News

Sharpcast has released a new version of its popular Sharpcast Photos software-service
combination for automatically backing up digital photos online and sharing them
with no manual uploading or web browsing required. In addition to the new release,
Sharpcast is offering special free prints promotions to new members, members
who refer their friends to Sharpcast, and people who choose to make a switch
to Sharpcast from Yahoo! Photos as their service comes to an end this summer.

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One primary task of all photographers is to guide a viewer's through an image to the primary subject within the scene, which is one reason why judicious sharpening is so essential. It's also a well-established fact that the human eye is generally most attracted to the brightest and sharpest areas in a photo.

You're may tire of hearing us sing the benefits of selective post-processing techniques instead of taking the quick approach of making global adjustment to an image as a whole. Well, apologies for that, but here's another great example for you to consider from David's PNW Adventures.

It's harvest time throughout most of the country. That means farmers' markets are ripe with opportunities for photographers to sharpen their camera skills. Here are five tips to help you maximize the experience. This advice applies equally to street fairs, flea markets, fall festivals and other similar events.

It sounds like a reference to dull Halloween costumes, but I’ve always regarded unsharp masking as the Cadillac option for beefing up the acutance of my photos. Admittedly, this is probably just a reaction to the fact that unsharp masking has a complicated dialog box in Photoshop, and my reptilian brain is dazzled by lots of controls.

Sharpics, Inc., has revealed its line of enhanced Studio Lighting Kits, designed
to offer cost-effective and easy-to-use solutions for achieving professional product
photography images.



Sharpics' Compact Studio Light Kit (model LKT-92) and Clamp-on Overhead
Light (model CLK-9) are said to be built to ensure accurate product photography
and bring out the true colors of the particular object being photographed. Sharpics'
compact designs can deliver ideal lighting placement for tabletop photography.



The line also includes two compact 30-watt fluorescent bulbs with the LKT-92 lighting
kit, which provide the equivalent to a 240-watt incandescent bulb. The CLK-9 Overhead
Light will feature one bulb. The compact fluorescent bulbs use 75 to 80 percent
less power than equivalent incandescent bulbs, offering energy-efficiency, cooler
temperature and longevity. The addition of these `daylight-balanced'
bulbs will also offer users the ability to achieve lighting effects comparable
to natural daylight.



Sharpics' Compact Studio Light Kit

The compact studio light kit includes two mini studio lights, designed for applications
such as tabletop photography. SRP: $129.95



Features:

· Two compact light stands

· Two 30-watt fluorescent bulbs, Color Temp. 5000K

· 2-section column with flip grip adjusts from 12" to 18"

· Two 9" reflectors with adjustable ball bracket

· On/off switch and 7-ft cord

· Each light fixture is rated 120V, 250 watts maximum



Sharpics' Clamp-on Overhead Light

Sharpics' Clamp-on Overhead Light extends product photography capabilities
to include overhead lighting effects. SRP: $89.95



Features:

· 2" clamp with molded knob

· One 30-watt fluorescent bulb, Color Temp. 5000K

· 2-section vertical column and 2-section horizontal column with twist lock

· 9" reflector with adjustable ball bracket

· On/off switch and 7-ft cord

· Rated 120V, 250 watts maximum



Sharpics is also the creator of the D-Flector -- a patent-pending portable
photo studio that quickly unfolds into a tabletop background stand to support
the product photography needs of everyone from professional to novice photographers.
The product is ideal for individuals to easily create high-quality product images
needed for selling items via the Internet, designing print catalogs, marketing
and promotional materials, art projects, etc. The D-Flector has also proven to
be helpful for documenting items for insurance claims, appraisals, home and office
inventories or estate planning.



Product Availability:

Sharpics' lighting products are available for purchase online at www.sharpics.com
and in a variety of retail camera stores.

We’ve been avid fans of Shimoda photo backpacks since they debuted. So we’re doubly happy to announce that the reliable Shimoda Explore photo backpack lineup has evolved into version v2. Here’s what’s new.