Category Archives: News!

News: Social Media & Talke Photography

Technology is great and the options for Photographers is growing! Above are a few new options to reach Talke Photography.
Google+: Possibly a FB destroyer? From what I have seen in a few weeks…yes!
500px: A new an improved Flickr. Super talented Photogs on here!! Only post your best work!
Instagr.am: If you have this app…look me up! I post my cell phone pics. Something fun a diff for me!
Enjoy social media! Of course I am still on Twitter and Facebook! Whats next for us all? Cant wait!

Talke Photography (Peter Talke) is on Google+

Talke Photography is on 500px

Talke Photography is on Instagr.am (Phone/Tablet App)

Infrared Photography Book – Title Ideas??

My writing is underway for the IR photography book.  Rough shelf date is Jan 2012.  We are thinking of a name for the title…Of course it starts as Infrared Photography then a phrase.  My rough idea was “Infrared Photography, A Creative Edge”.  Not bad, but I am open for any ideas!   Post your title in the comments below or on my Facebook page.  If we pick your choice…I will be glad to get you a free copy of the book!!!  So post your ideas away!!  (Please note: the final decision for the title may come from other sources)

NEWS: onOne Software – Perfect Photo Suite – $150.00 off!!!! (Until May15th)

Super savings from today until May 15th on Perfect Photo Suite!!!!   Save $150.00!!  I use this software with every photo I process!  Photo Tools 2.6 has a sharpen tool that to me…beats my NIK Software Sharpener hands down!  Not only do you get Photo Tools, also included in the the suite is Focal Point, Mask Pro, Perfect Resize, Photo Frame and Photo Tune!!  So many tools for such a low price!   The lowest its been to date!  Download a free trial and check it out first if nec!   Go grab a copy today…you  will be glad you did!

NEWS: Name Change for Places 2 Explore?

I have been thinking the past few days of changing the blog title from “Places 2 Explore” to “Talke Photography”.   If you are anyone you know is a photographer…a brand name is important.  My regular web site is all set.  I just need to think about this blog.  It is just an idea…and I know change is always tough at first.  The future business name will be all about Talke Photography…so it may be best.   I’d love have your feedback.   Please post in the comments below.

Oh yeah…and if you ever took a guess at pro-nouncing my last name…most everyone will say “Talk – e” …the proper way is “Tal-Key” …Tal as in talcum Power.  =)))  Thanks!  Pete

NEWS: WordPress blog version for IPads

I just finished dinner and logged onto my blog via my IPad.  I was amazed at the new look for my blog!   Sweet!   I checked both my phone and Mac..no change.  So I assume WordPress had an update today only for IPads/Tablets. Great job!!!  You can swipe and view the blog just like Flipboard.   Ah technology!  I love it!!!!  Check it out if you can!  Just read this one WordPress:

With the launch of Apple’s iPad we have seen the future of computing and it is touch. Nothing matches the visceral feel of navigating your digital world with your hands. The past four months we’ve been working closely with Onswipe to bring your iPad visitors our vision of what a blog can look like re-imagined for a touch experience.

Our iPad-optimized view is app-like in its functionality, but pure HTML5 goodness on the backend: it supports touch interactions, swiping, rotation, and many other features of the iPad. Like when we launched our smartphone-optimized WP-Touch integration in 2009 (now responsible for over 150 million page views a month) this is immediately available and active on the over 18 million blogs on WordPress.com.

There are some fun options to play with too. If you browse to Appearance -> iPad in your Dashboard you can:

  • Have the theme use an image from your recent posts as a cover.
  • Upload a logo to showcase your brand or personality on the cover.
  • Upload an image to be used as a loading graphic when visitors add your site to their home screen.
  • Switch fonts.
  • Choose from 9 different skin colors, to best match the feel of your site.
  • Enable or disable the whole thing.

 

Actuations (Shutter Count) / Full Frame Thoughts

I am not sure when, but in the next few months Nikon will announce the D700 replacement.  Will it be called the D800 (fake photo to the left)..or D700x…or D900?  Not sure.  But I will def get one later this year.  I may wait a bit after it comes out…just to read reviews.  I have been using my D300 for 3 years…so any body change is a BIG choice.  Not only will this be a body change…it is a move up to full frame FX lenses.

I truly love my D300 and will keep it and all my DX lenses.  I can assume that full frame cameras will be the only available DSLR’s in a few years.  So buying full frame lenses now is the best investment.   But it does come at a steep price tag.  Here is what I would enjoy adding to my collection…

Nikon D800 – estimated $2500 – $3000 – body only

1) Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 – $1800.00

2) Nikon 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 – $1000.00

3) Nikon 85 f/1.4 – $1200.00

4) Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 – $1500.00

5) Nikon 400 f/2.8 – $8900.00  (Hey, I can dream!!!)

So such a jump is tough to swallow!  But must be done.  Probably step by step.  I just cannot wait to have a camera with great ISO capabilities!  Shooting sports in low light will be awesome!!  Hope to hear the Nikon news soon!!

Actuations / Shutter Count

In preparing for a switch…I wanted to find out how many actuations (shutter count) my camera had completed.  I googled and online there are a few methods.  I have a MAC…so I used EXIF Viewer (free)…just open a pic with this app and it gives you the details.  I was at 90,000 pictures!!!    The D300 will last approximately 150,000 actuations.  So it still has life!

Other viewers for PC are… Opanda &  Preview Extractor Now if you use another camera other than a Nikon…google and see if these EXIF viewers work for your camera.   If you have over 100K…wow!  Post what you shoot and let us know!


News: onOne Software SALE!! $100 savings until Feb 16th!!

I just received an email from onOne Software …if you click this link you can save $100 on the Perfect Photo Suite 5.5!   You have until Feb 16th!  I love this software and you can download a trial…and you like it as much as I do…save $100 now!   Have fun!

News: The Good and the Bad

My good friend Dave Wilson recently had a blatant un-approved usage of one of his photos recently.  You can read about it here….Dave Wilson.  As photographers reach more people these days due to social media and word of mouth, viewership of our web sites have grown to great numbers.   We post on blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr (and others).  I am eager to get my work out there and abide by Creative Commons.  Dave does as well.  After reading his post, it gets me going to check up on my pics.

There is software to do this…so just this morning I checked a few pictures that might be popular.  This past summer I posted my HDR of a Castle with an added photoshop effect.  I did my search and I found this….

A website in the UK called Murals Wallpaper (Kids section) clearly has bootlegged my photo and is charging people for its usage!   I have since sent a hefty Invoice to them immediately.   Policing your own work does take time.  I am sure many of my photos are out there without credit.  If they are, I will find them!!  I wish Dave good luck on his invoicing!!  These companies need to pay up when they steal work!  So sad when work is stolen.  It might be time to check up on your pics as well!!

But on the other hand…you can find great companies that handle business properly!  If you travel in Texas, you may find the 2011 Austin Urban Lifestyle Guide at local shops and food stores.   They have used my bat photo inside the issue.  Thanks so much!   It is a great honor!

If you are in downtown Austin just stop by Urbanspace Realtors on 5th Ave (near Congress) and they many copies.  It contains some great info and cool pics!!

So with exposure comes the good and the bad.  Let’s hope the good outweighs the bad!!!  Wish me luck with Murals Wallpaper!!  They better pay up!!  =)