Never Scan Another Document Again

Sometimes It's Something Valuable

 

 

It took a few years of where the flip-flops meet the road to get this one.

And, I've learned that a high resolution photo beats a scanner, every time.

It doesn't matter if, I'm doing research for a folk story or, historical event.

I like to go out there and see, whatever I'm writing about; take photos if possible.

It pays, to get out and sniff around, talk to locals and, get a feel for the culture.

This document will help me verify some facts, I've been chasing, for a long, long time.

When, I hang the page with a clipboard, on my door, it's easy to enlarge, what's important.

The image is taken at 7360 X 4912 pixels, using a Pentax K1 digital camera.

I'm not really worried about anyone stealing this valuable information, from me.

That's because, not many people can read it and, I've seriously lowered the resolution.

What I'm doing is tracking down the life history of a Ryukyu king, from way back.

The guy was a commoner, living on another island and, I went there, too.

Over there, I found out where he was born and, where his family is buried.

There's even a spot (I call) where his belly button got buried. OK, it's his umbilical cord.

Well, he left that island in a hurry and landed in this northern village on Okinawa.

And, I obtained this paperwork, I'm shooting, about a 30 second walk from his home, here.

The photo above, shows the setup, used, to digitize this prize piece of paper.

The most important stuff, on this page, I have to move closer, to capture with the camera.

To me, it's secret and, I don't want anybody else, to see what I have here.

Anything, you put on the internet, can become available to the whole wide world.

So, I make sure, nobody gets a copy of things, I want to keep hush about, until I'm ready.

What's My Not Scanned Document Look Like ?

 

 

Just to show you, how it comes out, when enlarged, I'll give you a sample.

Below is a screenshot, taken from a portion of the RAW photo file, when cropped.

The squiggles, you see, came from a paragraph of the document hanging on my wall.

They are legible but, have absolutely nothing to do, with the story, I'm working on.

It' just to show everyone, why you'll never see me using a scanner again.

Photography Tip: Shooting a Camera Under the Tripod

When the Camera Goes Under the Tripod

 

There are times a photographer turns the tripod center pole upside down.

It's a rare occasion when you see RyukyuMike shooting like this but, it happens.

It all started in preparation for making this shot, inside a cave.

Doing some online research, I found an article written by a cave photographer.

He mentioned turning the camera, with flash, upside down for awesome cave photography.

When you reverse the center post on a tripod and attach the camera, it looks like this.

Extend the tripod legs and you can see through the viewfinder and operate all the camera controls.

But, I was in a cave making a low, wide angle shot.

Having a heck of a time with manual settings, operating in the dark I skipped using flash.

Instead, I opted for several different exposures and created an HDR photo.

It did remind me though, that I need practice shooting from below the tripod legs.

Photographers making flower and macro shots do this all the time.

That's not my style of photography but, I'll show you some examples of how else, it can be used.

 Here's one of those old-time print publications, Doc Graff and I were published in.

Recently, I had to email proof of publication to someone.

Well, I didn't feel like running around to find a scanner so, I shot the blasted thing, myself.

Slipping a black background under the subject, is the easiest way to get proper exposure.

If you don't want to use side lighting, from both sides be careful; shadows may appear.

Turn off all lights, set the camera timer, snap the shutter and, get away from the scene.

Magazines and old film photos may want to curl-up on you and ruin the shot.

Just find something to weigh them down.

White background

Black background

Digging through my wallet, I found this photo of the Missus and a younger version of myself.

That was sometime in the last Century when she was the lightweight.  Hah !

Any old film photo, ID card, license, passport, whatever you want, can be digitized.

There's no need to run out and buy a scanner.

 Probably, I should look through the old stuff in my wallet, more often.

It seems like my student ID from NY Institute of Photography has expired.  Oops.

Most of what I learned about cameras came from that school.

Just, I don't think grandpas should have to do homework so, I didn't.

Now, I'm not sure if I got expelled or, just have to ask for a new ID card.

Maybe, I'll write the Dean a letter and ask.

Who knows, they might issue me an honorary degree !

More tricks of the trade in PHOTO TIPS