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A few updates

Yesterday's meeting for Help-Portrait went well.  We had a decent turn out of about 10 or so people and we all shared ideas on possible locations, how to get donations, etc.  Now the process begins on nailing down the locations and getting supplies, volunteers, donations, etc. -- there are only 4 weeks until the 12th of December which is when we need to pull it all together and make it happen.  There were some familiar faces there and some new ones -- I love meeting new people who share the same passion for photography! Also there are a few updates to the website that I'm pretty excited about!  First is my new splash page, which I mentioned in a previous post.  Now it'll be easier to get where you need when visiting my website! Simply go to http://www.rekphoto.com and click where you'd like to be.  You may also notice a new theme, which I really like! The other update, which is clear from that splash page as well as the new icons near the top of the blog, is you can now connect with me on Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter (I have Tumblr too but not sure how much I'll use it -- or how!)  If for some reason those aren't enough, there's always good ol' email! ;-)  Also, at the bottom of each post is a set of icons, so if you read something you'd like to share, there's an icon to do so for many of the social networking services -- please feel free to share if you think something is of interest to others. The last update is my camera (Nikon D80) went out for repair last week.  Working on my 365@50 project, I've been taking my camera everywhere -- without a case.  Well it got me, because getting out of my car I must've bumped the camera on my parking brake lever, and then I noticed:

1. The shutter speed wouldn't go beyond 1/200.  I have been doing a lot of shooting in manual, and being brighter in the mornings than in the evening when I take a shot, I had to up it, but no matter how I spun the dial, it wouldn't go past 1/200.  Thinking I may have turned the control dial a bit (weird things happen when the dial is stuck between M and one of the picture modes!), I looked and it was definitely set on M.
2. Knowing 1/200 is the max sync speed for the flash, I pushed the flash button and it wouldn't pop up.  I could slip a fingernail under it and manually release it but it wouldn't go up on its own.
3. There's a small crack on the top of the pop-up flash.  That's how I figured I must've bumped it.  It wasn't hard but I guess it was enough to do some damage.

It's at Nikon's repair facility in Melville, NY -- hopefully the repair won't be too much!  I'd been eye-balling the new D300s for a bit now and my wife was gracious enough to give the nod!  I'll sell the D80 when I get it back as other than this bump, it's been babied and has less than 7,000 shots.  If you know of anyone looking for a 1-year old D80 (I also have the MB-D80 battery grip which is newer than that), let me know! Here are a few of my recent shots from the 365@50 before "the incident":

Original Article

Help-Portrait | Northern Virginia Portrait Photographer

A little while back I heard about Help-Portrait, a way to give back to the community using our talents as photographers. I sat on it for a while and eventually signed up after seeing the video below. Everyday I'm thankful for the things I have, the people around me, my job, my health, etc. But with the holidays approaching we're reminded that there are those who are less fortunate, whether they don't have a job, no family around, nobody to go home to -- whatever the case may be, there are people who don't have as much to be thankful for as I do. I've often wanted to find a way to give back, in some way, and help someone who needs it. I think Help-Portrait is a great way to do so, and if I can make someone smile by doing something I love, it's win-win! The Northern Virginia/Washington DC chapter of Help-Portrait could use some volunteers, whether they're photographers, people who can do hair/make-up, as well as those willing to bring food, donate books, blankets, clothes, etc. We'll be getting together on Thursday night, November 12, at Busboys and Poets in Arlington to plan the official Help-Portrait day, which is Saturday, December 12. You can find out more about Help-Portrait in your area and sign up here. You don't need to be a pro (I'm not!), but you do have to be willing to help. If you can help, I hope to see you there! If you can spread the word or know of someone who can help out, please email me at robert@rekphoto.com or direct them to the website above. You can also find Help-Portrait on:

• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you!

Original Article

Help-Portrait | Northern Virginia Portrait Photographer

A little while back I heard about Help-Portrait, a way to give back to the community using our talents as photographers. I sat on it for a while and eventually signed up after seeing the video below. Everyday I'm thankful for the things I have, the people around me, my job, my health, etc. But with the holidays approaching we're reminded that there are those who are less fortunate, whether they don't have a job, no family around, nobody to go home to -- whatever the case may be, there are people who don't have as much to be thankful for as I do. I've often wanted to find a way to give back, in some way, and help someone who needs it. I think Help-Portrait is a great way to do so, and if I can make someone smile by doing something I love, it's win-win! The Northern Virginia/Washington DC chapter of Help-Portrait could use some volunteers, whether they're photographers, people who can do hair/make-up, as well as those willing to bring food, donate books, blankets, clothes, etc. You can find out more and sign up here. We'll be getting together on Thursday night, November 12, at Busboys and Poets in Arlington to plan the official Help-Portrait day, which is Saturday, December 12. You don't need to be a pro (I'm not!), but you do have to be willing to help. If you can help, I hope to see you there! If you can spread the word or know of someone who can help out, please email me at robert@rekphoto.com or direct them to the website above. You can also find Help-Portrait on:

• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you!

Original Article

Help-Portrait | Northern Virginia Portrait Photographer

A little while back I heard about Help-Portrait, a way to give back to the community using our talents as photographers. I sat on it for a while and eventually signed up after seeing the video below. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9tu1XrBn3A] Everyday I'm thankful for the things I have, the people around me, my job, my health, etc. But with the holidays approaching we're reminded that there are those who are less fortunate, whether they don't have a job, no family around, nobody to go home to -- whatever the case may be, there are people who don't have as much to be thankful for as I do. I've often wanted to find a way to give back, in some way, and help someone who needs it. I think Help-Portrait is a great way to do so, and if I can make someone smile by doing something I love, it's win-win! The Northern Virginia/Washington DC chapter of Help-Portrait could use some volunteers, whether they're photographers, people who can do hair/make-up, as well as those willing to bring food, donate books, blankets, clothes, etc. You can find out more and sign up here. We'll be getting together on Thursday night, November 12, at Busboys and Poets in Arlington to plan the official Help-Portrait day, which is Saturday, December 12. You don't need to be a pro (I'm not!), but you do have to be willing to help. If you can help, I hope to see you there! If you can spread the word or know of someone who can help out, please email me at robert@rekphoto.com or direct them to the website above. You can also find Help-Portrait on:

• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you!

Original Article

Help-Portrait | Northern Virginia Portrait Photographer

A little while back I heard about Help-Portrait, a way to give back to the community using our talents as photographers.  I sat on it for a while and eventually signed up after seeing the video below. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9tu1XrBn3A] Everyday I'm thankful for the things I have, the people around me, my job, my health, etc.  But with the holidays approaching we're reminded that there are those who are less fortunate, whether they don't have a job, no family around, nobody to go home to -- whatever the case may be, there are people who don't have as much to be thankful for as I do.  I've often wanted to find a way to give back, in some way, and help someone who needs it.  I think Help-Portrait is a great way to do so, and if I can make someone smile by doing something I love, it's win-win! The Northern Virginia/Washington DC chapter of Help-Portrait could use some volunteers, whether they're photographers, people who can do hair/make-up, as well as those willing to bring food, donate books, blankets, clothes, etc.  You can find out more and sign up here.  We'll be getting together on Thursday night, November 12, at Busboys and Poets in Arlington to plan the official Help-Portrait day, which is Saturday, December 12. You don't need to be a pro (I'm not!), but you do have to be willing to help.  If you can help, I hope to see you there!  If you can spread the word or know of someone who can help out, please email me at robert@rekphoto.com or direct them to the website above. Thank you!

Original Article