Canon End-of-Summer Rebate (20080831~20081013)

With the release of the 50D specs, Canon needs to clear out its current 40D stock. If you purchase a 40D + EF70-300mm f/4~5.6 IS USM now, you receive an $150 "instant" rebate. The 40D + EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Kit lens combination currently goes for $1,145.00 on Amazon.com. Admittedly, the instant rebate isn't that great considering the price of the EF70-300mm f/4~5.6 IS USM ($541.47). You might do alot better just getting the kit and then hawking the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM on Ebay for ~ $305 or so (which should draw plenty of bids). Then you'll have a nice, sturdy 40D body for only $840 out of pocket.

If you purchase the newer Rebel XSi + EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III, you get a $100 instant rebate. Right now the Rebel XSi + EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens goes for $699.98 on Amazon, which I think is actually a better deal than the 40D (DPreviews actually calls it a "mini 5D;" and it has a few features that the older 40D doesn't, such as contrast-detect live view). The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens is very nice, but you could sell it if you already have good glass on Ebay for ~$15 and have the body for $549.98. From what I've read though, this consumer IS len quite nice and magnificently flare-resistant, so you might just want to keep it for the little extra that you pay for it.

Canon usually has another rebate program around Christmas time. I think the previous rebate program before this one--which involved a Pixma printer--was actually the best. I purchased an EOS kit, got the rebates for the printer and the kit, then sold the printer, drastically bringing down my out-of-pocket prices for the EOS body and kit lense.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Saturday, August 30, 2008)

More and more, Asia the place to be to see the cutting edge of architecture. Every day subways stations, train depots, department stores, apartment buildings, and colossal corporate skyscrapers are being torn down to make way for newever, edgier 21-st century megaliths. One unfortunate side-effect of this is that some Asian governments are frenziedly tearing old buildings with much cultural and historical value. What they need is some kind of classical architecture conservation act, which re-tools and re-purposes old buildings for the next generation of use.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Friday, August 29, 2008)

Yesterday afternoon was absolutely beautiful with deep azure skies and fluffy white clouds. But Gustav is headed our way and the rain that was coming in at 45 degrees when I got off work was no joke. It's gonna' be rainy for the rest of the week and therefore I didn't bring my camera to work today.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Thursday, August 28, 2008)

There are quite a few abandoned buildings and ghetto neighborhoods in Houston. I avoid the more dangerous ones (one of my colleagues told me that crews were washing blood off the streets near one ghetto when she got off the bus this morning), but urban decay makes for fascinating photography. This particular photo features blue paint peeling from old wood from an abandoned warehouse that has been left to rot. I could spend all day shooting these patterns. This one is done at F9 and all the wood grain is in high detail even at 100% crop. Enjoy.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Wednesday, August 27, 2008)

I personally love details like this row of windows from a skyscraper in downtown Houston. And apparently, so do my buyers. I posted something similar several days ago and that particular photography has vaulted to the top of its Shutterstock category. Blogging seems to be working great for me.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Tuesday, August 26, 2008)

This bas-relief carving is at least 1,000 years old. Sometimes I wish my home country, the U.S., had stuff this old in terms of "Americana." It's a real trip when you're driving down a street in Asian and pass stuff that was there before America was even a nation.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Monday, August 25, 2008)

This is the Chinese character for "will," as in the "will to do something." Today is also the start of the Democratic Convention. Barack Obama has had the will to get this far, and certainly the potential to be one of our greatest presidents. I hope voters across the nation have the will to see him elected.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Sunday, August 24, 2008)

A close-up of the Wells Fargo Building downtown.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Saturday, August 23, 2008)

Someone punched a couple holes in this Asian paper window.

Microstock Photo of the Day (Friday, August 22, 2008)

Olympic-style torch attached to a building in downtown Houston.

Microstock Photo of the Day (August 20, 2008)

The lighting at the park was perfect on this day last week. Unfortunately, it has been raining this entire week.

Microstock Photo of the Day (August 19, 2008)

I like the windows on this building.

Microstock Photo of the Day (August 18, 2008)

This building is absolutely awesome: all glass and mirrors. Local architecture is one of Houston's saving graces.

Microstock Photo of the Day (August 17, 2008)

How many of you have an old but very nice bridge camera or digicam lying around? I shot this picture with a Nikon 5400, which was the second camera I ever owned. Sure, my Canon 30D blows the Nikon out of the water on almost every count (noise, sharpness, ISO range, dynamic range, etc.), but the Nikon is nicely pocketable and allows me to get shots I would have missed while getting my DSLR out of my bag.

I took this picture before a cloudburst several months ago and it has already sold several times since I uploaded it to Shutterstock. So keep shooting with that DSLR, but be sure to keep your digicam in a pocket or purse for the unexpected.

Microstock Photo of the Day (August 16, 2008)

In Asia, people have such appreciation for the colors of spring that they even have a name for beautiful burnt colors of the foliage during this season. In Korean, it is t'anp'ung, and in Japanese, koyou. I was lucky to get this backlit photo of these leaves this spring, and evoke what I saw a few years ago in Asia in spring.

Microstock Photo of the Day (August 15, 2008)

This photo I did of a Red Cardinal fledgling is still one of my favorite. This little bird was trying to fly. I kept following it around and shooting exposures, while its 2 parents chirped both encouragement and panic to the little bird.

Microstock Photo of the day (August 14, 2008)

Just a simple picture of a building. It just got downloaded at Shutterstock.

Microstock Photo of the Day (August 13, 2008)

As you can see, all the buildings seem to lean inward in this photo. Some photographers don't like this effect, and try to straighten the buildings with Photoshop. I actually prefer it--as long as its not overdone--and intentionally perspective distortion in mind when composing my shots.

Microstock Photo of the Day (August 12, 2008): Making $1.88 from $1

This image sold under the "Shutterstock On Demand" License for $1.88 last night, so I'm real happy about that.

Shutterstock Earnings Update for 20080811: Yesterday was BDE (Best Day Ever) with 27 downloads.

Microstock Image of the Day (August 11, 2008)

One of the first images I took with my 30D and 18-55mm lense a year and a half ago. Just goes to show you that you don't always need to bring out the "L artillery" to shoot microstock if the lighting is right.