TimFreeland.com

What started out as a weekly "meeting of the minds" for lunch at the Rueb n' Stein in downtown Northfield turned into a series of strategic planning meetings for a uniquely ingenious business concept.  Tim Freeland and Adam Gurno have teamed up to launch a mostly web-based company that turns old photos and any video into a custom tailored presentation for any event, set to your choice of music and fully personalized to please. 

"We really seemed to click and had unique talents that fit together perfectly," said Tim.  "We found a shared interest in entrepreneurial endeavors and quickly agreed that the path to success was to include the latest technology and had to be driven by an online presence."

The concept of their business includes taking old and new photos and video relevant to a certain person or event, for example, and artistically weaving them together  into one flowing presentation, all to the beat of your chosen musical soundtrack.  Using their own experiences along with the latest video and digital photography software, they are able to enhance, fix, alter, blend and direct the content together in ways that tell a story. 

"Tim had skills with business management, video production, advertising, sales, video archiving and photo restoration while I had experience with building online web site systems, multi-media software, video editing, artistic direction as well as working with the local Northfield Citizens Online (NCO) group and running Northfield.org," explained Adam.

Adam received experience over the years helping graduating seniors put together presentations that would be played over and over during their parties, while Tim has similar experience first with his own wedding photo slide show that was played at his reception, leading to various requests to build similar presentations for other weddings.  The customer is able to submit almost anything they wish from old photos that Moving Photos can scan, to old VHS tapes that are converted to digital for editing into the show. 

The overall flow and mood of the presentation can be decided by the customer and made possible through the companies software and personal know-how.  Music is added along with various special effects, titles, wording, transitions and more.  Tim and Adam work closely to ensure the final product is perfect.  Once a photo show is approved, a CD, DVD, computer file (pdf), VHS or online versions are all available.  The show can be played through a DVD player,either in a small room or up on a movie screen.  For larger shows, Tim and Adam set up the big screen and handle all the details of projecting the presentation and monitoring the audio volume.  This full service feature makes the value of their product offerings attractive to many users. In addition, customers are given an online version through a link that can be emailed to friends and family around the world (similar to YouTube).

Our shows are ideal for any of the following:

• Birthday's
• Graduation parties
• Corporate events
• Business presentations
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• Dedications
• Funerals
• Family reunions
• Family albums
• Any event banquet
• Highlight shows
• And more...

Visit us at MovingPhotos.org to view sample shows and pricing information.

Hayes Scriven contacted me a week ago exited over the corn tortilla chip that he found featuring the likeness of the great state of Minnesota.  Being a connoisseur of fine Minnesota shapes, I was pumped (see my Flickr collection of MN shapes, blog on the eastern Minnesota boarder, or blog on my Minnesota shape collection).

So, I put up this auction.  We had a bid right away.  Sweet.  We were already trying to decide what to do with the profits of this auction.  Surely there was some Minnesota-shape-cult out there (one I might join) willing to pay big bucks for this act of Boreaus-God kindness. 

But, on the last day, we were still at .99 cents.  Hayes emailed me telling me that he'd rather eat it than sell it for a buck.  I was fretting having to pack the thing and ship it, so I pulled it down, canceling the one bid.  I soon found out that the bid was that of Adam Gurno, our friend.  Good one Adam. 

Today the Twins went 5-0 in their 5 game home stand sweeping my current two least favorite rival teams, the White Sox and The Tigers.  We all know that it's only a matter of time before Detroit turns it around and ends up on top, but let's enjoy our day in the lime-light with a 1.5 game lead of the Central.  Now that I have blogged this, I have some reference to come back to later in the season when we are not on top.  Am I cynical?  Maybe a little...but this is just too good to be true given the more established talent in our division.  Maybe the ownership and management of the Twins know something that we don't.  Let's hope so.   Many said "I'll have to see" when the season began.  Could this be a pleasant surprise to rival the 2006 Twins? 

I had my first experience with "cattle handling" this weekend.  On Saturday was the 2nd annual "Healthy Kids Day" at the Northfield Middle School.  The event was great for both kids and adults with plenty of entertainment, activities and free stuff for all.  The cow, "Patty Cash" of the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) drew many high-fives, hand shakes, hugs and photos as we strolled around and handed out "Patty Cash's Top 10 Things To Do With Your Kids Downtown Northfield" fliers.

I promise, this is not meant to be sac-religious at all.  I came up with the cleaver idea last DJJD and thought I would mass produce a tee-shirt for the 2008 event.  The problem is that I don't know which version to print.  Please comment below and let me know which you like best or provide your own idea.  The font, cowboy graphic and copy is not final.  Please respect my creative ownership.  Thanks to Adam Gurno for a few of the tag lines.

....leave the Youngers at home next time

...probably shoot you in the head

...take up fishing next time

...probably skip Northfield next time

I found this one in a pile of old VHS tapes last night.  I was pretty pumped to  see me in a jump suit, mullet, shop glasses and some brown "boat shoes".  I could help but to appreciate the graphical capabilities we had to work with back then.  I can't remember what class I shot this for but I do recall Mrs Hard letting me work overtime on various projects in the media centers production room.  It probably helped train me to be the video-heavy blogger that I am today. 

I apologize in advance.  This is really boring. 

Click here to read the Northfield News story on this week's rail mishap and click the photo below to watch a slide show of photos that I shot today.

What do they use to catch the Ether bunny?  The Ethernet.  ha ha ha ha. 

Ok.  Next subject.  Where in the world did the concept of an Easter bunny come from?  And what do eggs have to do with salvation through Jesus.  I've been to oh....33 Easter services in my life.  I do recall a few Pastors discussing this topic in great detail.  It's not an easy one with kids, because we have to skirt the whole tooth-fairy, Santa tales while emphasizing the truths of Christian believes.  It's difficult for many adults to grasp the Christian resurrection and eternal salvation let alone kids doing so.

Regardless...a good time was had by all.

Finally I have done it.  The wife was away today so I set my brand new Sony DSC-H9 camera on top of my tripod and started to film some of my magic effects.  The very first one is a floating bill.  Very awesome trick.  I've been studying and performing magic for 15 years now.  I always say "I do the cool magic...not the stuff you see on stage, like with doves and magic assistants".  I think a lot of magicians give the art a bad name by being super-corny.  If you've seen David Blaine or street magicians, that's more my style.  My magic is close-up, interactive and in your hands.  It's perfect for trade shows, parties, happy hours, etc.  I work best when I can float around and mingle with small groups so that everyone can be involved.

Last weekend I did a show in Faribault for the "Health Finders" fund raiser.  There was a great picture of myself in the daily paper.  Thanks Pauline & Paula (reporter and publisher).  Click here to see my blog on it.  

Enjoy the video

I learned this technique from Mozart.  Well..from the Amadeus Mozart film.  Take a song you know well, lay upside and cross your arms.  Then just play as normal.  It really works.  Looks like your some prodigy, but it's really easy.  Check out the video below.

My daughter Rylie is five and a half years old.  I recall picking her up from the nursery when she was a new born and getting anxious as I did so.  I always got so exited to see Rylie again, after being at work all day.  Well, it still happens.  I get so exited as I drive to pick her up from the Northfield Montessori every day.  I'm always exited to give her a hug again.

Rylie has always run to me when I pick up.  When she was smaller she would run and jump and I would pick her up and throw her...as you might see in the movies.  It's awesome.  She has always made a scene that catches the interest of the other kids.  It's gotten to the point where they all tell Rylie when I'm walking in the door so they can see what she does.  Recently, she's had a fist full of drawn pictures for me, all of what have "I love you Dad" written on them.  I've collected them all.  I need a bigger box to keep them all.  I decided to run my camera last week as I picked up.  Here's a sample of the experience. 

One of my worst takes ever.  But, I was too tired to re-try.  I also wimped out and skipped over 2 solo's.  Anyways...here I am.  Playing on my new Yamaha Portable Digital Grand YPG-625.

I grew up with this Northfield Raider mascot on everything.   It was on the basketball courts, painted through out the schools, on our jerseys, etc.  It wasn't until I was a junior or senior in high school did I think to question what it was or what it symbolized.  I actually didn't put two and two together about a "Raider" referring to the James gang that raided our town in 1876.  But why is he depicted of Asian decent?  Who came up with this guy?  There's got to be some history out there about this.  Please let me know if you have any guesses or actual historical background. 

I could only find this version of the Raider.  I believe the school decided a few years ago to remove his sword.  I've drawn it back in here.  Of course, the original version didn't included a basketball either.  Note: The original Raider-Swordsman has both hands up at shoulder level, holding the huge sword over his right shoulder.  Without my little drawing example, and the addition of the basketball, it would be hard to envision the original Raider emblem.

Finally, does anyone know what the high school year book's name means?  "Norhian"?  I have a guess but want to see what people think.

The photos on the left and right are of my friend Todd Melgren taken in 2006 when he turned 30, I believe.  The middle is of the infamous outlaw Cole Younger taken in 1876 after the raid.  I'm trying to find a photo of Todd looking straight on, but I thinking the resemblance is uncanny.  Maybe it's not right on, but it will be when Todd is in his 50's.