I’m planning on adding ocassional posts this next year of books, audio and video which I feel my fellow figital photographers might find useful. Here are my first two suggestions:

Till The Cows Come Home by Dan Nelken

I’ve known Dan Nelken for several years both as a photographer and as an artist we represented at Indian Hill Gallery. His new book, Till The Cows Come Home features images from his long-running documentation of the rural American county fair, and is a fantastic and beautiful find in the often uninspiring world of photographic book publishing. One version of this body of work constituted a very popular show held here at Indian Hill Gallery back in 2003-you know, waaaay back when! Eve and I are delighted to see this deserving body of work in print. Congratulations Dan!!

Click to buy on Amazon.

My second selection is (drum roll please): 

How Art Made the World: The Epic Story of How Humans Made Art and Art Made Us Human - NIGEL SPIVEY

An amazing TV series currently running on PBS…a must watch. Each episode is a fascinating look at Art throughout history and its importance to the development of the human being. LIFE=ART, ART=LIFE!

Click here to visit the web site on PBS.

I’m back from a bit of a holiday break and ready for 2009 or to quote the President-elect: Rested and Ready! I am currently working on several articles to be posted in the coming weeks on the following topics:

• Alternative methods for finishing/ displaying artwork
• Online artworks sales, what works and what does not!
• Kodak Ektar Film Test, Part 2.
• High Resolution Films in Diafine, Part 2.
• Lomo LCA Part 2
• Lomo LCA and Olympus XA, which one and why?!
• Art Museums and the Photographic Filler Show

I’d like to also announce that I will be in Italy (which doesn’t suck) in Feb 09 for 2 weeks for a bit of photography and to finalize a workshop I will teach next fall on Alternative Photographic Techniques. If you live in Rome or near Manciano, which is in Tuscany, send me an email and maybe we could meet for  a cup of espresso and photographic conversation (after all- you can never have too much of either.)

I’d also like to announce that in 2008 the Figital Revolution received over (drumroll please…) 120,000 hits! That is amazing! AND something I hope we can equal or beat in 2009… conversation is very important in these difficult transitional times within our medium.

Cheers and lets hope 2009 is waaaay better than 2008! - Stephen

Just a quick note to wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday season filled with lots and lots of great photography or at least the best you can do with Aunt Betsy and Uncle Fred! 

My very best and of course, Viva la Revolution!
Stephen

Thoughts on internet forums and discussions…give a listen!

This audiobog features my thoughts on the best digital printing papers for 2008. Some of these papers have been around for a while but this list gives reasons for why I selected them, thoughts on paper technologies and where should the paper industry go from here. Give a listen!

Have you ever finished shooting a roll of 120mm  film in a Diana F+ Camera only to find the roll very loose (light leaks, anyone?) …I’m all for some light leaks now and then- part of the fun with the Diana- but a loose roll that was NOT intentional can be a real problem! Here is a super quick video blog on how to load 120mm film in a Diana F+ camera and KEEP the film spool tight! This video demonstrates a modification to the film tabs that has proven very successful in over 100+ rolls of 120mm  film pushed through my own Dianas!

Please note the video is high quality so it may take a few seconds to load.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Get ready for a huge paper testing post and more!

Viva la Revolution

That’s right! From now until January 2, 2009 if you buy a Bare Bones Bag you will receive a FREE Y Strap!… it’s the perfect holiday gift for any photographer on your list! 

As many of you know I have been working with the Diana F+ camera for some time now for my new series of artworks, A New Eden. In the course of making these works I have spent considerable time working out what I feel is a fast reliable exposure system for the Diana Camera and I have now decided to share the results…(drumroll please)… may I present the Shoot Diana Exposure Calculator. Each chart is a premium vinyl adhesive sticker that can be attached to your camera back or the top of the Diana flash and provides easy to read information for a vast variety of shooting situations for both ISO 100 and 400 speed films.

The Shoot Diana Exposure Calculator differs from the FREE exposure calculator I posted a few days ago, in that it gives the required number of shutter clicks at “N” (1/60th) on the Diana to make the correct exposure for each situation AND it becomes part of your camera (see photo) so there is no way to lose it or forget to put it in your bag… Oh, and did I forget to mention that it is really cheap? Christmas is coming, people!

For more information please visit www.shootdiana.com

or just click here.

First I’d like to announce that as of today- November 19, 2008- the Figital Revolution has had over 100,000 hits… Hot damn! Viva la revolution!!!!

Of course, while we are up- the DOW was down, waaay down. This might put a damper on anyone’s good cheer, particularly anyone considering retiring in the next decade, SO- I decided to brighten things up a bit and release a FREE Exposure Guide for the Diana+ and F+ cameras. Hey- these days something’s got to be free, right? The direct link is here:

FREE Diana+ and F+ Exposure Chart

Just add it to your cart (it really is free don’t worry) and checkout and you will receive an email with download instructions within a few minutes.

Viva la Revolution-
Stephen