A few weeks ago, we published an article about how to create romantic picture effects using a free software program. Now, with Mother’s Day just behind us, it’s only fitting that we talk about free software for the kids that may eventually arrive after some good romancing.

A picture really is worth a thousand words, especially if you don’t understand any of the words. We recently received a letter from Pham Thanh Long, telling us about his Web site, the Vietnam photography community, what he claims is the largest photo Web site in Vietnam.

In this continuation of our Budget Photo Secrets series, we look at a free tool that can help create a romantic image blend (and a lot more).

It took tar, a pewter plate, and a full day worth of sun, but after years of work, Nicephore Niepce was finally able to take the world’s first photograph. This is the story of that fascinating road to discovery. Somehow, Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz manages to include Clint Eastwood, Battlestar Galactica, temperance, the goddess Athena, a pope, and porn. This ain’t your Daddy’s history lesson!

One of the wonderful things about the world of software is that there are often free ways to accomplish what you want without spending money. Certainly, some of the commercial products might give you more control and options, but they’re often harder to use as well. In this continuation of our Budget Photo Secrets series, we look at a free tool that creates black and white effects.

A few weeks ago, we ran an article in Connected Photographer that reviewed the weird, little Lensbaby lens attachment for SLR cameras. In that review, Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz used a sample image to showcase how the Lensbaby transformed the image into something more surrealistic. A bunch of you wrote in asking about the blue effect on the image. The answer is amazingly simple. This article will show you what we did.

There’s two parts to the problem of buying a camera, of course. What camera to buy? And, where to buy it? It’s the second question that we’re exploring today. In this article, we’ll give you a few simple tips that could make the difference between having a camera you love and a camera you wish you hadn’t bought.

Sometimes, being a reviewer is a tough job. Other times, it’s easy. Being a reviewer is easy when the product you’re reviewing clearly sucks, clearly rocks, or clearly fits into a particular box. Lensbabies, shown in Figure A, are not easy to review because they don’t fit any clear category. So, should you get a Lensbaby? You’ll have to read this review to find out.

In the interest of child safety, parents are advised to have their children photographed on a regular basis in order to have an up-to-date, recent image. But other information is essential as well. As a public service, ZATZ is offering a Child ID/Fingerprint Card to maintain all the important information in one place.

The photo industry is undergoing a radical transformation. Much of what was old school will be gone within a few years. Those who are still trying, desperately, to hang on to the good old days are getting more and more pissed off by those of us celebrating this brave new world of personal empowerment through photography. In this very interesting report, Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz discusses what he learned at this year’s photo industry tradeshow.