It has an innovative and intuitive full-screen mode that provides quick access to information and functionalities via hidden toolbars that pop-up when ever your mouse touches any of the four screen edges.
Other FastStone Image Viewer features includes a high quality image magnifier, musical slideshows with over 150 transitional effects, lossless JPEG cropping & re-sizing, drop shadow effects, scanner support, histogram info and much, much more.
Free software is one thing, but if it doesn't serve a useful purpose, what's the point?
IrfanView is both, it's free and it's extremely useful.
To say IrfanView is a "Windows graphic viewer" is a true statement, but it barely scratches the surface of its capabilities. It does so much more:
• Create slideshows • Lossless JPG rotation & Cropping • Tag images for future editing • Open images directly into your image editing software • Batch processing (rename, resize) • Create panoramic images • Email images directly from IrfanView • The only image viewer I know of that shows you the histogram • It allows you do basic editing (like black & white conversion) • soooo much more...
And with the latest version you can now browse your RAW files Too!
Tutorials? Sure, view some here, here, and here... or view the FAQ page for a complete list of questions (with the answers), tutorials, and videos.
If you download it and don't like it or find it all that useful (not only will I will be stunned), I will give you back every single penny you paid for it! ;)
Microsoft has released a cool (and free) plug-in for Outlook called Pro Photo Shoot.
Pro Photo Shoot will add details to your Outlook appointments that are specific to photographers, including pick list of what equipment you would want to be sure to bring along.
I want to give a big "thank you" to everyone who made the Memorial Day slideshow what it was, from getting the word out that we were looking for images, to those who sent in images with their heart touching stories, to telling folks were to find it.
This was the effort of many, many people. Thank you all.
If you did not see the slideshow, or wanted to view it again, you can find it here.
Below are some image from the Memorial Day parade in our little town of Biddeford Maine:
Here are some links for those photographers who like to "do it themselves".
Their name pretty much says it all - DIYPhotography.net, and this is probably the best site for those who want to do it themselves. They have great ideas and projects that will help you do it better and cheaper. No doubt "Do It Yourself Central".
Dean Collins was one of the original do it yourselfer's, you can download his Tinker Tubes booklet full of plans and ideas here. If you want to learn lighting from the master, you should consider getting his DVD's as well. (you'll need Adobe Reader for the Tinker Tubes booklet, download it here)
If you want a (free) better bounce card, watch Peter Gregg Videos, they are both instructional and entertaining.
You can build a light box/tent for $40 and get plans here and here.
Want a Do-it-Yourself Tungsten OmniBounce? You can get it here.
And last on the list, but by no means least (it' just that this post had to end somewhere, and this is it), PhotoCritic.org is a DIY Photography Weblog and has some very useful information. Be sure to check it out.
For the upcoming Memorial Day weekend the Weekly Photo Tips blog will be coming down and will be replaced with a slideshow to honor American soldiers who have "gone on ahead".
I am asking for your help in this project, If any of you would like to submit an image (or images) to be included in the slideshow please email them to me (the sooner the better).
What I am looking for are images of the person while they were alive, their headstone, or both. Please include information like their name, when/where they served, tidbits about their life, fond memories, or simply something that you want to make sure the world knows about your soldier.
I can't promise I will use every word you send in, but I can promise that every picture that is emailed to me will be included in the in the Memorial Day slideshow.
Also generic shots, like images of Arlington, the Vietnam Wall, or memorial statues in the town square where you live will be included as well.
Yes I know that technically Memorial Day is meant to honor men and women who have died in service to our country, but I will be including any service men and women who are not longer with us.
Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to receiving your images.
Next month, June 13th -15th, I will be attending a Lou Jones seminar in Boston and want to encourage others to do the same.
I have great respect for and am a huge fan of Lou Jones, I have written about him here, here, and here.
One of the cool stories about Lou is that even though he is a Nikon shooter, he was hired to photograph the CEO of Canon.
;)
He is a kind man, full of compassion, and just so happens to be an outstanding photographer as well.
So if you want to learn from one of the best photographers in America while capturing Boston’s renown landmarks (Old North Church, Faneuil Hall, Harvard, MIT, Beacon Hill’s cobblestone streets, Boston's architecture, and the waterfront including the USS Constitution), meet me @ Lou’s next month!
Here are the details of the workshop:
Lou Jones in Boston, this workshop emphasizes both extemporaneous photojournalism and more deliberately set up situations. We will pay special attention to using both available light and creating your own light.
Optional Equipment: Laptop (strongly recommended) and tripod.
Maximum Class Size: 12
Schedule: Fri 10AM-6PM; Sat Dawn-Dusk; Sun 9AM-2:30PM
If I had to pick one blog to recommend to photographers, it would be David Ziser's, not only is his blog an educational bonanza, he will also send you to so many other photography resources that it will be hard for you to keep up.
David does not dispense his wisdom with an eyedropper, he heaps it on you with a steam shovel. I doubt there is any other photography blogger more prolific that David Ziser, since last August he has posted well over 1,000 times!
And it's not just the quantity, it's also the quality, he packs in more useful information than anybody else.
How he does it I don't know, because he is a very busy photographer, and teaches seminars all over the country. I picture David sitting at his computer late at night, lit by the glow of his monitor and chugging Red Bulls to keep awake.
Here are just a few reasons to visit his blog:
1. His photography is inspirational, it will show you the possibilities and give you goals to shoot for.
2. It's educational, he not only shows you his work, but explains how his imagery was captured, a great learning experience.
3. David covers one subject that is very important but ignored by most, the business of photography, be sure to check out "Business Day Thursdays".
You can also get his 2 DVD set call the "Digital Wakeup call" (like I did), it's packed with 4 1/2 hours of great information, and $69 very well spent.
David will be teaching a one week course, "Digital Master Class" in July and September at his studio in Cincinnati. You can watch a slideshow from his 2007 Master Class here.
Whatever you are trying to achieve with your photography, simply to take better pictures for yourself, or to run a successful studio, David will help you do it better, smarter, and more efficiently.
In the video tutorial below David shows you how cool ways to use your on camera flash and your off camera flash :
I have always had a great deal of respect for Vincent Versace, and not for the reasons you may think, it has more to do with who he is a person and less for his photographic prowess.
When I got his email yesterday that respect shot up even further. I will spare you my ramblings and let Vincent speak for himself:
"You know how much the country of Burma (Myanmar) moved me when I shot there. I truly was taken by the country, so much so I left a piece of my heart and soul there.
I believe that being of service is the rent you pay to live on the planet, which is why I volunteer my time to be the photographer of a first response extreme medical rescue team "Immediate Assistants".
Thomas Jefferson said "The pen is mightier than the sword". I believe that art is mightier than the pen. With that said I am putting my art where my heart is.
With the current death toll at 22,000 and 46,000 still missing, we as a community of creatives have to act with the the most powerful tools that we have, our voice, and in my work that voice is contained.
For the next six weeks 100% of any of my photographic art, what ever size, what ever the price of that the art sells for (except for Shipping and Handling) will be donated to relief efforts in Burma and will be sent directly to the The Nargis Victims of Myanmar Trust.
Please link to my print sales page and buy a print for the cause:
If you want to donate an amount that is less than the cost of one of my prints, or you just want to donate directly out of the kindness of your heart here is the account info:
Washington Mutual Yorba Linda Financial Center 1358 20385 Yorba Linda Blvd. Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Phone: 1-800-788-7000
Name of account: "The Nargis Victims of Myanmar Trust"
If you are going to send a check, please use this address and payable to "The Nargis Victims of Myanmar Trust"
Yes, you read that right, Adobe Lightroom for just $99...
That's not a misprint, nor is it a scam. Though there is a slight catch.
The catch is you (or someone in your house) has to be either a student or a teacher, if you match that simple criteria JourneyEd.com will sell you Adobe Lightroom for just $99.
Pretty simple, huh?
You can also get Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended (full, not an upgrade) from JourneyEd.com for just $299.
And if you buy any Adobe CS3 product from JourneyEd.com you can also get Corel Painter X for just $49.
