Tuesday News Update
Sep. 11
11:23 am
First, a big thanks to everybody who came out to my Lightroom Live Tour yesterday in DC (photos above by Dave Moser). I met some really great people (including a lot of people who read the blog who came up to say hi), and I picked up some new Lightroom techniques which grew out of figuring out some questions from attendees. All in all, it was a really great/fun/exciting day and again, my personal thanks to everybody who came out; and thanks to my official tour sponsors: Epson, Nikon, and Westcott, who help to make the tour possible. Now, onto the news:
- We’ve posted a photo gallery from Photoshop World, so click here to get a behind the scene look at last week’s record-breaking event. Also, Shawn King, over at Your Mac Life, posted some of his shots from Photoshop World in an online gallery. You can check them out right here.
- I ran across an interesting article from the “Seeds of Thought” blog, written by two photographers who attended my Chicago Lightroom Tour, who run Bella Photography. Although they talk briefly about the tour, it was the crowd on hand that got them thinking. Here’s an excerpt from their blog:”The class was attended by just over 500 photographers, graphic artists, and others in the image making business. As I looked around the huge room, I thought to myself; “Okay, these folks are the movers and shakers in the industry”, the ones who really get it and are here to learn new techniques in how to present better work for their clients. What came to mind were “differences”, differences between one photographer and other. What makes one better? Why do some always book many jobs in advance while others wait and struggle to get work?”Then they went on to come up with a series of questions called “What to ask when selecting a photographer” and while it’s very well written, it also makes you stop and think about the industry, how competitive its become, and why we need to stay on the cutting edge. Check out the article right here.
- I ran into the “National Coalition Against Sharp Photos” twice this week; once out in Nevada’s Valley of Fire, and more than once in Washington DC, when I tried to use a tripod while shooting.I totally understand limiting the use of tripods in crowded places because you don’t want a passerby to trip over a tripod leg and take a bad fall, but where I was shooting in DC, I was completely isolated. I had set up and taken about two shots before the Police arrived on scene to make me tear down my tripod. I could stand in the same spot and handhold my camera, but apparently if I want to shoot a really sharp image (by using a tripod), then I’m breaking the law.I gotta tell you–I just don’t get it. One DC police officer told me that if I see any “Granite” (meaning it’s a nice public monument that you might actually like to shoot), I couldn’t use my tripod. However, I could (get this), shoot from the sidewalk with a tripod. That’s what gets me–if I’m shooting on the sidewalk; somebody could more easily trip. I have just one thing to say: Grrrrrrrr!
- We’ll be posting the “Live at Photoshop World” episode of Photoshop User TV tomorrow, and on the show I did a brief demo of the Really Right Stuff flash bracket for wedding photographers that I talked about last week here on the blog. I had a number of emails from readers asking for photos of the bracket in use, but the video shows it even better, so make sure you check out tomorrow’s show (you can watch it right there on the Web site—here’s the link–just remember; it doesn’t go live until sometime tomorrow).
- I just have to share this; at the closing ceremony for Photoshop World, we did a look back at some of the highlights from the week, and so I asked Moose Peterson to share his presentation from our after hours special session called, “The Art of Digital Photography.” His part was a five-minute slide presentation of his recent landscape work, and it was so incredibly beautiful, and emotionally moving, that it brought the crowd of over 3,400 to their feet for a spontaneous, rousing standing ovation. It was truly a magical moment, and I was thrilled to have been there to see it. It once again demonstrated the power of images to move people in a way that few things in life can. Just amazing. Way to go, Moose!
- I got my hands on the just-announced Nikon gear at Photoshop World last week, so scroll down to the next post for more details.
That’s it for today. I’ve got lots more to share this week, so I hope I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Have a really great Tuesday!!! 
DEAR SCOTT,
I AND MY COLLEAGUES FOLLOWED YOUR INSTRUCIONS IN YOUR BOOK PHOTOSHOP CS2 BOOK FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR COLOR MANAGEMENT PRINTING. BUT IT IS NOT WORKING IN WINDOWS XP. PHOTOS ARE REALY DARK AND COMPUTER WRITES IT IS A NON-POSTSCRIPT PRINTER. WE HAVE EPSON R800 AND R1800. WE CALLED EPSON SERVICES, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU AND WISH YOU THE BEST MANO STRAUCH czechoslovakia
Hey Scott,
Good to see you back at the sharp end from PSWorld and your lightroom tour in DC.
Without doubt it sounds like you all had a blast out there so I’m now “chomping at the bit” waiting for PSWorld in April 2008.
Thanks for the news and I can’t wait to hear more about Nikon’s new D3 and D300 - they sound awesome, but are they awesome enough to prevent you ‘moving over’ :o)
All the best to you,
Glyn
Your experience with the D.C. police is irritating. They may be thinking of steel-tipped tripods, but there could be a sign saying “rubber-tipped tripods only.” Or they could concentrate on the shooters in Northwest D.C. and forget photographer harrassment altogether.
Sadly, nothing but trouble with Lightroom since I bought it Aug. 30. Program crashes, computer error messages, and all the technicians at Adobe and Dell couldn’t fix it. Prior to the constant trouble with it I was going to go to your seminar and I have your Lightroom book. But I had to uninstall Lightroom. CS3 works great on the same computer.
Dear Scott,
I have had the same issues taking pictures in DC. I brought this up with my brother who works in the diplomatic corps. He did point out the fact that the same tripod we guys use to steady a camera could be used to steady a firearm, so I guess that explains the DC police paranoia.
Scott,
I attended the DC Lightroom class yesterday. Thank you for a terrific class! I purchased Lightroom & intend to toggle between Lightroom & CS3.
Your class & books have been very helpful. Thank you again.
Be well,
Shelley
Hi Scott,
It would be nice if you could hold one of your sessions out here in the Eastern Midwest [Southwest/Central Ohio]. Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati. Any would do. I bet you could get your 500. The travel penalty for DC, NY, Chi, etc is pretty great.
Keep up the good work though.
Mel
To Mano:
If you’re printing photographs to an Epson color inkjet, it is NOT a Postscript printer, and you’re not sending Postscript art to it (you’re sending pixels instead) so you can totally ignore the warning that Photoshop is giving you. It sounds like you need to use a hardware calibrator to get your screen and printer looking the same. I use X-Rite’s Eye-One Display 2, and I think it will really help your situation.
To Glyn:
I’m really looking forward to doing some serious shooting with the D300 and D3. It’s tough to judge anything when all you can do is shoot photos of an Expo floor.
To Al:
I hate to hear that you’re having problems like you are. I know of some people who have had a corrupt layered TIFF, and it caused Lightroom loads of problems (crashes, etc. like you’re having), but what you’re experiencing is very rare. If I were you, I’d try installing it on a different machine, the try importing shots from your next shoot and I’ll be it works like a charm. Let me know what happens.
To Shelley:
Thanks for spending the day with me in DC. Really glad to hear you enjoyed it.
To Mel:
I’m afraid for now Chicago is as close as we’re going to get. But hey—ya never know.
Lightroom works well on another computer, Scott. The problem began last year when I uninstalled Norton Antivirus. It never uninstalls cleanly yet everything including CS3 worked well until Aug. 31 when Lightroom was installed. Yesterday Dell sent updated Dell repair software, available to all XP users who haven’t updated in two or three years, that found and repaired some damage to the startup file. Now Lightroom works on the formerly damaged computer, too.
Scott: I wanted to mention that you looked great in Chicago. Wow! Congrats on the weight loss. How did you do it? I too could shed a few (like most of us) and would love to hear your secret. Again congratulations and keep up the path to a healthier and better looking YOU! One more thing, we just purchased CS3 upgrading from our Elements 5 program for $300! We couldn’t believe the price… we checked and doubled checked the deal with Adobe. What a great deal. I’m not sure how well advertised this upgrade (yes they are calling it an upgrade) is reaching folks. We received the info via an email. Thanks for visiting our blog and noticing our posting as well as sharing it. Take care and see you soon, I’m sure! Rick Bella
Scott –
As a DC photographer, the reason they preclude a tripod, is because it is one of the main tools that still photographers and videographers use to produce commercial work, and the production of commercial work on National Park Service land, or the US Capitol grounds requires a permit, and in many places, you cannot get a permit to film commercially. However, if you are working editorially, a permit is easy to obtain. As someone who has obtained permits on countless occasions, it’s an easy process. It’s not about mounting weapons on, but rather, so that commercial endeavors do not take place on public lands without proper permission.
a few years ago, a Washington, DC police officer ran over to me and screamed at me to take down my tripod. I refused to without sufficient reason (I’m an attorney, so a natural pain in the ass when it comes to cops). This was at a July 4th celebration on the Capitol grounds. He pulled out of his pocket a letter detailing which items were prohibited on the basis of terrorism - and tripods were included because of the possibility that my camera might be a weapon. This was specific to that day, however, because of the high security required for the July 4th concert. Still a crock. I’ve had no problems with my tripod when taking photos of the Pope in the Vatican.
And the part about needing a permit to film our public, tax-supported buildings, monuments and spaces? If that’s true, then that’s even more infuriating in a so-called “free country.”
The monuments in DC are on National Park Service land. A summary of the law at issue can be found here: http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/permits.cfm?urlarea=permits
Note that the Director’s Order #53 (http://www.nps.gov/policy/DOrders/DOrder53.html) is the law and is clearer about whether a permit is needed for a still photographer (even when a still photographer is shooting commercial work.
Section 14 specifically provides an exception to the written authorization requirement for photography. It states that a permit is not required for:
* a visitor using a camera and/or a recording device for his/her own personal use and within normal visitation areas and hours;
* a commercial photographer not using a prop, model, or set, and staying within normal visitation areas and hours; or
* press coverage of breaking news.
The permit used to be free, but now there is a charge (I think it is $50 for DC), which can be cost preventative for some photographers.
From a previous conversation with the Program Manager of Special Uses for the NPS, Lee Dickinson, a tripod is not a “prop” or “set.” So the guard’s insistence that a permit is required for a tripod is wrong.
To force photographers to get a permit when it is not required by law violates their rights.
Once, I was told not to use a tripod when trying to take a picture of the White House (no tripods allowed!!!). This was from Park Police.
Also not allowed to use a tripod inside the Lincoln Memorial or Jefferson Memorial (but outside is no problem). Also, from the Park Police.
In DC there are a lot of different agencies involved (Uniformed Secret Service, Park Police, DC police, etc.). Never had a problem with the DC police though.
I heard many years ago that the law prohibiting tripods on the mall was passed to protect and at the request of the official congessional photographer. This was in the days of 8×10 view cameras and 5 sec+ exposures. The photographer wanted exclusive rights to pictures of monuments and federal buildings around the mall. The law essentially gave him exclusive rights. The law is still enforced.