“AUTUMN” Alphabet Is Calling in New Phoozl Alphabetography Photo Challenge

Charlottesville, Virginia, USA – September 26, 2011 — Photo-games site Phoozl.com today launched the Autumn edition of the “Alphabetography Photo Challenge: the Four Seasons” contest on Facebook. This unique competition — which challenges photo enthusiasts worldwide to find or take and then submit (for free) photos based on a two-part theme of the season (“Autumn”) and the specific letters of the seasons (“A-U-T-U-M-N”) — started on September 26 and runs for six weeks to its conclusion on November 6, 2011. You can find the contest on Facebook at: http://apps.facebook.com/alphabetography

(requires a Facebook account and “allowing” the Request for Permission screen)

“We’re super-excited about the new AUTUMN Challenge,” says Alphabetography creator Harald Johnson. “Our first three seasons were great, but this promises to be the best season yet! We’re again awarding 11 Prize Winners with some cool prizes from gift cards to books of value to photo enthusiasts. We are all about offering a safe place for people to share their photos in a fun and unique way.”

A Unique Alphabet Photo Contest Concept

During each season’s contest (using “AUTUMN” as the example), photo enthusiasts submit photos that apply or relate to the current letter that’s in play. So during the “A” Letter Period, for instance, participants upload photos that are associated with (whose subject matter includes in the Title) a word starting with the letter “A” (examples: Autumn, Ambiance, Arachnid, Attractive). When the gameplay moves to “U”, “U” photos are submitted. And so on through the six letters of the word “A-U-T-U-M-N” with each letter active for one week only. Entrants are allowed up to 5 submissions per letter maximum, and all submissions are free. Photos can be submitted via Facebook or photo-sharing sites, or uploaded from local computers or mobile devices. Participants can even join the contest late as there are six Letter Periods in this season’s Challenge, so there are multiple chances to enter.

Contest participants need only a Facebook account to enter, and they must be at least 18 years old. Photo submissions are acceptable from anywhere in the world, and there are no restrictions on when photos are taken or if they have been manipulated.

Voting, Judging, Galleries, and Prizes

Alphabetography includes photo galleries and public voting, and the Top 10 vote-getting photos for each letter move to the Judging Phase where a panel of three professional photographers – Daniel J. Cox, Bruce Frazier, Andy Katz for this contest — judge and score the 60 Finalist Photos based on published criteria.

The AUTUMN 2011 Alphabetography Photo Challenge costs nothing to enter but is offering (to 11 different winners) prizes sponsored by such companies as: Blurb, Datacolor, Frame Destination, SanDisk, Course Technology PTR, and Phoozl. Winners are selected in four categories: (1) Total Overall Scores, (2) Best Letter, (3) Voters #1, and (4) Phoozl Awards (“Most Phun Photos”).

The full “SUMMER” Winners’ List (with photos) is available for viewing on Phoozl.com:

http://www.phoozl.com/article-34-Summer-Alphabetography-Photo-Challenge-Winners-Announced.html

“Critters & Creatures” Master Class from Nik Software and Laurie Shupp

Announcement from Nik Software Talking with award-winning photographer Laurie Rubin Shupp about her upcoming “Critters & Creatures” Master Class coming up next week on 2/22. If you shoot wildlife, be sure to join her to learn tips for bringing out the very best in your images.

http://www.niksoftware.com/learnmore/usa/index.php

Phoozl Launches Unique “Alphabetography Photo Challenge” on Facebook – Winter submissions close soon!

Time is running out on Winter submissions to this really COOL game app on Facebook!

Winter in Santa Fe - © D Saffir

A Unique Alphabet Photo Concept

During each season’s contest (using “Winter” as the example), photo enthusiasts submit photos that apply or relate to the current letter that’s in play. So during the “W Letter Period,” entrants upload photos whose subject starts with the letter “W” (examples: White, Winter, Wonderful). When the game-play moves to the letter “I”, entrants submit “I” photos. And so on through the six letters of the word “Winter.” Entrants are allowed up to 5 submissions per letter maximum. Photos can be submitted via Facebook or photo-sharing sites, or uploaded from local computers or mobile devices. Participants can even join the contest late as there are six Letter Periods in this (“Winter”) Challenge, so they have six chances to enter.

Voting, Judging, Gallery, and Prizes

The Winter 2010/11 Alphabetography Photo Challenge costs nothing to enter but is offering 11 different Prizes sponsored by such companies as: Blurb, Datacolor, Frame Destination, and Course Technology PTR. There are galleries and public voting, and the Top 5 vote-getting photos for each letter move to the Judging Phase where a panel of three professional photographers will judge and score the 30 Finalist Photos based on published criteria. Add any Extra Points, and the top scores win.

Contest participants need only a Facebook account to enter, and they must be at least 18 years old. Photo submissions are acceptable from anywhere in the world, and there are no restrictions on when photos are taken or if they have been manipulated.

Start Alphabetographing!

To learn more about the Alphabetography Photo Challenge: the Four Seasons, or even better, to take the challenge and to participate, go to Phoozl’s Fan Page on Facebook and click the “Challenges” tab to enter the Application:

http://www.facebook.com/phoozl

OR… go directly to the Facebook Application:

http://apps.facebook.com/alphabetography

(you need to “Allow” the Request for Permission screen that appears)

There will be an APHABETOGRAPHY game for each season – so all photographers – send your image in now, or get ready!!

New Photo Critique Site: Gurushots.com

I’ve just begun contributing to a new photo web site that I think is pretty cool. Called Gurushots.com, it is a site where one can upload an image, have it reviewed in writing by a pro photographer, and get a written critique, tips and suggestions for improvements or additional work.

It’s pretty straightforward in concept and design. The real strength of the site is its lineup of pro photographers available for critiques – truly international, a wide range of professional interests – what’s not to like? Just about any category, landscape to product and beyond, can be critiqued.

Critiques are very systematic. Each critique category is given a written evaluation, and a score from 1-10:

Subject of photo

Composition & Perspective

Focus

Use of camera, exposure & speed

Color & Lighting

Depth of field

General impression

Suggestions for improvement:

I’ve been posting sample critiques on forums like Luminous Landscape, Fred Miranda, Flickr, Photocritiq.com, and others.

You can get your first critique free, after that it’s fee based. Go on, take a look at Gurushots Photo Critique.

Screen Shot of the GuruShots Home Page

Must-Have Skills for Photographers, New Post

I have a new post on the Pro Photo Blog (link) “Must Have Skills for Photographers: Enlarging Images and Large-Format Printing“

New Photo Critique Site: Gurushots.com

I’ve just begun contributing to a new photo web site that I think is pretty cool. Called Gurushots.com, it is a site where one can upload an image, have it reviewed in writing by a pro photographer, and get a written critique, with tips and suggestions for improvements or additional work.

The critique outline looks like this:

1. Subject of photo
2. Composition & Perspective
3. Focus
4. Use of camera, exposure & speed
5. Color & Lighting
6. General impression
7. Overall Rating

Each item is given a write-up, and a evaluation score from 1-10.

You can choose among the photographers on the site, and send your request for critique to that person. Available reviewers come from all over the world. Your first session is FREE.

I suggest you take a look at the site, and give it a try. Here’s the link to GuruShots Photo Critique

 

 

Latest Updates from Africa Photo Safari!

Alan Feldstein and his partners run an amazing series of photo Safaris to Africa. This post is a summary of all his communications to me starting around August 4, 2010 through August 18. You can learn more about these at http://www.infinitekayakadventures.com/ .

Please keep in mind that a solid internet connection that permits transmission of DSLR files is just a dream in most of wild Africa. The images in the post were taken on a cell phone. And Alan typed out all of these posts on his Blackberry.  (yep, it’s true!)

(In the beginning… )

“What an amazing day. There are so many highlights I do not know where to begin.

The place we are staying is luxurious and we heard lions off in the distance last night. Food is incredible with gourmet meals with all organic produce and meats with curry chicken. Fish cake with homemade tartar sauce pork loin with a wine reduction sauce coconut crepes for dessert with fresh fruit. All served with South African wines.

Today we had many elephant sitings and were delayed for lunch by 30 minutes as the matriarchs (mom and aunts) blocked the road as they were protecting two baby elelphants. They finally moved. Then a walking safari where learned a lot about the flora and fauna from our guide.

This eneded with wine and beer out in the bush while watched a beautiful photographers dream sunset. And if that was not enough we went on a rare night drive I arranged where we saw a leopard and her cub with a fresh kill and a pride of lions that walked within 3ft of our car! If you ever go on a trip this should be the one!”

Jambo
Alan Feldstein

Left Tarangire hugging staff goodby. They were great. Then it was on to Lake Manyara NP with its large lake and 10s of thousands of flamingos egrets storks and other birds. Saw hippos lounging with one coming out of the water – massive.

Everyone’s favorite today were the baboons especially the babies and they all posed for great shots. Then up to our lodge nestled in the hills on a coffee plantation were we had a delicious meal of tomato soup rice carrots greens and tenderloin of beef. Then around a fire for after dinner drinks tea and coffee. This is the way to travel!

Jambo

Alan Feldstein

http://www.infinitekayakadventures.com/

_____________

Every night I ask my clients what was your ooh ahh moment of the day. Today it was unanimous. Because of our connections we had the rare honor of visiting the local Massai chief who is responsible for over 2000 people and his son.

We had a tour of his Boma (compound) and his nyumba (house) where his 3rd wife lives with the youngest of his 10 children. This was as authentic as you can get and we got to know each other and exchange thoughts and learned about each other’s culture. It was an experience none of us will forget. We could talk about nothing else on the ride to Lake Ndutu.

On our afternoon game drive we got very close (see photo) of large male lions. They were lazy but eventually posed for us and gave us great photo opportunities. They are large with powerful massive feet and you can just imagine them coming after you. It was awesome!

It was fun discussing all of this over a delicious dinner and 2 wonderful bottles of wine. Now it is off to bed as tomorrow we go into the Serengeti for a great day of wildlife viewing and photo opportunities.

Lala Salama (good night)

Alan Feldstein

___________

Another great day. Today we drove to the vast plain that is the serengeti. We looked for cheetahs but instead found leopards eating gazelle in a tree lions hunting giraffes right by the side of the road hippos showing us there teeth all kinds of birds and an elephant family crossing the road in front of us with baby being nudged by mom.

If you can’t find great photos you have to be blind. Tonight dinner was lamp chops Caesar salad roasted potatoes and chocolate soufflé for desert. Tomorrow we make our way towards the coast so that we can be ready to paddle.

Jambo

Alan Feldstein

___________

Yesterday flew back to Arusha from the Serengeti a beautiful flight over vast areas and you could see Bomas and other places along the way. At Arusha it was nice to have a down day to relax answer emails and look at photos and oh yes an amazing view of Mt. Kilimanjaro

Today we got up early to drive to lake Nyumba y Mongu (lake of the gods) for our first day of paddling. Another first was it was the first group (my partner Steve and I had done it before) to paddle the lake. There have now been a grand total of 5 people to kayak here. We are unique.

We even had a first time paddler who did great. We also had quite the send off party from the local village who were very interested in what we were doing. The kids were all laughing. Then we paddled down the lake until it was time for lunch.

We had a beautiful lunch under a tree with tables and chairs we brought. Here too we were greeted by about 30 kids from the village who loved giving high 5s. After lunch we drove to Mkomazi NP the newest park in the system and are staying at a beautiful tented camp with gorgeous outdoor showers with lots of hot water.

The best thing I heard all day was over dinner from my clients who said they have had such a great time that they want to come back. Africa does do that to people and will do it to you. Now is the time to go.

Jambo

Alan Feldstein

___________

What a day. Started with a morning hike in Mkomazi where we stalked a herd of zebras with our cameras. Then to the Rhino Trust. We were not sure we could get in but my partner Steve owner of The Infinite Horizon safari company (www.infinite horizon.net) was, as always, on top of things and we got in.

This is a 25 sq mile preserve to protect save and breed endangered rhinos whose existence is threatened by poaching. We got to meet Yuboo when he charged out of the bush after us. He was given carrots with medicine in it to help him. We were as close as one could get to these beautiful creatures who look prehistoric. It is beyond comprehension that people would kill these animals for their horns.

Everyone in my group was so excited that we were able to give them this experience. We also got to see the wild African Hunting Dogs who are also being saved by this amazing place. They are an unusual looking species who are being saved from extinction by breeding them in captivity and then being released in the wild. We really got to see conservancy in action.

Tomorrow we head to the beach for 3 days of paddling and relaxing on the beach before we make our way home

Jambo

Alan Feldstein

___________

We are now out of the bush taking a few days before we return to rest relax dive and kayak in Pangani om the Induan Ocean. The water is 78 degrees and the beach is gorgeous. I love the light here. We have had delicious fish for dinner with chocolate brownies for desert. It is a great place to relax.

Jambo

Alan Feldstein

___________

It is beautiful at the beach. Water is 78 degrees and not a billboard or telephone pole in site (it is all satellite and wireless). Up early for a pre-breakfast paddle and when we landed 90 minutes later we were ready for bacon eggs granola with yogurt and tea and coffee.

After breakfast a couple of clients wanted to dive so I made arrangements and went with them. The dive shop is also helping with conservancy of turtles and have 30 nests in front of their shop with an average of 125 eggs in each nest! We are hoping to watch a nest hatch tomorrow and see the babies make their way to the ocean.

The diving was beautiful with incredible corals lion fish sweetlips rare leaf fish and some large colorful sea bass along with hundreds of other varieties. Steve and I are looking in adding some Zanzibar days to the itinerary for all you underwater photographers.

Alas tomorrow is our last day before we leave this photographers paradise and head for home. People are already discussing plans to return

Jambo

Alan Feldstein

___________

What a great last day of our trip. We started out with a morning paddle up the bay to a mangrove river where in 2008 I and my partner were the first to paddle. It is beautiful and deserted.

Then after breakfast we took a power boat to Maziwe Island which is a marine sanctuary where I had dove the day before. After a lunch of chicken shrimp rice and salad we went snorkling where people saw eel hundreds of fish and even an octopus!

Then it was back for a rare once in a lifetime treat. The owner of the dive shop has been rescuing and transplanting turtle nests to try and save them. A nest of 125 eggs had hatched and now they are ready to head the 25 yds to the sea where the females will return in 25 years to lay there eggs.

The baby turtles are only about 6 inches long and a small crowd lined the path and cheered them to the sea. It is something to see 98 turtles on there way (pics and video to follow). This is nature as you rarely get to see it. Then it was home for our final delicious dinner and to sadly realize our adventure with our new friends who have become like family is almost over

Jambo
Alan Feldstein

—————

Alan, his team, and I will be hosting another photo safari to Africa in February 2011. For more info, see http://www.infinitekayakadventures.com/ or go to our announcement on this blog

New Workshop with David Saffir, Studio Lighting 101: Portraits

Venue: Santa Clarita Center for Photography, Two evening sessions: July 14 and 21, 2010, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost is $109 if registered by 7/7/10, $119 after. Pre-registration is recommended.
(Phone registration call 661-904-2092; link to registration form at the end of this post.)

This two-evening, focused workshop teaches an uncomplicated, efficient, professional process from start to finish. Learn how to successfully pre-plan your photo shoot, put your lighting setup together to match a particular “look”, capture your image successfully, plan your editing in Photoshop, and create an image you can successfully print or provide as a digital file. Scroll down to read more….

Model Sarah Muldorfer

We’ll take you step by step through the process:

- Pre-session planning meetings with customers, clients/models, and others

- Identifying a look or theme, including use of printed examples, design ideas, and the like

- Pre-shoot coaching, with focus on making diplomatic suggestions for wardrobe and makeup

- Studio preparation, including backdrops, choosing a lighting style, and two or three light setups for portraits

- Classic vs. non-traditional lighting, using main and accessory lights

- Setting up your camera for successful capture

- Three-step fast and efficient editing in Photoshop

- Providing proofs to customers/clients

- Preparing for printing or publication

Hands-on work will include lighting setup and shooting.

You’ll leave the session with a list of action items in hand that will help you improve the quality of your work and improve your profitability!

To enroll, follow this link or call 661-904-2092

Lighting Diagram

Review, Nik Viveza 2 and Color Efex Pro 3.0

Since my review of Silver Efex Pro by Nik Software, I’ve been working with some of the other software packages offered by Nik, specifically Viveza 2 and Color Efex Pro 3.0. Like Silver Efex Pro, these applications offer great flexibility and control during image editing. They are compatible with Photoshop, Lightroom, and Aperture. In this article, I’ll provide an overview of the features and benefits of both.

Viveza 2 offers sophisticated both  global and highly selective editing of image characteristics, including but not limited to color, saturation, contrast,  brightness, structure, saturation (RGB or by channel), etc. And as I’ll explain further on, the edits you perform can not only be placed on a Photoshop layer, but individual edits in the application itself are non-destructive, and can be changed at will.

Color Efex Pro offers over 50 pre-designed filters, with an incredible range of image enhancements, conversions, and special effects.

I’ll cover some of the fundamentals in Viveza 2, using Photoshop. Clearly it’s not possible to explain all the combinations and nuances in this space. If you really want to get a grip on what’s possible with the software, it’s advisable to take a live workshop, like the one I have coming up on Wednesday, June 9, 6:30-9:30PM at the SCV Center for Photography. Click on the link, and scroll down a bit – the listing is in the left hand column. You can also call 661-904-2092 for reservations. (Credit cards cheerfully accepted.) Fee is $69.

(FYI, the software works in CS5 in 32-bit mode, except for Viveza 2 for Windows, which can be used in 64-bit mode. Upgrades are planned some time around mid-year.)

I’ll be using one of my recent images, taken a month or two ago during the explosion of Spring wildflowers in California.

Before Launching Viveza 2

Now I’ll go to Filters, and launch the application. The first screen looks like this:

Opening Panel

The original image is shown in the center. One can change this view to twin before/after images, or to a single image split to show the same. Here’s a closeup of the control panel on the right:

Control Panel

Note the button for “Add Control Point” (more on this later), the global controls for brightness, contrast, saturation, and structure, and at the bottom, a drop-down for levels and curves (new in Viveza 2)

Levels and Curves drop-down

I’m accustomed to making these adjustments on individual adjustment layers in Photoshop; now you have that option here. These controls operate globally as one would expect.

Now I’ve made a levels and curves adjustment, and set the screen for a side by side comparison:

Levels/Curves

I’m conservative in these adjustments, but you can see the difference in overall contrast, and in some degree, a bit of increased saturation.

You can also add what Nik calls “Control Points”, which are highly versatile tools – a Control Point (CP) can be placed anywhere in the image. Click on the CP button in the Control Panel, mouse over and left click to place the CP.

A basic CP looks like this:

Note the yellow button at the top – that slider controls the size of the CP, and how much impact it has on the image. Underneath it are control sliders for Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, and Structure.

Control Point Size

You can click on the small triangle at the bottom of the Control Point to reveal more options:

Now we can see controls for shadow adjustment, warmth, R-G-B, and hue. These adjustments are also available in the Control Panel.

This is one of the core concepts to this software. You can apply CPs singly, or in groups. A CP can be duplicated through the command <alt> – left click.

Once you’ve made your adjustments, you have the option of clicking OK, which will apply your changes on a new layer, or Brush, which will create a new layer with a black layer mask. You can then paint on the mask with a white brush to reveal your edits.A small Viveza panel will be present in your Photoshop screen – when finished editing the layer, click “apply”, and voila!

Later on if you want to make changes in your edits, re-open Viveza and work away. When you click “Apply” the changes will take effect.

This review just scratches the surface. I could write a book, but not today. :)

Viveza provides impressively easy-to-use, highly flexible tools for editing images in Photoshop, Lightroom, or Aperture. Used appropriately, it can really improve and speed up your image editing.

I’ll be brief in my remarks about Color Efex Pro 3.0. Can you say, “indispensable”? It is one of my all-time favorites.

The application offers over 50 filters, presets, and such. One of my favorites is “Brilliance/Warmth” which can do wonders for landscape images. Here’s the menu in the opening panel (looks much the same as Viveza, but this menu appears on the left):

Filter and Pre-set Menu for Color Efex Pro

Also note the tabs, which organize the menu choices by task or image type: Portrait, Landscape, Stylizing, and Traditional. You can also organize your favorites under a separate tab.

One could develop many of these “looks” in Photoshop, but in the majority of cases this application makes things easier and faster – and frequently better. Here’s a side by side of Brilliance/Warmth:

Before and After - Brilliance/Warmth

I think that’s pretty cool!

NOVEMBER 16: THERE IS NOW A SPECIAL NIK SOFTWARE PURCHASE DISCOUNT CODE FOR READERS OF MY BLOG. TYPE “D S A F F I R” IN YOUR ORDER FOR 1 5 % DISCOUNT. LINK TO NIK

Review: Mamiya DF Camera and Mamiya DM56 Digital Back

Not too long ago I wrote a review of the Mamyia AFDIII and the Leaf 22MP back. At the time, I felt it was an excellent camera, and I still do.

In this report, I’ll cover my recent experience with another Mamiya camera and digital back: the Mamiya DF body, and the Mamiya DM56 digital back. Since space is limited on the blog, I’ll hit the high points as I see them.

Bottom line: a greatly improved, highly flexible camera body that, coupled with this digital back, delivers superb image quality. I have a few nitpicking suggestions, but overall this camera is impressive.

New Mamiya DF Body and Mamiya DM56

Dan Cuny, of Mamiya/Mac Group, came to the SCV Center for Photography in Santa Clarita and provided camera gear for us to use. We started the day with a live demo for a number of photographers from the local area, shooting still life.

The camera feels robust and well made. The viewfinder is big and bright, and the in-viewfinder indicators are easily read. We used two lenses: the 80mm f/2.8 lens supplied with the camera, and a manual-focus 120mm macro lens. The camera is very well balanced with either lens mounted. I’ve found that I can work all day without suffering undue fatigue.

The camera can be used with focal-plane, or leaf shutter lenses. Highest sync speeds are reported up to 1/1600. The DF camera body is compatible with existing 645AFD lenses.

The camera was equipped with a Mamiya DM56 digital back. This back provides excellent resolution, 12 stops of dynamic range, and true 16-bit capture. Color rendered by this back is terrific – vibrant, very accurate, and totally clean.

The large, bright screen on the back makes it easy to view images and manage the controls – although performance in direct sunlight could still be improved.

Autofocus feels appreciably faster than previous camera bodies, and reports from others who have tried this camera confirm this.

We set up a Calumet shooting table, and several monolights. We started out with high-key lighting, but switched later on to a more dramatic approach. The shooting table is ideal for this work, providing a smooth, clean translucent plexi surface that allows totally flexible light placement.

Setting Up At The SCV Center for Photography

We shot with the camera tethered to a Mac Book Pro, using the provided 14-foot long Firewire 800 cable. Leaf Capture 11.3 was used to manage capture and image processing.

The Indian bowl we photographed (a personal possession of mine) was initially shot using high-key lighting, with the camera mounted on a tripod. We used a Sekonic hand-held meter to measure exposure, and a PocketWizard Plus to trigger lighting from the camera.

Note the clean contrast lines in the bowl:

High Key

And here’s a version with more directional lighting:

Note lack of shadow noise

Note how clean the shadows are; virtually no luminance or color noise. We were using ISO 100, one step (albeit a relatively small one) above base ISO of 80.

I was quite surprised by this; conventional wisdom concerning high pixel density is that shadow noise will be significant – but not in this case. I used virtually no noise reduction in the images shown in this article – although I can’t say for sure that there isn’t some processing going on in the guts of the digital back. Regardless, performance exceeded expectations.

We also shot a still life of some sea shells. Note the rendering of subtle colors, and in the second image, the sharpness and detail. Impressive.

Shot W/ Macro Lens

Shell Detail

Later in the testing, I had the opportunity to photograph a model in a studio setting. I often use low-key, dramatic lighting in my personal work. The lighting setup was created by a friend, Ron Brewer – I tweaked it a bit, and this is the result:

The highlight/shadow transitions are clean, and free of noise. Also note the high level of detail around the eye (below). These images are not retouched, other than a basic levels/curves adjustment.

Crop from full portrait

The nitpicks? The thing that bugs me the most is the location of the Auto exposure lock button – it is placed toward the outer side of the camera grip – and I found myself having to adjust my hold on the camera to reach it.

The digital back viewscreen, like just about every one out there, is very difficult to see in bright light outdoors, much less direct sun. It is, however, great in other circumstances. Don’t know if this is a solvable problem; at least Hasselblad provides an LCD view of the histogram on top of the camera grip.

And last, battery life, as with all MF digital cameras I’ve used, is less than I’d like. I realize the battery has to power the guts of the back, and the preview screen, but I’m still blasting through several batteries a day outdoors. If Nikon and Canon can make batteries that go a full day, why can’t the MF manufacturers?

Last but not least:

Say what you will about performance of high-end DSLRs, there’s still a noticeable difference between 14-bit capture and medium format 16-bit capture, in color fidelity and accuracy – and as good as DSLR lenses are now, it’s still true that MF lenses are hard to beat.

The flexibility of the camera is very good – given the sync speed, choice of shutters/lenses, software (Phase One or Leaf), and ergonomics. Whether you shoot weddings, studio, fashion, or landscapes, it’s worth a look. I haven’t shown them in this article, but the images I took on location are just as good as those provided here. (by the way, outside temps were over 100F one day!)

And a parting thought: this latest Mamiya incarnation has a new feeling of sophistication and polish that comes through
every time I pick it up. It’s a shooter’s camera.

Link to New Workshops – June 2012 Photo Workshop in the Palouse!

——————————————————

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation from Mamiya or Mac group in exchange for writing this article.