The Heartbreak of Losing a Full Memory Card

His photos were saved, and while he claims that none were portfolio worthy, when I go back and look at my pretty lame compilation, his throwaways were still better than my keepers.  How sad is that?  LOL  Anyway, sorry I couldn’t be at the seminar today Scott – even after I asked when you would make it back.  Hopefully this trip will be a tad better…

*meep*

That being said, if anyone does have the time for the day – I don’t know if they are talking walk-up registrations, but if so, you will want to get there early, just in case – these sessions are really worth their weight in gold! Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to keep on shooting!  We’ll see you back here again on Monday…

***

Psst – don’t forget, the Drobo Giveaway ends tonight at midnight!  Data Robotics is letting me give away not one but two Drobos to two lucky registrants!  More info here…

Amy Eklund

Her photo of nostalgic envelopes and old-time postcards was beautifully done and very much in keeping with the theme of the contest – yet also very much outside-the-box in her approach.  Please take a moment to give her some congratulatory hugs and feel-goods over on her Flickr thread.

With the August giveaway now complete, we can also announce the September giveaway – and we’re ready to rock the house again.  Yesterday I mentioned that the folks at NAPP are hosting the bi-annual Photoshop World event going on now in Las Vegas.  If you’re not in attendance, then fear not because the folks there are still supporting the giveaway here, and want you to join in the learning experience that only the folks at Kelby can provide.  That’s right – the giveaway is a one year membership to NAPP!  (Existing members will qualify for a one-year extension to their membership…)

Thanks to NAPP and Kelby media for the support – here’s particulars for the month:

1.  The theme is PARTY

2.  one image per person

3.  Family/work safe

4.  Longest side must be between 600-800px

5.  Must be submitted to the Flickr thread here.

6.  Have some fun!

Thanks again to NAPP for sponsoring the contest…happy shooting all and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow from the Empire State of New York!

So, without further ado – I am happy to announce the winner of the October giveaway – it goes to a first time contributor to the LDP Contest series…I give you:

Study!

Digital Cole

The creative energy from the double exposure in this is just awesome, and since I often feel like that when reading about new things, it’s a totally understandable emotion that the image brings to the viewing experience.  Hats off to Cole for the win!  Please take a moment to stop by their Flickr stream, and congratulate them there!  It was a tough decision and well deserved!  If you could get in touch with me to get some contact information, I’ll get things forwarded to the NAPP staff for processing!  Speaking of, thanks go out to the folks at NAPP for sponsoring the contest series!

And now, with October closed – a new contest begins for November.  Get your cameras ready because this month is a doozy!  The theme is “POP!“  Since I always try to tie the theme to the sponsor – here’s the connection – the winner gets a package of the exquisite Polar Metalic Paper from the folks at Red River Paper.  If you’re into the print, and like the look of photos just jumping off your paper, then this is the paper to use.  It’s especially good for HDR prints, but works equally well with all styles.  The drama this paper brings to an image is just amazing – you’ve got to try it to really understand it.  And, now you can – just submit a POP-themed photo to the Flickr thread. The contest starts today, and standard guidelines apply, with one exception – you can submit TWO photos!  Only one will win, but now you have two chances!

Contest Overview and Rules of Engagement are always good resources to begin with…good luck to all and HAPPY SHOOTING!

September Winner - Cameron Gardner

The sense of movement and tack sharp quality really made it stand out – I think this could even be submitted for stock (where shots have to be absolutely flawless…)!  Congratulations to Cameron – please email me your contact information so I can ship the RS7 out to you!  Special thanks to the folks at Black Rapid for their sponsorship of the contest series, and to everyone for the participation!

October Begins

A special month begins here because as most know by know – this place is all about learning, whether it’s sharing tips and tricks, composition techniques, and everything in between.  One of the most invaluable resources I have used in my own learning has been that of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals – or NAPP!  These folks offer great training, tutorials, and the forums are a special group of people.  I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned about photography from these folks.  Why am I talking about NAPP so much though? Because the winner of the October contest will be able to take advantage of a year of membership with NAPP!!!  That’s right, a one-year membership with NAPP is up for grabs.  Given the nature of the organization – the theme for the month is appropriately picked as:

STUDY

To get all the details and information on the October theme, submission guidelines and all that stuff, head over to the contest thread on Flickr and enter your best shot!  Entries are being accepted today! Good luck, and here’s to a month of happy shooting!

1.  In packing for your recent trip to China, what gear choices did you make for such an excursion?

I took two rigs:

(1) One for when I felt like just walking around with one camera, one lens, and no camera bag. That was a Nikon D300s (which is NOT a full frame camera), with an 18-200mm lens. That way I could go wide to tele without ever changing lenses. It’s really my all around favorite travel lens, but not quite as sharp as some of my other lenses. It’s a DX lens, so it doesn’t work with full frame cameras.

(2) In case I went someplace important (Forbidden City, great wall, temple of heaven, etc.), I took my D3 with my 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens, and a 14-24mm f/2.8 lens. I had to carry a camera bag along with me (and I’d SO rather not). I’d rather focus on the photos, and not the gear, but sometimes you just have to lug the stuff. I also took a Gitzo tripod and ballhead.

2.  The latest season of D-town looks to have expanded coverage to pretty much all of photography, so it’s not just Nikon anymore is it?

When Nikon was the main sponsor, we only covered Nikon gear, and the whole show was very gear specific (this button does this—this dial does that), but in our second season we switched to be more a generally focused show, and more about taking great photos, and less on the switches and dials. We also do more lighting and on location stuff now, so for Matt and I, it’s really a lot of fun, and the viewership has literally gone through the roof, now surpassing Photoshop User TV.

3.  How do you get those cool highlights over camera button features in the D-Town videos?

That comes from Daniel in our video department. D-Town is not an easy show to edit, but I think he really does a kick-butt job with it, and he creates the graphics for everything we do, which is not an easy job. He’s a great editor, and a really great person as well. He’s made two trips to Haiti so far, delivering clothes, shoes, and toys for the children there.

4.  Other than Photoshop, what program in the Creative Suite is the most useful for your own creative endeavors?

To me it’s InDesign. I use it everyday (I’ve already used it today, and it’s just 9:10 am in the morning). I do a lot of my layout stuff there, and I’m in and out of it all the time, so I’ve actually gotten pretty decent at it (in fact, I co-authored an “InDesign Killer Tips” book a few years back, with Adobe’s own Terry White as my co-author. Of course, I did all the easy chapters.

Thanks so much to Dave, Matt, and of course, Scott for taking the time out from their busy schedules to sit down for a little Q&A with us here on the blog.  In case you don’t know the resources already, here are the various outlets for Scott and his work online:

• Photoshop Insider
• NAPP
• D-Town TV

That’s a wrap on the Q&A with the Photoshop Guys!  Tune in tomorrow for the latest LDP podcast – we hit the half century mark and talk about all the latest in photography news and tidbits, including listener Q&A, so be sure to stop in for that!  Happy shooting and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow!

In the second segment, an interview with fellow photog and NAPP member, Erik Bernskiold where we talk about not only what we like about NAPP, but about how we are gearing up for the summer fun of photography, with tips, tricks and suggestions from Erik on everything from Floral Photography to Landscapes.  We also get a little insight into Eriks’ blogging and web design background as he’s become quite the expert on the subject matter!  Not too bad for someone who’s not even out of school yet!  For more details on Erik, follow these show note links:

• Bernskiold Media
• Floral Photo Tips
• Mac App Zone
• Erik on Twitter

Many thanks to Erik for taking the time out of his schedule to sit down and talk with me on the show.  It was a lot of fun!  For the remainder of the show, I throw out some additional tips on landscape photography, and tackle a few listener questions.  Lots to listen to, so be sure to tune in, either from the download over at PLM or via iTunes.

A final little asterisk on the show:  I mistakenly recorded the intro as episode #25, when it’s episode #24.  Also given that I forgot to add the theme music to the entire compliation – it might as well be called the “blunder” show…but rather than spend time on a few minor nits trying to fix it, I’d rather just get the show and respective notes out to y’all for your listening enjoyment.  So, on that note, happy shooting, enjoy the show, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!

Scott is also known for his annual worldwide photo walks that he started last year.  This year response has just been enormous to the walks, with several cities (including Denver) filling up within the first 24 hours.  Well, on his blog this last Monday, he wrote a Q&A post describing the photo walks, what they are, how they work, and all that stuff.  One question he snuck in though was that he would be in Denver and did anyone know of any good places to shoot in the downtown area.

Since I work downtown, (pretty close to the Convention Center I might add), I have a fairly good understanding of where things are, and what’s fun to shoot.  So, I posted a comment on his blog of where he could go and what might be fun.  To my astonishment, he actually wrote me back via email, asing if I’d be interested in going on a photo shoot with him to kinda show him around!  Not give him a few locations, not recommend a restaurant – he invited me on a photo shoot!  With him!  My jaw about hit the floor, but I did respond that it’d be my pleasure to show him around the area.  He sent me some info on where he’d be staying and to come on over after work on Tuesday!  My jaw hit the floor again.  But, regaining my composure, on Tuesday after work, I walked over to his hotel to meet him.  Knocked on the door and sure enough – Mr K. himself!  The maker of the Kelby Kool-Ade!

For the next 2 hours, we walked around the downtown area -  talking shop, and all that stuff.  I was silent for about the first 30 minutes, afraid I would say something utterly stupid to embarrass myself, but as I walked and we talked, found that he’s just a regular guy (despite his amazing base of knowledge, and…well, the fact that he’s Scott Kelby!)  After a few hours of shooting, I then enjoyed an amazing dinner with him and his crew – names like Bert, Ben, Moose, Matt, Corey, etc., etc., were bandied about in the regular conversation.  Needless to say, I kept quiet for most of it, trying to keep my jaw off the floor.  I know, I know – they are all people too, but every time someone’s name was mentioned, I just kept thinking to myself, “Yup, I read their blog too!”  Oh, and then for the next day’s seminar – he reserved a front row seat for me!  It was an incredible day, and I just wanted to take a day here on the blog to give a nod to Scott for being so open and friendly, and just – so, well….cool!

My shots from the day were pretty much lousy as I totally wasn’t paying attention to my technique or anything – just trying not to look like an idiot.  Nevertheless, in honor of his visit to Denver, and in hopes of his return:

The podcast also raises an interesting question about the disconnect between creative thinking versus communicative thinking and looks at the disconnect that often occurs between these two mindsets.  I’ve not heard anyone talk about this specifically before, so would be interested especially in reader thoughts on this particular subject!

Last but not least, I also look at some of the more exciting things that were a part of Photoshop User Magazine’s latest issue (December 2008) including the Gonzo Gear Guide from Scott Kelby, and the 100 Greatest Photoshop tips!  Of course the show, as always, is rounded out with a few Q&A, and a Road Tip for you.  So, download the latest to your iPod, MP3 player or listen on your commutes…

In the meantime, Happy Shooting, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!

So, for those who want the early bird news, here’s a hint of what Adobe will be talking about later this morning:

1. Better scrolling with less jaggies as you zoom in and out of images.
2. The Adjusment Panel – Adobe has added a dedicated panel for your layers adjustments
3. On-screen image adjustments – you can now control hue/saturation, Curves and Black and White adjustments directly on your image
4. Camera Raw saw some significant upgrades because now you can apparently do post-crop vignettes, apply gradient filters, and yes, that’s right, also the very-Lightroom like adjustment brush!
5. Addition of the vibrance slider to CS4 – this previously was in LR and camera raw, but not as a layer adjustment in CS3 – they’ve ported that element over to the inside of CS4! Yay!
6. Tools improvements for the eyedropper, dodging, burning, the brush engine is more responsive, and the clone and heal now allow for vanishing points
7. Customizable GUI – that’s right, you can now customize your own panels in CS4! The Configurator 1.0 feature (flash-based) allows you to create and use your own customized panels! Truly amazing.

Kudos to the NAPP staff for taking the time to put all this together – 17 video tutorials in all – (and this is just proof positive that membership has its privileges…because by learning from those on the cutting edge means you are getting cutting edge technology too! I am not sure if it’s publicly viewable, or if it’s a members-only thing, so will refrain from providing the links to the CS4 features they talk about, but I must admit, this does have me more buzzed about the announcement than I was before. Make sure you stop in to Adobe to watch it as I am sure there will be much excitement across the blogosphere about this!

Anyway, back to the regular blogging – I’ve got some announcements of my own to share, but they kinda pale in comparison…

Indograhams – Again, another fabulous Friday skyline from Scotty.  He also went photowalking on Saturday too!

Invisible Green – Marcus shares a shot from this past weekend with his family, very cute!

Jason D. Moore – If you don’t know this site, then why are you even reading my blog?  Jason is pretty much the standard news outlet for Photography and Photoshop activities.  If you’re not reading his blogroll regularly, you are missing out!

Jen Rinaldi – More clouds from jen on her weekend, and some other cool street photography.  Great vision and captures as always!

Jenny Arnez – Another great site for street-style photography (and also for beach shots this weekend again – are all Jens at the beach this weekend?) ☺

Joel L – I missed this one last go-around, so am making up for it here.  Fair warning, some of the shots and imagery are not for the faint of heart or typical types of photography.  His most recent post is okay, but venture back to July 21st, and you’ll get a taste of third world countries and cultures that are definitely not anything like Western hemisphere living.  Don’t get me wrong, some of the shots are just amazing in the composition, lighting, and in the story they tell, so I would encourage those who have open minds to visit the blog.  It also bears mentioning that some of the imagery is not safe for work (NSFW).

John Nack – Very well-known and regarded, he shares a link to a site titled “Dear Adobe”.  Not often will you find a company spokesperson who willingly will point you to another site that is nothing but rants and vents about their own company (just goes to show you how cool a place Adobe is).  Read this blog – it’s on many peoples’ “must read” lists – including mine!

Laughing Lion Design – In case the P&P isn’t enough for you, Jennifer has a list of PODCASTS to listen to.  I listen to several of these myself.  Great resource here.

Lightroom Killer Tips – Matt comes over the top again with another series of knockout posts showing us techniques about Lightroom.  Over and over again, he and the rest of the NAPP crew just constantly keep me amazed!

Michael Palmer – The third portion of Jason Moore’s fill-in P&P crew was waylaid from his travels, but he nevertheless shared some great floral/insect shots from his trip.  Thanks for sharing Michael, your posts are always a pleasure to read.

Black and White Photography – Some more IR to be sure, but the ones that are back to the “traditional” blac and white theme of the blog are great!  And the fact that he used theterm flautist was sufficiently impressive!  (My sister was a flautist in college – kept playing until she had kids…)

OSBP – One Shot Beyond Photography is always a great source for inspiration.  What a great vision, and the compositions of the shots are always unique, whether the subject is food or models…she really knows what she’s doing!

Photographic Design – Another blogger who will have shots to share from the NAPP photowalk.  Be sure to stop in and give feedbck – it’s what we all thrive on!

Photography of J Brian Haferkamp – A long-awaited update, he shares shots from Millenium Park in Chicago!  Gorgeous city, and great captures Brian!

PhotoKY – Always thoughtful and intriguing posts, Ken outdoes himself this week.  Another MUST READ!

Photoshop Insider – With all the hubbub surrounding the worldwide photowalk this last Saturday, make it a point to read Scott’s post from last Wednesday.  If you ever take a seminar, workshop, college class, or any other form of instruction…try not to be the guy/gal he is describing!

PhotowalkPro – Jeff talks about what he knows best…photowalking!  The master of planning, coordination, and implementation at it was full of information this past week.  So much so that he got some interview time at two podcasts.  Read the whole week if you’re not up to speed on what photo walks are all about!

Well, that just about does it for my portion of the P&P blogr oll for this week.  Don’t forget to stop over at Andy’s blog (Visual Realia) for the lions share of it.

As a house-keeping sort of note, I am going to have to put the weekly tutorials on hold here at CB for a while as I had been using my Windows box for this purpose, and it is now on it’s final legs with 3 thermal shutdowns in the past 24 hours, and one instance of not finding the boot drive.  Thankfully, the images and podcast materials are all on a secondary, as well as on a USB drive.  Now, if only I could find a good Mac replacement for Camtasia, I’d be set!  Any advice, suggestions or feedback would be welcome!

So, it’s likely back to audio podcasts (or videos of me) from the Mac for now.  Tomorrow will likely be a no-blog day though as I will have a very busy day (unless I can get it done in advance).  So, look for shots from the photowalk on Wed. as well as a new tutorial!  Until then, happy shooting and keep watching those apertures!

This whole project started from wanting to make a single-page calendar and in looking at the design offerings on Mpix, thought “Hey! I could make that!” The second half of the genesis came courtesy of Matt Kloskowski over fro the Photoshop Guys where he did a tutorial a while back on making a desktop calendar for a single month. So…I put the two ideas together and this is the end result of that effort. I figured it may also have some interest for other photographers in making calendars incorporating either their own prints or those of their clients. Clearly, this is a “down and dirty” version, but if anyone is interested, I do have a pretty high resolution sized template that I would be willing to share on request.

In other news, I’d like to give some shout outs to Brian over at Professional Snapshots, who just last Friday celebrated the birth of his new daughter Isabelle! Congrats to Brian, even though this means he has pretty much lost the ability to sleep through a night for at least the next 18-24 months! Yeah, this may be your fourth, but I’ve heard the stories from siblings and neighbors! Enjoy!

Also, don’t forget to stop over at Jason D. Moore’s weekly summary of all things photography! I always head there to make sure I’m not missing anything interesting.

Last, but not least, the tutorial links: Flash first and QT second…

Calendar Templates, Part II

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