Adobe Lightroom 3 is 50% off at $149 at Amazon.com

Well, the sales keep coming in. Adobe now has Lighroom on sale for $149, which is 50% off. Talk about a stupendous deal.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 for $149 at Amazon.com

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 for $149 at B&H

Gura Gear Kiboko 22L+ is now available!

You spoke and we listened. You asked for a smaller Kiboko bag. We made it. You wanted a place to put a laptop computer. We added it. You wanted a removable waist belt. You got it. You want to travel to places across the globe with less stress. You wanted a beefed up harness system that would be comfortable for longer hikes. We heard you loud and clear. Here it is, the new Gura Gear Kiboko 22L+.

Before I go into product details, I want to tell you that I and the rest of the Gura Gear team have been working hard at delivering your needs and desires, and this isn’t the last product you will see from us. Our design philosophy is to make products that we want to use ourselves, and after many many trips around the globe with 22L+ prototypes, I think we nailed it. I hope you think so, as well.

Kiboko 22L+ details

The Kiboko 22L+ was designed from the blueprints that our customers provided over the last couple of years while working out on Safari, touring southeast Asia, or simply shooting at home. Much like its more mature sibling, the Kiboko 22L+ is lightweight and durable, but this bag has a thing or two to teach big brother; like  how to carry up to a 15” laptop computer. Sized to fit the most stringent of international carry on requirements without sacrificing carrying capacity; this gem can carry up to a 500mm f4.0 lens in style. The Kiboko 22L+ was made to travel with a beefed up harness system that features memory-foam shoulder straps, a vented and padded back panel, a removable waistbelt and shoulder straps that can tuck away when not needed.

While remaining true to the Kiboko DNA, the 22L+ features a unique butterfly flap access system which allows you to easily get to multiple bodies, lenses, and all your photo accessories without exposing all your prized gear. Kiboko backpacks are made of high-tech materials designed to balance weight and durability. Used by some of the fastest sail boats in the world, VX-21 has a superior strength to weight ratio while remaining abrasion- and tear-resistant. VX-21 is expensive, but your gear is worth it.

Highlights

• Customer driven design
• Carries up to 15” laptop
• Fits most DSLR bodies
• Will accomodate up to 500mm f4.0
• Unique butterfly-style opening
• Made from high-tech, durable sail cloth material
• Comfortable, fully-functional harness
• Removable waist belt
• International airline carry-on compliant
• Removable rain cover
• Exterior Dimensions: 14x18x9 inches (35.6 x 45.7 x 22.9 cm); 22 Liters useable

Kiboko 22L+ front view

Kiboko 22L+ rear view. The waist belt is removable!

Kiboko 22L+ rear view with harness system hidden away

Kiboko 22L+ accommodates up to a 15” laptpop computer

Kiboko 22L+ with my configuration from my last trip. Gear, from top left to bottom right: 85mm f/1.4, 24-70mm f/2.8, 28-300mm f/2.8, 16-35mm f/4, Nikon D3s, Nikon D3x

Kiboko 22L+ with my 200-400mm f/4 on the other side. The 22L+ can accommodate up to a 500mm f/4 lens.

22L+ is easy to shoot out of, just like the bigger 30L brother.

The all-new Kiboko 22L+ is lightweight at only 3 lbs 15 ounces, yet allows for easy travel

Discover your next object of desire, the new Gura Gear Kiboko 22L+

Canon 300mm and 400mm f/2.8L IS Version 2 Lenses are now shipping to dealers

Great news, folks. For those who have been waiting for the new Canon 300mm f/2.8 and 400mm f/2.8L IS II lenses, they are now shipping to select dealers. The new lenses have been redesigned optical systems as well as the latest Image Stabilization (IS). Get on the list ASAP if you ever anticipate wanting one in the next 3 to 6 months, as I anticipate a very tight supply.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens is US$7,299 over at B&H

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II lens is US$11,499 over at B&H

Sony A77: A Wildlife Photography Game Changer?

Sony announced many products today, and without going into too many details the A77 is a product that may do quite well in the wildlife photography world. Why? Here are some quick specs to tease you:

• 24.3MP sensor (1.5x crop)
• 19 points AF sensor with 11 cross sensors
• ISO 100-16000, with expandeable ISO 50 option
• 1920 x 1080 60p/24p AVCHD 2.0
• P/A/S/M manual controls while recording video
• 12 fps
• TrueBlack 921k 3-way tilt LCD
• 3 million dot OLED viewfinder
• Smart teleconverter function with 1.4x and 2.0x option
• Built-in flash
• Built-in GPS

What do you think about having a 12fps camera that also shoots high quality video for under $1500? Pretty cool, actually. Add in built in GPS, a moisture and dust resistant magnesium construction and it sounds like a great wildlife camera. I look forward to hearing reviews on it. Remember that Sony purchased Konica Minolta back in 2006, and they have a very nice set of lenses. Sony struck a deal with Zeiss shortly after their acquisition, and now they have a full range of lenses at different price points. The big question is regarding their 500mm f/4 lens that they have been showing at trade shows for the past couple of years?

Thomson Safaris, Preferred Safari Outfitter in Tanzania

In order for my safari business to be successfull, I have to rely on the right partners on the ground in Africa. I operate safaris in roughly six countries in Africa, and the right outfitter for me in Tanzania is Thomson Safaris. They are by far THE BEST group of people to work with in Tanzania. Here is a quick video customer testimonial to help illustrate.

Back from Botswana

I just got back from 3 weeks in Botswana, and I have a ton of content to write about. I ran two safaris in northern Botswana, split between three different camps: Chitabe, Savuti and Mombo. The weather was pleasant, as it is winter there and it was a great break from the heat back at home. We had some very unique sightings, which included elephants crossing the Savuti channel each day, hyaenas chasing down a baby elephant, multiple Legadema sightings at Mombo and tons more.

When I come home from each safari, I am always inspired on how to run different and more unique safaris for upcoming years. This safari was no exception in this regard, and I have some exciting ideas for 2013 and beyond for my safari schedule. I also came home with some more product ideas for Gura Gear, as there is so much need in the marketplace right now for better made camera and travel related equipment.

I apologize if you have sent me an email and I have not replied yet. I was without communication during my trip, and I will be digging out of almost 1,000 emails over the next couple of days. At least I am up at 4am without much else to do.

Portfolios for Photographers

There are so many ways to present photographs, and I decided to put together a video here in the studio to show many of the different portfolio options that are on the market today. I see more and more people using the Apple iPad for the showing of photographs, however there is no substitute for a printed image on paper. A properly printed body of work shows more than just the work of a photographer, but it can show the mastery of the craft of printing as well as the vision of a photographer.

I am a stickler for well printed photographs on paper, and it is something that I spend much of my time working on in my studio. I even run printing workshops in my studio, because I enjoy printing my own work as well as looking at others’ work. I am not saying that an iPad cannot work, but rather a printed portfolio has the opportunity actually be the final step in the photographic process.

If you do a web search for portfolios, you will see many different products, however most of them seem to be targeted to a student’s budget. This is totally ok and valid, but the readers of this site may want something nicer and are willing to pay more than $10 or $20.

The idea for the video was to put forth some tangible ideas for your own photo portfolios, and the products in the video range from around $5.50 to around $400. I have items from Moab Paper, Lost Luggage, Portfoliobox.com and Dane Creek Folios. The video isn’t a complete roundup of all of the products on the market, however it is a video that shows what I have actually used myself.

Disclaimer: I do consulting work for Moab Paper, in that I create their ICC profiles for their paper.

External links:

Andy Biggs Portfolio Boxes for sale

Moab Paper Chinle Ice Nine Portfolios 8x8” is $40 and 12x12 is $55 (both include 10 sheets of paper)

Moab Paper Chinle Digital Books 8x8” is $40 and 12x12 is $55 (no paper is included)

Moab Paper Chinle Economy Folio 8.5x11 is $23, 11x17 is $31, 13x19 is $36 and 17x22 is $42.

Moab Paper Chinle Archival Box boxes start at $15 and go up to $58

Dane Creek Folios folio packages start at $5.50

Portfoliobox.com a custom quote is required. I spent around $3300 for fifteen 8.5x11 and fifteen 13x19 boxes.

Lost Luggage I paid around $400 for my brown leather portfolio. Prices vary, depending on product and size.

Capture. Print. Present. Seminar in Chicago on June 22

If you live in the Chicago area, please consider my latest seminar, sponsored by Canon, IT Supplies and Moab Paper. Here are the details, below, and you can register your attendance by clicking the image below our with the following link:

Capture. Print. Present. Seminar on June 22