The Digital Photo Guy

When It Rains, Everything Goes to *&#! in a Handbasket

A month ago, I shot myself in the foot while making changes to my network. In the process, I nearly lost 100,000 photos I keep on-line. I had just recovered from that when my primary printer went into cardiac arrest.

This is an undocumented feature in Epson printers associated with head cleaning cycles. Each cycle pumps waste ink onto an absorbent pad in the bottom of the printer. After a number of cleanings, the printer stops working until the pad is replaced and the error message is reset. The solution is a 2-step process.

First, you need to do something about more waste ink. The saturated pad can be left there but you can’t keep adding more waste ink or you’ll eventually have mess on your desk, hands, carpet and anything else within reach of the ink overflow. The attached photo is the answer.
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Videos, Videos and More Videos

I noticed my video views are down from last year so it’s time to remind people that there are over 2 dozen videos on my Videos page. These videos cover everything from the very basics of Photoshop Elements to some intermediate techniques. Among the most popular has always been the 3-part series on restoring old photos. The photos below show Before & After they’ve been restored.

You can also find videos embedded in MMTs (Monday Morning Tips) by searching for “video” using the Search Box. Check out the videos and, most importantly, tell your friends, family and photo club about them.
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E-Mail Notifications Not Working

I just discovered that my e-mail notification system hasn’t been working since around April 20, a month ago. I haven’t made any changes to the system so either my host has made changes or something else is intefering with the e-mail system.

If you’ve been receiving e-mail updates over the past month, please let me know. Obviously, if you haven’t been receiving updates, you’d only know that if you happen to drop in today.

Temecula Western Days

I was in Temecula, CA on Sunday, May 17 for the 2010 Western Days and Chili Cook Off. My intent was to photograph some of the High Noon Shoot Outs and sample the chili but, in photography, flexibility is imperative.
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This is What the CEO of Facebook Thinks of Your Privacy

Totally OT (off topic) but every once in a while, I read about something that is so breathakingly dumb that I have to share it with my readers, friends and family.

I’ve never felt completely at ease with Facebook (FB) because of privacy issues. Now, there’s some evidence that my suspicions are warranted. This link will take you to an article in Silicon Alley Insider, a vertical segment of Business Insider. Read the transcript of an IM (Instant Message) exchange between Mark Zuckerberg, FB CEO and a college buddy shortly after Zuckerberg started FB. This should make your skin crawl.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…

Learn What’s Hot and What’s Not in dSLR Lenses & Gear

FREE 1 hour webinar, tomorrow, Saturday, May 15 at 9AM Pacific Time. Click this link to attend. If you want to register for the drawings, use this form.

Gear Webinar – Open Registration

Because a number of registrants have not confirmed their attendance, I’ve cancelled their reservations and opened the webinar to the general public. On Saturday, May 15 (this coming Saturday) at 9AM Pacific Time (10AM MDT, 11AM CDT, Noon EDT), click this link and follow the instructions to enter the meeting room. If you want to register for the door prizes, you should use this form. If you just want to attend the webinar, use the above link.

1st Annual California Photo Festival

I just registered for the 1st Annual California Photo Festival sponsored by Light Photographic (formerly Lepp Institute of Digital Imaging). Since this is the first year, it’s a bit chaotic but the line-up is impressive. Rick Sammon will deliver the keynote at the end of 5½ days of field and lecture classes in every aspect of digital photography including nature, landscape, wedding, portrait, glamour, macro and more.

Among the noted photographers and instructors are Rob Sheppard (readers of this site know Rob from a Photoshop Elements webinar he taught), Jim DiVitale, David Wells, Jane Conner-Ziser, Jennifer Wu and many others. Many are Canon Explorers of Light, an elite group of Canon contract photographers.

If you can swing 5½ days and $449, this looks to be an incredibly useful photo workshop.

Discovered by Discovery Channel (Kinda)

About a month ago, I received an e-mail from a person claiming to represent Discovery Channel (Planet Earth, Mythbusters, Deadliest Catch, etc) asking if I could teach them Photoshop via webinar. I was skeptical so I snooped around to make sure the e-mail really originated from DC.

I was told they needed someone to teach two employees, who had never even launched PS, much less used it, to do basic photo and graphics editing. They needed immediate help as well as long-term instruction.

When I sent them a quote, I was told they “didn’t have any money for training” and needed a lower price. I found it curious that a company that had just hired Oprah to narrate a film didn’t have a few thousand dollars. As I negotiated with them, they told me they had an immediate project and would I do the job as a part of the training. At that point, I was getting bad vibes. I told them I would schedule time and resources as soon as I received payment. I never heard back from them. This had taken place over 3 weeks and it was clear their intent was to get me to do the job for free.

Bottom line, be careful. There are lots of companies looking for photographers and artists who are desparate enough to do free jobs in hopes that something will come of it. I hope they didn’t find someone gullible.