Visionix

Back to the Future

P

Paul Farkas

Administrator
Staff member
Dec 28, 2000
80,874
4,766
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www.odwire.org
School/Org
Columbia University / PCO
City
Lake Oswego
State
OR
I receive this interesting e mail...

Hi Paul,

The biggest surprise in photography has been how so many savvy photographers have begun shooting film ... again.

Younger people are "discovering" film while older amateurs & pros are bringing their film cameras down from closet shelves ... at least for some of their photography.

A problem for photographers: It can be difficult to find film in retail stores. That's especially true for pro films. So, we've decided to help!

It is a rather extended commercial. For more information go to..
http://archive.benchmarkemail.com/D...aboratories-Photographers---Fuji-OTUC-Version

Seeing the box of Kodak film shown in the e mail ,where you were limited to 36 exposures for $7, rather than unlimited shots using your I phone at no cost. The question is how many of the I phone photos have thought behind them. Do any of the thousand of iPhone photos ever enter an album?

Most of us have memories of parents or grandparents taking out the family album. Then carefully looking at black and white or faded color photo. Each has a story and a fond memory.

Can this initiative aimed at the young by Dale Labs, motivate more that the minority photo hobbyists to return to the time of your grandparents when each photo was a memory treasure using a camera?

This thought led me to think about life experiences by parents and grandparents that are gone and never be experienced by the younger generation

A few of my memories that may never be experienced by my children or grandchildren...

Flying First Class in a 747...
https://www.executivetraveller.com/the-fabulous-bars-lounges-and-restaurants-of-the-boeing-747

A few airlines still offer the newest version the 747-800 but nothing like the formality and quality of airline dining 40 years ago


Traveling overnight on the Orient Express Paris to Venice with a black tie dinner on board...
https://www.belmond.com/trains/euro...uGOP5kU1owh3sLzokJcaAjoKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
In small measure still available London to Paris shown in this commercial.


A taster menu at a Charlie Trotters in Chicago...

https://www.eater.com/2013/11/5/6336241/here-are-menus-from-charlie-trotters-over-the-years
Charlie Trotter is no longer with us but created a memory


A dinner on the top floor of the World Trade Center Windows on the World...
https://ny.eater.com/2013/9/11/6547477/windows-on-the-world-new-yorks-sky-high-restaurant
One thing to notice the well known eateries expected their clients to be dressed for the occasion. Today most restaurants are casual. Jackets and ties for men seem to be the exception.

Will fine dining ever return to more formality?


A BOAC supersonic Concorde Flight New York to London in 3 hours...
https://www.heritageconcorde.com/g-boac-204

Fortunately you your children and certainly your grandchildren will have the opportunity to fly a commercial supersonic airliner within the next 20 years.

Some of those memories above were expensive, but worth adding to your bucket list if there is a newer variation.

There are simpler memories to mention.

A pleasures like visiting a Horn and Hardart Automat with your kids and let them get their own lunches with change supplied by parent.
https://www.6sqft.com/horn-and-hardart-automats-redefining-lunchtime-dining-on-a-dime/

I hope I have stirred some memories. Share some of your experiences that would be difficult to duplicate today.

Hopefully you have a family album with old fashioned snapshots to help you recall.

Editor's note: In the interest of full disclosure, the e mail blast which began this topic was sent by Dale Laboratories. I'm on their mailing list. Founder of the company and president is Dale Farkas, my nephew.
 
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When my father graduated from high school, he and his classmates sailed on a passenger liner from Buffalo to Detroit to see Model-T Ford automobiles being assembled.



Editor's note:In the 1920s this is what your dad saw...
 
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Useful information who are serious about photography...

How To Get Sharper
Hand-Held Pictures ​
​
Hi ODwire.org who are serious photographers,

Here's a short, entertaining video from photographer Chis Nicols.

He demonstrates the smartest ways to hold your camera in various shooting situations.​
Our Goal Is To Give You Creative Choices

When You're Ready To Make Prints ... We produce the best photographic prints, enlargements and photo art in the U.S. We've worked with America's photographers since 1974.

Quick Links For Online Ordering

iPrints Professional (ROES) has thousands of photo print sizes and products. It's designed for serious amateurs, professional photographers and power users.
iPrints Classic is an easy-to-use site for amateurs and consumers. You'll be able to get pro-quality photographic prints with no learning curve!
iPrints.com ... our newest site ... lets you order beautiful prints directly from your Mac, PC, iPhone or Android.

Are You Shooting Film ... or Would You Like To?

Learn more about our new upload options. Then ...
Mail your film to us for developing, scanning and/or prints.


If You Need Any Help...
Please call or visit our laboratory store if you live in South Florida. We're here to help! ​
image3583454.jpg
2960 Simms St., Hollywood, FL 33020
(800) 327-1776 • (954) 925-0105
Customer Service Hours:
M - F 10AM - 5PM
info@dalelabs.com
www.dalelabs.com​
 
More help for Photographer Hobbyists...

Photo Tip of the Month
How To Transform
Your Photos Into
Prize-Winners ​
Hi Paul,

Here's a fast, easy way to improve your photographs:

Inside many of your snapshots are
photographic masterpieces.

The secret to optimizing your images ... and creating impressive enlargements ... is using professional software to turn
good photographs into great ones.

We here to help ... with three (3) free online software programs
that let you crop & order pro-quality prints in minutes.​
image11029706.jpg
This photo is a good one. The composition
has nice balance & color, as is.
If you entered it in a camera club competition it might win
a 3rd place or honorable mention award.​
image11029705.jpg
But ... this picture-within-a-picture is far stronger.
It has a much better chance of scoring higher; perhaps
1st place or Best-in-Competition.

All it takes is selective cropping when
you make your print.​
Use Our Free Online Programs
To Crop Your Images ​
  • iPrints Classic allows cropping to the proportions of the print size you're ordering. There's no learning curve!
  • iPrints.com works on Macs, PCs & cell phones. Just choose a print size. Then, use the slider tool on computers or finger movements on your smart phone to crop your images.
  • iPrints Professional is for computer proficient amateurs & pros. You'll download our ROES ordering software into your Mac or PC. ROES has both slider tools and the ability to input numerical changes for precise cropping.
Any of our free programs will allow you to crop your images
to perfection.​
Best regards,
Dale ​

I hope you find this idea useful.
Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends.

Call us if you have any questions at (954) 925-0103.

We're here to help! Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM​
​
image3583454.jpg
2960 Simms St., Hollywood, FL 33020
(800) 327-1776 • (954) 925-0105
Customer Service Hours: M - F 10AM - 5PM
Online Photo Lab Services:
• ROES - For Pros & Advanced Amateurs
• iPrints.com - Prints From PCs, Macs & Cell Phones
• iPrints Classic - Easy Ordering For Beginning Photographers, Amateurs & Small Orders
https://dalelabs.bmetrack.com/c/l?u...&email=EP0qXUGwt0U7QzO0qMyIDaiyS3uKQkhp&seq=3
Film Processing: Order Form • Get a Free Mailer
• Online Ordering of Film Processing
www.dalelabs.com • info@dalelabs.com​
 
I received this e mail from my nephew Dale Farkas, president of Dale laboratories.

This could be of special interest to serious photographers especially those who ski...

A Useful & Interesting Story

For Skiing Enthusiasts Who Want to Take Pictures: I did a newsletter last week that was targeted to photographers who were interested in skiing. It has tips on how to get nice pictures ... comfortably and safely ... on ski slopes or in cold weather. Here’s the link to the newsletter/story: http://archive.benchmarkemail.com/D...On-the-Ski-Slopes--or-In-Any-Wintery-Climate-

The trick is shooting on either cell phones or single use cameras. The newsletter spells this out briefly and nicely.

A 10% Special Discount For ODWire Subscribers Who Shoot Film:

It seems that a lot of people are shooting film these days. We literally had to double our processing and scanning capacity last year to meet the demand. Film is so popular these days that neither Kodak nor Fuji can manufacture enough of it.

A percentage of your “old timers” or younger optometrists might be interested in shooting this way.

The reason film has had such a comeback is that labs, like ours, can develop 35mm (or 120) film and provide digital images of photos on the film. So, people can use film shots for social media and ways they’d use with digital camera images. (Like making prints on their home computer printers.)

Our new site, BestFilmDeveloping.com provides an easy way for photographers to shoot film and then mail it to us for processing, film scans or traditional prints. (with file delivery over the Internet)

We make the process pretty easy.

• People place an order for the film they want us to process online at BestFilmDeveloping.com

• We email them a postpaid label they can print out so they can drop their film into any secure envelope to mail to us.

• Scanned images are delivered via an email to the photographer. The email contains a download link so that they can bring the images into their computers or cell phone’s library.

• Photo prints and the photographer’s negatives are returned by mail to the photographer’s home. (Would you believe that drug store labs literally trash the negatives?)

Please check out the BestFilmDeveloping.com site to see how it works.

I set up ODWire.com with a special discount code that you can offer to your optometrists, if you wish to give them a “special”.

The Promo Discount Code is ODWire22 . It will take 10% off the customer’s cost for film processing. (Unfortunately, I can’t offer that on digital photography or from phones, as yet, but we might in the future.)

A video that shows our lab operation and explains our online ordering system in under 60 seconds is at . I’m sure Adam & you know how to make that and other links.

------------------------------
 
An informative E mail from my nephew Dale Farkas,founder and President of Dale Laboratories...

​


Order Square Prints To Add Impact To Your Pictures ​
Hello Paul,

Want to Give Your Enlargements a More Dramatic Look? Try Square Prints!

We're all pretty accustomed to making our prints in standard rectangular sizes like 8" x 10" or full frame sizes such as 8" x 12". These sizes "feel good" to the eye.

But...did you know that you can add extra drama to some images by printing them as squares rather than rectangles?

image1575618.jpg
A square format works beautifully for this
portrait by Ed Regan. 35mmStreets.com
Ed Regan's FlikR page​
Why Square? Some years ago the square format was very popular because of the cameras many pros were using. Hasselblad and Rollei 120s shot a square format. Photographers who composed square often wanted to keep them that way. So, it wasn't unusual to see square prints and photo albums.

When digital cameras replaced 120 for event photography the square format was pretty much dropped by pros. Lately, though, a lot of photographers have rediscovered just how great square prints can look.

Here's an example of a scenic:

image1562886.jpg
An Uncropped Full Frame Image - Photo by David Farkas
David is CEO of LeicaStoreMiami.com​
image1562749.jpg
A Cropped Picture-Within-A-Picture
in A Square Format​
Make Square Prints the Easy Way -
  • iPrintsPro.com - Using ROES (For Professionals & Advanced Amateurs)
    • We offer a wide range of square print sizes on every paper surface. Just choose the size you want, use our precise cropping tool and order!
    • Please click here if you don't already have ROES on your computer.
  • iPrints.com (For Quick Ordering by Advanced Amateurs & Pros)
    • Works from Macs, PC and cell phones.
  • iPrints Classic (For Amateurs, Beginners & Small Orders)
    • We've added 5" x 5", 10" x 10" and 20" x 20" print sizes ... with cropping ... so you can try out square printing.
    • Just click here to order. iPrints Classic has no learning curve; just great prints.
  • 120 Film Photographers
    • Our laboratory is still processing & printing 120 film. What we've added is the ability to give you pro-quality film scans and for you to order your processing online. Please visit BestFilmDeveloping.com to place your order.

You can place an online order for either digital prints or film processing in minutes. Your prints are delivered to your home. Scans from 120 film are delivered via email, with a downloadable link.

Take advantage of our convenient, inexpensive way to get the beautiful prints & enlargements you deserve.​
Dale Labs Logo​
​
As a 49 year old photo lab we serve professional and amateur photographers with easy online ordering. Pros and computer-savvy amateurs: Click here to order a full range of pro services using our free ROES software. Beginners & Photo Enthusiasts: Please click here to order beautiful prints via a simple online program.

Shooting film? We're one of the few labs that still offers quality processing (35mm, 120, C-41, E-6, B&W.) Our high resolution scanning services will allow you to shoot film but gain the convenience & online ordering capabilities of a digital camera. Click for free film mailers.

Our promise to you: Pro quality, fair prices and photo services that will bring the joy back to your photography.
Dale Laboratories
2960 Simms St.
Hollywood, FL 33020
(800)327-1776
info@dalelabs.com
www.dalelabs.com
Serving America's
Photographers Since 1973 ​
 
Old fashioned photography as a hobby.

Dale takes you back in time that might peak your interest.

Try This Project To
Challenge Your Creativity ​

These days almost anybody can take a picture.

Whip out a cell phone, point it and touch the screen. The phone's camera & software will do virtually everything for you. Even basic snapshots come out looking pretty good on a cell phone.

As a traditional photographer, I'd ask is whether a picture enhanced by artificial intelligence is truly a photograph?

Call me a dinosaur, but I think of photography as human art form.

Would you like an interesting challenge?

Try this test of your creativity & photographic skill. I think you'll enjoy it.*
Dale

* This can also be a great family project where you include the kids!​
Experience real photography at its most basic!
Shoot a Roll of Film With a
Single-Use-Camera​
Go back to basics. Take some pictures without hi-tech equipment & computer enhancements.

Why? Here are two good reasons:

1. Shooting with a "no frills" camera can be a lot of fun.
You're going to have visualize how a subject will look the old fashioned way ... just as the best photographers have over the years.

2. You're going to be amazed at how good a photographer you actually are.
    • Believe-it-or not, you'll get some awesome shots!
    • Let's face it ... anybody can take hundreds of digital photos and come out with a few good ones. When you're limited to 27 pictures you are going to be sure that the pictures are perfectly composed before you shoot.
About Single Use Cameras ...​
  • Kodak & Fuji offer a wide assortment of single use cameras. They range from color to Black & White to waterproof cameras you can take to locations where you wouldn't want to risk damaging your expensive dSLR.
  • Unfortunately, supply chain issues may make finding OTUC (One Time Use Cameras) a bit difficult.
  • We suggest you look online if you can't find a camera locally.
image11714421.jpg
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To Get Your Single Use Camera Pictures Developed ...​
Visit BestFilmDeveloping.com
  • Place your order online in just a few minutes.
  • We'll send you a postage-free mailing label.
  • Mail us your film in any secure envelope.
  • Scans will be sent to you via email, with a downloadable link.
  • Prints (if you choose them) plus your negatives will be delivered to your home.
Our Goal Is To Give You Creative Choices
This newsletter's purpose is simply to share ideas with you.

When You're Ready To Make Prints ... We produce the best
photographic prints, enlargements & photo art in the U.S. We've served America's digital & film photographers since 1974.

Quick Links For Online Ordering
iPrints Classic is an easy-to-use site for amateurs and consumers. You'll get quality photographic prints with no learning curve!
iPrints.com lets you easily order pro-quality prints directly from your computer, iPhone or Android.
iPrints Professional (ROES) has thousands of print sizes and products. It's designed for serous amateurs, professional photographers, artists and power users.

If You Need Any Help...
Please visit our laboratory store if you live in South Florida.
We're here to help! ​
image3583454.jpg
2960 Simms St., Hollywood, FL 33020
(800) 327-1776 • (954) 925-0105
Customer Service Hours:
M - F 10AM - 5PM • Saturday 10AM - 5PM
info@dalelabs.com
www.dalelabs.com​
 
For those Old Fashioned people who still enjoy looking at photographs...



May & June are months for graduations, communions and parties. The sun is shining and everyone's smiling.

We know you'll want to preserve these wonderful memories. So, we're running a Spring Sale with 20% off on prints, enlargements & photo cards.

We'd love to share in your graduation & related family pictures. But, our sale isn't restricted to just celebration pictures. It's open to any photographic subject. The card sale applies to our entire collection.

Just key in the promo code Grad2022 at checkout when you order online for your discount. Use our iPrints.com photo enthusiast's site or iPrintsPro ROES for advanced amateurs & professionals. Our sale runs from today through June 12, 2022.

You're going to love these pictures ... and treasure them for years to come.

____________________________________​
Tell Your Grad's Story With a Photo Book​
image7101734.jpg


Graduations aren't just a one day happening. They're a special celebration of a very memorable week in your family's life.

Our photo books are family history you'll pass on from one generation to the next.​
  • Printed on archival photographic paper
  • Choice of hard or soft cover
  • Easy to design (under 1 hour) with our online software
  • Affordable - Prices from $18.95 to $75.00

Learn more...​
Graduation, Invitation & "Thank You" Cards​
image1357194.jpg
Cards Are Available in 4" x 8" & 5" x 7" on Professional Photo Paper​
Why not announce your good news to everyone?

These cards are keepers. They'll become a valued part of your family's history that will be saved and passed from your kids to theirs!

Sale Priced From 48¢ Each (including envelopes) • Click here to order your cards from our All Seasons collection!​

Dale Laboratories
2960 Simms Street
Hollywood, FL 33020

Phone: (800) 327-1776
info@dalelabs.com
www.dalelabs.com

Serving America's
Photographers Since 1973​
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Paul Farkas said:
For those Old Fashioned people who still enjoy looking at photographs...

​
​
​


May & June are months for graduations, communions and parties. The sun is shining and everyone's smiling.

We know you'll want to preserve these wonderful memories. So, we're running a Spring Sale with 20% off on prints, enlargements & photo cards.

We'd love to share in your graduation & related family pictures. But, our sale isn't restricted to just celebration pictures. It's open to any photographic subject. The card sale applies to our entire collection.

Just key in the promo code Grad2022 at checkout when you order online for your discount. Use our iPrints.com photo enthusiast's site or iPrintsPro ROES for advanced amateurs & professionals. Our sale runs from today through June 12, 2022.

You're going to love these pictures ... and treasure them for years to come.

____________________________________​

​
​
Tell Your Grad's Story With a Photo Book​

​
​
image7101734.jpg

​


Graduations aren't just a one day happening. They're a special celebration of a very memorable week in your family's life.

Our photo books are family history you'll pass on from one generation to the next.​
​
​
  • Printed on archival photographic paper
  • Choice of hard or soft cover
  • Easy to design (under 1 hour) with our online software
  • Affordable - Prices from $18.95 to $75.00

Learn more...​

​
​
Graduation, Invitation & "Thank You" Cards​

​
​
image1357194.jpg
Cards Are Available in 4" x 8" & 5" x 7" on Professional Photo Paper​
​
​
Why not announce your good news to everyone?

These cards are keepers. They'll become a valued part of your family's history that will be saved and passed from your kids to theirs!

Sale Priced From 48¢ Each (including envelopes) • Click here to order your cards from our All Seasons collection!​

​
​
​

Dale Laboratories
2960 Simms Street
Hollywood, FL 33020

Phone: (800) 327-1776
info@dalelabs.com
www.dalelabs.com

Serving America's
Photographers Since 1973​
footer.jpg

Click to expand...
Marquis Who's Who.

https://marquiswhoswho.com/
 
Autumn Photography...




image418892.jpg
​
Hi Paul,

Are you planning to take scenic photos this Fall? It's pretty tough not to get a beautiful picture. Still, there's always room for improvement.

My son, David, took these pictures during a trip to New Hampshire and Vermont that included a select group of photo enthusiasts.

I'll be using David's beautiful photos to offer some suggestions you can use in your own photography.

________________________________

Fall Sale on the Best Photo Enlargements In America

20% Off On All Prints From Wallet-Sized to 20"x 30"

No photographic papers show off the brilliance of Fall colors better than Kodak & Fuji pro papers. At Dale we offer the sharpest, most accurate printing in America.

We'd like to show you just how good prints of yourFall colors can look.

So, we're reducing the prices of all of our Kodak pro paper prints and enlargements by 20% from now through October 24th with a coupon special. You can take advantage of this sale whether you shoot Fall scenics or not!

To receive your savings just use the discount code Fall2022 when you send us orders from your desktop computer or cell phone.

Details are at the end of this newsletter.

I hope you'll find these tips useful...and that you take advantage of our sale.

Best regards,
Dale
________________________________​
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Tip #1: Follow the Mist

One of the best times to take pictures as the seasons change is in the early morning or when there is mist in the air.

image415258.jpg
The Rule of Thirds Is Used Vertically With the Image Cut in Half Horizontally​
image415259.jpg
A Meandering Road Leads the Eye​
Mist mutes color and allows subtle shape and design to come through.

Notice how David has used the softness of the mist to create a feeling of serenity in all of these pictures.



image415262.jpg
A Lifting Morning Mist Frames This Composition From Above​


_________________________________​
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Tip #2: Use Perspective

Perspective creates strong images and carries the viewer's eye into your pictures.

image415264.jpg
Perspective From the Rails and Water Bring All Visual Elements Together​

image415263.jpg
Mild Perspective Gives A Sense of Size to the Covered Bridge
​
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Tip #3: Take Advantage of Water's Unique Visual Qualities ​
Water is exciting in its movement...
image415267.jpg
An Exposure Time of 1.5 Seconds On A Tripod
​

​
​















...and it's ability to reflect brilliant Fall colors.
image415269.jpg
A Tripod Helped Produce a Needle-Sharp Picture at 1/50th Second​
​

_________________________________​
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Tip #4: Tell A Story in a Single Frame

image415266.jpg
Peacham, Vermont​
City dwellers tend to think of towns, farms and countryside as separate entities. This picture brings all these elements together as a single image. The yellowing trees give the picture a sense of time.


_________________________________​
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Tip #5: Use Color Combined With Pattern For Strong Compositions
Color can be used to delineate your main subject. Work the color together with interesting shapes and you'll get stunning pictures.

Here subtle background colors and shape bring out the strong visual pattern of the barn:
image415260.jpg
​
This picture uses an enhanced blue sky to give a dramatic look to the pure white steeple:
image415271.jpg
Woodstock, Vermont​
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Tip #6: Take Pictures of Manmade Structures That Have Strong Design Elements
image415270.jpg
Note the Repeating Pattern on the Bridge​

Beautiful shapes are everywhere that people build. Here are a some good examples where David was able to mix nature with aesthetically pleasing structures.



image415272.jpg
The Fence Design Adds Interest to This Picture
​
image415265.jpg
Within The Repeating Shapes Are Textures and Colors​

image415268.jpg
The Color and Shadows From the Tree and the Symetry of the Building Make a Great Composition
​
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A Smart Way To Organize Your
Family's Holiday
Pictures ​
Hi ODwire.org Members,

It's a fair guess that you are your family's #1 photographer. You're the expert with the "good" camera, who has always taken the best shots.​
image7877009.jpg
But, these days all your relatives have the ability to take pictures.​
image7877028.jpg


The millennials love their tablets​
image7875159.jpg
... and everyone will be snapping away on their cell phones.​
Their snapshots & selfies may not be as good as yours. But, in terms of capturing family memories their pictures are as much a part of your family's history-in-the-making as yours are.

So, perhaps you should consider becoming your family's photo organizer rather than just being the best photographer.​
Your Challenge:

With everyone shooting on different devices you need a way to easilycollect their images ... as well as your own ... and organize the photos into a family history that will be there in the future.

You also need to share selected pictures with family members who only get together a few times a year. (Grandma will always want pictures of the kids!)​
image7877037.jpg
Our Solution:

Take advantage of iPrints.com.
iPrints is our online site (not an app) that offers pro-quality photographic prints & photo products from any digital device:
  • Order prints from your dSLR through your lap-top or via your host's computer.
  • Photos shot on iPhones, Androids or tablets are ordered directly over WiFi.
    • You can even order cell phone prints after enjoying desert ... from your cell phone or your relatives'.

Here's All You Need To Do:
  1. Visit www.iPrints.com.
  2. Log-in on your relatives' devices, using your emailaddress.
  3. Select the images they & you feel are best. Order an economical print size (4" x 6" on your dSLR or full frame 4.5" x 6" prints from cell phones.)
  4. Show selected images in the shopping cart so that all the other relatives can choose the pictures they want prints of.
  5. Order larger sized prints if people want them.
  6. Have all prints ... from all sources ... returned to you for distribution at your next family get-together or by mail.
How To Order on iPrints:

Click Here if you're ordering from a Mac, PC or Tablet

Touch Here for cell phone ordering instructions

or...

Touch/Click "Instructions" in iPrints' Log-in Window​
Why Order Prints At All?

Here's a personal experience:

I was invited to a family reunion by my cousin, Michele.

Beyond being a gracious hostess Michele is also the family historian. She had a photo album I chanced upon. In it was this picture showing my parents, my father's parents, his siblings and cousins. The picture appears to have been taken in 1950 ... over 70 years ago.

With the exception of the two young men shown in the upper left all of these people have passed away.

What do you think the value of this picture is to me today? What if the photo had never been printed or saved?​
image7876622.jpg
Your Options:

Social media is cool ... for now. Maybe you can trust in the Cloud if you really believe it's going to be accessible in 7o years ... and if you think your important pictures can be found in the digital clutter.

But, if you want your children to be able to show their children (and grandchildren) pictures of your Thanksgiving dinner this year I believe your smart move is to make some archival prints.

The prints you make this week will be there for viewing no matter how technology changes!​
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Our entire lab family wishes you & your family a joyous, healthy Thanksgiving.

Dale & Elaine Farkas
Founders​
Please consider forwarding this newsletter to friends & family
if you feel it would help them.​
​
​
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Dale Laboratories
2960 Simms Street, Hollywood, FL 33020
Phone: (800) 327-1776 & (954) 925-0105
Email: info@dalelabs.com
See all our services at www.dalelabs.com

Customer Service Hours: M - F 10AM - 5PM

We'll be closing from Thanksgiving day, November 25th - November 28th so that our entire team can enjoy the holiday with their families. We'll be reopening on Monday, November 29th.​
 
Photo Tip: Set Your Camera
To Shoot Multiple Exposures.
You'll Get Better Individual Pictures. ​
Hi Paul,

We'd all like to think that with our reflexes & photographic skill we can grab the best shots.

Going for that single, prize-winning shot is fine.

But, here's what we're up against. Even the best digital cameras have some level of shutter delay. Subjects also move. So, your perfect shot may happen a split second after you press your shutter release.​
image7964981.jpg
An easy way to get around this problem is to use a technique that pro sports photographers use for their action shots:
  • Set your camera so that it shoots groups of 3 or more images with each pressing of the shutter release.
  • Select the best of each picture group after your shoot.
The photos below illustrate how quickly expressions can change. Both photos were exposed in less than a second with a single press of the shutter.

Which do you like best?​
What About Cell Phone Photos?

Here's some great news:

Both Apple & Samsung have incorporated a feature called Smart HDR into their new phones.

Here's Apple's description of what HDR (intelligent High Dynamic Range) offers iPhone owners:

"Smart HDR intelligently blends the best parts of separate exposures into a single photo."

In other words, this technology is taking the multiple exposure technique we're suggesting you use on your digital camera one step farther. Your cell phone will shoot multiple exposures. Then, it will do the equivalent of Photoshop transposing to select & incorporate the best expressions from the sequential photos.

How To Set Your Cell Phone Camera

On an iPhone 1) Click Settings > Camera . 2) Look for Smart HDR under the PHOTO CAPTURE section. 3) Enable Smart HDR.

Check your Samsung and other Android phones for this HDR feature & settings.

The Bottom Line: HDR will automatically take blinking eyes out of a lot of your holiday pictures!​
How To Order Prints, Enlargements, Holiday Cards & Calendars of Your Cell Phone Photos

Photographic Prints & Enlargements:
  • iPrints.com for Amateurs & Pros (Cell Phones, Macs & PCs) -
    • Prints on photographic paper
    • Canvas wraps (Not available before Christmas)
    • Precise cropping, photo effects & more
    • Learn More ...
Holiday Cards & Calendars (Cell Phones, Macs & PCs):
Inexpensive Photo Gifts

Your photographs ... enlarged .. .make impressive gifts that people will love. You've taken great shots. We'll help you transform them into photographic art.

To order beautiful prints on pro photographic paper use our iPrintsprogram from your Mac, PC, cell phone or tablet. Or ... use our ROESprogram for pros, power users & advanced amateurs. If you're a
beginner try our easy-to-use consumer site iPrints Classic.

Online prices: 8" x 10" ... $2.75 • 11" x 14" .... $7.25
• 16" x 20" ... $19.95
We offer all sizes up to 30" x 40"... for gifts that look expensive,
but aren't!

If You Need Any Help...
Please phone us. We're here to help.

Last Minute Gifts For Florida Photographers - Create while-you-wait prints, calendars & cards on our lab store's Kodak Picture Makers.​
image3583454.jpg
2960 Simms St., Hollywood, FL 33020
(800) 327-1776 • (954) 925-0105
Customer Service Hours:
M - F 10AM - 5PM
Holiday Closures:
Christmas: Closed From Saturday, Dec. 24th - Monday, December 26th. Reopening on Tuesday, December 27th.
New Years Eve: Closed From Saturday,
Dec.31st - Monday, January 2nd. Reopening on Tuesday, January 3rd at 10:00AM.
info@dalelabs.com
www.dalelabs.com​
 
Paul Farkas said:
Dale's comments were picked up in a piece in the 1/8/23 New York Times...

​
​


TECHNOLOGY​

The Hottest Gen Z Gadget Is a 20-Year-Old Digital Camera​


By Kalley Huang
Young people are opting for point-and-shoots and blurry photos.​
Click to expand...
Anyone have photo albums to share?

Another reason to allow Dale Laboratories to take you "Back to the future!"

Should You Print (or Preserve) Your Photographs?

Here are a few good reasons why file preservation & printing makes sense. ​
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#1 - Your Family's Pictures Need Life Insurance

Imagine how you'd feel if one day you checked your computer or cell phone and all the pictures you'd taken of your family were gone.

It's a fact. Hard drives crash. Cell phones are lost or replaced. Cloud uploads turn out to be low-res files that aren't of much use. Even file formats become obsolete and can no longer be read by current computers.
This happens a lot more often than you would think!

The solution? A lab-quality 4" x 6" print (49¢) on Kodak or Fuji photo paper will last for 100 years. The print you make today will be one your children can show to their grandchildren. Prints are the only sure photo insurance you can buy.

It's also important to re-save your old digital files in formats (like JPEGs) that can still be read. Otherwise, the important photo memories of your life may be lost in the very near future.​
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#2 - A Screen Image Is Not A Work of Art

Suppose you've visited the Louvre in Paris. You've paid admission to see the Mona Lisa and waited in a long line.

When you finally get to the front of the crowd there's a video screen of Leonardo's masterpiece instead of the actual painting!

Snapshots are fine on a cell phone. But, your best pictures should be printed for you and others to view and enjoy.

We can make you prints from wallet sized to 30" x 40" on photographic paper, canvas, or fine art media.

​
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# 3 - The Most Important Events of Your Life Should to Be Printed

Do you have a wedding or other life event on a DVD? Lot's of people do.

It's not a good idea to entrust your images to a plastic disc for the long haul. Why? DVDs are not totally archival.

We recommend you make a printed photo album or book on archival photographic paper as soon as possible:
  • Contact your professional photographer to have him or her design a photo album for you. Or...
  • Use our ROES software to create a photo album or book yourself. Or...
  • Call us at (800) 327-1776. We'll give you the name of a reliable album company who will design, print and bind your album for you.
Each floppy disc held up to 36 images scanned from film rolls. Try to find a floppy disc reader today!
# 4 - Many Digital Formats Are Here Today ... Temporarily ... But Will Be Gone Tomorrow

One of the challenges with digital technology is how fast the technology and various image formats become obsolete and unaccessible.

Back in the '90s we made thousands of Kodak Photo CDs like this one to digitally archive our customers' 35mm film images.

Kodak set up a "forever" PCD format. They opened this format to the world. We did the scans in our lab ... as many other top photo labs did.

Photo CDs were designed to show film images on TVs when viewed with Kodak Photo CD players. Those players will still work for TV viewing.

But, unfortunately most of today's computers will no longer open the PCD format (even it they have disc readers ... which most new computers don't.) So, many of our customers can't open their Kodak Photo CDs. (Fortunately, most people ordered prints with their CDs and would have received negatives.)​
Each floppy disc held up to 36 images scanned from film rolls. Try to find a floppy disc reader today!
Two Solutions If You Have Kodak Photo CDs and Want to Convert Their Digital PCD Files to JPEGs

1) There is a free software program called IrfanView that will allow you to open and convert PCD files. Link: https://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm. Please be sure that when you download Irfanview you also download InfanView's plug-in so you're able to use it.
Note that IfanView is not an easy program for computer novices to use. The program may also not be permanently available online.So, we recommend you convert and save your files ASAP.

2) Dale Laboratories now has a special service to open your Kodak Photo CDs and convert the PCDs to JPEGs. We're also offering optional prints.
  • Cost per Photo CD (up to 108 images) transferred as JPEGs to a USB ... $45
  • Price per 4" x 6" proof print of all images on the Photo CD ... 25¢

Please phone us at (800) 327-1776 if you're interested in this service. ​
Our Goal Is To Help You Enjoy Your Photography
We hope you'll give us the opportunity to print your best pictures.

Here are some links to useful lab services:
• iPrints Classic is our easy-to-use consumer site. Place online orders from your home computer or cell phone. No learning curve; just quality prints.
• iPrints.com will give you pro-quality prints on photographic paper or artists' canvas; including gallery wraps. Order from your cell phone, Mac or PC.
• ROES is for advanced amateurs & pros who are comfortable on computers. Click on the Design Your Own tab on any of our catalogs to add custom type.
• Shooting Film? Click here to mail your film to us for developing, scans & prints.

Serving America's photographers since 1973.​
 
My nephew Dale Farkas a nationally recognized photography expert offers some tips to assist the amateur...


Tips For Cell Phone Photography ​
Hi ODwire.org members,

I usually use my own photographs as examples in our newsletters. As a professionally trained photographer I usually have a fair number of photos to choose from.

In this newsletter I'd like to use some photos from a person who is not a pro or even a semi-pro; my wife, Elaine.

She's our company's CFO (Chief Financial Officer) and my favorite traveling companion.

What I believe Elaine has discovered are ways to use her iPhone X in very creative ways by maximizing certain characteristics of her phone.

I think you'll find her techniques useful.

Good shooting!

Dale ​
Capturing Instants In Time ​
image14651433.jpg
Monte Carlo's Beautiful Harbor
  • Sometimes You Can Get Lucky: This was a grab shot my wife took from the palace grounds, overlooking a gorgeous yacht basin.
    • Elaine composed a nice picture of the harbor, using the natural wide angle distortion and color saturation of her cell phone to advantage.
    • The seagull flying into the scene added a special plus. It probably was outside the frame when she touched the exposure button. But, that gull added the extra visual element that turned a good shot into a prize-winner.
  • Rule of Thirds:Two thirds of the picture is made up of the lower harbor and the beautiful buildings surrounding it. The upper one third is the sky.
    • The "defect" caused by shooting with a cell phone is the tilted ocean horizon. Even though the bottom shows the camera to be level, the top is a technical flaw that would cause this image lose a First Place prize in a professional competition.
The moral of this photo story is that you can't expect perfection from cell phone photos. But, they can end up being quite impressive.​
Using The Phone's Wide Angle Capabilities ​
image14651438.jpg
The Right Way - This photo Elaine took of me in Spain used the wide angle capabilities of her iPhone to show depth and perspective. By shooting downwards she caused me to look properly proportioned, with the background appearing quite dramatic.​
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The Wrong Way - By shooting upwards, the wide angle distortion accentuated my feet and legs in an unattractive way. (Even fabled "Bigfoot" of mythic lore wouldn't have his feet look this large.) The whole shot just "feels" wrong. So, I suggest you always review your photos when you attempt to use a wide angle effect. Then, delete "misses" like this shot.​
When A Snapshot Is All You Want ... ​
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image14651430.jpg
One of the great things about cell phones is that they are essentially snapshot cameras.
  • Believe-it-or-not, this photo of my wife and me was taken by a complete photographic novice. He was just a passerby I asked to snap a picture of us during our visit to Gloucester, Massachusetts.
    • I carefully laid out the photo, showed the man the composition I was attempting and pointed to the cell phone's exposure button. I doubt even a pro could have done better!
  • The wide shot of our granddaughter graduating college might be a campus cliche. But, it certainly captured the joy of the moment.
Making Clutter Look Good ​
image14651439.jpg
When you shoot with a traditional camera you'll normally aim to keep your images fairly simple. You don't want cluttered backgrounds and extraneous objects.

The spontaneity of cell phone photos change that rule-of-thumb. Somehow phone pictures seem to look better with random objects that would detract from traditional, camera-produced images.
​
Using Shape & Color ​
image14662823.jpg
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Brightly colored stripes and patterns work well, especially for beach pictures. The top, umbrella picture was a very nice mix of shapes that was essentially a Rule of Thirds composition.
​
Telling Informal Personal Stories ​
image14662837.jpg
Cell phone photos allow for compositions that are more relaxed. This allows inclusion of extraneous objects (like the TV & cakes in a hotel room). I took this photo of Elaine and our grandchildren on her phone, including the two cakes to let the photo show that it was her birthday picture.
​
Creating Artistic Images​
image14651434.jpg
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My wife has her own unique way of looking at the world.
  • Elaine included her own shadow as she took the picture of the individual rose.
  • By properly positioning herself, she was able to place the midday sun behind the church steeple during our visit to Spain. Inclusion of the people in the foreground and the perspective of the palms added to the photo's visual strength.
The Point In All This?
The constant in all these pictures was how easy they were to take. It just came down to "seeing" her surroundings and incorporating "life's happenings" into Elaine's compositions.​
Dale Laboratories is here to give you creative imaging options, the easy way:
Any of our free programs will allow you to print your
photographs to perfection.
​

Please visit our Laboratory Store if you live locally.

Our friendly photo experts will help you get the best prints ever!

Best regards,
Dale ​

I hope you find these tips useful.
Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends.

Call us if you have any questions at (954) 925-0103.

We're here to help! Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM
Saturdays 10AM - 2PM​
 
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