Photoshop: Scratch Disks are full...

For the past two days I have been having a sever problem trying to do any form of work in photoshop. Luckily I was able to escape some of the issues by taking the longer road around the problem, that meaning I was able to do it the long way instead of my many shortcuts. So what has been the problem? Well I have been seeing a little dialog box pop up, " Scratch disks are full can not complete, when I would try and do things.

Such as flattening an image, or trying to copy, paste, or create a new document. Kind of annoying when you are trying to get your clients work done on time right? Well after closing photoshop and letting the computer take a nap, I figured Id give it another try today. Nope, did not help at all. Fed up, I took this issue to good ol' google. I managed to find out exactly what the problem was. This article on about.com "What is the Photoshop Scratch Disk? How Do You Fix "Scratch Disk Full" Errors?" was able to fill me in on just what the problem was. It made total sense. Having uploaded in the neihborhood of 2500 images in the past week, I can see where my hard drive would be saying, "nope, not having this". The simple solution for me, remove all my photos from my hard drive and back them up onto my external hard drive. Now things are running smooth. No more errors and back to the regular work flow. Keep some space free on your system so that way you will not run into problems like this or problems of any kind.

Photos that changed the world, and a history lesson...

The name says it all. This site has some profound images. Images that are iconic from the generations and time periods they were photographed in. Photos that changed the world

One image on this site that pleases me the most, well not thee most but something I was happy to see on the site, is The First Photograph, made by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce 1826.

Sigma DP2 and more...

Sigma just released an update to their DP1. The Sigma DP2 boasts a 14 Megapixel FOVEON X3 Image Sensor, 4.6 Megapixel Image, 41mm f/2.8 Lens, 2.5" LCD Display, Records JPEG & RAW Files, Built-in Flash & Hot Shoe, and a True II' Image Processor. What makes this little camera so special? Well it is very comparable to DSLRs in the sense that it's quality can be closely matched. This is the kind of camera I would carry for when I want to leave my big, honkin, DSLR at home.
I have not yet gone and played with one, but I am considering it. I very much like the design of this particular camera. Though I am a fan and devoted Nikon user, this is a camera I would like to add to the collection. The DP2 sits in the same class as the Leica D-Lux 4, which is impressive because as we all know, Leica is a renowned brand of cameras.









I know a few photographers that used the Leica and swear by the quality. Both the Leica and the Sigma DP2 are great cameras. You can read a lengthy reviwe od the DP2 at The Online Photographer.

How to Conserving Batter Power

Is our economy in that bad of shape that photographers have to worry about saving battery power? Nooo not at all! Sure we are in some financial hardships but that doesnt mean photographers are forced to take drastic steps. In fact reading this article I found will just give you a few helpful tips on what to do when your battery is going low. Its a way of conserving power for when you might need it the most, say during a long shoot, perhaps a long day of shooting weddings, or some landscapes, or maybe even the cute girl you've been dating who finally decided to let you make a few portraits of her. Whatever it be, The Digital Photography School article will give you a few useful tips on how to save that power for when you need it.

New Photo Blog

I say new photo blog, but its not really new at all. Infact this blog has been around since 2006. I call it new because to me it is a new find. I am sharing a link to a post that was made on New York Daily Photo The photo that is in this post is a reminescent scene that I had seen almost daily when I was staying in Cambridge, Ma a few months back. I loved seeing people selling books ont he side of the street. I often stopped to see if there was that one book that would interest me so much that I had to have it. I never really found that many intersting books in the sea of liteature. I would scour the tables looking for photography books of any sorts. I never did find one. However, I am glad that I found this blog. I truly love New York City. Further more, I love shooting in New York.

Tragic End: A young photographers life cut short.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Matthew Smolovich. I can not find a link to his photography. All that google brings up is the tragic story that covers the accident.

David Solomons

When I find a photographer who's body of work commands me to go through their portfolio, image by image, I just have to stop and think. Then I like to share what I am seeing. I found one such photographer David Solomons Take a look at his work. It is worth a second look.

Nikon D400

During my little internet search a few moments ago I happened to click onto a very great site. It has all the top photography news. Alltop As I started to look through the links they had I noticed one that just jumped out from the rest. Is Nikon putting out a D400? It may appear that way. The D300 is a great and perfect camera. I have used and shot with the D300. The D700 is an impeccable camera that is a step forward from the D300. So where will this leave the D400? Will this new addition to the Nikon family surpass the D700 or will this be model that falls right in between the 300 and 700? I am not sure yet. But, it looks to be housing a 16-18 MP sensor and HD Video and Steryo capabilities. It looks to be like another fine camera by Nikon. I am anxious to see what proceeds the D3X.

Camera Strap and Stock

Here are a few interesting products for your camera.

Black Rapid RS DR-1 Double Strap

Camera Stock

Digital Holster

Nikon Users

Lets face it, your lens is very important. Having a good piece of glass is very essential to your photography. If your DSLR has a DX format lens mount then these lenses are perfect for your camera.



Nikon 35mm F/1.8 G AF-S DX Wide Angle Auto Focus

Nikon.com

Priced at: $199.00 US









Nikon 50mm F/1.8D AF-S DX

Nikon.com


Priced at: $150.00 US








Nikon 50mm F1.4 G

Nikon.com

Priced at: $484.95

The Web's Best

I happen to follow quite a few photography blogs. Each one has something unique and different to offer that makes it stand out from the rest. In comparison to each other, they are unalike, and full of resources that even the most professional of photographers could find useful.

Starting at the top of the list, there is Scott Kelby. If you do not know who Scott Kelby is, then you should check out this site. Even if you do, well his blog has something new each week. So who is Scott Kelby? Well he is only the worlds leading author on photoshop books. Not just manuals, but actual books worth reading. He is also the author of a few other outstanding photography books.

This book pictured here on the left is one book in particular I think is worth reading for people that are very interested in going places with their photography. I was asked by email if it was a book worth reading. I went out and looked at it, did some reading, and found this to be one of the best photo books I have seen in a while. Scott is also an amazing professional photographer. If you dont take my word for it, check his outstanding portfolio site.





Next up we have a simple site with a one focus in mind. "Learn how to light" The strobist.com is a blog that has been around for a few years now. Their goal, shoot your flash off camera. Using wireless triggers and receivers they create outstanding photographs by using their flashes off the camera. They have pioneered a whole, (almost cult following) school of thought on how to shoot and create lighting. I have seen some amazing ideas for lighting, including one particular post where the photographer light his kitchen with around 8 flashes to get a beautiful image to include in his house selling blog. There are even youtube videos explaining the set ups they use.

Coming in third we have The Digital Photography School. Another educational resource for photographers. This site has it all. Well, not really, but pretty damn close. You can find a vast amount of information on this site, from how to shoot portraits to the latest photoshop CS4 tutorials as well as what equipment to shoot with and what products are good. The Digital Photography School has something for everyone.

Lighting Essentials is another brilliant take on lighting. They are a massive resources for learning how to use strobes, natural light, and work with models. They are a professional source for information.

Melissa Rodwell, a fashion photographer has a great blog. Her, fashion photography blog has some very insightful takes on her photography. Like Scott Kelby, she explains how she works and gives insight into her work as a photographer. I have a great deal of respect for photographers who explain how they work and create photographs.

Next up we have Free Photo Resources. This site is again an educational site that has a multitude of information. Not just a site that shows you how to make photographs, but a site that introduces you to photography in a variety of aspects. From some of the most contemporary practices all the way down to what neutral density filters are, to explaing what street photography is. I have partnered, (linked up) with Free Photo Resources, so I am happy to pass on some amazing information that they publishing.

Photo Business News & Forum is literally just that. They are a great site that educates people on the practices of being in business when it comes to photography.

This next site is pretty cool. Though, I do not remember how I came about finding them, I am glad that I did. They always have some kind of cool post. Smash and Peas Photography Blog is fairly new but has some useful content.

And finally we come to Lens Culture. Lens Culture is a contemporary blog that hosts the names and photography of hundreds of photographers from around the world. Their site is comprised of a blog, archive, book reviews, store, and links. A great site to be introduced to some amazing photography.

This is just scratching the surface of the web's best. These are the sites I follow, which are among the best on the web. If you know of any other sites that you feel should make it on this list, please email me the link and why you think they are among the best. jeffreyrbyrnes@gmail.com

Enjoy!

Fashion Portraits and more….

These past few weeks have been killer. We have been doing a lot more business and trying some new things out. Over the winter a computer problem led to a workspace issue in photoshop. Photoshop essentially crashed and deleted our workspaces, thus deleting nearly 200 actions. Happily those actions have been restored and then some. Below are a some photographs that I made this past week. I tested out a new location with a model that I frequently use. I love working with the same models from time to time. They know your style of shooting and you know their style of posing. This makes for a great relationship when it comes to working together. There is also the added comfort level that you might not get right away with some models that are new to you or new to posing. I should also add, I love to break rules. I love to create an image that stands out in one way or another and try not to conform to any set rules. I mean, the rule of thirds does apply, but that is different. These portraits represent 2 years worth of shooting and developing a photographer/model/friendship-relationship. One of the most successful aspects of these portraits is how there is a strong contrast of the model vs. the background. When I first found this location, I knew it was going to make a great backdrop for a shoot. I plan on visiting it again to further see what I can create using it.

   

 

Bokeh: No I don’t Bokeh!

Bokeh is a very generic term used to describe shallow depth of field. If you are unfamiliar with what shallow depth of field is, let me define it for you.  Shallow depth of field is the blurred, out of focus background that you get when you shoot a subject close up or have the aperture on your camera opened to the widest stop. Creating a shallow depth of field enhances the photographs overall look and feel. It can enhance the mood and emotion. It also allows your eyes to focus more clearly on the subject that is in the photograph.

The term bokeh was first brought to my attention nearly a year ago. A friend of mine, an amateur photographer, used it in a sentence while discussing something related to photography. I said “whoa, whoa, whoa, back up, what did you just say?” He tried his best to define the term. At the time I thought nothing of it, got a laugh out of it and went on with the conversation. This week I picked up the March issue of Shutter Bug, and to my amazed disappointment, the word Bokeh was used twice within it’s pages. Like I mentioned above, I think it is a very generic term that has absolutely no bearings in the photography industry.

Bokeh is actually a Japanese term, (which I am unsure of the true meaning), meaning “fuzzy” and or “fool”. The two mentions in Shutter Bug have two different descriptions for the word. The first description of the word can be found in the “Picture This” section. A monthly assignment to give photographers a chance to enter their image to the magazine. The second appears in a little product mention a few pages further into the magazine. There is a “digital Bokeh” photoshop plugin that is made by Alien Skin Software (alienskin.com). They claim the plugin, “simulates depth-of-field effects of different camera lenses at various aperture settings”.  There are a number of ways in photoshop to create a depth-of-field look and feel in your photograph that does not require a plugin. I am by no means a fan of the word Bokeh. It is a term that I will never use when describing my photographs or to describe the depth-of-field in my photographs. To me, the word Bokeh seems to be a word that is being forced into the photographers vocabulary.  I would be interested to see what other people/photographers think about this term. I have yet to hear a professional photographer use the term. So, please feel free to leave a comment with your ideas. Thank you!

Buckle Up: New Camera strap and more...

Do you have a wimpy, perhaps, little camera strap holding your camera on your shoulder? Then maybe it is time to upgrade it to this new bad boy. Seat Belt Camera Strap These nifty new straps are made from reclaimed seat belts. How cool is this? This is an original product that Id like to see being sold.

This is just a cool idea that saves on space in your bag. White Balance Lens Cap

Vintage Cameras

There was a time once when cameras were so simple to use, all it took to operate them was the press of a button, (for lack of the term shutter release). No setting your white balance or f-stops. No making sure your ISO wasn’t producing to much noise or worrying about your battery dying. No, cameras then were very simplistic and needed nothing more than a roll of film.

Pictured here is the newest camera to add to my collection. It is a Vintage Saber 620 C1956-1972. This camera is built with the minimalist photographer in mind. It features nothing more than a single shutter release. No f-stops or aperture settings. There is are two little holes on the side of the camera (opposite the film advance side) for a flash bulb that could be used. It houses a very simple view finder. The Saber 620 uses 620 film. Producing a 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 image on the negative.  620 film is  a type of film that I am almost positive is almost extinct or already is. B&H has 620 listed on their site, but it is “currently out of stock”. Which to me signals that this film is no longer being produced. It comes as no surprise, since Polaroid is nearly dead as well.

My Sabre is still very much operational. I have plans for it. Great plans indeed. The only issue is film. However, this for me is a very simple issue that I will be able to work around. In a short time, maybe by the end of May, I should have a few photos to share. Minimalist, simple cameras can still be fun with a little bit of creativity and the right know how when it comes to using them.