Sent by Alexandra Tan, Microsoft

Our Pick: Apple iPod Touch 16GB

Finally! A photo-viewing gadget that doesn’t need 10 minutes of explanation before your semi-confused friends go “wow”. The biscuit-thin Touch’s multi-touch technology is the same as the one used in the iPhone. It’s intuitive and the display simply makes your photos look great. And of course, the Touch plays music and videos.

Sent by Jackson Lo

VivoCity’s Sparkling Christmas

This year, VivoCity presents the best opportunity for a possibly wonderful Christmas shoot in Singapore. Expect fireworks, a 13-metre tall snowman and a 101ft Christma tree. Time to get your camera ready.

For more information, click here.

Kingston CompactFlash Elite Pro Memory Cards Push Speed Limits

Kingston CF fans and “machine gunners” rejoice. The new range of CompactFlash Elite Pro Memory Cards now boast of improved transfer rates of 25MB/second (read) and 20MB/second (write). The highest capacity is also at industry-leading standard of 16GB. Looks like there are more reasons to burst in RAW settings.

Bryan Peterson hits town!!!

Yes! One of the world’s most famous photography book authors, Bryan Peterson will be in Singapore on 10 Nov (Saturday). If you are keen to have a copy of his book signed, don’t forget to drop by Riceball Adelphi at 12:30pm that day.

Sent by Carrie Chong

Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs

ANSEL ADAMS: 400 PHOTOGRAPHS presents the full spectrum Adams' greatest work in a single volume for the first time, offering an entirely new perspective on his monumental career.. The photographs are arranged chronologically into five major periods in order to convey Adams' development as an artist-from his first photographs made in Yosemite and the High Sierra in 1916 to his work in the National Parks in the 1940s up to his last important photographs from the 1960s. An introduction and brief essays on selected images provide information about Adams' life, document the evolution of his technique, and give voice to his artistic vision. Few artists of any era can claim to have produced four hundred images of lasting beauty and significance. It is a testament to Adams' vision and a lifetime of hard work that a book of this scale can be justified. ANSEL ADAMS: 400 PHOTOGRAPHS is a must-have reference and gift book for anyone who appreciates photography and the allure of the natural world.

About the Author Ansel Adams was the most honored American photographer of the 20th century. Renowned for his photographs of the natural world, he worked throughout America’s national parks and wilderness areas. Andrea G. Stillman has edited seven books of Adams’ photographs for The Ansel Adams Trust, including The American Wilderness, Our National Parks, and Ansel Adams in Color.

ISBN-10 : 0316117722

ISBN-13 : 978-0316117722

Publisher : Ansel Adams (October 29, 2007)

Our hearty congratulations to Gary!

Posted by Gary Goh, Project Shutter team

Ever wondered why your pictures sometimes turn out in wrong colors? For instance, a picture comes out yellowish or bluish. That means the white balance of that picture is wrong. It is sad but true that the Auto Balance Mode of our cameras doesn’t work perfectly all the time.

White balance is all about how “white” the white color regions are. It is not rocket science but unfortunately, even professional photographers can make a mistake in getting the white balance setting at all times.

How do we get the white balance right?

These days, digital cameras usually come with addition white balance settings (other than auto) to let you get the white balance of your photo right. If you think the auto white balance of your camera doesn’t work well in certain circumstances, then try the other settings.

Setting a tungsten white balance for example will give your picture a strong blue tinge, which counters the orange cast from those tungsten lights and produces proper whites.

On cloudy days, outdoor pictures will probably look dull and lack of punch in terms of color when the camera’s white balancing mode is set to Auto. Use the Cloudy white balance mode to make your picture appear “warmer” with a subtle yellowish hue to it. With that, your picture looks more natural.

Then how about in conditions where there’s a mixture of different lightings? That is where Custom White Balance mode comes into play. Use a piece of white piece of paper, and angle it to reflect the light you’re getting in the environment. Snap a picture of the paper in Auto White Balance, and set Custom White Balance on that picture you’ve just snapped. After which, don’t forget to set your camera’s white balance to Custom White Balance mode.

The bottom line is, never trust your camera’s Auto White Balance.

*For more on how to set white balance modes, please consult your camera’s user manual.

Canon Photo Marathon Asia 2007

Canon Photo Marathon is back with a bang this year with the Japanese manufacturer celebrating its 70th Anniversary. Malaysia, Philipines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will each organize a local photo marathon competition where 2 winners will stand a chance to be selected to win the grand prize of a Photo Clinic to Kyushu, Japan with professional photographer Triston Yeo.

Vietnam, 18 Aug @ Ho Chi Minh City and 25 Aug @ Hanoi

Malaysia, 26 August

Thailand, 6 October

Philipines, 13 October

Singapore, 20 October

For more information, log on to www.photomarathonasia.com.

This is when I first met Maqboor four years back, in October 2004, and got talking with him in Kasauli. He had two full LPG cylinders strapped on his back, each weighing 32 kgs. He was on his way to deliver his load to a shop where he would get paid Rs 12.50 (less than 25 cents) for each cylinder.

Maqboor is a Kashmiri but has been staying in Kasauli and working as a porter (coolie) for the last six years now. There is no work back home for Kashmiri men like him. Militancy and the ongoing discord between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has left the economy of this once flourishing tourist destination in tatters.

Life is hard for Maqboor here in Himachal. On a lucky day he is able to make about Rs 200 (about $5) but it's backbreaking work, literally. On other days, he must make do with much less. There are mouths to feed back in Kashmir and he will not give up, whatever the odds.

But none of that shows in Maqboor's disposition. He comes across as a very gentle and warm-hearted person who always has a smile on his face even when doubling under his daily burden. In fact, I took a walk with him in his village and there was not a single villager who didn't acknowledge him with a respectful nod or a cheerful salaam.

Maqboor later invited me to his Masjid for chai, where I got to meet his extended family.

I wasn't quite prepared for what I was about to experience nor did I know what to expect as Maqboor led me into Jamia Masjid in Arad Bazaar. It was as if I had suddenly been transported to a completely different world altogether. As I stood there taking in the soot and grime covered walls of the anteroom to the mosque, half a dozen pair of curious eyes peered at the unexpected visitor. I offered a feeble As-Salaam-Alaikum.

Maqboor introduced me to his people as a dost (friend) he had just made on the Mall road, and almost immediately I could feel the ice breaking. I was most cordially invited to join them on the floor, asked to take off my shoes and feel comfortable and chai was called for.

A cup of sugary tea and a few drags on the hookah later, in walked a handsome young man of about 26. Gulzar as I would later learn, also works as porter in the Kasauli marketplace just like Maqboor. His day's toil had just got over and he had returned in time for namaaz and supper thereafter. He too was most surprised to see a stranger amongst the regulars but again only for a little while till someone explained my presence in their local Kashmiri dialect.

Thereafter, it was effortless. We all got talking and taking pictures. Gulzar showed me his room that he shares with four other people and also led me to the prayer chambers but politely asked not to enter or take pictures there. I complied.

This is Gulzar as he prepared to get his picture taken even as Ahmed laughed his head off behind him. Almost childlike in his enthusiasm to look good in the picture, he was quick to put on his turban and shawl. Maybe it was partly his strong sense of tradition that made him improve his attire a bit for the photo. Kashmiris are a very proud people and their traditions are very important to them.

Some more pictures and conversation and it was already evening. I was getting late and besides, I think it was time for their prayers. So I made an exit with a promise to come back the next day for more pictures and gup-shup.

On my second visit to Jamia Masjid, I met Ghulam Rasoul (in the foreground above), a man whose age I would put at around 60, maybe more. I got chatting with him while Maqboor got busy with his kitchen duties (it was a Saturday and his turn to cook for everyone). Originally from Kashmir, he has been in Kasauli for the last 30 years. He too works as a porter like most other Kashmiri men living and working in this hill station. 
Over decades, Ghulam Rasoul quietly witnessed the degeneration of his people and his homeland as militancy ravaged through the beautiful valleys of Kashmir. And now, he has almost given up any hopes of ever seeing his homeland restored to its former state of peace and beauty.

I conclude this post with a portrait of Maqbbool. Calm and collected, witty and wise, but above all a very warm-hearted man, like all Kashmiris. He agreed for this shot only on the condition that he could quickly change into his traditional Kashmiri gown.

Infrared City

Explore the world of infrared photography with professionals and amateur hobbyists in this not-to-be-missed opportunity as the Infrared Photography Collective brings their specialized craft into the public eye for the first time. And the theme? Our beloved Singapore – in a truly unique way!

Click on picture for details

After countless occasions when I missed wonderful photography opportunities – because I did not have a camera with me – I’ve learnt to lug a camera around whenever I can. It doesn’t always have to be a fully geared dSLR with your entire lens collection. Sometimes, you’ll be glad you have your pocket size compact or even your camera phone with you.

Last Sunday, I was on my way to Suntec City to satisfy my sudden craving for the Donut Factory evils when I bumped into the Singapore IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon competition. I was so glad I had my FujiFilm S5pro and my Nikon 70-200mmF2.8 VR with me as I filled two CF cards with the participants racing down the normally busy roads. The moral of story: Always bring your camera wherever you go

The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers By Scott Kelby

Scott Kelby, the #1 best-selling Photoshop author in the world today, once again takes this book to a whole new level as he uncovers the latest, most important, and most exciting new Adobe Photoshop CS3 techniques for digital photographers. This major update to his award-winning, record-breaking book does something for digital photographers that's never been done; it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly "how to do it." It's not a bunch of theory; it doesn't challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure it out on your own. Instead, Scott shows you the exact, step-by-step techniques used by today's cutting-edge digital photographers, and best of all, he shows you flat-out exactly which settings to use, when to use them, and why.

Price : $72.23

Publisher : New Riders Press

For orders in Singapore, you can contact Riceball Photography Bookstore at +65-63376255.

Sent by Cheng Chih Yuan, graphic designer from Singapore

Posted by Tan Kuo Ping, a Singaporean photography enthusiast and member of Project Shutter Team. Kuo Ping’s portfolio can be found at www.tankuoping.com