Photography News

The "Publisher of Photography Books," Amherst Media, has announced their upcoming titles for Spring 2009. [MORE]

Olympus sends word that they've updated their E-30 with a firmware patch to remove three what would be annoying glitches:

• Reduce the sound of the Image Stabilizer operation when Imager AF and Hybrid AF are being used.


• Stop the card access lamp from blinking if the delete button is pressed when reviewing images in close-up playback mode.


• Remove horizontal stripes that occasionally appeared in images captured with different aspect marks when viewed in the index image playback mode (thumbnail view).

It's pretty cool that most DSLRs can actually fix the software that runs them. Kudos to Olympus for staying on top of this.

Click the LINK below for instructions on how to acquire and apply the update.

The folks at GigaTribe have extended an offer to each of our readers for a FREE three-month trial of their file-sharing service. GigaTribe allows you to share large files of all types while letting you restrict access to just those you approve (or everyone if you like). [MORE]

Following on last week's update of the E-30 DSLR firmware upgrade, Olympus sends us word that they've also updated the firmware for their flagship E-3 DSLR system. The fix is said to make improvements to the camera's overall Auto-Focus performance.

Get it by following the LINK link below.

Nikon today announced their new and "highly anticpated" new DSLR, the D5000. This 12.3MP is the latest DSLR to drift over into the prosumer/point & shoot territory by offering a movie mode and 19 preset scene shooting modes. I'm not sure that someone who wants movie mode and preset scenes (and there is nothing wrong with that in and of itselft) is actually the type to need a full-feature DSLR with interchangable lenses. But then again I've seen many people who think that just buying a better camera makes them a better photographer, so what do I know? [MORE]

A reminder that entries for Mountain Trail's bi-monthly photo contest (this one ran March-April) are due April 25 (just 11 days from now).

This one's simple -- send your best shots of wildflowers.

Full details at the [LINK] below.

The cool keeps getting cooler. Lensbaby's Optic Swap system for the Composer, Muse, and Control Freak lenses just got even better with the announcement of the $79.95 Super-Wide 0.42x attachment. This screws onto the front of the Lensbaby via 37mm thread and converts the 50mm focal length to 21mm ultrawide. [MORE]

Bogen Imaging is hosting a FREE online Webinar this Friday, April 17th from 2:00-3:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The session will be conducted by Claudio Basso, "one of the world's most respected fashion photographers."

Registrants will also have a chance to win a one of three free Metz flashes ($474 value) after the session. So that's pretty cool. [MORE]

Just received this news from member Steve Wolfe (who received it from a friend of Rick). Your prayers for Rick and especially his family are much needed.

Steve, an update on Rick. Finally had a chance to see him on Tuesday. He’s not been having any visitors since he started chemo five or six weeks ago

It ain’t good. He is in bed except for maybe two hours a day. Hospice is now coming in to help. When I saw him, he was in bed, lying on his side facing my direction. His eyes appeared to be “glassy” and not focusing. I did all the talking and he was only able to move his head yes or no. He did try to speak once or twice and it was just a grunt that I could not understand

Was with him for about twenty minutes and then spent some time with his wife, his son, and his sister in law. His son and sister in law are here from San Francisco to help out.

Wished it was better news, but like someone said, “we are all standing in line, some just get to the front sooner than others.”

Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray!

Just received word via Steve Wolfe that Rick Slaven passed away last night, April 24, 2009. May God bless his wife, son, and family in their time of grief.

I received a call from Rick's wife Marilyn this morning saying Rick died last night. He went peacefully.

No arrangements yet. He is to be cremated and said Rick didn’t want a service so to speak. Maybe a Celebration of Life?

We laughed and said maybe we could hold it at our old “watering hole”, Brennan’s Pub and Grub.

Rick would like that.

Rick awarded me my first ever POTD on his site and that recognition stimulated my desire to take better photos and improve my skills. He honored me by submitting his work from time to time to this little site as well. While he never submitted often, he did have four POTD here as well.

You can view them at his profile page.

UPDATE: Former site member Mark Westlake compiled this video tribute to Rick set to music and Rick's photos.

FotoQuote Pro photography business manager has been updated to verison 6. Cradoc has added 86 new selling categories bringing the total to over 300. Full details at http://www.cradocfotosoftware.com/fotoQuote-Pro/index.html and upgrade pricing is discounted by $10 (now $64.99) through May 31, 2009.