© Gunther Deichmann-
"Mangroves on fire" Chuuk Micronesia

We have had an excellent feed back for our High School in Chuuk see my previous Blog, a donation came for an iBook and a couple of Cameras, this is great news for the students.
The images below have been taken during my stay in Chuuk more of these and some new aerials from Palau will be available soon in my PhotoShelter collection, and some on my website under new images, please give me a few more days I am trying to catch up with all my back log in the office.
In my next blog I am introducing also a new product which I have tested during my recent travel, no camera gear, this is from a Pharmaceutical company, real cool for your travel-kit and soon available in the Philippines as well, but more on that in a few days.
Enjoy, both images have been taken the same day and from the same place, one at night the other one in the the morning during a tropical rainstorm.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann- "a rainy day" Chuuk Micronesia

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© Gunther Deichmann - The classroom window...

22nd January 2008

We finally we arrived in Chuuk. Now where is Chuuk…?
Chuuk is located about an hour and 45 min. flying time from Guam and is part of Micronesia, best known for the 2nd World War wrecks which resting now at the bottom of the ocean, the famous Truk Lagoon. Arj my I.T. guy/friend and myself are on assignment for one of our clients the Truk Lagoon Dive Center.

Tuesday 7:30 in the morning during our breakfast I noticed in the restaurant three guys with iBooks and a Mac Book, I thought to myself "wow this is very strange" in a remote place like this to see three Macintosh computers and not including ours in the early morning. Well, the curiosity got the better of me and I approached the breakfast table with the Mac's and started a casual conversation. That’s how I met Clark, Ben and Andy, and found out that Clark is teaching at the local Chuuk public high school using all iBooks in his class. Now I got more curious and during my conversation with Clark I found out that there was a donation of some (10) ten iBooks some time ago. With the support of the Touhy Foundation in Albany, New York, Learning Currents International and the Episcopal Church in Micronesia (ECIM), SHIP obtained 10 iBook computers to use in its education programs.

Clark teaches a group of high school students, some photography, art, communication and English. Clark who is a very dedicated volunteer (see his Bio below) managed to organize these iBooks for the Chuuk Public High School, an amazing task and a great opportunity for these Children in this remote part of the world.
If you see the images you might understand a bit more about this public school, it is guys like Clark who dedicate their life to projects like these with the occasional help from Andy Kerr from Guam who was there this week on a visit to help out.
The local Government and education Dept. don’t seam to care that much, the facts are;
A public high school with 600 children and not enough teachers, only two toilets, most of the time no power and drinking water, hence the children’s Podcast project reflecting the need for water and better facilities.

© Gunther Deichmann - Clark Graham and Andrew Kerr working
with the students on a Podcast





© Gunther Deichmann - Left: the door to Clark's classroom,
note the notices posted by the students.
Right: in one of the corridors at the school... to hot work inside...
...no power/electricity... no water...

Clark invited me for a visit and showed me around, I met the students and was very impressed with their work done on the refurbished second hand iBooks. Producing podcasts and stories to be used and shown to other schools on the island, openly speaking from their heart about their condition at their school and the lack of support from the local education department. Very impressive indeed, and as I discovered later some great talent amongst this group of Students.
Take this example; Clark has to take all the iBooks home everyday for security and get them charged for the next day, he does this at the Truk Stop Hotel since they have reliable power, also the only place in Chuuk with a wi-fi connection and sometimes Clark takes his students there for some learning experience on the net.

Photos courtesy of Clark and Andy -
taken the students to the local Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center,
a strong supporter of this project.

I decided to help out a bit too, so on Friday morning I visited the school again to provide Clarks students some basic Photography lessons which he welcomed and thanked me for it, but then I should thank him for showing me something that not so many people are aware of, another learning experience and a reminder of the "forgotten ones".
A small field trip around the school grounds with the students sharing the only digital Camera available, some evaluation of the images afterwards was appreciated very much by the students. Who knows some of these students could be the next Aperture users in the future I certainly detected a lot of excitement and interest in the visual arts.
We are so blinded by too much technology these days, but here I saw something very beautiful, a group of Children with very little equipment getting some amazing results with just the basic iBook and sharing the only small digital camera patiently amongst each other.

© Gunther Deichmann - top: Outside the classroom,
is it to hot? below: Andy Kerr is helping out with a project.

Thanks to Clark and his endless efforts these Children have been given an opportunity in this remote part of the world, and as Clark explains… if only a handful of them make it then I have achieved something. Clark needs some more help with more basic digital Cameras and iBooks, from the ten donated iBooks 5 went back for repair to Guam with Andy Kerr who is donating his time and knowledge to the forgotten ones. Read more about Andy below, another guy with a good heart and soul.

Photos by Arnold Munoz, thanks Arnold.
GD during his brief photography session

We take things for granted and forget about the children who could use our help and knowledge given them a chance in life, this is what Clark does relentlessly. I take my hat off to Clark and Andy, for giving their precious time and energy to this amazing project, well done guys.
My small contribution for a few hours was only a drop in the ocean, but seeing the students enjoying themselves gave me a great sense of satisfaction and when I return to Chuuk I am only to happy in contributing a lot more. For info on Gunther Deichmann visit his website at: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/
GD

© Gunther Deichmann
More computers... less or no Graffiti on the walls?

Clark Graham:
Came to Micronesia in 1966 with the Peace Corps Volunteer as an ESL teacher and He also ran a dive shop for many years, did underwater phtaught the only secondary Maritime History & Archaeology with students doing submerged cultural resource projects documenting the aircraft and traditional sites in Chuuk.

Since 1989 Clark has been the executive director of the Society for Historic Investigation & Preservation (SHIP), an FSM non-government organization (NGO). SHIP’s purpose is to promoting historic preservation, environmental protection, to educate Micronesians and assist in preserving valuable knowledge and information, encourage pride in the past and use it as a bridge to the future, and use this information to empower young people to live healthy, wise and satisfying lives.

With the support of the Touhy Foundation in Albany, New York, Learning Connections International and the Episcopal Church in Micronesia (ECIM), SHIP obtained 10 iBook computers to use in its education programs.

SHIP choose Apple, specifically iBook laptops, because of it is user friendly, offers excellent software, is rugged and reliable. Garageband, and all, that allows our students to interact easily and positively: they really get excited about learning.

Chuukese people have a high percentage of spatial and visual intelligence and our work with students in audio-visual projects, photography and multi-media activities allows them to achieve this without being proficient in English.

For more information and other disturbing images visit the Blog Site:
http://chuukhighschool.blogspot.com

About Andrew Kerr
Chuuk is one of four volunteer projects for me in Micronesia: Palau, Yap, Guam, Chuuk. All computer-related projects and all dealing with digital equity issues and Palau and Chuuk dealing directly with visual arts as a teaching mechanism (i.e. digital photography).
Andrew (Andy) Kerr, is an eLearning consultant whose clients private and public sector entities in the Asia/Pacific. His background includes 12 years of education and education related activities at the K-12, higher education and adult education levels throughout the US mainland, Pacific and Asia. The work has included distance education (Internet, satellite, video conferencing and hybrid models), instructional design, technology training and integration. Andy is the former Associate Director of the U.S. Department of Education program, the Pacific Regional Technology Education Consortium (PRTEC), and a university instructor, instructional technologist, and technology coordinator. Current projects include technology planning, staff development, and distance learning program implementation. He specializes in working with technology solutions for under-served areas, especially in rural and remote areas with little to no access to modern infrastructure and services.

© Gunther Deichmann
CHS - In the school yard...Chuuk, Micronesia

CHS-Chuuk High School: Chuuk’s oldest public high school located at Wunungenota: an important historic site for the Chuukese people. SHIP-Society for Historic Investigation & Preservation: SHIP an FSM NGO founded in 1989 with the purpose of promoting historic preservation, environmental protection, education, and the empowerment of young people to live healthy, wise and satisfying lives. HOOPS-Helping Ourselves: Outreach Programs in Sports: Offers sports programs and lifestyle education.

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© Gunther Deichmann
Our last night in Palau at the Palau Pacific Resort
the setting Moon at 3:30 AM

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From left to right: Rhea Richardson newly trained and now in charge of operation,
Arnold Munoz, Sam Scott, Dermot Keane and Gunther Deichmann the first day of operation.
All Photos: Hermes Singson

Now back to Sam's Tours:
When we arrived we had to unpack, install and fine tune all the six iMac's including the installation of the additional RAM, oh boy... we though all of it had been done prior shipment but to our surprise well... we had to do it.
Installation of the RAM was easy and went through without a glitch, then we upgraded all the iMac's to Leopard since the operating system was all on Tiger, now that was fine too, however we encountered some real problems in upgrading all six(6) iMac's due to the internet connection, that took us about 3 days to finish.
Then we setup all the external hard drives for a perfect back-up system, not to forgot upgrading Aperture to 1.5.6 which was a little cumbersome, the latest update does not work via the 'Software Update', due to a glitch, we had to get it direct from the Aperture site, and after hours of downloading we were finally up and running.
Sam's Tours made available two staff for the training, Rhea a Filipina and Alex a Polish divemaster are now running the Digital Photo Center, after receiving a crash course on the operating system we went straight to Aperture for the remaining days.
The system at Sam's Tours was set up in such a way that customers can give the Compact Flash (CF) cards after the dive to the DPC and the staff will import the images direct into the database of Aperture.

Setting up time- left : GM Dermot Keane, Sam Scott and Arnold Munoz,
right: Gunther Deichmann and Sam Scott
All photos Hermes Singson, thanks Hermes

Since most of the diver photographers come to Palau for about a week or two, the images are uploaded every day and by the end of the week the staff will prepare a CD/DVD for them to take home.
But now comes the good part, if for what ever reason the customer looses his or her CD/DVD up on returning home, they only have to send an email and request a copy.
This is where Aperture comes in very handy, all images are stored as a project (the project name in this case is the name of the Customer/Diver) as reference files and further backed up again to another drive which is independent.
Customer files are usually kept for about 60 to 90 days, but upon request special arrangements can be made for longer storage, in the DPC two iMac's are set aside for photographer who like to use Aperture themselves, a similar back up and storage system is in place.
All six (6) iMac's are connected in the same network via the Airport Extreme Base Station for file sharing, perfect for photo workshops, we put a lot of emphasis on the back up system, so no matter what happens to your great underwater shots they'll be safe even after you leave Palau.

Aperture installed including your own back up X2
All Photos Hermes Singson, thanks Hermes.

All iMac's are wi-fi connected and have dedicated access to the internet, thanks to Arnold our I.T. guy making the DPC a virtual internet Cafe as well, a Video station is soon to be implemented as well, separate printing via an Epson printer is also available plus external CD/DVD burner with labeling ability.
But there is a lot more... small Canon digital cameras with underwater housings are for rent and some new video cam's are available also, there you have it, diving with Sam's Tours has just gotten a lot better, thanks to the new Digital Photo Center, now you can leave your laptop at home, you are in good hands at Sam's Tours.
To round it up, this is the most complex and efficient Digital Photo Center in Palau, Micronesia, the Pacific and I believe a first in the diving industry, in this part of the world.
Stay tuned for this real great news and info, you won't believe the one from Chuuk Micronesia, the things I came across during my travels....
the title will be "The forgotten ones"
GD

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© Gunther Deichmann - last sun light over the pool at the
Palau Pacific Resort, Micronesia



© Gunther Deichmann - reflection of the "famous shark attack",
the super cocktail at the Palau Pacific Resort, Micronesia
www.deichmann-photo.com

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A continuous Reflection of Excellence (Part 1)
15/01/2008 Sam’s Tours Palau, Micronesia



Photo: Hermes Singson -
Finally... it is done! Gunther Deichmann and Sam Scott

I know I kept everybody in suspense for about a week, as of tonight it is no longer a secret. It is late, I am very tired but it is done and official, a first for Palau, Micronesia and probably in the Pacific and I guess in the diving industry. Sam’s Tours is open for business, a complete Photography-Internet-Digital workstation entirely run on the latest iMac’s loaded with RAM for our photographers and Aperture users.
It doesn't matter if you an amateur or professional, Sam’s Tours is catering for all your needs, like to rent a camera for underwater or above, or a small video cam not a problem.
Our trained staff can assist you after the ‘dive workflow’, show your images to your friends while still on location with a impressive slide show, burn you images on CD/DVD for you to take home. We offer you all the options, do it yourself or let our staff take care of all your images while you wait and enjoy a cold beer at our Bottom Time Bar.

Photo: Hermes Singson-
A very happy Sam Scott from Sam's Tours
with the newly arrived iMac's

All of this is now possible at Sam’s Tours Digital Photoshop, DSL wi-fi internet connection using Airport Extreme, but most impressive is the photo workstations, not only one but six high end iMac computers with all the software you ever going to need.

We have also installed high-end backups so we can always guarantee that your images will be safe and secure with us after each dive or adventure trip in Palau.
In case you loose your CD/DVD, we backup your images for up to 60 days just send us an email and we will burn another copy of your CD/DVD and post it to you.

Photo: Hermes Singson - GD training staff on Aperture

For our professional photographers Aperture is installed and if you not familiar with Aperture, you can always use Bridge or Photoshop Elements.

That’s about it for now, I am very tired and need to get some rest, we follow up with part two in a couple of days, and explain in more details of this unique setup in Palau.
Congratulation to Sam’s Tours!
Please stay tuned for more in depths details in my next blog, by the way our commercial shoot at the Palau Pacific Resort is also completed, some more training in the next few days for the staff at Sam’s Tours on the Leopard operating system and of course Aperture, we should be all sweet by the weekend before we proceed to Chuuk (Truk Lagoon)

Five of the six workstations at Sam's Tours Palau

Special thanks to Apple Singapore and the Power Mac Center Manila, for the support in this project, thanks to my staff Hermes and Arnold for the very long working hours in completing this job. Thanks to Dermot Keane the GM from Sam's Tours for all his help and assistance.
GD

Please stay tuned for part two. (2) or subscribe to our Blog at: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html

Gunther Deichmann's website: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

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Clue: It's Simply Digital!

You have 3 days to figure this one out, please send your e-mail to: info@samstours.com

Note:
Sam’s Tours staff, Gunther Deichmann and Team, family members and close associates are not allowed to participate. Sorry guys.

© Gunther Deichmann - one morning at the
Palau Pacific Resort

Our shoot at the Palau Pacific Resort is coming along fine; due to some rain the last few days we have decided to extend our stay a few extra days before traveling to Chuuk (Truk Lagoon). At least we dont have to rough it like the Survivor Palau Micronesia which had been recently filmed in this great part of the world, we have the comfort of the Palau Pacific Resort, the staff and management has been absolutely fantastic, when you plan your trip to Palau, I recommend you stay at the Palau Pacific Resort and dive with Sam’s Tours, the best of the best in Palau..
Next week starting the 13th I be reporting direct from Sam’s Tours from where we will fire up our big surprise. Then things will be very different at Sam’s concerning … opps… I almost slipped and let the cat out of the bag.

Our next blog with the announcement will be in the evening on the 15th. 01. 2008
GD

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Wow, I found a great connection today, I am back to my normal self, well almost. The above image is part of Aperture, set on Maximize Viewer, with a bunch of images taken during our stay and commercial shoot at the Palau Pacific Resort, Mandara Spa area. (check out the blog from the 08 01 08, our first from Palau)

Above is my typical Hotel setup, MacBook Pro with two Lacie 160-Gig Rugged Hard drives, make sure if you go out and buy these drives that they have a triple interface, they also come with USB only, I love this setup, daisy chain the two drives with fire wire 800 and use the fire wire 400 to go to the Mac Book Pro. (A, B) The drive marked with A is where all my reference Aperture files go, the B is only for backing up drive A via the simple SilverKeeper software from Lacie, (if you purchase the drives the software comes with it) C is my high speed fire wire 800 Card reader, this one goes direct to the fire wire 800 outlet on the Mac Book Pro. You can also do it the other way around, daisy chain with 400 fire wire and use the 800 fire wire out let on your Mac Book Pro. This way we can upload all day our Cards with out having to worry and running out of storage space, it is advisable to connect your computer to the outlet since both fire wire Lacie drives take the power of your machine, however I have used this system in the field without the luxury of a hotel and this works fine for just two hours.
In cases like these it is a good idea to carry an extra battery or make sure you near a place where you can charge your computer.
My client ask me the other day if they could look at some of the images we have taken so far, well I said no problem lets use your conference room, setup the projector and I run an Aperture slide show with music from iTunes, it is that simple.
GD

SilverKeeper software from Lacie, comes with the hard drives.
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Did the last Survivors camp in this room???
The only thing I can tell you for now it is at Sam's Tours Palau.


Now what has this room got to do with Photography and Aperture, real messy... for now. You find out everything very soon either on the 14 or 15th of January, yes, yes I know I am driving everybody mad with all this suspense... but dont you worry it is worth the wait, hey only a few more days.

Gunther's website: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

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© Gunther Deichmann, Palau Pacific Resort, Micronesia


© Gunther Deichmann, Aerial of the
Palau Pacific Resort, Micronesia

© Gunther Deichmann, Mandara Spa
Palau Pacific Resort, Jan. 2008

The connection is not the greatest, I have been trying for the past few days, well that is life in the Pacific, but we managed to get this one out. As you know we are in Palau, that is my trusted Assistant Hermes and myself, we are on a commercial shoot for the Palau Pacific Resort or better known as PPR, I keep this blog short and sweet since our connection speed is not so fast.
The shoot is coming along just fine and in a few days I be able to bring you some Aperture tips as well, oh boy with out Aperture I be still messing around, how fast and easy commercial shoot have become, even the delivery of images direct to the client on site.
Anyway more in a few days and remember our big announcement due between the 14 and 15th of Jan., yes that one will be big, so stay tuned.
The image above is from the Mandara Spa located right here at the Palau Pacific Resort, now who says surviving in Palau is so difficult?
Until soon,
GD

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© Gunther Deichmann - cruising the spectacular Rock islands inPalau Micronesia

Between the 5th and 12th of Jan. we are at the Palau Pacific Resort for a major commercial shoot, I am sending out the occasional blog from there, with tips on Aperture on location, but not related to the other Big Event. However after the commercial shoot we get started and prepare for the big announcement, just hang in there we let you know soon enough..., I know I am really bad with my suspense and the only thing I can give a way at the moment, great News for Photographers visiting Palau after the 16th of January.

© Gunther Deichmann - the famous ship wrecks of Truk Lagoon, Chuuk, Micronesia

After the 16th of Jan. I am leaving with my web master for Chuuk (Truk Lagoon) the world famous wreck diving destination in the pacific, for more photography and to set up a new website for our client, back in Manila around the 24th of Jan.
Some more interesting News and information by the end of Feb. from Bali Indonesia, again very much Apple/Mac related, more on this project later.
Happy New Year.
GD

Live from Manila, sorry no sound, if I had included that your sound system would have blown up.
Happy New Year. 12:30 Am 2008!