Snerkology

I am currently a freelance writer for Beyond Megapixels, a great little photography website. I’ve posted several tutorials over there, including Add A Signature To Your Digital Photos, Long Exposure – A Rule of Thumb Challenge, and Correcting White Balance.

All of the photos featured on this site from September 2010 forward were taken with a Canon 7D Digital SLR. From March of 2007 until September of 2010 they were taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi. Prior to that I had a couple of point-and-shoot numbers that did the job.

My current inventory of equipment consists of the following:

• Canon 7D Digital SLR (primary camera body)
• Canon Digital Rebel XTi with grip (backup body)
• Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS standard zoom lens with hood (this is on my camera most of the time)
• Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS standard zoom lens with hood (kit lens from the 7D)
• Canon 50mm f/1.4 prime lens with hood
• Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens (kit lens from the XTi)
• Canon 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens
• Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 telephoto lens
• Lensbaby Composer with wide angle and telephoto adapters, creative apertures
• 2x teleconverter
• UV filters
• Manfrotto monopod (680B) with ball head (494RC2)
• Opteka battery grip
• Tripod with ball head
• Wireless remote shutter release
• Lowepro lens cases, Fastpack 350, and Topload Zoom 1

WISH LIST ALERT!  Go HERE!  Or, go HERE! END WISH LIST ALERT!

I have rented lenses from Pro Photo Rental and I highly recommend them. They treated me fantastically, are priced reasonably, and are a great solution to capture those photo opportunities when you don’t own the right gear and can’t budget a new lens purchase.

All photos are edited/enhanced using Adobe Photoshop. Version 5.5 was used up until April of ’08, then I upgraded to CS3. I store my photos on Flickr. You are welcome to download them for personal use, I would just request that you let me know, and also credit me for any use to which you apply the photos.

Tutorials:
I like to share what I learn. As such, when I learn a new trick I will post an entry as a tutorial. Most are published on Beyond Megapixels – check out the Getting Started page for a good place to, well, get started. I’ve also written a few tutorials on the blog, here’s what I have thus far:

• Photoshop – Diffuse and Bloom (link to a tutorial)
• Photoshop – Noise Reduction on old film (plus some actions)
• Photoshop – Burn and Dodge (plus some actions)
• Macro Photos – You Can Do It!

Featured Photo Essays:

• Ten days, 3026 miles, and 912 pictures later – A photo summary of our Epic Summer Road Trip (August 2009)
• Indiana: aka “Heatherland” (July 2009)
• Desert Botanical Garden (May 2009)
• Kali (December 2008)
• Mesa Beer Festival (November 2008)
• Too Fast For Love (October 2008)
• Weekend in Flagstaff (September 2008)
• A night out in Oregon (August 2008)
• Big Lake Camping Trip (July 2008 )
• Reader’s Choice: ASU Campus (May 2008 )
• Wandering around on a Friday night (March 22, 2008 )
• Dark Horse and Downtown Chandler (March 15, 2008 )
• Tempe Beer Festival (March 8, 2008 )
• Oregon Beer Festival (August 2007)
• Maine Vacation (May 2007, start at the beginning of the month)
• Tucson Reptile Expo (September 2006)
• Flagstaff Beer Festival (July 2006)
• Lone Grandparenting – part one, part two, part three (April 2006)
• Whistler, Vancouver, Canada (December 2005)
• The Weekend in Progress (August 2004)
• All Baby, All the Time (April 19, 2004)
• Babysitting (September 30, 2003)
• Peace Places (September 3, 2003)
• Hawaii Vacation Part One, Part Two, Part Three (June 2003)
• Another day in the life (June 3, 2003)
• The Desert Botanical Garden (April 20, 2003)
• A day in the life (September 20, 2002)
• Our Wedding (June 2002)
• L’Auberge Resort, Sedona Arizona (April 2002)
• Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona (October 23, 2001)
• Camp Pendelton, California (September 2001)
• A Sad Trip to Maine (August 2001)
• Camping at Big Lake, Arizona (July 2001)
• The Phoenix Zoo (April 13, 2001)
• The Renaissance Festival (February 12, 2001)

Recommended Books:

• The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
• The Digital Photography Book Volume I by Scott Kelby

Recommended Websites:

• Phillip Greenspun
• Scott Kelby
• Photo.net
• The Canon Digital Learning Center
• Pioneer Woman Photography
• Popular Photography
• Layers Magazine tutorials