Category: news

Best 8 of 2008

Jason3 Comments

A new year has begun!  Happy New Year to my online friends and family!  Last year was a great year – it marked the first full year of blogging for me.  It showed me how challenging it is to generate new, useful, and meaningful content for readers on a regular basis.  Format changes, layout changes, content delivery changes, and a host of other things have kept the blog active for going on almost 18 months now.  So, what has kept things going?  A great deal of fellowship and other bloggers have shared their wisdom and experiences with me, both personally, professionally, and through their own regular posts.  To all of them, I would like to issue a collective “thank you.”  However, just as in anything, some are more instrumental in their value, and I would like to deliver special thanks to a few of them.  So, without further ado, here are the “Top 8 of 2008“!!!

  1. The Online Photographer – Michael Johnston delivers a steady stream of photography-related content, including articles, news, reviews, and insights into such a wide and diverse range of subjects, it astounds me.  Thanks Michael for your regular pearls of wisdom!
  2. Photoshop Insider – Scott Kelby is perhaps one of the most prolific writers of our time on photography and Photoshop.  Suffice to say, he definitely has his finger on the pulse of the photography community.  If you want to know what’s going on, and what’s coming up soon – stop by Scott’s blog.
  3. Strobist – David Hobby’s blog/site has become the de facto resource for anything and everything relating to lighting for photography.  If you want to get schooled on lighting, Strobist is the place to go.  He has several resources including the Lighting 101, Lighting 102, and regular content that is both educational and inspirational.  If not in your bookmarks, add it today!
  4. This Week in Photography (a.k.a. TWIP) – Led by Scott Bourne, and contributing photographers Alex Lindsay, Steve Simon, Ron Brinkmann, and Fred Johnson, these professionals get together once a week in a podcast to deliver some of the best audio content on the web.  A little more than a year old, they’ve risen quickly to become the creme de la creme of audio podcasts.  The blog also has great tips and content delivered regularly by Scott.  Thanks to this entire crowd for raising the bar on audio podcasting!
  5. Digital Photography Life – Led by Scott Sherman and Michael Stein, this podcast started under another name by another sponsor, and their departure from the airwaves shortly was a source of great concern for me.  These guys are the normal guys, the enthusiasts of photography – just like me (only probably more knowledgable, insightful, and entertaining).  Their weekly podcasts are always a kick to listen to and make for perfect commute killers!  Thanks to Scott and Michael!
  6. Jason D. Moore – I would be remiss in not mentioning Jason’s influence not only on my blogging, but also on my photography.  Jason was generous enough not only to include me in his now famous “Weekly P&P” listings, but also  as a contributing member to the now well-known and respected Geographic Composition series.  Without his generosity and kind words of support I would not be where I am today either as a blogger or a photographer.  Thanks Jason!
  7. Photowalking Pro – Jeff Revell has become a household name for introducing the idea of photowalking to the masses.  From there he has springboarded to become a well-respected member of the photography community.  He has tutorials, reviews, and just tons of great content that are inspirational and meaningful for anyone of any background and ability.  He was generous enough to also donate time to being on the CB Interview series.  Thanks to Jeff for taking the time to participate, and to also serve as a source of inspiration!
  8. Michael Palmer Photography – Michael has shown me, both through his comments here, as well as through his contributions to the Geographic Composition Series and on his own blog, that when push comes to shove, in the end, it’s always about the photograph.  He has produced some amazing images that he has willingly shared in a variety of outlets including those mentioned, as well as on his won website.  Whenever I need a dose of pure inspiration, I look through his photography, as well as his comments here.  So, thanks to Mike for all your support and motivation through the past year!

These are just some of the resources and friendships I have developed that have had a meaningful impact on the quality of both my photography and blogging in 2008.    Thanks again to the whole gang!  It’s been a great ’08 – let’s make it a fine ’09!  (Yeah, that was cheesy, but it rhyhmed!)

In the meantime, keep on shooting and best regards to the entire community for a prosperous and bountiful new year!  Happy Shooting!

Top 100 of 2008 Honors!

Jason1 Comment

For the interim posts between Christmas and New Year, I am not going to be introducing much in the way of new content, but while traveling recently, I got word that CanonBlogger receieved accolades as one of the top 100 blogs for 2008.  Thanks so much for the recognition!  In looking at the other sites mentioned, I would also highly recommend the entire list of other blogs as many are in my daily read list.  Be sure to stop over and see the others honored this year:

Top 100 Blogs of 2008

Whats This?

Jason3 Comments

What's This - Week 22

Now in week 22, see if you can identify the latest picture of the day for the “What’s This?” series shown above.  Lastt week’s shot as a constructio garbage chute from the inside.  As promised I am including an exterior shot today so everyone can see what they look like from a “normal” perspective.

In other news, don’t forget the poll on the sidebar!  We’re at 30 votes and counting – let’s see if we cna break that 50 mark!  I also noticed that the feed readers are now over 500, and CB also hit a new one day high of 572!  Very exciting stuff to see that many people enjoying the blog.  Tomorrow’s Thursday Thoughts is none other than Rob Jones ot Towner Jones Photography.  You may recall he asked me to guest post on his blog a few weeks ago, so I invited him to come in here and do the same!  He’s got some great insights to share too, so be sure to stop back for that.  Until then, happy shooting!  Hope all your shots are good ones

Thursday Thoughts with… Jen Rinaldi

Jason4 Comments

I was able to catch up with Jen Rinaldi recently and twisted her arm into taking a few minutes to share her thoughts on the CB Thursday Thoughts.  Jen really has some cool work and a super positive energy that is just infectious!  Make sure you visit her blog and website and share your thoughts with her.  In the meantime, here’s what Jen had to say:

Q:  Everyone always wants to know some of the basics, so let’s get a few things out of the way at once here…  1.    How long have you been a photographer?

A:  I’ve been “into” photography since I was 6 years old when my parents gave me this old brown boxy camera to use and then eventually I graduated to my very own 110 which I still own!  I’ve been “serious” about photography as a hobby since January of 2007 and turned it into a side business Oct/Nov of 2007

Q:  Old boxy brown camera eh?  What about now?  What are you shooting with… Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Pentax or some other brand?

A:  Nikon!

Q:  Argh…a Nikonian in my midst again.  Maybe I can get lucky with computer affiliation?  Mac, PC, or Linux?

A:  I’m a PC girl all the way!

Q:  Yay!  (ALthough I do work cross-platform so that was a winher either way!  Off the beaten path now: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?

A:  Ohhh, I like when they have all 3 together!  But if I had to choose today I’d go for Strawberry!

Q:  Hmmm…that does sound like a good combination.  I should try mixing flavors more often!  Anyway, back on topic… photographers often enjoy hearing helpful and constructive critiques of their work, as we are aware of how much we can grow from it.  However, we’ve also all had the “nice shot” and “cool” comments when we’ve shared our work.  With that backdrop set, what would you say was the singular most useful critique or comment you’ve ever had on work you’ve shared publicly?

A:  That’s a tough one as well.  I’ll answer it by saying that I can’t recall ONE specific critique but I won’t leave you with just that.  I was a moderator for a photography forum for over a year and sharing my work there is the one thing that tremendously improved my photography skills.   I learned anything from photography basics to advanced techniques all through this forum.  They honest feedback and criticism received is what helped me to learn.  On top of that formed some permanent bonds with many of the members who constantly help me by sharing new techniques, giving me feedback on my work, and answering my off the wall photography questions!

Q;   Well, my next question is normally “Who said it?”, but that doesn’t really apply now…or is it a specific group of people that helped?

A:  Most of the regulars on the forum because my critiquing audience and gave honest feedback on how to improve my work with each and every post to the site.

Q:  Cool!  I’ve done forum work too.  It can be challenging balancing forum administration and photography stuff though – especially when it comes to critiquing.  If someone was asking you for an honest critique of their work, what 3 factors would you look at most (excluding friendships or family relatives, we’re talking professional or fellow photographer-types here)?

A:  Uniqueness, composition, and post Processing

Q:  Got any war stories from field shoots or outings that you can or would be willing to share?

A:  Nothing I can think of…

Q:.  Ahh…well, give it time, you’ll have some eventually!  Well, moving right along, I’ve set the stage with others by noting the advances in software to the point where you can almost create stunning images without ever leaving the computer.  So, if you had to choose between the gear or the software as the only way to create, which would it be and why?

A:  Wow, now that is one is a tough one for me.  I love to be creative with the gear and the lenses but I think that coming from an art background (drawing, painting, graphic design) I tend to make my vision come to light through software after the shoot is over.  I try to start with the gear and shoot it just right and then add my personal touch afterwards with the software to make my artistic vision come light.

Q:  So, it sounds like you really do use both to achieve your visions.  Very cool!  If you had to pick three pictures out of your entire portfolio to represent your approach to photography, or your artistic vision, which ones would you pick?

A:  Jason, you’re making this VERY hard on me!  🙂  It’s so hard to pick 3 out of tens of thousands of images that you’ve poured you heart into. If I had to pick one genre of photography to shoot over and over again it would be HDR.  I have always held this photo as my top ranking HDR photo.  I took this photo on the day I attempted HDR photography for the first time and it still holds the number one ranking for me no matter how many more I shoot:

This is THE first HDR I ever shot on the same day as the photo above:

And because I’m a portrait photographer this one is a top favorite of mine (but it’s very hard to pick because I have one favorite photo from every portrait shoot I do!).  I love this one because he is one of my oldest friend’s son, you can’t beat those gorgeous blue eyes, I love the DOF, and how could anyone not love the little fish lips he’s making?

Q:  Wow!  These are amazing shots – and those baby blues just make your heart melt!  Wonderful shots here Jen!  Any final thoughts you’d like to share about the state of photography or any catch phrases that you keep in mind when shooting?

A:  Mike Palmer mentioned this in his interview, as well, and I’m going to elaborate on what he said by mentioning that if you’re breaking into the photography world and want to learn more  – join a forum! If you’re not into the forums then create your own Photography blog and get out there and join the blogging community we have going!  The forums changed my life photography-wise and I can hardly go a day without posting a writing a new blog post visiting my “blogging friend’s” blogs!  It’s everyone’s encouragement that keeps me going!

Great ideas here Jen – forums, blogging, and collaboration are the learning tools I enjoy most too!  Hey, thanks for taking the time to sit down and share your thoughts with the reading audience.  We’ll be back next week with a new edition of Thursday Thoughts and another photographer!  In the meantime, Happy Shooting!  Hope all your shots are good ones and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow!

Can cards be cool Christmas candy?

Jason7 Comments

Yup, I talk about 3 different types of cards that make for cool holiday gifts this year for the photographer you know. That, along with online photo contests, the nomination announcement for the Top 8 of 2008 blogs/podcasts are now open, and of course, listener questions. I do have to apologize for the audio quality as I had to record it on the fly using the MBP in my car! Not too shabby after putting it all together, but not the greatest either. Continue reading “Can cards be cool Christmas candy?” →

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Money, Socializing, and Freebies!

JasonLeave a comment

Hey all, welcome to the Tuesday blog post for CB – today the latest in the Canon Blogger Digital Podcast Series is up for your mobile listening pleasure. It turns out I can ramble on for quite a bit as I take a look at three distinct topics:

  • Making Money in Photography
  • The Value of Social Networks
  • and some Free Web Resources that you may have missed

I also take the usual spate of reader/listener questions (great ones this go around, so thanks and shout outs to Marcus, Krista, and Nick! In the future, send me links to your websites so I can return the generosity on the podcast and here on the blog post. For now though – thanks! So, share your questions, comments, and feedback through the many opportunities here at the blog and via email.

A couple of show notes:

The 1st segment is a more detailed look from yesterdays post on “The Cost of Doing Business“, and talks about the details involved in creating a business plan.

The 2nd Segment looks at the value of social networking, so naturally here, I will suggest you stop by and say hi to me on The Twitter, LinkedIn, and through the various forums I participate in.

And last but not least, on the subject of freebies, my apologies for the two contest mentions from Popular Photography, but they have since closed (I hate it when they don’t indicate that at the source page!), sorry! Dave Cross blog can be found here though, and Scott Sherman/Michael Stein’s podcast can be found here. Anyway, thanks for stopping in, and as always, share your feedback, comments, and ideas either in the comments or via email.

That’s it for today, don’t forget to vote in the latest sidebar poll at the blog! Hope all your shots are good ones… happy shooting and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Thursday Thoughts with…Jeff Revell

Jason3 Comments

Recently, I had the honor of sitting down (well, emailing, but you get the idea) with none other than Jeff Revell.  As most of you probably know, Jeff is a pretty well-established photographer and recently has been enjoying some notariety for his blog on Photowalking, appropriately titled Photowalk Pro (definitely one for your feed aggregators).  He gave some great thoughts and insights on the state of digital photography.  Thanks in advance to Jeff for taking the time to participate in the Thursday Thoughts sereies here at CB!

Q:  Everyone always wants to know some of the basics, so let’s get a few things out of the way at once here…1. How long have you been a photographer?

A:  I have been into photography for over 25 years.  I first began taking an interest in high school and have been in love with photography ever since.  I think it had something to do with all that fixer I inhaled.

Q:  Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, or some other brand?

A:  I see you changed the question to include other camera brands.  I started off learning with a Pentax K1000, the king of old school photography classes.  From there I moved to a Minolta, a Canon, and finally Nikon for the past 20 years or so.  I have recently been working with some Canon models, specifically the 50D and I have to admit that the more I use it, the more I love it.

Q:  Heh, yeah, that’s thanks to Andy Smith of Virtual Realia.  To that end, let’s cover all the computer options:  Mac, PC, or Linux?

A:  I had been a PC user since the DOS days and then migrated to Windows from there.  I’m just a big techno-nerd at heart and love building my own systems.  I got a Mac notebook about 3 years ago and now it is my predominate platform – Not a fanboy but I do love my MacBook Pro.

Q:  Sounds a lot like the path I’ve been taking – although I do find myself bouncing back and forth between Mac and PC a lot these days.  Anyway, moving on:  Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?

A:  Definitely a chocolate person.

Q:  Excellent taste!  Moving into a little more granularity, photographers often enjoy hearing helpful and constructive critiques of their work, as we are aware of how much we can grow from it.  What was the singular most useful critique or comment you’ve ever had on work you’ve shared publicly?

A:  This one is easy.  The best advice I ever received about my work was to only show your best stuff. Everyone shoots lame shots; it’s part of the process of getting the image that you want.  The key is to not show all the ducks and simply show your swans.

Q:  Who said it?

A:  My buddy Scott Kelby

Q:  I think I’ve heard of him before!  🙂  Isn’t he into photography too or something like that?  Just kidding of course…  Anyway, back to the subject of critiquing work:  If someone was asking you for an honest critique of their work, what 3 factors would you look at most (excluding friendships or family relatives, we’re talking professional or fellow photographer-types here)?

A:  Wow, that’s a tough one.  I’m much harder on myself than I ever would be on someone else.  I think the first thing I look for in a shot is the composition.  How did the photographer use the elements in the image to convey their intent?  Second would be their processing.  Is it done with a scalpel or a chainsaw?  Finally, did they use sound technique when taking the image, things like proper aperture, shutter speed, lens selection, things along those lines.
All I can say is that I am so glad that I have never been asked to critique the work of others for fear of crushing their spirit and enthusiasm.

Q:  I guess that means I shouldn’t ask for a critique or anything on that vein then, eh?  How about war stories?  Got any from field shoots or outings that you can or would be willing to share?

A:  This one time, in band camp…  oops, wrong story.  I am recalling a trip I took to Arizona with my buddies Scott and Dave.  We covered some serious ground in just 3 day, traveling from Phoenix to Page, to Monument Valley, to the Grand Canyon, and back to Phoenix.  It was one of the best shooting trips I have ever taken, thanks in large part to having my friends along to share the experience.  One outing in Page took us on a 3-mile hike in the high desert to photograph the Wave.  This was in August mind you and it was HOT!  We climbed steep sandy hills and rocky outcrops along the way but it was so worth it once we finally reached our destination.  One of the shots that came from that hike ended up gracing Scott’s 7-Point System book.  If there is a moral in there somewhere, I think it would be that hard work and a lot of sweating can really pay off.

Q:  Hey, I own that book!  Cool, I didn’t know that was your shot!  Guess I should read the credits more carefully, eh?  Sorry, I tend to ramble…  Moving right along, with Photoshop becoming so powerful as a way to even create amazing digital imagery, it could almost be said that the camera could eventually not even be a needed component to create imagery.   With that pre-text in mind, if you had to choose between the camera or the software as the only way to create, which would it be and why?

A:  Well, since I don’t have near the creative/artistic abilities like Fay Sirkis, Bert Monroy,  or Cory Barker, I would have to go with the camera.  Those folks have some seriously crazy skills and create beautiful images from a blank canvas using illustrative software.  I, on the other hand require a piece of glass and a shutter button to create.

Q:  Well, I don’t know about that – I’ve read some of your HDR tutorials, which indicate you are pretty skilled with Photoshop!  Anyway, do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share about the state of photography or any catch phrases that you keep in mind when shooting?

A:  I believe that we are living in renaissance period for photography.  Not since the invention of the process has so much changed so rapidly.  With the introduction of powerful software tools like Photoshop and the development of the digital camera, the average person has more creative tools at their disposal than ever before.  The only problem is that tools don’t make pictures, people do.  My advice for those that are just starting out is to not get caught up in all of the technical wizardry but rather learn the craft from the ground up.  Because even though there have been a multitude of advancements in the technical realm of photography, they aren’t worth squat unless you learn how to leverage them to your advantage.  Never stop learning.

Great advice and insights from Jeff Revell.  Please take a moment to stop over at his blog, Photowalk Pro, to check out everything he has to offer.  Thanks again Jeff for taking the time to participate in the Thursday Thoughts series here.  Until tomorrow all, Happy Shooting!  Hope all your shots are good ones!

Don’t Cash that Canon Rebate Check!!!

JasonLeave a comment

We interrupt your normal blogging routines to bring you this alert from the Canon homefront (and being the Canon fanboy, I figured I’d better report on it here…)

There’s a link off the Canon home page that quietly announces this.  The linked page is here:

Canon Rebate Announcement

You can follow the link to confirm, but here is the text of the announcement:

November 17, 2008.

Dear Valued Customer,

This is an official message from Canon U.S.A., Inc.

The third-party rebate processing company that was responsible for processing rebate claims and issuing mail-in rebate checks for Canon-brand printer and video products (along with many other products from a number of other companies) filed a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy petition on Friday, November 14. The funds provided to them by Canon U.S.A., Inc. (and other companies) apparently are no longer available to satisfy the rebate checks such company issued on behalf of Canon and other companies. Regrettably, as a result, you should not cash the rebate check you recently received for such products, as it may bounce. We apologize for any inconvenience, delay or confusion this may cause. We are doing everything in our power to promptly rectify the situation.

Accordingly, we request that you take the following actions:

  • If you are holding or receive a rebate check for printer or video products which is dated on or before November 14, 2008, please do not cash the check, as it may bounce. Please look for updated postings on the Canon U.S.A. website on or about November 21, 2008 for further instruction on how to exchange your check for a new check that you will be able to cash.
  • If you have not yet mailed in your rebate claim materials, please hold such materials until you receive further instruction. We are making new processing arrangements, with a new mail-in address. Please look for updated postings on the Canon U.S.A. website on or about November 21, 2008 for further instruction on where to mail your rebate claim material and how to exchange your check for a new check that you will be able to cash.

Check our website later this week for further instructions and contact information for any questions you may have. Again, please do not cash any rebate checks for printer or video products which are dated on or before November 14, 2008, as they may bounce.

We are committed to ensuring that you receive your rebate as soon as possible and that you will continue to have full confidence in Canon U.S.A., Inc.

We apologize again for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,
Canon U.S.A., Inc.

So… for those who read the blog, hold off on any purchases as it looks like the rebate may not clear!

We now return you to your regular blogging…

What’s This? – Week 19

Jason2 Comments

It’s a little late this morning, but we’re now in week 19 of the What’s This? episode series.  Last week, there were no guesses, likely because it was a super tough one.  The full sized original can be found here, (it’s a tree with blue bottles hanging off knobs on the trunk).  It is definitely one of the more abstract shots to begin with.  Looks like the gallery of participants was stumped!  So, this week, things are going to be a little easier (this should be easily guessed – I just really like the textures of this shot.  Anyway, without further ado, here is Week 19’s image:

What's This? - Week 19

Don’t forget to stop in tomorrow for the latest Thursday Thoughts With….  This weekI have the honor of talking with Michael Palmer, photographer and a friend of the blog.  So tune in for that tomorrow.  In the meantime, feel free to share your “guesses” on the week 19 image in the comments!  By the by…can anyone tell me anything different about the blog today (this is specific to the layout/design for today)?  If so, share that in the comments as well? *devious grin*  Happy shooting and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow…

Denver Area Photowalk

Jason2 Comments

Meetup Pano

As some of you may recall, Scott Kelby held a worldwide photo walk a few months ago to promote his new book that was coming out on Lightroom 2.  Well, since then several smaller photo walk clubs and groups have formed and begun their own outings.  Denver was no exception and our first official photo walk this last weekend had a really good turnout of roughly 15-20 people.  About half of us even got together afterward at a local eatery to share stories and get to know one another better.  Everyone is posting shots over on the Meetup site and at the Flickr site as well, so stop in there to see some of the talents showcased in those venues.  The shot above is a pano I stitched together from the occasion.  With more photo walks to come, this definitely has some positive energy about it.