lonebearimages

Something seems a little hinky with the "My Account" page. I can't even see, much less update, the paragraph or so of photographer information/bio that I have. Is there something going on that the PN admins are aware of? Thanks! Chris

<p>I am fairly good about going through my portfolio about once a year and ruthlessly pruning photos. Part of my decision-making process is to ensure that what I retain in my collection represents my best efforts at subject, composition, exposure, and post-processing; and to keep my work relatively current. Frankly, I don't believe I have any images left in my collection from when I joined PN 4+ years ago. I also try and organize my photographs in some coherent fashion to make it easier for viewers who stop by for a visit. Having said all of this though, it does come down to each individual's personal decision in how best to showcase their photography here on PN. I agree with Stephen that a disorganized and monstrously huge collection of photographs is not likely to capture my attention either. Cheers! Chris</p>

<p>This is what I love about PN's forums. Google a location, and chances are quite good that there's a discussion thread out there. </p>

<p>I am headed to Tampa/St. Pete for 7-8 days in March 2010; and I am definitely gonna schlepp my landscape gear with me. I am hoping to spend some time photographing trees, saw-palmettos, sawgrass, and some of the unique Florida landscapes. I am hopeful I can find some cypress trees in some of the state parks in the area. I very much appreciate all of the information that all of you provided for Bob Prichard. This has given me some terrific ideas. Thanks! Cheers! Chris</p>

<p>If you cook, you are a cook (admittedly, you may be a bad cook);</p>

<p>If you read books, you're a reader; and</p>

<p>If you take photographs, I'd say that you are a photographer (and you may be a bad or good photographer at varying times, we all are). I guess it comes down to what you and your viewers actually think of your photography, doesn't it?</p>

<p>I have been here something over four years now. I go back and forth on postings for critiques + ratings; but, of late, pretty much settle for 'critique only.' Ratings don't tell me anything about my photography. Yes, ratings will land your photograph in the TRP gallery; but I'm here to learn. So, I've found if I post to the critique forum it tends to hang around for a few days, and I manage to garner enough comments to let me know if I've succeeded or not. This seems to work for me. I follow the work of a lot of photographers, and some follow my work; and, again, this seems to work. To the point of this discussion thread; frankly, I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer; it is what is. You either choose to participate in ratings and the critique forum, or you do not. For me, Photo.net is a terrific environment, and has resulted in a significant improvement of my photography. Cheers, and Happy Holidays to All! Chris</p>

<p>Josh, I use the Epson 2200, but am looking at upgrading to the 2880. I also use Ilford and Harmon papers; which I believe are the best going. But that's just me. Were I buying a printer today, I'd go for the Epson 2880. Cheers! Chris</p>

<p>I am in the camp of "Why ask the question?" Yes, Mallory said, "Because it is there..." but so what? Why do I like filet mignon on the grill? I just do. All in all, I am with Ian Cox-Leigh, I'll take a landscape at sunrise or sunset anytime, or a cat sitting on a chair, or a cow in a field. Why? Because it is what I like. Enough pontificating, enough said. Cheers! Chris</p>

Christal, the referral to lynda.com is a good one; and any book by Scott Kelby is worth buying too. There is an advantage to having a book too; as you can have it out while you tinker with the image. It is a bit more cimbersome trying to go back and forth between a video and the photo you are working on. Both are worthwhile. If you have not yet purchased CS3, don't. If you are going to buy Photoshop Custom Suites, just go ahead and spend the money and get CS4. It has some really nice features over CS3. I would also give a lot of consideration to spending a $100 and joining the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. They have tons of great info on their website, including zillions of superb video tutorials, and you get Photoshop User magazine. I have found that NAPP is one of the better things I've done for my photography. Cheers! Chris

Christal, it typically can take 24-hours for the PN servers to get it all right. I still sometimes have to reset my browser when looking at the thumbnail version in its folder; and sometimes you'll have to reset your browser when you open up the thumb, or enlarge it. A little quirky, but it does eventually get there. Cheers! Chris

I think Ian Cox-Leigh got it about right. I never take offense. First of all, I have a 'nice,' but not great dSLR. Second, the camera and gear I now have certainly has allowed me to take much better photographs than anything I ever took with the little P&S cameras or the old 35mm SLR I had eons ago. Finally, I genuinely believe that anyone who tells you this is really trying to give you a compliment; so, smile and accept it. Much of the time, they just don't know how to properly convey their admiration for your photography, and they might actually believe that the camera makes a difference (Guess what? It does ;>) Glen Rasmussen's Rule No. 2 is applicable here (i.e., "It is all small stuff"), so don't sweat it! Cheers! Chris

Much of this entire thread has been very interesting reading; and I believe that Felix' last paragraph just above really gets to the point. That is, that Ansel Adams had previsualized the image from start to finish before he opened the shutter; and all of his efforts from composition, exposure, developing, and printing were focused on producing that previsualized image.

 

I do try and use the previsualization concepts espoused in "The Negative" and apply the principles of the Zone System in my photography. These "concepts" or "principles" probably guide and influence more than direct my field methods and processes. In answer to Ton's question; yes, I am still a student of the Zone System and the technique of previsualization. I am in a teacher/mentoring relationship with Leo Burkey (also a PN member); and Leo has graciously spent many, many hours in the field working with me on applying the Zone System, understanding the camera's metering, and the proper use of a one-degree spot meter. I can flat-out say that all of this study and on-the-job training has made a difference in how I see and photograph the world around me, and in how I post-process my digital imagery in PS.

 

Also, Ton mentioned Minor White; but a couple of others worth mentioning are the work of Clyde Butcher and John Sexton. For those interested in "large" works of black and white, do have a good look at Clyde Butcher's photography.

 

Good topic, Ton; and I look forward to following this thread along its way. Cheers! Chris

Josh, et al., very, very cool idea! I noticed that something was up as I saw a couple of my postings that I had put up last night. This will benefit those who post for 'Critique Only.' Keep up the good work, and thanks! Chris

Jet, I love my E-500; it has been a great camera to get me back in the photography game again. As was mentioned above, while the cameras are good, the glass is superb. I really don't use the kit lenses much at all; but use the heck out of the better Zuiko glass; i.e., the 14-54mm is on the front of the camera at least 95% of the time. My only complaint is the size of the viewfinder, but it is tolerable at least. I am ready to move up to the E-3 though. Cheers! Chris

Well, Stephen, as you know I was born and raised in Montana; and while it has a tremendous variety of landscape opportunities, it also has winter. Enough said, from my perspective. So, to answer your question; it is my humble opinion that the Golden State has it all: coasts, foothills, several types of deserts, coastal redwood forest, giant sequoias, and the High Sierras. I honestly believe a person could spend several lifetimes and not adequately photograph the landscapes offered up in this state. Come down for a visit, Stephen; Susan and I would be delighted to have you here, and you and I could go out find some new spots together! Cheers! Chris

Steve, for my landscape work I use a 1-degree Pentax digital spotmeter. Cheers! Chris

Tyler-

 

Hey Doc, howyadoin? All in all, you'll find that it really hasn't changed that much; if anything it has gotten a lot better. PN has spiffed up the site with a lot of new and kinda cool features and gadgets. Pretty much the same crowd is here too. I think Amber has a point; the weather is good and people are out shooting to build up for the long cold winter nights when all you can do is post-processing. Anyhow, stick around and start posting; you'll get tired of us soon enough. Sounds like your residency is keeping you busy. Good to hear from you, Amigo! Catch You on the Trail! Chris

Why...Ahhh...No, I didn't...Very effectively hidden...and, uhh, thanks for turning it on to me... Maybe, my posting ought to be moved over there too... ;>) Chris

Bob, thanks very much for that affirmation. I have kinda run through all of the angles on my side, and I just couldn't find anything wrong here. I am not grousing about it; I just wondered if it was me alone that was experiencing this. Anyhow, I certainly understand that as it is still beta there are likely to be bugs and hiccups. I think it is very cool that we get to use it in this stage anyway. Again, Bob, thanks for the update. Cheers! Chris

I want to add that I have tried logging in from two different ISPs and machines too; with exactly the same result. I am able to access any other URL I have attempted to visit. It is really a mystery to me; particularly after everything seemed to be working so well yesterday afternoon. Again, thanks for any help/ideas. Cheers! Chris

Josh:

 

I am having a devil of a time getting to the Image Pro login page. Clicking on the link on my workspace page ends

up with, after several minutes, a nearly blank page with "502 Proxy Error" and "The proxy server received an invalid

response from an upstream server. The proxy server could not handle the request GET /pbp/public/login.ipro.

 

Reason: Error reading from remote server"

 

Any ideas? Yesterday I was able to load images from PN portfolio into my Image Pro site

(http://lonebearimages.photography.com); but last night and all day today I have been unable to even get to the login

page.

 

Thanks, in advance, for any help you are able to provide. Cheers! Chris

I assume you shoot your images in the Olympus raw format? I have had the Olympus Evolt E-500 for three+ years; and while the images straight out of the camera may be a little flat and blase; after a turn in Adobe's Bridge and then PS CS3, I am usually able to make an image I like. I do not use any of the camera modes other than Manual, Aperture, and Shutter priorities. I'd ditch the kit 14-45mm lens asap, and acquire the Zuiko 14-54mm, it is terrific glass! Any image from a dSLR is going to need a certain amount of sharpening prior to finishing the image. Stay with the Oly for a bit; it is a good camera. You just need to explore its ups and downs. I hope this helps. Cheers! Chris

Note to J.- I live in SoCal (Santa Clarita) and am always out and about shooting landscapes. I normally spend the majority of my time up around the Tehachapis (south and east of Bakersfield), the Carrizo Plain, and then up along U.S. 395 and the eastern Sierra. In the fall, winter, and spring I hit the deserts hard (i.e., Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Trona Pinnacles, Mojave Preserve, etc.). For landscape locations in our area have a look at my portfolio. I'm always up for company too; as you know landscape photography tends to be a pretty solitary affair and I do like the company. Cheers! Chris

I have had the largest Flashpoint tripod for several months; and it performs like a trooper. I use it constantly in my landscape photography; and walk around in the field at a shooting location with the legs extended sometimes, and it is very sturdy. I bought a good ballhead for it; and not the one that Adorama advertises with it. I am 6'3" and like that I can get the camera up pretty high and keep it rock-steady, and save my back a bit of wear and tear. The tripod comes with an excellent padded case that is a breeze to strap onto a backpack for longer forays into the field away from roads. All in all, I am very satisfied with this tripod. I have closely compared it a good Gitzo and its hard to see any substantive structural differences. Anyway, my two cents. Cheers! Chris

Josh:

 

I kind of browsed about the forum, and think I have found my answer; i.e., that the ImagePRO beta site is not 'all

there' yet. I was able to add a bio and add one photograph. Since then, I cannot add any more photos. Sounds like

the best advice is to sit tight and wait for the release of the next version in 2-3 weeks. Does this eesentially jibe with

what you are telling others? FYI, my ImagePRO URL is http://lonebearimages.photography.com. Anyway, 'kudos'

to all of you on the improvements to PN and the addition of ImagePRO; I am having a lot of fun here these days. You

guys are doing a great job! Cheers! Chris

Anything by Lorenna McKinnett, Arvo Part, Elgar's Enigma Variations, Bach's B-Minor Mass. I am always wearing an iPod while post-processing. I think it annoys my wife, but comforts me greatly ;>) Cheers! Chris