I’ve noticed quite a bit of uptick in the marketing to go to various photography conferences (ie, Photoshop World) and workshops than in past years. Direct e-mails, more blog posts, discounts, extending early bird registration timeframes etc.

Taken in Fall, 2009 – a couple sharing a moment of tenderness with each other.

• No onboard entertainment.
• Removal of phones and power outlets
• Paying for all checked luggage
• Paying for sodas, tea, and coffee
• Overhead lights that do not work
• “Advertisements”/”Announcements” for credit cards, SkyMall, and other “revenue” opportunities
• Only one “run down the aisle” for the opportunity for food and drinks – even on 4 plus hour flights

I don’t think it’s ever been this bad ….

Not any clearer than Best Western’s…

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As I’ve tried to mature and grow as a photographer, I’ve studied other photographer’s work much more closely than I had previously:

• What is the subject of the photo? How identifiable is it? Are there extraneous elements?
• Does the picture tell a story?
• How does the eye move through the photo? Where does it go to first?
• When was the photo taken?  This is both the time of the day as well as the time of the year.  You don’t get colorful leaves except in fall and sunbeams only appear in slot canyons during the summer.
• What were the approxiamete aperture and shutter speed settings?
• Why did they choose the particular composition?
• What compositional elements did they use? color, patterns, lines, shapes, texture
• How did “light” play into their photograph?
• How did they choose to post process the work?
• Does the background enhance or distract?

With my first digital SLR, it produce RAW files sizes were generally about 10 meg in size.  My new camera now produces RAW files that range in size from 21 to 35 meg in size.   The extra 2-3 times in size really utilizes hard disk space at a much greater rate.  So much so, that I’ve modified by workflow slightly to help keep it in check.  A few things that may help you -

1. Convert to DNG format.  This takes the file size down to 16 to 25 meg in size.  A reduction of about 25 to 35%.  There’s only a couple of trivial negatives to this – the file import takes longer into Lightroom and I can no longer use Canon’s DPP software.  (Of course, I don’t have the software install anyways.)
2. Think about what you are shooting?  Take less to begin with.  Is the light or conditions even right?
3. Ruthlessly delete.  Since I’m simply an enthusiastic amateur, I don’t have much need to save things that aren’t keepers.  I’ve also found that I rarely go back to those that I haven’t marked as my top one through tags.
4. Instead of keep the original RAW files around, I’m choosing to utilze processed JPEGs in some instances.  I can already hear the purists whining.   My top shots, I always keep the RAW files, but there are other situations where if I know I’m not going to re-visit a subject, the finished jpegs are sufficient.

Well with a beautiful day and the need to keep my son entertained for several hours, we went to the North Carolina Zoo (NC Zoo) in Asheboro today.  Needless to say, we weren’t the only ones with the same thought.  This weekend’s unseasonably warm weather had to catch the staff off-guard.

Not a whole lot of space for more kids!