Nikon EVIL Surprise, Colorful Olympus E-PL1, and the latest on the Canon 60D

As the industry prepares for the PMA in Anaheim, CA, the rumors are flying.

Nikon Rumors

Nikon Rumors is speculating on the future of the Nikon EVIL camera: Hiroshi Takashima (General Manger of Imaging Division at Nikon) said in an interview that Nikon has some surprises up it’s sleeve this year. Stay tuned for more.

Pre-PMA, Nikon is scheduled to make an announcement February 3.  What about? No new DSLRs apparently. Nikon Rumors reports that four new CoolPics cameras will be released. Two lenses, the AF-S 24mm f/1.4 prime and the AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR zoom lenses could be announced, as well as two new teleconverters.

The new Nikon 300mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II lens has been reported  in stock. Check your favorite online retailer for more info.

Expanding the boundaries: Photog Kamil Bialous

From last week’s Pacific Island-based Photog Friday we travel to the (currently) frozen expanses of Canada to meet Adventure Photographer Kamil Bialous. He enjoys chopping wood, skiing, recreation plumbing, and has been known to shoot a photo or two. Working as a pro commercial and editorial photographer, Kamil specializes in outdoor adventure and lifestyle photography. How does he do it? What are his secrets? Where’s he headed? Read on and learn more about this gifted tog…

Name: Kamil Bialous

Country of residence: Canada (Toronto)

Brief Bio:
My name is Kamil Bialous. I’m a professional commercial and editorial photographer from Toronto, Ontario. My work focuses primarily around outdoor adventure and lifestyle imagery, as well as travel and documentary photography services.

I enjoy surfing, travel, meeting new people, suffering a little bit, Bill Withers, navigating large ships into small ports, chopping wood, recreational plumbing, having a camera at my side, skiing, good snow, skiing on good snow, finding places that are hard to get to, trying to get to those places, learning languages and then thinking that I am good at them, creating new perspectives, working through problems, and people – curmudgeonly and not – but especially those who have passion.

I am based out of Toronto where I live with two cats, Abraham and Owl, and my fiancee.

How did you first get interested in photography?
My interests in photography didn’t begin until I was about 18 years old, and that is when I took a trip to Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa to volunteer for a summer at the end of high school. I really enjoyed photographing people the most, even though we did get a chance to go on a couple safaris. Upon my return I studied International Development which was quite heavily influenced by my trip. When my studies finished, I knew that I didn’t want a cubicle job, so while being heavily involved in the outdoors, rock climbing in particular, I started shooting it. That led to other adventures, with passionate people always being at the core of my images.

Phottix Weekly Photo: traffic lights

This week’s Phottix Photo, traffic lights, featuring model Julia, was captured by Sizemore Photography in Germany, Grevenbroich. A Nikon SB-800 and a shoot-through umbrella, triggered by Phottix flash accessories, provided the lighting. This photo was submitted to the Phottix Photos flickr group. Check it out – there are some amazing images being captured using Phottix…

Better colors with Polarizing Filters

Photographer (and Photog Friday Alumni) Craig Ferguson has done some great work using a Phottix Cicular Polarizing Filter (C-PL). Photographer Peter Carey used a Phottix C-PL in  stunning panoramic shot of Mount Rainier.

A C-PL filter, which screws onto the end of a lens, is great for removing reflections in your photos from non-metallic surfaces (glass and water),  and improving color saturation, clarity and contrast.

See the images above with and without a C-PL filter – a huge difference. If you’re doing a lot of outdoor shooting a C-PL filter is a great addition to your kit bag.