Tags:Palau Micronesia, Hot News, Explore Palau, Underwater Photography, Digital Photography, Aperture 2

WELCOME TO THE PEARLS OF THE PACIFIC
...one of Natures best kept secrets.



© Gunther Deichmann - special thanks to Palau Helicopters
and Matt the Pilot, view at the 70 islands.

Click on the Images and go to our completed
Photo Gallery on Palau
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html

The official launch of the PALAU TOURS Website…
some more fine tuning has to be done and a few glitches
have to be ironed out, however our Blog is out to keep
you posted and informed around the clock.

The Palau Tours website is totally independent and
neutral, conceived more than 12 month ago with the
aim in providing YOU up to date information
on Palau and Micronesia. Information on the Environment,
Hotels, Resorts, Diving, Tours, Shopping and much more.
Soon we provide you with a complete list of Establishments,
Government Services and local Operators.



© Gunther Deichmann - Palau Pacific Resort,
PPR, Your place in Palau.
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html

At present we are going through our test phase and work
around the clock improving the site as we go…
The site will also be in different languages once the
English part is all finalized and has been approved by
the management.
Our aim is to show YOU Palau like you have never
seen it before, not only with stunning images but also
with good and informative text, so that when you
arrive in Palau you are all set to go, be it under or
above the waves.

We are AWARE of Palau’s fragile Environment and
support the Palau Conservation Society for it’s never
ending efforts in preserving Palau’s natural resources.

The Editor

Tags:Sam's Tours, Diving, Adventure, Discovery, Aperture, Survivor Series in Palau, Photography

You are cordially invited to attend our 6pm-7pm
FREE MAC Training for the month of May
at the Power Mac Training Center, Level 2 Greenbelt 3,
Ayala Center, Makati.


For all Mac and non Mac users...feel like switching? Why not!
Check out the Training Center at the Power Mac Center In Makati.
Recommended by Gunther Deichmann a certified Apple Trainer
for Aperture he is also on the Apple Aperture Advisory Board.
Visit his website @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html

Click on the image for your
Registration at the POWER MAC CENTER
MAC TOPICS:
May 6- Mac OS X.5 Leopard Basic
May 13- Mac OS X.5 Leopard Advanced
May 15-iWork (Pages & Keynote)
May 17-iLife '08 Basic (iPhoto, iMovie & GarageBand)
May 20- Automator & AppleScript
May 22 - Movie Editing Using Final Cut Pro
May 24- Troubleshooting Your Mac
May 27-TAB Animation for Kids
May 29-Switchers 101 (From PC to Mac)

Check out our Training Calendar website for more info & services.
One-on-One Tutorial/ Group Training/ Venue Rental)

http://www.powermaccenter.com/training.php

Tags:MAC,APPLE,TRAINING,Computer,Center,Philippines, Manila,

BOLLYWOOD...MUMBAI INDIA YOU SEE IT EVERYWHERE
the latest images from India are NOW on my
PHOTOSHELTER ARCHIVES


© Gunther Deichmann - BOLLYWOOD Posters along the road in
Mumbai India... click on the image for the latest photos on Mumbai India
in my PHOTOSHELTER ARCHIVE or click the link below the article.

If you travel to Mumbai India dont be surprised when you see or came across this amazing film industry, no matter where you go, posters and shooting along the road. In only 3 days I must have seen some 4 major productions along the way. Interesting or more fascinating? I guess it is AMAZING INDIA after all.

DID YOU KNOW
BOLLYWOOD is the name given to Mumbai-based Hindi language film industry. The name is a fusion of two words - Bombay and Hollywood. Bollywood is known across the world for the sheer volume of films it churns out each year. Virtually ruling the entertainment sector of India and great many parts of South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and parts of Africa, Bollywood also commands a sizable chunk of Indian diaspora in the UK, Canada, Australia and the US.
For my images on Mumbai India go to my PHOTO SHELTER ARCHIVE @
http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann

© Gunther Deichmann - BOLLYWOOD MOVIE
production opposite the famous
TAJ Hotel In Mumbai India


© Gunther Deichmann - the famous Taj Hotel and
its amazing architecture in Mumbai for the latest images on
Mumbai India click on the image or visit my
PHOTOSHELTER COLLECTION @
http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann

© Gunther Deichmann - aerial view near Lhasa Tibet, July 2006

A lot of us have been looking forward to this truly amazing Photo Workshop however this is beyond my control…my heart and soul goes out to the People of Tibet and I sincerely hope the situation can be resolved peace fully.
My wishes and thoughts go to my Guide and the many great Tibetan people I have met during my visit in 2006, the finishing chapter of my now published book “A Journey Through Color and Time.”
I am working on a new exotic location and post the dates and venue once it has been finalized.
For the latest images from Mumbai India and 48 hour updates please visit my Blog at: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html

Buddha bless.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - Mumbai India April 2008
for more on my recent travels click the image above or this link.
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html

New plug-ins from Nic software for Aperture 2.1 next month...and how they can be useful for our underwater photographers in the feature...Apple made it possible with the release of Aperture 2.1

The interesting part for all these new plug- ins will be for our underwater photographers in due time...some of whom still using Photoshop to tweak some colors which can be difficult for underwater landscapes. Remember when I set up the Digital Photo Center for Sam's Tours in Palau, (check the previous blogs for details) I have heard only yesterday that everything is running very smooth.
The Wi-Fi connections we installed running cool, not to mention the iMac upgrades and training of the staff on Leopard and Aperture, I guess all of this would not have been possible without the investment from Sam Scott and the incredible input and advise from Dermot Keane the GM at Sam's Tours.

_________________________________________

Sam's Tours has just been featured recently in the Scuba Diving Magazine online Bottoms Time, see the screenshot below.

Click on the image and go direct to
the Digital Photo Center

Press release from the Scuba Diving magazine:
ALL - NEW DIGITAL PHOTO CENTER AT SAM'S TOURS IN PALAU

Sam's Tours' all new Digital Photo Center is fully equipped to cater to digital photographers of all interest levels, from those with handy point-and-shoot cameras to the most demanding digital photographers shooting in RAW format. Their six top-of-the-line Apple iMac workstations are loaded with terabytes and terabytes of storage, archiving and secure data backup systems, lots of RAM, and completely optimized for digital imaging with Apple Aperture 2 image management software, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Bridge, Toast, and topped off with DSL Wi-Fi internet access. No other photo center in Palau comes near!

Plus, you can rent new Canon SD850 Digital Cameras and Canon ZR830 Digital Minicams with underwater housings. Other camera-friendly improvements include an expanded "dry zone" for Camera Preparation and Charging and a new Camera Drying Station complete with towels and compressed air for post-rinsing camera care.

________________________________________

What has all of this to do with the new plug-ins? Actually a lot...more capabilities on one system soon...I guess to go with the iMacs and Aperture at Sam's Tours was the right decision, check it out the next time you in Palau and dont forget your Camera for these incredible shots above and below the waves.
GD

Nic software has just announced the availability of one of the first Plug -ins for Aperture 2.1 in May 2008. For those of you who are interested in all these new plug ins stay tuned as soon more become available I be announcing them.
Exciting times ahead for some of you, soon you be able to stay even longer in Aperture 2.1 without switching back and forth or open Photoshop.
Click on the images below for a direct link to Nic software and a detail description of their products.
GD

Available in May, 2008, Viveza will also be compatible with Apple Aperture 2 to enable direct on-image editing, with the most powerful and precise tool available to selectively control light and color in photographic images. For the first time, corrections and enhancements can be made quickly and easily without the need to create complicated selections or layer masks, providing selective editing control within Aperture.

Aperture World Tour 2008
Countries and Dates

Singapore March 12 - Hong Kong March 20 - Taiwan March 27 -
India (Mumbai) April 1



Join the Tour

Beginning in February, Apple takes Aperture 2 on tour around the world. Join us and enjoy a close look at the next generation of Apple’s powerful photo editing and management software.

With its simplified user interface, Aperture 2 is easy enough for any photographer to pick up and use. Intuitive and accessible, it brings a variety of new interface features that members of Apple’s pro photo marketing team will demonstrate, including:

* A new All-in-one Inspector
* Viewer Only mode
* Quick Preview mode
* Project skimming in All Projects view

This free, two-hour seminar explores all of the top features in Aperture 2, our invited professional photographer’s workflow and an introduction of Canon’s latest camera.

Agenda

* Discover Aperture 2 - by Sam Leung
* Using Aperture on Assignment - by Gunther Deichmann
* Canon Digital Imaging Solution - by Canon

For more details and venues click on the image above or this link: http://www.apple.co.in/aperture/tour/

Aperture 2 soon at the Sepang Malaysia 2008 Grand Prix Formula 1 Race race track… It was here where Alonso and Hamilton finish 1 and 2 positions. ...A double win for McLaren team in their recent F1 race in Sepang in 2007.
Good luck to Marlon Stockinger in 2008 for his first major race the
Formula BMW Pacific

http://www.marlonstockinger.com/index.html

A test drive for the weekend…my advice…make time for this super cool addition play and explore the Web Gallery in Aperture 2.
I have provided some insight and samples below... go and take your test drive and download your trial copy @ http://www.apple.com/aperture/trial/

As promised here is my follow up with these Philippine stock images for a German Publisher…I have provided some tips how to make things so much faster using the Web Gallery within Aperture 2, but before I go into all the details let me say this…fantastic integration and so efficient having this ability is just so amazing.

I am not bragging… maybe just a bit… (justified) I am just so impressed… like in evolution the missing link came with Aperture 1.0 but with Aperture 2 we started to walk upright…but to be honest, I am actually running.
Sounds like I am back in to my fossils…discovery of man… Aperture 2... find out all the tips and details plus a lot more at:

http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html

© Tony Wu - Australian sea lion, before correction

© Tony Wu - Australian sea lion, after correction in Aperture 2
Applied correction
Exposure -.50
Recovery +.40
Black point decrease from 3.00 to 1.00
Shadows 12.7

I also mention to him during our skype call the new All Projects button, ha, ha… he tried it out while we where still online, he just couldn’t wait... after I had explained the function and how to use it, all I can hear was… Wow… wow… that is really awesome… if I had know this last night I could have saved my self a lot of time looking for some images during a small presentation.

There you have it straight from Japan, from one of the very best underwater photographer in Asia and beyond.

Check out some of Tony’s underwater images @ http://www.tonywublog.com/

I said all along from fossils to BMW, Ferrari’s and marine life, Aperture 2 can handle all of it and a lot more… I guess this is another vote for Aperture 2 and this time from Japan.
Thanks Tony, for sharing this with us.
GD