During a recent trip up to Lake Superior, I was greeted by this not-so-beautiful vista. Wind was blowing plastic bags from he dump into the woods.
1/30/12
1/21/12
Fun With HDR
snow (foot steps) that is recorded in the data of the
image, but just wasn't visible in the original shot.
This shot was a single RAW shot, saved two copies with
+2 and -2 exposure, and then merged with the original into
a single HDR image via CS5. This is one of the reasons to
shoot in RAW format so that you have the option of doing
more in post production; should that suit you.
HDR is a fun technique that can bring out a wider range of light-to-dark areas in your photo. It often also involves higher saturation, higher detail, and higher contrast. Sometimes the technique can be used in subtle ways to bring out more detail in shadows and clouds, and other times it can be used for very dramatic surrealistic effects. Of course, the success of the results is purely subjective, and is in the eye of the beholder.
The above shot was taken this past Christmas at Duluth. It was a single hand-held shot, in RAW format. The beauty of RAW is that the image file sometimes contains enough data to still use an HDR process on it in post-production. It involves saving two copies of the file; one with +2 stops of exposure and one with -2 stops. Then run the three images through a normal HDR process, and tweak until it suits you.
Many cameras now have the feature built in now; where when you engage the mode you will actually take three shots instead of one; and the merging will take place in-camera. A tripod is a must otherwise the images won't line up correctly and you'll get blurring when they're merged.
1/18/12
1/9/12
Corporate Trust
Why is it that the company you do business with is allowed to change the rules, and even do a complete 180 on promises they’ve made for years; yet we’re all supposed to follow the rules to the letter. Or else.
I’m talking about bank fees. In 1991, upon moving to Minnesota, I opened an account at a bank called TCF that had “Totally Free Checking.” You even got free checks. No fees. They made an offer. I accepted.
Somewhere along the way, they stopped providing free checks. Not a deal breaker, but it was opening the door a bit. This past month, two new fees showed up. A monthly maintenance fee, and a check image on the statement fee. (Check images are still available online). The maintenance fee was $9.95 and the other one was $1.95.
These “maintenance” fees seem to be all the rage in banks these days, and there are hoops you can jump through to avoid paying it. At some banks it’s as easy as having direct deposit. Some require a minimum balance. Yet others base it upon the number/type of transactions you make. Mine chose the latter, and in a big way: 15 debit card purchases, not including ATM withdrawals or gift card purchases, and $10,000 in combined balances. This is for the basic checking account.
So for the 10,000 in combined balances, I could move some money around. But the rates at banks are pathetic these days. And I could start using my debit card to buy everything. But I actually already use my credit card for that. It's an interest free 30-day loan. I get points on purchases, and get a lot of cash back at the end of the year. So I don't see any real incentive to switching to the debit card for everything.
The bottom line, is I’ll never hit the threshold to avoid paying the $10/month “maintenance fee.”
One might think they're hurting. According to BankRate, they get 3-stars: Performing. Yet, this bank had enough money to buy the naming rights for the new University of Minnesota stadium to the tune of $35-million. And they were able to take the CEO’s total compensation from $3.8-million in 2009 to $4.1 million in 2010. And I’m sure for all these extra fees he will be rewarded even more handsomely in 2011. (Those figures aren’t available yet.) If the bank is experiencing some trouble, financially, to necessitate these fees, perhaps they need to reexamine their priorities.
I've tried over the years to do more business with TCF; a sign of my loyalty as a customer. I called to ask about applying for home equity loan. I got a voice mailbox that said I needed to leave my name and number and someone would call me back. That was six years ago. No one ever called me back. I applied for an overdraft loan on my checking a couple of years ago. I was told the approval process would take a couple of days. I waited a couple of weeks and called back. The person who took my app couldn't event tell me the status, and seemed surprised that I was even calling to ask. It had been approved, but no one could be bothered to tell me. Amazingly poor customer service.
Then there was the one time in my life I ever had to "wire" money to someone. I stopped in one of the bigger branches. Filled out all the paperwork. Was informed of the fee. And then told it would go out the next business day. A week later the money still hadn't been sent. I called to find out, and again no one seemed to have any clue as to what I had asked for. I escalated it and they finally found that the form had inadvertently been put in the wrong pile. They were quite apologetic, and reversed the fee (only after I demanded it).
I don't mind that services cost money. The home equity loan wouldn't have been free. I would have paid fees and interest to close on that. But TCF couldn't be bothered to return my call. I know the overdraft was a loan (with high interest) and an annual fee. But no one at TCF could be bothered to follow up with me to let me know that it had gone through. I know that wires take extra handling by staff, and that the fee for wires helps cover it. However, if I'm going to pay fees and interest, including this new maintenance fee, then I want to get a quality product. TCF has demonstrated to me that they aren't a quality product, and quite frankly they haven't earned their fees. At least not from me.
I still can't help but feel like they violated my trust. I did everything they asked. I paid fees whenever I encountered them. I tried to give them more business. I kept up my end of the bargain. Why are they allowed to renege on their end? And before any lawyers smack me down on the legality of this; I do understand that the actual contract you sign with a business usually has all the legalese to allow them to do things like this. However, I’m talking more about the basic contract of trust and goodwill.
I know I’m not alone in this frustration. And mine isn’t the only bank that’s done this. And this isn’t the only industry that’s ever turned it’s back on prior promises to customers. Yet, even though the fine print may give them the legal cover to do all this; when the ads, and posters on the walls at the bank said “Totally Free Checking” for decades; why isn’t that also a binding contract? At least a contract of good faith.
Gone is the Totally Free Checking and it's been replaced by Totally Fee Checking. So, I’m using my power as one lonely consumer and am moving my business elsewhere. TCF has lost my business for good.
How much will it cost them to attract a new customer to replace me?
I’m talking about bank fees. In 1991, upon moving to Minnesota, I opened an account at a bank called TCF that had “Totally Free Checking.” You even got free checks. No fees. They made an offer. I accepted.
Somewhere along the way, they stopped providing free checks. Not a deal breaker, but it was opening the door a bit. This past month, two new fees showed up. A monthly maintenance fee, and a check image on the statement fee. (Check images are still available online). The maintenance fee was $9.95 and the other one was $1.95.
These “maintenance” fees seem to be all the rage in banks these days, and there are hoops you can jump through to avoid paying it. At some banks it’s as easy as having direct deposit. Some require a minimum balance. Yet others base it upon the number/type of transactions you make. Mine chose the latter, and in a big way: 15 debit card purchases, not including ATM withdrawals or gift card purchases, and $10,000 in combined balances. This is for the basic checking account.
So for the 10,000 in combined balances, I could move some money around. But the rates at banks are pathetic these days. And I could start using my debit card to buy everything. But I actually already use my credit card for that. It's an interest free 30-day loan. I get points on purchases, and get a lot of cash back at the end of the year. So I don't see any real incentive to switching to the debit card for everything.
The bottom line, is I’ll never hit the threshold to avoid paying the $10/month “maintenance fee.”
One might think they're hurting. According to BankRate, they get 3-stars: Performing. Yet, this bank had enough money to buy the naming rights for the new University of Minnesota stadium to the tune of $35-million. And they were able to take the CEO’s total compensation from $3.8-million in 2009 to $4.1 million in 2010. And I’m sure for all these extra fees he will be rewarded even more handsomely in 2011. (Those figures aren’t available yet.) If the bank is experiencing some trouble, financially, to necessitate these fees, perhaps they need to reexamine their priorities.
I've tried over the years to do more business with TCF; a sign of my loyalty as a customer. I called to ask about applying for home equity loan. I got a voice mailbox that said I needed to leave my name and number and someone would call me back. That was six years ago. No one ever called me back. I applied for an overdraft loan on my checking a couple of years ago. I was told the approval process would take a couple of days. I waited a couple of weeks and called back. The person who took my app couldn't event tell me the status, and seemed surprised that I was even calling to ask. It had been approved, but no one could be bothered to tell me. Amazingly poor customer service.
Then there was the one time in my life I ever had to "wire" money to someone. I stopped in one of the bigger branches. Filled out all the paperwork. Was informed of the fee. And then told it would go out the next business day. A week later the money still hadn't been sent. I called to find out, and again no one seemed to have any clue as to what I had asked for. I escalated it and they finally found that the form had inadvertently been put in the wrong pile. They were quite apologetic, and reversed the fee (only after I demanded it).
I don't mind that services cost money. The home equity loan wouldn't have been free. I would have paid fees and interest to close on that. But TCF couldn't be bothered to return my call. I know the overdraft was a loan (with high interest) and an annual fee. But no one at TCF could be bothered to follow up with me to let me know that it had gone through. I know that wires take extra handling by staff, and that the fee for wires helps cover it. However, if I'm going to pay fees and interest, including this new maintenance fee, then I want to get a quality product. TCF has demonstrated to me that they aren't a quality product, and quite frankly they haven't earned their fees. At least not from me.
I still can't help but feel like they violated my trust. I did everything they asked. I paid fees whenever I encountered them. I tried to give them more business. I kept up my end of the bargain. Why are they allowed to renege on their end? And before any lawyers smack me down on the legality of this; I do understand that the actual contract you sign with a business usually has all the legalese to allow them to do things like this. However, I’m talking more about the basic contract of trust and goodwill.
I know I’m not alone in this frustration. And mine isn’t the only bank that’s done this. And this isn’t the only industry that’s ever turned it’s back on prior promises to customers. Yet, even though the fine print may give them the legal cover to do all this; when the ads, and posters on the walls at the bank said “Totally Free Checking” for decades; why isn’t that also a binding contract? At least a contract of good faith.
Gone is the Totally Free Checking and it's been replaced by Totally Fee Checking. So, I’m using my power as one lonely consumer and am moving my business elsewhere. TCF has lost my business for good.
How much will it cost them to attract a new customer to replace me?
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