This blog was upgraded to Wordpress version 2.6.1 today, August 16th, 2008.
There were 60 bug fixes and a number of improvements, especially for foreign language support. For most readers here the change should be seamless.
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Each month Chuck Westfall from Canon USA answers questions with insightful answers in The Digital Photo Journalist.This months issue he covers:
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| And don’t forget to read the other fine articles you will find at The Digital Photo Journalist. | ||
Canon patents fuel cell DSLR
I was first introduced to this technology at the 2005 Canon Expo. I for one have been waiting on the release of this technology with baited breath.
What this would mean is a single fuel cell could power the entire camera system, including the external flash. This would allow for a lighter weight system and a longer lasting power supply. In and environmentally sensitive society this system would produce a lower carbon footprint as well, keeping in line with Canon’s commitment to a clean environment.
Posted at engadget.com is an interesting speculation on the future power supply for digital cameras. Canon patents fuel cell DSLR, we’re ready - Engadget.
More details can be found on Photography Bay with their 8/11/08 post and a May 19th 2008 post.
For the true geeks viewing this site you can read the Canon Patent at US Patent & Trademark Office
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I received my Rebel XS this week so I’ve been out having some fun with it. As much as I like the high end equipment from Canon, it’s always a pleasure taking out the entry level camera for a spin. It’s refreshing to work with something light weight and easy to handle.
Compared to the XSi it pretty much looks and feels the same. It’s slightly smaller but really not noticeable unless you put on the vertical grip (BG-E5) where it hangs out just slightly. Apparent Canon was thinking ahead in the design because the end of the grip is tapered as to hide this visually.
Of course there are other differences. The XS has the smaller 2.5″ screen and does not have the sensor to turn off the screen when you bring the camera up to your eye. I simply hit the display button to turn off the screen.
Looking through the viewfinder you will notice it has only…
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Below is an outstanding video showing the parts of a Canon 10D. It’s amazing the number of parts that go into something that basically a box with a hole in it. Even though this is an older model, it still shows how amazing the design of a DSLR really is.
Presented by:
Matthew Farrell, Michelle Pang, Michael Tom,
UC Berkeley
Engineering 128
Spring 2008
Version 2.0
The pictures below is a small sampling of my photo shoot with Freda Adaja, a 18 year old model located in Lynnwood Washington. Freda is a very friendly and intelligent person who is easy to work with. Born in Kenya, she as a very pure African look. Hopefully I will be able to do a future shoot with her dressed in her country’s native clothing. To see her gallery 
I have had my iPhone for a week now, and if you will allow me to jump to the bottom line, I love it! I had no idea really what to expect. I’ve been using cell phones ever since they had to be installed in your car. I’ve tried a lot of phone from simple brick or flip phones to PDAs. This phone is by far one of the best experiences I’ve had with a phone.
To start with, I was expecting something closer to a PDA then what I got. I was a bit disappointed that I could not do spreadsheets or word documents with it. However, I realized that most of what I used those programs for was covered by some other program.
My main interest was to have a good PIM program that I could sync with my Outlook. With the iPhone not only is this possible, but this is by far the best pim program I’ve used.
I prepared to set up all my email and communications as I’ve done in the past. Much to my surprise this was all done for me automatically. In fact, most of the time I normally do setting up a new phone was spent just having fun.
I usually start purchasing tons of applications to meet my business needs on every new phone. Surprise again! Most of what I needed was already there or was available for FREE!
When working with the Canon 580EX II and the new Flash Menu system (available in the Mark III, 40D, XSi and XS), there is a choice in the metering system. When working with these different metering setting is often appears that there is no difference between the two. In fact, in most situations it’s difficult to tell the differences.
 Flash Evaluative Metering |
 Flash Average Metering |
However, the real difference is noticeable when you are using the flash and have no choice but to
Read more »
Canon has posted an excellent artical about the new XSi Live View Mode on the Digital Learning Center. It explains some excellent examples of how and when to use Live View.
Visit: Canon Digital Learning Center - Live View: EOS Rebel XSi
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Each month Chuck Westfall from Canon USA answers questions with insightful answers in The Digital Photo Journalist.This months issue he covers:
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| And don’t forget to read the other fine articals you will find at The Digital Photo Journalist.
Other article I found interesting: |
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This was my first venture in many years to Gasworks Park on the 4th of July. Jockeying for a good position to shoot the fireworks wan not easy, but well worth the effort. Next time I will check carefully for the location of the grounds speakers. I was too close and the sound was deafening.
The corn on the cob was great!
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| Ah, the joy of getting out of the big city, smog, traffic lights, full parking lots and of course bumper to bumper traffic jams. I loved trading San Francisco and Northern California for the big Sky of Montana and Wyoming.But alas, with the new territory come new challenges. Above is one of two “traffic jams” I had to deal with in late June as I traveled through Wyoming. | |
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| One of the many Wyoming “Stalled vehicles”. |
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Each month Chuck Westfall from Canon USA answers questions with insightful answers in The Digital Photo Journalist.This months issue he covers:
And don’t forget to read the other fine articals you will find at The Digital Photo Journalist. |
Getting proper exposure is always a balance and trade off. Each element can be used to increase or decrease the amount of light striking the sensor. When such adjustments are made, a counter adjustmentElement moreLight LessLight EffectSpeed SlowSpeed FastSpeed SlowApertured needs to be made to one or both of the other elements in order to produce the proper exposure.
Each element will have a trade off that can also be creative.
This week has been one of lots of travel and adventure. Taking some time off in Whitefish Montana with relitives I headed to Jackson Hole Wyoming. There I visited DD Camera Corel for a dealer training and to enjoy the area.
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On my trip from Jackson Hole to Boise Idaho I ran into two abandon houses which I could not resist shooting using HDR and then doing some photoshopping. On the right I changed the background of the stormy cloudes o make them look more like it was sunset. |
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HDR |
Photoshopped to appear as if this is tanken after sunset. |
Upon arriving in Boise I did some prep for the upcoming EOS discovery day at Idaho Camera located at their Vista store. We had 74 people attend and the presentation was very well recieved. Idaho Camera did an excellent job of promoting the event to just the right people needing the information presented.
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After watching my friends make lots of money over the last year I finally decided to jump in and join the ITV Ventures. Although this is a MLM type company, it is very different in a three important ways. |
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I’ve join a number of these programs in the past. Some to make money. Some to get the products at a discount. But this is the first where I really want to do both. They have great products and a business plan unlike any other I’ve seen.
Yes you can build a business sponsoring people, making sales or both. But the way you do it is the most unusual and effective I’ve every seen.
It combines those infomercials you see every night on TV with MLM marketing. When people call in for an order they are routed directly to you. No more cold calls or hassling your friends (or former friends). Even sponsoring can be done via an infomercial if you like. Of course you can use the typical form of just telling people you meet or your friends and relatives. Who wouldn’t want to do that if you can look them in the eye and say “I’m making money” and “the products are great”?
Wednesday morning started early as I prepared to present the Canon three hour EOS Discovery Day for Pro Photo Supply in Portland. The class had approximately 50 people. You couldn’t ask for a better place to do a presentation. The gardens are always beautiful.
In the eventing Canon Explorer of Light David Stoecklein spoke and presented some of his material. Check out his website for some of his outstanding work. I had an opportunity to speak with him privately when I drove him to his hotel. He was interested in the EOS Discovery Day I will be presenting in Idaho. He made plans for his son to attend the class and said he would try to make it as well. Like many explorers of light I’ve worked with in the past, many still struggle to keep up with the latest digital technology with their heavy shooting and speaking schedule. So for me, it’s always a pleasure to be able to share the wealth of information and experience with each other. David was hoping I could spend some time with him showing him some of the cool features on his G9 that he was not aware of. I’m looking forward to working with him again. He has a real down home personality that makes him very approachable and easily likable.
1. Changes for Digital Photo Professional 3.4 1-1.
Adds the luminance noise reduction function for TIFF/JPEG images You can make this setting with the [Tool Palette] tab in [Preferences] and the [NR/LENS] tab from the tool palette. 1-3. Adds a lens with the aberration correction function and supports the extender. Now supports sixteen more lenses. Newly supports the extender (EF1.4 X II and EF2 X II) to increase the variety in combinations. For supported cameras and lenses, please see the Help file (or the instruction manual). 1-4. Fixes malfunctions Fixes a bug where RAW images shot with EOS Kiss X2/EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS DIGITAL 450D are not displayed in accordance to the PictureStyle file settings.
2. Changes for Digital Photo Professional 3.3 2-1.
Supports EOS Kiss X2/EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS DIGITAL 450D 2-2. Adds a correction screen You can now choose images saved in different locations and display them on the same screen. 2-3. Improves adjustment functions - Extends the noise reduction adjustment range from 3-step (Off/Low/High) to 11-step (0 to 10). - Adds [Default noise reduction settings] to the [Tool Palette] tab in [Preferences]. 2-4. Adds [Display thumbnails at high quality] to the [General Settings] tab in [Preferences]. 2-5. Supports more cameras and lenses with the lens aberration correction function. Adds support to EOS Kiss X2/EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS DIGITAL 450D and nine lenses.
I spent some time in Ashland Oregon prior to driving up to Portland. I went in and visited Lithia Park and found it full of outstanding photo opportunities. My interest in this particualr park was a discussion with the owner of Bach’s Camera in Medford Oregon about a digital safari to the park in the near future.
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Today I will be spending the day at Bach’s Camera’s Canon Day. I will be talking about the new Rebel XSi, PowerShots lenses and equipment. I will also be answering question, troubleshooting and offering suggestions on how to produce better photos.
I will also be doing an EOS Discover Day for Bach’s Camera. The class will be a three hour presentation on the Rebel XT, XTi and XSi.
Join me if you can
Bach’s Camera Center
1560 C Biddle Road
Medford, OR 97504
PHONE: (541) 779-8743
