I’ve just recently come across the MacPhun software plugins, and have reviewed Tonality, their black and white conversion plugin. It’s my go to for black and white image conversion now and I’ve been loving it. Since my review, I’ve been in contact with the fine folks at MacPhun to do my user reviews on their other plugins here in the near future. If you’re a Mac user, I’d really suggest checking them out. MacPhun is offering their entire collection of plugins which include Tonality Pro, Snapheal Pro, Intensify Pro and Focus Pro for a whoppingly low $129 HERE. The collection at 40% off also includes a $25 gift card to either iTunes or Amazon as well!!! This promotion runs through December 25th, so I’ll do my best to write up some in depth reviews on the other plugins included in this deal, but if you’d like to see why I think Tonality Pro is the best black and white conversion plugin I’ve used, you can read more on that HERE. This also gives you plenty of time to download free trial versions HERE to test drive before buying. Stay tuned for more killer Black Friday software deals… Happy holidays and happy shooting, Tyson
*Olympus 45mm f/1.8 vs the Contax G Zeiss 45mm f/2
I held off for a long time on buying a portrait focal length for the Micro 4/3 system and despite the stellar reputation and modest pricing of the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens, I’d found myself more or less happy with my adapted Contax 45mm.
The Contax G Zeiss 45mm f/2 lens has a pretty amazing reputation of its own. In its day, it was touted as being one of the sharpest standard lenses available, even garnering praise over some more illustrious Leica lenses in the same focal length neighborhood. While I wish I had some Leica glass with which to test and back up that claim, let’s just say that the little Zeiss lens has done okay for itself and still goes for a decent amount of money now that the weird proprietary focusing mechanism has been worked around and this lens can be adapted to most any mirrorless camera nowadays.
So, how do these two compare? Let’s see…
*Monthly Flickr Photo Blog Challenge #9; “Minimalism” with @Mirrorlessons
“Road to Nowhere” by Sami Paju
Visual Mimimalism: Simplistic use of shape and form to convey an idea, emotion or concept often employing negative space or incomplete context.
Thank you to our October winner Sami for the new theme: “Minimalism”
As is fun with our monthly themes, they are open for interpretation. There are no rules, other than to be considered for our selections, you must submit your image to one of (good) or both (better) our themed flickr group threads below. Over the last 9 months, Heather and Mat from Mirrorlessons, and myself here have collaborated to create a fun way to both motivate our selves as well as help provide a platform for a bit more exposure by way of showcasing our favorites on both of our websites. At the end of the month, Heather, Mat and I each choose our favorite image from the flickr threads and post them on both of our sites along with a vote.
All of our readers get the final say in the overall winner for the month, with that winner being showcased and getting to choose the theme for the next month, as well as being entered into our semi-annual giveaway where we take the 6 monthly winners and open up a vote for the supreme champion. Our last winner billyburg took home a Topaz plugin of his choice and a custom built camera wrist strap. I’m working on some fun stuff, so I’m hoping we’re able to offer even more this time around. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s a great way to interact with some awesome folks and great photographers while getting your images out there.
Submit your Minimalistic images to these Flickr threads:
Tyson Robichaud Photoblography Flickr Group Thread
Mirrorlessons Flickr Group Thread
Good luck and happy shooting,
Tyson
*Congratulations to Sami Paju for winning our October Flickr Photo Blog Challenge, Street! with @Mirrorlessons
“Conversations on two levels” by Sami Paju (visit, see more and say hi to Sami HERE)
Congratulations to Sami! His image, “Conversations on two levels” is our winner for the Street challenge. Sami will now get to choose our theme for this month so stay tuned. In the mean time, drop by and visit Sami on Flickr HERE to congratulate him. Sami is not also entered into our semi-annual champions challenge where 6 monthly winners will vie for your vote with the winner taking home some free, sweet stuff.
Thanks as always to Heather and Mat from Mirrorlessons. We’ve been jointly putting on these monthly challenges and I love the amount of wonderful photography it has helped expose us all to. Our hope is that it also provides a fun way to motivate us to shoot subjects or concepts we may not have thought to shoot. A fun way to help spur a bit of creative energy as it were.
If you’ve not yet participated in one of these challenges, or just need a reminder as to where to submit your images, visit our Flickr groups. Each month we have a group thread in each of our Flickr groups where you can submit your images for consideration. It’s always free, and has proven to be a great way to network with many amazing folks and get your work out to a larger, online audience.
Find the TRP Flickr Group HERE.
Find the Mirrorlessons Flickr Group HERE.
Stay tuned and happy shooting!
Tyson
*Time to vote! Vote for the winner of our eighth monthly Flickr Photo Blog Challenge; Street. With @MirrorLessons
“Spotted” by Hajdu Tamas (see more from Hajdu HERE)
“Runner in Cordoba” by Philip Checkpu (see more from Philip HERE)
“Conversations on two levels” by Sami Paju (see more from Sami HERE)
Another month in the books.
Our monthly Flickr Photo Blog Theme challenges have been wonderful and I hope you guys have enjoyed them as much as we have. For those not yet in the know, Heather and Mat from Mirrorlessons along with myself here on my site, host monthly challenges where the winner from each month gets to choose our theme for the following month. Heather, Mat and I choose our three favorites each month and open it up for votes both here and on Mirrorlessons HERE. We have enjoyed building and promoting the community that has continued to grow through our flickr groups, and on our sites, hoping to give a little back in the way of exposure and free stuff. Make sure to visit both polls to vote for your favorite. Also keep an eye out for monthly themes to participate in.
Each monthly winner is then entered into our semi-annual giveaway poll where we take the 6 monthly winners and vote on our overall favorite with the winner taking home some cool stuff. Our first semi-annual winner, billyburg, made off with a Topaz plugin of his choice, and I custom built a one off Garda Wrist Strap for him as well.
October’s theme might have been the most popular theme yet with tons of submissions, Heather, Mat and I have boiled it down to our three faves as seen above. Vote below for your favorite and stay tuned for this month’s theme which will be announced within the week.
Visit our Flickr groups: TRP Photoblography HERE and Mirrorlessons HERE and don’t forget to vote over on Mirrorlessons too!
Find me on Facebook or Twitter as well to stay on top of new articles and announcements as they’re posted.
Happy shooting everyone,
t
*Happy Halloween! Using ReMask, Clarity and AS Exposure for some holiday fun.
Halloween is upon us. We’re only a week away from discounted bags of little candies and the beginnings of Christmas decorations adorning every retail outlet. With Topaz currently offering their cool photo enhancement plugin Topaz Clarity at 25% off until this Friday Oct 31st (Click HERE and use code “octclarity”), I thought it would be fun to use it as part of a little tutorial. Last year, when Topaz ReMask went on sale, I used my jack o’lantern as my muse and replaced my head with it. After fielding inquiries about my penchant for replacing my head with pumpkins, cameras and various other objects over the last couple years, I thought I’d take the opportunity to show you how easy it is, while creating a fun family portrait in the meantime. I’ve set up links to download free trials of all the plugins used if you’d like to try it yourself. Come on in…
*Digital Silver Imaging, a unique digital silver gelatin printing process.
I love photography. I love the journey that photography has taken me on, and I continue to enjoy exploring the possibilities available to appreciate the fruits of my photographic labor.
Last month, I tested and reviewed MacPhun’s Tonality Pro black and white conversion software (click here to read more on that). I really enjoyed talking with Alex and Kevin from MacPhun about their software, and getting some insight into both the software and the people behind it. Long story short, I consider it the best black and white conversion software I’ve personally used. Upon finishing my review, I was referred to one of their partners in Digital Silver Imaging, a unique print lab specializing in black and white printing. DSI offers a variety of printing solutions, but one in particular was fascinating to me. Using a laser enlarger, they convert and project your digital image file onto light sensitive, silver gelatin, black and white photo paper which is then processed in black and white photo chemistry. Why, and what benefit might this have for those of us that have moved into the digital realm? Come on in for more information about the process, and why I think it might be the best way to archive your favorite black and white, digital images.
*Been waiting for this one. Topaz Clarity on sale!
Ever since Topaz Clarity came out last year, I’ve fielded inquiry upon inquiry about my thoughts on it, and if I knew when it would possibly go on sale… Well, come on in for a few of my thoughts, and yes, it’s on sale now through the end of October for 25% off HERE via Topaz Labs (use code “octclarity ” at checkout to get 25% off making the normal $49.99 a paltry $37.50). If you want to see what Clarity offers, why not try downloading the full, free trial via the link above. It’s a good one… Continue reading
*A shoot for Allison Bartline Jewelry
As photographers, lovers of light, appreciators of detail, and constant observers of the world we wander through, I think many of us fall into a category of people who gravitate toward other artistic professionals. While I’ve no doubt come across artists (photographers and otherwise) who see creativity in others as a threat, I’d say on the whole, creative people enjoy and are inspired by other creative people.
Every eye is another vantage, every vantage another opportunity to see from a different angle and from a variety of those angles, the more easily it is to be inspired and grow our individual craft as well as our appreciation for the craft of others.
Allison is one such creative whose skill is equalled only by her amazingly light and vivacious personality. Her joie de vivre is evident as is her penchant for the rock and roll shadings playing to a slightly darker luminosity along that spectrum. No one says you can’t have both, and Allison embodies and ties those two points together beautifully in her work. You can tell when someone loves what they do, and you don’t need to go much further in conversation with her than hello to understand that about her. Come on in for more shots of Allison’s cryptic and beautiful, wearable artwork.
*Monthly Flickr Photo Blog Challenge #8; “Street Photography”
Thanks to last month’s winner Giovanni Tabbo, we have our theme for the month of October which is “Street Photography.” From Giovanni’s recent trip to Sicily, he has given us an inspirational example image as seen above.
Our monthly themes are open to interpretation and can be submitted to our Flickr theme threads specific to each month’s theme. Heather and Mat from Mirrorlessons along with myself have teamed up to build a greater community of photographers to help inspire and challenge each other. At the end of the month, Heather, Mat and I choose our three favorites and open them up for a vote via both our websites with the winner choosing our next theme, and gaining entry into our 6 month giveaway. It’s easy, it’s free and it’s fun.
Join us by submitting your image to our Flickr Threads:
Mirrorlessons Flickr Group HERE
There we have it. Shoot, share, live, learn and maybe win some cool free stuff.
Happy shooting everyone, I’m excited to see what we can come up with.
Tyson
Tyson Robichaud Photo-blography 