I need three people to contact me...

Three very specific people.

If you shoot any of the following cameras and feel like taking on a (small) assignment drop me an email.

1. Nikon D60

2. Nikon D3000

3. Canon XSi

Yes I am being vague, but there is a reason (that will be explained later).

And lastly, I know I promised you JoeyL today but things got away from me (called a daughter with mono), so it will be tomoorow instead.

Thanks for understanding.

Joining our Flickr Group...

I have received a number of emails and comments from folks that can't figure our how to upload images to our Flickr Group and as it's part of the contest for this month I want to make sure it's fair to everyone. Plus, I want to see your images.

The first thing you will do is follow this link to our Flickr page. Once there you will see two places (links) that you can use to Join our group (see the screen shot below). To join the group you will need a Flickr account, if you don't have a Flickr account you will need to create one.


Once your request to join our group is approved (which will only take a few hours) you can return to our Flickr page and submit images (see the screenshot below for the "add photos" link).

I hope that helps, if you still have questions do not hesitate to contact us and we will do what we can to get you up and running.

For easier viewing simply click on either image will open them larger and in a new window.

Thinking of coming o Maine?...

As many of you know Scott Kelby was here in Maine a few weeks ago and we had the pleasure of taking him on a "photo tour".

Being hospitable is not a service reserved for the "famous", if you are planning a trip to Maine please let us know, though we may not be able to give everyone a personalized tour, at the very least we will be happy provide a list (and links) to cool places to shoot, stops you won't want to miss, and great restaurants to eat at. Just let us know you are coming.

Maine (and New England in general) is a beautiful place to visit and is geographically compact so you can go from the ocean, to the country, then on to the city in a short drive.

Here are a couple resources for visiting Maine (here and here) and here is another for New England. Hopefully it will tempt you to head in our direction.

Be sure to come back tomorrow when we'll be spending some time with Joey Lawrence.

Who wants a David Honl DVD?...

Our contest this month is for the two DVD set from David Honl, "Light".

It's an educational lighting DVD that will walk you through nine different shooting scenarios, all lit with small strobes (hot shoe flashes), some lit with as few as one.

You can read the entire DVD review here.

To be eligible for the drawing you need to do two things between now and the end of the month (9/30/10):

1. Leave a comment on any of our posts.

2. Upload a favorite image you have shot to our Flickr Group with a sentence (or two) about why it's among your favorites.

For those of you who have already left comments since the first of September, if you upload an image to Flickr you will be in the running too.

For those wondering, all rights and ownership of any image you upload will remain with you and you alone. Period.

You can enter as many times as you like, for each comment and image combination you submit your name will be entered into our September contest.

Looking forward to reading your comments and seeing your images.

Good luck everyone.

It finally happened...

I've shot at a bunch of weddings (including 2 this weekend) and many have been beautiful, touching events. But never had I been emotional (AKA "something in my eye").

Well, at the reception of yesterdays wedding the father of the bride got up to toast the couple and started talking about his love for his daughter, how on the day she was born she wrapped her tiny fingers around one of his, then went on to talk about important events in her life (first day at school, riding a bike, etc.) when she was nervous or afraid and how putting her hand in his would comfort her and give her strength.

Each of the moments he shared was both touching and beautiful, then he started... "and now the day has come when I have to take your hand from mine and place in gently into the hand of your husband..."

The guests were crying, the wait staff was crying... even I had "something in my eye".

The above image is of a rose that was in the brides bouquet. I shot it with a Nikon 60mm Micro (macro) 2.8 lens. I wanted just the edges of the petals closest to the lens in focus and the focus on the rest of the flower to fall off.

Fate...

It's the weekend, a time when I sometimes go waaaaay off topic (from Photography).

This video affirms that sometimes there is more than chance at play, sometimes fate happens.

Subscribers will need to return to the blog to watch this video as it does not get pushed through, sorry.

One more sale NOT to miss...

I normally would have held this post for next week but by then it would be too late!

My friends over at V Gallery (Vicki & Jed Taufer) just emailed me that they are having a 50% off EVERYTHING Labor Day sale (ending September 6th).

We have reviewed a few of their products including our pick for the 2009 product of the year, "The Evolution Collection with FLO", and everything you need to add pet photography to your studio, "Unleashed".

You can read our reviews for both here (Evolution Collection) and here (Unleashed).

Be sure to use the promo code "LD2010" to get half off everything you purchase.

Happy shopping and have a safe holiday weekend.

CoffeeCup slideshow software for only $19...

If you are looking for slideshow software CoffeeCup software is offering "Photo Gallery" for just $19.

I bought it and can tell you it's powerful AND easy to use.

The only thing is the sale is for a short time only (I believe it ends in a week), so you can learn more about Photo Gallery here (including some sample slideshow), check out the video tutorials here, and use this link to order it at the discounted price here.

If you want to take it for a test run just to make sure, a free trial is available here.

Please, please, please read this...

If you love photography and are looking for educational opportunities, this post is a must read.

I have been getting a bunch of emails lately, some looking for where to find photography courses and others looking for camera clubs in their area (if I haven't responded your email yet I will, I promise).

The theme for all the emails have been pretty consistent, they are looking to bring their photography to the "next level".

I can't begin to tell you how many books, DVD's, and courses have come to us for review over the last 5 years and there are two that are head and shoulders above the rest.

So if you want to take your camera off "P", if you want to be comfortable shooting in manual, and if you want to control the light instead of being controlled by it then right these down.

There are two things I would recommend (strongly urge) you do before anything else. ANYTHING ELSE.

First, I would buy the "Strobist Lighting Seminar DVD Box Set", an 8 DVD 2 day seminar from David Hobby. You can read my (glowing) review here and buy it over at Midwest Photo Exchange for $139.

Second, I would head over to Creative Live and download the 2 1/2 day seminar "Studio Photography" taught by Zack Arias for $129 (my review is here).

I could ramble on about what is so great about these two products, but it would a re-hash of the original reviews, so take a minute to read them for in-depth product details (David Hobby here and Zack Arias here).

These will do more than take your photography to "the next level", they will shoot you over the mountain and leave your sprawled on the other side.

It will have you saying things about lighting ratios that will leave your photography friends dumbfounded and wanting to know if you can teach an upcoming class at the camera club.

;)

Seriously, these are the best educational opportunities available out there, I promise, and having them on DVD will give you the chance to watch, re-watch, stop, pause, and study anything you want at times convenient for you.

That's my 2 cents... and your $268.

Hey Chance, you won too!...

All too often we see the "less than admirable" side of people, especially as displayed on the glut of "reality" shows on TV.

Yesterday we announced the winner of our latest contest and a person who didn't win left a comment congratulating the person who did.

I know, I know, no big deal.

Well, it kinda is, at least to me.

It's a breath of fresh air to see people being courteous, acting civily, and being happy for the good fortune of others.

So Chance, you too are a winner, and to reward your kind and gracious behavior we are going to send you a 80/20 flash modifier and the book "Flash, The Most Available Light" both from LumiQuest.

Email us your snail mail address and your package will be on its way.

Congratulations Chance.

The winner is (drum roll please)...

The winner of the Scott Kelby DVD (and workbook) "Photo Recipes Live: Behind the Scenes" is Tera Kinnane.

Tera's name was drawn (randomly) from the over 300 entries.

Congratulations to Tera and a big thank you to all that took the time to enter.

Tera, if you drop me an email with your snail mail address I will get your prize package mailed out to you.

The images that accompany this post belong to Tera, you can see even more of her work by visiting her blog and her Flickr page.

(clicking on any image will open it larger and in a new window)

Review of BongoTies...

The first time I saw a picture of BongoTies my first thought was, "that looks like a cool idea" but it wasn't until I received mine last week that I truly fell in love!

They happened to arrive on the same day we had to pack up all kinds of gear for a remote shoot, so I broke open the box and started organizing our bazillion cables and cords. From 50 foot heavy duty extension cords to small 6 inch PC Sync cables.

That was the day I came upon our new cable management system, BongoTies.

In the past I have used things like Velcro wraps but they collect dust and dirt, catch at inopportune times, and tend to be a bit pricey.

You can get a ten pack of BongoTies for less than $5 (here and here).

And they can be used for a lot more than cable organization, search YouTube and you will be surprised at the number of different applications (I was).

They even come packaged in their own (ziplock) carrying case.

Are you picking up that I like them? They get two thumbs way up from me.

One of our lucky readers will love them as well as BongoTies will be included in a future prize package.

A photography show you can't miss!...

Tonight (on many PBS stations) you can watch "At Close Range with National Geographic" which follows the exploits of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore.

This originally ran a couple years back but really is timeless and if you want to see some stunning imagery, a peak behind the scenes of National Geographic photography assignments, and meet a truly interesting man, you really really want to watch this.

He tells a FANTASTIC story about photographing wolves in Yellowstone that you won't want to miss. There is also an image at the very end of the show that he took of his feet while on assignment in Alaska that drives home the point that a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

Joel is as good a story teller as he is a photographer, I could sit around a campfire and listen to him talk all night.

At the very least this show will make you want to travel to (and photograph) Nebraska. Seeing "Nebraska's Big Rodeo" has been added to my list of things to do before I die.

After watching the show I visited Joel's website, the fact that he is an outstanding photographer was reinforced and but the best part was learning more about him as a person.

You can read his essay on his wife Kathy's battle with cancer and how it changed his life, Joel's insightful words will make you sit back and take pause.

Hopefully it is showing in your area, you can check your local listings here.

Scott Kelby giveaway ends tomorrow...

Just waned to remind everyone that tomorrow marks the end of the our contest that will award some lucky winner the Scott Kelby DVD (and workbook) "Photo Recipes Live: Behind the Scenes".

You can see the original post with all the details here.

We will be giving stuff away every month for the rest of this year (including Scott Kelby books) so if you don't win this month you may next.