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Diederik van Heyningan, Manager & Photographer, Lightworkx Studio joins host Scott Sheppard for a lively discussion on their commercial studio work based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Diederik discusses some of the challenges but also some of the amazing opportunities and variety of work they have mastered based in a fairly remote location on the South Island. Diederik explains they were one of the first digital production studios and have won numerous color awards for their work. Lightworkx is a studio and also do their post-production work in-house. Diederik shares some tips about how they were able to use a locally developed color proofing system called "AbsoluteProof" that has, in his opinion, solved their color management and contract/remote proofing problems.

For more information about Lightworkx and their work visit: http://www.lightworkx.com or to check out their proofing solution, AbsoluteProof, visit http://www.absolute-proof.com/

The McNamara Report on Inside Digital Photo with Michael J. McNamara
This week’s topic: Another RAW camera format? How are we going to handle it?

It happened again, just when most photographers had been lulled into thinking we had seen the last new RAW file format. But noooo! Nikon surprised us by giving birth to a new one called .NRW that’s found exclusively in the high-level COOLPIX P6000 (This hot $500 compact boasts a 13.5MP CCD, 28-112mm f/2.7-5.9 stabilized zoom lens, built-in GPS, and up to ISO 6400.)Unfortunately, the Nikon engineers forgot something when they created this new RAW format—and it’s called Mac compatibility! Guess we should have seen that coming with a file extension called .NRW (Nikon Raw Windows).
So while photographers with PC’s running Microsoft Vista (and nothing prior to Vista) will be able to open and adjust .NRW files, the rest of the world is out of luck—unless popular RAW workflow programs like Apple’s Aperture, Adobe RAW converter, and Adobe’s Lightroom come to the rescue as they have in the past.

Read more insights and analysis from Mike McNamara on: http://www.mcnamarareport.com

Oliver Breitenbach, CEO, Boinx Software joins Inside Digital Photo for an update on their latest release of FotoMagico 2.5, the digital storytelling applications built for photographers. Oliver explains that at it’s most basic level is to create slideshows, but in the hands of creatives, wedding photographers, and journalists FotoMagico quickly generates very compelling short clips that incorporate your images, high-end transitions, synchronizes them to audio, and other effects which can be exported in a range of formats from web video to high definition Blu-ray format. Winner of multiple Apple Design Awards, FotoMagico currently runs only on Apple Mac OS leveraging the best development tools available on the platform that deliver an intuitive drag-n-drop interface.

For more information and to download a demo version today visit: http://www.boinx.com/fotomagico/

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Tony Corbell, Senior Manager, Product Education and Planning, Nik Software joins host Scott Sheppard to discuss Nik Software’s latest plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Aperture, Silver Efex Pro. More than just a B&W conversion tool, Silver Efex Pro includes the best of Nik’s U Point Technology, a specialized film grain engine, and presets that emulate 18 different traditional B&W film styles. Tony explains the features and effects available using the built-in presets.

For more information about Nik Software visit: http://www.niksoftware.com/

The McNamara Report on Inside Digital Photo with Michael J. McNamara

This week’s topic: Another lens-mount standard? What were Panasonic and Olympus thinking?

On August 5, 2008 the new Micro Four Thirds camera and lens standard was announced by currently behind-the-scenes partners Panasonic and Olympus. (Unlike the original Four Thirds system team, Kodak isn’t a partner in this venture, having left the DSLR landscape for good.) Featuring a decreased lens-to-sensor distance, 6mm smaller lens diameter, and two more electrical contacts between the lens and body, the goal of the new Micro Four Thirds system is to offer a lower calorie alternative to the current crop of DSLRs. There’s also potential for higher performance lenses (especially wide and ultrazooms) and a promise of backward compatibility with existing Four Thirds Standard lenses. But are photographers ready for another interchangeable lens standard in the crowed arena of Canon, Leica, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus Four Thirds, Sigma, and Sony lens mounts?

Read more insights and analysis from Mike McNamara on: http://www.mcnamarareport.com

Joe Schorr, Aperture Product Manager for Apple joins Inside Digital Photo for an update on the latest compatible Aperture plug-ins and add-ons. Joe explains that as soon as Apple announced that Aperture supports plug-in architecture many manufacturers jumped at the chance to enhance the workflow.

One of Joe’s favorite utilities and batch processing tools include the new "Noise Ninja for Aperture 2.0.2" that allows you to quickly remove noise and grain from your images. Joe explains that there are now over 70 powerful, compatible plug-ins that are now available via links on Apple’s website at: http://www.apple.com/aperture/resources/plugins.html

Joe and Scott also discuss a new AppleScript for Mac OS users called "Aperture Caption Palette" which integrates seamlessly with Mac’s built-in text to speech technology and/or the new MacSpeech Dictate that will allow you to literally bring up a window and narrate details for keywording and describing your images (without typing) right within Aperture.

To download and learn more about these plug-ins visit the Aperture home page at: http://www.apple.com/aperture

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