Posts

Perfect Prints

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You have a great camera and you practice precise photographic techniques. You explore desirable locations and shoot beautiful subjects but still your photographs leave you less than excited. What next? If you want to make more interesting pictures, become a more interesting person. -Jay Maisel The formative years for most photographers involve a lot of study and learning with much trial and error about printing and technique. Many spend a good deal of time learning about and poring over technical specifications of camera equipment, chasing after the fastest lens, best bokeh, or some other vaunted features. Aided by YouTube and an infinite supply of online tutorials, many more quickly learn how to use a variety of software and digital darkroom techniques. There is no question that the learning curve of the digital world is infinitely shorter than the film world. Back then we lacked instant feedback and easy access to scores of experts. We just kept photographing, evaluating, an

Is There a Perfect Immigrant

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After facing a long summer of criticism from lawmakers, immigrant rights advocates and law enforcement officials, President Obama has delivered on his promise to focus on deporting the folks he’s called “the worst of the worst,” the country’s “illegal and criminal aliens.” Last week immigration officials announced that they’d rounded up 2,901 immigrants with criminal convictions on their record after a seven-day enforcement spree called Operation Cross Check. “This is what we should be doing; this is good law enforcement,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement director John Morton said at the press conference, the AP reported. “It makes sense to be removing people who are committing crimes who are here illegally first and foremost.” More than half of the group had at least one felony on their record, including convictions for manslaughter, kidnapping, armed robbery and sex offenses. Not everyone had been convicted of such violent crimes–nearly 400 people in the group were people who

DUI

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This scenario happens more often than you would think. In 202 alone, more than 1 million drivers were arrested for DUI. A DUI is a very serious offense, and those found guilty find themselves facing severe consequences. The penalties for driving under the influence can include: Heavy fines A suspended or revoked license Increased insurance premiums Jail time A DUI felony or misdemeanor charge will result in heavy fines. Fines associated with a DUI that avoids trial can cost over $7,500. If you do go to trial, you could be looking at over $25,000. Not to mention, if you break DUI laws, you may find yourself without a license. This can threaten your ability to get to work. So what is a person to do? How does someone live their life after they’re caught drunk driving? “A DUI can be indicative of an alcohol problem. Take a look at our Alcohol Recovery Program.” Long-Term DUI Consequences If you’re convicted of driving under the influence, don’t worry too much. You sho

Perfect Yoga

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It’s a new year, which means that some 70% of the population has resolved to get healthy and start a yoga practice. But for many, buying a new pair of yoga pants (or as I like to call them, thigh corsets) and top of the line mat is the easy part. When it comes to actually getting off of the couch and onto the mat, especially in the cold winter, we would often prefer to keep scrolling through Instagram pictures of sculpted yoginis on a beach doing the standing splits, rather than move through the initial inertia and start our own practice (no judgment - we’ve all been there). Often we equate yoga with tough, limb-twisting poses. However, yoga is not about touching your toes or stretching 98 degrees to the northeast. Yoga, quite literally, means “to yoke” or “union.” Yoga is a process of uniting with yourself, and it should be easy and effortless. You are in yoga when your body, mind, and breath align. So, throw away the idea that you should already be flexible, that you’re too ol