efrain_sain3

Well, I just created a post on this article and did not realize this one already existed. The couple came and visited me right after this happened. I wanted to help them but they ended up getting a court-appointerd attorney about a week later.

At least the state dropped the charges. Now they are dealing with CPS, who does not have the constitutional restrictions that the prosecuting arm of the government has because their proceedings are not considered criminal.

I agree that this is ridiculous. However, I still feel that we have a great legal system. Again, the State did drop the charges. Any country has problems with their legal system. For example, for the most part, we do not have the insidious institutional problems of corruption that plague many other countries. Yes, money probably has some effect on this case. However, I think our puritanical bent is a bigger factor. I know that in another country that I have lived in, the right size bribe to the right person would have also solved this issue.

This

<a

href="http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/032603dnmetbbonnet

s.9ca4b.html">Dallas Morning News article</a> talks about upcoming

wildflowers in Texas.

Wyatt

Your site looks good. Nice clean interface. Some great shots.

I don�t care for having to close the image window to then open another. Not a big thing, but if you had navigation within the image window, or if clicking on another thumbnail would display the next photo in the same window, I think it would be an easier interface. I suggest that, but I would have to study how to do that, so maybe I am not qualified to suggest such a thing.

I have to disagree with Shun about adding exposure and focal length info. I find that irrelevant to my enjoying good photography. Even as a photographer, I find that type of info rarely interesting or helpful. No offense Shun.

Look forward to seeing your site as it grows.

One minor point is the classification of images. Under travel, you have Northern and Western outdoor places of N. America and then, I think, some Thailand. For some reason, Thailand seems out of place. Kind of like, which photo does not belong in this group? Everything on your site, I think, is northern North America except for a couple of Thailand shots. While all the places may be part of your travels, perhaps Thailand would warrant its own category based on its distinctiveness. Of course, I do not know what other images you plan on adding in what categories. Well, that is a very minor point.

Nice site.

James

"Unfortunately, the folder location for the exported jpegs is embedded in the action"

Well it is not permamently embedded. As mentioned in my previous message, you can change the folder by rerecording that particular part of the action. I perhaps wasn't clear enough.

James

You can change what folder it will be saved to by highlighting the command that tells it to save in a certain folder and then going to the menu for the actions dialogue box and pressing "record again." Then save the file in the new folder.

Ellis

Do you need to think in inches and ppi if it is just for web? I usually resize in terms of pixel dimensions if it is just for web stuff. It seems a more direct way of measurement. Let me know, however, if the other method helps in your workflow. Maybe I should try thinking in those terms also.

James, when you finish resizing an image you can press control, alt, 0 to see the actual size it will appear on the montor on a web site (actual pixel size).

I am not sure if there is a pre-packaged action for exporting using the save for web process but you can record your own action. You can go to the dialogue box for actions and press on the upper arrow on the right side (PC) to access a menu of commands. New Action is the command you want.

I created a "jpeg resize" action that first resizes the image, converts to lab mode, picks the lightness channel, applies USM (unsharp mask), converts back to rgb, then exports and saves. I think a copyright is added after the resize.

Then any action can be automated. (There may be more elegant or efficient ways of doing this since I kind of learned this on my own.)

Wouldn't the difference between f3.5 and f4 be a half-stop? Understanding the true difference between these apertures may help you make a better decision.

FWIW, baby pix and street photography could all benefit from fast apertures because of the opportunity to shoot without flash. Even travel photos can benefit from speedy lenses. But I also shoot other stuff that needs fast lenses, so I tend to value a 2.8 more highly than others.

I believe I read an article on Adriel Heisey using a 645N nowadays from his ultralight. Pentax also used his aerial stuff for some ads for this camera.

Sorry, cannot contribute on the Mamiya question.

I agree with Andrew. The narrow DOF is more my problem. The <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/216127">following<a/a> is with the 645N and the FA 120mm. I think I am too low to use my tripod here, so it is handheld. However, as I mentioned in another post, the DOF can give one cool looking backgrounds.

<p>

I forget about there not being any MLU because it does not seem to be an issue.

The <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/216094&size=md">following</a> is an example of this lens. I am discovering that the narrow DOF of MF is a blessing and a curse. It is great for creating painterly backgrounds but requires very good technique to make the complete subject in focus.

<p>

I still think it is a great lens, but will lean towards my 35mm for a lot of the macro stuff. If you don't want really close macro photography it is great.

I just got this lens to add to my basic 645N system with the 75 2.8 lens. I haven't used the 150, so I cannot compare. However, I can tell you this lens is fun to use. I do not normally shoot macro stuff, but have shot some closeups of wildflowers with it. It works great. For medium format, the lens focuses quickly. Its ergonomics are good, as switching from autofocus to manual and then focusing manually is one smooth motion.

If you like this focal length for portraits, then you should like this lens. I guess in 35mm terms it is equiv. to 80mm.

If you want a macro, get this glass. If, however, you need speed, I would look at the 150. The 150 would give you more of a 100mm perspecive in 35mm language. (Sorry, since I started out in 35mm, I still have to think in those terms. It is like my mother who speaks English, but still counts in Spanish.)

As an extra note, I am really enjoying the 645N camera system. The DOF and ML are perfectly placed on the camera. The spot meter and the multi-segment focus meter are very accurate. I also shoot EOS and am very pleased with the quality of images from the Pentax. I certainly appreciate the price of its lenses in comparson to other MF systems, esp. auto-focus.

If I get a chance to scan some images, I will add them to this thread.

David

Quickly perusing the thread, I see you have some good suggestions. I would just like to add that, if you have such a store available, take all your stuff and see what backpack works best. Backpacks are one of the few things I have not bought online because I like to try them out with my intended equipment. After the store has let me play with their gear in such a manner, I feel obligated to buy it from them. If I am paying a higher price, it is worth it to me to know the feel of the bag or backpack.

Jeez, no "girlie-man" here, lugging all that stuff for 15 miles.

Dance Ink was a magazine that, during its short six-year life (1990-96), shone brightly with some of the best photography of modern dance of that time. The layout and design of the magazine was innovative and superb. This book presents some of the best of the Dance Ink images in a lush large soft cover publication (the dimensions from amazon.com are 0.83 x 12.14 x 10.08, 192 pages). All the photographs are black and white duotones, although some of the layouts use color and the photos of Paul Taylor have a blue tint. The layout is very pleasing to the eye. (e.g., if you open the book about halfway, you will find two black glossy pages with only the word Intermission printed in white on the right hand page)

The book also contains essays on some of the giants of dance, like Taylor, Mark Morris, and Twyla Tharp. These are incisive, inspiring essays that complement the photos of subjects well.

Some of the photographers are Andrew Eccles, Annie Leibovitz, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Joanne Savio, Josef Astor, Marcia Lippman, and Alice Garick.

All the photos are staged shots, shots of rehearsals or portraits. I do not think there are any performance or dress performance photos.

If you love dance, especially contemporary dance, this is a wonderful book. It is a visual delight. As a photographer who photographs dance companies, I find this book an inspiration.

This is a review of the 1998 edition (the latest edition at this point).

This is an excellent book if you are using a point and shoot camera and are either new to photography or are a casual photographer and want to improve your skills. I first got into photography and bought a Rollei 90 a year and a half ago. This book was immensely helpful. Of course, I studied it until I had memorized whole sections.

I have become a very serious photographer during the ensuing time, now use SLR�s and all sorts of other gear, and have some of my work used by different performance companies in their promotional materials. However, as I peruse through the book now, I find every page has good solid advice that I can and still use. Some examples are: if you are shooting sports, look for what happens off the field or after the play � one may find more human drama in those places; a chapter on analyzing prints gone wrong, if it is the photofinisher�s fault, and how to correct them; advice to try a myriad of angles (from lying on the ground to getting up on a perch) in framing your subject, and the constant encouragement to shoot a lot of film.

Yes, these are the basics that I am sure a majority of photo.net readers know. Nevertheless, if you are new to the discipline of photography this book is an excellent introduction. Russell Hart writes clearly and provides excellent, very apt photos to demonstrate his points. The book covers a lot in its 404 pages.

This is not an intro into using an SLR, however. There is a very heavy emphasis on point and shoots. He even covers APS well. However, because he addresses point and shoots so thoroughly, I was able to wring out better photos despite the limitations of this type of camera.

(I just noticed that Russell recommends photo.net as one of the top ten web sites on photography in one of his top ten lists. Turnabout is fair play.)