Viewing/Converting MAC formatted hard drive to Windows

Here is a useful tool that I have found that's free.

I do most of my image editing on a Windows machine. I realize that what I just said could be consider heresy. It's not to say that I don't love Macintosh computers, I do. I just have been using PCs for most of my life. I use Macintosh computers quite often on set and when supporting photographers in their studio. The fact of the matter remains I use a PC for most of my image editing.

Generally I don't have a problem plugging a hard drive in to a Macintosh downloading the files that I needed and then plugging that drive into my PC, to continue working on the files. One external hard drives that can make the transition from Mac to PC and then back from PC to MAC is Western Digital.

An example of a drive that does not make the transition would be leasing. Gratefully someone made a program that is free. It's called HFSExplorer and it works like a dream.

Simply install the software have it search for local drives it finds your Mac drive structure enables you to view it and transfer and/or convert the files that you desire on your PC. This software does not work if you want to transfer the files from your PC to a MAC formatted drive.

Back Up - hardware and software ideas

It’s time to back up
If you have not backup today you should. If it's not an automated backup why not?

Backup software:
Okay, so you are not ready to invest in new hardware. You have plenty of extra hard drives already.

Now what do you do with all of them to ensure that all of your images on all of your drives are backed up safely and consistently?
Automate you backup

The dmailer backup software is the solution that offers backing up of both PC and Macintosh files over the network at the same time. The benefits of using dmailer with Apple`s Time Machine backup feature is that it adds the capability to backup and restore individual Files and folders. FYI: This is SUPER COOL!

Avoid the hassle and risk of multiple external storage "solutions"
Consolidate Your Storage

Drobo is compatible with FireWire 800, 400 & with USB two. It is capable of RAID and offers up to 16 TB of storage. It comes with Drobos own backup software.

Iomega StorCenter Pro is either 2 or 4 TB solution that plugs into your network through a gigabit Ethernet connection. It offers RAID 10, and RAID 5 hard disk drive mirroring and/or striping. It has a built-in print server and four USB ports. It includes backup software.

Knowledge is power

A common question that I get from many of my friends and also from some professional photographers is how many megapixels (MB) is enough to get a good print? Or what is the difference between megapixels (MP) & megabytes (MB).

I'm not going to try to reinvent the wheel, there are literally hundreds of forums, blogs and websites that address this question. However, I recently discovered a site that has been around for several years that explains tech related jargon in very plain language.

Tech soup
A guide on resolution and size
A guide to file formats

Shooting film

I truly enjoy showing people my large format transparency shots on a light table. Who would've thought that this would have been so cliché even five years ago. I love watching the expression on their face as they try to search for the words to describe the luminosity, the color saturation and the overall sharpness of the image. I enjoy shooting film for many reasons one of the reasons is its tangibility, I can touch it feel the emulsion and dare I say I do enjoy the smell of the lab when I go to pick up my film.

I love film it's not to say that I don't respect and utilize digital when appropriate. I'm a digital tech that's what I do for a living I make my living from knowing what digital resources; whether it's software or hardware; can make a photographer more effective and efficient on set. With that said I feel lucky, I get to participate in the photographic industry at a time when it's transitioning and changing the way everyone is relating to and thinking about taking pictures. I feel like I'm watching history unfold right before me and what's even more inspiring is that I am participating in it by simply being a part of it.