Author: John Tworsky

Preventing Memory Card Trouble – Best Practice

John Tworsky

Preventing errors:
The main preventable causes of digital camera disasters are:

  • Continuing to shoot past the cameras low battery warning. If the battery goes dead while the camera is saving an image to your card or transferring images to your computer more than likely, your card will become unreadable. Using a card reader (powered by your computer) rather than your camera cable (powered by your battery) reduces risk. 
  • Never shoot until the card is full – reading 0 pictures left
  • Ejecting the memory card while the camera is saving a file (light still flashing).
  • Opening the card access door before turning the camera off especially if still saving (light still flashing)
  • Switching to view mode while the camera is saving an image or
  • Improper storage leading to Physical Damage
  • Using the same card in multiple cameras – this may cause unpredictable results
  • Using cards after they exhibit errors – replace cards after you experience trouble

Reducing your risk in the future:
There is no guarantee that you can prevent all errors or will be able to recover files but there are some things you can do to MAXIMIZE your chances of recovery before you run into trouble. The best approach is to archive your images on the memory card to Cloud, DVD or Blu-Ray or other safe media. Once you’re certain the images are all copied, you should FORMAT your card.  

Formatting the card sets the card up to receive new images sequentially written to the disk. This means that the picture is stored in one complete area on the memory card. Over time if you frequently erase and retake many pictures, the camera is unable to save the files in one complete piece and needs to store the image in many pieces called FRAGMENTS on the memory card.

Should the media become corrupted; the recovery process can only recover the first portion of a fragmented file. An example of an image recovered from a fragmented file is shown below. 

         

The next image was recovered from a media card with CONTIGUOUS files affording you the best chance of a full recovery.

What to do after disaster strikes:
When you get the scary message “CARD ERROR” or (CH) there is a very good chance that images can still be recovered from your media card. First, don’t do anything with your card. Remove your card from the camera. Don’t run Windows Scandisk or any other utility on your memory card. Don’t format the card in your camera or computer. It is essential you don’t do anything with the problem card in order to maximize the chances for a good recovery. This is why we suggest carrying multiple cards in your camera bag.

 

The Promaster Advantage:
If you purchased a Promaster memory card from Bergen County Camera, your in house standard recovery is Free + media charges, a Promaster advantage! (does not include DriveSavers). In the event your Promaster card has any electronic damage, the card will be replaced at no charge to you!

DriveSavers Recovery Services

Any memory cards that are not recoverable by our standard file recovery service can be sent for advanced recovery from DriveSavers. Although this can be expensive, they may be able to recover images when we are unable to. All jobs sent to DriveSavers through Bergen County Camera receive a 10% discount off their regular prices.

 

RØDE Mic – Specials through June 30

John Tworsky

RØDE is giving away a FREE WINDSHIELD with selected microphone purchases.

Buy an NTG1, NTG2, NTG4, NTG4+ and receive a
FREE WS6 Deluxe Windshield. Get an NTG3 or NTG3B and receive a
FREE WS7 Deluxe Windshield. Buy a VideoMic Pro Rycote®, get a
FREE DeadCat VMPR Windshield. A Stereo VideoMic Pro Rycote® scores a
FREE DeadKitten Windshield. Look for the yellow sticker! While stocks last!

Drink and Click™ New Jersey Event with Panasonic Lumix June 8

John Tworsky

 

Register Now

Drink and Click is coming back to New Jersey and Bergen County Camera. This time is with Panasonic Lumix. Come join us at this FREE photography event at Cornerstone at 7:30 pm. (Registration required)

Panasonic-Lumix is bringing all their latest cameras and lenses for you guys to test. We will also have lighting and one model available to test the gear. Also, our friends from Bergen County Camera will be present to answer questions about the cameras and lenses and to let us know availability at their store.

Please Don’t forget to bring your own SD card to take your images home. Also spread the word to your friends so they can join us. This is a FREE event open to anyone over 21 with any type of Photography experience.

In addition to testing all these awesome gear, we will have a giveaway for our attendees, so get a ticket when you arrive and stay for the raffle.

Customer Spotlight – Patty Connelly

John Tworsky

Welcome to our third Bergen County Camera Customer Spotlight. This monthly posting features a customer who’s made an impression on us. They might have grown in their understanding of photography, gained a mastery of the craft and / or have become a strong advocate of our way of doing business in the world of photography. During the next month you will see this customer’s images displayed on our digital signs in store, in our emails, blog posts and social media. We hope you both enjoy and are inspired by this new addition to In Focus and look forward to your comments and suggestions. 

Patty Connolley is this month’s customer profile. Please enjoy a few of Patty’s images in the gallery below.

A word from Patty:
I remember developing film at Bergen County Camera when I was in my late teens. I was always so excited to leaf through that little spiral-bound brown notebook full of 4×6 prints. Fast forward many years, and I found myself, once again, drawn to BCC. Shortly after having children, my desire to take better pictures was born and I soon became a regular at the Saturday morning Focus Sessions. I learned SO much going to those sessions and by picking everyone’s brain whenever I could! I think the first digital camera I purchased was a Panasonic point and shoot. After that a used Mark 5 Canon, then a 6D and finally, the 5D Mark III. I love my Canons, but am also having fun with a great little point and shoot I recently purchased. 

I’m happy to say that I’ve been able to turn my passion/hobby into a thriving business and I feel so blessed to be able to call photography my job. The learning never ends … and that is the best part! 
 
Thank you to everyone at BCC for all your time and patience with me. I’m forever grateful.
Patty
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Longwood Gardens Trip with Olympus and Frank T Smith May 7

John Tworsky

Join Bergen County Camera and Olympus Trailblazer Frank Smith for a photo excursion to Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square, PA. Longwood Gardens is considered to be the World’s premier horticultural display garden.

The beautiful 1050 acre site features 20 outdoor gardens, 20 indoor gardens, spectacular fountains, and 11,000 different types of plants. Our trip is planned during the Garden’s Spring Blooms. With dogwoods, magnolias, wisterias, azaleas, foam-flowers, and more than 240,000 tulips, Spring Blooms creates a symphony of color like no other season. BCC staff will be available to assist you with your photography throughout the day. Tickets are $99 each and include pre trip class, transportation, admission and Saturday Focus Session Trip Review. We also have a full Macro Photography class scheduled for April 25th if you want to improve your skills before the trip. $50

 

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All about Frank T. Smith 
At an early age (3 years old+/-) I developed a curiosity with photography. My grandfather, Frank Fehn was an avid photographer, always with his Leica camera in his hand and me by his side. He bought me a miniature replica 35mm camera which was the beginning of my life-long passion for photography.

Photography is my passion – both in taking the pictures as well as the post pro-cessing techniques that I use. I am an experienced traveler having had the op-portunity to photograph in places around the world. As a native of the northeast, I also enjoy the local scenery of the Pocono Mountains or urban decay and iconic subjects as well as historical sites such as the former Bethlehem Steel factory in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. My portfolio is diverse.

I use the Olympus Micro Four Thirds system. My workhorses are the Pro OM-D EM-1 Mark II and the EM-5 Mark II. I use the OM-D EM-10 Mark II for road trav-el and family events. I use a variety of different lenses based on the camera and type of shooting I am doing. My attraction with Olympus is two-fold; first the camera and lens quality and second, the weight and size. My post processing is done with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop CC, and various plug-ins.

I am a member of the Olympus Visionary Program. Olympus Visionaries are es-tablished, award-winning professional photographers who travel the world with Olympus products to capture life’s beauty and splendor. The elite members of the program include several Pulitzer Prize–winning photographers, as well as artists whose careers have included assignments around the globe. Frank Smith Olym-pus Trailblazer

I believe photography is a constantly changing art form and as such I try to stay current by teaching workshops & classes every year. I exhibit my work in various galleries. Some of my recent exhibits include “Atacama – A Lunar Landscape”, “Near and Far” an 8 year compilation of India; “Bhutan – The Land of the Thunder Dragon”; “Allentown State Hospital – A Different View” and “The Birth of a Na-tion- South Sudan”. My work can be seen on my website at www.franksmithphotos.com or on my blog where I post my up to date work regu-larly at www.franktsmith.wordpress.com/. You can also follow me on Facebook. I was also published in Outdoor Photography (December 2013) and presented a Ted Talk in 2013 titled Looking thru the Lens -Vocation vs. Avocation. In November 2015, PBS did the following interview with me.

Customer Spotlight – Joanne Kennedy

John Tworsky

Welcome to our second Bergen County Camera Customer Spotlight. This monthly posting features a customer who’s made an impression on us. They might have grown in their understanding of photography, gained a mastery of the craft and / or have become a strong advocate of our way of doing business in the world of photography. During the next month you will see this customer’s images displayed on our digital signs in store, in our emails, blog posts and social media. We hope you both enjoy and are inspired by this new addition to In Focus and look forward to your comments and suggestions. 

Joanne Kennedy is this month’s customer profile. Please enjoy a few of Joanne’s images in the gallery below.

A word from Joanne:
My husband, Rich Collins, started attending the Saturday morning Focus Sessions at BCC long before I did. After several years of his gentle coaxing, I finally gave photography and BCC a try! I started out using a pocket point-and-shoot Olympus. BCC taught me so much that I managed to get some amazing images out of my little camera!  After that, I moved on to a Fuji X20, and am currently using my Olympus mirrorless system. I purchase all my cameras and gear at BCC because the team always helps me buy what is right for me and gives me the ongoing support and instruction that has helped me grow as a photographer. I hope you enjoy a few of my images shared here;  most of them were taken on BCC field trips! 

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Free Saturday Focus Sessions – April and May

John Tworsky

Focus sessions are Free and take place in our store from 9:30 am – 10:15 am. Focus Sessions are mini classes and discussions and classes about photography. All sessions will allow for questions and answers. Please bring your camera and any images along that you have questions about. Please share your thoughts for future focus sessions in the comment box below. No RSVP – Free for everyone – Please bring a friend!


Hit the “Like Button” to let your friends know. Have suggestions for future focus sessions? Feel free to leave a comment.

Here’s our upcoming Focus Sessions:

April 1 – Indoor and Outdoor Portraits
April 8 – Never to Early to Start – telling a story through video – with Special Guest Kyle Commerford
April 15 – Bill Gent – Bird Photography
April 22 – John Kingston – New York City Reflections
April 29 – Assignment Review – Opposites
May 6 – New York Skyline Meet up Review
May 13 – Parade Photography
May 20 – Longwood Gardens Trip Review
May 27 – Get Steady – Using Tripods and Monopods

 

These are free events – bring a friend along if you’d like. Share with your friends on Facebook – Click the Like button below. Hope you can join us!

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