Foto Tech

” I’ve loved more cameras than women, but I love women more than cameras.”

I’ve been working out some theories on the most practical way to upgrade technology. Cameras, computer hardware, and software technology move at an alarming rate. The question is: when does it make financial and practical sense to upgrade? There are considerations of implementation and cost involved. Here I will outline these considerations and my theories and strategies.
Moore’s Law describes a long-term trend in computer hardware where capacity of circuitry doubles every 24 months. These same principles can be applied to almost all technologies, though the timing is different for every technology and situation. Technology upgrade theory is all about cost, implementation, and gain. Developing a good strategy is dependent on the nature of the technology and that must be studied carefully.

Know the Technology and know the habits and schedules of the manufacturers of that technology.
Example #1 Adobe is on an 18Month upgrade cycle: they allow you to skip versions and still get upgrade pricing: and their upgrades are usually major.
Example #2 Nikon usually upgrades the flagship models six-nine months before the top prosumer models. The top of the line prosumer cameras usually have many of the desirable features of the Flagship model at 40% of the price. Nikon is notoriously slow in getting their announced cameras to market. Read more…

I’m giving two hands on weekend workshops this summer at the School of Visual Arts(SVA) in NY City. All workshops take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5 pm and include access to your own computer workstation.

Digital Asset Management: Where is My DAM File
With Michael Stewart, Digital Photography Expert
June 21-22
This intensive course will put the “flow” back into your digital photography workflow. It’s not a coincidence that successful photographers and profitable photo businesses are the most organized! Learn how to add keywords, manage metadata and streamline digital asset management tasks with different programs, including Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Adobe Bridge and Microsoft Expression Media.
http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/ceCourseFinder/app?sCourse=SWC-2341-A

Panoramic, HDR and Synthetic Depth of Field Photography
With Michael Stewart, Digital Photography Expert
July 26-27
This course will explore creative panoramic stitching and shooting, and processing HDR images and synthetic depth-of-field techniques. Starting with camera settings and shooting tips, we will quickly move into processing files with Adobe Photoshop to build HDR files that contain detail in the whitest whites and deepest shadows. Learn how to work with PhotoMerge to create stunning panoramic images and how to use image stacking to increase depth of field
http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/ceCourseFinder/app?sCourse=SWC-2381-A

For complete registration information please visit:

http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/ce/index.jsp?sid0=3&sid1=65&page_id=712

SVA has a wonderful MFA Photography Program! Katrin Eismann developed the Masters in Digital Photography program at SVA and she is now the Chair of the program.