12 Megapixels for Less Than $500

I saw the fantastic new Canon G9 shown to me by one of the attendees at yesterday's Cleveland Photographic Society meeting. The camera combines the portability and form factor of a point and shoot with the features and resolution that one would expect from a digital SLR (including raw image capture). The graphic above is from this review from dpreview.com. The display is large and the animated display reminded me of graphics in Apple products. Best of all, you can get it for under $500 (per Amazon.com) at this time. Here is a Youtube video in German but you get to see the display and features.

Update: Here is a video in English from Cameralabs.com that is more detailed than the German one above.

Are You Concerned about Photo Piracy?

Photo Credit: Flickr member Wolfy

Professional photographer Anton Sheker was shocked to discover that picture he posted in his blog had been used without his permission in the travel section of a daily newspaper. Read more about photo his situation and photo piracy here. The offending paper covered his allegations in the paper. Sheker and the paper are both in the Phillippines. Sheker's blog about photography in the Phillippines describes both the initial use of the photo and the paper's coverage of his concerns.

Did our regional paper, the Plain Dealer, do the same thing? Photographer David Lay thinks so. He posted a photo on the JPG Magazine site. The next thing he knew, his picture appeared on the the PD website and on the cover of the Friday Magazine as one photo in a 5 x 5 photo grid of 25 photos. You can find his posting on Brewed Fresh Daily with links to his original photo and the website where his photo was used. (JPG Magazine is a website that allows members to post photographs and have them voted on by visitors to the site. JPG picks photos from the site for its magazine. The first six issues were printed exclusively by Lulu.com, and can be viewed and downloaded free at this page. )

How concerned are you that your photos will be lifted from places you've authorized and used in other places without permission? Do you watermark your photos to discourage this?

Update: Brewed Fresh Daily cited this post and people made comments there. Commenters include David Lay and Anton Sheker.

Inspire Your Photography With a Visual Diary

Here is a technique for inspiring your photographs: keep a diary of images taken by others as inspiration for trying new things. Digital Photography School has a great article on how to do this.

This photographer had gotten in the habit of cutting out images that inspired her from newspapers, magazines, advertising brochures, postcards etc. She even printed shots from online to stick in her visual notebook. The other section of her visual notebook was a place for writing and drawing ideas. When she thought of an idea to photograph in the day to day of life she’d make a note of it (or even draw a little sketch to help her remember) so she could come back to it later to do a photo shoot around the idea.

Read more here.

Carve Your Halloween Pumpkin With a Photograph

Before and after Pictures

Want to put your child's face (or that of a friend or relative) on a pumpkin for Halloween? Using a photograph and your favorite image editing software (like Adobe Photoshop Elements) you can carve a picture on a pumpkin.

I first saw this technique demonstrated by the Pumpkin Lady on the Screen Savers, that technology show that used to be on Tech TV.

Basically, you create a high contrast version of your image and transfer it to a pumpkin. The pictures above came from masterpiecepumpkins.com which provides great step by step instructions.

If you'd like another approach see the Pumpkin Lady's site or this blog entry from the Okuda Family. This tutorial gives a great explanation on how to punch the holes to make the pattern.

If you succeed in carving a pumpkin from a photograph, please take a picture and post a link to it in the comments. Here are step by step instructions for taking pictures of your halloween creations. Happy pumpkin carving!

George Washington (by the Pumpkin Lady)

Creative Oxygen for Your Soul: A Presentation by Gigi Clark

On October 21st, the Society of Northern Ohio Professional Photographers (SONOPP) presents a seminar by Gigi Clark entitled Creative Oxygen for Your Soul. Gigi Clark is a professional photographer who specializes in teaching others how to tap into their creative potential as artists. Here's more on her background:

These days you can express your creativity with both your camera and your computer. She believes both cameras and the software tools available need to be demystified so photographers can use them creatively. Beware of thinking, however, that these images are therefore "digital tricks".

In her workshops, Gigi also shares some of the marketing and promotional strategies she uses to bring in, book and serve her clients. She hates the idea of "short-changing" or "nickel-and-diming" her clients, and she explains how she avoids it. In life and in business, what you give determines what you get back, so generosity is her by-word

Where:
Holiday Inn
4181 West 150th Street
Cleveland, OH 44135

When:
October 21, 2007
1 PM to 4 PM

Cost:
$39 for SONOPP members
$55 non members in advance
$60 at the door
For more Info or credit card payment:
(440) 570-3983

About SONOPP:
The Society of Northern Ohio Professional Photographers was formed in 1949 to provide "a professional photographic association to allow professional photographers to network with each other, to share tips and experiences, to train new photographers in the profession, and to help consumers in selecting the right photographer for their needs."

October SIG Meeting: Matting & Mounting Your Photographs

Photo by Moonriver&Me

The October meeting of the Digital Photography SIG will be Thursday, October 18 at the Cleveland Heights Utrecht Store.

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN LOCATIONS.

The topic will be matting and mounting your photographs. Store manager Maureen Ryan will do a demonstration of how to mat photographs for display. She will cover

• how to cut double and single mats
• ways to mount photos to backing board
• how to hinge mats
• use of several mat cutting tools

Ms. Ryan will demonstrate using actual photographs. Bring a photo with you if you'd like to have it mounted. We will chose from the photos that people bring.

Where:
1798 Coventry Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118-1630 map
Phone: (216) 371-3500

When:
Thursday, October 18, 2007, 6:30 p.m.

About Utrecht:
Utrecht is a national art supply store that sells over 15,000 professional quality art materials and supplies from over 500 of the world's leading brands. The store was founded in New York city in 1949.

Thanks to all of the people who responded to the survey. This meeting topic was chosen based on your responses.

Hear Rick Sammon at OSU on Friday, October 12th

Cord Camera is sponsoring a talk by photographer, author, and world traveler, Rick Sammon at OSU. He will share pictures from around the world, discuss the business side of being a freelance photographer, and share his favorite Photoshop techniques.

Where: Fawcett Center Auditorium, OSU Campus
When: October 12, 7-9 pm
Cost: $20
For more information contact: Cord Camera

Three of Rick Sammon's 27 books
Photo courtesy ricksammon.com