1000 Words Rss

Valentine's card for the geek-suave

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST

If you tend to be on the geek side and want to go an extra mile for your Valentine this year, this is for you.

This example is a card I made for my daughter

Give your Valentine a personalized card with her picture on the front cover and a QR code on the inside. After she reads the very romantic note you have written for her, she'll scan the QR code with her Smartphone which will take her to a YouTube message you have prepared just for her. At this point if she wasn't touched by your card, your note or the candy you gave her, this will definitely do the trick. She'll know how much you care after seeing all the 'trouble' you've gone through. It might even register you in the laurels of the great romantics.

BTW, she doesn't need to know that creating this card was actually very easy. Here's how it's done:

Select the picture you wish to put on the front cover of the card and store it on a USB jump drive.
Select a YouTube video you want to share with her (make sure you have the rights to it, or create one for the occasion yourself).
Create a QR Code for the YouTube URL: you can find several QR Code services on-line that create QR codes and many are free. This is what I used: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
The QRC service provider will create the image of a QR code that corresponds to your video; use your favorite screen shot software to snap the image of the QR code from the PC Monitor. (I use this free software: QuickScreenCapture.) Save the QR image in JPG format and put it on the same jump drive as her image for the front of the card. Watch this video to see how I did this in just 3 minutes
Now you're ready to create your personalized card. To do this, go to a KODAK Kiosk at a store near you (there are thousands of them across the country: use this link to locate the one nearest you). Once there, insert your USB jump drive in the kiosk and follow the easy directions for creating an instant greeting card (take a look at this video to see how I did this in under 5 minutes )

I realize that the size of the intended audience (i.e. geeks who are also suave) is extremely small and perhaps an oxymoron. I also realize it is very unlikely I will reach any of them with this note; therefore, I depend on you, the reader, to forward this blog to the geek in your life and suggest this idea to him. BTW, I am neither geek nor suave, but I created one of these for our anniversary; the QR Code linked to a YouTube video of the first song we danced at our wedding; my wife loved it.

We live in a new hyper connected world, so we at Kodak are doing our part to bring you solutions that are easy to use and let you take advantage of the new technologies. We merge the old with the new and let you enjoy the best of both.

What you think? Does this idea have potential beyond the suave geeks, or am I really a geek in denial? What would you hyper connect with a QR code if you were to create this kind of card?

Added bonus: use this code for a 2-for-1 deal.

12 Hours of Sunlight

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST

I began an Art & Design Photography class last fall. An assignment given to first semester students is called "12 Hours of Sunlight" where you photograph one outdoor scene every 15-30 minutes from sunrise to sunset and create a photo journal of your experience.

The purpose of the assignment is to bring about a greater awareness of how natural light defines objects and affects mood as the sun moves across the sky, plus increase your ability to perceive what you are looking at. But all I could think is, "12 hours? Really? That's a lot of time!" And then there were the restrictions: no music, no books, no newspaper, no nothing - just you, your camera and your surroundings. I prefer to spend my weekends going on photo walks, hanging out with friends and family, taking weekend getaway trips or simply relaxing - not being stuck in one place all day.

Towards the end of the semester I got over my mental block and was ready to do the assignment, but then I saw my grade getting washed away by a month of heavy rain and fog. Finally in early December I got my chance. Once my way-too-early-for-a-weekend alarm went off at 6am, I grabbed my gear and some well-needed coffee, and headed out to the backyard.

I set up my scene and took my first shot at 6:40 am A half-hour later, I really started to get into the assignment when I noticed all of the shadows from the trees falling on the back of the house.

Then in late morning, the sun hit the glass door and reflected off the fence in the shape of two eyes, and the patio chairs created beautiful shadows.

Birds were chirping and flying from tree to tree. I even saw a hummingbird a couple of times, which is rare during winter. It was a real treat!

I began exploring the other side of the backyard, where I found several rusted old shovels and saws. I love the color of rust. (My sister says I'm weird for liking these types of things, but I feel there is art in just about everything. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it's what makes us individuals and keeps things interesting.)

The remainder of the day flew by, and I took my final shot at 5:10pm. Whew! That assignment was D-O-N-E!!!

Would I do this again? Definitely… but not anytime soon. It's a huge time commitment to give up an entire day, yet I felt a huge sense of accomplishment when I was through. I ended up really enjoying it, and realized how much there is to see in my own backyard that can be taken for granted day after day.

To see additional photos from my 12 Hours of Sunlight photo journal, checkout my Gallery slideshow.

Photo Books from My KODAK MOMENTS - on sale!

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:19:59 EST

My KODAK MOMENTS, the Facebook app we launched last year to create photo books right within Facebook, is having a sale. The popular Medium sized book, 8.5" x 9.5", is on sale for $9.95 (normally $14.95) and FREE SHIPPING! That's a savings of over $10 all together!

Not only that, the books are very easy to make. You can select from your own Facebook photos or even your friends' Facebook photos - a great way to surprise someone with a thoughtful gift. Have a friend (or a hubby) who is an athlete? - make a book of their last race.

Have a friend who is a cakepop queen? - make her a book of her creations.

Have a friend who not only takes photos of her pug, but has her pug TAKE photos?! Make her a Pug Book.

I opted to make a photo book for my daughter of her dance recital. Knowing how much she loves photos, I have a feeling she will carry this one around with her and cherish it forever.

My KODAK MOMENTS Photo Book Screens

View more presentations from Eastman Kodak.

So check out the My KODAK MOMENTS app and use this deal to make some memories to hold and cherish.

Kodak Picture of the Day: winter love

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST

Photographer: tony derosa

"New at light painting, just loved this one, it is in Leavenworth WA. I loved the lighting they have and it was winter so i called it winter love. It felt so warm."

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You can enter your own Kodak Picture of the Day.

A personalized photo card, collage or calendar... it's the perfect gift for that special Valentine

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:18:29 EST

Dozier is looking for a Valentine maybe you can help him out?

With Valentine's Day is right around the corner, why not create that special gift yourself? Check out PrintProjects powered by RocketLife - it's the easy way to create and print your own greeting card, photo book, calendar or collage at home and in minutes – right on your home inkjet printer. It's fast, easy, and creative. You can add text and graphics, background effects and more.

What are you waiting for? Make your special someone's day even more special and turn those moments into special memories. Visit www.kodak.com/go/printprojects

5 creative Valentine's gift ideas for your EASYSHARE camera

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! It is always an opportunity to do something thoughtful for your special someone. Here are some creative ways to give the gift of an EASYSHARE camera this Valentine's Day:

1- Take a picture of a creative message. You give the gift of a brand new EASYSHARE digital camera. As your valentine turns on the camera, they see the special message you had waiting just for them

2- A scavenger hunt. Take pictures ahead of time to create a fun treasure hunt adventure

3- A special proposal. You give her the camera and she is so excited with the gift. Little does she know that there is more! She turns on the camera, sees the proposal and then turns and you are down on one knee J

4- Record a Video message

5- A promise to capture future memories together Check out some of the EASYSHARE Valentine's

Specials:

http://stores.kodak.com/cameras
Sears.com for a $39.95 special on the KODAK EASYSHARE C1505!
Walmart.com for a $79.95 special on the KODAK EASYSHARE C1550 bundle!

"I Need a Hero…"

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST

"…. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light." When the new Kodak Hero line of all-in-one printers came out this past Fall, Bonnie Tyler's song, "I Need a Hero" pops into my head. These latest printers are worth "holding out" for if you're looking for a new AiO.

The flagship Kodak Hero 9.1 , can satisfy the ENTIRE family. Don't believe me? Take a look at the very thorough review from Printer Comparison. It received their Editor's Choice award because it "combined so many useful features in one package for a decent price….and an excellent option as a household printer, especially for multi-person households where everyone seems to have different needs".

My trusty Kodak Hero 9.1 at my desk

For my family, we have a lot of activities going on at any given moment. My kids are making copies for their homework projects, my husband is printing off his business proposals, I'm faxing off registration forms for extracurricular activities and camps for the kids or printing photos to send to grandparents (yes, they are on email, but they always ask me for "real photos"). So I chose the Hero 9.1 because the automatic document feeder, fax, two-sided printing capability and separate tray for photo paper increases my family's productivity.

Separate photo paper tray sits above the main paper tray

My favorite and very useful feature of the printer is the Kodak Email Print Service (KEPS). Since I check my email primarily from my phone these days. I often need the convenience to print emails and attachments from my Android smartphone. With KEPS, I no longer have to turn on my laptop and log into my email account to print any pertinent emails or attachments. After registering the Hero 9.1 with KEPS, a unique email address is assigned to the printer. Then all I have to do is forward my emails to the printer's email address to be printed!¹ I can even have my family and friends e-mail photos directly to my printer where they will be automatically printed out as a 4x6" borderless photo in stunning picture quality on the photo paper that is loaded in the separate photo paper tray. Any e-mail and standard document attachments will be printed out on plain paper by default. Pretty smart printer don't you think?

Hey, you're welcome to test drive this cool feature. Feel free to send me an email or a photo to my printer ananbjfq@kodakeprint.com. Also, when you register your Hero printer, you will receive a Microsoft Tag on your confirmation page to allow you to scan and add the printer's email address into your smartphone's contact list. Give this a try – scanning the Microsoft Tag below will create a contact for you with the above email address for the printer:

To get the free MICROSOFT Tag app for your phone, go to http://gettag.mobi

After scanning, on my smartphone, I then received this screen to add the email address to my contacts:

As you can see, you have the ability to share your printer's email address to anyone, keep it to yourself or limit who can print emails to your printer by creating a list of authorized email addresses.

I'll follow up with a post in a few weeks and share some of the items you have sent me. So that everyone can have the opportunity to test this feature on my printer, let's be courteous and not send inappropriate content (or else I will need to change the email address, obtain a new one, and our fun will have to end).

The Hero 9.1 is also very easy to use, especially with the 4.3" touch screen display. It has very intuitive icons that even my kids can understand. They are already familiar with touching icons on an iPod touch/iPad, so it was easy for them to find the copy icon and start making their copies. And I'm no longer worried about them making TOO MANY copies because the premium inks are affordably priced. All Kodak printer models feature the Lowest Total Ink Replacement Cost compared to any other inkjet printer model available on the market today.²

Now, if you don't have a need for an automatic document feeder and fax, consider the Kodak Hero 7.1 . It offers the same great ink value and print quality as the Kodak Hero 9.1.

I look forward to receiving your greetings and photos you'll be sending to my Kodak Hero 9.1, and coming back here in a few weeks to share them with you!

And if you want a full tour of the Kodak Hero 9.1 and 7.1, check out these videos on Kodak's YouTube channel

Kodak Hero 9.1 and the Kodak Hero 7.1

¹See Kodak's Cloud Printing website http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/ContentTheme/pbPage.cloud_printing_lp for details on applications and file types that are supported

²Based on manufacturers' recommended standard ink cartridges available in single quantity pricing (i.e. no multi-packs, high capacity, combo packs, value packs or special promotions). Excludes printers that use only one cartridge

Valentine's Day Cards from KODAK Picture Kiosk

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:13:09 EST

I can't believe it's February already! Time for hearts, roses, and candy, OH MY. (Side note: it's also Groundhog Day, which I LOVE… the movie, that is!).

Valentine's Day is just around the corner – and we all know what that means (besides the hope of a new bauble to add to our jewelry boxes and a GIANT box of chocolates)… cards, cards and more cards. Cards for hubby, cards for wife, cards for Grandparents, card for kids and, if you're a parent of a youngster, you know this - most importantly – Valentine's for the classmates… (aah, memories… I just LOVED getting Valentines, even if it was forced).

As you may know, the KODAK Picture Kiosk has many types of cards – flat, traditional folded, single sided, double sided… that can all be customized with your own photos and words and printed in minutes, right in the store.

And the new 2012 Valentine's Day cards are in, with adorable designs from fashionista Bonnie Marcus, Hallmark (available at CVS) and more. The new designs from Hallmark include cards that can be cut into multiple cards, great for… yes, the previously mentioned kids' Valentine's, like this one:

Here is a slideshare of all my favorites – which one is your favorite?

Valentine's Cards from KODAK Picture Kiosk

To add to that, we have a coupon available right now to Buy One Greeting Card, Get One Free. And remember that not only can you use pics from a memory card or USB, but you can also connect right to your Facebook account to use your own or your Friend's* Facebook photos (hint to the guys, your wife/girlfriend/s.o. probably has a pic of the two of you together that would be perfect on a card and garner big points :)

To find a KODAK Picture Kiosk nearest you, visit Kodak.com/go/findakiosk

*based on their Facebook privacy settings.

5 Creative Valentine's Day Ideas for Your KODAK PULSE Digital Frame

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST

The only thing I love more than going all out for the Holidays is getting creative with technology, and bringing a special touch to those around me. The KODAK PULSE Digital Frame is one of those items that makes it simple to share with your sweetheart. The Pulse is better than a onetime gift because it's wireless and can receive pictures from anywhere around the world through its custom email address. I'm convinced this gadget makes the perfect gift, so I've brainstormed 5 ideas on how you can personalize your Pulse frame and spread the love this Valentine's Day:

1. Digital Cards: Create a digital Valentine's Day card and send it to their frame.

Download my superhero template at Kodak's Tips & Project Exchange

2. Couples Playlist: If you set up the frame, or have access to the user's Pulse account, you can create a special Valentine's Day playlist with pictures of you and your sweetheart just for Valentine's Day.

3. Special Places: Throughout the day send pictures of your special places to their frame to remind them of your special memories.

4. Mystery Gift: Send a silhouette/clue/puzzle of their mystery Valentine's Day gift, the fun and anticipation will make it that much more exciting.

5. Memories: Much like the digital card, you can send a picture with a note remembering all the milestones, inside jokes, and happy memories you've shared.

Learn more about the Kodak Pulse Frame!

The Creative Approach to Valentine's Jewelry

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:05:07 EST

In my job as a product manager, I tap into a variety of sources for creative inspiration. I spend time visiting Websites and reading blogs that showcase handmade crafts. I peruse all sorts of product catalogs and magazines. I read up on the latest fashion trends. All of this helps me anticipate what the next gift trends might be.

So when I thought about what types of presents to give friends and family for Valentine's Day this year, I tapped into those very same sources. All I knew was that I wanted to give them something special, unusual and one-of-a kind.

After some deliberation, the answer came to me - I decided to design my own custom jewelry! I figured jewelry would be well received by all my female friends & family members (I mean, who doesn't like jewelry??), and I especially liked the idea of giving something of substantial quality that will last a long time AND is fashionable.

While creating custom jewelry may sound like it requires a lot of time and skill, I came up with a super easy way to do it, with a huge assist from the Kodak Gallery Website. I selected a few of the hand-crafted sterling silver pieces displayed on the site and added personalized images that I designed on my own.

Now I am by no means an expert in online design, but it was easy to create a handful of attractive images. I simply designed a couple of patterns with cute heart shapes from existing stencils and then added letters to some of them. I also played with creating black and white monogram pieces, which is a big trend at the moment.

Then I saved the images as jpg files and added them to the jewelry pieces on the Gallery Website during the jewelry creation process, just like I would if I were using photos. (Tip: for best results, make sure the images are high resolution and the text is crisp!) A creative alternative would be to scan an image you or your kids have drawn and save it as an image file.

Take a look at my creations below. I hope you like them and perhaps they will inspire YOU to be your own Jewelry Designer. The only problem is that after seeing how cute they are, you just might want to keep all the jewelry pieces for yourself!

Sterling Silver One Charm Necklaces

Sterling Silver Three Charms Necklace

Purse Charm

Sterling Silver One charm Bracelet

Check out all of the jewelry pieces available from Kodak Gallery.

Even better, we're offering Kodak Gallery's Facebook Fans $20 off all necklaces and bracelets through February 6. Click here to get this offer!

Guest Post: Airplane Photography

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

Today we have a guest blog post from Kedar Karmarkar sharing some insight into his amazing interest - airplane photography.

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My interest in military aviation began when I was a kid, reading the exploits of the Luftwaffe and allied aces in WW2. My parents encouraged my curiosity by buying me books on military aviation. It was 1999 and life landed me in Sunnyvale California in the USA - right next to Moffett Federal Airfield. I attended my first airshow at Moffett - where I stood in awe of aircraft like F/A-18C, F-15C, F-16C, E-2C and other vintage warbirds. I went to SFO Fleet Week where I saw the USN Blue Angels perform live - and it was a kick in the pants.

I joined an online watering hole for Aviation photographers - Fencecheck.com - and learnt a lot from the site members sharing knowledge and techniques. I switched to Nikon in 2004, and steadily upgraded my gear as my shooting techniques as the years went by.

I call it the "Blues Stack". I had gone to NAF El Centro for their airshow in which the Blue Angels open their air show season. As the Blues landed after their routine, I noticed they were slowly forming into a line astern formation even on the ground. It immediately struck me if I go for a low shot it might be an interesting perspective - so I slept on the dusty ground, camera in hand, and focussed on the approaching formation - and just before they started turning clicked a series of shots.

That is what they say - Professionals discuss Logistics, while Amateurs discuss tactics. The problem of logistics is solved partly by Air Power in getting fuel, food, supplies in setting up a war machine miles away from home. I was at Riverside airport, where a C-17 was taking off for the demo. As it went for its takeoff roll, a huge dust cloud gathered behind it - I was almost thinking of "Rise from the ashes" title for this shot - as the C-17 emerged ahead and above the dust cloud.

The B-2 Spirit represents the cutting edge of technology, and avionics. A lot of complexities go in manufacturing the bomber, from the internal structure to even the skin and paint, to make it stealthy. This pictures the B-2 Spirit performing a flyby at the Sacramento Mather air show - and I decided to go black-n-white on this one to show its graceful aerodynamic lines.

The F-22 Raptor again is the fifth generation fighter - and the same can be said about this aircraft as well. Based at various air bases along the East Coast, Mid-West, West Coast, and Alaska, the F-22 forms the backbone of Air Defence of the United States. This picture was taken at Pt Mugu in 2007. The atmospherics were ideal to form vapor both the days and even slow aircraft like the F-117 Nighthawk and the A-10 Thunderbolt-II were generating vapor as they flew their Tactical Demo – the result was awesome. As the aircraft goes transonic or high-g maneuvers, rapid pressure changes around boundary layer air, cause a temperature drop causing humidity to condense for a real short amount of time.

One of the unique opportunities I got, was to attend a live air power demo by the Indian Air Force. Conducted in the desert ranges of Rajasthan, this was the first time where the IAF would start early evening, into the dusk and proceed into the pitch-black night, dropping live rockets, and bombs onto targets below. That day the sunset was diffused by clouds, leading to really low light at the time of the Su-30MKI Tac Demo. As it approached the box, I kept panning handholding the 200-400 lens. The moment was captured as it started rolling around releasing flares.

One of the most exciting moments that occur at an air show are the convergence of 3-4 aircraft as if they are about to collide - it draws a lot of "oohs and aahs" from the crowd. Performed here by the Red Arrows, aerobatic team of the Royal Air Force, this picture captures that moment of chaos, confusion and amazement just before they converge and diverge.

There is nothing more exciting to outfit the rear of an transport with rockets and fire them as it takes off and that too in the late evening light. The above picture is of a C-130 Hercules nicknamed "Fat Albert" - member of the USN Blue Angels - taking off firing rockets in the setting Sun at Quebec, Canada. Shot at 6400 ISO, the D3 came to my rescue.

One of the best formation flights I like depicts the evolution of fighters in the USAF and serves as a memorial flight to the pilots who flew them before, and who fly them today - USAF Heritage Flight. Seen flying at Nellis AFB, is a P-51 Mustang: successful fighter of WW-II; the F-4 Phantom: a Vietnam era fighter that still serves today in other nation's air forces; the venerable A-10 Thunderbolt-II: that redeemed itself in the 1990 Gulf War and continues to fight strong; and the tip of the spear, the F-22 Raptor: representing the cutting edge of an air supermacy fighter today.

In 2011 I visited NAF El Centro as a photo-call was organized by the base with various Aviation photography forums. The picture that stands out from that trip is that of a F/A-18F Super Hornet taking to the air with afterburners lit and on a roll. I cropped the picture real tight to show the action: and as one of the guys commented: i hear the noise and feel the heat, just by looking at this!! I post-processing it with selective coloring and I like the end result.

Business took me to Johannesburg in South Africa. When they think Africa, most folks think about the Big-5. Uh-uh. I was thinking of capturing the aircraft of the African nations. I did a lot of online research about spotting at Johannesburg and was helped by many folks. One of the pictures I got was of a Xian MA-60 - Chinese-built Antonov An-24 of the Zimbabwean Airlines, kitted out with a Pratt&Whitney turboprop engine.

This picture captures another awestruck and breath-taking moment in an air show - the Wall of Fire - and Gene Soucy seems flying headlong into it - taken at Quebec, Canada. You can see the crowd all standing up to see the spectacle.

One is always proud of the hard work and efforts that go into producing something complex as a fighter aircraft, by one's own country. India started work a long time ago on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and due to political, and other constraints, work was stalled for a while since the other nations withdrew any support to the program. Renewed interest, and change in the economic and political regimes led to a huge impetus to the program. All the long hours and hard work bore fruition when the LCA christened Tejas (Radiance) took its first flight in 2001. Its been a long and arduous journey to where its at today. This picture was taken at Aero India 2009, Bangalore and shows the Tejas as it rolls around. Capturing the photo at a certain angle in the roll almost makes it seem, that the Tejas is rolling in for a ground attack, and is going to level the wings and let off a burst - well almost!!

Another picture I am proud of, is that of the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT). The team represents the elite flyers of the IAF and serves as flying ambassadors of India. The team too has come a long way since a six aircraft team was raised in 1996. The SKAT stood down in May 2011, for operational and logistical reasons; but discussions abound that they will be resurrected soon. This picture shows the opening sequence of the nine-man team as they open their routine from behind the crowd, flying the Indian tricolor using smoke. It looks as if all the aircraft have originated from one point in space.

As an aviation photographer, its everyone's dream to get a crack at an air-2-air session. The Belgium Aviation Photocrew had organized the Air to Air Academy and I took the opportunity - photographing great warbirds over the beautiful landscape and skies over Belgium. One photo from that adventure stands out for me for the close-up action it gives to the viewer. It is a formation shot of two T-28 Trojans over the skies, and to give it some more boost, I rotated my camera not to level with the horizon, but give it more of a banking feel than level flight.

While flying is a serious business in itself, Combat flying is much more serious – but who said military pilots are a serious lot – they can be fun too. Seen here is a pilot in the F-16 Viper, from the 18^th Aggressor Squadron - named "Blue Foxes" from Eielson AFB, AK – making the "Blue Fox" sign after landing. The 18^th AGRS provide the Red Air Force component to the Pacific Air Forces, simulating the enemy procedures and maneuvers in training exercises. The Red Flag exercises provide as-close-to-combat-in-a-mock-environment to allied Air Forces. This picture was taken at Mountain Home AFB, ID where the 18^th AGRS was turning and burning in the skies with the Indian Air Force for their workups to the Red Flag Exercises at Nellis AFB I 2008.

And last but not the least, I want to end this by remembering the WW-II veterans who really gave away their youth, and some of them, even their lives, fighting in the War – causing death, destruction and despair on both sides. This picture is of a Nakajima B5N "Kate" bomber aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy causing mayhem as seen at Salinas Air Show. I have given a black and white and a grainy look to it for taking us back into time, when the actual attack might have occurred at Pearl Harbor. The second picture is of a B-25 Mitchell bomber flying at Aviation Nation Air Show at Nellis AF. The post-process I have done to it reminds me of the pilots and their crews after the Doolittle raid: flying low in the jungles of South East Asia, desperately trying to make it into China.

- Kedar Karmarkar

Sharing my Cake Pops

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

Cake pops - cake crumbs mixed with frosting, dipped in chocolate and served on a stick. For a choc-o-holic (like me), they are little bites of heaven! One short year and half ago, I made my first cake pops as a special treat for my good friend's 30^th birthday party. It was a very frustrating first experience. The pops fell into the chocolate and off the sticks more times than I can count… but people's reactions to the finished product (and the taste) made me want to try again.

I am now known for my cake pops. Starting out simple – with solid colors and some pretty sprinkles, I was able to graduate to ghosts and pumpkins for Halloween and then turkeys for Thanksgiving. By winter, I had the cake pop fever and no holiday could pass without my mind thinking up some mini treat… snowmen and penguins for a ski trip, Guinness glasses and pots of gold for the St. Patrick's Day parade, even bunnies and chicks for Spring! If you happened to mention the theme for your child's birthday party, I would show up with Hello-Kitty, Lightning McQueen, Mr. Potato Head, lady bug, Minnie Mouse and even Batman cake pops! I have found that there is always a good occasion for cake pops – birthdays, baby showers, holidays, street picnics, graduations, or just because.

I find inspiration everywhere. Did you know that Christmas tree sprinkles make great Batman ears? Licorice can be a snowman's scarf, a graduation tassel or a butterfly's antennae! Heart sprinkles become hair bows, bow-ties or even a bee's wings. Bakerella is the original cake pop creator but there are tons of ideas and images online. I usually draw out a few ideas and mark down the colors and candies I'll need. I generally stock up on supplies (you should see my sprinkle collection!) because I cake pop late at night, after my son has gone to sleep. I love the chance to bring these ideas to life but my favorite part is when all of the details are complete, I take a few photos, post them on Facebook and wait for the responses. I can't wait to use the EasyShare Wireless camera to post all of my pictures right from the kitchen! In the meantime, I have made so many pops that I have enough for a photo book portfolio of the memories.

Check out my cake pop photo book on Kodak Gallery:

A Working Vacation

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

In the mist of everything going on in 2011, and the knowledge of what was to come in 2012, getting away for a 6-day vacation was high on our anticipated list of things to do. Christmas came with a flurry of activity but certainly NOT a flurry of snow! The family came; they ate; they opened presents; they visited and they left. The tree and decorations were down and the house back in order in record time.

Monday morning we loaded up the car and headed to Freeport, Maine - yes, AGAIN. Larry and I consider the Harraseeket Inn our 'home away from home'. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived that there was snow on the ground! Good for us - GREAT for the dogs! Penny, having only experienced snow once when she was just a few weeks old, completely lost any training that she received - out the window went Level 1 and Level 2 Obedience – and became almost uncontrollable with her desire to run, run, run!

Freeport and Mr. Cooper were just as excited, but stayed somewhat sane. Of course, Larry and I enjoyed the crisp whiteness of the newly fallen snow as well. Knowing the snow would not last long, we took advantage of the 2 snow days, hiking through the local parks and campgrounds, where we met fellow hikers and their dogs.

Mr. Cooper's new Girlfriend!

Doesn't anyone want to chase me?!

The snow went and the rain came - thank goodness for Doodie Pack!

Larry and I have been going to the Harraseeket Inn since 2001 and consider everyone there our extended family. In keeping with that thought, and knowing the number of children that stay there between Christmas and New Years, I offered up Freeport & Mr. Cooper's services as R.E.A.D. dogs for the children. The concept was simple: put a sign-up sheet at the lobby desk and provide a quiet location for us to set up. With everything happening last minute, we weren't sure what to expect. Silly me! Knowing the photos of the dogs were on the signup sheet, and knowing the love the front staff have for our 3 'little ones', it wasn't long before children and parents started showing up.

Oh, the joy it brought to my heart to see my 3 'babies' being consumed by loving arms of children. Even those that were first fearful, because of the dogs' size, were soon overpowered with the kindness and gentleness Freeport, Mr. Cooper and yes, even Penny showed. We offered to take photos and developed them at the local CVS store, leaving the finished products at the lobby desk for them to take home. No one refused! How could they! They were Kodak Moments in the making. The 'Mommy Cards' I made at Kodak Gallery were given to children and parents alike.

All gave permission to use the photos in this blog, and so I close, leaving you with the joy of children (young and old) reading to our 4-legged family members:

Kodak Picture of the Day: Points

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

Photographer: Steven Shpall

"Curve of the paper in low light"

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You can enter your own Kodak Picture of the Day.

What would Cupid give his Valentine?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

Arrows only go so far. Once your Valentine is love-struck, what does Cupid recommend to keep the love and affection growing strong? Unfortunately, this is Cupid's busiest time of year, so he was unavailable for comment. However, we do know that Cupid likes to keep the element of surprise on his side when he lets those arrows fly.

So I will take my cue from Cupid with unexpected gift ideas that go straight to the heart:

Profess your passion

As a flighty and flirty 'love bug' himself, Cupid would highly approve of expressing your feelings along with a 'cute couple shot' of the two of you on our Sealed with a Kiss card. Fun, sweet, and casual, it exudes charm. Of course, there are many Valentine's Day Cards to choose from to ensure the perfect one.

Love. Match. Set.

Be upfront about your feelings with our matching photo gifts and cards collections, "Modern Love" and "Love Flourish." Both collections feature the word "Love" as an integral part of the designs, which will beautifully embellish meaningful moments. The harmonized designs are available for wall décor, love mugs and cards, bound to hit their mark as romantically personalized photo gifts.

Tell the story of your happily ever after

Cupid loves to know when his matches are everlasting! So share the story of your love in a Photo Book. Gather photos of the memories and milestones you've shared—the trips, anniversaries, family events—you get the idea! Turn them into the book that only you can create.

For more charming ideas approved by the world's most social butterfly (who really gets around), visit our Valentine's Gift Guide.

It's #CMAD and here's the new Community Manager for Kodak!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:59:47 EST

Hi Everyone!

Did you know that today is Community Manager Appreciation Day? It couldn't come at a better time, because I've been looking for the perfect opportunity to introduce myself to you. Yes, I have taken on a new job at Kodak to be in charge of our Tips and Projects Exchange and I'm looking forward to meeting all of my community members!!

Kodak TPX is a great little spot. You can learn more about how to take great photos and videos. You can learn all about printables and other goodies. But, best of all, you can upload your own projects, participate in challenges, and be one among a lot of peeps who are just like you.

You can still find me @kodakcameras ( I love all you guys and couldn't imagine leaving you J , and I've now taken on @kodakcommunity and @kodak twitter handles as well. I will also be posting our fun projects and challenges from the community on to Kodak's page on Facebook.

Come on over and join the Kodak Tips and Projects Exchange! I look forward to meeting you!

Here is a funny lolz cats pic Jenny aka @KodakCB made for the occasion.

Near or far…Give your sweetheart the gift of a Kodak Pulse digital frame this Valentine's Day!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:56:19 EST

I've talked to many people about the KODAK Pulse Digital frame, and nearly everyone instantly realizes how great it is for sending pictures to your sweetheart, friends, and family members near or far. Special moments happen every day, and now you can share them instantly! Email that romantic picture of your first Christmas together or the look on his face when he opens your special gift. Or, post a picture on Facebook knowing that it will automatically appear on his Pulse frame - instantly. I remember sending a special Valentine to my husband last year. He has a Pulse frame on his desk at work, so instead of putting a card in the mail, I sent him a picture that I drew in the sand the previous summer.

Pulse frames connect everyone no matter where you live. Family & friends can send new pictures to the frame, wirelessly, from anywhere around the world (via email, smart phones, or Facebook). You see, the Pulse frame has its own email address – pretty cool way to share memories as soon as they happen. It's energy efficient with a built-in activity sensor that senses motion as soon as you walk into the room. And, it automatically refreshes itself with pictures all day long. Best of all, set-up is a breeze. Simply create your own customized email address, select the Facebook albums (yours and/or your friends) to connect to, or upload pictures directly from your browser. Imagine the look on his face as pictures start flowing in.

Additionally, Pulse can be configured and controlled remotely through your web browser from the comfort of your couch, even if your loved one is across the country or across the ocean.

So this Valentine's Day, give him the gift of love through pictures – no matter where he is!

Learn more about the Pulse Digital Frame
Find promo's and more on the Kodak Facebook Page.

The Women in My Life are Hard to Shop For

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:38:17 EST

I'm lucky enough to be blessed with an amazing girlfriend and a fantastic mother, but having great women in your life presents challenges when it comes to Valentine's Day gifts – since they're both hard to shop for.

My girlfriend Laura (the newest sweetie is my life) is hard to shop for because we've only been together for a few months, so I'm still getting to know what she likes and what she doesn't. I feel especially challenged since I just got her the perfect Christmas gift, and now I'm stuck figuring out how to top it just a few weeks later!

My mom (the original sweetie in my life) is difficult to shop for too, but for a different reason. Since I've been getting her gifts for so long now, it's hard to keep surprising her with something new. I'd love to give her a gift she's genuinely excited about, instead of getting her normal motherly reply of thinking no matter what I do, it's the best thing ever (like all moms, she's wonderfully encouraging, but a little on the biased side).

So you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Kodak Gallery would be running a 'Sweetie Sale' for Valentine's Day this year. But this isn't just a regular sale. It's perfectly catered to people like me who could use a little guidance when it comes to Valentine's shopping.

Here's how it works: my favorite sweeties take a few minutes to check out all of Kodak Gallery's great gifts, then send me an email "hint" with a personalized message to get me going in the right direction (while I think my mom would like a Photo Book to show off her growing family, and my girlfriend would like Wall Art to spruce up her new apartment, why not be sure?).

Even with their guidance, I'll still get the chance to put my own personal touch on their gifts and surprise them with some of my favorite photos - like a recent family outing or a daytime adventure date in the park. My sweeties will help me feel like I really shined with gifts this year by giving me fresh ideas both for someone I'm still learning about and for someone I know all too well.

Click here to learn more about our Sweetie Sale and to give your own sweetie some helpful hints on what you'd like for Valentine's Day. And when you - or your sweetie - purchase by 1/25, you'll get 30% off your entire order of $30 or more!

Kodak Picture of the Day: Seagull

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:34:56 EST

Photographer: Anirban Ghosh, India

"A girl is playing with some seagull in Varanasi,India."

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You can enter your own Kodak Picture of the Day.

Your Life on the Big Screen…. Big Screen Fridge that is……

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

Are you a die-hard facebook user? Do you document your life on your facebook page with photos? Do you reminiscence with friends and family about all those fun, crazy times like riding in a limo with Muhammad Ali, or throwing out the first pitch at a minor league baseball game? Or losing your lunch box to a gorilla at the zoo? Or do you just like sharing those great recipes? Life is full of memories why not print them, relive them and share them and not just online.

At Kodak, we believe that when you print a piece of your life on paper, it means more and lasts longer than it does on any big screen – From a great family photo to a ticket to Muhammad Ali's 50^th Birthday Party, the KODAK HERO family of printers can help you make your online life mean more and last longer, a lifetime longer.

See what your "Life on the Fridge" looks like, go to www.facebook.com/kodak and click on our the new "Life on the Fridge" app. It's not only fun, but you can also find out how to save even more than your memories.

Thanks for reading this Blog post!

How to create your own camera obscura

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

If you're a photography buff and are looking for something fun to do with your kids this winter, pick a bright sunny day and try making a gigantic camera obscura out of one of your bedrooms! Essentially, you'll be turning your entire room into a camera with you on the inside, and you can watch images of the world outside your window being projected on the ceiling and walls, or on a white sheet hung from the ceiling.

No special tools are needed for this project, just the following: aluminum foil, light-proof tape (duct tape, electrical tape), an exacto knife, and maybe a white sheet and a couple thumbtacks. The whole project should take an hour or less, depending on how large of a window your room has.

First, choose a room. The view out the window should be interesting - this is what you'll see in your camera. Something facing an active street is especially interesting as you'll be able to watch cars drive by. Ideally the room will have only one window, and has a door which is pretty light tight too. You'll need to make this room as pitch-black as possible for this to work.

Next, remove any interior or exterior screens from your window - they'll make it more difficult and degrade the image. Cover the entire window with aluminum foil, using the light-proof tape to secure it and ensure that no light leaks through. Warning - some tapes might leave a residue when your project is over, or harm the finish of the frame - so proceed carefully and at your own risk! Once the window is covered, turn off the lights and tape over any remaining light leaks.

Choose a spot near the center of the window to create a hole for the lens. Higher placement will show more sky in your view, and lower placement will show more ground. At this spot, cut a small window into the foil, about 3x3". Use tape to secure the inside edges of this hole directly to the window glass, leaving at least a 1x1" opening.

If your room is painted white, you can actually just let the images project onto the walls themselves and the ceiling - but it'll likely be pretty dim and you'll have to let your eyes get used to the dark. To make it easier to see, hang a white sheet from the ceiling - try about 4 feet from the window to start with. Your camera will have a very wide field of view too, so use a big sheet. The closer the sheet/screen is to the window, the brighter it will be, but also the smaller the magnification. Essentially you're adjusting the focal length of your camera by moving the sheet closer and further away.

The image will be created by light passing through a pinhole lens placed over the opening you created earlier. It's really as simple as the name implies - a small round hole cut into a sheet of tinfoil. Take a small piece of foil and try making a hole about the size of a dime - maybe a bit smaller. Try to make it as round as you can, with cleanly cut edges - this will ensure the best image quality. Smaller holes will make sharper images, but also dimmer ones. Tape this pinhole lens in place, turn off the lights, and see how it works! You can easily experiment with different "apertures" (pieces of foil with different sized holes) to balance between image sharpness (small) and image brightness (large).

The very first cameras were not very different from this at all - and even before photographic plates were invented to capture the projected image, camera obscurae were used by artists to trace accurate renditions of scenes - as far back as Aristotle in the 4th century B.C.! Have fun re-creating this fun piece of photographic history!

Top 10 Kodak Pulse Reviews of 2011

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:26:57 EST

Here at Kodak we are very proud of our Pulse digital frame. It just makes us happy to see how much people love this product. In fact, according to our internal research, more than 75% of Pulse owners have taken the initiative to recommend it to their friends, but we also love it when 3^rd party review sites recommend Pulse.

As we ring in the New Year, and just announced Kodak's new products of 2012 at CES, I thought it would be fun to go through and summarize some of the KODAK PULSE Digital Frame's top 10 reviews of 2011:

10 - Our friends around the world like Pulse…
TecnoBlog (Brazil)
Xataka (Spain)
PCactual (Spain)
ItrNews (France)
PersonalMoney (Russia)
AftenBladet (Norway)

9 - Hexus gave Pulse a 4/5 rating. This article included a more in-depth, technical review for those of you who like looking under the hood.

8 - I have this quote posted above my desk:

"But a select few gadgets earned a special place in my heart, just by being insanely cool, insanely practical, or both. On this very exclusive list: the Apple iPhone … most recently, Kodak Pulse digital photo frame." – Savings.com

7 - We love the folks at Shiny Shiny right back.

6 - Here is what DaDa Rocks had to say for Father's Day.

5 - Pulse was in a lot of Mother's Day gift guide's this year, like the one by our friends in Toronto, Ontario.

4 - The Chicago Tribute has Pulse on its Holiday Giving List.

3 - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) gave Pulse two awards at CES 2011 – one for innovation with the new Kodak Pulse 10" model and one for our energy saving activity sensor (a new feature introduced at CES this past year).

2 - Inside Facebook named Pulse as one of the 10 best Facebook-integrated devices at CES 2011.

1 - Maybe my favorite review of the year was this article written by Mashable. They clearly put the product through its paces and came out with at great conclusion.

For more about the KODAK PULSE Digital Frame, visit our product page on Kodak.com

Kodak Earns Three CES Innovations Awards

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:18:01 EST

We like to have flair on our lanyards at CES! Kodak earned three CES Innovation Awards for 2012.

The three Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards are for the KODAK HERO 9.1 All-in-One Printer, KODAK PLAYFULL Waterproof Video Camera and KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera/Zx5. That brings the total of 27 CES Innovations Awards to date for Kodak! Products are judged by a panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting-edge consumer electronics products.

The Kodak PlayFull Dual Video Camera and Kodak EasyShare M750 Wireless Camera were also finalists for Laptop Mag's Best of CES Awards!

Kodak Digital Camera Look Book for CES

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:03:36 EST

Lately look books have become popular online for the fashion industry. It's a peek at a new line of clothes highlighting colors and styles

On top of top knot imaging and great features, Kodak Digital Cameras are great looking too! A lot of thought goes into the design and color selection of each camera.

Here is a "look book" for the new Kodak Digital Cameras here at CES. Check out the inspiration behind each and the colors they come in!

Kodak Digital Camera Look Book for CES

Kodak NexPress Photo Press at CES 2012

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:58:24 EST

There is something in the Kodak booth that you won't see anywhere else on the show floor at CES 2012.

In one corner sits a device that is about the size of a car… it won't fit on your desktop or pocket.

The Kodak NexPress Photo 3300 Press is running and printing out samples live. Visitors are attracted to the stacks of photo books, colorful calendars and photos that come off the press. Then they are really wowed by features like raised dimensional printing and virtually invisible clear ink that shows up under UV light.

It has been one of the busiest spot in the Kodak booth!

Kodak Inkjet AiO Hero Printers at CES 2012

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:46:20 EST

The Kodak AiO Hero Inkjet Printers have some cool news here at CES this year. There are so many ways to get your photos and documents to your printer whether you are standing next to it or miles away.

You can send prints and documents to your Kodak Printers using Google Cloud Print™ or KODAK Email Print .

The new Kodak Document Print App lets you send docs from your Android phone right to your printer.

On Facebook check out the Kodak Photo Collage Print App. It pulls photos from your Facebook albums and creates a fun collage you can print out on your inkjet printer.

Kodak's Rod Eslinger and Jean-Henri Cote talk more about the printers and these feature on the show floor at CES 2012.

Haiti – two years after

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:33:45 EST

It's been two years since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti. Sadly, tent camps – often structures made of tarps held together by duct tape – are not uncommon even today. About half a million Haitians still live like this.

Many promises were made in the days following the earthquake. Dollars flowed into international organizations. Concerts were held. Funds were pledged. Yet too many people did not receive the help they needed. I've heard many wonder what happened to the dollars they sent.

I've been to Haiti three times since the earthquake, working with a small organization that was established before the earthquake. I've learned that the best way to help is through an organization that's been in the country before the disaster – one who understands the locals and is committed to staying after the world's focus shifts to the next catastrophe.

One-on-one help – several people helping a small group, or one person helping another person – is often the most rewarding. I've been able to do that with Mission E4. When it's personal like that, you know that your help is getting through. Sometimes you're the one actually helping to construct or paint the building yourself!

Jerry and Terry working on the construction of the boys' orphanage

Shyanne painting the girls' orphanage

After my initial trip to Haiti in March 2010, I began to sponsor a child, which costs about a dollar per day. This money funds that child's education (which is a big deal in a country were only 50% of the children can afford to go to school) and includes the school uniform, school supplies and books, and one meal each school day. Often it's the child's only meal.

Using the money they earned from dog-sitting, my daughters also began to sponsor Haitian children. When my husband and I and our three teenage children traveled to Haiti last January, we had the opportunity to meet our sponsored children and bring them gifts. My daughter Kalyna was delighted to meet the girl she's been sponsoring. I chanced upon them speaking through an interpreter.

"What would you like me to bring or send you next time?" my daughter asked Yvekar.

Oh-oh, I thought. Here it comes, the request for an iPod or something ridiculously expensive.

"Pencils," answered Yvekar. "I need pencils for school."

I was humbled. It was not the answer I had expected.

I sponsor more than one child now. It's kind of like a growing family. When I traveled to Haiti in October, I met my newest sponsored child, a three-year-old preschooler who lives under a tarp with her mother. I was delighted to meet this girl and give her the bag of simple presents I'd prepared for her – a stuffed animal, some soap, school supplies, and granola bars. I expected the girl to admire the stuffed toy, but she zeroed in on a granola bar, ripped open the wrapper, and ate it hungrily.

My newest sponsored child and her mother

Then I realized because it was morning, she had not yet had her daily meal at the school.

I recognize that using vacation time to travel to Haiti then do volunteer work in the hot sun is not everyone's idea of a holiday. But if you try it, you'll be more blessed than by any beach vacation you've ever taken!

Team members Lynn (left) and Linda (right) riding in a wildly colored tap-tap with me – photo by Peg Daly

The new Kodak EasyShare M750 Wireless Camera at CES 2012

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:44:17 EST

One of the new Kodak products here at CES that has got a lot of attention is the Kodak M750 Wireless Camera.

It has the excellent imaging capabilities expected like 16MP resolution and 5X optical zoom but the bonus is it's Wi-Fi capabilities.

There are two ways you can share wirelessly.

1 - You can connect to your home Wi-Fi network with the M750 and automatically send your pictures to Facebook, Kodak Gallery, email and more.

2 - If you don't have a Wi-Fi network available you can share your pictures with your smartphone (Android, iPhone or Blackberry) or tablet using the Kodak EasyShare Camera App.

Now you can share your memories right when they happen - anytime, anywhere!

Kodak's Joel White talks about the new Kodak M750 Wireless Camera from the Kodak booth at CES 2012.

1 MILLION People Have Printed from FACEBOOK at a KODAK Picture Kiosk

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:49:34 EST

Last year at CES, we were demonstrating a new feature for the KODAK Picture Kiosk – the ability to log in and print from FACEBOOK right at the kiosk. Since then, we've seen improvements to the feature – you can now also access your friends photos and post back to your wall - we've seen retailers in many countries add the feature, from Canada, Mexico, UK and Germany to all the way Down Under in Australia - and we've seen 1 MILLION people step up to a KODAK Kiosk to print their FACEBOOK photos!

The team at CES and back at the office really "likes" that people are printing their Facebook photos…

This year we continue to help people print their Facebook photos – as we show our new My Kodak Moments app – which lets you make photo books and prints right within Facebook and have them shipped home.

So with billions of photos on Facebook – growing by millions daily – we will continue to help people print their photos from Facebook to not only preserve the memories, but also make wonderful gifts.

If you need a little more motivation as to why it's still a good idea to print your photos – read this emotional story about a letter left on a pro photographers doorstep - "Portraits are More than Paper"

Visit our Photo Gifts page on Facebook to see more about the products you can print and sign up for News & Offers.

Kodak Coverage at CES

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:07:53 EST

Not everyone can make it to CES but there are ways you can keep up with all the news.

The Pulse Network is here in the Kodak booth doing interviews and streaming live online.

You can watch videos with Kodak folks and other industry experts here at CES on livestream.

The new products at the Kodak booth are getting some attention online. Check these articles covering the latest Kodak CES announcements.

Engadget - "Kodak intros new connected Easyshare M750 and Playfull Dual Camera, adds instant uploads over WiFi"

USAToday - "Kodak debuts new EasyShare, PlayFull cameras"

Yahoo! Finance - "Kodak Builds on the Award-Winning Share Button with the New Wi-Fi Enabled KODAK EASYSHARE Wireless Camera M750"

Photography Blog - "Kodak CES Hands-On Photos"

AllFacebook.com - "Kodak Captures Facebook Integration At CES"

The new Kodak PlayFull Dual Video Camera at CES

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:01:48 EST

One of the most anticipated product announcements at CES this year is the follow up to the very popular Kodak Zi8 Video Camera. Kodak has just announced the Kodak PlayFull Dual Video Camera.

The PlayFull Dual not only shoots 1080p at 60 fps but turn it on it's side and it's ready to take 12MP photos. Some extra features that set it apart are an external microphone jack for getting great sound in your videos and a xenon flash for taking pictures in low light.

Kodak's David Snook aka Vlogger Dude is here at the Kodak booth to demonstrate the PlayFull Dual to show CES visitors.

He also made this great video that outlines the differences between the Kodak Zi8 and the Kodak PlayFull Dual.

Michael Crouser: A Mid-Career Retrospective

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:27:10 EST

Many professional photographers inspire us, and Michael Crouser is a stunning example. From the first time I saw his work many years ago, I thought this is true visual poetry. At just 48 yrs old, his work will be celebrated in a retrospective exhibition beginning Jan. 12 at the Leica Gallery in NYC. Indulge yourself and if you're in the NYC area, check out his exhibition. You will be inspired.

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From Michael Crouser...

When Leica Gallery in New York asked me to do a Mid-Career Retrospective exhibition, I thought, "Am I really old enough to do such a thing?" But as I looked back at the work we will show, from four distinct series, I realized that the images therein cover over 25 years of shooting. The exhibit comprises "Los Toros," "Dog Run," "Sin Tiempo," and "Mountain Ranch." I have made photographs in earnest since I was 14 years old; a life-long effort to develop a personal voice through my pictures. I feel that my pictures are personal expression – a way of speaking without uttering a word.

The concept is somewhat difficult to explain. I don't mean to say that I'm making a statement about a particular issue or opinion, but more that the pictures that feel most personal to me feel like an extension or reflection of myself. A photographer friend of mine first pointed out this presence, this reflection, in my own work 15 years ago. He asked me to look closer at my prints in front of him. He pointed out the cohesive elements – the photographs were, he noted, quite soft and dark, with a certain calmness belying a real and important intensity below the surface. "This is you," he said. "These pictures are you."

Photographers learn to see in their own way. They learn to compose. They learn to light. They choose their subjects. But often,just as important, is the presentation of their images. For me, as often as not, it is in the darkroom that I first get the sensation that I have a special image. I print my photographs in a traditional darkroom, and I shoot with KODAK Tri-X film, as I have for more than 35 years (when I was in high school, I used my grandfather's bulk film loader, and rolled my own Tri-X everyday). Working with film feels to me like craft…something basic and tactile. As I tell my photography students "How you say something is as important as what you say." That means that the media and equipment you choose are part of what make you who you are as an artist, as these decisions help give your personal artwork a certain look and feel. For me the choice of KODAK Tri-X is an obvious one. Other photographers may seek the slowest, finest grain film that they can find, as it suits their artistic purposes, but KODAK Tri-X lends itself well to the soft, lower light, natural light situations that I prefer and it feels rich and painterly to me as I work with it in the darkroom. In my photography I am drawn to subjects that are somewhat rough, intense, traditional, dangerous and, perhaps, endangered. Using traditional photographic methods (Tri-X film, darkroom chemicals, manual focus cameras, etc.) in this work feels correct to me, and there is an effort in the darkroom to produce, from the "raw material" of the Tri-X negative, something that "looks like my voice."

In 1995, I spent three months in Spain shooting pictures of the bullfights in an effort to further develop a series important to me. The bullfights were intense, heavy, serious and emotional. The subject was visual, cultural and traditional. I had photographed the spectacle several years earlier, but it was at this time that I decided to dedicate myself more fully to a personal project. I needed to find what made me happiest about making photographs and to challenge myself and to improve and develop in the making of personal imagery. I was not articulate about what this meant, nor was I yet very articulate in the personal artistic voice I sought, but a year and half later, when I emerged from the darkroom with all the prints from that summer, I was beginning to figure it out. Twelve years later, I published Los Toros (TwinPalms Publishers 2007), as my first monograph. The book, shot entirely on TRI-X 35mm film, received first prize in the category of Fine Art Book at the 2008 International Photography Awards.

In looking for a new project I decided to challenge myself with some exercises. I went to a Minneapolis dog park with both medium format and 35mm gear, againusing black and white film, in an effort to make some studies of Great Danes in motion. What started as a focus on these large and loping animals evolved into photographs of dogs in all sizes running and rolling, growling and even laughing. For three years I returned to Lake of the Isles dog park in Minneapolis and Tompkins Square Park dog run in New York City's East Village, collecting the images that would become my second book, Dog Run (Viking Studio 2008). A reviewer from the Toronto Globe and Mail called the book "perhaps the least sentimental book of dog photos ever printed." In light of my continuing effort to make unique and personal photographs, even of much-photographed topics, this review made me quite happy.

In 2005 my mother passed away, and for the first time in my life I didn't feel like picking up a camera for almost a year. Suddenly this quest for the personal aesthetic didn't seem remotely important, or even possible. A good friend of mine, living in Colorado, invited me out for a visit and suggested that I photograph the neighboring ranchers who were in the process of calving. In the moment, I couldn't have had less interest in the suggestion, but I went anyway. I went and met some new, interesting and wonderful people…and I started looking through my cameras again, suddenly re-engaged in the visual stimulation of making pictures. The subject before me had all the elements of a topic that could captivate me. An age-old, traditional, rough, difficult way of life. Animals, work, blood, dirt and sweat. It seems that cattle ranching in the mountains of Colorado, in a generation or two, may be but a memory of lost Americana.

For six years, I've concentrated on the traditional elements of these people's work - work on horseback, hot iron branding of calves, functional and traditional clothing, as well as the landscapes that frame them. Like all of the projects I have undertaken, this effort represents a cultural education, as much as a photographic journey. I try to be quiet in my presence and respectful in my observation. As a photographer, I feel what is learned from time spent in quiet observation and conversation is easily as valuable as whatever progression I can make as an image-maker. I feel quite lucky that photography has afforded me the opportunity to opendoors to other levels and types of education and self-awareness. The series I call "Mountain Ranch" is ongoing. I'm not done making these photographs, or learning about this fascinating way of life.

In 1986, at 23, I photographed a woman in Paris, selling her wares in the bookstalls along the River Seine with the Notre Dame Cathedral in the background. I made the image in an instant and moved along in my young tourist's exploration of the city. When I developed the film months later, nothing about the image hinted at present day. No typography, fashion, hairstyle or media. It was timeless. Several years later, while beginning work on my "Los Toros" series, I photographed a young bullring worker examining his rake. Again, the timelessness found in the present struck me. This observation continued to inform the bullfight project, but also I held on to the idea of photographs "Sin Tiempo", which is Spanish for "without time," in other walks of life, the fourth series in my work.

And as I write, and read, this text, it seems as though perhaps I should reconsider my initial question about being old enough for such a thing. I've taken pictures for a long time, and if this is only mid-career, then I am excited by the fact that I have, perhaps, another "long time" left to discover, with a camera in my hands, new ways to learn and to develop myself as a person, visual and otherwise.

- Michael Crouser

Michael Crouser: A Mid-Career Retrospective opens on Thursday January 12^th from 6-8pm at Leica Gallery in New York City, and will be exhibited until February 25^th. Michael wishes to thank Audrey Jonckheer and Kodak for their continued friendship, support of and belief in his personal projects

Kodak at CES 2012: Sneak Peek

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:55:55 EST

CES2012 is underway once again in Las Vegas and Kodak is there at Booth 31400 in the South Hall.

The show officially starts tomorrow so today was a day of unpacking and setting up the booth.

Here are some pics from the booth as Kodakers were hard at work getting it ready for the thousands of visitors that will pass through.

I walked around with a Kodak PlayTouch and shot a sneak peek video of the booth before it opens. Check out what the booth looks like pre-show and then check back here for info on the new products Kodak has announced and updates from the show.

Everyone Needs a Calendar, Why Not Make it Personal?

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

Are you still lacking a calendar for 2012 to hang on your fridge? A personalized photo calendar is a great option! You can see your favorite family memories each month and have a place to keep your family organized. You can make a 12 month or even and 18 month calendar and multiple copies ensure all of your family gets to enjoy it for the year!

It's as easy as:

Locate 13-30 of your favorite photos
Visit a KODAK Picture Kiosk near you!
Step up and make a fun photo calendar in just a few minutes!

Now thru January 13^th 2012, you can get $5 off using this coupon at participating retailers.

Want to take a test drive? Watch our step by step instructions today!

How to Make a Calendar on a KODAK Picture Kiosk

View more presentations from Diedra Kirk

Kodak Share Button App shares over 1 BILLION photos & videos

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:33:52 EST

Dateline Rochester, NY: Today the team at Kodak celebrated a milestone in Share Button App history. Since the launch of the camera Share Button and the companion Share Button App a little over 18 months ago, the App as touched over 1 BILLION customer photos & videos that were captured with the latest model KODAK Easyshare Cameras.

How-to Ollie, with Pro-Snowboarder Dom Harrington

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:45:30 EST

Dom Harrington, Pro-Snowboarder and Winter Olympic Contender, shares his snowboarding tips and tricks so you can look like a pro on the slopes. In this video learn how-to hit a kicker and ollie over obstacles for a smooth journey downhill.

"Skiers often fall over and get in the way, but don't worry we can learn to ollie over them…

[Ride] nice and low towards the skier, and as you extend your legs lift your nose up first. Then, you want to push off the tail of your board. That'll give you the spring to get over the skier.

Alright, so this is a grab off a kicker… we're approaching the kicker, [with] quite a lot of speed. Get nice and low, weight central over your board. As you go over the lift of the kicker, extend those legs and that'll put you in the air. Once you're in the air, bring your knees up toward your chest. When your knees are nice and high toward your chest, grab in between your feet. Get a hold of the board; if you've got time, tweak it. Let go of the board, and remember to bend your knees when you land."

Find more skiing and snowboarding tips @KodakUK on YouTube
Stay tuned for more…

Video filmed on the Kodak Playsport Zx5 video camera at Xscape, Castleford, UK.

Merry Christmas... er, Happy New Year

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

I had good intentions - make an adorable Christmas card just after Thanksgiving and send it to all our family and friends - and relax knowing that is done before the craziness of the season sets in. YEAH RIGHT!

I made some progress about mid-December, I created a card on the Kodak Picture Kiosk (our new 5x7 double sided flat cards are pretty sweet) - it was cute, but I wasn't sure it was PERFECT - I mean really - a beach photo inside a snowy scene? So I only printed a few.

and then I didn't mail any - not a one.

Time flew by and before you could say EZ Bake Oven and Snoopy Snow Cone Machine, Christmas had come and gone. I had received some adorable cards (I really do LOVE receiving photo cards), but have not reciprocated and the guilt was eating at me. I know for many, it is the only time they see how fast Lauren is growing and changing.

But I remembered a great tip from Bonnie Marcus (Fashionista card designer whose designs are featured in the Kodak Picture Kiosk) during one of the Facebook chats we held with her last month - don't stress on getting out Christmas cards - send Happy New Year cards in January. Pefect idea!

So I made some new cards at the Kiosk - appropriate for the New Year - with this awesome photo from Halloween pulled right from my friend's Facebook account - and will be sending out the perfect card before the month is out.

And if for some crazy reason I don't get the cards mailed, I take comfort in knowing that we have some really adorable Valentine's Day card designs in the Kiosk too ;)

Happy New Year!

(PS - If you are like me, and still need to send cards, we do have a BOGO Greeting Card coupon, along with a couple other KODAK Picture Kiosk coupons, available on our Special Offers page.)

Snow on YouTube

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:10:27 EST

For the season YouTube added a really cool feature to their video playing options. Thanks to a tip from Steve Garfield I discovered that by clicking on a little snowflake on the video player, you can make snow appear on your YouTube videos!

I started off by trying it on Kevin's video because it seemed funny to make it snow in Costa Rica.

Then I went on to create a little snowstorm at the desk of Mary Irene.

Finally, I really let it pile up on Tina as she talked about printing from Facebook at a Kodak Picture Kiosk.

I also found that if you wave your cursor over the video you can make the snowflakes fly around. Go check it out before Spring gets here and the snowflakes go away!

Guest Post: Lost Verichrome

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST

Today we have an amazing story from guest blogger Tim Williams.

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What started out as a search for an old Kodak 110 camera that my Mom said she had downstairs, ended up in a find of a small box of old photos and negatives. In this box of family treasures were two rolls of exposed, never developed rolls of Kodak Verichrome Pan 620 film. My Mom pulled them out from a bag that held her baby book. To me these two rolls were like finding a lost treasure! We began to speculate what could be on them. Were they baby photos? Could they be photos of my grandfather as a young man or my Grandmother as a young woman? We did not know what was on the two rolls but we knew something amazing had the potential to be on them! After much searching and many boxes later we never found the 110 camera, but what we did find was much more exciting anyway. We found a hidden family mystery!

Once we put everything away, my Mom asked me if these could still be developed? I said yes they could but was unsure how or who would develop these two rolls. I really wanted to treat these with a lot of care as they had traveled a great distance to get into my hands. So I wanted to make sure that the development of the rolls would be handled properly.

Just the story of how these two rolls survived many moves and that they were never stored in ideal conditions is a miracle in itself. I knew these two rolls were kept in attics and basements for well over 40 years. I also knew that these could render images. I put added pressure on myself as I knew these were family photos and wanted to take all the care and proper steps in making these images come out.

So my research began, how do you develop 620 film? What developer? How long do you develop for? All these questions I had for these two rolls. I knew how to develop as I took Photography in collage but that was over 15 years ago. And did I trust myself for this job? At first, no, but I made up my mind that yes I was going to be the one to develop my Moms family photos! Now I had to get a couple of practice rolls under my belt to get back into the flow. So I quickly started to develop at home as I still had everything from school. After 4 or 5 rolls I wanted to give the Verichrome a try! I wanted to finally see what was on these rolls.

I turned to a photographer friend of mine that I met on Twitter, Chris Fecio, for help. If not for him these two rolls of Verichrome would never have seen the light of day. It was Chris that helped me with the proper developer and he gave me valuable insight into developing Verichrome film. Like what fixer to use and to make sure it had a hardening agent. He also helped with times and when to agitate the film. So now I had the info I needed to make this work! After I bought the proper chemicals and mixed my dilutions I set out to develop the Verichrome film.

Into the black bag I go! I began to unroll the film and feed it onto my reel. Roll one took 4 tries and an overnight sit in my light sealed Paterson tank before I could properly feed it into the reel. Once in the tank I set my chemicals up; Rodinal at 1:100 at 20 degrees C., measured out my stock solution of fixer at 500ml and began with a 2 min presoak at 20 degrees C. Develop time was 60mins with light agitation for 10 secs on the 20^th and 40^th minute. Wash was one minute with water and I fixed for 5 minutes. I then washed for 12.5 minutes. After the wash I called my Mom on the phone so she could be there as I unrolled the first Verichrome roll. I was so excited when I started to see images! All but two images from that first roll developed! I clipped the film and hung it to dry in my shower.

The first roll was a HUGE success and a testament to Kodak and to film! That after 53 years of improper storage and laying around this film would render images! Photos of my Mom and Aunt as 2 year olds that were never before seen are now here for the family to enjoy. The second roll was much more foggy and harder to produce clear images. It may have something to do with the flash and the fact the outdoor photos were taken in snow and snow can be a massive light reflector.

People keep telling me that digital is the way to go. They ask me all the time why do you shoot so much film? This is why I shoot so much film the fact that film can last this long and can be stored improperly and still give us an image! There is something about working with film and the wait for the image that makes film so great. And wait we did as 53 years passed to see images of a time forgotten and old memories brought back for the next generation to enjoy and to treasure. Film is far from dead and Kodak Verichrome Pan 620 is a testament to that.

- Tim Williams

Kodak Burton Zx5 Twitter Sweepstakes

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

KODAK's partnership with BURTON started over a year ago, when we brought you the KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera, BURTON Edition / Zx3, designed after the BURTON Custom. Since then, we've been amping up to bring you the next generation - the one of a kind BURTON Edition / Zx5. This bundle is a veritable toolkit of awesomeness when it comes to HD pocket video that power through the elements. Find more info about the product here, or enter for your chance to win a KODAK PLAYSPORT video camera, BURTON Edition Zx5 bundle when you tweet a snowboarding video from YOUTUBE @KodakCameras with the hashtag #BurtonZx5.

Good Luck!

2011 KODAK BURTON eyes Zx5 TWITTER SWEEPSTAKES
THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA

WHO ARE AGE OF MAJORITY OR OLDER AT TIME OF ENTRY, EXCLUDING RESIDENTS OF QUEBEC.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE. A PURCHASE DOES

NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. ELIGIBILITY: The 2011 KODAK "BURTON-eyes" Zx5 Twitter Sweepstakes (the "Sweepstakes") is open to: a) a legal resident of the Contiguous US and 18 years or older at the time of entry, OR b) a legal resident of Canada, (excluding residents of Quebec) who is at least the age of majority in their province of residence at the time of entry. Officers, directors, employees and agents of Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak) and its respective affiliated companies, agencies, and immediate families (collectively, "the Kodak Affiliates") are void from participation. By entering the Sweepstakes, participants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless the Sponsor, and the Kodak Affiliates, from any and all damages whether direct or indirect, which may be due to or arise out of participation in the Sweepstakes or any portion thereof, or the acceptance, use/misuse or possession of prizes. By participating, you agree to these Official Rules. The Sweepstakes is governed by U.S. law, is subject to all applicable federal, state/provincial and local laws and regulations, and is VOID IN QUEBEC AND WHEREVER ELSE PROHIBITED.

2. HOW TO ENTER: To enter the Sweepstakes tweet one (1) snowboarding video link to @KodakCameras with the text "#BurtonZx5". The Sweepstakes will be held on December 30, 2011 from 9 am ET to January 9, 2012 3 pm EST. To enter, you must have a valid Twitter account. Signing up for Twitter is free of charge. You may not post or transmit a tweet that contains threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic, or profane material or any caption that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, that would otherwise violate any law, or is inconsistent with Kodak's brand image. Responses may not speak negatively about Kodak or its products, or include any reference to any other company, including any competitor of Kodak, or include any third party trademarks. Any response that includes any such material, as determined by Kodak in its sole discretion, will be disqualified.

ENTRIES TWEETED IN THIS SWEEPSTAKES ARE NOT EDITED BY SPONSOR AND ARE THE VIEWS/OPINIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ENTRANT AND DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF SPONSOR IN ANY MANNER. Any waiver of any obligation hereunder by Sponsor does not constitute a general waiver of any obligation to entrants.

3. SELECTION OF WINNERS: One (1) entrant will be selected to win the prize described below based on the content of the video link shared, and its alignment with the entry guidelines. Limit one (1) WINNER per household throughout the entire Sweepstakes. Any questions regarding the determination of the winner will be decided in the sole discretion of Sponsor, whose decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Except where prohibited, each potential prizewinner will be sent a confirming email within three (3) business days of the winner announcement. If the prizewinner is located in Canada, the mathematical skill-testing question will be sent in addition to an affidavit of eligibility/liability/publicity. In order to be declared a winner, the potential prizewinner must reply to the email with the signed affidavit of eligibility/liability/publicity release, where applicable, within five (5) business days of the date on the confirming letter and, if located in Canada, must correctly answer the mathematical skill-testing question. If a potential winner cannot be contacted within five (5) days of the first attempt to contact him/her, if the confirmation email is returned undeliverable or if he/she fails to correctly answer the mathematical skill-testing question, where applicable, or if he/she fails to sign and return the affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within the required time period, the entrant will forfeit his/her prize. In no event will more prizes be awarded than those listed in these Official Rules.

4. PRIZES: There is a total of one (1) prizewinner. The prizewinner will receive one (1) KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera, BURTON Edition /Zx5 bundle valued at $199.95. Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be substituted by the winner. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY may substitute a prize of equal or greater value in its sole discretion. An individual may only win one-time over the course of the Sweepstakes. Federal, state/provincial and local taxes associated with the acceptance of the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. Unclaimed or rejected prizes will not be awarded.  

5. REDEEMING PRIZES: Winner will be notified via Twitter within 72 hours of retweets being submitted. Once notified, the potential winner must respond to the email address provided by the administrator of EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY within 24-hours of notification with complete legal name and mailing address. All potential winners are subject to verification at the sole discretion of EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY. Anti-fraud detection devices may be used to verify winning certificates. Winning certificates will be void and ineligible for a prize if they fail to pass anti-fraud detection measures, or if found to be photocopied, reproduced, altered, forged, defaced, tampered with, mutilated, torn, stolen, un-issued, unauthorized, traded, bartered, sold, illegitimately obtained or illegible in any way, or if they fail to contain authorized special markings and/or security codes, or if defective or if they contain printing or other mechanical errors. As part of the verification process, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY may require winner to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability and publicity release within specified time period, or the prize may be forfeited. Unless otherwise agreed by EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, winners will receive their prize via U.S. Mail, FedEx or United Postal Service within six to eight weeks of winning. Neither EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY nor its agencies are responsible for lost, late, stolen, misdirected, delayed or damaged prizes.

6. GENERAL: All federal, state/provincial and local laws apply. By participating, entrants agree (i) to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (ii) to be bound by the decisions of EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Sweepstakes. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY is not responsible for: (i) lost, late, misdirected, damaged, garbled or illegible entries; (ii) error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive entry information by EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or any combination thereof; or (iii) any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in the Sweepstakes. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY reserves the right to permanently disqualify from this Sweepstakes any person it believes has violated these Official Rules. By accepting or participating in a prize, each winner irrevocably consents to the use of such winner's name, likeness, image, voice, performance (in connection with interviews and other recordings), biographical information, and statements relating to the Sweepstakes or EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY Affiliates, without further compensation, in all world-wide marketing, promotion, and publicity carried out in perpetuity by any of EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY Affiliates in connection with this Sweepstakes. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY reserves the right to terminate, cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes if any fraud, virus or other problem corrupts the administration, security, or proper play of the Sweepstakes, as determined by EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY in its sole discretion. If Sweepstakes is terminated before the end date/time, Sponsor will determine the winner from all eligible entries received as of the termination date/time. If any such malfunction, error, disruption or similar damage occurs and impairs the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Sweepstakes, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY may, in its sole discretion, suspend or terminate the Sweepstakes by posting a notice at www.twitter.com/kodakcameras.

7. DISCLAIMERS: Under no circumstances, including negligence, shall any of EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY Affiliates be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death, resulting from participation in the Sweepstakes or acceptance, use or misuse of any prize. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the preceding release is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or void for any reason, the entrant agrees that, by entering the Sweepstakes, (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the Sweepstakes, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action; (b) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Sweepstakes, but in no event attorney's fees; and (c) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses. Entrants hereby acknowledge that EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY Affiliates have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied (including, but not limited to warranties of any kind concerning the appearance, safety or performance of any prize), in fact or in law, relative to any prize. Each winner shall bear all risk of loss or damage to his/her prize after it has been delivered to such winner via U.S. Mail, FedEx, United Parcel Service, or any other shipping agent.

8. Winners' Names: For names of winners, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope, to: Ashley Fantigrossi, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, 343 State St. Rochester, NY 14650. Sponsor of Sweepstakes: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, 343 State St. Rochester, NY 14650.

Guest Post: Kodak Concert Band Celebrating Its 32nd Season

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

Today we have a guest blog post from a Kodak Alumnus Joe LaBarca.

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Music is a universal language and it lives on in the Kodak Concert Band, which is now playing its 32nd season! Our live performances are dynamic and can relate to multiple generations. For our audiences in senior living centers and hospitals around the Rochester area, music brings smiles to their faces as well as toe tapping, hand clapping and singing. In addition to the enjoyment a concert can bring, our performances become a welcomed diversion to help individuals grapple with losses, transitions and the challenging experiences of a lifetime.

George Eastman loved music and wanted others to enjoy its beauty and pleasure. The roughly 25 annual performances continue the Eastman tradition and is one of the many positive ways Kodak stays connected to the Rochester community. All concerts are free and a wide variety of music is played including marches, big band tunes, Broadway show tunes and light classical pieces. We enjoy performing the music as much as the residents enjoy hearing it, and we have been doing this since 1980. For many of the residents, Kodak had always been a big part of their lives and to have "Kodak" visit and entertain them is a big event.

The 40 piece, all-volunteer band is made up of Kodak employees, Kodak retirees, former Kodak employees, family members and friends. Three members have been with the band since day one. These "charter members" are Ron Bowks the conductor/director and myself, a Kodak Retiree, Joe LaBarca (trombone) a Kodak Retiree and Bonnie Wegenka (baritone) a former Kodak employee.

Our concerts are held on Monday nights from mid October until late May and our audiences vary in number from a low of 25 to a high of over 150. The band's impact can be seen in some of the recent comments from a few of the retirement homes where the band has performed:

"You have made a wonderful impact on our residents, and they continue to talk about the performance for days after you come. They also want to know when you are coming back. The Kodak band is a wonderful, dedicated group and we thank you for giving so much of your time to the community." (The Episcopal Home)

"The Kodak Concert Band brings love of music and joy to the hearts of everyone who lives here. Our holiday season would not be the same without the band." (St John's Meadows)

"This band is helping to keep the music alive for the 'greatest generation' and the generations who follow." (Heather Heights)

"One of the highlights this year was when you let one of our residents, a former music instructor, lead the band. Thank you!" (Fleming Point)

"The Kodak Concert Band has been a wonderful staple at our facility for the past 31 years. Our residents have always looked forward to the performance. When the name, Kodak is headlined, many of our Kodak retiree's and others that reside here get very excited. And we usually receive the best attendance out of all our scheduled performances throughout the year." (Shire at Culverton)

"We enjoy your concerts so much because all the Sisters and Priests have wonderful smiles on their faces, and your songs take them all back to a simpler time in their lives. I am the activity director of the Motherhouse and I appreciate the fact that even those with Alzheimer's can recall the music either by words, or just by moving their hands or feet...Music is the best thing we can give our loved ones and friends." (Sisters of St Joseph)

These comments are just some of many we receive that reflect the joy our music brings to our audiences. Not only do we consider ourselves musical ambassadors, but Kodak ambassadors as well. After a recent concert, a resident came up to the band and told us how much she had enjoyed the concert and added "my husband retired from Kodak in 1957". Wow! Ambassadors indeed – 32 years and going stronger than ever!

- Joe LaBarca

Kodak Picture Kiosk: Frozen in Time

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

Photographer: Noel Pelavin

"This picture is a macro view taken through a large glass blown sphere with dozens of air pockets.

I would go as far as saying that the angle of the picture created shows us how unique the close up world

can be. Photo taken March 2011."

....................................................

You can enter your own Kodak Picture of the Day.

The gift that keeps on giving all year long

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

You know that awkward moment when someone hands you a gift and you don't have one to reciprocate with? It wasn't quite that bad. After all, she had already opened a collage, two framed photos of the grandchildren, and a photo book I had made using the MY KODAK Moments App.

But then my mother-in-law asked about the photo calendar that we usually give her every year. Every year. It's so simple that I usually cross three gifts off the list and make three identical calendars for both grandmothers and my husband. But not this year. And, I had no excuses—the pictures were on FACEBOOK and ready to be printed on the KODAK Picture Kiosk, the same pictures I put in the photo book, and it only takes a few minutes.

So before I headed to the mall to do returns and shop for bargains on December 26^th, I stopped off and made three calendars. I'm going to call them New Year's gifts-- they're calendars, after all.

Find a KODAK Picture Kiosk if you want to be the one to give the first gift of the New Year! There is a $5 off promotion available too.

Kodak and Burton Collaborate to Introduce Exclusive New Pocket Video Camera

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

This is Kodak's second season as the Official Consumer Digital Camera Partner of the Burton Snowboard Company. Kodak is also a sponsor of the Burton Mountain Festival, which is a 10-city, 3-month event that will tour the United States and Canada across major ski resorts, starting December 31st. At each stop, consumers will be given the opportunity to try out both Burton snowboards and Kodak video camera products.

Just in time for the winter sports season, Kodak and Burton have collaborated on the design and development of an exclusive new pocket video camera, targeted at snowboarders and action sports enthusiasts. It's the KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera, Burton Edition/Zx5. This product is a unique bundle that features a rugged, waterproof 1080p High Definition pocket video camera that is designed just like one of Burton's top-selling snowboards, the Custom Flying V.

The PlaySport Zx5 Burton Edition has a ruggedized design that can withstand even the most challenging of conditions. It's shockproof, dustproof and waterproof up to 10 feet. And with built-in image stabilization, the camera can smooth out video clips of even the roughest rides. So whether you are carving up the mountain, catching air in a half pipe or pulling stunts in your local skate park, this product can handle it – with confidence.

Included in this bundle are some great value-added accessories: HDMI cable, 4GB SDHC memory card, remote control, gripping tripod and carry case. Check out the video below to learn more about this product.

Six Degrees of Separation

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

If you search the internet for what "six degrees of separation" theory is, it'll tell you that anyone on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than 5 intermediaries.

My husband spoke of this theory recently. I thought of it for a moment, and then put it aside. It hit me square in the face on Sunday when we were visiting our new found friend, Harry. What started out as a typical pet assisted therapy visit, requested by his daughter, Nancy (who we found out knew someone I worked with a few years ago) has turned into a friendship that will last a lifetime.

Freeport has declared that Harry is his to care for, never really leaving his side.

Penny and Cooper, knowing the special bond, are content to take their turns when the opportunity arises.

During our talk on Sunday, Harry mentioned a girl's name that Nancy knew. My ears perked up? The next sentenced mentioned this girls father. I actually stopped him right there and asked how he knew Dr. Buckley? As the story unfolded, tears came to my eyes. This girl, now a woman, who has continued to be friends with Nancy all these years, is my boss, Mark's, sister!

I've told Mark about my visits with Harry, but never mentioned his last name. I truly believe things happen for a reason! We may not know why, but sometimes it is beautiful.

The holiday season always makes me contemplate life. What the true meaning of Christmas is; what do we have to show for the years we are here on Earth; Who will remember us once we're gone; how do you hold onto those you love?

There are happy stories that always come out during the holidays. Once special one that happened right here at Kodak Park has a special place in my heart. Our security force, Guardsmark, was patrolling the parking lots one evening. An officer found a dog house chained to one of the light posts in the lot with a female dog in residence who, quite obviously, has recently given birth. One of the officers was able to coax her into his vehicle. Animal Control was contacted, but since it was a weekend, could not come right away. Well, as things happen, the officer found that the female dog was quite friendly. He decided to take her home with him and find her a permanent home. She now has a new family with a new lease on life and the perfect name:

The Christmas season is also the time that everyone takes to decorate their house for the holidays. Me, I think I needed more help than others:

Once everything was complete, out came the outfits for the dogs' official Christmas photo:

This season, Larry and I, Freeport, Mr. Cooper and Penny want to leave you with our Christmas wish:

Hug those you love, even those you don't - a hug will make anyone feel better about themselves;

Tell all the people you love that you love them - you may never get another chance to do so;

Pictures are priceless! Capture ALL your holiday memories because it may be all that you have;

Share your photos with others, even strangers – you may reach the 6 degrees of separation yourself!

Take the time to thank a soldier for protecting us and keeping us free;

Smile at a stranger and tell them "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" or even just a "hi!";

If the mood strikes, sing and let the world know you are loved!

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Home video grows up

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:21:16 EST

Just like the old days of Kodachrome slide shows, we all probably know two types of home-video enthusiasts: those that labor hours and hours editing and fine-tuning using specialized and expensive hardware and software to produce short and amazing presentations… and "Uncle Bob" that nags you to sit through 6 hours of raw tape of their summer vacation while there was probably only about 30 seconds worth watching. Neither of these sounds like a fun way for the masses to share memories, and it's what has held video back.

However, a recent vacation I took to the rainforests of Costa Rica has convinced me that video editing and sharing is just now transitioning from being a hobbyist activity to a mainstream one.

As an ex-professional photographer, I'm pretty picky about my equipment. For this once-in-a-lifetime trip, of course I packed my "good" camera (i.e. expensive, bulky, finicky, and delicate), but I also tossed in a Kodak PlaySport pocket video camera, even though my other camera also does HD video. At the time I figured it would be a good option for the rainy days we were sure to have, or a fun under-water shot at the beach.

That turned out to be the best decision I made. Not only was the PlaySport able to handle the heat, humidity, rain, surf, and copious sand better than my regular camera – but also being stuffed into and banged around in wet pockets and sandy bags. It captured great video during activities that I wouldn't dare drag out my "expensive" camera for: zip-lining, surfing, ATV-ing, walking through waterfalls, and more. Additionally, while "cheap" isn't the right word, the affordability of the PlaySport meant that I wasn't stressed if I had to leave it in my beach bag while surfing and swimming, or worried about it getting knocked as I flew through the trees on a cable. And despite thinking of the PlaySport as "only" a video camera, I'm still stunned at the quality of the still pictures this tiny beast takes!

The result: I always had the PlaySport with me, and I captured amazing memories of parts of our trip that would have been forgotten otherwise. Priceless.

So – capturing great video is easy, affordable, and convenient… just like my friends in Kodak's Consumer Digital group have been trying to tell us. But that doesn't mean you should just upload your hours of raw footage! The real kicker is when you combine great capture with easy editing and sharing. Our newest cameras offer basic on-camera editing (which admittedly I haven't yet tried), but a $5 Apple program called iMovie on the iPad and iPhone is a quick, simple, and more-than-capable editor for combining those raw clips and still photos into a polished and engaging video you can share. They've done away with a few of the more complex functions of the desktop version, but the format and touch-screen interface of the iPad makes it intuitive and simple, and a joy to use! With iMovie and a $30 SD-card adapter from Apple, in little more than 5 minutes I could post a finished video to Facebook to share with our kids and families back home.

At the end of our trip I decided to be a bit more adventurous and produced a 15-minute video of our full vacation from the 12GB of videos and still pictures I had captured… and I did this all during my airplane trip home! Imagine having all your memories sorted, edited, and shared before your vacation is even over!

Take a look at the video to see what I mean… 5 minutes of editing could turn your digital dustbin into a YouTube sensation. (All video was shot on my Kodak PlaySport, and the Costa Rica clip was edited in a total of 8 minutes!)

Editing video is just as important as editing your photos (or blogs!). Don't bore people to death with the extraneous details. As complex and costly as that process once was, there is truly no reason to be afraid of video editing today. Sure – you can invest hours and hours into making a perfect and professional looking video, but certainly you don't have to. Video is as easy to share today as pictures are. Give it a try!

Kodak PlaySport + Apple iPad + SD-card adapter + iMovie = mobile video bliss!

Share Your Favorite Holiday Moment and You Could Be Off to Hawaii

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

One of my all-time favorite holiday memories happened several years ago at my wife's family Christmas. Colleen is one of six kids, so gift opening is quite a production – especially when only one present is opened at a time. To keep things lively, there's always plenty of holiday "cheer" consumed during the three-hour ordeal.

My brother-in-law Dan, the cheeriest of the bunch this particular night, decided to take a break from the action. During one of the many gift-opening intermissions, we discovered Dan curled up on a bedroom floor taking a "snooze", much to the amusement of the rest of the family.

This series of events started a new tradition. We now hand out "The Danny" to the family member who spreads the most cheer each Christmas.

There were plenty of cameras out that night, but unfortunately I don't have any of the pictures - and the ones that were taken are now hiding on old hard drives and on CDs buried in desk drawers. It's too bad, because my mother-in-law, a Danny winner herself, passed away a few years later – so any pictures with her in them hold special value.

We created Group Albums at Kodak Gallery so moments like these are captured and accessible. With a Group Album, you and your friends and family can share all your pictures from an event in a single place – and even do it right from your iPhone using the Kodak Gallery app.

To celebrate our first holiday season with Group Albums, we've kicked off the 'Holiday Moments' Sweepstakes. Just tell us about your favorite holiday moment (What was it? Did you get a picture of it?) on our Facebook Holiday Moments tab, and you'll be entered for a chance to win airfare for two to Hawaii, $500 cash and other fabulous prizes.

Also, if you start a Group Album for your holiday party – or any other event – by January 3^rd, we'll give you an extra sweepstakes entry when you email us about it.

I wish you and your family happy holidays filled with lots of wonderful moments– and don't forget to capture every one of those moments in a Group Album!

Get Close!

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

Ever wish you capture better details of small objects? Ever have a potential buyer want better images of your item for sale on Craigslist or Ebay? To show extreme detail of a coin, stamp, flower or collectable, Kodak has some inexpensive cameras that can get really close. Ever want to experience what real macro images can be captured without spending big money on lenses? Kodak's new M522, as well as other M cameras, have a great close focus function known as macro mode. These new cameras can focus as close as approximately two inches, providing a very high magnification of the subject. This high magnification, along with 14 Megapixels, can provide some really stunning images. With 14 Megapixels you are able to crop the specific area you want to accentuate. I will provide some tips on capturing these macro images.

Turn on your camera, and press the mode button on the top of the camera near the shutter release. Smart capture is the default.
Scroll down to the "Scenes" mode using the 4 way dial and press enter (the center of the 4 way dial)
Scroll to the right and select the "Close up" mode designated by the flower icon.
Get close up to your subject (~ 2"-3") and depress the shutter part way down (the S1 position) until the camera beeps and displays green brackets. These brackets show where the camera found focus. If the camera displays a RED AF, back up slightly from the subject and repeat. When you're happy with the image and have the green brackets, push the shutter all the way down (holding as steady as you can).
The flash may need to be disabled by pressing the flash button above the 4 way controller with the flash Icon.

Adding some additional light

I created a homemade fixture to allow for both Holding the camera steady and parallel, as well as providing shadow-less lighting.

Take a translucent plastic object like a plastic cup (mine was a 3" 7 ounce cup) and cut a hole in the top big enough to allow the deployed lens to rest on its edge.

Put your object in the center of the cup on top of a white piece of paper . A windowsill works well for natural lighting. Follow the above instructions to focus. You can raise your object to the optimal magnification by placing something beneath it. Steady the camera on the top of the cup, press halfway down for focus and press the rest of the way for the exposure. Experiment and have fun!

Yes, James, there is a Santa Claus!

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST

There comes a time in every child's life when they start to question Santa Claus. My 8-year-old son James' curiosity peaked last year. He started asking lots of questions and even wanted to set up a webcam in our living room to try to catch him. With all the inquiring, the pressure was on to keep things a secret especially because we didn't want to ruin the magic for his little sister Brynn (4).

James the inquisitive son

Little sister Brynn

Well, things got even more challenging and interesting. About 3 weeks before Christmas I took a vacation day to shop while the kids were in school. My goal was to take the day and get it done, and I did! I kept everything in the trunk of my car until the kids went to bed and then I unloaded all the loot into our wine cellar in the basement. The wine cellar is always my hiding spot because it has a lock and the kids never go in (or so I thought)….

The very next morning, in the flurry of getting ready for work and school, my husband Jamie called up to me… "Megan we have a problem" the wine cellar door was open, light was on and James was clearly the reason. He had discovered EVERYTHING unwrapped, out in the open. Next thing I know Brynn is telling us that James said there is no Santa and she is able to recite all that she was getting for Christmas. James was a bit gloating and I was VERY upset. Quickly I responded to Brynn, saying of course there's a Santa Clause, your brother doesn't know what he's talking about and being her light-hearted self, she quickly moved on. James on the other hand didn't, so in spite, I took him aside and said "Yes, you are correct, there is NO SANTA but please DO NOT ruin it for your sister!!!" He was upset but still clearly had the look of "I knew it" in his eyes!

James and Brynn with the "Big Man" himself in the good old days

Later that day, the story became my husband's FACEBOOK post which warranted a lot of comments with adults being sad and disappointed at the loss of "magic" for our kids.

Soon thereafter, James got a letter from Santa in the mail, hand written and post marked "The North Pole", it was all about why Santa is real and the spirit of giving. James read it, still not believing. A few days later on a very snowy December morning, a small package was on our back steps around 6:30 am. There were no tire marks in the driveway or footprints up to our door which made it even more mysterious. The gift was a book about Christmas, St. Nicholas and giving, with a written note on the cover page. As the days leading up to Christmas continued, so did the letters and gifts, with the final gift being a heart shaped soap with a hand written note about love and caring. Some notes came in the mail with a post mark, some just mysteriously through our mail slot in our front door, and the gifts delivered to our back step without a trace. The writing was all well thought out and referenced things that were happening in James' life that no one could ever know. As each appeared, James read more intently and started to believe again.

To this day, Jamie (my husband) and I DO NOT KNOW who went through all of this trouble and work last year getting James to believe again. The likely candidates (Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Friends) all very much deny doing anything. All we know is it worked and we are forever grateful. So very magical and incredibly thoughtful! Yes, James there is a Santa Claus; even I'm a believer again

A link to a very relevant clipping - Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept 21, 1897. So very eloquently written and sums it up so well…. Merry Christmas everyone!

http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/images/clipping.jpg

Making a Year in Review Photo Book

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:27:17 EST

As 2011 comes to a close, I've been reflecting back on all the memories shared with family and friends this year. I've gone to birthdays, celebrated weddings, attended a graduation and gone on trips.

It's easy to let all the photos from the year just sit on the computer and collect "cyber dust". But this year, I've decided I'm going to be proactive and create a Photo Book that will serve as a "year in review" for all the fun things I did in 2011.

Making a "year in review" Photo Book is a wonderful way to preserve all your memories in one place and is great for sharing with family and friends. And it's easier to create than it may seem!

To start my book creation, I gathered photos from the big events I celebrated throughout the year and also collected pictures from the everyday photo ops, like going to the park with the dog or playing with my nephew.

For some events I attended, I did not bring my camera, so I had to rely on others. In those cases, Group Albums made it super easy to collect pictures from all the different attendees.

Once you've gathered all your photos, it's time to make the book! The biggest event of my year was my trip to Italy, so for the cover I used a couple great photos in a collage that captured the beauty of my trip. It was easy to resize, crop, tilt, and layer my photos to add greater visual excitement. Plus, Kodak Gallery has a 2011 cover design that was perfect for it:

For the interior pages, I selected my favorite backgrounds from among many different design choices. I like to change the background depending on the event, so that the photos and design match.

For example, we celebrated my mom's birthday this year by taking a vintage train ride in Napa, so I selected a vintage travel background to capture the charm of this trip:

And for my grandmother's 90^thbirthday, I chose the "Family Memories Black" design. This design has the words "family, memories, joy" in it, which are perfect sentiments for our family get-togethers:

And there are even backgrounds designed specifically for pets! So of course I had to make a page of my dog Twiggy, using the "Good Dog" design:

The possibilities for designing a year in review photo book are endless. It's a great tradition to start and a fun way to preserve your memories. Have fun making your 2011 year in review book … and here's to creating more wonderful memories in 2012!