2011 365 Group

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you are planning on joining us on 1/1/2011 by adding an image a day to our flickr 365 group, Focused on 365. Images can be from your DSLR, point and shoot, phone, anything, but it must be taken that day. You will need to sign up for a flickr account, and they are free for 200 images, which means only your most recent 200 images will be viewable. The pro account allows unlimited images, and is $25 a year.

If your new to flickr, here is a quick tutorial on how to upload and add images to the group. Can't wait to see all of your images!

The Salton Sea

A couple of weeks ago, I headed out to the Salton Sea with 2 other photographers to shoot for a day. I haven't been out there in 15 years, and I had never been to Bombay Beach, which was our destination. We tried to get some models, but as usual, the same excuses came up. Grandpa died, no gas money, I'm sick, blah, blah, blah.

No matter, as Tammy (one of the photogs) graciously offered to model. I knew she had her wedding dress still, and she was looking to do a shoot with it, so off we went. I think it worked out better than I could have imagined.

My Christmas Wish For You

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope this note finds you well, and surrounded by people you love this holiday season. It seems to be a crazy time of year, with us occasionally focused on perhaps some of the wrong things, and I have spent quite a bit of time this past week reminding myself of what is important, at least to me, and I hope you'll allow me to share. And know that everything is great with me. I'm one of the luckiest people I know.

I'm sure we are all familiar with the Christmas story, and the tale of Mr. Scrooge. In that story, he was visited by 3 ghosts. I was given the amazing gift of being visited by one myself this week, the ghost of Christmas future. To say I was upset by the vision would be an understatement. I have spent much of the last few days thinking about what truly is important to me, and that, perhaps, wasn't what I have actually been focused on. Until now. So my wish to you is this. That you cherish what you have. The friends. The family. The relationships. The talents. And that you share them with the world. Not everyone is nearly as lucky as we are, and fewer still as lucky as me. These last few years have been rough for many, with lost jobs, lost homes, lost medical benefits, lost relationships, lost lives. If you are suffering from any, or all of those things, my heart goes out to you. If I can in any way, shape, or form help, do not hesitate to call me. And if you are suffering from none of those things, be thankful, and then smile. And spread that smile. Share. Talk. Hug. Tell someone that you love them. That you are happy they are in your lives. That you cherish time spent with them. And then do this little thing for yourself. Become an active participant in your own life. Put down the cell phone. Step away from the computer. Instead of shooting the next gathering you go to, leave the camera at home and be involved. Engaged. A participant. Make sure people know your there. And that they enjoyed your presence. Help your kids with their homework. Help your wife with dinner. Help a friend in need. Bring a bottle of wine over to a friends house and just chat. Better yet, chat with your spouse. Your kids. Your mom. Your dad. Your sister. But damn it, above all else, participate. 

2011 will be a very transitional year for me. I left some things behind, and I'm searching for something new. It will involve photography, of course. It will involve sharing. It will involve the transfer of knowledge. And it will involve my giving of myself, my talent, my time, my work. We photographers create a lot of work. Much of it never get's seen. I want to change that. I really wish I would just give more of my work away. To people that would enjoy it. Cherish it. Embrace it. And I think you would to. Stay tuned...

I love you all. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Now stop reading this, turn off the computer, and go make someone's day.Tell them you love them. Tell them you cherish them. Don't spend any more money. Spend more time. Tell them they are important to you. Make sure they know it. And don't you forget it. 

Happy Holidays, from my heart to yours.

2011 365 Group

The images that you see here were all shot and used as part of my 365 photography challenge this year. The premise is simple. Shoot and post 1 image a day, every day, for 365 days. The reality is that it's just not that simple.

Some more reading!

Shot at Bombay Beach in the Salton Sea. More from this day later this week

Some more interesting links from around the web for you to enjoy. And details for a (weather permitting) opportunity for us to get together, shoot some Christmas lights, and revel in the holiday spirit!

First up, the links:

Interesting reading

Some interesting reading for your weekend. Sorry I haven't been around more, been fighting a cold all week. Promise more next week, maybe even a tutorial ;)

Lightroom and ACR were updated this week. Here is a look at what's new: Lightroom Queen

Free Sepia preset

Rudy Winston looks at Canon off camera flash

5 easy PS retouching tutorials

Color correction in Lightroom from DPS

Wish you could fade your presets? Well would you looky here...

Lifehackers top 2010 photography hacks

X-Equals looks at Publish Services in Lightroom