Canon Launches New Powershot SX40 HS

Canon has announced the new Canon Powershot SX40 HS, an update to the SX30, it features a 35x optical zoom lens (24-840mm equivalent), 12.1 megapixel sensor, Full HD Video, image stabilisation, and new DIGIC 5 image processor.cing & Availability
The PowerShot SX40 HS is available from October 1, priced at £459/€529 RRP incl. VAT. 

From Canon: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland 15th September 2011 – Canon today unveils the latest addition to its range of powerful, ultra-zoom compact cameras. Combining an incredible 35x ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, full manual control and Full HD movie capture, the PowerShot SX40 HS is ideal for photographers who want the flexibility and control of a DSLR and the versatility of a huge focal range packed into a compact body.

Providing outstanding image quality, the PowerShot SX40 HS is among the first PowerShot models to feature Canon’s new DIGIC 5 image processor which boosts the performance of the HS System and offers advanced shooting options as well as supporting Full HD (1080p) movie capture. The amazing zoom range allows any subject to be captured with ease, from high-speed action at the racetrack to distant wildlife on the African plains and abstract close-ups. New Intelligent IS technology also ensures still images are crisp, and video footage is smooth and clear.

Ultra-powerful, ultra-zoom
The PowerShot SX40 HS is incredibly versatile, capturing subjects near and far with amazing precision thanks to one of the most powerful zooms on the market, which draws on the same optical expertise behind Canon’s industry-leading professional lenses. The versatile 35x zoom, with Ultrasonic and Voice Coil Motors (USM & VCM) to ensure fast, silent zooming and focusing, extends from a 24mm ultra-wide-angle to a maximum telephoto range of 840mm, enabling users to capture wide-angle shots of stunning landscapes as well as portraits and distant action.

The 4.5-stop optical Image Stabilizer has also been enhanced with new Intelligent IS technology that detects the shooting situation and automatically applies the most appropriate image stabilisation settings from seven possible modes (Normal IS, Dynamic IS, Powered IS, Panning IS, Macro IS, Tripod mode, Dynamic Macro IS). For example, Panning IS is enabled when following the action of a racetrack, ensuring the IS system stabilises in only one direction, while Macro IS with Hybrid IS technology is perfect for shooting clear close-ups. Powered IS uses Canon camcorder technology to make it easy to film distant subjects with the long zoom, and Tripod mode switches off the Image Stabilizer when the camera is on a stable surface or attached to a tripod.

Raising the bar for image quality
The PowerShot SX40 HS is the latest model to feature the HS System, combining a high-sensitivity back-illuminated 12.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor with Canon’s new breed of image processor to capture beautiful, low noise images in all conditions. The new DIGIC 5 image processor offers even more advanced noise reduction technology, giving up to 75% less noise ( Compared to the previous Canon DIGIC 4 processor) at all ISO levels and producing more natural, blur-free results without needing to use a tripod or the flash. New Multi-area White Balance can make images look more natural by detecting situations where there are two different light sources and then applying area-specific white balance correction. For example, when shooting a casual portrait with flash inside a room lit with tungsten lighting, the camera will apply tungsten white balance on the background and flash white balance on the face, ensuring both the subject and the background keep their natural colours. 

High speed, high drama
The new DIGIC 5 processor takes the high-speed shooting capabilities of the 12.1MP CMOS sensor to a new level, enabling photographers to capture every moment in stunning detail and quality. Photographers shooting fast-paced action can choose between shooting full resolution photos continuously to card capacity at 2.4 shots/sec., or with the new High-speed Burst HQ mode, a high-speed sequence of up to 8 full resolution shots can be captured at 10.3 shots/sec.

Alternatively, experiment with Super Slow Motion Movie – shooting VGA resolution video at 120fps (or QVGA resolution at 240fps) and playing it back at a fraction of the real speed (QVGA movies (320x240) play back at 1/8 of real speed, VGA movies (640x480) play back at 1/4 of real speed) - to add dramatic flair or analyse a goal or golf swing. For even greater support when shooting after dark without a tripod, Handheld Night Scene captures a high-speed sequence of shots, combining the image data to produce one well-exposed shot with minimal blur.

Full HD movies – shoot and share with ease
The dedicated movie button allows photographers to become videographers instantly, switching from high quality stills to Full HD (1080p) video at 24fps with stereo sound for fantastic home movies. The USM and VCM on the huge telephoto lens enable the PowerShot SX40 HS to zoom and focus quickly and silently, allowing photographers to make use of the full focal range whilst filming.

Sharing and editing your home movies also couldn’t be easier. The PowerShot SX40 HS supports the Apple iFrame Movie format, allowing video clips to be imported and immediately edited in common software programs, simplifying and accelerating the post-production process. Frame and view your footage on the 6.8 cm (2.7”) vari-angle PureColor II VA LCD screen, alternatively, share your footage and photos on the big screen, straight from the camera’s HDMI port. You can also use the remote control of an HDMI-CEC compatible HDTV to browse the camera from the comfort of your sofa – perfect for sharing holiday snaps or home movies with friends and family.

Manual control and creative support
For more advanced users, the PowerShot SX40 HS offers the complete flexibility of full manual control. On-screen Hints & Tips can also be engaged to guide beginners through the different camera settings, helping to develop their photographic skills with every new shot. Smart Auto has also been enhanced, detecting up to 32 different scenes 21 scenes detected in Movie mode and automatically adjusting the camera settings to capture the best possible image. Tracking AF allows the photographer to select an object and track it as it moves around the frame, ensuring off-centre compositions are perfectly in focus at the moment the photo is taken.

To add creative flair to every shot, the PowerShot SX40 HS also features a range of Creative Filters including Fish-eye Effect, Super Vivid, Poster Effect and Miniature Effect which also extends to movies. Toy Camera Effect recreates the nostalgic effects of a pin-hole camera and Monochrome produces shots in black and white, sepia and blue tones.

Further extending its creative possibilities, the PowerShot SX40 HS can be used with Canon Speedlite EX flash units as well as a lens filter adapter and other accessories. This provides Canon compact camera users with many of the benefits of the EOS DSLR System, combined with the unsurpassed versatility of this model’s incredible zoom range.

Join the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY community
Owners of the PowerShot SX40 HS can also join the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, an online facility for sharing photos and video.

The CANON iMAGE GATEWAY Online Photo Album provides up to 2GB of personal storage capacity - enough room for hundreds of high-quality images.

PowerShot SX40 HS – key features :

• 35x ultra wide-angle zoom with USM
• Image Stabilizer (4.5-stop). Intelligent IS
• HS System (12.1 MP) with DIGIC 5
• Full HD, HDMI
• 6.8 cm (2.7") vari-angle LCD, EVF
• Smart Auto, Multi-area WB
• High-speed Burst HQ
• Manual modes
• Zoom Framing Assist
• Range of accessories

Going Retro - The Growing Interest In Vintage Photography

Photo by Tetsumo

It started with vintage fashion, artwork and home wares. Then the craze moved to music, with collectors everywhere seeking out vinyl records for a bit of retro cool. Now the enthusiasm for all things vintage has trickled down into the realm of photography, with both amateur and professional photographers seeking ways to lend their photos an air of authenticity with a white instant border or grainy overlay. 

Photo by mayrodrigo

Even poor-quality cameras and photos from decades ago now have something of a cult fan base, with many old-school camera models often selling for hundreds of dollars on online auction sites. Thankfully, with modern technology and a huge, ever-growing range of fun applications, anyone can get instantly-artsy retro photos. Aside from the huge number of mobile applications available, here's a list of options to make your photos a little more interesting:. 

Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography

" Pre-set camera modes - Forget simple black & white, negative, or sepia colour effects. Many people don't realise that digital cameras available today, such as the Canon EOS 60D, still offer built-in creative art filters such as soft focus, toy camera, grainy black & white, and Polaroid effects, so you can easily take unique, vintage-style photos on your compact digital camera or digital SLR. 

Photo by Aaɾon

" Photo editing software - depending on how in-depth you want to go with your vintage photo apps, there are a number of programs that you can download to your Mac or PC. Poladroid is a free downloadable desktop program for making random, old-style photographs with a white instant border. For more control over how your photos turn out, CameraBag is an inexpensive program which lets you layer different effects and borders, with additional filters available on their website. 

Photo by dionhinchcliffe

" Free online services - Services such as Phix and Picnik offer in-browser options for those who don't want to download programs onto their desktops. There's a huge range of customisable editing options, or you can just hit the 'random' button and let the program do all the work.





Written by Canon Australia

Canon Underwater Camera PowerShot D10 - A Solid Camera With Great Performance

Photo by puuikibeach

There are several models of Canon underwater cameras to choose from but the first, and still the best, is the Canon PowerShot D10. This Canon underwater camera features a 12.1 megapixel sensor along with a 2.5-inch LCD screen. Additionally users will enjoy the 3x zoom. While this camera is less than sleek looking, it offers top of the line photographs for under the water photography. The Canon PowerShot D10 features rounded corners and an enclosed lens housing which helps it remain water resistant without being bulk. The manufacturer claims that this Canon waterproof camera can be used at depths of 10 meters.

Photo by puuikibeach

Photo by puuikibeach

The layout of this camera is designed for easy use. First, the rounded edges and thick housing offer two waterproof seals that cover the important components of the camera. The buttons are slightly more risen than other models and are overall easier to use under the water. This Canon underwater camera is light weight and compact for even the smallest of divers. It can operate at temperatures as low as -10 degrees and is not only shockproof but also dust proof. The only downfall of the Canon PowerShot D10 is that the battery recommended does not share the same temperature range. For this reason the battery is likely to run dry quickly and possible leave you without enough pictures from your underwater adventure. On average, users are able to take 220 pictures during the life of one battery. The upside is that the batter compartment is designed to stay 100% dry at all times.

Photo by Liz Saldana

Another positive feature of the Canon PowerShot D10 is the built-in flash. This has a maximum range of 3.2 meters. There are several flash setting as well including on, off, auto and slow synch. Additionally you can apply red-eye protection while taking your pictures. Many cameras tend to take poor quality pictures once the zoom is in full function. This is not the case with this Canon underwater camera. In fact, the Canon PowerShot D10 offers superior quality photos no matter what. The zoom button is appropriately placed on the top of the camera and is easy to access and adjust while underwater. The continuous blur action option will allow you to take pictures of animals moving under the water without getting blurred images. To make photography easier, there is also an autofocus option on the Canon PowerShot D10. The face recognition feature is drastically better than previous Canon cameras. The camera also has manual focusing options.

Photo by Liz Badley @ Reston Style

The Canon PowerShot D10 underwater camera is ideal for someone looking for a camera to use on water adventures and snorkeling. While this Canon underwater camera is not designed for deep sea diving, it will still offer supreme pictures. The compact, lightweight design makes it easy to carry and the larger buttons help the camera be more user friendly. With the 2.5-inch, brilliant screen adding to the mix, this is one underwater camera that is sure to impress.

Photo by shannonkringen

Written by Giulio Daprela

Wedding Photography Styles

Photo by luc.viatour

So you are getting married, Congratulations! You may have already spoken with a photographer for the big day, or even been confused by some of the terminology. What is ‘Reportage' or ‘Contemporary' photography? And more importantly how will it affect my day and the pictures I want to have as memories from it?

This is a small article just to outline some of the benefits and pitfalls of the different styles to help you decide which is for you. I have been a Wedding Photographer in Newcastle (North East of England, UK) for 7 years and photographed hundreds of Weddings in that time. Hopefully this will help answer some of your questions.

But first the main question, which style is best? The answer unfortunately is all of them and you should find someone who can supply the photography in all of the styles.

Photo by derekmswanson

  

Traditional wedding photography is a style of photography which is very formal in its approach. Wedding photographs are usually very formal and posed with specific groups and settings. Groups will generally include the standard Bride and Groom shots, brides family and friends, followed by shots of the grooms family and friends. This style of photography is used by many wedding photographers but is now considered by many to be a little outdated.

However, many people do look for a traditional wedding photographer as parents and grandparents look to have wedding portraits of their offspring hanging on their walls. Traditional wedding photography will always be very popular as by its name it is traditional to the wedding photography industry and many bridal couple require the formal images as a reminder of their special day. Many wedding photographers will combine different types and styles of photography encompassing both traditional and the more modern forms of wedding photography.

The traditional wedding photography service will usually include photographs at the bride's home and follows the bride, bridesmaids and family prior to the ceremony. Of course this can be provided with other styles of wedding photography and in many cases also includes a visit to the grooms home where requested. The benefits of traditional wedding photography are that you will get all the pictures you expect for your wedding album. However, the drawback is that the wedding photographer can be very official, directing the bridal party and guests and can be very time consuming.

Photo by amiefedora

Reportage wedding photography is where the photographer will follow the guests throughout the day without them being aware of their presence which can produce more natural images. Reportage wedding photography is a contemporary more relaxed style than traditional wedding photography. Rather than the more formal approach of a traditional wedding photographer with posed shots of specific groups of people, the reportage wedding photography style tries to capture the day as it unfolds without the photographer directing the proceedings. The traditional approach of posed shots can be very time consuming meaning the bride and groom spend less quality time with their guests. However, as the reportage style requires no posed shots, the time required is much reduced making it a very popular wedding photography option

If, as a bride and groom, you are looking for a reportage wedding photography service but still wish to have a few posed shots of specific groups of guests most wedding photographers will do all they can to accommodate your requirements. Discuss with your photographer to ensure they take the traditional shots you require, for example bride and groom posed shots, parents of the bride and groom and close family and friends. These types of shots are always popular with the older generation of parents and grandparents who would like to hang a portrait on their walls.

                                                                                                Photo by nuestraherenciaco

Contemporary photography is a more modern approach than traditional styles of wedding photography. It is very difficult to quantify as people can have different ideas of what 'contemporary wedding photography' actually is and therefore it can be difficult to fully express your requirements to the wedding photographer. Contemporary broadly means 'fashionable' and so the photography style needs to constantly change to keep up with the present days styles. However, as contemporary wedding photographs are expected to be very 'up to date' so they can date and become old fashioned very quickly. The art of contemporary wedding photography is for the photographer to find settings with good lighting and backdrops where the photographs of the bride and groom can be quite simply stunning. This type of photography can make everybody look good and give the feel that they are in a glossy magazine.

If, as a bride and groom, you are looking for a contemporary wedding photography service consider the areas of beauty in your local area where you may want to visit on your wedding day to achieve the modern contemnor look. Discuss with your photographer if they have photographed at your wedding ceremony location or venue and get suggestions of the best locations there to achieve your preferred results. Most wedding photographers will spend time
with you to get exactly the results you require.

Photo by Corey Ann 

Photo-Journalistic wedding photography is where the photographer will follow the guests throughout the day without them being aware of their presence which can produce more natural images. Photojournalistic wedding photography is a contemporary more relaxed style than traditional wedding photography. Rather than the more formal approach of a traditional wedding photographer with posed shots of specific groups of people, the Photojournalistic wedding photography style tries to capture the day as it unfolds without the photographer directing the proceedings. The traditional approach of posed shots can be very time consuming meaning the bride and groom spend less quality time with their guests. However, as the Photojournalistic style requires no posed shots, the time required is much reduced making it a very popular wedding photography option.

If, as a bride and groom, you are looking for a Photojournalistic wedding photography service but still wish to have a few posed shots of specific groups of guests most wedding photographers will do all they can to accommodate your requirements. Discuss with your photographer to ensure they take the traditional shots you require, for example bride and groom posed shots, parents of the bride and groom and close family and friends. These types of shots are always popular with the older generation of parents and grandparents who would like to hang a portrait on their walls.

More information and contact details can be found at www.davidbousfield.org

Article 

A World of Dreams - Photomontage by By Delphine Devos

Delphine Devos is a talented digital artist from Belgium. She creates a divine, dream-like virtual   world which often features beautiful women and children in captivating landscapes and surroundings. More of her pictures can be found on her webpage on Flickr. 

The Bird Cage

Behind The Mask

Harmony

Listen to the Silence

 Little Flower

Once Upon A Time

 Peaceful

 Prelude

The Fog

The Lantern

3 Steps to Wedding Photography Preparation

Photo by Jenny Burtt Florist

The failure to prepare, is preparation to fail. – John Wooden

While this may have been applied to basketball at the time of the quote, this principle applies to many important things in life, including wedding photography.

This preparation for the wedding day can be followed in three steps. Treat them like wedding rehearsals. Let's see how.

Photo by jurvetson

A Few Months Before 

A few months before the actual wedding, a tulsa wedding photographer should try and do a planning ‘run through' with the wedding couple, and plan out the day. You may not have all the details chosen yet, but it is a good starting point to get things narrowed down. An experienced photographer can also help you with ideas that you may not have thought of, and details to consider.

Another thing to potentially plan for is a "photo-run-through" aka, engagement photos. As a photographer, you get to know the couple even further, learn about their personalities, and get them ready for feeling comfortable when posing for pictures. Besides these advantages, you get the opportunity to discuss style with the wedding couple, and inquire more intricate details they would want to incorporate in their wedding photos.

Photo by seanmcgrath

You can also use this time (either in addition to, or in place of) to do bridal portraits. Usually featuring the bride and her dress, many times at the place of the ceremony (or at another scenic location) the bridal portraits offer the bride a chance to get some beautiful shots that she and all of her family members will want to keep, and possibly more importantly, gives the bride another excuse to be the princess if the day. Getting dolled up, hair and makeup done, and donning the dress that she plans to be married in is a great run through for the big day.


One Week Before


This is ‘making sure' rehearsal for the wedding day, in order to ensure the same situations discussed previously are still on the list. 
Most important shots like pre-ceremony and post-ceremony shots of the couple or the group shots should be planned at this time. Shot sheets that feature specific family member names can also be very helpful in organizing the day, since it is difficult to off hand remember every shot you may want, especially in the whirlwind of the day. 

Photo by fomu

Most important shots like pre-ceremony and post-ceremony shots of the couple or the group shots should be planned at this time. Shot sheets that feature specific family member names can also be very helpful in organizing the day, since it is difficult to off hand remember every shot you may want, especially in the whirlwind of the day. 


The Night Before


Sleep well! Your big day is ahead of you, and your photos are the last thing you will need to worry about. With the preparation you have gone through for the day, everyone should be on the same page, and you are free to enjoy your big day!






Written by Jake Aldrich
Epic Photography Tulsa