TWIP Assignment: Circles
Since TWIP has changed their contest submissions over to Photrade I have decided to take advantage of a button they supply and make it a regular feature here. When photos are uploaded to this new service they give you the option of sharing your submissions by supplying some nifty little widgets. I already have one up for the contest I have entered and I just posted another for this week’s TWIP assignment “circles”. Everytime I enter the biweekly contest I will post in my sidebar, a Photrade “vote for my photo” widget. If you like the photo I submit for that week’s assignment, I would appreciate your vote.1 Don’t forget to check out all the other great submissions. I will continue to upload all my Digital Photography School Assignments to flickr so those submissions will still show up in my photostream.
UPDATE: Voting is now closed. Thank you to all who voted for my photo.
- In order to vote, you must have an account at Photrade; If you don’t already have an account, click the widget to be taken to the photrade site then click vote under the photo to receive an invitation code [↩]
Aperture Nature Photography Workshops Contest
This Week in Photography is sponsoring a new contest (in addition to their bi-weekly assignments) where several amateur photographers will get the chance to go to four different US national parks (Olympic, Tetons, Yosemite and Yellowstone) and receive training and tips from professional photographers. They are holding four different contests and the first has only one week left for submissions. My dad went to Yosemite one summer on vacation and I would love to go not only for the beautiful scenery but also for the chance to receive instruction from some very talented artists. I have just put up a voting widget in my sidebar so vote for my photo if you think it is worth your vote and also check out the other submissions. There are a lot of really well made photographs submitted already so it looks as though a lot of people are as excited about this opportunity in the same way that I am.
UPDATE: Voting is now closed. Thank you to all who voted for my photo.
Filed under environment, photography, travel | Comment (0)Gorgeous River Day
Last week, my children and I headed out early for a drive down by the river to scout for great photo moments. I ended up pulling off the road at a river put-in when they got restless sitting in the car. They had fun playing in the river, collecting shells and throwing rocks while I set about snapping away. At the start of the day, I had grandiose visions of herons, butterflies and hummingbirds being captured perfectly on my digital “film” for submission to stock photo websites.
Filed under family, photography, summer | Comment (0)Waterwheel and Photostream
As you can see, I have a new photo block below the search box in my sidebar which displays random photos from my Flickr Photostream. In order to absorb the enormous amount of knowledge required to make great photographs, I have been participating in weekly “photo assignments” on several online photography forums and they require assignment/contest entries be uploaded via Flickr.1 Not only is Flickr a lot of fun, they keep track of how many times a photo is viewed. I have even gotten a comment as well.
- This Week in Photography has just announced they will be moving their submissions requirement over to Photrade. [↩]
Democracy Now! of the High Country
If you are not already familiar with the radio and tv news program Democracy Now! it is worth checking out. This is one of the first places I go when I want to hear news not easily found through mainstream media sources.
Recently, I have had the distinct pleasure of becoming a member of the writing team for the blog Democracy Now! of the North Carolina High Country which focuses on issues paramount to democracy in our specific region. The blog has a terrific group of skilled writers dedicated to fair, open, honest reporting. DNHC also hosts movie nights in Boone periodically where they show documentaries such as The Future of Food.
Not only are there always new posts to read and watch, the content focuses on issues affecting all our lives here in the High Country. To read the first article I contributed, visit the “North Carolina Voters in Danger?” post and stay tuned for my second article (not published yet) which is about my experience at the Clinton stump speech in Boone.
Filed under photography | Comment (0)Gourmet Sandwiches - “Free Smells”
Boone has a new sandwich shop in town. I am sure all the local mom and pop restaurants are thrilled to have this new chain addition to downtown (sarcastic tone). I haven’t tried the food yet so I can’t vouch for its quality but they make gourmet sandwiches and deliver until 3am. It is certain to be a favorite of all the college students when they come back to town in full force by the end of August. I was passing by just after dark one night when they first opened and captured the above photo. I thought it was interesting as this is now the first thing you see at night as you enter the heart of downtown from the east. Also, I love their neon sign which reads “Free Smells”.
Filed under photography | Comment (0)Digital Photography School Assignment: Junco Quadriptych
Panoramio Anyone?
Not long ago, I discovered a website called Panoramio, whose tag line is “Photos of the World”. It is a geographical photo collaboration site that uses Google Earth and Google Maps to link photos to the exact location from which they were taken. All uploaded photos (subject to review), will be included in Google Maps through Panoramio’s interface. During Google’s review they may also choose photos to include in Google Earth. This is a really fun way to contribute and view photos taken all around the world.
Filed under photography | Comments (2)Boone’s Outdoor Drama Horn in the West
I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with some of the cast members of the Horn in the West Outdoor Drama in June the day before the show was about to open for the 2008 season. I was at the Daniel Boone/JC’s park for LLL’s annual outdoor/picnic meeting and the cast members happened to arrive at the same time for a dress rehearsal. I asked them If I could take their picture; they happily obliged and even posed for me atop one of the climbing bars at the park. I also grabbed a quick photo of them while they were singing at one of the picnic tables under the shelter. I even got a little bit of exposure as a freelance photographer when High Country Media published my playground photo in the June 23rd edition of the Watauga Democrat Newspaper.
Brian used to work with Wes Martin, who currently plays Daniel Boone in the drama. Brian and I went to see the production for the first time in 2000. I was impressed with the varied theatrics and the professionalism of all the actors. The drama has a new director this year who changed some minor things about the production. The show is also offered to Watauga county residents for only six dollars. I think it is about time we go again before the season ends on August 16th.
Horn members singing at Daniel Boone Park
