As you know I have been on the PhotoTips Podcast with growing frequency, and I have been asked to attend this live event tomorrow night at 11pm as a technical advisor and producer. For what you may ask,,, well there is a new camera being released by Canon as you may or may not know. This camera being release will be a game changer in the realm of digital photography. There are some aspects that aren't public but some have made predictions about, but I can say in a fairly certain voice that those predictions are 99.99% accurate.. With these new aspects it will be pronominal and may get me to change brands if my brand doesn't follow suit.... But I digress....
The live event will start at 11pm 2300 hrs 11 -5GMT, can I be any more clear? The event is held at the PhotoTips Spreecast Channel. We will have a celebrity special guest joining us who is the GOTO guy for anything Canon, that's right Mr Canon Rumors himself Craig Blair. During this live event you the fans will be able to ask questions and interact with the event. We don't know how long the event will last but it should prove to be a great time had by all. I hope to see everyone from the Facebook group and the podcast fans as well as our forum family to join the event. You don't have to be a Canon fan to join in on the fun, remember this is history in the making for our world..
Recently I had been saving my money for a photo cruise with my friends and colleagues at Phototips.biz and MyProfoto.com to the bahamas.
It was gonna be awesome, however, I didn't save hard enough and in the end, I could not go.
However the money I had saved up was now free for me to spend, so what better to do than to cheer myself up with some retail therapy.
I headed to my favourite Photo store online and bought myself a new fun lens and a flash ring adaptor for my Nikon SB900s
What lens did i get?
A Nikkor 10.5mm Fisheye. What a cool lens this is too.
(Sorry claire, i have no idea what i said to make you pull that face, but I'm sorry lol)
So much fun, the reason i wanted this lens and the Ray Flash Ring adaptor?
To play with the "Jarvie Window" effect.
"Whats that???" I hear you cry,
THIS is the Jarvie window........
I love this effect.
My friend and mentor Jimmy Beltz of phototips.biz fame calls the technique "The Ultimate party Pics" and I think he's right.
A bunch of kids in one room, all pulling faces and you can get a bunch of consistent images of each kid, really fast and easy.
I took a bunch of my friend Claire, and it was great fun.
These are some of the images from my first attempt at this technique.....
This is fast becoming a second favourite lens in my kit bag.
Its not great enough to surpass my 24-70mm f2.8 Nikon lens, thats still my baby and my go to lens for most portrait stuff, but I've seen some fantastic uses for the fisheye to give interesting cool looking images, not just for the "Ultimate Party Pics".
I hope to have more fun with this lens in the future, but for now, I hope you like the first attempt images I have shown here for you all.
I expect more will follow another time in the future.
"You keep pulling silly faces and I'll keep shooting until the wind changes" - Andy Comber
The day of love and romance is almost upon us once again.
Valentines day is 2 weeks away now and what better way to delight your boyfriend, husband or significant other than a set of sexy boudoir photos just for him?
Booking dates can fill up fast so to avoid disappointment, book early and in advance to ensure you get your pictures on time for the special day.
Nothing says "I love You" better than the expression of yourself in some gorgeous tasteful photos for his eyes only.
Apple's website announces the sad news that Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs has passed away. Jobs was 56 years old, and had been struggling with complications related to pancreatic cancer over the past several years. Apple leaves the following message on their website in tribute to Jobs:
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences, please email rememberingsteve@apple.com
Steve Jobs narrated this unaired version of Apple's famous Think Different ad in 1997:
We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.
Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.
His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.
From Robert Scoble: "Flags half staff at Apple headquarters. Sad day in Cupertino."
Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech, where he addresses his mortality. An inspiring speech, excerpt from Observer.com.
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.
In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.
We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply emailrememberingsteve@apple.com.
No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.
Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.
By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.
I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.
Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an "original," with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.
Steve Jobs is the most successful CEO in the U.S. of the last 25 years. He uniquely combined an artists touch and an engineers vision to build an extraordinary company... one of the greatest American leaders in history.
Steve Jobs was a great California innovator who demonstrated what a totally independent and creative mind can accomplish. Few people have made such a powerful and elegant imprint on our lives. Anne and I wish to express our deepest sympathy to Steve's wife, Laurene, and their entire family.
Today the world lost a visionary leader, the technology industry lost an iconic legend and I lost a friend and fellow founder. The legacy of Steve Jobs will be remembered for generations to come. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to the Apple team.
It’s the ultimate sadness. First of all, it’s a young person who was revered, sometimes feared, but always revered. In a way, it’s kind of prophetic; everyone was hoping he could be on stage yesterday. He was a very special person, and he didn’t get to where he was by having people like him all the time. He got to where he was because he had a vision and a purpose. It’s easy to try and please everyone, but he kept to his principles.
I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google’s are with his family and the whole Apple family
Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come. Again and again over the last four decades, Steve Jobs saw the future and brought it to life long before most people could even see the horizon. And Steve's passionate belief in the power of technology to transform the way we live brought us more than smart phones and iPads: it brought knowledge and power that is reshaping the face of civilization. In New York City's government, everyone from street construction inspectors to NYPD detectives have harnessed Apple's products to do their jobs more efficiently and intuitively. Tonight our City – a city that has always had such respect and admiration for creative genius – joins with people around the planet in remembering a great man and keeping Laurene and the rest of the Jobs family in our thoughts and prayers.
Steve Jobs was a visionary and a wonderful friend of The New York Times. He pushed the boundaries of how all providers of news and information interact with our users. I am among the many who deeply regret his passing.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson
We are saddened by the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was an iconic inventor, visionary, and entrepreneur, and we had the privilege to know him as partner and friend. All of us at AT&T offer our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife, family, and his Apple family.
Steve Jobs was a visionary who changed the way we live, an innovator whose products brought joy to millions, a risktaker who wasn’t afraid to challenge the status quo, and an entrepreneur who led one of the most creative companies of our time.
His sage advice was respected by policymakers on both sides of the aisle. His courageous fight against cancer brought strength to many. I hope it is a comfort to those who loved him, especially his family, that so many grieve his loss and are praying for them at this sad time.
Today, we lost one of the most influential thinkers, creators and entrepreneurs of all time. Steve Jobs was simply the greatest CEO of his generation. While I am deeply saddened by his passing, I’m reminded of the stunning impact he had in revolutionizing the way people consume media and entertainment. My heart goes out to his family and to everyone who had the opportunity to work beside him in bringing his many visions to life.
From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met.
On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much. My condolences to family, friends, and colleagues at Apple.
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was truly a genius of our time, a man with a rare ability to fuse art and technology. In centuries from now, he will be remembered alongside Leonardo da Vinci. His achievements will continue to shine forever.
Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time.
The magic of Steve was that while others simply accepted the status quo, he saw the true potential in everything he touched and never compromised on that vision. He leaves behind an incredible family and a legacy that will continue to speak to people for years to come.
Some are leaving flowers at Apple Stores in tribute:
I thought about the dilemma every day for about a year and half. It caused me a lot of grief, and stopped writing almost entirely. It made my spirit weak. Three weeks ago, I felt like I had had enough. I wrote my apology letter to Steve.
While Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal and CNET continue to drone on about the impact of the Steve Jobs era, I won’t be pondering the MacBook Air I write on or the iPhone I talk on. I will think of the day I saw him at his son’s high school graduation. There Steve stood, tears streaming down his cheeks, his smile wide and proud, as his son received his diploma and walked on into his own bright future, leaving behind a good man and a good father who can be sure of the rightness of this, perhaps his most important legacy of all.
- A great video retrospective of Jobs' career:
- Palo Alto's Patch site has photographs from the growing tribute outside Jobs' Palo Alto home, including one of this small flower pot which Jobs' wife Laurene placed on the fence outside their home
Ok for those who are now wondering what the whole Donald duck was about, first an explanation.
My good friend and talented Photographer Anders Hareskov in Copenhagen, Denmark has had some great success recently.
(What a Handsome Chap he is eh ladies?)
Not long ago, Anders had revealed to me that if his name is translated from Danish to English it translated as "Donald Duck". I of course found this hilarious, and it stuck!
Ok explanation over, lets get to the amazing news.
Anders has not only opened his own photo studio for his photography "Copenhagen Photo House" (NEW website coming soon) but expanded his love and skills in photography into starting his own supply store, run from his own studio, selling photographic lighting and modifier equipment aimed at all price ranges AND a photo sharing and printing service BestilDitFoto.dk
This business is called "PhotoFlash.DK" and they sell studio flash kits all the way down to tiny foldout modifiers for on camera pop up flashes, all at very competitive prices.
Not just affordable, downright cheap!!!
But cheap is in no way how I would describe the quality of kit.
I have purchased equipment and the fold out 60x60cm speed light soft box not only compares with the similarly designed "Lastolite" branded version, it was less than HALF THE PRICE!!!
After a slow startup, over the last few months this business has been growing and growing and after some interest from a professional photographer over in Denmark, his awesome flash kit and soft box equipment has gained notice of a magazine.
Anders has a 4 page spread in the centre of "Zoom" magazine with a detailed review of his equipment. Compared to High End Brands like Elichrom and the "Menik" Branded kit got a maximum 6 stars out of 6 in the review.
The reviewer had nothing but great things to say, not only about the quality of the kit, but Anders giving awesome customer services.
Anders impressed the reviewer so much they are in talks to start running photographic workshops from his studio / shop and customers of Photoflash.dk also receive a discounted price on these workshops too.
This all adds up to a big buzz in the Pro Photographer circles in and around denmark right now and I can't recommend them highly enough.
The image above is lit using the Menik lighting system from Photoflash.dk and was shot by the reviewer for the magazine article.
Well the world famous, loveable, adorable photography Geek of a host Jimmy Beltz and the Phototips Podcast invited me to be on the show with another mutual friend, the Awesome Shannon Allison. (the guy with 2 girls names)
In This show we discuss a few topics including
What Makes a Pro?
Rumour Control?
Cheap Flashes - are they worth buying?
Mirrorless Cameras - are they pointless?
as well as discussing a great charitable project for this Christmas holiday season chaired by the already mentioned Shannon Allison.
This round table discussion was over an hour in length but we threw around some ideas and opinions that may change your views on where you sit in the photography world, what kit to buy, if mirror less cameras are a fad or the future of photography.
Watch the show and Id appreciate any comments below should you feel the need.
