C.C.P.I.'s Photographic Mentor Program

22. Silhouette.

2010-10-29T09:27:00.002-04:00

22. Silhouette. Sometimes less information is better. this is where you can tell a story with silhouettes. It lets the viewer guess what's happening and allows them to fill in the parts they cannot see. This can be a very powerful form of story telling, give it a try!

21. Negative space.

2010-06-27T08:37:00.002-04:00

21. Negative space. Sometimes it's effective to leave some negative space, an area of your image left alone. It leads the eye back to the main subject. Try moving your subject off center and putting some negative space in your images. If you try this vertically, you may end up on the cover of a magazine!

20. Image surprises.

2010-06-10T14:18:00.002-04:00

20. Image surprises. Keep shooting. Shoot lots. We are not restricted by 36 exposures anymore! In this image by Elsa Blake, a gull flies into her camera's viewfinder, as she presses the shutter release. It couldn't have been more well placed! It's hard to plan these types of images, but if you can anticipate the possible, keep shooting in case it does!

19. The Eyes have it.

2010-06-01T11:06:00.002-04:00

19. The eyes have it. Always focus on your subjects eyes, their window to their souls! Even if the rest of the image is out of focus, keep the eyes sharp. It will grab the viewers attention and make them want to look at your image.

18. Soft Light.

2010-05-14T09:52:00.000-04:00

18. Keep the light soft when shooting soft things. A soft light on the subject and the background helps the overall mood of the image. Hard light has it's place, but not when shooting your favorite soft objects.

17. Odd numbers.

2010-05-06T09:05:00.003-04:00

17. Odd numbers. Generally speaking, when photographing several similar objects, odd numbers work better. Weather they are lined up or scattered, an odd number of people, flowers, babies or marshmallows works best. Don't know why . . . . it just does!

16. Reflections are our friends!

2010-04-28T11:17:00.001-04:00

16. Reflections are your friends. Use reflections to help tell your story. Whether it's a canoe just out of the water with trees and your friend's reflection or a sunset mirrored in the lake, maybe a passer by looking at someone in a cafe's window. Reflections are often there for us to use, not to fear.

15. Shoot into the Sun!

2010-04-21T09:31:00.000-04:00

15. Shoot into the sun! Never underestimate the power of shooting into the sun. Of course you'll have to get creative and block it either totally or partially, adjust your exposure, and be aware of where the shadows fall, but the results can be worth the planning. Increase the impact of your images by putting that "big light" behind them!

14. Out of Context Subjects

2010-04-19T16:22:00.001-04:00

14. Out of context subjects. Lynn Murphy from New Brunswick has allowed me to use her image to illustrate this idea. Take the viewer by surprise by placing your subject in a location or situation that it normally wouldn't be in! Always keep them guessing!!

13. Monochromatic.

2010-04-15T08:18:00.001-04:00

13. Monochromatic. Try it, you will be surprised at the possibilities. It forces you to properly compose, light and design your image. It's like a black & white image, just choose different colours and tones of that colour.

12. Love or Inspiration

2010-04-13T11:33:00.000-04:00

12. Take images of something that you love or inspires you. You will care more about the outcome, and have more patience. It is possible you already know how that subject will look it's best, so a favorable outcome should follow.

11. Get Real Close!

2010-04-11T09:27:00.002-04:00

11. Get really close! This perspective opens up many new possibilities. Flowers, dirt, folds in skin, eyes, the list is endless. Get real close, and discover a new world!

10. Morning Light

2010-04-09T09:40:00.004-04:00

10. Never underestimate the value of waking up early and shooting the morning light. There is nothing like it. It's magical, animals are out, dew on everything. A great tranquil time to possibly get some of your best images!

9. Side Entrance

2010-04-07T10:18:00.003-04:00

9. Side entrance of your main subject is a great way to switch things up. Especially if they are, or are close to horizontal themselves.

8. A Spot of Colour

2010-04-05T12:21:00.005-04:00

8. A spot of colour can be quite dramatic. Try photographing a colour palette with a splash of a contrasting colour. Sometimes that's all you need to create a powerful image.

7. Rule of Thirds

2010-04-01T09:21:00.001-04:00

7. The Rule of Thirds. This is one of the first rules you are taught in an introductory art class. Put the center of interest in one of the areas, where, if you were to draw lines to divide the image into thirds, the lines intersect. Here the mushroom, or point of interest, is in the upper left intersection point.

6. Tone on Tone

2010-04-01T09:20:00.001-04:00

6. Tone on tone is a great way to present an idea. Try to shoot your subject on the same colour it is, use your lighting to make your subject separate from the rest of the elements in your image.

5. Kids or Animals

2010-04-01T09:18:00.001-04:00

5. When shooting kids or animals, get down at their level, and have some fun!

4. Colour Harmony

2010-04-01T07:49:00.001-04:00

4. Sometimes the simplest of images are the most striking. The colour harmony and diagonal element combined with the calm water helps make this image last. If you are a camper you can relate to the early morning start, even if you are not the serenity is calming.

3. Lead the Eye

2010-04-01T07:47:00.001-04:00

3. Lead the viewers eye, provide some interest or action to your image. In this image, your eyes are lead along the train tracks and off into the distance of your imagination.

2. K.I.S.S.

2010-04-01T07:45:00.001-04:00

2. Keep it simple and avoid distracting backgrounds. Eliminate power lines, posts, and other visual noise form your images and lead the viewers eye where you want it to go.

1. Get Closer

2010-04-01T07:42:00.001-04:00

1. Get closer: if there is one point I would offer to aspiring shooters, it would be to get closer than you think you need to be. Fill the frame. Don't be so far back you loose the beautiful expression of your subject.

Sleep :)

2010-01-26T07:54:00.001-05:00

Dogs

2009-11-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying.

George Bird Evans

Bloodthirsty!

2009-10-21T11:00:00.002-04:00

Where do you rate!?

I always wondered . . . .

2009-08-27T06:41:00.000-04:00

I like where I live . . . . .

2009-08-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

Ahhhhhhhhhhh . . . . . . . .

2009-08-13T13:55:00.002-04:00

If you yelled for
8 years, 7 months and 6 days,
you would have produced
enough sound energy
to heat
one cup
of coffee.

10 most dangerous foods to eat while driving

2009-07-29T07:50:00.001-04:00

Coffee
Hot soup
Tacos
Chili Dogs
Hamburgers
Barbecued food
Fried chicken
Jelly donuts
Soft drinks
Chocolate

. . . . . what are you guilty of!? . . . .

Water

2009-07-14T15:26:00.005-04:00

Simple, pure, life sustaining water.

"binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade "

"body of water: the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); "they invaded our territorial waters"; "they were sitting by the water's edge""

"once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe"

"a liquid necessary for the life of most animals and plants"

Simple . . . . pure . . . . . life sustaining.

10 Ten Question Bombs for a Demanding Client

2009-06-22T17:04:00.002-04:00

1. If it's so easy to do, why don't you fire Photoshop up and get to it?
2. You don't question your dentist or mechanic while they're working, so why do you presume to think you know more than me when it comes to design?
3. What would you say to one of your customers that contacted you and said, why don't you do the work for me and I'll pay you if I like it? Why then would you ask me to do it?
4. If your past designer was so good, why aren't you still working with her/him?
5. I know you like your logo but I've got to ask, did your son or daughter design it?
6. What's more important to you: bringing in customers/sales or getting your way?
7. Why would you hire an expert like me and then tell me exactly what to do instead of letting me do what I do best?
8. You mentioned that this shouldn't take much time to finish, how exactly do you know how long it will take?
9. If you don't want to put any money down up front that's okay - I'll take your wedding ring or car as collateral, which one would you rather leave with me?
10. If your business idea was that good, why would it make sense to partner up with someone...why wouldn't you just pay the designer and reap ALL of the profits when the idea takes off?

History of the Dairy Queen Blizzard

2009-06-14T19:23:00.000-04:00

History of the Blizzard®

A Blizzard-like product was in the DQ® system since the early 1950s. But it was a very loose affiliation of franchisees back then and the idea struggled. At that time it was a shake with less milk. They tried no milk at all...just soft serve and fruit topping. Though customers liked it, it was extra work and the shake was too thick. Franchisees got tired of burning out mixers, so it just faded away.

Fast forward 35 years and we began seeing independent ice cream shops that were mixing slabs of hard ice cream with candy. In St. Louis, one of our entrepreneurs added milk and blended everything together (spring of 1984). The idea traveled to Minneapolis and we knew it was a very big idea and we could market it nationally.

We needed to determine how thick the product needed to be, whether we would add milk (we decided no milk) or add candy...we originally decided no candy. A name? We tried the Concrete Blizzard. It didn't perform well with consumers. We pulled the product and started over again.

After two DQ franchisees developed a high-powered mixer, we looked at the product once more and determined that by adding branded candy we would have instant equity at no charge. We approached Heath, who bought a candy crusher and supplied DQ stores with bags of Heath bar bits. Soon, their Illinois plant went to capacity, crushing Heath candy bars 24 hours a day.

Oreo® originally told us we were crazy. Mars® said they would never alter their product (M&Ms). However, Hydrox® cookies said "yes."

By the end of 1985, Oreo and Mars changed their minds and signed up but none of them wanted to crush the product, so our operators did it themselves. However, that was too labor intensive. We accidentally created a cottage industry of candy and cookie crushers.

Though the product was introduced to franchisees at our 1984 DQ convention in Hawaii, it went into brief test market in the winter of 1984-85 and was officially launched in the spring of 1985. It was available in 10, 16 and 24 ounce cups. It was served upside-down with a spoon on the side.

The Blizzard Flavor Treat became an overnight sensation.

On May 2, 1985 the DQ system launched a network TV campaign for the Blizzard treat, combining the power of TV, the brand equity of Oreo, Mars and the like and the allure of DQ soft serve. We sold more than 75 million Blizzard Flavor Treats that first year.

Some things are too big depatment . . . .

2009-05-18T13:00:00.002-04:00

This gigantic rubber duck made a surreal sight as it floated along the Loire River in France in 2007. Made by artist Florentijn Hofman of inflatable, rubber-coated PVC, this giant ducky measured 85’ x 65’ x 105’.

Know your coffee . . . . .

2009-05-04T19:36:00.001-04:00

Twitter has me!

2009-04-16T15:54:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm hooked. Never thought I would be, but I have to admit Twitter is very interesting. I have learned allot, seen things I never knew existed, and met a few interesting people as well. I don't do it from my phone, I have one of those old ones that isn't brand new! I Twitter from my computer, it works, and I can see sites at a reasonable size. I'll keep all you non-Twitterers out there posted on anything really cool that I discover.

Thank you . . . . again!

2008-08-21T21:26:00.002-04:00

Just a quick note to say thank you, to all well wishes in person & not, for my surprise birthday party! You got me again!, see, it pays to be daft!!

Borrowed form my friend Dan . . . . .

2008-03-27T07:46:00.003-04:00

1. IF YOU'RE CHOKING ON AN ICE CUBE, SIMPLY POUR A CUP OF BOILINGWATERDOWNYOUR THROAT. PRESTO! THE BLOCKAGE WILL INSTANTLY REMOVE ITSELF.

2. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

3. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.

4. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

5. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

6. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

7. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

8. REMEMBER - EVERYONE SEEMS NORMAL UNTIL YOU GET TO KNOW THEM.

9. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

DAILY THOUGHT: SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

I've finished my new web site . . . . click here to see it!

2008-03-02T16:11:00.009-05:00

. . . . well, enough to launch it. I still have some tweeking, adding more images and a prints for purchase page, as well as a feedback page, etc. So, really, there is a lot more to do, but it's all just minor stuff, the main site is done.

So check it out & let me know what you think!

Insert Leader of Your Choice.

2008-02-10T08:57:00.000-05:00

If you came across George Bush struggling in a raging river and you had a choice between rescuing him or getting a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph, what shutter speed would you use?

2007-12-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season, no matter what your faiths or beliefs. Hug your family & friends, be kind to stangers, remember, you are one too!, and I wish you all a prosperous and healthy 2008.

All the best, Chris.

Basic rules for driving

2007-12-05T10:06:00.000-05:00

Always look right and left before proceeding through a green light.

When on a one way street, stay to the right to allow for oncoming traffic to pass.

Never, ever stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car.

The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you see. Grab it.

Learn to swerve abruptly. The city is the home of slalom driving, thanks to the Motor Vehicles Dept., which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them on their toes.

Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive body work.

Double-park, unless triple-parking is available.

Always look both ways when running a red light.

Honk your horn the instant the light changes.

Breakdown lanes are not for breaking down, but for speeding, especialy during rush hour.

Breakdown lanes may also end without warning causing traffic jams as people merge back in.

Never use directional signals when changing lanes. They only warn other drivers to speed up and not let you in.

Making eye contact revokes your right of way.

2007-11-29T19:33:00.000-05:00

Not all that happens in life is good,

as Dennis Leary says, " Life's rough, get a helmet! "

The heart is fragile, treat it with care.

Keep your friends close,

you never know when you will need them . . . . . or loose one.

Self Help Book Titles That You Don't Need

2007-11-20T06:45:00.000-05:00

1. He's Just Not That Into You: He's Into Your Hotter, Less Whiny Friend
2. Suck It Up: No One in the Sudan Has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
3. Six Weeks and $80,000 in Elective Surgery to a Better You
4. The Tapeworm Diet
5. Who Moved My Bowels?
6. A Box Facing Southeast: Feng Shui for the Homeless
7. Tokyo on $750 a Day
8. Seducing Women With a Little Guile, a Positive Attitude, and $1,000,000 in Cash
9. Really, Must You? Sex After 70
10. The Three Numbers That Just Might Help You Win Powerball
11. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Opposite Sex but Were Tasered for Asking Previously
12. Children's Unopened and Unanswered Letters to God
13. tracy u need to get YOUR OWN MAN cuz you a skank!: The Collected Wisdom of Public Bathroom Stalls for Women
14. "I'll Give You Something to Cry About": Insights and Inspiration From Alcoholic Dads

and finially . . . . .

15. So, You're Attracted to Grandma

Isn't nature beautiful!?

2007-09-28T06:21:00.000-04:00

I've been shooting more and more for myself lately, thinking that, that is the way to be creativly happy. No more doing what the client wants, and cringing at their, sometimes, bad ideas or designs. Not all clients are like this, just enough to get great satisfaction out of creating images for yourself, from time to time. I don't profess that this image is fantastic, but it's simple, clean and made me happy!

New phrases for modern day man

2007-09-16T16:37:00.000-04:00

Friendquest: Requesting someone to be a friend and or buddy on an online social network.
Aquadextrous: The ability to turn the bath faucet on and off with your feet
NINJA loans: The lending industry's latest offering: No Income, No Job or Assets required.
Hummer house: A huge and architecturally inappropriate house built in an existing neighborhood destroying the aesthetic integrity of said neighborhood
Shoot ahead of the duck: Think ahead. Plan. You have to aim where you think the duck will be, not where it is when you pull the trigger.
DWT: Driving While Texting. It's become a such a concern that the Arizona State Legislature is considering a bill to make it illegal.
Vertical trailers: Mass-produced townhouses.
Yuppie food stamps: The $20 bills that everyone gets from ATMs. They become an issue when a group goes out to eat and it comes time to pay. Each person owes $11 and no one has anything smaller than a $20 bill.
Blogola: Old-fashioned payola. Used to influence bloggers to write about a given product, TV show, movie, etc. Sometimes case, but more often the "pay" comes in the form of freebies or access. In particular, TV shows flatter high-profile bloggers by inviting them to visit their sets.

and finially . . . .

Digital capture device: Any digital camera, video recorder, scanner, etc, that "captures digital images." So be leery when a photographer's invoice includes a surcharge for use of a "digital capture device."

. . . . wha!?

2007-09-09T19:17:00.000-04:00

Aren't goldfish all the rage these days?,
I've named mine ted.

Let's Get Motivated !

2007-08-29T08:29:00.000-04:00

We all suffer from it, that creative dead end, that blank piece of paper, or perhaps more appropriately these days, that blank computer screen! What do you do to kick start the creative juices? Go for a walk?, exercise?, go online for inspiration?, or all of the above?

Let me know what you do, and I'll post it on a future blog.

. . . . now get out there & create!

Tone on tone

2007-08-24T10:39:00.000-04:00

Let me see your images of tone on tone. Here I put some blackberries on aquarium gravel, but white on white would be a bit harder!

On my wish list!

2007-08-24T10:37:00.000-04:00

www.dpreview.com/previews/canoneos1dsmarkiii

T-shirt slogans we'd like to see.

2007-08-24T10:27:00.000-04:00

This Mind Intentionally Left Blank
Object in T-Shirt Is Brighter Than It Appears
Fashions come and go, but bad taste never goes out of Style.
I'm With Pompously Self-Absorbed
A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste.

2007-01-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

Hey there everyone, Happy New Year!

I hope we all have a wonderful year.

I'm going to post some splash photography, I've done quite a bit in the past, mostly on film, with what you see is what you get as the final! Now with Photoshop, I can have more control and help to make the the image the way I want it to look. Sounds like I just started using Photoshop!, no, I just haven't done this type of shot in a while. Keep checking back & see how I do.

2006-11-25T09:57:00.000-05:00

Hey there, I re-connected with this old friend/client last week. We shot a few test shots and have made a date to meet again and shoot some more. I will be uploading some new posts, so keep an eye on this blog!

Long time no post!

2006-11-25T09:05:00.000-05:00

Sorry about that,
I will be posting soon . . . . .

2006-03-20T19:44:00.000-05:00

Had another great shoot last week.

You are never sure how things are going to taste, most recipes I shoot look good, but some taste better than others! This simple recipe was very nice!

I have the Egg Board in this week, so I'm looking forward to more tasty treats!

2006-02-24T11:08:00.000-05:00

Here's my latest mailer. Sign up to get on my mailing list, just add a comment with your snail or e-mail address or send me an e-mail with your info by clicking on my page , and click on the e-mail icon.

2006-02-11T15:10:00.000-05:00

I really like taking pictures of real people, whether they are as beautiful as this woman or not. Getting to know the individual and trying to capture something that's inside that person. It's not as easy as one might think, photographer & subject must work together, both sharing and working for each other.
I'd love to hear from anyone who likes to photograph people as well.

2006-02-09T10:36:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhh . . .. the good times in Killarney Provincial Park.

Many a paddle with friends, ice cold beer and more laughter than should be allowed! I've also been on several solo trips, I think everyone should do a solo trip, . . . . great for your head!

2006-02-08T22:31:00.000-05:00

Here's a beer image I worked on recently,
had to drink several, just to get it right . . . .
part of the dedication I try to put into my beer images!

2006-02-08T20:27:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

Just a place to talk & discuss what's on our minds.
I'ma pro photographer and weekend adventurer,
who can't spell to well!
Lookin' forward to having a lot of good disscusions here.

Check out my web site, if you didn't come here from it!
http://www.christophercampbell.net