TECHNOLOGY — Minneapolis Wedding, Event and Portrait Photography by Austin Images

New iPhone and AT&T

June 18, 2009 By Susan Leave a Comment

Lots of stuff going on regarding the newest releases
of upgrades for the Apple iPhone. Lots of disgruntled
folks out there feeling the pain. Also, the newest
iPhone will be available tomorrow morning 6/19)!
However, I woke to discover that, overnight, AT&T had \lifted
restrictions due to the wide spread pandemonium over
contracts and puts me poised for a new phone!
So I will join my brother-in-law, Doug, at the Mall
of America early tomorrow morning.
Not going to go 32Gs, that’s just insane!
Think I’ll stick with the 16Gs.

Going out on my first “Rock The Senior” shoot today.
Something I thought up to enhance the tradtional
senior session. Kind of like a “Trash The Dress” but
I didn’t dare refer to it as “Trash The Senior”!

Here, I will approach the shoot like I always do then
stop, switch it up with radical hair and make-up
(being a hairdresser for 28 years helps), and go into
more dramatic imagery. The guys are welcome too.
A teeny bit of eyeliner and some whacked out hair
or a hop in the lake will transcend your traditional
session into more of a fashion editorial look.
I canNOT wait to get started! Spots are limited
throughout the summer but be sure to visit my
Rock The Senior group page on Facebook and check here
periodically for gallery additions.

Think you can handle it? Refer 3 friends and earn a
FREE Rock The Senior session!

Let’s ROCK!

Filed Under: Seniors, Technology/Tools Tagged With: ROCK THE SENIOR, senior portraits, TECHNOLOGY

Are You Ready?

June 12, 2009 By Susan 1 Comment

How long have we been waiting for the “switch to digital“.
I mean, Holy Hannah, bring it on already and quit talking
about it. Are YOU ready? YES! I’ve been ready for over a
year now! Let’s GO!

Got another “fisheye” lens today.
I wasn’t certain that the Canon 15mm 2.8 actually distorted
enough so I purchased the Sigma 10mm 2.8 to compare and
it arrived today WHOA! Now THAT’S some distortion!

I’ll post my comparisons later. Pretty cool tho’.

Filed Under: Technology/Tools Tagged With: TECHNOLOGY

About Face(book).

February 20, 2009 By Susan Leave a Comment

This will be the last time I talk about Facebook.
Having been in the news a lot, recently, regarding
their “privacy policies” just seemed to tip the scale
for me. That said, I made the decision, on Wednseday night,
to yank my account for the last time. I mean, really,
I can get across everything I need to right here on my blog,
you know, the old fashioned way! So, freedom once more!
If you need to know what projects I’m up to or planning,
just c’mon back here to my blog as I will attempt to
make a move in the direction of keeping this more about
my work than my life. With the wedding season just around
the corner, that should be easy!

I’ve also decided to give mobile me a go. It’s totally
awesome! I’ve kind of been lurking around it for a year
or so but decided, Wednesday, to take it for a spin.
This will simplify everything for me as it magically
connects my laptop, my iPhone and my desktop computers
without docking my phone!
I enter a meeting in my phone and it goes to both of
my other computers and vise~versa. TOtally cool!
I mean, I rarely pulled up my iCal on my laptop because
it wouldn’t be current…problem solved.
This is really a no brainer, I’ll be signing up in 60 days.
Thanks Apple!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: RANT, spiffy tools, TECHNOLOGY

Where does the time go?

December 29, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

This has been a whirl-wind holiday season
so far. I don’t even know where to start.
Christmas..wait, was that already nearly
a week ago? That means that New Years Eve is
in 2 days, holy Hannah!

We all gathered at the Baker’s in Chanhassen
(my sister & brother-in-laws) for Christmas Eve
then on Christmas day, Gary and I hosted Gary’s
family here at our home.

My friend Jo came up from Albert Lea on Monday
and got in on all the Craig crazy goings on.
She even joined me on a Hilton greeting last
Friday.It was great having her here.

I’d be posting a ton of images but as fate
would have it I had to send my flash card out
to recover the files. Thank God that they were
all recoverable. I had 3 Hilton Families on there
from the day after Christmas and 2 losses for
NILMDTS on the same card. I never cried so hard
as I did when I discovered that. It was like I
suffered yet another loss.
But as God would have it, my good friend Dave
Johnson up at National Camera was able to recover
all of the images on that card.

Note to everyone….when you get an indication
that your card is corrupt, TOSS IT OUT! Do not
attempt to reuse it. It could and very likely
will corrupt again.
In my case it was the first time that I’ve actually
witnessed corruption and I’ll tell you what,
it ain’t fun.

That said, if you run into this sort of thing
with your digital files, contact me and I will put
you in touch with someone who can help.
It’s expensive in a lot of cases but well worth it.
I’ll be picking up my CDs tomorrow with the files
on them and returning the CF card to B&H out in
New York.

Today, Gary and I attended a funeral for a father
of a friend of ours, Randy Blackowiak. It was sudden,
a heart attack they think. His father was 75.
His mother passed away about this same time 4 years
ago…Randy now hates Christmas. God Bless you all.

The big New Years Eve Gala for the Miracles of Mitch
Foundation is just 2 days away! Come and Join us!!

I’m off this week and plan to relax (outside of
the New Years Eve Gala) then like everyone else,
I will hit the gym…two months until Mexico! yikes!

I’ll post a ton of images after I get those images
back in my hand!

God bless!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: TECH trouble, TECHNOLOGY

More Snow.

December 7, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

More of the white stuff on the way.
Gary will drive right into it on his way
home from South Dakota. YIKES.

I’m officially done Christmas shopping as
of today. YAY! Well, that doesn’t necessarily
mean that I won’t shop more, I’m just done with
all the required gift buying!
Now it’s onto the fun stuff..ME!

Let’s see, I already got myself the flip video
camera which I am aDORing! But I think that’s
what everyone should do, just go out and get
themsELVES a little somthin’ somthin’ and call
it a day…I think that’s why the word “elves”
is in “themselves”..hmmmmmmmmm~ good one!

I’m posting a video that I shot with my flip.
It’s Boo and his first Christmas tree experience.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: BOO, cat fun, fun companies, goodies, spiffy tools, TECHNOLOGY, videos

Facebook.

August 31, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

WOW. I thought blogging was awesome. Well, I still do
but this Facebook thing is…well…let’s just not
tell Gary. He already thinks that I sit here far too
often for far too long.

I’ve been blogging for a little over 2 years now and I
really and truly enjoy it. I have to thank Gary Fong
for the heads up on blogging. I heard about it through
him and started right in. It’s changed the way I work,
network and communicate…so basically, in a nutshell
it’s changed my life.

I thoroughly enjoy this means in which I can share my
passion for my craft. I can share with more people and
I think that’s pretty darn cool.

But back to Facebook…this phenomenon, albeit another
thing to keep track of, has launched me deeper into
the world of connectivity. I mean holy hanna (which by
the way I just learned is the next hurricane from a new
friend in Florida, Pedro Diaz…hey Pedro!)
The only trouble with the fact that I can talk to whom
ever I wish is that I can’t get anything done while doing
so. Like when you’re on the phone you can at least rest the
receiver between your shoulder and your chin and open a beer
or fold some wash or feed the cat…not so much
with a keyboard. Hmmmm…Steve Jobs…there’s a money maker
for ya! You heard it here first, folks…the forearm, wifi
keyboard. I’ll keep you informed of my prototypes that are
forthcoming!

I think I’ve had too much coffee this morning…ya think?

Alright, anyway..add me as a friend on your facebook and I’ll
do the same.

Last night Gary and I went across the street for a little
BBQ action and a bonfire. We always have fun with the Springers!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: TECHNOLOGY

Kindle

June 19, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

Do you own a Kindle?
I am a self proclaimed non-book reader.
I don’t know what happened to me but at
an early age I decided that books were for
school. Now, please don’t confuse not wanting
to read with not being able to read.
Rest assured I can read.

That said, I have to remark that I have
indeed read many books but
I also must add that they are never in the
“novel” category…I am most likely to read
a biography or a “how-to” or even a, oh, I
don’t know….a DIET book or 4 (who’s counting).
So I think that I’m not really convinced, at
this stage in the game, to shell out the $400
to just “look cool”. For now, I’d rather get 7
tanks of gas!

Moving on.

Today I am going to meet with an old friend
for lunch. His name is Dan Butter. Our families
grew up near one another and we attended then,
and do now, the same church. Dan has an interest
in photography and wants to discuss career moves
with me. I was flattered when I got the call.
I look forward to seeing him later today and I’ll
share more on that tomorrow.

How about Twitter? I love that application.
Do you twitter? Staja Studios just started!

So, here’s a shot I took of Pat Benatar at the Starkey Gala last Saturday.

My friend, Cheryl MacLennan, made mention that
one or more of my images would get published.
How cool is that (at the risk of tooting my
own horn!)??

Have a great day…we need the rain that’s coming
but Iowa doesn’t….Pray.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: cool opportunities, Involvements, product information, spiffy tools, TECHNOLOGY