Every other year the PPC joins with the Professional Photographers of American (PPA) to host PPA’s Western District Print Competition. This competition is open to all PPC members and PPA members who live in the eight western States or the three western Provinces of Canada that make up the district.

For three days a panel of eminent jurors from across the United States critiqued and scored over 600 images. Each image is judged against an established criteria. Having an opportunity to watch part of the first day of judging I got to see how the judges were scoring the images. This panel of judges was tougher than most. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to stay for all three days and see my images scored.

The Photographer of the Year is determined by the combined total score of all four images entered by the photographer.

Here are the images I entered:

 
Professor Gizmo is an image of Jay Davis, also known as Professor Phineas J. Flockmocker III – his alter ego as a member of the Legion Fantastique. Jay can be found at various steampunk events and he also appears every year at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco’s famous Cow Palace.

I met Jay at the grand opening of Steampunk – History Beyond Imagination at the Muzeo, in Anaheim, California. This image of Jay was created outside the museum with available light. There weren’t a lot of backgrounds to choose from and with the crowd of people there, it became even more challenging. So I decided to use a building’s exterior wall and see what could be done in post production to make the portrait more interesting.

The looming dark clouds for the background were chosen from an image I took on a stormy day while waiting for just the right light to photograph the Point Vicente Lighthouse.

 
 

 
Spring Storm on the Homestead was created while Angela, Bev and I were photographing the Carrizo Plain on our way to Death Valley. It was early spring and storms were still rolling through California giving us dramatic skies like the one seen here.

After the Diagnosis is a tribute to Marianne, one of our clients. She called me right after New Years Day. After seeing my work online, she wanted me to create some special images of her and her daughter. She had been diagnosed with cancer and wanted to get the images created before she started chemotherapy. Needless to say it was a very powerful and moving portrait session. We laughed and we cried. In the end we created some great images that she and her daughter loved. I was very thankful that I shot with the camera tethered to my laptop that day so she could see the images as they were created. The following week the chemo treatment hit her especially hard and she unexpectedly passed away a few days later without ever seeing the final retouched and printed images. Knowing Marianne’s family now has some beautiful images of her means so much to me. I know her daughter is thankful that she had the opportunity to do this with her mom and that she’ll treasure the images forever.
 
 

I created A Solitary Stroll the day after Christmas. Bev and I had flown back to North Carolina to spend the holidays with my family. I was hoping that we would be getting some snow on this trip and I got my wish. Late on Christmas day it started snowing and went on through the night. It was the largest snowfall on Christmas day in 50 years. It was still snowing when I went photographing. I spend over three hours out in the cold wet snow creating images that morning. This image is one taken on a trail that runs behind by brothers house in Cary, North Carolina.

After doing some research I noticed that there are quite a few businesses around Orange County that do screen repairs (the most common problem next to water damage). Most of the businesses that I found do only screen repairs, battery replacements, and unlock or jail break your phone. What was noticeably missing was the number of businesses that don’t offer a warranty on their parts and service. With that in mind here are several places I would consider when needing my Apple equipment repaired.

The first one is RepairZoom located in Irvine. What impressed me is that their technicians are Apple certified and they provide a 6 month warranty on the repairs. It’s a full service repair facility. They work on all iPhones, iPads, and iPods. There is no guessing about what the cost will be since all of their prices are posted on their website. On Yelp, customers had posted only one negative comment – and I even looked through the filtered comments. That’s impressive.

Gadget Parts in Huntington Beach would be another place I would consider. They are a full repair service that works on other phones such as HTC, Samsung and Motorola as well as iPhones. Not only do they replace cracked screens and batteries, but they also handle water damage. Unfortunately they don’t have a website but they do have a lot of consistently good reviews on Yelp.

If was in a hurry, I might look for a mobile iPhone repair service, such as iRepair Inc. They come directly to your home or office anywhere in Orange County, seven days a week. They glass screen repairs, LCD repair and battery replacement. If you’re looking for water damage or other repairs, Or if you need to pay by credit card you will want to try another company.
I hope this help you out if you’re needing to get you iPhones or other devices fixed.

Here’s a list of the contact information for the companies mention above:

RepairZoom
949.743.1600
16 Technology Suite 167
Irvine, CA
www.repairzoom.com

Gadget Parts
949.464.8947
16942 Gothard Street, Suite I
Huntington Beach, CA

iRepair Inc
714.350.8703
www.irepairinc.com

iHospital
Tampa – Gainsville, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Manhattan (NYU), New York
Nashville, Tennessee
888.407.5767
www.theihospital.com

Cupertino iPhone Repair
San Francisco – Cupertino, California
408.490.1446
www.CupertinoPhone.com

uBreakiFix
click for locations
877.320.2237
www.ubreakifix.com

Planning a Halloween party for the younger kids this year? Here are some ideas that they may enjoy:

Mini Jack-O-Lanterns – For each guest, place a mini pumpkin in a black bag along with a variety of decorating items (plastic eyes, fake fur, pipe cleaners, Halloween stickers, black Sharpie markers, glue stick, etc.) and let them each decorate their own pumpkin to take home.

Personal Jack-O-Lantern Pizzas. Top pita bread with sauce and cheese, then use slices of olives, peppers, tomatoes, and carrots to create eyes, eyebrows, noses, ears, hair, mouths. Let the kids create their own design. Don’t forget to take photo of each kid with their pizzas.

Here’s a recipe for Ghostly Cupcakes from a friend of mine, Denise Vivaldo over at the Food Fanatics Blog.

A couple of links for additional ideas:

Disney has some great ideas at their website http://family.go.com/food/pkg-halloween-treats

The Food Network also have some interesting ideas at http://www.foodnetwork.com/halloween/package/index.html

A celebration of the beauty of pregnancy through fine art portraiture. Imagery that is not only a visual delight but also stirs the soul.

We are now creating beautiful custom videos for our clients from their portrait sessions.

If the move seems a little jerk or to view the move in full screen mode please click on the icon in the video

Think Design! is a catchy name for an interior design studio that’s as eclectic and full of surprises as one of the owners, Audrey Duncan. Audrey, a diminutive bundle of enthusiasm and creative energy, came to us to create a portrait she could use in her business. Now, executive portraits are usually pretty stodgy stuff: flat lighting, formal styles or hackneyed poses—all business. Very safe and sane. “Fun”, “Stylish” or “Dramatic” aren’t words you’d use to describe these. But true to Audrey, she wanted different. Dressed in a retro black and white checkered outfit with a jaunty fire-engine red hat, she arrived at our door ready for her portrait. We were overjoyed to have the privilege of doing something really creative for this kind of portrait! We suggested a dramatic eye-catching look: 1940’s Hollywood style lighting with a film-noir hint, paired with her friendly, honest, straight-forward attitude. We all had fun during her session – and Audrey was ecstatic about her portrait!

Then she told us about the competition she was entering and hoping to win: the Orange County ASID design awards for Home of the Year. A prestigious award of excellence in Interior Design, her firm had won the Platinum Award last year in the Design House category. The big Awards Gala will be held this September at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. Orange Coast magazine will feature the winning designs, so be sure to look for them. We wish her luck and are sure that her winning combination of style and talent will take her far!

Check out Audrey’s inspired and artful designs at www.interiorsbythinkdesign.com

Father’s Day, the first days of summer and getting out the barbeque grill all just seem to go together, don’t they? So with that in mind, I decided I would share one of my favorite burger recipes with you. This is a gourmet burger that you’re really going to enjoy.

What makes this burger so special is its flavor.  Sage, chipotle pepper and chardonnay combine with the turkey and pork to make this a truly extraordinary burger. Put this baby on a great whole wheat bun, top it off with some lettuce and tomato and you have the makings of a great meal. Oh and don’t forget a slice of nice sweet red onion.

These burgers won’t bust the calorie bank either! They come in at around 250 calories each plus your bun. So enjoy and let me know how you like them.

Charlie’s Sage-Infused Pork & Turkey Burgers

1/4 cup dry chardonnay
1 pinch sea salt
4 teaspoons ground sage
1/2 Teaspoon ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
1/2 pound fresh ground pork
1/2 pound fresh ground turkey
olive oil for brushing

In a small saucepan, combine the wine with the salt and bring to a boil. Simmer of medium heat for about 2 or three minutes, until it is reduced by about a third to one half. Remove from heat and let cool. Meanwhile, mix the pork with the ground seasonings. When thoroughly mixed, pour the wine over the meat and blend in.

Shape into four thick burgers, brush with olive oil and grill over a hot fire for about 6 minutes per side or until nicely browned on the outside and cooked inside. Serve hot and enjoy.

You can also add yellow, red or green peppers to the mixture before grilling for another variation.

As I approached the shop, the dark wood paneling and hard wood floors were beckoning me. This wasn’t your typical shop in South Coast. For one thing, this was a shop for men. It looked and felt comfortable, reminding me of a place where you could sit and relax at the end of a day with a good single malt scotch. In the corner was black leather chair – you know the kind – the one that you when you sit in it you want to put your feet, turn on the game, and enjoy your scotch.

Going inside, there was only one other customer and it was almost closing time. Looking around, their products looked interesting. So I decided to wait for someone to answer my questions. The salesman finished with his customer and asked me how he could help me. “Tell me about this” as I pointed to his products on the shelves. He explained to different qualities of each and which would be right for me. He was very relaxed, taking his time and not rushing me even though it was closing time. Bev tells “buy it, you deserve it.”

The next morning is when things changed. The shop was “The Art of Shaving.” Like most men, shaving is a morning ritual that has to be endured rather than enjoyed. Well that’s all changed now. Using their products I get the closest most comfortable shave ever. I’m not one to make a fuss over things unless they are really great – and this is one of them. My razor glides over my skin now, no tugging or pulling. No skin irritation after shaving, none of the old razor burn that I got before. Also after several weeks, I still haven’t nicked myself yet. For those that don’t know me, I have more that the usual area to shave- I shave my head too. One of the great benefits, and one that Bev really likes, is there’s no 5 o’clock shadow.  Even at 10 o’clock at night my face and scalp are still smooth.

If you really want a great close comfortable shave, stop by the Art of Shaving and talk to the guys there. Tell them Charlie from Blue Moon Photography set you. I wouldn’t recommend them if I didn’t like or use their products. Oh, and by the way I’m not getting any kind of compensation for this, their stuff is just that good.

Since 1963, when President John F. Kennedy first established National Small Business Week, it’s underscored the crucial role small businesses play in our economy and our communities. But beyond that, it’s also reminded people that keeping small business alive and successful serves us well both individually and as a society.

No wonder small business is the backbone of the economy: small business owners provide more personalized and higher quality services than do big box stores or large corporations. They often specialize, finding their niche in the needs of some underserved segment of the community. And because the owners are often experts in their endeavor, they can help you get that special item you’ve been searching for— and maybe save you some money and headaches too. In fact, if you’re looking for something unique or different than what most people settle for, you’ll probably find it at a small business. Many small businesses offer custom services and have an intimate knowledge of the local community. They can create, find, or refer you to just what you’re looking for.

Which brings me to social networking, granny’s old-fashioned way: by shopping at small local establishments you’ll build lasting relationships over time. Isn’t it great to do business with someone you know and trust, and who knows you? Small business owners can take the time to listen to their customers and get to know them.

But really, that’s just the icing on the cake. When you do business with a locally owned shop, business, or restaurant, the money stays in your community. Small business owners and their employees use the money to buy the same things you do– and spend their money at other local small businesses. Sure, you have to pay sales tax. But part of that comes back to your community to pay for services like fire and police.

A small business is often someone’s lifelong and hard-fought-for dream. It may be based on something that the owner is passionate about, something they believe in. Dedicated entrepreneurs are so passionate about their work that they’ll to take on a huge financial risk and face head-on the possibility of failure for themselves and bankruptcy for their family. By supporting small businesses you are helping someone live their dream and succeed.

Doing business with a small local business creates a ripple effect. As a small business grows, it spends more money locally and hires local people, who in turn also spend locally. The money stays where it originated, rather than being sent off to a corporate headquarters or internet agency far away. As more and more local businesses start expanding and growing, it opens up opportunities for other small businesses to start up. The local economy thrives and vacant stores and buildings become springboards for new businesses.

But not only is there the economic benefit to the community, there is also the psychological effect. As more and more small businesses succeed, it breeds hope and lifts peoples’ spirits. They want to dine out more and share their good fortune with friends and family.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for the economies of scale that big box stores and large corporations bring. But even companies like Apple started in someone’s garage.

So please, during National Small Business Week,  shop or work with a small local business. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you find at that little restaurant around the corner… you know, the one you’ve never been to? Or how about the little boutique bed and bath store across town you’ve never looked into? Even if you pay a bit more up front, the personal service, product quality, and relationships you create are, as they say, “priceless.”

Rami Kashou and his special couture dresses were at the launch of the new Papyrus store in South Coast Plaza on Saturday. Each dress was designed exclusively from Papyrus’s stationary and greeting cards.

What kid doesn’t like to blow bubbles, especially if they are really colorful? Crayola™– you know, the crayons people– have come up with Washable Color Bubbles™. Sounds like a great idea, especially since kids love bright colors. Well, it seems that those bubbles aren’t very washable. Parents have been complaining about stains that are left when the bubble bursts or the bubble solution drips. And the solution drips all over the place. What’s more, the solution is thick and gooey. That makes it difficult for younger children to blow bubbles.

Crayola™ has been trying to put a different spin on the product. If you go to their website www.crayola.com/products/splash/colored_bubbles you’ll see their take on it:

“Say ‘Yes’ to Colorful Mess!”

“Remember splashing through puddles and making mud pies? Crayola Washable Colored Bubbles remind us of a time when outdoor messy play was just part of being a kid. The bright, bold, vibrant bubble colors are so much fun, they will leave colorful marks. Here are some helpful hints to let kids have lots of colorful fun and for moms not to worry about the mess!”

“Super soak it! An extra-fun day may result in a few stubborn marks. Don’t sweat it if some colors are still visible after washing clothes. Just pre-soak in water and detergent for 20 minutes and rewash. The colors will wash out.”

“Catch some rays! Sunlight will help to fade colors on the ground that don’t immediately wash off with a hose!”

“Bubble play, the outdoor way! Mom always said, “Don’t blow bubbles in the house!” That goes double for Colored Bubbles which are designed for outdoor use only.”

“Saturday sweats, not Sunday bests! Wear play clothes when using Colored Bubbles. Never bring them to formal occasions like weddings or other events where folks are not dressed for the mess!”

“Go from blacktops to green fields. If you’d rather not colorize your driveway or sidewalk, Colored Bubbles work great in the backyard or in other grassy areas.”

There is a warning label in tiny print on the bottle stating, “Before use test on an inconspicuous area and let dry. Wash off to make sure bubble solution does not stain…Do not use at weddings or indoors….Keep away from brick, vinyl, finished and unfinished wood, wallpaper, painted walls, carpeting, draperies, and other materials that cannot be laundered.”

Parents  have a completely different view of the product. Amazon.com currently lists over 40 disastrous reviews of how carpets, furniture, patios, granite counter tops and clothes have all been ruined.

One person wrote “I would rate zero stars if it would let me. I thought these looked like fun and a neat new twist on bubbles. I have two children, ages 3 and 7, who both enjoy blowing bubbles. What a TOTAL DISASTER these turned out to be!! My 7 year old didn’t even want to continue with them as they were such a mess and don’t even make bubbles. Of course the 3 year old loved them as she turned blue as a Smurf! The bubble liquid was everywhere…grass, sidewalk, steps, tracked in the house on the bottom of shoes, running down her face, hair, clothes, hands, all over me as I tried to clean her up enough to even bring her inside…EVERYWHERE! I followed the washing directions for the clothes and it did not come out of everything. It did wash off my daughter, thankfully! I cannot imagine how this made it past any kind of “real people” testing. WORST PRODUCT EVER!! Do NOT Buy!!”

Another reviewer said,” I’d like the Crayola product manager for these bubbles to come to my house to scrub the stains off the concrete in front of my house. I suspect that he/she is currently available for such a job.”

We have used bubbles for childrens’ portrait sessions, but I think I’ll skip these.