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What's New Archives Jan 01, 2013 - Jul 01, 2013
Our first article for 2013 is the final installment in Alain Briot's series on Color Harmonies in Photography.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
Now I need to get the LR4 video to see how much of Lightroom 4 I don’t know".
Yes, another Superzoom. The Canon SX50, with the longest zoom range available at 24–1200mm equiv, all with decent (though not really great) image quality, and a very competitive price.
Is this the best Superzoom yet? Is it worth your attention? Find out in my just published review.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
One of the most eagerly awaited new lenses from Nikon is the 70-200mm f/4 VR. The weight and cost savings are considerable, but how does this new lens perform. Find out in Nick Devlin's latest review.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
Now I need to get the LR4 video to see how much of Lightroom 4 I don’t know".
Many observers (myself included) see the mainstream of photography as somewhat constipated, endlessly self-referential, and boringly repetitious.
Today, one of our finest contemporary photographers, Eric Meola, looks at the use of colour in photography and explores The Architecture of a New Landscape.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
Though it's been out for quite a while, many photographers are still making the transition to Photoshop CS6.
Last fall Alain Briot write a piece titled Alain's Favourite CS6 Features. Things were a bit hectic for me at the time, and I neglected to publish it then. Sorry Alain. Here it is now though.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
Now I need to get the LR4 video to see how much of Lightroom 4 I don’t know".
We're at a crossroads. For the past 12–13 years since the digital era began in earnest we have focused on tools; more megapixels, bigger sensors, better high ISO and faster autofocus. All worthwhile areas of concern.
But a sort of plateau has now been reached. Real improvements in all of these areas are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. New models appear at an increasing pace, but do they really give us that much more with which to pursue our art and our hobby?
With this in mind I have turned my attention away from gear this week and instead look at the question (or maybe it's a statement) Why What Works.
If you are interested in what makes a good image tick I highly recommend your reading this essay, maybe even more than once.
Our friend and colleague Sean Reid has just published a comparative review of the Olympus OMD EM5, Ricoh GXR A-16, and Sigma DP2 Merrill. Sean does some of the most comprehensive photographer-oriented reviews anywhere. Reidreviews is a subscription site.
Whether you're a cinematographer or a still photographer, if you care about accurate and consistent exposure, and control your lighting yourself, then Adam Wilt's Cine Meter for iOS is a must-have App for you to check-out.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
Are you a slave to colour management? If so, why, and if not....?
In a new essay entitled Beyond Calibration : The Heresy of Artistic Intent, contributor Chris Schneiter explores how and why we can become trapped by a mechanistic approach to colour management.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
Now I need to get the LR4 video to see how much of Lightroom 4 I don’t know".
Whatever one might think about Canon's product strategy, they never let us down when it comes to innovative, interesting and hugely useful new lenses.
One such is the still-to-be released Canon 200-400mm f/4 IS, a critical focal length range that has been a Nikon exclusive for some time now. But Canon has upped the ante this time with a built-in 1.4X teleconverter.
Find out about this exciting new lens with an exclusive video review by Joshua Holko, published here today for the first time.
Irish photographer and teacher Peter Cox together with our friend Icelandic photographer Daniel Bergman, and Chas Glatzer are leading a workshop to the high Arctic and Svalbard island in August to photograph landscape and wildlife.
As a bonus, Phase One's Kevin Raber will also joining-up, bringing a range of Phase One cameras, lenses, and backs for participants to use.
There are still a few spots left on this teriffic workshop.
Find out more.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
Join regular contributor Miles Hecker in reading his February travel essay called A Wise Old Owl – The Road Less Traveled.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
The Kimberly PODAS Workshop June 1 - 8, 2013 has just had a couple of cancellations and now has a Double Cabin (2 people or a couple) and 2 single share berths available.
This is one of the premier workshops for 2013 traveling to an incredible location with the finest instructors in the business. Join Michael Reichmann, Art Wolfe, Christian Fletcher and Kevin Raber and shoot with a Phase One medium format digital system in one of the most remote locations on the planet. If you interested please contact Kevin Raber at kwr@phaseone.com.
On a personal note, this will be the only workshop that I will be teaching during 2013. Don't miss it.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
Lives there a photographer who doesn't want to see a book of their work in print? Likely not. But publishers are reticent, book markets are contracting, and the costs of self-publishing are high. So how to finance such a venture?
Find out in Peter Cox's new essay Self-Publishing a Landscape Photography Book.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be, but when it comes to cameras that I used in my youth, I'm a sucker.
Today's exclusive essay is a look at one of my favourites, the Rollei 2.8F by István Nagy.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
Our regular contributor and essayist, Alain Briot begins a new series today titled Vision.
Sean Reid has just published an in-depth analysis of image quality from the new Leica M (240). Reid Reviews is a subscription site, but no one else on the web or in print delves as deeply into the subjective aspects of image quality as Sean.
My own review of the new M Leica will have to wait till I return from Mexico. Getting a prototype through the Byzantine world of Mexican Customs was too much to bother with. It also now appears that release of the new M has been delayed until at least late April. My own hands-on review will be completed by then and will appear at around that time.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
I have been a beta tester for Leica for several years, but the timing of the availablity of beta cameras this winter coincided with my being in Mexico, and therefore I was unable to take delivery of a testing sample of the new Leica M due to Mexican customs' Byzantine restrictions.
But my friend and colleague Sean Reid has been testing the as-yet unreleased camera for a couple of months now, and today provides us with some insights on what we can expect from the new M.
I will do my own hands-on field review in the weeks ahead once I have access to a full production review sample.
Adobe Labs has released updates to Lightroom and Camera Raw with new camera support, including completely revised support for Fuji X-Trans sensor cameras. Great news for Fuji fans.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
Many photographers continue to seak out the iconic landscape locations in America's national parks. One of the lesser known western parks is Great Basin National Park, which is described on a new location article by Don Whitebread.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
Phase One has announced three new backs, the IQ260, IQ280, and IQ260 Achromatic. Each features built-in Wi-Fi which allows an iPad to be used as a review screen in the field. The IQ260 once again allows for very long exposure times – up to one hour.
I will be reviewing the IQ260 next week. Watch for a review soon.
And what about Hasselblad? Well, by coincidence, I suppose, they announced today a limited red Ferarri edition of the H4D-40. No comment.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
What's a Leica M lens user to do while waiting for the new Leica M (240)? Put his lenses on a NEX-7, of course, and that's what I've been doing for the past few months while living and shooting in Mexico this winter.
How has that worked out for me? Read Waiting For The New M and find out.
You may also wish to check our Sean Reid's subscription web site Reid Reviews. He has just published today a review of the Sony RX-1, my favourite new camera of the past six months. He also has a new review of the Fuji X100s, and of course some initial tests with the Leica M240 – lucky devil.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
When it comes to image quality Sigma has hit an out-of-the-park home run with its Merrill sensor. They have just released their third camera in the DP series, the DP3 Merrill, and we today have an early-days review by Hulyss Bowman to tell you what it's all about.
Now – if Sigma could just put this sensor in a worthy successor to the ill-fated SD1 (and get its original pricing debacle behind them) they'd really have a DSLR competitor. Oh yes, and they need to bag their dreadful processing software, for good measure.
Don't forget our "win-an-iPad with all our software included" contest.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
The just-announced Phase One IQ260's sensor is a breakthrough in long exposure capability. Doug Peterson of Digital Transitions has just written an in-depth look at what went into designing a 60MP sensor capable of up to 1 hour exposures.
Don't forget our "win-an-iPad
with all our software included" contest.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
As American humourist Mark Twain was reputed to have once said, after a newspaper mistakenly reported his death, "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."
What's the truth, then? I figured – who better to ask than the CEO of Phase One, the makers of Phase One, Leaf and Mamiya cameras, backs and lenses? Henrik Håkonsson kindly agreed to fly to Mexico for a sit-down to discuss the state of the industry on-camera.
I have just published a 41 minute long interview on video which took place between Henrik and myself at my winter home in San Miguel de Allende, in mid-March, 2013. You'll find it here.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
Following a visit with Phase One executives last week, I have produced three new short streaming videos.
The first is a long exposure field test with the IQ260 back, the second is a look at wireless tethering with the new IQ200 series, and the third is an interview with Jacob Frost, team leader for the Capture One software development group.
We hope that you enjoy these, along with the interview with Phase One's CEO published a few days ago.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
What are you using to review and work on your images in the field? Our regular contributor Miles Hecker has just written a review of a new tablet / laptop, the Sony Duo 11. Maybe it's for you as well.
There is now less than a week to enter our latest contest that lets you win an iPad loaded with all of our videos.
Don't forget our "win-an-iPad
with all our software included" contest.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
It's safe to say – if you can't see it properly, you likely can't shoot it properly. For me that applies to electronic finders, which though they have improved greatly over the past few years still are deficient in terms of having a wide enough contrast range.
I share my thoughts on this in Why I Hate Electronic Finders.
Don't forget our "win-an-iPad
with all our software included" contest.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
– Pre-Installed –
There are many approaches to HDR, some better than others. In our latest techniques tutorial Glenn Guy explores the topic with HDR and How to Shoot Into The Light.
Don't forget our "win-an-iPad
with all our software included" contest.
Win a New 128GB iPad with Retina Display
Including all Major Luminous Landscape Videos
Pre-Installed - a $1,400 value
We're pleased to announce that the winner of our 128GB iPad with All Luminous Landscape Videos installed is Ole Loberg of Didsbury, Alberta. Contratulations Ole!
What is our next contest and giveaway, and what will be the prize? Well, it's still being set up, but any puchase you make from our store, beginning as of right now, will be eligible. Good Luck!
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
Have you ever shot from a plane or helicopter? It's a whole new form of landscape photography. In Neal Rantoul's new article on Aerial Photography he tells us about his experience and shares some images.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
I read about a dozen print magazines a month. But I never buy them in a store or receive them in the mail. For the past year or so I've been reading them on my iPad instead.
This trend is the most recent and dramatic change to happen in magazine publishing since the start of the Internet. Our friend, magazine publisher Nick Rains, along with his magazine-publishing colleagues have addressed this challenge with an entirely new product. Have a read of his latest essay The Changing Face of Magazine Publishing to find out how.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
Me, me, me! Not an old phrase, and not an unfamilar one. But how does this play out in the always-connected digital photo age? Find out in Kathlene Hay's The Age of Narcissism – Digitized, Homogonized.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
We've all said it at one time or another... I Will Not Buy That Camera, I Promise!. Well, Mark Dubovoy said it several times to several people over the past few months regarding the Leica M (240). Find out is he kept his promise in his just published review of the new Leica.
If you're a subscriber to Sean Reid's site ReidReviews (or would like to become one), Sean has just published a report on recently field testing the new Leica M (240) and the also new Fuji X100s in Florida.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
When we say someone or something has "character", what do we mean?And in particular, what does it mean for a camera to have character? Find out in my latest essay – A Matter of Character – Not Just Another Camera Review. Then let us know what your idea of a camera with character might be on our Discussion Forum.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
Our regular contributor, Miles Hecker, has a new geo-tagged travel article for us today about Saguaro National Park, home of The Roadrunner.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
We have just published Vision – Part 2, of an ongoing new series by Alain Briot.
I just returned from a shoot with Sean Reid and Mark Dubovoy where I had an opportunity to shoot with the new Leica M 240 for the first time.
I will have a First Impressions report here in a few days, and then in a while we will publish an extended round-table video discussion by the three of us in which the main topic is not just the M240 but non-DSLR camera in general. Watch for it!
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
Last week I had an opportunity to shoot with the new Leica M for the first time along with with Sean Reid of Reidreviews and our own Mark Dubovoy. We did photography, talked equipment and did a lengthly video round table discussions about the current state of Leica M cameras and the whole non-reflex camera environment.
The video will appear soon, but today I am publishing my Leica M First Impressions Report and Sean's write-up on our get-together.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
One of the most innovative new cameras of the past few years was the Fuji X100. Fujifilm has now updated the line with the new X100s, and Nick Devlin falls in love once again.
For Better or Worse
I'm now on Facebook
Ok, I finally did it. After resisting Facebook for years (the web site is enough on-line exposure, don't you think) I have succumed to pressure from family and friends and have joined Facebook.
So, if you want to find out what I eat for breakfast (NOT), or at least what cameras I'm currently testing and some of the photography that I'm doing that isn't portfolio grade, come and visit. (Today – an Apple, two slices of Swiss cheese and a cup of green tea.)
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
I had a problem with Facebook the past 24 hours. They needed me to verify my identity by confirming I am who I am (like Popeye) by making me identify pictures of my Friends. Fine, except that the pictures that they used were in most cases people's baby pictures and pics of their cats. Dumb. Anyhow, problem now solved and I'm back on Facebook.
Adobe's announcement of a definitive move to the Cloud is proving to be very controversial, and somewhat misunderstood. I am currently in Chicago filming a Lightroom 5 tutorial with Jeff Schewe and we have been discussing the issue between ourselves. It's complicated.
We are shooting a roundtable video discussion on the topic and will be posting it here on the site in a couple of days.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
Ilford has recently introduced five new inkjet papers. How do they compare to the previous "gold standard"? Find out in our latest paper review article, writtten by Mark Segal and Michael.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
Adobe is moving its Creative Suite apps, including Photoshop, to the Cloud. What does this mean for photographers, both Pros and amateurs?
Find out what I think in Clouding The Issue.
Update: Sean Reid has just published, on Reid Reviews, a review of the Pentax K5 II S, the company's new DSLR without an AA filter. This seems to be one of the first online reviews of this camera.
"Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things. I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are,
how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information
and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently,
and just enough humor to keep the motivation level high. Wow!"
This is an exciting day for me and this web site. My good and long-time friend, Kevin Raber, has joined The Luminous Landscape as our Publisher. In this role he will be responsible for site expansion and development, as well as our advertising and workshop activities.
I remain Editor in Chief and Primary Author of the site, and Chris Sanderson continues as Director and Producer of our video content.
Many of you recognize Kevin's name. For the past thirteen years he has been a Vice Preseident at Phase One, and prior to that served in various executive roles in the US photographic industry. His joining LuLa will allow us to actualize many of the plans that we have been putting in place for the past couple of years.
Welcome Kevin. It's going to be fun!
Fuji is about to release their eagerly awaited XF 55-200mm OIS zoom lens. I have been working with a sample for the past couple of weeks and my First Impressions report is now online.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
Was there a moment when the desire to take up photography struck you in a flash? Bors Vesterby shares with us one such moment in Composition by Heart.
As I prepare to head off for Australia in just a few days to teach a PODAS workshop aboard ship on the northwest coast it seems appropriate that I publish a new article by an excellent Australian photographer, Nick Rains.
It is titled Medium Format Aerial Photography and describes his use of a Leica S2 for this work. It should be mentioned that if you find yourself in Solms, Germany during the next month, Nick has an exhibit of his aerial work at the Leica Factory Gallery.
If you're in Sydney next week, and would like to say "Hi", you might want to visit the L&P Digital IQ2 World Tour event on Wednesday, May 29. Art Wolfe, Thomas Knoll, Kevin Raber, Peter Eastway, Tony Hewett, Alexia Sinclair, myself and other well known photographers will be there speaking as well as engaging in Q&A sessions.
Other photographers are often interested in what gear is being carried (schlepped) to distant locations. I've just published Off to Oz, What's in the Bag? Kevin will have something about his particular kit tomorrow.
"Yes I downloaded the videos. THEY ARE AWESOME!!!
I learned so much I think my brain is going to explode.
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