Merry Christmas!

Hope Santa was good to you and that all is well in your world.  Remember that this time of year all about bringing out the best in people, whether it's Christmas, Chanukka, Kwanza, or celebrating the Solstice.

What ever it is, it's about renewal, growth, peace, friendships, relationships, families, love, forgiveness, hope, dreams, gratitude...

May you have it all!  I made something for you...

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Keywords: christmas_spirit

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Winter is Over

As I'm writing this, I'm sitting in front of the fire, with my glass of eggnog, enjoying the birds in the feeder and for the first time in days, able to follow the sun as it traces its feeble arch across the winter sky. But it's not the appearance of the sun that has me so enthused. So what is it?

Today most people around here are lamenting the first day of winter.  I say, "What's wrong with you? Winter is officially OVER today.  This is the shortest day of the year - the longest night of the year.  Starting tomorrow - days get longer.  The sun is getting stronger.  So to me this means with certainty that SUMMER is coming and the dark winter is over.

In a mere 12 weeks or so I will be WARM again!!!!

Got all your shopping done?  Check back Christmas day for something big here!

ttfn

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Top Gifts for the Photographer in your Life

In case you're like me (temporally challenged!) Christmas is really just days away!  Are you ready? Got a nice family event planned? Perhaps you're going on a vacation, skiing, sailing...Whatever it may be, you KNOW there will be photos involved.  From those cheesy snapshots for your Facebook page to formal family portratis for the Big Album - a camera will play a large role in your holiday celebrations.

And there will be a photographer attached to that camera!  I'm assuming that Santa already knows what YOU want under your tree on Christmas morning, but for that other photographer, or for somone special here are a few strange photo-related gifts that you probably never wanted to know about!

1) The AuraCam 6000.   (Love that name!!!) How to photograph someone's aura (I'm not kidding! Some people are serious about this). Worth checking out though - looks like a hoot. Probably not as good as GuitarHero but hey, us photographers are different!

2) Aerial Kite Photography Kit (<$20).   Take sky-view pano photos...from a KITE!!!!! Unlike for aura photography, only the kite needs to be high.

3) Remote Wildlife Viewing Camera (#1 on my list! Anolacam is on its way...) from the National Geographic Store, support a great cause at the same time.  

and get a free calendar enter code MR10054 at checkout.  Cool.

4) Turn your photos into postage stamps (Yes even in Canada). These are actually great for branding - put your logo on the stamps. Postage meters are so 1997!

5) Cheesy Photo Calendars - the kind grandparents LOVE!!!! You can tell just from the ad:

11x8 Calendar - Embellished "This warm-toned calendar will make memories feel even more treasured. Personalize with start month, captions and custom dates. Photos: 1 on cover + 2 per month. size: 11 1/8'w x 8'h"

Occasions Book - Baby - First Xmas All you do is add your photos and text to customize your baby's photo book and create an amazing keepsake that you'll treasure for years. An Everyday Standard Personlized Cover photo book.

  Aaaawwwww!

7) For the overachiever photographer in your life, how about high-speed photography.  You know, where one of your slack-jawed yokel buddies fires a bullet into a water balloon, and the camera captures the mayhem! This has gotta be the Martha Stewart of photo projects - writing your own computer code and  "back-of-the-napkin-schematics" so you can feel oh so casual!   "Hands up Cletus!"

8) CameraTruck. Wondering what to do with that old beater cube van in your yard (or your neighbour's yard?).  Turn it into the world's biggest camera.  Might also work with abandoned refrigerators. 

9)  No number nine - I'm done. 

ciao for now & Happy Shopping...

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Cold and Cool?

It was just too painfully cold this weekend to venture outdoors - the wind was bitting and bitter.  Even the Rottweiler wouldn't venture farther than the driveway - totally NOT his usual behaviour.

So what did I do for excitement?  Well, I still haven't got my hands on an iPhone (yet) but I continued to play with Photoshop CS4.  Here's the total of my weekend's work.

 

And how was your weekend?

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Friday Notes

Yes! Another Friday.  This weekend this means two whole days of snow photos this weekend – as long as the sun shines.  I’m ready to roll.

And the magic day countdown is still ticking.  I see “TheSpoiler” left his guess in the Comments section.  Any other guesses?

***I’m also starting a small semi-private class in the new year for digital camera beginners who want to become “great” photographers, by popular demand.  There’s still room for a few more artists in the making so contact me if you or any anyone you know would appreciate the attention and dedication of a small weekly photography/Photoshop class.***

So, short and sweet - that's it!  Have a great weekend!

ttfn

Keywords: winnipeg_photgraphy_classes

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Photoshop CS4

I was playing around in Photoshop CS4 - and came up with this new desktop wallpaper idea.

 

Like it? 

I'll add it to the new wallpaper project in the new year.  Have a great day - even if it is a Monday! Photo opportunities don't care what day it is, just remember your ABCs...

READ MORE...

Keywords: photoshop_cs4_tutorials

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Free at Last

From the first day that I began my adventure as an entrepreneur, I've dreamed about having a "Blackberry Business." A business I can run from anywhere in the world, using only a Blackberry. I could communicate with my team, my clients and the world, upload my photos, write my books and sell them, design digital art and send it to publishers all from anywhere! Being tethered to an office is a thing of the past if you have a Blackberry Business.

Now I'm rethinking this goal. Oh the functionality of it is still very much alive, but it's not a Blackberry that I lust after now. It's the iPhone!

Although there's no catchy alliteration so it doesn't sound so cool, I now wanna be an iPhone Entrepereneur. Several friends have the iPhone and when they (reluctantly) let me play with it, I must say I became smitten.

The ability of the iPhone to act as a portable photo portfolio cannot be ignored, as well as its utility as a tool to upload your images to websites. From Facebook to Flickr to can instantly share your photos with your clients and friends. That big display is something that the Blackberry just can't compete with. When you show people your images on the iPhone the look pretty remarkable! The WOW factor is definitely all there.

If you have an iPhone let me know how you like it. If you're a photographer with an iPhone share your iPhone-related photo experiences.

I'll be posting more about the iPhone and portablebusinesses as soon as I pick up mine.

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New Nikon Pro Camera Announced!

Nikon is going mad! And I love it!

Nikon just announced a new Pro full frame camera just for us landscape and wildlife photographers. The new Nikon D3x with a brand new sensor at 24.5 mega pixels.

You know that I'm NOT a pixel peeper so I won't get into that here, but read the review of the new Nikon D3x on Nikonians.

K, gotta go now...

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