Affordable Nikon D800 Grip Option Now Going Pro Route with Magnesium

Phottix has had their BG-D800 grip for the Nikon D800/D800E on the market for a while now. However, a new BG-D800M is now available, featuring a higher-quality magnesium build. While the BG-D800M is currently listed on their site for $200, the BG-D800 (the regular one) is listed for $150, but can be had for $90 on Amazon. The BG-D800M isn't yet available on Amazon, but this post will be updated as soon as it is.

No More Rush To Get Back To The Computer: Invoice With Alto

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to send an invoice to a client, but you were not home? Maybe you are out on another job, shopping, hanging with family, at a friends, or in the other room watching TV. Hopefully you aren’t doing that last one, but Alto is here to help us out. If you don’t have QuickBooks or any other invoicing software, this is the tool for you.

Von Wong Shoots Superbowl Leather Designer

Benjamin Von Wong gives us some tips for shooting with less than optimal conditions as he goes to work on models wearing pieces made by master leather worker Cecilio Martinez. This latest and last installment of Ben's European tour finds him in Spain, without power, light stands, experienced models or the ability to speak Spanish. So check out this video and if you want more then head over to Ben's Blog where he lays out all the juicy details.

This Might Be My New Favorite Light Modifier

As photographers, we often go through many modifiers to find the right one, and this may just be my new go-to. With its low cost, portable form factor, and ease of setup, the Aputure Lantern could be right for you too.

Palette Gear Announces New Hardware, Rebranding as "Monogram"

Palette Gear has announced new modular hardware controllers while rebranding to become Monogram. Cited as 40% slimmer compared to the original Palette, Monogram's new and re-engineered modules offer compact yet versatile control and backward compatibility with first-generation modules using the new Monogram core hub.

Move Your Image Library From Aperture to Lightroom With Just A Few Clicks

With the announcement of Aperture's retirement, many of Apple's software users are seeking a new home for their image libraries. One of the most obvious choices is Adobe's Photoshop Lightroom. But moving those images from Aperture to Lightroom can be a little tricky. A new app has made it out of Beta and hit the app store that may provide an easier solution.

Behind The Scenes On The 2011 Maybelline Calendar

Each year Maybelline creates a limited edition calendar featuring crazy concepts and wild makeup. This year the cosmetic brand teamed up with photographer Kenneth Willardt to produce some very vibrant images. Make sure you head over to Kenneth's commercial section of his website to view a bunch of the images. His ability to light a set is worth taking note as well as the overall production they put into these images.
[News] Fuji XF Lenses for Fuji X-Pro1 Leaked Early -- Available for Pre-order on Amazon!

Most are aware, by now, that 2011 has been dubbed 'the year of the protest.' However, in our corner, it's also the year of the mirrorless camera. As small-sensor image quality is improving and electronics are shrinking, manufacturers are taking advantage of being able to fit slightly larger-than-before sensors into the same pocket-sized cameras. Interchangeable lenses give even more flexibility, and, in the mirrorless format, give consumers a greatly portable system at a relatively low cost. Fuji's new X-Pro 1 mirrorless camera (with a 16-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor that's supposed to rival the quality of full-frame 35mm sensors) is expected to be announced early this coming week, but the new lenses that will be available for the system have already leaked early on Amazon. If you're thinking of getting the system, you may want to consider ringing in the new year's first mirrorless camera by building your lens set in advance. Fujifilm Lens X-Pro1 18mm F2.0 Lens Fujifilm Lens X-Pro1 35mm F1.4 Lens Fujifilm Lens X-Pro1 60mm F2.4 Macro Lens
Enhance Your Product Images with Lightroom and Photoshop

If you have limited resources available to create your product images is there any way you can make them pop in post-production? In this step by step tutorial we walk through the editing process used to finish this image.

Should You Begin Photography as an Assistant?

Every once in a while, I receive a request from a beginner photographer who want to become my assistant. I usually decline their application, and in the following article, I'm going to explain why. This information is also useful for those who'd like to become apprentices of established professional photographers.

5 Tips for a Smoother Workflow in Photographing Interiors

Shooting interiors can be a daunting task for an unprepared photographer. No matter how big or small the space is, there will be challenges that you need to face and problems you need to solve. Here are some ideas to get you started.

A to Z of Photography: Exposure and Harold Edgerton

Light is the currency of photography, it's how you use it that defines your creative outputs. As we reach the letter E in our alphabetical journey, what better place to start than with exposure? Joining it, faster than a speeding bullet, is Harold Edgerton.

When Are You Done With Your Portfolio? Hint: the Answer Is Never

A good portfolio is never finished. Portfolios, books, albums, or websites, however a photographer's body of work is contained, it should be ever-evolving and developing even after a photographer has started working on professional projects. Any perception that a photographer can leave a portfolio static once work starts flowing in is a dangerous one. For a number of reasons, developing and improving is an on-going process.

Fstoppers Reviews the Small HD Taradek

When it comes to shooting video, a camera screen can be a bit small and challenging to see. Depending on the type of work that is being done, sometimes it is nice to have an external monitor that can help us compose the perfect shots.

Industry Figures Collapse as COVID-19 Starts to Bite

Following on from some depressing financial results from Canon, new data from CIPA shows that the camera industry took a hit in March, and things are only expected to get worse in the coming months.

A Sci-Fi Short that Looks at Our Obsession with Digital Content and Social Media

Armed with a Canon 5D Mark II, After Effects, CS5, Color Finesse, Sapphire and Final Cut, director Francois Ferracci turns out a striking short film that looks at the direction of social media and digital content. There are quite a few messages that you can take away from "Lost Memories" but the one that hits home for me is how it reflects our future current state of social interaction and how we can so easily get caught up in sharing our moments that we forget to actually experience them.

Equipment Recommendations for Photographing Motocross

Let’s talk some more about photographing motocross, and this time, let’s get down to the technical aspect of photographing this great sport. Don’t worry, you don’t need lots of expensive gear to get decent photographs, especially if you are shooting at your local track.

What if Siri and Photoshop Had a Kid?

By far the thing I hear most often when I'm teaching Photoshop is "there's just so much to remember." We have tons of tools at our disposal and more ways to use them than I can count. This only grows more problematic when you try to edit on a small portable device...but what if you could just say what you wanted to your editing program, and have it done?

Music Series - Part 2: When Artistic Talent Meets Technical Skill

What makes music and photography both so exciting to me is that they have such a beautiful mix of artistic talent and technical skill. Some would say that you can be "born with talent" and that you can "learn a skill". I agree with both of these thoughts, and I think the great thing is that they can both be honed and mastered as well.

Looking for a Creative Community? Try Canon's Incubator

A strong community and invested mentors are crucial ingredients for sustainable growth and success. I recently had the chance to sit down and talk with two Canon Canada FUTURES alum, Eli Meadow Ramraj and Gessy Robin Shumbusho, about the importance of community in their careers. The deadline for Canon Canada's FUTURES Year Two incubator program is fast approaching. If you need that boost you can only get from a committed mentor and supportive community, don't hesitate, don't be nervous, apply.

Vimeo Launches Review Pages

Vimeo launched the upgrade to their Profile Pages a couple of weeks back and they aren't sitting back. They just came out with Review Pages, based on team and client collaboration. It's a space for notes that can be made at certain points of a video.

The Hilarious "The Girl Is Mime" From London's 48 Hour Film Project

I love 24 and 48 hour film contests where teams are given a short amount of time and often a budget limit to shoot, edit and deliver short films that go head to head with eachother at the judges table. "The Girl Is Mime" was created for London's 48 Hour Film Project in 2010 (which it won) and is directed by Tim Bunn, starring Martin Freeman. Also, here is a BTS video, ENJOY!

Framed Interviews Photographer Claudia Kunin On 3-D Art And Ghost Stories

If you're into apparitions or anything spooky, this interview with former commercial photographer, Claudia Kunin, will captivate you. Without giving away much, check out the interview. Her work is extremely unique in what she does and where she's come from. She says she loves ghosts because she's been fascinated since she was a little girl. Combining that love with 3-D ends up taking it to the next level. She even goes over how she does it. More details in the full post.

Use Pinterest as a Poor-Man’s Photo Library

Building an insightful and inspirational library of photography books can be daunting, both from the perspective of the choices entailed in selecting works for inclusion and because of the economics involved. Pinterest boards are a great way to start a photo "book" library for free.