Macro Photo Studio 1.0

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Wes Johnson

While working on some of my future blogs, I decided I want to include some pictures of these items.  In the past when I’ve taken close-up pictures of objects, they’re usually outside; for instance flowers.  However, when I’ve taken inside pictures, they don’t look quite so nice.  Usually the lighting is off or too strong.  It never looks quite right. 

To avoid the lighting issue, I decided to update my photo equipment.  No, I haven’t found my affordable dream camera yet.  I’m still looking for that one.  I didn’t want to spend a lot of money either.  So, I opted for a low-tech solution.  I did some research on the internet and found sites that show how to create a macro photo studio or photo light box.

Strobist: How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio

How to Make an Economical Photo Light Box

Fortunately, I had an old moving box in the garage, so I was able to make the frame.  I cut out the sides & top. I used Gorilla Glue to reinforce some of the seams.

Macro Picture Studio

Macro Picture Studio

Instead of using tissue paper I used white butcher/parchment paper.  I mask taped the paper to the box.  I didn’t have the poster board for the back so, I took the butcher paper and doubled up, then taped it to the top back of the box.

I plan to open up the front bottom of the studio to allow poster board to slide in & attach to the top.  I read a suggestion in the Economical Photo Light Box to velcro the poster board to the top back of the box.  This makes a lot of sense.

 

First light box photo

I did noticed, even though the light was good, the lighting could have been a little stronger, so I’ll replace the 40 watt light bulbs with 60 watt reveal light bulbs.  If that doesn’t work, I’ll use halogen lights.
This was a fun project.  I’ll be using a lot in future blogs.
Till next time, check out these websites on the DIY Macro Picture Studio
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Mobile Family Album

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Wes Johnson

Family Pictures

How many times have you been to a dinner, social event or even a family reunion when someone asks if you have current pictures of the family?  This happened to me a while back.  I had to admit that I didn’t have any current pictures in my wallet.

A bright idea

I decided to take my advice in my blog capture your ideas, so I brought up notepad and added the following note “todo: update picture collection in wallet”  Before I was finished typing in the note, it occured to me this is kind of silly. 

  • Your phone has a camera right?
  • Your phone can display pictures right?
  • Are you ever without your phone?
  • Most people in general, as American Express would say, “never leave home without it.”

Take your Family Album Mobile

Here are some ideas for your Mobile Famly Album

  • Sources of pictures
    • use pre-existing images, usually jpg
    • scan photos
    • scale them when necessary to fit your phone resolution
    • Take pictures with your built-in camera
  • Picture ideas
    • Your significant other
    • You with your significant other
    • Your family members
      • Your Grandparents
      • Your Parents
      • Your Children
        • Your Grandchildren
      • Your Siblings
        • Nieces & Nephews
      • Your Aunts & Uncles
        • Your cousins
      • Your Pets
    • Don’t forget your future family members too

Why didn’t I think of this a long time ago?

Till next time, “todo: update Mobile Family Album”

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BLOG SPAM

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Wes Johnson

SPAM seems to be a problem wherever you go on the internet.  Unless you’ve never used email before, you’ve probably received at least one SPAM email.  You know those unwanted emails that try to sell you performance enhancing drugs, get rich quick schemes, and phishing scams.

You would never expect to see this kind of thing appear in blogs.  Unfortunately, if the default blog settings allow comments to appear, the SPAMMERS will have a field day with it.  They post the same kind of stuff that gets sent via email.

One tool that helps fight SPAM is to require admin approval for any comment.  Enabling this filter helps prevent the end user from being exposed to SPAM, but the administrator must still deal with the SPAM comments.

Another tool that helps WordPress bloggers fight SPAM is the Akismet plugin.  This is a wonderful tool that in my experience has kept up with the attempts of SPAMMERS to fool the system.

One more tool that I plan to utilize soon is the CAPTCHA mechanism that tries to determine if the user is human or a robot before it accepts a comment or Form submission.  I’ve heard about some that aren’t so smart so robots can work around them.  Before I commit, I’ll be evaluating the available plugins for the most effective solution.

Special thanks goes out to the developer of Akismet.  You have done a wonderful job of detecting and blocking SPAM in WordPress.

If my blog ever gets as popular as your commercial limit, I would be happy to pay.

Till next time,  I’ll be evaluating the latest WordPress SPAM fighting solutions

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Technorati post

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Wes Johnson

The purpose of this post is to claim my blog in Technorati [qyme5w76kf]

This is for computer consumption only.  For all you humans reading my blog, you can ignore the Technorati post.

I’ll be posting my blog for human consumption after this one.

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Olympus C-3000 Zoom more thoughts

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Wes Johnson

In my previous blog on Olympus C-3000 Zoom I forgot to mention two other features that are on my list of must have list.

Rose up close and personal

Rose up close and personal

Additional must have features: 

1. The Macro Mode is a must have for taking really close-up pictures.  The picture “Rose up close and personal” was taken using a macro lens on my current camera.  There are many times when you want to capture the minute details of an object.  The Olympus C-3000 Zoom does this very nicely.  The next camera I get needs to at least meet the quality of this camera.

2. The built-in lens hood is another must have.  Ever since purchasing my camera we have had a constant battle with keeping track of the lens cap.  My next camera, I want less to think about.  Not having to worry about the lens cap will be a definite plus.

The size of the camera doesn’t really matter as much, as long as I can have all the other features I’m looking for in a similar form factor as my current camera the Olympus C-3000 Zoom.  I’ve already seen many cameras that come really close to my ideal camera.  I’m sure I won’t have to wait much longer for my entire feature wishlist to be fulfilled.

Till next time, I’ll still be using my camera to capture life around me.

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