Thunderbolt and Lightning… Very, Very Frightening...

This morning I started to think about the little things as I packed my bag for work…. "Dang, I sure have a lot of cables and dongles in here."

Apple seems to be leading the way in "innovation" on this front. If you want a smaller, thinner device, then those old bulky cords must go. After all, the whole world is wireless… right?

• DVI + VGA — If I want to hook up to a projector, I'm carrying two adapters. One for DVI and one for VGA. While I'm happy HDMI is built-in… I still need to carry adapters to connect to 90% of the conference rooms and projectors out there. $29 + $29
• FireWire — Remember FireWire? That connector that Apple told us for years stomped USB. Well I need to carry an adapter for that too. Except when you plug it in to the Thunderbolt port on the Mac, it doesn't put out enough bus power for most of my FireWire drives… meaning I also have to carry a power supply (and find another outlet) for my G-Tech portable drives. $29
• Ethernet — Still relevant. Go to any hotel and the WiFi networks are often slower than a swamp in December. Want Ethernet… there's an adapter for that. $29
• MagSafe — If I want to use any of the numerous power supplies I have, there's a $10 adapter for that. $10
• iPod Cables – Why didn't I buy the iPhone 5? Well besides that fact that as a 4S owner it would cost me nearly full price (and the bump wasn't very big) I'd have to get all new cables. I'd need one for the car, work, laptop bag, and home. Add in the wife and suddenly that's 7 to 8 cables at $20 a pop. Want to adapt all those devices you have that use the old connector (from my heart rate monitor to a speaker dock)? Well those adapters cost $29 and $39. Yes the adapters cost twice as much as the new cables…. huh!?! Of course I still need to carry the old ones for the iPad since they won't make an adapter that goes the other direction. $19 + $19 + $19 + $19 + $29 + $39
• Thunderbolt — This has been total vaporware. Try to buy a dock or port extender... nope. The cables are $50. The drives cost $100 more for the chassis. All for a 10% speed boost over USB3 for standard hard drives. Sure there are some desktop solutions that rock on the high end… but as a "universal" adapter that's "perfect" for drives, adapters, and displays… it just sucks. $150
• Optical Drive – Need to get a DVD to install something (or burn a backup?) Nope. Gotta remember to pack the external drive and bring that too. $79

Oh… and what's really missing? The fact that I can't even connect a security cable to the laptop. There is no slot to attach a Kensington or other style lock to the device. So if you're on the road and need to walk away from the machine… don't.

Apple seems to be on a quest for thinner and lighter… but we're to the point where this means sacrificing core features. I'd like to be thinner and lighter too, but I can't think of any limbs or appendages I'd be willing to chop off so save some ounces and fit into a smaller space. Just like camera manufacturers are getting silly with the megapixel wars… Apple needs to slow down and actually look at what their customers need to do to get their jobs done.

Those cables and adapters I mentioned above add up to $500+. None come in the box… that's all extra cost. And if you do what I did, drop your adapter bag at home before you go on a business trip… prepared to be screwed. Even the Apple retail stores can't keep these things in stock. Apple you're missing the mark… start listening to what customers need and stop "saving us from ourselves."

Join the Worldwide PhotoWalk

It's that time of year for Scott Kelby's worldwide photo walk. It's an incredibly fun event.

Q. What is a Photo Walk?
A. It’s a social photography event where photographers get together (usually in a downtown area or trendy section of town) to walk around, shoot photos, and generally have fun with other photographers.

Q. When is the 5th Annual Worldwide Photo Walk?
A. This year’s Worldwide Photo Walk will take place on Saturday, October 13.

Q. How do I sign up to participate in a Photo Walk?
A. Go to the Find A Walk page, and search for the location where you’d like to participate in a Photo Walk. Click on the Photo Walk you’d like to sign up for, and you should be taken to its location page. Once you’re here, you should see information about the leader and the walk, including a map showing the exact location. Just above this map will be a button that says “Join This Walk.” Just click that, follow the instructions, and you should be all set! If you don’t see any Photo Walks happening in your area, keep checking back. New ones are being added every day!

I will be leading a DC-area event for the Worldwide Photo Walk. The event is a fun few hours of shooting pictures and meeting other photographers. There's a few spots left for the July 24th event (it's free).

Meeting Location & Time
Vienna Community Center (9:30am - 1:00pm)
120 Cherry St SE, Vienna, VA- USA

After the walk, meet at: Church Street Pizza‎- 115 Church Street NE, Vienna

Sign up here.
http://worldwidephotowalk.com/walk/vienna-va-united-states-community-center/

Sign up in your neighborhood too
http://worldwidephotowalk.com/

Why I Am Done with Traditional Publishing

I love books… as a child I'd spend hours a day with them. Sitting in the library... reading in my bed at night... discovering a bigger world. Books unlocked my brain and showed me things that a working-class kid from Chicago could never see.

Yes, I had hair once. Lots of it.

I come from a family of teachers... I have seen my loved ones shape the lives of so many and truly make a difference. I was blessed with the ability to teach. I have an obligation to make the world a better place.

I love to teach creative pros and enthusiasts

For me a big part of that obligation was publishing a body of work that helps people. I sought to give professionals and enthusiasts the ability to solve their problems and understand their digital tools.

I truly believe in the power of creativity. This is why I write books on topics ranging from video editing and photography to motion graphics and presentation design. Visual literacy allows the creative people to inform, inspire, and shape the world.

I wrote my first book in 2002. 10 years have passed and a lot has changed. Book stores are closing, tablets are booming. Creative people seem to learn best with a multi-sensory experience.

The Apple Store used to sell three of my books. Now they sell zero books.

So its time I make a change. I have decided to stop writing new printed books. I will no longer write new books for traditional publishers (including my current publisher, Peachpit Press). It is time to embrace the digital platform and do the project that are important and essential without the constraints traditional publishing brings.

I'm going to combine all my skills at teaching into new digital projects. Some will be enhanced eBooks, combining text with video and interactivity. Training apps are underway too. There's even a few special projects for those looking for year long experiences.

I've been shooting photos for 35 years, creating video for 25, and publishing to the web for 15. I think its time I made a change and I'd like you to join me.

I will now be publishing through Think Tap Learn which is a new group formed with my good friends and trusted colleagues. If you'd like to keep up with what we're up to, I invite you to follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thinktaplearn or just keep an eye on my blog here.

Thank you for all your support through the years. You'll still find my current books in stores and I have contractual responsibilities to perform… but I have changed my focus. I hope to bring you whole new ways to learn and appreciate you taking this journey with me.

Time-lapse from the Valley of Fire

A Time-lapse series from the Valley of Fire in Las Vegas.

A Timelapse Shot from Panama

A new time-lapse from the Panama Canal. Shot on a Nikon D800 in the rain. Shot in raw and developed in Adobe Camera Raw. Post processed with adjustment layers in Adobe After Effects.

My Colorado View

I visited Colorado today… just a quick trip for business. Much of the state is on fire. It's very sad. If you believe in a higher power… reach out.

Want some Free Panoramic Photography Inspiration and Training?

I've taken a stab at figuring out Apple iBooks platform. It's pretty cool tech that let's you mix text, photos, and video into an interactive platform.
I've taken some of my best panoramic photos (and the tutorials I made about them) and bundled them into an iBook.

It's free, it's currently the #2 photo book on iTunes in fact (sweet!).
It only works on an iPad (sorry everyone else, but that's how iBooks author works for now).

I hope you enjoy and are inspired to start shooting your own shots. I'm working on new stuff for this platform and would love your feedback. Please post reviews on iTunes and comments here.
Download it here – http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/panorama/id497463957?mt=11

Tis The Season – Holiday Photo Clinic

Photoshop Holiday Photo Clinic from Richard Harrington on Vimeo.

Join me as I tackle 12 holiday images. This in-depth class will show you how to fix both standard and advanced problems that often plague holiday photos. If you like my training be sure to check out my books, Understanding Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop for Video.

HDR is Not a Bad Word

I'm constantly surprised how much I hear people complaining about HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography. Many feel its a phase or a fad… something that's over done.

HDR is in this strictest sense, the merging of multiple exposures to show a wider dynamic range than a traditional camera can capture. It can be used to create photorealistic images that closer match what the eye sees. It can also be pushed for an artistic effect.

I'd like to offer five reasons why HDR photography is a useful tool that you should seriously consider adding to your toolset.

1. Lowlight Images

When working in tough lighting conditions, HDR Photography really comes through. This image was created by merging 3 exposures. It was shot hand-held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC at 10:30 pm. Need to shoot in lowlight, try HDR.

2. Dramatic Sepiatones and Black and Whites

Do you want to create black and white photos that really pop? How about truly dynamic sepiatones? I find that the use of HDR gives greater depth to my tones and makes more compelling images.

3. Details are Revealed

If you have architectural details that need to come through, HDR works wonders. I took this photo laying on the floor shooting up into the ceiling of a church. The subtleties of the architecture really stand out and I enjoy poring if the finer details of the original artist.

4. Painterly Effects are Fun

The use of HDR toning can create a painterly like image. These options can be fun with certain images and really open up narrative approaches.

5. The General Public Loves HDR

While photographers may complain… the general public loves HDR. The colors pop, the images are compelling… there's just something that stands out.

This is one of my most popular photos. Gets great reactions and comments from just about all folks. It's several images merged together. Here's how I made it in fact.

So love it or hate it… you should really give HDR a try. Have a look at my other blog – Triple Exposure – www.3exposure.com – which covers the topic in-depth.

Putting the Fun Back Into Work

image by AnthiaCumming/iStockphoto

For most of us, we got into photography or video because it was fun.  Sure the prospect of making a living off something we enjoyed was exciting; it was a dream job. But then reality set in… what was once fun increasingly became work.

I liken the entire dynamic to that of a marriage.  I started dating my wife almost 15 years ago. What started as young romance, turned into newlywed bliss.  Add in two jobs, two kids, and other pressures and its easy to find yourself sleeping next to a stranger.

What we figured out a few years back is that we were better parents the more we were in love with each other.  Hence our standing tradition of having our own date night at least every two weeks.  We step away from all the parts of the relationship that are work and instead work on our relationship. We’re happy, we’re in sync, and we’re a better family.

What’s the lesson here? Are you married to your job or do you love your job?  By taking the time to make photography fun again and giving you a chance to grow and explore that relationship, you will be far better off.

Take on some personal projects.  Do something because you want to and not because you have to.

For me, that’s time-lapse photography.  Capturing scenic views and letting the passage of time get recorded.

• I walk out with two camera bodies and two tripods.
• The process of finding the shot (which often involves the quiet of a sunrise or sunset) relaxes me.
• I find a good view and set the cameras up.
• After carefully composing both shots, I meditate.  If I’m not feeling introspective, then I read comic books on my iPad.  Both help me relax.
• I then get some fun time in Adobe Camera raw and After Effects to make beautiful images that others enjoy.

I’ve started sharing my techniques through Triple Exposure, which has been socially fun and let me meet some great colleagues.  I find the end result and the creative process beautiful and rewarding.  Photography is fun… the images I’m creating cause a reaction.  I am proud of the work, but the only person I need to make happy is me.

Just as my family is stronger because my wife and I love each other… so is my work.  I enjoy what I do and on those days when there’s a gap in work it doesn’t seem so depressing and worrisome.  Even if I’m busy and I’m on the road for clients, I still find myself getting up early to catch the sunrise.  Worst case scenario… I can even just set the camera on a timer to shoot out my hotel window.

But I’m having fun and making time for me… and my client work is all the better for it.