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UK’s Digital Photographer #122

21 May

Digital Photographer issue 122 includes how to shoot your best portraits, a pro macro workshop, 70 ways to improve your images, plus more.

70 ways to get better photos now – Top tips for portraits, travel, B&W, landscapes and wildlife.

Pro macro workshop – Source the best subjects, set up your equipment and use the perfect settings for your shot.

Shoot your best-ever portraits – Six styles: at home, in the studio and in natural light.

Nikon D4 on test – Read our expert review of this top-end camera.

Also inside… – Wedding essentials: Hardware, software & gear to ensure stress-free success – Going wild: Discover the exciting life of wildlife pro, Elliott Neep – Sigma Vs Pentax: Can Sigma’s new DSLR match up to Pentax’s medium-format system? – Birds of prey: Improve your nature photos with this great workshop – Ten of the best masking plug-ins: Image-editing software put to the test

Free with this issue’s cover disc… – 88 minutes of image-editing video training – Free Photoshop action set – Photo video workshop – Test shots and tutorial files

 
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Lorenzo Wins Le Mans, Rossi 2nd and Stoner 3rd

20 May

Photos: Dorna Communications

Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo retook the championship lead once again at the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France as he dominated in tricky conditions, finishing ahead of Valentino Rossi, who recorded his best Ducati result ever.

In by far the worst conditions seen all season, it was Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa who got off to one of his trademark starts followed by teammate Casey Stoner. Their lead was short lived, as Lorenzo charged past the pair and instantly pulled out a gap. Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow also made a good start in fourth, followed by a surging Rossi in fifth.

It was heartache for the French fans from the beginning as Power Electronics Aspar’s local rider Randy de Puniet dropped his bike on the grid, and had to head out on his spare one. Near the front, Rossi soon moved past Crutchlow to take fourth, with Dovizioso following suit almost instantly. Avintia Blusens’ Iván Silva’s race was ended early as he fell foul of the wet conditions, crashing out of the race in the opening stages.

With Lorenzo building a three second lead, Stoner pushed past Pedrosa to chase down his championship rival. Pedrosa seemed to struggling on the wet surface, with Rossi capitalising on this to take third with 21 laps left. The Tech 3 pair passed Pedrosa even further down the order as they looked to hunt down Rossi.

Near the back, Lorenzo’s teammate Ben Spies was struggling and had a wobble at the end of turn two, shortly after which he briefly entered the pits. Cardion AB Racing’s Karel Abraham retired with 17 laps to go, with NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s replacement rider Chris Vermeulen also having to come in for a helmet change.

As Lorenzo was maintaining his lead around the three second mark ahead of Stoner, it was the ensuing tussle for third between Crutchlow, Dovizioso and Rossi that was providing some breath-taking overtaking in horrific conditions. Ten laps before the end it was misery for Crutchlow as he lost the front in the first chicane, leaving the two Italians to fight it out for the final podium spot, with Rossi taking third just two corners later. The Brit managed to restart his bike and re-join in eighth. Meanwhile, Lorenzo had extended his lead to six seconds at the front with Stoner a further four seconds ahead of Rossi.

With five laps to go Stoner was held up slightly by Avintia’s Yonny Hernandez, allowing Rossi to get to within half a second of the Australian world champion. Two laps later Dovizioso crashed out of fourth tying to stick with the pair, while down the field Came IodaRacing Project’s Danilo Petrucci crashed out of 11th.

The last three laps gave MotoGP fans a racing delight, as old adversaries Stoner and Rossi swapped positions throughout. It was however Rossi who looked back to his old self as he passed Stoner in the first chicane on the last lap, after which he pulled out a lead big enough to secure second. This is the highest result both Rossi and the Ducati team have had in the past two season.

It was however Lorenzo who took the chequered flag to take an eight point lead at the top of the championship ahead of Stoner, who came home in third. Pedrosa managed fourth, while LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl recorded his best ever result in fifth, ahead or Rossi’s teammate Nicky Hayden. Dovizioso, who managed to re-join after crashing finished seventh ahead of his teammate Crutchlow, while Pramac Racing’s Héctor Barberá and San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Álvaro Bautista completed the top ten. Paul Bird Motorsport’s James Ellison put in a great performance to finish as top CRT in 11th. De Puniet suffered yet more misery in front of his home crowd as he crashed on his spare bike towards the end.

1 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha M1
2 Valentino Rossi Marlboro Ducati Team Ducati GP12
3 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V
4 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V
5 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda MotoGP Honda RC213V
6 Nicky Hayden Marlboro Ducati Team Ducati GP12
7 Andrea Dovizioso Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha M1
8 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha M1
9 Hector Barbera Pramac Racing Team Ducati GP12
10 Alvaro Bautista Honda Gresini Honda RC213V
11 James Ellison Paul Bird Racing ART
12 Mattia Pasini Speedmaster ART
13 Aleix Esparago Aspar Team MotoGP ART
14 Michele Pirro Honda Gresini FTR
15 Yonny Hernandez BQR BQR-FTR
16 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha M1
17 Chris Vermeulen Forward Racing Suter
18 Ivan Silva BQR BQR-FTR
 
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Honda’s Pedrosa Fastest In Qualifying At Le Mans

19 May

Photo: Dorna Communications

In an action-packed qualifying session at the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France in Le Mans it was Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa who took his first pole position of the season ahead of Casey Stoner. Having started in the wet, the session dried out with 30 minutes to go, leaving Pedrosa to post a time of 1.33’638 to snatch pole from teammate Stoner, and record his fourth ever MotoGP Le Mans pole position. Completing the front row is Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Andrea Dovizioso, who achieved his best grid position of the season so far in third.

Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo heads the second row in fourth after being held up in traffic on his final hot lap. Behind him in fifth is Dovizioso’s teammate Cal Crutchlow, who had been the early pace setter in the session, yet couldn’t quite match the Italian’s pace. Sixth place is occupied by Lorenzo’s teammate Ben Spies, who will be looking to take this form into tomorrow’s race and fight for a podium.

The third row is headed by Valentino Rossi in seventh, his best grid position so far this year, who qualified as top Ducati after lapping consistently quick ahead of San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Álvaro Bautista.  Bautista, who had been in the top five for most of the practice sessions, crashed out in the last minute of qualifying on his hot lap. Pramac Racing Team’s Héctor Barberá sits in ninth, ahead of other satellite Ducati rider Karel Abraham on-board his Cardion AB Racing machine.

Power Electronics Aspar’s French rider Randy de Puniet finished top CRT in 12th, much to the delight of the home fans.

LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl crashed half way through the session, after being one of the first riders to head out on slicks on the drying track. Iván Silva saved a near low-side early in the session, before taking an excursion into the gravel towards the end, while De Puniet’s teammate Aleix Espargaró’s misery continued this weekend as he had to return to the pits with bike issues.

1 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V 1:33.638
2 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V 1:33.941
3 Andrea Dovizioso Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha M1 1:33.976
4 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha M1 1:34.104
5 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha M1 1:34.178
6 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha M1 1:34.669
7 Valentino Rossi Marlboro Ducati Team Ducati GP12 1:34.907
8 Alvaro Bautista Honda Gresini Honda RC213V 1:34.920
9 Hector Barbera Pramac Racing Team Ducati GP12 1:34.950
10 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati GP12 1:35.250
11 Nicky Hayden Marlboro Ducati Team Ducati GP12 1:35.291
12 Randy De Puniet Aspar Team MotoGP ART 1:35.694
13 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda MotoGP Honda RC213V 1:35.862
14 Michele Pirro Honda Gresini FTR 1:36.646
15 Yonny Hernandez BQR BQR-FTR 1:37.202
16 James Ellison Paul Bird Racing ART 1:37.666
 
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ASUS SonicMaster Premium Audio Now in ASUS N Series Laptpps

18 May

Owners and buyers of the newly revamped ASUS N Series of multimedia notebooks will enjoy premium audiophile-worthy sound, wide-view screens with up to full HD 1080p thanks to its SonicMaster Premium speakers. Plus, they will also get to enjoy a unique user experience with the Intel 3rd generation Core processors that powers the N Series, as well as its exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine II technology that offers a 2-second instant on resume. To top all that speed, the new N Series has an all-new and prestigious reddot 2012 design award-winning look to go with it.

The ASUS N Series notebooks represent a new standard of design thinking to ensure its products delivers a unique user experience that enhances customer happiness. Its new design features focus on design attraction and aesthetic appeal alongside with the finest professional-grade audio offered on a notebook PC. They also give consumers improved and highly intuitive touch input that has been engineered to ensure greater accuracy, and an optional backlit keyboard purpose-built feature to provide complete convenience. All of these components are part and parcel of the new ASUS DNA and design thinking.

The new ASUS DNA has once more resulted in a revolutionary approach to portable PC sound performance. Following the success of original the SonicMaster design, exclusive ASUS SonicMaster Premium pushes notebook audio threshold further. Knowing that sound holds a vital element in daily computing enjoyment, ASUS audio engineers developed the SonicMaster Premium together with the expertise of Bang & Olufsen ICEpower, optimizes audio hardware and bundles a dedicated external subwoofer to provide unmatched notebook PC audio enjoyment, including the experience of a deeper bass. SonicMaster Premium also applies professional-grade Waves MaxxAudio 3 tools, which delivers meticulously tuned sound with extensive personalization options.

All new ASUS N Series notebooks feature advanced wide-view panels that provide 150ﾟhorizontal by 120ﾟvertical angles. These features allow several individuals to share viewing of content without compromising the image quality from all direction. Every panel offers at least 720p HD, and optional panels support full HD 1080p for even finer image quality with improved clarity, brightness, and contrast. Although brand new, the ASUS N Series notebooks have been awarded the coveted 2012 reddot design award for their attention to selecting stylish materials and design considerations. They offer users an attractive hairline-etched metallic cover with an illuminated ASUS logo for added impact, plus a unique ripple-effect speaker mesh that signifies the flow of sound provided by SonicMaster Premium.

The ASUS new N Series notebooks include the power of 3rd generation Intel Core processors, which is based onIvyBridge technology. The platform enables enhanced processor output and overclocking, smoother multimedia, and more extensive multitasking capabilities. Utilizing the latest technology from Intel renders the new iteration of the N Series more powerful as well as sleeker to use. The addition of exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine II power consumption management technology has further resulted in true 2-second instant on resume from deep sleep, bringing smartphone-like responsiveness to high end notebooks.

Price and availability

The ASUS new N Series notebooks is now available inMalaysia, and retails for RM3,599 (i7). Consumers will be able to purchase their dream notebooks from ASUS authorized dealers nationwide.

 
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Casey Stoner Announces Retirement At End of 2012 MotoGP Season

18 May

Photo: Dorna Communications

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner confirmed on Thursday that he would retire from the sport at the end of the 2012 season. The Repsol Honda rider addressed the media at the start of the official pre-event press conference for the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France, making a short statement in which he outlined the reasons behind his decision.

“After a long time thinking, a lot of time talking with my family and my wife, this has been coming for a couple of years now but at the end of this 2012 season I will be not racing in the 2013 Championship. I will be finishing my career at the end of this season in MotoGP, and go forward in different things in my life,” Stoner told the assembled press.

“After so many years of doing this sport which I love, and which myself and my family made so many sacrifices for, after so many years of trying to get to where we have gotten to at this point, this sport has changed a lot and it has changed to the point where I am not enjoying it. I don’t have the passion for it and so at this time it’s better if I retire now.

“There are a lot of things that have disappointed me, and also a lot of things I have loved about this sport, but unfortunately the balance has gone in the wrong direction. And so, basically, we won’t be continuing any more. It would be nice if I could say I would stay one more year, but then where does it stop? So we decided to finish everything as we are now.”

Stoner, who won the 2007 MotoGP with Ducati and the 2011 crown with Honda, currently leads the 2012 standings by a single point ahead of Jorge Lorenzo heading into this weekend’s fourth round.

 
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Sony Alpha a37 Digital SLT

17 May

Sony Press Release

New α37 camera from Sony delivers speedy Full-time Continuous AF 7fps shooting and Full HD video

• 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor • High-speed shooting up to 7fps with Full-time Continuous AF in Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE mode, thanks to the Translucent Mirror Technology • Responsive, accurate 3-cross 15-point phase detection autofocus • High-resolution Tru-Finder™ with 100% coverage • AVCHD (50i/25p) ensures smooth, high quality video • Auto Portrait Framing for getting a top-quality portrait • Tiltable LCD making low/high-angle shooting easier • High sensitivity with wide ISO 100-16000 range • Clear Image Zoom doubles effective focal length while maintaining full pixel count • Great results made easy with Superior Auto mode

Explore the creative world of high-quality imaging and interchangeable lenses with the new SLT-A37 camera with Translucent Mirror Technology from Sony. Light and easy to use, the temptingly-priced α37 broadens artistic options for anyone who’s stepping up from their point-and-shoot compact camera. Unique to Sony, Translucent Mirror Technology delivers a potent combination of speedy shooting, non-stop phase detection autofocus and continuous live image preview, even when you’re shooting Full HD video (50i/25p). The precision 3-cross 15-point AF system, with tracking autofocus, keeps faces and fast-moving subjects in sharp focus. From action-packed sports to spontaneous family portraits, you’ll capture all the drama and beauty of that special moment.

Translucent Mirror Technology also lets the α37 grab split-second action with a burst of sharply-focused images. Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE mode magnifies the central portion of the sensor’s image, delivering a crisply-detailed burst of still images at up to seven frames per second – even when your subject’s moving.

Framing and focusing is a pleasure through the high-resolution Tru-Finder, which matches or exceeds the abilities of many optical viewfinders. With a high 1440k dot resolution, excellent contrast and 100% field of view, this high-performance electronic viewfinder offers the same detail and clarity as the recently-launched SLT-A57. There’s also a special mode to assist comfortable Tru-Finder™ operation for spectacle wearers.

It’s easy to give your shots that professional polish. Adjustments to exposure and other creative picture settings can be previewed in real time, either via the Tru-Finder™ or the tilt-angle 6.7 cm (2.7”) Clear Photo LCD screen. The α37 helps inexperienced photographers craft top-quality portraits without effort. Auto Portrait Framing mode identifies your subject’s position, trimming the scene to create beautifully composed, high-resolution portraits using the compositional ‘rule of thirds’. Unique to Sony, By Pixel Super Resolution Technology ensures that cropped, zoomed portraits retain a full pixel count to flatter your subject.

Getting close to the action used to mean packing a more powerful lens, but now you can enjoy high-quality close-ups with 2x Clear Image Zoom, doubling effective magnification of your lens. By Pixel Super Resolution Technology maintains superb image detail, tones and textures. Ideal for travel and everyday shooting, it’s a great way to boost your maximum focal length without carrying extra hardware.

The 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor inside the α37 captures finely-detailed, low noise stills and Full HD video. It’s teamed with the latest BIONZ image processor that extends sensitivity to a generous ISO 100-16000 range, broadening options for atmospheric low-light shooting without flash. Shared with all α SLT cameras, SteadyShot INSIDE cuts the effects of camera shake by up to 4.0 stops for clearer handheld images with any A-mount lens.

The α37 takes the guesswork out of choosing the right camera settings for virtually any shooting situation. Superior Auto mode intelligently recognises a wide range of scenes and subjects, adjusting exposure and other picture settings for effortlessly accomplished results. The PCK-LM11 semi-hard screen protector sheet is exclusively designed for a perfect fit with the camera’s LCD screen. Ideal for active shooters, the ACC-FW1A accessory kit bundles a spare NP-FW50 rechargeable battery with the compact and a versatile LCS-AMB travel case that protectively cradles the α37 while offering quick access.

The new SLT-A37 camera with Translucent Mirror Technology will be available by the end of May 2012.

 
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Ferrari 458 Spider Has Arrived in Malaysia

17 May

The new Ferrari 458 Spider joins the Ferrari 458 Italia, expanding the range of mid-rear engined V8 Ferraris housed by NAZA Italia Sdn Bhd in Malaysia. This latest addition to the Ferrari family offers the same uncompromising technological solutions, handling and performance but in a refined open-top configuration. Equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable aluminium hard top, the 458 Spider is the world’s first sports car featuring this design.

Present to officiate the launch at the NAZA Italia show room in Petaling Jaya were Dato’ Sri Mustapa Bin Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry and Datuk Wira SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of NAZA Group of Companies.

“We are delighted to introduce the 458 Spider as the latest addition to NAZA Italia’s stable. As done so through the last 4 years of representing the brand in Malaysia, we will not waiver in our pursuit to provide Ferrari enthusiasts with the best of what Ferrari has to offer whilst also ensuring that we enhance the Ferrari lifestyle for our customers via various programs and exclusive activities organized specifically for them,” said Nasimuddin.

The 458 Spider’s innovative new hard-top is not only25 kglighter than a traditional folding soft-top, but is also quieter and thermally more efficient when raised. Aside from taking just 14 seconds to open or close, the hard-top was engineered to occupy a very small space when stored so that the designers were able to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the two seats. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was designed to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s 570 CV 4,499 cc V8, which was named International Engine of the Year 2011 for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. This is coupled with Ferrari’s class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission which delivers 0 to100 km/hacceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed of 320 km/h.

The rear windscreen was designed to double as an effective wind-stop to optimise the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gear-box oil radiators. The 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop which opens to a height that guarantees efficient aerodynamics, reducing buffeting in the cockpit and enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds of over 200 km/h.

The all-aluminium chassis incorporates new alloys and castings, also adopted on the coupé, which ensure the 458 Spider already conforms to 2020 safety legislation. New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down. The result is a car that is truly exciting to drive, blending extreme performance with the responsiveness that has always characterised Ferrari’s open-top berlinettas.

Its category-topping performance aside, the new car also boasts class-leading fuel consumption and emissions levels. Thanks to the HELE (High Emotion Low Emission) system, in fact, fuel consumption on the combined urban cycle stands at 11.8 l/100 km with CO2 emissions of 275 g/km.

Tailor-Made Program

Ferrari Tailor-Made is the exclusive new personalisation program developed specifically for clients wishing to make their Ferrari more distinct through specification that is a clear expression of their own unique personality and taste.

The Tailor-Made program continues a longstanding Maranello tradition which began in the 1950s and 60s, a time when clients personalised their cars as a matter of course and enjoyed huge freedom when it came to materials, colours and finish. The result was genuinely unique cars tailored to suit the desires of each individual owner. That prestigious past has now been revived through a programme that permits owners to specify every last detail of their Ferrari, from the exterior livery colour to the cabin trim, via a completely unprecedented choice of finishes, accessories, materials, treatments and colours.

 
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New Toshiba Qosmio and Satelite Laptops Unveiled

16 May

Tele Dynamics Sdn Bhd today unveiled its latest line-up of high performance and midrange laptops comprising of the Qosmio X870 Gaming Series, the Satelite M, L and C series as well as the glasses-free 3D Satelite P850 model.

The new Qosmio X870 laptop is designed with the needs of the demanding power-gamer in mind and offers a blend of pure gaming performance, excellent picture quality and a vibrant sound experience courtesy of its 3rd-generation Intel Core and latest NVIDIA graphics processors technology. It comes with a 3D-enabled 17.3-inch Full HD display supporting the latest NVIDIA 3D Vision active glasses. The new gaming laptop will be available from June 2012 onwards throughout South and South East Asia.

The new Satelite P850 lpatop offers the latest in CPU and graphics prcessing, as well as a premium video and audio experience. For the first time, Toshiba has introduced its glasses-free 3D technology to its Satelite brand. The models are available with a choice of 2 textured aluminum casing designs, and are targetted at users looking for a laptop with superb power and graphics performance. The new Satelite P850 series will also be available from June 2012 onwards throughout South and South East Asia.

 
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Nikon D4 Shipment No More Bundled With XQD Card + Cardreader

15 May

Good things always come to last, as they said. The freebies that Nikon Corp bundled with its latest D4 camera for the first few shipments to customers globally, a 16GB XQD card and an XQD cardreader, will no longer be the case for current shipment and beyond.

Sadly the gravy train has left the station, at least where the Nikon D4 is concerned. In the past, D4 owners were pleasantly surprised when they opened up their treasured new possession to find that Nikon had thrown in a complimentary 16GB XQD card and reader, but no more.

Henceforth, shipments of the Nikon D4 will no longer be going out with these un-requested gifts. Considering how much the D4 costs, it may not seem like much, but approximately $200 dollars worth of free hardware is nothing to scoff at. And although Nikon has said nothing regarding the decision to stop including the card and reader in the box, it doesn’t look like XQD cards, which were once touted as possible “CF replacements,” are doing too hot on the market.

 
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International Art for The Amazing Spider-Man and a New Still

14 May

Columbia Pictures has released four new promo images for The Amazing Spider-Man have come online, thanks to the movie director Marc Webb’s Twitter account.

Coming to 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on July 3 in the United States and Canada, and July 5 in Malaysia, the action adventure stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen and Sally Field.

 
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