Have a Happy and Healthy New Year

May this new year bring you health, happiness, and the sweetest of years possible.

I hope everyone's travels are without incident, that cruises make it to every port, that planes and trains arrive safely and early, that road trips have no accidents or flats, and that everyone enjoys their travels safely, see amazing sights, and enjoy and learn about the new people met and the cultures encountered.

I hope that everyone creates the best photographic memories possible of their travels, that every exposure is in sharp focus, with a perfect exposure, and with brilliant color.

Shooting new year's fireworks in frigid climates

In Frostbite Falls they love their cold winters. Rocky and Bullwinkle never miss their cold weather new year's fireworks shows, but they recognize that there are special problems taking fireworks photos when it's below freezing.

For new year's fireworks in frigid climates you have to combine good practices for cold weather photography, with those for night photography, and the special things necessary to capture fireworks, to be successful. Don't be intimidated if you don't have a DSLR. I've seen many wonderful firework's photos taken with quality digital point and shoot cameras.

Smartphone Apps for Photography: HDSLR Slate

One of wonderfully fun things photographers are doing today with their digital Point and Shoot, and DSLR cameras is making videos.

Some of the videos are merely travel log type videos, or family videos, but some are deliberately made videos which may have several scenes, and/or several takes to get it right.

Videographers making commercial videos use “sync-slates” such the Denecke TS-C Compact Time Code Slate - Color Clapper, which costs $1,180, to track their takes of scenes which they will eventually put together to make their video. That cost is certainly out of the realm of possibility for amateur or even pro travel photographers, seeking to capture video while traveling, document their travel work, or possibly create some instructional videos.

Ned's last minute holiday gifts for 2011

Have you been procrastinating? If you have, you've really waited until the last moment. Perhaps you just can't come up with ideas for the photographer in your life?

I've got some last second solutions for gifts from a very hefty $500, if you can afford it, down to under $20. They all are great gifts for aspiring pros, amateur enthusiasts, and vacation photographers who use DSLRs. Any of these gifts would be appreciated.

Each of these items can be purchased via the Internet, many in photo stores. If you can't get it delivered in time, you can always get a photo of each when you order it and stuff the photo in a stocking, or put it in a gift wrapped card. Then, when it comes in, it will be like the holiday's been extended.

Before making my suggestions, I want you to know, as normal, my holiday list only includes products which are part of my personal photography kit, which I use regularly.

Photography Exhibition: The Getty Museum - In Focus: Los Angeles,1945–1980

The Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California, regularly has extraordinary photographic exhibitions. In Focus: Los Angeles, 1945–1980 is no exception.

This exhibition will run through May 6, 2012

Museums banning photography is becoming commonplace

During the past month, I traveled in the Middle East, having wonderful stays in Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

In Cairo, at the world famous Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, commonly known as the Egyptian Museum, photography is forbidden. It isn't just flash photography, it's photography of any kind. In fact, you can't even bring your camera into the museum. If you have a camera with you, the guards turn you away. You must leave your camera in your car, bus, or other place. The Museum doesn't have a place to “check” cameras.

The Museum, does permit cellphones to be carried into the Museum, but if you try to take a photo with it, be prepared to be roughly and emphatically escorted out of the Museum after you delete any photos taken in the Museum.

Photography Exhibition: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Zoe Strauss: TenYears

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has become one of the foremost exhibitors of fine art photography in the nation. Zoe Strauss: Ten Years looks to be a wonderful exhibition worthy of this great institution.

This exhibition will run from January 14, 2012 through April 22, 2012

Digital travel photography - Don't leave home without them!

My mom told me there were two essentials to pack for any trip.

Always take a toothbrush and toothpaste, as tooth decay doesn't vacation just because you do, and always pack clean underwear in perfect condition.

“What would foreigners think of Americans,” she would tell me, “if you got in an accident, were unconscious, and some strange nurse would undress you, only to see your underwear was full of holes?”

If my mom were alive today she might add, for those using digital cameras while traveling, to not leave home without extra memory cards, a spare battery and a way to recharge it.

Here's my list of ten digital photography gear items, in my mom's tradition of, “Never leaving home without them!”

Milwaukee photojournalist obeying police, arrested anyway

Fox 6, Milwaukee, reported that veteran photojournalist Clint Fillinger, was at a fire scene videotaping when a police officer ordered him to move back from where other members of the public were located, while everyone else was permitted to remain.

Fox 6 reported that Mr. Fillinger “was shooting video behind the yellow police tape alongside a small crowd that gathered to watch” when the police officer came to him and ordered him to move back.

The station reported that Mr. Fillinger put his hand up defensively as the policeman was forcing him backwards, and accidentally touched the officer. Then, as the report states, Mr. Fillinger was knocked to the ground and arrested. He was cited for resisting and obstructing a police officer. Mr. Fillinger suffered bruises from the incident.