The latest incarnation of Adobe’s Creative Suite, CS5, has been shipped, and is available for purchase. A main point of interest for us at Foto Tech is the new HDR Pro feature of Photoshop CS5. HDR Pro is an new tool that allows the user to create HDR (High Dynamic Range) images within photoshop itself. Having not tested it personally, it seems to have potential, though tests show that HDR Pro may not be as refined as existing HDR software. Nevertheless, HDR Pro will make a welcome addition to the feature set of Photoshop CS5.
With the new software release comes a new batch of resources to help you learn how to use it. These include a number of books, as well as online resources, such as the video tutorials from Lynda.com and Adobe TV.
Version 4.0 of the Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines was recently released. I serve as the Tech Editor of UPDIG, and also worked on branding and design aspects of Version 4.0.
A QUOTE FROM THE SITE:
The UPDIG guidelines aim to clarify issues affecting accurate reproduction and management of digital images. These guidelines were created to establish photographic standards and practices for photographers, designers, printers, and image distributors. The guidelines cover Digital Asset Management, Color Profiling, Metadata, and Photography Workflow.
Version 4.0 of the guidelines represents the industry consensus as of Sept 22, 2008. The guidelines were prepared by the UPDIG Coalition, with the help of many digital imaging professionals, software vendors, and hardware manufacturers. The UPDIG Coalition is dedicated to promoting standards for photographic digital imaging. END QUOTE
UPDIG 4.0 had many many contributors. I would like to thank the Coalition Member Groups who came together to support this set of best practices for photographic digital imaging. I would also like to personally thank and recognize the great people I worked with directly. Many others contributed, but I worked directly with those listed below: Richard Anderson- He served UPDIG very well for years. Richard stepped down as managing editor, but continues to collaborate and support UPDIG coalition efforts. Greg Smith- The Copy Editor who actually knows grammar, spelling, AND photography. Jon Heal-The web designer who gave the website and guidelines some style. Michael Voigt-The Flash designer who put the 21 Coalition member groups into a Flash banner that will actually fit on a web page. Peter Dyson-ASMP’s technology “Jack of All Trades” who got this thing to the web. Rick McCleary- and the CMYK Working Group (A.K.A. the CMYK Mafia) a group of dedicated prepress guys and printers, who will take your head off if you’re not EXACTLY correct. Peter Krogh-This DAM guy has offered his expertise to UPDIG from the beginning.
There are way too many dedicated contributors to list who work tirelessly for UPDIG and I know I’m leaving many of you out:Eugene Mopsik, Susan Carr, Judy Herrmann, Jeff Sedlik, Betsy Reid, David Riecks,….. the list goes on and on….GOOD JOB EVERYONE! Read more…
I highly recommend taking the time for an occasional “photo trek.” My friend Sunny Reynolds was working as fine art and commercial photographer when I met her 15 years ago. She started traveling to exotic places more and more often. Soon, her photographer friends began to notice what a good time she was having and how incredible her images were. They wanted in on the action, so she started taking photographers and adventuresome souls along for these treks. She soon turned it into a full time business and now just treks and does an occasional gallery show. My wife and I had the privilege of doing the Costa Rica Trek and we loved it. I made some really incredible images and had the time of my life. We traveled all over Costa Rica in a van with a small group of seven like minded people, out for adventure. Sunny is a special lady with a unique talent for finding great places. Check out the links to info on her treks and some of her image galleries and her book on Boats.
Michael Stewart is a digital photography expert and educator. He consults on computational photography and tech edits for digital photography standards projects (UPDIG, DP-SAW) and digital asset management books(DAM).
He is currently testing computational photography software and lecturing on photography technologies.
Michael's Portfolio: StewartImage.com
Get a 10% discount on ImageNest printing software by using this the coupon code: 10dis
Tutorials
Lynda has many excellent digital photography software tutorials.
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B&H is an excellent place to purchase digital photography and Video equipment. They have it all!
I buy all my computer equipment from NewEgg. They ship extremely fast and have an excellent exchange and return policy.
Amazon is not only a great place to buy books, but a great place to do comparative shopping. The Amazon system allows you to compare vendors products, and still the Amazon safe and easy system to purchase the products.
The latest incarnation of Adobe’s Creative Suite, CS5, has been shipped, and is available for purchase. A main point of interest for us at Foto Tech is the new HDR Pro feature of Photoshop CS5. HDR Pro is an new tool that allows the user to create HDR (High Dynamic Range) images within photoshop itself. Having not tested it personally, it seems to have potential, though tests show that HDR Pro may not be as refined as existing HDR software. Nevertheless, HDR Pro will make a welcome addition to the feature set of Photoshop CS5.
B&H is an excellent place to purchase digital photography and Video equipment. They have it all!