BEHOLD, THE CARDIGAN!

A winter bride's wedding attire wouldn't be complete without a luxurious white faux fur cape draped over her shoulders. But what’s a November bride to do who’s not looking for the winter wedding look, yet still needs to stay warm (and stylish) on those cool November days? Wear a cardigan of course! Not only will a cardigan help keep you warm, it adds that punch of colour so many brides are looking to add to their wedding day wardrobe.

Adding colour to a bride’s traditional white wedding attire is not a new trend but something that we’ve seen, in different forms, for years. It began with the dyed crinoline. Next, we tossed aside the typical white wedding shoe and brighly coloured chic & sassy designer footwear took their place - often symbolizing the bride’s “something blue”. Now... Behold, the cardigan! Viva loves this fun look!!

Photo Credits: Green Apple Photography, Cameron Ingalls Inc, Cameron Ingalls Inc, Adrienne Gunde Photography, Jason + Anna Photography, Jen Rodriguez-Cruz Photography

Lightroom 3 training - 3rd time is still a charm...

Ever go to a movie sequel with high expectations because the original was so good, but when it was over you left shaking your head?

The Kevin Kubota Lightroom training trilogy does not fall into this category, his is more like the Toy Story trilogy, where it builds beautifully on what came before it.


Over the weekend I watched Kevin's e:Class "Update Your Workflow with New Lightroom 3 Features" and as is his teaching style Kevin walks you through new features, tips, and tricks in an easy to follow, easy to understand method.

We have reviewed his previous Lightroom training DVD's in the past (Lightroom 1 here and Lightroom 2 here) and LOVED them both so the bar had been set pretty high and this Update Your Workflow e:Class measured up to it predecessors.

One of the things I like about Kevin is that he throws in some extremely useful information that is unrelated to Lightroom, but adds value to my life as a photographer.

Two examples:

1. He suggested that you put your name, telephone number, and (in big letters) "Reward if Found" on your memory cards. As soon as I heard it I sat up in my chair and thought (out loud) "Brilliant".

2. The file and folder structure (how he stores images on his hard drive) has been revised and improved. I have used his technique as part of my workflow since version 1 and in this latest offering Kevin shares with us what's new, different, and how it's setup so that it can easily (and should be) incorporated into your workflow.

The Update Your Workflow e:Class is just that, an update where Kevin demonstrates how to use the the important new features in Lightroom 3, it is NOT a complete Lightroom workflow instructional class from soup to nuts (more on that later).

The things you will learn are how to import your images with some of the new options available in Lightroom 3 that will speedup and automate your workflow.

You will see how to use the tethered capture feature in a photo booth scenario when shooting events that will increase your sales opportunities.

With so many of the new cameras allowing us to shoot with a higher ISO setting you will learn how to setup smart collections to separate and categorize your images based on their shot ISO so that you can then apply automated standardized noise reduction appropriate for the images ISO.

You will learn how to best use the Watermark tool and the secret you need to know if your watermark includes a graphic.

And there's more, much more, in this 1 hour and 15 minute download but I think you're getting the point.

Here's your choices - you can spend endless hours editing your clients images, struggling with features you are unfamiliar with (or miss them because they are unknown to you) or you can give your clients the best images possible photo while spending less time sitting in front of your computer (and more time watching Toy Story).

As I mentioned before this is an update for Lightroom 3, if you own the Kubota Lightroom 2 training DVD this is all you will need to get up to speed (and master) the new features in Lightroom 3 and it can be yours for just $39.

If you are starting from ground zero and really want to master Lightroom 3 you can get the complete workflow training DVD AND the Kubota Lightroom preset collection for just $99.

And if you own either the Lightroom 1 or the Lightroom 2 workflow DVD's you can upgrade to the Lightroom 3 Workflow DVD with presets for $49 and $39 (respectively).

Getting "flocked"...

I was driving my girls to school yesterday and saw this in my neighbors yard (and of course I had to take a picture).

"Getting flocked" may not be all that rare elsewhere, but it sure is here in Maine.

It certainly did brighten our day.

Nature's beauty

Free instructional photography videos...

If you are looking to learn about photography we have a great resource for you, the "Lastolite School of Photography".

It's free and online so if you have an internet connection you'll have some very good instructional videos at your finger tips.

You even have the opportunity to download them to watch when you don't have online access.

The Lastolite School of Photography is available to you via their website, iTunes, and/or their YouTube channel.

There are about 30 videos ranging from just 2 and up to 30 minutes long and yes the videos feature Lastolite softboxes, umbrellas, other lights and modifiers but the information and techniques are applicable regardless of the name on the product.

An umbrella is an umbrella, a softbox is a softbox, and.... well, I think you get my point.

;)

Here's a quick two minute video to give you a "taste" of what they offer. A video "hors d'oeuvres" (I am just soooo witty this morning).

Nikon D3000 Book review...

Here is the third (and final) review of the books from "Stay Focused Press", todays book is for the Nikon D3000.

This review has been written by Anika Alonzo.

From Anika:

"The ‘Stay Focused Guide’ to the Nikon D3000 is a great manual for beginners and new users of DSLR cameras. It explains the technical parts of photography in a simple and very understandable way. If you already know these things, you can just skip to the chapter for the specific help you are looking for, since it is organized in a ‘this is the problem-here is the solution’ way.

Super easy to follow instructions are a big plus, since the user doesn’t need to spend too much time understanding and figuring out how to change settings and can have fun learning the basic photography skills. This book really should come with the camera when it is purchased.

Another thing I have to mention is the guide that is in the back that offers recommendations on what to have in your camera bag. Besides bringing the obvious there are some great tips of what to bring.

I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it to everybody that is just starting out or wants to make their photos look better. I have to say it again, this is a great book for beginners, if you know all your basics and if you are looking to learn manual shooting, this is not for you.

The ‘Stay Focused Guide’ focuses mainly on achieving better photos with the different settings on the Nikon D3000."

So there you have it, 3 different books, three different reviewers, six thumbs up!

You can get your own copy of the "Nikon D3000" guide (or any of the other books) as a hard copy book ($22), a PDF ($19), as an iPone/iPod app ($4.99), or for your iPad ($9.99).

Thanks to Anika, Chris (Canon XSi review), and Paul.... err.... I mean Paula (Nikon D60 review) for taking the time to read the books and write the reviews for our readers and a big thanks to Stay Focused Press for sending us the books.

Great deal on a Westcott 28" softbox!...

This sale for the Westcott 28" Apollo Speedlight softbox, an outstanding light modifier at an incredible price ($95 and free shipping)!

The reasons I have two of these softboxes are:

1. They are made to be used with Speedlights (or for you Canon shooters - Speedlites)

2. They are made on umbrella frames so they open and close quick and easy

3. It's 28 inches so it gives a big light

4. You can rotate the flash inside the softbox

5. The front panel is recessed for greater (feathering) control of the light


And it comes with a flash shoe mount umbrella bracket.

Here's the link where you can get more details and order (of you are so inclined).

For a good demonstration of the kind of light it throws (and the images you can get) check out this post at Neil van Niekerk's blog.

Neil is actually reviewing RadioPoppers in the post but is using the Westcott 28" Apollo Speedlight softbox as is light source.