Monday, September 30, 2013

Google+ Dimensions Cheat Sheet: Infographic

Google+ just keeps getting better and better for photographers to show off their finest pieces of art.  Starting September 25th, and thanks to Nik Photography/Snapseed, Google+'s RAW-to-JPEG conversion is now significantly improved.  RAW images from more than 70 different cameras can now be uploaded, and they are adding in additional models over time.

Try uploading your own RAW image, and let us know what you think of the new feature.  From there you can edit the JPEG copy as much as you'd like with the new Google+ editor (http://goo.gl/6QKhqW), and download the original RAW file whenever you want.  Is this possibly a replacement, or at least a wrench in the wheels for Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud?  Stay tuned, and we'll provide more information as questions are clarified about this new use of Google+.

For now, it's every photographers dream to be able to show their full sized images on social media.  So here is your opportunity to take full advantage of every pixel on Google+.  This handy infographic acts as a speedy reference for image dimensions for Google+ pages and Google+ Local pages.

Google+ Dimensions Cheat Sheet Infographic from SYBTL & Dakota Visions Photography
[ Source TechWyse Internet Marketing ]

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Sneak Peek: Black Hills Photo Shootout

The Black Hills Photo Shootout in Spearfish, SD is a great opportunity to learn from some of the best photographers in the country.  Not only that, but you are among some of the most beautiful locations to shoot in the Upper Midwest.  Add it all together - you get a great seminar filled with photographic once-in-a-lifetime shots.

Here's a sneak peek at what you can expect from us in the coming weeks.  Stay tuned for future shots from these seminars that we will be attending: Birds of Prey, Cowboys - Portraits of the West, and Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thanks to Black Hills Raptor Center and Jason Hahn from Outdoor Photo Workshops for helping set up shots like this one:

Black Hills Photo Shootout - Birds of Prey Seminar from Dakota Visions Photography

We'll see you behind the lens...

Friday, September 27, 2013

Most Expensive Cameras in the World: Infographic

Cameras are one of the most incredible inventions known to man...or so my mind thinks anyway.  You can capture a moment in time to savor for years to come...a snapshot into the soul of time.  But with that ability to capture time comes great responsibility, and sometimes, a great price tag.

Because we have seen such a growth in the technology that fuels our cameras, we have fallen into the habit of believing each round of new cameras should be cheaper than the one we bought before.  But in some instances, cameras are actually becoming more expensive to buy because of the quality and even the name on the camera. Here is a great little list of the most expensive cameras in the world - The Most Expensive Cameras in the World Infographic.

Leading off the list, the Leica 0-Series Nr. 107 priced at $1,900,000.00.  The Susse Freres Daguerreotype camera, estimated at $978,000.00, is the second most expensive camera in the world.  Have a peek at this great infographic to see the rest of the most expensive cameras in the world.

So would you have guessed that the most expensive camera in the world is worth $1,900,000.00?!

Most Expensive Cameras in the World Infographic on See You Behind the Lens

Most Expensive Cameras in the World

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Thoughtful Thursday Photography Quote: September 26

What more do you need to say than this great quote about photography and life?  Take those negatives and develop them...

Life is like PHOTOGRAPHY We develop from the NEGATIVES - Thoughtful Thursday Quote by Dakota Visions Photography www.seeyoubehindthelens.com

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Setting Up Your Creative Cloud Membership on Multiple Computers

We live in a multi-computer generation where people have desktops, laptops, and tablets. So how do you load your Adobe® Creative Cloud membership on multiple computers?  

Or in my specific case which prompted this blog post, when you have to replace one of those computers (whom the computer gods decided to taketh away), and you did not have the chance to deactivate the Adobe Creative Cloud membership on one of the two computers, how to get it on your replacement laptop? 

This video by Adobe TV will teach you how to set up your Creative Cloud account, download, and install your applications on a primary and secondary computer. And, if your computer is lost or stolen or you simply buy a new computer, this video will also show you how easy it is to deactivate your Creative Cloud account on one system and activate it on another.


Credit for Video Embed: Adobe® TV

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Thoughtful Thursday Photography Quote: September 5

If you've noticed in the last few Thoughtful Thursday Photography Quotes we have spent time reminding ourselves and others that the camera is not the problem.  Sometimes you get in ruts and think the way to get out of them is by picking up the latest piece of technology or newest gadget for your camera, but truly the only limitation in how good your photography is lies within yourself.  You are your own worst enemy, as my Mother would say.  

Reach out and inspire yourself on social media or the web.  Go to an art gallery featuring a photographer's work.  Get out in the wild and take pictures of something you have never taken photos of before.  Use that prime lens that is gathering dust in your camera bag.  Take some time to learn a new photography technique from one of the many great tutorial videos on the web.  Start a structured 365 project.  

The only limitation to your photography is between your ears.  

See You Behind the Lens Thoughtful Thursday Photography Quote by Ernst Haas - The limitations in your photography are in yourself.

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

onOne Software Announces Perfect Photo Suite 8: Available Now for Pre-Order

New Perfect Enhance module, Perfect Eraser, Perfect Batch utility, and re-engineered Perfect Effects module create a complete photo editing solution that seamlessly integrates into any workflow

Perfect Photo Suite 8 Available Now for Pre-Order
Portland, OR – September 4, 2013

onOne Software, Inc., a leading developer of innovative and timesaving solutions for digital photography, today announced Perfect Photo Suite 8—the photographer’s choice for photo editing. Perfect Photo Suite 8 is a full-featured, standalone photo editor that integrates seamlessly with Adobe® Photoshop®, Lightroom®, Photoshop Elements, and Apple® Aperture® and it includes all the best tools a photographer needs to create extraordinary images. Key new features include the Perfect Enhance module for essential photo adjustments, the Perfect Eraser with content-aware fill technology, the Perfect Batch processing utility for applying workflows to multiple images at once, and a re-engineered Perfect Effects module with twice as many filters, customizable presets, and integrated FocalPoint™ technology.

The new tools and capabilities alongside Perfect Photo Suite 8’s eight modules—Effects, Enhance, B&W, Portrait, Mask, Layers, Resize, and Browse—allow photographers to enhance, retouch, and stylize images in a layered workflow, replace backgrounds, create high-quality enlargements, prepare images for output, and batch process workflows. The modules share a unified interface, each targeting a specific image processing task. Each module provides only the tools necessary to complete the job at hand, eliminating screen clutter and confusion for the user.

“We listened intently to the digital photography community about what they wanted for their image processing in today’s world of plug-ins, online apps, and subscriptions,” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. “We made it a priority to respond quickly and design a cohesive new product that continues to focus on photography and is built for photographers of all levels, from enthusiasts to professionals. We’ve leveraged our extensive experience as a plug-in company and evolved the Perfect Photo Suite into a complete and powerful photo editor that, unlike existing plug-in collections, works as one, elegantly designed product that seamlessly integrates into any workflow.”

New in Perfect Photo Suite 8

  • Perfect Enhance module: Perfect Enhance provides essential tools for basic enhancements. Use it to adjust brightness and contrast, remove a color cast, remove dust spots and power lines, and add sharpening and vignettes. It is an ideal module to start with when using Perfect Photo Suite 8 as a standalone application or when quick corrections are needed.
  • Perfect Eraser:  Using content-aware fill technology and simple brush strokes, the Perfect Eraser removes objects and automatically reconstructs the image with realistic results. 
  • Twice as Many Filters: The Effects module now includes new adjustable filters including: HDR Look, Dynamic Contrast for tonal clarity, Vintage, Grunge, Antique, and more. 
  • Customizable Presets: All built-in presets included in Perfect Photo Suite 8 may be deconstructed by their filter settings and personally customized.
  • FocalPoint is now in the Effects Module: The best parts of FocalPoint technology to create bokeh, tilt-shift, and selective focus effects after the shot, are now in the Effects module as the Lens Blur filter. 
  • New Browse module: Images can be browsed and directly accessed from Perfect Photo Suite wherever they are stored—on the computer, an external drive, a connected network, and even on a cloud-based storage service like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Apple’s photo stream.
  • Perfect Batch Utility: Powerful batch processing of actions from one or multiple modules, including the insertion of a watermark.
  • Multiple File Handling - As a photo editor, you can now open and work with more than one image at a time. Move between images to edit or copy layers from one file to the next.
  • Improved Masking Bug - Redesigned Masking Bug in the Effects and Layers modules make mask creation easier and more intuitive.
  • Higher Quality Effects: Performance enhancements improve effects by minimizing artifacts without sacrificing processing speed. 
  • Improved RAW file handling: Open and process RAW files faster and with better quality. Support for new cameras also added. 

Availability and Pricing

The new Perfect Photo Suite 8 will be available November 26, 2013. Pre-orders are available immediately at www.ononesoftware.com. Perfect Photo Suite 8 is available in three editions: Premium, Standard, and an edition for Adobe Lightroom & Apple Aperture.

The Premium Edition works with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop Elements, and as a standalone application. Owners of previous versions of Perfect Photo Suite Premium Edition can upgrade for $99.95. New users may pre-order the Premium Edition for $179.95. For a limited time, pre-orders of Perfect Photo Suite 8 Premium Edition will include a complimentary Essential Video Guide to Perfect Photo Suite 8, which provides a comprehensive collection of getting started training videos for Perfect Photo Suite 8 ($40 value).

Perfect Photo Suite 8 for Adobe Lightroom & Apple Aperture works with Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop Elements, and as a standalone application. It is available for $129.95 | $79.95 upgrade. The Standard Edition works as a complete standalone photo editor and is available for $79.95.

New users who pre-order Perfect Photo Suite 8 will immediately receive a complimentary license for Perfect Photo Suite 7.5. Customers who pre-order Perfect Photo Suite 8 will receive all upcoming Loyalty Rewards that will be delivered monthly to owners of the Perfect Photo Suite 8. For those who have purchased Perfect Photo Suite 7.5 on or after August 1, 2013, onOne Software will issue a complimentary upgrade to Perfect Photo Suite 8 via download when it is available. For more information on Perfect Photo Suite 8, please visit ononesoftware.com.

As always, we stand behind the recommendations we make on this website, not because onOne Software is an affiliate of ours, but that we use their product - and pay for it, just like you do.  We believe in their products because they are easy to use, powerful image processing software, and a great tool to enhance your photographs as well as our own.  If you have been looking for a Photoshop replacement, you've found it here, with Perfect Photo Suite 8.  Buy it today!

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

(Source: Press Release - onOne Software, Portland OR)
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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Who Shot the Photographer?

This infographic from Imagebrief takes a look at the cruel, tough world of being a stock photographer.  Imagebrief has created a site for creative image seekers to be matched up with creative photographers, hand selected to meet the needs of their clients.  They have also tried to raise the bar for photographers share of revenue.  But let's dive into the real question here - who shot the photographer?

The expense barrier to purchasing quality cameras is almost non-existent anymore.  There are roughly 3,000,000 aspiring, part-time, and full-time photographers in the world.  And that doesn't even count everyone with a cell-phone camera filling the internet with images.  The marketplace is flooded with images.  Five of the largest stock photography sites contain approximately 90 million photographs.

Is photography dead as we once knew it?  Digital cameras have saturated (pardon the pun) the market with over 85% of households now containing at least one digital camera.  With the median income for shooting microstock falling around the $4,000 a year category, there isn't any room for profit unless a photographer has diversified their income stream.

So we would like to hear from you.  Is the photographer dead?  Are professional images of quality, part-time or full-time photographers left out in the cold when everyone has an iPhone or Android phone in their pocket taking snapshots?  Would you encourage your son or daughter to become a photographer?  Please leave a comment below - we'd like to hear what you think.

Who shot the photographer?
By alyssa_george.  Infographic image courtesy of Visually and Imagebrief.

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Sunday, September 1, 2013

2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Images

We couldn't wait to follow up on the Sneak Peek: Kool Deadwood Nites 2013 Car Show post.  But the problem was, we couldn't just pick a few photographs to showcase!  The beauty of Deadwood, SD and the amazing cars brought in from all over the upper midwest...choices, choices, choices!

So for this post, we are just going to cut it short, and we'll just let the drool begin.  Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the 2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show:

2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Images by Dakota Visions Photography LLC

2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Images by Dakota Visions Photography LLC

2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Images by Dakota Visions Photography LLC

2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Images by Dakota Visions Photography LLC

2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Images by Dakota Visions Photography LLC

2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Images by Dakota Visions Photography LLC

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC