What is Apple up to?

For the first time, Apple will be heading to the Cologne, Germany to be a part of Photokina 2006, the photographic and imaging trade fair, this coming September. Not only will they show up, but they're also going to have a presentation during the trade fair.

It's possible that they may be previewing or releasing a new version of their Aperture image editor. At the very least, they're certainly going to make their presence known.

Photokina is scheduled to take place from September 26 to October 1, with Apple expected to have their presentation the day before the formal opening of the trade fair itself.


New Information: QJ Reader Mike has brought us a little hint. According to him, "Photokina will be one of the largest product unveilings ever." If he really means more than one, then it really will be an interesting event. Keep posted here folks, and thank you Mike!

One may see Kurtis Kronk as a creative person, but he himself admits that he is not one. But it does not take an artist to be a great photographer, right? And Kronk's work-related start with the camera has led to a lasting relationship.

Kronk painted his first date with photography: a challenging quest for setting up "a very cheap studio" while trying to decipher manual camera settings. From then on, he never left manual photography. Many may ask why Kronk let himself be stuck with modifying camera settings manually when the camera has an automatic mode that takes pictures 'just fine'. Kronk provides a nice answer, "It is certainly possible to get a nice photo just snapping away in automatic mode, but more often than not what you’ll end up with is a snapshot rather than an expressive photograph."

Indeed, the images that a camera's automatic settings may capture are not always as dramatic or as expressive as the ones captured by settings that you yourself set. With that said, Kronk decided to release a manual that will provide beginners (or automatic settings veterans) a good starting point on embarking on manual photography.

The manual that Kronk has released is just an introduction to manual settings and focuses on Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO sensitivity. More tips on manual settings may come our way in the following days. But for now, read the manual (by clicking on the link below) and who knows, with the info Kronk has provided you may already start churning out great photos. Snap away!