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.

Painting With Light - Another Try

Which one do you like? I went downtown last week, while still employed by the Des Moines Register (all good things come to an end, right?) and decided to illustrate, in advance, the upcoming Des Moines Arts Festival.

I went to the downtown Western Gateway, set up the camera on a tripod, set the iso at 100, the f-stop at 32 and left the camera in Aperture Priority. This gave me about a 45 second exposure. I used an LED night light, very bright, to paint an rough impression of the wall of tent fronts that would soon invade. Vote for your favorite and I'll tell you which one I like.

This weekend Robin and I will be showing at ArtFest Midwest, The Other Art Show, in the air conditioning of the Varied Industries Building at the Fairgrounds. Best way to see both shows is to park in the ample lots at the Fairgrounds, hop the shuttle to the downtown show, walk around, sweat, look at the booths and then come back to the pleasant indoor show, say "Hi," while you're there and find your vehicle with no hassle.

Hope to see you this weekend, let me know which one you like.

 Number 1

 Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

Just Friends

While waiting along a county road for a guide to take me into a habitat area to photograph eaglets still in the nest, a farm dog approached me as I sat in my car. One of the people nearby said, "Watch out for them huskies, they can be mean." Watch closely as this dog "attacks me." 

Good puppy. I miss him already

Ground View from Joplin

Mark George, an Iowa photo friend, when to Joplin recently and has shared some pictures. This is his message to me:
"Every year Kris's family has a reunion. We kept it at Joplin and planned on helping out. Saturday, 7,000 volunteers helped Joplin. More main roads were able to open up and get cleared of all debris. Tire punctures slowed the progress down. Curfew was lifted Friday night, but the Police stepped up on patrols. So Much Destruction.  Only took a few photos."

 Note: Sorry the postings have slowed... it's art show season, seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours in the lovely heat. If you have some photo endeavors you'd like to share, this is the place.