Nothing like a little, friendly art fair to stimulate the senses and lighten the wallets.
How about a gazillion of them all at once ??? Ok, it just feels like that.
We’ve been moving around Miami to check out a bunch of them and see if we can spot any trends in the business of photography. The fine art business that is.
First blush was last night for the Art Basel opening at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
[photopress:DSCN0408.JPG,full,centered] © Jon Kessler –Random Acts Of Senseless Violence (Part 2) Deitch Projects
Holy Moly! Now, we didn’t expect to see a ton of photography, which was the case. Aside from Cindy Sherman, photography was slim. Although the crowd was massive and you could tell the collectors were out in force. Tomorrow, we’re heading back in.

[photopress:photoMIAMI_logo.gif,full,alignright] But PhotoMiami was a little bit of a surprise. The fair concentrated on new artists, with rare sightings of any vintage photographers.
The work was colorful, big, and long.

[photopress:PF8_1160.jpg,full,centered] © Sabine Dehnel

Photographers like Sabine Dehnel, with her series of young girls back of heads.

[photopress:artwork_images_424615774_370246_flavia_darin.jpg,full,centered] © Flavia da Rin, image courtesy DPM Gallery

Falvia da Rin large,colorful panoramic trips into dreamland, with her series “Eyes Wide Open”

[photopress:ducky844.jpg,full,centered] © Dylan Vitone

and Dylan Vitone’s stitched images, combining portraits and documentary photographs to tell a single story. Go to his site and click through some of these images.

Oh sure there were many others that spoke to a new life of photographers, and combined media projects which is what this Miami version of the Art Fairs Inc.’s series of photo shows is about.
A refreshing show overall that we highly recommend if you’re in the area.

[photopress:PF8_1176_2.jpg,full,centered] click on the photo for a little geotagging fun. Plus you’ll be directed to about 11 other Art Fairs in the new art/design district in Midtown Miami.

But wait…that’s not all.
Right cross the street is Continue Reading »

One of the most popular galleries at Paris-Photo last month, was the Jackson Gallery of Fine Art.
And the biggest draw were the photographs of Vee Speers.Click on the link and take a look at the series.

[photopress:Untitled__16.jpg,full,centered]© Vee Speers

The beautifully simple, desaturated yet crisp, photographs of children from her Birthday Party series, brought the attendees and collectors back to the booth multiple times. We were included in that group.
There was a fresh look to the grouping of 8 images on display that made them accessible, yet haunting at the same time. Collectors would buy one, then come back for a few more from the series.
An additional treat was the appearance of the artist herself, who gave us a little background on the series.

We feel that hearing from the artist herself in this video will give you another insight, better than we can put into words here.

Her book will be available, although sold out at the event, on Amazon this spring. If we find out where you can get it before, we’ll tip it to you.
And it’s a clean book with a proper size for the images, giving them the space they deserve.

We first saw her work last year at Paris-Photo and the prints were about 3 feet high and quite imposing. The smaller size exhibited this year, we’re sure, helped in the high sales volume.

[photopress:Untitled__37.jpg,full,centered] © Vee Speers

We’ve been here before and it seems to bring a smile.
The Damon Pack comes with:

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[photopress:B00062F4LC.01_A1PY46IM1CBEG3._AA200_SCLZZZZZZZ_V38986737__1.jpg,full,alignright]a Lowepro Pouch, a Giottos Mini-Tripod, an official Photoinduced.com lens cloth (complete in it’s own neoprene carrying case with attaching clip), tattoos, and a surprise.
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Like Crackerjacks. Except no candy coated popcorn, peanuts, but a prize. (can you remember the tune to that jingle?)

Details will be in the NEWSLETTER, sent out to those that subscribe, delivered Weds. Dec.3, at 9:00AM to your email inbox.
Just make sure you are signed up by 12:00 AM, PST on Tuesday.

Coming up this month we’ll be giving away limited edition books, camera bags, DVD’s, a tintype making kit, and tons more so sign up and get yourself in on some of the goodies. PLUS later this month we’ll be doing giveaways right here on the site so keep checking back to see what we have for you.
Cool photographic goodies for free as we try to make that old recession deal a little less painful.
C’mon…who doesn’t like free stuff?

Oh yeah….why a Damon Pack? Years ago, on my local public radio station, they had a giveaway for paid subscriptions called the Ruth Pack, named after the station manager. It always had cool CD’s out of the 5 discs you were sent.
Fond memories of that pack, with tracks we still listen to.
There you go. Simple. Except here, you don’t pay anything.
Like Crazy Eddie- He’s Not Crazy- He’s INSANE! or so I’m told.

After months of rumors, and a tiny leak this weekend, Nikon has announced the new top of the line addition to the line of Professional DSLRs: D3x.
So to start, we have a 24.5 megagpixels FX (full frame) unit with a ship date of well, Dec.. Right around the corner.
Coming in at a hefty $8000. USD retail, the D3x joins the line at the head of the table instead of replacing any units.
It is being positioned as a studio, medium format quality, digital SLR, as opposed to the D3 which stays around for $3000. less.

As you can see there is not much difference in the cosmetic look between this unit and the D3.

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FEATURES

THE SENSOR
The D3x has an exclusive 35.9 x 24mm (FX format) 24.5MP image sensor with unique OLPF (optical low pass filter) and high-speed channel readout. ISO range covers the equivalent of 50-6400. With a boost function to over 25,000 ISO as in the previous D3.( sure, there will be noise but sometimes you can deal with the grain, depending on your usage.)

IN FOCUS
The widely acclaimed speed and accuracy of the MultiCAM3500 AF system with 51-AF points. Individual selection assumes a new importance in combination with the high resolution: it’s easy to isolate and focus on small details in the scene.

SPEED AND RESPONSE
At full 24.5MP resolution, the D3x shoots at 5fps, 7fps is possible in DX Crop mode. The camera is as responsive as the superfast D3. 12ms start up with a shutter release lag time of just 41 ms (CIPA standard). It writes files to the dual CF slots at about 35MB per second.

IMAGE PROCESSING
The D3x’s 16-bit EXPEED engine is specially tuned to deliver detail-rich, colorful files with low levels of noise and high detail. It is also tuned to minimize the effects of color fringing with older F-mount Nikkor lenses, and to minimize the effect of unnatural-looking (digital) noise patterns. Vignette (peripheral fall-off) can also be controlled for creative effect.

ACTIVE D-LIGHTING
The D3x features a new Extra High Active D-Lighting setting, designed to better manage extremely high-contrast scenes, especially tonal gradation in highlights.

SCENE RECOGNITION SYSTEM
Information from the 1005-pixel RGB sensor with diffraction grating is used to recognise the subject position and color prior to capture. The results are then used by autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance.

LIVE VIEW
The D3x is the highest resolution digital SLR yet to offer Live View. Allowing photographers to compose and shoot via the 3in monitor instead of the viewfinder brings a variety of practical advantages both in the studio and on location. Two modes are offered: Handheld and Tripod. Contrast-detect autofocus is available in Tripod mode.

MONITOR
3-inch wide-angle (170deg) rear viewing screen, with 922,000 dots, is ultra-high definition, and proven to exhibit extraordinary levels of damage resistance.

THE INTERFACES
USB 2.0 downloads images off the camera fast when tethered, and flexibly when connected with the WT-4 wireless transmitter. With both HDMI and AV/Out ports GPS data can be captured into the EXIF as before. The new, compact Nikon GP-1 GPS unit can also be attached via the 10-pin terminal and mounted in the hotshoe, or clip on the camera strap.

POWER MANAGEMENT
The D3x uses the same high performance lithium-ion battery (EN-EL4a) as the D3. Thanks to efficiencies in the camera’s onboard EXPEED image-processing system, battery performance is comparable with the D3.

THE BODY
Extremely durable magnesium construction with ergonomically optimized and weather-sealed buttons, dials and LCD displays. Extensive use of high-grade rubber grips means the body is comfortable to handle for long periods of time, and in a wide range of temperatures.
The D3x is the highest resolution digital SLR yet to offer Live View. Allowing photographers to compose and shoot via the 3in monitor instead of the viewfinder brings a variety of practical advantages both in the studio and on location. Two modes are offered: Handheld and Tripod. Contrast-detect autofocus is available in Tripod mode.

So….which way to go?
As always, it all depends on your needs. How has your workflow been with the massive files you are using now? Have you been trolling the ads for the biggest hard drives you can find? And in pairs? ( best to do mirror back-ups. Seriously).
With dual CF card slots, so can either double your capacity OR have one card record RAW, one card record Jpeg simultaneously, OR a back-up card on-board. D3 and D3x both do that.
And you best have the most rippingly fast CF cards and readers, because with file sizes that big, shoot-and-wait will totally suck. With the capability of 138 mp processed files, make sure you have the bandwidth.

After using the D3, there is a sweetness of handling that can’t be beat. Like when you get behind the wheel of a precision, top-of-the-line car, and can just feel the expert mechanics. Plus a full frame viewfinder. I like to crop at the eyepiece, thank you very much.

If you are a photojournalist, the D3 or D700 should be the units of choice in the Nikon line. In an upcoming review, we’ll give you some hands on feedback on the D700. Lots of photojournalists I know only use jpeg anyway, so file size is not as critical.

Look, we want you to know about the best products out there, and what they can do for you. But be clear with yourself as to the right tool for the right job.
A pro should use the most capable tool out there, because that is the way they make a living. This camera will fly out the door.
As an enthusiast, look at the big picture.
Have you made the move away from DX lenses? If you haven’t, you may be a little disappointed when using them on these full frame units. Sure, they will frame for your lens, and let you know. But the adjusted frame lines just got to me a bit. Distracting.
However, one huge advantage is the wide angle lenses that will come back into your repertoire with full frame beauty, if you change up your lenses. Plus your old glass will be fine on these new FX units. Maybe those primes will find their way bag into the bag.
Heck, I still love the bokeh on the old 500mm F/8 mirror lens.

So, it’s some amazing news here from a prime mover in photography. And if you are going to sell off your D3’s before that 300,000 shutter clicks, I think you’ll find some ready buyers out there.
(can you see my hand up from where you are?)
And I’m asking Hannukah Harry and Santa for a D3x. Double the odds, right?

Full Nikon Press Release follows: Continue Reading »

As we all run headlong into the holiday season, one thing we’d like to bring you is a little guidance in your gift purchases. Even if the gift is for you.
We first saw this camera at PhotoPlus Expo about a month ago, the Nikon CoolPix S60.
10 megapixels, Image Stabilizer, Face Detection, Smile Detection, 33-165mm equivalent lens,ability to write in the photograph in-camera, plus a ton more.
Since then there has been a high profile ad campaign here in the states, and we’re not sure if its the cool features, like the Touch Screen or Ashton Kutcher running around a party showing off those features in the spots, but in a loose poll of people about to buy, this is the one.
Yep, the perspective buyers not only call out the features, but name the camera.
Once you have the unit in your hands, the ease of operation, plus the features that the users will discover, tips the scales in this pups favor, this holiday season.
Take a look:

Nikon CoolPix S60 from Damon Webster on Vimeo.

( yes, we are trying a few new video delivery systems. Comments?)

The unit sells for about $330. USD street price, and comes in a variety of colors.

Come back later for a very special announcement from Nikon.
We’re back to working on that holiday list.