Monday, April 29, 2013

Monday Morning Coffee: Updates

 
 
Brief Scout update:  She made it thru the weekend, is very alert but is weak and sleeping/resting much of the time. 
 
We make a great pair - she has trouble using her back legs and I continue to use crutches because of a damaged hip.  Again, our remaining time together is very special.
 
Photography/computer update: my understanding and use of the IPad continues to grow. 
 
After reviewing past work and selecting images, a couple of slide shows have been uploaded to the IPad.  While not sounding like a difficult task, turned out to require several hours of time.   
 
To make "things" happen on an IPad you need to obtain and use apps.  So, before the constructing the slide shows or anything else, there were at least three days of sorting thru various available applications. 
 
Again, the usual drill - using the internet for descriptions, reviews, as well as YouTube presentations - to select a few to investigate.  Some were free and others were usually only two or three dollars.
 
Ended up picking and installing nine apps. Two - AirStash+ and PhotoSync - enable the transfer of images between computers and IPhones/IPads. 
 
Five apps - Snapseed, Shuttersnitch, PS Express, PS Touch and Photogene - are editing programs.  Took long time selecting editing ones.  Each offer something a bit different and useful.  Suspect that in time only one will end up as the to "go-to" program.  Right now Photogene seems to cover everything needed. 
 
The remaining two - Photos and Pics - are used to show individual photos and slide shows. 
 
 The agenda for the coming week will include using and becoming familiar with these apps.
 
As always, will leave with a photograph:
 
                                     Union City, Indiana/Ohio

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Raw Ink

                                                                    Ada, Ohio.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Old and Not Forgotten

                                                                      Celina, Ohio.

The past week has been a difficult time here in the World Headquarters of Today's Image.

My faithful companion - Scout - is having major  major health issues.  In the sporting world this is referred to as "day to day".  In Scout's case is is more like hour to hour.   Each moment this passing time together is important and deeply valued.  

Posts may not be regular and will occur as time and energy permits.


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Auburn Hotel / Cafe

                                                            Auburn Ohio.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Monday Morning Coffee: A Solution and a Choice



From the latest TGIF: Moving On

As of today, the wireless problem remains. This is a twofold problem. First, while in the field, how to wirelessly transfer images from camera to IPad. Secondly, how, while in the field, to wirelessly obtain "live view". That is, showing the image on a IPad immediately after capture without removing the card from the camera.

Well, the first problem - while in the field, how to wirelessly transfer images from camera to IPad. has been solved. Solution required removal of an IPad app, download the app again and then install the new download. Have no idea why or how this worked. Just know that it did.

The second problem - while in the field, to wirelessly obtain "live view" still remains. Solving involves more coffee and continued looking out the window.

In addition to chasing wireless solutions, been investigating several scanning programs. With the renewed interest in black and white film photography, scanning is important. Whether the image is to be digitally printed or viewed on a monitor, the scanning program is vital. There are several available -some free others not.

Found a few newer ones that I had not tried, downloaded the ones that looked interesting, and placed them on a computer. Curious to see how the newer ones compared to those that I have been using.

After "playing" with the new, along with my usual programs, decided that while the new offered some interesting choices, my old standbys, for my purposes, were a better choice.

Will leave with an example of a film scan
                                      Richmond, Indiana.

 

Friday, April 19, 2013

TGIF: Moving On

 
The last posted TGIF ended with -
As of today, the wireless problem remains. This is a twofold problem. First, while in the field, how to wirelessly transfer images from camera to IPad. Secondly, how, while in the field, to wirelessly obtain "live view". That is, showing the image on a IPad immediately after capture without removing the card from the camera.
 
The answer to these questions may be at the front door. UPS just dropped off a package. Check back next TGIF.
 
Well - turns out that the answer wasn't at the front door. The contents of the package, while interesting and useful, didn't solve the wireless problem.
 
Attempting to solve this problem has been the past weeks full time task for the Today's Image staff. So far no/nada/zip solutions. Time to back away, have more coffee and return to looking out the window. The answer is out there - just have to find it.
 
With the exception of "wireless" the photography equipment questions are resolved. Time to begin thinking about photographing people. Rather than producing formal portraits, would attempt to present people within their location. Such environmental portraits not only show an individual or group, but also their surroundings.  
 
                                                        Virginia

                                                          Mike

While waiting for a "wireless" solution to appear, the next bit of time will be spent reviewing past work involving people, as well as posting new work.


Thursday, April 18, 2013

Quality Hydraulic Parts

                                                           Bloomingport, Indiana.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Walton Grain Storage.

                                                           Upper Sandusky, Ohio
 
 
 
 

Friday, April 12, 2013

TGIF: Means to an End



Has been a bit since TGIF appeared. Time has been spent attempting to decide what's next. While always "leaving the door open" to whatever might come thru, like to have a end in mind.

Planning includes not only the end game but also the means to achieve it. As the medical issues are being resolved, - and they are - I will certainly continue documenting the the changing Midwestern cityscape. That project is very high on my to-do list of photography tasks. Much of the previous work has been in presenting structures - buildings - and objects - equipment. Time has come to investigate the people that populate these locations. Individuals that remain and sustain the Midwest are very important to understanding this region.

Photograph people. It is one thing to say and another to do. They live and work there. I suddenly appear, and enter their life. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Trust and acceptance take time - often a lot of time. Time, not an easy problem to solve.

After many cups of coffee, looking out the window and talking with Scout - the wonder dog - arrived at a couple of solutions to the time problem.

Reviewing past photographic "people projects" where I spent daily time with folks, trust and acceptance were often gained by showing and giving photographic prints to the subjects. Taking images, processing materials and giving prints took time with and away from the involved people.

Earlier projects were accomplished using photographic film. That meant that after exposure the film had to be developed and the prints made. This implied that a darkroom and necessary equipment were availble. The work flow in this case was: expose film, go to darkroom, develope film, make prints, show and give prints. The darkroom was off site which meant that I leave and later return. Not a problem as the distance between site and darkroom was not too great - usually a few hours, at most day.

That was then, this is now. That was analog, today is digital. Working with people today still requires trust and acceptance. In the past, photographic prints were used. Today, digital images can be used. Digital cameras have viewing screens. Take a photograph, look at the camera back and there is the image - small but there. Showing is immediate. No darkroom needed. No leaving and returning. Giving? Today most have access to a computer - public or private. Sending the image - e-mail, etc. - solves the giving problem

Consider the way to achieve. Success is dependent on gaining trust and acceptance, which is achieved digitally - camera viewing screen. Can this be improved? This question has been my focus for the past week. Answer - camera viewing screen; problem small and hard to see. Answer - needs to be bigger and easier to view; problem - How? Answer - use a laptop computer; problem - along with camera equipment, big and bulky. Answer - viewing ability bigger but not too big.

Enter the IPad. After many, many hours of viewing web pages with news releases -product PR, product reviews - who writes these? and You Tube videos - who makes these?, settled on an IPad. Other tablets were considered, but the Apple appeared to fulfill my needs.

Selection of an IPad was only the start. Several new problems - wanting answers - surfaced. How to enter images that are recorded on a camera card. Short answer use a card reader - of course made by Apple. Another piece of equipment to carry along with camera, lenses, notebook and IPad. Long answer, use something wireless - requires Wi-Fi - new problem that is not completely - at this time - solved.

OK, the images are in the IPad. They can be viewed in the field but at some point will wish to have them on a home computer in order to work on them. Implies the IPad and computer need to "talk" to each other. Turns out there is an app for that. In fact, there are a lot of apps for that. Which one? Again - the usual drill - web pages, reviews and You Tube lead to a solution, problem solved.

As of today, the wireless problem remains. This is a twofold problem. First, while in the field, how to wirelessly transfer images from camera to IPad. Secondly, how, while in the field, to wirelessly obtain "live view". That is, showing the image on a IPad immediately after capture without removing the card from the camera.

The answer to these questions may be at the front door. UPS just dropped off a package. Check back next TGIF.


Will leave with:


                                                           Eaton, Ohio.
 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Walkway

                                                           Richmond, Indiana

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

The Best Haircut

                                                           Eaton, Ohio.

Monday, April 08, 2013

Monday Morning Coffee: Monday - Yes. Morning - No.

 
Because Monday morning was taken up with medical tests, post is a bit late. Test results should be in hand by the end of the week.

Changes are coming to operation of the World Headquarters of Today's Image. If UPS and FedEx get their stuff together, a few new bits and pieces of equipment should arrive and be active by the end of the week.  Assuming all goes well, details on TGIF.

 Continuing the return to black and white images

                                                       Richmond, Indiana
 
Am warming to the return of working in black and white photography.  For me, the removal of color emphases the subject.   
 
Not sure where this is heading, but will continue down the path. 
    

.

Thursday, April 04, 2013

John Smith and Battle Ax

                                                                 Greenville, Ohio

Always interested older brick buildings with signage advertising long gone products and stores.

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Grain Storage

                        Near Greenville, Ohio

Next few image posts will be in black and white.  Find that I am returning to an earlier way of working.  Traditional documentary photography is often presented in black and white.  Will see how it goes.