January 31, 2012: ...and the kitchen sink

I did not see anything today. There was no good light, no interesting visions, nothing that popped out at me. That being said, this photo looks good.

January 31, 2004: New City Hall

I used to live next door to this site. I was there as the new San Jose City Hall was built.

January 30, 2010: Iron Man

I love this mural. What does a city need more than super heroes.

January 30, 2012: Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday my lovely wife.

Free Photography

I was reading the blog post This Photo Is Not Free. I have read a lot of people who get very irritated when they are asked to contribute their artwork for free. This seems to happen to graphic artist more often than anything else. I have been asked this a few times myself. Being a crappy photographer I am flattered when I am asked for a photo. Some times I say yes, but often I say no. I am not insulted or irritated when I am asked for this.



I first want to point out the the author of this article that you are not alone in being asked to do things for free. Everyone is asked to do things for free. My sister is a lawyer, she has tons of stories of people asking her to work for free. She works in the non-profit sector for a living and people still ask her to donate her time to non-profits.

This also happens more often in the creative fields. People are asked all the time to do things for free. I have heard musicians, cartoonists, writers, painters, actors, theater techs, and recording producers all tell stories of people asking for free help. They are asked by all types of people. Please don't think photographers are special.

Photo by Blue J

There is something happening with Photographers that is not happening with other professions. The line between amateurs and professionals is getting very blurred. There are people who are more or less professional photographers who are not making their money by selling photo, but in the internet influence economy. If I was making money off a blog or website, it would be easy to give photography away for free.

photo credit "Scott Beale / Laughing Squid"

Here is the truth of economics, Photography will not go away if professionals photographers go away. The question is will people be able to get the quality of photography they want at the price they are willing to pay. Please say no to anyone who asks for photos for free. Please encourage other people to say no to them also.

Just realize that you are competing with people who are giving their photos away for free. Your photo has to be worth more than a free photo. That is the truth of the economics. Your photography has to be that much better than something they can get for free.

January 29, 2012: The Ceramic Owl

I saw the light from this window hit the owl. I took the picture right away and I am happy I did. The light went away a minute later. It makes me think about seizing the moment.

January 29, 2006: Don and Jenna

Wow this seems like a long time ago. This was right before they moved.

January 28, 2012: Juanita has a fresh haircut

We got Juanita's haircut yesterday. She was looking really scruffy before we got her hair cut. Now she is looking really good. The problem is that she is missing her hair. She does not know what to do with herself.

January 28, 2008: Flickr Meetup

I miss the old Flickr Meetups. I should find a group of people who are meeting up. Are there Flickr users or photographers meetup in the bay area?

January 27, 2009: KBC is a toy

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti_terminology

I am not someone who loves or hates Graffiti. I think that good graffiti is great and things like tags are just garbage. I feel if graffiti artists want to be artists, they need to respect aesthetics. Chemical No. 4 is a beautiful building that is well taken care of. It is a treasure that people put time and effort into. It is BS for someone to tag this building. I do not care that he tagged the business center of the bail bonds office, but those guys might kick his ass. This is the kind graffiti gives graffiti a bad name.

January 27, 2012: Lunch with Dan

I told Dan Z that my photo a day project is not about getting a beautiful photograph every day. It is about documenting my life everyday. That is really what my Photo of the Day Project is about.

January 26, 2012: Clouds Today

Some days using my camera phone to get my photo of the day is me being lazy. Some days I just take a lot of photos with my camera phone. Other days I am playing around with a camera app. Can you tell what today was?

January 25, 2012: Dog Close Up

As long as you have a dog you always have something to take pictures of.

January 24, 2012: At the Library

Today my job search moved to the library. Some days you just want to get out of the house.

January 23, 2012: Grey January Day

This looked better in real life. Some days you can capture your idea and some days you cannot.

January 22, 2012: John Cerney Giant Girl

I go to Salinas all the time and see these Giant Cut outs in the field. I keep on telling myself that I am going to take photos of them. These times are kind of surreal. I like them but they are a little disturbing.

January 21, 2012: The Steam Engine

My father-in-law has lots of books that I just want to take pictures of. I want to photographic one new book per visit.

January 20, 2012: Jacques-Yves Cousteau

There are lots of things to take pictures of on the Google Campus. I think I should go there more to take pictures. I just wonder how Google would think of it.

January 19, 2012: Sitting on the floor

Juanita does not look happy.

January 18, 2012: Scared Face

Ealasaid made this face before I could snap this photo. I had her do the face again.

January 17, 2012 : Holga Jerry

I love the Holga Lens for my Nikon. I want to use it more. It is a great lens.

January 16, 2012: Monday Groceries

Some days this is the best picture you will get.

January 15, 2012: Who thought you would ever read this?

Alex Smith has had a rocky career for the 49ers. He had a playoff win now. I wonder if people will feel different about him.

January 14, 2012: My Shoe

I did not have any time or good ideas today

January 13, 2012: Etta May on the Couch

I have taken 1000's of photos of my dogs in a few months. I enjoy taking pictures of them.

January 12, 2012: The Framework

They are taking the shell off Hanger One at Moffett Field. I plan on taking pictures there from time to time.

January 11, 2012: Fourth and San Fernando

I took a lot of bad photos today. This seemed like the best one. I am not sure if I like it or not.

January 10, 2012: Paper Camera Keyboard

I was playing around with another Android App.

January 9, 2012: Juanita's Nose

Some times you just get close to your dog.

January 8, 2012: Farmers Market Oranges

There is something about taking pictures of food at farmers markets. There is so much to see. You see so much that is worth shooting. I am not sure the people running the stalls are not annoyed with me.

January 7, 2012: Hipstamatic Palm Tree

I take a lot of photos of palm trees. They seems very photogenic. Maybe it is because I did not grow up in California.

January 6, 2012: Juanita

My little white dog.

January 5, 2012: Interview Look

I am looking for a job.

January 4, 2012: E. Stephen

January 3, 2012: What Looking for a Job Looks like

I have to get going on the job search.

January 2, 2012: Close Up Violets

There are violets at my apartment complex. I look at them everyday when I walk the dogs. Often I am trying to figure out the right day to take a picture of them.

January 1, 2012: Starting the year off right