Carl J Licari photography

Newborn Bliss!

2012-01-03T08:31:00.002-06:00

Had the opportunity to do a newborn shoot last week. This has to be one of my favorites....

Modeling Agency Shoot, Kids style

2011-11-12T23:58:00.001-06:00

A request came in to get some portfolio shots done of a friend's children. They were about to audition for parts in a kids TV production . It was decided that we'd do something organic for the portraits. These girls were gems to work with!

A preliminary report was that the girls were going to be offered parts in the production.

Maternity Photo Shoot

2011-10-19T16:19:00.000-05:00

Tiffany and Jerrald McBride came to the studio to do a maternity photo shoot on Saturday as they prepare for the arrival of their daughter Caylee...

Timing Is Everything - Sunrise Photography

2011-10-11T11:24:00.002-05:00

Every morning I go out to feed the horses. Usually it's near sunrise and there is no telling what the sky will reveal. One thing I know is that if there is broken clouds covering the sky chances are the sunrise will produce a scene worthy of recording. Another thing you can count on is if you don't have your camera with you the moment you think it's spectacular it will be significantly different by the time you retrieve it. Sometimes it's for the better, but more times than not it goes the other direction.

Such was the case this morning. As I was walking to the pasture I looked east as the sun began to show it's face and I knew I had missed the shot. Not to say I don't like this photo, but what was left behind because the camera was in the house, was arguable better. Be prepared!

Candid Children Photography

2011-10-01T09:31:00.000-05:00

One of the most rewarding types of photography for me is when I'm asked to shoot a gathering of children. Candid child shots seem to offer an array of genuine expressions. The ratio of keepers is low but the shots that are true keepers usually are moving and emotional...

Opening Gifts

Gift Envy

Any More Cake?

The Beauty of Lake Tahoe

2011-09-25T23:24:00.000-05:00

After baking in the Texas heat all summer, and I mean ALL SUMMER, my wife and I retreated to the cool dry air of Lake Tahoe California. Although the day time highs were in the eighties by morning we were treated to lows in the thirties. Although it was the cooler air we were after the beauty of the surroundings is something to behold.

The heat of the summer had put a damper on my photographic activity. I could hardly wait to explore the mountains and lakes for renewed inspiration and I wasn't disappointed.

Emerald Bay Sunrise

South Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake

Emerald Bay Sunset

New North Texas Stadium Nears Completion

2011-08-16T15:43:00.001-05:00

A follow up to a previous post on the progress of construction of North Texas' new football stadium. The final stages of construction are nearing as photos show work appears to be right on schedule.

Boston Model Shoot

2011-06-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

During a recent vacation to the northeast with my wife I was requested to do an outside model shoot. I waited for an afternoon with good light to do the session. Although I didn't have the lighting gear I would normally would have used, even with a single SB-900 and a Sto-Fen Omni Bounce diffuser, good results are still possible.

Friendship of Salem - Tall Ships Still Sail!

2011-06-12T10:37:00.003-05:00

Friendship of Salem is part of the National Park Service’s larger exhibit area at Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Friendship is a newly constructed ship based upon an East Indiaman built by Enos Briggs in Salem in 1797.

The original Friendship was constructed in Briggs’ shipyard across the South River, near the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. The three-masted square-rigged 342-ton vessel was registered to merchants Jerathmiel Pierce and Aaron Wite of Salem.Friendship made 15 voyages around the world, trading for pepper, exotic spices, sugar, coffee and other goods.

She was captured by the British during the War of 1812 and was condemned and sold. The newFriendship is handicap accessible and meets modern safety requirements but retains the appearance of the late 18th century vessel.

Evelina M. Goulart - Retired Fishing Schooner, Essex, MA

2011-06-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

The Evelina M. Goulart is an 83-foot (25.2-meter) fishing schooner built by Arthur D. Story in the Story Shipyard (now the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum) in 1927. She is one of seven surviving Essex-built fishing schooners and the only one to be virtually unchanged from its original configuration. At some point in her life she was converted into a fishing dragger, being fitted with an engine for the purpose.

Throughout her life she was primarily used for swordfishing. In 1985 Hurricane Gloria touched down in the New England area and damaged the stern of the Goulart. Tied up to the wharf and retired, her engine was removed. At some point the bilge pumps failed and the vessel sank.

In 1990 Evelina M. Goulart was donated to the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. Housed in an open-sided shed, the ship was intended as an example of ship construction, once the ship was stabilized. However the hull is badly deteriorated and the vessel may end its days at the breakers, with only the significant portions preserved for the future.

Salem, MA - A Tough Place in 1692 !

2011-06-10T12:46:00.001-05:00

From June through September of 1692, nineteen men and women, all having been convicted of witchcraft, were carted to Gallows Hill, a barren slope near Salem Village, for hanging.

Another man of over eighty years was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges.

Hundreds of others faced accusations of witchcraft. Dozens languished in jail for months without trials. Then, almost as soon as it had begun, the hysteria that swept through Puritan Massachusetts ended.

UNT Football Getting a New Home. Check It Out!

2011-05-20T17:34:00.000-05:00

The University of North Texas football team, aka; The Mean Green, is getting a long awaited new stadium to play at this year. Seating will be near 30,000 with possible future expansion that could reach 50,000 seat.

New UNT Football Stadium

Construction appears to be on pace for the $78 million complex to be ready for the 2011 season.

Cordless Battery Charger For Nikon EN-EL3 / EN-EL3E / EN-EL3A

2011-05-17T17:13:00.000-05:00

As a Nikon DSLR shooter have you ever seen one of the Canon battery chargers that doesn't require a cord to plug into an outlet? The plug is built into the charger itself and swivels out to plug into an outlet.

Have you ever said to yourself "Why doesn't someone make one of those for Nikon batteries?". Well if you're a D300/D300s or D700 shooter you're in luck because the Cellular Factory sells one. It also comes with a car adapter to boot! The charger has red, yellow and green LED status lights as well so you can tell how far along the charge is at a glance. The locking mechanism that holds the battery in place is not as strong as the Nikon charger but if oriented so the battery faces down against the charging tines it won't fall out. Alternatively you can use a rubber band to secure it.
At a price point of $8.99 it's not a problem. Knowing I don't need to pack a cord into my already full and heavy camera bag makes it a non-issue for me.
Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
http://www.cellularfactory.com/camera/FUJI_FILM/40/38450/655/

Phase One Media Pro is Released

2011-05-12T09:51:00.000-05:00

Phase One Media Pro is Released

The Photo Management App for Serious Photographers
Copenhagen, May 10, 2011 -- Phase One, the world's leading pro photography equipment provider, today released Media Pro. Originally created by iView Multimedia, this professional digital asset management software has recently been known as Microsoft Expression Media. In its first release since Phase One's acquisition of the product from Microsoft last year, it has been re-christened Media Pro.
Media Pro is a professional photo manager built for photographic, video and multimedia collection management. Media Pro offers a flexible and intuitive way to catalog, organize, and utilize digital media assets.
Its strength is in organizing photo files, no matter where they are stored -- on shared folders, CDs, hard drives, DVDs or other media. It's an application comprising visual catalogs which can be easily and quickly browsed, searched, and annotated.
Images within these very large catalogs (Media Pro now supports more than 128,000 files per catalog) may be non-destructively edited with Capture One and other image editing applications. They may also be converted into other file formats. And all catalogs may be archived, backed up, published via slide shows, web galleries, and distributed via email, contact sheets, prints, and other custom options.

Reprinted from Cameratown.com

Apple releases new iMac's with Intel Sandy Bridge Chipset!

2011-05-03T09:01:00.001-05:00

Up to 1.7x faster at the core.

New quad-core Intel Core i5 processors are standard on the new iMac. Choose a 21.5-inch iMac with a 2.5GHz or 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5. Or expand your view with a 27-inch iMac featuring a 2.7GHz or 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5. You can even configure iMac with the fastest quad-core processor available — the Intel Core i7. All models use Intel’s recently refined chipsets. That means the new iMac performs nearly twice as fast as the previous generation,¹ adding a new dimension of speed to everything you do. And since Mac OS X is designed to take advantage of each core, it captures every last bit of performance from the processor.

Visit Apple's website for all the new improvements here!

Zack Arias on CreativeLIVE - FREE! - Last Day! Awesome!

2011-05-01T10:28:00.002-05:00

If you haven't been watching Zack Arias' "Foundations of a Working Photographer" on CreativeLIVE you have been missing the boat. A FREE workshop with MORE information on the things you need to know to be a successful working photographer. Today is the last day but the complete workshop is available for replay at your convenience for a short time today at $99.00. After that the price will be $149.00. Don't miss out on this!
Watch the LIVE feed today here!

Waterfowl Photography In Texas Today

2011-04-27T21:39:00.001-05:00

Here are a few images of waterfowl in flight and on water or land. These are wild birds in a non-threatening environment so if you're patient and stay still, close shot opportunities will come your way.

A complete gallery is available for viewing or purchase from my website at http://bit.ly/kY6cHT

Adobe Lightroom 3.4 and Camera Raw 6.4 Available

2011-04-27T00:35:00.001-05:00

See what's new in Lightroom 3.4 and Camera Raw 6.4 over at Adobe.
Link for Adobe Lightroom 3.4 and Camera Raw 6.4 Release Candidates downloads.

David DuChemin injured while shooting in Italy...

2011-04-25T08:06:00.001-05:00

A link to Jeffery Chapman's recount of David's accident.....David's Fall From Grace...

Apple's A5-, Qualcomm-powered, 8MP Cam iPhone 5 rumored for Sept.

2011-04-18T10:29:00.000-05:00

Apple's iPhone 5 will feature "slight modifications" from its predecessor, including an 8 megapixel rear camera and a Qualcomm baseband for both GSM and CDMA models, and will go into production in September, a new report claims.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo with Concord Securities issued a note on Monday offering alleged details of the next iPhone. His checks with supply chain sources indicated that the next handset from Apple will not feature an all-new-design, but rather only "slight modifications" from the iPhone 4.

Specifically, Kuo has heard that the iPhone 5 will include the faster A5 processor already found in the iPad 2, as well as a higher resolution 8 megapixel rear camera. He has also been told that Apple will switch to a Qualcomm baseband for both GSM and CDMA models, along with an improved antenna design.

Kuo has also been told that the new iPhone will go into trial production in August and mass production in September, allowing Apple to reach shipment volumes of between 28 million and 32 million units this year. That would align with previous reports that have indicated Apple plans to make its new iPhone available for sale later than usual this year, likely in Apple's next fiscal year beginning in October.

As quoted from AppleInsider

NEW AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G !

2011-04-13T09:26:00.000-05:00

As shown on Nikon's website........

Key Features

A fast, single-focal-length lens with normal 50mm focal length
Large maximum aperture of f/1.8
Newly developed optical system employing an aspherical lens element
Silent Wave Motor (SWM) realizes quiet AF operation
Two focus modes are available — M/A (quick switching from AF to MF) and M (manual focus)

Specifications

Focal length	50mm
Maximum aperture	f/1.8
Minimum aperture	f/16
Lens construction	7 elements in 6 groups (with one aspherical lens element)
Angle of view	47° (31°30' with Nikon DX format)
Minimum focus distance	0.45 m/1.48 ft
Maximum reproduction ratio	0.15x
No. of diaphragm blades	7 (rounded)
Filter-attachment size	58mm
Diameter x length (extension from lens mount)	Approximately 72 x 52.5 mm/2.8 x 2.1 in.
Weight	Approximately 185 g/6.6 oz
Supplied accessories	58mm snap-on Front Lens Cap LC-58, Rear Lens Cap LF-4, Bayonet Hood HB-47, Flexible Lens Pouch CL-1013

Apple Final Cut Pro X Released. Price Slashed $299!

2011-04-13T07:34:00.000-05:00

Apple has unveiled Final Cut Pro X, the newest version of its popular video-editing software.
Final Cut Pro X is a rebuild of the 12-year-old software, according to Apple's Peter Steinauer and Randy Ubillos. It's the first 64-bit version for the software, capable of utilizing all eight cores and more than 4 GB of RAM of the Mac for professional video editing.

Apple revealed the new version of Final Cut Pro at an event at the National Association of Broadcasters trade show in Las Vegas.

Final Cut Pro X comes with a slew of new features, including advanced people and shot detection, automatic audio cleanup and "range-based keywording," which gives video editors the ability to apply keywords to specific portions of a video.

The new Final Cut Pro also sports a feature that prevents audio and video tracks from being pushed out of sync by accident. Photography Bay also reports that Final Cut Pro X will come with feature that automatically matches color between two clips.

Final Cut Pro X will be available for download via the Mac App Store in June for $299, far less than the Final Cut Studio's $999 price tag.

Quoted from Mashable

Jimmy Mac's Water Cannon Salute

2011-04-08T17:19:00.001-05:00

   When flight crew members of American Airlines retire it is customary to see the airport water cannon trucks lined up on both sides of the alley way entrance to the gate. When the aircraft turns into the alley the water cannons fire water over the top of the aircraft forming an arch to signify recognition of a successful career ending and the beginning of a fruitful retirement.
   On this day the meaning was the same, however the circumstance were quite different. One of Americans most dedicated and loyal employees was being honored. James MacDonald, aka; Jimmy Mac, an employee of American Airlines of thirty-six years was returning home to New York. Jimmy worked in Systems Operations Control as a flight dispatcher and equipment coordinator. The "Nerve Center" of the airline, this is where all day to day operational decisions are made, where Jimmy loved to be and where he'll be missed. In March Jimmy returned home after a day at work and never woke for his morning shift. At an all to young age of fifty-six years Jimmy passed away.
   With the help of many at DFW the honor and salute of the airport water cannons arch was bestowed to Jimmy Mac, escorted by his family, for his final trip home.

Family, friends and peers.

Jimmy Mac in good hands walked on board.

The water cannons begin their salute.

The final trip home.

San Francisco Financial District Architecture

2011-04-07T07:20:00.000-05:00

The San Francisco financial district has an abundance of unique contemporary architecture culminating with the Trans America Building. On a bright and sunny April day I was able to capture a number of images sampling some of the more impressive structures.

Light is everything, but you be the judge.

2011-04-04T17:03:00.000-05:00

Chigger

   As I was sitting in my office working on some images at the computer, I happened to glance out the window. It wasn't ten minutes earlier that I had done the exact same thing and had the same view, only this time I was up and out of my chair reaching for my camera and a 70-200mm f/2.8. What was it that caused the knee-jerk reaction? The light! It was all about the late afternoon "Golden Hour" light that made me move.
   A few minutes earlier it was a completely different view. The sun was still high enough that the angle and color that was presented didn't move me. When I glanced out and saw this light shining on Chigger I was out the door with house shoes on and Nikon in hand.
  The next time you're in a funk because you can't find something to inspire you, step out late in the day and look around. The same things we see all day long take on a new dimension and feel.

Sony 8MP Image sensors for iPhone 5 ?

2011-04-03T15:48:00.002-05:00

All eyes are set on Worldwide Developers Conference starting on June 5 where Apple is expected to announce the next generation iPhone 5. Sir Howard Stringer, president and CEO of Sony Corp, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, is said to have slipped Sony s plans about 8 megapixel image sensors to be supplied to Apple for next generation iPhone 5. Seth Weintraub, owner of 9to5Mac blog noted that Stringer stated that the factory making image sensors for Apple was affected by the Tsunami in Japan.

Apple usually sources the image sensors for its iOS devices from OmniVision that offered backside-illuminated 5 megapixel CMOS Image sensor in the iPhone 4. OmniVision Factory located in Japan is reported to be affected by Tsunami and hence there has been a delay in supply of image sensors for Apple products.

According to report by WSJ, Stringer casually stated -

Early on, he raised the irony of Sony supplying camera components for Apple devices. It always puzzles me, he said. Why would I make Apple the best camera? It is unclear what devices he was talking about as Sony isn t known to supply key camera components, known as image sensors, to Apple.

As opposed to that, Weintraub had paraphrased Stringer s mention as:

Our best sensor technology is built in one of the (tsunami) affected factories. Those go to Apple for their iPhones or iPads. Isn t that something? They buy our best sensors from us?

Sony also manufactures backside-illuminated Exmor R image sensors which were recently used in the current Xperia Arc model. Hence it might have been an indirect offer from Sony to Apple for buying image sensors from them instead of getting the iPhone 5 shipment delayed. As of now there s no second reported to confirm what Weintraub heard at the interview but it looks ambiguous why Sony would supply parts to one of its rivals.

From the mixed reports available so far, I believe iPhone 5 indeed will have 8 megapixel Image Sensor. However, there s no clarity whether those Image Sensors would be from OmniVision or Sony.

Quoted from UTV Techtree

Pocketwizard New Beta Releases for ALL ControlTL Radios

2011-03-23T19:58:00.000-05:00

PocketWizard Photo Accessories
Huge Beta Release for ALL ControlTL Radios. Two new features; Automated HyperSync and SpeedCycler. Many system improvements. Hit the beta lab for more info.

PocketWizard® - the beta lab

www.pocketwizard.com

Apple Releases Aperture 3.1.2 Update

2011-03-22T21:38:00.000-05:00

About Aperture 3.1.2

This update improves overall stability and performance, including specific fixes in the following areas:

Importing iPhoto libraries
Reliability and responsiveness when using brushes to apply adjustments
Reconnecting referenced master images

The update is recommended for all users of Aperture 3.
For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2518

HDR Photography... Is this better or worse?

2011-03-20T10:38:00.000-05:00

I was taking some interior photos of a home with a wall of windows on one side. The photos were, in my opinion, unusable with the blown out windows and the room in proper exposure. Although I knew the solution I didn't know if the results would be acceptable.
An HDR image would solve the problem but add some controversy and debate. I decided to shoot a 5-exposure bracket to get outside the windows in proper exposure. After seeing the results I needed to go to a 7-exposure bracket and that was barely enough. Here are the last and first exposures.

Blown out windows

Windows in exposure

Now with four of the exposures used in Photomatix Pro 4 and little tweaking in CS5 here is what we get....

HDR

So you be the judge on this one. Do you think this is an acceptable representation of the room or not?

Nik Silver Efex Pro, Create Emotion...

2011-03-20T09:52:00.000-05:00

From nothing to something.....

Nik Silver Efex Pro

Libya agrees to free NY Times journalists

2011-03-18T14:01:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK — Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi have said they will release four New York Times journalists who were captured during fighting in the eastern part of the country, the newspaper said Friday.

The four planned to drive to the Egyptian border and fly out of Egypt, said Buddy Shadid, the father of Times reporter Anthony Shadid.

"They were wanting to keep it quiet yesterday because of the delicate negotiations," Buddy Shadid told The Associated Press. "Apparently the United Nations and Turkey and some other nations all put pressure on the Libyan government to release them."

Buddy Shadid said he had spoken to his daughter-in-law, Nada Bakri, who said the four journalists were treated well and had plenty of food and water.

The journalists are reporter Anthony Shadid; photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario; and a reporter and videographer, Stephen Farrell. In 2009, Farrell was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan and was rescued by British commandos.

Gadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, told ABC News reporter Christiane Amanpour during an interview that the journalists were in Libyan custody, and on Thursday evening Libyan government officials told the U.S. State Department that all four would be released, the Times said in an article on its website. A Times spokeswoman declined to comment.

The journalists had last been in contact with editors on Tuesday from the northern port city of Ajdabiya where they were covering the retreat of rebels.

Hicks' father, Portis Hicks, said his son called him briefly Thursday while still in Libyan custody. Tyler Hicks said he was in good health was being treated well.

"We are relieved and very gratified that the Libyan government has agreed to release them," Hicks said.

Buddy Shadid said the ordeal had left family members emotionally drained.

By CHRIS HAWLEY Associated Press © 2011 The Associated Press

Adobe Lightroom 3.4 and Camera Raw 6.4 RC Details

2011-03-11T08:58:00.000-06:00

Lightroom 3.4 and Camera Raw 6.4 are now available as Release Candidates on Adobe Labs. The ‘release candidate’ label indicates that this update is well tested but would benefit from additional community testing before it is distributed automatically to all of our customers. The final releases of Lightroom 3.4 and Camera Raw 6.4 may have additional corrections or camera support.

CAMERA AND LENS SUPPORT

Canon EOS 600D (Rebel T3i / Kiss X5)
Canon EOS 1100D (Rebel T3 / Kiss X50)
Hasselblad H4D-40
Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus E-PL2
Olympus XZ-1
Samsung NX11

Lens Mount Lens Name
Canon Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM
Canon Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L USM
Canon SIGMA 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM**
Canon TAMRON 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3DiII VC PZD B008E
Nikon Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
Nikon Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
Nikon Nikon AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
Nikon Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR
Nikon SIGMA 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Nikon TAMRON 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3DiII VC PZD B008N
Nikon Leica APO-MACRO-SUMMARIT-S 1:2.5/120mm
Nikon Leica SUMMARIT-S 1:2.5/35mm ASPH.
Nikon Leica SUMMARIT-S 1:2.5/70 mm ASPH.
**These lens profiles were in the previous release but have been updated to address quality concerns.

The following bugs that were part of previous Lightroom 3 releases have been corrected. The team appreciates the very detailed feedback the community has provided on Lightroom 3 and we’re excited to correct a number of issues experienced by our customers. These issues have been FIXED

Lightroom encountered issues presenting double-byte character metadata after the image was edited on Photoshop.com.
Publish collections did not work properly if the sort order is set to descending. (“Z to A”).
Using the up/down arrow keys or the mouse wheel to adjust a parameter while the graduated filter is activated caused increments of plus or minus 100 instead of 1.
Interlacing artifacts, and a slight magenta cast in the deepest shadows could have appeared on some high-contrast edges of Canon mRaw files.
A magenta color cast could have appeared on Nikon D7000 images if the multi-exposure feature was used with raw capture.
Video files were allowed to be added to a SmugMug publish collection not capable of supporting video uploads.
Folder creation caused an expanded folder hierarchy to close unexpectedly in the Library Module.
Please provide feedback on your experience with the Lightroom 3.4 Release Candidate Bug Report Form.

Camera Raw did not allow write-back capability for the EXIF GPS properties
The DNG File format did not support XMP Media Management
A JPEG file with a specific characteristic was found to have a pink cast
The undo command (Command Z) was failing to undo crop adjustments
Single images marked for deletion were not moved to the trash
A magenta color cast could have appeared on Nikon D7000 images if the multi-exposure feature was used with raw capture
Please provide feedback on your experience with the Camera Raw 6.4 plug-in and the DNG Converter on the Camera Raw User to User forum.

Data quoted from Adobe.com

This Angel is Forty-Eight Feet Tall....and Has a Twin Sister!

2011-03-09T23:17:00.001-06:00

Bass Performance Hall is permanent home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn Concerts. Each resident company operates independently from Performing Arts Fort Worth and manages its own programming schedule at Bass Hall.

The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world.

History courtesy of Bass Performance Hall.

Photography by Carl J Licari Photography

Sundance Square and the Chisholm Trail Mural - Ft Worth, TX

2011-03-09T22:37:00.002-06:00

Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth is rich in Western history and lore. During the great cattle drives of the late 1800's, Fort Worth was one of the major stops on the legendary Chisholm Trail. Cowboys on the trail would visit downtown Fort Worth for some much needed recreation. The downtown area was filled with saloons, gambling parlors, shooting galleries and dance halls, which attracted a rough mix of gamblers, cattlemen, outlaws, and lonesome doves.

The area was named for the Sundance Kid who - along with his partner Butch Cassidy - was a frequent visitor to the area, then known as Hell's Half Acre. Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, well-known participants in the "Shootout at the OK Corral," could also be spotted from time to time in Sundance Square. Most of the buildings in Sundance Square date from the turn of the 20th century, and have been beautifully restored to provide a wonderful architectural view of the past. The red brick streets and lush courtyards add to Sundance Square's authentic aura.

A few of the notable buildings in Sundance Square include the Knights of Pythias Hall (1901), the Land Title Building (1889), and the Jett Building (1907), which features the Chisholm Trail Mural painted by Richard Haas in the mid 1980s and spans the building's southern façade. The mural commemorates the Fort Worth segment of the Chisholm Trail cattle drives of 1867-1875.

History copyrights - Sundance Square Management. Photography copyrights - Carl J Licari Photography

PocketWizard Nikon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 ...Finally!

2011-03-01T11:56:00.001-06:00

After waiting over a month for back ordered PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 units from one of the major New York City photo stores I was finally able to locate and acquire them.
Although PocketWizard started shipping these items some time ago it has been difficult to find them in stock. What surprised me was that retailers such as Adorama and B&H Photo have shown no stock for so long. This leads me to believe that the backlog of orders must be huge and I was well back in the "first come, first serve" list.

Enter Amazon, where I was able to find the MiniTT1 in stock. While there I also ordered two FlexTT5 units although they were showing on back order. From there I continued to search for the FlexTT5 units and although I was able to locate some it was becoming evident that a premium was being added to the retail price when found in stock. The old "supply and demand" pricing scheme, aka gouging was manifesting itself.

Pictureline to the rescue! Finally I came on Pictureline's website and they showed stock of the FlexTT5's and at the retail price! Cool! I canceled my order at Amazon for the FlexTT5's and placed my order for two from Pictureline. Confirmation on 3-Day shipping was received today from Pictureline. The MiniTT1 from Amazon was shipped using my Prime account so by week's end I will be in business for wireless radio Nikon i-TTL shooting!

There is one piece of the puzzle missing though. Hopefully I'll be able to find the AC3 Nikon Controller soon, and at retail as well.

Baby Wade's 1st Birthday Bash

2011-02-15T11:57:00.003-06:00

Dude!

   Proud Mom and Dad Stuhler threw a birthday party for one year old son Wade. Friends and family were in attendance, including both proud grandmothers!
   After a feast of food for the guests Wade found himself face to face with a birthday cake all his own to enjoy. The images tell the story but without doubt Wade systematically enjoyed the cake!
   When cake time ended it was on to the creative event for the day. Marcia had paint and canvas's for all to express themselves, whatever approach was desired. Art form ran from "A" to "Z" and eventually ended at "B", for body painting!
   An extensive clean-up period followed and then we were on to the highlight of every birthday party, OPENING GIFTS! The boy won't be looking for new toys to play with for some time to come!
   At the end of the day a great time was had by all. I'm sure everyone slept well that night! ;-)

The little guy did a number on his cake in short order!

Marcia set up a supply of paint and canvas for some creativity...

...which quickly turned into body painting!

Hearst Castle Pools

2011-02-10T20:43:00.000-06:00

Hearst Castle Neptune Pool

Neptune Pool

Construction for the Neptune Pool spanned 1924-1936. Three swimming pools were built on this site, each successively larger. Initial plans for the site called for a "Temple Garden" with an ornamental pool and temple structure. On March 31, 1924, W.R. Hearst wrote in a letter to Julia Morgan, "I am sending back the plan of the temple garden with the suggestion that we make the pool longer than it is, as long as a swimming pool. Mrs. Hearst and the children are extremely anxious to have a swimming pool!" On June 17, 1924, Morgan wrote that the first swimming pool was nearing completion: "Mr. Neptune and the two ladies can be placed but the finished basins will take some time yet."

The second version of the pool, a substantial enlargement, was created in 1926-1927. This version had a series of concrete steps at the southern side called the Cascade, down which water flowed. The Neptune and Nereid statues, presently in the temple pediment, then stood at the top of the Cascade. The dressing rooms were begun in 1928 and furnished according to Hearst's instruction.

The present version of the pool was under construction from 1934-1936. It is unlikely that the enlargement was done to make it closer to Olympic size, as has sometimes been conjectured; Olympic pools are 165 feet long. It is more likely that the colonnades and Cassou statues, which were planned from the late 1920's, required an enlarged treatment. Morgan anticipated further modifications of the pool for Cassou's Neptune statuary group to be placed in the small upper pool. On July 27, 1936, Morgan wrote in a letter to Charles Cassou, "enclosed is a plan and some photographs of the 'Neptune Pool' in its present (uncompleted) state. The recess of the main pool and the small pool above to receive your 'Neptune' group I have not touched since my visit with you last year - so please do not think of them except as something yet to be done to form a proper background and sitting for your 'Venus' as well as your 'Neptune' statuary." The "Neptune" sculpture group by Cassou intended for the small upper pool was never installed.

The final version of the pool as it stands at the Castle today is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide and 95 feet wide at alcove. It is 3.5 feet deep at the west end, 10 feet at drains and holds 345,000 gallons of water. Other unique aspects of the Neptune Pool include the oil burning heating system, the light-veined Vermont marble decorating the pools and colonnades, and four 17-century Italian bas-reliefs on the sides of the colonnades.

Hearst Castle Roman Pool

Roman Pool

The Roman Pool at Hearst castle is a tiled indoor pool decorated with eight statues of Roman gods, goddesses and heroes. The pool appears to be styled after an ancient Roman bath such as the Baths of Caracalla in Rome c. 211-17 CE. The mosaic tiled patterns were inspired by mosaics found in the 5th Century Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy. They are also representative of traditional marine monster themes that can be found in ancient Roman baths. The statues are rough copies of ancient Greek and Roman statues. One such copy represents the "Apoxyomenos." Statuary was used on a considerable scale in the Baths of Caracalla.

The pool and surrounding room, which were built from 1927-1934, can be compared to an ancient Roman bath. The pool, like the baths, is located indoors. Its water was heated as in a tepidarium. However, in Hearst's complex there were no hot or cold baths as there were in the ancient complex. The Roman Pool complex was designed to contain an exercise room, sweat baths, a handball court and dressing rooms.

The Roman Pool is decorated from ceiling to floor with 1" square mosaic tiles. These glass tiles, called smalti, are either colored (mainly blue or orange) or are clear with fused gold inside. The intense colors and shimmering gold of the tiles combine to create a breathtaking effect. The designs created by the tiles were developed by muralist Camille Solon. The inspiration for some of these designs came from the 5th Century Mausoleum of Galla Placidia.

Hearst was affected by the beauty of the mosaics in the mausoleum and incorporated similar styles into his Roman Pool. The walls of the mausoleum are marble but the vaulted arches are composed of blue and gold smalti. The roofs and dome are covered with mosaics of night blue, powdered with stars. The Roman Pool is similar to the mausoleum with its blue and gold color scheme and stylized star patterns. It differs because marble was only used in the statues, not on the walls, and there are no religious murals.

Decorating the Roman Pool are eight marble statues. These statues were carved starting in 1930 by Carlo Freter working in Pietrasanta, Italy. They are rough copies of ancient Greek and Roman statues. The statue of "Apoxyomenos" is found near the east side of the building. "Apoxyomenos," also known as "The Scraper," is a statue of an athlete scraping dirt and moisture off the underside of his right arm. The original bronze statue was created by the Greek sculptor Lysippos c. 320 B.C.E. Because Lysippos' work does not survive, Freter worked from an ancient Roman copy of "The Scraper" found in the Vatican museum in Rome. Freter faithfully copied the Roman copy but also completes the statue with the addition of the missing strigil (scraper) and the missing fingers of the outstretched hand.

Hearst Castle history as quoted from hearstcastle.org.

Photography by Carl Licari

Canon Updates 500mm with New EF500mm f/4L IS II USM

2011-02-07T07:49:00.002-06:00

The Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM is a very high quality super-telephoto lens that takes super-telephoto lenses to the next level. With outstanding image quality, a fast f/4 aperture and a significantly reduced weight compared to its predecessor it is a lens packed with features, optical excellence and reliability.

For nature and sports photographers, especially those who travel widely, the EF500mm f/4L IS II USM makes the ideal optical tool. The 680g weight reduction compared to its EF500mm f/4L IS USM predecessor will make it highly attractive to photographers who want a more portable super-telephoto lens in their bag.

Key features

L-series telephoto lens
Four-stop Image Stabilizer to help prevent blur
Three IS Modes
Power Focus mode
Fluorine lens coating
Two Fluorite lens elements reduce chromatic aberration and colour blurring
Robust, but lightweight, build with superb handling
Close focusing distance of 3.7m
Ring-type USM with high-speed CPU for silent, high-speed AF
Security cable lock attachment point
Long and short tripod attachments plates provided
Only lead free glass used in construction

As shown at http://cpn.canon-europe.com

NEW! - Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital Camera Announced

2011-02-06T23:24:00.001-06:00

Product Highlights

SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card Slot
18MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor
3.0" Clear View Vari-Angle LCD
100-6400 ISO
Full HD Movie Mode w/ Manual Exposure
Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S Lenses
3.7 Frames/Second Continuous Shooting
63 Zone Dual-Layer Metering / 9-Point AF
Intelligent Auto Mode

Price $799.00 body only

Apple Photography Job Ad - Is This a Sign of a New Direction for the iPad?

2011-02-03T12:04:00.002-06:00

As reported by Amateur Photographer.....

Computer giant Apple plans to launch more photography software for its iPad tablet.

Apple's head office is advertising for a 'dynamic software engineer with the drive and desire to deliver great photography applications for the Mac and iPad platforms'.

The Photography Software Engineer vacancy requires a 'passion for photography', according to the official job description.

The full-time job will be based in Cupertino, California.

The news comes as reports this week suggest the next iPad will come equipped with a front-facing camera.

Helicopter Solo Flight Completed!

2011-02-01T10:48:00.002-06:00

It took three tries but on Saturday, January 29, Rick Sponaugle completed his helicopter solo flight at Ft Worth Alliance airport. Two other attempts were made on separate days but flight instructor Andrew Ford of Longhorn Helicopters, Inc, waved it off due to high winds.
On Saturday morning clear skies and light wind gave Rick the perfect conditions we were all hoping for. After a few touch and go's with Andrew Rick taxied to the ramp to off load the instructor.

Rick knocked down the required three landings in perfect form.

After returning to the ramp to pick up Andrew they departed the pattern to Denton for a little cake celebration .

Phase One IQ Series Digital Camera Backs Starting @ $21,990.00 !

2011-01-25T07:13:00.003-06:00

Copenhagen, January 24, 2011 — Phase One, the world’s leading pro photography equipment provider, today announced a bold new generation of medium format digital camera backs. The Phase One IQ180, IQ160 and IQ140 digital camera backs feature maximum resolutions of 80, 60.5 and 40 high quality megapixels respectively. This series sets new standards for medium format camera system handling and performance.

The Phase One IQ180 captures at full-frame 80 megapixel resolution, with a dynamic range of 12.5 f-stops. It is the first product of its kind to feature a USB3 connection, facilitating faster image transfers in the future. The IQ180 also features a FireWire 800 connection, ensuring the fastest tethered capture speeds possible today. For untethered shooting, the IQ180 digital back’s new memory card interface is so fast that it eliminates buffering delays, supporting continuous shooting until a card is filled.

“I am amazed by the image quality I’ve gotten ‘out of the box’ with the Phase One IQ180 on the Phase One 645DF camera. I can create images with more detail and unique looks than with any other camera out there. It helps me develop styles unique to me,” said lifestyle photographer Jens Honoré. (website: http://www.jenshonore.com/)

A newly-designed 3.2 inch retina type, multi touch screen features 1.15 megapixel resolution, providing the highest resolution and largest display of any SLR type camera available today. This means that very fine details can be checked instantly during a photo shoot -- for instance using Phase One’s unique Focus Mask and the instant zoom function. The automatic adjustment of brightness and contrast ensures that the display is visible under various light conditions.

Context-sensitive controls, such as the instant zoom function, allow a photographer to zoom into an image using one finger only. Small histograms and highlight warnings can be enlarged to full screen view by a simple touch. The new Focus Mask available during preview helps validate depth-of-field and image focus. The wide format display allows for a full 4:3 aspect ratio VGA resolution image next to histogram, highlight warning, focus mask, EXIF data, and touch controls. This touch screen display is complemented by Phase One’s intuitive 4-button navigation.

“The new high-resolution multi touch screen with its intuitive controls is a perfect tool for checking image quality right at the moment of capture. With this display quality, I can leave my laptop at home, and ultimately this makes my work easier,” said architectural photographer, Eugeni Pons. (website: http://www.eugeni-pons.com/)

Phase One’s patent-pending Sensor+ technology, built into the Phase One IQ180, supports a variety of shooting conditions. One can capture images with full 80 megapixels resolution or, using Sensor+ mode, switch instantly to capture images with 20 megapixels resolution at 4 times higher sensitivity, up to ISO 3200. This flexibility is very useful under low light conditions; there is no need to slow down to change cameras, and there’s no crop or lens factor. One gets the maximum wide-angle performance from the existing lens, higher ISO levels, and a faster workflow.

According to fashion photographer Stefan Kapfer, “The new IQ180 suits my work very well. I can use the full 80 megapixel resolution for my high end fashion shots, and the 20 megapixel images I get from the Sensor+ technology give me a faster workflow when I do work for catalogue production. It’s really two perfect solutions in one system.” (website: http://www.stefankapfer.de/)

Compatibility is improved between the IQ digital backs and the Phase One 645DF camera body. The power state of the digital back can now be controlled directly from the 645DF camera. An integrated battery charger ensures that the battery is charged while one is shooting tethered, offering more shooting versatility.

Capture One 6
Capture One 6 has been optimized for shooting with Phase One IQ digital backs. Together with the IQ series backs this professional RAW converter and image editing software will deliver the world’s highest image quality with excellent color and detail. The software comprises all the tools required to capture, organize, edit, share and print images for an efficient workflow.

Reliability and Service
Pro photographers can rely on Phase One IQ digital backs to get their jobs done. Their highly durable build quality is designed and tested to work in the toughest environments, including extreme heat, cold and humidity.

All Phase One products represent long-term investment value with superior service. For professionals, this protection is priceless, especially when shooting in unfamiliar situations and locations around the world.

Various service levels are available for Phase One IQ digital backs. For example, a value-added option includes a life-time (5 year) warranty, a free loaner unit during repair and other options. Phase One offers 365 days round the clock support delivered on-line and backed up by dedicated partners and a global support team.

For a complete list of all the new Phase One IQ digital back features, including supported camera bodies, please see www.phaseone.com/iq

Availability and Pricing
The Phase One IQ180 is expected to be available end of April 2011. The Phase One IQ160 and IQ140 are expected to be available end of May 2011. The products may be ordered now through Phase One professional photography partners worldwide: www.phaseone.com/partners

Prices for new digital backs start at 16.990 EUR / 21.990 USD. Attractive upgrade offers are available for all existing Phase One photographers.

The Honor Guard Memorial at Freedom Plaza

2011-01-23T22:21:00.004-06:00

In 1993, Lieutenant General Robert Springer, U.S. Air Force (Ret), approached Hillwood Chairman Ross Perot, Jr. about the development of an Air Force Memorial in Washington DC. From inception to completion, Hillwood served as the developer for the Air Force Memorial, leading site selection, design and construction.

Honor Guard Memorial - Ft Worth, TX

A component of the Air Force Memorial in Washington DC is the Honor Guard Memorial designed by Zenos Frudakis. The USAF Honor Guard “. . . represents every member, past and present of the United States Air Force.” Ther
ee displays at the Air Force Memorial in Washington DC and the Air Force Academy in Colorado
.
In bringing the Honor Guard Memorial to AllianceTexas, Hillwood chose to develop Freedom Plaza as a tribute to not only the U.S. Air Force, but to all branches of the armed forces. The Honor Guard Memorial is featured within Freedom Plaza along with the Glass Contemplation Wall and the Wall of Values.

Honor Guard Memorial at Freedom Plaza was dedicated on Friday, October 23, 2009 at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. To visit Freedom Plaza, exit Alliance Boulevard from Interstate 35W and travel west. The Memorial is located at the western base of the Alliance Air Traffic Control Tower.

Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey

2011-01-23T11:29:00.002-06:00

The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

The V-22 originated from the United States Department of Defense Joint-service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) aircraft program started in 1981. The team of Bell Helicopter, and Boeing Helicopters was awarded a development contract in 1983 for the tiltrotor aircraft. The Bell Boeing team jointly produce the aircraft. The V-22 first flew in 1989, and began flight testing and design alterations; the complexity and difficulties of being the first tiltrotor intended for military service in the world led to many years of development.

The United States Marine Corps began crew training for the Osprey in 2000, and fielded it in 2007; it is supplementing and will eventually replace their CH-46 Sea Knights. The Osprey's other operator, the U.S. Air Force fielded their version of the tiltrotor in 2009. Since entering service with the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force, the Osprey has been deployed for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Canvas Prints by ZAZA Gallery

2011-01-19T16:22:00.003-06:00

Everyone, Pros and amateurs alike, have special images that just deserve more attention. The choices are many when it comes to fine art canvases, but not all are created equal and who wants to take a chance on being disappointed. When you're ready to order a large canvas you need to know it will be all you expect, and more, visit www.ZAZAGALLERY.com.

Canvas prints by ZAZA GALLERY

ZAZA GALLERY in Sonoma, CA is the product of Senta and Hugh Parker. They are photographers who started out as an art company. The fact that this company started as an outlet for their artistic expression by means of their own pictures on canvas can be a testament to you that they have left no stone unturned when it comes to the quality of this product. In addition to this it is of note that their photo canvas prints meet a museum standard for quality and are rated to last more than 100 years when displayed under reasonable conditions.

Nikon MiniTT1 & FlexTT5 Pocket Wizards Now Shipping Worldwide

2011-01-18T11:38:00.000-06:00

PocketWizard® MiniTT1® and FlexTT5® radios for Nikon are now shipping everywhere. Shipments to dealers in the USA began today and will continue daily. These Nikon i-TTL compatible radios are being shipped with the latest ControlTL® firmware for Nikon, version 2.100.

ControlTL firmware v2.100 for Nikon adds compatibility for the new Nikon D7000 and addresses some other operational issues. Current owners of the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios for Nikon can upgrade to the new firmware for free via the PocketWizard Utility.

This firmware does not include compatibility for the new SB700, this will be addressed in a future firmware version.

PocketWizard has also just released an online wiki format manual for both Nikon and Canon versions of the ControlTL system. The wiki format allows the manual to stay current as new features are added and improvements are made to the easily upgraded ControlTL system.

The AC3 ZoneController for Nikon is on schedule for February deliveries. The AC9 AlienBees Adapter for Nikon is on schedule for March deliveries.

Lexar Memory Cards - Amen! Watch the Video

2011-01-04T10:31:00.002-06:00

Ever wonder why you buy one brand of memory over another? Why one just continues to work when others fail? Why one may cost a little more than the others? Pay attention!

Lunar Eclipse Video

2010-12-22T09:46:00.005-06:00

On December 21st, 2010 there was a Total Lunar Eclipse. I really didn't plan on photographing it since totality would be at 1:41 am where I reside. At 11:15 pm I stepped outside to check the conditions. It was absolutely perfect with clear skies and comfortable temperatures. It was then I decided to stick it out and setup to record the eclipse. My equipment of choice would be a Nikon D300 for the cropped sensor, leaving the D700 inside. A Nikon 70-200mm VRII with a Nikon TC1.7E II for reach. Having little experience with Lunar photography, exposure settings would be experimental but common sense in approach. When all was said and done at 2:00 am I found the most challenging aspect to be focusing. I used Live View on the D300 but found the moon too bright to obtain detail to focus on manually. In the end I settled on AF to complete the job. What started out with good results faded rapidly to blurring at the end with near and then total eclipse. I added a sound track for entertainment. Enjoy!

Photographing Horses

2010-12-18T09:34:00.002-06:00

Every now and then I'll wander out to our pasture during the "Golden Hour" to try and capture some different images of Chigger and Rocket. I love the light at this time of day as their colors tend to glow, almost changing what is sorrel and dun in fact.

"Rocket"

"Chigger"

Now, getting theses guys to give you a pose worthy of shooting can be challenging at best. Being grazing animals their heads are usually in the down position. I'll enter the pasture at feeding time without the feed. This usually gets them moving around wondering why I'm empty handed, except for the big black device making clicking sounds. It's at this time that my best opportunities exist but you better get the shot quickly. The attention your're seeing here won't last long once they realize I have nothing for them. Chigger is a bit more social than most horses and will follow me around. He likes to stand over top of me as I sit shooting Rocket, placing his head directly over mine. Those whiskers tickle!

--------------

As with any animal photography, patients is a virtue, so keep shooting and try the sun at all different angles . Every now and then you'll come up with something special.

Denton, TX Courthouse History

2010-12-06T17:50:00.005-06:00

Denton County Courthouse, ca. 1890

The first courthouse in Denton was a two-story frame structure on the north side of the downtown square. The building burned in 1875, destroying most of the county records. A brick courthouse was then built in the center of the square, a two-story building with a tall central tower. Lightning damaged that building and it was condemned and demolished in 1894.

Construction of the present Courthouse-on-the-Square began in 1895. The cornerstone was laid in 1896, and the courthouse was dedicated in 1897.

Denton County Courthouse on the Square. ca 2010

New Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.2G and 28mm f/1.4G in the works?

2010-11-18T09:20:00.000-06:00

As Reported by Nikon Rumors.....

Rumors from Japan: new Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.2G and 28mm f/1.4G lenses in development

By [NR] admin | Published: November 17, 2010

31 retweet

The Japanese site digicame-info.com reported a rumor few days ago that Nikon is currently working on new AF-S 50mm f/1.2G and 28mm f/1.4G lenses that will be released in the near future. I received similar tips at the beginning of the year about the 50mm f/1.2G lens and Nikon even filed a patent for it:

Nikon 50mm f/1.2G lens patent

The 28mm f/1.4G is news to me. This brings the question how reliable is digicame-info website when it comes to reporting rumors? Few days ago they correctly reported on the upcoming Olympus E-PL1s camera. A new 28mm f/1.4G will be too close to the already announced 24 f/1.4 and 35mm f/1.4 lenses. Nikon already produced a Nikon 28mm f/1.4D AF lens in the past that was very popular and is still available for $3000-4000 on eBay (update: completed sells indicate a price range between 2000-3000$ for that lens).

Image source
The site mentions also a new 80-400mm lens – I believe this will be the next full frame lens to be released by Nikon.
The price of the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.2G is reported to be around 350,000 Yen (aprox. USD 4,200) which is a bit high IMHO (FYI: Canon’s EF 50mm f/1.2L lens costs around USD 1,300).

North Dakota Pheasants

2010-11-01T09:42:00.003-05:00

For the last five years I have been traveling to North Dakota for a pheasant hunting vacation. The birds are plentiful and the hospitality genuine. The Cannonball Company is the outfitter and has in excess of 10,000 acres of farmland available to hunt. Conditions vary and this year was a good example of what might take place. Blowing snow with winds gusting over 50 mph was the rule for day one!

Following our guide to first hunting location.

Look close, a typical explosion of birds!

The next three days weather was nothing short of perfect with light winds and mostly clear sky. Temps ranged from low 30F's to mid 50F's.

Some days were more challenging than others but on no day did we not get our limit of birds. This was due to the vast knowledge of our expert guide Curt Binstock and his Lab Jersey.


Another successful hunt.

Breast Cancer Awareness Portraits

2010-10-06T10:13:00.007-05:00

Recently I was asked to shoot portraits of a family dealing with the realities of life after being diagnosed with breast cancer. After several chemo sessions and the trauma of hair loss, Robin decided she wanted photos with the family.

Bald truly is beautiful!

"My Mom Fights Like a Girl"

I am SO happy she asked to have the portraits shot. If others could see how "bald is beautiful" truly is, a part of the struggle with breast cancer might be eased.

Support your local Breast Cancer Awareness programs.

Rocklin Rush CYSA-Cal Soccer League U10 Season Opener......

2010-09-20T09:03:00.004-05:00

On a beautiful northern California morning the Rocklin Rush soccer team opened the season against Lincoln. Rocklin got off to a slow start and trailed 0-2 at the half.

After a spirited pep talk by coach Paul
Morrison the Rush got things going

and chipped away at the deficit.

Dante Renda found the back of the net to tie the game late in the session.

Rocklin scored again shortly after Renda's goal to win the game over
a tough Lincoln team starting their season on a high note.

Texas Wildlife

2010-09-08T12:18:00.000-05:00

Last week we had friends over for dinner. While walking them to their car at the end of the evening we happened upon this creature making his way south!
It's the first time we've seen one in the wild since moving to the country. If it's the last I'm ok with that!

Nikon D3100 and Four new lenses announced

2010-08-18T23:48:00.000-05:00

Today, Nikon Inc. announced four new lenses to the legendary NIKKOR line to meet the needs of all types of photographers, from those looking for the ideal lens for capturing memories of the school play to pro glass that captures client work in the studio. The new AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S 85mm f/1.4G deliver the optical excellence and stunning image quality that consumers have become accustomed to with AF-S NIKKOR lenses. Nikon’s optical engineering experience and devotion to extraordinary standards of excellence have contributed to the strength and legend of the NIKKOR brand. With the addition of these four lenses, 2010 has seen the introduction of a total of seven new NIKKOR lenses, reinforcing Nikon’s role as the world leader in optics.

This is what many have been waiting for.....

New Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G

Winnekenni Castle in HDR

2010-08-17T16:23:00.013-05:00

In 1861, Dr. James R. Nichols, a brilliant chemist and agriculturist bought the Darling Farm, which sat on a hill overlooking Kenoza Lake to use for his experiments with chemical fertilizers. In 1872 he visited England and was inspired by their long-standing stone structures. He returned with an idea to build a summer home from native boulders and rocks. He was quoted at the time as saying "we desire to prove to farmers and others in a practical way the value of boulder rocks. (so common on almost every New England Farm) as building materials". Construction began in 1873 and was completed two years later in 1875.

He called the building Winnekenni Castle and the surrounding farm Winnekenni, an Algonquin Indian word for "Very Beautiful".

What would YOU do?

2010-08-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

To upgrade, or WHEN to upgrade. That is the question. Nikon is having a promotional push to move the remaining D700 stock. It's $700 savings on these two lenses.

This is a great deal from Adorama. Time has come to add a full frame Nikon to my kit but do I do it now and reap the savings on the lenses or wait for the new D700 replacement? This body is over two years old and we know a new one is in the making. Originally a $3000 body can now be bought for under $2400 new. The replacement will surely cost $3000 again and will probably not be available until late Spring. Decisions, decisions.
Help me out, what would you do?

North Texas Sunrise....

2010-08-02T09:02:00.002-05:00

Every now and then you may be lucky
enough to catch a sunrise or sunset that
is truly special......

Newburyport, MA Photowalk......a week early. Sorry Scott!

2010-07-27T17:38:00.008-05:00

We were back in New England vacationing and celebrating a special 50th birthday last week. Following a small family dinner party my wife and I did a night time photowalk in historic Newburyport, MA, a quaint New England seaside town.

Did I mention I was with my wife??? In case you couldn't tell, a little window shopping was a part of the photowalk.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Mission Oak Grill on Green St, sight of our dinner. For an awesome dinner and truly unique venue (converted church). Don't miss it!

Tiffany & Jerrald McBride Wedding

2010-07-06T00:08:00.001-05:00

On a balmy North Texas Saturday afternoon Tiffany and Jerrald join hands in marriage. Close friends and family attended the celebration.....

Something for everyone's taste........

My Favorite Models

2010-06-28T22:15:00.011-05:00

Several times a year my wife and I get to "borrow" her nieces for the weekend. At ages four and six a weekend is about all we can handle but we love them to death and would be crushed if they didn't come to visit.

We always have a full itinerary planned for them before they get here. The last thing you want is for them to get bored.

For me it's a great opportunity to shoot two of the cutest kids you'd ever want to meet. The six year old will give me her best New York runway model poses unsolicited. My favorites are the candid shots I get while they're busy with the activities of the day.
Be it inside or outside I always get some classic photos....

Military Aircraft past and Present at Denton, TX

2010-06-21T09:56:00.002-05:00

I had the opportunity to have access to aircraft up close and personal on Friday before the start of the airshow on Saturday. The A10 Warthog was off limits to all during the show while static. Here are a few shot I was able to capture on the ground and during Capt. Joe Shetterly's practice run.

There were also a number of vintage warbirds in pristine condition.

Here is a link to the complete gallery on my website...

Denton-Texas-Airshow-2010

Studio Photography with Zack Arias :: June 11, 12, 13

2010-06-13T08:30:00.000-05:00

Don't miss this last day of Zack's studio lighting workshop live on CreativeLive.
Zack covers it all for the novice and advanced photog jumping into studio gear
and work. 10 AM CDT start....

Course Information

Course: Studio Lighting.
Instructor: Zack Arias
Weekend Dates: June 11, 12, 13
Times: Check the creativeLIVE Calendar!

Zack Arias shares a live worldwide studio lighting class in the creativeLIVE classroom. White seamless and beyond. Models, bands, etc. Zack will lead the class over a weekend. With room for lots of live Q&A and critique.
Enroll to attend the live class at the right, and we'll see you over the weekend of June 11, 12 and 13!
Zack's Blog: Studio Lighting Schedule :: ‘ish

Spread the Word on Twitter: Win Cool Gear!

During the LIVE event, we'll be holding a bunch of Twitter drawing to give away lots (and lots) of cool lighting gear to people who helped spread the word about this course on Twitter. To enter:
Step 1: Post a Tweet about this course:
Learn Lighting with @zarias and Win Gear from @WestcottCo @MACgroup or @BHphotovideo all at @creativeLIVE - http://bit.ly/zariasphoto
Tip: The weekly Twitter drawing is based on a search for a shortened URL (http://bit.ly/zariasphoto). You can be creative with your Tweets, but make sure to include that URL to be entered in our weekly random drawing.
Step 2: Follow @creativeLIVE on Twitter.
What type of gear is Zack Giving away during the live event? We haven't decided when and what he'll be giving away, but we've got a ton of lighting gear to work with, including everything listed below:
Lighting Gear from MAC Group:
(2) Color Munki Photo calibrators
(5) X-Rite Color Passports
(2) PocketWizard Plus II's (set of 2)
(2) Sekonic L-358 light meters
(5) PW cases
Lighting Gear from Westcott:
(2) Apollo 50" Softboxes
(2) Apollo 28" Softboxes
(1) 86" shoot through umbrella
B&H Photo Video Gift Certificates:
$50 B&H Gift Certificates
More Equipment Links
Here’s some of the fine print. You must be at least 18 years old to win. All taxes are the responsibility of the winner. The decision of the judges is final. The winners will be announced on Twitter.com during the LIVE event.
This contest is void where prohibited by law. The contest is open to anyone, world wide as long as you live in a country where contests such as this one are legal. If you live in Quebec Canada for instance, you may not participate since contests like this one are illegal there without payment of a bond. It’s your responsibility to ensure that contests like this one are not prohibited by your local law. Actual prize awards will only happen after your execution of an affidavit of eligibility.
In the event of an international winner, neither creativeLIVE, Zack Arias, or other parties will be responsible for delays in prize delivery caused by Customs clearing.

Adobe Offering 15% off Lightroom 3

2010-06-08T18:05:00.001-05:00

I received this email today from Adobe.....

"Thank you for participating in the Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 3 beta program. We appreciate your feedback and continued interest in Lightroom and hope you’ve enjoyed exploring our latest software. As our thanks, we invite you to be one of the first to fully experience NEW Photoshop Lightroom 3, with an exclusive limited-time 15% savings on your full product purchase. You must act soon — this offer ends June 18, 2010."

Lightroom 3 Final Version Available

2010-06-07T23:21:00.002-05:00

Photoshop Lightroom 3 now available for purchase from Adobe
Monday, June 7, 2010

Adobe has begun shipping Photoshop Lightroom 3, the next major release of its pro photo management and RAW conversion application for Mac and Windows. Available now for US$299, or US$99 for licensed users of Lightroom 1.x or 2.x, the new version adds tethered capture, an improved import process, custom watermarks, flexible print package layouts, additional slide show features including video export, generally faster operation and the same RAW conversion engine and features as found in Photoshop CS5's Camera Raw 6.1. Photoshop Lightroom 3 can be purchased direct from Adobe. Choose the store for your country here then navigate to the Photoshop Lightroom 3 purchase page. As of this writing, the product page has been updated. The download page has not. The current public beta of Photoshop Lightroom 3, beta 2, will expire June 30, 2010.

Adobe Updates to ACR and Bridge Available

2010-06-05T09:21:00.000-05:00

Adobe Bridge CS5 4.0.2 Update

June 3, 2010
This update enables the Export panel and includes several important bug fixes.

Camera Raw 6.1 update

June 2, 2010
This new version of the Camera Raw plug-in replaces the original one that was installed with Adobe® Photoshop® CS5, Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 and Adobe Premiere® Elements 8 software. Visit the Camera Raw page for a complete list of supported cameras.

Click here for link to Adobe Updates.....

Attended Nikonians Master Nikon i-TTL Flash, CLS

2010-06-02T10:06:00.004-05:00

Learn to use Nikon's innovative wireless flash system!

For anyone who owns a SB-600, SB-800, SB-900 flash and wants to understand how the i-TTL (intelligent Through The Lens) system works and what Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS) can do for you. We'll have lots and lots of flashes, and will set up many different types of shots using the i-TTL system (speedlights, cameras, gels and filters). You will learn flash techniques that will help you solve difficult lighting scenarios. We'll cover methods on how to creatively light situations that arise in studio photography, outdoor portraits, product photography, closeup and flower photography, web and product photography, travel photography, fill-flash photography and night photography.
For those that don't have a firm grip on using the Nikon CLS system, and that's a large group , I highly recommend this class to improve your flash and overall photography skills. Taught by Mike Hagen, he covers all areas of the CLS system with an approach that relates to your every day shooting.

Mike Hagen - Nikonians Academy

Adobe Photoshop CS5 released

2010-04-12T02:52:00.002-05:00

Check out dpreview's take on adobe Photoshop CS5. There are some serious innovations in this the twelfth version of Photoshop. This looks to be a version not to be passed on.
Click here for the review....

Adobe Lightroom 3 beta 2 Released!

2010-03-25T15:45:00.001-05:00

Adobe has just released a 2nd public beta version of Lightroom 3 (called Public Beta 2), with some new features, enhancements, and tweaks based on your feedback from Public Beta 1.

Here’s a quick look at what’s new/changed/updated in Lightroom 3 Public Beta 2:

IMPORT & LIBRARY MODULE
• There’s a significant overall all speed increase in the Library module, so you’ll find scrolling, viewing things in Loupe View, and just generally
• Lightroom 3 now supports the import of video shot with your DSLR, and it adds a icon in the corner so you can easily see which thumbnails are video. You can treat the video files like any other thumbnails (ranking and flagging them, zooming in to Loupe view, putting them in collections, etc.)
• It now display the time stamp so you can see the length of each video.
• If you click on the camera icon, it launches your default video player and plays the video.
• There’s a tweak to Publish Services for flickr.com uploads, where you now have more control over file naming, and you can limit the file size (instead of just the quality).
• Three enhancements to the Import Window: (1) You can start importing faster because it no longer renders all the images in folder’s you’re not looking to import; (2) There are more options in the compact version of the Import window, and (3) They’ve made the folder browsing a lot easier using something akin to “Solo Mode,” where you double-click a folder (that has subfolders inside it), and it just shows that one folder.

TETHERED SHOOTING
Man, was I psyched to see this one!!!! I tried it this past week, and not only does it work just great, but it is, hands-down, the fastest tethering I’ve ever used—the Raw images appear faster in Lightroom than I’ve ever seen!!! This alone would have sold me. (By the way; at this point it supports tethered shooting from most, but not all, of the latest DSLR cameras from Nikon and Canon).

WATERMARKING
They added a number of nice tweaks here, including:
• An inset feature that lets you inset your text from the edges of your document
• If you’re using a text watermark, you can add a drop shadow to your watermark and control the opacity, angle, offset and radius. (This is not currently available in the Windows version of Lightroom 3 beta 2)
• The size of the watermark can be set proportionally or to fit or fill the image dimensions

DEVELOP MODULE
• Enhanced Noise Reduction (the Luminance slider was grayed out in the first public beta, but it’s working now, and it’s really quite incredible).
• You can swap the cropping aspect ratio you can now just press X on your keyboard
• They added back in the choice of the original Post Crop Vignetting effect (By the way—yeech!)
• You now have the option to use a FULL traditional point curve version of Curves right in Lightroom (like the one in Photoshop).

SLIDESHOW
• There’s a checkbox for Prepare Previews in Advance, so your slideshow renders all the images first, so it doesn’t choke half way through your presentation (why you would ever turn this checkbox off—I have no idea).
• You can now have watermarks on your images here as well (helpful, since more people will be sharing slideshows now).

PRINT MODULE
• They added a “Rotate to fit” option and a “rotate cell” command to the new Custom Print Package layout tools (both good additions by the way).
• They raised the maximum print resolution to 720ppi

Wacom Intuos4 PenTablet

2010-03-02T08:10:00.015-06:00

I have just added to my workflow tools the Wacom Intuos4 medium tablet. Is this something you MUST have? Well you can get to work on a bus or you can drive a BMW, you make the call. Intuos4 redefines the Intuos pen tablet experience, thanks to a new design and new features inspired by members of our professional creative community.

As Natural As Can Be

Both the tablet shape and surface have been completely re-engineered to enable ergonomic, consistent strokes, even over long periods of time. Available in four different wide-format sizes, S. M, L, XL and a wireless model, you can pick the perfect one to fit your specific working style and workflow needs.

Go With The Flow

Workflow, that is. This all new professional tablet takes into consideration the many aspects of a professional's workflow, software integration points, and equal demand for both performance and comfort.

Birds in Flight

2010-03-01T08:24:00.001-06:00

I haven't done much shooting of birds in flight but spent a little time practicing yesterday....

Oh if I only had a 500mm f4 VR....

HDR Spotting

2010-02-19T11:03:00.005-06:00

Just maybe I'll be lucky enough to get an invitation to HDR Spotting and contribute this HDR photo I captured and put together in Photomatix Pro.

Aperture 3 Released!

2010-02-09T19:43:00.002-06:00

New Features Include Faces, Places & Brushes

CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple® today introduced Aperture™ 3, the next major release of its powerful photo editing and management software, with over 200 new features including Faces, Places and Brushes. Building on the innovative Faces and Places features introduced in iPhoto® '09, Aperture 3 makes it even easier and faster to organize large photo libraries. Aperture 3 introduces new tools to refine your photos including Brushes for painting image adjustments onto parts of your photo, and Adjustment Presets for applying professional photo effects with just one click. Stunning new slideshows let you share your work by weaving together photos, audio, text and HD video.
"Millions of people love using iPhoto to organize, edit and share their digital photos," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Aperture 3 is designed for both professionals who edit and manage massive libraries of photos and iPhoto users who want to take their photos further with easy-to-use tools such as Brushes and Adjustment Presets."
"Aperture 3 gets it right," said National Geographic photographer, Jim Richardson. "The image editing tools are exactly what I have been asking for, they're so easy to use and give me a level of control that I never even thought possible."
"I chose Aperture because it was the most powerful archiving application around, but it's now an unbelievable imaging tool as well," said Bill Frakes, Sports Illustrated staff photographer. "I am beyond impressed with the massive changes made in Aperture 3."
Aperture 3 allows you to organize large photo libraries with even more flexibility using Projects and the new Faces and Places. Faces uses face detection and recognition to find and organize your photos by the people in them. You can view faces across your entire photo library or view just the faces that appear in selected projects. In a new view that speeds up the organization process, Aperture 3 displays faces that have been detected but haven't yet been named. Places lets you explore your photos based on where they were taken, and like in iPhoto, Places automatically reverse geocodes GPS data into user-friendly locations. In Aperture 3, you can assign locations by dragging-and-dropping photos onto a map or by using location information from GPS enabled cameras, tracking devices or your iPhone® photos.
The new Brushes feature allows you to add professional touches to your photos by simply painting effects onto the image. Aperture 3 includes 15 Quick Brushes that perform the most popular tasks like Dodge, Burn, Polarize and Blur, without the complexity of layers or masks. Brushes can automatically detect edges in your images to let you apply or remove effects exactly where you want them. Aperture 3 includes dozens of Adjustment Presets that apply a specific style or look to the entire image with just a click. You can create your own custom presets or explore the techniques of other photographers by importing theirs.
Aperture 3 makes it easy to share your work with stunning slideshows that weave together photos, audio, text and HD video. You can select one of six Apple designed themes or choose your own transitions, background, borders and titles, and even add your own soundtrack. You can export your slideshows directly to iTunes® to take with you on your iPhone or iPod touch®. You can also share photographs as beautiful prints, create custom-designed hardcover books and publish to online photo sharing sites like Facebook and Flickr, right from Aperture 3.
Pricing & Availability
Aperture 3 is available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) and existing Aperture users can upgrade for a suggested retail price of $99 (US). A downloadable 30-day trial version is available at www.apple.com/aperture/trial. Aperture 3 runs as a 64-bit application on Mac OS® X Snow Leopard® on Macs with Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Full system requirements, online tutorials and more information on Aperture 3 can be found at www.apple.com/aperture.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
© 2010 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, Aperture, iPhoto, iPhone, iTunes, iPod touch, Apple Store and Snow Leopard are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Apple
RELATED LINKS
http://www.apple.com

New Glass from Nikon for FX Bodies

2010-02-09T16:18:00.002-06:00

9 Feb 2010

The Ultra-Wide 16-35mm f/4 VR and Ultra-Fast 24mm f/1.4 Lenses Provide Photographers With New Perspectives and Creative Versatility
MELVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 8, 2010) – Nikon Inc. today announced two new lenses for professional and enthusiast photographers that epitomize NIKKOR leadership in optical excellence. The highly anticipated AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED lens is engineered to meet the demand for an ultra-fast professional lens for wide angle applications, while the AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR offers Nikon’s widest FX-format focal range with VR, offering additional versatility to a broad range of photographers.
“The 16-35mm f/4 VR and 24mm f/1.4 are two new lenses designed to address the needs of an ever-expanding number of Nikon FX-format photographers, delivering dramatic perspectives, amazing clarity, contrast and color when capturing stills or HD video,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for marketing, SLR Systems Products at Nikon Inc. “Customers that choose these new lenses will experience excellent image quality and sturdy handling, which is made possible through our commitment to excellence and expert NIKKOR engineering.”
World renowned NIKKOR technologies play an essential role in the design of these two new lenses, and both feature Nikon’s exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology for quiet, fast and accurate autofocus performance. The optical construction of both lenses also utilizes precision Nikon ED glass elements along with multiple aspherical elements to suppress chromatic aberrations resulting in sharp, high contrast images. Additionally, Nikon’s proprietary Nano-Crystal Coat minimizes instances of internal “ghosting” and flaring, further ensuring exceptional image integrity.

The 24mm f/1.4G ED Lens
Perhaps one of the most hotly anticipated lenses in recent memory, the new AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED lens blends a natural yet versatile 24mm perspective with an ultra-fast f/1.4 aperture to expand an existing collection of well over 60 NIKKOR interchangeable lenses. The f/1.4 maximum aperture allows photographers to shoot handheld in low light and provides dramatic separation between subject and a softened background. In a wide variety of photographic situations, both FX and DX-format shooters will enjoy the benefits of extra-bright f/1.4 viewing, superb image quality and the dramatic perspectives afforded by a picture angle of 84 degrees (61 degrees when mounted on a DX-format body).

The 16-35mm f/4 VR Lens Brings a New Perspective to VR
The new AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR lens is an ideal lens for enthusiasts and professionals craving a constant maximum aperture and ultra-wide angle zoom versatility with the benefits of Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) II image stabilization. As the widest FX-format NIKKOR zoom lens with VR, users can realize the ability to shoot up to four shutter speeds slower than otherwise possible, expanding low light shooting opportunities and contributing to dramatically sharper handheld photography and video capture. Nikon VR II image stabilization technology is engineered specifically for and optimized to function most effectively for each lens, ensuring optimum performance. Whether joining the growing ranks of FX-format photographers or using the Nikon DX-format, photographers will appreciate the perspectives possible when shooting architecture, interiors, landscapes and more.

The Elusive 1 Shot HDR

2010-02-07T10:00:00.003-06:00

RC over at Layers Magazine in conjunction with Trey Radcliff are looking for variations of the file Desert Inn. For their idea of the most intriguing version someone will receive a copy of Trey's book (which I would love to have) for their coffee table.
Click on photo for full size.

Trey Ratcliff visits the Hearst Castle

2010-02-01T15:44:00.008-06:00

HDR photog Trey Ratcliff (http://www.stuckincustoms.com) received the royal treatment of a personal tour and complete, unrestricted run of the Hearst Castle this week. How cool is that!

For someone that's been there numerous times (my visit to Hearst Castle) I can only say "I'm jealous". The place is a dream world and a candy store for a photog. Now throw Trey in there with his HDR prowess and the possibilites are endless.

Check out this image of the indoor pool!
I can't wait to see more. A coffee table book might be a more suitable display for his work at the castle.
How 'bout it Trey?

Project 365 - A photo a day for 2010...

2010-01-21T12:51:00.001-06:00

Day 21 shows a horse's tail illuminated by an early dawn sunrise....

A link to the complete gallery of Project 365 photos...

HP 8" Digital Picture Frame

2010-01-19T21:24:00.000-06:00

If you're in need of a great little digital picture frame Amazon and Buy.com are offering the HP 8" Digital Picture Frame for around $45.00 with free shipping.
My order was place yesterday morning and FedEx delivered them (I bought two) today!
Price includes 128MB on board memory. One memory card slot for SD/SDHC, MMC, MS-Pro, xD, and another slot for CF cards. Remote control for full function of photos, video, music and calendar/time with alarm. Power supply and USB cord! Did I mention this is on sale for $45.00!!
If you were on the fence about getting a digital frame here's you chance to give one a try for cheap.
I have one of mine up and running loaded full of family photos headed to my wife's grandmother's and I couldn't be happier!
Very Cool!

Now a contributor to the Alltop Photography.....

2010-01-19T20:57:00.000-06:00

Carl J Licari Photography is now a contributor to the reknown Alltop Photography website. With a "who's who" list of pro photogs blogs available to select articles and tips from look no further than Alltop/photography.com for cutting edge news and info in the world of photography.
http://photography.alltop.com/

Nikon press conference scheduled for February 3th, 2010

2010-01-19T11:53:00.001-06:00

Nikon press conference scheduled for February 3th, 2010! Hopefully we'll see some new and innovative gear. Lot's of rumors. New Point & Shoot cameras, maybe a new 80mm AF-S f1.4 lens. http://bit.ly/6RMeeH

Adding some warmth to a frigid North Texas....

2010-01-08T09:30:00.000-06:00

As Texas, as well as many other parts of the country, endure a blistering cold spell there is nothing that helps thaw the mind and body like a roaring fire.

Project 365 - A photo a day for 2010...

2010-01-05T01:23:00.011-06:00

On the suggestion of a friend I'm going to attempt the Project 365 marathon. Shoot one photo a day for a year. Sounds easy but let's see if that holds true. I'm a little late to the party so I'm going to play catch up and then stick to the rules, one photo a day posted for 365 days. Hmmmm....

Here are a few samples of the start....

Link for the complete day to day progression on Smugmug.

The Fort Worth Zoo

2009-12-19T17:29:00.023-06:00

A great place to spend some time honing photographic skills as well as capturing some magnificent animals and birds.

Two magnificent Bengal Tigers roaming their confines of the zoo.

Flamingo keeping a watchful eye!

Majestic Silverback Gorilla

The Left Coast.....

2009-12-18T17:41:00.002-06:00

A late summer trip to Northern and Central California reveals some awesome photographic opportunities.

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

Highway 101 home "Room with a View"

Pucci Family Portraits

2009-12-18T11:45:00.000-06:00

The handsome Pucci family portraits shot November 25, 2009

North Texas snow!

2009-12-18T11:36:00.001-06:00

A rare early morning North Texas snow on December 2nd!
Picture perfect, but short lived.

Amanda Shaw and Ryan Emery Engagement Shoot

2009-12-18T11:17:00.001-06:00

November 11, 2009 was the shoot date for Amanda Shaw and Ryan Emery's engagement.They both made my job very easy. Amanda is a natural!

2009 Ponder Annual Classic Roping

2009-10-21T12:09:00.005-05:00

I had an opportunity to attend the 2009 Ponder Annual Classic roping last month and shot the #10 roping. It was a perfect day and was sorry I didn't plan to compete. Just a great bunch of folks having a large time with buckles and nice checks to the top five teams.
Here is a link to the photos on my Smugmug website. The photos are available for purchase in just about any size and paper if that is of interest to you.
http://carllicari.smugmug.com/Sports/Ponder-Annual-Classic/9528748_WzAye/1/640369142_Jss7n

2009-04-06T23:39:00.002-05:00

Check out http://www.photofocus.com/ for great articles in the world of digital photography. Subscribe to the podcast for a weekly update on what's new and cool!

New Computer!

2009-03-24T13:51:00.003-05:00

I did forget to mention that I have received my new computer. Tim Harlow, aka TJ, system builder extraordinaire, has completed the new build. See his work on Youtube.com (Antec 902 is my build). An Intel i7 920 on a eVGA X50 motherboard. eVGA GeForce GTX260 Core 216 graphics card, 12GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 ram, Western Digital Caviar 320GB for Vista 64-Bit OS and applications. A Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB for data files. I'm running Adobe Lightroom 2.6 and Adobe Photoshop CS4, both 64-bit and it absolutely FLYS!

Lens Mount	Lens Name
Canon	Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM
Canon	Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L USM
Canon	SIGMA 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM**
Canon	TAMRON 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3DiII VC PZD B008E
Nikon	Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
Nikon	Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
Nikon	Nikon AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
Nikon	Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR
Nikon	SIGMA 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Nikon	TAMRON 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3DiII VC PZD B008N
Nikon	Leica APO-MACRO-SUMMARIT-S 1:2.5/120mm
Nikon	Leica SUMMARIT-S 1:2.5/35mm ASPH.
Nikon	Leica SUMMARIT-S 1:2.5/70 mm ASPH.

Carl J Licari photography

Newborn Bliss!

Modeling Agency Shoot, Kids style

Maternity Photo Shoot

Timing Is Everything - Sunrise Photography

Candid Children Photography

The Beauty of Lake Tahoe

New North Texas Stadium Nears Completion

Boston Model Shoot

Friendship of Salem - Tall Ships Still Sail!

Evelina M. Goulart - Retired Fishing Schooner, Essex, MA

Salem, MA - A Tough Place in 1692 !

UNT Football Getting a New Home. Check It Out!

Cordless Battery Charger For Nikon EN-EL3 / EN-EL3E / EN-EL3A

Phase One Media Pro is Released

Phase One Media Pro is Released

Apple releases new iMac's with Intel Sandy Bridge Chipset!

Up to 1.7x faster at the core.

Zack Arias on CreativeLIVE - FREE! - Last Day! Awesome!

Waterfowl Photography In Texas Today

Adobe Lightroom 3.4 and Camera Raw 6.4 Available

David DuChemin injured while shooting in Italy...

Apple's A5-, Qualcomm-powered, 8MP Cam iPhone 5 rumored for Sept.

NEW AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G !

Key Features

Specifications

Apple Final Cut Pro X Released. Price Slashed $299!

Jimmy Mac's Water Cannon Salute

San Francisco Financial District Architecture

Light is everything, but you be the judge.

Sony 8MP Image sensors for iPhone 5 ?

Pocketwizard New Beta Releases for ALL ControlTL Radios

PocketWizard Photo AccessoriesHuge Beta Release for ALL ControlTL Radios. Two new features; Automated HyperSync and SpeedCycler. Many system improvements. Hit the beta lab for more info.

Apple Releases Aperture 3.1.2 Update

About Aperture 3.1.2

HDR Photography... Is this better or worse?

Nik Silver Efex Pro, Create Emotion...

Libya agrees to free NY Times journalists

By CHRIS HAWLEY Associated Press © 2011 The Associated Press

Adobe Lightroom 3.4 and Camera Raw 6.4 RC Details

This Angel is Forty-Eight Feet Tall....and Has a Twin Sister!

Sundance Square and the Chisholm Trail Mural - Ft Worth, TX

PocketWizard Nikon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 ...Finally!

Baby Wade's 1st Birthday Bash

Hearst Castle Pools

Canon Updates 500mm with New EF500mm f/4L IS II USM

Key features

NEW! - Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital Camera Announced

Product Highlights

Apple Photography Job Ad - Is This a Sign of a New Direction for the iPad?

Helicopter Solo Flight Completed!

Phase One IQ Series Digital Camera Backs Starting @ $21,990.00 !

The Honor Guard Memorial at Freedom Plaza

Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey

Canvas Prints by ZAZA Gallery

Nikon MiniTT1 & FlexTT5 Pocket Wizards Now Shipping Worldwide

Lexar Memory Cards - Amen! Watch the Video

Lunar Eclipse Video

Photographing Horses

Denton, TX Courthouse History

New Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.2G and 28mm f/1.4G in the works?

As Reported by Nikon Rumors.....

Rumors from Japan: new Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.2G and 28mm f/1.4G lenses in development

North Dakota Pheasants

Breast Cancer Awareness Portraits

Rocklin Rush CYSA-Cal Soccer League U10 Season Opener......

Texas Wildlife

Nikon D3100 and Four new lenses announced

Winnekenni Castle in HDR

What would YOU do?

North Texas Sunrise....

Newburyport, MA Photowalk......a week early. Sorry Scott!

Tiffany & Jerrald McBride Wedding

My Favorite Models

Military Aircraft past and Present at Denton, TX

Studio Photography with Zack Arias :: June 11, 12, 13

Course Information

Spread the Word on Twitter: Win Cool Gear!

Adobe Offering 15% off Lightroom 3

Lightroom 3 Final Version Available

PocketWizard Photo Accessories
Huge Beta Release for ALL ControlTL Radios. Two new features; Automated HyperSync and SpeedCycler. Many system improvements. Hit the beta lab for more info.