Behind-the-scenes – A War Worth Fighting

My friend Curtis Simmons posted this story on his blog — some more about what has been happening recently behind the scenes

And… speaking of funny YouTube videos

My kids and I love watching funny animal-related YouTube videos… the more the better!  Any you want to share with me?  I promise, I’ll click on any YouTube link that has some possible destination of animal hilarity!

Daily Photo - Suspicious Chipmunk

Why is the chipmunk so suspicious?  How much intrigue and backstabbing can there be in the world of the woodland creature?  What are the other unexpected emotional states of chipmunks?  Mildly-surprised-chipmunk?  Angst-ridden-chipmunk?  Walk-of-shame- chipmunk?  Only the internet knows…

And the internet DOES know… go do a Google video search for “Dramatic Chipmunk” – you’ll never forget it

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3S, Paris, Travel

Gordon and his Panasonic

Gordon shows Thomas Hawk, and Karen Hutton the kit he chose for this trip to the US… It’s a quick little video I made in SF.

Traveling with a Pegasus

I’m not in Paris now (today’s photo is from earlier in the year), but I’m currently taking this 20-lb Thunderbolt Pegasus drive around with me for about 60 days.  It holds about 12 TB, but I do need access to all that data!  Since I’m on the road for such a long time, I simply need more data locally than I can successfully get onto my laptop or USB drives.  It’s a bit of a problem… I deal with lots of data and I can’t figure out a better way to do it.

If I only had 15 TB on the cloud that was instantly available… oh well… maybe someday… 2016 maybe?  I’ll mark my calendar and come back to see!

Daily Photo – Gardens in Paris

It was a cool and rainy morning when we left our hotel in the Latin district of Paris.  The rains stopped just as soon as we walked into the nearby gardens.  The sun would peek out from between the clouds and splash some extra light on the flowers below.

I took a bunch of photos before the sun came out, thinking it was the best I could do.  But then after the sun came out, I had to run around and re-create the exact same photos with the proper lighting!  So, it took us twice as long to get through the gardens… but that is not such a bad thing.

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel

A Week at the Louvre

I have half-a-plan.  I think one summer (when it is cold in NZ), I’m going to rent a flat somewhere near the Seine for a month.  And then, every day for at least a week, I’m going to visit a different area of the Louvre with my sketchpad and snacks.   Well look… okay… I’ll just go ahead and plan on it… no need to “think” about it anymore…  I’ll just do it.  There, I talked myself into it.

Daily Photo – I Love Paris

Sometimes the most fun things to buy are things you can’t get on Amazon.  But that also means you have to carry the thing.  I have gotten a little spoiled by not-buying things in person.  Often times, I’ll just scan the image with my phone and then have Amazon ship it right to my house so I don’t have to carry the thing.  I know this is lazy, but it is also kind of cool.  But, then you are in little markets here and there and you see nice little custom-made things…  and that trick doesn’t work any more…

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel

Free PhotoWalk in Monterey

There are over 200 people RSVPed for the event… I hope to see you there!  For more information, see this link.

Speaking Soon at EG

Right after the photowalk is the EG Conference, which goes on for a few days.  The tickets are about $4,000 or so, so my talk there won’t be open to the general public.  It will just be a short talk this time, I believe…  Here is my talk from last year’s EG Conference.

Daily Photo – Little Telephone Booth in France

I went through a small market not too far from Notre Dame that was filled with thousands of little curios.  I had my 50mm prime on my camera, so I went a little crazy.  It’s a tough thing, really… how do you know when to stop?  There were literally 1,000 different cool photos to take in the little market… I made due with about 50 and called it a day.  Here’s one of them that I quite like…

Filed under the categories: France, Paris, Travel

PhotoWalk in Los Angeles today with me and Tom Anderson!

• Time/Date: Sunday Feb 26th starting at 4:30PM – Arrive early to shake hands!
• Location: We’ll meet in Santa Monica at the base of the pier. http://g.co/maps/upf36
• RSVP here on Google Schemer
• Not yet on Google Schemer and want a free invite?  Just click this invite link: goo.gl/RoxQg

The event is open to all skill levels.  Even bring your mobile phone camera!  And it’s also a family-friendly event, so feel free to bring your kids.  See you soon!

And, upcoming PhotoWalk in Austin during SXSW!

As usual, all skill levels are invited as is the whole family

• Time/Date: Saturday, March 10 at 2 PM.
• Location: The hidden G+ lot (TBA!)
• RSVP on Google Schemer: http://goo.gl/LkaKO
• Secret Google Schemer Invite link: goo.gl/RoxQg
• No SXSW badge required!

We’ll have great prizes and more… stay tuned!

Daily Photo – Tree and Path and Little Tower in France

Walking across the country gardens of Versailles can make you feel as lazy and relaxed as royalty.  And that’s not a bad thing.  Well, unless you are a photographer, which means you can’t ever just stroll along and forget what you are seeing.  It’s a blessing and a curse… the need to always be “on” and taking hyper-notice of everything around you.  I’m glad for it though, really.

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel, Versailles

TWIT Photo Interview

Here is my most recent interview on TWIT Photo from this week.  I hope you enjoy and find it interesting/helpful!

New Comment System

Well, we’ve had this new comment system for a while now on the blog – what do you think about it?

Daily Photo – Bizarre Necropolis in Paris

My hotel was very close to the Panthéon in the Latin section of Paris, so it seemed a shame not to explore the inside.  It wasn’t really what I expected.

I thought I would have seen the traditional European cathedral stylings that are always so familiar and pretty.  I never get tired of those, but the Panthéon was a curious collection of strange crypts, giant pendulums, and other assorted agnostic items.

The necropolis holds the remains of Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Emile Zola, among others.

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel

Popular Video – Paris How-To

Since I am posting a new photo of Paris today, I wanted to share this popular video that maybe some of you missed the first time around!

Daily Photo – Airport in Paris

Upon arriving at the airport, I headed straight for the subway system.  When you enter this area of the airport, all the architecture changes into this neo-gard of sorts.  The lines and struts and bridges and rails and light all make such interesting lines and compositions.

There was no terrible rush for the train, so I took my time to walk around and capture as much as I could to bring it home to you… so you could maybe be as impressed with this place as I was!

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel

New: Google Currents

Google Currents is a fun way to read the latest, be stimulated, and see new things. You can get it now on your iPad or Android device — it’s free! I am on there in two places — I’m in the “Curators” and in the “Lifestyle” category. It’s kind of an alternative to Flipboard… and quite a good one! If you get it, tell me what you think.

Daily Photo – The Cathedral Under the Cathedral

What an awesome place this is… This is the cathedral that is on the bottom level of Sainte-Chapelle. I did my best to capture the feeling of this place, and I hope I did an adequate job.

This is a handheld HDR taken with 5 exposures. It was really quite difficult to hold the camera still. I felt a bit like a sniper in Call of Duty.

Limited Quantity! 2012 Calendar Now on Sale!

When they’re gone, they’re gone.

We’ve decided to do something new this year and put together a monthly calendar! This is an 11 x 8 1/2″ saddle-stitched calendar featuring 12 of my favorite images from the U.S. and around the world. We’re very excited to offer this … it’s very different for us to offer something in a physical medium. I mean, we do sell prints of the photos (just click through any photo on the blog to go to the SmugMug gallery and click “Buy” ) but we’re mostly into the digital goods. Nothing beats a nice wall calendar though, yes?

It’s a great gift for you, for your family, and for your friends.  Oh heck, get a few!

If you want to see more, see the 2012 Calendar page!

$19.99 (U.S. and Canada)*

Stuck in Customs 2012 Wall Calendar Full calendar with high-quality-saddle-stitched page High-quality glossy one-hundred-pound cover with eighty-pound pages inside 12 beautiful images from around the world

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel

The Future of Photography???

As far as the photo below is concerned, would you guys find this photo-viewing experience to be better if you could change the focus? (you know, by clicking around different bits of the photo?)

Daily Photo – Little Girl in a Tiny French Market

There was a small market in France with all sorts of little wonderful objects. Little fanciful things rested and leaned here and there. I had a lot of fun moving around with my 50mm to grab shots as I peeked and poked about. I chose to compose this scene in just this way and focus in just this manner.

I believe the shot below tells just enough of a story, and sets up just enough of a scene to let the a wandering mind wander…

Am I just a romantic that likes to do things in this way? Am I a fuddy-duddy that finds the idea of people re-focusing my shot as they click about to be “tech for the sake of tech?” Maybe I am…

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris

Thanks to the Stuck In Customs team!

We have so many moving parts around here, and it wouldn’t be possible without the team here. Be sure to check out the “About The Site” area at the bottom to see who all has been involved. Everything from website design to coding to hosting and a ton of other little things. Thanks guys!

Daily Photo – The Sorbonne

My friend (and website designer), Fabien Barral, met my wife and I in Paris to take us out to dinner. We left the hotel, and about 30 seconds out the door, we came across this street side cafe right by the Sorbonne, the famous university. Luckily, I think both of them were used to this behavior and chatted pleasantly while I snapped away.

I worked on this photo all day. People often ask me how long I work on photos. If you’ve seen the HDR Video Tutorial here on the site, you know it takes me anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours. This one was on the long side for sure… It was tough work, but I am happy with the results.

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel

I'll see you at the Apple store tonight... Note this is NOT a photo of the Barton Creek location...hehe

Apple Store, Austin – Plus LIVE Video Feed

Join me tonight in Austin at the Apple Barton Creek store at 7 PM. It’s a free event. I’m talking about photography, my workflow, how I process images, and also there will be lots of Q&A.

Time: Tonight, Saturday, 7-9 PM CST (Your World Time: http://bit.ly/nUNHRU )
Where: watch live at http://keithbarrett.tv

I’ll be showing workflow and doing some cool new stuff. Come watch!

Any Polyglots?

How many of those words can you read down there from other languages?

Daily Photo – The Eiffel Tower Through Art

Oh darn, I hear you saying. Another photo of the Eiffel Tower. I know I know… I’m sorry… hehe.

Actually, you should see my Lightroom. I have so many interesting shots of the tower that I can’t hardly stand it. I’ve only processed a small percentage of them. Every time I dip my toe into that “unprocessed” category, I get all excited again.

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel

SmugMug Video – Long Version

Here is a longer version of that video that I have on the SmugMug Review page. Again, SmugMug didn’t pay me for this… or pay me to post it or anything… if that ever happens, I’ll let you know.

Daily Photo – The Pantheon

Scott and I went out almost every night taking photos all over Paris. The Pantheon here was right by our hotel. It was a rainy night when we were arriving home, so I had a feeling it would be a good time for photography! My intuition is not always spot-on, but in this case it worked out pretty well.

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3X, Paris, Travel