For those that know us this is no big surprise but Team Foote is participating in this years American Heart Association’s Start! Heart Walk in the fight against heart disease and stroke.  Last year Sheri was asked to be a guest speaker   She’s an old pro at it in fact.

If you know someone affected by Heart Disease or Stroke, please support us by either walking in the event (a simple 3.2 mile course in Denver) or by donating to My Wife Sheri, Team Foote or my self.

Doing so will help battle this countries #1 (heart disease) and #3 (stroke) biggest killers.

Thank you for all your wonderful support.

Lee & Sheri

Team Foote

Go Red for Women

Sheri’s Story

Team Foote 2008

Whenever I see a Veteran I stop them, shake their hand and Thank them for their Service.  I’ve stopped Active Troops in the airports, shook the hand of a Vet when hiking around a lake for a photo shoot and even gotten out of my car at a gas pump to shake a Veterans hand.

With sincere appreciation I want to thank all Veterans for their Service and Sacrifice.  For those that gave their life, we are in your debt and you will never be forgotten.

If you see a Veteran or an Active member of the Military, wish them a Happy Memorial Day and thank them for their service.  For those service members who we’ve lost, take a minute to reflect on what you have as a result.

Lee

April Connolly & Lee Trujillo Photography

My dear Friend April Connolly and I will be at Sean Brown’s Studio 12 Gallery showing our fine art photography.  The show runs the entire month of April but April C. and I will be at the gallery from 4-9pm on April 3rd!

Studio 12 Gallery

209 Kalamath St. #12
Denver 80223
303 629 8744

http://www.studio12gallery.com/

More about Studio 12 Gallery

I met April in 1996 where we were employed at one of the first dot coms to hit the scene.  Even though the company went the way of the dodo (dot bomb) April, her husband Jeff and I always kept in touch.  Some time in 2005 we realized we both shared a love of photography.  Not long after we started shooting together and sharing tips.

I love April’s work.  She has a special ability to see shapes and colors in which she creates great works of art.

Please forward this link to anyone who loves fine photography.

We hope to see you Friday night!

Reflection and Light Photography

aprilpix photography

Lee

You can see me making my photo I titled “Summer Freeze“; an infrared shot which I talk about shooting later in the video.  This photo as well as others I have taken over the years will be seen this April at Studio 12 Gallery in Denver, Colorado.

Summer Freeze

Video: tfttf348 – Alluvial Fans pt2 – Rocky Mountains Landscape Photography

Enjoy!

Lee

For those who aren’t in the know, I am NOT addicted to Facebook.  I actually rarely get on it. And when I do, it’s to reply to someone or, on occasion, view a friend’s latest pictures.

I am, however, addicted to Twitter.  Yes, Twitter.

Many of my friends have asked, “What is Twitter?”  I like to think of it as a 140-character micro-blog. Its motto is, “What are you doing?”  It doesn’t end there.  “What are you doing” only scratches the surface.  Twitter has evolved from “what are you doing” to “what are you thinking, where are you going, what do you like, what do you hate, what do you think of X and what do you believe.”  Twitter has even become a pseudo IM (chat) system and is now top of the food chain with regard to Social Media.  See more about Twitter here Twitter in Plain English.

I hate fads and resisted joining Twitter until December of 2007 when photographer Chris Marquardt suggested I join as a method of communicating with him regarding an upcoming U.S. tour I was helping him with.

Originally, I joined Twitter to promote my new photography site Reflection and Light.com. I found myself constantly checking in to see what people were saying, and soon after I started interacting with people all over the world.  I’ve also hooked up with local Twitter followers for what is known around the country as Tweetups. Our group, known as the Denver Tweetup, gets together about once a month to catch up, meet knew people, network and have a few cocktails; #denvertweetup. I’ve even had Twitter Friends I only knew virtually (@Jaynee and @MyrickStudios) stay with us on their way to WPPI in Las Vegas!

What does all this have to do with Facebook?  Well, a few months ago I was having lunch with IRL friends Ian, Mark and Chad at the Cheeky Monk when Ian asked, “Why aren’t you on Facebook?” Did I mention I hate fads?  I felt Facebook was no different than MySpace. I was wrong. Shortly after that lunch, I joined.  Through Facebook I’ve been able to connect with my old friends, colleagues and even my wife’s friends spanning from New York, to Phoenix to Calgary, Alberta.

So why do people think I’m addicted to Facebook?  Simple. Shortly after joining Facebook, my friend April told me how I could link updates sent from Brightkite and Twitter to Facebook. I Twitter and Brightkite “a lot.”  Because of the API (i.e. “links” between them all), my Facebook followers are overwhelmed by my updates. At the time of this blog, I have 8,907 Twitter updates and I have no idea how many have made it to Facebook since joining.  I’ve had many of my friends in Colorado and my wife’s friends in Canada suggest I’m addicted to Facebook.  Even my friends Ian and Mark, at our last Cheeky Monk lunch, said “dood, you’re out of control!” To which I replied, “Be careful for what you ask for.” HAHA!  Now they’re sorry that they prodded me to join Facebook.

So no, I’m not addicted to Facebook. But yes, I am addicted to Twitter. I do hate fads, but I am firmly entrenched in Twitter, Brightkite and … yes … now Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter

Want to see what I’m saying? You know what to do…

Cheers!

[LT]

P.S. After reading this blog both Chad and Ian said “yeah uh huh…whatever”.

Ian – “You and twitter are like a high school chick and SMS msgs”

HAHA wow I am really addicted to Twitter.

I’ve had a style and image in mind for months, but in the end I scrapped it for a more simple design.  I think I’ve finally hit a winner.

My original logo was cobbled together in a hurried effort to slap something on my then new, photography site. The design used a shot titled “Apocalypse Running“, an HDR shot of the new Ford Mustang logo under a street light in Calgary.  I loved the red and blues so much I just had to make it my logo, my “image”.

No longer would I let my site limp along with the old logo, this time I was really going to put effort into making the new logo.

So with a fond farewell I say goodbye to “Apocalypse Running”.  I loved you as a photo, but your time has come as a logo.

Out with the Old, in with the New…

Let me know what you think,

Lee

Go Red for Women

I’m betting you know at least one Woman.  You may also know a Woman affected by Heart Disease.  If either of these are true, that Woman and all Women affected by Heart Disease need your Support.

Friday February 6th is National Wear Red Day, a day to show your support and help raise funds to combat the Nations number one killer of Women – Heart Disease.

My Wife Sheri is a Heart Disease Survivor and volunteers her time to spread the message about how Heart Disease has affected her, how it affects others and what you can do to help prevent it.  See more about her story on my post about Double Day.

Sheri will can also be heard this Friday, February 6th on the following Denver radio stations.

• KOSI 101 FM at 6:15 am.
• KEZW 1430 AM at 9:10 am.

So help My Wife and I support Women around the nation and Go Red!

Visit http://GoRedForWomen.org/

Lee

Things have been nothing but nutty in my world. Sheri and I have been home only 3 weekends this summer and now we are headed to Cabo for a badly needed vacation. Oh yeah!

I feel bad for not blogging in so long but I have been meaning to. Today I finally received my new iPod and thought I would test this wonderful new wordpress app; very nice.

I may have wifi in Cabo we shall see, and hopefully we will. Stay tuned.

[LT]

Last week Sheri, a few close Friends and myself attended the 11th Annual Denver Heart and Stroke Walk.  Sheri was even asked to tell her story to the entire crowd of those attending.  After the walk we went to a local breakfast place for some great food and post walk Mimosas…oh yeah… Later we strolled through the La Piazza dell’Arte on Larimer Square, an annual gathering of Artists creating works of art using nothing more than chalk on concrete and asphalt.  I took a few shots of the amazing people and we left to head home for some relaxation.   Little did I know at the time there was a photo contest being held for any photographer who wins the most votes for their work.  My Mother called and asked if I knew of the contest I had taken photos for hours before….”ahh that was a no”.  I’m not to big into contests as most require you to give up copyrights to the images but this was different; the Grand Prize was a trip for two to Italy!

Once my Wife Sheri heard about the trip she went wild…she has wanted to go to Italy with me for quite a while but the cost to get to Europe these days is way out of control.

I’m asking all of my Family and Friends to lend a hand and help me win.

Here are the Rules.

1) Create an account and login on the Registration Page and make sure you opt out of the email part. Once you have created an account come back to this blog page and select the photo link below…this will help you to keep from having to hunt down my photos.

2) Vote for one of the following 3 photos.  I like # 1 the best so if you like it over the others vote for it!

# 1 Concrete Beauty – Vote for this photo!

# 2 Hushed Tones – Vote for this Photo!

# 3 Asphalt Renaissance – Vote for this Photo!

Please vote!  You can only vote once so I am hoping to get enough to win this trip for my Wife!  The contest ends June 30 so get your votes in now!

Ooh almost forgot to mention…I have not been to Italy myself…sounds like a blast!

Thanks all,

Lee

Rights Compromised

Back in March of 2008 word spread in the photography world about British citizens being asked or forced to stop taking photos in public places and in some cases even asked and forced to “delete” their image files from their digital cameras.

“You Can’’t Picture This“

“Birmingham police officer ‘forced press photographer to delete images’“

“Clueless Security Guards and Police Harass Photographers. What Rights Do We Have?“

Not long after I kept reading on Carolyn E. Wright’s Photo Attorney Blog how others in the US were having issues similar to Photographers in the Uk. She now has a growing list of infringements against photographers.

Alert: “Photography Not Allowed!”

Photography Not Allowed – 6

April 23, 2008 Carolyn even Blogs “Odd Photographer = Terrorist?” where she talks about the UK’s “awareness campaign” highlighting how Terrorists use surveillance (cameras) to plan attacks.

Tripod Terrorism – things get nutty

So not only are photographers being asked to not photograph, delete photographs but now they are being told photography using Tripods is “not allowed”. Another great photographer, podcaster, author, and editor/owner of Photoshop User magazine Scott Kelby even had his own run in with a hotel security guard. He was confronted by the guard because he as carrying a Tripod and photography gear…unreal.

The “Tripod Police” Take Things Up a Notch (You’re not going to believe this one!)

This has become such a joke (scary as it might seem) that some people have taken to selling t-shirts such as “Tripods Are Not A Crime” and Fake Movie posters such as “Day of the Tripods” a spoof on the movie War of the Worlds.

Photographers Get Smart

Some photographers who happen to be Attorney’s have taken upon themselves to publish small one or two page guides on photographers rights. These serve two purposes – to educate the photographer on their rights but if printed to be shared with and used as reference by those who may confront the photographer in the field.

The Photographer’s Rights: Bert P. Krages II (Attorney at Law)

UK Photographers Rights: Linda Macpherson LL.B, Dip.L.P., LL.M

Photographers Get Even

Other photographers have taken to setting up active but silent protests with regard to their rights to photograph in public places.

“Photographers stand up for your rights in LA, June 1“

Copyrights Compromised

I listen to a lot of podcasts these days. It has become my talk radio and a replacement for npr or the like. One podcast I listen to is by Allen Rockwell. Allen is a great photographer who amongst other genres, loves taking photos of military aircraft.

He podcasted and blogged on May 02 how he was photographing aircraft take off
from Nellis Air force base near Las Vegas Nevada. Allen was “asked” to delete certain images from his camera by a Nellis “Security Guard”. Allen knows his photographic rights but not wanting a confrontation and like all who comply with these requests/orders Allen deleted the images to avoid further problems. On May 15th Allen even launched a new

http://photographyisntacrime.com/

All of the above information is just a lead in to my real point, A new symptom of all the restrictions, lack of personal rights knowledge and fear has surfaced.

Copyright Infringement.

I was reading an unrelated blog about Fair Use by the “Photo Attorney” Carolyn E. Wright’s in which she states

The Fuss About Fair Use

“Rights of Copyright Owners

A copyright is created at the moment a work is made into a fixed form. For authors, it is created when you type the words on your computer. For photographers, it is created at the click of the shutter.
…
Copyrights give the owner the exclusive right to do, or to authorize others to do, specific things with their works. Copyright law effectively gives you, as the copyright owner, a legal monopoly on the use of that image. It also gives the copyright owner the right to prevent someone else from destroying their work.“

The last sentence is key and the point tho this whole blog. I believe based my my limited knowledge of Copyright Law that Allen Rockwell and others like him who have been asked or told to delete photos have had their Copyrights infringed upon. So I pose this question -

Can those who request photographers to delete images (taken legally in public areas) be sued by photographers? Do photographers have a claim to bring suite upon those who pressure photographers to in essence destroy their work which at creation, is Copyrighted by the photographer?

This thought has be intrigued and I think I will send this to the Photo Attorney to see if this is a legitimate claim.

Where does all of this end? When will police and rent a cops ignorant of photographic rights stop confronting photographers? Will this escalate even further or will we finally be able to take photographs without looking over our shoulder and hoping we aren’t going to get pinched by local police or accosted by unknowing security guards?

[LT]