Kecak “fire dance”. Uluwatu, Bali
A tough decision many photographers face is deciding how the final image should look. This holds especially true in any type of portraiture. Many people are drawn to black and white, as often it’s more flattering to the model and as such, many people correlate black and white with more professional portraits.
Quite often I process photos in both color and black and white, but only post one version or the other; it’s not always an easy decision. The example above includes the full color, the same image with more muted tones, and the black and white version. Now, as a side note, it’s not always desirable to shoot night photos in total darkness; generally it’s more preferable to shoot right before dark so as to include more ambient light. Unfortunately, living on the equator, that gloaming period drops quicker than George W’s ratings.
If you ask me which one I prefer, I’d probably say the original. Novita has beautiful golden skin, and I think the original displays that glow true to life; I’m a bit biased though. The second includes a bit more processing, using adjustment layers, curves, and some color tweaks. This is more typical to fashion magazines and those that favor such manipulation. I’m not sure if it works or not this time. Perhaps if there were other colors in the image it’d be more successful. The final black and white is slightly harsh this time; once again, shooting in total darkness has that effect. Black and white definitely has its appeal in many photographs, but in this case I feel the lighting was too strong to make it work.
If anyone has a preference, let’s hear it. Do you find that you generally prefer color or black and white photographs?
They can also be seen individually via the photoblog here: In full color, muted tones, and black and white.
Rare self-portrait. Novita says I look ’serem’; (mean) in this one.
Taken yesterday with the sun to my back filtering through the window, bouncing off a mirror with me holding my Canon 5D off to the side and hoping for sharp focus. Handheld / existing light with Novita yellin at me to hurry up and get in the car.
Larger Photoblog version
The iMac turns 10 years old today. Is it the product that saved Apple from failing, faltering, or becoming a radically different company than it is today (remember, this is pre iphone/ipod/mac-craze)? The late 90’s were dark days for Apple.
My family’s ‘first’ computer was an Apple IIe, (with a whopping 64KB of RAM) followed by my dad’s early 90’s, “Macintosh Classic II“, and ‘Color Classic‘.
In my elementary and middle school years, all of our school computers were Apple. Summer afternoons were spent with my siblings playing Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, some odd RPG, as well as some game where you manage a lemonade stand?!?. Things were about to change: In one swift blow, our high school converted to a lab of Windows machines (this is pre-internet by the way). It was awkward switching, but we didn’t have much choice.
Our home computers also migrated to Windows machines; both my parents still use Windows laptops, as does my brother (despite my nagging). My sister and I, being in the design world, had more exposure to Mac once we entered university. However, throughout that time, I continued to use Windows PCs while not in class. The Mac users were a select few with shiny toys but very little compatibility with the rest of us.
Before arriving in Indonesia, I blew $2400 on a top of the line Compaq laptop (which still survives, care of one of my coworkers). It was a great laptop, but I just didn’t find myself using it enough. My work computer was also a Windows machine up until only the spring of 2007 when I finally convinced the Powers-That-Be to allow an iMac into the system. (about a third of the staff has switched to Mac as well now).
As my passion for photography began taking root a few years ago, I felt a craving to return to Mac at home. I also was in need of a more professional monitor to edit my work. My first (modern) Mac was a 20″ iMac G5, purchased in 2005. Cost me over $2300 once I upgraded the RAM. It was a wonderful computer that solidified my belief in Mac once again. I never had a single problem with it. Realizing I needed a computer while on our travels, I picked up the first generation Macbook within weeks of its introduction in 2006 (which is now Novita’s). I sold the iMac in the name of portability, (with pings of regret) purchasing my current Macbook Pro in 2007. At work I use a 20″ iMac C2D (aluminum design); a truly beautiful machine. The Industrial Designer in me has nothing but praise for the current design. They’ve come a long way.
Having said this, I believe a bit of reflection is in order.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest that without the iMac, Apple would either be out of business or a vastly different company than the one we see today. And certainly the iMac was the first Apple product to truly bear the stamp of Steve Jobs, as well as designer Jonathan Ive, both of whom have spent the last decade driving Apple on to even more impressive creations.
The Missing Links
Considering all these amenities, the most shocking part of the iMac isn’t what it offers, but what it lacks. The iMac has no floppy drive, which might be forgivable if there were a Zip drive or other removable-media option, but there isn’t.
And most dramatically, this new consumer offering has no SCSI port, no standard serial ports, and no ADB ports. Apple has opted to replace these familiar connections with USB, a high-speed serial architecture that has suffered from slow adoption on the Wintel platform despite its technical advantages (see the sidebar “USB: Ready for Prime Time?”). Currently, no USB devices exist for the Mac.
Will this latest chapter in the Macintosh saga be Apple’s success story at last? Only time will tell.
Am I Mac fanboy? Perhaps, but I’ve put in my time with Windows. But I also have a degree in design, so they speak to me more on that level than the sea of black and beige boxes, and have found that I’m much more creative and productive with the applications that are Mac specific.
Despite all this, ultimately, Macs are just another tool to wade through this Digital Dynasty; they just do it with a little more pizzazz.
This one wasn’t very popular on flickr. Perhaps the heavy manipulation isn’t for everyone. However, I believe she is more drawn to more heavily altered images, so I’ll be playing with a few different ideas.
I tend to go light on the Photoshop side of things, so this could get interesting.
More portrait work, both taken with a Canon 5D, the color shot was taken with a Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L IS, and the black and white with a Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 lens at f/2.
I’ve been doing portrait work for some friends. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do more of anyway, so this is a decent, mutually beneficial way of breaking new ground. One of the two friends likes more natural images, whereas the other seems to enjoy much more heavy manipulation. Hope I can please them both.
I’m actually considering doing more of this type of a thing on the side to help support my lens lust. (currently dreaming of a Canon 35mm f1.4L and 135mm f2L) Portraiture, pre-wedding, model shots, whatever. I’ve had many people ask me do do all three, and yet rarely accept any of the work.
In some ways expats have a nice head start in doing business in Indonesia with the initial assumption that we *must* be competent (a fallacy often), and yet, in other ways, it’s tough to break into a market that’s already built up, and to be worth my time and equipment costs, I need to charge more than many of the local photographers. Guess that’s why I’m keeping the day job.
Ok, now is your chance to criticize the design I implemented last night. If you’re wondering why things are so dark around here, I A) wanted a change, and B) thought black would help to better set off the photos compared with the white I’ve used for years.
How do you find the overall look? Is text easy to read? How about the header (was just playing around). Do you prefer the rotating header with photos that I’ve used in the past?
OR are you all viewing this site on RSS and don’t really care what the actual blog looks like? 
Any feedback is welcome.
I’m going to attempt to upgrade to WP 2.5.1 as well as the K2 theme all at once, in addition to playing with some new designs. Buckle up, this could get ugly.
My good friend and former co-worker (he left Indonesia last year) startled us all with news that he’d suffered a sudden heart attack after playing basketball. This is a man who has less than 10% bodyfat, eats well, and exercises on a daily basis. We were all absolutely shocked by the news, and it was only his quick thinking that saved his life. Unfortunately, I can’t imagine what would have happened had this occurred in Jakarta, considering the lack of emergency systems, horrendous traffic, and less than consistent health care. It was a story too close to home considering the passing of my boss and friend in 2006, who collapsed right before me, and whom we carried to the ER to no avail.
If nothing else, please take a moment to learn from his story. Here’s a video of him being interviewed on the news as he thanks the people who helped save his life. Originally posted here.
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It was a February afternoon and Jeff Campbell had just finished a basketball game.
In shape, and only 38, Campbell had noticed, but didn’t pay much attention to pains in his left arm over the previous week.
On his way home from the game, Campbell couldn’t help but recognize the pains had suddenly become much more severe.
He took a shower and couldn’t stop sweating.
That’s when Campbell knew something was terribly wrong.
“I think I knew when my heart started beating pretty rapidly that this was something I couldn’t take care of myself,” said Campbell.
Campbell then grabbed the phone and dialed 911.
“I was very glad I called when I did because I can’t recall how quickly it was that they came, but I knew within a minute or two I was unconscious and I wouldn’t have been able to call,” said Campbell.
When Parker paramedics arrived at his home, Campbell was unconcious.
Doctors say he suffered from a cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation.
Paremedics performed CPR and electroshock cardioversion.
Campbell’s cardiologist at Parker Adventist Hospital says Campbell’s call saved his life within a matter of seconds.
“Not many people his age would make a call and say, ‘I’m having a heart attack, or something is wrong with my heart. The paramedics, EMTs, as they arrive they play a crucial role, because they now know exactly when Jeff had his cardiac arrest. They also have enough history to give us some insight to what to do,” said Dr. Barry Molk.
Molk was just one of several health professionals who gathered at Parker Fire District Station 74 on East Lincoln to receive a big thanks from Campbell.
The group also included the emergency room team and members of the Parker Fire Department.
Dr. Molk credits the well-coordinated effort between the paramedics and hospital staff immediately following Campbell’s call.
During the resuscitation, the team of Parker paramedics recorded Campbell’s EKG and recognized that it was a heart attack that caused his cardiac arrest.
The team then activated a cardiac alert system by calling the emergency department at Parker Adventist Hospital.
Still, Dr. Molk says it all started with Campbell’s call.
“It’s always a surprise when someone this young has a heart attack. I think it was very astute on Jeff’s part, because a lot of people would ignore this and simply say it’s gotta be something else,” said Molk.
The American Heart Association reminds people of the warning signs for heart attacks.
First is chest discomfort that could last more than a few minutes, or it could go away and come back.
It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Second is discomfort in other areas of the body like the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
The third warning sign is shortness of breath without chest discomfort.
Other signs could include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
For more information on warning signs and or treatment, you can visit the American Heart Association’s Web Site at americanheart.org.
Can anyone identify this? It’s the first orange dragonfly I’ve ever seen!
Tampaksiring, Bali / Indonesia
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