Top 100 Distinguished Women Photographers for 2008

Women In Photography International continues its tradition by establishing a list of the Top 100 Distinguished Women Photographers for 2008. Included on the list are photography's classics, Lillian Bassman, Jodi Cobb, Anne Geddes, Graciela Iturbide, Helen Levitt, Sally Mann and Cindy Sherman.

Starting in 2006, to celebrate WIPI's 25th Anniversary, Women In Photography International (http://www.womeninphotography.org/) began the process of researching and culling the names of working women photographers worldwide for their online resource center. After two years, the finalized list of the top 100 female photographers was completed in August 2008, and serves as the 25th Anniversary Addendum to WIPI's Distinguished Photographer's Award, first presented to Eve Arnold in 1981.

Selecting the top 100 women photographers involved Googling each of the candidates nominated with attention focused on the artist's body of work, history of exhibition, biographies, portfolios, career longevity, publications, and social impact. The selection acknowledges women starting at the earliest stages of their career to working photographers with twenty-five or more years of history.

A variety of resource materials was used to assemble the list, most notably Dr. Naomi Rosenblum's 1994 groundbreaking volume, "A History of Women Photographers," and photo historian Peter E. Palmquist's 2001 list of women photographers, donated to WIPI's online resource center. The Palmquist Collection of Western American and Women's Photography is housed at Yale University's Beinecke Library. Additional support and consultation were provided by photographers, curators, educators, museums, educational foundations, photographic organizations, and gallery owners worldwide.

Women In Photography International's Top 100 Distinguished Women Photographers list honors the accomplishments of dedicated working women photographers around the globe. Each of the nominees, and the selected finalists, have contributed uniquely to the field of the visual arts. Whether self-taught or formally educated, each of these women were selected for their dedication, artistry, and for creating a body of work that has touched our lives.

Penthouse Photographer Says No to Scantily Clad Models, He's Shooting Something Hotter

Minneapolis native Jeffery R. Werner's photographs have appeared in numerous publications such as Penthouse, Playboy and Maxim -- but not for the reasons you might think. Werner's work at times made him hot under the collar, literally! Known for his astounding photographs of stunts, he's had a couple of close calls on shoots, ducking behind a building or diving off a truck to avoid being seared from the blasts of heat coming from the explosions.

Now after three decades of traveling across the nation -- and 60 countries -- in pursuit of stuntmen and daredevils who put themselves in harm's way in every way imaginable -- by motorcycle, gun, hot-air balloon, airplane, car, train, helicopter, boat and even a washing machine, Werner will return home to debut the release of a collection of his best work in a new coffee-table book called "Incredible Stunts: The Chaos, Crashes, and Courage of the World's Wildest Stuntmen and Daredevils with a Special Tribute to Evel Knievel."

"Incredible Stunts" is like "Fear Factor" on steroids. Featuring photographs of stunts deemed too dangerous for television, here's a book that needs a disclaimer and it should read: Warning! Just looking at this book could inspire greatness... and a few broken bones, too.

Some photos were captured with a special Hulcher camera that shoots up to 65 frames-per-second that would have been impossible to catch with a conventional camera. Some sequences were shot with up to 15 remote cameras to catch all aspects of the stunt, taking hours to set up for just a few seconds of film. By request, Werner will also be conducting a limited number of seminars on action photography and relay some of the harrowing stories of the triumphs and tragedies he's managed to capture.

Website: http://www.incrediblestunts.com/

Photographing Children is Child's Play

Photographing children can be a challenge - even for the most seasoned professional photographers - but it doesn't need to be, even if you're only a novice. Taking fabulous photographs of children becomes as easy as pie for those who understand just seven great tricks and techniques. This week, master photographer Vik Orenstein reveals 7 tips, techniques and secrets you definitely want to know about photographing children - but didn't know who to ask - with host Dr. Audri Lanford, on the free 7 Photography Questions podcast.

"The most important thing is to forge your emotional connection with your child," says Orenstein, who has written several books on the subject of photography including Creative Techniques for Photographing Children. "Go with the child's mood because the image will have more emotional integrity."

During this interview, Orenstein reveals:

The single biggest mistake people make when photographing children.

Two simple exercises you can do at home to improve the photographs you take of children.

Several ordinary household objects that are guaranteed to hold a child's attention and help capture those magical photography moments.

A surprising photography tip that involves toilet paper!

How to get softer, prettier skin tones and a better light ratio between the child and the background.

What clothes and colors are best for kids to wear when being photographed.

Towards the end of the interview, Orenstein tells the story behind several of her own photos of babies, kids, and teenagers while explaining the various tricks, techniques, and camera gear she used to take them. This interview is not to be missed! So learn how you can take amazing photographs of children by listening in for free here.

Interviews with top photographers are posted to www.7PhotographyQuestions.com

New Photographic Book, 'One of Us,' by Chris Usher

Today, photojournalist Chris Usher, a member of the White House Press Corps and freelance contributor to TIME, introduces One of Us, a unique book that highlights the results of nearly three years of photographic fieldwork begun the day Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005.

The portraits and interview excerpts contained in the book bear witness to the fear, fatigue, frustration and, ultimately, resilient spirit of those who survived Hurricane Katrina. Through the support of Kodak, Usher will donate 100 percent of the profits from One of Us to the Gulf Coast Fund and the Southern Animal Foundation, relief organizations that continue to provide post-Katrina aid and assistance in the Gulf Coast.

"For the people of the Gulf Coast region, Katrina is just as devastating today as it was in 2005," said Usher. "Katrina was a cataclysmic disaster that forced hundreds of thousands of people to migrate across the country, or stay and suffer with little or no help. Many of those who left haven't returned and those who stayed continue to face unemployment and mortgages on uninhabitable or non-existent homes. This project documents, through survivors' stories, that the situation is still as real and as challenging as it was that very first day."

To fully illustrate the ongoing effect of Hurricane Katrina, Usher revisited the Gulf Coast region six times over three years and traveled across the country for two months in 2006 to find displaced residents. The subjects include families, parents, siblings, children, as well as first responders, volunteers, and the media.

After witnessing the continuing impact, Usher compiled these stories into One of Us. His goal was to generate awareness and a way for people to directly support Gulf Coast re-building efforts. Having already provided film and processing for the project, Kodak responded by enabling the digital on demand printing and an online ordering of One of Us, facilitating the donation of book proceeds in partnership with ColorCentric, a KODAK NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Press customer. ColorCentric is headquartered in Rochester, New York with manufacturing facilities in Rochester, New York, and Reno, Nevada.

"Katrina is a story that still has many chapters left. When you open Chris Usher's book, you realize just how important it is that we all continue to support rebuilding in the Gulf Coast. This book serves as a reminder and mechanism by which people can provide some much-needed support," said Jeff Hayzlett, chief business development officer, Eastman Kodak Company. "We've had a long and productive relationship with Chris and are proud to support this project. His work has touched countless people over the years because of his profound ability to capture images that tell powerful, moving stories. We're honored that we can use Kodak expertise in film and on-demand printing to support Chris and his ground-breaking project."

One of Us can be bought on line at www.chrisusher.com/news and http://www.kodak.com/go/one_of_us for $40.

Learn To Capture Vibrant Results with Fall Color Landscape Photography

If you have ever looked at amazing landscape photography of Yosemite or some other gorgeous place and wondered what the photographer was thinking and how you can take stunning fall photographs like that, there's an important new free resource that has just become available.

William Neill, one of the world's top landscape photographers, reveals some of his most important secrets and techniques and answers seven of the biggest questions about landscape photography with podcast host Dr. Audri Lanford in this week's "7 Photography Questions" podcast interview.

You may have seen William Neill's award-winning landscape photography in such publications as National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Conde Nast Traveler - or exhibited at the Museum of Fine Art Boston and the Ansel Adams Gallery. "I got to spend time with Ansel Adams and learned a tremendous amount," recalls Neill. "For me landscape photography doesn't occur in the camera. It happens in the heart, with a passion for the subject and a reconnection to our own experience of nature."

During this week's free "7 Photography Questions" podcast you'll discover:

* Surprising tips for creating creative photographs of vibrant autumn colors.

* Ideas for capturing the intimate details of large, expansive landscapes.

* The biggest landscape photography mistake made by amateurs.

* Creating a signature look with magical lighting and mysterious moods.

*Special exercises to improve your landscape photography.

Towards the end of the interview, Neill also discusses several favorite photographs from his own personal portfolio and explains the ideas and techniques behind each one. You can find the current podcast called "Landscape Photography - An Interview with William Neill."

Canon Releases EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera

With the demand for digital SLR cameras reaching unprecedented levels, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is answering the call with the announcement of the next evolution in advanced amateur digital SLR photography, the EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera with 15.1 megapixel resolution and Canon's new DIGIC 4 image processor. Designed to offer extraordinary quality and image control for the advanced photographer with a passion for the art, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera includes an expanded ISO range, improved noise reduction, and in-camera photo editing features. Canon has loaded the EOS 50D camera with a number of enhancements and some trickle-down technology from Canon's professional Digital SLR cameras, as well as a new Creative Auto Mode (CA) that gives users more creative flexibility to make image setting adjustments conveniently without the need to be a photo expert.


Canon has built upon the success of the popular EOS 40D model -- which will remain in Canon's line -- with the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera. Expected to be the camera body of choice for advanced amateur photographers this holiday season, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera carries over the EOS 40D's 14-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion process for smooth tones, and also includes enhanced noise reduction, especially at higher ISO ranges which will help bring those romantic nighttime shots into greater focus and clarity. Capable of shooting 6.3 frames per second (fps), the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is ideal for shooting everything from beautiful night landscapes to fast-action sports.

Improved Image Quality

The EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's 15.1-megapixel CMOS APS-C size image sensor has been improved thanks to the use of newly designed gapless microlenses over each pixel to reduce noise and expand sensitivity up to ISO 12800. The faster processing speed of the camera's DIGIC 4 image processor contributes to the fast 6.3 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 90 Large/Fine JPEGs or 16 RAW images on a UDMA CF card), to give shooters the tools they need to capture that perfect moment in perfect clarity.

The Canon EOS 50D camera provides ISO speeds from ISO 100 up to ISO 3200 in 1/3-stop increments, along with two high-speed settings -- H1 and H2 -- of ISO 6400 and ISO 12800, respectively. Along with a wide ISO range, Canon gives shooters more tools to help maximize clarity and color. The EOS 50D Digital SLR camera offers multiple levels of noise reduction during high-speed shooting. Users can choose from one of four settings-- Standard/Weak/Strong/None -- to help reduce digital noise that can result from poor lighting conditions.

As part of the camera's internal image processing, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera conducts peripheral illumination correction, which automatically evens brightness across the image field, making an image of a blue sky even toned throughout, a function previously accomplished through post-processing software on a personal computer. Thanks largely to the DIGIC 4 processor, this automatic adjustment can be made in-camera during shooting with JPEG images or corrected in post-photoshoot processing with RAW images through Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, which is supplied at no extra charge.

Helping to ensure each picture's subject is clearly visible, Canon's enhanced Auto Lighting Optimizer analyzes the brightness of subjects and automatically adjusts dark images so that they appear brighter, perfect for subjects in shade or in backlit situations. The Auto Lighting Optimizer on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera has been updated not only to optimize images while they are being taken, but can also optimize images post-capture, during playback, to help ensure the subject of each image does not appear too dark. This is especially helpful when an amateur photographer uses the camera, because post-capture enhancement can help maximize image quality without the need of a computer.

A significant upgrade to the Canon EOS 50D camera is its large, clear 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen which features 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, four times the pixel count of the EOS 40D camera's screen, for better clarity and color. To help show off those fantastic shots, the EOS 50D camera includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output to display crisp, clear images on a High-Definition TV. The EOS 50D recognizes the needs of today's photographers, and the faster processing speed of the DIGIC 4 processor helps support UDMA cards for faster writing of image files.

The camera is also equipped with a high-performance viewfinder featuring 0.95x magnification and the same high-performance Autofocus (AF) system as the EOS 40D camera with nine cross-type sensors for accurate target subject acquisition with lenses possessing maximum apertures of f/5.6 or faster and a high-precision diagonal center cross-type AF point that's effective with f/2.8 and faster lenses, helping photographers ensure better focus of their targets. The AF Microadjustment feature, originally introduced last year with the Canon EOS-1D Mark III professional digital SLR camera, has also been added to the EOS 50D for maximum control over focusing precision.

Canon Gets Creative For Advancing Amateurs

Canon is taking steps to give advanced amateurs more flexibility with a new "CA" Creative Full Auto setting on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's mode dial. This new setting goes a step beyond Full Auto, by allowing users to make adjustments before shooting while still in an Automatic mode, without needing to know the meaning of technical terms such as aperture, shutter speed, etc. In this mode, the camera menu on the back screen spells out options in common language for average photo enthusiasts, allowing them to "blur the background" or "lighten or darken the image." These easy-to-comprehend image options will help amateur photographers improve the shots they are capable of taking, while helping them learn new techniques. When in the new CA mode, users will be able to adjust flash settings, brighten or darken images, blur the background, set the camera's drive mode, and select a picture style directly on the camera's LCD screen.

Better Live View

For photographers who prefer to frame their shots using the camera's 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen, Canon has improved the Live View function of the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera to include "Quick Mode AF," "Live Mode AF," and "Face Detection Live Mode AF" that detects up to 35 individual forward-looking faces for better focus and clarity when taking group or portrait shots. The camera's Quick Mode AF setting flips the mirror down and carries out regular phase-detection autofocus, while the Live Mode AF and Face Detection Live Mode AF use the camera's CMOS image sensor for contrast detection autofocus. Two detailed grid displays have also been added to Live View shooting as optional settings for easier composition.

Two Small RAW Formats

In addition to the RAW and JPEG image capture modes that photographers are accustomed to, the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera now offers more manageable resolution settings and file sizes with two sRAW recording formats, sRAW1 and sRAW2. At the sRAW1 setting, resolution is 7.1 megapixels with a file size that is approximately 25 percent smaller than a standard 15.1 megapixel RAW image. With the sRAW2 setting, resolution is 3.8 megapixels at less than half the file size of a standard RAW image, retaining all of the flexibility and creative possibilities associated with full-size, conventional RAW images. The EOS 50D is the first Canon Digital SLR that allows the use of RAW and sRAW settings in Basic Zone as well as Creative Zone shooting modes, even further improving the camera's flexibility.

EOS Integrated Cleaning System

The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit for the Canon EOS 50D has also been upgraded and now includes a fluorine coating on the low-pass filter for better dust resistance. The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses ultrasonic vibrations to shake dust particles off of the low-pass filter in front of the sensor each time the camera is powered up or shut down. The second part of the system includes a software component where sensor spots are mapped and saved as Dust Delete Data that is attached to the image file for removal during post processing using Canon's DPP software.

Pricing and Availability

The EOS 50D is compatible with the full lineup of Canon EF lenses as well as the Company's ever-growing line of affordable EF-S lenses created specifically for Canon Digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors. The Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is scheduled for October delivery and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated selling price of $1,399.00*. It will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon's EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated selling price of $1,599.00*.

New EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Canon has answered the call from advanced amateur photographers looking for a solid all-around lens with the introduction of the new EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens. With an incredible focal length range equivalent to 29-320mm in the 35mm format, the new EF-S 18-200mm lens will make an excellent addition to any camera bag, and it gives shooters a great lens to capture both standard as well as telephoto images. The new lens features Canon's built in Optical Image Stabilization system which gives the equivalent effect of a shutter speed roughly 4 steps faster, for better image clarity, even in shaky shooting conditions. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.45m/1.5 ft. at all zoom settings, this new lens should prove to be ideal for those situations where swapping lenses isn't an option. An ideal complement to the EOS 50D SLR camera and all other EF-S compatible EOS SLR cameras, the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens is scheduled to be in stores this October at an estimated selling price of $699.00*.

Art of Nature Photography Course

Art of Nature (http://www.artofnature.com/) states that many people are missing out on taking great photographs because they do not understand the manuals that come with their cameras. In order to compensate for that, the company has began offering classes for people who want to understand more about digital and film photography.

The classes are designed to teach people how to find beautiful pictures. Instead of working on the technical aspects of photography, Art of Nature focuses on people using their eyes to find shots that they want immortalized in a picture. The company offers landscape photography courses and workshops in order to help people understand what they need to do in order to take the perfect picture.

Art of Nature states that every person has the talent to take great pictures. They simply need to develop that talent. In order to do that, the company says that it is not necessary to rely on the traditional rules. They claim that people can take pictures just like professional photographers by using their unique composition techniques.

The company says that it can teach students how to take the perfect holiday photos. They point out that this will save people money. Art of Nature says that their holiday photographs will look professionally done, even if they are done by the student.

The company says that students do not need expensive equipment to master the class. They say that unlocking the inner talent of the students is what is important, not the equipment that is used. They encourage people of all levels and with all kinds of equipment to register for a class.

Eileen Marsh, a 75 year old woman who took the class, said, "I have a new camera which I left in its box for many weeks. I was too scared to take it out. I have come to this late in life. I love it. Thank you Erik for opening my eyes."

Another student, Erin Rook, said, "Learning the technology aspect was fantastic but gaining the confidence in your own likes and dislikes was invaluable."

To learn more, visit http://www.artofnature.com/.