Huge crowds began pouring into Austin ,Texas today for the SXSW festival.
Covering Interactive, Film and Music, of course the first folks we meet on the plane are Philip Bloom and his fiance Sara, both photographers, but Philip is here to do 2 presentations on shooting with HD DSLRs .

So it was a lively plane ride and we hope to attend the talk. He promises to bring about 6 different varieties o camera and we’ll see what the crowd thinks.
We still want RAW motion files, but….

Our cameras have been tagged an we are ready to go into the fray tomorrow, and hope we can bring some news of interest to our community.
We are carrying a bunch of gear to do some real world reviews, so we’ll see how it all works when you have to get a shot. Black Rapid straps, Olympus PEN-2, Gigtube, portable hard drive storage, and more. The only way to know if something works is to test it in the fields. SXSW is a pretty cool field.

There will be a lot of interactive and social media conversations, and at the very least, good pointers on promoting your photo businesses.

Well, we’re off for some BBQ and libations, before the crowds get too crazy.

More on our twitter feed to come as well as our Facebook page.

What we really mean to say is that Delkin products ( the Archival Gold DVD, Fat Gekko people) has come up with a few things to make your life on or near water a little better.

At PMA a couple week ago, they were showing off a waterproof bag, the Jellyfish, for your smartphone or point & shoot, complete with a floatation device AND a bottle opener. Hmmmm.. I guess so you can drink, swim and shoot/txt. Careful with the drunk photos/txt combo.
Just saying.
Have you ever gotten a memory card wet? We have.
They were showing of a new CF card, Combat Flash, that is sealed from the inside and they claim you can drop it into a cup of coffee and it’ll still work. Just dry it off first, of course.
Can’t wait to try that out.
There was one more product that belongs in the Fat Gekko family, The Gator Clamp, that is a simple vice clamp, with rubber protectors on the feet, that has a ball mount type pole that allows you to put a speedlight, small camera or anything you want. where you want.
We’ve seen a few iterations of this type of too, but the construction here was very solid and the option of the toothy vice grip rubber protectors so you don’t chew up someones nice door or table.

Anyway, you can see em all right here in this video:

The Hot Shoe Diaries is written by Joe McNally and may be the best handbook on using speedlights out there.
(Not to be confused with Red Shoe Diaries, an adult series on HBO in the 90’s hosted by David Duchovny)
While you may not use the bagful of flashes that Mr. McNally uses, he will give you solid instruction in using the one(s) you do use.
A noted photographer in many categories, we first got to know him through his series of portraits of first responders of 9/11 in NYC.
That series of Life size Polaroid photographs toured the country and became a emotional photographic symbol of the people left standing, who ran towards danger to helps those in need after that horrific tragedy.
Unfortunately Faces Of Ground Zero: Portraits Of The Heroes Of September 11, 2001
is a book that has gone out of print, but you can get used copy for about $20. We recommend it.

The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes

will give you a great set of lessons form the noted photojournalist, and you will begin to get the best out of your speedlight.
He is somewhat brand agnostic in his teaching, although he is a noted Nikon shooter.
Build a backyard studio,learn the best techniques for shooting with your flash off of the camera, and articles like these:
Up on the Roof
How to Light a Fence
Cheap Arena Lighting
Make the Sunrise
Light as a Feather
Father Pre-Flash
The “Killer Flick of Light”
How to Light an Elf
Make the Available Light Unavailable

With a great style of teaching, Joe McNally has been a photojournalist for over 30 years, and is a teaching mainstay at many of the camera trade shows.
A book that should be on your shelf, we have one to give away this week.
Full details will be in the NEWSLETTER, so make sure you have subscribed by Tuesday night to be eligible for this giveaway.
And remember, if you do opt out, you can’t use the same email address to opt in again.
We’ve had folks who weren’t interested in one weeks NEWSLETTER but wanted to get back on, and couldn’t.
Just the system that we use.

Many more videos to come and we’ll let you know what’s up in the NEWSLETTER. We try to break stuff there first.

We do love it when friends of photoinduced share some cool stuff that they find.
Shout out to Zac R. for this excellent animated short he found on Vimeo

Digital Analogue from ftjelly on Vimeo.

“Since the introduction of digital technology the relationship between camera and photographer has altered dramatically. Speed and accessibility have come at the expense of mystery, intimacy and tactility – qualities exclusive to analogue photography. Initially, and in reaction to this cultural atrophy, I composed a piece of music made entirely from sounds that I had recorded from a collection of antique cameras. Constructed using the digital composition software Reason, this piece carried a strong hip hop feel and seemed to connect past with future technologies. To accompany this track I created a video response that captured traditional, analogue techniques yet also had a strong contemporary theme.

This short film is made entirely with stop motion animation, with over six thousand still photos shot and then edited together. The cameras are literally ‘brought to life’ here, while image composition and lighting is as carefully considered in each video frame as they would be for individual photo shots. ”

Here is a link to the artists site, although this seems to be the only piece. there.

The fans of this product are legion.
For 6 years now, the Lensbaby movement has been strong as enthusiasts around the globe, attach the focal plane adjusters to their camera bodies, and shift your eye to put you just where they want you to be.
It has evolved through the years, going from a system of rods, screws and filters, to a slightly more elegant Composer, introduced last year, and now…The Control Freak!
You not only have total control of your focal plane to a very fine degree but they have intro’d some new lens inserts to check out.
One thing we’ve always loved is the Pinhole camera insert that allows you to shoot pinhole with digital. But now there is a Fisheye insert that allows you to touch the subject with the lens. Check out a sample on the video.

Plus, in this video, you will get one of the best explanations of the how and why of Lensbaby products.

We’ll be honest with you: a few years ago, we didn’t get the fascination with the product. Why would I take off my high end glass to use this?
Well, then we tried it. It is too much fun, and the results are dramatic and give us another great tool in the creative box.
Like we said, how else will you do pinhole with digital?

When Polaroid decided to end the instant film production, they crushed the hearts of many an aficionado of the instant grat arts.
The world was going all digital, so who would want an instant print?
Lots of folks.
So Fuji moved in and took up the charge. They now produce all of the pro instant film line-up that Pola had, and also the fun line-up. New cameras are coming, and folks still flock to get a hard print on the spot.
They may not be shaking it like a Polaroid picture, but they are shooting the little gems like crazy.

Plus they showed off a new FILM camera (yes, we said it) the GF 670: 6×6 or 6×7 format so 120 film. Has a slightly retro look with a bellows that folds up into itself for transport, and a whisper quiet shutter.

We do have to remind you that Fuji was also showing off their new 3D point & shoot digital camera, the companion monitor and a home unit ($9k) that had a dope U2 concert playing. You did need glasses for the monitor.
But for the 3D point & shoot YOU NEED NO SPECIAL GLASSES!!! pretty incredible.
We would have shown you here but you do need to see it in person. About $600. for the camera.

Yes, Polaroid( link is to existing product) has announced new film and cameras. Yes, the Impossible Project is coming soon with new film,
But for now, for right now…. Fuji is my date, and we are having a real good time.

We love to show you the kind of gear that we think is a must have in some part of your life.
Packed into our camera bag, there is always at least 1 Joby Gorillapod.
Why?
When we need an extra hand to hold the speedlight, or we want to be in the video too, or the tripod just won’t go there.
Or we want to watch our iPhone on the plane and not hold it the whole time.
Last year, at a conference in Cannes, we were trying to make on the spot videos using a Canon 780is. It was all well and good when we were able to convince a friend to hold the camera.
But the one time we had no one, and had left our Gorillapod in the hotel room, 2 people offered us their Gorillapod to use.
And we did. Just amazed that other folks had them in their backpacks. Random
Small, versatile, inexpensive, and apparently global.

Ok, here is a Joby company representative, Jenny from Joby, walking you through the whole line up.

You may have read a previous review of ours.

And there are a lot of imitators out now, of course. Don’t go there. This Joby stuff is the real deal.
At the last PMA show, we saw a company that had copied them right down to the font and color of the logo on the packaging.
Not the same product though.
Look, they are reasonably priced, and will last you a very long time.
As all good equipment should.

There is a new category for digital cameras that Olympus has been at the forefront of in design and acceptance in the marketplace.
The PEN series of cameras uses a 4/3 sensor, which allows you to keep a pretty compact profile while getting a high quality image.

We showed you a full up demo from Lou Manna awhile back, and at the latest PMA show, they introduced a more affordable solution: the E-PL1.
Now we are problem/ solution people at heart, and while walking the floors the hunt is on to find great solutions to photographic problems we have.
OK, we do have a bunch of photo problems to solve. Never ending it seems.
So the problem here was finding a small camera with interchangeable lenses, that could shoot HD video.
Oh yeah, and deliver high quality files, preferably in RAW.
The first one on the market that got out attention was this PEN series. The design actually goes way back in their history.
We were at a camera swap a couple of weeks ago and saw on the the first types of these. But that was film. This is now.

Take a look at this walk through of the Olympus PEN E-PL1 :

The biggest demo that you should consider is the size of the sensors in these cameras as opposed to most point and shoots.
In the world of sensors, bigger is better.

And the accessories allow you to add your own mic and get it away from the dang camera! The biggest issue we have with vids on point & shoots is the “finger noise” and breathing that you capture because the mic is right on the camera.
Yes, it is the same thing with camcorders. We have the same issue. You really need a separate mic.

Anyway, we’ll be doing a real world review of this of this unit, and report back in.

Oh, it’s almost like figuring our which camera and lens to choose.
Which bag to carry your gear in.
Is it an event with quick lens changes? Stealthy urban street shooting? Simple auto transport, shipping, flying, and about 100 other specific needs.
It’s always an internal conversation. And a constant search.
We got turned onto the folks at Naneu bags when Chris Weeks showed us his set-up in one of our videos shoots.
Loved the roller bag, and they wanted to turn you all onto a different bag in their line up. For free.
Yep, our giveaway this week is a Lima-N black, able to hold a DSLR, 5″ lens, flash, and 2 small lenses.

(camera/flash/and lenses not included in giveaway. but you knew that, right?)
This is part of their Military Ops line, and the thing that we like is the travelability of the unit.
Nope, not a real word, but this is what we mean.

On the road, when you aren’t taking a full set-up, this bag will slide onto the handle of your roller suitcase, won’t scream camera bag, and when you’re using it in town, the shoulder strap makes it an easy carry.
Just the right width so you’re not banging into folks in a crowd, and it stay close to your body.

Well made of 1680D Ballistic Nylon, 9 pockets give you plenty or room for all of your extras including a paper, or an E-reader to pass the time away while waiting for the shot, the meeting, or the next flight out.

And we have one of these to give away this week.
Just make sure you are signed up for the weekly NEWSLETTER, By Tuesday night, as we email em’ out on Wednesday early AM.
All of the details will be in there, as well as a recap of the week, and things you won’t find on the site.

The most amazing happened last week while in a card exchange situation.
In the midst of everyone trading the little rectangles of info, one of the group got repeated extended studies of their cards.
Their Moo.com photo cards.
Now, photos on business cards are nothing new, but it has either been printed on a photographic like paper, or was prohibitively expensive.
Not so with Moo.com cards. Quality printing,reasonably priced, fast service. Sounds like a trifecta.
We were so impressed with the print quality, we made a visit to their booth at PMA last weekend to get a closer look.

Simon Goble led us on the tour:

And this is a closer view of that very cool frame at the end of the video:

OK, we DID say courtesy=free and we meant it.
Moo.com is giving you a chance to see what your photos look like on their cards, and it is totally free.
No shipping charges either. Click on this link for details, and make sure the deal is good for the country you will be shipping the cards to.

We tried a free set and loved it, so onto a larger run.
In a time where we mainly deal electronically, we give out an average of 200 cards at the shows and another 100 a month just in daily business.

And the card cases are pretty darn cool. Never just reach into your back pocket and hand someone a card. A little presentation is what it’s about so put your best foot forward from the start.

Up the aisles, down the aisles, across to the next exhibit hall, and up the aisles, down the aisles.
Rinse and repeat.
That’s kinda what we do when we go to a photographic trade show.
There are the major things to see that there may have been pre-buzz on, or things that we hope to actually get in our hands to touch and feel for the first time. Plus the things we just randomly discover in our hunting and gathering mode.
And we make videos. Lots and Lots of videos.
The goal is to get a real look at a product and hear the company line, before we get to do an actual field review. The

Here is some of the cool stuff we saw that Nikon brought to this particular party .

They have a couple of more new things that we’ll get to in another video, like an amazing fast and wide lens, but this should get us started.

This P100 with 26x zoom, VR, and 1080p HD video is looking pretty good, especially with the articulated screen. A couple of other cool point & Shoots are also included here. Like a $200 touch screen camera.
Getting back to that articulated screen for a moment:
We have been on a jag about those for a bit, as we have been exploring the ” camera mounted in an unusual position” or getting the “hail mary” overhead shot.
So the D5000 has it; we did it with our external video monitor and a Fat Gekko, and we are checking out the Aputure Gigtube unit, an external articulated monitor that can be used with a variety of cameras.
You may want to hold off on your purchase of the gigtube till we complete our review. Some fine points we think you should be aware of.
It works alright, but has a quirk or 2.

Anyway, enjoy this first vid, and we have a bunch more to edit and post up shortly for you.

We’ve been on an educational binge lately.
The tools at our disposal in the digital world of photography are truly mind boggling.
The computer that you call a camera, has so much capability that most of us never unleash, you may be missing some creative tools in your kit. You have to get that secret knowledge unlocked. Sometimes it comes from a specific need, sometimes just a random exploration.
OK, maybe it’s not secret but there is so much of it, it might as well be.
It’s kinda like Photoshop – don’t think that most of us have even scratched the surface of what it is capable of.
Just make sure you use it for good.
JK.
So we are offering up Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Boxed Set, one of the best, plain speaking, photo teachers and writers out there today.
His series of 3 books on Digital Photography, contain photo tips in a very manageable bite-size form.
Pretty much one on a page so you can flip through the book anywhere and land on some good info.
We dig the format, and think you will too.
Or, if you already know it all, it’s is an outstanding gift for someone just getting into the zone.

As always, this is a special offering for our NEWSLETTER subscribers only. Just make sure you are signed up by this evening.
Full details will be in tomorrow mornings email delivery, along with some links to some of the cool things we saw at PMA, that we just haven’t had the time to post here yet. We also have a best of show we’ll tip you to in the email tomorrow.
You’ll get it first.
A chance to get this boxed set for free, newsbreaks, and a cheery greeting from us. Mid-week never sounded so good.

If only we could email you coffee and muffin, it would be all set.