Oh Snap, Adobe Lightroom 4!

Its official, Adobe Lightroom 4 is out of beta testing and now on retail shelves. The program has gotten some major upgrades to compete with Apple's Appeture 3. The best part of all is that adobe has cut the price from $299 to $149, which I believe is in response to Apples pricing of Appeture 3 on the Mac Apps Store for $79.99. I am glad that their is finally some competition out their for photography programs because it just means better offers to us as consumers. With this type of competition it has lowered the cost for amateur photographers to begin entry into the post editing world. Hip Hip, Hooray!

Some of the improvements in 4 include improved RAW processing which allows the maximum detail in shadow and highlight areas. You can also adjust color, tone, and contrast. This can easily make beautiful black-and-white conversions which I am a big fan of. Another new option that I have become addicted to is clarirty. 

Clarity is a slider that allows you to go from a extra gritty edge to the soft billowy edge used alot for portraits. I can't get enough!

Adobe has also added some features that copy directly from Appeture 3. There is a new map interface that allows you to tag all of photos with GPS data. They have also integrated Lightroom to directly connect to your Facebook and Flickr accounts for easy uploading and photo managing. Last but not least, Adobe has included a new Book creation module. This modules utilizes a variety or templates that allow you to either save you book as a pdf or upload directly to Blurb for printing.

I have to say I am really impressed with Lightroom 4 and am officially hooked. Way to go, Adobe!

Vimeo FTW!

Oh Vimeo, why did I not find you sooner. 


Over spring break I recently discovered a new website and I cant stop watching. For those of you who don't know, Vimeo is a respectful community of creative people who are passionate about sharing the videos they create. Think of it as the artsy version of Youtube. You wont find internet classics like Chocolate Rain or Nyan Cat but instead films that you would probably see at a film festival, technology convention or college. For me it was somewhat of a fresh breathe of air to see a new social video website that offers something more. 


Now I know what you are asking, why are you posting this on your blog meant for photography? Well prepare to be fed baby birds. Vimeo offers "How to" and "DIY" videos for photography as well as unveilings for new camera equipment/accessories. Photography is a very hands-on medium so what better way to learn new tricks of the trade than to watch professionals perform their tricks in the field. I have definitely found some interesting new ideas that I want implement on future photo shoots.


Well DoF didn't have any major photo shoots this past weekend due to a big tornado scare so I leave you with this cool shot of one of my lenses that I took a few days ago. Enjoy!

Self Portraits Tips

Self Portraits can be a tough obstacle to overcome especially since photographers aren't used to being on the other end of a lens. Here are some pointers of how to handle yourself and the tools you may need in this new position.

• Timer  Almost every camera has a timer for shooting nowadays. What better way to use it. With the timer it allows you to get prepared while the camera waits to take the shot. Timers are great for action shots or to get into a crazy pose.
• Tripod  If you can afford one, try to invest in a tripod. With this you can adjust the frame before you take your shot and it also allows your to be hand free to pose more comfortably in the shot. Adios Myspace photos circa 2002!
• Props  Don't be afraid to use something to express yourself in a photo. Self portraits don't have to be photos of just you face like an ID card. You could easily not include you face at all but instead your hands holding your favorite tool, your feet in some silly socks, etc. The idea is to be creative with the photo so it can express your inner self.
• Lighting  This is one thing I harp on for any photo including self portraits. Lighting effects everything in a photo. Be aware of where you are shooting so if you need lights don't be afraid to find some. My husband can testify to my crazy light schemes in the house while trying to get the perfect shot. If you don't want to invest in an expensive light kit, Home Depot has construction lights that do the job for cheap.
• Perspective  Change the way the picture is portrayed by taking pictures at new angles. Get up high or down low and tease the camera with your eyes. Try some photos where you don't make eye contact so it moves the viewer to a different direction or space.
• Emotion  Play the part people! You are not a runway model so no need to be so serious. Let your true character shine and don't be afraid about looking dumb. The nice thing about self portraits is that you have full control over the shooting. You will be the decision maker on what final photos are shown so just experiment until you get what you want.

If you need some ideas or inspiration you should check out Flickr. They have whole groups dedicated to taking SP photographs for 365 days a year. I leave you with with 2 photos of myself that I took this morning. Nothing too crazy but I like them none the less. Enjoy!