See Deja View Photography at Port Townsend Farmer's Market Opening Saturday, May 1

Saturday May 1, is fast approaching. It's the first day of the 2010 Port Townsend Farmer's Market. This will be my fifth year to have a vendor space at the Market. This week will find Deja View Photography in the center aisle across from the coffee wagon. I'm busy working to get lots of cards printed, prints mated and adding the finishing touches to some new products all with Port Townsend scenes. If you liked the calendars that I sold at Christmas you'll love the new mini-book with some of my favorite Port Townsend scenes. Perfect as a gift to give or keep for yourself.

I look forward to seeing fellow vendors from last year and all my clients that I haven't seen since the December market. Last year's total sale for the Farmer's Market nearly topped $900,000. Can't wait to see what this season will be like especially with the new extended hours. The market now starts at 9 a.m. and goes an additional 1/2 hour so we now close at 2 p.m.  Will, the Market Manager, has worked to improve the availability of parking so I think you will find it easier to find a spot and one closer to the market. See you Saturday.

Support 1st Annual Night Out for Kids in Port Townsend

My friend Gigi sent me an email with the link to this important fund raising activity here in Port Townsend. The event takes place April 28th with a variety of local restaurants participating. Each business with donate a percentage of the food, entertainment and drink gross sales to the Jefferson County YMCA Building Futures.

Check their website link: Jefferson County YMCA for more details and the list of all participating restaurants. Looks like reservations are recommended for many of the locations. Hope to see you out and about that night. Now which restaurant should I make a reservation at?

I made my reservations for the Belmont for Wednesday afternoon actually. A dear friend I haven't seen for too long agreed to join me for dinner. Thanks to all the local restaurants who are donating to this community fund raising event. Can't wait to order their delicious crab and artichoke sandwich and a salad with their raspberry house dressing!

High Tea for Peace at the Unitarian Church at 4:30-5:30 on Sunday, April 25th

I received an email the other day from Breanna, one of the high school seniors I photographed earlier this year. As part of her senior project she is holding a High Tea for Peace at the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church at 4:30 on Sunday, April 25th. She is raising money for the CAI (Central Asian Institute) to help build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan to promote peace through education and help women become empowered in small villages. It is inspired by the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson.

She told me it is an open invitation to everyone in Port Townsend. The website above gives a bit more information about the tea and location of the Church. Please consider attending this worthwhile project and support one of our Port Townsend Seniors with her project.

Update:
I just returned from Breanna's presentation at the Unitarian Church. She did a wonderful job discussing the details of the work Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, is doing in Afghanistan. The food at the tea was wonderful and donations gathered tonight were being sent to support The Central Asia Institute. Many of my friends have read Three Cups of Tea and Breanna reinforced my interest in the book. I need to put my photography books down long enough to read this important best selling book. I learned tonight that Greg Mortneson is presenting a program in Lacy mid-May and it sounded like Breanna and her family were planning to attend.

Pet Portrait Canvas

I'm so pleased with this recent canvas I received from H&H Color Lab using this image. They sponsored an online 101 Design class along with Graphic Authority and WPPI. We were to complete a 20 page book, a card and a canvas print. The 12x12 canvas itself has a metallic luster finish. It's one of the new products I'll have on display at my booth at the Port Townsend Farmer's Market on Saturday, May 1st.

Updating Your Driver’s License

I have a birthday coming up this month and realized I needed to renew my license and could now do it online. As in the past I checked off the option to be an organ donor and didn’t give it much thought until I read this month’s issue of Professional Photographers magazine. In honor of April being National Donate Life Month photographer Rebecca Worple wrote an article that was highlighted in the Good Works section of the magazine. It‘s a monthly segment on photographers and causes that they support by volunteering in their communities.

Rebecca helped a non-profit agency called LifeCenter by taking photographs of recipients of recent organ transplants. The touching images were used to create a calendar that was used as an educational tool, in the Cincinnati area, to make people aware of the benefits of being of organ donations. A couple facts she mention were: 8 people can benefit from just one organ donor and nearly 50 people can be helped by a single tissue donation. You can visit LifeCenter’s website at Life Pass It On  and Rebecca’s site it Owenemma. Think about becoming a donor if you haven’t taken advantage of that option when renewing your license, indeed one person can make a difference. What a nice gift to give.

David Ziser's New Book, Captured By the Light

Last night the Port Townsend Photo Club held their monthly meeting at the Port Townsend Community Center.  The meeting was on black and white photography with Lew Stock and Jim Martin from Sequim. The Club had a copy of David Ziser's book there as part of a raffle. Despite entering a large number of tickets I didn't win, but a friend did and she gave me this newly released book on wedding photography.  I meant to buy a copy of the book while at WPPI in Las Vegas. I actually visited with David and his wife as they were signing copies of this book during the conference but didn't get back to buy a copy before the end of the trade show.  It is a great book with nearly 300 pages of detailed diagrams and photographs for every type of photo one might take during the wedding and reception. Great information on lighting and equipment.

I believe Peach Tree Publishing donated the book to the Club. I appreciate their generousity as well as my friend, Casey in giving me the book.

Deja Webster Attends Wedding Portrait Photographers International Conference in Las Vegas

Wow what a wonderful experience attending this year’s Wedding Portrait Photographers International Convention in Las Vegas. This was my second year to attend the convention and this year they had their largest attendance ever with over 15,000 people and something like 500 vendors. I was there for six days, March 6-11th and went early to attend some of the Master Classes they offered before the regular convention started. It was a great opportunity to hear some of the most talented photographers from all over the world, visit with vendors whose products I offer and just chat with other photographers willing to share how their business works.

On my last night in Las Vegas I noticed this photo of Sting and thought his outstretched hands reflected how much I had learned in six days of workshops at WPPI. Fellow photographer and friend, Kay Harper took this photo of me. More to follow…

Australian Photographer Jerry Ghionis, in black, and friends, at the closing program sponsored by Photographers Ignite.