National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP)

I have belonged to NAPP for several years and it has been a great resource for anything Photoshop.  The website is a wealth of information including tutorials, a help desk and a member forum.  Included in the membership is 10 issues a year of Photoshop User magazine which in itself is worth the price of membership.  Check it out if your interested in learning more about Adobe Photoshop.

Snow, snow and more snow...

We might break a record for December snowfall in Minnesota.  Twenty inches were dumped on us last week, and then 5 more yesterday.  I like the look of it, really hate driving in it.  Lately I have felt like the world is closing in on me because of the giant snowbanks everywhere.  They are these mountains of whiteness that block all scenery and also block intersections of traffic making it really hard to see around the corners.  Here is a huge snowbank I pulled up to in a parking lot yesterday.  Certainly not the largest I've seen.  Go into a school parking lot or a mall parking lot and there you will see some real impressive giants!

Ashes and Snow

This is one of my favorite websites.  Go there.  Spend some time.  Enjoy.

2010 Christmas Card

 I finally finished my Christmas Card for this year.  Whew!
Click on the picture to see it larger.

Final word about jobs I have held

O.K... let's see if I can remember a few more jobs I have had.  My current part-time job is at a wonderful photography studio called Lance Hill Photography.  Lance is an amazing portrait photographer who is a pleasure to work for.  When clients leave our studio after having their portraits taken, all they talk about is their great experience with Lance.  My main task at the photo studio is working at the computer with Adobe Photoshop and doing stuff with the photos.  I love it... it is challenging and rewarding to take part in creating memories for families and senior high school graduates.  I have worked there for about 10 years.
Here is a list of more jobs I have held over the years:  Nanny in New York;  Lifeguard at Bunker Hills Wave Pool;  Swim Instructor and Camp Counselor at Camp Kippewa in Maine;  Desk Attendant at Northtown Racquetball Club;  Slide Developer at Kodak;  Lifeguard at YMCA; Bingo worker at Little Canada Bingo Hall;  and last but not least I work occasionally throughout the year for Kittleson Marketing putting Butterbraid orders together.  I am positive I am leaving out a few jobs (for some of my other favorite jobs see previous blog posts).

A book I had to buy

So I love books.  When I moved to a new home a few months ago I packed my first 17 boxes with books.  And I wasn't even finished.  I am sure there is something to be said in the future with Kindles and Nooks and the like.  But I do consider real paper books to be something I decorate my home with.  Photographs and Books.  The stuff my home is made from.  (Besides family and friends and love of course... but right after those things are photographs and books :)  Anyway, I cannot go into any bookstore and not at least glance into the photography section...so today lo and behold I spied a book I knew I had to have.  "The Daily Book of Photography".  Set up to be like those daily doses of inspiration books.  So of course I bought it.  Because we all need to read inspirational books.

More Jobs

I worked at PartyCrashers Photography as a picture framer and occasional studio assistant when the photographer Tom needed help "wrangling" the live animals he was shooting the kids with.  Tom is an awesome photographer and I witnessed him work some true magic with kids and animals.  I also shot quite a few weddings with Deborah Sussex who is based in Ely, Minnesota.  You can't ask for a nicer and more down to earth photographer.  It was a pleasure to work with her and she is a great inspiration to me.  I ran my own business of Hartmann Custom Framing for a few years.  I was a really good picture framer.  But one day I decided it was really boring and I would rather be out taking and framing my own pictures.  So I pretty much stopped framing for others.  I do find it funny though that even many years later people still ask me to frame their pictures.  I have learned to politely say No.  Let's see... how about one more for todays post... how about Little Canada Bingo Hall.  Good money, crazy ladies with having fun displaying their trolls for good luck, me going to bed smelling like smoke... oh the memories....