Jon Sienkiewicz

Online Storage; You Might Need It, But Take Care—It Can Bite You!
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jun 01, 2009

You don’t need a back-up drive, you need a back-up plan. Backing up image data is an attitude, not an accessory. I preach the Three Rs of File Safety; to be effective, your back-up storage solution must be Regular, Reliable, and Redundant.

High-capacity external hard drives cost less than a steak dinner these days. And you can buy a name brand 4x...

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Online—On The Road; A Virtual Back-Up System
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  May 01, 2009

Do you have an answering machine in your home—the kind that uses tape or digital media? Like millions of other Americans you’ve probably discovered that virtual, online services are more reliable than mechanical ones—especially when you travel for extended periods. You can access an online voicemail inbox from any telephone at any time of the day or night. And you never have to...

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Portable PCs For Photographers; How To Sort Out The Best For Your Imaging Needs
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  May 01, 2009

When you browse advertisements for notebook computers, you may be led to believe that the only differences between them are scientific-sounding technical specifications.

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Pro Techniques
Do You Know Your SBA?; The “Shake Begins At” Level And Image Quality
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 01, 2009

SBA means “Shake Begins At”—the level at which camera movement makes your images lose the sharpness battle.

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Adobe’s Photoshop Express For Advanced Photographers; Serious Medicine For An Underexposed Portfolio
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 01, 2009

Upon first inspection, Adobe’s Photoshop Express could be mistaken for an attempt to popularize a diluted version of the image-editing software we all love and can’t live without.

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Rechargeable Camera Batteries; D-SLR Batteries Aren’t Cheap, So Here’s How To Get The Most From Them
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 01, 2009

If you buy a battery that has no brand name (or a name you’ve never encountered) from an online retailer you’ve never heard of, you’re taking a big chance.

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Pro Techniques
Getting Edge; Inside Advice On Tech Support
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 01, 2009

Whenever you place a call to tech support—for any reason—take notes. Get names and of course dates and jot down a summary of all conversations. Nine times out of 10, when a customer complains about the behavior of a tech support agent, the conversation begins “I don’t know who I was talking to but…”

When you’re on hold and hear: “Your call...

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Grey Market Merchandise; It’s Legal, And It May Cost Less, But Is It The Right Choice For You?
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Feb 01, 2009

Grey market goods are products that were manufactured to be sold outside the US but, because of pricing inconsistencies, made their way to our shores to compete with merchandise that was localized for our market.

Ah, the lure of the bargain. Everyone wants to get the most for their money, and some folks are willing to take significant risks to stretch their budget. That’s why...

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Pro Techniques
What You Might Want And What You Really Need; A New Column On Making The Right Purchasing Decisions
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Feb 01, 2009

My friend wanted to begin shooting digital images of small objects for his company’s website, so he asked me to get him a deal on an expensive, full-frame D-SLR. The images were to be used primarily online at low resolution, and occasionally in an HTML e-mail newsletter. They were using a professional photographer to shoot the artwork for brochures, packaging, and their trade show booth.

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A Primer On Memory Cards; Sometimes You Need A Memory Card Scorecard Before You Buy
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Nov 01, 2008

The man at the discount store carefully examined every item on the rack, pulling each forward while scrutinizing it with squinted eyes. “It’s harder than finding the right watch battery,” he said under his breath. “There are plenty to choose between, but which is the right one?”

I found out later he was looking for a high-capacity SDHC card for his...

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