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BEN JOSEPHS

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Member Since: 1/2007  Last Seen: 3/10/2012

Newsvine Photographers: Virtual Vinement Date Set

Wed Mar 9, 2011 2:37 PM EST
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By Ben Josephs
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If you missed last week's article:

A while back, almost exactly a year ago, and then again a few months ago, the Photographers began planning to meet in a virtual conference. An agenda hadn't been developed but there was an expressed interest in having the opportunity to get to know one another better, coordinate special efforts and discuss ways to step it up a notch or two.

The polls have closed and the Photographers Virtual Vinemeet will take place on Saturday, April 2nd at 7:00PM CST.

In the meantime, Holly-348328 and myself will test and research available software options to determine which product will be used.  Mikogo, Vyew, openmeetings, and WebHuddle are the options we have to choose from. 

An article requesting agenda items will go out next week and, if necessary, the following week.  A tutorial for the product used will go out Thursday, March 31st.

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MalamuteMan

Great! This is a small miracle... You landed it on the one day, baring some unforeseen catastrophe, that I can actually participate.

  • 5 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Mar 9, 2011 2:52 PM EST
Ben Josephs

Awesome! Is it possible for you to do any live Photoshop tutorials?

  • 5 votes
#1.1 - Wed Mar 9, 2011 3:25 PM EST
MalamuteMan

On 4/2!?!?!? Does any of this software have "Go-To-Meeting" Webinar capabilities???

I'd be happy to do tutorials, but I'm not sure if I will be able to pull something together by 4/2... maybe.

It would be nice for people to make requests for what they would like to know how to do. I actually think PS tutorials are a terrific idea... but if we do that I think it is important to have the first one be

a) About things people want to learn to do

b) Go smoothly so that people want to come back for more

So it would probably would be a good idea to have a dry run before doing tutorials for the whole group.

Also, It might be good to do some stuff with Paint.Net or Elements for people who can't afford the full blown PS.

  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Wed Mar 9, 2011 8:39 PM EST
A. Macarthur

I believe a virtual-meeting tutorial would be unwieldy ... I doubt it would be anything like being in an actual classroom with everyone networked to a server from individual computers, all using the same images and software.

From a NV article, at least a project can be defined, steps explained and participants given time at their convenience to implement everything afforded by their disparate applications. Trying to do this on-the-fly during a virtual meet is a stress-evoking proposition for me.

Question and answer sessions are one thing, but a real-time tutorial in a virtual environment is chaos waiting to happen and potential frustration for all.

Other sites are configured so as to allow uploads and edits in every comment ... that's the ideal in that no one is pressed to perform, learn, succeed before session's end and the evolution of every lesson can be recorded and reviewed endlessly once posted.

  • 3 votes
#1.3 - Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:00 PM EST
Ben Josephs

Does any of this software have "Go-To-Meeting" Webinar capabilities???

I believe a virtual-meeting tutorial would be unwieldy ...

Yes, all four solutions have GoToMeeting-like screen sharing capabilities. It shouldn't be too unwieldy to demostrate Photoshop et al in a virtual setting; I've had good experiences using screen sharing for demonstrations for staff at our remote sites.

I don't think a lot of time should be spent on creating a tutorial, at least until we know how it works out. Perhaps an informal, on-the-fly style would be more appropriate the first time around? Take a submitted photo and demonstrate a quick technique or two that can be used to enhance the image... instead of creating a classroom setting. We can always work our way up, or out.

  • 4 votes
#1.4 - Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:42 PM EST
A. Macarthur

I'm willing to consider #1.4 but need to know how it would work from my end.

  • 3 votes
#1.5 - Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:09 PM EST
A. Macarthur

But one more thing troubles me ... I posted a tutorial on creating a high key image ... 13 votes, 8 comments ... disappointing.

  • 4 votes
#1.6 - Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:20 PM EST
Ben Josephs

I also don't want to spend all of our time on Photoshop et. al. tutorials/demonstrations. We need to goof around and have some fun, discuss the group, etc.

I think we have enough people interested that it'd be worth it. Interest will grow over time, and comments and votes aren't a good gauge of much.

  • 4 votes
#1.7 - Thu Mar 10, 2011 11:00 PM EST
Reply
HollyKl

Sounds good, Ben!

  • 3 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Mar 9, 2011 5:49 PM EST
etva

Great work y'all. I'm following along:)

  • 3 votes
Reply#3 - Wed Mar 9, 2011 6:57 PM EST
Dowser

Me too!

  • 3 votes
#3.1 - Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:00 PM EDT
A. Macarthur

I'll need a tutorial.

  • 2 votes
#3.2 - Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:15 PM EDT
Ben Josephs

Mac, a tutorial for the software? If you can make it, I'd like to have you come to the [as of yet unscheduled] test session.

  • 2 votes
#3.3 - Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:16 PM EDT
A. Macarthur

What is the software, how do I acquire it?

  • 1 vote
#3.4 - Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:35 PM EDT
Ben Josephs

Any software we use will be browser based and shouldn't require a download (or even an account) to use. However, some features require browser components be up-to-date, i.e. Vyew's screen sharing requires Java 1.6 to work.

Pending a report back from Holly, it looks like Vyew is our most likely solution.

#3.5 - Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:18 PM EDT
Reply
Mrs D-1475814

Awesome!!!! Looking forward to it. :)

  • 5 votes
Reply#4 - Wed Mar 9, 2011 7:01 PM EST
rottlady

I'll be there! Good to see this progressing.

  • 5 votes
Reply#5 - Wed Mar 9, 2011 7:29 PM EST
Physicist-retired

Ben,

I'm open on the 2nd. Will be very interested to see what develops. Thanks for your time and effort on this.

  • 3 votes
Reply#6 - Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:22 AM EST
Ben Josephs

Hey everyone,

We've looked at our software options and can't say that we're impressed by any of these products. The best option out of the four was Vyew, but the screen sharing features were a bit buggy (i.e., having a screen resolution larger than 1024 x 768 creates issues for those viewing) and after listening to the same four songs (Hit the Road Jack, the Pink Panther theme, forgot the other two) for 45 minutes trying to enter the conference via telephone.. I gave up, is way too long.

I'm fairly certain we'll be using a 30-day free trial of GoToMeeting for our first meeting. We know it works well and is easy to use. I'm not sure it'll ever be worth the cost of purchasing (about $39/mo if you purchase an entire year) but we can always cycle through email addresses to "renew" the trial period. ;-)

Otherwise we could use Skype, it's free and has the features we want but would require a download, installation and sign-up. Compared with GoToMeeting, entering a conference would initially be more a bit more involved but still easy.

  • 3 votes
Reply#7 - Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:04 PM EDT
Physicist-retired

Ben,

I've been completely out of the loop this week. Has a decision been made on the approach (GoToMeeting, Skype, other) that will be used?

Thanks.

  • 1 vote
#7.1 - Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:08 PM EDT
Ben Josephs

We'll be using GoToMeeting.

  • 1 vote
#7.2 - Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:17 PM EDT
A. Macarthur

I will try ... but please, if possible, will someone write a brief summary for those who may not make it?

  • 1 vote
#7.3 - Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:39 PM EDT
Ben Josephs

Sure thing, Mac.

#7.4 - Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:13 PM EDT
A. Macarthur

All right ... got some ear phones and microphone ... what next?

#7.5 - Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:02 PM EDT
A. Macarthur

When I connect,

1) at what point do I enter the PW and meeting ID

2) once I enter them, what happens next ... really ... I have not done this before and have no idea what I will see/hear etc.

How about a briefing.

#7.6 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:19 PM EDT
Ben Josephs

Once you click the link, it should prompt you for the meeting ID and password, and then load. That's all there's to it really.

#7.7 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:29 PM EDT
A. Macarthur

What will I see/hear, Ben ... is there an image or icons or a desktop or is it similar to a conference call?

#7.8 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:15 PM EDT
MalamuteMan

Hi A Mac,

It will start out showing Ben's computer screen... He can then hand it off to any of the participants and it will then show that persons computer screen. You should be able to hear anybody that is using the voice option... everybody else's comments will appear in a chat box. If you are using voice, after you get connected you will see a dialog box on the right side of your screen... That has various things you can do... IF you are using the voice option, you must select some radio button option in that dialog (I don't remember what it says but it is obvious).

  • 1 vote
#7.9 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:10 PM EDT
Reply
A. Macarthur

Mal,

By "computer screen," do you mean my desktop?

Reply#8 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:14 PM EDT
Ben Josephs

Mac, screen sharing displays exactly what one has on their screen and is live. So while someone is sharing their screen, everyone can see exactly what is done down to the movement of the cursor.

#8.1 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:31 PM EDT
MalamuteMan

Not YOUR desktop unless you want to do that... Just go to the meeting... It's easy... and you will figure it out when you get there.

#8.2 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:55 PM EDT
A. Macarthur

OK.

#8.3 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:03 PM EDT
Reply
Dowser

I need to attend and want to attend, but my mother is having surgery that day. I will look forward to reading the helpful hints, etc., developed! Hope all of you are well-- the sun is out today! Yeeehaaaa!

Reply#9 - Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:45 PM EDT
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