A couple of years ago I bought a fairly sophisticated digital camera (Canon 30D) and decided I would try my hand at creating a still life image that would tell a story. This particular image is titled War Stories. I hope it conveys that message.
Monday, February 22, 2010
A Nice Surprise
I'd like to share a really exciting and satisfying experience I had today. Stopping by my condo's mail room, I opened my box to find the usual assortment of junk mail piled on top of the latest copy of Mig Sweep, the magazine of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. Thumbing through the mail, I finally noticed the magazine's cover photo. A couple of microseconds elapsed before I recognized it, and then realized the editor had chosen a photo I had submitted for the cover. Wow! My first magazine cover! What a high!
A couple of years ago I bought a fairly sophisticated digital camera (Canon 30D) and decided I would try my hand at creating a still life image that would tell a story. This particular image is titled War Stories. I hope it conveys that message.
A couple of years ago I bought a fairly sophisticated digital camera (Canon 30D) and decided I would try my hand at creating a still life image that would tell a story. This particular image is titled War Stories. I hope it conveys that message.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Celebrity Sighting
Today I was in the gym at Christ Church and saw former Chicago Bulls star Scotty Pippen watching his young son and a lot of other kids playing basketball. They were participating in our church's "Upward Basketball" program. He is really, really tall...especially when he is standing next to a five-year-old!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A Wad of Air
A wad of air
unlike a wad
of gum stuck
under a desk
no -
more ethereal
open to opinion
to verse
to knowing...
Audrey Streetman
May 14, 2009
I wish to thank my dear friend, Audrey, for allowing me to post two of her
beautiful poems, Artificial Roses and A Wad of Air, on Literary Nuggets.
It is pretty obvious why she is one of my all-time favorite writers. Hopefully,
she will at some point allow me to post a snippet from her memoir which
may possibly be completed and published before the end of 2010.
unlike a wad
of gum stuck
under a desk
no -
more ethereal
open to opinion
to verse
to knowing...
Audrey Streetman
May 14, 2009
I wish to thank my dear friend, Audrey, for allowing me to post two of her
beautiful poems, Artificial Roses and A Wad of Air, on Literary Nuggets.
It is pretty obvious why she is one of my all-time favorite writers. Hopefully,
she will at some point allow me to post a snippet from her memoir which
may possibly be completed and published before the end of 2010.
Monday, February 15, 2010
On the Bright Side...
Today, while picking up USDA products for Blessings Food Pantry from the Feeding South Florida food bank, I observed a volunteer from another church bang his shin and trip over a low, flatbed pushcart.
"Man, that must really hurt!" I offered.
"Normally it would," he replied as he lifted his pant leg, "but luckily it was my titanium leg."
Once again, I am reminded that if you look hard enough, there is always something positive in every situation.
"Man, that must really hurt!" I offered.
"Normally it would," he replied as he lifted his pant leg, "but luckily it was my titanium leg."
Once again, I am reminded that if you look hard enough, there is always something positive in every situation.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Artificial Roses
Yellow buds
destined to be
more than they are
leaves always green
petals never wilting
never falling away
unyielding to sun
standing in a blue
oriental vase
on a scrolled
antique desk
sharing photos
with the palpable
breathing past.
Audrey Streetman
May 22, 2009
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Let's Talk Email Netiquette
On any given day, even before I open my email, I know that I will find at least one (usually more) email message that one of my friends has forwarded to me. I like to think that my friends and I know each other pretty well, but from the subjects they choose to forward to me I'm not so sure anymore. Having made a career of the military, I have a lot of friends who I would consider politically conservative. I am involved in a number of charitable activities, so I also have friends who tend to lean a little more to the left. But from the onslaught of forwarded email I find in my in basket, I'm beginning to think that a lot of my friends believe I share the very same interests and opinions that they do. Here's a news flash... NOT NECESSARILY!
Now don't get me wrong. I love to hear from all of my friends. But to tell the truth, if all they are going to do is forward every joke that finds its way into their computer, slam Obama, Pelosi, McCain or Palin, remind me that Jane Fonda is a traitor, or show me pictures of naked women and not even include a personal message, then guess what...I'M NOT INTERESTED!
It only takes a couple of weeks until you will have seen enough forwarded email from some of your friends to know that hitting the "delete before opening" key (my term) is the only action required. And boy is it a time saver! Sorry gang, but I am way to busy to waste my time reading any of that junk. I have endured this form of abuse for many years, but recently I decided that if my friends don't care enough about me to at least say hello when they are frantically hitting their forward buttons, then I don't really care if they are offended when I politely ask them to send me only email that is of a personal nature.
Not only is all of this forwarded junk email a waste of time, it can cause a lot of problems. Normally, the junk email that is forwarded to me includes every email address that's been created since Al Gore invented the internet. My friends could have at least forwarded all of that mail to me via the BCC (blind carbon copy) address box. But no, they had to put mine and everyone else's internet address in the "To" box for the whole world to see. And don't they know that a lot of these emails they are intimidated into forwarding (seven years of bad luck if the chain is broken) are nothing more than vehicles for spammers to collect email addresses to sell to other spammers? Of course, no one would ever consider spreading a computer virus this way!
Just to be clear about this, if you are one of those people who continues to abuse me with incessant, inane forwarded emails, you can eagerly look forward to receiving an email... of a personal nature... from me in the near future.
Now don't get me wrong. I love to hear from all of my friends. But to tell the truth, if all they are going to do is forward every joke that finds its way into their computer, slam Obama, Pelosi, McCain or Palin, remind me that Jane Fonda is a traitor, or show me pictures of naked women and not even include a personal message, then guess what...I'M NOT INTERESTED!
It only takes a couple of weeks until you will have seen enough forwarded email from some of your friends to know that hitting the "delete before opening" key (my term) is the only action required. And boy is it a time saver! Sorry gang, but I am way to busy to waste my time reading any of that junk. I have endured this form of abuse for many years, but recently I decided that if my friends don't care enough about me to at least say hello when they are frantically hitting their forward buttons, then I don't really care if they are offended when I politely ask them to send me only email that is of a personal nature.
Not only is all of this forwarded junk email a waste of time, it can cause a lot of problems. Normally, the junk email that is forwarded to me includes every email address that's been created since Al Gore invented the internet. My friends could have at least forwarded all of that mail to me via the BCC (blind carbon copy) address box. But no, they had to put mine and everyone else's internet address in the "To" box for the whole world to see. And don't they know that a lot of these emails they are intimidated into forwarding (seven years of bad luck if the chain is broken) are nothing more than vehicles for spammers to collect email addresses to sell to other spammers? Of course, no one would ever consider spreading a computer virus this way!
Just to be clear about this, if you are one of those people who continues to abuse me with incessant, inane forwarded emails, you can eagerly look forward to receiving an email... of a personal nature... from me in the near future.
Ten Tips for Better Photography
Ever wonder why your digital photos don't look as great as you hoped they would? Here are ten tips photographers should apply to get better images from their cameras.
Know your camera and all of its bells and whistles. It is my guess that most amateur photographers are probably using less than 25% of their camera's capabilities. Why? They haven't read the manual! In fact, I would bet that most of those people don't even know how to force the flash in bright sunlight or even why they might want to do that (it fills in the shadows). Today's digital cameras, even the under $250 point-and-shoot models have an awesome array of features to help photographers of all experience levels capture beautiful images. Spend just an hour with your camera and its manual. I promise you will discover a couple of powerful features that will enable you to take better pictures.
Choose the correct camera mode for the situation. Almost all digital cameras have several shooting modes. Each mode will normally set the correct lens aperture and shutter speed for a particular situation. Photographing a runner crossing the finish line? Select the "action" mode. Taking a picture of a skier on a brilliant, sunny day on the slopes? Try the "bright" mode. Want to capture a spectacular view of the mountains? Shoot in "landscape" mode. Check out your camera's manual. There are several other modes that can help improve the quality of your images.
Control the environment if at all possible. Before taking the shot consider what will show up in the background. Which would you prefer...the palm trees along the beach or the parking lot across the street? How about sunlight? You can't do much about the position of the sun, but you can control how it will affect your shot. Are your subjects squinting because they are facing the sun? Have them turn around and shoot with the sun behind or off to one side of them. Of course, if you are shooting in the automatic mode and the background behind your friends is bright, most likely the flash won't fire and there won't be enough light on their faces. If you know how to force the flash you can correct that problem and capture a nice image.
Move them forward. How often have you seen photos of people on vacation standing in front of some famous landmark like the Tower of London or the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. To include all of the building or structure, the photographer has backed so far away from the people in the photo that even their own mothers wouldn't recognize them. If you find yourself in this predicament, just ask the people who will be in the photo to come closer to the lens.
Horizontal or vertical? Are you photographing four or five friends standing side by side? Most people would shoot holding the camera horizontally. But what if you are photographing just one friend standing in a narrow doorway? I suggest turning the camera vertically for this situation. Otherwise, you will have too much non-essential space on either side of your friend which you will be unable to crop and print to fit into standard size frames. Normally you will want to hold the camera horizontal for wide subjects and vertical for tall, narrow subjects.
Pay attention to the details. I can't tell you how many times something spoiled a shot because I wasn't paying close attention. Here are some typical photo spoilers to look out for: unbuttoned shirts, crooked or twisted ties, collars not positioned correctly, lapel pins askew, soil spots on clothing, open zippers, or possibly a tangled necklace. But the one I will always remember was the lady with unmatched earrings.
Do not amputate! In my opinion, one of the biggest faults I find with photographs of people is seeing them with missing body parts. Sometimes this is the result of composition constraints, but most of the time I think it happens just because of the photographer's failure to pay attention to detail. Look closely when framing the shot. Just by having your subjects fold their arms might be all that is necessary to solve the problem and let them keep their fingers.
Posing with a purpose. As you have probably discovered, not everyone wants to be in the picture. Normally, the reason is because they don't like the way they look in pictures. You may not be able to change their attitude, but I guarantee that you can make them look better. Encourage your subjects to sit or stand straight. Then direct them to turn their bodies about 20-30 degrees away from the camera and yet turn their heads towards the lens (hey, we're not taking mug shots here). Once they have assumed the correct position, you may want to suggest that a female subject slightly tilt her head towards her shoulder that is farthest from the camera (think flirting with the photographer). And finally, if your female (or male for that matter) has a little excess flesh below the chin, suggest that while keeping her back straight and her head level, to lean slightly forward from the waist towards the camera. You might not want to tell her why you are posing her in this manner, but I guarantee you it will help minimize the affect of the extra chins.
Don't say "Smile"! Believe it or not, but even though people smile all the time, many of those same people can't do it and look natural when they are in front of a camera. I think most people (except for those with missing teeth) are more attractive when they are smiling, so I normally prefer that my subjects smile. To avoid expressions that appear unnatural or forced (especially in children) don't say "Smile"! A better approach is to suggest that your subjects think of something pleasant such as their favorite ice cream flavor, their grand children or winning the lottery.
More pixels please! While editing your photos you discover you've captured a truly beautiful, award winning sunset. Unfortunately, when you try to order a 16x20 print for your office wall, you realize that the resolution is too low for a print that large. To avoid that mistake always set your camera to record your images at the highest possible resolution. Yes, you won't get as many images on your memory card but you never know when that really great shot will come along. Memory is cheap. Carry an extra card.
Digital photography is fun and easy. Thanks to the new breed of low cost, high tech cameras available everyone has the capability to be a good photographer. Applying these tips will enhance your skills and and reward you with more beautiful images.
Know your camera and all of its bells and whistles. It is my guess that most amateur photographers are probably using less than 25% of their camera's capabilities. Why? They haven't read the manual! In fact, I would bet that most of those people don't even know how to force the flash in bright sunlight or even why they might want to do that (it fills in the shadows). Today's digital cameras, even the under $250 point-and-shoot models have an awesome array of features to help photographers of all experience levels capture beautiful images. Spend just an hour with your camera and its manual. I promise you will discover a couple of powerful features that will enable you to take better pictures.
Choose the correct camera mode for the situation. Almost all digital cameras have several shooting modes. Each mode will normally set the correct lens aperture and shutter speed for a particular situation. Photographing a runner crossing the finish line? Select the "action" mode. Taking a picture of a skier on a brilliant, sunny day on the slopes? Try the "bright" mode. Want to capture a spectacular view of the mountains? Shoot in "landscape" mode. Check out your camera's manual. There are several other modes that can help improve the quality of your images.
Control the environment if at all possible. Before taking the shot consider what will show up in the background. Which would you prefer...the palm trees along the beach or the parking lot across the street? How about sunlight? You can't do much about the position of the sun, but you can control how it will affect your shot. Are your subjects squinting because they are facing the sun? Have them turn around and shoot with the sun behind or off to one side of them. Of course, if you are shooting in the automatic mode and the background behind your friends is bright, most likely the flash won't fire and there won't be enough light on their faces. If you know how to force the flash you can correct that problem and capture a nice image.
Move them forward. How often have you seen photos of people on vacation standing in front of some famous landmark like the Tower of London or the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. To include all of the building or structure, the photographer has backed so far away from the people in the photo that even their own mothers wouldn't recognize them. If you find yourself in this predicament, just ask the people who will be in the photo to come closer to the lens.
Horizontal or vertical? Are you photographing four or five friends standing side by side? Most people would shoot holding the camera horizontally. But what if you are photographing just one friend standing in a narrow doorway? I suggest turning the camera vertically for this situation. Otherwise, you will have too much non-essential space on either side of your friend which you will be unable to crop and print to fit into standard size frames. Normally you will want to hold the camera horizontal for wide subjects and vertical for tall, narrow subjects.
Pay attention to the details. I can't tell you how many times something spoiled a shot because I wasn't paying close attention. Here are some typical photo spoilers to look out for: unbuttoned shirts, crooked or twisted ties, collars not positioned correctly, lapel pins askew, soil spots on clothing, open zippers, or possibly a tangled necklace. But the one I will always remember was the lady with unmatched earrings.
Do not amputate! In my opinion, one of the biggest faults I find with photographs of people is seeing them with missing body parts. Sometimes this is the result of composition constraints, but most of the time I think it happens just because of the photographer's failure to pay attention to detail. Look closely when framing the shot. Just by having your subjects fold their arms might be all that is necessary to solve the problem and let them keep their fingers.
Posing with a purpose. As you have probably discovered, not everyone wants to be in the picture. Normally, the reason is because they don't like the way they look in pictures. You may not be able to change their attitude, but I guarantee that you can make them look better. Encourage your subjects to sit or stand straight. Then direct them to turn their bodies about 20-30 degrees away from the camera and yet turn their heads towards the lens (hey, we're not taking mug shots here). Once they have assumed the correct position, you may want to suggest that a female subject slightly tilt her head towards her shoulder that is farthest from the camera (think flirting with the photographer). And finally, if your female (or male for that matter) has a little excess flesh below the chin, suggest that while keeping her back straight and her head level, to lean slightly forward from the waist towards the camera. You might not want to tell her why you are posing her in this manner, but I guarantee you it will help minimize the affect of the extra chins.
Don't say "Smile"! Believe it or not, but even though people smile all the time, many of those same people can't do it and look natural when they are in front of a camera. I think most people (except for those with missing teeth) are more attractive when they are smiling, so I normally prefer that my subjects smile. To avoid expressions that appear unnatural or forced (especially in children) don't say "Smile"! A better approach is to suggest that your subjects think of something pleasant such as their favorite ice cream flavor, their grand children or winning the lottery.
More pixels please! While editing your photos you discover you've captured a truly beautiful, award winning sunset. Unfortunately, when you try to order a 16x20 print for your office wall, you realize that the resolution is too low for a print that large. To avoid that mistake always set your camera to record your images at the highest possible resolution. Yes, you won't get as many images on your memory card but you never know when that really great shot will come along. Memory is cheap. Carry an extra card.
Digital photography is fun and easy. Thanks to the new breed of low cost, high tech cameras available everyone has the capability to be a good photographer. Applying these tips will enhance your skills and and reward you with more beautiful images.
Choosing a Great Speaker
The success of your organization’s next event will, to a very large extent, depend on the speaker you hire. So how do you determine the speaker that will best meet your needs? Here are ten excellent questions to keep in mind when searching for the perfect speaker.
1. What are her credentials? What is her education level and field of study? What is her work experience? Has she published extensively in her area of expertise? Does her expertise relate to your group or organization’s field of endeavor, mission, or area of interest?
so that it is unique to your group?
3. What equipment and supplies will your speaker be using? What equipment and supplies will your organization need to provide for the speaker and/or meeting participants?
4. Will she offer practical solutions to enhance your company’s visibility, effectiveness, and profitability? Are they practical in today’s economic and cultural environment?
5. Is his presentation going to be thought provoking? Will his message stimulate new ideas, creative measures, and alternative avenues to achieve your group’s goals?
6. Will she weave great stories into her presentation that will inspire and motivate your people to accept new challenges, strive for excellence, and ultimately succeed?
7. How effective is he in using humor? Is it appropriate? Does it relate to what your organization is all about? Will it leave your participants rolling in the aisles, or at the very least, with beautiful smiles on their faces?
8. And most importantly, will your speaker’s presentation be designed and delivered in such a dynamic manner that it will culminate in a rousing and powerful call to action?
9. What about after the event? Will she provide any kind of follow-up support such as a Q&A session, additional resources, or a survey to measure the effectiveness of the presentation or training session?
10. And finally, how much will the speaker’s services cost? If you are the person in your organization that has been tasked to find a speaker, then you need to know how much money has been budgeted for this purpose. Professional speakers cost money. This is how they earn a living. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find an excellent one whose fee will fall within your group’s budget. Be prepared for the conversation.
Use these questions as guidelines when searching for a speaker. They will prove to be an invaluable tool in selecting an outstanding speaker who will meet your organization’s needs and have a positive influence on the success of your next meeting or event.
1. What are her credentials? What is her education level and field of study? What is her work experience? Has she published extensively in her area of expertise? Does her expertise relate to your group or organization’s field of endeavor, mission, or area of interest?
2. A great speaker does his homework! Will he prepare himself by learning as much as possible about your organization, its purpose, structure and activities? Can he effectively tailor his message and presentation style
3. What equipment and supplies will your speaker be using? What equipment and supplies will your organization need to provide for the speaker and/or meeting participants?
4. Will she offer practical solutions to enhance your company’s visibility, effectiveness, and profitability? Are they practical in today’s economic and cultural environment?
5. Is his presentation going to be thought provoking? Will his message stimulate new ideas, creative measures, and alternative avenues to achieve your group’s goals?
6. Will she weave great stories into her presentation that will inspire and motivate your people to accept new challenges, strive for excellence, and ultimately succeed?
7. How effective is he in using humor? Is it appropriate? Does it relate to what your organization is all about? Will it leave your participants rolling in the aisles, or at the very least, with beautiful smiles on their faces?
8. And most importantly, will your speaker’s presentation be designed and delivered in such a dynamic manner that it will culminate in a rousing and powerful call to action?
9. What about after the event? Will she provide any kind of follow-up support such as a Q&A session, additional resources, or a survey to measure the effectiveness of the presentation or training session?
10. And finally, how much will the speaker’s services cost? If you are the person in your organization that has been tasked to find a speaker, then you need to know how much money has been budgeted for this purpose. Professional speakers cost money. This is how they earn a living. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find an excellent one whose fee will fall within your group’s budget. Be prepared for the conversation.
Use these questions as guidelines when searching for a speaker. They will prove to be an invaluable tool in selecting an outstanding speaker who will meet your organization’s needs and have a positive influence on the success of your next meeting or event.
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