Well I generally only go to the shop once a week. I went on last Wednesday (Jan 25) and did 200 images. 72 of them were used in Post 157. I had an appointment
with my chiropractor today (Jan 30) and after that I went back to the shop.I did another 110 today. Jason was pressure testing the frame and welding the pinholes that
occurred when changes have been made in parts that were attached and removed. Dave was working on a drive unit and newcomer, Russ Armstrong, the owner of
Skagit Grand Central Body Shop, Sedro-Woolley, WA. is preparing the frame for paint. He will also do the painting. The place is going nuts............
By looking for detail shots the 8GB card fills rapidly. The D700 Nikon allows me to capture each image in 2 different forms: a JPG file of 5MB and a
13MB RAW (NEF). The NEF files are my backups. They are saved separately from the JPGs. If I run into a problem with a JPG file I just open the NEF, alter it and save
it as a JPG. All of the images in the posts are JPG. So when I posted 72 images the zip file of the post was 8.9MB. The 72 images (800 x 600) and around 160kb each
totaled 12MB. 70 images shot in the dual format require 670MB of file storage. The HD is 2T and last years fotos occupy 0.3T.
When I shot with the D100 Nikon I frequently used a strobe for fill. It would only record one file type at a time. Since it didn't have the digital HP of the D700 I was
challenged. Camera in one hand, strobe in the other and unreal body positions were all challenges. Now I just kick the EI up to 5000 - 6400 and shoot away. I have
smaller apertures and faster shutter speeds. I don't find these conditions to compromise the images so I blindly stumble around clicking away. The fluorescent ceiling
lights are a pain in the ear. If the image is underexposed the color balance goes down the toilet. But the light is generally quite uniform. With Photoshop I can always
alter the color temp and I frequently do. To sort the 200 images, chose the order to present them and then rearrange them I spent about 3 hours. Then even after I
had the sequence established it took 6 1/2 hours to organize the post. I was way behind on the Bonneville NW Reunion and that kept me from doing the post until
Sunday AM. I wrote the first page that morning and then didn't get to the images until 2:30PM. I finished at 10:25 PM and took several breaks to eat and say hello to
my wife. So I spent about 9 1/2 hours on it. I shouldn't have hurried so much. Ray had to correct some spelling errors that spell checker didn't handle to his satisfaction.
I use ACDSee Pro to arrange the images. I do some modifications in ACDSee Pro but generally alterations are done in Photoshop CS5. I have to thank Ray for convincing
me to try ACDSee Pro. It is a blessing. I would like to present the images much larger but band width and pre-established standards limit us.
When I send him the post he proof reads it and tells me of the needed alterations. Each post is saved in 4 folders. The JPGs, the NEF files, the PSD files and the post
file. I do not combine these files until I have made any needed alterations. I can go to the NEF file, alter it, save the changes, then save it as the same numbered JPG
in the post file.
Then I send the correction to Ray. That way my post file exactly matches what we post. If I have stored the files before I make corrections it involves more steps and
frequently it turns into a basket of snakes. Without Ray Therat this build diary in TARGET550 would not exist. That's the plain d a m n e d truth. That man pulled me out
of the path of the manure spreader after he put the web site in a condition that I could feed it. Please THANK Ray anytime that you see him. He deserves it.
Now the last group to THANK . Jim Hume, Jason Hasking and Dave Jeffers are so helpful. They answer my questions in terms that I can pass along to you. They
are always willing, if I ask to have something moved or need a hand to get a foto, to help me. Even when I try I am no doubt an interruption in their work schedule. So
far they haven't threatened me with bodily harm. My insurance is up to date.
The Northern Light of the entire project is Marlo Treit. He allows me total access to the project. He never hollers on the fone if I make a tiny mistake. Marlo and I have
discussed this project for over 20 years. It is getting to the place that I get chicken skin just thinking about it. I told Jim Hume, when the frame was all assembled that
it sure seemed great to be so far along. Everything else has only taken about 4 times as much time as the chassis. During all this time Marlo has been the "rock' that
just continued to guide, provide and helped with ideas and suggestions. In that same vain he has done the same for the photography for this site. Someday I am
going to send him some 4 x 6 fotos for his wallet. MARLO.........you are a friggin' jewel. THANKS for everything including this unrealistic car.
Can I go along when you decide to run it?
needing guidance,
FREUD