Cup of Joe Photo

D3 Test Drive

The D3 rocks. These are images from the corporate event I shot on Tuesday night. The ISO ranges on these images from 800 to 6400. Sweet. It's about time:)

Test Drive D300

A couple of days ago Armando Florez (a former Nikon NPS rep who is now doing outside sales for Samy's) brought me down a D300 and a D3 to play with. I photographed a corporate event Tuesday evening at The Ritz Carlton and gave the cameras a spin. How fun it was to have full frame on the D3 and the capability to shoot at high ISO with fine grain in both models. They are both amazing cameras. I'll be posting more images over the next couple of days. These are two images of the entertainers from the D300 at 800 iso. For those of you in So. Cal. Armando can be reached at 310-856-9023 to get you hooked on the new cameras. Thankfully, Samy's is now doing Nikon's job of getting cameras in the hands of the pros. Props to Samy's and Armando!! Thank you both for your dedication and service.

Joe and Brooks' Excellent Adventure

Saturday in Pasadena was an awesome fun time. I got the chance to hang out with some really great California photographers. Here's a few highlites - in photos of course.

href="http://joephoto.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/27/blog_12.jpg">

Midnight in the Rain heading back to the hotel. Another excellent adventure:)

Episode 2

I'm so excited about Episode 2 of my ongoing web-saga. I've got an incredibly talented supporting cast and a director, writer, producer, screenwriter, editor that makes me look good. (Thanks Ron). Keep the PR going. Embed this Episode on your blog and fill out this form for free admission to WPPI 2009! Killer deal.

I'd like to thank the Academy..

Why We Buy

Honestly, I didn't finish this book. It's a mammoth examination into the science of product placement for businesses who sell product off the shelves. Parts of the book were fascinating to me, such as the direction most people move through a retail environment, to the size and effectiveness of text in a window display. But the book for me seemed to go very slow, and I found my mind wondering often. So perhaps I'll come back to it another time, or maybe not. There are soooo many good books to be experienced. I hope your having fun reading (or listening) to the books that interest you.

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce

From the Publisher Is there a method to our madness when it comes to shopping? Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "a Sherlock Holmes for retailers," author and research company CEO Paco Underhill answers with a definitive "yes" in this witty, eye-opening report on our ever-evolving consumer culture. Why We Buy is based on hard data gleaned from thousands of hours of field research -- in shopping malls, department stores, and supermarkets across America. With his team of sleuths tracking our every move, from sweater displays at the mall to the beverage cooler at the drugstore, Paco Underhill lays bare the struggle among merchants, marketers, and increasingly knowledgeable consumers for control. In his quest to discover what makes the contemporary consumer tick, Underhill explains the shopping phenomena that often go unnoticed by retailers and shoppers alike, including: How a well-placed shopping basket can turn a small purchase into a significant sale What the "butt-brush factor" is and how it can make sales plummet How working women have altered the way supermarkets are designed How the "boomerang effect" makes product placement ever more challenging What kinds of signage and packaging turn browsers into buyers For those in retailing and marketing, Why We Buy is a remarkably fresh guide, offering creative and insightful tips on how to adapt to the changing customer. For the general public, Why We Buy is a funny and sometimes disconcerting look at our favorite pastime.

Use your time wisely

Sunday is a great day to daydream. I love to consider how I will succeed, and imagine what that looks like. Sunday is a perfect day to turn off your phone and journal the goals you'd like to achieve. Press on toward the finish line and be specific about using your talent. Make the most of the gifts you possess.

" Fear is a waste of precious time, for time is something that can't be earned or created, but it can surely be destroyed. Fear creates hesitation and hesitation creates failure. Success comes from those who view each day as an opportunity to come one step closer to achieving their goals." Copyright © 2007 Allen Steble

Off to Pasadena

Alright, I'm off to The Western Convention in Pasadena to hang with all the cool So Cal photogs. Here's another image from my best of 2007. Cheers!

Happy Friday

It has been a wonderful week full of unexpected surprises. I'd like to send you into the weekend with this image. For those of you in So. Cal. I'll be at the Western States Convention in Pasadena on Saturday to hang with my brutha, Brook Todd. Come out and say Hi.

Alfred Eisenstaedt

It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.

- Alfred Eisenstaedt

This statement obviously applies to photographers who work with or around people. You nature photographers don't really need to worry about this one:)

Infrared Church

It's always fun to play with alternative processes. Last year, my buddy Charlie Samples brought out his infrared converted d1x and I played with it on a wedding he shot with me. Sweet!

Feeling Better

I'm finally feeling better after the weekend of being sick. It hit me hard Saturday afternoon, and Sunday I was wiped out. Anyway, I'm getting back into the routine now, thank you.

Did anyone try the online coloring I recommended yesterday?

Coloring Book

Nothing says Presidents' Day like coloring books and department store sales. If you're not going shopping today, perhaps you'd like to color. I'd like to help. You can click here and color online (lots of fun) or you can download coloring pages here for each of our 43 Presidents. Whichever you decide to do, whether it be shopping or coloring, have fun. Normally, I'd be shopping, but I'm feeling very under the wheather, so I decided to color George W. as a red head. I'm easily amused:)

LOOK WHO IS STARTING HIS DAY WITH A CUP OF JOE!!

Blessed are the Happy Makers

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

-Marcel Proust

Exercising for Oprah

It's funny sometimes how ideas happen. In fact, I think it's often very funny. Last week, I posted that it was easier getting in shape when I focused on a benefit (a goal) rather than what I was missing out on (tasty food). I wrote that I would be on TV this year (a goal) and that I wanted to look good for my apperance on Oprah (a goal). I believe that both will happen, and I have now created this new catergory - Exercising for Oprah.

When we repeat and share our desires to attain our goals, we make them more of a reality. We also open ourselves to criticism by those around us who would like to keep us small. I recommend spending as little time as possible with people whose negativity drains energy from your dream. Spend your time and energy with people who lift you up and believe in you. Of course, it should be your practice to lift up those around you. Start with your spouse, kids, parents, friends and neighbors. By helping others, you empower yourself to achieve far greater goals and build a support team of people who want to help you succeed. It's a true Win-Win.

Love is in the Air

I hope everyone got the Valentines they wanted. My lovely wife knows how to make me smile for sooo many reasons. Guess what she got for me? More jewelry:) Yep. That makes me smile.

Another thing that makes me smile, is kids art. I love the freedom that kids exhibit in their art. My wonderful neighbor Emilie brought me one of my favorite new pieces of art to hang proudly on my fridge.

Below is the perfect image for my "Love is in the Air" theme. Benn, a groom I photographed at the Ritz Carlton last July 14 hired the skywriter to do the hearts for his soon-to-be bride. How romantic is that!

Happy Friday!

Spread the Love

Step out of the (shoe) box

Rather than stepping, how about placing those fabulous wedding shoes in an unusual setting first. Snap a few images, and you've set the pace for creatively thinking about the rest of the day. You all know how much I love shoes:)

Last Minute Details

I just received an email clarifying the details for the Thirst Relief auction closing procedures (see below). Please read it if you are planning to bid. Thank you again. I look forward to helping one of you achieve your dreams.

The Anti-Snipe Feature. This means that if a particular auction is experiencing a bidding war at the time it is SUPPOSED to end, the auction will stay open instead. As long as bidders are willing to bid on a mentor the auction for that particular mentor will stay open until no one bids any more. This is extremely important for all bidders to know. Remind bidders to check and write down payment information so that they will be able to immediately go to www.thirstrelief.org to make their donations. Donations need to be made in 48 hours or the auction will go to the next highest bidder. Exactly how to make their donation is in the payment details of every auction. Also, a reminder that ALL auctions are closing at different times . This avoids having too many people trying to bid on any one person at a time. Make sure you and your bidders know exactly what time your auction will close.

Thirst Relief Auction

Hello friends! I'd like to bring to your attention a very worthy cause that I am participating in. If you are a photographer and you'll be in Vegas for WPPI next month, today is your last opportunity to bid on a 90 minute mentoring session with yours truly. I look forward to helping you with any aspect of your business.
Last year I had the pleasure of mentoring the fabulous Kate Benson.
I should have posted about this earlier. The auction started on February 9th will conclude TODAY. You can sign up now on the auction site, fotoVerite.

Thank you for your generosity for a great cause.

The Audacity of Hope

Another Democratic author. What is happening to me?! This book actually rocked me too. I embrace the journey of discovery and the fact that we are all in process. The world is many more shades of gray than simply black and white. Enjoy!

Synopsis "A government that truly represents these Americans--that truly serves these Americans--will require a different kind of politics. That politics will need to reflect our lives as they are actually lived. It won’t be pre-packaged, ready to pull off the shelf. It will have to be constructed from the best of our traditions and will have to account for the darker aspects of our past. We will need to understand just how we got to this place, this land of warring factions and tribal hatreds. And we’ll need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break." from The Audacity of Hope In July 2004, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Senator Obama called "the audacity of hope." Now, in The Audacity of Hope, Senator Obama calls for a different brand of politics -- a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the "endless clash of armies" we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of "our improbable experiment in democracy." He explores those forces -- from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media -- that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment. At the heart of this book is Senator Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats -- from terrorism to pandemic -- that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy -- where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his stories about family, friends, members of the Senate, even the president, is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus. A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and above all a student of history and human nature, Senator Obama has written a book of transforming power. Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, he says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there, he writes --- "waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them."

Happy Sunday

Plato - “More will be accomplished, and better, and with more ease, if every man does what he is best fitted to do, And nothing else.”

These are important words to ponder and apply. Have a blessed day!

Goals #3

Overall, I'm doing well with my personal goals. I find that I'm actually creating a pattern to exercise regularly. I have found that I'm much more motivated to exercise when I imagine other goals. For example, I know I'm going to be featured on TV this year, and I want to look good on Oprah. Having that in mind, helps me to cut back on the snacks and drinking.

Lent began on Wednesday and I've been lightly fasting (eating little portions of healthy food and drinking lots of water) and taking herbal supplements to detox my body. This is a 30 day program and I'm looking forward to feeling healthier.

Dieting sucks when you think about it. So try to think of your other dreams. When you look how you want, you feel even better. My sister Brigitte has a magnet on her fridge, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." That works for her, though I can think of many things that taste really good. We're in the process of making better choices together.

I hope that you're staying encouraged after five weeks since your Resolutions started. Keep going and take what you want for yourself!! You can make it happen.

Hang Out

This is a wedding image from last year that I shot while hanging out the window of the videographers' car. Another reason to be friends with the videographer:) Thanks Julie, it's always nice to hang out with you!

Number 232

I've tweaked another couple favs for my 2007 Gallery. This one rocks. I have about 65 to go. Enjoy.

Shutter - Movie Trailer

"Emotional energy can be communicated on film."

This looks sort of dumb, but I like the idea. Spirit Photography. "Yes, we'd like to order 100 4x6s for Halloween cards..."

Super Tuesday

Americans in 24 states will be voicing their concerns today. Ladies and Gentleman, make your voice heard!

I thought this video would tie in nicely with yesterday's post:) Go out and vote!

The Assault On Reason

Until recently, I was not a fan of Al Gore. I cast my ballot for George W. in 2000. At that time, I suppose I voted for who I thought I should as an OC Republican without giving it much more thought. These days, I'm educating myself, and like Al Gore, I realize "that we have Trouble, right here in River City. With a capital T and that rhymes with G and that stands for Government". Mr Gore has concerns and questions that seek answers and action. His voice is just one of many challenging Americans to think about what we are being told. He encourages (me) to pay attention to what is happening in our great country, and to engage in the public forum exercising reason.

I would love to hear your opinions. Please leave a comment.

From the Publisher A visionary analysis of how the politics of fear, secrecy, cronyism, and blind faith has combined with the degration of the public sphere to create an environment dangerously hostile to reason. At the time George W. Bush ordered American forces to invade Iraq, 70 percent of Americans believed Saddam Hussein was linked to 9/11. Voters in Ohio, when asked by pollsters to list what stuck in their minds about the campaign, most frequently named two Bush television ads that played to fears of terrorism. We live in an age when the thirty-second television spot is the most powerful force shaping the electorate's thinking, and America is in the hands of an administration less interested than any previous administration in sharing the truth with the citizenry. Related to this and of even greater concern is this administration's disinterest in the process by which the truth is ascertained, the tenets of fact-based reasoning-first among them an embrace of open inquiry in which unexpected and even inconvenient facts can lead to unexpected conclusions. How did we get here? How much damage has been done to the functioning of our democracy and its role as steward of our security? Never has there been a worse time for us to lose the capacity to face the reality of our long-term challenges, from national security to the economy, from issues of health and social welfare to the environment. As The Assault on Reason shows us, we have precious little time to waste. Gore's larger goal in this book is to explain how the public sphere itself has evolved into a place hospitable to reason's enemies, to make us more aware of the forces at work on our own minds, and to lead us to an understanding of what we can do, individually and collectively, to restore the rule of reason and safeguard our future. Drawing on a life's work in politics as well as on the work of experts across a broad range of disciplines, Al Gore has written a farsighted and powerful manifesto for clear thinking.

“The Dichotomy of Joe”

Ahhh, Super Bowl Sunday. When friends get together and watch the biggest TV event of the year. You know, I heard on NPR yesterday morning that the NFL is actually coming down on churches for having Super Bowl viewing parties with big screen TVs because it supposedly reduces their ad revenue. They actually sent out warnings that it infringed on their copyright. Amazing. Apparently however, bars lobbied early on this issue and received an exemption.

In other news... if you are interested in other thoughts rambling around in my head, check out my interview with Ron Dawson called “The Dichotomy of Joe”. Have a Super Sunday.

F-Stop Beyond

FINALLY, I FOUND OUT THAT COMMENTS FOR Diary of a Washed Up Rock Star Wedding Photographer - Episode 1 HAVE TO BE ENTERED ON THE OFFICIAL SITE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE EXTRA PRIZES. BUT YOU CAN GET FREE ADMISSION TO WPPI 2009 FOR JUST EMBEDDING THE VIDEO ON YOUR WEBSITE OR BLOG. Please direct any questions on this to Ron Dawson. He's much smarter than me:)

Diary of a Washed Up Rock Star Wedding Photographer - Episode 1

Well it’s here. The premiere you’ve all been waiting for. Episode 1 of “Diary of a Washed Up Rock Star Wedding Photographer.” In the episode, Skip learns that his abysmal ratings from last year’s award show means WPPI has to bring back Joe Photo and Michele Celentano to host. Joe in his despair has ended up in a dead-end job.

Spread the Love and Gain Free Admission to WPPI 2009

WPPI has come up with an incredible offer to those of you willing to share this hilarious series. Anyone who posts this or episode 2 on their blog or website will gain free admission to WPPI 2009. No, that’s not a typo. You’ll gain FREE admission to next year’s convention and tradeshow. And it’s going to be the biggest one ever. It will be the first year WPPI will be at the MGM grand. It’s going to be huge!

But wait…there’s more! Whichever posted set of videos (for both episodes 1 and 2) gets the most unique views, that person will get FIVE FREE ADMISSIONS to WPPI 2009. That’s right. You and four of your friends will be able to get into the largest wedding and portrait convention and expo absolutely free of charge.

HOW TO POST

Posting is easy. In any video player for an episode, click on the “embed this video” icon (it’s the second one in the bottom right-hand corder of the player). Select the “embed” tab, copy the code, then past into your blog or website. It’s that easy. Then share your blog post with your friends and colleagues. We’ll be monitoring the views from each posted video. If your total views for both episodes 1 and 2 rack up the most unique views, you and four friends get free admission. Note: watching the videos over and over on your computer won’t work. So don’t try to cheat. We’ll know if they’re legitimate unique views.

What better way to spread the word of WPPI and spread some laughter at the same time. Don’t you just feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it?!

More Prizes for You to Win

Leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win valuable prizes offered by some of our cast nd crew. You could win some free music downloads from Triple Scoop Music, or any number of offerings from Jules Cafe, Dane Sanders Fast Track Photographer, and Joe Photo himself. To qualify, you must comment BEFORE episode 2 airs some time later this month. Winners will be posted on this blog and notified by email.

And now…

Without further ado, here’s episode 1 of “Diary of a Washed Up Rock Star Wedding Photographer.” (Running time: 11:46).

Working on the Gallery

A couple of you have asked about my next "Best Of" gallery. It's coming, but slowly. I will let you know when it's posted. Happy Friday!