Welcome back, winter is here, lets talk….
Summer is nearing its end, we literally have only a few days left in Europe. Many of you who will see this post will already think, what are you talking about Siegfried, because next week I saw the weather forecast predict cold coming our way. Why making mention of the weather here? Well, I do not know about you, I enjoyed summer, took many images and tried many new things. Sometimes I really wished I had time to write about that but there was just not enough time in the day….. We can talk about all we saw and learned over the next few cold months, welcome.
Several new products and software packages were launched recently.
We saw a number of popular software updates this summer plus we saw a few new offers launched this summer. More then once I could not help asking, do we need all these updates? Take the latest version Photoshop Elements version 10, have you seen anything exciting or of enough value that will urge you to update your previous version? Absolutely not!! It seems to me releasing annual updates has become such good business that its build into the annual budgets for the investors to see. No guys, photographers are not that stupid or are we? Having said that, there has been a few releases that are really awesome. Must say Mac with its App Store has let us seen a few new and welcome surprises.
I see there has been a question in the forum on Photoshop Elements. I have been a loyal follower of this great software package for years starting with PSE 2 many years back. PSE 5 was the first large format change and the four recent versions are the ultimate we have seen from Elements. For some reason Adobe never managed to build more power into layers or curves, including adjustment layers using curves, it was really PSE 9 that first had a basic layer mask option. If you asked me then my advice is to get an "older" PSE 9 plus the additional Elements Plus offer that adds a powerful list of additional Photoshop functions to Elements. Finally I will recommend you to get yourself the bundle package from Topaz plus HDR Effect from NIK. Add Portrait-Professional to that and you seriously enabled to do whatever come your way. For those who will use this "package" to make a living with, I will recommend to add the Kelly Web Training School to your suite to really help you speed up mastering those editing skills.
While back I received a mail with an introduction offer and even if I am not that keen for a dedicated portrait package the price was that good that I decided to take the software and to try it. Its called Portrait-Professional and has become my portrait editing tool of choice. I know one can do all with Photoshop and I have continued using Photoshop for most of my editing needs, but with Portrait-Professional I am able to do those images that were really impossible to get looking great. I can only recommend the software.
Another product that has completely changed my life is the iPad, yes you right, I bought the new iPad 2 and just love it!. There are several things about the iPad I like. Apps like SnapSpeed, Filterstorm, HDR Crash, PS Epress, Cool FX plus a few more which really make the iPad shine. One can download images to the iPad from the camera's memory card or directly from the camera and when home one can view these images in HD on your home TV. All you need is the Apple TV black box and of you go.
The last two software products I like to touch on is the new Black and White offer from Topaz. Recently I uploaded the updated Fastone organizer for Windows and the more I use it the more I like it. If you looking for a freeware image organizer that are really good then I can only recommend you to give Fastone a serious look.
There are much more to write about during the winter months and I look forward to do that. When I mentioned on the forum that my son gave me a 7D, Rob gave me really good advice on macro lenses. I was about to get that 100mm f2,8 from Canon when I saw a 180mm from Sigma at a good price on our local buy and sell website. From the specs of that 180mm f3,5 macro from Sigma you will immediately see that I am seriously thinking of doing macro photography. I look forward to use the winter months to master the new lens.
I like to invite you to write me a short mail if you keen to contribute a short article to the site. I am very keen to learn more about the outstanding XZ1 from Olympus, the new lenses and cameras from both Panasonic and Olympus and last but not least, has anybody bought the new Nikon 1? That most definitely look like a interesting alternative!
Siegfried
Absolute Fun Camera
I recall the fun days I had with my Canon PowerShot G7. I could not wait to go out to take images, it was fun, the images looked good and they were easy to edit. Thereafter I owned a number of different cameras, some I really enjoyed and other were extremely capable. None gave me that G7 joy sadly. That was until I bought the E-PL2 from Olympus. Just an amazing camera plus the fun factor is huge, its fun to use, the images are great and its fun to edit these images.
I edited a few images I took a few weeks ago in a awesome little town or village next to a lake called Thun. It is extremely pictures, just like one would expect from Switzerland. If you never visited Switzerland then my advice is wait with the E-PL2 and go to Switzerland;-)
I also added a few more images I took with the E-LP2 in the village my family and I live. Some are edited and others not. One can take them as is, print them in book form and they will look great. Each time I have a photo book printed, I am surprised at the quality and colorful nature of the images.
You will find the images in the Picture section......