Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Enjoying the sunset

Enjoying the sunset by Damian Gadal
I've been using an iPhone app called Camera+ and have to say that it's phenomenal.  I does things that I didn't think I'd be able to do, like bring out the buildings in this shot, with a cell phone camera.

It certainly makes shooting with a cell phone a lot more fun and versatile.

Just another reason that more and more people will be leaving their DSLR's at home.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Pulled and Tossed

Pulled and Tossed by Damian Gadal
If I wasn't improvising and working with limited resources, I don't think I'd be processing these images. They've sat for six months. Time for them to see some light.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Pay in advance

Pay in advance by Damian Gadal
Disruption makes you rethink how you do things, just as necessity leads to invention. If you don't adapt and improvise, how will you overcome the challenges in life?

We need to have faith, be strong, and keep learning the lessons of life.  That's what it's all about.

Locked Out

Locked Out by Damian Gadal
Even the best of plans can't take into account everything to could possibly go wrong.  In my case, one corrupt dll file has lead to a world of complications.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Forgot My Question

Forgot My Question by Damian Gadal
A moment where nothing else mattered..... Wouldn't that be nice?

Friday, January 27, 2012

Still Working

Still Working by Damian Gadal
It's amazing how one little thing can have such disruptive results.

 I'm still working on a plan on getting my desktop computer back up and running... I just need to make some time available to do that.  In the meantime, I've been trying to maintain a certain level of productivity within the confines of limited capacity.

You can only do so much without the right software.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Morning Grub

Morning Grub by Damian Gadal
Pick carefully... it's a decision you'll live with for the rest of the day.

Yes, I'm still down and out... working from a mobile platform, but really in need of a machine that can do some heavy lifting.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Locked Up

Locked Up by Damian Gadal
It's amazing how somethings can be so disruptive.  I turned on my computer yesterday (or at least tried to) to find that I had a corrupt hal.dll file.  So after working on repairing this issue, along with creating a new boot.ini file, I'm still dead in the water and working from my laptop.

All is not lost.  The data still seems to be on the old hard drive, and I've got a back up of the programs, and external hard drives with my images on them.  And yet, until I get the computer back up and running, my routine has been completely turned around.

It's like having your hands tided.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Brush Up

Brush Up by Damian Gadal
I'm got a serious system problem and will need to dig deep to get it repaired. A setback of sorts.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Crossed

Crossed by Damian Gadal
We're ready this year... for whatever comes our way.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Cream of Wheat

Cream of Wheat by Damian Gadal
I've been having loads of fun just using my cell phone camera. A slice of life approach to photography if you will. Gotta love technology.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Scrambled

Scrambled by Damian Gadal
Mix up your photography and have some fun with it.  At the very least, try something different.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

So far away

So far away by Damian Gadal
If you're over fifty, you really need to start getting your affairs in order.

If you think about it, you're living on borrowed time.  You've got more years behind you than ahead of you, and putting off making important decisions is putting an unfair burden on your family and loved ones.

You need to put a plan together in the event something happens to you.  This should include having a will, specifying how your remains are to be dealt with, and having a DNR form completed. This is the minimum of what you should have in order.

Another thing I suggest is taking a look around at your surroundings.  Get rid of things you don't use, donate them.  Do your really want to leave behind a mess for someone else to clean up?

Simplify your life.  Spend more time doing things you love, and less time accumulating material objects.  You'll be happier.

You're running out of time... use what you have left wisely.

Ready to repair

Ready to repair by Damian Gadal
You just can't fix everything.  The key is to know what you can fix, and being ready and able to do so.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Scattered Clouds

Scattered Clouds by Damian Gadal
The beauty of using the cloud is having access your data where and when you need it.

I've been forced to be out and away, and having infrastructure in place to get things done has been a godsend.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Taking Steps

Taking Steps by Damian Gadal
Each day we move a little more on our journey of the unknown...

Friday, January 13, 2012

Divided Nation

Divided Nation by Damian Gadal
The era of discontent... never more obvious than during an election year.  The news makes it obvious...

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Monday, January 9, 2012

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Dessert

Dessert by Damian Gadal
I've been using my phone more and more to take, process, and post images.

I'm becoming more and more convinced that this is the future.

Why?

Well, because the cameras in the phones are getting better and better.  The processors are getting incredibly fast, and the software can do many things that I used to have to do in Photoshop.

Not having to carry around a bunch of heavy gear is a real plus, as is being able to shoot HD video.  But the real coup de grâce will be the fact that images can be processed and posted to the internet within minutes.

No more emptying cards, processing, and then posting.  How do you compete with that?

Saturday, January 7, 2012

No food

No food by Damian Gadal
If an image has a story to tell, it can say a lot.

Just look around you.  You'd be surprised at all your surrounding environment has to say. Capturing the essence of those stories is where photography can take you on a road of discovery.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Unloading

Unloading by Damian Gadal
Sometimes it's good to get things off your chest. Much better than carrying that weight around all the time.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

End of Days

End of Days by Damian Gadal
End of Days, a photo by Damian Gadal on Flickr.
Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now... Bob Dylan

I've been thinking a lot about the line about being deceived into thinking we've got something to protect.... other than our freedom (which we seem content on giving away in the name of security)... what are we trying to protect?

I bring this up specifically in terms of talent, creativity, and photography.  Locking away your images because you think someone will steal them is silly, and foolish.

Gifts were meant to be shared, if they aren't shared then they're squandered.  That's why they are called gifts.

So often I get exposed to people arguing about putting images on the internet, and how it's not a good thing, as they'll be stolen.  How?

Sure people might download, use, and enjoy the images... even misappropriate them.  So!

They didn't create them... and that group is so small compared to all who may find pleasure, or even be moved by an image.... not sharing images is lessening the online community, and punishing the many in order to spite the few.

Share!  Make the world a better place!

When trees go

When trees go by Damian Gadal
All things have their time and place.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The mystic

The mystic by Damian Gadal
Not knowing what lies ahead forces to us face our challenges, which often requires a lot of faith.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Monday, January 2, 2012

Sunday, January 1, 2012

The easy chair

The easy chair by Damian Gadal
Good day to kick it.

I just love the shadows in this.  Makes for a good study.