Canon, Nikon, and Sony News for Sep 2014

 
From the B&H YouTube Channel:
 
No guarantees you will come out of this presentation a star. But, you will learn some useful tips on working with them. This presentation takes a look at Deborah’s work from the last 35 years of photographing musicians and other people of notoriety.

By Sean Setters
 
A photographer friend of mine – James – recently asked me to shoot his engagement pictures. He and his fiancée were planning a steampunk wedding and wanted engagement pictures to match the theme.
 
If you're you've never heard of "steampunk," check out Wikipedia for a good introduction to the science fiction sub-genre.
 
James and Amy had spent countless hours hand crafting or altering Victorian age clothing, accessories and props. They wanted their engagement photos to showcase their passion for the genre. And considering James is a fellow photographer, I really wanted to bring my A-game to this shoot.
 
We planned the shoot for the late afternoon. I arrived at the location about 30 minutes early to scout out the location, determine my shooting angles and set up my gear. This is an important step if you shoot with off-camera flash – arrive early. Setting up light stands, wireless triggers, light modifiers and power options is time consuming. Arriving early allows me to hit the ground running once your clients arrive fresh on the set.
 
While setting up I realized that it was hotter than I thought it would be when I planned the shoot. About 20 minutes into setup I was already sweating through my t-shirt. I knew James and Amy would be wearing multiple layers of clothing (they had sent me a preview of their outfits). If I was already hot, they were going to be much more uncomfortable than I was.
 
I decided to purchase a few cold bottles of water from a nearby food vendor so that my clients could stay hydrated throughout the shoot. It was a small – but certainly appreciated – touch.
 
One big challenge for the location was that the front of the train faced the setting sun. This meant that my subjects would be staring straight into the sun whenever they looked into the direction of the camera. This caused two problems: 1) the subjects would be squinting and 2) the direct sunlight would make them even hotter in their multiple layers of clothing.
 
To combat these issues, I set up large 64" umbrella behind the camera's position so that it shaded my subjects from the sun. The umbrella didn't shade them completely, but it allowed the subjects to pose comfortably while the sun was making its way over the horizon in front of them. The shade umbrella also had another benefit – it provided a blank canvas to work with as far as lighting is concerned. It converted the sun into an ambient base instead of limiting it for use as a main light. That means I could position my main light anywhere to sculpt the scene as I saw fit while simply adjusting my shooting variables to obtain the base exposure I wanted (soft, ambient fill light on my subjects).
 
In short, here are the three things I did to help keep my subjects comfortable on this shoot:
 

• Arrived early to set up equipment
• Provided cold water to the clients to combat the hot afternoon
• Used an umbrella to shade my subjects so that they weren't staring into the sun

And those small things combined to keep my subjects happy on this shoot. Throughout the shoot, James and Amy stayed fresh, fun and full of ideas. And it really paid off in the end.
 
If you'd like more details on the lighting setup, check out my description below the picture on Flickr.

From Canon UK:
 
LONDON, 24 September 2014 – Canon Europe, leader in imaging solutions, will be capturing the action on and off the course with an exciting crowd view photo initiative at this year’s Ryder Cup, taking place at Gleneagles, Scotland from 23-28 September 2014. During the competition, Canon will also be providing support for professional photographers and supplying printing solutions behind the scenes.
 
As the Official Supplier of Imaging Solutions for The 2014 Ryder Cup, golf’s premiere team contest where teams from Europe and the United States compete against each other every two years, Canon will be bringing a first to the competition to enhance the spectators’ experience, taking deep zoom panorama shots of the first tee and surrounding fans with two Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR cameras. The Canon panorama photographs will be captured throughout the week and will be available to view online at www.canon-europe.com/golf, The Ryder Cup Spectator App and shared via Canon’s social media channels. The photographs will be shot in high resolution gigapixel format, and fans will be able to zoom in to the crowd to find and tag themselves, so they can share the experience with their friends and family on social media.
 
The Canon Professional Services (CPS) team will be on site at the 2014 Ryder Cup Media Centre to provide support for accredited photographers with advice, essential maintenance, equipment loans and help with minor repairs. Canon will supply 70 printers and multifunctional devices to The 2014 Ryder Cup organisers for all printing, copying and faxing needs. Canon print solutions will also be used to create commemorative photobooks for players and team captains at the end of the tournament.
 
Cyprian da Costa, European Brand Communications Director, Canon Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented: “We are delighted to support The 2014 Ryder Cup and the professional sports photographers there to capture the emotions and team spirit of one of the world’s most exciting golf events. We are also inviting fans to experience a new angle on the tournament with the Canon panorama photographs and share their own Ryder Cup moment on social media in a new way.”
 
The Ryder Cup is golf’s premiere team contest, pitting Europe against the United States, and is one of sport’s most prestigious and popular brands. More than 250,000 spectators are expected on site during the six day event, with a further global TV audience of 500 million people across 183 countries.

Canon USA has updated versions of Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility & Picture Style Editor available for download. (thanks Marco)
 
Digital Photo Professional 3.14.41 Changes:
 

• Supports images taken with EOS 7D Mark II, PowerShot SX60 HS, PowerShot G7 X.
• Windows Vista and Windows XP are no longer supported.
• For multi monitors, supports color management for monitors other than the primary monitor.
• A function to delete the shooting data when executing [Convert and save] has been added.
• For EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF-M22mm f/2 STM, EF-M18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, the latest lens data can be used, of which Digital Lens Optimizer's performance has been improved.
• Supports new lens (EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM, EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM, EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM).

Digital Photo Professional 4.0.2 Changes:
 

• Supports EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM.

EOS Utility 2.14.10 Changes:
 

• Supports EOS 7D Mark II.
• Supports EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM, EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM.
• Windows Vista and Windows XP are no longer supported.

EOS Utility 3.0.0 R2 Changes
 

• Supports EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM.

Picture Style Editor 1.14.20 Changes
 

• Supports EOS 7D Mark II.
• Windows Vista and Windows XP are no longer supported.

EOS MOVIE Utility 1.2 Changes:
 

• Newly supported EOS 7D Mark II, EOS-1D X, EOS 5D Mark III, EOS 6D, and EOS 70D.
• Operability improved by changing layout of buttons.
• Marker supported.
• 200% enlargement supported.
• Still image cropping function enhanced.
• Playback of IN point-OUT point supported.
• "GPS" has been added to the shooting information items for cropped still image.
• Items added to the shooting information display.

Download the Canon Software Updates at Canon USA.

Buried in the press material for the EOS 7D Mark II announcement was an image showing a unique accessory that is being bundled with the camera – a cable protector.
 
Canon says in the EOS 7D Mark II User's Manual:

"When connecting the interface cable, also use the provided cable protector. Using the cable protector prevents the cable from accidental disconnection and the terminal from getting damaged."

You can see the cable protector socket in the following diagram:
 

 
And here's how you install and use the cable protector:
 

 
The included cable protector means that I won't have to purchase a 3rd party accessory (like the Tether Tools JerkStopper) to protect my 7D II's camera's ports from excess strain when using the interface/HDMI cables. Nice! [Sean]
 
B&H has the Canon EOS 7D Mark II available for preorder.

Many of the DSLR Camera rebates that were in effect last month will be continuing through October. However, several new lens rebates were thrown into the mix.
 
Most of the rebates are of the mail-in variety but a few are instant rebates (for example, Speedlite Flashes).
 
Note: Some of the DSLR Camera rebates require an additional lens purchase to qualify.
 
For instance, if you purchase a Canon EOS 6D, 7D, 70D or 60D, you can qualify for the following rebates when also purchasing these lenses with your camera:
 

Lens	Amount
Canon EF 70–300mm f/4–5.6 IS USM	$250.00
Canon EF 24–70mm f/4L IS USM	$250.00
Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM	$100.00
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM	$100.00
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM	$100.00

 
Canon October Rebates
 

Model	Rebate Amount
Canon EOS 5D Mark III	$200.00
Canon EOS 6D	$100.00 - $250.00
Canon EOS 7D	$100.00 - $600.00
Canon EOS 70D	$100.00 - $350.00
Canon EOS 60D	$100.00 - $250.00
Canon EOS Rebel T5i / 700D	$150.00 - $300.00
Canon EOS Rebel T3i / 600D	$50.00 - $200.00
Canon EOS Rebel T5 / 1200D	$50.00 - $200.00
Canon EOS Rebel T3 / 1100D	$150.00 - $300.00
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 / 100D	$150.00 - $300.00
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens	$50.00
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens	$150.00
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens	$100.00
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens	$50.00
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens	$100.00
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens	$100.00
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens	$100.00
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens	$150.00
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Lens	$60.00
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens	$200.00
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Lens	$50.00
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens	$50.00
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens	$60.00
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Lens	$100.00
Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Lens	$50.00
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens	$50.00
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens	$100.00
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens	$50.00
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens	$20.00
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Lens	$50.00
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens	$50.00
Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT Flash	$50.00
Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash	$50.00
Canon Speedlite 270EX II Flash	$30.00
Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX Flash	$60.00
Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX II Flash	$50.00

Canon Singapore has the Canon EOS 7D Mark II User's Manual available for download. (thanks Dana)
 
B&H has the Canon EOS 7D Mark II available for preorder.

From the Canon Digital Learning Center:

Autumn begins around late September, bringing with it a seasonal change that inspires photographers across the nation: Fall foliage. Autumn’s dramatic landscapes are stunning to behold and the challenge is how to preserve the impact in a still photograph that captures the unique quality of this season.
 
An autumn-colored tree is a subject unto itself. It is a time where a photograph of a simple tree can stand on its own and, in most cases, break all the rules of composition. There’s just something special about a tree (or landscape full of trees) turning brilliant colors this time of year. However, if you take it a step further — give the tree some dramatic lighting, throw in a compositional aid such as a creek or road, make use of color filter effects, and think carefully about framing and composition — then you’re on the right track to making a great photo that doesn't just rely on pretty colors.

See the entire article on the Canon Digital Learning Center.

Canon USA has the EOS 7D Mark II AF-Setting Guidebook available for download.
 
Amazon has the Canon EOS 7D Mark II available for preorder.

From AmateurPhotographer.co.uk:

"Nikon has advised D750 DSLR users to manually activate the security setting on Nikon’s Wi-Fi software app for mobile devices, to avoid the risk of unauthorised access to the camera’s images by a third party.
 
Amateur Photographer (AP)’s technical team has discovered a potential security flaw during their review of a full-production sample of the D750, which went on sale in the UK two days ago.
 
If users do not manually activate the Wi-Fi security settings, via the app, then they could expose the D750’s images to unauthorised access."

AP technical editor Andy Westlake added:

"If you have Wi-Fi turned on, anyone with a smart device and the Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility can connect to the camera and download images from the memory card without the owner’s permission."

You can read the entire article on AmateurPhotographer.co.uk.

Canon has issued a product advisory for select PIXMA printers because one clever hacker shed light on a security loophole by installing DOOM on his own Canon printer using its unrestricted web interface.
 
From Canon USA:
 
Thank you for using Canon products.
 
Canon has released a firmware update for the eligible PIXMA printer models listed below to enable access to the security option to set the administrator password.
 
Details
 
This Firmware Update incorporates the following improvement:
The security option to set the administrator password has been added to the Remote UI* menu for eligible models.
 
By setting the administrator password, you can protect your printer settings from being changed by unauthorized persons other than the administrator.
If the printer is connected to a network, we recommend that the printer’s firmware be updated and the security password be configured.
 
*For more information on how to access and use Remote UI please, click here to access the model list. Choose the model. Type “Remote” into the Gooole Customer Search box. Press Enter for a list of results.
 
Eligible models:
 

Model Name	Current Firmware version
MG7120	Ver. 4.030 or later
MG6420	Ver. 3.080 or later
MG5520 and MG5522	Ver. 3.080 or later
MG3520 and MG3522	Ver. 1.090 or later
MX532	Ver. 3.060 or later
MX472 and MX479	Ver. 3.060 or later
iX6820	Ver. 1.050 or later
iP8720	Ver. 1.050 or later

How to determine the Firmware Version of your printer
Print the nozzle check pattern to determine the firmware version the printer is running. The Firmware version will be listed on the bottom of the nozzle check pattern sheet. For instructions on how to print the nozzle check pattern sheet, please review the User Manual. Access to the Online Manual is available by clicking here and selecting the printer model.
 
How to configure the Security password
 

1. Update the printer’s firmware.
2. Configure the Administrator password. Access the Remote UI: With the Remote UI, you can check information about the printer or use the printer utility programs via PC smartphone, or similar device.
3. Choose the “Security” menu item.
4. Choose “Administrator password setting”.
5. “Register the administrator password?” Choose “Yes”.
6. When you register an administrator password, password authentication will be required upon starting Remove UI.” Choose “OK”.
7. Admin password registration - Enter an alphanumeric password no longer than 32 characters. The password is case-sensitive. Please save the password in a safe place as you may need it in the future.

Support
This information is for residents of the United States and Puerto Rico only. If you do not reside in the USA or Puerto Rico, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region. Please register your PIXMA printer. By registering, we will be able to notify you via email when service updates are available.
 
Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc
 
Contact Information for Inquiries
Canon Customer Support Center
Phone: 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666)
TDD: 1-866-251-3752
Email: carecenter@cits.canon.com

Photographer David Young has developed a free app that allows you to use Google Glass as your light meter. You can read more about the developer's inspiration on his site, LeicaLux.com.
 
Download Google Glass Light Meter.

Waukegan, IL – September 24, 2014 – Fotodiox Pro, a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality photography and videography accessories, has announced their newest concept in LED lighting: the FlapJack LED Edgelight series. Designed to be lightweight, portable and easy to set up, the FlapJacks produce soft, even light that is ideal for almost any shooting scenario, like impromptu interviews, capturing beautiful portraits or even shooting tabletop food or product photography. Their interior diffusion materials eliminate the need for additional softboxes, and each of the four models can easily fit into a messenger or camera bag, making them a truly complete lighting solution – right out of the box.
 
Rather than using forward-facing LEDs common in conventional panels, the FlapJacks’ LEDs are mounted around their outer edge, aimed inward at layers of diffusion material. Instead of producing a direct beam, they produce bounced light that creates a soft, even glow with no hotspots. They are the perfect solution for filling in shadows, shooting glamour portraits or expertly lighting small spaces, like car interiors or office cubicles.
 
Furthermore, the FlapJacks feature an elegant form factor – each measuring less than 1/2" at its thinnest point – and can be placed almost anywhere. Their compact design makes it easy to mount them to light stands, tabletop tripods, light clamps or even a camera’s accessory shoe. The FlapJacks are so lightweight that they can even be mounted with Velcro, cord or tape, making it easier than ever before to get creative with light placement.
 

 
Quick Facts About the Flapjack LED Edgelight Series:
 

• Two circular models: the C-200R (7” diameter) and the C-300R (10” diameter)
• Two rectangular models: the C-200S (8" x 5") and the C-200L (11" x 4 1/4")
• Feature edge-mounted LEDs and layers of built-in diffusion to produce soft, even lighting with no hotspots
• Fully dimmable, with no change in color temperature, from 10-100%
• Thin, portable design makes each model only 1/2” deep at thinnest point
• Run on either AC power or a NP-F style rechargeable battery (both are included in each kit)
• Contain a backlit LCD indicator that displays both light level and battery life status
• C-200 lights come with ballhead mounting bracket for light stand or accessory shoe mounting
• C-300 lights come with mounting yoke for light stand
• Each light comes with a custom fitted hard case and is backed by Fotodiox’s 2-year warranty

Amazon carries the new Fotodiox FlapJack LED lights.

From DxO:
 
129 new camera/lens combinations have been added to the DxO Optics Module library for DxO Optics Pro and DxO ViewPoint, providing support for Olympus, Pentax, Samyang and Zeiss lenses for Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Panasonic, Pentax and Samsung cameras.
 
To see the combinations supported by DxO Optics Pro and planned combinations, click on the link below then select the second tab.
 
Supported or planned combinations
 
New DxO Optics Modules for DxO Optics Pro (also supported by DxO ViewPoint):
Canon | Fujifilm | Nikon | Panasonic | Pentax | Samsung
 
B&H carries DxO Optics Pro 9 and DxO Viewpoint 2.

From Nikon:
 
Updates provided with this release, C:1.12
 

• An issue that sometimes prevented appropriate exposure control with interval timer photography has been resolved.

Download the Nikon COOLPIX A Firmware C:1.12
 
B&H carries the Nikon COOLPIX A digital camera.

The complete set of standard test results along with specs/measurements and product images are now available on the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro Macro Lens Review page.

From B&H:
 
The B&H SuperStore and Offices will close today, Wednesday at 1:00PM EDT, in observance of Rosh Hashanah and will reopen on Sunday, September 28th at 10:00AM EDT.
 
Rush orders placed before 11:00AM EDT, will be processed before we close.
All other orders placed before 7:00AM EDT, will also be processed before we close.
All shipping orders placed after the above time will be processed when we reopen.
 
Online ordering will be unavailable from 6:45PM EDT through Saturday, September 27th at 8:00 PM EDT.
 
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patronage.
 
Full Autumn Closing Schedule
 
Online ordering will be unavailable on the following days:
 

Wednesday, September 24, at 6:45PM EDT	through	Saturday, September 27, at 8:00PM EDT
Friday, October 3, at 6:30PM EDT	through	Saturday, October 4, at 8:00PM EDT
Wednesday, October 8, at 6:15PM EDT	through	Saturday, October 11, at 7:45PM EDT
Wednesday, October 15, at 6:15PM EDT	through	Saturday, October 18, at 7:30PM EDT

 
Announced last week, Lowepro's Hardside Series is set to compete with Pelican – the industry standard in hard cases. If this video is any indication, Lowepro may have positioned themselves as a worthy competitor.
 
B&H has the new Lowepro Hardside cases available for preorder.

From Adobe:
 
Get Amazing Results with Advanced Technology that Makes Photo and Video Editing Quick and Easy
 
Adobe today announced the availability of Adobe Photoshop Elements 13 and Adobe Premiere Elements 13, the latest versions of the No. 1 selling consumer photo- and video-editing software. Adobe serves up a fresh collection of easy-to-use editing tools and guided techniques to help consumers achieve the results they want. Also new this year, Elements Live: a dynamic channel within the software that's designed to spark creativity and improve user skills.
 
"Our customers don't always have the time or the know-how to get the results they desire," said Shanmugh Natarajan, senior director, engineering, core technologies and products at Adobe. "In Photoshop Elements 13 and Premiere Elements 13, we focused on developing tools that automate the process or guide customers through the steps to create the photos they'll love and want to share."
 
New Creative Features and Tools Inspired by Consumer Favorites
 
Adobe debuts features and tools based on the most popular consumer requests.
 
Photoshop Elements 13
 

• Better Photo Mashups – Copying people or objects from one photo to another is a consumer favorite and is now as easy as copy and paste with new Photomerge Compose. Used in conjunction with the new Refine Selection Brush for precise selections and Adobe's Match Color Tone that automatically blends lighting and shading, the final photo will look as if it had been taken that way.
• Stand Out with an Innovative Facebook Page – Easily combine Facebook Cover and Profile photos with text and graphics to create an integrated layout that's sure to get noticed.
• Black and White Photos with Personality – Three new Guided Edits add flair to black and white photos with pops of color or fine-tuning for a more dramatic approach.

Premiere Elements 13
 

• Minimize Time Spent Trimming Footage – Use Favorite Moments to mark the best parts of a clip, and then assemble them into a short movie ready for sharing.
• Introduce a Little Hollywood Flare – Add video footage to movie titles with Video in Titles or apply a blur or other popular effects to specific areas of the frame with Effects Masking.

Extraordinary Results in One Click
 
Personalizing photos and videos is even easier.
 
Photoshop Elements 13
 

• Fifty Stylish Ways to Customize Photos – Building on to the most popular enhancements in Expert mode, new Effects Variations offers four additional options per look for a total of 50 ways to tailor photos in a single click.
• Crop Photos Like a Pro – Improve photos with Intelligent Crop Suggestions, a tool that analyzes faces, horizons and other photographic elements to recommend four different crops based on the rules of composition.

Premiere Elements 13
 

• Steady Shaky Footage – The popularity of shooting video with hand-held smartphones and action cameras is at an all-time high but often results in shaky footage. With the enhanced Shake Stabilizer it's easy to steady shaky video in seconds.

Elements Live Educates and Inspires
 
Regularly updated to deliver fresh content, the Elements Live portal serves up tips, tricks and inspiration from within the application. From how to get started to inspiration and tutorials on more complicated techniques, Elements Live is sure to excite with all the creative possibilities.
 
Creative Storytelling in Fewer Steps
 
Build engaging narratives with imaginative slideshows and videos, then share finished creations directly to social media or generate a private album for only the people that matter most.
 
Premiere Elements 13
 

• Produce a Perfect Tale in Minutes – Themes based on various occasions, such as Wedding and Birthdays, walk users through the process of building a compelling video. Video Story automatically assembles the clips, adds transitions and music based on the chosen theme for a polished finished piece.
• Transform Humdrum Into Something Special – From within the Elements Organizer, add photos and videos into a themed slideshow complete with transitions and automated music, or choose an MP3 from a personal collection. Slideshow will sync the pace based on the beat of the selected song.

Pricing and Availability
 
Adobe Photoshop Elements 13 and Adobe Premiere Elements 13 (Mac and Windows) are immediately available for purchase for US$99.99 via www.adobe.com and retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, Staples, Office Depot and Campus Bookstores. Upgrade pricing is also available for US$79.99. The Photoshop Elements 13 & Premiere Elements 13 bundle is available for US$149.99, with upgrade pricing of US$119.99.
 
B&H has Adobe Photoshop Elements 13 and Premiere Elements 13 available for purchase.

 
From the Carl Zeiss Lenses YouTube Channel:
 
With the Otus 1.4/85 ZEISS is expanding its high-end lens family. The Otus 1.4/55, an SLR standard lens, already set new global standards in what it means to achieve perfection. The expectations for the 85-mm focal length are just as high. This new member of the Otus family is an outstanding and fast all-around lens that accepts no compromises
 
Want more information? Read our Zeiss OTUS 85mm f/1.4 Review.

 
Product photographer Tony Roslund shows us how to save money by mounting and framing prints yourself.
 
Relevant Tools/Supplies
 

• Moab Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 Paper (24" x 100' Roll)
• Moab Desert Varnish Lacquer Spray
• Neschen Gudy 831 Pressure Sensitive Adhesive
• Rubber Brayer
• Point Driver

From Nikon:
 
New Courses and New Locations Offer Wide Variety of Topics, Focusing on Specific Photography Styles or Techniques and Video Capture
 
MELVILLE, NY (September 22, 2014) Today, Nikon Inc. announced the upcoming schedule for the new Nikon School program, which will now feature a wider variety of classes and a more interactive experience for photographers of all levels from beginners to enthusiasts. Held across the United States, Nikon School educates and inspires photographers, with classes for anyone who wants to take their photography to a next level, both creatively and technically.
 
This year, Nikon School will offer a greater variety of classes targeted towards an individual’s specific photographic passions. The new courses focus on specific styles and techniques and include Travel and Landscape, Creative Lighting, Action and People and Video Production. Realizing attendees’ busy schedules, full-day and half-day sessions will now be available to make classes more accessible for photography lovers nationwide. Additionally, Nikon School will now be structured as a more visual and interactive learning experience for students, with more enhanced content that demonstrate how to get the most out of a camera. Accredited instructors will incorporate live demonstrations and encourage students to let their creativity shine.
 
“From parents to grandparents, hobbyists to artists, to people who just love to create and share images, photography is becoming more popular; the aim of Nikon school is to help people get the most from their cameras, while implementing fresh ideas to help educate and inspire photography lovers everywhere,” said Mark Suban, Senior Manager, Nikon Professional Services at Nikon Inc. “Whether an amateur photographer is looking to upgrade from a smartphone, or an enthusiast photographer interested in advancing a skillset, Nikon School offers a class that can help anyone achieve their photographic dreams.”
 
Nikon School will host more than 50 classes from September 2014 to June 2015 in 25 locations nationwide. The programs are taught by six instructors, all of whom are recognized as experts in the industry.
 
To get more information on Nikon School or access to the most updated schedule, please visit: www.NikonSchool.com/newclasses.

From Adobe:
 
Acquisition and New Creative SDK Accelerates Delivery of Mobile Apps that Integrate with Adobe Creative Cloud
 
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sept. 22, 2014 — Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that it has acquired privately held Aviary, a developer of mobile SDKs (Software Development Kits) for the delivery of creative apps. With millions of people already using Aviary-powered photo-editing apps and thousands of developers using Aviary’s SDKs, across mobile platforms, the acquisition accelerates Adobe’s strategy to make Creative Cloud a vibrant platform for third-party apps, through a new Creative SDK. Currently under development, Adobe Creative SDK is a software library that enables developers to tap into Adobe’s creative technologies to build mobile apps and drive new connections between mobile devices and Adobe Creative Cloud desktop applications and services.
 
“Aviary has an exceptional team and technology platform, as well as expertise serving a robust developer ecosystem. We're thrilled to leverage Aviary's technology to make our Creative SDK even more powerful for app developers,” said Scott Belsky, vice president of Creative Cloud Ecosystem & Behance at Adobe. “This is great news for developers because thousands of mobile apps will have the opportunity to become compatible with industry-defining desktop tools like Photoshop CC, as well as new Creative Cloud services."
 
Adobe Creative SDK gives third-party developers access to Adobe APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), previously only available to Adobe’s internal engineering teams. Examples include: browsing files stored in Creative Cloud; extracting elements from PSD files; Adobe’s “Touch Slide” software for straight-line drawing; and cloud image-editing services like Content-Aware Fill and Upright. Adobe Photoshop Mix, a recently launched mobile app for iOS, utilizes these new APIs and offers some of Adobe’s best imaging technology for applying Photoshop looks and compositing images. Adobe Creative SDK is currently being tested by developers and a beta launch is expected in the coming months.
 
"Aviary was founded to bring creative freedom to the world,” said Avi Muchnick, Aviary’s co-founder. “We're excited to join Adobe and tap into their incredible wealth of creative technology and supercharge our collective SDK offering. Together, we will help nurture the next generation of third party creative apps.”
 
For further details on today’s announcement, visit Scott Belsky’s blog and Aviary's blog.

From Canon:
 
MELVILLE, N.Y., September 22, 2014 - Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce that Canon Cinema EOS digital cameras and lenses have been selected by IMAX Corporation for an exciting mission to capture 4K footage in space. The cameras and lenses left Earth Saturday on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The equipment will arrive at the International Space Station, where astronauts will capture stunning 4K content for the upcoming new 3D film, tentatively titled A Perfect Planet, a presentation of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and IMAX Entertainment.
 
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Toni Myers, the IMAX 3D space project will offer breathtaking, illuminating views of Earth from space, exploring mankind's future on and off the planet. Renowned large format cinematographer James Neihouse serves as the film's director of photography and trained the astronauts who will man the cameras while in orbit.
 
The IMAX production team selected Canon EOS C500 EF digital cinema cameras, Canon EOS-1D-C digital SLR cameras, and a selection of Canon Cinema Zoom and Prime lenses for the project. The EOS C500s will be paired with Codex recorders to capture 4K images.
 
"Of the digital cameras we tested for spaceflight, the Canon EOS C500's image quality was more film-like than the other systems," said Neihouse. "The sharpness is superior to some of the larger sensors. And it is more user-friendly for the astronauts. We have a good track record with Canon cameras in space."
 
"I am thrilled that the Canon Cinema EOS cameras we have selected launched to the International Space Station and our astronaut crews can now begin filming spectacular scenes for our new project," said Toni Myers, who will produce, direct, write and edit the documentary film. "The lightweight, flexible Canon cameras produce remarkable imagery and are ideal for capturing scenes of our beautiful Planet Earth.
 
"When we launched the Cinema EOS product line, Canon hoped to inspire filmmakers to take their craft to new heights. We are honored that IMAX, Toni Myers, James Neihouse, and the astronauts took our challenge so literally. To have our cameras and lenses travel to space is an incredible cause for celebration. We look forward to this awe-inspiring film and pledge to continue to engineer products worthy of the next frontier-whether here on Earth or among the stars," said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc.
 
IMAX's 3D film will be shot over the course of the next year with multiple crews of astronauts conducting principal photography. The film is tentatively set for release in early 2016.
 
B&H carries Canon EOS Cinema Cameras and Lenses.

 
From the Adobe Photoshop YouTube Channel:
 
Photoshop Principal Product Manager Bryan O'Neil Hughes explains how to create a vignette in Photoshop in this episode of the Photoshop Playbook.
 
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