December 27, 2008

The Product: OnOne Plug-in Suite 4 for Photoshop: Overall PPS Rating, 7/10
Includes Six plugins. We’ll review each separately below. Review by Gavin Seim

OnOne has given PPS a 15% off discount for readers. Use Promo Code PRPHTPC

The Hot:

  • Product interfaces have become mostly unified making them easy to work with.
  • When purchased as a suite, it’s a good value. You’ll have plenty to play with.
  • Effects and tools are effective and generally simple to use and customize.
  • Aperture & Lightroom* integration on certain apps

The Not:

  • No auto update makes in version updates a hassle and easy to overlook.
  • When purchased separately there’s STD/PRO options adding confusion and making the prices too high (not unlike many plugin companies. These so called Pro versions do not have enough extra features to warrant the cost. The full suite does include the pro versions where applicable however.

The Bottom Line:
This is a great collection of plugins. If you want to broaden your editing arsenal in one shot, Plugin Suite 4 is a great place to start. While the whole suite is the best value, all plugins can also be purchased separately.

*One thing to note is that Lightroom integration is little more than export plugins and not self contained integration in LR. This is probably due to limitation with Lightrooms support for plugins, but it’s still a  disappointment.

Promo’s and discounts:
OnOne gives PPS some specials as well. Promo code PRPHTSHW is good everyday for 10% off any OnOne product. Also thru Dec 31st, here’s a promo page that will save you $100 on the suite. Note that OnOne has no say in this review, and it contains only my honest opinions.

Individual Product Reviews:

Genuine Fractals 6: Review 9/10
Genuine Fractals is a standard among many photographers when it comes up scaling image resolution. I use it whenever I make large prints. It can quickly take those pixels and make a 300DPI file for whatever print size I need. It can even add sharpening in the same pass (though I usually sharpen separately) GF just gives something more than built in Photoshop up-conversion methods and I really like it.

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December 25, 2008

Here’s wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. The blessings of Christ abound around us. I’m thankful for my family, my customers and my colleagues. Here’s a little collage of self portraits we made in the studio yesterday. It would be tough to send cards to everyone since I know so many people.

Since this is the Pro Photo Show edition, I’ll talk shop a little. I did these self portraits with the 5D MKII. I used a white paper backdrop and two Alien Bee’s strobes in the studio. One aimed low and behind us to totally whiten the paper and another in front aimed downwards and bouncing off the floor to fill the front.

The layout was done very simply using InDesign just like I would do a wedding album page, though on an 8×10 layout. That’s all there is too it. Nothing amazing, but I did have fun.

Lastly don’t forget about the PPS Christmas contest. It’s our gift to you, and even if you don’t win one of the big prizes, everyone who enter will receive a free effect goodie pack from PPS and Seim Effects early next year. You can’t lose, so if you haven’t already, go here to enter.

Again merry Christmas to you all… Gav

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December 17, 2008

Click To Listen>>  Photography Roundtable Podcast PPS #53

Subscribe in itunes
Give us a present: Review in iTunes, or Vote on Podcast Alley

~Today’s topics. D3X, 5D MKII, Gadgets Galore, Marketing, Web~
The Panel:
Gavin Seim ~ Seim Studios

Kerry Garrison ~ Camera Dojo
Dennis Zerwas ~ DZ Photography
Scott & Adina Hayne ~ Hayne Photography
Kevin Swan ~ Kiss Books, New School, Weddings

Notable Time Indexes:
29:00 Gadget Guide
44:28 Kevin Swan joins the show. He has some great marketing tips.
1:57:30 After Show (Marketing and wedding talk)

Disclaimer: Do not use film cameras as fireplace fuel. They could cause hazardous fumes.

News & Info:

PPS deal page has various vendor discounts.
SeimEffects presets and actions
SAVE 15% of all products with promo code PPS

Podcast #53 Forum Discussion:

_______

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December 15, 2008

John Bell, who’s a listener to the show recently sent me a link to a cool video he made. It’s all about the mechanics of dealing with an ariel photo shoot and the things you might encounter. besides all that John’s cool accent is fun to listen too. It’s great that we have PPS listeners all over the world. If it doesn’t load below here’s the direct link.


Aerial Photo Shoot from John Bell on Vimeo

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December 12, 2008

This image was taken by Scott Bourne, a renown bird photographer. You may remember him from Pro Photo Show Podcast #46. Cranes In the Fire mist was taken at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico, and needed perfect conditions. Scott had it in his mind for 12 years before he nailed it.

I wanted to post this not only because it’s an inspiring shot, but also because Scott wrote telling the story behind it. If you have photographer blood you’ll feel the excitment when you read him telling about it. Check out the article. It’s full of inspiration, and when finished you’ll probably want to pick up camera and head to Mexico. Only to have me remind that there’s a masterpiece of some kind waiting right out your back door. Gavin Seim

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