21 Reasons to Use Lightroom

1. Lightroom is built for photographers.

While Photoshop has everything you might need, it also has a ton of features you don’t need, like 3D rendering, video tools, and vector graphics. These extra features mean more disk space (about 1GB for Photoshop compared with about 100MB for Lightroom).

 

Successful Social Media for Photographers

I could be considered a shining example of an artist who has used the internet to make a start in photography and to get my work out there. Indeed, people do ask me for my tips on how to best use the internet to get noticed.

I started using Flickr in 2006 to showcase my self-portraits and then began to acquire physical exhibitions and print sales thereon. However, this was largely inadvertent, or subconscious, for me at first.

It continues to be a journey of discovery for me, of how to use social media to increase and maintain my profile as an artist.

I've been uploading my work to Flickr for four years and I still generally use my photostream (www.flickr.com/photos/ndybisz) to display my new images.

Flickr

At the beginning, when I was an English student with lots of spare time, I simply created images because I enjoyed it. People's comments and responses encouraged me to keep creating. People became interested in interviewing me and recommending my work, and in the usual wildfire manner of the internet, my name became more familiar and my images appeared in countless blogs and articles, whether I liked it or not! The publicity online, along with interest from the media, led to a local exhibition a year later, then an exhibition in Madrid, and then opportunities from companies, and so on, to where I am today. I still create self-portraits, but I also dabble in commercial projects and my aim is to continue to pursue artistically-engaging photography projects, to write books and present workshops.

Making Photographic History For The 3rd Year in a Row!

by Scott Kelby


Another amazing walk is in the record books. Over one thousands cities around the world coming together as one big community to share our passion for photography and people. What an incredibly fun day!
I still am amazed after I return from leading my walk (this year, in Tarpon Springs, Florida at their famous Sponge Docks, part of a wonderful Greek community that has blossomed in the Tarpon Springs area), when I sit back and watch all the reports and photos coming in from every part of the world. It just simply boggles my mind, and puts a huge smile on my face to know that we all shared in something really special on Saturday. Millions of photos were made that day that never would have been made, and lots of new friends were made along the way, which is what it’s really all about. (Photo below, taken during the walk, by Jose Ramos).


Catch My Free Online Class Just For Photo Walk Participants
I’m doing a FREE online class about photography and my Lightroom 3 editing workflow, and everyone that participated in the walk is invited (look for the details in your email by tomorrow).
Don’t worry; if you can’t make the workshop at 10:00 am, we’ll repost the entire session for free so you can watch it when you want (but we’ll be taking your questions live during the live webcast).

Here are some of the shots (above) I took during the walk, and I’ll be going over my editing of those very images during the Webcast on Wednesday. Hope you can make it.
This, I Didn’t See Coming
I was blessed with a really great group of people, and the heat didn’t totally kill us because we had a decent cloud cover most of the time. The people of Tarpon Springs couldn’t have been more accommodating—leading us to points of interest, posing for us, inviting us in their historical buildings and shops to take photos—-it really was a wonderful experience. But this, I didn’t see coming.

Yup, that’s about a 10 foot Albino Boa Constrictor snake my photo walkers are photographing above. There was a small aquarium near the end of my walk route, and one of the snake handlers at the aquarium had this puppy outside in the back parking lot sunning himself, and he invited us to take some shots.

Here he is again (above), thinking he’s found a mate in a coiled up water hose.

Here’s one of my walkers above using a Gorilla Pod rig to shoot some HDR shots during the walk. The area we shot in had lots of rusty old boats, and old buildings and such, so it was an HDR shooter’s paradise.

I have no idea what she was shooting (above), but it must have been worth it. Maybe it was a baby Albino snake.

That’s one of our many tables at the incredible Hellas Greek Restaurant, our walk ending spot, where we had authentic Greek food that totally rocked! (photo above by Jose Ramos).
Send Me Your Group Shots and Video Links
Tomorrow I’ll be posting group shots and videos from all around the world, so if you haven’t already sent me your group shot (or video link), just post it here on the blog, and I’ll download the image and post it tomorrow.
Link to the Group flickr Pool
Want to see some of the amazing photos pouring in from all over the world—check out the flickr group pool right here. (Also, if you were a part of walk, don’t forget to post some of your shots to your local flickr group page).
On Twitter search for Hashtag #WWPW
It’s wild to see all the comments posted during live photo walks from every corner of the globe.

• My thanks to everyone who attended my walk in Tarpon Springs, and who participated in other walks around the world. I really had a lot of fun, and I hope you did, too!
• A big, big thanks to all the volunteers who organized and led walks around the world (We couldn’t have done it without you). A special thanks to the walk leaders in China (last year, we didn’t have a single walk in China).
• Also, a thanks to my book Publisher Peachpit Press, for their major support of this event, also to Adorama, our Platinum Sponsor, and to all the sponsors who pitched in to make this a very special day for photographers around the globe.

SCOTT KELBY'S Best of 2009 Awards

My “Best of 2009” Picks

source: http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2010/archives/7869

Hi everybody—-welcome to 2010. I’m back after a wild weekend shooting a College Bowl game and an NFL game (more on those tomorrow), but to kick off the New Year, I present my first ever “Best of 2009 Awards.”

It’s important to note right up front that I didn’t say “Best photography gear” or “Best Photoshop stuff” (though both of those are represented). Instead, this is just my favorite “bestest” stuff from 2009, (including things like songs, movies, travel stuff, food, etc.) presented in no particular order. Hope it starts off your New Year right! (By the way; make sure you read my disclaimers at the end of the list).

Best Photoshop plug-in update of 2009: Nik Software’s Viveza 2

My most-used plug-in of 2009: Topaz Adjust

My most-used plug-in on landscapes: Nik Software’s Color FX Pro

My Biggest goof of 2009: leaving all my camera gear in my hotel room in New York, the day I left for Italy

Biggest surprise of 2009: That the Nikon D5000 is a pretty darn good camera

Best new lens of 2009: Nikon 50mm f/1.4

Best candidate for replacement in 2010: Nikon 85mm 1/4

The Best five photographers you might not have heard of (not in any particular order):

1. Patrik Giardino (link) Note: I want to be him when I grow up.
2. Robert Seale (link)
3. Manuel Libres Librodo Jr. (link);
4. Costas Stergiou (link)
5. Stephan Cooper (link)

Best photo App for iPhone: Best Camera

Best iPhone App for working photographers: Photo Assist
…and it keeps getting better.

Best iPhone News App: USA Today. They did it right!

My favorite iPhone game of 2009: Flight Control
It’ll get you hooked!

Best travel App for iPhone: TripIt
If you do a decent amount of travel, you will fall deeply in love with TripIt.

Best coach seats in the sky: United’s Economy Plus

Would be best if they flew more routes: JetBlue
Roomy seats, but their in-seat TV and service put them over the top—they just need more routes.

Best reason to fly Delta: Go-Go high-speed Wi-fi Internet
Now that they’ve merged with Northwest, if they can just get the Northwest jets to have Go-Go, we’d be set!

Best way I’ve found to keep on top of everything happening in our Industry: Alltop.com
It’s better than any RSS reader.

Best all-around blog: Seth Godin’s Blog (link).
He’s my favorite writer of business books, and his blog rocks!

Best Football blog: ProFootballTalk.com (link).
I love Mike Florio. Lots of folks hate them, and are terribly mean to him, but they go there everyday just the same.

Best deal on a printer: The Epson 1900

Best printer for serious black and white: Epson 2880

Best HDR software: It’s still Photomatix.

Best Apple thingy I really love besides my iPhone: AppleTV
Ask anyone who has one.

Best thing I can’t believe is free: Google Earth

Best steak of 2009: Keens steakhouse, New York City (link)
The steaks are awesome, but the “old New York” atmosphere puts it over the top

Best gift idea of 2009: 16×22” framed prints shipped direct from MPIX.com

Best iPhone Movie Theater App: OneTap Movies

Best iPhone App to use during the Movie: Run Pee
It tells you when you can go to the restroom during a movie, and not miss any important parts. It’s does more than just that, too!

Best way to send large files: YouSendIt.com (link)

Best way to not be in the moment: Tweet what you’re doing

Best business book of 2009: Tribes by Seth Godin

Another that comes really close: “What would Google Do,” by Jeff Jarvis

Best real quality lighting deal: Elinchrom’s BXRI strobes

Best thing to put in front of your flash: A Lastolite EZBox Hot Shoe softbox

Best romantic comedy I saw in 2009: Love Actually

Or maybe it was this one: Maid of Honor
I know it came out in 2008, but I didn’t see it until 2009.

Best guy movie of 2009: Tropic Thunder
The Hangover was great, too, but Topic Thunder actually had good acting. Kinda.

Best song I used to not like, but bought after hearing it in the movie “I love you man” and now I actually really like it: Limelight by Rush (iTunes link)

Best old song I added to my iPod: Ebony Eyes by Bob Welch
I know—I can’t explain it, but I heard it in a store in the mall one day, and I was like, “Hey, that song wasn’t all that bad.” (Come on, sing with me: “Have you see that girl in the corner…I want to break her out of her chains…”). See, it kind of gets under your skin, doesn’t it? Here’s the link to it on iTunes (this is the best version–from his album “French Kiss.” Ooh La La!

Best really old song I added to my iPod: Tossin’ and Turnin’ by Bobby Lewis (iTunes Link)

Best old soul song I added: Work to Do by the Isley Brothers (iTunes Link)

Best classic rock song I added: Mississippi Queen by Mountain (iTunes Link)

Best new song: Rock That Body by Black Eyed Peas (iTunes Link)
F to the E-R, G-I-E!

Best new song I love that I would never have guessed was sung by her: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Queen Latifah (iTunes Link)

Best song I bought after hearing it on my son’s iPod: Go Figure by Everlife (iTunes Link)

Best song that I have no idea who turned me onto it: Welcome Home by Coheed & Cambria (iTunes Link)

Best inexpensive gift for the guitar player in your life: Custom guitar picks from claytoncustom.com

Best shoot thru umbrella: David Ziser’s Zumbrella

Best paper for printing: Epson’s Exhibition Fiber

Best new restaurant: Ocean Prime (link)
They’re popping up all over.

Best thing Apple did for their MacBook Pro: Giving us the option to have a non-glossy screen
Yes I ordered with a non-glossy screen. I got it—I love it.

Best new fangled way to print your images: Printing on aluminum for a high-definition look (from ImageWizards). Link.

Most under-rated photographer of 2009: Dan Steinhardt

Best way to start a fight since the whole Mac vs. PC thing: Mention HDR

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS:

(1) I could be totally wrong about any of these—they’re just my opinions

(2) Some of these things could have actually come out in 2008, or even 2007. I’m old and lose track of time easily.

(3) If you disagree with any of my picks, that’s OK.

(4) If some of my picks make you seething mad, and you want to post mean comments to me, remember, you can start your own blog today, for free, and by this afternoon you can post your own list (don’t worry—everybody will be agree with all your picks). Here’s a good place to start (link).

Well, that’s it gang. I’m always on the lookout for great anything (songs, movies photo gears, iPhone Apps, restaurants, etc.), so if you have something I missed on my list, just let me know.