A few weeks (months??) ago I mentioned in my newsletter about getting a new gadget to help out with close ups? That was the Flowerpod. I finally put it to use at a recent workshop.
We were trying to photograph a Tiger lily. But with the slight breeze making the flower nod back and forth, it was difficult. In comes the Flowerpod to save the day!
This versatile little tool gently holds the stem of the flower in place without the risk of crushing it like some other clamping systems would. If you like photographing flowers in the wild, check out the Flowerpod.

I just finished up a pair of workshops in Olympic National Park. Both trips had great opportunities. During the first trip we had a really nice sunset on the Obstruction Point Road and nearly perfect conditions in the Hoh Rainforest. During the second trip we had an amazing sunrise on Hurricane Ridge and a pair of nice sunsets on the coast.

Last month I wrote about Mind Shift's Filter Nest. Well, now that I've had a chance to use it I think I like it more than my old trusty Lowepro filter wallet. For one, it's simply more versatile. I can hang the thing from my tripod, attach it to my belt, or take the inner holder out of the main case to fit it in a jacket pocket or stuff in a smaller pack. Plus it has an accessory zipped pocket that I never noticed before. So that was a nice surprise. Not sure what I'll put in this pocket. Probably a lens cloth. Or an emergency $100 bill. I bet you'll be asking to see my Filter Nest now, won't you?
And you know what else? On our visit to Ruby Beach during my Olympic workshop last week (the second workshop) a guy came up to me and introduced himself as Jerry Dodrill. Not only is Jerry a fairly well known photographer, he just happens to also work with MindShift and was the one who designed the Filter Nest. Now how's that for a serendipitous meeting?
Jerry was there co-leading a workshop with my old friend David Muench. I can say "old friend" and not be a name-dropper because I've actually worked with David in the past. We've co-led eight or nine workshops back in the Great American Photography Workshop days. So I also had a chance to get caught up with David as well!
Ok. So I'm sort of name-dropping. But it's David Muench! Wouldn't you do the same?

The link below is an affiliate link. If you click on it and buy I'll actually get paid a tidy little sum. Well, little anyway.

The Turning Gate (the folks that make the Lightroom Web Module plug-ins that I use to create my website) has released their CE4 versions of their Lightroom Web Module plug-ins.
CE4 takes Lightroom web publishing to a new level. Frankly, I'm pretty amazed at how they managed to incorporate many requests from their customers.

Keep in mind that anyone creating plug-ins for Lightroom is limited by the actual capabilities of Lightroom. Sure, they can extend and add things, but they can't make Lightroom do things that it's not capable of. For example, many TTG customer requests could only be accomplished if Lightroom was capable of exporting a database out of the web module. But what a web designer can do is include code in the exported web pages that interfaces with a database. You just need the database.
So a big change in CE4 is the incorporation of the TTG-BE, the TTG Back End. Part of TTG-BE includes databases. This all started with the TTG CE3 Cart and has been expanded in CE4. With it they've been able to include a search function, breadcrumbs and more. And it leaves room for all sorts of potential.

If I sound like a TTG evangelist that's because I am. These plug-ins are the greatest thing since the circular polarizer or chocolate chip cookies.

But speaking of TTG, with being out on workshops I've not had a chance to add much to my TTG-tips site. And that was frustrating during the launch of CE4. So I'll be remedying that soon. I plan to add a few more handy tips in the coming week.

There is still plenty of room in the Zion trip. In fact, I still need a couple of more people to make this trip a go. So if you've been craving some fall color and red rock, and you want to take a workshop that's not packed with fourteen other people, then this is the trip for you. I've limited the workshop to just eight and it's only $800. And figuring you could pay nearly twice that to attend a workshop from one of the big companies and be competing for space with twice as many people, this is a bargain. Plus, if I do this trip next year, the price will likely be higher.

This tour might have some legs to it. (Get it? Wine? Legs? No?) Anyway, recently I've had a few people show some interest in this trip. It's a tour, so no official classroom sessions, but I will be available to help in the field and am always happy to look at a few images. I co-lead this trip with my friend Dick Badger, our resident WINO (Wineries Interface Needs Organizer). This tour is timed to take advantage of fall color in both the vineyards and at Silver Falls State Park. I'm tentatively planning for Oct. 15-19 and will be limiting the trip to ten. The price will be $650
The plan is to meet the first evening and spend the next two days touring wineries of Oregon's Willamette Valley. On the third morning we'd visit a couple more wineries, check out of our hotel, and move to be closer to Silver Falls State Park. That afternoon we'd go to the park and photograph a few falls and the fall color. The next morning, we'll go back and photograph some more. It's a small park and doesn't take long to cover but it does require some hiking. None of the trails are strenuous or very long but you should be comfortable with trail walking and being close to streams.
I've already heard from a couple people who are interested in this trip but I'll need a few more. So be sure to drop me a line if you're interested. This trip isn't posted to my website yet but if I get some interest I'll put something together.

If you'd like to see the kinds of images you can get from the wineries, check out my Oregon Wineries gallery.

That's it for this month. Guess I'm still trying to catch up from being on the road.
No new progress to report on the latest bathroom remodel. That's because I was out on workshops. But I'll be getting right to it. You can bet on it. Really.

And now, a cat, wearing a shark costume, on a Roomba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLt5rBfNucc