Assignment: Houston

Spotlight: Into the Light

Into the Light by Let there be light (Andy)
Assignment: Black & White

Black & White is our current assignment. Join us!

Weekend Planner 02/05 - 02/07

Mardi Gras Galveston - Galveston stretches out the Mardi Gras activities over several weekends and on the schedule this weekend is the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius Parade, the Galveston County Firefighters Firetruck Parade, and the Krewe of Grambinus Parade.  Also a fun run/walk and a few more parties and even a ball. The party is on in Galveston.

Bellville Market Days - Vendors set up around the historic courthouse square to sell arts, crafts, collectibles,jewelry and antiques. Also food and live entertainment.

Cultural Kite Festival - Sugar Land hopes to begin a new tradition with their first annual Cultural Kite Festival.  Kites of all shapes and sizes will fly above Sugar Land Memorial Park.

Houston Photo Contest

Houston, as YOU see it.  That's the tagline for a new photo contest available to Houston area residents.  Neighborhood Centers Inc., an agency that has been serving Houston neighborhoods for over 100 years, is sponsoring the photo contest and giving away gift certificates to Houston Camera Exchange for first, second and third place.

What kind of photos? 

Neighborhoods (view a map of our neighborhood centers)
Events (view a list of our upcoming events)
Landmarks and landscape
Workplaces
People
Greater Houston

A donation of $5 is suggested for entry.  Photos can be from your archives back through January 2009.  The deadline to enter is March 12th.  You can find out more information about the contest and read the official rules here:

http://contest.neighborhood-centers.org/

Glenwood's Live Oak

Thanks to Assignment: Houston member Sandy, I found this article on one of my favorite places in Houston, the Glenwood Live Oak.  Go read the article about this beautiful tree and the next time you are at Glenwood Cemetery make sure to stop by and take a few photos.  

Weekly Reading - 02.02.2010

I can see clearly now - Dioptric Adjustment
PhotoWalk Pro

Is your autofocus letting you down?
PhotoWalk Pro

Protecting your copyright in a digital world
Photocritic.org

The Beginner's Guide to Creating a Photoblog: Part 1
Phototuts+

Filters for Black & White Photography
PictureCorrect

How to Be Inspired Every Day
The Digital Photography School

Houston in Black & White

This month's assignment is Black & White.  Let's see Houston in this timeless photo technique.  Read more here at the February Assignment discussion.

Weekly Reading 01.19.10

Best Photos of 2009 by JMG-Galleries Blog Readers
JMG Galleries

An Introduction to Creative Commons Licensing for Your Photos
Digital Photography School

Softbox & Light Tent for Under $10
Weekly Photography Tips

10 New Year's Resoutions Every Photographer Should Make
Mostly Lisa

Photojournalists - Providing the Pictures that We Need to See
PhotoWalk Pro

When RAW is not Enough
Photocritic.org

Surf Through Flickr Favorites with ffffl*ckr
PetaPixel

How to Read Image Histograms
Epic Edits

Never Lose Your Lens Cap Again
DIYPhotography.net

Houston Marathon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/euthman/
CC BY-SA 2.0

On Sunday Houston's largest one day sporting events takes place as the Chevron  Houston Marathon takes to the streets.  Tomorrow the marathon and the half marathon both kick off at 7 a.m.  The marathon website has a spectators page that has information on parking and the best places to watch the race.Take your camera and cheer on these athletes.

Website: Chevron Houston Marathon

Extreme Makeover: Houston Edition

"Gooooood Mooooooorniiiinnnnng  ____________ family."  

One lucky family in the Houston area will hear their name in this sentence tomorrow morning as Ty Pennington, ABC and the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team knock on their door and let them know they have been chosen for a new home. 

If you haven't heard of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EM: HE), each episode of this reality show builds a new home for a deserving family in only one week.  The Houston area home is located in League City (I'm 99% sure) and the family will be notified on January 7th.  One week later they will "move that bus" and see their new home.  You will be able to take a shuttle bus to the location to view the build in progress. This will be the largest house the show has ever built. The builder's website has a schedule of events as well as a Facebook page and Twitter stream where you can follow along. Much more information will be released after the family has been notified.

There are also many opportunities to volunteer if you want to be directly involved.  The money for the house, furnishings and everything else that the family will receive is all from community donations.

Weekly Reading 01.05.10

The Best Roundups of the Best Photos of 2009
Photojojo

Making the Split - Split Toning for the rest of us
X-Equals

Selective Blurring with Tilt Shift Generator and Adobe Air
Photowalk Pro

When Should You White Balance
Photowalk Pro

5 Essential Sites for Professional Photographers
Mashable

Top 5 Canon Lenses Under $200
PC Fastlane

7 Tips for Shooting in Troubling Lighting
Photography Bay