Parker Nolan King - Our new arrival!

Born on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 at 10:55 pm. He was 8lbs, 8oz, at 2o and 3/4 inches.


:photo taken 36 hours after birth

After the long wait he's finally arrived. The delivery wasn't easy and there were problems, but he and mom are both okay now. Mom had to have an emergency c-section after being in labor for 12 hours. Thankfully she took the epidurral about 5 hours into it, so most of it was bearable.

Baby wasn't breathing right and had some distress right after birth - it was a pretty long and scary night but by the next day it was clear he was going to be fine and so far, he's perfectly healthy.

And we named him: Parker Nolan King. A name interesting enough, Nona and I had written down on and old fun sheet we'd filled out right after our marrage - over seven years ago. It was first on our "baby names list" remained there until delivery day. Parker it is.

He's been as close to a 'perfect' child as one could ask for. He only cries when he really needs something (and he's got some lungs!! what a blood chilling "come save me NOW" cry this little guy has!). He's been pretty easy to calm down so far checking the standard stuff.

Mom is now up and down from bed on her own and is healing as well as can be expected.

We went home from the hospital on Friday afternoon. It's been a whirlwind of broken sleep, dirty diapers, formula messes, mom nursing (going very well btw, we're very blessed in that department) spit-up and our phone ringing every 45 minutes.

Today is Sunday, but I had to really think about that. I've seen multiple sun sets, sun rises, midnights, 3:00 AM's, and mid-afternoons in the past couple days. I haven't showered, and I'm not alarmed that I currently have 2 crusty barf stains on the shirt I'm wearing right now.

And yet still, somehow, it's so worth it. The little guy has already perfected a magic trick - somehow - every time I look at him he's gotten even cuter since the last time I looked at him. And here I was worried I wouldn't automatically love my baby. I guess that worry is a thing of the past now.

I'm sure I'll be posting more in the next few days as we get on some sort of schedule and try to get back to some normal process of life around here. I've gotten emails from many of you - very much appreciated - you all have been wonderful!

Note: The pic above was shot with a fish-eye. It's the most expressive of the set from that day, but his eyes are not actually that far apart, and he doesn't look like an alien. After I have a chance to edit up some more images with a normal perspective, I'll post those up also.

North Shore - Hawaii

A vacation is certainly in order! Probably the high point of our spring season, I was invited by Stacy & Burt to join them and their family for this small beach wedding. The wedding was held on Oahu's North Shore. The home was absolutely amazing. Home to several celebrities over the years, the beach house accomodations made this assignment a true vacation. Here's some more information and pics of this and other hawaii wedding rental homes.

Check out more images from paradise in the Image Archive.

Digital Wedding Pro - Volume 3 - Workshop

Now shipping!

Digital Wedding Pro is a series of video productions I've been involved with, and this third edition is in my opinion the best yet.

This volume specifically includes:

~ Digital Photography Myths
~ Pre Quality your Clients
~ Selling Yourself & Marketing
~ Hands On Model Shoot
~ Review of Gino's Portfolio
~ Digital Workflow
~ Photoshop Retouching
~ Building a Salable Product
~ Successful Photo Business
~ Building Profitable Packages

This volume covers Arizona Wedding Photographer - Gino Lucadamo conducting a two day intensive photography workshop and seminar. He covers the core essentials of operating a successful wedding photography business. The Digital Wedding Pro set, and this volume in particular should be absolute required viewing for anyone in their first few years of business.

Learn more about this and the other Digital Wedding Pro volumes at the DWP website: http://www.digitalweddingpro.com

CS2 Review - Update

Follow up:

Last night I took another try at doing actual editing in CS2 Mac version. I took time to properly setup all my keyboard shortcuts, as well as the actions I use to repeat common task (like oval select, feather, invert, curves via mask sort of processes that are much longer done by hand).

When I did my first test, everything was manual. My keyboard shortcuts didn't work (didn't realize how many custom shortcuts I'd become accustomed to), and I did all the processes by hand. So it seemed to take a lot longer than it really needed to.

Flying again with things properly adjusted, it was a different story. Sure, CS2 still lags a bit. No getting around it, but it didn't *seem* near as bad this time around.

Also-

I used iView Media Pro 2 purchased a year ago, and my disk has both PC and Mac (non-universal) versions on it. I installed this old version on the Mac and ran it. It was dog slow. Now it was always a bit slow and "buggy" feeling on the PC, but this was even worse.

Then, I downloaded the trial copy of their newest v. 3.1 which is a Mac Universal version. Installed that and WOAH! It blew me away. It was not only fast, but it was super fast. And not buggy in the least. I could drag in large collections of images, drop them, and very quickly they were added, sized, and cataloged. Interface was smooth, and clicking between images in the full size / media view was pretty quick (waaaaaay faster than the non-universal version I'd tried).

So, point being - this MBP stuff is perfectly capable as long as you're running Universal apps. I have high hopes that once CS3 comes out, this machine is going to be screaming fast. No problem what so ever being a complete desktop workstation replacement.

Photoshop CS2 Mac / Rosetta - Switch Review

Okay, I've had the new MBP 17 for a week or so. Last night I dug in and actually did some editing in Photoshop in two different configurations. As an 'artistic' wedding photographer, Adobe Photoshop is the most important piece of software I own. I haven't seen many other reviews on the net that go into an actual hands on review like this, so hopefully it'll be of some use to some of you.

Short story: It's like choosing between bad and worse, and Adobe needs to release CS3 / Universal for Mac ASAP.

Config 1: Photoshop CS2 Mac, running on the Intel CoreDuo. This of course invokes the hidden OS X translator "Rosetta". (From this point on, I'll never again trust anyone named 'Rosetta', if that's any coincidence for you).

Config 2: Photoshop CS1 PC, running on Windows XP SP2 via Parallels in Full Screen mode. This runs native on the Intel, but unfortunately, there were still problems.

For Reference: I'm coming from a full on desktop workstation, self built with top of the line components including 3.0Ghz P4 with HT, 2GB the highest speed Ram at the time, 800Mhz FSB, fast 7200 RPM serial hard drives, and a fat video card. This machine was very solid, ran perfectly for just over 2 years now, but is now starting to suffer from the typical windows bog down and needing a reload. I would consider this computer "fast" by anyone's standard and is what I'm judging the MacBook Pro based upon.

Parallels: Okay, I did all my homework and planned to run CS1 in Windows until CS3 came out native for the CoreDuo. Parallels is sweet. It's fast, it works as advertised and once clicked into full screen mode, you really can't tell any difference between it and a standard Windows computer. It ran pretty well as fast as my desktop. Without real testing who knows, but in Windows mode, this 1" thin laptop flys.

Not so fast... Oh, but did I mention the down side? Well, the propaganda from the Parallels folks forgot one small detail. If you use a Wacom tablet (I rely on this thing more than my right arm, right eye, and clicker finger put together) - you can forget Parallels. For some reason, the USB recognizes this is a "pointing device" true enough, but then tells the guest OS (Windows XP in this case) that it has a standard pointing device / mouse connected. NOT a Wacom tablet. When you load up the Wacom driver, it spits and you and says you don't have a compatible tablet attached, even when you do.

The tablet will still work, but you loose all pressure sensitive features, tilt if you use it, and the difference between the pen tip and eraser tip. It's just a glorified mouse at that point. No pressure control - that's the whole reason I use it.

I could almost deal with that if not for another annoyance - when you bring up your brush (the circle telling you how large it is), Parallels leaves the previous cursor floating intermittently in the middle. Be it an arrow, resize que, hand, or cross hair depending on your previous mode. It doesn't sound bad, but suffice to say it's annoying.

But other than that - Photoshop was zooming along. No shudder at all. Perfectly smooth user interface. Have no fear runing PC based software on a Mac from this day forward. Unless you use a Wacom. Just my luck. (hit head on desk).

Why 'Rosetta' is a Four Letter Word:
Having scratched plan A, I figured the Mac version of Photoshop can't possibly be 'that' bad. I read filters run a bit slow - hey, no problem, but the acutal user interface was just fine. I had hope.

The direct answer on this one, Photoshop via Rosetta is indeed usable, but just on this side of that label. I would say "just usable". The overall everything drags a bit. Even things like changing brush diameter wth the bracket keys (which I do quite often) - takes a second to update on the screen. When actualy working, cloning, brushing, there is a very slight delay to see your stroke. It is quite short and not enough to prevent doing the work, but it's just enough I can't call it fluid real-time like I'm used to on my PC workstation.

Filters (gaussian blur, etc) did lag a spit second, but nothing too serious.

Part of my feeling of "lagging" performance I think is also due to the fact the Mac keyboard is backward, and for some reason I'll never understand, you can't assign PS keyboard shortcuts using the Ctrl key, which my finger memory is stuck on. Everything must now be keyed off the Apple/Option key, which is 3 keys down the board from where my pinky wants to push them. I'm hopeful I'll eventually work it out and re-train my hands.


What's the Plan?
Well, I paid the price of admission into the Mac club, so I'll make it work. I'm going to run Photoshop in Mac mode under Rosetta, as I must have my Wacom even if things are a bit slow.

Would I Recommend it?
If you rarely dip into PS, there's no fear going with a Macintel. And if you are, it'll work, but don't force it on yourself if you can avoid it. The short story here is that CS3 can't come out soon enough. I hope they may thrill us and release later this year, but I'm fearing it'll be late next spring or early summer by the time I actually have a copy in my hands. Maybe I'll get SUPER lucky and get ahold of a beta copy for "evaluation". That wouldn't be so bad.

As for the MBP itself - sweet computer. And once the Universal version / CS3 is out, it's going to be screamin fast. Everything that runs native on the CoreDuo runs super fast on this machine. I've just picked into FinalCut Studio and even with the included snips of HD native footage, it was perfectly smooth. If a native app as power needy as FCP runs that smooth, then the native version of CS3 doing photo editing is going to be a real treat. I'm counting the days.

"You could be mine."

The switch? You're kidding. Right? I've reached a major cross-roads with my business workflow and overall organization. The "cost of the switch" now seems somehow insignificant.

And you know what that means. Indeed, I've jumped on the bandwagon - the iLifestyle shall now be mine.

Order placed, FedEx tracking number in hand, we are happily awaiting the arrival of our new MacBook Pro 17".

A lot of thought went into this "switch" and is worth some discussion. An analytical person by nature (how it is I double as an 'artist' also is beyond me) no major change comes without due consideration. There must be a reason for the madness. And to our future iSuccess - in this case there certainly is.

Out With the Old:
I'd held out to see what Microsoft would come up with the next go around with the much anticipated Windows Vista. Considering the long time in development, I had such expectations. Some will disagree but in short - it seems the folks at Microsoft have done away with the most usable features of Windows XP and have only expanded those features I disliked most.

Forget reliability. My computer was always reliable. Each computer I've owned since highschool was built and configured with my own hands. I liked the level of control. Maybe there was power gleaned knowing I controlled every config file under the hood. No, I never complained about a reliable computer. I never experienced the dreaded blue screen. Believe it or not, in over ten years of regular Windows use, I only got one virus and even that was a fairly easy removal.

For me it was a matter of logical thinking. How many times did I roll my eyes over a process that just didn't make any sense? How many steps can it take? MS Outlook? Forget it. By the time I figured out how to make that annoying paper clip go away and never return, I'd pretty well given up on the software actually helping me accomplish anything.

But that's now a thing of the past.

The New?
Being an "open minded" person, I had to get real with myself and at least consider other options. Over the past year I've put in far too many work hours, while lacking enough significant accomplishments for my efforts. Summer 2006 I set out a project for myself. Typically an off-time from weddings here in the Valley of the Sun, I took up to re-evaluate everything I did in business flow. If it was 'on the clock', it was given consideration. From web design to contract generation and management to order fulfillment to, oh, what am I missing - oh yes - actually taking pictures once in a while!! The latter workflow running perfectly thanks to our new EOS 1DMkII cameras, the former needed serious attention.

In an effort to scrap my entire business workflow and build from scratch, I considered "how would my tools work if I could design them myself" - software that is. Hearing the continual marketing plug of Mac OS X being a complete re-design, the timing fit.

Epiphany?
That's when it happened. I picked up David Pogue's book "Mac OS X, Tiger Edition - The Missing Manual" sub-title "the book that should have been in the box". Information with a sense of humor to top it all off. It was worth a look.

Sipping my $3.85 cup of Seattle's Best mocha I looked over the OS X feature list. Began reading - with each feature my mind wondered thinking "it would be really cool if it did...." - turning the page I'd discover 3 paragraphs describing in detail my exact thought. Could it be? Someone actually thinks the way *I* do!! And wouldn't you know it, they happen to write software!

And here all this time, I thought *I* was the dummy. That it just didn't work for *me*, yet here Apple Computer was on a roll - thinking just as I do.

What does it mean?
Of all my research, and in all my (fairly extensive) computer experience - dare I even say it - though so true: "This computer, this operating system, this way of arranging the function of information simply works just the way the average intelligent person thinks." Maybe I'd been so numbed to inefficiency for so long it was just accepted. Yet here it was - all the answers under the hood of a single piece of equipment that stood to revolutionize the fundamental way I worked.

There comes a time when one becomes busy enough to take their hands off the nitty little details driving our work system. It’s like out-sourcing our creative tooling for an analogy. Henry Ford had at least this much right. And out-sourcing it to a fine organization of people who obviously think exactly like I do? Could it get any better?

In actual application?
It's one thing to say "It'll save you lots of time", another entirely to measure it. Numbers are yet to be tallied, though in the coming months I will take careful consideration of actual time in hours and minutes typical tasks are now saving me. 20%? 30%? Could 50% boost in efficiency even show possible? If I had to place a bet today I'd say the actual number will be even higher.

As a professional Arizona Wedding Photographer I’m continually amazed how little of my life is actually spent behind a camera – actual photography! Actually enjoying the interaction with our clients, actually immersing myself in the very art that drives this business. The next six months will be a time of great rebirth and change for our company. I expect that the 2007 wedding season will be our greatest ever, and I’m so excited about it!

Brandy & Matthew

Believe it or not, it actually snowed! In Scottsdale Arizona. No joke. The lens was fogged from the cold (I'll admit, I've never shot in snow before), and the couple was only out in it for a few minutes, but the proof is in the pictures. Brandy had an incredible butterfly tattoo on her back, framed perfectly by her dress. I love working with brides that think a little different.

The ceremony was held at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.