Quick Hit Monday: Free Photography TV; Free Webinars; Large Format Cameras; and More!

Good Morning Everybody,

Hope everybody had a great weekend.  We had a fantastic time at the Bar Mitzvah shoot over the weekend - it was quite the party Saturday evening.  Eric Cameron, one of my DPT readers, came down to help out. Eric doesn't know it yet, but he helped a lot with this upcoming Wednesday's post;~)

We all survived the 16 hour day on Saturday and, I have to tell you, I took it reeeal easy on Sunday. I'm planning to post a few more images from this weekend's shoot during the week.

I shot a lot more images at some pretty high ISO's - like 3200 and 6400 on the Canon 7D and 5D MkII.  I've been hearing so much about the low noise reduction features on Lightroom 3 Beta2, I just couldn't wait to take the test drive - more on that this week.

Anyway, that's the weekend update.  Let's get on with Quick Hit Monday.  Here we go.

Check Out This Great Learning Site - Silber TV

I was doing my normal I-Cruise during a few slow moments last week and stumbled upon this pretty cool website.  I'm not sure why I haven't seen it before.  Anyway, one of my I-Cruise stops is always at ImagingInsider.com, one of the best newshound sites on the net. The ImagingInsider always finds interesting tidbits and I love exploring what he's come up with each week.

Well, this time one of his entries pointed me to SilberTV.  This is a great site with lots of decent content.  The latest post includes an interview with Amy Deputy, just recently named one of American Photos Top 10 Wedding Photogs.  Amy's interview is just the tip of the iceberg - content-wise at SilberTV.  Set aside a little time this week and enjoy the visit. Here is the link.

15% Off and New FREE Webinars Announced by NIK Software

Hey gang, don't miss this.  My good buddies at NIK Software have just announced their new series of FREE webinars. Topics include; "Enhancing Portrait Images", "Advanced Portrait Retouching", "Enhancing Scenic and Landscape Images", and more.  The first one is coming up next Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 10:00AM PST.  You can get all the info and see the rest of the schedule right here.  Heck, you may see me sitting in a few of them in the near future.

Psst, Psst - want to know how you can get 15% off any NIK product over at their site.  Just use the secret code word DZISER when ordering - what a deal!  Don't tell anyone else though;~)

Large Format Cameras - But Not Like You Think

Another site I like to visit is EpicEdits.com and now their new sister site, FeelingNegative.com run by fellow blogging buddy, Brian Auer.  One of my secret loves has been pinhole photography.  Call me a geek, but I think that kind of stuff is kind of cool.  I did a few blog posts on Pinhole Photography a few years ago here at DPT.  Here are the links to those posts - [link1] & [link2 - scroll to the bottom of this post to find the link].

Anyway, Brian, who loves playing with lots of things film-like has a nice and very well illustrated piece on how to build your own large format pinhole camera.  Here is the link right here. He’s making paper negatives and is contact printing from them – all very retro. I haven’t seen or heard of a paper negative in 35 years. It’s a fascinating read for all semi-geek photographer types and it looks like fun to put the project together. High 5’s to Brian for his Muesli Cam.

I love some of the great results the top pinhole photographers are creating.  There is just something especially artistic in the final presentation. I hope you get a chance to explore the links I've included - really nice information.  Oh, BTW, the next Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day is in two weeks.

Something New In Posing Guides

Tim and Bev Walden, who I've mentioned a few times at DPT - they are two of the best portrait photographers working these days.  They have pioneered "relationship portraits" - portraits that feature HOW people relate to each other in their portraits. 

Their concept "caught fire" a few years ago and they have lectured the world on the topic.  Anyway, they have just put together their first "Pocket Posing Guide" for "relationship portraits".  I know when I started to incorporate their style into my own work, it was touch and go learning to get something as good as what Tim and Bev were capturing.

I wish I had their Pocket Posing Guide years ago - check it out right here if you want to short-cut your learning curve in this exciting field of portraiture.

Missed Learning Opportunities - A Few Thoughts From DWF

I've been a friend of DWF for quite a while and enjoy a visit to their site too.  Timothy John has a thought provoking piece posted entitled "Photography and the Under-Appreciated Educators".   He makes some good points about whose teaching these days and how lots of students of the craft are missing some great learning opportunities.  If this has piqued your curiosity, then head on over to the DWF Blog right here and read the rest of the story.

Wait, There's more - It's Déjà Vu All Over Again

Think you've seen an image before in two dissimilar product ads?  I know I have.  The FairTradePhotographer sure brought the point home with this post right here where he showed 11 different companies using the same pic for all their ads - there's creativity for you.  I had to "giggle" when I saw the point he was making - it sure doesn't make the point for original corporate identity.

Is there a lesson to be learned for our own businesses?  Are we copiers or are we constantly striving to find the "difference that makes the difference?"

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Hey gang, that's it for me today.  I've a client coming by in a little while to make her album selections.  It was a beautiful wedding, great looking couple, and lots a wonderful outdoor images. 

Don't forget to check back for tomorrow's Technique Tuesday: I Can See For Miles; How I Use Long Lenses To Make Beautiful Portraits. It should be fun.

See ya' then, -David