Lightroom 3 full release

June 9, 2010

Adobe Press Release:-

SAN JOSE, Calif., – June, 2010 – Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the immediate availability of Adobe(r)

Photoshop(r) Lightroom(r) 3 software for Windows(r) and Macintosh, the essential digital photography workflow solution that allows photographers to quickly organize, enhance and showcase their images from one application. First released as a public beta in October 2009, the final version of Lightroom 3 introduces a completely redesigned performance architecture that better handles growing image libraries and provides an unrivaled raw processing engine with noise reduction and sharpening tools to achieve the highest image quality. The 64-bit capable Lightroom 3 includes new features that optimize workflows and allow images to be shared in creative ways, including support for DSLR video files and tethered shooting on select cameras.

“There have been over 600,000 downloads of the Lightroom 3 public beta, which has supplied us with a huge amount of valuable feedback from a passionate community of professional and advanced amateur photographers,” said Kevin Connor, vice president of product management for Digital Imaging at Adobe. “The open dialog we have with our customers allows us to further improve Lightroom and provide the best tools they need to produce high-quality images.  We’re happy to see that so many people are anxiously anticipating the final release, so they can start taking advantage of all the new features they had a hand in developing.”

Public Beta Process Perfects Lightroom 3 New Features
Re-built from its core to be lightening fast and responsive, Lightroom 3 adds power throughout the application to provide a fluid experience for photographers. Images load almost instantaneously, and the import experience has been redesigned to be more intuitive, with added previews and default selections that give users quick access to sort through and find images. Helping streamline and adapt to photographers’ changing workflows, Lightroom 3 now allows users to import and manage DSLR video files, as well as take advantage of tethered shooting for select Nikon and Canon cameras.

New state-of-the-art photographic tools help photographers bring out the best in their images. Unrivaled Luminance and Color Noise Reduction tools help produce a clearer picture from high ISO or underexposed images while still preserving details. The highly-requested Automatic Lens Correction feature can dramatically improve the results possible with any lens by allowing users to apply profiles that correct for undesirable geometric distortions, chromatic aberrations, and lens vignette effects that most lenses introduce to the image. Users now also have a straighten tool to perfect vertical and horizontal perspective, additional presets for applying more photographic adjustment styles, and three new contemporary vignette styles and a Grain effect to add a more natural look with images.

Lightroom 3 Expands Image Showcasing
Output options have also been enhanced in this release, with new capabilities to publish collections on online sharing sites. Flickr(r) users have the ability to synch their accounts to Lightroom with one click, and integration with additional online photo sharing sites can be added via third-party plug-ins. Customizable print layouts provide more refined control over how photographers present final images, and new watermarking features with options to modify text, size, location and style, help give professionals and amateurs flexibility for branding images. Lightroom 3 now also includes the ability to export polished slideshows as video files with the option to add audio and title screens.

Pricing and Availability
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 for Windows and Macintosh is available now at www.adobe.com/store, for pre-order via Amazon.com and NewEgg.com and will be available soon at retail and online outlets such as Frys, BestBuy.com, Costco.com, Walmart.com, Staples.com, OfficeMax.com, OfficeDepot.com and select camera stores.

The estimated street price is USD $299 for new users with an upgrade price of USD$99 for qualified registered Lightroom users. Recommended system requirements are Macintosh OS X v 10.5, 10.6 with Intel(r) based processor, or Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 7, Windows Vista(r) Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise or Windows XP with Service Pack 3, Intel(r) Pentium(r) 4 processor, 2 GB RAM and a 1,024×768 resolution screen.

Additional information on product features, upgrade policies, pricing, and language versions is available on www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom. Join the Lightroom community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lightroom) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/lightroom).

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Phase One acquire Expression Media

May 25, 2010

Well Microsoft’s dalliance with DAM didn’t last too long. They announced their ending of support for Expression Media, the application they renamed after snapping up the originating company iView, a little while back. And its apparent demise sent loyal users scrabbling to find alternatives.

iView had been one of the earliest digital asset management programmes to become a firm favourite with photographers, and many continued with it once MS had snapped it up, despite the development of applications like Lightroom that had some of the same capabilities built in.

But now Phase One have acquired EM and it seems set for a new lease of life…

‘We’re excited about taking ownership of Expression Media,” says Henrik O. Håkonsson, president and CEO of Phase One. ‘We have worked with Microsoft for several years, during which many of our customers have chosen Expression Media for their digital asset management needs. We are now planning product developments to help meet the growing needs of current and future customers. As an immediate benefit to existing Expression Media customers who may not yet have tried it, we are offering a free copy of Capture One to help enhance their photographic workflow.’

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Lens Correction Profiles Lightroom & Camera Raw

April 28, 2010

Tom Hogarty, product manager at Adobe, illustrates how Lightroom 3 and the new Camera Raw offer correction for lens distortion.

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Clause 43 thrown out

April 8, 2010

Clause 43 of the Digital Economy Bill has been rejected, thus leaving photographer’s copyright in Orphan Works intact.
Here what the Stop43 campaign said…

Today, The Digital Economy Bill underwent its Committee Stage and Third Reading in the House of Commons. In the course of the debate, Clause 43 was removed from the Bill.
The way is now open for photographers and other creatives to present new thinking enabling the legitimate use of our genuine orphan works for strictly defined non-commercial “cultural” purposes in a way that will satisfy the needs of the cultural sector, to prevent the future orphaning of our work, and to redress defects in current copyright law.

Heartfelt thanks to all who have helped make this result possible.

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Lib Dem response to Digital Economy Bill

March 23, 2010

I wrote, as we have been urging all of you, to my MP, who happens to be a Lib Dem, regarding the Digital Economy Bill and specifically Clause 43. Here’s his reply…

Dear Ed,
Thank you for your email about the Digital Economy Bill and I can understand your concerns. Two Liberal Democrat Lords are seeking to amend this clause and have challenged the Government on the issue. Lord Clement-Jones made the point that under the new rules photographers might have much less control over their works; that they could no longer offer exclusive use of their images or refuse permission if their work is used in a way they disagree with; that the new rules may breach EU law; that a distinction should be made between the commercial and non-commercial use of works, with commercial works to be excluded if necessary; and that deliberate misidentification of works as orphaned must carry a severe sanction. The Government have conceded many of these points and the Liberal Democrats will stand by the position of excluding commercial photography if this proves to be the only way to safeguard photographers rights.
Kind Regards,
John Pugh

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Stop43.org.uk fights government bill

March 19, 2010

The web site Stop43 was launched yesterday and immediately attracted so many visitors that it crashed. Quite clearly it is the importance of the poorly considered government legislation going through parliament that is drawing photographers to this issue. Here’s what the Stop43 web site says about it…

You’ll have heard of the Digital Economy Bill: it introduces powers to cut your Internet connection if you’re caught illegally downloading films, music or software. It does more than that. It takes your photographs from you, too.

Until now, if someone found one of your photographs and wanted to use it commercially, they couldn’t without first asking you. Clause 43 changes all that by allowing the use of “Orphan Works” – photographs, illustrations and other artworks whose owners cannot be found.

Clause 43 says that if someone finds your photograph, wants to use it and decides that they can’t trace you, they can do whatever they like with it after paying an arbitrary fee to a UK Government-appointed “licensing body”. You’ll never know unless you happen to find it being used in this way, in which case you might be able to claim some money.

There’s more. Clause 43 also introduces “Extended Collective Licensing”.

This means that if someone finds your photograph and can trace you, they still don’t have to contact you for permission to use it. They can go to a UK Government-appointed “collecting society” and ask them instead. They’ll pay an arbitrary fee and be able to do whatever they like with the photograph. Your photograph. Again, without asking you first.

link:

Stop43.org.uk

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ISPs forced to block copyright infrigements

March 8, 2010

As we reported below, photographers are very concerned about the threat to copyright in their photographs that the Digital Economy Bill poses. However one part of it offers an interesting scenario…

“Amendment 120A to the Digital Economy Bill was voted through the House of Lords yesterday that could force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block websites that are deemed to contain content that infringes copyright. Whilst this in itself isn’t anything new (section 97A of the Copyright Act allows the same thing), 120A breaks the balance that currently exists under 97A between rightsowners and service providers, and shifts the bias in the favour of the former, which may scare ISPs in to having to act to avoid court action.
ISPA, a trade body for UK ISPs, is outraged that the amendment was voted through, and deem that this is negligent as the legal, technical and practical issues have not been debated in enough detail.”

- reported in thinkbroadband

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“Copyright in photos to cease to exist”

February 14, 2010

“The end game is now in sight. The Digital Economy Bill is now expected to become law within the next 6 weeks. It introduces orphan works usage rights, which – unless amended, which HMG says it will not – will allow the commercial use of any photograph whose author cannot be identified through a suitably negligent search. That is potentially about 90% of the photos on the internet.
Copyright in photos is essentially going to cease to exist, since there is no ineradicable way of associating ownership details short of plastering your name right across the image.” ~ Copyright Action web site

Photographers are urged to write to their MP. Pressure on our elected representatives is now the only way to stop the Bill, and time is short.

Read the full article and download a Template letter to your MP – HERE

Posted in current affairs 1 Comment »

Prodig Bootcamp?

February 11, 2010

The Prodig email discussion List has been bringing people together for well over a decade.

Is it time we held some real-world intensive workshops “Prodig Bootcamps”?

Here’s some inspiration (thanks to Jorge). Pick your favourites…
-Full LightRoom hands-on learning, all the in-depths and barely known hidden features of LR.
-Photoshop CS4-CS5 tips and tricks
-Camera calibration methods- Custom white balance, Camera Profiles. Screen calibration methods.
-Apple Aperture and Phase One C1 training.
-Alternative processors, Raw Processor,etc which allow generation of LAB files directly from RAW.
-Basic LAB file handling, processing and adjustments.
-Channel Operations
-Workflow optimization so you don’t work-slow- Actions,Droplets, Scripts, Automation.
-DAM, the importance of Metadata for archival and business .
-The Business of photography, copyright issues, negotiation tools and skills, proper paperwork, contracts, invoices,etc
-Marketing your services, SEO for websites, the use of Blogs, Correct use of Social Media for business, etc.
- Video methods and techniques for hybrid cameras, file handling, sound, basic editing for photographers,etc.
Did you know that 30% of the  total current internet traffic globally is accounted for in video streams? What do you plan to do about it??

Leave a comment to let me know what (1) Topics would be of interest, and (2) which country UK/USA you would prefer.

Posted in seminars 1 Comment »

New Canon 550D 18mp

February 9, 2010

Canon have just announced a new Rebel in their consumer range of cameras. However this one really could be considered a baby 7D, as it shares many of the technologies the 7D introduced. And for the time being the 500D is not being discontinued.
As well as getting a resolution boost to 18 megapixels and upgraded movie mode (full HD capture at up to 30 fps, full manual control and external stereo microphone option), the EOS 550D gets the 7D’s sophisticated new metering system. It also has a new widescreen  LCD panel, improved button design, and finally offers the ability to customize the Auto ISO function.

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Rodney in Haiti

January 25, 2010

Prodig member Rodney Rascona cover the Tsunami in South East Asia in 2004.

Now he is on his way to Haiti around the third week of February, covering his first assignment for a period of about two weeks.

Rodney will be keeping the Prodig web site up to date with his work.

Some have labelled news coverage of natural human disasters as “disaster porn”. But Rodney Rascona’s images go far deeper into the sensitivity and profundity of an event, and could never be misinterpreted as voyeuristic.

link: Rodney Rascona Tsunami

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Reduce the high gloss on an iMac screen

December 29, 2009

It seems the high gloss protective screen on an iMac is easily removed. Underneath it the LCD screen itself is far less glossy and provides a much less reflective surface (about a 50% reduction) more suited to demanding pro’s.

The iMac high gloss protective screen is held on by magnets. Its very easy to remove, clean and replace. Just use a suction-cup (like those on brackets for attaching your sat-nav to the car windscreen, one with the suction applied by a lever is best) and latex gloves (to avoid finger marks).

Leave the screen off to maintain the low-reflection effect. And perhaps you can fabricate a replacement bevel to cover the bare metal-work and screws.

This video shows you how to remove the screen…

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dpBestflow

November 12, 2009

The ASMP has just released dpBestflow, a comprehensive guide to nearly  everything related to digital photography.  It is sponsored by the US Library of Congress, and implemented by the ASMP.
Richard Anderson and Peter Krogh have been feverishly working on this for the last two years.

100% free, and open to the entire world.

link: http://www.dpbestflow.org

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China’s 60th Anniversary national day Canon 7D & 5D mkII

October 29, 2009

The parade in Tiananmen Square to mark the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China – as seen in timelapse and slow-motion.

Slow motion shot on a 7D at 720p/60
Time lapses on Canon Eos5DmkII and Nikon D700.
Edited on Final Cut Pro

For more details on how this was shot head over to dslrnewsshooter.com

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