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Ben Long
Ben Long is a freelance writer based in San Francisco. He has written extensively on products for creative types for Macworld magazine, among myriad other publications, and has authored several books related to photography.
Review: Wacom Intuos4
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on May 4, 2009
The Intuos4 feels great, looks gorgeous, and is extremely well-made. Photographers, designers, illustrators, and visual effects artists can all benefit from the innovations in this new line of tablets.
Get Selective in Camera Raw
How-Tos: Written by Ben Long on March 16, 2009
Adobe's Camera Raw software is an amazing tool for improving your photographs. Using features such as the Adjustments Brush and the Graduated Filter, you can quickly turn a photo from "eh" to "ooh!"
Photography Tutorial: Get the Right Light
How-Tos: Written by Ben Long on March 2, 2009
When shooting portraits, good lighting is all-important. To make sure you have it, you can buy expensive lighting rigs and multiple flash units. Or you can spend a few bucks and carry just the right mix of sun and clouds in your pack.
Smooth Operator: Make More Flattering Portraits
How-Tos: Written by Ben Long on February 12, 2009
No matter how attractive the person you're photographing, most people can benefit from a little digital tweaking. You can smooth skin texture and add a little oomph using Photoshop. And to speed up the process, try Imagenomic's Portraiture 2.0 plug-in.
Bridge CS4
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on October 23, 2008
Take a closer look at Adobe's media browser.
Review: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on October 23, 2008
Some improvements and additions will make you smile; others will make your jaw drop in awe.
Camera Raw 5
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on October 23, 2008
Take a closer look at the raw processor plug-in.
Review: Epson P-7000
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on October 1, 2008
The large LCD on this multimedia photo viewer is a big help when you're shooting in the field. Is it worth its price?
Review: Silver Efex Pro
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on September 15, 2008
If you’re serious about working in black and white, you need to be serious about the tools you use to convert your color photographs to grayscale. Silver Efex gives you the power you need with the ease of use you want.
Review: Capture NX 2
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on August 20, 2008
Version 2 brings important upgrades to this innovative image editor, including major interface revisions, workflow improvements, and important new editing tools.
Review: Epson Stylus Photo R1900
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on June 18, 2008
Looking for a printer that can output a wide range of print sizes for $500 or less? This review may be your answer. You won’t find another printer that produces glossy output this good for under $2,000!
Review: Canon Digital Rebel XSi
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on May 21, 2008
This $799 SLR camera is a very smart upgrade to the Rebel line. So smart, in fact, that it's treading on the heels of the mid-range Canon EOS 40D.
Review: Nik Software's Viveza
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on April 7, 2008
This plug-in is ideal for anyone who regularly creates complex masks.
The iPhone As Photo Accessory
Features: Written by Ben Long on March 24, 2008
You use the iPhone for talking, watching movies, listening to music, surfing the Web, and... helping you take better product shots?
Review: Nikon D300
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on March 6, 2008
With a stunningly sharp LCD, excellent image quality, and interface improvements, the D300 is a top contender in the mid-range digital SLR market.
Review: Canon EOS 40D
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on February 27, 2008
If you're new to the digital SLR market, this camera is a strong contender. If you're upgrading from an SLR that's older or has different features, however, the call isn't so easy to make.
Framed and Exposed: Camera Accessories You Just Gotta Have
Features: Written by Ben Long on February 15, 2008
Once you read this gear round-up, you'll be opening your wallet and making some room in your camera bag.
Reviews: Alien Skin Exposure 2.0 and Imagenomic Real Grain
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on January 30, 2008
Whether you want to digitally reproduce the look of different film stocks or convert color shots to grayscale, one of these plug-ins may be just what you need.
Review: Canon PowerShot G9
Reviews: Written by Ben Long on December 19, 2007
This camera is a great option for photographers who want a point-and-shoot with room to grow. Is it also a worthy alternative for the serious shooter looking for something smaller than an SLR?
Expand Your Photography with Specialty Lenses
Features: Written by Ben Long on November 28, 2007
If you have a digital SLR but haven't yet explored the world of unusual lenses, you're in for an eye-opening treat.