Written by James Fohl
So you are going on vacation and have everything packed. Your clothes, your CD player, pretty much everything you are going to need on your trip is all packed nice and safely in your suitcase, while you have your airplane tickets and wallet secured in your front breast pocket of your jacket.
A Camera Is Important When Going On Vacation
One of the many things going on inside your head right now is which camera you wish to take on your trip. In today's society bulky film based cameras are not the only option, as modern sleek digital cameras are also a very viable option. Many people however still tend to take their film based cameras with them, because they either do not know how to operate the digital camera they received for their birthday last year, or because they think film based cameras take better pictures.
For years, the latter statement was true; older digital cameras could simply not compare to the quality of a good film based camera. Fortunately, as digital camera technology became better and better, so did the overall quality of the digital photographs taken by digital cameras. Simply put, any modern digital camera can take pictures equal to, or even better than most film based cameras.
While Older Digital Cameras Have Bad Battery Life, Newer Digital Cameras Are Relatively Efficient
Another complaint that is often heard about digital cameras is the fact that they have horrible battery life. While film based cameras seem to be able to use the same two double A batteries forever, the first digital cameras were battery hogs that ate batteries almost as fast as a user could take pictures. Again, this problem has been resolved within recent years by making digital cameras both smaller and more efficient. Today's digital cameras also now use rechargeable lithium ion batteries that are much more efficient than regular alkaline batteries, boasting both more power and smaller size than double A alkaline batteries.
Now that we have put the negative sides of digital cameras to a rest, let us discuss the positive sides of taking a digital camera on a vacation instead of a regular film based camera.
A Digital Camera Is So Nice When Compared To A Film Based One
The first reason is of course convenience. If your digital camera has a large enough memory card (128 megs or larger is a fair amount) than you will never have to bother changing the memory card; you can just continue to shoot your pictures and not worry about changing the film. Right there is a major plus, since you do not have to carry a small collection of film canisters around your trip. All of your pictures will be safely digitally stored on the small memory card residing in your camera; you will not have to hunt for a specific canister of film for a specific photograph, since all the photographs taken will be available on one specific memory card.
Another plus is the small size of digital cameras. Today, companies such as Canon and Fuji make some pretty impressive cameras that are feature rich and fit right in a shirt pocket. This is a major plus for several reasons. First, you can also have your camera with you and eliminate the worry that someone is going to steal it. Second, although the camera is very small you will still be able to take some really high quality photographs with the camera.
For the reasons listed above, I can only recommend somebody is about to leave for a vacation to take a digtal camera over a regular film based one. While the other people are changing the film of their cameras, you will be out front snapping pictures with your digital camera.
Monday, May 30, 2005
You Can Take Great Photos!
If you are like many people, you may not have a lot of confidence in your picture taking as a whole. You've struggled with red eyes and blurriness. You've cut off the tops of your subjects' heads, and your pictures just don't have much personality. Do you really have to always shell out the big bucks for a professional photographer? Well, that can get quite expensive, and it really isn't necessary. Sure, there will be instances when nothing but the best will do, and you won't want to rely on your amateurish skills to preserve your precious memories. But, there are so many occasions that call for pictures, and you won't be able to use a professional for each of these.
Instead, maybe it is time to hone your photography skills and become a better photographer. Anyone can, if they follow a few simple suggestions. You can take pictures of your children, pets, other family members, and any other subject with confidence.
One of the best ways to become a great photographer is to invest in a good digital camera. Now, with so many digital cameras available, a consumer can become overwhelmed in which one to buy. If you aren't at all familiar with them, however, your best bet is to look for a camera that is advertised as easy to use. There are several of these on the market, and they aren't expensive. Be sure to buy a camera that has an automatic flash and at least three megapixels. The more megapixels your camera has, the better it is, as a rule. Your camera should be able to zoom, also. Of course, there are plenty of cameras out there with lots of bells and whistles, but until you become more adept at using a simple camera, you may want to avoid these. You don't want to become frustrated and confused before you even begin. Keep it as simple as possible!
Once you've made your camera purchase, you want to make sure that you have plenty of batteries on hand. While some cameras are rechargeable, you need to keep in mind that there may be times where you are not able to recharge your camera. Thus, you need to have good batteries as a backup. While many digital cameras can use regular AA batteries, you will soon discover that these batteries will die very quickly. Regular AA batteries just aren't cut out for digital camera usage. You can buy rechargeable batteries, and these will work in a pinch, but they will still lose their strength quite rapidly. Many digital cameras suggest that you buy lithium batteries, and they are typically worth the additional expense. You can usually take quite a number of pictures off of a couple of these lithium batteries. Just be sure to keep extras on hand. You don't want to be in the middle of a great photographic moment only to discover that your batteries are dead, and you don't have any more. That would be tragic!
Now that you have the equipment that you need, it is time to begin your adventure in photography. If you've ever looked at anyone's family photos, you probably noticed a lot of pictures of families lined up in a row or group, all smiling for the camera. You probably have quite a few of those yourself. While there isn't anything wrong with pictures such as these, they really don't hold anyone's interest for very long. In other words, they are boring. What can you do?
The whole idea behind picture taking is to capture the moment, right? Well, what are real moments in people's lives. Do they generally stand still and force a smile towards the camera, or are they typically preoccupied in themselves or each other? Of course the latter answer is the correct one, and once you begin snapping pictures, you'll see what I mean. Try to capture real moments in your loved ones' lives. They don't always have to be smiling. In fact, how much more intriguing the picture will be if you capture your little boy frowning intently as he studies his new puzzles. What about that moment when grandpa is trying to help him take that fish off the hook? Remember when your mom held your new baby for the first time? Remember the look on her face? That is the look you want to capture. It is unstaged and purely real. That is the moment that you want to freeze forever.
Of course, there will be many pictures that you will be infinitely disappointed in. You may have thought you caught the perfect image only to be faced with a less than desirable portrait. However, that is the beauty of digital. You don't have to develop or even keep that particular picture! You can take twenty pictures of the same image, and I assure you that each one will be different in some way. Most of them may need to be deleted, but I bet there will be one that is a keeper. With digital, you don't have to pay for pictures that you'll never place in a photo album. You can simply delete.
Don't forget that the majority of digital cameras come with editing programs. You can actually remove red eyes, enhance images, and brighten or darken the picture. After you have edited the picture, if you still don't like it, get rid of it! It is that simple! Not only are you practicing your photography skills, but you are also honing your editing techniques. After all, isn't that what a professional photographer does?
Now that you have become familiar with using your camera, it is time to focus on when and where to take your pictures. Of course, there will always be plenty of occasions when you will take pictures around your home and other common areas, and many of these pictures will be spur of the moment snapshots. However, you can also get that more professional look by following a few simple tips.
Lighting plays an important part in the art of photography. You can take advantage of light even if you have a fairly inexpensive camera. Early mornings and late evenings offer some of the best lighting for pictures. The sun isn't in full force, giving your subjects a subtly muted appearance. If you are taking pictures of people, the sun won't be shining so brightly that they are struggling to keep from squinting.
While you want to take plenty of unposed pictures, you can also pose your subjects for some fantastic photos. The key to this type of picture taking is to make them look like they aren't really posed. Instead of having them face the camera, have them look away. Alternate smiles with serious looks. Give them time to contemplate the distance, and capture those contemplative moments as quickly as possible.
Take advantage of the black and white or sepia format that almost all digital cameras and programs offer. You know longer have to buy special film and wait as long as two weeks to get those great black and white photos. You can simply snap the picture, then see how it looks once you've downloaded it onto your computer.
If you haven't used the outdoors as a backdrop for dramatic black and white or vivid color pictures, you are missing a terrific photographic opportunity. Although beach and mountain scenes make beautiful backgrounds, you can find wonderful photo options in your own backyard. In the spring, place your subjects in front of that newly blossoming azalea bush for a gorgeous picture. Be sure and focus in closely, so that only your subject and the brilliance of the flowers are shown. Take a ride into the country, and stop by that old, run-down barn. Photograph the barn with or without someone in front of it. If you do have someone in the picture, have them lean against the barn looking away from you, or let them sit across that old wooden fence, and casually smile into the distance. You get the idea.
If you have a baby or small children, don't let them get lost in the background. You want to let your subject take up the majority of the frame. Babies and small children can get lost in a large background. Some of your pictures should concentrate on one area of your child's body. These may include just her face or even a chubby little foot. Don't wait for her to smile, either. Instead, plan on capturing all aspects of her personality, happy or sad.
Finally, the most important thing to remember is to have fun. The more fun you have taking pictures of your loved ones, the more pictures you'll want to take. You can take wonderful photographs, and you don't have to be a professional to do it!
Instead, maybe it is time to hone your photography skills and become a better photographer. Anyone can, if they follow a few simple suggestions. You can take pictures of your children, pets, other family members, and any other subject with confidence.
One of the best ways to become a great photographer is to invest in a good digital camera. Now, with so many digital cameras available, a consumer can become overwhelmed in which one to buy. If you aren't at all familiar with them, however, your best bet is to look for a camera that is advertised as easy to use. There are several of these on the market, and they aren't expensive. Be sure to buy a camera that has an automatic flash and at least three megapixels. The more megapixels your camera has, the better it is, as a rule. Your camera should be able to zoom, also. Of course, there are plenty of cameras out there with lots of bells and whistles, but until you become more adept at using a simple camera, you may want to avoid these. You don't want to become frustrated and confused before you even begin. Keep it as simple as possible!
Once you've made your camera purchase, you want to make sure that you have plenty of batteries on hand. While some cameras are rechargeable, you need to keep in mind that there may be times where you are not able to recharge your camera. Thus, you need to have good batteries as a backup. While many digital cameras can use regular AA batteries, you will soon discover that these batteries will die very quickly. Regular AA batteries just aren't cut out for digital camera usage. You can buy rechargeable batteries, and these will work in a pinch, but they will still lose their strength quite rapidly. Many digital cameras suggest that you buy lithium batteries, and they are typically worth the additional expense. You can usually take quite a number of pictures off of a couple of these lithium batteries. Just be sure to keep extras on hand. You don't want to be in the middle of a great photographic moment only to discover that your batteries are dead, and you don't have any more. That would be tragic!
Now that you have the equipment that you need, it is time to begin your adventure in photography. If you've ever looked at anyone's family photos, you probably noticed a lot of pictures of families lined up in a row or group, all smiling for the camera. You probably have quite a few of those yourself. While there isn't anything wrong with pictures such as these, they really don't hold anyone's interest for very long. In other words, they are boring. What can you do?
The whole idea behind picture taking is to capture the moment, right? Well, what are real moments in people's lives. Do they generally stand still and force a smile towards the camera, or are they typically preoccupied in themselves or each other? Of course the latter answer is the correct one, and once you begin snapping pictures, you'll see what I mean. Try to capture real moments in your loved ones' lives. They don't always have to be smiling. In fact, how much more intriguing the picture will be if you capture your little boy frowning intently as he studies his new puzzles. What about that moment when grandpa is trying to help him take that fish off the hook? Remember when your mom held your new baby for the first time? Remember the look on her face? That is the look you want to capture. It is unstaged and purely real. That is the moment that you want to freeze forever.
Of course, there will be many pictures that you will be infinitely disappointed in. You may have thought you caught the perfect image only to be faced with a less than desirable portrait. However, that is the beauty of digital. You don't have to develop or even keep that particular picture! You can take twenty pictures of the same image, and I assure you that each one will be different in some way. Most of them may need to be deleted, but I bet there will be one that is a keeper. With digital, you don't have to pay for pictures that you'll never place in a photo album. You can simply delete.
Don't forget that the majority of digital cameras come with editing programs. You can actually remove red eyes, enhance images, and brighten or darken the picture. After you have edited the picture, if you still don't like it, get rid of it! It is that simple! Not only are you practicing your photography skills, but you are also honing your editing techniques. After all, isn't that what a professional photographer does?
Now that you have become familiar with using your camera, it is time to focus on when and where to take your pictures. Of course, there will always be plenty of occasions when you will take pictures around your home and other common areas, and many of these pictures will be spur of the moment snapshots. However, you can also get that more professional look by following a few simple tips.
Lighting plays an important part in the art of photography. You can take advantage of light even if you have a fairly inexpensive camera. Early mornings and late evenings offer some of the best lighting for pictures. The sun isn't in full force, giving your subjects a subtly muted appearance. If you are taking pictures of people, the sun won't be shining so brightly that they are struggling to keep from squinting.
While you want to take plenty of unposed pictures, you can also pose your subjects for some fantastic photos. The key to this type of picture taking is to make them look like they aren't really posed. Instead of having them face the camera, have them look away. Alternate smiles with serious looks. Give them time to contemplate the distance, and capture those contemplative moments as quickly as possible.
Take advantage of the black and white or sepia format that almost all digital cameras and programs offer. You know longer have to buy special film and wait as long as two weeks to get those great black and white photos. You can simply snap the picture, then see how it looks once you've downloaded it onto your computer.
If you haven't used the outdoors as a backdrop for dramatic black and white or vivid color pictures, you are missing a terrific photographic opportunity. Although beach and mountain scenes make beautiful backgrounds, you can find wonderful photo options in your own backyard. In the spring, place your subjects in front of that newly blossoming azalea bush for a gorgeous picture. Be sure and focus in closely, so that only your subject and the brilliance of the flowers are shown. Take a ride into the country, and stop by that old, run-down barn. Photograph the barn with or without someone in front of it. If you do have someone in the picture, have them lean against the barn looking away from you, or let them sit across that old wooden fence, and casually smile into the distance. You get the idea.
If you have a baby or small children, don't let them get lost in the background. You want to let your subject take up the majority of the frame. Babies and small children can get lost in a large background. Some of your pictures should concentrate on one area of your child's body. These may include just her face or even a chubby little foot. Don't wait for her to smile, either. Instead, plan on capturing all aspects of her personality, happy or sad.
Finally, the most important thing to remember is to have fun. The more fun you have taking pictures of your loved ones, the more pictures you'll want to take. You can take wonderful photographs, and you don't have to be a professional to do it!
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Discovering Model Trains
When I was little, it was always a special occasion when my uncle came to visit. He lived ten hours away, so we only saw him a few times a year, and half of those times, we traveled to see him and the rest of our family in Illinois. A visit from my uncle always meant that he would take me to see a few movies and maybe we'd walk around the mall and he'd buy me a new toy. But there was a downside to these shopping excursions. My uncle made model airplanes, and there was a hobby shop just a few minutes from all the mall and movie theaters.
As an eight year old, I couldn't think of anything more boring than staring at rows of boxes with airplanes on them. But then one day, I wandered a few aisles away from my browsing uncle and discovered the model train section. I was amazed by the world of trains that I had just entered. There was something universal about trains that I didn't find in airplanes. I saw them just about every week as my mom's car was stopped at the tracks on the way home from school or grocery shopping. Planes flew high above, always just out of sight.
I was drawn to the detail involved in the model trains. I had no formal concept of scale models, but I instinctively recognized the perfect proportions of the tiny wheels on each train and even the bits of shrubbery that graced the displays adding to the realism of the land the trains traveled. Time passed so quickly while I contemplated the miniature world before me that for the first time ever, my uncle had to convince me that it was time to go. After that day, I never again looked on those hobby shop visits as an unpleasant chore. I knew that the model trains would be waiting for me.
As an eight year old, I couldn't think of anything more boring than staring at rows of boxes with airplanes on them. But then one day, I wandered a few aisles away from my browsing uncle and discovered the model train section. I was amazed by the world of trains that I had just entered. There was something universal about trains that I didn't find in airplanes. I saw them just about every week as my mom's car was stopped at the tracks on the way home from school or grocery shopping. Planes flew high above, always just out of sight.
I was drawn to the detail involved in the model trains. I had no formal concept of scale models, but I instinctively recognized the perfect proportions of the tiny wheels on each train and even the bits of shrubbery that graced the displays adding to the realism of the land the trains traveled. Time passed so quickly while I contemplated the miniature world before me that for the first time ever, my uncle had to convince me that it was time to go. After that day, I never again looked on those hobby shop visits as an unpleasant chore. I knew that the model trains would be waiting for me.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Give a Kid a Camera
by Christina VanGinkel
Get a kid started in a lifelong hobby by providing them with an inexpensive new or used digital camera. Alternatively, pass along your old, but still useable digital camera and upgrade to a new full featured one for yourself. Prices have dropped while features have grown in the last few years making it both affordable and easy to pick out a camera that will satisfy either your wants or needs, and get your budding world-class photographer started on his or her path to a hobby that is sure to last a lifetime.
If shopping for a new camera for your child, consider several things. Features, price, and ease of use. Check features such as optical zoom, mega pixels, (which affect the picture quality at output), flash modes, if the camera has a self-timer, and size of display, which is used for both taking pictures and reviewing those already snapped. Many digital cameras, even inexpensive ones, often have video mode too. While that is far from being a necessity, your kids will most likely find it extremely fun to be able to take short bursts of video. With digital, it is best to purchase a camera that will be easy for your child to plug into a computer via cable or docking system for downloading. Alternatively, if your computer has a media reader, make sure the card that goes with the camera will be compatible with the media reader. Even with all of these features and more, you can realistically purchase one that will suit a beginner for between one and two hundred dollars.
To begin your search, look for a camera that has at least three X optical zoom, and three MP. One camera that fits these requirements and more is the Kodak CX7430. It retails for under two hundred dollars and includes scene modes and color modes allowing the user to take pictures in nearly any lighting conditions, and allows them to snap photos in black and white or sepia tone, besides full color. It easily plugs into a computer via cable, or fits a docking station. It is also available with a printer dock that allows the user to print photos without having to use a computer. After set up, all your child will have to do is place the camera into the docking station, and then quickly and conveniently download the pictures they have taken. On the other hand, they could also place the camera directly into the printer dock and print.
The best part of giving a kid a digital camera is there is no fuss about getting the film developed. Whether you have a photo printer at home, such as the printer dock that is compatible with the Kodak CX7430 above, or have the photos developed at a lab in the traditional sense, with a digital camera you are only paying for those that you and your child knows turned out. The advantage is no wasted money on roll after roll of film that is nothing more than shadows or blur.
With the freedom a digital camera provides in the way of no wasted film, the child is also able to experiment without fear of waste. They can snap hundreds, even thousands of pictures and it will cost nothing beyond the initial investment and the pictures that are actually printed.
So, with summer looming, if your child is likely to be heard whining that there is nothing to do, consider a digital camera. It is sure to keep them occupied for the whole summer and beyond.
Get a kid started in a lifelong hobby by providing them with an inexpensive new or used digital camera. Alternatively, pass along your old, but still useable digital camera and upgrade to a new full featured one for yourself. Prices have dropped while features have grown in the last few years making it both affordable and easy to pick out a camera that will satisfy either your wants or needs, and get your budding world-class photographer started on his or her path to a hobby that is sure to last a lifetime.
If shopping for a new camera for your child, consider several things. Features, price, and ease of use. Check features such as optical zoom, mega pixels, (which affect the picture quality at output), flash modes, if the camera has a self-timer, and size of display, which is used for both taking pictures and reviewing those already snapped. Many digital cameras, even inexpensive ones, often have video mode too. While that is far from being a necessity, your kids will most likely find it extremely fun to be able to take short bursts of video. With digital, it is best to purchase a camera that will be easy for your child to plug into a computer via cable or docking system for downloading. Alternatively, if your computer has a media reader, make sure the card that goes with the camera will be compatible with the media reader. Even with all of these features and more, you can realistically purchase one that will suit a beginner for between one and two hundred dollars.
To begin your search, look for a camera that has at least three X optical zoom, and three MP. One camera that fits these requirements and more is the Kodak CX7430. It retails for under two hundred dollars and includes scene modes and color modes allowing the user to take pictures in nearly any lighting conditions, and allows them to snap photos in black and white or sepia tone, besides full color. It easily plugs into a computer via cable, or fits a docking station. It is also available with a printer dock that allows the user to print photos without having to use a computer. After set up, all your child will have to do is place the camera into the docking station, and then quickly and conveniently download the pictures they have taken. On the other hand, they could also place the camera directly into the printer dock and print.
The best part of giving a kid a digital camera is there is no fuss about getting the film developed. Whether you have a photo printer at home, such as the printer dock that is compatible with the Kodak CX7430 above, or have the photos developed at a lab in the traditional sense, with a digital camera you are only paying for those that you and your child knows turned out. The advantage is no wasted money on roll after roll of film that is nothing more than shadows or blur.
With the freedom a digital camera provides in the way of no wasted film, the child is also able to experiment without fear of waste. They can snap hundreds, even thousands of pictures and it will cost nothing beyond the initial investment and the pictures that are actually printed.
So, with summer looming, if your child is likely to be heard whining that there is nothing to do, consider a digital camera. It is sure to keep them occupied for the whole summer and beyond.
Build and Supply Your Own Darkroom!
By Kathy A. Schaeffer
Many avid photographers and hobbyists alike consider having a darkroom at one time or another. It's actually rather easy to do, especially if you already have a suitable area in your home and won't need to physically build another room. A "room" isn't even a necessity if you have a suitable area that is dark enough, but finding a place like that is rare.
The first order of business needs to be deciding if you have an area that will work well for your darkroom. Some people will choose a second bathroom that is not commonly used, or part of the basement that can be partitioned off. If that can be done in your case, it is by far the better choice considering basements already have much of the "dark" that one needs for a photographic darkroom. You may have an extra bedroom or pantry that would work well also.
The area that will be your darkroom should be kept at a steady temperature around 68 to 70 degrees. It should also be moderately dry at a 45 or 50 per cent humidity level. Your darkroom or area will also need to be kept clean. Dust is not good for a darkroom environment.
The room certainly doesn't need to be big and actually shouldn't be. The smaller the better (provided, of course, that you give yourself enough work space), and the easier to keep as dark as you will need the area to be. There will need to be electricity and a water source in the room that you decide to use. This will need to be clear water, so if you have "hard water" you will need to use a filter. If your water source isn't directly inside of your darkroom, it should be nearby.
Another very important aspect of a darkroom is proper ventilation. Install a fan, the kind that will take the chemical smells from the room if at all possible. If that isn't doable or feasible, at least have some kind of air vent that will not let light into the room. As an alternative, simply mix your chemicals elsewhere and that will assure that the chemical fumes in your darkroom won't be as strong as they may have been if you had mixed them there.
It goes without saying that a small room without a window would be ideal. If that is not possible, you will need to find the best way to cover the window and stop all light from entering. You could try boarding the window up, but a few layers of thick dark plastic works well. Make sure that no light will be creeping in from under the door, also. You can try weather stripping materials or whatever else you have on hand that will keep the light out.
When you think you have all sources of light blocked out, test it. Go into your room on a very bright day and make sure there is no light seeping into the room. If you see even the tiniest crack of light, find the source (after you can see again!) and close off the light source. Black photographic opaque tape works well for these tiny cracks of light.
The widely accepted test to tell whether or not the room is in total darkness is to close everything off until it's as dark as you think it can get and then spend about fifteen minutes in the room. After that time, hold a piece of white paper up in front of your eyes. You shouldn't be able to see it, but if you can indeed see it, you will need to check for the points at which light may be sneaking into the room.
Now that you have taken care of making the darkroom truly dark, you need to prepare the room and start supplying it. Developing color film can be quite difficult, so when you are just starting out, it's much better to learn the process with black and white developing. It is a good idea to pick up a book on developing or maybe even finding a class for it at a local college.
What will you need to supply your new darkroom? The "how-to" book you buy will give lists of supplies, but there are some basic items to be aware of from the beginning. One of these basic items is a tub or sink that will be able to hold three of your developing trays. You will need an enlarger machine and the developing trays. You will need a place to put your photographs to dry and to hang the film to dry.
Other items that are needed from the first developing project onward are a "safelight" so that you can see what you are doing when everything else in the room is so dark, a timer, tongs, and of course your developing supplies including paper, toner, and developer. The book you buy or the course you take will list other things to buy.
You well need a "wet side" area and a "dry side" area of the room. The wet side is where you will be doing the actual chemical processing and the dry side is for printing and other things that do not involve the water or chemicals.
It is important to buy or borrow a book or take a class as mentioned before, so that you don't miss any part of the design of a darkroom that needs to exist. There are just too many particulars and essentials to cover everything in one article. A good book should even tell you how to build some of the things you will need such as storage space or even your sink area.
One last word of advice before you try out your darkroom for the first time is to make sure everyone else in the house with you knows what you are doing and will not come near to inadvertently let any form of light into your darkroom by opening the door. If you are working in a very dark basement, even if it is sectioned off from other areas, someone turning a light on in another area of the basement may be enough to destroy the work you are doing.
Many avid photographers and hobbyists alike consider having a darkroom at one time or another. It's actually rather easy to do, especially if you already have a suitable area in your home and won't need to physically build another room. A "room" isn't even a necessity if you have a suitable area that is dark enough, but finding a place like that is rare.
The first order of business needs to be deciding if you have an area that will work well for your darkroom. Some people will choose a second bathroom that is not commonly used, or part of the basement that can be partitioned off. If that can be done in your case, it is by far the better choice considering basements already have much of the "dark" that one needs for a photographic darkroom. You may have an extra bedroom or pantry that would work well also.
The area that will be your darkroom should be kept at a steady temperature around 68 to 70 degrees. It should also be moderately dry at a 45 or 50 per cent humidity level. Your darkroom or area will also need to be kept clean. Dust is not good for a darkroom environment.
The room certainly doesn't need to be big and actually shouldn't be. The smaller the better (provided, of course, that you give yourself enough work space), and the easier to keep as dark as you will need the area to be. There will need to be electricity and a water source in the room that you decide to use. This will need to be clear water, so if you have "hard water" you will need to use a filter. If your water source isn't directly inside of your darkroom, it should be nearby.
Another very important aspect of a darkroom is proper ventilation. Install a fan, the kind that will take the chemical smells from the room if at all possible. If that isn't doable or feasible, at least have some kind of air vent that will not let light into the room. As an alternative, simply mix your chemicals elsewhere and that will assure that the chemical fumes in your darkroom won't be as strong as they may have been if you had mixed them there.
It goes without saying that a small room without a window would be ideal. If that is not possible, you will need to find the best way to cover the window and stop all light from entering. You could try boarding the window up, but a few layers of thick dark plastic works well. Make sure that no light will be creeping in from under the door, also. You can try weather stripping materials or whatever else you have on hand that will keep the light out.
When you think you have all sources of light blocked out, test it. Go into your room on a very bright day and make sure there is no light seeping into the room. If you see even the tiniest crack of light, find the source (after you can see again!) and close off the light source. Black photographic opaque tape works well for these tiny cracks of light.
The widely accepted test to tell whether or not the room is in total darkness is to close everything off until it's as dark as you think it can get and then spend about fifteen minutes in the room. After that time, hold a piece of white paper up in front of your eyes. You shouldn't be able to see it, but if you can indeed see it, you will need to check for the points at which light may be sneaking into the room.
Now that you have taken care of making the darkroom truly dark, you need to prepare the room and start supplying it. Developing color film can be quite difficult, so when you are just starting out, it's much better to learn the process with black and white developing. It is a good idea to pick up a book on developing or maybe even finding a class for it at a local college.
What will you need to supply your new darkroom? The "how-to" book you buy will give lists of supplies, but there are some basic items to be aware of from the beginning. One of these basic items is a tub or sink that will be able to hold three of your developing trays. You will need an enlarger machine and the developing trays. You will need a place to put your photographs to dry and to hang the film to dry.
Other items that are needed from the first developing project onward are a "safelight" so that you can see what you are doing when everything else in the room is so dark, a timer, tongs, and of course your developing supplies including paper, toner, and developer. The book you buy or the course you take will list other things to buy.
You well need a "wet side" area and a "dry side" area of the room. The wet side is where you will be doing the actual chemical processing and the dry side is for printing and other things that do not involve the water or chemicals.
It is important to buy or borrow a book or take a class as mentioned before, so that you don't miss any part of the design of a darkroom that needs to exist. There are just too many particulars and essentials to cover everything in one article. A good book should even tell you how to build some of the things you will need such as storage space or even your sink area.
One last word of advice before you try out your darkroom for the first time is to make sure everyone else in the house with you knows what you are doing and will not come near to inadvertently let any form of light into your darkroom by opening the door. If you are working in a very dark basement, even if it is sectioned off from other areas, someone turning a light on in another area of the basement may be enough to destroy the work you are doing.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Identifying Photographs
by Christina VanGinkel
One of my ongoing projects for quite some time has been the cataloging and sorting of several boxes of photographs that came into my possession after my mothers passing several years ago. These boxes contain literally thousands of photographs dating back to the early 1900's. Wedding pictures, pictures of hotels, businesses, children, farm animals, family pets, holidays, and more. If you pick an occasion or subject, chances are, I have a picture that would correlate. Would you like a picture of a lone cow standing in a field, a train wreck, or a group of people posing in front of a mine, because I have all of those and more? Honeymoon photos at Niagara Falls, a man, and a child on a chair in front of a chicken coop, people in uniforms declaring their participation in World War 2, even a photograph of a group of people dancing on the stump of a tree so big that there was enough room for all six couples with room to spare.
Sadly, what I do not have is information on who these people are, or even where many of them are. Some are self-identifying, like the photograph of my parents at Niagara Falls. I knew my parents and I was able to read a sign in one of the photographs that identifies Niagara Falls. I also knew they honeymooned there, so I was able to not only place a name and location with the photo, but also an approximate date. The majority of the pictures though, give absolutely no clue whatsoever to whom the people are, or where the photo was taken.
Most digital cameras today will at the least store the date and time the photo was taken along with the digitally stored image. Once the picture is printed though, many of the pictures taken today have no advantage over those from days past.
Thankfully, there are numerous products available today to help us catalog and keep track of all the photographs that we snap. Once you download your digital images to your computer, you can quickly and easily edit and attach any information you would like to store along with the photo. Printed photos should also have a small note of pertinent information written in acid free ink on the back of every photo, or along with it in some type of storage, such as a scrapbook.
Do all of your future relatives a favor and write down who is in each photo, where it was taken, the date, and any other information you feel may shed some light on why the photograph was taken in the first place. By doing this simple task each time you print or download your next batch of pictures, you will be saving your kids and future grandkids invaluable time in looking back at their history. Now if I could just figure out what is so interesting about that lone cow, my curiosity would be satisfied.
One of my ongoing projects for quite some time has been the cataloging and sorting of several boxes of photographs that came into my possession after my mothers passing several years ago. These boxes contain literally thousands of photographs dating back to the early 1900's. Wedding pictures, pictures of hotels, businesses, children, farm animals, family pets, holidays, and more. If you pick an occasion or subject, chances are, I have a picture that would correlate. Would you like a picture of a lone cow standing in a field, a train wreck, or a group of people posing in front of a mine, because I have all of those and more? Honeymoon photos at Niagara Falls, a man, and a child on a chair in front of a chicken coop, people in uniforms declaring their participation in World War 2, even a photograph of a group of people dancing on the stump of a tree so big that there was enough room for all six couples with room to spare.
Sadly, what I do not have is information on who these people are, or even where many of them are. Some are self-identifying, like the photograph of my parents at Niagara Falls. I knew my parents and I was able to read a sign in one of the photographs that identifies Niagara Falls. I also knew they honeymooned there, so I was able to not only place a name and location with the photo, but also an approximate date. The majority of the pictures though, give absolutely no clue whatsoever to whom the people are, or where the photo was taken.
Most digital cameras today will at the least store the date and time the photo was taken along with the digitally stored image. Once the picture is printed though, many of the pictures taken today have no advantage over those from days past.
Thankfully, there are numerous products available today to help us catalog and keep track of all the photographs that we snap. Once you download your digital images to your computer, you can quickly and easily edit and attach any information you would like to store along with the photo. Printed photos should also have a small note of pertinent information written in acid free ink on the back of every photo, or along with it in some type of storage, such as a scrapbook.
Do all of your future relatives a favor and write down who is in each photo, where it was taken, the date, and any other information you feel may shed some light on why the photograph was taken in the first place. By doing this simple task each time you print or download your next batch of pictures, you will be saving your kids and future grandkids invaluable time in looking back at their history. Now if I could just figure out what is so interesting about that lone cow, my curiosity would be satisfied.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Digital Dreams
by Christina VanGinkel
I recently found myself in need of a last minute gift for a friend. Extremely last minute, as in I needed to be at a party in less than two hours and I had no time to shop, and nothing I would likely find last minute would probably be appropriate anyhow. She was what I considered a good friend, and I did not want to give her something tacky, so I was really stuck. Jus what was I going to give her? I could hardly believe that I had marked the day of the party down wrong, and had thought I still had a whole week left to shop. In addition, to make it worse, I would not even have realized it if another friend had not called last minute to ask me if I could pick her up on my way, as she was having some car troubles.
As I was quickly panicking, I remembered the pictures I had snapped of her and several other good friends a few months before when we had all met at the park with grandkids in tow. We were there celebrating the fact that we all had been friends for years, and how we use to joke about that someday when we were old and gray we would actually be grandparents! That had once seemed like such a far off day, but it had arrived, well almost, I still did not have any gray hair, but that is another story. Anyways, that day had arrived and we all seemed to love and be enjoying this new time in our lives. By drawing from that fun filled day, and what my camera had hopefully captured, I thought I might be able to salvage the no gift problem yet!
As I had not even looked at, let alone downloaded any of these, my idea was actually only that, just an idea at that time. I grabbed my digital camera and headed into my office to download them onto my computer to see what possibilities existed within my photographs.
About ten minutes later, after transferring over thirty photos and perusing each one of them, I knew my idea was going to work. Digging through my desk drawers, I found the pack of t-shirt transfers I had picked up months back. Purchased with the idea that I would like to make some photo t-shirts for my kids and grandkids for the holidays next year, I knew if I did not pick them up right then, I would forget all about it and never get any. So, with transfers in hand, I opened them and read the instructions on how to place them into my printer along with instructions on transferring the image itself to fabric. Once I was relatively sure I knew what I was doing, I turned my attention back to my computer and the photographs I had just downloaded. One in particular was going to be perfect for my plan. After a bit of cropping, I knew it was just the thing.
Once I had added wording below the altered picture I was going to use, I double-checked my graphics program instructions for printing in reverse, so that when I ironed the transfer on to the fabric, it would be readable and not backwards. I then set the printer to print two copies and went looking for the rest of the items I would need.
As I was sure from the start that I did not have any new t-shirts that were unadorned with something on them already, I had already formulated an alternative. I had recently picked up a pack of plain white pillowcases with the intention of crocheting an edging on them for my own bedroom. Already pre-washed and dried, they were waiting for me in my yarn basket. I grabbed them, along with my iron and a towel and headed back to my office. I laid the towel out on the floor and plugged in the iron for it to pre-heat. Not ideal conditions, but as I do very little ironing, I do not own an ironing board. I always substitute with a towel in this manner whenever I need to iron something.
By now, the printer had long ago finished printing and I proceeded to lay out the pillowcase onto the towel, on which I placed the transfer face down, with the opposite end of the towel over the back of the transfer, and then proceeded to iron the transfer face down onto one of the pillowcases. After completing the transfer, I stood back and admired my handiwork. Perfect. I repeated the ironing process a second time and soon had a matched set of pillowcases that looked as if I had been planning their creation for months.
After a quick wrapping in tissue paper and gift bag, I headed out the door in time to pick up my other friend on the way. As to the pillowcases, everyone loved them, especially the recipient. Each night she uses them, she can go to sleep with a picture of her granddaughter and the words Sweet Dreams Grandma below. All this thanks to the wonders of my digital camera and a few computer touches.
I recently found myself in need of a last minute gift for a friend. Extremely last minute, as in I needed to be at a party in less than two hours and I had no time to shop, and nothing I would likely find last minute would probably be appropriate anyhow. She was what I considered a good friend, and I did not want to give her something tacky, so I was really stuck. Jus what was I going to give her? I could hardly believe that I had marked the day of the party down wrong, and had thought I still had a whole week left to shop. In addition, to make it worse, I would not even have realized it if another friend had not called last minute to ask me if I could pick her up on my way, as she was having some car troubles.
As I was quickly panicking, I remembered the pictures I had snapped of her and several other good friends a few months before when we had all met at the park with grandkids in tow. We were there celebrating the fact that we all had been friends for years, and how we use to joke about that someday when we were old and gray we would actually be grandparents! That had once seemed like such a far off day, but it had arrived, well almost, I still did not have any gray hair, but that is another story. Anyways, that day had arrived and we all seemed to love and be enjoying this new time in our lives. By drawing from that fun filled day, and what my camera had hopefully captured, I thought I might be able to salvage the no gift problem yet!
As I had not even looked at, let alone downloaded any of these, my idea was actually only that, just an idea at that time. I grabbed my digital camera and headed into my office to download them onto my computer to see what possibilities existed within my photographs.
About ten minutes later, after transferring over thirty photos and perusing each one of them, I knew my idea was going to work. Digging through my desk drawers, I found the pack of t-shirt transfers I had picked up months back. Purchased with the idea that I would like to make some photo t-shirts for my kids and grandkids for the holidays next year, I knew if I did not pick them up right then, I would forget all about it and never get any. So, with transfers in hand, I opened them and read the instructions on how to place them into my printer along with instructions on transferring the image itself to fabric. Once I was relatively sure I knew what I was doing, I turned my attention back to my computer and the photographs I had just downloaded. One in particular was going to be perfect for my plan. After a bit of cropping, I knew it was just the thing.
Once I had added wording below the altered picture I was going to use, I double-checked my graphics program instructions for printing in reverse, so that when I ironed the transfer on to the fabric, it would be readable and not backwards. I then set the printer to print two copies and went looking for the rest of the items I would need.
As I was sure from the start that I did not have any new t-shirts that were unadorned with something on them already, I had already formulated an alternative. I had recently picked up a pack of plain white pillowcases with the intention of crocheting an edging on them for my own bedroom. Already pre-washed and dried, they were waiting for me in my yarn basket. I grabbed them, along with my iron and a towel and headed back to my office. I laid the towel out on the floor and plugged in the iron for it to pre-heat. Not ideal conditions, but as I do very little ironing, I do not own an ironing board. I always substitute with a towel in this manner whenever I need to iron something.
By now, the printer had long ago finished printing and I proceeded to lay out the pillowcase onto the towel, on which I placed the transfer face down, with the opposite end of the towel over the back of the transfer, and then proceeded to iron the transfer face down onto one of the pillowcases. After completing the transfer, I stood back and admired my handiwork. Perfect. I repeated the ironing process a second time and soon had a matched set of pillowcases that looked as if I had been planning their creation for months.
After a quick wrapping in tissue paper and gift bag, I headed out the door in time to pick up my other friend on the way. As to the pillowcases, everyone loved them, especially the recipient. Each night she uses them, she can go to sleep with a picture of her granddaughter and the words Sweet Dreams Grandma below. All this thanks to the wonders of my digital camera and a few computer touches.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words
I've taken thousands of photographs during my life. Some I just love; they get framed or duplicated or emailed. Some are just mistakes and get deleted or thrown out. Most are average, fine remembrances but not outstanding or unusual, and they get put into scrapbooks or albums. Photographs are exceptional tools; they can be used to help someone remember an occasion that was meaningful, such as life changes. Births, graduations, weddings, and birthdays are times when people are usually photographed, and a person who looks at pictures of his past can remember the feelings he had during those occasions. Candid shots can be especially memorable, since they capture a side that isn't seen in posed photos.
While looking at photos of family members or friends can be very rewarding, photographs of people or events that aren't known to the viewer can evoke strong emotions too. Anyone who has ever thumbed through magazines like National Geographic or Life has been shocked, amused, saddened, or amazed by some of the photos within the pages of periodicals. Newspapers also print photos designed to shape the public's views on certain subjects, and reactions are sometimes unexpected. The recent photos of Saddam Hussein in his underwear printed by New York and London papers seem to be wanting a reaction; embarrassing to Iraqis, titillating to some, annoying to most, the public wonders why papers print such photos. The reason, of course, is that people buy the papers to look.
Most Americans and other citizens of the western world have scores of photos. Hospitals snap photos of newborns, many department and discount stores have regular rounds of baby photographers coming in or even permanent studios for parents who want a cute shot of Junior in his Halloween suit, and schools take photos each year of every child in every grade for the yearbook and for the PTA to raise funds. Most American families have huge boxes of photos, or if Mom or Dad has a talent for organizing, albums or scrapbooks with lots of photos and mementos. We rarely think about other parts of the world, where people have maybe one or two treasured photos or even none at all. Some people have never had a photo taken; they've never seen themselves as we see ourselves so often.
A National Geographic photographer, Steve McCurry, took a photograph in 1984 of an Afghan girl. The photograph was on the cover of the magazine and it was also on the cover of the book "National Geographic's 100 Best Pictures." The photo was startling and memorable because of the girl's face; her eyes were very green and eerie, and her lovely face seemed to represent the uncertainty and hardships of the Afghan refugees. The photograph was duplicated all over the world, but no one knew who was in the photo. The photographer went back to Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the girl was photographed originally, and looked for the girl, but she was not to be found.
In 2002, a team from National Geographic went back to the refugee camp where the girl had been photographed to look for her. They asked many people around that area if they knew the woman's name; since it was almost twenty years later, they weren't sure she would be recognized or if she would even still be alive. They found someone who told them the location of a village where the woman might live, and they were able to find her brother, who had the same green eyes. They found the woman, whose name is Sharbat Gula. She had never seen the famous photo, and was not eager to have more taken since she lives "behind the veil" as a traditional Muslim woman. A woman from the National Geographic team was allowed to take Gula's photograph, since meeting with the men photographers was taboo for her because of her religion; later on she was allowed to meet McCurry. Sharbat Gula told the photographer that the 1984 photo was the only time she had been photographed, and she had never seen the famous photo.
Another photo was taken of Gula in 2002; she was pictured holding the first photo, and the search for her became a TV special entitled "Search for the Afghan Girl." The photos were compared to make sure the person in both photos was the same; an iris scan was even done to verify that Gula was the right person. She told her story on the TV special so that people around the world would know that she had survived. She married, has four children, all daughters, and lives a strict Muslim life. She is not interested in publicity and does not want to give any more interviews to reporters; since she lives in a very remote area, the chances are good that her wishes will be honored. Sharbat Gula will probably not be photographed again in her life.
Most Americans take pleasure in looking at pictures, but we are inundated with them. There are images everywhere, and certainly these images, both photographs and films on TV, movies, and the internet, shape our perceptions and minds. Just as it's outside our realm of existence to think that someone has never been photographed, it's also hard to imagine that people in today's world live where images are never seen. No billboards, no TV, no movies, no magazines of celebrity photos. How can they live without Oprah? Sharbat Gula lives a simple life, and so do many millions of people around the world. Looking at photos such as hers allow us to take a tiny peek into the plights of those on other parts of the globe, and allow us to try to find a way to help if we see distress in those photos.
While looking at photos of family members or friends can be very rewarding, photographs of people or events that aren't known to the viewer can evoke strong emotions too. Anyone who has ever thumbed through magazines like National Geographic or Life has been shocked, amused, saddened, or amazed by some of the photos within the pages of periodicals. Newspapers also print photos designed to shape the public's views on certain subjects, and reactions are sometimes unexpected. The recent photos of Saddam Hussein in his underwear printed by New York and London papers seem to be wanting a reaction; embarrassing to Iraqis, titillating to some, annoying to most, the public wonders why papers print such photos. The reason, of course, is that people buy the papers to look.
Most Americans and other citizens of the western world have scores of photos. Hospitals snap photos of newborns, many department and discount stores have regular rounds of baby photographers coming in or even permanent studios for parents who want a cute shot of Junior in his Halloween suit, and schools take photos each year of every child in every grade for the yearbook and for the PTA to raise funds. Most American families have huge boxes of photos, or if Mom or Dad has a talent for organizing, albums or scrapbooks with lots of photos and mementos. We rarely think about other parts of the world, where people have maybe one or two treasured photos or even none at all. Some people have never had a photo taken; they've never seen themselves as we see ourselves so often.
A National Geographic photographer, Steve McCurry, took a photograph in 1984 of an Afghan girl. The photograph was on the cover of the magazine and it was also on the cover of the book "National Geographic's 100 Best Pictures." The photo was startling and memorable because of the girl's face; her eyes were very green and eerie, and her lovely face seemed to represent the uncertainty and hardships of the Afghan refugees. The photograph was duplicated all over the world, but no one knew who was in the photo. The photographer went back to Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the girl was photographed originally, and looked for the girl, but she was not to be found.
In 2002, a team from National Geographic went back to the refugee camp where the girl had been photographed to look for her. They asked many people around that area if they knew the woman's name; since it was almost twenty years later, they weren't sure she would be recognized or if she would even still be alive. They found someone who told them the location of a village where the woman might live, and they were able to find her brother, who had the same green eyes. They found the woman, whose name is Sharbat Gula. She had never seen the famous photo, and was not eager to have more taken since she lives "behind the veil" as a traditional Muslim woman. A woman from the National Geographic team was allowed to take Gula's photograph, since meeting with the men photographers was taboo for her because of her religion; later on she was allowed to meet McCurry. Sharbat Gula told the photographer that the 1984 photo was the only time she had been photographed, and she had never seen the famous photo.
Another photo was taken of Gula in 2002; she was pictured holding the first photo, and the search for her became a TV special entitled "Search for the Afghan Girl." The photos were compared to make sure the person in both photos was the same; an iris scan was even done to verify that Gula was the right person. She told her story on the TV special so that people around the world would know that she had survived. She married, has four children, all daughters, and lives a strict Muslim life. She is not interested in publicity and does not want to give any more interviews to reporters; since she lives in a very remote area, the chances are good that her wishes will be honored. Sharbat Gula will probably not be photographed again in her life.
Most Americans take pleasure in looking at pictures, but we are inundated with them. There are images everywhere, and certainly these images, both photographs and films on TV, movies, and the internet, shape our perceptions and minds. Just as it's outside our realm of existence to think that someone has never been photographed, it's also hard to imagine that people in today's world live where images are never seen. No billboards, no TV, no movies, no magazines of celebrity photos. How can they live without Oprah? Sharbat Gula lives a simple life, and so do many millions of people around the world. Looking at photos such as hers allow us to take a tiny peek into the plights of those on other parts of the globe, and allow us to try to find a way to help if we see distress in those photos.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Daily Digital Talk
by Christina VanGinkel
Taking photos has evolved greatly since the digital camera has made its way into the average household. I am sure you have heard many reasons why, but I was privy without even realizing it to after the fact, just how much some digital pictures have changed both how and why photos are taken.
My daughter and grandson are working away from home this summer. After having my grandson relatively close by since his birth nearly two years ago, this is quite an adjustment for me, an admitted doting grandmother. What was supposed to be a short trip has taken on a life of its own, and I have taken to telling my daughter to snap photos of him doing whatever. I happily download pictures of him doing everything from playing in the dirt, to visits to sights such as Mt. Rushmore. No task is to minor. Restaurant eating? Yep, grandma would love to see some of the places he has eaten. How about the outside of the hotels? Those work too! Even shots of him at the nearest Wal-Mart will do. Why would I want these mundane photos? Simple really. I rarely print any of them, but by seeing some of the things he is seeing I have a basis to match my phone conversations I have with him daily. His vocabulary is expanding faster than any two year old I have ever known, we get to actually talk on the phone because I am able to ask him pointed questions about what he did that day, and my daughter does not have to be prompting both him and myself on what we are talking about. By aid of the instant access to the digital photos, I am able to keep up a relationship with my grandson even though he is no longer right here.
The photos work both ways. I send him photos of our yard when the wild turkeys are in, of my flowers as they sprout and open, when a surprise rabbit stopped to eat some of those same flowers, and of our dog at sleep and play. My daughter told me he likes to take his pictures, lay them out on the floor, and lay across them, pointing out Nana, Papa, and Uncle. Thanks to the world of digital, we are able to keep up our relationship even though we are separated by hundreds of miles. Now, if I could just figure out how to send a big bear hug digitally, I would not ask for anything else, well, maybe a plane ticket!
Taking photos has evolved greatly since the digital camera has made its way into the average household. I am sure you have heard many reasons why, but I was privy without even realizing it to after the fact, just how much some digital pictures have changed both how and why photos are taken.
My daughter and grandson are working away from home this summer. After having my grandson relatively close by since his birth nearly two years ago, this is quite an adjustment for me, an admitted doting grandmother. What was supposed to be a short trip has taken on a life of its own, and I have taken to telling my daughter to snap photos of him doing whatever. I happily download pictures of him doing everything from playing in the dirt, to visits to sights such as Mt. Rushmore. No task is to minor. Restaurant eating? Yep, grandma would love to see some of the places he has eaten. How about the outside of the hotels? Those work too! Even shots of him at the nearest Wal-Mart will do. Why would I want these mundane photos? Simple really. I rarely print any of them, but by seeing some of the things he is seeing I have a basis to match my phone conversations I have with him daily. His vocabulary is expanding faster than any two year old I have ever known, we get to actually talk on the phone because I am able to ask him pointed questions about what he did that day, and my daughter does not have to be prompting both him and myself on what we are talking about. By aid of the instant access to the digital photos, I am able to keep up a relationship with my grandson even though he is no longer right here.
The photos work both ways. I send him photos of our yard when the wild turkeys are in, of my flowers as they sprout and open, when a surprise rabbit stopped to eat some of those same flowers, and of our dog at sleep and play. My daughter told me he likes to take his pictures, lay them out on the floor, and lay across them, pointing out Nana, Papa, and Uncle. Thanks to the world of digital, we are able to keep up our relationship even though we are separated by hundreds of miles. Now, if I could just figure out how to send a big bear hug digitally, I would not ask for anything else, well, maybe a plane ticket!
Friday, May 20, 2005
Moving Up
By Christina VanGinkel
The minute I started talking about buying a new digital camera, my twelve year old started asking me what I was going to do with my Sony Mavica. It has an optical 3X lens and snaps photos at a very usable 3.2-mega pixel. Far from being an outdated camera, it just no longer matched my needs for most of the photo taking I do.
I wanted something that would bring my subject, usually my son, into range when he was out on the football or baseball field. Technically, the Mavica did have a higher zoom if you considered the listed digital zoom factor. I did not. The digital zoom is nothing more than a cropping feature built into the camera. I can do that on my computer. I wanted real, honest to goodness optical zoom, something that would allow me to capture him out of the crowd. I also wanted something that would allow me to snap several pictures in succession without an enormous amount of lag between each shutter snap. While the Sony Mavica had let me snap some great pictures over the last few years, I now wanted to snap even better ones.
So what was I looking for in a new camera beyond what I already had? A digital camera that had a decent size LCD screen, an optical lens of at least 10X, and a mega pixel sensor of at least five would be ideal. Oh, and I did not want to spend a small fortune on it. Not asking for much, was I? I even thought I had found the ideal replacement when I discovered the Kodak Z7590. A fan of the Kodak brand from years of experience, the Z7590 seemed to have all the features I was looking for, including the 10X optical zoom, 5.0 effective mega pixel lens, and a decent size 2.2-inch color display. Couple those features with the options for taking both still and short bursts of video complete with audio and I thought I was sold. The camera was everything I was looking for. In addition, at a suggested retail price of just under the four hundred dollar range, I did not think I would find a camera that had the same or better features for a comparable price.
Then, I discovered the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1. It came complete with a 5.1-megapixel sensor, a large, beautiful 2.5 inch LCD screen, image stabilization, and the most impressive 12X optical zoom you could imagine. Do not get me wrong, there are numerous digital cameras available that have much more impressive features, but not at a suggested retail price below five hundred dollars. As a current, satisfied owner of a Sony camera, I also felt competent with the brand itself.
So, what was my choice? I still have not decided. I intend to purchase one or the other in the near future and when I do, I will let you know which one won or if any other competitors joined the field. In the meantime, my son has continued to inquire about ownership rights of the Mavica. The only problem there is I have not decided if I am ready to give it up. It is a bit like parting with a good friend who has been by my side for quite some time. Though I am inspired thinking of all the fantastic pictures he would surely take with it. So, I guess I will pass it along, as soon as I have made up my mind.
The minute I started talking about buying a new digital camera, my twelve year old started asking me what I was going to do with my Sony Mavica. It has an optical 3X lens and snaps photos at a very usable 3.2-mega pixel. Far from being an outdated camera, it just no longer matched my needs for most of the photo taking I do.
I wanted something that would bring my subject, usually my son, into range when he was out on the football or baseball field. Technically, the Mavica did have a higher zoom if you considered the listed digital zoom factor. I did not. The digital zoom is nothing more than a cropping feature built into the camera. I can do that on my computer. I wanted real, honest to goodness optical zoom, something that would allow me to capture him out of the crowd. I also wanted something that would allow me to snap several pictures in succession without an enormous amount of lag between each shutter snap. While the Sony Mavica had let me snap some great pictures over the last few years, I now wanted to snap even better ones.
So what was I looking for in a new camera beyond what I already had? A digital camera that had a decent size LCD screen, an optical lens of at least 10X, and a mega pixel sensor of at least five would be ideal. Oh, and I did not want to spend a small fortune on it. Not asking for much, was I? I even thought I had found the ideal replacement when I discovered the Kodak Z7590. A fan of the Kodak brand from years of experience, the Z7590 seemed to have all the features I was looking for, including the 10X optical zoom, 5.0 effective mega pixel lens, and a decent size 2.2-inch color display. Couple those features with the options for taking both still and short bursts of video complete with audio and I thought I was sold. The camera was everything I was looking for. In addition, at a suggested retail price of just under the four hundred dollar range, I did not think I would find a camera that had the same or better features for a comparable price.
Then, I discovered the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1. It came complete with a 5.1-megapixel sensor, a large, beautiful 2.5 inch LCD screen, image stabilization, and the most impressive 12X optical zoom you could imagine. Do not get me wrong, there are numerous digital cameras available that have much more impressive features, but not at a suggested retail price below five hundred dollars. As a current, satisfied owner of a Sony camera, I also felt competent with the brand itself.
So, what was my choice? I still have not decided. I intend to purchase one or the other in the near future and when I do, I will let you know which one won or if any other competitors joined the field. In the meantime, my son has continued to inquire about ownership rights of the Mavica. The only problem there is I have not decided if I am ready to give it up. It is a bit like parting with a good friend who has been by my side for quite some time. Though I am inspired thinking of all the fantastic pictures he would surely take with it. So, I guess I will pass it along, as soon as I have made up my mind.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Photo Op Paradise for the Pro or Amateur Photographer
By Kathy A. Schaeffer
If you are an avid photographer, no matter at which level of the craft, there is an excellent choice of vacation if you want to get some incredible photographs. This ideal place for a photo shoot is in northeast Florida, just 40 miles south of Jacksonville and 60 miles north of Daytona and is the city of St. Augustine. Be sure to have plenty of film for a traditional camera or extra batteries and memory cards for a digital.
St. Augustine has the distinction of being the nation's oldest city. It was founded before Jamestown and before Plymouth Rock was ever stepped upon. "San Agustin" as it was called, was founded in 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles after Florida's discovery by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. "La Florida," as it was then called, means "feast of flowers."
One of the main attractions in this city (there are many!) is what is lovingly referred to as "the old fort." The Castillo de San Marcos was built in the 1600s as defense against the British colonies that were springing up to the north of Florida. The Castillo has never been taken in battle and its impressive size and appearance is a photographer's dream for some incredible shots. Your photo portfolio at this location will include some very impressive shots of the outside of the fort, but visitors are also allowed inside. At the lower level of the inside, take your camera into the numerous rooms and enjoy the opportunities. After that, climb the steps to the gun deck to see the cannons and enjoy taking some superb photos of St. Augustine to the sides and back of the fort and the Matanzas Bay dotted with all kinds of boats to the front of the fort. Costumed reenactors are often onsite and offer photo ops.
The Mission of Nombre de Dios is one of the most peaceful settings in the country, and the most holy, according to John F. Kennedy. It was here where the first Catholic Mass was given by Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales in September of 1565. The grounds today are beautifully kept and manicured, and the photo ops are endless, starting with the arched foot bridge over the lagoon. There are statues, old tombstones, fountains, great shots of the bay, and the 16th century style shrine called Our Lady of La Leche. The building is quaint and quite striking with its ivy-covered walls and Spanish architecture. Another stunning sight here is the massive 65 foot high cross.
One of the most memorable things about downtown St. Augustine is the architecture. The "Flagler Section" of town cannot be sufficiently described in mere words, it's simply a sight that has to be seen. Be ready to gasp, though, when seeing it all for the first time. As a note of helpfulness here, it is a good idea to buy a trolley ticket and see the town in that way. The trolley companies stop at about 20 places in town and you can get off and on as often as you wish and move on to the next stop. Be aware that your trolley ticket covers three whole days of riding around the town, not just one day. This is a fully narrated tour around town as well as a perfect mode of transportation from one point to another. Each trolley driver has his or her own stories in addition to the standard facts, so each ride will offer more and unique facts and anecdotes about the city.
The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park presents lovely grounds for photo taking, resident peacocks that are known to "strut their stuff" when cameras are near, bayfront views, the fountain itself, from which visitors can drink, and a former Indian burial ground site and exhibit. There is also a planetarium found here.
There are three restored villages in St. Augustine, if that is the type of place you enjoy spending time with your camera. They are the Old St. Augustine Village, Colonial Spanish Quarter, and a hands-on museum basically for children called the Old Florida Museum.
There are a number of museums in St. Augustine if you enjoy taking inside photographs of exhibits. The Museum of Weapons and Early American History has Spanish and English artifacts from St. Augustine's history, many firearms, and there are some exhibits about shipwrecks and the Civil War. Potter's Wax Museum offers an opportunity for some unique photo shoots with some exceptionally famous people (more than 150) made into wax figures. Still another option, there are all kinds of photos possible at Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum (the original) including the building itself in which the museum is found.
Other sites of interest around the city include Zorayda Castle, modeled after the medieval Alhambra in Granada, Spain. It is a uniquely striking building. The Gonzalez-Alvarez House is called "The Oldest House" and is open for touring. The Oldest Schoolhouse is found on St. George Street. St. George Street itself is a shopper's paradise. No vehicles are allowed on this street and there is a definite feel of Old Spain in the air here. The best photographs will be available in the morning before the stores open and before the street fills with pedestrians.
To see the city from the water (including the cross on the mission grounds and the Castillo) try a Victory III scenic cruise. This provides a whole new perspective for pictures of those attractions as well as the lighthouse and Atlantic Ocean.
If you enjoy taking unusual pictures, you may like one of the ghost tours that are offered every night. Whether or not you actually get a shot of a spirit, it is something nice to do in the city in the evening. There is even a ghost tour from the water on a haunted schooner.
Another after-dark option is to hire a horse and carriage for a tour around town with the driver doing the narrating. Don't forget to try to get some sunset photographs, and there are plenty of palm trees to use as a foreground. Sunset pictures with the Castillo turn out well, too. Speaking of trees, the countless Spanish moss draped live oaks around the town will serve as backdrop for many of your photographs.
Across the Bridge of Lions from St. Augustine's historic district lies Anastasia Island. This is where to go for your photo shots of the Atlantic Ocean and beachfront. Also on the island is where you will find the very impressive St. Augustine Lighthouse. If you can manage climbing the 219 steps to the top, you can imagine what kind of photo shots you will able to obtain.
The Bridge of Lions itself generally has two massive white lions at the St. Augustine side of it, but they have been removed for safety in early 2005 while bridge work is being done, and they will not be replaced for a number of years.
Also on "the other side" of the bridge, on the island, you will find still another great opportunity for some unique photographs. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park houses gators, monkeys, tropical birds, crocodiles, and other wildlife that will provide some excellent pictures. Be sure to see all 15+ feet and 1250 pounds of Maximo, the croc that's already over thirty years old. You will also want to snap some pictures of the albino alligators. Legend has it that anyone viewing one of these creatures will be the recipient of good luck, so that's just a side perk.
Fort Matanzas is another option found on the island side of the city and about 15 miles from St. Augustine's historic district. This is where French Huguenots were massacred in 1565. Matanzas Bay got its name from this event; Matanzas means slaughter. The fort itself is small and the park service runs a ferry to the fort from the visitor center.
If you have seen everything you wish to see in St. Augustine and have some vacation time left over, you may want to visit some other points of interest along Florida's Atlantic shoreline. This would include many points of interest including the zoo beside the St. John's River in Jacksonville.
Another day trip from St. Augustine will take you about 115 miles south to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The things that will make good photography subject are obvious, and include the visitor complex itself with a rocket garden, shuttle replica, and a wall of remembrance (called Space Mirror) for astronauts who have lost their lives in the interest of space exploration. You will be able to see the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the International Space Station Center, and the Launch Complex 39 Observation Area. You may be able to snap a shot of an astronaut here because they offer an "Astronaut Encounter" program. Ask questions of the astronaut while snapping pictures.
Florida's Space Coast is actually more than 70 miles long, so if it is photography of beach areas and the ocean you seek, just start traveling south from St. Augustine and the opportunities will be plenty. All of these places including St. Augustine are easily reached via the I-95 corridor if this is a driving road trip.
If you are an avid photographer, no matter at which level of the craft, there is an excellent choice of vacation if you want to get some incredible photographs. This ideal place for a photo shoot is in northeast Florida, just 40 miles south of Jacksonville and 60 miles north of Daytona and is the city of St. Augustine. Be sure to have plenty of film for a traditional camera or extra batteries and memory cards for a digital.
St. Augustine has the distinction of being the nation's oldest city. It was founded before Jamestown and before Plymouth Rock was ever stepped upon. "San Agustin" as it was called, was founded in 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles after Florida's discovery by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. "La Florida," as it was then called, means "feast of flowers."
One of the main attractions in this city (there are many!) is what is lovingly referred to as "the old fort." The Castillo de San Marcos was built in the 1600s as defense against the British colonies that were springing up to the north of Florida. The Castillo has never been taken in battle and its impressive size and appearance is a photographer's dream for some incredible shots. Your photo portfolio at this location will include some very impressive shots of the outside of the fort, but visitors are also allowed inside. At the lower level of the inside, take your camera into the numerous rooms and enjoy the opportunities. After that, climb the steps to the gun deck to see the cannons and enjoy taking some superb photos of St. Augustine to the sides and back of the fort and the Matanzas Bay dotted with all kinds of boats to the front of the fort. Costumed reenactors are often onsite and offer photo ops.
The Mission of Nombre de Dios is one of the most peaceful settings in the country, and the most holy, according to John F. Kennedy. It was here where the first Catholic Mass was given by Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales in September of 1565. The grounds today are beautifully kept and manicured, and the photo ops are endless, starting with the arched foot bridge over the lagoon. There are statues, old tombstones, fountains, great shots of the bay, and the 16th century style shrine called Our Lady of La Leche. The building is quaint and quite striking with its ivy-covered walls and Spanish architecture. Another stunning sight here is the massive 65 foot high cross.
One of the most memorable things about downtown St. Augustine is the architecture. The "Flagler Section" of town cannot be sufficiently described in mere words, it's simply a sight that has to be seen. Be ready to gasp, though, when seeing it all for the first time. As a note of helpfulness here, it is a good idea to buy a trolley ticket and see the town in that way. The trolley companies stop at about 20 places in town and you can get off and on as often as you wish and move on to the next stop. Be aware that your trolley ticket covers three whole days of riding around the town, not just one day. This is a fully narrated tour around town as well as a perfect mode of transportation from one point to another. Each trolley driver has his or her own stories in addition to the standard facts, so each ride will offer more and unique facts and anecdotes about the city.
The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park presents lovely grounds for photo taking, resident peacocks that are known to "strut their stuff" when cameras are near, bayfront views, the fountain itself, from which visitors can drink, and a former Indian burial ground site and exhibit. There is also a planetarium found here.
There are three restored villages in St. Augustine, if that is the type of place you enjoy spending time with your camera. They are the Old St. Augustine Village, Colonial Spanish Quarter, and a hands-on museum basically for children called the Old Florida Museum.
There are a number of museums in St. Augustine if you enjoy taking inside photographs of exhibits. The Museum of Weapons and Early American History has Spanish and English artifacts from St. Augustine's history, many firearms, and there are some exhibits about shipwrecks and the Civil War. Potter's Wax Museum offers an opportunity for some unique photo shoots with some exceptionally famous people (more than 150) made into wax figures. Still another option, there are all kinds of photos possible at Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum (the original) including the building itself in which the museum is found.
Other sites of interest around the city include Zorayda Castle, modeled after the medieval Alhambra in Granada, Spain. It is a uniquely striking building. The Gonzalez-Alvarez House is called "The Oldest House" and is open for touring. The Oldest Schoolhouse is found on St. George Street. St. George Street itself is a shopper's paradise. No vehicles are allowed on this street and there is a definite feel of Old Spain in the air here. The best photographs will be available in the morning before the stores open and before the street fills with pedestrians.
To see the city from the water (including the cross on the mission grounds and the Castillo) try a Victory III scenic cruise. This provides a whole new perspective for pictures of those attractions as well as the lighthouse and Atlantic Ocean.
If you enjoy taking unusual pictures, you may like one of the ghost tours that are offered every night. Whether or not you actually get a shot of a spirit, it is something nice to do in the city in the evening. There is even a ghost tour from the water on a haunted schooner.
Another after-dark option is to hire a horse and carriage for a tour around town with the driver doing the narrating. Don't forget to try to get some sunset photographs, and there are plenty of palm trees to use as a foreground. Sunset pictures with the Castillo turn out well, too. Speaking of trees, the countless Spanish moss draped live oaks around the town will serve as backdrop for many of your photographs.
Across the Bridge of Lions from St. Augustine's historic district lies Anastasia Island. This is where to go for your photo shots of the Atlantic Ocean and beachfront. Also on the island is where you will find the very impressive St. Augustine Lighthouse. If you can manage climbing the 219 steps to the top, you can imagine what kind of photo shots you will able to obtain.
The Bridge of Lions itself generally has two massive white lions at the St. Augustine side of it, but they have been removed for safety in early 2005 while bridge work is being done, and they will not be replaced for a number of years.
Also on "the other side" of the bridge, on the island, you will find still another great opportunity for some unique photographs. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park houses gators, monkeys, tropical birds, crocodiles, and other wildlife that will provide some excellent pictures. Be sure to see all 15+ feet and 1250 pounds of Maximo, the croc that's already over thirty years old. You will also want to snap some pictures of the albino alligators. Legend has it that anyone viewing one of these creatures will be the recipient of good luck, so that's just a side perk.
Fort Matanzas is another option found on the island side of the city and about 15 miles from St. Augustine's historic district. This is where French Huguenots were massacred in 1565. Matanzas Bay got its name from this event; Matanzas means slaughter. The fort itself is small and the park service runs a ferry to the fort from the visitor center.
If you have seen everything you wish to see in St. Augustine and have some vacation time left over, you may want to visit some other points of interest along Florida's Atlantic shoreline. This would include many points of interest including the zoo beside the St. John's River in Jacksonville.
Another day trip from St. Augustine will take you about 115 miles south to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The things that will make good photography subject are obvious, and include the visitor complex itself with a rocket garden, shuttle replica, and a wall of remembrance (called Space Mirror) for astronauts who have lost their lives in the interest of space exploration. You will be able to see the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the International Space Station Center, and the Launch Complex 39 Observation Area. You may be able to snap a shot of an astronaut here because they offer an "Astronaut Encounter" program. Ask questions of the astronaut while snapping pictures.
Florida's Space Coast is actually more than 70 miles long, so if it is photography of beach areas and the ocean you seek, just start traveling south from St. Augustine and the opportunities will be plenty. All of these places including St. Augustine are easily reached via the I-95 corridor if this is a driving road trip.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
A Model Train Vacation
We used to travel from Colorado to Texas every summer to visit my cousins. My cousins were two boys, about the same age as me, and their house was always a blast because they had a pool, they lived near the ocean, and they had an amazing model train village set up in one of their rooms.
The two boys each had very small bedrooms right next to one another, one with a red bedspread and one with blue; identical in every way, other than the bedspreads. But one year we showed up in our old Bronco after driving for 17 hours to find that they had moved in together. Both the blue and the red bed were crowded into two rooms and in the former 2nd bedroom they had set up a large plywood table with a model train village that covered most of the small 10x10 room.
The village was extremely detailed. These two boys were about 12 and 14 years of age, but they had put work into it that gave it a professional look. The model train was a small, narrow gage engine with a few basic cars and of course, a red caboose. But it wasn't so much the train that gave the village its appeal; it was the variety of landscaping, terrain, and villages.
On one side of the table there was a low-lying village by the sea, complete with tiny boats, docks, and blue-painted water. The model train tracks swept through the edge of town, not far from the harbor, with an old fashioned train station and loading dock situated just so.
As the train chugged along the tracks away from the seaside village, it passed a short beach before it began a small ascent up into the hills away from the sea. There it passed miniature forests, mountain glens and the occasional plastic deer or fox hiding in the trees. There was even an RV out for a campout next to a small picnic table.
The train meandered through the hills around to the far side of the table where it met with another village. This time the village was a mining town, complete with a painted-on tumbling river for gold-panning, saloons and a hotel on the main street, and a mine next to the tallest hill on the edge of the town. The train passed and slowed down considerably right next to the mine.
After the mountain town, the model train began a gentle ascent around toward the middle of the table where a beautiful valley opened up and there was a woodland lake with an old farmhouse near-by. Tiny people were situated outside the farmhouse: a farmer working in a miniature field and children waving from the porch of the house. The train slowed again as it passed by.
After circling the valley with the farmhouse, the model train then chugged back up a short hill past a road with a few model cars placed strategically in front of the flashing railroad crossing sign. The barriers would lower and rise as the train passed. After this, the model train once again descended back around to the front of the table where it began at the seaside village.
The terrain was truly beautiful and the details precise. Nothing was left undone; while watching the model train go about its scheduled course, one could lose himself in the trip, imagining he were actually on the train, seeing the sights on a life-sized scale. I used to watch the train for long periods of time, delighted when it slowed at the right times, always watching to see if the railroad crossing barriers lowered on time. It was peaceful, with the only sound as that of the chugging train that blew a small whistle when it approached the mine and when it passed the road.
Several days later, on our long drive back to Colorado, I watched the scenery go by out the car window, remembering my miniature vacation with the model train. We passed wheat field, cotton fields, small towns, large cities, and campgrounds. As we made our way north, we climbed into the foothills, passed rivers and streams, and saw life-sized railroad crossings. We even had the pleasure of seeing several real-life trains on our trip and they made me smile.
I haven't had much opportunity to ride on life-sized trains, and when I have, it usually hasn't been for pleasure, but rather, for the necessity of getting somewhere in a timely fashion. But there is pleasure to be found in riding a train the old-fashioned way, watching the trees, meadows and small towns go by, seeing a view only available to those on the track.
But if the opportunity isn't possible, the next best thing is a model railroad. When you take the time to set up your own model railroad in a spare room or basement, you can take the old fashioned vacation of your dreams without leaving your own home.
The two boys each had very small bedrooms right next to one another, one with a red bedspread and one with blue; identical in every way, other than the bedspreads. But one year we showed up in our old Bronco after driving for 17 hours to find that they had moved in together. Both the blue and the red bed were crowded into two rooms and in the former 2nd bedroom they had set up a large plywood table with a model train village that covered most of the small 10x10 room.
The village was extremely detailed. These two boys were about 12 and 14 years of age, but they had put work into it that gave it a professional look. The model train was a small, narrow gage engine with a few basic cars and of course, a red caboose. But it wasn't so much the train that gave the village its appeal; it was the variety of landscaping, terrain, and villages.
On one side of the table there was a low-lying village by the sea, complete with tiny boats, docks, and blue-painted water. The model train tracks swept through the edge of town, not far from the harbor, with an old fashioned train station and loading dock situated just so.
As the train chugged along the tracks away from the seaside village, it passed a short beach before it began a small ascent up into the hills away from the sea. There it passed miniature forests, mountain glens and the occasional plastic deer or fox hiding in the trees. There was even an RV out for a campout next to a small picnic table.
The train meandered through the hills around to the far side of the table where it met with another village. This time the village was a mining town, complete with a painted-on tumbling river for gold-panning, saloons and a hotel on the main street, and a mine next to the tallest hill on the edge of the town. The train passed and slowed down considerably right next to the mine.
After the mountain town, the model train began a gentle ascent around toward the middle of the table where a beautiful valley opened up and there was a woodland lake with an old farmhouse near-by. Tiny people were situated outside the farmhouse: a farmer working in a miniature field and children waving from the porch of the house. The train slowed again as it passed by.
After circling the valley with the farmhouse, the model train then chugged back up a short hill past a road with a few model cars placed strategically in front of the flashing railroad crossing sign. The barriers would lower and rise as the train passed. After this, the model train once again descended back around to the front of the table where it began at the seaside village.
The terrain was truly beautiful and the details precise. Nothing was left undone; while watching the model train go about its scheduled course, one could lose himself in the trip, imagining he were actually on the train, seeing the sights on a life-sized scale. I used to watch the train for long periods of time, delighted when it slowed at the right times, always watching to see if the railroad crossing barriers lowered on time. It was peaceful, with the only sound as that of the chugging train that blew a small whistle when it approached the mine and when it passed the road.
Several days later, on our long drive back to Colorado, I watched the scenery go by out the car window, remembering my miniature vacation with the model train. We passed wheat field, cotton fields, small towns, large cities, and campgrounds. As we made our way north, we climbed into the foothills, passed rivers and streams, and saw life-sized railroad crossings. We even had the pleasure of seeing several real-life trains on our trip and they made me smile.
I haven't had much opportunity to ride on life-sized trains, and when I have, it usually hasn't been for pleasure, but rather, for the necessity of getting somewhere in a timely fashion. But there is pleasure to be found in riding a train the old-fashioned way, watching the trees, meadows and small towns go by, seeing a view only available to those on the track.
But if the opportunity isn't possible, the next best thing is a model railroad. When you take the time to set up your own model railroad in a spare room or basement, you can take the old fashioned vacation of your dreams without leaving your own home.
Friday, May 13, 2005
My Amateur Photographer Dad
When we were small children, my dad loved to take pictures of my younger brother and me. He was an amateur photographer with one of those old cameras that had the changeable flash bulb. When he took the picture, it popped loudly and we were temporarily blinded.
As the years passed, Dad's cameras evolved with technology. He studied and studied cameras before ever purchasing one, and when he did ultimately buy one, it was the best. And that was when the torture began. Dad used to take us around town to any number of scenic locations; this wasn't difficult, as we lived on the foothills of the Colorado Rockies, making for a beautiful photograph wherever we decided to stop.
In front of an exceptionally beautiful view of the mountains, on the banks of a tumbling mountain stream, in the foreground of a grove of shimmering aspen trees, or next to a still trout pond; he would drive and we were forced to get out and stand still while he focused.
Focusing was an art and we all know that beautiful artwork takes time. That was what my dad said, anyway, while we waited, stock still with plastered smiles on our faces. We smiled into the sun until tears formed in our eyes. "Ready," he would say, and we updated our smiles, thinking this would be it. Moments ticked by and nothing happened. He was still looking toward us through the camera viewing lens, I was sure of it, but there was no click. No snap of the shutter.
Often we complained. "C'mon Dad, hurry up!" But he was infinitely patient. Not only did he not hurry, he seemed to slow down and he never got the least bit agitated at our whining and complaining. He just smiled and said, "Ok, just a second, this should be it." But it rarely was. We watched the grass grow and the flowers bloom and wilt, and still Dad tinkered with his camera, waiting for just the right turn of the dial.
Looking back, my brother and I have found many pictures from over the years. They are all very clear, crisp, and with perfect perspective. The people in the photos (mainly my brother and me) are perfectly centered. But we look pained. Many times our eyes are closed with big, fake smiles on our faces. Other times one of us has tear stained cheeks from being chastised for whining by our mother. Christmas and other holiday photos abound, with all the right props and beautiful settings, but it all looks so staged. Where are the candid shots? Where is the movement? Where is real life?
Today I have a digital camera that will take a million pictures, all of which we can happily delete on a whim if we so choose. The tiny camera takes video clips and conveniently plugs right into our computer so we can view our photography immediately. Instant gratification photography is a pleasant thing in my life after growing up with my amateur photographer father. I snap photo after photo of my kids at a soccer game or the family at Christmas and just delete the ones that are blurred or where no one is looking.
In the past couple of years I've tried to convince my dad that he should get a digital camera. He has the newest, state-of-the-art camera, as usual, that takes amazing photos with perfect clarity; but he won't try digital. He likes his traditional camera and he likes his traditional developing methods. The computer age is not for him.
My brother and I used to joke about my dad and his picture-taking slowness. Now my children joke about their grandpa and his amateur photography antics. They know about the wait, the squinting, the fake smiles. They often groan to me when he stands his precious grandchildren in front of some beautiful scenery where we live, having them smile while he focuses, and focuses, and focuses. I just have to laugh. The pictures he takes still are really good.
As the years passed, Dad's cameras evolved with technology. He studied and studied cameras before ever purchasing one, and when he did ultimately buy one, it was the best. And that was when the torture began. Dad used to take us around town to any number of scenic locations; this wasn't difficult, as we lived on the foothills of the Colorado Rockies, making for a beautiful photograph wherever we decided to stop.
In front of an exceptionally beautiful view of the mountains, on the banks of a tumbling mountain stream, in the foreground of a grove of shimmering aspen trees, or next to a still trout pond; he would drive and we were forced to get out and stand still while he focused.
Focusing was an art and we all know that beautiful artwork takes time. That was what my dad said, anyway, while we waited, stock still with plastered smiles on our faces. We smiled into the sun until tears formed in our eyes. "Ready," he would say, and we updated our smiles, thinking this would be it. Moments ticked by and nothing happened. He was still looking toward us through the camera viewing lens, I was sure of it, but there was no click. No snap of the shutter.
Often we complained. "C'mon Dad, hurry up!" But he was infinitely patient. Not only did he not hurry, he seemed to slow down and he never got the least bit agitated at our whining and complaining. He just smiled and said, "Ok, just a second, this should be it." But it rarely was. We watched the grass grow and the flowers bloom and wilt, and still Dad tinkered with his camera, waiting for just the right turn of the dial.
Looking back, my brother and I have found many pictures from over the years. They are all very clear, crisp, and with perfect perspective. The people in the photos (mainly my brother and me) are perfectly centered. But we look pained. Many times our eyes are closed with big, fake smiles on our faces. Other times one of us has tear stained cheeks from being chastised for whining by our mother. Christmas and other holiday photos abound, with all the right props and beautiful settings, but it all looks so staged. Where are the candid shots? Where is the movement? Where is real life?
Today I have a digital camera that will take a million pictures, all of which we can happily delete on a whim if we so choose. The tiny camera takes video clips and conveniently plugs right into our computer so we can view our photography immediately. Instant gratification photography is a pleasant thing in my life after growing up with my amateur photographer father. I snap photo after photo of my kids at a soccer game or the family at Christmas and just delete the ones that are blurred or where no one is looking.
In the past couple of years I've tried to convince my dad that he should get a digital camera. He has the newest, state-of-the-art camera, as usual, that takes amazing photos with perfect clarity; but he won't try digital. He likes his traditional camera and he likes his traditional developing methods. The computer age is not for him.
My brother and I used to joke about my dad and his picture-taking slowness. Now my children joke about their grandpa and his amateur photography antics. They know about the wait, the squinting, the fake smiles. They often groan to me when he stands his precious grandchildren in front of some beautiful scenery where we live, having them smile while he focuses, and focuses, and focuses. I just have to laugh. The pictures he takes still are really good.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club. . . A Tradition!
By Kathy A. Schaeffer
For some reason, model trains and Christmas seem to "go together like a horse and carriage." The sentiment is no different in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, because in this central Pennsylvania old coal mining town, the model railroad display takes visitors back to the past every December. . . back to the days when the rail ruled, and back to a much less hectic period of time.
If you are anywhere near Northumberland County, a trip to the Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club's layout found on East Independence Street in Shamokin is well worth the trip. If you are familiar with the Shamokin and Sunbury area the way it was in the 1950s era, it will be even more enjoyable because that is what's represented in this huge display done in HO scale.
The club was formed by fourteen men in 1978 and soon they were starting to build a display that could be transported around to different locations. It was 10 x 22 ft. in size. After that, a larger layout was started and named the Pennsylvania and Anthracite Southern Railroad. A custom had begun and it just kept expanding year after year.
Construction of the layout that is currently shown to visitors during the holiday season began in mid 1986. Club members, in order to help guests get an idea of where various points of interest were located, started building some landmark buildings that were in the area in the mid 1950s. Each holiday season that they opened the display to the public, more people came, and more ideas were offered to them for things to add to the display. It was exciting for people to see buildings that were recognizable. For some of the older visitors, memories of the buildings were recalled for the way they looked in the 50s, and for younger people, many of the same buildings were recognizable as they still look and are standing today.
Interest in the exhibit as well as word about its existence spread rapidly over the years. Today, more than four thousand visitors stop by to view it each holiday season. Some of the guests simply love model trains and watching them run on such a grand level. Others enjoy remembering how the area looked fifty years ago. And still others are drawn because of that ever-present "horse and carriage" thing concerning model trains and Christmas. Many of the baby boomers viewing the layout remember playing with model trains especially during the holidays, and the older visitors often share tales about the Christmas trees of old not being complete without having a working model train on the floor beneath its branches.
The current display, "The Shamokin Lines" is 3,000 square feet in area. The display's representation starts at the Pennsylvania Railroad yards in Northumberland, the model trains continue to Sunbury across the Susquehanna River, and past Shamokin and Mt. Carmel. The presentation sports 1,400 feet of railroad track and hundreds of local buildings and landmarks.
Shamokin is located 65 miles from the state capital of Harrisburg, 85 miles from the Pocono region and Scranton, 127 miles from Philadelphia, and 100 miles from the Penn State home of State College. Be sure to check with the club for the schedule because the display is only open certain nights of the week near the holidays. To date, entrance has been free with a donation box available.
Generations of children have looked forward to having a model train set up beneath the Christmas tree. For as long as there have been railroads, there have been children playing with train toys. Even in Victorian days, children pulled toy trains with strings. There's something about that clicking sound a train makes on the tracks, or the train whistle blowing that brings out a feeling of nostalgia in many folks when thinking about trains.
The German toy maker, Marklin, started manufacturing the model train we recognize today (complete system with tracks, etc.) in 1891. Three different gauges of these tinplate trains were made in the beginning and then the O gauge was added a few years later. In a relatively short time, other manufactures and some from the United States such as Lionel, Ives, and American Flyer started making their own lines of model trains and the tradition of model railroading had begun.
For some reason, model trains and Christmas seem to "go together like a horse and carriage." The sentiment is no different in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, because in this central Pennsylvania old coal mining town, the model railroad display takes visitors back to the past every December. . . back to the days when the rail ruled, and back to a much less hectic period of time.
If you are anywhere near Northumberland County, a trip to the Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club's layout found on East Independence Street in Shamokin is well worth the trip. If you are familiar with the Shamokin and Sunbury area the way it was in the 1950s era, it will be even more enjoyable because that is what's represented in this huge display done in HO scale.
The club was formed by fourteen men in 1978 and soon they were starting to build a display that could be transported around to different locations. It was 10 x 22 ft. in size. After that, a larger layout was started and named the Pennsylvania and Anthracite Southern Railroad. A custom had begun and it just kept expanding year after year.
Construction of the layout that is currently shown to visitors during the holiday season began in mid 1986. Club members, in order to help guests get an idea of where various points of interest were located, started building some landmark buildings that were in the area in the mid 1950s. Each holiday season that they opened the display to the public, more people came, and more ideas were offered to them for things to add to the display. It was exciting for people to see buildings that were recognizable. For some of the older visitors, memories of the buildings were recalled for the way they looked in the 50s, and for younger people, many of the same buildings were recognizable as they still look and are standing today.
Interest in the exhibit as well as word about its existence spread rapidly over the years. Today, more than four thousand visitors stop by to view it each holiday season. Some of the guests simply love model trains and watching them run on such a grand level. Others enjoy remembering how the area looked fifty years ago. And still others are drawn because of that ever-present "horse and carriage" thing concerning model trains and Christmas. Many of the baby boomers viewing the layout remember playing with model trains especially during the holidays, and the older visitors often share tales about the Christmas trees of old not being complete without having a working model train on the floor beneath its branches.
The current display, "The Shamokin Lines" is 3,000 square feet in area. The display's representation starts at the Pennsylvania Railroad yards in Northumberland, the model trains continue to Sunbury across the Susquehanna River, and past Shamokin and Mt. Carmel. The presentation sports 1,400 feet of railroad track and hundreds of local buildings and landmarks.
Shamokin is located 65 miles from the state capital of Harrisburg, 85 miles from the Pocono region and Scranton, 127 miles from Philadelphia, and 100 miles from the Penn State home of State College. Be sure to check with the club for the schedule because the display is only open certain nights of the week near the holidays. To date, entrance has been free with a donation box available.
Generations of children have looked forward to having a model train set up beneath the Christmas tree. For as long as there have been railroads, there have been children playing with train toys. Even in Victorian days, children pulled toy trains with strings. There's something about that clicking sound a train makes on the tracks, or the train whistle blowing that brings out a feeling of nostalgia in many folks when thinking about trains.
The German toy maker, Marklin, started manufacturing the model train we recognize today (complete system with tracks, etc.) in 1891. Three different gauges of these tinplate trains were made in the beginning and then the O gauge was added a few years later. In a relatively short time, other manufactures and some from the United States such as Lionel, Ives, and American Flyer started making their own lines of model trains and the tradition of model railroading had begun.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Model Trains at the Brandywine River Museum
By Victoria Miller
If you're looking for an incredible model train display, look no further than The Brandywine River Museum's annual holiday train display. Located in suburban Philadelphia in Chadds Ford, PA., the museum showcases an awesome train display every holiday season. If you are a train lover and live near or are planning to visit the Philadelphia area during the holiday season, you should make it a point to check out this incredible display.
The museum is famous for their extensive collection of Wyeth art (original paintings by N.C. Wyeth, his son Andrew and his grandson Jamie dominate the wall space in this museum-- in fact, an entire floor of the museum is dedicated to the Wyeth family artwork) but every November the museum opens up its second floor to showcase their gigantic model train display. Usually the display can be viewed during the entire holiday season-- generally for the week before Thanksgiving through the first week of January.
Traditionally dubbed "A Brandywine Christmas" the model train display is just one of several special exhibits that the museum offers during the holiday season (other displays include antique dolls and dollhouses and vintage holiday book illustrations). Features of the O-gauge train display include five running trains and a fifty plus car freight train. There are a couple thousand feet of track and a realistic looking miniature village complete with lit Christmas trees. The Herr's potato chip factory is part of the landscape, as are a neighborhood of houses, a church and skaters frolicking on a pond. There's even a mountain that includes a Christmas tree farm and if you look really close you may just see Santa's sleigh flying high in the sky. Little ones will love this display and there is even a real live conductor on site.
The museum is located on US Route 1 in Chadds Ford, PA and it opens at 9:30 AM every day except Christmas day. The day after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year's are generally the most crowded days, so try to get there early to avoid the crowds. For more information on the train display you can contact the museum at 610-388-2700.
If you're looking for an incredible model train display, look no further than The Brandywine River Museum's annual holiday train display. Located in suburban Philadelphia in Chadds Ford, PA., the museum showcases an awesome train display every holiday season. If you are a train lover and live near or are planning to visit the Philadelphia area during the holiday season, you should make it a point to check out this incredible display.
The museum is famous for their extensive collection of Wyeth art (original paintings by N.C. Wyeth, his son Andrew and his grandson Jamie dominate the wall space in this museum-- in fact, an entire floor of the museum is dedicated to the Wyeth family artwork) but every November the museum opens up its second floor to showcase their gigantic model train display. Usually the display can be viewed during the entire holiday season-- generally for the week before Thanksgiving through the first week of January.
Traditionally dubbed "A Brandywine Christmas" the model train display is just one of several special exhibits that the museum offers during the holiday season (other displays include antique dolls and dollhouses and vintage holiday book illustrations). Features of the O-gauge train display include five running trains and a fifty plus car freight train. There are a couple thousand feet of track and a realistic looking miniature village complete with lit Christmas trees. The Herr's potato chip factory is part of the landscape, as are a neighborhood of houses, a church and skaters frolicking on a pond. There's even a mountain that includes a Christmas tree farm and if you look really close you may just see Santa's sleigh flying high in the sky. Little ones will love this display and there is even a real live conductor on site.
The museum is located on US Route 1 in Chadds Ford, PA and it opens at 9:30 AM every day except Christmas day. The day after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year's are generally the most crowded days, so try to get there early to avoid the crowds. For more information on the train display you can contact the museum at 610-388-2700.
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