Photography

At last, a guest who knows a good martini when he is offered one. This week's guest, Tom Hogarty, besides being discriminating beverage connoisseur, is also the Adobe Project Manager for Lightroom, Camera Raw and the DNG file format. We wanted to talk with Tom specifically about the Lightroom part of his job, because the newest version of the product is currently in public beta (from Adobe Labs), meaning it's downloadable for you to check out yourself. Yes, you're welcome.

Tom concisely calls Lightroom his digital assistant, that is, the device which handles all the necessary tasks for managing your digital photography. Then we remind him that it's "Martini Hour" (even if it's more like a half-hour) and he can be a little more effusive. 

Here are some of Tom's favorite things about the Lightroom 3 Beta that he graciously shares with us: Read more » 

We're joined this week by our good friend Mikkel Aaland, who, as Martini Hour Faithful know, was there at the inception of the original, offline Martini Hour. But in addition to his going olive-for-olive with me and Deke in Las Vegas, Mikkel has also authored two amazingly beautiful Lightroom books. And it's a great time to talk about Lightroom, because the beta of Lightroom 3 is currently available for download at Adobe Labs. So after you're done enjoying this show, you can go check it out for yourself. Because we imagine it's much more interesting for you to listen to us be loungy fools, then go try the products we talk about for yourself!

Here's more raw data from this week's show: Read more » 

Pour yourselves a Campari and soda, dekeOpolitans, it's time for another Martini Hour. This week's installation is the last of those we recorded in Las Vegas, in the VIP lounge we retired to after our live show at Photoshop World, with two compassionate, inspiring, life-affirming teachers of photography. On my right, fine-art photographer, teacher and all-around leather-sportcoat pony-tailed source of calm inspiration, JP Caponigro. On my left, photographer, art educator,  and all around cropped-hair SoCal surfer source of energized creativity, Chris Orwig.

Read more » 

Ah, I am starting to enjoy this Thursday visit to the dekeLounge. A half-hour with my good buddy Deke and an awesome special guest, and it's like the weekend has already started. And what could be better than a guest who knows what to drink. Not only is Peter Krogh the preeminent expert in digital asset management (that's the DAM acronym we have so much dam fun with, because we're eleven-year-olds underneath our cosmopolitan veneers), but the man requested we have Bombay Sapphire martinis to lubricate our discussion of how to manage all those dam(n) photos.

Fresh off the publication of the second edition of his bestselling The DAM Book, Digital Asset Management for Photographers, here's what Peter had to share over martinis: Read more » 

...on the Fourth of July. Yes, dekeOlutionaries, it's time for that yearly celebration of Independence Day here in the good ol' US of A. So I thought I'd wish you all peace, freedom, and love of history by playing this "Fireworks" episode of Schoolhouse Rock. For those of you who didn't a) grow up in the 1970's or b) grow up with the American Broadcasting Company piped into your living room, this little gem is part of a collection that played in between the regular cartoons on Saturday mornings. Schoolhouse Rock insidiously taught us all about history (as well as multiplication, grammar, and science) with catchy tunes and delightful animation, while we were busy eating pop tarts and trying to rot our brains. How many of us can still sing the preamble to the United States Constitution thanks to these crafty edutainers? "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility... (everybody, sing along now!)"

And should you wish to get out your camera out and shoot (pictures) of fireworks this year, here's a link to last year's roundup of advice for doing so, wherein I included another tidbit of pop culture from my youth. Once again wishing you all life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in whatever style you like. Read more »