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Area Photographer Reviews PocketWizard TT1, TT5 for Nikon

Area photographer, Roller Derby / WFTDA aficionado, and Roberts customer, Mark Lebryk has blogged his hands-on experience with the PocketWizard TT1 and TT5 sync units for Nikon flashes. Mosey on over there to check out his impressions.

Please note that we’ve been waiting about 2 years for these bad-boys, and that we won’t have ‘em until we have ‘em, and that pre-ordering them on our website gets your name put in line – it doesn’t guarantee you a product. Once we have them in stock in quantities to satisfy out back-orders, we’ll put them up for sale online.

In the mean-time, check out Mark’s write-up and think about what you wanna use these TT1 and TT5 units for.



Last Roll Of Kodachrome Ever Made Now Developed; Film Continues Slow Death

Kodachrome, which is apparently this really famous film or something which of course I’m too young to have actually used, may already have been declared dead, but it still existed, you know? And, well, it still does, but the only lab in the world that develops it says it has developed the last roll that was ever made (note that it wasn’t that last roll of it ever, that’d be hard to prove, wouldn’t it?).

For those curious, the roll was apparently shot by National Geo photog Steve McCurry, who’s only a little famous for using Kodachrome.

Dwayne’s Photo Service is apparently leaving its Kodachrome lab open through December 10, 2010. But after that, Kodachrome becomes a relic for the history books. In the words of a much smarter Hoosier: so it goes.

[edit] Corrected to ‘Dwayne’s.’ Thanks for pointing it out, PK.



Canon changes website, beats Roberts by a nose.

Ever wake up in the morning, stagger through your ritual and realize something is completely different? Like, your spouse has changed hair color or the dogs aren’t arguing with the neighbor’s alarm clock and there’s a doorway at the end of your hall where there was only a wall before?

Ok, Canon’s new website isn’t quite that distressing, but dang it is different. Instead of the seamless white aesthetic they featured in times past, they’ve moved to a black-to-gray top-to-bottom gradient behind a blog-type layout.

Our enormous team of web designers is hard at work chopping up a perfect new site for yours truly, a glimpse of which you may see below, compared to the current.

The current design (L) compared to the developing design (R)



Credentialed to shoot the NCAA playoffs? Want BBQ?

When: Saturday, April 3rd from 11am until 2pm
Where: Roberts Downtown location (255 S. Meridian St.)
The Luncheon is for credentialed shooters, their assistants, and photo editors.
Don’t miss this chance to meet up with other pros and get some lunch. Be sure to bring your business cards -there will be a raffle.
Did I mention the BBQ?
Please, no parking in the Roberts’ lot.


Dealing with Infringements

Alright, so, who reading right now is a working pro, just became one, or is angling to be one– raise your hands. Everyone not raising your hand, you can go if you like, but I’ll recommend you stay. Everyone who is raising their hand, if you haven’t read today’s post on A Photo Editor about dealing with licensing infringements, you should hit the link below and do that now. It’s got detailed advice from a licensed attorney, ya know.



Tamron introduces 1-Minute “DSLR Know-How With Tamron” weekly videos

I bought the special edition 2-disc edition of Robert Rodriguez’ cinematic adaption of Frank Miller’s Sin City when it was released in 2005. Among my favorite features (before even watching it all in Green Screen or Bruce Willis and the Accelerators performing “Gypsy Woman”) is Robert Rodriguez’ 10-minute cooking school, a brilliant tutorial in making Sin City Breakfast Burritos complete with his grandmother’s tortilla recipe. Rodriguez does another cooking school on the Once Upon a Time In Mexico DVD, where he shows you how to make the puerco Johnny Depp enjoys with homicidal intensity.

Now Tamron will broadcast 1-minute tips, tricks, and tutorials each week starting on the 18th of January and running for 12 weeks not on a special edition dvd, but on YouTube.

“In just one minute per week you can learn the basics of successful photography at no cost,” ~John VanSteenberg, Tamron’s Senior Education Manager.

Tamron has indicated the “101″ series will be followed by more advanced courses as the project continues. You can find them at http://www.youtube.com/user/TamronVids
or embedded here:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD7ZAzgYDqY



CES Update: Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II USM, doesn’t ship with lens hood?

The first L lens to ship without a hood.

Canon's newest L offering, mm tasty. But whence this nudity?

Today we get wind of the new Canon 70-200 2.8L IS the version II. Boasting a closer minimum focus distance than its predecessor (1.2m/3.94 ft vs 1.3m / 4.3 ft.) and a purported 4-stops of Optical Image Stabilization against the 3-stop of the version I. Hot diggity it’s exciting, but no word this morning of price.

Canon’s specs table indicates that it doesn’t ship with the new ET-87 lens hood, but their press release says it’ll come with a tripod collar, lens hood, and lens pouch.

Pricing and Availability
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens is supplied with a detachable tripod collar, a reversible bayonet mount lens hood and a lens pouch. The new lens is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in April, price to be determined.

Read more about this at Canon’s press release page: here. Get on our waiting list here.



Big-Whig Publishers Issue Press Statement About Digital Magazines

So, since we know a lot of you out there in the pro photo biz work or dreamed of working for the stalwart publication industry, magazines and newspapers and the like, this news is at least a step in the right direction. Time Inc, Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith, and News Corp have apparently issued their first joint press release concerning the future of magazines as a printed and digitally-distributed medium. It’s only initial, vague promises right now, but it’s more of a direction than we’ve had until now, right?

And, if things end up anything like the Sports Illustrated tablet concept, I for one am 100% behind this endeavor.

Press Release (via Engadget)




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