Welcome to Take Back America (pic heavy)

[globalvillage]

Morning one of the Take Back America Conference

So far, registration, setup and pictures, but lots of fun and lots of important work to be done throughout the day. I'm here in bloggers row with the fine folks from democracycellproject and several of your favorite DUers.

More later, but here are the first pics.














Ann Wright

Check out

http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2006/06/what_is_a_progr.htmlnext

DU, and kos over the next three days for more on the conference. Tomorrow morning is John Kerry's speech, so you know I'll be here!

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE BACK AMERICA?

[rox63]

1. Thanks for the update and the pics!

K&R! It's great the DUers are covering it. :)

[SheilaT]

2. Ohh, how I wish I could be there.

I attended two years ago, in '04 and had a wonderful time. Of course, we were so full of hope then that Democrats would win elected offices. I'd be there this year if I could. I'd spend all of my time attending events like this if I could.

[MH1]

3. Blogger panel with Robert Redford and Jerome Ringo of the Apollo Alliance

A little while ago I joined the discussion with Robert Redford and Jerome Ringo of the Apollo Alliance. Unfortunately it was a short session but a few good questions were asked.

Better yet, I got to meet Taylor Marsh and had a nice chat. She's a better blogger than me so she should have a good post up soon about the Redford session.

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

Apollo Alliance website:

http://www.apolloalliance.org/

[Vektor]

4. Great post, GV - thanks!

Great crowd here today.

[sandnsea]

5. Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks GV, keep the pics and stories coming!

[MH1]

6. Redford speaking now

We just finished lunch in the "International Ballroom" which has decent connectiviy (unlike bloggers row in the main room!) but no power so my laptop will die soon.

The program is about the Apollo Alliance - major focus on energy independence.

Taylor Marsh has a good post up now from the session this morning with Redford.

(see links in my post above -posting this quick before the battery dies!).

[myrna minx]

7. Thank you so much.

I hope you are able to juice up your laptop so you can keep us posted. :hi: Looks like a great event.

[NJCher]

8. Thanks for the pics

And the updates! Lots of us clicking this link for your comments today.




Cher

[tomreedtoon]

9. Couple of technical suggestions...

Don't just post the pictures straight from your camera. Put them through a photo program like Photoshop or Corel Photo-Paint or something.

When you put them in your photo editing program, look for "level equalization" or "gamma" controls to bring up the dark areas of the picture without making the bright parts too bright. This is a common problem with digital cameras, and all these photos are suffering from it.

Later, when you get comfortable with the photo editing program, you can try "dodging" areas like the face of the blonde lady whose features are hidden in darkness. You can also color-correct for stuff like purplish fluourescent lights or gloomy red shadows. This does not have to take a long time, once you get used to the controls. Practice before the next event.

[globalvillage]

10. Thanks for the advice

But I'm trying to pay attention to the conference. I think the pics are fine. I'm going to post more, FYI, and they will be just as poor.

[tomreedtoon]

11. Well, fix 'em later, then.

Not to insult you - you're trying to take pictures and keep track of what's going on, and bless you for that. However, I've covered conventions (nothing political - it was San Diego Comic-Con), dumped my stills from my camcorder onto a laptop, played with gamma and color and cropping, and got the photos uploaded to my website. And it only took half an hour after getting back from the con, for about five pictures. A little lost sleep, no big deal.

Another hint - some good camcorders (I use the Sony DVR-TRV730, an old "Digital 8") let you take still pictures onto memory sticks or cards. The advantage is, these cameras have better zooms than those pocket still cameras, so you can see things from the back of the room. You can even use "night shot" stuff to shoot with infrared light, in near total darkness.

I just think that, as long as you're paying a fortune for a hotel room, a conference, and those damnably robber-baron-priced Internet connections in your hotel room, you might as well make your pictures look their best.

[DistressedAmerican]

12. Look At All Of The Filthy Hippies!

Nice pics. Thanks!