Photo Laureates Photographer John Warton Defends Position on ...

As part of John Warton's evaluation of photographs at photo laureates, he has a basic rule: the photograph must speak for itself; regardless of the photographer, the equipment or the history of the shoot.

(PRWeb) January 15, 2007 -- John Warton actively works at reviewing and evaluating photography submissions for a photography association called photo laureates (http://www.photolaureates.org). He sometimes reads skeptical comments in Internet forums, some from professional photographers, who sometimes doubt his ability to judge photographs. Amateur photographers also question his selection of photographs (some going as far as calling it a scam!) .

Photographer accepts William Allen White award

A Friday afternoon ceremony at Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas Union honored the world-renowned photojournalist for exemplifying William Allen White's ideals in service to journalism and to his community.

In his photography, Clarkson has perfected the art of capturing historic moments. His photographs have appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Time magazines and on Wheaties boxes. He has photographed presidents and first ladies and other famous and infamous people.

But the 1956 KU School of Journalism graduate told the crowd of nearly 200 that it was the early days in his career that were his best moments.

“My greatest satisfaction and best lessons were learned at the Lawrence Journal-World and, for 22 years, the Topeka Capital-Journal," he said.

People in Photography

The result, as seen in People in Photography, is an avalanche of more than 200 photographs with extraordinary, occasionally baffling juxtapositions of subject matter and author. Cecil Beaton's portrait of Princess Alexandra shares wall space with an anonymous 1910 portrait of the confident but ultimately doomed boxer Les Darcy and hawkish Kings Cross witch Rosaleen Norton.

The great American portraitist Arnold Newman's take on an earnest but irrevocably shifty Richard Nixon shows the American president attempting a sincere smile from beneath a handwritten, affectionate inscription to an Australian friend.

John Elliott's 1982 photograph of Slim Dusty coexists uneasily with Max Dupain's portrait of a chubby young Yehudi Menuhin, photographed 40 years earlier. Dupain's versatility shows in two other, very different pictures - his carefully lit 1940s views of the enigmatic politician "Doc" Evatt, and the actor Chips Rafferty resting on his haunches in a rocky landscape with his right hand cradling the ever present hand-rolled cigarette.

Forensic photography brings color back to ancient textiles

Although ancient fabrics can offer clues about prehistoric cultures, often their colors are faded, patterns dissolved, and fibers crumbling. Forensic photography can be used as an inexpensive and non-destructive tool to analyze these artifacts more efficiently, according to new Ohio State University research. Forensic photography helps researchers collect information from fragile artifacts before using expensive chemical tests, which cause damage during material sampling. The forensic method also helps researchers narrow areas to sample for colorants, ultimately reducing artifact damage and testing costs. Source: Physorg.com

.

Digital photography computer software

The built-in enhancement intelligence is designed with one goal-achieve the best prints the camera, printer, and paper are capable of producing. Noromis PhotoLab always preserves the original file. All enhancements are applied to the original file on the fly, so no data is lost during multiple, intermediate saves to JPG, which is an incrementally lossy compression format. Noromis PhotoLab also performs all scaling internally based on any chosen print size, so the precisely perfect number of pixels is sent to the printer to yield vibrant, crisp results on that specific printer. Print layouts are handled automatically based on the chosen print size, so no paper is wasted. Noromis PhotoLab - Digital photography software Anyone who has a PC with Windows XP or the new Windows Vista can, with simple on-screen prompts and minimal keystrokes, download photos from a digital camera or memory card, make these adjustments, and save or print the photos, create a slide show, or forward them to friends and family.

Digital photography computer software

The built-in enhancement intelligence is designed with one goal-achieve the best prints the camera, printer, and paper are capable of producing. Noromis PhotoLab always preserves the original file. All enhancements are applied to the original file on the fly, so no data is lost during multiple, intermediate saves to JPG, which is an incrementally lossy compression format. Noromis PhotoLab also performs all scaling internally based on any chosen print size, so the precisely perfect number of pixels is sent to the printer to yield vibrant, crisp results on that specific printer. Print layouts are handled automatically based on the chosen print size, so no paper is wasted. Noromis PhotoLab - Digital photography software Anyone who has a PC with Windows XP or the new Windows Vista can, with simple on-screen prompts and minimal keystrokes, download photos from a digital camera or memory card, make these adjustments, and save or print the photos, create a slide show, or forward them to friends and family.

Nikon D40 test at Steves Digicams

According to Steve Digicams: While Nikon chose a less costly penta-DACH mirror type optical viewfinder, I felt it was a pleasure to use. It offers an approx. 95% view of the captured frame, with plenty of exposure information as well as a comfortable rubber eyecup. For those who are used to EVFs (Electronic ViewFinders) found on many consumer digicams, you'll appreciate the optical thru-the-lens view that doesn't go blank while following a moving subject in continuous capture (burst) mode." Nikon D40 test conclusion - Steves Digicams Steve continues: "Nikon's D40 is not only an awesome little dSLR that captures great photos with robust performance; it also has a very pleasing price tag of $600 or less (and remember this is for the body and the lens.) I feel this model will make an excellent camera for any user who wants a more versatile camera over their consumer digicam, and don't feel like breaking the bank in the process." You want to learn more about the Nikon digital SLR camera? Continue to read the Nikon D40 test at Steve's Digicams! About Steve's Digicams Online Steve's Digicams was founded in the year 1997, by, indeed, Steve.

Photo program goes digital

The photography curriculum will discontinue film instruction and will focus exclusively on digital technology beginning next year because of difficulty acquiring film supplies. Blair is the first school in the county to update its photography equipment and curriculum, said photography teacher Franklin Stallings. Students began this year learning about traditional film photography and will make a transition to digital technology. Next year, students will not learn film photography at all. The traditional "wet" photography techniques in the curriculum, like burning and dodging in the darkroom to adjust a photograph's contrast, will be replaced with lessons on how to process photographs electronically using digital editing software like Adobe Photoshop. To prepare for the increased emphasis on digital processing and editing, Blair has purchased 16 new Apple computers equipped with editing software, in addition to 14 digital cameras, a scanner and a photo printer.

Digital Photography Tutorial: RAW Usage

Sensor RAW is a special image recording option that is only available on digital SLRs and a few other high-quality semi-professional digital cameras. If your camera has this option, you have access to much higher image quality than the standard JPEG file format. In this article Ill explain what you need to unlock that potential.
First, the name. Im really not sure why RAW is always capitalised, and neither is anyone else Ive asked about it. It isnt an acronym, so really it should be written raw, but for some reason its always written in capitals RAW. However inexplicably silly it may be, Ill continue to use the conventional presentation for this article.
Essentially, RAW is just what it sounds like. Its the raw data straight from the cameras sensor.
In a digital camera the photographic image is, as Im sure youre aware, captured by an electronic image sensor. Read More...

Graham Nash doing his best in both music and photography

Graham Nash is well-known throughout the world for the music he's made with the Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash. But music isn't his only artistic outlet -- he is also deeply into photography and imaging. That side of his life in on display in the book Nash Editions: Photography And The Art Of Digital Printing, a new book that explores what goes into fine-art digital printing and his company Nash Editions, which he founded in 1991. The work of Nash Editions is so well-regarded that the first printing press he bought for the company is now on display in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.Nash told us that he's just doing what he can, whether it's in music of photography: "I don't think in terms of magnificent shots, or... I'm just trying to do the best I can. So when people ask me what kind of images I shoot, what kind of music I write, I don't have a clue -- I'm just writing music, and I'm just taking pictures.

Digital Camera Sales Shoot Past Expectations

According to figures just released by the NPD Group, despite an expected slowdown in digital camera sales — why buy a camera when your phone will take the picture? — US digital camera unit sales increased in 2006 at a rate comparable to 2005 increases, 19.8% and 19.1%, respectively.
Emily Fassanella, a research analyst with Photo Marketing Association International (PMAI), surmises several reasons for the better-than-expected sales volume: "While many households already own a digital camera, during the past holiday season some households acquired an additional unit. Family households may now own several digital cameras as spouses and children purchased or received cameras as gifts. Also, some households that already owned digital cameras chose to upgrade to cameras with a resolution of at least 6 megapixels or bought an entry-level DSLR."
Of course, she added, late adopters of digital cameras are helping to drive sales too.

Two New Cyber-shot handsets from Sony Ericsson

Soon after announcing it has shipped 4.5 million of its Cyber-shot camera phones since the launch of the K790/K800 last summer, Sony Ericsson has introduced two new phones to the Cyber-shot phone family.
The K810/K818 Cyber-shot phone is a device boasting a 3.2 megapixel camera including auto focus and Xenon flash. Innovative applications such as Photo fix help to further improve the quality of your pictures, even after you have taken them. Illuminated Camera Icons to the side of the main keypad, which light up when in camera mode, allow the user to access camera menu options at the touch of a button.
As a compliment to this, the K550 Cyber-shot phone delivers the benefits of the Cyber-shot phone in a compact (14mm thin) form factor. The handset is equipped with a 2.0 megapixel camera with auto focus plus LED photo light and active lens cover.

Brakes on digital camera growth

GROWTH in digital camera shipments by Japanese makers in 2007 is expected to slow from an SLR-fuelled 22 per cent in 2006 to 7.5 per cent this year. Global shipments by makers such as Canon and Sony are estimated to rise to 84.9 million units in calendar 2007 from 79.0 million units last year, according to figures released by the Camera and Imaging Products Association.
Demand will continue to lose speed as shipment growth is expected to slow to 4.3 per cent in 2008, and 2.5 per cent the following year, the association said.
The Tokyo-based industry group also forecast shipments of digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) models, geared for professionals and hobbyists, will continue to show double-digit growth in 2007.But growth in the category would also slow compared to 2006
This year, shipments of DSLRs are forecast to increase 13.9 per cent to 5.99 million units, lagging behind a 38.9 per cent jump in 2006 to 5.26 million units.

Single-pixel camera to take on the Megapixel

Researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas are developing a single-pixel camera aimed at taking on the inefficiencies of the modern digital camera. The single-pixel camera aims to do away with the millions of pixels that are often not needed in a modern image due to redundant or duplicate information in the shot. Whilst the camera is currently the size of a suitcase and bears a resemblance to an old-fashioned pinhole camera, Kevin Kelly, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Rice, states that it is only the beginning of things. Hopefully it will get smaller, he added. What is so inefficient about this (modern digital camera compression) is that we acquire all these numbers for example 10 megapixels only to throw away 80-90% when we do the compression process, explained Dr Kelly's colleague Richard Baraniuk.

Ultra thin telephoto lens to revolutionise camera phones

Engineers in California have announced the development of a new lens that could drastically improve the quality of camera phone images.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) created the ultra thin camera using origami to fold up the telephoto lens. They are hoping that the development will yield thin and lightweight high resolution cameras for use in mobile phones.
The resulting imager is around seven times more powerful than a standard lens of the same depth meaning cameras can now be much thinner and more powerful at the same time.
Joseph Ford, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Jacobs School who leads the camera project, commented.

Top press pictures put the world in focus

AN IMAGE of a group of young Lebanese driving a car through bombed-out South Beirut, taken by Spencer Platt of Getty Images, won the top World Press Photo prize for news photography yesterday.
Described by judges as full of "complexities and contradictions", the 15 August, 2006 photo shows five people in a bright red car - one taking pictures with her camera phone, another with her expression hidden behind designer sunglasses - amid the rubble with crumbled buildings in the background.

Read More...

Self-taught techniques

Without much cajoling, international award-winning photographer Song Jin Tek reveals the secrets behind his remarkable photo of a bird diving underwater with a fish firmly in its beak.
Conventional wisdom has it that nature photography requires patience and luck, but Song, whose work ranked 9th in the Photographic Society Americas colour slide division in 1990, says he can make birds, dragonflies, butterflies and insects pose for him.
His birdshot, entitled Catching (1990), was actually a scene from an aquarium. As part of the props preparation for the shot, Song impaled a live fish on a wire and planted it firmly among rocks in the middle of the aquarium.
Other fish, meant only for the camera, were made to swim among the leafy sides, shielded to prevent from distracting the bird.

Read More...

Study Confirms Potential of Cell Phone Photography

The photography sector is facing another upheaval: Towards the end of the 1990s, digital cameras started replacing analog models. Now there is a new trend to replace digital cameras with cell phones with camera capabilities. A representative study carried out by optical component specialists Schneider Kreuznach confirms the potential of cell phone photography. Around 1,000 users in Germany, China, India, and the U.S.A. were interviewed about their specific usage patterns relating to picture-taking with digital cameras and cell phones. International comparison of usage patterns One out of four respondents indicated that in future they would exclusively use cell phones for picture-taking (early adopters), provided the quality matched that of today's upper mid-range digital cameras with approximately 6 million pixels.

Read More...

Self-Taught Techniques

Without much cajoling, international award-winning photographer Song Jin Tek reveals the secrets behind his remarkable photo of a bird diving underwater with a fish firmly in its beak.
Conventional wisdom has it that nature photography requires patience and luck, but Song, whose work ranked 9th in the Photographic Society Americas colour slide division in 1990, says he can make birds, dragonflies, butterflies and insects pose for him.
His birdshot, entitled Catching (1990), was actually a scene from an aquarium. As part of the props preparation for the shot, Song impaled a live fish on a wire and planted it firmly among rocks in the middle of the aquarium.
Other fish, meant only for the camera, were made to swim among the leafy sides, shielded to prevent from distracting the bird.

Read More...

Aerial Photography as High Art

Conrad Lowman is an artist who really gets high on his art. High in the sky, that is. While he was studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, Lowman was inspired to take to the air with a camera. He had seen the works of William Garnett, a pilot who took pictures of wheat fields and man’s manipulation of the earth from the sky.
In 1990, after he had formed his own photography business in Wilmington, he was on an aerial shoot over the USS North Carolina Battleship when he asked the pilot to fly over the barrier islands and marshes.
“The patterns, textures, designs and colors were so spectacular that I have been photographing nature’s changing waterscape ever since,” he said during the opening of a show on Jan. 25.
His aerial photographs are on display at the Fayetteville’s Museum of Art’s Gallery 208.

Read More