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The Kensington Mac Keyboard

It's like butter. 1000 times better than the regular Mac keyboards. It's very similar to typing on the Mac laptops. It's silky smooth thin keys are massaging to the fingertips. Definitely a great experience.

Kensington Mac Keyboard

The Lightbox

I was out last night, and I met a fellow photographer who works for the photographer that created this online software. It's really a great tool. It's basically an online proofing system. There is a big lab here in LA called The Icon that is powered by these guys. You can make online edits, and work remotely with Art Directors. Check it out. the lighbotxnetwork.com.

The Photographer's Guide to Negotiating

I just picked this book up, The Photographer's Guide to Negotiating, and it's great. It gives you a great perspective on negotiating photography deals as well as negotiating tactices. I think naturally as artists, we shy away from the business side of things, which is the most important if you're wanting to make a living.

It's a process

A conversation today with a friend brought up an key factor in the photographer's journey. The fact that it IS a journey, and we have to let time take it's course. Through time,  our vision will refine, our likes and dislikes will become more apparent, and we'll develop our style. Sometimes I get ahead of myself wishing I was farther along, and I have to pull back and remember, that Art is process.

The War of Art: Thought

Just read a quote from the War of Art. There will probably be a few of these coming as I read through this book. It's a great book for any artist.

Steven Pressfield says "When we see others begining to live their authentic selves, it drives us crazy if we have not lived out our own. Individuals who are realized in their own lives almost never criticize others. If they speak at all, it is to offer encouragement."

Such a great realization. Do you find yourself criticizing others? I think it's part of the artistic journey.

Nobody is as beautiful as you.

Watch this transformation of an ordinary looking girl transformed into a supermodel. It's pretty amazing what we do today in advertising. The magic of hair/makeup and photoshop. Our perception of beauty is so fictitious. The video by Ogilvy and Mather, a world renoun advertising agency shows us how our perception of beauty is founded on people who don't even exist. We as photographers participate in creating this pretend perception. Is it art or deception?

Travel Photography 101

I was just asked by a friend of mine about tips for shooting documentary work in other countries or cities, which inspired this post. I just returned from a two month trip to Asia, where I went to 7 different countries. Traveling light was a huge key.

My first tip is a roller suitcase for your gear. I bought a Tamrac 5258 CyberPack 8 Photo/Computer Backpack one that is also a backpack. It saved my shoulders and back to the nth degree. Use it for transporting your gear while your traveling, but not when you're shooting. It fits into the overhead compartment on most airplanes, and that is key. I don't check my camera gear. When I'm actually shooting, I use a little urban shoulder bag that isn't a camera bag. It's a little more desecrate when shooting on the streets. Always be aware of your surroundings. Traveling light is the most important thing when going to multiple countries.

For gear to take: Take a backup body with you. I travel with a laptop and two Firelite 100gb hard drives that I double up my data on to. Next time I'll take three drives. Make sure you stay in decent hotels where you can keep your laptop and backup gear during the day. With Lenses, it depends on how you like to shoot. Personally, I don't like anything that is slower than f2.8. When I'm doing documentary work I shoot the 70-200mm f2.8L, the 50mm f1.4(though my new dream lens is that new 50mm f1.2L), and the 20mm f2.8 That's all I carry with me and my 1DsMKII. I leave my backup 1DMKII in the hotel. You may like zooms at the wider angles. I normally shoot with fixed lenses anyways.

First and foremost shoot from the heart. Shoot with your style. Be inspired by the surroundings. Tell stories. Personally, I see moments, interactions, colors, kids, landscapes with people in them. That is what inspires me. Things like that. It is probably different for you, and that's what makes you you as a photographer.

Canon's 50mm f1.2L

If you haven't heard already, Canon just released the new 50mm f1.2L lens. It's been long awaited for an L series 50. It's pristine. It's beautiful, and the images it takes are magnificant! Pick it up at B&H, if you can catch it in stock.

The Apple Revolution

Once again, Apple brings a revolution to a new industry. The mobile phone industry. Today Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at the MacExpo Keynote. The functionality of this device is amazing let alone the pristine design and the eye candy graphics. See for yourself. Watch the Keynote.

The Value of Photography

Believing in the value of your photography is probably one of the hardest things to do as an artist. Debra Weiss has a great article on Editorial Photographers that emphasizes the concept. Well worth reading.