Haiti, November 2013

It is positively pouring as I write this. I'm sitting hunched over my laptop in a darkened room, on a simple wood-frame bed with a one-inch thick mattress. The rain is soothing. And the occasional drops penetrating the screened window tease my skin with its cool, cleansing qualities.

Stepping out of the Port-au-Prince airport this afternoon into a sweltering heat seems like just a scenario I've experienced dozens of times in dozens of other places.  Except this time it's in a place which evokes mysterious dread and hopelessness interlaced with heavy sighs. I promise no one has said, 'You're going to Haiti? That's awesome!' Even as the plane touched down on the runway, my companion and I had exchanged quizzical glances — what, indeed, would we find here.

Now, six hours later, I'm filled with possibilities, hope and an enthusiasm that's keeping me awake (and writing) rather than getting the rest I'll probably need tomorrow.

I'm here with a micro-lending NGO considering an expansion here. My attraction to this particular group is their model of working through established, trusted community infrastructure, no matter it's affiliation. In this case, it is a local ministry with a vision of equipping the poor with the means to transform their own families, and ultimately communities, through small business loans.

Which is how I find myself in the guest compound of the ministry. A representative of a partnering organization met us at PAP with two pastors and a translator. The ride through PAP included sometimes paved, mainly not, roads in various stages of decay or destruction. Streets teeming with cars and people took us past decent neighborhoods, international headquarters for various NGOs, a plethora of UN locations, and everywhere the small, sidewalk markets.

Inside our gated, beautiful though sparse guest compound, we unloaded our gear and joined the others for our first traditional Haitian meal: a chickpea soup with beef and vegetables. [No worries to those who know me... my vegan diet was established early in the trip and they seemed to relish ladling out my soup sans boeuf. After all, it meant more boeuf for everyone else!]. Our hosts are engaging, impassioned, and fun. It was great sorting out language conundrums around the table: english, creole, french, the spanish still stuck in my head from Nicaragua. Such joy listening to the lilting French I really love, but haven't heard, or had the opportunity to speak for quite awhile! I doubt I will be up to speed in the 2 full days we have here, but it is certainly something I look forward to in coming back.

Just the short time I've been here confirms what I've already learned over and over again. Places deemed miserable by others all contain pockets of hope and joy. And I love nothing better than slipping my hands into them.

Telling Stories Workshop - Cairo - Day 4

Our fourth day we began the documentary portion of the class with the 4 resident boys. I had picked up some photo books of works by photographers such as Berenice Abbot, Dorothea Lange, Henri Cartier-Bresson. Our first discussion required them to choose a photo and using the clues in the photo make up a story about what they thought was happening in the photo. 

Henri Cartier-Bresson

We went up to the fourth floor and sat in a circle on a rug in an empty room. They loved the assignment, and I loved hearing their stories. Interesting with these boys, a few of the selections had to do with a person or persons (perceived as poor) needing to get away from the stress in their life to have a quiet place to think. It was so satisfying to watch them pore intently over an image and then focus on the most minute details in the photo to formulate their stories. 

After a break, we reviewed their images from El Azhar Park. They really took the composition and technique lesson to heart! And they were proud of the results, and talked about which techniques they used in their photos. We reviewed all of their images with the entire group huddled around my laptop. Everyone was allowed to weigh-in on an image, but the photographer had final say if they wanted to keep it. Some were more critical than others, needless to say!

Ali

Hussein

To introduce them to their assignment of documenting each other's day-to-day lives, we reviewed images from a project I did with HURINET, a human rights group in Uganda. It was about the Bat'wa Pygmies whom the Ugandan government has forced out of their native lands and habitat for the sake of eco-tourism (as in silver back gorillas and the westerners who want to see them). 

The boys related to the issue of homelessness that these people faced. I provided a selection of 14 images, and they had to narrow them down to the six they best felt told the story. (Of course they had to defend their selections)! 

Afterward, we discussed what types of images might tell the story of their own daily lives at the Center. They were excited to hear they would get to use the digital point-and-shoots FACE USA and The Palmer Foundation had donated.

Did I mention these kids ranged in age from 11 - 15? They stayed focused and engaged the entire day... more so than many college-age students in university classes I've taken!

Telling Stories Workshop - Cairo - Day 3

After a successful morning orienting the street kids to photography (with the same material we covered yesterday with the resident kids), we headed out with them to the Citadel.

As soon as we arrived, everyone was excited to get started taking photos. The long walk up to the main entrance was slow, all of us stopping at various points to take photos, pose for photos, or look at photos others had taken. Happy was the mood!

Once we made it to the entrance, however, spirits lagged. Initially, it seemed to me, the problem was with my camera. They didn't like the fact it had a zoom lens. Not understanding Arabic, I had no idea, until voices were rising and everyone seemed to be looking in my direction. It took much discussion among 4 different guards with a call to the Supervisor to resolve the issue. In the end, they feared I was a spy and would take photos of their antiquated aircraft and missiles. Thus, my camera spent the day hidden in the back of a van.

Later, when we asked the boys how they enjoyed their outing, 14-year-old A--- observed: 'The day was beautiful. It was the people who were ugly.' I was flummoxed by what he meant. 

As it turns out, he was referring to the incident at the guard station. Only, it wasn't just about my camera, it was our bringing the boys into the park. (And these guys arrived early at the Center that day to wash and change before our trip. They looked like normal kids to me...) One of the counselors took offense at the insults the guards were saying about them. The guards were hoping by not allowing me in with my camera, we would all just go home. Ha! They obviously do not know about the iPhone 4S and it's marvelous picture-taking skills. 

Having these boys sit in and participate in this workshop is indescribable. Often they are tired from lack of sleep the night before (imagine: it must be hard getting a good night's rest sleeping on the ground with traffic all around you). One may doze occasionally, but at any moment, he's raising his hand to share his insights on a photo.

Two days, at this point, spent with 8 different kids of the streets, and I have never seen such respectful, polite, and well-behaved boys — even in the midst of jeering and foul talk aimed at them by those in positions of power.

My wish is people would look past class and education and judge others individually on their character. Everyone is deserving of respect. And if you can't proffer it to one because you feel they are beneath you ... maybe you need to evaluate your own character. I used to tell my own children when they would ask about someone less fortunate in any respect: "But for the grace of God go I." 

Don't think for a moment everything you have couldn't be lost and you could never end up on the street. Especially in America with the recent economic disaster... that very thing has happened to countless middle-class Americans. But for the grace of God, goes each of us reading this and ending up in a comfortable bed tonight.

Telling Stories Workshop - Cairo - Day 2

9 April 2013

Getting out of the car at FACE Salam Center (FSC) is akin to arriving at a movie premier (I'm guessing). Young men ready to carry your bags, help you from the car, and walk you inside as you shake hands with others who seemingly materialize out of the steps leading to the building. (Shaking hands in Egypt is not the usual USA clasp hands, pump up-and-down 3 times. It's a slap, lightly grasp, and pump-down-once affair).

Then there are the kids who make FSC their home (some for a few hours a day, some 24/7... it's their choice). They want to know your name, they want to shake hands, they want to practice the English they are learning. They want a hug. Or a kiss on the cheek. They want to be treated with respect. 

And as I found out in our first classroom session with the resident students (those still living on the streets will meet tomorrow), they return the respect with attentiveness and participation I would never expect from young teenagers.

I think one of their favorite slides from the lesson was Eadweard Muybridge's stop-motion of a galloping horse. (Which is, by the way, the first-ever motion picture!). 

After going over composition and basic techniques, it was off to Azhar Park for an afternoon of shooting. 

Each student was paired with a staffer who had a list of shots to take. 

Did the follow the list? Did they even try? I won't know until tomorrow afternoon, but even if they didn't, each one shot two disposable cameras of 27 shots each. So.. they did something!

And what a wonderful day. The sandstorm enveloping Cairo for the past two weeks had dissipated. Breezy, low 80's, sunshine with a meandering cloud or two. Perfect for observing changing light on a scene, and perfect for walking through a stunning park making friends with Egyptians enjoying a delightful day with their friends and families.

The day was void of whining, fighting, disruptive behavior, disciplinary measures — truly remarkable for 4 teenage boys aged 12-16. When I let Kashif try out my camera, the other boys waited to be asked if they wanted a turn. They never grabbed at it or resented giving it up to another. And that perhaps, was the biggest surprise... that they treated one another with affection and respect. I think it is the work FACE has done that has given them a framework of famly.

Telling Stories Workshop - Cairo - Day 1

8 April 2013

Yesterday I left Leipzig in a literal fog and arrived in Cairo in a sandstorm. With special thanks to The Palmer Foundation for funding the equipment and training, I have come to teach documentary photography to some street youth through the non-profit, FACE, as well as to train their staff in self-documenting the organization's endeavors. Hala McIver, Director for FACE USA, and I are spending our evenings in a humble, yet charming hotel in Heliopolis, near Korba - a popular shopping area. It's best perk is the fantastic Indian restaurant just off the small lobby... perfect for this vegan blogger.

Each day we will be traveling out to Salam City where we are based at FACE Salam Children's Center (FACE stands for Foundation to Aid Children in Egypt).

The first day is always a crapshoot. I try to expect nothing, which in turn (I feel) makes everything interesting. And today did not disappoint. We did a run-through with the staff so:

• the could get familiar with the material and to aid in translation
• I could ensure there was nothing untoward or offensive in the images in my presentation.

After a con-call for the top staff took away three of my audience, we found ourselves with what would prove to be our core group of four guys: Mohamed, Mohamed Hassanein, Ahmad, and Hassan. All are full-time staff with FACE (having studied social work in their schooling). Each has a remarkable grace about them: you feel it when you meet them and you see it in the way they interact with the boys.

Forget about rigid plans and processes. In a foreign country with a language barrier, things can quickly take a life of their own. And so, having finished a basic overview of composition and lighting in photography, I was tricked into launching an introduction to Lightroom, something not scheduled until the second week. But hey, as an avowed techno-geek who views any day with a BH Photo-Video box at the door as holiday — I can understand their impatience to know everything. NOW! (And there's not only the verbal language barrier, there's the operating system barrier as well – PC vs. Mac. And Arabic keyboard vs. English.

Loving challenges as I do... this is Heaven!

7 July - New Delhi

Day one is usually for acclimation unless I'm on an assignment and schedules are tight.

In the breakfast room I met a young woman named Jen, a Spanish teacher from Florida working in the summer as a flight coordinator for a youth tour company. She ushers high-schoolers from home to the destination country, hangs out a bit, and escorts them back. She's slated for a city tour today, and I'm slated for the Internet check-in, ATM hunt, and catching up on any lost sleep. We agree to meet this evening.

During the day I took care of such errands as email, arranging my room, surfing the web, and then, finally, when I could delay it no longer, getting out of the hotel for that first solo walk about the hood. This is necessary to conquer the 'I-don't-know-anything-this-is-so-foreign-I-think-I'll-just stay-in-my-room mentality. My goal: ATM finding.

TRAVELER'sTIP  I can't remember the last time I exchanged foreign currency during my International travels. Airports all seem to have ATMs; I tend to have some currency on hand from previous trips; and the transaction fees from ATMS are often far less than exchange fees.

It was a relatively short walk. Down the alley. Turn left onto the side road, Esplande. Walk to the main street. Cross. Bank is on the right. Relatively simple. But here are the instructions they don't give: 

1. Ignore the stares and laughs of men. 

2. Don't panic when you don't see another female until the main road. 

3. Watch out for the homeless dogs and men lying about. 

4. When turning out of the alley, stay in the road as the sidewalk is virtually non-existent. 

5. Be prepared to walk sideways between bicycle taxis on your left and cars and human-drawn carts on your right. 

6. Don't step in the mud. 

7. When crossing the street, find something moving and walk parallel quickly sidestepping to the right in any open space. 

8. Repeat #7 until arrival on the other side. 

Seriously. Isn't there a gaming app called 'Need for Survival: Walking in Chandni Chowk.?'

The miracle wasn't getting to the bank. The miracle was there was cash in the ATM. I was grateful to discover this after having to fight for my place in line. I'm learning Indians (particularly men) have a loose idea of 'line.' The ride from the airport should have prepared me for that.

A rest in the afternoon, and then Jen and I met up for the Cinema. Awesome! Bollywood in Delhi! We were two of about 6 women and two hundred men in the one-theatre cinema. The movie: Bol Balchan. It was a calvacade of Bollywood favorites in an uproariously funny plot of mis-identity, dual-identity, and non-stop action. 3 hours long with Intermission. In Hindi, lightly peppered with the odd English phrase, such as "Hard work is the keyhole to saxophone."

Back outside, it was now after 10pm. Even at night, the same rules applied. Walking sideways over the mud and quickly sidestepping pavement-sleepers, we made our back.

Arrival in Delhi

On your first visit to India, you must ride in the front seat as you leave the airport. This will prepare you for your visit. The streets in any Indian city are a microcosm of life. I am convinced.

As my driver carefully kept the middle of the car centered over the white dotted line, I marveled at his calm while more frenetic drivers jostled to the left and right blowing their horns like it would make a difference. Though the highway was marked three-lanes, the actual number was in constant flux.

Perhaps the streets are a better picture of India vs. The West. My driver is India: following his own clock, making his own lane, and enjoying the scenery along the way. The crazy drivers blowing their horns and careening past bicyclists, tuk-tuks and other cars? It's the Western way of life: get where you can as fast as you can and never mind the cow in the road.

I like the Indian idea of life. Take it as it comes. Things aren't always what they seem, so one can rarely judge. 

My hotel, for example: When Sahid pulled up in the midst of the cycle market in Old Delhi at 11pm, it looked like a beehive of nefarious activity. Men and boys everywhere doing something, talking, yelling, hanging around... all amidst a background of greasy parts, scattered bikes, and human life. And just down there, a tiny dark alley, is Tara Palace, my driver says assuredly.

The dingy door sign, lit sporadically by the quintessential flashing neon sign above, indicates it was indeed the correct alley. 

Fortunately, I've traveled enough in the developing world to know what's behind the door is often very different than what is lying in the street. While I may have had a bit of apprehension, it wasn't even bordering on 'worry.'

Sure enough, when I stepped into a cool, immaculate marble lobby, I raised my eyes heavenward, smiled, and whispered 'Thanks.'

The Hidden Cost of Eco-Tourism

While poring through my photo library for a pending project, I came across these images from a past project in Uganda with Hurinet, a Human Rights organization. 

This project was in 2006, and it is never far from my mind. These people live in the most abject poverty I have witnessed. The Batwa Pygmys (along with other indigenous groups in the Bwindi Forest bordering Uganda, DR Congo and Rwanda) were physically ejected from their ancestral forests in the name of 'Eco-Tourism.' 

The three settlements I visited were each just outside the forest perimeter. These people who were raised as caretakers of the forest were forced out without an alternative place to live or being taught alternative skills to survive in the foreign agrarian society they now find themselves. Ostracized by the local villagers, forgotten by the very government that forced them out, they are truly living life on the edge.

These are some of the faces of Eco-tourism gone wrong.


(Please note: all images are copyright Cheryl Nemazie, all rights reserved. Please send me for usage enquiries. Thank you!)

Wife of the Tribal Leader sits by her doorway in the Nyakabungo settlement
outside the Bwindi Forest.

Without a vocabulary to converse in the past, nor words for the future, Batwa men are in limbo following their forced extradition from their ancestral forest.

A Batwa woman nurses her child at the Rwamahano Settlement in Uganda.

Forced from ancestral forests, outcast from local villages, a Batwa child sits in a field somewhere in between the two.

Poverty and ostracization denies Batwa children access to government-run schools. This boy attends a school funded by a Human Rights organization within his Rwamahano settlement.

Human Rights group HURINET works with local NGOs in targeting exceptional Batwa children to attend a village school with the hope of equipping them to advocate for their people's future.

Sunday, Day Three

My leisurely start (thanks to a downpour) made for a late night. I had planned an ambitious day on purpose: I'm hoping to arrive at the ranch in the afternoon on Monday with time to scout the next phase of our commercial shoot to take place in November. So far, the trip has been remarkably uneventful. If I have the opportunity to drive out west again, I think I'd prefer to take longer, avoid the Interstates, and really see the places I'm passing by.

Heading into Nebraska around sunset, I drove through a large area which appeared to have been inundated with flood waters. in fact, part of the Interstate was closed, necessitating a detour.

(This is my complaint with NAV systems. Sometimes I miss the dependable, oversized Rand McNally. There's a lot to be said for pulling out the dog-eared tome and seeing with a cursory glance just where you are and what is the obvious route to take in the event of said detour).

That being said, the scenery was hauntingly beautiful: the sun dipping below the horizon, reflecting sentinel trees wading in the watery landscape. Quite an appropriate backdrop to the book I'm listening to (When the Rivers Run Dry). A particular section dealt with the fact that dams rarely perform as promised, often unleashing greater destruction on the communities below than engineers ever imagine.

And without a Rand McNally, I was left to wonder if I were looking at the remnants of an overflowing river, excess rainfall, or the havoc wreaked by yet another dam.

Saturday, Day 2

Didnt make the dunes. A few setbacks early on and hard rain toward the end slowed me down. Pulled into Merrillville around 9pm. Woke up Sunday to more heavy skies. No Dunes this trip, I'm afraid.

I decided to try to find a Starbucks for my breakfast of Oatmeal. This is where trusty Yelp took me:

Lesson learned. When the GPS tells you that location is really 4 hours east, believe it. By that time I really needed fuel. Since I was out on the boonies, I turned to the GPS to get me to the closest gas station. This is where the GPS took me:

It is about the journey, and I find whether you're flying or driving, you just always have to go with the flow. Be patient, flexible, and enjoy the ride. Much less stress that way!

I began listening to one of the audio books I downloaded on the current water crisis. Elixir was, well, somewhat pedantic. Written by an anthropologist, it's a history of humankind and it's relation to water. by the fourth story of tribal relations, restrictions, and customs about water --which were identical to the first three stories --- I admittedly lost interest and turned to the next book, When The Rivers Run Dry. This is written by a journalist and is nicely paced and fascinating. I'm feeling quite disappointed in the overall greed and lack of forward thinking in our species, but that just might mean the guy is getting his point across.

My ambitious goal for Sunday is to drive 12 hours to North Platte, Nebraska. Why stay in Omaha when you can stay in North Platte? Along the way I need to find a light magenta cartridge for my Epson 2400 ....

The Journey's the Thing ...

Last night I packed up my '99 Land Rover and headed West. I'm on my way to Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga Wyoming, just outside Medicine Bow National Forest for part 1 of an Artist in Residence program. My goal is to get the foundation started on a book of my photo series, "Change is the Constant: Reflections on a Malleable Society." Although, if all goes well, the title may likely change (ha! how appropriate!) to reflect a new direction the work seems to be taking.

I'm also looking forward to doing some early morning / late afternoon shooting around the ranch. The topography there is so rich and varied: wide vistas, quiet streams, graceful stands of aspens, rocky outcroppings.

I made it to Hagerstown, MD, last night despite a dense fog at the very end of the leg — a good 4-hour start on my journey. My goal today is to get to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Park. Fingers crossed!

It's getting busy!

There's a lot in the works I'll be blogging about in the next few days.
1. I'm preparing to leave for Nicaragua next week, photographing for the medical group, La Merced. I will cover the new dental clinic, a few key surgeries, the social welfare efforts of part of the group, and hopefully some follow up with subjects photographed last year. Donations are welcome and tax deductible. Email me if you're interested in more information!

2. I've been approved to lead Salisbury, Maryland's first ever worldwide Photo Walk organized by Scott Kelby and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. The link to sign up is here: http://worldwidephotowalk.com/walk/salisbury-md-united-states/

3. I've just finished a couple of architectural projects for Becker Morgan and will be uploading some images from those shoots.

4. I've been invited to join the Board of Directors of The Art Institute and Gallery in Salisbury, Maryland. I'm hoping to help expand their social outreach via Facebook and Twitter, as well as work on offering some photography workshops.

Stay tuned!

Lightroom 3 Final

Yay! Lightroom 3 has finally been released. I've become so dependent on the beta version, longing for the time when older catalogues could all be updated.

Tonight I went through all of my catalogs (general, client, event, wedding, family) upgrading, naming, converting to dng, saving metadata, organizing folders. One problem I encountered right away involved reattaching files to photos lightroom couldn't 'find.'

With my asset management, I only keep enough files in a folder which will fit on a dvd, so about 4.3 gigs. When I import a large quantity of files into lightroom, I have to split them up after import. This means I go to my finder (on Mac OS 6), create additional folders and move the requisite number of files there.

With lightroom 3, I could not get the menu command photo>show in finder to re-attach the missing photo or all the other nearby photos in the same folder. Frustrating to say the least. I quit the application and restarted. Still would not work. I restarted my Mac to no avail.

Finally, I clicked right on the question mark in the top right corner of the orphaned photo. That also took me to the 'show in finder' menu. I found the image, clicked okay, and voilà! It worked. I'm not sure if this is a program bug or not. But at least the back door method worked in this case!

Making the most of weather

Valentine's Day. My preferred way to spend the afternoon/evening was to make the most of a sunny day, unusual snow accumulations for our area, and a unique location.


It's no secret work has been slow, lately. Marketing is the first thing cut from businesses' budgets, and that means a lot less money for photos. So, I've been using my time to supplement my local portfolio. With a generally hectic travel schedule, time for capturing the beauty of our location between ocean and bay is rare. So today, I asked my Sherpa if we could spend the afternoon finding a great location for some sunset beauty shots. Preferable with snow and water.


Wanting to keep things simple while maintaining the ability to get in and out of the car quickly, I brought along my monopod instead of my tripod. I hadn't used it in awhile, but it worked so well, I think it will be coming along on a lot more outdoor shoots.


I wasn't sure about our first stop: a cemetery overlooking a power plant. However, as we drew close, I saw several charming statues which seemed promising for striking images. I also made use of the initially-thought-undesireable background for a few compelling compositions.

After the cemetery, we headed down to Elliott's Island for a lot of snow and water. Having a driver for these expeditions is important, so you can be constantly scouting ahead, either side, as well as behind to see what the varying light and elevations (the occasional mini-bridge over the marsh in my case today) will serve up. One benefit of the hardened snow piles along the road: an extra boost of height for a different angle. 


I try everything when out shooting landscapes: lying down, standing, stooping, shooting into the sun, away from the sun, in the shadows ... and often I am surprised by what I find back in the studio.


A few additional images from my time today are on view at my companion blog, [click]. Also, check out my flickr photostream (at the right) for even more!

iPhoto '08 Angst in Snow Leopard

Since upgrading to Snow Leopard, I have not been able to double-click on movies to view them from within iPhoto '08 like I could under Leopard. When I clicked, nothing would happen. Tonight I found the solution.

In Apple's discussions forum, I learned that Snow Leopard installed a newer version of QuickTime called QuickTime X. Older movie formats on most point and shoot cameras are not compatible with that. Therefore, it's necessary to install QuickTime 7.

Here's the catch. Supposedly on some Snow Leopard Install CDs you can find the QuickTime 7 app in the 'Extras' folder. However, not in mine.

Fortunately, the discussion thread referenced above provided a link to a Snow Leopard version of QuickTime 7 [click here]. You must use this download link to install QuickTime 7 for it to work with iPhoto '08.

I downloaded, installed, and within minutes (and without restarting anything), my movies are once again opening automatically in QuickTime when I double-click from within iPhoto '08.

Huzzah!

Succeeding as a photographer

I came across this review of a panel from 2009 DC PhotoWeek. Very informative and hands-on for photographers busy adapting to the current climate.

http://slides.sitewelder.com/users/LarryLevin3660/docs/ASPP%20panel%20discussion%20final.pdf

Technology behaving badly ...

I had a close call this week with my 5+ year-old Mac G5 Tower (running Mac OSX 10.4+). The writing has been on the wall. I've had several issues with the computer suddenly powering down, then just as mysteriously powering right back up again in the space of 10 seconds. No data was ever lost and I could continue along in whatever program I was working. Then, one morning, I went to wake it up, and behold, not a breath of life came from the thing. I would hit the power button on either the tower itself or the monitor, I could hear the hard drive engage, but not a flicker of life on the monitor.


With a heavy sigh, I left it alone for a few days. My initial thought was, "5 years, needs replacing, but not possible in this economy." My second thought was: "Google."


Not having the luxury of living within driving distance of an Apple Genius Bar, I've learned to troubleshoot my own issues. And google has made it so much easier. By simply typing in the main words of my issue, I get pages of links. And at least one has always had the answer I needed.


Amid the numerous entries complaining of Apple's power supply issues (which to me, having my first issue in 5 years that just didn't apply), I found a few discussion threads where geeks-in-the-know advised average users to remove the battery, clean all contact points and reinstall as a remedy for varying power issues. While the success rate seemed sketchy, it was certainly cheaper than replacing the whole computer.


I disassembled the G-5, pulled off the outer door, removed the inner plastic shell, and then stared blankly at the boards and plugs inside. One thought: Google. This was easy. "Remove battery in G5 Tower". This brought up a link with a diagram for locating and removing the battery. After locating the battery, I thoroughly cleaned the entire interior space (5 years of dust inside, ugh), removed the battery, cleaned the contacts on either end, then cleaned the contacts on the battery seat. Replaced everything, powered up the computer, and voila. It's working like a dream! Over the past two years, the fans in my tower would regularly power up very loudly, like an airliner preparing for take-off. Since my major cleaning, that has completely stopped.


It's been working for a week, now. I'm hoping now to get at least two more years of service. Should the problem return in the near future, plan B (also found on google) is buy a $7 replacement battery. A lot cheaper than a new $2,500 machine. Thank you, google!

oomphing up your website

Today I just added a new feature to my websites: a box to the right with ever-changing photos from my flickr link.

As a photographer, I've found flickr to be a little more beneficial than I thought. It's been a great way to get feedback from total, unbiased strangers about my work. I've had requests from flickr groups to join their group. I've traded correspondence with others for whom my work has impacted in some way. I've gleaned inspiration for some of my own personal projects. I've encouraged others in their own personal vision. And, surprise, surprise, I've had requests from people who would like to use my work in communicating their own messages. Some have been from non-profits for crisis situations, like my work from the flood relief in Villahermosa, Mexico. Others have been from organizations with actual, dare I say, budgets for images.

So, while in the past few months I've let my flickr world lapse for a bit... I've recently been encouraged to get back in the groove with posting choice images there. In flickr world, they can inspire creativity, controversy, good will, and reap benefits both monetary and soulful!

If you'd like to boost your own website's visual appeal, you can check out the link on how to post a flick badge, either html or flash (which I've used at right). Enjoy! And let it spark your own creativity!

dpbestflow.org

Anyone who takes photography seriously must visit this site.

I first learned about DAM (digital asset management) when I was a full-time art director and part time photographer. One of the architectural photographers I worked with on large hotel photoshoots sent it to me, half-joking that it was required reading for the next shoot.

The book, by Peter Krogh, was eye-opening to me. This was pre- Adobe Lightroom and Aperture days. File formats were constantly changing and becoming obsolete. Keeping up with the technology, let alone the gbs of data was more than challenging. Peter was one of the first to outline the new photography workflow, from image capture to final archiving, in a way that made sense.

Fast forward to this evening, 11 November 2009.

Tonight I attended the roll-out of dpbestflow.org with its contributors, visionaries, and creators present for the celebration. Live demonstrations showed just how easy it is to navigate this comprehensive site to find the information you need.

(This event was one more check-mark in the 'reasons to join ASMP' column. It is ground-breaking work that will benefit every photographer.)

For two years, ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) has been working in tandem with the Library of Congress (both collaboration and funding) on defining, fine-tuning, and streamlining digital photography best practices and workflow.

This site will show you how to efficiently manage, protect, and preserve your ever-growing digital library. From software to hardware and the habits necessary to each, dpbestflow.org will bring your organizational skills (and professionalism) to a new level.

Seriously, check it out.

And if you don't already belong, check out asmp.org as well.

NIcaragua Day 7

Our last day in Nicaragua was fraught with decisions. What to do? Some wanted to go to the beach, others wanted to go to Granada. One guide. So, we left early enough to do both!


First stop, the beach (Pacific side). Much like Ocean City, our local beach here in the States, the beach is lined with businesses vying for tourists' attention. Quite unlike our local area, billboards do not line the main road to the shore; instead, men come running from everywhere (on foot and on bike) to greet you and offer to escort you to the best restaurant on the beach. Restaurant, in this sense however, is a grass covered pavilion where you can stow your gear, hit the beach, and all of the food and souvenir vendors come to you. In droves.


My morning was spent debating religion over local rum and cokes. Others went down by the shore and sunbathed. A few, the comic-relief team, rented surf boards and headed out to catch some waves. They quickly learned, however, why they were the only ones out there. While looking out to sea for the next great ride, they lost track of how quickly they were heading away from shore. Fortunately, one of them is a life guard in Ocean City. As soon as he realized they were caught in the swiftest rip tide he had ever experienced, he focused their efforts on keeping parallel to shore until they reached a break and could head in. Tired, exhausted, and honestly kind of freaked, they collapsed under the pavilion. This pretty much signaled it was time to move on to our next destination, Granada.


The beach to Granada seemed like a three-hour ride. It was our day off, so I didn't bother with a watch. But we drove east, heading up into the rolling hills. The roads were in fantastic condition, and Nicaragua has a lush, green landscape. We passed through small towns and villages aplenty. Men working in fields, kids playing football [soccer], and people walking everywhere. We saw two processions: one was a wedding party trekking down the side of the road. The second was the population of a small village walking in celebratory costumes led by a priest and altar boys: a celebration of the their saint's birthday.

The road through Granada to Lake Nicaragua was packed with a Saturday market. It reminded me of Cairo. Children and dogs running everywhere, stalls of produce, cheap clothing and household necessities spilling out into the roadway, mules and horses milling about, and baskets everywhere — piled along the road, stacked on rooftops and women's heads. But the time we finally turned off the thoroughfare, I was surprised we hadn't taken on extra passengers or a chicken or two.

Our turn-off brought us onto a wide road through a much quieter part of the city. Tropical trees and low stone buidlings lined the cobbled street. From here, we reached the park providing access to the boats which ferry people around the islands dotting the lake.


Lake Nicaragua is the second largest lake in Latin America (after Lake Titicaca) and has the distinction of hosting the planet's only population of freshwater sharks, as well as a host of incongruous aquatic life. Geologists think it was once a bay of the Pacific Ocean, which over time was enclosed from periodic lava flows.


An archipelago of islands dots the lake in the Granada vicinity. Many are just large enough for an average home. Some have large, luxury estates. Others have a few humble dwellings with fishing boats tied up along the banks. And then one tiny mound of land is appropriately named Monkey Island.


Our destination was a small island restaurant. A covered pavilion with an assortment of tables took up about a third of the island. Two modest infinity pools, homes of the family who owned the restaurant, and the kitchen area made up the rest. Fishing boats anchored behind the kitchen rocked gently against the banks, waiting to get the next day's fresh catch.


The food was a wonderful mix of cultural favorites. Freshly caught fish was displayed for selection by those ordering seafood. The relaxing atmosphere ended abruptly, however, when darkness began to fall, ushered in with deepening clouds. Fearing an on-coming storm, our boat captain raced back to the Granada shore. Um, yes. Raced. Totally exhilarating!