Two new things

I just watched the little video on Google PhotoScan, and I gotta say- that is awesome sauce. Exactly what old printed photos need. I plan to try it out in short order. Course, it also helps to have old photos... thankfully, I know plenty of sources for it.
I don't use Google for my image storage right now... so I am curious to how the app will handle things.

Really good write-up from DIYphotography.

The intro video:



The other thing, I saw in passing and I plan to watch some of is the Netflix series- "Tales By Light." I recall someone suggesting there ought to be a photography cable channel a while back- oh wait, that was me. *sheepish grin*
In any case, this series sounds interesting... the downside is, I'll never get to these locations, nor be asked to do anything close to what these amazing people do.
Write-up of the series by DigitalTrends.

The video trailer:

Canon 7D "cannot communicate with battery"

I recently received the shock of turning on the body and seeing the message "cannot communicate with battery." This was right after I got the body back from Canon services. I called, asked what could be done, and they said (paraphrasing here) "the batteries do go bad sir."

I basically hung up on Canon I was so mad.

Thats when research mode kicked in. Some places said put the unit in to your freezer over night. Some said some sort of cleaning solution will fix it. However, I found the following video:



It worked! PRAISE JEBUS!

The only difference for me was the offending screw was in the cavity of the body. Thankfully I had a magnetic screwdriver left over from an iPhone repair. I 'fished' around in the space and found the screw further down.

For the record, all the screws that came out of the body also fit the missing screw hole. (just say'n)

Two more U2 concerts, two more sets of amazing photos

I brought my gear with me to Boston, my 7D, 50mm 1.8, 17-40 4.0, and 70-200 2.8 IS.

First night I only brought the 7D taped up to cover like Canon, and 7D. I had removed my vertical grip to make it small as possible. It only had the 50mm. 

I had done research on security at different venues, and it very much varied. From lax to SUPER restrict. I gambled that Boston would be old school east coast, don't give a crap. Turns out my gamble paid off.

When I went through GA first night, I could have brought a rocket launcher through... no one cared. 

On my way out from the first night, I talked with a guy about why he didn't bring his gear in. (he was photographing for a U2 tattoo project) He did say a woman in the first row of seats had a 300mm and shot the entire show. Nearly bumped the security guy in the head a couple times. 

Here are all the results from night 1 with only the 50mm.

That sealed it for me... I was bringing the entire family in. I had a strap bag... wrapped my 70-200 in a shirt... put my 17-40 on my camera and I was off. (even had my 50mm, but never used it)

The only problem I might have had was that I was going through the Ride entrance... security guy checked my bag, asked what that big thing was... and I was honest, I told him it was a camera lens. He said go... and I was in.

I was second person on the rail for the first five songs next to another U2 fan photographer. (he went back to his hotel to get his better gear after I told him what I was doing... paid off for him as well)

Then I wandered away, and was towards the back of the floor... and I thought, "Screw it... worst case, I can tell security I wasn't aware of the policy."

I put the 70-200mm lens on, being sure never to bug people or to get in the way. Being 6'4" also helped. I knew to move towards the B-stage at a certain time. I didn't have rail, but with a 70-200, I was good as there.  :)

I shot so much at a U2 show, I felt complete. It was a great feeling... I did the same for the Pittsburgh 360 show. I had the 70-200 in there as well. This time I got so many super sharp amazing photos... 

Worst problem- going through, editing, and posting. Gads... 1400 photos is no joke

Here are all the results from night 2 with the 17-40mm at first, but then using the 70-200mm 2.8 IS.

Also, the blue and red lights they use this tour, pain in the ass. 

Re-do

I was going through some archived U2 photos for a donation to the African Well Fund. Needed to dig up the originals for print. No biggie. A couple of them were from the U2 Pittsburgh show, which I took about 1700+ photos. I was going through, and realized I may have missed a couple. So I rushed through in Lightroom, and starred about 25 images I thought I may have missed. (that alone took 15 minutes) Turned out, I had about 10 of them already. Dang... however, for the other 15, I culled out 8 others that I just wasn't happy with the images.

The other 7 I posted on to my Flickr account. The best of those 7 is this, not too shabby.