Pictures taken with a Kodak Digital Camera Optical Zoom Lens Feature

Introduced in 1982, the "CD" or "Compact Disc" was the first major change to the way we hear and listen to music in decades. A lighter, sleeker design that streamlined and "compacted" music storage which increased our capacity to buy more recordings from our favorite performers & artisits. Prior to it's invention we were relegated to audio pleasures via the larger more clumsy non illuminating "LP" or "VINYL" record.

As we all know, playing the "Album" was certainly an experience in itself. Carefully removing the record from it's comfortable cocoon, handling it gingerly with extreme care while expressing eager inner anticipation, trying to avoid finger prints or the ever looming scratch which could ultimately render the molded plastic masterpiece impotent, to be summoned forever into the abyss of hiccupping hymns.

Once we successfully removed the LP from decorative sleeve, we carefully rotated the awkward 33 in a random circular motion to try and line up the tiny hole in the middle with a small protrusion on the turntable, and once they were aligned, it was like magic. The LP descended a quarter inch and came to rest on a soft velvety cushion, to await the phonograph needle.

The Record was now primed for decibel emission. So you reached over to grasp the tiny handle on the arm with your thumb & index finger, removed the safety latch, and performed one more essential delicate task before the symphony began. Lint inspection and removal. You then placed the opposite index finger gently onto the needle point and slowly removed any entrapped fuzz or other debris which could indeed cause a major catastrophic event, the "Running of the Grooves". This occurred when the stereo needle had accumulated a substantial buildup and the end result could have been a malfunctioning playback, when the needle could not recognize or cling to the microscopic vinyl grooves, and instead of listening to a rock n' roll spectacular the fine point just slid from the beginning of song number one all the way through the entire play list without even the slightest vocal chirp, resulting in an amplified rapid swoosh across the entire LP which could be heard for blocks.

But those days are gone forever, or are they? There seems to be a reemergence and renewed interest in the old vinyl LP's. The apparent longing for a non perfect crackling fidelity audio experience is evident.

Recently I was watching one of my favorite cable music channels when the host introduced a guest and prefaced it by saying "And this incredible rock legend has a new "ALBUM" out ". So it's still unclear as to whether or not this newly found yearning is for fleeting nostalgic reasons or a more permanent trend, I guess we'll have to just wait and see how it plays out.

In any event, the CD without a hitch, has become seamlessly integrated as our essential music storage disc and the standard by which all future enhancements will be measured. How will it be tweaked and improved upon? Smaller with more music storage capacity? Thinner with more music storage capacity? Smaller and thinner with more music capacity? I think it's probably safe to wager on all of the above.

There is only one enormous favor I shall ask of all my fellow technology geek's throughout the universe. Make whatever changes are required in the future to provide an enhanced audio experience, but please for the sake of creative expression, do not change the perfectly reflective plastic material makeup.

We need to preserve the fine art of "CD Photography" -

<> Tribute to all the surfers who are an integral part of the California fabric & lifestyle -

<> Tribute to my favorite Sultry Pop Rock Dynamo "Pink" -

<> Tribute to all my Family, Friends & Acquaintances -

<> Tribute to NASA and the Space Shuttle Missions that spanned many decades which have produced a wealth of new scientific knowledge -

<> Last but certainly not least - A tribute to the "Hub Pages" Community -

• All of the above photos were taken with a Kodak M580 Digital Camera equipped with an Optical Zoom Lens. Very user friendly and relatively affordable, complete with standard features you would find in a more expensive model. Price Point is $100 - $150 and In my opinion the picture quality is very good to excellent. A complete review will be published in a future article.

I hope you enjoyed my mini "Art Gallery". Created with the assistance of a Kodak M580 Digital Camera.

^{<> The images that appear on this page have not been edited, altered, or enhanced in any way <> The photos were taken then uploaded directly from my camera to this site <>}