The last time I was at Harriman was in autumn when Sue and I made this video of "Photography Questions and Answers".  This time out we found a totally different park, specifically one that was covered in snow and ice.  While we didn't make another video, we did have an adventure which you may find humorous.   While driving slowly along the quiet mountain road just after sunrise, I saw these massive icicles.  Normally I would pull over, get out and set up my tripod.  Unfortunately there was no where to pull off.  I quickly surveyed the scenario and figured I could take a few quick shots while stopped in the middle of the road.  I grabbed my 70-200, checked my mirrors and confirmed there were no other cars anywhere.  If there was any traffic I would not have even attempted it.  I hopped out quickly and gasped at the beauty of the scene.  I was just about to bring the camera to my eye when I heard Sue panic and say "Ummm... WHY is the car ROLLING???".  I should have mentioned that I drive a stick shift and in my haste failed to throw on the e-brake and we were on a hill with a slight downward grade.  Luckily I was able to hop back into the moving car Dukes of Hazzard style and stop it.  It's amazing how things like that seem to happen in slow motion.  After that little bit of drama I apologized profusely and made the shot above.  Camera settings at f10, 1/125, ISO 500.   

Pictured Above: The Herd Mentality of the Target Market

There is a fine line between the need for new gear, and succumbing to marketing hype. If the following scenario sounds familiar, don't worry, you are not alone. A new camera is released and it has 3 more 
megapixels than your current body plus a few new features you may or may not use.  You go online to your favorite photography forum and  dozens of members claim to have placed their pre-order already. They 
boast that this will be light years ahead of the model you currently  own.  The phrase "game changer" is tossed around liberally.  In scanning a few threads, the popular sentiment seems to indicate that all previous models have become  worthless overnight.  You check the well known blogs and sure enough, they have already been using the new test model for several months now. Of course they also claim it to be the hottest, fastest, smartest, feature rich camera they've ever seen.  Discouraged, you log off and watch some TV only to be disrupted by the mailman.  Your latest issue of xxx photography magazine has arrived and much to your surprise, the cover is a frame filling photo of the new two thousand dollar camera. The headline proclaims it to be the next big gun you just have to buy if you want to shoot like the pros.  You flip to the inside article but the text is identical to the press release from the camera manufacturer. It's nothing but an ad disguised as an article. You know there is nothing really wrong with your current camera, but you don't want to be left behind. Defeated, you log back online and charge the next best thing to your credit card.  You hide it from your spouse as deep down you know it really wasn't necessary. The camera is delivered and you test it out. The first thing you notice is that your memory cards fill up much faster. You make a mental note, "need bigger memory cards". When you get home and download the images you realize the files take up more space on your hard drive. Another mental note, "need new computer". Your shiny new camera sits beside you as you log back on and resume shopping. Six months later you finally finish paying off the credit card bill.  You are about to lace up your hiking boots and grab your camera, but decide to check your email first.  There in your inbox is a message from your friendly camera store. Your heart sinks as you begin to read.  Your new camera is already old news.  The next best model has just been announced and promises to be better than anything you can imagine!  You slump in your chair and start researching the new camera. Suddenly you don't feel much like hiking after all.
 
Thankfully there are some simple ways to avoid this vicious cycle. First, if your favorite blogger raves about a new camera but is also conveniently featured in advertisements from the same manufacturer, do yourself a favor and unsubscribe from their feed and newsletter right now.  They are being paid to sell you something and do not have your best interests in mind.  Next, un-bookmark those forums that are filled with rumors and speculation about the next dream camera.  Then, write to the editors of the photography magazine you subscribe to and let them know you want more information on how to take better pictures, and less advertisements disguised as articles.  Once you've eliminated these distractions, you can spend your time mastering every aspect of your camera. Upgrades should only be done when you are technically limited by your current model.  Instead of purchasing every new camera, wait for every third model. This will work out to roughly every three years. Use the savings to visit a nearby State or National park. This is where you will really get a chance to better your portfolio.  Only by spending your time and energy on photography will you truly improve.  Just as a new guitar won't turn an aspiring musician into Jimmy Page, no camera can transform you into the next Ansel Adams.  For inspiration, check out this article about Alex Majoli, an award winning photographer who achieved great results using two pocket sized point and shoot cameras to photograph conflict abroad.  Study the work made by Henri Cartier-Bresson, who primarily used one camera and lens during his long and prolific career.  Consider this quote by photographer Ernst Haas who said, "the limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are." 

The next time you come across a glowing review of the latest "must have camera", let the masses flock to it like sheep.  While they are busy testing ISO noise levels with charts and debating the merits of autofocus systems, you can get back to what's really important; taking pictures. 

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If you like Gmail's simple interface, but want to use your own professional domain to send and receive email, you are in luck.

To give your company a professional appearance, you never want to email a client from a third party account.  For example, would you think your money was secure if your bank emailed you from goofywill@aol.com? The same idea applies to your photography company.  Instead of settling for me@gmail.com, or me@yahoo.com, create an email address that stems from your domain name.  For example, if your website is mywebsite.com, your email could be me@mywebsite.com.  

Here's how to set this up in less than 10 steps!

1) In Gmail, go to "Settings" then click "Accounts and Import".    

2) Under "Send Mail As", select "Send Mail from Another Address".

3) Enter the name and email address for the new account.

4) You will see an option to send the email with Gmail's servers or through your domain's server.  Choose the second option.  If you are not sure of your SMTP Server, Username, Password, and Port, you may want to call your domain provider as they will be able to assist with this.

After filling in the required data, hit "Add Account".  You will then be required to click one final link in a confirmation email.  That's all there is to it!

Forward All Email Accounts to Your Gmail

When someone emails you at me@mywebsite.com you can have it automatically forwarded to your Gmail inbox.  This eliminates the need to check several email accounts, as it all gets consolidated into one convenient place.  To set this up, the process is similar to the above mentioned steps.  

1) Start by clicking “Settings” in Gmail, then click “Accounts and Import”.       

2) Next, click “Add POP3 email account”.

3) Then enter the email address of the account you wish to get mail from.

4) Finally, add the username, password, and POP Server information.  Again, you may need to contact your domain service for this info.  

I've been using this system for quite some time now and I can tell you it works quite well! 

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This is my second Photoshop CS4 screencast and I'm starting to feel a bit more comfortable while recording them.  In the first one, I covered how to make a layer mask in less than 2 minutes.  Here, I show you how to use the High Pass filter along with Hard Light and a layer mask to selectively sharpen a portion of the image.  Like all things with Photoshop, there are multiple ways of accomplishing the same tasks. Try this out for yourself and let me know what you think.  Thanks!

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This project involved the use of many different pieces of equipment, and techniques.  I've detailed the process below, but I'll be glad to answer any questions in the comment area. 

1) LENS

I used the 12mm Fisheye optic mounted in the Lensbaby Composer.  This unique lens allowed me to include the architecturual features of Grand Central Terminal while still capturing the activity on the floor below.  The Fisheye optic comes with a series of aperture discs that control your depth of field.  I used f8 to make sure I had sharp focus from the foreground to the back wall.   For more on Lensbaby, check out the interview I did with CEO Sam Pardue back at Photo Plus in NY.

2) FOCUS

Since you cannot autofocus with a mounted Lensbaby, I had to rely on my eyes to manually focus.  While I have 20/20 vision, I didn't want to leave anything to chance so I used the wonderful "LiveView" feature.  By doing this I was able to magnify the display on the LCD to 10x.  It's like zooming in on the entire scene withouth actually changing the effective focal length of the lens.  At 10x everything is much larger which allows you to micro focus on any portion in the scene.  Previously I had only used LiveView for Macro work with tiny subjects, but it really shined here as well. 

3) SUPPORT

The camera was mounted on the Gorillapod for DSLR's.  While this little item will never replace my trusty Gitzo, it was perfect for this project as I was able to set everything up on the bannister without being bumped by the bustling crowds.   

4) CABLE RELEASE  

I needed the camera to remain completely still so I used a cable release.  I know there are special wireless and programmable cable releases, but I just used the good ole' manual remote.    

5) TIMING

This scene was shot over 25 minutes.  I took a shot approximately every two seconds for a total of 750 images.  How did I time it?  Easy; everytime the previous image popped up on the LCD I took the next shot.  This worked out to be roughly every two seconds. 

6) SHUTTER SPEED

To create a Time Lapse it's helpful to use a slow shutter speed. This is sometimes referred to as "dragging the shutter".  The idea is to make the motion more fluid and less like blips popping in and out of the frame.  For this piece I found a shutter of 0"6 to be work really well.

7) CAMERA SETTING DETAILS

I used the Canon 40D.  My exposure was set manually.  This is necessary to achieve consistent exposures even with any shift in lighting conditions.  The settings were ISO 400, 0"6, and f8.  I also used custom white balance.  Instead of RAW, I opted for JPEG as RAW files do not generally work with Time Lapse software.   

8) SOFTWARE 

The trick is to have all of your images in numerical order in one folder.  I did this upon the initial upload from the CF card to Lightroom.  I then used Quicktime Pro to open the image sequence and select how many frames per second the photos would play back at.  I experimented with 24 frames per second and 15 fps before deciding on 12 fps for the final piece.  Again, JPEGs are the only file types that would work here.  The software also had a bit of a processing issue with the LARGE/FINE files.  It seemed that Quicktme Pro could not handle 750 ten megapixel files.  I had to use Photoshop CS4 to do a quick batch process and resize the images to 6x9 at 72dpi.

9) MUSIC 

The amazing ominous track is by Nine Inch Nails from their album Ghosts (Disc 1).  It is part of Creative Commons Licensing and is therefore legal for me to use.   My sincere thanks to them as it is one of my favorite instrumental albums. 

I've been a big fan of Time Lapse productions for quite some time now.  I hope you enjoyed this piece and use the above technical details to create your own film.  I'd also love to hear your feedback.  Thanks! 

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Here is a short video in which I detail the gear and techniques used to photograph the Veterans Day parade in New York.  The piece ends with my tribute to our men and women in uniform.   

For the past few days I've been fascinated with this old metal file cabinet that the building management has temporarily dumped left in the hallway.  The top is rusted heavily, and the resulting texture and color is just remarkable.  Those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter have likely already seen the iPhone shots.  This image below was captured on the Canon 40D with a 17-40mm lens.   

By now, you've likely seen those clever Apple commercials which present a variety of situations before boasting, "There's an app for that." With over 100,000 options to choose from, their claim is remarkably accurate. As a small business owner, I'm always on the lookout for new ways to maximize my productivity with cutting edge technology.  Over the past year, these are the apps that I've relied upon heavily.  Each one is available as a free download from the App store with the exception of "My Writing Nook" which sells for $1.99.   

1) My Writing Nook

I'm writing this article while riding a train to New York City. Instead of carrying a laptop, I've opted for an iPhone app called "My Writing Nook". Besides the ability to work in landscape or portrait mode, this simple program allows users to sync content with a desktop computer. After my train arrives at the station I'll be able to access the material from any computer with Internet access. Some other convenient features include an integrated thesaurus, dictionary, and word count.  For those of you who forget to hit save, the Writing Nook has you covered. It auto-saves every two minutes so you'll never lose another masterpiece again.  You can also email your written pieces directly from the app.   

     
                                             

2) Evernote

Do you have important information scattered across a collection of yellow sticky notes and scraps of loose paper? Have you ever jotted down a great idea and ended up washing it in your jeans? I constantly find myself trying to maintain a streamlined solution for my creative, and business ideas. Yet, when inspiration strikes unexpectedly, I inevitably end up with valuable notes scribbled on a napkin or business card. I was in desperate need of a new system and did some research. I came across a website called "Evernote" and created a free account. I'm pleased to report that it has totally revolutionized the way I keep track of things. 

Here's how it works:  You can log into your account from any computer with an Internet connection.  Then, create a few different "notebooks".  I set up areas for client management, photography techniques, inspiration, and more. You can make as many notebooks as you'd like. Anytime you need to remember something, just log in, enter and save it.  When perspective clients call, my first step is to create a file about them in Evernote. This will include their contact information, details about the job, and any other information I feel is relevant. I can then access this data later using the Evernote app, or a desktop computer. This is the equivalent to having a large file cabinet with me at all times.  The content automatically syncs between the two devices.

Evernote does more than just text notes.  One of the most useful features is the ability to snap an iPhone photo and geo-tag it while in the app.  You can then add notes to the image, and view the longitude and latitude.  This is a great tool for photographers who scout locations.  For those fleeting thoughts that you have to get down in a hurry, try the voice recording option.  Simply hit record, talk into the phone, and save for later. This process also works well with Twitter.  When you hash tag a tweet with #en it will automatically be saved to your Evernote files.  You may also want to try their "Web Clipper" feature which is an add-on for Firefox (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8381).  This extension provides a toolbar button to easily add a selection or an entire page to Evernote.       

A free account provides users with a 40MB monthly upload allowance.  This has been more than sufficient for my needs.  However, if you find yourself approaching the monthly storage limit, an upgrade to 500MB is available for $5 a month.   

3) Google Mobile App

Think of the Google Mobile app as Grand Central Terminal for your iPhone. It's the main hub from which all of Google's products are launched from. This includes Gmail, Docs, Calendar, Tasks, RSS Reader, Maps, and the new Google Buzz.  For this reason, it's one of my most clicked on apps.  Google has also added a feature that brings a whole new meaning to "hands free". Instead of typing in your search terms, you can speak it into the phone. This convenient feature has helped me out of a jam several times, especially while driving.  It's remarkably accurate, and fun to use.  To get started, download it here: http://www.google.com/mobile/google-mobile-app/

4) Photoshop Mobile

With so many photo editing apps to choose from,  it's difficult to narrow it down to just one selection.  However, after using Photoshop Mobile to edit my iPhone pictures, I can highly recommend it.  With a well designed interface and fully adjustable tool set, it goes well beyond the basic presets common in other editing apps.  Some of the options include cropping, contrast adjustment, saturation, color correction, special effects, and borders. You can then "save as" to keep your original image intact.  Although it's not required, you can create a free account with Photoshop.com and upload your mobile photos directly to the web from the phone.  You can also keep in touch with your contacts by uploading to various social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and more.  In the example below I used the app to adjust the exposure, add contrast and saturation, a slight vignette, and a sloppy border.   For more info on the app, click here: http://mobile.photoshop.com/iphone/ 

                                                                                   After                              

5) Dropbox

Recently I read a Facebook post from a photographer friend who had a computer meltdown.  She likely lost over 6,000 of her photos.  Her wall post ended with, "I want to vomit."  Don't let this happen to you. I've been testing a user friendly cloud solution that protects your images, and allows you to sync your files between multiple computers! It's called Dropbox and they give you 2 FREE Gigs of storage space with an option to upgrade. 

Dropbox refers to their cloud storage and syncing solution as a "magic pocket".  It all starts with a folder on your desktop computer or laptop. Any file you put in the dropbox is stored safely to their cloud. You can then access the file from any online computer. Best of all, you can now access them with your iPhone using the Dropbox app. For small businesses this is an incredibly useful tool. It works with every file type imaginable including documents, photos, video, and music.

To get your free account click our referral link: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTQzMTA2MTE5
Here is the link for the app: https://www.dropbox.com/iphoneapp

If you use an excellent photography related app that you'd like to share, I'd love to hear about it. 

Wishing all of the athletes the best of luck as they compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.   Below is an image from Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies.  It's about 530 miles away from the site of the games.  This particular spot is called Moraine Lake, and is also referred to as the "Valley of the Ten Peaks".  It was taken at sunset, and you can actually see the last light of the day hitting the peak in the upper left.  Amazingly enough, the water really is that color.  Definitely one of the most photogenic lakes I've ever been to.  This was taken a few years ago with a Canon 10D, and a 4 stop grad ND filter.  Camera settings were: 17mm, f22, 1 sec, ISO 100, tripod mounted.

In this short video, President and CEO of Ritz Interactive, Fred Lerner, is inducted into the International Photographic Council's Hall of Fame at the United Nations in New York.  I wanted to share his speech with you, as he discusses the "power of photography".  I recorded it with the Flip.

If you're not familiar with IPC, they slogan is "Peace through understanding, understanding through photography, the universal language."  For more about this organization, check their website here. 

 Also, at the luncheon, NYIP was recognized on their 100 year anniversary. I took an iPhone picture of the sign.