You may have noticed that Connected Photographer has been offline for the past few days. It's back, and what happened makes for quite a story.

About two months ago, I noticed increased traffic on our Web sites -- and the traffic was causing a load on the servers that didn't seem to be right. In particular, I noticed that our email-to-a-friend page was getting accessed repeatedly, at a rate disproportionate to what regular traffic would generate. I reasoned that a spammer was using the page to send junk mail out through our email-to-a-friend interface, and promptly turned that page off.

Traffic was one or two accesses a minute from different IP addresses, all over the world. I traced IP addresses to Russia, Brazil, UK, Turkey, Korea, Ukraine, Australia, Canada. There were also a bunch of IPs that wouldn't give up their real locations.

Tap here to learn more of this event.

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]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00044091.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00044091.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT David Gewirtz

Having all your dreams come true in the middle of a Thursday afternoon is a strange experience. It happened when I reached into my reviews in-box and pulled out Adobe's Creative Suite 4 Master Collection.

OK, maybe I should clarify that "all your dreams" thing. After all, I'm already married to my dream woman -- and we're probably not going to completely transform the financial world anytime soon. And as much as I might wish it, the global surface temperature probably won't drop 2.0 degrees this year. Nor, sadly enough, will we likely get to see a parka-clad Sarah Palin in an Alaskan spinoff episode of Surreal Life opposite Erik Estrada, Flavor Flav, Vern Troyer, and Mikey Teutul.

From a professional perspective, though, where I use a whole lot of graphic software, getting the CS4 Master Collection is about as close to winning the lottery as it's likely to come.

To learn more about this package, tap here.


LEARN FROM LEADING DIGITAL IMAGING EXPERTS!
Our high quality interactive training programs are project oriented and teach practical and proven Photoshop techniques for Photography and Design.

Our highly acclaimed trainers specialize in Adobe Photoshop for Photographers. The Software Cinema library offers training for Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop Elements and Corel Painter.

Check out the quality and time saving methods for yourself with a test drive on the Software Cinema Web site.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00043862.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00043862.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT
]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00043386.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00043386.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Joe Dolittle

Today has been an interesting day, and it comes on the heals of a week that's been an interesting week. There was big news in the battle to save White House email, an ongoing discussion about whether President-elect Obama can keep his precious BlackBerry, and more.

The boss, our very own Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz, doesn't want to brag, so he won't tell you that he's been featured on CNN.com four times in the last week, twice today alone. First, I'll cover the big news, which is the emergency order to preserve White House email issued by federal court in Washington, D.C. David got the news early this morning, and he broke a detailed story on the CNN site by mid-afternoon, as you can see in Figure A.

FIGURE A


Here's a picture of New White House moving rules. Click picture for a larger image.

You can read the full piece at New White House moving rules.

At about 9:00am, David's first piece landed on the AC360 home page, as shown in Figure B.

FIGURE B


Here's David's article on the AC360 home page. Click picture for a larger image.

You can read the full piece at What if Barack kept his BlackBerry?.

All of this started because of an Open Letter to President-elect Obama that David published in OutlookPower Magazine, which was later picked up by CNN.

Although we definitely got our share of hate mail over that piece, an analysis by Hollywood producer, former Special Operations and Intelligence officer, and CNN's Senior Military Intelligence Analyst Ken Robinson validated David's premise in Truth more important than the pain of discovery, also on CNN.

These are all important articles and I hope you'll take the time to read them. We're thrilled that CNN has picked up these stories and we're glad that many of the issues and concerns David has been talking about are able to reach a much wider audience.

Product availability and resources
Read David's New White House moving rules on CNN.

Read David's What if Barack kept his BlackBerry? on CNN.

Read David's Open Letter to the President-elect in OutlookPower.

Read White House could be crime scene: Obama urged caution on CNN.

Read Truth more important than the pain of discovery on CNN.

Joe is a ZATZ associate editor. Prior to this job, he was customer support manager for the FileFlex database engine.

None of us have a crystal ball, so we can't tell the future, but we here at ZATZ want to wish you a good end-of-2008 and a hopeful 2009. We hope those of you in the northern climates are warming up, those of you in palm-tree country aren't gloating too much, and that everyone stays safe and sound this holiday season.

But before we go off and celebrate the ending of what's been a challenging year for many people, we wanted to leave you with a final set of warnings and cautions.

The Anti-Phishing Working Group reminds us that phishing has increased by more than 700 percent in 2008 and spoofs claiming to come from U.S. banks (those that are left!) rose 170 percent in just one month, alone.

10 important safety tips
With those statistics in mind, and with the goal of making sure everything's all right in this big ol' farmhouse we call the Internet, we present you with 10 tips for staying safe online:

1. Do not open attachments (from anyone, even your grandma).
2. Install vendor-provided operating system patches and fixes as quickly as possible.
3. Just because you're using a Mac, you're not automatically safe.
4. Update your anti-virus software definitions as often as possible. Once again, just because you're using a Mac, you're not automatically safe.
5. Update your anti-spyware software definitions as often as possible. Same for you Mac users.
6. Use a firewall or router (ask your ISP for help). This is inexpensive and puts a wall of protection between you and the network. Think of it as safe-sex for your computer.
7. Don't install or update software (like Flash, Acrobat, or QuickTime) from any ol' Web site. Type adobe.com or quicktime.com into your browser bar instead.
8. Update your browser to IE7, Firefox 3, or the latest Safari or Opera. Updated versions have better protections built in, and fixes for various exploits.
9. Do not download pirated software or music (there's often bad stuff hidden inside).
10. Do not open attachments (it's worth repeating).

Oh, and for those of you who know all this, share this list with your less wired friends. In the immortal words of Sergeant Philip Esterhaus, "Let's be careful out there."

Happy 2009 to everyone! Remember: Stay calm. Make it a priority.

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise, has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com and you can follow him at http://www.twitter.com/DavidGewirtz.

Read Do-It-Yourself Wedding Photography and you'll learn everything you need to take exceptional wedding photos on a budget.

Buy this guide and you might be able to afford that dream honeymoon.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00042373.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00042373.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT David Gewirtz

About this important article
We originally ran this article in OutlookPower Magazine back in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina hit and everyone was in a more giving mood. However, given our current economic times, the scammers are back in full-force and it's perhaps even more relevant today. - The editors

It's interesting, and sad, that a publication like OutlookPower has to spend so much time talking about scams and how to protect yourself. But email is a mass communication tool and with anything that has mass effect, you have people doing good and people doing not so good. Email certainly has provided enormous benefits to vast numbers of people, but it also creates risks.

In this time of holiday celebration, many of us share goodwill, while others seek to tap into that goodwill for nefarious gain. So, before you start thinking about giving, make sure you watch your back.

Last year, Americans gave more than $240 billion to the more than 700,000 charities that solicit your donations each year. From the disastrous tsunami that hit the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia in late December to the havoc of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, Americans dug deep to support local, regional, national and international relief efforts. Many of our international friends were also very giving, providing us some hope for humanity's soul.

People also tend to give more during the holiday season, which, unfortunately, tends to bring out the dark side of human nature, making the holiday period a favorite target of scam-artists hoping to funnel your good will for their own selfish gain. How can you avoid becoming a victim of a holiday scam?

"It pays to be cautious when you make your donations," says Dr. Rhonda Hackett, founder of Nivek, an organization which has directly helped more than 100,000 people living in poverty. "It's important to be sure that the money is going to a legitimate charity, and that most of your dollars wind up actually helping those programs and people you intend to help."

Her new book, Making A Difference: Changing the World One Penny and One Minute at a Time, suggests some common-sense criteria in ascertaining the value of any charity group before any money is given. She recommends checking out useful Web sites like the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (at http://www.give.org), the American Institute of Philanthropy (at http://www.charitywatch.org) which rates a charity on financial performance and fiscal responsibility, and GuideStar (at http://www.guidestar.org), which facilitates access to information about the operations and finances of non-profit organizations.

Among the most important do's and don'ts, Hackett says:

• Never make a donation on the phone or over the Internet, but request a written solicitation that includes the group's registration information within your State of residence, and proof of accountability.

• Where a third-party telemarketer is involved, written follow-up is even more important, along with a contact number for the charity group to ascertain the validity of the telemarketing firm.

• Never provide credit card information over the phone or online, and never donate cash.

• Be particularly wary of any alleged non-profit with a name that closely resembles that of a more established charity. This problem happened widely with both tsunami and Katrina relief efforts.

An important part of Hackett's message addresses our need to realize that millions of American children are hungry; thousands of men, women and children are homeless and living on the street; and more families are living in poverty than at any time in our history.

"To make true change, we must take care of those in our own backyards first," she emphasizes. "Helping others brings much more to your life than you could ever give in dollars alone. There are inexpensive and powerful ways each of us can help, starting with an online search of the various types and names of social service agencies in your community."

Hackett then suggests choosing one or more groups that desperately need every bit of help imaginable. Included are helping seniors living in poverty, reaching out to the homeless, feeding the hungry through soup kitchens, food pantries and sandwich lines, helping at low-income day-care centers and schools; and meeting the special needs of women and children residing in domestic violence shelters.

Here at ZATZ, Managing Editor Denise Amrich recommends looking beyond the established big-brand charities like the American Red Cross. "When disasters hit, the Red Cross is always first with their hand out," she says. "But much of what they take in goes to fueling the reputation and operations of the Red Cross, and not victim aid. I won't say the American Red Cross is evil, but it is big and corporate. There are other legitimate ways to give but it's frustrating not knowing which ones are on the up and up."

Denise recommends reading an article by blogger Richard Walden (at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-walden/how-much-is-too-much_b_6711.html), just to get a bit more perspective on the issue.

Happy holidays to all of our readers. And to all, a good night.

Product availability and resources
For more information on Making A Difference: Changing the World One Penny and One Minute at a Time, visit http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/1598001108.

For more information on the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, visit http://www.give.org.

For more information on the American Institute of Philanthropy, visit http://www.charitywatch.org.

For more information on GuideStar, visit http://www.guidestar.org.

To read Richard Walden's though-provoking commentary on the American Red Cross, visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-walden/how-much-is-too-much_b_6711.html.

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise, has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com and you can follow him at http://www.twitter.com/DavidGewirtz.

So, how do you do it? What are the strategies and tactics you can begin to deploy NOW that will help keep you afloat in these incredibly uncertain times? What are ten things you can begin to do right now, this month, this week, even this morning that will combat the financial crisis blues and ensure that your bottom line is more line than bottom?

How to stay in business in 2009 webinar
These are the questions I was asked recently by Joyce Burkard, the incredibly nice Executive Director for the Independent Computer Consultants Association. She asked me if I could put together a webinar to help her members not just survive, but thrive, in 2009.

That webinar is running on December 10th at 8PM EDT, and you're invited to attend. Details are on the webinar sign-up page.

To learn more about the new site features (and the webinar) tap here.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00042144.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00042144.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

ASSISTING IT PROFESSIONALS SINCE 1999
You are invited to visit the largest directory of IT newsletters on the 'Net -- where IT newsletters, whitepapers and RSS feeds from elite publishers are listed.

FreeTechMail is a unique place to view sample newsletters and RSS feeds as well as subscribe and manage your newsletter subscriptions.

Find out why 2.6 million IT professionals use FreeTechMail. Visit today.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041897.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041897.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Joe Dolittle

In this all-new book review, we put Photoshop CS4 For Dummies by Peter Bauer to the test.

Photoshop CS4 For Dummies
This latest version of Photoshop has a few new tricks up its sleeve and Adobe Photoshop CS4 For Dummies will teach you how to use them. From the basics like getting your images into and out of Photoshop to enhancing, cropping, and color correction, its all here!

You'll get all of the basics of digital images and master the importing and exporting of images. You'll find out how to create easy enhancements like adding shadows and highlights and making color natural, in addition to learning how to use the Adobe camera raw plug-in. Before you know it, youll be making beautiful art with Photoshop by combining images, precision edges, dressing up images, painting in Photoshop, and using filters. You can even streamline your work in Photoshop using advanced techniques.

Connected Photographer's evaluation
What can we say? It's a Dummies book. So you know what to expect. The thing is, Photoshop CS4 is pretty different from every version of Photoshop you've used before, so even if you're a Photoshop guru, this time you might need the Dummies book. We sure did!

Photoshop CS4 For Dummies by Peter Bauer, published by For Dummies, is 416 pages and has a retail price of $29.99. We give Photoshop CS4 For Dummies a rating of 4 out of 5.

OUR RATING: 4 of 5

Joe is a ZATZ associate editor. Prior to this job, he was customer support manager for the FileFlex database engine.

I've talked to a lot of concerned and confused people. It doesn't seem to matter whether you're an employer or an employee, an American or someone outside of the U.S., the economic wackiness all across the world is making everyone a bit nuts.

I'm not going to be a Pollyanna and claim everything's hunky-dory. But I can share with you some background that can help you understand the situation better. I can also provide some coping strategies that will help you make it through this thing and come out solid on the other side.

I've seen so many blog posts and articles that basically claim the financial End Times are upon us, everything's going down the tubes, and there's no coming back.

I completely disagree.

To learn why, tap here and read the full story.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041430.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041430.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

BLOGGING AND PODCASTING WITH ONE EASY-TO-USE TOOL
Now you can publish your thoughts, opinions, and comments in your own blog or podcast.

• Supports multiple authors and multiple blogs or podcasts.
• Generate and publish RSS feeds for iTunes and other directories.
• Post photos, images or animations.
• Get feedback and have conversations with visitors to your site.

Personalize your blog or podcast with your own unique domain name -- or integrate it with your existing site by setting it up as a subdomain.

Tap here and get blogging or podcasting within minutes.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041314.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041314.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT
]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041225.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041225.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT
]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041136.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041136.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Joe Dolittle

In this all-new product review shootout, we put four kid-safe(ish) camera(ish) products to the test. Read on to learn how Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera for Boys, Kid-Tough Digital Camera Case, RipRoar Creation Station from Manley, and Wild Planet Spy Video Car from Wild Planet stand up to our editorial review.

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera for Boys
Preschoolers can learn the art of photography with this digital camera designed especially for them. With a 1.3" color LCD, preview screen, easy navigation menu, and wrist strap, it's meant to stand up to typical rough preschooler use.

Kids can instantly see the picture they've taken on the LCD screen or they can delete previous shots. It features dual handle grips ergonomically designed for little hands and two-eye viewing that makes looking through the viewfinder a breeze.

Connected Photographer's evaluation
This little beast doesn't take particularly good pictures, but it can withstand being eaten by a classroom of little monsters. It takes only 640x480 pictures, but. really, just how high a resolution do you need to take a picture of snot? At least you're not paying for the film! It's a wonder my parents survived my childhood, that's all I'm sayin'.

For more terrifying views into Joe's childhood, and some good reviews, tap here to read on.


NO HASSLE PHOTO PRINTING, SHARING, AND STORAGE -- AS LOW AS $2.54 PER MONTH
Discover an easier way to share, print and manage your photos online! Get your own online photo album site for sharing photos, as well as easy-to-use editing tools to make sure your photos look their very best. You can even order high quality prints directly from your album -- and have them delivered right to your door!

Best of all, you can also get login-free photo sharing at your personal domain name (if you have one), so your friends and family don't have to hassle with signing up or logging in just to view your pictures. It's the perfect solution for sharing, printing and storing all your favorite images!

And it's only from The Duck! Tap here to get started.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041060.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00041060.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT
]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040867.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040867.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT
]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040764.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040764.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Anne Violette

Sometimes, all it takes to make a perfect picture is the right tools. In this era of fancy SLR digital cameras and high-tech gadgets, it has become easier to achieve a high quality image. Whether you take a great photo by mere accident or with full intention is moot point. However, there are certain accessories which can increase the chances of taking "accidentally" awesome pictures.

My camera bag is full of gadgets and accessories. Some I have never used. I purchased certain camera gear based on recommendations of eager sales people at the equipment store. Of course, their job is to up-sell customers, since many of them work on commission.

Anne starts with a caution about wasting money. Tap here and save yourself the expense.


LEARN FROM LEADING DIGITAL IMAGING EXPERTS!
Our high quality interactive training programs are project oriented and teach practical and proven Photoshop techniques for Photography and Design.

Our highly acclaimed trainers specialize in Adobe Photoshop for Photographers. The Software Cinema library offers training for Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop Elements and Corel Painter.

Check out the quality and time saving methods for yourself with a test drive on the Software Cinema Web site.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040640.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040640.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT
]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040358.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040358.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Jorge Sosa

Can I be frank with you? Photographing animals is a lot like photographing little kids: either way, it's a pain in the keister.

Like little kids, animals are unpredictable. They never sit still when you want them to. If they do something cute and you're not ready with your camera to capture the moment, it's hard as heck to get them to repeat their random act of cuteness.

So how do you get great photos of kids? Don't ask me. I think it involves Cookie Monster hand puppets and mild sedatives. However, photographing animals is something I've kind of figured out. Read on and I'll tell you all I know.

Tap here and you'll learn how to make your animal photos all look absolutely mah-vuh-lous.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040185.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00040185.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

WHAT THE HECK IS A MEGAPIXEL?
This ZATZ Solutions Guide delves into megapixels and helps you really understand what the term means, and how megapixel-related choices will directly result in better pictures and better prints.

Now you can read the only guide ever published that answers this critical question.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039893.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039893.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT
]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039726.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039726.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Cari Cooney

If you love to take pictures of your pets, or you're an aspiring photographer looking for some good tips, this is the article for you. If you want to capture your pet's attention to snap a great picture, I'll show you just how easy it is. Now you won't have to stress over animals looking the other direction or wandering off from boredom.

Dogs
Since dogs and cats need separate attention when having their pictures taken, we'll be dealing with felines in the following section. This one is all about the pooch. Dogs are generally pretty easy to photograph. It's easier to teach a dog simple obedience in their younger years than a cat. If you dog knows how to "sit" and "stay," you've got it made!

Once you have your pet placed in the position where you want to picture him, let him get acquainted with the props (if you have any). He will be fascinated with the new toys you've set in front of him, even if they're not meant to be chewed on.

If you love your kitty or your pup, read the rest of this article.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039620.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039620.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

DO-IT-YOURSELF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY SOLUTIONS GUIDE
Just because a couple doesn't have a lot of money doesn't mean they don't deserve quality, professional-looking wedding photos. This $19.95 ebook can potentially save you thousands of dollars on wedding photography.<p />

Read Do-It-Yourself Wedding Photography and you'll learn everything you need to take exceptional wedding photos on a budget.

Buy this guide and you might be able to afford that dream honeymoon.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039530.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039530.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Joe Dolittle

In honor of this week's Apple shindig in Cupertino, we put two Mac-related photo books to the test. Read on to learn how Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac: The Missing Manual by Barbara Brundage, and Aperture Exposed: The Mac Photographer's Guide to Taming the Workflow by Ellen Anon and Josh Anon stand up to our editorial review.

See, all you Mac users out there? Sometimes we do cover the Mac. Now, quit yer complaining and go back to making sure all your clothes perfectly match your iPods.

It's time for all you Mac readers to stand up and be recognized. Tap here to read.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039426.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039426.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT David Gewirtz

A few months ago, I was invited to give the Saturday afternoon keynote address at the 31st Annual Independent Computer Consultants Association National Conference in Washington, D.C. With all the work I'd done on White House email, it seemed appropriate to address some of the nation's leading computer consultants in the cradle of our democracy.

At the time, I was asked if there was a way I could relate the convoluted story of White House email to the concerns of independent computer consultants. The White House story is not just a political story. Instead, at its heart, it's a technology management story -- perfect for IT consultants.

In fact, if you look at the White House's problems from an email management perspective, you see issues with messaging security, email archiving, compliance and disclosure, robustness, physical systems security and IT management discipline. But if you look at some of the issues tech consultants are working on with their clients, you see issues with messaging security, email archiving, compliance and disclosure, robustness, physical systems security and IT management discipline. Notice anything?

Learn about the whole story. Tap here to read the rest.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039347.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039347.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Dean Dey

I recently read David Gewirtz' "Scorched earth" article and I can understand his feeling a little off, given the fires. My elderly parents in rural San Diego lost their home and belongings in the Harris Fire in October. They lost everything and still haven't recovered from the shock. I doubt they will. They have basically become nomads, with almost no belongings.

There is a lesson that should be passed on. Among my parents' losses were boxes of family photos dating back to at least 1900. Like many people, they were all randomly stored on various boxes, all of which burned at over an estimated 2,000 degrees.

However, there was a backup. My son and I flew to San Diego three years ago with our laptops. We bought a scanner there, and spent three days scanning every picture we could find, and got a verbal description of each picture from my parents. My son in Oregon and I in Delaware now have a copy and description of all the lost photos.

As I have spoken of this to colleagues here at the University, all very family oriented, not one of them has ever done this. One person had the idea to do something like this, but had not followed through.

Few people have access to "nuke-proof" bunkers for their computers. But they should back-up their computer--stored photos. That is our standing instruction to users. But people should really pay attention to the paper (and tin-type) photos stored in albums and shoeboxes.

I am glad things worked out for David.

Product availability and resources
Read "Scorched earth".

Dean Dey is a computer and technology specialist at the University of Delaware, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in Georgetown Delaware, and is retiring June 30. He lives in Lewes, Delaware. His son, Ryan, is a cartographer for Geodatascape in Hillsboro, Oregon.

FreeTechMail is a unique place to view sample newsletters and RSS feeds as well as subscribe and manage your newsletter subscriptions.

Find out why 2.6 million IT professionals use FreeTechMail. Visit today.

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]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039165.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039165.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT David Gewirtz

It's been a rough couple of days. We're OK, but the Florida fires got close. Real close. Like probably about a hundred yards away close. The pool house in our development caught fire. A fire-rescue trailer at the school across the street caught fire, and no matter where you go, there's scorched earth. Literally.

We evacuated on Monday night, We spent most of yesterday driving around Florida, and we got back last night. Power's back on, and I'm just catching up.

If you've seen all the news reports, or the CNN stuff, they're broadcasting from the school across the street from where I live. And it was arson. They caught one suspect, but they're not sure if there are more.

There were 11 separate ground-zero fire locations in Palm Bay alone. More than 10,000 acres in Palm Bay burned, more than 20 families lost homes, over 162 homes damaged. We're ok, though. Quite freaked out, but we're ok. Kudos go to the Palm Bay and Brevard County fire departments. Those guys worked intensely, and did their best, but by Monday night, they were completely overwhelmed and out of resources. By Tuesday night, more statewide resources came in and they started catching up.

There are still fires in Palm Bay, but not near residences. There are fires in Cocoa (about 20 minutes north) and in Daytona (another 20 minutes north), and we're not expected to have rain for at least a week, so conditions are still pretty scary. But hopefully the worst is over.

I'm absolutely exhausted, so I think I'm going to skip publishing articles this week, other than this update. I'm just going to do the weekly update and the news, which Senior Editor James Booth kept running from his top secret lair located somewhere in an undisclosed location deep within fly-over country while Denise and I were escaping our own private, little armageddon. Our servers kept running as well, since they're inside a nuke-proof bunker in yet another mid-America location.

In fact, I may just run this note as our only article to bring everyone up to date. I've still not completely processed all that happened. On Monday night and Tuesday, we were facing the question of what happens if the house goes and we lose everything. We didn't, and our home is still here, but it's definitely going to leave a bit of a mark emotionally.

Anyway, I have a few thousand emails to catch up with, and am going to try to resume some degree of normal daily life. But if I'm a little off for the next few days, I hope you'll understand.

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise, has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com and you can follow him at http://www.twitter.com/DavidGewirtz.

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Personalize your blog or podcast with your own unique domain name -- or integrate it with your existing site by setting it up as a subdomain.

Tap here and get blogging or podcasting within minutes.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039055.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00039055.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT
]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038918.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038918.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Denise Amrich

In this all-new book review shootout, we put three books to the test. Read on to learn how Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios by Billy Pegram, Professional Model Portfolios: A Step-by-Step Guide for Photographers by Billy Pegram, and A Digital Photographer's Guide to Model Releases by Dan Heller stand up to our editorial review.

This is the first in a series of articles we're planning over the next month or so that'll walk you through the steps and resources of taking quality fashion photos.

Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios
With detailed discussions and eye-catching dynamic images this guidebook shows photographers how to masterfully create beautiful images of a model to achieve any creative objective. Instructions illustrate basic poses as well as a host of subtle variations to provide you with an endless array of looks for editorial fashion shots athletics glamour or nude photography and shots designed to show curves reveal personality or showcase the hands hair or legs. This comprehensive resource also provides expert advice on conducting a successful session how to work with the model how to work with a support staff of image stylists and tips for designing a high-quality portfolio. Additional lessons provide a start-to-finish analysis of four different shooting sessions each with a different model and a different objective.

Connected Photographer's evaluation
If you've ever wanted to know how to get your models into the right position -- and give them something they can look at to emulate this book is for you. It's a bit pricey for the page-count but it's also quite useful for specific needs.

Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios by Billy Pegram, published by Amherst Media Inc., is 128 pages and has a retail price of $34.95. We give Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios a rating of 4 out of 5.

OUR RATING: 4 of 5

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]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038744.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038744.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Jorge Sosa

If you ever visit the Grand Canyon, here's a word of warning: It's huge! Like many of nature's wonders, it's too vast to be captured with just your standard digital camera. But with a little Photoshop voodoo, you can capture it all.

Photomerge is a function you'll find in any of the Creative Studio, or CS, versions of Photoshop. It also exists in Photoshop Elements, the lower-cost version of Photoshop. Photomerge lets you blend a series of multiple photos into one panorama, like the one in Figure A. Here's how it works.

FIGURE A


You can create a panaroma like this without any special cameras or lens. Click picture for a larger image.

Step 1: Take your photos
Position yourself in front of your subject, then start snapping pictures from left to right until you've shot as much as want to include in the panorama.

There are a few things to remember to be sure the finished product looks its best.

Tap here to read all about it.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038666.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038666.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Anne Violette

You don't need a camouflage suit, hunting gear or a rifle. When we talk about shooting animals, we mean shooting them with your camera. The trick to taking really great animal photos is patience.

There are many similarities between animal photography and hunting. You must sneak upon them so as not to disturb their natural environment. You must wait, wait, and wait some more for the perfect opportunity to present itself. You must not scare them, or let them know they are being pursued.

Of course, with photography, the only thing you point at them is your camera and the only thing you fire is your shutter release.

Extreme patience has its rewards. A perfect animal image can be award-winning or highly saleable for greeting cards, calendars, stock photography and countless other uses. Because it is considered so hard to do, achieving that momentous expression of an animal's face is indeed priceless. It can also be personally rewarding.

Tap here to learn how to tap into animal photography.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038385.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038385.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

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]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038281.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038281.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Jorge Sosa

One of the first lessons many beginning photographers learn is to avoid taking pictures of people when they're standing in front of windows.

I'm sure you've seen what can happen. All that light streaming in from the window can fool your camera into thinking it doesn't need to flash. You snap the picture and instead of seeing your cousin's smiling face, all you see is a dark, cousin-shaped blob.

Of course, another lesson many of us learn is there's a time and place to break the rules. I'm going to show you how and when to use the power of darkness (MUHAHAHA!) to create eye-catching silhouette portraits.

An interesting face
Silhouette portraits are a good way to photograph someone with a unique profile. Consider Juli, the woman in Figure A. She has a distinguished nose and a rail-thin physique.

FIGURE A


Juli's distinctive profile makes her a natural subject for a silhouette portrait. Click picture for a larger image.

To capture her singular look, I had her stand by a sunlit window. Fortunately, it was a bright summer afternoon. I made sure the flash was off and that's all there was to it. I didn't have to futz around with my camera much, because I had plenty of light behind Juli to illuminate her.

Tap here to learn techniques for tougher silhouette portraits.

]]> http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038178.html http://www.connectedphotographer.com/newsitems/00038178.html Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT