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Friday Wrap-Up (and BIG news about Nik Software’s Viveza plug-in)

By Scott on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 6:09 am | updates.

viveza2.jpg

Before we get started, just a quick word of thanks to the wonderful folks at the ISAP (International Society of Aviation Photographers). I spoke at their annual symposium in Dallas, Texas yesterday (on behalf of Nikon), and I just had a wonderful time. They’re a terrific group to present to, and once again I was blown away by the images their members capture. They had a mini-gallery set-up of their attendees work, and it was just absolutely stunning. Thanks to Nikon and ISAP for having me back this year.

  • On a side note: while at ISAP I picked up a wonderful book by aviation photographer Erik Hildebrandt called “Anytime Baby; Hail and Farewell to the Navy F-14 Tomcat.” It’s filled with incredible images, and fascinating stories about one of the most amazing fighter jets ever made (Here’s the link to it on Amazon.com). Now, on to the news:
  • THIS IS HUGE: Remember last week when I raved about Nik Software’s new Photoshop plug-in Viveza? Well, I told our chief deal maker here at NAPP, that this plug-in was the next big thing and to see if we could get a special discount on it just for NAPP members. Well, he pulled it off, and for the next two weeks only; NAPP members get $50 off Viveza (That’s 1/2 of your NAPP yearly membership back to you in just one discount. Sweet!). So, for everybody else, it’s $249. For NAPP members, for the next two weeks, it’s only $199 (plus, NAPP members get the plug-in two weeks before the rest of the world, which is totally cool if you ask me). If you’re a NAPP member, drop by the NAPP member homepage for your link to get the exclusive member discount (Note: NAPP does not get any rebate, kicker, commission, etc. from Nik Software. I know you know that, but I thought I’d mention it anyway). Thanks to Ed and everybody at Nik for making this available to our members.
  • Hey, it’s Friday; take two minutes and check out photographer David duChemin’s portfolio from his recent Mongolia trip. Absolutely wonderful images that will totally make you want to go to a workshop there. Here’s the link.
  • If you’re anywhere near the Washington DC area; don’t forget that Jeff Revell over at “PhotoWalkPro.com” has an “everybody’s invited” photo walk coming up on Saturday, March 8th. The walk is in this very trendy, hip little neighborhood and for two hours the group is going to shoot whatever looks interesting, and then afterward, it’s off to a local haunt to do some serious “chimpin” (looking at your, and your fellow shooters images on your LDC’s) while you have some pie or “photo walk” food, or whatever you eat and drink after a photo walk. Sounds like a great way to spend a spring Saturday to me. Here’s the link with all the details.
  • If you’ve been in this business a while, you’ll probably remember a plug-in that did pro-level auto image enhancements called “ImagePrep Pro.” It was really brilliant; you told it what your final output was (newsprint, offset press, etc.) the line screen, etc. and it would automatically color correct, sharpen, resize, set the resolution, and do pretty much everything for you lickity split (even the AP wire service used it worldwide for years). It was so good, I figured at some point Adobe would buy it and just build it right into Photoshop. Anyway, the color wizard behind Image Prep Pro was Herb Paynter, and he’s just launched a new “Color blog” dedicated to getting color right (here’s the link). It’s great to see Herb back in the saddle again!
  • We proclaimed today, leap-year day, an “un-official day” at Kelby Media Group, and we gave the crew the day off, so I’m staying home to play with the kids; shoot some more food shots, maybe hit a few golf balls, and even go tinker around over at the studio for a bit. Hey, this day off thing could really catch on. ;-)

Have a great weekend everybody, and we’ll see you on Monday.

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  1. #1

    Scott,
    Just to let you know….NIK has been giving me 10% NAPP discounts for the last 2 years on any of their products. You just have to ask for it.

    David McLaughlin on February 29th, 2008 at 7:37 am
  2. #2

    Scott,

    I had checked out Viveza a while back before your blog posting at the time I purchased Nik color efex Pro 3.0. It is amazing and I am so thankful for the discount and it is finally (almost) for purchase.

    The more I mess with this stuff, the more my clients are amazed at what I turn out but this type of software simply makes what the photographer envisions really easier to accomplish and is a unique and welcomed tool.

    Thanks again.
    Pat

    pat flanakin on February 29th, 2008 at 10:13 am
  3. #3

    Scott,

    Wish you could have arranged the $50 discount after the demo comes out so we could try it first for those of us who actually haven’t used U-Point technology.

    Jim

    Jim Goshorn on February 29th, 2008 at 10:57 am
  4. #4

    Scott,

    Giving the staff Leap Year as holiday is one of the coolest things I’ve heard of! I wish I worked for the Kelby Group.

    Any bosses out there should listen. It would only cost you 8 hours, once every four years. Cheap expense to make you an awesome boss.

    Scott, you are a cool boss!
    Deb

    Deb on February 29th, 2008 at 11:02 am
  5. #5

    Hi Deb:
    Thanks for the kind words, but I can’t take credit for the day off. The credit goes to our partner Jean A. Kendra who came up with the idea while I was out of town.

    The staff was so tickled with it, that yesterday when Jean came into work, they had balloons all over her office, and a huge bouquet of flowers, and streamers, and on and on.

    We really value our team (nearly 80 people work full time in our headquarters), because in the end; they are Kelby Media Group. We’ve got an incredibly great staff, and believe me—we know it. :)

    Happy Leap Day!

    -Scott

    Scott on February 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
  6. #6

    I was just thinking it’s too bad I have to work for free today… If ever Kelby Group needs someone in Canada let me know!!

    Chris on February 29th, 2008 at 11:20 am
  7. #7

    This same technology is available as standard in Nikons Capture NX - free with the D3/300! Adjustments are carried out on the RAW data. Whilst this is a welcome release, as a Nikon user I can achieve the same, perhaps better results in NX without wasting money.

    Nick Gren on February 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
  8. #8

    I just ordered Viveza w/ discount over the phone today, and the word is that the product will be available very “soon”, possibly even as early as later today. Boxed version will be at least 2-3 weeks.

    Ina on February 29th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
  9. #9

    On the upside Scott - I’m a big fan of yours.

    On the downside - Why would anyone pay $200 (even discounted) for the NIK plugin when the same technology is in Nikon CaptureNX is only $124. Unless there are some extreme additional features besides the upoint technology to this plugin that I haven’t heard about, I think NAPP could have done better for negotiating a discount for this product. Hopefully Adobe will buy the code and put it in a future release.

    Dave Coley on February 29th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
  10. #10

    HELP!

    Need advice on a Book on Food Photography, I’ve got a project early next week and don’t have that much experience with food!

    Any Advice?

    Carlo on February 29th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
  11. #11

    SK-
    I got my copy of Viveza a few hours ago and have all ready fired through a ton of shots that had been left unfinished or in limbo due to difficult selections and masking beyond my ability. Enter another piece of software to make a hack like me look like I might have a clue. I love it!
    Have a nice weekend-
    Rob O

    Rob O on February 29th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
  12. #12

    Scott,
    Since you liked the F-14 book so much, I would recommend you find The Cutting Edge by C.J. “Heater” Heatley. He was a Tomcat pilot/photographer. This book is great! Published in 1986 but could have been yesterday.
    Martin

    Martin on February 29th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
  13. #13

    Dear Mr. Kelby,

    Could you tell me more about the ISAP? I love avaition and photography (Check out my website for my gallery), and I would be interested to learn more. Thanks man!

    Thomas J. Daviet

    Thomas J. Daviet on February 29th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
  14. #14

    Dear Scott,

    i love your online gallery! I wish I could go to PhotoshopWorld and see you in person, but I can not (I live in Colorado and have school that week). I really admire you as a photographer and you are one of the people I look up to. I also like yours and Dave and Matt’s tips on PhotoshopUserTv. You are the best.

    Thomas J. Daviet on February 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
  15. #15

    Greetings from Switzerland. Hi Scott.

    Kurt Meier on February 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
  16. #16

    Greetings from Switzerland - Hi Scott.
    Two days ago I bought the german version of your book: “The Digital Photography Book”.I was straight away amused by reading it. Why? Because I have been teaching Photography for the last 8 years to adults in evening classes. Now, when I was reading your book, I thought I was reading my own words!
    My pupil always thank me at the end of the course for my straight forward way of teaching, just as you’ve done in your book. Isn’t that funny?
    I still use though my old analog cameras “Nikon F100 and F90x. Now when I heard about the D300 and the D3, I thought: “Right! This is it now! I will buy one of them!”
    But now I’ve read your part, where you said what you don’t like about the D300, that put me off again.
    Now I’ll wait and hope, that Nikon will bring out a new D300x or D3x!
    I’ve still got time to wait yet, since I’m only 72 years old yet!
    Keep up your good work Scott; ’cause I shall recomend your bokk the my pupils!
    Kind Regards, Kurt Meier, Zurich.

    Kurt Meier on February 29th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
  17. #17

    Hey Scott,

    Do you know if PhotoshopWorld will come to Denver, Colorado anytime soon? I would love to know because I live in Greeley, Colorado (not far from Denver), and if i did come to Denver, I would see if I could go sometime when I do not have school. One more thing, do you have to be a NAPP member to go?

    Thanks
    Thomas J. Daviet

    Thomas J. Daviet on February 29th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
  18. #18

    Scott,
    Thought you might find the following website interesting. Really big prints etc. and the prices seem resonable.
    http://www.mightyimaging.com/
    Best Regards,
    Terry

    Terry on March 2nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
  19. #19

    What’s going on out in the world? I was on a business trip in California and went to Disneyland. I took my 40D, 70-200L, and 17-40L. I was stopped at the entrance and was told Disneyland did not allow “paparazzi” cameras. They ended up relenting and letting my camera and me in. Yesterday I went to a local arena for a professional bullriding competition and was told no “professional” cameras were allowed. I checked with the PBR officials at the event who relayed that they did not have a rule preventing fans from bringing in any type of camera. Nothing was printed on the ticket or the arena’s website regarding type of still cameras allowed.
    It seems to be getting harder and harder for the average citizen to take a camera anywhere.
    Dave

    Dave Conner on March 2nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
  20. #20

    Hey Scott!

    Is this 50$ abatement of the purchase price also for Germany?
    Can German NAPP-Members Purchase Viveza and get also the 50$ off?

    Tobias Naskrent on March 3rd, 2008 at 4:21 am
  21. #21

    We tried to place an order for Viveza through the NAPP members page for the discount but when we tried to place an order the United Kingdom is not listed in the country drop down list. Because this is a mandatory field this means we cannot place an order. Does this mean that we in the UK are being barred from purchasing Viveza? We were really disappointed last night because we have been following your write ups about this software Scott.

    David on March 3rd, 2008 at 8:08 am
  22. #22

    Dear Scott!
    First I would like to Thank You for all of your awesome help with all of your Training; Video Clips & so on… I just wish I would have found you sooner!
    Putting that aside; I was wondering If you could look at something. That I think you would love & could save alot of money on & all of the NAPP members could also save money on travel, hotels & it could also be another income source for them! Sounds to good to be true??
    Well it is not… would you like more information? Since I don’t Want to break any policys you might have about posting website addresses I will wait for you to contact me, But It could be worth Really big money to you or any others interested in it! At least make money on your own travel.
    Thank you for your time & I will be waiting to hear from you!

    Susan on March 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
  23. #23

    Scott,
    Just to let you know that your quick mention of Erik Hildebrandt and aviation photography pumped me up so much, I dedicated a post on my blog just for you! Check it out:
    http://matthewdejesus.blogspot.com/2008/03/just-for-you-scott.html

    I tell you, it’s people like you that really get me pumped about being in this business. You and your team are truly leaders in this industry. Keep it up!

    MattDJ on March 3rd, 2008 at 10:04 pm
  24. #24

    Well,… as a European (EU) NAPP member one have to pass through the eye of a needle to benefit from the Viveza offer and paying $35-40 more than a US customer - but the price is still conciderably lower than the regular price in Europe, so the NAPP discount is still valuable!

    Pasting some selected info from an e-mail recieved after contacting Nik in Germany: “Besides your ID we need also your full name, home address and valid credit card details. After checking your NAPP-Membership and receiving the demanded information we will be able to proceed your order.”

    I suggest that interested customers doesn´t e-mail their Credit Card information due to known issues where such information have been stolen and used by “others”, call or fax the information might be a better option.

    B Forsberg on March 4th, 2008 at 8:46 am
  25. #25

    Are comments moderated?
    Just asking.

    Tatiana Boyle on March 5th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
  26. #26

    Scott;

    Please, please let me know when the new PhotoShop Elements 6 book by you and Matt will be released. I know it’s ready for pre-order, but I don’t want a pre-order I want to place an order.

    Hector on March 5th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
  27. #27

    Hello!
    My name is Erkan Barin and I’m a member of NAPP.I saw Viveza ad in photoshopuser.com page and I’ve just bought it 2 hours ago.I started to play with it.I was so excited.But It’s totaly dissapointing for me.
    I tried on my couple different pictures and and I can hardly say only on one it worked ,all others disaster.
    I thought this program really specify the colour so it makes easier to edit without masking,but if other parts has even little bit the tone which selected area has
    they all get effected.How come?
    For example if I select an orange color from autumn leaves which all around my model and try to desaturate them,my model’s face get effected too,so he turns to grey with leaves.
    You really think this is great software ?
    Because whatever they offered is not happening otherthings we can already do with lightroom easily why pay 199$ then?
    Thank you…

    Erkan Barin on March 11th, 2008 at 2:33 am

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