I just got the bare drive and discs. The drive installs as any SATA-based drive does: easily. I put mine in an external enclosure. First thing I notice is that the discs themselves are heavier (literally) than other DVD-R’s, and they are about 70% transparent. Mac sees the drive; Toast writes to it; writes are […]

I started shooting 55 years ago, and built my first darkroom at age 10. The point is just that I’ve been around for most of the changes, and of course the change to digital is the largest one of all. There was a time when saying that I was a photographer put me in a […]

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” […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

… 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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]