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Red Dog News #96 •
All about photography, all the time! • October 26, 2012
If for any reason this issue looks wonky, please read it online, here.
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Dear Reader,
I really can't believe that Red Dog News is already at issue #96. It seems like only yesterday that the first issue rolled out into cyberspace. Who knew! With that pronouncement I would like to announce a revision for Red Dog News, which will coincide with the announcement of the winners of the 2013 Red Dog News, Color It Red photography contest.
The newsletter will be remodeled to better reflect the changes in online publishing. It will be more user friendly. It will be more informative. It will be multi-platform ready. It will be more "colorful." It will have more writers. It will be... better.
Color it Red!: The images from "Color It Red 2012" are still being viewed quite a bit over on RedDogNews.com. You can scroll down in the main body of this issue for entry and deadline information about the 2013 Red Dog News, Color It Red photography contest.
In this issue we have a review of the Nikon D3200 by Helen K. Garber. Her style of reviewing is very fresh and personal. Also in this issue of Red Dog News, besides the Color It Red announcement, there are a couple more calls-for-entry, plus new product announcements, informative articles, and a link to a PDF version of my book, "Poser: a sketchbook of ideas for artists and models." This PDF will make a great present for that photographer on your list who works with models and runs out of ideas on occasion.
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Tim McCoy is our current Showcase Feature Artist. Click on the header to find out more about this innovative photographer. Mark Sharfman will be the next Showcase Feature. Here are the remaining Showcase Header artists in the current run: John Flatz, Rachel Raab, Chris Johnston, Jeff Sutton, Andy Schmitt. As soon as we get down to only two left I will open that feature up, again, on a first come, first served basis. The price will remain the same ($60) for a two-issue run in Red Dog News, as well on the header of RedDogNews.com.
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BuskerBags™ Update: There is not much time left in the BuskerBags™/Kickstarter project, and we only have 2% of what we need to get funded.
If you have a minute, I would really appreciate it if you went over to the BuskerBags™ Facebook page and gave it a "Like." If you would like to take a look at the project on Kickstarter, please click here.
Every contributor to my Kickstarter project will receive something. A great deal of time was spent researching and deciding on what kind of premiums to offer, and those I have selected will be VERY worthwhile, from even the $10 contribution all the way up to and beyond the $2,500 level.
Click here to forward this issue of Red Dog News to an interested friend. Thank you!
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Red Dog News Affiliate Sponsors:
Please make every effort to shop from the those listed below in order to maintain the free status of Red Dog News.
ArtBiz Coach
: I continue to go back to Alyson Stanfield's reissue of " I'd rather be in the studio! " time and time again. It is full of insightful information about all apsects of running your creative business, as well as the fine art of being a fine artist. Indispensable information from an indispensable source. This book should really be on your bookshelf!
ThinkTank Photo: The new Citywalker bag series is a soft messenger bag series of bags that comes in 3 sizes and 2 color options (black and blue slate).
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Ranging from the CityWalker 10 (left, which fits a standard DSLR with 24-70mm lens attached plus 1-2 small extra lenses, flash and a tablet) through the the CityWalker 30 which fits a DSLR with 24-70mm lens, plus 2-4 lenses, flash and a 15-inch laptop.
• Benchmark: Benchmark is an email marketing company that specializes in getting the word out, with many free additions to a very efficient service. They offer simple templates for your newsletters or other methods of email communication, as well as surveys, archives, and tracking reports. Give them a try (free trial!), and you won't be sorry.
• Red River offers premium photo inkjet papers with quality equal to or better than the big retail brands (and other alternative inkjet brands) with savings up to 40% everyday. They have a great selection of photo papers, 25 different inkjet papers in 14 different sizes. They are in-stock and ready to ship. You can enjoy low prices without the need for sales or coupons. Shipping is rapid and guaranteed. Orders ship in less than 8 business hours from being placed. Their technical support is better than most and emails are usually answered in less than four business hours.
• Photoshelter: The template website provider for many of the world’s best photographers. Register with this provider and you can count on excellent customer service, built-in sales and marketing tools, including countless guides and white papers.
• ProBlogger: Fully revised and updated for 2012, ProBlogger’s “31 Days to Build a Better Blog” is a must-have for those of you interested in building and maintaining a great blog.
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GoDaddy: Go Daddy is offering a limited time $2.95 .COM promotion. From now until October 31, 2012, your customers can own the world's most popular domain for over 75% off our regular price. Go Daddy makes it easy for anyone to set up a presence on the Web quickly and affordably. Each $2.95.COM includes: FREE InstantPage™ website, FREE domain-based personalized email, FREE photo album & more. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this $2.95 .COM sale.
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Photo contests: Is that a contest or rights grab?
Photo contests have been around since the days when chemistry was first introduced to develop light sensitive cellulose – in other words, since before photography became a popular hobby in the 1930’s.
What has changed, however, is the intended flavour of the contest. It wasn’t long ago the photo contest was a vehicle that promoted the pleasurable pursuit of photography as a hobby and rewarded excellence in craft.
However, in the past decade, photo contests have more often than not become a rights grab by preying on unsuspecting entrants who have absolutely no idea what all the legal talk translates too. For example, the following text is copied from a recently announced contest by an internationally recognized environmental NGO that I have supported for years. Its rules read, in part:
By entering (reference to contest deleted) the contest, you retain the rights to your works while granting XXXX (sponsors name deleted) the unrestricted, royalty-free, perpetual right to use, reproduce, communicate, modify and display the works (in whole or in part) for any purpose without any fee or other form of compensation, and without further notification or permission.
By participating in this contest, you release and agree to indemnify and hold harmless XXXXX(reference to contest deleted) and its employees, directors, officers, affiliates, agents, judges and advertising and promotional agencies from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of actions, or losses of any kind resulting from your participation in this contest or receipt or use of any prize.
So, what does all this mumbo-jumbo mean and how does it relate to the photographer who wants to have some fun with their pictures?
First, because the contest sponsors are using a lot of legal jargon, it behoves the photographer to understand some of the terms. But first, let’s do a very quick primer on photography and copyright. As a preface let me first say this is NOT LEGAL ADVICE, but opinion based on more than 20 years as a professional photographer who has had to learn Copyright legislation by default.
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Lytro camera redefines focus systems
The Lytro camera lets you create living pictures that you can endlessly refocus after you take them. Share your pictures online, and your friends can instantly refocus them just like you do. Your pictures are about to surprise you — and everyone else.
The Lytro camera lets you capture and share what you see in a whole new way. It’s the first consumer camera that records the entire light field — all the rays of light traveling in every direction through a scene — instead of a flat 2D image. And that changes everything.
By capturing the light field, you can do incredible things. Like refocus pictures after you take them. Tap the touchscreen on whatever part of the picture you want to bring into focus — or, once a picture is imported into your computer, click to refocus.
Refocusing lets you experience a picture differently with each click. It’s like walking through the scene all over again. So now every picture you take is a chance to compose a new story.
The free Lytro Desktop application lets you import your living pictures to your computer and easily share them online. Once shared, your friends can see and refocus your pictures online — with no special plug-ins, software or anything else. Your pictures are going to be very popular.
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"Color It Red" call-for-entry returns for 2013
After sorting through 296 images from 62 photographers, it still took a tie-breaker to determine the first through fourth placings in the 2012 Red Dog News, Color It Red photography contest. We hope for just as much, if not more, in the 2013 Red Dog News, Color It Red photography contest. Good luck!
Order of Color It Red 2012 finish: Fran Matthews (left), Bobbie Goodrich, Jim Shirey, Lisa Collard, Jerry Downs, Cathy Panebianco, Susan Graham, Jene Youtt, Stephanie Houston, Kimber Wallwork-Heineman. You can click here to view last year's winners.
To keep things simple, there will be only one juror, Tim Anderson, who is a member of Eyeist, a new online portfolio review service. Tim has juried for Review Santa Fe, Review LA, Worldwide Photography Gala Awards, Annual New Mexico Photographic Arts Show, Photolucida, Palm Springs Photo Festival, and others. He has also serves as a photography mentor and workshop instructor.
There will be great prizes, and the top 50 images entered will be displayed on the RedDogNews.com site. In case of "close calls" another juror(s) will be utilized.
Entry Fee: $35.00/five images (no extras)
Contest Opens: October 26, 2012
Deadline: December 20, 2012
Winners Announced: January 15, 2013
Juror: Tim Anderson
Prizes: TBA
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Eyeist online portfolio review service is launched
Eyeist is an online photography review service that connects you with the top experts in the industry, providing the feedback necessary to take your images to the next level.
• Learn how to take better photographs
• Get objective expert feedback on your images
• Connect in real-time with industry experts
• Receive career guidance and direction
• For hobbyists to seasoned professionals
Suggested Services:
Basic Review,
Website Review,
Live Review,
Editing & Sequencing
Partial list of reviewers: Tim Anderson, Red Dog News; Suzee Barrabee, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners; Barbara Bordnick, Barbara Bordnick Photography; Steve Bronstein, Photographer; Chris Buck, Photographer; Beate Chelette, PhotoBizCoach; Michelle Dunn Marsh, Book Editor, Designer, Visual Thinker; Jill Enfield, Jill Enfield Photography; Michael Grecco, Michael Grecco Productions, Inc.; R. Mac Holbert, The Image Collective; Patricia Lanza, Annenberg Space for Photography; Stephen Mayes, VII Photo Agency LLC; Jennifer Miller, Martha Stewart Living; Jennifer Pastore, Photography and Creative Consultant; Maria Piscopo, Creative Services; Ariel Shanberg, The Center for Photography at Woodstock; Alison Unterreiner, Esquire Magazine; Allegra Wilde, Eyeist; Everard Williams, Art Center College of Design.
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The 21st Editions Master Collection of Image, Word, and Artisan Bindings
The 21st Editions Master Collection of Image, Word, and Artisan Bindings
The Master Collection (1998-2012), 21st Editions' magnum opus, represents a unique collection of handmade photographs, classic and contemporary literature, and fine press books with artisan bindings.
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Influenced by the great accomplishments of the likes of Alvin Langdon Coburn, Julia Margaret Cameron, Edward Curtis, Maxime DuCamp, Peter Henry Emerson, William Morris, Alfred Stieglitz, and William Henry Fox Talbot, this collection is unique, comprehensive and without equal in its diversity of image, word and craft. The 21st Editions Master Collection is the very first and likely last collection of its kind.
There are currently thirteen full and complete sets in the world, to which books are still being added. Five of these are in private collections and one belongs to an academic institution.
Of the remaining seven complete sets, the publisher is offering one set comprised of Deluxe Editions for $375,000, as well as one set comprised of both Deluxe and Museum Editions for $500,000.
Currently, the two collections offered are each comprised of 46 and 48 titles of bound books and portfolios, with 570 handmade photographs (495 signed) and 702 handmade photographs (652 signed), respectively. The majority of the photographic prints are hand-coated platinum and palladium prints while the balance is made up of silver-gelatin, photogravure, kallitype, cyanotype, and pigment-ink prints. The bindings are uncompromisingly rich and varied.
Photographers include Imogen Cunningham, Flor Garduño, Eikoh Hosoe, Michael Kenna, Sally Mann, Sheila Metzner, Robert ParkeHarrison, Masao Yamamoto, Joel-Peter Witkin, and many others.
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Helen K. Garber takes a look at the Nikon D3200
I have always said the best camera you can have is the one in your pocket and boy did I have fun with this small, light, 24-mega-pixel camera. Or shall I call it image-capture tool? I don’t think camera is the correct term for these new-fangled 21st century machines.
I am a person of the old school and I have to have control over the machine. In other words, I shoot RAW, don’t give a crap about all the extra doodads in the camera and just see what the sensor can capture and allow me to manipulate in Photoshop.
I downloaded Photoshop 6 as long as I was downloading the new update to read the camera files and it was a nice combination to play with.
I am known for my night photography and wanted to see how the camera would handle low-light situations. Nikon just sent me the 18-55 variable speed lenses it comes with that didn’t open up any more than 3.5. Something I am not used to at all. I have been relying on top-of-the-line, fast, Nikon lenses for more than 25 years and it took me a bit to get used to the less-friendly ability. This is not to say, you can’t go out and buy the latest, best lenses available and use them on this sweet little machine. I just don’t have anything newer than my 20th century lenses and up until now, they were fine for all my applications.
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I was disappointed that my own old lenses could only be used in manual, but to tell you the truth, for night photography in the desert, you are set on infinity, anyway, so the manual focus was no problem. I couldn’t use the program mode on the camera, but I don’t anyway and was able to manage pretty well with using the speed setting, my favorite way to shoot. Believe me, though, I would rather have a matching set.
Sometimes I switch to the aperture setting, but basically I am always checking my settings to get the best depth-of-field for landscape applications. And of course, I also keep moving the ISO setting to get speed and the least noise. I am used to my 10-megapixel cameras, so I never went above 800 ISO on the d3200. I would have tried 1000 or 1250, but it doesn’t allow you to. Straight to 1600, which is fine for most applications.
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Editing and Portfolios: Do You Have to Push the Button?
Fine art or fine blur? ©Tim Anderson
I think the faith behind art photography is the belief that if one single sentient operator decides a) what to take pictures of and how, and then decides b) which of the results to print or publish or otherwise make available to others, and what format and order to present them in, that this double selection process will let something of that individual's unique outlook, or concerns, or way of seeing, or taste shine through into the picture or pictures, either singly or as part of a group—or even more durably, as a consistent, persistent style. If the effort is successful, the pictures will say something about the unique genius of the person as well as what the picture shows.
Like any such definition, that one's perched at the target end of a machine-gun range, ready to be shot full of holes. For one thing, for 90% or more of the vast mass of the digital tsunami pictures flooding the Web, armored with copyright notices and emblazoned with stern warning of all rights reserved!, authorship matters not a whit, not a whisper. There isn't a trace of distinction in any of them, much less any personality, much less any soul. They might as well have been taken by a robot with an auto-interval camera on top. The Web is rife with "clear pictures of fuzzy concepts."
And many different photographers have had their own ways of refining or adapting the basic art-photography idea. Many photographers don't do their own editing. Many (especially now) don't do any editing. To some, the craft is paramount; for others, the craft is delegated. Some people shoot a lot, some a little; some like found scenes, others like to control everything in front of the camera. Some people like funky equipment and sloppy technique, or accidents, or the telltales of photographic "errors" such as motion blur or odd cropping, and others are fastidious or even fanatical about every detail of "image quality" (a loaded term if ever there was one).
(Thanks to Mike Johnston and T.O.P.)
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Sony World Photography Awards: open competition call-for-entry
Are you a serious photographer with a true passion for the job? Do you understand the craft of taking pictures, documenting a story, conceptualising an idea, capturing emotions and evoking a response from those who view the finished product?
Submit your best work for the chance to become the next Sony World Photography Awards, Professional Photographer of the Year and win our most coveted prize, the L’Iris d’Or, along with prize money of $25,000.
Important points to note:
• Submissions must be based on a body of work.
• Photographs submitted in to a category must be from the same body of work and will be judged as such.
• Images entered in to the Professional Competition must have been completed or first published in 2012.
First published in 2012, means that the photographs entered may have been taken before 2012 but due to having been commissioned by a client to be published in 2012, have not been publicly exhibited or published in any online or print media before 2012.
Basic, Advanced and Premium Members can enter a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 10 images into each category. You may enter as many categories as you wish; however you cannot enter the same series or images into more than one category. You may highlight a single “signature image” from each series.
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Plates to Pixels announces annual themed call-for-entry
Our annual themed exhibition is back! This year we are seeking work that embodies the concept of "Enchantment." Along with the online gallery exhibition our annual fundraiser will be supplemented by an exhibition print catalog for this show and will be available for purchase when the exhibition launches. This call is open to all photographers. Exhibit will run through the month of December 2012.
NO ENTRY FEE. SUBMIT UP TO 5 IMAGES by November 16, 2012 (midnight PST).
JUROR: Blue Mitchell, Plates to Pixels Curator and Diffusion Founder.
AWARDS
• Best of Show winner receive a copy of the exhibition catalog and a Diffusion Diner Mug.
• 1st-3rd place winners receive a Diffusion Scout Book and a Plates to Pixels button.
• Honorable mentions will also be awarded.
• More prizes TBA.
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Santa Fe Workshops presents "Outside" call-for-entry
Be Honored by Leaders in the Photographic Community … And Win the Workshop of Your Choice!
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It’s a big, wide, wonderful world out there. And we all see it differently. From sweeping landscapes, to cityscapes, to the geography of textures, forms and shapes—we express our interpretations of outside in color and in black-and-white, using tools that range from digital and film cameras to alternative processes, to iPhones.
The images of our “outside” communicate and share our view of the world, help us understand our place in it, and bring us all a little closer together.
Our contest is an opportunity to pause and review your photography, then join our international community of photographers and share your images with our distinguished judges. The prizes are great, and the 50 winning images are featured in The Workshops online gallery.
The Workshops is grateful to our educational partners and sponsors who have contributed to an impressive prize list with a total value of over $12,000. Entrants have the opportunity to win one Grand Prize, one Second Prize, one Third Prize, or one of 46 Honorable Mentions. Entrants who are alumni are eligible to win one Workshops Director’s Award.
Jurors: Amy Silverman, Photo Editor, Outside magazine; Eddie Soloway, photographer; Debra Klomp Ching and Darren Ching, Co-Owners, Klompching Gallery; Reid Callanan, Director, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops
Deadline: November 13, 2012
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Red River Paper introduces San Gabriel SemiGloss Fiber
San Gabriel SemiGloss Fiber brings back the look of traditional fiber prints from the heyday of chemical darkrooms. The paper has a lightly textured surface, which adds depth and an elegant reflectivity to the finished print. San Gabriel SemiGloss Fiber has a pleasant warm tone that adds natural richness to portraits and landscapes.
Black & White images benefit from deep black density and just enough whiteness for great contrast. This whiteness comes from a layer containing a special barium sulfate variant called blanc-fixe which means permanent white. This material is inert and lends stability to the shade of the paper over time. The coating and base materials are free of acid, lignin, and fluorescing brightening agents. San Gabriel gives you all you need for true exhibition quality photographic prints.
• Lightly textured semigloss surface
• Superb saturation and black density
• 100% alpha-cellulose base stock
• Baryta whitener layer (pure barium sulphate)
• State-of-the-art inkjet coating
• Totally acid free
• Exhibition and museum ready
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Photojojo solves the empty film cannister challenge
We don’t know if reincarnation is real, but we do know that if it was, we’d want to be brought back with superpowers. We’re willing to wait until this is figured out.
Others don’t have to wait so long. Say hallo to our Recycled Film Roll Magnets!
They’ve been rescued from forgotten photo lab bins across the country and given the powers of magnetism. Each one has a super strong neodymium magnet hidden in its insides!
Each set of three is a surprise combo of film from yesteryear -- that means every order is different. Maybe you'll get a Kodachrome, or a discontinued Portra!
With Recycled Film Roll Magnets you’re giving someone's spent canisters a second life while pinning your fantastic photos up in a really unique way!
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Thank you for choosing to read another issue of Red Dog News. I look forward every issue to bringing you interesting articles, compelling imagery, and insightful tips in the world of photography and the creative spirit.
Be well,
Tim
Red Dog News |
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