that a bang up car lol wonder how people live thought things like that. real good shots here

You sure put together a fascinating collage here!!!! And about that image-size issue...i think ive straightened up at least a bit, LOL. At least now whenever i post a photo i try to compress it as much as possible without loosing to much quality. Earlier i always tried to stay just under the 500-limit. And for that i have you to thank #:o) Good luck with that Pulitzer!!!! And have a great sunday #:o)

So very true about what you wrote there eg.... I usually try to size my images at around an 8x6 @ 72dpi. File sizes are typically less than 200kb depending on how I optimize the image. ANyhoo- on the photo- some good images there to show reality.

Kia Ora! Toitu he kianga; whatungarongaro he tangata....Aotearoa :]

Intersting series of images here. Goods shots! Very well done!!!

oh no not size issues lm lost already.. technical bimbo..dunno if we have the size problem in the uk..with connections..Egmont youve lost me hahaha,..well.. l never trust a man who say theres is over 10x8.. superb montage and full of action.. love the composition.. glad no one was hurt... hugssss:)...)

fantastic collage !

I look forward to the posting. The info sounds very important. As to having a camera at all times, ever since our sons started driving, we keep a disposable one in each vehicle in case of an accident for insurance purposes.

You make a very good comment here, Nancy AKA: Liminaa. Having a disposalble camera in the glove compartment only helps to clearify any unfortunate situation that might arise, having learned this myself many years ago. I wish you good luck with your sons learning to drive as I find myself in the same situation this summer with our son and daughter. ;~0

I figured your title had to do with the damage to the little car compared to the damage on the truck! Good luck with those driving lessons - I've recently survived teaching both our son and daughter how to drive! Great idea about the camera in the car!

looking forward to it

Master piece demonstration, Egmont : you show us how to upload very crisp shots without a lot of memory : you are very skilled :)) On the other point (having always your camera with you) I mainly agree, except on the topic you show us as an example :)) Sorry, but I NEVER shot this kind of scene and i will NEVER do it. Otherwise, I would feel like beeing a shark .. but I guess it was not your recommandation : it was just an example, isn't it ?

yes i live in southern califonia too and see this kinda thing way too much .. boy you could show this to the times... i bet it would sell.. fantastic coloage and shots .. brilliant work here!! wow .. i hope those people are ok....

Dear Chantal, the contact sheet sited here is to demonstrate that one should be prepared for anything. By no means do I go out to seek these kinds of images, only to demonstrate that even a beautiful sunset or magnificent light upon a bridge would be missed if we did not have our camera about. Yet I would also add that images captured during the 9-11 aftermath or any unpleasant conflict or situation are important for their historical significance. So when we are confronted with a disaster, it becomes necessary to help those in need first, but also to record the event. The person that comes to mind who was best at this, was Weegee, a tabloid photographer from the 1940's and his work is available to be seen in a resent publication by Phaidon, ISBN 0-7148-4224-9. Another photographer who recorder some incredible images was Robert Capa. Also available from Phaidon, ISBN 0-7148-4449-7. Both books were released just recently.

Ouch. Interesting story.

Now I'm curious..... you didn't encounter any resistance from the emergency workers of police when you stopped on the highway to take these pics? I'd be afraid of having someone yell at me! :~) You've got good taste in photographers.... I have always admired photojournalists..... and let's not forget the war photographers risking their lives.... sigh

I was speaking with Melissa AKA: M Moriati today on the very subject matter you are addressing of encountering resistance from public officials. The answer is no. As you can see by the bottom left image, I am photographing the Battalion Fireman and Fire Chief. It is how one approaches the situation. If one stops to think of what to do, one appears of not belonging there. Move about with confidence and certainty. Know what your after and go for it as if it is what you do in situations like this. Confidence in your own ability and knowing what you want is the key. Move like a dancer among the people, never stopping to look or engage in conversation. Be like the wind and ones success rate of achieving in capturing the images will be high. One must also remember to stay clear of MET, police and fireman doing their work, but also be their shadow. As for those who make a living at capturing images of conflict and wars, they make the ultimate sacrifice in getting the image. If memory serves me correctly, over 80 photo-journalists died last year cover stories through out the world in violent situations. Though it is of their choosing, I have great respect for these men and women who try to move like the wind, unseen and without bias among situations must of us cannot even begin to imagine.

It is a must to carry your camera for insurrance purpose too. Some will not admit for being wrong, but a camera doesn't lie. Aloha

Interesting composition and proof sheet.. we used to call them contacts in the bad old film days :-) Another interesting aspect of 'image size' .. I have several image editors.. I have found that each uses a different algorithm to save a jpg resulting in images whose kb size varies by as much as 50% from one to the other without any discernable difference in quality. Interesting, no.

i do!! always have my cam with me... you must appear most confident!! :]

fine reportage work and yep, always do..:)

ouch, big crash, super reportage!!

Great series of photos of the aftermath of this accident. I agree with you, file sizes should be kept to the minimum possible that still provides an artifact free photo. I am fortunate enough to be able to preview it while working in PhotoshopCS, so know when that point is reached. For others, it might be harder. Still, it is something to consider. I've got a 56K at home so don't visit RO much when I'm there. I almost always have my camera with me...I just hope my using it doesn't cause an accident! ;) In the FL heat, I don't think a disposable would last long in my glove compartment. ;o]

Wow. What an accident. How can it be, that the cars look like that. They are only allowed to drive with 90 km/h. In Germany many people drives more than 200 km/h ( on the Highway) and mostly the cars dont look like that after an accident. To the size Problem. Well, I think, its better to wait a short time for a piture in a good quality than wait no time for a picture with many kompresionartefacts. Even with my 64k connection I think its better to wait a bit. For that. Many greetings from Germany

what a crash! cool presentation and you are right! take the cam with you and you get the sea lions! LOL to the size I must say if there is a capture posted in size for 1280 x 1024 screen it really is to large because the one with smaller screens have no idea about the unit of the shot! they have to scroll and view parts! better to increase it to a screen of 1024 x 768! for the images I use mostly a size of 930 x 650 and 90 - 150 kb, depending on postwork! the more postwork on frame and image the more kb! tell me if it is ok for a slow connection and if it is useful for all screen sizes? ;o)))

Amazing series of shots. Glad everyone walked away OK.

Sigh.... in CA, people always rush for no where, and they think they are pro race drivers. They never consider the consequence. I encounter this from time to time.

excellent reportage

I have often provided a small free program to many friends that can make larger pictures more acceptable and user friendly. Just a suggestion maybe webmasters should post smaller compact pics with an alternate link to view the large more 'pixelled' photo for the person who really needs the larger size. (Not quite as small as the thumbnail version just more compact) Thanks for some outstanding photo work!

You bring up a good point about file size. Being a professional multimedia person, I am always looking at better techniques to manage file sizes. Having said that, it all depends on the image! Black and white, or monochrome images get the best compression because it takes less palette (Bit) slots to describe a gradation. Where full color image eat up terrible amounts of data. Your image has surprisingly lots of black and gray, and therefore compress's wonderfully 200K. If it were predominately the full color spectrum, it would not compress as well. The there are "Compression artifacts", I can't stand them, and never post an image that suffers from over compression. Even when I was using a 56K modem, I still would have rather waited loner for upload, than to see someone post an over compressed image. The key, is to strike the best balance between the two. I like this thread, and look forward to your tips!