Photo Walks Today

Photo courtesy of Gexydaf – shared under creative commons – see more of their work on Flickr

Looking For Christmas Lights to Photograph?

Check out the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma for their wonderful display of colorful holiday lights.

If you are looking for a few little items – that won’t break the bank, but are useful to your favorite shutterbug – let me suggest a few.

The 18% Gray Card

Yes, I know it sounds like a weird gift, but trust me, your photographer will love this tool.

Here’s why:

• Target makes it for easy auto focus lens to see
• Heavy duty nylon will outlast cardboard by years!
• Lightweight, makes it easy to carry
• White reverse side allows you to custom white balance your camera settings
• Folds neatly into a small three inch case for portability
• Comes with a zippered carrying case to keep the card clean when not in use

This is an absolute must for the creative photographer who wants to experiment with manual settings and still get an accurate exposure.

Fits perfectly with your buget as well – only $24.95 on eBay!

Flash Diffuser

Yes, another weird little ‘must have’ accessory for a photographer. This little tool fits over the on camera pop-up flash and softens the light. This makes for very complementarly lighting for Christmas eve portait shots done around tree.

This softbox can be used to improve portrait photos, given the subject a nice diffused lighting effect.

• Fill light
• Flash burst when a regular flash is to strong
• A way to reduce shadows when using a flash

Economical price of $19.99 on eBay

Camera Rain Cover

This one speaks for itself – here in the Northwest photographers will never get a chance to take pictures if they wait for sunshine. Help them protect their cameras with this nifty little device.

Less than $15.00 on eBay

Learn PhotoShop Elements at home

We’ve had so much interest in a Photo Editing Class that Dany Byrne and I will be teaching an online series on PhotoShop Elements.

We’re just not sure which version of Elements would be most beneficial to you. Would you mind taking a five minute survey and let us know? Click Here to take survey .

There will be three tracks to choose: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced. These classes will meet weekly and we will teach them in order if you want to talk all three courses. Watch this newsletter for details.

Dates to be announced – but if you’d like to be the first to know, please send me an email

You know that saying: “a photographer should always carry their camera where ever they go?” Well, I wish I would have headed that advice before I headed out to brunch with friends on Sunday.

When done, I had a hype active dog who needed a walk – before she started chewing the interior of my truck. We were done eating, so I thought a short walk around the neighborhood would settle her down so we could visit a bit more.

As it turns out – we stumbled into a mini nature preserve in Shoreline. The park has just finished construction. They built a watershed to help prevent run off from going directly into the Puget Sound caused by the occasional winter and spring flooding.

What my dog Buster and I found as soon as we walked off the main path is mini eco system similar to a Washington rain forest. Yellow and gold fall leaves from the deciduous trees line the path as you walk amoung Douglas fir trees and moss covered stumps. There’s a trail down to a small creek, with stepping stones to cross and small ponds that look like inviting water holes during the summer months.

Just North of Shoreline Community College a photographer could spend several hours wandering Boeing Creek Trails - there are mushrooms, moss, ponds, leaves and firs all waiting for their photo to be taken. And, if you keep the lens focused on the immediate, your viewer will never know you were in the middle of the city.

Boeing Creek Nature Trail Google Map

View Larger Map

If you’ve read many of my blog posts or heard me teach you’ve heard me say that to produce tack sharp pictures a tripod is essential.
  We’ll if you are wondering about that tripod purchase and how to select one from the many available, or are ready to purchase a professional tripod Bogen is offering a Free Webinar on the subject.

Wondering How to Select the Right Tripod and Head?
FREE Online Webinar
Friday, November 14, 2008
2pm – 3pm EDT
  They’re even giving away prized during the webinar – you might find yourself the recipient of a free tripod!
Here’s more information from their press release:
During this session David & Will present: Selecting the Right Tripod & Head: Getting the most out of your rig!

1. How to determine your needs based on your equipment (hint: weighing it won’t help!)
2. How to determine the true strength of a tripod.
3. Exploring Carbon Fiber: Beyond “lighter & stronger
4. Tips for carrying, setting up, and maintaining your rig.
5. Different styles call for different setups.
6. During this Webinar, you have exclusive advantages:
   Interact one on one with our special speakers (ask questions and get the answers you need).
7. Automatic Chance to Win one of these Prizes: Manfrotto Tripod & Head” valued up to $315 or a “Gitzo Tripod & Head” valued up to $550

Important Note: 2 winners will be announced at the end of the Webinar, so you must attend the Webinar in its entirety, from beginning until end to qualify for a chance to win.

To register for the free webinar click here

For more information about the Bogen webinar, including guests and giveaways click this link

ant to go to Super Bowl XLIII and the 2009 Hall of Fame Ceremony?
Grab your camera and start photographing those football games. Then enter them in the Canon Amateur Photo Contest.

Deadline December 3, 2008 – so get shooting!

More details:
http://usa.canon.com/app/html/NFL/#/photocontest

It’s a long walk from Seattle, but ….. for readers who live in the San Diego Area this is an easy hike!

The weekend show includes:

• Photography seminars with professional photographers
• Meet & get advice from the Canon Explorers of Light & the Nikon Pro Team
• Talk to the experts from Nikon, Canon, Delkin, George’s Camera, Nelson Photo and more
• Meet photographers from different fields including wedding, nature, portrait & commercial
• Huge selection of digital camera equipment at great discounts

Did I mention admission is Free?

More information about the show can be found on The Photo Expo West Website by clicking here

Where:

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Directions: http://www.sdfair.com/index.php?fuseaction=maps.home

Want to win some cash and have your photo featured on a Capital One Credit Card?
This contest sounds like fun!

The Capital One American Life Photo Contest
The grand prize winner will receive $7,000, an exclusive meeting, photography tutorial and portfolio review with Newsweek Director of Photography, Simon Barnett, and a tour of Newsweek’s Photo Department. The first runner-up will receive $6,000 and the second runner-up will receive $5,000. Each winner also will have their photo displayed as the featured image for cardholders on Capital One’s Image Card site and their profile featured on www.capitalonephotocontest.com.

From October 27 to January 5, photographers can submit their photos at www.capitalonephotocontest.com or via the “American Life Photo Contest” group on Flickr, www.flickr.com/groups/capitaloneamericanlife. Online voting will be from January 6, 2009 to February 6, 2009 will determine the top 50 semi-finalists. At the conclusion of public voting, Newsweek Director of Photography, Simon Barnett, who has edited and selected for publication some of the most renowned images in American life and world news, will determine one grand prize winner and two runners up whose work will be featured on Capital One’s Image Card site where cardholders can personalize their credit card. Winners will be announced in March 2009.

King Lane in front of Thomson Hall

• Low light means tac sharp photos will be much easier with a tripod
• Leaves don’t have to be on the trees to be interesting
• Don’t give up when it rains. Cover you camera with a rain cover and point it down. There’s lots of foliage color without the sky.
• Use buildings and lanes to draw a viewers eyes through the photo.
• Watch for small bright lights shinning through leaves
• Walk around your subject to see which angle brings out the most vibrant color
• UW campus parking is free on Saturdays after 12:00 noon