Tips for Better Backgrounds

The next few weeks will provide plenty of opportunities for most of us to whip out the camera and snap a few portraits. From candid shots of visiting friends to the carefully composed holiday family photo, the background is almost as important as the subjects. Poorly composed backgrounds detract from the faces you want the [...] http://tinyurl.com/yffopjp

Walt Disney Limited Editions - Mickey Mouse - Mickey Mouse 80th Anniversary - LE -

Mickey Mouse - Mickey Mouse 80th Anniversary by Walt Disney Limited Editions
Image Size: 13 inches x 16 inches
Limited Edition of 80 Cels
Numbered
Certificate of Authentication
Hand-Inked, Hand-Painted Cel
Price: $450.00

http://tinyurl.com/yh3p6dr

ScanCafe negative scanning progress (Nov 30)

Scanning progress continues. The process may be going slowly—although, I personally don’t care… these negatives have been in storage for 12 years—but ScanCafe does an excellent job of keeping you in the loop. They let me know that a technician had opened my box and was actually starting to scan my negatives.

I got this email [...] http://tinyurl.com/yadhlak

PhotoDump 11-29-2009

36 selected photos from the Epic Edits PhotoDump Flickr pool. This time there are 23 new members, 1 new discussion, and 483 new photos in the group. http://tinyurl.com/yz3mglb

Photo organization: How Geoff does it

Photodoto reader Geoff Coupe sent in some very helpful and detailed responses to my plea for help regarding my Great Photo Organization Project (which is still proceeding although I haven’t updated the sidebar in a little while). Here are his excellent responses to my questions (and you can read more on his blog). Thanks, Geoff!
If [...] http://tinyurl.com/yd68yvx

Vote in the National Geographic International Photography Contest

If you’re looking for something to do now the turkey has all been eaten and the choice of holiday TV shows has worn thin, then check out the National Geographic International Photography Contest 2009. The deadline to enter has past but you can vote for your favourite in the Viewer’s Choice category here or just [...] http://tinyurl.com/ybhhkxq

eBook Review: The Essential Guide to Portrait Photography

In my opinion, portraits can be the most interesting photos and they seem to naturally draw our attention. Why? I think we’re programmed to enjoy looking at photos of other people. In fact, I’ve often thought that the most important element of a photo is the Human element. As a photographer, you may already know that portraits are also one of the most difficult photos to pull off. The Essential Guide to Portrait Photography is a collection of stand-alone lessons on various aspects of portrait photography. http://tinyurl.com/yhr93kf

Walt Disney Storybooks - Melody Time - Once Upon a Wintertime - LE - Canvas

Melody Time - Once Upon a Wintertime by Walt Disney Storybooks
Image Size: 14 inches x 20 inches
Overall Size: 14 inches x 20 inches
Limited Edition of 54 Canvases
Numbered
Certificate of Authentication
Giclee on Canvas
Hand-Embellished.
Price: $295.00

http://tinyurl.com/y9trqvy

Book Review: Live, Laugh, Celebrate

Before reading this book, I hadn’t really thought about one of the things that separates us from all other species: we celebrate! Birth, birthday, graduation, victory, rite of passage, holiday, and many other events are celebrated by people all over the world each and every day. Some celebrations are very public gatherings, while others are private among friends and family. But whatever the reason, almost every culture celebrates something at some point. Read on for a full review and a chance to win a free copy of the book! http://tinyurl.com/yf53rsd

Polar Obsession Book Winners

Last week, when I posted the review of Polar Obsession, I also mentioned that we had two copies of the book to give away. In order to win a book, you had to post a photo or a Flickr Gallery having to do with the polar regions. We had a few entries in [...] http://tinyurl.com/yfhows7

Something is Gone Wronged

I posted an article a few hours back and I saw that it was acting funny (and not “haha” funny) — signs of spyware and/or malware causing images to not load correctly, malware warnings from Google, CSS not loading, and the page redirecting to a cruddy site (not going to post the link because it [...] http://tinyurl.com/yexwrg2

Book Review: Live, Laugh, Celebrate

Before reading this book, I hadn’t really thought about one of the things that separates us from all other species: we celebrate! Birth, birthday, graduation, victory, rite of passage, holiday, and many other events are celebrated by people all over the world each and every day. Some celebrations are very public gatherings, while others are private among friends and family. But whatever the reason, almost every culture celebrates something at some point. Read on for a full review and a chance to win a free copy of the book! http://tinyurl.com/ye2ghse

Thomas Kinkade - Framed -- Cinderella Wishes Upon a Dream - Jewel Edition - LE - Canvas

Framed -- Cinderella Wishes Upon a Dream - Jewel Edition by Thomas Kinkade
Image Size: 12 inches x 18 inches
Limited Edition of 95 Canvases
Numbered and Signed by Artist
Certificate of Authentication
Giclee on Canvas
Hand-Embellished with Painted Accents and Diamond Dust for Extra Sparkle.
Price: $1,820.00
Limited Availability; Almost Sold-Out.

http://tinyurl.com/ydu7pgx

Link Roundup 11-22-2009

Links this week include articles on Flickr exploration, lighting, contests, light painting, camera phones, China, lens guts, Flickr groups, Photoshop actions, b/w, art, panoramas, and night photography. http://tinyurl.com/yauc977

Lee Bogle - Winter Maiden - LE - Canvas

Winter Maiden by Lee Bogle
Image Size: 27 inches x 18 inches
Overall Size: 27 inches x 18 inches
Limited Edition of 250 Canvases
Numbered and Signed by Artist
Certificate of Authentication
Giclee on Canvas
Price: $450.00

http://tinyurl.com/yat8bqn

Lee Bogle - Free Spirit - LE - Canvas

Free Spirit by Lee Bogle
Image Size: 30 inches x 24 inches
Overall Size: 30 inches x 24 inches
Limited Edition of 250 Canvases
Numbered and Signed by Artist
Certificate of Authentication
Giclee on Canvas
Price: $550.00

http://tinyurl.com/yazl78b

PhotoDump 11-15-2009

36 selected photos from the Epic Edits PhotoDump Flickr pool. This time there are 20 new members, 1 new discussion, and 480 new photos in the group. http://tinyurl.com/ydmloah

Visual Magic with Mixed Media Workshop (Houston, TX)

Did you know that the best art comes from creative play? You'll be surprised at what you can do…whether you are an experienced painter or a beginner. You'll have so much fun. The inspiring music,... http://tinyurl.com/yapjrsu

Visual Magic with Mixed Media Workshop (Houston, TX)

Did you know that the best art comes from creative play? You'll be surprised at what you can do…whether you are an experienced painter or a beginner. You'll have so much fun. The inspiring music,... http://tinyurl.com/yaw7mfl

Introduction to the Macintosh Computer (Sarasota, FL)

Explore the Macintosh computer platform as a prerequisite for other courses that use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as well as Web Design. Participants unfamiliar with the Mac learn how to... http://tinyurl.com/ycqeuxp

Youth Academy Saturday Class (ages 8 and up) (Scottsdale, AZ)

Saturday classes at Scottsdale Artists' School Youth Academy provide innovative visual-arts education to children and teens who want to be creative in their free time. Scottsdale professional artists,... http://tinyurl.com/yf3nhd4

Community Open Studio Night (Fish Creek, WI)

Open Studios provide time exclusively for Peninsula School of Art Members to work in our well-appointed art studios, and to use specialized equipment you might not have at home. Create your finest works... http://tinyurl.com/yb32qej

Printmaking Techniques (Sarasota, FL)

Make multiples of art images through printmaking techniques such as monotype, transfer, etching and relief. Examples and demonstrations inform the course. Participants are encouraged to explore and develop... http://tinyurl.com/ydj2b2s

Open Studios (Fish Creek, WI)

Open Studios provide time exclusively for Peninsula School of Art Members to work in our well-appointed art studios, and to use specialized equipment you might not have at home. Create your finest works... http://tinyurl.com/ylcjfqe

Figurative Sculpture (Scottsdale, AZ)

This workshop will consist of day-to-day instruction in modeling with water-based clay. During the course of this workshop, you will make a full figure, starting from the armature to finishing the figure... http://tinyurl.com/yj5zu5u

Small Scale Metal Sculpture and Wearable Art (Sarasota, FL)

Sheet metal presents many exciting options to create sculptural compositions. This class focuses on designing and fabricating layered relief and hollow forms. Students learn to make cold connections and... http://tinyurl.com/ydqo97s

3-D Design (Sarasota, FL)

This class uses the basic principles of Modernist Sculpture. Each project is a prelude to traditional sculpture processes and building maquettes, such as planar cardboard constructions to be translated... http://tinyurl.com/y9a6bep

3-D from the Inside Out: Developing Sculptural Form Using Repoussé Techniques (Scottsdale, AZ)

This workshop will build on the sculpting processes learned in the course "Seeing Is Believing, An Introduction to Sculptural Form Using Ceramic Techniques", which is recommended but not required... http://tinyurl.com/yl37oh3

Slow Photography

Douglas Gayeton’s Slow: Life in a Tuscan Town (Welcome Books) is pornography for the Heat-reading set. It is the Slow Food movement brought to art (it even has its own dinner tour). It is a series of portraits of a rural town in Italy where Gayeton lived, worked, cooked, fell in love, and took pictures—tons of [...] http://tinyurl.com/y9wv2cl

FotoTV Subscription Winners

Last week, I did a review of FotoTV and promised a few free subscriptions. And thanks to some magical randomness from the Internet, the winners are Genaro Orengo and JDUBJ! Congrats! And if either of these two can’t accept the prize for some reason, I’ll choose another to fill the spot.
For the [...] http://tinyurl.com/yjsrufk

Creating Mood & Depth in Watercolor (Easton, MD)

Don't miss the chance to study with the Plein Air-Easton! 2009 Grand Prize winner. This workshop
breaks down the watercolor painting process to mastering fundamentals i.e. drawing, washes, mark-making
various... http://tinyurl.com/y8qnh9o

Shuttle Atlantis Docks at Space Station

Space shuttle Atlantis docks at International Space Station.















International Space Station - Space - Space Shuttle - Technology - NASA http://tinyurl.com/y8msn6k

WATCH: Liftoff! Put Yourself in the Pilot Seat

Lipstick camera shows Atlantis' launch from the pilot's point of view.















Atlantis - Social Sciences - Archaeology - Alternative - Lost Civilizations http://tinyurl.com/y8b6u7d

WATCH: The Sidekick Comeback

T-Mobile improves the Sidekick.















T-Mobile - Business and Economy - Telecommunications - Mobile - Business http://tinyurl.com/y8jk3j6

Argue w/ Your Partner, Cut Years Off Your Life?

Study: Couples can affect their heart, diabetes, cancer risks when they argue.















Cancer - Diabetes mellitus - Health - Conditions and Diseases - Diabetes http://tinyurl.com/ya5wu6o

DreamWorks Animation - Kung Fu Panda - Po's Dream Early Concept - Red River - LE - Canvas

Kung Fu Panda - Po's Dream Early Concept - Red River by DreamWorks Animation
Image Size: 14 inches x 36 inches
Overall Size: 14 inches x 36 inches
Limited Edition of 195 Canvases
Numbered
Certificate of Authentication
Giclee on Canvas
Price: $800.00

http://tinyurl.com/y8f7dma

DreamWorks Animation - Kung Fu Panda - Wu Dan Mountain Visual Development - Po and Shifu - LE - Canvas

Kung Fu Panda - Wu Dan Mountain Visual Development - Po and Shifu by DreamWorks Animation
Image Size: 13.75 inches x 36 inches
Overall Size: 13.75 inches x 36 inches
Limited Edition of 195 Canvases
Numbered
Certificate of Authentication
Giclee on Canvas
Price: $900.00

http://tinyurl.com/ye2trdm