And the Winner is?...........

Craig Thoburn - Westcott Warrior

Congratulations to my friend Craig Thoburn for his "Westcott Warrior" image being selected as the top prize winner in Westcott's recent "Photo Shop World" photo contest on Flickr. I always felt his skill with a camera and Photo Shop is nothing short of amazing, guess the judges felt the same . Again my heart felt congratulations to Craig on this honor.

About the iPad, Netfix and crackers.

iPad's, Netflix and Crackers. What does that have to do with anything?
Last Thursday Craig, a good friend and incredibly talented photographer lent me his older iPad (V1) for a few days. Of course the official task was to check out, and troubleshoot iPad specific WordPress plugin i've installed over at the Central Maryland Photographers' Guild website. Which was done but sadly most of it's use can be categorized as:

Laying in bed, watching documentaries on Netflix, while my hands are exploring the inside of a not doctor approved, box of crackers .

Of course not all the time was spent on Netflix, I played around with apps mirrored over from my iPhone. (Did I mention I love apps?) Time was spent viewing some training vids on Lynda,com, and maybe even a little "Angry Birds" time was logged.

While all but one of the iPod touch/iPhone apps worked on the iPad, some were standouts
The Audubon app was much better on a bigger screen, MovieSlate likewise. The image slideshows of myHDR's from the Air and Space Museumwere breathtaking, as good or better as portrayed. The Flickr experience was much better than on the smaller devices, much....much better.
As I user the iPod Touch/IPhone apps a lot and is painfully aware of the small screen limitations, I'm not surprised how much I enjoyed the iPad experience overall.
But as in many fairy tails.. this one had to end on a sad note....... Mainly I have to package it up so as to give back tomorrow, and the finances just wouldn't support a iPod purchase in the near term. Guess I'm just left with the Crackers box and the need for a winning lottery ticket for the time being.

Smithsonian Air & Space in HDR - Update

Earlier this week while in Northern Virginia for some Lean Six Sigma Project Management training, I had an opportunity for a short, no cost, visit to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center located off Dulles Air Port in Chantilly.

Let me preface, The Short because we finished class at 4 and while the Center is only about 3/4 of mile away, it closes at 5:30. Free, because the normal $15.00 parking fee is waved after 4 PM. As my cameras and gear ( sorry monopods only) were already packed in the car, I made a mad dash over to the UHC. On the way over I decided tho shoot the entire visit with bracketed exposure so I could make HDR images if warranted. And as it turned out, in the hour or so I was in the Museum there was time for about 100 bracketed shots, of which many were turned into HDR images with NIK Software HDR EFEX Pro , my new HRD favorite, which allows a almost unlimited range of styles and adjustments pre image set.

Not to be forgotten was an attempt at a B&W HDR image

The wealth of subject, just sitting or hanging around.............. make this place a must visit for all in the area... 15 buck a car parking on not.

4/6/2011 More images from another quick visit last week....

View the Flickr Set with images from both Visits

DSLR Video, the shape of things to come..

One item to address before tonight entry.
1. Same great taste but less filling
I've decided to combine the fdphotovideo &dougmillerphotos blogs to reduce my burden. Hopefully this will result in a more consistence posting pattern. As I'd like to start posting several times a week it sounds good right now but only time will tell for sure.

2. DSLR Video the voice that changed the media.
Attended a Penn Camera HD-DSLR Filmmaking training session this weekend led by Tom Sullivan from Gravity Media. Tom's been professional photographer and videographer for over 20 years with a very impressive body of work, and speaks from a wealth of real world, eyes on, knowledge. His message is relativity simple. DLSR HD video is sweeping the industry. Many TV show, parts of some movies and 60% of all commercials are now being shot with Canon 5DMII's. Up from 0% a few years ago. And it's really all about costs, in the industry a $2500 camera, $2000 lens, and a #2500 rig are still almost throwaway items, considering the super high production costs only a very few years ago. Lower equipment costs are also allowing more small production companies to output quality work so they can throw their collective hats into the ring. With the erosion of the mid to low cost, Wedding Photography Business, one of the bright points is the growing demand for quality videos telling the Bride & Groom's story. Which are more and more likely to be shot on DSLRs, by artists who know how to get that film like results, that brides love. The prize will go to those who are quickest to embrace these new technologies and techniques.

Polar Bear Plunge 2011

On Saturday Jan 29th I was part of the media shooting at The Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge @ Sandy Point State Park benefiting the Maryland Special Olympics. An amazing, incredible, almost indescribable, social event as some 12 thousand people plunged into the Chesapeake Bay to benefit the Special Olympics of Maryland
Local Radio Morning Hosts Amelia & Josh Spiegil , take an early morning plunge in the chilly 33d water of Sandy Point State Park in support of the "Super Plungers" and MD Special Olympics

Seconds before the official start of 1 PM plunge, when anticipation is transformed into action.

action

Plunge On!

Don't be a Chicken Jump in.

Yes it was cold but the unbridled dedication of the plungers kept us all warm.
Thanks to all who came and supported this fine event.

Cold as Ice.. and not outdoors.

While working to complete a project due this week it has become evident the aperture library contain all the 2000-2008 projects, versions, keywords, locations. are located on the failed Drobo. Sure I have all the images stored on other drives, but realizing not having that Aperture library, and from web searches, not really not expecting Drobo to proved any real support that will restore the data contained, sends a cold chill down my spine.. My mood is now as fowl as the weather outside. Gone Gone Gone,

Welcome 2011. Out with the old, In with the new.

Happy New Year to Every One. My wish is that peace and prosperity rein supreme.

Chinese (Cantonese)
Gung hay fat choy (a New Year greeting meaning, "May you become prosperous.")
Sun nien fai lok (meaning, "Happy new year")
Chinese (Mandarin)
Xin nian yu kuai
Danish
Godt Nytår
Dutch
Gelukkig nieuwjaar
Farsi
Aide shoma mobarak
French
Bonne année
Gaelic
Aith-bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit
German
Gutes Neues Jahr
Greek
Kali hronia

Hawaiian
Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew
Shanah tovah
Hmong
Nyob zoo xyoo tshiab
Hungarian
Boldog új évet
Indonesian
Selamat Tahun Baru
Italian
Buon Capo d'Anno
Japanese
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu
Norwegian
Godt Nyttår
Pilipino (Tagalog)
Maligayang Bagong Taon
Polish
Szczesliwego Nowego roku
Portuguese
Feliz ano novo
Romanian
La Multi Ani
Russian
S Novym Godom
Spanish
Feliz Año Nuevo
Sundanese
Wilujeng Tahun Baru
Swedish
Gott Nytt År
Turkish
Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Welsh
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Yiddish
Gut Yor