Recently in Goals Category

I decided to enter some images into the FotoWeek DC contest this year. FotoWeek DC is trying to establish itself as the nation's premiere photography festival and also highlight and recognize the most talented photographers in the DC area.

I typically don't enter photo contests. In the past I usually learn about them too late for submission, or I just don't get up the nerve or energy to submit anything. Well this year I had plenty of time and I figured I may as well give it a try.

So I have entered the following photos in each of the following categories in the amateur class.

Animals: I submitted the following two images.

     

Landscapes: I submitted a recent sunflower photo and also one of my favorite photos from my a trip to Montana.

     

Fine Art: In the fine art category I picked two of my favorite Infrared photos. I have printed both of these large and they look great in my home.

     

The entry deadline for submission is September 22nd, so if you are on the fence thinking about it, my advice is to just do it. You never know what could happen.

Those that can't do, teach... and those that can't teach ... teach gym. - "School of Rock" Jack Black

About a month ago I offered to teach a class to one of my photoclubs on Lightroom. I'm finding that many people are afraid to try new software and workflow processes. Most people are just not adventurous to try new software. These are the same people that don't shoot RAW or are using programs like Elements. I have nothing bad to say about the low end of  software spectrum. It suits the needs for the majority of the public photographic needs.

However, the people I'm talking to are advanced ametures or even semi-pro/pro photographers. They are constanly running into the limitations of the low end software and are asking for workarounds. Well the work around is to get a real photographic workflow tool. I have been helping people come over to the "light" for the last couple of months and I figured it was time to hold a class.

Since I work in the technology field, part of my job is to try new software, so I'm always checking out the latest and greatest tool. I jumped at the chance to be part of the beta of Lightroom when it first came out. LR has been out for over a year and has been completely integrated into my photographic workflow process. I was a firm Bridge/Photoshop/iView Media user for several years. After giving LR a try during the beta, I knew I had a new home.

Well this week I was preparing my notes for the class and I was going to touch on the new features of LR 2 that were under beta. In my notes I was constantly saying "but wait, when they release LR2 this will become much easier."

Well, thanks to Adobe I'm now teaching a Lightroom 2 class tomorrow morning rather than just a Lightroom class. The new version of the software shipped this week and this new version adds many features that make it an even better workflow tool.

 I'm excited about teaching my first class and I'm excited about sharing the new features that are available under LR2.

I can't believe that it is almost the end of May already. I did such a good job promoting this event on Flickr and other venues, I forgot to mention it here on my own blog. This will be the second photowalk I have hosted and will get me half way to my goal of four this year. So if you have the time, head on out to Gettysburg tomorrow and join fellow photographers on a photowalk of the streets of Gettysburg PA. We will be meeting at the tour bus parking lot on Baltimore Street (across from the Gettysburg National Cemetery.) We will be meeting at 10:00AM and the walk should take about two hours.

The route is about 2 miles long and we will be walking downtown Gettysburg and a loop through the National Cemetery. After the walk we will meet at Spiritfield's Irish pub for lunch and a chance to share some photos.

Here is the upcoming link: upcoming.yahoo.com/event/466081/

The editors of Celebrate Gettysburg will be writing a story about the event and photos from the walk may be used in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

Here is a map of the route.

View Larger Map

The Bethesda photowalk group had a great time walking the streets of Bethesda on a sunny afternoon. All week we had threats of rain and chances of snow, but the weather turned out great. We had 26 people who came from throughout the DC metro area, and one visiting from New York. The group was comprised of people from the Gaithersburg Camera Club, National Zoo Photo Club, and various members of Flickr.

The photowalk started at the plaza level of the Bethesda Metro stop and we walked a 2 mile loop around the city. After the walk a small group had dinner at the Daily Grill to swap stories.

Here is a selection of photos my daughter and I took while on the walk. Additional photos from others in the group can be found with with the following Flickr Tag searches. Flickr1, Flickr2

Thanks to all that were able to attend. Here is the list of participants, please let me know if I'm missing anyone or if you want some links updated.

• Gene Han (from New York) - Flickr
• Jeff Pai
• Dan Miller - Flickr, Website
• Katie Staines
• Sara Staines
• Tim George
• Tom Statas - Website
• Barbara Statas
• Carol Gregoire - Flickr
• Rob Allegar - Flickr
• Geoff Green - Flickr
• Shawn Duffy - Flickr, Website
• Saule Allen
• Raoul Pop - Flickr, Website
• Ligia Pop
• Russel Williard
• Marcelina - Flickr
• Adan I
• Adan II - Flickr
• Scott Sherman - Host of the Digital Photography Show podcast, Flickr
• Jenna Duffy - Flickr, Website
• Gyuri Grell - Flickr
• James Vasak - Flickr
• Mark Anderson - Flickr, Website
• Emma Anderson - Flickr, Website
• Michele Anderson

With my first organized photowalk already on the books, I just need to plan three more for the rest of the year.

One of my goals for this year was to organize a local photowalk. Well I'm off to a good start. The first photowalk has been scheduled for February 9th.

Several photographers in the DC Metro area will be meeting on February 9th at 2:00 PM for a photowalk of Bethesda Maryland. We will meet at the street level plaza of the Bethesda Metro station.

The route is about 2 miles long. The road along Woodmont offers back ally shooting (in a safe environment) and also some older buildings and store fronts. Wisconsin road is your typical restaurant row with newer modern store fronts that can give you chances for street shooting and neon/light trails in the evening.

Additional information can be found at the following links:
Upcoming
Photowalking.org

Here is a map of the route.


View Larger Map

In celebration of the Elvis New Year I propose the following resolutions and goals for the coming year. One thing I have learned in my 40+ years is that trying to resolve to NOT do something usually dooms me to failure. That is why I structure my goals to add something rather than taking something away. So for me, setting a goal to drink 64 oz. of water a day will help me feel full, and subsequently I will eat less. The end result, loose weight.

I have broken them down into the following major categories.

A friend asked me, so what is up with the Elvis New Year?

Well the answer is two fold.

First, Elvis is the King. I say he deserves his own holiday. On January 8th of this year Elvis will turn 73—you know Elvis still lives don't you :-)

I'm really not that big of an Elvis nut. I have never been to Graceland and don't have any collectibles. I just have several good memories going out to celebrate his birthday with friends. That was back in the day when we looked for any reason to go out and hit the clubs. I even met my wife 20 years ago on that date while celebrating his birthday.

The second reason is that the 8th is a very convenient date for me. The end of the year is always very hectic. There is no time to do planning. When it comes to resolutions (and goals in general) I firmly believe that you need time to sit down and think, discuss, and plan. Michele and I tried to take some time away last week to spend a couple of hours to go over our goals. Well due to problems at home we never got the time we needed. We finally were able to carve out 15 minutes of time to sit and talk and I jokingly said, well you don't need more than 15 minutes to plan an entire year. How about "be good to myself and others!" There Done, easy peasy.

Honestly, If I can just do the above statement, my world and those around me would be much better. But I need to write things down. Since I'm an INTJ, I feel I make better progress towards my goals if I can write them down. It also helps me to pre-visualize my goals, which usually helps to guarantee success.

One added bonus of postponing my goal setting process is that I get to see everyone else's plans and resolutions while I build mine. I just listened to Martin's Podcast Episode #119 and it already gave me some great ideas for goals this year. So here it is the 2nd and I feel comfortable taking the time I need to get my thoughts inline before  the "King's" birthday.

I have been working on my New Years Resolutions and goals for the coming year for the past couple of weeks. I have been neglecting many of my outside interests recently and I recently have become more motivated (more about that later.)

However, this post is just a tease for what is to come.

I'm going to wait to post/publish my resolutions for the coming year. This year I'm planning on celebrating a Happy Elvis New Year on January 8th.

Until then, I wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.

This weekend Michele and Emma went to New Hampshire to stay with some friends for a long weekend trip. This left me in the house alone for the weekend and a very long to-do list that should have kept me very busy.

Well it is now Sunday and I was only able to get about three things done off my list. Right now I'm sitting in a Taco Bell typing this entry while I wait for the Bourne Ultimatum to start in the theater next door. You see the problem? I have a long list of items to do, but none of them are things I want to do. I guess I would rather fill my spare time with fun activities and none of the chores. Ideally the best action is to say, hey if I get all (or half) of these items off my to do list, I will reward myself with a movie.

I should point out that not all of my chores are drudgery, some of them should actually be enjoyable, things like doing some test prints of my recent photos from Montana. Or scanning a napkin for an upcoming design project. I always like working on these types of creative projects. I guess I just lack the motivation to even look at the list because then I have to confront the items I don't want to do.

Earlier today I typed in Twitter that I have 12 hours left in my day and I'm having a hard time deciding what I want to do with that time. Well I guess I decided to head to the movies.