Software & Books etc:
Plug-In Suite 4-1:
During mid June 2008 "onOne Software" released a new 6 piece package full of very useful "plug-ins", fully compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS2 & CS3. The plug-in packages consist of the industry standard Genuine Fractals V5, Focal Points, Photo Tune, Mask Pro V4.1, Photo Frame, and finally Photo Tools. The licence issued with this software is two machine license as is that of Adobe Photoshop, therefore allowing you to run one set licence on your main imaging machine whilst the second is perhaps on your laptop to assist you whilst you are on your travels. The technical support provided by the many offices around the world belonging to "onOne" is inmy opinion second to none, if fact absolutely brilliant and I will be telling you all why in the main article.
Data Backup:
You will very often find that some photographers never bother to backup their images and some of us backup on a very regular opportunity, daily, weekly etc and in some cases some people get totally paranoid about this problem and backup after every process has been completed. I think that before we start and discuss what can we, or should we backup, and what is available and recommended to us, we should first of all remember that todate there is no system available, irrespective of the cost, any backup method which is guaranteed 100%. For the purpose of this article I have split the "Backup" procedure two halves, one being the camera and secondly being the computer.
At the camera
1) Do we backup in camera?
2) Do we backup our memory cards instantly?
3) Do we backup our memory cards as and when the card comes full?
4) Do we backup a backup?
At the computer
1) Do we backup our hard drive?
2) Do we backup to CDR's/DVD-R's
3) Do we backup to an external hard drive?
4) Do we back up to an internet storage company?
Scott Kelby Books:
The author Scott Kelby is an extremely well recognised photographer and author of digital photographic books, in fact Scott has currently got in excess of 50 publications along with videos and tutorals. Some of which include such subject as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Channels, digital photography and many more. Scotts books are published in countries all around the world and are of a very handy size of around 7.5" x 9" and are usually softback. The style in which Scott writes his books are of a very easy to follow, step by step method and if your really unlucky the book(s) you purchase may also be subjected to some of Scotts wit!!!
Copyright & the Photographer:
The phrase "copyright" and the photographer is very often looked at with the attitude of "that doesn't effect me", WRONG. If you are creative in any sense of the word, then the copyright laws can quite seriously effect you, your work, and if you are operating on a commercial basis, your income. Prior to the "Copyright, Design, & Patent Act 1988" being introduced, the UK law excluded photographers from ever claiming first ownership of any copyright when photographic work was commissioned, and therefore denied photographers of any protection or benefits. It is also noted and very, very important to note that the 1988 act does not actually cover the "World Wide Web" , the internet. It is my suggestion to publicise the fact of who owns the copyright of your work by marking your image, in the metadata, and in your terms of trade.