Good places to drive & photograph on vacation

Scenic Summer Drives

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Photo Tips

10 Must Have Apps for iPhone Photography

Technology News

I'm a big proponent of green, renewable energy sources like solar power. I've personally embraced it by buying and replacing everyday items like: solar powered LED key chain light, solar powered desk light, solar powered emergency flashlight and a solar powered battery charger (from AAA to DD). The batteries are used in my MP3 player, flashlights and even my small fan for my bedroom! I'm doing my part to try to wean my household from using costly electricity created from hydro and natural gas sources. Looking to the future, I want to get a solar powered attic fan to reduce the energy that causes the 2nd floor of the house to get warm in the day especially in summer heat. Eventually I want to get regular solar panels on the roof to use for every day energy use. I'm even hoping that they come out with a Honda Element that is hybrid using solar energy.

That being said, there still is a problem on the national level with our country's solar energy usage. As emphasized in this MSNBC article, "Solar struggles in U.S. market: Lack of national policy keeps sun power in shadows".

Are you doing your part to switch from fossil fuels to more green energy?

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JPP Daily Photos

Welcome Home to Bustery Posey, my new beagle buddy! He's the nicest, coolest beagle...!

He's unofficially my new photo assistant. Ruff!

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Photoshop Tips

From my twitter friend:

jensfab

I uploaded a YouTube video -- Intuition - Intelligent Photoshop Actions http://youtu.be/nG6D4NsC7Xw?a

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Photo Tips

Free USPS Shipping from Mpix – Now through June 10th!

Save on USPS shipping with Mpix now through midnight CST on June 10th. Enter promo code "freeusps10" when checking out to redeem the free USPS offer!

IMPORTANT

• Promo code freeusps10 must be entered at checkout to receive the discount.

• Mpix promo codes do not apply to orders placed through ROES.

Photo Tips

I've been trying to master the art of using artificial lighting (i.e. flashgun, studio lights, etc) when I don't have the luxury of ambient light. I've shot with both Canon and Nikon flash guns. The most difficult part is using the external flash as either fill lighting (i.e. on a bright day) or as primary lighting (i.e. indoor lighting). Both have their advantages and disadvantages. From using it as direct flash [oh those horrible flat images!) to using third party adapters (Fong dome diffusers, A better bounce card, bouncing lighting). Well I found this great technique from an article on "Making the Most of one Flash [Case Study]". I'll post some photos later this week on my practice using this new technique. In the meantime, I'd recommend trying it yourself.

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Photo Tips

http://digital-photography-school.com/5-elements-of-composition-in-photography

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JPP Daily Photos

Here's some photos of my two nieces from this past Memorial Day Weekend BBQ.

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JPP Daily Photos

I was playing with the channel mixer tutorial I posted awhile back with some of Michelle's photos from April.

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Photoshop Tips

David Saffir has a nice tutorial on his blog for using Nik Viveza 2 and Color Efex Pro 3.0. CHeck it out. He's also hosting a webinar to cover these products.

If I have the time this weekend, I plan on signing up!

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Happy Memorial Day

Lets all say thanks to any vets or families of veterans who have served our countries armed forces. Especially those who have loved ones serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. hoooah!

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JPP Daily Photos

This is the collage I made for my wedding couple from Feb.

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Word or Phrase of the Day

I was just finishing up Stephen Ambrose's book, Pegasus Bridge, when I ran into a phrase I was unfamiliar with. Thanks to Google, I was able to decipher "Sine Qua Non" as,

(SY-nee kway NON)

noun
An indispensable condition; prerequisite.

Etymology
Latin sine qua non (without which no

Fancy that. I have a new phrase to add to my literary arsenal!

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Photoshop Tips

str8photography

The Best Photoshop Tutorials of 2009 http://ht.ly/1QWYY

Photo Tips

David Saffir has a great article Creating a Unique Portait.

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Photography Webinar

I just finished "Certify with Sandy Puc' - Learn how to get Certified with the PPA" webinar. This is the first step of getting certified with PPA as a professional photographer.

Here's the breakdown of how i will be approaching this goal:

1. Study the different criteria's that are part of the test from now until the test date. This means reading up, testing the technique until I am confident its second nature.

2. Incorporating the required 20 image submissions with real assignments this year (images from the type of photography I am currently advertising: portraits, product photography, etc).

3. Tentative date winter 2010/2011.

This is going to be a fun experience!

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Cool

met a fellow filipino, Randy, on the basketball court at groesbeck park. he's also a Nikon photographer. how cool is that?

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Photography Products‏

Mypublisher is offering 40% off PhotoBooks for Father's Day!‏

Check out the link here. Mypublisher is one of the two (Mpix being the other) photobook publisher's I use for my customers.

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Technology News

Is Flash dead?

IntotheDarkroom has a great blog article on this topic. Also see my comments at the end of their blog article!

http://intothedarkroom.com/blog/

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