Photo&Cameras

Olympus E-420 review : Although we just experienced a hectic period with many introductions, Olympus introduced, rather unexpectedly, their new digital SLR sibling; the Olympus E420. The Olympus E420 SLR is clearly based on the E410, which was introduced last year, but has undergone some changes when it comes to the inner parts of the camera. Almost immediately after the introduction, we received a full production model in combination with the standard ZUIKO Digital zoom lens (14-42mm) and a beautiful super compact lens, the 25mm pancake f/2.8 lens. The Olympus E420, the kit lens 14-42mm and the new 25mm pancake lens form an interesting DSLR set. > Read our review about the Olympus E420 and find out more about this SLR set.

Olympus E420 vs E410
Even though the Olympus E420 may look similar to its predecessor; a number of subtle changes can still be noted. A few symbols have been added to the housing, and the previously green-coloured symbols are now blue. In addition, the small handgrip now features a clearly perceptible edge which should give the camera a more stable hand-fit. And last but not least, the LCD monitor on the back of the camera has been enlarged from 2.5 to 2.7 inch.

Olympus E420 Test
Like its predecessor, the Olympus E420 supports two formats of storage media. Olympus’ proper xD Picture card is still too dear to say goodbye to. Besides that there is the possibility of using the CompactFlash as memory card. I wonder how long we will still see xD picture cards pass by. Now that Fujifilm also supports SD and SDHC cards, it seems that the xD card’s market share shrinks every day. SD and SDHC have reached the 32GB capacity by now whilst xD is still stuck on 2GB. In any case, the CF card is the solution. With the support of the CompactFlash storage, capacity can’t be a problem. Read the full Olympus E-420 review and judge our Olympus sample photos.

Souce: www.letsgodigital.org

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The amount of power and capabilities in today's digital cameras give you a lot of technical sophistication, but all of these features alone will not guarantee the capturing of a compelling image. To do that, you have to have more than just technology, you must have skills. To do it well you must be one part photographer and one part digital artist.

In Practical Artistry: Light and Exposure For Digital Photographers, Harold Davis' aim is to present the best practices of the craft of photography in the context of the digital era. A great photograph begins with the photographer's understanding of light and proceeds with a good and creative exposure. Practical Artistry is 176 full color pages that are divided into six chapters.

"Understanding Exposure" begins with the exploration of what is an exposure, especially with regard to the capturing of light. Here the discussion is about the relationship of aperture, shutter speed, and light sensitivity - also known as ISO. Here you will learn about the exposure equation, measuring light, and intentional over- and under-exposing of images.

"Working with Aperture" provides you with a solid foundation of understanding what f-numbers are and how f-stops work. You will see how aperture and depth of field relate, how to work with selective focus, when aperture does not matter, and how it relates to macro photography.

"Selecting Shutter Speed" is all about time and how shutter speed is really about the duration of time that the shutter is open. The discussion is about the affects of time in the photographic equation, about shutter speed and camera shake, subject motion, and the creative use of motion.

"ISO and Noise" explains where camera noise comes from and how it relates to light sensitivity. You will see when to boost ISO, how to use noise creatively, and how you can reduce noise in post processing.

"Using Light" gets in to the use of light in the capturing of images and how a creative exposure can lead to a creative image. By finding the best light for a given composition, you will be able to create your best images. By being a student of lighting situations, you can gain an understanding of how light sources interact with each other and the external situations. You can also enhance the existing light by the use of artificial light sources as well. Here you will learn about white balance, front lighting, side lighting, back lighting, overcast lighting, night lighting, and flash lighting.

"Digital Darkroom" is all about post processing. Here you will learn about working with Raw Conversion, adjusting exposure, white balance, working with noise reduction, multi-Raw production, cross processing and working with black and white.

What I like about Practical Artistry is that it gets back to the basics about photography and does it in the digital age framework. In the old days before the advent of built-in light meters, a photographer had to understand the photographic equation; the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These techniques still are relevant today with the digital camera.

This instructional book is richly illustrated with full color photographs from the author. The text is explained clearly and in detail with an accompanying photo to illustrate the effects of decisions made.

Practical Artistry is a great book for anyone who wants to understand the traditional methods of photography within the realm of the digital age. I can easily recommend this book.

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Image Keyworder now includes a customized �Alamy Mode’ for users submitting images to the UK-based photo agency Alamy. Contributors can work on batches of images, speeding up the workflow for getting their images online. Image Keyworder comes bundled with a thesaurus comprising over 40,000 terms, including synonyms, alternate forms, spelling variations and singulars and plurals. An Image Keyworder license for two computers costs just US$79.99 including a 12-month thesaurus subscription valued at US$39.99.

OnAsia Press Release

Image Keyworder Releases �Alamy’ Upgrade

Singapore, May 29th 2008 – OnAsia has announced the release of a significant upgrade to its Windows-based Image Keyworder software. The new version, currently available at http://www.imagekeyworder.com, includes a customized �Alamy Mode’ for users submitting images to the UK-based photo agency http://www.alamy.com.

The new functionality for Alamy contributors means that Image Keyworder is currently the only commercially available software that has been tailor designed to accommodate the specific annotation requirements of Alamy. The tool enables Alamy contributors to work on batches of images; speeding up the workflow for getting their images online.

“When Alamy announced that it was changing its metadata requirements a few months ago, we saw an opportunity to customize our Image Keyworder tool for a very specific group of users,” explained Yvan Cohen, Director at OnAsia.  “Alamy was extremely supportive throughout this process and we now hope that their contributors will see the benefits of the customized functionality we are providing for them,” he added.

“Throughout the development of Image Keyworder we have aimed to create a tool that is tailored closely to the needs of digital photographers faced with the challenge of indexing their images and submitting to online agencies,” said Mr. Cohen.

One of the most comprehensive and competitively priced keywording programs on the market, Image Keyworder comes bundled with a thesaurus comprising over 40,000 terms, including synonyms, alternate forms, spelling variations and singulars and plurals. The thesaurus is continually being enriched and updated to ensure that users have access to a growing pool of terms.

“The thesaurus function means that with a single click you can add several relevant terms to an image. It’s much easier and faster than keywording manually,” explained Mr Cohen.

Having grown out of OnAsia’s experience as a professional keywording service, Image Keyworder also offers users a number of features aimed at combining comprehensive keywording with productivity. Groups of images can be processed in batches, templates can be created and saved for repeat image types and keywords can be selectively added and removed from sets of images.

Image Keyworder can be downloaded for a free 30-day trial from http://www.imagekeyworder.com. The trial includes full functionality and access to Image Keyworder’s comprehensive built-in thesaurus.

An Image Keyworder license for two computers costs just US$ 79.99 including a 12-month thesaurus subscription valued at US$ 39.99.

For more information contact

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Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd digital camera : The 10 Megapixel FinePix Z200fd has just been announced by Fujifilm. The Fuji Z200fd is the latest addition to the popular Fujifilm range of ultra-slim, metal-bodied, high performance compact digital cameras. Despite being only 19.8mm thick the Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd is packed with state-of-the-art technology including a 5x Fujinon optical zoom lens, Fujifilm’s acclaimed Face Detection technology, intelligent red-eye removal and Dual Image Stabilisation, as well as two brand new self-timer modes: Couple Timer and Group Timer. The FinePix Z200fd will be available from UK retailers from August. Pricing will be announced nearer to the date of the launch.

Self-timer modes on the Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd
The Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd features two brand new self-timer modes: Couple Timer and Group Timer. Working in combination with Face Detection technology, the self-timer automatically sets off after the camera has detected faces in a frame. The camera won’t take the photo if one of the faces is out the frame, so there’s no need to worry about someone being missed out of the shot!

Fujifilm Z200fd includes a couple timer and group timer
The Couple Timer mode cleverly detects two faces in a frame and will automatically release the shutter button as the two faces come closer together. The Fujifilm Couple Timer mode has three settings so users can set the timer to detect faces at various distances, whether they are standing side by side, or cheek-to-cheek. Group shots have never been so easy. The Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd’s Group Timer mode can detect up to four faces in a frame and automatically sets the timer to take that precious shot. Using the Face Detection button, the user can select the number of faces in the frame, from one to four, and the camera will only take the shot once all the specified number of faces are in the frame.

Stylish Fuji FinePix Z200fd digital camera
The Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd houses powerful features in an elegant, metal body. This stylish camera comes in four attractive colours – a black and red combination, pink, silver and black – and has a unique diagonally sliding lens cover with a snazzy ‘Z’ logo that illuminates when the camera is switched on. Its slim design means that it can fit easily into a cluttered handbag or jean pocket so your camera is always to the ready.

Fujifilm Z200fd with an Intelligent flash system
Beneath its trendy exterior, the Fuji FinePix Z200fd boasts an impressive Fujinon 5x zoom lens (33-165mm equivalent), Dual Image Stabilisation, which combines CCD-shift and high ISO to combat the problem of camera shake and blurry images, and ISO sensitivity up to 1600. There’s also Fujifilm’s Intelligent Flash system, which sets the power output to achieve natural foreground illumination with balanced background exposure for more natural looking photos. For users who cannot decide whether to use a flash or not, Natural Light plus Flash mode takes two photos in quick succession, one with flash and one without. Both photos are then displayed side by side for quick comparison allowing users to decide which one they prefer.

Fujifilm Face Detection on the FinePix Z200fd
The Fujifilm Z200fd makes perfect portraits simple with Fujifilm’s Face Detection technology. Face Detection works by triangulating eyes and mouth, using an algorithm to optimise focus, white balance and exposure for up to ten faces in a single frame, and is not confused by spectacles. In addition, the automatic red-eye removal feature can find and instantly correct any red eye from every face in the frame, saving the user the time consuming process of doing it afterwards on the computer.

Share your photos via the Blog mode
The Fuji FinePix Z200fd is a perfect social camera. In addition to the Face Detection technology and people-friendly self-timers modes, the FinePix Z200fd features a Blog mode, which resizes images for easy upload to social networking sites such as Facebook, and an Auction mode, which combines up to four photos in one frame – ideal for eBay users. What’s more, the Fujifilm Z200fd’s IrSimple function allows consumers to share photos from one IrSimple device to another.

Fujifilm Real Photo Technology
Driving the FinePix Z200fd is Fujifilm’s unique Real Photo Technology (RPT). The guiding principles behind RPT are simple; to set the highest possible standards for overall image quality, to expand digital photography opportunities and to give users fewer wasted shots. With the human eye as the ideal, Real Photo Technology cameras are designed from the ground up to capture ‘real’ photographs with stunning quality – giving users the power to capture the moment exactly as the eye sees it, no matter how challenging the shooting conditions.

Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd an ideal ’social’ camera
Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm’s Director of Photo Products, said: “The Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd is the perfect ’social’ camera for the user looking for a combination of classic styling and cutting edge features. We believe that consumers wanting a super-slim camera shouldn’t have to make compromises on image quality or features, and with the Fujifilm Z200fd they don’t.”

Fujifilm Z200fd Features
• Ultra slim (19.8mm thick) styling with two-tone all metal body
• 5x optical zoom lens (33-165mm equivalent)
• Dual Image Stabilisation
• Face Detection Technology and automatic intelligent red-eye removal
• 52MB internal memory plus xD-Picture card, SD and SDHC compatibility
• ISO 100-1600 sensitivity at full resolution
• Wide view 2.7-inch high resolution screen
• Playback features including Face Zoom and Micro Thumbnail (100 shot) view
• IR Communication (IR simple)
• Blog mode and Auction mode
• VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound
• New modes including Folder Select and Illustration Mode.
• PictBridge compatible for direct printing without a PC

Souce: www.letsgodigital.org

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“I took this shot with black and white film but the graffitis were also done in black and white. If only all graffiti artists were that talented…”. Taken by Smiler

Source: planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com

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After you deal with the technical aspects, the crucial elements that determine the quality and strength of an image are the organization of the elements and their content. It is these elements that make up the art of the photograph. Creative photography is built upon the mastery of these elements.

In The Photograph: Composition and Color Design, Harald Mante, a distinguished teacher of the photographic arts in Germany, explores the principles of line, shape, color, contrast, and design. His goal is to explore composition and design at a much greater depth than is available in most books to date. The Photograph is an oversized book with 280 full color pages and is divided into six chapters.

“The Point” refers to a means of organization in which the relation to the image plane is small or relatively small. A point is static and maintains its location. In this chapter you will explore various arrangements involving the point within an image. These points may be defined by an object, a color, a shape, or even multiple points, but they all draw you in. You will explore the point’s simplicity, arrangement, repetition, texture, pattern, and more.

“The Line” is a method organizing an image in an active arrangement. By using lines, you actively draw the viewer’s eye through the image, clearly creating movement. Here you will study how forces acting on a line force the eye to something in the image. You will study the properties of a line – how horizontal and vertical lines work differently in an image, and how diagonal, irregular, oblique, and groups of lines affect images.

“The Shape” is the design element by which areas of tone and color are bounded within or are allowed to cover the entire image. Described here are rectangles and squares, circles, ovals, triangles, as well as variants of irregular shapes. Also included are the contrasts of shapes.

“Universal Contrasts” are almost always present in a picture. These are the differentiations of light and dark, or of monochrome and colors. They give rise to the special effects within a picture. They are the differences between the figure and the ground, and the variations of space, and can be caused by the natural environment or the use of focal lengths.

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