Sorry to have been MIA - new camera alert

After losing my beloved 15+ year old Samoyed, life has been a little sad.  But then it got rather busy because I now have a 4 month old Samoyed.    this is Wonder - out playing in the snow today, taken with my iPhone 4S.  Yes, I finally got my hubby to break down and get me a smartphone so I have been playing with its camera.  Once you are used to DSLRs and high grade point and shoots, you can't be impressed with phone cameras, but they are handy and always available.

Now, speaking of high grade point and shoots, a new Sony came out and what I read of its specifications I would just love to give it a whirl.  It sounds similar to my DSC-H20 which is maybe 4 years old now, but so many upgrades - sounds like it could retire my Sony alpha and its many lenses.

I know, cut to the chase and tell you what it is.  Well, okay then.  It's the Sony DSC-H200.  It has amazing specifications.  Like what, you ask.  Well, what do you think of 20.1 megapixels?  How about 26x zoom?  Or 3.0" LCD screen and Picture and Beauty effects.

I would love to get my hands on one of these and they do seem reasonably priced - I've found it as low as $229 at one major online retailer.  I have so many cameras, I don't know if I can justify spending money on another one, but this one has me drooling.

If any of you get one, come back and leave your comments - would love to hear them.

This is not an endorsement - I have no personal knowledge of this camera and Sony did not provide me with any information, promotional items, etc.  I came across the camera on my own and thought I would share it with you.  Enjoy.

Another camera contest

pictureline inc. is giving away a Canon EOS 6D 24 - 105 f/4 kit.  Enter here http://bit.ly/TO4VxR and good luck!  Let me know if you are the lucky winner!

Cool photography giveaway!

There's a great giveaway going on.    pictureline.inc. is giving away lots of cool prizes  - today's was (I was too late) I believe a Nikon D3200.  Not bad.  Enter through this link http://bit.ly/PjiB2p  - it's a Facebook contest, if that matters to you.

Bargain alert

I understand that you can get a 5x7" softcover 20 page photo book for free (pay $1.99 shipping) from snapfish by using the code HPREWARD.  The code may be good until January 31, 2013; however, it can always be pulled before then.  I would also presume it's one use per person. www.snapfish.com   Have fun!

Deal time!

Here's a fast post for you - at Picaboo, you can buy one get one free with code.  Great for all the wedding, graduation, Father's Day, Mother's Day. and other family pictures you have hanging around and meant to get to the in-laws.  Use the code SUMMERTIME for BOGO on classic books and calendars, and 15% off other products.  http://www.picaboo.com/web/  expires June 27, at midnight, PST.

I received nothing for this - picaboo does not even know that I am passing the offer on.  Just helping out with spreading the news about good deals!  :-)

Have a great, picturesque, day!

Product review

Every so often, I think it's a good idea to let you know about products that are tangentially related to photography.  Now, given that we have all mostly moved over to digital photography, sometimes we like to take our laptops with us.  To protect my laptop, which is white and has a nice diamond shaped pattern, I decided to order a laptop sleeve from Slappa, a company that  recently sent me an email that indicated a clearance sale on laptop sleeves.

I checked out the email and, much to my surprise, they had, what they advertised as a white, diamond pattern sleeve for 15.4 inch laptops.  Score!  or so I thought.  I ordered  it this past Monday or Tuesday (I forget) and I received it yesterday with regular shipping.  Nice, speedy delivery.  But then you add in the fact that the box was open because when they taped it shut, they didn't seal both flaps of the box to keep it closed.  Add to it that FedEx threw the box at my open front door (beautiful weather here yesterday).

Okay, so the arrival was mixed.  I thought the box was rather large for a 15.4" laptop sleeve, but maybe they put packing material in there.  No.  I grab the sleeve and pull it out of this black bag (like the reusable grocery bag material) and I see this huge laptop sleeve.  At best you could call the color ivory - it really is closer to a light tan.  I attempt to put my laptop in it and it is just swimming in the sleeve - the corner elastics, meant to hold the laptop don't reach (oh, sure, you could apply them to one corner, but not the other four for the top/bottom).  Interestingly enough, I have an ancient 17 inch laptop and the sleeve fits it!  Now, I don't want to lug the 17 inch lappy around, so, no, not usable for that purpose.  Not usable for the smaller laptop either, for two reasons - one the fit 9or lack thereof) and two, the aesthetics - the ivory/tan color looks horrible against the white of my laptop.  Finally, it has a black mark right by their logo button on the front which mars it at well.

Due to their return policies and the fact that this was a clearance item (wit surprisingly glowing reviews), it's not worth it for me to return it.  This was my first experience with the company.  If you've shopped with Slappa, let us know your experience.  I don't think that I will be doing business again, given the packaging, color, size, mark issues.

UPDATE:  yesterday, I wrote a review of the product at the product website, and at this time, 24 hours later, the review has not been posted - only the two prior ones, giving the product 10/10 rating have been.  Makes me question the company even more.  Also, company did not respond to my feedback email in 24 hours (in my business, we always return emails within 24 hours, weekends/holidays excluded).


Second Update:  It's now weeks later.  Slappa NEVER answered my email to them about the product and the problems, never posted my review (only positive reviews are posted for the product I bought), and in fact, sent me a survey to fill out, including asking me to write a review of the product.  That second, negative review has not been posted, nor has Slappa contacted me with regards to my request for contact in the survey.  In my eyes, and experience, this is a poor way to treat customers, and I will not be shopping with them again - no doubt about it at this point.

What a beautiful weekend for beautiful pictures!

It's been a while, I know.  Life catches up on you sometimes, you know?  I actually dusted off my two Sony cameras (the alpha DSLR and the DSC-H20) and took lots of pictures with both.  Things are really blooming around here.

I also learned a wonderful trick.  You see, we have well water, so I have not allowed my hubby to use pesticides or herbicides on out lawn.  Well, after years of that, dandelions and lamb's ear (?) have taken over a good portion of our lawn (if we can still call it a lawn).  Earlier last week I heard that you could kill weeds by taking white vinegar + spray bottle + sunshine, and when sprayed directly on weeds, dead weeds!  Well, I had to try it.  Well, guess what?  It works (don't do a mass spraying, just directly on weeds themselves as it will kill other plants.).  And, it provides almost instant gratification.  Take a look at these once live dandelions a few hours after spraying:

The grass was already sunburned in this area - so the vinegar did not hurt the grass - it was already in that condition.  I am just so happy to have a natural way to kill the weeds in my yard.  And my husband is thrilled to see way fewer dandelion seeds blowing in the wind.

I also managed to catch a few pictures or a beautiful hawk that appears to have made a nest in my yard somewhere - in a few days you may be able to catch a few pictures of it o my zazzle site.

So, what did you take pictures of this weekend?