Sony Introduced their latest camera with a hands-on event at an Upper East side mansion. The 7R VI

You can click this link to see all the specs. 

The event was complete with multiple shooting opportunities. Sets with models, and even places to get your own portrait done, although I can never understand that part of these events.

We were given a drink ticket, a poncho for the possible rain later, and some cookies.

OK, the most important part was being able to put your own SD card into the camera with a variety of shooting scenarios and lenses.

To be fair, the images you see here are just from the jpgs, as the RAW files cannot be processed by LR. Yet. Continue Reading »

Taking notes can take your focus away from what is being said.

But you HAVE to.

Some folks feel that once you write something down, it sticks better.

I don’t necessarily agree and here is why.

There are a number of devices out there that can record, transcribe, and summarize your conversations or meetings and each one has a primary purpose.

One of the jobs I do is interview filmmakers and for those calls, I am usually on zoom.

In those cases I use an in ear bud called RecDot from Viaim

It’s a noice cancelling earbud, fitting inside your ear like what you are probably used to.

After the calls, the software can give me a transcribed text,  a summarized recall, and going further, breaks down my questions and adds the answers in a format I can work with.

This unit connects to the phone and records on the app.

When I’m at a conference, or at an event where there may be a conversation on stage, I turn to the OpenNote from Viaim which is an open-ear design so gives me situational awareness.

NO need to connect to the app, as a simple 2 tap on the either left or right ear bud starts the built in recording module.

I then later on download to the app and get the same assets as the RecDot. I find that this unit is great for those audience based events, and I was honestly surprised at the quality of the assets generated.

My first test was when I was about 15 rows back, on the side of a theater, with 20 ft between the 1^st row and the stage.

The transcription and summarized content was exceptional.

The simplest unit, the NoteKit, plugs into a laptop and captures a meeting, does realtime transcription and downloads to the desktop app. Yes, it has a mute function to control the recording.

When on the road or in a place I am doing a call on the phone, the Plaude Note Pro comes into play, as it’s a magsafe unit, that attached to my phone and a simple button press starts the same functionality as the rest.

In addition, this unit can be laid on a conference table and record a meeting. This has a slightly constricted area to capture the sound, as it’s not the largest reach.

PLAUD NOTE Pro

An upgraded version of the standard Note that includes an InstantView AMOLED display, 4 microphones for a longer pickup range (up to 16.4 ft), and automatic phone call detection.

The use cases above are how I actually employ the various units.

In all of the cases, having a transcribed convo leads to all parties confirming information, as you can also do a follow-up communication to make sure everyone is on the same page.

With the RecDot and the OpenNote, you download to the app on the phone, and the upload the format you require. Same with the Plaud Note Pro

The OpenNotes and RecDot advantage for me is the fact that both do not need to be connected to a phone, and are freestanding recording devices, with Bluetooth to download to the app at a later time.

One thing to remember about all of these units are 2 things:

1. Each one is subscription based for the services ( transcription, summarization, translation, to-do list) Viaim is free for 600 min total a month, no matter how many units are connected to the app. Plaud gives you 300 min a mon. free for the same time

2. When ever you record another party in a meeting or conversation it will announce” this call is being recorded”. It is a legal requirement, and I’m sure you’ve hear this on many business calls. I have used this to my advantage in a business dispute, as sometimes when people know they are being recorded you get the right info. Check into your state for the rules on this. NY is a one party consent for recording a convo.

AIPAD, The Association of International Photography Art Dealers, presents THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW   is in NYC till Sunday and it’s spectacular!

If you are a lover of the photographic arts, it’s a once a year fair you have to go to.

Head on to the Park Avenue Armory, a brilliant location for this event and

With a plethora of dealers of print and a huge selection of book sellers, and many of the booths host signing by the artists. you will no doubt walk out with a piece.

And if you’re not ready to buy, there has been a wide range of talks by the luminaries in the art. Click the link to the main site to see the PDF of talks.

Lydia Melamed Johnson, Executive Director, introduces the talks:

Dr. Deborah Willis, 2026 AIPAD Award Winner, convo kicked off the talks to a packed house, with Brendan Embser, senior editor at Aperture (and her former student!)

Gerhard Steidl, best photo book publisher, spoke about his relationship with Robert Frank, who entrusted him with many of his books, including reprinting the Americans. Shown here with Clark Winter, artist and neighbor of Frank’s who added insights to the talk

Plus, one of my all time faves is the PhotoBooth from @Autophoto, where for $8 you can get a beautiful photo strip, which has been tweaked to give you the best lighting you can get in these machines.

I was looking forward to seeing one of my favorite artists from previous years.

However, the current world situation, and tariffs has now affected the art world. She and her work were nowhere to be found.

Another artist I met last year, and have been following on socials, was also a no-show.

Whether travelers from other countries are nervous about the current visa/ border outlook, or bringing art to be sold here gets affected by higher prices due to tariffs becomes a question.

There are a few ways to look at this: the people who are collecting art, may not feel the full effects of the current financial situation.

When you can afford the pleasure of buying art, whether for the sheer love of the piece, or for the investment, this too shall pass. Maybe.

Or does this encourage the art fairs to show more of the homegrown artists, and less of those from offshore.

The secondary market may not be affected as the art may already be here in the US.

The dealers who foot the bill for these fairs have been hit. I spoke to a few about this situation, although I will not call them out by name.

It was just a bit of malaise I felt with some of them.

AIPAD has always been about Association of International Photographic Art Dealers.

International.

Says so right in the name. I hope by next year we are back to a normal state of affairs.

I look forward to this Photography Show every year. It’s a way to see new work, revel in the classics, and see friends who all gather event this event.

I was on the same bus with Louis Mendes coming on day 2, and he shared some business advice for me. I have known him for years, and I think if you are at a photo event in NYC, you will have seen him.

He is 86 and will be honored by the Gordon parks foundation this year. Has trained numerous street photographers, with his trusty Speed Graphic in his mitts. I think he convinced me to bring mine out from storage!

As the year progresses, we’ll see how the other fairs have addressed the current state of affairs. Next up is Frieze in NYC.

Not a photographic fair, yet still gets affected by the tariff situation.

What is your take ? email me at damon@photoinduced.com, and we can chat.

As Spring has Sprung, one of my favorite photographic art events returns to the Park Ave Armory. AIPADAIPAD is the Association of International Photographic Arts Dealers.
Complete with a massive amounts of dealers showing the photograph you want to purchase for your home, books for your perusal, and talks with those that shape the the world of photography, this is where you want to be if you happen to be in NYC April 22-26. In addition there is one of my favorite companies, AutoPhoto has a photobooth on site!

For me, it’s a multi day visit as the depth of the work to see is massive.
And the artists are there to talk about their work Continue Reading »

Spring is here and finally starting to see the warmer weather.

It’s time to clean-up the workspace and put way the winter clothes.

Part of that is cleaning the area around the keyboard, monitors, and general workspace.

You need a strong vacuum, that has attachments for specific jobs.

The HOTO Handheld vacuum cleaner, steps in as a modular vacuum with a great design, and a variety of attachments.

Now if you are anything like me, you may have a snack, or even a meal by your workstation.

Yep, crumbs. Continue Reading »