In light of the incredible and historic election that has just taken place, I need to speak from my heart about my thoughts on the future and what the Barack Obama victory means to me.

First and foremost, as a outdoor photographer, artist, naturalist, and someone who has a very inquisitive interest about the natural world, I am hopeful for a renewed respect for the environment in this nation. The landscapes of United States are some of the most beautiful and wondrous in the entire world, and they are worth protecting and preserving so that our future generations may enjoy them just as we do now. As much as I enjoy photographing the wonders of the natural world, it would be terribly sad if printed or digital images were the only way that our children and grandchildren could see what I see when I go out and explore the terrain of our country, and our planet.

It is long past time for us to recognize and acknowledge that the footprint of six billion humans does have an impact on the climate of this planet. Our recent leaders have continued to dance around this issue with their heads in the sand, but I am hopeful that attitude will be begin to shift.

Secondly, as someone who loves to explore and photograph the different places and cultures of the world outside our borders, I am hopeful that our standing and our relationships with the rest of the planet’s peoples begins to improve. In the past, being an American traveler in foreign lands garnered friendship and admiration, not mistrust and suspicion and cool receptions, or even downright hostility. I am eager to go out into the world and be proud, instead of embarrassed, of my nation’s leader, and I am hopeful that the growing resentment of America around the world will begin to quell.

Lastly, as a professional small business owner, I too have had to ride the insecure tide of our current economic downturn just like many others. Rocky times often are hardest on the smaller companies, simply because we do not have the vast financial resources to ride out the difficult times. Although my own photography business has continued to grow throughout the years, it certainly would be doing much better if the economy in general was much healthier. Just like anyone who owns a business, I want it to thrive and prosper as much as it possibly can, and I am hopeful to see our country’s financial health get back on track in the next few years.

Like millions of Americans, I am eager for change, and after seeing the awesome results of the most important election of our time, I see it coming and I am excited.

November 5, 2008
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Thoughts on the Obama Victory and Hope for the Future

Here are a couple shots of Eagle Peak in the Chugach Range of Alaska. The first is an end of the day image with a reflection in Eagle Lake, the second is a Zoomify panoramic photo that was pieced together and prepared from three separate shots using the “Photomerge” utility in Photoshop CS3. It was taken from the summit of a nearby mountain, Cantata Peak.

Eagle Peak (6,955 feet) Chugach State Park, Alaska
Eagle Peak (6,955 feet) Chugach State Park, Alaska

 

Panorama of the Chugach Mountains from the summit of Cantata Peak (6,410 feet).
Panorama of the Chugach Mountains from the summit of Cantata Peak (6,410 feet). Click image to Zoomify.
October 20, 2008
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Eagle Peak, Chugach Range, Alaska

To those people who are still using Photoshop version 7, if you’ve been thinking about upgrading a newer version, you should do it now. You only have a few days left.

Adobe’s policy with Photoshop is that you are allowed to take advantage of the upgrade price only if your current software is up to three versions old. So, if you’re still using 7, that means you’re eligible to move to CS3, and with the release of CS4, Adobe has placed a deadline for this upgrade path only until October 15.

Unfortunately, if you want to move from Photoshop 7 to CS4, you’ll have to go through the upgrade twice- once to CS3, and then to CS4, although paying $199 twice is still less than paying $699 for the full version of CS4.

Read more here.

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Deadline to Upgrade From Photoshop 7 – October 15

There are many ways that people use Photoshop in their digital workflow. Some people use the powerful tools and filters to precisely correct levels and curves, selectively sharpen parts of the image, tone up or down the highlights and contrast, soften and retouch skin tones and use layer masks to adjust parts of a digital photograph.

Other people use them in different ways.

This obviously proves that Photoshop was designed by men.

Actually, if you’re interested in learning how to do stuff like this, you might want to check out Scott Kelby’s book, Photoshop CS4: Down and Dirty Tricks. If you use Photoshop Elements, check out Rob Sheppard’s Photoshop Elements 8: 100 Simplified Tips and Tricks.

October 2, 2008
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Proof that Photoshop was Designed by Men

Ahh, the endlessly advancing world of computer software. Just when I feel I’ve really gotten into an efficient stride with Photoshop CS3, which I was so incredibly pleased with, along comes CS4. Unfortunately, I’ve been so busy with my Alaska move, that I haven’t even gotten a chance to check it out yet. Maybe that’s a actually a good thing right now. I have enough on my plate to contend with at the moment, that delving into another version of Photoshop might just be a bit too much.

I’m sure that when thing settle down for me up here in Anchorage, I’ll give it a look. For now, though here’s a review of Adobe’s latest flagship imaging software, so that you can see what great new features are included in the new version.

Also,  here’s a really great Photoshop resource site to check out, PhotoshopSupport.com. It features tutorials, video clips, articles, reviews, news and tons of other useful Photoshop info.

And finally, if you want to experience Adobe Photoshop CS4 firsthand, you can sit through this video and pretend that you were actually there at the seminar.

October 1, 2008
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Adobe Photoshop CS4 Has Arrived

The move to Alaska is complete. I have my office up and running, and even managed to get outside on my bike and shoot a few photos the other day. Here’s a mountian biking image I shot during a particularly muddy ride. I keep hearing that it’s been an unusually wet summer up here around Anchorage, and all the deep puddles on the trails certainly reflect that.

Muddy Mountain Biking- Anchorage, Alaska
September 23, 2008
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Up and Running in Anchorage

Well, we made it to Alaska.

The move went without a hitch, which means the truck truck didn’t break down and the wife didn’t melt down during our 2,000-mile drive and 1,000-mile boat ride up the Inside Passage on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry. If you ever get a chance to take the ferry to Alaska, I’d highly recommend it- it’s an experience that you’ll never forget.

Rather than try to explain it with fancy words, I’ll just do what I do best; I’ll show you a few pictures.

      

Still looking for a place to live and working from the laptop and the iPhone. Hopefully we’ll be settled soon so that I can get my office up and running.

September 17, 2008
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The Alaska Marine Highway Ferry

The Apple iPhone is without a doubt the coolest innovation we’ve seen in a long time. It’s gorgeous 3.5-inch, wi-fi and fast network capabilities and its revolutionary touch technology makes surfing web sites and blogs a joy. Images and text are rendered beautifully in 480 x 320 pixel resolution. 

However, it does have it’s limitations when viewing blogs. Since blogs are essentially made up of chronological entries that follow each other on the page, and since they often contain so much information, it can take alot of scrolling with your finger to navigate down the page.

To make your experience here a bit easier on those of you who own these ultra cool gadgets, I’ve added the WPTouch WordPress plugin  to my own blog. This useful plugin automatically reformats the blog for optimum viewing on an iPhone or iPod Touch, even when you’re on Edge or 3G network.

Content is quickly loaded onto the screen as an indexed list of entries that can either be read as short excerpts or expanded into full size. All of the content in the original post, including images and iPhone compatible media is preserved.

The utility also adds a search bar and an easy to read menu that lists all of the pages and links on the blog, as well as the RSS Feed and an email button. It also gives you the option to read the blog in it’s regular web-style format. So, if you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, surf on by the next time you’re out and about.

I promise you, it will be loads of fun!

August 28, 2008
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Blogging on the iPhone