Microsoft Photo Community Blog

REPOST: Expression Media 2 - Known Issues on Windows 7 & Snow Leopard

2009-11-10T18:28:28Z

by Expression Media Support Team <Repost of 10/22/09 post on the Expression Media Support Team blog. Direct link: http://blogs.msdn.com/xmediasupport/archive/2009/10/22/known-issues-on-windows-7-snow-leopard.aspx > Hello Expression Media 2 users. It’s been awhile since we’ve posted on here. Recently, we’ve had reports of some issues using Expression Media 2 on Windows 7 and Snow Leopard. Below, you’ll find the issues we’re tracking along with some possible workarounds...(read more)

The Shutter Sisters “Picture Hope”

2009-11-03T20:53:24Z

by Amy Sorokas / The winning project, Picture Hope , from the Name Your Dream Assignment contest continues to form into the story Jen Lemen and Stephanie Roberts envisioned. In fact, they are journaling their experience as they work on it. Each time I check back to their journal I am amazed at the little stories and insights they are able to capture and share on their journeys. Jen and Stephanie have a way of connecting with people and being able to create beautiful images. The photographs...(read more)

Photo Happenings in Seattle – September and Beyond

2009-09-16T01:30:38Z

by Amy Sorokas / Seattle is alive with many great photography related events over the next few weeks! Hopefully many people who visit our blog can take advantage of these. Our friends at Blue Earth Alliance and Glazer’s Camera have come up with a great idea – the Blue Earth Bash! And one of our own Icons of Imaging, Art Wolfe has an exhibit of his work from Travels to the Edge on display. Blue Earth Bash - Sponsored by Glazer's Camera Thursday, September 24, 6:00 PM What's...(read more)

Tips from A Pulitzer Prize Winning Photojournalist – on Marc’s Photo Show

2009-09-08T22:58:32Z

/by Amy Sorokas Recently, Deanne Fitzmaurice was interviewed by Marc Silber on his photo show . Deanne is one of our Icons of Imaging and she is as Marc points out, “an amazing mixture of talent, curiosity, sensitivity, yet raw courage, rolled into a disarming package—all of which have allowed her to reach deep into the lives of her subjects.” Always an inspiration, Deanne gives some great tips and insights into her work in this easy to watch interview . She gives aspiring photographers,...(read more)

One HEART in Tibet by Phil Borges

2009-08-13T03:50:54Z

Guest Post by Phil Borges / < editor’s note: it is with great pleasure that we get to share with you the second guest post from Phil Borges , Microsoft Icon of Imaging , who was working on a project in Tibet with One HEART . We hope to hear more from Phil at later dates about the future of the organization and project. The first post in the series can be found here . All images courtesy of and copyright 2009 Phil Borges. > Nomad camp near Lake Namtso. Many...(read more)

Practice Makes Perfect – Even for Professional Photographers

2009-08-10T23:27:05Z

by Amy Sorokas / Kostas Mallios, Microsoft’s General Manager of Rich Media Labs, is the opening keynote speaker for a new educational event for all levels of professional photographers, “ Skip’s Summer School ’09 .” The program created by Skip Cohen, the founder of MEI, Marketing Essentials International, and the past president of Rangefinder Publishing Inc. and WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International), runs August 16-19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Kostas will share...(read more)

Want to Zoom? Seadragon.com

2009-08-04T01:24:07Z

by Amy Sorokas / Our friends on the Live Labs team here at Microsoft just released a cool new service at www.seadragon.com . You can now transform your own photos into zoomable images by using Seadragon and then embed them right on your website or blog. It is very easy to do and interesting to see just what making an image zoomable can do for the viewing experience. You just need your image to be on the web – the image can be on a service like Flickr or SmugMug (just to name a...(read more)

It’s A Photographic Journey of Historical Significance

2009-07-29T23:12:35Z

The Library of Congress and The Official Whitehouse Photostream by Amy Sorokas / The trend of making photographs easily accessible and available for anyone to view at any time online is great thing for institutions with a plethora of images of historical significance. There are two great examples of this trend on Flickr today – The Library of Congress and The Official Whitehouse Photostream . Each of the streams makes hundreds of images available regularly with the only difference being...(read more)

“Women Empowered” New Website and Mini-Documentaries by Phil Borges

2009-07-15T23:55:00Z

Borges Works with CARE to Raise Awareness By Amy Sorokas / Phil Borges , Microsoft Icon of Imaging , has a new website, Women Empowered , built in conjunction with liveBooks to showcase short documentaries Borges created for the organization CARE . The mini-documentaries highlight empowered woman and girls in the developing world: Learning to Lead portrays the transformative power of education and leadership for girls and women, Vigilantes de la Vida shows how childbirth can lead to heartbreak rather...(read more)

‘One HEART’ Addressing the High Rate Maternal and Infant Mortality - Tibet’s Nomadic Population

2009-07-14T01:12:00Z

Guest Post by Phil Borges / < editor’s note: it is with great pleasure that we get to share with you this guest post from Phil Borges , Microsoft Icon of Imaging , who is currently working on a project in Tibet with One HEART . We hope to hear more from Phil at later dates about this project. All images courtesy of and copyright 2009 Phil Borges. > July3 I’ve come to Tibet to see the work of the NGO ‘One HEART’ which has been addressing the high rate maternal and infant mortality-- especially...(read more)

Video Capture on My (Next) D-SLR

2009-07-10T22:09:21Z

The Nikon D-Movie Screening Room by Amy Sorokas / I recently had fun playing with both the Nikon D5000 and the Canon EOS Rebel T1i , the new D-SLR’s with video capture. They were only on loan, so I have yet to make the plunge and buy one of them for my own camera bag. The temptation is huge – it is so fun to have all the control of the D-SLR and with a push of a button use it for video capture. So much easier than having to get out the old video camera. Early this week,...(read more)

Interesting Ways to Personalize a Book and Be Part of History

2009-07-09T20:59:00Z

The Obama Time Capsule by Amy Sorokas / Recently, the cards aligned for Rick Smolan and he was able realize a vision to create a book about the journey of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States with personalization of the book for each and every purchaser. This type of customization is pretty incredible. It is a little different than the normal self-publishing process that is now available to anyone via great sites like Blurb . There you make your book and you publish it. Purchasers...(read more)

The Shutter Sisters Prepare for the Launch of Picture Hope

2009-07-07T20:41:57Z

by Amy Sorokas / The winners of Name Your Dream Assignment are getting ready to embark on the next phase of their incredible project, Picture Hope . Jen Lemen is currently in Rwanda scouting the stories that the Shutter Sisters will attempt to capture and share when she and Stephanie Roberts begin the project in August. Jen sent back an amazing note about the challenges the work raises around storytelling from both the perspective of the tellers and the catchers. How can...(read more)

Introducing the Monthly Theme Assignment – July is “Places”

2009-07-01T20:59:00Z

by Amy Sorokas / Inspired by all the great photographers, images and videos I encounter every day, it is time to share some of that inspiration. In an attempt to get those creative juices flowing and make you pick up your camera and go shooting, it is time to launch the Monthly Theme Assignment. The best way to motivate and get yourself out taking photos and video, is to see great work that makes you say, “wow, I want to try to take a picture like that!” So, in that spirit we have created a group...(read more)

Congratulations 2009 Microsoft Future Pro Photographer Competition Winners!

2009-06-25T01:36:00Z

By Amy Sorokas / There are always exciting things happening around the office, but today we got to announce the winners of the 2009 Microsoft Future Pro Photographer Competition , a photography contest for students designed to discover and showcase the talent of today’s emerging photographers. Full time college and university students around the globe submitted over 3,000 entries in three categories, landscape; people and portraits; sports and photojournalism. Renowned photographers Art Wolfe, Peter...(read more)