This Week In Photography 2009-12-03

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOGRAPHY 12-03-2009
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WORKSHOPS at CAMERAS BROOKWOOD
The 2009 Series is now complete. A new schedule will be posted in mid January. If you have requests for the upcoming year, please let us know. Thank you to everyone who participated in the workshops
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ALL ABOUT TRIPODS- Paul Franklin (r)

Tripod It’s been said that the biggest single difference a photographer will ever see in his or her work comes on the day they start shooting off a tripod. A tripod’s mission is simple indeed – to hold a camera and lens steady – but it pays huge dividends in terms of providing consistently sharp images; and using a tripod slows you down…so you tend to get better thought-out, better-composed shots.

But despite the fact that tripods have been around forever, they remain an arcane subject for most photographers. How do you pick the right ‘pod? What do you look for? Is there anything to avoid?

First – get a good one. Be sure that the tripod you select is stable. Cheap tripods are seldom stable, and they tend to be replete with breakable plastic or pot-metal parts. If the tripod comes with a non-interchangeable head, it’s a “student” tripod, not intended for long-term use. There are two major options for the legs locks – twist locks and flip locks – and they are strictly a matter of personal taste.

Next week- the features of a tripod plus the advantages and disadvantages of each will be discussed
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NEW PRODUCTS
All new Lensbaby lenses feature the "Optic Swap System" that allows you to swap-out the optical elements to achieve different effects. We stock the "Fisheye Optic" which produces a fisheye field of view from infinity all the way down to one inch from the subject. $149.95. A new shipment of Lensbabys with Canon and Nikon mounts have recently been received. They are a great gift item for creative photographers.
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LENSBABY CONTEST
Lensbaby announced an open call for photographers to submit their best images created using a Lensbaby lens for a chance to be published in the new book “Lensbaby: Bending Your Perspective” by Lensbaby Guru and author/photographer Corey Hilz. Due out from Focal Press in the summer of 2010, “Lensbaby: Bending Your Perspective” will feature lots of “how to” and inspirational content, along with galleries of Lensbaby photos by some of the foremost Lensbaby photographers in the world. Photographers can submit two images for consideration via www.lensbaby.com/getpublished and can change their photo selection at any time during the submission period. Submissions will be accepted until 6pm, PST, December 31, 2009.
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NIKON NEWS
Nikon has lowered the price of their D5000 DX dSLR by $50. The body only is now $629.95. The body with 18-55 VR lens is $749.95.

Your Nikon D300S can be converted to read barcodes. Once converted, a barcode reader with a serial connector can then be connected to the 300S using the optional MC-35 GPS cable attached to the camera's 10-pin terminal. Up to 36 characters can be recorded but GPS functionality is lost. The cost of conversion by Nikon is $38 plus shipping.
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November's DRAWING WINNERS
Sydney Keel won the Westcott 5 in 1 Relector drawing last Saturday and Kelley Davis won the LumiQuest Soft Screen. Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply to the Newsletter and enter the drawing.
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SVCC MEETING
The Shades Valley Camera Club meets tonight (12/03/2009), 7 pm, at the Homewood Library.The public is invited. http://www.ShadesValleyCameraClub.com
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PHOTO EXHIBITIONS
Exhibition_Auburn "Elvis at 21- New York To Memphis", photographs by Alfred Wertheimer at the Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University. Forty stunning Silver Gelatin photographs provide an intiment glimpse into the life of "the King". Through January 9th, 2010. http://www.jcsm.auburn.edu

Continuing ....
... "Illuminations & Reflections", new work by Birmingham's Melissa Springer and David Young of New York. Melissa will be showing her 19x19 inch series of silver gelatin floral prints at the Garden Center at Birmingham Botanical Gardens through January 1. http://www.bbgardens.org
... "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Gallery" at the Birmingham Museum of Art through January 10th.
... Tuscaloosa: "William Christenberry: Land/Memory" at the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa through December 22nd. http://www.as.ua.edu/art.
... Atlanta: "Black Line of Woods", by Minneapolis photographer Alec Soth at the High Museum through January 3rd. http://www.high.org
... Nashville: "Twilight Visions: Surrealism, Photography, and Paris" by world famous photographers on display through January 23rd, 2010 at the Frist Center in Nashville. http:/ www.fristcenter.org.
... Columbus: "Now and Then: Snapshots of the South", historic photos by A.S. Williams and contemporary images by Jerry Siegle at the Columbus Museum in Columbus, Georgia through January 31. http://www.columbusmuseum.com
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MANUFACTURER PROMOTIONS
LOWEPRO SlingShot 100 and SlingShot 200 AW camera bags receive a $10 mail-in rebate for purchases through 12/31/09. Pick up your rebate form and bag at CAMERAS BROOKWOOD.

JILL-E Camera Bags trade-in program http://www.camerasbrookwood.com/BrochurePage/FLYER_Jill-e-CameraBags.pdf

Manfrotto Rebate on carbon fiber tripods http://www.camerasbrookwood.com/BrochurePage/FLYER_ManfrottoRebate.pdf

Select Manfrotto Tripods have a temporary $10 to $20 price reduction: 055XB tripod for $145; 055XPROB $160; 190XPROB- $145; and 7302YB for $115; and the 322RC2 grip for $120; Through December 31st.

Westcott Soft Boxes FREE with purchase
http://www.camerasbrookwood.com/BrochurePage/FLYER_Westcott-StrobeliteOutfit.pdf

Ilford Photo Contest : "Image On A Box" http://www.camerasbrookwood.com/BrochurePage/Flyer_IlfordPhotoContest.pdf

Harman CrystalJet RC Inkjet Photo Paper introductory packaging contains 30 sheets of paper for the normal 25 sheet price. The cost of the 8.5x11 25+5 sheet box is $11.99 as long as supply lasts.

2010 NIKON WORLD CALENDAR- Free upon request.
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cbPhotoStore.com http://www.cbphotostore.com/index.html
Tripods are the featured products on our cbPhotoStore Home Page for the month of December. Get specs and compare tripods. Bring a hardcopy of the Tripod page when you come in to purchase your tripod and we will treat it as a Fifteen Dollar Gift Certificate toward the purhase of any tripod in stock. (One per customer)
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cbPhotoLab.com http://www.cbPhotoLab.com
Order your greeting cards online, get 250 4x8 cards with envelopes for only $99. Choose from many designs. Use offer code NL1209.
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NEWSLETTER SPECIALS
Lensbaby "Muse" with glass optic, Newsletter special, $135.
Repair estimates are always free- call us at 205 822-2106
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LAUGH with Ron Bowen

What?
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