Categories
Adobe Blogging

Skip’s 30th Reunion

It is the Monday after Skip’s BIG 30th High School Reunion, and unlike Las Vegas, things do not stay there!

He could not afford to spend much time, but he did manage to visit some of the more cherished places.

It is hard to believe that over 30 years ago, Skip first walked down this same slate path into his future…

Looking at the Main Entrance
Looking at the Main Entrance

As he walked through the doors and passed the various announcement boards and into the common room, where he paused and looked.

There it was, at the other end of the dining hall.

The mural of the school’s foundation, that stared at him, during all his meals those many years ago.

Dining Hall Mural
Dining Hall Mural

He walked down the small set of stairs, and moved into the room, where he took this picture.

In the back of his mind, he heard a little voice saying he was about to receive three marks.

He scampered the rest of the way into the hallway, turning right and headed out to to the lawn.

Garth and Steeple
SAS Garth and Steeple

While taking this picture, the clock bells chimed, triggering a distance memory of days gone by, and reminding him that his time to leave was closely approaching.

He walked back across the lawn, reentering the building, looking for that room where he made another cameo appearance several years back.

O Captain! My Captain!
O Captain! My Captain!

Snickering to himself, he knew he had to get back to his boat.

He stayed just long enough for the Class Reunion photo…

The Class of 1983 Reunion Photo
The Class of 1983 Reunion Photo

With that, he was off.

Categories
Adobe Events Facebook Online Life Photo Manipulation Projects

Photoshop Fun with Skip

Happy Birthday Skip! (8/30/12)

I will not get into all the gory details about Skip (my Cuz), other than we share similar humor, and Facebook has helped to instigate some things.

The other day, Skip updated his profile to this…

Profile Picture - Skip (Original)
Profile Picture – Skip (Original)

and at that time, I commented that there should be a “Shark Fin” in the background.

Shortly there after, I was emailed the original cell-phone file above.

So the game is on now…

What could I do to make this image more interesting?

Normally, I stay away from Photoshop “trickery”, but every now and then, it is good to keep the skills sharp…

Shark Attack

So up to Google I go to find some images and ideas…

Skip with Shark 1
Skip with Shark 1

For my first try, I just added a shark to the background, trying to make sure the wakes and waves looked real.

Skip forwarded this image to his mother… Not sure if they are still talking…

Keeping with the Shark theme, and to make life a little easier, I created this…

Skip with Shark 2
Skip with Shark 2

Facebook comment:

Skip – “Yes, it was this exciting, and I may have pooped my pants, just a little!

and from here, borrowing from a classic internet image…

Skip with Shark 3
Skip with Shark 3

Reading the comments on the various pictures, with Skip narrating…

Skip – “What a day that was! Smooth piloting just saved his life in the nick of time!!”

Skip – “and my waverunner was 6′ in the air while I was holding the camera ever so smoothly! :)”

and so endeth “Shark Day”…

Where in the World is Skip?

Late in the afternoon, there was a change in the meme…

I received a file from Skip, which turned into this…

Skip - Where in the World? 01
Skip – Where in the World? 01

Since this is a new Adventure, and I’m sworn to secrecy…

I can not tell you where this might end…

Tee Hee!

History in the making with Skip

After some much-needed coffee, and catching up on the comments, it seems that Skip has now found a TARDIS…

[4-6 million years ago] – Skips First “Interns”

In the early days, Skip had some problems relating to some of the new Interns that had joined the Project…

Skip with Project Interns
Skip with Project Interns

[1495] – Not Skip’s Last Supper

Not Skip's Last Supper
Not Skip’s Last Supper

[1816] – Uncle Sam Skip

Uncle Sam Skip (circa 1816)
Uncle Sam Skip (circa 1816)

[1903 Dec 17] – First Flight – Wright brothers

First Flight - Wright bothers
First Flight – Wright bothers

[1912 – April 15] – RMS Titanic – sometime after 23:40 (ship’s time)

Skip - RMS Titanic (1912)
Skip – RMS Titanic (1912)

Judging by the various pictures that we have found, it seems pretty likely that Skip had tapped into something…

[1937 May 6 – 19:25] – Lakehurst Naval Air Station – German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg

Skip with the Hindenburg (1937) [Dean H]
Skip with the Hindenburg (1937) [Dean H]
Then there were the World Wars…

[1943 February 4–11] – Yalta Conference

Skip at the Yalta Conference (1943)
Skip at the Yalta Conference (1943)

[1947 July 7] – The Skip-well Alien Autopsy

The Skipwell Alien Autopsy
The Skipwell Alien Autopsy

[1963 July 24] – Skip meets two Presidents!

Skip Meets Two Presidents!
Skip Meets Two Presidents!

[1963 August 28] – Washington, DC – “I Have a Dream” speech

Martin Luther King Jr. speech - "I have a Dream" (1963)
Martin Luther King Jr. speech – “I have a Dream” (1963)

Then there was that one day is Dallas…

[1963 November 22 12:30 CST] – Dealey Plaza, Dallas TX

Skip in  Dealey Plaza, Dallas (1963) [Dean H]
Skip in Dealey Plaza, Dallas (1963) [Dean H]
[1969 August 15-18] – Woodstock Music & Art Fair, Bethel, NY

Still to this day, Skip is heard to say to friends – “I don’t remember that!”

Skip at Woodstock (1969)
Skip at Woodstock (1969)

and at the same time, he is known to say – “Are you experienced?”

Skip with Jimi Hendrix (1969)
Skip with Jimi Hendrix (1969)

[1969 July 20] – Mare TranquillitatisSea of Tranquility“, MoonApollo 11

Skip with Apollo 11
Skip with Apollo 11

[1970 December 21] – The King and the Crook

The King and Crook
The King and Crook

[1987 September 25] – While on set for “The Princess Bride’s”, Skip was able to capture this classic scene

Skip on set with "The Princess Bride"
Skip on set with “The Princess Bride”

[2004 February 1] – Superbowl XXXVIII Oops!

Skip has an Oops!
Skip has an Oops!

[2006 October 11] – “In Saturn’s Shadow

Skip takes a look back
Skip takes a look back

[2012 May 17] – Is Skip the next Carl Bernstein? or Bob Woodward?
or the mysterious man in the shadows….

Skip at a private fundraiser (5/17/2012)
Skip at a private fundraiser (5/17/2012)

[2012 August 30] – Skip had heard via various sources, that there was a party in town… Even with a hurricane blowing into town, he was able to witness history in the making…

Skip At The Republican National Convention (08/30/2012)
Skip At The Republican National Convention (08/30/2012)

[2012 September 24] – So Skip… What is your call on this one…

Skip, what is your call on this one? (09/24/2012)
Skip, what is your call on this one? (09/24/2012)

[2012 October 14] – Once again Skip shows his desire to be at the edge of everything…

Skip - Space Jump
Skip – Space Jump

[2012 October 30] – As fate would have it, Skip was one of the last people able to fly into New York City, and Hurricane Sandy could be seen in the distance.

Skip & Hurricane Sandy
Skip & Hurricane Sandy

[2013 June 08] – 30th High School Reunion!

Check out some of the picture Skip took during his 30th High School Reunion weekend!

Carpe Diem!

[2013 July 21 02:02 AM] – Geraldo and Skip after Last-call

Geraldo and Skip after Last-call
Geraldo and Skip after Last-call

[2013 July] – Skip takes pictures of Weiner

Skip's Weiner pictures
Skip’s Weiner pictures

[2013 August 19] – Shark, Shark, Skip!

Shark, Shark, Skip!
Shark, Shark, Skip!

[2013 August 23] – The Royal Birth

Skip's New Cousin!
Skip’s New Cousin!

[2013 August 29] – An Early Birthday present

Happy 48th Skip!
Happy 48th Skip!

At one with Nature

During a recent trip, Skip was able to meetup with old friend, Bryan!

Skip with his friend Bryan
Skip with his friend Bryan

While checking on the ‘neighborhood’, Skip Middleton startled some of the local wildlife, some of whom where NOT happy with his kind of paparazzi…

Skip with Bigfoot
Skip with Bigfoot

Skip in Space

With the help of S.R. Hadden, of Hadden Industries, Skip was able to take a quick trip, and capture this Kodak moment (See Date-line entry above).

Not many people realized, Skip left the planet, for his real mission, which had begun many years before… He was eager to compare notes with Dr. David Bowman later on in the “day”.

Skip with Tycho Monolith Anomaly 1 (TMA-1)
Skip with Tycho Monolith Anomaly 1 (TMA-1)

In an email/text to his mother, Skip, said “You should meet HAL! It’s so cool to talk with a computer! Should be Home in a couple of days! L8ter! – Skip”

Skip with HAL9000
Skip with HAL9000

Snapshots of Life

[No GPS data available] – Skip on alert!

Skip on Alert!
Skip on Alert!

[Budapest] – During one of Skip’s many adventures, he ran into this timeless traveler.

Skip - Budapest
Skip – Budapest

[Justin Bieber] – Ever since Justin Bieber’s songs first appeared in 2008, Skip has been a big fan. Then there was the big night, where Justin invited Skip to one of his concerts, and gave him an “All Access Pass”! Needless to say, Skip was thrilled, and even managed to capture this image.

Skip & Justin Bieber
Skip & Justin Bieber

Skip in the Movies

Skip does not always talk about his screen, but when he does, it is sure to be epic!

[1953 – “War of the Worlds“] – Scouting

Can Skip Survive?
Can Skip Survive?

[1968 – “Planet of the Apes“] – Scouting

Planet of the Skip
Planet of the Skip

With one sci-fi movie under his belt, and a couple of years of makeup, Skip reappeared on in another classic…

[1975 – “Rocky ‘Skip’ Horror Picture Show” – Behind the Scenes]

Rocky Skip Horror (1975)
Rocky Skip Horror (1975)

[1975 – “Jaws“] – Skip on set

What is it with Skip and sharks?

Skip's Jaws
Skip’s Jaws

[1977 – “Star Wars IV: A New Hope” – TEST SCENES]

Skip Wars
Skip Wars

From that Space-Time, he travel to another dimension on the small screen for a quick role…

For his next role, Skip added some weight, and was forced to strip down for his next part…

[1999 – Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – TEST SCENES]

Skip Bastard
Skip Bastard

In his latest role, he had to squeeze into a metal suit… Not sure how he did it, but pictures very lie!

[2013 May – Iron Man 3 – TEST SCENES]

Iron Skip
Iron Skip

[2366 – Locutus of Borg: aka Startfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard – TEST SCENES]

Skip-cutus
Skip-cutus

Skip in Music

Not everyone has a record album, and even few have a Greatest Hits!

Skip's Greatest Hits
Skip’s Greatest Hits

Various projects

Some of Skip’s adventures have even been known to be glamorous!

Skip Klum Carson
Skip Klum Carson
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Categories
Blogging Milestones Photo Journal Photography Thoughts

Photographing your Reunion

This past weekend, June 8-10, I had a chance to go back to my 30th Reunion at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown DE, and just like the past five reunions, it was great to see all my old classmates, their families and catch-up on life.

But that is not the purpose of this blog post, but to look at some of the things that a photographer might encounter when going back to a reunion where they are personally involved.

Equipment

When ever I am in a group, I am all was asked about what camera and gear do I use or recommend, and a reunion is no different, and the biggest surprise people find out about me, is how lightly equipped I am, and I tell them, it’s not the most expensive equipment, but how you use it, which seems to be forever lost.

I carry one camera body, and in the case of the reunion, I carried one lens and used my camera’s built-in flash (more on that later).

Shooting

At my first reunion, I did not bring a camera, and I had to rely on someone else to record the memories, and thankfully that person captured some of those moments in the early years to record a history.

During the next 20+ years, cameras were still film based, and people would still click and hope when taking pictures, and wait for days for the pictures to return from the developing labs.

Since then, computers are now main stream, and everyone with a phone, now has a basic camera, and as a photographer, what are you suppose to do when everyone around you is clicking away.

Your not on assignment, and you are not getting paid, so…

So relax and just enjoy it!

I know, it is easier said that done…

Built-In Flash

Normally, I use an exterior flash that I mount on top of my camera, but being a weekend that I’m supposed to be relaxing and enjoying, I decided to use the built-in flash, instead of lugging around the additional weight.

I had some concerns leaving my room without the external, and as the daylight faded away, and the various classes coalesced into small groups, it became more difficult to capture the candid moments.

I found it extremely difficult to shoot true candids as the light of red-eye reduction flicker announced my intention of taking a photograph. The subjects would look up, causing the moment to be lost, and awkward expressions.

In the future, based on this experience, I may just have to suck it up and deal with carry an extra set of batteries and use my external flash.

Auto-Focus

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with auto-focus, and I truly miss the days of split screen focus that were prevalent on film based cameras, but in this case, as the night wore on and the drinks began to settle in, I was glad to have the extra little help especially in the wee hours of the morning.

Editing

This was probably the most difficult aspect of doing this type of personal photography.

Of course the various “posed” shots would make it through to the final stages of editing, but there is always that hidden desire to capture the mood of an intimate moment between old friends.

I have known these people for over 30 years, I had no desire to present them in an unflattering manner, but as mentioned above with the built-in flash, there were many expressions and looks that would not live past my first round of editing.

Then there is also the issue, of how one perceives them 30 years ago, versus what they have become in the time since, the transformation of a dweeb/geek to a Doctor or a President of a major company.

It would be too easy to release outtakes and doing damage upon many levels, but that is also an issue whenever you are shooting.

Posting

Oddly, this turned out to be one of the most difficult tasks of the entire event!

During my 7+ years on the Alumni Council Board (ACB), there were many discussions about how to reach out to the various Alumni, and it was generally understood, that the older Alumni preferred more traditional means, while the younger Alumni were generally fully digitally enabled. My class fell somewhere in between.

During the Sunday brunch, I chatted with some of my classmates on where to post all our images from the weekend, and this discussion continued online on Facebook as well as several e-mails that were sent the following day.

It became rather apparent, that some of our class was very comfortable working with Facebook, but at the same time an equal number had not spent any time on any social network.

Several alternatives were suggested, such as Flickr, Google plus and some others, but a common theme was the security of the images, and not requiring the sign up for some new account.

Eventually, images were posted to several sites for all to enjoy.

Conclusion

I have definitely struggled trying to reach some conclusion in this type of shooting situation.

One is very torn between doing a professional job and just being a classmate, enjoying the weekend together.

One is also confronted with your classmates seeing your professional work and expecting that same type of professionalism after the weekend has ended.

Then one is also faced with all the images from everyone else, whether it be a camera phone, a simple point-and-shoot, or the schools photographer covering the event.

I have since seen the wonderful images from the school photographer as they covered the daytime events, but they cannot be everywhere shooting everything, and that’s where the camera phones and point-and-shoot cameras come into more prominence for the individual classes, especially as the night wears on into the early morning.

In five years, I’ll have a chance to do this again, and the biggest change that I will do next time, is to use an external flash.

As I learned many years ago, photography is about capturing the moment, or put another way film is cheap but the moment is not.

– Andrew
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Categories
Blogging Online Life Rants

The WORST part of a Facebook Post…

Knowing that EVERYONE is going to read it…

– Then waiting for the grammatical Critiques…
> Not ‘said’, but thought…

– Then Factual Critiques…

– Then Reunions…

– Then Face-to-face…

Damn it! I’m old enough, I do not CARE!

It was the computer’s FAULT for not knowing what I was thinking!

Silicon sux!

– Andrew
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