Jules Cafe » Inspiration

Female Wedding & Portrait Photographer of the Decade – Bambi Cantrell

scottbourne — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:02:15 +0000

I usually don’t break down photo skills based on religion, sex, race, geographic location etc. But since we’re starting 2011 soon I thought I’d look at influential women in photography and list one person who I believe has significantly influenced the industry – particularly when it comes to wedding and portrait photography.

My first serious study of photography included the work of many great female photographers – Diane Arbus, Dorothea Lange, Sally Mann, Margaret Bourke-White and Imogene Cunningham to name a few. Anne Geddes and Annie Leibovitz are two more modern-day female photographer’s who’s work I have studied.

I noticed as I researched this article that few publications give serious study or credit to the wedding and portrait market as a launch pad for great female photographers. I hope to rectify that today.

My pick for most influential female photographer of the decade is Bambi Cantrell. She’s spent more than 25 years creating some of the most beautiful, artistic, moving wedding and portrait images I’ve ever seen.

Not only is her work amazing, she’s a true pioneer. At a time when almost all of the prominent wedding and portrait studios were run by men, Bambi Cantrell blazed a trail that few women would have crossed. She stepped into the wedding and portrait market as the full peer and equal to any man. She endured sexism, ridicule, and doubt to become one of the most highly-sought after photographic artists alive.

Bambi (that’s her real name) decided that she had something to say and her camera was going to be her voice. Despite the circumstances, she not only succeeded in creating a successful studio business, she did so convincingly – winning awards and accolades usually reserved for men.

While female photographers entering the wedding and portrait market today are welcomed with open arms, such was not the case with Bambi Cantrell. She fought her way to the top and then, not content to merely be a great photographer who made a great living, she decided to break through another barrier and became one of the first female photographers to enter the highly-competitive photography speaking and training circuit. She’s lectured all over the world to the benefit of many photographers. And she’s been recognized by many as one of the greats.

Among her many accomplishments, Bambi Cantrell was honored in July 2008 by the Russian Federation of Professional Photographers, and was presented with the prestigious “Golden Eye” award; an award only given 10 times in the history of the organization. In 2007 American Photo Magazine named Bambi Cantrell as one of the “10 Best Wedding Photographers in the world.” Ms Cantrell was honored by Microsoft Corporation in 2006 by being named the first woman “Icon of Imaging” in their elite Icons program, and to this day provides photographic educational training to photographers worldwide. In 2003 the United Nations honored Bambi Cantrell with its ”International Leadership Award,” and in 2001 Bambi was honored with “The Lifetime Achievement Award” the highest honor given by The Wedding Portrait Photographers International Organization.

In addition to being an internationally recognized photographer, Bambi is also an accomplished author. Her three best selling educational books, “The Art of Wedding Photography,” “The Art of the Digital Wedding,” and “The Art of People Photography,” all published by Watson-Guptil continue to inspire and educate people around the world.

My first encounter with Bambi was in the early 90s. I was running a wedding and portrait studio at the time and attended one of her workshops. It was a brief workshop and I distinctly remember learning some great posing and pricing techniques during the class. Over the years I ran into Bambi here and there. I always sat in on any class she taught – even after selling my wedding practice. I always found something inspirational and educational in her teaching. Later, I would see her at photo conferences where I was speaking and she would politely wave, not having a clue who I was.

In March of this year, Bambi and I got to know each other better. She doesn’t even remember meeting me previous to that point – I guess I didn’t make much of an impression on her. You can bet she made an impression on me. She made my portrait in March – something I normally hate – but actually didn’t mind with her behind the camera. Since then we’ve become friends and worked closely together on several projects and are teaching workshops together. That closer contact has allowed me to appreciate how truly great an artist Bambi really is.

Her work and the trails she has blazed have made it possible for younger women to embrace the photo industry. She took barbs in the butt so that those of you just starting out now won’t have to.

Her educational platform talks, books, seminars and workshops have inspired literally thousands of women AND men to improve their photographic craft and artistic vision. Her work – always great – has actually continued to improve – as she branches out into new photographic genres and experiences.

Bambi may not be the household name that Leibovitz is, but her work on the wedding and portrait side of the business has been just as influential. On a personal note, every time I shoot with Bambi I am convinced that I become a better photographer. In the sphere of influence, I can’t think of any higher recommendation.

With all that in mind, Bambi Cantrell is the Photofocus.com pick for most influential female photographer of the decade. A donation will be made to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep in honor of Bambi’s achievements.

To learn more about Bambi visit her website at http://www.cantrellportrait.com/.

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This post sponsored by Rogue Flash Benders – distributed by Expo Imaging

JoySTART your year with FREE info for your Photo Biz

Joy — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:39:13 +0000

Hi Everyone and Happy Holidays!

Hope you are winding down your Holiday crunch and can take some time for yourself this season. One of the ways you can do that is by taking time to look to the future and think about how you want to structure your photography business to fit your life, and not the other way around.

Jules’ wedding photography business hits its TEN year anniversary this January, 2011, so we are thrilled to be part of this JoySTART your year event with Sarah Petty and her fabulous team. Take the opportunity to learn from so many great photographers about a number of topics… Pick and choose what works for you!

JoySTART Your Year is tailored to whatever education level you are at, starting on December 29, 2010 for FOUR Wednesdays in a row. You don’t have to listen for hours, you can digest small chunks of info, or just tune into the info that you want.

**The best part is that it is all FREE.**

Check it out below:

Learn how to market your business or become more efficient using:
Search Engine Optimization
Social Media
Branding
Workflow
Charitable Marketing

And if you’re looking at expanding into a new niche or need more marketing ideas for your photography business, there are also programs on:
Weddings
Pets
Families
Boudoir
Babies / Kids
High School Seniors

Happiest of Holidays to you and yours this season,

Much love,

Jules & Joy

Cranes in the Fire Mist Revisited

scottbourne — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:25:17 +0000

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I appreciate the fantastic response to this print. The limited edition is sold out. It is still available for commercial license.
It’s been almost two years since that special day when I captured Cranes in the Fire Mist. My audience has grown significantly since then and/or turned over, so for those who occasionally ask me about the picture – here is a repost of the story of my image – Cranes in the Fire Mist.

Slightly more than 12 years ago, I saw an image by my friend Arthur Morris. It contained a pond full of Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese, backlit by a blazing, golden sun.

The image struck me to the point that I spent the last 12 years trying to re-create my own version of it.

In the image that I wanted to make, there would be one or two birds flying into the pond while the others waited to take off. It’s an almost impossible scenario because a number of factors have to converge in a perfect storm for it to work. Unfortunately, once I pre-visualize something, it’s hard for me to let go of it.

First, I knew it would probably have to be made at Bosque del Apache. This is one of the few places where that particular combination of birds occurs in large quantities.

Next, it would have to be made in the winter when both the birds, and the weather conditions would provide the chance for the visuals to work.

Next, you have to find a pond that the birds like, which offers a good view to the east so that the sunrise will backlight the pond.

The fourth step in this improbable scenario involves the fog and/or mist. This occurs when the ground temperature is cold, around freezing, and warm humid air collides – causing the temperature of the air to lower to the point that you get fog. In other words, if it’s too dry, too warm, or too cold, you don’t get mist.

Fifth hope that the birds show up at all.

Next on the list, you need a cloudless day. This is important because that produces a golden sunset. If there are lots of clouds, you’ll get different colors, which might be nice, but in my mind, I wanted a golden hue to be the basis for the image. So no clouds.

Then, you need the birds to wait for the sunrise before they take off. You never know when they’ll take off for the day. The two days previous to making this shot, the birds flew out before dawn – in the dark, so when the sun rose, there were no birds in the scene.

Next, I had to hope for a moment when one or two birds were isolated enough to fly into the pond before the rest of the flock took off. I thought this was important for balance. I knew this last bit would involve the most luck, but I really wanted it.

Lastly, you have to hope for a west or northwest wind. There is only a 25% chance of this happening on any given day.

So if you’re following along thus far, you should have the following requirements on your list.

1. Travel to New Mexico
2. Be there in the winter
3. Find the right pond – one that allows an eastern exposure
4. Hope for fog/mist
5. Make sure that you get the right mixture of birds
6. Hope for no clouds
7. The birds have to wait for the sunrise before they fly-out
8. Wait for birds to fly into the scene before the others leave
9. The winds have to come from the west or northwest

So here I found myself faced with the perfect conditions. For years I had been traveling to find this image, with no luck. This time would be different. The day had come.

As I drove to the refuge that morning, my heart started to beat a little quicker than usual. I saw the bald, blue sky that I had bemoaned the night before, since it kept me from making the sunset shot I wanted.

I looked at the thermometer on my truck and saw that the temperature was exactly 32 degrees – the freezing point.

I saw the golden glow of the sun starting to creep up over the far eastern mountain range.

I had my Nikon D3 already set up and ready to go, mounted with the Sigma 300-800 f/5.6 zoom lens. I had preset my ISO to 800 and my shooting mode to Aperture-priority. I wanted to make sure I was wide open to keep the background from becoming too prominent against the foreground birds.

Because fog and backlit subjects often confuse camera meters, I dialed in plus two stops of exposure compensation to allow a little more light into the shot.

I sat the Sigmonster on a Wimberley Head II, mounted atop a sturdy Gitzo tripod. I made double sure to tighten, and re-tighten the tripod legs to get a sturdy mount. I also made sure the KirkPhoto lens plate was securely affixed to the head. I didn’t want any accidents.

I extended the big zoom lens out to 800mm, took a deep breath, tried to steady myself, assumed the best shooting posture I could, and said a quick prayer to the photo-Gods, reminding them of all the time I put into getting this shot over the years, asking that this time, THIS time, all things could come together for that perfect moment.

I saw the sun coming up. The mist began to glow. For a moment I was fearful that the birds were about to blast off before the time was perfect. I knew I’d only have about a two-minute window to get the perfect shot.

I made a quick test exposure and checked my histogram. Fortunately, I had it right. The shot was at 1/4000th of a second.

As the sun came over the mountain I began to fire. Out of excitement, I was shooting a little too carelessly. Part of me was thinking “safety shot.” After 12 years I wanted to get SOMETHING! Then, I guess my experience and training took over. I started being more deliberate. But despite that fact, the next two minutes were a blur. I later realized that I made 43 exposures – in short bursts, at nine frames per second. The image I pre-visualized was very strong in my mind. I credit the success of the final shot to having such a strong idea of what I wanted to create.

It dawned on me that the perfect storm of circumstances was nearly upon me. Then the truly improbable happened. I spotted two lone Snow Geese just out of my field of vision on the right. They were headed straight for the pond. This was the perfect moment. As Bresson called it – “The Decisive Moment.”

I took a deep breath, lined up the angle of the geese on approach, guessed at their flight path, and let go with a nine-shot burst.That was it. The birds landed. The rest of the flock took off. The sun rose so high the color left the scene. The wind changed direction. The decisive moment had passed. There would be no second chance. And it didn’t matter, the buffer was full anyway. I breathlessly waited for the image to appear on the back of the camera. It seemed to take forever.

I almost yelled like a little kid when I saw it. You can’t really tell if something is sharp on the DSLR LCD but I knew it. I knew that I had it. I am not sure, but I think I let out a little “woot.” Some photographers standing a few yards looked in my direction.

I immediately left the field, took that flash card out of the camera, and safely put it into my card carrier.

The remainder of the morning I busied myself helping workshop participants make great images. But the hours that ensued were agonizing. I couldn’t wait until the lunch break so I could get back to the hotel room, offload the card, back it up and then check the image in Aperture.

When I first saw it full screen on the MacBook Pro I knew I had it. A few minutes of clean up, cropping and levels adjustment, aided by some slight tweaking of the existing color–gave me the prize.

I am grateful for the result, and hope that by talking about this experience here with everyone else, you’ll see that pre-visualization and patience can pay off. Regardless of whether or not you like my image, I hope you can see that never giving up can give YOU the chance you need to make YOUR dream photograph.

Thanks for indulging me and letting me share this personal experience with you.

P.S. I forgot to mention that for some strange, weird reason that I can’t articulate, I was hearing the score to Jurassic Park – (the closing credits) in my mind as I made the final shot. Imagine that!
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This post sponsored by WHCC – White House Custom Colour – Get Five Free 8×10 Prints From WHCC

Photographic Inspiration

scottbourne — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:14:04 +0000

To be a professional photographer, you have to be able to be inspired. Guts and toughing it out won’t be enough. You will continually need to be inspired. Where you draw your inspiration from is a personal choice. I decided to share some of the things that have inspired me over the years in the hope that you will find something on the list that inspires you.

1. Watch a movie

Yes this is one of those rare times when you are allowed to kick back! Watch a movie. Study it or just experience it. There’s always the chance something will catch your eye.

2. Read a book

Grab something light and funny or deep and thought provoking. But read. I like to suggest The Artist’s Way. If want to be inspired as an artist by reading, check out The Artist Way. It will do the trick.

3. Learn a new goofy hobby

Take your mind off the world and learn a new hobby. The extra space this creates in your brain could lead to big-time inspiration. Suggestions? Here’s a zany one. Learn how to use a Yo-Yo. Yeah it looks easy, but to do it well takes some luck, affinity and skill. Believe me, photography will seem easy after trying to master the Yo-Yo.

4. Study and ask why

Look at photographs from photographers who you admire. But instead of the usual “Oh that’s cool” reaction – strive to know why. Ask yourself “Why did they make this image? Why does it resonate with me? Why is that visually inspiring or arresting or important?” WHY is one of the most important inspirational tools out there. People will do crazy things if the WHY is good enough.

5. Watch trash television

Okay I admit this one is on the edge, but it works for me. One of the things that stops many of us from being inspired is being down or depressed. All you have to do is watch 10 minutes of Jerry Springer or some similar show to realize how good you have it. I guarantee you that you’ll feel better about your life afterwards and if you go out with your camera right away, you’ll see a smile in your photos.

These are just a few of the ways I inspire myself. Try them and see if they help you.

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This post sponsored by WHCC – White House Custom Colour – Get Five Free 8×10 Prints From WHCC

Photo Ignite videos from WPPI online!

Kevin Kubota — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:45:06 +0000

If you missed this event at WPPI, you missed one of the hottest programs…and the largest closing program in the history of WPPI. It was amazing to see all of these crazy talented people sharing treasures of information, inspiration, and plain ole’ belly laughs, in 5 minute presentations. You’ll NEVER guess what you’re going to see, you have to just check it out. Fortunately, we recorded it all for you if you weren’t there! The videos are online now.

We started Photographers Ignite as a way to share and inspire among photographers. It’s not profit driven, and is made possible from very generous supporters and proponents of education and community among photographers. Keep tabs on the Photographers Ignite site, we’ll be hosting more of these events in major cities throughout the year. Be there, you won’t regret it!

check out all these great speakers!

Ace Cuervo
Amy Parrish
The Becker
Carolyn Wells
Craig Strong
David Jay
Doug Gordon
Gustavo Fernandez
Jed Taufer
Jerry Ghionis
Jessica Claire
Jules Bianchi and Joy Bianchi Brown
Katie Trujillo
Kevin Kubota
Khara Plicanic
Mike Steelman
Riz Crescini
Sarah Petty
Scott Bourne
Vicki Taufer

Enjoy the videos and tell your friends too!

PhotographersIgnite.com

design aglow fan share: beautiful photography contracts? you bet!

Lena — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:37:34 +0000

Amber Snow shares her inspiring Welcome Box with us today. How cool is this? She says, “I love Design Aglow’s article collections and awesome products, and attached are some images of the Portrait Agreement, which I easily customized with my logo and colors. This has been a huge help in creating my business, as I didn’t even know where to begin to compile this kind of information when I first started my studio. I print the contract myself on linen paper, and include it in the “Welcome Box” that I give to new clients, along with paper samples, session information, and my price list. It’s really great to have a contract that ties in so well with my brand. Thank you so much for creating this!”

We have received so many kind words about our Legal Portrait and Wedding Contracts…they are really bullet-proof, yet simple to understand and still beautiful like everything we create. Make sure you always protect your business and yourself when you are on the job!

it’s here!! Issue 10: The Next BIG Thing

Lena — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:00:19 +0000

Check it out…our beefiest issue of all time!! Click here for more info in the shop & to see each of these preview pages full size. Get yours today~ over 300 AD FREE pages of learning,eye candy, and inspiration.

Where to Photograph in the Everglades

Guest Contributor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:23:54 +0000

A guest post By Cliff Kolber from www.kolberphotography.com.

The Florida Everglades and other wetlands cover thousands of square miles between the east and west coast of Florida. Everglades National Park is the centerpiece of the region, but there is a long list of other great places to explore and photograph. Here are seven of my favorite destinations for bird and landscape photography in South Florida. Some are well-known while others are obscure or out-of-the-way. They are all well worth the effort and should result in great fun and great photography. More details on Loop Road and Pahayokee can be found in my website under the Newsletters tab.

The list is by no means all-inclusive but it does give you a rich menu of some great places to visit. Bring your longest lens (at least 400mm) for bird and wildlife photography along with a quality tripod and you should have a successful trip.

The best time to visit is during the South Florida winter, from November through early April. Birds are abundant, the weather is pleasant, and mosquitoes should be few and far between (hopefully). Winter is also the dry season; it rains very little during these months. In some of these locations you will see alligators and possible encounter one on the road. Let them have their space. Alligators are more afraid of you than you of them.

Loop Road

I love this road. It’s my favorite. Loop Road travels 26 miles through the heart of the Big Cypress National Preserve. Ten miles are paved and 16 miles are unpaved and not well maintained. High clearance vehicles do best on this road. Very unfortunately, the National Park Service recently closed the unpaved portion until May, 2010 for repairs. But the paved portion is still open and worth the trip. Loop Road intersects U.S. 41 at a bend about 40 miles west of Miami and then again another 15 miles west on U.S. 41. There are many culverts and ponds on both sides of the road and you should find an array of wading birds, alligators and other wildlife. I sometimes shoot from the car window so that I don’t spook the wildlife. Use a bean bag or improvise with a shirt or towel to stabilize the lens on the door. After spending some time on Loop Road you’ll understand why this is a favorite destination of mine. The best time to shoot is morning.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Located in suburban Delray Beach on Jog Road, Wakodahatchee Wetlands was created about 10 years ago and has become a prolific bird sanctuary featuring herons, anhingas, purple gallinules, bitterns, limpkins and more. Access is via a boardwalk which can vibrate slightly when others are walking near you. So be aware and shoot when you can. But it’s well worth the effort. Best time is to arrive within an hour after sunrise.

Shark Valley

Shark Valley is a magnet for wading birds and photographers. It is part of the Everglades National Park and is located about 35 miles west of Miami on U.S. 41. You’ll find a large variety of wading and other birds, most within 50 feet of your lens. Shark Valley opens at 8:30 am but you can walk in before that. If you do, park your car along US 41 but avoid the “no parking” zone or you WILL be ticketed.

Pahayokee Road

Pahayokee road is a great sunrise location in Everglades National Park. You’ll be shooting toward the east and using cypress trees for silhouettes against the rising sun. The results can be spectacular. Take the main road in Everglades National Park about 10 miles until you see a sign for “Pahayokee Overlook”. Turn there and park within 100 yards of the main road. You can shoot from the road, or if the water level is low enough you can wander into the sawgrass for different perspectives and trees to use in your composition.

Anhinga Trail

After shooting sunrise at Pahayokee road, it’s a ten minute drive back to the Anhinga Trail which is close to the main entrance to the park. This is one of the most popular locations throughout the Everglades for bird photography. Wading birds, anhingas, gallinules and cormorants are very tame and easily approachable. Anhingas nest in the winter and chicks can be seen in the nest around February and March.

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve

The Fakahatchee is sometimes called the “Amazon of North America”. It is a hundred square miles of swamp and forest with huge strands of cypress and tropical hardwood hammocks. The entrance is 2 ½ miles north of U.S. 41 on S.R. 29, which is about 65 miles west of Miami on U.S. 41. You’ll explore the preserve by car on Janes Scenic Drive, an 11 mile unpaved road that cuts through the heart of the region. There are several walking trails that extend from the road into the depths of the preserve. Check with the ranger or online to determine which trails are open. You’ll find an array of subjects to photograph: swamps, hardwood hammocks, orchids, bromeliads, alligators, birds and wetland plants and flowers. This is an unmaintained, rustic area with a rich diversity of tropical wilderness and wildlife.

Turner River Road

Turner River Road is about 60 miles west of Miami on U.S. 41. You’ll see a sign that says “SR 839 – HP Williams Roadside Park”. Turn north there and you’ll be on the road. It’s a gravel road that stretches 20 miles north along a canal, but the best photography is along the first few miles. You’ll find an abundance of wading birds, anhingas, cormorants, alligators and other wildlife. The best time for photography is late afternoon when the sun is behind you, lighting the far side of the canal which is on the east side of the road.

There you have it – A few of my favorite locations for bird, wildlife and scenic photography in the Everglades. Be careful out there and remember that you’re merely a visitor in the home of the wildlife. Enjoy the outdoors, tread lightly, and “pack it in, pack it out” – don’t litter and don’t damage anything.

About the Author: Cliff Kolber is a nature and travel photographer and writer based in Miami, Florida. He and his wife Doris have created a spectacular portfolio of images and articles from around the world, specializing in the Florida Everglades, the American Southwest and Antarctica. Visit Cliff’s website at www.kolberphotography.com.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

Where to Photograph in the Everglades

How To Focus On What Truly Matters

Guest — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:32:15 +0000

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Sid Savara of Analysis Driven Personal Development.

In my life I’ve gone through periods of intense, driven productivity – months where everything fell into place, and my goals almost seemed to accomplish themselves. At the other extreme, there have been times in my life where I was completely overwhelmed, burdened by my different projects and responsibilities – and frustrated because so many of them not only challenged me, but didn’t matter to me. There were days when I asked myself how did I end up here? How did I end up working on all these things that aren’t who I am, and that don’t represent where I am going?

Some of our projects are extremely important to us, some matter a little – and some simply don’t matter to us at all. In this guide I’d like to discuss how to define and focus on what truly matters – and then discuss some strategies for making time for them.

Breaking It Down
Here are a few question to help you focus on what truly matters – and cut from your life items that don’t.

What does my life look like ten years from now? I love projecting into the future and imagining my life: mentally time traveling to picture where I want to be. The power of this exercise is even more apparent when you consider that you are the product of where you came from. Think of your favorite memories, people and events from your past and you’ll see things that have shaped you into the person you are today. Similarly, looking ten years down the road and imagining what I want helps me focus my energies today to make it happen tomorrow. If my future daydream is filled with thoughts of spending time with my family and celebrating with friends – then that tells me I need to focus on maintaining those relationships today.
What is my purpose? Leo has previously discussed his life’s purpose and tips for finding your own life’s mission. If you have determined your life’s mission, that provides a foundation for where you should be spending your time – along with the activities, and ends, you should be focusing on. This is sometimes difficult because we may believe our life’s purpose is not in line with a “practical career” – but I disagree. There is no contradiction in using a “practical career” to pull yourself out of debt so you can be free for adventure, or perhaps to send your children to college. The disconnect occurs however, when your “practical career” is padding your bank account with money which means little to you – and you wish you were out living your true purpose instead.
What excites me? Sometimes we are scared to admit to ourselves what we really want to do, and who we really want to be because it’s not popular, or because it’s not as secure as the job we have. Deep down however, we know what excites us. We know what gets our heart pumping, and what gets us excited to jump out of bed in the morning.
What can I let slide? There are never enough hours in the day to do everything, absolutely everything, that I have some interest in doing. There is, however, enough time in the day to do everything that I am truly interested in, and that truly matters. Find what you can let slide -and then let it.
Do the consequences have meaning Every task and project has outcomes and consequences – but consequences don’t matter in and of themselves. What matters is how much those consequences mean to us. Sometimes we fight, claw and struggle towards down a path because other people want us to have the rewards at the end, or because the ends sound impressive – but if they don’t have meaning to us, then we will not be satisfied with the accomplishment. In other cases we may have initially pursued a goal, but our interests and purpose changed. If something doesn’t mean anything to you, then regardless of how important it is to others, how impressive it may be or how important it may have been in the past, it may be time to let it go.

Making Time
You may already know what truly matters in your life – but are finding it difficult to make time for it, and to focus on it. Here are some tips to help you make time for what truly matters:

Do it first. In Zen To Done Leo suggests picking your 3 Most Important Tasks (MITs) and doing them first thing in the morning. Similarly, once you find what truly matters, try to take care of it first before spending time on tasks that matter less to you. Some people have experienced significant increases in productivity when writing, working out, or meditating early in the morning. I personally believe in paying myself first with my time, and live it every day. I work on my personal goals first thing in the morning, before I do anything else. This way every day begins positively and in line with my future.
Schedule it in. I’m very busy, and so is m family. My parents and I want to make time for each other however, so I literally schedule dinner in on my Google Calendar. I treat that appointment with the same seriousness as anything else in my life. It’s a commitment to my future and what truly matters.
Treat it as an emergency. My life is booked back to back with work, appointments and various commitments – but when I had to go into surgery for appendicitis, none of the little boxes in my task list got checked off that day. Instead, my routine came to a halt as I dealt with my medical emergency. If you’re having trouble letting things slide, or aren’t sure where you can make time, then consider treating your life mission as an emergency. Clear important, but unnecessary items off your schedule for a day – and let them go. Every day that you spend on tasks that don’t matter is a day you can never recover – and that, to me, is an emergency.

What Truly Matters, Matters
We all know deep down there are different things that drive us – hobbies that excite us, passions that we wish we had more time to explore, people we wish could spend more time with. I believe that identifying, focusing on, and spending time on what matters to us, is not simply a thought exercise.

Focusing on what truly matters, truly matters.

Find out what drives and truly matters to Sid Savara at his blog, Analysis Driven Personal Development. Sign up for his email newsletter and get a free copy of The Little Book Of Big Motivational Quotes.

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If you liked this guide, please bookmark it on Delicious or share on Twitter. Comments? @zen_habits me.

50 Photo Projects – Book Reviews

Barrie Smith — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:20:52 +0000

Looking around for something to shoot with your camera? Feeling a bit shot-out? This book could be your salvation.

For many, the problem with photography is that we rarely step out of our comfort zone, rarely take risks and all too often shoot the same subjects over and over again.

Lee Frost’s book should fix those glums as he sets out a plan of 50 projects that should push you out in the fresh air of creativity. Perhaps your equipment is at fault … too few or too many cameras. In this vein Frost spells out his own ventures into varied camera usage by pushing into pinhole photography and even using a flat bed scanner for large format photography.

His take on architectural photography is a blast; likewise, his attack on motion blur shooting and some other wild subjects. Everything needs a new attitude; everything needs a shake down.

An important factor in ‘break-away’ photography is time of day: you get little dazzle if you’re always shooting in bright sunlight, better to hit the road pre-dawn or post-dusk.

The structure of the book is, to say the least, unusual: one minute you’re contemplating wild colour in a shot, the next you’re on the scanner, converting colour into B&W. Frost moves fast and takes you with him on one of the most invigorating rides.

This is one of the most exciting how to books I’ve seen. A real blast!

Author: Lee Frost.
Publisher: David & Charles.
Length: 160 pages.

Grab a copy of Lee Frost’s 50 Photo Projects at Amazon for $16.49 (34% off).

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

50 Photo Projects – Book Reviews