Looking for a New Lens?

Shutterbug has a new article, A Trio Of Tamron Zooms, which features the following lenses:



Depending on your intended application, you might fancy one of these lenses if you're looking to expand your current DSLR kit. The 17-50mm and 28-200mm lenses are available in both Canon and Nikon mounts, while the 70-300 lens is available in Canon, Nikon, Sony/Minolta and Pentax mounts.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

Popular Photography has a nice review of the new Point and Shoot from Panasonic, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2. Overall, they seem pretty impressed with it. From the article:

This is a compact for control freaks. Besides aperture- and shutter-priority modes, it offers full manual, with shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 60 sec and a very useful screen graph showing over- or underexposure. It can bracket exposures, too. Scene modes include Night Portrait, Starry Sky, Soft Skin, and even Food. And in autoexposure mode, there's a backlight compensation feature that works even without the flash popped up.

Even more impressive to me is the capability of capturing in RAW format on a point and shoot. At just over 400 bones, you get quite the package for the price of admission.

Sloan Photographers

Let me take a moment to refer you to a photo blog that I really enjoy. I click in every couple of days or so to see what Mr. and Ms. Sloan have posted. It's a true display of art that this husband and wife team puts together over there. So, take five and enjoy the beautiful and creative photos over at Sloan Photographers.

Holiday Shopping Deals

Amazon has got some great sales on several digital camera and accessory items this week with free shipping on them all. I've provided links to several of these killer deals below:

Canon Powershot S2 IS 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom - $279.94

HP Photosmart R927 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom - $238.94

Fujifilm Finepix S6000 6MP Digital Camera with 10.7x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom with Picture Stabilization - $391.49 before $50 rebate

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1K 5MP Compact Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom - $219.00

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens - $69.94
Seriously, you cannot pass this lens up at this price if you don't have one yet. Read more . . .

Olympus Stylus 720SW 7.1MP Ultra Slim Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom - $299.94

Joby GP1-01P Gorillapod Flexible Tripod - $21.95 (a great stocking stuffer)

Just wanted to pass these along. Happy holidays and enjoy!

Don't Get Scammed on Your Photo Purchase

Looking for a real deal? If it's too good to be true, it probably is...

Be careful when shopping this holiday season. Head on over to Bob Atkins' site to get a heads up on the photo scam artists out there.

Also, if you're thinking about getting a real deal on some cheap memory cards on ebay . . . . think again. Much to my dismay, I recently got scammed on what I thought was a good deal on a SanDisk CF card from an ebay seller. I'll share the whole story in a later post, but for now, stick to Amazon or B&H for you memory card needs. Better yet, support your local camera store by shopping with them and get some great hands-on advice and support while you're at it.

Think you've been scammed with a fake memory card already? Look here for more...

Canon Rebel XT Price Drop

Recent reports note that Canon has dropped the Rebel XT MSRP to $599 for the body only and $699 with the kit lens.

An even better deal can be found on Amazon.com today where the Rebel XT is under $530 for the body only and Kit price with 18-55mm lens is under $630. Both deals come with free shipping from Amazon. I paid a cool $1000 for the same kit a year and a half ago!

I imagine that the price drop is in response to Nikon's recent announcement of their new D40 at $600 with lens, which is not yet available . Also, keep in mind that the Canon Rebel XTi is $815 at Amazon - again, free shipping.

I imagine there will be a few of these under some Christmas trees this year at these ridiculous deals. Hmmm? Maybe I need a second body.....

Have Fun!

Click for Larger View

I had a blast last Saturday night taking these shots. Most of these were 10 second exposures at f/16 and ISO 100.

The set up is rather simple. Position your camera on a tripod in the rear floorboard of your car. Use a wide lens. I used my kit lens on my Rebel XT at 18mm. Set your camera up for remote shutter release. I used a Canon RC1 wireless remote. Get up some speed in commercial night life area (with plenty of signs and stop lights) and start pressing that shutter release.

Please, don't try to make adjustments when you're moving. Pull into a parking lot or carry along a willing assistant (in the back seat) to make any necessary adjustments. Make a few runs up and down the strip and see what you get.

To really make the image pop, I copied the backgroud layer in Photoshop and added emboss with color burn opacity tuned to roughly 50%. There are plenty of ways to tinker with these shots. Most importantly - have fun!


Click for Larger View

Cameras for Christmas

You or someone you know has a digital camera on their Christmas Wish List. Which one do you really want or which one should you get for that special someone. I'm picking what I think are the top three cameras in a variety of categories below. I'll try to give you some kind of sense of what kinds of people fit with which cameras below.

Camera on a Budget - Under $200
The growth of technology has really prompted this catagory of cameras. Four years ago, finding a digital camera under $200 was practically impossible. Sure, you might have seen a few on ebay, but how well did they work - or better yet, did they work at all?

There are several great cameras in this price range now. The Canon Powershot A430 is just one example. At about $135, it's well within the budget-minded giver's range. It's a 4 megapixel cameral with a 4x optical zoom. This is a great zoom for such an inexpensive and small camera. The A430 also comes in several different color schemes, including gold, red and blue.

Another great camera is the Canon Powershot A530. It's a 5 megapixel and has a 4x optical zoom and runs in the neighborhood of $130. While it's got more megapixels, it's also physically a larger camera. Still, on a budget, you can't go wrong with this camera. You get a lot more than what you pay for here.

Small Camera, Big Picture
On the high side of the technology wave, there are tons of features and specs to consider. A lot of these considerations are making it into smaller and smaller packages. You can get a lot out of a camera that will fit in your pocket comfortably. That's what this category is all about. Folks who want to have high technology accessible (in their purse or pants) - but not in the way.

The Canon SD800 IS fits the bill nicely. It's 7.1 megapixels, has a 3.8x optical zoom, and has image stabilization. It also has a 2.5" LCD and only weighs in at 5.3 ounces. Price of admission? About $360.

Also, take a look at the Panasonic Lumix FX9, which is available in black, silver, or red. Personally, I like the black. 6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, and image stabilization. It's priced in the $360 range with the SD800. You might also take a look at the Panasonic Lumix FX50, which has 7.2 megapixels and is around $350.

All-In-One Do-It-All
If you or someone on your list wants a camera that can reach out and touch someone, this is the category you need to look at. These cameras typically have a zoom range equivalent to roughly 35mm-400mm, which is huge! What's more, is that the best of these have image stabilization built in, which is almost a necessity for such a long reach. With all these features, however, the camera is considerably bigger than the pocket cameras discussed above. You're going to want to grab a dedicated camera case to tote these along in.

The Canon S3IS is in the cream of the crop in my opinion. It's a 6 megapixel (up from 5MP on the previous S2IS), has a super long zoom and built in image stabilization. It runs about $350 or so. Not a bad deal considering all you get in one camera.

I think the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 offers Canon some strong competition in this category. Also 6MP and image stabilized, the FZ7 is a pretty camera to look at and has received rave reviews. It's also about $100 less than the S3IS at $260 from Amazon at the time of posting.

Kodak has stepped up to the plate with the Kodak Easyshare P712. Previous models from Kodak lacked the crucial image stabilization for this category. The P712 has that and more. At 7.1 megapixels, it beats out the Canon and Panasonic competitors. Kodak touts itself as a user-friendly brand and maintains the Easyshare features on this more tech-friendly model. At $380, it's also the most pricey of the bunch.

I'll mention one more Canon camera that doesn't have quite the reach of the others in this category, but it's still a great (maybe the best) point and shoot out there. The Canon PowerShot G7 10MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom is the newest of the G-Series line. I encourage you to investigate and research this camera further. It has a lot of advanced options that you don't get on your run-of-the-mill point and shoot camera.

Digital SLRs
There is a lot of hoopla and debate surrounding the DSLR (digital single lens reflex) question. If you've got someone that has a DSLR on their wishlist, you'd better think twice about making this decision on your own. Your best bet is to feel the person out for which particular camera that they want. Go with them to a camera or electronics store and observe their reaction to the cameras listed below. Chances are, after holding and shooting with one or the other, they're going to form a bias about what "feels" best. Go with that one.

If you are totally out on a limb and you know that the person for whom you're shopping is as clueless as you about the choice, get the Canon Rebel XTi. It's the newest and best offering from Canon in the entry-level DSLR realm. I recommend this camera because of Canon's sheer market power. While any of the choices below would be suitable, Canon offers a wider selection of lenses than any other brand. When you buy a DSLR, you are buying into a system. Canon lenses fit Canon cameras and likewise with other brands. Canon is the Microsoft of the DSLR world (without the security problems and blue screens of death).

Here's a list of the DSLR's that should be on a first-time buyer's Christmas list:

• Canon Rebel XTi - 10MP - $800 with lens
  
• Canon Digital Rebel XT - 8MP - $650 with lens
  
• Canon 30D - 8MP - $1160 (after rebate) with lens
  
• Nikon D80 - 10MP - $1280 with lens
  
• Nikon D200 - 10MP - $1750 with lens
  
• Sony Alpha A100 - 10MP & built-in image stabilization - $830 with lens

There's also several other offerings from brands like Pentax, Samsung, and Panasonic. I'm not getting into those considerations here because of the prevalence of Canon and Nikon in the DSLR world. I only mention Sony because of the brand recognition that they bring to the table and the apparent commitment that they are making. Sony appears to be rather serious about continuing in this market.

The Photographer
So, you've got a photographer (profession/amateur/enthusiast) in your family and you really want to please them? These guys are the tough ones. Hopefully, they've given you their wish list in writing and you can hop on Amazon or B&H, or go down to your local camera store, and get what they want. If not though, what do you do?

I think you've still got to know categories of what they like or want. If you can figure out the ballbark areas of interest, consider some of the below suggestions. Don't forget to read some of the reviews on Amazon when you're shopping online. Sometimes those can be your best indicator of whether you should get the product or not.

Books:
If they're just starting out, consider Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's a rather cheap book but could very well be the best $16 anybody spends on photography.

If they are into Photoshop and want some good references consider the Photoshop for Digital Photographers series by Scott Kelby. There are several versions of Photoshop out there, so make sure you buy the appropriate corresponding book (e.g., The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers). Additionally, consider the How to Wow Photoshop series and the Photoshop CookbookThe Camera, The Negative, or The Print.

Camera Gear:

A quality tripod is a necessity for every serious photographer. In this case it's hard to go wrong with something from Bogen-Manfrotto. Consider your price range, what your photographer will use it for, and educate yourself on their great line of tripods and monopods.

An off-camera flash is another important item for the new SLR user that has yet to acquire one. Buy the right brand and a flash that has a bounce/swivel head. For Nikon users, get the SB-600 or the SB-800. For Canon users get the 430EX or the 580EX.

More memory please! This is an easy item to pick up. Find your price range and buy the largest SanDisk Ultra II card or Extreme III card that is within that range. You'll make a photographer very happy with this gift. To learn more about memory cards, take a look at this earlier post.

Is a camera bag on your list? Lowepro and Tamrac are two very popular and high quality brands. In most cases, I would recommend that you stick to these. However, if you're on a tight budget, Amazon frequently has a real deal on the Canon 200EG backpack. I've got it and I love it. It was cheap and holds everything I need and expect it to hold. Like I said though, if you want to impress, you should probably get the Lowepro.

You've got my two cents now. I hope this run down gives you a better idea of what to look for when shopping in the camera aisle this Christmas. Feel free to fire away with questions, offer additional advice, or even make derogatory comments. Merry Christmas!

New Nikon D40 at $600 with Lens

It's 6.1 megapixels and comes with a new 18-55mm lens. Photography Blog has the scoop:

The Nikon D40 DSLR is finally here after a number of high-profile leaks and reports by some of the leading photography websites. We’ve resisted the urge to break any embargoes, instead preferring to bring you news of the D40 in full, along with some exclusive product shots from yesterday’s UK press launch in central London. The Nikon D40 is small, light and undeniably cheap at just £449.99/ €679.99 with the new 18-55mm kit lens (it won’t be sold as body-only), but after trying it out, the D40 importantly still retains the usual high Nikon build-quality. The new Nikon D40 will be available from 1st December 2006. Read more . . .

Cameras for Tots

I've been letting my 4 year old run around with an old Sony 3.2MP point and shoot camera occasionally. He loves it and does surprisingly well at times. I don't let him run off too far with the camera because I'm not quite ready to turn it into a $400 toy.

Fisher Price to the rescue! Popular Photography has an article reviewing the new Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera. Overall, they seem pleased with it - the camera performs well given the intended audience.

From the article:

If our guest testers are any indication, FisherPrice has a real winner with this camera. The chance for children to act like their folks with their own camera will make many children happy. And for parents, having the chance to see the world through a child's eye, even in low-resolution snapshots, is simply magical. Read more . . .

The camera has made my son's Christmas list and grandma has insisted on checking it off the list. I'll let you know how this works out after Christmas.

RAW vs. JPEG

I'm going to address a debate that there is no clear answer to . . . actually, there is an answer: "It depends."

Ask a handful of photographers which file format you should shoot with and you'll get some strong opinions on both sides of the debate. Each side has some good points. The problem with the debate is that some folks with strong opinions believe there is only one way - JPEG or RAW. I tend to think that this depends on each photographer's particular circumstances.

First things first though. Let's talk a little bit about the basics of a RAW or JPEG image.

The JPEG Image
If you don't know what kind of file that the images you take are, then chances are you're shooting in JPEG format. Why? It's the easiest to work with - you would certainly be aware of a RAW file if you were shooting it. By easiest, I mean you press the shutter button, remove the memory card from your camera, insert it in your computer, and upload, email, or print away.

For those of you that are interested in the technical side, consider the explanation provided at prepressue.com:

JPEG is a lossy compression algorithm that has been conceived to reduce the file size of natural, photographic-like true-colour images as much as possible without affecting the quality of the image as experienced by the human sensory engine. We perceive small changes in brightness more readily than we do small changes in colour. It is this aspect of our perception that JPEG compression exploits in an effort to reduce the file size. Read more . . .

Also consider the compression issues pointed out in this Wikipedia entry.

The RAW Image

A RAW image file contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of a digital camera. Raw files are so named because they are not yet processed and ready to use with a bitmap graphics editor, printed, or displayed by a typical web browser. The image must be processed and converted to an RGB format such as TIFF or JPEG before it can be manipulated. Read more . . .

This means you can't take a RAW image and immediately put it in to Photoshop without some in-between processing. You are basically developing a digital negative.

The Arguments for and Against
Some say RAW is a superior format because you can do more with post-processing. Others say that if you learn to make a proper exposure the first time then you should need to do much, if any, post-processing. And some swear by JPEGs because of the volume of shots they take (e.g., event photographers). I think that what everyone means in their arguments for or against a particular format is that their format of choice works for them because of their particular needs. This is why I say, "It depends."

Take Killboy for example. For those of you who don't know who Killboy is, he shoots motorcycles almost every day of the week at a place called Deals Gap (a.k.a. Tail of the Dragon). People come from all over the country just to ride this section of road on the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Make one pass through the 318 curves in just 11 miles and you'll see why. Killboy takes thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of shots each week. Just think for a moment how you would manage shooting RAW and posting processing 10,000 pictures in one week and still have time to do the same thing the next week. (I went to a mountain bike race 4 months ago and took 1,000 RAW images. I'm about halfway through post-processing now.) Killboy, along with other event photographers, shoot JPEGs because their business model requires it. For them, shooting RAW is logistically impossible.

What if you're doing a landscape photo that includes the sky or a portrait the uses the sky as part of your background?

The RAW file format usually provides considerably more "dynamic range" than a JPEG file, depending on how the camera creates its JPEG. Dynamic range refers to the range of light to dark which can be captured by a camera before becoming completely white or black, respectively. Since the raw color data has not been converted into logarithmic values using curves (see overview), the exposure of a RAW file can be adjusted slightly--after the photo has been taken. Exposure compensation can correct for metering errors, or can help bring out lost shadow or highlight detail. Read more & view example . . .

You can see the benefits of shooting RAW here pretty clearly I think.

I've talked quite a bit about post-processing. When it comes to RAW files, your options are continually expanding. There are several vendors that make RAW conversion and editing programs now. Let's take a brief look at what they have to offer:

Adobe Lightroom (currently in beta testing) - Free (beta version only)
Lightroom is my personal favorite RAW file editor. I like the layout, controls, and depth of the program. It runs fine on my iMac G5. It's easy to batch process or convert to JPEG or TIFF. What little Photoshop integration there is functions just fine. As a matter of fact, I use Photoshop a lot less since I started using Lightroom. It's currently in Beta 4 for the Mac. I'm so attached to it that I'll have to buy it the day it comes out. Lightroom IS my workflow. Read more about Lightroom . . .

Adobe Camera RAW - Included with current Adobe Photoshop programs
Adobe Camera Raw is the staple RAW editor for many Photoshop users. To me, it seems clunky and inefficient as a browser/viewer for RAW files. If you bought a version of Photoshop recently, it came with it. If not, you can likely get it for free from Adobe.com. Don't take my word alone, it's just not my cup of tea. Read more about Adobe ACR . . .

Apple Aperture - $270
Apple Aperture? What can I say? It's pretty. It works. And lots of people love it. My exposure to it has been limited because it won't run on my iMac G5. You need a killer video card to even think about installing this program. Also, it's only for Macs. Window's users can move along now.

What little that I've done with Aperture hasn't really sold me on it. When I upgrade to the next gen Macs, I'll probably stick with Lightroom. Aperture just seems a little to "pretty" to me. I prefer the simple presentation that Lightroom has over Aperture. Aperture just seems like it is trying to do too much. That said, if you're a Mac user and you like iPhoto, Aperture may be what you're looking for. It's like iPhoto on steriods, lots of steroids. Just make sure you've got the hardware to put it to use when you buy Aperture. Read more about Aperture . . .

Apple iPhoto - included w/ all crrent Macs
Apple added support for RAW files in iPhoto 5. When you make edits (and we're talking basic edits), iPhoto gives you the option of saving your edits as a TIFF file. Not a bad little program, but it's still a little program. If you've got a Mac, you've got iPhoto. Give it a shot and see what you think.

Bibble Pro 4.0 - $130
I have absolutely no experience with Bibble Pro 4.0. What I will do is offer some quotes from others who have reviewed/used it:

The Good

It has lots of options and it really does a great job. The best feature I can think of is the “black and white” plug-in which can make the image really artistic and give it a professional touch. The fact that it supports most major cameras and RAW formats adds great value. Also, Bibble is the first independent application to support Nikon's encrypted white balance information.

The software runs perfectly on Windows, Mac and Linux (check on the system requirements)

The Bad

As always, I have a problem with the price of the product. I know that the guys put a lot of sweat in developing Bibble Pro, but the price seems a little high to me. But, if you really want best quality images, you've got to pay the price.

The Truth

Considering the alternatives on the market Bibble Pro represents a good option. I wish I didn't have to pay that much on the software, but the truth is that it is worth the money. It does a great job with your images and the results are really amazing.

However, I'm going to wait for a while to see what other products will show up before opening my wallet.

Bibble Pro 4.8 is definitely a good choice for processing the “raw” image files and giving them the professional twist we all dream of. Read more from Softpedia.com . . .

We are very pleased that Bibble is back and think it is a good alternative to C1 and Adobe Camera Raw.

Workflow: In terms of workflow B4 is in the same class as C1 and at this time more productive than Camera Raw (mainly due to the lack of integration between the PS file browser and ACR).

Image Quality: B4, C1 and ACR all produce excellent image quality. We are sure there will be strong debates which one is best. In the end it will be very subjective as they are mainly different and not so much better or worse. Read more from OutbackPhoto.com . . .

Canon Digital Photo Professional - Included w/ current Canon DSLRs
When I'm working on my Windows laptop I generally use Canon DPP. It's not nearly as smooth as Lightroom but it usually handles any minor editing tasks that just can't wait until I get home. If you've got a Canon DSLR, then you've probably got this installed on your computer already. Open it up and see if you like it. Read more about Canon DPP . . .

LightZone - $100-150 (public beta version 2.0 currently available)
Never used it. It looks pretty cool though. Perhaps I'll give it a try. In the mean time:

LightZone is a simple yet powerful image editor. LightZone is easy to learn and let's you focus on your images. We will follow the development of this editor very closely because we see a great potential using LightZone.

* LightZone provides right now the easiest way to learn and use a layer based workflow (which we recommend for some years in our e-books)
* For advanced users LightZone provides a powerful photographic tool to optimize photos.
* Be aware that LightZone works differently than other editors. This will require some time to master. Try to experiment with selective operations in regions because here LZ can make a difference. Read more from OutbackPhoto.com . . .

Macworld notes:

Pros: Simulates analog photographic techniques; powerful built-in image browser; true non-destructive editing; powerful rendering engine eliminates the need to store multiple copies of an image; excellent blur, sharpen, and saturation tools; takes up only about 10MB of disk space.

Cons: Lacks important retouching tools; region selection tools need refinement; regions that bleed to the edge of the image area are tricky to select, slow performance when multiple regions and modification tools are active; some important tools are accessible only through option- and control-click. Read the rest of the Macworld article . . .

Picasa - Free

Picasa is more like a great photo organizer than it is a photo editor. It does have some features to fix photo mistakes. The greatest feature of this product is its organizing capabilities. It is also one of the easiest to use programs we’ve reviewed. The screens are simple, friendly and intuitive. There are also some limited ways to share your photos including a unique online sharing method called "Hello." Read more about Picasa . . .

These are just a handful of RAW editing programs available. If you've got a DSLR, chances are you also have a proprietary editing program that is unique to your camera's RAW format (e.g., Nikon uses the .NEF format; Canon uses the .CR2 format). I encourage you to shop around for what suits your needs in the RAW editing department.

So, What Should I Use?
Simple. You should use what works best for you.

If you want to have total control over what the final image looks like, then shoot RAW.

If you take lots of photos, don't have time to spend time post-processing your shots, or you simply want to take what you get, then shoot JPEG.

If you don't know what RAW has to offer, then give it a try. You may never go back to shooting JPEGs. I know I haven't. I'm a hobbyist at best and I'll never shoot another JPEG if I can keep from it. I might have pictures sitting around untouched for a few months, but I'm unwilling to give up that amount of control to my camera's processor. Granted, I don't do it for a living and never will.

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or anything to add, I'd be happy to engage in a discussion or update the post.

How Do I Get Better?

I see a lot of folks on photography forums or letters written in to photo magazines asking where they should start. It seems like I see roughly the same question every day. Lots of times folks know how to point and shoot with their digital camera but don't necessarily understand what it takes to make a good photograph. I, by no means, pretend to be a professional photographer or an expert at photography. I'm learning though, and I think I'm getting better.

Learning photography should not be all trial-and-error. Granted that trial-and-error plays a role in the learning process; however, I think most photographers would agree that there is a fundamental level of knowledge necessary to gain significant knowledge and experience through the trial-and-error process.

I'd like to take a moment to share my thoughts on a few books that I've referred to previously, which I think would be excellent sources for those wishing to take the next step in photography from the casual point-and-shooter to the serious amateur/hobbyist.

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
Bryan Peterson is an excellent teacher. He's great at breaking down intimidating concepts for the novice and explaining them on your level. The book breaks up exposure into the three fundamental elements that go into properly exposing a photo: aperture; shutter speed; and ISO (or, film speed). This is the book to buy for those who have only ever used a point and shoot camera or who always shoot their SLR on full auto mode (the little green rectangle setting). Simply reading this book will make you a better photographer overnight if you fall into these categories.

If you've got a basic handle on these concepts but not sure you really grasp the significance of one or all of them then you should consider adding this book to your library as well. Aside from the technical basics, Bryan teaches you how to look at a scene and capture a creative photo in addition to a properly exposed one.

Before you buy another camera, lens, flash, or any other gear, buy this book if you're wondering what you should spend you cash on. It'll be the best $15 you ever spend on your photography gear.

Understanding Digital Photography by Bryan Peterson
I really consider this book an update to Understanding Exposure. If you've never shot film, don't care to ever mess with film, or would like to understand the differences between digital and film technology on a more basic level then consider this book. It teaches all the basics I've pointed out in my comments on Understanding Exposure above and adds the digital flavor to the mix. I wouldn't be suprised if the two books are consolidated in a future version. Either way, they're both great books and you won't go wrong with your purchase of either or both - I've got both ;)

The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
Scott Kelby is simply the Man when it comes to Photoshop. Not only does he know the insides and outs, he also knows who to teach it. Kelby is the Editor in Chief of Photoshop User magazine and the President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. There are a ton of uses for Photoshop and a ton of books explaining how to use it. There aren't that many books that are dedicated to photographer's needs. Kelby's Photoshop for Digital Photographers series responds to this niche.

Chances are, if you have a copy of any Photoshop version, that Kelby has a book on the particular version you've got. If you've got Photoshop and a digital camera, you need Kelby's book. He gives you step by step instructions for the particular actions that you're trying to do. Additionally, unlike other books that try to do the same, he gives you actual values to use for the actions. This gives you a great idea of the starting points for applying blurs, unsharp mask, grayscale, and the likes. When I'm working on my computer, I've got this book on my desk.

These books are permanent fixtures in my library and I still frequently refer to each of them. Your money will not be lost in the purchase of any or all of these books. There's plenty of knowledge in them to grow with you for some time to come. Don't take my word alone though. Check out the reviews on Amazon from the links above or elsewhere around the net.

GeoTagging Gadgets

A new post over at Slashdot points out a cool new geotagging device that mounts on the hotshoe of your camera. If you've not seen or used this before checkout the cool features Smugmug and Flickr provide.