The Digital Photography Book

Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).

This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would with a friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."

This isn't a book of theory?it isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.

"The Digital Photography Book" (Scott Kelby)

My new Nikon D300

Nikon D300
Originally uploaded by Rick.

This month, I have bought and returned two digital SLRs. First I bought the Canon XSi. It's not a bad little camera, it's just a 'little camera'. It doesn't fit comfortably in my hand and I found Canon metering to be sub par.

Enter the Nikon D60. Another fine camera, but again kind of tiny and not without some manufacturing defects. It had a problem with the rear LCD display randomly blacking out, and had some hot pixels in the CCD.

Enter my new camera, the Nikon D300. This is a serious tool. No Auto modes, no scene modes. The flash never pops up automatically. You need to know what you're doing with this camera; it is not for newbies.

You can see some sample shots taken with my D300 here and you will find the user manual for it here.

Yikes! I returned my Nikon D60

After a week of owning a Nikon D60 and really enjoying it I have decided to return it. Why?

The first minor annoyance were hot pixels. It had at least two serious red and blue dots showing up in every picture. I was ok with that really. There is software to remove these and you could only see them if you blew up the photos.

The clincher was that the rear LCD display started to turn off and on rapidly and randomly in bright lighting situations. This I had heard about in some forums and others were returning their units.

I think I'm going to wait for the D90 (if that's the name they go with). The D80 is due to be replaced soon. That leaves me without a new toy for a few months I guess - oh well, I still have my trusty D70.

TVS Flame Review

TVS Flame is new release from TVS motors, one of the leading two wheeler manufacturer. In this bike following are the key features:

* Futuristic aerodynamic styling.
* The Fuel tank is embedded with Delta Edge clear lens indicators.
* First time in India- the LCD digital auto console in a 125 cc segment bike.
* Flame's dual lens tailamp will definitely turn the heads.
* India's first Deltaedge exhaust in triangle shape lowers the sounds, emissions delivering excellent performance.
* The 125 cc engine gives 10.5 bhp @ 8250 rpm that are Flame's power performance statement.

Technical Specifications of TVS Flame 125 cc In detail:
Dimensions & Weight
Wheelbase (mm) : 1320
Length (mm) : 2030
Width (mm) : 760
Height (mm) :1070
Weight (kgs) :121
Engine
Model Designation : CC-VTi, 04 Stroke
Clutch :Multi-Plate Wet type
Displacement (cc) :124.8
Gear Box :04 Gear Constant Mesh
Bore & Stroke : 54.5 X 53.5 MM
Suspension
Front :Telescopic Hydraulic Fork
Rear :Twin tube 05 step adjustable gas filled.
Brakes
Front :Disc 230 dia
Rear :Drum 130 dia
Tyres
Front : Mag Alloy 90 x 90 x 17
Rear :Mag Alloy 90 x 90 x 18
Fuel Tank (In Liters) :08
Performance
Max. Horsepower (ps/rpm) : 7.7 KW @ 8250 RPM
Max. Torque (kg m/rpm) :10 NM @ 6250 RPM

Ford Endeavour 2.5L XLT 4x2 Review

Technical Specification:
Break : Self Adjusting Drum of type Variable Power Assist.

Dimension & weight:
Fuel Tank capacity : 0.71 L
Overall Height : 1835 mm
Overall Length : 4958 mm
Overall Width : 1805 mm
Wheelbase : 2860 mm

Engine:
Displacement : 24.99 cc
No. cylinders / arrangement / Valves: 4 cyl in-line,SOHC, 16V

Performance:
Max. Power :110PS/3500rpm
Max. Torque : 27.9kgm/2000rpm

Steering:

Type : Tubular Double Acting Type Composite Oil/Gas Filled

Suspension:
Front : Independent Double Wishbone with Torsion Bar Spring, Stabiliser Bar
Rear : Progressive Linear Rate Leaf Springs with Low Friction Pads

Tyres & Wheels:
Tyres :265/70 R15 (Tubeless)
Tyres :5.5J x 15

Cost: Approx:14 lakhs

I love Nikon cameras

This past week I got the itch to upgrade my old Nikon D70 to a newer model. I get very impetuous sometimes and shop impulsively. This is an example of that as I got swept up in the buzz over the new Canon EOS 450D Rebel XSi. In an impulse I went and bought an XSi and two lenses.
From the get go I had problems. It didn't fit in the hand as well as my Nikon. That I could overlook because it is after all a much smaller body. But then I started experiencing many of the focus issues that I now see popping up over in that forum. It wasn't consistent in focusing at all. Sometimes nothing in the frame was in focus, even though it attained focus-lock. Then I noticed that high-contrast shot were blowing out the highlights - badly! I was beginning to realize I preferred the more compressed (histogram-wise) exposure I got from Nikon.
Well, today I am a much happier camper. I just returned the XSi and bought a Nikon D60 DSLR, with the kit lens. Perfect exposures, razor sharp shots, and this camera fits in my hand.
Thank you Nikon. Thank you.

Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital

Features

• Extraordinary 10.2-megapixel DX-format Nikon picture quality
  
• Includes AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G Vibration Reduction lens
  
• 2.5-inch LCD screen; horizontal and vertical orientation are detected automatically
  
• Continuous shooting at 3 fps; Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control
  
• Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

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Nano technology to stop bleeding

In an research on Nano technology is able stop bleeding almost instantly. In an article

Nanohealing Material Heads to Market

A startup is planning human trials for a nanostructured material that quickly stops bleeding.

by Kevin Bullis written this.

A startup based in Cambridge, MA, says that it plans to soon begin clinical trials of a nanostructured material that stops bleeding almost instantly. A startup called Arch Therapeutics has licensed the technology from MIT and is developing manufacturing processes for making it in large amounts.

The new material can be poured over a site and will stop the bleeding almost at once.

The first application, pending Food and Drug Administration approval, will be for use during surgery to quickly stop bleeding and even prevent it in the first place. Floyd Loop, currently an advisor to Arch Therapeutics, and formerly a cardiovascular surgeon and the head of Cleveland Clinic, says that it could be useful in a wide variety of surgeries, including brain, heart, and prostate. For example, he says that when large tumors are removed, "there's a lot of diffuse bleeding around the site, and you have to spend a lot of time with sponges and cautery stopping it."

Loops says that in addition to saving time, which can improve the outcome of a surgery, the material could decrease the need for transfusions and reoperations to control bleeding. What's more, it could reduce the risk of infection. It could be used, for instance, to prevent leakage after bowel-repair surgery. "I've never seen anything like it," Loop says.

Eventually, the material could be used by first responders to stop bleeding at accident sites and on the battlefield. It has a long shelf life, which makes it attractive for use in first-aid kits. It's also easily broken down by the body, so it doesn't have to be removed, unlike other agents for stopping blood flow. However, Loop cautions that further tests are needed to confirm that the material will work in nonsurgical applications.

The material, a synthetic peptide, was discovered at MIT in the early 1990s. But it wasn't until a few years ago that its potential for stopping bleeding was discovered. Rutledge Ellis-Behnke, a researcher at MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, was exploring its potential use to promote the healing of brain injuries. When he applied a liquid containing the synthetic peptides to a wound site in animal experiments, bleeding in the area stopped within a few seconds. Arch Therapeutics was founded in mid-2006 to develop the material for commercial use. The company made its first public appearance late last month when it announced a finalized licensing agreement for the new technology.