convert -size 400x400 sacha-20051201.jpg -thumbnail '400x400>' -bordercolor black -border 200 -gravity center -crop 400x400+0+0 +repage test.jpg

On Technorati: imagemagick, adphoto

*Take photos.* First take super-wide-angle shots, rotating your camera around a fixed point. A number of stores sell fisheye lenses and camera mounts for this purpose. The mount for spherical pictures (all directions, including up and down) is more complicated than the mount for a 360' panoramic shot. If you don't mind distortion, then you can use a regular camera and just take pictures facing different directions, relying on stitching software to compensate a bit for the distortion.

*Stitch the pictures.* Camera designed specifically for 360' or spherical shots may be able to capture the entire scene in one image. However, if you're using a rotating mount or you're taking pictures in different directions, then you'll need to combine the images into a seamless panorama by using stitching software.

*Produce the brochure.* 360' viewers range from simple ones that smoothly scroll a panoramic picture, to more interactive viewers that include floor plans and clickable hotspots in the image. Choose the software that fits your intended purpose and budget.

Some companies that sell 360' software:

• 360 Degrees of Freedom
• Easypano
• Panotek

On Technorati: adphoto, photography

So, on to the Javascript crossplatform libraries...

On Technorati: adphoto

He's a heck of a hacker. I need to introduce him to Paolo Venegas. They'd get along. =)

On Technorati: web2.0, adphoto, geek

We'd like to develop the stock photography side of our business. For that, we need the ability to search for images and give clients thumbnails before pulling out the original images from our archives. The Digital Asset Management for Photographers book recommended a hard-disk based archive, but I wanted to make something work without disrupting the office (or my spare time) too much. =)

Right now, we use a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to keep track of CDs and their contents. Our digital librarian is in charge of assigning numbers to CDs and describing the contents of the CD using keywords and phrases. When someone asks for stock shots with a certain keyword, she searches her Excel file and then physically retrieves the CDs in order to make thumbnails. Our previous digital librarian started filing copies of pictures in a directory tree arranged by subject, but this was not accompanied by metadata, and it was hard to keep up to date.

Our librarian has been experimenting with iView Media Pro and Extensis Portfolio. After some poking around, I found out how to do offline indexing in Extensis Portfolio. That would allow us to index thousands and thousands of CDs while keeping thumbnails on the hard drive. iView also has this feature, so we just need to play around with it and see which interface we like best.

My Adphoto goals for the next two weeks (I have to go back to Canada in two weeks!) are to:

• Improve and document the workflow for digital images
• Transfer the website to another host (must meet Luis Buenaventura)
• Contract out the redesign of the website and the development of a Flash portfolio viewer (might be able to do the Flash portfolio viewer myself if I can find a good photoblog script)

Improving the workflow would include:

• File and folder naming conventions to support quick indexing and retrieval
• How to index images
• How to retrieve images for comps
• How to retrieve images for use

This will be fun. Hectic, but fun.

On Technorati: adphoto, metadata, dam, stock

I need PHP, MySQL, mail hosting, FTP access, 1 GB storage, and ImageMagick support. We use less than 1 GB a month. I'd like shell access. Python and Perl support would be really fun. Ruby would make me thrilled. I plan to set up a tagged photoblog / photographers' portfolio.

We're currently paying ~ USD 8 / month. I'd prefer to keep money in the Philippines, and most of our traffic comes from the Philippines anyway. Know of any locally-hosted servers? If not, I'll probably go for http://www.site5.com/hosting/comparison.php .

On Technorati: adphoto, hosting

Hmm. Must redesign site. Brochure-ware, perhaps also stock photography?

On Technorati: adphoto

After some poking around, I threw my hands up and crimped one of the spare cables according to the standards. (Good thing we had spares!) Lo and behold! It worked! I should leave a wiring diagram in Jun's networking toolbox.

Does anyone have a 110 punch tool for terminating wall mounts? I expected the wall mounts to be self-terminating like the patch panels in the dorm, but that wasn't the case. PC Express carries wall mounts, but not the tool for terminating them—go figure!

おしゃべりの人は、いつもの秘密をばくろしってえは他人の利が愛を冒している。 A talkative person is always letting the cat out of the bag and jeopardizing the interests of others.

On Technorati: adphoto

training: when?

• as soon as hired
• continuing training
• periodic

lack of training

• not productive
• short of knowledge
• lack of confidence
• wrong information
• not professional
• train, keep
• train, lose
• not train, keep
• not train, lose XX

Why do clients get Adphoto?

• quality of work
• support service
• good food
• Lucas
• fast delivery
• high tech
• good reputation
• facilities
• we go to them

what do we need to train: (materials)

• portfolios
• list of equipment and usage
• photographers' profiles
• list of clients
• pricing guidelines / rate sheets / stock photos / equipment rental / studio rentals
• company policies
• sales policies
• job descriptions
• reports / forms / analysis: billing (per qtr, per client, per ...), collection, cost estimate, job, sched, delivery receipt. frequency, volume, value.
• workflow
• corporate profile
• services
• supplies
• performance evaluation
• advertising and promo materials
• employment contracts

Action:

• 1. prepare a training manual
• 2. prepare a training program
• 3. update old employees' employment contracts, job description
• 4. look for someone to handle sales training

「ええ、かわいい、ちいさな、ふわふわしたねこですよ」年をとったおばあさんが言いました。 "Yes, a sweet little fluffy cat" said the very old woman.

On Technorati: adphoto

Celine didn't receive some mail Mom sent her, so I confirmed that the server had plenty of free space and I sent another test message. However, my mom's default settings with Globelines didn't work.

To prevent its mail servers from being used for spam, Globelines requires users to check their Globelines account before allowing them to send mail through its servers (POP before SMTP). I didn't want to save my mom's Globelines password on all the computers that needed to send mail. On 2005.03.03, I installed another network card in our IntranetServer and configured it to check my mom's Globelines account regularly. This worked without a hitch because I had assigned addresses to keep the two networks separate.

When they plugged the wireless router in, though, the factory defaults conflicted with my addressing scheme. I suppose she had luckily managed to avoid those problems for a while. Still, fixing it was just a matter of sitting down and configuring the router properly. I set the router password and the wireless security settings as well.

We're still not done arranging for Mom's flight to Canada. Argh. The printer's annoying, the website's somewhat frustrating... Mrph.

彼らは熱烈にいがみ合っている。 They fight like cat and dog.

On Technorati: adphoto

• Prepared and printed instructions for connecting to the Internet and configuring one's mail client. Posted on wall of Internet room.
• Discussed network configuration with Jun and networking technician. They were both pleased at the reduction of work in my proposed star configuration because adding a switch downstairs means not having to rip out a cable every time something got broken. While I was out buying equipment, they laid a new line going downstairs and removed lines that were not responding. As a result, the hub is less congested now.
• Bought 2 8-port switches, 2 extra LAN cards and 20 RJ45 ends. Paid cash and submitted receipts.
• Helped network technician crimp 6 lengths of 3 meter patch cable. Chatted with him about networking and mentioned that I was planning to put one of the switches downstairs even though they had fixed the broken intranet connection already, as I would need another port anyway. He helpfully installed it, keeping in mind which line was straighter than the other. Nice person.
• (Here's the fun part.) Overhauled wiring in Internet room by myself. Removed the DSL router. Connected the 8-port switch with the DSL router. Arranged the new cables. Successfully browsed.
• Panicked when Mac and Kathy couldn't send mail through Globelines. Frantically tried to configure mail before giving them a direct connection to Destiny as a quick workaround.
• Successfully sent a test message from Microsoft Entourage using webmail.glinesnx.com.ph after spending a total of almost an hour on the phone with Globelines tech support trying various combinations: with authentication, with SSL, etc.
• Configured Mom's laptop to send mail through Globelines. She successfully sent mail from her main account, but then got "relaying denied" errors as her old accounts weren't configured yet. Finished configuring her laptop. No complaints so far.
• Neatly bound most wires with twist ties. Removed unnecessary things from Internet room shelf and piled them outside.

In brief: A well-established firm that rents out studios—from modest 40 sq. meter units to a columnless 240 sq. meter studio for cars and huge setups. They've got studios with kitchen facilities for food photography, and studios with adjoining dressing / make-up rooms for talent / fashion shoots. They also rent out a full-range of digital equipment (think Hasselblads, Sinars, Fuji, and PhaseOne digital systems) and can build sets and source props.

They also provide photography services through their pool of in-house photography pros—John K. Chua, G-nie Arambulo, Mac Antonio, Kathy Chua, and Ben Chan.

Note: A full-service studio that has near everything you can dream of needing. They've also been operating for years and years. For more info, you should look for Ms. Harvey V. Chua (that's not a typo, SHE should be able to help you out).

Page maintained by Taj Deluria.

Adphoto

On Technorati: adphoto

• Found webmail.glinesnx.com.ph written on DSL box.
• Sent and received test e-mail.
• Confirmed with DSL tech support and Ben.
• Next action: None

Updated studio list on website

• Cut, cropped, and recolored photos from AdphotoProfile1.pdf.
• Placed the pictures on Adphoto: Studio » Facilities.
• Next action: Get better information on studios (dimensions, facilities)

Submitted site to web directories

• Open Directory Project, http://www.photo.net.ph, Tanikalang Ginto, photographers.com (specializations: Advertising, special effects, digital, stock, product/studio still life)
• Expect two weeks or more before listings show up.
• Blurb used: Advertising photography and digital imaging from award-winning pioneers John Chua, G-nie Arambulo, Mac Antonio, Kathy Chua. 30+ years of experience of working with both local and international clients.
• Next action: None

Worked on Haribon sponsorship letter

• Rewrote proposal to be more attractive to potential sponsors.
• Next action: Follow up with Dad

On Technorati: adphoto

On Technorati: adphoto, useful

On Technorati: adphoto, useful