Apple releases Camera Raw for Panasonic Lumix G1

I noted last week that Apple finally released compatibility in Aperture & iPhoto for RAW files from the Panasonic Lumix G1 series cameras. I haven’t used the RAW features of my G1 much yet, as there has been no way to handle them in my workflow. Now that I can, I think I will.

I attended every user conference session I could that featured Aperture workflows and RAW format work at Macworld last week (when I wasn’t teaching MacIT sessions that is!) I REALLY want to start handling all my images in RAW to avoid the destructive nature of the JPEG format work I’ve been doing since I went digital back in the day. Until now I really couldn’t. I’ve installed the new update, and have requested a 30-day trial of Aperture 3.0. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Car Photo of the Day: Mystery Car

Name that car!

I posted this car once before, as part of a larger guessing game, but it remained unidentified. So I’m posting it again. In fact I’ll add another close-up photo of it to give you another hint.

Your extra hint.

I love this car, and expressed my undying admiration for it to my navigator at the event we saw it a few years back. I picked it as my “car from this event I’d most like to take home.” My navigator thought I was nuts. I imagine once identified all you guys will suspect I’ve lost my marbles as well.

Well maybe not ALL of you, we’ll see. I know some of you also would lust in your petroleum-pumping hearts for one.

The marque has produced some iconic machines and there is one in particular (not this model, but not long after its day) that I have never seen in the flesh and can not wait to be able to photograph its legendary shape.

Today is a “travel day” for me as I’m headed down to San Francisco for Macworld Conference & Expo. This means I won’t be here to hand out hints or tell you if you’re wrong or right until I’m in my hotel at the end of the day. Good luck!

Car Photo of the Day: Name that Aston

Apologies for the lack of a CPotD of late. I’ll post a few in quick succession to make up for it.

As much as I like the look of Aston Martin bonnets, I can not tell the difference from one model to another to be honest. I know there are subtle and not-so-subtle differences between DB2/3/4/5/6/etc but I’m not that intimate with them. To me they are like VW Beetles. Damn sexy VW Beetles though. I do know which one this is, as I have other photos that clearly show badging that removes all doubt. Here though, from this angle you’d have to be a real Aston Anorak. Can you name the model and claim that title?

Finally caught it… 787 on a test flight.

As my office is near Boeing Field I’ve been privileged to enjoy a “front row seat” for Boeing’s new Dreamliner flight tests. They have two of them flying now, one in Boeing colors, the other in ANA livery. I’ve seen them take off and land several times but never had my camera handy to share with you. The most dramatic was seeing BOE2 (the ANA plane) on late approach as I was in my car at the north end of the field running out to lunch one day.

I’ve kept my telephoto mounted and by my office window and finally looked over to see BOE1 rising from the runway this morning. I squeezed off three shots before it went beyond my window frame. It is a very quiet plane. A DC-8 cargo craft left soon after and the differential in noise was astounding. The 787 whispered by, barely audible from inside my office. The old Douglas roared.