Is Film Dead?

Maybe not. Brian is a film student, from Chicago, who was in Laguna Beach for spring break with a couple of friends. One of his friends, not pictured, was using an instant camera. Fuji still makes the instant film. Brian wasn't using any form of digital. His camera is a real live motion picture film camera. It uses Super 16 format film. Super 16 is 16mm film with the sprockets eliminated on one side enabling wide format versus 16mm's square format.

Brian stated he was going up to LA on Sunday to have his film processed. The problem with film is not it's availability but getting it processed. Still photographers have this problem. Sure you can go to some quickie processor but you DO get what you pay for.

I was spending $12 per 36 exposure roll of Fujichrome. I took the film into an Irvine, CA film processor, who is one of the best around, and could get a 2 hour turnaround if needed. I was dropping off and picking up film almost everyday. The drive was one hour total and gasoline was and still is expensive.

Scanning the film into digital formal was another time consuming chore. Yes it got to be a chore because I really wanted to be out doing photography.

I finally concluded that it was getting to expensive to stay with film and I went with digital. Never looked back.

The process of going to a digital camera was made easier because I had already been using everything else associated with digital photography.

When all is said and done I love the freedom that digital gives you. I can carry my photo-lab, my laptop computer, everywhere I go if need be. Take a time sensitive photo and 10 minutes later it's on the web. That requirement hasn't been needed often but I'm still prepared for emergencies.

There's only one problem I do miss working in the darkroom and making black and white prints. It's still magic for me to see the picture slowly show when the print is in the developer. Magic.

There is no magic to digital.

Most Interesting Bookstores Of The World

This link combines two of my favorite activities: Photography and bookstores. Check it out. You will not be disappointed.

You Stay, I'll See You Back At The Hotel

Some would call it a curse. I say it's a good curse, a very good curse. Here's what David Burnett had to say about the good curse. It's soooo true.

In the digital photography age, we sometimes forget that great pictures are usually made by hard working, dedicated photographers who already see the world with a vision far apart from the rest of society. There is no question that few things are more tedious than for a non-photographer (you could insert "wife" or "daughter" here) to walk around any ole place with someone who can't help looking at the scene around them as if it were a photo op arranged by God and to be discovered on that stroll. We stop, we squint as we try and compose, we halt for a second to see if the light is right, if the shadow falls in the grooviest place. It's not exactly a simple meander, but one accented by all kinds of stops and starts, and often punctuated by "you can stay if you want, I'll see you back at the hotel."

David and his wife, Iris, have a blog called: We're Just Sayin. No photos - yet - but we do enjoy the conversations. Check it out for yourself.

David's quote is from this posting.

So You Want To Be A Professional Photographer

Be prepared to suffer.

Be prepared to spend years learning your craft.

Be prepared to hear "NO."

John Camp writting at The Online Photographer saids it very well.

Be prepared.

Good Morning

An OOPS For Epson

Epson sent an e-mail about a clearence sale. Clicked on the link and got garbage.

So I tried going to epson.com and once I selected USA up popped this error message.

IM Communication Error
error code = 200

Go figure. Epson isn't some small time outfit so what's up? You think they would test this stuff unless the entire site has been hit.

Latest News: The Epson site is now undergoing maintenance. I wonder why?

Where Is The Rest Of Her?

More of that woman-made stuff that shows up on our beaches after a storm.

So where is the rest of the hot babe that was wearing these glasses?

Is It Art Or Just A Tennis Ball On The Beach?

I've either been a wanta' be photographer, an amateur photographer, or a professional photographer all my life. From first breath. I mention this because I have also never considered photography an art. Some do and that's fine. I don't. That being said I have made some photographs that explain or show nothing of value and therefore I call it art.

So is the tennis ball on the beach nothing of value, therefore art, or is it part of a photoessay showing man-made objects where they don't belong? You and I will have to wait to see what develops.

Now you have to ask yourself: "Was this post necessary?" Probably not.

Post Note

The Inn With A View

Since the movie 'The Bucket List' I've though about what I would put on my list. One would be a night at the Madonna Inn. Ever since I was at Cal Poly in the 60's I've wanted to stay at least one night at this Inn.

As you can see from the photo above there were some great views at the Inn. I believe this ranch was part of the Madonna family properties.

Every room is different. My is called the The Traveler's Yacht. It could be called the Red Door. This was one crazy room and it was a delight to stay two nights in it.

Why was the room so crazy? Take a look for yourselves.

LIFE Goes To Google

LIFE Photo Archive Available On Google Image Search. This should be big news. Is it? I think it is. See for yourself.

The link to the Google anouncement at their offical blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/life-photo-archive-available-on-google.html

Or just go directly to the archive.

The link to the photos: http://images.google.com/hosted/life

Here's a tip from Google's blog: Add "source:life" to any Google image search and search only the LIFE photo archive.

An example: wwii source:life

In the end this is all about money. You have the option of purchasing a digital print of the photo.

A Quote I Like To Live By But Probably Fail At Some Level

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Trestles Beach

The battle continues. Not in Iraq. Not in Washington DC. No the battle continues over a tollway going through another park. This isn't the first time a highway has encroached a park. It's against California state law but they do it anyway.

They did it to Griffith Park in LA.

They did it to Buena Vista Park in Burbank.

Now they want to do it in San Onofre State Park.

Trestles Beach is within San Onofre State Park. It's in danger. No it is doomed. If McCain wins it is lost forever.

Dana Point Marina

Dana Point marina. This south county make-work project of the 70s ruined one of the great surfer spots in southern California for both board and body surfers.

I have poor balance because of an inner ear infection when I was in grade school but I could still body surf. Two or three weekends in the summer we would cruise down from Newport Beach and spend a very long day surfing at Dana Point. This was back in the early 60s so my memory is not all that clear but I believe where I'm standing in the first photo we, both board and body surfers, would catch a wave. They lasted forever, especially for body surfers like myself. I loved it. Unlike the Newport Beach wedge the waves here were manageable and safe.

It's all gone now never to return.

Now they are in the process of destorying the last remnant of the past as they plaster the bluff you see in the background of the first picture with over-priced homes for the rich. What a waste.

San Juan Capistrano Library

Interesting library. I was living in SJC when they selected this design and built it. Looks nice from the outside but once you get inside you realize that it is a very small building. I mean like a shoe box. The entrace alone feels like a cave.

The entire section for adults could fit in the garage of most of the big homes in the city. And yet the children's section feels larger and very comfortable though I think the adult section is larger. Go figure.

The reason this library got built in the first place was because of who designed it. The architect was Michael Graves. I really believe they selected his design because it was a Michael Graves.

You really have to visit the library if you ever get down to south Orange County, California. In the case of this library I believe preception conquered reality.

Grand Prize Winner Uses Amateur DSLR

That's right an amateur DSLR camera took the best of show at the LA Times photo contest. The camera of choice is the Nikon D40X. Anytime I see an article about this camera they call it an entry level DSLR or amateur camera. Only problem with this argument is it just ain't true. No camera is an entry level or professional camera. Only the person USING any camera can be called amateur or pro. And now with NO one making any real money as a photographer it's hard to tell who is the amateur or pro except by the quality of the work produced. Funny thing this really has been the only way period.

Fatter and Fatter and Fattter and . . .

Digital cameras are getting bigger and fatter with every new model. Nikon's new D700 weights 995 g (2.19 lbs,) Sony's new alpha 900 weights 895 g (1.97 lbs) and Canon's just released 50D comes in at 822 g (1.8 lbs.) That's the body only. Now add a lens to each of these over-weight giants and on average you add another lb to the system. So that would be 2.5 lbs to 3.2 lbs of brick around your neck.

Note: Nikon D700 weight is without the battery. At 2+ pounds what difference will a battery make?

When I was young (24) and serving in the Marines in Vietnam I carried two Nikon F with a 28mm and 35mm lenes. The camera straps were those narrow things that had the habit of cutting off blood to the brain. I know -- What brain? I would wear a towel around my neck to protect myself from those nasty straps.

Today I carry one camera with a 18mm to 70mm lens. The camera is a Nikon D40X. This system comes in at 936 g (2.1 lbs.) When I'm out with the camera it could be several hours with it hanging from my neck. You can't be ready to take photos if you have the camera over your shoulder or worse in the bag. It's always around the neck with the camera on and the zoom set to 26mm. Worse case I can just point and shoot. Also a good camera strap helps. The one supplied with the camera works just fine.

This systems big advantage is it's weight. If I was using one of these new fatties I just couldn't work the way I do. Walking around looking for opportunities.

Driving around in the car and then stopping when you see a photo opportunity is not an option. Tripods -- never happen. I do keep a tripod and a step ladder in the trunk of the car but they are rarely used. I will say that the step ladder is a great tool. All photographers should get one. Many times I have had to get photos from over construction fences and that old step ladder saved the day.

The replacement for the Nikon D40X is the D60. The D60 (495g) with battery (51g) and 16mm - 85mm lens (485g) comes to 1031 g or 2.27 lbs. Fatter and fatter.

When I was in Vietnam I was young and full of pep. Now I'm 64 and full of shit.

Good Thing He's Young

He was photographing a couple standing in front of the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Tower. It's a landmark here in Laguna and many couples have their picture taken in front or rear I guess. I have assisted many couples in taking a picture of them using their camera. I haven't tried his technique yet but maybe we will. Though it would take me a while to get into that position and even longer to get out of it.

Sitemeter Says The Problem Is OUR Fault

Here is one of the reasons Sitemeter gave for the crash of their code:

1 - IE Users viewing pages - There was a problem with users who placed their SiteMeter tracking code outside of their HTML Body Tag. Because of the changes we made this created a failure for visitors viewing sites using Internet Explorer 7.
This is horse shit. On my blogs AND my web site the code is ENTIRELY inside the body tags (or was.) So if they believe this then they are saying that we caused our own headaches. To hell with you Sitemeter. Stop blaming others for your failures.

Your biggest failure was installing new code and then walking away not knowing if the code would work or not. It didn't and it took you 12 to 18 hours to fix it. Shame on you.

Here's the page where they stick it to the users of their code.

When you go to this page you will notice that they turned comments OFF. They know no one is happy with them right now or like me agree with the cause of the failure.

Update: August 5, 2008. Sitemeter has removed the above statement at their blog and replaced it with a more detailed explanation of their crash. It's honest and factual. It doesn't blame the users but themselves. I love to say it: I told you so!

Sitemeter Crashes Web Pages

If you use Sitemeter to keep track of your visitors it may be crashing your site. I use Windows XP with the absolute latest updates and Internet Explorer. Sometime this afternoon (August 1, 2008) any web page that had Sitemeter would crash. Be aware. I can't say what the cause is and I can't get to the Sitemeter web site because it's pages also crash. Is it Sitemeter? Is it Internet Explorer? Is it Windows XP? I have no idea. So far only one web site that uses Sitemeter will load into my web browser and that is the digitaljournalist.org site. Why they don't crash and every other Sitemeter site does is the big question.