Links (see previous posts)

Here are the links to the 2 websites referenced in my previous post. I won't explain why they're not included because it's somewhat technical and complex. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Byron
1--http://www.lightstalking.com/

2--http://beforethecoffee.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/pontiac-chiefton-1953/

Fabulous Photography Website

At our next meeting one of the things that I intend to explore about is the use and abuse of HDR. As you may recall I have been very enthusiastic about HDR, in fact so much so that I shot 5 images of almost every photo I take so that HDR can be used if called for. However, as I've gained more experience with the technique my goals have shifted. I prefer that in the final result the observer has no clue that the photo has been manipulated. The first 2 images are from a collection entitled 17Awesome HDR Shots and are great examples of what I am trying to acheive. They were found at a really remarkable Photography website Lightstalker.com . Rather than post a lenghty description and rave review I suggest that you click the link and check it out for yourself. The "Flu Bug" I include in the prior post (actually a Southern Yellow Jacket) is from a collection of fantastic macro photos of insects posted there as well.

Fially here is an example of an over the top HDR. Some digital imagers love producing images like this and it is generally known as The Illustrative Technique. I think that there are actually easier ways to acheive even better graphic images, which I may demonstrate if time permits at the next meeting.

H1N1 Flu

I asked Dr. Jim Terman for advice about the potential for spreading the H1N1 virus at our meeting. This was his slightly edited reply:

1) Anyone who is sick should stay home. Flu, including H1N1,
comes on suddenly so folks need to note how they feel soon before the meeting:
fever, malaise, aching muscels, cough, sore throat. A few days later, no one with flu will want to come. Virus shedding [this is when one is congagious] is over by 1 week in 80%, by 10 days in the rest. Old individuals are less suseptible.
2) With a meeting in a private home, the most practical advice is to put out a couple of alcohol-gel hand sanitizer bottles, a couple of Kleenex boxes and nearby
wastebaskets, and point them out.

3) If you want, have some disinfectant tissues (Wet-one type) available to clean keyboards and other
common surfaces.

Thank you, Jim, for your much appreciated advice.
Byron

On the Program for the November 4th Meeting

In an e-mail received today Jim Taylor wrote:

If there is an open time slot in the next meeting, I have some examples of
scanned negatives, both black and white and color, taken a few years back
that have been tuned up in Camera Raw and Photoshop. I have made prints
that exceed the quality I was able to attain in the darkroom from
the original negatives. I have put a few images on a POWERPOINT (OFFICE 2007 version) and would be glad to share them with the group for comments. I don't think it would take more than 10-15 minutes depending upon discussion created.
Jim Taylor

I can't think of a more pertinent and interesting topic for our group. Thank you very much, Jim. Byron

Next Meetin November 4, 2009

All members should have received an e-mail announcing the next meeting. In case anyone didn't, I'm posting a slightly edited version here:

The next meeting of the Western Wisconsin Imaging Group will be on November 4th at my home (N2207 Pammel Pass West). I want to change the meeting time to 6:30pm because it will be getting dark so much earlier. Susann is returning from Colorado before the meeting and is happy to bake some good things for the social hour.

As you may recall this will be our last meeting for a while and I hope to make it a very good one. If there is sufficient interest, we will resume in March, but I plan to reduce the frequency to either every other month or perhaps quarterly.

Anyone interested in doing so is invited to join me every Monday evening from 8:30pm to 9:30pm for the Monday Night Light Webinar. Click this URL to go to the Light Workshops website for further information: http://www.lightworkshops.com/. From the website you can click on a link to the Webinar site which is actually a blog. These webinars are exceedingly well taught by Hal Schmidt. From my experience these sessions are aimed at intermediate level users of Photoshop and/or Lightroom, but even beginners will find much to gain from them, especially if there is some supplemental help available to guide them over the rough spots. Also, advanced users would likewise benefit since the topics are covered in a very comprehensive and well organized manner which I find especially useful. Even when one has learned an imaging technique, the user frequently has uncertainties or gaps. Going over the material in a logical progression can be really helpful. During the week after each session Hal posts a 10 minute recapitulation on the blog allowing attendees to review the material. This is a great asset.

You can eliminate the middleman-- that would be me-- by simply accessing the webinar blog and signing up. This will allow you to participate in the webinar from the comfort of you own home. If there is interest, I plan to add an hour from 7:30 to 8:30pm to discuss what was learned during the prior session, and to present additional interesting video tutorials covering unrelated topics.

As always, I am soliciting both images-- prints or digital-- and offers for presentations for our November meeting. I have several topics that I can present; so remember, the surest way to shut me up is for you to give a presentation-- pretty much any topic will be welcomed.

PS: It goes without saying that if we are in the midst of a raging H1N1 flu epidemic the November meeting will be cancelled.

Adobe Lightroom 3.0 beta has been released

The digital imaging blogs are all abuzz with the news that Adobe has released the beta of Lightroom 3.0. It is anticipated that there will be several more versions over a matter of months before the final version is released for sale. The beta can be downloaded for free in the meantime. Of course the beta becomes unusable once the official release occurs. I have tried mightily to switch from Photoshop to Lightroom but have been unsuccessful-- mainly because of problems transporting my files into LR. I have an organizational system that I devised and it doesn't lend itself to the LR format. I am probably going to download this version of LR to see if I can make it work for me because I believe that PhotoShop, as we know it, is going to eventually become an anachronism and evolve into something quite different-- perhaps returning to its roots as a tool for graphic designers-- and that Lightroom will become the principle imaging software for photographers. Adobe Camera Raw is really the Lightroom develop module simply tacked onto Photoshop. It may be foolish to continue to resist the rising tide that is taking place at Adobe.

Michael Reichman's site The Luminous Landscape (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/software/lr-3-beta.shtml) has a good summary of the main features which are new to LR in this version and PhotoshopNews ( http://photoshopnews.com/2006/06/12/adobe-lightroom-beta-3-released/)includes a series of excellent screen-grabs to illustrate these new features as well as very thorough discussion of the new aspects by Jeff Schewe an active participant in the development process.
Byron

Yesterday my friend Dr. Rich Fink and I went up to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. I had been there before and was particularly interested in returning because I had been told that they were showing "an exhibit of Monet's". It turns out that this remarkable museum recently expanded its display area and is now showing more of its permanent collection which includes perhaps a dozen Impressionist paintings and a few of the Hudson River School. There are 2 or 3 by Monet and a rather lovely Renoir. It is quite astounding to find works like this in a private collection on public display.

In addition to these paintings and an extensive number of marine themed paintings there was a very interesting exhibit of 90 photographs by Jim Brandenburg, the renowned Northern Minnesota nature photographer. It is certainly worth the drive up to Winona and the $6 entry fee to see these wonderful works.

Byron

From NAPP

The semi-annual NAPP convention was recently concluded in Las Vegas and the results of the "Guru Awards" have been posted on the NAPP site. Here are the 1st place award winners in a couple of categories. Each posted photo is a gem. You can see the winners in all of the categories here: http://www.photoshopworld.com/guru/winners.html.

I hope to find a source of all of the finalist images on the Internet but so far have been unsuccessful. I'll post the URL if I do.

Byron

Intriguing Image from Jim Taylor

Recently Jim Taylor sent this intriguing image and thought provoking comments about photographic subject matter-- something worth pondering. Here is the essence of Jim's e-mail and the image:

At the last meeting of WWIG we were treated to a series of
texturally modified images which were quite beautiful. Seeing through the eyes
of others has led me to seek beauty in the most unusual places, and often
finding it there. Would you ever look at 'pond scum' and see beauty? I think
I see it here. A file is attached if you care to post it. I was led to this
place by Jackie Rand who has a magnificently tuned eye for perception of beauty
in rare places. Jackie has some even more beautiful and fascinating images from
the same location, so perhaps you can prevail upon her good nature to share them. Here it is..."POND SCUM"

THANKS JIM!

Byron