on Paolo Woods

Recently I was going through the latest posts on the New York Times’ Lens Blog (http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/), and found this picture:

Released rom a prison of Sollicciano, Italy, 20 Jan 2009

In one picture (above), Paolo Woods caught my eye. His website showcases a wide range of the work he has done over his career as editorial photographer and photoreporter in 1998. He has published several books on more than actual topics: oil, war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran, or the Chinese Presence in Africa.

of my new toy : the Canon EOS 7D

It has been years since I started bitching about my DSLR, the Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D). Released by Canon early 2005 and bought late October 2006, I hate its tiny screen, the poor ISO performance, the inaccessibility of some functions, its built quality, etc., etc. 3 years old and a mere 10’000 pictures later, it was time to switch.

The 50D did not completely fulfill all my wishes, notably the Wireless flash triggering and the viewfinder. A year later, the solution finally appeared, and yesterday it arrived, under the form of a brand new Canon EOS 7D (thanks to my wife :))

The Canon 7D with the 135mm f/2 attached

Rather than going in details and prepare a full review (I do not have the expertise for it anyway), I simply list here what I love, like, dislike and hate about this new body.

on Mario Testino – Let me in!

Another massive book (30.9 x 42.5 cm and a mere 2.1 kilos!), from famed Holloywood Photographer Mario Testino, and foreworded by Nicole Kidman, which supposedly brings you in the life of celebrities. The list of those portrayed here would be long but let’s only mention, Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, George Clooney.

Mario Testino's Let me in

The *magic* prime is magic enough

For a nice birthday gift that made a truly and awesome birthday gift. In my opinion, and as lucky owner of this glass, the above title says it all. But if you still need to find out more on what the Canon EF 135mm f/2 L USM is capable of (I won’t call it a review, it’d be biased), keep on reading.

The *Magic Prime* (Vietnam, 2009)

of PTGUI : not your cheap stitching software

I do like PTGUI (Panorama Tools Graphic User  Interface). It may have one of the most awfully designed and overrun commercial website I can think of, there is no other option for me when it comes to stitching pictures. Perhaps – and for the good of all of us photographers – the people at “New House Internet Services B.V.” (PTGUI’s developers and distributors) prefer to spend their time on improving their product.

Most DSLR comes bundled (among lots of other – usually useless – software) with their stitching software. Hence many photographers being happy with them – or managing it with Photoshop CSx functions – do not know PTGUI. I am not able to change that situation; but if you do not know it yet, let me introduce you to the power of this little wonder.

Panorama of Toulouse Riverside (Toulouse, France, 2009)