Technologically Challenged
I bet you’re wondering why I have a photo of my dogs playing in the snow, right? One of the reasons is because we had snow overnight and it continues to snow today. I have no intention of going outside to take more snow photos so thought I’d pull out one I took earlier this winter. Maggie, our Springer Spaniel perplexes the two Australian Shepherds. She plays very differently than they do so they’re always cautious when playtime begins — they never know if she is playing or if she’ll attack them!
Dogs are so lucky; they live in the moment and don’t ever have to worry about how to learn or figure out the newest technologies. Their biggest concern is how many runs they’ll get each day and what time “mom” is going to feed them! But me, on the other hand, well technology seems to have taken over my life lately. I thought I was doing good ages ago when I tried figuring out how to use Photoshop Elements. Then along came Lightroom and I’ve been infatuated and thrilled to work in the digital darkroom ever since. My recent foray into rebuilding my website was wrought with one huge learning curve — actually more of an education in dealing with frustration & problem-solving. Thank heavens the company I used for my website template has such excellent customer service — I needed their assistance every single day and most days, multiple times.
Since it’s snowing today, I have time to figure out how to configure and use FTP (file transfer protocol) – egads! I’ve already had some headaches over that — actually the headaches were because I couldn’t understand the terminology used by those who write so-called how-to information for it. Why do computer geeks think that all of us understand their weird terminology? So once I figure out my FTP dilemma, then it’s time to work on this blog. Thankfully, as I mentioned yesterday, Jennifer is still willing to help me with that! I’m hoping to have a blog as beautiful as hers. Trouble is, I have to learn more of this technological stuff.
Now if all this isn’t bad enough, I tried using the brush in Photoshop Elements which is how I paste my watermark to my photos, but it won’t work right! I have no idea why the brush won’t work anymore. Yesterday I was experimenting in Photoshop trying to figure out how to use the clone tool (with zero success I might add) and now I can’t use the brush for my watermark. That’s why this photo has a cut/paste of my watermark banner. I have no idea where or how to begin figuring out how to get that brush working again so I can easily add my watermark. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Oh dear, technology. If only my life was as simple as that of my dogs.
Diane is a lifestyle photographer serving Grande Prairie & Northern Alberta. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.
Well…is not hard. Good for you that you are eager to learn. THis is the most important.
And the FTP stuff, is not that hard. Just use a software (i recommend FileZilla) get your details from the company you purchased the hosting and there you are, you can use that space like you have it on your PC!
I myself i’m a programmer and i can help you with some issues if you want, just write me an email and i’ll get to you asap
Bogdan
May 12, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I am so sorry it is snowing there today……..it is cold and windy here if that is any consolation. Anyway, I love dogs in the snow picture. Good luck with your blog stuff. Maybe someday I will get brave enough to move on from my free WordPress one:) On the PSE issue. Are you sure you have the brush tool picked when you try to stamp your water mark? I only ask, because I have spent hours of frustration and then realized that I had the wrong tool picked.
Teri
May 12, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I so understand your frustration with all this technical stuff but I must say… I visited your website… and it is beautiful.
Love the picture of your canines. What beautiful dogs.. all three of them.
Col
May 12, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Diane! I’m so glad you left me a comment the other day about the doggies lying on the bed…SRDs (spoiled rotten dogs). I thought I had your blog subbed in my reader but found out I didn’t. I’ve taken some time to go back a couple of months and WOW! you have some amazing images. I don’t know what you’re doing differently, but great job. I have your blog subbed now so I can keep up with all of you happenings. Congrats on the website design. Technology…can’t live without, can’t shoot it. Scratch those beautiful doggies for me.
Christine Edwards
May 13, 2009 at 3:15 am
Make sure you’re using your brush on the background layer and your image is flattened.
I’ve sent you an email on setting up the database for the new blog which will be as beautiful as mine!
thank you so much for the lovely compliment!
Jennifer
May 13, 2009 at 3:35 am
If that much snow fell here and killed our flowers there would be screams echoing through the valley.
Michael Rawluk
May 13, 2009 at 4:53 am
love this photo of your beautiful snow dogs, hope you get your technical problems solved soon.
Suvarna Mollerup
May 13, 2009 at 6:13 am
Love the shot of your dogs. I think I forgot to mention in our emails today that we ended up having just a bit of snow mixed in with our rain today! Neither lasted very long, thankfully, but oh the wind!
Regarding the brush, make sure you have the right layer selected, too, if you don’t flatten it first. Can I be nosy? What was your comment to Christine about dogs on beds? Am I creating a problem??
Toni
May 13, 2009 at 7:23 am
Hang with it…I’ve found the best antidote for techno-fog is a nice long lung-clearing scream (in a safe place), followed by a slow, mind-clearing, oblivious walk.
Deborah Carr
May 13, 2009 at 11:21 am
Hi Diane; Your blog and images are sure looking good. Lightroom and processing in the digital darkroom really makes a difference!
I don’t use PS Elements, but if it behaves the same as PS the things you’ll need to check are that a) you have the brush tool selected (rather than the clone or eraser) b) you are working on the right layer c) brush opacity is set correctly (not so low that you just can’t see the watermark). d) make sure brush mode is set to normal.
If that doesn’t work post what exactly happens and what your settings are.
Roberta
May 13, 2009 at 2:14 pm
You are ahead of me on the technology stuff! I do use Filezilla and haven’t had any problems with it. One thing I would caution everyone on is regarding someone getting into your cpanel and creating a sub-domain. This happened to me last month and what a shock it was. Unfortunately, my web host said that they cannot pursue the hacker. They just told me to delete the sub-domain and change my passwords. Really upsetting.
Gayle
May 13, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I’m impressed with what you’ve accomplished and am positive that the technological roadblocks you’re discovering will be resolved eventually, too. I’m a complete knucklehead about these things. I don’t have PhotoShop or anything fancy, so I’ve no clue as to how any of this stuff works. Your site is beautiful, your blog and photos are gorgeous, so I think you’re doing extremely well.
Junie Moon
May 13, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I can’t believe you had snow. It’s 12:35 AM right now and it’s 77 degrees fahrenheit. Your dogs are beautiful and I must say that playing in the snow like that they are cuter than ever.
sherri
May 14, 2009 at 5:36 am
Can’t believe you’re having snow!!!!
Love..love..love this image of your Aussie’s. Such smart and beautiful pups!!! And – I’m siding with you on the technologically challenged. It’s like learning a whole other language. Actually it IS learning a whole new language..isn’t it??
Marcie
May 14, 2009 at 4:22 pm