Photo workflow and free stuff

Hi all,

I am asked on a regular basis how I shoot, organize and post pictures on the blog, so I thought I would give a quick tutorial.

I am shooting with a Canon Digital Rebel camera (but just about anything will do). (here is the best review site).

I use two different cataloging programs, but I want to point you to Picassa as the better for most people for three reasons: It's completely free, it's completely integrated with Blogspot and it has a quick and easy photo editor that is nondestructive. That means that you can edit a photo (crop, change the color and contrast, even make it black and white) and the original file isn't changed. You can come back six months later and simply hit the undo button for that photo and it's back to where you started. check out: picasa.google.com.

Picasa organizes all the shots in chronological order so it's easy to find any pics (it's great that digital cameras write the date and time in the photo code on every shot). There is also a companion application called Hello (also free, also made by google) which allows additional connection to the Blogspot site.

And a new thing just came out (although it's still in testing mode and ha limited availablilty): Picasaweb. This takes whole groups of shots and posts them in high resolution form on the web in albums that are very easy to organize, share and distribute. Anyone viewing the album can actually download a high resolution version of any of the shots. AND visitors don't have to sign in (the best feature).

So... in addition to this blog, we will now have photo albums available on the web. Check out...
picasaweb.google.com/davidsadd for our albums. Or you can click on the topmost link to the right where it will live from here on out.

L8R all!

A New Family Photo

Taken today after the last day of Vacation Bible School.

More pics of the fam here.

Meet Lexie - part 4

Well, the guy from Channel 11 came over yesterday and shot a bunch of footage of the kids and Lexie. Here's a shot of Noah and this wonderful dog on Lexie's "place."

And here's a shot of Casey shooting the kids on the couch with el dogo.

And in the back yard...

Lexie was a little drugged during her visit because she had just been to the vet who x-rayed her hips. She is in good shape and can definitely function as a service dog. She passed everything and is on her way to being someone's helper.
Now, if she's not ours... what dog should we get? Seriously, what are your favorite breeds (I am not saying you get to pick our a dog for us, but I am interested in your thoughts!)
HERE is the photo album page with more pics.

The Visit of Uncle Jonathan

Uncle Jonathan came to visit on Saturday and hopefully he'll stay all month!

Ever have a bad hair day?

Meet Lexie - part 3

No news crew on the 12th (yesterday) since I just got back from a men's backpacking trip and things at home are always a little tough when dad's gone for 4 days. So we should be set for next monday. I'll keep you posted..
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(here's a little stock photography in the mean time.)

Meet Lexie - part 2

First, to answer a few questions which you have written or called to ask about this amazing dog.

"Will Lexie be ours?" We don't know yet. While she is rather wonderful, she is also very high energy and would be much better suited to serve as a physical assist dog. We will know more on Monday, June 12th. (more on that later)

"What about a dog for Noah?" Well, Robin Walters (Lexie's trainer) has told us that she is committed to finding a dog for Noah. If that dog isn't Lexie, then she will find and train a dog who is perfect.

"What's happening on Monday?" On June 12th, a film crew from WTOC - Channel 11, Savannah, will be coming over to film our family and Lexie. They have been covering her story from puppyhood to her placement as someone's service dog. Since part of Lexie's training is with us, they want to shoot Noah and the whole family with her to see how she's doing. After the shoot on Monday, Lexie goes with the tv crew to the vet to have her hips examined. A dog's hips must be in very good condition to be able to be able and reliable to serve someone in a physical capacity. So, a lot of Lexie's placement options rest in the outcome of her hip exam. And, because this is 21st century America, the whole exam will be broadcast live on TV.

More news later, but for now, Lexie comes to visit Thursday and Friday nights this week.

The most dangerous thing?

Did you know that small pools and bath tubs only need to have 1/2 inch of water for a child to be able to drown? Do you know how many children are seriously hurt in back yard pools? Do you have any idea of how many people are injured on trampolines each year? Serious injury and death can result from such simple things...
It is with great humility that I present what I believe to be the most dangerous thing ever constructed in a back yard. . . (small pics get bigger with a simple click)

Now...
if I could only figure out how to include sharks, a zip line and some sort of particle accelerator...

Aren't I Cute?

Meet Lexie - part 1

This is Lexie. Over the next few days, I will tell you more about her and our family. But, first the basics: She is on loan from an amazing dog trainer in the area and comes to stay with us for overnights every few days. She is an 11 month old lab who is being trained as a service dog for someone with special needs. Her story has been followed in the newspapers and tv stations in the Savannah, GA area. The kids absolutely love her. And, She's the most obedient dog I have ever met, and there's still a ways to go in her training.

We are learning about what is possible in a dog in order to find and train the perfect dog for Noah. In his entire life, Noah has only asked for two things: a pair of green Converse All Stars and a dog. He got the shoes for Christmas.

Noah could be significantly helped by the presence of an animal who is specially trained to assist him. Calming, stabilizing, being a familiar presence in difficult places... We are discovering tons of possibilities of what a service dog can be for a child with autism. And, in the mean time, we are delighting at the joy that this dog is bringing to Noah's life.

In the shots here, you see Lexie with her head on Noah's knee in the car. She rides on the seat with him whenever she is asked and has a tremendous calming effect on him whenever there is physical contact between them. The other shot is of Andrew with Lexie on "place." Place is simply a predefined location on which Lexie must stay when commanded. The kids are allowed to join her on place, but she may not move off of it no matter what happens. Part of Lexie's training with us is to test the limits of "no matter what happens." It's what we are good at.