I had a great time at the David Zizer Seminar in Sacramento a couple weeks ago. The title was 'Captured by the Light'. It was a lot of information but it was so informative to hear Mr. Zizer talk and share his techniques and talents. I really learned a lot, especially in regards to off camera flash placement for lighting styles, such as loop lighting. David talked a lot about underexposing the background and lighting the subjects up with diffused flash for some really dramatic images.
I learned about some new software of which the best I think was Foto Fusion by LumaPix. Just really excellent collage and photo collection software. I think it would save a lot of time in making books and contact sheets. I wish I could have bought it that night because of the discount.
I hadn't been to Sacramento in a long time and it was cool to be downtown. Kind of reminds of Portland. I did happen upon a really good deli called Tony's Delicatessen and I highly recommend them.
Links:
David Ziser http://www.davidziser.com/index.asp
David Zizer's Blog http://digitalprotalk.blogspot.com/
Luma Pix http://www.lumapix.com/index.shtml
Tony's Delicatessen http://www.tonysdelicatessen.com/
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Verizon Droid X Wifi connection issues...solved!
D R O I D
Well after spending some time trying to figure this out I thankfully found a solution and now it seems very trivial but I hope this help you out.
1) Be sure you are updated to 2.3.15 (Android 2.2)
a) Settings > About Phone > System Update
2) Go to Settings > Location & Security
3) Ensure that 'Use Wireless Networks' is turned on. It is turned off by default (yes an apparent oversight)
4) Also turn on 'Use GPS satellites' and 'Enable Assisted GPS' while you are in there.
5) Droid Army
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Stress Does not Kill Us - But it makes everything that does much worse.
Inside the search for a cure... for Stress.
I have to reiterate, and am so compelled to evangelize an immensely important article written by Jonah Lehrer in the latest WIRED (August 2010 page 131). Lehrer writes very engaging prose that provides excellent backstory to the issue at hand being dealt with on the front lines by Professor Robert Sapolsky, the man with the mind to see things in baboons that others did not, and are ever present in we humans being.
I highly recommend the reading of this article by everyone, whether you have anxiety, are depressed, or have concerns for other friends and family suffering from stress. There are so many factors that can lead to life being overbearing and we must control ourselves before it is too late to make a difference.
The main points from the article in controlling stress are:
1) Confront Your Fears. 2) Make Friends 3) Drink in Moderation 4) Get enough Sleep
5) Don't Fight 6) Meditate 7) Don't Force Yourself to Exercise.
These points are all gone over in detail both in the story that leads up to this, and then what the future holds for the way medical science presents itself as a solution.
Less is always so much more.
I have to reiterate, and am so compelled to evangelize an immensely important article written by Jonah Lehrer in the latest WIRED (August 2010 page 131). Lehrer writes very engaging prose that provides excellent backstory to the issue at hand being dealt with on the front lines by Professor Robert Sapolsky, the man with the mind to see things in baboons that others did not, and are ever present in we humans being.
I highly recommend the reading of this article by everyone, whether you have anxiety, are depressed, or have concerns for other friends and family suffering from stress. There are so many factors that can lead to life being overbearing and we must control ourselves before it is too late to make a difference.
The main points from the article in controlling stress are:
1) Confront Your Fears. 2) Make Friends 3) Drink in Moderation 4) Get enough Sleep
5) Don't Fight 6) Meditate 7) Don't Force Yourself to Exercise.
These points are all gone over in detail both in the story that leads up to this, and then what the future holds for the way medical science presents itself as a solution.
Less is always so much more.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Book Report: Deep Storm by Lincoln Child
Lincoln Child is best known for his co-authorship of 'The Relic' with author Douglas Preston. They have a shared website with all their shared and solo work.
So, Deep Storm. Wow! this is a really fun read. It is fast, really fast. I am a pretty slow reader and I read this in 3 days. I just could not put it down because I HAD to find out what was going to happen because the character development was so engaging right off the bat. This is important because the characters are not fully, or detailed in their development as some readers may like, but they are extremely engaging.
A quick synopsis of the story. The novels protagonist is named Peter Crane and he is naval doctor summoned to investigate and explain an outbreak of disease on an oil rig. Well there is more to the disease, and the oil rig staffed by military personnel. There is a lot of unknowns and it builds and builds. Child does a great job of keeping the reader wanting more with sharp, or I should say crisp writing. This book feels like a movie though, sometimes even like it was written to be a movie. That is not necessarily bad as this would make a killer movie, it is just apparent.
This is great book for a flight to the other coast, or for a couple days of commuting, or if you just like a exciting thriller. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 7.5/10
So, Deep Storm. Wow! this is a really fun read. It is fast, really fast. I am a pretty slow reader and I read this in 3 days. I just could not put it down because I HAD to find out what was going to happen because the character development was so engaging right off the bat. This is important because the characters are not fully, or detailed in their development as some readers may like, but they are extremely engaging.
A quick synopsis of the story. The novels protagonist is named Peter Crane and he is naval doctor summoned to investigate and explain an outbreak of disease on an oil rig. Well there is more to the disease, and the oil rig staffed by military personnel. There is a lot of unknowns and it builds and builds. Child does a great job of keeping the reader wanting more with sharp, or I should say crisp writing. This book feels like a movie though, sometimes even like it was written to be a movie. That is not necessarily bad as this would make a killer movie, it is just apparent.
This is great book for a flight to the other coast, or for a couple days of commuting, or if you just like a exciting thriller. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 7.5/10
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Fear Itself
More info: NBC Website , Wikipedia
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Book Report: Anthem by Ayn Rand
I thought it would be fun to write about the books I am reading, or rather books I have finished reading. Then I give a report on the book, a review if you will. I did write 'books' because I typically have a few going at the same time, especially with devices like the Kindle. I just love having books with me wherever I go, so I tend to be reading something different at night versus what I am reading in the day, at work, commuting or whatever.
These book reports will be really short and to the point. For real heavy duty book reviews by professionals on current new books it is best to read something by the NY Times. What I want to do is have something short that people can consume really quick. I will also tweet a link to the report when it's on Blogger.
On with the first review!
Anthem by Ayn Rand
I really did not know much about Ayn Rand when I picked this up at Half-Price books in Concord other than my Uncle Clark really liked her writing, that she was the proponent, even the protagonist if you will; for a movement called Objectivisim and that she had a cool looking first name. I saw Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged but they looked so long that I opted for the old Signet paperback of Anthem (pictured), and wow and I glad I did. This little book is just a wonderful testament to the individual, to the person who is beaten down, or subjugated, or corned into a certain way of thinking. This book provides a lot of relief for disbelief. A lot of hope for knowing that what we feel inside is real, not matter what other people are telling you, especially groups of people, and even more at governments; as in 'we the people' has been replaced by "we the decider's" leaving the freedom to the brave, those courageous enough to keep the light burning in the darkest of tunnels. And that is what this little book is about. Burning a light in darkness, against all the odds, and all the fear, and all the unknowing to find that from a small light can burn a mighty flame, the flame of personal freedom. To know that "I AM" is okay. And then if I am okay, so can you. Equality.
I will not go into any details of the plot or summarize any of the story because it must be read first hand and consumed like a coal on your tongue. Let it burn and let the water of your body cool your mind as you enjoy a really great story.
Rating: 9/10
These book reports will be really short and to the point. For real heavy duty book reviews by professionals on current new books it is best to read something by the NY Times. What I want to do is have something short that people can consume really quick. I will also tweet a link to the report when it's on Blogger.
On with the first review!
Anthem by Ayn Rand
I really did not know much about Ayn Rand when I picked this up at Half-Price books in Concord other than my Uncle Clark really liked her writing, that she was the proponent, even the protagonist if you will; for a movement called Objectivisim and that she had a cool looking first name. I saw Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged but they looked so long that I opted for the old Signet paperback of Anthem (pictured), and wow and I glad I did. This little book is just a wonderful testament to the individual, to the person who is beaten down, or subjugated, or corned into a certain way of thinking. This book provides a lot of relief for disbelief. A lot of hope for knowing that what we feel inside is real, not matter what other people are telling you, especially groups of people, and even more at governments; as in 'we the people' has been replaced by "we the decider's" leaving the freedom to the brave, those courageous enough to keep the light burning in the darkest of tunnels. And that is what this little book is about. Burning a light in darkness, against all the odds, and all the fear, and all the unknowing to find that from a small light can burn a mighty flame, the flame of personal freedom. To know that "I AM" is okay. And then if I am okay, so can you. Equality.
I will not go into any details of the plot or summarize any of the story because it must be read first hand and consumed like a coal on your tongue. Let it burn and let the water of your body cool your mind as you enjoy a really great story.
Rating: 9/10
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Pentax P3!
Having this "new" camera has me inspired to shoot film again and there is nothing like it. Knowing I only have 36 shots before I load another role makes a huge difference in composition, and then knowing (or rather hoping) that what I see will appear on the print makes a much more creative way to capture a moment or a scene. And then to that, when the moment is captured on film, there is a very special feeling, or communication rather, that means a lot.
When I received the camera I took it right down to my favorite camera shop which is Camera West in Walnut Creek, CA. Ben and Dan checked it all out and all was good. The camera came with a Vivitar, and Albinar-ADG zoom lenses so we discussed it and the shop found and ordered me a used Pentax 50mm f/1.7 smc-m which I am picking up this weekend.
What it also very cool is that if I decide to buy a Pentax K7, these lenses will all work. Thank you Pentax.
When I get some photos developed I will post them to my Flickr
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