tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57341042878534595352024-02-07T20:58:25.352-05:00Darren's Photography BlogPhotography,Equipment News and <br> Updates,Photographic Events and <br>Photoshop Tips and TricksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-58731243898625556212012-06-29T08:56:00.001-04:002012-06-29T08:56:58.398-04:00My Blog is Being RetiredFolks, Google has seen fit to tell me my blog has no quality and is therefore de-indexing my site. I have decided to just close it down because trying to revive a site after google has doomed it to the never never land is about impossible. I will be opening a new blog or I should say focusing on another blog of mine. I will post the new url as soon as I have decided which way to go.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-17355494295573788592011-02-27T10:59:00.002-05:002011-02-27T13:17:50.178-05:00Disney Week - Making Memories<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31775942@N08/5482399500/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Disney Castle 2011 by Darren L Carroll, on Flickr"><img alt="Disney Castle 2011" height="200" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5482399500_0279e1a0d1_m.jpg" width="150" /></a></td><td>This past week was a Disney week, making memories. Disney is a wonderful place to take a family or friends, it has plenty of adventure and for the photo enthusiast there are tons of photo opportunities. I have posted a few of the photos to the left. If you go you must attend the block parties they are great! But then again I believe it was all wonderful!</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disney Castle</td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31775942@N08/5481802581/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Disney Block Party by Darren L Carroll, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img alt="Disney Block Party" height="200" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5481802581_dcc5c3cd66.jpg" width="157" /></span></a></td><td>The Block Parties were a hit. The characters and the staff danced in the streets with the guests. I think for the kids this was the main attraction, having the chance to dance with their favorite characters was cool. </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Block Party</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31775942@N08/5481802091/" title="Disney Mickey and Minnie by Darren L Carroll, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img alt="Disney Mickey and Minnie" height="200" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5481802091_37cb29a376_m.jpg" width="175" /></span></a></td><td> Everyone's favorite of course Mickey and Minnie! A trip to Disney without seeing them would be like rice with no beans; they are a must see!</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mickey and Minnie</span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31775942@N08/5481801779/" title="Disney Street Parade by Darren L Carroll, on Flickr"><img alt="Disney Street Parade" height="240" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5481801779_622ee3e53b_m.jpg" width="174" /></a></td><td>The street parades were another attraction that caught the crowds eye, especially the kids. Waving to the characters in hopes of a simple look back was well worth the time.</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Street Parade</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>One event however, keeps topping my thought train, that is taking photos of other peoples children while they are posing with a Princess. In my mind I don't feel this should be allowed. I am not talking about your own child, I am talking about a complete stranger pulling out a camera and taking a picture of your child. Perhaps Disney could stop this by placing a small screening partition near the posing area. Any thoughts on the subject feel free to voice them.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-10812989454241749852011-02-17T10:55:00.002-05:002011-02-17T23:37:57.139-05:00Canon Quietly Launches Two New Pro Supertelephoto Lenses: the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/static/content_images/Canon-500mm_3q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/static/content_images/Canon-500mm_3q.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Canon once again chose to go the quiet route in announcing two new pieces of premium professional glass this morning: the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM lenses. Buried under a press release for its two new consumer digital SLRs, the Canon T3i and T3, which were just announced and previewed</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/gear/Canon-Debuts-EOS-Reb-1793.shtml" style="color: #0099cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">, Canon said this morning that it was introducing the EF 500mm and EF 600mm supertelephotos. <a href="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/gear/Canon-Quietly-Launch-1796.shtml">Read the full article here (PDN)...</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-81565398118560260202011-02-12T12:00:00.000-05:002011-02-12T12:00:48.460-05:00Masters of PhotographyMaster of Photography is a video by ilayrock. The video is wonderful, take some time to watch it today.<br />
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<div align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I80OC5gGjsA" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-20305372101720828912011-02-09T14:25:00.000-05:002011-02-09T14:25:05.595-05:00Photography - Much More Than Just taking Headshots<div class="uawbyline" style="font-style: italic;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=clofordog-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1933952687&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>By Laurinda Gividen</div><br />
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<div class="uawarticle">From fifteen close friends I know who possess a camera barely a couple in reality, take the time to use them except for events like vacations, concerts and weddings, and then badly. The two who do use them routinely view taking photos as a hobby and have taken some good shots, and derived plenty of satisfaction from sharpening their capabilities. The rest bought the camera for some valid reason right at that moment, messed around with it, very likely stumbled on the manual, took a couple of images to show it functioned and then put it away.<br />
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And honestly that's sad, since photography is among those hobbies that will repay you appreciably for not much trouble and expense.<br />
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Of course you can do it badly. There are not many things as uninspiring as experiencing a selection of badly observed, improperly performed and badly adjusted images - and here we're speaking predominantly of the style of photo you'll probably take with your cell phone. These are fairly typical. You might label them the weeds in the garden that have grown over all the attractive blossoms until such time as only the weeds remain.<br />
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I was having a cup of coffee a few days ago observing a group of 20 something boys seated at another table. They started off taking photos of one other and next switched to taking self portraits. This style of self absorbed, vain exercise is the lowest quality photography could most probably come down to. In the end, if you consider you're the only truly worthwhile subject in all of the life around you possibly you've neglected a few essential notions in the steps of learning what life is really about.<br />
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The drawback with respect to this sort of photography is that aside from missing the idea that life can be harnessed artistically with a camera, the impoverished end results afford all of photography a a poor reputation.<br />
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The "sense" of sight is one of our most treasured awarenesses which undeniably reveals its value when it is directed towards points of splendor, beauty, interest, action or action. Seeing once is the summit of that pleasure, but obtaining a sharp clean shot which you can refer to when you want is the extra enjoyment and this is the main reason why taking photos is amongst the more gratifying pastimes you could have.<br />
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Portrait photography itself, done effectively, is a creative art form, bringing out some substance or value which is normally unseen within the rush of day to day life. The fundamental act of setting up a well conceived portrait can produce a different element to your demeanor towards other people.<br />
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Taking candid photographs can get you to actually begin monitoring and becoming cognizant of life as it happens around you. It raises your enjoyment of it.<br />
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Sometimes going for a wander around your local area and being able to see it from within the viewfinder can expand your appreciation and recognition of your environment. You could actually see familiar things as if for the very first time which may make life more attractive and rewarding.<br />
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Try getting that digital camera you purchased out from the place you put it away and taking it for a run, the more you practice with it the better you will become.<br />
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</div><br />
<div class="uawresource"><br />
<div class="uawabout" style="font-style: italic;"><br />
About the Author:</div><br />
<div class="uawlinks"><a href="http://www.my-photography-tips.com/portrait.html">Portrait Photography Tips</a> and <a href="http://www.my-photography-tips.com/wedding.html">Wedding Photography Tips</a></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-61616881650725622702010-12-03T03:46:00.004-05:002011-02-17T23:30:28.482-05:00Tips for Photographing Christmas LightsOne of the best sights this time of year is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Powered-Multi-Christmas-Lights/dp/B000XQAPV0?ie=UTF8&tag=darrsphotblog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Christmas light</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=darrsphotblog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000XQAPV0" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> displays. All the colors and design seem to bring life to the still of the night. Photographing these displays is a wonderful way to share the sights with others. I have a few tips that might make it a touch easier to capture the moment in a wonderful image that you can share for years to come.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="131" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5228028113_12cb897118.jpg" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 5px;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Photo by Scott Cramer </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>1. Plan or schedule you shooting time. The time of day is very critical to a well exposed photo full of colors. The best time is when the sky and the lights are as equal as possible, in other words the light from lights does not overpower the sky. My preferred time is shortly after the sun goes down, perhaps 15 minutes or so. I will usually take some test shots at two to three minute intervals starting at about 15 minutes after the sun goes down. When you have found the best time you will only have about ten minutes of shooting time, be ready! </div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"></ol>On the other hand, some folks like the pitch black background so you see virtually nothing but lights with some structure peaking through the lights. If this is what you are after then I would wait until dark sets in and then take the shot at a faster shutter speed.<br />
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</div>2. Use a supporting device. A tripod or beanbags, in case you are shooting from a car window, is very helpful. Actually, they are a must have in most cases because your exposure time will be slow. If you are after the black background look, I still recommend a bracing device.<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"></ol><div class="MsoNormal">3. Christmas lights are for the most part tungsten; be sure to set your white balance to tungsten before shooting. This will ensure the colors you see are what you will get.</div><ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"></ol><div class="MsoNormal">4. Snow makes an interesting foreground, so don’t try to crop it out when framing your picture. Reflective items make for interesting foregrounds as well. If you are using the roof of the car as a base, try to get some of the reflections in the image. </div><ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"></ol><div class="MsoNormal">5. Turn off all flash accessories. Flash is not a good thing for Christmas light photos.</div><ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"></ol><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After you have taken a few photos, use the remainder of your sight seeing to discover new and wonderful sights for the next shot. Christmas lights can be a little tricky but, with a little practice you will be creating wonderful images for years to come.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-60305079448844069782010-11-27T00:51:00.000-05:002011-02-17T23:30:28.482-05:00Family Portrait Posing TipsAre you thinking of sending family portraits to friends and family during the holiday season? If so, I have a few tips to help keep those photos looking fresh and unique from year to year.<br />
<div><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=darrsphotblog-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1584281723&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div><br />
</div><div>1. Keep your poses interesting and different. Look at last year portraits and change up the posing somewhat. Change the arrangement, positioning and colors of the photos. The key is each subject should flatter the other while maintaining a sense of family between them.</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. If you take photos outdoors, ensure the scene compliments you. For instance overcast skies tend to make objects appear flat and lifeless. Do not pick an area that has a lot of background traffic.<br />
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</div><div>3. Ensure all head wear such as Santa caps are not covering the eyes or creating a shadow across the face.<br />
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</div><div>4. Lighting - hair lights do not work well with people that are balding. If you must use the hair light with people that are balding then plan some extra time so you can move the lights around so the reflections are not beaming into the camera.<br />
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5. Do not make family portraits a chore. Capturing unique and dynamic family portraits should be fun.<br />
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</div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-14086165105069289272010-11-19T12:47:00.030-05:002011-02-17T23:03:53.541-05:00PhotoEditorX Review<a href="http://dcc2010.editorx.hop.clickbank.net/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.photoeditorx.com/images/b250250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo Editor X Photo Editing Software Banner" border="0" src="http://www.photoeditorx.com/images/b250250.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://c454b1p1cx5r6w4zrc3k6l9mb0.hop.clickbank.net/">PhotoEditorX</a> is a very complete software that can be used to edit photos in a very professional way. It's very easy to learn how to handle it and with this software you'll be able to edit your photos to become as good as the photos you see in magazines. This is a great system that will help you create perfect pictures from scratch and you don't need any photo editing skills to use this software. <br />
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This software has a bunch of appealing features and it will take you plenty of time to explore them all. The program makes it possible for you to try image manipulation, simple rezising of your images and many other things and all the features are very useful whether you want to use this for private purpose or in your business.<br />
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The greatest thing of all regarding <a href="http://c454b1p1cx5r6w4zrc3k6l9mb0.hop.clickbank.net/">PhotoEditorX</a> is that it's perfectly suitable for professionals as well as beginners. Everyone can use this and get satisfied when they see the results. It's not exactly a low budget alternative since it's better than many expensive alternatives, but it is a cheap alternative with high quality. <br />
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Thousands of people use this software on a daily basis, some of them work with it to edit pictures for magazines and newspapers. The results that you get are always amazing and there are simple guidelines to follow in case you don't understand how to edit your files. <br />
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I think this software is totally fantastic and some things make this software exceptional. These four features are the ones that is most appealing according to me:<br />
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· You get the same features as you get when you use PhotoShop but this software is a lot easier to learn how to handle and you will get this photo suite a lot cheaper than if you decide to buy PhotoShop. <br />
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· You will get the same program that most publishers use and you don't need to have any particular education or experience to be able to get as good results as the publishers. <br />
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· You will get a chance to restore old photos and this is amazing since you'll be able to keep all your old memories for centuries, which would be impossible without this software.<br />
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· You can change the background and remove all unwanted things that shouldn't be there. <br />
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These are only a few of the available features and you will probably find your own favorites as soon as you start using <a href="http://c454b1p1cx5r6w4zrc3k6l9mb0.hop.clickbank.net/">PhotoEditorX</a>. The possibility to change colors, add frames, make teeth white and many other things are amazing and you won't want to work without this software once you've tried it. <br />
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There are plenty of reasons why you should choose this software and here are a few.<br />
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Budget – You'll save plenty of money by choosing <a href="http://c454b1p1cx5r6w4zrc3k6l9mb0.hop.clickbank.net/">PhotoEditorX</a> as it's quite cheap and very cost-worthy. <br />
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Results – You'll get better results than you could ever hope for with any other software.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-13648380515343448462010-10-16T11:24:00.001-04:002011-02-17T23:30:28.483-05:00Help Your Photos Pop<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5085984637_1c9afb8d4a_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Butterfly" border="0" height="142" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5085984637_1c9afb8d4a_m.jpg" width="200" /></a>Are your photos falling short in the pop department? One of the most over looked compositional elements can be to blame, <i>Bokeh</i>. Simply put bokeh is a technique where the photographer throws the background out of focus, creating a soft blend of the background objects.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
So, what does throwing the background out of focus do? When the subject is sharp and the background is blurred the subject tends to stand off from the background. Almost like a 3D object. Therefore, your subject is more likely to pop out at the viewers. In the photo of the butterfly the foliage in the background is blurred to allow the viewer to see the butterfly with out distraction.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Throwing the background out of focus is not always as easy as it seems. Bokeh does have quality and quantity levels that make the blurring effect good and bad. Yes, you heard correctly there is good bokeh and bad bokeh. Without going into great detail, I am going to say that the blur should be smooth, blending the objects and lights evenly. Bokeh that creates shapes are not the most pleasing to view. To do this, we generally use a shallow depth of field, keeping the subject in sharp focus and the background out of focus.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Steps to Creating Good Bokeh</div><br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal">Equipment: A camera that allows you to control the aperture settings will be needed. A DSLR or SLR is preferred. If you have a camera in the point and shoot category check for an A/V or Portrait setting, either of these will usually work.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Turn off any and all flash units. Flash is not good for boken. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The objective is to get a shallow depth of field, which can be achieved in several ways. The shallow depth of field will throw objects behind the subject out of focus and hopefully creating a nice smooth bokeh. I prefer the A/V setting to be in the area or 4.0 if possible, 5.6 at the highest f/stop and 2.8 at the lowest f/stop. If your camera does not have the A/V setting, try the portrait setting. Generally speaking it does not work as well as the A/V setting. If all else fails, move your subject away from the background (more than a few feet).</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Focus on the subject and click.</li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You can bring your photos back to life and make them pop with just a little good bokeh. Try it, I know you will like the results.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"D"</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-70197357351799606402010-10-10T01:32:00.000-04:002010-10-10T01:32:29.830-04:00Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo BlogI came across this collection of photos and thought they are worth the sharing. This is a must see collection of photos.<br /><a href="http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/"></a><br /><a href="http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/">Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-55869285042890508952010-09-28T09:54:00.000-04:002010-09-28T09:54:36.309-04:00Adobe Elements 9 Released!<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/CanonBlogger/%7E3/TP_25kF67HQ/">Adobe Elements 9 Released!</a>: "You can tell that Photokina is generating quite the buzz with all the product launches and announcements that have been leaking out recently. Adobe is no different as they announced today the release of Photoshop Elements 9! This is a great product and actually is my recommendation for the cost-conscious crowd when it comes to editing your photos. While Lightroom is a great resource for managing your photos and doing the “quick edits”, sometimes you do need the power of layers and more heavy-lifting tasks that Lightroom just isn’t equipped to do. To add Photoshop CS5 adds a pretty big … <a href="http://www.canonblogger.com/2010/09/22/adobe-elements-9-released/">Continue reading <span>→</span></a><p></p><div><br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Eff/CanonBlogger?a=TP_25kF67HQ:j3L1815nvqc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Eff/CanonBlogger?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Eff/CanonBlogger?a=TP_25kF67HQ:j3L1815nvqc:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Eff/CanonBlogger?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Eff/CanonBlogger?a=TP_25kF67HQ:j3L1815nvqc:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Eff/CanonBlogger?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Eff/CanonBlogger?a=TP_25kF67HQ:j3L1815nvqc:D7DqB2pKExk"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Eff/CanonBlogger?i=TP_25kF67HQ:j3L1815nvqc:D7DqB2pKExk" border="0" /></a><br /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/CanonBlogger/%7E4/TP_25kF67HQ" width="1" height="1" />"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-60383367157931822022010-09-08T12:58:00.001-04:002011-02-17T23:03:53.542-05:00Adobe releases Photoshop Express for iPad & iPhone<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/1008/10081301adobephotoshopexpress.asp"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=darrsphotblog-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0321563468&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Adobe releases Photoshop Express for iPad & iPhone</a>: "Adobe has introduced Photoshop Express as an application for Apple's iPad and iPhone. Previously known as Photoshop.com Mobile, the app has now been optimized for use with the iPad. It enables users to view, edit and apply effects to images via gesture-based functions. Photoshop Express is available as a free download from Apple's App Store for new users and as an update including the new name for existing users. It is also available in the Android Marketplace."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-56480873799727467592010-08-26T10:59:00.002-04:002010-08-26T11:05:28.393-04:00Canon Unveils Six New L-Series Lenses<a href="http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/content_display/news/e3ie243dea31e639268e9e93e5c3bf74f4c">Canon Unveils Six New L-Series Lenses</a>: "New glass includes 400mm f/2.8 and 8-15mm f/4 fisheye."<br />
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I started looking at some of the new stuff from canon and noticed they have been some busy bodies and really flooding the market for fall and winter. Any how SIX new lenses, new camera and more!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-83637222584964514522010-08-26T10:01:00.001-04:002010-08-26T11:04:49.982-04:00Canon EOS 60D DSLR announced and previewed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/photos/stylus/149283-Canon-60D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/photos/stylus/149283-Canon-60D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/1008/10082620canoneos60d.asp">Canon EOS 60D DSLR announced and previewed</a>: "Canon has unveiled the EOS 60D mid-level DSLR, replacing the EOS 50D. However, following the launch of the EOS 7D, the 60D has been repositioned in the market, so isn't a simple upgrade to its predecessor. Instead the 60D is a smaller camera featuring an articulated screen and plastic body shell and utilizing SD memory cards. It combines the 18MP CMOS sensor and 1040k dot 3.0" LCD from the EOS 550D (Rebel T2i) with the AF system from the 50D. Meanwhile it gains the 7D's HD movie capability. We've had a chance to use a pre-production 60D so have prepared a hands-on preview, including sample images and movies."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-15803041740506060972010-07-31T10:04:00.000-04:002010-07-31T10:04:28.034-04:00A few tips for Photographers Traveling Overseas<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulnich/4573203358/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 1em;" title="Venice Panorama by Paul Nicholson, on Flickr"><img alt="Venice Panorama" height="105" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3320/4573203358_89a9ec060d_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>US Photographers going overseas should be aware that departing and entry into the grand ole USofA are not always the same thing. Actually, leaving is not hard at all, but re-entry can be a pain if not planned for properly.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Reading</st1:city></st1:place> horror stories about photographers having equipment taxed or just being hassled about their equipment drove me to put together a few tips from all these lessons learned. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The biggest tip I seem to see is to simply prepare your self for overseas travel; nothing better than planning ahead. Start with our (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>) own customs. They have a website full of info and a checklist to assist you in planning for your travels. The checklist is at the <a href="http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/travelers_checklist.xml">CBP.gov</a> web site. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To (hopefully) keep you from being taxed on your equipment when you re-enter the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> you need to complete a CB form 4457. You can get a PDF copy by <a href="http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4457.pdf">clicking here</a>. My understanding is that this form must be completed prior to your departure from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The last bit of advice: try not to argue with the customs agent. I am sure they do not like travelers quoting regulations and such. Like a policeman told me one time, “you may win in court, but right now I am the law and what I say goes”. However, by no means degrade yourself or let your equipment be taken from you. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-58913955730343226652010-07-30T12:49:00.001-04:002011-02-17T23:31:27.715-05:00Ansel Adams lost Slides in Dispute.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/7/2010/07/500x_rick-norsigian-and-ansel--006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/7/2010/07/500x_rick-norsigian-and-ansel--006.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It appears the lost slides of Ansel Adams may not be that at all. Other photographers of the era seems to have taken photographs similar to the work of Adams. Hand writing on the envelopes suggest that Pop Laval could have taken them and 87-year-old Miriam Walton states her uncle Earl could have taken them because her uncle was shooting at the same locations as Adams during that era. Boy could this be a soap, where is Hollywood when you need them.<br />
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To read the article click <a href="http://gawker.com/5600399/ansel-adams-garage-sale-haul-attracting-disputes">here. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-28576613733128881672010-07-28T06:30:00.050-04:002011-02-17T23:31:27.716-05:00Lost work of Ansel Adams found<b>Man buys $200M worth of Ansel Adams' work for $45</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.radcity.net/5149/4414542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.radcity.net/5149/4414542.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ansel Adams (Photo by Troy Holden. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License.)</span></td><td><b>BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP)</b> - A trove of old glass negatives bought at a garage sale for $45 have been authenticated as the lost work of famed nature photographer Ansel Adams and are worth at least $200 million, an attorney for the owner said Tuesday.<br />
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This story is unreal, lost work of Ansel Adams selling for $45. Wow! To read the complete article click <a href="http://wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=1892292&spid=">here.</a></td></tr>
</tbody> </table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-25328663826672605502010-07-25T06:00:00.003-04:002011-02-17T23:31:27.717-05:00Royal family open Flickr photography account<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48475000/jpg/_48475006_009829404-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48475000/jpg/_48475006_009829404-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Rare pictures of the Royal family have been posted on the internet after Buckingham Palace opened an account on photography website Flickr.</b><br />
<br />
The images of recent royal events, archive pictures of the Queen, Prince of Wales and other members of the monarchy can be seen from Monday.<br />
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More than 600 photographs have been added to the British Monarchy's Photostream account. <br />
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Read the full article by <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10750830">clicking here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-27148572499737509282010-07-05T10:31:00.001-04:002011-02-17T23:31:27.717-05:00Portfolio Reviews<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/photos/stylus/144130-Foley_Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/photos/stylus/144130-Foley_Large.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© courtesy of Michael Foley</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/features/pdn-online/e3i4fca3f5255bc0136b67d6236d5d2b7aa?pn=1"></a>Judgment day is here, portfolio review. But are you really ready for the review? Portfolios are very important for photographers and should not be taken like a grain of salt. Some very important questions should be answered before you enter your review. Michael Foley, the owner of Foley Gallery in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place> was interviewed by PDN on this topic and brings to light some interesting points that should be taken wisely. Read the entire article by clicking <a href="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/features/pdn-online/e3i4fca3f5255bc0136b67d6236d5d2b7aa?pn=1">here</a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-85000772506612300352010-06-27T01:29:00.000-04:002011-02-17T23:30:28.485-05:00Photographing Fireworks<div></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31775942@N08/4737174745/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Firework by Darren L Carroll, on Flickr"><img alt="Firework" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4737174745_f29075fdd0_m.jpg" width="119" /></a>With the 4th of July just around the corner, I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about photographing fireworks.<br />
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Photographing fireworks has always been an adventure for me. It seems every year the spot I have scoped out gets filled on the big day before I can get there. However, I do try to make the best of it and enjoy my shooting. <br />
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I generally use a tripod, small flash light, memory cards - at least 4 gb worth of memory, remote shutter release, and confront items such as water. <br />
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Finding a good spot to shoot from is the biggest challenge. You will need to do a little before hand surveying if possible. Make sure there are no trees or other tall obstacles in your line of sight to the fireworks. A good clear view is best. I do not recommend getting directly under them or down wind from the explosions, the smoke will float in front of the fireworks. I try to find a spot where I can see well without having to move the camera around. <br />
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Once the shooting location is found set-up the tripod, camera and remote shutter release. Determining where exactly you will be shooting and attempt to pre-focus in the general area. When framing the area look for horizon lines ensuring if they are in your shot they are straight and any obstacles in the background or foreground that would cause distractions. Whether you shot in the vertical or horizontal position will be your preference; I prefer vertical. <br />
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One of the questions I have been asked quite a bit is - How do you know when and where to release the shutter? I use a longer shutter time of 1 - 2 seconds, and when I see the tail of the firework starting to fade I will open the shutter. At other times I will open the shutter and leave it open capturing several at once. To do this you simply tape a black piece of foam board to the end of the lens and after the first explosion flip the foam board over the lens to cover the front, then when you are ready to capture the next one you flip up the foam board. Of course you can do this in photoshop as well, but sometimes doing it in camera is so much more fun. You can also use the bulb setting on the camera. To do this open the shutter by pushing the shutter release button on the remote shutter release and continue pressing the release button until the firework has faded away or you are happy with the length of time, then release the button. As far as where to frame, I do most pre-framing before the fireworks start; however, I do reframe on the first firework, lock in the tripod and begin clicking.<br />
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The Aperture I use is in the range of f/5.6 - f/11. Some people like using faster speeds and some like using slower speeds. It is not necessary to have a super fast f/1.2 lens to capture fireworks. <br />
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The focal length is from 35mm - 300mm, with most shoots occurring around 80mm. Again, this is your preference depending on what you are capturing. Tight shots can be just as interesting as wide shots, experiment a bit.<br />
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I would recommend shooting in a totally manual mode, no flash. In auto mode the camera can really be faked out and there is no telling what you will get. Try to check as you are going to see if you are capturing what you want.<br />
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Enjoy your shooting!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-71013556894625376512010-06-24T09:43:00.002-04:002011-02-17T23:03:53.543-05:00Have Problems Removing and Filling in Objects?The new Content-Aware Fill in <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshopextended/">Photoshop CS5 </a>will help those that have troubles with removing objects from photos. It is a remarkable tool that magically removes and fills the space with the matching background. Watch the attached video to see the tool in use.<p><div align="center"><object height="360" width="580"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PTvxlfBW96k&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PTvxlfBW96k&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="260"></embed></object></div></P><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remarkable!</b></span><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-76644935428261755822010-06-24T00:59:00.003-04:002011-02-17T23:03:53.543-05:00Casual Photographers Manage Your Photos Without The Expensive SoftwareArcoSoft has launched a new software package that seems to answer the expensive software problem for casual photographers. PhotoImpression has a price of $40 and a Free Trial period for you to give it a test run. The software has your basic editing tools and stacking capabilities. The software is lacking in some areas and some thought should be given before buying it. For the price it is not a bad choice for a basic program. To read more about the new software <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/20/AR2010062001132.html">click here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-18620648998376840392010-04-12T13:42:00.002-04:002011-02-17T23:03:53.544-05:00Its Here! Adobe CS5!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/1004/Adobe/news/PS_CS5_Extended_3in_boxshot-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/1004/Adobe/news/PS_CS5_Extended_3in_boxshot-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Adobe unveils Photoshop CS5 & CS5 Extended.<br />
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Discover breakthrough interactive design tools that enable you to create, deliver, and optimize beautiful, high-impact digital experiences across media and devices. Create once and deliver that same experience virtually everywhere, thanks to the highly anticipated releases of the Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR® 2 runtimes. Maximize the impact of what you've created through integration of signature Omniture® technologies. <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/?promoid=DNOWM">Click Here to check it out...</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-52622252942421522052010-04-11T02:16:00.004-04:002011-02-17T23:31:27.718-05:00Reuters Photographer Killed<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photojournalism">Photojournalism</a> is a risky business, especially for those that wish to cover war and terror. <br />
During hostile engagements, enemy recognition is not always an easy task for soldiers and airmen. Blood pumping rapidly though the body, your heart is pounding, your mind is searching for something to justify killing before you are killed. Hasty judgments are made. Visions of who are the good guys and who are the bad guys can be clouded by personal emotion. Unfortunately, when our visions become clouded people die needlessly. In watching this video I felt this was the case. Photojournalist fall victim to the might of helicopter fire power because they were mistakenly identified as bad guys carrying weapons.<br />
Listening to the tone of the voice, it sounds as if emotions to kill before being killed were taking over the hunt. In my opinion some of the killing could have possibility been avoided if the personal emotions would have been observed or attention was given to the eagerness to kill. Of course, the eagerness to kill is driven by the mind set - kill before you are killed. This is my opinion and my opinion only. Feel free to watch the video and make your own judgment.<br />
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Be aware this video is graphic. To read the full story by David Walker, on PDN <a href="http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/photo-news/photojournalism/e3i3ecdc15bacc281d278a1d93f9532ecda">click here </a><br />
<h3 class="lg">"Leaked Military Video Shows Killing of Reuters Photographer"</h3><h3 class="lg"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="380"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5rXPrfnU3G0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5rXPrfnU3G0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="385"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734104287853459535.post-8303898788095906672010-03-31T10:14:00.003-04:002011-02-17T23:31:27.718-05:00Looking for revenue from your old photos<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/newsandtech.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/2/01/20e/20120ed6-3b54-11df-b84b-001cc4c002e0.preview-300.jpg?_dc=1269881836" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/newsandtech.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/2/01/20e/20120ed6-3b54-11df-b84b-001cc4c002e0.preview-300.jpg?_dc=1269881836" width="151" /></a><br />
<i><font size="0">State and Madison streets in downtown Chicago following the Chicago Fire in 1871.</font></i></td><td width="20"></td><td>Millions of archived print photos spells new streams of income, or at least this is what the Chicago Tribune is hoping. In an attempt to create revenues the Chicago Tribune is looking to digitize all of their print photos; some 7 million plus. The up front costs are probably going to be mind blowing, but the long run should be fruitful. Time will tell and this project is worth following, book mark it. To read the full article <a href="http://www.newsandtech.com/news/article_8931a886-3b54-11df-8b95-001cc4c002e0.html">click here...</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Chicago, IL, USA41.850033 -87.650052341.594290500000007 -88.1169713 42.1057755 -87.1831333