Gracious Alpha...time will tell :)

Good to hear it went well for you Jessi! It's really such a great experience, and the best part is everybody gets to have a good time :^) Can't wait till next year!

So, next year will you be a photographer or are you cooking again? ;^)

Ours went well. It was pretty small but the families that came were very appreciative and happy to have family pictures taken. For many of them, this was their first. Because there was not a huge rush of families, the photographers were able to really take their time and try a lot of different poses. All of the families who came to have their pictures taken walked out with some great prints. It was really interesting for me to get to watch the photogs in action as well. It was a really great event and hopefully word will spread so next year will be bigger and more families can be reached. :)

Jessi said:
I guess I wasn't very clear before - my city's Help Portrait Session isn't until this weekend. Not sure why...I will write about it after it happens. :)

Well, how did it go Jessi? :^)

I might actually be doing another impromptu session this weekend as well :^)

I guess I wasn't very clear before - my city's Help Portrait Session isn't until this weekend. Not sure why...I will write about it after it happens. :)

NikoDoby said:
They are pretty young guys.

Wait that sounds totally wrong doesn't it? I meant to say they are very young not that they were pretty and young, lol.

No, there's no confusion there, Niko. What you didn't mean is 'They are pretty, young guys.' And you didn't say that.

You can use it :^)

Here's the link: http://homepage.mac.com/adbilge/FAIL.png

And, yes, I memorized that for future use when I originally prepared it :^D

Where's your fail sign now?

I said:
Today I already began my "Help-Portrait" shoot accidentally. A six-year-old girl from Honduras visited my Spanish class today. She had been in a fire, and is recovering from burns, and her mother is in the hospital. I very much wanted to take her portrait, yet I was afraid I'd intimidate her with my camera. I finally worked up the courage to bring my camera to my eye, and when she saw me she gave me the most beautiful smile :^) I was so relieved, and glad that I was able to get her portrait. Hopefully I'll be able to get it to her, but I didn't find out if she's coming back :^(

I just missed this girl :^( Her flight to Honduras just took off this morning :^(

OK that's enough KRap in the Help-Portrait thread ;^)

NikoDoby said:
They are pretty young guys.

Wait that sounds totally wrong doesn't it? I meant to say they are very young not that they were pretty and young, lol.

The T-shirts would be old shirts turned inside out with KR Rules written in black marker across the back. And his portrait ironed on the front.

Somebody should start a [KR] forum—Ken Rumors ;^)

But do see if you can get me one of them "shirts" (knowing how cheap KR is you never know what to expect!)

Nah, I think I'll hold out for the Nikon F8. I should introduce you to them. They are pretty young guys. I'd say barely out of high school-ish. I guess all you youngsters are suddenly rebelling against the main stream by going back to film and you think it's "cool". I told them they should wear KR's face on some T-shirts and start a fan club :^)

I'll recommend you as an officer, lol.

LOL—no wonder they were switching to film! Would you be interested at all in my D300 when I purchase the F7? ;^)

Those two guys switching to film were funny. I had a good time with them. The D2X is built like a tank alpha. It's a good price but that's $1200 I could be slapping down on a brand new D500/D800 soon :^( So I didn't buy it right then and there. The D2X is still a Nikon even though KR also says I should just buy a $4 fujifilm disposable camera and THAT is still better than a digital camera.

The film guys were KR fans by the way. They kept mentioned him while defending their reasoning, but I didn't hold that against them :^)

Glad it went well for you too! It looks like we had totally different experiences—I did my thing alone, yet you got to be part of a photographic community! Maybe I'll try that next year...

Don't get the D2X—KR says the D300 is miles better ;^) Come on Niko, join the rest of us D300 users!

Now—jessi?

I had fun. I got to meet some interesting characters :^) I mean the crazy characters behind the cameras! The people in front of the cameras were very humble and grateful.

I got to play around with some Hasselblads and a really nice Pentax 67. I also found out that walmart still does medium format film processing!(send out only though) I met two guys who were selling all of there digital gear (D2H,D2X,D200,D300,D90,D40) and "switching" to film only! I applauded their choice and I might be buying the D2X with a 50mm 1.4D for $1200USD! :^) But I'm not sure if I should or wait for PMA goodies :^(

And of course I took a lot of wonderful portraits!

So Niko how did Help-Portrait go for you?

In the past I've donated my services to schools as part of an auction. Somebody bids and the school gets the money.

I think for high school you're required to do some community service, so I'll really be on the look out then.

Thanks for everything Niko :^)

Of course, but they are usually specific to your community. This event was global. That's what made it fun.

I've photographed animals at my local animal shelter to try to get them adopted. It really breaks my heart so I don't do it very often. I've also volunteer at human shelters too. I rarely take pictures there though. I just help out.

I do free portraits all the time and I also do free photo restoration. I have also donated photos to a womens shelter to raise money. I do earth day clean up stuff too. There is a lot you can do to help out in your community alpha.

But if I hear of another global or national event like this I will definitely post it up :^)

Are there any other "events" that nobody except Jessi and I might be interested in?

Actually alpha I do charity work throughout the year so I just meant this particular event :^)

Yes, please let us know when you get a chance Niko and Jessi! You too lurkers ;^)

NikoDoby said:
Hope it's done again next year too!

Who cares if THEY do it? We're the ones who are actually taking the pictures anyway. I'd arrange something :^)

GREAT TO HEAR alpha! I'm glad at least you and Jessi are enjoying the experience. I hope mine goes as smoothly. Jessi let us know how your event goes. I've got a long weekend so I probably wont report my experience for a while. Good luck to those of you who are lurking and might also be doing this!
Thanks to all of you who showed an interest! Hope it's done again next year too!

There is still time for others to join in. Just take a picture of some one who is needy this Sat. Dec 12, 2009 and then give them a free photo. That's it. Free portrait session is all that is being asked of you.