Welcome to ACDSee Pro Digital Imaging News

If a newsletter is going to have value to you, it needs to contain information and content tailored to the professional photographers of the world. In depth articles covering technique and equipment, special offers for professional level products, and featured photographers that will peak your interest - that is what the Pro DIN brings to the table.

Featured Photographer: Greg Downing, Naturescapes.net

My passion for nature photography began with a love for birds; I have been fascinated with them ever since I was a young child.

I can remember watching through the window as they came to family feeders and learning to identify them using an old hardback Peterson field guide. As I grew up, I began spending almost all my spare time birding, learning to identify birds not only by their field marks, but also by song, behavior and flight patterns.

I am a member of the American Birding Association, and the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA). My multiple publishing credits, contest placings and clients include such names as: "Birding Magazine"; "Outdoor Photographer Magazine"; "Birder's World"; and a joint venture between Target Corporation and National Geographic.

I am currently the Publisher for a fast-growing and popular online nature photography magazine; NatureScapes.Net, which was created as an online exchange for nature photographers. Our goal is to serve as a resource for those interested in improving their photography and as a place where they can share their thoughts, their images, and their passion with others. The content is updated monthly with articles on biology, habitat, behavior, locations, art and technology as it pertains to our craft.

My photographic vision is to capture the beauty of wildlife and nature, and to share it with others through still images. Although I enjoy creating images of all things found in nature, being a lover of birds I specialize in avian photography. When someone sees a bird, it is usually a fleeting glimpse. Their beauty is often readily obvious, but it is only through still pictures that we can truly study and appreciate all that they are. I strive to capture birds in action in their environment as well as to create artistic, simple, up close and intimate portraits that show the details of their character

My passion spills over to the desire to teach others. Helping others learn to capture the beauty of birds and other nature subjects through photography is my goal. I own and operate a successful photography workshop and tour business. As I travel the world taking pictures, I enjoy meeting others, teaching, and sharing my passion and expertise with them while making new lifelong friends in the process

My equipment includes professional SLR camera bodies including the EOS 1VHS film body, the EOS 1D digital body, the EOS 10D digital body, and an assortment of Canon lenses. My everyday lens is the Canon 600 F4L IS. I also use the Canon 400 F5.6L for birds in flight as well as the Canon 100-400IS. I use the Canon 28-135 IS for general photography and close-ups as well as the Canon 17-35 for wide angle work. For use with larger lenses, my favorite tripod is the Gitzo 1548 with a Wimberley head. For use with smaller lenses, I rely on the Bogen 2110 with an Arca-Swiss B1 ballhead, which goes back and forth between the tripod and my Kirk window mount when shooting from the car. I also use a ground pod for ground level work. For flash I use the Canon 550EX with a Better Beamer mounted on a Wimberley flash bracket. My favorite films are Fuji Velvia and Provia 100F, both for their rich color palette and fine grain, though the majority of my shooting today is digital capture.

Interpreting Your Histogram

A brilliant professional article by Greg Downing on how learning to interpret your histogram gives you control over exposure, and helps you achieve the top photographic results you want.
http://www.naturescapes.net/092004/gd0904.htm

Tagging Photos in ACDSee Pro

After a big photography shoot like a wedding or sporting event, you can quickly amass thousands of photos.

Now you need to quickly select the best ones so you can put together a collection of great shots for your clients to browse through and select. Fortunately, you can use ACDSee Pro's fast tagging feature to select the best photos with one click, or a single keystroke.

The tagging checkbox is at the bottom right corner of the thumbnails. Click the checkbox to tag or un-tag photos. The tagging checkbox is also at the bottom right corner of the status bar in the viewer. Photos remain tagged until you clear the checkmark from the checkbox.

To tag a photo in the Browser or Viewer:

• In the Browser, click the checkbox in the bottom right corner of the thumbnail.
• In the Viewer, click the Tagging icon in the bottom right corner of the status bar.

For an even faster workflow, you can use the backslash '\' shortcut key to tag and un-tag photos.

To select tagged photos in the Browser:

• In the Browser, select Ctrl and '\' and then move the selection to a category, rating or another folder

It's good practice to apply categories and ratings to tagged photos, then clear the tags from the photos. Categories and ratings are more effective for organizing and grouping your photos over a long period of time.

Read more about the Tagging feature in ACDSee Pro Photo Manager in this tutorial in our new Support Center.

Upcoming Events

Outdoor & Digital Photo Seminars

August 12 - 13, 2006 - Tampa, Florida. Quorum Hotel Tampa.
August 26 - 27, 2006 - Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix Mesa Marriott
http://www.opseminar.com/

ACD Systems will be sponsoring and attending the Tampa, FL seminar hosted by Werner Publishing. The series of North American seminars feature internationally recognized photographers Bill Hatcher, Bruce Dale, Bob Krist, George Lepp, Rick Sammon, Darrell Gulin, Frans Lanting and Vincent Laforet.