Posts Tagged: contest
And The Winner Is…
Hello!
{is this thing on?}
Oh hi! Michael here.
I’ve been tasked, or bribed with sexual favors, to select the winner of the Kelly Moore bag. Counting and verifying entries is no way to spend the morning IMHO. Mishi claims that she has a lot of images to edit or something like that and she’s promised me certain things to motivate me to help her. I’m cheap and I’m easy, so here we go.
And the winner is… Judith Shakes!
Mishelle will be in touch with you soon. Congratulations!
I’ll Show You Mine, Now You Show Me Yours
Get your mind out of the gutter!
* * * * * *
It’s no secret: I love bags! I’ve always loved them. There’s even a long standing joke between Michael and myself about the number of purses I own or have owned in the 16 years we have been together. That being said, I have always feared that my purse box would mysteriously disappear from where it is stored. I have that many purses. And, he has that much disdain over this fact. But, now, my purse love has turned into camera bag love. Mostly because I have to take my camera with me [almost] everywhere I go. Yes, even to Wal-mart! You never know when there will be some shopping excursion that needs documenting, right?
My first camera bag was, of course, the big Canon bag that could—at the time—house my gear and then some, but now would not even come close to fitting all my equipment. I soon realized that I needed something smaller and less noticeable (and cooler, too!) I got a Crumpler. That bag was just big enough for my XTi with my 24-70mm f/2.8 and my Speedlite. The last time I opened it up was on Christmas morning of 2009, also known as Christmas 5DMK2! That bag would prove to be way too small, and I was relegated to carrying my big Canon bag around. But, that wouldn’t be the best option. I mean, who wants to roll around town with a big Canon bag on her shoulder? This would be the end of taking my camera on shopping trips. Then came an Epiphanie, and her name was Lola. All was right with the world.
Recently, though, I was sent a beautiful *Kelly Moore Bag to review. I chose the the yellow messenger style because I have always LOVED that kind of bag. I wanted something totally different from Lola, and [Mustard Boy -oh- boy] did I get it!
This Kelly Moore Bag is great to take on photo-shoots. I love how I can easily open the flap and get whatever piece of equipment I need out. There are two side pockets that are perfect for my cell phone and sunglasses. There’s a front zipper pocket that is big enough for my hardcase wallet and then two zipper pockets that I keep extra memory cards, batteries, the collapsible lenshood for my 50mm, Lensbaby focus rings, and business cards. There’s even room for lipstick! If I had a mini, I would definitely be able to take that with me, too, carrying it in the back pocket. My laptop actually fits, it’s just too heavy to carry in there since I don’t have one of those lightweight, handy-dandy Macs. Also, the bag closes with really strong magnets, and I am totally not nervous when I carry and use it.
Oh, and, there are three different styles, with many different colors to choose from; there’s a bag to suit everyone’s taste.
All-in-all, for me, the Kelly Moore Mustard Boy Bog is the perfect addition to my camera bag collection. I absolutely love its versatility, and when I carry it around with me on shoots (or even just photo walks on, say, Lake Laniere or the fireworks show in Dahlonega) I feel totally professional yet hip, at the same time.
Which brings me to my big news:
I am giving away a Kelly Moore Bag!
However, I AM going to make you work for it!
Here’s what you have to do…
To be entered to win (1) Kelly Moore Bag you can:
- Leave me a comment telling me which bag is your favorite. See them all: Here (1 point)
- Follow Kelly Moore on Twitter. (2 points)
- Join the Kelly Moore Bag Group on Facebook. (2 points)
- Submit a self portrait (a selfy-pee, ya’ll know how I roll) WITH your camera, camera gear, camera bag in the picture; the more creative the better! Feel free to use your cell phone, your point-and-shoot, your DSLR, or your Diana! (5 points)
(Make sure you tell me what you’ve done to be entered, in the comments section. Also, in the comments section—if you’ve done #4 just link to your blog post, Flickr, Photobucket, Facebook, or where ever you have your submission hosted!)
Here’s an example of what I’m looking for in regards to the selfy-pee:
You have until August 4th to get your picture in, and the winner will be announced on August 5th. A winner will be chosen at random.
Ready. Set. Shoot.
*Kelly Moore Bag: Watch the video!!
Shooting From the Hip
In 2007, when I got my Canon Rebel XTi, I remembered that Michael’s old Canon SLR had this awesome vintage-style strap on it. Despite the big, bulky spring snap and swivel eye I used that strap on my first dSLR, and it sort of became my signature.
When I got my Canon 5D Mark II the decision was made to go with the hand strap. I love that I have total control of my camera, along with the security that the hand strap provides, but I just couldn’t give up my camera strap. A photographer needs a camera strap when shooting.
A few weeks ago a Flickr friend commented about the strap in my photo. He asked if I had deliberately chosen to match my earrings to my camera strap. I replied that the strap was some type of vintage design and that the earrings were (my favorite) Fleur-de-lis. He replied demanded I get a Fleur-de-lis strap as soon as possible!
It’s widely know that I have an affinity for the Fleur-de-lis. Not only is it my business logo, but I have two different pairs of earrings, and Michael recently gave me a pendant for my birthday.
Of course it made sense; I should have a camera strap adorned with them, as well.
Enter HighKey Camera Straps.
The first thing I noticed was their clean, user-friendly website. I had no trouble seeing all the different styles in their photos. And, there’s even a page dedicated to the anatomy of the strap. It was love at first click.
Our goal is to equip photographers around the world with camera straps that fit their style and mood. Through our products and designs, we hope to supply you with the tools you need to do what you do, and do it with flare. We’re here to give you options. Live your life in HighKey.
At the core of HighKey Camera Straps are some extremely talented photographers. Real people with a desire to produce quality straps for other photographers. I was immediately impressed by the customer service and even more so with the craftsmanship of the strap when mine arrived. Another one of my favorite things about this company is that everything is Made in the USA!
There are well over 20 different styles to choose from, but the biggest draw for me was that you can create your own custom designed strap. Whoa! How cool is that? Let me tell you…it’s VERY cool! And the proof is attached to my camera now.
It took me all of twenty-minutes to design my strap in Adobe Photoshop. I downloaded the template, found the design I wanted to use, and went at it in Photoshop. Not only was it easy, it was fun. As I was creating this one I kept thinking of other designs. The possibilities are endless with custom design.
My favorite thing about HighKey Camera Straps is the slip resistant underside. Actually, these straps are the only ones in the world to use this unique material. In the couple weeks that I’ve used this strap, I have never felt so confident with the camera at my side. What a difference from the velvet underside of my previous vintage strap!
Then came the idea for my Shooting from the Hip Contest!
{click the link to read about how to shoot from the hip}
To enter the contest and win your own HighKey Camera Strap all you have to do is “shoot from the hip”. Basically, you put your current camera strap on your shoulder, hold your camera at hip level, point, and shoot. Link your image here and my fabulous judges Heather of The Spohrs are Multiplying, Piper of Love, Maria of Mommy Melee, and Meghan of A Mom Two Bosy will pick a winner!
The contest will run until midnight on June 30th with the winner announced shortly thereafter. Make sure you label/tag your entry (wherever you are linking from) with “Shooting from the Hip”. That way the lovely judges know for sure that this is your entry.
Enter the direct link to your picture submission below, using inlinkz!
You can also have another chance to win your own [custom designed] camera strap over at HighKey Camera Strap.
[Disclosure: HighKey Camera Straps provided me with my camera strap for review. The opinions in this post, though, are purely my own. I was not compensated otherwise.]
I love my sisters because they touch my heart!
I love my girlfriend, my sister…because in the midst of my panicked phone call that my own family wouldn’t take me in while I contemplated the probable end of my marriage – without hesitation to her own crowded home she invited me and my children in. To love and support…to talk and to veg. To just be.
She is my rock through this.
–Sarah, Redefining Perfect
Winner of the Dress Barn clutch
“Just tell me why you love your girlfriends, your sisters,” I said.
The answers I got where incredibly touching. Thank you to all for sharing. And congratulations to Sarah!
In appreciation of my awesome readers, I’m giving away a print from Large Format Posters.com!
Giveaway prize: (1) 18×24 poster print
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents
How to Enter: Tell me what holiday photo* you’d like to print. Better yet, link me to it! I’d love to see.
You can tweet about the give-a-way for an extra entry, just make sure you let me know that you did so with a link to your tweet!
The winner of the print will be announced on November 30th, 2009!
*For participating in the give-a-way, I will be getting an 18×24 poster print, too. When the contest is over I’ll show you which picture I’ll be printing to display in our living room! I can’t wait. Oh, but that means I have to get the picture first. Better get snapping!
