what a nice booth!! unbelievable...
2009-10-23
2009-10-22
2009-07-24
2009-07-01
PMA News: Sigma DSLR out by 'summer' 2009
Sigma's latest digital SLR, the SD15, will not be ready until the summer, according to the firm's US marketing manager Thomas G Sobey.
And though the firm's long-awaited high-end compact, the DP2, is due to arrive in the US later this month, we understand that UK availability is still several months away.
Sobey told Amateur Photographer that modifications to the imaging processor are largely responsible for the delays to the launch of both cameras.
The SD15 will house the same 14-million-pixel Foveon X3 imaging sensor employed in Sigma's current SD14 model.
It will incorporate a new True II image processing engine and 3in LCD monitor.
Key differences of the DP2 over the DP1 include a 24.2mm f/2.8 lens.
The fixed focal length optic delivers the 35mm viewing angle equivalent of a 41mm lens (the DP1 features a fixed 28mm (f/4) equivalent lens).
The DP2 uses the same Foveon X3 direct imaging sensor as deployed on the new SD15 DSLR and DP1 compact.
And though the firm's long-awaited high-end compact, the DP2, is due to arrive in the US later this month, we understand that UK availability is still several months away.
Sobey told Amateur Photographer that modifications to the imaging processor are largely responsible for the delays to the launch of both cameras.
The SD15 will house the same 14-million-pixel Foveon X3 imaging sensor employed in Sigma's current SD14 model.
It will incorporate a new True II image processing engine and 3in LCD monitor.
Key differences of the DP2 over the DP1 include a 24.2mm f/2.8 lens.
The fixed focal length optic delivers the 35mm viewing angle equivalent of a 41mm lens (the DP1 features a fixed 28mm (f/4) equivalent lens).
The DP2 uses the same Foveon X3 direct imaging sensor as deployed on the new SD15 DSLR and DP1 compact.
2009-06-25
Keep Your Female Friend And Your Girlfriend
Having a female friend can bring many good things into your life. You can go to her for inside advice when the inner workings of your girlfriend’s mind are making you crazy. You can spend the evening with her when you aren’t in the mood for testosterone-fuelled competition. She will be there for you when you need someone to talk to. Unfortunately, having a woman as a friend can also cause plenty of discord -- especially in your relationship with your girlfriend. How can you maintain a friendship with someone of the opposite sex while preserving the harmony in your romantic relationship?
Defensible female friends
There are some girls that you can have as friends without your girlfriend being able to justifiably complain about it. She might grumble about it, but she’ll have no ground to stand on. These women include those you were friends with before you got together with your girlfriend and those who are clearly in happy, stable relationships of their own. She also shouldn’t have a leg to stand on if she tries to bitch about a female friend that you are obviously not attracted to physically.
Female friends that are tougher to defend
On the other hand, there are some women you might want to have in your life that are understandably unacceptable to your girlfriend. If you have fooled around with your female friend in the past, it’s not difficult to see how that might bother your girlfriend. Ditto for the girl who has a questionable reputation. If your female friend has been known to go for attached guys, your girlfriend has a right to be suspicious. Finally, if your girlfriend genuinely dislikes your female friend -- for reasons other than the facts that she’s a girl and she’s friends with you -- you might want to take her opinion into account.
What you can do with your female friend
There are some activities you can do with your female friend that shouldn’t be threatening to your girlfriend. Your girlfriend will feel much more comfortable with you going out for drinks if you do it man-style. Don’t go to a quiet wine bar where the atmosphere is romantic; instead, take your female friend to a loud pub and pound back some beers like she’s just one of the guys. As far as conversation topics go, talking about your mutual past with your female friend is allowed, but try not to do it too much in front of your girlfriend or she’ll start to feel left out. Take part in hobbies or interests that you and your female friend have in common and that your girlfriend isn’t into. It’s always a good idea to keep your time spent with your female friend in a group situation or at least in a public place.
Are sleepovers OK? Find out what you can't do with your female friend next
What you can’t do with your female friends
In order to keep your relationship with your girlfriend steady and trouble-free, there are some activities that you should never do with your female friend. No. 1: absolutely no sleepovers. It doesn’t matter if you’re drunk, if there’s a storm outside or if she needs company after a breakup, there is no reason you should spend the night at your female friend’s house -- even if you sleep on the couch. Also, avoid date-like, full-evening plans (like dinner and a movie) in order to keep the atmosphere platonic. You should never choose to spend special occasions like holidays with your female friend instead of your girlfriend. Acting as a fill-in date for your friend for a wedding or office party is also a no-no. Basically, there shouldn’t be any aspect to your interactions that could force people to assume you’re dating.
Defensible female friends
There are some girls that you can have as friends without your girlfriend being able to justifiably complain about it. She might grumble about it, but she’ll have no ground to stand on. These women include those you were friends with before you got together with your girlfriend and those who are clearly in happy, stable relationships of their own. She also shouldn’t have a leg to stand on if she tries to bitch about a female friend that you are obviously not attracted to physically.
Female friends that are tougher to defend
On the other hand, there are some women you might want to have in your life that are understandably unacceptable to your girlfriend. If you have fooled around with your female friend in the past, it’s not difficult to see how that might bother your girlfriend. Ditto for the girl who has a questionable reputation. If your female friend has been known to go for attached guys, your girlfriend has a right to be suspicious. Finally, if your girlfriend genuinely dislikes your female friend -- for reasons other than the facts that she’s a girl and she’s friends with you -- you might want to take her opinion into account.
What you can do with your female friend
There are some activities you can do with your female friend that shouldn’t be threatening to your girlfriend. Your girlfriend will feel much more comfortable with you going out for drinks if you do it man-style. Don’t go to a quiet wine bar where the atmosphere is romantic; instead, take your female friend to a loud pub and pound back some beers like she’s just one of the guys. As far as conversation topics go, talking about your mutual past with your female friend is allowed, but try not to do it too much in front of your girlfriend or she’ll start to feel left out. Take part in hobbies or interests that you and your female friend have in common and that your girlfriend isn’t into. It’s always a good idea to keep your time spent with your female friend in a group situation or at least in a public place.
Are sleepovers OK? Find out what you can't do with your female friend next
What you can’t do with your female friends
In order to keep your relationship with your girlfriend steady and trouble-free, there are some activities that you should never do with your female friend. No. 1: absolutely no sleepovers. It doesn’t matter if you’re drunk, if there’s a storm outside or if she needs company after a breakup, there is no reason you should spend the night at your female friend’s house -- even if you sleep on the couch. Also, avoid date-like, full-evening plans (like dinner and a movie) in order to keep the atmosphere platonic. You should never choose to spend special occasions like holidays with your female friend instead of your girlfriend. Acting as a fill-in date for your friend for a wedding or office party is also a no-no. Basically, there shouldn’t be any aspect to your interactions that could force people to assume you’re dating.
7 Types Of Men Women Can't Resist
Have you ever wondered why some guys have all the luck when it comes to women? It's no secret that certain archetypal males have been proven over and over to be irresistible to women -- and it's not simply because of their good looks or a well-defined six pack. The truth is that women tend to be attracted to certain personality traits and so, naturally, they flock to the men who possess them. Below are seven of these "ideal types" of men that women are drawn to, and an explanation as to why these men are so appealing. But don't freak out or permanently alter your personality if you don't fit into any of these categories exactly -- women will see right through that. Ideally, you should exude some traits from each of these different categories; in fact, you probably already do. With a quick perusal of the list below, you should be in much better shape to understand what women are looking for, and most importantly, to make sure that you fit the bill.
1. The Romantic Guy
He believes in classic romance. He is constantly bringing her flowers and chocolate and lighting candles during dinner. He calls her often to let her know he is thinking about her and looks into her eyes and tells her how he feels. Why he is so irresistible: A woman loves to feel appreciated, and the romantic guy makes this happen. He uses romantic gestures to show her he is thinking about her. As an added bonus, she feels free to reciprocate and act on her own romantic tendencies.
2. The Confident Guy
He is totally secure and sure of himself. He is assertive in public and gives off an aura of power and control (within reason of course, as the "cocky guy" is not on this list). In a relationship, he doesn't get jealous of other men; he doesn't feel threatened by his girlfriend's male friends or co-workers. Why he is so irresistible: Women are attracted to confident men. Consider this: If you think you are great, she will probably be influenced to think the same. The confident man doesn't seek approval from women, and this makes them want him even more.
3. The Artistic Guy
The artistic guy is spontaneous and lives for the moment. Often, he will use his creativity to woo her, such as with a song he has written about her or a painting he has made for her. Why he is so irresistible: Every woman wants to feel unique and special. There is no better way to make her feel this way than to use her as your muse or your source of inspiration. She is intrigued by the artistic guy's creative mind and especially by the way he incorporates her into his art. Charismatic, rebellious, smart, and considerate men all get the girl
4. The Foreign Guy
He comes from a faraway exotic country; he might have a cute accent or a unique way of seeing the world. His social customs and everyday behaviour can be a little quirky, but he always manages to come off as uniquely charming. Note that you don't have to actually be foreign to fit into this category. If you are well-travelled or speak many languages, you might be able to pull off the charm as well as any sweet-talking foreigner. Why he is so irresistible: Charisma, charisma and charisma. There's not much more I can say about this one; it's just that mysterious je ne sais quoi that is so alluring. Women often choose this kind of guy if they are curious about the world, but most of the appeal comes down to a fascination with dating someone from another culture.
5. The Free Spirit Guy (aka the Bad Boy)
The free spirit guy goes where the wind takes him -- and the wind usually takes him on some kind of wacky adventure. He might ride a motorcycle, or he might skip work to take her on a last-minute road trip, but this guy doesn't worry too much about the consequences; he just sees where his own devices take him.
Why he is so irresistible: Every woman wants a bit of a rebel (within reason, of course). She loves his carefree attitude and hopes that it will rub off on her too. The bad boy spirit adds an element of youthfulness to the relationship and she loves to try taming him -- although she knows she'll never actually succeed.
6. The Intelligent/Witty Guy
He instigates conversations that are intellectually stimulating and listens to what she has to say in response. He makes her laugh with his clever sense of humour and could make a conversation about Gordon Brown seem interesting. He can shoot the breeze with her for hours and it will never get boring. Why he is so irresistible: As time goes on, your hairline may recede and your buff body may soften, but if you can keep her interested, you've won half the battle. An intellectual connection is a big part of what sustains a relationship and if you can show her that you've got that, she'll be hooked pretty quickly.
7. The Considerate Guy
He holds open her car door and pulls out her chair. He foots the bill for dinner and makes sure to offer her dessert. He always asks her out with reasonable notice and picks her up at her door. He is generally sensitive to how she is feeling and when she is ready to go home. Why he is so irresistible: Surprised? You probably think that nice, considerate guys never get the woman, but consider this: Once a woman has gone through her share of the bad guy, the rude guy and the not-calling-her-back guy, she will likely re-evaluate her priorities. It takes a bit of maturity on her part to realise this, but eventually most girls come around and realise that they want a guy who will treat them well in the long run.
a word of caution
The key to success here is to keep in mind why women like the character traits outlined above and what kind of gestures they appreciate. Then, mix them up and see which of these traits and gestures you are most comfortable with. With just a little bit of effort, you'll be able to find more than a few irresistible qualities within yourself -- and accordingly, she'll be easily wooed by your newfound individuality.
2009-06-23
2009-06-22
Interview Questions you must never Ask
What is an illegal Question?
Illegal interview questions refer to those questions asked during an interview that may be used to discriminate against an interviewee. It is important to be aware of what questions are illegal before you start an interview. In most cases, personal questions not related to job performance can be illegal interview questions, as they can be used to discriminate on the basis of a person's age, place of origin, birth place, etc.
If a candidate does not answer any illegal interview questions, you should not hold it against him, because it is his right.
And remember: The act of asking these questions is not illegal. But to reject someone on the basis of the answers provided is illegal. It could expose you to a possible law suit if the applicant is rejected and feels that it was due to that issue.
Personal Questions
Relatives Marital Status
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Whether the applicant is married, divorced, separated, engaged, widowed, etc. "What is your marital status?", if over 18 "What is the name of relative/spouse/children?", "With whom do you reside?", "Do you live with your parents?", "How old are your children?"
Lawful Inquiries: "What are the names of relatives already employed by the company or a competitor?", other than that specific question, NONE.
Pregnancy
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: All questions relating to pregnancy and medical history concerning pregnancy. "Do you plan on having more children?"
Lawful Inquiries: Inquiries to a duration of stay on a job or anticipated absences which are made to males and females alike. "Do you foresee any long term absences in the future?"
Residence
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Names or relationship of persons with whom applicant resides. Whether applicant owns or rents a home.
"Do you live in town?"
Lawful Inquiries: Inquiries about address to the extent needed to facilitate contacting the applicant. (A post office box is a valid address.) "Will you have problems getting to work at 9am?" is also legal.
Physical Health
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Over general questions ("Do you have any handicaps?") which would tend to divulge handicaps or health conditions which do not relate reasonably to fitness to perform the job. "What caused your handicap?", "What is the prognosis of your handicap?", Have you ever had any serious illness?", "Do you have any physical disabilities?"
Lawful Inquiries: "Can you lift 40 lbs?", "Do you need any special accommodations to perform the job you've applied for?", "How many days did you miss from work (or school) in the past year?" The questions have to relate to the job.
Family
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Questions concerning spouse, or spouse's employment, salary, child care, arrangements, or dependents. "How will your husband feel about the amount of time you will be travelling if you get this job?", "What kind of childcare arrangements have you made?"
Lawful Inquiries: Whether applicant can meet specified work schedules or has activities or commitments that may prevent him or her from meeting attendance requirements. "Can you work overtime?", "Is there any reason why you can't be on the job at 7:30 am?"
Sex
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Any inquiry. "Do you wish to be addressed as Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms.?" or ANY inquiry as to sex such as "Do you have the capacity to reproduce?", "What are your plans to have children in the future?"
Lawful Inquiries: None
Arrests & Convictions
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: All inquiries relating to arrests. "Have you ever been arrested?" (Note: Arrests are NOT the same as convictions. An innocent person can be arrested, remember.)
Lawful Inquiries: None relating to arrests. Legal inquiries about convictions are: "Have you ever been convicted of any crime? If so, when, where and disposition of case. "Have you ever been convicted under criminal law within the past five years (excluding minor traffic violations)?" It is permissible to inquire about convictions for acts of dishonesty or breach of trust. These relate to fitness to perform the particular job being applied for, as stipulated by FDIC requirements.
Birthplace and religion
Let's now look at some illegal interview questions. Inquiries into a person's birthplace are illegal. Also asking a person's religious affiliation is illegal, or asking about religious customs and ceremonies.
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Any question that directly or INDIRECTLY relates to a religion. "What religious holidays to you observe?", "What is your religious affiliation?"
Lawful Inquiries: None except "Can you work on Saturdays?", and that only if it relevant to the job.
Disability
If an individual's disability does not hinder job performance, it is not permissible to dismiss the person for that reason.
Age...height or weight
It is illegal to ask for age, but it is ok to ask for a confirmation of age after hiring. Illegal interview questions include asking about a person's height or weight. However you can ask if a person is able to lift a certain amount of weight necessary for job performance.
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Any questions that tends to identify applicants age 40 or older.
Lawful Inquiries: "Are you 18 years of age?", "If hired, can you furnish proof of age?"
Race or color
Asking about a person's race or color is also illegal. Exceptions hold for employment records for an equal opportunity employer and for affricative action status, after hiring.
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Any question that directly OR INDIRECTLY relates to a race or color.
Lawful Inquiries: None
Citizenship
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Whether an applicant is a citizen. Requiring a birth certificate, naturalization or baptismal certificate. Any inquiry into citizenship would tend to divulge applicant's lineage, descent, etc.
* "Are you a citizen of the US?"
* "Are your parents or spouse citizens of the US?"
* "On what dates did you , your parents or your spouse acquire US Citizenship?"
* "Are you, your parents or your spouse naturalized or native-born US citizens?"
Lawful Inquiries: Whether applicant is prevented from lawfully employed in this country because of visa or immigration requirements. Whether applicant can provide proof of citizenship (passport), visa, alien registration number after hiring. "If you are not a US citizen, do you have the legal right to remain permanently in the US?", "What is your visa status (if no to the previous question.)", Are you able to provide proof of employment eligibility upon hire?"
National Origin/Ancestry
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Everything. "What is your nationality?", "How did you acquire the ability to speak, read or write a foreign language?", "How did you acquire familiarity with a foreign country?", "What language is spoken in your home?", "What is your mother tongue?"
Lawful Inquiries: "What languages do you speak, read or write fluently". This is only legal when the inquiry is based on a job requirement.
And remember this...
The questions do not necessarily have to be asked in a direct fashion to be illegal interview questions.
Some questions may be illegal based on the reason they were asked.
For example it is legal to ask if the applicant is fluent in another language if it is relevant to the job.
However it should not be asked if it is not relevant to the job and is used to gain information about a person's nationality or place of birth.
Avoiding illegal interview questions avoid the chances of a candidate being discriminated against. Also it can save you from possible law suits.
This article applies to the USA. Most countries now hold similar laws but check for further details
If unsure, always seek professional legal advice
This is just a guide and not intended as legal advice. Neither the author nor publisher is engaged in rendering legal services. Please see an attorney for legal advice. Because laws vary by state and are subject to change at the Federal level, neither the author nor publisher guarantees the accuracy of this information. Should you act based on this information, you do so at your sole risk. Neither the author nor publisher shall have any liability arising from your decision to act on this information.
Illegal interview questions refer to those questions asked during an interview that may be used to discriminate against an interviewee. It is important to be aware of what questions are illegal before you start an interview. In most cases, personal questions not related to job performance can be illegal interview questions, as they can be used to discriminate on the basis of a person's age, place of origin, birth place, etc.
If a candidate does not answer any illegal interview questions, you should not hold it against him, because it is his right.
And remember: The act of asking these questions is not illegal. But to reject someone on the basis of the answers provided is illegal. It could expose you to a possible law suit if the applicant is rejected and feels that it was due to that issue.
Personal Questions
Relatives Marital Status
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Whether the applicant is married, divorced, separated, engaged, widowed, etc. "What is your marital status?", if over 18 "What is the name of relative/spouse/children?", "With whom do you reside?", "Do you live with your parents?", "How old are your children?"
Lawful Inquiries: "What are the names of relatives already employed by the company or a competitor?", other than that specific question, NONE.
Pregnancy
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: All questions relating to pregnancy and medical history concerning pregnancy. "Do you plan on having more children?"
Lawful Inquiries: Inquiries to a duration of stay on a job or anticipated absences which are made to males and females alike. "Do you foresee any long term absences in the future?"
Residence
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Names or relationship of persons with whom applicant resides. Whether applicant owns or rents a home.
"Do you live in town?"
Lawful Inquiries: Inquiries about address to the extent needed to facilitate contacting the applicant. (A post office box is a valid address.) "Will you have problems getting to work at 9am?" is also legal.
Physical Health
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Over general questions ("Do you have any handicaps?") which would tend to divulge handicaps or health conditions which do not relate reasonably to fitness to perform the job. "What caused your handicap?", "What is the prognosis of your handicap?", Have you ever had any serious illness?", "Do you have any physical disabilities?"
Lawful Inquiries: "Can you lift 40 lbs?", "Do you need any special accommodations to perform the job you've applied for?", "How many days did you miss from work (or school) in the past year?" The questions have to relate to the job.
Family
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Questions concerning spouse, or spouse's employment, salary, child care, arrangements, or dependents. "How will your husband feel about the amount of time you will be travelling if you get this job?", "What kind of childcare arrangements have you made?"
Lawful Inquiries: Whether applicant can meet specified work schedules or has activities or commitments that may prevent him or her from meeting attendance requirements. "Can you work overtime?", "Is there any reason why you can't be on the job at 7:30 am?"
Sex
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Any inquiry. "Do you wish to be addressed as Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms.?" or ANY inquiry as to sex such as "Do you have the capacity to reproduce?", "What are your plans to have children in the future?"
Lawful Inquiries: None
Arrests & Convictions
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: All inquiries relating to arrests. "Have you ever been arrested?" (Note: Arrests are NOT the same as convictions. An innocent person can be arrested, remember.)
Lawful Inquiries: None relating to arrests. Legal inquiries about convictions are: "Have you ever been convicted of any crime? If so, when, where and disposition of case. "Have you ever been convicted under criminal law within the past five years (excluding minor traffic violations)?" It is permissible to inquire about convictions for acts of dishonesty or breach of trust. These relate to fitness to perform the particular job being applied for, as stipulated by FDIC requirements.
Birthplace and religion
Let's now look at some illegal interview questions. Inquiries into a person's birthplace are illegal. Also asking a person's religious affiliation is illegal, or asking about religious customs and ceremonies.
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Any question that directly or INDIRECTLY relates to a religion. "What religious holidays to you observe?", "What is your religious affiliation?"
Lawful Inquiries: None except "Can you work on Saturdays?", and that only if it relevant to the job.
Disability
If an individual's disability does not hinder job performance, it is not permissible to dismiss the person for that reason.
Age...height or weight
It is illegal to ask for age, but it is ok to ask for a confirmation of age after hiring. Illegal interview questions include asking about a person's height or weight. However you can ask if a person is able to lift a certain amount of weight necessary for job performance.
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Any questions that tends to identify applicants age 40 or older.
Lawful Inquiries: "Are you 18 years of age?", "If hired, can you furnish proof of age?"
Race or color
Asking about a person's race or color is also illegal. Exceptions hold for employment records for an equal opportunity employer and for affricative action status, after hiring.
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Any question that directly OR INDIRECTLY relates to a race or color.
Lawful Inquiries: None
Citizenship
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Whether an applicant is a citizen. Requiring a birth certificate, naturalization or baptismal certificate. Any inquiry into citizenship would tend to divulge applicant's lineage, descent, etc.
* "Are you a citizen of the US?"
* "Are your parents or spouse citizens of the US?"
* "On what dates did you , your parents or your spouse acquire US Citizenship?"
* "Are you, your parents or your spouse naturalized or native-born US citizens?"
Lawful Inquiries: Whether applicant is prevented from lawfully employed in this country because of visa or immigration requirements. Whether applicant can provide proof of citizenship (passport), visa, alien registration number after hiring. "If you are not a US citizen, do you have the legal right to remain permanently in the US?", "What is your visa status (if no to the previous question.)", Are you able to provide proof of employment eligibility upon hire?"
National Origin/Ancestry
Example:
Unlawful Inquiries: Everything. "What is your nationality?", "How did you acquire the ability to speak, read or write a foreign language?", "How did you acquire familiarity with a foreign country?", "What language is spoken in your home?", "What is your mother tongue?"
Lawful Inquiries: "What languages do you speak, read or write fluently". This is only legal when the inquiry is based on a job requirement.
And remember this...
The questions do not necessarily have to be asked in a direct fashion to be illegal interview questions.
Some questions may be illegal based on the reason they were asked.
For example it is legal to ask if the applicant is fluent in another language if it is relevant to the job.
However it should not be asked if it is not relevant to the job and is used to gain information about a person's nationality or place of birth.
Avoiding illegal interview questions avoid the chances of a candidate being discriminated against. Also it can save you from possible law suits.
This article applies to the USA. Most countries now hold similar laws but check for further details
If unsure, always seek professional legal advice
This is just a guide and not intended as legal advice. Neither the author nor publisher is engaged in rendering legal services. Please see an attorney for legal advice. Because laws vary by state and are subject to change at the Federal level, neither the author nor publisher guarantees the accuracy of this information. Should you act based on this information, you do so at your sole risk. Neither the author nor publisher shall have any liability arising from your decision to act on this information.
2009-06-13
2009-06-08
The Secrets of Differential Focus
Shallow depth of field can be used effectively to isolate subjects and make your visual statement clear.
It has commercial uses wherever something needs to be lifted out of a literal context, such as food shot for a magazine or menu. You don't need to know exactly what the plate or the tablecloth are like, or even the entire dish; it's enough to home in on a small area which looks just right, and let the rest dissolve into blur.
Anyone laying text or inset photographs over a background image will appreciate shots with very limited zones of sharp focus and large areas of diffused detail. This is not a consideration for the amateur, or has not been in the past, but the availability of electronically printed albums (photo books) with layout software on your own PC means you can now think like a magazine designer when putting together an album. Family, events, holidays, parties and hobbies are all popular subjects for photo-book production.
Above all, experiment. Try removing the lens entirely from your camera and holding it with your hand like an extension tube. You don't need a special flexible lens at £200 for creative angled-optic effects - a couple of Sigma close-up lenses screwed together and held in your hand will work quite well! Actually, a magnifying glass can do the job, or that loupe you once used to examine slides. Try macro bellows, or reverse mounted lenses.
The most effective differential focus comes from medium focal length and wide apertures, rather than long teles at moderate apertures. Lenses to experiment with range from the 30mm f/1.4 to the 70-200mm f/2.8. What if you don't have a wide aperture lens? You can get very effective results using something like the 55-200mm DC zoom wide open, or an 18-200mm the same way. It may only be f/5.6 or f/6.3, but if your subject is a close-up, the isolation and foreground/background blur will be enough.
In the professional studio, high power flash used to limit choices. In the 1980s, the standard colour negative stock was Vericolor Type S at ISO 160, and most monobloc or pack flash systems didn't turn down below 1/4 power. Even at portrait distances and with large light shapers, you could end up needing to use f/11 at minimum power. When digital SLRs began to take over, the flash makers had to rethink and offer 1/16th or 1/32nd power - the first DSLRs sometimes had ISO 400 or 320 as their lowest option. Habits had already begun to change, with scanning digital backs and continuous light, persuading pro shooters to explore differential focus more.
The result is seen all over today, from Marks & Spencer 'not just food' advertisements downwards, in TV and film as well as stills. We are all now visually trained to accept and appreciate images which have only tiny areas of critical sharpness. The days of stopping down to f/32 and using camera movements to get a plate of food sharp from front to back are long behind us (though restaurant displays around the Mediterranean still depict the exact contents of what you can order, pin sharp, down to the number of prawns!).
So, have a go - start using unfocused detail creatively, and enjoy exploring the qualities of the lenses you own.
It has commercial uses wherever something needs to be lifted out of a literal context, such as food shot for a magazine or menu. You don't need to know exactly what the plate or the tablecloth are like, or even the entire dish; it's enough to home in on a small area which looks just right, and let the rest dissolve into blur.
Anyone laying text or inset photographs over a background image will appreciate shots with very limited zones of sharp focus and large areas of diffused detail. This is not a consideration for the amateur, or has not been in the past, but the availability of electronically printed albums (photo books) with layout software on your own PC means you can now think like a magazine designer when putting together an album. Family, events, holidays, parties and hobbies are all popular subjects for photo-book production.
Silk poppy: you can experiment with odd optics for effect. This soft result with muted colour and contrast comes from mounting a vintage Super Takumer 105mm lens on the Sigma SD10 and using it wide open. 1/500th at f/2.8, aperture priority auto with -0.7 compensation.
Of course, you can use a tool such as Focal Point, from OnOne Software (distributed by Colour Confidence in the UK). This is a powerful Photoshop plugin which lets you define the parts of your image you want in sharp focus, and without using layer masks or other advanced Photoshop editing, create realistic lens-quality blur.
However, nothing quite beats the results from a real lens used wide open. Sigma has one or two outstanding tools for differential focus or deliberate blur. My favourite is the 150mm f/2.8 Macro, becauseit combines long focal length with a very wide aperture and ultra-close focus. In the studio, this lens can earn its keep just by shooting small objects in a stylish sharp-soft mode. The 50-150mm f/2.8 is a close second, and the shorter macro lenses (both being f/2.8) an accessible choice for many existing owners.
One thing you need to be aware of is that SLR viewfinders do not show differential focus very accurately. Sigma's are relatively good, using a more traditional ground glass simulation than some ultra-bright screens designed to cope with low magnification, low efficiency mirror prisms. Just be aware that what you see through the finder at f/2 or f/2.8 really looks like the depth of field you get at f/5.6. You can check this by making some exposures and viewing them on the rear screen.
There's a good explanation of this phenomenon as seen on high-end Canon kit at dPhotoexpert.com - http://www.dphotoexpert.com/2007/09/21/live-view-versus-the-cheating-dslr-viewfinder/ - this article has become a standard reference for explaining the issue to those not familiar with it yet. Once you are aware, you will not rely as much on your viewfinder to judge depth of field, and you'll make more use of reviewing the image on-screen when setting up shots.
One effect you will see with Bayer pattern sensors is 'colour bokeh' error. It's not a noticeable problem with the Foveon X3 sensor, and is absent in the SD9 which has no microlenses. The lens - however well colour corrected - may show defocused neutral gradations as slightly magenta in the foreground, slightly green behind the subject. This effect was never visible on film. It's caused by the shift in relative colour corrections out of the plane of focus, and depends on whether the rays are diverging or converging when they strike the sensor. You need to be aware of it and perhaps desaturate unfocused zones which have a visible hue shift.
However, nothing quite beats the results from a real lens used wide open. Sigma has one or two outstanding tools for differential focus or deliberate blur. My favourite is the 150mm f/2.8 Macro, becauseit combines long focal length with a very wide aperture and ultra-close focus. In the studio, this lens can earn its keep just by shooting small objects in a stylish sharp-soft mode. The 50-150mm f/2.8 is a close second, and the shorter macro lenses (both being f/2.8) an accessible choice for many existing owners.
Euro note: the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro is a great lens for smooth bokeh and extremes of differential focus. Here, it was used on a Fuji FinexPix S3 with illumination from the tungsten modelling lamps of studio flash. Tripod, 1/45th at f/2.8.
One thing you need to be aware of is that SLR viewfinders do not show differential focus very accurately. Sigma's are relatively good, using a more traditional ground glass simulation than some ultra-bright screens designed to cope with low magnification, low efficiency mirror prisms. Just be aware that what you see through the finder at f/2 or f/2.8 really looks like the depth of field you get at f/5.6. You can check this by making some exposures and viewing them on the rear screen.
There's a good explanation of this phenomenon as seen on high-end Canon kit at dPhotoexpert.com - http://www.dphotoexpert.com/2007/09/21/live-view-versus-the-cheating-dslr-viewfinder/ - this article has become a standard reference for explaining the issue to those not familiar with it yet. Once you are aware, you will not rely as much on your viewfinder to judge depth of field, and you'll make more use of reviewing the image on-screen when setting up shots.
One effect you will see with Bayer pattern sensors is 'colour bokeh' error. It's not a noticeable problem with the Foveon X3 sensor, and is absent in the SD9 which has no microlenses. The lens - however well colour corrected - may show defocused neutral gradations as slightly magenta in the foreground, slightly green behind the subject. This effect was never visible on film. It's caused by the shift in relative colour corrections out of the plane of focus, and depends on whether the rays are diverging or converging when they strike the sensor. You need to be aware of it and perhaps desaturate unfocused zones which have a visible hue shift.
Lemur: the full aperture defocused image of the Sigma 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG OS image stabilised tele zoom is very smooth. Shot at 400mm, 1/250th at f/5.6, with the Fuji FinePix S3 Pro set to ISO 800.
The defocused image quality depends on the lens design, the shape and position of the iris (aperture) being critical. Since other aspects of performance are more important, 'good bokeh' or a pleasant out of focus transition is not something which goes with cost or optical performance. Some lenses have it, others don't; it is harder to find in complex, long range zooms than in simple designs. A sure way to get good bokeh is to work wide open, which means a perfectly circular aperture. At least, that's the theory, but many zooms will still show oddly enhanced circles of confusion. Again, you need to try different lenses to find which work best for differential focus.
If the light is too bright, consider using a neutral density filter (a polariser can be pressed into service, but may have other unwanted effects). Most photographers are familiar with using an ND filter to get long exposures for waterfalls or waves, well stopped down. Its other use is to allow wife-open working in bright conditions.
Very sharp grain - or well rendered digital noise - can be effective with shallow depth of field. So can desaturated pastel colours. If anything, vivid colours are to be avoided unless you use them deliberately. They can dominate defocused areas, as any fashion photographer who has shot a street scene at f/2.8 and accidentally included a lit traffic light will confirm. Lights, street decorations, and reflections all take in their own life when thrown out of focus.
If the light is too bright, consider using a neutral density filter (a polariser can be pressed into service, but may have other unwanted effects). Most photographers are familiar with using an ND filter to get long exposures for waterfalls or waves, well stopped down. Its other use is to allow wife-open working in bright conditions.
Very sharp grain - or well rendered digital noise - can be effective with shallow depth of field. So can desaturated pastel colours. If anything, vivid colours are to be avoided unless you use them deliberately. They can dominate defocused areas, as any fashion photographer who has shot a street scene at f/2.8 and accidentally included a lit traffic light will confirm. Lights, street decorations, and reflections all take in their own life when thrown out of focus.
Detail of an Apple Mac screen: with a bellows and an old enlarging lens, the SD10 captures a tiny zone of sharp focus from an angled computer monitor screen. Mounted on a mini tripod, manual exposure by trial and error, 1/13th at f/4.
The most effective differential focus comes from medium focal length and wide apertures, rather than long teles at moderate apertures. Lenses to experiment with range from the 30mm f/1.4 to the 70-200mm f/2.8. What if you don't have a wide aperture lens? You can get very effective results using something like the 55-200mm DC zoom wide open, or an 18-200mm the same way. It may only be f/5.6 or f/6.3, but if your subject is a close-up, the isolation and foreground/background blur will be enough.
Noodles and stir-fry: food is often best shown using very restricted focus zones. Sigma SD10, 50mm f/2.8 EX DG macro, ISO 100, 1/6th and f/2.8 hand-held by natural light.
In the professional studio, high power flash used to limit choices. In the 1980s, the standard colour negative stock was Vericolor Type S at ISO 160, and most monobloc or pack flash systems didn't turn down below 1/4 power. Even at portrait distances and with large light shapers, you could end up needing to use f/11 at minimum power. When digital SLRs began to take over, the flash makers had to rethink and offer 1/16th or 1/32nd power - the first DSLRs sometimes had ISO 400 or 320 as their lowest option. Habits had already begun to change, with scanning digital backs and continuous light, persuading pro shooters to explore differential focus more.
The result is seen all over today, from Marks & Spencer 'not just food' advertisements downwards, in TV and film as well as stills. We are all now visually trained to accept and appreciate images which have only tiny areas of critical sharpness. The days of stopping down to f/32 and using camera movements to get a plate of food sharp from front to back are long behind us (though restaurant displays around the Mediterranean still depict the exact contents of what you can order, pin sharp, down to the number of prawns!).
So, have a go - start using unfocused detail creatively, and enjoy exploring the qualities of the lenses you own.
Living with the SD14, a Professional View
Let’s start as I mean to continue, cards on the table.This account is written for other photographers – people who take photographs rather than computer geeks or mobile phone nerds: I assume that, unlike them you’ll have a life and you’ll want to be out there chasing images. After all, that is what the SD14 is for. 
I began putting down some thoughts after feeding in the words “Sigma SD14 reviews” to a search engine and then being astonished by the widely-differing opinions for Sigma digital SLRs seemingly have the ability to activate love-hate wars like no other. I think it has something to do with the temerity of a small company posing any sort of challenge to the great Gods Canon and Nikon whose acolytes then leap unbidden into a vocal and, often hysterical, defence of their choices. 
Through the long evolution of my photography, first with film and then with digital, I have sought pin-sharp detail and colour fidelity, whether I am dealing with landscapes, buildings or the scales on a butterfly wing. That is my kind of photography and I make no apologies.
My cameras have to earn a living; they are not taken out, set on a pedestal, drooled over and put back again. Thus, just two days after taking the SD14 from its box on 2nd May 2007, it was with me on a flower-filled Sicilian hillside recording an orchid I had waited two decades to see. Every day since then I have used it in un-compromising fashion for my professional work. The ultimate trust was to use it to photograph my daughter’s wedding –one false move and the wrath would have been galactic. It worked superbly.
Crab Spider
Worryingly, those people who loudly voice opinions in the photographic press also seem unable to come to grips with basic terminology (the word pixel for instance), have no idea of the difference between sharpness and resolution and are oblivious to the fact that pixel count is not a substitute term for either. Sorry, but I have a perennial detestation of sloppiness (put it down to a physics background). But I have to note that the SD14 seems to gets the ‘thumbs up’ from people who take photography seriously: the thumbs down often comes from those who are either not practising photographers in a sense that you or I would understand or those who feel free to comment without using the camera…
So, the conclusion first…if you want exceptionally fine-detailed, beautiful coloured images that seem to jump off the computer screen and produce superb prints up to A2 (see later) then this is a camera I can unreservedly recommend because that is what I use it for. It is a refreshingly uncluttered machine and free of extraneous gimmicks (exposure modes, bells and whistles) so, if that is not what you wish to hear then I’ve saved you reading further.
In the field
First let me tell you the kind of tasks I set a camera so that you can better assess the viability of the SD14 as your choice of machine.One major passion is for wildlife subjects -often in close-up. This includes plants and insects in particular and any camera I use has to be equally at home in the field with macro lens and macroflash and also in the studio where it can be coupled to an array of gadgets I have built or modified. Yes, I would love to make a living from close-up, but the reality is that any camera I own has to work much harder than that on a gamut of freelance and editorial work from flowers in the landscape, buildings, trees, sunsets to people ….all obvious draws here in central Italy where I now live and work. I embraced the whole digital business six years ago and love the element of control I get from start to finish: there is now no one else to blame.
I can certainly see that the SD14 is not the camera for everyone (in fact that camera does not exist). If your living depends on speedily-grabbed pictures, bursts of shots and brilliant low-light performance then I think that the physical limits of the Foveon sensor would make the SD14 the wrong choice. The burst rate is low and even at ISO 400 noise is beginning to reveal itself. But then those are not drawbacks for me or for a legion of photographers who can and do take time...
Praying Mantis
Working with the SD14 – the routine part.
For all aspects of my work of this the SD14 has proved itself day after day and I have grown to love using it – in fact, thanks to a life change where I seem to spend much of my time covered in cement or sawdust, the arrival of this camera injected a much needed dose of enthusiasm. Serendipitously its arrival coincided with the appearance of lots of butterflies, fields brimming with poppies and all sorts of photogenic things just metres from home….On a day to day basis, there is no difficulty producing quality images with the SD14 – it is easy to use, as quick as most will need it to be and it feels comfortable in the hand. Furthermore, detail is captured with colour fidelity at a level that makes it possible to get those 50MB files that agencies demand (even for use where 5MB and less would be more than adequate, clients all now demand giant files…).My ‘workflow’ with this camera has been determined by the time that I needed to spend in front of the computer when I would rather be out and about taking pictures. So, first thing – I use a Lexar card reader that downloads images in a fraction of the time. I have only just started using Adobe Lightbox on the Mac so cannot comment honestly on its worth as a RAW converter.
Currently, I use Photopro to produce a set of ‘Same Sized Tiffs’ from the pictures I choose to keep or that are deemed worthy of printing or sending to agencies. The RAW files will be archived on a hard drive and DVD. I am pretty consistent with exposure so I find any tweaking in RAW is never too onerous to carry out – in this respect the Photopro controls for shadow, highlight, fill-light are excellent. But please Sigma why does it run so painfully slowly and why have you abandoned Mac users and not produced version 3 for them. If you are serious about getting pros to use the SD14 then wake up to the fact that many pros use Macs…
I wrote a short routine in Photoshop to convert these Tiffs to Genuine Fractals Format and then upscale via this programme to produce tiffs of 50MB and more. Long-winded yes but I run it over night if needed. The time factor makes me a bit more selective…
So why this rather than the file-doubling facility in Photopro. Well, Careful visual comparison of prints and of files on screen (at near individual pixel level) shows that when it comes to A3 sizes and larger the Genuine Fractals approach works more effectively than either file-doubling with Photopro or up-scaling with the various options in CS2. Lines and edges are visibly sharper producing an overall sensation of increased sharpness.
The reason is, I think, the following. Many of my pictures of natural subjects at close quarters contain small hairs, veins on leaves and insect wings and other details that are essentially lines or recognisable geometric shapes: same thing with details of buildings (brickwork, stones and so on…). Genuine Fractals functions by recognising patterns that depend on “fractals’ – shapes of snowflakes, veins on a leaf and so on are natural examples of these. These patterns can be ‘scaled’ to preserve relationships in shapes (the angles and curves etc) and thus, with large prints the tiny details I relish are reproduced rather than broken up by random addition of extra pixels. Those hairs on a bee’s knees are the kind of stuff this method renders superbly.Some Snippets
People are beginning to discover things with the SD14 that are not in the manual:
1. Infra-red sensitivity.
The glass that protects the sensor from dust has a coating that also acts as an Infra-red filter. Without it the SD14 becomes (as claimed by a number of people) “the best infra-red camera on the market” with a lot of room for experimentation.
2. Shooting to the right
Dr Andrew Stevens writes in his Review of the SD14 the BJP (02 May 2007) of over-exposing by 2 f-stops in RAW mode at ISO 100 equivalent and then “pulling back” in Photopro by 2EV to give an effective ISO 25: Kodachrome25 lives in digital form with wonderful colours tones and detail…
For those shooting in RAW mode exposure advice runs counter to what one was used to from film – remember underexposing slightly to increase transparency detail? With RAW exposure the nearer you can push to over-exposure without blasting out highlights the better.
The term ‘shooting to the right’ has been coined for is easier to look at the histogram and adjust exposure until it moves towards the right but stops short of ‘clipping’ where detail is lost.
Many DSLRs have a dynamic range of about six stops to encompass tones from bright whites to darkest blacks. They encode capture using 12 bits of data which means 4096 discrete tonal levels: half (2048) reside in the brightest level, quarter (1024) in the next then 512.256 and 64 for each stop down in the tonal scale. This means that in the lightest areas you can get the greatest subtlety since that is where there are most tonal levels. And it also tends to reduce noise in the shadows.
In practice with RAW it is better to darken an image for this adds levels in shadow areas. In most cameras, the idea of exposing for the middle gray is a hangover from film days – this is what produces the most pleasing JPEGS.
With RAW it is better to expose for the highlights…its never as easy as you want it to be.
Which Macro Lens?
Sigma has a great reputation for their Macro lenses and produces one of the most comprehensive line-ups there is. They start with the 50mm f/2.8 EX DG and go through the focal lengths of 70mm, 105mm 150mm right up to the 180mm. Every one of them can produce 1:1 images on all of the popular, 35mm derived SLR cameras produced today. There is even one designed to work on the newer 4/3rds system.
We are talking here about true Macro lenses, not the marketing hype Macros that are really only a close focussing lens. True Macro photography does not start until you reach the reproduction ratio of 1:1. That means that the image on the film/sensor is the same size as the object the image relates to.Macro photography continues to be called just that until you reach reproduction ratios of around 10:1, after which it becomes Microphotography.
So, why so many focal lengths to do the same job? Well there are a number of reasons, including angle of view, working distance and depth of field.
For example, at the two extremes, the 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro lens gives an angle of view of 46.8° and a minimum focussing distance of 18.9cm whereas the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG HSM Macro lens gives an angle of view of 13.7° and a closest focus distance of 46cm, but both give a magnification ratio of 1:1.
Now imagine you need to photograph small items repeatedly over a long period of time. The easiest way to achieve this would be with a suitable set-up as seen here where the camera is fixed on a stand and the objects are placed on a table beneath it. Now to use the 180mm lens in this situation would mean a stand with a post over a metre long, not a sensible proposition, whereas a 50mm lens fits the bill perfectly. The Natural History Museum in London has a couple of Sigma 50mm EX DG lenses in its photographic Department
Other disciplines require longer working distances, as with shooting insects, butterflies and some smaller reptiles where it is not so wise or desirable to approach too closely. Here, the longer focal lengths come into their own. In between these two extremes are the others that have various advantages and disadvantages.
Traditionally, the 105mm f/2.8 EX DG has been the most popular, not only as a compromise between the extremes, but doubling up as an excellent short telephoto suitable for portrait work. The 70mm f/2.8 EX DG, as the newest of the bunch, has been introduced to fit in the same area on APS-C sized sensors but, sensibly, retains the ability to be used on full frame and 35mm film cameras too.
The 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM occupies the large gap between the 105mm and the 180mm and inherits the internal focussing of the longer lens along with the sonic motor. This does make things like bug hunting a little easier, as the autofocus is somewhat quicker. However, fast autofocus is not the prime domain of True Macro lenses because of the need for extreme accuracy in the focussing. Because of this, Macro lenses tend to have finer pitched focussing threads that need more turning to achieve focus.
Depth of field is a subject in its own right but suffice to say that it is measured in millimetres in Macro photography. DOF also decreases, as focal length gets longer, introducing another reason for having multiple choices. Apparent DOF also changes with sensor size, smaller sensors giving apparently greater depth and introducing another variable. Sigma's latest Macro lens, the award winning 70mm
Another point that should be remembered here is that quoted closest focussing distances are measured from the film/sensor plane. This means that most of the camera body, along with all of the lens, is included in the distance given. This introduces another problem in some disciplines, that of getting light onto the subject without shadows being cast by the camera/lens combo. Over the next few articles we will look at these variable areas in more depth.
20 Beginners Tips For Digital Photography
Many beginners find digital photography rather challenging and rightly so. Today, more and more digital cameras are being created and it seems like the more digital cameras they make, the more difficult they become to use.
You may not want or even need a camera with tons of features. It really depends on the type of pictures you plan on taking.
Regardless of the camera you own or are planning to own, you should have a well-rounded knowledge of digital photography. Hopefully the following 20 tips for capturing digital images will prove to be useful in your quest for taking better photographs.
1. Know your camera. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not taking time to learn about the features of your camera; some models will have useful functions within the menus. Know your lenses too; find out where they offer the best clarity by experimenting.
2 - When shooting sunny outdoor shots, try adjusting your white balance setting from auto to cloudy. The auto setting will make your shots appear too cold. When you change it to cloudy, it will increase the warmth of your pictures.
3 - If you are looking for superior image quality, the ability to use a large variety of lenses and print large high quality photos, then look towards DSLRs with larger photosites for a given sensor area - more megapixels is not necessarily going to deliver higher quality.
4 - Use your flash outdoors. Sometimes, even on a sunny day outdoors, there is still a need for a flash. If the sun is directly overhead or behind your subject, this can cause dark shadows to appear on the face. The flash will help lighten the subjects face.
5 - Sometimes simply turning your camera and taking vertical shots can make a world of difference. Experiment more with vertical picture taking.
6 - Do not put your subjects directly in the centre of your shot. Move your subject off centre to inject more life into your photos.
7 - Learn how to hold your digital camera. One of the most common problems beginners face is the shaking of the camera because they are not holding it properly. Of course, the best way to avoid shaking the camera is to use a tripod. If you don't have a tripod, then you should be holding your camera with two hands. Put one hand on the right hand side of your camera where you actually snap the photo and the other hand will support the weight of your camera. Depending on the camera, your left hand will either be positioned on the bottom or around your lens.
8 - Learn about the "Rule of Thirds". This is a well-known principle of photographic composition that every beginner should become familiar with. Do a search online and you will find many tutorials on this subject.
9 - Look at other photographers work. Just spending time studying the work of other photographers can provide loads of inspiration.
10 - Join online photography communities. Get active and ask questions, enter competitions and submit your images for critique.
11 - Do not compare your images with other people's, only your last shot.
12 - Do not copy the work of other photographers. Try and develop your own unique style.
13 - Do not leave your batteries in your camera if you don't plan on using your camera for long periods of time. Many cameras will drain the battery whilst it is sitting, and then you'll find yourself unable to use it when you need to. Invest in spare batteries and chargers if your camera is mission critical.
14 - Subscribe to a good photography magazine or online forum. Read books on photography.
15 - Find experienced photographers to go out on shoots with.
16 - Post your photographs in online forums. Learn to accept criticism.
17 - Learn how to use RAW and JPEG formats depending on your camera's capability and your intended use for the image. If you're shooting for eBay or websites, use JPEG as your workflow will be faster; if you're shooting for print or stock, shoot in the highest-quality RAW files and make sure you have an unsharpened, unretouched version saved as a starting point. If you want to use the files on other platforms look at exporting 16-bit TIFF or DNG files.
18 - Don't buy the most expensive photography equipment right away. Practice and learn about photography using cheaper equipment first. After you have been taking pictures for a while, you will then know what kind of equipment you will need. However, do try higher end lenses if you're unhappy with the technical quality of your results.
19 - Invest in a tripod. Some of us have very shaky hands. If you can't stop the shakes, then get a tripod. It will make a world of difference. Choosing your tripod can make a lot of difference to how prepared you are to use it - if you have a quick-release base and a lightweight tripod, you'll find yourself bringing it along on the offchance you might need it. Models like Gitzo's "Traveller" range will be unobtrusive.
20 - If you are not able to carry your equipment with you everywhere, make sure you have a note pad handy. This way if you find a nice shot, you can write it down and visit that location at a later date. When shooting, if you make geographical notes or use the camera's voice memo functions, you can make your stock shots more marketable by adding accurate tags and dates; some models of camera now offer GPS data as well.
J.Hass
J.Hass is a Korean brand of formal suit, price is quite simalar to Taiwan brand G2000
but the design is much much better.
Everytime i shop a lot when i go to Korea
but the design is much much better.
Everytime i shop a lot when i go to Korea
2009-05-28
Sigma SD15
September 23rd, 2008 - 08:00 CET - Sigma's SD line of cameras reaches the 4th revision, with the SD15. Starting with the SD9 as long ago as 2002, Sigma's unique use of the Foveon x3 sensor has ensured their DSLR range remains controversial and interesting - and the SD15 promises to retain that attention from other DSLR users. Crucially, the Foveon sensor remains - the APS-C format, 4.5Mp x 3 non-interpolated imager is widely regarded as being the sharpest DSLR technology available - and the SD15 focuses on improving the user experience.
Adopting the TRUE II image processing engine should yield faster shooting, and a new 3.0" LCD allows easier image preview and more information on screen. Ergonomic revisions see a slight "softening" of the SD14 shape and relocated buttons.
Read more for the PR and images.
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new SIGMA SD15 digital SLR camera.
This camera is the latest model in Sigma’s digital SLR camera SD series, powered by the 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct-image-sensor it can capture all primary RGB colours at each and every pixel location arranged in three layers.
The new SD15 DSLR from Sigma, announced at Photokina
The developing SD15 incorporates the “TRUE II” new image processing engine. It provides high resolution power and reproduces high definition images rich in gradation and impressive three-dimensional detail. Incorporation of the large 3.0 inch LCD monitor and improved processing speed provide ease of operation of the camera.
Development of the SD15
Since October 2002, Sigma has introduced three digital SLR cameras, the SD9, SD10 and SD14 to the market. In March 2008 Sigma also introduced a high end compact digital camera, the DP1 which uses the same large image sensor as is featured in Sigma’s digital SLR cameras. They have established a strong following from a wide range of photographers, both amateur and professional.
Photographers expressed a desire to incorporate the image processing engine “TRUE”, which is used in the DP1, into a digital SLR camera. In order to meet this demand, the SD15, with high resolution direct image sensor, has been designed around the new “TRUE II” image processing engine. This combination delivers superior image quality as well as improved processing speed, operation and performance.
- 14 megapixel Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor
- TRUE II Image Processing Engine
- High Resolution 3.0 inch LCD monitor
- SD card storage
(Full specifications will be published as soon as they are available).
In an interview with Mr. Yamaki, by Imaging-Resource, the SD15 is revealed to have SD (presumably SDHC) card storage instead of CF card. The TRUE II engine is also supposed to give lower noise, faster processing and other improvements.
2009-05-25
2009-05-22
2009-05-06
2009-05-05
朋友問: 為什麼要買韓國的相機？？
朋友問: 為什麼要買韓國的相機? 這個問題應該是你買東西的時候看的重點是甚麼
對我來說，一件東西是好是壞產品的C/P值很重要，用便宜的價錢買到high Spec的產品又能產生最大的效益這件東西就是好東西。我是念商出身的，一件產品不管是在哪生產，只要這件商品可以帶來商機這件商品就是好商品，就算在越南泰國柬埔寨做出來的東西只要是有特性能賺錢站在國貿的角度看這就是好生意，甚麼反韓反大陸貨跟我一點關係也沒有。
話說回來，我是攝影的初學者，攝影是一們很深奧的學問，跟深澳這兩個字有關係的都必須把基礎打好，所以朋友問為甚麼不直接買單眼相機，既然要學了就要有好的武器不是嗎？我的回答很簡單，連90左輪手槍都打不準了為什麼要一開始就使用狙擊槍，我寧可選擇一把好的90手槍。
在選購這台相機samsung wb500前我讀過許多有關攝影的文章，這台相機具備了24mm的廣角，十倍的光學變焦，ISO3200及手動模式，價格合理，耗電量相當持久，在告訴朋友之後，朋友也很驚訝為什麼一台小DC可以具備高階DC的功能，yeah，這就是我買它的原因，雖然他的影像處理技術沒有高階DC的好，但只要它可以讓我把基本的構圖，及一些拍照的基本技術學好就已經足夠了。
今天是我買這台相機後的第二個禮拜，白天使用起來的效果真的沒話說，晚上的還不清楚（因為還沒有買腳架），過陣子如果有夜拍的話在跟大家分享。
對我來說，一件東西是好是壞產品的C/P值很重要，用便宜的價錢買到high Spec的產品又能產生最大的效益這件東西就是好東西。我是念商出身的，一件產品不管是在哪生產，只要這件商品可以帶來商機這件商品就是好商品，就算在越南泰國柬埔寨做出來的東西只要是有特性能賺錢站在國貿的角度看這就是好生意，甚麼反韓反大陸貨跟我一點關係也沒有。
話說回來，我是攝影的初學者，攝影是一們很深奧的學問，跟深澳這兩個字有關係的都必須把基礎打好，所以朋友問為甚麼不直接買單眼相機，既然要學了就要有好的武器不是嗎？我的回答很簡單，連90左輪手槍都打不準了為什麼要一開始就使用狙擊槍，我寧可選擇一把好的90手槍。
在選購這台相機samsung wb500前我讀過許多有關攝影的文章，這台相機具備了24mm的廣角，十倍的光學變焦，ISO3200及手動模式，價格合理，耗電量相當持久，在告訴朋友之後，朋友也很驚訝為什麼一台小DC可以具備高階DC的功能，yeah，這就是我買它的原因，雖然他的影像處理技術沒有高階DC的好，但只要它可以讓我把基本的構圖，及一些拍照的基本技術學好就已經足夠了。
今天是我買這台相機後的第二個禮拜，白天使用起來的效果真的沒話說，晚上的還不清楚（因為還沒有買腳架），過陣子如果有夜拍的話在跟大家分享。
2009-05-04
[新聞] 看中國富豪分佈圖可知內需“藍海”
朝鮮日報記者 池海範 (2009.05.04 16:10)
記者提一個問題，在全球經濟危機下造成下列4種現象的共同起因是什麼？① LG化學第一季度當期淨利潤增長11.6%.
② 今年錦湖石化蔚山工廠ABS合成樹脂產量同比增加2倍以上。
③ 斗山Infracore的2月份建築設備銷量達1500台，創單月最高紀錄。
④ 第一季度LG顯示器坡州工廠開工率超過90%.
正確答案就是“中國內需市場”。隨著中國政府迅速採取的內需刺激計畫發揮效果，韓國企業紛紛傳來“喜報”。最近，以在中韓國企業為對象實施的問卷調查結果顯示，半數以上受訪者表示“中國實體經濟正在恢復”，64%的受訪者表示“中國內需增長正帶動經濟復甦”。
- ▲今年2月，中國雲南省的農民正在觀看家電產品。中國政府在去年年末實行“家電下鄉”政策，以刺激內需。照片=彭博社
具體的數值顯現出中國內需市場正在復甦。據新華社上月16日報導，第一季度中國國內市場消費增長15%.帶動消費的產品主要包括傢俱、建材、汽車和電子產品等。值得關注的是，縣級以下農村地區消費增長率(17%)高於城市地區消費增長率(14.1%)。
此外，第一季度固定資產投資也大幅增長(28.8%)，中部地區(34.3%)和西部地區(46.1%)增長率高於東部沿海地區(19.8%)。受此影 響，韓國企業的石化產品、液晶顯示器、建築機械、小型汽車出口也有所增加。上證綜合指數在今年上漲40%，第一季度中國貸款額接近去年的貸款總額。
中國內需市場如此迅速得以恢復，主要依賴於中國政府果斷、迅速的內需刺激政策。中國政府在2008年下半年金融危機爆發後便將經濟增長戰略從“出口為主” 轉向“內需為主”，並在今年3月的全國人民代表大會上通過了2009年至2010年投入4萬億元人民幣的救市計畫。這筆資金將用於：公路、鐵路、機場等大 型社會基礎設施建設（1.5萬億元人民幣）；地震重建項目（1萬億元人民幣）；廉租房等民生工程（4000億元人民幣）；上下水道等農村基礎設施建設 （3700億元人民幣）；環保、醫療、文化、教育等（3600億元人民幣）等。
中國還同時推出了面向產業結構調整的十大產業振興規劃、地方政府的刺激消費政策、農民購買補貼政策等多項救市政策。比如，杭州、重慶、長沙、瀋陽等地方政 府還向低收入階層發放消費券或減稅。此外，還實施“家電下鄉”政策，向購買家電產品的農民提供13%的補貼，以拉動大民消費。因此，目前在中國農村，掀起 了囤積電視、冰箱等家電的熱潮，甚至還出現了“山寨家電”。
■內需市場，有必要開拓以下城市
如果說美國有“富比世富豪榜”，中國就有英國人胡潤制定的“胡潤富豪榜”。
據上月發佈的本年度胡潤富豪榜顯示，財產超過1千萬元人民幣的中國富豪有82.5萬人。13.7億中國人口中，有萬分之六是“千萬富翁”。其中，財產超過 1億元人民幣的“億萬富翁”有5.1萬人。資料還顯示，“千萬富翁”的平均年齡只有39歲，而且大部分是企業家、大企業或外籍企業的高層幹部、房地產投資 商及股民。本年度胡潤富豪榜上的富豪人數，比花旗銀行2008年公佈的財產超過100萬美元的中國富翁（37.3萬）多出一倍以上。
計畫開拓中國內需市場的韓國企業有必要留意富翁分佈情況。
資料顯示，“千萬富翁”分佈最多的省或直轄市是中國首都北京，達14.3萬人。1650萬北京人口中，1萬分之88是“千萬富翁”。位居第二和第三的分別 是廣東省和上海。擁有1000萬人口的天津，有1.31萬“千萬富翁”（在城市排行中居第9位），而人口最多的直轄市——重慶（3200萬）只有9800 名“千萬富翁”（居第16位），排名位於下游。此外，東北地區的瀋陽和哈爾濱“千萬富翁”有5000至6000人，比預期還要多。
韓國貿易投資振興公司（KOTRA）最近表示，除了北京、上海、廣州等城市以外，天津、杭州、廈門、重慶、瀋陽、長沙、濟南、哈爾濱、鄭州、南寧、烏魯木 齊已開始成為中國內需市場的“新藍海”。備受青睞的“新藍海”城市的消費趨勢有注重健康生活、喜愛混搭食品、信用卡用戶和網上購物增多、年輕人喜愛名牌、 異國文化消費提高、海外旅行劇增等。KOTRA表示，由於年輕女性成為主消費群體，中國還出現了“她經濟”這一新詞。
此外，對中國社會科學院4月14日公佈的“綜合增長競爭力前十名城市”——內蒙古鄂爾多斯、海拉爾、包頭、巴彥淖爾、廣東省河源、清遠、遼寧省鐵嶺、營口、吉林省遼源、通化等也值得予以關注。
KOTRA國際貿易研究院研究員鄭煥宇（音）表示：“全球金融危機結束時，中國的影響力將大幅提升。有必要考慮以高新技術得到重組的中國產業結構，及如何制定‘行業分工格局’，同時積極開拓中國內需市場。”
2009-05-03
2009-04-29
2009-04-28
2009-04-27
2009-04-26
Youtube 高畫質HD影片 Kobe Bryant - Clutch in High-Def (Clutch shots compilation 2007-2009)
HD高畫質真的很清晰, 我想DVD應該不能滿足我了
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