My ex-con classmate

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Stillwater (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have a classmate is an ex-con. He was a pretty big time gangster. He spent seven years in prison. Was on drugs for 20 years. He's been shot and stabbed and he belonged to the Skin Heads gang. He is someone who should write a book. Not many people live that kind of lifestyle and survive.  He was saying in prison it is totally racial. Everyone hangs with their kind and that's the rule they live by. One thing I thought was interesting was that prisoners are extremely clean. He said living in a small and dirty place makes most cons very particular about their own personal space. It's too easy to spread sickness and disease in a prison environment so they are forced to be very clean. He said you never would dare walk bare foot because of all the germs.

Oops I forgot to get in my shameless plug

Just in case you want to contribute to the theatrical photography project, here's the link. DO ME A BIG FAVOR, pass this along to all your friends.  I'm trying to reach people who are benefactors for the arts.
http://www.indiegogo.com/theatrephotoproject

So why am I begging for money on the Internet?

Well,first off its called Group Funding and it's a perfectly legit way to raise funds. Secondly, I'm doing it because I can. I can use the money so why not give it a shot? What do I have to lose? I just don't understand why it's not working for me. On the Indiegoo site there's a lot of dumb things being funded. My request is modest not nearly as outrageous as many of the projects getting funded. I wish I had the answer. If you can find it in your hearts to help me out, I would appreciate it.

The Final Version of my book. Check out the FREE Preview.

Hey, check out my final version of my coffee table book. It's pretty darn impressive if I do say so myself.
You can't miss the free preview but just in case you do...follow the arrows>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Top 5 Photography Tips for Beginners

Example of bad photography number 1 (Photo credit: mollybeee)

1. Once you compose your photo, take three steps closer. Time and time again, new photographers take photos too far back.
2. Remember, if you have a little camera, you also have a little flash.  There is a limit to what you can light up with a small flash, namely, two or three people at best.
3. Do it right the first time. Don't rely on fixing your mistakes later.  Just because you can use Photoshop, it doesn't mean you should. Think about your time. Unless you like being a geek, then knock yourself out.
4. Watch your background. Do you have trees and wires coming out of people's heads?  Look at your subject, then look at your background.
5. Learn how to use your flash. Don't rely on your camera to decided when to use the flash. Turn your flash on and off when you need it. For example, for most stage events inside, you don't need a flash.

Arizona and Minnesota Gun Talk

Case O' Guns (Photo credit: Gregory Wild-Smith)

Every now and then the topic of guns will come up in conversations with sportsmen and shooters in the workplace. Certainly nothing wrong with that and quite natural, guys being guys and all.  Now I've lived most of my life in Minnesota and that is not a topic you would bring up in mixed company at your place of work.  Minnesota being the ultra liberal state that it is, people could overhear your conversation and be totally offended, report you HR, or worse report you to security as a possible threat. Guns is just not a topic you casually talk about unless you are with a bunch of hunting buddies. Now in Arizona, the top of guns will cause a distraction in the workplace but for totally different reasons. You start talking about guns at work and you'll have so many people join in on the conversation, it can be a big distraction. Out here, gun talk is no big deal. People in Arizona love their guns and can legally carry a gun open or concealed.  Although, I think most people go the concealed route. There really is no reason to carry open, all it does is attract attention and you give up the element of surprise if, God Forbid, you should have to use it. Arizona is a state quite different than Minnesota. Arizonans have a history of being very independent with roots going back to the Wild West. It is no wonder that the Arizona Constitution also has a second amendment provision protecting gun ownership. As they say out here, guns are to crime as matches are to arson. As a state we've proven that more guns does not equal more crime.

I reorganized my photo book.

Apple Photo Book: Travels with Jenny & Michael 2006 (Photo credit: mstephens7)

After looking at my coffee table photo book, THE BEST OF SHOW BIZ PHOTO, I've decided to tweak the order a bit and add a few more photos and take out some of the weaker photos.  These are great changes that will greatly enhance the book so I'm looking forward to seeing the finished copy later this week. I decided to do a hard cover copy just to see what it looks like all fancy. It's a real fun book. I don't know if anyone would buy it but you don't know until you try. I see it more useful as a recruitment tool for more jobs, that's why it would be nice to have a benefactor pick up the tab on books that I will give away.