Picture Stories by Stephen Alvarez

Think Fixed Tech: Some photoshop alternatives

So if youre like a large percentage of users, you would like to use Photoshop, but dont really have the $1300 to shell out.  And lets face it, you dont need to use 98% of the functions you get.  If youre like me, you need to make some basic color/contrast adjustments and maybe a crop or two.  Yeah, theres a lot of other basics but where is the middle ground between iPhoto and Photoshop?

I have covered digital asset management before, and there is SOME overlap here.  But image editing is its own animal.  For your surfing pleasure I bring you:

1) TA DAAAAA!!!  Adobe has already figured it out and for the best bang for your buch is Photoshop Elements.  Honestly I dont know why theres not more buzz about this app.  For $89 you can forget about the bad things that can happen when you download an illegal copy of PS CS4 from bittorrent.  Theres even a free trial.  Seriously, if you need more power than this, you probably make (or could make) money using Photoshop.

2) Bring out the GIMP.  GNU Image Manipulation Program.  Free and, um, really cool.  It will take a slightly steadier hand to get the install right, but its not hard.  Its the granddaddy of image manipulation apps not named Photoshop.  Did I mention freeness?  Can import PSD files.

3) Seashore:  Another free open source image editor.  iPhoto plus maybe, its simple but effective.

4) Don't forget me:  Aperture.  The same way Adobe dumbed down photoshop, Apple amped up iPhoto.  Aperture is a really slick and grow(ing) up application that again, for the price is a really good deal.  Looks good.  Free Trial.  At $200 a little more than elements.

Have fun!

Geof Bowie
www.thinkfixed.com
twitter.com/geofbowie

Think Fixed Tech: Answers to your Questions

St George Island, Florida

a bike on St George Island, my favorite place in Florida.

-Stephen Alvarez

Good assistants continued

Nancy Pistol helps check 1,500 lbs of gear at the Port Moresby Airport. Now this photo definitely goes with the good assistant series.

-Stephen Alvarez

Morondava, Madagascar

Ora River, New Britian

Last time I packed a dozen or more bags it was to go to New Britain and shoot this picture. That trip was 10 weeks, the one I'm on now is only 6. Short by comparison.

-Stephen Alvarez

Antananarivo Madagascar

Waiting, CDG

I've written about this before, but so much of my job is about waiting. Today it is waiting on a flight for Antananarivo at CDG, 5 hours down 4 to go. Earlier, this week I stood in an airport in the states waiting in disbelief as the counter agent told me that Air France had never heard of my excess baggage and even though I had valid reservations I couldn't get on the plane. Countless frantic phone calls, emails, texts and 48 hours later I'm waiting again but at least I'm underway...

-Stephen Alvarez

CDG, Paris

Good Assistants

Assistant Alan Cressler waits for our boat in Mexico

I employ many assistants to make my photographs, and I've had some great ones in my career. They are always the unsung heros of the assignment. A good assistant understands that the assignment is not about them, not even about me, but about making the pictures. A good assistant anticipates my needs, fixes problems before they arise, lightens my workload. A good assistant is alway thinking about what will make shooting the photos easier, they take pride in the work in the final pictures and don't really care what happens in the mean time

Alan Cressler (above) is one of the best. But there are other great ones, Neeld Messler, Jesus Lopez, Matt Oliphant and Nancy Pistol to name 4. Anytime I head out without one of them I miss the extra confidence they lend me.

-Stephen Alvarez

CDG, Paris

Abkasia

A view through the fog and trees in Abkasia.

-Stephen Alvarez

voyage, hawaii

The sailing canoe Hokulea off the coast of Maui.

I'm leaving today for 6 weeks in Africa. There is always a bit of relief to actually getting out the door with 10 bags of equipment packed. The huge anxiety of what to bring and how to carry it is now over. If it isn't in the bags, it isn't going. Now I start feeling more like a photographer and less like a manager.

I won't be able to blog much from Madagascar, but there are a few things scheduled to go up in my absence. And of course Geof continues the excellent Think Fixed series.

-Stephen Alvarez

Think Fixed Tech: Q&A

I go on and on and on about things every week (more or less).  Because I am incredibly lazy and busy today, I would like to hear from you about any questions or issues you find pressing.  Interested more in backups or security?  How about photo oriented applications or related hardware?  Maybe a process or scenario that a tech support group can help address.  Comments please!

Geof Bowie
www.thinkfixed.com
twitter.com/geofbowie