Downsize Your Photos — Bad Advice / March 22, 2020 by Adrian Galli

Popular Science recently posted an article “Your smartphone photos take up too much space. Here's how to downsize them."

Firstly, don't do it. The solution the author provides is defeatist. Photos never take up too much room because, as a general rule, the more data you have the better your photo will look. For example, 14-bit RAW files from a professional camera have insane amount of detail and information. One has so much flexibility and data to work with that editing becomes very powerful.

Here in Chicago, many of us are staying at home, working from home, or self quarantining. While I’m definitely an INTJ personality and can spend days without any other human contact, my creativity makes me restless should I not be able to exercise it.

Creativity can not rest nor can a photographer escape his nature. I went out to see some of the normally busy locations in Chicago. No, I did not come in contact with anyone, and, no, I did not put anyone at risk (or myself) but avoided transportation and groups of people—there were only a handful of people out.

I was supposed to be in California for a few months and was excited about the prospects of Geometry continuing in a different city but, for the time being, I’m still here in Chicago. There are more images to come of the lonely Chicago Loop but wanted to inspire those who are at home—don’t let the crisis stifle your creativity.

Pick up a new hobby. Refine one that you already love. A photographer can do so much inside. If you have a speedlight, learn more about it. If you have a macro lens, take photos of everything small in your home. I am not recommending heading outside, especially those in lockdown areas as that could get your in legal trouble, but the time I did go outside, I added to my Geometry series with Wave 2.

My next goal will take me through some more macro photography and revisit a couple of project from last year.

Stay creative, friends!

Returning to Panama City / February 22, 2020 by Adrian Galli

A little over a year ago, in a series called Remnants, I ventured to Northern Florida where Hurricane Michael tore through the beach towns of the Emerald Coast. I documented some of the destruction I came across—some disturbing, some amazing, some very sad. A year later, I return to some of the sites that I could still venture to find some change but mostly the places of Panama City and Mexico Beach have yet to recover.

Much of their aid never really arrived from the Federal Government. Much of the population simply never returned.

I did. And these are just a few places I visited.