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Monthly Archives: October 2017

17 Oct 2017
8-MAN CREW PULLING

IS EVERYONE PULLING?

It’s often harder than it looks to coordinate teams, even when everyone is doing the same thing.  Watching a novice crew team row up the river is fun.  It’s not an entirely graceful thing to see, but entertaining.

The crew wants to do the right thing. The coxie sees what needs to be done and everyone strives to coordinate.

We all have teams of one kind or another.  Some are long lasting, others are fleeting but they all share a common denominator, we are all in it together.…

16 Oct 2017
GEOTAGGING IN LIGHTROOM

PROCESSING AND GEOTAGGING FOR FRENCHTOWN 150 IN LIGHTROOM

These are the steps for processing your photos in Lightroom.  See “GEOTAGGING ONLINE” post if you do not use Lightroom.

You need to:

CROP YOUR PHOTO SQUARE
GEOTAG IT
NAME IT “LOCATION – PHOTOGRAPHER.jpg”
RESIZE IT TO 1200×1200 pixels
LABEL “LOCATION – PHOTOGRAPHER.”
SUBMIT IT

The video at the bottom of this post illustrates the steps itemized below.

  1. Import the best, most representative photo of your location into Lightroom and then select it to make it active.
  2. Switch to the “DEVELOP” mode to enhance your image and to crop it.
  3. Select the crop tool and using the “Aspect Ratio” pulldown menu, crop your photo 1×1 ratio.  You made have to hit the little lock icon to unlock your photo and allow the square cropping.
  4. With your photo still selected, switch to the “MAP” mode and search for Frenchtown NJ.
  5. Zoom and pan the map until you find the location you photographed. When you find your location, right click on the map to get the coordinates (latitude/longitude).
    PLEASE NOTE!  You want to get the coordinates of the location you photographed, not the location where you were standing when you took the photo.  (If your camera has GPS it may have already assigned coordinates your your file which must be over-written because these would be the coordinates of the camera rather than the coordinates of the location photographed.)
  6. After assigning coordinates, switch to the “LIBRARY” mode and click the Export button.[Steps 7 through 9, below (File Naming, Sizing and Labeling) can also be done outside of Lightroom using other software tools.]
  7. Use the File Naming function to name your file “LOCATION – PHOTOGRAPHER.”  (Note this can also be done after exporting using any file naming function on your computer.)
  8. Use the Image Sizing function to make your file 1200 pixels x 1200 pixels @ 200 dpi.
15 Oct 2017
FRENCHTOWN ON GOOGLE EARTH

FRENCHTOWN 150 MAPS AND LOCATION LIST

Frenchtown 150 is underway.  This collaborative photo project is a comprehensive visual and on-line spatial representation of Frenchtown, NJ.

Here is a link to maps showing the photo locations.  Click to view (if this link does not work for you I can email you the maps):
FRENCHTOWN 150 PHOTO LOCATIONS

The list of locations and photographers assigned to these location is below.  Email me directly to select a location and get on the list.

Participating photographers select specific locations to photograph throughout the borough.  The photos should be documentary in nature.  They should be clear, crisp, well-composed and visually representative of the locations being photographed.  The photos will be cropped square as part of the processing and this should be taken into account when composing the photo.

Upon completing the photography, photographers will crop, size, label and geotag their photos (only one photo of each location) and then submit their files via email.

Check out this post for a tutorial on processing and geotagging your photos in Lightroom.
PROCESSING AND GEOTAGGING FOR FRENCHTOWN 150 IN LIGHTROOM

You can also geotag your photos online.
GEOTAGGING ONLINE

When all the location have been photographed and the files properly processed, they will be published on Google Earth.

The objective of the project is to illustrate Frenchtown as it is in October 2017 and to use current Internet technology to enjoy the results.

Below is the list of the locations, their map ID numbers and the photographers who have selected the locations to photograph.   This list will be updated by me as more photographers select locations to photograph.

LOCATION LABEL  PHOTOGRAPHER
FRENCHTOWN COUNTRY WELL 1 JOHN COSTA
BAMBOO HOUSE 2 ALAN STULTZ
TWELTH STREET WEST 3 ALAN STULTZ
PLESSY FIELD 4 KIETH BOBROWSKI
FRENCHTOWN CERAMICS 5 KIETH BOBROWSKI
THE OLD BARN THEATER 6 ALAN STULTZ
11 TH STREET 7 ALAN STULTZ
10 TH STREET 8 ALAN STULTZ
FRENCHTOWN SCHOOL 9 ALAN STULTZ
8 TH STREET WEST 10 KIETH BOBROWSKI
8 TH STREET EAST 11 KIETH BOBROWSKI
7 TH STREET WEST 12 KIETH BOBROWSKI
7 TH STREET EAST 13 KIETH BOBROWSKI
THE OLD FACTORY 14 KIETH BOBROWSKI
6 TH STREET WEST 15
FRENCHTOWN MARKET 16 ALAN STULTZ
6 TH STREET EAST 17
AMERICAN LEGION 18
RAILROAD AVENUE NORTH 19
RAILROAD AVENUE SOUTH 20 BILL BROKAW
4 TH STREET WEST 21 DUSTY NELSON
3 RD STREET WEST 22 SUE ANN RAINEY
4 TH STREET EAST 23 DUSTY NELSON
3 RD STREET EAST 24 SUE ANN RAINEY
FRENCHTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 25 CAROL PELOSI
FRENCHTOWN METHODIST CHURCH 26 CAROL PELOSI
2 ND STREET WEST 27 ALAN STULTZ
2 ND STREET EAST 28 ALAN STULTZ
FRENCHTOWN LIBRARY 29 ALAN STULTZ
FRENCHTOWN BOROUGH HALL 30 DUSTY NELSON
FRENCHTOWN POLICE DEPT 31 CAROL PELOSI
FRENCHTOWN FIRE DEPT 32 CAROL PELOSI
LIVING HOPE MINISTRY 33 CAROL PELOSI
RIVER BRIDGE 34 MARIANNE KEHR
SUNBEAM PARK 35 BILL BROKAW
BRIDGE CAFE 36 JOHN COSTA
RIVER SIDE PARKING 37 JOHN COSTA
DALLA TERRA 38 CHRIS MANNING
SFA GALLERY 39
COLCINA DEL SOL 40 MARIANNE KEHR
SUNBEAM GENERAL STORE 41 CURT SHREINER
RIVERNET CREATIVE 42 CHRIS MANNING
RIVERNET COMPUTERS 43 CHRIS MANNING
ART GALLERY ON FRONT ST 44 CHRIS MANNING
BIKE PATH SOUTH NEAR BRIDGE 45 JEN FIRESINGER
FRONT STREET 46 SUE ANN RAINEY
ABANDONED BUILDING (LOTT AND FRONT ST) 47 BILL BROKAW
ART YARD (FORMER HATCHERY) 48 BILL BROKAW
FRENCHTOWN INN 49 MELISSA MERTZMAN
RIVER MILLS TOWNHOUSES 50 BILL BROKAW
BIKE PATH NEAR BRIDGE 51 CHRIS MANNING
ALCHEMY 52 MARIANNE KEHR
GEMSTONE GALLERY 53 BILL BROKAW
TD BANK 54 BILL BROKAW
MANSION 55 KATIE MILLS
LIEBROSS FAMILY MEDICINE 56 KATIE MILLS
BOOK GARDEN 57 KATIE MILLS
ANTHONY DANZA LAW OFFICE 58 CHRIS MANNING
B MILA 59 BILL BROKAW
FORMER LAUNDERETTE 60 BILL BROKAW
EARLY BIRD 61 JEN FIRESINGER
PUROTU SALON 62
MODERN LOVE 63
VILLAGE TOY STORE 64
FORMER TRANQUILITY ART GALLERY 65 BILL BROKAW
MINETTES CANDY 66 LYNN BRASS SMITH
FRENCHTOWN CAFE 67 JEN FIRESINGER
GALASSO’S PIZZA 68 JEN FIRESINGER
COUNTRY CHIC 69 BILL BROKAW
FORMER RESTAURANT 70 BILL BROKAW
BIKE SHOP 71 LYNN BRASS SMITH
DECOY GALLERY 72 MARIANNE KEHR
CALDWELL BANK REALTOR 73 BILL BROKAW
WATSON AND BROWN ART GALLERY 74 BILL BROKAW
MARIA’S 75 BILL BROKAW
PULP 76
FLOWER SHOP 77 LORI VAN PELT
OLIVE WITH A TWIST 78 CURT SHREINER
FRENCHTOWN PHARMACY 79 CURT SHREINER
RIVER GYPSIE 80 LAURA ARCHDEACON
GROUSE 81 LAURA ARCHDEACON
YOGA LOKA 82 LAURA ARCHDEACON
MERGE GALLERY 83 LAURA ARCHDEACON
LATIFA’S 84 LAURA ARCHDEACON
FREEDOM ART AND MUSIC 85 LAURA ARCHDEACON
NATIONAL HOTEL 86 LYNN BRASS SMITH
SPINNERY 87 LYNN BRASS SMITH
CITGO GAS STATION 88 KATIE MILLS
JOE STRAUSSER ART 89 BILL BROKAW
FRENCHTOWN GENERAL STRORE 90 SUE ANN RAINEY
HAIR SALON 91
UNDEVELOPED AREA BEYOND GENERAL STORE PARKING AREA 92 KATIE MILLS
NAPPOLI’S PIZZA 93 BILL BROKAW
FRENCHTOWN HARDWARE 94 CURT SHREINER
MONUMENT 95
FRENCHTOWN PARK 96 CURT SHREINER
NISHISKAWICK CREEK 97 LYNN BRASS SMITH
SUSPENSION BRIDGE 98 LORI VAN PELT
ICE SKATING AREA 99 LORI VAN PELT
TRAIL HEAD 100 GABRIELA LEVIT
UPPER TRAIL 101 GABRIELA LEVIT
LOWER TRAIL 102
RT 519 1 103
FRENCHTOWN MILFORD ROAD 104
CEDAR STREET 105
RT 12 BRIDGE 106 JOHN COSTA
CREEK ROAD 1 107
CREEK ROAD 2 108 SUE ANN RAINEY
DARCY LODGE 109 KATIE MILLS

 

RT 519 2 110
RT 12 (1) 111
RT 12 (2) 112
WARD STREET 113 CHRIS MANNING
RIDGE ROAD 114 CHRIS MANNING
MAPLE AVE 115 KATIE MILLS
CHESTNUT AVE 116 CHRIS MANNING
HILLTOP AVE 117 SUE ANN RAINEY
D&R CANAL ST PARK TRAIL HEAD 118 JEN FIRESINGER
HORSESHOE BEND ROAD 119 CINDI SATHRA
SOUTH HARRISON ST 120
LOTT ST 121
EUPHORIA 122 CHRIS MANNING
FRENCHTOWN WINE AND LIQUOR 123 BILL BROKAW
RAILROAD AVE (SOUTH) 124 CINDI SATHRA
HAWK ST 125 CHRIS MANNING
KERR ST 126
TRENTON AVE (RT 29) 127
RIVER ROAD IRON BRIDGE 128 MARIANNE KEHR
LOWER NISHISAKAWICK CREEK 129 GABRIELA LEVIT
RIVER ROAD STONE BRIDGE 130 MARIANNE KEHR
FRENCHTOWN CEMETERY 131 CINDI SATHRA
BLUE FISH 132 MARIANNE KEHR
LOVIN OVEN 133 LYNN BRASS SMITH
ART YARD 134 CURT SHREINER
FRENCHTOWN COMMONS 135
TRENTON AVE – RT 29 (2) 136
WASHINGTON AVE 137
FRENCHTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN 138 JENN BUBB BROWN
FRENCHTOWN PUBLIC WORKS 139 BILL BROKAW
RIVER ROAD 140 BILL BROKAW
RACE ST 141 BILL BROKAW
BRIDGE STREET 142  

MIKE BRINT

FRENCHTOWN POST OFFICE 143 CHRIS MANNING
THISTLE 144
EMPTY STORES AT 26 BRIDGE 145 BILL BROKAW
RIVER MULE 146 MARIANNE KEHR
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT 147 BILL BROKAW
5TH ST EAST 148
5TH ST WEST 149
BROKAW PHOTOGRAPHY 150 BILL BROKAW
13 Oct 2017
FRENCHTOWN 150

WE’RE ALL SPATIAL

Everybody is somewhere. (Whether we know where we are is another question.)  For many businesses, it is all about location, location, location.  Where you are matters.

When it comes to commercial photography, the images produce often are created to show the feel and character of a business’s location.  This also is true for business communities, like Frenchtown, NJ, that rely on visitors.

Digital photography allows us to tag our files with latitude/longitude coordinates and on-line tools, such as Google Earth can read these coordinates and position the images in their exact location on a map.

So as an experiment (and to push the spatial envelope) I launched my latest project called Frenchtown 150.  I am coordinating a group of photographers to create a comprehensive visual and on-line spatial representation of Frenchtown to celebrate its 150th year anniversary and show just what it is like, now, in October 2017.

The first step was to generate a properly scaled map of all the proposed photo locations using GIS software (ArcView) as shown above.  150 locations were plotted ranging from forest trails to downtown businesses.

Step two will be to corral the photographers, instruct them on the project parameters, and then have them shoot the photos and tag them with coordinates.

The final step will be to compiled all the geotagged images on Google Earth which will enable users to fly in and view the photos on a three dimensional map of the Earth.  The photo below is an actual screen shot of Google Earth showing one of the embedded business photos floating above it’s actual location.

CITGO ON GOOGLE EARTH

I can see this being applicable for many businesses, whether a single location or multi locations.  We’ve got the tools out there.  Let’s use them.

www.BrokawPhotography.com

11 Oct 2017
NJ GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE

NJ GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE

It was an interesting evening at the NJPAC with 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial candidates, Lieutenant Kim Guadagno and Phil Murphy.  The house was packed.  NJPAC is a great venue and was the perfect setting for this event.

NJ GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE

It was refreshing to see Kim and Phil interact with respect and dignity.  After meeting them and hearing their views I’m not really sure who I would vote for.  Being Governor of NJ is a tough job and both of them seem up to it.

GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE_BROKAW PHOTOGRAPHY

NJ GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE_BROKAW PHOTOGRAPHY

GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE_BROKAW PHOTOGRAPHY

 …

10 Oct 2017
HOT IRON

HOT IRON

Steve Sears bends metal.  The hard stuff, … iron.

Iron doesn’t want to bend.  It takes prep.  It takes conditioning.  It takes energy.  Steve’s energy.

Steve has been bending metal for decades.  He knows what he wants and how to make it happen.  Most people call Steve an artisan. He calls himself, “Steve.”  Bending iron is what he does, and does well.  He doesn’t worry about labels.  We all do what we do, whatever that may be at any given time.   Maybe we are label-able, maybe not.  It really doesn’t matter.

STEVE SEARS BLACKSMITH - BROKAW PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographing Steve was great fun.  It’s always a pleasure to be with someone who derives such great satisfaction from his craft.

STEVE SEARS BLACKSMITH - BROKAW PHOTOGRAPHY

09 Oct 2017

UNDERSTANDING

Dr. Dan Cohen, “Dental Care 4 Kids” understands his patients.    They are less concerned with all the things that adults appreciate about him and are more concerned about how they feel when they visit.  Knowing this, Dr. Dan has created a dental office environment that kids actually  look forward to visiting.

DENTAL CARE 4 KIDS WAITING ROOM

From cartoons and game-filled iPads in the waiting room to fun window displays in the hallway Dental Care 4 Kids has a relaxed, stress-free feel.  While the concept is relatively simple, the implementation is brilliant.  Care 4 Kids blends medical professionalism with kid aesthetics.

DENTAL CARE 4_KIDS DISPLAY WINDOWS

Like any dental office there are high tech tools like X-ray instruments, drills and sterilizers, but they are subtly placed and do not dominate the office.  I think this is a great example of a professional who has given a lot of thought to who his clients are and how they feel.

DENTAL CARE 4 KIDS DR DAN COHEN

06 Oct 2017

APPRECIATION

Road Spaghetti!

Traveling to a North Jersey assignment in morning rush hour, with accidents all around certainly make one appreciate GPS.

Thank you satellites and all those people who figured out where the heck I am going and how to get there.   One wrong move and I would have ended up twirled and twisted and driving the wrong way looking for a U-turn.

It feels good to appreciate.…

05 Oct 2017
ABUNDANCE

ABUNDANCE

It’s a bumper year for nuts (acorns and hickories, too.).  The trees are fruitful (or maybe I should say nutfull) and there is an abundance on the forest floor.  The squirrels and chipmunks will feast.

Abundance is a funny thing.  Sometimes it just comes to us, especially when we’re receptive. I hope you are feasting!

 …

03 Oct 2017
JOSHUA KATES LCSW

KNOWING YOU DON’T KNOW

I had a great session with a psychotherapist, recently.  A photo session, that is.

Josh Kates (http://www.joshkates.com/) has been helping people regain their balance for over twenty-five years and is still active and eager to help people be who they truly want to be.  It’s an art.

Josh wanted to update his headshot and reached out to me to do this for him.  For professionals like Josh, he ‘is’ his product and a good headshot is important.  We talked about the options of either doing a studio or location session and Josh opted to do something on location where he practices.  He felt it would be more authentic.  I thought it was a great idea.

Josh’s office is relaxed and comfortable.  It is a great place to sit and talk but a little challenging to use as a portrait studio.  Not a problem.  All location photos sessions are challenging.  You never know what to expect.  As Donald Rumsfeld once said, “There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don’t know we don’t know.”  I think he is saying you just have to figure it out.

JOSH KATES AND SUE ANN BARROW EVALUATING HEADSHOTS

After experimenting a little we found the best formula, some nice window light and a pleasant smile.

Every time I go on an assignment I know I don’t know what I don’t know but know I will I would know when I see it.  I enjoyed photographing Josh and sharing the progress with him as we discovered the best look.  We figured it out.…