Adobe has released a beta version of their new web based version of Photoshop! This is a slimmed down version of Photoshop but still very powerful and useful. You have to sign up for your free account that includes 2 GB of online storage. The interface for uploading your files is quite simple to navigate and use. Once the images are uploaded rotating and adding captions to them in the gallery viewer is quick and easy. The editing of a full sized image (10 MP JPEG) was slow for me. I realize this is a beta but still I was a little let down by the extremely slow response to edit a single image. Once you have done your editing you can share them with other users, email them, or use them in your Photobucket or Face Book gallery. I recommend you check it out and reserve your custom URL today.

I am a big fan of the Lowepro Slingshot bags. I own the 200 AW and 300 AW. The 200 AW is the mid-sized bag and is great for the 20D and a shorter lens attached. Last year when we prepared for our vacation in Europe I wanted something a little large so I upgraded to the 300 AW. I like this bag since it easily holds the 20D or the 1D MK III as well as an assortment of lenses and accessories plus other items you need when on vacation. I like the fact that the bag is easy to get on and off and can pretty easily be rotated along my side for easy access to all of the pockets and compartments. My only minor complaint is that with only one true padded strap if you really load this thing up it is not the most comfortable bag, with or without the second strap. A new addition to the 300 AW over the 200 AW is a nice padded belt which goes a long ways towards making this more comfortable. Link to the bag on Lowepro’s site

Scott Kelby who is in my opinion a guru of everything about digital photography has many books out and recently published “The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom book for Digital Photographers”. Scott has authored a number of book that deal specifically with Adobe Photoshop and now Lightroom. The style that Scott writes in is very informal and a welcome change from most books I have attempted to read on Photoshop. All of his “For Photographers” books are just that and really are written in a way that a Photographer can relate to and easily use. I purchased the Lightroom book and was learning about functions and features that I had no idea existed or how to do them in Lightroom. This book and his others has continued to move me along in improving my workflow and quality of work. Scott is also heavily involved with NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals). Please support the blog and click on my Amazon links to purchase on of Scott’s books

When the Adobe Lightroom Beta came out I was on of the many that downloaded it and played around with it but honestly I was no blown away, at first. As I played around with it more and more and discovered some of the new tweaks and features. Soon I started really looking at it and how it could improve my workflow I got excited. I eventually purchased the Scott Kelby Lightroom book and then I started seeing the improvements in my ability to import files, tag them, and catalog them. I like the fact that Lightroom treats all files (RAW and JPEG) as if they were negatives and does not alter them. I do sport photography and a typical day is shooting close to 4,000 JPEG photos and then having to short them and select the 10% to 15% that I will process and post for purchase. Lightroom has really reduced the amount of time required for my end to end workflow.

Click to see at Amazon.com

The Canon EOS 1D Mark III is definitely a step up from the EOS 10D and EOS 20D that I have previously shot with. I shoot a lot of sports so the blinding fast 10 FPS is a must and a noticeable upgrade from the 20D’s 5 FPS. I was an early adopter and suffered from the early focus problems when I shot outdoors in the sun. The camera has since been fixed and shots as I would expect. The autofocus is very fast and was the upgrade I was looking for as well. The dual memory card slots are very convenient and prevent running out of storage space and having to switch at the worst times. The brighter viewfinder is also a welcome sight too. All of that being said I personally think the best upgrade or improvement is the low noise at the high ISO ratings. I find the 800 ISO shot compare well with the 400 ISO shots from the 20D. The 1600 ISO is also very usable and produces great snapshot sized prints with little or no grain. I have nothing bad to say about this camera. Link to Canons 1D Mark III product page