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Digital Photography

“We had a computer glitch”

I often try to remember what life was like before computers. I can barely remember what I did with my time before email, web surfing, word processing, digital photography, PowerPoint presentations, MP3 players, YouTube.com, and all the rest. I also find myself longing for the times that businesses couldn't use the excuse, "our computers are down" or "our computer had a glitch".

As much as I enjoy technology and of course make my living from it, I think that we too often use it as a crutch to either procrastinate or an excuse that we hide behind when others ask questions or request information. After all, we all know how frustrating and unpredictable computers can be so questioning the "glitch defense" is futile. We have all thought it, and I will document here and now that I think way more than half of these tech excuses are bogus. Excuses made by lazy or unqualified people buying time or passing the buck.

The embarrassing dangers of Picasa

I have learned to be careful when loading Picasa onto a client's computer.

Picasa is one of my favorite digital photography programs. Once you install it, it scans the entire computer for all digital photos. It catalogs them and displays them as thumbnails in order of date created.

The fact that it looks for and catalogs all of the photos on a computer has led to a little bit of embarrassment to a few of my clients.

Yesterday while working with a wonderful client, I installed Picasa to help her manage her digital photos easier. After installing it Picasa displayed a large porn collection. I knew that the photos were not there because of anything she had done so I had her look away while I deleted the photos.

One man’s search for a banjo

I decided a few weeks ago that I want a banjo.

Why? A few weeks ago I realized that everything I do is digital. I do a lot of digital photography, I spend my day working on computers, for relaxation I play XBox. I feel covered up in 1s and 0s.

Once in a while, I want to get away from the digital world and do something analog. I am not a guy without hobbies and interests, but I think I am ready to switch some gears with what I do with my free time.

What does this have to do with computers?

Well, when I guy decides to start something new, there is one place he should start… the Internet.

Another reason to use Picasa

I mentioned in yesterday's Shotgun that I took nearly 900 photos on my recent vacation. You have read and heard us hype the free Picasa digital photography software from Google many times. The features and execution of the features are nothing short of wonderful. I use Picasa to upload and organize my photos after a trip. Then I usually upload the photos I want to print to my favorite online photo developer (Shutterfly ) and get a bound book made of my favorite 100 or so photos for less than the cost of developing three rolls of film.

Taking Better Pictures (Part I)

Taking Better Photos

Part 1 

 

Composing Photos:

 

No reckless shooting of innocent civilians. Take aim, compose the shot and FIRE!

 

Taking Better People Pictures

Taking Better People Pictures:

Taking pictures of people should involve more than just pointing the camera in a person's general direction and pressing the shutter button.

Here are a few ideas and styles for taking great pictures of people.

Remember the rule of thirds.

As a general rule place your subject in 1/3 of the photograph.

<<— Notice how Allen's face is not centered in the photograph. This takes the viewer through the photograph and around the subject.

 

Giving Photos a Professional Look

Giving Photos a Professional Look

Have you ever wondered what makes professional photos look so. . . umm. . . professional?

The following tips will help you create photos that look like you know what you are doing!

Taking Better Pictures:

There are several links in the group archives giving tips on composition. Here are some other helpful tips.

Use the color wheel.

Photo Restoration

Digital Photo Restoration

Restoring old photos is one of the coolest things you can do in digital photography. The best part is that anyone can do it. All it takes is a scanner and a nice image editing program.

Important Photo Restoration Tools

There are many several tools that you just can't do without when it comes to restoring photos.

Cloning tool

New Computer Specs

Computer prices continue to drop and get more powerful. I answer the question, "What should I buy?", many times every week. The answer seems to change about every six months. Today, I’m going to list my advice that should hold for at least six months:

Primary use is Internet, email, small games, and word processing:

  • Any processor 512MB of RAM
  • Any size hard drive
  • Mimimum CDRW Drive

Primary use is as above + digital photography:

  • Pentium IV (NOT Celeron) or AMD equivalant
  • 1 GB of RAM Built-in card reader 100 GB Hard Drive DVD burner
  • Separate video card (not built-in) or ability to add one

Uses are as above + video editing and/or high end games or other processor intensive program: