Thursday, March 10, 2011
My Videos on World News
These are not all photographic or video related, and I do not select which are featured here.
Fine Art paintings, Prints and Photography Packing and shipping – money saving tips
When it comes to packing and shipping Fine Art, there are no shortcuts. You either do it right the first time or you suffer the consequences. I have been in the Fine Art business for over 10 years, so I have hands on experience in this field. If you are an art dealer, artist, publisher, photographer or even a shipping service, this information will come in handy.
The tips, tricks and advice I am offering up have been gained from many expensive lessons learned about what to do, what to avoid and what not to do. Shipping costs and insurances are going up and up, so every little bit of advice helps. The pointers I spelled out in this article are some easy but effective ways to avoid the pitfalls of what I like to call “Bad Shipping practices”.
Packing paintings – If you plan to ship a painting with or without frame, I highly recommend paper wrapping the entire work. This serves two purposes. One is the obvious; it protects the surface of the painting. It also serves another important purpose. It tells your buyer/client that you care about the piece and that it wasn’t just another sale. Remember, “A happy client is a client for life”.
The most cost effective way to ship a painting is with an Art Shipping Box from ElitePak. You can purchase these boxes with or without an abs Liner. For paintings of higher value I strongly recommend going with the Lined Box. These boxes come in several different sizes and are the easiest, quickest, safest and most affordable way to ship. I have used them personally for the past 6 years and have not had any problems since.
If you plan to bubble wrap your paintings, here is what I recommend. Take a piece of cardboard and cover the face of the painting and frame before bubble wrapping. You can tape this directly to the paper wrap. In order to insure a safe transit in a cardboard box, you need to give 3 – 4 inches of bubble thickness. Make sure the sides and corners of painting have extra padding as these are generally the problem areas in shipping. If you plan to build a crate, 2 inches of bubble wrap is sufficient.
Once you have wrapped the painting, make sure to line the inside of the cardboard box with extra sheets of cardboard. This helps protect the wrapped piece from possible puncture or tears to the box. This extra step has saved me thousands of dollars alone.
One more thing, before sealing up the box, put a copy of the invoice inside the box. Many packages are getting damaged or lost these days, so the invoice helps prove the contents. Also, if the shipping label happens to fall off or gets removed accidentally (believe it, it happens!) the delivery person has a way to identify where it is going. “The only thing worse than a damaged piece of art is a LOST piece of art”. I like to write the delivery address right on the box along with a contact number just to be safe.
If you plan to ship with a wooden crate, I recommend cutting two 1×2 inch wood boards the width of the inside of the crate. Press them down on the bubble wrap, not to hard, but just firm enough to hold the painting from moving around. You can secure the wood bars with screws on either end of the crate. You should also take a marker and circle the screw heads and make a note, “Please Remove”. This helps the new owner know what to take apart and what not to. Finally, don’t forget to write the delivery address on the crate so you know it makes it to its destination.
Because most shipping services now limit their liability to $500.00, I recommend carrying your own insurance. If this is not an option, then the next best thing to do is ship via Fed-Ex next day delivery. The reason this is a safe bet is because Fed-Ex will leave next day shipments on the trucks instead of he warehouse, or they will hand carry them through the shipping process. Since most of the damage comes from aggressive handling, the less time your shipment spends in transit, the safer it is. Makes sense.
If you can ship with UPS, and you need to carry insurance on your shipment, then UPS is definitely the way to go. The cost to insure a painting is not overly expensive, and if the painting or piece if art is expensive, then they are surely worth it.
Note: The most cost effective way to send a high-value piece of art is to use a Strongbox from ElitePak, insure the package for $3,500 or more and send it Standard overnight or 2-day. UPS hand carries all next day and 2 day packages with high values over $3,500. It’s safe and cost friendly.
When it comes to shipping framed prints, the rules are the same with a few added precautions. The most important thing to remember is to place Glass Skin over the glass or Plexiglass on the artwork. Glass Skin protects the print from accidental breakage or shattering of the glass or Plexiglass. It keeps the broken glass from touching the print by holding it firm. It is easy to apply and remove, and is a must when shipping print art under glass or Plexiglass. This can be purchased by the roll from ElitePak.
For unframed prints, photographs or any other flat media, the best solution is a Print Pad from ElitePak. These come in Lined and Unlined just like the Strongboxes. Each Print Pad can hold up to 8 individual prints. They are surely the fastest and safest way to ship flat art. Lined Pads are puncture resistant and like the Strongboxes they are reusable. Be sure to place a copy of the invoice in the box or in the packing slip pouch, and write the delivery address on the box as with the Strongbox.
If you choose to ship without a Print Pad then the next best way to pack the prints is to cut three pieces of cardboard approximately 4″ larger than the print you intend to ship. Take one of the pieces of cardboard and cut out the center about 1/4 inch larger than the dimensions as the largest print. Next you should once again wrap each print in either wax paper or very fine thickness paper. Use removable blue tape to secure the paper wrapping. You don’t want to use shipping tape or utility tape.
Place the cut out cardboard on top of one of the full sheets of cardboard. Next you place the prints in the center of the cutout, careful not to bend the edges. Finally you place the larger outer cardboard piece on top of the cut out with the prints, making a sandwich of the prints. Take some heavy duty shipping tape and go around the perimeter of the flat box to insure a tight seal. I suggest writing on the box “Caution when opening” Prints inside. You don’t want the recipient to ruin the prints cutting open the box.
I hope these few pointers help you with your Fine Art shipping.
The tips, tricks and advice I am offering up have been gained from many expensive lessons learned about what to do, what to avoid and what not to do. Shipping costs and insurances are going up and up, so every little bit of advice helps. The pointers I spelled out in this article are some easy but effective ways to avoid the pitfalls of what I like to call “Bad Shipping practices”.
Packing paintings – If you plan to ship a painting with or without frame, I highly recommend paper wrapping the entire work. This serves two purposes. One is the obvious; it protects the surface of the painting. It also serves another important purpose. It tells your buyer/client that you care about the piece and that it wasn’t just another sale. Remember, “A happy client is a client for life”.
The most cost effective way to ship a painting is with an Art Shipping Box from ElitePak. You can purchase these boxes with or without an abs Liner. For paintings of higher value I strongly recommend going with the Lined Box. These boxes come in several different sizes and are the easiest, quickest, safest and most affordable way to ship. I have used them personally for the past 6 years and have not had any problems since.
If you plan to bubble wrap your paintings, here is what I recommend. Take a piece of cardboard and cover the face of the painting and frame before bubble wrapping. You can tape this directly to the paper wrap. In order to insure a safe transit in a cardboard box, you need to give 3 – 4 inches of bubble thickness. Make sure the sides and corners of painting have extra padding as these are generally the problem areas in shipping. If you plan to build a crate, 2 inches of bubble wrap is sufficient.
Once you have wrapped the painting, make sure to line the inside of the cardboard box with extra sheets of cardboard. This helps protect the wrapped piece from possible puncture or tears to the box. This extra step has saved me thousands of dollars alone.
One more thing, before sealing up the box, put a copy of the invoice inside the box. Many packages are getting damaged or lost these days, so the invoice helps prove the contents. Also, if the shipping label happens to fall off or gets removed accidentally (believe it, it happens!) the delivery person has a way to identify where it is going. “The only thing worse than a damaged piece of art is a LOST piece of art”. I like to write the delivery address right on the box along with a contact number just to be safe.
If you plan to ship with a wooden crate, I recommend cutting two 1×2 inch wood boards the width of the inside of the crate. Press them down on the bubble wrap, not to hard, but just firm enough to hold the painting from moving around. You can secure the wood bars with screws on either end of the crate. You should also take a marker and circle the screw heads and make a note, “Please Remove”. This helps the new owner know what to take apart and what not to. Finally, don’t forget to write the delivery address on the crate so you know it makes it to its destination.
Because most shipping services now limit their liability to $500.00, I recommend carrying your own insurance. If this is not an option, then the next best thing to do is ship via Fed-Ex next day delivery. The reason this is a safe bet is because Fed-Ex will leave next day shipments on the trucks instead of he warehouse, or they will hand carry them through the shipping process. Since most of the damage comes from aggressive handling, the less time your shipment spends in transit, the safer it is. Makes sense.
If you can ship with UPS, and you need to carry insurance on your shipment, then UPS is definitely the way to go. The cost to insure a painting is not overly expensive, and if the painting or piece if art is expensive, then they are surely worth it.
Note: The most cost effective way to send a high-value piece of art is to use a Strongbox from ElitePak, insure the package for $3,500 or more and send it Standard overnight or 2-day. UPS hand carries all next day and 2 day packages with high values over $3,500. It’s safe and cost friendly.
When it comes to shipping framed prints, the rules are the same with a few added precautions. The most important thing to remember is to place Glass Skin over the glass or Plexiglass on the artwork. Glass Skin protects the print from accidental breakage or shattering of the glass or Plexiglass. It keeps the broken glass from touching the print by holding it firm. It is easy to apply and remove, and is a must when shipping print art under glass or Plexiglass. This can be purchased by the roll from ElitePak.
For unframed prints, photographs or any other flat media, the best solution is a Print Pad from ElitePak. These come in Lined and Unlined just like the Strongboxes. Each Print Pad can hold up to 8 individual prints. They are surely the fastest and safest way to ship flat art. Lined Pads are puncture resistant and like the Strongboxes they are reusable. Be sure to place a copy of the invoice in the box or in the packing slip pouch, and write the delivery address on the box as with the Strongbox.
If you choose to ship without a Print Pad then the next best way to pack the prints is to cut three pieces of cardboard approximately 4″ larger than the print you intend to ship. Take one of the pieces of cardboard and cut out the center about 1/4 inch larger than the dimensions as the largest print. Next you should once again wrap each print in either wax paper or very fine thickness paper. Use removable blue tape to secure the paper wrapping. You don’t want to use shipping tape or utility tape.
Place the cut out cardboard on top of one of the full sheets of cardboard. Next you place the prints in the center of the cutout, careful not to bend the edges. Finally you place the larger outer cardboard piece on top of the cut out with the prints, making a sandwich of the prints. Take some heavy duty shipping tape and go around the perimeter of the flat box to insure a tight seal. I suggest writing on the box “Caution when opening” Prints inside. You don’t want the recipient to ruin the prints cutting open the box.
I hope these few pointers help you with your Fine Art shipping.
How To Make Money With Photography By Selling Photos On The Internet
If you enjoy taking pictures what could be more thrilling than doing it for a living? Just think of how wonderful it could be to be a paid invite to hundreds of weddings and parties a year, to capture joyful family memories that will last a lifetime everyday, to watch children grow up, or even to just to experience others smile everyday of your career. With photography you can do just that. This is a way to use camera for fun and also make money with digital camera. You might be wondering what kinds of photos these companies need to be sent to them, they need various kinds of photos from you, there’s no exception to the kind of photo they need. People that have been into this business have been around over the years and most of them are making comfortable income online.
Many people are exploring to make money with photography to earn extra profits as they go about their daily job. This is also a good option for people who want to earn a living while staying at home so they can maintain a career and take care of the family at the same time. This way, you can work for your family without having to sacrifice the quality time you could spend together. One good option for the home-based business is to do photography jobs. The wonders of modern technology now allow people to take pictures easily with the digital camera. All it takes would be some more skills and abilities then you can properly setup and start a home based photography business.
Make a Photography Business Plan
Next item to consider to make money with photography is to come up with a business plan. There are software programs that you can access online that will help you in this aspect. The business plan shall aid you in setting goals, testing decisions, assessing the requirements and regulations, and estimating the needed funds. There are photographers who focus on portraits, some on weddings, while others are into sceneries. Pick one that you desire, then focus and improve on it. Of course, you need to have the right equipment that will enable you to proceed and start a home-based photography business. You can go with the basics if your funds are limited. A good camera, computer, printer, internet connection and marketing materials should be secured.
Marketing the Field
The most important element to start a home-based photography business is the market. Your target market will play a big role in making your business successful. This will make sure that you have people buying your images. You must let people know of what you can offer. It is important to advertise when you start a home-based photography business. Make sure that your presence is felt. This way, people can avail of your services. You may want to consider making friends with the vendors who supply your needed tools and equipment. You can ask them to refer you to their clients. You can even meet some new contacts through them.
They are people whom have studied how to make money with photography, they’ve researched the good ways to make money with digital camera, they’ve analyzed ways these method of making money online to make it easy accessible, telling you the kinds of photos the companies need from you, how much you get paid hourly by submitting these photos.
Many people are exploring to make money with photography to earn extra profits as they go about their daily job. This is also a good option for people who want to earn a living while staying at home so they can maintain a career and take care of the family at the same time. This way, you can work for your family without having to sacrifice the quality time you could spend together. One good option for the home-based business is to do photography jobs. The wonders of modern technology now allow people to take pictures easily with the digital camera. All it takes would be some more skills and abilities then you can properly setup and start a home based photography business.
Make a Photography Business Plan
Next item to consider to make money with photography is to come up with a business plan. There are software programs that you can access online that will help you in this aspect. The business plan shall aid you in setting goals, testing decisions, assessing the requirements and regulations, and estimating the needed funds. There are photographers who focus on portraits, some on weddings, while others are into sceneries. Pick one that you desire, then focus and improve on it. Of course, you need to have the right equipment that will enable you to proceed and start a home-based photography business. You can go with the basics if your funds are limited. A good camera, computer, printer, internet connection and marketing materials should be secured.
Marketing the Field
The most important element to start a home-based photography business is the market. Your target market will play a big role in making your business successful. This will make sure that you have people buying your images. You must let people know of what you can offer. It is important to advertise when you start a home-based photography business. Make sure that your presence is felt. This way, people can avail of your services. You may want to consider making friends with the vendors who supply your needed tools and equipment. You can ask them to refer you to their clients. You can even meet some new contacts through them.
They are people whom have studied how to make money with photography, they’ve researched the good ways to make money with digital camera, they’ve analyzed ways these method of making money online to make it easy accessible, telling you the kinds of photos the companies need from you, how much you get paid hourly by submitting these photos.
Learn the ropes of Digital Photography
Most photographs aren’t just well-defined black and white boundaries – in fact, none of them are. So when faced with angles, gradients, or irregular shapes, the computer has to use its stored rules to guess what color the new pixels should be. In theory, the better routines allow the computer to do a pretty good job at smoothing out the image when the resolution is increased and all those new pixels are put in place. In practice, unlike in the movies or on TV, you can’t get information out of a picture that isn’t there. That tiny black dot on the horizon isn’t going to turn into an umbrella when you double the resolution, it will just be a bigger black dot. So if you need a “bigger picture” than you have, why not use interpolation? The trick is that the interpolation done in your camera is not the same as the interpolation done in your computer’s editing software.
Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) data, saved by modern digital cameras in each picture file, is a powerful tool for both keeping track of your work and learning more about how to use your camera and how to take advantage of its capabilities. Created by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, this standard is now used by almost all digital cameras. EXIF data stores, as part of the picture file, information such as the date, time, camera model, and settings such as focus mode, flash mode, ISO sensitivity setting, white balance, and many more facts about the state of the camera when the picture was taken. The EXIF data actually envelops the picture data, be it compressed (usually JPEG format) or uncompressed (RAW or TIFF format) data. The data does add anywhere from 100 bytes to 64 kilobytes to the size of the file, but it is invaluable for anything from keeping track of work, indexing large numbers of photographs, or learning more about how your camera’s settings affect the quality of the final product.
If you have ever wondered why TIFF files are historically larger than JPEGs we provide an explanation that will hopefully dispel the mystery. Even though TIFF files retain only 8 bits per channel of data, that data will take up twice the storage space because it has three 8 bit color channels versus the one 12 bit RAW channel. JPEG uses compression of the data at the cost of image quality to manage the data. Thus, RAW data offers the best of both worlds where it preserves the original color bit depth and image quality while saving space using only one 12 bit RAW channel. Some cameras offer compressed RAW that minimally compromises data. If you are taking photographs for fun, JPEG offers an option to increase the number of photos stored on a memory disk. So, why would you want to archive your photographs also as a RAW data file?
Higher temperatures and long exposures may increase the occurrence of hot pixels. Fixed pattern noise is unique where it often shows similar distributions of hot pixels even if taken under the same ISO speed, temperature and length of exposure. Fixed pattern while the most objectionable visually, is the easiest of the three to remove because it is a repeated pattern. Once the internal electronics of a camera knows the pattern, it can subtract the noise away to reveal the true image. Banding noise is associated with the camera model and related characteristics. It is most visible at high ISO speeds and in shadows. When brightening an image, banding noise may become noticeable when using white balances. It is not always the number of pixels that reduces noise, but actually the greater the area of a pixel in a camera which allows a greater amount of light into the pixel causing the sensor to produce a stronger signal. Cameras with physically larger pixels generally appear less noisy since the signal is larger relative to the noise.
If you are looking to turn your pictures into pieces of art, there are many options available to you, as well. You can turn your print into a black and white picture and hand color some details. You can create beautiful special effects that will really make your digital photo stand out in a crowd, too. As you can image, the tools to create the perfect picture can cost a lot of money, if you have to purchase them. If you are on a budget, or just like to save money, anything you can find for free is a bonus! Well, there are free photo editors out there, you just have to look for them. Since the introduction of the Internet, there are literally thousands upon thousands of pages of information that are geared specifically toward helping you achieve the pictures of your dreams. You don’t have to spend one penny to edit your photographs. All you need is access to a computer and scanner and you are well on your way. Just log onto any one of the number of free photo editor applications available and a whole new world of editing possibilities will be right at your fingertips. Don’t let your money, or lack of, keep you from making the best pictures, just download some freeware and start editing your own pictures!
For best results using fill flash, try to have your subject in shade with lit areas behind it. The fill flash takes care of the shade, and helps balance the light level so the subject and the background are clear and proportionately bright. If your camera has a “slow synchronized flash” feature, this can be used to combine foreground and background elements in a way not otherwise possible (because of the short reach of small, built-in flashes). With the use of a tripod and relatively still subjects, good quality shots can be taken in otherwise difficult conditions, such as night shots or even shots on a moving platform. Longer shutter delays can produce blur effects similar to the “moving traffic” effects often seen in advertising, and with a little patient experimentation you can produce shots with a mid-range digital camera that rival expensive commercial art.
Secure Digital (SD) cards were designed to replace the older MMC standard – but it’s beginning to look like the reverse may happen. The good news is that SD cards are available in larger sized – up to 4 Gigabytes, and higher speeds than MMC cards currently are. In theory, SD cards are the fastest on the market. In practice, it’s almost a dead heat with Compact Flash cards. The bad news is that SD cards are losing market share rapidly, though they are still used in many cameras. The better news is that if the MMC standard takes over, full-size MMC cards can be used in SD slots. Compact Flash (CF) is one of the oldest and most popular standards available today. They have the widest range of sizes (up to 8 Gigabytes with larger microdrive-based cards rumored) and are quite quick. Currently they compete only with SD cards for the high-end camera market, and their position looks more secure than SD. New developments in wireless transfer support for cameras and links to external drive packs may cement CF cards’ place.
Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) data, saved by modern digital cameras in each picture file, is a powerful tool for both keeping track of your work and learning more about how to use your camera and how to take advantage of its capabilities. Created by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, this standard is now used by almost all digital cameras. EXIF data stores, as part of the picture file, information such as the date, time, camera model, and settings such as focus mode, flash mode, ISO sensitivity setting, white balance, and many more facts about the state of the camera when the picture was taken. The EXIF data actually envelops the picture data, be it compressed (usually JPEG format) or uncompressed (RAW or TIFF format) data. The data does add anywhere from 100 bytes to 64 kilobytes to the size of the file, but it is invaluable for anything from keeping track of work, indexing large numbers of photographs, or learning more about how your camera’s settings affect the quality of the final product.
If you have ever wondered why TIFF files are historically larger than JPEGs we provide an explanation that will hopefully dispel the mystery. Even though TIFF files retain only 8 bits per channel of data, that data will take up twice the storage space because it has three 8 bit color channels versus the one 12 bit RAW channel. JPEG uses compression of the data at the cost of image quality to manage the data. Thus, RAW data offers the best of both worlds where it preserves the original color bit depth and image quality while saving space using only one 12 bit RAW channel. Some cameras offer compressed RAW that minimally compromises data. If you are taking photographs for fun, JPEG offers an option to increase the number of photos stored on a memory disk. So, why would you want to archive your photographs also as a RAW data file?
Higher temperatures and long exposures may increase the occurrence of hot pixels. Fixed pattern noise is unique where it often shows similar distributions of hot pixels even if taken under the same ISO speed, temperature and length of exposure. Fixed pattern while the most objectionable visually, is the easiest of the three to remove because it is a repeated pattern. Once the internal electronics of a camera knows the pattern, it can subtract the noise away to reveal the true image. Banding noise is associated with the camera model and related characteristics. It is most visible at high ISO speeds and in shadows. When brightening an image, banding noise may become noticeable when using white balances. It is not always the number of pixels that reduces noise, but actually the greater the area of a pixel in a camera which allows a greater amount of light into the pixel causing the sensor to produce a stronger signal. Cameras with physically larger pixels generally appear less noisy since the signal is larger relative to the noise.
If you are looking to turn your pictures into pieces of art, there are many options available to you, as well. You can turn your print into a black and white picture and hand color some details. You can create beautiful special effects that will really make your digital photo stand out in a crowd, too. As you can image, the tools to create the perfect picture can cost a lot of money, if you have to purchase them. If you are on a budget, or just like to save money, anything you can find for free is a bonus! Well, there are free photo editors out there, you just have to look for them. Since the introduction of the Internet, there are literally thousands upon thousands of pages of information that are geared specifically toward helping you achieve the pictures of your dreams. You don’t have to spend one penny to edit your photographs. All you need is access to a computer and scanner and you are well on your way. Just log onto any one of the number of free photo editor applications available and a whole new world of editing possibilities will be right at your fingertips. Don’t let your money, or lack of, keep you from making the best pictures, just download some freeware and start editing your own pictures!
For best results using fill flash, try to have your subject in shade with lit areas behind it. The fill flash takes care of the shade, and helps balance the light level so the subject and the background are clear and proportionately bright. If your camera has a “slow synchronized flash” feature, this can be used to combine foreground and background elements in a way not otherwise possible (because of the short reach of small, built-in flashes). With the use of a tripod and relatively still subjects, good quality shots can be taken in otherwise difficult conditions, such as night shots or even shots on a moving platform. Longer shutter delays can produce blur effects similar to the “moving traffic” effects often seen in advertising, and with a little patient experimentation you can produce shots with a mid-range digital camera that rival expensive commercial art.
Secure Digital (SD) cards were designed to replace the older MMC standard – but it’s beginning to look like the reverse may happen. The good news is that SD cards are available in larger sized – up to 4 Gigabytes, and higher speeds than MMC cards currently are. In theory, SD cards are the fastest on the market. In practice, it’s almost a dead heat with Compact Flash cards. The bad news is that SD cards are losing market share rapidly, though they are still used in many cameras. The better news is that if the MMC standard takes over, full-size MMC cards can be used in SD slots. Compact Flash (CF) is one of the oldest and most popular standards available today. They have the widest range of sizes (up to 8 Gigabytes with larger microdrive-based cards rumored) and are quite quick. Currently they compete only with SD cards for the high-end camera market, and their position looks more secure than SD. New developments in wireless transfer support for cameras and links to external drive packs may cement CF cards’ place.
How Camera Lenses Determine Digital Photography Success
Have you ever taken a picture and wondered after you took the shot just what were you thinking? Has it looked as if you were nowhere near the subject of your shot? This is something that happens a whole lot, however, there is hope and you can still take beautiful photographs with some help. It is best for these methods if you have a camera that will allow you to change the lenses; however, there are also some cameras, which will allow for aftermarket lenses to be added which gives the same effect you are looking for.
First type of lens to consider is the normal lens. This is something that will generally have a range of 45mm to typically only 60mm. However, while you are trying to figure out exactly what you can see from this range, consider your normal eyesight range. This is the best way to describe a normal camera lens. Many SLR cameras include the normal lens standard, however many people are opting for more advanced lenses lately instead.
Next type of lens is wide-angle lenses. These typically range from the 5mm to the 35mm range. Different lenses fluctuate between the various ranges and it is ok if your lens does not cover the full 5mm to 35mm distance. When you are looking for digital photograph success with wide-angle shots, you must have a wide-angle lens or you simply cannot get the great shot you are looking for. One of the biggest problems is wide angle lenses tend to be very expensive depending upon your camera.
Moving along we have telephoto lenses. If you are looking for digital photography success with shots from great distances then a good telephoto lens is an absolute necessity that you cannot pass up. Typical telephoto lenses cover distances that range from 85mm to as much as 600mm easily. Consider that you can capture the perfect shot from thousands of feet away with the right telephoto lens and you can see why this is awesome.
As you can imagine having the right lens for your needs can make a huge difference in terms of what is effective and what is not for capturing the perfect digital photography shot. If you have any doubts about whether your camera can change lenses, look towards your owners guide to help answer any questions about how to remove the lens and attach a new lens so you too can find digital photography success no matter what the shot you are after.
First type of lens to consider is the normal lens. This is something that will generally have a range of 45mm to typically only 60mm. However, while you are trying to figure out exactly what you can see from this range, consider your normal eyesight range. This is the best way to describe a normal camera lens. Many SLR cameras include the normal lens standard, however many people are opting for more advanced lenses lately instead.
Next type of lens is wide-angle lenses. These typically range from the 5mm to the 35mm range. Different lenses fluctuate between the various ranges and it is ok if your lens does not cover the full 5mm to 35mm distance. When you are looking for digital photograph success with wide-angle shots, you must have a wide-angle lens or you simply cannot get the great shot you are looking for. One of the biggest problems is wide angle lenses tend to be very expensive depending upon your camera.
Moving along we have telephoto lenses. If you are looking for digital photography success with shots from great distances then a good telephoto lens is an absolute necessity that you cannot pass up. Typical telephoto lenses cover distances that range from 85mm to as much as 600mm easily. Consider that you can capture the perfect shot from thousands of feet away with the right telephoto lens and you can see why this is awesome.
As you can imagine having the right lens for your needs can make a huge difference in terms of what is effective and what is not for capturing the perfect digital photography shot. If you have any doubts about whether your camera can change lenses, look towards your owners guide to help answer any questions about how to remove the lens and attach a new lens so you too can find digital photography success no matter what the shot you are after.
WE CAN DO IT!
I have wondered when it would be "the right time" to talk about something extremely personal in my life, and I don't know why it feels "right" now, but it does. So, here goes...
A few people who know me well, wondered why I became very quiet this past summer. I've told very few people about this, and not because of me, but to protect someone very special in my heart. Well, I am still protecting her, as I always will. NO WORDS I HAVE EVER SAID COULD BE MORE SINCERE! I am choosing right now to talk about it because who I am protecting has to know that even though we cannot be together right now, that not a moment passes that I do not think of her! And, I want the world to know this!
I will begin by quoting from the last e-mail that I received from her last August:
"I don't know when I will be able to get on here again, and it will probably be when you won't be able to talk to me anymore. But thank you so much for everything. Thank you for changing and not being what I had always been told you were. This totally sucks that this has to happen right after I found you. I feel motivated now to be better so that I can meet you guys when I'm 18. I don't feel like giving up as much anymore because I know now that you guys are going to be there for me. Thank you so much and I love you dad. It's just another year, we have both gone through almost 17 of them already with no communication, so it will be fine. We can do it. ;)"
Well, that was written by my daughter, Chloe, one of two daughters I left when they were babies. I hope and pray that my other daughter will someday allow me the opportunity to somehow make up for one of the most horrible mistakes I've ever made in my life, and until that time I will protect her privacy. As for Chloe - she did give me the opportunity to express how very sorry I am, and I am confident that she knows that I love her with every ounce of my being. And, I am telling you - everyone who cares to read this - that I am so proud of my daughter! And, I don't want her to ever think that she has been forgotten for even a moment because the truth is that I think of her every single day! And, that is why I have chosen to write this now.
I want you to know - just like I told Chloe - that there is nothing I can say or do that could ever justify abandoning my babies, other than to say that I truly thought at the time that I was doing the best thing for them. I was a completely different man than the guy who is writing this today. Regardless of the joy my firstborne daughters brought to my soul, they came right after I had finished spending six very long years in Federal Prison. It's been almost twenty years now since I walked out of prison and I can tell you that only in the last few years have I truly left that convict behind me. And, I'm very proud of that - the changes I made in my life.
So, those closest to me knew that my two little girls never left my heart. I'd talk about them always, and for a few years I even kept a journal that I wrote in just for them. I won't go into all of that, but they never ever left my heart. People always told me that someday they would come looking for me, and that is the hope I truly held onto. And, you know what - even right now - I am man enough to admit that this brings tears to my eyes. And, trust me, I know I don't have the right to feel sorry for myself about something I caused. Again, I could go on and on about that, so I'll just say that regardless of anyone else's experience, this truly and profoundly effected my life. In ways. I didn't even realize.
For starters, every single one of my friends know that my"thing" was drinking. Every one of my friends - and family - will tell you I was famous for being able to drink like a fish, and I did just that all the time. Like I said, that was "my thing". There was a time, and I kid you not - that I honestly could not imagine living life without alcohol being a part of it. It was an important part of my family and who I was - or so I thought. I never considered myself an alcoholic because I didn't need it - it was just "my thing." My Grandpa drank and so would I! I was practically raised going to bars, and spent a good part of my life working in them too. Well, you know what? I did quit. And, I honestly didn't realize it till weeks after I had. The day I quit drinking like a fish was the day my daughter and I talked for the first time. Wasn't even a conscience decision - just happened. Don't get me wrong, I will drink in the future - on very rare special occasions, and that's okay too. The difference is, I don't need to use alcohol as an escape from what had been bothering me. I know that was a big part of my drinking. This is also something I have not discussed publicly until now - the reason I just quit drinking.
Man, I gotta condense this cuz I truly could go on and on. So, Chloe and I are reunited. It was so amazing because from the very first moment we talked, it was like we'd never been apart. As far as the bond I felt in my heart goes - I won't speak for her. But, it was easy. It just flowed. From the very first conversation, I told her I would never lie to her, and I never did. I told her that no matter how she feels - I can't say anything about that - all I know is that she is in my heart and she is my baby girl. I made it very clear that I did not have any desire to take the place of the father that raised her, or to interfere in any way with her life - her happiness. I didn't know what to expect - other than I loved her with all my heart and soul and I only asked for an opportunity to prove this to her.By the way - in the email you just read - that was the first time she called me dad. And, I don't think she could ever possibly know how truly happy that made my soul!
So, her and her sister had been raised in a Mormon home - both been adopted and I thought they were living this happy life filled with all the good stuff I could never give them. And, all the times I prayed to God, I was confident in that - we had a deal. That wasn't the case. That right there crushed me!!! And, I made it very clear that I DID NOT care about nothing but my daughters happiness and well-being and all she had to do was say the word and I'd come for her in a minute - literally! I had good brothers and sisters that were ready to take her in until I could catch the first thing to come and pick her up. And bless my baby girl's heart because while I'm freaking out, trying to figure out any way to come to her rescue - she's the logical one - knowing that it would result in a kidnapping charge - to say the least.
So, in the weeks that followed, we laughed - we cried - caught up on what we'd missed, and it truly was like we were never apart as far as coming together in love. Now, I had been promised that the family - no one - would ever speak a bad word about me. That was the deal - if I stayed away, they would never speak badly of me and tell both my girls about me when they turned 18. Wasn't the case - they demonized me from day one! They painted a picture of me that was even worse than the admitedly bad dude that I actually had been. I'll tell you what - throughout all these real shitty things that I learned, I not once expressed anger - NOT ONCE! I just explained myself the best I could - AND NEVER LIED! And, you know what - some of the things I said, I was not proud of, but this was me - what brought me to who I am today.
In mid August, her parents found out that we were communicating and that was it! They immediately filed a protective order. She called me crying, asking me to do whatever I could to get her back. Even giving me legal ideas. She is truly my daughter. ;-) I tried every single legal avenue and when she had been adopted, I gave up all legal rights to her. There had to be a way! I tried everything. It was a tough day when I had to tell her that. You have no idea! No matter how creative the legal idea was, I was helpless. Meanwhile, her parents filed against me in court - a no contact order. They had collected every email that we had sent to each other - even using information from my Myspace account. As a matter of fact, my Myspace account was exhibit A! But, that was fine - I truly had nothing to hide, and I hoped a judge would read what my daughter and I talked about because they would know that I was definately no danger WHATSOEVER to my daughter. And, the judge did - but no one can legally do anything once I gave up all parental rights. They asked for a permanent protective order and the judge denied that, ending it this coming August when she turns 18. But no contact until then.
Still, I heard through friends how she was doing. About a month later, I got a call from a friend -"WHERE ARE YOU?" And she told me to wait there - she was on her way to see me - it was very important! Deep down, I knew in my heart what it was - I didn't want to think about it, but I just knew. And my friend told me Chloe had tried to kill herself. Okay, I gotta take a little break here. I'll finish this in a minute...
Anyhow, it took a real effort to compose myself and somehow get her to know that she absolutely had to hold on - and somehow remind her of what she told me - WE CAN DO IT! It took so SO MUCH to try to compose myself and do what I had to do to be the best dad - and friend - to her when she turns 18, and basically just work on that until that day comes. I've been known for most of my life as one who follows his own set of rules, and those rules were all about not giving a shit about laws or social expectations of what I should do if they went against my own perception of what was right, moral, and proper. This was truly the first time I ever surrendered to the law of the land, and knew in my heart that the only way that I could be the best dad to my little girl was to follow every line of the law and prepare for her to come back into my life. And, that's what I have done - what I am doing.
The saddest thing is when all this happened, I wanted one opportunity for her parents to listen to what i had to say! This was NOT about me - and I meant every word of NOT wanting to interfere in any of their lives. From day one - I made that so clear! And, even to this day, I have not spoken oine bad thing about her parents. My ONLY concern was the happiness and welfare of my daughter, and THAT'S IT! I told her over and over again that all I cared about was that she is happy!!! So, the sad part is that I know had they chosen to hear me out just once, they would have known that I would have done whatever they asked - and they could have controlled the relationship between Chloe and I.
They read all our communications, and I have the copies too. There is not a one that I would not share with anyone - just a father and daughter making up for a lifetime of being apart. Throughout everything, I stressed a great respect for her parents. In the end, I was told that they are scared that I will lead her away from the Mormon religion, or bring up things from the past that they wanted to keep hidden. Again - had they chose to talk to me, I would have respected this. I really don't know anymore? In the end, whatever I feel is best for Chloe is what I will do!
So, that's the secrecy that I been hiding for these past seven to eight months. I realize that my online life is most likely monitored very closely by people who want any reason to make certain that I'm not there for my daughter when she turns 18. So, yeah - I've been walking on the proverbial rice paper for a while now. Oh, don't get me wrong - I AM NOT BEING SOMEONE I AM NOT!!! Well, you know that!!! LOL But, I know a lot of you who really know me, know that I have always been one to say exactly what's on my mind. And, sometimes things I've regretted. I have always looked at this for what it is - just another communication tool. I aint trying to be something I'm not. It's just me.
To have "just me" presented in a courtroom was something I never expected. To read legal papers that are based solely on my Myspace account was something I truly never thought about. And, so much can be taken out of context when most of your friends and family are what society would consider "anti-social". If a brother calls me "a nig", they stand on their soapbox and call me a racist! Never caring to discover that two of the children I adopted are half black. Before this, I did not give a crap what anyone thought of what I said! I didn't think about what to say - I just said it! So, yeah - it's still me - MOST DEFINATELY! But I kinda think before I say something now! Maybe that's a good thing? ;-)
Anyhow, I love my daughter, Chloe with all my heart and soul and maybe she can't read these words now - I hope that she will soon. And, I want her to know that she is never out of my heart and my thoughts. She is my hero! And, she has a big family waiting here for her. And, people that don't even know her who have already grown to love her for being who she is - Chloe!
We Can Do It!
A few people who know me well, wondered why I became very quiet this past summer. I've told very few people about this, and not because of me, but to protect someone very special in my heart. Well, I am still protecting her, as I always will. NO WORDS I HAVE EVER SAID COULD BE MORE SINCERE! I am choosing right now to talk about it because who I am protecting has to know that even though we cannot be together right now, that not a moment passes that I do not think of her! And, I want the world to know this!
I will begin by quoting from the last e-mail that I received from her last August:
"I don't know when I will be able to get on here again, and it will probably be when you won't be able to talk to me anymore. But thank you so much for everything. Thank you for changing and not being what I had always been told you were. This totally sucks that this has to happen right after I found you. I feel motivated now to be better so that I can meet you guys when I'm 18. I don't feel like giving up as much anymore because I know now that you guys are going to be there for me. Thank you so much and I love you dad. It's just another year, we have both gone through almost 17 of them already with no communication, so it will be fine. We can do it. ;)"
Well, that was written by my daughter, Chloe, one of two daughters I left when they were babies. I hope and pray that my other daughter will someday allow me the opportunity to somehow make up for one of the most horrible mistakes I've ever made in my life, and until that time I will protect her privacy. As for Chloe - she did give me the opportunity to express how very sorry I am, and I am confident that she knows that I love her with every ounce of my being. And, I am telling you - everyone who cares to read this - that I am so proud of my daughter! And, I don't want her to ever think that she has been forgotten for even a moment because the truth is that I think of her every single day! And, that is why I have chosen to write this now.
I want you to know - just like I told Chloe - that there is nothing I can say or do that could ever justify abandoning my babies, other than to say that I truly thought at the time that I was doing the best thing for them. I was a completely different man than the guy who is writing this today. Regardless of the joy my firstborne daughters brought to my soul, they came right after I had finished spending six very long years in Federal Prison. It's been almost twenty years now since I walked out of prison and I can tell you that only in the last few years have I truly left that convict behind me. And, I'm very proud of that - the changes I made in my life.
So, those closest to me knew that my two little girls never left my heart. I'd talk about them always, and for a few years I even kept a journal that I wrote in just for them. I won't go into all of that, but they never ever left my heart. People always told me that someday they would come looking for me, and that is the hope I truly held onto. And, you know what - even right now - I am man enough to admit that this brings tears to my eyes. And, trust me, I know I don't have the right to feel sorry for myself about something I caused. Again, I could go on and on about that, so I'll just say that regardless of anyone else's experience, this truly and profoundly effected my life. In ways. I didn't even realize.
For starters, every single one of my friends know that my"thing" was drinking. Every one of my friends - and family - will tell you I was famous for being able to drink like a fish, and I did just that all the time. Like I said, that was "my thing". There was a time, and I kid you not - that I honestly could not imagine living life without alcohol being a part of it. It was an important part of my family and who I was - or so I thought. I never considered myself an alcoholic because I didn't need it - it was just "my thing." My Grandpa drank and so would I! I was practically raised going to bars, and spent a good part of my life working in them too. Well, you know what? I did quit. And, I honestly didn't realize it till weeks after I had. The day I quit drinking like a fish was the day my daughter and I talked for the first time. Wasn't even a conscience decision - just happened. Don't get me wrong, I will drink in the future - on very rare special occasions, and that's okay too. The difference is, I don't need to use alcohol as an escape from what had been bothering me. I know that was a big part of my drinking. This is also something I have not discussed publicly until now - the reason I just quit drinking.
Man, I gotta condense this cuz I truly could go on and on. So, Chloe and I are reunited. It was so amazing because from the very first moment we talked, it was like we'd never been apart. As far as the bond I felt in my heart goes - I won't speak for her. But, it was easy. It just flowed. From the very first conversation, I told her I would never lie to her, and I never did. I told her that no matter how she feels - I can't say anything about that - all I know is that she is in my heart and she is my baby girl. I made it very clear that I did not have any desire to take the place of the father that raised her, or to interfere in any way with her life - her happiness. I didn't know what to expect - other than I loved her with all my heart and soul and I only asked for an opportunity to prove this to her.By the way - in the email you just read - that was the first time she called me dad. And, I don't think she could ever possibly know how truly happy that made my soul!
So, her and her sister had been raised in a Mormon home - both been adopted and I thought they were living this happy life filled with all the good stuff I could never give them. And, all the times I prayed to God, I was confident in that - we had a deal. That wasn't the case. That right there crushed me!!! And, I made it very clear that I DID NOT care about nothing but my daughters happiness and well-being and all she had to do was say the word and I'd come for her in a minute - literally! I had good brothers and sisters that were ready to take her in until I could catch the first thing to come and pick her up. And bless my baby girl's heart because while I'm freaking out, trying to figure out any way to come to her rescue - she's the logical one - knowing that it would result in a kidnapping charge - to say the least.
So, in the weeks that followed, we laughed - we cried - caught up on what we'd missed, and it truly was like we were never apart as far as coming together in love. Now, I had been promised that the family - no one - would ever speak a bad word about me. That was the deal - if I stayed away, they would never speak badly of me and tell both my girls about me when they turned 18. Wasn't the case - they demonized me from day one! They painted a picture of me that was even worse than the admitedly bad dude that I actually had been. I'll tell you what - throughout all these real shitty things that I learned, I not once expressed anger - NOT ONCE! I just explained myself the best I could - AND NEVER LIED! And, you know what - some of the things I said, I was not proud of, but this was me - what brought me to who I am today.
In mid August, her parents found out that we were communicating and that was it! They immediately filed a protective order. She called me crying, asking me to do whatever I could to get her back. Even giving me legal ideas. She is truly my daughter. ;-) I tried every single legal avenue and when she had been adopted, I gave up all legal rights to her. There had to be a way! I tried everything. It was a tough day when I had to tell her that. You have no idea! No matter how creative the legal idea was, I was helpless. Meanwhile, her parents filed against me in court - a no contact order. They had collected every email that we had sent to each other - even using information from my Myspace account. As a matter of fact, my Myspace account was exhibit A! But, that was fine - I truly had nothing to hide, and I hoped a judge would read what my daughter and I talked about because they would know that I was definately no danger WHATSOEVER to my daughter. And, the judge did - but no one can legally do anything once I gave up all parental rights. They asked for a permanent protective order and the judge denied that, ending it this coming August when she turns 18. But no contact until then.
Still, I heard through friends how she was doing. About a month later, I got a call from a friend -"WHERE ARE YOU?" And she told me to wait there - she was on her way to see me - it was very important! Deep down, I knew in my heart what it was - I didn't want to think about it, but I just knew. And my friend told me Chloe had tried to kill herself. Okay, I gotta take a little break here. I'll finish this in a minute...
Anyhow, it took a real effort to compose myself and somehow get her to know that she absolutely had to hold on - and somehow remind her of what she told me - WE CAN DO IT! It took so SO MUCH to try to compose myself and do what I had to do to be the best dad - and friend - to her when she turns 18, and basically just work on that until that day comes. I've been known for most of my life as one who follows his own set of rules, and those rules were all about not giving a shit about laws or social expectations of what I should do if they went against my own perception of what was right, moral, and proper. This was truly the first time I ever surrendered to the law of the land, and knew in my heart that the only way that I could be the best dad to my little girl was to follow every line of the law and prepare for her to come back into my life. And, that's what I have done - what I am doing.
The saddest thing is when all this happened, I wanted one opportunity for her parents to listen to what i had to say! This was NOT about me - and I meant every word of NOT wanting to interfere in any of their lives. From day one - I made that so clear! And, even to this day, I have not spoken oine bad thing about her parents. My ONLY concern was the happiness and welfare of my daughter, and THAT'S IT! I told her over and over again that all I cared about was that she is happy!!! So, the sad part is that I know had they chosen to hear me out just once, they would have known that I would have done whatever they asked - and they could have controlled the relationship between Chloe and I.
They read all our communications, and I have the copies too. There is not a one that I would not share with anyone - just a father and daughter making up for a lifetime of being apart. Throughout everything, I stressed a great respect for her parents. In the end, I was told that they are scared that I will lead her away from the Mormon religion, or bring up things from the past that they wanted to keep hidden. Again - had they chose to talk to me, I would have respected this. I really don't know anymore? In the end, whatever I feel is best for Chloe is what I will do!
So, that's the secrecy that I been hiding for these past seven to eight months. I realize that my online life is most likely monitored very closely by people who want any reason to make certain that I'm not there for my daughter when she turns 18. So, yeah - I've been walking on the proverbial rice paper for a while now. Oh, don't get me wrong - I AM NOT BEING SOMEONE I AM NOT!!! Well, you know that!!! LOL But, I know a lot of you who really know me, know that I have always been one to say exactly what's on my mind. And, sometimes things I've regretted. I have always looked at this for what it is - just another communication tool. I aint trying to be something I'm not. It's just me.
To have "just me" presented in a courtroom was something I never expected. To read legal papers that are based solely on my Myspace account was something I truly never thought about. And, so much can be taken out of context when most of your friends and family are what society would consider "anti-social". If a brother calls me "a nig", they stand on their soapbox and call me a racist! Never caring to discover that two of the children I adopted are half black. Before this, I did not give a crap what anyone thought of what I said! I didn't think about what to say - I just said it! So, yeah - it's still me - MOST DEFINATELY! But I kinda think before I say something now! Maybe that's a good thing? ;-)
Anyhow, I love my daughter, Chloe with all my heart and soul and maybe she can't read these words now - I hope that she will soon. And, I want her to know that she is never out of my heart and my thoughts. She is my hero! And, she has a big family waiting here for her. And, people that don't even know her who have already grown to love her for being who she is - Chloe!
We Can Do It!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
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