"The Humanity Photo Awards 2009" by CFPA and UNESCO

CFPA (The China Folklore Photographic Association) and UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) held "The Humanity Photo Awards 2009." To participate, you need to explore first the endangered folk cultures, by means of photography. These cultures can be by any nationalities, and you need to record, spread and share the changes and evolutions from those folk cultures, in an genuine and vivid form.

The entry deadline is postponed from April 15 to May 25, 2009. In the mid of August, the nominees will be announced. On September 14 and 15, the winner of all the six categories will be announced. Those categories are Portrait and Costume; Architecture; Living and Production Custom; Festivities; Education, Recreation, Sports and Technology; also Traditional Rites. After that, on September 16, the award will be given to the winners.

The awards are Humanity Photo Grand Awards (one for each category), Humanity Photo Documentary Awards (60) and Humanity Photo Nomination Awards (100). For further information, visit CFPA's official site: www.china-fpa.org. cindy

Domestic Cats in a Frame

Do you believe that domestic cats can look pretty in a frame? Well you'd better believe it. It is true that they look pretty in pictures shown at a photography exhibition "Felis the Cat" in Galeri Seruling Bambu, Petra Togamas, Surabaya. Held from March 16 to 31, 2009, the exhibition presents 30 photos of domestic cats. The pictures were taken by Romo Yohannes Gani Sukarsono CM and B.G. Fabiola Natasha and selected by Mamuk Ismuntoro, photo editor of Surabaya Post daily.

Domestic cats were chosen as the object because this exhibition aimed to break the stereotype of domestic cat as dirty and ugly animals. It is not the dirty domestic cats shown here but the cute and charming domestic cats in their ordinary day.

The opening ceremony was held on March 14. It was enlivened by talk show. Drh. Eka Andriyan, the owner of Sehat Klinik Hewan and founder of AIDC (Association of Indonesian Domestic Cats), was one of the speakers talking about cats. While Mamuk Ismuntoro, the other the speaker, discussed the photography side. The unique theme of this exhibition could be the alternative for those who get bored with serious photo exhibition. nana

Canon Unveils EOS 500D

Canon has unveiled the EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i), the latest addition to its compact DSLR series. The upper-entry-level camera features a 15.1 MP APS-C CMOS sensor with 1080p HD video recording at 20fps. It also offers a 3.0 inch LCD with 920,000 dot resolution and an ISO sensitivity range expandable up to 12800 equivalents.

It includes a faster Digic 4 processor offering better noise reduction at higher ISO's and continuous shooting speeds of up to 3.4 fps delivering 170 large JPEG images in a single burst. It is compatible with Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites, including new Speedlite 270EX, TS-E 17mm f/4L and TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II

The Canon EOS 500D is scheduled for delivery by early May and will be sold in a body-only configuration for US$ 799.99. It will be offered in a kit version with the Canon EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens for US$ 899.99. dpreview.com, dcviews.com

The Mamiya DL33, Medium Format Camera with 33MP

The Mamiya DL33 is a new medium format camera that offers professional features and benefits. Although it has 33MP resolution, its large sensor allows a pixel size of 7.2 microns. At 36 x 48mm, the DL33's sensor is twice the size of full frame DSLR cameras. Larger pixels also produce images with unmatched richness and color accuracy, smooth, subtle transitions from tone to tone and striking highlight and shadow detail. In addition, the larger format produces images with a more three-dimensional look.

The DL33 combines the Mamiya 645AFD III camera system with the innovative 33 megapixels Aptus-II 7 Digital Back from Leaf. The 645AFD III body has a new coreless motor for faster, more accurate auto focusing and an enhanced interface system that provides total communication between the camera, lens and digital back. It also has 16-bit capture, 12- stop dynamic range and an ISO range of 50-800. It produces a 67 MB RAW file that can be converted into jpegs, 8-bit or 16-bit tiff files (a 16-bit tiff file is 190 MB). It is completed with Leaf Capture 11.2 software that functions to edit the images directly on the screen.

The Mamiya DL33 will be available in April 2009, price at US$ 19,999. During the months of April and May, customers who purchase a Mamiya DL33 will receive a free AF 55mm f2.8 or AF 150mm f3.5 lens directly from Mamiya. photographyblog.com

Calibrate Colors with LaCie

The difference of the color on the screen compared to the printing result often bothers us. LaCie released the LaCie blue eye pro Proof last March 24, to ease us in calibrating color by only one click.

You can arrange the target colorimetric setting, like Whitepoint, Gamma, Brightness and Blackpoint. The software of this device will then automatically calibrate the screen - resulting and activating the color reproduction consistently. The hardware setting is then matched to the calibration profile saved. There is no need to recalibrate when printing.

This device works with ColorSync, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, QuarkXPress and Aperture, and is priced at a retail price of $429.99. lacie.com

The Evolution of Keyboard and Mouse

You must have known a pen tablet - a digital pen and writing pad as the substitutions of keyboard and mouse. Wacom has given an evolution toward the Intuous3, by releasing the Intuous4, last March 25.

The pen is designed with 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, 2001pmm resolution, tilt detection to 60 degrees and weight to just one gram. The aspect ratio of the tablet is intended to match the screen size of modern monitors such as the Cinema Displays from Apple; it is 16:10. The overall footprint is around 10mm larger than a 15 inches MacBook Pro and the active surface is 9 x 6 inches, while it is 0.55 inch at its deepest.

The tablet is utilized with Express Keys (shift, command, option, pan/scrool), shortcut (web and email), Command button (cut, copy, paste, save, undo) and Touch Ring (to zoom, scrool, change layer in Photoshop, adjust brush sizes, rotate the canvas); all done by only using your fingertip. You can get this Intuous4 with £ 330. wacom.eu

Viewfinder and LCD Screen Reflector

As how it is named, Flipbac 3" Angle Viewfinder and LCD Screen Protector is a device attaching cameras' viewfinder and LCD screen as a reflector, as well as protector.

You can open it up to more than 180 degrees, both landscape and portrait. With a stainless steel hinge, there is no need to hold it when use it. At the time it is not being used, it is a protector. The reflector glass is bright; provides a perfect reflection. Weighing 0.7 ounce and sold at US$ 19.99, Flipbac 3" suits most compact cameras and DSLR having 2.64x2.05 inches LCD screen. adorama.com

"31 Billboard KRMT Roy Suryo" Photo Competition

Foreseeing the 9 April's election, news on political parties' campaigns has been occupying our mass media. Meanwhile, parties' flags/banners and posters of legislative candidates has previously spreaded on streets.

For the same election, a photo competition entitled "31 Billboard KRMT Roy Suryo" is carried out to adorn the campaign of KRMT Roy Suryo Notodiprojo, a legislative candidate from Yogyakarta, known as telematics expert as well. The competition is opened for every age and community of interest, including journalists and professionals, from March 31 to April 3, 2009.

The official billboards (minimally 4 x 6 m in size) are in five cities in Yogyakarta Province: Wates, Wonosari, Beran, Jogja and Bantul. The accuracy of the location, the reliability of the object and the photo quality are three things becoming the judgment criteria for the one and only judge - Roy Suryo.

The winner will be announced in April 4. Laptop computers, gadgets and MP3 players are awaiting the first to third winners. cindy

Minangkabau Photographers Officially Founded

Photography enthusiasts in West Sumatera have officially declared Minangkabau Photographers, a photography community based on West Sumatera. The declaration took place on March 3. This community wishes to provide a place for photography enthusiasts in West Sumatera whether professional or amateur. Besides to tighten friendship among photographers, the community also has missions to socialize photography and to improve member's skill.

Minangkabau Photographers has at least 20 members. They plan to organize workshop, hunting and photo exhibition as their activity every year. It might just a new kid on the block, but it also has the board of the community. Rudi Gusteno is in charge as the chairman, Muhammad Fadli as the vice chairman, Muhammad Yunus as the secretary, Novendra BN as the treasurer, Rafi Rj. Tanjung as the public relations officer, Jimmy Fransicus responsible for event division, and Jeffry Wongso at research and development division. Muhammad Fadli

KFS Organized a Basic Photography Workshop

Almost 100 participants took part in a photography workshop held by KFS (Komunitas Fotografer Semarang) on March 15. Holding a photography workshop is not a new thing for KFS. As a community, organizing workshop is part of their regular activity. It aimed to improve their knowledge related to photography. Stephanus Hannie, also known as Fotografer.net's member, attended as the speaker and discussed about digitalizing, filter, and supporting gear. It took place at Vina House, Semarang, and was opened for public. Participants came from Semarang and other regions as well. nana

BEx's Hunting to Merak-Bakauheni

There are unpredictable places, which can be hunting targets. One of so many cases was the one done by Banten Exposure or BEx.

One Sunday, March 15, BEx changed a Merak-Bakauheni boat into a hunting place. After gathering at 11:30 a.m. and buying tickets, the boat sailed at 13:30 p.m.

The 2.5 hours sailing trip was captured by exploring the boat. Twenty four BEx photographers were enthusiastically photographing the landscape of sea and isles, boat's properties, activities of passengers and people retailing goods, also the BEx big family. Fery Ferdianto

When DSLR Meets Compact Camera

Samsung has officially unveiled its new "hybrid digital camera" system, in the shape of the NX series. Samsung's new NX Series bridges the gap between a DSLR and compact point-and-shoot digital camera by combining the benefits of both in one new model. This new system is designed to combine the performance and quality of an SLR with the convenience and portability of a point-and-shoot. By replacing the mirror box and optical viewfinder of an SLR with an electronic viewfinder, the NX series is designed to allow smaller and lighter bodies and lenses.

Like conventional DSLRs, the NX Series utilizes an APS C sized image sensor providing a much larger surface area to gather light and produce higher-quality images than comparable digital camera systems. Unlike a DSLR, the NX Series does not feature a mirror box and employs an ultra-precise Electronic Viewfinder (EVF). The use of an EVF has allowed Samsung engineers to significantly reduce the size and weight of the new camera system by decreasing the distance between the lens and image sensor (flange back) by approximately 40% compared to traditional DSLRs. In addition to utilizing the EVF, consumers can also take advantage of the camera's Live View functionality to frame their shots on the NX Series' high resolution screen.

No further information about its specification and price. The first model of the NX series will be available in the second half of 2009. dpreview.com

Portable Charger with USB

Still with your AA or AAA battery when traveling? No need to worry if your battery runs out while so many objects are still waiting to be photographed. Brunton Solo BattPack Portable Power AA/AAA Battery Charger will accompany and solve your problem.

This charger is labeled as a "portable accessory" having a USB output which can be connected to any electronic devices, so that you can still turn it on while at the same time, the battery is being recharged.

It requires 5.5 volt power, the dimension is 3x5x1.3 inches, while the weight is 66.56 ounces. With a digital readout of the battery level for each battery, refresh button to discharge batteries before charging and two AA and AAA batteries as bonuses, this charger is retailed at US$ 42,95. adorama.com

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 with Exmor CMOS sensor

Sony will be releasing its new Cyber-shot on April 2009. It is called Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. This 9.1MP camera becomes the first Cyber-shot to feature Exmor CMOS sensor technology. The HX1 is also the first to support continuous high-speed shooting of up to 10 frames per second at full 9.1- megapixel resolution. It also features a new G lens with 20x optical zoom, which covers focal lengths equivalent to 28-560mm at maximum apertures from f/2.8 to f/5.2. The G lens was originally developed for Sony's Alpha DSLRs and teams aspherical and ED (extra-low dispersion) elements.

An Intelligent Auto Mode, Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN), Optical SteadyShot and Face Detection technologies can be found in this HX1. There is also a Digital SLR-style Custom button that can be assigned to Smile Shutter, White Balance adjusts or metering mode select functions. The Cyber-shot HX1 is also the first compact camera from Sony capable of shooting 1080/30p HD movies at 30 frames/second. It will be on sale for US$ 1,099. dpreview.com