An episode of the Marc Silber Photo Show
Via Guy Kawasaki
Month: September 2009
Interview with Craig Hunter Parker
Chris Keeney talks to Craig Hunter Parker as part of his excellent ongoing series of interviews with fine art photographers.
Read it at ChrisKeeney.com
New Horseman SLR conversion lenses
Horseman press release:
Direct Source Marketing (DSM), the sole U.S. distributor of Horseman photo products for professionals and high-end consumers, today announced unique multi-coated conversion lenses for DSLR cameras. [Of course they should work on any film body, too. — ed]
"What makes the Horseman lenses unique is that they provide wide-angle and macro photography easily and comfortably, without changing lenses," said Richard Dischler, DSM President. "They are easily and quickly attached in front of the taking lens, much like attaching a filter. The lenses are also very portable and offer an affordable solution for the end user who is looking to extend the use-function of their DSLR."
Street pricing is expected to range from $60-$120, depending on the model, of which there are seven.
Among the numerous models is the Horseman 0.7 Wide, which is designed exclusively for 18-55mm zoom lenses. The 0.7x wide conversion lens is thin, lightweight and can be attached in front of the taking lens of your camera, quickly and easily.
Another is the Horseman 0.6 Wide/Macro, a 0.6x wide conversion lens that also serves as a macro lens. The lens delivers crisp images without chromatic aberration in the periphery of images, enabling you to enjoy wide-angle photography over the entire focal length range of your DSLR zoom lens.
The Wide Macro lens is particularly effective in shooting wide angles from confined spaces or when you’re in a tight spot and can’t step back. Other examples would be shooting scenic vistas or towering buildings. The lens gives you perspective and allows you to capture near-by objects larger and distant subjects smaller.
The Horseman 0.25x Superwide/Macro is a 0.25x super-wide conversion lens that enables you to enjoy super-wide-angle photography just like a fish-eye lens. In addition, the lens incorporates a macro lens so you can get real close to your subjects for frame-filling impressive macro shots.
Both the Horseman 0.6x Wide and the 0.25x Superwide conversion lens turn into a macro lens when its front part is removed. Macro photography lets you take close-up shots and bring out the minutest details of the smallest subjects.
The Horseman 0.45x WIDE conversion lens serves as a wide lens when it’s used as is, but it turns into a macro lens when you remove the front portion. It’s a uniquely versatile conversion lens that enables you to enjoy wide-angle and macro photography with just one lens.
Other models include the Horseman 08x SUPERWIDE conversion lens, which lets you make the most of a fish-eye lens’ barrel distortion; the Horseman 4.0x Macro, which is designed primarily for medical applications, and the MiniDigi AF5.0, which allows you to have super-wide and macro photography on the Rollei MiniDigi AF5.0.
Horseman products are manufactured in Japan by Komamura Corporation.
The Horseman conversion lenses will be available at professional photo dealers. MSRP is expected to be in the [USD] $60-$120 range.
For more information visit http://www.komamura.co.jp/e/CVL/index.html
Via ArtBistro
Fall ‘Roid Week 2009 dates announced – Nov 2-6!
It’s almost that time again! Polaroid Week Fall 2009 will be November 2–6. Participating is easy: make some pictures on any instant film and post them to the ‘Roid Week 2009 group on Flickr (free accounts work).
Don’t be scared off now that Polaroid means horrendously expensive, you can play on the cheap: Fuji still makes really nice peel-apart instant film in both color and black and white that are cheaper than Polaroid was when it was in production. If you need a camera, you can grab a Holga-like, zone focus Polaroid Super Shooter or Super Shooter Plus on eBay for under 10 bucks, or a rangefinder-focused Automatic 100 [pic] or Automatic 250 [pic] for $25–30.
Here are the ‘Roid Week guidelines:
About ‘Roid Week Fall 2009
Hello!
POLAROID WEEK is a bi-annual celebration of all things instant!
Here are the simple rules:
* It’s five days. Monday thru Friday.
* Pool opens at 6:00 am on Monday, Eastern Standard Time.
* Pool closes at 12:00 am on Friday (technically, Saturday), Pacific Standard Time.
* Members can post up to 3 photos a day.
* Though we call it “Polaroid Week,” any instant film is fine.
* No Poladroids! You have your own group to play in. This is a film only group.
* Post photos you haven’t posted on Flickr before. Give us something new. We will unceremoniously delete all photos that do not meet this requirement.
* And give us something good. This is our seasonal eye candy. Make it sweet.
Gallery of amazing homemade pinhole cameras
Check out this gallery of amazing pinhole cameras that I think are homemade, probably by a designer named Hyun Kwanghun. But I’m not sure because I can’t read Korean. Very cool stuff though!
Via Chris Keeney
How to modify a Polaroid SX-70 to shoot 600 film
This is a more advanced modification that requires disassembling part of the camera and doing some soldering to switch out a capacitor, but the instructions are clear and have good photos of each step.
Check it out at Holgablog
Blog maintenance
I’m taking the blog down for a few minutes for maintenance. It should be back up shortly.
Update: aaaaaaand we’re back.
2 new Holga converter lenses & fisheye viewfinder
Holga just officially released two plastic lenses that attach over the existing Holga lens to change the focal length
The two tele-converter lenses, models HT-25 (tele lens) and HW-05(wide lens) fit onto you holga and either lengthen(HT-25) or shorten (HW-05) the focal length, therefore creating a tele or wide lens.
Another new release is a fisheye viewfinder that sits on top of your holga enabling you to see the subject ‘fisheyed’ before taking the photo. This viewfinder is a companion piece to the holga fisheye lens.
More info at Holgablog
Holga 120N toy cameras on sale for US $20 at Adorama
On sale for $19.99, usual price $27.99. Go get some.
As usual, if you want one pimped out for you, go to Holgamods.
All your Burning Man photos belong to Burning Man
Problem: people get naked at the Burning Man festival. People take pictures of them and post and/or sell them on the Internet.
Burning Man’s "solution": they steal the copyright (PDF) to all photos taken at the festival.
The Burning Man spokesperson says:
"Our main concern in enacting the policy was to be able to create this weeklong cultural bubble where people can express themselves without worrying about their image being plastered all over the Internet," she said, reiterating that Burning Man wants to be able to take down these images if the poster refuses.
"There are a lot of nude people out here, and this protects the school teacher from Iowa who doesn’t wasn’t want to appear on a porn site," she said. "I acknowledge that the copyright law is heavy-handed way of handling this, but it’s the only tool we have right now.
More here at The Legal Satyricon and here at XBIZ (which is a porn industry news site and may have NSFW ads).
I’m not a lawyer, but I think a saner approach would be to have a photo agreement that states that you aren’t allowed to do whatever they object to, and specify a very heavy remedy if you do it anyway.
Via Jonathan Block