Friday's Video: Circle of Light Photo Project 2010

The Circle of Light Photo Project is a collection of photographs by people whose blindness was cured by corneal transplants. It hopes to inspire others to become eye, organ and tissue donors by showing the impact it has on people's lives and communities.

Clouds are for more than bringing rain!

Image by jscreationzs

As more and more data flows into our computers, from digital photos, to downloaded information, storage starts to become an issue.

CDs become a physical storage problem, because they will deteriorate within time, corrupting and losing the data forever.

And, external hard drives suffice only until they become full or crash.

So, is there a better storage solution? Maybe...cloud storage.

Cloud storage may be the newer and more viable storage solution for digitized photos and personal information, but, the question still remains....what is it?

The basic concept of cloud storage is that instead of storing information directly to your computer's hard drive, information ends up getting saved to a remote system and database that is maintained by a third party, like Dropbox, box.net, or even Google Docs.

This remote database of information is accessed through an Internet connection that links the storage server to your computer, or to any computer that has an internet connection.

Because technology can be fickle and hard drives and servers can have a tendency to crash, effective cloud storage companies will store the same information on multiple servers. This storage process is called redundancy. Without redundancy, cloud storage would not be able to guarantee that clients would be able to access their information at any given time.

And, to protect stored information even more, off-site storage companies will even utilize other off-site cloud storage to provide a backup to the backup. This helps to provide a near infinite amount of storage and protection for consumers and cloud storage companies around the world.

(Source: How Cloud Storage Works, How Stuff Works, by Jonathan Strickland)

Death, where is thy sting? (You already have my data!)

South By Southwest Conference

On March 15, 2011, at the annual South By Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, authors Evan Carroll and John Romano of The Digital Beyond met with a panel of other digital legacy experts. Together, they discussed the topic of what happens to our online estates when we die.

The panel of experts stated that it is estimated that 285,000 Facebook users will die this year. Along with those deaths, thousands of photos, videos, and letters can potentially vanish, without proper planning.

Jesse Davis, a co-founder for Entrustet, a legal firm that deals with helping people to protect their digital assets, and one of the panel experts, stated that currently, the issues of digital death aren't huge. But, with the growing society turning more to online social sites, where people's daily lives are uploaded constantly through digital photos and videos, it is becoming more of a growing concern.

In planning for the future, Davis said that individuals want to immediately consider protecting their Facebook accounts, online stored photos (Flickr), and purchased domains from vanishing and taking with them the legacy that they represent.

Adele McAlear, this year's panel leader and creator of DeathandDigitalLegacy.com, stated that when we die, the first thing that happens is our credit cards get canceled, allowing for domains to lapse and not renew.

This becomes especially bad, since most people's current life's work is stored online, with no physical legacy to be passed on. And, unless permission is given for a family member to take over the account, the information will be lost.

What is needed is the "What do you want to do with your account when you die?" button when registering for an account! But panelist agreed that simply wasn’t going to happen in today’s society.

Overall, the attending audience had much to take away from this year's discussion. If nothing else, staring this topic of the inevitable visit with the Grim Reaper face-to-face is guaranteed to bring more awareness to the realization of our new digital heritage and how easy is it is for it to become lost. Without proper planning, our generation could be the one that vanished, thanks to technology. (Sources: You're Dead, Your Data Isn't: What Happens Now?, by Tina Phan and SXSW.com)

Beware! Digital Archive Destruction Ahead.

Image by Salvatore Vuono

With external hard drives, CD backup, and other means for saving digital media, many people may feel comfort in believing that their information and files are safe from corruption. But, are they?

In a recent article in the Missourian, executive editor Tom Warhover stated that "there’s an information-keeping crisis out there," because "digital information has a short shelf life."

Warhover had the opportunity to recently sit in with a group of archivists, scholars, vendors and newspaper editors at Reynolds Journalism Institute. The focus for the meeting was about digital conversion for our nation's newspapers and the issue of the "short shelf life" of digital media. In the gathering, one popular format for digital media storage, CD's was discussed.

The problem with CD storage is that, according to digital archive expert Frederick Zarndt, it's a false hope to believe that a traditional photo CD will last for five years, let alone ten. (Does not take into consideration Gold Preservation Disc technology.)

Of course, Warhover points out, that saving images on a high quality CD that is stored properly and never used could possibly guarantee a safe storage solution for 50 years. But, as Warhover states, "who does that?"

Even when using hard drives to store digitized newspapers, disaster can strike. "Hard drives", Warhover states, "...can wear out quicker than your grandmother's underwear."

Vicky McCargar, a digital archive consultant that was in attendance, recently found a photo within the e-files of the Los Angeles Times. Within time, the digital image had become corrupted all on its own. If the digital negative had not been properly saved elsewhere, that piece of photo history could have been lost forever.

So, archiving has issues. It was Samuel Johnson who stated; “The true art of memory is the art of attention.” Whether analog or digital, the ability to preserve and protect in order to share and connect with photos deserves close attention.

(Source: DEAR READER: Digital archives don't last: A tale of corruption and crashes, The Columbia Missourian, by Tom Warhover)

Monday's Featured Picture Blog

Monday's Featured Picture Blog: Wink 

 By: Tyler E. Nixon

Hunting The Hidden Dimension

Friday's Video: Your Digital Afterlife

What happens to a digital legacy when that person passes away?

http://www.yourdigitalafterlife.com/

Posterous - Your Life In Pictures

Photo Blogging Made Easy

The ability to scan paper photos, or take digital ones using cell phones or digital cameras makes telling the stories of our lives so much more decorated by their ability to illustrate our words.

So often, though, these picture stories get shown to just a select few then are either forgotten or lost. Now, with the help of online sites like Posterous, those pictures can continue to live on.

Created and launched back in 2008 by founder and developer Sachin Agarwal, Posterous was developed with one thing in mind, to make information sharing as easy as sending an email. With over 9.2 million monthly users, Posterous has quickly found strength as becoming one of the leading photo blog apps. Posterous is available for computer, tablet and smartphone devices.

To start using Posterous, first time users are not even required to create an account. All someone has to do is email their content to Posterous, and automatically that information is converted into a blog format. The newly formed blog is then sent back, via an email link, to its originator. Now, the information can be added and shared!

Posterous also offers the added ability to embed videos, MP3s and other media into an online player. PDFs can also be added to user sites, where they will be viewed through an embedded Scribd viewer.

So, if a photo blog was ever on your list of things to do, Posterous can help to make that happen easily and free. (Source: www.Posterous.com)

About One...Family Organization Made Easy!

Family Organization Made Easy!

Ever had family photos, papers, receipts, or personal medical records wind up in piles around the house just waiting for you to organize them?

It can happen quickly and in no time an organization nightmare is staring in you in the face. For Joanne Lang, this need for an easy organizational tool became not just a need, but a thriving business.

Lang, a mother of four boys and a traveling software executive, found it difficult to keep track of daily household documents while having to tend to her busy schedule.

One day, as one of Lang's sons had a near tragic medical emergency, Lang found herself helpless. Armed with only her keys and phone, Lang was not able to tell the paramedics what medications her son was on. It was at that time of despair that Lang came up with the idea for simple and effective digital organization system...AboutOne.

AboutOne takes the concept of Lang's working expertise of cloud computing, and provides one central location to store and manage family information in a way that makes it easily accessible from any computer or smartphone. Now, at the click of mouse or swipe of a touch screen those family pictures or important documents can instantly be on-hand for sharing.

What makes AboutOne different from other online digital storage services? AboutOne allows users to take the entered information and automatically create hard copy memory books, family newsletters, health summaries, babysitter instructions, and even send picture laden greeting cards that mail themselves. All of this helps to make life in this busy world so simple, leaving more time for fun and enjoyment.(Source: www.aboutone.com)

The 4am Project

The 4am Project

For most of us, 4am is the time to be in bed and asleep. But, for British photographer Karen Strunks, 4am is the time to be out and taking pictures.

Around two years ago, on her way back from a night out, Strunks noticed how different the city seemed. The streets and roads were quiet and deserted. She felt like the city was all hers. It was 4am.

Shortly after that early morning experience, Strunks went out to take her first photos of Birmingham at 4am and became hooked.

After posting the photos on her blog, an interest in her early morning exploits grew. Soon, she was taking requests for further 4am photo ideas. Her followers decided where she would go, and she would take the photos. Later, she would post the requested photos on her blog and wait for more requests. Strunks says, "...it's become a collaboration."

Pretty soon, Strunks decided to expand the idea out. The 4am Project was born. This time, though, the photographers would be anyone from around the world that wanted to document their surroundings at the 4 o'clock hour.

Now, in its second year, the 4am Project is getting ready to kick off again. On Sunday, April 24, set an alarm and get ready to snap some photos of the world around you at....you guessed it, 4am.

Strunks is ready to make this year's event a party. She suggests that everyone do the same by getting some friends together and having fun with this.

Or, if it suits you better, Strunks suggests setting an alarm, taking a picture, and going back to bed. No matter how anyone decides to do it, Strunks wants only one thing, participation.

"Whatever you’re doing, it’d be great if you could get involved and play a part in building a global picture of the world at 4am." Strunks says.

Once the photos have been taken, they can be uploaded to the 4am Project site. From there, Strunks will post the thousands of photos from around the world in hopes to "encourage the sharing of visual imagery that reflects the world we live in."

Recently, Strunks received word that even Time Square will be getting involved with her project, in a special event set for 4am on October 17th.

"I am so delighted to be able to bring the 4am Project to the heart of New York City. This is probably the project's (and my!) biggest goal to date," Strunks says about her coming New York event. She has invited other New York photographers to join her in this early morning photo walk to explore the 'crossroads of the world'.

But, if you can't make it to the New York event in October, and still want to take part, then remember to set your alarm for 4am April 24. From there, you can decide whether to snap a picture and go back to bed. Or, you may decide to continue the party with Strunks and the rest of the world.

(Source: www.4amproject.org)

Monday's Featured Picture Blog

Monday's Featured Picture Blog: Marquandphotoblog  

By: Michael Marquand

Essaouira

Friday's Video: Beyond Paper and Pictures -Turning Your Scanner Into an Art Studio

This Friday's video shows you how to turn your scanner into an art studio by scanning more than paper and pictures.

The Megapixel Debate: It's All About the Dots...Or Is It?

How important is megapixel count when choosing a new camera?

 

According to New York Times technology writer David Pogue, the megapixel debate is nothing more than a marketing ploy.

 

This myth, according to Pogue, only serves one purpose, to make people want to go out and buy the latest greatest cameras. 

 

This idea, that has become so deeply rooted in our culture, has been concocted by digital camera makers and stores. And, Pogue says the whole thing is "...a big fat lie". Pogue even labeled it as the "Megapixel Myth".

 

It is commonly believed that the more megapixels (one million tiny colored dots) in a picture, the clearer and sharper the image. But, in reality, the more dots there are, the more visual noise becomes present in a photo.

 

Pogue points out, that a mastery in lighting, composition, and becoming familiar with the camera's controls is far more important than a camera's pixel rating.

 

"I can show you plenty of enlargements from a 4-megapixel camera that look much sharper and better than ones from an 8-megapixel model", Pogue points out. 

 

 

So, to prove this point, Pogue created three versions of the same photo, shot in 5 megapixels, 8 megapixels, and 13 megapixels.

 

Pogue, armed with his 16 by 24 inch posters, set up a display in Union Square in Manhattan. the challenge to anyone walking by, see if they could tell a difference between the photos. 

 

With cameras rolling, person upon person stopped, looked, squinted, and even pressed their faces up to the photos. Whatever the viewer wanted to do, they were allowed.

 

Out of the dozens and dozens of people that took the challenge, only one person was able to pick out the resolution differences. Everybody either guessed wrong, or just gave up, believing that their was truly no difference between the photos. Watch the It's All Geek to Me - Megapixel Myth YouTube video for yourself.

 

After posting his findings on his blog, Pogue gained acceptance and criticism. 

 

Around 450 readers responded to his article. Many agreed that there really is no difference. While others felt that Pogue had used less than scientific ways to support his argument. 

 

So, Pogue offered to repeat the test using more scientific methods, this time with the help of professional photographer Ellis Vener.

 

In Vener's studio, the two used a professional 16.7 megapixel camera and took three photos of the same subject, zooming out each time. Then by cropping out the background they filled the same amount of frame in each shot. 

 

Using this technique, they were able to recreate three different resolutions, 7 megapixel, 10 and 16. The images were blown up to 16 by 24 inches, and placed on display in a public library. 

 

Pogue stood by with clipboard in hand and challenged people, yet again, to tell the differences between the photos.

 

Even with the more scientific approach, the results remained the same, this time with only 3 people out of 50 being able to see the differences.

 

Armed with new data, Pogue posted his findings yet again. This time, his findings were met with even more acceptance. 

 

Pogue was able to finally prove that the megapixel debate was truly nothing more than a "Megapixel Myth".  

 

So, next time you are looking for a new camera, remember, a good photo doesn't rely on the megapixel count, but rather on the ability to capture technically good photos.  (Source: Breaking the Myth of Megapixel, The New York Times, by David Pogue)

Polaroid is Back.....Sort of

The easiest and funniest Polaroid™ Image Maker

Remember the innovative days of Polaroid™ picture taking?

With the simple click of a button, film shot out the front of a camera. Then, in a matter of seconds, right before your eyes a picture was born!

However, with the onset of digital photography this Polaroid™ magic stopped years ago. That is until now!

With the technological wizardry of the 21st Century the innovative downloadable program Poladroid has restored the magic. Started in 2008, this application creates high resolution Polariod™-like pictures from your digitally scanned pictures or photos born digital using a digital camera. It is a free and easy to use download. The website and downloads continue to operate through a donation basis.

Once downloaded, all the user needs to do is select the digital images that they would like to convert, and then drag and drop the images into the Polaroid™ looking camera within the computer desktop. The new photo shoots out of the virtual camera and then it's just a matter of waiting for the image to develop. For all those impatient users, there is even the option of grabbing and shaking the virtual photo. (Whether the shaking actually helps the developing process is not known, but it gives an authenticity to the experience!)

Developing time takes about as long as the actual film process did when using the real Polaroid™ cameras of old. And, as the image slowly develops, you get to see your digital masterpiece appear a little at a time, just like with the original product.

The program allows 10 images to be converted per session, about the same limit as an actual Polaroid cartridge. The converted 400dpi images will take on the Polaroid™ color properties and even have the signature white photo paper as the picture border. Once developed, photos can be shared across the Internet, or users have the option to save and print them.

I Am Chicago - A Neighborhood Photo Project

I Am Chicago
(image source: I am Chicago)

Adam Novak, Sara Collins, and Andrew Zoechbauer set out to document the true flavor of Chicago through the power of photography. 

 

Armed with a portable studio setup that includes a truck trailer, a tripod and camera, and basic gray paper for their backdrop, these three photographers have been taking their setup to 30 different Chicago street corners.

 

The I Am Chicago Project mission is to tell the story of Chicago and its diversity through photographing the people that live, breathe, and walk the streets of the Windy City.

 

Through the course of this project, they have snapped photos of scowling, disgruntled meter maids, dog-walkers, homeless people, and even newlyweds. 

 

The idea is to capture each person in front of the same background, while just being themselves. 

 

People arrive to the make shift studio with a curiosity. Next thing they know, they are a part of this ongoing project. Each participant is given an 8 x 11.5 inch print of their studio session that has been made on the spot.

 

To make sure that the flavor of Chicago is captured, each person is greeted with the same question, "Are you Chicago?"

 

“The typical Chicagoan will stop in their tracks, put a hand on their hips and say, ‘I am Chicago! I’ve lived on this corner for this many years. This is my neighborhood,’ ” said Ms. Collins, who is directing the series. 

 

This project differs from most photo projects and artist concepts by removing the people from their everyday surroundings and  into a uniform setting. 

 

“We wanted to bring them out of the background of that corner,” Mr. Novak said. “We’re shooting in such high-quality, raw format that you see all these signifiers to a person’s lifestyle — shoes, fingernails, jewelry, hairstyle, the way they wear their clothes, the clothes they choose to wear, or the clothes handed to them when they leave Cook County Jail.” 

 

Outside of the financing that has been given from a grant, the project is being run out of the pockets of Novak, Collins, and Zoechbauer. 

 

Currently, the project is at a stalled point, due to a lack of finances. But, the hopes are that someone will see the value in what Novak and his crew are doing. 

 

The goal is that one day, this project will eventually turn into a book and an exhibition. Until that time, Novak, Collins, and Zoechbauer will continue to do what they have to keep the project going, even if it means soliciting for donations on their website.

 

With a click of the "Donate" button, anyone can help to fund the efforts. Or, if a monetary donation cannot be made, morale support can be given through their Facebook page. (Source: www.iamchicago.net)

Monday's Featured Picture Blog

Monday's Featured Picture Blog: Desert Dream
Nathan Cowlishaw

 Tony Adams - Vagabond Traveler

Friday's Video: The Google Art Project

Google's latest project that gives everyone the opportunity to visit some of the world's most famous art galleries, all from the comfort of home.

http://www.googleartproject.com

The Ten Commandments of Digital Organization - Part Two

Steps For Organizing Your Digital Library
(Image by Filomena Scalise)

[This is the 2nd of a two-part series about how to more easily organize your digital photo collection].

By following these simple tips outlined by Aimee Baldridge in her book, Organize Your Digital Life, your digital photo legacy can become more easily organized.

6. Delete bad photos right away.
If you wait too long after downloading your photos to delete the bad images, they may never get deleted.

7. Make DNG (Digital Negative) archives when downloading RAW images.
If you happen to be an advanced photographer that shoots RAW images, creating DNG copies to save as archived originals is an excellent way to be certain that your photos are preserved. Using software that automatically generates DNG as the RAW images are being downloaded, makes this step even easier.

8. Use an automatic backup system.
Your precious digital library should be backed up without fail. There are a number of options to choose from for automatic backup. Apple OS includes an easy to use backup process called Time Machine, and is available on all new Apple laptops or desktops. Not an Apple user? Software can be purchased that will automatically backup your files and photos. The most important thing is to use an automatic system, that way you will never forget to do it.

9. Keep your photo collection in one unified location.
Many people tend to have photos on cameras, computers, external hard drives, and various memory cards. When a collection starts to spread out like this between many devices, it becomes harder to maintain and organize. Choose one external hard drive or device to download all of your photos into. This will assure that every photo is accounted for.

10. Choose a date each year to straighten up your photo collection.
Mark a date on the calendar and keep that date to sit down and take a look at how your photo collection is shaping up. Are there stray photos sitting out in random folders? If so, move them to the appropriate folder. Also, this is a good time to weed out any bad photos or duplicates that got lost in the shuffle. And, any photos that need to be renamed can be caught and taken care of.

Source: Organize Your Digital Life, by Aimee Baldridge

The Ten Commandments of Digital Organization - Part One

Steps For Organizing Your Digital Library
(Image by Filomena Scalise)

Digital photo organization can quickly become a nightmare! However, by following these simple tips outlined by Aimee Baldridge in her book, Organize Your Digital Life, your digital photo legacy can become more easily organized.

1. Make sure the date and time on your digital camera are properly set.

This one simple step will make all the difference in the world when trying to organize your digital library chronologically. Most network computers and cell phones keep the time updated automatically. Double check the date and time to save you the hassle later on.

2. Never, never, never dump digital photos onto your computers desktop or into a random folder!!
This needs no explanation. Chaos begets chaos!

3. Keep things simple.
Over complicating your organizing with advanced editing will only become a frustration in the end. Many photo editing software packages offer rich and complicated editing options that can take photos to a new level. This option becomes great for the advanced or professional photographer. But, for the average snapshot photographer, there is no need to try to learn these complicated programs. It will only add time and confusion to the organizational process.

4. Rename old photos when you download or scan them.
The best time to rename an image from the standard default number is sooner than later! Make it a descriptive title that offers answers to the Who, What, When, and Where questions. When renaming photos, try to use a batch renaming process that is easy and uniform for all files. This way, it will only take a few seconds to rename a whole batch of photos when transferring them from camera to computer.

5. Add metadata to photos when you download or scan them.
This is a great time to add tags, keywords, or any other metadata that would apply to your photos, since the memories will still be fresh.

Tomorrow, we will look 5 additional organizational tips that can help you overcome digital photo organization nightmares. Source: Organize Your Digital Life, by Aimee Bald ridge

Scanned Photos and Digital Pictures - A Collage Art Project Just Waiting to Happen!

Photo Collages Made the Easy Way!

Do you have scanned pictures or photos born digital using a digital camera?

Looking for something cool to do with all of those digital photos?

Try photo collages. Better yet, try Shape Collage.

Back in 2007, programmer Vincent Cheung designed Shape Collage as a means to find something to do with the thousands of digital photos that he had amassed...

 Read More...

Monday's Featured Picture Blog

Featured Picture Blog: waking reality
By: tuhnik

sunny side up

Be sure to check out the the written entries for each photo. They are just as good!

Friday's Video: A Day In The Life - Archivist

According to the Society of American Archivists, the primary task of the archivist is to establish and maintain control, both physical and intellectual, over records of enduring value. Archivists select records, a process that requires an understanding of the historical context in which the records were created, the uses for which they were intended, and their relationships to other sources. 

This week's Friday Video gives a look inside the a day in the life of an archivist.