Entries Tagged 'digital & Photo Imaging' ↓

Rod Stewart posed the question: “Every picture tells a story, don’t it?” the rock star could’ve been gazing at some of the thousands of images captured by photojournalist Walt Hester during Hester’s 10-year-plus tenure at the Estes Park Trail-Gazette. Ever blazing new trails, Hester is now happily ensconced at the William Allen White cabin in Moraine Park, as one of Rocky Mountain National Park’s (RMNP) artists-in-residence for 2011. He will give his first, free public talk at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center at 7:30 p.m. tonight, with his final presentation there next Wednesday evening.

although Hester wanted to be an astronaut and a pro football player as a child, stars’ and sports’ loss was photography’s gain. He recalls receiving his first camera at the age of 10 (“a little Kodak Instamatic”) and hasn’t stopped snapping since. the photos in National Geographics that his father and his fathers’ folks collected first caught his attention.

“I always admired their photography,” Hester said.

He grew up in Omaha, Neb., and started college there, at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

“I spent a few years trying to figure out what I was going to do,” Hester said. “I wanted to be creative, but I also wanted to eat. I thought about journalism at that point, then got moved to Denver, in 1995, by a Fortune 500 company. After moving, I picked up school again at Metro State, and met an instructor named Kenn Bisio. He got me hooked. the whole idea of telling a story and making a difference while creating interesting images was very appealing to me.”

After graduating from Metro State, he began working at the Denver Post. He had worked there for a year, just around the corner from their photography department, but “couldn’t get in.” the photo editor took a look at his portfolio and told him he “wouldn’t take me even as an intern.” Hester said he had little or no sports photography, at the time.

“The summer of 2000, I started looking around, as I was not enjoying my editorial assistant po-sition, and came across the ad for a photographer up here,” he said. “I answered the ad, and here I am.” He called the great part about his job “actually making a difference with creativity. the annoying part, honestly, has to be people who credit the equipment for the image. One doesn’t credit the spatula or the stove for a great meal.”

how has photography and photojournalism changed since he’s been at the Trail? “When I started at the Trail, digital photography was just beginning to hit the mainstream. the big papers had already started using digital cameras, but we were still using film. I would have to look back through our archives, but I think it was 2002 when the Trail finally got a pro-grade digi-tal camera. I had to write the proposal to get it.”

although there are few “typical” days in his career, Hester described his process of working. “If I have an assignment, I will show up, assess the area, see where the best angles are, look for things in the background that will enhance or detract from the image, assess whether I will need a flash, get all of my camera settings dialed in. if I don’t have a specific assignment, I will walk or drive around looking for something that sparks my imagination or interest. once the image is captured, I’ll head back to my laptop computer to download. I’ll pull up images to compare, see which one works best, then pull it up in Photoshop to see if there are any flares from the lens glass or dust from the images sensor. then, I will send it where it needs to go. if it’s a personal project, I’ll either send it to one of my own printers or off to someone else who can print it in the size and man-ner I need,” he said.

Among the qualities needed to be a great photographer is a third eye.

“A great photographer cannot only capture what is in front of him or her,” Hester said, “but possibly see and capture more than what most see. maybe there is a better angle, something that brings another element into the image that makes it more interesting, telling or just beautiful. everyone has a camera these days, but not everyone is capturing, for example, the eyes of an Afghan refugee girl like Steve McCurry did. new York was crawling with photographers on 9/11, but we remember just a few images from that day. Even within that, I’ve seen several angles of the firefighters erecting the flag at Ground zero, but only one was made into a stamp…. Photographers look for things that will tell the story, as much as possible, in one or just a few images. the images have to capture attention, as well. What good is telling the story if no one wants to hear it?”

to tell the story, Hester generally has an idea of what he wants when he goes out.

“I will have an image in my head, but I have to be flexible. A better image may present itself. Most of the time, the images turn out the way I imagined, but once in a while, something will show up in the image that I didn’t see, some little detail that I missed,” he said.

He has shot with a Nikon since the first autumn he worked here. When he really started pursuing photography, he bought an old Pentax K-1000.

“A girlfriend had one and I thought it worked well, for the money. Eventually, I bought another Pentax and photographed with both. When I got the job with the Trail, I started photographing with these cameras every day. I found out in a few months that they were not made to do that. They failed, while I was photographing a hockey game. Western 1-Hour photo carried Nikon, so that’s what I bought. Now that digital resolution has improved so much, I only shoot digitally. I’m very happy with the results.”

have there been any photos that “got away”?

“I remember the first time I saw moose in the park,” he said. “I can’t remember the assignment, but a former reporter, Lizzy Scully, and I were at the Colorado River trailhead on the west side early one morning. I had my old 4×4 with a manual transmission. I saw the two young bulls and got so excited that I forgot the car was still on and in gear. I reached around to get my camera, letting my foot off of the clutch, sending the car into fits. I pushed down on the clutch as the moose started a bit. once everything was settled, I quickly forgot again, reaching back again, stalling out the engine and scaring the moose.”

Now, he tries “to keep my eyes open and my camera at the ready. I heard a saying awhile back that I’ve taken to heart; Luck favors the prepared. I keep that in mind whenever I leave my house…. I shoot something like 40,000 images a year. I’ll capture a couple hundred images a day. ‘The One’ is usually a feeling. if I really like what I see in my view finder, I’m pretty sure I have what I want.”

Is there a favorite photo or subject?

“There have been so many images,” he said. “Among my images, it’s difficult to choose a favorite. if we mean all-time, I love Ansel Adams’ ‘Moonrise over Hernandez, NM.’ Joel Sartore shot a story along with Garrison Keillor for National Geographic about state fairs. the faces and the color and light, they tell the story and are just beautiful. There are plenty more images, but those are the ones that stick out right now.”

Oddly, Hester said, what inspires him is often the same thing that challenges him.

“The history and spirit of the masters is always hanging over me,” he said. “How would Ansel Adams shoot this? how would Galen Rowell, Thomas Mangleson, Steve McCurry or James Natchwey shoot this? how do I take what they have done but make it my own vision and perspective?

Photography provides Hester with a way to share his art and make a positive difference.

“Art is an expression,” he said. “Sometimes it’s joy, sometimes frustration, sometimes just the beauty or light in the everyday life. I think it helps us cope with life, to enjoy expressions we may not have seen, whether it’s music, paintings, poetry or photography. I think art helps promote the parks. Albert Bierstadt returned to Washington with paintings of the West and people thought he was making it up. the scenes were too beautiful. Painters and photographers have been helping promote parks and encourage politicians to preserve wild spaces since the start of the parks.”

the RMNP residency provides an important opportunity for Hester to focus on his project, “without quite as much pressure associated with trying to crank out three publications a week,” he said. “…This residency is part of a bigger book project. This will be a chance to see, up close, the hard work that goes into keeping this park going in the face of some 3 million annual visitors. the book project is all about how we, as Coloradans, live, work and enjoy the outdoors….

“…It’s funny, in school, I took a class with ‘Dr. Colorado,’ Tom Noel, called ‘History of the National Parks.’ One field trip involved a drive into the park to see the Moraine Park Museum and the Artists’ Cabin. I knew of the significance of the cabin about 12 years ago. I’ve photographed a lot of the artists who have been through it and I’ve even kept in contact with one. Not so coincidentally, the artist is Leah Raintree, of whom I photographed a portrait in the big, west window that looks out into Moraine Park. It’s my favorite portrait I’ve taken in the cabin. and now, getting to stay there, myself, it’s all the more exciting.”

Hester thinks he will apply for more artists’ residencies.

“Worst thing that could happen is they say ‘no,’” he said.

as for future projects, he said, “I’m just trying to get through this one. if I travel, I’ll photograph whatever is there. my mother and her husband have a cabin on an island in Lake Huron, just on the east side of the Straits of Mackinac. I’d love to photograph the island, as well as the finish of the Chicago to Mackinac yacht race.”

Among important influences are “the girlfriend I was dating who I really credit for the first steps into this, Molly Jarboe. she is now a photojournalist for the Buffalo News in Buffalo, N.Y. she would sneak me into the darkroom with her and showed me how to develop film and make prints. Kenn Bisio down at Metro State got me hooked on photojournalist and photo essay work. all of the other photographers I’ve already named. Also W. Eugen Smith, Margaret Bourke-White, Gordon Parks, William Allen Allard and too many more to name. my father, who is calm in almost any situation. my mother, who is absolutely tenacious, my step-mom, who is brilliant, and my funny and supportive wife and my funny, creative daughter,” Hester said.

He borrows his philosophy from the “Life is Good” folks: “Do what you love. Love what you do.” to aspiring photographers/photojournalists, he suggests, ” do it because you love it. Everything that is good will follow, if you do this work because you love it.”

Besides that recalcitrant moose, Hester still wants to photograph a lot more national parks: Yosemite, Denali, Glacier; and the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia bicycle races.

“I’d love to photograph more ranches and cowboys and spend some time on reservations docu-menting the lives of Native Americans today,” he said.

His photos are available for purchase at walthester.smugmug.com. Visit his website at walthester.com to see more work, including wedding photos. For more information, email him .

What is something most people don’t know about him? “My late great-uncle, Don Carpenter, was a judge in Greeley when I was growing up. After I moved here and met some people out at MacGregor Ranch, I was informed that he was the judge who cleared the way for the ranch to receive historical designation. I seem to have roots in Estes Park that go much farther back than my own arrival,” Hester said.

helloo! i'm entering a photography contest, so i've been taking pictures on my digital camera, and i want to get a few of them developed and then decide which one to enter. where can i get them developed?

thank u in advance!

take them to any one hour photo

White House Custom Colour. All the other places are horrible. (That I've tried)

Before you have them printed… scrutinize them on your computer.

Why pay for prints if you aren't happy with what you shot?

It's a photo contest… I'd recommend new York Camera before using any drug store – a pro shop will do a pro job.

Nuff said.
.

Walgreens.. trust me I've been running my photo lab there for 4 years- we're about quality not quantity. and we have over 6,500 locations just check out WPHOTO.COM if you sign up online & send to the store it will be 19 cents per print and there are coupons that will save you money- just check out the store locator to view your local store's weekly ad flyer & there will be a code to enter once you check out online. We do glossy prints in store but if you want matte prints, go to the Walgreens and ask if you order 4×5.3 on the kiosk will it print on matte (majority of our stores no longer carry 4'' glossy paper and so it will be done on matte paper, which looks much nicer.) or you can order matte prints online & have them sent to your house.

please don't go to wal mart or cvs- i say this cos i have had literally hundreds of customers come to walgreens cos wal mart is terrible at getting prints done on time & they're bad quality and cvs is notorious for also having bad quality prints. i'm serious.

either way good luck in the contest!

my singapore passport. What size of special papaer to use to
print the 6 or 12 no passport size photos. Don't tell me go to
photo company as they charge too expensive.

~~7.99 is too expensive?~~
The Walgreens by my house has a sign out, 7.99 passport photos.
I would think the special paper for them is more than that.

In the US, they won't take computer printed pictures, nor ones taken by yourself.

This is probably byinternatinal treaty, so likely similar or same in Singapore.

Please check the specific requirements for photos on your country's passport web site so you are not disappointed.

Teh cost for the photos here in the US is about 10 dollars – less then 2 lunches at a fast food place. is it really more in Singapore?

If you have a good printer and use good paper then there is virtually no difference between yours and any photo company so the lot above me are all mistaken in saying that it cannot be done..still I would personally go to a photo booth, it is bound to save you a load of time and effort.
however if you are undeterred then
irfanview can be useful here http:irfanview.com
and also Picasa should be able to help sleekbytes.com/picasa-google.…
they are both free.
You should experiment with cheaper paper first, so as to get the size right.

You should be able to use any photo software that came with your camera or printer. just resize and crop the photo to the requirements that you need in Singapore. Go to the government website and find the exact dimensions.

That's what I did here in the USA before my trip to China this summer. I found the photos I took myself and printed at home were cheaper and much better than the ones taken a the local shop.

I have a home printer and the pictures look really good. but, how will they look a few years down the road? Should I always take my digital pictures to a photo lab?

If you print your digital pictures on photo paper at high resolution the prints will last just as long as those that are developed professionally. The great thing about digital photos is that the actual stored digital image will NEVER degrade, so you can always re-print those pictures if they start to fade or curl and the re-prints will be just as sharp as the day you took them. not so with traditional photos — negatives degrade over time, so re-prints will never be as clear or colorful as the original prints.

Depends on the paper and ink used. Ilford is making a high quality paper now.On the ink I stick with what the printer manufacturer suggest. if keep out of direct sun light extremes of hot and cold it should be good for years to come.
but quality wise short of buying a 30,000 die sublimation printer the quality isn't quite there, but once its on the wall and behind glass no one can tell the difference.

the answer to that entirely depends on what printer you have, what paper you use and where the final print is displayed.

if you have a basic ink-jet with decent quality paper and choose to print an 8×10 and display it in the hallway. it will last about 7-10 yrs before experience fading.

quality in printers goes like this.
ink-jet=good
pigment=better/best
dye-sub=best

paper quality to think best about this you have to remember "you get what you pay for"

where you display the print. if you print an image for archival for a book and the image protected by poly then yes; you will more than likely be able to keep the image for a long time.

things that kill a print are….handling, sunlight, handling, more light, and handling. im sure you get the point.

in all seriousness, if you want a print 8×10 or larger you should consider a chemical lab print on photo/archival paper.

the choice to take all your prints to a lab is a personal one. for me i ask the questions. what am i doing with the print? who is going to see it? and what is the possible future of the print? meaning will it be handled and laid out on the dash of a car.

something else to consider. cd's only have a shelf life of 5-7 yrs. you will one day pull out a cd and try to access the images and the files will go corrupt for no apparrent reason. remember cd's are tiny bits of magnitized data arranged in a circle. changes in temperature and humidity and time have an effect on the quality of the cd's data. remember to date your cd's and reburn them and place back in storage after the expiration date. a pain i know but part of the price you pay for an all digital world.

Since you have asked the question I am assuming you have not spent thousands of dollars on your computer equipment, and printer. and I am also assuming you have not had your computer, monitor, and printer calibrated to one another. so in short no they won't.

Now by professional do you mean the pimple faced student behind the counter at Walmart or do you mean a real photo lab professional? again I will make an assumption that you will be going to Walmart. you photos will still be better than your home printer that came free with your computer and who's replacement value is less than the new ink cartridges that you need.

I am a semi pro photographer and am not very happy with what people consider good these days. like most things now the largest factor in determining if something is good or not is quantity rather than quality.

Bottom line, you get what you pay for.

Well I think when you develop professionally they last longer because there is no ink in the process
you have photos from 1900 and before that look good.
I think the home made print with the ink won't last for a long time

It's pretty much like what "Itshowmuch" and "luke7785" suggest. However, let's understand one thing, UV light is one of the most harmful environmental effects on any images and you can protect with plastic (yes, like Plexiglas). but, there are other factors that, likewise, can/will affect the image: humidity, heat (temperature), and aerosol sprays from "air fresheners" and cleaners (for windows, furniture, etc) that may be in the immediate environment.

Some archival inks and some archival papers claim "Guaranteed to last 100 years" but digital tech hasn't been around in commercial use more than a handful of years… how do you know that claim has validity… by THEIR "laboratory" studies and conclusions? Don't believe commercial hype; it's only intended to separate you from your money. There is a great need for standards to be established for the many archival papers, the different paper finishes, the archival projections and the same with the inks and dyes; the digital industry seems to be dragging their proverbial feet in coming to an agreement in many standard issues… archival issues is but one.

Re-read the information provided by "Itshowmuch" on the lifespan of images on CDs; it is most important, and it is, likewise, important that you continue backing up your files or risk loss of image files.

It's not only that you get what you pay for, as suggested by "Luke 7785," but it's the price you pay for convenience over quality. Digital images printed at home are only as good as the printer used, and the archival inks and paper used.

Personally, I believe that we've been duped into believing that digital tech is "superior" to film tech by the industries that are now spending less in their manufacturing processes and charging more… they're making bigger profits by deceiving the public to forego or compromise quality over convenience. my family still has prints of my great-grandmother when she was a very young girl during the 1880s… and THAT you can rest assured was not digital technology! I have images of my parents, taken in the 30s and 40s, photos of my older brother an me as children during the 50s with inexpensive cameras and "commercial" films available to non-professional photographers of the day… also not digital technology.

George Schaub, Editorial Director of Shutterbug (Photography) Magazine, educator, technician, etc., in the September 2006 issue states, "In traditional prints on fiber papers, the image seems to emerge from the paper with a glow and resonance unmatched by any printing process. Inkjet prints are created by laying ink down onto the paper, and while pigmented inks do blend somewhat more with paper fibers they simply are not a match for a brilliant silver print. There's no question that detail and resolution in a digital print can match any projection print, but it's in the surface of the image, that intangible window through which we view the image, that inkjet shows its differences and where silver is unmatched."

You can't possibly afford to buy the archival inks and papers that professional photolab companies routinely use every day of operation. if you have an 8" x 10" or larger image, go with the professionals; there's a reason why they're in the business… but stay away from those cheapo Walmart and K-Mart and other "bargains" because you WILL get what you pay for!

To answer your question, the images you print at home will not last as long as those printed professionally by a photolab that specializes in printing digital images.

They claim 200 years, are you going to be around at that time??

You can not display (frame) them for to long, they fade. if you keep them in album, probably they last.
I start to print them, it was easy, the best paper and the recomended ink, but after just 18 months I saw the changes, when I visited some of my customers, I did not say anything but I was worry about it.
They did not see changes, but my trained eye did; I still digital, but print with chemestry, only for samples I go digital printing, is faster.

Resolution doesn't mean anything if your printing on cheap paper. Resolution is about pixels and sizing.
If you are using cheap ink in your printer, and your printing on some old paper you found in your desk then this will not last as long as a picture you have developed from film. then again, it depends how you are storing these pictures as well.

Digital is always great because like mentioned before you can always make copies if you have the files. its harder to save negatives then it is to save files on a computer.

I always love the beauty of a real camera as supposed to the digital cameras. I believe the natural lighting and non anti-aliasing makes for a true picture

How long they last will depend on the printer you are using and the quality of the ink. if you get an archival paper and an archival ink, they might last 100 years

The advent of the digital camera has opened up many wonderful options when it comes to storing and using your pictures. it has never been easier and tidier to keep your pictures than in these days when they can all rest peacefully and discreetly in your computer.

Of course, there is always the problem of getting them. With a real, physical photo album, you had only to take it off the shelf and sit down with a cup of hot cocoa and flip through the pages reminiscing. When you store your photos in your computer rather than on your shelf you don