Bringing Memories to Life

Several us of have several treasured photo albums that with only the flip associated with a page allowing us walk once more down paths long since traversed. Dipping in and out of every memories as though the lot happened merely yesterday – till we realize abruptly which our treasured memories are, the fact is, from years ago, and then we don't remember where that snap shot was taken, or what year is encapsulated there in paper type. Whereas it's quick and quite straightforward to write a quick note upon the rear of your photographs, one of the best method to rekindle those special memories usually is to log them all, every one, is because we are part of a scrapbook.

Using scrapbooks may be a wonderful method to raise the storage of photographs and different memorabilia to actually a lot of personal level. There's very little doubt that retaining keepsakes from necessary events or occasions is that the ideal method to recapture the essence associated with a specific moment once it must passed us by in time, however it is just in employing a scrapbook that the story extremely comes to actually life. Our precious memories thus usually wither in previous shoeboxes, clumped along into confused bundles, where their special that means fades. By gathering our memories inside scrapbook, we are able to suffuse life into them once a lot of, and bequeath the joy we once shared to actually an entire new generation.

A scrapbook is nothing lower than our own storybook, storing specific items that capture that means behind the memories. The straw you kept from your very own 1st date in the man you’ve currently been married to actually for over twenty years, that’s a precious memory, however suppose how the memory of your date comes alive once you scrapbook that straw by having photograph of one's new couple, also include your thoughts from that special night. What quantity a lot of meaningful does that memento become within your children and also your children’s children once it is conveyed as a section of the entire story of those love ? what once was a little plastic tube found for the bottom in an previous box is currently a living memory, conveying way a little more than you ever thought it may.

A scrapbook will store your memories in the foremost precious and personal means. Don’t preserve your life to actually your self-share it by having scrapbook, and relive your memories in the eyes of others.

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Cosina Voigtländer Unveil Two New Fast Lenses for Micro Four Thirds and M-Mount

The inventive people over at Cosina never stop working and thinking up new stuff, it seems. At CP+, the big Japanese photo show, the company just unveiled a new superfast lens for Micro Four Thirds, and another fast normal lens for M-mount. As always with Cosina, both lenses come totally unexpected, with no rumors about their future appearance spread through the interwebs beforehand. There also isn’t much information available yet, except for product pictures over at DC Watch. Of course you are curious now what these two new lenses are, right? Well, head past the break to find out!

Yes, you read that right. Lens #1 from Cosina is another superfast Nokton lens for Micro Four Thirds. The third installment of Voigtländer’s f0.95 series, after the 25mm and the 17.5mm, comes with an equivalent focal length of 85mm, which designates it as a portrait lens. After Olympus’ 45mm f1.8, this is the second dedicated portrait lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. However, at f0.95, you will be able to achieve much shallower depth of field than with the Olympus lens. Think of eyes in focus, but nose and ears totally blurred away …

Lens #2 is a classic, and one that many Leicanians have been asking for in M-mount. Its predecessor, the original Nokton 50/1.5 Aspherical, came in M39 mount, so it had to be used with an adapter on M-mount bodies. The new version is now in M-mount, so no more adapter will be needed. On the downside, you won’t be able to use it on a screw mount body …

The Nokton 50/1.5 Aspherical is somewhat a legend because it combined excellent image quality with a very affordable price. Let’s hope the new VM version keeps the old optical formula and, above all, the old price tag.

Originally, the Nokton 50/1.5 was made for the Prominent series of cameras back when Voigtländer was still a German company. In the 50ies, they made a limited run of these lenses converted to M39 mount (leftmost in the picture above, for details see here.) The body design of the new Nokton 50/1.5 VM seems to copy that of this rare M39 lens. From what it appears like in the pictures, the new Nokton VM will come in both black and silver — with the latter being another hommage to its classic forefather.

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DxOMark’s Optical Metric Scores Show Different Results: Canon is King

Yesterday, we discovered that DxOMark rated Canon glass according to their own test results to be a bit mediocre. After looking through the results a bit closer, we have to say that we were both right and wrong. If you click on their Optical Metric score system, which simulates a more industry standard test (such as IMATest–a format that I still don’t always believe is ultimately accurate) you’ll see that Canon takes the cake a couple of times.

While Nikon, Samyang, and Sigma still hold their own, Zeiss and Sony start to fall back a bit more on the list. What’s even more amazing is that zoom lenses are more prominent on this list as well with Canon’s 70-200mm f2.8 L USM IS II and Nikon’s 70-200mm f4 G ED VR. At the top of the list is Canon’s 300mm f2.8 L IS USM II–which is a lens that most of us can’t afford. But then Nikon’s new 85mm f1.8 G (which we reviewed quite positively) also stays on top while their new 28mm f1.8 also starts to creep in. Plus the Samyang 14mm f2.8 comes in  and so does Sigma’s very excellent 85mm f1.4.

These results are  a bit more interesting and can provide much more weight to Canon’s still conservative way of thinking. Overall though, in personal conversations, we as a staff still believe that the company needs to innovate more. In personal real world tests, I actually believe that Nikon’s 70-200mm f2.8 G ED VR II was much sharper than Canon’s option. But this lab test says otherwise.

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More Winter Photography Tips For The Adventurous Photographer

Well it is winter again, and it’s been snowing a bit. Sometimes it’s ugly, but at other times magical. When almost everything outside has been touched by snowflakes and you are looking through a lens, it can be a fantastic moment. You are capturing images of your world changed. While there is not snow everywhere, there has been enough of it to make things interesting. Here are some more winter photography tips to get you through.

Everybody has gone, nothing to see–or is there?! All of this in front of you waiting to be composed under grey skies and chilled air. Yet, that won’t be of use if you don’t have the gear to capture it. If you leave needed gear at home you are screwed, and that is why you need an “uh oh” kit.

In the two bags I use the most, my Tamrac Evolution 8 and Crumpler Sinking Barge, I purchased extra SD and CF cards that always stay in them, just in case I walk out of the house without putting my normal cards in my camera. This has saved my bacon a few times.  In the winter I always try to carry a zip lock bag with silica gel packets, just to make sure they don’t break, and a small towel. This has come in handy not just in snowy situations but also in the rain as well. It helps to get the camera dry if it is exposed to the elements. A mini tripod like my Ultrapod II is in my bag to keep the camera out of the snow or off of a wet surface. Using the environment as a tripod, in the winter, is not always a great idea. I keep my camera on a good strap like my Black Rapid RS 7. If it’s icy and I slip, I don’t want to drop my gear.

It is good to try and keep your lens selection simple in the winter weather. In the snow, I do not want to change my lenses too often. I do, however, choose something to have fun with.

In my original post, I stated that it is good to keep a lens like the Tamron 18-270mm super zoom on the camera. Once I am done with that or if I get bored, however, I can change my lens and get creative. I always try to keep a prime lens with me like my Nikon 40mm DX 2.8 macro. It’s a flexible lens that allows me to shoot macros, portraits, and even a bit of landscape.  Some time I go out with just an Nikon 85mm f/1.8Ds.

An 85mm, no matter who makes it, is a lens we think everyone should have. It’s great for quick portraits, but also great for isolating your subjects in the snowy weather. It’s excellent in almost any situation. Being able to change my lens allows me to also change my style for the day enable more time shooting. When changing it I find a spot like a store or a car. If I am in an open area, and I absolutely have to change my lens, I turn my back to the wind. Using my body as a shield, I change the lens as quickly as possible. If the weather is too crappy, I make due with what’s on the camera.

When out in the snow people always remain fun as subjects. Instead of just shooting candid shots of people, use the weather to plan some interesting environmental portraits, if you can. The snow can provide unique backdrops. As long as everyone is warm, great work can be produced. Everything is about the moment and getting out of the cold so there is no messing around. It’s all about getting the shot efficiently. Don’t abandon candid shots though. You never know what you’re going to see.

Winter, when there is snow on the ground, is an outstanding time for contrast, no matter what time of the day. Snow does not care when it falls. There will be contrast at any time of the day. The wet white stuff tends to reflect light very well. All you need is simple prime lenses like the 50mm f1.8 or if you are shooting micros 4/3s, the 20mm F1.7 or Sony 16mm F2.8.

Shooting with auto ISO gives you one less thing to fiddle with in the cold and snow. The important thing is to know the limits of your camera. If your camera gets noisy after ISO 3200, set your limit there. However, if you are using software like Adobe Lightroom 4, which has great noise reduction, you can get away with going a little higher. This allows you to walk in and out of different environments to get your images quicker.

Let mistakes happen as you’re not going to get every shot. In the snow you have to be careful or you will be miserable after you hurt yourself by slipping and falling. Do not kill yourself for a shot. Let the shots go if you have to. Mistakes happen, move on.

If you are prepared to explore, winter can be a great time for finding unique places to shoot. Snow can bring things to a standstill. Places, which are usually busy, sit silently. Everybody has gone. There is nothing to see, or is there? All this is in front of you waiting to be composed under grey skies and chilled air. In these locations, snow tends to be untouched.

In the snowy weather there tends to be a lot see. If there was a lot of snow, there are less people out. If there was not too much snow, you have people out doing things. Take a moment to look around and see what is going. Do not always go for shallow depths of field. You want to get everything into the shot clearly. Do not always look at the big picture. Get intimate scenes also. There are many little details all around. Again, if you just take the time to look. It is why I carry a macro lens. Things like melting snow, footprints, and icicles can make wonderful images. They provide singular moments that will fade once the snow melts. They also draw your viewer into the moment.

When it comes to the weather, we have no clue what is coming next. It is good to be prepared for this weather when this time of year comes. The winter can be unpredictable at times, but it can also be entertaining. Go out and have fun. When it snows, don’t just stay in front of your screens all day .

 

 

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Kodak Should Exit Bankruptcy This Year: Here’s a Chronology

Eastman Kodak has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy for a while, but they recently received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court that authorizes Kodak to borrow up to $844 million in its restructuring. According to Engadget and the Verge, the company might be out of bankruptcy this year. But here’s a chronological timeline of the recent events.

2/10: Kodak announces that they’re backing out of the camera business.

3/01: Kodak discontinues all their slide film.

7/03: Ektachrome becomes tougher to find in stores.

8/23: The first mumbles of the company selling off their film business hits the web.

9/28: After previously announcing that they would restructure to work in the printing business (and even after going to many trade shows in NYC showing off their printers) Kodak announces that they’re pulling out of the printer business.

11/14: Kodak becomes set to receive $793M from a slew of banks, however there is a stipulation that the company make at least a half a billion on their patent sales, which thus far has not been a successful venture.

11/24: Rumors stir that Lomography may be a potential suitor for Kodak.

12/07: The company’s digital imaging patents are sold for $500+ Million.

12/13: In a very weird move, Kodak releases a new Super 8 film.

12/19: Apple, Google and Microsoft are named amongst the purchasers of Kodak’s patents.

1/18: Kodak and a company that might as well be branded a startup called JK Imaging announce a new Micro Four Thirds camera. JK Imaging is also announced as a new member of the Micro Four Thirds coalition.

1/23: The approval for the massive loan finally comes through.

 

 

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500PX iOS App Gets Pulled From App Store Because Apple Doesn’t Like Boobs

Not long ago, the new 500PX iOS app was announced and was downloaded like mad. But the company’s has been temporarily pulled  from the iOS store. Why? In a short chronology that was tracked by the Verge, apparently they submitted a new version for review that contained bug fixes. But then it apparently became too easy to search for nude photos.

Really Apple? Okay, maybe the entire Popular and most of the Editor’s Choice is flooded with nudes, but it’s all about art though. It’s not pornography. At the time of writing this article, my 500PX iPad app still works fine and I can peruse all the content I want; and nudes are included.

Thankfully, freedom of expression and toplessness is still legal on Android devices.

 

 

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Has photography come of age

The invention of the camera liberated painting from its reportage role. Gone was the need to produce a likeness, detail the events of the story, painting was free to express emotions. True what had gone before contained an emotional content but now painting could experiment and through imaginative interpretation allow the emotional content to predominate. Freed from this constraint the painter was able to create a new language and explore the motivations of their art. As the 19th century evolved and throughout the 20th century painters from the impressionists through the cubists and expressionists to the minimalists could to use colour, line and form to go straight to the emotional content of their work. The representational aspect of the work become coincidental and was pushed to the point that it became akin to lying on the grass making shapes out of clouds. Enjoyable as it may be it is secondary to the nature of clouds. The introduction of the digital darkroom has given this freedom to photographers. The range of tools to fix and enhance the camera’s capture when pushed to its extremes produces a range of fascinating effects. When added to the filters built into the better software, images can be produced that any comparison to the original photograph is purely coincidental. As photographers explore these tools and incorporate them into their photographs so their visual language will grow. The revolution of the medium with the development from black and white into colour is taking its next step. Now with the digital darkroom’s ever growing range of tools the only limitation is the photographer’s imagination. With the use of these tools, the skilled photographic artist can take the pop song and create, in visual terms, the lyric beauty of a baroque symphony or the down town jive of a jazz variation without a tree or a high rise in sight. Just the light captured by the camera and fine tuned into something completely different, something new that comes from the photographer. The photographer has been liberated like the painter before them by technology. Now photographs can explore the full range of human experience including those they have no words to express. Large statements will be accessible by the photographer not only in physical terms. Although like their painter counterparts, through an additional feature of the technology, the large canvas is becoming the order of the day. That this canvas can express feelings rather than just illustrate them denotes that the photography has become an adult in the arts.

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