NOCCC Beginner's Digital Photography SIG

May 2012 Meeting Beginner’s Digital Photography SIG

QandA

Keep bringing in your questions. It really is the fun part of being a SIG Leader – answering question.

A Simple Image Editor

I’m always looking for an inexpensive, small, and easy to use image editor. I spotted a review of a program called SnapSeed and thought this may be something beginning digital photographers could use. SnapSeed is the product of Nik software. Nik make filters and other products for Adobe Photoshop and they have a good reputation for quality products.

SnapSeed is only $20 and can be download for 15 day trail period before you must pay.

My review is as follows: It doesn’t work as a Windows application. Review over. I have a longer explanation on the SIGs blog: http://nocccbgphotosig.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/snapseed-a-review-almost/

I have no idea why it doesn’t work but at a list price of $20 I have no incentive to find an answer.

SnapSeed: http://www.snapseed.com/home/

GPS And Your Photos

After the April meeting I started searching for an inexpensive device that would track my travel and then use that data with Adobe LightRoom to embed GPS data into the images.

After searching the Internet I came upon the product: GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900. It’s a small device that’s only tracks your travel. It has no LCD screen for reading your location. The tracking data is then downloaded to you computer using it’s own application. Can you read a review of my problems installing the application and getting the proper tracking file that can be used by Adobe Lightroom.

My problems with PhotoTrackr

Loses it’s signal and has to re-sync. Many times PhotoTrackr would never re-sync and I had to turn off the device and then on again. Even walking round outside it would lose its way and had to re-sync. Sometimes it would re-sync on it’s own and sometimes I had to turn it off then back on.

The PhotoTrackr’s inability to reliably acquire a signal after losing one is a real problem for me because I usually keep the device in my pocket and don’t pay attention to it.

I demonstrated to the members the process of downloading data from the device to the software application. Once this was done I could create a GPX file that’s used by Adobe Lightroom.

In Adobe Lightroom I demonstrated using the GPX file to locate images on a map.

For my review of the PhotoTrackr software go to the SIG blog: http://nocccbgphotosig.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/review-gisteq-phototrackr-mini-dpl900/

I’ll have more to say about PhotoTrackr DPL900 in the near future.

GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900: http://www.gisteq.com/PhotoTrackr/PhotoTrackrDPL900.php

Member Photos

One of our members brought in a CD full of his photos from a trip to New England during the Fall Colors. He had a lot of really good photos. Hopefully more members will be encouraged to bring in the travel photos.

iPhone Volunteer Needed

Anyone with an iPhone willing to give our SIG a short demonstration on using the camera in your phone?

Also – I’m Still Hoping That An Android Pad User Will Volunteer

I would like to demonstrate Adobe’s new Photoshop Touch App (http://tv.adobe.com/watch/adobe-touch-apps/what-is-adobe-photoshop-touch/) I will pay you to install the software App on your Android ($10.00). Any one interested?

Standard Stuff That Is Always In This Report

This report should be up on the SIG’s blog. I may go into greater detail and I will include screen shots as well.

If you have a special request for information regarding digital photography let me know. E-mail me using the address listed below.

Check out the SIG Blog for other information and maybe info on what we will discuss at the next meeting.

As always we will answer any and all questions.

If you have a special request for information regarding digital photography let me know. E-mail me using the address listed below.

We had 9 members at our SIG meeting.

See you at the next meeting.

Note: I am using a new Web location for the photos I take at the meeting. I now upload the photos I take to Microsoft SkyDrive. A link will be put here every month to the folder with that months photos.

SkyDrive Photos for the May 2012 Club Meeting: http://tinyurl.com/6loagbe

PS: If you saw the actual link to the photos you would think it never ended. It’s the longest link I’ve ever had to deal with. Solution is the TinyURL web site. Give it a really long link and they give you a nice short one. That’s the link you see above.

SIG Blog: http://nocccbgphotosig.wordpress.com/

Email: noccc.bgphotosig@gmail.com

Photograph was taken by a NOCCC member while driving through New England during the peak of Fall colors. Well done.

Reviewed by John Krill NOCCC #3160

Note: I purchased this product from B&H Photo Video. I own it and therefore do not feel obligated to write a nice review. If fact it isn’t a nice review.

The PhotoTrackr is a small device that tracks your trip and allows you to use the tracking information to embed GPS data into your photos.

GMail Account Required

Before I start my review it should be noted that this device requires you have a GMail account. It you have no interest in getting a GMail account then you can skip this review entirely.

Installation Not For The Lighthearted

If you can get through the installation process you just may enjoy the product. That’s a big IF with this program.

The PhotoTrackr provides a quick start guide but no magnifying glass to read the thing with. Type is so small everyone may have trouble reading the guide. So before you begin I recommend you go over the guide very carefully and take notes.

For the installation you need to be using an administrator account. And be sure during setup you select All Users can use the software.

Update Versions Of The Software Available Online

Not really. They have the software at the GiSTEQ website but I’ll save you the trouble and just tell you the software has NEVER been updated. Last updated or originally created in 2009.

Is This The End Of The Bad News?

Not Really. In order to use the software you need to get a Google Maps API. The application will direct you to the proper page and there you will read that the API is no longer required. Problem is because the GiSTEQ software has NEVER been updated you still need the key to use the application.

And good luck in figuring out what is the correct key is.

Oh and you need that GMail account to get the key.

That’s It?

Not really. The application gives no hint to where to put the key.

OK I’ll tell you. It’s in the Setup menu.

So How Difficult Is The Installation?

Do you know what a COM port is? When you finally get the Driver and the Application installed you then plug-in the PhotoTrackr device. Have it turned on. Depending on the OS you’re using you will get some kind of pop-up telling you the USB port that the device is plugged into. REMEMBER the USB port number since this only happens the first time you plug-in the PhotoTrackr.

Now start the application, if you haven’t already. You will probably see the Auto-start Wizard. You need to sync the clock in your camera with the clock in your PhotoTrackr. Do it now. Then ignore the rest of the Wizard.

With the PhotoTrackr plugged in a USB port and it is ON.

If you managed to get that Google Maps API then go to the Setup menu and under the Software tab and insert the API in the correct location. If you think you can by pass this step then good luck to you.

Also under the Software tab you should select a local directory to save the tracker files.

Also if you haven’t got the PhotoTrackr plugged in and on you can’t save the Setup data.

More Setup.

I should mention you need to do this next step BEFORE you try to Save. I thought you should be just as confused as I was during the installation process.

You remember the USB port number? You need it now. Under the Hardware tab in Setup you need to manually select the correct USB port since the software is brain dead and can’t do it automatically. Don’t see USB under the list of ports? Only see COM1 through gosh who knows what COM number? You want to select COM1 For USB 1 etc. Then you need to click the Connect button. Again the software is brain dead at this stage. If you forgot the USB number just start selecting COM ports and clicking the Connect.

One more thing. Give the Phototrackr and the application a little time before you try to Connect to the Phototrackr. It takes time for the Phototrackr to get ready.

Oh One More Thing?

Really? I recommend that you delete all users under USER Management Menu. Then put at least yourself in there as a User. By doing this you also delete all trip records made by the users you deleted. This is a good thing because those user’s Trip Records are useless. They come with the Application.

Also the application lists trips by oldest first. As you create more trip records they will be at the bottom of the list. Maybe you can reverse the list order. Maybe.

What It Does

The PhotoTrackr will keep a record of your trip. It will record GPS data at the interval time you assigned under the Setup Menu. You can also manually put in a GPS location, called a WayPoint, by clicking the button on the PhotoTrackr.

Downloading the information in the PhotoTrackr is easy enough but there is a gotcha with the data. If you plan to use the PhotoTrackr software to embed GPS data into your pictures they have to be JPG images. Since I shoot in RAW mode I didn’t check this part out. I planned all along to use LightRoon 4 and it’s Mapping abilities to do this task.

So How Do I Embed GPS Using A Tracker File?

Easy. Not Really. Under the Trip Records menu you have the option of Exporting a Trip Database. Only problem it’s useless. No other programs use it. It’s more of a backup file.

So What To Do?

I finally figured out how to get the correct type of trip record. For LightRoom 4 it’s a GPX file. So how did I manage to export a GPX file?

In the panel with the list of Trip Records right click the trip you need. You will see a list of files types to export. GPX is one of them.

So why isn’t this up in the Menu bar where all good Windows Apps have every command listed? I think this is an APPLE OS thing. I’ve noticed apps that start out in life as an APPLE application don’t have all commands available through the MENU bar. I have the same problem with Adobe LightRoom.

Get On With It And Tell Us What You Think

Once I figured out all of the above stuff I can now get a GPX file and load it into Lightroom and drag all the photos onto the map and watch them snap into the correct location. COOL. The GPS data also gets embedded into the image. The whole process doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes.

Getting all this figured out took ALL day.

If you have a GMail account and can figure out the correct API, and get it into the software, the program isn’t too bad. Do I recommend it for you? NO. Spend a little more money and get something that may be a little more useful.

The product is available at B & H Photo Video and you can read the specification for this device there. B & H also had the lowest price. $45.

Here’s an article at the Digital Photography Review website on Smartphones and how they’re changing everything.

Will I start using a Smartphone?

• First I have to buy a Smartphone.
• Next decide on a service. Or do I decide the service and buy the Smartphone they tell me to?
• Now I need a place in the cloud to put those pictures.

No forget it. It took me too long just too figure out my $800 digital camera. What with the initial cost of the smartphone and then the on-going monthly costs of using it. Just seems a waste.

I’d rather spend the money on making prints.

If I did get a Smartphone to take photos then this quote from the article explains why:

We’re not all professional photojournalists working in warzones of course, but wherever you are, you might sympathise with Winter’s argument that sometimes snapping pictures with a smartphone is much morepractical than it would be with a DSLR. A common complaint amongst photographers all over the world, peaceful and war-torn alike is that police and security officials, as well as ordinary people regard them and their equipment at best with suspicion, and sometimes with open aggression. In this environment, the cameraphone comes into its own. Small, discrete and connected, it can send photos and video around the world in seconds, from places where pulling out a DSLR or compact camera might just create unwarranted attention.

Not that I can understand.