My Alternate Reality

1 Year!!

2009-10-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Today, officially.... my shop has been open for 1 year!! And its been such a great, fun year!

I know I haven't posted in quite a while, but I just wanted to thank you all for supporting me and keeping me going. I've made so many good friends while also learning so much about photography and the business of photography in this past year that I hope I will, and have been giving some of what I've learned back to you. As well as making you all smile every once in a while :)

Thank you all so much!!!

FPOE Feature!

2009-09-10T14:44:00.001-07:00

I have been featured on FPOE as their member of the week! Please stop by and check it out, and feel free to comment!!

Feature ~ Byrheea

2009-08-26T12:01:00.001-07:00

This month I have the lovely pleasure of featuring an amazing, dreamy, whimsical, outrageously creative artist, Rheea. I found her story to be a source of inspiration and smiles :) but don’t take my word for it… please read for yourself!

And don’t forget to visit her 2 shops:

Byrheea

Dollgift

Also check out Byrheea’s blog! In conjunction with the launch of her Dollgift greeting card series She is having a giveaway! Each of her greeting cards comes with a matching bookmark and a cute envelope. What's so special about her cards? Well, all the cards open up to a full illustration! Each of them comes with a matching bookmark and a cute envelope. PLUS, you will also receive a print (first pic) AND a postcard for this giveaway.

Contest ends 9/13/09, see Byrheea’s blog to enter and for details
No shipping restrictions for this giveaway, everyone is welcome to participate.

And now without further ado, I am pleased to introduce you to Byrheea….

My name is Rheea. I live, work and dream on a tiny island call Singapore. When I was found doodling on the walls of my room at the age of three, I learned the hard way that walls at home are not the right place to display my creative flair. To encourage my interest in arts, my parents enrolled me for an art class which I thoroughly enjoyed for three years. I remembered being the one who always initiate to make little note cards or drawings for friends and family members on their birthdays. Some of them still keep my cards/drawings till this day!

Years later, after leaving school, I struggled to fit into the working society; finding jobs, quitting jobs, then back to finding jobs again. I eventually got tired of the whole job-hopping cycle and decide I couldn’t go on like this forever. That was when I began to probe deeper on what I would truly love to do and realized I would like to sell my own works! Now, one year later, I work full-time from home and plan my own schedule everyday. Of course it wasn’t easy being everything and everyone - designer, craftsman, salesman, shipping department, accounts payable/ receivable, marketing and advertising, you name it. BUT that would also mean, more work satisfaction. Without much capital, I can only start slow. I believe one of the most magnificent things in life is to be able to what you love and be beautifully paid for. I am working towards this goal. Ha.

Currently I have two labels, ‘Byrheea’ (By_Rheea) and ‘Dollgift’.

Byrheea is an expression of the more emotional and mysterious side of me. Some describe my drawings as whimsical, others call it contemplative. My drawings and paintings are inspired by great artists like Ray Caesar, Tamaxxx, Audrey Kawasaki, and many more.

Dollgift on the other hand reveals the childlike side of me. The ‘doll’ refers to the little girl, Nina, in my drawings. She is imaginative, unpredictable and full of dreams. Oh, be sure to look out for my beloved Dashund boy, Nono, in many of the drawings as well. Since music plays an important role in my life, it is one of the main themes in Dollgift.

Currently my works are for sale at several retail outlets in Singapore, namely Anthropology at The Scarlet Hotel boutique, Anthropology at Holland Village, The Coffee Nation, and Cat Socrates. They can also be purchased online through my Etsy shop. For consignment (in Singapore), wholesale or custom made enquiry, please contact me at info@mydollgift.com. To know more about me and my works, please visit my official websites www.byrheea.com and www.mydollgift.com.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone whom I know or may not know for being so supportive of my works. Each and every little encouragement means a lot to me. Also, I would like to thank, Kim, for putting these together. Thank you. :)

Vote for me!

2009-08-19T13:34:00.001-07:00

I’ve entered 2 images into the Southern California’s Faces & Places Photo Contest!! I would really appreciate some votes and maybe if you could help me out by spreading the word? :) thank you!! muah!!

Just click on the images below to vote, and copy the url’s to link to my image! You can only vote for 1 image, and only once per email (I know, but they don't spam!)

http://socalphotocontest.com/bin/Rate?image_id=1007003266&search=278__283__288__293

http://socalphotocontest.com/bin/Rate?image_id=1007003267&search=278__283__288__293

Thank you!!!

Pear Project

2009-08-19T11:48:00.001-07:00

Over at FPOE we’ve started a fun little project to keep our inspiration up! We team up with one other person and are given a theme. Then we each have a week to submit an image with our take on that theme. We don’t see the others image until they’re both complete! Then the submissions are posted on the Pear Projects blog.

I gotta say… it’s pretty fun :)

Last week’s theme, pears…. (we were a little slow to start, lol)

KimberlyRose : AmeliaKay

Next week’s theme… tops/bottoms

Print Lab Review - WCI

2009-08-12T11:45:00.001-07:00

West Coast Imaging – Nothing changes a photo more than the paper it's printed on.

Professional quality prints, at a decent price! And if your a paper junkie like me… you’ll fall in love with this place!

My current favorite paper is the Hahnemühle Photo Rag, but I’ve also recently fallen for the Fuji Crystal Archive Pearl….

quick tip on these two papers…

the Hahnemühle prints a little darker, so be prepared for that. But the texture, thickness, and saturation of this paper are amazing! You must try it!

the Fuji Pearl while brilliant with color, not the best for all portraits. Also, do print your b&w’s on this paper, WOW… I mean really… WOW!

But don’t take my word for it, order your FREE paper samples here!

And if these two papers weren’t enough, they offer a total of 9 choices. And if you still are not satisfied, they will customize your order to print on any paper you want!

That’s another great thing about WCI… they’re amazing customer service. They want to help you, to create projects, to learn themselves! In fact I’ve personally worked with them to create a project I had in mind… just an experiment… and they were more than happy to work with me and bring the idea to life! Unfortunately, in the end the project didn’t work out, but WCI offered to credit back my account, with many apologies even though this wasn’t completely their fault with the project being an experiment.

West Coast Imaging has many different options for printing… the Print Lab, Print Lab Express, Scans, Exhibition Prints, and more!

So if you want a better quality print on fine art papers, you can’t go wrong with West Coast Imaging! I sound like I’m a sales rep for this place! But trust me, their great… their my super secret weapon for making my work really stand out!

Current Sale…. 20% off Super Gloss Prints! Order by August 17, 2009

The only downsides to this lab… the prices are a bit higher, but that’s expected with the finer papers. And the shipping does take a little longer, so best to plan ahead with orders. Also, the order form seems a bit dated compared to other print labs (except the express lab uses ROES). So read it carefully and make sure you understand all the cropping options, papers, etc… because you only get to hit submit once, then your order is in!

So, to review my print labs so far:

Mpix ~~~> quick orders, when only 1 or 2 prints needed
Miller's ~~~> bulk orders to fill up my portfolio, or press items (ex. greeting cards)
WCI ~~~> for your fine art prints

In Her Own Image

2009-08-05T11:48:00.001-07:00

In Her Own Image is finally available to the public!! I am honored to have one of my images included in this amazing, inspiring book full of extremely talented female artists.

The latest offering from the Female Self-Portrait Artists' Support Group includes the work of 87 members of the currently 1800+ strong group.

Where "She Took Her Own Picture" was an introduction to some of the members of the group with two-page spreads of their work, "In Her Own Image" brings more members to your attention and features their work in a more flowing style with a larger selection of images.

At 316 pages, "In Her Own Image" is certainly a weighty tome of beautiful imagery and a wonderful addition to your collection with more artists to meet and enjoy the work of.

We hope you enjoy it!

In Her Own Image <~~~ buy it on blurb!

**All proceeds from the sale of this book go to Madre**

In Her Own Image features work from the following artists:
Alisha Shevlin, Angel Lynne, Angela Gott, Angeline Stewart, Ashley Lebedev, Bazil Zerinsky, Bee Brady, Bethany Helzer, Bogna Kuczerawy, Brienne Griffin, Bronwen Hyde, Cheryl, Christina Ruvoldt, Christy Marie, Crystal Rose, Cynthia That-Cacopardo, Dana France, dani, Elise Hibbard, Elizabeth LaFreniere, Elizabeth Livermore, Elle Moss, Elsa Björg Magnúsdóttir, Emily Basch, Emily Sandifer, Emma Newson, Erika Pham, Eva Moreno López, Felicitas Klische, fernanda montoro, Gemma Gonzalez, Heather Evans Smith, Hélène Deroubaix, i.anton, Ilina S, Jennifer Evans, Jennifer Henriksen, Jill Evans, Joanne Cruickshank, Juliet Home, Juliette LaCour, Karin Elizabeth, Kate Armstrong, kate passaro, Kimberly Rose, Kiyo Murakami, Kristina Martino, Laura Acosta, Lauren Bentley, Lena Paloma, Lisa Noble, Lucy Nuzum, Lucy Wen-Shu Shih, Maggie Phelan, Margaret Tyson, María Elena Costa, Mariangela Totaro, Marico Fayre, Marie Killen, Maryam Siddiqi, MaryElise Tomczak, Maureen Fogarty, Megan Horsburgh, Melissa Gridley, Michelle McRae, Michelle Merle Pace, Miss Aniela, Monica Costa, Monica L. Shulman, ms.sparkles, Nathalie Griffiths, Özlem Haluk, Pamela Jesuitas, Qathi Gallaher Hart, Rachel Blumenthal, Rossina Bossio, Sarah Mercer, Sarah R. Bloom, Sarah Wright, Sevgi K, Sharon Cooper, Sharon T. Wheaton, SophieCharlotte, Susan Knight, Teffin, Teresa Horstmann, Wendy Anderson.

Giveaway Winner!

2009-08-01T21:13:00.001-07:00

Thank you all for entering this month’s contest and making it such a great turn out once again! I hope next month you will all come back for the next giveaway!

And now… onto the fun stuff!! The prize of this months giveaway is any unframed print, 8x10 or 8x12 format by pixelens photography, winners choice from his flickr page, or website!

Mic, once again did a great job at picking the winner…

Although this time we had a little issue with him trying to eat the winner…

zoomed in a bit………….. and the winner is……………….

Digital Misfit!!

Giveaway ~ pixelens photography

2009-07-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

This month I’m proud to feature an amazing photographer and friend that I had the pleasure of meeting through Flickr... Jason Bouwmeester of pixelens photography! I am constantly inspired and in awe of his work. In fact, he’s the one that helped get me into macro photography, as well as hdr, tilt shift, self portraits… I could go on! He’s always coming up with new projects and techniques that keep your mind in astonishment. His creativity and approach to photography is so unique, you can’t help but just want to learn from him… which is another insight about Jason… he is incredibly helpful by coming up with tutorials, and sharing his knowledge and finds. Also, he’s even been known to share his processes from taking a photo to post-processing.

So I invite you to learn a little more about Jason, and please remember to leave a comment under this post to be entered in his giveaway! Be sure to leave your email or other way to contact you if you win!

The Prize:

Any unframed print, 8x10 or 8x12 format from Jason’s site or his flickr stream

Giveaway Ends ~ 7/31/09 Winner will be announced 8/1/09

Short bio:
Photography. Where to start? I always remember having some sort of a camera or another. The first one I really remember was an old Kodak disc film based camera back in the day. Next up I remember making a pinhole camera out of cardboard in Jr. High School in shop class, was quite fun and I really enjoyed it. Had a Nikon film SLR for awhile, and then...

Then I moved on to digital point and shoots - Canon Powershot A20 and A70s. Being in computers, it made sense and the lure of digital photography was too much. Sometimes I think it was a mistake, I have some good shots composition wise, but through the ones I had, I never really used the cameras to the full capabilities - and I lost a lot of my knowledge I’d gained from using film.

Enter November 2007… my first digital SLR, the Canon Digital Rebel XTi (400D). I loved it. It opened up photography for me again in ways I couldn’t imagine and beyond…

I don’t really have a specific style… I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing, I just like to try different things and experiment with my camera and Photoshop - see what I can do with the camera and with post-processing. That being said, I give my best effort to getting the composition, framing and lighting right in camera and most of my photos are post-processed for clarity and perhaps minor color and curves adjustments. However, certain photos I will post-process to the max with techniques like HDR (high dynamic range) Imaging and simulating cross-processing. I also like to expand my horizons by using techniques such as TtV (through the viewfinder) which requires using a newer camera and shooting through the viewfinder of an old camera like a Kodak Duaflex.

In December 2008 I upgraded to the new Canon 5D Mark II with a 24-105 f/4L lens. I must say, it's a huge leap up from the XTi. My current gear consists of the 24-105 f/4L, 50mm f/1.8, 75-300 f/4-56 USM, and recently the famed 70-200 f/2.8L.

I shoot weddings and engagement photos, and am branching out into sports photography with University/College sports and an MMA (mixed martial arts) fight booked for the fall. My dream? To be a concert photographer - I'd die to be able to shoot Trent Reznor as he performs live!

What inspires me?
I think what inspires me most is just my passion for photography. I love being able to capture the moment the way that I see it and share that moment in time with everyone else. That being said, I do enjoy the vast number of images and talent that can be found on Flickr and more often than not I find myself finding inspiration from some of the photography that I find there. As well, I always need to be learning new things and new techniques so I gather inspiration from branching out and experimenting with my photography.

Favorite subject to photograph?
Man, that's a tough one... I go through my phases of what I like to shoot and the style I like to shoot in. I've shot buildings, landscapes, textures, animals, people, done street photography... I've used TtV, HDR, (simulated) tilt-shift and most recently rented a fisheye lens. If pressed on the matter I'd have to say some of my favorite shooting sessions have been of bands or musicians as they perform - there's something about the energy and passion in the music that extends to you while you shoot and just makes it that much more enjoyable.

Story behind one of my favorite images?

That's a tough one as well - I have a few images that I could class as favorites. I suppose the one with the best story is the one I titled .attitude. Mike Schlosser and Curtis Santiago were performing at The Works Street Stage last summer (2008) and I managed to catch them on my lunch hour. I started snapping some shots and really got into it so switched over to my 50mm and walked right up to the stage. Mike noticed this and "posed" while I snapped off a few shots. I sent him this picture afterwards and he used it as his MySpace profile picture for awhile. One of the best feelings as a photographer is hearing how much people like a certain image, and it's even more satisfying when someone absolutely loves a shot you've taken of them.

Self-promotion?
LOL, that's a good one! I currently run most of my stuff through my website

which is linked to a SmugMug gallery where prints can be purchased. I have to get in gear and put up some more print items, but almost any picture that is on my site or my Flickr account can be purchased for a reasonable price. If you're a local band or are getting married drop me a line, I'd love to hear from you!

Wanted ~ Featured Artist!

2009-07-21T14:33:00.001-07:00

It’s time for another featured artist giveaway and I’m looking for an artist to feature!! Any volunteers? Just post that your interested in the comments, along with a way to contact you :)

I will contact the selected featured artist within the next couple of days to let you know the details!

And remember, you don’t have to be an etsy member, or an artfire member… You don’t even have to own a shop or be selling your work! To be a featured artist, you just have to be an artist, of any kind… wanting others to see your work, and to share a piece of it with a lucky winner :)

And who knows… we may just get Mic to wake up long enough to pick the winner again :)

Postcards!

2009-07-20T14:36:00.001-07:00

You can now purchase my images on postcards! I currently have listed 4 sets, with 3 images in each set. $6 per set! And their perfect for mailing to someone special, or just to say hello! Or…. you could even frame them!

Available in both shops:

KimberlyRose on Etsy

KimberlyRose on Artfire

Also remember, right now you receive a free gift with every order from either shop!!

Christmas in July

2009-07-13T14:26:00.001-07:00

It's officially Christmas In July ~ And as a special gift to you, I will include a free present with every order!

You can purchase my items at my Etsy Shop

Or in my ArtFire Shop with no sign-ups!!

Please note… my ArtFire shop is still being set up. So if there is an image that you would like to purchase from that shop, however it isn’t listed yet, just let me know and I’ll list it right away!

The Gourmet Bone

2009-07-09T15:14:00.001-07:00

I thought it would be fun to share some of the shops I keep around in my “favorites vault” on Etsy… this way you can see and love what I see and love!

Today, I decided to share a very very new find…. in fact, I just placed my order yesterday! However I already know I love this shop!

And since I have so many dog & cat loving friends… I couldn’t resist sharing!

♦♦♦ Gourmet treats for your connoisseur canine or feline. ♦♦♦

♦ BAKED FRESH TO ORDER
♦ ServSafe Certified.
♦ Bulk & Custom Orders Available
♦ No Sugar Added
♦ No Salt Added
♦ No Coloring Added
♦ No Preservatives
♦ Decorated with Carob not chocolate.

Oh, and just in case you were hesitating a visit….

All this month they will be giving away Free Sample Treats of our Mini Beef Rounds. Approx. 1" round. Your Free Sample Treats are their way of saying Thank You!

I ended up ordering the Mini Cheesy Bites & the free sample treats. Since Mic has health issues, he can’t eat regular treats… he needs natural treats, no extras added. So we’re always on the look out for new & less expensive way to keep Mic happy! And when I came across The Gourmet Bone, I knew I just had to try them out! The items are so creative and yummy looking, I almost want to try them :P And the prices are so reasonable!! So when this order arrives, as long as Mic is happy, I’ll be happy… and we’ll be long time customers!

Just take a look at some of the items… Yummy!

KimberlyRose @ ArtFire

2009-07-07T12:16:00.001-07:00

Yes, that’s right… I’ve opened up a shop on ArtFire! That means if your not an Etsy member, you can now easily purchase my work from KimberlyRose.artfire.com! There is no sign-up, no hassle… just simple a checkout! I accept Paypal or Money Orders… or if you would require a different payment option, just email me and we’ll work it out :)

You can even purchase one of my images right from my blog!
To the right over there ~~~>

see that widget with my images that says Quick Buy/Rapid Cart? Well if you click the little shopping cart next to the image you want, you can purchase the image right then!

Quick Buy widget thingie:

KimberlyRose

Buy Handmade

I must admit, I’m kind of liking this ArtFire… no sign-ups to purchase, they integrate all the social networking links right into your studio, very good SEO, auto google base for each listing… I’m thinking I may have to keep this shop around along with my Etsy shop!

So do any of you have an ArtFire shop? Have any opinions about them?? I’d love to hear what you think!

Swing Giveaway!

2009-07-06T14:14:00.001-07:00

Yes, yes… I know! Another giveaway, but hey…. this gives you another chance to win one of my prints!!

The giveaway is being hosted here:

Contest ends July 18, 2009 at 11:59pm!

Prize:

Swing, 8x10 print

June Giveaway Winners!

2009-07-01T18:45:00.001-07:00

Thank you all for entering my June Giveaway!! I was so excited that there was such a great turn out! I hope you all enter again for next months giveaway, this was so fun! I'll be posting the details for the next featured artist soon :)

And now... without too much more delay.... The Winners!

I decided to make the drawing a little more interesting, plus Mic decided at the last minute that he wanted to help out.... So all the names were folded up, and put into a bucket, and mixed around with the shovel…

Then Mic had fun sticking his head in to find the winner!

And then OOPS! Mic, being a dog, didn't understand the rules and chose 2 winners!!

Congratulations to babalisme & Sarah!!! You've both won 1 item of your choice from my shop!

Mic & I wanted to thank everyone for making our first giveaway such a fantastic one!! We hope to see you all back here for the next one!

Shop Sections Poll

2009-06-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

When you shop at an online store... how would you prefer the sections to be arranged? Assuming the store is selling photography :)

Unfortunately we can't choose a "both" answer either, Etsy has the shops set up as one listing per section...

June Giveaway!

2009-06-24T11:46:00.001-07:00

Well… I’ve decided to start doing a monthly giveaway :) Yay! And I figured I could give away one of my own items to start off! Next month, I will post a sign-up for anyone who would like to be my next featured giveaway… so keep a look out if you’d like to join up.

How to Enter:

Just post a comment! Also, be sure your email address is in your profile, or in the comments so I have a way of contacting you if you win :)
Anonymous posters do not qualify, sorry… I gotta have some way to figure out who is who!
Only one entry per person

Prize:

Anything from my shop! Yep, any 1 item… your choice! I will ship anywhere!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Who’s eligible?:

Everyone! You do not have to be an etsy member. You do not have to be selling anything. You just have to be a fan of art, or jewelry, or whatever the featured artist may be giving away!

How is the winner picked:

By a random number generator… simple, easy :)

Contest Ends:

6/30/09 at midnight PST

The winner will be announced on 7/1/09

Good Luck!!

Rescue a Rattie!

2009-06-23T14:44:00.001-07:00

Or help them out by making a donation to Rat Terrier ResQ! Rat Terrier ResQ, Inc. is a national all-volunteer Rat Terrier rescue group committed to saving Rat Terriers in need. I’m personally very familiar with this organization as we have worked together in the past finding, placing, and setting up transports for ratties in danger.

Some of you might know, or not… that in my spare time I try to help out with saving dogs in danger at shelters or in other situations. It takes a lot of time, & you have to have a strong stomach to deal with some of the horrifying situations that these poor animals are in. Every now and then though, I have to take a break because I just can’t handle it…. that’s why I have to just say how proud I am & honored to know some of the people that deal with this every day & truly make a difference in these animals lives!

So even if you can’t adopt, sponsor, or volunteer… you can still make a donation! Every penny helps! And if that isn’t possible (believe me I’ve been there) you can still help out by spreading the word. Twitter, facebook, email, etc… just every now and then remind people that these little guys need out help.

Also, right now Rat Terrier ResQ is running a raffle where you could win a corvette!
Click here for details

Below are just a couple ratties in need from Rat Terrier ResQ:

In need of a sponsor, Rosalina (just look at those eyes!)

Wow, you must get to know this girl! Rosalina is a darling girl, looking for that love that lasts a lifetime! She is cuddly, loving, playful and just plain sweet! She lost her home when her human did, and so she came to ResQ. Rosalina is probably a Rat Terrier/Dachshund mix, which makes her all the cuter! She is house trained, crate trained, and loves to take walks. She just started learning to walk on lead next to her human (instead of pulling and forging ahead) and picked it up in just five minutes! Rosalina is about 18 pounds (and that’s even a little on the “fluffy” side) and is 6 years old. She is really looking for her true love out there.

Bosco racked up some bills at the vet hospital, and he's looking for help. He's got empty pockets... Wait ~ he doesn't even have pockets! Yikes! Well then he *really* needs your help!

Bosco is a male Rat Terrier mix weighing about 20 lbs. He is approximately 3 years old and is crate trained and housebroken. Bosco get along with other dogs. We are not sure how he does with cats, but can have him “cat-scanned” upon quest. Bosco came to us from an animal control shelter in South Florida where he was scheduled to be euthanized due to lack of room. Bosco is a sweet and lovable boy that loves to be pet and is looking for a family to call his own. He is eager to please and learns things very quickly.

And then there’s Plinko (needs a sponsor)… she looks like she’s got the same ratittude as my Mic

Wanna play Plinko? Come on down! In this case, Plinko is a tiny little girl, about 10 pounds and 8-9 months old. She is a beautiful tan sable with a full tail that she wags constantly. This girl is a lap dog! Her favorite thing in the whole world is to sit in her human’s lap and snooze. She seems to love everyone, and gets along with all the dogs in her foster home. There isn’t an ounce of aggression in this pretty little package. Plinko is working very hard on her housetraining, and has already learned the doggie door. She needs to learn to relax in her crate, and we also need to do some leash training, but Plinko definitely has the personality of a wonderful companion for just about any family situation.

I do help out other breeds and animals as well… I just guess I’m a softie when it comes to ratties…

My Mic… aka the Mickster, moopy, puppyman, mickeyman, king akahnatan, stupids, poops, & most recently forrest (he runs funny & believe me, he can run forever & fast!)

ACEO’s

2009-06-22T13:29:00.001-07:00

Introducing my newest project…. ACEO’s!

So what the heck is an ACEO anyway?

ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions & Originals".
Miniature works of art the size of a trading or playing card (2.5" x 3.5") ~ an inexpensive way to collect beautiful prints.

The only rule of an ACEO is that it must be 2.5”x3.5”!

I’m offering 2 images as ACEO’s as a trial run to see how they sell, also… I’m offering a free backing with purchase (if requested) so that the cards are more sturdy since they are printed on photo paper. I will also be listing ACEO mat’s soon, 4x6”!

It’s mini art :P How fun!!

Trunkt :: KimberlyRose

2009-06-19T14:29:00.001-07:00

I finally got around to creating my Trunkt portfolio!! Yay! So once I figure out what its all about and just what I can do with it... then I'll decide whether or not to upgrade from the trial! I'll keep you informed!

As far as I can tell, its a site where you can market your work, and bring in a whole new array of viewers.

So if anyone is familiar with Trunkt, please share your wisdom as I am a bit lost after creating the portfolio :)

You can view my portfolio here:

www.trunkt.org/kimberlyrose

Date Poll

2009-06-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

If other, please explain in comments :)

Contests are everywhere…

2009-06-15T12:38:00.001-07:00

So why aren’t you entering them like mad! Well, one reason I hesitate to enter contests is the fine print. It can be scary and confusing, but you really do have to read them. You must be careful that you aren’t losing ownership, or copyright of your images… I have come across more than a few legit sounding contests that become very shady in the fine print. So please do read the rules carefully!

Other than the fine print, most contests just want permission to use your image to promote their contest or maybe their next contest coming up… I say “thank you for the free advertisement if I win!” Just be sure they credit you, and most will have a limited time for this, for example: one year usage of your image in future contest promotions.

The other main thing I look at is the cost of entry. Most are free to enter… but some do charge an entry fee, usually small so its worth it. Just be sure to look through your competition so you know what your getting into… that also hints how professional the contest is.

And lastly, no contest is too small! Remember, winning is fun, but its also promotion. So be sure to check out local contests, and not just online contests… look at fairs, art shows, newspapers, etc…

So what are you waiting for? Go enter! It really is such a boost to just enter, and hey… if you win one, WOW! You’ll be doing your own personal happy dance no matter what the prize!!! Just winning is soooooooo fun!!

So now… onto the contests!

This is one contest I just entered… so please go and vote for me! It’s for product photography and the winner receives a month’s worth of ad space on Handmadeology.com ($60 value)

Please click here to vote for my Dreaming Daisies greeting cards image!!

Other contests I am planning on entering…. and you should too!

Sony World Photography Awards
enter by 12/4/09
prizes for amateurs ~ rules for amateurs
prizes for professionals ~ rules for professionals
Southern California Faces & Places Contest
enter by 8/31/09, prizes listed on first page
Rules
Art of Photography Show
unfortunately closed for this year… but I still wanted to mention it because it is an excellent opportunity to get your name out there, just by entering! I’ve been to this show here in San Diego, and it gets packed. Plus, your image will be on a gallery wall! That alone is exciting!! I don’t know why I keep putting this one off, nerves I guess… but I plan to next year!
World in Focus Photo Contest (National Geographic)
enter by 8/24/09, prizes listed on first page
Rules

So that’s about it for now! I’m sure I’ll find many more in the future so I’ll keep you all updated as I find new contests. And please feel free to share contests you’ve found in the comments!!

YART SALE!

2009-06-10T10:48:00.001-07:00

The annual Etsy Yart Sale is going on now through the 14th… (yard + art) so I thought I’d join in! I have seen so many shops joining in, I think this is going to be a great event! Please feel free to add your shop in the comments and mention what kind of sale your having!!

Check out my “Yart Sale” section in my shop to see some incredible deals! Most images are priced at $10 off the original prices! I’ve included 16 images along with one set of note cards!

What a Monday!

2009-06-08T13:45:00.001-07:00

I’m working on only a few hours sleep here, so please bear with me and excuse the goofs or spelling oops :P But I just had to announce what a fabulous Monday I woke to today!!

First off I received a message from a fellow fspasg photographer, flickr buddy, and fellow etsy seller Elle Moss! She included me in an article on her blog regarding fspasg sellers on etsy… So stop by and have a look, comment, and definitely check out her work as she is an extremely talented photographer with such genius creativity!

This image is actually one of my favorite’s from Elle and actually the image that caught my eye and introduced me to her art!

Elle also helped put together a book for Female Self Portrait Artists' Support Group that I was honored to be included in… so when that comes out I’ll be letting you know!

The next bit of excitement to start off my day was that I received the "One Lovely Blog Award" from Ardent Photography!! Please stop by her blog and amazing shop, she is really an inspiring artist with such a unique view!

One of my favorites from Sarah’s shop, I just love this little guy!

Now for the rules of the award… I need to post here 15 blogs that I’ve discovered! So, here goes… I wasn’t sure if they had to be blogger blogs, etsy blogs, etc… so I just included etsy artists, otherwise there is no way to narrow down to just 15! I mean, only 15 etsy artists took me forever…. and I could have included a bunch more!

15 blogs you need to visit!

A Mountain Mamma
Urban Junkies Artist Lounge
MKC Photography
Mod3rnArt
Rareimage Photography
Amy Longberry
Autonomous Artisans
The Eye
HR Photography
Elle Moss Photography
PPD Designs Photogrpahy & Jumpy Frog Handmade Goodies
Jessica Doyle
The Little Pickle Jar
Urban Design
Gary Heller Photography

New prices… new goodies

2009-06-03T14:13:00.001-07:00

I’ve decided to put my shop through a bit of a make-over!

Step 1… lower the prices, big time!
Step 2… create a new banner
Step 3… create new categories
Step 4… redesign listing images with frames (the ones I posted earlier were lost, I accidentally dropped the hard drive they were on… and then cried)
Step 5… add bunches of new fun items
Step 6…. PROMOTE! PROMOTE! PROMOTE! (I can see why people hire people to promote for them, its a rough job….)

I print through professional printers online so after the cost of the print + shipping to myself + packaging supplies (I prefer recycled packaging supplies which cost a bit more) + the little goodies I through in with most purchases… I won’t be making much of a profit. This also goes against the advice I’ve received that you should mark-up each print for the effort you put in to create and take it.

So why am I marking down prices you ask?! To be honest, its because I love sharing my prints… and while I love to make a profit (who doesn’t) I am going to concentrate more on some other photography projects for now. So I’m hoping the pricing does its share of promoting to leave some more time for me :)

What else am I working on you ask?! Weeeeeel… I am looking into going back to school for a photography degree! Which I can imagine will take up plenty of my time. I also plan on submitting images to magazines and travel companies. I spoke with a professional photographer while in Alaska who had never ending advise on how to get your stuff out there, and its not just about selling. He has many images in magazines, just by submitting them himself. You have to put yourself out there, to everyone you can think of… because no one will come looking for you! Until your big and famous that is :)

My other new endeavors happen to be for my shop, some new fun goodies! I’m experimenting with different crafts to create coasters, cards, recycled goods, mini stuff, etc… So when something comes out the way I like, then I can start listing. I’m a bit of a perfectionist in this area, I’ve been working on this stuff for months now and still working out the kinks.

Back to Reality

2009-05-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

After taking a vacation from reality for 2 weeks, I'm back! It's taking me a little longer than expected to snap back into the old routines, but I'm getting there...

Basic summary of my trip:
Vancouver, Canada ~ Cruise to Alaska with ports in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, one day in Glacier Bay (WOW!) ~ One week of driving around and getting lost in the wild Alaska

I just gotta say this was a trip of a lifetime! I honestly had a hard time coming home... but I ran outta money :P I will be going back though... soon!

The trip did start out a little bumpy though, our flight was canceled and we were delayed for 8 hrs.... our luggage was lost up until a few hours before the cruise... then once on the cruise I tripped walking up stairs and fell flat on my face. No worries though, no cameras were injured and only a couple witnesses were "dealt with". But after all that, it was smooth sailing!

I highly recommend, if you've never been or even thought of visiting Alaska... go now! It is an ever changing environment and who knows how long it will stay as pristine and simple as it is today. And really, you can do Alaska on a budget... if it weren't for the cruise, I would have spent the same if not less than on any other trip. Honestly, we hung out with a couple that rented a VW and just drove all over, when they got tired they would just pull off the road and sleep! They packed lunches for the day, and at night ate at a reasonable spot. Showered at the laundromat (which they all had showers!). The costliest part of their trip was the flight & rental! This must be common practice in Alaska though, because we saw a ton of RV's and vans pulled off for a break... and camping was allowed almost everywhere.

So now I have the joy of reliving the experience by going through my thousands of photos! It was a huge learning experience as I've never photographed wildlife before... so don't expect many great animal shots! The major lesson learned on this trip was when photographing an animal, don't be afraid to turn up your ISO. I'm one that is stuck on 100, too afraid of noise to ever venture out of that realm. Well, it cost me a few too many great shots, however by the end of the trip I was getting a little more comfortable with the idea.

I'll be posting my images as I process them. I decided it would keep me the most sane, and organized, if I go through them in the order that my trip went. I'll be posting pretty much everything on my flickr account, and only the "worthy" ones in my shop... please feel free to comment, critique, give pointers... as I am always learning, and always open to new ideas!

flickr ~~~> flickr.com/photos/kimrose/
shop ~~~> KimberlyRose.etsy.com

Leaving on a jet plane....

2009-05-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning I will officially be on vacation! Headed to Alaska on a trip I've been dreaming about since I was little...

So, if you need me, I'll be checking email as often as I can... Also, my shop remains open and I will be fulfilling orders when I return.

Otherwise, I'll be back to reality in 2 weeks! (maybe...)

Happy Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-05T09:36:00.001-07:00

Just a couple updates on my shop:

Last day for my 50% off sale is today! So get your orders in now!!
Later today I will be posting my vacation notice on my shop….

✽ ✽ Vacation Announcement! ✽ ✽

I'll be away until 5/23/09 & will be leaving my shop open. Orders made between now and 5/23/09 will not be processed until 5/24/09. I will be doing my best to check convos & emails, however replies may take me a bit longer.

Thank you for understanding!!
✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

What's your default Image Viewer?

2009-05-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

Mine... for years now, has been IrfanView. I would recommend this program to anyone in a heartbeat! In fact I was even brave enough to install this program on my parents computer! And they can now use most of its simplest features... they're the type that still call me up because they need help checking email.

So what exactly is IrfanView?
"IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer"

"It is trying to be simple for beginners and powerful for professionals."

And how exactly do you pronounce IrfanView?

pronounce "EarfanView" ~ interesting huh!

What is the IrfanView icon, is this a bear or devil or something else?
"This is a red CAT, a road cat. Note, I like cats, but this is a joke ;-) "

Basically, the simplest thing Irfanview allows you to do is view most image formats. Other basics include quickly cropping, resize, batch conversion, etc... I mean really, you just have to get this program, it does everything... I think they're working on a plug-in to make your morning coffee! (I wish)

It really is my favorite little program that I always keep around because it takes up pretty much no memory, so when you need to re-size a picture, and you don't feel like waiting for your memory hog graphics program to open, this comes in handy! Plus, this program is very user friendly... You really don't need to know much about graphics to do the basics... They also have a handy little forum, user created tutorials (in the FAQ section), and it comes in a ton of languages & skins!

Did I mention its FREE?

Print Lab Review - Miller's

2009-05-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

New print lab review... Miller's Professional Imaging

If you are familiar with Mpix, your probably familiar with their sister company Miller's. So to get the basics, you can read my Mpix review!

But I do have some things to add that make this print lab unique from Mpix.

First, their paper!! They offer the same basic papers, but also add in textures that you can apply for an artistic look and feel... while at the same time protecting your images from being scanned! Miller's also offers a fine art paper, similar to a watercolor paper, thicker & a little texture with a smooth feel. You can see the wide variety of paper choices once you place your first order... at that time they mail you out a sample kit, a BIG sample kit!

Another nice point to mention is that Miller's offers to print out a few 8x10's for free when you sign up, this is so that you can soft proof... not the best way to calibrate, but still useful! Also, they include a copy of each to show how they color correct if you choose that option. I found my print colors to be right on target, no change with the color correction... pretty much the same as you would expect from Mpix.

Be warned though, I use Miller's strictly for bulk ordering because they do have a $10.00 minimum order or else you are charged that annoying little handling fee. Not that $10 is much, but when you just need 1 or 2 prints and they cost below $1 each... its a hassle. Also, in order to view their pricing, you must be a customer with a login... not a problem for me, just another username/password to keep track off.

They do have a slightly tricky ordering process though. You have to download their software to place orders and as far as I noticed, you have to place similar orders as in ALL metallic prints. Or ALL black & white prints. Another hassle, but well worth it for bulk ordering. Also, their software has frozen up & bugged out on me a few times now so hopefully they will be fixing that issue.

I have printed some greeting cards with Miller's on their linen paper so I thought I'd let you know that while the texture is different and fun, the cards themselves are a little bit flimsy... just so you know what your getting into. I have found that a few people really go nuts for the linen regardless...

And now for the why! Why do I use Miller's?? Free Shipping :) So when I need to print out some greeting cards, or a bulk order of prints (all on the same paper) to fill up my portfolio... I go with Miller's. They are fast, and when they messed up one of my orders I saw a brand new re-print on my doorstep in 2 days along with a few apologies.

So, to review my print labs so far:

Mpix ~~~> quick orders, when only 1 or 2 prints needed
Miller's ~~~> bulk orders to fill up my portfolio, or press items (ex. greeting cards)

Features on Muah :)

2009-05-01T11:01:00.001-07:00

Please go check out these 2 amazing blogs that have featured yours truly!

This first blog, On a Roll created by a very talented knitter, has done a feature on my images, and also made a comment about my work that was so sweet …. “Her images are striking and often dream-like.” So please stop by her blog and leave a comment, and don’t forget to check out her amazing shop!

Couple of my favs from On a Roll’s shop…

This next blog, Autonomous Artisans I’m very honored to be included in… It is created by a few very talented & kind people.

I was interviewed about my thriftiness in photography, focusing on my lighting and light tent… The article as written by the very talented artist Michelle of mkc photography.

So please go check out this very well written article on some thrifty photography tips and leave a comment! And of course, don’t forget to check out Michelle’s amazing art and shop.

Couple of favs from mkc photography…

Spring Cleaning Sale!

2009-04-30T12:38:00.001-07:00

It’s that time again! And if your like me you don’t actually look forward to spring cleaning… so I thought I’d try and cheer you up with a sale! A 50% off sale!!!

Anyway, couldn’t your walls use a new look this year?!

Check out my sale section and take a look around!

Make your purchase soon though, only 1 of each image in the sale section is available… so once its sold, its gone!

Also, this sale could end at any time… so go now! What are you waiting for?!

Do you have… Protection?

2009-04-28T12:01:00.001-07:00

Protection for your craft!!! Sheesh :P

Your art represents you, and so does your packaging.

Ok, well I’m not that obsessed with packaging, I tend to pay more attention to the art… but I do think you should take pride in how you package items when your selling. So, I suggest you check out ClearBags… their bags are made of excellent quality, literally crystal clear, and “does not easily rip, tear, wrinkle, or fog like other plastics.” PLUS, they are 100% virgin polypropylene which is naturally acid and lignin-free, which makes them safe for photo storage…. And if that wasn’t enough, the regular bags contain 10% recycled polypropylene, and ClearBags also carries a line of biodegradable bags made from renewable wood pulp! (caution, bio-bags are not archival quality)

I personally use ClearBags to protect my items when I sell them, or am transporting items to a gallery for showings. These aren’t just plastic sealable bags, these bags are made to showcase your art. Not only do they make your art look professional, but they are safe from dust, moisture, finger prints, etc…

The feature I absolutely love is the protective closure. The re-sealable seal is located on the bag, not the flap! So when removing your art you don’t have to worry about your image/item getting any adhesive on it.

The other thing I love about these bags, is the storage space! I sell my greeting cards in packs of 4, with envelopes, tied with a ribbon… and have plenty of room to fit in some business cards & mini cards with room to spare!

Now for the downside… You have to purchase these in bulk. They are very reasonably priced, but you have to buy in lots of 100. Now I don’t know about you, but I could only wish for my items to sell fast enough that I would need 100 bags! So being the thrifty person that I am, bought 2 sizes… 11 7/16 x 14 1/4 and the 5 7/16 x 7 1/4, and I just fold the bags down if needed and tape it with my archival mat tape :)

Also, they have a minimum order of $40. Orders under $40 will incur a handling fee from $3-$7… not awful, but I got bugged by it for about a second.

Soooooo, I suggest if anyone is planning on buying, buy in bulk…. or get together with some sellers of art and make a group order! (and let me know so I can get in on it!)

Also, ClearBags does offer a ton of other products that I have yet to try… like boxes, food bags, gusset bags, mats, backings, frames, pretty much everything you can think of for your packaging needs… and more. So if you’ve tried one of these items, please share your experience, I’d love to know if these are just as good as the bags! :)

A couple of promos to add in:

Good through May 15th, we are offering a 5% discount on all Protective Closure Crystal Clear Bags. (Including bags in show kits). Use promo code: 545647
be featured: ClearBags Featured Artist of the Month

And I always like to end on a good note… so I do want to mention that if you are like me and love to see before you buy, ClearBags does offer FREE samples!!

Time for a change

2009-04-27T13:46:00.001-07:00

I've decided its about time to give the listings in my shop a bit of an update! I've been wanting to do this for awhile, just kept putting it off... and now that I temporarily have no camera I feel like I'm getting "other" things done...

My solution ~ snap a photo of my side table with some pretty, but not distracting decoration, then create the mat/frame in Photoshop! Voila.... my photos, matted and framed on a wall!

So now my listing will include a matted/framed image showcased on a wall to give a better feel for what it would look like in real life! You know... the whole visualization factor of advertising. (I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about!)

The other reason, sometimes an image can take on a whole new appearance once matted in white or black... or just even matted for that matter!

Also, I’m looking into putting my images onto canvas… so I’ve created an image for canvas prints as well!

Next…. I’m attempting to create a realistic wooden frame!

Holy Macro!

2009-04-24T11:38:00.001-07:00

Yes, I have quite a few obsessions in my life… and macro photography is one of them! And the funny part is, I don’t even own a real macro lens!

So I have found a few work-arounds that work just fine!!

My macro crew:

lenses ~ Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 (not pictured – too cool to show up for the crew pic)
macro gear ~ Raynox conversion lens, Macro reverse ring 52mm-67mm
other ~ Phottix remote for Canon 40D, mini tripod, yummy strawberries
also not shown ~ home depot ghetto lighting, light tent, & of course my assistant Mic

Ok, now that the gear is out of way, on to the fun part! The comparisons!
(Larger images + exif data from this post can be found on my flickr page)

Shot with Canon 18-55mm & Raynox Conversion lens:

As you can see, very yummy close… but we can get better!

Unfortunately as I was getting into my conversion lens shots, my camera gave me the evil error 99… and now must visit the Canon ER… So, my good friend Jason has kindly allowed me to use one of my favorite images of his to use as a perfect example, in fact it was this very image that inspired me to buy the conversion lens! In fact, you must check out his website too... he is an amazing inspiring photographer, one of my personal favorites :)

Shot with Canon 70-200mm, reverse ring, Canon 50mm reversed:

As you can see in this method… very close, very cool… a little vignette but it just makes it look artsy :) It does take some practice with this method though to get the focus just right, a lot of moving closer, farther from the object… but once you get it, WOW!

Obviously, not strawberries, but a daisy! I had to use some of my older shots due to camera errors, but these are great examples of the kind of shots you can get with this set-up. Also, depending on what kind of DOF you want, you need to play with the aperture. Now you ask “when you reverse a lens? how the heck do you change the aperture on the reversed lens?!?” Well, there’s a neat little trick! Put the 50mm (or whatever prime lens your using reversed) and put your aperture as high as it will go, or whatever you want actually (I used f/11 on these). Now see the little button next to the lens release on the front of your camera? That button actually allows you to see a preview of what your image will look like at the aperture you have set! It’s the DOF preview button… learned something new! So, hold down that button down while removing the lens, and voila! Aperture saved! Just take a look inside the lens, you can see it ;)

I also wanted to give credit to the site that got me started with this method, DPS… gotta love em’! If you love digital photography, they are a must visit!

Shot with Canon 17-85mm, reverse ring, 50mm:

Just as using the 70-200mm you can get scary close, however using a shorter lens allows for much more vignette. Hard to pass these off as an artsy effect… Unless you do some major cropping. I would definitely recommend using a telephoto for the reverse ring method… But this is still fun!

Well, that’s about it for my macro fun for today! Unfortunately I couldn’t ramble on longer due to camera issues, but maybe someday soon I’ll have some more comparisons to share! Also, I’d love to hear from anyone if they have any macro tips/techniques or photos to share!!

iStudio ~ Show off your workspace!

2009-04-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

So what exactly is iStudio?

“iStudio was born from the idea that, "where artists work is sometimes just as interesting as the work itself."” ~ created by Mod3rnArt

So join in the fun and share a photo of your workspace! Visit here for details.

I was lucky enough to be the first volunteer :) So now that I’ve jumped in, its your turn! C’mon, don’t be shy… I wanna see where you create your masterpieces!

And no worries about making things look all neat & pretty, just take a look at my workspace:

As you can see I went for the “realism” effect ~ Crooked photo on the wall from the noisy neighbors always banging something… The tiny shoebox that I live in and cram all of my work into… Computer for editing hidden somewhere back there... Camera equipment strewn about… and of course my favorite photo assistant, Mic! He’s always around when the camera comes out. I believe he’s associated that camera = treats.

Craftgawker

2009-04-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

Showcase your art at Craftgawker! Seriously, this place is full of inspiring goodies, and so easy to submit your own items! Just sign up, fill out the short form with a link and description, and re-size your image to 250x250px and your set to go! Heck, you don’t even have to re-size if you don’t want to, they’ll crop it down for you :)

What is Craftgawker exactly though?

“craftgawker is a gallery where anyone can showcase their art, crafting and photography skills. It's a place for you to discover new artists and homemade goods to inspire your own creations.”

Plus, c’mon…. its free, simple advertising. And when you submit an image, its usually accepted within the same day. I’ve done 2 so far, with more to come! I’m trying to space them out :)

And if your feeling brave… take a look at the site that started all this, foodgawker!

Warning… excessive drooling may occur.

Earth Day 2009

2009-04-22T09:49:00.001-07:00

Photo courtesy of www.earthday.net

What do you do for our Earth?

I recycle our cans, plastics, papers
I have changed all of our light bulbs to CFL's
When we needed a new refrigerator, washer, dryer... we made sure they were energy efficient
I unplug all appliances when I'm done using them
I turn off unused lights in the house
I use a fan instead of a/c
I go out of my way to find recycled materials for my art
I use recycled packaging supplies
I carpool
I eat organic as much as I can
I eat locally grown foods as much as I can
I have my own vegetable garden
I garden using earth boxes to conserve water usage
I always look for recycled items when I shop, even if it costs a little more
I look for PCW %'s on recycled items
I take shorter, not as hot showers
I wash as many dishes as I can by hand, and turn off the water when not rinsing
When I do run the dishwasher, its jam packed!
I wash all clothes on a full load, cold cold
I donate items to goodwill

What else can we do? Today I am celebrating Earth Day by learning what more I can do.

What makes my day?

2009-04-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Recently I was featured on a great blog, Mod3rnArt, and was asked to participate in their give-away! To enter for a chance to win one of my prints, you needed to write a comment promoting your favorite etsy artist. Well I jumped at this chance to be a part of such a unique and thoughtful way of promoting others! About a week later, the winner was announced! Yay!!

The print the winner chose just happened to be one of my favorites

“That’s the life…”

But the part of this happy little ramble that made my day today… was that the winner sent me a message saying that they received my print, and wanted to thank me for being so generous and that they absolutely LOVE it! And that they were lucky to have won one of my prints!

I can’t stop smiling now :D

Hearing people tell me how much they enjoy my work just makes me want to give my prints away for free! It just makes me so happy to hear that something I created can put a smile on someone’s face! I mean, really… wow! Maybe one day I’ll be able to offer my creations for free… but in the meantime I will just have to get that joy from participating in charities and give-aways when I can :)

This almost makes me want to try a give-away on my blog… hmmm, deep thoughts… may still be too early with not enough visitors though. But if anyone is ever interested in giving away a piece of their art, or jewelry, or whatever your heart desires… please let me know and I’d be more than appreciative to feature you! And you/your items don’t have to be etsy-related… this is open to all :) I just have to think up a fun contest now! And figure out when to do this!

And please go check out Mod3rnArt’s website, weekly give-aways, loads of great info, and always new inspiring artists being featured! Plus check out the cool graphic on the home page, I love that thing! I could watch that animation for hours :P

Road Trip! Joshua Tree

2009-04-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

Joshua Tree National Park, its like the deserts amusement park.

Once you pass the sea of wind turbines you know your almost there.

This is where my desert obsession began...

Joshua Tree is still the desert, but has park guides, picnic tables, guided trails, paved roads, and most importantly... bathrooms! I would definitely rate Joshua Tree as a good beginners desert trip, also safe for kids :)

Keys View ~ amazing views and the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

Barker Dam right before sunset ~ really an amazing time, the sand almost turns white... the rocks seem somehow fake. It's easy to forget your out in the open desert.

Wall Street Mill ~ this place will meet every deserted, rusty goodness need!

Nighttime in the desert is a surreal experience, one that you have to experience at least once in your lifetime. I've never seen so many stars! And its so quiet, that when you hear that rustling in the brush just a few feet away... your heart stops, you feel that panic rise up in your stomache... you know there's big dangerous animals out here... then out hops a cute little bunny to see what all the commotion is about.

You can view many more of my Joshua Tree images in my flickr set and I'm sure there will be many more to come!

Print Lab Review - Mpix

2009-04-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

I've decided every now and again I will be reviewing online print labs that I've used to print my images. The reason is simple, I'm a paper junkie. I'm obsessed with finding that 100% perfect paper/ink combo for my images... because after all, the paper does become a part of your art. Also, all print labs have different options, outputs, brands, etc... So I do have quite a collection in my stack that I thought I'd share!

So... for my first online print lab review, I have chosen my old standby Mpix.

Now I'm sure almost everyone has heard of and possibly by now printed with Mpix. They have grown quite popular among the photography community because of their extremely reasonable pricing, easy ordering process, excellent customer service, and the vast majority of options for printing. This is why I keep them around as my old faithful standby print lab. When I'm in a crunch and need a print ASAP, I go to Mpix.

Now I said they are my standby.... this is because they are not my #1 go to for a print. They greatly lack in paper choices, which... for me... not good. They only offer 3 choices: E-surface, Black & White, and my favorite paper from them... Metallic. All of which have fabulous printouts, however beware that they do print file names on the back of images, so at least use the backprinting option to add your studio name on there with all the other #'s and such, and also be careful what your files are named when you upload... that also appears on the back. (sorry for the bad scan)

Another great point to mention about Mpix is that they allow you to upload and store images right on the site in handy little folders :) This makes it super easy at any time to just click a pic, size, add to cart and voila, your ordering away like that! So easy, so fast! Also, their customer service is top notch! They even have a pretty active forum. Aaaaaand, up until now they have had the fastest turn-around time out of all the print labs I've tested.

I have printed a ton of photos with Mpix on all 3 papers, mostly to fill up my portfolio in the least expensive way that I could. I've never taken advantage of their color correction option, and every one of my prints have been exactly what I was expecting. (monitor calibration helps)

Tips about the papers:

E-Surface ~ great all around simple gloss photo. Perfect for portraits, landscape, and basically everything else.

Black & White ~ great contrasts, matte, & everything you'd want in a black and white paper. Simple and straight forward.

Metallic ~ ok, this stuff is just fun! It makes your images sparkle, stand out, 3D... really something different! Very super high gloss, but absolutely cool.... you just honestly have to see it to know. Please do try it, its inexpensive so its so worth it!! A note - b&w photos look outstanding on metallic, portraits look awful, in my experience anyway. Also, as far as signing the backs of this paper requires either a pencil, or a special pen for really really slick surfaces (American Crafts slick writer works, I know).

Now to finish off my ramblings.... I have printed greeting cards with Mpix. Excellent output on the card stock. Easy-peasy software to create the cards, just be careful with centering your writing on the backs. They are listed under their press products. They include white envelopes with every order (not pictured).

P.S. forgot to mention that they package their photos extremely well and protected. Makes for a great recycling option for your packaging materials :)

Hello, hi, how are ya?!

2009-04-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally did it. I started this blog! I'm just here to let the random thoughts that float around my head loose... to share my experiences... to give advice and findings I find through my never ending projects... to promote my art as well as those who inspire me... and basically anything else that may happen to come across my world. After all, this is my alternate reality...

I love to ramble, I love to share tips & tricks, but mostly I love to make people happy! So feel free to comment, ask a question, & share your own ideas or thoughts! I'd love to hear from ya :)

I'm new to the blogging world so please excuse the dust while I figure this stuff out :P