Assignment: Houston

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

#44 Only in Houston

Happy New Year to everyone! Here's hoping that 2010 is everything that you hope it to be. 

This month we are going to celebrate the uniqueness of Houston (and surrounding areas). I want to see things that you can find only in Houston. Restaurants, businesses, parks, locations, events. To get you motivated check out this article on Texas with a focus on Houston from the New York Post. It's long but it is worth it. 

Now for a few reminders.
1.) Since the topic is ONLY IN HOUSTON you can not add photos from places that are national or even Texas chains. If there are chains around the Houston area only that is fine, but other chain stores or restaurants are out. 

 2.) The tenant of Assignment: Houston from day 1 was to get out with your camera and explore the city. No photos are allowed that were taken in your house (including the front lawn) or in your studio. This group has a specific mission. You must leave your place to take the photos. 

 3.) As always three photos only and they must be taken in January 2010.