HOW I DO AGE PROGRESSION PORTRAITS by D'Lynn Waldron ©07 There is no software that will age-progress a photo in either a scientifically accurate or artistically realistic way. I am a classically trained portrait artist who has studied the medical forensics of aging. I have been a developer of computer technology for the arts since the 1984 Mac. I use a high end Mac, 30-inch cinema displays and most important a Wacom pressure sensitive tablet with a digital stylus that is used like a traditional brush I now prefer digital technology to conventional media for most artwork. ( I also use my computer to edit my videos of symphony orchestras using Final Cut Pro and that in finitely superior to a Moviola and opticals for effects) I am a third-generation conventionally trained artist. My portraits were first published in a book when I was 22 in 1959. During my travels to such then remote places as the Cambodian jungle, the Himalaya Mountains and the Congo River, I worked in fine line pen & ink and watercolor (examples of this work are on my Web site.) I originally gave away all my watercolor portraits to the subjects until The Chenya Lama signed his portrait and handed it back to me advising I must keep some of my artwork. He was right and that watercolor portrait is in the British edition of my book. I later became principally a photographer and I was one of the first photographers with the worldwide agency, The Image Bank. I began doing age-progressed portraits when an advertising agency asked if I could do such a thing for a cosmetics company, because I had already done some medical illustrations related to effects of aging on the skin. In doing age progressed portraits, I begin with the bone structure and then build the muscles over it using highlight and shadow in much the same way I would build up volume with clay in sculpting. Then I do the eyes, skin and hair. The appearance of aging is determined by many factors including: Genetics ~ Lifestyle ~ Health ~ Personality ~ Environment ~ Gravity's cumulative effects Whenever I can, I work from as much information as possible about the person, family and ancestors. I try to show in the eyes and the set of the mouth, the personality and perhaps just bit of the soul.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that Republican John McCain was "losing his bearings" for repeatedly suggesting the Islamic terrorist group Hamas preferred Obama for president. That brought an angry response from McCain's campaign, which accused Obama of trying to make an issue of McCain's age. Age is a touchy subject for McCain, who turns 72 in August and would be the oldest person to be sworn in as president if elected. The two senators have focused more intently on one another in recent weeks as Obama has moved closer to becoming the Democratic nominee. Thursday's back and forth between Obama and surrogates for both candidates foreshadowed a likely argument for the fall campaign.

"He used the words 'losing his bearings' intentionally, a not-particularly-clever way of raising John McCain's age as an issue," McCain adviser Mark Salter said. "It is more than fair to raise this quote about Senator Obama, because it speaks to the policy implications of his judgment."

"Clearly, losing one's bearings has no relation to age," he said. Thus far, Democrats have been careful not to mention McCain's age, at least not directly.

...Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton who a few weeks ago said the rigors of running the country is too much for guys their age. "Let me tell you something, it's no old man's job," Murtha, 75, told a union audience. In response, McCain told CNN: "All I can tell you is that I admire and respect Jack Murtha. Speak for yourself, Jack. I'm doing fine. Thanks."

This handy table gives the basic info for Arizona judicial selection. Arizona, of course, is the make-believe state that corrupt presidential candidate John McCain, 71, represents in Congress. But how can WALNUTS! be president, or senator, or really anything important, when he’s legally too old to serve on Arizona’s supreme court? That is a far less important position than president of bombs, which he is actively seeking. Arizona law realizes that John McCain’s senility will soon give way to death. Why can’t McCain supporters?

Dan Schawbel is the leading expert on personal branding for the Generation-Y audience. He is also the first Social Media Specialist at EMC Corporation and has accumulated almost 7 years in marketing at the age of 24.