Are you interested in Fashion Photography? Because if you are, big workshop time is approaching:

Also, are you interested in meeting Claudio Basso and beautiful models?

Today Trump models can be seen everywhere from the pages of Vogue and leading designer runways to advertising campaigns and blockbuster movies.

Here’s your chance. It looks like you are on a trampoline to a real carer here: the workshop is mostly based on actual shooting and each day, 4 random participants have the chance to be side by side with the master, with cameras given by the organization. By registering you agree to allow Renovance.tv to use your image, should you appear in such filming of the workshop. What more could you possibly wish? A prize maybe? Renovance.TV publishes the winning pictures from a contest where the three best photographs and their creators will be honored with:
1) Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
2) A set of 2 PocketWizard Smart Transceivers Plus II
3) Manfrotto MagFiber Tripod plus, Horizontal Grip Action Ball Head

This great event happens as following:
July Saturday 28 & Sunday 29
August Saturday 18 & Sunday 19
September Saturday 22 & Sunday 23

Registration costs 599$ but it’s worth. More informations here.

Tags: claudio basso, fashion photography, photography workshop, famous fashion photographer, trump models

Functions:
• Shooting Modes: Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual
• Scene Modes: Snow, Beach, Macro, Indoor, Foliage, Aquarium, Fireworks, Underwater, Kids & pets, Portrait mode
• Movie Mode: 640 x 480 at 60,30,15 fps; 320 x 240 at 60,30,15 fps, avi (motion jpeg)
• Effects: normal color, vivid, sepia, black & white, custom
• Features: Face detection, Audio recording, Auto power save, Histogram display, PictBridge support, 16:9 widescreen mode, Digital image rotation, Digital tele-converter, Digital noise reduction, RGB primary color filter, In-camera red-eye removal, Camera orientation detection
• Flash Modes: Auto, On, Off, Manual (Red Eye, Slow Sync)
• White Balance: auto, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, underwater, custom
• Metering: Evaluative, Center Weighted, Spot
Technical Data:
• 2.5 inch LCD
• Optical Viewfinder
• 7.1 megapixels
• 4x optical zoom + 4x digital zoom
• Focal Length: 35 mm – 140 mm
• Aperture: F2.6 – F5.5
• ISO Range: 80 ,100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
• Flash Range: 3.5 m – 5 m
• Focus Range: Normal 45 cm, Macro 5 cm
• Exposure Compensation: -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
• Continuos Shooting: 1.7 fps, unlimited
• Shutter Speed: 15 sec – 1/2000 sec
• Self Timer: 2 or 10 sec
• File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
• SD/SDHC – Secure Digital memory
• 2xAA NiMH battery

Tags: canon digital camera, canon powershot, canon powershot a570 is, canon a570 is, powershot a570 is, face detection, manual mode, red eye reduction

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is probably the best software for photographers. When doing a search over the Internet for finding books explaining how to use this software at it’s best, I came out with no less that 7 different books of 7 distinct writers. The previous experience thought me that I should first stop at Scott Kelby‘s and Rob Sheppard‘s published teachings. In these books I learn how to:
• Use Lightroom to streamline the process of importing, managing, developing, and presenting quantities of images
• Explore nondestructive image processing and color-managed printing
• Work with tone curve, adjust white balance, fine-tune vibrancy and saturation, and easily correct color
• Create your own presets to use again and again based on adjustments you use regularly
• Organize and manage images in the Library and set up a customized system
• Create eye-popping prints, show-stopping sideshows, and Web galleries that showcase your skills
• Make the most of Lightroom’s integration with Photoshop
It’s OK to know all that stuff the Software can do, but Scott Kelby goes behind that: he explains to which kind of photos can an effect by applied.

However, here’s the list of all the books on this matter:
1. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers
Author: Scott Kelby; Price: $26.39
2. The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book
Author: Martin Evening; Price: $26.40
3. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Workflow
Author: Tim Grey; Price: $26.39
4. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Digital Photographers Only
Author: Rob Sheppard; Price: $23.09
5. Photoshop Lightroom Adventure
Author: Mikkel Aaland; Price: $26.39
6. Digital Photographer’s Guide to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Author: John Beardsworth; Price: $19.77
7. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.1 for the Professional Photographers
Author: David Huss, David Plotkin; Price: $23.07

And my recommendations:

Tags: Rob Sheppard, Scott Kelby, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Lightroom, Lightroom book, photography book, photo editing book

Human emotions are best represented in close-up portraits than picture of people from head to foot in a certain or non-certain environment. But to give a contra-example: sadness is a human emotion; sadness is felt be the one who looks at a picture in which a man is sitting next to a grave.

When thinking about capturing human emotions in Photography, you should make the difference between spontaneous and classic. Classic is when you tell your model to “play” a certain emotion, but, in Photography, acting will never have the same impact as spontaneous natural feelings captured in the reality of the surrounding.

Joy, sadness, desperate, fear, etc transfigures the face of people and if well represented and captured, we fell a bit of what they felt. Think for a bit at the impressive pictures taken in Iran, Africa, India – people in war, people dying of hunger: the expression on those people’s faces make the word shake.

Emotions vary in intensity and, depending on the subject’s personality, they will be more or less shown. Sometimes it’s all about being at the right time in the right place. But still there is a trick for emotions hunters: photograph people before they notice you are around. Technically, use the zoom to get the attention closer to the face.

Tags: portrait photography, portraits, emotions, emotions in photography

Functions:
• Shooting Modes: Auto, Program, Manual, Movie, Scene, Portrait, Night, Children
• Scene Modes: Night, Portrait, Children(in Mode Dial), Landscape,
Close-up, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow
• Movie Mode: 30 fps, 15 fps; 640×480, 320×240, 160×128; with audio, Movie Stabilizer
Movie Editing (Embedded): Pause during recording, Still Image Capture, Time Trimming; AVI (MPEG-4) format
• Effects: Sharpness (Soft, Normal, Vivid), Color (Normal, B&W, Sepia, Red, Blue, Green, Negative, RGB),
• Flash Modes: Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off
• White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent_H, Fluorescent_L, Tungsten, Custom
• Metering: Multi, Spot
Technical Data:
• 2.5 inch LCD
• 10.1 megapixels
• 3x optical zoom + 5x digital zoom
• Focal Length: 7.4 ~ 22.2mm (35mm film equivalent : 35~105mm)
• Aperture: F2.8 ~ F7.1(Wide), F5.1~F13.1(Tele)
• ISO Range: Auto, 80,100, 200, 400, 800, 1000
• Flash Range: Wide : 0.2m ~ 3.0m, Tele : 0.4m ~ 2.5m (ISO AUTO)
• Focus Range:
Normal : 80cm ~ Inf.
Macro : 4 ~ 80cm(Wide), 50 ~ 80cm(Tele)
Auto Macro : 4cm~Infinity (Wide), 50cm~ Infinity (Tele)
• Exposure Compensation: ±2EV (0.5EV steps)
• Shutter Speed: 1 ~ 1/1500 sec.(Manual : 8 ~ 1/1500 sec.)
• Self Timer: 10 sec., 2 sec., Double (10 sec., 2 sec.)
• File Format: JPEG (DCF), EXIF 2.2
• SD – Secure Digital memory + 45MB internal memory
• 2x AA Alkaline or Rechargeable SNB-2512 KIT (2xAA Ni-MH Battery & Charger)

Tags: Samsung digital camera, Samsung digimax, samsung digimax s1000, digimax s1000, Samsung s1000, 10 MP, 3x optical zoom

MELVILLE, NY (July 18, 2007) – Nikon (http://www.nikonusa.com) now offers two new DVDs presented by Nikon School that show anyone how easy it is to take great pictures with Nikon digital SLR cameras.

Hosted by award-winning National Geographic Traveler photographer Bob Krist, the DVDs take SLR camera owners on an entertaining and informative journey from the very basics of their Nikon digital SLR camera to advanced shooting situations where they can unlock their camera’s potential. The first DVD, titled “Fast, Fun & Easy: Great Digital Pictures,” delivers 35 minutes of helpful information, making it easy and fun for new Nikon D40 and D40x digital SLR camera owners to begin taking great pictures immediately. The second DVD, titled “Understanding Digital Photography,” is great for picture-takers who are ready for the creative photographic opportunities available beyond their camera’s automatic settings. “Understanding Digital Photography” covers fundamentals that are relevant to any modern digital SLR camera while featuring the easy-to-use Nikon D40 and D40x models, as well as the popular Nikon D80 and the professional-level D200.

“Understanding Digital Photography” makes it easier to unleash the potential of Nikon’s digital SLR cameras. During this 45-minute DVD, Krist takes viewers beyond the automated features of their Nikon cameras and shares valuable insights about how to see and compose breathtaking photographs. Krist warmly shares his experience with shooting portraits, sports and action photographs, and teaches viewers how to take great pictures in low light and understand basic exposure fundamentals. Krist demonstrates these concepts in a clear, easy-to-understand style that makes it simple and exciting to go beyond the basics of digital photography.

Both Nikon School DVDs are available at Nikon-authorized dealers throughout the United States and through Nikon Mall (http://www.nikonmall.com). For a preview visit http://www.nikonusa.com and click on Photography, What’s New.

Tags: nikon school, nikon SLR, nikon school dvd, nikon digital camera, nikon tutorials

July 11, 2007 – Lensbabies LLC announced the worldwide distribution of its selective focus SLR lenses and accessories. Lensbaby products will now be available through international distributors in foreign markets in addition to the United States and Canada.

“Lensbabies is very excited to have aligned ourselves with 35 premier distributors in all of the major markets around the world,” said Sam Pardue, CEO of Lensbabies, in a press release. “Not only has the Lensbaby product line captured the imagination of photographers around the world, but retailers worldwide appreciate the profitable sales generated by our line of creative lenses and accessories.”

Lensbabies allow photographers to creatively place focus by bending the lens. Lensbabies can also be purchased from the company’s website, through specialty retailers, and at tradeshows.

Tags: camera lenses, digital camera lenses, lensbabies

This time I present a Photography Workshop that takes place in Europe, and, more precisely, Milan, Italy, between September 30 – October 5, 2007.
The big names holding this event are Joe McNally & Jerry Courvoisier, and, the target photographers are those with a least the experience of one time work with a digital SLR.

Joe McNally discusses lighting issues: the use of natural and artificial light, reflectors, strobes, and tungsten to light interiors, exteriors, large and small spaces, street scenes.
Other topics include gaining access to locations, methods for covering magazine assignments, the CEO portrait, corporate annual reports, and blending a variety of techniques and approaches.
Further, color management, digital capture, simplifying the download process, streamlining the image editing workflow, exploring the benefits of Raw format image capture and processing, and methods of image retrieval and archiving, are just a few from the knowledge baggage Jerry Courvoisier will give you, having Adobe software as base.

More about the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops and Registration
You can also contact by email (info@santafeworkshops.com) or call (505) 983-1400.

Tags: santa fe workshop, photography workshop, Jerry Courvoisier, Joe McNally

No matter if you are above the mountains, the hills or on the field, a large panorama will always be impressive. A tripod will give you the possibility to merge the pictures precisely. There are some tripods on the market made especially for panoramic shooting. (Actually there are some cameras that shoot only in panoramic mode). Some camera manufactures include a panoramic shooting mode which I find very useful: you can see the previous shoot and continue the next shot approximately where the other one ended. Canon cameras allow a bigger number of shots (I haven’t tried to find out the limit since I could easy make a 360 out of 13), while Nikon and Olympus only allows a few number of shots.

If the sky is interesting, like for example with more types of clouds on different highs, you can try a vertical panorama. A vertical view is also recommended for vertical cliffs.
When shooting horizontal pictures for a horizontal panorama, make sure the horizon line is not in the middle. Be careful at the exposure compensation (decrease it a bit like 1/3 step) or otherwise you will end up hawing a burned (white) sky.

Depending on what you’re shooting, you can have between 2-3 shoot and 5-7. In the examples below, the rainbow view was blocked by a tree, so the panorama is no longer than 2 photos. The other examples begin and end with the hills/rocks nearby, resulting in around 7 shots.

Later on, you can merge the images in a variety of programs. I use Photostitch software that came with my Canon digital camera. It’s easy to use and very precise.
If everything around you is interesting and you want a complete memory of the place, nothing stops you from making a 360 degrees panorama (this would be like around 10 shots). Photostich has a nice viewer for 360 panoramas, going round and round it. For webpages check this out.

Tags: panorama, panoramic view, landscape panorama, phototitch, vertical panorama, 360 panorama

Following up on the success of the FinePix S3 Pro UVIR and IS-1 infrared digital cameras, Fujifilm today announced the IS Pro, the latest in a line that has proved popular with technical, law enforcement, medical research and scientific communities.
The IS Pro utilizes Fujifilm’s Super CCD Pro and Real Photo Processor Pro technology to see light from the ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR) portion of the spectrum (approx. 380nm – 1000nm). It also benefits from compatibility with Nikon F mount lenses and Nikon iTTL flash systems, making it a cost effective solution for law enforcement agencies that already have Nikon components.

In addition, and to accommodate the growing needs of its specialized customers, Fujifilm has produced several system packages for the IS Pro digital SLR. These system packages range from the basic camera kit to advanced full system kits, along with a new set of UV and IR filters.

Tags: infrared digital camera, infrared photography, fujifilm, fujifilm digital camera