Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) – Sunset Magazine has recognized a Los Angeles photographer as the “West At Its Best” for his highly detailed photographs of flowers.

The magazine, which reaches nearly 5 million readers, featured the work of David Leaser, a fine art photographer who is using innovative technology, including equipment used by NASA on Mars, to create large scale botanical images with such detail you can literally see the pollen glistening on the stamens. Sunset designated a full page in their October issue to represent Leaser’s work, which he is calling Nightflowers. The work can be viewed at: http://davidleaser.com

To capture the intense detail of these flowers, Leaser literally had to create a new process. “Traditional camera equipment just didn’t work,” Leaser said. “The images just weren’t sharp enough to enlarge to these sizes, which measure about four feet across.” So, after months of trial and error, he developed a process using sophisticated imaging techniques, including panorama technology developed for NASA’s missions to Mars. Some are calling it the dettagli process because of the incredible detail in the images. “When you see these large canvases, you literally get a bees-eye view into the flower. You will see things you normally wouldn’t even notice, like the tiny hairs on an orchid,” Leaser said.

Ann Landi, contributing editor for ARTnews, said, “[David Leaser’s images] seduce us as only an unforgettable work of art can: with an invitation to look, and look again.” And John Mendelsohn, reviewer of contemporary art for ArtNet, writes, “David Leaser’s Nightflowers, a series of striking photographs, confronts us with nature at its most flamboyant. In his images, this photographer creates fantastic, contemporary signs from nature’s own high style. They are highly detailed visual records and an artist’s vision of how he apprehends reality.”

The inspiration for this innovation began in the depths of the Amazon. “I was in the Ecuadorean Amazon shooting landscapes but found myself drawn to the small flowers on the floor of the rainforest. You can see complete ecosystems in these flowers if you look closely enough. When I came back to Los Angeles, I spent months experimenting with technology until I was able to recreate these highly detailed views.

“I have always loved Sunset magazine, and I am really honored they selected my work for this recognition,” Leaser said. “I’ve been working on Nightflowers for more than three years, and I believe they do represent the entrepreneurial spirit of the West, where we are always looking for ways to make things better.”

David Leaser has authored four books, including two photographic monographs. Leaser’s Tropical Gardens of Hawaii and Palm Trees: A Story in Photographs have received critical acclaim; the latter was also featured at the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego. For more information on David Leaser, visit http://davidleaser.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/DavidLeaserFineArt

Windsor & Eton, UK (PRWEB UK) – Rhubarb & Custard Photography, Eton today launches a brand new range of photography workshops, courses and masterclasses for all levels of photographer.

Christmas has come early this year for anyone who likes photography! Rhubarb & Custard, an Eton based boutique photo gallery and photography business has completely re-launched its already successful Photography courses, with an amazing array of 1 to 1 lessons and coaching, a 10 Week Beginners Course, Evening Workshops, and Pro-Level Masterclasses.

Offering something to everyone the new roundup of classes are carefully tailored for the total beginner, the keen amateur, right through to the experienced pro.

“The brave new world of digital has launched photography into everyone’s hands, and yet never have people been so confused as to how to make the most out of their cameras.” Says Rhubarb & Custard’s founder and owner, Halid Izzet. “We hope that our expanding range of photography tuition offers the much needed help in telling your pixels from portraits and your SLRs from your HDRs. Our aim is to inspire people to get out and take control of the digital revolution”

Gift Vouchers are sold for all the lessons and courses on offer.

Free Lessons every Saturday – a chance to visit the Gallery, meet some of the team, and find out about the various services on offer while learning a trick or two over a relaxed cup of coffee.

Beginners Sunday Workshops – Levels 1 and 2; Perfect for a concentrated couple of doses of tuition in 1 day each. These single day workshops are great to get familiar with the fundamentals of photography and the workings of their cameras, get students away from using ‘automatic mode’ and gain in confidence in many different areas.

10 Lesson Beginners Course starts at the very beginning and is designed to take students from Fully Automatic to a high level of proficiency in just 10 weeks! With the next course starting on November 1st, students should be well versed in many aspects of photography by Christmas !!

Evening workshops are on a set theme or subject and allow the attendees to get to grips with the details of a particular part of photography, from Portraiture to Landscapes, from software to hardware, the classes allow students to concentrate on one development area at a time. Prices start from just £35 per person for a 2 hour workshop.

1-on-1 Lessons and Coaching start from just £17 per person per hour (based on their 20 x 2 hour lessons package) and are tailored to the students exact requirements and objectives. Depending on the subject classes could be in the Gallery , in the studio, or ‘on location’

Lastly, the [Pro-Level Masterclasses are designed for those who already have a good grasp of photography but wish to take their skills up to a professional level. The devil is in the detail, and these masterclasses really get into the finer points of each of the many subjects covered.

Not only have the workshops and lessons been added to, but the team of tutors has also been expanded to include a number of seasoned professionals. Halid Izzet, founder and owner of Rhubarb & Custard Photo Gallery, heads the team up and runs all the 1 to 1 lessons, as well as several of the group courses. Steve Bishop, chairman of the Windsor Photographic Society heads up the Beginners Workshops and David Newton, seasoned, well respected and well published, runs the majority of the Pro Level Masterclasses. A local team providing a high level of local service.

A few up coming classes are as follows…

Sat 15th Oct free Taster Lesson 10:30am – 1 hour
Sun 16th Oct Level 2 – Intermediate Photography Workshop 10:00am – 6 hours
Wed 19th Oct Creating Movies with your Digital SLR 7:00pm – 2 hours
Thu 20th Oct Adobe Lightroom 3 – Slideshow, Web and Print Module 5:30pm – 2 hours
Sat 22nd Oct free Taster Lesson 10:30am – 1 hour
Sun 23rd Oct Creating Movies with a Digital SLR Pro Masterclass 10:00am – 5 hours
Wed 26th Oct Photography with your iPad / iPhone 7:00pm – 2 hours
Thu 27th Oct Adobe Lightroom 3 – Presets, Plugins and Add-ons 5:30pm – 2 hours
Sat 29th Oct free Taster Lesson 10:30am – 1 hour
Tue 1st Nov Beginners’ 10 Week Photo Course 5:30pm – 1 1/2 hours
Wed 2nd Nov Black & White Photography with Digital 7:00pm – 2 hours
Sat 5th Nov free Taster Lesson

In addition to Photo Lessons and workshops, Rhubarb & Custard also offer

Fine Art Photography Exhibitions and Sales – a constant source of new and exciting work with different photographers exhibited every month,
Portfolio Reviews for up and coming photographers
Photography lessons, workshops and coaching
Family, Wedding, Special Event and even pet photography
Printing and developing of your own photos
Framing & Mounting
Photoshop and Photo re-touching
Photo Restoration of Damaged and Antique Photos
Scanning & Burn to DVD
Commercial and Business photography
Passport Photos

Halid Izzet
Rhubarb & Custard Photo Gallery
4 Eton High Street
Eton
Berks
SL4 6AS
01753 676 404

info(at)rhubarbandcustard(dot)biz

(Photoshop World) Nik Software (http://www.niksoftware.com) announces today its much-anticipated Color Efex Pro 4, the company’s latest version of its popular digital photographic filters for retouching and creative enhancements. Recognized for over a decade as the professional’s choice in photographic filters, the 55 total filters of Color Efex Pro 4 offers a new generation of technologies and features for creating stunning effects.

Color Efex Pro 4 introduces stackable filter combinations, visual presets, filter recipes, and new filters such as Detail Extractor, Vintage Film Efex, and Image Borders. The release also includes a new History Browser, improvements to imaging algorithms, greater performance, and enhanced usability. To watch videos and join special live online preview sessions, visit http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro.

“Creating a new generation of features and technologies for Color Efex Pro 4 was inspired by the professionals who use it,” said Michael J. Slater, President and CEO of Nik Software. “Over 400 professional photographers test and inspire our team through a lively beta group process that ultimately helps us deliver extraordinary products like Color Efex Pro 4.”

“The freedom and power to take control of my images is part of the passion I have for photography,” said Frank Salas, Master Wedding Photographer and Instructor. “Color Efex Pro 4 fuels that passion with a stunning variety of photographic enhancements and incredible new filters that are perfect for my style of photography—it has really taken my images to new heights!”

The latest evolution of Nik Software’s U Point technology in Color Efex Pro 4 provides easy-to-use tools for photographers to fine-tune and stylize their images with precise selective adjustments without complicated selections and layer masks. Filter effects can be added or subtracted from images with incredible precision, using a few clicks of the mouse. Enhancements are automatically blended throughout an image for natural results. Color Efex Pro 4 also takes full advantage of the latest graphics processing units (GPUs) and multi-core processors for responsiveness and fast processing.

KEY NEW FEATURES:

NEW: Filter Combinations—Add multiple filters at once, adjust opacity, and make selective adjustments to get the desired look
NEW: Brand New Filters—Detail Extractor, Dark Contrast, Vintage Film Efex, Natural Image Borders, and much more
NEW: Visual Presets—Each filter contains single-click starting points making it possible to explore creative options quickly
NEW: Style Recipes—Customize and share filter combinations with others, using recipes
NEW: History Browser— Facilitates intuitive comparison of previous edits and different looks
NEW: GPU Processing and Multi-Core Optimization—GPU Processing takes full advantage of the processors found on advanced display adapters providing even faster performance
NEW: Interface, Interaction, and Workflow—Benefit from interface and interaction improvements to filters, zoom controls, shortcut keys, and much more

Pricing and Availability
Color Efex Pro 4 will be available directly from Nik Software (http://www.niksoftware.com), through specialty camera retailers, and through online and national resellers in October 2011. A list of Nik Software resellers may be found at http://www.niksoftware.com/resellers.

Two versions of the software will be available: The Color Efex Pro 4 Complete Edition contains 55 filters with a suggested retail price of $199.95. The Color Efex Pro 4 Select Edition contains 26 filters with a suggested retail price of $99.95. Upgrades to the Complete Edition from any edition of versions 2.0 or 3.0 are $99.95. Customers who purchased Color Efex Pro or a Complete Collection bundle on or after August 7, 2011 are eligible for a free upgrade. Registered customers will be emailed instructions for accessing their free software. To pre-order Color Efex Pro 4, visit http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro.

Color Efex Pro 4 is Windows and Mac compatible and installs as a 32-bit and 64-bit plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 or later, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.6 or later, Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 or later, Apple® Aperture® 2.1.4 or later. For more information about Color Efex Pro 4, including video tutorials, feature lists, and special live online preview sessions, please visit: http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro.

About Nik Software
Nik Software, Inc. develops award-winning desktop and mobile software solutions and technologies for the professional digital imaging and consumer photography markets. Established in 1995, Nik Software has become the recognized leader in digital photographic products and technologies, including its patented U Point® technology and its Snapseed™ mobile product line. In 2011, the company earned the prestigious International TIPA Award for Best Photo Software for its Complete Collection of professional photography products, which includes Color Efex Pro™, HDR Efex Pro™, Sharpener Pro™, Silver Efex Pro™, Viveza®, and Dfine®. In 2011, the company also earned the EISA Award for European Photo Software of the Year 2011-2012 for Silver Efex Pro 2. For more information, visit http://www.niksoftware.com. For videos, screenshots, and other detailed information, download the Color Efex Pro 4 press kit at http://www.niksoftware.com/cep4presskit. (PRWeb)

Not all people are creative enough to maximize to produce catchy graphics and designs using software like Adobe Photoshop. Some can open an image, toy around with it, apply some filters and enhancers but that would just be about it. Adobe Photoshop has a lot more to offer and regardless if you download the extended plug-ins or not, unless you know what do once you reach your main work desk, chances are they are just going to stay their idle.

Some people would turn to graphic design courses to help guide them. This is a great alternative for people who are too lazy to pick up tips from tutorial sites that provide assistance in different areas of enhancing images and becoming productive with Adobe Photoshop. For a fee, they provide you scheduled lessons on how to enhance images and how they can be placed modestly on websites for people who maintain them.

In short, it is going back to school in a way. You just have to get the push and drive to take up the slack and become creative in graphics designing. Such a talent is keenly searched for by people and companies these days. So aside from enriching your knowledge, investing in lessons to hone up your imagination and digital imaging skills can prove to be profitable in the end if you want to take it up as a profession.

[tags]graphic_design_courses, catchy_graphics, work_desk, plug_ins, going_back_to_school, using_software, adobe_photoshop, digital_imaging, imagination, profession, images[/tags]

“Project Imagin8ion,” the First Hollywood Film in History Inspired by
a User-Generated Photo Contest, Will Begin Production in September

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, has collaborated with
one of Hollywood’s most influential directors, Ron Howard, to select the
eight winners of the “Project Imagin8ion” contest from 96,362
submissions. Launched on May 22, photographers of all levels were
invited to submit their most imaginative photographs based on a series
of eight separate movie themes, each one a core tenet of storytelling,
to ultimately inspire Ron Howard’s short film. The “Project Imagin8ion”
film will be directed by one of today’s most versatile and dynamic young
talents, Bryce Dallas Howard. The eight winning photographs can now be
seen at www.youtube.com/imagination.

“The number of entries has by far
surpassed our expectations and we know the finished product, ‘A Ron
Howard Production,’ will be a truly beautiful film, one that would never
have been made without the enthusiastic online community.”

The winners chosen span in age from 20 to 44 years old and are from
across the country. They include:

• Walter Arnold of Hendersonville, N.C., winner in the SETTING
  category for the photo, “The Final View”
• Jen Berry of Los Angeles, winner in the CHARACTER category for
  the photo, “Dreams”
• Mikey L’Heureux of Tarzana, Calif., winner in the MOOD category
  for the photo, “City Lights”
• Brooke Shaden of Canoga Park, Calif., winner in the TIME
  category for the photo, “Running From Wind”
• Alan Michael Martelly of Peachtree City, Ga., winner in the
  GOAL category for the photo, “My Word”
• Lexia Frank of Wesley Chapel, Fla., winner in the RELATIONSHIP
  category for the photo, “Too Much”
• Chris Wehner of Broken Arrow, Okla., winner in the OBSTACLE
  category for the photo, “Yea, Though I Walk”
• Kelly Shipp of Conway, Ark., winner in the category of THE
  UNKNOWN for the photo, “Where One Day Ends, One Day Begins”

“This project has opened my eyes to the infinite possibilities of
tapping into a larger community for creative inspiration,” said Ron
Howard. “As I selected the photographs, the story started to take shape
using these building blocks to drive the tone and narrative
possibilities. I was handed this challenge by Canon and I’m very
interested to see how this exercise plays out with Bryce now taking
charge to direct a film that is very much influenced by these eight
photos.”

Ron Howard, Bryce Dallas Howard and Freestyle Productions are currently
working with the eight winning photos to craft the story, develop the
script and produce a short film using Canon DSLR products. The film goes
into production in September and will premiere later this year in New
York City, where the winners will be invited to a red carpet event and
have the opportunity to meet Ron Howard.

“Our goal was to launch a long-term campaign that demonstrates how
Canon’s technology enables artistry among photographers of all levels,
championing the imagination of the masses,” said Yuichi Ishizuka,
executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies
Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “The number of entries has by far
surpassed our expectations and we know the finished product, ‘A Ron
Howard Production,’ will be a truly beautiful film, one that would never
have been made without the enthusiastic online community.”

Grey New York, Canon’s agency partner for over thirty years, continues
to develop the creative and digital elements of the multiphase campaign
that will go beyond the short film. Alliance, the entertainment and
lifestyle marketing division of Grey, is managing the partnership with
Ron Howard and Bryce Dallas Howard.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer,
business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its
parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of
technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2010†, with global
revenues of more than US $45 billion and is listed as number five in the
computer industry on Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies
2011 list. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer
satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer
service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we
care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded
upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – “all people, regardless
of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together
into the future” – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth,
educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling
initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei.
To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the
Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.

† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and
Trademark Office.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their
respective owners.

Article source: http://feeds.businesswire.com/click.phdo?i=8ca33f53371eff5ee1aaf69fe38d4051