A cool review of the Nikon D70

Very indepth and lots of images.

Petri Kekkonen's Nikon D70 experiences: "Many websites provide in depth reviews of Nikon D70 and its performance. On this page I'd like to publish my own first hand experiences with it along with some minor test results. I got my camera from the first batch in Finland on March 19th, 2004, but had to wait for it over the weekend due to mail delivery. Needless to say I was happy that I had preordered it already in January. "

Noise Ninja Close to Final Release

This is quite a good little plugin. Try it out.

PictureCode: Home page: "Noise � the digital equivalent of film grain � afflicts every digital camera produced today. At the high ISO settings required for indoor photography and fast-action sports, noise can be so acute that it makes an image look like sandpaper. Even 'clean' images shot at low ISO may reveal noise when enlarged."

My Inspiration for the last 30 years.

Thank you John. Every time I listen, I hear the voice of God.

John Coltrane | My Favorite Things

Ideas. Champions. Together.

I will be spending quite a bit of time here. They freely give information and ideas to visitors. That is a spirit of 'idea sharing' and 'idea virus' that I can really understand and promote. Emjoy and get ready to think.

Corporate Innovation and Creative Thinking Training, Tools and Techniques, Team Building and Brainstorming � Idea Champions: "Our work, ultimately, is all about helping companies establish humane, inclusive, sustainable cultures of innovation - the kinds of environments that become fertile ground for the natural expression of creativity, collaboration, and passionate commitment."

Flexible Scanner for under $10

Over at Addict3D... Cannot find original article. At time of this post the web site of "New Scientist" is down. There is a joke there, but I am of too happy a spirit this morning to crack one. Really. Anyway, the scanner looks cool.

Tokyo University's wraparound scanner - addict3d.org: "Tokyo University's Quantum-Phase Electronics Centre has come up with a scanner in the form of a flexible plastic sheet containing organic diodes that can be placed against an object to scan it. This makes it possible to get a perfect scan of both pages of old and fragile books without mauling them, for example."

Core77 is a Cool Site

It is an Industrial Design content site that has some very good information that all designers and photographers can find very interesting. There are some links and good articles on design and art and lots of things that we find mentally stimulating. Check it out.

Core77 design magazine and resource

Review of the FujiFilm FinePix S3 pro

FujiFilm FinePix S3 pro: "This isn't a full review of the new Fuji S3 Pro. It isn't even a partial review. It's the result of my spending a few days shooting with a full production camera just days after the S3 started shipping in the U.S. and Canada in mid-December, 2004.
Why bother then? Because I, as well as many who follow development in digital technology, have been fascinated to see what Fuji would deliver with their new Super CCD SR II dual sensor design. (More on this soon). This potentially makes the S3 more than just another new DSLR, and therefore of considerable interest.
But, inveterate camera tester that I am, I can't resist looking as well at what kind of camera Fuji has chosen to put this sensor into. So, here then is a brief hands-on look at the FujiFilm FinePix S3 Pro."

Here you go... Under $20

Well of course it isn't a Mark II, but for little web shots, er, really little web shots - it looks really good. And did I mention it was under $20?

Alphecca: $19.99 Digital Camera...: "$19.99 Digital Camera...
Yeah yeah, so Glenn likes to chat-up digital cameras costing upwards of a grand or more. NOT US! Here at Alphecca we know real quality when we see it and we, er, seen it... Cumberland Farms is sorta the New England version of 7-11 and have they got a deal for you!"

Excerpt from "On Being a Photographer"

This is a fascinating read. You absolutely must read it.
(thanks Steve D and Michael Muratore for the tip)

On Being a Photographer - Excerpt: "David Hurn: That�s true. The fundamental issue is one of emphasis: you are not a photographer because you are interested in photography."

A very good book on Blogs and their Transformational powers

Amazon.com: Books: Blog : Understanding the Information Reformation That's Changing Your World

A very good article on Blogging at Fortune

... Read it all.

Technology - Why There's No Escaping the Blog - FORTUNE: "Typically Microsoft would have taken the hits and kept powering forward. That is the Microsoft way. For years such behavior has done little but make people feel defenseless against the company. But this time Microsoft deployed one of its most important voices to talk back: not Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer, but Robert Scoble."

Decker's Blog has lots of great articles and links

Visit his blog for some great insights. And visit Cafe Press as well. This simple idea that Decker catches could really be a cool concept if it was taken and massaged into your specific arena.

Selling stock... after the purchase offer a premum for sending your link via their recommendation to two of their peers. What kind of premium? Did you visit Cafe Press yet?

Portrait shooter... what if you offered a free set of wallets if they sent your message under their email name to three friends or relatives. Worth it? Sure.

Wedding Photographers have so many possibilitie. Think creatively. Think virally. Think "Iwannahaveatonofclientsandmakemormoney". Ya know.

Decker Marketing: CafePress has a Great Checkout Page Idea: "CafePress has a Great Checkout Page Idea
CafePress does many things right. They have a clean site, it's easy to use, and they have a compelling value proposition. I just ordered some personalized products for my people.
One idea I've only seen at CafePress is a 'Pass It On' feature on their 'Thank You' page after checkout. "

Interview with Sam Decker, Marketing Guy

iStockphoto.com - royalty free stock photography community: "It may sound strange, but I consider myself lucky. Each failed company was another step towards success. So for me, these weren't failures. I learned more from these experiences than I would if each was wildly successful."

I like a lot of what he has to say here. Trying to reach everyone with the latest 'buzzy" trend in marketing may not work as well as the "buzzmeisters" say it will. Pereseverance and the goal of being a 'mensch' are far more important sometimes.

YOu can find his blog here.

Just got this offer for an online book...

"Carefully Crafted Emails and Sells Copy - FREE! ($37.95 Value)"

I have written many things, but damn few "Sells Copy". Makes you want to run right out and get one of these books, er, one of them books.

I knew they caused that near death experience...

...thanks for the link, Seth.ShardsO'Glass: "We now agree with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that eating glass freeze pops can be dangerous. Those who eat glass freeze pops are far more likely to develop shards-related ailments than those who don't eat them."

Niches... I love 'em...

Big Shoes - Large Size Shoes for Men: "Welcome to Big Shoes! We offer large size shoes, boots, sandals and athletic footwear for men in size 13, size 14, size 15, size 16, size 17, size 18 and larger. Featuring name brand shoes for big feet - Diesel, Pony, Puma, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Dr. Martens, Timberland, Ecco, Roces Inline Skates, Bite Golf Shoes and more. Shop our full catalog by clicking on the Brands link in the upper left corner of our home page."

Another Free Photoblogging tool

Why was it again that we all don't have one? Free? International?
Hmmmmmm... I'm signing up for this one as well.

Fotolog.net: "Fotolog� Stats
884,930 Fotologgers
28,989,910 Photos
60,140 Photos Today"

Bought my first non-Epson printer....

in 8 years. We needed a fast, cheap, printer that would do 4x6 prints fast. Fast. And cheap. Went on a hunt online and found three in our price range and headed off to the stores. Not one of them had the item in stock. (There is a rant here, but - hey, it's Christmas... and total freaking incompetance will be around for next week...) Anyway, we finally ended up at Fry's and there was an isle filled with Canon iX1500 Printers. $50. Out the door. Said it did a 4x6 in 50 seconds. Close enough. We bought two.

Got them back to the studio, hooked them both up to Daniel's laptop and gave them seperate id's. We tested and found they gave us very - VERY - nice 4x6 prints in nearly 45 seconds. With two printers going, we can print over 120 prints per hour... that will do. Not a plug for Canon, just acknowledging a fine little piece of equipment that does the job and delivers a bit more than promised. And that is nice.

Found this site after visiting Seth's blog this morning. There are some very well written white papers here. Great reads and powerful information. Of course most of you are not Tech Companies - doesn't matter. There are things to be learned here and things to be considered and things to be challenged for sure. But it will make a nice read over a cup-o-joe...

: "The Phelon Group helps enterprise technology companies build and sustain high-value reference programs that enable a distinct advantage in the drive for customers and corporate growth.
Based on Customer Leverage principles of strategic methodology and mutually beneficial customer relationships, we help clients leverage their key customers resulting in faster sales and higher-impact marketing.










Privacy Policy | � 2004 The Phelon Group. All rights reserved.
"

If you are a fellow web designer...

... you should check these guys out. Their book on CSS is astounding and I use many of their extensions to make my production time more efficient.

projectseven.com - Dreamweaver Extensions, Tutorials, FAQ, and CSS Tools

Dust Bunnies. Yep. I hate 'em.

I took a shot of the skyline today at f22. Damn. Dark spots everywhere. Now usually I shoot at 2, 2.8, 4 and occasionally higher, but not often. I like wide open lenses. I spent a ton of money for these fast glass babies, why the heck shoot em at f22?
Anyway, got to get the dang thing cleaned... found this site.
Have fun.

CMOS - CCD Sensor Cleaning - Canon EOS 10D Digital SLR: "It's scary! It's hairy! It's dangerous!
But, digital cameras get their image sensors dirty - especially SLR cameras where lenses are switched... so the time comes when they must be cleaned."

Yeah, that's why I don't have comments on...

But feel free to email me. Really. No, really, I'm not kidding.

...sort of...

gapingvoid: "The blog-frequenting Happy Trolls are quite different animals from the internet trolls of 1997. They�re not trying to turn a Martha Stewart chatroom about home-decoration into a foul-mouthed, hostile flame-war about whether or not the Holocaust actually happened. No, their art is far more subtle than that."

New York through Quarlo's eyes...

... and camera. Visually compelling. You will spend a while there.

quarlo -- photos -- new york city

Here's a thought...

What if when you did a shoot for an art director you sent him a framed - or matted... no skip that, frame it - image. Maybe one that you had that she loved. Maybe one you took of him on the set. Maybe - maybe... and we're not talking 16x20's here... jsut a simple 3x5 / 4x6. Clever, but not too clever, frame - hell, you could have a couple of dozen engraved with your website if you are feeling a tad insecure... Me - just a simple frame (Target's got a ton of very nice little frames).
Do you think they would readily toss it (not as easy to do when it is such a thoughtful gift) like they do the postcards they keep getting? Nope.

Not every shoot, mind you. And probably not every AD... but think about it.

What if everytime you shot you added an image or two to your "book" file. You know, the 'book' you should be writing. How you solved that problem, your pick, their pick, a couple of shots of the set and two - three paragraphs. How the heck long could that take? Not very.

After a year, and years are a lot shorter now- have you noticed that? - you will have 50 - 80 - I dunno, hundred or so shots you have done, paragraphs you have written, knowledge you can impart. Send the whole thing to CafePress and have them make you a book. Offer it for sale. Put a few in your studio.

Folks come in... "Nice studio. Hey, you wrote a book?"

"Yes" you say with great humility, "and I am working on a new one."

Needless to say, your credibility and the 'cool factor' of working with you just went up a notch or three.

What if... (more coming)

The Music Industry... a look under the hood...

You gotta read this small article by Seth Godin. It will make you think. A lot.

Seth's Blog: "We're gonna start a business.
Lewi's a business book fanatic. To tell you the truth, I don't believe in them. Except maybe Clayton Christensen's. And, of course, the classic 'Tipping Point'. Usually they're written by self-declared wannabes. Or people who think just because THEY were successful ONCE they know all the answers. Bullshit. So when Jim lobbied all of us to have Seth Godin speak at Aspen Live, we all said NO! But it's Jim's conference. He got Scott down to a reasonable price and overruled us."

Hey. Read This.

Sorry, didn't mean to shout, but this is really interesting and worth reading.

BBC NEWS | Technology | PC photo printers challenge pros: "Home printed pictures can be cheaper and higher quality than those from High Street developers, tests shows.
A survey carried out by PC Pro magazine looked at which of 100 home photo printers offered a better deal than handing your snaps to a photo lab. "

Well, Yeah, sort of...

Got this in an email today on stuffing one's gut at Christmas parties. Yeah, I agree on a whole lot of levels.

"Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, beer in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" "

Great Manifesto on Niche Markets

This could get your creative juices going. Think of the niches that exist in photography and the uses of photography. Also see the interesting pricing models that are shown and dissected. This was a good read this morning. You should read it as well.

ChangeThis :: The Long Tail: "Editor-in-Chief of Wired, CHRIS ANDERSON says that the future belongs to those that serve the millions of untapped niche markets as well as they serve the masses. Read his manifesto to find out how unlimited shelf space and personalization can revolutionize your business. "

This guy always knocks me out...

c h r o m a s i a / 13 December, 2004 / not yet titled

Here is a great interview with the Photographer from the last post..

Insightful, yes. Read it all.

Photoblogs.org - Featured Photoblog for November 2004: "In addition to his camera, Roark carries along a portfolio/album to display his work. 'I'm very upfront about what I'm going to do with the picture,' he says. It's important to take the time to explain what his photoblog project is all about. 'I have them sign a release. (A very simple release.) I'm a commercial photographer. I solicit business through the photoblog."

Another cool idea taken to fruition

Take a look and see what it may be like to photograph a total stranger every day. And this blog is getting lots of 'buzz' right now. Hmmmmm. Get it?
STRANGER a DAY : 2004: "Since January 1st, 2004 Roark Johnson has been photographing strangers, people he doesn't know, once a day, every day. He's using an 8X10 Deardorff. Unlike Roark, it's a camera that commands attention, respect and awe. Join him and come back weekly as he risks being rejected by those faces he wants so much to photograph."

Sometimes you needn't say anything, just add a link...

This is one of those times... I've said too much.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Japanese men lap up new comfort: "The 'lap pillow', shaped like the bottom half of a kneeling woman, is selling for about 9,429 yen ($90), the French news agency AFP reported.
'Single men find this soothing,' said Mitsuo Takahashi of the manufacturer Trane KK."

Spoke with a good friend this morning

We talked at length about becoming burned out and overly tired of the constant challenges that being a commercial shooter brings. He is a fine photographer who is going through a rough period. What he needs to understand is that it's ok to have a tough time of it every once in a while. He knows he has to deal with some of his own demons, and he will, but we talked a bit about some techniques to recharge the batteries.

He likes to shoot people, people in the environment and environments themselves. I told him to take a trip, document a specific theme and see what he comes back with.

"Christmas in small towns in the West". That is a theme I have wanted to do for quite a long time. I live in a big city and Christmas has all but been lost in the din of crap that is hawked everywhere. But in a small town, like Bridgeport CA, or Truckee NV... it has to be at least different. Shoot it. Create a book of the images at Sony. or Shared Ink or MyPublisher and share it with everyone. Print several copies and drop them off at AD's offices as soon after New Years as possible.

Taking yourself out of the familiar is sometimes a very strong kick in the creative ass. Doing it with a set theme can sometimes release a huge load of ideas, vision and clarity that can transform into amazing images.

And the power of creating something that may not be the norm, like a hard cover book with images that support a single theme (as opposed to a set of images in a portfolio) can sometimes deliver a huge kick in the viewers creative hot spots.

What can you do to help bring back those creative tidal waves and produce images that even surprise you? Cool - then do it.

Good info on creating a Blog

What? You have no Blog? Are you nuts? Are you going to sit there without a Blog forever? No way. You get over here, read the article and then set one up... and let me know when you do.

Blogger Knowledge: The Amazing Web Site Machine: "Do your friends get that distant, wide-eyed, no-blink look whenever you try to explain what Blogger is? What is it about the letters B-L-O-G-G-E-R that beckon some unseen force to scoop out the perfectly healthy brain of a coworker or friend and replace it with a quivering sack of botox fluid whenever they are uttered? This glazed look causes you to make desperate attempts to snap your conversation partner back into this dimension. You descend into madness with talk of the great hive-mind and hacking the matrix. Trust me, I've been there. The next time you're on the spot, try giving them the old late-night infomercial spiel. It goes something like this."

... and over at Amazon we find

Well, there ya go.
Amazon.com: Camera & Photo: NIKON D2H Pro Digital SLR Camera ( Body Only ): "NIKON D2H Pro Digital SLR Camera ( Body Only )

Price: $1,999.00 "

Nikon users? Take a look!

Over at Rob Galbraith's site. This seems like good news for shooters!

Rob Galbraith DPI: Price of Nikon D2H plummets in USA: "Price of Nikon D2H plummets in USA
Monday, December 13, 2004 | by Rob Galbraith


Advertisement




The price of the Nikon D2H appears to have dropped to less than US$2000 this morning in the U.S."

Another short film at Amazon

You really are missing some interesting web events if you haven't seen these.

: "


Original Short Film: 'Careful What You Wish For'
Featuring Daryl Hannah

A crooked pawn shop dealer gets the smackdown he deserves in Acne Film's darkly comic 'Careful What You Wish For,' featuring Daryl Hannah. "

Wow.. I picked a winner too...

you all know I think Seth Godin's book "Free Prize Inside" is one of the best business books around. You should own a copy. You should read it. Three times.
Looks like the good folks over at Forbes thinks Seths book is one of the years top 10 books... Cool. Congratulations Seth!!!

Forbes.com: Forbes.com's Business Books Of The Year: "Filling out the list is Free Prize Inside! by Seth Godin, who offers a 'manifesto' of innovative marketing techniques. Taking his own lesson to heart, the book was sold inside a cereal box, and wound up as the only marketing text to make our list. "

Seth asks some interesting questions...

... and you may do well to ask some of yourself and your business as well. Yep.

Seth's Blog: "The woman next to me on the flight had thin, sharpened spikes, two of them, eight inches long. They're called knitting needles, and they're allowed on the plane. The guy on the other side was bemoaning the fact that they took away his nail clippers."

This is cool. Check it out and you will be rewarded...

AIRTIGHT - About: "This is the personal showcase site of Felix Turner. This site also features news about Flash, web based games, digital photography, CSS and anything else that interests me. Why? Because self-publishing is the best thing about the web. "

From an email list I am on... wow.. very damn true

"Here's the lesson here: success did NOT create the fun, happiness,
and sharing... rather, those traits created the success. Why? Because those are all external manifestations of a strong internal
world. Since everyone was comfortable with themselves, they were
comfortable with each other. The ones who were uncomfortable with
themselves (and unsuccessful) quickly slunk away, or were cut out
from, any conversations they happened to wander into. They just
had a toxic energy--they were unattractive. The successful people,
men and women, were all attractive. That attraction came not from
their outward success, but because of the attractive energy that
comes from a strong self image."

This is a great little product

We use this a lot at the studio. Fantastic little program and very inexpensive.

ACDSee 7 update: Digital Photography Review

Gonna have to get a bigger card....

PhysOrg: Artist/scientist 'dream team' assembles with goal of capturing and displaying gigapixel-sized images: "An eclectic group of artists and scientists that organizers have dubbed the 'dream team' of imaging and visualization are gathered at New York University this week to begin to create a photographic system capable of capturing and displaying a gigapixel - one billion pixels - of visual information in a single image. "

Love to talk on the Phone?

Money & Business: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For customers who either love to plan ahead or hate monthly bills, a small Massachusetts telecommunications firm has launched a $999 offer of unlimited Internet-based telephone service for life. "

Another Well Done Web Film - Take a Look.

: "Original Short Film: 'Tooth Fairy'
Starring Chris Noth

A young girl tells her preoccupied dad (Chris Noth) to get a clue in director Jake Scott's 'Tooth Fairy,' a comedy about a father's quest to find his daughter's hidden tooth. "

The 2004 Adobe Digital Imaging Competition

wow...
The 2004 Adobe Digital Imaging Competition

If you have a Blog - you gotta check this out...

Blogbox.com: "Blogboxes provide exciting, instantly deployed functionality for your blog or Web site. They are free for non-commercial use. Enjoy them and spread the good word!"