Polaroid

I remember when I was growing up, my dad had a Polaroid camera. It was a rather large one compared to the one you see pictured here. After taking the photo, he waited one minute for the picture to develop automatically and then peeled off the backing paper to reveal the print. Then he had to rub some chemicals on it with an applicator to stabilize and stop the developing. It was really "high-tech" stuff back then to see a photo in just one minute!

Today, we are all used to digital cameras giving us instant images on an LCD screen on the back of our cameras. And, if we want to print an image, we just upload the file to our computers and hit the print button on our color desktop printers. It's fast and convenient.

But with digital cameras' new technology, companies like Polaroid have lost a lot of market share. I suppose it's just the way it is when new things become available. Still, it's nice to remember how we used to marvel at the technology in the past thinking it was the wave of the future. I wonder where we go after digital?

This particular Polaroid 600 series camera was made for "business." I'm not quite sure why this one is more suited for business since other Polaroid cameras seem to offer the same or similar features and they were not called a "Business Edition" camera. Perhaps it's because it is all black and doesn't have any "frills." Who knows. I like it because it's a nice compact design and easy to use. This one that I have is in mint condition. Be sure to click on each image for a closer look.

Salmon Fishing at Wilmette Harbor

Skunked again! (No fish.)

This morning, I woke up at 3:00 AM so that I could get to Waukegan Harbor to do a litle Salmon fishing. I started out at 4:00 AM near the Waukegan Yacht Club and later ended up on the pier from 6:15 AM to 9:00 AM.

While I had a great time practicing my casts, I didn't catch any fish. I did have one dead salmon floating near where I was fishing... does that one count?

Several fish were seen jumping out of the water... but nobody who was there fishing caught them. I also saw a very nice one in the water just 6 feet away from me, but it was in an area too close to the moored boats and it is prohibited for anyone to fish within 200 feet of a moored boat. Too bad! I was tempted to do a short cast to catch him, but I didn't do it.

I tried a variety of artificial baits. My favorites included a 3/4 Oz. Acme "KO Wobbler" spoon lure and a Rapala "Rattin' Rapala" crankbait that was painted to look like a baby bass. When retrieved through the water, that lure looks just like a small bass swiming! For fishing at 4 AM however, bait has a better chance if it glows-in-the-dark, so I used one of my old Vivitar photo flash strobes to light up the paint on a 3/4 Oz. Acme "Little Cleo" spoon lure. Yes, fishing meets photography!

Regardless, I was "skunked" all day and didn't even get a bite. This year, I've had a lousy track record for catching fish. But I've been having a great time doing it. Hopefully I'll catch something big before the end of the season. Maybe next time.

Greg Koch - Postcard - Cream City Music

I shot this image of Fender Guitar Artist - Greg Koch to help Cream City Music promote some Fender Custom Shop "Greg Koch" Telecaster and Stratocasters that the store had ordered. While I took Greg's photo, the store did the rest of the artwork.

I just got this postcard in the mail and decided to post it here so that my blog readers can see what other type of work I do besides weddings.

Greg not only is a Fender artist, but also has done instructional music DVD's as well. He's a funny guy and it was a blast to work with him.

Attend the Cream City Music event in Brookfield, WI if you can!

Be sure to click on the image for a closer look.

Buy Your Own Robot from Lost In Space!

Image borrowed from B9 Creations website

Ok, call me obsessed, but I could not help posting one more time on the Robot from Lost In Space.

For $24,500, you can own your own working robot!

B9 Creations is the only licensed manufacturer of these robots. I first saw one being sold on eBay recently and after doing a little research, I found the company who makes them. I hope they don't mind that I borrowed one of their photos from their site to help promote them.

Check out their site and order your very own robot! Check out their videos on YouTube as well to see how the robot works.

Boga Grip

Image borrowed from the Internet

Do you know what this is?

I brought this to lunch today so that my brother could check it out. He didn't know what it was. His first thought was, "Is it some kind of corkscrew?" I can see how he might think that.

Actually, it's a Boga Grip. It's used to grip a fish by the lower jaw so that you don't have to hold the fish and get slime all over you. The slime coat on a fish is what protects the fish. Removing that is not good and everytime you handle a fish, that's exactly what you do. The Boga Grip helps land a fish and control him too. And as an added bonus, you can weigh the fish with the built-in scale in the grip. My Boga Grip can weigh fish up to 15 lbs. in quarter pound increments. Other models can weigh fish up to 30 lbs. and also 60 lbs. However, they weigh in half pound increments. The Boga Grip is great for those who practice "Catch and Release" when fishing.

September 11

"We will never forget..."

What A Difference Two Days Can Make

I went back to Lake Geneva today but the weather threatened to turn bad. While this image does not have the impact of the image posted two days ago, it does show how much "luck" is needed to get a great shot. The billowing white clouds in that image really makes the shot look great. This one just looks dreary!

Looking for Buried Treasure

The modern way to look for buried treasure... with a metal detector!

Before and After

Before...

After...

How much better can I make an image if I do a little post production work on the computer? See for yourself... Be sure to click on each image for a closer look.

Lake Geneva Wisconsin

My wife and I took a quick trip up to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin today.

It's actually not that far away from where we live but we've never been there before. What a nice place to visit! Since it was Labor Day, there were a lot of vistors. Still, we were able to find parking relatively easily and everything was within walking distance.

Of course I had to take a couple of photos of the lake, just like any good tourist would. I liked the boats on the water and liked how the light was coming in through some of the cloud cover and coloring the water in the foreground, so I took this shot. Every tourist takes photos like this, right? Be sure to click on the image to take a closer look.

Swine Flu - H1N1

It seems colleges are a breeding ground for the H1N1 virus. Reports from my daughter and my niece is that both of their colleges have students who have been diagnosed with the virus. Apparently, many other colleges across our nation have the same thing happening.

There's really isn't much that can be done it seems to protect yourself from the H1N1 virus other than take a vaccination shot... if you can get one! There's not enough to go around and they are giving the shot to certain groups first before they give it to others. It's frustrating knowing that the virus is on campus with my daughter, but there's nothing I can do to help keep her safe!

For me, I've been battling some kind of virus as well for the past two weeks. While I have taken antibiotics and finished my dosage, I'm still coughing. It is irritating in that it just won't go away. Little "tickly coughs" really, nothing too serious any more, but it's still there. I suppose I'm lucky that I don't have any bookings for weddings these past couple of weeks, but it does affect my ability to concentrate to finish off wedding album designs.

My doctor says I don't have the H1N1 virus (good thing) and I knew I didn't either. I don't have flu-like symptoms in that while I've been tired, I don't have a high fever. Really, today, I feel pretty good, but again, my lack of concentration is affecting my daily life. The medication I was given doesn't help in that area either. In fact, it makes it worse. Both the antibiotics and the cough medications have as side effects... nausea and drowsiness. Put them both together and essentially, you are wiped out!

I'll be better soon, but in the meantime, it's frustrating not being able to be totally able to concentrate on things. Oh well...