Six at Sunset
Sunset is one of those mysterious things in life. It happens every day, and yet—when the sky is clear—it’s magical every time.
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Tutorial: ‘Degrunge’ Skin Retouching
While I’m sure all of you would prefer to look at a beautiful model for this tutorial, you’re going to have to put up with my ugly mug again. After all, none of my clients need skin retouching. 
But I certainly could use a little.
This is a skin retouching technique called “degrunge”. I think I first read about it on retouchpro.com, and am elaborating on that technique. I did not invent this, but this is how I use it.
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Voted “Best Photographer of Ventura County”!
It’s official! I’ve been voted “Best Photographer of Ventura County”, in the Ventura County Reporter’s annual readers poll.
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Magazine Cover
black and white photo in upper left is mine.
Just some quick self-horn-tooting: My photo called “Soccer Moment”, which won second place in the Ventura City Photo Contest, was also used on the ‘My Ventura’ adult education/recreational class schedule for the city. I didn’t know about it until someone said “hey isn’t that your son on the cover of this magazine?” Here’s the picture again:
An American.
I became an American citizen today.
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Tutorial: “The Highpass/Hard Light Look”
Here’s a more in-depth tutorial on the “Highpass/Hard Light” look. By the way, this probably has a better name, but no one’s ever told me it if there is.
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Fear at the Fair
A few weeks ago, my family attended the Ventura County Fair. At one point, my oldest sone (who’s five) pointed to a grown-up ride and said “can we go on that?” It looked innoculous enough. It’s just a set of swing-chairs suspended from long chains. You’re lifted up and spun around. Big deal. I was a little concerned the height might bother my son, but he seemed intent, and I could snap a few pictures.
The chairs lift off, and it’s fun! My son looks a little worried, but I reassure him all is well. But then…the speed picks up. Those chairs fly up and out, over empty space. And the worst part is that they swing back and forth, in and out. It suddenly occurs to me that those chains can’t possibly withstand the centrifugal force of a grown man.
I realize, for the first time in many years, I am scared to the point of panicking.
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Christmas in August?
Christmas cards in August? This couple is planning ahead! If only I could encourage all my clients to be so forward-thinking! Heck, if only I could do that myself…
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