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Michael [mahy-kuhl] – noun
1. A male given name. 2. A witty, charming professional wedding photographer who enjoys movies, exercise, romantic walks on the beach and large pepperoni pizzas.
Maven [may-ven] – noun
1. A connoisseur or trusted expert in a particular field who seeks to pass his knowledge onto others. 2. An intense gatherer of useful information. 3. An individual who demonstrates passion for learning and teaching a specific topic, particularly through a well connected social network.
Thank you for coming to my blog! I update it regularly, so if you ever want to know what I am up to, please come by and take a peek. Feel free to leave your comments below.
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How to check your SLR for sensor dust |
I am cant help but smile when I hear of photographers refusing to change lenses for fear of getting sensor dust. Most SLRs come from the factories with sensor dust already and even if they didn’t, there will always be a significant amount generated with use.
The first time a new SLR user learns about sensor dust is when they are inspecting a number of photographs and notice a small black blur on many of the photos, but not all. This confuses many photographers, and the first thing they do is inspect the lens, then the view finder, yet find nothing. Shrugging their shoulders, the hypothesize it was a “random piece of dirt on the lens now gone” and continue shooting.
Then it happens again. The second time most of them are stunned. In addition to attempting to photoshop the little specs from each picture, the prospect of actually opening the camera, flipping the mirror out of the way and cleaning the sensor is terrifying, I know because I learned this lesson in exactly that order.
Sensor dust happens- no matter what. Sensors are easy and safe to clean. Be brave, you can do it!
This is how you check your camera sensor:
1. Put the widest angle lens you have on your SLR.
2. Switch to Aperture priority, say f22-f29
3. Take a picture of the sky.
4. In photoshop, smash your levels into your histogram. This will make all the darks very dark.
5. Any sensor dust will be apparent.
There are a number of kits you can get to clean your sensor. I use Dust-Aid which works wonderfully, and usually I clean my sensors before each wedding (which can be every week if needed).
If proper steps arent taken to keep your sensors clean, dust will show up when you least expect it. It usually appears on photos taken with very small apertures, or certain colored backgrounds. Cleaning your sensor is much easier than cleaning say....1500 pictures. :)
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| This is a cloud image right out of the camera...no photoshop. Even after looking closely, you cant really see it. |
| This is the same shot after moving my levels into the histogram to increase contrast. |
| Sensor dust is now easily visible. Time to clean! |
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More web development... The Michael Andrew Photography School |
The Photography school shout be live within a few days- I will continue to develop it as we go, but the beginner lessons should be up soon....as in anyday.
I had this idea, and was convinced that I could figure it out even though I didnt have a clue about certain things, The Michael Andrew Photography School was put together in a very tedious way....it has taken weeks to figure it out, but it is being made in the following programs: Flash Video, Front Page and Photoshop. An interesting thing about the site is that it doesnt have ANY searchable fields...thats right -its all pictures and hot spots- my guess is that it will be invisible to search engines which means....the only people who will see it will be by referal. Ive had a lot of people ask about it, I love finishing the videos and posting them.
This first site is really a starting point, I will imagine it will continue to change and develop, but this school will eventually turn into a very HUGE opportnuity shortly- for everyone, Just know that I am working on 4 major projects, all of which are really incredible, some I cannot talk about. But you will know when the big things happen.
For those of you who dont know....I am an insomniac,.....I usually sleep from 6am-11am. Many nights I wont sleep at all. I cant stand it, my body feels tired, but my mind is racing...I cant stop.....does anyone have any suggestions?
(Besides marriage, ambien and melatonin- id be willing to try just about anything. Yes I am asking for input....I am listening. :) |
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Jesse's BDay Party |
| Today we had a surprise party for Jesse Ann, Daves wife. Shes expecting! It was a nice get together with about 15 or so friends and their children.. It’s funny because when I am with my friends in these social settings, if I have my camera I just start taking pictures and when they aren’t used to it…they may feel a little nervous or wonder why I wont put my camera down. When it’s all said and done though, they usually want copies. :) I like to take pictures of my friends.…there is nothing else I would rather be doing. |
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Initial Photoshop CS3 Review |
I like to spend at least an hour each morning sharpening the saw, usually either on Photoshop or Dreamweaver. I have been using Photoshop CS3 for about a week now and have two contradicting thoughts about it:
1. Photoshop is getting so thick that a non-photoshopper wouldn’t be able to learn the program’s full capabilities before the next version was available. I can’t see how anyone who hasn’t used photoshop for a few years can appreciate the things it can do, especially some of the new things. In this sense, Adobe maybe making a product too powerful. It has taken me years to learn how to understand how to manipulate layers. The conceptual part of Photoshop is still very, very deep and I have much to learn.
2. Some of the new tools are incredible. I have been particularly impressed with the new quick selection tool. Having used it recently on the mattress project, I had the urge to send Adobe a check for $100 just because this tool is so sweet. Photoshop’s tools are getting easier to use.
Finally, I realized that unless I had spent the last 8 years using the other awkward selection tools, I couldn’t appreciate the goodness of something better.
Life is like that….I think sometimes we go through really crappy things in order to learn to appreciate the good things. If bad things didn’t happen to us, we couldn’t be grateful for the good.
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| This is my new hero....the Photoshop Quick Selection tool....its incredible! |
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The Simpsons Movie |
Caught the late night showing of the Simpsons Movie at Midnight. From the looks of the previews we are in for a LONG and very LAME fall. (With the exception of a few movies...the best kept secret: I Am Legend with Will Smith- That movie should rock). It seems that Hollywood is desperate for new material- its either comic books, remakes, or movies that may be slightly profitable, yet not good movies.
I grew up on the Simpsons, and although I havent watched it regularly in at least 10 years- my friend Doug summed it up best. "It was basically two Simpsons episodes put together". It felt like it too. At just over an hour, I was very very ready to leave.
There were some truly funny moments, the biggest (or smallest) of the whole movie was a particular scene with Bart on his skateboard when Homer dared him to ride naked. You will not be ready for what you will see- we were all shocked and laughing our heads off.
Im going to have to give this one a thumbs down, especially after the fact Homer boldly points out what is going on in the very beginning of the movie, I thought it was funny at first, then I realized he wasnt kidding. If you are on the fence on this one...wait for the rental or avoid it all together. |
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Competitive Inhibitors |
A competitive inhibitor is a biochemistry term which refers to a molecules ability to block the activity of an enzyme or other active protein, by physically blocking its active site.
In English, what this means is, Pac Man likes to eat dots. A competitive inhibitor would be anything that might fit in Pac Man’s mouth and physically prevent him from doing what his programmer put him in this world to do… eat dots.
Our brains are made to think, they are powerful when at their full potential, yet it always seems there is something else bouncing around in there that keeps us from being used in the way they were meant to.
I am going to throw this out there-
Thought Inhibitors:
1. Selfishness- When we think about ourselves, we are unable to process “flow” because we are the end result, not others..
2. Lust (the bad kind)- This came up in a discussion I had with my Dad the other day. Lust is probably the greatest competitive inhibitor of thoughts because it’s hormone based, is amplified when not kept in check and is selfish. Perhaps this is why pornography is such a profitable business- makes more than all of the major sports combined. It is truly amazing what is capable when an individual is actively pursuing a concrete goal and has no care in the world about what anyone thinks.
3. FOOD- I am convinced food interferes with our ability to think and act. Look at it this way…what if you forced yourself to do x, y, and z before you ate…everyday? Sometimes food becomes the priority in our minds and therefore our concentration and priorities are broken. Eating also directs blood to our stomachs, not our brains.
4. Cleanliness- Our living spaces reflect our tolerances to our thought processes. Everyone would typically like to have a clean home, but it doesn’t always happen, things get out of order and we make compromises on what is and isn’t acceptable. Soon, the place is a mess. The odd thing is, the more I have order in my pad, the better my thinking becomes. It’s the strangest thing to think taking out the trash and tidying up a little helps me to think that much better, but it does. I have also noticed it is very, very good to have clear empty tables, counters and desks. Its like the Bruce Lee quote only instead of a tea cup its “the usefulness of our minds depend on their emptiness”. Too many thoughts…not enough room to function.
5. Distractions in general- You know what they are.
Just my 2 cents for the day.
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Top Secret Photo Shoot For Rocky Mountain Mattress |
For most of the day today I had a very, very interesting shoot with Rocky Mountain Mattress- a company who specializes in memory foam mattresses. Their products are incredible and while I cannot disclose the nature of the shoot, I can say when the project is finished I will have to put together a special lesson for the photography school- the scope of it is HUGE and it is something I have never attempted before. I know how to do it and because I have never actually done it- I am SO excited to get this tucked under my belt....I love new challenges.
This one model in particular interested me....if you notice on the left there near the bottom....there is a little zipper there with a lock....that is an in mattress gun safe....no joke. See very cool products. I sleep on a Rocky Mountain Mattress...(hence the connection)- it is truly incredible.
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Cool Web Site Review - Dig Station |
| Check this out- This is an indie vesion of iTunes. Its a fantastic idea! Basically if you are an unsigned musician and have a CD made with one of DIGStations partners, you can sell them online to anyone for .99 cents. It looks like they will eventually open it up for anyone and everyone |
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Q'Doba |
I am sure by now you have seen that one of the new MA Blog categories is “Food Reviews”. Every once in a while I find something edible that is surprisingly good, or surprisingly very extra bad. It is my aim that when I find either of these two things, I will take a picture of it, make a note and post it on my blog. I cant help it, I just have this overwhelming urge that forces me to do so, even if no one ever reads about it….ever.
This is what mavens do.
While many of my friends in Tuscaloosa will read this entry and say “DUH”, this information is aimed at those of you who don’t know what a Q’Doba is.
This afternoon I met my friend Dave at Qdoba to discuss a business idea I have.
Its basically Subway…only for Mexican food. This is how it works:
1. You tell them what you want. Like Burrito, tacos, salad, etc.
2. Tell them what type of meat you want, steak, chicken, etc.
3. Tell them what type of salsa and toppings you want.
4. They wrap it up and off you go.
Of particular interest:
A. The quality of food is very good. This isn’t like Taco Bell where you cant really tell what the meat is, you can look at it and tell. It is actually quite tasty. It appears most of their ingredients are whole foods, ie not processed
B. The quantity of each serving is significant. I am 6’2” and weigh around 225 lbs, plus I exercise a lot which makes me good at eating. I don’t ever recall leaving Qdoba hungry after eating one of their Burritos
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| Doesnt Dave look happy? His burrito is about half way done...that should give you an idea on the size. Dave is a good friend- we are very like minded business wise and just bouncing ideas off him is truly surprising. He has a great marketing mind. |
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Sunday In The Park |
I like to spend my Sunday afternoons relaxing, usually at a park. Lets you clear your mind....get your thoughts in order before the following week- clears out the "Competitive Inhibitors". (Something I will write about more this next week).
I have a park bench I like to visit on the Quad of the University of Alabama. Today I just watched training videos about the new Adobe CS3 Production bundle- still very blown away by how good it is. I also brought my new lens with me and decided to try it out on the squirrels.
You would think that the life of a squirrel would be pretty simple, sleep, find food, eat, mate, sleep. Something I have noticed about the squirrels...they have very different personalities. Some are very shy. Some hide and then keep an eye on you, some just hide completely. Some try to hide, but arent very good at it. Some are not afraid at all....I had one come up to me a few weeks ago, within inches and just sit there as if it was waiting to feed me. I had one look at me today like he was challenging me for his territory.
I was surprised to learn that squirrels really are different. It made me wonder if I have made the same error of generalization simply because it wasnt important to me, or I didnt take the time to observe. I must confide...I am certain I am guilty of it. You really cant appreciate certain things if you dont take the time to watch closely or try to understand how it is important.
Seems like when we are rushed to do this or that, we lose a degree of appreciation.
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| I am pretty sure there is a hierarchy in squirrels based on tail size and shape. This guy was a loner. |
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