NEWS: Aperture 2 or now Aperture 2.1.1 at the Beijing Olympics, an interesting article by David Schloss from the AUN...Photoshop, Bridge, Aperture...the race is on…or is it won already?

I picked up this post from the Aperture Users Network (AUN) an interesting observation by David Schloss...
In his article David is absolutely right, many Photographers dont have the time, (try to make time) or could not be bothered to change. I know many such cases...but I know also many others who are willing to listening and try very hard to make the switch from Photoshop to Aperture, in the end it is for their own benefit. I had similar reports from India where Photographers like to make the change but find it difficult to switch from their existing workflow, the lack of “HANDS ON” a common problem...but how can we solve this?
Websites like
AUN (http://www.apertureprofessional.com/) and O’Reily (http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/aperture/certainly) can help you a lot, or the Tutorials from the Apple Aperture site, (http://www.apple.com/aperture/tutorials/) events like the Olympic Games in Beijing are certainly a great help for all our News/Sports Photographers, and gauging from the sheer scale Apple has put up at the Beijing Olympics there is no doubt in my mind on the SOLID COMMITMENT for the Pro and Amateur Photographer by Apple.


KITESURFING
© Gunther Deichmann - Kite surfing action Philippines &
as David Schloss put it so nice...
"How to shoot at 10-frames-per-second and edit at 12-frames-per-hour."

Local and regional Retail Apple/Mac shops can contribute in hosting some Aperture events, introducing Aperture 2 at least to a basic level, I know some of these event have been organized in the US and we have done quiet a few in the Philippines with the support of the Power Mac Center in Manila, for Training schedules go to: http://www.powermaccenter.com/
My personal opinion and closing words...get familiar with one software instead messing around with many different ones. You find Aperture is not that difficult to learn or to digest, it might be a bit strange in the beginning (no need to SAVE anything) but as time goes by you going to love it...like I do. Plus you have all the integration on the Mac, perfect for events like the Olympic Games.

But now to Beijing...
Beijing Olympics and the Photoshop Paradox
( posted by David Schloss on Yesterday, 08:37 AM )

The AUN's been on the scene at the Olympics for nearly two weeks, working with Apple in the Main Press Center helping to provide support for the one-thousand-plus journalists who have descended on Beijing to cover the world's largest sporting event. While I've just arrived in country to replace someone who has been here for weeks, I've already noticed examples of what I like to call the Photoshop Paradox or "How to shoot at 10-frames-per-second and edit at 12-frames-per-hour."
Apple's got a rather large amount of support available in the MPC, (we're in the lower level, relatively near the McDonalds) with fifty MacPro desktop systems set up connected to 30-inch Cinema Displays. Members of the media are welcome to come and hook up to them and work on Aperture or any of a number of other programs on the machines, and the "broadband" connections mean that photographers can go from shooting to submission in no time.
That is, unless they are still using Photoshop as their main image management tool. I'm not talking about Bridge, I've seen a few photographers who are using various iterations of that image preview and editing tool, but for some reason many of the shooters—at least many of those who bring their own laptops in to work on their images—still have a workflow whereby they open up dozens of images at a time in Photoshop, and use that interface as the way to make their image selection...
read the complete story & more @
http://www.apertureprofessional.com/showthread.php?t=18615

Late NEWS...RAINFOREST Reveals NEW Species in Guyana, a bit different from the usual Photography and Aperture stories, a Scince & Environment article from the BBC

Rainforest…NEW species revealed, an amazing article and part of a BBC documentary…lets take care of our planet and environment. Lets not destroy our rainforest before we discover and get to know all its inhabitants…OUR RAINFOREST Must Be Protected!

Gunther Deichmann Environment Photography
© 2007 Gunther Deichmann - prestine Rainforest
in Micronesia/Pacific

I thought I share this interesting science article with you, yes a bit different from the usual Photography and Aperture stories.
But I am very fascinated by this article from the BBC. New rainforest species revealed. Parasitic vampire catfish caught on camera for the first time
An expedition to the rainforests of Guyana has discovered species new to science. A team of researchers and wildlife film-makers spent six weeks searching the pristine forest as part of a BBC documentary.
The group believes it has revealed two fish species, one frog species and a number of bat flies that have not been described previously. The finds are detailed in the BBC series Lost Land of the Jaguar.
The three-part documentary includes footage of the elusive South American cat. Dr George McGavin (BBC) was astonished at the variety of life on show. "In a short time, we caught hundreds of species, 10% of which may be new to science. It was unreal, unbelievable," exclaimed Dr George McGavin, a zoologist and one of the four presenters of the documentary.
Images/Video and a lot more about this amazing story at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7531537.stm

INFINITY...a short 45 second web commercial for websyncintl.com, created using a MacBook Pro...iLife (the old iMovie but new iDVD) Photoshop and Snapz Pro X...mixing the old with the new software does work.

Remember my recent TIP on iLife including Aperture 2 using the Themes from iDVD plus a little help from Snapz Pro X…and of course the ever so cool GarageBand creating simple 15 and 30 second Video clips on the fly…posted on the 04-08-2008 | 14:19

02 Floating Ball
© Gunther Deichmann - Composite
“INFINITY”
...and www.websyncintl.com

....Today I bring you “INFINITY” another cool effect from this combination Aperture 2.1.1 - iDVD - iMovie - Snapz Pro X and of course GarageBand but with a little twist. , I added Photoshop to the list. This cool clip runs for about 45 seconds and is a bit more complicated then the previous ones...but so cool, using the old iMovie with some 3rd party plugins, adding some voice over and flying balls...of course the Mac integration played a big role here. However the technique is the same using Snapz Pro X for the iDVD recording, once that is done the possibilities are endless and as mention before you can create some high cool looking files for the TV too.
Click here or on the image and travel to the Music Video/Podcast section to play the clip, you might have to refresh your Browser for the new clip to show, enjoy. Stay tuned for the next GarageBand Mix “Surfing Blues” soon available on this blog.
GD

TIPS: Travel PHOTOGRAPHY…Part one (1) Protecting YOUR Camera Equipment from the extreme environment…Raincoats & Waterproof Camera Bags…plus PopPhoto.com presents 20 plus Simple, Useful, Clever, Fun Ways to Get Better Photos

Last year PopPhoto.com Online Home of Popular Photography & Imaging and AMERICAN PHOTO presented… A Tips & Tricks Special! Pros, readers, and Pop Photo editors share their secrets for taking your photography beyond the ordinary.

Snapz Pro XScreenSnapz001

Below are 2 tips which I had published in the PopPhoto.com last year, the article is still very popular and I decided to add a few extra tips for our travel Photographers on today’s blog. Other cool tips and the complete article in PopPhoto.com @
http://www.popphoto.com/popularphotographyfeatures/4776/20

12) Oil's Well.

Need soft focus in only part of a scene? And you still don't have your soft-focus filters? Gunther Deichmann suggests using your finger to very gently apply oil from your forehead to your lens (or better, UV filter) at a point that corresponds to the area you'd like softened. After shooting, be sure to remove the oil with a lens-cleaning cloth or tissue.
10) Reflection on You.
When pro Gunther Deichmann (www.deichmann-photo.com) makes portraits in areas where the subjects might be shy, such as a remote village in Tibet, he doesn't use large, intimidating reflectors. Instead, he wears a white T-shirt.
"If you position yourself correctly in natural light, the T-shirt is a very nice reflector," he says. "No need for anybody to hold a reflector, and your hands are free."

1) Plus added today…More tips with the white T-shirt…
also very handy for a nice soft fill in flash…just point your strobe at your T-shirt and you have a very nice soft fill.
This is a great OUTDOOR Fill and so much better than all these gadgets on your Strobe…plus you look smart in white, reflecting the heat during the day… feeling cool…until later when you crawled around some ruins got sweaty and dirty, I guess you just have to bring a few extra white T-shirts, they are small enough and take up very little space in your suitcase.

2) Walking in the tropical rain…
Shooting in the rain can be challenging but also very rewarding, I just love it… especially when you live in the tropics like I do.
Creating images in the rain can be easy but risky for your equipment… I always carry 2 simple inexpensive (no more than US$5.00 each) Poncho type Raincoats, one for myself and one for the camera bag. Make sure they are the Poncho type, easy to put on and they have enough opening to get to your Camera quickly.
(You can find them usually at Shopping Centers or Department stores.)

Rain protection,Raincoat for Photography,Travel Photography,Gunther Deichmann Photo Tips,

The cool thing about these inexpensive raincoats, they fold up very small (approx. size of an A5 Note Book) and they have an opaque appearance. This is perfect for your portraits in the field if you have to use flash or you can use them as a small soft box for the odd macro shot, great for some artefact you might come across. Now you covered up for the rain but also have a small soft box when needed.

I am also using different Camera Bags; but which one I choose before going on a trip? Well, that really depends on the shoot, the location, if I bring the Computer and if I am traveling alone or with an assistant, etc., etc.
But this Bag from Lowepro is fantastic; the DryZone is the world’s first totally waterproof, soft-sided camera backpack.
When choosing a Camera Bag think of it like buying a Condom for your Cameras “health and protection must be guaranteed.”

Lowepro,Waterproof,DryZone 200,Camera Bag, Outdoors,Gunther Deichmann, Photography

This is not the cheapest one…but your Cameras and lenses, etc., etc. need to be protected they are worth a lot more than your bag.
You need to get the Job done, and a good Camera Bag can help in protecting your equipment. I have been using the
DryZone 200 for a couple of years now and I am very happy with it... a super cool bag for the most rugged situations.
From the dust bowels in Tibet to the Beaches and remote Islands in the Pacific this bag provided me with the comfort and security I needed.Perfect for some real Island hopping, given you the security in rough or rainy weather when travelling in a small boat from island to island. (See below some specs. on the
DryZone 200.)

18-1935-IMG2_LRG

The DryZone, even fully loaded, they float so your gear is always protected. The inner drypod with patented, waterproof TIZIP™ zipper provides 100% watertight protection. It’s like a drysuit for your equipment. When less protection is needed, leave the TIZIP™ open and fasten just the inner zipper and top clip for easier access. The heavy-duty, padded camera compartment inside is fully customizable while the outer shell comes complete with a technical backpack harness. Also included, ergonomic lumbar support, fully adjustable CollarCut™ shoulder straps, tuck-away tripod holder, self-draining mesh pockets, drain hole, rubber handle, and attachment loops for SlipLock™ accessories. DryZone packs are comfortable to wear and give you total peace of mind in extreme environments.
More details and Photos at:
http://products.lowepro.com/product/DryZone-200,1935.htm
Stay tuned or subscribe to this blog for Part (2) Tips on Travel Photography, for some images taken in the rain in Cambodia last year go to:
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/newimages5.html

MobileMe and Aperture 2...the new Mobile Me Gallery and Albums in Aperture 2, big changes on YOUR storage Capacity for all your PHOTOS

Wow it has been six days since my last Blog...have I been traveling without a connection? Not at all, I was told by my Doctor to stay clear of my Computer and have a good rest. Yes, I did end up in the Hospital last week for a few Days, but I getting much better now and by next week should be back to my normal combat mode.

Apple, Aperture, MobileMe, Gunther Deichmann,Photography

Just to fill in the blank spaces I thought I remind everybody on the MobileMe, the new icons popped up in Aperture 2.1.1 after MobileMe was activated, pretty clever by Mac.
Amazing new storage capacity for existing and new MobileMe account users, read my previous blogs with all the details on MobileMe. If you’re not using MobileMe you dont know what you are missing out on, super cool features plus having all this storage at your fingertips. In Aperture it is called the MobileMe Gallery (before .Mac Web Gallery) and you can add MobileMe Albums now.
MobileMe together with Aperture 2 is a great way to show your Portfolio to clients and frinds and impress everyone with a cool looking Web Album.
In one of my up coming blogs I will describe the difference between all these Web related things within Aperture 2.1.1
We have also the Aperture 2 Web Journal and the Aperture 2 Web Page options, but more on that later, now I have to follow Doctors orders and get some more rest.
GD

Apple Training and Certification introduces a NEW GREEN Certificate fulfillment process...contributing to a GREENER and better Environment

Apple Training and Certification goes GREEN....just received this info, I am very happy and supportive of this GREEN move, well done Apple for caring about our Environment.

Plane,Earth,Environment,Apple Mac,Green,Gunther Deichmann,Photography
© Gunther Deichmann - taken care of our Environment in 2008 and beyond...

Hi,
Since environmental considerations are an integral part of Apple's business practices, Apple Training and Certification is pleased to introduce a new Green certificate fulfillment process. Beginning August 1, paper certificates will no longer be sent to Mac OS X and Pro Apps students who pass certification exams. Instead, students will receive an email with a link to download a PDF version of their certificate at no charge. Students will be able to print these certificates, but we hope that most will choose to simply post the PDF certificates on their websites. This new system will be available worldwide. 
Apple Training and Certification

Tip: iLife including Aperture 2 using the Themes from iDVD plus a little help from Snapz Pro X…of course the ever so cool GarageBand with iMovie, creating simple 15 and 30 second Video clips on the fly…or just having fun on the Mac

Feel like experimenting? Taken advantage of the iDVD Themes in a different way, this is a simple work-around very basic but fun and if you use Snapz Pro X for your screenshots then why don’t you try the Movie capture option, this option can give you some very cool results, it is fast and easy to use.
I only used a couple of Themes but in iDVD you have so many to choose from…try experimenting and you find there are a lot of cool things you can do. The Titles are: The Commercial - Our Marine Life - Tropical destination
Please note: You might have to refresh your Browser to see the new Video Clips. Click the link or the image below and View the three (3) 15 and 30 sec. Clips., or go to Music/Video Podcast

Photoshop, Photography, Gunther Deichmann
© Gunther Deichmann - Composite, Mumbai India April 2008

How to do it…open iDVD choose a Theme go to your Media Browser and here you have your Aperture 2 library.
Pick a couple of images drop them into your iDVD Theme and you almost there, if you using Snapz Pro X choose the Movie option and record your iDVD theme.
Make sure you have the Drop Boxes enabled otherwise they become part of your recording.
The rest is pretty much automatic, once Snapz Pro X has finished the recording (depends on the lengths of the clip) it prepared also a QT file for you, I usually save them on my desktop easy to find later. (This file can be from 50MB plus in size)
The only thing left to do is drag the Movie clip into iMovie open your Media Browser for the Music and pick anything you have created on to the timeline.
Fine-tune and make your soundtrack fit, add a fade in and fade out, or what ever you like (lots to choose from) now you can export everything to many different file formats.
You have different options for exporting your Movie file, there is also Share available. If you have Quick Time Pro even better there you have all the conversions you ever going to need, plus you can do some editing too, but you have to have QT Pro.
How long does this take…not very long at all, I guess the hardest part is the Music, which I created from scratch in GarageBand, but since I had already a good selection of soundtracks the whole operation took only one hour for all three clips.
Of course you can create more than one recording/clip with Snaps Pro X and join them together later in iMovie creating a short presentation or demo, great for the web.
PS. I kept these files very small for easy viewing on the web, however you can leave them in their original size that is good enough for your desktop and TV.
GD

From Mumbai in India to Spanish…fotoaldia.com has just posted a photo selection from my Mumbai trip… View from my Car Window on their Website Gallery…

If you can read or speak Spanish you might find this article and the images interesting, fotoaldia.com is a very cool website with a lot of information and great Galleries…however it is in Spanish.
I guess some of you have to get that dictionary out and start reading…
GD

fotoaldia
http://www.fotoaldia.com/GALERIAS-6-1293-0-1-0.html

Mostrando la Galeria de :"Gunther Deichmann"
Click en la imagen para agrandar
Título:"Escenas de Bombay, India"

El fotógrafo australiano Gunther Deichmann ha sido galardonado con numerosos premios internacionales. Es miembro del Instituto de Fotografía Profesional de Australia (IAPP) y ha sido merecedor de 14 reconocimientos al mérito en sólo 3 años. Como fotógrafo ama los colores fuertes, las combinaciones de contraste y las situaciones de gran dramatismo. Ha tenido además el honor de haber sido juez en los premios anuales Professional Merit Awards. Fue a partir de entonces que empezó a enseñar fotografía en el Community College de Darwin. En marzo de 1983, la Revista Time publicó en su portada una foto auya sobre la gran sequía australiana. En 1985, the IAAP lo premió como el mejor fotógrafo profesional de paisajes de ese año. Ha publicado más de 12 libros, incluyendo su obra más importante

Snapz Pro XScreenSnapz001

“Journey Through Color & Time”, en edición limitada de 360 páginas. Sus imágenes han visto la luz en muchas publicaciones internacionales como: Airone, en Italia, Geo, en Alemania y Francia, la Revista Stern, el New York Times, Grand Reportage, Figaro y también en VSD, en Francia. En la actualidad Deichmann reside con su familia en Manila, Filipinas, desde donde cubre como fotógrafo todo el Sudeste de Asia y el Pacífico.
Desde marzo del 2007 está certificado como entrenador de Apertura por Apple. También integra la Junta Asesora de la Apple para este programa. Para más información sobre este fotógrafo visite esta página: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/
La página web de Gunther es:www.deichmann-photo.com
Gunther también escribe regularmente una columna en este blog: :www.deichmann-photo.com

HANOI VIETNAM... View from the Car Window… a nice example of Vietnamese daily life…a reader contribution. A cool shot, edited in Aperture 2.1.1 interesting TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY and the shooting from the car window continuous…

Today I like to share with you an image I have received from Massimo Casal in Vietnam, I have known Massimo for quiet some time from email exchange and Aperture discussions. After seeing my previous article on “View from my Car Window” he send me this very cool image from Hanoi, Vietnam.
Thank you Massimo for letting me use your image on my blog, a nice one to share with all our other readers.
See below email from Massimo:
Hello Gunther!
I always very interested to follow your blogs updates.
Just my 1 cent:
- Regarding the way to protect your pictures on the web I agree that flash make it more difficult. Anyway as you know very well it is very easy to copy a pictures using tools like "Grab" for the Mac, even if still in low resolution.
- I do really like your latest gallery
"The View from my Car Window". Street photography (with or without car!) is what I really like and do a lot here in Vietnam. I would like to share the following picture that I got from the car last weekend.

Aperture, Gunthers Blog, Vietnam, Photo Tips, Wedding,
© Massimo Casal - Ha Tay province just ouside Hanoi,Vietnam
you might also noticed that I have added a Copyright watermark
on Massimo’s image hence my other blog
“How to protect my images on the web”.

The picture is taken in Ha Tay province (just outside Hanoi city) from the car window.
I used a Canon 1DMarkIII camera + 28-300L lens. RAW file processed with Aperture 2.1.1, using also the Dodge and Burn plug-in to lighten and sharpen the bride face.
Thank you very much and Best Regards!!
Massimo

Are YOU the next GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER? Magazine teams up with Apple’s new Aperture software

Snapz Pro XScreenSnapz002
Click this banner or the link below for more information.

Besides this announcement there is a ton of other information at the Aperture Users Network available. Cool tips, trouble shooting, workflow etc.,etc. just about everything you need to know about Aperture (Aperture 2, & Aperture 2.1.1) plus a lot more.
GD
See below the post I have picked up from the AUN (posted by David Schloss AUN on 07-28-2008, 05:37 PM )

American PHOTO Magazine’s 3rd Annual “Emerging Photographers” Call for Submissions
Winners featured in November/December 2008 issue - Magazine teams up with Apple’s new Aperture software
New York, June 25, 2008 (Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., www.hfmus.com) -- American PHOTO announces the call for submissions for its third-annual Emerging Photographers’ portfolio review competition. The winners will be given the opportunity to have their work published in the November/December 2008 is... read more @ http://www.apertureprofessional.com/

The View from my Car Window continuous…a very different perspective, frustrating but rewarding Photography…edited in Aperture 2 and exported to PhotoShelter never leaving Aperture, sounds familiar…

But before we hit the road a short announcement…
Aperture has just been updated to 2.1.1
Apple has just released Aperture 2.1.1, and update to the program that "supports general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and addresses a number of minor issues."