Canon has kicked off its “Why Do You Love Football?” amateur photo contest, which invites photographers to show Canon and the NFL why you love football. According to Canon, all you have to do to enter is “grab your camera and show us why YOU love youth football. Enter up to ten photos and your best shot could win you a trip to Super Bowl XLV and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony!” For more information, and to enter, visit usa.canon.com/nfl. Good luck!

Lynne Eodice, editor of Digital Photographer and author of Photos That Inspire Photo Workshop, will be teaching another edition of her online course on photography basics entitled “How to Shoot Inspiring Images.” This four-week course will be available through BetterPhoto.com on September 8, 2010, so reserve your spot now!

Course Description:

This course is designed to teach the beginning photographer about the D-SLR and have fun doing it. We’ll begin by examining lens choices, ISO settings, and what the various camera buttons and dials mean. From there, we’ll move on to f-stops and shutter speeds, and how to utilize them for creative control. You’ll learn how to see the way the camera does, and utilize various rules of composition for best results. Then put it all together by shooting your favorite subjects. There will be tips and techniques throughout this course that will assist those new to D-SLR photography, and will help you create striking images. Click here for more information and to sign up.

Images © Lynne Eodice

Lazy Sunday
© FreePhotoResources

Sony has announced two new additions to their pocket camcorder lineup—the sleek-looking MHS-TS20 and MHS-TS10 Bloggie Touch cameras. The Bloggie Touch camcorders offer full 1920×1080 high definition MP4 video recording, 12.8MP photos and a 3-inch capacitive touch screen. The Bloggie Touch cameras also come with an Exmor CMOS sensor and an F2.8 wide angle lens. The MHS-TS20 and MHS-TS10 offer 8GB and 4GB of embedded memory, which amounts to about four hours of high definition movie recording. They will be available for $200 (8GB) and $180 (4GB) in October. More images and info from Sony below.

From Sony:

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 1, 2010 – Making its worldwide debut today, Sony’s new Bloggie™

Touch enhances the pocket video camera category by making it even easier to preserve and

upload life’s spontaneous moments.

The Bloggie Touch (MHS-TS20 and MHS-TS10) captures full 1920×1080p high

definition MP4 video and 12.8-megapixel photos on 8GB or 4GB of embedded memory,

respectively, offering approximately four hours of HD movie recording. Its sleek, stylish body

sports a three-inch diagonal capacitive touch screen enabling intuitive operation as well as

attractive shooting and playback options.

“The new Bloggie Touch addresses the growing need for premium video products with

advanced technology in a desirable package at a competitive price point,” said Andy Bubala,

director of Sony’s camcorder business. “We started from the ground up to develop a new

system of hardware, software and seamless integration with social network services for an

easy, intuitive shooting and sharing experience that anyone can enjoy.”

Boasting a clean, innovative design, new Bloggie Touch cameras feature minimal

hard keys and a large, vibrant touch screen that automatically adjusts for vertical or horizontal

shooting and viewing, enabling customers to shoot video right-handed, left-handed, right-

side-up or even upside-down. You can record video, snap photos, or both at the same time,

just by pressing two of three simplified buttons on the device. An advanced user interface

features intuitive “touch and flick” recording control, search and playback operation, as well as

a simple Share-it-Later function to tag the clips and pictures you want to post for easy upload

when you are online.

Sony’s Bloggie Touch cameras now deliver amazingly high quality video and photos.

Equipped with a F2.8 wide angle lens and a sensitive Exmor™ CMOS sensor, the new

cameras achieve high resolution video and crisply-detailed still photos with less noise, even in

challenging lighting conditions. Additionally, its processor allows videographers to attain 4x

digital zoom and auto focus capabilities, including Auto Macro to focus sharply on objects as

close as four inches away.

The ultra-compact, lightweight cameras slip easily into a pocket or purse so they can

record your favorite moments anytime, anywhere. The Bloggie Touch has SteadyShot®

image stabilization for smoother footage, Face Detection technology to enhance faces by

automatically correcting exposure and a built-in USB arm for easy charging and uploading

to a computer. It even features an HDMI™ output to enjoy content on your HDTV.

Simple, Secure Way to Share Photos and Videos

After shooting, it’s never been easier to share your favorite videos and photos on the

web. By connecting the camera to an internet-connected compatible computer via the built-

in USB, pre-installed Bloggie software quickly imports your content and makes it a breeze

to edit, organize, and even transfer your videos and photos to popular sharing websites with

simple drag and drop motions. It includes direct upload to Facebook®, Flickr®, Picasa Web

Albums™ and YouTube™ photo and video sharing sites.

The built-in Bloggie software also connects to Sony’s Personal Space™ online service

that effortlessly shares your photos and videos privately with individuals you select. Personal

Space service offers registered users the ability to create Sharing Groups by entering email

addresses of friends and family. Once footage and images have been uploaded, the service

sends an email invitation to those groups with a link to view content on your Personal Space

service. It’s easier, quicker and safer than sending big file attachments via email, and no

registration is required by email recipients.

Available in silver or black, the MHS-TS20 and MHS-TS10 will be available in

October for about $200 and $180 respectively. The Bloggie Touch cameras, and a specially

designed protective skin jacket, will be sold at Sony Style® retail stores, www.sonystyle.com/

bloggie and through the Sony Retailer Network nationwide.

Digital Photographer is giving away a DOMKE ProPack 414 camera bag to one lucky photographer (a $249.99 value). Enter now for your chance to win!

About the DOMKE ProPack 414:

When you’re traveling or carrying a large assortment of gear, these  traditional DOMKE photo backpacks are just what’s needed. The DOMKE ProPack 414 is large enough to carry a pro DSLR and a long lens, plus plenty of room for all your other accessories.

Keeping with Domke tradition, these new backpacks are canvas, have plenty of pocket room, and a removable insert. Movable and removable dividers allow you to configure the bag any way you like. Both bags are large enough to take a Pro DSLR camera with long lenses with plenty of space for addition lenses, flashed, cords, chargers and any other accessories you might need.
Facts and Figures:
•         Tripod holder
•         3 Large front pockets and interior pockets
•         Padded straps and sternum and waist straps for easy carrying
•         YKK zippers
•         Comfortable top handle to grab and go
•         Laptop sections
•         D-rings and webbing straps to add additional pouches.

Dimensions:
External 14.5” W x 9.5” D x 14” H
Interior 11”W x 6”D x 12”H
Plus Laptop Area

How to Enter:

Beginning at 12:00 pm (noon) Pacific Time on Wednesday, September 1, 2010, there are two ways to enter the giveaway. You may do either or both (one time each).
1. Leave a comment on this post telling us what you like about the DOMKE ProPack 414.
2. Spread the word about our giveaway on Twitter. Here’s a suggested tweet, but you can be creative: Win a cool DOMKE DSLR camera bag from Digital Photographer! http://digiphotomag.com
Then, leave a comment on this post with a link to your tweet.

A winner will be chosen at random—via random.org.

Rules:

No purchase required to enter. Winner of the giveaway will be awarded a DOMKE ProPack 414 camera bag (black) with an estimated retail value of $249.99 dollars. Giveaway is open to legal U.S. residents 18 or older residing in the 48 continental United States (includes DC). Void where prohibited. Employees (and their immediate families and households) of JMillerMedia are not eligible. Giveaway entries will be accepted until Wednesday, September 22 at 12:00 pm (noon) Pacific Time. Winning entry must provide a valid email address (Digital Photographer will never sell or rent your email to third parties). We will notify the winner by email on or before Thursday, September 23, 2010. The winner will have 72 hours to respond to us with their name and valid U.S. mailing address. If this information is not received within 72 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Sponsor: Digital Photographer

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