I've been hit!

A few weeks ago, my wife had her site reviewed by Men with Pens. This is a free service James and Harry provide and their writing style is... well... unique! Yeah, that's it - unique. The review for Marketing Artfully can be found here.

Anyone who knows Tara and I know that we are VERY competitive. I figured what the hell, I'll sign up to get my blog reviewed - surely the review of this blog will turn out to be better than hers. I was so confident that I would prevail that I was bordering on cocky. I had three weeks to prepare for their "drive by" and decided to leave everything as-is. Little did I know, I had lots to be wary of...

James and Harry murdered me (but in a good way). The list of changes they think I should make are too long to list here - but if you want a good chuckle, you can read their review here.

Needless to say, blog.g33kart.com is going to receive a face-life over the next several days. I can honestly say that I don't disagree with any of James and Harry's suggestions. I only issue a thinly veiled warning that James and Harry should watch their back if they ever make it to Florida - for they might find themselves the victim of their own drive by shooting - photographer style. =)

Fundamentals of Composition

Do you look at the photo on the back of your camera and wonder why it doesn't look like the image in your mind's eye? Are you often finding yourself coming back from a photo shoot with images that end up in the trash can? If so, then I have a great opportunity for you!

"Compelling Photographs - 'Must Know' Fundamentals of Composition" is an 8 week class that is designed to help you get the stunning images that keep eluding you. Award winning photographer Robert La Follette leads you on a journey towards the ultimate goal of being able to create compelling photographs as we explore some of the secret and not-so-secret tips from the pros to help you get the work of art you desire.

Each week will kick off with an online lesson and a photography assignment. You have ten days to submit the images for each assignment. A professional photographer will personally critique each of your images and give you the hints and tips that "you" need to make your images better.

Some of the topics we will be covering include:

• get closer!
• change your perspective
• the greek mean
• the five elements of design

In addition to the extensive online training, there is a "students only" Q&A section run by myself that allows you to get additional help with your photography. Not sure what a setting on your camera means? Do you have additional photos that you would like critiqued? Do you need additional help with exposure or composition that isn't outlined in the class? The Q&A section allows you to receive the personalized help that you need outside of the syllabus of the course work.

Are you still unsure? Here are what some of our former students are saying:

"Just wanted to say 'thank you' to Robert and John - the class has been a wonderful experience, I have learned a lot, and I have certainly had a lot of fun participating. I really appreciate the time and attention you have given to me and I plan to continue to apply the guidance and advice you have offered" - David "Just wanted to say thanks for a great class. Photography has turned out to be something of great interest to me....it's sort of my 'zen' thing...I take the challenges presented in these courses very seriously (sometimes too seriously in that I end up competing with myself each lesson and borderline having a nervous breakdown because I want to be incredibly unique AND picture perfect) and it's also a very personal goal for me to become better and better...you guys have helped push me to find my creative edge through each lesson, which I am very thankful for." - Jaquelyn "Just want to thank you both for an outstanding course. I love all the courses I've taken at PPSOP, but I think this one has taught me the most." - Carol

Students in this class include photographers who are aiming for that "perfect picture", intermediate photographers who want to start creating professional photos for profit, scrapbookers who know that their work is only as good as their pictures and anyone who wants to take their photos to the next level!

If you have any desire to improve the quality of the photos you take, "Compelling Photographs - 'Must Know' Fundamentals of Composition" is an opportunity that you can't afford to pass up. New classes start on July 11, 2008, exclusively at the Perfect Picture School of Photography.

http://www.ppsop.com/comp.aspx

Sign up now for this groundbreaking approach to improving your photographs!

Colorado: Day 6

My last night in Colorado I was walking around a park in Superior, CO when I stumbled across this young lass wondering around aimlessly dressed up as .... Marie Antionette?!?

The young lass in question is Greg's wife Rachael. Rach is a top notch seamstress and costume maker and the 50lbs of 18th century fashion she is wearing is 100% created by her. It was a costume that she had made for Halloween last fall. She knew I was in town and also knew that I never turn down a photo opportunity so we planned to meet up at about 6:30 at a local park to try to get some of the "golden light". The goal was to get some quality shots that she could use in a portfolio showing off some of her many extravagant creations.

We spent about 90 minutes at the park and despite recovering from a broken foot, Rach was a true sport - even the sprinklers going off didn't seem faze her - much. Helping out a friend was a great way to end my trip to Colorado and I hope that she has some images she can use in her portfolio now.

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Colorado: Day 5

I woke up about 4:30AM and made the 70 minute trek to Rocky Mountain National Park. I quickly came to realize that I had been wading in the kiddie pool all week during my stay in Colorado. Within 15 minutes of arriving, I think I got two of my best photos - ever.

There's not much I can add to the story at this point. These pictures really aren't doing the park it's due justice. I spent about four hours firing shots and as I was leaving the park, I called my wife and said "Honey, we're taking a vacation out here!"

Click to view panorama of Bear Lake

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Colorado: Day 4

I woke up early this morning and made another trip to Eldorado Canyon State Park - and this time I actually went in and took some photos! I got there about 6:45AM and it was a brisk 59 degrees out. I decided to take a trip up the Rattlesnake Gulch trail.

The trail itself is a 1.8 mile each way trip up the side of the mountain. It's rated moderate to difficult. Did I mention it has a 1200 foot elevation change? I figured I would give it a shot...

About a third of the way up the mountain, my legs started to tire. About two thirds of the way up, I could swear my heart was going to burst out of my chest - 180 beats per second! I finally made it to the top of the trail and was rewarded with some of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. I decided that I made it this far, so I went off on a side trail to get to a spot even higher to view the Continental Divide. The only word I can think to sum it up is "Wow!"

I made my way back down the trail and meandered around the rest of the park, taking time to try to get shots of the rapids (which failed miserably). I was getting ready to leave when I noticed some mountain climbers scaling the vertical walls of the canyon. Apparently, Eldorado Canyon State Park is one of the best mountain climbing destinations in the United States! I fired off about 100 shots of the climbers before finally calling it a morning.

Needless to say, the visit was well worth the pain of taking Rattlesnake Gulch Trail.

Click to view panorama of Boulder, CO

(Click to view full sized image on Flickr)

Colorado: Day 3

Another great day in Colorado. This morning I stopped by Eldorado Canyon State Park. I didn't even have to go in to the park to get a memory card full of shots. While I'm shooting away, a deer crosses the road about 100 feet from me. No, we just don't get this kind of thing in Florida!

I also found out today that I'm going to be here a few more days that I originally had thought - darn, that means I'll have to find some MORE spots to get some great Rocky Mountain photographs.

Click to see panarama of the Rockies

Click to see another panorama of the Rockies

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Colorado: Day 2

Day 2 started off quite overcast but I decided to make a trip up to the mountains anyway - who knows, maybe I'd get lucky. Most of the shots I got weren't that great, but it certainly was a beautiful drive!

This evening I went back up into the mountains hoping to catch a nice golden hour. Round trip was 58 miles. By the time I got to Nederland - about the halfway point - I was pretty ecstatic with what I had seen to that point. Little did I know the best was yet to come.

There is no way words or my lousy pictures can do the trip from Nederland to Boulder justice. It felt as though I was in another world. To help put things in perspective, Nederland is 8,236 feet about sea level. In Florida, our largest elevation change is from the floor to the couch. Ironically, the terrain was so extreme, it effectively blocked my golden hour light. I guess I didn't realize that there isn't much light in a canyon!

Regardless, the 58 mile trip was more than worth it - I can wait to get my wife out here to see take the same journey with me.

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Colorado: Day 1

I'm in Denver this week and of course, I had to bring my camera with me (to hell with lugging 30 lbs of gear through the airport!). After a chili induced slumber (thanks Rach!), I woke up early and drove around for awhile this morning and found the Rocky Mountains. They're kind of hard to miss. They're the big bumps in the ground. I ended up with a couple of nice landscape shots - not a bad way to start the day out.

While I was taking shots, I noticed how the cars looked coming up the road next to where I was standing so I called Greg and told him to drive by in his BMW M6. It was 7:15AM and he hadn't had his coffee yet so he wasn't really sure what I wanted but he obliged. After he zipped by, I showed him the shot on the LCD of my camera, and I think he was pretty impressed.

Tonight, I decided to head about 20 miles east and see if I could get a nice skyline shot of Denver. Lesson to all you travel photographers out there - do a little research on the locale that you are visiting. Before I came out here, I did just that and found "the spot" to get the skyline shot. I arrived about 7:30 and stood around for about 75 minutes before the light got good enough. The end result are some nice skyline shots.

So, day 1 is in the books and quite a few images that are quite different than anything I would get in Florida.

Panorama of the Rocky Mountains outside Boudler, CO

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Motion implied

This morning I met my friend Fred in downtown Clearwater and we walked around for awhile shooting the bull and taking some photos. We settled on a spot at the end of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway and spent almost two hours shooting implied motion shots - both stationary camera w/a blurred subject and panning shots

Afterwards, a stop at Starbucks was needed to some much needed caffeine and snacks. All-in-all, a pretty darn good morning.

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Rough outing for the hometown boys

It was a rough outing for the hometown Clearwater Threshers Sunday afternoon. Powered by a 6 run 2nd inning, the St Lucie Mets took the finale of the series by a final of 12-2. Despite the outcome, it was still a great day to take photos. Brighthouse Field is a wonderful place to watch a ballgame at and with a crown of just over 1,000 people, I had my pick of seats to shoot from.

Click here to see the complete gallery

Panorama of Brighthouse Field prior to the first pitch

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Nice way to end the day

Back when I started getting serious about photography, my only goal was to be able to take good enough photos that I wouldn't be ashamed to hang them on the wall in my living room. The very first photo I hung was a silhouette of a pelican at sunset. A few short years later I'm assisting a local photographer with some of his projects - including helping him teach photography to others at an online photograph school.

After dinner tonight I decided to head over to the beach and see if I could get a decent sunset photo to cap off the day. I had initially wanted to get some shots at Clearwater Beach but there were just too many people there so I headed over to Sand Key. There were more people there than I had hoped but I was still able to get a couple of decent shots out of the trip. I'm not sure any of these will make the wall but regardless, it's fun trying!

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Ridiculous...

I'm sure that I'm not alone in thinking that the price of gas has gotten to be ridiculous. On my way home from Honeymoon Island this morning I decided to document some of the prices I saw. I figure I'll submit these to Photoshelter as stock images and maybe someone will buy one - helping offset the price of gas. ;)

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Fish can .... fly?

I went to Honeymoon Island this morning to get some exercise and see if there was any action with the wildlife. Right off the bat I got lucky with a couple of fly overs - one by a seagull and one by an osprey. It was low tide and the osprey seemed to be quite active from 9AM until about 10AM. I got to the end of the trail and decided to take a walk on the beach.

Once I got around the bend I realized this was a good choice. There were hundreds of mullet jumping out of the water. This is normal for a mullet but this is the first time I had my dSLR with me to try to capture it. It took about 30 minutes of trial and error and I finally got the process down after observing the fishes habits. Most of the time, the mullet will make a single jump. Every so often the mullet will do a double or even a triple jump!

I waited for a mullet to jump and quickly focused on that area hoping for a double jump. Every so often I was rewarded with a flying fish! Only in Florida....

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)

Money

There's not a lot to say here. My wife needed some photos of money for a client project she's working on. It must be nice to have a staff photographer in-house!

Of course, I wasn't complaining too much because it was a chance to take some stock photos with my new macro lens. :)

(Click on photo to see full sized image on Flickr)