Upcoming Master Portfolio Printing Class 4/20 and 4/21 in New Jersey
After months of planning and venue hunting, I’m excited to announce a new full day (11 hour day, that is!) Lightroom 4 and Epson Stylus Pro 3880/3880 Master Class. The same exact one day Master Class will be held on two different days (4/20 and 4/21/2013) at an all suites hotel in North Brunswick, NJ. It’s geared toward Lightroom users who also own or use (or who are thinking of buying) an Epson Stylus Pro 3800 or 3880.
Being focused on one primary model of printer will allow me to delve deep into the inner workings of the machines (they are virtually identical). Each attendee will leave with at least four prints output on an Epson 3800 or 3880 and matted to 11×14 inch 8-ply rag mats on the paper of his or her choice (from more than 20 fine-art paper options). It was important to me to make this a “Portfolio Workshop” in which attendees bring digital images and go home with completed and ready-to-frame works of art.
The Lightroom 4 training will be especially useful for people who are struggling to properly organize and back up their images. I will share the same workflow I use with my private consulting clients to help them get their photo collections in order so they can then start concentrating on making great images and prints.
SPECIAL OFFER
I would like to offer readers of imagingbuffet.com a $50 discount via the promo code “IBF5″ (no quotes) when you register by 4/15/2013, which you can enter in the bottom right of the registration section on either of the workshop pages. Please also note that in addition to the one hour private consulting offer that comes with registering for the Master Class, I am also offering an additional one hour follow-up private phone consultation to everyone who registers by Monday, 4/15/2013.
For more information about the Sat. 4/20/2013 Master Class, please visit this page: http://darlow42.eventbrite.com/
and for more information about the Sun. 4/21/2013 Master Class, please visit this page: http://darlow421.eventbrite.com/
If you have any questions about the Master Classes, feel free to send me a note here.
I hope to see you there!
-Andrew
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Posted on April 10, 2013 by Andrew | Filed Under ART, DIGITAL PRINTING, INKJET RELATED, MACINTOSH, NEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY, SOFTWARE, WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES
Frame Destination Ships 12,000th GalleryPouch™ Bag and Creates $12,000 Giveaway
Many of those who have been to talks or workshops I’ve done know about the GalleryPouch™ bubble bag that I use for a lot of my equipment, from photo lenses to flat-screen TVs, iPads and matted & framed prints (especially my wrapped canvas prints). Back in 2009, I needed a product that could protect large canvases (first for a client, and then for my own large gallery canvas wraps), so I asked Mark Rogers, president of Frame Destination, if he could seal protective bubble material together to make bags the sizes I needed, and he was kind enough to make me a few samples that worked quite well. Soon thereafter, his company made some prototypes, and after much testing, we found a material and a machine that could make great-looking bags up to about 50 x 150 inches in size.
Fast forward to late March, 2013. The company has just announced that it produced and sold its 12,000th GalleryPouch™ bag, and to help mark the milestone, Frame Destination has decided to make up to $12,000 in e-gift certificate promo codes available to new and existing customers. Below is a copy of the gift certificate followed by a link to the press release about the milestone and the giveaway.
GalleryPouch™ $5 Gift Certificate for GalleryPouch™ Products
If you have used a GalleryPouch™ product and would like to leave a note about it, please feel free to comment below. You can also read some client testimonials on GalleryPouch.com.
Link to the Press Release.
Link to the Product Page on FrameDestination.com to Order GalleryPouch bags
Disclaimer: I am not an employee of Frame Destination, but I receive a royalty on sales of GalleryPouch™ products. I am also editor of GalleryPouch.com, a dedicated site for the product, with news, testimonials, videos, etc.
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Posted on April 8, 2013 by Andrew | Filed Under ART, INKJET RELATED, NEWS, Press Coverage
Hands-on Review: Benro MeFoto AO350Q Travel Tripod Kit
After quite a lot of testing, I’m happy to be able to present this hands-on video review of the Benro MeFoto A0350Q Travel Tripod Kit. To summarize, I’m impressed with the product (it’s well made, relatively light and compact). I’ll let the video do the rest of the talking:
I forgot to mention in the video that even though the tripod kit comes with a ballhead, you can put any 3/8″ compatible ballhead or other head on the tripod part of the product.
If you’d like to check pricing, below is a link to many Benro MeFoto A0350Q tripod kits, as well as the larger Benro MeFoto A1350Q in various colors on Amazon.com (please note: the link below is an affiliate link, which helps to support my publishing efforts when a purchase is made. Your price will be exactly the same as if you had visited Amazon.com and entered the name of the tripod):
Benro MeFoto Tripods on Amazon.com
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Posted on February 14, 2013 by Andrew | Filed Under DIGITAL CAMERA, NEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY, REVIEWS, TIPS
One Hour Street/Travel Photography and Lightroom 4 Video Available
I recently did a streaming webinar that consisted of my answers to questions from people who receive my Inkjet & Imaging Tips Newsletter. Many people sent in questions (thanks again!), and I look forward to doing some similar events soon.
If you’d like to view the re-broadcast (a slightly edited version that runs just over an hour), you have two options:
1. It is available via the link below to purchase for $27 (you will then immediately be sent a link that will allow you to view it on virtually any device, and you will also be able to download an HD video file so that you can view it “offline”). You can also burn the file to a DVD or flash media device so that you can then view it on a TV or other device. I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you feel as though you did not get value for your investment, just request a refund within 60 days (no questions asked).
2. Or, you can view the one hour video for free online (on virtually any internet-connected device that supports video), by signing up for my newsletter and entering the password you will receive via e-mail.
To sign up to receive my newsletter (includes 12 tips from my book, 301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques and a free PDF Resolution Chart for determining sizes for printing), enter your name and e-mail below (if you already receive it, the system will let you know right away). Please be sure to confirm your subscription (a confirmation e-mail will arrive in your in-box) after you subscribe. You will then receive an e-mail with the password, as well as a link to the page where you can view the video.
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Posted on February 5, 2013 by Andrew | Filed Under DIGITAL CAMERA, INKJET RELATED, MACINTOSH, MICROSOFT, NEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY, SOFTWARE, TIPS, Tutorial, WINDOWS
Upcoming Full-Day Photography and Lightroom Workshops in NJ
I recently announced on my Facebook Photo and Printing Tips Page a new full day workshop that I’m doing on two different days (1/26 and 1/27/2013) at Alfa Art Gallery in New Brunswick, NJ entitled: “Travel/Street Photography Techniques and Lightroom 4 Workshop.” It’s geared toward digital SLR (DSLR) and “Mirrorless” camera users. I think it will be especially useful for people who are struggling to properly organize and back up their images. In this workshop, I will cover street/travel photo tips and also share the same workflow I use with my private consulting clients to help them get their photo collections in order so that they can then start concentrating on making great images and prints.
I would like to offer a $40 discount via the promo code “IMB4″ (no quotes), which you can enter in the bottom right of the registration section. Please also note that I’m offering a one hour follow-up private phone consultation to everyone who registers by Monday, 1/21.
For more information about the Sat. 1/26 workshop, please visit this page:
http://darlow126.eventbrite.com/
and for more information about the Sun. 1/27 workshop, please visit this page:
http://darlow127.eventbrite.com/
And in case you are interested in how I created the looping gallery of images on the workshop pages (and shown above), I created a Collection of the photos I wanted in Lightroom 4, then put them in the order I wanted (you can only do that if your photos are in a Collection). I then went into the Slideshow Module and set a number of options. I then Exported the slideshow as a movie (located in the bottom left of the left panel). I then imported it into my Vimeo.com account, set the options I wanted (including autoplay), got the embed code and entered it into the html section of the Eventbrite.com editor (workshop page) and the WordPress editor (ImagingBuffet.com site).
I hope to see you there!
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Posted on January 18, 2013 by Andrew | Filed Under ART, DIGITAL CAMERA, DIGITAL PRINTING, MACINTOSH, NEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY, SOFTWARE, TIPS, Tutorial, WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES
Thoughts on 2012 and New Year Wishes
Trying to summarize a year in just a few sentences or photographs is not possible, but let me begin by wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year. As someone who has lived in the Northeast USA for my entire life (including during the recent Hurricane/Storm Sandy), it was difficult to see so many people suffer during and after the storm. My immediate family was very fortunate; apart from a week or so without power, our homes were spared from serious damage. However, relatives who live in New York City were not so lucky. They had many feet of water enter the basement of their home, but thank goodness, no one was injured, and they will be able to stay in their home.
A fallen tree in a park near my home in Piscataway, NJ, photographed a few days after Super Storm Sandy toppled it and countless other trees. Photo © Andrew Darlow
About a year ago, in March of 2011, many of Japan’s citizens were severely affected by a terrible tsunami (over 15,000 lost their lives and about a million buildings were damaged or destroyed*). Having lived in Japan with a family for a few months after high school, then for a year during college, and having traveled across Japan about 10 years later, it was very difficult to see the reports that would come in via TV and the internet.
For me and my family, 2012 was a good year and we have much to be thankful for. One of the highlights was a trip with about 20 family members to Orlando, Florida. It was pretty exhausting, but my son and his cousins had a great time, and my wife and I were able to return to one of our favorite places in the world: the World Showcase at Epcot (she even helped my son fill his “passport” with stamps from each country, which is no easy task!). We were also able to make quite a few day trips throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2012 to the amusement and water parks along the Jersey shore, including Point Pleasant and Keansburg, NJ (heavily damaged during the storm, as you can see by this video).
In 2012, I was also fortunate to meet many new people and connect with longtime friends at workshops, during private consultations, via e-mail, and in various forums/newsgroups. Consulting, teaching and writing are not just what I do for a living; all of those things give me great satisfaction, and the comments I receive from people about how I may have helped them in some way to reach their goals in the areas of photography, printing, etc. make it all worthwhile.
My wife, son and me at our hotel in Orlando, FL during a family trip.
From me and my family to you and yours, thank you for your interest in my comments, tips and thoughts over the years, and I wish you all the best for a very Happy New Year!
-Andrew Darlow
*Source: Wikipedia
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Posted on December 31, 2012 by Andrew | Filed Under NEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY
PhotoPlus Expo 2012: Second Day Impressions from the Show Floor
Digital Silver Imaging’s Eric Luden holding a mounted print on Dibond to demonstrate how they can attach a brace to the back of a mounted print for easy and secure hanging on a wall. One of the main reasons I go to the PhotoPlus Expo is to see things like this.
My second day at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City on Friday, 10/26 was, like the first day, filled with photo-related goodness at every turn. Below is a list of more booths that I highly recommend stopping by if you are planning to visit the show. If you can’t make it to the show, or if you are not visiting today, I’ve linked each company’s name to its website so that you can find out more about each company. There are, of course, many more great products and services on the show floor, and I will be adding content from the show in the upcoming weeks.
1. Canon: Canon’s booth at the show is always big, but this year, it’s MASSIVE. The gallery has outstanding print samples from various Canon printers, the demo areas allow you to test Canon gear, and the Expo Stage is always a fantastic place to learn from Pros who specialize in both stills and video. Just to give you some idea of how much you can learn on the show floor, I’ve inserted Canon’s Expo Stage schedule below:
2. Squarespace: Squarespace built an amazing booth inside of a black box on the show floor. You can speak with one of their reps and learn about many of the features available in it’s two plans. I was blown away by the quality of the newest templates that are available inside the system. They make it extremely simple for photographers and other artists to make a great-looking website, and the cost for one of the plans is just $8/month. They also have a 10% off coupon code printed on the small notebooks that they are giving out on the center table inside the demo area.
3. Synology: This company specializes in NAS (Network Attached Storage) enclosures, and their products are very impressive. They showed a small unit about the size of a softball that can hold four “laptop” or SSD 2.5-inch drives, as well as a larger enclosure that can hold 8 laptop, SSD or 5.25-inch drives (the larger enclosure is expandable to 16 drives total).
4. Gura Gear: GuraGear makes camera bags with many features that set them apart from the competition. The split design, and unique handles are just two of the things that impressed me.
5. Digital Silver Imaging: This company, based in Massachusetts, does incredible printmaking for clients around the world. One of the things that sets them apart from others is that they can take a digital file and make real photo-based fiber and RC black and white and toned prints. They also print color or black and white using pigment inkjet printers, and they do mounting to materials like Dibond and aluminum.
Below are five companies who make plug-ins to help extend the functionality of Lightroom, Photoshop and other applications. Some also make phone and/or tablet apps that should definitely be seen. Each has a great booth with live demos worth stopping by to see. You can learn tips and tricks from people who know the software inside and out:
6. Nik Software
9. Topaz Labs
10. Datacolor: Datacolor has many products made to help photographers get sharper images from their lenses and better color/consistent screen matches and prints. The company’s small but extremely useful SpyderCUBE is one of my favorite products for helping to get more accurate color in-camera under different lighting conditions. I highly recommend getting a demo of the products that you might want to add to your workflow.
11. Midwest Photo Exchange: This is a candy store for photographers inside of a larger candy store! Midwest Photo is a retailer who sells an amazing array of equipment during the show. You can demo gear and ask questions about the products they sell. They also have a stage with live presentations on each day.
12. Lowepro: Lowepro has an amazing selection of camera bags and related gear at the show, and they definitely encourage you to play with the many products on the show floor.
And below are five book and DVD/online content publishers who always have great titles to browse through:
13. Course Technology PTR/Cengage Learning
14. Focal Press
15. Peachpit
16. Rocky Nook
17. PhotoshopCAFE
18. Pexagon Technology: (Their booth graphics say “PhotoFlashDrives.com”): This company has a very large booth in the back of the exhibit hall. They do amazing laser engraving on photo boxes, flash drives, etc. They also have some very simple but elegant new paper folders in both black and white that can be used to hold prints.
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Posted on October 27, 2012 by Andrew | Filed Under ART, DIGITAL CAMERA, DIGITAL PRINTING, EXHIBITION, INKJET RELATED, NEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTOSHOP, Press Coverage, SOFTWARE, TIPS, WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES
PhotoPlus Expo 2012: First Day Impressions from the Show Floor
Yesterday was the first day of PhotoPlus Expo and as usual, I was amazed at the sheer number of products for photographers and video pros. I need to get back to the show floor, so I’m not able to post many photos right now, but I wanted to share a list of things that impressed me so far on the show floor (especially the things that you can only see (or really appreciate) in person at the show-stay tuned for more general announcements). Below is a quick list of 15 companies and there are more to come! Just search for the company name in the show guide (or at photoplusexpo.com) for booth numbers. I’ve hotlinked the company names to their respective websites, and added links in some cases to specific products that I mentioned.
At the Moab Paper booth, PhotoPlus Expo 2012, New York City. Photograph by Douglas Kirkland of Sophia Loren. Paper: Entrada Rag Natural 300.
1. CamRanger: A MUST SEE! This is an amazing wireless device that allows you to view DSLR video live and control many Canon or Nikon cameras from an iPad or iPhone. Plus, you can shoot RAW + JPEG and just have the jpeg’s transfer to an iPad or iPhone.
2. Nikon: As usual, Nikon has a huge booth, and highlights include a “mad scientist” actor with an amazing set, as well as some walls covered with impressive photos.
3. Moab: Moab’s booth is very open, which makes for easy navigation and print viewing. As usual, they have many print samples with the same image printed on many of their papers. There is a print by Douglas Kirkland of Sophia Loren from 1972 on Entrada Rag Natural that is truly stunning!
4. Graphistudio: INCREDIBLE BOOKS! There are not enough superlatives to describe the quality of the books in their booth. They also have free sample swatch books with actual print samples (about 4×5 inches). These are invaluable when trying to decide what papers to choose). The book cases/boxes are also incredible. They also have a number of very affordable book options for under their Graphisenior program. For example, you can order sets of up to 30 tiny books that look amazing for under $100.
5. MetalMural: Really nice metal prints, in many different configurations. The booth is definitely worth a visit. Be sure to compare the different finishes they offer. Each is very distinct.
6. CamRanger: A MUST SEE! This is an amazing wireless device that allows you to view DSLR video live and control many Canon or Nikon cameras from an iPad or iPhone. Plus, you can shoot RAW + JPEG and just have the jpeg’s transfer to an iPad or iPhone.
7. SKB Industrial Cases: Gear is expensive, and this company’s hard cases really impressed me.
8. Canson-Infinity: Canson’s booth has a number of fantastic prints by Elliot Landy and others. Also, many of the prints in the gallery area were printed on Canson papers.
9. Kolo: I’m been a huge fan of Kolo ever since I first noticed their albums more than 15 years ago. They have a great service that includes photo printing and insertion into their albums at a very affordable cost. They even allow you to use their software to make proof books.
10. Woodsnap: Prints on wood! Amazing. Enough said. You should see these. I was told that the ink becomes part of the wood surface, and you have to see how they rout out the back for hanging with screws.
11. Innova Digital Art: In addition to showcasing many great paper options, the company sells inexpensive do-it-yourself art box kits that look like gallery-wrapped canvas prints called the “JetMaster Display System.” These should definitely be seen in person. They can used with a wide variety of different papers or canvas. I also learned about a direct printable option for flatbed printers.
12. Epson: The Epson booth is always impressive, especially because of the print samples on the walls. They have a new OBA (Optical Brightening Agent) free canvas in three finishes. They also have a new system for high volume printing called the SureLab D3000.
13. Moo: Moo has some amazing examples of their postcards, business cards and stickers at the show. They also have some great show specials that work by allowing you to purchase store credit at about a 20-30% discount.
14. Hahnemühle Fine Art: Hahnemule always shows incredible prints on the walls of their booth, and their sample books with large printed examples of different images are very helpful for narrowing down choices when selecting papers, canvas, etc.
15. UNDFIND: This company has great-looking and very functional camera bags with replaceable front covers. But what caught my eve first was their FISHBOMB. They are very strong, well-designed and functional cases that can attach to belts, straps, etc, and the newest version, the FISHBOMBV2, is a bit larger and has four special pockets designed for media cards.
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Posted on October 26, 2012 by Andrew | Filed Under ART, DIGITAL CAMERA, DIGITAL PRINTING, EXHIBITION, INKJET RELATED, MACINTOSH, NEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY, WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES
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