Day: May 8, 2021

Size Matters

Most of you know I’m an old-school “straight” photographer. I also am a “fine art” photographer (as opposed to a journalist, fashion, product etc shooter.) My work is sold to collectors, and hangs in galleries. It is meant to be studied and enjoyed, and to live a long life on someone’s wall because it “clicks” […]

Permanent photo archives? (2011)

Well, OK: maybe “only” 1000 years… (see more recent initial review, above, somewhere) (Before I go any further, I’d like to make a point. I think this technology is a milestone in the entire history of computers, and perhaps the most important invention since the computer itself.*) Yep: there is digital technology coming in a […]

A Video Tangent: the FCP X hysteria (2011)

I wrote this letter to a friend who also edits video (as I have, since 1972) and it’s regarding the fact that some professional editors have become irrational when discussing Apple’s new Final Cut Pro X (“ten” not “ex”) editing software. FCPX is a version 1 release, and is missing several features pros need, and […]

On choosing “the best” photo paper (2011)

I’m frequently asked to name “the best” paper for fine-art inkjet printing. (And, please, let’s call it what it is: “inkjet” or “pigment print” and not “giclee” which is way too affected – like “faux” pearls.) This is, actually, an complex and “non-trivial” question, and I’ve considered doing a day-long seminar on this one subject […]

Believing your own press (2011)

I’ve been a teacher and an author and taking photos on and off for over 50 years now. Also as a programmer of some 35 years experience, I’m more than a little familiar with things digital, and how they work. And I’ve got to say, some of the new self-proclaimed experts in photography, especially those […]

My smeary, oily, camera display screen (2011)

… is far less trouble now that I’ve applied this stuff: www.nu-screen.com …which is advertised for iPods, iPads and iPhones, but “works a treat” on my cameras as well. Heck, I’ve even used it on my eyeglasses. (It repels oil, such as from your fingers, or cheeks, and at the very least, makes cleaning it […]

Optical media: CD, DVD, BluRay (2011)

“Phil and Dave’s Excellent CD – the beta version.”  That’s when I started using CDs, then burning them, and then  DVDs and BluRays. (“Phil & Dave’s” was the first data CD, released by Apple in 1989 (I believe.) I still have my copy around here somewhere. As a multimedia developer, I have since burned 10s […]

Digital photography – who can you trust? (2011)

I recently attended a webinar by a well-known and published author (who shall remain nameless.) I had to give up paying full attention however when he said, regarding raw files: use the sRGB color space; use 8-bit images; using white paper for color balance “in a pinch” is OK “just watch for burn out in […]

1440 vs 2880 – you’re looking at it wrong. (2011)

Most folks I know who print their own images on Epson printers say “skip the 2880 since it uses twice the ink, and there’s no difference in the detail.” In fact, you’ll find this repeated constantly by most online pundits and magazine article authors. Well…. … it uses about 10% more ink, not “twice the […]

My prints are tinted blue (2011)

The advice column of a national photographic magazine responded to a fellow who wrote for help, complaining that his prints were tinted blue. He explained that he was using a new 27″ iMac, and an Epson R320 printer. Now admittedly these are not optimum equipment for making prints, but the columnist’s advice was “…trade in […]

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