Who wants a David Honl DVD?...

Our contest this month is for the two DVD set from David Honl, "Light".

It's an educational lighting DVD that will walk you through nine different shooting scenarios, all lit with small strobes (hot shoe flashes), some lit with as few as one.

You can read the entire DVD review here.

To be eligible for the drawing you need to do two things between now and the end of the month (9/30/10):

1. Leave a comment on any of our posts.

2. Upload a favorite image you have shot to our Flickr Group with a sentence (or two) about why it's among your favorites.

For those of you who have already left comments since the first of September, if you upload an image to Flickr you will be in the running too.

For those wondering, all rights and ownership of any image you upload will remain with you and you alone. Period.

You can enter as many times as you like, for each comment and image combination you submit your name will be entered into our September contest.

Looking forward to reading your comments and seeing your images.

Good luck everyone.

It finally happened...

I've shot at a bunch of weddings (including 2 this weekend) and many have been beautiful, touching events. But never had I been emotional (AKA "something in my eye").

Well, at the reception of yesterdays wedding the father of the bride got up to toast the couple and started talking about his love for his daughter, how on the day she was born she wrapped her tiny fingers around one of his, then went on to talk about important events in her life (first day at school, riding a bike, etc.) when she was nervous or afraid and how putting her hand in his would comfort her and give her strength.

Each of the moments he shared was both touching and beautiful, then he started... "and now the day has come when I have to take your hand from mine and place in gently into the hand of your husband..."

The guests were crying, the wait staff was crying... even I had "something in my eye".

The above image is of a rose that was in the brides bouquet. I shot it with a Nikon 60mm Micro (macro) 2.8 lens. I wanted just the edges of the petals closest to the lens in focus and the focus on the rest of the flower to fall off.

Fate...

It's the weekend, a time when I sometimes go waaaaay off topic (from Photography).

This video affirms that sometimes there is more than chance at play, sometimes fate happens.

Subscribers will need to return to the blog to watch this video as it does not get pushed through, sorry.

One more sale NOT to miss...

I normally would have held this post for next week but by then it would be too late!

My friends over at V Gallery (Vicki & Jed Taufer) just emailed me that they are having a 50% off EVERYTHING Labor Day sale (ending September 6th).

We have reviewed a few of their products including our pick for the 2009 product of the year, "The Evolution Collection with FLO", and everything you need to add pet photography to your studio, "Unleashed".

You can read our reviews for both here (Evolution Collection) and here (Unleashed).

Be sure to use the promo code "LD2010" to get half off everything you purchase.

Happy shopping and have a safe holiday weekend.

CoffeeCup slideshow software for only $19...

If you are looking for slideshow software CoffeeCup software is offering "Photo Gallery" for just $19.

I bought it and can tell you it's powerful AND easy to use.

The only thing is the sale is for a short time only (I believe it ends in a week), so you can learn more about Photo Gallery here (including some sample slideshow), check out the video tutorials here, and use this link to order it at the discounted price here.

If you want to take it for a test run just to make sure, a free trial is available here.

Please, please, please read this...

If you love photography and are looking for educational opportunities, this post is a must read.

I have been getting a bunch of emails lately, some looking for where to find photography courses and others looking for camera clubs in their area (if I haven't responded your email yet I will, I promise).

The theme for all the emails have been pretty consistent, they are looking to bring their photography to the "next level".

I can't begin to tell you how many books, DVD's, and courses have come to us for review over the last 5 years and there are two that are head and shoulders above the rest.

So if you want to take your camera off "P", if you want to be comfortable shooting in manual, and if you want to control the light instead of being controlled by it then right these down.

There are two things I would recommend (strongly urge) you do before anything else. ANYTHING ELSE.

First, I would buy the "Strobist Lighting Seminar DVD Box Set", an 8 DVD 2 day seminar from David Hobby. You can read my (glowing) review here and buy it over at Midwest Photo Exchange for $139.

Second, I would head over to Creative Live and download the 2 1/2 day seminar "Studio Photography" taught by Zack Arias for $129 (my review is here).

I could ramble on about what is so great about these two products, but it would a re-hash of the original reviews, so take a minute to read them for in-depth product details (David Hobby here and Zack Arias here).

These will do more than take your photography to "the next level", they will shoot you over the mountain and leave your sprawled on the other side.

It will have you saying things about lighting ratios that will leave your photography friends dumbfounded and wanting to know if you can teach an upcoming class at the camera club.

;)

Seriously, these are the best educational opportunities available out there, I promise, and having them on DVD will give you the chance to watch, re-watch, stop, pause, and study anything you want at times convenient for you.

That's my 2 cents... and your $268.

Hey Chance, you won too!...

All too often we see the "less than admirable" side of people, especially as displayed on the glut of "reality" shows on TV.

Yesterday we announced the winner of our latest contest and a person who didn't win left a comment congratulating the person who did.

I know, I know, no big deal.

Well, it kinda is, at least to me.

It's a breath of fresh air to see people being courteous, acting civily, and being happy for the good fortune of others.

So Chance, you too are a winner, and to reward your kind and gracious behavior we are going to send you a 80/20 flash modifier and the book "Flash, The Most Available Light" both from LumiQuest.

Email us your snail mail address and your package will be on its way.

Congratulations Chance.