Build Your Own Macro Light Studio
Posted Thursday, February 08, 2007
I love to take ultra-close macro photos (view my Flickr macros). If you do, too, you can greatly improve your lighting by building a light box like the one shown here on Flickr (for more details, click the photo).
And if you prefer to buy rather than build, check out the EZcube. I've been using EZcubes of various sizes for years, and they're great.
Labels: ezcube, flickr, lighting, macro, photography
Popular Photography Test: Nikon D-40 Digital SLR
Posted Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Popular Photography has published its complete test of Nikon's entry-level D40 digital SLR.
The Nikon D40 isn't for everyone, but it will certainly appeal to first-time DSLR buyers who want an excellent camera with controls and features that they can grow into and eventually master. It outperforms any compact camera in its price range, and while it has competition from other entry-level DSLRs (especially the Pentax K100D with Shake Reduction) it's a proud member of the Nikon family.
Labels: d40, nikon, photography
Steve Jobs on Music Piracy and Protection
Macintouch links to a fascinating essay by Steve Jobs that was quietly published on Apple's Web site yesterday.
Background: Regulators in several European countries have been making noises about requiring Apple to open up the iTunes Store in ways that would enable songs to play on devices other than iPods.
Jobs outlines the reasons why the iTunes Store must sell content in a way that makes it difficult to pirate. In a nutshell, he says, "the record companies made me do it." That is, Apple's agreements with the recording industry require Apple to wrap each song in a "digital rights management" surveillance bracelet.
The answer? Make the record companies stop requiring the surveillance bracelet. After all, they sell many, many more unprotected songs -- in the form of audio CDs -- than they do protected ones.
It's a sound argument, if you'll pardon the pun. And it's fascinating reading.
Memo to Steve Jobs: more essays like this, please!
Labels: apple, drm, fairplay, itunes, jobs, music
