut Newton, and books dedicated to the filmic arts.

What we’re saying is they’ve a great cross-section of books, for every reader.

How about Walker Evans: American Photographs: Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Edition ? If you want to go classic street photography, you or your giftee will pour over this book for hours. A Museum of Modern Art publication, the print quality is superb.

One of our favorite photo magazines of all time, Aperture, has 2 great items to give this year.Aperture Magazine Anthology: The Minor White Years, 1952-1976, classic years, and a way to see some of the masters before this whole digital world came to pass.

Speaking of digital; we will admit that while longtime subscribers of the magazine, they seemed to stack up pretty high after a few year.
We’ve to the iPad edition. it’s true. Getting a digital download of our fave mag, lets us check it out on the road. We like that.
Not saying WE want that for our gift, just saying it’s a good one to give.
Very light as well.

So, there you have it. Not quite socks and slacks?
Hope not. We love photobooks.

By the way, if you come to NYC, visit the International Center Of Photography, hot the book store and ask for #Sarah. She is one of the most knowledgeable, straight forward, honest, no BS people I’ve ever met in the world of photo books.

She will guide you,as she does us, to some of the most eye-opening, provocative, brilliant, cutting edge, photo books you will ever see.
And join ICP.org for an extra 10% off on anything in the store.
Seriously, you should.

We know we missed books. the stacks in our office proves that. We’ll keep adding if you like.

Next part picks up again with tools and toys.