Photo.net Newsletter: October 15, 2008

Hi %%First Name%%,

I hope you have beautiful colors where you are in the world…whether it’s the bright fall reds, oranges, yellows; lush greens and vibrant exotic flowers; or dusky mountain hues. Where I’m at, it’s decidedly Herbst-season…time for apple picking, pumpkin harvesting, cornucopia creating, and chestnut roasting.

As nature shifts to a new season in the Northeast, Photo.net is changing up the newsletter schedule with a brand new Editorial version of the newsletter. Finally I get more of a chance to give voice to some wonderful new articles and series on the site, and revive older more-valuable-than-gold “classics” (ok, ok, maybe not worth more than gold, but some pretty special articles). We are also celebrating our one-year anniversary of the Editors’ Picks feature on the site, and offering a new article on Autumn Colors, the featured Photo of the Week, and some choice forum threads.

Also, we’re pretty excited to feature Safari Books Online as the newsletter sponsor for the Photo.net editorial newsletter edition. Make sure you check out their valuable and extensive offering of books online and try out your free subscription, special bonus to you!

Enjoy the newsletter!

Sincerely,

Hannah Thiem

Photo.net Managing Editor

Editorial Highlights

This month, being that it is the “Editorial” version of the newsletter, I’m going to take some time to really highlight a few of the new articles appearing on photo.net. We cover many topics, including new previews, reviews, photography business introductions, and advice on choosing the right digital camera.

Putting the Leica Summarit-M Lenses to the Test

The Leica M8 has a smaller but very strong dedicated group of followers. Of course, the transition from film to digital has been difficult, even in the SLR world. How does the Leica M8 and their new series of more attractively-priced Summarit-M lenses measure up? Professional photographer, Kirk Tuck, takes the system for a spin and compares his experience with the M8 and Summarit-Ms (35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 90mm) to the functions and features of the Nikon D700.

One particular hands-on feature Kirk offers us in his review, are portraits of the same woman using each of the 4 Summarits to show the framing options each lens offers. Leica M8 and Summarit-M Lenses Review: A Working Photographer’s Perspective.

DSLR and Lens Previews

Photokina 2008 in Germany was very successful. We saw a lot of new cameras hit the market, and Bob Atkins has previewed the most significant DSLR and lens releases that would be of concern to you. As we get our hands on the review models, we’ll be updating the previews with hands-on in-depth reviews, generated by user-tested experience. But for now, you’ll have to be satisfied with facts and speculations on the new products.

Take a look at the following previews:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
• Sigma SD15
• Leica S2 Medium Format DSLR
• Canon 5D Mark II
• Zeiss ZE Lenses for Canon EOS
• Nikon D90

Photography Business

Tony Luna introduces us to his new 9-part series of articles on “The Lifecycle of a Freelance Photography Job”. He offers an entire sweep of advice on helping professional photographers mange their time more efficiently so they can free themselves up for more time spent executing their creative passions and talents.

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. Topics include: Presentation, Client Contact, Self-promotion and Marketing, Estimating, Coordination, Execution, Expense Accountability, Billing, and Payment.

The introduction to the series begins immediately after you click on this link to The Lifecycle of a Freelance Photography Job.

Johnston on Photography

We’re now 4 columns-strong into our revival of Mike Johnston’s run of monthly articles. As per usual, the Johnston on Photography column is always fresh with a strong and 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.

Mike Johnston ties in the new product releases this fall at Photokina with a discussion on the new DSLRs with video capabilities: the Nikon D90 and the Canon 5D Mark II.

Take a look at To Converge or not to Converge, that is the Question. As always, you are welcome to join the discussion at the end of the column.

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.

Special Editorial Feature of the Month

All About Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography Tips & Advice

Read all about 9 professional wedding photographers’ tips and advice on everything from Marketing to Portfolios to Wedding Digital Workflow. A panel of professional wedding photographers who also happen to be Photo.net members share their thoughts on the process of being in this profession.

The entire series can be accessed from the Business of Wedding Photography Index.

Wedding Photography Equipment

The process of gathering together the right equipment for the job can be daunting. Not if you have Josh Root to help you out! Josh goes over every portion of the ideal wedding photographer’s kit, and explains what lenses are best to have, what flash and lighting systems are ideal, and what accessories are a must.

Read all about the Photo.net Guide to Wedding Photography Equipment.

Wedding Photography Timeline

Ok, so I’ve got the information I need, and the equipment is all set. But now what about preparing and planning in advance for prospective bookings? What is the ideal timeline from getting a call from a bride to booking the wedding to a follow-up meeting to photographing the wedding?

Look no further. Take a deep read into the Photo.net Guide to a Wedding Photography Timeline by Josh Root.

Feature Interview with Jeff Ascough, UK Wedding Photographer

This seemed to be a very appropriate place to revive Jeff Ascough’s interview on photo.net. Mary Ball, Wedding Photography forum moderator presented a Q&A feature on the forum in which photo.net members were able to ask Jeff any questions they liked pertaining to wedding photography. Jeff specializes in available light photojournalistic wedding photography and was voted by American Photo as one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world.

Take a look at Jeff’s tips and advice with regards to wedding photography in the Photo.net Interview with Jeff Ascough

Now for the “Gold” Articles

Some really valuable articles on the site, that truly are worth their weight in gold (if you could weigh virtual knowledge), are definitely time well-spent rereading. Take a lazy fall afternoon on a weekend when you’re not doing anything particularly interesting, or when you need a break from raking leaves or doing laundry…some of those mundane tasks. Dip into these older article revivals and happy reading!

• RAW, JPEG, and TIFF: what’s the difference? by Bob Atkins
• A pro photographer’s review of the Leica M6 by Kirk Tuck
• Making Photographs: A Textbook by Philip Greenspun

Featured Member Photographer: Kent Budge

Kent Budge is a Utah photographer who does what can be called “observational” photography. Observational photography is just what it would appear to be, photography of the everyday. The people, places, and things we have seen a thousand times over. You won’t find any undiscovered tree sloths or the next great fashion model in Kent’s photography. But what you will find is the extreme beauty of the everyday. He has a wonderful ability to take something as simple as a newspaper box or a shovel and make the viewer wish they could see it in person.

”Observing a moment in time where light and subject merge to create a composition that will be gone tomorrow or even in the next second. The playing field is limitless and finite at the same time and I never know when or what will be reveled, sometimes nothing. The appeal is in its unpredictability. I never know what’s around the next corner or who will cross my path and that’s what makes it exciting.” -Kent Budge

Read More. »

Samples from the member’s portfolio:

View Kent’s Entire Portfolio. »

What’s Happening In Our Forums

• Nikon (64 Responses) The legendary Nikon FM2
• Leica and Rangefinders (43 Responses) Good and cheap Rangefinder.
• Canon EOS (55 Responses) Canon 5D Mark II or Canon 1Ds Mark II?

Go To Photo.net Forums. »

Editors’ Picks

We are celebrating a victorious one-year anniversary of the Editors’ Picks feature. This new section of the site has been received very favorably. It allows us the chance to highlight photographs across the varied and broad spectrum in the Photo.net gallery, and gives space to discussion of some obscure and perhaps less-viewed photographs on the site.

Each month, the Photo.net Editors select a handful of featured photos for thematic and subject-based topics. The latest Editors’ Picks article, just in time for the season (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere) is “hot off the press.”

Autumn Photos

Samples:

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

• Portrait Photography
• Sports and Action Photos
• Macro Photography