Monthly Archives: December 2014

 

 

 

As in “on the good list”!  O.K.,  photographers are impossible to buy for, they buy what they need before you can find out how to surprise them.  I know that’s what my family says every Christmas,  I get a lot of gift cards!!!  So here is my ideas for gift giving to that special photographer on your list!  My family doesn’t read my blog so this isn’t self serving, that comes later!!!

 

If your photographer has been on the really, really good list How about as subscription to KelbyOne.  This is truly the best place to get incredible training in all things photographic, plus I have a bunch of courses there too.  A new one is coming from Nelson Ghost Town on Americana Photography!   https://kelbyone.com

 

 

 

I just bought myself a Christmas gift, Jay Maisel’s new book Light, Gesture & Color.  This is one must have book for every serious “good” photographer!  Jay Maisel is one of my personal photographic heroes and this book is very insightful!  I got mine at Amazon.com

 

 

 

 

Now this is totally self serving but if your “good” photographer is a beginner or just getting started please get them my eBook Series The Foundational Guides. These six books cover every important concept to give your photographer a great start on a life time of great shooting!  …and they are on sale for $24.95, normally $30.   www.billfortney.com  and go to the eBook Store.

 

 

 

 

Some of my favorite books are the Art Series by Tony Sweet. Tony has 6 books and all are wonderful, my favorite one is Fine Art Nature Photography, but for a really good photographer all would be a fantastic gift!  Tony is one of  my favorite “Artists” and his books are inspiring and insightful!    www.tonysweet.com

 

 

 

 

What gift list would complete without a couple of Scott Kelby’s great books!  I love all Scott’s books but a favorite set of mine is the Digital Photography Box Set. Four books filled with great photography techniques and tips.  I was the technical editor on the first volume, and they have all been great!       ScottKelbyBooks.com

 

 

 

 

Jack Graham is a terrific teacher, photographer and his eBooks are great as well, check them out at http://www.jackgrahamphoto.com  I teach workshops with Jack and have 6 coming up in 2015, check the blog in a few days the entire schedule will be revised!  Check out Preparation Photography Processing!

 

 

 

 

 

Another couple of eBooks from my store which are new are the Fuji X-System User’s Guide and the Americana Photography Book A Step by Step Guide.  Check them out at www.billfortney.com

 

 

 

 

Stocking Stuffers?  My favorites are (1) Extra camera batteries!  (2)  A new Camera Strap, check out  Wapiti Straps, beautiful hand made with Elk hide!   http://wapitistraps.com  (3) Lens Pens are rally handy,  (4)  How about Zeiss lens cleaning wipes (Walmart Eye glass department)  (5)  Every photographer needs a Swiss Army Knife (Amazon again)  (6)  if you can’t decide, how about an Amazon Gift Card!

 

Hope that helps!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

My dear friend Chuck Summers sent me a couple of contemporary  Christian music CDs , thank you Chuck, very kind of you!  This morning while doing my,  “Honey-Do” list I was listening to one and song came on the I really liked and wanted to share.  The song title is Do Something and the lyrics are below;

 

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around

 

So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty

 

Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”

 

He said, “I did, I created you”

 

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

 

 

It brings to mind the purpose for believers in the world.  If the world needs more forgiveness, it’s  our job to offer it.  More compassion?  Up to us!  More grace? We can be the source!  That is why he created us, and when we accepted His forgiveness this is our marching orders!  To live in His power and offer His gifts.

 

Belive in Him and have faith in His love.

 

Share His love and have faith in others.

 

Care for the sick,  Visit those in prison, pray for the weak, feed the poor, bring hope to the hopeless.  Love  the unloved.  What better time of the year than now to remember our Saviours birth in a truly meaningful way, and love others as He loved them!

 

Merry Chrismtas,

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

As we get closer to Christmas let me take this opportunity to thank all of you that have supported my new eBooks store efforts and visit this blog.    The new release Americana Photography, A Step-By-Step Guide will be out tomorrow at noon eastern time.  This book is a kick start to getting into this new and very popular kind of photography!  In the 187 pages you will learn about how to find subjects and how to approach them.  At the end of each chapter there is contact information and websites for some very good shooting locations to do Americana photography!  This book will be priced at $9.95, but until midnight Christmas Eve, I want to say thank you by offering it for half price, $4.95!

 

These are the subject headings of each chapter:

 

Photographing Antique Airplanes

Photographing Old Cars and Trucks

Photographing The Antique Archaeology Store

Photographing Harrodsburg, Kentucky – Established 1774

Photographing Shaker Village, Kentucky

Photographing Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

Photographing Bodie Ghost Town, California

Photographing Nevada Ghost Town, Nevada

Photographing Railroads

Photographing Rust, Glorious Rust

Photographing Old Bottles

Photographing Old Trucks in Sprague, Washington

Photographing at Antique Stores

 

Here are a few pages from the new Americana Photography book!

 

 

 

To further show my appreciation I will add another book that can be downloaded FREE! This 149 page book is what I call and “idea book” !  lots of illustrations of some images I’ve used post processing filter with, many before and after illustrations and side by side comparisons.  The post processing programs used are NIK/Google Suite, and Topaz Suite of programs.  Just the right books to spur some ideas during the winter for fun post art filter processing!  ….and it’s free.  Simply go to the website and select that book and you can check out and download it at no cost!

 

 

 

 

So get cracking and get that free book, and if you are interested in Americana Photography save half the cost now!

 

Once again thank you very much for being here reading my blog, following along with me, and thanks so much to all of you that have made our dream of producing and selling quality eBooks possible.  In two months we have distributed over 1,500 eBooks!!!!

 

Merry Christmas!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

As Christmas draws near we will no doubt be with family.  Some of you will have the entire family descend on your home, (Sherelene and I will!!!), some may only be with a few members, but it will be the highlight of your Christmas.  Every Christmas season I put together a family calendar for Sherelenes’s family, the Scott family, and they’re my family too.  Each month features photographs of all the individuals and couples that are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.  It’s always a beast trying to get all the images in, but when it’s all finished, it’s worth the effort!  52 family members are featured on their special days!

 

Through out the year every time I consult the calendar to see what Sherelene and I are planning,  I’m reminded of precious family members, and it prompts me to pray for them and keep them in my heart.  I’ve lived long enough to see many family members go on to be with the Lord and it makes the time we have together with our remaining members all the more precious. If I could have anything for Christmas it would be to have one more Christmas with my Mother and Father,  Sherlene’s Mom and Dad,  and our grandparents.  Since that reunion will have to wait for now, I’m committed to making the very most of my Christmas, (and every day) with my loved ones that are still with us.  I also feel the same about the countless friends God has given us, what a blessing and I hope to share Christmas Joy with each of them too!

 

This year’s calendar cover features a picture of my father-in-law, Virgil and my mother-in-law, Nora, when they were first married after WW II!  After all, it all started, everyone in the calendar, (except for us “outlaws ” that married one of the Scotts),  was the result of their love.  It’s pretty cool!  So if you are going to be with family and friends this Christmas, remember to love them “real good”,  while you have the chance!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim