Extra photos for bloggers: 1, 2, 3 Free shipping LAST DAY Our Best-Selling Gifts: The Zumi Digital 2.0 - back in stock! Dreamy Diana Lens - (Low-fi photos with your Canon or Nikon DSLR) Bowler Bag (SLR bag with style!) Photoshop Fridge Magnets (New!) and more...

There’s one sure-fire way to make mom throw her hands in the air and scream this holiday season… Coasters!

No, not the roller type. Super fun photo-coasters made of cork! Corksters!

They’re the perfect gift for a mom who loves nothing more than seeing your smiling face stare up at her from under a beverage AND keeping water rings off of her coffee table.

Really, your mom HATES those rings.

So make her shriek with delight this Christmas, by making her some photo-coasters… and promising to use ‘em.

How to Make Photo-Corksters

p.s. Today is the Last Day for FREE SHIPPING for CHRISTMAS for U.S.A. orders over $50 in the Photojojo Store. Everything ships Priority Mail so you’ll have your goodies in time.

(After today, you can still get your orders in time via 2-Day or Overnight.)

p.p.s. You can also WIN some Store goodies today, including the Zumi! Read the details.

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Read the rest of Make Your Own Cork Photo Coasters: Corksters! (377 words)

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Free shipping is back! Great Photojojo gift ideas: The Zumi 2.0 & Instax Mini (Our BEST-SELLING cameras, now back in stock!) Camera DIY kits (New! —Two great projects for DIYers) The Fisheye Adapter (New!) Woodnetic Frames (New!) and more...

Some people want to travel the world before they die.

Some want to be rich and famous.

And others just want to knit themselves a bodystocking out of albino poodle fur.

What do you want to do before you shuffle off this mortal coil?

Wait, wait, don’t answer yet.

Get a pal to snap a Polaroid as you tell them your dream. Then write your answer on the photo and send it off to the kids who thought up this crazy project.

New pictures go up each month from people all the planet, people just like you who appreciate travel, riches, and the comfort of discarded poodle hair.

The “Before I Die I Want To…” Polaroid Project

p.s. They’re only accepting Polaroids, so what if you’re outta film? Start your own project! with Instax or digital prints. ‘Cause nobody puts you in the corner, pally.

p.p.s. Still plenty of time for Photojojo Goodies for Christmas! Order by Mon, Dec 14 by First class (or FREE SHIPPING) and Wed, Dec 16 by Priority Mail (other methods available for later).

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Just when you thought we couldn’t possibly find more amazing photo goodies… We’re back with our second installment for Holidaze ‘09.

Nü today: Super-cool new gift cards, custom gift wrapping, and a fistfull of brand-new photo goodies for your enjoyment.

Hugs,
Photojojo

p.s. Shopping for the ho-ho-holidays? For Christmas delivery, order by… Mon, Dec 14 by 1st class, Wed, Dec 16 by Priority Mail, Fri, Dec 18 by UPS 2-Day, and Mon, Dec 21 by UPS Next Day.

				The Fisheye Lens Adapter Finally, a way to get that wide angle Fisheye look without dropping bank. Our Fisheye Lens Adapter is a thrillingly circular solution to a rectangular world, and works with any DSLR or SLR. The Fisheye Lens Adapter $50-55 at the Photojojo Store  Tweet it!      Share
The New Zumi 2.0 NOW IN STOCK! A store fave, the Zumi cam takes digital images and videos that have the look and feel of vintage film. The just-released Zumi 2.0 now records sound and has a new B&W mode — same lovable camera, two new ways to make a masterpiece! The Zumi 2.0 $170 at the Photojojo Store  Tweet it!      Share
				Polaroid’s Little Brother BACK IN STOCK! It’s Fuji’s answer to instant film and our answer to fun. This brand-new mini cam spits out tack-sharp prints that develop in the palm of your hand. We’re smitten. The Fuji Instax $90 at the Photojojo Store  Tweet it!      Share
Do-it-yourself Photo Kits Two DIY photo kits to remind us that photos are made with light and magic — not just gigabytes. Make your own working camera, and print your own prints! Great for the crafty photographer that loves to get their hands dirty. Pinhole Camera & Sunprint Kits $25 for both at the Photojojo Store  Tweet it!      Share
				Magically Magnetic Photo Frames They’re wood, they’re magnetic, they’re marvelously modern looking. Tack photos of any shape or size to these natural wood beauties with neodymium magnets included with each frame. Slick! Woodnetic Frames $20 at the Photojojo Store  Tweet it!      Share
Super-Secret Spy Lens A sneaky shop favorite that allows you to take photos undetected. The camera-shy, candid moments, those hammy kids — all victims to your sleuth-like Spy Lens. Muahaha. hah. hah. The Super-Secret Spy Lens $50-55 at the Photojojo Store  Tweet it!      Share

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by Miserere

A friend of mine believes that the Internet was invented for the sole purpose of allowing people to share cat photos. On Flickr there are over 3.2 million photos tagged with cat (although not all seem to be of the feline variety), while a Google Image search for the word cat returns almost 100 million hits. There are a lot of cat photos out there…and I wonder, do cats even like being photographed?

But now, one cat is fighting back, one cat is saying:

O yea? Wel nowz I teyk fotos of U.
Haw du u like dem apllez!?

Meet Cooper the Photographer Cat. Not only is he a handsome American Shorthair kitty, he also likes to take photos of his adventures in and around the Seattle neighbourhood where he lives with his two servants, Michael and Deirdre Cross.

How does he take photos, you ask? Good question! Cooper ordered Michael to provide him with a camera he could easily carry with him, yet adapted to his anatomical shortcomings (such as not having fingers). Michael, ever the faithful servant, commissioned a special little camera that Cooper could wear hanging from his neck and which would take a photo automatically every 2 minutes. Once a week, Michael puts the camera on Cooper and lets him roam the land, free to practice his Art.

You can see more of his photographs in his Flickr stream.

Philosophical Pondering

And speaking of Art, there are many who think one of the pillars of any artistic endeavour is Intention. That is, a photograph is only Art if the photographer intended it that way. So, for example, if I take a photograph of a dent in my car to send to my insurance company, that’s not Art; if, on the other hand, I set out on a walk with my camera and decide to take a nice photograph of the sunset over the hills, then it is Art. The question I pose to you, then, is this: Given the aesthetic merits of some of Cooper’s photographs (he’s had a gallery showing and is selling prints), can we consider them Art? And if we do, are we then saying that Cooper took them purposefully, and thus that he knew what he was doing?

As an aside, I hate to think of the legal ramifications of getting photographs of other people’s private lives through your pet.

All photos: ©Cooper the Photographer Cat (published here without his written consent)

by Miserere

As a card-carrying member (#249, Pentax chapter) of the Worldwide Squirrel Shooters Association, I am always on the lookout for a good squirrel photo opportunity. In general, one needs a fast DSLR with a relatively long lens for this endeavour (a 70-300mm zoom works well), but sometimes a chance encounter with a rare squirrel will have you shooting with whatever camera you may have, because a lousy photo is better than no photo at all.

Such was the encounter I had today. I was driving home early in the morning; it was cold but sunny, and I was in a rush to drop the car off at home before walking to work (I know this sounds backwards, but that’s my life). I had just turned into my street when I saw a white, fuzzy flash of fur cross the road. I looked to the pavement on my left, and right there, looking back at me with beady, red eyes, was a white squirrel. A white squirrel! Possibly the most prized photograph a member of the WSSA can take! I stopped the car immediately.

With trembling hands I took my Canon S90 from my jacket pocket and fumbled to turn it on. Alas, I was too slow, and sensing that she was in danger of being photographed, the white squirrel had fled through a hole in a fence. But I was not giving up! I parked the car and walked stealthily towards the fence; I could hear some rustling and the occasional flash of white in the bushes behind the fence. When I was some 5m away a sudden frenzy of shaking branches and the sound of little feet scampering announced the white squirrel’s departure. All was silent.

I reached the fence and peered over into a large garden with trees in the far side. Nothing moved, and there was no trace of the white squirrel, only the sound of far away traffic. I waited for a minute or so, camera ready and zoomed out to the max, set to Av and auto ISO; I was not going to miss again. And then I saw it. Sitting motionless atop a fence post, it had been there all along, yet remained invisible to my eyes. Not anymore.

I pointed the camera at it and took a few shots (the above is a resized JPEG straight from the camera). I wasn’t close enough for a high quality portrait, but I knew I at least had evidence of my encounter. All of a sudden a regular squirrel appeared in the branches above the white squirrel and started shrieking. The white squirrel shrieked back and scurried up the tree, possibly to claim it as her own. I snapped a few shots while this happened, then sensing it would not be leaving its tree nor coming any closer, I left it to its own devices, my mission accomplished.

As I walked to work a few minutes later I whistled a tune while admiring my catch on the rear LCD screen; I will even admit I skipped a little. It was a cold but sunny morning—and I had just photographed a white squirrel.

The image below is a 100% crop from the first frame, with a little bit of sharpening added.

Who doesn’t love the holidays?

Cornbread stuffing, pumpkin pie, tryptophan-laden birds, and a hot helping of the most raddest new photo goodies on the planet from your pals at Photojojo. ;-)

Scroll on down to see what we’ve got on our table.

				A simple camera… … on a simple mission: to take beautiful wide angle shots with bold colors and awe-inspiring horizons at the click of a button. Mission accomplished little one, you’re our latest fave that we can’t live without. The Ultra Wide and Slim $32 at the Photojojo Store (includes film)
Put Your DSLR in Retro Mode This. Is. Huge. Lomography’s cult classic Diana+ lens now fits your Canon or Nikon DSLR. It’ll transform your beloved hunk of metal and glass into a digital toy camera. Finally! A way for us digital fans to kick it lo-fi with the hip kids. The Dreamy Diana Lens $60 at the Photojojo Store (with adapter)
				Turn any photo into a polaroid! There’s something about that classic white border that just makes our hearts sing. Display any photo as if it were a Polaroid with these endlessly interchangeable frames that tack to your walls. Polaroid Picture Frames Set of 9 for $20 at the Photojojo Store
Picture Frame Piggy Bank Combines two things we love most: money and photographs. (JK!) But really, it’s the nicest looking piggy-bank-that-doubles-as-photo-frame around. Makes for a great gift certificate vehicle. The Wish Bank Frame $28 at the Photojojo Store
				Camera Phone Filters Give your camera phone the accessorizing attention it deserves. See the world through Kaleidoscopes, Wide Angles, and Starbursts with these endlessly reusable sticky lenses. Jelly Phone Filters Set of 3 for $15 at the Photojojo Store
Instantly Awesome Blow-Up Frame We’re always looking for the ideal no-fuss frame — and we think we’ve found it. Slip in a print, pass it a bit of fresh air, and BLAMMO you have yourself one classy gilded frame that weighs practically nothing. The Inflate-A-Frame 1 for $12 at the Photojojo Store

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Posted via email from Kevin Kubota

I’m not sure if this has been shared before, but it’s fun and fairly simple. It requires no post-processing.

Materials needed:

1. small flashlight
2. string
3. a ceiling hook

Procedure:

1. First hang the flashlight, pointing downwards, from the ceiling using the string. The length of string changes the type of picture you will get, so have fun and experiment.
2. Next place your camera below the flashlight facing the ceiling.Make sure your flashlight is securely fastened, it would be a horrible thing if it fell and smashed your lens.
3. Set your camera on the bulb setting. Use a small aperture.
4. Then turn off all the lights in the room, throw the flashlight so it begins to spin in circles and then trigger your bulb setting. Throwing the flashlight in different directions and angles also produces unique results.
5. xperiment with different shutter speeds… some of mine were up to 3 or 4 minutes long.
6. Another option to create even more designs is to slide a piece of cardboard over your lens, catch the flashlight, re-throw it, and then pull the cardboard off, continuing with a single photo.

I used a wide angle lens so I could get bigger circles, but any lens should work.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

A Fun Light Painting Project - Parabolas

Bored with your lens? Need a creative boost? Call a plumber!

Here are 2 tilt-shift lenses that you can make with just a few bucks’ worth of plumbing hardware.

Both give you that dreamy selective focus look you love so well, but they work a little differently.

Plungercam #1 is kind of like a Lensbaby — you bend and squish the rubber housing until your image is in focus, then you fire away.

Plungercam #2 is more like a traditional tilt-shift lens — you set up your shot and focus, then lock the lens into position. This means you can get repeatable results and can make killer time-lapse photos.

Grab some plumbing gear this weekend and make yourself a plungercam. Humming the Roto-Rooter song while you work is optional.

The Amazing Plungercam, Version #1

The Amazing Plungercam, Version #2

Photo credits: Bhautik Joshi

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