Cathedral City, CA

Today I take you to the city next door. Cathedral City is right next to Palm Springs. My house is closer to downtown Cathedral City than it is to downtown Palm Springs, even though I live in Palm Springs. This photo is a longer exposure at night of the fountain in downtown Cat City (we call it Cat City here). During the day in the summer, zillions of kids play in the fountain.

Serendipity

As a writer and photographer, I'm always trying ways to use both platforms to tell a story. Today the serendipidous happened--the two melded together like butter melts on toast.

I received a press release about John Richy, a writer who has been around for quite awhile.

While researching, I came across the text of the beginning of his book, "City of Night" while reading the blog "Grumpy Old Bookman".

I have to post this text as it's classic--

Later I would think of America as one vast City of Night stretching gaudily from Times Square to Hollywood Boulevard – jukebox-winking, rock-n-roll moaning: America at night fusing its darkcities into the unmistakable shape of loneliness.

Remember Pershing Square and the apathetic palmtrees. Central Park and the frantic shadows. Movie theatres in the angry morning-hours. And wounded Chicago streets…

Just after reading the blog, I was searching for a picture to put on this blog. And, to my surprise, I found really cool text relating to night. That's what you see at the top here. True serendipity.

Photographing on the Red Carpet Tips

Hey readers of Digital Art Photography for Dummies, check out my pics of Brad, Cate and Kate at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. I'm reporting about it with text, image and message all week long!

Taking pics of these events can be tricky.

If you're ever on the run after some celebrities on the red carpet or anywhere else follow these tips:

1. Set your camera to multiple picture shooting mode (on a Canon it looks like a deck of blank cards on the LCD screen). 2. In low light situations turn your flash on and set your camera to the running man in auto-mode. Best to get an attachable flash unit and aim light above subject downward to avoid getting shadows. 3. In high light situations at night set your camera to a high ISO and turn off your flash. 4. You shouldn't hand-hold at shutter speeds slower than the focal length of the lens. 50mm lens = 1/50th sec etc. 5. You can purchase a monopod so that you can extend your shutter time a bit without blur. Here's an article to show you how to use this beast.