A bunch of Nikon links...

The following are links of interest to my Nikon friends:

1. A significant firmware update for the D3 has just been released, here is the Windows version, and here is the MAC version

2. The D300 also has a firmware update but is more minor in nature, Windows is here, MAC is here

3. The latest camera from Nikon is the D700, read all about it here

4. If that isn't enough, here are 12 pages of details and specifications on the D700

5. A review of the D700 from Nikonians.org

6. Another new release from Nikon that has slipped in under the radar is their new flash - the SB-900, here are the details

7. If you want to know more about the SB-900 you can read Joe McNally's review here

8. Here are some SB-900 details from DPReview.com

Hundreds of Free Photoshop Actions...

Here is a list for several hundred (and pretty darn good) FREE Photoshop actions:

1. Here are 39 from PanosFX.com
2. Elated Action Kits offers 47 here
3. Reyns Wim Photography has 70 free actions
4. Finesse FX has 67 free actions
5. 13 from Pioneer Woman Photography
6. 22 actions on About.com
7. 20 actions from ActionFX.com
8. The Light's Right Studios is offering 30 free actions
9. Here are 13 actions from Turning Turnip
10. And finally, 156 actions are available here from various sources.

So that's 455, 460, 466, a lot of free actions.

Free is good, enjoy!

Photoshop User TV...

One of the things I look forward to on Mondays is that weeks episode of Photoshop User TV.

So imagine my surprise when it came time for the hosts to give their recommendations for photography websites and the handsome, articulate, and ever talented Dave Cross gave a thumbs-up to Weekly Photo Tips!

I always thought that Dave Cross was the was the brains and driving force behind Photoshop User TV, this simply confirms it.

;)

But seriously, great show, great guys, and if you use Photoshop Matt, Scott, and Dave should hold the top spot on your educational resource list.

And thank you Dave!

What a phenomenal weekend!...

The 4th was spent with friends and family, canoe races, softball games and then relaxing by the pool with lots and lots of food.

Then it was off to the Eagle Mountain House in beautiful Jackson, NH to shoot a wedding.

What a fun couple, Margit and Eric are wonderful people. You know when the pastor is wearing a Mickey Mouse tie, and the bride walks down the aisle after the ceremony to Disney theme music, you're in the right place.

Not only did everything go perfectly, my good friend Mark Hensley came and shot with me.

Here are a few of the shots, click on any image to view it larger.

Happy birthday Weekly Photo Tips...

"Happy birthday to you"...

Today is the first birthday of Weekly Photo Tips, it made it here because of you the readers, THANK YOU!

Your support has been amazing, here are some of the numbers:

In our first month we averaged 4 visitors a day, the past month we are averaging 279 people daily.

Here are some more numbers:

This past year we have had 40,343 visitors

with 55,205 Page Views

701 people have subscribed to Weekly Photo Tips

You have come from 132 Countries

Top 5 Countries:

1. United States
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom
4. Australia
5. Germany

Bottom 5:

128. Botswana
129. Bolivia
130. Mongolia
131. Kenya
132. Laos

Top 5 Viewed Posts:

1. The best Lightroom training DVD I have seen
2. I'm back - with Matt Kloskowski
3. That Gritty Dave Hill Look
4. The importance of monitor calibration
5. Take the flash off your camera

I have gotten to shoot with Scott Kelby, Stacey Kane, and Mike Palmer.

Made friends with Vincent Versace and Matt Kloskowski, had (email) conversations with David Ziser, Joe Photo, Jason D. Moore, and people all over the world.

Almost every week a package arrives with some photographic doo-dad to be tested and reviewed.

As a photographer does it get any better?

And I have you to thank, because without you this blog would be nothing.

Please know that I will make every effort to make year two even better.

I will be celebrating the 4th with friends & family and will be shooting a wedding out of state this weekend so you will not hear from me again until next week.

Be happy, be safe.

and thank you, thank you, thank you......

TinEye update...

Currently there is a waiting list if you want an account, but the good folks at TinEye have given us a handful of accounts to give out to our readers.

So if you would like a TinEye account email us your name and the email address you want to use for your account and at the end of today we will randomly pick 20 of our readers who submit their info to receive their own TinEye account.

Email us now... and good luck.

June 2008 Photo Contest Winners...

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the June 2008 Weekly Photo Tips contest winners, click on either image to view a larger version:

The first image, "Flower", is from Jason Anderson:

Location: Unknown
Equipment Used: Canon 550 EX, shot through diffuser with a Sigma 70mm macro lens, f22, flash on with shutter sync of 1/200th @ 1/500 second, ISO 1600
Post Production: tweaked the exposure in Photoshop, cloned out a few spots, ran through Noise Ninja, and applied a little output sharpening

Be sure to check out Jason's blog.

The second image, "Beach Ballerina", is from Melissa Belcher:

Location: Florida
Equipment Used: Canon 40D, a 28-135mm lens, lighting was good old sunshine
Post Production: post production with iPphoto - fading the color and blurring the edges

You can visit Melissa's website here.

Jason will be getting an original Battery Caddy and a copy of Lou Jones latest photography book.

Melissa will also be getting an original Battery Caddy and a copy of Doug Gordon's "Weddings with a Video Light the Easy Way" DVD.

Congratulations to the June winners and and the July contest is now open!