Photo.net Newsletter: November 18, 2008

Hi %%First Name%%,

Welcome back to the Editorial Newsletter, going on month two of its existence. No fussing, staying up late at night…this baby is a happy one and for that we give thanks. Thanksgiving is around the corner for those residing in North America. While we realize this is not a global phenomenon, we hope the spirit of the holiday—giving thanks—may be carried over into your daily life, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying a home-cooked elaborate spread of deliciously prepared culinary treats.

Add to the spice and flavor of your table with some tasty articles on everything photographic from Photo.net. Or curl up with your laptop (not the same as a book, I know) by the fireplace and dig into some toasty reading.

On another note, we are very happy to announce that photo.net has formed a new partnership with Adorama, one of the best photography suppliers in the USA. Adorama is now the exclusive online shopping partner of Photo.net. Look for the “Special Deals from Adorama” section that will appear in every email newsletter.

Also, we are amping up for the holidays with our very own Photo.net Holiday Gift Guide featuring the Editors’ and Moderators’ top photography picks for digital cameras, lenses, software, books, accessories, etc. Make sure you know what you’re getting those photography enthusiasts on your list this year!

One final note, we’ve now added two new categories to the equipment section of the site: Books and Software. See below for details on how to win a free book or prize for adding your comments to our new books and software sections!

Have some feedback you’d like to share about the site? Participate in our November 2008 User Survey. Your comments will help us improve Photo.net for both you and yours.

And…I’m out. Enjoy the newsletter!

Sincerely,

Hannah Thiem

Photo.net Managing Editor

Editorial Highlights

We have many Editorial features for you this month. Let’s dive deep into some of the new articles. We cover many topics, including new camera reviews and previews, software reviews, tips on building your portfolio, and advice on choosing the right digital camera.

The Six Elements of an Effective Presentation

Last month, Tony Luna introduced us to his 9-part series on “The Lifecycle of a Freelance Photography Job.” The first article is on Presentation. As a Creative Consultant who sees a multitude of photography portfolios, who better than to explain to us what elements go into creating an effective presentation. If you follow these steps, you will be on your way to getting in the door with the clients you want to impress.

Look for at least one new article in the series each month as Tony covers everything you need to know about a systematic approach to being a successful freelance photographer. Upcoming topics include: Client Contact, Self-promotion and Marketing, Estimating, Coordination, Execution, Expense Accountability, Billing, and Payment.

Read Part I of the series: The Six Elements of an Effective Presentation.

Johnston on Photography

As per usual, the Johnston on Photography column is always dryly humorous with an opinionated stance on a specific area or aspect of photography and/or equipment. His column, same as during the earlier years when it was called “The Sunday Morning Photographer”, is directed primarily at passionate amateurs, and be concerned first and foremost with how we all have fun with our interest in photography.

In this month’s column, Mike Johnston discusses his concerns for the current trends and fate of digital cameras. Some cameras seem to have a longer internal operating clock than others. He examines the lifespan of the Canon EOS 5D and the new Sony A900.

Take a look at The Digital Camera Clock. As always, you are welcome to join the discussion at the end of the column.

DSLR Hands-on Reviews

Nikon D700

Nikon adds to their pro line with the second full-frame sensor camera, the D700. Shun Chueng takes a closer look at the D700, demonstrating its high-ISO capabilities and operating speed. He also compares it to the D3, Nikon’s first full-frame sensor camera, and includes example images.

Read Shun’s in-depth review on the Nikon D700.

Olympus E-30

Olympus widens their catalog of mid-priced models with the Olympus E-30. Designed to compete with the Canon EOS 40D/50D and the Nikon D90/D300, Sony A700, and Pentax K20D, the new Olympus E-30 offers a few special qualities that set it apart from the rest.

Read the Photo.net preview of the Olympus E-30.

Choosing a Digital SLR Camera: Advice from Bob Atkins

If you’re new to the world of Digital SLRs, it can be overwhelming. Which camera to choose? Which system would be most appropriate? What’s the difference between this camera with a max ISO of 1600 but a significantly cheaper ticket price, and this camera with a textbook-full of features and video capability? How do I decide what’s right for my photography needs?

Bob Atkins, Technical Editor on Photo.net and Digital Photography expert, takes a look at all the factors you should consider when choosing a DSLR. The portion of the article I particularly like is the section on pixel count and print size: what’s the maximum size I can print my images from a 6MP Nikon D40 compared to the 22MP Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III?

There are so many great cameras on the market, this article definitely clears up any questions and allows you to be better informed when making that high-ticket purchase. Factors to Consider when Choosing a Digital SLR Camera.

Software Reviews

Bakari Chavanu takes a closer look at Capture One 4.0, a less expensive alternative to Lightroom or Aperture, for RAW conversions. He applies his Aperture expertise and familiarity to Capture One and finds the program to be very approachable.

Read the complete Capture One 4.0 Review

Josh Root examines the issue of color management and presents the Spyder3 Elite Review. A necessary tool for any professional photography workflow, Josh takes a look at what’s good about the Spyder3.

Read more about the Spyder3 Elite Review

Special Editorial Feature of the Month

All About Digital Workflow

Digital photography requires a solid workflow, allowing for professional preparing of digital photo files for the web and print. For the Digital Photography Workflow series, we consulted with a number of experienced professional photographers who are also stellar Photo.net members and frequent contributors to the Photo.net Digital Darkroom forum.

The entire series can be accessed from the Digital Post-Processing Index.

Fashion Photography Digital Workflow

In this article, Patrick Lavoie discusses his unique digital workflow process tailored to meet the needs of his professional career as a photo retoucher and digi-tech working with high-end fashion photographers, the set of software and tools he prefers to use, and goals he accomplishes with his digital workflow. The article is enhanced with illustrative figures and screen shots, and includes examples of photo retouched jobs from Patrick Lavoie’s portfolio.

Read all about Patrick’s Fashion Photography Digital Workflow.

Wedding Photography Digital Workflow

Marc Williams specializes in “Romantic Photojournalism” and runs a very successful high-end wedding photography business, in addition to an advertising business. Over the years, he’s developed a process that is simplified, quick, and delivers professional results to my clients. I’ve tailored my system and workflow to suit my needs. Everyone’s workflow will be unique and the most important thing is to find what works for you.

Read all about the Marc’s Wedding Photography Digital Workflow

Fine Art Photography Digital Workflow

Michael Ezra discusses his unique digital workflow process tailored to meet the needs of his professional fine art photography career, the set of software and tools he prefers to use, and goals he accomplishes with his digital workflow. His work is truly magnificent.

Look no further for advice. Take a deep read into Michael’s Fine Art Photography Digital Workflow.

Event Photography Digital Workflow

Jeff Spirer photographs performance events in San Francisco. These include music in clubs, burlesque and vaudeville shows, theatre, and some events that defy description. Most performance events take place under sub-optimal lighting conditions. Stages are often poorly lit, lit with lights through colored gels, and a multitude of distracting background elements. Jeff takes post-processing to the next level to obtain a number of images from his event photo shoots that are viewable, printable, and marketable.

Take a look at Jeff’s tips and advice with regards to Event Photography Digital Workflow.

Image Retouching Tutorials

Jean-Sébastien Monzani walks us through 3 very distinct processes. Learn how to use Photoshop to soften portraits, create digital frames and borders for your final photographs, and use Autopano Pro to stitch together panoramas. It’s never too late to try something new!

• Advanced Skin Softening
• Creating Digital Frames and Borders
• Stitching Panoramas using Autopano Pro

Now for the “Gold” Articles

Let’s take a look at some articles that really are worth their weight in gold (if you could weigh virtual knowledge) or platinum if you prefer that precious metal. Take time on your next vacation (if you haven’t taken one yet this year, please do!) or on a weekend when you’re not doing anything particularly interesting. Here’s to the revival of some interesting older content!

• Underwater Photography Primer by Philip Greenspun
• General Bird Photography FAQ by Arthur Morris
• Interview with Liz Linder, commercial photographer by Hannah Thiem

Adorama Store

Announcing Photo.net’s new partnership with Adorama, one of the best photography suppliers in the USA. Adorama is now the exclusive online shopping partner of Photo.net.

The most visible change to Photo.net is the Adorama Store tab that now appears within the main site navigation. This tab leads to a Photo.net store that’s powered by Adorama and includes more than 80,000 products! In the Adorama store you’ll find great deals on everything photographic, from cameras and lenses to books and accessories. We’ve also added an “Adorama Store” search option to the main site search box to help you locate products quickly and easily.

When you’re looking to buy photography equipment in the near or distant future, we hope that you’ll remember to support photo.net by shopping at the Adorama store. Each time that you visit the Adorama Store tab on Photo.net, you’ll be contributing to Photo.net and helping to maintain it as the best online community for serious photographers.

And now for the part you’ve all been waiting for…be sure to click through directly from the newsletter to lock in these special prices.

Special Deals from Adorama

BODA DRY was designed from the requested input and feedback from hundreds of professional photographers in the field. The makers of Boda Dry focused on 4 areas: comfort, durability, equipment security, and ease of use. This bag is the ideal solution for wedding photographers and photojournalists. It holds 4+ lenses and accessories.

Comfort. New neo-comfort shoulder pad as well as option neo-comfort waist pads accessory, soft materials around body contact points, padded handles for carrying, the list goes on.

Durability. This product is made from waterproof ballistic cordura. Locking new age velcro points, box stitching and even a padded reinforced base.

Security. Simply having the bag provides security for the photographers considering all equipment is on body. This new design has a waterproof zipper top seal.

Ease of use. Every pocket and every feature was designed to be used with one hand. This is why BODA is loved so much. It’s fast, really fast.

Buy now from Adorama: Boda Dry Lens Bag [sale price: $164.95]

Other deals from Adorama:

• Memory Kick 60GB Pocket Hard Drive [sale price: $299]
• Flashpoint 42-inch 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector [sale price: $39.95]

Photo.net Holiday Gift Guide

It’s that time of year again. Happy Holidays. Get ready to prepare your shopping lists, search for the perfect gifts, wait in long lines, etc. Eliminate some of the confusion by consulting our Holiday Gift Guide in advance.

This season, Photo.net’s Editors and Moderators team up to take a look at the season’s best in everything photographic: Digital SLRs, Lenses, Point & Shoot Cameras, Software, Books & Magazines, and Accessories. There’s something for everyone. Dive into the guide and get advice on the best prices and the best gear for those pro and enthusiast photographers on your list.

Read the Photo.net Holiday Gift Guide

New Product Sections

Books and Software

We’ve just added two new sections to the site: Books and Software. There are areas for you to add your own comments and user experience on each product listing.

To encourage you to check this area of the site out, we’re giving away 2 free books to the best 2 reviews/comments on a book already featured in the Books Section of the site. Click on “Reader Comments” below the book of choice to add in your review/comment/user experience.

We’re also doing a prize giveaway for the best review/comment on a software product you enjoy using that’s featured in the Software Section of the site. Click on “Reader Comments” below the software of choice to add in your review/comment.

Sharpen your pencils (or flex those fingers at your keyboard) and get ready to write the best review/comment ever…prizes are in store for those who contribute!

What’s Happening In Our Forums

• Film and Processing (997 Responses) Wow - read this re: Film versus Digital debate!
• Canon EOS (123 Responses) If Canon could make one lens that they don't offer now, what would it be?
• Leica and Rangefinders (208 Responses) I can't let this Leica glow thing go
• Digital Darkroom (66 Responses) Nikon LS-9000 vs Imacon 848: Resolution & Shadow Detail

Go To Photo.net Forums. »

Editors’ Picks

We have a new Editors’ Picks for your enjoyment: Landscape Photography, highlighting some of the most stunning landscape photos in the Photo.net gallery.

Landscape Photography

Samples:

Also, take a look at some of the most popular Editors’ Picks from previous months:

• Product Photography
• Street Photography
• Underwater Photography