Check these, and the other gift ideas out–and don’t forget your favorite Professor! (Even if it isn’t me!)

Relaxing in the summer sun.

At $2.99 an image, how can you go wrong?

Learn more about this tip, and many others, in Episode 69 of Real Tech for Real People.  You can subscribe to our podcast on iTunes–simply search for RTFRP.

So does this mean that Flickr is as bad as Facebook, running rough-shod over our rights with our own photographs?

I don’t think so, and let me explain why.  In the case of Facebook, they (the Facebook Machine) declared that all our Photos belong to Them (and us.)  Actually, the Flickr action is meant to ensure that all my photos remain my photos.  If I take a photograph, and I am willing to show it to the world, then I don’t mind you sharing it (perhaps) but only if you keep my credit attached.  People have been going around, linking to others photographs without linking back to the original, or to Flickr.

That is changed.  Now you must provide a way to link back.

To demonstrate, I have included one of my photos taken using the iPhone in the local Walmart.  As you (most likely) know, I am a Supply Chain and Operations Management professor. One of the things I teach is “service” and facility layout and design.  This photograph shows how our local Wal*Mart positioned their inventory in the floorspace prior to stocking–blocking access to much of the store (forcing you to walk around) and in one case, keeping you from purchasing their more expensive (and most likely higher margin) electric razors.

*sigh*

The Razors

I took this photo on the 30th anniversary of the “event” that shook the US, if not the world.

One of my goals is to photograph the area around Rose Valley Lake here in PA.  You can find many of my photographs from around Rose Valley on Flickr in the “Around Rose Valley” photoset.

I also have been continuing my exploration of HDR, or High Dynamic Range, imaging along with “tone mapping.”  While I have, in the past, used HDR and tone mapping to simply enhance the tonal range of an image to more closely match what the human eye can see, I have lately been exploring some of the more “intense” image manipulation options available.

Here are a few samples:

Taken actually out on the lake.

“Early in the Morning”

Starting the walk.

Here is a taste:

This is a compilation of three exposures, using a technique known as HDR.

Taken in color. Desaturated, added real film grain.

made a tad smaller.

This is a good treatment as an introduction for photography–even if you aren’t a teen. And they even push mac stuff. (Or is Dvorak right, and Apple will really be making machines, and ONLY selling Windows in a few years?)

The brief morning Sun…

Okay, I haven’t revealed much personal, but I figured it was about time I showed a picture from the lake house. I woke to a gorgeous sunrise (some would say it was “fabulous”) and grabbed the camera. It’s a good thing I did. It didn’t last long.

I also have a RAW version, which of course has far more detail.

enjoy.

Today is my day to post an update that isn’t very controversial, opinionated, or the like.

If you have Photoshop, the link above will take you to a blog (and its related podcast) that has a series of photoshop tips that are, quite simply, COOL.

Check it out!

The Prof