Digital SLR Cameras

Digital SLR Cameras are Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras which mimic what the professional 35mm film cameras did in previous years.  If you want much more information check out the link below.

http://reviews.cnet.com/dslr-buying-guide/

This is the camera I am saving for and am hoping I have the money by the time the new version comes out (rumored to be spring, 2012)...I'll believe it when it happens, though.

 

Photo /courtesy punkmedia.nl

Initially I was hesitant to switch from a film to a digital camera.  The convenience and instant aspect of it enticed me, but the compromise of quality kept me away for quite some time.  In fact, I didn’t break down and switch to digital until the end of 2006!  Now, I can’t imagine living without a digital SLR camera…actually I would love to have a set of at least 2, but more would be even better!  I love the fact that I can see instantly if I got the shot I was trying for or if I need to re-shoot.  I also love that I can shoot multiple versions of the same thing and unlike shooting film I don’t have to print them all, so it doesn’t cost anything!!  I guess you can tell I never did my own developing.  The downside is I spend a lot of time with my photos now!  If I add up the time to set up, shoot and “digitally process” my photos, there is a lot of time that goes into it.  Good thing I love it!  I am sure as I become more skilled with Photoshop, my processing time will be much shorter.

Now higher end digital SLR are coming with HD video capability.  I wonder what this means for the future of video cameras.  Soon only the very serious videographers will use a video camera as casual users can get video and still photos with one unit and there is much less to lug around.  I know I haven’t much need for a video camera at the moment.  I usually just rely on my phone or my point and shoot digital camera for that.  As for the future of photography…I sure hope the cameras just keep getting better and better!  It amazes me how far they have come in just the last ten years!

iPod Nano

We all know what they are.  Little pocket sized Apple devices holding music, videos, pictures, and podcasts with the ability to be used as digital audio recorders, video recorders and stream radio stations.  With Apple’s marketing how could we not know what these are?

When the iPods first came out I received an iRiver as a gift from a friend and I have to say it had superior sound quality, features and recording capability at a time when the iPods had none, but a few years later I gave into the iPod family when that same friend gave me an iPod 60G with video.  My Nano is actually my third iPod and the fourth I have purchased (two were gifts).  I love the portability of my Nano, though the new Nanos which are the about a quarter of the size of mine and can be worn like a watch would be ever so much more convenient.  I am not enticed by convenience enough to upgrade, though.  I mostly use my iPod Nano for my yoga practice and sometimes to listen to music at school in my studio art classes or when working on the layout at the school newspaper.  My love affair with my iPods has waned somewhat with music streaming on my computer, but I do still love to be able to have my entire music collection on one device.  I would have to say that was one of the most enticing features to me – to be able to put my entire collection on shuffle for days when I didn’t feel like picking something from my cds or playing a whole cd. 

I wonder how much further Apple will go with the iPod.  It seems like they are already becoming somewhat obsolete as many people are now using their iPhone, iPad, or similar smart phone as their mp3 player, too.  Will the iPod die or continue to improve?  The nanos at least still have the appeal of being small for workouts or travel. I am also sure I am not alone in that I prefer a separate mp3 player with longer battery life than draining my phone battery, so there must still be a market for them, just a smaller market .   I am eager to see how this plays out especially if technology is able to create a phone with a powerful enough battery to do all of these things and not have to be charged multiple times throughout the day…

Spotify.com

So, I am really diggin' on spotify.com. Apparently it's been around overseas for a while now, but is relatively new here in the states.  It provides links to new "hot now" music, allows for searching songs and playing them instantly and even allows the user to make playlists of songs he or she chooses.  They have a vast selection of mainstream music and lack a little in the obscure, but there is still a large variety available.  They have a premium option for about $10 a month which allows for offline streaming and mobile smart phone streaming both on and offline as well as lets you sync up to your iPod.

I just have the free version which I love when I am studying or editing photos.  It's great to be able to search new songs and get to listen to them immediately.  It even links up with Facebook, although I rarely allow that access.  Another cool thing I like about it is that it makes it easy to share music with friends, so when I hear a new song I like (or reminisce about an old song I haven't heard in a while) I can send it through messenger or share with a friend using Facebook.

Part of my "mellow" playlist

It seems to me sites such as this even further change the business of purchasing music.  Why buy the latest cds when you can listen to the tracks for free or even have offline streaming of them on your computer, iPod or other mobile device?  Hmmmm...I wonder if the music industry will try to fight against it...

Facebook

Facebook not exactly "new tech," but ever changing and dare I say....evolving
....need I explain what it is or what it does?  I think not.

I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook.  I don't think it's the best application that there could be for social media, but you gotta go where the people are since it doesn't make sense to be involved in social media that none of your connections are on.
I resisted for a while, but so many of my friends and people I was meeting around the world were Facebooking that I realized if I wanted to keep in touch I would have to give in.  I admit that there are some features that I really like.  It's super easy to send messages, links, photos and other digital sharing which is very convenient.  It allows for a sort of virtual catching up with friends I haven't seen for a while.  Also, since many of my friends have children now I am able to see recent photos and updates even when they live far away.  I really don't care much for the Facebook ethics with regard to privacy, but since that hasn't had a significant impact on my life - WTH...guess I'm sticking with it...

It will be interesting to see if Facebook endures or if some other social media ends up taking over in the future.  Personally, I think it would take a lot to get millions of people to switch since most people are fairly comfortable with it and don't like to learn new interface when they don't really have to.

The beginning of my Web Design class blogs

First of all I want to put this out there...
I abuse the hell out of exclamation points and ellipses!!!  ...and I know it!!!

So...

Enjoy the blog!!!

I think these are my final magazine layouts...

I think I finally settled on my magazine layout...and with no time to spare!  I have to get this ordered ASAP, so that it will arrive in time for finals!  It was really fun to shoot for this and even though I have all of my images I still find myself stopping every time I see an interesting light. I think I might keep adding to this collection for a while.

First attempt at some 2 page spreads...

I reworked one of my possible covers for the magazine.  The magazine is still in its very early stages right now - lots of brainstorming.  I also did some experimenting with photos this week and took pictures not only of lamps and lighting, but of other objects that were lit whether by sun, electricity or fire to see if I want to expand my concept for this project.  Here are a few spreads I worked up.  I am realizing that sometimes photos I like side by side in the preview window of Bridge don't always look very nice next to each other in magazine form.  I am also still trying to decide if I want to add any text or just make this about the images.  Here are the mock ups.

Reworked Possible Cover Page

Possible Two Page Spreads