Lightzone 2.4

Lightzone 2.4 has been released with another great feature, which has been further enhanced for photographers, called tonemapper. The detail enhancement in Tonemapper is excellent and does an excellent job of converting Raw files which are a little soft. The new version 2.4 has also been improved with new RAW and New B&W tools.

Lightzone 2.4's RAW tool now implements an exposure slider where can sometimes recapture about +1EV for some cameras by using negative exposure. It also features color noise removal and better white balance.

For more info on how tonemapper works, visit DOP, where there is a feature article on this excellent tool...

Luminous Landscape - Learning The Language Of Our Art

Yet another interesting article from Luminious Landscape on the Language of Photography. In the article a conclusion is made, that in order to produce good photography you have to look at a lot of photography and try to learn the visual language therein. Like any language it takes time to master ... pop on over and read Michaels new essay.

Security Hole Found In Photoshop CS2 & CS3

An exploit code that could take advantage of a "highly critical" security flaw in Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 3, as well as CS2, has been published.

The security flaw is related to the way Adobe Photoshop handles the processing of bitmap files, such as .bmp, .dib and .rle. A malicious file of these types, could allow an attacker to exploit the flaw to launch a buffer overflow attack. The resulting buffer overflow could then allow the intruder to take over the affected user's system. For more info visit silicon.com.

Photoshop Extended Awarded Vidy

John Nack mentions on his blog, that NewBay Media, the publishers of Digital Cinematography and DV Magazine have awarded Photoshop CS3 Extended their "Vidy" & "Top Innovation" awards.

Wacom Display Tablet For The Masses?

With the cintiq line of Wacom diaplay tablets costing some very heavy coinage, it was initially nice to read about the new DTF-521 Interactive Pen display. This 15 inch offering from Wacom is a lower resultion offering for users who want some pen capabilities, but who are not necessarily worrried about a great deal of precision. However I still think that for the $1,624 price tag, I can buy a pretty decent tablet pc with even more in the way of capabilities...

Apple Release Aperture 1.5.3 Update

Apple released an update to Aperture, their Digital Photographers production workflow solution. Aperture version 1.5.3 includes improvement for the software’s overall reliability and performance. According to Apple, key additions and improvements include:

The Generation of thumbnails for adjusted images
Entering and exiting Full Screen mode
Working with large sets of keywords in the Keywords HUD
Restoring from a vault...

Among the specific issues that have been addressed:
Previews now update properly when images are sent to an external editor.- Leaf Aptus 22 and Aptus 75 images are now imported with the correct orientation.
When folders are imported as projects, the folder structure is now correctly preserved when identically named subfolders are included in the hierarchy.
Reconnecting referenced images that have been externally edited now works more reliably.
Setting the ColorSync profile in the Aperture Print dialog now correctly suppresses color management settings in the Mac OS X Print dialog.

Visit Apple for more information and to download the update.

Optical Heterodyning - Focus Correction

Engineers at Mitsubishi Electric have announced that they developed a special coded aperture that refocuses an image after it’s been taken. In the system which is called a “heterodyne light field camera,” the depth of field is increased by as much as 10 times. This is a vast improvement over the handheld plenoptic camera concept that refocuses an image after its capture using software, but which produced an image so reduced is resolution that it lost any real benefit.

Optical Looks promising but also has shortfalls, please visit Refocus Photos for more info on the project and also Deblurring Flutter Shutter Camera on another interesting development from the same team.

Adobe Releases Camera Raw 4.0 and DNG Converter Updates

Adobe have posted updates to Camera Raw and their free DNG Converter today. This update supports the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8. However, if you are using Photoshop CS2, you should not install Camera Raw 4.0.

According to Adobe, "This version of the Camera Raw plug-in is provided by default with the Photoshop CS3 application and replaces the original Camera Raw plug-in that was installed with Photoshop Elements 4.0 (Mac Only), Photoshop Elements 5.0 and Premiere Elements 3.0. The Camera Raw 4.0 plug-in is not compatible with versions of Photoshop earlier than Photoshop CS3 or versions of Photoshop Elements earlier than Photoshop Elements 5.0 for Windows and Photoshop Elements 4.0 for Mac."

Visit the following pages for the Mac and Windows version.

Uninstall CS3 Betas Before Installing CS3 Release

Yep, it's official, CS3 is shipping and Adobe are cautioning those who were on the Beta Test program for the Suite, that they should ensure that they uninstall the Beta Versions completely before installing the Shipping version of the Suite.

Alien Skin Announces Mac Universal Updates

Alien Skin is now shipping Macintosh Universal updates for all our Photoshop plug-ins. These updates are for users running Photoshop CS3 on Intel-based Macs. There Registered users may receive free updates for any Alien Skin plug-ins purchased on or after January 1, 2007. All other customers may purchase updates at $19.99 each for up to three titles; additional titles beyond three are free of charge. For more information visit Alien Skin.

Adobe Begin Shipping CS3

Adobe have commenced shipping CS3, Quite how many folks will upgrade initially remains to be seen, however I've heard from a few designers that the price here in the UK is quite a barrier. Many are thinking about buying grey market US versions. Can't say I blame them... For more information on the release visit Adobe.

Moorman Polaroid For Sale On eBay

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy has to be one of the most famous events in world history. One of the key pieces of evidence is the “Moorman Polaroid” which along with the “Zapruder Film” shows JFK at the moment he was assassinated.

This photo what shot by Dallas resident Mary Ann Moorman on November 22, 1963 and in the shot you can also see the famous grassy knoll and Abraham Zapruder as he is making his previously mentioned home movie of the assassination. Ms. Moorman can funny enough be clearly seen in the Zapruder film as the lady wearing the blue coat.

This historical photo was shot with a Polaroid Land Camera Model 80A and although not in the best of conditions, you can still clearly make out what happens in the famous image. The large thumb print you can see over the rear of the car and one of the motorcycle police was a result of handling during the official investigation back in 1963.

Ms. Moorman and Legend Sales are placing the photo up for auction on eBay starting on Monday. Legend Sales are saying that the auction will run for 10 days, and that they are expecting the photo to bring in between $500K and 2 Million dollars. Ms. Moorman herself will authenticate the Photo. Thanks to Shane McGlaun at i4u for the lead.

PDN Artistic Wedding Photography Gallery

Thnanks to Rob Galbraith I was introduced to a feature at Photo District News which features a gallery of artistic and innovative wedding photography. These photos were winners in their fourth annual Top Knots wedding photography contest. Some stunning work...

OnOne Software Announce Photoframe 3.1 Update

OnOne Software have announced that the PhotoFrame Pro 3.1 update is available as a free download for all registered users of PhotoFrame Pro 3. The Photoshop plug-in provides photographers with thousands of frame and matte selections that add that extra bit of final detail to any digital image.

PhotoFrame Pro 3 allows imageers to apply a wide variety of edge effects to any picture. The choices for customisation with PhotoFrame Pro 3 are extensive and varied. The available selection of border and edge effects such as drop shadows, bevel, glow, border and texture are also impressive.

For more info please visit http://www.ononesoftware.com/

Pentax and Hoya Merger Scrapped

Pentax and Hoya issued a joint statement in december declaring their intention to merge in a share-swap. Pentax has announced that it is to scrap this plan, Pentax president Fumio Urano resigned today over this issue. Takashi Watanuki will take over as president of Pentax. Hoya's board subsequently confirmed they will continue to negotiate for a takeover bid. Interesting times indeed...

NAPP Announces 2007 Guru Award Winners

The National Association of Photoshop Professionals announced the winners of their 2007 Guru Award for the East Coast in Boston. I found the page where these winners were posted to be somewhat disappointing as I couldn't get a better look at the images. However, several of the images, stood out amongst their peers. Namely; "Stewart Island" by Scott Montgomery, "A Day in the Life" by Laura Behnke and "Molokai Infrared" by Judy Morse.

The Guru Awards were created exclusively to recognize the innovation and creativity of attendees of the Photoshop World Conference. I would love to see what some of the other entrants work was like...

Andy Frazer On Night Photography

Andy Frazer is a photographer who has a passion for nocturnal shooting. His photography is centred around abandoned buildings, the urban landscape and the ocean. In his bios he indicates that he is not afraid of the dark, and doesn't like watching television at night. We've previously mentioned his blog in one of our Around the Web spots, however his blog and work are well worth taking a look at. Visit The Night Photography Blog

ILEX Announce The Photographers Eye

Michael Freeman will shortly have a new title released by ILEX Press. "The Photographers Eye" is a book which delves into the mystery of how photographers select their subject matter. The book promises to look at concepts, techniques and also to use case studies and examples to demonstrate each concept. I've enjoyed other books by Michael and I am looking forward to picking this one up too. For more info visit ILEX.

Creative Suite Pricing Petition

Danielle Libine has created an online petition requesting that Adobe revise their pricing for Europe. The petition is one of a number of complaints that have been aimed at international companies which charge more for their products in Europe. In this global market I can't see why a company which doesn't have to pay any more for the products they are selling, to try and gouge us folks in Europe. The fact that products are being sold to us Europeans at close to twice the price of what they are sold for in the US.

DOP Interview Roman Loranc

Digital Outback Photo conducted an interview with classic B&W photographer Roman Loranc in his studio in Modesto, CA. His photos of the California Central Valley and his amazing photos of Polish churches are something to behold. Some of his images can be viewed at, and the interview can be downloaded and listened to, at outbackphoto.com.

Digital Infrared Travel Photography Feature

Professional Photographer magazine have posted a feature on Infrared based travel photography by Joe Farace. I've always had a fascination of near visible light based photography and the effects it has on everyday objects, flora and fauna especially. The online article can be found here and contains many useful hints and tips. The images in the article are also very useful references for those who want to see what is achievable. There are also some very useful links contained in the article.

Shorpy's 100 Year Old Photo Blog

Ok, so it's not really 100 years old, but the Blog is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a boy who worked in an Alabama coal mine, near the turn of the century (19th century that is). The site has the look of a turn of the century newspaper. Visit Shorpy and take a look ... some quite interesting photos.

Breeze Systems

Breeze Systems have released Downloader Pro 2.0, which is a major upgrade to their powerful yet simple tool for transferring digital photos from camera to PC. New features in Downloader Pro 2.0, include automatic geo-tagging, the creation of track log files for GPS data, the ability to view thumbnails on a memory card and IPTC XMP data support. Visit Breeze Systems for more info...

Alien Skin Eye Candy Effects Collection

Alien Skin Software have released the Eye Candy Effects Collection , which bundles Eye Candy 5: Impact, Eye Candy 5: Nature, Eye Candy 5: Textures, Xenofex 2, and Snap Art plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and other photoshop plug-in compatible applications. The Eye Candy Effects Collection includes 54 special effects filters with over 1000 presets.

These filters allow digital artists and graphic designers to create chrome, fire, smoke, lightning, clouds, comics and dozens of other effects with a single click.

These plug-in can be downloaded, including 30 day demos, at the Alien Skin Website. The Eye Candy Effects Collection retails for $399.

Third Public Beta of Photo Mechanic 4.5

Camera Bits have released the third public beta of Photo Mechanic 4.5 for Windows and Mac. Changes include a number of small bug fixes and feature tweaks; The v4.5 beta will expire on April 5th at which time the full release will most likely be available. Betas with such short longevity aren't really Betas in my mind, but are more pre-release teasers. Visit the download page for more info.

Adobe & European Pricing Issues

It seems that Adobe have also not woken up to the fact that people are not happy with their pricing policy. Prodig are reporting that European pricing is up twice that of the US prices. Come on Adobe, how can this be encouraging a fair market. you're going to be driving more people to buy grey market or dare, I even say it, Pirating your software.

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium Upgrade
US £224 / $440
UK £465 / $912

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium Full
US £916 / $1,799
UK £1,409 / $2,766

According to Prodig, "Members of the AOP, EPUK, Hasselblad and German Freelance forums have all joined the bandwagon demanding reasons why pricing can be up to double that in the US." Come on, don't make us pay more because we're not American or you think you can get away with it ... I smell an investigation from the fair trade agencies...

Canon Updates Digital Camera Software

Rob Galbraith has posted an announcement that Canon have posted updates for almost all of the applications they bundle with their line of digital SLR models. He indicates that they have also released the Canon RAW Codec Version 1.0 for Windows Vista which helps address support issues for Raw files on the New windows OS.

Updaters are available for Digital Photo Professional 3.0, EOS Utility 2.0 and ImageBrowser 5.8b/ZoomBrowser EX 5.8b, as well as a full installer for RAW Codec 1.0, which can be downloaded from any of the recent-model Canon digital SLR pages on Canon's Web Self-Service System website. For the updaters to run, you must have earlier versions of Canon digital SLR software installed.