Scott's Photo Blog

Welcome Aboard, Lensbaby! And thanks for the free lens!

Much love and many thanks to the good people of Lensbaby, who are joining us as the newest sponsor of Digital Photography Life. As those of you who have been listening to the show know, we love our Lensbabies, and we raved about them on Episode Six: Focus on the Lensbaby. 

While we always appreciate our sponsors, we adore them even more when they offer a fantastic deal for our listeners. And the one from Lensbaby is sweeeeeet! 

Buy a Lensbaby Composer directly from them, or from any other retailer, and you can get a free 0.6x wide angle/macro conversion lens. Visit the special offer page for the details. This wide angle/macro conversion lens normally retails for $1,000,000, er,  $59.95, so this really is is a great deal. Michael and I don't have these, but we're dying for them (are you listening, good people at Lensbaby?).

The wide angle/macro conversion lens is really neat - it's a 0.6 wide angle with a rear element that unscrews -  and voila, turns a into macro filter that let's you get 3"-5" away from what you're shooting. So, whether you want to get really wide or up close and personal, you just screw this little guy onto the front of your Lensbaby and your creative possibilities exponentially expand! 

In case you didn't memorize Episode Six, or are unclear on what a Lensbaby does, here's the scoop:

With the Composer, Lensbaby introduces a completely new lens, based on a ball and socket configuration that delivers smooth selective focus photography with unparalleled ease. Photographers simply tilt the lens to a desired angle and then focus with a manual focusing ring. The Composer stays in the desired bent position without requiring a locking mechanism and features the new Lensbaby Optic Swap System.

Here's a portrait of me that Michael did with his Lensbaby that I really love. 

OK, that is not me. Just checking to see if you're paying attention. Still, look at that beautiful blur. That's not a digital darkroom trick, ladies and gentlemen, that's achieved in camera, in seconds, with a Lensbaby composer. 

Here's on of my Lensbaby shots. I love the way the flowers explode with the Lensbaby. 

You can see more of our Lensbaby shots under "Galleries" on our SmugMug site. 

Thanks again to Lensbaby for their wonderful support. You can check out the official Composer page here, and be sure to take a look at our special offer for you. 

Show Notes for Digital Photography Life #12: Some Digital Photography "Bests"

It's the best of digital photography, as Michael and I talk about the best new lens for Nikon DSLRs, the best laptop for photographers, and Popular Photography's best camera for 2008.

Among today's hot topics:

• Nikon's awesome new prime lens for cropped-sensor DSLRs, the super-sexy AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. OK, maybe the name isn't very sexy, but the lens is.
• The crazily tricked out Thinkpad W700, a laptop that automatically calibrates its own monitor, has a built-in Wacom tablet and even a second screen. A dual screen laptop? Insane!
• Popular Photography has chosen the Panasonic G1 its Camera of the Year. Uh, the what now? Yes, Pop Photo goes out on a limb and proclaims the "micro four thirds" system The Next Best Thing. To which I say "meh."
• DPReview.com has a 40 page review of the Canon 5D Mark II. And although the editors give the camera their highest rating, they don't seem to give it any credit for its outstanding and industry-leading HD video capability. Where's the love, DPReview?

SmugMug is our favorite site for sharing and - should you chose to accept this assignment - selling your photos. SmugMug has two fantastic offers just for our listeners:

• 50% off your SmugMug service at any level (enter code "Flickr" at checkout). This is a fantastic discount and you should take advantage of it in time to share your holiday photos!
• A free camera strap to any listener of Digital Photography Life: This one is just crazy. A high-quality camera strap that replaces the neck-slicing piece of canvas that your camera's manufacturer condescended to include with your DSLR. Get your freebie here.

Remember, when it's time to do the chores, we're no where to be seen, but you can find us everywhere, including:

• Digital Photography Life on Twitter
• Digital Photography Life Email
• Digital Photography Life listener group on Flickr
• Digital Photography Life on Facebook
• Michael on Facebook
• Scott on Facebook
• Scott on MySpace

Show Notes for Digital Photography Life #11: How to Look Good in Pictures with Steve Simon

Photographer and instructor extraordinaire, Steve Simon, joins us with his tips on how to make your subjects look better in your portraits.

Steve is my new best podcast friend - a terrific guy, generous with his information and inspiring in his art. He's done so much great work, from chronicling both sides of the political spectrum here in the States, as in his book The Republicans, to using his talents to call attention to the tragedy of AIDS in Africa. A good photographer who's also a good person - you gotta love him.

Steve's co-hosted a number of episodes of Nikon's Look Good In Pictures, where he's worked alongside Carson Kressley, of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame. Michael and I have talked about Nikon's Look Good in Pictures Before - it's a fantastic free resource that will improve your photography in minutes. You should definitely check it out.

Steve also participates in  podcasting juggernaut This Week in Photography.

Prior to Steve's coming on, Michael and I talk about the real world performance of Apple's new facial-recognition features in iPhoto and the four full-frame DSLR's currently available for under three large.

What makes an online photo sharing service great? How about beautiful page layouts, no ads, customizable pages, fast and secure uploading, bulletproof backup and the ability to sell your photos at prices you set?

SmugMug is our favorite site for sharing and selling your photos. SmugMug has two fantastic offers just for our listeners:

• 50% off your SmugMug service at any level (enter code "Flickr" at checkout). This is a fantastic discount and you should take advantage of it in time to share your holiday photos!
• A free camera strap to any listener of Digital Photography Life: This one is just crazy. A high-quality camera strap that replaces the neck-slicing piece of canvas that your camera's manufacturer condescended to include with your DSLR. Get your freebie here.

Want more Digital Photography Life goodness? Check us out on the internets here:

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Scott on MySpace

Thanks for listening and please let us know what you thought.

Scott