tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39444096255048753852024-02-20T10:12:47.636-06:00Michael Margolies - Marketing, Photography, Rants, LifeStories, observations, and thoughts on marketing, AI, Creative workflow, advertising, retail, photography, digital imaging, audiophile and music, technology, design, eCommerce, politics, current events, and other topics that interest me, and hopefully you too.
What I'm thinking about, content from other places I am writing, projects I'm working on, or things I'm excited about today. Always honest, sometimes fun, and never too technical.
And on rare occasions actual content from my projects.Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-4287253181196143032022-02-17T17:16:00.000-06:002022-02-17T17:16:17.127-06:00<h1 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you heard of the rarely talked about Global Greening effect? Neither had I.</span></h1><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;">According to a bunch of liberal scientists who are active in pushing the global warming disaster scare (more about politics, money, and power), there is another side the scientists all agree on but prefer not to discuss. Global greening. </p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;">It seems that the additional carbon admissions in the atmosphere are causing the earth to add the equivalent of the state of Texas each year to our green spaces. Plants consume less water to feed because of the additional carbon. It’s increasing the rate of organic food production, turning dry areas green, increasing farmland and farm outputs, and all with less water! </p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;">Further, they estimate in the UK alone a half million people a year have avoided cold weather-related deaths because of the increasing global temperatures. Why? Because far more people die of cold weather than hot, it's actually 20 times more! Cold places are getting warmer and sustaining more life while we are more tolerant of warmer places and as they become greener, they create a more balanced temperature and more agriculture. </p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;">Global deaths from droughts and floods are down 98% over the last 100 years. Mostly because of human intervention from smarter construction, engineering (yea! for engineering), communications and transportation have all improved and not worsened because of more humans on the planet. </p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, there are still issues with rising water levels and rising ocean temperatures. NOAA says no matter what we do water levels are rising worldwide and there is nothing we can do about it, short of a global ice age that would have to kick in immediately. Also, NOAA says that 10,000 years ago sea levels shot up 100 feet every thousand years but today it's increasing only 1 foot every 100 years. Dramatically slowing despite human impacts on the environment. The total land area of the plant and the greenspace are both increasing even as shorelines decrease. </p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus, we see more farmable land, less water needed for wild vegetation expansion and growth, more oxygen being produced, slowing of water level increases, and far fewer deaths. It’s as if the planet and God know what they are doing despite us. </p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/carbon-dioxide-fertilization-greening-earth">https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/carbon-dioxide-fertilization-greening-earth</a></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;">#globalwarming #gloablgreening #farmland #warmingearth #risingoceans</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-60555190581695923052022-02-17T17:12:00.000-06:002022-02-17T17:12:33.128-06:00As photographers, Graphic Artists and Marketers do we have something to give back?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
My Grandfather worked as a floor boss at Caesars when the MDA Telethon used to be held there and my Grandmother, an avid and extremely active volunteer who used to be in the newspapers in Las Vegas all the time for her work was also connected with Jerry's telethon while she was alive. But she also did volunteer work for a number of other local and national associations, served on many boards and fund raising organizations, and promoted many worthwhile causes. Not bad for a woman who never went to college, not sure if she finished High School, could not drive a car and never learned how to swim.<br />
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But she knew how to serve others.<br />
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That in turn meant that my older brother and I regularly went out doing service projects or collecting door to door for the MDA Telethon or other programs my Grandma was working with, I think we even made it on TV a couple of times.<br />
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It also meant we attended many of telethons, charity auctions, fund raising dinners and met Jerry Lewis and many other Celebrities as kids. It was a great thing and was very "local" back when LV was still a small town of a few 100 thousand and most people new each other. Our parents often knew a lot of the local headliners personally and they did not have to travel with body guards in those days, everyone but Sinatra that is!<br />
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So what does that have to do with my mostly photography and marketing related topics you Ask?<br />
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Let me suggest it reminds me that we all have an obligation to do service ourselves and help our fellow man.<br />
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It can be a hot political topic today, some circles think we should raise more taxes and the government should dole out everything and care for everyone, forcing people to contribute to the poor, diseased or many other worthy and worthwhile causes.<br />
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Still other groups feel it's a purely personal subject, that support of the poor, funding for research of diseases, and providing for those who have been dealt a harsh life and that we should be responsible as citizens, morally engaged to give and volunteer to help others as individuals and not have the government take form us to give to others.<br />
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We could go on and on all day as to the merits and evils of both and we would quickly get no where, meanwhile there are people in need, research that has to get done to find cures and yes we can do our part regardless of the ideological positions we take.<br />
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I am of the persuasion that all things are local, politics, education, community, and service. Even if sponsored nationally or globally it the local that effects us, the human factor that reaches our souls, the one on one connection that allows our mostly empathetic natures to come out.<br />
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It's does not have to cost us money to help others, in fact I would suggest that is the least valuable way we can contribute. Writing a check is easy and sterile and disconnects us from the problems of those around us. Sure many worthy charities need money, but all too often they are caught up in the fund raising, business and self aggrandizing and much of what is donated never reaches the intended cause or is deliberately spent entertaining the big shots and dragging out the cash flow with no intention of helping at all, just sucking money from people who are in essence paying for a less guilty state of heart.<br />
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This jades many people against charitable service and giving but there is an answer to solve all these issues.<br />
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Do the service yourself! Donate time, talents, and money locally where you can participate in the fulfilling of needs of individuals whose lives you can be effected by and who can effect you.<br />
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Local does not just mean in our own towns and cities though. We all have read about photographers, doctors, or others who travel to all kinds of exotic places to do local service right where it's needed.<br />
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I love travel and the idea of contributing to a worthwhile cause while satisfying my wanderlust is provocative.<br />
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People with creative talents have much to give, you don't have to be a doctor to give or to just write a check.<br />
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What are you passionate about, homelessness, breast cancer, hunger, emergency relief, conservationism? There are thousands of areas that need our help in the world, and countless ways to contribute.<br />
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Recently our church for example decided to help a monastery of a completely deferent church just because they needed some help. 70 people showed up on a Saturday morning to restore the grounds of a once beautiful monastery to its former state of peacefulness providing an open retreat both for religious people and anyone who wanted to come there and meditate. Many people who I knew mostly with a shirt and tie or sunday dress and some of whom I knew were accountants, lawyers, realtors, moms and dads, and kids, and people of all kinds of jobs were there digging, weeding, trimming trees doing landscaping and planting, hauling waste, and all kinds of hot dirty manual labor. And surprisingly it seems for a group of people none of us knew or had any affiliation with. Just because it needed to get done.<br />
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Our religious ideologies many have not been the same but one group of people seeing another in need of some service can go far in creating greater understanding and peace in the neighborhood.<br />
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As creative people we have many outlets for our creative abilities to help others; we can write stories that move people to action, we can use our marketing kills and powers of persuasion to present needs to the public in ways that education and entice them to get off the coach and help others, we can use our photography skills to show people the pain of hunger, the devastation of a disease, the loss of a child, the desolation of nature abused, the terrors of war.<br />
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Just because we may not have the means to write a big check does not mean we do not matter or that our contributions can't make a difference.<br />
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Get out and help build housing for the homeless, volunteer at a food pantry, cancel a vacation and instead go somewhere in need and document, then communicate it to the world.<br />
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We have the power to get people to buy, to shop, to be loyal to a brand, to open wallets and purchase stuff thy don't really need. Lets use some of those powers of influence to help people to do the right thing for causes we are passionate about, make it personal, and volunteer ourselves too, set the example.<br />
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The more we do locally, the more our efforts are magnified, the further or donated dollars reach, the more personal impact we can have on improving the lives of our fellow man, protecting our world, and creating more understanding and peace.<br />
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Set aside time, if you're a business owner make it part of your business to set aside time, talents and resources to give back to the causes and needs of your community and your world, the ones that make you feel, that pull at your heart, that make you feel guilty. Use that to help others, I think you'll gain more from it than anyone else will from the service you do or the check that you write.<br />
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Thanks for the service Jerry and the example and the memories, I was always proud of my Grandparents volunteer service and association with MDA. It's helped me to always believe in and support volunteer service programs that help others, and taught me the importance of the personal connection we have to the world around us and the people who may need us if we will only reach out and give a little of ourselves.<br />
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Selfishly I know from experience that we will always to get more out of it than the value of our time, talents or resources and that should make us do more for others than any other motive we might have.<br />
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Now stop reading this blog and go find a way to serve, you'll be glad you did.<br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-44771823521180847302012-01-20T17:36:00.001-06:002023-12-04T11:25:31.633-06:00Ring Lights, Beauty Dish, and Salad Bowls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">So you want the effects of a ring flash but don't have the cash, or you've tried the cheap plastic ring flash adapters that snap, tape, or velcro onto your camera flash. Is there a better solution? Sure, there are many in fact. There are so many available today because of social media that the prices have been driven down nd now thousands are on the market. Most designed to be used with a smartphone. But will these work for professional photography too? Yes and no.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTpRdcOBBeMI-JWKF-84orWFVkAwuIpf47OeWUwQ6M8I1IF-nVJeytfiUhR5YKy7x48u15eiKX7ZSRL6ycG0ORtT-qc0TQmzdh_9F861T-iZppxzyN7h8HoihuU9vaSjwZbkM_99zfFTU-pWHh-LBf4lKv0ktW7C97On0MRuSAEfhWVShqYYjZrf2deI/s500/genaray_srl_10_soft_ring_light_led_1497372931_1316281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="https://static.bhphoto.com/images/images500x500/1497372931_1316281.jpg" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTpRdcOBBeMI-JWKF-84orWFVkAwuIpf47OeWUwQ6M8I1IF-nVJeytfiUhR5YKy7x48u15eiKX7ZSRL6ycG0ORtT-qc0TQmzdh_9F861T-iZppxzyN7h8HoihuU9vaSjwZbkM_99zfFTU-pWHh-LBf4lKv0ktW7C97On0MRuSAEfhWVShqYYjZrf2deI/w268-h268/genaray_srl_10_soft_ring_light_led_1497372931_1316281.jpg" title="LED Ringlight at B&H Photo" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1316281-REG/genaray_srl_10_soft_ring_light_led.html" target="_blank">Genaray Bi-Color Soft Ring Light LED (10")</a></h4></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div>
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It's hard to beat a true ring light for the effect it produces; that high fashion deliberately harsh ring effect is very popular and is best achieved with a real ring flash like the (discontinued) <a href="http://www.paulcbuff.com/abr800.php">Alien Bees ABR800</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">which creates that ring of light in the eyes and rich saturated color with the edgy shadows often seen in fashion photos over the last decade or two. It's also popular in portraits of celebrities, athletes, and rock stars. But Ring flashes can be expensive, heavy, and many are not very portable requiring external power, or safe to use outdoors or around water. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2055837515"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img alt="Example of a Model with a ring light" class="alignnone" height="200" src="http://neilvn.com/tangents/images/flash/ring-flash-orbis/RF_image_01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="143" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://neilvn.com/tangents/tag/ring-flash/"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Stephanie Zetti</span></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">Ring flashes, good ones anyway can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollar</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">s, they can be heavy to hand hold and most take plug-in power or portable battery packs that require a body builder assistant to haul the whole rig around for you. Not everyone has an assistant to help carry a box of donuts let alone cases of gear, batteries, stands and reflectors.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The social media style ring lights in contrast are light, easy to use, often sync to the camera phone but can be under powered for some studio use. The ones you find at Walmart or Amazon are generally designed for close-up single light use in regular house hold lighting and require almost no skill to use. They also don’t quite offer the high fashion ring light effect some photographers are after. Instead those inexpensive large round circles are designed to make photography simple, clean and flat. Some can be repurposed for that high fashion look but most are under powered and not designed for the same use. They may produce a satisfying result but it will not be what most fashion or edgy portrait styling attempts are trying to achieve.<br /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">There are less expensive solutions but before that lets discuss a few kinds of ring flashes and beauty dishes as well as the adapters that try and fill in for a ring flash in various ways by using an existing on camera strobe.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"> </span></span><br /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">The ring adapters that attach to your camera flash don't create the effect as well as the real thing because of the lower power and defused nature of the adapter which can cause a loss of up to 4 stops. Then again they are less expensive and portable for an "almost ring flash" effect many people are happy with. There are a number of models on the market and it seems theres a new one every few weeks lately. Some models include Orbis, ExpoImaging, Gary Fong, and others.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.adorama.com/images/Large/PP701113.jpg"><img alt="Profoto Ring Light" height="200" src="http://www.profoto.com/us/sites/default/files/imagecache/medium/ProRing2_0.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Click to zoom" width="185" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #4a4849; font-size: small; line-height: 17px;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.adorama.com/images/Large/PP701113.jpg">Profoto ProRing2 with modeling light 300517 EST. $2695.00</a></strong></span></td></tr>
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Orbis Ring Flash Diffusing Attachment EST. $200.00</span></h1>
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ExpoImaging Ray Flash Ring Flash Adapter EST. $199.95</span></h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img alt="22-inch High Output Beauty Dish" height="200" src="http://www.paulcbuff.com/images/products/22hobd/22hobd_front_0111.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></span></td></tr>
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Buff 22-inch High Output Silver Beauty Dish Reflector EST. $ 79.95</span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;"><b>Buff Beauty Dish</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">Another popular solution is a beauty dish like the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><a href="http://www.paulcbuff.com/22hobd.php">22 inch Paul C. Buff, 22HOBD</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"> from the makers of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><a href="http://www.paulcbuff.com/alienbees.php">Alien Bees</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">, <a href="http://www.paulcbuff.com/e640.php">Einstein</a> and <a href="http://www.paulcbuff.com/whitelightning.php">White Lightning studio strobes</a>. Paul C. Buff makes this great one that comes with a diffusion screen when you want it and it't large size gives an effect similar to a ring flash but also softer like and umbrella, add in the diffuser and you get an effect like blending a ring flash with a softbox.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">I have this beauty dish and find it very useful for fashion shoots in studio or location when I plan on using studio lights. Furthermore, I find myself using it all the time as a fill light and other uses in multi-light studio set ups. It mounts to the same speed rings as all Paul C. Buff lights including the <a href="http://www.paulcbuff.com/alienbees.php">Alien Bees</a> or the <a href="http://www.paulcbuff.com/whitelightning.php">White Lightning Pro</a> versions I use.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;"><b>Build your own for a more useful, lighter, and flexible solution</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Years ago I made my own beauty dish, both a shoot through like a ring flash and a studio strobe version using a large metal salad bowl like the ones available at any cooking store or Sam's club or this 20 Qt. version from Amazon.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">There are a few important details to consider when picking your bowl. First, you want a large wider bowl, not a deep bowl. The deep bowls are more similar to typical reflectors that come with many studio strobes, you know the ones you promptly take off and replace with a speed ring adapter so you can use softboxs or strip light style modifiers. These deeper bowls would just be like building a flood light and have the wrong effect.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">If you have the tools and skills or have a friend who can cut it for you, cut a large hole in the bottom of the bowl large enough to allow you to shoot through the hole. I cut mine to the same size as the hole of my speed ring adapter and used sheet metal screws to mount a speed ring to the back of the bowl, which in turn allows the ring to be mounted to a light stand.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">I have two versions of diffusion for the bowl. Both have a thin strip of elastic sewn to the edge so it slips over the bowl one is made of simple white nylon cloth about 6 inches wide so that 4 inches creates a circle of diffusion around the outer edge of the bowl but allowing lots of room in the middle to shoot through. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">The other diffuser made the same way only it completely covers the bowl creating a softbox effect. Obviously, you can't shoot through the hole, instead I mount a flash or studio strobe in the speed ring and use it as a round softbox, traditional beauty dish or as a side light.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">SInce I used my macro flash which mounts to the front of my lens I simply shoot through the hole in the bowl and basically get the same effect of shooting with a ring light for an investment of less than $30.00 bucks. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">I've also seen people make these out of smaller bowls, large pie tins and similar wider parabolic metal dishes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2055837456"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img alt="20 Qt. Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl" border="0" height="200" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31iCKmn7HBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">I mounted a macro ring flash inside the salad bowl after having a friend cut out a whole in the middle so I could shoot through it like a ring flash, with my macro flash mounted to my lens as I would normally use it.<br />That worked great for many years of use and I did not have to take too much care to protect the salad bowl from damage on location such as shooting at dusk at the beach, it was so cheap to replace if it was damaged and a lot safer to use around water than studio lights or studio grade ring flashes on location.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX EST. $500.00</span></h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>What kind of strobes or macro flashes do I use inside?</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">If you're a Canon user consider the<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-MR-14EX-Macro-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00004WCI7"> Canon 14EX Macro flash</a> or pick up the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/732681-REG/Vivitar_DF586CAN_DF_586_Dedicated_Macro_Ring.html">Vivitar DF-586</a> version for less than $100.00 or the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/515454-REG/Bower_SFD14C_SFDRL14C_Macro_Ringlight_Flash.html">Bower SFDRL14C</a> model for the more budget minded. There are versions for Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus and most major camera makers design their own versions too. There are lots of brands of Macro and ring strobes available today. If I was shopping for a new one I would consider an LED version that can also be used for video projects.</span><br />
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Vivitar DF-586 Dedicated Macro Ring Flash for Canon EST. $89.99</span></h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">Including the cost of the salad bowl, some gaffer tape and a speed ring and you can build a great dual use beauty dish/ring flash for less than $50.00 that works amazingly well and is a lot safer to use outdoors and around water than the much more expensive studio versions and you don't loose 3-4 stops of light as you would with ring adapters that mount to a flash. And yeah, theres no red eye with a beauty dish setup like this.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;"><b>So you built one, now what?</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">Have fun, start with fashion style shoots. Find your favorite muse, sports star, model, kid, or dog and shoot away.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">Try using a combination of ring, beauty dish, and traditional studio lighting for a more polished and professional result. Learn to experiment and find the combination that best represents your personal style and client </span><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif" style="line-height: 13px;">requirements.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.adorama.com/images/Large/PP701113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="450" src="https://www.adorama.com/images/Large/PP701113.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.adorama.com/images/Large/PP701113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="450" src="https://www.adorama.com/images/Large/PP701113.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-45707011551461585202011-08-04T16:36:00.002-05:002011-08-04T17:24:41.617-05:00As photographers, Graphic Artists and Marketers do we have something to give back?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My Grandfather worked as a floor boss at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesars_Palace">Caesars</a> when the <a href="http://www.mdausa.org/">MDA</a> Telethon used to be held there and my Grandmother, an avid and extremely active volunteer who used to be in the newspapers in <a href="http://www.lasvegassun.com/history/">Las Vegas</a> all the time for her work was also connected with<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lewis"> Jerry's</a> telethon while she was alive. But she also did volunteer work for a number of other local and national associations, served on many boards and fund raising organizations, and promoted many worthwhile causes. Not bad for a woman who never went to college, not sure if she finished High School, could not drive a car and never learned how to swim.<br />
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But she knew how to serve others.<br />
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That in turn meant that my older brother and I regularly went out doing service projects or collecting door to door for the <a href="http://www.mda.org/telethon/">MDA Telethon</a> or other programs my Grandma was working with, I think we even made it on TV a couple of times.<br />
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It also meant we attended many of telethons, charity auctions, fund raising dinners and met Jerry Lewis and many other Celebrities as kids. It was a great thing and was very "local" back when LV was still a small town of a few 100 thousand and most people new each other. Our parents often knew a lot of the local headliners personally and they did not have to travel with body guards in those days, everyone but <a href="http://sinatrafamily.com/biography/1960/">Sinatra</a> that is!<br />
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So what does that have to do with my mostly photography and marketing related topics you Ask?<br />
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<b>Let me suggest it reminds me that we all have an obligation to do service ourselves and help our fellow man.</b><br />
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It can be a hot political topic today, some circles think we should raise more taxes and the government should dole out everything and care for everyone, forcing people to contribute to the poor, diseased or many other worthy and worthwhile causes.<br />
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Still other groups feel it's a purely personal subject, that support of the poor, funding for research of diseases, and providing for those who have been dealt a harsh life should come from ourselves, that we should be responsible as citizens, morally engaged to give and volunteer to help others as individuals and not have the government take from us to give to others.<br />
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We could go on and on all day as to the merits and evils of both and we would quickly get nowhere, meanwhile there are people in need, research that has to get done, cures to develop, and yes we can do our part regardless of the ideological positions we take.<br />
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<b>Keep it Personal</b><br />
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I am of the persuasion that all things are local, politics, education, community, and service. Even if sponsored nationally or globally it's the local connection that effects us, the human factor that reaches our souls, the one on one connection that allows our mostly empathetic natures to come out.<br />
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It's does not have to cost us money to help others, in fact I would suggest that is the least valuable way we can contribute. Writing a check is easy and sterile and disconnects us from the problems of those around us.<br />
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Sure many worthy charities need money, but all too often many are caught up in the fund raising business and self aggrandizing and much of what is donated never reaches the intended cause or is deliberately spent entertaining the big shots and dragging out the cash flow for personal gain with no intention of helping at all, just sucking money from people who are in essence paying for a less guilty state of heart.<br />
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This jades many people against charitable service and giving but there is an answer to solve all these issues.<br />
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<b>Do the Service Yourself! </b><br />
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Donate time, talents, and money locally where you can participate in fulfilling the needs of individuals, whose lives you can be effected by you and who can effect the way you treat the world around you.<br />
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<b>Local is Everywhere</b><br />
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Local does not just mean in our own towns and cities. We all have read about photographers, doctors, or others who travel to all kinds of exotic places to do local service right where it's needed.<br />
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I love to travel and the idea of contributing to a worthwhile cause while satisfying my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanderlust">wanderlust</a> is provocative.<br />
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People with creative talents have much to give, you don't have to be a <a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/">doctor</a> without a border to give of yourself or to write a check.<br />
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What are you passionate about, homelessness, breast cancer, hunger, emergency relief, conservationism? There are <a href="http://www.charityfocus.org/blog/view.php?id=9398">thousands</a> of areas that need our help in the world, and countless ways to contribute.<br />
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Recently our church for example decided to help an <a href="http://www.orderofjulian.org/home.html">Episcopal Monastery</a> of a completely deferent church just because they needed some help. 70 people showed up on a Saturday morning to restore the grounds of a once beautiful monastery to its former state of peaceful glory providing an open retreat both for religious people and anyone who wanted to come by and meditate. Many people who I knew mostly with a shirt and tie or sunday dress and some of whom I knew were accountants, lawyers, realtors, moms and dads, kids, and people of all kinds of jobs were there digging, weeding, trimming trees doing landscaping and planting, hauling waste, and all kinds of hot and dirty manual labor. And surprisingly it seems for a group of people none of us knew or had any affiliation with just because it needed to get done.<br />
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Our religious ideologies may not have been the same but one group of people seeing another in need of some service can go far in creating greater understanding and peace in the neighborhood.<br />
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As creative people we have many outlets for our creative abilities to help others; we can <a href="http://www.volunteerpower.com/articles/Newsletter65.asp#TITLE1">write stories</a> that move people to action, we can use our marketing kills and powers of persuasion to present needs to the public in ways that is educational and entice them to get off the coach and help others, we can use our <a href="http://pickme-clickme-educateme.org/node/121">photography</a> skills to show people the <a href="http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=org_hungerhurts">pain of hunger</a>, the devastation of a disease, the <a href="http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/">loss of an infant</a>, the desolation of nature abused, the terrors of war.<br />
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Another example is an organization I do service for is <a href="http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/">NILMDTS</a>, a highly personal and emotional service that relies on the talents of photographers and retouchers to provide a service to families who have recently lost an infant or baby.<br />
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<b>Your Contribution Matters</b><br />
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Just because we may not have the means to write a big fat check does not mean we do not matter or that our contributions can't <a href="http://www.serve.gov/">make a difference</a>.<br />
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Get out and help build <a href="http://www.habitat.org/">housing for the homeless</a>, volunteer at a <a href="http://www.ampleharvest.org/find-pantry.php">food pantry</a>, cancel a <a href="http://www.globalvolunteers.org/">vacation</a> and instead <a href="http://www.unitedplanet.org/family-volunteering-abroad?gclid=CI-369rUtqoCFYrJKgod2jH27A">go somewhere in need</a> and document, then communicate it to the world.<br />
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<b>Use our Magic Powers of Enticement</b><br />
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We have the power to get people to buy, to shop, to be loyal to a brand, to open wallets and purchase stuff thy don't really need. Lets use some of those powers of influence to help people to do the right thing for causes we are passionate about, make it personal, and volunteer ourselves too, set the example.<br />
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The more we do locally, the more our efforts are magnified, the further our donated dollars reach, the more personal impact we can have on improving the lives of our fellow man, protecting our world, and creating more understanding and peace.<br />
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<b>Making Time to Help</b><br />
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Set aside time, if you're a business owner make it part of your business plan to set aside time, talents and resources to give back to the causes and needs of your community and your world, the ones that make you feel, that pull at your heart, that make you feel.<br />
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Create a service committee that develops plans on how your office, team or group and contribute and serve. Use that to help others, I think you'll gain more from it than anyone else will from the service you do or the check that you write.<br />
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<b>Thanks Jerry for the Service and Example</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nominate-Jerry-Lewis-For-A-Nobel-Prize-For-MDA/15611254440192">Jerry Lewis</a> gave over 50 years of service to <a href="http://www.mdausa.org/">MDA</a> and deserves our thanks and appreciation for the example and the memories.<br />
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I was always proud of my Grandparents volunteer service and association with <a href="http://www.mdausa.org/">MDA</a> and other charities. It's helped me to always believe in and support volunteer service programs that help others, and taught me the importance of the personal connection we have to the world around us and the people who may need us whatever talent we have to share.<br />
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I try to set an example for my kids and hope they will pass on a spirit of service and volunteerism and a desire to help others to their kids.<br />
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Selfishly I know from experience that we will always to get more out of it than the value of our time, talents or resources and that should make us do more for others than any other motive we might have.<br />
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Now stop reading this blog and go find a way to serve and help, you'll be glad you did.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-1747836707104607292011-04-26T16:24:00.000-05:002019-06-11T10:39:04.150-05:00Every Photographer should have a Current Passport<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="218" height="640" src="https://app-usa-modeast-prod-a01239f.s3.amazonaws.com/Passport_Infographic_Hires.png" width="172" /></div>
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<a href="https://app-usa-modeast-prod-a01239f.s3.amazonaws.com/Passport_Infographic_Hires.png">US Passport infographic</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even if your not going anywhere right now you may want to consider getting a current US </span></span><a href="http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">passport</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Why?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's been in the news off and on the last couple of years </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(but only in passing for the most part)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> that Homeland Security wants everyone to have a passport for interstate travel, supposedly to protect us against terrorists somehow. The first part of that is the new <a href="http://www.uspassportnow.com/?gclid=CIrs0vWOu6gCFRG4KgodpVz8BA">passport card</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, this week </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The </span></span><a href="http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">US State Department</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> has submitted new forms that will require everyone to provide every aspect of our personal history, and they mean everything; every job you've ever had, every address you ever lived at, even as a baby, every name and current phone and address of previous supervisors, where your mother lived one year before your birth, every school you've attended etc. Along with the new, nearly impossible to fill out forms and subsequent security checks they will drastically increase the price of a passport to cover all the new detailed background checks and processing, data collection and database maintenance making it even harder for some people to obtain one. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some </span></span><a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/2011/04/26/why-doesnt-gov-want-you-to-have-a-passport/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">talking heads</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> think this will make it hard for many people to travel, find work, move from one area to another while making it easier for the government to create new ways of social engineering; deciding where people move, work, and who gets permission. Reminds me of the old USSR where only party insiders could move up in the world or had choices. Some suggest that progressive thinking politicians have a long term plan of using this along with healthcare, the EPA, and other tools to further control and manage all aspects of everyday life.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The </span></span><a href="http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">US State Department</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> has come out endorsing the idea of requiring a passport for interstate travel and further suggested it should be required for employment as well because employers would know the background check had already been conducted by the government. In short if this goes through, not as a law but another presidential ruling so it can bypass Congress it would become very difficult to travel in the US or get work without an expensive and hard to get passport. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, experts are advising people to get one now even if you are not planning over-seas travel. Apparently getting renewed will be easier for people who already have a passport, and you never know when you might want to take off to some other country for vacation or business travel.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-1859697502877451232010-12-28T12:05:00.016-06:002010-12-28T12:26:41.882-06:00Rebuttal to an WSJ iPad article<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 10px;"></span><br />
<h1 style="line-height: 1.1075em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 668px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704259704576033941846942596.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read&goback=%2Egde_1245667_member_38447700%2Enae_0_302782112_0_1245667%2Egde_1245667_member_38447700"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas</span></span></a></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">A decent article for the non thinking person. I'm not a writer so I may not refute as eloquently, let me also state that I have no interest in Apple, own no stocks and don't work for them. My arguments apply to almost any popular product as much as it does the iPad. I also look at the iPad from a photographers point of view and find it's storage capacity far too lightweight for my use. </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">It seems </span></i></span><a href="http://online.wsj.com/img/renocol_BrettArends.gif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Brett Arends</span></i></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> and the </span></i></span><a href="http://Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">WSJ</span></i></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> are okay with picking up the thoughts and editorial content of thousands of others and calling it an article, I go to the WSJ for original thinking not rehashed goggle searches. Here are my thoughts:</span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Point by Point Rebutta</span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">l</span></span></span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1. Everything is cheaper next year, it's a rather weak argument. You can always say I'm waiting for the next one to be cheaper or better there is nothing profound about that. The problem is there will always be a next one. If your a geek, tech fanboy, or just want to have the latest toy you'll get it if you want it enough. Often people who say I'm waiting for the next one are really saying I can't afford it right now. Come on admit it, we all do this. You either want it or you do not, it's a mater of how you're going to justify the thing you want and how much you are willing to sacrifice for it. Or if your wealthy you really don't care about the cost.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2. I think I answered this already. Things generally always get better. Cars, computers, cameras, toys, robotics, cell phones etc. The real question is do you like to lead or follow? Are you a safe player who minds your budget or do you like having the newest thing when it first comes out? Does your career require you to be up-to-date on the latest gizmo or is it just something you'd like to have. And again, is your budget one where you can have the latest thing and dispose of it or hand it down to children or others easily or do you need to move cautiously and stretch every dollar. I for one am somewhere in the middle, I am often required to be up on the latest trends, however I make things last and only buy if I can write it off on my taxes. Ask my wife, I've never bought a new computer, however I always have the most powerful and capable ones you can get, generally through barter and customizing that I can do myself or I find ways for clients to buy them for me.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3. Profit margins, I have no problems with a healthy profit, I'm not a socialist or communist and take no issue with a company that takes every advantage of the market it operates in. The margin Apple makes pays for it's leading edge R&D, state of the art design, willingness to open new markets that other companies benefit from, provide forward thinking designs that raise the bad for everyone. If you have a problem with margins you'll have to give up food, jewelry, cars, energy, politicians, electric cars, medicines, eating out, movies, music, live entertainment etc. All operate with margins and profits that far exceed Apple's. This boils down to envy and greed on the part of those unwilling or unable to reap such rewards and think they have the right to take from others to pad their own pockets without doing the work or putting in the efforts that others do. Strange how margins and profit concerns disappear when it's something you really want or a organization you want to believe in.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4. Competitors, If it were not for Apple there would be no competitors. Apple did not </span></span><a href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_5813990_invented-first-tablet-pc_.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">invent the tablet</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, but like many things they developed the marketing, desire, designs, and infrastructure to make the industry viable for everyone else. Apple singlehandedly revived the dying music industry with the iPod for example. Apple's designs with the early iMac helped all computer companies get past the grey box and open up an entirely new market and opportunity to sell products to people who want computers to work well and look good. Bill Gates once said when asked why he did not want to destroy APple. That he needed Apple to innovate and create products for the rest of the industry to copy or try and beat constantly pushing the computer industry to greater innovation. Some one has to lead so competitors have something to reach for, to compete with.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">5. Okay this one is a bit more complex, Flash has it's </span></span><a href="http://wikibin.org/articles/criticism-of-adobe-flash.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">detractors</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, I'm one of them. It can be slow and interfering, it can be difficult to execute and works on some browsers one way and differently on another. Apple has a long history of driving and creating industry standards. Right now they are trying to drive us to </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">HTML5</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">. A superior product by most accounts. Sometime change is painful and requires leadership. Apple is striving to drive us to a more open standard, one Adobe does not like because it costs them money. Apple gets nothing from HTML5, just a more widely adopted open standard that is free to all and consistent everywhere on all platforms and browsers. Mostly what you’ll loose is a lack of pop-up ads and annoying efforts to get you to buy insurance, go back to school or sexual enhancement products. Most of the more popular video sites are moving to or already have moved to HTML5 because it’s faster to deploy and cheaper while requiring less bandwidth to deploy.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">6. Add-ons, I have to agree with this one, at least sort of. The apps cost more to buy than the ones on the </span></span><a href="http://www.android.com/market/#app=ix.com.android.VirtualRecorder"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Android</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> platform, even for the same apps (I use an Android phone by the way, I refuse to use the more expensive AT&T service with it’s often loss of connections and terrible service). The wi-fi argument made in the Wall Street Journal is like political double speak. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">My wife won an </span></span><a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">iPad</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> at work, the most basic model. I was quick to point out that without the 3G capability it would have problems running some applications as the Journal article suggests. I was wrong and so are they. Wi-Fi is everywhere, often free and open. Sure I can't use the wifi connection while driving in the middle of the desert but then again I should not be using an </span></span><a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">iPad</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> while driving anyway. Most applications do work without internet access and are just as functional as anything on your laptop, or netbook for that matter. Are you tossing out your laptop or netbook because they don’t have </span></span><a href="http://cellphones.about.com/od/glossary/g/3G_definition.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3G</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> service? I don’t think so. If yo want it there is always tethering, just like you can do for your laptop. If I were to buy an iPad for myself I see no reason to buy one with </span></span><a href="http://cellphones.about.com/od/glossary/g/3G_definition.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3G</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> and comparing it to the underpowered black and white only </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-DX-Wireless-Reader-3G-Global/dp/B002GYWHSQ/ref=amb_link_353596242_4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle&pf_rd_r=18VSC26DEV98M3N3DHGK&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1280139842&pf_rd_i=kindle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Kindle</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, neutralizes all the rest of the points the WSJ makes in the rest of the article. A Kindle is a book reader with anemic internet and productivity tools, books are still expensive, and it has no color so forget video. The iPad is starting to replace people’s laptops and doing it well for many. So I have to agree I don’t need the $989 model either, my wife has not had a problem using hers any of the places most people will use the iPad 95% of the time, at home, at church (yes many great apps like hymns and scriptures are available so replace that old heavy Bible) in airports, on airplanes, the same places most people use laptops most of the time</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">7. The Games? Really? Do I even need to respond to this? </span></span><a href="http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/573"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Addictive gaming behavior</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">? While the Brett is at it lets ban all cigarettes (I don’t smoke) alcohol (I don’t drink it either), gambling, vacations, people with too many cats, collecting ceramic figurines, investing, after all investors spend a lot of time doing that don’t they? Sure some people over spend, over eat, over drink, or play too many computer games. Lets get rid of the XBox and Wii while we're at it, after all those are games and thats a waste of time too? Are you a puritan or perhaps some kind of anti technology tech writer? Most cell phones have time wasting games too lets ban them all.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">8. Waste of Time - according to the article reading articles is a waste of time too. Don’t read any more articles in the WSJ, don’t go online and visit the WSJ sites it’s a waste of your time and keeps you from reading paper books (which kills your Kindle point) and sex. Oh and avoid Facebook too. You can read but don’t do it on a digital reader or on the internet, that is a waste according to the author. Are you sure you're a online tech writer? Or maybe your just too lazy to realize your telling people to avoid what your getting paid to do. Maybe you should rethink your argument a little.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">9. It’ll get boring. Now your just trying to fill space to make your 10 items list. Try harder, I have to wonder if your editors are still on holiday and missed how lame an argument this one is. Welcome to western civilization, it is built on </span></span><a href="http://www.articlealley.com/article_1509382_29.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">consumerism</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, we like new stuff so what? Not getting an iPad is not going to fix all society’s ills. And yes in the 90s it was the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm,_Inc."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Palm</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> which made the iPad possible. Who knows what new technology and benefits we will gain in the future based on the technologies and infrastructures being built today. It takes money to build and it takes consumer spending to pay for it and consumer feedback to help it grow. Perhaps you prefer the dark ages where progress only happened with the forced ideas of kings and dictators. Seems you have an obsession with failed methods of progress. Sure the </span></span><a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/apps-for-ipad/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">iPad</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> will get old someday, just like that bad tie and cheap haircut your sporting, that was so last year! Why even wear clothes they go out of style so fast?</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">10. Brett Arends’ last comment seems like more Apple envy. Apple happens to be the big dog at the moment, Brett's argument here mirrors those written about Ford Motor, Microsoft, Goggle, Walmart, America, Ma Bell, Every industrial mogul in they're times. Journalist love to stir up hate, envy, greed at whomever is the </span></span><a href="http://io9.com/5217560/15-evil-corporations-in-science-fiction"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">big evil corporation</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> of the moment, always with the same argument. They are scary and evil or bad because they are successful, evil because they invent stuff many people want, corrupt because they are smart enough to make a profit at good design and innovation. Simple minds will always buy into this argument the easiest, it’s always easy to hate on those who are doing better than us, are smarter, consistently succeed, and getting paid for it. It's one thing to love the underdog, but that does not mean every successful company is inherently bad. Success is the ultimate American dream far to few comprehend anymore.</span></span></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=2962ff60-2c6e-482d-85eb-c4f70861a644" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-17751185807478648162010-11-15T23:44:00.001-06:002010-11-16T00:10:55.942-06:00Foods that connect us to our ancestors, Here's one of my favorites<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="messageBody" style="line-height: 14px;"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4ce212ef23d9c9077751249" style="display: inline;">People asked me about this Russian soup recipe after I make it every fall. I learned from my Mom, a typical Western girl who married into a traditional eastern Jewish family. Mom got it from my Jewish Grandmother who got it from her Mom who came from Russian, Polish, Latvian families and no one knows for sure where it really came from, but it is a popular Russian and Jewish soup.<br />
<br />
</div></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="messageBody" style="line-height: 14px;"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4ce212ef23d9c9077751249" style="display: inline;"><b>Here is my version made from memory:</b><br />
I make this from memory and to taste but here is the basics: This soup goes by various names: Russian Sweet and Sour soup, Jewish Sweet and Sour soup or Cabbage Sweet and Sour soup but all recipes I've seen are basically the same and it has a taste similar to many German dishes too.<br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">One trick is managing the sweet and sour, once everything is made you need to taste the soup as it cooks and decide how much sweet to add for balance. One version uses brown sugar (I often use <a href="http://www.splenda.com/products/brown-sugar-blend">Splenda</a> brown sugar) others use white sugar or honey but I don't like the honey version. I start with about 1/2 cup of <a href="http://www.splenda.com/products/brown-sugar-blend">brown Splenda sugar</a> and then adjust the sour adding move vinegar. Many people after having this soup say it reminds them of German food like sauerbraten flavors in a soup.<br />
</span></div></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="messageBody" style="line-height: 14px;"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4ce212ef23d9c9077751249" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><b><u>Ingredients:</u></b><br />
1 head red (purple) cabbage finely chopped<br />
several pounds of short ribs, braised on all sides and then put into stock pot and water to boil (some people skip the braising and just go right to the water)<br />
1 large onion, chopped browned in olive oil or your preferred oil<br />
White wine vinegar about 1/3 to 1/2 cup (this is the main sour part) better than plain white vinegar but that can be used too.<br />
Lemon juice (Sometimes I leave this out. Some people add more lemon and less vinegar) 1/4 cup.<br />
Sea salt, my mom adds celery salt and we both use sour salt but thats hard to find. I grind my sea salt fresh into the soup to taste, grandma always used kosher table salt, she'd just pour some into her hand and sprinkle it in, no idea if she ever measured anything.<br />
Water based on how soupy or stew thickness you prefer, I use 3-4 cans of water plus the other liquids below.<br />
2 cans stewed tomato including liquid (I use unsalted) or sometimes sub canned diced tomatoes (depends on whats in the house). I also know some people add tomato sauce or get really fresh and use fresh tomatoes like Roma and stew them at home but I'm not that fancy.<br />
Garlic and a little fresh ground black pepper to taste, I use <a href="http://www.penzeys.com/">penzey's</a> spices. Pepper and garlic powder maybe a tea spoon each but again I just know what I want and sprinkle it on, and add more later if I think it needs it.<br />
2 cups Beef stock (or liquid beef bullion)<br />
<br />
Some people add fresh dill and potatoes which I like but I avoid carbs so I leave out the potatoes. Some people add turnips too which I like, it adds the potato color and texture without adding as many carbs as potatoes.</span></div></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="messageBody" style="line-height: 14px;"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4ce212ef23d9c9077751249" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">Occasionally I'll add bay leaves if I'm in the mood.<br />
<br />
When I have time I will boil the short ribs in water then cool, skimming off the scum and grease as it cools I understand many real cooks do this when making any kind of soup regardless of meat and that the fats and impurities that are removed withe foamy scum also remove bitterness and allow the other seasonings and meat tastes to come through better. </span></div></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="messageBody" style="line-height: 14px;"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4ce212ef23d9c9077751249" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />
</span></div></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="messageBody" style="line-height: 14px;"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4ce212ef23d9c9077751249" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">If I am making it fast and serving it the same day I will boil the short ribs, dump the water, trim the meat, remove the fat but put the bones back into the soup to simmer, this gets rid of excess fat just as well as the long way. Simmer 4 plus hours or dump everything in a crock pot and cook on low all day while at work (for those with jobs)! Mom makes it in a stock pot and simmers it for 6-10 hours adding water as needed but who has time to watch that all day anymore.<br />
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Some may remember a similar soup that Weight Watchers uses as a free food, the soup is a healthy low fat, low carb food and if you use Splenda type sweeteners its low in calories and highly satisfying. Also you can omit the sweet and let the tomato and vinegar do the work of the sweet and sour. Add more water and let yourself enjoy a little more it can be a filling satisfying meal or snack and the sweet and sour can help fulfill some cravings. </span></div></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">I used to love to come home from school on a cold day and have a bowl for my snack, Mom would have it in the fridge in a big pot (thanks Mom) much better than coming home to junk food. and knowing it had a long history with my ancestors makes me think of them making it and eating it giving me a connection to both growing up and my Grandparents who I love while enjoying something they enjoyed from they're ancestors too.</span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">So what soup or food connects you to your past?</span></h6><div></div><div class="mvm plm uiStreamAttachments clearfix plm uiAttachmentNoMedia" data-ft="{"type":"attach"}" style="border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-left: 10px; zoom: 1;"><div><div class="fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-25559850344519115382010-09-07T15:08:00.000-05:002010-09-07T15:08:35.502-05:00The demise of Retouching Services. Did off-shore Prepress kill it?<b>A little History</b><br />
Over the last 10-15 years many prepress houses and retouchers have disappeared and for many reasons. Photoshop continues to get easier to use, high end drum scanners, image setters, and plate-makers are no longer part of most workflows, digital automation and direct to plate, digital photography and simpler tools such as digital asset management DAM have all added to the demise of many wonderful businesses and talented staff.<br />
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Like typesetters a few years ago whose ability to turn text and pages into art the craft is all but dead and moved into the realm of several narrower fields and industries.<br />
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Many customers of the once great prepress and graphic arts houses are now doing the work in house with far less people and often with far worse quality. Some might argue this point as we often want to think our investment or newly acquired skills are "good enough" but much has been lost in the art of typesetting and print has not looked nearly as good in years even as the desktop publishing revolution is a distant memory.<br />
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InDesign, Quark, PageMaker, ReadySetGo, FrameMaker and others have all replaced the once mighty and very expensive typesetter but the skills are often overlooked or forgotten. Even as many who have grown up with desktop publishing have learned to love typography and studied it, they are often left with no time or budget to do it justice, good enough is the new norm.<br />
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There are countless discussions online among photographers about the demise of fine photography, about the part time house wives and uncles with semi-professional cameras, a copy of photoshop and poor retouching skills killing the professional wedding market and portraits. Middle income people and others place much less value on archival grade works of art, while the wealthy continue to spend and value family and personal portraits, high end wedding photography and even in commercial and advertising photography has been hit hard.<br />
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<b>Digital Revolution Hurting Many</b><br />
Catalog companies, manufacturers and businesses have all tightened budgets to a point of driving many photographers out of work, large studios that used to thrive on furniture sets, automobiles and Madison Avenue projects have disappeared. And the many graphic arts service bureau's, prepress, and retouching shops have also disappeared.<br />
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Many photographers learned to their surprise that when they went digital they also had to take on the rolls of retoucher, archivist, librarian, color theorist, and imaging output. Instead of spending most of their time behind the camera many have had to stop shooting and move behind a monitor. SOme love it some hate it but for virtually all professional photographers they too bare some responsibility for the demise of retouching and prepress service bureaus.<br />
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As mentioned above some have gone in-house, many have very competent staff and utilize highly skilled freelance. While others have taken work from these creative professions and given them over to secretaries, interns, and administrative assistants with a copy of MS Word.<br />
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Sometimes it's an issue with management who for a variety of reasons have slashed costs and that included the marketing staff and art directors who understood the value of professionally crafted copy, images, and graphic design. Some have shifted to the internet which is another discussion altogether, often a dumbing down of the quality and effectiveness has happened and we all see it's effects on the quality of advertising, TV commercials, display and outdoor signage, and other areas.<br />
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Our appetite for digital content has driven us to using photos of life's important events to be captured with crappy camera phones, sent to FaceBook or other social media and quickly forgotten. And all this has driven the demise of another large industry most people know little about. We live at 140 characters at a time.<br />
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I used to work with a company called Graphic Arts Services or GAS in Georgia, they had full blown photo studios, in-house retouching, compositing, and typesetting, they did file conversions, color management, swatch matching, page impositions and graphic design. In the heyday they had hundreds of talented employees and were well respected with printers, catalogs, packaged goods, magazine publishers and fine art publishers too. Now they are reduced to 2 or 3 employees and a few jobs in a tiny niche' shop.<br />
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Their demise came about for many reasons but one sore point to this day can get even the nicest people really ticked off, and cause North and South or Hatfield and McCoy feuds when the subject is brought up, it's highly political driving discussions about patriotism, unions, social welfare, slave wages and more. It is called off-shore retouching and prepress.<br />
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<b>Is Off-Shore Retouching Totally to Blame?</b><br />
Despite the issues above and the global economic recession some people look to blame someone or just one thing for all the changes that effect them. In retouching and prepress that is off shoring and the hate is often directed squarely at India.<br />
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With the advent of broadband internet cheap communications and digital imaging, prepress and retouching has followed manufacturing to India and elsewhere in an effort to drive down labor costs.<br />
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India, Russia, Poland, Ukraine and elsewhere have all seen the rise of prepress or retouching houses with hundreds of around the clock, highly skilled retouchers, automated workflows, and extremely fast turnaround wrapped up in low prices. And for many US and European printers, advertisers, catalogs, retailers, and photographers using these services has allowed them to cut costs in a huge way and more importantly to survive. But at what cost?<br />
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<b>How much are they really saving?</b><br />
Try 10s of millions a year for many retailers. Imagine a large cataloger like Sears, Cabela's, Restoration Hardware, or Speigels, each with dozens of catalogs, each with thousands of new products each year to be photographed and then worked on my prepress retouchers.<br />
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Having worked in the catalog department of more than a few retailers and direct mail businesses I can tell you most people have no idea the amount of photography that happens. Products are shot as still life, in environmental situations or action shots, from many angles and styles, shot with a variety of models and propping, and changes to lighting. Some studios shoot products hundreds of times.<br />
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In the recent past all those shots would go through many rounds of editing down, basic color correction and retouching would be done to each image, proof prints were made, art directors, merchants, graphic artists, product managers and stylists would make corrections to the shots to be shot again before creative directors, editors and management got their rounds of selections and editing.<br />
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Each round meant another pass at refining the retouching, removing dust, correcting body flaws, adding hair, removing hair, changing skin tones, creating sizzle and enticement etc. Products still being designed go though variations from marketing and design so art directors, photo editors, compositing, graphic designers and retouchers all would go through round after round as the work is refined, and edited. A shot you see in a catalog, or a pretty face on the cover of a magazine could have been touched by dozens of people originating form hundreds of shots, every version stored on multiple servers and databases, and manipulated in many ways. All this costs, and it costs a lot!<br />
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Lets look at a workflow for a single photo shoot for a single product just 5 years ago, in a tight workflow their could have been as many as 5 but sometimes ten proofs on highly calibrated digital or analog proof printers, prints that could cost up to $100 a piece in some markets, retouchers and photoshop experts making $50,000 to $100,000 a year or more did the work, some of which could take many hours or even weeks. Often produced out of house and requiring curriers or days of back and forth via FedX.<br />
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One example is a clothing photo shoot I worked on with 7 male models who were instructed to all have a weeks worth of facial hair for the shoot. This was an entire catalog of mens clothing for a new fall season shot on location in another country at great expense.<br />
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After the shoot was done and editing had begun and gone through several rounds, and designers had begun page layouts management finally sees it's first round and wants all the facial hair removed! Leaving two choices, reshoot and entire catalog, rehire the models if available, stylists, support staff, location rental payments, travel expenses, caterers, and other staff or do it with the masters of retouching who we had on staff. The 12 staff experts spent three weeks shaving the models for this high end customer at great expense setting aside many other jobs that had to be outsourced to neighboring shops. But it was still less expensive that a reshoot.<br />
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The costs when done were still in the 10s of thousands of dollars. Something no bean counter worth his or her salt would tolerate again. So the next time something like this happened for this retailer they took the work offshore to India. Costs? $2.50 per image for retouching, spotting, color re-correction and another $1.00 per image for advanced retouching like facial hair removal or to change out jewelry and props. Three rounds were included at this price.<br />
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A job that could costs thousands of dollars per image suddenly could cost a few dollars, be done in a quarter of the time, and they could handle as much volume as we asked of them without delay.<br />
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Say goodbye to the prepress department forever.<br />
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Was the work as good? No. Were there issues with distance, time zones, communications, slang, jargon, and even work ethics? Yes. Does management care when all they really focus on is the costs and time to delIvery? No. Is it shortsighted? Debatable.<br />
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And hence the fall of prepress, retouching and graphic art services in America and much of Europe. Are they all gone? No for the few high end catalogs and advertisers and fine art book makers, and archival press houses their remains a handful of high end retouching services. The rest have scattered to in-house shops, at half the pay, to printers, and to other professions.<br />
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But is it the offshore companies fault? Should we hate them for the good paying high wages their employees earn in comfortable color managed digital darkrooms? The answers are not so easy. It's sad to see these powerhouses of artistic craftsmanship go away just as it was with typesetters, and is happening now to photographers many of whom have also been doing prepress and retouching work since they went digital taking away from other businesses even as they see they're own professions devastated by change.<br />
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<b>Taking our work to India</b><br />
Although I have yet to find a US company that can match the off shore prices I still go to the local retouchers and prepress houses first.<br />
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There are certain advantages:<br />
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They are open when I am awake, so I can talk to them when I need to.<br />
I can get face to face time when I want it.<br />
I can have hands-on editing and retouching when I want to stay close to the work.<br />
They often offer other services that the off-shore accounts don't which make up for the other costs.<br />
They don't have odd or extended holidays like many off-shore retouchers do.<br />
There is a lot that can be said for the local relationship, the value they can add, the clearer communications and other services that can offset retouching costs.<br />
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That said, there are still times when I have turned to off-shoring work when that was my only choice. The quality is good and fast if I can keep instructions straight forward and simple. Sometimes saving the money on retouching means I can save another persons job by moving those funds to salaries or reassigning them to other work. Some of my clients or employers may demand the lower cost, and sometimes it's the only way to get a job done in time and on budget.<br />
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I may not like it but creative life is changing and requires fiscally wise choices sometimes you have to choose the best of the bad choices.<br />
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Often people who do not employ others or have larger P&L responsibilities do not understand the complexities of these choices. It's not always as simple as saving someone's retouching job, sometimes the cost would mean many more contracts and jobs lost or loosing the company altogether.<br />
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It's a tough world and the choices are not always easy or as simple as we would think or wish them to be.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-77497058194405047042010-07-27T10:33:00.003-05:002010-07-27T11:08:37.163-05:00Are you really prepared?<div>Some of you may know I write on many first aid, disaster, and preparedness topics for other blogs that real people actually read. Here is a recent post from one of those blogs.</div><div><br /></div><div>What's in your emergency kit? Do you even have one? Did you buy a first aid kit at the big box store and forget about it? If your first aid kit is like most it is half empty, has broken dried out and dated items, is missing half the content and you hope to never have to actually use it. But what if you do?</div><div><br /></div><div>Millions of people every year find themselves in disasters, floods from rivers that wipe out entire towns, hurricanes, earthquakes, camping accidents, or acts of terror. </div><div><br /></div><div>Being prepared means more than just having a half empty first aid kit in the trunk of the car. </div><div><br /></div><div>Preparedness also means having 72 hours worth of food, water, medicine and money on hand and duplicated in several places. Have more than one car? Each one needs a kit as well as the home.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've seen homes where there is a coat rack with a ready-to-go back pack for each family member hanging on the wall. In a moments notice the family could be out the door and ready to get to higher ground, shelters, or away from pending disaster. </div><div><br /></div><div>How about winter disasters? I had a friend with 6 kids get knocked off the road in a blizzard by a semi truck and stuck in the ditch for 4 days! Could you survive that? He was an avid outdoorsmen and had gear in his van to help them make it until rescued but just barely. </div><div><br /></div><div>After the accident he got himself better prepared.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what else do you need? You need a plan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Where will your family meet if they are separated and cannot go back home such as during a large fire? What are your families safe words to use to let children know you've given someone permission to go after them when you can't? Do your family members know how to use a first aid kit, do CPR, or stop bleeding or treat a burn?</div><div><br /></div><div>There are lots of places you can get started. </div><div><br /></div><div>Take a Red Cross class, you'll be surprised that they can be fun as well as educational. Or take a course from the community college, local EMS services, or other options in your area. </div><div><br /></div><div>Go beyond basic first aid and pul together an emergency pack for each person who depends on you, in your home and each vehicle. Employers should be prepared to provide for 72 hours for every employee, in some states it's the law.</div><div><br /></div><div>Practice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember when you were a kid and had fire drills at school? They did that so that in a panic you would be better prepared to act automatically. Many large companies have emergency drills again in some places it's the law. Most experts agree that many more lives could have been saved in the 9/11 attacks if people had a plan and did not waste time wondering what to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the <a href="http://www.ready.gov/">US government Readiness site</a> for more info. Go to companies like Emergency Medical Products <a href="http://www.buyEMP.com/">www.buyEMP.com</a> and School Kids Healthcare <a href="http://www.SKHC.com/">www.SKHC.com</a> where they stock everything you need for a good emergency kit. Start simple and build on it over time. Make sure all family members know what to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>And most importantly, start working on it right now.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-23374593721754835152010-05-04T16:36:00.001-05:002010-05-04T16:36:52.475-05:00Untitled<div class='posterous_autopost'>trying out twitter applications, this message came from ping.fm looking for the perfect app to manage 5 accounts now! <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://ping.fm/">Ping.fm</a></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via web</a> from <a href="http://michaelmm.posterous.com/18090233">michael's posterous</a> </p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-11821069139340643362010-02-08T12:30:00.007-06:002010-02-08T13:02:57.938-06:00Studies claim we no longer trust Social Network Friends<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">People who blog or read lots of blogs may be familiar with </span><a href="http://smartblogs.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Smartblog.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"> who recently discussed a trend that trust is shrinking in this </span><a href="http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/2010/02/08/what-does-the-decline-of-peer-trust-mean-for-social-marketing/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">article</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">I know I normally confine my writing on this blog to photography related topics as it relates to my life. However, for those who don't know me my professional life is also taken up in marketing, ecommerce, advertising, and direct mail. Sub sets of this prepress, printing, commercial photography, typesetting, graphic design, print and paper buying and many other related aspects of producing content for print and online. So this topic is one I follow closely among many other areas of networking and social marketing. Hence the post on my thoughts as to why trust is shrinking that follows...<br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Friends, Trust, Ethics, and A Mobile Nation</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Part of this trust issue is how they define friends. As stated in the </span><a href="http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/2010/02/08/what-does-the-decline-of-peer-trust-mean-for-social-marketing/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">article</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"> many people in our social networks are not really our friends, often we don't know many of them at all. Why would we trust them? Remove the 2nd or 3rd generation from the research and I bet the trust number would go back up. But it runs deeper than this.<br /><br />As we become more mobile, move more, change jobs more often and change social groups - more people we may identify as friends often have less time in play to develop trust with us as would be the case years ago. Trust takes time. Even among families trust is down as we spend less time together and rely on family less often for our social needs. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">We live in an amoral society at best, greed and selfishness is at all time highs, from politicians to bosses, to companies, and relatives are all proving less loyal, trustworthy and reliable as we become less moral and more "me" focused. It's really no wonder trust is also diminishing. As we trust our leaders less, as our media manipulate us more, and our circle of acquaintances widen it is only natural that our general over-all trust level drops. It take a proven track record to grow trust and that trust is easily broken and very hard to regain.<br /><br />Social Networks that measure and track authority, trustworthiness, and value can become our trust indicators. Some sites already provide this barometer to earn trust as well as authority. Getting these people to endorse a product or idea holds great value. Successful bloggers and new age media outlets have built their business on this authority trust model, just as many old school media, companies and politicians have lost the public trust because of dishonest behavior, acts of unethical behavior such as the lies we now call spin, or the immoral acts people think are private leaking and getting associated to the business, media, or political platform. A general return to an ethical and moral nation one where a person's word and promise mean something could bring back a future generation of trusting people.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Is all Trust Lost?</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">No, in fact for those people I do trust I hold them dear, trustworthiness once earned is very sacred. Loyalty to a brand is had to find but strong once established. Look at the most trusted auto maker in the world </span><a href="http://www.toyota.com/recall/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Toyota</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">, a few poor choices, some cover-up and ignoring of problems and poor public relations and the company will be devastated for years to come. Great if your Ford! It takes all of us years to grow our reputations regardless whether you are a family member, friend, coworker, corporation, politician or government. Even our negative reputations a corporation or government might have taken many years to grow. Sadly but true a good reputation and trust is easily lost and takes a very long time to recover from. Sometimes never. Finding trustworthy sources for marketers is like finding gold, it's hard to do, easily lost, and and can easily become corruptible.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-30229565454442264952010-01-25T23:11:00.004-06:002010-01-26T11:05:08.111-06:00Do camera comparison reviews really matter? Nikon Vs Canon<div class="posterous_autopost"><div style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="margin-top: 0.25em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(170, 221, 153);"><a href="http://pixpro.blogspot.com/2010/01/nikon-vs-canon-do-comparison-reviews.html" style="text-decoration: none; display: block; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nikon Vs Canon - Do comparison reviews really matter?</span></span></a></h3><div class="post-header-line-1"></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em;"><p></p><div face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="12px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Great reviews abound online of various camera models. I generally like reading them and trust many of the review sites for in-depth and detailed review. However occasionally some like to do comparison reviews pitting one camera brand against another. for entry level cameras and point and shoot models I think this is fine. However in high end models such as the flagship pro models from the likes of Canon or Nikon I find them a waste of time and often jaded depending on the brand preference of the reviewer no matter how much I think they are fair in normal product reviews.</span></div><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Case in Point</span></b></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.prophotohome.com/news/2010/01/23/high-iso-comparison-canon-1d-mark-iv-nikon-d3s-canon-7d-nikon-d300s/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">PhotoProHome</span></span></a><a href="http://www.prophotohome.com/news/2010/01/23/high-iso-comparison-canon-1d-mark-iv-nikon-d3s-canon-7d-nikon-d300s/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> has a review of Several upper level and pro level </span><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=19584"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Canon</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and </span><a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Digital-SLR/index.page"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nikon</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> cameras comparing high ISO. The review it self seems fair and accurate but does it mean anything at all to most professional and advanced photographers? I think it does not and heres why.</span></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">First, Like many professional photographers I'm way too far invested in my system to change. So the comparisons mean nothing as I'm not going to dump a collection of bodies, lenses, and add-ons that have taken many years to accumulate.</span></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Second, Brand features and performance constantly flipflop. The leader of the pack today may be the follower in 3 months.</span></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Third, Workflow, like a professional basketball player who knows the ball like an extension of his body professional photographers become intuitive with their gear. Knowing where settings are and how to control the camera like a polished musician playing their instrument adjusting for imperfections, pulling the most from an instrument at rapid speed, in high pressure situations without even thinking about it. Changing brands can knock your entire process out of whack. Productivity can suffer, creativity too when you have to stop and think about the menus, buttons and capabilities of your tools. When you have to get to know the quirks and "features" of a given camera design, the color fidelity and many other nuances causes you to loose that intuitive ability for awhile.</span></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sure most pro's can pick up any camera and make art with it, after all it's the artist, the professional and the creative vision of the photographer not the tool that makes the art. However ask a carpenter if his workflow would slow down and his errors go up for a time if you replaced all his saws, blades and files with something else. Sure he could use them but the real craftsman, the artist will have to readjust and the laymen is really going to take some time and perhaps make many mistakes. </span></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I once bought my grandfather a new saw, he was a master handyman but had been using the old saw for 40 years. I updated his with a modern one with laser guides and all the latest safety features. He hated it. It took him months to regain his speed and accuracy with it. Sure he would admit it was far superior to his old saw in every way. But it lacked the intimacy he had gained over decades of use with the old saw.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cameras and camera brands, lenses and flashes can be like that too. I always find comparisons of high end cameras a bit amusing due to these issues, 99% of us even if one brand blows away another are not going to switch to the latest better brand for the reasons stated above. Moreover, top name brand camera makers take turns swapping positions and </span><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=111"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Canon</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> will have it's turn again at some point even as Nikon leads in high ISO quality at this time. Some may recall that for years it was Canon who led the high ISO standards to be beat. To be honest if </span><a href="http://www.pentaximaging.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">PENTAX</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> came out with a full frame weather sealed camera I'd consider a switch. I've always had a soft spot for </span><a href="http://www.pentaximaging.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">PENTAX</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> products.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The cost of Brands like </span><a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Digital-SLR/index.page"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nikon</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, </span><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=19584"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Canon</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, and </span><a href="http://us.leica-camera.com/home/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Leica</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> are like buying a over-priced brand name car. Is a BMW really better than a Lexus or is it just brand preference? Would a nice Toyota perform just as well, last just as long, handle equally well? Cars can be a tough one for this argument to compare. We all have favorite brands and luxury has it's value too. Maybe a fairer example with cares would be a </span><a href="http://www.cadillac.com/vehicles/2010/escalade/overview.do?seo=goo_%7C_2008_Cadillac_Retention_%7C_IMG_Cadillac_Escalade_%7C_Escalade_Misspellings_%7C_cadillac_escalade&gclid=CIz874K3wp8CFQjyDAodGw4J3A"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cadillac Escalade</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> compared to a </span><a href="http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/family/suburban.do"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Chevy Suburban</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">? They are really the same vehicle with a few trim changes. Some like the understaded power of the Chevy (or GMC version) while another may prefer the bling of the Caddy.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Or take the </span><a href="http://www.edmunds.com/chrysler/crossfire/review.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Chrysler Crossfire</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, the average person may not no this but car buffs do. It was mostly a Mercedes-Benz SLK product with all the high performance and features you'd expect, well appointed, and sexy. At half the price of a Benz SLK equivalent with a different body style. If you needed the Mercedes logo on the front you paid twice as much, but it was not a better car, just a more expensive one. And the Crossfire did not do too well, people could not associate a small luxury sports car with Chrysler. people large muscular sports cars from US automakers.</span></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We could go on and on about market perceptions, the value of reputations, certain people's need to over spend and way the price tag like a flag etc. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But that's not the point. If you were just starting out and needed a pro level camera would you only consider a Nikon or Canon? What about the well made high end </span><a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=3768&SR=nav:shop:cameras_camcorders:digital_slrcameras:ss&ref=http%3A//www.sony.com/index.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sony cameras</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> that are rebranded Minolta's? Sony offers a great line of lenses and pro level SLR camera bodies but you don't see to many professionals using them. What about Fuji, Sigma, Pentax and Olympus? You may know that </span><a href="http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/list/Digital_Cameras/categoryID.28887600"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kodak</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> no longer makes pro level SLR's. Brand perception killed that market even though many pro-level SLR's and 2 1/4 cameras have Kodak sensors and other technology in them. Most pro's would not be caught dead with a professional Kodak camera and thats why they no longer exist. I guess brand awareness and perception do matter in that case.</span></span></div><p></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yes I know there are user preferences and all that for me I prefer Canon as I've been using them since 1979 but I also have Mamiya's, Olympus, Rollie, Pentax, Hasselblad, Fuji, </span><a href="http://www.toyoview.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Toyo</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, </span><a href="http://www.sinar.ch/en/products/cameras/141-sinar-p3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sinar</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, Leica </span><a href="http://www.komamura.co.jp/e/L45.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Horseman</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, and a dozen other brands - each with specific qualities. Point is I know some will argue the issue but regardless of test results most of us can't and won't switch. I'd bet I'm safe in speculating that most buyers of pro level cameras already own that same brand.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So what about you?</span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Would you switch? Better yet, any stories out there from working professionals who did switch brands? I'd like to hear you. Share your brand switching story in the comments.</span></span></span></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-2251600902192061582009-09-29T11:50:00.002-05:002009-09-29T13:11:14.705-05:00Repost introduction from another blog - Posterous<p>As I mentioned earlier I will be consolidating my writing. I have signed up for Posterous which consolidates blogs, tweets, facebook posts and other sites into one place for me. This was picked up from <a href="http://michaelmargolies.posterous.com/">there</a> and reposted as an introduction for that site.</p><p>I'm one of those people who loves to write but has little to no training and yet I've managed to get published in a number of trade magazines. Mostly publishing, graphic arts, and creative trade journals but hey that's my area of work and expertise. I have the bad habit of saying something with 1000 words when 10 will do (Hey I said I'm not a trained writer). I work for, in and with commercial catalog companies, retailers, and distributors as well as commercial photo studios, printers, and graphic arts vendors like Adobe, Apple, Kodak, Canon, Xerox, AGFA, and other software and hardware companies. I'm supposed to be an expert on digital workflow, advertising social psychology, graphic arts technology, printing, prepress and photography. I'd add typesetting but no one knows what that really means anymore and it's not desktop publishing.</p> <p>I love to learn and perhaps this more than anything else drives anything I might write about. I am eternally curious about everything and everyone and this drives me to study a lot. Perhaps that's why I have many interests and more than a singular area of professional experiences. I like to think it's what makes me more valuable as a consultant or employee, I have a broad knowledge of many sides of a puzzle and like to examine all sides and dimensions. however I am not slow to act, and can be decisive mostly because I think I have a broad knowledge base to draw on due to this thirst of more knowledge and curiosity that drives all I do.</p> <p>Travel is no different, I think my love for travel is an extension of a love for learning and a love of sharing what I've learned with others while I am learning from them.</p> <p>I love combining creative interests with technical so I straddle the technical side of things as much as the creative and I love them equally as well as the people drawn to each area.</p> <p>I am visual, tactile, and experiential, I love life and observing it and others all around me.</p> <p>Lastly, but at once most importantly, I'm a Dad and Husband, my wife and kids are my best friends and the most important people in my life. They are often the subject of my photography, writing, or design or if not that the inspiration for me to continue.</p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com/">Posted via web</a> from <a href="http://michaelmargolies.posterous.com/just-getting-started-here-so-introductions-mi">michaelmargolies's posterous</a> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-81226067346440154672009-09-22T08:43:00.003-05:002009-09-22T08:53:47.070-05:00I've been twittering instead of bloggingIt's hard to tell who is following you and where sometimes. My twitter followers grow a few everyday. Not that I have anything profound to say so it surprises me to see it grow. I am proud to say it is growing organically. Meaning I have not paid for followers or joined any of the scams where everyone in the pool follows everyone else just so you can look self-important. Still it surprises me sometimes that anyone would think I have something to say. <div><br /></div><div>I love networking and sites liked <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/">linkedin.com</a> have served me well in my career and I think I've been able to serve a few others as well. I like it's professional tone and the support many of the groups and individuals give each other. I also run a group there about NILMDTS a photography group that donates services to families who have recently or are about to loose a child. It' a worthwhile organization I am proud to be associated with.</div><div><br /></div><div>All these and other places like facebook all are part of social networking add to these the several photo sharing and review sites I contribute to and I realize I am actually writing all the time. And in a sense blogging all the time. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the next few weeks I will be trying to figure out how to take that content and compile it all here so that instead of writing occasional really long posts, I will instead write a few shorter ones and include much of the writing and content I put up all over the internet. Hopefully some of you will gain something from this.</div><div><br /></div><div>My wish that it be both educational, sometimes inspirational, and at least amusing. At the same time I hope to become a better writer, photographer, networker, student, mentor and friend. </div><div><br /></div><div>I look forward to seeing what you have to say and hope a few of you will let me know how I'm doing. Thanks for reading.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-8250071046092886562009-08-11T16:28:00.003-05:002009-08-11T16:45:38.578-05:00Fewer blogs, more Tweets and FacebookYes it seems I post fewer and fewer blog stories. I really enjoy writing them but alas no one reads them so I have focused on Twitter and Facebook. <div><br /></div><div>I am not into any of these tools if it were not for the networking and keeping up with friends and family. To me social networks are a useful tool for business but I prefer the more visual for my personal projects. I have a number of Twitter accounts and Facebook sites as well as accounts on shopping sites and other networks for my employers so I keep up to date on what ever is hot at the time. But I still view them all as channels of communication rather than the be all end all solution from any one technology or network. The proof is in the ROI, so long as continue to perform I will continue to use them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still since i enjoy the blog I will come back from time to time to write for my own enjoyment even if no one else reads it. If a blogger blogs and no one reads it does it still have value?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-65606759288511522562009-04-22T11:37:00.001-05:002009-04-22T11:42:35.960-05:00Tilt & Shift - Make perspective correct images without Photoshop TransformsI went to Racine, WI to a photography <a href="http://photo.meetup.com/102/">Meetup group</a> meeting at <a href="http://www.studiomlp.com/">StudioMLP</a> owned by Michael LaPointe. The topic of the event was getting published in magazines, and afterwards there were some lighting instruction and a few models on hand to shoot with as well. I highly recommend joining your local Meetup groups and actively contributing. There is much to learn, networking, and friendship. I often meet models I end up hiring later, and photographers I later work with on other projects. StudioMLP is a work in progress but a great space, large and very functional and I truly appreciated Michael for allowing us to take over the studio for the afternoon.<br /><br />I brought my daughter Melissa with me (who is a photography major among other things) because we both have an interest in architecture. The studio was in a revitalized industrial campus, lots of odd old red brick buildings, smoke stacks, loading docks, barbed wire etc. Many geometric lines, industrial mixed use buildings that have been modified and changed over the years creating an interesting place to walk around and shoot in. I'm sure it would be a great location to do portraits (Michael LaPointe may not appreciate that I said that but I know most of my 3 readers don't live in Wisconsin).<br /><br />My main interest in going was in studying the buildings and after the brief lecture we had some time to go out side and shoot while the studio lighting was being set up. The weather turned cold, grey and wet but for the purposes of this topic will not really matter.<br /><br />As many of you know one of the challenges of shooting buildings, bridges, and other tall or large structures with 35mm film, digital, or 2 1/4 cameras is the perspective issues. Buildings, trees, smoke stacks all bending inward, or leaning to one side. Sometimes walls can look concaved or bloating depending on the lens and angle you choose.<br /><br />Wide angle lenses are often used to get the entire building in but unnatural curves creep into the images. Often we don't even realize this as our minds correct for us so we don't always notice distortions until we are home looking at the images and realize something went wrong.<br /><br />Some people will turn to Photoshop ( like me) and start doing Transform distortions, and perspective corrections, or using filters that adjust for lens distortions or perhaps toss the image altogether.<br /><br />Photographers with limited gear have known for years to shoot certain shapes and buildings at 45 degree angles, looking up at the right angles of buildings to use the distortions in our favor but that does not always work to get the images we want. We may learn to compromise our artistic vision based on the limitations of the gear we own.<br /><br />Architectural Professionals use 4X5 view cameras and other large format cameras that have tilt and swing capabilities that allow the photographer to make adjustments to the film (or censor) plane to correct or enhance these issues. It's the same tools commercial photographers use in the studio and one of the reasons they can make such amazing images in the studio that seem so hard to duplicate in hobby studios or by portrait shooters. I won't get into the technicalities of view cameras as there are lots of places online and great <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=view+camera&x=0&y=0">books</a> that you can turn to which educate about them.<br /><br />Like most of you I can't afford a large format view camera, (although I have used them in the past at other studios) and the time it takes to make exposures does not always fit into our speed-of-light lifestyles. The ROI is not there for most of us to justify such a purchase. So what's a 35mm SLR or digital photographer to do to go beyond Photoshop Band-Aids after the fact?<br /><br /><b>Tilt Lenses are the answer...</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/app/images/Lenses_2009/TSE17/profile/tse17_4l_586x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="75" src="http://www.usa.canon.com/app/images/Lenses_2009/TSE17/profile/tse17_4l_586x225.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />As you know I mostly use <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=111">Canon</a> so I will talk about the ones they offer. <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=111">Canon</a> just release new models with even more adjustment capabilities in the last few weeks. The new <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=156&modelid=18174">TS-E 17mm f/4L</a> and the<a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=156&modelid=18175"> TS-E 24mm f3.5L II</a>. I'll talk about the one I use without getting technical. As usual I'll leave that to the many sights out there that explain tilt, shift, swing, and rail systems that control perspective. Canon was the first to offer these types of lenses and makes more variety than any other manufacturer.<br /><br />I have the last version of the TS-E 24mm that was current a month ago (it's so hard keeping up with new toys). The first thing you should know about these lenses is that they are manual focus and do not offer built-in image Stabilization.<br /><br />These are professional lenses and intended to be used in thoughtful and often technical ways but you don't have to be an engineer to use them. Mine is mostly used for product shots. Although I shot hand-held on this outing they are generally suppose to be a tripod only lens. Without going into to too much depth let me just show two examples of the lens in action; a shot of a building with a normal wide angle zoom lens and another using the TS-E lens.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmKjQTjIN9g9stvf6NWltn6YYxvFHkuadPp3grb3h8d0sI7-55bHk4_xWlk4I2BSN_rJqalIf41DSx_7tUpSYMUb805xjMOKeUsTLCwD9kzKCfIbieOKAPktyfYhLrtP4WaSJFaYP_Yw/s1600-h/TS-E-Example-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmKjQTjIN9g9stvf6NWltn6YYxvFHkuadPp3grb3h8d0sI7-55bHk4_xWlk4I2BSN_rJqalIf41DSx_7tUpSYMUb805xjMOKeUsTLCwD9kzKCfIbieOKAPktyfYhLrtP4WaSJFaYP_Yw/s400/TS-E-Example-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Click on images to see larger versions.</span></b></span></div><div><br />Notice the corrections of these buildings. No Photoshop retouching at all. The TS-E lens saves time and creates a more accurate and correct image. These lenses also have many creative functions as well such as stretching an object or building or purposefully distorting it. Unlike distortions in Photoshop where the images blur and pixels stretch ineffectively, using the lens for certain effects is much more realistic, sharp and editable. I hope you get to play with one of these soon, rent one before you buy it and like any lens be thoughtful about how much you'll get out of it and use it before making the investment.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFygbJ9cz8qo74mdQzX83184pI0DAsImeLgZ-labM2mtHe7oMCnU1Yzz3nWzZxv3c638_RuWo-uQADfujjR6pEn3l89PzLeWUz68-rGsYxAoqd0er0ZHqr58W9NYVK4rfpBpM9tS4LouM/s1600-h/TS-E-Example-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFygbJ9cz8qo74mdQzX83184pI0DAsImeLgZ-labM2mtHe7oMCnU1Yzz3nWzZxv3c638_RuWo-uQADfujjR6pEn3l89PzLeWUz68-rGsYxAoqd0er0ZHqr58W9NYVK4rfpBpM9tS4LouM/s400/TS-E-Example-2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span style="color:yellow;">Color Variations are a result of the quality of the lens, no color correction has been done on these images.</span></span></span></div><br />If you do a lot of product photography, interiors, industrial or architecture these lenses will save you considerable amounts of time and effort, and provide more accurate results than you can do manipulating the files in your image editor. Let me know what you think, and if you've used the lenses yourself I'd love to hear about it. Drop me an <a href="mailto:pixpro@mac.com">e-mail</a> and let me know your thoughts.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-3367587075522831812009-01-21T14:41:00.008-06:002009-01-22T11:20:36.788-06:00Traveling with photo gear on US AirlinesWaiting in the terminal at Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport the speaker blares on reminding passengers that this is a small commuter plane, that the overhead bins are small and since the flight is full there will not be room for many types of luggage. Larger cases are suppose to be left at the gate for the airport employees to jump on, throw, climb over, drop, kick, and sit on your luggage. At some point it will be put on the plane where it will freeze and then go through the process again before handing your luggage back to you. Have a great flight and thank you for flying (insert airline name here).<div><div><br /></div><div>So what's an over-packed photographer to do? First know the FAA and airline rules. Most US domestic airlines have their own rules regarding photographers. Check with your before you go and consider printing out the rules if you think something your bringing will cause problems.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you look around when you travel I'm sure you all see lots of people who are carrying shopping bags, dog carriers, purses plus backpacks duffles and a wheeled carry-on. And thats just the one lady in front of me in line! The point is most airlines will not hassle you for having a backpack or computer case along with another pack for your camera gear, and in most cases a third carry-on that has your personal effects.</div><div><br /></div><div>Go ahead, travel with the gear you want and enjoy the photography side of your trip.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Points to Consider:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/">FAA</a> has rules regarding </span></span><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9838306-7.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">batteries</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);"> do you know what to do? <br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Be considerate of others, your gear and hobby or profession can cause a scene or make some people uncomfortable, smile, be polite, ask permission, and be gracious. These skills will get you far.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Don't bring more than you can carry yourself.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Have everything you bring in a case, a monopod carried loose onto a plane is going to cause you problems but in a case makes it somewhat disappear. I carry a tripod case and yes it's long and obvious to photographers at least as to what it is. Try taking it out and carrying it and you may get pulled aside for a search and serious questioning by TSA officials.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Be careful about what you photograph while traveling, some buildings and locations can get you into trouble these days. A long lens on a tripod can really make law enforcement officials and security guards go overboard sometimes, thy may do more than ask you to move along.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Carefully consider what your packing for the kind of photography you do and the weather conditions where your going.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Consider bringing plastic bags to store your gear in while in your case to control humidity and water damage.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Don't over-pack your case, extra pressure on your gear can damage lenses, and allow hard nocks against the case have greater impact on your gear inside.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Try not to bring your large heavy tripod, better yet challenge yourself to find ways not to use a tripod at all. I find it a fun challenge to make everyday objects I find to be my tripod instead of taking one on the plane or trying to get mine in a suitcase.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Have fun, don't let getting your gear to your location overcome you, even if it's a personal or business trip you can still work in some photography without it getting in the way of work or or other obligations.<br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">On business travel try getting up early and staying up late when in cities so you can get outside and take pictures in that great light as well as when fewer people are around.</span></span><br /></li></ul></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-53077582626379575702008-11-24T16:24:00.008-06:002008-11-24T17:39:11.373-06:00First time out with a Sigma 100-400mm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.usa.canon.com/app/images/lens/Telephoto%20Zoom.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 68px; height: 68px;" src="http://www.usa.canon.com/app/images/lens/Telephoto%20Zoom.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sigmaphoto.com/images/LensesImage/184_small.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 249px;" src="http://www.sigmaphoto.com/images/LensesImage/184_small.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Well I've recently gotten to use the new <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3347&navigator=3">Sigma 120-400 4.5-5.6 DG APO OS HSM</a></span> at a night-time Christmas Parade in Waukesha, WI. <div><br /></div><div>The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3347&navigator=3">Sigma 120-400 4.5</a></span> is similar to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=150&modelid=7344">Canon's EF 100-400 4.5-5.6L IS USM</a></span> (<a href="http://www.adorama.com/CA100400ISU.html">Adorama price $1460.00</a>) at about half the price, (<a href="http://www.adorama.com/SG120400EOS.html">Adorama $759.00)</a> which I have also used several times. I was also using <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17499">Canon's new 50D</a></span> camera with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Digic 4</span> processors. I will not do a full blown review as there are plenty of technical reviews out there of both this camera and the lens. I will just write a few observations about the lens handling and something more about the 50D at a later date.<div><br /></div><div>When I first took the Sigma lens out of the box I was pleased that it did not look or handle like a plastic toy. It had the weight, design and feel of a professional lens, a nice case, and a manual I promptly tossed in the trash. Does a professional look and feel really matter? Well yes, to me at least and I bet to you as well. I've noticed that even when a simple set-up will do in this age of consumers having advanced gear and hobbyists with little to no skill but lots of money tend to over simplify and equate skill with gear and vice versa. The more expensive the rig the more impressed they can be and trusting in you as a professional. If I show up to a commercial job with a point and shoot or even a pricy <a href="http://www.adorama.com/LCM8B.html?searchinfo=eica%20Range%20Finder&item_no=4">Leica Range Finder</a> everyone will assume I have no idea what I'm doing and assume I can't tackle the job, or worse that they can do what I do because they're camera costs more than mine. Lets not get started on this topic because it really makes a lot of professional in this and many other fields angry. It's our skills, that count not just the tools we use.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I've learned to bring more than I need (for more reasons than this one) and to make a bit of a show for the crowd to establish a degree of trust with new clients or at weddings. "This guy must be a pro, look at all the expensive gear". Well life should not be this way but it is. It is the same in almost any industry. How impressed would you be if you hired a carpenter to rebuild your bathroom and he shows up with a clear plastic tool set that says 300 tools for $29.95 on the side? Would you take him seriously? I doubt it.</div><div><br /></div><div>So it is important to me that my tools look professional as well as perform to the highest degree I can afford. The Sigma lens got this dead on.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Now how about performance?</span></div><div>Well I don't know if I'd use this lens at a wedding or other setting that requires minimal attention on me, the IS motors are surprising loud. Not a problem for street photography but in the wild doing bird shots, at a baptism, wedding, or any situation where you want to be as silent as possible this lens would not do it. When the IS is off it's perfectly fast and quite. To be fair the motors only make the noise while the shutter is depressed. But if you are like me and pre-focus anticipating shots the motor will stay active and noisy. Perhaps it's only mine, but my other Sigma lenses are also noisy to me.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">However for everything else it rocks!</span> I was pleasantly pleased with the sharpness and overall performance, speed of focus, and accuracy. It did have problems locking in on focus in very dark situations but I'm talking outside at night, no flash, and very little ambient light at all. Then it finally had problems. Compared to the <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=150&modelid=7344">Canon 100-400 model</a> I've used several times I found no deference in performance though. I did feel like the Sigma lens was sharper than the Canon I've used in the past. This surprised me as I am a huge fan of <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=150">Canon IS lenses</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Weighing in at a hefty 61.7 ounces, this lens like others in it's class or a <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=150&modelid=7469">70-200 2.8</a> is heavy and you might find it hard to hold steady or for any length of time if your not strong, harder still to keep steady zoomed out to 400mm. I would suggest a monopod for most people. I'm fairly strong with a strong back (I often carry 3 camera bodies, external battery packs, two flashes, camera case, and at least two of the cameras have longer heavy lenses so I'm used to the weight) but for weekend warriors I'd stick with the mono pod.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Worth the price</span>? No question about it YES! If your considering the <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=150&modelid=7344">Canon</a> and I am very loyal to Canon, but can't afford a 70-200 L series lens and also need a longer lens this <a href="http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3347&navigator=3">Sigma IS</a> lens is worth a serious consideration. I look forward to using often. having spent several hours last night in the very cold night air, while wearing <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/31948-REG/Lowepro_2072010_Photographer_s_Gloves_Large_.html">Lowepro Photo gloves</a> I still found the lens fast, capable and a pleasure to use, I think you will to. It is available for Canon, Nikon, and Sigma cameras. It may come available in other mounts as well. Check with <a href="http://www.sigmaphoto.com/">Sigma</a> or your local Photography Pro shop.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-19889837956400241242008-10-16T12:09:00.010-05:002008-11-14T22:58:50.797-06:0018-200 Super zoom lenses are small but do they perform?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/0808/Canon/EF-S-18-200mm-f3.5-5.6-IS-SLANT_001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/0808/Canon/EF-S-18-200mm-f3.5-5.6-IS-SLANT_001.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The newly released <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08082604canonef-s_18-200mm.asp">Canon 18-200 IS</a> lens for the C format cameras like the new 50D has finally arrived. Many people have asked for a lens like this to compete with the Nikon version and <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0502/05022105tamron_18-200mm.asp">Tamron</a> versions. So how is it getting rated? My take on the reviews thus far are what I expected. The review sites tread lightly trying not to trash it, yet at the same time talk about the many problems inherent in a lens that tries to do everything. The results are more or less the same for Tamron and Nikon.<br /><br /><img style="text-align: left;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; " src="http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/0502/tamron_18200mm.jpg" border="0" alt="" />You just can't squeeze the optics and quality of multiple prime lenses, or even of several zooms into a single lens, make it light, fast, and sturdy. Quality and, in fact many things have to be compromised.<br /><br />It really comes down to this: if you're an occasional shooter who is mostly concerned with convenience over quality, light weight and inexpensive over speed, longevity, weather resistance, and sharpness then it might be right for you. But I'd have to ask why did you get a SLR in the first place? <div><br /></div><div>If you really need a simple and easy camera that takes better than cheapo point and shoot cameras and allows the occasional creative control that comes with overriding automatic controls then you'd do yourself a huge favor in buying and advanced point and shoot, or what some like to call the advanced amateur or small quasi SLRs like the Canon <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113">PowerShot G19</a>, SX10 IS or <a href="http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/p6000/index.htm">Nikon Coolpix P6000</a>. There are cameras like these from Olympus, Pentax, Sony and others. They all work great have better than average lenses, and allow all the creative control you require in a lighter smaller camera.<br /><br />These 18-200 lenses will always have problems one will be soft on the wide angle another on the telephoto side. Most will have Chromatic Abrasion issues, and on an on.<br /><br />Save your money, buy a smaller advanced camera for vacations, hiking, and casual photography. And save you pennies up to get prime and pro level zooms. You will be amazed at the difference in quality, color, speed, and ultimately the overall higher quality image and sharpness your prints will display.<br /><br />Given the choice I'll alway take an older lower resolution, camera body with a great lens than an expensive high end, high resolution camera with a cheap crapy lens. If you have a luxury BMW you don't get your tires for it at Goodwill and vise versa. Put a decent lens on that good SLR you've bought and it will always perform for you. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of coarse that is if you know what to do for good composition, lighting, and exposure, but thats another topic.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-62212868878146159002008-09-23T09:42:00.005-05:002008-10-07T11:36:37.158-05:00New Canon 50D & 5D MKII but which one to choose?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8SHyFz3hzgE/SNkV_B-b_yI/AAAAAAAAACI/74toP2-Vt3E/s1600-h/main.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8SHyFz3hzgE/SNkV_B-b_yI/AAAAAAAAACI/74toP2-Vt3E/s320/main.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249251013283282722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos5dm2/index.html"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos5dm2/index.html" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />If you're a <a href="http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos5dm2/index.html">Canon</a> user like me and dreaming of an updated version of the 5D then perhaps you've heard that Canon has announced a new model. Well it's far beyond my expectations at 21.1 megapixels! <br /><br />I won't go to the effort of reviewing the camera here, as there are many sites out there that can do a better job than me with that. But as you may know Canon also announced the new<a href="http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos50d/specifications.html"> Canon 50D</a> the upgraded 40D with many of the bells and whistles most people want.<br /><br />So which one is best? Thats not a fair question, perhaps its better to first figure out what it is you need in a camera. And surprising more important to working professionals but often overlooked is just how will the camera effect your workflow.<br /><br />Again to keep things short (I'm trying to write shorter articles as I'm told these go on far to long)<br /><br />Consider the two main differences in these cameras. The <a href="http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos5dm2/index.html">Canon 5D MKII</a> Full frame 21.1 megapixels against the 50D http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos50d/index.html which has 15.1 megapixels and a 3.2 aspect ratio.<br /><br />All the review sites and photo magazines will discuss this in depth. But the simple explanation is that the 5D MKII will capture full frame images similar to the frame size of film. So what's it good for?<br /><br />For me it's about landscapes and group portraits. Also architecture, interiors, and other wide angle images. If you do a lot of fine art, group portraits like large families, event groups like teams this is the perfect camera for that. If your into wide vista style landscapes, wide angle effects, panoramics and tend to shoot with shorter lenses this camera may be for you.<br /><br />However if you're a high speed sports shooter, do a lot of telephoto work, macro photography or close ups then the <a href="http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos50d/specifications.html">Canon 50D</a> may be the better choice.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />Because the smaller chip and aspect ration makes your lenses seem longer. You've read about this before as it's an issue with most digital cameras. So heres the rub, you don't have a lot of money to buy those big gun giant telephoto lenses and you want to get the most reach you can. The aspect ratio of the 50D is better for you to get more bang from your buck at greater distances. Where you loose is your wide angle lenses are not quit so wide angle any more.<br /><br />On the other hand the 5D MKII has the opposite effect, wide angle lenses get to use the full effect of they're capabilities. However telephotos get exactly what they are so you get less distance.<br /><br />What about the added benefit of the 21.1 megapixels?<br /><br />For me at least once I got over the wow factor I realized what it really meant was more work for me.<br /><br />When I work in the studio I often pick up our trusty 40D instead of a 2 1/4 camera because it's not only faster to shoot, but it's faster for our computers to download and process the file, faster to manipulate, and faster to print. Sometimes, in fact most of the time I really don't need that huge file. If you know that your never going to be shooting to make prints larger than 16X20 and lets be honest most people never go over an 8X10 if even that. So all those megapixels for most people, even commercial studios is just not needed.<br /><br />So which one am I going to buy? I'm not sure yet. The 5D MKII fits my needs best as a fine art, landscape, event, and architectural photographer. I do very little sports and I have decently long lenses to meet my needs. On the other hadn for my personal budget the 5D MKII is outside my reach. I may order a 50D just because I can more closely can afford it, and encourage my employers to buy the 5D MKII so I get to play with that at work. Unless there are any benefactors out there who would like to float me $4,000.00 for a 5D MKII, it may fit my needs but is for all practical reasons outside my reach.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-16924772009505488782008-07-24T21:57:00.002-05:002008-07-24T22:06:11.251-05:00Can I use my old Canon Xti camera as an IR camera without converting it?In answer to a fellow photographer's question about IR filters and digital cmaeras vs. converting a camera to IR.<br /><br />The XTi does not do native IR. Almost all digital SLR's have the capability to do IR and into several other spectrums too. However 99% of the cameras have an IR filter in front of the CCD or CMOS chip with various frequency cut-offs. When you have a camera converted basically they remove the IR glass filter and replace it with a clear (or cutoffs that allow IR while still blocking UV for example) piece of glass (that is over simplifying it). <br /><br />The XTi has a somewhat narrower range on the IR filter in what light it blocks out which is how some people use it to shoot a quasi IR image. You may read about a lot of hobbyists doing this because it’s just a hobby and not worth the investment for them. Basically like using a butter knife for a screwdriver, it sort of works in a pinch and if you don’t need a screwdriver very often why not. Anyway it’s the attempt to add a Hoya R72 or similar filter (B+W 89B and 87C) to a digital camera that was made to be used with a film camera and IR film. It does not really work but it can be interesting, fun and inexpensive but IR photography it’s not. Oddly though some of these filters are very expensive ($70-$300.00) and you can get a camera converted for about $300.00 or do it yourself for much less. See http://www.lifepixel.com/ for conversion costs and image examples.<br /><br />Here is what you have to consider:<br /><br />With an IR converted digital camera you can shoot as normal and hand hold the camera shooting at normal speeds. You get to see the results on your screen just like any other shot you’d take on a normal camera. When shooting with a Canon XTi or other camera using an IR filter like a Hoya R72 (which is nearly a black filter to the eye) you will almost never be able to hand hold the camera. Typical bright daylight shots will require 10 to 20 seconds to make the exposure.<br /><br />With a converted camera you do not need a R72 filter and you can shoot at regular speeds.<br /><br />After you've made the exposure with an XTi camera and a R72 filter you have to decide which channel to use to make the quasi IR image. The RGB image will just look wrong with funky colors and halos, not very useful though. Most people will choose the red or green channel and then do a lot of tweaking in Photoshop. As a side note, the green channel captures about twice the image data on most chips. Again over simplifying but this is why green is the most often used channel to take data form when making a B&W image (also why the green channel is sometimes used to sharpen in normal shots while leaving the other channels alone to avoid noise issues, try this sometime). Channel sharpening is a whole other conversation though. <br /><br />With the R72 filtered image you’ll spend a lot of time cranking out the contrast and doing channel mixes in an attempt to get close to IR. After all the effort you still do not get an actual IR image with the trademark black skies, milky smooth skin tones, and white flora. <br /><br />With a converted camera you get a real RGB IR image and have all channels at your disposal. Converted IR cameras don't have to mess with the contrast and channel mixes or other Photoshop filters to get useful results. And when converting your camera you can even choose which kind of IR you want to do (color IR, B&W, and various levels in the frequency cut off). I'll stop there as to not get into the science too much here.<br /><br />Next problem, the built in IR filter creates hot spots in the center of the image when using an IR cutoff filter. The tell-tail sign of a R72 filter on a digital camera is a hot spot in the center of the image that looks like a sunspot or flair. Many forums and blogs where amateurs discuss IR think this is just part of IR photography and come to expect it. Surprisingly when it’s not there some people think the shot is not IR because they’ve educated themselves into expecting the flaw. More experienced photographers will hide this as best they can in the composition. Since you're shooting so slowly with the filter you tend to slow down and consider composition a little more, which is a good thing. No firing off tons of shots and then going back to the studio to pick the one from 50 or 100 that you liked. Anyway with an IR converted camera you don’t have the hot spots, halos, and fewer lens flairs.<br /><br />When comparing results of an XTi image with an R72 filter the results are much like many of the free filters and actions that do faux IR. They can be weird and artsy but not really a true IR result. For example the foliage although lightened will still have a green or blue tint where the real thing will be pure white flora while retaining detail and will not be blown out or haloing. Another mark of the faux IR regardless of if you do it with software, actions, or a R72 filter is blurry images. In the software it’s done on purpose as it is expected with the hobbyist crowd, again they don’t know better. The blurring is treated as if it were part of the art of IR where in fact it is not and was not with IR film and IR filters either.<br /><br />Now since I've gone on too long I'll keep going for those insomniacs who I have not bored to death yet. You used to be able to buy a Canon Xt (350 I think) in Japan that has an IR code on it that Canon did not sell in the US. It had a limited run in Japan and is hard to find used today. Basically it was a narrower IR (red) filter on the chip that allowed IR photography while still blocking flair and haze. However, you had to use another filter on every lens to take normal shots. The thinking was that you would be allowed to do both IR and normal photography but you lost 1-2 stops on every lens you owned.<br /><br />Leica also built a digital camera (the M8) recently that required another filter on all the lenses to take normal images. This however was because the IR was too sensitive and allowed more IR light in unintentionally. They tried to solve it with software and had recalls and other technical issues with the camera yet it’s still considered a very fine camera once the issues were resolved. <br />http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Leica-Upgrades-M8.htm<br /><br />Really geeky IR filter info from B+W:<br /><br />The nearly opaque Infrared Filter 092, which looks dark purplish red when held in front of a light source, blocks visible light up to 650 nm, and passes only 50% of the radiation just below 700 nm (thus the dark red color). From 730 nm to 2000 nm, transmission is greater than 90%. This makes photographs of pure red and infrared images possible making the best use of the relatively low sensitivity of infrared films. As the sensitization of infrared black-and-white films barely extends beyond 1000 nm, the red portion that is transmitted still makes a relevant contribution to the exposure. This makes the 092 the preferred filter for pictorial photography on IR black-and-white film. Its filter factor is 20 to 40.<br /><br />This Infrared Filter blocks the entire visible spectrum, so to our eyes it looks completely opaque. Unlike the 092 infrared filters it makes pure infrared photographs possible without any residual visible red component. Its transmission only begins to exceed 1% at 800 nm, rising to 88% at 900 nm, and remains that high far beyond the upper limit of sensitization covered by infrared films. This filter is used less frequently in pictorial photography because of the dramatic loss of effective ISO. But in the scientific field, materials research and forensics, transmission strictly limited to the infrared range is often important. The filter factor is somewhat dependent on the illumination and on the characteristics of the film.<br />In addition, the 091 Dark Red may be used for more subtle Infrared Black & White photography; it transmits more visible light from the red end of the spectrum than the 092.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-34825536478803040812008-06-01T21:19:00.007-05:002008-06-01T22:32:03.426-05:00Photography Stores, a tactile experience that sells.I love photography stores, I prefer the older ones you know, mom and pop style shops. The more eclectic the better, they often have tons of odd gear, and life-long industry technocrats that love the photographic technology and know a little and sometimes a lot about anything you could ask for.<br /><br />I worked in a similar pro-shop when I was much younger, learned a lot both from the clients as well as from the other employees. I got my first editing job working on a book for a State Health Dept. from people I met in the store and my first professional photography assignments as well. Needless to say I have a soft spot for these great businesses and the hard working people who study and practice so they can be of service to all of us. It's sometimes sad to see them struggle against the internet and search engines although the smart owners have figured out how to compete with service, ambiance, and competitive pricing. When anyone can go online to do all kinds of research and compare prices and you can get gear and think you may have gotten the best deal, it makes it very hard for the smaller family owned business to survive. On the other hand with some online resellers you may also get terrible service, unanswered phones, and rude support people (when you can reach them) and often they don't have a clue how to answer complex or challenging questions. <br /><br />This is where the local store can beat the big chains, internet retailers, and discount bulk resellers. You can't beat the tactile experience of holding a camera to see how it fits in your hand. Does the balance, controls, and software feel right for your needs. Placing it side by side against other possible choices while the camera experts compare features and tell you about their experiences with your choices. Online you can't experience shopping for a camera or anything else this way. This in large part is why the media's prophecies of doom for brick and mortar that was so popular in the 90s at the beginning of the internet boom was so very wrong. Every news outlet, network, magazines, and newspapers went on and on about how the Internet would kill off all retail businesses within five years! That as we all know was some time ago. What the so-called experts did not realize is the real value we humans put on feeling something, the texture, smell, weight, perception of quality, etc. This is why home theater stores thrive even when you can get a flat panel screen cheaper online or for that matter at your local discount warehouse (although they often don't carry the better models, cheaper is often just that, cheap) but thats another blog...<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I order online all the time, I was an early adopter as I often am in all kinds of things. However somethings are best for online and others are better in person. I get custom made dress shirts ordered to my specifications online, I would never buy a suit that way. I buy filters, accessories, and sometimes point and shoot cameras online. But for me never an SLR unless I had used one from a friend, rented it locally, or investigated at a trade show.<br /><br />I've been looking for a new SLR and lenses for my daughter, the one I've mentioned in earlier posts on the tripod discussion I'm also looking for a new telephoto zoom for me. I went into a local store to handle, play with, and get the opinions of the local experts. I believe it is morally wrong to go into a store use this expertise, take up their time and then go home and buy something online. It's and ethical issue that if I made use of the service and knowledge I owe it to them to buy from them. The often 5% savings is not worth it, even at 10% saving it still is not fair in taking advantage of the local retailers. Further, what's my time worth, will I pay for shipping, will I have lousy customer service issues and what if I have to return something? Who pays the shipping, then, runs to the UPS store, packs everything, spends time on the phone getting an RMA number? Almost always you do. So in the end it may be worth it and may even be less expensive to get the item you are thinking about locally where possible. <br /><br />As much as I'd like this to be an argument as to why you should buy from the local retailer it's not. Let me tell you a little store about my experience with a camera store in Brookfield, WI this week. And why in this case I will think twice about going in that particular store again.<br /><br />After doing my usual browse of the outside walls, checking the discount tables, and as is my usual pattern eavesdrop on the clerks as they talk to customers to gauge if they know what they are talking about I made my approach to the glass cases. Come on I know many of you do this! Get too close to the glass counters too soon and you'll have to answer the "may I help you questions" and the mood and situations changes. Sometimes I want to look, see what's on the shelves and what interesting items are in the used gear case. However once you engage the sales person it's hard to continue to browse at the pace you want. <br /><br />So I decide to ask the sales person about a lens I had read about online, wondered if he felt certain features were worth the money, etc. I was looking for a 70-200 or 100-300 lens in this case. I had used a Canon 2.8 L IS lens and loved it even though it was very heavy. It's too expensive for my budget so I wanted to look at similar lenses from Tamron or Sigma as well as considering the non Stabilized (IS in Canon Speak) versions. The store had the lenses in stock and I could see the boxes. The problem was the sales person refused to show them to me! He said the owner refused to let them take lenses out of the box, or let customers handle them without buying them first! Now that may have been the truth, or it may have been the salesmen's game to try and make me buy something, I can't really say. What I can promise is that he lost a sale to me and I'd bet many other people too.<br /><br />As I stated above the primary advantage a local store has (any local store of any kind of merchandise) is to entice us to by putting the object of our desire within reach. Why do you think all the TV's are out and turned on, why car lots want you to get in the cars and drive them, why cell phones are lined up on displays for you to play with. To get you to touch them and bond with them. Experience them through all your sensations. Refusing to let me see or handle the lens and to compare them side by side lost this store a sale and if this really is the policy I am sure it costs them many sales. Regardless of the thinking behind the policy (if it even was the store policy) the primary advantage the store had is lost by preventing it's customers from the tactile experience.<br /><br />I went home and ordered a lens from an online only retailer, (ask me and I'll tell you which one and why). Need I say more?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-33274731484229670972008-05-18T21:42:00.006-05:002008-05-18T22:15:12.753-05:00Which point and click camera should I buy?You know what its like, people who know you find out your into photography and eventually ask which camera should I buy? Doctors are always asked for free diagnosis. I once worked for a company that sold sporting goods so everyone asked what tent they should buy , etc. I used to do more sound work when I was younger, people would ask what stereo to get, speakers are best, what home theater package, or TV to buy.<br /><br />The problem is, if you're really into something (or many things) as much as I am it's not a simple answer. And they often want concise direction. And you have to live with the fact that if they don't like what they buy you get blamed for it.<br /><br />So there I am at work at a new employer and one of my peers tells me she's going on a long vacation with her family and they want a new camera. "which one should I buy". For me being a techno-geek (or I guess I should be hip and same photography aficionado) begin interviewing her as to what she wants to accomplish what are her skills, how technical or not does she want to be, are you into landscapes, sports and action, or just want it small and simple?<br /><br />Even after finally getting out of her what she wants, and I still can't easily answer her question. Part of the problem is there are so many great cameras out there and many of them do a great job at several things, but like everything in life nothing does everything you want and you have to make compromises. But your friend is expecting expert advise and miracles. If you suggest the wrong thing it's your reputation. So what do I do? I don't give them one answer, I point them in a few directions, narrow the menu, and make them choose from a selection of cameras I have used and have positive reviews. Then I send them shopping.<br /><br />So below is a list of suggestions I sent her based on what she said she wanted. It is by no means an exhaustive list as I wanted to help her make a decision on her own without overwhelming her, and without me taking responsibility for her choice.<br /><br />By the way, she wanted an advanced point and shoot, that could take some abuse, had face recognition, and they could go back and forth between automation and playing with creative controls.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My e-mail to her...<br /></span> The problem with this is there are so may brands and models it's hard to pick. These are some of my favorites and worth checking out. I personally think it's hard to go wrong with Canon, Nikon or Olympus, Followed by Pentax, Panasonic and Sony. Casio, Samsung, Kodak, HP, Fuji, Sigma are all very consumer, less rugged and often have cheaper glass. However these all have a few high end high priced models that are good cameras. It may seem odd to think about because everyone pushes megapixel as a selling point. However pixels have little to do with what makes a camera take a good picture. Software, lens, and CCD or CMOS quality are harder for marketers to talk about but thats what makes a good picture, assuming the person taking it did their part! The ones with the *** are cameras I have used and/or wished I owned!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*** Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera</span><br />This is one of the larger models and kind of a cross over, considered a semi-pro camera. It does everything you could want and more, has a good lens. The lens cannot be changed, this one is best for wider to medium telephoto and has a 6X digital zoom. I can't image too many things this camera can't do except long range telephoto shots that would require a SLR and long lens.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Canon Powershot S5 IS Digital Camera</span><br />Okay this is a large one but it has a longer zoom lens 12X and again can do most pro type things when you want to be creative. Like the one above it also has face recognition and they both have the best noise reduction technology on the market.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Nikon Coolpix P510</span><br />Like the two above, these all have a flash hot shoe. Thats because all compact cameras have poor built-in flashes and they only go a few feet. You may never choose to add a flash but you can if you wanted to get into that. This too is a large camera for a pocket camera but also has all the bells and whistles. The best thing you could do is go hold these, see how they feel, check if you are comfortable with the software. Nikon is not known for the best noise reduction software (Canon, Sony, and Olympus are best in this range). The noise reduction technology is important for low light conditions like dusk, or when you don't want to use the flash and be disruptive to the moment.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Smaller cameras<br />***Olympus Stylus 1030SW Digital Camera (Black)</span><br />10.1 Megapixel • 3.6x Wide-angle Optical Zoom • 2.7 HyperCrystal II LCD • Shockproof • Waterproof • Freezeproof • Crushproof • Perfect Shot Preview • Built-in Manometer • In-Camera Editing This is one amazing little camera, can go anywhere and it's built to take a beating. Popular with hikers, surveyors, and construction sites.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300 Digital Camera (Black)</span><br />• 13.6 Megapixel • 3x Optical Zoom • 2.7" LCD Display • Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization • Face Detection with Smile Shutter • High-Speed Burst (5 fps) • High Sensitivity (ISO 6400) • Premium Titanium Body • HDTV Compatibility • In-Camera Retouching. I'm not a fan of Sony cameras personally because of the memory card it uses is harder to find when traveling. But otherwise it's a good camera. I prefer the Olympus above because of it's ruggedness for me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Casio Exilim EX-Z100 Digital Camera (Brown</span>)<br />10.1 Megapixel • 4x Wide-angle Zoom Lens • 2.7" LCD Display • Ultra-slim Design • H.264 Movie Recording • YouTube Capture Mode • Auto-tracking AF • Face Detection & Recognition • Incredibly Fast. Just a generally good small camera. Good reviews, and light weight,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pentax Optio A40 Digital Camera</span><br />12.0 Megapixel • 3x Optical Zoom • 2.5" LCD Display • Triple Shake Reduction • Enhanced Face Recognition • Dynamic Range Adjustment • High-quality MPEG-4 DivX Video • Ultra Compact & Lightweight Design. I always like Pentax, also small and has great glass.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-17888436355925722752008-04-08T13:37:00.007-05:002008-04-08T20:02:58.487-05:00Travel, taking time to make images, and living life.Many of us dream of making that big coast to coast tour of the country photographing our way from one end to the other. I recently took my second nearly coast to coast drive but like many of you it was not for pleasure and I had little time to stop and smell the roses let alone take pictures, however...<br /><br />If your like me getting out the camera can sometimes be a major decision; do I get out the good one and put on a lens, will I be able to restrain myself from taking pictures for hours, will my family or companions put up with another stop to take pictures after I just stopped 10 minutes back to grab a few shots, should I wait for a better shot around the next bend or worse turn back to get a shot of that perfect scene I just passed while cruising down the Interstate?<br /><br />Taking a vacation or business trip can be completely different from taking a trip specifically for your photography addiction. As photographers we all know when the best light is, those prime early hours and late afternoons, and sunset through twilight. But when traveling with others we often don't have the freedom to stop for photography during those peek shooting hours. With family and friends they expect to sleep in on vacations, have breakfast, linger by the pool. They want to play during the late morning and then relax at night over a long meal. Or when traveling for business you have to actually go to that sales meeting, conference, or see the client. Perhaps you are with coworkers every moment of the day and getting free to pursue photography even as a working pro can be a challenge. Many of us do our best to deal with the overwhelming desire to get out and shoot with balancing the need to do our jobs or be with family but it's always a compromise. <br /><br />Getting away to take a photography trip is a huge challenge for me and one of the things that sets pro's apart from weekend point and clickers. My family always comes first and there is always something they need, or we are doing, there is never enough free time. What little free time I do have I want to spend with my wife and kids. I for one feel guilty just thinking about taking off for a few days to do a photography trip or class. Yet perhaps that is exactly what we should do in the best interests of our family life. <br /><br />How can that be? Setting aside the obvious frustration we go through when the yearning to go comes over us like a craving for some favorite food that cannot be satisfied we all have to balance what we want to do with what we must do. But considering how hard it is for others to understand (just snap the picture and lets get going I can hear from the background) are we doing anyone a favor making them put up with our interests wether or not it's a hobby or a profession? It may be argued that it would be less frustrating on them for us to go alone, get whatever we are working on done and then dedicate our time with family, coworkers, and friends entirely to them. But if your life is anything like mine that is impossible we live in a multi-tasking world and everything overlaps everything else. For most it's a compromise at best, as for me I have to try and balance both my desire to be creative and practice, learn or earn with my passion for my wife, kids, church and other diverging interests. I have a very understanding and patient wife, when she goes with me she is often encouraging me to take the time to make images knowing full well that once I start it's hard for me to stop and I loose all track of time and obligations. She sometimes comes as my assistant reminding me to rest, drink water, or catch a moment that I may have missed from the narrow world of the view finder. That does not negate the fact that I can feel guilty knowing she has to give up something to be with me, or my have other things to do, places to go, so I often find myself ignoring the urge and call to be responsible.<br /><br />Oddly, none of this is why I started this topic. As I said at the beginning I recently made a trip across the US that was not for pleasure and I was on a time table where I needed to be on the other end of the country on a certain day. Driving across the US has many benefits from observing cultural and regional differences to seeing the changes in geography as you go. Luckily on the trip most of my time was spent on US 40 which for those who don't know parallels much of US Route 66. This is (in my not so humble opinion) is one of the top three road trips for a photographer to take during your lifetime in America anyway (or for any tourist for that matter).<br /><br />I won't go on an on about 66 and the history, there are plenty of sites, books, and documentaries that discuss that at length. However for getting to know out great nation from many perspectives from high brow culture and the latest trends in shopping, architecture, and life styles to the retro cool, the forgotten, and everything in between you just can't beat a trip that focuses on Route 66. There are so many worthy subjects that you could spend years trying to experience and capture it and some professional photographers have done just that.<br /><br />Despite my deadlines I did let myself cut over to Route 66 as often as I could without delaying my trip. As I was traveling alone I had the freedom to drive and stop at my own pace without causing anyone else grief every time I saw something I wanted to photograph. At the same time I had to make many compromises, skipping places I would have liked to explore or photograph because of timing, the wrong time of day to shoot (for me at least), or just because I needed to stay on schedule.<br /><br />I keep telling myself there will be other chances to come back, that someday I'll have the time but will everything be the same? No. Will things change, get paved over, replanted, developed or decay? Yes, Will I even ever come back at all? Who can say.<br /><br />So it's a constant internal battle of will and responsibility over knowing that you may not come this way again, And that everything does change. On top of that you will not be the same person as you are right now. Our views, perspectives and moods change over time and that effects the way we view, experience, and photograph the world we see.<br /><br />I made the best compromises I could, knowing I missed much and I honestly have no idea if life will allow me to come back and do it right in the future.<br /><br />So ask yourself this before and during your next trip. What will I be giving up to stop and take pictures, can I do it fast or must I take the time to do it right? 10 or 50 years from now will I care how fast I made it to the meeting, client, vendor, or Grandma's house? Will I be able to take pleasure from slowing down, making images, capturing memories and sharing them with others? Will my skills improve, will I be able to sell, enter contests, or improve my portfolio and perhaps even write off the trip if I take the time to photograph it right?<br /><br />Will my family forgive me for disrupting their vacation for me to indulge in my passion? How about coworkers, or the boss? <br /><br />I think the answer to this is not only a yes but because you may force the travel to stop for your photography at the same time you are providing an opportunity for those with you to see more than the fast food joints and the dividing lines on the road. They too will learn about where you're going, meet people, hear local legends, see cultures perhaps very different from your own, experience history, and really get to know something out side of their normal world. While stopped the iPods, DVD players, and laptops are off and people may actually talk to each other too.<br /><br />Experience the adventure, let the journey be as important as the destination. Life is not about how it starts and ends, the stuff that really matters is what we do with all the time in between. For those with a passion, interest, or career in photography what we do to make time to photograph can also open up opportunities for those around us to experience more of life with us, not just blow through it. And with them we can all become closer as well as have a greater understanding of our world.<br /><br />I used to enjoy hiking as a teen, and had a group of friends mostly from my church who went as a large group as often as we could. We mostly explored the mountains of Southern and Central California. Some of those friends were long distance runners and always focused on getting to the next camp ground and setting up before anyone else. They were often so focused on getting to the destination that they missed everything worth seeing along the way. And as a side note, it was the speed demons who also got lost the and hurt the most too. <br /><br />When I'd pull into camp often as one of the last people I'd be excited to discuss the day, my running friends all bruised and blistered would often be found lying around trying to recover and I'd ask about the things they saw and did. I would see wild life, rock formations, meadows, flowers, fish, bears, all sorts of birds and the unexpected beauty of nature. I would find old minds, bridges, meet fellow hikers, grave markers and more. They more often than not did not see any of it, they saw dirt, switchbacks, and trail forks. Eventually they gave up hiking for other pursuits and for many of them they live life the same way they hiked, narrowly focused on achievement while ignoring the world and people that lived life without them. <br /><br />We have all heard and made the excuses, I'll spend more time with the kids after this next big project at work, I'l take time to be with my wife after tax season, I'll get out and see the points of interest where I live once work settles down. But for some it never happens they worry get caught up in minutia without noticing life, taking real time with family and friends, always too busy for the here and now while working toward goals, possessions, and career pursuits. <br /><br />I wonder in the end will they look back and remember the projects that got finished, the jobs and titles they earned the wealth they accumulated? Or will they have relationships with children and families, memories of time spent together, or wisdom and peace of seeing and being apart of the world around them. Perhaps they instead will have the satisfaction of accomplishment and achievement to keep them company in they're old age, titles, and clients, and meetings to care for them in the declining years... or maybe not.<br /><br />There is nothing wrong with being a good provider, working toward goals, and getting the job done right and these ideals should be applied to all we do. However for me at least the journey is far more important than the waypoints. The destination only has value if its build upon positive experiences, learning, and understanding and the companionship of friends and loved ones gained along the way. I don't want to look back on an empty life filled with jobs, duties, chores, lists, reports, to-do lists and the like. For me I want to look back on a life filled with family, love, music, learning, wisdom, laughter, peace, service, and in touch with the world around me, understanding all the amazing things God has created around us, memories, and yes pictures to remember it by.<br /><br />Stop and enjoy life's journey, as a photographer make time to capture it as one of the things in life that bring us satisfaction, joy and passion. Make the time to be creative, not just snapping pictures, think about and interpret life and the world around you make photographs don't take pictures. Share the journey with others and live life in the moment not for the future so that you create a future worth living. The future will take care of itself, life is what happens right now and who you someday will be is based wholly on what you do and the choices you make right now. Take the time to make life worthwhile, make the music, write, talk, listen, feel, learn, and love those most important to you, do it right now. <br /><br />Sorry for all the cliché's!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944409625504875385.post-78801478785957823522008-01-10T16:23:00.000-06:002008-01-10T16:43:11.517-06:00Tripods an updateI recently had to buy a new tripod for one of my daughters who happens to be a photography major at school.At first i was going to give her one of mine but thought better to get her a lighter one as I'm kind of strong and don't mind lugging my Pro-sized Manfrotto's everywhere. My daugters is half my size if that and my tripods may wight about the same as she does! Not really but you get the point. <br /><br />So like any photo obsessed father I began checking every model out, going to stores, pro shops, as well as retailers like Wolf Camera, doing all the big online sites like Adoramma and BH Photo, Sam's etc. And looking at all the various pro brands like the ones we all know. and the new comers. I also checked out some of the department store no-name brands or store branded models.<br /><br />We I've also belonged to a site <a href="http://home.amvona.com/">Amvona.com</a> where I get stands, and other odd accessories and have been pleased with the quality and prices. Knowing they had their own brand of tripods (along with bags, lights, and all sorts of other stuff) I decided to check them out. I was pleased to find so many configurations and styles to choose from and decided to order.<br /><br />I was pleased with both the price and speed, and the fine automated e-mails I got each step of the way to inform me of each update in shipping etc. We all expect this but I'm surpirsed how poorly some sites do at this. <br /><br />Anyway I was worried that I was going to get some cheapo tripod, poorly made and with few functions. But instead I when it arrived I found it was well made, had all the functionality of the big boys, came in a nice soft-sided case, and was very attractive. I will say that it's fit an finish was slightly cruder than I would get from a high-end precision tripod company. But for my daughter just starting out, or for anyone on a tight budget who needs a good sturdy tripod I'd highly recommend Amvona. Some might claim is snobby to claim a $300.00 tripod is better but they truly are. However sometimes we don't need a Rolls Royce or Farrari when a nice Toyota or Nissan will do the job just fine.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.peoplecorporation.org/images/button.gif" style="border:0;width:80px;height:15px;" alt="Join our community - Submit and share your favorite links" /></a></div>Michael Margolieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13370123818021783579noreply@blogger.com0