Listen NOW…

Option-Click or Right-Click HERE to download this radio program (mp3)

Glenn Ruga, Photographer, Graphic Designer, Activist & Founder, SocialDocumentary.net joins Host Scott Sheppard to explain his background and passion for using photography to promote global awareness of issues. Finding a lack of a centralized location where people could go
to find this type of work, Glenn decided to create a website which allows photographers to showcase their image journals and provide a platform where students, researchers, or reporters can go to see these photos.

Glenn explains that photographers often participate in these critical issues either while on assignment or simply because they are passionate about the cause and topic as seen in this photograph by, Daro Sulakuri. Glenn discusses the types of exhibitions included on SocialDocumentary.net many of which are short collections done by both amateur and professional photographers. Although many social documentary photographers have and maintain their own websites, Glenn encourages them to post a few images of their story with description and links to help increase awareness of their work and their chosen issues.

Glenn and Scott also discuss some tips on how to begin creating a photo-documentary journal and details on how to submit images to the site, submitting exhibits are free but there is a small annual fee to maintain your story. Glenn emphasizes it’s important to build a relationship with their subjects and consider the background and overall story behind the images they want to capture demonstrated in this image by Deb Marcano.

To find out more, or submit your own work visit: http://socialdocumentary.net/ Glenn also runs a design firm dedicated to helping non-profit organizations, visit: http://www.vizcom.com/

The McNamara Report on Inside Digital Photo with Michael J. McNamara
This week’s topic: Panasonic dives in deep with its latest cameras

On January 27, 2009 Panasonic invited a horde of Who’s Who journalists from the US and Europe to Miami to show off its newest compact cameras. The weather was great and the beach was hot, but some of us wound up tossing our cameras into the ocean…Find out what drove us to that extreme in this segment of the McNamara Report.

Listen in on the McNamara Report segment or get more photo insights and analysis on a variety of topics from Mike McNamara at: http://www.mcnamarareport.com.

Listen NOW…

Doug Murdoch, Designer & President, Think Tank Photo joins host Scott Sheppard with some tips about traveling with your camera gear. Think Tank Photo develops a range of camera bags specifically to meet the needs of the professional photographer. Working closely with a team of working photojournalists, and other shooters for the past four years the feedback they’ve received from the field testing have been incorporated in their line of carriers and transporters.

Doug discusses their latest addition launched at Photokina, the Shape Shifter Backpack. Unlike other photo backpacks, the Shape Shifter actually changes it’s depth allowing you to expand or contract the bag to snugly fit your camera bodies and lenses without taking up extra unnecessary space. This is critical for traveling on location, and through airports. The backpack is soft and flexible, fully padded with air pockets on your back making it comfortable to wear while working. It includes extension flaps that work with the Speed Belt enabling quick access to lens changes while shooting, acting as a harness that provides additional stability to the backpack. All Think Tank modular products are designed to work together and help you configure a solution completely customized to carry your favorite gear.

Doug also describes their Skin line of carriers, that are thin, and lightweight without heavy padding developed for times when you don’t need the extra weight especially critical while traveling. Most photographers cringe at the idea of checking their camera or lenses at any point during their travels. Think Tank’s lightweight solutions allow for configurations that hold equipment securely to your body or fit easily under the seat or in the overhead compartment.

For more information on their full line of products visit: http://www.thinktankphoto.com/

The McNamara Report on Inside Digital Photo with Michael J. McNamara
This week’s topic: Still shooters: Are you ready for video?

Today’s DSLRs are starting to add live video capture modes to their Live View modes. For example, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II : a Full frame 21.1MP camera with full 1080p HD video and sound (mono from camera, or stereo with optional mike via input jack). The Nikon D90: an APS-C sized sensor that can capture 720p video (with mono sound) in Motion JPEG format with the professional smoothness of 24 frames per second.

On both cameras, the sensor is much larger than those found on typical pro or amateur camcorder, helping to deliver higher image quality and exceptional low-noise still images, as well as high ISO capture and dramatic depth of field control during movie shooting. Capturing creative movie clips or the drama of life’s moving moments is further enhanced by the wide selection of incredibly sharp Canon and NIKKOR interchangeable lenses that are available, from fisheye to wide-angle to super-telephoto (and image stabilization works in video mode!) But is video capture a great feature on a DSLR, or just one more tool that will rarely get used? Listen in on the McNamara Report segment.
Read more insights and analysis from Mike McNamara on: http://www.mcnamarareport.com