It’s that time of year when we get ready to publish our holiday gift guide. It’s for you, and for those wanting to gift you. As we were put that list together, this came across the desk from David Pogue.
He’s been giving us the straight talk on all kinds of tech and gadgetry since 2000, and now he’s springing off the printed page to advise your next camera purchase, among other things.

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Pogue-O-Matic is a cool little site where NY Time columnist David Pogue comes to you via mini movies and helps lead you through some camera choices in this holiday buying season. He asks the questions, and your answers will lead you down a appropriate path
Now all of the functions are not up and running but we know it will. take it for a spin and see what you think.
Simple, straight forward digital info whether you’re shopping for a DSLR, or a point and shoot.

Now you know, our list will have a much bigger range of goods and prices for photographically minded.
Books, accessories, gear, etc. all chosen to satisfy all of your needs.
Well, some anyway. the photo ones.

Still to come: wrap-up on Paris-Photo, new videos with interviews and gear, books, and more goodies.

[photopress:MagrittePipe.jpg,thumb,alignright] Not like “This is not a pipe” (Ceci n’est pas une pipe) the famous painting by Magritte.

Nothing like that.

Instead it’s a bit of thanksgiving memory that has a photo of an object as it’s touch point.

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When I was a kid, we used to have thanksgiving dinner at out house or apt. The cousins always joined us, the good flatware came out, and that’s just what you did.
Mom cooked the turkey in a paper bag to keep it at a certain moisture level, and the pies were a sweet pecan.
But the appetizer was the most unique item.
A seafood mixture with a creamy binder, the origins of which I can’t remember, and bread crumbs.

All mixed together and served in shells. Like this one shown above.

I can kinda remember what it tasted like, and of course the experience of the meal and the hanging with family was the main event.

Mad Libs always followed the dinner. That’s how we showed off our intellectual and clever prowess to each other. Or totally silly and sophomoric tendencies. But we were in the comfort of our family, so you could be as stupid as you liked. All just to entertain each other

Thanksgiving will never be like that again. Memories that will last forever.

When my mom passed away this year, we had the task of going through all of her worldly possessions and making decisions on their disbursement. Including all of the kitchen apparatus.
Pots that she cooked her favorite dishes in, utensils that sliced and served holiday dinners, the forks and knives that would only appear once a year.

When these shells appeared, the siblings knew what to with them: give each one a shell to remember those dinners.

And now I share that shell with you.

Or the photograph of it. So, you see, it’s not really an empty shell.

As we move through our short lives, there are elements that hold a secret meaning to each of us. When we photograph them, hopefully there is a common ground that allows the viewer to enter and bring something to it.

We all know though, that each image has it’s own significance to the photographer. A reason it an object or scene happened in front of our lenses.

It’s not important to always know the reason behind it, though. It could be a larger story, or a record of life.
We all have our touchpoints.

And thanks to my family for making this object a significant part of my life.

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(Jeff, this is actually my family. For real.)

And thanks mom, for the seafood dish I’ll always remember. Every year. On this day.

I hope you all are making new memories today, and keeping your camera close to interpret those times.

Happy Thanksgiving!

At Paris-Photo, we walked the lanes aware and ready.
With the criteria for showing at the event this year, leaning towards a more modern approach, the senses were primed for a new vision.
Denis Darzacq delivered, in showing us a normal place, Hyper Markets (as opposed to Super markets in the US), with everyday shoppers place into surreal positions.
Like a freefall frozen in time, his images lull you in, to shake your reality base. And then wonder how it happened.
The Series entitled “Hyper”, won last years World Press Photo Awards in the art and entertainment category. First realized as a series shot around Paris in outdoor, simple, industrial locations, the new group, with added color and a visual touchpoint in “normality”, seems to have found a huge audience.

[photopress:darzacq_3.jpg,full,centered] © Denis Darzacq

[photopress:photo04.jpg,full,centered] © Denis Darzacq

He has discussed the images as representative of the youth of today free falling

If you’d like to see a genesis of the making of these images in video, plus a unique video of him discussing his work Continue Reading »

See bottom of article for just added items to this special Black Friday giveaway.

The day after Thanksgiving in the US, always heralds a major sale-a-bration on everything you could possible want for the holidays, gifting wise. The stores have things they call “Door-Busters” where from dawn to about noon, there are special prices on hard goods that you won’t get any other time.
In today’s economy that means more than ever as things are getting tighter.

Like you didn’t already know that.

Here at photoinduced.com we love sharing things that may enhance your photographic life.
[photopress:C6BEA6ADAA2648019CE99F284743379D.jpg,full,alignright] So on Black Friday, we have just one “Door Buster” . And you won’t have to even put on your slippers. Or open your wallet.

We have 1 copy of the brand new, very cool, Nikon Creative Lighting DVD, which is a full-tilt primer on artificial lighting.
Sure, they slant it towards speedlights, but you’ll get some straight up, simplified, well thought out, lighting lessons that will stay with you. No matter what you use to light your photos with.
On Friday, Dec.5th, after 10:00 AM, PST,note the new date!!! send us an email at info@photoinduced.com, and the 25th person to email us with the word NIKON, in the subject line, on that day, after that time, will be sent this video. Heck, we have some shopping to do, too.This DVD was out of stock all over the place, but we have one for you. Plus we promise some surprises giveaways that day,also.
Don’t worry though…we know lots more are coming back in stock at all of your favorite retailers.

Here is a breakdown of what’s on the DVD:

Learn how to make light work for you with the power and versatility of the Nikon Creative Lighting System, featuring the SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 and SB-R200. Nikon Speedlights deliver the ability to turn an ordinary subject into a striking image or even into a stunning work of art.
Bob Krist will lead you on a tour of lighting fundamentals and techniques in the studio, joined later by Joe McNally in the field. Watch and learn as the amazing potential of Nikon’s Creative Lighting system is unleashed in a variety of real?world shooting scenarios-from the Boston Ballet School to the charm of Gloucester, Massachusetts. New DVD from Nikon School Hosted by Bob Krist and Featuring Joe McNally Hosted by award-winning National Geographic Traveler photographer, Bob Krist, with world-renowned photojournalist and lighting expert Joe McNally.

Topics Covered

*Full 2 hours of entertaining hands-on instruction
*Studio instruction from photographer Bob Krist on the properties of light and flash essentials
*Learn how to apply basic and advanced lighting techniques in real world settings with photojournalist and lighting expert Joe McNally
*Step-by-step placement of Speedlights
*Creating an efficient portable Speedlight outfit
*Setting up a wireless Master Commander
*Working with wireless Remote Speedlights
*Using flash compensation to effectively control lighting
*Creative uses of alternative flash modes
*Includes Fast Track Guide to Wireless Lighting booklet

When we first got this, open minded as we are, we weren’t sure what to expect. But we got schooled. Love that.

Here is what we are adding to the Black Friday Mix Today – An exclusive soft cover book from Paris-Photo and the folks at Galerie Lumiere Des Roses -Amateurs Anonymes (please be aware that there are nudes on the site and in the booklet) AND a copy of the Laura Oles book – Digital Photography For Busy Women– one of our favorite primers for anyone just entering the digital photo world.
For the booklet put “Anonymes” in the subject line of your email -#25 reply will get that; for the Laura Oles book, “Busy Women”, #25 reply will get that ..
We’re shipping ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!

And keep coming back through December as we will be adding giveaways that are available only on the website.
It’s good to give.

When the plans were being made to travel over to Paris-Photo, all of the ancillary events had to be put into the shed.
Whether it was a curatorial tour of a major exhibit, private viewing of a small gallery, and of course..the parties.
The one we were told not to miss was hosted by Jim and Millie Casper. Photographic Bon Vivants to be sure

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Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, (they actually still have a business address there), they took advantage one of our favorite rules: Life is too Short. And they acted upon it.
So they moved to Paris 3 1/2 years ago. In one of the coolest areas of the city. With stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.
But that’s not the important part here.
With a scholarly intelligence, and a discriminating eye, Jim Casper has become world renown as a critic, and a respected portfolio reviewer for the global photographic community. The couple travels the world, going from event to event, seking out the finest in photography.

Millie Casper completes the team with her entrepreneurial skills, and a sense of connecting the right people who inhabit the photographic community, with an ease of grace and charm, that brings a diverse group together.

With a website called LensCulture, they have reviews of photographers books and events, plus they are now selling original prints from emerging photographers, that you can own for very reasonable prices.
One that has tempted us is by Myoung Ho Lee, Tree #5

[photopress:Tree_5_700pix.jpg,full,centered] © Myoung Ho Lee

Click on the image or the name for more info.

And when you check out their site, you’ll find some brilliant writing on the art we love, and yes, some crossover from what we cover here at photoinduced.
But they have another point of view that we truly dig.
With a select choice of words, Jim can weave an insightful breakdown of the essence of a book, exhibit or event, based on his years of photographic and design experience. And you want to read that.

Thanks to our buddy who recco’d the party. These 2 people made our trip to Paris a lot richer.

We’re here to turn you on to things and perhaps sift through what’s out there to bring you best of what’s available in photography. Like LensCulture.com.
Like we say, let us be the first stop in your photographic life. We’ll help get you where you want to be.