Dear Adobe - No Thanks!

Oh what to say that hasn't been said? Adobe's permanent switch to a Cloud based subscription plan stinks on so many levels. You are basically selling your soul if you buy into this. Adobe will own you. And your files. This just strikes me as the most arrogant display of greed I've ever seen. How long before other companies start to adopt this misguided business model? Imagine having to pay a monthly fee just to have OSX or Windows 8 boot up and deliver their host of buggy and de-evolutionary applications. Sounds fun. Not.

What I worry about - future and random price increases once you're a part of the Adobe Third Reich, the need for bigger bandwidth and yet another price increase to one's internet plan to use your Cloud-based software, lack of 24/7 customer service if you have any issues with your new software, hacking of the cloud and your subscription by third parties, the need for a permanent tether to the internet to use your software, the problems that could arise from a temporary disconnection from the internet and the Cloud, the inability to reboot your account if your computer goes down or is stolen, viruses introduced to the Cloud and your software from third parties, blockage to your account and the Cloud by third parties etc, etc. Swiss Cheese has less holes.

What I'd like to see - Apple buy Adobe and put an end to this mess. But then again, that ship has sailed. This should have been done long ago. The current leadership at Apple can't even put out their own fires. So the added pressure of cleaning up and fixing all the Adobe software issues would make them implode. Just look at iTunes. What an abortion that is nowadays. As is Aperture. So since a merger or acquisition is out of the question, what I'd like to see is more competition. The ultimate equalizer. Adobe can only get away with all this because they have no viable competition. Sure there are a handful of up and comers and established software companies that let you skirt a few parts of your digital workflow.

But there is no one clear rival. This would be a perfect time for either Apple, Quark or Google to up their game and mount a serious charge for the throne. But Apple is too busy making toys built for content consumption instead of content creation. And Google is too busy making disco glasses that make everyone look like they stepped out of a Tron sequel.

If only these companies knew how off target they are in relation to the future. If all your R&D is spent designing newer and cooler ways to consume content, who's going to make the stuff that creates content? Last I checked, one can't edit a feature film or TV commercial on an iPad or iPhone. One can't effectively layout and produce books and magazines for publication with an iPad or iPhone. One can't effectively edit and process a two-week photo shoot with an iPad or iPhone. Let alone have enough storage to back up all these projects. I mean let's get serious. If things continue, fully loaded and functional Mac Pros, iMacs and even Macbook Pros are going to be coveted possessions worth fighting over. This is why Apple and Google need to step it up. Enough with the toys.

Quark could definitely corner the software market if they had balls. Heck, they could have done that years ago before InDesign took off. Apple could easily triple it's software commitment and create some Adobe killers. Same could be said for Corel. The door is definitely open to Quark and Corel.

But what I'd really like to see is Google step up and take both Apple and Adobe to the wood shed. They make both hardware and software that could rival Adobe and Apple. They could start making high-performance desktops and work stations, better and faster laptops, and their own suite of software. They could own content creation. Android and its spawn could easily evolve into something bigger and better. This would bring Apple and Adobe back into line rather quickly. Yes, competition is the high tide that could float all boats. The light is green and there is no traffic. Let's hope Google realizes this before it's too late.

What I'll be doing - running my current copy of CS6 into the ground. With my current computer and cameras, I should be good for quite some time. God willing. But I will embrace alternatives as CS6 gets long in the tooth. I already use Final Cut Pro X instead of Premiere. I already have Quark Express as an alternative to InDesign. I don't use Illustrator that much. I will look at Capture One, DxO and Bibble's new incarnation as Corel AfterShot Pro as alternatives to ACR. I will use Extensis Portfolio as an alternative to Bridge. The only hiccup in my plan is Photoshop. I've used it since the beginning. And I rely on it heavily for my workflow. I will look into using a combination of Snapseed, Nik and Photo Mechanic as my new work horses. But time is on my side. And I'm hoping somebody will present a viable alternative to Adobe's plantation owner style of consumer disrespect and domination. Rise up my friends. Make your voice heard. Don't be part of the flock.

Chasing The Dragon

Happy 2013

After a chilly start, things are warming up quite nicely in Southern California. 2012 was a busy year. In addition to all my local projects, I shot for 10 days in France, 20 days in Italy and 16 days on Maui. You can license this image at Steven Rood Stock Photography.

Remembering Zihuatanejo

Nothing Beats The Smell Of Burning Rubber

Reflections On France

1) The French people are incredibly kind and gracious.

2) French people look just like you and me and have the same daily routines - and as a result of this, you will freak out for the first few days in France because you will think you've woken up in your own town and everybody is suddenly speaking French and going on about their lives as if it's always been this way.

3) The French countryside is like no other place I've ever seen.

4) The French Cote de Fleurie (Northern Riviera) is also incredibly beautiful and like no place I've ever seen - turquoise water and alabaster cliffs.

5) TomTom is your friend - do not even attempt to navigate anywhere in France without a GPS device in your car.

6) Skype is also your friend - iMessage completely crapped out.

7) The iPhone is completely worthless in Europe - because roaming charges are so ludicrous, one must rely on WiFi and the iPhone could not hold a signal to save it's life.

8) Charles de Gaulle is the absolute worst airport to fly out of Internationally - imagine Disneyland on Grad Night - thousands of people everywhere and nobody has any clue as to what's going on.

9) The Airbus A380 is a flying Lincoln Town Car - way pimp, while The Boeing 777 is a flying public transit bus - total rattle trap.

10) Now I know why they are called French Fries - they must be the official food of France because they come with everything.

11) Once you taste cheese from Normandy in country, you will never eat it anywhere else.

12) US credit cards don't work when buying gas - you must have a French credit card or go to a gas station with an actual attendant.

13) 90% of French gas stations are self-serve and have no attendants - so know enough French to negotiate with a kind French citizen to have them buy gas for you with their card if you will pay them back in cash - Euros.

14) Do all architectural photography in the morning before the crowds hit the streets and do your landscape photography in the evening when you have the roads to yourself.

15) Being able to shoot until 10:30 at night during summer is amazing.

16) Know your French wines or you will be served crap.

17) Never dress and act like someone from Dallas or Des Moines - these are Les Americans the French detest - show some class and you will be treated with class.

18) Soak up the history - being able to walk and eat amongst buildings with bullet and artillery wounds from WWII will blow your mind.

19) French Post offices are just as lethargic as ours.

20) Being able to drive everywhere without the eye cancer of outdoor boards is a breath of fresh air.

21) Vist Giverny and you too will want to paint lilly pads and live in a country estate.

22) Know when to say Oui, Mai Oui and Bah Oui.

23) When entering roundabouts - do so at full speed and take charge, NASCAR style.

24) The amount of honking that occurs at a roundabout is directly proportional to the size of the roundabout.

25) If you don't know what Foie Gras is, it's actually not bad.

Spring Has Sprung