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## PhotoAIM weekly newsletter for 06/14/03 ## 393b

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PhotoAIM, the weekly newsletter from PhotoSource

International. <http://www.photosource.com> ==>

ISSN 1530-0511

If you no longer wish to receive PhotoAIM, see the instructions at the end of this newsletter.

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THE X-RAY FILES

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By Michele Burgess

New high-tech security equipment in airports might make flying safer for travelers, but certainly not for film. Bomb-detection devices such as the CTX-5500 send high-dosage X-rays through checked luggage, resulting in white streaks in photos. Lead bags won’t help. NEVER put film in your checked luggage.

FSTOP, a committee concerned with informing the public about the dangers of X-ray inspection at airports, has issued a new warning that it is no longer safe to make the assumption that scanners viewing carry-on bags are using only low-dose X-rays. FSTOP protocols for requesting hand inspection and a full description of the warning and danger to film can be found at www.f-stop.org. Another website addressing this issue is www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml.

While one pass through the carry-on scanners may not noticeably damage film, the effect of X-rays is cumulative. Before traveling, remove your film from all of its packaging and place it in a Zip-loc bag, then request a hand-check at each security checkpoint. While U.S. airports are required by the FAA and TSA to hand-check if requested, in practice it seems to depend on the whims of the people manning the checkpoints often refuse to do so.

The remedy for this, and the safest and easiest way to travel overseas with film and the way I always do it is to place it in a lead bag and let it go through the scanner in your carry-on. You may or may not be asked to open the lead bag for a hand inspection.

Digital cameras and memory cards are not affected by X-rays, nor are video equipment and videocassettes. However, you should keep these items away from magnetic fields.

IN FOCUS WITH MICHELE BURGESS (Travel with a professional photographer to exotic world places) 20741 Catamaran Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646-5513

714/536-6104, fax 714/536-6578, email mailto:maburg5820@aol.com website at www.infocustravel.com

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This week's featured photographer on PhotoSourceFolio: Andrea Pistolesi :

(http://www.photosourcefolio.com)

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ON-LINE

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What's a PIN?

Among other things, a PIN is a Personal Identification Number. You generally use your PIN when dealing with your bank, etc., as an added security check when making telephone and/or online banking transactions. Your credit card also has its own set of security numbers (if your card does not, it will soon, as card issuers are anxious to get out cards with these added numbers) which is often confused with a PIN. For the record, these extra security numbers are called CVV2 (Credit Verification Value), or CVC2 (Card Validation Code), or CID (Card Identification) and are either 3 digits long and on the back of the card (VISA, MC, Disc) or 4 digits and on the front (AmEx). You did ask, didn't you?

Credit card issuers use the CVV2 number to help verify that the person making use of the card (as in buying photo gear on-line) is an authorized user. As Internet (and other types of) credit card fraud increase, use of the CVV2 will become more widespread. Many websites already ask for the CVV2 (some mistakenly call it a PIN); others will follow. To give you an idea of the magnitude of on-line fraud, consider this comparison: For typical signature transactions, where the card is actually presented for a purchase (like at a mall store), the fraud rate runs about one-tenth of one percent. For Internet (by far the largest), telephone, and other types of non-signature transactions, the rate is a tad over two percent. Quite a big difference, and the reason the CVV2 will be increasingly requested for on-line transactions. Be prepared.

Using the Dictionary

If you're looking for just the right words to describe a photo or to write a perfectly composed cover letter, check out www.m?w.com, Merriam?Webster's website. It has a free on?line dictionary and thesaurus, which are even better than the printed versions. Why better? If you can't spell the word you're looking for, type it in anyway, and the on?line dictionary makes suggestions to help you find the word. You can even use the standard wildcard characters (? and *) when looking up a word. For example, *photo will find photo, radiophoto, telephoto, and wirephoto. Don't understand all those diacritical marks to pronounce a word properly? No problem! Just click on the red audio icon and (if you have a sound card hooked up) a voice pronounces the word for you. Other neat features: Word of the Day, Word Games, and Word for the Wise (interesting word facts).

Bill Hopkins is the Webmaster of PhotoSourceFolio* (www.photosourcefolio.com) and a regular contributor to PhotoStockNotes. Send comments via e-mail to wh@photosourcefolio.com. Fax: 1 818 831-0916. For on-line questions, contact Bill on the Kracker Barrel at www.photosource.com/board.

*Display 6 of your own images for photobuyers to view, on your page on the PhotoSource website.

NETWORKING…MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU

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Stock photography comes in two styles: commercial and editorial. Commercial stock photography is usually produced to conform to someone else's needs. Editorial photography, on the other hand, is usually produced to fulfill your own needs.

To be successful in commercial stock photography you must produce photos that will satisfy the client's requirements, that will be in commercial demand, and have a shelf life of at least five years. You must be prepared to shoot all kinds of subjects across the board and with a variety of equipment. You produce stock photos in no particular special interest area.

In contrast, editorial photographers specialize in a select number of areas of their own choice. Wild horses couldn't pull them away from their interest areas. They do their homework and locate markets that use the kind of photos that they like to take. Instead of working in broad areas, the editorial stock photographer works in specific, vertical markets.

Want to read more of this article? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/gen246.html

NATURE

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What about that gadget bag?

We all have them. Some of us have several. They come in all sizes, shapes and colors. Years ago they were made of thick heavy leather or hard cardboard-lined smelly vinyl. Today they form-fit the body and carry designer labels. There is a pocket for every lens, camera body, filter and roll of film. If there is a product made to be used by a photographer, I am sure there is a box or bag made to store or carry it. The average bag is jam-packed and overflowing with Gizmos and Gadgets. Hence the name, "Gadget Bag!"

COFFEE TALK

When two or more nature photographers meet in the field, they almost always end up discussing the gear each is lugging around. We are always looking for that magic, light-weight answer to the question, "Is there a way to carry less and still have everything we need, when and where we need it?" Well, I have spent years researching that question. I have questioned every nature photographer I have met along the way. And now, I can finally say, "I found the answer." That answer is, "NO!"

There is no way one nature photographer can carry everything that he or she needs out in the field, at one time. So what is a nature photographer to do?

Depending on the photographic format you chose, the gear you carry into the wilderness will vary greatly, but do make efforts to keep the weight down as much as possible. My rule of thumb is to use a gadget bag that will carry your basic supplies and still have a little extra room. Don't go toting a heavy bag full of stuff just to impress people with your 17 different lenses and 4 camera bodies. Its better to impress them later with the pictures you took. Decide what kind of shooting you want to do and take ONLY what you think will be needed. Hey, It's only common sense.

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

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Once you get the gear down to a manageable collection, make sure you toss these few extras things into your field bag.

1.) Always have a first-aid kit in an easy-to-reach location. You never know when a Band-Aid will be needed for a scraped knee or to hold a flash cable out of the way.

Want to read more of this article? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/ntr5.html

ADS WE’VE READ

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Binoculars That Take Pictures. Manufactured by Meade, one of the world's best-known optics and telescope makers, these 8x magnification binoculars have an integrated 640x480 resolution digital camera. They make it possible to view all the action up-close, and capture it digitally as well. The built-in digital camera captures what you see in the 8-power view of the binocular. The binocular/camera unit is always in focus, and the lenses have a fixed focal length, which allows for viewing and taking pictures of objects at a distance of 50 feet or more. The camera is fully automatic, including a variable speed shutter and automatic measurement of ambient light (it adjusts shutter speed so you don't have to). White balance control delivers excellent color fidelity so that photos stored in memory are bright and colorful. 8 MB of memory can store up to 40 photos at very high resolution, or 100 photos at low resolution. Download photos to your PC with an included USB connection and software, and email them to your

friends and family. Everything is supplied to download CaptureView images to your PC to be edited, printed, and e-mailed. Binoculars/Camera comes with: protective carrying case, neck strap, two AAA batteries, USB cable CD-ROM with image-capture and image-editing software, Lifetime Guarantee. 4.5" x 3.5" x 2.2" / 9.3oz. Resolution..............640x480(Hi) / 320x240 (Lo) PC requirements: Windows 98/2000/Me/XP and 200 MHz processor or faster. $99.95. Special Offer: Order before midnight tonight and your order will be shipped to you for only TEN CENTS! Phone: 1-512-773-9488.

WORKSHOPS

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PHOTO II, with Cig Harvey, Renee Psiakis and John Hirsch. August 10 - 23, 2003. For intermediate photographers and those with a few years’ experience, who want to expand their understanding of the technical craft of B&W while exploring new ways of seeing. Tuition: $750, Lab Fee: $195. Contact: Maine Photographic Workshops, P.O. Box 200, 2 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856. Phone: 1 877 577-7700. Web: http://www.theworkshops.com . E-mail: info@theworkshops.com .

GERLACH NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY, with John and Barbara Gerlach. August 23 - Septermber 6, 2003. $ TBA; Air: $1,750 (est) from JFK, Newark or Boston. MOROCCO, with Jim Zuckerman. September 13 - 27, 2003. Land: $2,995; Air: TBA. Contact: Voyagers International,. P.O. Box 915, Ithaca, NY 14851. Phone: 1 800 633-0299. E-mail: explore@voyagers.com .

PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING TECHNIQUES, with Don Marr. July 20 - 26, 2003. Cost: Tuition $795; E-6 Color Lab Fee $110; Model and Materials Fee: $65. This workshop is for all photographers with little or no lighting experience who wish to improve their understanding and use of lighting techniques. Contact: Santa Fe Workshops, P.O. Box 9916, Santa Fe, NM 87504. Phone: 1 505 983-1400. Web: http://www.santafeworkshops.com . For a free catalog from Santa Fe Workshops, mention you are a PhotoStockNotes Subscriber.

GOOD STUFF

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ONLINE OPERATOR, Business, Legal, and Tax Guide to the Internet, By Bernard Kamoroff, C.P.A. For both new and ongoing businesses, and all self-employed individuals and professionals. Complete, up-to-date coverage of the legal, tax, and nuts-and-bolts business issues for websites, e-commerce, and survival on the Internet. ($18.95; ISBN: 0-917510-20-8; 240 pages)Contact: Bell Springs Publishing, Box 1240, Willits, CA 95490. Phone: 1 707 459-6372. E-mail: info@bellsprings.com .

http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#0917510208

SPEED UP YOUR SITE: Web Site Optimization, by Andrew B. King. Speed site load time and response times. You will learn how to cut file sizes in half. Trim HTML, XHTML, CSS, graphics, JavaScript, multimedia, and bandwidth costs. Real-world examples illustrate techniques with percentage savings. ($39.99; ISBN: 0-7357-1324-3) Contact: New Riders Publishing, 201 W. 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290. Phone: 1 800 545-5914.

http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#0735713243

INSPIRING CREATIVE WEB DESIGN: Past, Present & Future, by Chris Brock. Reviews web design from the 1980’s to today and gives a glimpse at what may come tomorrow. This book offers a unique and inspiring point of view on the state of web design. You’ll find out the history behind some of the most cutting-edge work, and follow the simultaneous evolution of design and technology. ($34.95; ISBN: 2-88479-017-9) Contact: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 387 Park Ave S, New York NY 10016-8810. Phone: 1 800 805-5489. http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#2884790179 .

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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"A people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."

- James Madison

FREE THIS WEEK

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Get a Free wireless phone ($49.99 value) and Free nationwide long distance when you sign up for AT&T Wireless Digital Advantage plan. You'll be asked to sign up ($39.99 a month). You get 350 anytime minutes, 3000 night & weekend minutes, caller ID, voicemail, and , text messaging.

http://www.inphonic.com/default_welcome2.asp

THIS WEEK'S WEB FEATURE

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Got a question about copyright? Click here to see what your copyright columnist has to say

http://www.photosource.com/cpyright/index.html

Watch for developments in the field of stock photography in PhotoAIM's

PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE NEWS

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You'll be the first to know…

Note: If the URL is long, it may extend to two lines. In that case - clicking on it won't work. Instead, "copy and paste" the URL.

Exhibit Features Work of Deaf Sisters

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030611/ap_en_ot/wkd_allen_sisters_1

Across some of the most desolate and remote landscape in northern Tibet. The goal: to discover and photograph;

http://www.mountainlight.com/new.html

New York Times-changing newsroom culture-bolder use of photography,

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/vv/20030611/lo_vv/44750

China Sentences South Korean Freelancer To Prison

http://www.pdn-pix.com/news/

Corbis Contest Adds To Bettmann Archives - As part of a year-long celebration of Otto Bettmann's 100th birthday, Corbis has announced its Bettmann 100 Photo Contest. Winning images will be marketed under the Bettmann Archive name for one year, subject to renewal.

http://www.pdn-pix.com/news/ - 4

Nude Throngs Photographer Hits Record - Spencer Tunick, famous for his photographs of huge groups of naked people, beat his own record Sunday when some 7,000 people posed nude for him in the Spanish city of Barcelona.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030610/od_nm/arts_tunick_dc_1

Change Atop Newsweek's Photo Desk - -Sarah Harbutt, Newsweek's director of photography for the last three years, has been forced out of the magazine, according to sources within the magazine.

http://www.pdn-pix.com/news/ - 1

China Sentences South Korean Freelancer To Prison - A Chinese court has sentenced freelance photojournalist Seok Jae-Hyun to two years in prison on charges of human trafficking. Seok was arrested January 18 while photographing a group of North Korean refugees who were attempting to board fishing boats bound for South Korea and Japan.

http://www.pdn-pix.com/news/ - 2

Fotolog: Where Art Meets T&A - is a relatively new weblog-cum-photo-gallery that allows anyone to post digital photos in chronological order. Thanks to the ability to link to, and comment on, others' work, the site is rapidly building a large community of enthusiast snappers. But like many new online societies, members with radically different ideas are waging a battle for its "soul."

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0%2C1284%2C59149%2C00.html

Camera Guide Reax: Film vs. Digital -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33865-2003Jun9.html

Cape Cod's String of Ponds - Mr. Johnson, a voluble man who has immortalized the ponds through film, photographs and lectures, describes the more out-of-the-way ones with the lovely label "meditation" ponds, and in his opinion, they were none too hidden even before the article appeared. "Lots of locals wouldn't even talk about the ponds to nonlocals," he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/08/travel/08ponds.html

Phones with cameras: Ridiculous? No! - There I was just a few days ago, ready to write a column deriding the uselessness of those combo cell phone/digital cameras. Then I got one to play with. And while I still have reasons for disliking the devices, I have to admit the one I tried was fun to use, the pictures weren't awful for what they were.

http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2913914,00.html

Want to read more news? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/pitn0614.html

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Photographers! Now you can reach our photobuyers without leaving your home! Ask about our PhotoSourceBank.

http://www.photosourcebook.com/bank/index.html

PhotoAIM is a collection of excerpts from our monthly newsletter, PhotoStockNotes (We now have it available in German.) PhotoStockNotes is also available via postal mail in the USA: $3.00 per month. Outside the USA: $5 per month. >http://www.photosource.com/psnintro.html

Feel free to forward this issue of PhotoAIM to your photographer friends.

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Display your photos on your own personal web page on our PSI web site. Visit the PhotoSourceFolio and see how other photographers are displaying their work.

http://www.photosourcefolio.com/

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393b

Next Week: You do the Math