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January 30, 2019

How to improve your photography?

30341_Old-Lady-at-National-Memorial-Chorten_Thimphu-110px.jpgTo participate in photo assignments and contests is a great way to improve your skills while getting inspired by the work of others. The end of the month is approaching fast, please take some time and stop by the contest forums and vote for your favorites.

While, you are at it, please go ahead and participate with your own shots in the January 2019 contests, see below for more information on our various themes.

One of the strong points of the Nikonians community is our ability to come together and help each other become better photographers. Learning, sharing and growing together we increase the joy we find in photography.

I feel that the Nikonians Photo Assignments are a hidden gem within our community. Participation in the assignments is a wonderful opportunity for both beginners and advanced photographers to teach, learn, and to expand their photographic horizons.

The assignments challenge new photographers to build both technical, compositional, and artistic skills. More accomplished photographers will benefit from the assignments by tackling challenges that are outside of their usual photographic genre and expanding their skills.

Dave (dm1dave)


From the portfolios

30341_Old-Lady-at-National-Memorial-Chorten_Thimphu-600px.jpg
Old Lady at National Memorial Chorten, Thimphu, Bhutan by Robert Wyatt (sulkyrob).
See his complete portfolio.

Learning: Can our Ability to Respond to a Scene Improve Over Time?
Connie Cassinetto is answering the question "Can mental quickness in responding to a changing photographic scenario be learned or improved?" Read her premium article

Jim Donelson helps us better understand the various trends and styles, from painting to photography demonstrating there is nothing new in the controversies surrounding our passion for photography. Read more

Nikonians Contests
Wildlife: Vanishing through Camouflage
Let see how wildlife uses camouflage to hide in their environment.

Landscape: First Light - Last Light
This is a contest for Early Birds or for the Photographer who stays after all the others have gone home. Images have to be taken very early or very late in the day with the sun just above the horizon in the Blue Hour or Golden Hour (depending time of day). You can choose to have the sun in the picture or not.

Micro, Macro & Closeup: Odonata - Dragonflies and Damselflies
Dragonflies and Damselflies are some of the most interesting and varied subjects for macro photography with interesting patterns and colors.

Travel: What lies beyond...?
Please submit your finest images of places taken round that corner, down that alleyway, over the next hill brow etc. Let's see pictures that portray a sense of intrigue about what may be just out of sight.

Digital Artistry: Invitation
Images are often used as part of, or backgrounds for Invitations--all kinds of invitations including weddings, parties, workshops, you name it. Invitations contain images and text. This month, the challenge is to create an invitation to an event. That's it. Any photographic genre is acceptable so long as the images meet the the Nikonians Terms of Use.


Making your community better

As the community for Nikon users, together we are making photography better: We know that through our continuous dedication to help each other, no matter skill-level or background, we become better.

Learning is so much easier and much more fun together, letting us inspire each other and share our joy, and sometimes mistakes.

Join our fundraising
- With your support, we can improve the community further.

Posted by bgs at 8:10 AM

January 18, 2019

Contest Reminder

Contests_110px.png The end of the month is approaching fast, please take some time and stop by the contest forums and vote for your favorite images.

All of the polls are open until the end of January.

The winners of these contests are the last group of photos to be entered in the Best of Nikonians 2018 contest.

Here are the current polls:

Wildlife Contest: Backlit Wildlife, Poll #1 and Backlit Wildlife, Poll #2

Landscape Contest: Mans Influence on the Landscape

Closeup & Macro Contest: Holiday Decorations

Travel Contest: Winter Festivals

Digital Artistry Contest: My Best Image

Assignment: Animal Portrait


For more info about current contests and polls click here.

Posted by dm1dave at 6:54 PM

January 17, 2019

7 rules of getting the $2 million image

2F39405417615_63267ece24_o-110px.jpgThere are many things one need to pay attention to and manage when shooting professionally. Martin has wrapped it up in seven vital items, the seven key aspects. If these are managed well they will increase the chance of your image becoming a success.

Even if the focus of his article series is on studio work, I believe you will find ample ideas and help for other shooting environments in there as well. Read his premium article.

I am wishing you lots of success on taking your photography to new heights this week, month and quarter.
Bo (bgs)

From the portfolios
2F39405417615_63267ece24_o.jpg
Image by Larry E30. See his complete portfolio.

Your personal Nikonians presentation card
Print out your personal presentation card (aka business card). A good item to share with other Nikon photographers to spread the word about your community. You'll find the link for that under "My Profile" and "Membership" tab. The presentation card is available to all members on Platinum and Gold membership level.

How do you use video for oral history recordings?
A forum post by member f5titan explained what he was up to: To record the oral histories of Hawaii Island residents who lost their homes to volcanic eruptions and lava flows. If you are interested in providing your insight on the topic using Nikon Video, please do chime in.

Making your community better
As the community for Nikon users, together we are making photography better: We know that through our continuous dedication to help each other, no matter skill-level or background, we become better.

Learning is so much easier and much more fun together, letting us inspire each other and share our joy, and sometimes mistakes.

Join our fundraising - With your support, we can improve the community further.

Posted by bgs at 5:55 AM

January 11, 2019

New functionality for Nikon Z cameras

Screenshot_Selection_153.pngDuring the CES-show 2019 in Las Vegas, Nikon has mentioned they will add additional features to their new cameras.

The cameras will get AF tracking, supporting CFexpress cards plus be capable of storing ProRes RAW using Atomos Ninja V. The upcoming filmmakers kit and will bundle the Atomos Ninja V.

Posted by bgs at 3:48 PM

January 10, 2019

Winter photography plus D850 focus stacking

topper1946-tree21-110.jpgThe team behind our community is as busy as ever, working behind the scenes to make some new, good things available to you as an amateur, semi-pro or professional photographer and videographer.

We have started a new fundraising campaign to further improve image feedback & critique possibilities, image sharing & exposure plus to consolidate our knowledge-base.

Donate today to support your community. Any amount is helpful.

A big thank you goes out to all of our past supporters, but especially the first ones in this new round.

Through your personal support you safeguard our mission to provide a friendly, vibrant, open and inspiring environment for all of you to improve your photography, to create your very own path while making new, real friends.

Join-in and support your community.

Thanks for reading and have an excellent rest of the week :-)
Bo & JRP

From the portfolios

topper1946-tree21.jpg
Bobby Sox Tree by Judith Dunn (topper1946). See her complete portfolio

Wintersports photography
You might have missed Pascal Baetens in-depth learning article on how to get the most out of your winter vacation photography. He provides you with a lot of information while out in the snow. Read the article

For the ones of us looking for ideas without snow, this post about focus stacking software in the D850 forum may provide inspiration.

Membership certificates
All of you on a Platinum, Gold and Silver membership can have your membership certificate printed out (as JPG and PDF). You find the link under "My Profile" and "Membership" tab.

Contests
The latest winners have been announced.

Posted by bgs at 5:32 AM

Assignments, a Hidden Gem

assignment110px.jpg One of the strong points of the Nikonians community is our ability come together and help each other become better photographers. Learning, sharing and growing together we increase the joy we find in photography.

I feel that the Nikonians Photo Assignments are a hidden gem within our community. Participation in the assignments is a wonderful opportunity for both beginners and advanced photographers to teach, learn, and to expand their photographic horizons.


hid-gem1-800px.jpg


The assignments challenge new photographers to build both technical, compositional, and artistic skills. More accomplished photographers will benefit from the assignments by tackling challenges that are outside of their usual photographic genre and expanding their skills.

Nikonians has had monthly online assignments since 2006. We have presented over 140 challenging assignments over those years. Each month we chose an image as best submission, all the best submission images have been added to the Online Assignments Winners Galleries.


hid-gem2-800px - Copy.jpg


The difference between the assignments and our other contests is that the images must be shot during the month of the assignment. You will typically have four weeks for planning, shooting, post-processing, and presenting the image you want to submit to face the challenge of the assignment.

These exercises are excellent training for real life, day to day photography and a great way to jump start the creative side of your mind.

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The January/February 2019 Assignment theme is 2.8.

This assignment is easy, you choose any subject to shoot - just be sure your aperture is set to f/2.8.

What if I don't have a 2.8 lens?

No problem, we understand that not everyone has fast lenses. All you need to do is shoot an image at the widest aperture you have available, just identify the lens and the aperture that you used.

assign_800px.jpg

As always, we want you to be creative and work to make an artistic image. Strive to be different; let your artistic juices flow when composing your image. Is the image you post for this assignment one you would be willing to frame and hang on your wall?

There are no other restrictions except that your image(s) must be taken during the months of January or February , 2019.

For details and to enter your images click here.

We look forward to seeing how you fulfill this assignment.

Posted by dm1dave at 3:22 AM

January 4, 2019

November Contest Winners

wild-dec-110.jpg Please join us in congratulating our most recent contest winners.

All winning images will be entered in the annual Best of Nikonians 2018 contest.

Click on the name of the member to offer your congratulations.

Wildlife
Richard Roth (ricardo00)
Theme: Wildlife and Precipitation
Title: A Walk in a Blizzard

wild-dec.jpg

Landscape
Mike Pastore (Aviatorbumm)
Theme: Colorful
Title: Colorado Fence Line

land-dec.jpg


Close-up & Macro
John McGarry (jtmcg )
Theme: Details of Autumn
Title: Frosty Susan

macro-dec.jpg


Winner November Travel
Mary Freestone (frantoia)
Theme: On Board
Title: Husky Sledding

trav-dec.jpg


Digital Artistry
Russell Whittemore (rosewood_ltd)
Theme: Subtract
Title: The Temple of Poseidon

dig-art-dec.jpg

If you are interested in entering our contest, heck out the Current Contest post.

Posted by dm1dave at 5:18 AM

January 3, 2019

Using Nikon Z7 for street photography

images.nikonians.org-galleries-data-23519-Gulliver-Playful-April-2014-110.jpgA new year has started and we are full of inspiration, kick-starting it with some great photography while learning new things.

Connie has been to Cuba using her Z7 for street photography and she shares her story with us in her latest premium article, while JRP has found a study claiming that making a picture a day and sharing it improves well being -- We both believe the authors of the study are onto something.


I am wishing you a terrific start of the new year,
Bo (bgs)

From the portfolios

images.nikonians.org-galleries-data-23519-Gulliver-Playful-April-2014.jpg
Portrait of a playful Maine Coon cat by Cindie Fearnall (Gypsi) See her complete portfolio

Community
Our core values: Quite a few members have posted their thoughts on what is most important being a member. See the full thread

Want more exposure & you are on twitter or Instagram? See this post on how the community can help.

Your own portfolio: As a Platinum or Gold member you can have your best work being showcased at Nikonians at high resolution to make it look great under an easy to remember Internet address with contact possibility.

There is no limit to the number of images you can store in your portfolio, but we recommend that you include your very best work only. How to get started

Nikonians merchandise: We are planning to produce new series of our most popular merchandise, such as our Pro Camera Straps, Caps and T-Shirts. More info soon -- stay tuned.

Posted by bgs at 6:10 AM