I just found out that one of my images was a winner of PDN's prestigious World in Focus Contest.  Winning images will be featured in winners gallery in PDN's February 2009 issue and online at www.pdnonline.com.

2008 World in Focus Winner

Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom 2 Adventure book recently hit the stand is available through Amazon today!  My images, along with the other 16 Adventure Photographers will be found throughout this amazing book.

Product Description
This beautifully illustrated and eminently practical book offers a complete tour of Lightroom 2, the integrated digital photography workflow application that allows serious photographers to import, select, develop and showcase large volumes of digital images. Augmented by photos and case studies from a demanding road test in Tasmania, award-winning photographer Mikkel Aaland explains how Lightroom can improve the way you work.

After watching -- and often helping -- Adobe create Lightroom entirely from the ground up, Aaland (author of Photoshop CS3 RAW) decided to try it out in the field. He organized a group of top-notch photographers for a trek to Tasmania, the exotic island south of mainland Australia, where the only studio was Lightroom on a laptop. In Photoshop Lightroom 2 Adventure, Aaland uses hands-on knowledge from the trip to demonstrate how Lightroom can help you create the best possible image under any conditions.

I just returned a from Robert Evans studio in LA where we made four videos to promote the upcoming WPPI convention in 2009 as well as to raise donations for two very worthy charities: Thirst Relief International & Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Cinematic studios produced a reality TV mini series for the Web starring "24 of the hottest professional photographers in the industry". The series is this year's pre-WPPI buzz builder.  We were split into two teams and given 24 hours to complete a "mystery" assignment.

With collaborative effort and support from our amazing sponsors (Microsoft Expression Media 2, Triple Scoop Music, AsukaBook, Kubota Image Tools, ShowIt Sites, Photographers' Edit, and Loktah), we were able to raise over $5000 to donate to these two wonderful charities.  You will be able to view the two videos created by each team then get a chance to vote for your favorite one - the winner of the team will get a chance to donate to their representing charity. Voting will start early 2009.

Participating photographers included:  Bebb Studios, ,  Cliff Mautner,  Mike Colon, David Jay,  Alisha & Brook Photographers,  Joe Photo,  Michele Celentano,  [ b ] e c k e r,  Dane Sanders, Jasmine Star, Kenny Kim,  Amber Holritz,  Bronson,  Jessica Claire, Gene Higa, Ann Hamilton, and Katie and Chris Humphreys Photography, Jim Garner, and Bambi Cantrell

The Key Players (collage created by Dane Sanders):

Two of my images were featured in American Society of Media Photographers, Inc. Best of Series: Mikkel Aaland.  Mikkel organized the Tasmania trip and ASMP featured an interview with Mikkel and images from the group.  See feature explanation below:

The 2008 'Best Of' Series

Photographer and author Mikkel Aaland needed both creative and logistical skills to assemble a team of world-class photographers for two weeks of intense shooting and image editing on Australia's Tasmania archipelago. Long days spent with cameras and long nights with computers produced a remarkable wealth of images and technical tips. Aaland and team built on the success of the earlier Lightroom Adventure Iceland trek to garner governmental appreciation, widespread media attention and over 2 million hits to multiple adventure Web sites within the first week of their return.

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Tara and Greg's wedding was just like a storybook fairy tale. Tara looked exquisite and she and the Greg made a couple brimming with both inner and outer beauty.

The wedding took place at one of my favorite venues, the West Shore Cafe, in Lake Tahoe. The bride and groom were married on the site's lawn, overlooking gorgeous Lake Tahoe. Then, the newlyweds joined their guests for cocktails and appetizers on the lakefront patio before heading into the rustic, yet chic, reception room for dinner. The evening ended with dancing by the lake. It was a truly magical evening.

Special thanks to event planners Judy Lingle, Lulana Calhoun, and Shawna Lee for doing such a phenomenal job coordinating Tara and Greg's special day.

Tara and Greg's Fabulous Vendors:
Florist:  Wanda's Flower Shop
Cake Designer:  Tahoe House Bakery
Caterer: West Shore Cafe
Hair:  Alison Olynger
Makeup:  Jennifer Ergut
Coordinators:  Judy Lingle, Lulana Calhoon, and Shawna Lee

I was recently selected as a judge for the International Aperture Awards 2008.

IPA has assembled an international panel of judges from the professional photography industry to judge the inaugural International Aperture Awards, these awards are enhanced by leading industry professionals which will build and make this award the richest and most prestigious on-line global photographic competition. To enter competition or view profiles of judges please visit IPA site.

The judges of the International Print Competition have awarded the below image merit status from the Profession Photographers of American and have selected image to be published in Marathon Loan Publication.

Kim Baker was a dream bride - beautiful, sweet, down to earth, full of taste, and not afraid to go anywhere in her dress!  And as for the groom, Kevin was full of life, creative, spontaneous, handsome and a lot of fun.  I had a smile on my face throughout the whole wedding!

The ceremony took place in front of Lake Tahoe and concluded with lakefront cocktails and reception.  The wedding coordinator, Kimberly Mitchell Zinn, did a fantastic job which made everything run smoothly and allowed us all to get the most out of such a great day.

This wedding will soon be featured at TheKnot.com - specific details to follow.

Kim's Incredible Vendors:
Florist: A Bud and Beyond, Christina Averkin
Caterer & Cake Designer: The Hyatt
Hair & Makeup:   Linda Coyle
Coordinator : Kimberly Mitchell Zinn