I am back from presenting at the Canon Expo which ran August 31 to September 3, at the Javits Center in NY. Personally I was working with a wonderful designer named Cat Nastasoiu. We would come up with a concept for an ad and then execute the concept and output the whole thing in about 10 minutes. There was lots of new technology although most of it has not been incorporated into a product and no details about future products were available. Still it was truly enlightening to have a peak at the future. For me one of the coolest things that I saw was a prototype LCD monitors with an 8-megapixel display, or roughly 4x HD. This Ultra-High-Definition 8-Megapixel display blew me away. I was able to read small Photoshop type from 10 feet away. I can’t wait for the day when two of these are on my desktop.  Below are some of my shots for one of our ads on one of the new screens.Other things that I saw were a Multipurpose Camera which resembled something like a futuristic Hasselblad which Canon also called a 4K camera. The design includes an integrated 7-140mm, 20x optical zoom lens with maximum apertures of f/1.8 to f/3.8. The lens drive system is a new design that is electronically controlled. The Canon Multipurpose Camera’s 2/3-inch, 8-megapixel CMOS sensor shoots video at more than 60 frames per second at a resolution that’s four times greater than HD. That’s 4,000 lines of resolution, or 4,096 pixels wide.

I also saw a 300mm wafer-size CMOS sensor with 600um pixels, which is able to capture a 1-megapixel image. The extreme sensitivity allows the sensor to capture clear human facial expressions in light measuring only 1 lux, a light level where the naked eye would only see faint movement of shadows, according to Canon. The Ultra High-sensitivity CMOS sensor is currently used in a telescope in Japan.

I was intrigued by a  Ultra High-Resolution Panorama Camera’s with a 120-megapixel sensor roughly the size of Canon’s current APS-H chip, as used in the EOS-1D Mark IV.Canon also said that the 120-megapixel sensor was comparable to the number of optic nerves in the human eye, which is about 130 million. The sensor can output 1.4 frames per second with a 2.52 Gbps data rate. It can also output Full HD video at 60 fps from a designated area on the sens

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KEYWORDING IN THE LIBRARY MODULE

Keywording really shows off the power of Lightroom as a digital asset management (DAM) system. The best way of using any DAM is to take advantage of the application’s ability to find specific images. Proper keywording and fully filling out all metadata is not only advantageous, but essentially the only way of finding specific images in a very large collection. It is one thing to scroll through a few hundred images to find the one you want. It is an entirely different matter to scroll through 50,000 images to find the image you want.

THE KEYWORD LIST PANEL

A keyword tag or “keyword” is metadata that categorizes and describes the key elements of a photo. According to one study, it may take more than 400 keywords to accurately describe an image without actually looking at the thumbnail. Building a Keyword Hierarchy can be a tedious and painful task, but it is essential to digital asset management. Keywords help in identifying and searching for images in a catalog. Keyword tags are stored either in the image files or in XMP sidecar files or in Lightroom Catalog. The XMP can be read by any application that supports XMP metadata.

Keywording Images

To keyword your images, think globally first and then go for local. Think of keywording the same way you would classify an animal. A Spider Monkey would first be a Mammal then an Ape, then a monkey and finally a spider monkey. For example, to classify Miami Beach, you might want to make several keyword hierarchies. One Parent would be Continent with a child called North America. A second Parent might be called Countries, with a child keyword of United States. A third Parent might be called United States with a child keyword of Florida and finally a parent called Cities with a child called Miami Beach.

In my own list, the top level Parent Keywords are in CAPS but they are private metadata and act as a placeholder and do not export with the image. All the child levels have the first letter of each word capitalized.

Location is an obvious keyword but there are many keywords that aren’t as obvious that make finding and organizing images a breeze. We have a Parent called Technique, for example whose Children include items like Blur, Reflections, Macro and Motion. This really helps when looking for certain types of images. We have another Parent called View with Children like Aerial, Fisheye, Front View, and Landscape. Again,the more specific the keyword, list the easier it becomes to find  images that you seek.

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TOKYO, August 24, 2010—Canon Inc. announced today that it has successfully developed an APS-H-size*1 CMOS image sensor that delivers an image resolution of approximately 120 megapixels (13,280 x 9,184 pixels), the world’s highest level*2 of resolution for its size.

Compared with Canon’s highest-resolution commercial CMOS sensor of the same size, comprising approximately 16.1 million pixels, the newly developed sensor features a pixel count that, at approximately 120 million pixels, is nearly 7.5 times larger and offers a 2.4-fold improvement in resolution.*3

With CMOS sensors, while high-speed readout for high pixel counts is achieved through parallel processing, an increase in parallel-processing signal counts can result in such problems as signal delays and minor deviations in timing. By modifying the method employed to control the readout circuit timing, Canon successfully achieved the high-speed readout of sensor signals. As a result, the new CMOS sensor makes possible a maximum output speed of approximately 9.5 frames per second, supporting the continuous shooting of ultra-high-resolution images.

Canon’s newly developed CMOS sensor also incorporates a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) video output capability. The sensor can output Full HD video from any approximately one-sixtieth-sized section of its total surface area.

Images captured with Canon’s newly developed approximately 120-megapixel CMOS image sensor, even when cropped or digitally magnified, maintain higher levels of definition and clarity than ever before. Additionally, the sensor enables image confirmation across a wide image area, with Full HD video viewing of a select portion of the overall frame.

Through the further development of CMOS image sensors, Canon will break new ground in the world of image expression, targeting new still images that largely surpass those made possible with film, and video movies that capitalize on the unique merits of SLR cameras, namely their high mobility and the expressive power offered through interchangeable lenses.

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We are offering a very special price on an amazing workshop which normally sells for over $5000.00

Sign up during the next week and receive a special discount of $3500.00

Contact

Trish Swords <Trish@gormanphotography.com> and mention D65 to receive this one time only discount.

Here is the info:

Sept 26 – October 1, 2010

Greg Gorman and Seth Resnick

Greg Gorman Digital Photographic Workshop

World renowned photographer Greg Gorman invites you to join him in Mendocino, California where he shares his knowledge of digital photography in the intimate setting of his home and studio on the Pacific North Coast. Greg’s  workshop features Seth Resnick in addition to Greg. This workshop is ideal for any photographer looking to enhance his/her camera, lighting, color management, image editing and fine are printing skills. Wine tastings, gourmet lunches and models provided. This will be Seth’s third year teaching with Greg. Enrollment is limited so that each student gets one on one time with both Greg and Seth.

http://www.gormanworkshops.com/Directory.html

Best,

Seth

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I am posting this for my very dear friend Meg McVey..

I’m a photo editor and a very private person in a very public business.  I am also from a family of New York City firefighters.  My father and two brothers were firemen. Firefighers are family. In good times and bad, in life and in death, they are there for each other.  I never thought I would write something so personal, but I’m driven to do it. Perhaps, it’s because that horrible day is rearing it’s ugly head. 9/11 is right around the corner—again, and it is seared in my heart and mind. September had always been my favorite time of year. I’ve always hated the heat and dreaded the sun. I’m a sunblock 45, so perhaps that might be the reason.  September had always meant new beginnings, excitement, high energy, and fun. That’s changed. Now I dread it. I start to get a sinking feeling in mid-August. The thoughts of an exciting future are now replaced with memories of an awful past.  A past that repeats itself in my mind. A past that arises during my work on a “Deepwater Horizon story” in June when I’m faced with the similarities of the 11 men who lost their lives on the rig. Men who lived and worked together. Men who were brothers.  Initially, I didn’t understand why I was so emotional. Why I choked up when I offered my condolences to the father and wife of one of the victims. Then I understood. During that time other things began to intersect. Early one morning I was attempting to clean out my old emails, and stopped when I got to photos of my brother Teddy. One of the two shots appeared in a 9/11 book my sister-in-law discovered completely by accident. I tracked down the photographer, and he was very nice to send me the two high res. I left them in email, because they were just too disturbing. They are still too disturbing. That same morning I was watching “CBS Sunday Morning”, and they did a segment on Ken Feinberg, the government appointed attorney, who was working with the victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster. Previously he had been with the families of 9/11 victims. At one point they showed some old TV footage of him sitting at a table next to a blond haired woman. On the wall behind them was a blown up photo of a firefighter. It was a shot of Jimmy, one of Teddy’s closest friends, his former roommate, a member of his wedding party, and a brother he served with at Engine 40, Ladder 35 in Manhattan for 15 years. Jimmy’s wife, Susan, mother of his 3 daughters, was the woman at the table. It was ironic that an hour earlier I should come across photos of Teddy down at Ground Zero looking for the bodies of his brothers—his 11 brothers from 35 & 40 amongst the 343 brothers who died that day.11 brothers from the firehouse he moved to after 35/40 were gone too.  He was also looking for his childhood friends, John and Mike, firefighters, who were friends since first grade at Sacred Heart, high school at St. Peters, and through to their adulthood. Both guys were also in his wedding party.  Teddy was with his best friend, John, the night before, helping him paint the inside of his house. Late in the evening, he told Teddy, “I’ve got to pack it in, gotta work tomorrow”. Teddy, said, “Don’t worry Johnny, I’ll finish it up”. Teddy was on vacation, and even if he wasn’t those guys were always there for each other, good times and bad, family.  Every summer John helped Teddy install my mother’s air conditioner which was the size of a Buick. It was the official start of summer. John, coming up the front porch, the dog hysterical at the sight of him, and John blushing. It was so cute. He was an Irish American and the oldest blusher on record. He didn’t like to be the center of attention even if it was from the dog. The last time i saw John was at a family gathering, and I will never forget it. I was looking into his big blue eyes, those same eyes I’d seen since he was a little first grader coming to the house.  I said, “I’m worried about Teddy.”  Can you keep an eye on him.” He said, “Don’t you know I’ve always taken care of Teddy. I’ve been taking care of Teddy, since we were 6 years old.” I never expected to see my brother carry John’s coffin, or Mike’s coffin, or Jimmy’s coffin, or give John’s eulogy, or hand a folded flag to Jimmy’s wife, or stand behind him on a beautiful fall day when the only sound was the rustling of the leaves until they began to play “Taps”.

If you would like to contact Meg, write to her at

Meg McVey <mmcvey@mindspring.com>

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70th anniversary special presentation: R&R for Digital Photographers
Tuesday August 24th  7:00pm

2441 San Jose Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501

Resilience & Rejuvenation, or How to Last & Love What You Do
with Seth Resnick, Canon Explorer of Light

Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut, simply shooting cookie-cutter assignments or projects? Even with an arsenal of current technology, the best computer, and the most current edition of Photoshop, your work can suffer if you lose that spark of inspiration that we all need. How do you rejuvenate yourself and get excited once again about picking up your camera? This event with Canon Explorer of Light Seth Resnick may be just what the doctor ordered!

Join us as Seth shares anecdotes on dealing with clients, both for assignment and stock, favorite and most unusual projects and what drove him to tackle them, his observations on the state of the industry and his take on stock photography. What are some of the most powerful lessons Seth has learned in his photographic career? How has he transformed from a fledgling newspaper photographer into the industry icon he is now? And finally, what jazzes Seth about taking out his camera today? How does he recharge his creative batteries?

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DATE: Wednesday, August 11th
TIME:  8:30 – 10:00PM EDT
COST: $50.00

Learn how to how to best utilize Lightroom on multiple computers.

The dilema is: “I use a Laptop in the field when shooting, and a desktop at the studio/home for processing and management in Lightroom.  If the “main” Library and Catalog live on my “main” computer’s hard drive in the studio/home, how do I sync the Catalog on my laptop or other computers with the “main” Library and Catalog?”

There are several ways to accomplish this, and we will demo them in this webinar. D-65 has found work-around solutions that run effortlessly and flawlessly. Your methodology for accomplishing this needed task will be dependent upon what you how much work you do to your files in the field.

Space is limited to ensure we can answer all your questions in our interactive Q&A.  Each participant also receives a recording of the eSeminar to view for 30 days to review the concepts covered.

Register Today!

Upon completion of your registration you will receive a separate email from Webex with a link you will use on August 11th to take you to your eSeminar. See you online!

Can’t make it?

Register to view the recorded session later by clicking on:

My Training Recordings

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Hi everyone!

Many of you have asked for the recordings of the webinars. This is a great way to get the material, if you can’t participate in the live event.

We’ve setup that you can buy the recording for $30.00, and it gives you unlimited access to view it for 30 days. You can register and “buy” the recording at:https://d65.webex.com/mw0306lb/mywebex/ … iteurl=d65

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Just a Sunday Night Blog….

My daughter Karalyn was visiting for the Summer and just left. This leaves me in a somber mood. I need to change my mood so I started to think what inspires me. The first thing that came to mind was a college friend reminding me about the 80th birthday of a professor that was coming up. You may say huh… but this was no ordinary professor. This man Thomas Richards, appropriately known as TR changed my life. It is kind of corny to think of the one person who influenced you but without a doubt this is the man. I was a student at Syracuse University and it was 1978 and I was off to London for a Semester. In the class was Bob Sacha, Stephen Wilkes, Nancy Leigh and few others. We all became friends and we were inspired by a truly amazing professor, Thomas Richards more affectionately known as TR. TR is retired but he still comes up in conversation on a very regular basis. Stephen, Bob and I went on to become college roommates and lifelong friends.

So where am I going with this. Well for one TR’s birthday is coming up. This man was not only an influence to me but also to a whole consortium of Syracuse University grads. Right off the top of my head comes Eric Meola, Clint Clemens, Joe McNally, Stephen Wilkes, Bob Sacha, Nancy Leigh and countless others. So again where am I going with this besides TR?

Whenever I’m in a dry spell of inspiration, also known as photographic block or temporary depression, a bottle of red wine will re-ignite the spark of inspiration in me. As helpful as this may be, it also puzzles me. What is it about red wine that makes me creative? What is it about photographers that picking 20 great images leads to depression?

Red wine, or more likely the alcohol that’s included in the package, has mysterious effects when it comes down to human behavior. It affects feelings, creativity, conscious thought, rationality and, when consumed in too large quantities, even motor skills. But of course with the appreciation of red wine comes a real love of red wine or in my case a fanaticism with red wine or anything else that truly inspires me.

Back to the original question

What inspires me o what is the effect of red wine that makes me creative again? I think it comes down to two things:

Red wine or rather good red wine

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