Susi Lawson's Blog

Fun Senior Sessions!

2011-08-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

Shooting high school seniors has to be one of the most fun gigs a photographer can have! Teens usually love being photographed, always arrive at the scene upbeat , happy and ready to go! They are usually bubbling over with their own ideas as well! What's not to like?
I lowered my prices for an August special for only $200 which includes the shoot, Pro editing, online gallery and a great print package. Can we say "Great deal!" :)
Did my first session a few days ago which was a Buddy Session. Three sweet and cheerful gals ! (Kala, Virginia and Jordan. )I met them at their favorite location in Rural Retreat and we all had a really good time!
I picked up some props at the antique store , which was some old Dr Pepper bottles (Dr Pepper was the pharmacist from Rural Retreat who created the soft drink. No, it was not some guy in Texas!!) and found an old chair. I also brought a smiley face balloon, which we didn't use much , and a deck of cards , which we did. (the Girls picked the cards significant to them)
Mostly I just let the girls be themselves and we tried different ideas until we started losing light. My fav time to shoot is the golden hour, you just can't beat that time of day for pretty portraits!
Thanks for a fun session girls!

The equipment I used (for any photographers interested) was the canon 30D with a fisheye lens for environmental shots such as this one on the left.
My fav camera that I use all the time is my canon 1DMKlV, you can't beat the fast focus and shutter on that baby.
The main lens I used was a loan from Canon Pro Services. (You have to be a pro and this is a paid membership) It is the 85 f/1.2 and a superb portrait lens The bokeh (background blur) is the creamiest and prettiest I have ever seen from a lens (and I have used my share) If you are a serious wedding or portrait photographer I am sure you are familiar with this lens!

For any seniors reading this, here are some tips to make your shoot successful! First, pick a great location! If you can't think of a place, just ask your photographer for some ideas of where he/she has shot before.
Remember this session is all about you and reflecting on your years at school, so be sure to wear clothes which express your
personality and are also comfortable enough to have fun in!

Try to wear colors that work great with the environment you will be in, for instance, you would probably wear different clothes and colors on the beach than at the park. Of course, it is your shoot, so wear what you want, but try and avoid bright load colors and patterns. If this is a Buddy Session, have a meeting and talk it over with your buddy and find out what she/he is wearing so your clothes can compliment one another. Bring a change of clothes if you want to vary the look! Props are great for adding more interest and personality, so think about what would show off the real you and don't be shy about bringing anything along. Some suggestions are : A bike, musical instrument, your pet, a fav book, athletic gear, hats, flowers, etc. Ask your friends or your photographer for help if you get stumped about ideas!
If a parent wants to stay for the shoot, ask the photographer to include your parent(s) in a few shots. It's a nice way to say "Thank You" to them by including them in a few shots!
Most of all, relax and have fun, this is your time to shine!

My August schedule is filling up, if you are local, be sure and call for an appointment! 276-223-1474
I can shoot Senior Sessions anytime of the year, but you might not want to miss this great deal!

Portrait Impact Workshop

2011-07-01T01:55:00.000-07:00

Still working on the lessons for my workshop and here are some sample before and after images which will be a part of the editing session. There is a LOT to learn in these lessons. Some of the techniques are: Learn to remove braces and fill in missing teeth, Paint realistic hair, airbrush skin and add more life to the eyes. Learn to add external objects to an image such as butterflies. Want to add some grass to a portrait , but you want it to look realistic? no problem! Looking forward to showing you how to do this and more! See you on the 16th ! To find out more go to my new web site!

"Portrait Impact! Workshop!

2011-06-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

On July 16th from 1:00 - 6:00 I will be conducting a Photography-Photoshop workshop at the General Francis Hotel in Marion, Virginia.
This is my very first workshop in real life and I am looking forward to sharing my shooting and editing techniques with those who are interested!
This is what you can expect. It will be held upstairs in the small conference room called the Bowen Board Room.(I am limiting attendance to 12.)
You do not have to bring anything if you just want to listen and take notes, but I suggest you bring a laptop and , if you have a wacom tablet, that is also advised, as that is what I use. (but not mandatory)
We will not be taking pictures, but I will be giving a presentation on how I shoot, what I shoot , how I use light and how I edit. I will be sharing many of my editing techniques that I am 'known' for. So, you will be learning how to isolate a subject for dramatic B&W's, how to place a subject into a different background and how to enhance portraits by painting the skin and hair in a sort of Rockwell illustrated technique and more.
The cost is $200.00 and here is what is included: The above workshop along with my new "Portrait Impact " DVD videos lessons and my award winning Kodak Book "Simple Wisdom" which showcases some of my portrait work.
To sign up for the workshop (There are 4 seats left right now) please go to my new site and you will see the link on the left. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me!
please book mark this page as I will be updating it soon. I am just starting work on this event and you will know anymore details as they develop!
Thank you so much for your interest in my work!
Susi

An Evening with Doc Watson

2010-09-23T18:48:00.001-07:00

I am fortunate enough to be a photographer for the PBS "Song of the Mountains" concert series performed monthly at the beautifully restored Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Va.

My last visit was especially memorable , as I got to meet and hang out a bit with the legendary Appalachian Blue Grass musician , Doc Watson.

In the 70's , I went to a few of the Galax Fiddlers conventions and I remember stop

ping and listening to Doc Watson and he asked if there were any request and I yelled out "Keep on the Sunny Side", which I immediately had to run out and do some of my

primitive unruly foot stomping to ! :) I have always loved the message of that song and that memory comes forth every time that tune is picked.

Doc is the kind of guy who needs no warming up to. He is immediately gracious, warm and familiar from the first "Hello". Doc is also a great story teller. I enjoyed hearing how he got his name , and where his beautiful guitar was crafted (Wayne Henderson of course) and several other endearing stories , most of them humorous and heart warming and some quite painful.

I naturally took a lot of pictures of Doc and

here is a couple from the evening. One of him playing the banjo which he signed that will be auctioned off in the future to help support "Song of the Mountains" and other one, is of him just as he about to sit down on stage and carrying his Henderson guitar and one of him performing.

His performance was flawless and straight from the heart. You could tell by the tender expressions of the audience members that Doc is very well loved and appreciated by all. He is truly an Appalachian Treasure and we are so fortunate to have him among us..

My plan is to create a web site to show case, as a tribute to the musicians, all my "Song of the Mountain" portraits and offer some for purchase. I also plan to offer them at the "Black Rooster Cafe" which is located right beside the Lincoln Theatre. Once all the details are worked out I will come back and let ya know. I want to insure this is accomplished with the utmost respect these musicians deserve.

I want to thank Tim White , the very talented host of the show, for this special opportunity. I am very grateful to him

The next show is October the 2nd 2010, so ya'll come on out and see the show. You will be blessed I guarantee it!

http://songofthemountains.org/

Images are protected by copyright law and are the artistic property of Susi Lawson , they may not be copied, downloaded are used in anyway whatsoever. Thank you for respecting the rights of all Artists.

Leigh Beamer's new music CD!

2010-09-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

"Reflections of Me" by Leigh Beamer!

Leigh Beamer's new music CD is now released !

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to take the Photography and design her CD for her, which was really a lot of fun! It is wonderful to work with an artist who knew what she wanted and so it was great to collaborate with her every step of the way. She even chose the font I used, which we found on the internet and it works perfectly with the 'feeling' of the whole design.

The front cover location was suggested by her Mom , Stacey and we arrived at this barn just as the sun was setting and a optimum time for the best light! Leigh was great to photograph , as her portraits came out with a mood of sensitivity and poetic thoughtfulness..much like her voice!

We were not sure what to add to the back cover , but Leigh knew she wanted a tree. Then one day she texted me and said "I know where the tree is!" and so we rode out to her Aunts beautiful farm land there was the tree and yes, it was just what the back cover needed!

The inside fold out, I knew this needed to be a fade out in order to see the text on top and not obscure the notes. I suggested a scenic combination of one of her portraits from the barn, the tree line from her Aunts Property and a road suggesting her journey to making this beautiful music CD and where else this may take her, and she agreed. I think it captures how much music means to her in many ways.

This CD was produced by the amazing Jim Lloyd of Rural Retreat , Virginia. A fine musician and Barber. He also plays bass, guitar and percussion on the CD. Leigh's first guitar teacher , mentor and friend , Sam Gleaves, contributes vocal harmony, banjo, guitar, autoharp and percussion. So, some excellent accompaniment!

The CD was recorded at Eastwood Studios in Cana, Va.

The song list is bound to please people of all ages ! I know some of my personal fav's from the 60's are on there! When I get my copy I will come back and let ya know how I liked it! I am quite sure I will be raving! :)

I have heard Leigh , Sam and Jim in live concerts and so I guarantee this CD will be a treat!

If there are any musicians in need of Photography and CD design please get in touch with me via facebook or my web site.

http://susilawsonphotography.biz

You can purchase songs from this CD by going to CD Baby right now! So what ya waiting for??

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/leighbeamer

New Article for Photoshop Creative!

2010-08-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

I have not written for "Photoshop Creative" in a while so was glad to receive an assignment from them this week! It is a 5 page article on Creative brushes in Photoshop and how to create a portrait using all the different settings, layer styles and dynamics. It was a fun article to write and I also did 2 videos for their CD on creating custom brushes and how to change the brush options so be on the look out for my new article!

I used my favorite little model , Cassa Marie, for the shoot and managed to capture her contemplative look just as the sun was going down and shining it's beautiful golden light on her and the woods behind her.

Thank you Cassa ! It has been wonderful watching you grow over the years and it has always been a joy to photograph you!

Time for Sports!

2010-08-22T23:23:00.000-07:00

Sooo, it's almost Fall and the local sports are getting off the ground and on the field! :) I have been shooting sports in my town now for 4 years and really enjoy the challenge of capturing the fleeting moments on the field or the court! The kids are great and make me feel appreciated by tagging my images on Facebook or asking me to come out to the next game and document a special game.

I finally got a new web site to feature this area of my Photography and I picked Zenfolio as the host as I just like the professional layout, products , music and whole package! Please visit my sports site when you get the chance and leave me a note in the guest book!

http://susilawson.zenfolio.com/

Photoshop CS5 is here!

2010-04-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

I just ordered the new Photoshop CS5 and this version really has me excited!

The 'content aware fill tool' alone looks to be worth the upgrade for Photographers! If you are like me, then you find your self wanting to move and eliminate objects a LOT, so with this new content fill tool , all the time we spent cloning and refining to make the 'move' realistic, can now be done in an instant! WA-LA!

Then there is the HDR pro filter built right into photoshop and this set of filters will make the HDR technique so much easier and down right fun! We will even be able to apply this look to a single image.. I be happy :)

Then there is the 'Puppet Warp' which will enable us to actually bend arms or legs to new positions to make the portrait even more incredible! How darn cool is that??

Being an artist who used Photoshop for painting as well as editing, I am very stoked to know that the brush engine has been improved and so now painting in Photoshop will lean more towards the style of traditional painting. Big plus!!

Then there is the 'Bridge ' which I never used , as it was such a hassle leaving photoshop to use it , but now it is inside PSC5 and a much handier and useful feature!

I can't wait to get my hands on this new version and start playing, experimenting, creating and then sharing every thing I learn with you all!

So please keep coming back to check for news , add me on facebook and I will keep you informed!

Later Buds,

Susi

My First Webinar!

2010-02-25T04:51:00.001-08:00

Be sure and sign up for my first webinar which will be next Thursday at 8PM eastern time and will be sponsored by the "Digital Art Academy". I will be demontrating how to use creative brushes in Photoshop. The session will be an hour long, including questions and I am hoping it will be a lot of fun and very informative. I want to stress that I am not a Photoshop expert, I am a photographer-artist who used Photoshop to creatively edit my images and only know Photoshop the realm in which I use it for. Those of you who have bought my training DVD's know my style of teaching and know that I am very casual and easy to follow and my webinar will be in the same fashion in which you are accustomed. I bascially want to share some of the creative ways I use brushes and now you can custom make your own on the fly, when you do not have what you need in your brush gallery.

So sign up now if this sounds interesting to you, and you will be eligible for a $15.00 rebate on my new DVD lessons!

"Artistic Portraits" DVD ready for Pre-Order!

2009-12-18T23:54:00.000-08:00

"Artistic Portraits in Photoshop is now ready for pre-order on my site at 20% off! This discount will apply until Jan. 14th! All pre-orders will ship the 15th and receive this discount! After that time the DVD will go back to regular price , but will be available for immediate shipment.

To order click here and use the "New DVD" link at the top!

Thanks for all of you who have stayed interested and sent encouraging emails during this delay. I appreciate your loyalty and enthusiasm!

Vintage Holiday Lesson for the new DVD

2009-12-03T15:37:00.000-08:00

This lesson will be a lot of fun, so much to learn! This one involved changing backgrounds, adding new elements, airbrushing skin, using the new hair brush, adding snow and a vintage texture!

Hope to have all these lessons completed in time for you to order for Christmas!

Still Working on the New DVD!

2009-11-19T02:37:00.001-08:00

I do apologize for all the delays with this latest DVD! I have been very busy with local work and do not want to rush the lessons, but feel sure this can be released in time for Christmas!
I just completed this lesson on Texture layering which was quite fun to do. Texture layering is very popular right now so wanted to include a few videos on this style of editing for those who are interested. It is not as hard as you may think , but does require the right texture imagery and proper attention to final details to really create the impact you want. Other lessons will be on creating your own custom brushes for hair, skin, rain etc.
Vintage look, airbrushing, creative backgrounds and more!

Enjoying some Fall Shooting

2009-11-08T23:00:00.000-08:00

I went to the New River Trail State Park in Foster Falls, Virginia a few days ago and really enjoyed the beautiful Fall colors and the warm sun we are being blessed with.

I recently acquired the new Canon 7D and it was nice to have this opportunity to try it out.

What a fun camera it is to have the ability to switch to video at the touch of a button (no need to go into the menu) and switch back.

I think this is where the digital era is taking us , to ease of having muti-media ability on a professional level. Now you can go home and upload videos straight to utube , facebook, your web site right along with your images. what better way to share , teach or entertain!

I am still working on my new DVD, for those who are curious and hope to announce it soon! I have had alot of local portrait shoots and sports which has cut into my DVD planning, but I am now back to the 'drawing board' and excited about working towards completion!

Fort Chiswell Mansion Seed to Soul Fest

2009-10-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

The "Seeds to Soul" Festival at the Fort Chiswell Mansion was a quirky blend of historic tours, homemade food, Pottery and stain glass artists, and some very talented musicians.

Even though the weather was grey and cold the mood was upbeat and lively. People mingled in the foyer of the mansion most of the day chatting and anticipating their turn to tour the beautifully restored home. Fireplaces were lit and candles flickered as the tour guide walked guests up warm wooden stairways and polished bedrooms so steeped in history you could almost feel the presence of the original occupants.

On the upper deck, musicians played their music back to back providing a pleasant back drop to the event. While I was there I heard a blend of folk, jazz and and upbeat young country. The music was so impressive I found myself running up the stairs several times for pictures of the musicians and a chance to enjoy the music first hand.
There was not a lot of food choices, but this was not a problem. Food was provided by the owners other venture "Key Ingredients" and was a healthy delicious meal of Beef stew in a bread bowl with bread pudding as desert. As the name of the event suggest, owner Chris Disibbio only believes in eating and providing food which is organic, wholesome and nourishes the body and soul. This is why you will not find sodas at any of his events, as he will not engage in contributing to the ill health of anyone. Simple pure water was provided for all.

What I enjoyed the most about this event was the sense of community spirit that prevailed. There was a real feeling of pride to be standing on the grounds of such a noble and historic building. Many of us have passed this beautiful mansion on the way to the outlet Mall or spotted it through the tall pine trees off interstate and wondered what secrets such a grand gentleman of a house might hold. Now, thanks to Chris Disibbio and his personal vision, we can now stand on the rich soil of our ancestors and listen in awe to their stories and to feel connected not just to our past, but to one another. After all, a community is really just a very large and endearing family and it is nice to have the opportunity to get together.

"Artistic Portraits" DVD in Progress!

2009-09-14T23:42:00.001-07:00

Hello to everyone who visits my Blog!

I wanted to update all those interested in my newest DVD that I am working on right now.

The theme will be "Artistic Portraits" in Photoshop with emphasis on Textures, airbrush and the creation of brushes, textures and backgrounds to make your artistic portraits very much your own! There will be step by step lessons on how I create each portrait in photoshop as well as some background info on how and why I use the images that I do!

Here is a sample image from one of the lessons. This Portrait of Cassa Marie "Paper Flower" will be on the new training DVD, so stay tuned for more updates and a more definite release date!

Thank you so much for your continued interest in my work and my techniques!

New Update!

2009-08-27T00:43:00.000-07:00

Looks like it will be around September 26th for my DVD release, so keep checking back as I plan to give a discount the first week!

This month I have an interview in Rangefinder magazine (I interviewed a wonderfully interesting portrait photographer by the name of Brianna Graham).

I am honored to have a full page in Digital Pro magazine as an honorable mention in their Ultimate Creative Contest!

Also , check the magazine stands for PSD's new quarterly issue of Digital Painting as I have a full lesson in it on painting airbrush portraits. (the video of this lesson will be on my new DVD)

My work is in the new book "Through Different Eyes, Faces of Poverty in Virginia" which I will be offering on my site (All the proceeds go to Virginia Poverty Law Center in Richmond ,Va and all the wonderful work they are doing)

My other Book "Simple Wisdom" is still in printing and will be offered on my site before Christmas!

So please keep checking back and say Hi when you visit!

Junior Southern Rodeo

2009-08-10T14:58:00.001-07:00

Just Shot my first Southern Rodeo and I must say I was very impressed with the courage and confidence of the contestants! Such beauty, grace, agility and did I say Courage!

This was at the Jackson Ferry Horse Grounds right beside the New River State Park in Wythe County , Virginia.

Gorgeous location and beautiful grounds. For more info on this Rodeo , here is a link:

My Daughter, My Self

2009-08-06T23:32:00.001-07:00

My daughter recently left on a trip I did not want her to take, but being 18, I could not stop her. Before she left she we had bought a Norah Jones CD and on the back was a sort of dark moody portrait that my daughter loved and she asked me to work on a similar one of her while she was gone. This really flattered me as she hates to have her picture taken and I really wanted to please her and give her something to hang on her dorm wall this Fall. As I was painting this in Photoshop I began to realize the face was as much my own as it was hers. I started thinking about what I was like at 18 and I had taken off to the outta Banks of NC and lived there a year , not knowing a soul there. I thought about how smart and capable my daughter is and as I painted I began to trust her more and worry less. I somehow just knew that she would be okay and would make it home without mishap.
When she came home tonight , the first thing she said was “God, I missed you so much, you don’t even know” and then she said “You know , we are so much alike you and I”..
and I felt she and I had both grown and …indeed became more of one another while I am learning to accept that she is very much her own person.
She loves the portrait! and I love that she loves it!
I am blessed..
(like most art and life, I am not sure I am finished with this :)

New DVD delayed but coming this Summer!

2009-07-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to get my new DVD out by the end of June, but because of my personal life and a few computer woes I have had to delay the release. However, I am working hard to include a lot of extra lessons and resources so hopefully this new DVD will be my best yet! Thank you so much to all of you who have emailed and showed interest, I appreciate ya!

The new DVD will focus in airbrushing and will include backgrounds, textures, custom actions and brushes!

If you have any questions or requests, please feel free to email me or message me on facebook!

Later Buds!

Susi

New DVD "Air Brush Art" Photoshop

2009-04-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

I am now working on my latest DVD lessons which will be focused no "Air Brush Art" using Photoshop! I have received a lot of emails asking "How do you get that smooth look to your paintings?" or "How do you make your portraits looks like paintings but still look so realistic?" So I am going to go into detail with this set of lessons and show step by step how to create beautiful air brushed skin, hair , eyes ect. I will provide some great backgrounds for you to try out and I am also going to include some custom actions for you ! So be sure and check back if you are interested in the release date. Also, add my photography page on your facebook if you have not done so already, as I will be posting free videos and news about any lessons and online classes there!
Check out the next issue of Photoshop Creative (issue #48) as I have an article on flower painting and a video on how to create realistic dew drops! See image above!

Thanks for visiting ,I appreciate ya! Please leave a comment and subscribe to my blog ! Till next time, Best wishes!
Susi

WPPI Vegas 2009!

2009-03-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

I am proud to say I won my trip to Vegas Via the WPPI Moab Print contest and this was my first time at the convention! It was amazing! I got to meet some incredible people while I was there that I have only known Via the internet. Such as the editors of Rangefinder and AfterCapture, Bill Hurter and Abigail Ronck who are both amazing to write for !
I also got to meet the great folks of Apollo Photo Imaging who printed my Book for the Kodak Nexpress Photo Book award, which I am very thrilled to say I won first place in! So glad I got to stay the extra night for the awards! I was so shocked I almost did not make it to the stage for me award! A beautiful Crystal Trophy and a nice check!
I also got to meet fellow digital artists such as Marilyn Sholin, Jeremy Sutton, Karen Bonaker, and Helen Yancy whom I have wanted to meet for years!
Karen recently started the Digital Art Academy which I will be teaching for the end of August so be sure and look for me there!
Vegas was amazing, from the plane ride there over the grand canyon to the walk down the famous strip at night! It was like nothing I have ever seen before!
The Nikon Party with the free Blues Travelers concert was very exciting and a great photo op!
I'm a canon fan all the way, but thanks for a great concert Nikon!
I will never forget the friends I met and new ones made and the all in all sensational adventure of WPPI 2009!
Thank you Abigail for all you did to make my trip possible and for your kindness!
Congrats Bill Hurter on your life time achievement award! Yeha!

Roadside Attraction

2008-12-27T21:51:00.000-08:00

I happened to catch this sunset while crossing an over pass and had to stop and take some shots. Yes, bird shooting with a Canon 1Ds MKll ! It was a beautiful sight and hard to find a good vantage point in my town without power lines or buildings. Who knew an overpass would make a great viewing post? While I was sitting there snapping ,another car pulled over and enjoyed the view..

This is one of the reasons why I never leave home without my Canon companion.

The New Modbook ... Unleashed!!!

2008-12-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

The Makers of the Modbook contacted me about their newest updated version and it looks exciting! Many of you familiar with the Modbook knew it had a few kinks to work out and it looks like Axiotron has listened to their customers and made all the changes to make this portable , cordless, creative tablet all the more irresistible! To find out what they have done, read on:

The new Modbook features changes which impact almost every aspect of the device!

This means that the Modbook now has a battery that last longer (yeh!) improved sleep and system performance and one that we have all been waiting for: Better pen performance without that distracting resetting from electronic interference! This is a noteworthy change as this was something that many previous modbook owners wanted to see changed and Axiotron listened! You know they love their customers!

The Modbook is now lighter which means more lap comfort , weighing a mere 5.3 lbs! How did they do this? They didn't take anything away, they just improved the top shell using a QuadCoat T process which is some cool metallic coating adapted from the Auto industry. Axiotron is innovative like that! Yes, it is scratch resistant!

Hey! Remember those blue tooth issues? All fixed! Now your wireless keyboard and mouse will pair with the Modbook as though there was never a disagreement! No adapters or glumblings..just ahhhh..

Okay some of you reported less than cushy fit between the top and bottom..and YEP..this is all better now! There is no longer a gap of any kind because the Axiotrons AnyView LCD and Force Glass screen cover are now sealed using a process that eliminates the air gap between the two components! This also means a better viewing surface (such as taking this baby out in the field) as well as a firmer drawing surface and decreased pen to surface orientation.

Axiotron has designed a new internal Mu-metal shielding which adds a real boost to the pens responsiveness. (This is part of the blocking of electronic noise that irked us)

If you are taking your new modbook with you on your next trip, well you won't get lost because the Modbook now has a more accurate GPS system! So , not only can you have complete mobility while in the field working (or playing) but you will know where you are.

Hey, I don't know about you ,but I sure get lost in my work sometimes!

Need software? Well , all you artists will be glad to know that SketchBook express 2009 is now included as standard on all new modbook orders!

Ready to order? Here is a great new service that many current macbook owners have been suggesting and wishing for in the forums. "Can I send in my macbook and have Axiotron convert it into a modbook?" Well...drum roll please..........YES! Now you can do just that! Non Aluminum Intel CoreT 2-Duobased Macbooks can be shipped in for a transformation starting at $1299.00!

Rather you want to order the Modbook as is, or have your own MacBook converted to a lean mean drawing machine, you can start right here: http://www.axiotron.com/modbook

Sounds like the folks at Axiotron have been very busy and hard at work addressing all the previous issues and listening to their customers! I can't wait to get my hands on one of these and write a more personal review ! So be sure and check back for my one on one impressions!

Thanks for caring Axiotron!

We DID it!!!

2008-11-08T12:39:00.001-08:00

I am so proud of America right now for moving on and voting a resounding YES to a new America of hope! We now have hope for a more secure country , cleaner air and water, equality for all people , better and more affordable education for our children, health care for the self employed or minimum wage employee, and the ability to embrace diversity and celebrate all people !

This ,America, is our proudest moment and I am gleaming with pride to be a part of it!

WE DID IT!!!!!

Graham Fest Rocks!

2008-09-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

I attended this years 2nd Annual Graham Fest USA on labor Day weekend and had a blast! Not only was it great fun to shoot in challenging situations (such as stage lighting) but there was entertainment going on all day (2 days) at 3 stages at the location of the haunted Major Grahams Mansion located off the beaten path by a dirt road in Max Meadows Virginia.

Here are some images I shot of the Confederate Railroad playing "Trashy Women" which was a hoot! The man in all black with a hat is Josiah who is the owner and co-founder of "Graham Fest".

This was my first night out after my daughter left for college so I got to taste a little freedom myself and not be in 'mom mode' for a change! It was what I needed!

No, I wasn't naughty :) just enjoyed myself!
Some great talent was there including Jeff Little and Wayne Henderson, well renowned blue grass players.

Next year they are talking about a 3 day event so mark it on your calendars!

Green Corn Pow Wow

2008-08-10T10:59:00.001-07:00

I attended the Green Corn PowWow in Bland county Va a few weekends ago and spent 3 days enjoying the festive dance and peaceful loving culture of our native Americans. Many of us here in the Appalachian are a mixture of Cherokee and Irish. (I am that along with German and English. My daughter has more Cherokee on her fathers side) This little girl, who did the 'fancy dance' so beautifully is 'Sierra Yellow Feather'. I took a lot of images of her as she was just so graceful! This PowWow is to support the life of our local Wolf Creek Indian Village in Bastian , Va. The proceeds went towards keeping the museum and replica village open for vistors to come and see how Native Americans once lived and to see live demonstrations of how they weaved baskets, cooked and survived. This will be an annujal event so please come next year and bask in the beauty of America's first people who respected this home we call "Mother Earth".

Cowboy Days at Virginia City Gem Mine

2008-08-10T10:54:00.001-07:00

I went to an old fashioned "Cowboy shootout" at the Virginia City Gem mine and Ghost town in wytheville, Va. and had a great time taking pictures from the sidelines! Also met some great folks while there who are dedicated to keeping the "Old West" alive. This is Dan Peterson who stopped in with his wife Deborah from Bristol Tenn and he ended up joining in the fun! This show will be ongoing until the Fall every other saturday so be sure and stop by and enjoy the live action and authentic Va town!

Embracing the Music

2008-07-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

I want to thank Billy Boy (from Red Bubble)who told me about the Epson V500 scanner which I bought and inspired me to look thru my old box of slides.(This was edited in PS with the smudge and airbrush tools )I used to love to shoot slides and made my friends sit down and watch shows using the old carousel projector. Some loved it and some kept asking me when I was going to PLEASE buy a TV, HA!This image has a lot of memories which create a vast array of emotions in me! I was staying with my brother for a while in his townhouse as our Mom had left our Dad and we did not even know where she was living at the time. I guess I just felt like being near my big brother and needed a place to 'crash' for a while. The ring on my finger is my mothers old engagement ring. The Camera I shot this with (via a self timer) was a great old Fuji 35mm that my brother gave to me when he came home from Nam. John Lennon had passed away during this time which had brought us both to tears and inspired us to pose separately for a portrait with this old pawn shop guitar which we swore we would learn to play. We sat up late that night trying to pick out some old Beatle tunes ( I remember my brother always played some Jim Croce and Harry Chaffin, as well.) A lot has happened since this picture, some very bad, some very good. But this self portrait made me think of that promise I made to learn to play guitar and it is now one of my goals! I do adore music and what could be a better way to relax than to sit on the back porch and pick out some old tunes with some old or new friends or just your own good company?May you Embrace the Art. Music, life, children, friends and all the blessings you have in your life and I will do my best to do the same!
My favorite Beatles song is "Imagine" it is the most simple , yet profound song I have ever heard.

We Will Never Forget Va Tech

2008-04-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

I just did not want to let this day go by without paying tribute to the students who lost their life on this day a year ago at Va. Tech.
I want to also pay tribute to the survivers who came back and are going forward to continue their life and education with a positive spirit and the belief that together we can make this a safer country for all of our students.
This photo was taken last year a few days after the tragedy during a temporary memorial at Va. Tech. My daughter and I drove out to show our support to the precious lifes that ended so abruptly.
We will never forget you Virginia Tech, you are in our hearts and our prayers. God Bless..

Soon to Review the Modbook!

2008-03-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

Since there is quite a waiting line for Modbooks at the moment, I decided to write to Axiotron to see if they would agree to send me a loaner demo Modbook for a review in Corel Painter magazine and I am happy to say they agreed!

I look forward to giving this exciting new Axioton-Apple tablet a whirl! Since this tablet is targeted at artists, such as myself, I am very eager to test drive using Photoshop and Corel Painter software. There is a lot of controversy on the internet pertaining to this much sought after tablet and I look forward to giving a hands on review and reporting back my findings !

Thank you Axiotron for this opportunity and thank you Ben at OWC for the positive info!

To find out more and to order, go to their site here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/modbook

Waiting for the ModBook..

2008-02-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

I have been checking out the specs on the modbook for a long time now and decided to order the more afforable 12" Cintiq, but as soon as I opened the Cintiq I was disheartened because of all the cables and wires and power boxes..just too much STUFF to contend with. There went any notion of portability! I did hook it up and play with it for a few hours , but the 12" screen was a bit small and found myself zooming in and out and I longed to be able to take this with me, to the car, the park, wherever! But with the Cintiq you are still tethered to your office, because of the AC cords. I decided to send it back, but Antoline refused to let me return it , so I had to resell it.
Then I ordered the Modbook and recieved a message that they are backlogged and it will be late March before I will recieve it. However , I think it will be worth the wait as it will allow me to work virtually anywhere and it will make teaching workshops a lot easier (which is a direction I want to go next year). I will be back to write a review and give some personal experince to those of you who are also wanting to order one and want some more information, so stay tuned!

Commended in The POTY Competition at Digital Camera Magazine!

2008-02-16T20:40:00.000-08:00

This image "The Friendship Pact" recieved a commended Award in the Fine Art Category of the Digital Camera Magazine and will be published in their next issue along with the wonderful top winners in this competition. 81,000 photographers entered so I am very honored to have recieved this commendation.

Thank you Digital Camera Magazine!

First Place in Photoshop User Awards Portrait/Wedding Category!!

2008-02-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

"Hey! I'm Trying to Read Here!"

I am so very pleased and very honored to report that I placed again in the Worldwide Photoshop User Awards! Last Year my work was awarded Best in Show and won my daughter and I a trip to Rome which we will never forget!
This year I placed First in the Portrait /Wedding category with this portrait of Kary, who is my dear friends Grandson. Isn't he the cutie!

Thank you so very much NAPP!

For those of you who are not a member of NAPP, I urge you to join, it is a fabulous organization with some really wonderful folks! You will get a free subscription to their very informative magazine "Photoshop User" !

Happy New Year!

2008-01-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

Happy 2008 to everyone! Even though I really feel that our birthday is actually our own persoanl New Year and the day you need to access your life and set goals, this 'official' New Year is cool because everyone celebrates it and knows when it is ! So have a GREAT 2008!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T23:10:00.001-08:00

It is 2AM and I am still up after a wonderful Christmas Eve with my daughter and her boyfriend. It was fun to watch them bask in the joy of one another this evening while listening to the Charlie Brown Christmas CD and some great Italin music by el Divo. It was a blessed day for sure!
This image of Santa "Gift for Santa" is one I did for a good friend of mine for her Christmas present, it is her grandson and her brother in law. Edited in Photoshop.
Hope you are having a loving beautiful day no matter where you live or what you believe, the magic is there for us all.....so enjoy your Holiday!

Good Will to All!

2007-12-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to wish anyone who reads this a peaceful, safe and loving Holiday no matter what your religion may be, this time of year seems to bring out the best in many of us and I for one, really savor that magic!
My daughter and I have the tree up and are just loving listening to the Holiday music and hanging out on the couch in full view of the tree with all the beautiful lights and pretty wrappings beneath.
May we all think of and treasure our many blessings and try not to let the daily irritations tarnish our appreciation of what is most important ...and we all know what that is.
Bless you all!

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

Been having a great time painting some Holiday work. This Santa is from a Photoshoot I did a few months ago with a Professional Santa from Pa. He looks like the real deal!!
Some cool News! I have a feature in Corel Painter Magazine this month so check it out!
Also, one of my Santa paintings will be in Advanced Photoshop next month!
Digital Pro Photo called and interviewed me yesterday and that will be in their Jan. issue!!
Also look for a painting lesson coming up in Photoshop Creative Magazine on Dog portraits and a children's portrait lesson in Corel Painter Magazine.

I love all of these magazines and I am extremely honored be a part of them!
Being an artist and Writing for magazines was always a childhood dream for me, so all of this has me feeling pretty happy :) !

The Fine Art of Photoshop New DVD now available!!

2007-10-28T19:20:00.001-07:00

To order my new DVD "The Fine Art of Photoshop" just click here!

To Rome with Love Slide Show

2007-10-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

Click here to view my NAPP trip to Rome!
I hope you enjoy it!!

Intro to "Fine Art of Photoshop" DVD

2007-10-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my new DVD! It will soon be posted for sale on my site, in the meantime, please take a look at my introduction to the lessons!

http://www.screencast.com/users/SLawson

Photos That Inspire!

2007-10-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

Check out this new book by the editor of Double Exposure and Photoworkshop!
One of my images is inside ! Now available at Barnes n Noble and Amazon!

That's my Daughter on the Cover !

2007-10-03T09:00:00.001-07:00

That's my adorable daughter , Cassidy, on the cover of Photoshop User Magazine this month! (This was part of my win for the NAPP Best in Show award) I also have an article in this issue on my trip to Rome along with a tute on how I created the image of the Tiber River Walk,(See my Rome Blog)) so go to Barnes n Noble and grab a copy! :)
Thanks again to the wonderful folks at NAPP for this honor!

The Fine Art of Photoshop New DVD

2007-09-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize to those of you who have been e-mailing asking when my new DVD will be relaased! With School starting back and some local portrait shoots I got behind. However I am back on track and aiming for a release the end of October! I am working on some great new lessons that are going to be quite a bit diferent than my previous DVD's. Such as 'Drawing the Eye", "creating Cartoon Clip Art" and Adding textures and crackle effects to your art. I think this package will be a lot of fun for you! If you want to be among the first to be notified, don't forget to sign up on my web site!
Thanks for your continued interest in my techniques!

Reflections of Rome

2007-07-28T04:44:00.000-07:00

We are still recovering from jet lag and are now morning people which we weren't before we left! I just wanted to make one last entry about our beautiful trip while it is still so with us like a dream or delicious secret we carry around with us!
On our last day we took a bus to the Villa Borghese, which is a huge and wonderful garden not far from the hotel Turner. We got there quite early to avoid the heat so the famous art gallery was not yet open but it was still such a treat just to walk around and experience the atmosphere of the park.
As you see in the image there was a wonderful little 'lake' in the center of the park where there were ducks, geese, swan and even turtles all stretching and floating to and fro so lazily in the water. It was too early to rent a boat so we just gazed at the sight of it which seemed so much like a painting come to life! As clique and corny as that sounds, it is the only fitting comparison I can make!
There were familes jogging down the dirt roads kicking up a golden dust in the flickering mist of morning and guards on horse back. The lawn sprays created arching rainbows in the morning mist and old men read their newpapers on park benches while the women walked their Jack Russels and chatted with their friends.
We walked past a zoo that was not yet open and heard the various calls of exotic birds and other 'wild life'.
The healthy life style of the italians really made an impression on my daughter and I ! She is just now out jogging in our neighborhood, while before she would have still been asleep! The time change has made us wake up much earlier than our usual shedule before Rome. There is a definate before and after Rome in our life now that my daughter and I really notice !
One thing I have always found interesting is how much the location of your birth forms you as a person and how much of our idenity depends on our birth place. If you think about it, where you are born largely determines your awaremess of art,music (or lack of) and your diet, religion and customs! There are some thngs you can never know about yourself until you are taken out of your custom or comfort zone and see your life and your personality in contrast to an entirely new (and refreshing) life hence before never experienced! It is not enough to read in books , but to experience first hand what it is like to be surrounded by a language that all others are speaking around you that you do not understand, to taste food that your palette has never been awakened to, to view art that have you only heard about and viewed in school books ! To form aquaintences and effections with people you have never in your life seen or spoke with before! It is a gift to see your rigid beliefs and ideas exposed and your subconcious prejudices exposed into the light of another country , to strip yourself of your 'self' that was created from the location of your birth and to be given this amazing chance to truly see your 'self' in this raw and honest light and to make the necessary adjustments and improvements to the new you that international travel has given birth to! Perhaps Jet lag is really birth pains in this incredible opportunity to become a better person! I can only hope that my daughter and I hold steadfast onto this memory and continue to respect and cherish the gifts we have been given.

One More Day :(

2007-07-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

Thursday we were looking forward to a Classic Roman dinner tour, but after after being up since 5am and having the morning tour of the vatican and then takng to the streets to check out the many vendors sellng clothes for only 3-10 Euro we were beat from the 95 degree heat. The desk clerk thought we were crazy to be on the sidewalks , he said "Don't you know what is happening out there??" So, we were exhausted and could not fght a nap at 5PM and unfortunately we slept on into the night and missed our evening tour! We were sad to miss it, but knew that we would have been too tired to go.
Friday we decided we would do our own tour of the collesseo and we asked the desk clerk how to hop a bus, he is getting quite tired of our many questions and we even heard him mumble 'Stupita Americanas' once when we forgot where the elevator was! Ha! But he sent us to the tabbacco shop where we learned which bus and bought the tickets.
The bus came right to the hotel in a few minutes and we boarded. It was so bumpy and clackety on the stone roads that I feared the bus wold disassemble! But we arrived safely and since it was so early the lines, although long, were not so bad. We had to buy tickets to get in which were 11 Euro each.
The sight of the structure, of course, is so familar that we recognized it immediately from the bus and already the hot sun cast everything in a sort of spooky foggy glare with the ruins in silhouette. Inside the stone and shadow was a cool relief!
There are people everywhere in every 'hot spot' so it is extremely diffcult to get a photograph without a crowd, even trying to take a photo above your vision there are outstretched arms holding pocket cameras high into view!
We took the elevator to the top level which was a magnificent view, it put me in mind of a small grand Canyon, something made from nature than men. I did not want to think about what actually occurred here so many years ago right there beneath where we stood. The play of light and shadow was especially enchanting !
We did not stay long in the Colloseum as the heat began to become too oppressive and so we took the stairs down which slighted forward and you had to walk tilted backwards to keep from falling. Outside the vendors were in full array with their colored assortment of souvenirs serverely overpriced! I bought a fan to actually use for our face and there was a water fountain that we used to splash over us which dried so quickly in the sun! We bought a few items for our friends and continued walking around the outskirts of the area and taking more pictures.
I forgot to say that during breakfast we met some girls who had just arrived from south Africa and they said the heat was quite horrible as they had come from their winter season. We were glad that they understood our english and chatted a bit. I asked if the tall Pines were the same as their trees in Africa and they said Yes, they are. The trees are so majestic and tall and seem to touch the heavens! They put me in mind of the iltalians themselves who walk so tall and proud and strong! I found myself checking my posture often as I see how slumped we are in contrast!
Although the tours are wonderful,my daughter noted that it was nice to walk about as we please and to leave when we desired. We hopped the wrong bus ,but the driver helped us with a transfer. No one seems to bother punching their tickets it seems there is an honor system that it appeared not many abided by.
Back at the hotel we stopped at the vendors for clean shirts as ours were clammy from sweat and went back to the room for another shower. There is a cafe called the Happy Creme Caf where we get our daily fruit salad and delicous potatoes cooked with lemon pepper and chat with our friend who went to Harvard for 3 months to take business english and works 2 jobs here, yet has such a pleasant personality. I am really taken by the handsome appeal of Italians!
After our lunch we go to the local gelata cafe where Cassidy loves the cookie ice cream and I get the yogurt which taste just like yogurt, not sweet like america) and this refreshes us! The cafe owner has become very friendly to us and Cassidy speaks italian with him a bit (she has a talent for picking up accents and language!)
Back on the streets we are again over come by the heat and must go back to the room for a nap! I have never n my life been a nap taker, but find that I cannt fight it here! and so we go into a long sleep..I awake at 11:30 to what sounds like gun fire in the streets! I listen for police siren ,but hear no reaction and so I shrugg this off to a salute perhaps? I can hear the african girls opening their shutters and yellng something into the street,but do not understand,and with nothing else to do, I go back to sleep and awake again at 3AM and decided to write in the blog. Cassidy and I decide to stay up and wait for breakfast at 7 which we really enjoy with the beautiful decor and everything is so fresh and yummy. There is nothing in the room to eat(we keep forgetting to grocery shop) and so we are going thru the mini bar with free abandon! We can't resist!
Ciao until tomorrow!(or later today,can't keep track ) This is our last day, very sad!

We Love You Rome!

2007-07-19T04:55:00.001-07:00

Last night our friend Giovanna picked us up along with her mate to dinner in a beautiful outside cafe near the angel castle. Giovanna is so friendly and warm that we felt as though we had been friends for a long time! The night is so beautiful as though it is illuminated by a golden light. In the plaza were guitar players and portrait artists (which is what I used to do before digita) and everyone seemingly in love with one another or Rome! I felt so sentimental as it seems you forget your age and everyone is young! Across the river were cafes with white tent like canopies lit with lanterns and such a sight with the reflection in the water, the cresant moon and the angel atop the castle..breath taking! I had my Canon G7 around my neck and so took some shots which I hope will do justice to the vision we saw! A band was playing "We are the Champions" and Giovanna and I sang along as we both knew the song from long ago! Music is such a unifying lauguage that we all 'speak'.
I hated for our new friends to leave us, such wonderful company they are! Thank you so much Giovanna for such a perfect evening! My daughter and I talked today of how we wished to see you again some day!
We got up this morning at 5AM for a tour at 7:30, had the wonderful breakfast again here at the hotel. The tour guide was such fun, her name is Deny Martinez and she is an artist as well so she gave me her e-mail to keep n touch with her! She did a wonderful job explaining Michangelo's paintings in the chapel, which we saw today. I wanted so badly to take pictures,but ,out of respect I refrained. The paintings of course are stunning, but the chapel with the beautiful light coming through the windows and the mood of deep respect and reverence adds to the experience of being in the moment.
We have another tour tonight at 7PM with a dinner. We don't really know what the tour is but our guide said it is most likely to be a tour of the city. We hope the colliseum will be included,but not sure if it will, will let ya know!
We have been eatting at a nice cafe down the street and we learned today that the waiter went to school in Boston and he was so kind to ask us where we are from and chat a while..we will go back tomorrow for more fruit cocktail and mineral water and perhaps more acquaintance!
So far we have not seen anyone eatting cheeseburgers and fries, we are beginning to undertstand why the Italians have such a healthy life! We hope to continue eatting better when we are back in the states!
Cassidy wants to go check the street venders beneath our window, so must sign off for now!
Ciao!

We're in Rome!

2007-07-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

I am sitting on the bed at the beautiful Hotel Turner, It is 6AM Rome time. My daughter is in the shower and I am enjoying the bustling sounds of the street outside my open window about 5 floors below.
It was quite an adventure getting here as the flight to Alanta was delayed by 1 1/2 hour and so we had to sprint to catch our flight to Rome and our tickets were denied by the scanner which was quite a scare,but after checking the computer to verify our flight we were allowed to board! We were the last on the plane and there was a lady who had claimed our seats quite comfortably,but she moved without problem.
The flight was quite loooooong and I know I tried 500 positions in the 9 hours on the plane to try and capture some ZZZZ, but to no avail,. My daughter found I made a good pillow and she managed to get some sleep.
At the Rome airport there was another scare with our luggage as it took over an hour to appear on the carousel! Then to find our shuttle to Hotel Turner! We were not aware that there was a young man standing with a sign until afte some looking and we doscovered him. He was very sweet and drove very fast, weaving in and out and driving like a pro ! I had exchanged $50 of my american money at the airport for only $25 euro and hoping for a better rate at the ATM! I had no idea what to tip,but he seemed very happy with a $5...
My daughter and I went right to our room and took to the bed, as we were exhausted! But got up late and explored the streets! We loved all the outside cafes and the lively night life that is apparent !
Giovanna, a friend from Marilyn Sholin's web site 'Paint Outside the Frame' called and cheerfully welcomed us to Rome! She is picking us up for dinner tonight and we can't wait to meet her!
Hi to Digital Image Cafe all my buds there!
Hi Shondell, we made it!! Thanks again for everything!
I must close as my battery is going and we have not found an adapter yet! Hope to today!
Hugs

Rome or Bust!

2007-07-16T01:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it is 4:30 AM and I should be sleeping but I am just too dang excited about leaving for Rome today!! Our flight doesn't leave till 4PM , but planning to take off to Roanoke around noon to insure there are no mishaps to make us late for our flight!

Shondell at NAPP has been great throughout this whole planning process making sure everything is going to be wonderful for my daughter and I am I can't thank her enough , but will say it again..THANK YOU SHONDELL!!!!!

Yesterday my little neighbor, Cassa Marie came over and laid down in the yard and cried saying she did not want me to leave! First time I have ever seen a tear on her face! I promised to buy her Italian shoes (even traced her tiny feet on a peice of paper to insure the size) and we did one last shoot before saying Goodbye.
Here is a one of the shots. We had a great time running up and down the street testing the focus on my new MKIII (More on that later). You have to love that face and that joyful spirit of hers!

Well, I am going to hop back in the bed and hope for a few winks before heading out for the airport! I will do my best to update this Blog while there and hopefully post some images. I thought I was going to travel light , but decided to take 3 lenses and 2 cameras!
Thanks for visiting!

Rome is getting closer!

2007-07-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

Our passports have arrived!!
Won't be long before my daughter and I take the big jet to Italy! Yesterday we went to Barnes n Noble and bought a sketch pad for documenting some sights the old fashioned way and a journal for writing about our time there. Also picked up the latest National Geographic Travel magazine because there is a story in it about a Mom and Son's trip to Italy, should be some cool reading to get us in the mood!
You can bet I will keep ya updated and let my buds know what a great time we are having! I have already warned my daughter that she won't be seeing much of my face while we are there as I will surely have my camera in front it of most of the 5 days we will be there.
Thanks again NAPP for this amazing prize package! Thank you Shondell who has been calling me with such warmth and kindness keeping us informed of the trip details. My daughter and I could not have dreamed for a better hotel, it looks amazing, so again, we thank you!!
My daughter , Cassidy , will be the perfect traveling companion as she is so bright and witty and full of life! I am so blessed, not only to have won this amazing trip, but to share this with my daughter makes it over the top perfect! I love you Cassi and can't wait to make some awesome memories together!

Traditional to Digital

2007-06-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took my daughter to take her SAT test and knew I had 4 hours. I am not much of a shopper so I took my sketch pad and decided to do some sketches with a plan to take them into the 'puter later and paint them. I just put the pencil to paper and started sketching whatever came to mind.This is my first one, it is reminiscent of my teen years when I used to sketch fashion illustrations. It was very relaxing work airbrushing this sketch in Photoshop. I used very low opacity building up color in the way that you would traditional airbrush or watercolor. This is the kind of work I want to feature on my next DVD "The Fine Art of Photoshop" which I wrote about recently.
Thanks for visiting! Don't forget to leave a comment if ya have time!

Winning the NAPP award!

2007-05-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

Winning the Grand Prize in the recent worldwide NAPP competition was/is amazing! When I got the e-mail , I googled the senders name to see if it was legit and still e-mailed and asked if it was really real. When she said "Yes, you are our grand prize winner, we have been trying to call you!" I literally fell to my knees and cried ! How could little 'ol me win the Grand Prize?? I am so thankful and fortunate that the judges liked my work so much! So thank you NAPP, YOU ROCK!!!!!

My prize is an all expense paid trip to Rome , Italy to shoot a cover ! I can take any assitant along (and many have e-mailed to volunteer!) but my daughter immediately filled that slot! This will not only be a photographers dream vacation, but a Mothers as well! We will have a guided tour for 3 of the days along with transportation and spending money! Here is a peak at the hotel we will be staying at:
http://www.hotelturner.com/en/index.htm
We freaked when we saw how beautiful it is! It looks like a romantic castle doesn't it! Some people had e-mailed me saying that the hotels do not have bathrooms and that there are gypsies waiting to steal my camera..but after seeing this hotel, I relaxed and know that we will be safe and have an amazing trip!
I have never left the country so this is a HUGE deal for me, really a chance in a lifetime!
I am a little nervous about being in the air for 13 hours..kinda scary, but I plan to face the fear as I will not even allow a negative thought to damper this experience!
I will be posting news about our trip to Rome as it gets closer and of course, I will tell all about it when we actually go! July 16th is the day of departure! (passports take forever!)
Thanks again NAPP!!!

Take me to the River!

2007-05-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

After many years of yearning for some little adventure, my daughter agreed to go to the river with me! So we packed our dollar store inner tubes and drove to New River State Park at Foster Falls, Va. This is a beautiful park with the grand old 'New River' running right through it. People come here to fish, canoe, kayak and tube. The river is no more than knee deep all the way across so it is a great place to take the family and the current is very peaceful and soothing. Right near sunset the geese land here and then all take off in unison and that is a beautiful sight if you can catch it!

As soon as we got in the water, who appeared but my little neighbor friend , Cassa Marie , and her best friend. Since the inner tubes were not staying afloat too well for us, we gave them to the kids and I instinctly thought "Photo op!"ran to the car and got my camera..

Yes, it seems everywhere I go there are pictures to be taken and moments to capture!
I promised my daughter that the next time I will leave the camera at home! (But hey, wouldn't that be like her leaving her i-pod and cell phone !!!) Sort of like leaving an arm or a leg! :)

A Student-Customer Tribute

2007-05-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of all the dear buds out there who have bought my DVD's and e-mailed me samples of their 'after' work and how the lessons have changed the way they work and sometimes even made a difference in their life or someone elses! This is the honor of teaching , to know that there has been a seed planted and passion renewed, it is what keeps me growing and learning as well!
I have reviews on my site,and many wonderful testimonials, but one photographer really touched me with his story and I want to share it here. Bill Wegener of http://www.colorenlargement.com/ called me not long after receiving his videos and was filled with the excitement of his new found painting skills! His enthusiasm was infectious and I grew prouder the more I listened. He has been going to Africa to photograph and help the orphans for many years and now felt he had a new tool ! Not long ago Bill produced many of his beautiful African portraits on canvas (His canvas prints are stunning!) and he had an auction which brought in the money to reach his personal goal of opening a school for these children! Is that not the most selfless act of kindness you ever heard? It is truly amazing and inspiring for the rest of us! Thank you Bill for being you!

The Fine Art of Photoshop

2007-05-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

I have decided to release a new DVD this Summer! Since I was a traditional artist all my life I have been thinking of returning to my roots on this set of lessons and offer more of the true ART side of photoshop. So the lessons will be about emmulating such techniques as conte' white and charcoal sketching on tinted rag paper and sketching with the good old pencil and coloring just as you would with a pencil and paper! I know that I will be recieving e-mails saying "But I am not an artist!"..I will have some lessons on drawing the face step by step and many of you will then write to say "I never knew I was an artist!" and you will because some things that you have complicated in your brain and told yourself you were not able to do will suddenly not seem so dang hard. If you know the shapes and can put them together , then you will be drawing with pride before ya know it! Maybe I should call this "No Fear Fine Art" HA!!
Truly though, I am looking forward to putting this one together and with video instruction, well there is just no easier way to learn is there? It is really the tops for teaching visual skills!
If you are interested in getting in early on this DVD, please e-mail me and I will put ya in my 'first to notify' folder !

Susi Lawson's Blog

2007-05-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

This is my first post, so I have a lot to learn and improve!

I am hoping to make this a great place to post new upcoming DVD information for those of you who are students of my tutes and those who are interested!

I will also add any experiences that I feel relate to the digital art-Photography world rather they be personal or otherwise and hope you will enjoy and maybe even be inspired to leave a comment!

I will be back soon to add more info!

Thanks for visiting artist-photographer Buds!

Susi

Susi Lawson's Blog

Fun Senior Sessions!

Portrait Impact Workshop

"Portrait Impact! Workshop!

An Evening with Doc Watson

Leigh Beamer's new music CD!

More PS Creative Articles

New Article for Photoshop Creative!

Time for Sports!

Photoshop CS5 is here!

My First Webinar!

"Artistic Portraits" DVD ready for Pre-Order!

Vintage Holiday Lesson for the new DVD

Still Working on the New DVD!

Enjoying some Fall Shooting

Fort Chiswell Mansion Seed to Soul Fest

"Artistic Portraits" DVD in Progress!

New Update!

Junior Southern Rodeo

My Daughter, My Self

New DVD delayed but coming this Summer!

New DVD "Air Brush Art" Photoshop

WPPI Vegas 2009!

Roadside Attraction

The New Modbook ... Unleashed!!!

We DID it!!!

Graham Fest Rocks!

Green Corn Pow Wow

Cowboy Days at Virginia City Gem Mine

Embracing the Music

We Will Never Forget Va Tech

Soon to Review the Modbook!

Waiting for the ModBook..

Commended in The POTY Competition at Digital Camera Magazine!

First Place in Photoshop User Awards Portrait/Wedding Category!!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Good Will to All!

Happy Holidays!

The Fine Art of Photoshop New DVD now available!!

To Rome with Love Slide Show

Intro to "Fine Art of Photoshop" DVD

Photos That Inspire!

That's my Daughter on the Cover !

The Fine Art of Photoshop New DVD

Reflections of Rome

One More Day :(

We Love You Rome!

We're in Rome!

Rome or Bust!

Rome is getting closer!

Traditional to Digital

Winning the NAPP award!

Take me to the River!

A Student-Customer Tribute

The Fine Art of Photoshop

Susi Lawson's Blog