Tuesday, May 20, 2014

New MacPhun Intensify Released!

BEFORE Intensify Pro 1.02
May 20, 2014 - The new MacPhun Intensify release 1.02 is out and it adds additional RAW file support for more cameras, more fully integrates features from Apple’s latest Macintosh OS (Mavericks), introduces the Macphun Print Lab (powered by MILK Books) and adds the ability to export
AFTER Intensify Pro 1.02
images to SmugMug, increasing the software’s sharing capabilities.

You can run the regular and “pro” versions as a standalone. With the pro version, you can edit from within Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Aperture, or my favorite, Lightroom.
BEFORE Intensify Pro 1.02
I've used Intensify Pro before and here are a few before and after examples, done from within Lightroom. What I do is right click on the photo I want to edit in Intensify Pro from Lightroom's film strip, then EDIT IN, INTENSIFY PRO. Then, Pro will open and I'm ready to try any of the presets or use some of the custom controls.
AFTER Intensify Pro 1.02

For these before and after shots, I used Intensify Pro from within Photoshop Creative Cloud.  You can see the difference.

Some of the key new features, according to the MacPhun people, include:

BEFORE Intensify Pro 1.02
Macphun Print Lab - Intensify photos can now with a few clicks be turned into personalized products like postcards and notecards, delivered direct. Affordable, high quality gallery frames and canvas prints can also be ordered, perfect for gifts to friends and family. The Macphun Print Lab is powered by MILK Books.

Integration with SmugMug - SmugMug is one of the world's leading photography communities with millions of users worldwide. Images can be exported directly from Intensify to SmugMug portfolios for viewing, sharing and printing.
AFTER Intensify Pro 1.02

RAW Updates - Intensify now supports RAW formats from all the most popular cameras. The native RAW processor supports 16-bit images and opens files faster than in any other app.

Mavericks Support - Intensify is now taking advantage of all the powerful features of Apple's latest OS, Mavericks. Support for the new Notifications feature will enable more timely communications with customers about updates, new features, free presets and more.
BEFORE Intensify Pro 1.02

And, additional shortcuts to the user interface provide quick access to the most important tools and features.
AFTER Intensify Pro 1.02

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down The Road!


















My discount code for you is JGPatterson:

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Fresh Start PVCC Graduation

One of the fun things about being a photographer is taking the opportunity to photograph worthy events in a community.  It’s a way of giving back and practicing your craft for the enjoyment of others. 

On Wednesday 7 May 2014, I photographed the graduation celebration of the Fresh Start Small Business Start-up Program from Paradise Valley Community College.  This certificate program included courses in marketing, management, finance, technology, and general business and is aimed at women who want to become entrepreneurs. 


The event included the graduates sharing a bit about their business ideas.


A bit now on the technical side… I used a Canon 5D Mark III and 600EX-RT flash covered with ¼ color temperature orange since the room was artificially lit.  The small room was so well lit I imagine I could have done without flash and used a higher ISO.  I experimented and could have done that with an ISO of 1600.  My post processing software, as usual, was Lightroom. 


The graduates of the program included…

Laura Aranda, Kimberly Carr, Johnetta Dorsey, Renee Handshy, Sandra Hass, Kathy Maelani Schofield Hernandez, Lakeisha Larry, Joane Novak, Alicia West, and Vickie Williams. 

Those from PVCC included President Paul Dale, Vice President Herman Gonzales, co-founders of the program Dr. Dina Preston-Ortiz and Professor Reyes Medrano, Professor Dominic Bartola, and Jill Schuck. 

Photographers note:  For the group shot above, I used the trick "Close your eyes, I will count 3, 2, 1 OPEN!" That usually results in everybody's eyes open for the shot.  It didn't work this time!  



Until My Next Adventure, 

See You On Down The Road!


See all of my photos from this adventure on Flickr!




Saturday, May 3, 2014

Relay for Life at PVCC

The tenth annual Relay for Life to raise funds for the American Cancer Society was on 2 May 2014 once again at Paradise Valley Community College. 

It started at 6pm which meant the first hour or so it was in sunlight and then the rest was in the dark.  This presented some lighting challenges.

During the daylight portion I sometimes used a little fill flash.  The flash I used was brand new to me, the Canon 270 EX II, which is a small travel flash.  My camera is the Canon 5D Mark III.



Look!  It's Ms. and Miss Arizona!

During the evening, there were lots of interesting photo opportunities.  Luckily, I have high ISO capability on my 5D.  Usually around 9pm there is the lighting of candles, the bag piper plays, and they turn all the lights off.  Now, my camera can handle low light situations, but in many cases I had less than low light.  The camera still needs a bit of light to focus.  Luckily, getting close the lit candles gave me something to focus on.  I set the camera to automatic ISO.



Until My Next Adventure, 

See You On Down The Road!


See all of my photos from this adventure on Flickr!








Order prints from this gallery at my Zenfolio portfolio site.