An Unexpected Bonus

The day after the Republican debate in Mesa, Arizona, I gave a photo seminar to a local computer club.  After the presentation, and since the Convention Center was so close by, we decided to stop and get the feel of how it must have been to be present for this event.  Crews were busy tearing down and cleaning up.  People were just leaving after the finish of an outside concert.  There seemed to be excitement in the air on this beautiful sunshiny day.

Just down the sidewalk and around the corner we saw the CNN bus.  It was very impressive with its election campaign paint job.  I took some photos and then met the driver.  I told him that I was a retired jet pilot but my secret fantasy was to drive a large bus like this.  He said “Let’s go in, fire it up, and you can drive to our next stop in Oklahoma.”  He was kidding of course, but did gave us a full tour.  It was fascinating for me, as a technology nut, to digest the magnitude of the whole thing.  One side was covered with flat screen monitors, the other side with a long couch and all the other luxuries you can imagine.  The back of the bus was chucked full of electronics manned by a full time technician.  They have the capability of transmitting four satellite feeds simultaneously. 

Giving my photo seminars is always a blast, but this was an extra unexpected bonus for the day.  Thanks for the hospitality and the tour Dale!

GOTCHA!

Internet scams are nothing new.  Viruses, spyware, and malware have been around for years.  The problem today is that some of these scams look very official and the average person is fooled into spending money only to make matters worse.

Let’s take a look at what typically happens.  A window appears on your screen notifying you that you have x amount of corrupted files caused by a virus.  It will offer you a button to click on to do a free scan of your system.  You click on it and the program simulates a scan then tells you that you can rid your system of all this nasty stuff by clicking on another button.  When you do it tells you that you can download a program to fix these problems.  When you continue it says that it will cost you $56. You give them your credit card number, then download the program.

Now you have just made matters worse and you’ve been taken! This company, probably in Russia, has your credit card information and your computer is now trash until you call a technician.

Here is what the latest scam looks like.  It’s called Win 7 Anti-Spyware 2012.  If you see this on your screen turn your computer off, then reboot into safe mode with networking, update and run Malwarebytes.

If this is above your confidence level, then just turn off your machine and call a tech, or take your tower or laptop to a repair facility.  If you did proceed and do the download you will want to call your bank, cancel that transaction and you probably will want a new credit card!

It’s sad to say, but we should constantly be aware of scams.  Never give out any passwords and only credit card information if you are absolutely positive of whom you are dealing with.

A Time to Reflect

December is a month when we mentally review the past year.  What were the highlights?  What did I accomplish?  Am I just existing?  Am I really happy?  Take stock of these questions, evaluate, then decide that 2012 will be the best year of your life! 

Don't be ordinary anymore, think "out of the box."  Look for new adventures, new people to meet, new places to go.  Start living with passion and purpose.

Visualize your new life and create the world you want to surround you.  Wake up in the morning with only positive thoughts and thank God for your health and wealth!  You might say "I'm not wealthy."  Oh but you are!  If you have 2 dollars in your pocket, something to eat in the refrigerator, and a roof over your head, you are wealthier than 95 percent of the world!  Celebrate your life now, give yourself a pat on the back and move forward with conviction!  Life is what YOU make it and no one can tarnish your vision unless you let them.

Most people think that more money will make them happy.  But the question is how much money? There have been countless number of people who have won the lottery.  They purchased the mansion, the fancy car, and all the toys, but most of them are totally broke today and living in misery.  There are countless examples of people who have or had it all and they are not happy.  A host of people idolize Hollywood, but look at the life these people lead.  Adultery, divorce, alcohol, drugs, pornography, are the masters of their lives. When you can buy anything with the snap of a finger, what do you look forward to when you wake up in the morning?

So let's, you and I, make a deal right now.  Let's be happy and grateful for what we have. Let not money be our God.  Starting today we will "Live with passion, in a constant state of joy, and with an Attitude of Gratitude!"  Watch this two minute video to celebrate you.  After that if you're feeling pumped up, then watch this one to remind you to appreciate and be grateful for TODAY!  Be sure to watch all videos in the highest resolution, full screen, and volume turned up.  If the video is jerky, then lower the resolution.

An Unusual Experience

Every once in a while you experience something that is unusual and memorable, and such was the case on a recent camping trip.

We spent a week over Thanksgiving with lots of friends and our RVs, camping in the mountainous wilderness north of the old western town of Wickenburg, Arizona. 

During the day we rode our all terrain vehicles, exploring the unknown; old deserted gold, silver, and copper mines.  We have even found graves out in the middle of nowhere.

So, let’s get to the unusual.  We are riding along in a river bed and I see someone walking toward us in the distance.  Now keep in mind that we are miles from any campsite and I’m wondering what this person is up to.

As we get closer we see that it’s a woman and she is hiking with three friends.  A llama, a donkey, and her dog.  What a site!  So we pulled up and got acquainted. (Click on photos for larger view.)

The dog, a miniature collie, immediately treats us like long lost buddies, and the llama and donkey are equally as friendly. We had a great time getting to know all four of these characters.

Here, “Angel” is telling Diane that they have walked for miles and is ready to be back home as she is carrying all the supplies.  This woman must have been in good shape because they had already gone 5 miles and had more than that to hike a circle route to get back to camp.

 

The donkey drank out of Diane’s hand and they also had a good talk.  This guy was just too cute.

Well, after a while we mounted up and rode off, only to look back and see this group hiking off in the distance.

You just never know when you’ll have an unusual experience and this  will go in the books as one of them!

iPhone Photography

The world of photography has changed drastically since the advent of the digital age.  Gone are the days of spending your cash on film and developing.  You’ll also remember that picking up your order after processing you were often disappointed in the results of your photos.

Digital cameras did away with all this.  You can see instant results and take as many shots as you wish without spending additional cash.

In the last few years even simple pocket cameras have become very sophisticated offering lots of cool features and producing wonderful photos.

With the release of the iPhone 4, iPhone photography gradually became popular.  Some of your “top notch” professional photographers are taking photos with this camera with some amazing results.  Now with the release of the iPhone 4s, sporting an 8MB camera, the fun is even better!

Recently I came across a telephoto lens for my 4s.  Telephoto lens on an iPhone?  Sounds ridiculous and that was my thought when I first saw it on the Internet.

In a local ad I saw this lens on sale for $24.99, and I thought why not try it, might be fun.  I was pleasantly surprised by the results, especially at such an inexpensive price!

The lens comes with a special protective cover for the iPhone so that the lens can be attached.  It’s a 2 second operation to do this.  A small tri-pod is even included.

I took the lens out of the box, snapped on the cover, and walked outside to the front porch where I snapped this picture looking up the street.

Then I attached the telephoto lens, which you can do blindfolded, and took another shot standing in the same spot.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the results of this 8X zoom lens.  (You may click on the photos for a larger view.)

Both photos were enhanced using Paint Shop Pro X4 and Topaz Filters, but that didn’t change the fact that this little lens did a very decent job.

The nice thing about this lens is that it is only 3” long and can be carried in your pocket.  And, of course the beauty of your iPhone is that you always have a camera with you!

If you shoot photos with your iPhone, you’ll definitely want to add “Camera +” to your phone.  This app will let you shoot with constant light, or flash, shoot with amazing burst rates, set the focus and exposure points, edit your photos, and send them to email, instant messages, Facebook, Twitter, and more.

Just more fun in the digital age of photography!

Have fun with your picture taking.  Here’s my final word on this:

“Your birth certificate proves that you were born.  Your death certificate proves that you died, and your photos prove that you LIVED!

Take Your Best Shot

There are many types of photographers, casual, intermediate, advanced, and professional.  There are many types of cameras from inexpensive point & shoot to very expensive pro DSLRs.  Just because the person standing next to you has a pro model and you’re using a point & shoot doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she will take a better photo.

Some of the advantages of a DSLR are the ability to change lenses, much faster start up time and writing time to the card.  Other advantages include more menu choices, faster burst rates, the ability to use lens filters, and higher ISO settings.

Whether your camera is a 5 megapixel or an 18 megapixel you won’t tell the difference on your computer screen.  They both will produce a very nice 11x14 print.  The rule here is simple: the benefit of more pixels is the ability to render larger prints. Another advantage of more pixels is when cropping a photo you will still have enough pixels left for an 8x10 or an 11x14 print.

Most people don’t like to read manuals but it is a great advantage to learn as much as you can about your camera.  An important part of your knowledge should include white balance.  Sometimes auto WB will do a decent job, but most of the time a custom WB setting will create a better photograph.  After studying your manual…then practice, practice, practice! 

Before shooting be sure all your camera settings are correct.  Now study the light.  Often the best shots are achieved 90 degrees from the sun.  Take horizontal and vertical shots and lots of them.  Be creative and use different angles.  When shooting children or pets, get down on their level.

Very few photos come out of the camera looking perfect.  Learn the art of post editing to make your photos “pop.”  For example this photo taken in Sedona, Arizona, is right out of the camera.

After a few minutes of editing, that photo looks like this!  (Click on photos for larger view.)

After editing save your photo using the “Save As” command, thus saving the original.


Now that you’re proud of your photos, you will want to share them.  You can email them to friends, print them, frame them, post them to the Internet or even make a photo book.

Lastly you’ll want to protect your photos.  Be safe, not sorry, by copying them to an external hard drive!

Attitude is Everything!

I wish it possible that every person, at a young age, could realize how “Attitude” is so important in our lives.  Every situation that presents itself is perceived by a person’s attitude.

It’s as simple as this:  Good attitude, good results, bad attitude, bad results.  I admit that it’s tough sometimes.  Negative situations will arise because we don’t live in a perfect world, but it’s up to us to take the positive away from any negative situation by changing our attitude. 

It’s easy to be judgmental.  You can always find fault in other people but rather than dwell on the negative, think about what you like about that person.  Doing this will automatically change your attitude.

Life is built on continuous choices.  We have a choice the first thing when we wake up in the morning; to be positive or to be negative.  We have the ability to choose our thoughts.  It’s impossible to be in a bad mood if you’re thinking a happy thought!

Having an “Attitude of Gratitude” will change your life!  Most people are always wanting more and never stop long enough to realize how blessed they really are.  When we are grateful life will give us more.

Imagine good things appearing in your life.  Albert Einstein said:  Imagination is everything.  It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”

Use your imagination to build an image of the world you want to live in.

“Live life with passion, in a constant state of joy, and with an attitude of gratitude!”

“We are what we think about.”  ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!

Watch this amazing video from the producers of “The Secret.”  Turn up the sound and click the arrows on the bottom right of the video to view in full screen.

America Today.

It is my opinion that America is in deep trouble and those indicators are totally surrounding us today.

I’m stating this, not as a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or any other political affiliation, but as a person who loves his Country and wants America to be what is has always been, a strong free Nation, based on the laws of our founding fathers.

You don’t have to look far and wide for the indicators that we are falling apart. Our Constitution is being ignored and abused, we are in debt up to our ears, our borders are not secured, and we are passing laws that no one has read or understands. Common sense, logic, and ethics have gone down the drain.

One example of common sense is the fact that we can’t spend more than we make. That is very basic, but some Americans have lost that logic and and have purchased the big house, car, and all the toys, only to find out that they can’t pay for them, so they just walk away. Now the lenders are left holding the bag and big government has to bail them out. This becomes a vicious circle and our government is way over its head in debt.

Now our Congress and the President are fighting tooth and nail over regulating this debt and our leader wants to spend even more. This is insanity! All you Washington fat cats in your ivory tower with your big salaries and all your benefits should adhere to the same laws that the rest of us do. That’s one change we want to see!

I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing some people still blaming George W. Bush for all of our problems. Sure we had debt during his administration, but our present leader has added another 4 trillion dollars to the pile, more than any President in our history. This wild spending has to stop.

I have worked every day of my life since the age of 12 when I had a paper route. I worked during high school and college and every day henceforth. At the age of 72 I’m still working to provide for the well being of my family and now our leader is threatening taking away my social security. If this happens it would be fraud. There is no other word for it. You took my money all those years under the guise of taking care of me. You spent my money and are now crying that you’re broke! That is stealing and if I practiced this you would put me in prison.

I would also be in prison by entering any other country illegally! Just see how far you would get sneaking into another country, demanding your so called rights, demanding they speak your language and flying your flag over theirs. Go ahead, just try it!  If you want to live in America then do it legally. Obey our laws and speak our language.

Why are we relying on enemy countries to supply us with oil? Why are we paying $4 a gallon for gasoline?  Why are we not drilling in America where there is almost an unlimited supply? Please tell me.

Why do we have to talk to a person in a foreign country for technical support on almost any product?  Why aren’t these jobs in America?

Why can’t we use the powerful media called Television to entertain and educate our people? 95% of TV programs are trash and are contributing to the moral decay of our society. Let’s not even talk about Hollywood and the movies. It’s all about sex, drugs, and violence including most of today’s video games.

The kids of today see all this as common place; they don’t know any different. Gone are the days of good clean fun programs and movies. Some of today’s wonderful programs include Housewives of New York City, 16 & Pregnant, Teen Mom, How to look good naked, Roseanne’s Nuts, Cheating Housewives, Jerry Springer, and the list goes on & on.

I am not a purist and am certainly not perfect, but I do believe in free enterprise, my freedom to believe in God and believe that it’s time for America to get back on its feet. There is no free lunch! My motto is “You don’t work, you don’t eat.”

May I interject a couple of other opinions? I served in the Armed Forces in the early sixties. I have the highest respect for any soldier or sailor who attained the rank of General or Admiral. In most instances their character qualities, moral & ethical standards were of the highest degree. Please listen to this Retired General who also was a green beret and member of the special forces.

Lastly please listen to one of our pastors, Trent Renner, who gave this message the weekend of July 23rd to five services of 15,000 people. If you don’t go to church, that’s okay, just give him a chance to tell his story.

Each one of us must pitch in to build a better America, and discard the philosophy of “let the other guy do it.”

The words above are not about me, they are about us!

What are your goals?

I try to be a better person each day of my life. Not saying that I'm always successful but at least it's on my mind.  We all have wishes and wants, but often times miss the boat.  Why?  Maybe it's because there was no road map, no strategic plan.  

We set goals such as "I will lose weight" but that's too general, we need to be more specific.  I will lose 10 pounds in the next 10 months and I will do that by not snacking while sitting on the couch.  Now that's a plan.

I like to associate life with the game of football.  There's a goal at the end of the field and you get there with a game plan.  On each down the quarterback calls a play and that play has a specific plan.  No plan, no goal!  You can do anything in this world, the only thing that will stop you will be you! 

I found a web site that is chocked full of good stuff to help us travel down the highway of life in the happy lane.  Lots of good articles such as "7 questions to find passion" or "A better person in 7 days."  This is a site where you could spend all day reading and getting motivated!

Star Tracking

I know next to nothing about the heavens above us but there have been many a night, when we have been camping in the Arizona wilderness, when we have studied the stars and watched for satellites.  This has aroused my curiosity on how to photograph the stars.

With the purchase of my new Nikon DSLR and thought I’d give “star tracking” a try on a recent camping adventure.  We spent 10 days camped at an altitude of 7,200 feet and it was clear each night with no moon, so the conditions were just perfect.

I understood that the North Star is stationary and that the rest of the stars in our galaxy revolve around it.  So late at night I set up the camera on a tri-pod and found my way to a clearing in the middle of 90 foot trees about 100 yards from our campsite.

I was very excited with this first attempt, but as you can tell the North Star was out of the picture. (Upper left)  I thought it was located off the handle of the big dipper.  Over the period of three nights I shot several photos trying to get that full circle.
For you camera nuts the stats are: Manual mode, 801 seconds, 18mm, F3.5, ISO 400, Tungsten WB, EV 0.

The outside temperature was 34 degrees so I only took two or three shots per night as my hands and feet were cold, and to tell you the truth, it was a little spooky in the pitch black.  In this shot I was lucky enough to get a shooting star.  You can see the streak in the lower right 1/3 of the photo.  (Click on images for larger view.)  I am very pleased with the results, but so far I’m not finding the North Star and the above photo is even further away.  You can see the type of picture that I was striving for here.

I'll call it beginners luck that these shots turned out because there are so many variables with camera settings.

When we got back to Phoenix I could hardly wait to do some research on this and found out that the North Star is actually off the handle of the little dipper.  So, the next time we get out in the middle of no where, far away from city lights on a moonless night, maybe I can get that circular shot.  In the meantime I have found a new sideline to tie in with my love for photography!  See more shots on my Photo Site.

For an in depth look into the heavens, you might enjoy watching this video taken with the Hubble Telescope.  It’s mind boggling!