About Chrisser  

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I enjoy being very avid in gardening and digital photography, as well as the summer time, which is my absolute favorite season, and travel. I do not enjoy seeing weeds in my gardens, when the weather is really hot, and when the weather is really cold. I also don't like stormy weather. I also don't like the winter time, except during Christmas and New Year's.

My Current Digital Cameras:
Olympus Camedia C-765 Ultra Zoom 4.0 megapixel digital point-and-shoot camera with 10-times optical zoom that can be converted to 14-times super zoom, which is optical zoom plus digital zoom. Don't use Digital and Combined zoom as they use the most battery power due to needing LCD turned on and aren't very reliable.
Sony Handycam DCR-SR62 digital camcorder that also takes still photos that aren't as good, but close to the quality with 3.0-megapixel digital still cameras, 25-times optical zoom, camera dock used to connect to computer, AC adapter also used as battery charger, battery stays on the camera for charging and counts down in minutes for remaining power of battery when not connected to AC adapter, audio/video cable to connect to DVD recorder, no viewfinder, Outdoor white balance and scene set to Auto best for outdoor photography and videos.

Here are a close-up and a macro of a light Rembrandt tulip:

Close-Up


Macro


I also own a Kodak Advantix 3400AF Advanced Photo System camera, and do my scanning with the Epson Stylus 5400 multifunction, which is way better than the IBM IdeaScan flatbed scanner that could no longer be used after upgrading to Windows XP Home Edition.

Flowers, especially roses, are my absolute favorite subjects to photograph. And I only take photos of real flowers, in their natural state and dried. Of course, many groups I am only a member of don't allow dried flowers at all. The flower groups I am an admin of do allow dried flowers. I also enjoy taking close-ups and macros of insects, especially butterflies, dragonflies and ladybugs.

When any of my flower photos are chosen as Admin Faves, it is very delightful. When none of my flower photos are chosen as Admin Faves, it is very disappointing.

This is how I feel when any of my flower photos are chosen as Admin Faves: :-)
This is how I feel when any of my flower photos are not chosen as Admin Faves: :'-(

One pet peeve is when the batteries in my cameras run low and battery chargers aren't nearby when on vacation. Another is when somebody refers me to Chris - I prefer either my username of Chrisser or my real first name of Christina. Another is when the Flower Factory or Flower Themes group provides a new theme that none of my photos will work for. Sometimes I don't even have photos of flowers or parts of flowers for any new theme and must wait until a theme that will work with my photos comes around. And I also don't like it when I have to reconnect, even if I have to take multiple attempts to reconnect. And I find it sad whenever somebody either blocks me or originally adds me as a contact or friend and then removes me from his/her contact listings.

Reminder to Flower Factory and Flower Themes: Photos that have been chosen as Admins Faves do not get removed and reposted. Only photos that have not been chosen as Admin Faves - and also not removed by the admins of those groups - do get removed and reposted if there are new themes that the photos originally posted for another theme and not chosen as Admins Faves or removed by the admins can work for those themes. And unless you have joined one of the flower groups I started, the minimum allowed Admin Faves for Flower Factory and Flower Themes to be allowed as one of my contacts under the Friends category is two.

The only private groups I will accept joining are those where some of my contacts are admins of those groups.

Also, since ONLY the admins have permission to answer any questions by the members of Flower Factory, the main group page should be saying so to prevent such troubles. Also, I have decided NOT to post questions in Flower Factory's Members' Questions posts anymore.

If you are going to be posting any links or photos to comments about my photos, I prefer photos. If the photos option doesn't work, then substitute links if necessary.

You probably have noticed I always but a happy face at the end of the main comment in the comments box of photos of others and at the end of saying Thanks when others say nice comments on my photos or when the admins of groups like Flower Factory and Flower Themes choose my photos as Admin Faves. The happy face is just a polite expression. :-)

The FlickrBlog link has lots of excellent photos posted by the staff every single day.

Reminder: The groups I originally started stay at the unlimited photo postings as long as I am still in those groups and as the original starting admin. That doesn't change until I am no longer able to be around. Also, I have posted Members' Questions topics in two of the groups I originally started, and those topics DO get answered by both the admins and members as long as I am still part of those groups and still as the original admin of those groups. Only any Admins' Questions posts would be only answered by admins.

I am still confident I will be helping with the administration of other groups, even if I really am not needed immediately. And I believe my photos I put in the FLOWERS pool will be picked as Admin Faves, even though I have set my blogging permissions to only allow me and my contacts to do the blogging for all newly uploaded photos. And by the way, I am never, ever too busy to help in the administration of other groups I am only a member of.

Also, the admins of groups I am only a member of are classed as friends, because some have posted photos of mine as Admins Faves in groups that do have Admins Faves. None of the admins of flower groups I am only a member of can be blocked, or else their comments including those saying some of my photos were made Admins Faves will disappear. And some have added me to their contact listings, and I have added some of them to my listings as well. And yes, all admins of Flower Factory and Flower Themes will be added to my Contact List, but I am in no hurry right now. :-)

To the admins of Flower Factory and Flower Themes: Keep up the excellent work with the posting of photos as Admin Faves and also with the not accepting of photos that don't fit a current theme. And I also recommend them to take a look at any of the flowers related groups I originally started and joining if interested, unless they are already part of the flowers related groups I originally started. And all admins of Flower Factory and Flower Themes, if they haven't done so, are welcome to add me to their contact listings. :-)

When Flower Factory and Flower Themes members and admins post photos to the current theme - and by the daily limit - that is the best results ever for those groups. :-)

To groups that have weekly themes, no matter the daily limit: In addition to taking time from posting any photos where both flowers and buds were in the same photos to cool down, if a theme takes place and I don't have photos that fit a theme, I don't post, unless the Admins see photos that can be permitted.

Also, if you decide to take a look at my profile and decide whether to add me as a contact like some of the Flower Factory admins and members already did, you are permitted to do so.

Oh, and the admins of the groups I am only a member or, including those in Flower Factory and Flower Themes, are considered Very Important People in my opinion. Also, no matter how often the admins of those two groups have to remove photos that don't fit the current theme and how often they have to either temporarily remove or permanently ban members not following the rules, the admins of those groups are always doing an excellent job when they are available to do any admin duties. :-)

Here is a tip: If you are planning on overseas travel, if possible, buy a second and maybe a third rechargeable battery if you cannot use single-use lithium batteries. If your camera can take both rechargeable batteries and single-use lithium batteries, go for the lithium batteries, which are available in all countries. Also, if you need the battery charger and AC adapter, purchase some special converting adapters to convert the power of your continent into the power used in the overseas country you are visiting ahead of leaving for your trip if you can't buy the converting adapters in the country you are visiting. Also, there may be the chance your camera has to either be checked or be put in larger suitcases, and I am AGAINST having anybody other than myself touching my cameras!

All of my gardening is currently in Zone 5 of eastern Ontario, Canada, meaning I have to dig up all canna rhizomes, dahlia tuberous roots, and ranunculus tubers before the winter months. I also have to provide winter protection for my mini rosebushes, and I was supposed to protect my Double Delight rose last year, but forgot to, so it is no longer part of my life anymore.

My ancestors came from the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland. There were a few that did immigrate from England eons ago.

Due to concerns, I was told to remove my address. I did, but left Canada for the Country category. So anybody who has me on their contact listings, don't feel very bad about not seeing where my address is.

Photo used to create my buddy icon - and not ever being changed.


My best week as far as Admin Faves in Flower Factory are concerned:
Clematis & Passion Flowers (August 5th to August 11th, 2008): Seven photos of mine were chosen as Admin Faves (previous high was six Admin Faves in one week three times!)

My worst weeks as far as Admin Faves in Flower Factory are concerned: Weeks that I could not provide flowers or did provide flowers but none were chosen.

Note: For flowers that are on a solid background colour, those are courtesy of modifications using Photo Shop. I do not take photos of flowers where I've placed a solid coloured piece of cardboard. Same if I decided to make the background behind any insects one solid colour.

To those who have to leave the Flower Factory administration: It will be very sad to see you not being able to choose any of the photos I've posted to the group as Admin Faves after you leave and return to Member status, but it was fun when you were choosing Admin Faves.

Photo Editing Software I Use And Originally Own:
ArcSoft Photo Impression 4.0 (for resizing of photos cropped using Microsoft Picture It Express 7.0)
Microsoft Picture It Express 7.0 (for cropping of scanned or archived photos; this is also used for cropping photos using the Square cropping tool; came free with package of 8.5 by 11 photo paper)
Olympus Camedia Master 4.2 (for copying photos from current digital still camera and for renaming photos taken with current digital still camera)
Sony Picture Motion Browser Version 2.0.06.13151 (for copying photos taken with digital camcorder)

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