[photopress:10c762e89da0a866c1074110._AA240_.L.jpg,full,alignright]”Just Take It In Little Bits At A Time”. That’s was the formula for getting the most out of a book called “The Keepers Of The Light” .
Sitting at a luncheon on the Riviera, I was introduced to a man who knew things. Photographic things. Image things.
And we talked.
He told me of a book that would change the way I thought about photography. But there was a secret to this book: only read a few pages at a time. Digest well. Move on to the next.
Yeah, right.
I am used to taking my photography in huge bites, with a chaser of actual shooting to feel the rush of the whole visual experience.

So I found this recommended, but unfortunately, out of print, book, from a seller on AMAZON. It arrived last week. Continue Reading »

[photopress:D700_24_120_front.jpg,full,centered] So halfway between the D300 and the D3, Nikon brings the D700.
Size wise comparable to the D300 but has the amazing ISO range of the D3 (up to 25,000!)
Full Frame sensor : FX (23.9 x 36mm) and cropped DX
Still a 12.1 megapixel unit, but you know by now that its all about the processor.
BIg 3″ screen in back, uses the same batteries as the D200 and D300
And, thank you Nikon, it takes the lenses all the way back to my older AI glass. Whew!
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What it does do is cram a lot of great features of the D3 into a more compact size. including the sensor and processor. What it doesn’t have is the shutter life (about half of the D3), the speed, and the dual CF card slots, among other features. If none of that affects your shooting, then you’ll be lining up for this one.

[photopress:d3d700.jpg,full,centered] D300 vs D3

BUT…and there always is a but…it’s about $3000 USD. So about 65% more than the D300 and 40% less than the pro D3. Now lets see if the D300 takes a drop.
So they’ve filled a gap for a segment of the shooters out there, however, with Photokina right around the corner, you may want to wait for the other shoe to drop for a purchase. We know how it is though, if you need it now, you need it now.

Here is some initial press on the unit from the folks at Nikon, with all of the specs you may need.

And as Steve jobs is about to release the new cheaper better iPhone, let’s all understand that technology will keep moving faster and getting better and cheaper.

Just remember to make better photographs.

Heck, we are giving away a Holga, for goodness sakes!
All about perspective.

On Sunday, it was a bit hot here in Los Angeles, making it was a good day to read and maybe catch up on some TV.
Flipping around the channels, we searched for some content that would hold at least SOME interest.
Spain had already won.
and then, “woah”
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Ovation TV had an all day marathon on photography. The Genius of Photography series from the BBC; Closeup: Photographers at Work; Sally Mann “What Remains”; David LaChapelle: Portrait of a Photographer and a ton more.
The DVR was working overtime.
What a great TV channel to give us all of this. OK, they also cover all art music, film, performance, etc. to be fair.
But all of this photographic content!
Now we know almost half of you are off of the North American continent, and we try to share things with the whole group. Kinda like when we were kids and the teacher would bust someone with candy or gum and say “Well I hope you brought enough for the whole class” knowing we didn’t and it was just another way to feel bad.
I digress.
So we are going to turn you onto these programs in a snack form on their site and on YouTube. We had a great discussion with Ovation today and they would love to welcome our whole group in.

Don’t worry, plenty of bandwidth for everyone.

So you can go here for the official site with vids and TV scheds for future airings, and go here for the Youtube content.
yes, each link takes you a different set of vids.

Please note that the online and YouTube vids are just samples, but should give you a clue as to what is out there. Unfortunately, Ovation TV is only in the states so that is why we wanted to share this online resource with you.

For those that can get the channel, here is a sample of the upcoming TV Sched for the Sally Mann documentary:

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 10:00PM 01:00AM
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 04:00AM
Saturday, July 5, 2008 04:00PM 07:00PM
Sunday, July 6, 2008 04:00AM
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10:00PM 01:00AM
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 04:00AM

They have assured me the solid marathon of photographic materials will be back in the fall. But you can check this stuff out in the meantime.

Say, would a block on the HOME page or RESOURCE page with listings of Photography on TV be of use to anyone? Just a question for the group. Post a comment if you think it would be cool/useful/pointless.

It’s a good way to start the week.

Special word for today’s giveaway is “HOLGA”. Shocking, I know.. Details below.

[photopress:31A1SCJZZ4L_1._SL500_AA200_.jpg,full,alignright] Of course you’ve heard about the Holga. Just the coolest low tech film camera around.
And since it’s all plastic, a lightweight wonder also.
There is a cult built around this camera and if you’ve never put your hands on one, here is your opportunity.
For Free. For one of you.
In the summer months (apologies to those down under), you should experiment, free your mind, take a chance.
It’s warm, you wear less clothes, and you should give your techie side a break now and again.
Let the uncertainty of the image you make, be the surprise inside the crackerjack box: you know it’s in there but you’re not sure what it’ll be.

[photopress:0b35124128a0d77bb0308010.L.jpg,full,centered] Holga shot by D Co

Once you’ve shot with this unit , the peculiarities will become apparent, and you can adjust your vision to the tool. Or is it the other way around?
Anyway, with a plastic lens, 2 f/stops (kind of) light leaks, and more, The Holga will satisfy your creative curiosity.
And once you’ve shot the film, have it scanned so you can sneak back into your digital manipulative world with your new files.
I do.

And here is how you can get this for free:
First of all you MUST be signed up for the NEWSLETTER. then Continue Reading »

That’s the question that Rob Schwartz, Executive Creative Director of TBWA\Chiat\Day asks you.
Oh sure, by day he is the creative compass for one of the most iconic advertising agencies in the world. So he sees thousands of images, professionally,
But with this series of photographs, he asks you, the viewer, to comment on images that can either be considered Artistic or Fartistic.
( please note: to see the full set of photos, you MUST be a member of Facebook. Perhaps this is the reason to join. Like the photoinduced.com group on Facebook wasn’t enough!)

A tongue in cheek way to explore the concept of the mundane defining our art, or the sophisticated eye lifting the ordinary to a deeper understanding. Or perhaps a satirical view of life.

With the simple question, Rob has offered up 16 photos to view and comment on, and give your opinion. All contained on his Facebook Gallery.

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Artsy or Fartsy No. 15 by Rob Schwartz
“In France, dogs rule. Does this photo capture the phenomenon artistically? Or fartistically? You be the judge as you take part in this social experiment.”

What is important to us, is that an artist is asking the question that many people can’t ask themselves: Can you be honest about the value of the images you make? Is it truly art or just a sketch of a moment?

If art is in the eye of the beholder, do other people have to consider the photograph for validation?

It is an unvarnished, self examination, that goes to the root of every photographers images. It may make you look at your photographs a bit differently. And may change your saving habits.
Shooting digital these days has allowed us the freedom to shoot perhaps more than we would have in the past. Is a well composed shot a good exercise or a Cartier-Bresson decisive moment?
The law of averages may determine the answer.
It used to be, back in the film days, a photographer dozen was defined as : Shoot 36, print 12 keep one. If you’re lucky.
Different times, my friend, different times.

Plus it is a freaking, hysterical concept!

Check out the Gallery, Leave a comment, have some fun, and keep shooting ’em up!

And the next time You press the shutter, think to yourself “Is this Artistic or Fartistic? ”
Hmmmmmm…….