Thanks Bellevue Barbershop!

Aaron Stubna, owner of the Bellevue Barbershop had a nice art gallery show and party last night in his shop. Included in the artists, were prints from my book, Pittsburgh: A Photographic Portrait. Aaron has worked hard helping to promote local artists and bringing business to downtown Bellevue. It was a pleasure to show work in his shop and I wish him luck as he is one of the people the Pittsburgh URA is looking at to rehab the Garden Theatre in the Mexican War Street area. Aaron has great plans for the old theatre and I'm sure he'd work hard at taking on the task. Thanks again Aaron!

Merry Christmas, 2007

I hope everyone has a great holiday season! I'm planning on getting a lot of reading done. I'm currently reading, Boom! by Tom Brokaw. It is a great historical read if you are interested in how the sixties has shaped our present culture and society. I'm looking forward to getting some other books finished and maybe figuring out how to play their new Guitar Hero 3. My kids think I'm a total klutz, and I think they are probably right...I don't get how anyone gets those video games to work for them. Obviously I was born missing that video game gene...Will be attending a high school basketball tournament this week as well, which, I dare say...enjoy even more than Steeler football!

Book sales for Pittsburgh: A Photographic Portrait are going VERY strong. If you can't
find any at your local Borders or Barnes and Noble, I still have print/book packages available directly from me.

The Christmas tree photo was taken near Boise, Idaho a few years ago. The tree is safe from vandals unless it gets hit by a plane :-)

I'll post some new stuff at the start of 2008...Be safe...

Cohibas and cocktails,
Mark

Bare Trees, December 2007

Book update

It's looking like it will be a quiet week here leading up till Christmas. I'm busy just getting digital files out the door from previous assignments and have been promoting my book, Pittsburgh: A Photographic Portrait and filling limited edition book/print orders before Christmas. The rest of the week will be spent clearing the desk, getting travel arrangements completed for an upcoming annual report assignment, and trying to get my Christmas shopping done. I'm looking forward to quiet time for the holidays, hitting the ski slopes, and connecting friends that I haven't seen in awhile.

The book signing at Border's went well on Sunday despite horrible weather and competing with the Steeler's home game.
I met many nice people and moved books which is what it is all about. Thanks to all of you who braved the weather and came out for the signing! Locally, Border's in the Northway Mall still has a nice supply, so if you still need copies for Christmas gifts you should check them out. If you are a Border's Rewards member, they might even be discounted.

In keeping with the holiday season, this picture from book is a look at the holiday light up night in Pittsburgh.

Enjoy the day!

Bid on the Avonworth High School Auction!

Take a look at the Avonworth High School annual auction raising money for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and be sure to place a bid.  This annual auction put on by the student council raised over $21,000.00 last year for the hospital!  When you consider how small this school is, it is quite amazing. I've got a senior portrait package as one of the items, so bid early and bid often! The bidding will end on noon Friday, Dec. 14th. Be generous and you can win a free portrait session with yours truly!

This photo is from a senior shoot done this fall of an Avonworth football player...

Enjoy the day and the rain!

A Photo Editor Blog...or beating a hornets nest?

I've been reading the last couple of weeks a blog site that has been created by a New York photo editor. The blog site, A Photo Editor, is an interesting read and one filled with vast amounts of information and exasperation by photographers. One needs to read between the lines of whining, ego driven anecdotes, and out and out poor business practices but there are many gems to be mined here. For me it's a way to try to keep current on editorial trends, since having left New York a number of years ago (the center of the universe :-) I don't keep in touch with photo editors and fellow editorial shooters as much as I used to. The site seems to have really taken off, and it's apparent that many of the photo organizations still lack in the education department for upcoming photographers. Actually...the photo orgs are quite good, but I'm guessing that many newer people in the business and who have come to depend upon the world wide web as a source of free information, just won't bother forking over the dues to organizations that benefit everyone and not just members. So, how does this site differ? Whomever the Photo Editor is seems to have a great deal of experience and works for a larger consumer publication (at least that is my opinion, since Photo Editor hides behind anonymity)
Readers of the blog will find no-holds barred opinions from someone who actually hires photographers.
This is a terrific wake-up call to many people who thinks that the editorial business is something that it's not. There is also a place for photographers to post photos and links to their websites which looks great now, but most likely will be overun by mediocre work as the site gets more popular.
I tried to post and link my site on PE's blog, but had technical problems that I couldn't overcome posting my web link. So sadly, I couldn't post photos over there...
On the downside to the site...I HATE when people post not using their real names on websites
that deal with professionals and business issues. I feel if you can't post your name, you aren't worth reading. After all we not doing anything illegal here, but all trying to expand our knowledge of a business we love, struggle, and thrive with. I also question Photo Editors taste in photography sometimes when he (again I THINK... PE is a he) raves about certain photographers who look like they don't know anything about lighting, composition, and styling. But somehow they remain, "the flavor of the month".

So check out the APE blog and let me know what you think!

Today's photo: A warm up for a morning yoga class on South Beach, Miami...

Photo for the day...Santorini, Greece

Book signing Sunday!

Well it's been a few days...ok....a week...since I last posted. What can I say, been busy...
I spoke with the manager of the local Borders store in the Northway Mall yesterday, and he told me that my book, Pittsburgh: A Photographic Portrait, was selling very strongly and was the top seller last week of their featured books! I'm not sure what it all means, as I doubt that I'm outselling Jackie Collins, John Grisham, or Dean Kuntz, but its all good as far as I'm concerned! I hope everyone that wants copies will be able to get them for Christmas. I still have a few copies available as a limited edition package available directly from me.

The bookstore is looking forward to me doing a signing. So please come out to see me this Sunday, Dec. 16 at the Northway Mall Borders on McKnight Road in the Pittsburgh North Hills. I'll be there from 1-3PM.
I'll be signing purchased copies of my book, answering questions about photography, and am looking forward to meeting all fans of Pittsburgh and photography! Please stop by and say hello so I don't look lonely in the height of the Christmas shopping rush.

It's the Giving Season...

This Saturday (Dec. 8th), myself and other photographer members of the Creative Treehouse in Bellevue will be photographing Christmas Card portraits for people who need a great photo for their Christmas Cards. The photographers are donating their time and the only charge to the sitter is to bring a toy or two so that we may distribute them to the Big Brothers and Sisters Of Pittsburgh organization so they may give them to someone who needs a little joy in their life. Please check out the promo flyer and if you have any questions after reading the flyer and visiting the Creative Treehouse site, feel free to get in touch with me. This is a great chance to donate to a great cause, get a creative portrait, and check out the fun scene at the Creative Treehouse in Bellevue! And...in the spirit of the giving season, if you bring ME a great cigar, I promise to give you a REALLY GREAT portrait (even better than the just great portrait:-) Spread the love...