“The Annenberg Foundation, one of the nation’s largest private family foundations, announced today plans to open a new community space dedicated to both digital images and print photography in Los Angeles, California.

The Annenberg Space for Photography will open in spring 2009 at 2000 Avenue of the Stars. [photopress:annenbergspaceforphotography_largelogo_lessspace.jpg,full,alignright]
Located on the former site of the Shubert Theater, the Photography Space will be a 10,000 square foot facility which will feature a state-of-the-art digital projection gallery along with a traditional print exhibit area. The combination of these galleries will enable the Annenberg Space for Photography to show an unprecedented number of images to the general public in a dynamic environment. General admission to the Annenberg Space for Photography will be free.

“Photography is one of the most accessible and personal forms of art. We are thrilled about creating a space completely dedicated to it which will compliment the landscape of existing cultural institutions nationally and in Los Angeles. Our Foundation will continue its multi-million dollar grant support of the existing arts and civic life. We see the creation of the Annenberg Space for Photography as a service to the community where visitors can see the world through a different lens and leave feeling motivated to make positive change,” says Wallis Annenberg, Vice President and Trustee of the Annenberg Foundation. ”

This is some great news for LA. and photography in general. Along side one of the major talent agencies in town, major shopping mall, lawyers, multimillion dollar condos, and adjacent to Beverly Hills, this is huge news. We have some great photography collections in the Los Angeles, but this dedication to the art from a major institution is a huge move.
And it will be free to the public.
Nice.

Since I was about 5, MOMA, Museum of Modern Art in NYC, has been a strong visual touchpoint in my life.
With a collection of modern art that is unparralled, to exhibitions that have never disappointed.
It is always a stop on a trip to New York.
As a matter of fact, I keep an out of town membership.
There is a garden, with sculptures that have been there since my childhood. Sure, there has been remodeling, restructuring, and overhauls, but the art remains.
So for me, it’s a place that always inspires, educates, and entertains. A very happy place.
Sans mice.
And the best part is sharing what they have there.

This trip has been no different.
As always in the Fall, the photography display focuses (sorry), on the new artists.
Josephine Meckseper and Mikhael Subotzky are the two artists featured and will be on view through Jan.5, 2009
Check out this video on the exhibit.

Wish the sound was better, but it’s pretty cool to see the exhibit go up.

[photopress:P1020016.jpg,full,centered]
visitors milling through the exhibit

[photopress:P1020015.jpg,full,centered]
—————————————————————————————————————————–

[photopress:P1020021.jpg,full,centered]
In the Design section of the museum, there is a celebration of George Lois who guided Esquire to a rebirth through his controversial and brilliant covers.
[photopress:2838247cedfba3ae75.jpg,full,alignright] From Muhammad Ali pierced by arrows while wearing his boxing trunks (he had protested the Vietnam wore and gave up the world champ title) Andy Warhol swimming in a can of Campbells soup, these photographs defined an era of the US in the 60’s.
Plus the comments from Lois when he was told to tone down the images, are hilarious and can’t be printed here.
You also get to be privvy to the original contact sheets and transparencies which give you and idea of he process getting to the final image. No Photoshop was available then.
[photopress:P1020024_2.jpg,full,centered]

And a bonus: Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night just opened. If you are at all interested in the depiction of light, and we assume you are since you’re here. This exhibit, and the accompanying catalog, will stun you and realize the drama of the delicate use of of the magic hour of the day into the night. We all learn from every medium and this exhibit will school you on the emotional impact of the lack of light.

Remember: it’s great of you can get there, but you’ll got a ton from visiting these exhibits online.

And the parade of new gear continues….
Today Canon introduced the EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR.[photopress:Canon_5D_Mark_II_flash.gif,full,alignright]
[photopress:Canon_5D_mark_II_top.jpg,full,alignright]
The successor to the EOS 5D launched in 2005, Canon a full-frame CMOS sensor, HD video capture. In addition to capturing full-HD 16:9 video clips at 1,920×1,080 resolution, the 5D Mark II features a 21.1 megapixel full-frame 24x36mm CMOS sensor, a sensitivity range from ISO 50 to 25,600 and continuous shooting at 3.9 fps for an unlimited number of full-res JPEGs (to the capacity of the memory card) or 14 RAW images in a single burst when using a UDMA CF card.
Plus Face Detection.
Now the shutter life matches that of the Nikon D700 at 150,000 cycles, plenty for the prosumer.

The 5D Mark II employs a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen with 920,000-dot/VGA resolution (four times the pixel count of the EOS 5D’s 2.5-inch screen) and a high-magnification optical viewfinder with 98 percent coverage. The shutter durability of this DSLR was also increased to 150,000 cycles.

And the HD and SD video capture may be a new feature in all future DSLRs. First introduced with the Nikon D90, but this unit will have an input terminal for an external stereo mic. We know the difference sound makes in any video.

Compatible with Canon EF lenses, the EOS 5D Mark II is scheduled for November delivery and will be sold body-only for an estimated retail price of $2,699.

So we’re thinking; now that your DSLRs are adding HD video with top quality optics, should you lose your video cameras? Not a chance.

If we’re shooting stills, there is a DSLR in our hands. If we’re shooting video, crack open the video camera bag.
Right tool, right job.
The only time we’ve shot video with out still camera was to catch something on the fly.
The paparazzi will love it though. Faster upload to TMZ. Actually all photojournalists.
Just our opinion, though.

[photopress:g10.jpg,full,centered]

Now the ever popular G9 also got and upgrade to a G10 with over 14 megapixels and taking advantage of the new Digic 4 processor, an equivalent 28-140 mm zoom lens, plus RAW capabilities. Face detection and Fotonations brilliant face detection timer. Available in Oct. for about $599. Please Note- this number was just revised.

So, it’s almost time to buy…or wait…or buy…no wait!
Ok, buy it if you need it right now, but hold for awhile if you can til all the new gear gets announced and THEN make your choice.

A friend of ours just realized that by buying a DSLR model that was just replaced, he saved hundreds of dollars and it gave him all of he camera he’ll need.
Smart dude.

As we walk the streets of NYC with our techy iPhone camera in hand, we wonder what else can this phone/ipod/video player/gaming device/ camera do for my photographic life ?

[photopress:PJWhite_250px.gif,full,alignright] Our good friends over at Photojojo collaborated with Matt Nuzzaco to go through EVERY photo app currently available on the iPhone App store.
From the good, the bad and the ugly, they have described,tested and rated them.

Whew, Glad they took that one on.

OK, you may have to have the iPhone for you to care about this, but this week we’re shooting with it extensively.
Sure there are much better camera phones. Like Nokias.
But integrated software apps? Upload, GPS, Exposure calculators, etc? Pretty cool.
So we’re putting out this link to Photojojo for a look at a cool article.
Like I said, we’re all friends, and looking to share with the community.

Off in NYC on a business trip, and decided to travel without a DSLR as test.
In one of the most visually stimulating cities in the world, the tools have been limited to 2: An iPhone and a Point and Shoot,
I know, I knowâ€:it’s not like I’m totally stripped. The point and shoot is a Panasonic LX2.
But this week will force me to learn each camera till I can get the best out of both.

There is an old expression “the best camera is the one in your hands”

Walking around in the humid streets of Manhattan seems to have heightened the lush urban scenery. Although trying to carry no bags or backpack, with just a cell phone in the pocket. Gulp.
[photopress:iphonepIZZA.jpg,full,centered]That’s the iPhone
Well, some of the things I’m seeing, have to be photographed (in my mind) even with the iPhone and some scenes have caused me to go back to reshoot with the point and shoot. Yep, that’s the step up in his case.
[photopress:yellowdoor.jpg,full,centered]
[photopress:reddoor3.jpg,full,centered] Which camera do you think was used for these 2 shots?

Here’s the question for you though: What are you using? As someone who likes to have a camera in his or her hands, what cell phone are you using? How many shots do you take with it? Will you share some of your shots done without, what you may consider, optimum gear? I’ll show you mine, if you show us yours.

Is it more happy snaps? Sketches? Or truly, valid, finished photos (before some post production)?

We’ll start a separate GALLERY in the Enthusiast section if we get enough response.

It’s a good experiment for any of us to” strip down “, use simplified gear and get the most out of it.

But I’ll be happy to get back to the full tilt set up.

It won’t feel so drafty.

NB: Take a look at the Oct. issue of Popular Photography (hard copy) There is a decent guide for what to look for in a camera phone.

Later this week, we’ll be getting hands on some brand new products fro the holiday season.
Speaking of point and shoots, the Nikon P6000 with BUILT IN GPS.

Stick with us. And make sure you’ve signed up for the NEWSLETTER for this weeks giveaway.