APA New York Assistants’ Hexathlon (Sun. 10/28/07)

I’ve been a member of the APA (Advertising Photographers of America, New York Chapter) for many years, and I’ve learned a lot from attending many of their sponsored events. They are having a Hexathlon this Sunday, October 28, 2007. The event is a competition with the following events: “Pack the Right Equipment!” (memory challenge); Reflector Folding Race; Octabank Build & Break-Down Race; “Name this Gear!” (obscure equipment game-show challenge); 12 x 12 Frame Team-building Race; and a Sand Bag Relay.

The event’s main sponsor is Canon, and team sponsors are Adorama, Calumet Photographic, Foto Care, Lensbabies, PDNedu and Set Shop.

Photographers are also welcome to attend, and a “Master’s team” will allow photographers to also compete. The event will be held at Divine Studio, 21 East 4th Street @ Lafayette, Suite 605. For more information about this year’s event, prizes, and to learn how to get on a team (very few slots remain), visit www.apany.com/hexathlon

How to make your handwriting into a font

I was just listening to TMUPLive (Typical Mac User Live) with the show’s host Victor Cajiao and his guest Chris Christensen. During the show, Victor and Chris discuss some very interesting history about Apple Computer in the 1990’s. After I read the show notes on TypicalMacUser.com, I checked out Chris Christensen’s personal blog, https://chris2x.com, and decided to read his earliest posts from February 2004.

I then came across Chris Christensen’s article about a piece of software called Fontifier. This software allows you to download a chart, which you fill out and scan. The software then creates a font from the characters. I think this is extremely cool, and I’m looking forward to trying it out. You can preview the font you create for free, and the cost to buy the font, if you want to keep it, is $9. You can see Chris’ article and his personal font here. And you can check out and try Fontifier here.

Chris Christensen has a fantastic podcast and blog called The Amateur Traveler. It features Chris’ stories, photos and video, and he also interviews people who talk about destinations all around the world. The audio is offered in mp3, as well as enhanced versions in AAC format, which includes images. A few months ago, I was a guest on the show and shared a number of travel photo tips. You can find the episode here.

Upcoming PhotoPlus Expo Seminars and Book Signings

Fall is here, and that means one of the world’s largest photo shows-PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo 2007 (a.k.a. PhotoPlus Expo) is coming to New York City from October 18-20, 2007.

First, I’d like to announce that I’ll be signing copies of my new book, 301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques: An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers (Published by Course Technology PTR) from 1:30-2:30pm Thursday and 3-4:00pm on Friday afternoon at the Thomson Course Technology booth (#1823) on the show floor at the Expo. The front and back cover of the book are shown below.

(Click on image above for a direct link to the book’s page on Amazon.com.)

I’ll also be giving a two hour seminar on Saturday, October 20 from 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM entitled “50 Inkjet Tips & Techniques”

Below is the session description:

Title: 50 Inkjet Tips & Techniques [SC8]

This lecture-demonstration by photographer and consultant Andrew Darlow
covers 50 specific tips for high-end inkjet printing, including: an overview
of pro-quality printers from Canon, Epson and HP; suggested papers for
fine-art prints and commercial portfolios; color management tools and
advice; portfolio ideas and samples; suggestions for making great black and
white prints; and tips for optimizing print quality. Selected prints from
Canon, Epson and HP printers will be on display, and participants will
receive printed materials with links to products and tutorials. All levels.

The seminar will be sponsored by Professional Graphics Systems & Services Inc., and I thank them for their support. (They can be reached at 800-344-0855 or 914-345-3033)

I look forward to seeing many longtime friends and meeting many people who I’ve met through e-mail, newsgroups, blogs, podcasts and their books at the event. For more information about the PhotoPlus Expo, or to register, visit https://www.photoplusexpo.com.