gerry_braatz

<p>I want to thank everyone for your advice & a big thank you to Justin. Some of what you said hurt & that's only because it was all true. I will take everything you guys said & work on the changes I feel necessary. Im very thankful to be a part of this great community :)</p>

<p>I am trying to decide if I should put my pics on Flickr. I have used Flickr in the past but just for fun pics, but now I would like some of my good pics to be seen by everyone. I feel I can learn a lot from this & make new friends as well. But I'm afraid because it is so easy for anyone to download the pics. Should I put a large water mark on my pics or just hope for the best. I do have a pro smugmug account but I feel my pics and me have a better chance of getting noticed on Flickr. Thank you all :) </p>

<p>Im affraid the text might be to hard to read on the back(tree)<br>

I was just trying to make all the font match.<br>

Oh the C wont be their my site adds it right away</p>

<p>Please let me know what you think my card will be double sided. I concidered leaving the back blank but I like the design.(I know the back isnt photo related but I like it)<img src="http://gerrybraatz.smugmug.com/Client-login/Photo-Contest-Pics/frontTiger/1119435221_Lw7eZ-M.jpg" alt="" /><img src="http://gerrybraatz.smugmug.com/Client-login/Photo-Contest-Pics/backTree/1119435334_KNkSH-M.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>I have owned a business here in Wi and all I needed was a tax id & a sellers permit. That was for a small pet store I had till a big chain came in & killed that idea. I haven given it a lot of thought and I do want to follow my dream as a photographer. What are the correct first steps?</p>

<p>Im moving to Florida and cant wait to take some beach photos, I know I need a polarizing filter but what else do you guys recommend? My camera is a 50D I have a 580EXII flash and a few lenses. I do a lot of walking mostly by myself. I love landscape, portraits and coming soon underwater. What is a good portable system I can not afford pocket wizards....love them just cant make it work at this time. Also if you know of any videos or tutorials please let me know. You guys have always been great.</p>

<p>I must say I love the AZA but this is incredible. Thanks to everyone for going over this with me.</p>

<p>I'm thinking about sending in a few pics to AZA's photo contest. I just want to make sure got this right & let others know about this contest too. As an AZA member I have seen the photos in the past & they are incredable. The problem is I think I lose all right to the photo.<br>

here's what the site says</p>

<p>Photos must be taken in 2010 or the last three months of 2009 by staff or volunteers at an AZA-accredited institution. <em>CONNECT</em> staff will judge the photos, and the winner will appear on the December 2010 cover. Other exceptional photos will be highlighted inside the magazine. The photos may also appear on AZA's Web site and/or other promotional materials.</p>

<h3>Format for Submission</h3>

<p>Submissions should include the name of the photographer, the AZA institution, the species, a caption, the date of the picture, and the equipment used. Only one photo entry will be accepted per photographer, so send in your best image. Pictures can include animals, people, and zoo or aquarium scenes — if you think it will make a good cover, send it in!</p>

<h3>Deadline</h3>

<p>The deadline for entries is September 15, 2010.</p>

<h3>Format</h3>

<p>TIFF, JPG or EPS; 300+ dpi and 9"x12" in size. <br /> Send to: Both electronic and hard copy images will be accepted - though electronic submission is preffered. All submissions become the property of AZA and will not be acknowledged or returned. Send electronic images to Tim Lewthwaite at TLewthwaite@aza.org with "Photo Contest" in the subject line. Hard copies may be mailed to:<br>

2009 Photo Contest <br /> Tim Lewthwaite <br /> AZA Publications Manager <br /> 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710 <br /> Silver Spring, MD 20910-3314</p>

<h3>License</h3>

<p>By entering the contest, you grant to AZA, and its successors and assigns, the non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual right and license to use, display, reproduce, publish, transmit, and distribute your photograph on AZA's Web site, in our magazine, and/or in any other promotional materials. Your grant and license shall also apply to any reprints, revised editions, or derivative works in any media or format, whether now or hereafter known, including without limitation other kinds of print media and electronic media.<br>

By entering the contest you also represent, acknowledge and warrant that (i) the submitted photograph is an original work created solely by you, and you are the sole owner of all right, title, and interest in and to your photograph, including the copyright; (ii) AZA's publication of your photograph as authorized herein will not violate or infringe any right, title, or interest of any person or entity; (iii) AZA's publication of your photograph will not violate any right of privacy or publicity nor create any other liability in tort and that you have obtained a valid model release from any identifiable, individual person who is the subject of the photograph; (iv) you are not a party to and your photograph is not subject to any contract or arrangement that would conflict with your permission herein; and (v) you agree to indemnify and hold harmless AZA against any damages, losses, or expenses occurring as a result of any claimed breach of warranty.</p>

<p>My goal is to follow my dream and become a professional photographer. I see a bunch of people who specialize in one style, portrait, landscape.........and so on. I'm trying to make it easier for people to find me on SE. Im updating all my photos meta data. No ones going to enter photography by gerry if the are looking for a pro. hey will enter senior portrait photographer or wedding photographer. Maybe I should just break my site down to a senior pic section, a nature section and so on. What do you guys think?</p>

<p>Click here for portfolio sorry<br>

http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/gallery/1294119</p>

<p>Im stumped...I don't know what to call myself? I enjoy all aspects of photography I enjoy portrait, nature photography the most. I really enjoy event photography like horse shows & car shows too. I am also an artist as well I dont know what to do. Last year I shot my first senior pictures & loved it. <br>

I don't know how to classify myself. If someone goes to my site & sees animals, landscapes & Nascar photos will they be interested in me or go to someone that specializes in exactly what they are looking for even if I have great pics too.(not saying my pics are great but to me they are, not trying to sound cocky)<br>

Here is a link to my portfolio<br>

<a href="http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/gallery/1294119">View my gallery</a></p>

<p>Here is a like to my site (changing soon)<br>

http://www.photographybygerry.com</p>

<p>Please let me know what you think</p>

<p>I enjoyed you site slide show was off a little at first, took a bit to load then shot through 3 photos real fast then everything worked great. What about having a section on your main site that shows your blog updates. Maybe as a drop down so the dont always have to see it. just an idea<br>

Good luck, I to decided to go pro this year Its a lot of hard work but you sure sem like your going in the right direction:)</p>

<p>I've decided to go pro and I know I have to update my site. I use SmugMug which I love but I need something more. Please check it out and give some ideas. I am considering developing a flash site & integrate it with my current site. I need to move from the friendly photographer that everyone around here knows to a photographer/ artist that people want. www.photographybygerry.com</p>

<p>I think adding a contests section would be great, pluss it would keep me here & not googling it which could take me away from photo.net......not for good just temp to find a contest.</p>

<p>Ya a list of credible contests would be great; giving up your picture just isn’t worth it. What are the big contests everyone pro or armatures go after. I have never entered one before, but that is something i would like to do. Thanks for your quick responses I love photo.net:)</p>

<p>I've googled it a few times & was just wondering if anyone knew of a site? los of the sites i went to the contests are all expired.</p>

<p>I just bought a Speedlite 540EZ online & was told by a fellow photographer it will not work with my Canon 50D. Is this true?</p>

<p>So I love this camera but I still have a lot of questions.I work at a zoo and for the life of me I cant get great shots in our aquarium. It is very dark and the fish move so fast. After several days of banging my head on the glass I figures I need to ask the pros. Please help I have great shots of the rest of my zoo but not our unseen new world section. I have an 18-55IS & 55-250IS lens<br>

Any advice would be great, thanks:)<br>

PS I love this forum</p>