Cool News about my Balloon Photo

[RTaylor]

Some of you may have been around when I won my first POTW here at Byte after signing up only a couple weeks before.

I posted it on Pbase in the Our Best of 2003 section in the Olympus Forum.
Well I just noticed today that the owner of the balloon found me and left a message on the pic.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24689603

I have always hoped to find the people who owned it or flew in it that day and it finally happened.
Ha... the little things that make me smile.
He posted a link to the other site that has a pic of his balloon.
I emailed him and am waiting to hear back.
Just wanted to share something fun with all of you

http://www.njballoons.com/

[JCW3]

WAY TO GO!!!

I knew that was a winner when I saw it. I am sure that would look great hanging on the wall. Maybe you will get the hookups and become next years offical Ballon Photographer.

No lie, I am sure alot of balloners would love to have a shot like that of there ballon for advertising.

[LindaCC]

This makes me smile too.
That is a most fabulous photo.... and to connect with the owner, how fantastic. Please update us on how this plays out. Most interesting story and will be great evening around the firepit talk.
Waiting for partII.
Thanks for sharing and congratulations.
LCC

[RTaylor]

The owner just contacted me and wants to buy 2 8x10s of 2 separate shots 4 8x10's total.

Also wants to use my photos on his website where he sells balloon rides ... with credit to me of course

Double Dipping
http://gallery.bytephoto.com/showpho...at=3042&page=1

and Reflections at Shawnee
http://gallery.bytephoto.com/showpho...at=3042&page=1

[1969]

Thats good news Ruth well done!!!!!!

Im sure the owner will want more done in the future...also word of mouth with other balloonist wanting pics done never know might turn out quite profitable for you.

Best of luck to ya!!!

[RTaylor]

Actually a second balloonist who was at that same festival wants me to check if I have a pic of his balloon which he does not have one so far
I'm checking my CD as we speak

Now I just have to find the best place to print them so they come out the same color as the file. I had a problem recently with another shot I took where I had it done at a local photo lab.
Ruth.

[davemin]

Congrats Ruth!
I know what you mean about the labs and color.
I found a solution...however wierd this may sound...at Kinkos. I've used other machines where you plug in the media and then the big machine prints it out after you wait a while. Well, at Kinkos here in Orlando, they have a Sony machine with die sub printing on the spot. Not only were all my photos crystal clear, they were incredibly vibrant! Folks who worked there were asking for my card as I was paying as they wanted to know a "professional" photog they could recommend...ha.
I can't guarantee all Sony machines are calibrated the same, but I know the die sub process is supposed to last the longest.
Maybe try a 5x7 first to test the machine, then move to 8x10 (4.99 at the Kinkos here).
Congrats again,
Dave

[IcarusFree]

Ruth conrats on the great picture and your new contacts. I am sure many more ballonist will come your way for pictures. Get ready to set up your business during the next festival.

[me_wrestler]

Congrats Ruth,
Looks like you found your nich in the photography world. All you need now is a good Dye Sub printer and a laptop and you can go the the festivals and shoot and deliver the pics on location. Give it a try, it's a great way to make a few extra bucks.
Colin

[RTaylor]

Thanks for your tips on the Dye Sublimation printer.
I never knew much about them so I did a search on the net.
But I find that even the $2000 printers say they print 300x300 resolution.
My Epson does 2880dpi.
Am I missing something on the difference?

[davemin]

The issue really isn't resolution with dye sub printers. They don't use ink but usually 3 thin sheets of plastic like material laid down in succession. If i'm not mistaken the printer uses the three primary colors to then get a full array on the print. The print is more resistant to fading and discoloration over time not only because of the plastic film but the paper on which it is layed. Ruth, even if you take your photos to a professional printer they will usually tell you that a resolution of 300 is the highest the photo needs to be for great printing. Whats probably more important is that its a tiff or raw file, but you probably already know this Also, this information may be a little old as it was about 8 years ago when I worked at a studio that used a kodak dye sub printer. My other recollection about resolution is this current resolution war..."ours is 4800" etc. is something that goes beyond what the eye can detect in smaller prints. Anyone else heard this before?

[davemin]

I got this from howstuffoworks.com



Dye-sublimation printers allow you to print photo-lab-quality pictures at home. As the price of these printers go down, more and more digital-camera owners are choosing to take advantage of this technology. In dye-sublimation printing, colors are not laid down as individual dots, as is done in inkjet printers. Individual dots can be distinguished at a relatively close distance, making digital pictures look less realistic.
If you looked inside a dye-sublimation printer, you would see a long roll of transparent film that resembles sheets of red, blue, yellow, and gray colored cellophane stuck together end to end. Embedded in this film are solid dyes corresponding to the four basic colors used in printing: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. The print head heats up as it passes over the film, causing the dyes to vaporize and permeate the glossy surface of the paper before they return to solid form.

So the main difference between this and other types of printing has to do with heat. The vaporized colors permeate the surface of the paper, creating a gentle gradation at the edges of each pixel, instead of the conspicuous border between dye and paper produced by inkjets. And because the color infuses the paper, it is also less vulnerable to fading and distortion over time.

[RTaylor]

Wow thanks Dave for the informative answer.
I'm glad now I didnt go for a more expensive inkjet printer.
I will have to keep my eye open for the better dye subs and good prices. I wonder if they use totally different paper than what you can buy in the stores for inkjets.
I have tons of injet paper already lol
8x10 and 100 11x17's
I would think canvas prints cant be done on dye sub.. but I will have to check to find out.

[RTaylor]

Guess what.. the Ballooners that own the website also call themselves the Icarus Team
http:// www.odysseyballoons.com/namegame.htm

[LindaCC]

Wow.... Just checked the website with your newly added photo. How great. It links right to your gallery and the cursor gives your name. Congratultions... I am thrilled for you.
LindaCC
not to mention those balloon photos are fabulous!!!!!