3D on your Browser!

So I found this great article about a game developer using 3D in the browser. There's a current craze with the so call "Facebook" games that run mainly thru your browser. Most of them use 2D and take no advantage of the graphics. With new apps like Unity, they will bring 3D in to the browser games. If you thought your Facebook game look good, it will look darn tootin' awesome in the near future. See sample below.

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Merry Christmas from John Paul Photography!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Photographer Products

My friend Ian showed me (and Glen) a simple trick with a sheaf of narrow paper (or even a business card or small brochure) and a rubber band that allows you diffuse the light on your external flash. Well apparently this company decided to make a real product of it. This idea has been around the photography forum for years but its cool that someone made a cheap version of it that you can buy.

Here's the link to purchase and a photo of the product.

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Photographer News

I was going thru my email today when I read about this photographer from my Asuka newsletter. You can check out his cool website here http://www.alainmartinez.com/

Here's the article in brief:

Political Satire

Sometimes the political cartoonists hit the nail with the hammer. As I've been discussing the health care bill recently on my blog, I thought this week's political cartoons were pretty accurate if not funny.

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Tech news

I'm a big Sci-Fi movie fan especially movies like the Predator and Aliens. Well the creator of Aliens, James Cameron, is coming out with a movie called "Avatar" this week. Think of a sequel of Aliens but with a bigger budget than "Titanic" (purportedly half a billion to make!). If you watch the trailer, your probably like me and can't wait to watch it in the theater.



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Photography Tips

Here's a great photo tip I received from my Nikon Newsletter. This is ideal during these winter months for all you shutterbugs.

Camera in the Cold

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JPP Daily Photo

I found this article when I was doing my daily reading of MSNBC headlines. What caught me interest was (1) the topic "social media" is an area I'm interested in adn (2) the innovation the guy in the article used to get the interview and job. Its something that I can put my feet in that person's shoes. Hopefully I can also find a social media marketing position in the new year to supplement my photography business.

Here's the example of the faux Wired Magazine cover the guy used in his tweet. And here's an example of my Senior Photo magazine cover I created recently for my Senior Photos advertising campaign. Looks like he and I have similar ideas for getting our names noticed. Only he's idea was more effective!

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Healthcare News

This week the senate approved Obama's Healthcare Bill. However they did cut the public option from it (see this article). Whats ironic is that the majority of Americans polled prefer a public option. Despite a mandate from the people in last year's election, the powerful healthcare lobbyist won their fight against the public option. Makes you wonder if democracy is dead in this country....

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Photography News

I missed out recently on the Aperture Academy's grand opening. I think its great that they opened an academy in the bay area that has classes and field trips for beginner and advanced photographers'.

I plan on participating in AA more this year. In fact, I've created a new photobook which is available for free on their website here.

You can see some of my work here http://www.apertureacademy.com/johnpaulphotography/

It's always cool to be able to share your photos with your own peers.

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Cool Technie News

Today was the unveiling for the new "Virgin spaceship bared". For those not geeky enough, its the first commercial sub-orbital ship that you can ride around the edge of space for a few days for a mere $200,000.00 U.S. If I ever get that kind of money, I would smack down the cash for a chance to ride one.

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Local Photography News

Talk about ridiculous! My cousin forwarded me this link about a photographer who was almost cited for taking pictures of his family at a state park. There's even a suggestion of charging commercial photographers at state park for revenue. That's pretty desperate. Plus how do you distinguish a commerical photographer doing a a commercial shoot? By their equipment? Good Luck! You can get a cheap DSLR for under $500 with lens kit.

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news weird Holiday Card Photo Shoot Busted by Park Ranger
Official enforces rule requiring permits at state parks
By JACKSON WEST
Updated 3:00 PM PST, Thu, Dec 3, 2009

Print Email Share Buzz up!TWITTER FACEBOOK

Joe Flood While no permit is required for amateur shutterflies at California's state parks, one is required for commercial photography.

But what if you're just an amateur who uses professional equipment? Or a professional taking photos for the family Christmas card?

Then you might get a visit from a park ranger, and possibly even a citation.

At least, that's what a Seacliff photographer found out when he wanted to snap some shots of his family at Seacliff State Beach near Santa Cruz.

He didn't get a citation, but he did come back the next week and get the pictures he wanted.

The good news is, citations are rare according to a park official -- and the state park system is so poorly funded, chances that there will actually be a ranger on hand to shoo you away are slim.

Photo by Joe Flood.

Jackson West figures this is one way you could increase revenue for state parks.

JPP Photo Friend

My friend and great photographer, Kris of Curly Bear Productions, recently posted some great photos from her Trash the Dress - Bridal Style! on her blog. The photos are sooo awesome its inspired me to ask some of my brides from this year's wedding if they are interested in doing the same. Go to Kris's blog to see all her awesome photos. I'm gona post a few here for you all to view.

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Photography Tip

For those of you using Nikon RAW files and have recently upgraded to Windows 7, you may have been wondering how you can preview your RAW files in windows 7 without having to resort to Photoshop or Lightroom. Here's a great link to an article that shows you how to do it on x32 or x64 bit versions in windows 7.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish all my friends, family and readers a Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Climate Article

I just finished reading an article on Newsweek about the turning points on Global Climate Change. Despite latest scientific evidence, there are still people in the science fields (dont even mention political field!) who are contrary to the idea that fossil fuels are contributing to greenhouse gases which in turn affect climate change. From everything I've read in this article to the past several years worth of climate news, I have a simple question that I believe we all should think about. From a very layman point of view, when I'm asked as a citizen of this planet: Do I want to make changes or not in my lifestyle and use of fossil fuels (i.e. decrease even if means my standard of living is less than what I'm used too) or face dramatic global climate change that can potentially destroy us? I'd rather error on the part of change than risk destructions. Its as simple as change now or face destruction of our planet. But then again I'm a simple person though I think if every person on this planet was asked this question, the majority of us would opt to change.

Just my thoughts for the day....

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Homecoming for a local Hero!

Last night my sister asked if I could take photos for a local san jose serviceman who was recently injured on his second tour in Iraq. As someone who comes from a military family, I didn't have to think twice about volunteering my photograph services.

Here are some of the best photos from the event. On a personal level, it reminds me how much current and past military servicemen have sacrificed for our great country. If you see a veteran, please shake their hands and thank them personally for all they have done for us.

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JPP Daily Photo

The last time I was at my brother-in-law's place, he asked me about some photos I took of their cherry tree from their previous residence in mid-2000. This past weekend, I found them. Although they were technically okay photos, I thought the color and exposure could be corrected. So I took about an hour of editing this past weekend. I added my custom frame in photoshop. And, presto!, here they are. I'm gonna drop them off tonight when I see my sister and brother-in-law.

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Article about the war in Iraq & Afghanistan

I found this very eloquent quote from a rabbi about the war and the casualties in an MSNBC article today.

In the quiet of his office at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, N.J., Rabbi Douglas Sagal devotes part of each Friday afternoon to the war.

Using a Department of Defense Web site, he gathers a weekly list of those who died in Afghanistan and Iraq and reads their names at Friday night services just before the Kaddish, the prayer for the dead.

"It came out of my belief that really the great sin of our time, maybe the great sin of our generation is we send people to war and we insist on living our lives as if nothing is happening," he says. "I made a promise to myself that we are going to know the names of those who have died in the service of our country."

As an avid reader of history, I think the real difference between this war and say the Vietnam War or WWII, is that we as a society do not feel like we are at war. If anything, we have become numb to this conflict which has been going for over 8 years.

God Bless every soldier who may he bring each one home to their families.

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Photography Tips

Nikon school has got a great article on exposure called "A-Basic-Look-at-the-Basics-of-Exposure".

Nice article for new users and a refresher for more experienced photographers.

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In Memoriam

A tribute to those brave soldiers who died, not in action on foreign soil, but in Fort Hood Texas last week, may God grant them rest.....

P.S. This touches me personally because my brother was stationed in Fort Hood when he was serving in the Army in the late 80's.

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JPP Daily Photos

I sent out an email invitations to all my past and current customer's inviting them to sign up for my Family Holiday Photo Package 2009. I designed some photo greeting cards using the photos of the families from last year. Here's some of the samples.

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Technews

I'm a geek and star trekkie at heart. So when I read this article on MSNBC about NASA working on replicator technology, my first reaction was "Wow!". Here's quote from the article.

"Space explorers have yet to get their hands on the replicator of "Star Trek" to create anything they might require. But NASA has developed a technology that could enable lunar colonists to carry out on-site manufacturing on the moon, or allow future astronauts to create critical spare parts during the long trip to Mars."

You can the entire article here.

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JPP Daily Photos

Here are some of the photos I took of the vendor tables at the recent Healthnow Forum I attended last month.

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