NEW BRIDE-FRIENDLY WEBSITE AT CORNERSTONEALBUMS.COM!

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A lot of you had requested a website for CLIENTS ONLY that has the pricing information kept confidential so you can show your clients the awesome new Cornerstone Digital Albums, but without giving away how much your profits are… so I did it.  I made you a new website that is really impressive for the end user (says things like, available only through the most awesome professional photographers – or something like that… so now you can add this link to your websites, price lists, etc.  We are GOOD TO GO!  And I will have a booth at WPPI and I’ll be able to show you the cool Cornerstone Albums in person – you have been missing out if you aren’t using our stuff!

INSTANT MOVIES ONLINE IS NOW VIRAL!

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I call it the Viral Uphill Spiral (I may be a poet who didn’t even noet).  When you create an InstantMovieOnline – we now have put in a link that allows the viewer to email a friend… so imagine this –

You shoot a gig.  You pop in your CF card and INSTANTLY create a webmovie set to music in minutes.  You impress the heck out of your client by giving them an instant slideshow of their images – PLUS you maybe even create a little gallery on your website of “recent events”… OK so now people view the slideshow, and forward it to a friend – who forwards it to their friends, who forward it to their friends and so on and so on!  And also guess what, there is a link right on the movie that says, “Visit our Website”. 

I can’t think of a better, faster, cheaper way to market your photography.    Check us out at instantmoviesonline.com

RECOMMENDED SETTINGS FOR THE FUJI S3 AFTER PRINT TESTING

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For those of you who shoot Fuji S3′s, I did an extensive test of the camera at all different settings and made 10×15 prints for comparison.  These images were shown to the Digital Intensive L.A. workshop students.  Everyone was surprised how decent the 1.5 megapixel setting was in output.

After heavy testing in shooting, I have found the best results shooting in sRGB mode (for wet process printers outputting photographic paper) 3.5 megapixel setting (for prints up to 16×20″) -get this – F1 FILM SIMULATION MODE .

In my tests I found that the white balance went warm and the overall “look” of the images went flat when I forced the camera to go to WIDE2 dynamic range.  WIDE2 is a recommended setting in extreme situations where blooming is a problem, but because of the flatness and super-warm color cast, I don’t recommend it for everyday shooting.  Additionally, WIDE1 was a pretty redundant setting – since AUTO-DR did almost as good a job of holding in blown out highlights as WIDE 2. 

When you look through the different settings, pick your favorite.  The S3 is a complex camera with WAY more settings than any other camera, and each setting gives a different “look”.  See for yourself by clicking HERE

SEVEN WAY DIGICAM COMPARISON

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I took seven of the most popular digital cameras and tested them for Dynamic Range and skin tones.  In the dynamic range test, I spotmetered a gray card and came up with a reading of about 180/sec at f5.6 in the face area.  Putting the model’s face in the shade and her textured white sweater in the sun (ouch!) I then ran all of the digital cameras within seconds shooting.  In this test we are checking for blown-out highlights. 

See for yourself the results.  The EXIF data is present on the files, so users of Adobe Photoshop can open the files in filebrowser and read the settings that were used.  I think this will be of interest.

For the flesh tone test, I had the model hold the gray card AND Macbeth and then neutral balanced the image to the grey card.  Once I held the neutrals in, I wanted to see how accurate (or pleasing) the flesh tones would be in windowlight (I shot into an open door) with tungsten in the background…. click here to see the tests!

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Instant movies Online is now available is now available for your
pleasure!  This is an early version which has a horizontal window,
(meaning you can load only horizontal images, or recropped Vertical
images).  Imagine making an instant internet movie in minutes with
LICENSE FREE MUSIC and put it in an email or your website.  No
programming skills required! 

You can test it for FREE by clicking here and registering.  If you want to keep and publish the show, it’s only $19 to publish!

I look forward to your comments.

THIS LENS BABY SPRINGY LENS THINGY!

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This
incredibly fun lens is so addicting.  Just put it directly on your
SLR and instantly you have a Diana/Holga/Pinhole camera style digital
camera – what is the greatest is that with digital photography you can
see your results instantly.  It is so fun and it is so
weird!  The lens is like a coil spring, and you move the focus by
squeezing the barrel backwards.

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Have you been a little bored lately with your photography?  click HERE to order…

TEACH US DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

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“Thanks
Gary!  You are a gifted teacher and have brought my level of
frustration and fear of digital photography down several notches. 
I am looking forward to putting to practice all of the new techniques
you have shared with us…”
Mike Priestap – Erie, PA

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“I
was a 100% film gal before enrolling in Gary’s class.  I am no
longer terrified of going digital after this course.  I can’t wait
to buy my first digital camera and put all of this knowledge to work! –
Ann Abraham, Los Angeles, CA

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“This has been amazing!  The most info I have ever received, Thank you Gary! –
Andy Millett, Harbor City, CA

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“Gary,
your presentation was awesome!  You have saved me countless hours
in the learning curve from my transition to digital.  I am excited
about photography again! –
Morgen Benoit, Rohnert Park, CA

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“My
studio is fully digital but I had a fear of changing to digital for
weddings.  My fear is gone!  I can hardly wait to shoot my
wedding this weekend.  My whole experience was worth every dollar
and more! –
Denise Passaretti, Boston, MA

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“I’ve
been to a LOT of 2-4 hour seminars about various aspects of digital
capture and workflow that give conflicting information.  Gary laid
it all out from A to Z with live samples and explanations that finally
made sense.  Confusions and myths dispelled!!”  –
Paul Bormann – Blue Jay, CA

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“Brides beware because I am now an expert digital album designer!”  –
Kiley Howard – Reno, NV

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“Thanks
for all the time-saving tips and simplifying the digital workflow
process.  I would recommend this class for beginners as well as
the seasoned digital user – this class will save you a ton of time… a
must do!  Thanks for sharing –
Jean Von Trende, Santa Rosa, CA

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“I
was inspired by this class.  Film shooting is bound to go by the
wayside eventually.  There are so many commonly held
misconceptions about digital shooting that Gary cleared up for
me.  I am so excited!  I can’t wait to start shooting. 
My digital camera has been sitting around with nothing to do for far
too long.  Gary’s images prove that you don’t need film, medium
format or tons of equipment to get fantastic results.  Thanks
soooo much, Gary! –
Paula Petek, Los Angeles, CA

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DIGITAL INTENSIVE 2005 LOS ANGELES DEMI-GRADS

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Meet 55 of the brightest minds in the future of digital
photography!  Photographers from all throughout the U.S. and even
Australia convened across the street from my studio at the Marina Del
Rey Marriott for a fantastic first day of my two-day digital intensive
workshop.  (click here to zoom)  Boy was I surprised when we were doing the intro
interviews and Ann, one of my brides from THIRTEEN years ago – was a
student of the class… yes, my ex bride is a photographer!  That
was such a trip I remember hers (and her sister’s) wedding like
yesterday.   Unfortunately due to the storm system in the
east and midwest, we had four photographers who couldn’t make it, so I
will not say what a great day this was, nor will I reiterate that this
will be my last D.I. workshop.  No honestly, I planned on stopping
them after this one so I can REALLY focus on retiring, but the energy
was so good with this group that I am not going to decide that
permanently yet.  But it is a lot of work and on Wednesday I fly
straight to Big White where I am going to crawl under the bed covers
and order room service three meals a day until I recoup.  We not
only had the class, but we had an AWESOMELY (word?) fun cocktail hour
up at the studio immediately following… so both Nicole and I had a
sixteen hour day of a dead run.  Oh those of you in the class,
look in your class CD’s!!!  It has something in there that nobody
else has!

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I created this slideshow in about three minutes on the web without any
additional software… coming soon: “instantmoviesonline”…. click here to see the show.  Oh it’s going to be under $20.  WE SHOOT WE SCORE!

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE… YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS THING

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