News

LiveBooks, Inc. announced it has consolidated its liveBooks|edu product offerings
to a single premium product for students and instructors at an annual subscription
price of $99, including the annual hosting fee. The revised liveBooks|edu product
consists of two parts: a templated Flash website and a sophisticated online
admin tool known as the editSuite. With the new, expanded features of the editSuite
tool -- a transition picker, PDF downloads from the editSuite and a loading
page graphic -- students can more effectively present their brand online,
keep their website content current and gain firsthand experience of the same
tool used by leading industry pros. Using liveBooks|edu, students and faculty
can quickly create and launch a professionally presented online portfolio website.

...

Mamiya has announced the release of an IR Photo filter for the Mamiya ZD Digital
back. "Today's CCD sensors are highly sensitive to infrared light,"
said Jeff Karp, Mamiya Product Marketing Manager, "and the IR Cut filter
built into cameras reduces infrared light transmission. The result is more accurate
and natural color. The IR Cut filter, however, makes infrared photography impossible.
In response to the large number of requests from infrared photographers, especially
with the scarcity of infrared film, this filter was created."



Mamiya developed the IR Photo Filter for use on the Mamiya ZD Digital Back. The
IR Photo Filter YD401 (which replaces the standard IR Cut Filter) is a clear filter
that allows the transmission of infrared light as well as visible light rays.



"Unlike specialized IR cameras or modified systems," states Karp,
"the Mamiya ZD Digital Back can be transformed from standard digital to
IR digital, simply by changing the user-replaceable sensor filters." Photographers
will need to add an infrared filter (89B or 87) on the front of the lens to produce
typical infrared images with dramatic dark skies, glowing greens and "magical"
skin tones. It is available mid-January 2008.



www.macgroupus.com...

onOne Software, Inc. has announced the technology acquisition of Liquid Resize,
which introduces a ground-breaking new way to resize images using a technique
known as "seam carving" to reduce the distortion that typically occurs
when manipulating the aspect ratio of an image.



Liquid Resize, a "content aware" image resizing application, was originally
developed by the Vienna, Austria based husband-wife team of Ramin Sabet and Irmgard
Sabet-Wasinger and is based on the work of Shai Avidan and Ariel Shamir that made
its first appearance in a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qadw0BRKeMk)
released at Siggraph 2007.
...

Mamiya has announced the release of two Mamiya Lens Mount Adapters that allows
the use of Hasselblad V-series medium format lenses on Mamiya 645AF series cameras
(645AF, 645AFD, and 645AFD II).



"The adapters provide the mechanical interface and precise flange-to-film
plane distance required for proper focusing of Hasselblad lenses," said
Jeff Karp, Mamiya Product Marketing Manager, "allowing the photographer
to use their existing Hasselblad V series lenses on the high-precision Mamiya
645AFD II. We are confident that photographers are looking to make the transition
from film to digital as efficiently as possible, and this adapter is definitely
a way to do that." To use the lenses, simply focus with the lens wide open
(the camera provides focus confirmation assistance), then stop-down for proper
exposure meter readings. The 645AF/AFD/AFD II can use shutter priority, aperture
priority or manual metering modes. The adapters come in black (#404) or silver
(#405) and will be available in January 2008.



www.macgroupus.com...

FotoNation has announced "ChromaFix" a new one-step chromatic aberration
correction technology. ChromaFix brings advanced image processing technology
normally found in much higher-priced cameras to low-cost low-power devices,
including consumer digital cameras and camera phones. ChromaFix is offered in
several configurations: a software-only solution or coupled with FotoNation's
IP-Core hardware acceleration technology to achieve maximum performance.



Higher-end digital cameras often include sophisticated glass lenses that minimize
aberrations. Low-cost consumer-level cameras and camera phones have different
price/performance dynamics, resulting in lower quality optics through the use
of plastic lenses. With ChromaFix, consumers can get high-quality results at
a low cost.



An example of chromatic aberrations is the occurrence of purple fringes around
high contrast edges in a photo, which is the result of a misalignment of the
red, green and blue wave-lengths of light during focusing. The prevalence of
purple fringing is dependent on the design of the optical system in the camera,
including: optical light path, lens materials, aperture of the exposure and
the design of the image processing system executed during image capture. The
purple color results from the fact that most lens designs are optimized to focus
based on the green wave lengths of light. The blue and red wavelengths of light
fall out of focus and overlap, producing a purple color due to the additive
properties of color perception (blue and red result in purple).



For more information, see www.fotonation.com

...

Summit, NJ February 18, 2008: On April 4-6, 2008, the Visual Arts Center of New
Jersey will host the largest Photographic Educational Conference in the state.
Utilizing the Art Center's state-of-the-art facility, an exciting weekend
of workshops, speakers, portfolio reviews as well as a vendor fair is planned.
Workshops presented at the conference will run the gamut from camera and light
fundamentals to fine art printing and scanning. Lectures will be given by some
of the leading names in the industry including George Tice and Stephen Perloff.
Participants choose only the Workshops, Speeches, Panel Discussions, and Portfolio
Reviews that they are interested in attending. The cost to attend two workshops
is $45. To view the conference schedule, workshop listings, instructor biographies
and to register, visit www.njphotoconference.com.




On Friday April 4th from 7- 9 PM, participants will be able to listen to keynote
speaker, Stephen Perloff, founder and editor of Photo Review Magazine. His lecture,
Photographic Truth in the Digital Age, addresses how we view reality and truthfulness
in photography when, through digital advancement, images can so easily be manipulated.



On Saturday, the conference is running workshops, lectures and portfolio reviews
utilizing the Art Center's nine art studios. The day will culminate in a
lively panel discussion on contemporary issues in photography including panelists
from all segments of the industry moderated by George Schaub, editor of Shutterbug
Magazine. The panel topic is The Image as Information: Where Does That Lead Us?
Panelists include Ted Harris, Editor, View Camera Magazine; Joel M. Smith, Curator
of Photography, Princeton University Art Museum; Donald Lokuta, Art Professor,
Kean University; and Diana Edkins, Director of Exhibitions and Limited-Edition
Photographs for Aperture Foundation.



A highlight of the conference is a slide lecture and book signing by George Tice,
one of the best known fine-art photographers in the nation. Making photographs
for over 40 years, Mr. Tice's prints are in many museums including the Museum
of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Metropolitan Museum, where
he had a one-man show in 1972. His photographs have been shown all over the world.
The lecture is scheduled for Saturday, April 5th from 4-6pm. A book signing, which
is open to the public, follows and will end at 6:45PM. This is a rare opportunity
to learn from a master in the photography field and all those interested in attending
should register early to reserve a spot.



Many events taking place at the conference are free to attend. On Sunday April
6th, an exhibitor fair of photography equipment and supply manufacturers will
be opened to the public from 10am-6pm. This day also includes free events such
as darkroom demos, tours and mini workshops by vendors. To become a vendor, contact
Event Producer Nancy Ori at nancyori@comcast.net.



The mission of the conference is to create a central presence at the Visual Arts
Center of New Jersey for the study and practice of photographic art within the
state. The Art Center is committed to teaching traditional darkroom photography,
an important part of the fine art experience, as well as providing courses in
state-of-the-art digital advances. The Art Center houses digital labs and a traditional
wet darkroom. It offers a wide range of classes, workshops, and open studios.
Visit www.artcenternj.org to view the latest course offerings.



The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is celebrating its 75th anniversary of "bringing
art and people together." Since its founding in 1933, the Visual Arts Center
of New Jersey has evolved into a major regional art center with a professionally
recognized art school, a critically acclaimed exhibition program and an extensive
community outreach program. In 2003, the Art Center completed a $6.5 million renovation
featuring a nine studio art school with three interior galleries and an outdoor
sculpture park. For further information, please visit the Art Center at www.artcenternj.org.