Tag Archive for: #ohioadventures

The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017.

 

The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Ashland photographed Thursday, March 9, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

A relaxing hotel near Ashland University.

Stay in the heart of the rolling Ohio countryside at the contemporary new Hampton Inn & Suites Ashland hotel. Located just off of I-71 at State Route 250, our hotel offers easy access to Mohican State Park and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Choose one of our guest rooms or studio suites and enjoy free WiFi, free hot breakfast and our clean and fresh Hampton beds®.

You’ll feel right at home with a microwave and mini-fridge in every room. Connect to free WiFi and surf the web or watch your favorite shows on the 50-inch HDTV. Upgrade your room selection for extra space and a sofa bed, or choose a suite for even more space and a mini bar. Their contemporary rooms are available with one king-sized bed or two queen-sized beds.

Take a dip in our heated indoor pool or enjoy an invigorating workout in our 24-hour fitness center. If you’re traveling for work, you’ll find their business center handy with access to computers, printing and faxing capabilities. Their Suite Shop is open 24 hours a day, offering snacks drinks and travel essentials. With 1,200 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, their Ashland hotel can accommodate up to 125 guests for your next business event or social gathering.

The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

 

The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The SpringHill Suites Dayton North photographed Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

 

Infuse your trip with innovation and inspiration at the SpringHill Suites Dayton North. Our state-of-the-art hotel offers an unparalleled location just moments away from the Dayton International Airport (DAY), University of Dayton, Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), the I-70/I-75 Interchange, Historic Oregon District and Downtown Dayton. After an unforgettable day exploring the Birthplace of Aviation grab a signature cocktail in their lounge and unwind by the outdoor fire pit. Sleep soundly with plush bedding and wake up with help from their complimentary breakfast buffet offering healthy and hearty choices for every taste. They’ll even enable you to stay fit with our modern fitness center featuring a variety of cardio equipment and free weights. You can also indulge in an invigorating splash in their indoor pool. Their spacious suites offer complimentary Wi-Fi which is also available throughout their lobby and meeting spaces.

The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed “Back to the 80’s” and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live.

The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Glass Axis Glassierade photographed Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio. The groups 30th anniversary annual fund raiser was themed "Back to the 80’s" and featured glass blowing demonstrations, a raffle of goodies, the Melty Crue food truck, custom drinks from Karate Cowboy and The Reaganomics playing live. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

James DeCamp Photography has been honored to be a proud sponsor of the Komen Race for the Cure® in Columbus, Ohio since 2010 and a sponsor of the Athens Komen Race for the Cure® since its inception in 2015.

We are sponsors to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

By sponsoring we are investing in the lives of the people closest to us — the people of our community — our families, colleagues, neighbors and friends.

In 2013-2014,the Susan G. Komen Columbus® Afilliate invested more than $1,000,000 into the Central Ohio area community by awarding grants in a 30 county area to provide free breast cancer resources and funding breast cancer research. Through their community grants program, the following has been achieved:

Susan G. Komen Columbus® continues to fund one of Ohio’s largest program of free breast cancer treatments, services and support. Susan G. Komen Columbus® has played a critical role in every major advancement in the fight against breast cancer since 1993. They have transformed how the world talks about and addresses this disease, helping turn millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors. As the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network of survivors and activists, they work to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with decision makers and community leaders.

They have made major progress over the years, but there is still more work to be done.

Local sponsorship is critical to our being able to support local breast cancer programs and national research grants. Sponsor gifts help underwrite Race expenses and, along with entry fees and donations from Race participants, go directly toward funding breast cancer services and research.

Susan G. Komen Columbus® began in 1993 by a group of motivated and hardworking volunteers. That same passion, carried on throughout the years by thousands of volunteers and dedicated board and staff members, has sustained Komen Columbus and enabled us to raise more than $27 million; $16 million of that has been granted to support local programs, $280,000 in targeted small grants, and $5 million has supported global research.

Through events like the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure®, Komen Columbus invests 75 percent of its net income to support vital local breast health services in our 30-county service area, and dedicates the remaining net income – 25 percent – to national research to find the cures.

The 2nd Annual Komen Athens Race for the Cure® photographed Sunday, October 23, 2016 on the Ohio University Campus. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Komen Columbus Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace.

 

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Spare Nothing for the Cure photographed Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

 

 

Why do we fundraise for breast cancer cures?

  • Because 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
  • Because every 19 seconds, somewhere in the world, a case of breast cancer is diagnosed in a woman.
  • Because every 60 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone dies from breast cancer; every 13 minutes, one woman in the U.S. will lose her life to breast cancer.
  • Because breast cancer knows no boundaries. It affects people of every age, gender, socio-economic status and location.
  • Because at the current rate, 13 million breast cancer deaths will occur around the world in the next 25 years.
  • Because it’s time to go beyond breast cancer awareness. It’s time to take action!

Take Action

We can fight these statistics together. Join the breast cancer movement by fundraising for Race for the Cure®.

Your fundraising has the power to make a true impact. Just consider how far we have come, thanks in part to supporters like you:

  • Race for the Cure® has raised more than $2 billion to help fund research, education, screening and treatment.
  • In 1980, the 5-year relative survival rate for women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer was about 74 percent. Today, that number is 99 percent.
  • Since our founding in 1982, Susan G. Komen’s national research program has invested in cutting-edge research that has helped make major breakthroughs possible.
  • Funding for discoveries in genetics and biology has led to personalized, less-invasive breast cancer treatments to replace the less-effective “one-treatment-fits-all” approach.

Race for the Cure® is your opportunity to turn your support for the breast cancer movement into action. Prove that you are More Than Pink™, and help us end breast cancer forever.

Register or log in to fundraise today!

I will admit that I am a Canon bigot – I love Canon and have exclusively used their cameras and lenses for more than 30 years. I have always bought Canon lenses rather than other brands, partly because of loyalty, but also because their products are awesome and they have always fit my needs, namely fast glass.

A quick rundown of my equipment list (HERE) shows how I love prime lenses, bokeh and fast glass, to that end, I am VERY excited about the new lenses announced by Sigma this week. I have used Sigma art series lenses before while doing contract work for zulily and was very impressed with them Their all metal construction and heavy feel is very reassuring.

 

First up is the Sigma 14mm ƒ/1.8 DG HSM Art which is touted as the worlds first ƒ/1.8 prime lens at the 14mm focal length. I love, love, love my Canon EF 14mm ƒ/2.8L II USM, but I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on this lens and experimenting with the bokeh it can create.

SIGMA 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art

“The SIGMA 14mm F1.8 DG HSM | Art is the true high-speed ultra-wide-angle lens for which so many photographers have been waiting. Although some zoom lenses are available that can cover 14mm, the large diameter delivering F1.8 brightness is a singular advantage. Going beyond fast shutter speed, this lens can capture a swarm of fireflies with crystal clarity, a beautiful bokeh effect, and outstanding control of light streaking.” – Sigma

This fast wide prime features the same large aspherical element used in the Sigma 12-24mm F4 Art to control distortion and create stunning imagery. An updated Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) provides fast and accurate autofocus while 3 Premium FLD and 4 SLD glass elements control chromatic aberration and sagittal comma flare. Building on the highly reputable Art line, the Sigma 14mm ƒ/1.8 DG HSM Art is designed to resolve the latest high megapixel DSLR sensors. Like each and every Global Vision Lens, the Sigma 14mm ƒ/1.8 DG HSM Art is handcrafted at our single factory in Aizu, Japan and undergoes individual evaluation before leaving Sigma’s facility.


 

 

Next up is the Sigma 20mm ƒ/1.4 DG HSM Art which is said to be a state of the art wide-angle prime lens designed for Full Frame cameras but will work with APS-C sensors as well

I loved my Canon FD version of the 20mm circa 1987. It was tack sharp, but the EOS version of this lens was introduced in 1992 and this is a focal length that Canon has been sadly lacking in updates for decades now.
About 15 years ago I bought a Canon EF 20mm ƒ/2.8 USM and returned it about two weeks later. It was, simply put, a terrible lens. It wasn’t very sharp wide open, was terrible in the corners and had an unacceptable amount of distortion to it. Thinking I maybe got a runt of the litter, I borrowed two other lenses over time and found they all had the same shortfalls. That Canon has let this focal length be neglected for more than 30 years is a shame.

So when Sigma announced a REALLY fast 20mm I was in love, and the reviews seem to be in line with other Sigma glass – Outstanding!

 

Sigma 20mm ƒ/1.4 DG HSM Art

 

Using over 50 years of lens making experience, particularly the knowledge gained from the 35mm ƒ/1.4 Art and the 24mm ƒ/1.4 Art, the 20mm ƒ/1.4 Art is the widest large aperture Art lens to date. The latest optical design allows for the utmost in image quality with careful attention paid to edge to edge performance. Through decades of experience in lens design and Sigma Global Vision lens manufacturing, the 20mm incorporates both “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass, and five Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass in a design of 15 elements in 11 groups. The combination of advanced optics and optimized lens power distribution minimizes spherical aberration, axial chromatic aberration and field curvature, producing outstanding image quality. With class leading performance, this lens is ideal for landscape photography, videography, astrophotography, lowlight/indoor photography and event photography.

As with all Global Vision lines, the 20mm will be tested using the proprietary “A1” measuring system ensuring the highest standard of operation. The Sigma 20mm Art is compatible with the USB dock to update and customize and is also compatible with the Mount Conversion Service. A staple procedure for the Global Vision lines, every lens will be tested using the proprietary “A1” measuring system.


 

 

I love my Canon 135mm ƒ/2.0 and will probably keep it around, but I am excited about the new Sigma 135mm 1.8 DG HSM Art which is a medium telephoto prime lens designed for modern high megapixel DSLRs. Yes, that extra light is worth spending a bucket for, and I’m sure I will be adding this to my stable soon.  Thats the reason I have a Canon 50mm ƒ/1.0 instead of the ƒ/1.2 and a 200mm ƒ/1.8 instead of the ƒ/2.0.

Okay, well maybe THIS has something to do with it too :-0

 

Sigma 135mm 1.8 DG HSM Art

“With resolution so crystal-clear that individual hairs can be discerned in a portrait, this large-diameter lens also delivers a beautiful bokeh effect, giving photographers everything they need. It is ideal for close-ups and full-body shots, with subjects standing out against a pleasantly blurred background.” – Sigma

A new large Hyper Sonic Motor produces significant torque to the focusing group for better speed while the acceleration sensor detects the position of the lens and compensates for such factors as gravity to help aid in focusing performance. This state-of-the-art prime lens touts a dust and splash proof construction for guaranteed performance in any condition and its large 1.8 Fstop allows for more creative control over imagery. A stunning compression effect make the Sigma 135mm ƒ/1.8 Art the ideal portrait lens while its large aperture help with event photography and much more. Like each and every Global Vision Lens, the Sigma 135mm ƒ/1.8 DG HSM Art is handcrafted at our single factory in Aizu, Japan and undergoes individual evaluation before leaving Sigma’s facility.

Josh Begley has created a number of wonderful and informative videos in the last couple of years. Titling himself as a ‘Data Artist’, he has taken public documents and made them into moving art, literally.  This installment in his portfolio is no different and simply shows the front page of the New York Times through its 164 year history.

With five rows of nine newspapers, viewers travel at high velocity through the last 164 years of America’s news. The New York Times published its first issue on September 18, 1851 when the paper is all text, the video quickly advances to the first use of pictures, while the first photos published by the paper appeared in a Sunday magazine in 1896, May 29, 1910 marks the first front page photographed published by the Times.  The video continues with larger black-and-white photos taking over the page, and finally today’s predominantly color photo-oriented front pages (The first color photograph appeared on the front page in 1997).

What’s striking about the piece is that it captures the inevitability of change, with what must have been huge news items flashing perpetually across the screen, framed by the constancy of institutions, as much as the world morphs and evolves across the page, the masthead up top remains unbroken.

His previous videos have included Google street views of every officer involved shooting in 2016 (LINK HERE) and a voyage across the US-Mexico border, stitched together from 200,000 satellite images  (LINK HERE).

 

Every NYT front page since 1852 from Josh Begley on Vimeo.

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School.  Radio legend the Torg with former Buckeye Football stars Zach Boren and Matt Finkes broadcast on EBSN as they irreverently break down the latest in the world of sports and pop culture.

 

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Two Jocks & A Sniffer photographed Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Ohio Media School. (James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

What To Do If You Are Stopped Or Detained For Taking Photographs

During my many years on the street for several different newspapers and magazines I was stopped by police and security personnel dozens of times from taking images of events and even buildings and once even detained shortly.  On more than one occasion I was asked to hand over or destroy the film and CF cards that the images resided on.  Knowing my rights, I stood firmly and did not allow this.

The image below is one example of an image that caused my detention – photographed from a road, belonging to the county, an American Electric Power security guard stopped me and threatened me, demanded my camera card and forcibly detained me.  Luckily a Sheriffs deputy was passing by, saw the confrontation, and having a more level head than the security guard defused the situation.

The American Electric Power Conesville Power Plant, 47201 County Road 273, Conesville, Ohio photographed Wednesday night October 1, 2008. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) [Photographed with Canon 1D MkIII cameras in RAW mode with L series lenses]

The American Electric Power Conesville Power Plant, 47201 County Road 273, Conesville, Ohio photographed Wednesday night October 1, 2008.
(© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)
[Photographed with Canon 1D MkIII cameras in RAW mode with L series lenses]

The American Civil Liberties Union has a wonderful website post regarding the law and how to deal with being restrained from taking images in public places.

Taking photographs of things that are plainly visible from public spaces is a constitutional right – and that includes federal buildings, transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties. Unfortunately, there is a widespread, continuing pattern of law enforcement officers ordering people to stop taking photographs from public places, and harassing, detaining and arresting those who fail to comply.

LEARN MORE at the ACLU site.

 

 

Why you should not delete images on your memory card using your camera!

As many of you know, I have been I have spent my life in the photography business and first went fully digital in 1997 so I literally have decades of experience dealing with the ins and outs of memory cards. While I personally use Kingston memory cards, this piece is for ANY memory card user.

James DeCamp Photography. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

First, let me explain how a memory card works in simple terms for you.

Most people look at a memory card as a piece of plastic or metal, and they don’t think much about them. But inside there is a LOT of intelligence. There is flash memory, a controller and many more electronic elements. The quality of that memory and controller often determines the speed and quality of your card.

Everything on your card is controlled by something called a File Allocation Table (FAT Table). If you think of your card as a book, the FAT Table is a Table of Contents. When you do a simple format of a memory card, you are not actually erasing the card, you are just clearing the FAT Table – removing the Table of Contents, but the chapters of the book still remain on the card, but are more difficult to recover. Yep, all the images will remain on your card until you shoot more and overwrite them. This is why you can use a program like Lexar’s Image Rescue, SanDisk’s Rescue Pro or other data recovery software to recover images from a card even after it is formatted.

This was made too apparent to a friend of mine about 15 years ago – he had shot a baseball game for his newspaper, but made the mistake of formatting the card (in camera) right after the game before he had downloaded the images. He called me in a panic to see if I could recover them. “Sure, come by the paper and I can pull everything off the card that is there AS LONG AS YOU HAVEN’T USED IT SINCE YOU FORMATTED IT.” He was in the office in 10 minutes and I used my recovery software to get his images back. One by one all of his old images started to appear in the browser window of the recovery software. A city council meeting from a week ago, an environmental portrait from two weeks ago, a track meet, a few images of the baseball game scattered through out. More started coming in, some older images. I could see the concern on his face “This will get everything off the card”, “Yes, it will get any image as long as it hasn’t been overwritten.” More older images mixed with his baseball game. More concern. Then the boudoir images of his girlfriend in lingerie started popping up from more than a month ago and I understood his concern – haha.

So here are some tips, which I am going to write in the order of importance:

1. DO NOT erase images from your memory card in your camera!
What I mean by this is: Do not go through your photos and delete them one by one using your camera. I see people (especially wire service photogs) doing this all the time and it is a REALLY bad idea. Your camera is not very smart at managing the data on your memory card. Deleting individual images from the card using your camera is a great way to scramble that FAT Table we talked about before. DON’T DO IT! Memory cards have gotten so inexpensive and large, that you should not have to delete images to save space (I know the wire service guys are editing in camera to save time, but just TAG the images, don’t delete!) Just pop in a new card and keep shooting. Once you have downloaded to your computer, and backed up the images THEN format your card to use it again.

2. Format your memory cards in your camera, not on your computer.
I have seen countless web sites which tell people to format their memory cards on your computer. This is just WRONG! You want to format the cards in the camera. And you should do this on the camera your are shooting with. I am currently shooting with the Canon 5D MkIV, Canon 1DX, Canon 5D MkIII, and I format the card in the camera I am using. You are reading this correctly…I do not format in one Canon camera and move it to another. Will they work? Yup but it may cause issues down the road. It is also terrible to pull a memory card out of one camera model and put it into another without formatting. I have seen people shooting with a Canon camera, pull the card out and start using it in a Nikon camera – Big. Bad. No. No. Each camera manufacturer has its own special sauce and likes to be formatted a certain way.

3. Format after EACH shoot.
It is a good idea to format your cards after each shoot. Once you have downloaded your card and have the images IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE, you should format that card in the camera you will be using it in before it’s next use. It keeps things cleaner on the card.

4. Use a good card reader!
I can not tell you how many times I have seen pro photographers take a high quality card out of a $10k camera and put it into a cheap no-name reader. It only causes problems. When a co-worker would ask me about a corrupted memory card, one of my first questions would be is “What card reader are you using?” Memory card readers have intelligent controllers inside them, just like the cards, and cards like the readers that have similar controllers. I have seen more cards corrupted in a reader than in a camera. I have also seen many cards that are absolutely fine in one reader, and show corruption in another reader.  I use Kingston cards – I use Kingston readers.

5. Don’t fill a card completely.
Even though most memory cards are built really well and have all kinds of intelligence in them, it is not a good idea to fill a card completely. I always pull my cards (if possible) when there are a dozen or so frames left on the card. I always have dozens of cards at the ready and don’t worry about overfilling one single card. (I also do the same with my computer hard drives. I never fill them completely – there performance goes down significantly if you fill more than 90-95% of the drive).

6. Don’t pull a memory card out of your camera or card reader when data is being written or read from the card.
It’s just common sense and all of the instruction manuals will tell you in all capital letters – if data is being transferred to / from the card and that process is interrupted, it is quite possible that you will lose some or all of your photos. And don’t always trust the red light on your camera to determine is data is being transferred. Before I pull my memory cards, I always wait an extra couple of seconds after the red light on the cameras goes off, signifying that the data is done being written to the card.

7. Use both your card slots for safety.
If you have two card slots in your camera, write your images redundantly to both cards to have more safety and peace of mind. This way, if one card gets corrupted, you can most likely get the images off of the other card. In my 5D MkIV, I use both slots – the CF card is always a 16Gb or smaller card and is swapped out frequently (more on this later). The SD slot has a 256 Gb card in it that I can shoot all day on. I only depend on the CF cards for primary image transfers, but should one become corrupt, I have everything on the SD card. All cards are reformatted once all of the images have been triple backed up on my computer system.

8. Purchase name brand memory cards.
As you may have guessed, I use Kingston memory cards in all my cameras, but that is not to say that they are the only good company out there. Lexar, SanDisk and others make good products as well. There are others too, but make sure that you do not use one of those cards made by a no-named company. A simple price comparison is the key – if its cheaper than the three mentioned here – its too cheap and will be risky to use. Remember, you are trusting your images to the card! And if your a pro, your clients are trusting you with their business. You are going to be using the card over and over, so spending a couple of dollars more to get a better product, in the long run, will not cost you much more. Nothing angers me more than seeing a “pro” shooting with a great camera, expensive lens and a crappy memory card.

9. Shoot on small cards.
How many pictures can you afford to loose at once? Todays name brand camera cards are VERY dependable if treated right, but errors and failures DO and WILL happen. By shooting on small cards (16Gb) you can mitigate your loss. If everything from a wedding is shot on a 128 Gb card and it goes south – you’ve lost EVERYTHING, including your reputation (“NEVER hire him – he lost all our wedding photos”). If the same wedding is shot on eight 16 Gb cards, you’ve only lost the getting ready images or part of the reception, and you can probably sweet talk or discount your way out of a bad situation. And its not just card failures – I can’t count the number of times that I have found (unlabeled) cards on the sidelines of a sporting event or had a venue call me after an event asking if I had lost a card because it was not labeled. People (YOU and me!) are sometimes stupid and drop things – which leads me to #10.

10. Label your cards.
I have my name and phone number on ALL of my cards. A Brother PTouch Labeler can print tiny 6 pt text that will fit on the spine of your CF cards. If your card gets lost without your contact info on it, you have NO HOPE of getting it back. If its labeled, you atleast have some hope of a good samaritan calling you. 🙂
I also number all of my cards (or more precisely alphabetize them) with small peel and stick labels. This way I know at a glance that I have all my cards: A-Z. It also helps in case I have a camera error while shooting – I can pull that card – make note that card ‘H’ may be going bad, and retire it from use. Without such labelling all the cards look the same.

11. Cards wear out – replace them frequently.
In practice, it takes an awful lot of use and and abuse and isn’t a practical concern for the vast majority of weekend photographers. A figure of 100,000 read/write cycles used to be bandied as Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF), but more modern cards measure their failure rates in millions of hours of continuous use. Higher end card manufacturers build into the card controller features that help with distributing the write cycles evenly across the card so that no one spot gets much more use than any other, a process known as wear leveling. But the very fact that wear leveling is built in is a good indicator that there is some wear and tear. I replace my cards every two years. Since it was a gradual build up of cards, I am typically replacing two or three cards every month – it helps distribute the cost over time as well.
One issue that I have run into with this is the push for larger and larger cards as they get faster and faster. Its getting hard to find a speedy small card 🙁 (to comply with rule #9)

Here are some common misconceptions about memory cards:
* If memory cards get dropped in water, the data will be lost forever!
This is not true. Because memory cards are made with solid state memory, it is not uncommon for them to go through the washer and dryer and still be useable. Knowing that a card has taken such abuse I would never keep using that card. But most likely your data will still be on the card and can be recovered.

* You must keep your cards in covers.
I use the ThinkTank Pixel PocketRockets to protect my cards and forgo the little snap cases that come with the cards. The one thing you have to make sure is that lint or dirt doesn’t get into the holes of a CF card. The pins will probably push the dirt to the back of the hole, and there is a bit of room back there, but repeated build-up could cause you to bend a pin in your card reader, or worse, your camera, and lead to an expensive repair.

* Going through airport X-Ray machines can damage your cards
Many people have asked me how they should travel with their memory cards, especially at airports. In the old days, the X-Ray machines could damage high speed speed film, but X-ray machines pose no threat to the solid state memory cards you own today.
To sum all this up…

After reading this blog post, I hope you have a better understanding of your memory cards and readers and appreciate them a little more. There is so much technology packed into these devices, but they are so small and unassuming that it is easy to take them for granted.

These are simple tips that could save you from a disastrous situation. I hope that these help all of you to keep your memory cards and images safe now and in the future.

In case you are wondering…here are the cards and readers I am currently using: