Your old colorimeter might not be the best tool for color managing a new LED screen laptop. In this week's podcast, I tell the story of guilt (for not calibrating my new MacBook Air), perserverance (trying to calibrate the Air), and finally redemption.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (24 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Indoor Lighting is the December 2010 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Dec. 31, 2010. Entries must be recorded with indoor lighting only.

TDS Summer 2011 Photography Workshop

We're making plans now for the Summer 2011 TDS Photography Workshop. If you want your name on the reserve list, just drop me a line.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

If you're shooting with a Canon S95, Nikon D7000, or want to get the new Olympus E-5, then run, don't walk, to download Lightroom 3.3 or Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 6.3. You'll need Photoshop CS5 or Photoshop Elements 9 to take advantage of ACR 6.3. Or, you'll need Lightroom 3.x to update to version 3.3.

You can use the built-in Adobe Application Manager (as shown here) or go to Products Update Page to download the latest versions.

Here's the complete list of newly supported cameras for both updates:

• Canon PowerShot G12
• Canon PowerShot S95
• Nikon D7000
• Nikon Coolpix P7000
• Nikon D3100
• Olympus E-5
• Panasonic DMC-GF2
• Panasonic DMC-GH2
• Pentax K-5
• Pentax K-r
• Samsung NX100
• Samsung TL350 (WB2000)
• Sony A560
• Sony A580

Follow me on Twitter

While shooting in a high school gym this weekend, I noticed an odd color shift appearing in some of my images recorded in burst mode with the Canon 60D. Even though the gym lighting was consistent, this image inconsistency happened on a number of occasions.

Here's how I had the camera configured:

• Aperture priority mode set to f/1.8
• 50mm Canon lens
• ISO 3200
• Custom White Balance
• 1/1600 shutter speed
• Evaluative metering
• Raw only capture

The two frames shown here were sequentially recorded in high speed burst mode. I opened up the Raw files in Canon Digital Photo Professional, Aperture 3, Photoshop CS5, and Lightroom 3. The images had the same color differences in each application.

What's even stranger, it looks as though the camera optimized the shadows and highlights in the top image, but not the other. I scoured the EXIF data in DPP, and found no differences between the two shots.

I don't have an explanation for this, but wanted to pass it along to Canon shooters.

Follow me on Twitter

I need your help with this one...

I've been using a Spyder 2 colorimeter *forever,* but its ancient software will not longer work for my new MacBook Air. So I need a new calibration device. The options I've been perusing include:

The X-Rite Eye-One Display 2 for $199. The reviews seem pretty good, but the price is a bit more than I wanted to pay.

Datacolor DC S3X100 Spyder 3 Express for $79 and seems to have pretty good reviews, and I like the price.

Pantone huey Pro for $84, which has pretty good reviews, but I didn't have that great of an experience a while back with the original Huey colorimeter.

So what do you recommend? If you've had experience with any of these, or have a better idea, please post a comment. I could use your help with this one.

Follow me on Twitter

The crew over at Imaging-Resource.com took an informal poll of their personal favorite cameras of 2010. Since they test dozens of models annually, they have a good feel for how things stack up.

Leading contenders included the Nikon D7000 16.2MP Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCDand the Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Compact with 3.0-Inch LCD. You can see their entire list by visiting Staff Picks for Best Camera of 2010.

Follow me on Twitter

The world looks much different when viewing it on the LCD of an Infrared-modified camera. The sky darkens, clouds glow with intensity, and trees look like they belong on another planet. There are many applications for an IR-modified camera, including for law enforcement, but fine art photography is one of the most enjoyable uses.

I5 Rest Stop Exit - Captured with an IR-modified Olympus E-P1. Photo by Derrick Story. Click on image for larger version.

I've been shooting with an Olympus E-P1 modified by W.B. Hunt Co. in Melrose, MA. You can see a gallery of images captured with this rig on the TDS Flickr page. If you're interested in an easy and enjoyable way to shoot IR, you might want to look in to these modified kits. Prices for conversions range between $149.95 and $399.95, depending on the camera to be converted. You can find out more by contacting Stan Goldberg at W. B. Hunt. The phone number is 781-462-2319, or contact him via email, sgoldberg[at]wbhunt[dotcom].

Follow me on Twitter

While testing the Canon EOS 60D, I wanted to see if I could go from Raw capture to online publishing without using a computer. As it turns out, I could.

I inserted an Eye-Fi Pro X2 8 GB SDHC Wireless Flash Memory Card in to the 60D, then checked its status on the Eye-Fi menu built in to the camera. (Many new cameras are adding this feature. The menus will vary depending on the model.)

The menu takes much of the guess work out of using the Eye-Fi card since you get information about access point, connection status, etc. Plus, you can enable or disable the card's ability to transmit -- a much appreciated feature in itself.

For my test, I took a picture of some Nasturtiums. I then processed the Raw file in-camera, followed by uploading the newly created Jpeg to Flickr. Here's what the image looks like right out of the camera without any further processing.

What a great team! In-camera Raw processing, built-in Eye-Fi menus, and the Eye-Fi card itself. No computers required.

If you want to know more about the Eye-Fi card, including how to set it up using Eye-Fi software, visit the Eye-Fi web site.

Follow me on Twitter

Here's a gallery of images that will dazzle and delight. The assignment for October 2010 was "Fall." Check out this great set of images from members of the TDS virtual camera club. And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

The December 2010 assignment is "Indoor Lighting." Start working on your contribution now. Details can be found on the Member Participation page. You can now submit photo assignment pictures up to 800 pixels in the widest direction.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for next month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Dec. 2010." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Photo by Ken Latman. (Click on it to see enlarged version.) You can read more about how Ken captured this shot, plus see all of the other great images on the October 2010 Gallery page.

Good luck with your December assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for October. I think everyone did a great job this month!

Follow me on Twitter

-

Now Available! The Digital Photography Companion. The official guide for The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club.

• 25 handy and informative tables for quick reference.
• Metadata listings for every photo in the book
• Dedicated chapter on making printing easy.
• Photo management software guide.
• Many, many inside tips gleaned from years of experience.
• Comprehensive (214 pages), yet fits easily in camera bag.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, The Digital Story, Photo Assignment

The EOS 60Dis a creative departure from Canon's normally conservative upgrade philosophy. The magnesium construction that many loved with the 50D has been replaced by an aluminium and polycarbonate resin body. The LCD is now hinged, allowing it to swing and swivel. And in general, the 60D just looks different than its predecessors. It's really a whole new DSLR.

And how does it perform? In this week's show, I walk you through some of its best features, and a few of its missteps. But the bottom line is, if you're looking to upgrade from a Rebel, like to shoot HD video, and want more control over your photography, the EOS 60D is a camera to seriously consider.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (31 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

High ISO is the November 2010 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Nov. 30, 2010. Entries must be recorded at ISO 800 or above.

TDS Summer 2011 Photography Workshop

We're making plans now for the Summer 2011 TDS Photography Workshop. If you want your name on the reserve list, just drop me a line.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

As the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro, I get to test all the new gear they produce. And when I say test, I mean load it up and hit the road.

Inside a Lowepro Pro Runner 300 AW. My current favorite mid-sized backpack.

I've traveled to Washington DC with a Fastpack 250, Germany with a Pro Trekker 300 AW, Bermuda with a Pro Runner 300 AW, Kauai with a Exchange Messenger, and on and on.

Over the months, I've become very fond of some of these bags. I have many that I like, but there are 5 that I would not want to live without. I posted an article about them on the Lowepro blog. You might want to hop over there and read the post and check out the links. I'll also list them here for you:

• Lowepro Fastpack 250 (Arctic Blue) $89
• Lowepro Pro Runner 300 AW DSLR Backpack (Pine Green) $129
• Lowepro Classified Sling 180 AW Backpack (Black) $129
• Lowepro Classified 160 AW Shoulder Bag for DSLR and 1-2 Lenses (Sepia) $129
• Lowepro Exchange Messenger Camera Bag (Gray) $19

As I said, there are others I use all the time and like, but these are my current favorites.

Follow me on Twitter