I took and developed some more pictures from campus this afternoon with the Vigilant. I love medium format; there’s so much area for each picture. Enjoy.
“Gallery 61(Afternoon on campus)”:/photos/pg0061
steve :: Sep.30.2004 :: Photography :: 3 Comments »
I put a couple new photo galleries up. Nothing special, but it’s the first film I’ve developed in a long while.
“Gallery 59(drive home from a photo expedition)”:/photos/pg0059
“Gallery 60(my morning walk to work)”:/photos/pg0060
steve :: Sep.29.2004 :: Photography :: 3 Comments »
Besides being the sort of footwear that the good “Andrew Buck”:http://www.symposed.com/ prefers, a flip flop is also something that politicians do. John Kerry has been accused repeatedly of this apparent sin, but let us not forget what the latest “dnrc newsletter says”:http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/dnrc/html/newsletter57.htm l:
bq. The biggest issue this election is something called flip-flopping, and all candidates are accused of doing it. A strong leader is expected to maintain steadfast resolve in his opinion even if the environment changes or he gets new information. In any other context, that would be considered the first sign of a brain tumor. When presidents do it, it’s called leadership, and frankly, we can’t get enough of it.
Ah, leadership.
steve :: Sep.29.2004 :: Uncategorized :: 5 Comments »
Ok, so we have a brand spanking new “Canon digital SLR”:http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fc ategoryid=139&modelid=10598 for the unholy masses to wet their pants over, and once again discussion turns to “which is better? Film or digital?” Quite frankly, the debate has been beat to death by now, and the introduction of some orgasmicly huge megapixel count does not change any of the fundamentals.
I should start by getting out in the open the fact that I much prefer film for all my photography, for a variety of reasons. Let me also say that I was tempted by this whole digital thing for a while, and went so far as to purchase a digital camera. What I realized after the year I had that camera (”lost last year in Colorado”:http://www.steveblock.com/2003/08/22/colorado-pictures/) was that my digital pictures didn’t even come close to the quality of the pictures I took on film. Digital was just too easy, and so I was lazy with technique.
What I am trying to say is that the prime reason I find film superior, and the reason I will continue to shoot on film is that I, by my own experience, take far higher quality pictures with a film camera than with digital. It’s not about the expense, it’s not about the “image quality” (a fuzzy term if I ever heard one), it’s not about line density, or sensitivity, contrast ratio, or any of these other fancy words being thrown about.
I take better pictures on film. For me it is that simple.
It seems to me that the techno-geek population sees the whole film versus digital debate as something that can be objectively measured. Which technology records more accurately what is really there? The approach to photography seems to be the documentary sort; try to get the most accurate record possible. But any study of art immediately illustrates that a more accurate record will not make something seem more alive, or give it emotion where there was none. Art does not work that way.
So bring on your expensive yuppie toys, but remember that photography isn’t governed so much by the equipment as by the photographer, and I’ll put my “Canon rangefinder”:http://www.cameraquest.com/canql17.htm up against your brand new money pit any day.
steve :: Sep.28.2004 :: Photography :: No Comments »
Most people who have any real sense probably know that Late Night With Conan O’Brien is the funniest of all the late night comedy shows. Conan isn’t mean like Letterman, and he is funnier than Leno. Today, “CNN.com reports”:http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/27/leisure.leno.reut/in dex.html that Conan will take over the Tonight Show when Jay Leno retires… in 2009.
He has earned it, so congratulations, Conan. Let’s just hope that his show doesn’t have to get less funny just because it is on earlier.
In “other news”:http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/27/rings.dvd.reut/inde x.html, December 14th will be a good day.
steve :: Sep.27.2004 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »
Frankly I have grown tired of all the politics surrounding both President Bush’s and Senator Kerry’s Vietnam-era records. It was thirty years ago, and whatever happened then is really not relevant today. People can change a lot, even in a few years, and thirty is a lot of years.
It was therefore refreshing to watch John Kerry speak yesterday with a strong attack on George Bush’s anti-terror and Iraq strategies. It was high time to come out on the offensive rather than continue to fend off attacks on his Vietnam War record. The speech was excellent, and given strongly. If you think Kerry seems weak, just watch him speak. Even “the transcript(Kerry speech transcript)”:http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0920 .html comes across with strength.
Bush responded, though I have not been able to find the transcript of his remarks. My impression of Bush’s response was much less favorable, both in content and speaking style. If this is any indication of how the debates will go George Bush is in trouble.
steve :: Sep.21.2004 :: Religion and Politics :: No Comments »
By now most people are probably familiar with those “419″ email scams, where some rich African dignitary needs your help (and your bank account) to move a large sum of money out of Africa. The emails are usually poorly written but mention god and religion a lot to ge people to trust them, and some do.
Today I received a scam that I think is more cruel, because instead of playing on people’s want for money it plays on their desire to be legal permanent residents of the US. The email follows.
bq.. From: diversityimmigrationservice@email.ro
Subject: DVLOTTERY.STATE.GOV(CONGRATULATIONS)!!!
Date: September 17, 2004 10:35:43 AM CDT
To: diversityimmigrationservice@email.ro
DVLOTTERY.STATE DEPARTMENT
2007 4th avenue attoona pennsylvania USA.
www.dvlottery.state.gov
Dear Client,
Congratulations, you have been selected as one of the lucky winners on our internet screening machine,DV-2004-2005 USA national visa lottery program.
It is my pleasure to congratulate you on your success in the America DV-2004-2005VISA LOTTERY GREENCARD which was applied and processed by our agency.
Yourvisa lottery winner’s identity is ID-4200DV and your serial net visa passportwith us SNVPh700IU in thisrespect,you are directed to forward the following requirements:
(a) Your present contact address(for correspondent)
(b) Your recent passport photograph :REGULAR MAIL: You can also send yourphoto(s) by regular mail. The photo must be between 1 ? by 1 ? and 2 by2 inches (37-50 mm) square, with the applicant?s, spouse’s, or child’s namen printed on the back. Please mail the photos to:
Immigration Services
211 South St. #334
Philadelphia, PA 19147
United States.
But preferably for fast delivery and process kindly make a scanned copyof your recent passport photograph and send it via online(email) to ourimmigration service.
(c) Clearance/acceptance fees of ($349.67)Details of requirements:
Your present contact address should be forwarded strictly to our attachednetwork receieving email address for correspondent:
Alternatvely for faster processing, A scanned copy of your passport photographshould be send via our attached network recieving email addresses (DVLOTTERY_STATE_GOV@JUMPY.IT), (DVLOTTERY.STATE.GOV@PERSONAL.RO)
A clearance/acceptance fees payment ($349.67): we accept only western union money transfer payment method due to some reasons from our past experiences.
(creditcard is not acceptable,please.) Your western union or other meansof money transfer payment information should be forwarded as directed on payment procedures via our attached network recieving email addresse: (DVLOTTERY_STATE_GOV@JUMPY.IT), (DVLOTTERY.STATE.GOV@PERSONAL.RO)
Your payment confirmation shall be sent to you as soon as clarificationis done on your payment. Providing the above requirements will assure youyour visa lottery acknowledgement card and visa lottery security code which we shall send to your email addresses as stated.
Important notice : Please make sure you report and forward your lottery visa code and acknowledgement card to the USA embassy in individual country for your green card and other necessary claims.
According to the united states code of conduct and constitution Vol.176/866:Act 690SN guiding all immigration, green card permit agencies if non-response after 21days on receiving this notification, your winner’s status shallreveal no interest and we would inresponse refer your lottery code and acknowledgementcard back to the USA government/immigration service center.
We shall be anticipating for your response soonest.
Thanks.
Marykate Purchia.
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
Co-ordinator.
Kevin Powell
President
note : your response/reply is strictly recieved on our attached recieving email network for proper correspondence:(DVLOTTERY_STATE_GOV@JUMPY.IT) (DVLOTTERY.STATE.GOV@PERSONAL.RO), (DIVERSITYIMMIGRATIONSERVICE@EMAIL.RO)
p. This is obviously a scam for so many reasons (email addresses outside the US, etc), but believable enough to hook people in.
steve :: Sep.19.2004 :: Uncategorized :: 1 Comment »
There are “a few new photographs”:/photos/pg0058 up in the gallery. I’ve had these sitting around on my hard drive for a while now, and they would really be better off shared. I was kind of disappointed with the results of this roll. I was shooting with a slow (f/4) lens in low light, on slow film. This meant a lot of long exposures and I had no tripod.
The “last picture”:/photos/pg0058/s002_32 is related to a somewhat embarassing story, which I may as well tell. I was trying to get some photos of the flock of geese on the river, but I needed to get closer. I walked out into the river on a relatively firm path and started taking pictures. When I got done, instead of going out the way I went in I decided to trek straight for shore. I realized that I was in trouble about the time I was knee deep in mud trying to keep two cameras and a bag full of equipment out of the water.
Luckily no one was around to see my foolishness, and I got out of the mud with no damage to my equipment, and only a little damage to my pride. For all that I went through one would think I would have more than one picture worth showing, but things just were not going my way.
steve :: Sep.16.2004 :: Photography :: No Comments »
The coolest twin brothers I know turn 24 today. Happy birthday guys.
steve :: Sep.09.2004 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »
I am watching President Bush’s speech and I can hardly take it. Even in politics, especially presidential politics where half truths, outright lies, and spin are the norm, this is just too much. He has just claimed, by marking himself as different than Kerry, that he is in favor of smaller government and less spending.
This is ridiculous.
George W. Bush has spent more money than any other president before. He has pushed record budgets through congress. He has increased the amount of debt that this nation holds by amazing amounts.
George W. Bush has increased the size of the government. The GOP claims to be the party of smaller government, but which party voted in Homeland Security? Which party pushed the Patriot act through?
George W. Bush is a liar, and nothing but the pure and simple fact that he is president would let me call him President Bush.
steve :: Sep.02.2004 :: Religion and Politics :: 2 Comments »