"Guys, I can't find my dad...."

My daughter was having a bit of fun with yesterdays prediction of the "coming of the end".

She took my clothes, laid them out on the lawn, and posted the picture on Facebook proclaiming I was "one of the missing".

The girl has a good sense of humor (and is cute as a button too).

Timing is everything...

Timing is everything... in photography and in life.

Recently I have been feeling as if I was getting "a bit stale", like I had taken Weekly Photo Tips as far as it could go.

And I did not want to be like the guest who overstayed their welcome or an athlete that played beyond when they should have retired (not that I would over be confused with an athlete, at least not a living one).

Plus, even though I see the stats of our visitors, get the emails and comments, writing this blog still happens in a vacuum. I sit here early in the morning (often still in my jammy pants) writing down my thoughts and putting them online, but sometimes the thoughts do creep in, "are people really reading this, is it really that interesting?".

So I was considering a change and weighing out the options, reducing how often I posted (so that when I did post it would be more relevant and interesting), maybe transitioning into a once a week podcast, or just bringing the blog to an end.

As I was kicking these ideas around a couple things happened that "interrupted" my thought process.

First, Weekly Photo Tips was named one of the "10 Best Photography Blogs" along with folks like Scott Kelby and Joe McNally by the online tech magazine PluggedIn... that's some pretty darn impressive company. They said "The blog is a good mixture of the personal and professional: with good photos to browse". What made me me feel best was that they recognized the "personal" side.

Second, very shortly after this I received a comment from JW Stovall "I discover new and different products and services, that you have checked out. I appreciate that, but what I like the most, is that you are usually very 'upbeat' throughout your posts. This is refreshing, and encourages me to check in often. Thanks!"

These were reaffirming events for me... it made me realize that there are people out there, they do read this, and they do find it interesting.

Thank you!

Have I got a great deal for you!...

A 6 pack of SanDisk 4GB Ultra compact flash memory cards with a Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket case for only $69 with FREE shipping! That is a 50% savings (and even more savings if you include the free shipping).

SanDisk Ultra cards are fast, featuring fast 15/MB/sec Read/Write speeds, that will help reduce the time it takes for your camera to write to the card and to transfer data from your camera to your computer.

They also come with a lifetime limited warranty.

And (this is the part that will impress the heck out of you), these are the cards I use. Blown away, huh?

;)

I shoot fast and these cards keep right up with me and it's true what they say about the transfer speed, fast.

So if you are in the market for cards this is an opportunity to get very good memory cards at an outstanding price.

Reserve your seat at our David Tejada workshop...

This workshop is limited to just 8-10 seats so that each attendee is assured of plenty of personalized attention, so be sure to signup before those precious (and few) seats are gone.


Come join us on the weekend of September 17 & 18 for a two day workshop with small strobe photographer extraordinaire David Tejada.

David is one of the most highly regarded (and sought after) location corporate photographers out there, known for his dramatic and innovative photographic lighting techniques and graphic style.


He shoots both domestic and international assignments for graphic design firms and Fortune 500 companies. With 25 years of annual report photography experience, David is equally at home hovering in a helicopter over a drill rig in the Andes, creating dramatic lighting in a laboratory setting, or shooting a CEO portrait in New York City.

During the workshop David will demonstrate how to control and modify the quality of light produced from a typical shoe mounted flash. You’ll learn how to properly use umbrellas, soft boxes, snoots, grids, silks and bounce techniques. We’ll discuss using a single strobe combined with existing light as well as more complicated multiple light set-ups.

This workshop is designed for the emerging pro or for those contemplating doing so.

This workshop does not show you how to use your camera, you should understand the relationship between shutter speeds and F-stops and what the difference is between f/1.4 and f/22.

Learn more about David Tejada at his website, his blog, the "Small Strobes Big Results" site, or head over at Strobist and see why David Hobby is such a big fan (here and here).

3 day photography seminar... FREE!

Chase Jarvis had done it again over at Creative Live, he has put together a 3 day seminar for this weekend "Food Photography with Penny De Los Santos".

You can spend this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (May 13, 14, 15) with National Geographic photographer Penny De Los Santos learning the principles of food photography, image critiques, business of food photography, studio food photography, lots of shooting, and so much more.

And you and watch it live the entire three days for free (you can register here).

If it is anything like the Zack Arias three day extravaganza it will be worth your time and money (you can see the posts here, here, and here). Like this seminar it was $99 to "pre" buy the video downloads (which I did and have done for this one already) and it truly was the best $99 I have ever spent in the field of photography.

You really need to check out Penny's website as it is not only full of stunning imagery, it's so much more than food photography, she also captures the people and the culture behind the food wonderfully.

So here are the links for the workshop, to register, and to pre-buy the videos.

Here is a short (3 minute) video that will give you more of an insight on Penny and her work, if you would like to see more follow this link to watch an interview with Chase talking with Penny and Foodista.com founder Barnaby Dorfman where they discuss food, food culture, and photography.

Lastly, a big thanks to Miguel for letting me know about this event.

Shoot (and eat) some food...

I wanted to share with you a new (to me) website dedicated to teaching folks how to shoot food called, "Learn Food Photography".

You will find some great resources including a collection of 45 amazing free tips and tutorials to learn (or improve your) food photography.

They are also currently having a contest that includes prizes like a seat in a class taught by food photographer and instructor Ron Goldman and a Think Tank camera bag, so go check it out.

Here are a few more very good, very useful online (and free) food photography resources:

Big and Tasty

Digital Photography School

Food Photography for Bloggers

Learn Food Photography

PixSylAted

Wright Food

And for those photographers who take themselves just a bit too seriously we'll wrap up this post with a (funny) food photography video. Enjoy

I wet my pants watching this...

Not because I am old but because I laughed sooooo darn hard. This is by far the funniest thing I have seen in quite some time.

Wake the kids, get the neighbors, and get ready for a big old belly laugh - way out loud!

If you get this post via email you MUST return to the blog and watch this.