I am finding that the preferred format for Second Life is a Targa file....and the largest resolution is 1024. I was chatting with a professional artist and photographer in Second Life and that was the information that he gave me.
I have visited several art shows and I really like th fine resolution that I see on the pictures, although some of them take a while to rez. I have also noticed that for some galleries the hovering text says that the pictures can be resized. I like that feature, so when I asked my friend about it, he said to save my files as Targa 1024 X 1024 pixels. Then I would upload the file. I would then create a black canvas prim and put the picture on one side of it.
He was taking me through an impromptu tutorial on it and I was taking notes, but I got lost between the stretching, selecting off, and then reselecting the prim. I want to try to do it again soon, however, because I have been invited to show some photography and art at a grand opening. Fortunately, my friend Lowri Mills says that she can help me...and there may be a few others who will help get the art show together.
I have invited some photographers from the Eastland Spin to join me in the efforts...and there may be a few classmates who would also like to show with us...in about two weeks. Fortunately we have some pictures from our assignments...and past photo shoots that may be just right for the occasion.
Anyway, it is a new adventure...and I am excited about it....You are welcome to comment....and to add what you have found about formats and resolution in SL.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Weather Wise
With the spring comes so many surprises when it comes to weather conditions. My intention was to go to a spring "fly in" at Ranger this last weekend for the celebration of the historical marker. I was just envisioning planes of all sorts and colors landing in the little air field. When the day came, however, there had been so much rain that planes could not land there. I thought perhaps some had landed in Eastland instead, so I went over there after the dedication of the marker, but did not find any planes there either. So I changed my plans for my photography assignment.
I decided that I would try to photograph some wild flowers that grow along the sides of the road near my house. I went walking several mornings and found the wind to be blowing....and the flowers were bobbing their heads in rhythm with the wind. I tried holding the stems of some of them, and found that my hand was in the picture. I did snap several pictures and was hoping for the best. I was using the macro settings, too, so I needed some stillness....though I did not have a tripod.
Later I was talking to my friend, who is also taking the class, and she said that she had found a cardboard box, or some other type of temporary shield helps to keep the wind off the flowers for a still photograph.
Anyway, I have found that there are many surprises when it comes to the weather in the spring, so it is a good idea to allow myself several photoshoots to get the right lighting conditions and not so much wind in the flowers.
Photography is always a challenge and I have enjoyed finding ways to capture some beauty in wild flowers this week, even with the surprises in the weather.
I decided that I would try to photograph some wild flowers that grow along the sides of the road near my house. I went walking several mornings and found the wind to be blowing....and the flowers were bobbing their heads in rhythm with the wind. I tried holding the stems of some of them, and found that my hand was in the picture. I did snap several pictures and was hoping for the best. I was using the macro settings, too, so I needed some stillness....though I did not have a tripod.
Later I was talking to my friend, who is also taking the class, and she said that she had found a cardboard box, or some other type of temporary shield helps to keep the wind off the flowers for a still photograph.
Anyway, I have found that there are many surprises when it comes to the weather in the spring, so it is a good idea to allow myself several photoshoots to get the right lighting conditions and not so much wind in the flowers.
Photography is always a challenge and I have enjoyed finding ways to capture some beauty in wild flowers this week, even with the surprises in the weather.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Photographic Journal
It has been so much fun to travel lots of places and to meet lots of people in Second Life. I am finding that I can use my camera control to zoom in on things and to change the perspective. That has REALLY helped when I go shopping...I don't have to fly around all over the place...lol
The thing that I am enjoying is doing a photographic journal of the places I visit and the friends I meet. I have found that I can save them to the hard drive of my computer. Then I can bring them into Second Life later if I wish.
I have been to some beautiful parks and some incredible buildings, so I take pictures of myself in the setting. I have also found some interesting kinds of pose balls and have taken a picture of myself reading, relaxing, or just posing for a picture.
Today I took a picture of my friend Lowri Mills and myself at her Mission house in Second Life. We compared our heights and our gestures.
Anyway I am having a lot of fun with the camera controls. It does take some practice, but it is well worth the time and effort. As you know you press down the Alt key as you roll your mouse as you click on an object to center it. Then you can roll in or out to zoom. By adding the Control key you can pan around the scene...up or down and around. This has been one of the neatest tools that I have found...and it really helps to get the scene composed the way I want it so that I can click on the "Snapshot" button at the bottom of the page and then save it to my own computer.
You are welcome to comment on this idea at the bottom of the blog. I would be interested to know your thoughts and ideas about it.
The thing that I am enjoying is doing a photographic journal of the places I visit and the friends I meet. I have found that I can save them to the hard drive of my computer. Then I can bring them into Second Life later if I wish.
I have been to some beautiful parks and some incredible buildings, so I take pictures of myself in the setting. I have also found some interesting kinds of pose balls and have taken a picture of myself reading, relaxing, or just posing for a picture.
Today I took a picture of my friend Lowri Mills and myself at her Mission house in Second Life. We compared our heights and our gestures.
Anyway I am having a lot of fun with the camera controls. It does take some practice, but it is well worth the time and effort. As you know you press down the Alt key as you roll your mouse as you click on an object to center it. Then you can roll in or out to zoom. By adding the Control key you can pan around the scene...up or down and around. This has been one of the neatest tools that I have found...and it really helps to get the scene composed the way I want it so that I can click on the "Snapshot" button at the bottom of the page and then save it to my own computer.
You are welcome to comment on this idea at the bottom of the blog. I would be interested to know your thoughts and ideas about it.
Meeting and Greeting
I am having a great time going places and meeting people in Second Life. I have met many artists, photographers, and musicians. I have found that when I meet the person I can right-click on them to check out their profile. If it mentions art or photography I may strike up a conversation with them, either in Chat, which everyone in the room can read; or by IM,which only the person can read. It is like calling them on their cell phone.
Then when I am talking to the person, I can open up the last page under their profile which says "My Notes." Then I can type in where I met them, what their interests are and where their galleries are. These notes can only be read by the writer of the notes.
Then I have also organized my calling cards by putting a category for artists and drag their card into that file. I also have a folder in my landmarks for artists and photographers.
One other thing that I learned from Lowri Mills is that we can copy the IM's or the Chat to a note card...or we could even save it to Word on our computer. We can do that by highlighting the text we want to copy and then do a "Control+C" to copy it. Then open the Word Document, or go to Create>Note Card and open it up. Then just do a "Control+V" to copy it.
These are just a few little tricks that are helping me to keep up with my contacts better. I am finding that I have so many friends that I soon forget what they do if I do not take notes on them. Then there is the possibility of meeting them again an resuming the conversation.
I would be happy for others to comment on this to see if it works for you. I am also interested in learning things that you have found to help us be more successful in Second Life.
Then when I am talking to the person, I can open up the last page under their profile which says "My Notes." Then I can type in where I met them, what their interests are and where their galleries are. These notes can only be read by the writer of the notes.
Then I have also organized my calling cards by putting a category for artists and drag their card into that file. I also have a folder in my landmarks for artists and photographers.
One other thing that I learned from Lowri Mills is that we can copy the IM's or the Chat to a note card...or we could even save it to Word on our computer. We can do that by highlighting the text we want to copy and then do a "Control+C" to copy it. Then open the Word Document, or go to Create>Note Card and open it up. Then just do a "Control+V" to copy it.
These are just a few little tricks that are helping me to keep up with my contacts better. I am finding that I have so many friends that I soon forget what they do if I do not take notes on them. Then there is the possibility of meeting them again an resuming the conversation.
I would be happy for others to comment on this to see if it works for you. I am also interested in learning things that you have found to help us be more successful in Second Life.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
What's in a Name?
It has been interesting for me to see the various names chosen by members of our T.S.T.C. on-line Second Life special topics photography class. We recognize the T.S.T.C. Staff by the last name of "Techsan." For me that seems close to technician, and I think it is an interesting choice. Maybe they can explain that to us a little more. We appreciate the technical skills that our teachers have and are willing to share with us in such a dedicated way.
When I chose my own name "Texanna Schumann" I was first thinking that I was a Texan, and I love the name Anna, so I put them together for "Texanna." Also, I think the name "Texanna" has a happy sound to it, and I envision my character in Second Life as being a happy, healthy, wholesome kind of girl. The name "Schumann" as a last name appealed to me because it seems to be a German name, which is part of my Real Life relative experience.
I would be interested to know more about the experience of choosing a name for my classmates and our teachers. It's such an interesting process and I'm sure there may be a story behind each one. I welcome all of you to make comments to my blog and share those experiences.
Let's see, in the meantime I will be wondering about Jarrod Kappler, Marisol Noel, Street Cortes, Lowri Mills, Subatomic Sands, Keny watanabe, Trillian Gynoid, Maxi Dassin, Kameko Suising, and Stiletto Snook. I invite all of you to share your experience of choosing a name for Second Life.
When I chose my own name "Texanna Schumann" I was first thinking that I was a Texan, and I love the name Anna, so I put them together for "Texanna." Also, I think the name "Texanna" has a happy sound to it, and I envision my character in Second Life as being a happy, healthy, wholesome kind of girl. The name "Schumann" as a last name appealed to me because it seems to be a German name, which is part of my Real Life relative experience.
I would be interested to know more about the experience of choosing a name for my classmates and our teachers. It's such an interesting process and I'm sure there may be a story behind each one. I welcome all of you to make comments to my blog and share those experiences.
Let's see, in the meantime I will be wondering about Jarrod Kappler, Marisol Noel, Street Cortes, Lowri Mills, Subatomic Sands, Keny watanabe, Trillian Gynoid, Maxi Dassin, Kameko Suising, and Stiletto Snook. I invite all of you to share your experience of choosing a name for Second Life.
Monday, May 21, 2007
My First Official Class in Second Life
This evening on May 21, 2007 at 7:00p.m. C.S.T. we had our first official Special Topics Photography class for the T.S.T.C. Virtual Campus in Second Life. We gathered in the Pit area of the Commons at our T.S.T.C. campus, and our teacher Mr. Kevin Brown gave us an invitation to come over to our classroom. We went into the classroom and he instructed us to sit on the high blue bar stools.
We soon learned that we could raise our hands by using the "Page Up" command. We chuckled as our hands began to wave wildly if our teacher did not answer us immediately. When he looked up and saw us, then we could "Page Down" to put our hands down. He invited us to ask questions about each new idea that was presented.
After answering some questions about Second Life, our instructor presented a slide show about our rules for class. Then he asked us to click on a podium near the screen to get our first assignment, which was to create a journal in the form of a blog. The second assignment was from a different podium and it was to create a series of pictures in color and in black and white. The main idea for the assignment is to use lighting to create different moods.
Then after class we looked at the gallery exhibit of the black and white photography of master photographer Alfred Stiegletz. We were fascinated by the photographs of Georgia O'Keeffee in her younger days. Alfred's Story is fascinating: http://www.profotos.com/education/referencedesk/masters/masters/alfredstieglitz/alfredstieglitz.shtml
I am excited about taking this special topics class and using the T.S.T.C. Virtual Campus classroom. I will have to say that it was a bit of a challenge for me to keep up with all of the class conversation; put the name titler into my T.S.T.C. folder; type "white title" and my real name; find the assignments on the podiums, and zoom in on the projector screen. I felt like I was juggling part of the time.
Fortunately I was already familiar with many of the Second Life Functions such as creating a folder and moving things into it. I have also found it helpful to create a second inventory list so I can drag things from one to the other easily.
Well, this is the first part of the assignment that will be due next Monday. In the next few days I will be working on the photograph series to show different moods with light and shadows. I think I will enjoy this assignment.
We soon learned that we could raise our hands by using the "Page Up" command. We chuckled as our hands began to wave wildly if our teacher did not answer us immediately. When he looked up and saw us, then we could "Page Down" to put our hands down. He invited us to ask questions about each new idea that was presented.
After answering some questions about Second Life, our instructor presented a slide show about our rules for class. Then he asked us to click on a podium near the screen to get our first assignment, which was to create a journal in the form of a blog. The second assignment was from a different podium and it was to create a series of pictures in color and in black and white. The main idea for the assignment is to use lighting to create different moods.
Then after class we looked at the gallery exhibit of the black and white photography of master photographer Alfred Stiegletz. We were fascinated by the photographs of Georgia O'Keeffee in her younger days. Alfred's Story is fascinating: http://www.profotos.com/education/referencedesk/masters/masters/alfredstieglitz/alfredstieglitz.shtml
I am excited about taking this special topics class and using the T.S.T.C. Virtual Campus classroom. I will have to say that it was a bit of a challenge for me to keep up with all of the class conversation; put the name titler into my T.S.T.C. folder; type "white title" and my real name; find the assignments on the podiums, and zoom in on the projector screen. I felt like I was juggling part of the time.
Fortunately I was already familiar with many of the Second Life Functions such as creating a folder and moving things into it. I have also found it helpful to create a second inventory list so I can drag things from one to the other easily.
Well, this is the first part of the assignment that will be due next Monday. In the next few days I will be working on the photograph series to show different moods with light and shadows. I think I will enjoy this assignment.
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