Disqus - Latest Comments for jimgoldstein

Re: Venice International Photo Contest 2006

jimgoldstein — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 01:56:16 -0000

Congratulations Massimo!
A fellow NPN photographer...
Jim

Re: Why I’m Leaving Vox

jimgoldstein — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:48:59 -0000

Nice looking blog. I'm looking forward to checking in regularly to see your latest photos and musings.

Regards
Jim

Re: A State of Fear

jimgoldstein — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:45:08 -0000

Taking a step back to see both sides of this incident your post is a refreshing perspective. Taking your point a step further this incident is a perfect example of where there is fear of photographers and photographers are fearful of their perceived intent. This state of fear has put everyone on edge. It is indeed unfortunate.

Re: Bring Your Own Big Wheel 2007 Photos & Video | Laughing Squid

jimgoldstein — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:46:56 -0000

Awesome post. Great event. It was an honor to face off across Lombard with you (even if unknowing) and document the event.
I've crosslinked my blog post Bring Your Own Big Wheel 2007 to this entry. Great collection of images.

Re: SF Examiner Uses Photo Without Permission or Attribution

jimgoldstein — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:31:44 -0000

You should file your copyrights with the the LIbrary of Congress. You'll soon have a drop off in lifted images by the media.

If you haven't seen it a bit of a primer on protecting your images with formalized copyrights on my blog

Re: 100 Quotes From 100 Movies Counting Down From 100

jimgoldstein — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:18:51 -0000

Classic. I think I've seen too many movies.

Re: Best Buy Cease & Desist Letter For Blog Coverage of Parody

jimgoldstein — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:37:16 -0000

Lame! I'm not sure much more really needs to be said.

Re: Peter Sellers’ Recitation of A Hard Day’s Night as Richard III

jimgoldstein — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:03:36 -0000

This made my day. The outtakes are great. Thanks for posting this.

Re: $1 Camera Image Stabilizer That Fits In Your Pocket

jimgoldstein — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:38:52 -0000

This would not replace the need for a tripod. At best it might be an alternative to a monopod, but even then not recommended.

With Image Stabilization or Vibration Reduction lenses you can avoid the need to do this and in the process look a bit more together when in public.

Then again if you like being MacGyver...

Here's why this approach doesn't help...
1. at a slow enough shutter speed even your breathing or pulse can move the camera.
2. if you're shooting slow shutter speeds then this solution is completely irrelevant.
3. although this addresses horizontal and vertical movement it does not address rotational movement of the camera. If you're hand is tired and your lens dips forward or backwards you still get movement.

Regarding my monopod reference... monopods are designed to give people the ability to lean forwards, backwards, sidways and pan all while holding the weight of the lens/camera. Mostly monopods and tripods alike are used to alleviate the weight of your gear... getting the shakes from holding heavier gear seldom allows you to capture sharp images and if you're looking to capture long exposures at night this isn't even in the realm of possibilities to use.

Re: TSA Now Requiring All Electronic Items Placed In Bins at SFO

jimgoldstein — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:17:09 -0000

Just for the record I flew out of SFO the day after you posted this. No problems with cables in my bag.

Re: Jim Kosek, A Weatherman Gone Wild

jimgoldstein — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:28:00 -0000

I had a tough time watching the whole video. That is the most annoying TV personality I've ever seen or heard. Personally it seems more like an attention grabbing ploy than anything else. I suppose if it works for them more power to them, but it certainly doesn't work for me.

Re: Photoblogging Corner: Some Shots of California

jimgoldstein — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:20:52 -0000

Great photos Luca. I'm still very impressed with the great lighting conditions for the Painted Ladies photo.

Re: Why Seesmic Failed

jimgoldstein — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:37:32 -0000

I suppose its a fine line between failed and premature. 6 degrees of separation was a site ahead of its time. It failed because broadband connectivity did not yet exist for the vast majority of people online and the number of people online was quite low by todays standards. Yet this social media site was the grandfather of modern social media sites like Facebook, Friendster and MySpace. (http://news.cnet.com/2100-1032_3-5106136.html) I would think that people are not yet accustomed to video communication just yet as there aren't enough people with the proper connectivity, software, hardware, accepted user behavior, etc. I could almost guarantee this model will be around in 3-4 years and more widely adopted. It's just a matter of being there when it happens.

Re: Why Seesmic Failed

jimgoldstein — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:58:01 -0000

LOL when has anything been about need on the Internet. I see most activity on the Internet about "want" vs. "need". If video on the iPhone is any sign I bet people become nearly as addicted to sharing short video clips as they do text messaging. Will it ever be the same in frequency of use... no, but there will be a bump in activity. Is video conversation the model that will take? Perhaps not bu I bet there will be need for a model where video can be shared, threaded and discussion oriented. Is that YouTube? I'm not convinced it is. The YouTube model doesn't seem as mobile focused. Perhaps that is the core of my observation mobile versus desktop.

Re: Proposal: Feed Republishing List

jimgoldstein — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:16:48 -0000

I think this is a good idea as long as you're not giving them links on your blog. no reason to help them out with search engine optimization with a link from a highly trafficed web sites. The last interesting case I heard in relation to this was via Raoul Pop's web site

http://www.raoulpop.com/2008/04/12/shyftr-equal...

Re: New Trend: Scraping Via Email

jimgoldstein — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:20:36 -0000

Great post. This sheds a little more light into splogs that I was otherwise unaware of.

Re: Why the Open Source Ruling Matters

jimgoldstein — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:56:53 -0000

This indeed was a great day for those using Creative Commons licenses. It will be interesting to see how future cases further define enforceability of CC licenses. Great write up.

Re: Copygator: A Game Changer?

jimgoldstein — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:36:21 -0000

Seems like a good service, but the problem I have is not the lack of awareness my content is being lifted its the time and effort to track down those I need to contact to stop. A carefully crafted and simple Google Alert can easily point you to blatant offenders. Not an easy problem to resolve, but still good to see others are developing tools to ID such situations.

Re: Wordpress and reworking the website

jimgoldstein — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:48:38 -0000

Looks sharp David. While its a lot of work to do this the payoff will be worth it in the end. I hope that this reduces work for you in the long run.

Re: Video of My Interview with Kris Smith

jimgoldstein — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:59:37 -0000

Funny I just listened to this in the car this morning. It already feels like it's been a week. Long day, but a very enjoyable interview.

Re: Big Media- Learn About Participation

jimgoldstein — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:55:01 -0000

That is pretty cool and one day someone will be creative and open-minded enough to do this. In the meantime I don't expect major record labels to unclench their greedy fists long enough for this to happen. I can see an independent label doing it though. Rockin' video thanks for pointing it out.

Re: Photo blogs are good for the soul

jimgoldstein — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:21:00 -0000

I've been making an attempt to keep my photo blog rolling with new image.
http://jmg-galleries.com/blog/
I'm a bit backlogged on images so a lot more should be coming soon.
It's great to see the other photographers highlighted. There is no shortage of talent out there.

Re: Twitter’s slow and I’m on TechMeme

jimgoldstein — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:02:34 -0000

Congrats!!!!
Twitter has been damn slow. I totally agree it needs to be scaled for massive traffic. As it stands it seems it's past capacity.

Re: What the hell is up with our kids today?

jimgoldstein — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:28:19 -0000

Thats great! Keep me informed on the paypal account. Hopefully more can be done in our school systems to foster this kind of enthusiasm for technology.

Re: Steal my content, please!

jimgoldstein — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:42:30 -0000

The inherent difference between you and the likes of Lane is that you have no plans of leaving your day job and thus have a secure source of income. You are photographing for fun or you have enough skill to supplement your writing with it. That's great, but those that are passionate enough about photography to make it a living have to live by a different credo and are dependent on existing Copyright law to survive. I'm all for the so called Internet cultural revolution of remix/reuse, but lets be real as I discuss in Here Comes Another Fair Use Dispute it all comes down to asking for permission... nothing more nothing less. That can involve payment and it can be free use, but in the end we all approach web 2.0 marketing differently. Expecting everyone to be OK with giving away their work is unrealistic and shows a lack of business understanding in this area.

Photographers who pursue formal education, buy expensive gear, have to transport themselves and/or subscribe to services have to support that with income. These things are NOT free. Our laws recognize photography as property and if there is demand for that work it carries value. Independent photographers are bound to the reality of having to develop a business model and live by it. Few people can survive on thanks, web links and adding "to the human experience" alone the necessities of life cost money.

As for Lane and how she'll put her work out there in the future... I've talked to her extensively about this and change is in the air. Photography to be sold or licensed needs to be seen and to do that with out problems like this arising requires the right tool. She'll get there, but that's hardly the issue and for her to speak to.

Re: Steal my content, please!

jimgoldstein — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:56:52 -0000

One more thing if you're letting people steal your photography do you mind if I convert "Naked Conversations" to PDF and give it away with out attribution? Clearly time, effort and expenses matter not when it comes to photography so why should it matter for the written word?

Re: Steal my content, please!

jimgoldstein — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:45:58 -0000

@Thomas Hawk I have no idea how to respond to you seriously. On your blog you've feigned interest in photographers rights and then post that you're going to cast the same laws to the wind so you can pursue "renegade" photography. Clearly you have no respect for copyright or property law when it comes to photography. Frankly you've made the choice to throw away your ability to generate income from photography by giving it away for free. People still find value in high quality photography and will pay money for it. There are numerous photographers out there that have viable business plans that enable them to make a living as a photographer. When individuals like yourself give imagery away for free it undermines how photographers can make a living and locks you into your day job. So no tears for you on that claim.

The Richter Scales are a commercial entity and sell CDs and get paid for doing shows. Their video was promotion and tied people back to their site to make purchases. They chose to give the song away for free but the intent was to create a low cost ad to raise awareness and possibly boost sales or get more gigs. They didn't put the video out to benefit a magical community or "collective consciousness" that you paint of artisans. The fact that it is gone from YouTube for the time being isn't a detriment to anyone. No one is losing their life and our individual way of life isn't being undermined. Wierd Al Yankovic is a great example of how musical spoofs have succeeded in the past. There's no problem with his spoofs because he gets permission, licenses work and creates good will with the artists that he mocks. The Richter Scales chose to cut corners and not credit photographers or seek permission. Our world hasn't turned upside down as of late where permission is no longer the courteous thing to do whether the content is being acquired for free or not.

One thing would have been certain if the Richter Scales had approached Lane for permission is that one artist would have been paid. Lane nor other individual photographers are doing what they are doing with the first priority of supporting a "collective consciousness". To be a photographer you deal with a lot of competition and you have to pay the bills. A photographer has to put themselves first to survive. The "collective consciousness" is an after thought and frankly a virtual development. Pop culture has thrived in the current copyright model and the ability of popular culture to survive isn't in jeopardy if photographers don't agree to give their work away for free.

Re: Microsoft researchers make me cry

jimgoldstein — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:01:21 -0000

I can't say I'm fond of posts like this. I can appreciate your sense of awe and eagerness to share it, but it provides zero value to me as a reader. You might as well have posted this in a foreign language and I'd have gotten the same value out of this post. Keep me posted when the news breaks and you can actually talk to the source of your excitement.

Re: Cuil: Why I’m trying to get off of the PR bandwagon…

jimgoldstein — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:32:49 -0000

Nicely put. Count me in as an EverNote fan.
All the mindless press on Cuil really pained me particularly since several flaws were so glaring. My The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Software/Service Launches post on the random image association to search results never saw the light of day, but I figured that would happen. It is indeed interesting to see how the press got lured so easily into this Cuil vs Google story.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

jimgoldstein — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:35:58 -0000

Sounds like an interesting conversation. Hurry up and get it posted already!

Re: Canon takes good PR and throws it in the trash

jimgoldstein — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:46:02 -0000

Odd developments, but frankly not surprising. Hopefully Canon gets their PR act together. They're missing out on some great opportunities.

Re: A tale of two photos on Flickr

jimgoldstein — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:57:25 -0000

Clearly broadcasting your photo through social media is going to help boost the numbers. Aside from the content or gear of the photo, Flickr is designed for you to broadcast your last 1 or 5 uploaded photos to your contacts. Your Flickr contacts can specify with in their "From Your Contacts" page whether they want to view 1 or 5 photos from each person in their contacts. Regardless of your contacts settings it is almost always the last uploaded image that gets the attention of your contacts. Something to consider when uploading images if you're aiming for bigger numbers.

To be honest as to what grabs the attention of your viewers organically is skewed based on how the image pops as a thumbnail. This is common amongst other photo forums as well. Its one reason many saturated and colorful images are viewed so greatly.

Re: Seagate learns important PR lesson: keep the customers happy!

jimgoldstein — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:45:38 -0000

Sadly Seagate gets an F on this. I happened to get (5) drives impacted by this situation.

Ding #1: Seagate provided info for PC users only and not Mac
Ding #2: Seagate not only has limited times for phone support (super lame), they didn't even have their phones up and running during the hours they said they would.
Ding #3: Seagate was unresponsive in emails sent in requesting assistance to the situation

The end result...
I've returned the drives to the vendor I purchased them from in exchange for highly rated Samsung drives. Mind you highly rated by a vocal minority of my social network that spoke up on Facebook. In addition my once loyal following of Seagate is gone... likely forever. If I can't get the support I need then why do business with them?!

To rub salt in my wound. Had my drives been working I would have been able to successfully backup and duplicate my production drive. Instead while waiting two days for a response from Seagate my production drive had a catastrophic failure. The make of the drive... Seagate (a la Maxtor). After all of this I'm done with Seagate.

Re: User data ownership on Facebook and why it doesn’t matter

jimgoldstein — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:19:19 -0000

I am continually perplexed by your stance on issues such as this. Your needs and use of social media sites are not one size fits all and your approach of guiding others to do the same of giving everything away for free is troubling. If it were so simple FastCompany wouldn't be so concerned about protecting the work you do for them. Individuals who strive to leverage social media to make a name for themselves, market and pick up clients as a sole proprietorship or LLC suffer from such a blanket recommendation. If rights and protections matter so little to you then I'm sure you don't mind the government taking away your rights next. I just scratch my head at such logic. Facebook needs to have a ToU that allows them to safely do business, but the notion of forcing expansive terms beyond what they need on users and stating, "Trust us. We'll do the right thing." is unrealistic. The ToU should be written as they intend to use them and they should be interpreted as though what is written is how they'll use them. This is what the courts will do and it is certainly how any future disagreements will be resolved. Rolling over and stating "Truth is it doesn't matter" is irresponsible.

Re: Making Your Photography Safe On The Internet

jimgoldstein — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:54:50 -0000

One of the most important things a photographer can now do is embed metadata in their photography. Embedding your name, contact info and web site are essential for people to be able to track you down if they're interested in using your work legitimately. This doesn't negate image theft, but it does make it easier for those who'd like to properly license your work.

Re: Copyrights: Protecting My Photography

jimgoldstein — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:11:11 -0000

@TranceMist The level of protection provided by the current law and filing process gives a photographer leverage. Leverage that is non-existent if copyrights are not filed. By default we own the copyright to an image once its taken, but if you have a problem with someone using that image in a way you do not approve of then you will have little power to address the problem you face. For better or worse lawyers are less prone to help you unless you pursue a copyright filing. In the end it comes down to payment for services. I would argue that the leverage provided by current copyright law is of benefit to those that are amateur as well as professional.

I am curious if someone decides to use an image of yours without permission and in a way you find offensive... what then? What do you do? Even in Creative Commons literature they recommend perfecting your copyright (aka filing with the Library of Congress). Not doing so just forfeits your rights. Isn't it better to have the full protection behind you and then you can opt to license or distribute as you feel fit? After all we don't forfeit our right to Free Speech if we don't feel we need to speak our mind, we just choose not to.

Re: Apple iPhone Camera Review: The One Thing Apple Isn’t Hyping

jimgoldstein — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:30:25 -0000

Thanks for the comment Mike. I'll have to check out Photogene. I need to check out several of the new iPhone photo apps to be honest. At the time this review was written the app store did not exist.

Re: Golden Gate Bridge Reflections, San Francisco

jimgoldstein — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:05:35 -0000

@Carla Thanks for commenting and your interest in my photograph. A print can be purchased here from my photo archive directly. Shipping can be most accurately calculated once you select the print size you'd like. Let me know if you have any problems..

Re: Why I Hate HDR: Photo Technology Porn

jimgoldstein — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:28:49 -0000

@Jeff On some level I agree with you, but on the other hand what differentiates the current application of HDR versus the artists you noted is that those artists generated their distinct look by hand. The level of creativity applied in my eyes is greater which I realize is debatable. They didn't have an application processing the output that is their paintings, where all they applied were minor tweaks to settings.
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It should also be noted that not many people were pursuing or applying these art techniques where as today anyone can get HDR software and create HDR images. What I was observing when I wrote this article is indeed this aspect of the application of HDR. Many people are experimenting and using HDR, but doing so in a general fashion creating the same over-processed look and thinking it is something noteworthy.
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Regarding artistic impact it has to be noted that scarcity is a huge factor in the appeal of a particular technique and how well/creatively it is applied. With all things Photoshop it is about the creative application and layering of techniques to create something new. In general HDR as most of us recognize it unlikely to be considered on the same level of Monet, Picasso, ManRay, Dali, Warhol, etc. That being said I'm sure there is the a good chance someone applying HDR to good photography in conjunction with other techniques will likely produce gallery worthy imagery. HDR isn't completely bad, it is just a technique that can shine or sink based on the creative mind employing it.

Re: Why I Hate HDR: Photo Technology Porn

jimgoldstein — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:41:10 -0000

@Steve A technique is not bad. How a technique is over used can be. How a technique is applied with out thought can be. I don't argue with your larger picture view. If suddenly everyone had X-Ray cameras and everyone was doing it with out thought my argument might be similar. Applying a technique doesn't make it art especially when a technique is so easily and generically applied. Coming from a Landscape and Nature slant a photo realistic approach is nuanced and few people do it well. On the other end of the spectrum those that apply HDR in a very precise fashion to create stylistic images the same can be said... not many people do it well. As to everything in between well... thats been summarized in my original post. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.

Re: Keeping It Clean And Simple: New York City Manhole Cover

jimgoldstein — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:23:39 -0000

@Robin I'm not sure, but perhaps another viewer of my blog might have the answer.

Re: Which Canon Lenses are Dust & Weather Resistant?

jimgoldstein — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:35:37 -0000

@Canonite I'll have to check out the 85mm II to find out.

Re: Facebook’s Rights Grab: How Far Does It Go?

jimgoldstein — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:26:08 -0000

@Mackie Images have a link or story to back up the swiped image claim? I'd be interested to see more details on this. Thanks for the comment.

Re: Something Amiss In The Marin Headlands North of San Francisco

jimgoldstein — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:08:24 -0000

@Jonah I'm not convinced that is the case. It might have very well been something like that, but the tree has survived worse storms over a longer period of time. One never knows...
Thanks for commenting.

Re: Hmmm Something Seems Different Around Here

jimgoldstein — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:05:10 -0000

Thanks everyone.
I won't be making the same mistake twice.

@latoga the issue with the last theme was more how the stylesheet handled the data and graphics. The flaw with my last theme was very noticeable with slower connections. The background graphic is a very light weight gif file so there should have been no performance hit because of that. Either way I want to make sure that I improve overall performance to the blog and theme choice will definitely be a factor.

Re: Out With The Old Blog Layout & In With The New

jimgoldstein — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:35:16 -0000

@Susheel Thanks for the feedback. Intersting take on the background image in the last theme. Who would a thunk it :)

@Gary I'm still not settled on the arrangement of content in the footer and on the side navigation. Your feedback is helpful in that it emphasizes my need to think more about user behavior and the positioning of the content.

Re: If Only Being Green Were Easier

jimgoldstein — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:18:53 -0000

@Mike thanks for the comment. Good to hear others are increasingly conscious of this.

@Carlos For me here in SF solar is an option but summer here is like winter in most other areas :) I'm not sure I'd get enough sunlight to truly make an impact in the heating of my water. Whereas my location is windy if not breezy almost all the time. I'm still in the research phase so we'll see how it goes. I'll relay an update sometime in the future.

@Ivan There was a great conversation about this on NPR not too long ago. Solar has definitely picked up in Europe especially in Germany from what I hear. Although the SF Bay Area is indeed quite progressive with the economy as it is making the jump to solar is a pricey proposition. I do hope more is done to help average consumers adopt this energy saving technology. I know I would pursue alternative energy sources in a heartbeat if the costs were lower.

@Mark Funny you should mention that I have a bag of empty cartridges that I've been saving to take to be recycled. Your point on paper and other printer waste is a great point. In general the amount of waste Americans create is truly a crime. I'm actively making purchasing decisions where I can that are aimed at minimizing waste. Individual wrappers are convenient, but unnecessary. Recently I've taken steps to take my name off junk mail lists which has cut my weekly waste down considerably. My wife still receives numerous catalogs unfortunately. I'm working with her to address that. Once you see the waste that you take for granted you never look at things the same way. I suppose my experience in the back country has given me an alternate perspective for sometime. These days I even go so far as to actively conserve water, as though I were carrying it on a trail. People most certainly take our resources for granted. I'll stop here before I jump into a political rant :) Thanks for the great point and comment!

Re: Coit Tower Sunset, San Francisco

jimgoldstein — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:11:03 -0000

@Luca Thanks for the comment and your email. This particular photo was taken from Treasure Island. This location can provide some rather stunning views of San Francisco when the weather cooperates.

Re: Who Is Stealing Your Photos Online?

jimgoldstein — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:17:23 -0000

Now that my blog is back working the way it should I wanted to relay an update that I still have invites. If you're not commenting because you're assuming I'm out think otherwise.

Re: Monterey Bay Aquarium Photos & Plastic Waste in the Ocean

jimgoldstein — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:53:06 -0000

Jenn thanks for your interest in my photography. I do sell prints of all my photos. You can order a print directly of this and other photos I've taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium here:

http://pa.photoshelter.com/gallery/Monterey-Bay...

If you have questions or a custom print request don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Re: Do High-End Cameras Make You A Better Photographer?

jimgoldstein — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:11:54 -0000

@D.T. North your experience is a common one and I often correct people when they make such statements. In most cases I find that consumerism clouds their judgement unknowingly. If someone has a nice anything (car, shoes, camera, etc.) it makes things better and shadows your involvement in the process. Never mind your know how or expertise in how to get the most out of such products or equipment. I think your point is all part of the same arguement... it's not the equipment it's the creative mind behind the camera.

Re: Do High-End Cameras Make You A Better Photographer?

jimgoldstein — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:24:53 -0000

"High-end" could easily be thought of as fancy, expensive, or top of the line... in other words the best model offered by a particular manufacturer. I hope that helps and thanks for visiting the blog

Re: Photo Term Series #17: Hyperfocal Distance

jimgoldstein — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:06:14 -0000

@the_wolf_brigade. Your logic is correct for smaller apertures, but to keep you on track this is particularly relevant to landscape photography. Thanks for the comment

Re: Back in the Saddle

jimgoldstein — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:51:53 -0000

Thanks everyone.
@Ron Niebrugge this was indeed taken with a Canon 15mm.

Re: Manipulation or Fact? The Politics of Photo Manipulation

jimgoldstein — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:35:23 -0000

@Paul Glad the screen capture was of interest. I didn't realize it was pulled.

@The Culprit I've emailed you. When you can please respond.

Re: EXIF and Beyond: Interview with the Creator of the Sarah Palin Bikini Gun Photo

jimgoldstein — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:20:16 -0000

@Bob thanks for the comment. While I don't advocate her approach it is critical that photographers whether they can stomach it or not open their eyes to the reality and motivations of photographic use online. This is the 3rd in a trio of podcast episodes I've put together touching on this topic.
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1. EXIF and Beyond: Ken Light Interview Part I and II - shares his viewpoint on copyrights & his experience having his photo modified & used in the 2004 election.
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2. EXIF and Beyond: Lawrence Lessig Interview - shares his thoughts on Creative Commons and copyright reform
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3. Interview with the Creator of the Sarah Palin Bikini Gun Photo (this blog post)
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Understanding these various viewpoints is critical to survival as a photographer in a very dynamic and changing landscape. While you may want your 40 minutes back spending another 80 minutes to hear other perspectives on this issue should be informative and influential to how you approach marketing work online.

Re: Nature’s Palette

jimgoldstein — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:58:06 -0000

@Nelcha Thanks. When your photo is out point me to it. I'd love to see it.
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@Mark Thanks. It's great to get the feedback... particularly when its so glowing.
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@Garry Argh! There could be worse comparisons. William's work is great. I suppose I'm a little more focused on the color study as opposed to the general inspiration of the technique. It's all good.

Re: Lunar Impact, Get Ready for it!

jimgoldstein — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:32:35 -0000

@laanba I look forward to getting your feedback on the posts to come. I hope you enjoy them.

@Christopher You're not alone. Space exploration is indeed a fascinating thing. It's definitely a source of inspiration for many... photographers and others alike.

Re: Featured Photos and Articles This November and December

jimgoldstein — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:29:36 -0000

Thanks Guy! I noticed you had a great white balance article in the November Popular Photography. Congratulations! It brings me back to some of the conversations we had while in Utah. I also recognized the pond highlighted from the Uintas. I had a few photos of that very location. Truly a beautiful location. You're very lucky to be in proximity to such beauty.

Re: Featured Photos and Articles This November and December

jimgoldstein — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:09:30 -0000

@Mark Thanks! Funny you should comment now. I just got done reading your latest post about joining Greener Photography. I'm glad that you found the site of interest. I credit you ultimately for turning me on to this train of thinking. Your post on green printing was an eye opener. Thanks!

Re: EXIF and Beyond: Nick Dunmur of Pro-Imaging.org

jimgoldstein — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:50:57 -0000

@Photo RIP Thanks for the comment. I'm hoping that more people catch on and educate themselves.

Re: Happy Hanukkah: Nature’s Menorah

jimgoldstein — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:49:07 -0000

@John Wall Thanks... I agree taking away something personal from Yosemite Valley is always special.
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@Kimberly LOL best to be forgiving of Mother Nature. She apparently didn't get the memo :)
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@Sherri Meyer Thanks... it was a fun shape to spot. You never know what you'll find out there.

Re: Happy Hanukkah: Nature’s Menorah

jimgoldstein — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:31:30 -0000

@Udi :) Glad you could appreciate it. Thanks for the comment and happy new year!

Re: Shrouded in Fog

jimgoldstein — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:14:14 -0000

@Luca glad to see I'm not alone :)
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@Patty Thanks. You never know what you'll get when you head out to the Marin Headlands.
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@Richard Thanks. I am still envious of your bridge in the fog photo from your visit to SF.

Re: Have a Great New Year

jimgoldstein — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:16:35 -0000

@Bryan Thanks :) I hope you had a great holidays and your 2009 is off to a good start.
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@Rebecca Guilty as charged. I sense 2009 is going to be a great year. I look forward to seeing what adventures await you.
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@Richard Thanks. I hope 2009 proves to be a great one for you too.

Re: My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2008

jimgoldstein — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:46:35 -0000

@Nelcha Thanks! I hope 2009 is a great year for you as well. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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@laanba Thanks. 2008 was kind to me. I hope that 2009 is nearly as good. BTW thanks for taking part in the on going "best of" blog project.
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@luca Glad you enjoyed #9 and #10. Keep me posted when you're in town next. It'd be great to see you again.
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@John I knew you'd say that. I'm looking forward to returning to Yosemite and I'll be happy if I run into any wildlife. The next time you're heading out that way let me know.
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@Richard Wong Thanks. I've had fun photographing the sea otters. I hope they never grow old on people. They're a blast to photograph. When you get your best of post for 2008 let me know. It'd be great to see. You've been posting some great work on your blog this past year.
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@Michael Warf Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the Seattle photo. Amazing what a change in perspective can do.
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@Thomas Thanks :) I think you're being far too modest. I've really enjoyed seeing your photos from India. You've got some amazing wildlife photos on your blog. Truly awe inspiring work.
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@Mark Thanks for the kind comment. It's always interesting to hear what photos resonate with others. Thanks for taking part in the "best of" project. You've got some great photos in your best of post on your blog.
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@Zach & Lisa Thanks! It's great to see family commenting on the blog :)
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@Ivan Makarov I was on the media boat for the Mavericks photo. It makes a world of difference but to be honest to experience the competition from any location is a treat. I agree I'd be surprised if I see the Grand Tetons in the exact same fashion in my lifetime. Iconic locations like Yosemite, the Grand Tetons, Glacier National Park, etc. are like this. You could show up every day for a year and never see the landscape in the same way. Have a great 2009 and thanks for commenting.

Re: Blog Project: “Your Best Photos From 2008″

jimgoldstein — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:11:36 -0000

@Ivan Got your entry. Thanks for taking part
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@Mark Got your entry too :)
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Just to give everyone an update...
participation in this project is off the chart! To date there are 50 submissions and I'm hoping for more. Thanks to those who have been spreading the word about it.

Re: And so 2009 begins… What lies in your future?

jimgoldstein — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:05:28 -0000

@Thomas Thanks for the kind comment.
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@G Dan Mitchell I figured you had been to this location. It is a great spot to visit camera in hand. As to your plans they sound great. I too am planning on using multimedia presentation more. Expect to see some of that on the blog. Themed presentation of photos is a great idea and something that I've been thinking about too. I look forward to seeing how 2009 develops for you. With your music background I most anticipate the multimedia you develop with your photographs.
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@latoga I commented as to what some of my plans are and have interspersed other tidbits in my comment responses. I like your idea of not participating in the current recession. Sounds like someone has been listening to the LensWork podcast :) A photo outing in 2009 is a must!

Re: Sea Otter Attacking a Western Grebe

jimgoldstein — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:00:20 -0000

@Gary thanks. This was a new one for me as well. I'm waiting to hear back from a contact at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to see how out of the ordinary or how ordinary this behavior is.
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@Mark LOL I didn't see a rock being used nor a spear or harpoon. They seemed to come up from underneath and ambush the bird. The otter photographed seemed to be toying with the bird. It wasn't a quick end for the Grebe.
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@Jeff I too have heard about the river otters in Marin eating birds. As noted this was a bit of a surprise.

Re: A Happy Ending to My Drive Crash

jimgoldstein — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:50:39 -0000

@Mark The price is comparable to a fully stocked ReadyNAS NV+. I got a slight discount on it which helps. Ultimately with 1 TB drives in the $100 range its not that expensive when you configure it yourself. So far I really like it. The drives appear as your normal internal drives appear. The transfer rate is equivalent to internal drives. While the specs say 300MB/s I'm regularly seeing 200+MB/s in real world conditions. The speed is blazing and it makes file transfers, backups and speeds access to my Lightroom library a pleasure versus a burden. Now that things are up and running and I've used it for a week I would recommend it. I'll likely set up a second in the future if I need it.

Re: Film Is Dead. No Really!

jimgoldstein — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:22:11 -0000

@Mat the businesses you've referenced like NewLab, Wolf, Ritz, etc. have transitioned away from film development as being their bread and butter. With that said this is an important item to distinguish. Digital printing appears to be a viable business. As we all know camera and camera accessory sales are a viable business. Film is not. Demand on film processing has cratered and is not a viable business. You're right people with the advent of digital have transitioned expectation to wanting results now. The case in point of this neighborhood store closing is that 24 hour turn around couldn't match expectation. I'm surprised particularly since use of Shutterfly and other online services for print take longer when you factor in delivery time. In the end film and film processing from a brick and mortar business standpoint are dead because of expectations around immediate gratification and ease of submission. It's far easier to upload digital files online than hunt for parking, waste gas and drive to a store. Of course this is all relative to the casual shooter. Just as color film did not kill b&w film I doubt digital will entirely kill film. It will have its place in art schools, for a time, and with other extreme enthusiasts (like glass plate photographers or wet contact printerers). Film for all intents and purposes in the larger market is dead and hardly a factor in revenue generation for companies and it will continue to diminish for the plain and simple fact demand has plummeted to a quarter of a fraction of what it used to be.
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@the_wolf_brigade More power to film photographers who stick it out. Companies and photographers that support film are a rare breed these days. I predict this crowd is going to be thinned even more in the near future.
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@LisaNewton You raise another good point about digitals ease of use and latitude for photographers to get more out of their work. Whether you're fixing imperfections and technical short comings or gaining better control over the fine tuning of your work digital is in another league. To this day I still cringe looking film scans. The slides are sharp, but the scans even on a drum scanner are considerably softer. They are in my eyes two different animals.

Re: Film Is Dead. No Really!

jimgoldstein — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:27:27 -0000

@Brian Auer Funny how its a bit of a vicious cycle. Film photographers are in a tough spot... support existing companies that support film development or do it yourself. I was a long time supporter of my local film processing stores, but ask around and you'll find that many ship out their development. When I was using slide film several years back every local store in California shipped out slide development (for Fuji processing) to two large facilities. In the end one closed and the other remained I believe in the San Diego area. Even then demand was fading These days if you're a brick & mortar business you have to have other revenue streams to survive. One of the best known film processing businesses here in San Francisco is mailing out constantly about digital printing and other non-film processing services. I just got an email the other day that their drum scan rates are 1/2 of what they used to be when I used them. It's amazing how digital has transformed the market. I've been impressed with your interest in film and how you've taken to it, but I can't help but think how you're a very small minority in the larger market.

Re: Film Is Dead. No Really!

jimgoldstein — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:29:09 -0000

@Zeb Excellent points and thanks for sharing your perspective. I've always imagined that film will persist but on a very niche level. You raise a really interesting aspect of film's evolution in regard to students. Art schools require film work, exposing students to all formats. There are so many film techniques that have artistic significance, but I can't help but think that the pool of those using film will always be on a downward trajectory. When film using instructors transition out to the next generation I don't see the students of today and instructors of tomorrow being as committed to the format. I could be wrong, but thats my perception. I do hope film sticks around even if it is a niche format. As stores supporting film development go under the lack of exposure (no pun intended) certainly will not help it maintain its current use.

Re: Film Is Dead. No Really!

jimgoldstein — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:48:55 -0000

Cindy great to see you comment on the blog. I read the article and found it interesting that Douglas still takes digital photos of his transparencies. Douglas Kirkland: From 8x10 To Digital And Back.

For the record I'm not against film although I haven't used it in years. It's just not used enough for many stores to keep supporting (if they weather the changing market) and is becoming niche. It's a shame more comments aren't showing up on this there were close to 100. I'm working with Disqus to sort out the problem of why they're not all showing. Stay tuned I'm trying to get them to display. Great comments made and I look forward to the conversation continuing.

Re: New Design & Stock Site at JMG-Galleries.com

jimgoldstein — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:39:55 -0000

Thanks everyone for the feedback.
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@Sherri Meyer I'm likely going to tinker with that setting, but for now I'm going to keep it until I get some other critical tweeks out of the way.
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@Mark Great catch on the page titles. I've been eyeing that myself and have a fix lined up.

Re: Epson Print Academy: (1) LA Ticket to Giveaway for 2/21/09

jimgoldstein — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:27:16 -0000

The odds couldn't be much better, but by random selection Eli wins the ticket.
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For those that didn't win I still highly recommend attending. Don't delay in getting your tickets as these events do fill up. As I recall a few lucky people in SF got in last minute, but you never want to be on the bubble.

Re: Perigee Moon & California Oak

jimgoldstein — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:33:45 -0000

@Sherri and @laanba Thanks!
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@Mark I was very lucky you have the right lens with me. The telephoto effect really helped flatten the scene and highlight the size of the moon. Not all of these types of photos are photoshopped. Most are so used to using shorter focal length lenses they forget the long view can yield equivalent and more dramatic renditions of a scene.

Re: Finding Inspiration and Reaping the Rewards

jimgoldstein — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:01:20 -0000

@Trevor Thanks for the compliment and comment.
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@Jay Thanks. I'm glad the post resonated with you.
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@John I almost picked up a print, but opted for the book. I'll likely swing by in the future for a print. Its great to hear that you're appreciating his work as well. Which print of his did you buy?

Re: Back From The Other End of the Rainbow

jimgoldstein — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:17:24 -0000

@Gary Crabbe - Arenal is a cool place to visit. It was one of many places I visited, but it certainly was nothing like what your wife saw. That is a very cool story Gary. Glad you didn't panic and she was ok in the end!

Re: Beware the Goats – Zermatt, Switzerland

jimgoldstein — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:00:44 -0000

@D Travis North Somethings you just have to embrace. They were a fun bunch. Nothing to fear.
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@SwissGuy That's what I get for relying on Wikipedia. I was going to put Schweiz adn then I opted for Schweizerische after consulting Wikipedia. Live and learn. I hope no Swiss take offense :) Thanks for the correction.

Re: Photo Books & The Kindle: Is The Writing On The Wall?

jimgoldstein — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:02:07 -0000

@Ivan It's an interesting perspective that you hold about there being greater resolution in viewing photos electronically. I think that can only be true if the photographer releases his images in high resolution of course. I've always found Printed photos to be the best way to view them, but perhaps I'm old school. If and when a book or ebook or whatever is released of my photos I'll be sure to let you know. Thanks for adding to the conversation and your kind compliment.
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@Aggie Thanks for the info on Vook unfortunately they don't have much information out about themselves. I'll be sure to track their announcements to learn more and thanks for the link back to this post.
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@Guy <-- its Internet lingo I didn't make it up :)
No doubt there is a flaw in our society when people would be happier to view a virtual version of the world that is itself right outside their door. Another facet of this problem was discussed in an older post of mine Fewer Americans Visiting National Parks. Why? Lets see… Clearly the ethos regarding nature and wildlife suffers in the US as it does in many countries. Few people are exposed early enough to thinking about nature, conservation, and the impact of man. A lot could be said also of the average activity level of Americans as well. For many a drive-through is getting out.
Nature and wildlife photographers are in a true pickle when it comes to marketing. For many to be successful in reaching an audience you have to embrace some of the tactics that you also despise. Finding the balance is the key. The discussion of the technology available to reach people is meant to spur discussion and thought about how that balance can be achieved. For some like yourself it is clearly going to be outside a comfort zone to market to people through such devices. At the same time perhaps by marketing through such a device you can conserve other resources that would be used for more traditional marketing efforts. It's a personal choice, yet a choice that can't be made if you're not aware of the options or present/future behavior of your audience.
As always your comments are great. Thanks for adding to the conversation!

Re: Photo Books & The Kindle: Is The Writing On The Wall?

jimgoldstein — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:28:54 -0000

"I just see parallels to old discussions about film vs. digital - and certainly it seems we have moved past that."
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Well some have and many have not. Perhaps many in the circle we know have, but I was just at a Sebastiao Salgado talk and the host Ken Light clearly had not. No matter what change in format may be underway there will certainly always be people strongly in favor of one or the other. For many such things are a form of ones identity. There's nothing wrong with that... its just human nature.

Re: Above the Jungle Canopy – Selvatura Park Zip Line, Costa Rica

jimgoldstein — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:30:45 -0000

@Suzy & @Will Thanks. It was definitely fun to get this photo, but it wasn't as easy as pulling out a camera to take a quick photo. The photo was mounted on my chest and adjusting it mid-zip wasn't possible. Lucky for me I had several zip lines to travel across to get a few variations of this. All in all... it was of course still fun.
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@Sherri Yup! Maui was the last location I did this. This time around I learned from my past experience making sure to get a vertically framed photos as well. Zip lines are of course fun but be sure to explore ways to properly secure your camera and protect your lens. It'd be really easy to lose or damage a camera and/or lens.

Re: Early Morning Cable Car Passengers – San Francisco, California

jimgoldstein — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:58:11 -0000

@Jay Actually that is the Bay Bridge in the background. Glad you liked the photo and thanks for the comment
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@Gary LOL I remember your stories of being a morning cook so when I read this I truly laughed out loud.

Re: And My New Camera is… the Sony HXR-MC1

jimgoldstein — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:44:20 -0000

@David I'm looking forward to working with it more. I'll be sure to post a review at some point in the near future. Now to build a better dog mounting system.

Re: 5 Tips to Get The Most Out of Twitter

jimgoldstein — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:25:09 -0000

@Rosh I think those using Twitter for marketing purposes, no matter what your industry, need to try to filter out the noise created by the buzz. Twitter is worthy of the attention its getting, but those that market their products or services need to focus on data and application. Its odd to say as I tout the communication revolution Twitter represents. I stand by that, but marketers look at the conversation from a data and filter mentality. The future of Twitter could very well be Twitter with out Twitter. What I mean by that riddle is Twitter at a data level being the mechanism most people experience Twitter by. Whether its Wave or other applications it is a possibility that the Twitter API is what powers a lot of instant conversation online. While Twitter may want others to visit their site as we now see its not necessary to use Twitter by going to their site alone. The other side of Twitter that has ample room to grow is the data mining tools that are available to marketers. With trillions of tweets going out powerful tools are going to be needed to make sense of the information out there and provide value to marketers and even those using it for its said purpose communicating with their network of contacts. The future is wide open and we'll continue to see some amazing changes in how we interact with each other and companies using Twitter for marketing purposes. I could go on quite a bit on this. If you have more detailed questions or would like to talk about it hit me up off-line.

Re: 5 Tips to Get The Most Out of Twitter

jimgoldstein — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:17:25 -0000

Kratom... Let me know what you find confusing and I'll see if I can't provide some answers. I can't promise I'll have the answer to everything but I'll be happy to share my perspective.

Re: Get on the Metadata Bandwagon via getMETAsmart

jimgoldstein — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:45:55 -0000

Tony... It is painful. What I got out of seminar is that software companies are doing their best to manage a Hydra of different standards. There are also terminology and usability issues that are being worked out. Knowing that others are aware of this pain point was the metadata clouds silver lining.

Re: Get on the Metadata Bandwagon via getMETAsmart

jimgoldstein — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:48:30 -0000

Phil they were video taping the event. My hope is that they put everything online. Be sure to ask David Sanger on Twitter. He was deeply involved with the seminar and likely would know.

Re: The Transformative Power of Fire

jimgoldstein — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:03:33 -0000

Mark... Amazing how much detail there is in such a limited amount of space for tree bark. Truly a microcosm of photographic opportunities.

Thanks for the heads up about the comment box problem. I'll look into this further. I'm not seeing the same layout issue.

Re: The Transformative Power of Fire

jimgoldstein — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:08:20 -0000

Thanks everyone for commenting. It's great to hear that I'm not alone in being drawn to these fascinating designs. The fire component of these types of macros opens doors to now photographic opportunities. As they say one mans garbage is another mans treasure... I think the same could be said in regard to photographic expectations. One look at a charred landscape it might be easy to think an opportunity has been lost when really one has been created. Of course this is all tied to the philosophy of photography. I think we'd all agree in an ideal world we wouldn't have vast amounts of charred landscape.

Re: When A Photo of Foggy San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge Is Not Enough

jimgoldstein — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:33:28 -0000

Jan I haven't been able to reproduce the problem. Can you try again and let me know if you still are having issues. Thanks

Re: When A Photo of Foggy San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge Is Not Enough

jimgoldstein — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:34:35 -0000

Will that was also done, but I can't post everything at once :)

Re: Swiftcurrent Lake Panoramic, Glacier National Park

jimgoldstein — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:13:06 -0000

Christopher as someone who lives in San Francisco you're preaching to the choir about the fog and other weather phenomenon. Only difference is the fog obscured everything shortly after this photo was taken. I'll post a photo to show in the near future. Thanks for the comment!

Re: Free: Resistance if Futile or Is It?

jimgoldstein — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:18:24 -0000

The online version can be read for free through Scribed but the downside is that it can't be downloaded for offline reading.

Alternatively there is an Audible book that you can download to listen to.

I hope that info helps.

Re: Landscape Photographers and Fog, Glacier National Park

jimgoldstein — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:25:26 -0000

Congratulations Philip! Glacier would be a fantastic place to get married. I'm surprised that you didn't see any photographers. They're usually crawling all over. I look forward to seeing your photos from the trip. Hopefully you took advantage of the sparse numbers of photographers.

Re: 10 Great Audio Resources for Photo Videos

jimgoldstein — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:22:51 -0000

Glad this appeared just in time! I hope the resources prove to be of use for you. Let me know what your music search experience is like when you're done.

Re: An Open Letter to Carl Pope & Sierra Club

jimgoldstein — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:53:31 -0000

I believe in what Sierra Club stands for, but its hard to be blasted constantly. I checked what email I've kept from them and I've received numerous "your membership is expiring notices" email. You'd think I'd receive them only as the date approached the month I joined the year before.

I can always unsubscribe to these messages, but the underlying message with all the effort behind these email messages is inefficiency. If there's this much inefficiency with how they do email then what does that say about how they run the rest of the organization. It's a jump I realize, but one that is hard not to make. Their marketing tactics really tarnish their entire image.

If I can find other organizations that conduct equivalent grassroots efforts I'm happy to explore and support them. I'm not tied to Sierra Club just because theyre the Sierra Club.

Re: An Open Letter to Carl Pope & Sierra Club

jimgoldstein — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:41:00 -0000

Thanks for the reply David. I actually don't have a bone to pick with the Sierra Club. I know its a great organization with deep roots and a great mission. Unfortunately the manner in which I'm communicated to via email crosses the line as spam and it has pushed me over the edge in not wanting to renew. The constant bombardment has not engaged me, but has progressively pushed me away. Over the course of years I've begun filtering email from the Sierra Club as noise and quickly deleting them. I've always felt guilty about unsubscribing to receiving email because I wanted to be informed. I've yet to find a happy medium and as a result I'm forced to take a break from the organization. If and when things change in relation to communication with members I'll gladly reconsider joining.

Your passion for the Sierra Club is one of the reasons I initially joined. The majority of the email I've received seems to be from the national office versus local chapter. Local chapters seem to still rely on traditional mail. It really doesn't matter who the email is from, if I'm receiving too much or it is one dimensional and/or off target. I can only humanly process so much email and if its off target the times I do look are wasted. Perhaps my experience might have been different if I jumped in actively with a local chapter, but unfortunately my schedule does not allow for that as I'd have liked. Those behind Sierra Club email campaigns seem to ignore two simple facts:
1. Email viewers attention spans are not endless
2. Email viewers expect value or engagement in return for action
(Value can be information on the Sierra Club web site, it can be chapter event information, etc.)
Perhaps a membership drive could be tied to more of the great things you've talked about with local chapters. An invitation to a local meeting to see how and why ones donation makes a difference. Or for those that can't make a meeting an online hub of contributor stories. There are plenty of ways to engage members in a positive cycle of reinforcement. Instead I'm treated as a wall that if enough things are thrown at something will eventually stick to.

My earlier points stand. They're not meant to be an insult to the hardworking volunteers or full-time staff of the Sierra Club. I have the greatest respect for anyone and everyone that makes the Sierra Club function. I've aired these concerns in the hope that the Sierra Club recognizes how their actions undermine their goals in member communication and advocacy. I hope the concerns are heard and adjustments are made. I'd love to someday again proudly support the Sierra Club.

Re: An Open Letter to Carl Pope & Sierra Club

jimgoldstein — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:43:03 -0000

I couldn't agree more. I didn't even touch on tone of message. Compared to other groups the Sierra Club isn't that bad in this area. Thanks for the comment.

Re: Conoco Phillips Rodeo Refinery – Rodeo, California » JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein Photography

jimgoldstein — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:42:28 -0000

David yup you're absolutely correct. I was looking at Google maps last night and didn't see how it lined up to be Martinez and totally blanked on Rodeo. Lesson learned late night blog posts probably not the best thing to pursue when you're not 100% sure of your subjects location. Then again it's great to get the help. Thanks for pointing out my mis-identification.

Re: Conoco Phillips Rodeo Refinery – Rodeo, California » JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein Photography

jimgoldstein — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:28:50 -0000

Thanks Richard. A long lens often helps bring average subjects into a new light (no pun intended).

Re: Impact in the Details

jimgoldstein — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:20:16 -0000

Thanks for the comment Shelly. Glad you found the blog and I look forward to more of your comments and feedback.

Re: Navigating Post-Processing: Flying by Instrument

jimgoldstein — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:27:06 -0000

I'm still getting used to mine. We'll see if I have a similar experience. This past week was a hectic one so I've not had a chance to use it much.

Re: Sinopah Mountain Reflected in Two Medicine Lake

jimgoldstein — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:14:31 -0000

Don't get me wrong :) I woke up an hour earlier than needed and enjoyed watching the full spectrum of light that painted the landscape all while the moon set over the mountains. Quite a sight and one I enjoyed to the fullest. There's a lot to be said for just enjoying the moment rather than getting locked into looking through a viewfinder. Thanks for the great comment Roberta

Re: Death Valley Sand Dunes at Sunset

jimgoldstein — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:36:59 -0000

Thanks Ron. I took a hike at 3pm and walked a 2/3 of a mile 110 degree heat. I would not advise it with out having tons of water. It's amazing not how fast you sweat there, but how fast you dry out. It is certainly a dangerous place, yet strangely so beautiful.

Re: EXIF and Beyond: Darwin Wiggett

jimgoldstein — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:47:54 -0000

Thanks for the feedback Nico. The download link is above.

Re: EXIF and Beyond: Darwin Wiggett

jimgoldstein — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:44:10 -0000

Janet thanks for the comment. Subscribing to the podcast via iTunes provides the ability to download a mobile version of each podcast episode. The following is the download link Download: EXIF and Beyond: Darwin Wiggett

Re: Contests on Twitter: Doing it Right

jimgoldstein — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:31:12 -0000

Glad things are changing on this front. The amount of Twitter RT spam was getting out of control. It's a matter of time before services develop focusing on this type of marketing. http://twitter-contest.com/startacontest.php is one that currently exists, but its not very clear if or how much cost is associated with it. As with Twitter Poll sites I can see a free service being offered with this functionality in the future. I'll have to dig around to see if something like this already exists. My cursory search didn't come up with anything definitive.

Great post and blog!