Review of My 2007

I like what Scott Kelby did on his blog today reviewing significant events of 2007, and I thought I would follow his example and share with you what this year have meant for me personally.

Personal
It has been a big year for me in every way, which is typical for every year that ended with 7 - I was done with kindergarden and started school in 1987, graduated from high school and started University in 1997. In 2007 I finally got done with my higher education by graduating from the Brigham Young University with a Master of Accountancy. During my last semester I started studying for a CPA exam, and I passed the last section of it in August without having have to retake any of them. In May we moved from Utah to California. Finally, and second most important event for me besides my wedding, on July 3, 2007 my wife Becca gave birth to our son Maksim, whose presense in our home have changed our lives drastically. I like him a lot, as perhaps you may see on my pictures of him.

Photography
It all began last January as I decided to start Project 365 by taking picture a day. It didn't last for more than a few months, but it forced me to take photography more seriously. I bought a Nikon D40, which was then followed by Nikon D300. I also bought bunch of other equipment, including flashes, triggers, lenses, filters, and lots of books to help me learn since I have no desire nor time to go back to school. Most importantly, I started improving the way I see as a photographer, and I discovered that despite being an accountant, I still have a bit of creativity left in me.

During the year I was able to shoot in many beautiful locations in the mountains and lakes within Utah and Sanpete Counties, in Salt Lake City, in the Arches National Park, in Virginia, in New York, in San Francisco, in Monterey, at Big Sur, in Yosemite National Park, in Hawaii and a lot at home. My images have appeared in various places on the web, in San Francisco Magazine and on NBC evening news. I sold some of my work as licenses and sold fine art prints. Overall, I am pleased with the progress I made during the year, but I hope to step up to a whole new level in 2008.

Thank you all for your support, encouragement and feedback. I appreciate web community and an important role it plays in my life. Especial thanks goes to those of you who come and read my blog on a regular basis.

May you all have a peaceful and successful 2008. Happy New Year!

Please see it LARGE.

Mount Timpanogos is the second highest mountain in Utah's Wasatch Range (second to Mount Nebo). Timpanogos rises to an elevation of 11,749 feet (3,582 m) above sea level in the Uinta National Forest. The mountain towers over Utah Valley, including the cities of Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Lindon and others.

This image is taken from about 7,000 feet high, as I was standing in snow up to my waist. Luckily, I got out.

Please see this one LARGE.

We just got back from a trip to Utah where we spent Christmas with our family. The weather was bad most of the week, with snow, fog and cold keeping me away from shooting, but I'll still have few images to share.

Temple Square in Salt Lake City is one of the most beautiful places to be around Christmas time, with all kinds of lights surrounding beautiful temple.

Curtis Brown

Curtis Brown, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

He's not our top goal scorer, but this Center plays hard in every game and his energy helps others play hard. See larger version and his career stats here.

Apparently, he'll be playing on Joe Thornton's line today. If that will happen, he might just double his yearly stats in one week.

Careful if you have Gmail Account

If you have Gmail account, all of your personal information might be in jeopardy. There is one hack that recently became known, and there is an article about this that's a must read. Access it by clicking on the link.

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas!

Craig Rivet and His Beard

Craig Rivet and His Beard, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

This image begins a new series that I am going to work on during the rest of the NHL season, featuring all the San Jose Sharks players, and other NHL stars that visit our arena. I love photography, but my other and much older passion is the world of sports. Hockey is my no. 2 favorite, right behind soccer. I figured that combining the two might occasionally might not be a bad idea.

For now I will be using 50mm f/1.8 lens, which is fast enough to freeze the action indoor, but you have to be right next to it. I love how sharp that lens is. See the larger version of the image - I can't believe how sharp his facial and back hair turned out. No additional sharpening was applied to the image. Nikon D300 allows me to autofocus this lens, and AF system works remarkably fast and precise. 52 AF-points help greatly, as well as the improved motor inside the camera.

Craig Rivet is currently my favorite Sharks defenseman. We acquired him a year ago from Montreal Canadians, and he quickly became a leader. He defends well, he's mean and powerful on his checks, he fights when needed, he's not afraid to block the pucks, and he's a main player on NHL's no. 1 defense this season.

4 Days Until My First Christmas...

7 Days Until My First Christmas..., originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

Maks can hardly wait. We can hardly wait as well.

Lighting Setup - Sunpak 383 shot through white umbrella just above the camera at full power (see the reflection in the silver ball in right bottom corner) and SB-600 on camara's left for a fill at 1/4 power.

Book You Should Not Miss

Couple quick items I must share.

-- The celebrity among photographers and most famous Photoshop Guy Scott Kelby made a reference today on his blog to my review of his most recent "7-point System" book. Thank you, Scott. It's an honor.

-- On his blog today, the same Scott Kelby introduces and gives us a preview of a book that just might change the way many of us see an approach photography, "The Moment It Clicks" by world-famous photographer Joe McNally. The release date is not yet available, but my guess based on experience of Scott announcing new books is that it'll be sometime in February/March. Take a moment and watch the introduction video posted by Nikon (video alone will blow you away) and then read Scott's preview of the book. I'm for sure pre-ordering it.

Pacific Eternity

Pacific Eternity, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

"Eternity begins and ends with the ocean's tides.” - Unknown.

I still have plenty images from Hawaii trip to go through.

Please see this one LARGE.

2007 - 100 of My Favorite Images

2007 - 100 of My Favorite Images, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

It's been a great year and I enjoyed all the adventures that came as a result of my interest in photography. I've always wanted to publish a book at the end of the year that contain a collection of my favorite images and recently I went through all my photos from last year and picked a top 100 of them. I then compiled it into the book and printed it through Blurb. I like the quality of books they print, as I've dealt with them before.

I originally wanted to make the book just for myself, but several of you contacted me asking if I can make few extra copies. I am now offering the book with a small markup, so if any of you would like to buy it, following are the prices for the 108 pages book -

Hardcover $50
Softcover $40.

These prices include applicable taxes and shipping within US.

If you are interested in buying a book, you may do so via Paypal or personal check. Please contact me by sending an email that you may see in my profile on the right side of the blog and I will be happy to help you.

Excellent Nikon D300 Review by Scott Kelby

If you are considering upgrading your digital camera, Scott Kelby posted an excellent detailed review of Nikon D300 that I also recently purchased. I haven't shot with it quite as much as did Scott, but I fully agree with him on all points, and the review is certainly worth reading.

Family Blog Address

Just so you know, my wife Becca started a family blog to keep track of all that we're doing for our family and friends scattered all over the world. So if you're interested to see what we're doing and to read whatever she has to say, here is the link.

Images Available for Licensing

Recently I decided to collect some of my photos and submit them to stock agencies. This way I can let these images earn income on the side and I can learn more about commercial photography and current market trends. If you would like to use my work for any of the presentations, advertising, flyers, blogs etc that you are working on, my images are now available for licensing at the following locations:

-- By subscription - shutterstock.com
-- By subscription/per-image-licenses - dreamstime.com
-- By per-image-licenses - istockphoto.com.

Per image licenses start as low as $0.99/license. If you are interested in licensing images that are not in any of these portfolios, please contact me directly by sending an email in my profile.

I have also recently taken down my fine art portfolio at ImageKind, and perhaps one of these days I'll have a post on why. However, fine art prints are still available for sale if you would like to buy them. Please email me for price list and which images are available for limited edition fine art prints. I will launch a web-site for this in the next few months.

Tis the Season To Be Jolly

Tis the Season To Be Jolly, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

My favorite time of the year, and we've got all of our Christmas friends out. Time to start getting presents under the tree.

Poipu Beach Twilight

Poipu Beach Twilight, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." - Rachel Carson.

Please see it LARGE.

Remembering Paradise

Remembering Paradise, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

Please see it LARGE.

Look Who's Sitting Now

Look Who's Sitting Now, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

Happy 5 Month Birthday to Maks!

Strobist - SB-600 through the white umbrella on the camera's right at 1/16 power and white reflector on the camera's left.

The Morning Glory

The Morning Glory, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

"The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean." - Mark Twain

Again, a picture from that same backyard. Please see it LARGE.

It's Time for Upgrade

It's Time for Upgrade, originally uploaded by IvanoMak.

Just as last year I got a “late” Christmas present in the form of Nikon D40, this year I got an “early” Christmas present to myself, Nikon D300 that just came out. Most pictures you will see from now on will be taken with that camera, though I am still keeping D40 as a backup camera. It has been an excellent entry-level SLR camera, and I'm still of the opinion that it's the best value for the money out there in the market. There are still few things I can do with D40 that I won't be able to do with the D300 (such as, syncing external flash at any shutrer speed I want, including as fast as 1/1000 of a second).

My reasons for upgrading are as follows:
-- I need more resolution. Over the past few months I had few people who contacting me wanting to buy poster prints of my work. If I cropped the image in the process, I can’t make a print large enough. Plus, stock agencies that I been submitting images are picky about resolution, and the more the better in those cases. I’m going from 6 Mpx to 12.
-- I need exposure bracketing. It will help during sunset/sunrise shots, as now I don’t have to worry about camera move as I change exposure compensation.
-- I want to focus my prime lenses. 50mm f/1.8 is one heck of a lens, and I want to use to full ability.
-- I need better ISO performance. D300 offers that.
-- I want new camera body that will not be obsolete in few months. Hence, why I didn't go with D80 or now obsolete D200.
-- I want more compatibility for my external flashes.
-- I want camera that has more than three focus points and better auto focusing system. D300 has 51 focus points! The sky is my limit now.
-- Finally, I want to have a more professional camera body as I am starting to get more paid jobs, and D300 takes me to a new level of technological abilities.

I still have so much to learn about photography, post processing, printing, and especially about seeing better, but when you get to a point that you start feeling limits to your creativity as a result of inferior camera body, it’s time to upgrade. I have not had the chance to properly test the D300 yet, but I’ll post a review in the next few weeks.