The Signs of Spring

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Lars

Spring is finally here. Cherry and apple trees are in full blossom. I especially like to see wild trees in blossom in the forest that have not been planted by people. Last week I saw quite a few of these trees on a walk in the forest and enjoyed them very much. It is so beautiful to see a whole tree covered in pink or white blossoms. It reminds me that beauty can be found in unexpected places (middle of forests).

When photographing the trees, I wanted to highlight two things: their location and surrounding trees, as well as closeups of groups of blossoms.

Seeing these trees was an almost spiritual experience for me. I thought about how these trees blossom in the forest, attracting bees and other insects and how this beauty is there whether we humans see it or not.

Please enjoy what I found…

The case for DNG files

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Lars

Whether we like it or not, Adobe Digital Negative (DNG) files are the future. More and more compact and more advanced digital cameras are capable to produce raw files. Raw files differ from JPG files in that they contain more information, and allow us to process JPG files from with modifications to the white balance, exposure, sharpening, etc. To get the best of both worlds, most current cameras can save raw and JPG files at the same time. The difficulty with raw files has been that they are a proprietary file format, whereas JPG files are a well established universal file format.

We live in a world of standards. When we buy parts in one hardware store we can expect them to fit parts from another hardware store, because hardware parts use standardized dimensions. In the digital world, we have standards, too. Morse code is one of the oldest standards that precedes digital computer technology from a time when telecommunication lines could only transfer binary signals. While Morse code became obsolete for most communications when voice transmissions became the standard, it is still used for some communications.

In the world of computers, virtually all systems can read and write ASCII files. This standard was created in 1960, and is the backbone of all information exchange between computers, and between programs running within the same computer system regardless of the operating system or software used.

In 1992, the JPEG standard was created as file format for photos. It superseded the GIF file format, which was limited to 256 colors only and was previously used for photos and graphics. The JPEG standard overcame these limitations and enables the storage of photos in an effective manner using compression. While better file formats are available today, JPEG files will remain the standard in the future, because there are countless photos in this format published and archived.

Virtually all interchangeable lens cameras and many advanced point and shoot cameras can record photos in RAW format. Most manufacturers utilize proprietary raw file formats. Originally raw file formats could only be processed with manufacturer’s software. The quality of the manufacturer’s software varies greatly, although I have heard that the file /format structure of different raw file formats does not vary too much. In the midst of this landscape Adobe specified the DNG (Digital Negative) file format in 2004, as proposal to replace proprietary raw file formats with a common standard. So far, only a few manufacturers have embraced DNG as raw file format for their cameras. Most other manufacturers continue to use their proprietary formats. Another annoyance is that raw files from the same camera manufacturer but from different models are different as well, which means that always some time elapses after introduction of a new camera model before it is fully supported by software.

Why is DNG a great file format for archival purposes? While current software supports raw files from current and past cameras, it forces us to continually upgrade software when a new camera model is used, otherwise raw files from the new camera can not be processed. Makers of software so far have supported older cameras, but we can’t be sure this trend will continue in the future. Camera manufacturers do not always have the best algorithms available for processing raw files, whereas using specialized software allows us to process raw files from different cameras under comparable conditions.

In the last 13 years I have used or still use the following cameras that record raw files: Kodak NC2000e, Kodak DCS410, Kodak DCS460, Nikon D100, Nikon D70, Kodak DCS14nx, Nikon D200, Canon A560, Ricoh GX100, Canon A650IS, Kodak P712, Nikon D7000, Canon SX130IS, and Sony NEX-3.

I do not use any manufacturer’s software. Some manufacturer’s software is not available for newer operating software versions, and I recently learned that Nikon has started to drop support for older cameras in their latest software versions.

By converting raw files to DNG files, no loss of quality occurs, and it ensures that raw files will remain accessible in the future. I have been able to re-process photos with a newer raw processing software and gotten significantly improved results compared to files originally processed with manufacturer’s software. With DNG files, raw files from cameras long past can be processed utilizing improved algorithms, resulting in significant quality enhancements.

How can proprietary raw format files be converted into DNG files? Adobe offers a free DNG converter to convert proprietary raw formats into DNG (downloadable here). Another option is to use the digikam software package (downloadable here) that includes a DNG file converter.

I believe that archiving raw files in DNG is a smart decision which will ensure that raw files will remain accessible in the future. While raw processing software today can process proprietary raw files, there is no guarantee that raw processing software of the future will support raw files of cameras from a long time ago. With ample DNG file support present today we can be assured that DNG files will continue to be supported in the future.

Thanks for reading!

Lars

PS: After first drafting this post, Adobe announced their intention to offer certain software packages, including Photoshop, as subscription-only version. While it is not known at this point how it will affect future updates to the free DNG converter, I would not be surprised if it had not impact at all. Adobe has been promoting the DNG standard since its inception not linking it to their software. The available updates also serve Photoshop Elements, which continues to be offered in the traditional form.

Looking back but thinking ahead…

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Kim

What a week it has been in Boston, Massachusetts! This week appeared to be the first “real” week of spring. The weather has been beautiful and just warm enough to let us know that winter has passed. Unfortunately, there has been unexpected tragedy in Boston this week with the bombing of the Boston Marathon.

Like most who are aware of this terrible event, I and my loved ones are safe. We are sad for everyone who has been physically and emotionally harmed, especially those connected to the people who were killed. Of course, there is also some fear and anger about such an event and oh so many questions. Who would do such a thing? Why? Will they be caught and punished?

There are many people who are working to answer these questions and lots of discussion about it so I won’t venture too deeply into this emotional and trauma inducing territory. Just let me say that terrible, tragic, and evil events happen everyday here and around the world. Somehow we humans manage to continue to live and dream of a more peaceful and pain free future. As our ancestors have done, we remember, we grieve, we learn and move forward. We don’t forget the pain but we get over the fear and move forward.

I pray for emotional health and peace for you and for me. I’m looking back but thinking ahead.

Kim

When nature calls, you better listen!

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Kim

Living in the moment sounds like a thoughtful way to live and a wonderful thing to do. When I am engaged in tasks or events that I want to be part of, I definitely want the moments to last and they seem to hold a special significance. So why is it that in so many things that I do, I simply want the time to go by?

For instance a visit to the dentist though significant, is usually unpleasant and seems to drag on an on. The payoff is clean teeth and a healthy smile but to get there I have to put up with scraping, digging, and other unpleasantness. Those are moments I just as soon forget.

Recently we had a major storm named “Nemo” that dumped large amounts of snow on Boston. Prior to the storm, I imagined how cozy it would be inside our house ( if the electricity held up) and how much I would enjoy the time with my family -none of us would be able to go anywhere once the storm really got going. In fact, our governor declared an emergency so no one could drive on the roads for a period of time.

I did savor those moments with family, watching it snow, eating great food and listening to good music. We were lucky because we had electricity, heat, food, and each other. After the storm, we went outside to shovel snow and walk through our neighborhood with a friend. We met neighbors we hadn’t met before and talked and generally had fun. I think that I learned that living in the moment is another way of saying “appreciate life now. ”

Well I did, and I do.

My friend here lives at the zoo and is doing fine too.

Winter Impressions

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Lars

In the last two weeks we had a lot more snow, including a major snow storm that gave us about 24″ (~60 cm) of snow. Because temperatures kept increasing shortly after the snowfall, most of the snow disappeared almost immediately.

We still have several weeks of winter left, although the warmer temperatures make us wonder every time if we are done with winter yet.

The photos from a beach are from West Haven, CT. The light had such a special quality and beauty.

A selection of photos

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Lars

Today I will post photos from last weekend that do not have a common theme. I will describe a little bit about each photo.

During a cold winter morning, the rays of morning sunlight shine through trees in Billerica, MA.

On a branch a few colorful leaves from the fall are left behind and coated with frost on the edges, reminding me of the last season before our currently very frigid temperatures.

During a walk in our neighborhood we came across this house with a tuxedo cat. Our pets have a life of their own when we are not around.

Trees on the Neponset River.

Leopard in the Stone Zoo (Stoneham, MA). When we got there first, the leopard was taking a cat nap on the rock, and then got up.

Flamingos in Stone Zoo. Here a young flamingo is fed by a parent.

During the 1950s a Nike missile battery was stationed in Blue Hills. The missile launch area was typically at least half a mile away from the radar control area. This is what is left of the missile launch area. The steel covers in the ground mark the location where the missiles were held in their launch position.

A path in Blue Hills near the missile launch area with an underground natural gas pipeline, hence the fairly straight, cleared path. Somebody in the area’s administration has a good sense of humor, calling these paths “Pipe Line” on official maps.

The last photo for today is from Ponkapoag Pond. On the other side is the boardwalk that I have posted photos from before. A little bit of ice was on the edge of the lake. The hill in the background is Great Blue Hill.

Thank you for joining my little trip through our area.

Things to be thankful for…

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Kim

A day or two ago, I was thinking of things that I was grateful for. What’s funny about that idea is that it arose from experiencing something I was unhappy about and I was being ungrateful!

There I was in the middle of what has been a mild winter, and I was shoveling snow and feeling a few aches. I got over myself pretty quickly when I realized that I was alive and mobile and those are two things I am particularly grateful for.

Now, I admit that I am not always a ray of sunshine- though I try to remain hopeful about what this life has to offer. I also think that there are lots of blogs that you can spend time reading that will make you angry, upset, or downright miserable. I am not going to do that to you. When I want to make someone miserable I am woman enough to do so in person and live with the consequences.

So today I am leaving you this message of hope: yes it is winter, yes it is cold, no your problems are not solved and neither are mine but I am thankful for many things- including you….

Kim

Winter is here – motives for photography are still abundant

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Lars

Usually we get the first snow at the end of November or beginning of December at the latest. Last year and this year again, winter was in no rush. Two days ago, we finally got a significant amount of snow. Because it is cold enough, the snow is not melting right away any more.

Here are a couple of impressions from our neighborhood:

During winter, the sun is very low in the sky, which often creates beautiful warm light, even at a simple street corner.

I like the way trees look like after snow has fallen. The snow often highlights branches and the tree trunk in a very nice way.

At a local park, the texture of snow and the low sun light creates a beautiful winter scene. Every other time of the year it would be difficult to photograph straight into the sun, but in the winter it is possible without getting lens flare into the photo.

Photography in the winter months is definitely more challenging than any other time during the year. The daylight hours are much shorter. Trees have lost their leaves, and most plants and flowers are dormant. Overall it is a pretty desolate condition out there. In addition, it takes determination to be out there in the cold.

Unfortunately a lot of photographers miss the winter months. While there is not too much color out there (and our eyes get naturally drawn to color and color contrasts), there are still plenty of opportunities out there. The details that draw me to photography during the winter months are textures, sunlight in the landscape, and trees. Only during the winter months can we see the structure of tree branches.

Another photography opportunity during the winter months are beaches. In the summer and early fall lots of people are on the beach and it is difficult to photograph without getting people into the pictures. I also like to visit places in the off-season to see how they look like in cold weather or with snow on top.

Recently Kim and I went to Plum Island, which is a barrier island on the coast line North of Boston (Northshore). In the summer, it is sometimes difficult to get into the reservation, because so many people arrive already early. When we went there this month, we enjoyed the beautiful light over the marshes and the beaches.

So, if you did not plan to be out there this winter, maybe this post can inspire you to check out some beautiful places in your neighborhood. I know there are beautiful places everywhere. They may not be as famous as the National Parks in the Southwestern USA, but the are not less beautiful.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the winter months,

Lars

Deep thoughts during the short nights of winter…

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Kim

My birthday is tomorrow and I am preparing to celebrate it with my family. This birthday, like the last few, means a lot to me because several years ago my life was almost cut short by breast cancer. I don’t say that for dramatic effect it is simply a fact of my past. I don’t take my life for granted, nor do I live in constant fear that it will end but this year I am even more contemplative because during the past few weeks a number of major events have occurred that affected the way that I look at my life even though the events are not about me.

In the U.S. we just came through an election that simply made people crazed. There was a lot of public anger and such unhappiness that no matter what side you were on it was unpleasant. I believe I heard a collective sigh of relief when it was over just so we wouldn’t have to hear the negativity in ads anymore! More recently there have been terrible crimes committed including a massive one impacting many very young children and their families and friends. All of this and Christmas is just a few days away.

I recently saw the movie about President Abraham Lincoln and surprised myself by being anxious about how it would end, despite knowing how it would end. I learned a lot from the movie and realize that the world continues to turn, seasons change, ideas change, people change. How I feel about those things matters only to me and those in my orbit. Maybe you. So, I am taking the events of the world in- knowing that I may have no control over them, processing them, feeling the sorrow when appropriate, and being grateful that I was born.

Kim

Wake up…

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Kim

Here I am in the wee hours of the morning in bed, but awake. I was thinking about how busy I have been lately, how much I have accomplished, and how much more I have to do. I am not upset about the situation, in fact, I am grateful to have a life that is so full. I do not take any of this for granted. I was very ill a few years ago. With the love of my family and friends and the power of my spiritual life and modern medicine- I am here today.

Of course this is the modern world with many people and situations to complain about. We just completed an election here in the states that had many of us on edge and feeling negative. It is over now and somehow most of us survived it and are moving on as we always have.

I’m not writing today to say look at what I have overcome! Get over your issues! Believe me, as long as life goes on, as long as my life goes on, I remain supremely human with all of the complications that may entail. What I am saying is that this morning I woke up early, in the dark and felt peace and happiness for a period of time despite all that is happening in the world and I was happy and thought of you…

Kim

Kim & Lars Waldmann

Photography and handdecorated gifts