A BIG PHOTO ORGANIZING CHALLENGE AHEAD

Been working on the desk top's Live Writer today in an effort to get all 3 computer Live Writer's to function the same so the blog remains consistent.   No easy task for memory cells already on overtime but I have made some headway.  Biggest stumbling block was my desktop LW format. Typing space was very narrow compared to the laptops.  Took me awhile to figure it out & had to go to 'Blogs'-'Edit Blog Settings'-'Editing.'  Once there I clicked the 'Refresh Theme' & LW updated the desktop computer & my screen switched to the wider format like the lappys.  I was instantly transported once again to Happy Camper status:))  Might be a few things to tweak out yet like print &  photo spacing, plus picture sizes.

I began a project today that I have been putting off for a long time.  Way too long!!  With the addition of the second laptop this past winter & tripled my confusion by downloading photos on 3 separate computer hard drives plus an external hard drive.  No big deal if you just take a few pictures here & there occasionally.  I have literally thousands scattered about!! 

I do have them in some kind of order on each computer though but I want to bring everything together in an organized fashion & separate into groups plus I have all last winter's trip to assemble into Picasa Web Albums.  I also have a Smug Mug account & plan to finally use this photography site to begin organizing photos into categories .  Flowers, Animals, Sunsets, Locations, Special Occasions, etc. etc.  I plan to go all through my stuff choosing only the best photos to be shown in Smug Mug.  I have a sunrise/sunset category in there right now that is so long it would put you to sleep so I have to get in there with my delete button & do some hacking & cutting.  I do have a few other albums on the site but I will be doing a lot of editing in them as well.  You can access the site by going to AL'S SMUG MUG SITE but keep an eye out because I will be in there somewhere very soon madly hacking away!!

MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM

A cool cloudy morning but we finally coaxed the sun out about mid afternoon.  Looks like the days will be warming up this week.

Phil had a question about how often do I use a tripod for my photos.  Wished I could say, 'a lot,' but that isn't the case.  A tripod is essential for getting those really crisp & sharp photos, especially of flowers.  They are also imperative in lower light situations like early dawn.  So, why don't I use my tripod?  I can hardly even think up a good excuse for that question.  Too lazy to carry one I guess.  I'm not a perfectionist either so that's why I am not a professional.  I pretty much hand hold every photo & am reasonably steady at doing that but it still doesn't excuse not using a tripod.  My enlarged photos wouldn't stand up in clarity to the next guy beside me using a tripod.  But, they are OK for the blog here & I have no intentions of ever printing or enlarging anything anyway.  Just not interested in that.

And speaking of tripods, I have 3 stand-up tripods & 3 table top pods   One Slik 88N tripod I have had since the mid 80's & it's held together with duct tape & wooden splints.  I usually mount my binoculars on that one.  I do have a larger pod that I use with my telescope lens.  That lens/telescope is so heavy it cannot be hand held so is always mounted on a tripod when I use it.  Mainly for birds or moon shots at night.  Anyway, hope that helps a bit & thanks for asking Phil:))

I normally shy away from photo contests & stuff like that because I do not have a competitive personality.  It's probably why I don't care for any kind of sports either.  Bayfield is having a photo contest for people to send in 4 of their best Bayfield photos for an upcoming calendar to be sold in the village.  Normally I wouldn't enter something like that but Kelly talked me into it & below are my 4 reluctant entries.  It is now four days before the contest closes & so far there are 67 entries which can be seen here at BAYFIELD CALENDAR.

Inner harbor	Sunset Cruise
Pioneer Park	Lone Bench

On the Bayfield Calendar site you will see the name 'Stargeezerguy' guy below my photos.  That is the name I use on my Flickr photo account which happens to be  hosting all the photo entiries.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  What is the difference between Bird Flu and Swine Flu?
For bird flu you need tweetment and for swine flu you need oinkment.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.