final impressions blog - January 2008

January 27, 2008 - More Bookmarking Changes

In looking at the bookmarks, I decided the numbers (like m17244) were not the best way to represent the prints. So this morning I changed to print titles. This caused a few problems because some of the titles have an apostrophe that was breaking my javascript. So I had to make some modifications to my index compiler and push a few pages up.

If you visited since yesterday and have some old bookmarks, I suggest you use the delete bookmarks button on the home page and start again. You might also want to clear your cache which will force a reload of the pages and properly show the bookmark buttons and names.

Enjoy -

January 26, 2008 - Bookmarking Added

I've added the ability for visitors to bookmark prints in each of the inventory sets. Under each print you should see a button that gives you the option to add or remove the print from your bookmarks. These selections are stored on your computer using cookies, so if you wish to use this feature please have cookies enabled.

If you are a regular visitor and you do not see the bookmarks button, then you will have to refresh the page.

January 13, 2008 - Gallery Wall Updated

The gallery wall had not been updated for almost a year so needed a lot of attention. Of course to make it seemless I wanted to create a new wall gallery and then flip a switch to connecte to the new gallery, then delete the old one. This required that modify my gallery compiler, and while I was at it I added a simple interface.

The builder actually outputs db add commands that are used as input to a tree menu that I got for free at some java script site. Then it is integrated into a top page.

The next step, when I get some space cycles to fetch the print names from the print database, right now only the print number it listed.

Gallery Wall Sample

January 12, 2008 - For Cece

My daughter Cece, a very long time ago, requested a print called "August Lake Bales" shown here:

This image, taken in 2002 has been very popular and was recently sold out. Of course, being old and senile, I forgot that Cece wanted a print. Dads sometime mess up.

This print gained new dimension for me this year when a young lady came into my booth and wanted to know when I took this picture. "2002" I said. Then she teared up a bit and said that the harvest was done by her father and this was the last time, after many many years of baling that field, that he worked it before he died.

Today I when back to my original shoot and found a horizontal shot I took of the same field, probably a few minutes before i01427. So for Cece, and in honor of the man that toiled this field for so many years, I created an i01426 print. Cece gets the #1 print in a new 6x9 to 11x14 format:

"Day's Work Done"

Sorry Cece ! It's not "August Lake Bales", but I hope you like it. - Love Dad.

January 6, 2008 - New Artwork Navigation

While in the process of updating the artwork on the website, I added navigation buttons:

This will make it easy to move through the artwork without going back to the main screen. This whole process in automated using an application I wrote called IndexCompiler.

It uses an exported xls spreadsheet from my image database, then "compiles" the references into htm files. With over 700 prints in my inventory, I found it necessary to create automation tools. Hopefully this will make your visit to my site a good experience.

January 3, 2008 - Back for '08

I've not been keeping my blog up-to-date the last few months. We have been swamped with business and the website has been a second priority.

We applied for Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts (CPFA) using Zapplication.com. It was a fairly painless process but one that requires careful planning. Thanks to Larry Berman (@ www.bermangraphics.com) and his great explaination of the jury process on Zapp, we were better prepared to submit “slides” for the digital presentation.

We also learned a lot from a series of audio CD's from Bruce Baker www.bbakerinc.com). If you are a festival artist of any kind, I highly recommend his CD's. I've been doing shows for 5 years now and was amazed at what I learned from his experience.

We have a few surprise shows we are looking at this year, so please watch out shows page.