Happy Holidays!

I wanted to wish everyone  a...

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Take time for those who are important to you, and I look forward to seeing everyone in the new year. 

FREE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES!

I would do it for free if I could...so, I will.  I'm starting off the new year with a series of free photography classes.  These will be short (2 hour) classes covering a variety of specific subjects.  The schedule will begin with an intro to digital photography class (Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 6pm), but in coming months we will cover such subjects as available light photography, studio lighting on a budget, Adobe Camera Raw, and photography for real estate agents.  Each class will be limited to 20 students, so make sure to register early.  

I will also be offering day long intensive classes for those who want to learn more about a particular subject.  The first of these classes will be the popular Digital Photography for Soccer Mom's (Saturday, February 7, 2009, 9am-4pm).  This class will include a photo safari and well as classroom instruction.  We will cover image capture, backup, manipulation, and printing...basically a workflow from beginning to end.  The total cost is $150 (lunch included).  Those who book by December 31st will receive a $25 discount.  This would make a great gift idea for the budding photographer or soccer mom in your family.  

I look forward to seeing you all in the new year.  Please let me know if you have any ideas for additional classes. 

neal@inwardstudio.com

478.361.2500

Ashes and Snow

It is funny how you have to hear about something more than once for it to stick.  

Several months ago, CBS Sunday Morning (One of my all time favorites!)  featured Gregory Colbert's Nomadic Museum in New York.  It was amazing.  He had a temporary museum built form shipping containers on a pier.  It was filled with large format prints of his haunting images featuring children with wild animals.  The images had an unreal quality.  They seemed not possible.

Last week, I visited the amazing studio of Zack Arias, music photographer extraordinarie.  He had a display of his favorite photography books (I'm totally copying this for the studio remodel).  One of them was a book filled with Colbert's work.  It was a book covered in hand made Nepalese paper tied with a string, and the images were printed on fine art paper in Italy.  It was one of the most beautiful books I'd ever seen. 

So, the very next day I started searching for a copy of the book.  Apparently, Zack's version is no longer in print, but I was able to find another version.  It arrived today.  WOW!

Hopefully, I will be able to create a version to use for portrait sessions and weddings.  Stay tuned.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who came out for Cookies with Santa. It was so much fun. A ton of great people volunteered and made the day so easy. Here is a photo of everyone...except me.

I'm really looking forward to next year.  I can't wait to see all of you there.

I knew he was smart!

Imagination is more important than knowledge. 

— Albert Einstein

I don't know that I completely agree, but it is interesting coming from him.  

The iPhone Says Y'all

A funny discovery.  The iPhone knows the word y'all.  I was surprised that people in California even new that word.  My thanks to the engineers at Apple for including the South in the iPhone dictionary.

Cookies With Santa

I wanted to announce a great charity fundraiser that I'm involved in along with several other great Middle Georgia Vendors. Cookies with Santa is an afternoon filled with games, cookies, and pictures with Santa. It is all to benefit Jay's Hope which supports families in Middle Georgia with children fighting cancer. Visit the website below to sign up for one of the very limited spots. See you there.

CookieswithSanta.com

New Holiday Cards

We have several new Holiday cards available.  Visit inwardstudio.com, and  click on "olive my love cards",  and then click on "holiday cards" to view all we have to offer.  Also, don't forget that card orders in November receive a 10% discount.

*The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Macon Magazine Contest Results!

The votes are in, and the winners are...

Stephanie Allen and David Thompson!

Thank you to the almost 400 people who voted.  I never dreamed the vote would take that long to count!

San Francisco or Bust!

My wife and I are going to San Francisco at the end of the month for a little work/pleasure. It's been 5 years since we last visited and we're really excited about returning. It is a beautiful city with a perfect climate.

I am already scheduled to photograph one engagement session, but I would love to photograph a couple more sessions. I have availability on November 1st and 2nd. So, anyone interested in being photographed, please send me an email or give me a call.

$2.99!!!

I don't remember the last time I paid less than $3.00 for a gallon of gas. WOW!

Pretty Smart

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

I often said that the people I like share a common trait. They are all enthusiastic about what they do.

The Passing of a Institution

Bill Meriwether passed away Sunday.

If you had not had the pleasure, he was THE photographer in Macon for almost 50 years. (He actually photographed my in-laws' wedding.) He was a sweet man who spent his life gladly sharing his knowledge with anyone who asked. I only had the joy of meeting Mr. Meriwether one time. He shared a lighting technique with me that I still use to this today. It was a little thing, that made a big impression.

He will be greatly missed.

(Click on the title of this most to read the article about Mr. Meriwether from the Telegraph.)

How Little Does It Take?

I love out-of-focus, overexposed images. It is weird fetish, but it allows me to find gems where others would see only trash. Because of this unusual fascination, I started wondering how little visual information is needed for the viewer to know what is in the image.

Can a few black lines portray a person?




I've been a fan of Hitchcock since I was a kid. The caricature of him has always been a part of my visual reference. It is perfect. Not too much...not too little. The artist included everything needed with nothing extra. The ability to edit ones work is an important skill for any artist.

I notice the Hitchcock caricature finds it's way into my work on occasion. I am always looking for simple, graphic images that contain more information than would immediately seem. Recently, I captured this image at a wedding. I told the bride her mother might not recognize her, but I'm really pleased with it.

Fancy Book Learning

I spent yesterday in Atlanta learning more about Photoshop with two great friends from one of the most accomplished Photoshop trainers, Dave Cross. Heather and Jenny are both accomplished photographers and even better road trip companions. We had a great time and learned some great new tricks in Photoshop. (The photo is thanks to my iPhone. Great phone. Not a great camera.)

Macon Magazine Contest

Macon Magazine is creating a special NEW wedding section for their December/January issue. Many of my couples have enjoyed having their weddings included in past years. This year, Macon Magazine has made a few changes. A variety of sizes from 1/9 to full page are available. Also, unlike years past, there is now a small charge for the listing. Click here to see all the details.

But, for one lucky couple, a full page listing will be free ($375 value).

Leave a comment on this post with the couple's last names. The couple with the most votes will receive the listing. So, tell all your friends to vote for you! You have until midnight, October 18th to vote. Couples whose weddings were photographed by iNWARD STUDIO between January 2007 and October 2008 are eligible for the contest.

Good luck!

Recent Work in the News

Some of my recent images were included in the news story about the bridal show on Channel 13. My photo tree was shown at the beginning of the story. There is also a still from the video at the bottom of the page. Just click on the title of this post to see both. Too bad my name wasn't somewhere.

I actually missed the story, but the mother of the bride in the images called to let me know. Thanks Kathy!

What Makes a Great Artist?

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
— Scott Adams

I have always said that the difference between a bad photographer and a great photographer is the great photographer throws away the bad ones. There is more to it than that, but it is a interesting idea.

Inkjeteuos Home Printian Period

One of my daily rituals is to read What the Duck. It is an online comic strip about a duck who is a professional photographer (I think I actually blogged about this once before). It is really funny. Well, it is really funny if you are a photographer. The most recent strip is actually appropriate for non-professionals.

I have always said that printing on your home inkjet printer is a futile endeavor. I won't even do it. Fortunately, there are several labs locally, that will print your digital images. USE THEM!

Anyway, here is the strip.

Bridal Show

I wanted to remind everyone of the Macon's Wedding Ring Bridal Show on August 10th at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry. There are some really amazing things being planned by some of the members, so you won't want to miss it. The best wedding vendors Middle Georgia has to offer will be showing what they can offer to make your wedding unforgettable.

Even better, there will be a grand prize drawing for an outdoor living package (everything you need to throw a great backyard party) worth almost $1000.

My booth will be a small preview of the studio remodel I'm planning for January, and I'll be offering a great show special. You'll have to come by the booth to see what is coming and find out about the special! I really look forward to seeing many of you there.