More Lightroom 3 beta resources...

I recently posted about the Lightroom 3 public beta program and I wanted to add some more information and newly released resources.

The public beta will be lasting until April 30th 2010, giving us a full six months to really give it a thorough workout.

Here are some resources that will give you details, insight, and training so you can truly explore and use Lightroom 3 to its fullest.

1. Here is the link where you can get Lightroom 3.

2. Terry White has forgotten more than I will ever know about Lightroom and he has a detailed write-up and a 30 minute video that will take you deep into Lightroom 3.

3. Adobe TV has 3 videos (almost 60 minutes) showing what is new in Lightroom 3.

4. NAPP has put together their (video & links) Lightroom 3 learning center.

5. Stop by Lightroom Killer Tips to read Matt's Q&A on Lightroom 3.

6. Victoria Bampton (aka The Lightroom Queen) has a a detailed list of what's new in Lightroom 3 along with her own list of Lightroom 3 links.

That should keep you busy until we meet again.

Great deal on 8 GB memory cards...

Adorama has SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III memory cards on sale.

You can get a 3 pack of Compact Flash Memory Cards for $69 and/or a 3 pack of SDHC cards for $129. To sweeten the deal even more shipping on either set of memory cards is free.

Here are the details:

The 3 pack of SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III Compact Flash Memory Cards is $149.95, has an $80 rebate, making the final price $69.95 (yup, that's just $23 per card).

A 3 pack of SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Memory Card (Class 10) is $219.95, comes with a $90 rebate, with a final price of $129 for three cards.

I just checked the web site of another (well known) photography retailer and their price (after rebates) for the same SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III compact flash card is $45 per card.

These are the same cards I use (and just bought more of) and regardless of how fast I shoot I never have to wait for an image to be written (read/write rate 30 MB/s). Of course this is nice on the other end as well, when downloading these images after a shoot they go pretty darn fast.

Christmas is coming up fast and these (with a very well placed hint) would be a great gift.

It's Veterans day...

And it saddens me that too few towns have parades... too many people have to go to work... and the sacrifices made by so many men and women are slipping into obscurity.

But not here.


The first has to do with a post I did a few weeks back about the documentary film "The Way We Get By" which is about the tireless troop greeters in Bangor Maine.

Well PBS is airing it today and I encourage you to watch it, you can learn more about "The Way We Get By" here and can check your local schedule here.

And here is offering number two:

If there is a Veterans Day parade in your area today, please go, because they gave their best to us.

Wanna shoot with Chase Jarvis?...

Seriously, do you?

This past May I reviewed the "Strobist Favorites Gallery" cards from Trade Secrets Cards.

At the time I had two thoughts (which is essentially max capacity for my head), I really liked the cards (I can actually see them on my desk as I write this) and I wondered how they would follow-up on these gems.

No need to wonder anymore, yesterday they announced the release of their second set (in what I hope is a long line of cards) "Chase Jarvis: The Portrait Sessions Vol. 1".

Though I don't have my set in hand for review (but will soon) I am sure those of you who already own the first set won't want to wait until then to place your order.

At first blush they appear to be a continuation of a great educational experience, the same high quality Trade Secrets is known for, and I can't wait to have them laid out in front of me.

Something new in rechargeable batteries...

It was after watching the "Strobist Lighting Seminar" DVD's that I made the jump to rechargeable batteries for my flashes. Why, because only an idiot would listen to advice from David Hobby and then ignore it.

If I had to pick one thing I have not liked since making the move to rechargeables (and there only is one thing) it would be the fact they they drain rather quickly (and completely) when doing nothing other than sitting in your bag.

Since reading a couple of reviews this past week I am seriously considering making the move to the (relatively) new Sanyo Eneloop batteries.

What separates them from the rest of the herd of rechargeable NiMH batteries (addressing my problem) is that the Sanyo Eneloop's have "low self-discharge technology" (translation = they stay charged in your bag).

Just how low and slow is their self-discharge rate? This image pretty much says it all:


In a review done by Betsy Finn she tested standard NiMH batteries (2650mAh) against the Eneloop batteries (2000mAh) with the Eneloop batteries coming out on top in many ways including quicker recycle times.

Another was done by Stefan Vorkoetter, he tested Eneloop head to head against other low self-discharge batteries and the Eneloop's came out on top here too.

You can read more about Eneloop on the Sanyo website, you can also find the user manual here.

Today is a big day...

It is my wife's birthday today, one of those "milestone" birthdays.

Won't say which one because that would not be considered "good manners", but I can say that she was 49 yesterday.

;)

In our house birthdays are considered sacred, if it's "your day", about the only thing you do for yourself is bathe.

And by no means is it drudgery, it's fun for everyone, even those who are doing the serving - I think because you get to act like the person you wish you were everyday.

Despite the fact that this picture is ten years old, was taken with an old point and shoot film camera and scanned in (horribly) by me, it has always been one of my favorite pictures.

My wife told me once that when she was a little girl her dream was to be a mother of daughters and when I look at this picture I have to believe that this is what her dream must have looked like.

Life is good.... really good.

Ladies and gentlemen... Kirk Voclain...

When it comes to senior photography (or any other field of photography) there are some photographers who are at the top of the food chain, Kirk Voclain is sitting at the big table.

There are several ways to measure success, not the least of which is your average sales per session, for Kirk it is just over $2,000 per senior.

Now if he were based in Hollywood $2,000 would not be all that impressive but he's not, his studio is in Houma Louisiana, a town of just over 30,000 people (it is neither large or rich).

I have seen Kirk speak and though he is a bit irreverent and doesn't seem to take himself too seriously (if he did would he put the above picture on his website, really?), but don't be fooled because he does take his photography and his business very seriously.

And one of the rules of success is to learn from those who have blazed a trail before you.

Kirk Voclain has cut a very wide path.

Take a look at his website and blog to get an insight into what he is doing.

If you ever get the chance to listen to him speak, run (do not walk) to the event.

This video is just under two minutes and will give you a good representation of Kirk's shooting style.