In the playground of the imagination

A photograph is a truly, truly magical thing. It is nothing less than that. Whatever the subject, circumstance or impression of the photo image may be, it is the act of capture that indelibly stamps it with an ink of the divine. A photograph exist in the imagination, and it exist in reality. It is both fact and fiction. This enigmatic quality of a photo image is what makes me keep taking pictures. And I cannot stop. I just shoot and shoot and shoot. For a photographer, what else is there to do? Really. In each shot that I take, I want to find out if both the reality and the fantasy exist at the same time, embedded in its photographic embrace. This is the test that I submit all of my photographs to. It is my own acid test. I want to know if an image truly is divine, or, simply, banal. There is beauty out there that is true. And it can be in the photographs. We just have to experience it.

[Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Rane), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to fun@theplaygroundstudios.com for your questions. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios official website at http://www.theplaygroundstudios.com. We are proud that The Playground Professional Photography Studios is sponsored and supported by Nikon, Epson, Apple, Eneloop, Xacti, Sanyo, Globis, Airborne Access, Global Destiny and MyDestiny. The Playground Professional Photography Studio is a photographic imaging partner of ESC Creative and MediaCircus. It is also associated with The Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), John Robert Powers (JRP), CalCarrie International Models, Ford Models International Philippines, and Runway Productions. Likewise, it is the premiere digital imaging consultant to and affiliate of the Solid Group, Inc. Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground Professional Photography Studios proudly and exclusively shoots in the studio with the Broncolor professional lighting system, and, via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs digital camera fitted with nothing but all-original Nikkor lenses. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James, The Dominique James Professional Photography Studios and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.]

Imaging Expo Singapore

Koelnmesse, one of the world’s largest trade fair organizers with a string of successful events to its name is proud to announce that it will launch the first specialized imaging and photography show in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region called “Imaging Expo Singapore 2007” in conjunction with the “Photo Imaging X-change 2007.” The event will be held on November 2 to 4, 2007, and acts as a trade and educational platform that merges art with the technology of imaging and photography. With the focus on communicating the latest trends and technology in imaging and photography for the region, Imaging Expo Singapore is a trade fair comprising of 8,000 square meters of exhibition space at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The trade fair will provide a launching pad for major brands into the Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Visitors for the exhibition include trade visitors, dealers, studio owners, publishing professionals, professional photographers, and photography and videography enthusiasts. 150 international and local exhibitors are expected to gather in Singapore and meet with 4,000 visitors from the region and 26,000 visitors from Singapore. PIX, the Photo Imaging X-change, is the cutting-edge interactive event which is an essential add-on to the trade fair, Imaging Expo Singapore. PIX is a program of conferences, seminars and classes for anyone interested in imaging and photography. The multi-tracked conference features business-related seminars with key members of the photo and imaging industries, classes by renowned photographers, photography workshops tailored for different skill levels and niches, photo safaris to iconic spots in Singapore, photo competitions, photo salons and photographer awards. There will also be a Photo Editors & Chief Photographers Summit where world-renowned photographers will be on-hand to share their expertise and experience. Visitors to the Imaging Expo Singapore and the Photo Imaging X-change will get an overview of the imaging market with a chance to learn and use the latest equipment as well as receive customized information on business improvement and professional photography techniques. Asia Pacific Vice President of Koelnmesse, Mr. Michael Dreyer says, “The popularity of digital imaging and the tools required to achieve exceptional images has exploded worldwide as seen in the increased demand for high-end DSLR cameras. We recognized the need for a professional imaging event in the region, and Singapore was the natural choice--due to its strategic location in the region, availability of world-class infrastructure and facilities, as well as the high level of technology acceptance. In addition, the feedback from the industry was very positive for such an event, matched by our market research.” A forecast report by IDC (subsidiary of IDG - International Data Group) predicts that the market for digital cameras in Asia Pacific is growing quickly, and by 2010 will account for 40% of worldwide digital camera shipments, out of a total of 111 million digital cameras. This matches the statistics from In-Stat which gave a value of US$7.3 billion for the Asia Pacific digital camera market in 2009. “The decision to anchor Imaging Expo Singapore and the PHoto Imaging X-change 2007 demonstrates Koelnmesse’s confidence in Singapore as a staging venue, as well as the group’s optimistic outlook of the growth potential of both the Electronics and ICT industry which encompasses the digital media sector in the region. The Electronics and ICT clusters are two of the strategic clusters that the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau, a group of the Singapore Tourism Board is being actively cultivated, and the launch of this event in Singapore, is a testament to our efforts in attracting, creating and growing business events in these clusters. Imaging Expo Singapore and the Photo Imaging X-change 2007 will definitely augment our calendar of major BTMICE events,” said Mr. Shaun Goh, Director, Strategic Clusters II, Business Travel and MICE Group, Singapore Tourism Board. “With Imaging Expo Singapore and Photo Imaging X-change 2007 expected to attract 150 exhibitors, 4,000 visitors, and the fact that it can leverage its unique selling points as having the only conference program for trade professionals and end-users in the Southeast and the Pacific region to exchange their expertise and knowledge in the fileds of imaging and photography, this event strengthens our efforts to establish Singapore as a global business events hub,” he added. Being part of the Koelnmesse Group, the Koelnmesse subsidiary based in Singapore, which manages Koelnmesse international business operations in Asia Pacific, will be responsible for all the preparations and the on-site management of the event. Imaging Expo singapore and the Photo Imaging X-change 2007 is set to become Southeast Asia and the Pacific’s most important annual trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries, bringing together people who shape and drive the imaging industry as well as opportunities to penetrate the markets emerging from digital technology’s impact. This event is modeled after the prestigious Photokina in Cologne, Germany, the world’s most important imaging and photography trade fair which showcased 1,579 exhibitors and drew over 162,000 visitors from 157 countries last year. The big names from the imaging and photography sector were all present at the trade fair, including Casio, Canon, Epson, Fuji, Hewlett-Packard Kodak, Leica, Nikon, Nokia, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung and Sony. Among the major first-time exhibitors were Apple (maker of Aperture, the professional software for digital photographic imaging post-production workflow), and CeWe Color (Europe’s largest photo-finisher). Koelnmesse also organizes Imaging Expo/Interphoto Shanghai, an imaging trade show that is customized for companies entering into the Chinese market. These series of events represent global competence in imaging trade fairs that Koelnmesse is organizing for different geographic markets around the world. The contact persons for the Imaging Expo Singapore and the Photo Imaging X-change 2007 are: Hazel Chan Koelnmesse Pte Ltd + 65 6 396 7180 h.chan@koelnmesse.com.sg Supriya Addanki Priority Consultants + 65 6 338 1006 supriya@priorityconsultants.com Sherina Chan Manager BTMICE & Services Communications Department Communications Division Singapore Tourism Board DID + 65 6 831 3476 Mobile + 65 9 099 1255 Fax + 65 6 734 9102 Email sherina_chan@stb.gov.sg For more information, visit the official website at http://www.imaging-expo-singapore.com. About the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau The Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB), a group of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), is the lead government agency for the business events sector in Singapore. Its mission is to champion business travel and business events as key drivers of the tourism sector and enables for cluster growth in Singapore. It also assists business event organizers, corporations and associations by providing comprehensive and impartial information on Singapore’s MICE facilities, incentive venues and industry partners. The SECB is a member of the Best Cities Global Alliance, the world’s first and only convention bureau alliance with eight partners in five continents. About the Singapore Tourism Board The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is an economic development agency for one of the Singapore’s key service sectors which is tourism. The mission of the Board is to develop and champion tourism and build this sector into a key driver of economic growth for Singapore. The STB aims to differentiate and market Singapore as a memorable destination through the proliferation of the tourism branding, “ Uniquely Singapore.” For more information, please visit http://www.stb.gov.sg. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Agnes), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to The Playground. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios website.] Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.

PIX Speakers Profile

The organizers of the Photo Imaging X-change to be held in conjunction with the Imaging Expo Singapore at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center on November 2 to 4, 2007, released a brief biography of some of the luminaries in the photo world who have been invited as speakers at the upcoming event. Andy Wee from Singapore is one of the leading and most sought-after fine-art exotic car photographers. His list of “torque titans” is impressive, including the Pagani Zonda, MacLaren F1, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW M3, M5 and M6, Mercedes SLK55, etc. Andy’s eye-catching images have been featured on the Nikon Discovery website, BMW Motorsport in the UK, PhotoVideoi, and Goldarths Review, among other exclusive avenues. Drifting, swirling and warp-speed action shots are his forte. If a picture paints a thousand words, Andy’s exotic car images are mini-epics. Bryan Peterson from the United States of America will be presenting two sessions that cover topics on creative portraiture, creative travel and creative shooting. Bryan has been a commercial photographer for over 30 years, shooting annual reports, corporate brochures, and advertising campaigns. His clients include American Express, BP, Kodak, UPS, Philips, Intel, Microsoft, and Citibank. His trademark use of color and strong graphic style of composition has garnered many photographic awards, including having his works featured seven times in the Communication Arts Photography Annual and four times in Print Magazine. He was also awarded the prestigious New York Art Directors Gold Award. Chris Yap from Singapore will be presenting on “Fine Art Printing and Optimizing Images” and “Photo Books and Exhibitions.” Chris is a well-known figure in the digital photography and print solutions arena. He has been very active in photography from a young age and has since conducted numerous workshops and consultations. Dominique James is one of today’s finest professional photographers now based in New York City, USA. He is a Nikon Pro Photographer and an Epson Stylus Pro Photographer, as well as an Apple Certified Professional and Apple Certified Trainer for Aperture. He is widely recognized for his advertising, commercial, fashion, food, and interior photography as well as for his celebrity portraits. His photographs, whether as editorial features or as print advertisements, have appeared in all the major newspapers and magazines. He has done fashion photographs for top RTW and haute couture designers from 2 continents, as well as the branded collections of Hugo Boss, Georgio Armani, Benetton, and Versace, among others. His corporate clients include AIG, Nippon Life, Apple, etc. Kris LeBoutillier from the United States of America will be talking about “The Great Picture Hunt.” As photographer and writer, Kris LeBoutilleir’s works have been published in magazines and newspapers throughout Asia and the US. He is a regular contributor to regionally-produced Asian Geographic magazine, the Jakarta Post newspaper, Holiday Asia magazine, and airline publications such as Silver Kris for Singapore Airlines and SilkWinds for SilkAir. Laurie Gilbert from Australia will be presenting on two different genre. His presentation, named “Master of the Sky” will cover cinematography and videography, as well as photography. Laurie is a highly experienced helicopter aerial, offshore marine photographer operating globally from Singapore. The complete list of speakers: Alec Ee, Andre Economou, andee Wee, Bob Lee, Bryan Peterson, Chris Dickenson, Chris Thompson, chris Yap, Darwis Triadi, Dominique James, Eng Howe, Eric Goh, Ganesh Panadam, Gho Lay Tin, Gho Peng Tjin, Goh Kim Hui, Hilarion Goh, Jason Wee, Julieanne Kost, Jun Miranda, Johnny Henderta, John Cosgrove, Kid Chan, Kim, Kris LeBoutillier, Kristupa Saragih, Laurie Gilbert, Louis Pang, Lynus Hee, Mathieu Meur, Neeraj Chhibbar, Nic Ong, Peter Eastway, Samuel Seow, Sebastian Tan, Simon Carr, Simon Cederquist, Sven Hafner, Tay Puay Koon, and Willy Foo. The Imaging Expo Singapore and the Photo Imaging X-change are events supported by the Professional Photographers Association (Singapore), SAFRA Photographic Club, NTUC, The Photographic Society of Singapore, AV Hub, Asian Photography Asean, Photo Video Imaging, and i-Mag Photography Magazine. For more on PIX, check out http://www.pix-singapore.com. For media inquiries, please contact Ms. Hazel Chan of Koelnmesse Pte Ltd at + 65 6 396 71 80 or email h.chan@koelnmesse.com.sg. About Koelnmesse Pte Ltd: The Koelnmesse subsidiary, which manages Koelnmesse international business operations in Asia Pacific, will be responsible for all the preparations and the on-site management of the two events, Imaging Expo Singapore 2007 and Photo Imaging X-Change 2007. These events are modeled after Photokina in Cologne, Germany, the world’s most important imaging and photography trade fair which showcased 1,579 exhibitors and drew over 162,000 visitors from 157 countries last year. The big names from the imaging and photography sector were all present at the trade fair, including Casio, Canon, Epson, Fuji, Hewlett-Packard, Kodak, Leica, Nikon, Nokia, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, and Sony. Among the major first-time exhibitors were Apple (America’s fastest-growing computer brand) and CeWe Color (Europe’s largest photofinisher). [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Agnes), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to The Playground. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios website.] Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.

Photo Imaging X-Change 2007

Meet international photography experts and celebrities at the Photo Imaging Exchange 2007. This is Asia’s first large-scale interactive imaging and photography event. Exciting events are lined up for all photography professionals and enthusiasts. “PIX ‘07 is the big bang! The two greatest photographic atoms, creativity and technology, collide together for the most memorable four days of the year,” said Bryan Peterson, author and photographer from the United States. Come and meet the photography experts and celebrities speaking at PIX ‘07. They include Bryan Peterson (USA), Laurie Gilbert (Australia), Dominique James (USA), Kris LeBoutillier (USA), Chris Yap (Singapore), Sven Hafner (USA), Kristupa Saragih (Malaysia), Andy Wee (Singapore), and Jun Miranda (Philippines), who are all specialists in their own genre of photography. Other speakers are: Alec Ee, Bob Lee, Chris Thompson, Darwis Triadi, Eng Howe, Eric Goh, Gho Lay Tin, Gho Peng Tjin, Goh Kim Hui, Hilarion Goh, Jason Wee, Johnny Henderta, John Cosgrove, Kid Chan, Louis Pang, Kim, Lynus Hee, Methieu Meur, Neeraj Chhibbar, Peter Eastway, Samuel Seow, Sebastian Tan, Simon Carr, Tay Puay Koon, and Willy Foo, among others. Koelnmesse, one of the world’s largest trade fair organizers, is launching the first major interactive imaging and photography event in Asia Pacific -- Photo Imaging Exchange (PIX) 2007. The four-day event, to be held from 1-4 November 2007 at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, comprises a trade exhibition of the latest imaging and photography technology and high-quality interactive digital photography workshops, lectures and fun photo events. Visitors can expect to try out the latest photography equipment, receive tips on photography business improvement and pick up professional photography techniques. Imaging Expo Singapore is the photography and imaging trade exhibition while PIX will feature a multi-tracked conference, tech expo, master classes, hands-on workshops, outdoor photo shoots and live studio sessions, fun photo events, photo competitions and awards, and luncheons with celebrated photographers. PIX consists of five tracks of concurrent workshops and seminars: GOLD STREAM - a meeting session for picture editors and chief photographers; RED STREAM - for professional photographers and advance amateurs; GREEN STREAM - for novice photographers; BLUE STREAM - for cinematography and videography enthusiasts; and POST-PRODUCTION STREAM - digital imaging solutions for both semi-professionals and beginners. PIX also includes the first ever Photo Editors & Chief Photographers Summit in the Asia Oceania region where newspaper staff have been invited to attend. This summit will see photo magazine and newspaper editors around the region gather to network and exchange ideas. It also presents an excellent opportunity for industry players to improve their skills and sample the latest that the industry has to offer. Participants can attend workshops on various genre of photography from fashion to luxury car shoots, and stand a chance to win photography gear. Some of the topics to be covered include: Learning To See Creatively, Mastering Digital Fine Art Printing, Painting With Light, Digital Infrared Photography, Basic Posing & Modeling Techniques, Photojournalism, Macro Photography, Car Photography, and Panorama Photography. “It is really my pleasure to be a part of this international event and to be associated with what I feel is a very inspirational and educational event for both amateur and professional photographers here in Asia,” said Chris Yap, a fine art photographer and Master Printmaker from Singapore. Also in the pipeline is an interactive event area dedicated to demonstrating scrapbooking, image management/manipulation, printing, design and photo uploading skills. Those interested in sports and action photography can also pick up tips on how to capture those fast and furious moments from the sidelines. Show attendees can expect to receive goody bags that carry useful digital photography information. For more on PIX, check out http://www.pix-singapore.com. For media inquiries, please contact Ms. Hazel Chan of Koelnmesse Pte Ltd at + 65 6 396 71 80 or email h.chan@koelnmesse.com.sg. About Koelnmesse Pte Ltd: The Koelnmesse subsidiary, which manages Koelnmesse international business operations in Asia Pacific, will be responsible for all the preparations and the on-site management of the two events, Imaging Expo Singapore 2007 and Photo Imaging X-Change 2007. These events are modeled after Photokina in Cologne, Germany, the world’s most important imaging and photography trade fair which showcased 1,579 exhibitors and drew over 162,000 visitors from 157 countries last year. The big names from the imaging and photography sector were all present at the trade fair, including Casio, Canon, Epson, Fuji, Hewlett-Packard, Kodak, Leica, Nikon, Nokia, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, and Sony. Among the major first-time exhibitors were Apple (America’s fastest-growing computer brand) and CeWe Color (Europe’s largest photofinisher). Koelnmesse also organized the Imaging Expo/Interphoto Shanghai from 26-29 September 2007, an imaging trade show customized for entry into the Chinese market. The series of events represent global competence in imaging trade fairs that Koelnmesse is organizing for different geographic markets around the world. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Agnes), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to The Playground. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios website.] Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.

Pictures in Motion: Slideshows from your Aperture Images

The best professional photographers all over the world today use Apple’s sophisticated all-in-one digital post-production tool called Aperture. One of the most useful features of Aperture is the Slideshow. Aperture provides plenty of tools for creating professional-looking slideshows from your photographs. It even provides you with more possibilities outside its cozy confines because of its inherent interoperability with other Mac OS X applications. In the full-length informative how-to article I wrote for O’Reilly Digital Media’s popular Inside Aperture website, I present options within Aperture, then a grand tour of other Mac OS X slideshow tools such as iPhoto, iDVD and Keynote, among others. To read the first of the 2-part article, go here, and then proceed to the 2nd part here. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

Something old, something new

Point, and then shoot. That’s what I did with my new toy - the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E60. And in natural, available light. I chose 2 objects: my grandfather’s Imperial antique typewriter and my Photoshop-coded Apple keyboard. And this is what I’ve got - a combination of the old and the new. I loaded the snapshots from the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E60 directly via USB cable into Apple’s Aperture on my Mac, selected the 2 shots that I like the most, tweaked the colors to my liking (sepia for the typewriter and blue for the keyboard), created the gritty treatment I wanted for a grungy, grubby and dingy effect, and composited the final image in Photoshop CS3. It took me less than an hour to do all that. I’m beginning to really appreciate not only the convenience but also the image quality of the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E60. Working on the pictures in post-production, the image files from my snapshots contain more than enough megapixels to withstand the rigors of extreme stylistic photo editing. The Sanyo Xacti VPC-E60 is going to spoil me. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

Shooting, viewing and sharing made easy!

Every time I go out with my family and friends, they wonder how come I never bring along a camera to snap pictures of personal occasions. Unusual it may seem, but the professional photographer that I am is completely unarmed when it comes to these moments. That’s because lugging around a huge DSLR such as my favorite Nikon D2Xs is almost tedious in trying to capture personal moments. For me, the Nikon D2Xs is a work camera, and if I bring it to personal and family events, it will definitely feel like I’m working. And I don’t want this to be the case. Besides, I need to be accompanied by my assistant photographer to do the back-end job for me during shooting such as transferring the photos from the CF cards to the Epson P-5000 Multimedia Storage & Viewer. I don’t want to “work” on personal occasions so I leave my Nikon D2Xs behind. I used to have a small point-and-shoot camera but it got old quickly and I stopped using it. It needed a replacement. And now, after getting the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1A movie camera, and since I’m so happy with it, I decided to get the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E60. This is an amazing point-and-shoot. I love the features. And I can hand it to any member of the family or to my friends and they can snap great pictures with it. Now at least, I’m in the pictures. Before, I used to be always behind the camera. The 3 basic features of the VPC-E60 that I like are: a 6.37 megapixel CCD that’s good for 8R blow up prints, a huge and clear 3-inch LCD monitor, a 3x optical zoom lens. There are many, many other features and functions that makes this a worthy point-and-shoot camera for a pro like myself, but one of the things that I particularly appreciate is the fact that it has a Best Shot Mode where it takes 4 shots of the same image at slightly different exposures. I think this is a great way to not worry about whether I’m taking a perfectly exposed image or not. It does it by itself. You can say that I’ve finally found a perfect complement to my Nikon D2Xs. I don’t have to work it. All I have to do is point, and then shoot. After the shoot, I just plug it into my Mac and the pictures load up in iPhoto where I can now email them to my friends and family or put the pictures on my personal website. Now, I’m well armed, even in personal occasions. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

Dominique James @ The 12th Graphic Expo 2007 Seminar Series

The certified expert instructors from the country's most prestigious training institution on digital imaging, the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), will be conducting several classes for the period of 4 days during the upcoming 12th Graphic Expo 2007 Seminar Series. This will be held at the training rooms of the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Roxas Boulevard. In particular, I will be conducting 2 half-day courses. My 3-hour long classes shall be in the morning and afternoon of June 8 (Friday). The morning session begins at 9:30 am while the afternoon session starts at 2:30 pm. We will start the day with an all-out revelation: Photographing People: Secrets of Professional Photographers Revealed. I will divulge key information used by some of the top professional photographers today that will help you create better photo images when shooting people inside and outside the studio. In the afternoon, we will get hot and steamy with Glamour Nude & Bodyscapes Photography. This is a tell-all and show-all session. This seminar will make you come to terms with taking pictures of the naked body. Bring your camera on both sessions for actual hands-on training. Here’s the complete list of the seminars: THE 12TH GRAPHIC EXPO 2007 SEMINAR SERIES June 06 - 09, 2007 Philippine Trade Training Center Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines KEY TOPICS & SCHEDULES JUNE 06 2007 WEDNESDAY Room 1 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Beginning Adobe Photoshop CS3 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Adobe Photoshop CS3: The New Features Room 2 9:30 am - 12:30 nn The ABCs of Color Management 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Adobe Photoshop CS3: Color Management and Printing Room 3 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Adobe Illustrator CS2 Tips and Tricks 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Enhancing Your Work Flow in Creative Suite 2 Using Adobe Bridge Room 4 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Adobe InDesign CS2 Styles Made Easy 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Principles of Effective Publication Design JUNE 07 2007 THURSDAY Room 1 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Advanced Photoshop CS3 For Power Users 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Adobe Photoshop CS3: Mastering Channels Room 2 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator Together 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Creating Eye-Popping Graphics with Adobe Illustrator CS2 Room 3 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Macromedia Flash 8 Cartooning 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Energizing Macromedia Flash 8 Projects (with Action Script) Room 4 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Character Design in Autodesk 3Ds Max 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Integrating Photoshop and Maya JUNE 08 2007 FRIDAY Room 1 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Adobe Photoshop CS3: Advance Image Compositing 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Digital Painting with Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Painter IX.5 Room 2 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Photographing People: Secrets of Professional Photographers Revealed 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Glamour Nude & Bodyscapes Photography Room 3 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 Power User Tips & Tricks 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Beyond Power Point: Macromedia Flash 8 for Corporate Presentations Room 4 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Turn Your Final Cut Pro Project Into a DVD 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm DVD Authoring Basics With Encore DVD 2.0 JUNE 09 2007 SATURDAY Room 1 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Portrait Photographers 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Digital Darkroom Using Adobe Photoshop CS3 Room 2 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Final Cut Pro From Raw Footage to DVD 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Visual Magic With Adobe After Effects 7.0 Room 3 9:30 am - 12:30 nn Basic Video Editing With Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Adobe Premiere Pro. 2.0: Tips & Tricks Room 4 9:30 am - 5:00 pm Making Powerful Corporate Presentation Materials and Web Projects Who should attend: graphic designers, digital artists, web masters, photographers, multimedia specialists, art directors, animators, publishers, creative directors, layout artists, print managers, corporate communicators, pre-press specialists, production artists, illustrators, educators, cartoonist, IT professionals, advertising and marketing executives. Registration Fee: PHP 2,850.00 per day inclusive of snacks and seminar kit. Register and reserve your seminar seat now! Fore more details, please call the organizers of the 12th Graphic Expo 2007 Seminar Series at telephone numbers +632-896-0637 896-0639, 899-6893 or 890-2101. You may also send fax to +632-896-0637, 890-2101 or 899-6893. Contact email is fiera@infocom.ph or visit website at http://www.fmi.com.ph for more details. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.] Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

Domininque James @ ImageStation

While I was in Singapore, I met up and was interviewed by Zann for an online editorial feature in the very popular and high-traffic ImageStation online portal. Zann wanted to showcase a selection of my photographs as a Master of the Craft. The face-to-face interview, which was held at one of the exotic restaurants in Arab Street, was very casual, informal and light. I can say that it was one of the most enjoyable interviews I’ve ever had in a very, very long time. First of all, what impressed me the most about Zann was how well-prepared he came to the interview. He didn’t waste any time, and started by telling me things that he already know about me. This made him focus more on questions that really mattered. I thought that was really cool! To read Zann’s full interview and to look at the featured images, to go the 20th issue of the ImageStation’s Masters Of The Craft. Also check out and bookmark the online portal of the ImageStation website. There are a lot more interesting stories, guides and tips that you can read from the ImageStation website such as Lester Ledesma’s short but sweet pictorial vacation called Memories Of Manila. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots with the Nikon D2Xs. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

4th Youth Conference on Information Technology @ UP (Diliman)

Last February 19 and 20, I had the privilege of being invited once again to deliver a talk to more than 3,000 college, high school (middle school), and grade school students on the occasion of the 4th Youth Conference on Information Technology. It was held at the theater of the Film Institute in University of the Philippines (Diliman, Quezon City). This is my 2nd time to be invited to speak to a very large group of young students. I was asked to talk about the cutting edge technologies in the exciting field of Digital Photography. My talk focused mainly on the digital tools that professional photographers use in their work today. I gave the students a peek into the step-by-step working process of digital imaging, from shooting to post-production, with today’s cutting edge technologies. In particular, I presented to them my own digital workflow that is based on the technology of Apple’s hardware and software digital imaging products. My presentation focused on how digital photographers use technology not only to do the job but to outperform themselves in terms of professional service, speed of delivery to clients, increased productivity, and enhanced creativity. This is achieved by using superior computer technologies such as the MacPro desktop system with dual Cinema Displays and the MacBook Pro running the world’s most sophisticated all-in-one post-production software designed for professional photographers called Aperture. I also presented recent photos from my portfolio of images ranging from celebrity portraits, landscapes, digital fine art, product shots, food photography, as well as pictures I’ve created for both commercial and corporate projects. Through this conference, my hope is to inspire and influence the brightest minds of the youth to focus on the best things that are yet to come in the realm of digital photographic imaging. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Copyright 2007 © The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.