Facebook Privacy

All of us have become accustomed to sharing images and other information online. But if you are using Facebook, it would be wise to read an article posted in the Minneapolis Star about protecting your privacy. The title is "10 Facebook Settings to Check Now" and it is a real eye opener.

There are a number of ways anyone can access your information through Facebook. The article outlines 10 account settings you should review to ensure no one has unwarranted permission to access your private and personal data/images.

Users may initially set up their Facebook account without taking the time to explore their account options. This includes leaving many of the settings in the default mode that come standard with the account. As a result, permission to access personal data on the account is automatically given to any number of third persons and entities that were never intended to have this level of access.

This article provides simple instructions on how to reconfigure your account to avoid the unknowing release of information to any third parties. If you use Facebook, read this article and follow its instructions to protect your information and images.

Mitch Dobrowner at Fstop

FStop is billed as "the place that professional photographers discuss their craft" online. One of those photographers is Mitch Dobrowner. He works primarily in the Southwest. He has a special talent for recording severe weather scenes of intense beauty, for example the image below:


Recently Mitch gave an interview about his work you can view at: Fstop. You can also view Mitch's portfolio of fine images at: Dobrowner.

Badlands Photos

A number of members of the Crosstown Camera Club have recently traveled to the South Dakota Badlands to photograph the area. The first group went on their own in early May and stayed in Wall. The second group attended Rikk Flohr's seminar in mid-May and stayed at the Circle View Ranch just south of the park near the town of Interior.

Over the course of the next few weeks we will post images from both groups to show their interpretations of the area. Below are some images from those who attended Rikk's seminar:

Images by Mark Karney





Images by John Olson




Images by Gary Eckhardt

Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

The devastation New Orleans experienced in hurricane Katrina has been documented by a number of photographers. We have been bombarded by images of flooded homes, damaged buildings and deserted neighborhoods. But possibly the best indicator of how much damage this hurricane caused can be seen in recent photographs of the former Six Flags amusement park that remains abandoned since it was flooded during that storm. The 140 acre site was once the destination of large crowds who enjoyed the rides, shows and activities it offered. In its abandoned state the remains are somber and nightmarish.

A group of photographers went on site (apparently illegally) to photograph the devastation left behind. The 75 images presented are both beautiful and haunting.



You can view all of them at: Six Flags.

Local Photographer Bill Iacono

Bill Iacono has just come on our radar. He is a professor of psychology at the U of M and a photographer. He currently is exhibiting some of his images at the Central Lutheran church in downtown Minneapolis. You can read more about him and his work by clicking the image below, and by going to his website titled One Tree Photography.

A story of a photo essay....

Herman Krieger: "Herman Krieger's photo essay, "The Hamlets of Lane County" is an intimate look at rural life in Oregon. Art Beat visited the Eugene photographer and unexpectedly became the subject of his latest photo essay."

I am a strong believer in the photo essay and one of my clubs, DPS - which mets in the Ridgedale area, has a project each year using the concept. Last year and this year, the club did, and is again, working on a Folio concept (see Lenswork Publishing for more information), and next year we will be exploring the 'book'. It's all about the story, you know, rather than a single image....but, anyway, it's something to think about.

RetouchPRO LIVE with Ctein - color retouching

Saturday, May 21, 2011 - 4pm CDT : The presentation will be approximately two hours long, maybe a few minutes longer

The cost to attend the online seminar is only $10. Go to the following:
http://www.retouchpro.com/index.php?page=ctein

Battle at F-Stop Ridge

Some people have a lot of time on their hands: Battle at F-Stop Ridge