Wild Waves of The Sea

Ocean Isle Beach Pier, North Carolina. [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 30, ƒ/8, (35mm = 52)]

wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:13

“Stanley don’t post any photos of me like this,” is what I hear each year when I am at the beach with my family. No one wants to have the world see them when they don’t look their best.

People take a lot of time in front of mirrors getting ready each day and now we have tons of videos on how you can look even better with some tips from the poster.

Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 560, 1/1000, ƒ/16, (35mm = 24)]

I have noticed that everything has times of the day when they don’t look their best. Just the middle of the night there isn’t enough light to see much, but the middle of the day doesn’t give you the best light either.

Pier at Night Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 30, ƒ/18, (35mm = 90)]

I find there isn’t a guaranteed best time of day to photograph everything. My suggestion for nature is to visit the same spot over time, with different seasons, different weather, and time of day.

Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 160, 1/1000, ƒ/4, (35mm = 28)]

Change the lens choice as well for the subject. Get close and then step back. Get low like a worm and high like a bird.

2019 Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, VR Zoom 24-105mm f/4G IF-ED, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/800, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 105)]

C.K. Williams said that his poem, The Hearth (in The Singing), took twenty-five years to complete. I can see someone returning to a location for years trying to find the right moment that captures what continually pulls them back to that place.

The concept of previsualization in photography is where the photographer can see the final print before the image has been captured. Ansel Adams dedicates the beginning of his first book to previsualization, and is often quoted as saying “Visualization is the single most important factor in photography”.

I believe even before previsualization a photographer is just emotionally moved by a scene. It takes time to connect the head to the heart.

2019 Early morning walk on the beach at Ocean Isle, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, VR Zoom 24-105mm f/4G IF-ED, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 110, 1/250, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 48)]

Some places we return to are places where our earliest times are not even clear memories. The North Carolina beach is that place for me. My family has been coming long before I was born.

My grandmother rented a house for all of her 7 children and their families long ago. This is where I would first go and experience the beach.

So the beach for me is connected to family and the memories of my childhood.

Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/2500, ƒ/4, (35mm = 58)]

When I see a man fishing in the surf it brings up memories of my day and my mother’s dad fishing along the beach.

2019 Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, VR Zoom 24-105mm f/4G IF-ED, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/2000, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 105)]

I have always been fascinated by an image being able to conjure the past. Nostalgia is much more than mere reminiscing; it’s a feeling. “Nostalgia is the warm, fuzzy emotion that we feel when we think about fond memories from our past,” explains Erica Hepper, Ph. D., a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey in England. … A lot can be said for nostalgia’s benefits.

Pier at Night Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 30, ƒ/11, (35mm = 105)]

So last night I ventured out at sunset and photographed the Ocean Isle Beach pier. By using a tripod and low ISO I was taking long-exposure photos. When we are creating a long exposure shot, the camera averages what it sees over time. And if we are standing at sea level with unrest water, the camera sees the waves. … In the end, it creates a foggy effect – the water doesn’t look like water anymore, it looks like fog.

You rule the swelling of the sea;

When its waves rise, You still them.

Psalm 89:9
Pier at Night Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 20, ƒ/22, (35mm = 68)]

By the way, for these nighttime photos, people were walking through. If they stayed a while in a spot then they showed up as you see here.

Pier at Night Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 20, ƒ/22, (35mm = 68)]

This is a closeup of the photo above of the people staying somewhat still.

The Annual Family Photo

Leary Family Photo 2020 at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/1000, ƒ/8, (35mm = 24)]

Every year when my family gets together for our family reunion at the beach we do a family photo.

I always go out a few minutes early and setup my strobes. This year I am using the Flashpoint XPlor 600 HSS TTL with Nikon Z6.

Flashes setup more for fill flash to help with deep set eyes and to get rid of hot spots. [NIKON D5, Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/1600, ƒ/4, (35mm = 35)]

While this isn’t my favorite time of day to shoot photos you quickly learn through the years that you are needing to pick the friction free time of the day.

Up till now i was always trying to do late afternoon near sunset. That tended to complicate dinner time.

This year 1:00 pm. Probably the worst time as far as lighting to shoot the photo.

Strobes actually are a little brighter than the sun with high speed sync. [NIKON D5, Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/2000, ƒ/4, (35mm = 35)]

I usually get my wife to stand in for some test shots before I have everyone show up.

Leary Family Photo Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Leary Family Vacation [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/1600, ƒ/8, (35mm = 38)]

Not a flattering photo, but works to balance the TTL flash to the sunlight. Here I have them set at 0 and the camera -0.3 underexposed for the photos.

Everyone gathering [NIKON D5, Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/8000, ƒ/1.4, (35mm = 35)]

We figured the far left and far right and a line in the sand for them to stand on. We were done in 20 minutes. I tried to keep it short for my mother and a couple others who had some difficulty with the sand and the heat.

Manzi’s & the Kramers’ [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/500, ƒ/8, (35mm = 52)]

It was easy to just switch folks out. Again we were celebrating my mother’s birthday today as well.

Manzi Family [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/500, ƒ/8, (35mm = 62)]

Had I been planning a photo shoot with a couple and just their children I would have done a completely different approach.

Grand kids and grand parents [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/640, ƒ/8, (35mm = 62)]
The “Outlaws” [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/500, ƒ/8, (35mm = 58)]

Hope these tips help you with your “family photo”.

When Opportunity Knocks Are You Ready?

Fledgling Red-Tailed Hawk in our Backyard. Every year we get a new nest. [NIKON D5, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports + Sigma 2.0x Teleconverter TC-2001, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 2500, 1/4000, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 600)]

This past week I have been reminded that there are many things beyond our control when it comes to posting photos on social media and if they get a few likes or even thousands.

Red-Tailed Hawk [X-E3, XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 200, 1/60, ƒ/4.8, (35mm = 300)]

First of all, I am fully aware that the content you publish has to be strong or it will not take off.

Just compare the first photo to the second one. While both show a red-tailed juvenile hawk in our backyard, seeing the wings spread is more interesting. So for the most part when these were shared on social media the one with the wings spread got much more likes. It is a stronger photo.

Mostly Roswell High School students or alumni were peacefully protesting on June 2, 2020, at the corner of King Road and Hwy 92 for Black Lives Matter. [NIKON D5, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 180, 1/500, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 300)]

The key is to create great content using the “5 W’s & the H”.

  • Who
  • What
  • When
  • Where
  • Why
  • How

These will impact how the audience responds. So this photo of the young lady protestor isn’t all that different than this one here:

East Roswell Peaceful Protest at the corner of Old Alabama Road and Holcomb Bridge Road on June 3, 2020 [NIKON D5, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/250, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 190)]

Tapping into Social Media Influencers

Influencer marketing is a form of social media marketing involving endorsements and product placement from influencers, people, and organizations who have a purported expert level of knowledge or social influence in their field.

Some of my followers have their own network that if they choose to do more than just like my post, but re-share it then this is where “Opportunity is Knocking”.

The difference was who my audience is on social media. Many of my followers knew people in the event with the young lady protesting in June 2nd photo, but not the same for the June 3rd photo.

The first event also was on the first night we were seeing protestors in Roswell, GA. After posting many people were commenting and sending me emails to know where the next protest was happening.

So once a few of my followers posted me on their social media my photos they took off. WSB-TV the local ABC-affiliated television station for Atlanta asked to use them as well as many other news outlets.

The Roswell Police Department also asked to use the photo since it was a Peaceful Protest and they wanted to show they supported the community.

That one photo of all the protestors laying down on their stomachs and hands behind their backs like George Floyd was shared so many times I cannot even begin to count. On my Instagram Page alone 385+ likes. Just my Facebook Page 100+. But then when you start adding up all the shares and their likes the photo has thousands of likes.

f/8 and be there is an expression popularly used by photographers as representing the importance of taking the opportunity for a picture rather than concern for the technologies with which one does so.

WeeGee
Ascher (Usher) Fellig

Being at the right place, at the right time, and having your camera settings so that you will get a well-exposed, in-focus photo is part of the equation. You must know in your head the “5 W’s & the H” so that you have the right lens, position, and composition to make a photo that connects with the audience.

East Roswell Peaceful Protest at the corner of Old Alabama Road and Holcomb Bridge Road on June 3, 2020 [NIKON D5, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/250, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 48)]

when opportunity knocks

Clean Plate – You cannot take on new work if you have too much on your plate already. Make it a priority to always get your projects done in a timely matter.

“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Observe what’s happening around you – You have to know what is happening in your community, state and world. Nextdoor.com is the best way to stay in the know about what’s going on in your neighborhood—whether it’s finding a last-minute babysitter, learning about an upcoming block party, or hearing about a rash of car break-ins.

Give people a reason to follow you – You should look to strategically use each social media channel based on its strengths and demographics, and give your target audience a good reason to connect with you on that specific network. What value are you providing? What are you offering that will entice them to stay tuned in? Think about the reasons people use each network, then formulate a plan to consistently post and share content that will resonate with your specific audience, wherever they congregate online.

Libby Segar leads the group in chanting. She is holding the “Dear White People ..” sign. [NIKON D5, 14.0-24.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 450, 1/1000, ƒ/8, (35mm = 14)]

Never, ever buy followers and fans – Some people assume that purchasing fans and followers is a shortcut to building a huge online community. This is not only bad practice, but it will largely end up being more of a problem than it’s worth.

Authenticity – At the end of the day, authenticity is what makes influencers influential to the public. Therefore, authenticity needs to be a top priority.

Here is a video from the first protest and the second. Which one do you think got more views & why?

We all want change

Ever since we started to experience the pandemic of 2020, I have been reminded of the Serenity Prayer.

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can, and

The wisdom to know the difference.

Roswell Protestor

One of the ways we have taken action these past few months was to 1) Wash your hands frequently, 2) Practice social distancing & 3) Wear a mask when you do go out into public.

While many have been practicing these CDC guidelines we still have the COVID-19 virus.

Then in the midst of all this, we have been reminded that this virus is affecting some in our community more than others. This is especially true of the African American community.

In the midst of this George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, & Breonna Taylor were all brutally murdered. Finally, enough is enough was being said by not just the African American community but my Roswell Community.

“Enough is Enough is one of the many protest slogans for this Roswell Peaceful Protest

Gwendolyn Dukes, Richard Bonito, and their friends organized a peaceful protest on behalf of George Floyd at the corner of King Road and Hwy 92 in Roswell, Georgia on June 2, 2020. Dukes said, “Action speaks louder than words” as to why she and her friends wanted to get out and protest. Richard Bonito added, “We are not mad at the police, we are mad at the system.” They want to see changes for better policing, fixing systemic racism in our society, and encouraging their friends to get out and vote. While Richard Bonito voted in the last presidential election most in the crowd are closer to Gwendolyn’s age and this will be their first election.

Libby Segar leads the group in chanting. She is holding the “Dear White People ..” sign.

My daughter’s generation is tired of seeing their friends mistreated. They want change.

Sydney Black far left protests the Black Lives Matter, with many from Roswell community.
Mostly Roswell youth who went to or going to Roswell High School organized protest at the corner or King Road and Hwy 92 in Roswell, Georgia on June 2, 2020.
“I understand that I will never understand. However, I stand.” The white protestors are very aware in this crowd that they have privileges due to their skin color.

I believe the timing of these deaths amid this pandemic might just be the perfect storm for bringing about change to fix systemic racism in our society.

Roswell young people in the protest realize that protesting alone isn’t enough. They know that this is part of the process to get their communities to make changes to the policies that allow for racism.

They are asking people to become informed about who is running in our elections and vote for those people who will enact change the changes tide of Systemic Racism.

Blackout Tuesday was June 2, 2020. It was a day to recognize everyone, but especially the African community of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, & Breonna Taylor.

Rather than being fearful of the rioting that has taken place, Peaceful Protestors are taking back the streets of their communities. They don’t want the rioters and looters to take over the conversation.

All over social media groups are forming to have peaceful protests. Go online and find a protest near you.

Plan to protest? Here are tips to reduce the risk of spreading #COVID19:

✔️Wear a face covering

✔️Wear eye protection to prevent injury

✔️Stay hydrated

✔️Use hand sanitizer

✔️Don’t yell; use signs & noise makers instead

✔️Stick to a small group

✔️Keep 6 feet from other groups

The protesters are all laying down just like George Floyd did when he lost his life to a cop on his neck.

Steve Hixon – My Freshman Roommate at ECU

Update. On January 4, 2022 Steve Hixon passed away. I did some minor updates.

This past week has brought back some of the words that Steve Hixon, my roommate from freshman year at East Carolina University, had challenged me. He had grown up in the racism of the deep south. By just being white I had no idea of all the privileges I had due to skin color alone.

I have never been pulled over just because of the color of my skin. I haven’t had people avoid me walking down the street.

I had not experienced not being looked at as a human being as Steve had been treated.

“Iceman” is what Steve Hixon’s nickname was on the basketball court. While we were put together as roommates at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, I saw “Iceman” more on the basketball court than in our room.

We were both Social Work majors. We both did our concentrations in Alcohol and Drug Abuse. However, while I went in the direction of using photojournalism as my way of helping people, Steve went on to work as a Social Worker in Richmond, Virginia.

This is how I looked in college.

Now Steve wasn’t my first African American friend, but Steve was the first one that I would live with and get to have lots of conversations with during our college years.

Steve said I would never have him in my home. Sadly that never happened. My home at the time was in Englishtown, NJ and I had just come home during the semester breaks.

This past week watching George Floyd being killed by white police officers while other police officers stood by and condoned his actions was sickening. What is sad is this has been played out over and over throughout my life.

I see people constantly treating people of color unjustly. The lady in Central Park treats a man based on the color of his skin alone with such disdain.

I think the response of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his op-ed piece in the LATimes is good.

Too many people are not realizing how not just the George Floyd case isn’t fueling this civil unrest. The COVID-19 Pandemic has opened up many wounds in the African American community. Do you remember the Brown vs Board of Education?

Children were not equal when it came to staying home and going online to do school work. Many don’t have computers or internet connections.

Without the schools, many of our children go hungry because they no longer get the meals through the school they desperately need. Why? Not because their parents don’t work, but because their employers pay them so little that no one can feed their family and put a roof over their head with these wages.

Then think of all the people who are working from home. Sadly there are many whose work cannot be done from home. This is hitting the minority communities the most.

This is where those of privilege have blinders. They fail to see how they got into a college not based on their grades alone, but because of legacy. A study of thirty elite colleges found that primary legacy students are an astonishing 45% more likely to get into a highly selective college or university than a non-legacy. Secondary legacies receive a lesser pick-me-up of 13%. [Article]

How do we fix this?

I do not hold the silver bullet that will answer this question. I can only say I can see some things we can do that could help.

  • Open your homes – the eleven o’clock hour on Sunday morning in America has been called the most segregated time in America. We cannot just learn to work with people of different races. We need to truly create all-inclusive communities. This means we need to invite our co-workers and neighbors into our homes and build friendships.
  • Get out of your comfort zone – Say yes to opportunities in your community. Volunteer for a Habitat for Humanity Build. Be intentional that you are looking for ways to move beyond your homogeneous circle.
  • Challenge your Faith Community – See if your faith community could find another different faith community and do activities together to get to know each other. My church Roswell Presbyterian Church did a Race Reconciliation project where we were paired up with another socio-economic similar church that was African American. So we were mainly just different in skin tone and not economically. That was eye-opening for so many.

Steve Hixon and I talked a lot through college and this past year before he died, we talked by phone for a couple of hours. We were catching up, but the conversation went to our passions–helping people and our society. Steve didn’t have all the same opportunities that I had growing up. He was treated differently due to his skin color. I was also treated differently. If you don’t remember being refused anything due to your skin color, good chance you were experiencing privilege.

Steve realized we all needed to work together to overcome our past.

I believe tolerance and understanding are intertwined in the path toward human progress.

Let’s not let all the rioting make all of the white community uppity. Not much has changed since Steve Hixon, my college roommate, challenged me that I wouldn’t be welcomed into my home.

We must do as Keisha Lance Bottoms and Police Chief Erika Shields did on Sunday. They realized they cannot let justice be handled in the same way when it came to the night before when officers pulled two college students from their car on live TV and tased the male and roughed up the female student. They put everything else aside and reviewed all the body cameras from that event and moved swiftly and fired two of the officers. They put the others involved on desk duty for the time being.

Atlanta mayor: Two police officers fired over excessive use of force during George Floyd protest

It is time for action not more research on racism. I think Michael Jackson’s video Man in the Mirror hits perfectly.

“I am starting with the man in the mirror.”

– Michael Jacson

What should I do?

Okay people I need advice: Camera A or Camera B?

This type of question is asked over and over and over in every photography group I have been a part of in my entire life.

For all who continue to ask for advice, here is my response:

More Information

You need to give us more information or the advice you get will show you that those offering their advice know as little as you about it.

They make different cameras for many reasons.

1) Price drives so many people’s purchases that they make cameras stripped down to cater to those who price is the most important issue. If you have a budget range you need to stay in that is always helpful to know. There is the Best and then there is the Best you can afford.

2) What type of photography are you doing?
* Landscapes
* Headshots
* Events
* Sports
* Astronomy

3) How will the photos be used? This impacts the size of the sensor.
* Huge Prints
* Web

4) Available light or strobes? This also affects the type of sensor you need in the camera.

5) Do you need video capabilities?

These are just some of the many, many more things one considers when buying gear.

For example if you are doing headshots, the odds are high you will be using strobes. You don’t need a camera with high ISO and can get by with a much cheaper camera.

If you are shooting sports you need a camera with large buffer and frame shooting rate.

Anytime you ask for advice it is always best to tell us what you are primarily purchasing the equipment to shoot. The tell us where the photos are used. If you do this then the advice will be better for you.

Okay people I need advice: Lens A, Lens B or Lens C?

See advice above!

Copying Prints with Nikon Z6

I have been doing a project for a friend where I scanned transparencies, negatives, and copied prints so that they now had all their photos in digital form to use and pass along to their children.

I just thought some would like to know how to set up to do the copying of prints. My setup is what you see above. Ideally, you would want to use a copy stand to make prints.

Kaiser Reprokid Copy Stand Kit

This is a typical copy stand that I don’t own. I didn’t want to buy one if I could make do with what I own. So here is the step-by-step setup.

Copy Work Setup [COOLPIX P7000, , Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 400, 1/6, ƒ/4, (35mm = 61)]

You are going to need to create a jig where every time you put a photo to copy in place it lines up consistently. I used two pieces of gaffer tape on a small fold-up table.

Next, I had small plexiglass that I put tape on one side to act as a hinge and a piece of tape on the other side to use to lift it out of the way. This would keep each print flat as I copied it.

Copy Work Setup [COOLPIX P7000, , Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 400, 1/4, ƒ/4, (35mm = 76)]

You need to be sure your camera is parallel to the prints. The easiest way is to put a mirror in the place of the print and then get your camera to be the dead center of your frame looking into itself. See the example here.

Copy Work Setup [COOLPIX P7000, , Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 400, 1/7, ƒ/2.8, (35mm = 28)]

Now I am choosing to use two hot shoe flashes. Specifically the Neewer TT850 with the Neewer Wireless 16 Channel Remote. I have also put MagMod Grid on the front of the flash to keep the flash from lighting up my camera.

Copy Work Setup [COOLPIX P7000, , Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 400, 1/6, ƒ/4, (35mm = 76)]

Now I also have zoomed the flashes to 105mm.

Copy Work Setup [COOLPIX P7000, , Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/54, ƒ/2.8, (35mm = 28)]

I removed the table where the prints are to be and put the flash at the same height and distance. I then use this with the ExpoDisc to set my Custom White Balance on the Nikon Z6 camera using my Nikkor 60mm macro lens.

Copy Work Setup [COOLPIX P7000, , Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 400, 1/5, ƒ/3.2, (35mm = 28)]

Be sure the lights are at 45º to the prints and the camera.

Using the same setup with the flashes on the stands I put the camera where the photos were with the ExpoDisc on the lens and shot many photos and dialed the flash’s power up and down until I got a perfect histogram with the peak dead center for perfect exposure at ƒ/11 and a shutter speed of 1/125. Of course, I am shooting at ISO 100.

Using the Nikon Capture software I am tethered to the camera. I shoot everything raw and send it to an external hard drive.

Then after importing them into Lightroom I select all the images and make a crop. As long as they are all the same size that is pretty much all you need to do to get a good copy. Then I export them.

You can go photo by photo and tweak each exposure, but you just will not have the Dynamic Range you might be used to having when shooting raw with your digital camera. The reason is the latitude of a print is not a great deal as compared to today’s cameras.

The Dynamic Range on today’s digital cameras is about 14 stops. Photo prints are around 6 to 7 stops. So you are cutting the dynamic range in half.

Copy Work Setup [COOLPIX P7000, , Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 400, 1/3, ƒ/3.2, (35mm = 28)]

I recommend cutting a hole in a sheet of black construction paper the size of the lens and putting it around the lens to keep any reflections showing up in the prints because the plexiglass can reflect things above it.

There are my tips.

Update on Photo Mechanic Plus – Database

I am learning something new every time I use this software. It is packed with so many features. Personally I think it is ready, but I don’t have the inside scoop or all the possible things it does that might still be glitchy. For me it is awesome.

391864 is the total number of images I have put into the database of the program. Remember it is basically Photo Mechanic 6 + the database.

You can add the images when you ingest your cards into the database by just clicking the Auto Catalog option on the ingest screen. I am not doing this, because I am really only interested in a catalogue of the JPEGs that I have processed.

I just select all the JPEGs after exporting them from Lightroom and right click for this menu to add them to the catalogue. As you can see you can also remove them just as simply this way.

The reminder still pops up to let you know this is a beta version. I hope it comes out soon.

Like I mentioned last time the left pane looks the same with the addition of the Folder and Catalog tabs. Here I am in the Photo Mechanic 6 folders and basically not much different than what you are used to using.

In the catalog you can click on filter and then new and you will see this pop up as the default. I changed from rating to all the other ones and tested some of them. Works great.

I chose date created and got this menu. So you can find things easily by year, month and day by drilling down.

You can also get to similar searches through the browse tab on the side.

This is great for those who just want to drill down by different methods.

If you rate by colors you can see all those you have in a catalog that are rated any color. The same for number rating.

I think this is a great way to find your best work.

When you find photos they will appear the same as they do in Photo Mechanic 6 with one exception. There is a circle in the bottom next to the file name. If it is empty as here, you can see the image, but the image is offline.

If it is green, then the image is online and you can do more than just see it, you have access to the original image.

This one feature is what I think takes a while for images to pop up. The database is checking to see if they are connected.

For the photographer who wants to find what they have created this is awesome tool. I will be buying it once it is available.

I think I would love to see this integrated with online galleries like PhotoShelter, Flickr, SmugMug and all the other software that are part of your uploading process with Photo Mechanic 6. What I would love to see is maybe another circle or something that lets you know if you have this online for others to see.

I am just ready for the software to be permanently on my computer and no longer a Beta Version.

Enjoying Red-Shouldered Hawks nest in our backyard

Humanity has always been connected to animals around them. Many of us have pets we feel connected to for love and support.

“Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
    and spread its wings toward the south?

Job 39:26

Some Native American tribes’ traditions provide that each person is connected with nine different animals that will accompany him or her through life, acting as guides. Each animal is symbolic.

If you frequently see hawks in your life, it may be a call to see things from a higher perspective and focus on your observation skills. 

Red Shouldered Hawk nest in our Backyard [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports + Sigma 2.0x Teleconverter TC-2001, Mode = Manual, ISO 1400, 1/1000, ƒ/8, (35mm = 600)]

The Hawk is thought to represent a messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection, cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship.

Having a Red-Shouldered Hawk nest in our yard each year has been so much fun. Right now, during this Pandemic, it is a good distraction.

SEEING HAWKS OFTEN CAN MEAN …

  • Hawks can easily reach incredible heights and touch the higher realms, heightening your spiritual awareness.
  • Hawks soar high in the sky and can view life from this perspective. We need to look at the big picture and not get too wrapped up in the petty details. This might mean deepening our focus on the tasks at hand and not allowing ourselves to get distracted by the more minor details of life.
  • Hawks represent leadership and taking the initiative. Hawks, take action. Maybe this is to remind us to take action.
  • Hawks observe their area before taking action. You can study your situation thoroughly before making rash decisions, as every action has consequences.
  • Hawks means that you are on the right path in life, and your spirit animal is there to ensure you keep on this path.

For Native Americans, hawks will show up when you need guidance from the universe and support from something beyond yourself. The hawk represents focus, strength, and poise and can show you your hidden abilities to lead yourself and others to a more positive outcome. Hawks can also help you to see the bigger picture and avoid getting caught up in the small details, so look to this powerful spirit animal the next time you need perspective on a particular situation.

Red Shouldered Hawk nest in our Backyard [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports + Sigma 2.0x Teleconverter TC-2001, Mode = Manual, ISO 8000, 1/8000, ƒ/6.3, (35mm = 600)]

Priming the Pump

Eloi DeLma pumps water while Mano Bilarga Tiendeno waits for water at the theology school in Koudougou, Burkina Faso. (Photo By: Stanley Leary)
[NIKON D2X, Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/400, ƒ/5, (35mm = 27)]

“Priming the Pump” is the operation of older pumps – a suction valve had to be primed with water so that the pump would function properly.

Sosthene Zuma plays with water at a well in Koudougou, Burkina Faso. (Photo By: Stanley Leary) [NIKON D2X, Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/250, ƒ/5, (35mm = 27)]
Chick-fil-A often gives away samples of their products to help clients try their food before buying.
[NIKON D3, 24.0-120.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 6400, 1/200, ƒ/5, (35mm = 24)]

Priming the pump allows your customers to experience your product or service and start the buzz. You need to get people talking, hopefully in a positive way, about what you are offering.

[NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 800, 1/100, ƒ/4, (35mm = 52)]

Sales Funnel

This is the process through which a company finds, qualifies, and sells its products to buyers.

What many creatives struggle with the most is the business side of their work. While it can be very difficult and not very fun to do, it is the necessary part of getting those customers that will pay you to do what you love doing.

Don Miller of StoryBrand says that their experience is they have to work hard at building Familiarity and Trust before the prospect makes a purchase. They have found from just sending out free email content in various ways that it takes more than 80 of these before a customer makes a purchase.

I think this is why the funnel shape is so great for the visual person. It is large at one end and small at the other. You must do a lot of work to get that one client.

For someone like myself, it is getting examples of my work and how it helped other businesses in front of prospects.

One Campaign

Here is the video that helped this restaurant during the pandemic. I shared this with my prospective audience. But I needed another way to get this content in front of them.

I then did a blog post talking about what I did to give a peak into the process. [Click here to see that post]

Still, I needed to be sure I got in front of the client with more “Free Content” to give them a sample of what I do.

Then I did an “e-mail blast” to be sure they didn’t miss the blog post.

Remember what Don Miller said. He had to do more than 80 of these interactions before the prospect became a client.

I then thought can’t the prospect see how great these videos are for small businesses. I believe more and more that you must connect the dots for your prospects. I then decided to go back to the restaurant and find out how the video helped them.

I did another video capturing their comments and review. I was not just happy about their comments but blown away by how much they helped them.

I did this same process many times and plan to continue doing this to get my name out as well as what I can do for companies to improve their sales and for nonprofits to increase their giving.

I shared the original video of I Canita Cake and then followed up with the review video and posted it on my blog.

I am also posting these links on all the social media I can think of that would be helpful to those audiences.

If you are a communications colleague of mine I hope this inspires you to work on your sales funnel. If you are a prospect, please consider partnering with me so together we can help you work on your sales funnel by using storytelling as a way to engage your audience.

Time to work the soil & plant seeds

Paul Tiendeno at the theology school in Koudougou, Burkina Faso. They not only teach theology but farming to help the pastors feed their families while they minister as bi-vocational pastors. (Photo By: Stanley Leary)
[NIKON D2X, 18.0-50.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/320, ƒ/5, (35mm = 27)]

I am thinking about Chauncey Gardiner, the main character in Jerzy Kosinski’s classic novel, “Being There.” He said, “As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. … There is much to be done during the winter, I must start the seeds for the spring, I must work the soil.”

Right now I am making the most of my time by doing projects to show my skills in storytelling.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:6
In the bush village of Sabtenga, the oldest man in a hat was Musanai Zemnai, the Chief of the Young People, who welcomes the group. Here he is holding up peanuts, which the Bissa people group is known for growing. (photo by: Stanley Leary) [NIKON D2X, AF Zoom 18-50mm f/2.8G, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 400, 1/400, ƒ/2.8, (35mm = 75)]

Every day I wake up and look for something I can do. One of the ways I have been keeping myself busy was doing videos to help businesses and organizations message out about what they are doing during this pandemic.

While the actual amount of time will depend on your business and circumstances, for a small to medium-sized business, a strong content marketing strategy generally takes between six and nine months to yield real results. I have also heard six to eighteen months as well as a realistic time to see a return on your investment.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I am reminded through scripture that throughout history you can only do what you can control, your actions. You cannot be a puppet master and control others or God. You do what you can and must realize much is out of your hands.

A woman carries a load on her head in the bush village of Sabtenga, Burkina Faso. (photo by: Stanley Leary) [NIKON D2X, 18.0-50.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 400, 1/320, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 27)]

I am doing videos to help my neighbors in Roswell, GA. These are my seeds.

What are your seeds? Are you working in your garden?

Here are a few videos I have done this past week.

Telecommuting Not an Option

Mendel Rashi, a Hungarian Jewish homeless gentleman who couldn’t quite remember his age, was headed to a Kroger store in Atlanta where he planned to sleep in a corner outside as protection from the cold weather. He likes to spend his days being free to roam with his carts of ‘silver and gold’ treasures. He has but four teeth and isn’t able to eat much except soft fruit, especially bananas. photo by © Robin Rayne/ZUMA PRESS

Photojournalist Robin Rayne – Selfie

To minimize the risk of infection, photojournalist Robin Rayne is equipped with masks and gloves, in addition to disinfecting all the photographic equipment he carries on a daily basis. In search of stories, Robin has been on duty in visiting those on the fringes of society. Robin knows many journalists are covering the “Front Lines”, but he sees the need to show those who often fall through the cracks during crisis are not forgotten.

Working on a new story about Victoria, who has Mitochondrial Disease and needs strong CBD oil to keep her seizures under control. The story will explore what life for her family is like during this time of COVID-19. photo by ©Robin Rayne/ZUMA
1 Corinthians 15:8-10 
and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Most of the stories I see from Robin make me say “there but for the grace of God go I.”

A group of self-described conservative “patriots” gather outside Cherokee County Courthouse on Sunday April 19 to protest the state’s “shelter in place” orders because of the COVID19 pandemic. Several were armed with AR-15 weapons. Organizers voiced a list of grievances against the state, arguing citizen’s rights were being violated because of the orders, and vow to ignore state mandate. photo by © Robin Rayne/ZUMA PRESS

Every story must have a conflict and with Robin’s camera he puts that conflict front and center. The photos will be in your face and make you “Feel” and not just “See” the story.

While Robin has been looking for stories to do on those who often fall through the cracks, I have been looking for people and businesses to tell their story during this pandemic. I decided to tell Robin’s story. Here is a video I did on Robin.

Do you know of a nonprofit or business that is in a crisis due to this pandemic? Tell them about how I can help them get their story in front of their audience.

Take a look at the other videos I have done for businesses to help them tell what they are doing during this pandemic. Consider passing my information on to them.

Maybe you want to donate to me to do more stories like this one here.

Go here and there is more information for you.