A self-proclaimed Long Island thrift shop connoisseur, I revel in everything and anything discounted. Just mention the “f” word, that is, mention that something is “free” and I am there, sporting my Vintage Jimmy Choo sandals which I found in a Hampton’s thrift for $120.00—yes, I’m THAT good. And like my Jimmy Choos, which will never go out of style, a new trend seems to be refashioning our own industry these days, which merges my love of finding a sale with my love of photography: free web-based versions of popular software applications like Photoshop.

Yesterday, Adobe released a beta version of Photoshop Express, a free web-based version of its image editing application. Users can now enjoy 2GB of storage space and editing tools like black-and-white conversion, cropping, blemish and red eye removal, along with special effects like Sketch, Distort, and Pop Color without having to tap into their own wallet. Instead, users just have to tap their mouse a couple of times and they’re storing, sorting, and sharing their digital images with an online community.

And if you’re a Gen-Yer like myself, then you can add a third love to this Adobe experience: Facebook… Photoshop Express links to other social networking applications like Facebook, allowing users to share their edited images on digital Guestbooks and Albums in a variety of social venues.

Adobe is not the only one offering free web-based applications, Google’s Picasa is another online editing tool which allows users to locate and organize digital images, create albums and rate pictures. Microsoft too is offering a free online extension of Office on their website, enabling users to save over 1000 documents and access them from virtually anywhere. In light of all this freedom from the sometimes binding influence of the dollar, which in recent months has been flailing, the Web has become an industry stalwart, an unavoidable resource for photographers and retailers alike, but one question still stands on the tip of my tongue somewhat leery of the answer I will receive: Is all this freedom healthy?

This morning, while reading the New York Times and sipping on the first of my four-cup coffee ritual, I stumbled on a line discussing the economic downturn that I felt had some resonance within our own industry: “It is difficult to protect individuals without protecting the markets, and the markets will remain fragile if individuals suffer huge declines in their personal wealth.” Edmund L. Andrews, New York Times. I’m all about maintaining my personal wealth, and I’ve always celebrated a sale, but given the instability of the markets today, is it a fitting time for companies to jump on the “free” bandwagon? From iTunes offering free singles to free image editing applications offered online, when does the cost of freedom become taxing—and are we at all afraid of creating an industry standard that places the individual over the market, which in turn hurts the individual in the end???

Next week is going to be exciting… With PMA, the Super Bowl of photo marketing scheduled next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Sin City, and well the Super Bowl on Sunday, those of us in the industry are stocking up on our Starbucks Black Eyes and energy supplements so that we don’t miss another 47-yard field goal or industry touchdown for that matter (let’s go Giants).

It’s been an especially busy time for us in Cygnus’s photo group, which includes Studio Photography, PTN, imaginginfo.com as well as the Cygnus PMA Show Daily and Cygnus Photokina News. We rang in the New Year with a redesigned PTN, now slimmer and easier to read, you’ll notice January’s issue shoots straight from hip without mincing words or getting caught in the zipper of your bag—tabloids are generally harder to roll up; you can pick up a copy of the January issue from our booth K161 at PMA.

Like most of the candidates running for political office in 2008, we too are committed to change, and so you’ll also notice a newer face to our website in the upcoming month. With all the redesigns and makeovers taking place in 2008, we hope to bring to our readers a more solid product, while maintaining our 70 year tradition of being the most adept eye on the photo industry.

And speaking of PMA, remember to pick up our PMA Daily, a publication in circulation since the early 70’s, and my number one priority at the show, before you make your rounds—our columnists Jerry Lanksy, Don Sutherland, and Liz Cunningham always have advice and insight into the latest photo trends, not to mention our Roving Reporter Alysha Sideman, who may even approach you for a show observation.. And after you get your head straight from the supersonic week, check out our editor blogs to get a candid opinion about the show highlights and lowlights.

Until next time, cheers….