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If you’re under the impression that great still life photography requires a well-equipped studio and a bunch of expensive lighting equipment, think again. In the quick video below you’ll learn how to use common household items to create images that look like they were shot by a pro.

An educator since the early 1960s, Jerry Uelsmann began assembling his photographs from multiple negatives decades before digital tools like Photoshop were available. Using as many as seven enlargers to expose a single print, his darkroom skills allowed him to create evocative images that combined the realism of photography and the fluidity of our dreams.

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Brandess-Kalt-Atena Group, Inc. has announced the introduction of the first
two models in their new Pelican RSV line. RSV stands for Rugged, Strong, and
Versatile which are terms used to describe this series of cases designed for
professional digital photographers on the move. The PCS247 model is an upright
camera/computer case on wheels that measures, outer dimensions are 18x14x10".
The inner dimensions are 16x12 1/2x7". The PCS2552 is a large camera/computer
case that can be hand or shoulder carried and can fit into the Pelican 1550
shell for added security. It measures 17 1/2x12 1/2x7" and features an
expandable computer pocket on the outside. Both are constructed from water resistant
1680D ballistic nylon and feature leather grain trim, moveable dividers, a padded
computer compartment, and PVC lined inner mesh pockets. Available in black or
green. Contact: Brandess-Kalt-Aetna Group, Inc., 701 Corporate Woods Parkway,
Vernon Hills, IL 60061, (800) 621-5488.

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Instead of trying to be just another me-too camera, the K-30 from Pentax Imaging is trying to be different, and that’s a good thing. First, there was the introduction of the K-01 mirrorless camera and now there’s the K-30 SLR, for when the going gets wet and not-so-wild. The rugged Pentax K-30 is designed for photographers who enjoy outdoor lifestyles and combines a weather- and dust-resistant compact body, HD video recording capabilities, and a glass prism optical finder with a 100 percent field of view, something most welcome in the small SLR category. To keep itself high and dry, the camera has 81 seals and is built to be cold resistant and function in temperatures as low as 14˚F, which is a number not all that uncommon here on Daisy Hill, Colorado, in the winter.

Beginning with the launch of the Asahiflex I in 1952, Pentax (PENTAprism refleX) was the first SLR that incorporated a penta-prism viewfinder and reflex mirror.

OK, here’s something a bit different: A lens replica mug for coffee lovers that features a self-stirring mechanism and has a stainless steel interior to keep your drinks hot. It’s also great for icy, blended cocktails, but nobody would consume those while out shooting, would they?

As 2014 draws to a close and I write the 100th installment of this column, I decided to reflect not on the future, but rather how the photo industry has evolved over the past 10 years or so. The pace of technical innovation in imaging gear has progressed so rapidly over the past decade, that is easy to forget how much has changed.