Blog Title: Digital Photography Tips From The Top Floor - Learn photography - Free video mp3 audio

tfttf318 - Interview: Robin Preston - pt 2 of 2

This is part 2 of the interview with illustrator and photographer Robin Preston. Listen to part 1. Today we talk about Robin’s experience around his first car photography shoot. We’ll also spend some time discussing Robin’s current project Laboratorium (link below) and how he wants to use this to give something back. » Download the MP3 read more..

How to calibrate your screen

Oh nooo, Twitter is down. twitter.com/chrismarquardt that is … so I guess instead of aimlessly wandering about the studio, I better put the unexpected chunk of time to good use and calibrate my monitors. If you want any sort or certainty that what you see on your screen is what others see on theirs, or read more..

tfttf317 - Interview: Robin Preston - pt 1 of 2

Today features the first part of the interview with illustrator and photographer Robin Preston. We talk about the beginnings of digital image editing and we look at the difference between commercial and professional photographers. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Robin Preston Ravsitar’s Photo Contest » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for read more..

One-Minute-Howto: HDR Phtography

Tune in to the One-Minute-Howto podcast with George Smyth. George and Chris talk about what HDR photography is and how it’s actually a two-step process: creating the HDR and tone-mapping it into the target medium.

tfttf316 - Burst Burst Burst

It’s industrial photography time! Chris and Monika spent time to shoot at the former Continental factory in Hannover, which has been shut down for many years. Let’s re-visit the burst trick and find out how you can take hand-held long exposures without a tripod and still avoid camera shake. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show read more..

tfttf315 - Group Shots - Vote at www.podcastawards.com!

Here is your chance to give something back to all your favorite free podcasts! Voting for this year’s Podcastawards is open NOW! Voting ends on Nov/6, so please vote DAILY for your favorite shows! Chris will vote daily for: The Rest of Everest (Best Video Podcast) You look nice today (Comedy) This American Life (Cultural/Arts) ReMARKable Palate (Food & read more..

tfttf314 Video - Photokina 2008 - Impressions

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) Chris Marquardt and Boris Nienke spent a week in Cologne to cover Photokina 2008, the world’s biggest photography trade show for their German photography podcast Happy Shooting. Here are a few impressions for you. » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the read more..

Chris on TechZulu

While at the New Media Expo in Las Vegas in August, I was interviewed by Amanda from TechZulu. Check it out!

tfttf313 - Light Light Light

Last workshop of the year and first audio show in quite a while! Let’s talk about Photokina, workshops, theater light design, performance photography and more with our international group of workshop participants. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Chris’s Photokina coverage John Miller’s The Rest of Everest Want to know what Chris is planning for workshops in read more..

More Photokina 2008

Just in case you wondered about more Photokina 2008 coverage, we have a few (mostly) English segments over on Happy Shooting: Interview with Steven Sasson, inventor of the digital camera Drobo Interview HP Consumer Products If you speak German, go to see the full Photokina 2008 coverage here.

tfttf312 Video - Photokina 2008 - Roundup

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) Photokina 2008 is over and Chris sums up the show for us. Show Links: Chris’s interview Steven Sasson inventor of the digital camera Check out Chris & Borris on the Happy Shooting Podcast (German) Drobo backup drives The Monochrom Subjektiv lens Kodak Image Sensors Lasolite lighting equipment Canon 5D Mark II Nikon read more..

Video Interview with Steven Sasson

He invented the digital camera and kicked off a revolution. See Chris talk to Seven Sasson of Kodak at Photokina 2008. Watch the video interview at Happy Shooting.

tfttf311 Video - Photokina 2008 - First Look

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) With 160,000 visitors and almost 1600 exhibitors back in 2006, Photokina is the world’s largest photo trade show. A first look at the new Leica S2, Hasselblad drops its prices by 40%, Wacom Cintiq 12, HP Z3200 and more. » Get the show for free read more..

Podcastawards: Nominate Your Favorite Shows Now!

Thanks to the tremendous TFTTF audience, this show has received two Podcastawards in the past, and the nominations for 2008 have just opened. If you feel that you’ve learned something through this show, here is your chance to give a little back! I would kindly like to ask you to nominate Tips from the Top Floor for read more..

tfttf310 Video - Ft. Collins Workshop 2008 (Alluvial Fans?)

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) A day in Rocky Mountain National Park (near Estes Park) together with a crazy bunch of workshoppers. Obviously getting answers to questions also tends to raise new ones though. So what about those Alluvial Fans?! PS: and please give a big hand to Kingsley read more..

Contest Announcement

Release Pixie here with a quick little announcement show. Chris is still out with a case of laryngitis and wont be doing an audio show this week. Look for some video shows (one from the Ft. Collins workshop and a couple with Leo Laport from the PME) later this week or early next week.Chris and read more..

tfttf309 Video - Portland, Maine - Studio Photography

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) Let’s have some studio fun in this video of the Portland, ME workshop in August 2008. Everyone’s having a great time and it’s a blast to have access to such a great arsenal of studio equipment (thanks Mark Astmann and Bogen Imaging) Show Links: Bogen read more..

tfttf308 - Portland Maine Workshop 2008

Coming from Portland, Maine! Chris’ last workshop on the US tour in 2008, here is another exciting Q&A show (but don’t worry, there is one workshop left for October in Germany and it has open seats!) A big thank you goes out to Mark Astmann and Bogen Imaging who were a tremendous help to the workshop read more..

Workshop videos by Trucker Tom

Podcaster Trucker Tom is not only a friend of mine, he also participated in the landscape photography workshop in Ft. Collins, CO. And what do you think a podcaster like Tom would do when he has a camera in his hands? Right… Tom has released two video episodes showing scenes from the Ft. Collins workshop. He read more..

tfttf307 - Ft. Collins Workshop 2008 (Crunchy Pretzel)

We are having a blast at the landscape photography workshop in Ft. Collins. This show has been recorded the night before our excursion up to Rocky Mountain National Park and we (of course) talk about landscape photography, nature photography, Arches National Park, eating 76 pieces of Sushi, and radio code names. Crunchy pretzel signing off. read more..

Pixel Heads Interview

I’ve been interviewed by Marcelo of Pixel Heads at the New Media Expo in Las Vegas last week for their EXPOzed show. See the video here

tfttf306 Video - San Francisco Excursion

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) It’s excursion day in San Francisco and workshop helper and participant Gary Orenstein has put together this great video of the day! Show Links: Interested in an workshop? Click here! Ft. Colins Meet & Greet: August 20th at Rio Grande Portland Meet & Greet: August 27th at read more..

I’m a TWiT! - Geoff Smith live

This video was shot during the 2008 Nashville Learning to See Event Photography workshop at the Big Bang Bar. As this isn’t directly photography related, but as I’m on Leo Laporte’s Tech Guy radio show, I’m putting it up here on the blog, but not on the Tips from the Top Floor podcast feed. read more..

Livestreaming from the NME!

Mark your calendars, you can see Chris live on Leo Laporte’s TWITLive.tv while he is at the New Media Expo (NME) in Las Vegas this week. Thursday, 2pm Pacific Time (5pm Eastern Time, 11pm Central European Time) Leo will have a busy schedule at the NME, interviewing a lot of people, so it might only be a read more..

tfttf305 Video - Geoff and Chris live on stage!

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) Chris and the Nashville workshop crew hang out at the Big Bang Bar with Geoff Smith. Watch Chris and Geoff rock out together on stage, and watch the workshop participants practice their low-light photography skills. Show Links: More about the Learning to See photography workshops Geoff read more..

tfttf304 - Nashville, Tennessee

Greetings from the workshop in Nashville,TN and a happy 8/8/08 to our Chinese listeners, oh happy day! Today we’ll talk about photography pricing, digital asset management, super long exposures, lenses for stage photography, macro lenses and why the colors red, blue and white are attention magnets in pictures. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show read more..

Warnings from where????

Something a little unusual from a few attendees of the San Francisco workshop. You could have this kind of fun too. And there’s still space available in the Portland workshop. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Nashville Meet & Greet: August 6th at Bosco’s Las Vegas Meet & Greet: August 13th at Peppermill Ft. Colins Meet & read more..

Listener Meet & Greet Reminder #3

Release Pixie here with a quick little update/reminder for the TFTTF Listener Meet & Greets. They’re coming up fast, so stop into the forums and let us know if you’ll be there. We’d love to meet you! -Release Pixie » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: San Francisco Meet & Greet: July 30th at Americano Restaurant read more..

tfttf303 - San Francisco Workshop 2008

Listen in as the TFTTF San Francisco Workshop group discusses the things they’ve learned from the first two days of the workshop. Learn about a really cool way to view the world, catch lights, swapping camera gear, and things to watch out for while traveling. Photo by: Alan Morris » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Nashville read more..

Listener Meet & Greet Reminder #2

Release Pixie here with a quick little update/reminder for the TFTTF Listener Meet & Greets. They’re coming up fast, so stop into the forums and let us know if you’ll be there. We’d love to meet you! -Release Pixie » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: San Francisco Meet & Greet: July 30th at Americano Restaurant read more..

tfttf302 - The Tricaster Disaster

It was such a perfect plan: Drive up to Petaluma, enter the TWiT Dungeon Cottage, take over Leo’s TWiT Live TV and make him talk to me about photography for at least two hours while sending me tons of new followers to Twitter and new subscribers to Tips from the Top Floor. But as we read more..

tfttf301 - Previsualization - The Tech Guy

Let us dig up this old technique devised by Ansel Adams. By pre-visualizing your shots, you can get more consistent and reliable results. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops Meeet & Greets: San Francisco Meet & Greet: July 30th at Americano Restaurant & Bar Nashville Meet read more..

Listener Meet & Greet Reminder #1

Release Pixie here with a quick little update/reminder for the TFTTF Listener Meet & Greets. They’re coming up fast, so stop into the forums and let us know if you’ll be there. We’d love to meet you! PS: Sorry about the sound, I need a new mic stand -Release Pixie » Download the MP3 for read more..

Chris live on TV on Friday, Jul/25 1pm PST

Picture by nahlinse Mark your calendars! On Friday, July/25 at 1pm PST (that’s 9pm in UK, 10pm in Germany) Chris will drive up north of San Francisco to Petaluma and visit Leo Laporte. And you can watch live on Leo Laporte’s TWiTLive.tv. We’ll spend a couple of hours talking about all things photography, looking at gadgets read more..

tfttf300 - Ones and 0s

Yey! Here’s the 300th episode of Tips from the Top Floor, almost entirely made by YOU, the listeners! Meet Chris and hang out for a drink at one of the Meet’n'Greets: - Jul/30 San Francisco, CA - Aug/6 Nashville, TN - Aug/20 Ft. Collins, CO - Aug/27 Portland, ME Make sure to get the Chris Live calendar (see links to the read more..

Tfttf299c - Improve your Photography - The Tech Guy

Leo and Chris talk about fun tips to help you improve your photography. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for free using RSS Godaddy coupon code / promo codes: Use code TIPS1 and save read more..

Focus Ring 15 - All Access Le Mans

The Photocast Network just released another episode of Focus Ring! On the Focus Ring Panel: Benoit Marchal - Declencheur Boris Nienke - nSonic Chris Marquardt - Tips from the Top Floor Topics: How to become a professional photographer in minutes, how to get an all-access pass to the 24 hours of Le Mans car race and how to learn about read more..

tfttf299b - Lenses - The Tech Guy

Chris and Leo talk about different types of lenses and what they are good for. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for free using RSS Godaddy coupon code / promo codes: Use code TIPS1 read more..

tfttf299 - Filters, Meets and Greets

Join one of the four meet’n'greets while Chris is on the August tour in the US. Locations: San Francisco: Jul/30th, Nashville: Aug/6th, Ft. Collins: Aug/20th, Portland, ME: Aug/27. Latest poll result: 43% of the audience started photography with a film SLR. Make sure you participate in the new poll on the right hand side read more..

tfttf298b - Negative Space - The Tech Guy

Today Chris and Leo find out why the background of the image is so important. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for free using RSS Godaddy coupon code / promo codes: Use code TIPS1 read more..

tfttf298 - Experiment - The Tech Guy

Join in as Leo and Chris talk about how to spice up your photography by playing with things, and by shooting through materials that you usually wouldn’t shoot through. Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops » Download the MP3 for this episode » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get read more..

tfttf297 - Color Management - Monitor Calibration

Listener questions about depth of field, monitor calibration, a new poll about how you started photography, and hurry, only 2 shows left for you to send in your greetings for show 300! Send your 300th show greetings (mp3, email) to info@tipsfromthetopfloor.com or leave a quick shout-out via voice mail at 206-202-3757 (in the US) or at read more..

tfttf296 - Color Management - Camera

Today we continue our quest for a deeper understanding of color management. And we’ll start simple: at the camera level. Also: the new Canon 1000D, a new poll about filters (thanks Susheel), and how to take great pictures while using the camera’s build-in flash. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Susheel Chandradhas provided this read more..

Hurry Hurry

Ravsitar the Release Pixie here with a short little call to action for the Tips From the Top Floor listeners. Chris is quick(ish)ly approaching show 300! That’s a big deal in the land-o-podcasts! So take a few minutes and record a quick shout out or quick question (audio or video) and send it to Chris at read more..

tfttf295 - Color Management Overview - Listener question line (US) 206-202-3757 / (UK) 07005-805-742

Why has Chris been so busy? And can I make sure that my prints look exactly the way they looked on my screen? Let’s find out the answers to these questions and more on today’s show! Got questions for the next shows about color management? Profiles? Color spaces? Bit depths? Send in a voice mail at read more..

tfttf294 - Portrait Photography - The Tech Guy

Chris and Leo discuss various aspects of portrait photography. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops Everest Basecamp Trek 2009 with Jon Miller and Chris Marquardt » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for free using RSS Godaddy coupon code / promo codes: read more..

tfttf293 - Assignment Review (”Call”) - The Tech Guy

Chris and Leo review the “call” assignment. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops Everest Basecamp Trek 2009 with Jon Miller and Chris Marquardt » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for free using RSS Godaddy coupon code / promo codes: Use code read more..

tfttf292 - Poor Man’s Tripod - The Tech Guy

Hear Chris surprise Leo with a cheap and easy do-it-yourself alternative to the classic tripod. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops Everest Basecamp Trek 2009 with Jon Miller and Chris Marquardt » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for free using read more..

tfttf291 video - Canyonlands Photo Adventure Part 6

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) Watch Canyonlands Part 1 - “Best smelling toilets in the world” Part 2 - “Oh Dear!” Part 3 - “17mm is just not wide enough” Part 4 - “Compressing the dynamic range” Part 5 - “Shafer Trail” Part 6 - “Shoot first, then look” Join Chris again at his Canyonlands read more..

tfttf290 - Grey Card - The Tech Guy

Use a grey card to get the proper white balance for your pictures as well as good exposure. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops Everest Basecamp Trek 2009 with Jon Miller and Chris Marquardt » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show read more..

tfttf289 - Vacuum Sealed Hasselblads For Grabs - UK Voice Mail 07005-805-742

Find out where to find a free Hasselblad medium format camera (hint: pretty far away..), let’s look at how to shoot in manual mode, and please help out and donate to a fellow photographer and podcaster who was burgled.Show Links: Everest Basecamp Trek 2009 with Jon Miller and Chris Marquardt Help Allen Rockwell get back on his read more..

tfttf288 - Special Announcement - Everest Basecamp Trek 2009

This is a special announcement about the Nepal Mt. Everest Basecamp 2009 trip, explaining a bit more about what is planned and what Jon and Chris are currently thinking about. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Find out more about the Everest Basecamp Trek 2009 The Rest of Everest - Jon Miller’s podcast » Get the show read more..

tfttf287 - Travel Around The World - Voice Mail (UK) +44-7005-805-742

How to keep your camera gear safe when traveling, what gear to take with you when you travel, and how would you like to come with me and Jon Miller on the photography trip of your lifetime in 2009? » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: The Rest of Everest Chris’ pictures on Flickr » Get the show read more..

Release Pixie here….

Ravsitar the Release Pixie here… Yeah, I know it’s never good when I get to post on the front page. Just got a message from Chris this morning. He’s buried up to his eyeballs in a “secret” project for a client. So no shows this week. He didn’t tell me what, just that it’s consuming the week read more..

tfttf286 - The Life of a Shutter (and more)

It’s COMMUNITY time again. Chris is looking forward to the 10th (!) London Get-Together coming up this weekend. And organized by Kavey (BIG BIG THANKS, YOU ROCK!!). Also on today’s show: we’ll hear from someone who will travel to nepal because of Tips from the Top Floor, we’ll look at the life expectancy of camera read more..

tfttf285 video - Lightroom 2 Beta: First Look - US voice mail US: 206-202-3757

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) A first look at the new Adobe Lightroom 2 beta. 64-bit support, 2-monitor support, output sharpening, support for plugins and FINALLY local image correction. Watch this video to see Chris take a first look at some of the new features. Show Links: Adobe Lightroom 2 read more..

tfttf284 - Attack of the Killer Cameras

What do 6 DSLRs sound like on rapid fire? Find out today. Are we still allowed to get the pictures we want? Interview with Simon Taylor. How do I capture a lit building at night? A question from Tom. … and questions around studio photography from the TFTTF workshop in Tübingen, southern Germany. » Download the MP3 for this read more..

Show Schedule

Release Pixie here with a quick show schedule update. Chris is doing his best to get things ready for the TFTTF Workshop in Tubingen this week (starts tomorrow). The way he talks he’s likely renting a dumpster and bulldozer for the day to get the studio cleaned up. So only one show this read more..

tfttf283 - Asignment Review: Line - Tech Guy

Chris and Leo review the “line” assignment from the Tech Guy show and talk about the community that has come to live around the show. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for free read more..

tfttf282 - Squeeze it to release it - Drawing of the WINNER - US voice mail 206-202-3757

Today’s show will be exciting! We’ll find out who won the free workshop participation, we’ll learn more about tripods from Boris and let’s talk a bit about online backup. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Don’t miss out on the workshops! Ft. Collins almost sold out, Nashville, Portland and Tübingen still open. .Mac - Online storage read more..

tfttf281 - The Sweet Spot - Tech Guy

What sets expensive lenses apart from cheap lenses? Is it possible to get sharper pictures with the right settings no matter what lens I use? Find out today as Leo and Chris discuss the sweet spot of lenses. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF read more..

tfttf280 - Expose for the Sky? - Voice Mail line: 206-202-3757 (US)

How to expose for the sky, how to repair a ruined sensor, how to take black-and-white pictures and how to get into conflict with Minneapolis security. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: The Zone System according to Luminous Landscape .. and on Wikipedia Photos from the TFTTF Minneapolis Get Together on March 8th The 2008 TFTTF Workshops » Get read more..

tfttf279 - Design Principles: The Line - Techguy

Explore simple design principles together with Chris and Leo. Today: the line. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the show for free using RSS Godaddy coupon code / promo codes: Use code TIPS1 and save 10%! read more..

tfttf278 - Ball Heads and Knobs

Learn how NOT to clean your camera’s sensor, find out everything you ever wanted to know about tripod heads and learn to make pictures shot on overcast days look a bit more sunny. » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Sign up for a workshop around landscape photography in Colorado, event photography in Nashville, or studio read more..

Workshops are filling up and a GTG reminder

Release Pixie here with another quick announcement reminder show. This is getting to be a habit. Maybe I should get Chris to get me some proper recording equipment -Release Pixie » Download the MP3 for this episode Show Links: Join Ravsitar on a GTG in Minneapolis, MN on March 8th. Check out this thread in the forum. The read more..

tfttf277 - Tripods, Assignments, Condensation

Part one of a tripod special - Interview with Boris Nienke - Assignments - Shoot in cold weather and don’t get your camera fogged up when going inside. Show Links: Boris Nienke - nsonic.de Current assignment: sweet Buy Geoff Smith’s songs for 99ct on the PMN Join Ravsitar on a GTG in Minneapolis, MN on March 8th. Check out this read more..

tfttf276a - Finding the First Pepper Tree (shameless workshop plug)

[See post to watch Flash video] Watch in high quality (right click to save) A quick look back at one of the 2008 workshops. San Diego, Excursion to the Mission. Show Links: The 2008 TFTTF Workshops Want to join Ravsitar on a get together? Check out this thread in the forum. » Get the show for free in iTunes » Get the read more..

Steal the mini player

Already noticed the cool mini player on the Tips from the Top Floor home page? It is always up-to-date and it plays the latest video and audio episodes. And you can have one too on your own site! It’s easy: Click the share button at the bottom of the player Wait for a second and click copy Paste the read more..

tfttf276 - Photo Gadgets - Techguy

Listen as Chris and Leo take a deep look in their photo bags and discuss some cool gadgets. Show Links: Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy The TWiT netcast network The 2008 TFTTF Workshops Want to join Ravsitar on a get together? Check out this thread in the forum. » Download the MP3 for this episode » Get the show for free read more..

tfttf275 - Wide Angle

All 2008 workshops are now open for registration! Book before Mar/5 and save over 14% with the early bird special! On today’s show: wide angle questions, a call from Leo, and a get-together in Minneapolis! If you’d like a stack of TFTTF business cards to hand out to your customers, camera club, friends or colleagues, read more..

Baby Photographer

Hahaha.. this is wonderful Found here.