The Future of HD Slide Show Presentations

Allow me to tell you about the results of a “test” I did last night. A while back, I upgraded to Photodex ProShow Gold 3.5. The drawing card was it’s ability to write BluRay disks in 1080p HD video. Proshow Gold has already established itself as the leading slide show software on the PC.

I needed a way of producing very high quality merchandising show for my Art Show booth. The concept is to allow all passers-by to glance at images as they cycle and be draw in by their quality. Everything I sell is in the slide show, including DSLR Boot Camp Training and Field Workshops.

Lacie D2 BluRay Drive

The missing piece of the puzzle was a decent BluRay burner. I wanted an external Firewire (no glitches!) unit because I want it to be portable between my different work computers.

At this point in time, there isn’t much that fits those requirements: External, Bluray, and Firewire.

The only device I could detemine that would do the job is the Lacie D2. In the past I have had better luck than most with Lacie drives. They basically package OEM drives and resell them.

Lo and behold, this D2 unit was built like a Sherman tank!

Installation was tedious, but all went well. After a reboot, I opened up Proshow Gold 3.5 and it immediately recognized the Lacie BluRay burner device.

ProShow Gold 3.5 supports BluRay

OK, now we’re getting somewhere! 

I originally built the entire presentation in PowerPoint to make use of its graphic layout capabilities.

I exported each of the 119 slides as a hi-rez 1920×1080 TIF file. In Proshow Gold, I loaded each TIF into a frame. (I preset the show parameters for 16:9 at 1080p resolution.)

Bingo! I burned the 18 minute show in about 12 minutes (rendering and burning at 2x) using my 4-core main PC. I played this back on my BluRay player and the results are astonishing.

Stop by the “Christmas In The Colonies” Show this weekend and see for yourself! I am in Booth #31. This show is in Medina at the Medina County Fairgrounds in the Medina Community Center. The address is 735 West Lafayette Road (US-42). Times are:

• Friday November 28 – 10 AM to 7 PM
• Saturday November 29 – 10 AM to 5 PM
• Sunday November 30 – 11 AM to 5 PM

I hope to see you there. A great time is planned!!!

Cheers,
Bob

Discount Coupon for Cleveland By Hand Show

 

I am glad to present you with this friends and family discount coupon.

We all need a little economic stimulus, right?

Please stop by the Cleveland I-X Center next weekend and visit my booth at the Cleveland By Hand Art & Craft Show. (Yes this is co-located with the Cleveland Food Show. Our show is free admission, walk though to the Food Show.)

Show hours are
• Friday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Sunday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Probably 50% of my sales this year were intended to be gifts. Since the holidays are coming up, this would be the time to start some shopping for that very personalized gift.

The coupon applies only if presented at the time of sale. The coupon is good for physical merchandise. (Workshops and Boot Camp bookings are not included.) This coupon lasts for these 3 days only!

All the best,
Bob Kulon

Presentation: “Developing a Distinctive Style: Learn To Be Still”

I will be presenting a talk at Wooster Camera Club on December 1.

The topic will be “Developing a Distinctive Style: Learn To Be Still”. Like most of my club presentations, this is about core photography and not technology. That is of broader general interest (for now, at least, heh heh).

The meeting takes place at the United Methodist Church in Wooster located at the corner of North Market & East Larwill. It starts at 7:00 PM.

Inspiration Found!

Yesterday, I purchased William Neill’s new eBook that he is self-publishing and self-marketing. William is a renowned California-based professional doing interpretive landscape work. Everything he does seems to resonate to the emotive side of art. See what I mean – check out his blog: http://web.me.com/wgneill/wnblog/PhotoBlog/PhotoBlog.html

Also yesterday, I received a newsletter notice from an acquaintance, Raymond Klass. He has been having a wonderful boost to his career as a professional nature photographer with a very refined newsletter and a 3-month sojourn gathering images around the United States and Canada. There is much to learn and admire from this NY based gentleman. Look for him in years to come to be among the most revered. I have known Raymond for about 2 years and see the true development of style. Start with a visit to his newsletter: http://www.klassphoto.com/newsletter.php

Summer seems so far in the past!

I was just reviewing some booth photos I need to organize for my 2009 jury submittals and realize that time has really escaped unnoticed. How about you?

This picture was from the September 20th Johnny Appleseed Festival. That seems like ages ago.

Oh well, time marches on. Next up is five straight weeks of Holiday Art Shows. These will be different for me – they are larger, much better planned, indoors, heavilly advertized, and more widespread within the region.

I will have much more ready to hang art available, just in time for gift purchases. My prices remain accessible. Stop by and say hello, OK?

• November 14, 15, and 16 – Cleveland By Hand Art & Craft Show – I-X Center – www.clevelandbyhand.com
• November 22 and 23 – Cincinnati By Hand Art & Craft Show – Duke Energy Convention Center – www.cincinnatibyhand.com
• November 28, 29, and 30 – Christmas In The Colonies – Medina County Fairgrounds – www.christmasinthecolonies.com
• December 5, 6, and 7 – Butler Holiday Craft Show – Butler Institute of American Art – www.butlerart.com
• December 20 – Countryside Conservancy Holiday Market – Happy Days Visitor Center – Route 303 in Boston

Just Vote!

I intend to vote. You must do the same. No comments, please.

Photo taken a few weeks back at a locomotive breaking yard in McDonald, Ohio.