Contest images from our readers...

Here are a few of the entries from our latest photo contest.

You can view these and other beautiful images from our readers over at our Flickr group.

Just click on any of the images below to view larger and in a new window.

A girly-man (me) and his dogs...

One of my dogs (Bonnie) was ill this past week, requiring a couple trips to the hospital, and though she is doing fine now (fully recovered), it was a scary few days.

So it made me reflect on some of my dog posts and thought I would "re-run" one of them today, so here it is:


It was not that long ago that I thought "dogs are stupid", you couldn't go away without either taking them with you or finding a sitter, it involved getting up in the middle of the night to let them out, they require constant walks, and don't even get me started in picking up their "little gifts".

So needless to say, I was NEVER going to be a dog owner.

But seven years ago our daughters REALLY wanted a dog, mind you we had gotten them every pet you can imagine in an effort to avoid that very thing, but gerbils won't fetch, cats are too cool for people and goats, well they just smell way too bad and hate it when you put ribbons in their hair.

I finally caved and got a miniature schnauzer as it's small and doesn't shed.

Well 30 seconds into dog ownership I realized the error of my ways. I loved my dog.

Two years later we got another schnauzer and just last year we rescued a third.

We put in a pellet stove and our first dog, Bonnie, can be found daily warming her buns in front of the fire and has no problem letting me know when the pellets are getting low.

I got my wife this canvas (of Bonnie ~ Cali ~ Gracie) for Christmas because the last things she sees every time she leaves the house are these three little faces peering out from between the fence posts begging her to stay.


People who don't have dogs will think the following is goofy (no pun intended, well, maybe a little), dog owners will appreciate it though (unless of course you are Michael Vick):

A Dogs Ten Commandments.........

1. Before you take me home know that my life is likely to last 10-15 years, so please be sure you are in it for the long haul.

2. Give me time to understand what you want from me

3. Place your trust in me. I will always trust you.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment.

5. You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends. I only have you and any separation from you is painful.

6. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

7. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be wrong. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I’ve been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old.

10. When it is time for me to “go on ahead”, please stay with me. Don’t say “I can't bear to watch” because I won’t want to face it alone. Everything is easier for ME if you are there, because I love you so.

Wanna Learn for free? Check this out...

Peachpit Photo Club has a library of past seminars that are 1 hour to 1 1/4 hour long that you can watch for free. Even better you can download these lessons for future viewing at time that is more convenient to you (and when you may not have internet access).

You will find seminars from photographers like Syl Arenas (flash photography), Matt Kloskowski (Photoshop), Scott Kelby (Photography Q&A), David Ziser (wedding photography), and many more.

While you are there be sure to sign up for an upcoming seminar with wildlife photographer Moose Peterson to be held on March 8th.

To make these seminars an even better learning experience each one comes with an assignment for you to complete that will help reinforce what you just learned.

Can't get much better than that.

So head over to the Peachpit Photo Club and let the learning begin.

Don't miss out on this... Seriously...

You have until February 28th to order one years worth of education from Photovision for a mere $49!

That's a saving of $150 (who said math wouldn't come in handy after school).

;)

You will get six DVD's (one every other month), each over 3 hours long and stuffed full of photographic educational info from 6 (or more) nationally known photographers.

Photographers like Joel Grimes, Joe Photo, and many, many more.

$8 for each DVD is too good to pass on which is why I bought it too.

To get this deal you will need to use the promo code "WESTCOTT" during checkout.

You only have five days left so follow this link and do it right now.

New Shiny Image Contest details..

So before I tell you the details let me share with you the prize package:

Prize 1. The two DVD set "Digital WakeUp Call" from David Ziser. I don't think anyone has combined photography AND business as well as David, and he is the most prolific blogger on the surface of the earth and the entries are packed with useful information (no fluff).


Prize 2. "Adobe Photoshop CS4 Book for Digital Photographers" from Scott Kelby.

Scott Kelby trains tens of thousands of professional photographers every year on how to use Photoshop, and almost without exception they have the same questions, the same problems, and the same challenges—and that’s exactly what Shares with you in this book.


Prize 3. The (really) good folks over at IGT America will be donating a print, but not just any print, they are going to take an image from you the winner (an image of your choosing) and give you back a 16 x 20 Metal Print!

How cool is that?


Now for the details, the contest starts today (February 21st) and the winner will be announced on Thursday March 31st. That should give everybody enough time to create their image(s).

How do you you enter?

1. Join the Weekly Photo Tips Flickr Group (details on how to join can be found here).

2. Upload one (or more) image(s) of a reflective object (glass, metal, etc.). Check out our recent post on "photographing reflective surfaces" for a bunch of resources that will help you out.

3. Leave one (or more) comments on any blog post on Weekly Photo Tips and/or a comment on any of the videos on our YouTube channel.

We will mail the prize package to the lucky winner.

The rules are pretty simple, you can enter as many times as you like (one comment + one image upload = one contest entry), all ownership rights of all images remain with you the photographer.

The only thing we will use them (the images) for is to show as occasional "samples" of images
we receive as contest entries and to announce the winner.

Lastly, the contest is open to everyone world wide, if the winner should be outside the contagious 48 United States, they (the winner) will be responsible (only) for the cost of shipping.

Good luck everyone.

Photoflex LiteDome softbox sale!...

Right now you can get a Photoflex LiteDome softbox on sale for $85 with free shipping.

I own this softbox and can tell you it is quality construction and materials, it folds down to next to nothing making it extremely portable, and now the price makes it an unbeatable option.

Here is the setup shot from a shoot we did for a national food producer (you can read more about this shoot along with other images here).

And here is the final result.


So check out the Photoflex LiteDome softbox, you may want to ad it to your arsenal of light shaping tools.

Below is a video we did demonstrating the Photoflex LiteDome softbox, subscribers will need to return to the blog or can also head directly to our YouTube channel to watch it.

"Shiny" new contest....

It has been too long since our last contest and I have plenty of photography goodies to give away.

A recent post was about "photographing reflective surfaces" so that will be this contests theme.

It will be similar to past contests, you will need to submit an image of a shiny/reflective object to our Flickr group, and leave a comment on any post on the blog and/or our YouTube channel.

Tune in this coming Monday for all the details, the rules by which we will play, but most importantly, what the super duper prize package will be.

See ya Monday!