Thanks to Graph Paper Press for including me as an example of their latest theme, On Assignment, in action!

I was inspired by Jack Gruber’s site — and having been a Graph Paper Press user for a few years now, it was easy to switch from my Modfolio theme to the new On Assignment theme. Plus, the single column option with the On Assignment theme was the perfect layout for my new PhotoShelter custom galleries and client area.

I’m very excited to be featured in the same list with three internationally renowned photojournalists. What an honor. Thank you, GPP!

Learn more about the On Assignment theme and check out the blog post here: http://graphpaperpress.com/2009/11/19/on-assignment/

A little over a week ago, PhotoShelter and GraphPaperPress announced a new partnership that would allow GraphPaperPress users to integrate their sites with PhotoShelter.

The benefits of such a system are tremendous: Get the ease of publishing + the SEO juice of a blog combined with the e-commerce and high-res distribution capabilities of PhotoShelter.

As soon as news hit Twitter and my inbox, I used some time over the weekend to update my site with the new features. I changed from my old Modfolio GraphPaperPress theme to the new On Assignment theme (thanks to inspiration from Jack Gruber). Then I quickly worked to customize my PhotoShelter page so that there would be a seamless transition from my site/blog to my photo archives and client galleries. I’m moderately techy and was able to get the changes implemented quickly and working perfectly. But even if you don’t have a clue about HTML or stylesheets, PhotoShelter offers a step-by-step guide on how to set up your customized site.

I unveiled my new site one day after making all the upgrades. I was so happy with the new look and the new functionality that I sent a “Thank You” note to PhotoShelter. And then I got a “Thank You” note back from Allen Murabayashi, CEO of PhotoShelter — and was featured on the PhotoShelter blog. Check it out!

GRAPHPAPERPRESS + PHOTOSHELTER: HERE COME THE WEBSITES

I wandered into Luna Park (Sydney, Australia) hoping to find excited crowds waiting to board the ferris wheel and bumper cars, or anxiously falling in line for some cotton candy or other tooth-decaying snack. But when I hopped off the ferry at Milsons Point, I entered the mouth of Luna Park and was greeted with an apologetic sign: “No Rides Today. Sorry.”

The park itself was open, but the game shacks were boarded up and the rides were locked behind iron gates. Luna Park was empty and felt like a ghost town. The feeling was even accompanied by the sound of crying boy. (He read the sign, too — and he was very upset.)

Without the people, carnival sounds, or the whirr of the rides, it was as if I was walking through the remains of youth and fun.

JPG is for people who love imagemaking without attitude. It’s about the kind of photography you get when you love the moment more than the camera. It’s for photographers who, like us, have found themselves sharing their work online, and would love to see that work in print. Join the fun!

An Evening With Gilles Marini – Images by Lia Ballentine

Interested in purchasing prints? Contact me for more information. A portion of the proceeds will go to Relay for Life.

Photo from gillesmarini.com

Spend an evening with Gilles Marini — actor from “Sex and the City” and “Dancing with the Stars” contestant! And support the American Cancer Society Relay for Life!

When: Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.

Where: The Cider House (next to The Valarium), Knoxville, TN

Tickets for the event are $35 for general admission and $75 for VIP. VIP tickets get you special access to the venue, free Hors d’oeuvres, a photo op with Gilles, and a chance to win a dance with him!

In addition to Gilles, there will be other celebrity guests! Meet celebrity chef Mark Kearney, Scott L. Schwartz (The Ultimate Bad Guy), and Amanda Brown (Dating Diva).

As you know, I’m a big supporter of and fundraiser for Relay for Life. I held several portrait sessions this spring to benefit Relay, sold “Fight Like A Girl” shirts, and I’m continuing to show my support by sponsoring the photography for this event. As the official paparazzo for Saturday night, I’ll be hard at work following Gilles (and his entourage, VIPs, and fans) around at dinner, at The Cider House, and at the after-party. Photos from the event will be available for purchase through my online store, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Relay.

I’m excited to be a part of this star-studded event — and I hope to see you at the party!

For more details and to see a list of the event sponsors, visit PropjetPR.com. To purchase tickets, go to Tickets Unlimited at knoxvilletickets.com.

Congratulations to John Shim, whose winning photograph — Delicate Hands — was submitted to the Worldwide Photo Walk contest!

The toughest part about being the leader of the Downtown Knoxville Photo Walk was choosing which image would go on to represent the group in the big competition. Everyone submitted such awesome photographs to the pool, and it was so difficult to choose just one to submit.

After much deliberating, I picked John’s image. The black and white photo is beautifully composed. The perspective and depth of field is interesting. I like how the soft, bokeh’d background contrasts with the subject’s gritty, clay-covered hands. The moment captured is amazing, too. See the way the artist’s fingers are forming the sculpture (with pinky and index fingers up!)? And the tiniest details, such as the sharp clay knife on the ball of clay and the silly t-shirt graphic… all of those details make this seemingly simple black and white photo so visually complex and full of interest.

So once again, congrats to John — and congrats to all of the photographers who participated in the Photo Walk! Thanks for sharing your creativity with photographers around the globe!

In front of Remedy Coffee on Jackson Avenue -- ready to start walking!

The Worldwide Photo Walk on July 18 was awesome! It was a beautiful day in downtown Knoxville, and it was so amazing to make new friends with great photographers in the area.

We had a wonderful turnout. And in fact, because there were two walks in Knoxville, there must have been a hundred photographers running around the Old City and Market Square. A photog flashmob!

Thanks to Remedy Coffee for being the starting point for the walk. Remedy is the best coffee shop in the area! They even gave out free drink coupons to all of the photo walkers. Thanks to Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria for setting up a pizza buffet for the hungry walkers. And thanks to Express Photo for giving the photogs a special discount on gallery wraps!

Now that the walk is over, there are images all over the place. To see pictures from the Worldwide Photo Walk, you can go to the main event site — or you can check out the Worldwide Photo Walk group on Flickr. Photos from the Downtown Knoxville Photo Walk can be found at the following sites:

• KNOX PHOTO
• Worldwide Photo Walk 2009 – Downtown Knoxville (on Flickr… just created today!)

Also, you can check out the individual photographer’s sites to see photos. Check out the KNOX PHOTO group or KNOX PHOTO Facebook Fan Page to find some of the photographers. I’ve posted my photos on Flickr.

I’m really excited about doing this again next year! Can’t wait.

(And in the meantime, KNOX PHOTO is going to host some mini-walks just to keep the momentum going. Yippee!)

My Reflection

The KNOX PHOTO community continues to grow! There are so many talented artists in the area, and it’s awesome to see them sharing their work and inspiring others through our little social network.

Now, in addition to the Ning site, KNOX PHOTO is on Facebook — and you can be a fan! It’s a great way to stay updated with the latest news and announcements from the group. I’ll be posting great links to photography contests, resources, events, and more. I’ve also got other projects in the works for KNOX PHOTO (coming soon).

Hope you’ll “fan” us soon! (And don’t forget, you can follow KNOX PHOTO on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/knoxphoto.)

Oftentimes, my favorite photos to take are the ones inside my own home. I love to photograph my family — Brandon, Otis, and Miu-Mius — and I love taking pictures of our house.

Today I grabbed a few photographs of my orchid in our sunroom. I don’t exactly have a green thumb, but I’ve managed to keep this orchid alive and blooming. Hooray for me! So when I saw the sun coming in through the windows beautifully, I had to snatch up my camera and photograph my stunning flower. I felt like a little bit like John Laroche, “the Orchid thief,” because I’m so proud of how I’ve cared for and obsessed over my orchid.

Here are some photos of my orchid’s latest blooms. I decided to play with the images and add a texture to them. I felt it enhanced the flower’s fragility and added some romance to the photos. Enjoy!

Orchid – Images by Lia Ballentine