Photo ABCs

M is for Macbook Pro!

Until a year or two ago, I used a Powerbook (laptop) for my office work and a Mac Pro (desktop) for my home computing and photography (Photoshop). Probably like many others!

When the Macbook Pros arrived, I decided that they were more powerful than my previous Mac Pro desktop computer, so I consolidated all of my computing into my Macbook Pro, sold my old Mac Pro, (and almost came out even!) My life instantly became much easier. No more trying to synchronize email and other files between computers (despite the .mac accounts, it's a major pain!) 

I always wondered, though, how to optimize my Macbook Pro for Photoshop use, since now and then it seems to slow down. Do I get an external drive to serve as a scratch disk? Do I increase the size of my internal hard drive? And darn, I wish I could put more than 4 gb memory inside! 

I've been considering writing to my friend and Mac-performance guru Lloyd Chambers with these questions. Lo and behold, he beat me to it! He produced an entire website devoted to answering exactly these questions, in a language so simple than even I (not a computer geek!) could understand.

He then linked his recommendations to the OWC (Other World Computing) website, where all of these items are available for easy purchase on a single page!

For many years I have only used OWC as my only source for hard drives and memory, and cannot recommend them highly enough for reliability and service, at a reasonable price.

So, as soon as I can afford it, I will take Lloyd's suggestions, speed up my Macbook Pro, and enjoy my Photoshop experience even more! (It's cheaper than a new laptop, and will give better performance).

p.s.: Lloyd recommends an external e-sata striped drive for a scratch disk, increasing the size of the internal hard drive, and increasing the memory to 6gb (it's now possible, with OWC's new memory!) See his website for details and the link.

 

S is for St. Clair Gallery!

Gallery director Howard Bagley's tireless efforts have transformed ordinary office space into the St. Clair Gallery, now one of San Diego's top destinations for artists and art lovers. 

I have three photographs now on display, hanging alongside art from 40 of San Diego's top artists.

Please join me at the reception on Tuesday December 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be a Christmas tree with lower priced art in time for your holiday shopping!

The show runs now through January 9, 2009.

Find the St. Clair Gallery at 270 East Douglas Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020.

 

(619) 401-4000

 

B is for Birds!

As winter approaches, more birds are vacationing in San Diego, so I've been spending more time photographing them.

I've added dozens of new bird photos to my pbase photosharing website, and rearranged them so similar species are together. (bird of a feather...) If you like birds, (or even if you don't!), check them out here. Then let me know what you think!

If you would like to become a better bird photographer, my friend Steve Cirone leads instructional bird photography tours in the San Diego area and will show you what you need to know. 

H is for Harry Benson!

It was my pleasure to attend a slide show by Harry Benson recently at San Diego's  Museum of Photographic Arts. Harry Benson, born in Scotland, "arrived with the Beatles" to the United States in 1964. He photographed for LIFE Magazine from 1970 to 2000, and now shoots for Vanity Fair and others.

He photographed the Beatles, every president from Eisenhower to George W. Bush, photographed to scene at Robert Kennedy's assassination, photographed the construction of the Berlin Wall and its demolition.

Just a few highlights of slide show include:

His favorite image: the Beatles having a pillowfight.

His most difficult portrait subject: Bobby Fischer. He got Fisher to open up to him by taking a walk with him and discussing Fischer's admiration for Joe Namath. He gave Fischer a picture he had taken of Namath.

Most dangerous assignments: (among many): race riots in Watts and in the South.

Tips on photographing the famous: "these people don't want to pass this way unnoticed and unrecorded," so they will cooperate to a large extent. However, he says "never give the details of tomorrow's shoot" because it's likely that an uncooperative spouse will nix the idea! 

Photographing Ronald Reagan: he was very gracious and easy to photograph. And his "funny stories were actually really funny!" 

How he photographed Robert Kennedy's assassination scene: as much as he was stunned, he told himself to "keep shooting" because "that's what I'm there to do."

The state of photojournalism today: "It should be better but it's worse." He decried all of the "fake photographs" prevalent in magazines-- like a Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum!

What a good photograph should be: "A glimpse in time, then it's gone!"

If you ever get the chance to see Harry Benson speak, don't miss it! His incredible images can be seen at his simple and elegant website: Herry Benson.

S is for Slide Show!

I will be giving my Route 66 slide show for the Friends of Lake Murray, this Thursday, November 20, at 5:00 p.m. The show is open to the public, and the meeting takes place at St. Dunstans Church, at 6556 Park Ridge Blvd, La Mesa, CA. If there's time I will show some bird and flower photos, too.

I hope to see you there!