Bookmarks

Interesting or educational places to visit regarding photography
http://www.naturephotographers.net/
http://www.photoworkshop.com/ (learning resources - subscription required for much of this site)
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/ (excellent reviews)
http://www.popphoto.com/
http://dpreview.com/ "the web’s most comprehensive site for digital camera information and reviews" (Acquired by Amazon.com May 2007!)
http://www.digiscoped.com/ Good reviews - also a how-to on using tape with Canon 1.4x and 2.0x extenders to force autofocus (related discussion) (more discussion and photo)
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/ great reviews on cameras and specific lens, like the http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-600mm-f-4.0-L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
http://microsoft.com/ProPhoto Professional photography with Windows XP
  *  Microsoft RAW Image Viewer Software Now Available!  Download the updated release of the Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer with support for the Canon EOS 5D and Nikon D200 cameras. 
  *  Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP -- This tool helps you manage Windows color settings in one place.
  *  Monaco by X-Rite: Complete Guide to Color Management
  *  Cleaning Camera Sensors
  * 
http://ngm.com/yourshot National Geographic Magazine photo contest
 
*  http://www.gigapxl.org/ Ultra high resolution photographic documentation of the USA (gallery) -- Defining the upper limits of large-format photography, digital scanning and image processing, custom-built Gigapxl™ cameras capture images with unprecedented resolution.  The Project's near-term goal is to compile a coast-to-coast Portrait of America; photographing her cities, parks and monuments in exquisite detail.
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/rumors.html Canon News and Rumors (very good!); His Digital Photography http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/ reviews are extensive; Photography http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/; and http://www.bobatkins.com/ -- Bob Atkins Photography. The site has information on the Canon EOS system - film and digital - camera and lens reviews, the Canon EOS FAQ, Canon rumors and news, articles on photographic optics, image galleries, photography book reviews, film and digital photography news and guides and articles on photography and digital photography, with a particular emphasis on the Canon EOS system and its use in nature and wildlife photography.
http://www.robgalbraith.com/ Digital Photography Insights - great reviews! 
Institute of Visual Arts http://www.visualimpact.org/ has good training and DVD/videos on Epson Pro Graphics printing large format etc.
Sell your stock photos online at shutterpoint.com (has nice "periscope" feature to view portions of the image at the highest resolution to discern quality) (small fee required for storage space).  For no-fee solutions, see the following (on a quick glance, none of these impress me very much) istockphoto.com, bigstockphoto.com, dreamstime.com, fotolia.com, (has an awkward but essential zoom review feature), stockxpert.com, shutterstock.com, and 123rf.com Getting started guide to selling your own images...  Microsoft has some words on selling your digital photos and says "Two of the best stock photo agencies... are iStockphoto and Shutterstock."...

Clubs
http://www.slocameraclub.org SLO Camera Club, San Luis Obispo, CA
http://SLObytes.org/ Digital Photography SIG  San Luis Obispo, CA

Buy stuff (and learn more at...)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
http://www.adorama.com/ 
http://www.jr.com/
http://amazon.com
http://www.calumetphoto.com/ 
http://www.janosphotovideo.com/
http://tripodhead.com/
 Wimberley ... tripod heads for large telephoto lenses, macro accessories, Modular Flash Brackets, Arca-Swiss style quick-release clamps & plates, and more...  
The Wimberley Head, and the Wimberley Sidekick was recommended for the Canon EF 300/2.8L IS USM as an accessory for tripod shooting... requires Arca-Swiss-compatible tripod head. ( more about the Sidekick)
The Kirk King Cobra is similar to the Wimberley Head
http://www.47thstreetphoto.com/ (deep-discount, "get what you pay for") (<= note: you do need to use the "www" -- poor DNS programming at 47th)
http://www.eximvaios.com/ (media, ink, printers) (CA sales tax applied)
http://www.matcutter.com/ (Mats, Backs, Bags) 16x20 and under
http://stores.ebay.com/Sparkys-Picture-Frames-and-Mats (20x24 Mats)
http://redimat.com/
has the best selection of mats-backs-bags esp for 20x24 size - recommended!  San Francisco area. Launched a new e-commerce web site in 2006 that is quite good!
http://www.cheapjoes.com/
Fine Art Supplies @ Cheap Joe's Art Stuff; Inc. Academy Hiles Print Rack, Item ID - JR886012  Mats Double Mat 22" x 28" (14" x 21" opening)  Cheapjoes mat systems have  mat, foamcore backing and acetate envelope as a unit; framing tape 
http://www.danielsmith.com/  Daniel Smith - creative Solutions for Creative People; Print Racks
http://www.dickblick.com/ 
Blick Art Materials; print racks, mats... Pre-Cut Mats, Mounts, and Mat Frames
http://jerrysartarama.com/
 Art supplies - good deals on mats and foam backing boards
http://www.ritzcamera.com/  and http://www.photoalley.com/ appear to be the same underlying site (similar design element), perhaps re-branded
http://profeelvideo.com/  indicated Canon 5D in stock before others, can't tell, free shipping, need to check reputation
Buy mats, backs, bags locally (San Luis Obispo, CA) at Aaron Brothers 647 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA (888) 532-9372,
Michaels Arts & Crafts Store (more) 3880 Broad St
San Luis Obispo CA 93401-7110
, Law's Hobby Center  (805) 544-5518 - 855 Marsh St, San Luis Obispo, CA), ASAP Reprographics (SLO, Morro Bay)  These stores do not have particularly good websites for online shopping.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/
http://photo.net/ (share photos and get comments)
http://www.photosig.com (submit your photos for critiques, etc. - ya can you believe it, you need the "www" here)
http://www.photography.com/  playing with domain names, I found that photosig.net re-directs to this photography.com site
http://www.bobsteelephoto.com/
http://www.percevia.com/ (bird search engine and identification guide) -- Birds of North America Interactive Database
http://www.birdsasart.com/ (photographic accessories inc. Better Beamer Flash Extender)
http://moosepeterson.com/ (wildlife research photography; Moose recommends the Fortress portable hard drive; Better beamer flash extender (increase-flash-DOF))
http://www.orphanworks.org/ (about when it impossible to find out if a particular work is still under copyright or not)
http://photoworkshop.com/ Canon Tutorial site
http://stormjacket.com/ Waterproof jackets in several sizes for your SLR (~$36-40)
Recommended http://www.visibledust.com/sensor_cleaning_products.html a proven Visible Dust Sensor Cleaning
Packages w/ brushes, here)
Cleaning Camera Sensors 
A MUST HAVE sensor cleaning item is the
SensorScope System - this really works!  Available at many sites, such as delkin.com and Adorama
Recommended Graphical Digital Tablet
Wacom Intuos3 9X12 USB Tablet - Metallic Gray  (Academic Superstore has "educational" discounts -- e.g., 4x5 $189.95)
Recommended color calibration system GRETAGMACBETH Eye-One Display 2 ( Windows / Mac ) 355420
Alternate color calibration system Pantone ColorVision Spyder 2 PRO Studio Win/Mac
Genuine Fractals 4.1 - buy at http://www.ononesoftware.com/ Resample for making large prints - As a part of a larger Photoshop Plug-in Suite ~$400  GF plug-in only ~$160
http://reallyrightstuff.com/ is good for tripods, ballheads, etc., e.g., for holding the Wimberley Sidekick, per Linda Drake  RRS, Arca-Swiss Tutorials. 
  Really Right Stuff is local to the Morro Bay area (205 Higuera St.  San Luis Obispo, CA 93401)

http://thinktankphoto.com/ innovative camera bags, camera cases, photo backpacks and beltpacks for Professional Photographers that use digital SLR cameras... including the Pixel Racing Harness ("fanny pack with suspenders").  Buy at Sammys ~$35.
http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/ Archival Photo Storage and Presentation (mats, frames, boards... OneStep Frame Kit - Style #50)

Super Tips
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/35mm.shtml says regarding stacked extenders... to extend the reach of Canon long lens, use a technique invented by George Lepp. It involves having both the 1.4X and the 2X Canon extenders along with a 12mm extension tube. Place the 1.4X on the body first, then the 12mm extension tube and then the 2X extender. Mount your long lens on the end of this... you now have an equivalent 2.8X extender that will focus on infinity with many of Canon's long lenses. You loose three stops and some image quality, but where image quality isn't as important as magnification, this is a technique works.

http://dpmagic.com/ dpMagic provides basic Windows Shell extensions such as thumbnail support for RAW files - improves your RAW Workflow
(1-15-06) See instead the updated Microsoft PowerToy - may be better for you RAW Image Viewer
Microsoft RAW Image Viewer Software Now Available!  Download the updated release of the Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer with support for the Canon EOS 5D and Nikon D200

http://heliconfocus.com/ HeliconFocus is a program that creates one completely focused image from several partially focused images by combining the focused areas.  The program is designed for macrophotography, microphotography and hyperfocal landscape photography  to cope with the shallow depth-of-field problem.  Helicon Focus also aligns images as objects often change their size and position from shot to shot. This function is especially important for macrophotography.

Photoshop CS2 Related...

Misc. Photo Sites...

baird.ws   eysu.org   mikebaird.com   morro-bay.com   firstonline.com    mikebairdcam.com    buffybaird.com
community service postings: Morro Bay Bird Fest 2003 maps , here, at morro-bay.com/digitalchocolate/birdfest
(note: these were previously posted at mikebaird.com/birdfest, and at
http://s90461409.onlinehome.us/birdfestimages/)
For information on Morro Bay, CA see the "Morro Bay, CA Guide to Nature, Education, Conservation, Politics, and Responsible Recreation - Visitor and Travel Resources" at http://morro-bay.com

morro-bay.com/digitalchocolate home
Morro-Bay.com home