Why We're Here: Twin Cities

This isn't really "photo" related, but good video work turns me on like good photography. Adam Olson, an acquaintance of mine from grad school, did the camera work for this video. It's a locally produced piece about why people live in the Twin Cities. Here's what the production company has to say about the piece:

With all the possibilities around the world, what is the “it” that keeps people here in the Twin Cities? We suspected the answer to the question "Why We're Here" was both simple and incredibly nuanced -- worthy of art. We took our camera to the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul to find people willing to talk, unscripted, on film. The result is our collective love poem to the Twin Cities.

Why We're Here: Twin Cities is a six-minute film that explores what unites us, and unites us here, in the Twin Cities. Filmed on location the spring and summer of 2010 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, the film features an original score by John Munson of the New Standards, the Twilight Hours, Semisonic and Trip Shakespeare.

Visit sevenandsixtyproductions.com to post your response and tell us, with all the possibilities that exist in the world, why you’re living where you do.

Produced in association with the Minnesota Culture Club. Visit them at mncultureclub.com.

Why We're Here: Twin Cities from Seven and Sixty Productions on Vimeo.

This piece just makes me smile. (Just wish there were more shots of St. Paul in it....)

Nice work Adam and Seven and Sixty Productions.

Lost Blizzard Photos

Todd Bieber, a NY based writer and filmmaker, made a discovery in Brooklyn's Prospect Park after one of the east coast's recent snowstorms.

It was a roll of shot (but undeveloped) B&W film.

Todd's developed the film and was struck by the beauty of the images. Now, he's trying to track down the owners of the stunning black and white photos of New York in winter.

Here's the video that Todd made that shows the photos (the photos start at the 0:40 mark):

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmop7EAY1Zg

I have my doubts about the truthfulness of the story, but on YouTube, Todd says this: "By the way -- This story is 100% true. Cross my heart. I didn't realize that would even be an issue for some people. haha. Just interested in telling my story and finding the owners." He makes me want to believe...

Click here for the story on Yahoo News, or click here for the story on Time Magazine's website.

Build Your Own High Speed Flash

... and I'm NOT using the term "high speed" lightly!

Ever wanted to freeze a pellet moving at 1,000 feet / second for a photograph?

I recently came across this article that shows you how to make your own high speed air-gap flash for around a few hundred dollars. But the article also said this:

You should not build this because this flash will kill you. It really will. This flash requires charging a 35,000 volt capacitor that will easily kill a person for a single mistake. I have a safety checklist that I use ever time I plug in this flash and it still scares me. If it didn’t scare me then I shouldn’t be using it because this thing is dangerous. The below information is for educational purposes only. Do not build one! If you go against my advice and do build one, I am not responsible for any injury, death, or any other problems it causes.

I love it when the internet shows you exactly how to do something and then says DON'T DO IT!

Here's the final product shown in the article:

If you can understand circuitry, then check out all of the diagrams and photos of the flash by clicking here. But don't build it, or you will die.

Kodachome Dies Today in Kansas

A small Kansas photo lab is the last to be processing Kodachrome, and their last roll will be processed today. Here's a paragraph from a NY Times article yesterday:

At the peak, there were about 25 labs worldwide that processed Kodachrome, but the last Kodak-run facility in the United States closed several years ago, then the one in Japan and then the one in Switzerland. Since then, all that was left has been Dwayne’s Photo. Last year, Kodak stopped producing the chemicals needed to develop the film, providing the business with enough to continue processing through the end of 2010. And last week, right on schedule, the lab opened up the last canister of blue dye.

This was my favorite photo in the NY Times Article:

Photo: Steve Hebert for The New York Times

Photoshop Tutorial Rap

WARNING: There is some fowl language in this video. It's not bad, but it is PG-13 or so.

College Humor also showed a "new" tool in Photoshop: the "Photobomb tool." This led to a chuckle. (WARNING: There's a middle finger and a photo of someone mooning in this video.)

...it remembers little things...

Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.

- Aaron Siskind

Photography Gifts from the NY Times

(Image from the NY Times)

Last week, the NY Times published a nice, concise story on how to purchase photo-related gear for your "photo geek" loved one. It gave good tips on different topics:

- Picking a lens that fits his/her personality.
- Looking for lenses based on f-stops.
- Checking on the construction of a lens.
- When to buy a generic lens.
- Many things to consider when looking for a new flash.
- Good "photo education" resources and books.

So click here to go to the NY Times article on how to purchase photo gear for the camera buff in your family.

Funny Camera Commercial

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-hxBkca5l4

"...it was really quick.... like 'click'..."

Spot on. Ha!