Save, Backup, Format... Repeat

It is almost the end of January, so I am past due for my end of the year backup... something good to do on a cold winter day, like today. Backing up your digital files is something you should be doing all the time, but I like to do a double backup after each year and also get some old stuff off my computer.

Let me start at the begging of what you should be doing to help to not lose those favorite memories... No matter what you use to take pictures; DSLR Camera, point and shoot camera or just your phone you should regularly be saving and backing up those files, because things can happen and you will lose them forever. Phones and memory cards can easily be broken, get lost, stolen or just go bad and quite working. Even if your phone or memory card can hold 2,000 photos that doesn't mean you should leave 2,000 on them.

When should I save them to the computer? Often! For me I save the pics form my camera, off the memory card, after every event or thing I photographed. For my phone I try to do it at least once a month.

How do I save them? Every computer, camera and phone is different, but for me I use the copy and paste method (on Windows). I put my card in the SD reader or plug my phone or camera in with the USB cord. When I do that  a window will pop up asking what you want to do, click "open folder to view files".

 If it doesn't pop up, go to your "computer" and double click on the icon for what you want to open. Once you have opened all the folders and can view your files and select all (ctrl-a) or select what you want to copy (click 1st image hold shift key, click last image you want). Once they are selected (in blue) right click once and click "copy" on the menu (ctrl-c). When I am saving pictures I make a folder in "My Pictures" named the date or what the pictures are of. Open the folder, then right click in it, click paste (ctrl-v) and your files will show up there. Now your photos are saved on your computer.

Now it is time to back them up, save them some place off the computer. This is also very important, because computers can crash, die or be stolen and if that happens and they are not saved off the computer they can be gone for good. I had this happen and lost a few months of photos I didn't have backed up yet, so now I try to do it right after saving them on my computer. Once again I use the copy and paste method, but instead of selecting files I select the folder or folders I want and then same thing to copy and paste them.

What do I save them to off of my computer? I use a portable hard drive, right now I am using a 500GB drive and it has almost every photo and file on it from 2005  (since I went digital with my photography) to today. This is my third portable hard drive, yes they also can go bad, after a few years of using them they might start to not open up all the time or just acting up, at that point I go get a new one. Of course each time I have gotten a new one I have gotten a larger one (more storage, smaller in physical size) for less. You can also use a USB Flash Drive (memory stick) like a 16GB or 32GB (or bigger) or an SD Card, just depends on how many photos you take. I find the portable hard drive handy, it is small and everything is on it, so I can easily find files when I need them and take them all with me on the go.

Now it is a new year and time for me to do a double back up. What do I mean by that? At the first of the each year I make sure I have everything backed up again, some where else and then for me I put that backup in my fire proof safe. I use to do this by burning files to DVDs, but this year I bought USB Flash Drives from Sam's Club to save files to and then put away for safe keeping. After I do this I then delete things off my computer. For me I only keep pictures from the past year on my computer, so I move all folders of picture to a folder with the year on it. Right now on my computer there is a folder that says 2013 with all of the photos from 2013 in it and I have deleted the folder from 2012. That means for right now I have 2013's photos saved in 3 places, 2012 and everything past in two places and all new photos for 2014 will be saved in two places as I take them. I also backup any document files I have made over the year the same way and then delete any I don't think I will need, but know they are saved if I do need them.

The files are all saved now what? Format! This is for memory cards in cameras only, I don't know of a way or need to do this with a phone. After you have saved all your images and put your card back into your camera you need to format it. Why and what is formatting? Formatting your card is like cleaning it. Keeping it working good and "talking" to your camera correctly. Cards can go bad, but this is one way to try to prevent that. Formatting your card WILL delete everything off of it, both what you can see and what you can't. A "memory" can build up on the card and over time not hold as much if you just delete them, formatting will clean it all off.  Also, you need format if you get a new card or the card was used in a different camera or device, it helps it "talk" to the camera and work better.

Remember to always Save, Backup, Format and Repeat often to help keep you memories forever.

The Camp Price is Right

This summer for our 4-H Jr. camp I put together a Price is Right event, to go along with our TV theme. I thought I would try to share a little about what all I made and how.



The idea started with Plinko, I have a friend that built a Plinko wall and he said I could use it. Then to find more games I started looking on Pinterest for ideas on how to build the Price is Right. I found some good examples of Punch an Bunch and how to make it, but that was about it to start with. Next I went to Google, found a few more ideas, like the Cliff Hanger game, but needed more. Then I went to Wikapeda and found a full list of the Price is Right games, currant and past games, with descriptions of each game (printed that out). That was very helpful, then it was going through and deciding what I thought was doable and refreshing my memory on how some of them was played. That meant next was watching videos online of the games being played. While watching them I took notes of thins on the set like colors and set ups. I also did Google Image search and printed out examples of the set and games so I could go by them when making my props.

The games I decided on doing... of course Plinko and played it two times, sicne I went through all the work to get it. Then Punch a Bunch, Cliff Hanger, Hole in One, and The Clock Game.

Plinko was easy to make, because it was already made all I did was make the Plinko sign to at the top. I thought about making the color edging to go all around it like on the show, but time didn't allow for that in the end.

The Punch a Bunch wall took more work then I thought it would, but I found instructions on Pinterest to help out with giving me an idea on how to make it. I got peace of pallet card board and cut circles out based on how many fit on the card board, the circles was the size of a paper bag opening. Then spray painted it gray and covered the holes with tissue paper. I wrote dollar amounts on paper and put them on the back of the holes, then taped the paper bags on the back. If I was to make it again I would make it a little smaller for less work, it only got three punches to it when played and I had over 20 holes.

Making the Punch a Bunch

For the Cliff Hanger game I also started with a piece of pallet card board (I get them where I work, large card board will work). After cutting an angle across the top I spray painted it gray. I printed out the numbers on yellow paper to go across the top and hand painted the mountains on the gray board. For the the yodeler man I found a printable image on a Google image search, attached it to card board with a handle under him. I also found a website online with sound clips, mp3s, of Prices is Right sounds, I found the yodeling music there. To hold the Punch a Bunch and the Cliff hanger I clipped them to light stands from my studio.

The Clock Game was nice and easy, for the most part just poster board and orange paper. I made the clock face in Photoshop and printed it in sections on orange paper. I made an arrow out of black craft foam and attached it with a paper fastener. One of my camp counselors held it and moved the arrow as the game was played.






Hole in One was the other game I made, at first I wasn't going to make it, because I didn't want to build a putt-putt. Then I found a putting green and hole at a yard sale, so that made it easier. I made the Hole in One sign out of poster board and it was two sided with Hole in Two on the back. I printed out the gulf ball and text, then for the white and yellow lines on it I used colored electrical tape. I put white lines with tape on the green part of the putting green, then made the flags for each item to be placed on the lines. The flags are out of craft foam, pipe and Styrofoam in plastic cups to hold the flags.

For all the games and signs I found a website with links to fonts that closely match those used on the game show. For the most part I designed everything to be printed out in Photoshop and Publisher.

Other things I made for the stage was the contestant stands and the final show down stands. I made both out of poster board from the dollar store and taped them to the front of the table. I used dollar store table clothes for the backdrop behind the contestant stands and cut them in to strips. For the game show "doors" I used two dollar store shower curtains and printed out the logo I made on paper and taped it to the curtains . I hung the curtains on a background stand from my photography equipment. For the big wheel I borrowed a prize wheel and decorated it (it was down last and I ran out of time to make it really pretty). I found graphics online like the dollar sign and name tag by doing Google image searches. I printed the name tags on 8.5x11 label paper and then the campers name was wrote on it in maker when their name got picked.

After games where picked and had started making them I started on the script... to do this I found a website with Transcripts from episodes of the show. I went on there and copied and pasted the games I was playing and all the other parts of the show, then went through and changed all the items, prizes, etc. to the stuff I was using, for them to bid on. For the items they would bid on most of it was stuff I found around my house, some of it was just print out and some was funny stuff just to be silly. They didn't get take home those items, but they all got prizes to take home based on there showcase. Prize was toys and candy that went along with what they was bidding on, such as match box cars and puzzles with pictures of places they could go. (if I can find a way to attach my script, I will add it later).

The adult staff the camp was "stars", one male adult staff played Drew, I put his script on cards for him to refer to. A second male adult staff was the announcer and operated the sound equipment. A female adult staff member played the role of the Barker's Beauty. I was the director and trying to take pics of it. We also had three of our last year camp counselors help with setting up and running the games.

Then it was time for the campers to come on down!

How To Photograph Fireworks with DSLR Camera

It's that time of year, Fourth of July and lots of fireworks, since college one of my favorite things to do is photograph them. When I was in college, photography school, my first year when it was close to the Fourth of July  my teacher taught us how to photograph fireworks... it wasn't at all how I thought you would do it, but since then been doing it that way and getting great pictures.

What do you need; a DSLR Camera (Digital Single Lens Reflex or in simple terms a camera with removable lens and manual mode) and a Tripod (doesn't need to be a big expensive one, but sturdy and strong enough to hold your camera). Once you find a good spot to watch the fireworks show, level and with a clear view, then set up your camera on the tripod. Now for the settings on the camera....

Camera on Manual Mode

1st - put your camera on Manual Mode, M on the settings dial.
2nd - Shutter Speed, set your shutter speed to "Bulb", on my Nikon do that by pressing the shutter button part way down, then when the shutter speed and F-stop shows up on your top screen use the thumb toggle to change the shutter speed. Bulb is normally the last or close to the last shutter speed setting. The bulb setting means the shutter stays open as long as you hold the shutter button down.

Camera Shutter Speed set on Bulb

3rd - F-stop, I like to have it on
F-5.6 or something close to that.
4th - ISO, the best ISO is 200 (most cameras default to that). You may be thinking low light need a high ISO, but not the case this time. ISO 200 will get you more vivid colors and very little grain or "noise" then the higher ISOs. (ISO is International Standards Organisation and it measures the sensitivity of the image sensor.)
5th - Focus on infinity, you will have to turn your auto focus off. Infinity on the lens is when the focusing ring on the lens is all the way twisted to the right, at the end of the numbers on your lens there is an infinity symbol (sideways 8), when you get to it you are focused on infinity.

Now you have your camera set on all the right settings and on the tripod, the show is about ready to start now what... Watch the fist one go up through you view finder and make sure you camera is pointed in the right spot. When a fireworks starts going up click the shutter button and continue to hold it down till after the firework goes off and starts to fade away. This will get the tale of the firework going up and the entire boom and full effect of it. You can also hold it down for more then one firework to get multiples in your photo. Try not to bump the camera or move around too much while holding it down, this is why you need a tripod to help with keep it steady. Once I know I have the camera aimed right at the show I normally stand behind my camera and tripod with my finger on the shutter button and watch the show, as one goes up I click down and then let off when it is done, no need to look in the view finder each time because it will black out and you will miss the explosion (and I wouldn't recommend using the back screen for this either, for those that you can).

That's it, hope that I explained it well, first time I have tried to explain it in writing... have fun taking firework pictures!

www.cindysportraits.com

Why It Is Ok to Get a Live Christmas Tree... Harvesting My Tree

It's that time of year again, Christmas and time for one of my favorite traditions, getting my Christmas tree. Yes I get a live tree and love it and there is nothen wrong with getting a fake tree. I understand a live tree isn't for everyone, you may be allergic, not like the up keep and clean up, don't have the extra to buy a new tree every year, what ever your reason that is fine, but it isn't ok for me. I love the look, smell, fill and memories that come with a real tree. Before I get into memories and tradition, there is something bothering me. I have seen on social media a few comments made about it being bad or wrong to get a live tree, what, no it isn't!

Why I feel it is not wrong or bad to get a live tree... as long as it comes from a farm, that is. I have seen comments like, I think it sad to see a perfectly good tree be cut down or you shouldn't cut down a tree for Christmas, really is it wrong to cut down corn or soybeans on farms too? No it isn't, so going to a Christmas tree farm to get your Christmas tree is not wrong either. Why, because those trees are planted, trimmed and groomed all year long to be sold at Christmas time and then new trees are planted in their place. So, there is no loss of trees in the end, just like a farmer harvest their corn and soybeans in the fall and replants them in the spring, the same process is done on tree farms. Also, if that tree farm wasn't there most likely those trees would not be there. This year I got my tree form 4-H Camp Ohio (Woodridge Tree Farm) and I remember when where they now grow trees it was just open grassy fields. A lot of time tree farms are planted on land that may be hard to grow traditional crops, due to reasons like step hills or not the right type of soil.

I grew up with live trees and have many of great memories from them. Growing up we would go to southern Ohio to Dickess Tree Farm to get our tree. Dickess tree farm is on land that was my great grandma's families original homestead and farm. I loved going there with the family, running the hills, picking out a tree and visiting the family there. My dad would get nice big trees, some times so big we had to tie them to the wall to keep them up and then we would all help decorate it. That is where my love of live trees comes from and thou I haven't been able to make it down there since I started buying my own trees, it is still my favorite place and best memories of getting a tree (hope some day to go back, it is just very far from where I now live).

There is work to having a live tree, you have remember to water it and make sure it doesn't dry out (don't want to have a fire), the the cleaning up after it goes out and that is not for everyone. For me I think it is all worth it for the memories that come with a live tree and supporting local farmers.

A Walk on Campus... Thinking Back to Photography School



OSU Library on our tour,my little college
could fit in the attic of it.


 Last Saturday I got to go to the OSU vs. IL football game with some friends, Go Bucks! For the most part only one of the friends in the group went to The Ohio State University, I am not counting the three Continuing Ed classes I took once, so only one graduated from OSU. It was a cool but nice fall day on campus, we got there early and decided to take a walk around the campus, most in the group hadn't seen the ins and outs of it before. The cool part is we got Dan's Historical education tour, when he went to school there he took the time to learn all kinds of cool facts and history of the campus. As we walked past the many buildings once again I thought back to my days in college and how I didn't experience the "campus life" when I went to college and I sometimes think "should I have done it different?".

Before I answer that let me go back and give a little of my school history... in the ninth grade I took a photography class in high school, I already had a strong interest in photography from taking it as a 4-H project. One day in that photography class the teacher, Mrs. Hixon, showed a video of a photography school in Dayton, Ohio and I thought that is where I want to go to college. Four years later I was a senior and looking at colleges, I thought I should look at more then one before deciding, I looked at three. I looked at two art schools that offered photography and then that school from the video four years back. There was no doubt in my mind where I wanted to go, the photography school. The Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology (OIP&T), it was small, but had everything you could think of for photography. It had portrait studios, commercial studios, dark rooms, a camera and equipment check out... yeah the equipment check out really had me hooked, I could use, try and learn on all different kinds of photo equipment with out buying it first, how cool was that!

OIP&T the building I went to college in.

I spent the next two years going to college there, yes it is only a two year school, but I felt I didn't needed more then an associate degree to do what I wanted and still feel that way today! The school was about 45 minutes to and hour from my parents house and you could work out a schedule to go only two or three days a week. There was no housing for such a small school, so my parents and I didn't see the point in me moving to Dayton, I lived at home and commuted to school a few days a week. This is why I sometimes regret not having that "campus life", I didn't walk to classes, I never lived in a dorm, I never had the opportunity to be in sorority, or go to sports events, etc. I made friends at school, but not being there all the time I didn't make those life long best friends from college, you know the ones that hold your dress for you at your wedding when you got to pee. Even with missing all those things, I wouldn't change a thing!

I do not feel I should have done it different, because of what I learned when I was there, I don't think I could have learned as much about photography and portraits any where else. I have heard comments before like, "why would someone need to go to school to be a photographer?", why because there is A LOT to learn. When I started school I thought I knew a lot and that I was a good photographer already, yeah I was a good hobby photographer, but I was not a professional photographer. The first quarter of my college life I realized there was a lot about photography I didn't know! Did you ever ask your math teach in high school, "when will I ever use this in real life?" I did, thinking I would never us algebra as a photographer... Ha ha, learned other wise real quick, you need to know math and formulas to get good lighting and exposure.

I am by no means the greatest photographer out there, but I think I am good photographer. Two of the biggest things I learned in college was lighting and posing and those are key things that can set apart a professional portrait to a hobby photograph! With what I learned in school I will never regret my decision almost 15 years ago to go to a small two year school rather then a big campus.

I did go back a few years ago to college, but I think I will wait and tell you about that another day... if you want to see some of work you can check out my website www.cindysportriats.com Thanks.

A Long Week, But God Always Gets Me Through

Last week was one of my favorate weeks of the year, 4-H camp week. Since the first time I went to camp as a kid I have loved it! Because of my love of camp over the years I have gone to many of different camps, learned lots of things and made many of lasting friendships. Now that I am in my 30s there of course isn't too many camps for me to still go to, but I do. I am on adult staff for my local 4-H Jr. Camp. I work with the camp counselors and other adult staff for about six months planing and getting ready for this one week of the summer. All want is it to go good, be fun, safe and the kids to leave there with the love for camp I had so many years ago. Well, last week camp went good, for the most part, but personally not a good week.

To start out I had been out of state the week before for a conferance for work, it was good, but left not much time to get ready for camp. Then my almost free weekend turned full and busy, the Sat. before I had no plans... of course it didn't stay that way. In the morning I went to an auction to try to buy some stuff for our county Farm Bureau, it was hot and long like auctions can be. The good news is I got a milk shake maker for the fair booth. Then I went into work for a few hours to get cought up from being off and going to be off again. Then to top it off I DJ'd a wedding, yep you read that right I played DJ. A friends sister in law needed a DJ, theirs cancelled and so I helped out and played music. No I am normaly not a DJ, but I do know how to run the equipment and didn't mind helping out for a wedding emergancy. Sunday was Father's day and I had lunch with my dad and other family, then spent the rest of the day getting ready for camp... O and baking for the market too.

First day of camp was Monday and didn't go too bad, for a first day. Things ran late, as they can, camp picture was taken and that was long, hot and hard... they just didn't want to set still this year, but I got it. Tuesday, well I woke up to find some sad news on facebook, a friend went into labor at only 20 weeks so they would not be able to save the baby. I knew all I could do was pray for her and her family, she is now in FL so I was sad I could not go be with her, but asked God to comfert her.  Well then I left for a little while, decide I didn't want to miss the farmers market two weeks in a row so I left to go to it. Then didn't sale much and wasn't worth the trip, but had no way to know that before hand.

Wednesday was when it really started going bad... went to town to get some items for camp, first couldn't find 15 blue matching table cloths in Troy (I am sure thanks to graduatioin just a few weeks ago), then my car broke down. Yep, thats right car trouble, it always picks the best time to happen (thou I don't think there is a good time for car trouble, lol). Car wouldn't stay running, stalled out every time I slowed down or stopped. Well, got it back to my house with lots of stops and Dan picked me up and got me back to camp. Of course I left things for camp in the car without realizing it then. Wednsday ended good I finaly got to lead "Making Rain" at our campfire, in hopes to get real rain soon.

Camp Canoe Trip Group

Thursday was good for camp we had our 2nd annual canoe trip with the last year camp counslors and campers. Of course with the lack of rain these days the river was very low and we had to get out and walk a few times, but all in all still a good trip. Thursday is also banquit night at camp, brings me back to thouse darn table clothes, yeah had to to buy three different types and of course some was not the right size, but we pulled through and made it work. It was the last full night of camp so emotions are all over the place and I was working on my slide show when it was time to end evening rec, well at that point I was tired and in a hurry and did something to mess my computer up. Yep, no computer now, before I went to bed I tried to get on it and it wouldn't fully boot up and open windows, I turned it off in hopes that when I got up it would be over this problem.

Nope, Friday morning, still no computer witch means no slide show and no car, so not sure how all my stuff is getting home and O yeah, I have animals coming to camp and still no real plan to what to do with the campers when not visiting the animals. Can we say stress, good thing I can stay calm (haha). I broke the news to the camp director that there may not be an end of camp slide show (when the parents come to pick up there kids we play it with all the pics from the week), but would do what I could. Animals got to camp and we got the kids through and for the most part it went good and was enjoyed by most (fyi we had an animal theme this year). Then another adult staff had to go home so he took me and a load of my stuff home too, so I could get my car towed to the mechanic and try to put together a slide show in a few hours. Car was off and I get out my very slow old computer...4 hours later we had a slide show, not the best and the computer was chugging through the music, O and it locked up about 5 or 10 slides from the end, but we had a slide show and camp was over. Dan and Grant helped me and the rest of my stuff get home, big Thanks to them.

It is now a week later and I am still recooping from all that, but as always God is blessing me and getting me through it. I knew it would work out, but didn't know for sure how or when, but I have great people in my life and things have been coming together. A good friend came and got my computer to work on it and has it back up and going, so if you are near Midway, OH look up Budget Geeks on facebook and give Sean a call. Car has been at the shop all week, but I trust my VW guy and know he will do a good job and not rip me off, but it is a costly fix. I go to Jon's Auto in Marysville, OH a VW shop ran by a very nice couple out of there home and he is very good, so if you got a VW I highly recommind them! My throttle body sincer is bad, so it isn't telling the computer when the car needs gas or not, why it was dying. Soon it will be running good agian, I get to pick it up tomorrow and pay the bill. That is where God has been blessing me, I have had some photo jobs come up and every little bit helps to pay for the car repair (hope the jobs keep coming too). Thanks to Dan for letting me drive Big Blue this week (the farm truck, Dodge 2500 desiel), it cost more to dive then the Bug, but glade to have someone to help me out and loan me it to me to get back and fourth to work! Thanks to everyone and most of all God Bless! Remember on bad days to pray and keep your hope up, it will get better in time.

(Sorry if spelling is bad, if you know me you know I can't spell and then just my luck the spell check on here isn't working right now.)

Living with Mono... Somedays easy, somedays not

It's been a while since I have wrote and there is a few reasons for that... one been busy with lots going on in this busy time of year and then the fact that when I have free time all I want to do is sleep and I get to say thanks to Mono for that.

For a long time I have struggled with being tired, but this winter it got to the point I struggled all day to stay awake and all I wanted to do was sleep. When it got that bad I decided it was time to go to the Dr. and find out why. Well the good news was all the things I thought could be causing it, was good and then he told me I have Mono. I thought wow, ok so what do I take and then the Dr. informed me there is nothing to take just need sleep and he gave me suggested vitamins to take. I have heard of Mono, but didn't know anything about it. The Dr. told me a little and then suggested looking it up online and read about, so I did and continue too.

The week he told me I took off work early and went home to sleep getting about 12 hours or more a day and was feeling better, but not ok. After that first week life had to go on, since then I try to go to bed early and it keeps getting earlier and earlier (between 8pm and 9pm is normal these days and anything after 9:30 is late and I pay for it the next day). I have upped my vitamin intake based on things I have read and take a nap when ever I can, not much else I can do, problem is not much time in my life naps. I found out around the end of Feb. and March is a busy month for Farm Bureau stuff, conferences, meetings, dinners, trip to DC, etc. Then next is spring planting time and working in a seed warehouse you don't get time off in Spring and now we are going into summer, witch means, 4-H Camp, Steam Show and fairs coming up.

In the last few months I have experienced many different things and the more I read and research Mono, they are all because of it. I will be thinking I am doing better and then one day it just knocks me down again... Easter weekend I had two shoots and a wedding on Saturday, felt fine then. Sunday at church and Easter dinner it was all I could do to stay awake. But it's not just the being tired, a few weeks ago I woke up on a Thursday and my glands where swollen and then the next day, Friday, my spleen was hurting to the point I couldn't sit comfortably. The Dr. explained to me about the spleen being enlarged and need to be careful around it, but that day it must have been trying really hard to fight the infection. From day to day I don't know how I am going to feel or what to expect. The things that I have to deal with almost every day is tried, sore throats and stomach discomforts... yep I have had bowel movement problems, bloating and stomach upset from it too. Not that I want to talk on all that but I thought can all this be from Mono and the more I read, yes. I also thought is it normally to take this long to get over and  once again from what I read yes. I am thankful for the Internet and medical website, but also for blogs and discussion boards where I have been able to read about what other have gone through and know I am not the only one.

For now I am about to fall asleep, I look forward to the day I am over this and back to normal... till then if you wander why I don't go out or go to bed early, this is why.