Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween...

SHOWIT

SHOWIT Coming soon!!more info click here

WPPI Feb14 - 19, 2009

WPPI Feb 14 -19,2009
Don't miss out in the best of photography. All in one place from A to Z its gonna be an awesome week!!more info click here

T-MOBILE G1

T-MOBILE G1 IS HERE!!

more info click here

Optimize performance in Photoshop CS4 on Mac OS

Optimize performance in Photoshop CS4 on Mac OS

click here for info

One on One with - Gene Higa

Prophotohub & Gene Higa....
Gene Higa
B-DAY March-29

1) PPH: Where is home ??
GH: Beautiful city of San Francisco2) PPH: How long have you been shooting ??
GH: I have been involved in wedding photography for 13 years now.

3) PPH: What camera gear do you use / and what's your favorite lens ??
GH: I am 100% canon guy. Have been since the beginning of my career. My favorite lens is my 50 mm 1.0. hard to find these days and it's my baby. Sharp and fast.

4) PPH: Do you have a memorable wedding photography moment ??
GH: I have memorable moments every weekend, but if I had to remember one. That one moment for actually hangs above my desk. It was the very first shat that I ever took at a wedding. The wedding was at pebble Beach. I asked the pro I was working for (now good friend) to give me a camera and let me shoot. I metered off the grass to get a middle gray reading, set my aperture and shutter speed. I took one shot. The one shot is of the bride walking down the stairs about the enter the ceremony, the guests all standing, the groom anticipating the moment against the cliffs of Pebble Beach. It's the moment we all wait for and the one moment that set the tone for the wedding day. For me, that one image is what set the wheels in motion and gave me the confidence to start a career as a wedding photographer. To this day it's my inspiration before i leave for any and all my weddings.

5) PPH: First car? Today's car? What do you want in the future ??
GH: Haha, it was a nissan truck. But, I back in the day I was into street racing so this nissan truck was really fast. Today, I have mellowed out a bit. So I drive a Mercedes benz. But, I got my eye on a black on black BMW 335 ie or the M3. So maybe, I am not that mellow. haha. Good question, I love cars just like any other guy out there.

6) PPH: Is there anyone else in the "biz" you enjoy shooting with? why? who would you like to shoot with ??
GH: Hands down, my studio partner Ann Hamilton (www.annhamilton.com). We share a studio space and do time trades. She has traveled to world with me doing destination weddings. We have a rhythm while shooting and it's very in sync. Funny, at times you can hear the shutters going off at the same exact time. But, the views and style are so different, yet very complimentary.

7) PPH: Where would you like to shoot that you haven't yet ??
GH: Funny you ask, I have been all over the world and have had the opportunity to shoot in Philippines, Peru, India, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Jamaica, Thailand, Barbados, Hawaii and across the U.S. Later this year we are in South Africa. That should be really interesting. But, there is this one small chapel in the Maldives. It's see through, has a glass floor and seats up to 20 people, that would be fun. one day, I'll get there.

8) PPH: Where would be your dream " desti " location ??
GH: Too be honest, I have shot everywhere I have wanted to shoot, so far. So, a over the top wedding on the banks Jerusalem or Dubai. Maybe, one in Cambodia, amongst the buddhist monks and the temple ruins. I think very big and willing to go to the extreme. For me it's the experience, that is the best destination.

9) PPH: What good tips can you give to a photographer starting off today ??
GH: Your presentation is everything. it's your clients first glimpse of what you do. If you take the time to showcase your images and business in best possible way, others will remember that. Next, work on your marketing and network with other like minded individuals. Surround yourself 24/7 with what you love, photography. Be passionate, Give back. Listen. Find your nitche market. Teach. Take some time for yourself. Stay true to yourself. Learn about money, don't forget that this is a business. How to invest it make it grow and how it can take care of you later.

10) PPH: What is the one approach / step that took your studio to where it is today ??
GH: in 2004 I was getting really burned out and I was looking to make my business really stand out. So I took a good look at my peers and others in the wedding industry. I noticed a trend of others saying they were willing to travel for weddings. Only some were really doing it, no one in my market. I they took a look at my client base. I had a bring coming to Carmel to get married from Washington D.C. I wondered how many other brides out there were going away for weddings. I shot that wedding, I started to spread the word that I was willing to travel for weddings. One of the bridesmaids lived in North Carolina nd was getting married. She later flew me out and it was my first taste of destination weddings. I was onto something. From that day I have always marketed my business around destinations weddings. In 2006 I hit 14 countries and now do 10 a year. the word of mouth has spread through our industry, my brides and my peers. Destination weddings are my niche market and have made my business stand out in a big way. I am excited about the types of calls we get and to be photographing in exotic locals is really exciting.

PPH: In your words any great projects / workshop / seminars / dvds / in the works ??
GH: Thanks for asking. i am putting together genehigaworkshops.com. I am going to be teaming up with 10 of the hottest photographers in the industry to give workshops around the country and abroad. In the near future, I am giving a workshop with my good friend Jason Groupp in NYC. October 22nd. We have two seats left. Then I speak in Wisconsin for a local PPA group. WPPI 2009 I have a platform room where I am speaking on, "Find your niche, make it your name and own it." It's my 3rd year speaking, I was a "Young Gun" last year. I love to help my fellow photographer in any way I can.

Big Shots @ CDIA

Just got a great email from my friends Dawn Davis & Skip Cohen from RANGEFINDER Magazine check it out glad to help!!
Can you guys help spread the word...
Thanks so much guys.

Big Shots at CDIA
Photography Experts Speaker Series
We’re bringing in big photographic talent with vast knowledge to make some noise in the Boston digital art and photography community. This speaker series, hosted by Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts, covers topics of special interest for today’s photographer.

Photographers work with individuals, companies, and communities to give a visual and a voice to their subject. How do some of the big shots in the industry do what they do so well? What are the latest tools out there for producing the best images? What’s on the horizon?

Come hear what the experts have to say and participate in a lively discussion when the first of the six–part Big Shots speaker series begins on October 27.

Proceeds from these events will be donated to the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation.
more info click here

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Now Shipping!!

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Now Shipping!!more info click here

New MacBook

MacBook ProNew MacBook
LED Cinema DisplayIntroducing the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. It doesn’t just expand the screen of your new MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air. With a built-in iSight camera, mic, and speakers, it expands your whole experience.
more info click here

One on One with - Jasmine Star

Prophotohub & Jasmine Star....

Jasmine Star

B-DAY April-6

1) PPH: Where is home ??

 JS: Orange County, CA 

2) PPH:  How long have you been shooting ??

JS: Two years

3) PPH: What camera gear do you use / and what's your favorite lens ?? 

JS: Canon gear and my favorite lens is the 50mm, 1.2 

4) PPH: Do you have a memorable wedding photography moment ??

JS: A couple months ago, I shot a wedding in Seattle, Washington and the bride and groom were spectacular!  We were treated like family and their friends embraced us immediately...the wedding was perfection!  At the end of the night, the band played "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas and I found myself taking pictures in the center of friends and family as they jumped simultaneously in the air.  Everyone was waving their arms and singing along and it was one of the happiest moments of my season.  It made what I did that much sweeter and I fell more in love with wedding photography.

5) PPH: First car? Today's car? What do you want in the future ??

JS: First car: Pontiac Sunfire (give me a break...it was totally cool!).  Current car: Infiniti G35.  Future car: Porsche Cayenne. 

6) PPH: Is there anyone else in the "biz"  you enjoy shooting with? why? who would you like to shoot with ??

JS:  I really loved shooting with Becker ( www.thebecker.com ).  I learned so much from him!  He has such an impactful way of engaging with his clients and their families and it's awesome!  :)  I would love to shoot with Jose Villa ( www.josevilla.com ) and watch how he sees a wedding and how he executes his vision for the day. 

7) PPH: Where would you like to shoot that you haven't yet ??

JS: I want to shoot a garden wedding in England.  I picture it to be earthy style, vintage, and just fabulous! 

8) PPH: Where would be your dream " desti " location ??

JS: I dream of shooting a wedding in Australia or Thailand...I just imagine it'd be so amazing to shoot in those countries! 

9) PPH: What good tips can you give to a photographer starting off today ??

JS: Take risks, dream big, and get uncomfortable! 

10) PPH: What is the one approach / step that took your studio to where it is today ??

JS: Blogging took my business to another level.  There's no way my studio would be where it is today without establishing a web presence.  The ever changing dynamic of the wedding industry really lent itself to blogging and I made it a point to leverage it as an asset! :) 

Maybe...time will only tell! ;)

The Mike Colón Experience Retreat in Paradise!

Thanks for all your guesses in the last week! We are proud to annouce the release of the Mike Colón Experience X- (December 7-12, 2008) Retreat in Paradise! In celebration of our 10th private workshop, we've decided to do something extra special. We are taking The Mike Colón Experience to paradise on the beautiful Pacific Island of Maui! This will be the same great workshop packed with all the topics listed below plus many added perks including 6 days/5 nights accommodations, massages, & gourmet food in a luxurious retreat style setting that is perfect for an inspiring and life-changing experience that will help you take your photography and business another level! Hope to see you there!

XDepth

XDepth RAW

Ever wished your RAW files were as universal as a jpeg? Not just in universal compatibility but also in size. XDepth Raw is promising this ability in a new format.
Monday, 29th September, 2008 - Trellis Management Co. Ltd. presents its latest image compression technology for digital cameras at the upcoming PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo.
XDepth Raw is the only image compression and file format solution able to function both as a common Jpeg and as a Raw image.
Too often amateur and professional photographers alike wondered why they couldn’t have all the flexibility and precision of a Raw shot within a universally compatible format like Jpeg.
XDepth Raw not only fully satisfies the need for a compatible and flexible format but it also provides exponentially more precision and dynamic range than current cameras can capture. XDepth Raw is infact capable of storing up to 72bit/pixel at full High Dynamic Range.
XDepth Raw images are recognized as Jpeg files by any software application on virtually every operating system and can be previewed and used as common jpegs. When opened with XDepth-enabled software instead, the same files are recognized and loaded as Raw camera pictures.

Camera makers employ all sorts of algorithms in order reduce the size of their Raw images although still remaining in the realm of the “heavy digital pictures” as Raw files can take up to 1.5 MBytes for each Mega-Pixel. XDepth Raw reduces on average this figure to 0.2 MBytes for each Mega-Pixel of resolution, featuring an outstanding 7:1 compression ratio compared to the uncompressed Raw file.
XDepth Raw employs a proprietary technology able to literally restore the original fine details found in the uncompressed Raw picture at high bit depths without sacrificing visual quality.

The XDepth brand will be sponsoring the PDN PhotoPlus Expo Press Room area for the entire event.
Attending interested parties can request a live demonstration of XDepth technologies by booking an appointment online through the PhotoPlus Connect service.

more info click here

One on One with - Eliesa Johnson

Prophotohub & Eliesa Johnson....

photogen

B-DAY October-28

1) PPH: Where is home ??
e: Minneapolis, Minnesnowta

2) PPH: How long have you been shooting ??
e: If we count my high-school-photo-nerd-working-at-a-newspaper days, going on 10 years! Wooooooo HOOOOO!

3) PPH: What camera gear do you use / and what's your favorite lens ??
e: I use 2 Canon 5d's (and can not WAIT for the new-and-improved version!) and my favorite lens is my 50mm 1.4.....I am obsessed with the 1.2 thought, I just need to buy it already!

4) PPH: Do you have a memorable wedding photography moment ??
e: Every wedding is fabulous for me, because I enjoy shooting and my team is PHENOMENAL and we always have SO much fun! However, I must say that I meet and am surrounded by amazing people at each shoot. Last weekend, I meet the coolest 10 year old, who was also the best man. His name was Dylan and he was definitely inspiring and a TON of fun to hang out with!

5) PPH: First car? Today's car? What do you want in the future ??
e: A 1980's Ford F150 (LOVED that thing!), Today I'm rockin' an '07 VW Rabbit (yes, it is a stick shift...no, I'm not the smoothest driver) AND a 1985 VW Cabriolet, and I would LOVE a VW Tiguan! We are hardcore Volkswagen enthusiasts!

6) PPH: Is there anyone else in the "biz" you enjoy shooting with? why? who would you like to shoot with ??
e: Jeffrey Lawler of JNP Studios! We met in Vegas last year at the Anti Workshop and were instant friends! He happened to have a wedding in MN this summer, which I was the 2nd shooter for and we had a kick ass time! Jeffrey will be shooting with me next summer in North Carolina and we are SUPER pumped! I also was invited to an engagement session with RAD Studio Inc., up in Vancouver and they are an AMAZING couple to shoot with! I would LOVE to shoot with Jose Villa, Chase Jarvis and Annie Leibovitz! I absolutely LOVE collaborating with other artists - all of these people would be amazing!

7) PPH: Where would you like to shoot that you haven't yet ??
e: Underwater, on a rooftop in NYC, and while skydiving!

8) PPH: Where would be your dream " desti " location ??
e: On the coast of Turkey! I saw photos once of this hotel that was all white and the water was super aqua blue - it was all sexy and swanky and inspiring - I want to shoot a wedding THERE!

9) PPH: What good tips can you give to a photographer starting off today ??
e: Shooting wise, practice makes perfect! It is SO important to shoot and show work that reflects what you want to 'do' and what you want your business to be! At first, all jobs might not be the ideal gig, but remember that the experience is more than you could ever ask for! With that said, take the time to schedule shoots that are the direction in which you would like to take your work. Want to do high fashion? Get some models together, grab some nonsense off of the thrift shop rack and create some bad ass images!

10) PPH: What is the one approach / step that took your studio to where it is today ??
e: 100% Passion, 100% Commitment, 100% Positive attitude, 100% Hard Work and ALWAYS having FUN!!

PPH: In your words any great projects / workshop / seminars / dvds / in the works ??
e: We have quite a few things up our sleeves here at Photogen Inc for the upcoming year! Something fun we have started (and will be perfecting) are Blog Episodes. I have SO much FUN when I shoot and I want to share some 'behind the scenes shenanigans' with everyone. We will be covering some weddings, speaking engagements, travel, our studio and commercial shoots throughout the next season, so stay tuned! We are also putting together an idea that will be a HUGE collaboration between photographers all throughout the country! Details are currently top-secret, but GET EXCITED!!!
I am super excited about Becker's new b-school social-networking-thingie?!?! It will be super refreshing to have a positive and fresh networking community out there!!!!

[b]school

The [b]school is now open!!!

more info click here