Back at the EVO conference I learned about the new abilities of the Kodak Kiosks that are found in stores like Target, CVS among others. You can got the kiosk, log onto Facebook and print photos directly from the Kiosk. It is a pretty sweet deal and really easy to do. I know that people are putting up photos from events like vacations, honeymoons, birthday parties and more onto Facebook but never print them out. Now they can very easily when you go to one of those stores. To try this out Kodak had Free Collage Week. Sorry, just heard about it so that is why I didn’t tell you sooner.

You still have time. You can go to the Free Collage Week page on Facebook, select your desired location and get a coupon to print out and take with you to the store. I chose CVS and will be popping in there tomorrow on the way home to get my Free 8X10 collage using some photos that I posted to Facebook.

Disclosure: I am part of the Kodak Krew and help promote Kodak events and promotions. I’m a big fan of Kodak and have been my whole photographing life. As always opinions about Kodak are 100% my own.

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Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

Kodak Free Collage Week Ends Tomorrow

Kodak is going a long way with recognizing Dads this Father’s Day. This is not a contest or competition but instead it is a way for you to post a great photo of your Dad that could be chosen to appear on the Kodak.com website or the Kodak screen in Times Square. The event is called Put Dad in the Spotlight with Kodak. You have from May 23rd to June 19 at 10:00am EST to submit photos to the facebook site where 200 will be selected.

I have a great photo of me and my Dad from when I was very little. We were fishing together in Norton. I was about 4 or so, wearing little work boots just like my Dad. It is one of my favorite photos ever. I know have it saved on my computer somewhere but cannot find it. I’ll find the real photo and scan it and post it up. I did scan a bunch of photos from when I was a kid. I found a great one of my Dad pushing me around in a wheelbarrow.

I also extended the photo theme to include my Grandfather. Last year my Dad, Grandfather and I went to Camden Yards to see a Red Sox game to celebrate Grandpa’s 80th birthday. That was a major trip and I had an amazing time. I posted this photo fo the three of us at Camden Yards.

And I cropped it to take out the kid in the Pedroia shirt.

The Put Dad in the Spotlight with Kodak promotion is to raise awareness of a fantastic product called the Kodak Pulse. This is a wi-fi enabled frame that is incredible. I received a 10-” one of these at Blog World Expo. We gave that to Allison’s parents and it has been one of the best gifts we could have given them. Here is the major reason why this digital frame is a step above any other out there. With a typical digital frame you have to load images onto an SD card or a Flash drive in order for them to appear on the frame. With a Kodak Pulse you can be out at the Zoo and take a great photo of your child with your camera phone and instantly send it to the Kodak Pulse Frame. Many times Allison’s parents have been surprised to find some new photos of Eva on the Frame. But that isn’t the end of it. Eva shares the spotlight on that frame with her two cousins because we gave Allison’s brother and sister-in-law the address to send the photos to the frame.

Having family that is far away, especially grandparents far from their grandkids or Dads from their kids, this frame is wonderful. You can also upload photos directly to the Kodak Pulse site, the Kodak Gallery site and Facebook. It is so very cool. I am excited because I was also sent a 7″ Kodak Pulse Frame that we’ll be using in our new house. It will be a great way for me to finally frame some of my favorite photos of Eva, and eventually her sister or brother.

The 10″ frame is currently $199 but will drop in price to $179 with free shipping as of Monday. It is beautiful easy to use and perfect for family with a wi-fi network in their house. The frame can show individual images or a collage of images too. Also if you are interested in the 7″ wi-fi frame that is $129. Check it out http://kodak.ly/iVb4Hc.

Disclosure: I received a Kodak Pulse 7″ frame. Does that change my opinion of Kodak, no. I’ve been a strong Kodak fan since I was a child going all the way back to the Kodak Disc camera that I carted around Disney when I was a a kid. MY first digital camera was a Kodak DC220 and it still works. I’ve tested cameras from Kodak many times. I love’em and love what they do. That is 100% my opinion.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon.com. If you do please buy through our links and help support BenSpark.com. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

It is Time for Dad to be Recognized in Times Square

Photo-A-Day #2125

Throughout this month I will try and go through all the modes of the Kodak Z950 and learn as much as I possibly can about how to use it and then pass that along to you. Today I decided to go with trying out the Self Portrait mode. I did that because by the time I got around to taking my shot for today I was pretty wiped and wasn’t going outside to do a night shot.

The Self Portrait mode is great for getting up close to the subject. Even with the flash I wasn’t washed out either. I was shooting pretty close too. Generally I don’t do much shooting with the scene modes of cameras , I like to have personal control over how the shot is taken. However, sometimes a scene mode is just what is called for and if you are going to use one in a pinch then you should know exactly what they do. I recommend that whenever you get a new camera you run through all the modes, settings and more and really play with the camera. The more you know how your equipment performs in different situations then the more you can count on that equipment in a pinch.

Here is what the setting choce looks like.

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Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

Self Portrait Mode

For the past year I have been sponsored by ShutterCal. In return for me using their service to host my Photo-A-Day Photos and post them to this blog they have gave me a ShutterCal Shoebox and 12 print packages. I now have one complete year of my Photo-A-Day photos that I can pick up, hold and share with friends when they come to visit. Many people do a 365 project. They may take photos of themselves, their kids, their pets, anything really. Many people take the photos and post them online but never ever print them out and have them to keep and share. There is something really nice about having a printed photo.

For me I love the Shoebox and the print packs because I am able to flip through my photos and they take me right back to the moments upon which I shot the photos. Also on the back there is the caption or write up that I made for that particular day. The ShutterCal Shoebox is a fantastic way to make a truly unique keepsake.

I was so pleased with this service that I signed up for ShutterCa’ls Premium Membership service called Print + 365. With this I pay $12.50 a month to get my print packs plus all the other membership bonuses like stats and I also am one of the first people to beta test out new features like the Postcard feature. This is a great feature because you can make and print postcards from your photos and have them mailed directly from ShutterCal to friend and family. They can be sent worldwide for $2.90. That is a steal for making your own postcards. There is one other product that ShutterCal has but I can’t use it because I don’t have an iPhone. An iPhone App that connects directly to your ShutterCal account so if you are an iPhone shooter you can post directly to your ShutterCal from your iPhone. Pretty Sweet Deal for only $1.99.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon.com. If you do please buy through our links and help support BenSpark.com. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

Use ShutterCal for Your 365 Project!

My friend Aaron Hockley (@ahockley) is launching a brand new site called Learn Photography Tips.com and he is doing 12 straight hours of live streaming Q&A to answer any and all questions that you may have regarding photography. Aaron is the man and is really knowledgeable. Head over to LearnPhotographyTips.com and get in on this great opening event. Then come back for tons more information. Here is the official press release about the new site.

“January 11, 2011

Vancouver, Washington

With camera phones, high-quality compact cameras, and DSLR cameras becoming more and more affordable, it seems everyone is becoming a photographer. A new photography learning website at LearnPhotographyTips.com will offer a variety of photography and photo editing tips for the casual and hobbyist photographer.

LearnPhotographyTips.com will launch on January 17, 2011 with a 12-hour live internet broadcast. From 10am until 10pm Pacific time, photographer Aaron Hockley will provide photography instruction, gear recommendations, software tips, and answer photo-related questions via interactive chat. Viewers can visit the website at any point during the broadcast to learn about photography topics.

By visiting LearnPhotographyTips.com now, anyone may sign up to receive free photography tips via email. Premium content including archived tips, discount offers, and additional photography resources and consultation will be available as a part of an optional monthly subscription.

About the Company

LearnPhotographyTips.com is a creation of Hockley Photography. Photographer Aaron Hockley event, corporate, and portrait photography services in the greater Portland area. He speaks on new media and photography at events on a regional and national scale and is a frequent publisher of information and commentary for photographers.”

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon.com. If you do please buy through our links and help support BenSpark.com. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

Learn Photography Tips.com 12 Hour LiveStreamed Photography Q&A