Anybody can pick up a camera and snap off a bunch of photos that will serve as a memento of an occasion. However doing that has a much in common with the work of a photographer as the scribbles of a five-year-old have with the writings of William Shakespeare. For while the digital age has given us unprecedented access to the means to take pictures, it hasn't changed the fact that only a few of us have the ability to see and capture something special in a moment in time.

In his most recent volume of photographs, Mostly People published by Perceval Press, American photographer Robert Whitman, shows that not only does he possess that ability, he also understands the importance of environment in portraiture. Yet his skills as a photographer, as the title of this volume suggests, don't end with his ability to bring people and their surroundings to life; he is equally capable of letting us see meaning in the rust stains of a swimming pool as he is the frown lines of a brow furrowed in concentration.

Ask anyone who has ever attempted to take a picture of a loved one, or who has ever posed for their picture, about the process and you're almost bound to hear a variation of one of two complaints: that doesn't look like them/me, or I/they aren't photogenic. Sure all the bits and pieces that make up the subject are contained within the frame and are all in the right place, but somehow or other nothing that you or they do can make your pictures look like them.

Every holiday season it's the same thing; collections of photos filled with people who look vaguely familiar sitting on the family couch. Taking pictures of people so that we are able to see them is a skill that seems to escape most of us.

Where most of us fail is by attempting to capture an accurate representation of a person in an atmosphere devoid of life or activity. Unless we have trained to work in front of a camera, standing still, or posing, leaves the majority of us incredibly self-conscious and awkward. Without the focus that an environment can give – even if its something as simple as waiting in the lobby of a theatre for a play or movie to begin – the subject of a photograph appears lifeless or artificial. Yet the instant we liberate them from the shackles of posing and photograph them candidly, they miraculously turn into living breathing souls.

Source: feedproxy.google.com

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SDXC memory specification supported by Panasonic : The SD Card Association, of which Panasonic is a founder, has announced the next generation SD Memory Card, the SDXC (SD eXtended Capacity), a new standard for storing data more than 32 GB and up to 2 terabytes (TB). This new SDXC flash memory standard will be the specification for SD Memory Cards with capacities more than 32 GB and their host devices. The new SDXC memory cards will provide capacities in the future ranging up to 2 TB at read/write speeds of 300 megabytes per second. Pricing and availability for Panasonic’s SDXC Memory Cards will be announced at a future date.

Panasonic 64GB SDXC memory card
Panasonic supports the announcement and development of the SDXC standard and plans to launch a 64GB massive capacity SDXC Memory Card, which will have more capacity than the currently available 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray Disc. This introduction will allow consumers to conveniently store more data, helping them to experience a true High Definition (HD) digital lifestyle.

SDXC card specification
The SDXC specification uses Microsoft’s exFAT file system to support its large capacity and interoperability in a broad range of PCs, consumer electronics and mobile phones. The exFAT system was designed for increased compatibility with flash media, from portability of data to interoperability with multiple platforms and devices on removable media.”The SD Association is committed to answering and anticipating consumer demand for easy-to-use memory card storage that is interoperable in any device with a matching SD slot,” Taylor said. “The SDXC card gives consumers a new, yet familiar, high-performance card that will be used in hundreds of manufacturers’ device offerings.”

Panasonic SDXC memory cards
Panasonic supports the usage and application of SDXC Memory Cards in order to bring to life a world where high-quality HD content can be easily handled and a large volume of professional-quality HD video and high-resolution pictures can be captured smoothly. The SDXC Memory Cards will allow for seamless transfer of large quantities of HD content from one device to another.

Source: www.letsgodigital.org

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The second phase of the Challenges beta has begun, so it’s time for you to help find our first winners. The beta is going well, with a large number of excellent photos being submitted and a small number of bugs, quirks and missing features being identified. But to really understand how votes are going to work, we need a lot more of them. So we invite you to take a moment to look at the challenges, vote for the images you like and help both to improve the system and select some worthy winners.

Source: www.dpreview.com

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“Luis is a friend of mine from Santiago, Dominican Republic. He’s an interesting character: a skilled tradesman, baker, upholstery expert, furniture maker, importer and all around deal maker. If you are looking for something, Luis is your man. Need custom drapes, curtains, and matching mahogany furniture? Look no further – Luis knows who, what, where and how.
“Taken in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico in the back of a container filled with car mats. Yes, he was doing a deal”. Taken by John Grace

Source: planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com

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Panasonic DMC-FS15 camera : Panasonic introduces the new 12.1 megapixel Panasonic DMC-FS15 camera of 29mm wide angle Leica DC lens with 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 29mm to 145 mm on a 35mm film camera) as a member of Lumix new FS series. The new FS series, a sister line of the world-acclaimed FX series, pursues easy and simple operation with its high-grade profile for users at every stage to enjoy taking beautiful pictures. Panasonic’s iA (intelligent auto) mode, which makes it easy for anyone to take beautiful photos by detecting the scene and optimizing the settings, has been further enhanced for new Panasonic LUMIX FS15 to comprehend AF tracking and Intelligent Exposure functions.

Face detection and intelligent exposure offers by Panasonic FS15
The newly added AF Tracking function automatically tracks the subject once the AF has been set even if the subject moves around, making it easier to capture sharp, well-focused photos of decisive moments. The Intelligent Exposure function helps capture natural-looking, true-to-life images by suppressing blocked shadows and blown highlights. Also, the Panasonic FS15 continually monitors the light source and automatically activates the backlight compensation function if it detects that the light source is behind the subject. Face detection accuracy has also been increased, allowing continuous AF/AE adjustment even if a face moves or turns sideways to the camera. Not only that, the unwanted red-eye effect caused by the use of the flash can be digitally corrected.

Easy photography with entry level Panasonic LUMIX FS15 camera
The newly added independent iA button on the top of the camera lets enter the iA mode directly. Once you enter iA mode, these multi-capable functions happen automatically so you can shoot without the bother of adjusting settings every time conditions change. You can enjoy easy, trouble-free shooting in any situation and get the satisfaction that comes with capturing clear, beautiful images.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FS15 incorporates large LCD with great view
The Panasonic DMC-FS15 pursues further compactness with a 2.7-inch LCD with 230,000-dot high resolution and Intelligent LCD function, which detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level of the LCD in 11 fine steps, to offer a display with the most appropriate clarity in any situation. Other various upgrades make Panasonic FS15 enhance fun of taking pictures. The startup time is dramatically shortened to 1.2 sec, letting you to capture the spur-of-the-moment. Dressed in the metal-finished panel, the slim and sleek Panasonic DMC-FS15 offers an enjoyment of taking great snapshots casually with committed ease of operation even for beginners. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FS15 in silver, black and blue (Availability of models and colors may vary depending on the sales area.)

Easy to use operation makes Panasonic FS15 popular camera
Panasonic incorporated the Intelligent Auto mode in pursuit of the ultimate ease of operation and the reduction of misshots. This mode is also further advanced with the inclusion of the AF tracking, Intelligent Exposure feature for Panasonic DMC-FS15. Furthermore, digital red-eye correction is also integrated in the Face Detection. In iA mode the camera does all the work, activating AF tracking, Mega O.I.S. (optical image stabilizer), Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection, and Intelligent Exposure. This leaves the user free to simply compose the shot and press the shutter button, with the assurance that the image will be clear, beautiful and properly exposed.

Action photography possible with Panasonic LUMIX FS15
With the new AF Tracking function, the user can “lock” the focus onto a moving subject. The camera then automatically tracks the subject as it moves, keeping it in focus without the user having to hold the shutter button halfway down. This makes it easier to capture the perfect moment clearly and in sharp focus when shooting images of a child, pet, sports or any scene with moving subjects and spur-of-the-moment action. Intelligent Exposure suppresses blocked shadows and blown highlights to capture images that look natural and true-to-life. It now features an automatic backlight compensation function that activates whenever the camera detects that the light source is behind the subject.

Scene selector and Face detection
Face detection accuracy has been increased in the Panasonic LUMIX FS15 to now provide continuous adjustment of the focus and exposure even if the face is turned sideways to the camera. Combined with AF Tracking, Face Detection helps users capture special moments, including the fleeting expressions on the faces of active children. Plus, with the Panasonic DMC-FS15, the red-eye effect can be digitally corrected automatically when it occurs due to the use the flash. Intelligent Scene Selector, which automatically selects whichever of 5 scene modes – Macro, Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, and Night Scenery – that best suits the shooting situation. The Quick AF system allows the camera to keep focus on the subject while the camera is in recording mode even before without pressing a shutter button halfway, to get best result out of a shutter chance because the focus is always near the subject and the AF time is minimized.

Sharp images with MEGA O.I.S stabilizer
In addition to the advanced functions mentioned above, the iA mode inherits fundamental functions users need in a good digital still camera. These include MEGA O.I.S., which prevents blurring from hand-shake, and Intelligent ISO Control, which prevents motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves as the shot is taken. The MEGA O.I.S. conventionally has mode 1 and 2, and now it has AUTO mode to select the suitable one between the modes according to the zoom ratio being used. The user can activate all of these useful, convenient shooting-assist functions by simply pressing an independent iA button on the top of the camera, which is newly equipped for direct activation of the mode. All these make the FS15 the ultimate, super-versatile automatic camera for capturing clear, beautiful, mistake-free photos with ease.

Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR Lens for great picture quality
The 12.1-megapixel Panasonic LUMIC DMC-FS15 packages a 29mm wide-angle Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 5x optical zoom into a slim, compact body. Comprising 7 elements in 6 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses with 4 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit realizes the outstandingly slim and compact body yet passing Leica’s stringent standards to deliver an exceptional optical performance. Further, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical Zoom function provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 9.8x (294mm) by using the centre part of the CCD. The image-processing LSI, Venus Engine IV, features advanced signal processing technology for rendering high quality images.

Panasonic LUMIX FS15
Featured in the Panasonic LUMIX DMC- FS15, the multi-task image-processing engine Venus Engine IV supports a super-fast response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as 0.006 second and the camera’s quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. And in High-Speed Burst shooting mode, it fires off an incredible 5 shots per second. You also get unlimited consecutive shooting, which lets you keep shooting until the memory card is full. The Venus Engine IV also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets the Panasonic LUMIX FS15 record at a setting of up to ISO 6400, sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash.

Panasonic FS15 offers easy shooting and playback
The new Panasonic DMC-FS15 incorporates an easy-to-see, large, 2.7-inch 230,000-dot high-resolution LCD for comfortable viewing while both monitoring shots and playing back the results. The Intelligent LCD function detects the light condition and automatically boosts the LCD backlighting by max. 40% when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine, and adjusts the frame rate when shooting in low-lit situations in addition to using the pixel mixed readout method to secure clarity in such situations. Detecting the lighting condition precisely and automatically controlling the brightness with a total of 11 fine steps, this function gives the display the most appropriate clarity in any situation without using extra energy. The High Angle mode makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as when shooting over a crowd.

Fun of Photography and multimedia experience with LUMIX camera
The Lumix camera further offers wide variety of options to expand fun of photography.The Panasonic DMC-FS15 provides slideshows complete with music. Just select the pictures you want to show and choose the mood that best matches your selection from natural, slow, urban or swing, and you’ll get an emotion-filled slideshow with a variety of slide change effects and matching music without any annoying adjustments. All Lumix cameras can take 1920×1080 pixel high-definition quality photos that are ideal for full-screen viewing on a wide-screen (16:9) HDTV. Panasonic has long focused on making photography more enjoyable, such as by letting people view their images easily on a Panasonic Viera TV with Viera Image Viewer (internal SD card slot). For the motion picture, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FS15 can record WVGA (848 x 480) motion pictures at 30 frames per second in addition to standard VGA (640 x 480). The WVGA motion picture also fits a wide-screen (16:9) TV perfectly, to offer extremely impressive viewing.

Panasonic LUMIX FS15 features
The new DMC-FS15 feature a variety of functionalities to expand fun and convenience for users at every stage to enjoy taking beautiful pictures. The user can select from among several icons for the camera to use for indicating when the subject is in focus. In addition to the conventional dot, a flower, car and several other new shapes are available. Newly added Photo Frame mode lets the user put attractive borders around the photo. When printed, the photos look like postcards in picture frames, making them ideal as presents. With the My Scene setting, which is also new on Panasonic DMC-FS15, the user can assign up to specific Scene modes to that setting, and switch instantly to the mode when desired. The minimum shooting distance has been shortened to 3 cm in the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FS15. Using the digital Zoom Macro function, the user can pull subjects even closer than the closest point possible with the wide-angle setting, and capture dramatic close-ups. As soon as a full production digital camera sample will be available you can expect a full Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 review from us, including our usual sample photo gallery.

Source: www.letsgodigital.org

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