Two Windows and a Password Away

I finally updated my list of links under "blogs i read." It isn't an exhaustive list, but it's better you believe I only read that many instead of the hundreds I actually do. I couldn't decide (still) whether to post Lily's blog, but I have to ask her first and I'm lazy. So, Lily, if you read this one, let me know? E-mail is like, two windows and a password away.

No leaving of the house occurred yesterday. I worked on the photo store and got my photo blog posts together. Here is today's picture:

I took that at the Japanese Garden I mentioned in yesterday's entry. The water photographed with a polarizer as murky green, but a little "Auto Contrast" in PhotoShop helped turn it black. Plus some liberal application of the paintbrush to cover up the detritus in the water, and a wee color boost, and there you are. Took awhile, but I'm happy with the outcome.

The rest of the afternoon was spent updating the store. I replaced the color scheme, created a new logo, and added sub-categories to the picture list. w00t. Later, I ordered some note card prints (and about 5 new 13x19 prints) for the Fremont Fair and bought 2 canvas print racks to replace what I used to display matted prints at the last show.

Is it correct to say "Happy" Memorial Day? I've said it a couple of times and it sounds wrong, like it doesn't imbue the right amount of reverence. But it sounds even worse to say Sad Memorial Day. Or Enjoy Memorial Day. I will have to trust you understand I don't mean: enjoy the fact all those men and women died in military service. No, I don't mean that at all. Have a good 3-day weekend or enjoy your day off, is what I mean.

On the Internet, you can never be too clear.

Snoqualmie Falls and the Japanese Garden

Friday night Jer picked me up after work and we drove to Snoqualmie Falls. The only other times we've been were later in the year, when the falls were much gentler. This was a crush of water, spray redirecting upwards, blanketing the observation deck in thick mist.

I alternately whipped out my camera and a small rag to remove the droplets from the lens. It was a losing battle. The mist came in waves, and with each fresh blast I turned and huddled protectively over my camera, then spun around and snapped in the half second before I was drenched again. Jer said it looked like I was shooting a model. "Show me sexy!"

We relocated down the fence a bit, where the spray was less fierce. One or more of those pictures will be on the photoblog in the coming days.

On Saturday we used two free movie tickets to see "Iron Man." I'd received the tickets in March from Safeway for purchasing frozen food, I think. I don't really understand the promotion but I'll take the tickets, by gum.

It was one of the more (maybe most) entertaining superhero films I've seen. Robert Downey, Jr. made the role.

We ate lunch at the Mongolian Grill and then drove out to the Japanese Garden at the Arboretum, over by the University. It was our first visit. Admission to the gardens is $5 per person, and it is a lovely, relaxed, quiet space, beautifully landscaped. Most of it is shaded, perfect for the 80 degree day we had yesterday. I took some pictures and Jer wandered around. It's not a big place. Quite a few other visitors, sitting on the benches, enjoying the strong floral smells, the sounds of trickling water, and large ponds with koi and turtles.

Other movies we watched this weekend were "Elizabeth 2: The Golden Age," and "Rent." Although I was pre-disposed to want to love each of them, neither really did it for me. Cate Blanchett was fantastic with what she was given, and she alone made "Elizabeth" worth watching. "Rent"... well, I disliked one of the actor choices. And -- this is a problem peculiar to myself -- all of the speaking when they should have been singing grated on me. I think I'm still too close to the songs to be objective about the movie.

Also, I'm getting older and I have way less sympathy for a band of struggling artists who refuse to pay rent. I wondered why they all just didn't get jobs. Why did they expect to live in their apartment for free just because their old roommate married the landlord's daughter? What gives them the right to be so entitled? And when their friend Benny does try to help them, they get all uppity about compromise and settling and embarrass him in front of his investors.

I have a complicated relationship with the plot of "Rent." Let's leave it at that.

What it would look like to put a door on a B&W pumpkin

This is cheating because it's my photoblog picture for tomorrow, but I just made it and I love it beyond reason:

The subject is a door in the Seattle Underground. A fisheye lens caused the distortion and then I edited it in Photoshop to turn it black and white. I would like to thank Dar Williams' "My Better Self" album and my recently consumed White Russian for providing the night's enthusiasm.

The Other Side of Normal

I'm just starting to feel normal again after last weekend. The fair was awesome, but I was so focused on getting ready that I didn't allow myself to relax much in the weeks leading up to it.

Even my dreams were about linen hinge tape.

So here we are, assisted by a tab of Claritin, the next festival a month away. I need to re-focus on my health -- cut out some of the caffeine and work out more than twice a week. Maybe eat a vegetable? And I need to find an accountant. I wonder if anyone else has that as their to-do list?

I submitted 30 more pictures to Alamylast night, after a several month hiatus. I've decided to categorize more of my pictures as royalty-free and see if that makes a difference. There's so much competition out there it seems like the only viable strategy is to have a lot of solid images and practically give them away. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

I also need to go out and shoot some more; it's been a whole month since the tulip festival. I'd like to go out to Snoqualmie Falls or experiment with a food shoot. I have a small setup with diffusion panels and a couple of lights that would work well on the kitchen table.

As an aside, I thought it was interesting how many people asked at the fair if photography was my full-time job. For the record, I would live on the street and probably starve if that were the case. I do it because I love it and maybe because I'm obsessive. Two-thirds love, one-third mental illness... Now you know my terrible secret.

One Last Commercial

I set up an e-mail list for On Focus Photo tonight. Subscribers will receive event news and special offers throughout the year. The subscription page is here: http://www.onfocusphoto.com/list/signup.php.

I've also decided that, for now, I will concentrate on selling prints through the Web site that are not matted. This has two benefits. First, I can cut the price of each print by almost forty percent. Second, I can have the prints shipped directly from the lab so the customer receives the print faster and it's packaged in the most professional way possible. The lab I go through is awesome and I have full confidence that they will do a superb job.

And that's the news today.

How It Went

The University District Street Fair was a great experience. I posted a photo of my booth on the On Focus Photo Blog, if you'd like to see it.

As I wrote over there, I met a lot of people, learned some things, and got to spend some quality time with Jer. All in all, I'd say it went well. And I have some ideas for my booth that will make the next show even better.

For one, next time bring more water. Also, food. Saturday was tough. It was hot with no breeze and by the end of the day I was dehydrated, but I don't think it was outwardly noticeable to anybody else -- except Jer. Not a great recipe for driving home. It ended okay though. I made an awesome tuna sandwich with dill relish and swiss cheese, drank about five pints of water, and went to sleep. Glamorous!

Sunday morning I made a quick detour to a convenience store and bought a few bottles of water and a pack of travel wipes. Travel wipes were also an important lesson. I also opted for a skirt and sandals instead of jeans and closed-toed shoes. As a result, Sunday was much more comfortable.

We also managed to pack nearly everything in my wee car, with the exception of the wire card rack and a wooden print rack.

I started this entry about 2 hours ago and I got sucked into television. I can't figure out how to make "House" record, I've apparently exceeded my limit and MythTv is punishing me. So now I must watch.

As we were packing the car, a guy stopped me and showed some interest in the large matted prints. I showed him the bookmarks and he bought 3. That was neat. And then one of Jer's coworkers showed up with a whole crowd and they bought 9 bookmarks. That was neat too.

We got home about 8:30pm, unloaded the car, I settled out all the transactions, posted the photoblog entry and fell asleep. And that's my small business tale. I didn't even get the pleasure of framing my first dollar. It was a credit card transaction.

Maybe I will frame the merchant copy.

University Street Fair (Last Day Tomorrow)

It was a good day. A long day.

I have a picture of my booth on my camera, but it is far far away or I would surely share. I had a fair (heh) amount of visitors, sold some things, and Jer was extremely helpful. A couple of friends stopped by to say hi, which was awesome. It was a hot and crowded day.

Tomorrow it happens again, if you missed it.

Please come see me tomorrow at the Univ. Street Fair

Tomorrow is the big day! My first festival!

I'm a little worried about Jer. He's decided not to sleep again until tonight so he can be ready to leave at 5:30am tomorrow. That means he got home from the late shift at 2am and stayed awake, and plans to stay in that state through this evening. When I left this morning he was drinking coffee.

I'm excited and a little nervous, but I've done everything I can think of to get ready. It will be a huge learning opportunity and I just want to have as much fun with it as I can.

Last night I made table signs with the prices listed, I added product info sheets to my nine 18x24 mats (13x19 prints inside). I packed a bin full of 8x10 prints in 11x14 mats and 5x7 prints in 8x10 mats. Still need to pack the 4x6 prints in 8x10 mats and note cards. Bookmarks can stay in their cardboard box.

I did not unpack the awning or organize my canopy stuff. It's pretty well organized anyway. I called American Express this morning for some merchant info and yesterday I got the "bank" to make change with -- in the event that cash is still king.

I bought a small hobby kit from Walgreens that included pliers and a couple of screwdrivers. I bought heavy duty paper clips and duct tape. I grouped more stuff together, including my table cloths and print bins. I still only have 1 chair, so Jer and I will have to take turns sitting. I plan to stand most of the time anyway. He will probably be exhausted.

I don't know if I've done enough, but I feel as if I've done as well as I could under the circumstances.

Show Reminder:

SHOW: University District StreetFair

WHAT/WHY: Visit my booth "On Focus Photo" where I'll be selling matted prints, bookmarks, and note cards

WHEN: Saturday, May 17 (10am to 7pm) and Sunday, May 18 (10am to 6pm)

WHERE: Located in the heart of the University District on University Way NE; Seattle, WA

Thanks!