tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63415350907341605962011-11-27T16:57:18.988-08:00Photography,Art, Photoshop, Digital, reviews, Flickr, zazzle, photos, Nikon, photography review, lens, lenes,Robert Millernoreply@blogger.comBlogger331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-15830632028922784142009-03-06T15:59:00.000-08:002009-03-06T16:05:34.392-08:00

This blog is no longer active and my blog has moved here. Come visit and stay awhile, and view some of my work.If you are interested in camera related information you can find me here.

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-31289941376176354922008-09-16T06:10:00.000-07:002008-09-16T06:16:52.384-07:00

An interesting tutorial on polarizing filters. The full written review can be found here.

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-56369767453314364942008-09-09T18:15:00.000-07:002008-09-09T21:52:43.116-07:00

The Sony A900 promises to offer Canon and Nikon serious competition in the pro camera field.At a price tag of about 3,000 dollars, this 24.6 MP camera will have such features as body image stabilization and five-frames-per-second shooting speed.The camera will be built tough, having a magnesium body with rubber seals. One feature will the be ability to use a practice shot to set white balance

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-54739087307672454022008-09-07T19:01:00.000-07:002008-09-08T03:49:53.968-07:00

Photography can take you in many directions. Perhaps you are just a beginner, or have reached a more advanced plateau. But no matter where you are at, there is always a higher rung to reach. One quality I have found incredibly useful is to have self-confidence in your ability to reach for the next rung in the ladder. To reach higher it is important to follow the lead of others who are

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-27774582021142056382008-09-05T07:55:00.000-07:002008-09-06T07:49:20.173-07:00

Today I downloaded the new Picasa 3, and ran it through some paces. I have always used Picasa to organize my photos. Having thousands of photos on three drives, it's been been quite an organizational endeavor! Picasa has helped me with this gigantic task, and I really like the quick search functions. I have, though, rarely used the editing tools.Now Picasa 3 is out and with it new features.

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-83054343279528061542008-08-30T22:47:00.000-07:002008-08-31T05:24:01.240-07:00

I have been busy involved in the act of photography, hence the lack of entries on this blog. Tonight I sat and relaxed a bit and watched this quite amazing video of an artist who was born without eyes. As photographers we take for granted our vision and seeing. But what if we lost our sight? Would we be able to achieve what this sightless man has done?Click the Movie clip to view.

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-59318304632355149842008-08-27T17:52:00.000-07:002008-08-27T18:21:39.969-07:00

Yes, the Nikon D90 does exist, and with two new great features: 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS imaging sensor, and video. Now, take a gander at the Chase Jarvis video:And here is a written review by PDN photography news.

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-83147986529371725572008-08-26T19:43:00.000-07:002008-08-26T23:04:40.904-07:00

I have been planning a ten day trip, and I had to solve a problem of photo storage. Since I shoot in raw and quickly use 12 gigs of memory a day, having enough memory cards was an unprofitable solution.I work on a tight budget, and most of my expendable income goes toward lenses and other photographic equipment. I considered the possibilities.1) A portable storage devices like one of these:

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-71947675460565525732008-08-22T12:18:00.000-07:002008-08-26T02:49:36.195-07:00

One thing I have not had the patience for is doing a panorama with photo stitch programs. I have made some lame attempts but have not had the success I wanted. Now that may all change.Photosynth is a new program from Microsoft Live Labs, and it promises to offer the photographer a remarkable ability to build 3-D panorama shots that can also be seen with their individual shots. This looks very

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-38534462887516065812008-08-20T21:01:00.000-07:002008-08-21T07:43:58.966-07:00

Stumble It!Recently I have been mulling around what makes a great shot. And when I start thinking like this, my mind spinning around all of the possibilities, my first thought is the rule of thirds.In its most basic concept, the rule of thirds is a grid divided in thirds, and the idea is to place objects of eye interest on the intersecting lines - almost like playing tic tac toe, but at the

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-89947227564253199892008-08-19T21:13:00.000-07:002008-08-20T03:45:32.954-07:00

Stumble It!Newsweek has put out this wonderful slide show for us camera buffs who could not make it to the Olympics. Some of these shots are quite amazing and beautiful. These are shots to learn by.Rotor News is reporting on a contest with a thousand-dollar prize. They are taking submissions till September 15Th - read the details. I imagine the number of entries will be low, so your chances of

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-61137685795812745622008-08-18T22:29:00.000-07:002008-08-19T02:36:34.876-07:00

Stumble It!Having been a winner of photo contests myself, I am a great believer that you should enter your work. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Most of these contests have odds of winning better than the lottery. In one contest I entered, the odds of winning a prize broke down to 1 in 200. And the Grand Prize was a Ford Escape. I didn't win the Grand Prize, but the prize I won

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-13622483447380628002008-08-18T01:28:00.000-07:002008-08-18T05:04:01.810-07:00

Stumble It!Lenovo Unleashes Highest Performance Mobile Workstation with ThinkPad W700Look for this laptop to come out in September. This laptop will feature a built in Wacom and a 17-inch WUXGA screen. Another excellent addition will be built in - screen calibration by X-Rite.With slots for 8 gigs of ram, this computer will certainly be a powerhouse.Along with a hefty price (expect to pay 3000

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-76274044143397636432008-08-15T14:00:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:28:44.294-07:00

Stumble It!Precision Camera RepairReview:Then it happens - you drop your DSLR and it is in pieces on the ground. Heartbroken, you pick up all the small parts. Is there hope?Yes, there is. If you enter camera repair in the Google search, you will find Precision Camera comes up at the top of the list.Last week I had the misfortune of my camera backpack opening while on my back. I heard a thump

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-19071754003772284212008-08-14T17:51:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:10:37.121-07:00

Stumble It!Here you will find a crash course in digital lighting. Go to each of the sites in order, and you will absorb in lightning speed a quick understanding of the principles of camera lighting.Step 1. Strobist Preliminaries One great little video, given a five star-rating with 96,000 views.One comment on this video was:"In a mere seven minutes and fifty-one seconds you taught me

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-42184897452461837232008-08-13T15:30:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:12:18.556-07:00

Stumble It!New Technology could lead to Cameras based on the Human EyeThis article is about current research of building a camera sensor like a human eye. Since the beginning of photography, images have been projected on a flat surface. This could soon change and usher in a new breed of cameras that may force extinction of the cameras we use today.Lenovo Unveils Ramped Up ThinkPad W700 Laptop

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-70454197552391756912008-08-12T21:05:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:13:42.089-07:00

Stumble It!"Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality."-unknown-We all have dreams. Sometimes they can become reality. Sometimes they are so far off that the vision disappears and we never arrive. A dream is almost like a mirage.Sometimes when we try to reach

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-89518233157451600062008-08-12T03:16:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:14:28.277-07:00

Stumble It!If you have a point and shoot camera, you can compete with those who have the fancy DSLR's. Some of my best and most profitable shots were made with the Sony H1 through H5 cameras. These cameras were particularly great for landscape shots.The picture is of my old Sony H1 Camera with the telescope extender attached.1. Use the timer on your camera. You will have less blurry shots - the

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-4926423433692988112008-08-10T20:57:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:15:01.958-07:00

Stumble It!Red-Tail Hawks are not easy subjects. If you have a long lens, your chances are better at getting good shots. But if you do not have a long lens, you have to learn how to get close.Steps in getting close to Red-Tail Hawks:1. Know your subject. Learn what a hawk call sounds like. Be able to spot a Red-Tail Hawk from its silhouette. Keep your eyes open when you walk or drive.2. Hawks

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-32844639008345863342008-08-09T01:18:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:16:02.551-07:00

Stumble It!Adobe Photoshop to me is a constant learning process. I have only scratched the surface of what can be done with this fabulous program. As a constant student, I am always interested in new ideas of how people use the program. And even if I do not use their technique myself, some of what is done is fused in my mind, more on a subconscious level.And when I look at an image and see

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-38805341351255258502008-08-08T04:48:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:16:33.257-07:00

Stumble It!How Every Flickr Photo Ended Up For Sale, by Jim GoldsteinAn article about how the Flickr API is used by companies and individuals without regard to copyright and a commentary on whose fault this is. A must read for every Flickr user who values his or her photographic art.I need your Help Badly, By Kris Kros aka JoeJoe has been a good friend of mine for years. In his field of

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-34187987937078877692008-08-07T04:04:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:17:16.425-07:00

Stumble It! Just a fun post today, and I hope I captured your attention with the title. But I actually do have a recommendation about batteries, and then I promise something fun. If you use AA batteries in any of your cameras or camera accessories (especially flashes), I recommend that that you get the new pre-charged batteries.The advantage of these batteries is that they can sit for up to a

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-75193629359178253362008-08-06T06:13:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:17:58.613-07:00

Stumble It!If you are like me, photo editing is always a quest for finding the best tools. We just want each of our images to be more impressive than the one before. We strive for excellence.And that quest can empty your pockets pretty quick. Soon you learn, though, what works best for you and find that many of those expensive filters you have bought have remained unused.Now, I have some

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-48880293668090021042008-08-04T18:10:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:18.357-08:00

Stumble It!In photography there are certain ways to assure an income. One thing to keep in mind, though - you have to be good. Event photography brings immediate results.The selling scenario:A simple formula to follow is if there is avid interest in an activity and you can capture things that stir people's emotional ties, those photos will sell. This is how I do this:I go to an event such

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-6778697903671966072008-08-04T04:31:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:18.652-08:00

Stumble It!When it comes to shooting wide, there is only one solution in my mind: The Sigma 10-20mm lens.The picture at left, (taken by me in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia) shows the beautiful result of using this lens set at its widest setting, 10mm. As you can see there is minimal distortion for shooting at such a wide angle. This picture was taken holding the camera about 90 degrees to the

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-3344431861179811852008-08-03T04:08:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:19.422-08:00

Stumble It!So you have that expensive camera and have posted on Flickr, getting glowing comments. Perhaps some mail has come and you have some sales. You want that more expensive lens, and you want to justify the purchase. This article is for you.Turning pictures into dollars happens fast when you do niche photography, and do a good job of it. One area of niche photography is capturing that

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-63932773635866672942008-08-02T12:01:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:19.641-08:00

Stumble It!A rebellion is happening in the photographic world, from magazines to publishers, to contests, and the photographers themselves. The battleground lines are drawn. People are ready to draw blood to defend what they consider photography is.(The photo at the left is mine, best seen if you click the photo to enlarge.)The problem is Adobe Photoshop and the endless possibilities of its

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-22409484855345534632008-08-01T04:40:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:19.793-08:00

Stumble It!Before, I told you about Photofront. Photofront is a free gallery that can be upgraded for ten dollars to add some additional features for life.Well, there is another gallery site that is also free and if used right can generate income.I first used Zazzle to make some personal purchases: stamps, bumper stickers, magnets, hats and a tee shirt. I was very happy with all of the products

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-51257889820095279612008-07-30T06:20:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:20.046-08:00

Stumble It!If you are like me, a photographer on a budget, buying expensive lenses are what dreams are made of.My first lens when I bought my Nikon D80 was the 55-200vr. The picture on the left was taken with it.This is the cheapest vr lens that Nikon has to offer, and perhaps the least purchased. Many opt for the 18-200vr that costs about 3x more.Before I purchased this lens, I did some heavy

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-69341297359887102252008-07-29T18:10:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:20.230-08:00

Stumble It!Personally, I do not use in camera sharpening. I shoot in raw and I do all the adjustments myself.Sharpening the image is one of the first steps I do, and in some images having a great sharp image is more than impressive. I took the picture on the left and applied the method below.First step as always: Make a new layer.Then go to the filter menu on top. OK, that Sharpen filter is

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-18610909098064728042008-07-28T11:02:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:20.415-08:00

Stumble It!As we all know, photographers are gadget geeks. I use a Nikon D80 and I love it, but I had to customize it. Two small additions I made was an Opteka battery pack, and a Hoodman LCD hood.Opetka Battery Grip:Now, normally I do not consider Opteka for outfitting my camera. They did state that they use the same molds that Nikon does for their battery pack.My thinking at the time of

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-19072663918144132772008-07-27T05:45:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:20.572-08:00

Stumble It!What is Flickr?Flickr is the largest social photo sharing site in the world. Last time I checked, about six million photos are uploaded daily. They offer both free accounts and pro accounts. The cost of a pro account is 24.95 USD, which is a good investment even if you just use it as an online photo storage site. With a Pro account you have unlimited uploads in the original size of

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341535090734160596.post-21331679598164451672008-07-26T10:02:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:05:21.106-08:00

Stumble It!Nikon has just released the Nikon D700, an upgrade from their now famous D300. This should add a wow factor for Nikon enthusiasts. Presently, I use a Nikon D80 and have been considering an upgrade to the D300. I am so pleased with the D80, a move up would be a pleasure.I am just starting this blog and not yet ready for prime time reviews. But I could not help making this new product

Robert Millernoreply@blogger.com0