Mish Mash Highlights: 1/10/2018

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mish mash highlightsToby will be heading off to Vietnam soon on a McKay tour but before that, we've still got a Mish Mash to do. This week in the news we've got a big announcement from Panasonic and maybe Canon realizes it's time to catch up... finally. Lots of news and more this week with CES coming after a slow time during the Holidays. For those following the live show Toby's going to cover what he'll be taking to Vietnam and he's going rather light.While Toby does the Live Show via PEN this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes, this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. Otherwise, join the Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live! Photorec.tv/join

This Week at Photorec.tv

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Panasonic GH5S: The Most Sensitive Camera in Lumix HistoryWe'll have Toby's thoughts in an article soon but the big catch this week is the new GH5S. Check it out at Petapixel, Preorders on the GH5S are live, and it's a great option for those doing video.Canon: We’re Lagging in InnovationShort Version? Canon finally admitted that their technology is falling behind. That said, it's an opportunity. After the rather held back 6DMII this is their chance for a bit of transparency. For us Canon users we're missing 4K on most lower models as a start. Not to mention mirrorless or in-body image stabilization. It might be a bit challenging seeing where Canon is going to be in five years as they keep holding back. But Sony has already eclipsed Nikon and is closing the gap. Will this be the push to right the ship?Really Right Stuff Ball Heads

If you are looking at getting a tripod something you may not think about as much is the ball head, the main part of your tripod that your camera rotates and rests on. As for tripods we suggest picking up the MeFoto Globetrotter Classic or Globetrotter Classic Carbon Fiber (not the Air for better stability), but down the line, we also suggest upgrading the head. Over time tripod's will wear down, especially over heavy use like Toby puts them through. That allows the head to slip, making shooting a bit tricky as the camera might tilt down or to the side a bit. So over time picking up one of these extends the life of your tripod and gives it better performance as well. In this case, the BH-30 is great for a more compact setup while the BH-55 works more for a better platform but at a higher cost.Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_guiltypleasure

Not too many entries this week with the holiday considering but thanks to you that gave this week’s trickier challenge a shot! Next Two Week Challenge: #PRTV_stilllife2Something a bit simpler for next week and hopefully a bit warmer for those hitting those extra cold winter temps. Simply shoot a still life, which broken down is a group of objects arranged creatively. This should be great for those wanting to practice tabletop or food photography.

Roy’s Features:

Cake! Love the bokeh in the background and Happy Birthday!... Now I want cake.

A post shared by Lisa Phelan (@lisas_lens_) on

This is a great example of controlling your bokeh. Using the pool balls as context we can still tell someone is lining up for a shot but the focus is all on the 9 ball.

A post shared by Eileen K (@ektull21) on

Star Wars fan? Yep, that’s certainly a guilty pleasure with the rate Disney is going to put them out. Cropping the face made for a nice shot of a recognizable character.

A post shared by Justin Lai (@justlai87) on

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

A couple photos thanks to Nasa this week, follow them and @iss on Instagram for some neat photos!In an enhanced shot by Nasa, we get this nice painterly look as Jupiter!

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on

As the Michigander of the team, my State's been frozen in! While a bit common it's about seven times more frozen for this period thanks to a nor'easter storm hitting the mid to east United States. In this shot you can see the frozen Delaware Bay in the east coast between New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware .

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on

Major Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. For PEN members next week Toby and co. will be off to Vietnam so it'll just be me with the highlights. If you guy's do like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Inrigo Camera Bag - Fully Waterproof!

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Inrigo Camera BagThe Inrigo waterproof bag is a neat design new to Kickstarter, or at least a dry one. While moisture damage is a bit rarer here in Michigan, traveling to humid countries or shooting around water can cause significant issues to your gear. The Inrigo is that extra bit of insurance and peace of mind you might want to keep things safe and dry. Designed to be a drybox on the go the airtight Inrigo is IP78 waterproof rated so your gear stays dry while in water up to a meter deep.  With its airtight seal, the bag even has the option to inflate to provide a bit more protection for bumps and the ability to float if the worst occurs.Coming in two models, you've got a bit of a choice in how you want to pack your gear. The LitePak acts as a dry spot to carry your normal camera bag, acting as a shell against the elements. The ProPak works as a standard camera bag or the same as the LitePak with two interior storage totes for your gear and a dehumidifier. Both still have the basics though with a tripod mount, water bottle holder, space for a tablet, and more.Inrigo Waterproof BagWhile it's a waterproof bag, it's also a smart one, using temperature and humidity sensors combined with Bluetooth. If it starts to get too hot or humid you'll automatically get a warning on your smartphone to see if there's an issue. As a plus, if you're out of range you can also get alerts so you don't lose track of your bag.Find out more on Inrigo's Kickstarter page and sign up while they still have early bird pledges available on the LitePak. Once these go retail they will be selling for $250-299 so getting the LitePak for $139 and ProPack for $179 is a steal.  If everything stays on track the bags will be out around May of 2018. For those planning on traveling or shooting around water often this is the bag you might want to pick up.

Sony 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 OSS Zoom for a6000, a6300, a6500 Cameras

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E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSSSony has announced the latest addition to the rapidly-growing E-mount lens lineup. The 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 gives an equivalent 27-202.5mm range when mounted on the α6500, α6300 and α6000 cameras and provides Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization.Holy crap it's been over FOUR years since Sony has released an E-mount lens?!  Looking back I can't find anything from Sony for their crop sensor line since the 16-70 f/4 Announced Aug 27, 2013. Third party manufacturers like Sigma have filled in some of the gaps but it is clear that filling out the FE mount line(for the full frame a7/a9 series cameras) was a priority. Now we should see a few more e mount lenses for their crop sensor line - the a6000/6300/6500. Sony needs more affordable lenses in this category to compete with Canon.Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSSBased on the quality of recently released lenses I expect this to be a good lens and a strong value, especially for the traveler looking to take just one lens.  The compact lens weighs just 325 g (0.72 lb)The new E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS APS-C Zoom Lens will ship in February 2018 and will be sold for about $600 US and $780 CA

Shipping February 15th - Preorder from B&H Photo Today! 

Specifications

Mount: Sony E-mountFormat: APS-CFocal Length (mm): 18-13535mm Equivalent Focal Length (APS-C): 27-202.5Lens Groups / Elements: 12–16Angle of View (APS-C): 76°-12°2Maximum Aperture (F): 3.5-5.6Minimum Aperture (F): 22-36Aperture Blades: 7Circular Aperture: YesMinimum Focus Distance: 1.48 Ft (0.45 M)Maximum Magnification Ratio (X): 0 29Filter Diameter (mm): 55Image Stabilization (Steadyshot): Optical SteadyshotZoom System: ManualHood Type: Petal Shape, Bayonet TypeDimensions (Diameter X Length): 67.2 X 88 mm (2-3/4 X 3-1/2 ")Weight: 11.5 Oz (325 G)
 Sample Images

Lightroom Tips - Best Practices for a New Year - New Catalog, Archive and More

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iL7-m66E_IA hands-on look at cleaning up your catalog, archive the past year and getting ready for a new year, new catalog in Lightroom. Full of best practices in Adobe Lightroom for an organized photographer.I create a catalog for each year - this keeps the size of the catalog manageable and performance fairly snappy. I add the previous year’s catalog to a catalog I call the archive - this contains ALL my photos from the last several years and while it is a bit slower it is nice to be able to access all my photos, see all my 5-star images from the last several years, in one location. Catalog Clean Up - A chance for you to get rid of the junk before you merge the catalog with your archive catalog

  1. Take some time to go back through the past year’s photos and delete the junk - Ideally you get rid of the junk on import but there might be some files that you couldn’t just bring yourself to delete - if you haven’t done anything with them in the last year, maybe it’s time to delete.

    1. Mark the files you wish to delete as rejected - Keyboard shortcut: X

TIP: Set rating filter to show you all images rated 0 - in Grid select all of them at once and Reject

  1. Use the flag filter to view all files you have rejected. Make sure there are no images you wish to keep

    1. Click Photo > Delete Rejected Photo AND CHOOSE REMOVE FROM DISK

  1. All images should be in a descriptive subfolder inside a folder for each year - before combining the catalog with the archive I like to make sure there are no orphan photos, photos outside a subfolder.

    1. Click the + sign to the right of the Folder text in the Library Module and uncheck “Show Photos in subfolder”

    2. If any photos are shown use that same + sign to create a subfolder(s) appropriate for those photos.

  2. I use keywording to further organize my library of photos, keywording is a powerful way to find images that may be similar but exist in different folders. Before I archive the past year I like to check that I have given ALL images at least some basic keywords.

    1. Library > Grid Module

    2. Library Filter - Click Text - Set Keywords : Are Empty

    3. Add basic keywords to any images that are displayed. They will vanish quickly from this filter. As you add keywords the statement is no longer true.

  3. Remove Previews- I typically build 1:1 previews on import and Lightroom by default will remove these after 30 days - saves space in your catalog. I like to make sure that they are all gone and I remove any smart previews too.

    1. Library > Previews > Discard

You are now done with the cleanup of the catalog.

  1. Open or create a Master Archive catalog that will contain ALL past years (if you need to create the new catalog it is simply File > New Catalog - Choose a logical location.

  2. In the Archive Catalog select File > Import from Another Catalog and find the 2017 (or last year’s catalog that you just cleaned up)

  3. Take a moment to uncheck the import box next to any items or folders that you do not want to be imported.

  4. Press Import - Go get a cup of tea.

  5. Once completed you do want to make sure that the number of photos matches your expectations.

  6. Now create a new catalog for the upcoming year and if your previous year catalog has imported correctly you may delete it to save space.

Empty Trash and get out and get shooting!

Do you have older photos you want to get organized in Lightroom? I have a video on that topic and lots more in my community - visit http://photorec.tv/join to learn more.

Mish Mash Highlights: 1/3/2018

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mish mash highlightsNew Year and a new Mish Mash! While Toby does the Live Show via PEN this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes, this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. Otherwise, join the Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live! Photorec.tv/join

This Week at Photorec.tv

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.This Guy Made an 8×10 Large Format Video Camera (Petapixel)A DIY for that "Large Format Look". Check out Zev Hoover's frankencamera using a lens from an old large format camera to project an image then recording it with a Sony a7S. A simple design that works, albeit at 6 stops of light loss. It's a trick that uses a tilt-shift adapter to line up the image with the projection making up for the fact the camera is angled down. Check out the video to see the results!https://youtu.be/0ZixDTrQdzoInstagram will now add ‘Recommended’ posts to your feed (Techcrunch)They are at it again. In an attempt to make your Instagram more of a Mish Mash then this show Instagram is adding more to your feed. Just like with how ads have been stuck in you'll see a new "More Posts You Might Like" feature that has been their attempt to get you following more people. As with the other feed filling changes, the response has been generally negative and you can (temporarily) hide it by hitting the three dots next to hit and choosing hide. The feature has started to roll out this week so if you don't have it yet you will soon enough.Build Rapport on Your Photography Shoot With the Language of Music (Fstoppers)Want a better shoot? Check out this article by Fstoppers on matching music with your photography to built rapport. Typically, doing portraits you don't want to just throw up someone in front of a camera. You want to work with them, talk, tell a story, something to set the mood and get you working with your model. Music is a great way to do that and like they've added in this article getting a Bluetooth speaker can be cheap now. Set that up with a bit of music they like, or use their phone to play their music, and you've got some energy and common ground for a shoot... plus some awesome music.Ten New Year's Resolutions Worth Making as a Photographer (Fstoppers)It's a new year and go check out this great article by Fstoppers on things to get going on this year. Being that my background is IT and development my first thought is to go back up your photos! Other than that, they've got great tips about upgrading your website, working on your kit, and the one I personally need is to PRINT MORE. Go check it out!Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_product2

A two-week challenge this time had you guys shooting the Holidays and New Years with some great shots! The nice thing about a shoot like this is with an open subject you've got the option from tabletop shots to cityscapes, portraits, and more.Next Two Week Challenge: #PRTV_guiltypleasure Opposite of your resolution… what’s that one thing you feel guilty about but its so good? Shoot food, drinks, your smartphone, that one expensive thing you had to have (GAS).

Toby’s Features:

A lovely holiday moment - the light on the child's face and the expression just work so well together.  

A post shared by Jane Glover (@angry_runner) on

A nice street portrait of Santa in action

It’s from last year but so was my fireworks shot :) I really like the composition here!

A post shared by Yannick (@ynickh) on

Roy’s Features:

While it’s a bit too late for a stock photo now I’d say it’s worth putting this one up! It's a great holiday shot with nice bokeh.

A post shared by Beau Ewen (@beauewenphotog) on

Getting a bit higher up made for an awesome shot changing your perspective above the roof line and a new years blast

Babies and bokeh, a great shot for the holidays and keeping some distance from the tree worked well for some separation from the background.

A post shared by Tyler Manzella (@manfella) on

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Brilliant photos taken of Earth from space in 2017 Tired of the end of the year galleries? How about just one more with this slideshow from the ISS station! Watch the video below then check out this article from bt.com for the individual pictures with some background info on them as well. There's some great shots mostly taken on Nikons![embed]https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/947120103811776512[/embed]Also: Rare 'wolf moon' captured in breathtaking images – the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2018Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar systemMajor Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. For PEN members next week is a live show, after that, there is a break with just these highlights till the 31st. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Canon SL2 200D Review vs Sony a6000/6300

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The Canon Sl2 - a camera I didn't think Canon was going to make…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov7vnZ7ijoM [gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" size="medium" td_gallery_title_input="Canon SL2 (200D) Sample Images" ids="17148,17149,17150,17151,17152,17153,17154"]RAW FILES FOR DOWNLOAD AND PERSONAL USE ONLY

Canon vs Sony Recommendations

For easy photo and video with huge & affordable lens selectionBuy Canon SL2  with the kit lensAdd on the Canon 40mm f/2.8 lensFor better quality images and video in a smaller, but less friendly packageBuy Sony a6000  (Cheaper with a two lens package!)Buy Sony a6300 for 4k and better viewfinder Buy Sigma 30mm For small lightweight prime

Why you should have a prime lens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nODUWChwfMU&t=5s 

Mish Mash Highlights: 12/28/2017

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mish mash highlightsHopefully you all had a happy holiday, got some family time, and a bit new gear. This is your photography news of the week, just in article form. If you want to see Toby's take on things live go try out the NEW Photo Enthusiast Network (PEN) for live videos, Lightroom training, and more. The live show also has a critique, our shot at microstock, Q&A, Discussion, Special PEN content, plus a few surprises!

This Week at Photorec.tv

As we're human and it's the Holidays, not a lot of content went out this week. Hopefully, your holiday was great! But we do have a few things to get through:

  • B&H Deals, if you missed yesterday's post there is a bunch of hot sales covering the previous Black Friday sales and more. Check it out at photorec.tv/megadealzone.
  • Your Best Photo of 2017. Our yearly tradition to showcase all your shots from our amazing fan base. Entries are over and Toby's cramming atm to get the video out soon for the new year!
  • Pen Tuesday Tip - Flip it! - Special PEN content on how your eyes track an image and how to adjust a photo to make the most of it.
  • New PEN Critiques - As a new bonus to PEN members beyond the live show critique we'll be starting a new informal tips critique and a harder PPA (Professional Photographers of America) level critique.
  • Webinar Coming Soon - As PEN consists of a group of Instructors and not just Toby, we'll be having a live Webinar coming soon for members. Compared to the live show this will be more focused content on specific topics from different instructors and sometimes guests.

Photograph Frozen Bubbles DIYWhile it's cold out try some frozen bubbles as a fun DIY. It's an older article but being that it's that time of the year and starting to get quite cold give it a shot.

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Confirmed: DxO says new Nik Collection to be released in 2018The Nik Collection is a great set of tools to boost your editing from things such as noise reduction to a great black and white conversion in Lightroom and Photoshop. It's still free, but bought out by DxO from Google, the worry being that without development it would eventually stop working. With an announcement, it looks like we've got a 2018 version coming soon, just no word on a price if any. If you're interested in the NIK collection get it now at nikcollection.dxo.com.Free Lightroom alternative Darktable is now available on WindowsDarktableLooking for a Lightroom alternative now that they've gone to subscription only? Darktable has been ported finally to Windows giving you an option on all platforms (Windows/Mac/Linux) for a free open-source lookalike. If you want to give it a try you can check it out at www.darktable.org.Get Free Unlimited Google Drive StorageFor those that don't have unlimited photo storage with Amazon Prime another great option to backup your photos now is Google Drive's unlimited storage. The catch is you have to be an active student or Alumni with a .EDU email from a school using Google for Education. That said, it's worth the five minutes to find out, you may have a new spot to backup your computer for free (bar the crippling cost of college).Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

It's the holiday season and we've extended our weekly photo challenge on Instagram to two weeks to cover everything holiday All-AT-ONCE. That means you've got until next Wednesday (1/3) at noon to upload your holiday photos and New Years shots. Simply throw them up on Instagram with the tag #PRTV_holiday2. That does cover a lot so that means it could be portraits like Manfella's kiddos below, decorations, a New Years ball drop, yummy food, or something else you enjoy to shoot.Weekly Instagram Challenge

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Stunning Time-Lapse of SpaceX Falcon9 Rocket LaunchMore space-related, but the story that had the news coverage this week is the SpaceX rocket launch from Vandenberg Airforce base on the 22nd. While not UFOs Jesse Watson was set up early and caught the action in this great timelapse you can check out above. A big bonus to The Photographer's Ephermeris (GET THIS APP<-) and Google Maps for nailing the location. This was shot with a Nikon D810, Sony a6500, and Sony a7S II for this great view in 1,315 images.Also: Idaho Gets First International Dark Sky Reserve in the United StatesMajor Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.

That's it for this week and hopefully, you guy's like the new content. For PEN members we'll be back next year (week) live so go sign up. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and this may be a weekly thing!

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge – Product Photography 2

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_product2

This week something you could do inside or go out and capture with product photography. A bit simpler with the holidays coming up but it's a fun challenge and you can hopefully learn from it to make a few bucks doing photos locally.Next Two Week Challenge: #PRTV_holiday2 Find out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Toby’s Features:

Fully committed to the shot with the water- it’s a neat take that makes me think of summer and beer - perfect. I may suggest to dial back the water just a bit and the buried can looks a little dented but all around good shot!

@photorec.tv #prtv_product2

A post shared by Robbie Brown (@wishbon77) on

Solid classic holiday chocolate shot though I would have liked to see one of them out of the wrapper.

The setting so nicely compliments the strap design - I’d expect her to have some solid product work, Heather sells these straps - see more at http://amzn.to/2BduEx8

Roy’s Features:

Really nice bokeh and it forces the focus on your bracelet with the charm that stands out.

A great pick by Heather with her own straps, which you can check out at http://amzn.to/2BduEx8. Using the concrete to lead the eye works for this and lets the strap pop against the muted colors.

You can’t beat shooting in Belize for some great product shots and having the tail loop over worked nicely.

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge – Complementary Colors

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_complementarycolors

This week was a bit more challenging in that you had to follow a color scheme. Using complementary colors in your photos can make for a strong image. We had some great photos this week, and some that didn’t quite get the colors right, but it’s great to see all the nice attempts at focusing on color. Learn more about the color wheel by trying it out at https://www.sessions.edu/color-calculator/Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_product2Find out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Toby’s Features:

Orange and blue - love the abstract but bright details in the soap bubbles.

Love the framing with that red! 

It's an interesting color contrast between the subject and background

#prtv_complementarycolors

A post shared by Lisa Phelan (@lisas_lens_) on

Roy’s Features:

A great shot with these berries, the red really pops in front of the green background.

Blue hour makes for some really nice complementary color with the sunset fading off.

Using some gels for a self-portrait really works well for this challenge. 

Desktops, Laptops, Raid Drives, 4K Monitors- Gift Guide 2017

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Let's talk about pro level gear for your office - the stuff that makes editing photos and video a painless experience - from fast computers and huge raid drives to beautiful 4k monitors in this episode of the 2017 Holiday Gift Guide.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BFb_F4p0KU

5K iMac

Screenshot-2017-12-14-09.24.26-e1513272508596-491x650.png

Specs -4.2 GHz Intel Core i7 Quad-Core8GB of DDR4 RAM | 512GB SSD (Buy Additional RAM)27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K DisplayAMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics Card (8GB)UHS-II SDXC Card ReaderThunderbolt 3 | USB 3.0 Type-AI have an older version of this iMac and love it - a beautiful screen that needs no calibration and performance that easily handles editing photos and 4k video. I recommend you buy with just 8GB of RAM and buy separately, it is VERY easy to install and saves you almost $400.Buy from B&H Photo: Recommended 5k iMac

15" MacBook Pro

Specs -2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 Quad-Core16GB of 2133 MHz RAM | 512GB SSD15.4" 2880 x 1800 Retina DisplayAMD Radeon Pro 560 Graphics (4GB GGDR5)An updated version of my trusty MacBook Pro - this will handle all your editing needs. While I would love to save a few pounds and go with the 13 the truth is you save less than 2lbs and give up significant screen real estate.  For photo editing that doesn't feel cramped, I need 15" screen.Buy from B&H Photo: Recommended Laptop 15" Macbook Pro

Lacie 6Big -36TB Thunderbolt Raid Drive

Lacie 6Big

Lacie 6Big

Lacie 6Big

Lacie 6Big

Talking backup drives is never very exciting but this raid drive is ridiculously fast and comes in a variety of sizes. I am currently running the 6Big with 6, 6TB drives giving me 30TB of space and peace of mind with the raid system protecting me from drive failure.Specs-6 x 6TB Enterprise-Class 3.5" HDDsSix Hot-Swappable Drive Bays2 x Thunderbolt 3, 1 x USB 3.10/1/5/6/10/50 RAID SupportBuy from B&H Photo: Lacie 6Big

BenQ SW271 27" 16:9 4K IPS Monitor

Specs -27" In-Plane Switching (IPS) MonitorUSB Type-C / HDMI / DP Inputs3840 x 2160 Resolution1000:1 Contrast RatioI have been using this monitor for a few weeks now and the resolution and color is lovely - this is a fantastic monitor for editing with easy custom setup, a removable shade/glare hood and a nice matte finish to the screen.Buy from B&H Photo: Beautiful 4K Monitor

Adobe Lightroom Update - Sony a7RIII Support RAW .ARW

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Adobe *JUST* released new Camera RAW CC and Lightroom CC/Lightroom Classic CC updates. This update brings full support for the Sony a7RIII. Adobe also added the 24-105mm lens profile support. As expected Adobe does NOT support Pixel Shift.TWO NEW UPDATES TO LIGHTROOM CLASSIC CCStart your edits with Auto, which uses Adobe Sensei to intelligently apply adjustments based on a photo’s light and color characteristics. Adobe's Auto feature now uses advanced machine learning to automatically apply the best edits for these slider controls in your photos: Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks, Saturation, and Vibrance. In addition, the Auto feature now also includes the ability to optimize the adjustments of the photo even after cropping has been applied.The underlying neural nets have been trained with thousands of professionally shot and manually edited photos to evaluate and correct an image, just like a skilled human photographer.In the Develop module, the Auto option is located next to Tone in the Basic panel.AND - The ability to remove individual color samples within a color range mask has been added in this release. Simply Option(Mac)/Alt(Win)+click the existing samples that you want to remove.More infoBuy the a7RIII at AmazonBuy the a7RIII at B&H Photo

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge – Portrait3

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_portrait3

Whether you were a people person or a bit of an introvert this week with a self-portrait we had some really nice shots! With the holidays coming there's plenty of opportunity for portraits so hopefully you reached out of your comfort zone for this one.Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_complementarycolorsFind out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Toby’s Features:

Really nice shot with excellent B&W editing!

Love the framing with the green leaves for a great shot.

Love the light, the sharp focus on the eye and those bokeh xmas lights.

Roy’s Features:

A great location for a portrait session and some awesome cosplay really makes for a nice photo.

This is a great portrait but I love the prop! Giving your subject something to interact with in a photo gives your eyes something to track and makes for a interesting subject.

While I'll always argue for more christmas lights this is a nice family shot with cute hats. 

Your Best Photo of 2017

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https://youtu.be/NMuqZ5QIFl4  Make sure you are a subscriber to be notified when the slideshow is posted.  Click to subscribe and be notified. I am collecting your ONE best/favorite photo from 2017 for the 4th annual slide show. Read ALL Directions and Disclaimers.Directions:

  • Search your library for your favorite image you captured in 2017.

  • 16:9 horizontal crop is preferred but not required. - This fits the video nicely but portrait or vertical orientation is acceptable.

  • You may watermark your image with a small watermark in the lower left or right corner.

  • Export as a JPEG - longest side at least 4,000 pixels - If it is not at least 4,000 pixels on a side it will NOT be included in the show.

  • Name the file your firstname_lastname and drop into the folder found at the link below. - If your image is not properly named it will not be used.

  • Submit by MIDNIGHT PST December 20th.

NOTE: iOS devices ignore your file name when you upload and all I get is a IMAGE.JPEG filename. IF THE FILE IS NOT PROPERLY NAMED your firstname_lastname I will not use.   Please upload from desktop or laptop to avoid this.Disclaimers:

  • By submitting your image here you authorize photorec.tv to share your image in a slideshow on Youtube. Your image will not be used for anything else without your express permission.

  • I will not return images - make sure you don't give me the ONLY one.

  • I am not responsible for copyright violations that occur on Youtube.

  • I cannot guarantee that I will use your image - many images will be submitted, some will not be selected

 >> Submit here >>

SUBMISSION IS CLOSED> THANKS! VIDEO WILL BE POSTED SOON!The slideshow for 2016!https://youtu.be/c_FRpwo9vO4

The Gift Guide - Easy, Ready to Display Prints

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2017-12-04-15.28.30-488x650.jpg

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAwa7ANPmiY&feature=youtu.be[/embed]You may be new to photography, or a veteran, but all those photos go to waste sitting on a hard drive and deserve to be printed. That said, we've come a long way from your basic photo prints. Check out our new video and some really neat options for your walls or a gift this holiday season.

Buy Today at Adoramapix

2017-12-04-15.25.58-488x650.jpg

Buy Today at Artifact Uprising

2017-12-04-15.23.13-488x650.jpg

Buy Today at Mixtiles

The Gift Guide: Mobile Photography

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It's time for the holidays and we're here with the gear you need. If you're traveling a lot, on the go, or just prefer shooting with a phone we've got some great options:

Google Pixel 2

Google Pixel 2

Google Pixel 2

Mefoto Sidekick

Mefoto Sidekick

Zhiyun-Tech Smooth-Q Smartphone Gimbal

Zhiyun-Tech Smooth-Q Smartphone Gimbal

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge - Food3

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_food3

Top picks for our two-week super challenge with the holiday time keeping everyone a bit busy. We’ve got some great top pick shots and it’s dinner time for me!Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_portrait3Find out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Toby’s Features:

Well placed - good white balance!

Nice look at the cooking but I would put finished product first.

Great tight shot - fill the frame with the subject YES, hint of repetition YES!

Roy’s Features:

Something a bit different with this neat dutch angle shot. Just make sure when shooting food to try not to let things intersect in the background but the soft focus works nicely.

It’s that time of year and this little tray of cookies fits the bill for this week’s challenge. I like the little wire lights around the rolling pin, they are a really easy way to add some interest to a photo and cheap as well. Buy some on Amazon!

A nicely lit shot, I really like the tin tray and newspaper as props to keep everything really clean.

Panasonic G9 - Powerful, Stills-Focused, Camera

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[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="16903,16904,16905,16906,16907,16908,16909,16910,16911,16912,16913,16914"]Panasonic has just announced the Panasonic G9, Similar in size and weight to their excellent GH5 camera but unlike the GH5 strength in video. This G9 is tuned for those that want the best still shooting experience in Panasonic's lineup. On paper, it's a great redesign stealing some of the best parts of the GH5.Lumix's new flagship has quite the specs:

  • No Low-pass filter for a boost in sharpness
  • The same 20.3MP sensor in the GH5 with a maximum 80MP high res photo mode thanks to sensor shifting like the Sony a7Riii.
  • 5-axis in-body image stabilization, 6.5 stops for sharp shots on the move
  • 4K video at 60p (10 minutes only), including a 180fps full HD slow-motion mode
  • 60 FPS via Electronic Shutter or 20 FPS mechanical
  • "World's Fastest AF" tracking speed of 0.04 seconds with its 225 AF points. Just a touch faster than the GH5's 0.05 for fast-tracking and smooth.
    • Face/Eye Recognition, Tracking AF, 1-area AF, and Pinpoint AF
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with BLE, Bluetooth low energy for full-time connection to a smartphone
  • Massive 3,680K-dot OLED Live View Finder [LVF] with 120 fps refresh rate, 0.83X magnification, and blackout free 100% field of view.
  • Dual SD card slots
  • Redesigned body with a Thumb-operated AF joystick and top LCD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaGbeHx9HGUhttps://youtu.be/9CxVkl-fL3YThis flagship is a killer camera! It will be available starting in February for $1,700. With a big shift to stills in this model, the Panasonic G9 has some impressive specs. We'll have Toby up for a review soon when he can get a copy.

Preorder Now! The G9 will be released February 15, 2018.

Panasonic G9amazon logo

Specifications

Imaging
Camera
Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera, Micro Four Thirds Mount (2x Crop Factor
Pixels
Actual: 21.77 MP, Effective: 20.3 MP
Max Resolution
17.3 x 13.0 mm (in 4:3 aspect ratio)
Aspect Ratio
1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Sensor Type / Size
MOS, 17.3 x 13 mm
File Formats
Still Images: JPEG, RAWMovies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264Audio: AAC, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM
Dust Reduction System
Yes
Memory Card Type
SD, SDHC, SDXC
Image Stabilization
Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis
AV Recording 
Video Recording
Yes, NTSC
Video Format
3840 x 2160p at 23.98, 29.97, 48, 59.94 fps (MP4)1920 x 1080p at 29.97, 59.94, 180 fps (MP4)1920 x 1080p at 23.98, 59.94 fps (AVCHD)1920 x 1080i at 59.94 fps (AVCHD)
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Video Clip Length
Up to 29 Min 59 Sec
Audio Recording
Built-In Mic: With Video (Stereo)Optional External Mic: With Video (Stereo + Mono)
Focus Control 
Focus Type
Auto & Manual
Focus Mode
Continuous-Servo AF (C), Flexible (AFF), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S)
Autofocus Points
Contrast Detection: 225
Viewfinder/Display
Viewfinder Type
Electronic
Viewfinder Pixel Count
3,680,000
Viewfinder Eye Point
21.00 mm
Viewfinder Coverage
100%
Viewfinder Magnification
Approx. 0.83x
Diopter Adjustment
-4 to +3 m
Display Screen
3" Rear Touchscreen Swivel Touchscreen LCD (1,040,000)
Screen Coverage
100%
Exposure Control
ISO sensitivity
Auto, 200-25600 (Extended Mode: 100-25600)
Shutter
Type: Electronic & MechanicalSpeed: 60 - 1/8000 SecondType: Electronic & MechanicalSpeed: 30 - 1 Minute in Bulb ModeType: ElectronicSpeed: 1 - 1/32000 SecondType: ElectronicSpeed: 1/25 - 1/16000 Second in Movie Mode
Remote Control
DMW-RSL1 (Optional)
Metering Method
Center-Weighted Average Metering, Multiple, Spot Metering
Exposure Modes
Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Programmed Auto, Shutter PriorityMetering Range: EV 0.0 - EV 18.0Compensation: -5 EV to +5 EV (in 1/3 EV Steps)
White Balance Modes
Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Daylight, Flash, Incandescent, Shade, White Set
Buffer / Continuous Shooting
Up to 9 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 12 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 20 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 60 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 30 fps at 18 MPUp to 60 fps at 8 MP
Flash
Flash Modes
AutoAuto/Red-Eye ReductionForced OnForced On/Red-Eye ReductionOffSlow SyncSlow Sync/Red-Eye Reduction
Built-in Flash
No
Max Sync Speed
1 / 250 Second
Flash Compensation
-3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
Dedicated Flash System
TTL
External Flash Connection
Hot Shoe, PC Terminal
Performance
Self Timer
10 Seconds, 2 Seconds
Interval Recording
Yes
Connectivity
1/8" Headphone, 1/8" Microphone, 2.5mm Sub-mini (2-Ring), HDMI A (Full Size), USB 3.0, Viera Link
Wi-Fi Capable
Yes
Power
Battery
1 x DMW-BLF19 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2 VDC, 1860 mAh
Operating / Storage Temperature
Operating: 14 to 104°F (-10 to 40°C)Humidity: 10 - 80%
Physical
Dimensions (W x H x D)
5.4 x 3.8 x 3.6" / 136.9 x 97.3 x 91.6 mm
Weight
1.27 lb / 579 g body only