I Have Not Fallen Off The Face Of The Earth, I Promise;~)

I'm afraid most of you think I have fallen off the face of the earth these days but I have to tell you - that certainly is not the case ;~)  We've been visiting and exploring San Jose del Cabo at the end of the Mexican Baja peninsula for the months of May and June working on several projects remotely.  WE head back home next Monday and jump right into a very busy summer.

The sunrises (like the one above) sunsets, beaches and coast-lines are breath-taking and really easy on the eyes.  Don't you just love technology allowing me to work, with a little bit of play, from all over the world!!

I have to admit, after spending time putting the newsletter together yesterday, I discovered that I was missing writing. That promoted me to get something up today.  LaDawn suggests that I just do a Image of the Day post just to keep things moving here at DigitalProTalk.com. – hence today’s pretty cool image.

I just may give that tactic a try over the next few weeks and see if that helps my “writer’s block” subside a bit:~)

As I said above, I just sent out my Digital Newsletter but figured that if you are not on the list you missed some important info I shared with our newsletter readers.

Four BIG things are happening that I need to tell you about today.

They include:

1. An impressive Speed-light Webcast with Michael Mowbray. [link]
2. Vincent LaForet's video workshops - the hottest lecture tour happening right now. [link]
3. PPN's upcoming "Hands On Posing/Shooting" Summer Seminar.[link]
4. And my upcoming Master Class in Barcelona in the Fall (maybe my last one). [link]

It’s a different world out there these days with too many “photographers” thinking they can learn it all on the internet, but if you are like me and want a more rounded and immersive educational experience I sure  hope you’ll check out the posts below describing each of the items above in greater detail and take advantage of these more up close and personal learning opportunities.

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Hey gang, that’s it for me today.  Check back now and then as I continue to fire things up around here and get back into the blogging “groove”.  Lot’s happening in the these next few months and I’ll do me best to keep you posted.

All the Best, David

Amazing Directing Motion Tour With Vincent LaForet

Just check out the trailer available at the Directing Motion tour website [link] and you will be blown away!!! It's the absolute best I've ever seen!!!

Vincent's tour is indeed the "hottest" tour of the summer.  Read what F-STOPPERS has to say about it right here. Their take away - "I'd consider it invaluable. It is basically a one day, action packed trip down the rabbit hole of camera motion and directing technique."

Vincent still has a many cities to visit on this year's tour [link] and all my newsletter readers get the best price available, as usual.  Just use PROMO CODE DMTDZ to save $15 off regular price when registering.

PhotoPro Network Summer School - Hands On Posing/Lighting Classes July 13-14, 2014!

It's that time again - for this year's PhotoPro Network Annual Summer School! This event is being held in western Kentucky, very close to Evansville, Indiana in the beautiful and historic downtown of Owensboro, Kentucky!

This year's line up includes some of the best photographers of the region with topics spanning Lighting, High School Seniors, Wedding Photography, Landscape and Nature Photography, Smiling Babies, Marketing, and more! It's quite a diversified line-up to appeal to nearly everyone's tastes.

Unable to attend....you can still enter the Digital Print Competition.

The registration price is a steal at

$79 for members/$99 for non-members

that includes both days!

Price increases to $129 on June 30!

Don't waste another minute!

INFO & REGISTRATION HERE!

Quick Hit Monday: Magic B&W; Special Deals: Great Surfs; and A Giggle For The Day

Good Morning Everybody,
I hope everybody enjoyed the weekend. We are off and running around here again today - final tweaks on a few projects, and - I'm off to a meeting in Lexington, KY in just a few minutes.  We've got our KPPA (KY Prof Photog Assoc) Summer School coming up and are putting the finishing touches on the program.  I’ll tell you, it looks like a great two days with some exciting, informative programs – check it out right here.

As soon as things are firmed up, I'll give you an update. I hope everyone nearby will try to stop on by, learn a new tip or two and be inspired by the terrific line-up of presentations. 
Since I'm on the road early this morning, let's get right to Quick Hit Monday.  Here we go.

Making Black & White Images That Surpass Silver Gelatin Images
Hey gang, I just got a note from Vincent Versace telling me about his NIK Software sponsored one hour free webinar this Thursday at 10:00 a.m. PST.  That's a 1:00 p.m. afternoon pick-me-up for us East Coasters. 

Vincent is a legendary digital fine art photographer having been honored as a Computerworld Smithsonian Award Laureate.  Shutterbug Magazine also named his book on B&W photography, "Welcome To Oz", the best of the year [link].  Looks  like a fantastic webcast with lots of great deals on NIK goodies too.  You can register right here. Just go do it, Vinnie's an outstanding photographer ….and a really nice guy:~)

25% Off SpiderPro - Almost Forgot This
Two weeks ago, I did a post [link] on the new SpiderPro Camera Holster - remember the gunfight video - "How To Shoot A Wedding Cowboy Style"?[link] Well, during the day I was on the phone with the company to see if they would offer our DPT readers a special discount on the Spider. 

Well, GREAT NEWS - anyone visiting the SpiderPro website can get a FULL 25% off any product offered. Use  CODE: Ziser25 to obtain your discount. What a deal!  I have to tell you, I love the SpiderPro because it doesn't have a bunch of straps I have to wear. If you plan on shooting really heavy glass, check out the belt too. Thanks to the Spider guys for the great offer!

A Few Websites I Stumbled On Over The Weekend
I found this website completely by accident over the weekend.  A quick tour of the links showed me it was pretty rich with good content. The name - NewPhotoDigest [link]. I linked the documentary video on Edward Weston - really different, and worth the visit. 

Hey gang, while you are visiting websites, check out this list compiled by DPT reader Noel Hannan [link].  He listed some sites you've heard about but a few you haven't.  So check it out and enjoy the surf.  Thanks Noel for the list - and including DPT in the listing.

And Finally, Your Giggle For The Day
I had one of our attendees point me to this hilarious video [link] of Joe McNally confessing his digital sins to Father Bob.  If you haven't seen it, it is a hoot.  Joe McNally, who wrote the huge best selling book on photograph, "The Moment It Clicks" and fellow National Geographic photographer, Bob Krist, perform this skit flawlessly. You will have tears running down your cheeks by the end of it.  A great way to begin the week ;~)
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Hey gang, I've run a little short of time this morning.  I've got a few more Quick Hits coming your way again tomorrow. I've got to head out for my meeting right about now.  Plan to stop by tomorrow for the quick hits and my Technique Tuesday episode entitled, "The Making Of Cabo Smiles" - a photography and Lightroom 3 tutorial.  I posted this photograph as a photo of the day last week [link] and many have asked for an in depth "exposure to finished image" discussion of the print. 

You've got it - see you then.
-David

Need To Check Out A Convention Or Show Near You?

So would you like to know when there is a photography convention, trade show, or exhibition in your neck of the woods? Here is a great link over at Shutterbug right here with pretty thorough lists of events coming up around the USA.

Also, over at Rangefinder right here, there is a thorough listing of seminars and workshops along with several PPA, Professional Photographers of America, related events. If you have any similar links that speak to the international segment of our readership, just post right here in the comment section of the blog.