Photo News

This page will detail photo news from around the world but the news will be limited to subjects that have some relation to landscape photography. You'll see a newsfeed and links to other news pages just below which are updated several times a day and these are portals to the world of wider photo news. Photography news I think will be particularly relevant will be listed beneath these. If there's something you come across that you think other readers should know about, drop me an email.

Dedicated Photo News Pages

Photo News of Interest

RawShooter Essentials: Another Free Update (01 June 2005)

RawShooter Essentials 2005 V1.1.3 is now available for download. The changes in this release:

Optimized Performance - the creation of proxy files and image transition has been speeded up to give an almost instantaneous response. For example an image being viewed at 100% in the dynamic preview can be instantly changed to the next one in sequence without any visible delay. This greatly enhances the workflow for the user in terms of editing and allows them to easily decide the best image in a sequence.
Dual processor support - one of the most commented features of RawShooter Essentials 2005 has been its processing speed for RAW files. Now, utilizing a dual processor, it has become even faster.
Extended White Balance support for the Nikon D2x and D2Hs.
New Camera support for Nikon D70s and Olympus C7070WZ.
Enhanced copy/paste function for image corrections - uses familiar CTRL-C/V to copy/paste a set of image corrections onto one or more similar images.
Ability to specify output dpi - this enables the user to convert either a full resolution image or if required, a 72 dpi image for distribution via email. This is particularly useful for TIFF files.
Film strip mode for RAW thumbnails with auto scaling to fit in window.

Download V1.1.3 and simply install it over your existing version (if already installed).

RawShooter Essentials: Another Free Update (02 May 2005)

RawShooter Essentials 2005 (a free application for working with RAW digital files and available through the Photo Software page has been updated. V1.1.2 contains the following new features:

Excellent new DSLR support for the Nikon D2x. RawShooter is the first independent RAW converter to offer this support for the D2x.
Preliminary DSLR support for the Nikon D2Hs.
New Compact support for Nikon 8400 and Canon Powershot G2
Facility to change background brightness for thumbnails and previews
Improved colours for Nikon and Minolta camera support
Improved/faster thumbnail extraction and proxy creation
Icon to show recent conversion (gold star) is now persistent
Many new keyboard shortcuts and enhanced slideshow options
Updated user guide with all new functions and regenerated with latest version of PDF
Various enhancements to workflow and fine tuning of individual camera support

Download V1.1.2 and simply install it over your existing version (if already installed).

SmartDisk Fotochute (28 Apr. 2005)

Recently launched by UK-based company SmartDisk, Fotochute is a stylish and portable storage device which quickly saves and stores digital images. It has a 20Gb storage capacity, weighs only 150 grams and measures 3.1x2.7x0.9 inches and connects directly to your camera and copies and stores files with just one touch. Connection to a PC is via USB 1.1 or 2.0. The device features a LCD screen which shows menu and navigation options.

Looking around the web, I found a similarly specified Fotochute model in the U.S., although this one doesn't seem to have the LCD screen. If you can live without that, the price at $189.99 is almost half the UK price. This device might be something to consider if you shoot a lot of photos, especially away from home, and don't want to carry a load of memory cards around with you.

$100 Gets You A 2.2Gb Compact Flash Card! (28 Apr. 2005)

I came across an announcement that V-TEC (in the UK) was offering a massive 2.2Gb removeable hard drive for under GBP£60. Called the V-STOR, it's been designed as a direct replacement for CompactFlash II digital storage cards. The drive weighs 150 grams and can be plugged directly into your digital camera's CompactFlash card slot. The GBP£60 price runs till the end of May.

However, try as I might, I couldn't find any listing for the drive at V-Tec's site, so I had a look around some suppliers to see if any of them carried it. No luck there either. But I did find a 2.2Gb microdrive CompactFlash II card from MagicStor at TigerDirect for only $99.99 (approx. GBP£54). 1Gb cards cost anywhere from about $60 to over $100 so the MagicStor lools like a bargain. I've even ordered one myself.

More Great Photo News for European D-SLR Owners (18 Apr. 2005)

Nikon's cashback scheme applies to the D70 digital SLR model and has been running for some time. Their offer closes on April 30th so you still have about 2 weeks to avail of it. You get €100 back if you buy a D70 with the 18-70mm DX lens or €50 if you buy the body only or with the 28-80mm G lens. More info at http://www.nikon.co.uk/d70cashback/

Great Photo News For European Canon Owners (15 Apr. 2005)

If you've recently bought a Canon 350D or 20D digital SLR, Canon are giving cash rebates for accessory purchases in Europe, specifically: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Cash Back of between €50 and €150 is being offered on selected Canon EF lenses, Speedlites and the Canon A3+ Inkjet printer i9950. The offer is open until 31 December 2005. For more information, go to: The Canon Promotion Site

Carl Mydans: Photojournalist

Monroe Gallery of Photography, 112 Don Gaspar, is pleased to announce ”Carl Mydans: Photojournalist”, a major exhibition celebrating the career of the legendary photographer, who died in August, 2004 at age 97. The exhibition opens with a public reception on April 8, from 5 – 7 PM. The exhibition will continue through June 26.

Strange beauty, from a familiar place

Seeing "Glimpses of Iodo: Clouds of Bliss," the exhibition by Kim Young-gap at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, is a perplexing experience. To a casual observer, the exhibition, which brings together the artist's panoramic photographs depicting scenes from Iodo, a smaller island off Jeju island, looks like a collection of calendar scenes...

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