Yesterday was a really fun, cold, day at the Florida State Fair. We pet the goats (and bunnies and chickens and llamas and giraffes). We managed to meet up with friends (”We’re by the cheese-on-a-stick stand” “…WHICH cheese-on-a-stick stand?!”). We at cotton candy (and corndogs, and Italian sausage and funnel cakes). And naturally we both took hundreds of photos. We even rode on the ski-lift thing for some aerial photos too! Admittedly, today my feet and stomach are paying for it… but it’s always a highlight of the year.

There are a few photos below! Also check out my fair photos on Flickr and Jeremy’s fair photos as well! He’s crazy talented.

“Freelensing” is a fun photography experiment. You detach the lens from the camera, and hold it in place. Then you move the lens around manually & tilt it to focus (kind of like using a lensbaby). It lets in extra light and you can get some cool light leaks, soft lighting, odd color temperatures and retro/vintage kinds of effects. It also lets you take extreme macro shots.. as in, I had things physically touching my lens to get them in focus. What worked best for me was: f8 or f11, widest angle possible, focus on something far away, then remove the lens (don’t change any settings), and then try to focus on something within 6″ of your lens.

I found it very tricky, and could only really get a corner in focus or just the bottom strip of a photo (kind of a like a tilt-shift lens).

Jeremy & I went to Little Manatee State Park to try out the technique by the lake, on a bitterly windy and cold Sunday:

(OK, so this wasn’t a freelensing shot, but I had to include it. It fits this little trio of shots!)

Some references for you:

- My talented man, Jeremy, had a good feel for freelensing and got some neat shots on this same day (of me, looking like a goober, freezing in my orange jacket!) He had a VERY wide lens on & that seems to work best.

- Here’s a freelensing group on flickr.

I have a folder/file structure I like for organizing my photos. When I import a new batch to LR3, I choose “add” in the import window so that my photos stay where they are & aren’t moved or copied into the LR structure. Everything works fine.

I’d like to move some of my older folders/projects to an external hard drive, but still have them show up in my list of folders/projects. I also believe that the thumbnails of these images should still exist (for catalog purposes) even if the external HD is disconnected.

My question is this: What is the process for moving my photos to an external harddrive, in a folder structure of my choosing, and keeping the “link” to them in my LR catalog?

Can I simply move the folders to my new HD, then go into lightroom & click something to “repoint” to a new source folder?

The develop edits I’ve made to these photos are no doubt stored elsewhere in the “catalog”. How can I ensure these changes follow my photos once they’ve been moved?

This will be my long-term workflow: keeping only the most recent shoots on my mac, and then migrating them all to my external HD for storage. But I’d like to retain links to all of them for catalog reference.

I know this is a very specific question, and I hope it’s not confusing. My googling has come up with very general results, or it is assumed that my photos have been moved into LR (which I haven’t done). ANY ADVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Awesome fun & an “it’s about time” kind of event! (Ok, so it was a week ago & I’ve slacked on posting about it.) The Indian International Film Festival (IIFF) focused not on the mainstream, glossy Bollywood films, but on independent filmmakers with unique visions and who are wonderful story tellers. India culture is wildly complex and varied, and their artforms are as well. They included not only films, but also live entertainment, presentations by filmmakers, short films, the comedian Russell Peters, and the first ever South Asian music video presentation. The wealth of creativity from Indians living in America and Canada was also highlighted, which was also revelatory for me. Here’s a list of all the films & events from the weekend.

The first night was a true gala, red carpet style, with all of Channelside decorated like India… I wish I could have seen that! We heard about it too late for that, but did an all-day Saturday.

My favorite highlights were these:

>> The film “Tahaan”, by Santosh Sivan. It is clever, fable-like, dramatic, adventurous, and complex story of an outspoken 7-year-old boy from Kashmir. He is trying desparately to get his beloved best friend Birbal back. Birbal is a donkey! His adventure leads him through meetings with interesting characters, “friends” who’s trustworthiness is debatable, and even a teenage terrorist.  The core of the movie was endearing though: the innocent hopefulness of this child, how he runs everywhere and never walks, his big mouth and perseverance. A 7-year-old asking everyone “What is the purpose of life?” is endearing. Everyone will love this, and while older kids may enjoy it, I think it’s more for adults – to remind them of the hope that can exist in any condition.

>> Deejay Ra presented an hour compilation of South Asian music videos – hiphop, pop, folk, experimental.. the whole gamut. He is at the forefront of educating the world about what South Asians (both in India and in North America) are doing in the world of hiphop. Some of the varied artists showcased included: Hard Kaur, Blitzkrieg, Jay Sean, Roachkilla, Bombay Rockers & more (… wish there was a playlist posted on the website!!)

Here’s the Bombay Rockers with “Out of Control” (kind of.. dance / hiphop / Justin Timberlake-y?)

We took a walk on Saturday morning, and stumbled on a little neighborhood fresh market. It felt so right, being out amongst people, walking, smelling the food, chatting… not hermetically sealed in apartments and subdivisions and freeways.

You’re just cool like that. Maybe you’ve got a tricked out Mac or Windows 7 at home. You’ve got the slickest smartphone with apps that do everything but make you coffee (although it can probably pre-order you one at Starbucks). And now you’ve got a rockin little netbook everywhere you go, to bridge the gap.

Or maybe you see no reason to pay thousands of dollars for ANY of the above, and you rock your netbook everywhere you go with everything you need at hand. You make the most of your money & just cut to the chase.

Either way, you always get questions and admirations when you pull the little baby out of your bag or purse. But you and your netbook compadre’s know the truth: Netbooks have limitations. So what’s a netbook rockstar like you to do? I’m in the same pickle, and have made some progress on my own. I also just read The Definitive Guide to Making the Most of Your Netbook (by Lifehacker, of course). And decided to run with a blog post, and am trying to keep it in the “layman” category. I leave hardcore, Yoda-style-geekery to my well qualified friends.

For me, it boils down to 3 universal limitations:

Little netbook, little ram, little harddrive: Get your google on. Replacing/upgrading the ram and harddrive in netbooks is often as easy as “unscrew tiny screws, take out old hardware, put in new hardware, screw tiny screws back in.” Well… that’s the gist of it anyway. There are mighty forums for every make & model – do a little googling to find out what type of ram you should use, and some advice from people who have gone before you. I’ve always found great deals on both ram & harddrives at NewEgg and TigerDirect.

Some of the itty-bitty netbooks with “flash” harddrives may only have a few gigs, the equivalent of a USB flash drive, and can be a little trickier. If dealing with computer guts makes you queasy, look into a service like DropBox or JungleDisk (my favorite). You’re used to storing your files on your harddrive, but these services are like having a “harddrive in the sky”. It looks & acts just like a folder, but the files don’t take up your valuable space. Even if you don’t have a netbook, this is a great way to backup your files. Your netbook could fall from your perch atop an elephant ride in Kenya into a muddy lake, but your files are still warm and cozy online.

Applications, Bloatware & Bandwidth-Hogging websites: Bloatware in laymans terms is “All that crap that comes installed on your new computer that you’ll never use or want.” To strip this gunk out, I’ve personally used CCleaner and recommend it, and the Lifehacker article recommends one called “DeCrapifier”, which I’m sure is great as well. Assess EXACTLY what you’ll be using your netbook for, then get rid of the rest. There are even special netbook versions of some applications (like browsers).

“Selecting applications for a netbook is a lot like packing for a camping trip. When you pack for a camping trip you select things for your pack that are efficient and lightweight versions of things you use every day at home, and you also pack things that are distinctly related to camping that you’d never use at home.” (Lifehacker article)

There are also netbook-friendly versions of some websites that are often “heavy” when it comes to bandwidth. YouTube is a huge bandwidth sucker, so they’re starting up “YouTube Feather“.

Battery Life: God I wish I had an answer. I have a Lenovo S-10 and it pulls a whopping 2 1/2 hours of battery life. What’s a girl to do? If you have any advice, please comment!

Artsy, Geeky & Photo(y) web coolness, compiled especially for you. Yes, you. You’re just special like that.

Make Your Own Gummy Candy: No longer must you search high and low for the elusive gummy bear. No, dear friends. No more venturing into the woods to find his hidden lair, risking life and limb.

Gentlemen of Bacongo: Incredible. As reviewed by Maggie York-Worth in Cool Hunting: “Photographer Daniele Tamagni’s new book Gentlemen of Bacongo captures the fascinating subculture of the Congo in which men (and a few women) dress in designer and handmade suits and other luxury items. The movement, called Le Sape, combines French styles from their colonial roots and the individual’s (often flamboyant) style. Le Sapeurs, as they’re called, wear pink suits and D&G belts while living in the slums of this coastal African region.” … “Sapeur Michel comments on the strange combination of poverty and fashion, “A Congolese sapeur is a happy man even if he does not eat, because wearing proper clothes feeds the soul and gives pleasure to the body.”

NPR Tiny Desk Concerts: You, and your favorite artists, are now liberated from the concert arena hype and overpriced tickets. NPR brings you mini, impromptu “concerts” – intimate and unplugged – by a tremendous range of talented artists. Andrew W.K. like you’ve never imagined him, playing beautiful classical piano. Zee Avi, the youtube darling, playing her guitar and singing in her unassumingly brilliant way. The perfect website when you’re sitting at your office desk, munching on your sandwich and want to drown out the world for 15 minutes.

There is No Fall: Fear, Terror and the Psychology of the Mortal: Who better to learn a lesson about methods to overcoming fear than from a world-class rock climber? “There is no fall” doesn’t of course mean that you will not fall, but that the fall doesn’t enter your mind and that focus then becomes on what is immediately in front of you.” Brilliant, right?

Etsy Stalker: You’re either cracked out on Etsy – jonesing for your next organically grown, handmade, soy-based scented candle fix – or you’re not. If you are, Etsy Stalker should be a regular hit for you.

18% grey t-shirt: Photographer? Better yet… assistant? This “inside joke”, 18% grey t-shirt will give you instant street-cred. Or at least prove your sense of humor. There’s even one with a full Macbeth card on it!

and finally (you know I had to go here…)

HOLY MAC TABLET RUMORS,  BATMAN!

Nothing screams “Steal me! I have thousands of dollars of camera equipment in me!” quite like a black Lowepro or Tamrac bag. I’ve scoured the web for the perfect non-camera bag for my India trip.

Naturally, I found it on Etsy. It’s going to be my all-purpose, camera bag, travel purse, and show-stopper airplane carry-on. I anticipate answering a lot of “No WAY, where did you get that?!” inquiries… I’m checking the mail every day to see if it’s arrived!

It’s handmade to order by Gypsy Rose Handbags. This large, chic messenger bag comes in a gorgeous print I picked out… reminds me of India. But she has TONS of prints and styles to choose from. While it looks fashionable outside, but she describes the interior as having “multiple layers of padding and stabilizers. It will stand alone, but is NOT stiff or rigid.”  Perfect. Who wants to cram a Pelican Case in an overhead bin?!

Also, inside are 4 padded lens / flash sleeves. The base is padded & structured as well, and has 4 metal feet. It measures 15 x 9 x 5 – I got the large size, but she makes them in a wide variety of sizes & can customize orders. I requested only 2 inside lens sleeves, as I typically carry around few lenses and prefer a larger inside cavity for general “travel stuff”. This little bag has tons of features & I don’t want to keep rambling. So if you’re in the market for a messenger bag, camera bag, laptop bag, netbook bag, whatever bag, go check her out!

5 weeks til I fly out to India! As you could imagine, I’m in overdrive / planning / learning / freak out mode. A month in India will be an exhilarating challenge, and I can’t wait. If you have any advice on any of the following, I’d love to hear it. (Really: Help me!)

• Airfare: I’m looking at Virgin Atlantic, Orlando to Delhi. Have you flown to India from the US on an airline you highly recommend?
• England?: Virgin Atlantic has an option where you can include a several-day stop over in London. I’m planning this for the return flight. After a long, hard-working, lack-of-personal-space month in India, I think a few days of relaxation would be good for the soul. Thinking maybe a day in London for the touristy sightseeing, then perhaps 2 nights at a bed & breakfast somewhere out in the gorgeous English countryside. Do you have any recommendations for an idyllic, peaceful B&B like I’ve described?
• dSLR Camera: My Canon 20d has bit the dust, I’m looking at either a Canon 40d or 50d “like new-ish” from keh.com. But all the reviews are a toss-up whether 50d was really worth the upgrade (and some image quality loss). Do you have any first-hand experience using both, or have any input regarding this issue?
• Passport & Visa: very anxiously awaiting the return of my “expedited” passport renewal, so that I can then apply for the visa. The timing will be incredibly tight. I can’t DO anything about it, so I’m trying not to worry. Advice to calm me down?
• Netbook: Thinking of upgrading it to Windows 7. Still need to “prep” it with all the software I’ll need, and plenty of music & movies to entertain me during a 30 hour flight. What helps you cope on international flights? Vodka & ambien? Die Hard 2? Ideas, people, ideas!
• Pack List: I’m pretty well set here. Travelled enough to go light & have the staples. Plus, going to get most of my clothes once I land (Indian-style, to be most cultural appropriate & respectful & modest). But any first-hand advice you have for India is always welcome!
• Hindi Language: I was trying to learn the Devanagari script & learn the right way, but am running out of time. Instead I’m focusing on spoken Hindi, so I’m jabbering along with my cd lessons during my commute to & from work. Augmenting these with conversational podcasts. What has helped you learn Hindi?

Here are some blogs & articles & podcasts, by people (mostly women) who probably don’t know just how much they’ve been helping educate me! Bahut dhanyavaad!

• Diary of a White Indian Housewife: awesome blog by Aussie woman who married an Indian, 4 years in Mumbai & counting. Great writing on her everyday life & perspectives.
• Breathe Dream Go: travel tips, but she also addresses the cultural / spiritual identity of India.
• Delhi Magic Blog: a photo-filled blog about Indian life & travel by an Indian woman.
• Tips to Survive Your First Trip to India: a boots-n-all article
• Nomadic Matt’s Travel Blog: an uber-resource for any traveller, a wealth of information.
• Namaste Dosti: Hindi language learning podcast. I supplement my “official lessons” with this more conversational podcast.
• Pimsleur Hindi Language Audio Lessons: Everyone has their opinions on the best language acquisition methods. I got an introductory 10-lesson set of cd’s, and I’m definitely making progress in not only speaking/accent, but understanding the responses I may hear back.

At a few key points in my life (I assume I’m not alone), I take a step back from my daily life. I try to see the forest not just the trees, and examine the path I’ve been blazing. We live in fascinating & complex & beautiful times, I need to take in more of it. Now: most of us aren’t those “highly motivated, corporate mogul, marathon runner superhuman” people, certainly not me! But I can’t let that stop me from dreaming of a life of more “substance” than I have now, and working hard to make at least some of it a reality. I must set aside my anxiety & my bouts of insecurity, and take action.

I must note how grateful I am that: I am blessed to have a job of such wide opportunity, to have a supportive funny family that I am impossibly close to, to have a smart loving boyfriend who keeps my brain working, and friends who accept my quirks and whom I learn from every day. I try never to take these things for granted – nor the fact that I have running water, shelter, food and live in relative safety.

The “substance” I feel driven to find is thus: 1) to find more concrete definition in my career, 2) to open my brain more by continuing my education, and 3) to not simply think humanitarian thoughts but to actually act on them.

So after months of deliberation, my plan is as follows:

Change #1: I took my first nerve-wracking but hopeful step. I’m phasing out of my current job. It has taught me more than I can express, and my team members are extraordinary people. It has been eye opening & helped reveal my strengths and my weaknesses. I’m going to narrow down my path to technical project management… I’m a list-maker, organizer & teacher by nature. And a geek by birthright (ha ha). I will be staying on through Christmas to assist in the transition. 2010 will definitely ring in a new year!

Change #2: I’m looking for an online Masters programs in IT leadership; I’m looking to begin yesterday.

Change #3: I’m also an avid traveller, feeling the “itchy feet” wanderlust. And, as I’ve said, feeling compelled to not live “for me” but to be of service to others. So I’m researching opportunities to volunteer abroad (India specifically) doing a few weeks of computer/technology training… if possibly, specifically with women, to contribute what I can to building their self-esteem and job skills. As a sidenote, you may know that I had planned a trek in April to the basecamp of Mount Everest. But I have a chronic problem with one foot, and all the gym & running seems to have exacerbated the problem. The realization that I should travel with a purpose, not just for sightseeing, almost brought me to tears of joy.

Then upon my return, I want to continue that endeavor by finding opportunities to do similar work in my “free time” in my hometown. A long-term dream would be to work with an NGO/non-profit/organization either doing IT management or actual hands on training in the kind of environment I described above. Feeling that, every day, I am using my skills towards the service of others.

My family – who knows the dreamer in me better than anyone – is no doubt rolling their eyes (lovingly) and said “Well… Here she goes again!”). Yes, here I go again. But I can’t bring about change without taking action. And now is the time for action. I’m 33. I have not been blessed with children yet, which affords me flexibility. I have to start sometime, why not today?

So…………. I’m diving in. Anyone have a snorkel?