Gimmee, gimmee shelter ...

A new stock photography site went live on Nov. 12 ... with any luck, editors and designers the world over will demonstrate their excellent taste and license my work.

The PhotoShelter Collection aims to be different than other stock sites (I haven't any experience as a buyer or a seller, so I haven't any baseline).

All photos have to pass muster by editors, which means the prices are higher than some other stock sites, but the quality of images, keywording, etc., should be better as well.

My page is located at http://my.photoshelter.com/honuphoto

Shooting the President ... With a Camera!

Bill Clinton Listening
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo

This was my favorite, but the other three I've posted are OK too.

Bill Clinton was in Seattle for a recent conference by U.S> mayors on global warming. He's also promoting a new book on charitable donations called "Giving," and his visit coincided with the end of my company's annual Giving campaign.

Side note about my amazing company:
Microsoft matches employee contributions up to $12,000 per employee , per year. In addition (and I really love this) when I donate my time as a volunteer or board member for a non-profit, they "match" my time contribution at the rate of $17/hour. Amazing. This year's total (employee donations + matches): $72 Million (USD).

Anyway ... I got to the location where President Clinton was going to be speaking about 2 hours early, and secured a front-row seat (to his right) for the event.

No bags were allowed, so I had to decide early which lens to bring. I grabbed my 18-135, thinking I'd be close enough. I chose poorly, and was wishing for my 70-300.

Getting its first real test was my SB-800 speedlight. The ceiling was rather high, but it looked like I was getting better shots when I used the diffuser and bounced.

After the event, I was wishing I had used more direct flash, as I was about 20 feet away.

See more shots:

Mount Baker near Dusk

Mount Baker near Dusk
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo

I can't believe how smoggy the air here is!

Which CAN make for good sunsets, but when I stopped the other day at this great park in Mount Vernon, the view from above was atrocious.

A couple of things I did learn:

- A descendant of photographer Clyde Banks saw it and commented on it. What an amazing artist Banks was. I've just spent some time poking around the Web reading about him Read more about Clyde Banks.

- The family member's Web site had a swell link on valuing your images for inquirers: http://photographersindex.com/stockprice.htm I've been approached a few times now, and need to get smarter.

Your Optics are Showing

Padilla Bay Sunset: Your Optics are Showing
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo

Interesting effect here ...

Captured while shooting the sunset at one of my favorite locations. I'd attached my polarizing filter to capture some of the water/sky that can be so interesting in the light at that time of day.

Didn't expect much out of these shots at the sun, but I find the concentric rings appealing somehow.

I don't know if these are the result of my polarizer, or of the glass I was using (pretty sure it was the kit lens I got with the body, a swell 18-135 that I really like).

Credit where it's due!

Published Again ... Sort Of
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo

It's flattering to have a photo selected for editorial use ... I just prefer a proper credit (though SOME credit is better than none).

Example: Gizmodo, a Web site full of leaks and breaking news for techies (I prefer their competition, Engadget) in August did a piece about a spate of upcoming technology products coming from Verizon (headline: "Verizon Readying a 15 Phone Barrage for the Rest of '07").

They cleverly overlaid the Verizon logo on the barrel of one of the guns at Fort Casey -- an image I shot about the same time.

My gripe is the lousy credit: "Image via Flickr."

Flickr? I took the freakin' picture. Image by Paul Swortz via Flickr.

At least they point back to my original and provided SOME credit, which is more than many do today ...

Their post.

Visual Dictionary: Subject[ive] Matter

Sharp in Marymoor Park
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo

One of the best things about my new fascination has been the great people and community of shooters out there.

I participate in a Flickr Group that schedules two meetups each month, (but usually more).

I've had a lot of fun the past two months working on a "visual dictionary" project, where the participants have one hour to shoot photos of the same 10 objects.

The first shoot was in Seattle's urban SoDo district. The second was at a suburban park (where it POURED rain).

This photo was my definition of "sharp."

Click below to see some more "definitions."

Gritty
Rude
Brilliant
Timeless
Perfect
Sharp
Powerful
Strange
Surprising
Juicy

Hog Heaven: Oyster Run 2007

Homeward Bound: Oyster Run 2007
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo

Every year I look forward to the arrival of Fall.

While I love the warm days and crisp nights and mornings, the annual Oyster Run motorcycle rally has become one of my annual highlights.

This year, I brought my cameras, but as in years past, I frequently was so enthralled by the bikes -- old and new -- and the incredible diversity of people -- that I often forgot to take the shot.

And this year, I was able to make it over in time to see the AMAZING Seattle Cossacks -- a motorcycle stunt team that's been amazing crowds for some 70 years. Incredible.


Check out some more pictures on my Flickr site.

Cheers -- and ride safe.