May 2008
Twitter & RapidWeaver
May 28, 2008 01:28 PM Filed in: Software
By Robert LachmanI signed up for Twitter and added it to my website today. It's very nice, writing a 140 word thought. It's a lot easy than a post for the blog. Certain I was surprised when I signed on and then was greeted by a sign which said, "Twitter is over capacity. Too many tweet! We'll try to lighten the load and have things back to normal soon." Not a great first impression. Seems like it worked itself out.
Next I went to the RapidWeaver website and was surprise to find the site under repair but due back for the unveiling of the new version, RapidWeaver 4.0, tomorrow at 4 am PST. I'm really not sure how it will affect
my old plugs-ins and themes. RapidWeaver is great for those who want a great looking website but don't have a background in coding html and CSS. I have tried to learn it, but the more I stare at the codes, the worse it get. Thank goodness for the RapidWeaver forum. Help is only a few clicks away. Most of my questions have been answered in minutes, not hours or days. What a great program and community. I'm looking forward to using RapidWeaver 4.0.______________________________________________________________________
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How Many Strobes Is Too Many?
May 21, 2008 08:04 PM Filed in: Strobe | Photography
Check out the post on the Strobist website about photographer Joe McNally using seven SB-800 nikon strobes in the desert in Dubai. The tree of Nikon strobe does look a little silly but it's a very interesting how-to which features a video. It received a huge response, 97 comments 
and counting. I also had to make a comment on it. I couldn't resist. You can see the photos on Flicker or read Joe McNally's account on his website. Make sure you check out Joe's new book "The Moment it Clicks." It's one of the best photography books to come along in some time. I've been checking it out at my local Barnes & Noble and plan to buy it soon. Look for a review soon. RL______________________________________________________________________
Space Photos
May 19, 2008 10:32 AM Filed in: Photography
Check out these photo from NASA.
I noticed this info on the PhotoSupport.com blog. These favorite photos were taken from the International Space Station. NASA allows use of some of their images. You can read more about it on their site. It's just another example of working the nice light.
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I noticed this info on the PhotoSupport.com blog. These favorite photos were taken from the International Space Station. NASA allows use of some of their images. You can read more about it on their site. It's just another example of working the nice light.
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iWinSoft Label Maker
By Robert Lachman
This week I’m going to review another CD and DVD label printing software called
iWinSoft Label Maker.
The software which sells for $29.95 opens up with the very basic Mac interface with a choice of labels or prints in a window on the left and your disc layout on the right.
The buttons on the the left side give you a choice: Format; this is this list of printers and labels and Image; a variety of clipart and backgrounds and layouts which include title and your listings.
I started by importing a photo for the background. This was simple by navigating to a picture on my hard drive and then selecting it. There is a selection of layer masks, but when I applied them, it made the image look jagged.
After adding the title, I imported a playlist from my iTunes list.
Next, I added some clip art, picked a cat and computer. I’m not really sure why. I guess because the selection is limited.
I think at this price the software is too expensive at $29.95. For about another five dollars you could pick up Disc Cover 2 from BeLight software or DiscLabel from Smile On My Mac These programs offer many more features and might be a better choice.
This week on my website, www.PhotographyAndTheMac.com, I’ve added some cool new frames using onOne Software's Essentials 2 and PhotoFrame 3, also I added a a new feature called, My Really Old Photos. These are my black and white photos from way back and you can check out the flash banner I made on one of my posts with the Software Bannerzest, it’s very cool.
Have a nice week. Talk to you later.
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My Really Old Photos
May 15, 2008 01:02 PM Filed in: Photography
As the NBA playoffs continues, it's time to break out the really old photos. This is from my high school days. If you had a camera no one bothered you if you sat on the floor and shot a few pics at the Lakers' games. Those days have changed. RL
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BannerZest Test and RW Forum Help
May 12, 2008 03:27 PM Filed in: Software | BannerZest
By Robert Lachman
Just checking out the BannerZest software. Let me know what you think. Not really sure how it all works but I would like to thank everyone who helped with answers to my questions on the RapidWeaver Questions Forum
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Just checking out the BannerZest software. Let me know what you think. Not really sure how it all works but I would like to thank everyone who helped with answers to my questions on the RapidWeaver Questions Forum
. I think it was done with smoke and mirrors. There's no way I would have been able to figure out how to run the type around the flash banner. It looks very cool. I would like to thank John from Aoimedia. He helped with the CSS code for spacing and padding around the BannerZest software flash gallery. He also recommended Paul Bradforth's RapidWeaver site to help with the text wrap. Thanks to both of them and the Realmacs' Software RapidWeaver forum.
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Holga + Vivitar 285 = ?
May 07, 2008 11:00 AM Filed in: Photography | Cameras
By Robert LachmanWhen is simple better? This is an example of simple lighting with an inexpensive strobe. This portrait of actor Neil Patrick Harris was photographed by me the for the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times. The lighting setup was simple: one Vivitar 285HV ($90) off camera on a stand with a light orange gel and a small snoot on the strobe to narrow the light beam. It's nice to focus the light into a smaller beam. I used a Holga, a $29 camera, shooting ISO 400 Kodak 120 film. What look like a second light is just the blue cast of the background fill from the shady balcony. I only shot every other frame on this film which gave me the dark edges left and right when I scanned the negative. The vignette is caused by the low tech quality of the Holga camera with the plastic lens. Ok I did use a a Pocket Wizard radio remote to set off the strobe. I could have use a sync cord. Just an example of old school mixing with the new school digital age.
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Ansel Adams
May 07, 2008 11:00 AM Filed in: Photography
Check out a very nice multimedia project in the New York Times which features an interview by Ansel Adams' assistant Andrea Stillman and some of Adams' most famous photographs at www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/04/27/travel/20080427_YOSEMITE_FEATURE.html.______________________________________________________________________
Win a Dusty Old Kodak Brownie
May 03, 2008 01:56 PM Filed in: Cameras
Ask a photo question and you might win a dusty old (or vintage) Kodak Brownie. The person who sends in the best photo or Mac computer related question to PhotographyAndTheMac.com in the month of May 2008 wins. I will judge the contest and the winner will be announced at the beginning of June. The email address is in the sidebar on the left or just click on the blue rectangle. Robert Lachman______________________________________________________________________
You Control: Fonts
By Robert Lachman
I recently changed from Microsoft Word to Apple’s Pages. I broke down and went with the iWork '08 software suite. My only problem so far, is Apple’s font selection menu in Pages. I only use a normal amount of fonts, I consider myself the average user but, I need to see what the fonts look like as I choose them from the menu. Microsoft gave me this with WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) font menus but Pages didn’t.
I’m not sure why it isn’t included. Also the list of fonts is long and I’m probably never going to use so many.
My solution: You Control: Fonts, from You Control Software. The program, which sells for $19.95, solved all my font issues.
From a very simple pull down menu, they give you a choice of current type, favorites, recent, size and then a list of all fonts.
Lets face it, you only rely on a few of your favorite fonts. They should be right at the top of your list and easy to reach. I’m breezing through changing my fonts now.
Ever wonder what font you are using? Just click or highlight the type and go to the top menu item, Current Font. It displays the current font and size.
Next you have Favorite Fonts. I use this most of the time. Adding fonts to this list is simple. Just pick a type font and select add to favorites.
Recent Fonts is next. The software keeps track of what you like to use. How simple is that?
Changing the size is another option down the menu list.
Last is a complete list of all your fonts. They are shown WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get). As you choose the font, menus expand giving choices of style and size.
This software is a cinch to use and simply makes working with your fonts seamless. It works all programs I use on my computer.
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I recently changed from Microsoft Word to Apple’s Pages. I broke down and went with the iWork '08 software suite. My only problem so far, is Apple’s font selection menu in Pages. I only use a normal amount of fonts, I consider myself the average user but, I need to see what the fonts look like as I choose them from the menu. Microsoft gave me this with WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) font menus but Pages didn’t.
I’m not sure why it isn’t included. Also the list of fonts is long and I’m probably never going to use so many.
My solution: You Control: Fonts, from You Control Software. The program, which sells for $19.95, solved all my font issues.
From a very simple pull down menu, they give you a choice of current type, favorites, recent, size and then a list of all fonts.
Lets face it, you only rely on a few of your favorite fonts. They should be right at the top of your list and easy to reach. I’m breezing through changing my fonts now.
Ever wonder what font you are using? Just click or highlight the type and go to the top menu item, Current Font. It displays the current font and size.
Next you have Favorite Fonts. I use this most of the time. Adding fonts to this list is simple. Just pick a type font and select add to favorites.
Recent Fonts is next. The software keeps track of what you like to use. How simple is that?
Changing the size is another option down the menu list.
Last is a complete list of all your fonts. They are shown WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get). As you choose the font, menus expand giving choices of style and size.
This software is a cinch to use and simply makes working with your fonts seamless. It works all programs I use on my computer.
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