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Click on image to view multi-media presentationThe World Famous Naples Swamp Buggies wrapped up their 2009/2010 season March 5~6 crowning Eddie Chesser as the Budweiser Shootout Champion. Running in front of yet another packed house at the Florida Sports Park, the buggies put on a fantastic display of wheel-to-wheel racing. No one in the stands went home disappointed.
Tuesday (February 9, 2010), Apple® introduced Aperture™ 3, a major release of its powerful photo editing and management software. Aperture 3 contains over 200 new features including Faces, Places and Brushes. Building on the innovative Faces and Places features introduced in iPhoto® ‘09, Aperture 3 makes it even easier and faster to organize large photo libraries. In addition, there are new tools for refining your photos including Brushes for painting image adjustments onto parts of your photo, and Adjustment Presets for applying professional photo effects with just one click. Also stunning new slideshows tools allow you to share your work by weaving together photos, audio, text and HD video.
I'm often guilty of dismissing a lot of features because they don't suit my day-to-day working needs. But I have to say, Apple does such a compelling job of integrating some of the features that I call "fluff," it's hard not to see where others will have a need for those applications. After all, the needs of a sports photographer aren't always the same as a portrait, wedding, landscape or glamour shooter.
At first glance, Aperture 3 delivers. But what I'd like to do over the next few weeks is blog about my personal experience as I work with the new version. Rather than crash in and give everything a cursory glance, I'd rather see how things unfold and give you feedback about what I like, what seems like overkill or how things perform in real-world use. Let's face it, many of us have a lot committed to our workflow. Programs like Aperture and Lightroom are so all-encompassing of our image management needs, they're like an independent operating system just for photos.
Just to end this entry with three "first looks," I have two likes and one "I don't get that."
Great show and a great venue. Cars On Fifth is an annual event that takes place on 5th Avenue in downtown Naples. The show is a great ecletic mix of Ferraris, exotics, muscle cars and cruisers. It just keeps getting better. Nearly 400 cars line 5th avenue just blocks from the beach and Gulf of Mexico. And the crowd is electric.
Photography, like any show is a challenge. Even showing up early isn't going to help you capture real "art." Being on the street just makes for tight conditions and busy backgrounds. But, there's still a lot of good shooting and it's a great time.
Here's a sample of what I came away with. Great fun!
2010 Cars On Fifth - Naples, Florida - Images by John Thawley
Tuesday, March 9, 2010