Robb at the Fair

Any day now I'm going to walk into Christian Photo and lay down a couple of thousand dollars for equipment. My needs for quality still photos and 1080p video — including stereo remote sound recording — means that I'm going to need either a Canon 5D or 7D.

In the mean time, I've been directing people (with needs that aren't as critical as mine) to buy the Canon 60D.  It is fast, high quality and very versatile. it is the answer to the question, "What's the best digital SLR available if I don't want to spend a small fortune?"

Robb Origer did just that, here's the proof below. Love the Fair!

Mit Romney and Dick Christian

Sorry for the long delay, I've been traveling quite a bit.

The last week in June I was laid off by the Des Moines Register, which probably brought my full time photojournalism career to an end after over 30 years. All good things come to an end at it has been a great ride.

Now I'm freelancing, looking for work and trying not to get too emotionally caught up in the "I'm unemployed" thing.

So, I'm exploring, trying to find a new way. I was at the Iowa State Fair yesterday, photographing Republican presidential hopeful Mit Romney. For the day, I was using some equipment out of the consignment case over at Christian Photo, 6721 Douglas Avenue, in Des Moines. (515) 270-8030.

To back track, I get messages all the time from people looking to get into a digital SLR, without spending $2000 or more.

Dick had a Nikon D70, coupled with a Nikon 18 - 70mm zoom. PEFECT!
The camera is $300 and the lens is $175. So, for under $500, you can have it all. I shot the photos below at 200 ISO in the daylight, and 1600 ISO inside the dark Varied Industries building. They all came out great.

I don't think these two items will last long. I get nothing from Dick for this promotion, he's just one of my favorite people!

Here are some photos of Romney at the 2011 Iowa State Fair.

RAGBRAI : First Photo

This from the email:

Took this picture of Silver City, Iowa on the RAGBRAI journey.   Population is around 260 on a normal day.

- Jim Deitchler

Having some fun in iMovie 11

iMovie 2006 was my favorite platform to edit video. Elegant, stable and straight forward, it was a fine tool that Apple screwed up with updates the last five years. They dumbed it down, made audio editing and sound sliding almost impossible. But now, iMovie 11 is here and it is fine, fine fine.

You must update your Apple computer so you have an APP Store widget, gadget, whatever. Then for $14.99 you download it as an Application (APP). It's a 500MB+ download, but once you've figured out a few basic tools, making movies is easy and FUN!

Here's an example of a template movie trailer I'm using on my freelance page:

Jim Dietchler shares some recent photos of western Iowa flooding. His message follows:

"Hi John.  I managed, but don't ask how to get some flood pictures of I-29 south heading into Hamburg, Iowa.   These were taken on June 22 looking into town.  Since then the levee has held, but it is anybodys guess as to how long.   If it gives way these pictures will only be worse."

Vic Kesse Exhibit

Central Iowa photographer Vic Kesse has been invited to display some of his photos at St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, Kansas, right on the Missouri River.

According to Vic: I heard from Father Blaine on Tuesday confirming the exhibit.  I am trying to get everything ready so I can deliver the pictures July 12 on our way home from the family reunion in Kansas City.  I will have 20 of my photos and 5 - 10 of the old Kesse/Maday photos that show some interesting historical/family subjects.  It's going to be a rush to get everything done.  The photos and framing materials that I have ordered have to get here on time.  They want to have the pictures hung so they can be part of the Amelia Earhart celebration that begins on July 15.  Needless to say I am very excited about this opportunity.  I owe a big thank you to my cousin Lizann for introducing me to Father Blaine.

Below are a sample of some of Vic's marvelous work. I especially like the composition of the whale surfacing with the boat at the top.

Bell Comes Down

I was coming home from the local grocery store and found this scene on the square in Winterset, Iowa. A renovation crew was lowering the old courthouse bell, using a crane, onto a flatbed truck, to clean and refurbish it as part of an overall facelift for the old stone building.

Since I had no camera on me, the iPhone did just fine in HDR mode. Gotta hold steady for it though.