Gasparian FOTO

Author: Emil Gasparian

  • Should I do First Look?

    Should I do First Look?

    Should You Do a First Look on Your Wedding Day?

    As a Los Angeles wedding photographer, one of the most common questions I get from couples is: “Should we do a first look?” While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, I want to share why a first look might be the best decision you make for your wedding day—especially if you care about maximizing your photography time and creating a relaxed, joyful timeline.

    What Is a First Look?

    A first look is a private moment where the couple sees each other before the ceremony. It’s intimate, emotional, and often one of the most memorable parts of the day. Instead of waiting until you walk down the aisle, you get to share this moment in a quiet space—just the two of you (and your photographer).

    Why a First Look Can Be a Game-Changer

    • More Time for Photos: Doing a first look opens up the entire pre-ceremony window for portraits. That means we can capture couple shots, bridal party photos, and even family formals before guests arrive.
    • Less Stress, More Joy: With photos out of the way early, you won’t feel rushed after the ceremony. You’ll actually get to enjoy cocktail hour and mingle with guests instead of disappearing for an hour of photos.
    • Authentic Emotions: The first look is often more emotional than the ceremony itself. It’s a chance to connect, breathe, and soak in the moment without hundreds of eyes watching.
    • Better Light, Better Photos: In Los Angeles, natural light is everything. A first look allows us to shoot during the best lighting conditions—especially if your ceremony is later in the day.

    Sources: Gasparian FOTO

    But What If You Want to Keep It Traditional?

    If you’ve always dreamed of that aisle moment, that’s totally valid. Some couples choose to skip the first look to preserve tradition—and that’s okay. Just know that it may compress your timeline and limit your photo opportunities before sunset, especially during fall and winter weddings.

    Final Thoughts

    As a Los Angeles wedding photographer, I’ve seen firsthand how a first look can transform the flow of the day. It’s not just about logistics—it’s about creating space for connection, calm, and beautiful imagery. If you’re on the fence, let’s talk through your timeline and see what works best for your vision.

    Want to see how a first look plays out in real weddings? Check out our sample galleries for inspiration.

  • Glendale Event Photographer

    Glendale Event Photographer

    When it comes to the picturesque City of Glendale in California, every corner around the downtown boasts an abundance of captivating scenes just waiting to be captured by a skilled photographer. As we delve into the vibrant world of photography within this charming city, we’ll explore the artistry, landscapes, and the talents of the Glendale photographers who bring its beauty to life. With a particular focus on the term “Glendale Photographer,” we’ll discover how these creative professionals use their lenses to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.

    Unveiling the Beauty of Glendale Through Photography

    Nestled within the heart of Los Angeles County, Glendale presents an enchanting blend of urban life and natural beauty. From its serene parks to its bustling streets, Glendale offers a diverse array of photographic opportunities. Every nook and cranny reveals a story waiting to be told through the lens of a Glendale photographer.

    Capturing Urban Elegance: Glendale’s urban landscapes exude an elegance that resonates through its architecture, cityscapes, and cultural landmarks. A Glendale photographer’s keen eye can highlight the interplay between modernity and tradition, capturing the city’s unique charm.

    Exploring Natural Beauty: Beyond the cityscape, Glendale is also home to picturesque natural landscapes. Verdant parks, meandering trails, and serene bodies of water provide a tranquil canvas for photographers to showcase the city’s natural allure.

    Cultural Diversity: Glendale’s rich cultural diversity is another facet that photographers often aim to capture. From bustling markets to vibrant cultural festivals, these photographers seize the opportunity to document the people and traditions that make Glendale a melting pot of experiences.

    The Role of the Glendale Photographer

    At the heart of Glendale’s captivating imagery are the talented photographers who masterfully bring these scenes to life. A “Glendale Photographer” is not just a professional with a camera; they are storytellers who utilize their artistry to encapsulate the essence of the city in every shot.

    Mastery of Lighting and Composition: The skilled Glendale photographer possesses an innate understanding of lighting and composition. They know how to use natural light, shadows, and angles to create visually striking and emotionally resonant photographs.

    Creating Connections: A successful Glendale photographer builds connections not only with the subjects they photograph but also with the viewers of their work. They craft images that evoke emotions, forge connections, and offer viewers a glimpse into the heart of the city.

    Reflecting Diversity: In a city as diverse as Glendale, photographers celebrate the varied cultures and communities through their work. They capture candid moments that reflect the daily lives and experiences of the city’s inhabitants, creating a rich tapestry of visual stories.

    Preserving Memories for Generations

    The work of a Glendale photographer goes beyond the immediate gratification of a well-composed image. These professionals are dedicated to preserving memories for generations to come. Whether it’s a family portrait session in one of Glendale’s parks, a couple’s engagement shoot against the city’s iconic backdrop, or an event capturing the essence of a cultural celebration, Glendale photographers immortalize these moments for posterity.

    Glendale, with its blend of urban elegance, natural beauty, and cultural diversity, provides a captivating canvas for photographers to showcase their artistry. The term “Glendale Photographer” embodies the creative individuals who skillfully capture the city’s essence through their lens. Their photographs are not mere images; they are stories frozen in time, waiting to be shared, cherished, and admired by both current residents and future generations. As we traverse the photographic landscapes of Glendale, we’re reminded that through the eyes of these talented professionals, the city’s memories will forever remain vivid and alive.

  • Hard To Please Clients

    Hard To Please Clients

    As a photographer, dealing with clients who are hard to please can be a challenging and frustrating experience. These clients may have unrealistic expectations, be overly critical, or simply difficult to communicate with. It’s important to understand that dealing with difficult clients is a common part of running a photography business, and it’s important to approach these situations with professionalism and a positive attitude.

    “…very disappointed, in the pictures I was not able to find one of the dishes that we served during the reception”

    One common type of difficult photography client is the one who has unrealistic expectations. These clients may have a specific vision in mind for their photos and expect the photographer to replicate it perfectly, even if it’s not feasible or practical. It’s important to communicate with these clients and manage their expectations from the outset, explaining what is possible and what is not.

    Another type of challenging photography client is the one who is overly critical. These clients may be hard to please no matter what the photographer does, constantly nitpicking and finding fault with the final product. In these situations, it’s important to remain calm and professional, and try to address the client’s concerns in a constructive and positive way. Ultimately, it may be impossible to satisfy these clients completely, but it’s still important to try to meet their needs as much as possible.

    Finally, some photography clients may simply be difficult to communicate with. They may be unresponsive to emails or phone calls, or they may be difficult to understand due to language barriers or other factors. In these situations, it’s important to be patient and persistent, trying different communication methods and approaches until you are able to establish clear lines of communication. Remember that it’s ultimately your responsibility as the photographer to ensure that the client is happy with the final product, so it’s important to work through any communication challenges as best you can.

  • Bridal Hairstyles

    Bridal Hairstyles

    Bridal Hairstyles That Last: Expert Tips from a Los Angeles Wedding Photographer

    Why Your Wedding Hair Matters More Than You Think

    As a Los Angeles wedding photographer, I’ve seen it all—from picture-perfect bridal looks to hairstyles that sadly unravel before the reception even begins. Your wedding day is a marathon, not a sprint. And your hairstyle needs to go the distance.

    Whether you’re getting married in the heart of LA or planning an intimate ceremony in Glendale, one thing remains true: your hair should be as timeless and resilient as your love story.

    The Importance of a Long-Lasting Bridal Hairstyle

    You only have one wedding day. Don’t waste half your morning getting hair and make-up done. Schedule your hairstylist and makeup artist to show up as early as 7 or 8AM. If they cannot guarantee your hair will last all day then get somebody else. If they know what they are doing then your hair should last until midnight.

    Here’s why brides should prioritize a professionally styled, secure hairstyle:

    • Stay-Put Power: Between emotional vows, outdoor breezes, and hours of dancing, your hair needs to be anchored with intention. A seasoned stylist knows how to build a look that lasts.
    • Confidence All Day: When your hair feels secure, you’ll move through your day with ease—no constant mirror checks or emergency touch-ups.
    • Photo-Ready Moments: As a Glendale wedding photographer, I know how crucial it is for your hair to look flawless in every frame—from morning prep to golden hour portraits.
    • Dress Harmony: Your hairstyle should complement your gown’s neckline, silhouette, and overall vibe. Whether it’s a sleek bun or romantic waves, the right choice elevates your entire look.
    Source Pinterest

    Style Inspiration: 100 Bridal Looks That Hold Up

    To help you visualize the possibilities, here’s a curated collage of 100 bridal hairstyles. These styles are not only stunning—they’re built to last through every hug, dance, and candid moment.

    Bridal Hairstyles Collage

    This collection includes:

    • Elegant low buns with pearl accents
    • Soft curls paired with vintage combs
    • Boho braids woven with florals
    • Sleek chignons for modern minimalist brides

    Each look has been captured by a Los Angeles wedding photographer who understands how hair translates on camera—because beauty should never fade halfway through your celebration.

    Pro Tips for Brides

    • Schedule a Trial: Book a hair trial at least a month before your wedding. Wear the style for a few hours to test its durability.
    • Weather-Proofing: If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony in Glendale or anywhere in Southern California, ask your stylist about humidity-resistant products and secure pinning techniques.
    • Emergency Kit: Have a bridesmaid carry a mini kit with bobby pins, hairspray, and a small comb—just in case.

    Final Thoughts from a Glendale Wedding Photographer

    Your bridal hairstyle isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling unstoppable. With the right stylist and a style built to last, you’ll glide through your wedding day with grace, confidence, and zero hair worries.

    As a Glendale wedding photographer, I always remind brides: your hair is part of your story. Make sure it’s styled to stay strong from the aisle to the afterparty.

    Need help choosing a style that suits your dress and vibe? Let’s chat—I’d love to help you find the perfect look that photographs beautifully and lasts all day.

    Would you like help turning this into a social media caption or email teaser next?

  • What is LiveCam?

    What is LiveCam?

    LiveCam is a technology I developed to solve a problem I faced myself. It lets me share photos with event-goers the moment I snap them, delivering that instant connection people crave today. No one wants to wait weeks for an event photographer to process and send images—by then, the moment’s long gone. LiveCam ensures guests get their pictures right away, keeping the excitement alive.

    Plus, it’s a game-changer at weddings. Brides and grooms no longer have to hassle with distributing prints or digital shots to every guest their photographer captured. Let’s be honest: slow delivery times push people to ditch the pro and whip out their phones instead. LiveCam cuts through that frustration, making sure everyone’s focused on the memories, not the wait.

    Don’t take my word for it. Here are some nice reviews I got because of the LiveCam

    Yep Review
    People Love LiveCam
    Live Cam Review

  • Change Back To JPEG Instead Of HEIC

    Change Back To JPEG Instead Of HEIC

    JPEG and HEIC are both image formats, but they differ in a few key ways. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a widely used, older format that compresses images with some loss of quality to reduce file size. HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Container), based on the HEIF standard, is a newer format that uses more advanced compression (HEVC codec) to achieve smaller file sizes while maintaining higher image quality compared to JPEG at similar compression levels.

    Here are a few reasons you might want to switch your iPhone back to JPEG from HEIC:

    1. Compatibility: JPEG is universally supported across devices, apps, and platforms, while HEIC, though increasingly common, might not work seamlessly everywhere (e.g., older software or non-Apple devices).
    2. Easier Sharing: Since some recipients or systems don’t natively support HEIC, you might need to convert files manually before sharing. JPEG skips that hassle.
    3. Simpler Editing: Many basic or older photo-editing tools are optimized for JPEG, so sticking with it can streamline your workflow if you don’t need HEIC’s efficiency.

    To switch back to JPEG on your iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and select “Most Compatible” (JPEG) instead of “High Efficiency” (HEIC). It’s a trade-off between file size and convenience, depending on your needs!

    Here you go

    There are several ways to convert HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Container) files to JPEG on a computer. Here are some straightforward methods depending on your operating system:

    On Windows:

    1. Using the Photos App (Windows 10/11):
      • Right-click the HEIC file and select “Open with” > “Photos.”
      • Once the image opens, click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and choose “Save as.”
      • In the “Save As” dialog, select “JPEG” from the “Save as type” dropdown menu, pick a location, and click “Save.”
    2. Using Paint:
      • Open the HEIC file in the Photos app or another viewer that supports it.
      • Right-click the image, choose “Open with” > “Paint.”
      • In Paint, go to “File” > “Save as” > “JPEG picture,” then choose your save location and click “Save.”
    3. Third-Party Software [MY FAVORITE]:
      • Download a free tool like “CopyTrans HEIC for Windows” available here: https://www.copytrans.net/copytransheic/.
      • This adds HEIC support to Windows and lets you right-click HEIC files to convert them to JPEG directly.
      • Alternatively, use an online converter like CloudConvert or Zamzar by uploading the file to their website and downloading the JPEG version.

  • Are You Paying Thousands Extra Just for a Few ‘Wow’ Shots?

    Are You Paying Thousands Extra Just for a Few ‘Wow’ Shots?

    So, you’re planning your wedding, and photography is a big one on the list. If you’ve got a decent budget, you’ll quickly notice some photographers charge way more than others. We’re talking thousands of dollars more. The question is, why? And is it actually worth it?

    Usually, the big difference with those really high-end photographers comes down to their specific “style.” You see it on their Instagram – maybe it’s super moody, maybe it’s bright and airy, maybe it’s got a vintage look. It looks amazing, cinematic, and it’s easy to fall in love with that vibe and think, “Yes, I want that for my wedding!”

    But here’s the thing to keep in mind: that super distinct style? It mostly gets applied during the part of the day where you and your partner sneak away for photos together – the “romantic” or intimate session. And yeah, those photos are important and often end up being favorites.

    But what about the rest of the day?

    The ceremony, your family photos, all the candid moments at the reception – basically, the hundreds of other pictures you’ll get will not be anything out of the ordinary. Don’t get me wrong, they will be nice and sharp and all that but very similar to what your regularly priced photographer will be delivering.

    This brings us back to the price tag. Is paying an extra $3,000, maybe even $6,000, really worth it just for those handful of cinematic, magazine-like shots?

    For most couples, I’d argue probably not. Now, I’m definitely not saying go hire the cheapest person you can find. There’s a reason people say “you get what you pay for,” and you want someone reliable who knows what they’re doing! Bad photos are forever.

    All I’m saying is that a really good, professional photographer who charges somewhere in the $3,000-$4,000 range can totally capture your day beautifully. They have the skills, the gear, and the experience. Going way above that price point often means you’re paying more for the fancy marketing and that specific ‘look’ for just part of your photos, rather than getting a hugely different result for the whole day.

    So, my take? Getting maybe 10-20 extra “artistic” shots with special editing probably isn’t worth thousands more dollars.

    If the difference was maybe $500 or $1000, sure, maybe splurge. But when it’s thousands? Think hard about whether that money could be better used elsewhere in your wedding budget. Find a solid pro you trust, whose general work you like, and you’ll likely be just as happy with your photos without breaking the bank.

  • Capturing The Perfect Moment

    Capturing The Perfect Moment

    Tips for working with a wedding photographer

    The wedding day is one of the big days in your life, and you want to make sure that every moment is captured perfectly. A great wedding photographer can help make that happen, but it takes more than just hiring someone to get the best possible photos.

    Here are a few tips for working with a wedding photographer in Los Angeles to capture the perfect moment:

    Find The Right Photographer

    The first step to getting great wedding photos is finding the right photographer for you. Do your research and find a photographer whose style and personality align with yours. Look at their portfolios and read reviews from other couples to ensure that you’re making the right choice.

    Communication Is Key

    Once you’ve found the right photographer, it’s important to communicate with them openly and effectively. Make sure to discuss your vision for your wedding day and be clear about your expectations. Ask questions about the photographer’s process and what they need from you to get the best possible shots. Make sure you’re both on the same page to avoid any misunderstandings on the big day.

    Plan Ahead

    Planning ahead is crucial to getting great wedding photos. Create a shot list with your photographer to ensure that all of the important moments are captured. This will also help keep you on schedule and make the day run more smoothly. Make sure to communicate any changes to the plan with your photographer as soon as possible.

    Relax And Have Fun

    It’s essential to remember that your wedding day is a celebration, and you should enjoy it as much as possible. Relax and have fun, and trust your photographer to capture the perfect moments. The more relaxed you are, the more natural your photos will look.

    Be Open To New Ideas

    Great wedding photographers in Los Angeles are always looking for new and creative ways to capture moments. Be open to trying new ideas and getting creative with your photos. Work with your photographer to come up with unique and memorable shots that truly capture the essence of your special day.

    Final Words:

    Working with a great wedding photographer is the key to capturing the perfect moment on your wedding day. By finding the right photographer, communicating effectively, planning ahead, relaxing and having fun, and being open to new ideas, you can ensure that your photos are everything you’ve ever dreamed of. So, make sure to hire a wedding photographer in Los Angeles, like Gasparian FOTO, who can help you capture the magic of your special day.

  • Wedding Day Timeline

    Wedding Day Timeline

    Creating A Wedding Photography Timeline:
    Tips From A Professional Wedding Photographer

    Wedding photography is an art that requires skill, preparation, and experience. As a Pasadena wedding photographer with years of experience, Gasparian FOTO understands the importance of a well-planned wedding photography timeline. It can make all the difference in capturing the special moments of the day while ensuring that the day runs smoothly.

    A timeline can help you stay organized and focused while capturing candid and posed shots of the happy couple, their family, and friends.

    In this blog post are shared tips on how to create a successful wedding photography timeline. As professional wedding photographers, we have experienced different types of wedding celebrations and have learned how to adapt and overcome any challenge.

    Why Is A Wedding Photography Timeline Important?

    A wedding day is often fast-paced and can be hectic, with many moving parts to coordinate. Having a timeline in place can help you stay on track and ensure that you don’t miss any important moments. A timeline can also help you communicate with other vendors and keep everyone on the same page.

    Factors To Consider When Creating A Wedding Photography Timeline

    When creating a wedding photography timeline, there are several factors to consider. These include the ceremony time, the reception start time, the number of locations involved, the size of the wedding party, and the desired style and types of photos. For example, if the ceremony is in the late afternoon, you may need to schedule the couple’s portraits earlier in the day to take advantage of natural light.

    Tips For Creating A Successful Wedding Photography Timeline

    To create a successful wedding photography timeline, it’s essential to allow enough time for each part of the day. This includes buffer time to account for unexpected delays or issues. Communication with the couple, their planner, and other vendors is also crucial to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Finally, it’s important to be flexible and adaptable as needed, as weddings can be unpredictable.

    Concluding Thoughts:

    As one of the leading Pasadena wedding photographers, Gasparian FOTO knows that creating a successful wedding photography timeline takes planning and attention to detail. By considering the factors involved and following these tips, you can create a timeline that works for your couple and ensures that you capture all of the important moments.
    If you’re looking for a photographer to capture your special day, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on our wedding photography services.

  • SSD and SSD on Steroids (RAID 0)

    SSD and SSD on Steroids (RAID 0)

    ATTO Benchmark Tool
    ATTO tool is benchmarking the SSD

    [ORIGINAL POST]

    SSD (Solid State Drives) is FAST, and everybody knows that, but what happens when your put it in RAID 0 Mode? Well as most of you might think the speed doubles. Well in my system I have 3 SSD Drives in RAID 0 Mode, which I was surprised to find out tripled the speed.

    So what are the numbers?

    That 1620987 is 1,620,987 Bytes/s which is 1,600MB/s or 1.6GB/s transfer rate. Your average high end Samsung SSD is 480MB/s – 500MB/s

    [UPDATE]

    I wanted to share how much things have changed. This original post was a few years ago where there were no NVMe drives around. Now, SSD is considered slow and old technology.

    M.2 SSD Drive Sizes

    NVMe vs. SSD Comparison
    SSD refers to solid-state drives using flash memory, while NVMe is a high-speed protocol for SSDs that leverages PCIe lanes. Here’s a breakdown of key differences:

    Speed

    • NVMe:
      • PCIe 3.0: Up to 3,600 MB/s
      • PCIe 4.0: Up to 7,500 MB/s
      • PCIe 5.0: Exceeds 14,500 MB/s
    • SATA SSD:
      • Max 550–600 MB/s

    Interface

    • NVMe: Uses PCIe lanes (x4 typically), bypassing SATA bottlenecks14.
    • SATA SSD: Relies on SATA III interface (6 Gbps limit)

    Latency

    • NVMe: Microsecond-level latency (vs. 30–100 microseconds for SATA SSDs)4.
    • SATA SSD: Higher latency due to older AHCI protocol
    M.2 Drive Sizes
  • Copyright Laws 101

    Copyright Laws 101

    In the United States, when the photos are taken then the photographer owns the copyright to the photos. The copyright owner (photographer) has the right to control a list of things, including:
    (a) who gets to reprint the photos,
    (b) who gets to make derivative works of the photos (such as a painting of a photo),
    (c) who gets to sell copies of the photos, and
    (d) who gets to display the photos publicly.
    It is more customary now that you can pay an extra fee to the photography to buy a copyright license (i.e, permission to do one of the things in (a) through (d)). Usually that license is just for the right to reprint the photos (i.e., use the photos for personal use, such as on Christmas cards or in a wedding photo book). The reason for this fee is that the photographer will lose out on the money that you would have paid her for the prints. Since one of the rights of the photographer is to sell copies and another right is to publicly display the photos, the couple and the photographer can also negotiate how the photographer will be limited in these activities. For a fee, the couple is purchasing those rights (and not just a license) away from the photographer. Sometimes this will not be an additional price in the contract, but it is understandable if the photographer wants to charge a fee for this, to make up for what the photographer otherwise would have made commercially on the photos.

  • The Major Food Companies

    The Major Food Companies

    Have you ever wonder where do all the products at your local supermarket come from? You wonder that because of so much competition everything must be super good. Well, it turns out that there are only a handful of companies that control the whole market and the rest are their subsidiaries. Check out this diagram I found on the net.

    Food Companies Diagram
    The food companies that control the whole market share

  • How Hot Is That Chili Pepper?

    How Hot Is That Chili Pepper?

    This is the Scoville Scale which I find very interesting. From time to time I want to refer to this index because I’m curious to see how spicy that chili pepper is. If you want to know more about it you can read it on Wiki Page

    Here are two images

    Index of Chili Peppers
    Chart of Peppers going from Sweet all the way to the hottest.

  • Can I get all the RAW images?

    Can I get all the RAW images?

    I get this question asked quite a lot and half the time people don’t really mean or understand what RAW means. However, this post is not aimed at those who actually do know the difference.

    “Can I get all the RAW images?”
    What people really mean is if they can have all the pictures that I took during their event unedited and even the bad ones that the flash didn’t go off or somebody jumped in front of the camera when I took the shot including all the rest of the bad shots. TO most people that I deal with that’s what RAW images are.

    Now, let’s talk about what RAW truly means…

    I’m going to use the definition from Wikipedia, and according to them

    A camera raw image file contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of either a digital camera, image scanner, or motion picture film scanner. Raw files are named so because they are not yet processed and therefore are not ready to be printed or edited with a bitmap graphics editor. Read more about RAW file format

    So if I were to give my client the RAW format they won’t be able to do much with them unless they have Adobe LightRoom or Adobe Photoshop. Files produced from my Canon cameras end with .CR which will be unrecognized file format on most computers. Additionally the data would be so large that you would need a large external hard drive to fit all the pictures in. An average wedding would be well over 30GB in size.

    Having said all this I’ve had people who knew what RAW file are and new exactly how to handle those files. People who know what RAW really means ask the question differently. They ask “Can I have all the images in RAW?” And my answer is always YES.

  • Shortcuts vs Hard Links

    Shortcuts vs Hard Links

    In Windows what is the difference between a short-cut, a symbolic link (symlink) and a hard link?

     A short cut is a file that points to another file. It is an antiquated pointing system from the Windows 95 era that many programs do not recognise. Shortcuts do not only use up space on the hard drive, they also break and linger behind after the target has been deleted, renamed or moved.

    A symbolic link is like a short-cut but instead of being saved as a file it is registered to the hard drive partition. It does not use any disk space and all programs recognise both the link and the target. A symbolic link can point to any file or folder either locally on the computer or over a network using a SMB path.

    A file hard link is a little different and can not be used over multiple partitions meaning you can not have a link on drive C: pointing to a file on drive D:. A file hard link points to and duplicates a target as a mirrored copy but the copy does not use any additional space on the hard drive partition. So 2 hard links that mirrored a 1 GB file would  in total only use 1 GB on the partition rather than 3 GB. Importantly if either the hard links or the target are deleted the other links retain the data. Changes to the content of either the target or the links automatically propagate to all other items.

    A junction behaves like is a hard link for directories but unlike file hard links you can create junctions that span multiple partitions. Again a directory junction and its content is stored on the hard drive partition but they do not use any additional space. Any changes to the content within either the target or the links will automatically propagate except where the target directory is deleted or renamed. In that case all hard links that point to the target will break and linger on the partition.

    Microsoft Windows Vista, 7 and 8 use the command line program mklink to create links. It has 3 arguments and requires both a link name and target.

  • There is always someone…

    There is always someone…

    I saw this online and found it to be very true especially in my field of Wedding Photography, and so I decided to share…

     

  • Power of SSD Drives and Gigabit Ethernet

    Power of SSD Drives and Gigabit Ethernet

    I was never able to utilize the full capacity of a Gigabit (1000Mbps) Ethernet connection up until now.  The way I was able to do that was to have two computers with SSD (Solid State Drive). Then I copied data from one computer to the other. Just see for yourself…

    In the past whenever I transferred data to either a network storage, server or simply another computer there was a bottleneck. And the bottleneck used to be either the source or destination drive because more than likely the device had a regular disk storage. Currently my desktop PC has Corsair Force GT SSD drive, and my laptop has a Samsung SSD. In essence I’m going from SSD over a Gigabit Ethernet to another SSD.

    In the past the most I got out of a Gigabit Ethernet was 50-60 MB/s. But now you can see that I was able to achieve 116 MB/s. That’s maxing out the Gigabit Ethernet.  Is my Gigabit LAN the bottleneck now?

    Gigabit LAN
    File System Utilizing Full Capacity of the LAN Connection
  • Rotating JPEG’s without loss in quality

    Rotating JPEG’s without loss in quality

    Rotating JPEG’s without loss in quality
    Up until today I was hesitant to rotate my photos right after downloading them from my camera. The reason was that rotation is considered editing, and every time you edit JPEG file loose quality.

    Now after doing some research I found out that I was wrong all along. If the dimensions of the image are multiples of 8 then the rotations are lossless. Otherwise it is not possible to rotate the image without recomputing the blocks which re-compresses the image and quality is lost.

    Guess what… whichever resolution you pick (small, medium or large) on your camera dimensions are divisible by 8. WOW… AND THIS IS TRUE FOR ANY CAMERA MANUFACTURER. So no more keeping the pictures unrotated. Oh, this is true for Windows and Macs built in picture viewer. I’m sure it will be true for other viewers as well.

  • My Work On Display

    My Work On Display

    Pasadena’s Old Town public parking had a billboard ad displaying my photography.

     

  • Adobe Encore: Rendering Video with 8GB of RAM

    Adobe Encore: Rendering Video with 8GB of RAM

    In my earlier blog posts True Power of Your PC I stated that I’m able to do practically everything with only 4GB of RAM. That’s still is true, however yesterday I noticed that my current system which has 8GB of RAM is still running out of memory when rendering the video with Adobe Encore.

    Some background info about my computing habits. I always turn the Virtual Memory off to actually see at what point in time does the physical memory run out. Obviously it’s not an issue, and I never run out of memory on day-to-day computing otherwise I would never turn the Virtual Memory off nor would I recommend anyone to do so. Running out of  memory starts happening during memory/RAM intensive operations such as video editing, Photoshop, virtualization, gaming, compiling/development and so on.

    Now, how is it that my old system with 4GB or RAM and my new system with 8GB or RAM behave the same.  What I mean by this is that both systems were able to run the application without the Virtual Memory and both systems reported running out of memory somewhere in the middle of the rendering?

    Looking at the picture you can see that all available memory has been taken and the screen shot looks very similar to the screen shot from the 4GB of RAM system. My understanding is that Adobe will take as much free memory as possible even though it doesn’t absolutely need it. My assumption is that if I had 16GB or RAM I would have still gotten the same error message at around 20% into the rendering.

    At first thought I’m going to assume having more memory helped Adobe Encore finishing the job faster, but I don’t have any facts to support that. My current system renders twice as fast but obviously it’s not because of the memory. My new system is a completely new system with Intel i7 2600K CPU overclocked to 4.8GHz. On the other hand my older system as an AMD Phenome II X4 940 Black Edition running un-overclocked with the original specs. So there is no way for me to tell if the extra 4GB of Ram is making any improvement except that it’s a 8GB vs 4GB.