Hands on Look at the Canon Idea Mine Free iOS App

At the PhotoPlus Expo 2011 in New York City, I had an opportunity to sit down with Paul Pierson of the Carbone Smolan Agency (CSA) to learn about a new iOS app on which his company is working. It’s called Canon Idea Mine, and according to the company, “it was developed through CSA’s extensive research and interviews with dozens of notable photographers. By working closely with Canon, CSA built a versatile tool that’s fine-tuned to the way real artists create amazing images. Through this app and its Digital Learning Center, Canon is building on its role as a dedicated partner for photographers along every step of their creative process.”

If I were to summarize what the app does, it helps to expand one’s ideas for what to photograph by suggesting a variety of specific criteria, such as a place, as well as other content, such as one or more feelings (energetic is one feeling that you’ll see in the screen shots below). Paul Pierson explains the app in more detail: “By incorporating just the right amount of randomness, CSA’s goal was to help photographers evolve and expand their ideas. If you’re stuck, the app can generate billions of unique image concepts from scratch in just two taps. We think this tool will help today’s photographers, who are now expected to conceive ideas, not just execute. It’s a serious tool in a fun and distinctive package.”

During a hands-on demo, I was impressed by the way in which the app guides you through the criteria, resulting in a beautiful graphic using black and red text, as well as some graphics. Now that I look more closely at the screen shots and other materials, I realize that the inspiration for the graphics came from Canon’s L-series lenses, which is very cool (almost as inventive as those Canon L-series lens mugs!).

I’m not sure when the app will be available for download, but I’ll announce it on my Facebook page and my Twitter feed when I find out.

Related Links:
PDF Press Release for the Canon Idea Mine App
Article on Pixiq.com with some great ideas and insights from Damien Franco

Full-Day Printing w/ Photoshop Workshop 11/5/2011 in NYC

This quick post is to let you know that space is still available for my full day color management and fine-art printing workshop being held this Saturday 11/5/2011 at Calumet Photographic in New York City. It’s on the same floor as the exhibition I recently curated by Ron Wyatt, entitled Ron Wyatt’s China. In addition to a full day of color management and printing information, I will be showing more than 30 different fine-art paper types, as well as some metal prints.

The first 12 people to register will also have a print prepped and printed by me on a fine art paper of your choice. One of the printers I’ll be using for the workshop is the Epson Stylus Pro 3880. For more information or to register, visit this page.

If you are not planning to attend the workshop, you may still want to stop by on Saturday 11/5 or Sunday 11/6. Ron Wyatt will be answering questions and doing free 30 minute tours of the current show on exhibit at 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm (no registration is necessary). There are 31 prints total in the show, including 11 framed prints from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

I hope to see you there!

PhotoPlus Expo NYC 2011 Returns with a Packed Schedule of Events and Seminars

For more than 20 years I’ve looked forward to late October in New York City. Not only is the weather often fantastic, it’s the time of year that the PhotoPlus Expo is held. And this year, they’ve upped the ante by adding a number of new events, including the inaugural WPPI 2011, which features a full day of educational seminars on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. The WPPI NYC show will be followed by the PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo from October 27-29, 2011. This page has an excellent overview of the events, including information about a Wednesday evening “Test Drive Rally,” and a Friday night Bash and Benefit For Japan Relief. Registration for WPPI 2011 costs $99 for those who register by October 25, 2011 (on-site registration will be $150). For more information or to register, visit this page.

Last year I wrote an article entitled: 10 Tips for Navigating the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City, which you can find here. With the exception of some specific events that I mentioned from last year’s show (and booth numbers from last year), the information still applies.

I’m also very happy to be speaking again at the PhotoPlus Expo 2011. My seminar, entitled Lightroom Power Printing: Tips for Getting the Most from Lightroom’s Printing Capabilities, is on Thursday, October 27 from 3:30-5:30PM. During the seminar, I’ll be sharing a lot of the techniques I use to prepare, proof and make final prints using Lightroom, whether outputting to inkjet printers or photo labs. A two-and-a-half minute video promo of my seminar can be seen here, and to go directly to the registration page and a full description of the seminar, visit this page.

I hope to see some ImagingBuffet readers there! If you see me on the show floor, drooling over the latest lighting gear, lenses, etc., please say hi!