Announcing our new workshop...

Our new workshop has just been announced. The date is April 28, 2012 and will be held in Princeton , New Jersey. Sponsored by NIK Software, this workshop will feature Jack Reznicki of Photoshop World and Kelby Training fame. A popular lecturer, Jack Reznicki is always very informative, insightful, entertainingly outspoken, and refreshingly candid. Jack will discuss in this far reaching session, his commercial and personal work and how they interact, in addition to key concepts and practical information related to lighting and composition.

In addition to my presentation of "An Introduction to HDR" that will include multiple software demonstrations, Steve Dreyer, an international workshop leader, will discuss how to improve photos by reducing digital noise, enhancing color and sharpness, and converting to black and white.
He'll use various software tools such as Lightroom, Photoshop and Nik software in his workflow

For more information and registration, go to princetonphotoworkshop.wordpress.com

Topaz announces "Topaz Star Effects"

Today, Topaz Labs announces the release of their new "Star Effects" software. The following is from the website.
"This new plug-in gives photographers a more intuitive and simplified way to add creative star and lighting enhancements to images – for the perfect finishing touch! You can easily create a wide range of light enhancements from natural, realistic effects to more artistic, graphic effects."
Topaz is offering this program at a great introductory price of $19.99.  I've added some of these effects using Photoshop.  This should save lots of time with great results.  Find more information here.

Adobe's official announcement about CS3 and CS4 upgrade

Today, Adobe published its official upgrade announcement for CS3 and CS4. You can find it here.
It is worth a read and you can make your own determination as to its fairness.  Personally, I think it works.  Let me know what you think.

If you shoot HDR and this doesn't inspire you... nothing ever will

Trey Ratcliff posted this on his facebook page today. It took my breath away. It needs no more introduction than that.

It's a MUST see.

Is the DSLR going the way of the Dinosaur?

There is a wonderful discussion about this subject on You Tube featuring Zack Arias, Gordon Laing from Cameralabs.com , Frederick Van Johnson, Trey Ratcliff plus others. It's very interesting.  I've been waiting for an announcement from Canon on the upgrade for the 7D, but now I don't know.  Maybe I should wait to see how the mirrorless cameras  evolve.
I'll keep you informed. You can find the discussion here.

Adobe CS Upgrade policy

I just got this email from Adobe so I thought it best to pass it along ASAP.  I guess I'm not the only one to write about it.

Hi Alan– Since you have written about the Adobe Creative Suite Upgrade Policy in the past we wanted to give you heads-up that we’ll be offering CS3 and CS4 users special introductory pricing on the upcoming new CS6 when it is released later this year. The special introductory offer will last through December 31, 2012. For more information about the Creative Suite Upgrade Offer, please see http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/faq/upgrade-policy.htmlhttp://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/faq/upgrade-policy.html

Lightroom 4 beta to be announced

Today, Matt Kloskowski along with Tom Hogarty, will introduce the beta version of Lightroom 4.  This can be found on KelbyTraining.com at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm live. They claim it will include these new features. We'll see.
   • Enhanced Video Options & Support
   • Soft Proofing Reinvented
   • Map Module for location management
   • Elegant Photo Book Creation
   • Simplified Basic Adjustments
   • Adobe Revel Expert Workflow
   • Powerful new Shadow & Highlight controls
   • And so much more!

The HDR workshop was great

Click image to view larger - Gullfoss Waterfall Bridge - Iceland

We just finished the first of my 2 session HDR workshop in Princeton, New Jersey. I would like to thank all those who came. I also want to thank my friend Steve Dreyer for coming into town to assist. As an aside, see yesterdays post.  Steve is doing a workshop in Lucerne, Switzerland in May.  You should take a look at that. It will be great.

The workshop was intense but a really good time. Almost all of the photographers were at the same skill level making things a bit easier. As always, I started at the beginning, explaining the concepts of shooting, processing and post-processing photos for HDR. We had plenty of time for Q&A and hands-on processing.

I'm really looking forward to the next session.

Steve and I are planning another workshop in Princeton sometime in April. I'll keep you informed

Steve Dreyer to teach "Digital Workflow" workshop in Lucerne

My very good friend, Steve Dreyer, will be teaching a "hands on" workshop in Lucerne, Switzerland May 12-13, 2012.

He will provide participants with practical experience in the field and in processing their photographs. The workshop will include: 1) capturing photographs in and around beautiful Lucerne, Switzerland, and 2) learning and applying various specific workflows for processing photographs in the digital darkroom.

Steve is a great shooter and his work in the digital darkroom is outstanding.  He makes learning fun and you'll come away with a strong foundation to make all your photos better.

You can find all the information here on the "Meet The Shooters" website and Steve Dreyer's website here.