Design Notes + Photos

Panel (L to R): Joshua Yospyn (Worn Magazine), Chris Chen (BYT), Josh Sisk (BYT/Spin), Kyle Gustafson (Washington Post/DCist), Dakota Fine (BYT).

I had the pleasure to attend a photography panel organized and moderated by BYT's Shauna Alexander. What a great lineup. The anecdotes were funny and inspiring. Follow this great photo advice:

Dakota: Find a great photographer you can assist. Contribute your passion. Get on Facebook.

Joshua Y: Join ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers). Get on LinkedIn.

Kyle: The best camera is the one you have with you (here's a book).

POLL - 3 out of 5 of the panelists use Nikon.

Chris: What matters is the talent and commitment that you bring to image making.

Worst photo-related injury: Josh

Chris: Get apartment insurance.

Joshua Y: Get damage and liability.

Josh S: Carry fewer lenses. Buy your lenses at Best Buy ;-).

Dakota: Shoot every day. 

Kyle: Find great lenses. Don't give your photos away (print). Pitch stories--don't expect great assignments to come to you.

Josh S: Build relationships. Find something you really like and get involved.

Chris: Access is rewarding. You won't learn everything from schools. Learn by looking at other photographers to set your own vision.

Joshua Y: Learn from history. Study the last 180 years. Read biographers, attend museums, photograph everyone (family and friends).

See the Long View Gallery invite here. Also check out Metroweekly's article on Jeff McElhaney, creator of the exhibited ads. He tells the magazine:

The ads are near and dear to my heart. There are a lot of ghosts standing next to me when I'm holding these ads. I've lost so many friends.

Thanks to his ads, however, it's likely McElhaney saved quite a few, as well.

Jeff is Creative Partner at Brand-Aid Creative in Washington, DC. He just found Posterous—we hope he starts using it!

Madeleine Albright speaks about her new book at the Barnes & Noble in Georgetown. This post dedicated to an old co-worker at Georgetown University, who loves Albright. Link to "Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box" book on Amazon. My initial invite here.

Artists with cats rock! Meet Batsky Batfink Cheesy Poof Puss, the official sponsor of yesterday's photo shoot with Victoria Gaitan.

The Photo Shoot

If you haven't already met Victoria, check out her photography and blog. The work is brilliant.

Other Guests

A cat that resembles my own also present at the studio.

Turn a boring, washed-out camera photo into a stunning work of art. Image editing on the iPhone is effortless and the results are amazing.

The PhotoGene App is the closest thing you can get to a mobile version of Photoshop. You have complete control over your images, with a histogram and color correction tools to boot. Awkward tilt? No problem! Not enough contrast? Done! Please, do not go overboard with the special effects. Drop shadows, speech bubbles, vignettes are all available via the interface.

If you care for image masks, you will love ColorSplash. The app provides an easy interface for selectively desaturating portions of your image. Entice your viewer with color elements that pop. As with PhotoGene, your original image will never be altered and you can easily go back to a previous editing session.

Sent from my iPhone

The Lumix LX3. Sold out at all photo stores in DC and NYC. B&H doesn't have it, and I was too late at Willoughby's. I was lucky to find it at 42nd Street Photo this weekend (my sole reason for traveling to NYC). Last one. I know I'm going to have a blast with this new toy.

The camera is nearly identical to the more expensive Leica D-Lux 4. Both have the same fast, sharp Leica lens. The cameras have a cult following that I'm excited about--you can count me in as disciple. [Update 2/28/10: Don't count me in! The LX3 is stellar].

My LX3 looks retro and beautiful. People who like the current look of point-and-shoots think my new camera looks super ugly, and I actually like that comment! The old school look and amazing photos of this Panasonic-made camera have made me the happiest photo boy in DC.

The LX3 is the smallest black camera. It is shown alongside a Canon Powershot SD800IS, a Nikon D300 and a D70.

Reasons to consider the prosumer LX3 over a regular, consumer point-and-shoot

• The Decisive Moment: You keep missing shots because it takes you took too long to power up your camera phone (I use the iPhone, and 10 seconds for me is 10 seconds too late)
• Breathtaking Photos: If you are interested in photography, this is the camera to carry around. You will be impressed with its photos right out of the box. If you decide to be creative, you have complete manual control.
• Tiny and Mighty: Leave your heavy photo equipment at home! The LX3 is small and light.
• Freedom to Shoot in Low Light: Like you, I hate camera phone noise, camera shake, and ugly direct flash in low light. You will love LX3's sharp, F2 lens.
• The Field of View: I feel limited with a 50mm lens, although it is still my favorite. With the LX3, you will enjoy wide-angle shoots--great for street photography and events.
• Future Value: The LX3 and D-Lux 4 will be around just happily for at least 20 years. They will still be wanted, appreciated, and traded.

Reasons to wait

• The LX3 is being discontinued, and a model is rumored for early 2010.
• The Four Thirds System will make for smaller cameras that achieve the results of conventional SLRs.

Sorry Suze Orman! People first, THEN PASSIONS, then money, then things!

Here you can really see the size difference! Tell me if you want to see nicer pictures of the LX3. I'll do another post about it.