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Blogging Online Life Rants Software Tech Talk Tips

Saving Private Space – Outlook PSTs

Day 04 - 120305 sunset Shamona Creek es 007
Day 04 – 120305 sunset Shamona Creek es 007

Last week, I spent the better part of the day backing-up all my files to make sure nothing would get lost, which should be common practice, for anyone looking to do an upgrade, or in my case a full rebuild my machine, moving from Windows XP to a brand-new install of Windows 7.

Why?

Well, XP has been my workhorse for several years now, but there are several applications, that are beginning to require Windows 7, namely Adobe Lightroom 4.

For the most part, the Rebuild of my main computer went quite well, and I can see a definite improvement in the general speed of my main desktop.

I also spent a fair amount of time prior to the upgrade, tracking down the various serial numbers which lay hidden in numerous e-mails that I have accumulated over the years.

There were a few applications that I have reservations about in my move to Windows 7 but after a day or two, my fears were alleviated.

Today, was my day to finally get back in touch with the real world, and tweak my Outlook 2007 for my new environment.

In my haste, trying to get back online last week, I inadvertently connected the wrong PST as my default, and this morning I paid for it.

After trying to do what one would think simple to clean-up of my mistake, I decided to go ahead and just create a brand-new PST.

What really amazed me, was that I was able to save approximately 600MBs of disk space just by copying the emails to the new PST, and that was after contacting the original PST!

So the moral of this quick story, or should I say rant, is that if you need to recuperate some disk space, one might take a look at copying your old emails to a new PST, but be forewarned it can take some time.

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Chester County Coatesville HDR Nature Photo Journal Photography Tone Mapping

Spring Family Walk at ChesLen Preserve

Some images taken during a Family Nature Walk at the ChesLen Preserve in Coatesville, Chester County PA.

This image was taken at the edge of one of the hedge rows, in the shade.

Power Towers in the ChesLen Preserve in Coatesville, Chester County
Power Towers in the ChesLen Preserve in Coatesville, Chester County

Looking at Power Line and newly plowed fields, which are now ready for planting.

Plowed fields and Power Lines in ChesLen Preserve in Coatesville, Chester County
Plowed fields and Power Lines in ChesLen Preserve in Coatesville, Chester County

Addition Links and Info

 

– Andrew
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astronomy CCPaPhoto Chester County Downingtown Facebook Long Exposure Marsh Creek State Park Photo Journal Photography Science space Weather

No Super Moon – Still had a good time!

120505 Super Moon 007
120505 Super Moon 007

Last Thursday, May 3rd, Nina Downing Cazille posted on the Chester County PA Photography Facebook page, a Yahoo! News story, that suggested on Saturday night, that not only was the Super Moon going to be visible, possibly Saturn and maybe a dusting from Halley’s comet!

There was some spirited discussion on who might attend, and much speculation about the weather, since much of the past week or so, has been very cloudy and rainy.

When I woke up on Saturday morning, and looked out the window, only to find the skies still thickly clouded.

This was not good.

With coffee in hand, I went to the Chester County PA Photography page, and started a new thread, trying to finalize the details for our rather impromptu meet-up, later in the night.

Throughout the day, I kept looking at the sky, and try to figure out which way the clouds were moving.

In the mid-afternoon, I took both my kids down to East Ward elementary school, to burn off some energy in preparation for the evening, and when we started to leave, I was beginning to see increasingly larger sections of blue sky, which was very encouraging for a night of photographing the Super Moon.

By the time dinner had been prepared and consumed, the cloudy skies had returned.

Just before I left, I quickly checked the radar for clouds, and the hourly animation strongly suggested that there were big clear pockets of clear sky, coming down from the north, and would be over us within an hour or so.

Using Creek Road (Rt. 282), I got to the boating side of Marsh Creek State Park, within 20 minutes, and was able to find easy parking because many people were already packing up and leaving for the night.

After parking, I started to get my gear, but hesitated from getting it all out, because I still feared that no one was going to show up.

When I reached the predetermined meeting point, I was very delighted and relieved to see several other people standing there with their cameras!

  • Nina Downing Cazille
  • Shannon Chambers McMahon
  • Tony Babcock
  • Elaine Erwin-Babcock
  • I know I am missing some folks!

It was very nice to know that I am not the only crazy one!

After the various introductions, I headed back to my car, and grabbed my gear, heading back to the group to setup for the rest of the evening.

As the night wore one, we talked about various topic, and exchanged various stories about photography, family and life.

We also tried to identify which towns were glowing against the sky line, as well as experimenting with flashes and flash-lights.

At 23:35, when perigee finally arrived, the clouds were still as thick as when we started, but it did seem a little brighter, which could also have been from us standing in the dark for the past three and half hours.

It was not long after, that we packed up our gear, said our good byes and headed home. In reading the subsequent posts on the Facebook page, it seems that everyone had a good time!

– Andrew
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Announcements Blogging Chester County Chester Springs Coatesville Facebook Flickr Milestones Online Life Photo Journal Photography Web West Chester

Stroud Preserve Selected for Collection

110501 Stroud Preserve 076 tm
110501 Stroud Preserve 076 tm

I just got an alert from my Flickr mail that the Director of Communications at the Natural Lands Trust, asking for permission to use this image as part of their collection for Stroud Preserve!

Needless to say, I’m very honored by this recognition!

thank you very much for this honor and I look forward to seeing my image on your website!

– Andrew

Update

Since getting this e-mail, I have had the chance to visit both the Binky Lee and ChesLen Preserves with Madison and Logan for our Family Nature Walks! (Unfortunately, Amy can join us because of her allergies!)

Again I am blown away by the fact that I have traveled past both these preserves many a times and never realized they were there, let alone how beautiful they are!

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Blogging Chester County Downingtown HDR Photo Journal Photography Projects Sunsets Tone Mapping

Sunsets – Week 1

As many parents know, once two siblings get together after along day, their combined energy level seems to quadruple if not more.

So with the lengthening of the days, I started to take the kids out for a late afternoon energy release at Shamona Creek Elementary here in Downingtown.

We have been here many time before, but not at sunset…

So started a personal project of trying to capture 30 days of sunsets!

Sunsets (Chester County) - Day 1
Sunsets (Chester County) – Day 1

 

Sunsets (Chester County) - Day 2
Sunsets (Chester County) – Day 2

 

Sunsets (Chester County) - Day 3
Sunsets (Chester County) – Day 3

 

Sunsets (Chester County) - Day 4
Sunsets (Chester County) – Day 4

 

Sunsets (Chester County) - Day 5
Sunsets (Chester County) – Day 5

 

Sunsets (Chester County) - Day 6
Sunsets (Chester County) – Day 6

 

Sunsets (Chester County) - Day 7
Sunsets (Chester County) – Day 7

These images represent just a few of the photographs that I have taken during the early phase of this project, and more can be found over on Flickr.

Let me a comment, and let me know what you think.

– Andrew
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