Web Profiles

With so many sites on the Internet, and very little information as to content, how do you find the really great web sites? Shutterbug is featuring this column, dedicated to finding the best photography-related sites and getting that information to you, the reader. But, we need your help to make this a success. Do you have a favorite web site that you'd like to share with other Shutterbug readers? If so, send the address, along with your comments and a brief description of the site, to us for possible publication. Comments are subject to editing. Mail your site suggestions to 5211 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, FL 32780 or e-mail them to editorial@shutterbug.net.

http://www.user.shentel.net/nsb
All around the U.S.A., especially in the country east of the Missi-ssippi River near where these events actually occurred, there are frequent Civil War reenactments conducted by history buffs who don the clothing and spend a weekend living and having simulated battles similar to what their forefathers did during those turbulent war years. You can easily view images made at these events by visiting the web site Civil War Camera.

"A Gallery of Reenactment Photos" was compiled and posted on the site by Norman S. Burzynski who has covered these events. Another month's photos were made by Randolph Carlisle who is the retired Vice Chief of Police in Richmond, Virginia, where he was involved in evidence photography. The contents of this site are laid out like a black and white newspaper with vivid images but with minimal text. Different monthly issues are accessible with each issue highlighting photos made by different photographers, who were or are actually involved in various aspects of photography before taking up documenting these reenactments. Most of the events covered in the issues I viewed were conducted in Virginia and Maryland, but similar reenactments are held elsewhere each year. If you are a history buff or just enjoy good black and white photography replicating a bygone era, this site is well worth a visit.

http://www.sunrise.scu.edu/photo/
This site is a forum for people to share their photographic works and have them critiqued by others. It is an informal site for people wanting to improve their photographic skills. It was pulled together and is run by Qiang Li, Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at Santa Clara University, California. Both amateurs and professionals are invited to participate.

When you access the site, there is a listing of well over 100 names of participating photographers. Highlight any name and you can find the images posted by that individual. Alternatively, you can access the images by looking for the various types of images, which were categorized as follows: Travel/Scenic; Candid/Photojournalism; Nature; Wildlife; Portrait; Sports; Macro; Digital; Others; and Interesting Photo Experiences/Stories/Follies (which may be with or without images). When you access any particular subject, you can pull up a small image along with a description of the image or how it was made and there is a place for you to add your personal comments or critique. As each of the hundreds of listings are highlighted and viewed, the text changes color so you won't accidentally check them again as you peruse through the extensive subject listings. I found it interesting to skim through the various subjects to see just how different photographers recorded the various subjects and to check the caliber of their photographic efforts. In the past five months there have been 40,399 visits so this must be a popular site.